Aether is it?

The Winter Solstice Ball was unlike any other event Vale and Lyra had ever attended. The grand hall of the academy was bedecked with garlands of silver and blue, the scent of pine and spiced wine weaving through the murmurs of nobility and students alike. It was a night of celebration, but beneath the glittering surface, an undercurrent of tension thrummed — the arrival of the Crown Prince.

For months, the entire academy had buzzed with anticipation. Eldoria's monarchy was both revered and enigmatic, and the heir to the throne was a figure shrouded in myth and expectation. Few had seen him in person, and fewer still knew the weight he carried—not only as a leader but as a wielder of rare power.

Vale stood beside Lyra near a towering stained-glass window, watching the crowd with a keen eye. Around them, whispered conversations faltered whenever the topic of the prince came up. His reputation preceded him: a man of great skill, intellect, and something… more.

"He's coming," Lyra said softly, her silver hair shimmering in the candlelight. Her fingers brushed nervously against the fabric of her gown. "I can feel it."

Vale's gaze hardened. "This changes everything."

Just then, the heavy doors at the end of the hall swung open with a regal flourish. The chatter died instantly as the Crown Prince entered. He was tall and commanding, with dark eyes that seemed to pierce through the crowd. His bearing was royal but not distant—he moved with a grace that suggested both discipline and ease.

The room fell silent. All eyes followed as he made his way forward, his cloak trailing like the shadow of a looming storm.

When he reached the front, he paused, his gaze locking onto Vale and Lyra.

"I see you both have arrived," he said smoothly, voice calm yet carrying unmistakable authority.

Vale bowed his head slightly. "Your Highness."

Lyra's cheeks flushed faintly, but she met the prince's gaze steadily.

The prince smiled, a rare softness in his expression. "Vale Lumire and Lyra Albert. I have heard much of you. Not least because of your Synchronisation."

Vale and Lyra exchanged a subtle glance, their unique status window icons glowing faintly in their peripherals—visible only to them. The Synchronisation stat was the anomaly that had perplexed everyone but remained hidden from all but them.

"Synchronisation," Alaric began, stepping closer, "is a bond so rare, it has only manifested six times in recorded history. Six pairs — always a boy and a girl — whose bodies and spirits align so closely that their Aether flows in harmony, amplifying each other's strength far beyond normal limits."

Vale felt his pulse quicken. "Only six?"

"Only six," the prince confirmed. "Each pair marked a turning point in Eldoria's history. The most famous, and most recent, were the seventh king and his queen consort. Their bond shaped an era of prosperity and peace."

Lyra's voice was barely a whisper. "So… we're like them?"

"In potential, yes," Alaric replied. "Though your Synchronisation is still developing. At twenty-three and twenty-four percent, you have yet to reach the heights of your predecessors. But you are on a path few even glimpse."

Vale narrowed his eyes. "How do you know all this?"

Alaric's gaze darkened. "I have studied the legacy of those bonds extensively. The academy's scholars have tried to understand the phenomenon for centuries, but only a few—only those with the gift—can truly comprehend it."

Lyra's brow furrowed. "What does it mean for us?"

"It means," the Crown Prince said carefully, "that your connection is both a blessing and a curse. Such power invites attention—dangerous attention—from factions within the court and beyond. Some will seek to control you; others, to destroy you."

Vale felt a chill creep down his spine. "So we're pawns?"

"Perhaps," Alaric admitted. "Or perhaps you will become kings and queens of your own fate."

Around them, the festivities resumed, but Vale and Lyra felt an invisible barrier forming—a line between them and the rest of the world.

Alaric's voice softened, "I have been sent here not only as heir but as guardian of that legacy. I will watch your progress closely."

Lyra's hand twitched at her side. "And if we refuse?"

"Then the forces arrayed against you will grow. But I do not believe you will refuse."

Vale clenched his jaw. "We don't want to be involved in politics or power plays."

Alaric gave a thin smile. "None of us do. But fate chooses us regardless."

The prince then glanced around, the briefest sign of urgency flashing in his eyes. "There is more at stake than you realize."

Vale's mind raced, trying to piece it together. "What do you want from us?"

"To learn," Alaric said. "To grow. To prepare for what is to come. Synchronisation is not merely a statistic. It is a living force, a connection that will define Eldoria's future."

Lyra swallowed hard. "And if we fail?"

The prince's gaze was steady. "Failure is a lesson, but not the end. What matters is the strength of your will."

A servant approached, bowing low. "Your Highness, the council awaits."

Alaric nodded. "I must go."

Before leaving, he fixed Vale and Lyra with one final look. "Remember—only six pairs before you have borne this burden. You are the seventh. Carry it wisely."

As the prince departed, the weight of his words settled heavily in their hearts.

Vale broke the silence. "Seventh pair… that means the last were royalty?"

Lyra nodded, voice trembling slightly. "The king and queen consort who brought peace… they were like us."

"Then we have a lot to live up to," Vale said quietly.

"And a long way to go," Lyra agreed.

The ball continued around them, but for Vale and Lyra, the world had shifted irrevocably. The Synchronisation that linked them was no longer just a curiosity—it was a legacy, a warning, and perhaps their greatest hope.