Jules is the team's discard—used as bait, ignored while poisoned, every plea dismissed as “attention-seeking.” At 95% toxin, he jumps off a cliff—only to be caught by vines of Thorne, the ancient forest guardian. Dead for centuries, merged with the great tree, Thorne sees Jules and stammers: “My bride.”
Jules stays. Thorne wipes his tears with petals, shields him from the sun, and gives him the sweetest fruit. When the old teammates hunt them down, rip out Thorne's heart for a quest item, Jules—for the first time—runs back through the flames and holds Thorne: “Your bride came back.” The system offers a symbiosis pact—abandon humanity, share life and death with Thorne forever. Jules chooses yes. From being abandoned by the world to being treasured by a tree, he finally finds someone who would stop everything for him.
