Chapter 5 Destined Heart

Lyra: POV

I stood frozen in place, the stranger's question hanging in the air between us. That deep warmth continued to spread through my chest, confirming what Stella had just told me about this being a true Soulbound connection.

"I'm Lyra," I said, purposely leaving out the whole princess thing. Something inside me wanted to keep this normal for as long as possible before all the royal stuff inevitably complicated everything.

"Arden," he replied with a slight bow, his deep blue eyes never leaving mine. "I'm sorry for staring, but I feel like... I know you somehow."

Stella vibrated with excitement in my mind: "Of course he feels it too! His dragon soul Aquilo is reaching for me just as I'm reaching for him. This is exactly how a true Soulbound connection manifests!"

I noticed he was holding an ancient tome on water element spells. "You're interested in ancient spellwork?" I asked, finding my voice.

His face brightened. "Very much so. The old masters understood water manipulation in ways we've almost forgotten." He held up the book. "This text contains theory on combining water currents to create self-sustaining patterns."

The conversation flowed naturally as we moved toward a nearby book stall. When our hands simultaneously touched the same ancient text, an electric current shot through our touching fingers and throughout my body.

As we conversed by the book stall, I was surprised by his insights into water element ancient spells, revealing impressive knowledge. Meanwhile, I experienced an unprecedented warmth within—Stella told me she was communicating with Aquilo, and their connection was extraordinary.

Stella reported excitedly: "His dragon soul understands this is a Soulbound connection better than he does. Aquilo has recognized me and shown me the ancient dragon soul bonding symbol."

Privately, Stella advised: "Sometimes dragon souls see truth more clearly than their human forms. But remember, human intentions sometimes differ from dragon soul desires."

When he suggested continuing our discussion at the nearby fountain plaza, I knew I should decline, but Stella was practically begging: "Please go. I need to be closer to Aquilo."

At the fountain, he demonstrated a sophisticated water control technique, creating a delicate spiral of water droplets that danced in the air.

Not to be outdone, I raised my hand and focused on the water. As I shaped the liquid into flowing patterns, I noticed something unusual—the water droplets under my control began to shimmer with tiny points of light, like stars suspended in the fluid.

"How are you doing that?" Arden asked, his eyes wide with wonder.

I shook my head, equally confused. "I don't know. It happens sometimes when I work with water. My mother says it's just a quirk of my particular connection to the water element."

During his next spellcasting, I felt our dragon souls vibrate simultaneously, and when our water streams crossed, the effect intensified—water droplets not only took shape but sparkled with brilliant starlight, creating patterns I'd never seen before.

"This is beautiful," Stella whispered within me. "Your unique energy signature mixed with his water affinity creates something entirely new."

"That's... extraordinary," Arden whispered, staring at the glittering droplets. "I've never been able to produce starlight effects before. That must be your influence."

Our moment was interrupted when a market guard recognized me, respectfully addressing me as "Your Highness." Arden's expression shifted from surprise to thoughtfulness, and I thought I glimpsed a calculating look in his eyes, but it vanished instantly, replaced by genuine warmth.

After the guard left, an awkward silence fell between us. Rather than becoming formal and distant as most people did upon learning my identity, Arden simply asked why I'd concealed who I was.

"Sometimes I just want to escape the constraints of being a princess," I explained. "To enjoy the freedom of ordinary people." He seemed to understand my feelings.

He mentioned he was just an ordinary water dragon from a common family, yet I found talking with him more comfortable than with any noble.

Stella gently reminded me: "Social differences never obstruct a Soulbound connection. Dragon soul bonds transcend worldly boundaries."

As evening approached, I knew I should return to the palace, but I was reluctant to end this chance meeting.

Arden boldly asked if we could meet again, his eyes sparkling with hope and tenderness. I could sense his dragon soul also awaiting my answer.

Torn between duty and inner desire, I ultimately decided to take the risk and agreed to meet him tomorrow in the public area of the royal library.

When we parted, he gently held my hand, and that warmth flowed through my body again, even stronger than before.

I noticed small droplets of water on the fountain's edge near us beginning to glow with the same mysterious light that appeared in my water magic. Stella nearly shouted with joy inside me, but I quickly pulled my hand away, confused by the involuntary manifestation.

On my way back to the palace, I recalled the discomfort I felt when Valen touched me, in stark contrast to the warmth from Arden's touch. One made me instinctively retreat, the other drew me in.

Stella kept reliving her connection with Aquilo: "His energy harmonizes perfectly with mine. This is a destined alignment."

Upon returning to my private chambers, Aria noticed something different about me.

"Your face is glowing," she said softly, helping me remove my outer robe. "Did something happen in the market?"

I hesitated about whether to tell her about the Soulbound connection, ultimately choosing to keep it secret for now. "Just a pleasant afternoon," I replied with what I hoped was a casual smile. "The market was lively today."

When I washed my hands in the basin, I noticed the water rippling with tiny points of light again. I quickly shook off the droplets, hoping Aria hadn't noticed.

I consulted with Stella more deeply, and she enthusiastically described Aquilo's elegance and wisdom, confirming this was the purest Soulbound connection.

"His soul is ancient," she said dreamily. "Not in years, but in understanding. Aquilo sees patterns in water that most dragon souls miss entirely. And when he touched me—through you—I felt complete for the first time."

"What about the lights in the water?" I asked Stella privately. "It's been happening more frequently lately."

"It's part of your unique energy signature," she replied vaguely. "Your connection to water is... special. Different from other water dragons."

I searched ancient texts, learning about the Soulbound legend—the most sacred connection among dragonkind. When two dragon souls fully merge, it was said to bring power beyond imagination.

The ancient texts recorded that dragons who rejected their Soulbound not only suffered mental anguish, but their dragon souls would gradually dim, and their elemental control abilities might even weaken.

In the quiet of night, my father's expectant gaze and the territory's needs haunted me like shadows. The pull of the Soulbound connection and royal responsibilities waged fierce battle in my heart.

Stella continued whispering: "A Soulbound mate is rarely encountered in one lifetime. Rejecting it would be your dragon soul's eternal regret..."

In bed, I compared Valen's behavior with Arden's sincerity today, seeing a stark contrast. Where Valen's touch had made my skin crawl, Arden's had made me feel alive. Where Valen's eyes had held hunger, Arden's had held wonder.

In my dreams, I saw two parallel paths: one leading to royal power and responsibility, the other toward an unknown future shimmering with the light of true love.

Deep in my dreams, I witnessed Stella and Aquilo soaring through infinite starry skies, intertwining in a beauty that broke my heart. Around them, water droplets suspended in the void glowed with the same mysterious light I'd seen in my waking hours, forming constellations that seemed to tell a story I couldn't quite understand.

I decided to at least meet Arden once more, not just for myself, but for Stella and Aquilo's connection.