SoYa’s green gaze turned, focusing on the Marked Champion.

“Can you sense Tsu anywhere?” SoYa asked, holding tight to the scruff of the She-Wolf’s neck.

-No… everything is distorted in here. It must be the Sygnus energy.-

“Then how do you know that he’s even here?” the Athrylith asked.

-Are you doubting me?- she snapped with a sharp tone.

“I didn’t say that!” SoYa’s voice rose an octave in alarm. “I just wondered!”

-Because of the way the Marked act,- Zazo answered. –They’re coordinated and unified whenever TsuYa is controlling them.-

He couldn’t help but shiver, “You think… Tsu can really control those things?”

-I don’t know what else you would call it… but he does something to the Marked. Something that is obviously valuable to Zeromus,- the She-Wolf growled under her breath. -We’ve got to take him back.-

SoYa knew that she was partially right. The longer that Zeromus held control over his brother, the harder it would be to try to reverse what had been done. While others may have given TsuYa up for lost to the shadow, SoYa had not.

And if we’re going to evacuate, I’m going to make sure TsuYa is with us… no matter what that takes.

-Hold tight,- Zazo warned him suddenly. -We’re going to break through my barrier.-

“Your wha–?”

Before he could ponder the meaning of the Arweinydd’s words, the She-Wolf gathered herself up in a powerful leap. Light and shimmers burst around them as they met with what appeared to be a web of silvery-blue light strung across the hall, something he could identify as a shield of sorts.

SoYa shivered as the energy passed around him. The moment they broke through the barrier, the world suddenly changed. Death and decay slammed his senses, almost knocking him from the She-Wolf’s back. He could feel it everywhere — the Marked and their haunted aura, the violence and bloodshed, the faint echoing screams still lingering of those who had been cut down in a desperate flight.

If Zazo was affected, she didn’t show it. Her long, ground-eating strides were unbroken as she continued forward. And though her rider wavered, she instinctually moved to balance him, keeping SoYa from losing his grip.

-Can you keep your head?-

The sound of her voice between his ears shook him from his stupor.

“I…” SoYa stammered, choking on the thick death in the air. “I can.”

-Good. Then act like it,- she snuffed, rounding a corner. -I will take care of the Marked. You must find TsuYa… He has not recognized me, but he might recognize you.-

“Why… do you say that?” SoYa grit his teeth.

-Because he’s had the chance to kill you once already and has not,- Zazo informed him gravely. -You might be able to bring him to his senses long enough for us to capture him. Unless Zeromus has strengthened his grip on TsuYa’s mind.-

The Athrylith swallowed, “How am I supposed to fight him… what if he attacks me?”

-Is it worth the risk to try to save him?-

“Of course it is!”

-Then just don’t think about it!- Zazo spun in a sudden turn, sending SoYa stumbling from her back. -I will make the diversion. He will come.-

Before he could argue, the Arweinydd leapt at full speed down the far hall, lifting her head back in a wild challenging howl. It was answered by the feral screeches of Marked somewhere deep in the heart of the mountain passages. SoYa jumped at the sound, gripping his staff tightly between both of his hands. With the She-Wolf gone, the only light within the hall was the dim pulse of the stone on his staff.

This is not exactly what I had in mind!

It was only moments before the low rumbling growl rumbled against the glassy stone walls. SoYa turned around quickly, holding his staff higher, trying to get a better look at what was approaching.

“Tsu?” his voice quavered.

The staff’s light reflected off the dead black eyes of the prowling Marked — none of them were Tsu.

“Oh no! ZAZO!” his shout was cut short as the creatures sprang for him.

It was impossible to tell how many there were — the darkness folded and reeled and lashed out at him from every side. SoYa screamed as he felt the rake of claws and the piercing pain of the screeches slam through his mind. He swung his staff with all of his strength, only to find the weapon torn out of his hand as he was slammed against the wall.

The swell of shadows leapt on him. In desperation, he lifted his hands and lashed out with raw power alone. Driving his full will forward, he felt them lifted and flung back. He heard the sound of cracking bone and bursting flesh as they crunched against the far wall. The screes and struggle of the dying dead.

Then silence.

Breathing heavily, SoYa opened his eyes. His staff lay not too far away, covered in grit and grime. The walls and floor were painted black, misshapen mounds that had once been Marked slumped on the other side of the hall.

The Athrylith choked, grabbed his staff and started to back away. He felt the bile rising in his throat, stomach churning from the sight and stench.

I’ve got to find Zazo!

Just as SoYa turned to make his way back down the hall, a voice rang through his mind, jerking him to a stop.

-Why do you run, SoYa? The thing that you are looking for is right here.-

With a blink, the Athrylith stopped, peering around for the source of the sound. The shadows began to part, almost reluctant as a huge dark figure shambled forward.

“TsuYa…?”

It was just like the terrible vision he had, once long ago. A creature that was his brother… but not… twisted by chaos and hatred into a mangled shape of rage and terror. Huge black wings spread, tipped with shadow and dripping darkness. Grey, mottled skin bore open wounds that wept black blood from battle and the many wicked spikes that had erupted from within his body. Dead black eyes focused on him as his lips curled back in a fanged hiss.

For the first time, SoYa found himself doubting the possibility of his brother’s restoration.

-Yes… you are powerful… aren’t you, SoYa?-

As the voice rose again in his mind, SoYa realized it was not coming from the Marked Champion, but rather an awareness that hung in the shadows. It was a pressure in his mind that he had felt once long ago. A feeling that he had denied.

-You would have made the better choice of Champions. Could you imagine a Marked who bore the power of an Athrylith such as yourself?-

“No…” SoYa whispered, gripping his staff more tightly.

-No… of course not. Maybe it was because you were Athrylith that it didn’t happen. You denied me. And so your brother will take your place.-

“Zeromus…”

-He suffers like this because of you, SoYa. Because you denied me… and he could not.-

The shadowed form of his brother groaned as the skin around one of the spikes cracked even more, freely oozing thick and black. Something had kept Tsu from decaying and falling apart like the other Marked… but his body was still bearing the brunt of the chaotic power.

“You tricked him!” SoYa’s hands began to shake.

-Did I? Or was the power something he wanted? Was his desire for your position enough to push him to reach for what I offered him? Perhaps he wanted you out of the way so that he could take the robes of Nefol for his own.-

“I’ll never believe that,” the Athrylith grounded his teeth together.

-Really? Well, I’ll let him tell you that for himself.-

There was a long moment of silence. The only motion was the tendrils of darkness that spun in silent patterns in the air between the two brothers. When the voice came again, the command was absolute.

-Kill him.-

The Marked Champion rose up to his full, tremendous height, brandishing the familiar black bladed scythe between both hands. The animalistic screech was deafening, leaving SoYa’s entire body weak with piercing pain. Before he could get his bearing, the creature lunged, moving faster than his eyes could follow, the weight bearing down upon the Athrylith’s chest, pinning him to the floor.

“TSU! TSU STOP!” SoYa cried out. The only thing holding off the point of the scythe was the length of his staff. His arms trembled as he felt the force of a strength that far outmatched his own bearing down upon him. “IT’S ME! IT’S YOUR BROTHER! PLEASE!”

There was nothing there. No recognition in the black glassy eyes. No thought or free will. Nothing but the savage and feral drive to follow the command of the Chaotic Arweinydd.

