Chapter 14: Simmering Coals, Heavy Hand

Agi leaped back, stumbling as he attempted to regain balance.

The handsome mans face twisted mockingly, “You…” He began to laugh, “You don’t even have The Gift.”

He began to waltz toward the stumbling child, Agis body felt hot, his mind was heavy and his throat was dry–burning.

However his face turned cold, “And yet you managed to break my leg. I’m going to kill you. Fucking beast.”

Agi glared at him, “Come die.” His throat burned, it burned so bad… he needed water, however he couldn’t drink any…

His eyes lingered on the man.

A feral light in his boyish eyes.

The man shivered slightly, but went into a traditional temple stance.

Agi looked into the depths of his spirit, slowly a growl echoed from the depths of nothing.

A scaly beast began to claw at the world around Agi, and a pressure formed atop the man.

Agi lunged at him, the claws of the beast conforming atop Agis own.

A claw slashed into the mans arms as he put them up, without waiting a moment Agi jumped up, grabbing his arm and drinking all the blood that spilled.

The man tossed him off and looked at the boy in horror, “Insane… You’re completely insane.”

Agi just muttered as tears of blood rolled from his eyes, “I will walk my own path…”

The exertion of manifesting his instinct would slowly kill him.

It was not something that anyone could maintain, let alone his meandering physique.

The man gritted his teeth, rushing at Agi,

Baring his teeth Agi met the mans hands, Agis bones rattled, and the man was left with some scratches.

Such little things were not enough to stop them, they exchanged blowed repeatedly, the man covered in bloody wounds, and Agis blood flowing from his nose and eyes.

The man was heaving as he continued to attack Agi, his smaller scratches healing.

Meanwhile Agi was practically turning black and blue.

The wounds piling up as he ruthlessly clawed at the man.

Blood flowed from his ear.

The manifestation covered his teeth as he bit down on the approaching fist, only for a knee to slam into his side.

Coughing he let go and tackled the man,

Slamming a claw into the mud a long claw scar was left in its wake.

The man twisted his body, tossing Agi beneath him, he threw fist and fist, only for Agis small body to squirm dodging them all.

Suddenly a tail slammed into his head, rattling him as he went flying, rolling over and only again.

Agi coughed a wad of blood and stood up, the tail vanishing.

The man was wounded, his blood flowing, this kid is much more dangerous that anyone else he’d met here.

He began to wonder if this was worth it as Agi lunged again, running at him like a monster.

Swirls of colors flowed over Agis body, the ethereal beast clinging atop his form like a second skin.

It was impossible to tell anything except its reptilian nature. They were both exhausted.

The Manifestation slowly dematerializing as Agi panted.

Meanwhile the mans gift blood had reached its final drop.

The two abandoned their strange abilities, Agi tossing a fist at his abdomen, His soul bursting with force.

The man twisted, taking minimal damage as he slammed his fist into Agis face, only to receive a powerful kick to his thigh.

Dodging another jab Agi grabbed the mans arm, pulling him down and jumping up, slamming his knee into his ribcage.

The two stumbled back, Agi huffing as he stepped closer with a limp, his face drenched in his own blood.

The other man was truly exhausted, barely able to lift his arm, as he punched Agi weakly, only to receive another strong fist into his stomach.

He hurled, spitting out his previous meal.

Agi took the moment to use the remaining energy in his body, jumping up he activated his soul, spinning a kick around right into his jaw.

After that they both collapsed.

Agi laying on the floor, completely unable to finish him off and survive.

However the man regained consciousness after a short period.

He flipped over, unable to stand.

“What’s your name?”

Agi was silent for a moment, catching his breath,

“Agi. You?”

The man looked up at the rain pouring onto his head, he felt like a fool.

“Nerva.”

Agi looked over at him, “Don’t want to kill me? What about your woman?”

He seemd to be deep in thought, “My woman? Yeah right… the crazy bitch dragged me along… What choice did I have? But maybe… with this monster…”

His thoughts drifted as he refocused to reality,

The man winced as the rain entered his wounds, “Woman are overrated.”

