Chapter 9: "No, I Do NOT Accept This Bonding Nonsense!"
I was cornered.
Literally.
I had backed myself against the courtyard wall, nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
Velzaria stood before me, calm as ever.
Seraphina watched, pen ready.
Reina leaned against a tree, drinking water, looking far too entertained.
I felt true fear.
---
Seraphina flipped a page.
"Bonding exercises will now begin."
I threw up my hands.
"NO. NO, THEY WILL NOT!"
She blinked.
"They will."
I felt my soul leave my body.
---
Velzaria took a graceful step forward.
"You must accept this."
I shook my head violently.
"NO. NOPE. NEVER."
She tilted her head.
"You are my fated one. This is natural."
I screamed internally.
---
Seraphina clicked her pen.
"Subject Eldric exhibits extreme resistance to structured bonding. Predicting forced adaptation."
She clicked again.
"Fascinating."
I turned to Reina, desperate.
"STOP THIS!"
Reina sipped from her flask.
"Not my problem."
I felt betrayal.
---
Velzaria stepped closer.
"Shall we begin?"
I stumbled back.
"No, WE SHALL NOT!"
She smiled faintly.
"But we shall."
I wanted to die.
---
Seraphina tapped her notebook.
"Observation ongoing."
Reina chuckled.
"Good luck, Eldric."
I was doomed.
---
I was losing my mind.
Velzaria stood too close.
Seraphina was documenting my every movement.
Reina watched from the side, eating an apple, clearly not planning to save me.
And now, I was being forced into 'bonding exercises.'
I had to resist.
---
I threw up my hands.
"THIS. IS. NOT. NORMAL!"
Seraphina flipped a page.
"Subject Eldric expresses extreme distress when confronted with structured bonding. Predicting further denial."
She clicked her pen.
"Fascinating."
I pointed at her aggressively.
"STOP DOCUMENTING MY BREAKDOWN!"
She blinked.
"No."
I wanted to scream.
---
Velzaria took a graceful step forward.
"You must embrace our bond."
I stumbled backward.
"NO, I MUST NOT!"
She smiled faintly.
"You will."
I felt my soul leave my body.
---
Reina leaned against a tree, smirking.
"Y'know, Eldric, you're making this worse for yourself."
I whipped my head toward her.
"STOP ENJOYING THIS!"
She shrugged.
"You're funny when you're suffering."
I felt betrayed.
---
Velzaria extended her hand.
"We shall start with simple trust exercises."
I stared.
"…Trust exercises?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Like what?"
She smiled faintly.
"You will close your eyes, and I will catch you when you fall."
I felt all the blood drain from my face.
---
Seraphina clicked her pen.
"Subject Eldric exhibits strong resistance to trust-based physical activities. Predicting further panic."
I grabbed my head.
"WHY ARE YOU EVEN STUDYING THIS!?"
She blinked.
"It is fascinating."
I let out a strangled noise.
---
Reina took a bite of her apple.
"I mean, it's a classic exercise."
I glared at her.
"CLASSIC FOR WHO!?"
She smirked.
"People who trust each other."
I felt personally attacked.
---
Velzaria waited patiently.
"Shall we begin?"
I shook my head rapidly.
"NO. NEVER. NOT HAPPENING."
She took another step forward.
"But it must."
I felt absolute terror.
---
Seraphina clicked her pen again.
"Observation ongoing."
Reina laughed.
"Good luck, Eldric."
I was doomed.
---
I stood frozen, arms crossed over my chest, as Velzaria patiently watched me.
Seraphina held her notebook, pen ready.
Reina leaned against a tree, waiting for the inevitable disaster.
I had one simple task.
To fall.
And let Velzaria catch me.
It should have been easy.
Except for one small problem.
"I DON'T TRUST THIS AT ALL!"
---
Velzaria tilted her head slightly.
"You must," she said smoothly.
I shook my head violently.
"I REALLY, REALLY DON'T!"
Seraphina flipped a page.
"Subject Eldric exhibits extreme trust deficiency. Predicting continued resistance."
She clicked her pen.
"Fascinating."
