The night air was thick with the scent of burning parchment and spilled wine. In the heart of the royal palace, beneath the towering stained-glass windows depicting long-dead heroes, a thief stood before the empire’s most feared general with a smirk that could start wars.

“You look angry,” the thief purred, twirling a golden dagger between their fingers. “Missed me?”

Across the grand hall, General Lucian Vale did not move, though the shadows of the flickering torches carved sharp lines into his cold, unreadable expression. His gloved hand rested lightly on the hilt of his sword, but his patience was far thinner than his composure.

“You stole from the empire,” Lucian said, voice like tempered steel. “And you think this is amusing?”

The thief, known to some as Raven, to others as an absolute menace, tilted their head. “In my defense, I didn’t think I’d get caught.”

Lucian exhaled slowly, the only sign of his growing frustration. “And yet, here you are.”

“Here I am,” Raven agreed cheerfully, as if this weren’t a situation that could end with their head on a spike. “Which means either I’m very unlucky or you’ve been waiting for this moment.” Their grin widened. “You have been waiting for me, haven’t you?”

Lucian’s grip tightened around his sword. He was not a man who indulged in petty games. But gods help him, there was something about this thief that made restraint feel like an impossible thing.

“I should have you executed,” Lucian stated matter-of-factly. “Save the empire the trouble of dealing with you again.”

Raven gave a dramatic sigh, placing a hand over their heart. “So cruel. And after all the fun we’ve had?” They took a step closer, knowing full well they were testing their luck. “I think you’d miss me.”

Lucian’s glare remained impassive, but there was a flicker of something beneath it—annoyance, intrigue, maybe something more dangerous. “You mistake patience for leniency,” he said coldly.

Before Raven could craft a witty reply, the air shifted. A heavy pressure settled in the room, and the torches lining the walls flickered wildly. The golden dagger in Raven’s hand suddenly felt too warm, and an unsettling energy crawled up their spine. The relic.

And then the pain struck.

It was sharp and searing, burning through their veins like molten fire. Raven stumbled, gripping their wrist where an intricate mark—glowing gold and crimson—began to carve itself into their skin. Across the room, Lucian’s reaction was identical. He hissed as the same mark seared its way onto his forearm, binding them with an ancient, merciless magic.

A bond. A curse. A fate neither of them had chosen.

Raven groaned. “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

Lucian lifted his gaze, his eyes dark and dangerous. “Tell me what you did.”

“For once,” Raven muttered, looking at the glowing brand with growing horror, “I actually have no idea.”

The magic pulsed again, tightening around them like an invisible chain. Raven could feel it now—a pull, an undeniable connection thrumming between them. They took an instinctive step back, and a sharp jolt of pain sent them reeling forward again.

Lucian, ever composed, tested it as well. He took a slow, measured step in the opposite direction. The magic snapped tight, yanking Raven forward so forcefully that they nearly crashed into him. Only his quick reflexes stopped them, a strong arm grasping theirs before they collided.

“Well,” Raven breathed, a little breathless. “This is awkward.”

Lucian released them instantly, jaw tight. “This bond must be broken.”

Raven rubbed their wrist, wincing as the mark pulsed again. “Agreed. Not really my style, being tied to someone else.”

Lucian’s expression darkened. “Then let’s hope we find a way to undo it before it’s too late.”

Raven raised an eyebrow. “Too late for what?”

Lucian hesitated. “This is no ordinary bond. If it is what I suspect… it will change everything.”

A slow chill crept over Raven’s spine, but they covered it with another smirk. “Oh, great. More cryptic warnings. You generals do love your dramatic statements.”

Lucian ignored the comment, already moving toward the door. “Come. We need answers.”

Raven sighed, throwing one last glance at the golden dagger still clutched in their hand. Whatever had happened, whatever magic had been awakened, they had no choice now.

Because for better or worse, they were bound together.

And judging by the fire in Lucian’s glare, he liked it even less than they did.

The torches along the corridor flickered as they walked in tense silence. Raven felt the weight of the bond pressing against them, a constant presence neither could ignore.

“You walk too fast,” Raven muttered, breaking the silence.

Lucian didn’t glance at them. “You fall behind too easily.”

“I prefer to call it pacing myself.” Raven grinned, but Lucian was unimpressed.

They reached the palace’s underground archives, where the empire’s most dangerous and ancient records were kept. A locked door stood before them, inscribed with runes that glowed faintly. Lucian pressed a hand against it, murmuring something under his breath. The runes flared before fading, and the door creaked open.

Inside, rows upon rows of ancient tomes lined the walls. Dust floated in the dim candlelight, and the scent of old parchment filled the air.

Lucian immediately moved toward a specific section, pulling down a heavy, leather-bound book. Raven watched with curiosity as he flipped through the pages with practiced ease.

