Chapter 13: Bond...finally

Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Bond...finally

Daniel stood in front of the man, his fists raised, his heart pounding in his chest. The crowd had formed a circle around them, a ring of curious faces and whispered bets. Lyra was somewhere behind him, her cane still, her head tilted toward the sound of his voice.

Daniel looked at the man. At his broad shoulders. At his thick arms. At the cruel grin on his face.

Then it hit him.

He had just done something incredibly stupid.

He had never been in a real fight before. Not like this. Not a duel. Not with rules and stakes and a crowd watching. He had been in a few scuffles back in high school, but those were nothing. Just boys pushing each other around, throwing wild punches that rarely landed. This was different. This was real.

But he didn’t care. He had chosen his words carefully. The other guy could only win if Daniel gave up. And there was no way in hell he was going to give—

A punch came flying at his face.

Daniel didn’t see it coming. One second he was standing there, thinking about his strategy. The next, his head snapped to the side, and a burst of pain exploded across his jaw. He stumbled back, his vision blurring.

Then another punch. This one hit his stomach. The air left his lungs in a violent rush, and he doubled over, gasping.

Then another. His cheek. His ribs. His face again.

He fell to the ground. The dirt was hard beneath him, gritty against his skin. He could hear the crowd cheering. Laughing. Someone shouted something about the naked run.

The man stood over him, breathing hard. "Had enough?" he asked, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "I win."

Daniel’s fingers dug into the dirt. He pushed himself up, his arms shaking. He got one knee under him. Then the other. Then he was standing, swaying slightly, blood dripping from his nose.

"Wrong," he said, his voice hoarse. "I haven’t said I give up."

The man’s smile faltered. Then it returned, wider than before. "You’re an idiot."

He threw another punch. Daniel tried to dodge, but his body was too slow. The fist connected with his cheek, and he went down again. The crowd roared.

"Stop!" A voice cut through the noise. High and desperate. "Please, you’re hurting him! Please stop!"

Lyra.

Daniel lay on the ground, his face pressed against the dirt. He could hear her voice, raw with emotion. She was scared. For him.

The man laughed. "Stay out of this, trash. This is between me and the dead man."

He kicked Daniel in the ribs. Once. Twice. Daniel groaned, curling into himself. But he didn’t say the words. He wouldn’t say the words.

Then something appeared in front of his face. A glowing screen. But this one was different.

[Bond Level with Lyra: 74%]

[Bond threshold reached.]

[Would you like to form a bond with Lyra of the Prick family?]

[Yes / No]