Volume 1:The Prophecy
Chapter 5:The Silent Bond Begins
The world was pitch black.
Rei stood in silence, the air around him heavy and unreal. Shapes barely moved in the distance—shadows of people… no, one of them was a girl.
She was chained.
She knelt motionless, long hair flowing unnaturally in the darkness. Her hands were bound, her head down. Before Rei could take a step forward, another figure appeared. A man.
He walked calmly up to the girl and knelt.
With a single touch, the chains shattered.
They both stood still after that. Silent. Not moving. Just standing, side by side.
Rei tried to run toward them—but no matter how far he walked, they stayed the same distance away, as if the space stretched with every step.
And then—
"You are mine…"
The voice wasn't a whisper. It was a growl.
It echoed from within him—demonic, ancient, and absolute.
Rei gasped awake.
He blinked at the pale ceiling of his bedroom, heart racing. Sweat clung to his skin. His phone buzzed angrily on the nightstand, lighting up with ITSUKI CALLING…
He rubbed his face, shook off the weight of the dream, and answered.
"What?"
"You alive? Great. Get to the forest shrine. Now. Raiga's going full samurai mode."
Click.
Rei sighed and got out of bed.
Downstairs, the smell of breakfast hit him. Eggs, toast, and tea were ready on the table.
His mother looked up as he entered, wiping her hands on a towel. "Well, you look like someone who saw a ghost. Rough night?"
"Just a dream," Rei muttered, sitting down.
She smiled and handed him a plate. "You'll feel better once you eat. So, how's the new school? Making any friends? Are things… exciting?"
Rei looked up, paused, then forced a crooked grin.
"Yeah. Exciting."
She gave him a look that said she didn't believe it.
"You know, you make the exact same face your father used to make when he hated something."
The grin vanished.
She didn't notice at first. "If he were here, maybe things would be a little easier. Maybe we wouldn't—"
Rei stood abruptly, chair screeching.
"I'm not hungry."
His mother froze.
"Rei, I didn't mean—"
But he was already slipping on his shoes.
"Don't forget your jacket, it looks like rain!" she called.
The door closed behind him.
The streets were quiet, bathed in early sunlight. Rei walked briskly, backpack slung low, thoughts spinning.
The dream… that girl… That voice.
And then—
A man blocked his path.
Clad in black, face completely wrapped except for one thing: his eyes—bright, pale red, almost glowing.
"Excuse me," the man said in a low tone. "I'm new here. Could you tell me where the eastern shrine is?"
Rei frowned. "I'm new too. No idea."
The man nodded. "Thanks."
He walked away.
Rei turned and watched him go.
Where have I seen those eyes before…?
His phone buzzed again.
Itsuki"If you're not here in ten minutes, I'm stealing your lunch money."
The shrine stood just beyond the tree line, hidden by mist and surrounded by the quiet hum of forest life. The clearing was wide, with old stone lanterns marking its edges and leaves drifting down like feathers.
Yuki waved from a flat boulder.
Itsuki was sitting cross-legged, eating chips that were probably older than most of his jokes.
And near the center, Raiga stood tall, arms crossed, radiating the energy of a warrior who didn't believe in second chances.
Rei approached.
"You're late," Raiga said without looking.
Rei shrugged. "It's not even ten."
Raiga's voice was cold. "Training starts at eight. Time isn't just a number. It's a blade. And it cuts anyone who wastes it."
Behind him, Itsuki whispered, "Says the guy who showed up after everyone else…"
Yuki coughed to hide her laughter.
Raiga shot them a glare but moved on.
"This shrine," he said, "is sacred. This is where your true strength begins. Today, we awaken your bond with the tools—your soulbound bracelets."
The shrine had quieted.
Raiga stepped into the center of the old stone ring, the morning light filtering through the trees behind him. He turned, gaze sharp, as Rei, Itsuki, and Yuki stood watching.
He slowly raised his hand.
A pulse of dark silver light shimmered from his wrist—the bracelet.
"The first rule you need to understand," Raiga began, voice firm, "is this: every living being has a soul. And where there is a soul... there's energy."
His bracelet flickered with a low hum as if resonating with his words.
"This energy—soul energy—is the raw source of who you are. It's not physical strength. It's your will. Your pain. Your memories. Your bond to this world."
He turned toward the stone platform behind him. Three small bracelets rested on it, glowing faintly.
"Long ago, our ancestors forged these tools—bracelets made from spiritual ore, mixed with the breath of magic and the memory of battle. They carry a fragrance... not of scent, but of presence. When touched, they recognize your soul. And they bind to it."
Yuki leaned forward slightly, curious.
Raiga continued, "For normal people, these bracelets are just amplifiers. They can awaken a weapon—temporarily imbuing it with energy. Like how I use a blade. Nothing more."
He extended his hand outward. A katana blinked into form—shimmering with smoky black aura. It hovered, then snapped into his palm like it was pulled by gravity.
