As Ivan's eyelids fluttered open, his vision remained blurry, like a fogged window waiting to be wiped clean. He blinked several times, trying to clear his vision. With a grunt, he rubbed his eyes with his right hand, hoping to dispel the lingering haze. Slowly, the details around him began to materialize: a small cave barely the size of a room, just big enough for a single bed.
The air smelled of damp stone and sea salt, and the soft light filtering in from the seaweed-covered entrance illuminated the space in a muted, reddish glow. From the faint light, Ivan could tell that at least an hour and a half had passed since they'd taken refuge here, and there was still time before the tide came rushing back in.
But as he surveyed the scene, something caught his attention. His heart skipped a beat. There, resting against him, was Cassie. Her back was pressed against his chest, her head nestled against him as she slept soundly.
The blindfold that covered her eyes seemed to only enhance her beauty, her long blonde hair cascading across his arm. Despite her blindness, she appeared peaceful and calm, breathing softly as she slept. But the sight of her so close stirred an uncomfortable feeling deep inside him—a feeling that Ivan knew all too well.
No, no, no, no, Ivan thought, mentally berating himself. He was just a 17-year-old boy, and hormones were a relentless nuisance, always ready to rear their ugly heads at the worst possible moment. Especially in front of another girl. He fought the urge as his mind tried to keep his lower primal head under control.
Cassie's back was pressed against his chest, her warmth radiating through him, and it took all of his willpower to keep his primal instincts at bay. He had to stay in control. Slowly, carefully, he shifted his body, gently moving her so that she was no longer leaning against him.
He placed her down beside him, making sure not to wake her. After ensuring that she was comfortable, he draped a blanket over her to shield her from the cold dampness of the cave.
Sitting back, Ivan took a moment to gather his thoughts. Their escape from the unstable rock formation hadn't gone entirely as planned, but they'd made it out alive. That was what mattered. He rose to his feet and peered through the seaweed-covered entrance. The labyrinth stretched ahead of him, splitting in two directions. One path was a dead end, barely visible through the dense foliage. The other path that would lead him straight into the domain of Nephis of the Immortal Flame.
He returned to the cave, sitting beside Cassie, his expression becoming more serious as he considered their next steps. There was something gnawing at the back of his mind. His intervention had already altered the course of events. In the novel, Cassie was supposed to enter the Dream Realm and be rescued by Nephis, but Ivan had changed that. He had become her savior instead. That meant her loyalty was now tied to him, and in turn, she would be more susceptible to his influence. This could be both a blessing and a curse.
But there was more. In the original timeline, Cassie had a crucial conversation with Sunny, a conversation that Ivan had effectively prevented. That conversation was meant to create the string of friendship between Cassie, Sunny and Nephis, and without it, things were already off track.
However, Ivan knew one thing for certain: Sunny's [Fated] attribute would still steer the story back toward its original course. Eventually, they would encounter Nephis, and Sunny's shadow would follow close behind.
The problem, however, was Ivan's own presence in this altered timeline. one that would change the trajectory of battles, character development, and relationships. Nothing was going to unfold the same way it had in the novel.
Just then, Ivan's thoughts were interrupted by an all-too-familiar sensation. His eyes twitched, and a vein bulged on his forehead. The headache was back, the same debilitating pain that he tried to get used to. His back began to writhe, as though something was crawling beneath his skin, and illusory scales began to appear, shimmering faintly beneath the surface. The unbearable pain brought about by illusory ravings caused him to collapse, falling face-first to the ground, helpless.
Before his eyes, runes began to materialize, glowing with an eerie light.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Attempts: [4/7]
Currently envisioned: [A set of Male and Female Clothing]
Timer: [3:23]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was the cost of using his envisioning abilities. Every time he attempted to envision something, it came with a toll—pain, discomfort, and sometimes, complete physical breakdown. Three attempts had been the limit, and Ivan had already used up two, with one still hanging in the balance.
If he pushed it further, if he tried to envision anything else, he risked losing control—and turning into a monster.
He gritted his teeth, enduring the unbearable agony. For ten long minutes, the scales writhed across his back, and his body burned with pain. Finally, the sensation began to subside. The scales faded, and the writing on his back ceased, returning to normal.
