Civilians are familiar of the idea of soulmates; they come in pairs and from every flaw and shortcomings fit each other perfectly. In the mafia, soulmates come in a set. Harmonization, is the term. Skies are rare, those capable of pulling on Harmonization -a complex phenomena of multiple people in complete union- even rarer. And making it last? A gruelling task involving fighting every moment to keep it together.
A complete and successful harmonization is practically a fairy tale. Something people daydreamed of.
They had collapsed, gasping and writhing in pain, on their back or their hands and knees. But even through that, they could still register enough to realize what was happening.
They were harmonizing.
So why was it so painful?
If the harmonization in the stories told of gentle coaxing and warm embraces and belonging, this was taking everything that made them them and forcibly going at it with a needle and a thread. Quite literally.
One moment they were them, individuals that not even seconds ago were little more than strangers, and then the next, parts and pieces of the others were being forcibly superglued to them. Memories that weren't theirs flickered through their minds.
They were Them now.
Unified in a manner that violated and perverted the ritual.
Viper screamed.