SoYa screamed as the huge claws slashed, raking across his chest, leaving boiling red streaks across his flesh. The wounds began to spread outward, ripping across his body unnaturally. Crimson blood fountained across the floor as he felt the air crushed out of his lungs. His voice was choked to a gurgling cry as his arms collapsed.

Faintly he heard the sound of metal hitting the floor as the staff dropped from his hands.

The world was growing dark.

Coldness gripped his body.

He could hear the struggling thrum of his heart within his ears. A pressure within his mind began to pulse in time with the sound.

Suddenly, a sharp awareness gripped him. Then, began to expand.

Tingling spread through his body. He could feel it rush through him — a strength and light and sense of knowing.

The pain retreated. The darkness reeled away. His shoulders ached and burned as the pounding in his mind became almost unbearable.

With a howling cry, SoYa threw his hands forward. He felt the weight lifted from his chest. The sticky wetness along his body vanished as the pain dimmed. A brilliant light filled his vision.

When the light faded, he found himself standing in the hall once more. His staff was gripped between both hands as if he had never dropped it. TsuYa was splayed against the wall, hissing and snarling, fighting to rearm himself with the scythe that had been knocked from his grip.

-You’ve Awakened? I see… Very good, SoYa. This will be interesting, indeed.-

Breathing heavily, SoYa peered down at himself. His vest and shirt were still in tatters from where the Marked claws had torn at him. But the wounds were nothing but scarred lines across his body.

What… how…?

That’s when he noticed the new strange sensation and shimmering light that gathered and pulsed around him. With a choked sound, SoYa dared to peer behind him. The Awakened wings were there, arched from his shoulders — just as he had seen on so many others before. Everyone but himself.

I’m–

The Marked screech pulled his mind back from wonderment. TsuYa swung the scythe back, already in mid-lunge. A pang of fear leapt through SoYa’s body as he threw up his staff in defense.

Much to his surprise, he caught the strike of the scythe. And his defense held. With wide eyes, he realized that what would have driven him to his knees before… he suddenly found the strength to deflect.

SoYa’s green gaze turned, focusing on the Marked Champion. Snarling in frustration, TsuYa lashed out again.

Again, the Athrylith saw the motion of the strike and met the blade with his staff.

I can… do this?

Furious, the Marked broke the air with a mind-rending screech. There was still pain… but it was pain that SoYa could bear. Shoving the sensation to the corner of his mind, it was his turn to strike.

“TSUYA!”

The stone crowning his staff burst in full flame, a blinding white light that blasted away the shadows in the hall. The screech turned into a sound of pain and surprise as SoYa swung forward, slamming the staff and full mind’s will straight into his brother’s dark form.

“THIS WILL STOP!”

The Marked Champion reeled back with the smell of singed flesh and hair. Then he crumpled to the ground and collapsed, twitching on the floor. With a howl of frustration, the presence of Zeromus that had hung tauntingly within the shadows was also driven back, fragmented by the light.

Breathing heavily, SoYa stared down at the dark shape sprawled across the stone. His hands were shaking, a new fear rising in his chest, worry that he had caused more damage than he had intended. “TsuYa!? Are you alright!”

Before he could reach forward to check, the sound of Zazo’s frantic voice reverberated in his mind.

-TSU! Tsu, I’m here!-

The She-Wolf leapt into the hall, nosing down at the Marked Champion in what could only be a motion of concern. Then her green eyes narrowed on SoYa in disgust.

-What happened to YOU? And what did you do to him?!-

“I…” SoYa stammered.

But she didn’t allow him to explain. Zazo was already gathering TsuYa on her back.

-We’ve got to hurry. The Sygnus draws close.-

“Uh…” he tried again.

-Or do you want to wait here for him to come?-

“No…” he shook his head.

-Then hurry up!- Zazo commanded. She promptly turned her tail and began padding towards the Cynosure chamber, the unmoving form of TsuYa draped over her back.

“Back!” SoYa commanded, thrusting his staff forward.

“SoYa…” AsaHi was folding and unfolding her hands in her lap. “I’m really worried.”

The Apprentice was taking his turn at the afternoon meal, cooking small slabs of meat on a wide, flat platter. The color had begun to return to his face after being allowed another night of rest. The morning had found him able to move around with only the sparest signs of weakness.

“What’s wrong?” SoYa’s eyes flicked up at her for a moment before returning quickly to the food. He had a habit of burning things if he let his mind wander. Still, there had been a spark of true concern on his face that encouraged the girl to continue.

“I was thinking about the Marked…”

He drew in a sharp breath. Then covered up his reaction by flipping the slabs, one by one.

“And I was thinking about how they looked like they had once been students of Nefol…”

“AsaHi… don’t…” SoYa interrupted quickly, stopping her train of thought.

Something’s really bothering him.

She folded her hands one last time, peering at him closely. With just a few words, his whole disposition had fallen into distress. The way his hands jerked. The way his eyes settled on the fire and would not glance up.

He’s been like this since we crossed the Passage. I know he’s been sick but… it just seems like something more is going on.

AsaHi pushed forward before he could protest, “I’m scared for my family…”

SoYa’s head finally jerked up. The expression was one of surprise. As if she had taken the conversation a direction he had not expected.

What did he think I was going to say..?

Finally recovering, the Apprentice stammered, “That’s right… some of them were in Nefol.”

“I don’t know. Most of them were probably away on Tasks. They’ve all passed into Novitiate status, after all,” she told him. Then she smiled, “None of them could sit still long enough to be Dragon Apprentices like you. My family has the wander bug, you know? Mother and Father could never settle down in a city.”

SoYa smiled slightly in return. Then his face fell grim again. “Well, that wander bug might have saved them for the moment.”

“Yes… but what of the other towns? The outlying Gatherings? Is Nefol the only place that’s been affected? And how deeply has it gone?” AsaHi began to throw it all out on the table.

“I’m not sure…”

“How many were changed into Marked? Is the whole city taken? Did anyone get out?” she continued shaking her head. “I mean, obviously Zerom was able to influence TsuYa. And if TsuYa was wearing the robes of the High Guide, then that means that–”

There was a look of pained horror on SoYa’s face that made her stop, words trailing away into the smoke from the burning meat.

He looks so scared…

“I’m sorry,” she told him. And after a moment, “SoYa, you’re burning it.”

“Oh!?” he jerked his mind back to the present, pulling the platter off the fire with a mournful expression. His eyes lifted to her face as if to make an apology.

“It’s okay,” AsaHi interrupted with a smile, trying to make him feel better. She stabbed at a slab of meat and put it on her plate. “I like mine well done.”

“If… that’s what you call it?” SoYa poked at another slab, turning it over to find the other side equally as black. He sighed.

Poor SoYa…

The girl took a slow bite out of her meal, grinning slightly. “Well, if you imagine hard enough, you can try to believe it once might have tasted like meat?”

“Thanks…” the Apprentice murmured in mock-offence.

I shouldn’t have brought up such depressing things. He’s only just beginning to recover.

“I see the logic at work here,” AsaHi continued. She cutting off a slice, stretched over the small fire and stuck it in SoYa’s mouth. “You burn everything in sight so that no one will dare ask you to take up the cooking duties. Right?”

SoYa coughed, working hard to try to swallow. “Wow… this is bad!”

AsaHi giggled, watching the expression on his face fluctuate through the various stages of chewing and swallowing something bad tasting. His eyes watered a little, mouth turned up in a teasing smile of his own. Then his gaze slid past her into the swaying branches and grass that stood tall behind her. Her breath caught as she watched his expression transform once more, the good-natured cheer melting into a sudden fierce anger. His pupils contracted, his face paled, and his hand rose from his plate — palm spread outwards, five fingers pointed forward.

