Chapter 31:
The Bond of Souls
Revenge in another world
The radiance of the starry sea began to fade, but the Oracle’s words still echoed in our minds like impossible whispers we couldn’t silence.
"There are only two paths: accept it and master it… or reject it and perish with it."
The silence became unbearable. I trembled—not out of fear of dying, but out of fear of losing myself, of the shadow within me taking everything I was.
“There must be another way,” I said tensely. “I can’t accept that my life depends on an inevitable doom.”
The Oracle tilted their head, and for the first time their lips moved.
“Fate rarely gives second chances… but in your case, there is a crack in the wall.”
They raised a hand, and new images appeared in the illusory firmament: Aria and Kiseki, standing face to face, like reflections in the same mirror. Both bore the same gaze, the same gestures, as though they were two halves of the same melody.
Aria gripped my arm, her breath quickening. “That… that’s what I saw in my vision at the sanctuary.”
The Oracle nodded. “You were not mistaken. Your souls are bound, Aria. You and Kiseki share the same origin. She is the shadow of your spirit, and you, the light of hers. As long as one falls into darkness, the other will suffer.”
The words struck like a hammer.
“What does that mean?” Lysbeth asked, frowning.
“That to save one… you must save the other. There is no victory in destroying Kiseki, for doing so would also destroy Aria.”
It felt as if the ground crumbled beneath my feet. My entire purpose, my vengeance, everything wavered in an instant.
“No…” I whispered, my throat tight. “Then… is my fate to choose between her and Aria?”
The Oracle shook their head slowly. “Not choose. Unite. Only by reconciling both souls will the cycle be broken. And only then will you be able to defy the true puppeteer of this tragedy.”
The stars shifted again. We saw a colossal figure, greater than any god ever described in legends. Its eyes were golden flames, its hand stretched over entire worlds like an eternal executioner.
“The God of Chains… the one who wove all of this.”
Nara went pale. “A god… behind everything?”
“He is the one who bound Kiseki to this fate,” explained the Oracle, “and the one who placed within you, Kaoru, the seed of the Veilbearer. It was no accident—you were chosen as the vessel to complete his plan.”
Rei clenched his fists, trembling with rage. “So everything we suffered… everything we lost… was because of that damned god!”
Lysbeth looked sternly at the Oracle. “And how do we stop him?”
The old figure fell silent, as though the weight of the answer was too much. At last, he spoke gravely.
“The only path is to forge a will stronger than that of the god himself. For that, you must unite not only as companions, but as intertwined souls. Kaoru must master the shadow within, and Aria must reconcile with Kiseki. Only then will you have the strength to challenge him.”
Aria swallowed hard, tears in her eyes. “Reconcile… with her?”
“Yes,” said the Oracle. “For she is you, and you are her. Separation was the cruelest lie.”
I looked at her, and on her face I saw fear and confusion, but also a glimmer of resolve.
“Kaoru…” she whispered. “If that’s true, then we can’t keep seeing her as the enemy.”
My heart tore. I remembered every time I swore to destroy Kiseki, all the hatred I had fed. And now I had to save her.
The voice inside me laughed softly.
“See? Even your enemies become indispensable. Everything blends, everything rots. How long will you endure it?”
I ignored it, clenching my fists.
“If that god thinks I’ll surrender, he’s wrong. I won’t let him use me as his vessel. And I won’t let Aria suffer because of Kiseki’s darkness. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
The Oracle nodded, though sorrow lingered in their eyes. “Then your path is set. But remember: every victory will bring a price.”
The vision dissolved. We returned to the throne chamber, the air heavy with the echo of what we had seen. The Oracle closed his eyes, as if falling into an eternal sleep.
Silence reigned for a moment, broken by Nara. “Well… I guess we know what our next step is.”
Rei crossed his arms. “Yeah. Find Kiseki and save her from the darkness… before it’s too late.”
Aria took my hand, her fingers trembling. “And we’ll do it together.”
