Kael awoke gasping for air. Pain coursed through his body. It felt as if his skin was being peeled off slowly. He tried to scream, but he couldn’t muster the force. The feeling intensified and his body his body refused to listen to him. Kael's eyes flipped back as his body twisted and contorted—blood oozed from his eyes, nose and ears.

Then it simply stopped.

A sudden chill ran through his body, calming him. Slowly he came back to his senses and sat, still gasping for air. What was that? Kael wondered, hugging himself. Trying to stop the trembling. Could it have been dream? No. It was too real to be a dream…something is wrong with me. It scared him. Kael hugged himself tighter and took in his surroundings—trying to forget the tingling sensation lingering on his arms and legs.

That’s right, he thought. I’m at the library. He tried focusing his memory. After they had left the rabbit with Roan, Dean dragged him to the library as he needed to finish examining the formation. Apparently, he had not finished the job when Kael asked for help, but he prioritized Kael over the sect’s orders. When he was done, Dean had even given him another sermon and strict orders that he was to go back to his room.

Kael, however, had asked if he could spend the night at the library and Dean had reluctantly agreed. Kael didn’t want to go back and meet Brin. Not after Dean had warned him that if he did something reckless again, he was placing him under house arrest indefinitely. That meant no library. Plus, Kael wasn’t that confident in winning. At worst, he would just be called a coward. Over time, however, he would prove that wasn’t the case.

He glanced out the window. It was dark, but the moonlight lit the outside faintly. Kael stood, the feeling had passed. He thought it was a dream or something, but he would still head to Dean’s and tell him about it. Carefully, he weaved himself of the pile of littered books—thrown around when he convulsed. He sighed as he stared at the mess and started to clean. His mind still telling something was very wrong.

##

Eztli sluggishly stood and looked around. The aftermath of his little stunt had caused more damage than he thought. The cage was crumbling into dust—probably part of the formations effect. His body was in a bad condition. Several patches of skin where missing and he was bleeding out. I got to hurry. Eztli thought. I need to heal…before I really die.

Moving forward, Eztli crawled over the wooden table tops. Guiding himself to a particular red bottle not too far away. He had noticed it when he watched Roan work. It glowed faintly and when he poked at it with his soul, a nourishing effect passed through him. Eztli figured it was a healing herb.

Most herbs in the world could be divided into five ranks: common, rare, semi-precious, precious, and divine. While the majority of herbs around the lab were only common and rare ones, the herb he scanned was at the semi-precious rank.

Eztli finally reached the sealed bottle. He concentrated his soul and launched it, shattering the bottle. The herb shot through the air and landed on the floor. Damn it. Eztli cursed to himself. Too much force. He had planned for the herb to land on the counter, unfortunately, his suffering body had caused him to lack control. He sighed and glanced down at the five feet drop and jumped.

He landed hard, blood splattering and his ribs cracking. Shrieking in pain he paced towards the herb, leaving a trail of blood behind. Reaching the herb, he hastily ate at it.

The effect kicked in almost immediately, his wounds began to heal at astonishingly fast rate. A few moments later, Eztli stood, his fur and body in a perfect state. Wow, he thought, amazed. I didn’t expect it to be this effective. Could it have been an almost precious herb? Or was it more effective because of my small body. Well, I’ll find out later. First, I got to take care of that bastard.

Glancing to his left, he noticed the unconscious Roan. Eztli smiled as he looked at his work. Roan’s left arm was shattered and his right eye had exploded. That’s what you deserve, you fucker. Eztli thought as he neared. I’m going to have my fun now.

Using his soul, Eztli probed Roan and noticed that while he had suffered outward wounds, his mind was intact. How is that possible? Eztli wondered and probed more. Roan’s mind rejected his soul almost as if he was awake. It was actively surrounded by a layer of qi—growing stronger each passing moment. Using more of his soul energy, Eztli pierced the layer. Well, this is intriguing. It seems his soul is split…but how?