Ivan let out a sigh of relief, his body trembling with exhaustion as he lay flat on the cold cave floor. Cassie, thankfully, remained asleep, blissfully unaware of the torment he had just endured. As his breath slowed and his body finally began to relax, Ivan pushed himself up, though his movements were sluggish. The pain had left him drained, but he still had to think of a plan.
They couldn't stay here forever. They have to meet Nephis and Sunny then reach the awakened settlements. But things weren't going to be as simple as they once were. He glanced at Cassie, still sleeping peacefully, and took a deep breath. Ivan had made his choice. He could only hope that it would all work out in the end.
***
He decided to wait until Cassie woke up, using the time to create something for himself. With a quiet murmur, Ivan focused his energy and envisioned a self-heating hot pot. The rich aroma of hot, spicy, and sweet ingredients filled his senses. The broth, thick and savory with bits of tender meat floating lazily in the steam. The vegetables added a touch of color to the steaming concoction. The scent alone was enough to make his stomach growl, but when he tasted the first spoonful, his eyes widened in pure bliss.
savoring the flavor. The heat of the spices was balanced perfectly by the sweetness of the broth, the combination making his taste buds dance. Each bite was comforting, hearty, and strangely satisfying, as if the food was more than just a product of his imagination. It was real—and in that moment, it felt like the best meal he'd ever had.
But just as Ivan was getting lost in the taste, a subtle shift in the air caught his attention. He looked over at Cassie. Her head was moving restlessly from side to side, and her eyebrows furrowed deeply, as if she were troubled by something in her sleep.
Is she having a nightmare? Ivan thought, but then he remembered—no one could dream while in the Dream Realm. That could only mean one thing.
She's having a vision.
Ivan's eyes widened. Was she supposed to be having a vision this early? In the novel, Cassie's visions were always a bit of a mystery, and the timeline didn't suggest this would happen so soon. She hadn't been given much focus in the story, and suddenly, this new development raised questions he couldn't ignore.
Cassie's restless movements escalated as she suddenly threw the blanket off, sitting up sharply. Ivan hastily set his hot pot aside and rushed over to her, grabbing her shoulders to steady her. But much to his surprise, Cassie didn't appear frightened, nor did she show the kind of reaction one would expect from someone who had just experienced a vision.
"I-Ivan, you're here!" she said, her voice betraying a bit of surprise. It was clear she hadn't expected him to be there.
"Yes, I'm here," Ivan replied, his voice steady, though his mind was racing. "What happened? You seemed restless in your sleep. Did you get another vision?"
He tried to sound casual, but as he looked at her, something caught him off guard—Cassie was blushing. A soft pink tint had spread across her cheeks, and even the tips of her ears had turned red. She didn't answer right away, her fingers twirling a strand of her blonde hair as she seemed to gather her thoughts.
"I-it was just some mundane visions… and some personal ones," Cassie finally murmured, her voice trailing off as she spoke. With each word, her voice lowered, as if the very topic embarrassed her.
Ivan's [Spectator] attribute gave him the ability to see right through her attempts to hide her discomfort. Her face was a telltale sign—there was something she was trying to conceal, though it seemed more of a trivial matter.
What could she have seen to make her so embarrassed? His mind worked quickly, and a sly grin spread across his face as an idea formed.
"No way, Cass," he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Invading people's privacy and peering into their most embarrassing moments? You've got no shame."
As he leaned back and placed a hand on his cheek, he shook his head in mock disapproval, a grin playing at the corners of his lips. The sight of his teasing expression was all it took for Cassie's face to burst into a deep shade of red, and before Ivan knew it, she lunged at him.
"I didn't—! I can't control what I see!" she protested, her voice laced with indignation, though the blush on her face made it clear she was still flustered.
Ivan barely had time to react before she pounced on him, her hands aiming for his cheeks and ears. A struggle ensued, with Cassie trying to pull on his cheeks while Ivan deftly dodged her attempts, much to her frustration.
After a few moments of chaos, both of them ended up sitting side by side slightly exhausted from their bickering.
Cassie's attention shifted to the hot pot he had set down earlier. She sniffed the air, her eyes lighting up behind her laced blindfold as the spicy scent reached her nose.
"Can I.. have some?" she asked, her voice much softer now.
Ivan chuckled, as he passed her a pot of the delicious broth. "Help yourself," he said, watching as Cassie eagerly dug into the meal. There was something comforting about the simple act of sharing food.
