The night was still, save for the soft rustle of leaves in the wind. The campfire cast a gentle glow around them, but its warmth did little to ease the tension in the air. Tay couldn’t sleep. His mind was racing with everything that had happened—the Guardian’s appearance, the Keeper’s threat, and most of all, New’s quiet struggle with the powers he didn’t yet understand.
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Tay’s gaze drifted to New, who was lying beside him, finally asleep after hours of silent contemplation. The soft rise and fall of New’s chest was the only thing keeping Tay grounded in the moment. He wanted to protect New, to shield him from the burden of the magic and the dangers it brought, but he knew that wasn’t possible. This journey was something they had to face together, no matter how terrifying it became.
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Ryu sat by the fire, sharpening his blade in the quiet, his eyes flickering to Tay. “Can’t sleep?” he asked, keeping his voice low.
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Tay shook his head, glancing at the crystal still clutched in New’s hand. “There’s too much on my mind,” he admitted. “I can’t stop thinking about what the Guardian said… about our bond.”
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Ryu’s expression softened. “You care about him. That much is obvious. But you can’t carry this all on your own.”
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Tay sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I just… I don’t want to lose him.”
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“You won’t,” Ryu said firmly. “But you also can’t control everything. Trust him. Trust that he’s strong enough to handle what’s coming.”
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Tay nodded, though his heart still felt heavy. “It’s hard to watch him struggle like this,” he murmured. “I feel so helpless.”
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Ryu looked at him with a mixture of sympathy and understanding. “You’re doing more than you realize, Tay. Just being here, standing by his side—that’s what matters most.”
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Tay stared into the fire for a long moment, letting Ryu’s words sink in. He knew Ryu was right, but the weight of responsibility still pressed down on him. He had to do more—he had to make a promise, not just to New, but to himself.
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Quietly, so as not to wake New, Tay stood and walked a few steps away from the camp, his gaze fixed on the distant shadows of the forest. The mist seemed to pulse with life, watching, waiting.
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Tay knelt down, pressing his hand to the earth as if speaking directly to the forest itself. “I swear,” he whispered, “I will protect him. No matter what it takes, no matter what comes, I won’t let him face this alone. This is my oath.”
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The air around him seemed to shift in response, as though the forest had heard his vow and accepted it. For a brief moment, the mist parted, revealing the faint outline of something ancient and powerful watching over them. But just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, leaving Tay alone with the fire and the stars.
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The next morning, the atmosphere around camp was noticeably lighter. New seemed more at ease, his grip on the crystal no longer as tense. As the group prepared to move deeper into the forest, Tay felt a renewed sense of purpose. His oath had solidified something within him—he wasn’t just protecting New out of love, but out of a deeper connection to the magic that surrounded them.
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As they packed their supplies, Jarin approached Tay with a thoughtful look. “I saw you last night,” he said quietly, glancing at the spot where Tay had made his oath. “That was a powerful vow.”
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Tay looked at him, surprised. “You felt it?”
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Jarin nodded. “The forest responds to oaths like that. It will hold you to it.”
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Tay swallowed hard. He had felt the weight of his words in that moment, but hearing Jarin confirm it made the reality of his promise even more profound.
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“What does that mean?” Tay asked, his voice low.
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“It means you’re bound to New in more ways than one,” Jarin replied. “The forest won’t let you break that promise. You’ve become part of something bigger.”
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Tay nodded, feeling the gravity of the situation settle over him. He had known that making the vow would come with consequences, but now it felt even more real.
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As the group set off into the deeper part of the forest, New walked alongside Tay, their shoulders brushing as they navigated the winding path. There was a newfound ease between them, the tension of the past few days giving way to a quiet understanding.
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“What did you do last night?” New asked, glancing at Tay curiously. “I felt something… different when I woke up.”
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Tay smiled softly, his hand brushing against New’s. “I made a promise,” he said. “To protect you, no matter what.”
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New’s expression softened, a small smile tugging at his lips. “You don’t have to carry all of this alone, you know,” he said quietly. “We’re in this together.”
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Tay nodded, his heart swelling with affection for New. “I know. But I still want to protect you, even if you don’t need me to.”
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New laughed softly, leaning into Tay’s shoulder. “I’ll always need you, Tay. That’s never going to change.”
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They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the mist swirling around them like a living entity. But as they ventured deeper into the heart of the forest, the feeling of being watched grew stronger.
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“Do you feel that?” New whispered, glancing around.
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Tay nodded, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword. “We’re not alone.”
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Suddenly, a figure emerged from the mist—a young man, dressed in the traditional garb of the ancient forest guardians. His eyes gleamed with a mischievous light, and he grinned as he approached them.
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“Well, well, what do we have here?” the stranger said, his voice smooth and teasing. “A couple of lovebirds lost in the mist?”
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Tay stepped protectively in front of New, his grip tightening on his sword. “Who are you?”
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The stranger laughed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Relax, I’m not here to cause trouble. I’m just… curious.” He glanced at New, his gaze lingering on the crystal in his hand. “You’ve got something interesting there, haven’t you?”
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New tensed, his grip tightening on the crystal. “Who are you?”
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The stranger smiled, his expression playful but unreadable. “Let’s just say I’m a friend. Or, I could be, if you’re willing to trust me.”
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Tay didn’t lower his guard, but something about the stranger felt… familiar, as though he was part of the forest itself.
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“Why are you here?” Tay asked, his voice firm.
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The stranger’s smile widened. “I’m here because the forest sent me. And I think we have a lot to talk about.”
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