Solbound

The sky split open, casting an eerie silver glow over the city as another Veil emerged. It was a portal of shimmering mist, hanging in the air and humming with a low, resonant sound that stirred something deep within each onlooker. To most, it was unsettling, a strange force best avoided. But to a rare few, it was something else—a silent, irresistible call to enter, to become Solbound. Kai stood at the edge of the crowd, his gaze fixed on the Veil. He'd seen one open only once before—the last time he'd seen his sister. She had been fearless drawn to the Veil like it was calling only to her. She had stepped inside without a single glance back, and she hadn't returned. Now, with his fists clenched, Kai felt that same pull—a relentless feeling to cross the threshold and search for answers in the Veil's depths. "Kai?" He turned to find Mura, his oldest friend and one of the few who understood why he was here. Her eyes were filled with worry. "Are you really going to do this?" she asked, crossing her arms as though she could somehow hold him back. Kai nodded, his gaze unshaken. "I have to. She's in there. Somewhere." Before Mura could respond, a figure covered in silver armor stepped forward from the crowd, and a hush fell. It was a Solbound—a warrior who had braved the Veil and returned, forever changed. His armor gleamed with a faint, otherworldly light, and spectral wisps floated around him, branding him as a member of the Veiled Order, a group of those who had taken on the Veil's mysterious strength. The Solbound warrior raised his hand, his voice strong and clear. "The Veil is open to those who seek its gift. But know this—the sol has a price. Only those willing to give everything may enter." Most people in the crowd looked away, eyes averted. But Kai stepped forward, moving closer until he stood right at the Veil's edge. The Solbound knight noticed him, his silver eyes narrowing. "You are not yet Solbound," he observed. "Not yet," Kai replied, his voice steady. "But I will be." The knight gave him a slight nod. "Then understand: once you enter, you will be changed. The sol does not return unscathed." Kai's resolve deepened. "I understand." With a wave of the knight's hand, the Veil's silvery mist parted, revealing a path. Taking a deep breath, Kai stepped forward, crossing the threshold. Inside, the world shifted into a strange, dim landscape of swirling light, as though he'd entered the eye of a storm. His body felt heavy, and a low hum echoed within his chest, like a second heartbeat resonating with the Veil. Suddenly, a figure appeared before him, formed from glimmering, translucent light. It was vaguely human in shape, though its features shifted and blurred. Only its eyes were steady, silver and penetrating, as if they could see to the core of him. The creature tilted its head, observing him with detached curiosity. "Why have you come here, mortal?" Kai swallowed but held firm. "I came to find my sister." The creature's gaze grew sharper. "To seek another in the Veil, you must first bind yourself to it. Only those who accept its mark can gain access to its secrets." The air grew colder, the Veil's presence bearing down on him. The creature raised its hand, and a symbol of swirling light appeared in the air—a Sol Mark, the emblem of the Solbound. "All you must do is accept," it said, its voice reverberating through his mind. "But know this: once marked, the Veil's energy will fuse with your sol. Your strength will be drawn from your core, yet each use will cost you. Are you prepared to pay this price?" The symbol spun before him, glowing with intensity. Kai could feel it reaching toward him, waiting for his answer. This was the moment he had been preparing for, the purpose he had chased. His sister's face rose in his mind, her fearless eyes meeting his, forcing him forward. He reached out and touched the Sol Mark. A burst of light flooded through him, filling his veins with energy cold and sharp as ice. The creature's voice echoed in his mind, even as the light around him began to dim. "You are now Solbound. Your power will draw from within, but beware—if you push too far, your sol may be all that remains." The light faded, and as Kai opened his eyes, he felt the weight of the mark settle into him. He'd taken the first step. He knew this was only the beginning of the path ahead.