LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 6: Bonds in The Unknown
Chapter 6: Bonds in the Unknown
The creature's talons clicked softly against the crystal floor as it moved closer to the human. The pull within its chest was undeniable, an ache that demanded it heed this connection. The human's outstretched hand hung between them, steady but cautious, as though they were aware of the danger but willing to take the risk.
The creature paused just out of reach, tilting its head as it studied the human. Up close, their features were clearer: a strong jaw, sharp eyes filled with determination but shadowed by weariness, and an aura that spoke of resilience. They seemed fragile compared to the nightmares of the Dream Realm, but something about them exuded power—an inner strength that resonated with the creature.
"You feel it too, don't you?" the human asked, their voice low but steady.
The creature couldn't respond with words, but it took another step forward, the motion deliberate. Its golden eyes glowed brighter, reflecting the faint light of the crystalline hall.
The human dropped their hand, seemingly satisfied with the unspoken answer. "Good. Because I think… whatever this is, it's bigger than both of us."
They turned their back to the creature, a gesture of trust that surprised it. The human gestured toward the pool of liquid light at the center of the hall. "This place isn't here by accident. I've seen things in this realm—things that don't make sense. And you… you're part of it, aren't you?"
The creature followed silently, its gaze flickering between the human and the shimmering pool. The air around it grew heavier as they approached, the liquid light rippling as though responding to their presence.
The human knelt by the edge of the pool, staring into its depths. "I've been here longer than I care to admit," they said, their voice distant. "Long enough to know this place doesn't follow any rules. But the things I've seen in this light… they're fragments. Pieces of a puzzle I can't put together."
They glanced over their shoulder at the creature. "Maybe you can."
The creature crouched beside the human, its molten eyes fixed on the pool. The surface shimmered, shifting like a living thing. Images began to form within the light, faint at first but growing clearer.
A vast labyrinth.
A tower rising from an endless ocean.
Figures wreathed in shadow and flame.
And a battle—a clash between forces that shook the foundations of the Dream Realm itself.
The creature recoiled slightly, its claws scraping against the floor. The images stirred something within it, a deep, primal memory that it couldn't fully grasp.
The human's expression hardened. "You saw it too, didn't you?"
The creature didn't move, but the tension in its body spoke volumes.
The human stood, pacing along the edge of the pool. "These visions… they're not random. They're warnings—or maybe directions. Either way, they're connected to the pull I've been feeling. To you."
They stopped, turning to face the creature again. "I think we're supposed to work together."
The creature tilted its head, considering the words. It didn't understand the human's logic, but the pull within its chest left little room for doubt. This connection was real, undeniable.
"Look, I don't know if you understand me," the human continued, their voice softening. "But if we're going to survive this place, we need each other. There's something out there waiting for us. Something dangerous."
They extended their hand again. "What do you say?"
For a moment, the creature remained still, its golden eyes locked on the human. Then, slowly, it extended one of its clawed hands, placing it gently against the human's palm.
The human smiled faintly, a mixture of relief and determination. "Alright then. Let's see where this thread takes us."
—
The two moved through the crystalline hall together, the human leading while the creature followed close behind. The pull within their chests seemed to synchronize, guiding them toward a door at the far end of the chamber. The door was massive, its surface etched with runes similar to those in the labyrinth.
As they approached, the runes began to glow, their light pulsating in time with the ache in their chests. The door groaned as it began to open, revealing a swirling void of shadow and light beyond.
The human glanced back at the creature. "No turning back now."
Together, they stepped into the unknown.
—
The void spat them out into a new realm, one even more alien than the last. The sky was a swirling vortex of gray and violet, and the ground beneath them pulsed like a living organism. Strange, luminous plants grew in clusters, their stems bending unnaturally toward the newcomers.
The human drew a weapon from their side—a blade made of dark metal that hummed faintly with energy. "Stay sharp," they muttered, their gaze scanning the horizon.
The creature didn't need to be told. Its golden eyes darted across the landscape, every sense on high alert.
From the distance came a sound—a deep, resonant hum that seemed to vibrate through the ground. The human froze, their grip tightening on the blade.
"What is that?" they whispered.
The creature didn't answer. It didn't need to. The hum was growing louder, and the shadows around them were beginning to shift.
Something was coming.