After another hard day of training, they resumed their metaphysical exercises. Their sessions brought a sense of calm and harmony, a welcome reprieve from her mounting concerns surrounding the continuation of their journey.

  Kleo hadn’t mentioned the strange sensation from the previous night, uncertain whether it had been real or a dream. She needed to make sense of it herself before sharing it with Jack.

  As their chi flowed between them, interweaving like tendrils of light, Kleo guided the session toward its purpose.

  “Jack,” she began, I still want to understand what you remember about that night in the fortress.”

  Jack exhaled, sending a wave of soothing energy her way.

  “I don't think that's possible. I am finding it hard to separate real memories from the Woog re-tellings. Their version is so vivid and detailed that it’s like I’ve adopted it as my own. A collection of false memories.”

  Kleo let out a quiet sigh, disappointed but not surprised.

  “There is something else, though,” Jack added, his tone shifting. “It’s part of the after when I was broken.”

  “Okay.”

  Jack hesitated, then said, “I gained some insight into my magic.”

  Kleo’s chi rippled with tension. “What do you mean? How?”

  Jack tightened his grip on her hands, grounding them both.

  “Remember when you said my magic felt different? Like something you couldn’t quite place?”

  “Yes,” Kleo said, her voice tinged with apprehension. “It was unlike anything I’ve ever felt.”

  “Well, I can explain the basics. It’s not something I figured out on my own. The information appeared in my awareness.”

  Kleo’s confusion deepened, but she remained silent.

  “My magic is threefold, intertwined into a single system of pathways. There’s the magic I was born with, though I never knew I had it. Then there’s Demana magic, which, as best as I can tell, was an effect of our binding ritual, and the same for what you call ‘ancient magic.’”

  Kleo’s energy surged, the connection between them trembling. Jack immediately sent calming waves her way.

  “I know it’s a lot,” he said, his voice soft but firm. “Please, let me explain.”

  “It’s called ‘Kull magic,’ and it is ancient. It’s the original magic—fundamental to all other magics.”

  “For me, the Kull magic is not something I can use directly—it works passively as a protective layer sheathed around my other magics. It’s always there, healing my core and strengthening my pathways. It seems to provide shielding from external forces. I don’t understand what that means.”

  Kleo’s trembling grew more pronounced, and Jack paused, waiting for her to speak.

  “I don’t understand,” she finally said, her voice small. “How can you know all this?”

  Jack hesitated, then said, “I believe the Goddess gave me knowledge.”

  Kleo froze. “Goddess?” she echoed. “You mean the presence that helped you when you were fragmented?”

  “Yes. I’ve started calling her Goddess because it’s the only word that feels right. Whether she is a goddess, I can’t say. But she knew me, Kleo. She guided me and helped me put myself back together. And she shared this knowledge.”

  Kleo’s chi fluctuated wildly. “Jack,” she said, her voice tight with emotion.

  “This is… I don’t understand this. I don’t know how to feel about it.”

  “I know,” Jack said. “It’s overwhelming. But please, trust me. It feels very real to me.”

  Kleo took a deep breath, struggling to maintain their connection.

  "Jack?" Kleo asked, her voice soft and hesitant.

  "Yes, Kleo?"

  "This Goddess—why do you think she said 'we are both trying to find our way back to her'?"

  Jack thought hard. It was a good question, but the answer remained elusive.

  "I'm not sure, Kleo. All I remember is the feeling that it was true. If something comes back to me, you'll be the first to know."

  They sat in silence, letting the connection stabilize as Kleo struggled to understand the meaning of Jack’s experience.

  “Kleo. You need to know that I’m ready to start training. The Kull magic inside me urges me to use my magic, strengthen it, and grow.”

  Kleo’s protective instincts flared.

  “Jack, are you sure? You’re still recovering.”

  “I’m sure,” Jack said firmly. “You’ll see. I’m ready.”

  Kleo searched his face, her fear warring with her trust in him.

  “Okay,” she said. “We’ll start tomorrow.”

  The following day, Jack woke to find Kleo's head resting on his chest, her fingers tracing lazy circles on his skin. Her eyes were closed, and she hummed a soft, lilting tune he didn’t recognize. The sound was soothing, and he let it wash over him for a moment before leaning down to kiss the top of her head.