What..?

“AsaHi!” he hissed.

It was the only warning she had before the shadow dropped out of the tree behind her. Motion overlapped motion. If time unfolded, she could not see it. Everything became a blur.

Something invisible brushed past her head. Her hair swept back as it might with the wind — only it hadn’t been the wind. It was an unseen force that had come from within SoYa’s hand.

Mind Magic!?

Her senses reeled with the sudden realization that they were being attacked.

Whirling to her feet, AsaHi turned to face the ambusher who had dropped from the tree behind her. He was a man of pale-yellow hair, dressed in what looked like some sort of strange battle armor. A spiraled mark was scrawled upon his cheek in war-paint the color of blood.

As the girl’s gaze locked upon the attacker, she froze. An icy chill of shock rushed through her at the terrible vision unfolding before her eyes.

What’s happening to him?!

The short, curved blade dropped from his hand, the thud of metal meeting earth a dull pressure in her ears. With a gurgling cry, the attacker’s hands reached up to claw at his throat, like a man drowning in air. His eyes misted over, turning a milky white and rolling back into his head. Then with a heaving convulsion, he crumpled to the ground where his entire body began to writhe. White froth spewed from his mouth as the veins in his face and neck strained blue against the underside of his pale skin.

Finally he lay still, as if his body had simply given up, his breathing coming in low rasping sounds. AsaHi reeled back with a strangled gasp. Numbly, she turned to face the Apprentice.

SoYa ..?!

His hand was still outstretched, his face resolute in a way she had never seen before. There was a spark of sheer intensity in the depths of his green eyes. The power of absolute command.

“AsaHi, get behind me!” the voice hardly sounded like SoYa at all.

Staring into his face, AsaHi felt a lump of fear growing in her throat. Her legs seemed to turn to jelly, refusing her motion.

“Get behind me, now!” he ordered sharply, a tone frightening in its unfamiliarity.

SoYa rarely commanded anyone — not even back in Nefol. But now he stood before her, his stance firmly planted, not a hint of hesitation. His staff was upraised in one hand, ready to meet the group of attackers as they erupted from the surrounding brush. Shaken, AsaHi scrabbled for balance as she stumbled across the glade. She could hardly feel her body, her arms wind milling as blankets, pans and packs all cast barriers in her path. With a final frightened gasp, the girl dove behind the safety of the hem of SoYa’s robe.

The attackers closed in, circling their camp. Through blurred vision, AsaHi could see them – big-statured warriors, all bearing curved weapons and ice-blue eyes. Each face was painted with various spiraled designs that seemed to twist through the haze of her overwhelmed senses.

“Back!” SoYa commanded, thrusting his staff forward. There was a power to his voice that made AsaHi shiver, despite the fact that the words were not directed at her. Absolute, raw, indisputable. Control.

The warriors froze in their advance. Commanded by the single word.

The Athrylith…

For the first time, AsaHi began to understand exactly what the word meant. And what made the Athrylith so feared — the terrible power to control the minds of others.

SoYa’s upraised arm had begun to shake. His fingers were pale at the knuckles where they locked around his staff. The light from the staff’s stone wavered as the sweat began to bead on the Apprentice’s forehead, the weakness of his illness returning.

“AsaHi… I can’t hold them…” his whisper was frantic, much more like the SoYa she knew. Still, his eyes never left the attackers. “You’ve got to run.”

“I’m not leaving you here!” she protested.

“If you go now, then–”

“No!” AsaHi clung to his sleeve. All her determination packed into one word.

“I can’t hol…” SoYa’s voice wavered. He stumbled, face bleached the color of his white shirt.

Please…!

She fought to support him as his weight collapsed back on her. From over his shoulder, AsaHi could see the wolfish faces of the yellow-haired men as they resumed their advance. As if they had known all along that SoYa was weak and could not hold such taxing magic against them.

Oh, SoYa, please!!

AsaHi found herself dragged to the ground, holding SoYa’s limp form against her chest protectively. She could see the patchwork light reflecting off the dim blades, points of dark then light, as they drew near. No emotion. No reason. Simply death painted in spirals across their faces.

In desperation, AsaHi willed a wordless plea to the overhanging branches.

And the sky opened up above her with a vast crescendo of deafening sound. The earth vibrated under her. The trees swayed as a tempest swept through the glade in the form of deep crimson wings.

One of the Dragons!

It was huge – quite possibly the largest creature she had ever seen. Kudako’s Dragon form was easily dwarfed next to the blazoned red immensity. AsaHi’s thoughts reeled back to the first time she had seen a Dragon. She decided that seeing one right there, in the glade and on level ground, gave it twice the size.

It’s… it’s the Dragons I saw at the Cleft! I’m pretty sure of it!

The first Dragon, the larger of the two, advanced on the warriors that were making their stand against the beast. A trumpeting roar shattered the air. AsaHi was convinced that it shook loose every bone in her body. SoYa did not stir in her arms.

With a flurry of wild-eyed bravado, the group of warriors rushed the Dragon. They found themselves scattered with the first colossal swipe of its claw. As if they had been nothing more than annoying little insects at a picnic party.

Hedd-ynad!

Though the great beast did not seem of particularly vicious intent, it was obvious that it also didn’t mind dishing out a beating on anyone who was foolish enough to try to engage with it. Huge claws left imprints that spanned twice the girl’s height across the soil and tender grass. Trees gave way, crushed under the whip-lash of tail.

The thought of what might happen if it let loose with the breath of flame terrified AsaHi. Much to her relief, it did not.

The second Dragon, more bronze in color than the first, had not moved since it landed. Now that the yellow-haired warriors systematically began to retreat, it spread its wings with a practiced flourish and made a short glide through the glade.

The shadow was upon AsaHi before she realized, a large claw reaching down for SoYa. The Apprentice was pulled deftly from her arms. The girl was too stunned to do anything but watch as the Apprentice was taken off above the treetops, in the claws of the Dragon.

No! Bring him back!

That’s when the great shadow came again. Her frightened eyes shot up, catching the blurred vision of the huge crimson claw closing in around her from above. AsaHi let out a broken screech of fright, hands wrestling uselessly against the powerful grip. Staring down, she saw the earth shift, then shrink below her.

Her breath came in panicked rasps, body trembling all over. Zemi’s Servants or not, these Dragons were huge, dangerous beasts.

What are they going to do to us!?

That’s when the Dragon’s voice came. Vast, booming and jovial. “Sorry about that, Morh-AsaHi. Couldn’t leave you there. Those Spiral-folk were massing a swarm back in the forest around your camp.”

AsaHi nearly felt herself go faint right there.

“No matter how hard it is. You cannot allow yourself to run away from the truth anymore.”

SoYa hissed as a sharp, stinging pain sliced through his upper arm. His defenses fell as the last of his concentration shattered away. The pain leapt on him from every direction, long, thin slits of agony rippling across his body. If the weapon had been a blade, the Apprentice he would have been slashed into a million pieces, but no sword was in use.

It was only the power of mind magic.

“Father!” he choked, “Father, stop!”

-Mindspeak, boy!-

“I… I…”

-Mindspeak!-

The command pounded through his mind, shaking his entire body with the force. During training, his father didn’t allow verbal communication. Only mindspeak. SoYa flailed out weakly, a desperate plea ringing through his thoughts.

