Ava's breath came in shallow gasps as the world around them solidified back into the plaza. She felt the weight of what had just happened settle on her shoulders—her first real challenge, her first real victory. But it wasn't just the physical exhaustion that weighed on her; it was the strange, electric pull between her and Luke that had begun to form after the battle.
Her fingers twitched as she stood up slowly, her legs still wobbly from the rush of adrenaline. Kara, however, seemed entirely unaffected, twirling her staff as if the fight had been nothing more than a warm-up.
"Well," Kara said, her voice tinged with amusement, "that was quite the introduction. I suppose I'll be sticking around a little longer."
Luke wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes lingering on Ava before shifting to Kara. "This game isn't something to take lightly, Kara. I don't know how long you've been here, but every challenge pushes us closer to the edge."
Kara smirked, leaning her weight against her staff. "You underestimate me, Luke. I'm not as fragile as I look."
Ava clenched her jaw, the back-and-forth between them igniting something deep inside her. Kara was skilled, no doubt, but there was something about her that Ava couldn't trust. Maybe it was the way she so casually inserted herself into their dynamic, or maybe it was how effortlessly she had aligned herself with Luke. Either way, Ava knew she had to be careful. This wasn't just a game anymore; this was survival. And in this world, alliances could crumble in a heartbeat.
Suddenly, the familiar chime of the system echoed in their minds, pulling their attention away from each other.
New Ability: Soul Link
Description: Players who share a bond through combat and trust may unlock the ability to sense each other's emotions, health, and state of mind. This connection deepens as the bond grows stronger.
Current Link Strength: 10%
Ava's eyes widened as she read the notification. She glanced at Luke, who looked equally surprised. "Soul Link?" she repeated aloud, her voice thick with confusion.
Kara raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Now *that's* interesting. It seems the game is rewarding you two for working together." Her lips curved into a sly smile. "Or maybe it's trying to forge something deeper."
Ava's face flushed as she shot Kara a warning look, but Luke ignored the implication. He turned to Ava, his expression thoughtful. "This could be useful," he said. "We'll be able to sense each other's condition during the next challenge."
Ava nodded slowly, still trying to process the idea of being emotionally linked to Luke. She hadn't asked for this—she barely knew him. But the system didn't seem to care about her personal feelings. It was moving them forward, whether they were ready or not.
"Great," Kara chimed in, clapping her hands together. "Now that we've got that settled, why don't we explore a bit? I'm sure there are more surprises waiting for us."
Ava frowned, her suspicion of Kara growing with each passing second. The woman was far too eager to take charge, and Ava couldn't shake the feeling that Kara had her own agenda. But Luke seemed indifferent to the tension, his focus still on the Soul Link and what it might mean for them.
"Let's move," Luke said, his tone firm. "We can't stay here. The game will throw something new at us soon enough."
They began to walk, the cobblestones of the plaza echoing beneath their footsteps. Ava kept her distance from Kara, her thoughts racing as she tried to figure out what the Soul Link truly meant. The system had said it was based on trust, but she barely knew Luke. How could there be any real trust between them?
As they continued, the once-bustling plaza began to fade, replaced by towering marble pillars and arches that stretched into the sky. The entire landscape seemed to shift, as if the world around them was alive, constantly evolving in response to their progress.
Ava's stomach tightened as a heavy fog rolled in, covering the ground in a thick mist that clung to their ankles. She could barely make out the path ahead, and each step felt more uncertain than the last.
"This place…" Kara murmured, her voice carrying a hint of fascination. "It's constantly changing."
Luke's grip tightened on his sword as he scanned their surroundings. "Stay close. Something's off."
Ava's skin prickled with unease. She couldn't put her finger on it, but the air felt charged, like they were walking into the unknown.
Then, without warning, a sharp pain shot through Ava's chest. She gasped, stumbling forward as her vision blurred. The world spun around her, and for a moment, she thought she was going to collapse.
Luke was at her side in an instant, his hand steadying her. "Ava? What's wrong?"
"I-I don't know," she managed to say through gritted teeth. The pain was unbearable, as if something was tearing her apart from the inside.
Then, a horrifying thought crossed her mind.
The Soul Link.
"Luke," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "It's not me. It's you."
Luke's eyes widened in realization, and he immediately pressed a hand to his side. Blood was seeping through his shirt, staining it a deep crimson. Ava hadn't noticed before, but he had been injured in the fight with the knight, and the wound hadn't fully healed.
"It's the Soul Link," she said, struggling to stand upright. "I can feel your pain."
Kara watched with an amused smirk. "Well, isn't that convenient? Now you can feel each other's suffering. How touching."
Luke ignored her, his focus entirely on Ava. "I'm fine," he said, though his voice was strained. "It's just a scratch."
Ava shook her head, her heart racing. "We need to find a way to heal you, or I'll be feeling every bit of it."
Luke's jaw clenched as he glanced around the fog-covered ruins. "There has to be something here—some kind of healing item or spell. We need to keep moving."
They pushed forward, the weight of the Soul Link making every step more difficult. Ava could feel Luke's pain coursing through her veins, sharp and unrelenting. It was like they were tethered together, their fates intertwined in ways she hadn't anticipated.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached a small, ornate pedestal at the center of the ruins. A glowing vial of liquid sat atop it, its light piercing through the mist like a beacon of hope.
Luke stepped forward, his hand reaching for the vial, but Kara moved faster. She snatched it up, holding it just out of his reach.
"Now, now," she said, her tone teasing. "You didn't think I'd let you have it that easily, did you?"
Ava's eyes widened in disbelief. "Kara, what are you doing? He's hurt!"
Kara shrugged, twirling the vial between her fingers. "He'll be fine. But what's in it for me if I just hand it over? I think we should renegotiate our little alliance, don't you?"
Luke's eyes narrowed, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Kara, this isn't the time for games."
Kara smiled, her eyes gleaming. "Oh, but it's always the time for games. Isn't that why we're here?"
Ava felt the weight of the situation pressing down on her. The tension between them was palpable, and she could feel Luke's pain intensifying with every passing second. If Kara didn't hand over the vial soon, they were both in serious trouble.
But Kara wasn't just playing for fun. She had something else in mind—something more dangerous.
Ava realized then that this game wasn't just about survival. It was about power. And Kara wasn't going to give it up easily.