"You're at the southernmost part of the maze." Kael said.

"That could be anywhere. Be more specific, boy. Besides, this damn maze is too dark. I can't see shit. Looks like they really took it to themselves to make this a proper test. Only the tamers can see the path, the beasts are left in the dark.""

"Uh, why don't I just tell you were to go like everyone else?" Kael said, looking around at the other kids—some waved their hands ordering their beasts forwards while others looked calm and only moved their lips. "You're near the weird zigzag part. If you turn to your right you'll see a straight path—"

Laughter interrupted his instructions.

"Boy, don't think you can guide me. Just send me an image again and I'll do the rest. All you have to do is lay back and wait until I am done."

Kael sighed and tried to do as told. This time, however, he couldn't focus his mind. All the movement of the beasts and the sudden yells from the kids made it hard to concentrate."

"Kid, hurry up." Eztli said, anger leaking out of his voice.

"I-I can't concentrate." Kael said, hesitating and a bit embarrassed. "There's too much movement and screaming going on."

"Heavens, kid. It's such a simple task yet you can't even do that? Are you really the same kid that was able to create a Qi Whirlpool and refine his blood so fast?"

Qi Whirlpool? Refine my blood so fast? What does he mean? Kael wondered, but before he could even ask Eztli he sent him a breathing technique.

"Here. You should be able to calm and focus your mind with this." Eztli said, his anger rising. "Make it quick or our deal is off."

Kael took a look at the patterns and was shocked momentarily. God’s Calmness. What a preposterous name. No. Now's not the time to be shocked, Kael. He told himself in a hurry as he started breathing ignoring the foolish name.

After two breaths, his mind cleared up and the world changed. For a moment, the sensory overload ambushed him causing him to be awed. He could see, feel and hear every detail surrounding him; The breathing and heartbeat of the kid ten feet away, the pores of his skin opening and closing, the grain of the stone, and even individual hairs covering the beasts down below.

T-this...How is this breathing technique is so wonderful? Kael asked himself. So its name was correct. This breathing technique is godly. Just two breaths and my focus has increased so much—

"Kid, the image!"

Immediately, he sent the image and continued staring in wonder. Taking in the newfound experience of being able to focus so delicately on things. If he honed his focus he could even see the airflow. The qi particles became visible and he lost himself. He rushed his breathing—taking the technique further—the feeling enthralling him. Making him addicted.

Suddenly, a pain rose in his head—like someone taking a long needle and hammering into his skull—making him stumble backwards a couple of steps. What was that? Kael thought.

"Oh, before I forget," Eztli's voice rang in his head. "Don't keep using the breathing technique or it'll cause your mind to shatter. It's not meant to be maintained long for someone at your level."

"Then why did you give it to me!" Kael sent, gritting his teeth and tightening his fists.

Laughter sounded for a while. "Looks like you already experienced part of the symptoms. I only gave you the most basic part of God’s Calmness. Since, if I hadn't, you wouldn't have been able to send me the image. Besides, once you reach the Mending stage, you will be able to use the basic pattern indefinitely. I'm already taking a loss, its a precious art you know. Well, at least if you know it all, but even with just the first pattern you’ll be considered godly. Be glad I gave it to you."

"That's not the point. You should have warned me about it before giving it to me!"

"Not my problem, kid. I'm leaving after today. If you die or not has nothing to do with me. One thing though, keep it and the blood refining to yourself. If you want to live that is. Others might kill you, but if I find out that others have learned it…you better be dead by then as if I get my hands on you…"

Kael felt a sudden chill run through his body just from Eztli’s tone and implication. No, he doesn't mean that. Kael thought. Does he? He tried to forget and trust Eztli as he had helped him a lot already, but deep inside a voice reminded him. He keeps true to his word. He only cares about himself. You better not make him angry. Remember, he almost killed you.

He shook his head and looked around at the kids. Focusing on their faces as they tried their best to control their beasts—trying to forget the sudden fear.

Then, he spotted Brin. He had a serene expression and a smirk on his lips. Kael turned to the maze and noticed his wolf speeding through it. The massive wolf was surprisingly agile. It ran past the walls—turning effortlessly—as if it was running in a straight line. Almost like wind.