"But if someone is born from a sorcerer's bloodline… or one of the Guardians… the bracelet does more."
Itsuki blinked. "Like magic?"
Raiga nodded. "Yes. Real magic. The kind that's been dormant in your blood for generations. The bracelet stirs it. Feeds it. And in return, your soul reshapes the bracelet's power."
He stepped closer now, eyes scanning each of them.
"Over time, the bond can deepen. If your spirit is strong enough—if you've truly lived through something that forged you—your bracelet can awaken."
Rei narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean 'awaken'?"
Raiga looked at his own wrist, then clenched his fist.
"It starts to speak to you."
Itsuki leaned back. "Whoa, like... an inner voice? Soul roommate?"
Raiga almost smirked. "Something like that. A twin born from your will. Not everyone reaches that level. Not everyone should."
He turned his back, facing the old stone tablet.
"But all of you… today… are here for one thing."
He gestured toward the table.
"You will touch your bracelet. Let your soul meet it. If your heart is clear, it will respond. If your will is strong, it will bond. And then—only then—you can attempt to merge that bond into something simple."
He walked to a bundle of normal metal rods on the ground.
"These are blanks. Empty weapons. Spears, blades, staves, or whatever you feel drawn to. Once the bracelet links, you'll try to imbue one of these with your soul. If it works... the weapon will glow with your aura. Your first soul weapon."
He looked at Rei, then Itsuki, then Yuki.
"Don't think of this as magic. Think of it like breathing. The bracelet doesn't give you power. It lets you reveal what was already there."
A silence fell.
Then Raiga added quietly, "Some of you may find your bracelet… difficult. Not all souls are simple. Some are twisted. Others... broken."
His eyes lingered on Rei for a second longer than the rest.
"But today, you begin. Today, you take the first step to becoming more than just a student."
He raised one hand.
"Come. Choose your bracelet."
The silence was heavy, as if even the forest waited to hear more.
Yuki stepped forward slightly, her expression thoughtful but uncertain. Her eyes shifted to the bracelet on Raiga's wrist, still faintly glowing.
"So..." she began softly, "you can hear it too? That voice inside the bracelet?"
Raiga looked at her—long and unreadable.
"I'm from the same bloodline," he said quietly. "A descendant of the Guardians. I've trained harder than most. But even now..." His voice trailed for a moment. "Even now, I haven't gone that far."
Yuki blinked. "You haven't heard it?"
Raiga shook his head once.
"I've felt it—flickers, echoes maybe. But not a voice. Not the true awakening. Some say... if your soul is strong enough, the bracelet doesn't just whisper. It calls. A full shadow-form of your inner power—a being of aura, born from your essence—can appear and fight beside you."
Itsuki, wide-eyed, mouthed, "A soul twin…"
Raiga turned away slightly, his arms crossed.
"I haven't seen it. But I believe it exists."
He looked back at them now, something calmer in his gaze.
"And if anyone has the chance to reach that far... it's probably you three."
Rei's brows furrowed.
Yuki swallowed hard.
Itsuki gave a short breath. "Well, no pressure."
Raiga walked back toward the stone altar and picked up the bracelets one by one. Their auras glowed faintly in different hues—one soft crimson, one bright silver, one faintly blue-gray.
He held them out.
"Take them. These are yours now."
Each of them stepped forward, their hands hesitating for a breath before they closed around the tools. The moment they touched, a strange warmth pulsed through their arms.
Raiga stepped back, voice serious.
"Now listen carefully."
He pointed to the smooth stone slabs placed around the shrine—simple meditation seats under the trees.
"Sit. Close your eyes. Don't fight your thoughts. I want you to dive into the worst part of your past. Something that changed you. Hurt you. Broke you."
Yuki looked uneasy. Itsuki didn't joke this time.
Raiga continued, "Let that memory rise. Let the pain guide you. That's the only way the bracelet can recognize your soul and bind to it. That pain is proof you've lived. And if your will is strong enough…"
He looked at them with a faint intensity.
"…The bracelet will respond."
They each moved to the stones, hesitant at first, then slowly settling into silence. Only the rustling of leaves filled the space as one by one, they closed their eyes.
Rei's hand gripped the bracelet tighter.
The dream... that girl... that man. That voice…
Raiga watched them for a moment longer. Then turned his back, letting the ritual begin.
He whispered to himself, just loud enough for no one to hear:
"Let's see what kind of souls you really have."
The forest had quieted.
Even the wind seemed to hold its breath, as if nature itself was watching.
The only sound left was the soft rustling of leaves… and the faint, almost imperceptible hum of soul energy beginning to stir.
Rei sat cross-legged beneath the old tree, his fingers resting gently against the bracelet wrapped around his wrist. The moment it had touched his skin, something inside him had cracked open.
The silence thickened.
And then— FWOOOSH.
A sudden burst of red flame-like light flared from Rei's bracelet. Not fire, exactly—but an aura, wild and hot, surging up his arm like a living current.
