The sun hung low over the rolling hills, casting long shadows across the tournament grounds. The air smelled of sweat, dust, and the faint tang of blood — a scent Nyssa had long ago learned to ignore. She adjusted the gauntlet on her right hand, feeling the familiar weight of her sword against her forearm. Every inch of her body was trained for this moment, for the dance of steel and skill that had defined her life for decades. Her horse shifted beneath her, impatient, its hooves stamping against the dirt. Nyssa’s gaze swept the crowd — nobles, peasants, squires, all craning to see the undefeated knight of Ra’s in action. She felt the expected mixture of awe and fear ripple through them. That was fine. That had always been fine. She had no illusions. Victory was hers by right, by training, by discipline. Loss was not a concept she entertained. Then came the announcement of her next opponent. “Daisy Lance!” The name was unfamiliar, yet Nyssa’s instincts pricked. A new challenger — young, undoubtedly bold, likely reckless. Perfect fodder.Nyssa raised her weapon, shifting her stance. Her heartbeat was steady, even. She had done this a thousand times. She was the undefeated knight. She would remain undefeated.Then it happened.The girl before her — Daisy — met her gaze. There was a spark there, wild and unyielding, and in that moment, Nyssa realized that the pulse, the warmth, the undeniable draw… it was coming from her. Daisy.Daisy’s heartbeat. Matching hers.Nyssa faltered for a fraction of a second. Her mind raced. Strategy, tactics, discipline — useless. The bond surged stronger with each heartbeat. She could feel Daisy’s tension, her adrenaline, her courage, her fear — every emotion mirrored in Nyssa’s chest like a second pulse she could not ignore.Steel clashed again, sparks flying. Nyssa adjusted her stance, careful not to overcommit, careful not to break the flow. But now there was more than combat at play. Her eyes tracked Daisy’s every movement with a strange precision — not just skill, but instinct amplified by something she had never known.A whisper escaped her lips, almost to herself:“Who… are you?”Nyssa felt an odd twist in her chest. Not irritation. Not anger. Something… different. She blinked and focused, parrying a quick strike. Yet even as she fought, the warmth persisted, the pull undeniable. She realized, with a shock that should have terrified her, that this wasn’t just a duel. This was a meeting of souls.She straightened, blade poised, eyes locked on Daisy. “A bond… then. The legends were true.”Nyssa inhaled sharply. She had faced kings, assassins, and mercenaries. She had survived centuries of battle and betrayal. But nothing — nothing — had ever stirred her like this: the pull of another soul, the pulse of life in rhythm with her own, the sense that she was standing at the edge of something dangerous and wonderful all at once.The duel continued, sparks flying, metal ringing, hearts pounding — and Nyssa knew one undeniable truth: victory would be meaningless if she ignored what this girl, this bond, was awakening in her.Something beyond skill. Beyond discipline. Beyond life itself.