Please! S…stop…

-Put your shields up.-

I… ca…n’t… Father… please…

-Put your shields up!-

A broken cry escaped the Apprentice’s lips as his knees threatened to buckle.

-Defend yourself, SoYa!-

The Apprentice’s mind had gone too numb for the words to register. His pleads had fallen upon deaf ears. His face was streaked with sweat and heated tears.

I… can’t…

ZenToYa didn’t move a muscle. His eyes simply narrowed.

-If you cannot defend yourself, you will die out there.-

Finally released from the power, SoYa slumped in the grass. The Apprentice remained laying-face down he attempted to gather his wits. He choked and gasped as the taste of dirt and sweat filled his mouth. A cooling breeze swept over him, tousling through the top of his matted hair.

SoYa expected training to be easy. He even looked forward to the first lesson with pride. He thought that he’d finally get the chance to show his father exactly what he could do. Only, things didn’t work out exactly as he thought they would.

For all the time that SoYa had believed himself to be strong in the area of mind magic, his own strength paled next to the power of ZenToYa. He didn’t know his father was versed in the mind sphere of magic, so it came as a shock when their minds first met, and SoYa crumpled pitifully under the weight of superiority.

And so it went. Day after day. Father would demand a training session. SoYa would return later that night, mind exhausted and confidence dwindling.

He could faintly hear the sounds of measured footsteps approaching him. A voice sounded next to his ear. He was thankful that it was not mindspeak.

“Others will not be merciful, SoYa,” Father’s voice was sorrowful yet stern. “That is the law of the Athrylith.”

SoYa bit back his words. His throat was too dry with grit to speak. He wanted to tell his father that he never wanted to be Athrylith to begin with. That he didn’t want to live by such vicious laws. That he never wanted to learn how to use this dreadful power. That he was happier simply being plain old SoYa…

But Father would not listen, and the Apprentice didn’t have a choice.

“Zento,” Kudako’s voice was gruff.

SoYa raised his head weakly. The Dragon perched silently upon a tree stump, his golden eyes watching the two of them intently. Father did not turn to acknowledge him.

“You do not build someone up by tearing their self-confidence down,” Kudako murmured. His fingers were busy knotting some of the slender ropes used as parts of their animal traps.

Somehow, the fact that the elusive warrior would speak up on his behalf left SoYa stunned. The Apprentice never knew the Dragon to show much affection for himself nor his brother.

“You never held your hand in training me,” Father stated firmly, planting a hand on his hip. “I turned out fine.”

“I knew your limits, Zento. This boy is not you.”

SoYa squinted at the Dragon in curiosity.

“He must grow or die,” Father’s voice lifted as the scowl widened on his face. “He doesn’t have a choice now.”

“People grow in different ways,” Kudako crossed his arms.

“His last display of power might have left them mind-wiped if we hadn’t found them soon enough.”

SoYa choked, “M…mind…wiped?”

Both of them turned to peer down at the Apprentice.

“Yes,” his father answered carefully. “During the ambush, you lashed out at the Marked. And you successfully took them down. However, you also nearly took out AsaHi’s senses, as well as your own.”

“I… I… didn’t know.”

“Do you think we’re doing this for nothing, SoYa?” He spread his wings before folding them again with a sigh. “I know you don’t understand, but I’m pushing hard because it’s important. There’s danger all around us, and you have to be focused enough to strike the right target next time. There will be a next time sooner than you think.”

SoYa pushed himself up on his palms shakily. Silence rolled through his mind. It felt good.

“Do you understand what I’m trying to say?” Father pressed. His voice was somewhat more gentle, his face lined deep with concern.

“I think so.” The Apprentice felt some of his anger washing away as his mind came to grips with his father’s explanation.

The words sounded so apologetic, so deeply worried. The light in the winged man’s eyes shown in sincere pain as he gazed down upon his son. “You can’t protect AsaHi if you end up hurting her every time you strike at the enemy.”

Something about that statement chilled SoYa to the bone.

Am I really that dangerous?

“That is why it is important that you get back up and fight,” Father placed a hand gently on SoYa’s shoulder. “No matter how hard it is, you can’t run away from the truth anymore.”

The Apprentice’s eyes flickered up. Somehow, the mere touch of his father’s hand seemed to ease his pain and exhaustion.

“Maybe so, Zento,” Kudako frowned. The sound of his footsteps was heavy as he strode towards the fire pit. “Still, be careful. Bitterness easy-earned is an anger that burns with little worth.”

Father grimaced. Before he could open his mouth to reply, a frightened shout from the distance overrode anything he was about to say.

“MARKED!”

Kudako perked up, head swiveling instantly at the word. Father, too, turned around, his eyes fixed in the direction the cry had come.

SoYa knew the voice instantly, “AsaHi!”

Father and Kudako were already on their way. Ever fleet, the two of them dodged through the bushes, leaving SoYa to pull himself together. The Apprentice grimaced, letting out one long breath.

It didn’t take very long before they returned. Ushered between them was AsaHi, shivering and very shaken.

“What happened?” SoYa demanded, voice cracking with worry.

Father pulled a blanket from the packs, wrapped the girl within it, and led her over to sit next to the fire. AsaHi began to try to detail her encounter in a half-babbling, half-sobbing voice. Her hands shook violently as she gripped the blanket. Her words trembled over one another as she fought to make sense of the story through her fear.

A lump began to form in SoYa’s throat as he came to sit at her side, face painted in stricken shock. He had never seen AsaHi so afraid before. Ever.

“That was close, Morh-AsaHi. You would do well not to venture so far from camp in the future,” Kudako noted sternly.

“I didn’t know,” she choked. Her hands gripped the hem of SoYa’s robe, as if clinging for his strength. “I didn’t know the Marked were there…”

“I didn’t think those beasts would give up so easily,” Father’s tone dark.

“I thought we took them out at the pass?” SoYa blinked up in concern.

“Apparently not. The whole group of them must have slipped through our defenses somehow. We’re going to have to be more careful. They’re getting tricky on us,” the winged man answered. “It was a good thing the Dragons were watching. I doubt we would have been able to come to AsaHi’s aid in time. ”

The Apprentice’s eyes flickered to the shaken form of the girl. She huddled under the blanket, eyes never leaving the light of the fire. The thought of AsaHi being attacked, and him not being able to protect her left SoYa trembling along side of her.

This is too much…

The Apprentice bared his teeth, eyebrows slanting down. A strange feeling began to spread within him, as if at the sight of AsaHi’s fear, a spark was kindled. A spark that had never been there before.

-Too much?- Father’s mindspeak was clear and sharp. SoYa could sense that he was angry about the attack as well.

When they try to hurt AsaHi… it’s too much.

-What are you going to do about it?-

Kudako peered over at the two of them.

One of SoYa’s hands balled into a fist.

Teach me how to protect her!

Father’s eyebrows lifted.

I want to fight them!

SoYa’s gaze strengthened. When his eyes met his father’s, it seemed as if all weariness from the previous training had disappeared.

ZenToYa nodded to his son. A slow smile of approval crept across his face.

“SoYa... what’s an Athrylith?”

They found a cave to take shelter in for the night. Though it was surprisingly warm inside once the fire was lit, their clothes were already soaked from the biting rain. It left AsaHi with a deep, bone-chilling coldness that even a fresh change of clothes couldn’t mend.