He growled, “Didn’t you try to kill me for that?”

The man laughed, “What about you? Don’t want to eat me?”

Agi went silent,

“…”

He rubbed some blood from his eyes, “You don’t taste good.”

The man chuckled finally sitting up, “Yeah I be–”

Nerva turned to speak—

Teeth sank into his nose.

Agi wrenched back, spitting cartilage onto the mud.

Nerva didn’t even have time to scream.

The first slam drove his skull halfway into the dirt.

The second filled the air with wet, gasping gurgles.

The third split bone and silenced him forever.

Agi paused, watching the corpse twitch, waiting.

When the body stilled, he exhaled, finally satisfied.

Agi laid back down, he had no energy, he couldn’t drink any water. His only choice might really be…

“Wow~”

Agi spun around, Attempting to jump to his feet before falling back down limply, he had used the last of his strength to kill Nerva.

The woman with curly hair crouched down, “You are different from the others aren’t you?”

Agi groaned as he attempted to get up.

Annika ignored him, walking over to Nervas battered corpse, his skull caved in on itself in the mud.

She kicked his corpse a few times, “Man, you’re a ruthless one aren’t you?”

She stepped on his chest, pressing down and crushing his heart under foot, “I really liked that guy, so I’m a little annoyed.”

She shrugged shaking her head, her curls shaking, “I mean, he just listened so well.”

Agi had begun crawling away since long ago, grasping onto a tree he began to pull himself to his feet.

She glanced at him, “Such a cute kid. We’re so similar too. Lets be friends.”

Agi bared his teeth, “I said I’d eat you.”

She frowned, “That’s not right…” She seemed confused.

She looked back down at Nerva, kicking his body a few more times. “No, it’s not right.”

She started to stomp Nervas dead body shouting, “You can’t say no! YOU CAN’T!”

Agi narrowed his eyes, he began searching around, there had to be a way out… somewhere.

She ran a hand through her hair, slick from the rain, “Damn it.”

She turned to Agi who was limping away, the mud splattered under her feet as she appeared in front of Agi, grabbing his collar.

“Where are you going little yimrat?”

She slung him over her shoulder.

He could only curse… this woman had opened her gift. Defeating her was impossible, even if he was healthy.

His hands clawed at her neck, and sure enough she healed instantly.

She tossed him onto the ground, her foot slamming into his stomach, “Learn some manners, Okay?” She had a concerned expression on her face.

“This is for your own good.”

She grabbed his collar, dragging him along the ground with her.

“Lord Sixth asked me to take good care of you, so you better behave.”

She said continuing to drag him.

“Sixth lord…” If Agi remembered correctly his name was… Adam? “When I survive this I will definitely kill him.”

For the time being he had no choice but to follow this woman, powerless to fight back.

As Agis vision faded to black he looked at the dangling satchel on her waist.

Agis consciousness drifted repeatedly, he had used his soul to force his body to move before, akin to a puppet on strings, he no longer had the capability to struggle.

Each time he regained his sight he would survey their surroundings, he didn’t know exactly how far they had gone, but each time their location had changed drastically.

Eventually he woke in the middle of a tumble, his body rolling painfully over rocks.

“We’re here.”

Annika declared, They stood at the entrance of a billowing cave.

Its entrance, like a jaw that consumes the void, was inky and eerie, and cold breeze blowing from within.

Outside of it, rocks covered the floor and beyond the cliffside, the rain roared furiously, as if calling to the ledge.

“I was told to keep you alive, It’s annoying, but lets be friends.”

Hearing those words again Agi struggled finally standing up, it was strange… fading in and out of consciousness had sent him into his inner world repeatedly.

His sense of time was far off, his eyes were distant, slightly confused as he recalled the situation.

However it seemed she was displeased by his distant look, slamming her fist into his face as he nearly rolled off the cliff.

“If I have to ask three times…I won’t ask…. I won’t ask…”

She had a crazed glint in her eyes, Agi knew it was dangerous to push this woman too far.

“Friend? You keep mentioning that.”

Agi said his face contorted in anger, “What the hell is a friend?!”