  Her eyes fluttered open, and the love radiating from her gaze warmed him to his core.

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  “What was that tune you were humming?” he asked, his voice still husky from sleep.

  “It's an old Demana song we used to sing back in Astiria,” she said, her lips curving into a sleepy smile.

  “I liked it. Maybe you could sing it for me sometime?”

  “Maybe,” she teased, closing her eyes again. “If you make me breakfast.”

  Jack chuckled, letting his hand trail along her back.

  “Jack?” she murmured, snuggling closer. “Do you remember the part in the story where the witch cast a spell, and it became a wedding?”

  “I know the story—even if I can’t remember the events.”

  “I was thinking about that. Remember how the spell affected me, but it didn’t seem to touch you? Do you think your Kull magic was protecting you?”

  Jack frowned, considering her words.

  “Based on the stories, I assumed the witch needed me to have free will—like, she couldn’t force me to marry her.”

  “Hmm. But if it was the Kull magic, then it’s powerful. I wonder what else it might protect you from.”

  Jack shrugged. “No idea. I guess we won’t know until something happens.”

  Kleo’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “I was thinking,” she said, her tone playful, “I should throw a fireball at you and see what happens.”

  Jack gave her a dubious look, and then, with one swift motion, he grabbed both her wrists, flipping her onto her back and pinning her beneath him. The sudden shift sent a jolt through them both, and her body's warmth against his quickened his pulse. His voice dropped to a soft, teasing murmur.

  “How about we try something less dangerous? Like you throwing some eggs and bacon at me instead. If you do, I promise I’ll let you kick the crap out of me next time we train.”

  Kleo’s lips curled into a devious smile. She brought her knee up with surprising quickness, stopping just short of his most sensitive parts.

  “Let me?” she said, arching a brow.

  Jack froze, looking down at her knee with wide eyes. He leaned closer, his voice velvety smooth and tinged with mock warning.

  “Careful, my love. Don’t start something you can’t finish.”

  Kleo held his gaze, her knee pressing near enough to keep him on edge. Then, with deliberate precision, she lowered it. In the same breath, she broke his grip, flipping their positions with unexpected strength. Before Jack could react, she had him pinned, her fingers curling around his wrist, applying just enough pressure to get his attention.

  Leaning in close, her voice dropped to a sultry whisper.

  “I know what I want for breakfast,” she said, her grin wicked.

  Jack let out a resigned laugh, shaking his head.

  “Somehow, I don’t think it’s eggs and bacon.”

  She released him with a satisfied smirk and sat up.

  “Get dressed, husband. My breakfast won’t make itself.”

  Jack groaned, but the smile on his face betrayed him.

  Kleo sat on the stoop of their bungalow, cradling a warm cup of tea in her hands. She let the morning sun bathe her face in its warm golden light.

  She waved to passing Woogs, their cheerful smiles and wishes of a good day lifting her spirits. Life in the village had been a balm for her soul—a rare moment of peace and simplicity amidst the chaos of finding Jack and the triggering of her Kadas Shadoom.

  She smiled at the thought of Jack. Early mornings with him were a quiet joy, a time to reset and refocus, and his presence always filled her with a sense of purpose. Yet beneath the surface of her contentment, worry gnawed at her resolve.

  The strange pulse had returned in the quiet of the night.

  Lub dub.

  The sensation was unsettling—it lingered, vibrating in her mind as though it were trying to tell her something. She had spent half an hour lying awake, staring at the dark ceiling, waiting for it to come again, but after a few brief pulses, it had faded into silence.

  Last night’s conversation weighed on her. He was so confident that he was ready to begin training his magic. She wanted to believe him. He seemed well enough, his energy restored, his appetite hearty, and his laughter as easy as ever. But what if she was right to hesitate? What if his core was still fragile, its pathways weak or unsteady? She couldn’t bear the thought of him pushing too hard only to have his body or mind break under the strain.

  She swirled the tea in her cup absently.

  Am I being too cautious?