Yuki flinched. Itsuki sat up straighter, eyebrows raised.
Raiga's eyes sharpened.
"Already…? He's fast. Faster than I expected."
Then, almost instantly—Rei's body jerked.
His chest tightened. His hand shot to his scar.
"Agh—!"
He fell forward, kneeling, teeth gritted as the pain stabbed into him like a blade from the inside.
Raiga moved quickly, grabbing Rei's shoulders. "Rei! What happened?!"
Rei's breath was shaky. He stared at the ground for a long second, then whispered—
"It wasn't a dream."
Raiga's brows furrowed. "What?"
"I… I wasn't just meditating. It was real. I felt it. I was there."
Rei's voice trembled slightly, but his eyes were sharp. Focused.
"I was chained. My arms… I couldn't move. The place around me—nothing but black. But in the distance… there was this girl."
Raiga's hand loosened slightly on Rei's shoulder.
Rei continued, quieter now.
"She walked toward me. Her face wasn't clear… like a girl, but also not a girl. Something wrong. Something ancient. She came close… bent near my ear…"
His voice lowered to a whisper.
"You are the prophecy of mine," she had said.
Rei looked down at his scar, his fingers trembling.
"She touched it. Right here. And when she did, the pain burned like fire."
He looked up at Raiga now.
"…I don't think I can use this bracelet the way I'm supposed to."
Raiga frowned. "What do you mean?"
Rei's eyes dropped.
"I don't think I can inherit the magical powers of the sorcerer bloodline… The bracelet didn't pull out any magic. Only the soul-binding part responded. I could feel it. Like the other half of me is locked away. Like something's wrong."
Raiga thinking "He awakened that fast...? No, something's off. That didn't feel like a soul response. His aura… it was reacting to something else. Is it the scar?"
Behind him, Yuki and Itsuki stayed still, watching.
Raiga's thoughts raced.
He's the chosen one… the bloodline heir. He's supposed to awaken faster than anyone. Not just soul-binding—he should have magical resonance too.
So why…?
He stared at Rei's bracelet, still faintly pulsing with red flame.
Why did it stop here?
Then another thought—colder—slipped into his mind:
Unless... it's because of that scar. Unless something's already inside him.
Raiga didn't speak it out loud.
He simply gripped Rei's arm tighter—calmer now—and gave a quiet nod.
"…You did well."
Rei lay back against the tree, his breathing steadying, but the weight of the dream still heavy on his chest. His scar pulsed faintly beneath his shirt—no longer burning, but never fully silent.
Raiga stood, arms crossed. His eyes moved from Rei to the other two.
"…Yuki. Itsuki. Your turn."
Yuki gave a small nod and moved forward with quiet confidence. Itsuki followed, less serious—but his eyes flickered with determination.
They both knelt down, placing their hands on the bracelets now locked to their wrists.
The forest fell silent again.
The wind whispered faintly through the leaves above as the two closed their eyes and began to focus.
Minutes passed.
And then—
CRACK—Zzzap!
Small sparks of colored energy began to crackle around their wrists.
Yuki's bracelet shimmered with a faint silver-blue hue—light, clean, ancient.
Itsuki's glowed a deep, unstable green with flecks of crimson—raw, chaotic.
Raiga watched closely, his fingers tapping silently on his arm.
But… neither aura took shape.
No true soul-bond formed.
Yuki opened her eyes first, sweat on her brow. "Still not ready…"
Itsuki groaned, flopping back onto the grass dramatically. "Ughhhh. This thing hates me. I demand a refund."
Yuki turned her head toward him. "You didn't pay anything."
"Then I demand emotional compensation."
She rolled her eyes.
Raiga turned from them and sheathed his sword. "Take Rei. Rest. Eat something."
Yuki stood slowly. "Aren't you coming?"
Raiga didn't answer.
Instead, without warning, he drew his blade again—and with a single, smooth motion, sliced into his own shadow.
SHHUNK.
The shadow tore open like paper—and swallowed him whole.
Fssshhh.
He vanished.
Itsuki blinked. "What in the anime outro just happened?!"
Yuki narrowed her eyes. "That technique… That wasn't ordinary magic."
They began walking toward the edge of the forest, Rei leaning slightly against Yuki's shoulder, still weak.
Itsuki followed behind, arms behind his head. "Seriously, where do I sign up to teleport using my own shadow? That's illegal level cool."
Yuki didn't smile. Her face had turned serious again.
"…We need to train more. A lot more."
Itsuki looked over. "Huh?"
She stopped for a second—then stared into the trees behind them.
"Something's coming. I don't know what yet. But this... this is just the beginning."
Far away, beneath the school building they had all arrived at days ago...
...deep in the basement...
...hidden behind layers of locked stone and silent magic...
A small circular portal pulsed in the darkness.
Crimson light flickered from its core, faint as a heartbeat.
And for a brief moment…
It whispered.