"When you bind something, don’t think about holding it long."

She blinked.

"...Then what?"

"Think about control first," he said. "Short hold. Clean cast. Release."

Althea’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"...Short hold?"

Arthur nodded.

"You’re forcing duration. That’s what’s draining you."

He raised his hand slightly, as if showing the idea.

"If you can hold it perfectly for even one second, that’s better than struggling for five."

Althea’s gaze sharpened.

"...Control before duration."

"Exactly."

She repeated it under her breath like she was testing how it felt.

Arthur continued,

"And for multiple targets..."

He paused, choosing his words carefully.

"Don’t see them as separate."

She frowned slightly.

"...They are separate."

Arthur shook his head.

"Not really."

That got her attention.

"You’re casting the same skill, right?"

She nodded.

"Then don’t split your focus."

He pointed lightly toward her training area.

"Treat it like one command... just applied in different directions."

Althea went quiet.

Arthur could almost see it.

The moment it clicked.

"...One intent," she said slowly.

"Yeah," Arthur replied. "Not multiple."

She looked down for a second.

Then back up.

"...That might actually work."

Arthur smiled.

"Try it and see."

There was a small pause.

Then Althea let out a breath, lighter this time.

"...Thank you."

Not polite.

Genuine.

Arthur shrugged slightly.

"No problem."

She stretched her shoulders a bit, already preparing to go back.

"I think I’ve recovered enough.."

But she stopped because Arthur moved.

Just a little.

"Wait."

She looked at him.

"...Yeah?"

For a brief moment, Arthur hesitated.

Not outwardly.

But inside.

This was the awkward part.

Still, he didn’t back out.

He raised his hand toward her.

Simple.

Natural.

But intentional.

Althea looked at it.

Then at him.

"...What’s this?"

Arthur exhaled lightly.

"Let’s work together in the future."

It sounded simple.

But it carried weight.

Not just teamwork.

More than that.

Althea stared at him for a second longer than expected.

Not confused.

Just... surprised.

"...That’s sudden," she said.

Arthur smiled faintly.

"Yeah. It is."

She thought about it more.

Arthur could see it clearly in her eyes.

Not hesitation.

Evaluation.

"...Here we go," he thought.

She looked at him for a second longer, then asked,

"More than we already do?"

Arthur nodded once.

"Yeah."

A pause.

Then he added,

"I mean properly. Fully."

That made her go quiet again.

Arthur didn’t rush her.

Didn’t push.

Just waited.

After a few seconds, she exhaled softly.

"I already trust you."

Arthur blinked slightly.

"...That was fast."

She continued,

"And we’re already working toward the same goal."

A small pause.

"So I don’t see a reason to refuse."

Arthur felt something ease in his chest.

"...That’s enough."

Then her expression eased even more.

"It’s not a bad idea."

Arthur didn’t speak.

He let her decide.

After a second, she reached out.

Her hand met his.

Firm and steady.

"I’m looking forward to what we’ll achieve together."

Her tone was calm, but there was something behind it.

Belief.

Not just in him.

But in the team.

Arthur’s grip tightened slightly.

"...Same here."

They held it for a second.

Then let go.

Althea stepped back.

"...I should get back before she notices I’m gone too long."

Arthur chuckled.

"Yeah. Probably a good idea."

She turned, then paused.

"...And I’ll try what you said."

Arthur nodded.

"Tell me if it works."

A small smile crossed her face.

"I will."

Then she left.

No hesitation this time.

She moved quicker than before, already focused again.

Arthur watched her go.

"...She’s serious."

He stood there for a moment longer.

Then..

The familiar presence returned.

Right in front of his eyes.

Clear and sharp.

✦══════════════════════════════════════✦

❂ SOVEREIGN INTENT SYSTEM ❂

✦══════════════════════════════════════✦

⟦ Ally Candidate Confirmed ⟧

Target: Althea

Class: Enchanter (Binding / Support Type)

Rank: E

⟦ Intent Compatibility Check ⟧

Primary Intent: Connection / Team Bond

Secondary Intent: Growth / Shared Survival

Sub-Drive: Abyss Investigation Commitment

Trust Resonance: Stable

⟦ Consent Detected ⟧

Target acknowledges user as: Partner / Core Ally

━━━ REGISTRATION AVAILABLE ━━━

Register Target as Ally?

Cost: 10 IP

⟦ YES / NO ⟧

✦══════════════════════════════════════✦

Arthur didn’t even need to think this time.

He smiled.

"...Of course."

He willed it.

YES.

Immediately, the system responded.

✦══════════════════════════════════════✦

❂ SOVEREIGN INTENT SYSTEM ❂

✦══════════════════════════════════════✦

⟦ Confirmation Received ⟧

User Response: YES 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

⟦ Intent Points Deducted ⟧

✦ -10 IP ✦

⟦ Ally Registration Complete ⟧

✦══════════════════════════════════════✦

Arthur let out a quiet breath as the interface faded.

"...Three now."

It felt right.

Not because of the system.

But because it matched what he already felt.

They were his people.

His team.

And now... something deeper tied them together.

He glanced back toward the training areas.

Nox was still running.

Messy, but pushing.

Althea had already resumed, her casting sharper than before.

Somewhere else, Selene’s shots echoed.

Torren’s heavy movements followed.

And Mel..

He could feel her.

Still running... still trying.

Arthur smiled slightly.

"...Yeah."

Then he turned.

It was time to move again.

Arthur didn’t slow down.

He couldn’t.

Two allies down. Three more to go.

That thought sat clearly in his mind, not rushed, not desperate, just steady. The kind of focus that didn’t shake once it settled in.

He glanced toward Mel first.

Her movement didn’t seem like she had adapted completely

"Still good?"

A small feeling came back through the bond. Not words exactly, but clear enough.

"Yes. Moving... slower. But okay."

Arthur smiled faintly.

"Good. Keep going. Don’t rush it."

There was a small push of determination from her side, and he felt it like a quiet nod.

That was enough.

He turned his attention forward again.

Selene.

She had just finished a round of training. He could tell from the way she stood, bow lowered slightly, shoulders rising and falling as she breathed. Not exhausted, but pushed enough to feel it.

She pulled out a potion and drank it in one smooth motion, wiping her mouth after.

Arthur didn’t wait.

"This is the best time," he muttered to himself.

And he moved.

Fast enough to catch her before she stepped back into position, but not so fast it felt strange.

"Selene."

She turned immediately, eyes narrowing slightly when she saw him.

There it was.

That look.

A bit of suspicion. A bit of curiosity.

"Arthur?"