The girl couldn’t help but think that it was a good thing Kudako was such a skilled tracker. After the attack in the hills, she was sure that they lost all of their supplies on the frightened rhawn. Somehow, the Dragon had no trouble finding the creature and all of their packs in a matter of hours. Unfortunately, that put them nearly at sundown. Traveling the mountain passages at night wasn’t the most desirable means of making distance, so, they found the nearest cave and scouted it out. Deeming it safe, they set up camp within.

AsaHi wasn’t quite sure what happened during the battle earlier that day. She knew that there was an ambush in the foggy ravine and that Zento and Kudako had overthrown it. AsaHi also remembered that she and SoYa waited on top of the hill, and some of the Marked attacked them there.

But beyond that, I don’t know how we survived.

AsaHi remembered the void-black eyes of the creatures as they leapt upon her. She remembered screaming and dropping to the ground. But the next thing she knew, she was peering up into the concerned face of ZenToYa. After that, SoYa became even more distant than he was before.

None of it makes any sense.

It could be possible that the Apprentice was shaken at the thought that the Marked were once his classmates from School. She couldn’t blame him for being shocked and afraid.

But still, something’s not quite right.

He wasn’t eating. He wasn’t speaking. He didn’t even change out of his wet clothes. SoYa just sat there, eyes fixed upon the dimly burning blaze in the center of the cave.

AsaHi crouched next to the fire, spooning out some broth from the kettle that hung over it. She stirred it slowly in the small earthenware bowl, letting it cool. Being careful not to spill it, the girl inched over to sit next to SoYa.

“Eat,” she demanded, presenting the bowl, only an inch in front of his nose.

SoYa blinked, giving the broth a cross-eyed stare.

“Eat,” AsaHi ordered a second time.

He choked softly.

“Come on, I’ve tasted Kudako’s cooking. It’s good,” she pushed the bowl even closer to his face.

“Hey, if you shove it up his nose, then there’s no way he’s ever going to eat it,” Zento churred from across the cave.

AsaHi gave him a flat look.

The winged man simply shrugged.

“SoYa, lookit you. You’re going to get sick,” she turned back to the Apprentice, words gently scolding. “At the least, get a change of clothes. You can’t sleep in your bed sack all wet like that. It’ll never dry out. And if it never dries out, it’ll get all fungused up. And then it’ll start to smell. And then you’ll start to smell… and then–”

SoYa held a hand up slowly, finally speaking, “Okay…”

“Okay?” AsaHi persisted. “Okay what?”

“I’ll get a change.”

He stood up slowly. His knees wobbled as he made his way towards the packs. It took him longer than usual to rummage through the bags and pull out a change of clothes. Without a further word, he stumbled toward the shadowed back corner.

The girl watched him with concern, “What’s wrong with him?”

“He drained himself,” Zento murmured, leaning back against the wall while using his wings as a feathery cushion.

“Drained himself? What do you mean?”

Kudako’s golden eyes shifted in hue through the light of the fire, “You do not know.”

It was more of a statement than a question. But AsaHi knew what he was indicating.

“No, I don’t really know what happened,” she shook her head slowly.

“Hrm.”

The girl waited silently, twisting one strand of hair around her finger. Finally, when she realized she wasn’t going to get a better answer, she pressed on, “So?”

“Hrm?” the Dragon lifted one eyebrow at her tone of voice.

“What did happen?”

Kudako shifted his glance over to Zento. The winged man looked half asleep.

“Well?” she huffed.

“SoYa used his power,” Zento answered quietly.

“Power? What do you mean?”

“Athrylith,” Kudako added curtly. As if it was common knowledge.

“I’m not sure what that means,” she admitted slowly.

She had heard the word before. She knew it was something that was feared — a person found to be Athrylith was quite often slain on sight. However, she didn’t really know what it meant. Not completely. Not enough to understand why SoYa was acting the way that he was.

“Why don’t you… talk to… SoYa about it..?” Zento’s voice was hazing off into a muted slumber.

Great… he falls asleep after all that happened today?

One hand tightened on the grip of the little bowl. Her eyes turned to Kudako.

“Not my business,” the warrior grunted. He quite promptly rose and strode towards the mouth of the cave to keep watch.

AsaHi found herself alone.

SoYa returned after a short time, soggy garments held at length in one hand. His expression was dull and stunned. There was sorrow weighing under his eyes.

She got to her feet and walked over to meet him. Just out of habit, AsaHi took the clothes from one hand and pushed the food into the other. “Now get some food in your system and go warm up by the fire.”

The Apprentice gave her a bewildered frown, but he didn’t seem in the mindset to argue. He took the bowl and settled down next to the reddened embers.

AsaHi made her way to the other side of the cave where she began to hang up the clothes to dry. Her green eyes flickered over to see if he had taken any interest in the broth. So far, he hadn’t.

“It’s going to get cold,” she warned him.

He turned his head and peered up at her. His face was a questionmark.

“You know. Food? You eat it?” AsaHi pointed one finger at the bowl. Then she began to mimic the motion of putting something in her mouth.

I swear, he’s about as bad as Kaze was. Have to teach these guys everything.

“Oh,” SoYa looked at the broth. His face registered surprise, as if it was the first time he noticed he was holding something.

The girl wiped her damp hand upon her slacks and tucked in the front of her over-sized shirt. With slow, measured steps, she came to sit next to the Apprentice. “Don’t let it go to waste. We don’t have a whole lot to spare.”

As if finally making up his mind, SoYa began to slowly drink the broth. She could see it working wonders for the color in his face almost instantly.

That’s exactly what he needed.

When he was done, he lowered the bowl to his lap. Happy to see he was finally eating something, AsaHi refilled his bowl and presented it to him again. This time, when she came to sit next to him, purpose was written on her face.

“SoYa…”

His eyes slid towards her though he was still very much engrossed in the broth.

Guys and their food… sheesh!

“SoYa, what’s an Athrylith?”

She watched as his eyes dilated. His cheeks puffed up as he struggled not to spit every last drop of broth out. It took him a while to gather his wits and swallow instead.

AsaHi waited silently, leaning forward with her palms on her knees.

It seemed as if the slightest mention of the word had worked wonders in bringing SoYa out of his stupor. His mouth worked soundlessly for a time before he finally found his voice. “You mean you don’t know?”

The girl’s face reflected quiet hurt. “I was never trained in Nefol to know that much about magic or all the funny words you magic-types use, remember?”

“I… I… didn’t mean that as an insult or anything…”

“I know,” her voice wavered.

“I was just surprised. I thought for sure that everyone would know that I was…”

“Was what?” she prodded, frowning as he trailed off in thought.

“Athrylith…”

“Yes. And that means?”

“Mind Mage,” his voice intoned heavily.

She peered over at him, “Mind Mage?”

“Yeah,” SoYa stared down into the bottom of his bowl.

“What do Mind Mages do?”

He choked again.

“Hey! I really don’t know!” she bit off the words sharply.

“I… I… I mean… it’s hard to explain,” he spread his hands.

“Do you read people’s thoughts?” she mused, giving him a suspicious frown.

“Er, I’ve never tried.”

“Could you?”

“I don’t know. I can mindspeak though, if that counts?”

“Mindspeak?”

SoYa looked like he was grasping to find the right words. “You know, send mental thought-messages to other people. And they hear it in their mind.”

“You’ve never done that to me,” she blinked at him.

