Chapter 256: The Bond That Burns Brighter
"W-Woah!"
I gasped out loud as I read the achievement. It had not one, not two, but three effects. But... What’s wrong with its name?
Merchant Queen’s Heart?
...Is that really what I think it is?
Does she... like me? Or is it just in a trust and deep platonic admiration kind of way?
My mind raced, trying to reconcile the implications.
Besides, wasn’t it a bit too soon for something like that? I mean to fall in love?
I acknowledge that my understanding of love and relationships comes mainly from numerous stories, fragmented memories, and observing my friends’ lives.
And I myself was a complete newbie, a blank slate when it came to having any real experience. Yeah, I was that kind of guy who would advise everyone while not having a clue about his own life.
But I wasn’t dense. Not about my own feelings or the others’. Or so I thought.
And it might be true that we might have developed feelings a little, maybe even a crush, but... this seemed to escalate things rather quickly.
Did it even really constitute love? Or was it just the intensity of what we’d shared creating an illusion of deeper feelings?
I mean, she just opened her heart to me in maybe the most vulnerable way possible, and I was there to witness and support her through it. That kind of emotional intimacy could easily be mistaken for romantic attraction, couldn’t it?
Maybe she thought I liked her, and that’s why it made her affinity rise?
Maybe the system was just reflecting the depth of our emotional connection rather than actual romantic feelings. After all, high affinity didn’t necessarily mean love - it could just mean an incredibly deep bond of trust and understanding.
But then again... I couldn’t deny those emotions I felt...
Ugh... This is getting confusing.
I decided it was just a close friendship and a deep bond, and quickly scanned the effects. And it made me whistle in appreciation.
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Passive Effect: Immune to any attempts to turn you and Cassandra against each other through manipulation, relic, technique, art, or coercion(*).
Active Effect: Can communicate basic emotions and intentions telepathically within a 10-meter radius
Special Effect: When Cassandra is in mortal danger, you can instantly teleport to her location. This ability has a one-month cooldown and, upon activation, grants a temporary boost to all abilities, allowing you to act decisively in her defense.
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They were... incredibly powerful. Although it was limited to me and Cassandra, the implications were immense.
The passive effect alone was worth its weight in gold. Complete immunity to manipulation attempts targeting our relationship and trust? In a world full of political scheming, mystics, social manipulation, and so on, that was an essential fortress around our bond.
I wondered what that asterisk exactly meant. Was there more to it than it said? I honestly didn’t know, but if I had to guess, it could be only ineffective when it was one of us who did it. But that’s just a guess.
The active effect was more versatile than it appeared at a glance. It was basically short-distance telepathy. However, I would need to try it out to test its limits and capabilities. The fact that it could be upgraded made its potential even greater.
But the special effect... that was the real game changer.
The description alone explained everything clearly. It was a trump card type of effect, I even thought it would be better to label it as a skill or an ability.
Although the one-month cooldown was a problem, I think it was pretty reasonable. By the time I can learn teleportation techniques from Virion, it will be useful.
All in all, this achievement gave me a toolkit that was both protective and versatile. It was like having a permanent insurance policy on one of my most important relationships.
...I became a bodyguard for her, huh? Not that I mind it.
And, no wonder it was written in golden letters. It would be rated a legendary achievement if we were in a game.
It would be amazing if I got it for others, too. Especially for my family members.
Skip the memory resonance. Onto the next one.
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["Phoenix Tears"]
"What was broken can be made whole again."
Type: Mythical Elixir (Consumable)Rank: ★★★★★
Description:A vial of shimmering crimson liquid that glows like embers, pulsing with a warmth reminiscent of a living heartbeat. When agitated, the fluid swirls into the shape of a phoenix in flight before dissolving back into its resting state.
Effects:
- Complete Physical Restoration: Heals all mortal wounds, regrows lost limbs, and purges toxins/poisons.
- Soul Mending: Repairs spiritual fractures caused by trauma, curses, or soul-based attacks.
- Rebirth Echo: If consumed while on the brink of death, grants a single-use resurrection effect (activates automatically, restoring the user to their peak state).
Limitations:
- One-time use.
- Cannot reverse death after more than 1 minute has passed.
- Ineffective against conceptual or existential erasure.
Note: "The tears of a myth that refused to let endings be eternal. Handle with reverence and desperation."
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W-Woah!
This is... This is the real prize!
Near-death ressurrection, complete healing - both mental and body, and to the peak state. I had no words. I could only give a thumbs up to the system. I absolutely couldn’t use it until necessary!
But...
What could have happened to such a mystical being to shed tears?
That was a question I would find the answer to far in the future.
So, I switched to the next one.
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[Echoing Heartstone (Paired Relics)]
"Two polished stones, once part of the same whole, now forever attuned."
Type: Soulbound Relics (Dual)Rank: ★★★★
Description:A pair of palm-sized, smooth stones—one golden with veins of crimson like molten sunlight, the other white as moonlit frost, threaded with silver. When held, they emit a low, resonant hum, pulsing in time with the other’s heartbeat. The golden stone warms to the touch; the white one stays cool.
Effects:
1. Resonant Bond:
- Vibrates subtly when the counterpart is in distress or danger.
- Glows faintly, brightening when facing the other’s direction.
- The glow intensifies with proximity; a dull, cold sensation signals unconsciousness or death.
2. Shared Resolve (Active):
- Once per day, the holder of either stone may channel some of their aura to the other across any distance.
- If both stones are held simultaneously, they briefly merge into a single relic, unleashing a pulse of restorative energy (heals moderate wounds, clears mental fatigue). (Cooldown: 10 days)
Soulbound:
- Golden Stone: Bound to Cassandra von Virellia.
- White Stone: Bound to Amaniel von Luthaire.
Limitations:
Betrayal: The stones shatter if either holder deliberately acts against the other’s core ideals.
Aura Drain: Overuse of Shared Resolve temporarily weakens both parties’ stamina.
Note: "Forged by a bond of profound trust and shared vulnerability. Neither distance nor darkness can sever their call."
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Another limited but incredible set of relics. The fact that they were soulbound to both of us made them even more special... and slightly concerning.
It felt like the system was trying to play the matchmaker between us and label us as a couple.
Although I was suspicious of it, I could only keep it in for now.
But the effects were really good. It was like a GPS tracker, emergency beacon, and long-distance support skill all in one.
But that "betrayal" clause... that gave me pause.
What exactly defined a ’core ideal’? Would disagreeing on a major decision count? Or was it only outright treachery?
The ambiguity made me uneasy.
Still, I couldn’t imagine a scenario where I’d betray Cassandra’s trust, not after what happened.
And I hoped it was the same for her.