The Devourer stepped back slowly, its huge body sinking halfway into the broken earth.
Its red eyes never left Kael and Lira.
Lira held Kael's arm tightly.
"Kael… it's scared of us?"
Kael didn't answer right away.
He watched the creature carefully, waiting for a trick.
But the Devourer was not attacking.
It was… retreating.
The Seer lowered his hands and let the barrier disappear.
"It has felt your bond," the Seer said quietly.
"And now it knows the truth."
Kael kept his eyes on the creature.
"What truth?"
The Seer stepped beside them.
"Your bond is the only thing strong enough to destroy it."
Lira looked shocked.
"Us…? But we're barely surviving fights ourselves…"
The Seer shook his head.
"No. Not anymore. The Sanctuary trials changed you."
Kael helped Lira stand fully.
She was still shaking, but her breathing was steady.
"What do you mean?" Kael asked.
The Seer pointed toward the Devourer.
"Look at it. For the first time in its existence—it feels fear."
They watched as the Devourer sank deeper into the earth.
Its claws scraped the ground, not out of anger…
…but to escape.
Lira whispered,
"It's running away…"
Kael took a slow step forward, watching the creature disappear beneath the soil.
The Seer spoke again.
"Your bond is no longer unstable.
It has reached the first stage of unity."
Kael frowned.
"First stage? How many stages are there?"
The Seer turned toward them.
"That depends on you."
Lira looked down at her hands.
The silver glow under her skin was gentle now—strong, but not wild.
"So the bond won't hurt us anymore?" she asked.
The Seer shook his head.
"No. It will still grow. And growth brings pain. But you won't lose control again."
Lira let out a small breath of relief.
Kael, however, wasn't relaxed.
"The Devourer ran… but it's not gone."
The Seer nodded.
"It will return. Stronger. It will wait for a moment when you are weak."
Lira stepped closer to Kael.
"Then we stay strong," she said softly.
"Together."
Kael looked at her and nodded.
The Seer watched them for a moment, then turned away.
"We must move. The Emperor's knights will regroup. And now that the Devourer has seen your power… others will come."
Lira tilted her head.
"Others?"
The Seer didn't look back.
"Yes. Creatures drawn to mixed magic. Old beings. Forgotten ones. Your bond is like a light in the dark. They will all sense it."
Kael moved beside Lira protectively.
"Where do we go next?" he asked.
The Seer pointed deeper into the forest.
"To a hidden refuge."
"It is the only place where the Emperor's knights cannot find you."
"And where the Devourer cannot feed."
Lira nodded.
"Then take us there."
Kael held her hand tightly.
As they began to follow the Seer, Lira whispered to Kael:
"Kael… do you think we really can destroy the Devourer?"
Kael squeezed her hand gently.
"I don't know," he said.
"But I know this…"
Lira looked up at him.
"We won't face it alone."