the beginning after the end perfect duo

Bound by Fate

Finally, after months of trying to shield my thoughts, I finally succeeded in blocking Tom out. No more unwarranted intrusion into my mind. My thoughts are now mine and mine alone. It's a small but precious victory in this strange world we find ourselves in.

And what a world it is. Everything we've experienced—this whole life, this entire existence—was just a mere novel in Tom's original world. A fiction. A story. I had known about the multiverse as a phoenix, of course. It's an inherent truth we understand. Our world is just one of many, countless worlds that coexist in parallel. But seeing it through Tom's memories... It felt different. It hit me harder. It made everything seem distant. In one sense, it's freeing to know that nothing here is truly permanent or real, but on the other hand, it makes everything feel insignificant. Our struggles, our relationships—they could all be erased in an instant.

But that doesn't mean I'm giving up. Far from it. Understanding the multiverse and the rarity of inter-world interactions makes this situation even more intriguing. Tom's arrival here wasn't random. There's something behind it. Maybe someone. Someone or something orchestrating this grand scheme. The thought of it sends a shiver down my spine. Arthur came here because of Agrona's plan. I came here for reasons still unknown to me. I need to understand. I need answers.

It's been a year since I formed my bond with Tom, the human child who saved me. Our bond isn't just a chance meeting; it's fate. Our destinies intertwined. Fate—so complicated, yet so simple. I am bound to him, and he to me, and together, we will face whatever challenges await us in this world, and beyond. That's why I must grow stronger. For him. For us. I have to be his protector. His shield.

Tom, for all his strengths, has his weaknesses. He's powerful, yes. But sometimes he tries to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, as if he alone can solve everything. He wants to help everyone, but he often forgets that he doesn't have to do it alone. He doesn't have to bear it all. That's why I need to be stronger. I need to help him when he needs it. I won't let him do it all on his own.

And so, I train. I push myself every day.

"Auro, how about we go spar a little bit?" Tom asked, his voice excited.

I glanced over at him, raising an eyebrow. "In the Bat Cave, right now?"

"Yeah, right now. I left a clone here, and it's not that late," Tom said, practically bouncing with anticipation.

I sighed but smiled. "Alright. But don't exhaust yourself. You just learned how to use the Phoenix Fire Art. You might hurt yourself trying to fight with it too soon."

Tom puffed out his chest, determination gleaming in his eyes. "It took me six months to learn it. I really want to try it."

"You look like a child with a new toy," I teased, crossing my arms.

Tom smirked. "What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing at all, you sussy baka," I said, laughing.

Tom scowled, though I could tell he was trying to hide his smile. "The number of memes you've absorbed from my memories is impressive. Did you learn anything useful at all?"

I rolled my eyes. "b² = a² + c²."

Tom burst out laughing. "Very useful, indeed."

I chuckled as well. "Okay, let's go, you stupid gay."

Tom glared at me. "You're the gay one, not me. I love women."

"Prove it then," I teased, poking him.

"Just wait until I get a girlfriend," Tom retorted, heading toward the Bat Cave with a grin.

We arrived in the Bat Cave, and a clone of Tom appeared, announcing, "Let the sparring begin."

I transformed into my phoenix form, a massive red bird, and flew into the air immediately. Tom knew he had the advantage on the ground, but I wasn't going to make it easy for him. He was quick, though. Using gravity manipulation, he pulled me back toward the ground, but I fought against it, flapping my wings hard enough to break free.

Tom was shocked at how easily I managed to escape. That moment of surprise left him open. I didn't waste it. I cast a fire spell, sending it flying toward him. He responded quickly, conjuring a water barrier to block the flames. But I had planned for this. As the fog from the blocked spell filled the air, I used it as cover to close in on him.

He couldn't see me, but I could see him. I moved fast, my talons ready. But just as I was about to strike, he was ready for me. The fog dispersed in an instant as our magical clash canceled it out.

The fight intensified. Tom's punches were swift, and he augmented them with flames, adding another layer of danger. Despite the hits landing on me, I knew I could regenerate quickly enough to keep up. My phoenix body healed itself before the damage could slow me down.

I used my regeneration to my advantage, letting him land a few more blows before I used my strength to send him flying into the wall. He hit hard, but I knew it wasn't enough to hurt him seriously. Tom's resilience was something else. I could see the electricity crackling around him. He was using Thunderclap Impulse to enhance his movements.

Then came the Rasengans and Rasenshurikens. His speed and power were incredible. I dodged most of them, but one of the gravity-enhanced Rasenshurikens hit me square on. The force pinned me in place for a few seconds—just long enough for Tom to launch another round of attacks.

The hit had been severe. A few more blows like that, and it would have been over. But Tom stopped, his concern for me outweighing his desire to win. "You've got some powerful techniques up your sleeve, Tom, but you need to be careful. That hit you took from me could have been lethal if I were your enemy. Never underestimate your opponent."

Tom immediately rushed over to me, his face full of concern. "Thanks, Auro. I hope you didn't get hurt too badly."

"Nah, I'm fine," I said with a grin. "You just got lucky."

"I'm excited to hear that," Tom said, visibly relieved. "What do you think of my Rasengans mixed with Asuran Fire?"

"Those are some strong techniques," I said, impressed. "You've come a long way."

Tom grinned widely. "Nice! I'm getting stronger."

"Now, let's go eat something," I said, my stomach growling. "You're probably starving."

Tom's POV

After a hearty dinner at the restaurant with my family—Mom, Dad, Vincent, Tabitha, Auro, Ellie, and Lilia—I felt content. We had such a great time together. Mom and Tabitha were gossiping like always, Dad and Vincent were talking about ways to enhance the security system, and Lilia and I were discussing her progress in awakening. We also spoke about going to Xyrus Academy.

Auro kept sending jokes and teasing me in my mind, calling me a nerd and mocking me for everything. It was something I had come to enjoy, though. My relationship with my family had improved immensely over the past year.

In my past life, I never really had a family. This—this connection, this bond—I was finally experiencing it, and it was real. I was learning what it meant to care for people, to protect them.

I glanced at Arthur, who was probably training hard, just as he always did. I hadn't altered anything important in the timeline, at least, not in a way that mattered. It felt like things were moving as they were supposed to.

It was a peaceful moment, and for the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to enjoy it. The future might be uncertain, but for now, I was surrounded by the people who mattered most. And that was enough.