White Strings

Episode 10 - Lost

Silk woke up feeling warm. She blinked a few times before finally realizing she was laying on the ground. Yesterday's memories came back to her and she could trail them all the way to the late night practice she had done. Every time she felt depressed because of this empty feeling inside her, she would perform the Blade Dance. And each and every time, she felt so incredibly tired after finally being able to breathe again.

She groaned as she pushed herself up from the ground, realizing she had a blanket on her. Confused, she looked around again. Dream was snuggled up to her, and the lift of the blanket made him get up and look for a warmer spot against Silk. If Dream was there, Kaon was probably there. Silk scanned the area with her eyes, looking for the Manus heir.

She finally saw him, sitting by the fire, reading a book. He heard her rustle the blanket around and looked back at her, meeting her gaze. Silk felt like an idiot. It was already morning, and she missed their early training. Why didn't Kaon wake her up?

"Good morning," Kaon greeted her. "You don't look too happy to see me."

"It's late," Silk exhaled and rubbed her eyes. "I'm sorry."

"I meant to tell you that we are going to save our energy for the maze training today, but you weren't home." Kaon closed his book and turned his back to the fire. "We will probably train until late."

"Yeah, you guys will," Silk muttered. "I don't think I can contribute anything."

"You are right to think you are behind, but don't underestimate what you can do, Silk." Kaon inched closer, putting the book aside. "I swear on my bloodline's pride, I will make a great warrior out of you. You have what it takes, I promise."

Silk was surprised to hear the soft tone in Kaon's voice, and for some reason it felt as if he was breathing air into her tight chest. She inhaled, then released a long exhale, feeling better. She looked at Kaon again, studying his serious face. His dark hair covered his eyes, but up close she could see them better. Staring into them for the first time, Silk felt something inside her awaken.

"I think..." she muttered, looking away in surprise. "I think I can feel it."

"Feel it?" Kaon raised his brows.

"Our connection, I think I can feel it." Silk raised her hand to her head, trying to recall that new sensation she just experienced.

"See? Your efforts are paying off." Kaon smiled. "Soon enough we will get our first matching point and you will see how much easier it will be."

"When do you think that will happen?" Silk remembered the elegant yet fierce movements Vax had demonstrated the other day, accompanied by her fire.

"It will happen, don't worry. In the meantime, we have other ways to improve our bond." Kaon handed Silk the herbal brew he had prepared for her. "Just keep practicing, I know Master Ony will soon teach us the gift method. It should make things quicker as well."

"Gift method?" Silk took the brew and chugged it down in three quiet gulps.

"Bonds don't happen by just training together and having a matching point. There are multiple rituals that are essential for a bond, one of them being the gift exchange."

"Gifts? Like, a present?" Silk got up after Kaon had as well.

"Yes, something owned by you or that you claimed." Kaon picked the blanket from the ground and started folding it. "Masters and familiars will end up exchanging belongings all the time, but the ritual gift should be something meaningful. The better the gift, the better the ritual's effect."