  Kleo had always been pragmatic, but this felt different. It wasn’t only caution—it was fear. Fear of losing Jack and seeing him suffer again as he had after the Battle of the Dark Witch. That fight had taken a toll she still couldn’t fully measure. Jack had endured it with a strength and courage that inspired her, but at what cost? The missing memories, the strange Goddess he spoke of—were mysteries she couldn’t untangle, no matter how hard she tried.

  Her eyes wandered over the village, the little houses nestled among the trees, smoke curling from chimneys as the Woogs began their day.

  Their time here was coming to an end.

  She could feel it, like the final notes of a song fading into the air. It had been a refuge, a chance to rest, heal, and grow closer to Jack. Together, they had planted the seeds of their relationship, nurturing them into something solid and real. But she knew the storms ahead would test their roots, and she wasn’t sure if they were ready.

  Kleo sighed and set her tea aside, brushing her hair from her face as she looked out over the village. She could hear Jack moving inside, the faint creak of floorboards under his feet, the smell of breakfast. He would come out soon, smiling, ready to face the day, his determination shining through the cracks of his recent struggles.

  And she would smile back, as she always did, pushing her doubts down to where they wouldn’t trouble him.

  But deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were stepping into something vast and dangerous. They had faced danger together, but this—this was different. The weight of it pressed on her, like the faint pulse of that lub dub in the night, reminding her that some threats weren’t so easily seen or understood.

  For now, all she could do was trust in Jack and herself.

  We’ll face it together, she thought, clasping her hands in her lap. No matter what’s coming, we’ll face it together.

  She took one last look around the village. It held a special place in their hearts, but it was time to say goodbye.

  Jack and Bitter stood before the bungalow, a small crowd of Woogs gathering to bid them farewell. The air was thick with mixed emotions—sadness, gratitude, and the bittersweet pang of parting. For Jack, the Woog village had been more than a place of healing; it had been a place of belonging. With his new status as a full member of the Ulgar clan, he felt he’d not only gained a new family but had finally found his tribe—a truth that filled him with quiet, profound contentment.

  He glanced toward Kleo, knowing she felt much the same. Yet, beneath the surface, her emotions ran deeper, more tangled. Her goodbyes would be heartfelt, and he expected her tears—tears of gratitude, of course, but also tinged with the weight of what lay ahead. Bitter, indifferent to the sentimentality of the moment, greeted each Woog with a gentle nudge, the wolf’s aloof presence a strange comfort in its way.

  Rhonda had offered to care for the hut in their absence, promising it would be ready should they ever return. Jack had chuckled at the notion—Rhonda, of all people, watching over their place. Yet now, as the moment drew near, he found himself comforted by the thought.

  Jack’s attention drifted back to Kleo. Over the past few days, her demeanor had shifted. She had grown quieter, more introspective, and her mood clouded with a tension he couldn’t quite name. He suspected it was tied to her Kadas Shadoom, the Unyielding Fate that loomed over her. He didn’t understand what it meant for her or them, but he could feel its weight pressing on her.

  It was a force, a destiny designed to test her, to challenge her in ways they could only imagine.

  And he hated it.

  Not because he doubted her or her ability to transcend, but because the thought of her changing, of losing the Kleo he knew now, terrified him. He loved her—this Kleo, the one who shared his laughter, who rolled her eyes at his jokes, who held him close with such fierce tenderness. The idea of her evolving into something beyond him left a cold knot in his stomach.

  Yet Jack also knew he couldn’t let those fears take root. He had always faced life one day at a time, and today was no different. If the future was uncertain, then so be it. He would walk forward with Kleo by his side, face what came, and worry about tomorrow when it arrived.

  He looked over at her again, her silhouette framed by the soft light of the morning sun. There was a strength in her stance and a vulnerability she rarely showed. He wanted to reach out, to reassure her, but he knew better. This wasn’t a moment for words. Instead, he stood beside her, offering his quiet, unwavering support.

  It was all he could do. And, for now, it was enough.

  Jack glanced at Kleo, her expression thoughtful yet determined. He reached for her hand and gently squeezed it.

  "Ready?"

  She met his eyes and nodded. "After you."