“No, of course not!” he answered quickly. “I don’t use it at all if I don’t have to. Besides, it requires a mindspeak sensitive person to receive it.”

“Oh, and what are you trying to say about me?” she chided, trying to be playful.

“N-nothing! Really!”

It was such fun to watch him squirm.

“What else can you do?”

“I… don’t… really know,” his eyes fell on his bowl again.

“Why not?” she asked.

“I don’t use it.”

AsaHi frowned, “What do you mean you don’t use it?”

“It’s not something people like me to use.”

“Why not?”

“Because I can… manipulate things,” he stated.

“Like what?”

“You sure ask a lot of questions,” he furrowed his brow.

“Only the ones I don’t have answers to.”

He sighed.

“Well,” she poked him in the side. “Out with it…”

“I can control people’s minds. That means… what they think, what they say and what they do,” his face was very grim.

AsaHi found herself suddenly without a retort. This was not the sort of power that she had ever imagined SoYa could command.

“I thought… you were a healer?” she said slowly, trying to make sense of it.

“It was a cover-up,” his voice was weak as he stared into the fire. “If anyone found out I was Athrylith, they would have hunted me down.”

Silence filled the cave.

SoYa? Control people’s minds?

She fidgeted nervously.

They would have hunted him down? Is he really that dangerous?

AsaHi took in a deep breath.

But he’s never hurt anyone before. Why should I start to doubt him now? I don’t want to doubt him…

“I understand if you want to break it all off,” SoYa’s voice cracked with pain. “I lied to you. I let you think I was something I was not. And I was never going to tell you the truth unless it was forced to come out.”

She peered over at him, sucking on her lower lip, “I… don’t know what to say.”

“I’m sorry, AsaHi.”

He really was. AsaHi could tell. She could always tell. She could hear the pain and the shame in his words. Something inside of her wanted to push aside all the mistrust and reach out to him.

I can’t keep balancing this relationship on the edge of a knife blade. Either he is my Promised, or he’s not.

AsaHi’s face grew firm.

After what we’ve shared all these years, as kind as he’s always been to me… for me to break this off, right now when he needs me most… it would be cruel.

“It’s okay,” she finally said.

I don’t know if it really is okay. But if there’s a chance to fix this, then I want to try!

SoYa turned to stare at her, dumbstruck. “What did you say?”

“I said,” she met his gaze eye to eye, “It’s okay.”

“How can it be okay? I just admitted that I li–”

“It’s okay because I say it is,” AsaHi retorted sharply. “So, don’t argue with me.”

He closed his mouth with a click.

Fear battled with devotion in her heart, though she refused to let it show on her face. AsaHi still didn’t completely understand everything. Yet…

I know who SoYa is and what his nature would lead him to do. Until he proves me wrong, I want believe in him.

“I think I understand why you hid it from people,” AsaHi’s voice strengthened slowly as she fought to become more certain of her choice. “And I trust you, no matter what you say. Now, let’s get on with our lives. Okay?”

SoYa’s face was still dumbstruck. He managed to stutter one word in reply, “Okay?”

The room dripped with silence as their minds struggled to form words from the confusion.

“I don’t understand,” TsuYa’s tone was low with distress.

“I know you don’t,” was Father’s only answer.

“Then why are you leaving? We’ve only just found each other again!” he argued.

“Because sometimes you have to do things in life that really don’t make much sense.”

SoYa bit his lip in silence.

TsuYa’s eyes flashed.

That’s not a good enough explanation…

And Father knew it.

The last touches of twilight color shifted across the white wall from the tall rounded windows. Because TsuYa still was not allowed to leave the confines of his bed, SoYa spent most of the late afternoon sitting with his brother and talking. Despite the strangeness of the situation, that day felt more like old times to TsuYa than it had in many years. However, the cheer was instantly drained from the room upon the arrival of their father and the news he bore.

He’s leaving… he’s leaving me behind… again.

“It’s because of me, isn’t it?” TsuYa asked with a hint of bitterness. One fist balled the blanket between his fingers.

“Now Tsu…”

“It’s because I’m ‘sick’.”

“Tsu, that’s just not true,” Father held up one hand. “I don’t want to hear that out of y–”

“Do you think I don’t know what’s happening to me… the risk of allowing me to stay here?” his eyes grew distant. Darker. Haunted.

“Maybe,” Father approached the conversation from a different angle. His face was stern though his words were gentle, “But that doesn’t mean we’re giving up.”

“Yeah, Tsu,” SoYa finally chimed in. “We’re not about to sit here and do nothing. I mean, if I were the one in trouble, you’d do it for me, wouldn’t you?”

“Well… of course I would… but…”

“We’ll only be gone a little while. You can handle that, right?” Father added quickly. “We’ve got Kudako to help make it a quick journey. He seems pretty certain that we’ll find something in the Outterlands.”

“What if you don’t?” TsuYa frowned.

“We will.”

“But if you don’t?”

“We will,” Father repeated. “I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer. Not when it’s something for you.”

TsuYa closed his mouth with a click.

“Okay?” the winged man pressed.

“Okay,” he answered grudgingly.

Why so soon? After you’ve been gone so long… I’ve hardly talked to you. And you’re leaving us again.

“I’ll make it all better again, Tsu,” Father reached a hand out, placing it gently on TsuYa’s shoulder. “I give you my word.”

“You don’t have to promise me anything…”

“I just did. So live with it.”

Their eyes met and held. TsuYa struggled to secure the gaze. To not break away. To be strong enough not to flinch. But he couldn’t.

Something about Father is different now, and it’s not just the wings.

ZenToYa was the leader in Ceiswyr, second in command under Zemi Dreigiau. This in itself wasn’t too unusual — Father had been the leader of Nefol after founding both the city and the School. It was by his hand that the people first learned the ways of magic and battle. Days of glory and power graced all who lived under the banner of Nefol back when the city was under Father’s control.

But then, one day, ZenToYa vanished.

TsuYa could remember the day that Aunt SaRa took SoYa and himself aside. He could remember every detail of the room — the way the light capered on the dust motes… the musty, well-used book scent… the peaceful silence that the room always held. It was Father’s favorite room, his library. It was there that she told them that the Council had pronounced their father dead. TsuYa remembered staring at the shimmering dust motes for a very long time afterwards. Things had never been the same since.

No one had a straight story about what happened to Father. Some speculated he died in battle. Some said that he died defending the borders from the Outterlanders. Others said that Lord Zemi had finally called him away to become one of his Dragons. But no matter the story, it was always one of honor and glory. TsuYa never thought to question it. He was young and too overwhelmed with sorrow.

Now, as he peered up at his Father’s altered form, a million questions flickered through his mind. They bubbled in his chest, stinging the inside of his throat. As much as he wanted to speak, his voice was lost.

Why?

Every question started with ‘why’. He just couldn’t make sense of what happened. The purpose behind everything. What was going to happen. And as much as he hated to admit it, the unknown left him afraid.

Father could always sense the hidden things. Maybe it had something to do with what changed him. Or maybe it was just that obvious. But one way or another, the winged man sat down on the stool on the other side of the room. His body was tense as if readying himself for battle.

“Ask,” he offered.

One word that held the power of thousands. Both SoYa and TsuYa’s eyes were upon him. Neither could so much as blink. The room dripped with silence as their minds struggled to form words from the confusion.

“You’re not dead?” SoYa finally spluttered.

Leave it to SoYa to state the obvious…

“No. I’m not.”

At least it’s a start.

