Chapter 7: Bond of Shadows
As they continued deeper into the tower, something subtle but unmistakable began to change. The air grew denser, charged with a latent energy that clung to their skin. Azaymos could feel it—the pulsing magic of the tower, drawing closer with each step. But it wasn't just the tower that was changing.
He could feel it in himself too.
It started as a faint hum, a whisper in his blood, but as they pressed forward, the hum grew stronger. The curse that had plagued him for ten long years—the curse that had frozen him in youthful form—now seemed to stir. The runes etched into his skin burned faintly, pulsing in time with the tower's energy.
Azaymos stopped, his hand instinctively moving to his chest where the runes burned the brightest. He hadn't felt this sensation before—this... connection. His curse had always been a burden, a constant reminder of his imprisonment. But now, something was different.
"Azaymos?" Nox's voice cut through his thoughts. She had noticed his sudden hesitation, her red eyes narrowing with concern.
"I... feel something," he muttered, shaking his head as he tried to clear the fog in his mind. "The curse. It's... reacting to the tower."
Rex, ever the skeptic, raised an eyebrow. "And that's a good thing?"
Azaymos didn't have an answer for him. The curse had never been good, but now it felt less like a punishment and more like a key. A key to something deeper, something tied to the tower's very essence. He gritted his teeth, the burning in his runes intensifying.
Before he could explain further, a sharp pain lanced through his body, dropping him to one knee. His vision blurred as the energy coursed through him, overwhelming and powerful. But as the pain reached its peak, something else happened.
A surge of power.
The runes on his body flared with bright, blinding light, and he felt the curse shift—not loosening, but transforming. It was as if the energy of the tower was amplifying his curse, turning it into something more than just a burden.
And as the light spread, Azaymos wasn't the only one affected.
Nox, standing nearby, staggered backward, her eyes wide as a sudden burst of power rushed through her as well. Her shadowy magic flared around her, tendrils of darkness swirling with new intensity.
"What...?" she gasped, glancing down at her hands, now pulsing with dark energy.
At the same time, Rex's body trembled as a primal force seemed to awaken within him. His muscles bulged, his werewolf strength amplified beyond anything he had felt before. His eyes, already glowing with a faint silver light, now blazed like twin moons in the darkness.
Azaymos, his vision clearing, stared at his companions in shock. "You... both of you..."
Nox nodded slowly, still catching her breath. "It's the curse," she whispered. "Whatever you're connected to... we're connected too."
Rex looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers as he tested the newfound strength coursing through him. "We're bonded," he said, his voice low. "When you get stronger, we do too."
Azaymos felt a strange mix of relief and unease. His curse, which had always been his alone to bear, now extended to Nox and Rex. They were linked—more than just allies, but bound by the very magic that had trapped him in the tower.
"I didn't mean for this to happen," Azaymos muttered, still trying to wrap his mind around what had just occurred.
Nox shook her head, her shadows swirling around her like living things. "It's not something you control. It's the tower, the curse. It's binding us together."
Rex grinned, baring his sharp teeth. "I'm not complaining. I feel stronger than ever."
Azaymos didn't share Rex's enthusiasm, but there was no denying the truth. Their bond was real, and it was making them stronger. But as much as he wanted to embrace this newfound power, he couldn't shake the feeling that the curse wasn't finished with them yet. The deeper they went, the stronger the connection would become—and that could be dangerous.
"I don't know where this is leading," Azaymos admitted, standing once again, the glow of his runes fading slightly. "But we need to be careful. If the curse is making us stronger, it could also be trying to control us."
Nox nodded in agreement. "We'll need to watch each other's backs. The tower won't let us walk out of here without a fight."
Rex's grin widened, clearly unfazed by the warning. "Good. I'd hate for this to get boring."
Before they could discuss the bond further, the girl reappeared from the shadows, her form flickering as she stepped forward. She had been watching them from a distance, her expression unreadable.
"The bond between you is growing," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But be wary. The tower does not give power freely."
Azaymos turned to her, his expression hard. "You knew this would happen, didn't you?"
The girl smiled, but gave no clear answer. "The tower has its own will. What you gain now may come with a price later."
Rex rolled his eyes. "Great. More riddles."
Nox, however, seemed more thoughtful. "She's right," she murmured. "Power doesn't come without a cost."
Azaymos said nothing, his mind racing. The bond was real, and it was giving them strength. But if the girl was right, there was a price yet to be paid.
"We keep moving," he finally said, tightening his grip on the cursed dagger at his side. The blade was cold, a constant reminder of the betrayal that had cursed him. But now, it seemed even the dagger was reacting to the changes around them. The deeper they went, the closer they came to uncovering the truth behind its power—and the curse it carried.
As they ventured forward, the bond between them thrummed with new energy, a power that would only grow stronger with time. But with that strength came uncertainty. The tower had many secrets, and Azaymos feared that what they gained might eventually be their undoing.
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End of Chapter 7