**Chapter 13: The Secrets of the Bond**
The sun had barely begun to set, casting a dim orange glow over the landscape as Riven and Nyx sat quietly in the corner of their training area. The recent events had left them both exhausted, yet there was a sense of calm between them now. After the trials of the previous days, the Simbiosis had begun to feel less like a foreign concept and more like a part of who they were. It was still fragile, but it had taken root in a way Riven had never expected.
Yet even as he sat with Nyx, his thoughts were heavy. The lessons with Master Caldar had deepened his understanding of the bond he shared with the creature, but something still nagged at him. There was a part of him that couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the Simbiosis than he had been told. More than he had even been able to learn from his mentor.
Caldar had been quiet for days, observing them, but tonight, as the day gave way to night, he had invited Riven to sit by the fire and listen to stories—stories that seemed to linger in the very air around them. The flames crackled and danced, casting flickering shadows on their faces as they settled into a circle, and Riven felt the weight of the moment settle on his shoulders.
"You've learned well, Riven," Caldar said, his voice gruff but filled with an odd reverence. "But there is more you must understand about the Simbiosis. More than I could ever teach you in a few days of training."
Riven tilted his head slightly, his curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"
Caldar's eyes grew distant, as though he was staring through the flames and into the very past itself. "The Simbiosis, Riven, is not a new concept. It has existed for as long as there have been beasts and men. But it has always been misunderstood, manipulated, and twisted by those who sought to control it."
Riven frowned. "Manipulated by the nobles?" His voice had an edge of disbelief. "How could they have done that?"
The master nodded slowly, the flicker of the flames catching in his eyes. "Long ago, the bond between man and beast was something pure. It was a mutual connection—a shared purpose, a bond forged through trust, love, and understanding. Beasts were not tools, nor were they weapons. They were companions, chosen to walk alongside their human partners, and the bond was sacred."
"Sounds like the ideal," Riven muttered, a hint of bitterness in his voice. He had seen the nobles' use of beasts—how they treated them like slaves, using them for power, for war, for domination. "But I've never seen anything like that."
Caldar's gaze softened, his face marked with the weight of old wounds. "That's because the Simbiosis was twisted long ago. When the nobles realized the true potential of the bond—when they understood that the Simbiosis could grant power beyond imagination—they began to use it as a weapon. They took control of the beasts, forcing them into submission, manipulating the bond to create creatures of unimaginable strength and cruelty."
Riven's mind raced as he listened to the story, trying to process the implications. "You mean… they didn't bond with the beasts out of respect? They forced them?"
"Exactly," Caldar said grimly. "They used the Simbiosis as a means to an end. And the beasts—they became tools, their will crushed, their spirits shackled. But it was never a true bond. It was a farce, a mockery of what the Simbiosis was meant to be."
A heavy silence hung in the air as Riven reflected on what Caldar had just revealed. The beasts he had encountered, the ones the nobles used for their own gain, they had always seemed… broken. Their power was incredible, yes, but it was hollow. There was no life behind their eyes, no spirit. The bond between them and their masters was forced, artificial. It was nothing like what he shared with Nyx.
Riven glanced at his companion, her violet eyes gleaming in the firelight. Even now, after all they had been through, she was still her own being, still a partner—not a weapon, not a slave. And he realized something that sent a shiver down his spine.
"What does this mean for me and Nyx?" Riven asked, his voice quiet, almost fearful. "If what you're saying is true… then our bond… it's different, isn't it?"
Caldar nodded, the firelight dancing in his eyes. "Yes, Riven. Your bond with Nyx is unlike any I've seen. It is pure, untainted by the corruption that has plagued so many others. But that also means it holds great potential—and great danger."
Riven's heart skipped a beat. He had always known their connection was special, but hearing Caldar's words made him realize just how deep it ran. The bond between them wasn't just a tool to be used—it was a force in and of itself, something capable of shaping the world around them.
"But if this bond is so powerful," Riven said slowly, "why hasn't anyone else succeeded in forming it? Why aren't there more like us?"
Caldar's gaze grew somber, his expression darkening. "Because it takes more than just strength or will. It takes understanding. Patience. And a willingness to give up the notion of control. The Simbiosis that has been twisted by the nobles—those bonds were forged through force, not through connection. But your bond with Nyx, Riven… it was born of something else."
Riven looked at Nyx again, his heart swelling with a mixture of pride and fear. She was different from all the other beasts he had encountered, and he knew it. Their bond was not something they could control at will—it was something that required nurturing, trust, and sacrifice.
"Does this mean we have to be careful?" Riven asked, the weight of the situation starting to settle in. "That we can't just use our bond whenever we want? That it's not like the other beasts?"
Caldar's expression hardened, but there was an undeniable glint of respect in his eyes. "Exactly. The power you two share is unlike anything the world has seen in a long time. If you are not careful, it could consume you both. It could tear apart the very fabric of your souls."
The words hit Riven harder than he had expected. He had known that the Simbiosis was a powerful connection, but to hear that it could destroy them if misused made the reality of what he was attempting all the more daunting. He wasn't just dealing with a weapon, he was dealing with a force that could change everything.
"But there's more," Caldar continued, his voice growing more serious. "The nobles may have corrupted the bond for their own gain, but there are others who seek to exploit the Simbiosis for even darker purposes. There are those who would see this bond as a means to enslave not only the beasts but the very people who share it."
Riven felt a chill run down his spine. "Who would do such a thing?"
Caldar's gaze hardened. "The ones who seek ultimate control. The ones who understand the true potential of the Simbiosis and wish to wield it for their own twisted vision of the world. They are the ones who want to break the bond between man and beast entirely—to create an army of creatures with no will of their own."
Riven's mind raced. If what Caldar said was true, then they were facing something far more dangerous than just corrupt nobles. There were powerful figures who wanted to exploit the very bond he shared with Nyx, and that could spell disaster for not only him but for all the beasts and humans connected through Simbiosis.
And just as the weight of this new revelation settled over him, Riven understood something else—he wasn't just fighting for his survival anymore. He was fighting for something far greater: the freedom of the beasts and the integrity of the bond he shared with Nyx.
"This is why we can't fail," Riven said, more to himself than anyone else. "We can't let them take this from us."
Caldar nodded. "You're beginning to understand, Riven. The Simbiosis is more than just a power—it is a promise. A promise to stand with those who cannot stand for themselves. To give a voice to the voiceless."
And in that moment, Riven knew the path he had to take. It wasn't just about defeating the nobles. It was about protecting the bond he had forged with Nyx and ensuring that no one could ever twist it for their own gain.
The fire crackled louder as the wind whispered through the trees, and Riven felt the weight of his decision settle into his bones. It was time to take the next step. For Nyx. For the beasts. For the world they were about to change.