This was it.
Roxanne had never felt it before, but she was certain she had recognized it for what it was: the feeling that a bond could last forever. The feeling that a relationship wasn't ending for an eventual end. The feeling that she was truly in it for the long haul.
Was it because of the vow that bound her and her fellow Leopolds to eternal service of Caius? She allowed herself to wonder, but the answer was instant: It wasn't.
No, she could feel that vow as a chain around her heart, ready to tighten and clench the moment she disobeyed the Divine Ordinance that put that vow in place.
Underneath the chain of the vow, however, was a thin band that glowed warmly. Despite how thin it was, though, it was stronger than the chain could ever be. It was also wrapped around her heart, but didn't tighten or cause discomfort. On the contrary, it filled her with a wave of comfort as though her feet had finally found solid ground and would never again be shaken.