“Have you been here in this city all this time?” he continued.

“No. This city has only existed for about twenty passes.”

“Then, what happened? Why did you leave? Where did you go?”

When the questions came, they came all at once.

“Do you want the truth?” Father leaned back slowly. His expression was as serious as it could get.

SoYa nodded slowly. TsuYa joined him.

“I Awakened.”

“Awakened?” TsuYa echoed.

“Yes. You see these wings? The wings that everyone has here? It is the mark of people who have Awakened,” Father explained slowly.

“What does it mean to be Awakened?” SoYa almost whispered.

“It is to become as we should be,” his eyes focused distantly as the words came. “It is to grip the truth of our inner power, of our real potential and to truly become.”

“How?”

“It simply happens. When you are completely ready and Zemi responds to your spirit, you will Awaken.”

“Lord Zemi?” TsuYa breathed. “Is it true that he’s here?”

“Yes, he is. I know you haven’t had a chance to meet him yet. He’s been very busy lately. But it was by his hand that you were protected from the darkness that would have taken you,” Father sounded somewhat apologetic. “Know that just because he isn’t here doesn’t mean you aren’t important to him.”

“I understand. I’m… honored?”

“Then… you… Awakened?” SoYa mused quietly. “And that’s where the wings came from?”

“Yes. Though, the wings are more of an outer extension of what has happened inside.”

“How long ago did you Awaken?” TsuYa’s words sounded almost meek.

“You could pin-point that as well as I can,” Father answered with a frown

“When you ‘died’?” his voice was very somber.

“Yes.”

No one spoke again for a long time. Each of them seemed to be gathering their thoughts.

SoYa was the first to break the silence, “The Council told us you were dead.”

“That is because they did not want anyone to know what really happened,” Father leaned back on the stool.

“What?” TsuYa’s face grew stunned. “You mean they lied to us on purpose?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” SoYa echoed his brother’s shock.

“Because they tried to kill me, and almost succeeded.”

“Kill you! Why?” the younger brother grated, fists balling the blankets again.

“Tsu, what do you think their first reaction was? The Council saw me transform… Awaken… before their very eyes,” Father’s face grew grim. “No one had any idea what was happening to me. No one had ever Awakened before.”

“But still!” TsuYa’s face was contorted. “Kill you?”

“For all they knew, I had transformed into some sort of monster,” he seemed to try to offer what logic he could. Even if the logic was weak.

“But… but… couldn’t they tell?” he spluttered.

“What did they actually do to you?” SoYa seemed to be struggling just as much as his brother was.

“They hunted me down and made it so I could never return to Nefol,” Father’s voice grew sad. “They told everyone that I had died in some glorious manner so that my name would continue to be held in honor for the sake of the School. But in truth, I was on the run from them for years.”

“Did they ever catch you?”

Father gave one of his famous smirks, “Nope.”

“And no one else knew you were still alive?”

“SaRa was the only one.”

“Whaaat? Aunt SaRa knew? Why didn’t she tell us?” TsuYa blinked sharply.

“Because I told her not to,” he admitted.

“Why?”

“It was dangerous enough that she knew what had actually happened. The less people who were aware of the truth, the better,” Father nodded. “If the Council found that SaRa held such knowledge, her life could have been in danger.”

SoYa waved one hand in the air as if trying to find the most delicate way to ask his next question, “But, Aunt SaRa… she’s Awaken too?”

“Yes. She has been for many years.”

“How did she hide it?”

“It was a mind illusion,” Father’s eyes fell upon SoYa heavily. “Of my own making.”

TsuYa grew pale.

Mind illusion?! But that’s the power of…

“Father… you are… an Athrylith, too?” TsuYa’s eyes were wide and unblinking.

The winged man shrugged, “I suppose you could say that. I’ve dabbled a little bit in every sphere, even mind magics. Is that so awful, Tsu?”

SoYa’s mouth had dropped wide open. He obviously never thought there was another Athrylith other than himself.

Neither did I. I never knew that Father could…

“Well, is it?” he prodded, one eyebrow arching.

“Ah… ah… I… don’t know?”

“Do you honestly believe everything everyone else tells you?” Father’s lips pressed into a firm, slender line.

“What do you mean?”

“Because the whole world says that Athrylith are evil, you believe it?”

“Well,” TsuYa peered nervously between the two of them. “Mind magic is dangerous.”

“In the wrong hands maybe,” Father nodded. “But so is any other kind of magic. People just choose to especially dislike mind magic because they think it takes away the one thing that no one else should ever touch — one’s control and logic processes.”

“Yeah. Exactly. Don’t you think that’s dangerous?”

“Is it any more dangerous than someone taking a fifty foot pillar of fire and lighting it under your feet?”

“Er, well…” TsuYa grimaced.

“Not much control in either situation,” Father shrugged. He looked far too cheerful for the conversation at hand. “Besides, mind magic has a lot of good uses, too.”

“Like what?”

“Adept sensitivity of thoughts and emotions, for one. If the power is used correctly they are a people who are truly in touch with the spirit of other people. Just like your brother is,” Father lifted one hand and waved to indicate SoYa.

SoYa didn’t look overly thrilled to be pointed out. Still, there was something behind his eyes that seemed somewhat relieved to know that he was not alone.

“I see,” TsuYa answered thoughtfully.

“So, yes. Your Aunt was concealed under a mind illusion so that she could stay in Nefol and keep an eye on you boys. It was always my plan that she’d bring you two here to Ceiswyr one day, when you were ready,” he frowned softly. “Sadly enough, this was not the way I had wanted it to happen.”

“I’m sorry…”

“It’s not your fault, Tsu. Sometimes things happen that are far beyond our control. This is one of those times.”

“But still, I…”

“No. It happened. Now all we can do is work to find a solution. Yes?”

TsuYa peered down at where one of his hands was tracing the line along the hem of his vest. Then he nodded slowly, “If you say so.”

“I say so,” Father answered softly, words warm and encouraging. “And if I say so, then that’s the final word. Right?”

TsuYa peered up slowly. It was a phrase that he remembered Father always using. A pale smile touched his lips. Placing a hand on both of his sons’ shoulders, ZenToYa gave his own silent half smile.

One palm flat against the wall, SoYa froze.

SoYa was sitting there, just like every other time that TsuYa woke.

His mind faded in and out, carried on waves of restless sleep and nausea. Everything was fuzzy in his vision. Everything was faded and grey in his memory. He knew that time had passed, but he couldn’t tell how long he had been asleep.

This time, TsuYa stayed awake. Though his thoughts were sluggish and hazy, he was able to keep his eyes open. His whole body felt weak. Heavy. Unmoving. Images flickered through his mind, seeming too bizarre to be true.

What happened to me?

SoYa looked as if he was about to doze off. His head propped up on one fist, there were deep circles of unrest and worry under his eyes. His hair was more disheveled than normal. TsuYa couldn’t help but wonder how long his brother remained at his bedside.

Memory flashed.

Himself, hands gripped tightly around the haft of a black-bladed scythe. It was once been his father’s blade. He was dressed in his father’s robes. The point of the weapon was leveled at SoYa’s throat.

Shivering, TsuYa grasped weakly at the edge of the covers. One word resounded sharply through his mind. Though his memory wavered, there was one thing he remembered clearly.

Athrylith…

A mind mage.

SoYa… he’s an…

A mage with the power to rip the mind apart — to use, to control, to destroy other people. They were hated. Hunted. Slain. And his brother had secretly been one of these mages all along.