I pointed at her aggressively.
"STOP FINDING THIS INTERESTING!"
She blinked.
"No."
I wanted to throw myself into the nearest well.
---
Reina rolled her shoulders, smirking.
"C'mon, Eldric, it's not that hard. Just fall."
I snapped my head toward her.
"FALLING IS EASY! HITTING THE GROUND IS THE PROBLEM!"
She shrugged.
"Yeah, but Velzaria's catching you."
I stared at her.
"THAT'S WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT!"
---
Velzaria stepped closer.
"You have nothing to fear," she murmured.
I stepped back immediately.
"THAT MAKES ME EVEN MORE WORRIED!"
She smiled faintly.
"You must learn to trust me."
I felt the blood drain from my face.
---
Seraphina clicked her pen again.
"Subject Eldric exhibits deep-rooted control issues. Predicting panic response upon surrendering autonomy."
I whipped around.
"WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN!?"
She adjusted her notes.
"You refuse to let others take care of you."
I paused.
Then crossed my arms.
"…That's not true!"
Velzaria raised an eyebrow.
"Then prove it."
I felt like I had just walked into a trap.
---
Reina laughed, biting into an apple.
"You kinda set yourself up for that one, buddy."
I turned to her, betrayed.
"YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ON MY SIDE!"
She shrugged.
"I never said that."
I felt my soul shatter.
---
Velzaria took another step closer.
"Shall we begin?"
I gulped.
"NO, WE SHALL NOT!"
She nodded.
"But we shall."
I wanted to scream.
---
Seraphina tapped her notebook.
"Observation ongoing."
Reina chuckled.
"Good luck, Eldric."
I was doomed.
---
---
I stood rigidly, arms locked at my sides, as Velzaria waited patiently.
Seraphina held her notebook open, pen hovering expectantly.
Reina was already grinning, barely holding in laughter.
And me?
I was seconds away from having a panic attack.
---
"Okay," I wheezed, rubbing my temples. "Let's just… let's just go over this one more time."
Velzaria nodded.
"You will fall," she said smoothly.
"And you'll catch me," I muttered.
"Yes."
I swallowed.
"…And you won't drop me?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"I will not."
I narrowed my eyes.
"You say that, but do you actually mean it?"
Velzaria smiled faintly.
"Would you like me to prove it?"
I immediately panicked.
"WAIT—"
---
Before I could react, Velzaria stepped closer, gripping my shoulders.
Then, with zero effort, she leaned me backward—
And let go.
I screamed.
"THAT'S NOT HOW THIS WORKS!"
---
Seraphina clicked her pen.
"Subject Eldric exhibits involuntary panic response when physically guided into vulnerable positions. Predicting further resistance."
She clicked it again.
"Fascinating."
I hit the ground with a groan.
"I KNEW IT!"
---
Reina was crying from laughter.
"Oh, gods—I can't breathe!"
I glared at her from the floor.
"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO STOP THIS!"
She clutched her stomach, still laughing.
"Why would I do that!?"
I felt deeply betrayed.
---
Velzaria gazed down at me calmly.
"That was merely an adjustment period," she murmured.
I shot upright.
"ADJUSTMENT PERIOD!?"
She nodded.
"Now that you have experienced the sensation of falling, you will no longer fear it."
I gasped for air.
"I FEAR IT EVEN MORE NOW!"
---
Seraphina calmly noted something down.
"Subject Eldric's anxiety increased post-exposure. Predicting prolonged discomfort."
She clicked her pen.
"Fascinating."
I clutched my head.
"This is torture."
---
Velzaria offered her hand.
"We shall try again."
I stared at her.
"…Excuse me?"
She nodded.
"One must repeat an action to normalize it."
I felt my soul leave my body.
---
Reina leaned against the tree, still laughing.
"This is the best day of my life."
I turned to her, furious.
"YOU ARE THE WORST!"
She smirked.
"You'll get over it."
I wanted to cry.
---
Velzaria stood waiting, hand extended.
"Shall we continue?"
I whimpered.
Seraphina clicked her pen.
"Observation ongoing."
I was doomed.