Nova lay still, her breathing shallow, her mind drifting between the ruins of nightmares and the sharp edge of reality. The remnants of the battle at the forest's edge replayed vividly in her head—the haunting glow in the eyes of the beast that had emerged from the shadows, the glint of her blood as it seeped into the soil, and the last thing she remembered: Kade, with crimson streaks of fury etched across his face, roaring her name.
The faint warmth of fire crackled nearby. Her fingers twitched first, then her eyes blinked open. The ceiling above her wasn't the sky. It was stone. Smooth, ancient stone veined with golden lines pulsing faintly, like the heartbeat of the earth itself. She was in a chamber—vast, mysterious, and brimming with enchantment.
"She's awake," came a voice—deep, steady, familiar.
Nova turned her head slowly, wincing as a bolt of pain flared in her shoulder. Kade knelt beside her, his eyes shadowed with worry and relief warring in their depths. He had shed his usual armor, his tunic darkened by ash and dried blood, his hair a tousled mess.
"You scared the hell out of me," he murmured, brushing her hair back gently. "You were out for nearly a day."
Nova tried to speak, but her throat was dry and scratchy. Kade handed her a small wooden cup. The water was cool and sweet, tinged with something floral—likely healing herbs.
"What… happened?" Her voice came out rough, barely more than a whisper.
"You drew the Veil," Kade said quietly. "You called to it—and it answered."
Nova blinked. The Veil. She remembered now—the surge of power, the whisper in her head, the way the shadows had wrapped around her arms like armor. "I… couldn't control it."
"No," Kade agreed, "but you didn't let it consume you either. That's something."
A new voice cut into their moment. "She summoned a force meant for destruction, and you're treating it like a blessing?"
Nova turned her head toward the voice. A woman stepped into view—tall, elegant, draped in flowing robes that shimmered like twilight. Her eyes glowed a faint violet, her skin marked with ancient sigils. She moved like someone used to being obeyed.
"Nova, meet High Enchanter Elaris," Kade introduced.
Nova attempted to sit up straighter, but Elaris waved a hand and the pain eased slightly.
"You're lucky, girl," the enchanter said, voice clipped but not unkind. "Most who call upon the Crimson Veil vanish into madness."
Nova met her gaze. "I didn't mean to call it. I only wanted to protect him."
Elaris studied her, the violet in her eyes deepening. "Intent has power. You protected him with something darker than this realm has seen in centuries. The bond has been sealed."
Nova frowned. "What bond?"
Kade glanced away. Elaris folded her arms. "The Veil does not lend its strength freely. When it answers a summoner, a bond is forged—between the summoner and the one they fought to protect. That's why you're still alive, both of you. The magic tethered you together."
Nova's heart thudded. She looked at Kade, whose expression had grown unreadable.
"So… what does that mean?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Elaris turned, stepping toward the large stone table at the center of the chamber. She unrolled an ancient scroll, beckoning them closer. "It means your fates are now tied. If one falls, the other will too. If one embraces the Veil fully, the other will be pulled into its depths. You're not just marked anymore, Nova—you're bound."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Nova's thoughts spun in every direction. A bond—tied to Kade—life and death connected by shadows older than memory. She didn't know whether to feel honored, terrified, or cursed.
Kade finally spoke. "We need to prepare. The Council won't let this pass quietly. They already fear what she is. Now they'll fear what we've become."
Elaris nodded grimly. "I can buy you time. But if you wish to survive what's coming, Nova must learn to control the Veil. And you, Kade, must be willing to go wherever that path leads."
Kade's jaw tightened. "I will."
Nova hesitated, still gripping the edge of the stone table. "What happens if I lose control again?"
Elaris met her eyes. "Then the realms bleed. And this world will become a prison of shadows."
A hush followed her words, and Nova felt the weight of her choice. No longer was she simply trying to uncover the truth behind her mark—she was now a living key to something far more dangerous.
Later, under the dim light of the moon filtering through the enchanted crystal ceiling of the sanctuary, Nova found herself alone with Kade. They sat in silence, the air thick with everything unsaid.
"So, we're bound now," she said, breaking the silence.
Kade turned toward her, his expression softer now. "You didn't ask for any of this. I get that. But I'm not walking away. Not now."
She looked at him—truly looked—and saw the fire behind his calm exterior. "It's not just about me anymore. Whatever's coming, we face it together."
He nodded. "Together."
And as the night deepened, and the stars blinked into view overhead, Nova felt something stir inside her—not fear, not even sorrow—but resolve.
If she was going to be the key to the Veil, she would learn to control it. Not for herself. But for Kade, for the realm, and for the girl she used to be—the one who once believed she was just ordinary.
Because now, Nova knew she was anything but.