No, how can this be? All this time, SoYa let us believe he had nothing more than healing powers. That he’d never be strong enough to claim the School. But…

TsuYa gave a ragged breath.

In the end, he was much more powerful than anyone could have imagined. Even more powerful than me.

Which was a strange thought. As they grew up, TsuYa was considered the more talented of the two brothers. It was always secretly whispered that SoYa would never be the one to inherit the School simply because he lacked power and confidence. Now the reason for the cover-up seemed too obvious.

How could we have been so wrong?

His face grew troubled. SoYa was the last person he could believe held such a terrible secret — the last person that should have the power to enslave the mind others around him.

“Why did you never tell me?” TsuYa’s voice was weak and hoarse. He could hardly recognize it.

Almost instantly, SoYa startled awake, his eyes flickering open. The Apprentice stammered, gaze falling on his brother, “Wha-what? Oh… Tsu! I must have dozed off. How long have you been awake?”

“Not… long…”

SoYa leaned forward, “How are you feeling?”

“I don’t know,” TsuYa answered honestly.

“You don’t know?”

“I feel… sorta… strange,” he tilted his head to get a look around the room. “What happened? Where are we?”

“How much do you remember?”

“Not a whole lot. Just little flashes.”

SoYa pursed his lips. It looked like he had something to say, though he seemed to decide against it, “It’s okay. It’s probably better that way.”

Because you don’t want me to know.

TsuYa frowned slightly. He found that his face hurt when he did, “No, it’s not. Tell me what happened.”

“I’m not completely sure myself. You don’t remember anything at all?” he seemed very uncomfortable to approach the topic.

Not that TsuYa blamed him.

“Just… a voice.”

“Voice?” SoYa squinted. “What kind of voice?”

“In Nefol. I first heard it around the time you left,” TsuYa grimaced. “It wanted me to take Father’s place in the School. That’s probably why I thought it was Lord Zemi at first. After the voice came, I don’t remember a whole lot… there’s this big blank spot in my mind.”

“The voice. It must have been Zerom.”

“Zerom?”

“It’s a long story,” SoYa gave a soft sigh. “And I don’t even know if I understand the whole thing. Suffice to say, Lord Zemi told us that you were under the influence of another Arweinydd.”

“What?” he choked. “How can that be?”

“I’m not sure. That’s just what Lord Zemi says,” he spread his hands quietly.

“So, you did get to see him at the Host Gate?” TsuYa asked.

“Well, not exactly…”

“Then how do you know this? How did you speak with him?”

“That’s sorta a long story too,” SoYa scratched the back of his head.

“Does it look like I’m going anywhere?”

“What if…” SoYa leaned forward again, voice lowering. “I told you that Lord Zemi is living right here with us? That you are currently located within what is considered to be Lord Zemi’s city? That he’s taken on a physical Earthian form and that I’ve actually spoken to him face to face?”

“I’d wonder what you’ve been drinking and I’d ask you to order me one,” TsuYa replied with a straight face.

SoYa gave a little smile. It was the first one so far.

“And?” TsuYa pressed.

“Well, it’s true.”

“You want me to believe that?”

“It’s unorthodox, I know,” SoYa waved his hands around quickly. “But you just have no idea. Lord Zemi is nothing like we thought he would be!”

“Sounds like a running theme around here then,” TsuYa muttered softly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Do you really want to ask?”

“I just did.”

TsuYa hesitated.

He was not the hesitating type. But for some reason, at that moment, it was so hard to bring the words to his lips. It wasn’t as if he didn’t already know the answer. It still was just not the sort of thing you said to someone else, especially your own brother.

“You are an Athrylith.”

SoYa’s face grew deathly pale as every inch of his body froze stiff. He looked like he wanted nothing more than to shrivel up and die right there.

“Aren’t you?” TsuYa’s voice was quiet.

He simply wrung his hands, just like he always did when he was too stunned to speak.

“Yes?” he prodded.

“Yes,” SoYa’s voice wavered.

Suddenly TsuYa regretted bringing it up all together. As much as the Athrylith were hated and shunned, his brother’s reaction struck an emotion within him that he didn’t even know was been there. He lifted his hand towards his brother. The motion was very weak, “SoYa… hey…”

SoYa’s gaze was fixed on his lap. Shame and struggle was plainly written across his face. He looked like he was about to fall apart right there.

“SoYa..?”

“I know what you’re going to say…”

“Hold on a sec–”

“I don’t blame you,” he choked. “I wouldn’t want to be in the same room as me either.”

“Now, I didn’t say tha–”

“You’d probably rather talk to Father anyway,” SoYa got to his feet shakily. His eyes were fixed on the floor. “I’ll go get him.”

“SoYa!”

His brother turned without a glance back and made a hurried rush for the door.

“SoYa!” TsuYa’s voice grew more pleading and hoarse, “Don’t leave!”

One palm flat against the wall, SoYa froze.

Seeing that he finally had his attention, TsuYa pressed on, “I wasn’t accusing you of anything!”

“You don’t have to…” the voice was broken and miserable.

“What are you talking about?”

“The whole School knows. They saw me,” SoYa choked. “I took their minds, Tsu. I’ve never done anything like that before, but I did it then.”

Took their minds?

“Who’s minds?”

“The Council that–” he paused. “You don’t remember, do you?”

Faint flickers shifted back to him. He couldn’t grasp the details of the situation, things were far too murky in his mind. The only thing that he could clearly remember was that SoYa was an Athrylith.

“Not much.” A sinking feeling gripped the pit of TsuYa’s stomach, “SoYa, what did you do?”

“They… they… were attacking Aunt SaRa. I wanted to protect her. But I just totally lost it! I lashed out!” he moaned softly. “I just wanted to protect her, I swear! I never meant for it to go that far! I’m nothing but a… a… monster!”

It’s just like SoYa to be regretful over what has to be done to save someone’s life…

“Did you protect her?” TsuYa let out a long breath. The tenseness was slowly draining out of his body.

SoYa fell silent.

“Well?”

“I… guess…” he looked down.

“Were they really going to hurt her?”

“I think so. I really, honestly believed they were.”

“Then you’re not a monster,” TsuYa said softly. “You’re a hero.”

SoYa froze. “Hero? Me? After doing that?”

“Generally if you save someone else’s life, you’re considered a hero, right?”

“But what about the people I hurt? I don’t consider that very heroic,” he argued.

“You didn’t kill them did you?” TsuYa’s eyes began to focus more readily.

“I certainly hope not,” the answer was meek. “I didn’t aim to.”

“Then why are you worried about it?”

“Aren’t you?”

TsuYa paused for a moment, “Actually. No.”

“No?” SoYa turned around slowly, eyes thoroughly puzzled. “Why not?”

“Because I know you,” TsuYa stated quietly. It was the one moment he didn’t want his uncertainty to show through.

Oh Light, SoYa… I hope I know you.

His brother just stood there in silence.

“You’re just not like that,” TsuYa added.

SoYa’s hand slipped down from the wall.

“Okay?” TsuYa held his breath, hoping for a positive answer.

SoYa’s lower lip trembled a bit. His voice was hoarse when he answered, “Okay.”

“Good.”

The two of them watched each other in equal silence. There was a grateful expression on SoYa’s face.

“Now,” TsuYa chided softly. He was beginning to feel a bit more like himself. “Tell me about this place you call Lord Zemi’s city.”