After a moment, Lucian stopped and read aloud, “The Binding of Souls… an unbreakable magical tether formed by the relics of old. Once sealed, the fates of the bound are entwined forever.”

Raven stiffened. “Forever?”

Lucian’s fingers tightened around the book. “There has to be a way to undo it.”

Raven let out a slow breath. “Well, General, looks like you’re stuck with me.”

Lucian closed the book with a snap. “Don’t remind me.”

The morning sun had barely begun its slow ascent when Raven awoke to the sharp tug of the bond. It wasn’t painful, exactly, but it was insistent, like an invisible chain wrapped around their wrist, pulling them toward its counterpart.

Lucian was already awake, standing near the open balcony of their temporary shelter—an abandoned watchtower on the outskirts of the capital. His back was rigid, arms crossed, as if pretending they weren’t magically tethered together.

“Good morning, sunshine,” Raven drawled, stretching lazily. “You look thrilled.”

Lucian didn’t even turn. “I hardly see what’s good about it.”

Raven sat up, rubbing their wrist where the bond pulsed faintly. “Well, you’re alive, I’m alive. That’s something.”

Lucian finally turned, his silver eyes cold as steel. “This bond is unnatural. The sooner we sever it, the better.”

Raven sighed dramatically. “And here I thought we were bonding.”

Lucian’s glare intensified, and Raven smirked. But beneath the teasing, they both knew the truth: this bond wasn’t going to be easy to break. And neither of them had any idea what it would demand of them.

They had traveled through the night after discovering the bond, neither willing to risk staying in the palace where too many eyes were watching. Lucian had suggested the abandoned watchtower—a relic from an old war that the empire no longer cared to maintain. It was empty, dusty, and cold, but at least they wouldn’t be found immediately.

Raven rose to their feet and made their way to the balcony, leaning against the stone railing. Below them, the forest stretched into the distance, mist still clinging to the treetops. “So, what’s the plan, oh mighty general?”

Lucian clenched his jaw. “I need to speak to the High Enchanter. If anyone knows about this kind of magic, it’s him.”

“Sounds like a fantastic plan, except for one little problem.” Raven held up their wrist, the golden mark glinting in the sunlight. “Where you go, I go.”

Lucian’s fingers curled into a fist. “I am aware.”

Raven grinned. “Good. Just making sure you’re ready to have me as your personal shadow.”

Lucian exhaled sharply, turning away. “Pack your things. We leave within the hour.”

Raven saluted mockingly. “Yes, sir.”

---

Traveling with Lucian was exactly as frustrating as Raven had expected. He walked too fast, spoke too little, and ignored every attempt at conversation. By midday, Raven was thoroughly bored.

“You know,” Raven mused as they walked along the overgrown path, “this whole ‘silent brooding’ act is really impressive. Do you practice in front of a mirror?”

Lucian didn’t even glance at them. “No.”

“Fascinating,” Raven continued, undeterred. “I bet you’re a hit at parties.”

“I don’t attend parties.”

“Of course, you don’t,” Raven muttered. “Tragic.”

Silence stretched between them again, save for the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. The sun was high in the sky now, casting dappled light through the trees. Despite the tension between them, Raven couldn’t deny the beauty of the landscape. It was a rare sight for someone used to the dark alleyways and rooftops of the capital.

“Tell me something,” Raven said after a while. “Why do you even care about breaking this bond? I mean, I get why I don’t want to be stuck with you, but you? You’re a general. You could just lock me in a dungeon and be done with it.”

Lucian’s steps slowed just a fraction, but he didn’t stop. “This bond is dangerous.”

Raven raised an eyebrow. “Dangerous how?”

Lucian hesitated before answering. “Magic like this isn’t meant to exist anymore. If it was sealed away, there was a reason. If someone finds out about it—about us—it could be used as a weapon.”

Raven whistled. “So dramatic. And here I thought you just didn’t like my charming personality.”

Lucian shot them a look. “I don’t.”

Raven clutched their chest in mock offense. “Ouch.”

They continued walking, the air growing heavier as the day stretched on. The forest slowly began to thin, revealing the outskirts of a small village nestled against the hills. Smoke curled from chimneys, and the faint sound of a blacksmith’s hammer echoed in the distance.

Lucian pulled his cloak tighter around himself. “We’ll rest here for the night. Keep a low profile.”

Raven grinned. “You do realize ‘low profile’ isn’t exactly my specialty?”

Lucian sighed. “Just… try.”

They entered the village just as the sun began to dip below the horizon. The bond pulsed faintly, a constant reminder that no matter how much they tried to ignore it, they were stuck with each other.

And somehow, Raven had the feeling this was only the beginning.