How? Kael wondered. At this pace, he will complete the maze in a few minutes.

Kael shifted his gaze to Eztli. He trotted forward with leisure as if he was taking a morning walk. A sense of panic arose inside him. He needs to go faster. I need to be a genius. I need to make my dad proud.

"Eztli can you hurry up?" He sent, anxiously. "At this pace, I'll be last. The faster you finish it the better ranking I will get."

"I'll take it at my pace." Eztli replied. "What matters most is the control over your beast not the speed. As long as you look the part and pretend to command me as if you were breathing you'll pass. Besides, the second part of this test should be the most important. So, who cares if I go faster or slower. In the end, you can just say that this is the limit of my speed—I'm a normal rabbit— or that you felt like taking it slow."

That's right. Kael thought as he realized that what Eztli said made sense. A smile surfaced on his face. All right. I have to pretend to send commands. Kael's expression turned calm with a hint of seriousness. Although inside, he felt guilty. Compared to the other kids who were trying hard it was like he was cheating. If I had Leggy, I would be able to do it even better. No. Even with any other beast, I believe I could have controlled them efficiently. Kael felt his confidence rise and the feeling of guilt being buried.

Soon, Eztli reached the pill, swallowed it and continued towards the end of the maze.

"Damn it." A loud voice rang. "Just eat the pill and move forward already! You listened to me for the first half. What's the problem now?"

Turning, Kael saw Nar waving his arms his face twisted in anger.

"Move! Now!" Nar yelled as a cold aura expelled from him.

Kael looked for Nar's fox within the maze and saw it sitting near the pill, but not moving at all. He noticed Eztli nearing the area and he got an idea. Nar, I'll help you out. He smiled as he thought that with this Nar would talk to him again.

"Eztli, can you help my friend? His fox is near you, but it refuses to eat his pill. Can you do anything to make it eat it?"

"What? You think I'm here to do your bidding? This wasn't part of the deal."

"Please Eztli. This is important to me. He's my best friend."

Eztli fell silent for a long time.

"Eztli?"

"Fine, kid, but stop your whining. You're making me remember things I don't want to."

"So you'll do it?"

"Yes, I'll help you out this one last time, but just so you can shut up and stop bothering for the moment. Send me an image of where the damn fox is at."

"Thanks!"

##

Get a grip of yourself Eztli. He told himself as he took a deep calming breath. He repressed the surfacing memories of Rhett and paced towards the fox. A couple of turns later he stood in front of the fox. It sat there—as if it has lost its mind—staring at the red glowing pill.

What the hell? Eztli thought. It shouldn't be doing that. As enthralling as the pill is, it's not enough for it to be dazed like that.

He stirred his soul and gave a quick pass—examining the fox in its entirety. Then, he noticed it.

So it's not the pill, but the formation. Eztli thought, his eyes going wide as he focused his soul on the formation underneath the pill. Interesting...so it's forming a preliminary branding with this formation. There must be something hidden later in the second part of the test. A second formation perhaps? But why is it affecting the fox? Could there be other beasts acting like it?

"Kid, is there any other beast acting like the fox?"

"No, just the fox. Everyone else's already ate the pill and are headed to the exit formation. Some even finished already. So hurry."

Very interesting. Eztli thought, smiling and picking up the pill. He stuffed it into the fox and began to drag it to the center formation. He was eager to find out the second part of the formation would do and dragging it didn't seem to hinder the preliminary branding.

"Why are you dragging it?"

"It's faster this way, kid. I'm not going to wait until this thing is finished. You told me to help and I am."

"How will I explain this to the elders?"

"Don't worry about that. They'll see it as you having incredible control to force a rabbit to erase the instinctual fear embedded in its genes and help its predator. So it's all beneficial for you."

That seemed to convince Kael as he just stayed silent.

Dragging the fox wasn't much work for Eztli and soon he could see a faint light. According to his mental map, he was at the center of the maze. Eagerly he pressed forward, picking up his speed. Just as he neared, he felt the fox jolt and rush towards the formation.

It's done branding. Eztli thought as he walked into the formation. All right, let's see what other secrets are hidden in this tower.

Eztli smiled wickedly as the central formation shrouded him with light and teleported him out.