Echoes of you

A Choice of Fate

The air in Lia's study was thick with the scent of aged books and something more intangible—an energy that hummed beneath the surface, like the crackling of static before a storm. Sophie stared at the worn, ancient book lying open before her, its yellowed pages lined with indecipherable script. Beside her, Riven was quiet, his expression unreadable as he studied the symbols and faded illustrations.

Soul bonds. Fates connected across dimensions.

The idea had shaken Sophie to her core. She and Riven weren't just an accident of dimensional bleeding; they had been brought together by something far larger than either of them, something that existed beyond the boundaries of the physical world. But who—or what—had created this bond? And why?

Lia's voice broke the silence as she tapped the page in front of her with a thin, delicate finger. "This text is one of the oldest surviving references to soul bonds and dimensional crossing. It was written by an ancient order of mystics who believed that certain souls were destined to be linked across time and space. They believed these bonds were forged by forces older than the universe itself."

Sophie shivered as she listened, her eyes drawn to the intricate illustrations on the page—two figures standing on either side of a divide, their hands outstretched, a thin, glowing thread connecting them. It was hauntingly familiar.

"So these mystics... they believed the bond was permanent?" Sophie asked, her voice soft.

Lia nodded. "Yes. Once formed, a soul bond is incredibly strong. But it's also vulnerable. The connection can be attacked or manipulated by external forces. The mystics believed that only through certain rituals could the bond be protected—sealed, in a sense, so that no one could break it."

Riven's hand tightened around Sophie's as he leaned forward. "And if it's not sealed?"

Lia hesitated, her gaze flicking between them. "Then the bond remains open. Unprotected. And yes, it could be severed by the right force—someone with the knowledge and power to disrupt the connection between your worlds."

Sophie's breath caught in her throat. The idea of their bond being broken—of losing Riven after everything they had been through—made her chest tighten with fear. She glanced at him, her pulse quickening. "We have to seal it," she said, her voice urgent. "We have to protect our bond."

Lia nodded slowly. "I thought you might say that." She pulled another, smaller book from the shelf behind her, its cover embossed with a silver symbol Sophie didn't recognize. "This book contains the ritual you'll need. It's not an easy process, and it requires a deep emotional and spiritual connection between the two of you."

Riven met Sophie's gaze, his eyes steady and determined. "We have that," he said softly. "We can do this."

Lia handed the book to Sophie, her expression serious. "You'll need to perform the ritual in a place of power—somewhere where the barriers between your worlds are already thin. The ritual will anchor your bond, making it unbreakable, but it also comes with risks."

Sophie swallowed hard, her fingers tracing the edge of the book. "What kind of risks?"

Lia leaned back in her chair, her eyes darkening. "The ritual is powerful, and it involves merging your energies completely. If something goes wrong, if the bond is unstable, it could tear both of you apart. Physically and spiritually."

The weight of her words hung heavily in the room, pressing down on Sophie like a boulder. The thought of something going wrong—of losing Riven not just from her world but from existence entirely—was almost too much to bear. But the alternative was just as terrifying. If they didn't seal the bond, someone or something could sever it, leaving them stranded in their respective realities forever.