Being a master of the soul, Eztli knew how hard it was to even heal a wounded soul. Even the slightest fracture to it would cause the person to go die, at best the person would only go insane. Is that why he talked to himself? Eztli wondered, noticing the smaller part of the soul. No, that’s not it. The second part is independent and has sentience. Not only that, but it wants to swallow the first.

It was unlike anything Eztli had seen. A sort of parasitic relationship. The bigger soul benefitted from having the smaller part, like having two minds in one body. But at the same time, the second soul was unhappy with not being in control. So, it was trying to gain control. This situation just screamed at Eztli to start experimenting on this rare specimen. However, he was far too weak to do so. He sighed. Well, looks like you are in luck, bastard. He thought, looking at Roan. I want to kill you so bad for what you did to me, but it looks like you have more worth alive. Once I gain enough strength I will come back and your torture will begin. For now, I can’t have you die.

Rushing about in the lab, he grabbed hold of several herbs—mixing them as best he could—and healed Roan. Then, he walked to the stairs and looked back at the unconscious body. A bit of regret showed on his face. He wanted to at least bind the guy, but without his Blood Art or someone to help, it was impossible.

Sighing, Eztli left the lab.

##

Brin paced back and forth in his personal training room. It was hours past the duel he set with Kael, but he still didn't show.

"Brin, he probably chickened out." Levy said.

"Don't you think I know that," he said kicking the nearby stool. "But he played me. He made me wait in front of everyone. Now they laugh at me." "Brin, they were laughing at him, not you."

"Shut up! I heard them whisper I was stupid for believing him."

"But he did sa-"

"Just leave." Brin said, throwing a lamp at Levy. "Get out."

Levy left without saying anything else leaving him in silence.

No one understands me. He thought, sitting on the ground. His father kept telling him he was a genius that he was going to be the next sect head. That people would adore him. Worship him. But that was a lie.

They mocked and laughed at him behind his back. He heard them whisper. Kael specially. He always did something to discredit him. Specially today, Brin thought, recalling the stares of everyone when Kael had challenged him. He had cowered back seeing Kael so…so confident. Can I ever be like that? He was insecure. He tried hiding it behind his arrogant act, but deep he knew the truth. He was not the genius his father believed him to be.

You tamed a Greywolf, his father’s voice sounded in his mind. Look at it, it’s so big now. You will win the aptitude test. You are a genius.

“Shut up. They’re all lies!” he said, screaming at the wall and letting the tears fall. “I only caught it with help. It’s only big because you took him and gave it drugs, father. I’m not great. I’m not a genius.”

A pressure suddenly built up inside his heart, shooting a large amount of blood through him. For a moment, Brin’s senses exploded; He saw everything in slow motion, noticing the minute details in the wooden wall; he heard the wolfs breathing and heartbeat like powerful drums; he smelled the disgusting aroma of sweat around him; he tasted his own saliva; he sensed the slightest change in the atmosphere; even his mind worked faster.

Everything was so perfect…so clear.

A faint whisper rang inside his mind. It’s all Kael’s fault. It said, spreading rage through his body. He is the one who embarrassed you. Get back at him.

Then everything returned to normal. However, the rage remained inside. Brin tightened his fist and hit the wall "Kael, you will pay for this."

His wolf whimpered awake causing his anger to spike further. "Shut up, you stupid beast." He yelled and kicked it a couple of times easing his anger a bit.

Brin only stopped once the wolf started bleeding. Taking a deep breath of the metallic scent, he walked outside. It was desolate. The moon shone up in the sky, shining down its light on him, embracing him. Relaxing him, yet beckoning him to let loose. A sudden noise broke his focus and he turned.

Behind another training room a small creature crawled. Squinting as it entered the moonlight, Brin saw that it was a rabbit. Kael's rabbit.

He grinned and called his wolf. An evil glint slowly filling his eyes.