Arcane Bonds

The morning air was crisp, filled with the scent of damp earth and leaves as Eden Emberheart made her way through the periphery of the ancient ruins. The sun was still hidden behind the dense canopy of trees, casting long shadows across the land. These ruins had once been a place of great significance—perhaps a forgotten temple or a once-thriving town—but now they were nothing more than crumbling stones and overgrown paths. Their temporary refuge was a fragile house built within the ruins, and though it shielded them from the elements, Eden felt uneasy with every passing moment. The oppressive silence of the place gnawed at her.

She walked along the moss-covered stones, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of life. Not even wild animals seemed to inhabit this part of the forest. The absence of birdsong and the usual rustling of leaves struck her as unnatural. Her instincts, honed through years of training, were on high alert. Something felt off.

Eden knelt beside a patch of dirt, pressing her palm against the cold ground. She closed her eyes and extended her senses, reaching out with her mana to see if she could feel any lingering traces of magic or hidden life forms. But there was nothing. Just emptiness.

She exhaled a sharp breath of frustration and rose to her feet. "Nothing here," she muttered to herself. "This place is dead."

As she made her way back, her thoughts wandered to her sisters. Eve, though still recovering from her injury, had shown remarkable resilience. The wound, a gruesome gash in her back imbued with strange red energy, had been a harrowing sight, but thanks to Eden’s relentless healing efforts, she was now on the mend. Still, Eden couldn’t shake the memory of the strange energy that had blocked her healing abilities at first. It was unlike anything she’d encountered before. She stood up and took a deep breath, allowing the cool forest air to fill her lungs. Her mana reserves were still recovering from the previous night, when she had spent hours trying to heal Eve.

Turning back toward the ruins, Eden made her way down the uneven path, her footsteps quiet on the moss-covered stones. The ruins loomed before her, their crumbling walls and shattered pillars casting long shadows across the clearing. This place had once been a stronghold, a sanctuary of power. Now, it was a mere skeleton of its former self.

As she approached the small house they had claimed as their shelter, she paused for a moment at the door. Through the open window, she could hear Joy and Eve talking softly inside. Their voices were calm, a welcome contrast to the chaos that had overwhelmed them recently. Eden smiled faintly, relieved that despite everything, her sisters were safe for now.

She pushed open the door and stepped inside. The air was warmer here, filled with the faint scent of herbs and the lingering presence of magic. Then there was Joy—her youngest sister with far more secrets than any child should hold. Joy had finally revealed the truth to them: she was a reincarnation, with memories of a previous life in a world without magic. Eden still found it difficult to wrap her mind around the concept, but Joy’s knowledge of these strange methods was undeniable.

Eden reached the house, its fragile frame swaying slightly in the wind, and stepped inside. The sight that greeted her warmed her heart. Eve, now sitting up with a better color in her cheeks, was deep in conversation with Joy, who sat cross-legged on the floor, her bright eyes filled with curiosity and excitement.

“You’re back,” Eve said, her voice soft but steady. “Find anything?”

Eden shook her head, her expression troubled. “Nothing. No animals, no creatures, not even a single track. It’s too quiet out there.”

Joy tilted her head, her childish curiosity piqued. “Maybe the ruins are keeping them away. Magic can do strange things to the environment.”

“Maybe,” Eden muttered, though she wasn’t convinced. She moved over to the small hearth in the corner and warmed her hands over the fading embers. “How are you feeling, Eve?”

Eve winced slightly as she shifted her position, the wound on her back still tender despite the healing. “Better. Thanks to you, I’m not bleeding out anymore.” She gave a weak chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

Eden sat down beside them, glancing between her two sisters. “What were you two talking about?”

Joy's eyes gleamed mischievously as she leaned in, lowering her voice as if she were about to reveal a great secret. "I was just explaining some of the methods from my previous world. You know. Eve’s been trying to compare them to her own theories."

Eden chuckled. "Of course she has. Leave it to Eve to try and merge two completely different systems of thought."

Eve's expression turned thoughtful as she tapped her chin. "It’s not that simple, though. I’ve been working on theories that aim to amplify mana capacity without relying on conventional means or your element integration. But what Joy’s describing... these methods from her world... They focus on something else, something entirely different. Physical and spiritual energy, right?"

Joy nodded. "Exactly. In my world, we didn’t have magic as you understand it. But we had something close. There were mystic techniques that allowed people to strengthen themselves in ways that might seem like magic here. The energy they used has different names like prana, qi, chakra and even mana was known in my world but many practitioners of these disciplines or masters were charlatans just looking for money. But the truth is that we trained the body, the mind, and the soul separately, each following its own path to power or ascension."

"But," Joy added quickly, glancing at Eve with concern, "those methods aren’t as straightforward as they sound. They take years of patient training, and even then, not everyone can use them. Some require special body constitutions, while others involve... sacrifices. Rituals. Dangerous stuff. So don’t even think about trying it."

Eve sighed, her curiosity dimming slightly. "I wasn’t planning to. But it’s interesting to think about. If people could strengthen themselves without mana, it would change everything we know about magic in this world."

"Maybe," Joy said with a shrug. "But like I said, it’s not that simple. Those techniques were dangerous. Even in my world, few people dared to use them."

Eden, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. "What about you, Joy? You’re an electric-type mage, right? You should focus on getting a wand first. That would be a good start."

At the mention of a wand, Joy’s face lit up. Her playful, childish demeanor returned in an instant as she bounced up excitedly. "A wand? Can I get one?"

Eve smiled at her little sister’s enthusiasm. "Yes. You should have one by now, actually. You're strong enough."

Eden nodded in agreement. "It’s time, Joy. You’ve been hiding your true abilities for a while, but if we're dealing with someone like Seraphina Ravencroft, you need every advantage you can get."

Joy’s eyes sparkled as she turned to Eve, eager to hear more. "How do I get one? Where do I buy it?"

Eve leaned back, her expression growing serious as she began to explain. "In our world, when a mage reaches the third level of the foundational stage, they become eligible to enter a special place. It’s known as the World of Wands."

"The World of Wands?" Joy repeated, her interest piqued.

"It’s a realm that was said to be created by an ancient crafter who attained godhood," Eve explained. "This crafter—who some believe to be one of the Arcane Ascendants—was able to forge wands of immense power. The World of Wands is unique because it manifests thousands of wands, each one waiting for its chosen partner. The bond between a mage and their wand is sacred. Once a wand chooses you, it becomes an extension of your magic. No one else can use it."

"That sounds amazing!" Joy said, practically vibrating with excitement. "How do we get there?"

Eve smiled at her enthusiasm. "Patience, Joy. You’ll need to be at your best, both physically and mentally. The World of Wands isn’t like any place you’ve been before. The wands are sentient, in a way. They choose you based on your potential, your connection to magic. You can’t force it."

"And once a wand chooses its master," Eden added, "it’s a lifelong bond. If the mage dies, the wand dies with them. Except for a few unique cases, wands disappear with their owners."

Joy’s eyes widened in awe. "A world full of wands... and I could get my own?"

"Yes," Eve confirmed. "But remember, the bond is for life. You need to advance your mana capacity till you break through your actual level. Once you enter the World of Wands, there’s no turning back."

Joy grinned, her usual mischievous glint returning. "I hope so! I want the coolest wand.”

As the day wore on and the sun began to dip behind the trees, casting long shadows across the ruins, the sisters sat together in the fragile house that had become their temporary refuge. Despite the uncertainty that lay ahead, they knew they had each other—and that, for now, was enough.