Ivan studied Cassie from the side, surprised by how much better she seemed. Her mental state, which had once been a constant source of concern, now seemed remarkably stable. Whatever she had seen in her vision had evidently resolved many of the issues she had been grappling with.
The pessimistic air that had once lingered around her was gone, replaced by something lighter, more optimistic. This was a good thing—he'd had to constantly placate her to keep her mental state intact. But now, for the first time in a long while, she seemed at ease.
As they ate in comfortable silence, Cassie broke it, her voice soft yet hesitant.
"At the end of my vision, I saw something," she said, her words laced with uncertainty.
Ivan's attention immediately sharpened, his mind racing with possibilities, though he kept his expression neutral. "Go on... I'm listening," he replied, though his heart raced at the thought of what she might share.
Cassie seemed to struggle at first, trying to articulate what she had seen, but she eventually spoke, her words slow and deliberate.
"Towards the end, I saw an ocean that seemed to contain all the colors in the world. High above, there was an illusory sun blazing fiercely. On my left, there was lightning, squalls, and raging waves. On my right, there was a white tower that seemed to reach the skies, and everything seemed to rotate around the center. But I couldn't see the center, and then... I was suddenly kicked out and woke up."
She paused, turning her face to him. The light from outside glinted off her laced blindfold. "Do you know what it is?" she asked, her voice filled with quiet curiosity.
Ivan remained silent for a moment. After a minute of contemplation, he let out a quiet sigh. Of course, he knew what it was his soul sea. The differences between her vision and his were evident, though. For one, he had four suns, not one. His soul sea was the Chaos Sea, unlike normal soul sea's of other awakened he could not stay in his soul sea for long, upon entering he would barged with ravings increasing his chance of losing control.
He glanced at his runes, pulling his attention away from the heavy thoughts swirling in his mind.
—-----------------------
Name: [Unwanted Attention]
Rank: [???]
Type: [Mark]
Memory Enchantments: [Binding Gaze]
Enchantment Description: The mark creates a bond between the bestower and the marked, allowing the bestower to communicate and bestow gifts onto them. The stronger the marked's belief in the bestower, the greater the influence, while the bestower gains insight into the marked's thoughts and secrets.
Marks: [0/1]
—----------------------
Ivan had been considering this for some time. He had wanted to wait until the moment felt right, but something in his gut told him that now was the time. He turned to Cassie, his eyes softening as he made his decision.
"Before I explain," he said, his voice steady yet laced with a hint of hesitation, "Can I trust you?"
Cassie looked at him, confusion flashing briefly across her face before she nodded with certainty. "Yes," she said simply. "You can trust me."
Ivan took a deep breath, then began to explain, though he left out some details, particularly the parts about knowing her thoughts. He kept the explanation vague, focusing on the part about creating a bond and granting gifts. "I have an ability," he said, his voice calm. "It allows me to create a bond between us. With this bond, you can reap the benefits of my attributes and me yours however these are on a partial basis and would not be significant enough to notice. However if one of us betrays the other, that person would receive a punishment", he lied about the last part..
He paused, watching her reaction closely. "So, my question is... are you willing to be my accomplice? To accept this bond and everything that comes with it?"
Cassie didn't hesitate. She gave a firm nod. "Yes, I trust you."
Ivan closed his eyes briefly, relieved that her trust in him was so immediate. It wasn't a rash decision. He could tell she wasn't acting on impulse—her mental state was in a much better place than before, which made him confident in his choice.
"Raise your hand," Ivan instructed, his voice low.
Cassie did as he asked, and Ivan gently took her hand in his. He closed his eyes, focusing all his attention on the runes in front of him, the moment finally upon him.
—--------------------------------
[Do you wish to mark this individual?]
—---------------------------------
Yes.
The runes shifted, forming new patterns, the magic flowing through him with an intensity that made his skin tingle. A sense of finality washed over him as the process completed.
—----------------------------------
[A bond is being created]
[You have marked an individual successfully]
—-----------------------------------
Ivan sighed, the weight of the decision settling in. The runes in front of him shifted again, updating to reflect the changes.
—--------------------------------
Name: [Unwanted Attention]
Rank: [???]
Type: [Mark]
Memory Enchantments: [Binding Gaze]
Marks: [1/1]
Marked: [Cassie]
Flaw: [Unraveling Mind]
—------------------------------------
Ivan took a deep breath, as he focused on his runes. It had been done. Cassie was now marked—his accomplice.