My stomach knots. The mark on my arm hums warmer, like it heard every word. Across the room, Raiden’s jaw is tight, shoulders braced like he’s holding back something that’s barely leashed.
He shakes his head once, sharp. “The tether could be wrong.”
No hesitation. No softening.
Veyne’s expression doesn’t flicker. “And yet, here we are.”
Professor River folds his arms. “It’s the Veilbind, Tsukino. You know the purpose.”
Raiden’s gaze cuts toward him. “It’s intimate,” he says. “That choice should matter.”
“For personal bonds, yes.” Professor River’s tone cools a fraction. “This is for training.Temporary. Once she’s stable, the bind dissolves.”
The words settle like cold stone in my chest. Temporary. Dissolves. But no one is looking at me. No one is asking what I think. The room feels smaller with every breath. My pulse won’t settle; my fingers curl against the edge of my sleeve.
I glance at Raiden without meaning to. He meets my gaze for half a second, but I can’t read him. I force a breath in. My throat feels too tight to speak.
The Headmaster looks between us. “You’ll report to the ritual chamber in one hour. It is two doors down from Combat Casting. Don’t worry about classes the rest of the day. Professor River will oversee the bind.”
One hour. And I really have no clue what the hell it is, but I’m pretty sure being magically bound to someone isn’t something to be taken lightly if they have a whole ass ritual chamber for it.
Raiden’s jaw flexes once. “Understood.”
I manage a nod, though my knees feel shaky under me.
Headmaster Veyne’s gaze finally lands on me fully. “It’s the best option, Miss Blake. Without the bind, you won’t last long here.”
A statement. Not a threat. Not a comfort. Just a fact.
Professor River steps to the door, opening it and stepping out. “Dismissed. Prepare yourselves.”
“Prepare ourselves?”Okay. Can he be any more cryptic?
I don’t move, but Raiden doesn’t look back as he turns, long strides carrying him out ahead. I stay frozen for a beat longer, breath lodged in my chest. Do they really expect me to just…I don’t know, do this without any information? First the letter basically telling me I have to come, with the shadow monsters as encouragement, now this.
Professor River glances over his shoulder. “Miss Blake. Walk with me.”
I swallow hard and follow him into the hall. My hands won’t stop fidgeting, so I shove them in my pockets and try to pretend I’m not unraveling.
“Shouldn’t I—” My voice cracks, so I clear my throat. “Shouldn’t I know more about what’s about to happen to me?”
Professor River doesn’t stop walking. “The Veilbind is a controlled link. A tether between two magic signatures, anchored by a ritual that allows you to safely channel your power.”
“That doesn’t sound very temporary.”
He gives me a sideways glance. “It’s designed to dissolve once your aura stabilizes. But yes, while it lasts, it is… intense.”
“Intense how?”
“Emotionally. Energetically. The bond feeds off proximity, shared focus. You’ll feel his magic. He’ll feel yours. It’s why we don’t use it lightly.”
“Great,” I mutter. “So I’m being forcibly soul-glued to a guy I’ve spoken to maybe twice.”
He stops and turns fully toward me. “You’re not beingforced.You can walk away. But if you do, your magic will continue to spike until it either consumes you or rips open the Veil again.”
So… notforced,just…boxed in by certain death. Cool.
“You’ll need to cleanse first,” he continues, as if we’re just checking things off a list. “Water, salt, grounding oils. Then you'll be fitted with a spell woven collar to help anchor the tether during its first phase. Ritual whites are provided. No metal. No enchantments. No distractions. Clear mind. Open intent.”