The voice in my mind went silent for the first time since it appeared, as if even it was waiting for what was to come.
I knew the true journey was only just beginning.
"There are only two paths: accept it and master it… or reject it and perish with it."
The silence became unbearable. I trembled—not out of fear of dying, but out of fear of losing myself, of the shadow within me taking everything I was.
“There must be another way,” I said tensely. “I can’t accept that my life depends on an inevitable doom.”
The Oracle tilted their head, and for the first time their lips moved.
“Fate rarely gives second chances… but in your case, there is a crack in the wall.”
They raised a hand, and new images appeared in the illusory firmament: Aria and Kiseki, standing face to face, like reflections in the same mirror. Both bore the same gaze, the same gestures, as though they were two halves of the same melody.
Aria gripped my arm, her breath quickening. “That… that’s what I saw in my vision at the sanctuary.”
The Oracle nodded. “You were not mistaken. Your souls are bound, Aria. You and Kiseki share the same origin. She is the shadow of your spirit, and you, the light of hers. As long as one falls into darkness, the other will suffer.”
The words struck like a hammer.
“What does that mean?” Lysbeth asked, frowning.
“That to save one… you must save the other. There is no victory in destroying Kiseki, for doing so would also destroy Aria.”
It felt as if the ground crumbled beneath my feet. My entire purpose, my vengeance, everything wavered in an instant.
“No…” I whispered, my throat tight. “Then… is my fate to choose between her and Aria?”
The Oracle shook their head slowly. “Not choose. Unite. Only by reconciling both souls will the cycle be broken. And only then will you be able to defy the true puppeteer of this tragedy.”
The stars shifted again. We saw a colossal figure, greater than any god ever described in legends. Its eyes were golden flames, its hand stretched over entire worlds like an eternal executioner.
“The God of Chains… the one who wove all of this.”
Nara went pale. “A god… behind everything?”
“He is the one who bound Kiseki to this fate,” explained the Oracle, “and the one who placed within you, Kaoru, the seed of the Veilbearer. It was no accident—you were chosen as the vessel to complete his plan.”
Rei clenched his fists, trembling with rage. “So everything we suffered… everything we lost… was because of that damned god!”
Lysbeth looked sternly at the Oracle. “And how do we stop him?”
The old figure fell silent, as though the weight of the answer was too much. At last, he spoke gravely.
“The only path is to forge a will stronger than that of the god himself. For that, you must unite not only as companions, but as intertwined souls. Kaoru must master the shadow within, and Aria must reconcile with Kiseki. Only then will you have the strength to challenge him.”
Aria swallowed hard, tears in her eyes. “Reconcile… with her?”
“Yes,” said the Oracle. “For she is you, and you are her. Separation was the cruelest lie.”
I looked at her, and on her face I saw fear and confusion, but also a glimmer of resolve.
“Kaoru…” she whispered. “If that’s true, then we can’t keep seeing her as the enemy.”
My heart tore. I remembered every time I swore to destroy Kiseki, all the hatred I had fed. And now I had to save her.
The voice inside me laughed softly.
“See? Even your enemies become indispensable. Everything blends, everything rots. How long will you endure it?”
I ignored it, clenching my fists.
“If that god thinks I’ll surrender, he’s wrong. I won’t let him use me as his vessel. And I won’t let Aria suffer because of Kiseki’s darkness. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
The Oracle nodded, though sorrow lingered in their eyes. “Then your path is set. But remember: every victory will bring a price.”
The vision dissolved. We returned to the throne chamber, the air heavy with the echo of what we had seen. The Oracle closed his eyes, as if falling into an eternal sleep.
Silence reigned for a moment, broken by Nara. “Well… I guess we know what our next step is.”
Rei crossed his arms. “Yeah. Find Kiseki and save her from the darkness… before it’s too late.”
Aria took my hand, her fingers trembling. “And we’ll do it together.”
The voice in my mind went silent for the first time since it appeared, as if even it was waiting for what was to come.
I knew the true journey was only just beginning.
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