He was extremely displeased. She had been going on about this friend thing… but he had no idea what she was talking about.

She tilted her head, “Wha… You’re serious? Right… just a five year old brat…”

She was muttering to herself, eventually turning to Agi, “A friend is a good thing to have. We are friends now.”

Agi furrowed his brows, anything good was far from her, and his blood boiled at being dismissed so easily.

However he knew that now was not the time to feed into his emotions.

A cold mask sealed his expression and he relaxed, only on the surface.

He nodded slowly, “Alright… friends.”

She bounced around, “Yay! A new friend,” She was giggling to herself.

Agi was disgusted by her façade, did he really count as a monster in human skin, when this thing is right in front of him?

She began to drag him again, pulling him into the cave.

“Look little friend, this place has drinkable water.”

Agi stared into the cave, it was pitch black, however he could hear the distinct dripping.

He refused to believe it was drinkable, especially since there was no way somone with The Gift could tell the difference.

They had long since been immune.

She contiuied to drag him, “Little friend, why are you so red?”

Agi could feel sweat forming on his skin, he was red? Why?

She picked him up like a stray cat, observing him intently, “Ah… did you drink the water outside?”

He nodded slowly.

She clicked her tongue, “Another short lived friend. No matter, I can find another.”

She seemed to be speaking to herself, tossing Agi onto the floor like discarded trash.

“Well, survive as well as you can little brat.”

She finds a place to sit in the cave, she seemed to have lost interest in Agi, but he could feel instinctually, if he left the cave she would definitely kill him.

His body felt weak, hot… cold? He couldn’t tell.

His mind was nauseous as he stumbled around.

He finally found the water he had been promised, getting a drink of water it did little to relieve him.

However he could tell it wasn’t tainted as the water from before.

He sat against a nearby wall, unable to see anything within the cave.

However he recalled something,

in the past Vistar had forced his gift blood to move, healing him.

Could this woman do that too? She had an open gift…

Agi stumbled over, “Friend…” He copied her speech.

“If you use your gift to push my gift blood I can heal.”

She looked at him coldly, “Thats impossible.”

Agi frowned, “What? No it’s not. Vistar did it easily.”

She winced, “Do you think everyone is Vistar? That old monster… He’s not like the rest of us.”

Agi gritted his teeth, this was his only option! He had to convince her…

“Just try it.”

She frowned, deep in thought… perhaps it wouldn’t be bad to try.

“Fine, little friend.”

She changed her phrasing again, her attitude becoming cheerful as he sat down.

Previously Vistar would put a hand over his heart, and it seemed from Agis perspective he would thrash his gift blood violently, forcing Agis to move in the chaos.

She nodded understandingly, “So I just put one hand on your heart, one on the crown of your head… and then move my gift blood and soul at the same time?”

Agi closed his eyes looking forward, “Yes. Thats right.”

She nodded, quickly doing as he said, “If this works, I’ll have to keep you around, little friend with a lot of ideas.”

As he felt her soul pouring into him he let it seep through. His body began to lose its strength, becoming limp, however it did not matter.

As he felt the movment of his gift blood his body began to shiver as it reconstructed, and in that instant Agi began to pull furiously on her soul.

They both immediately spewed blood and she looked down in horror as it did not heal.

Agi had distinctly remembered Ramana taking a long time to heal after that incident.

And using his experience he pulled her spirit into the depths.

Her eyes opened, her heart quaked.

The red skies greeted her with a billowing breeze, the gray dirt made her look around in shock.

A presence felt as though it was clawing up at her.

She felt a slight shiver and looked around dully, “Where am I?”

She pondered thoughtlessly, walking with a leisurely pace.

In the real world Agis eyes shot open, feeling his mostly rejuvenated body he snatched a satchel on her waist, quickly filling it full of water before running from the cave.

Agi exerted his manifestation, preventing the rain from bashing into him.

The child would vanish from the worlds perception, and from now on, he determined fighting would definitely get him killed.

From what Agi had gathered previously, there were around 16 survivors of the first trial.

Agi had killed Nerva himself, and Annika was handled… for now.

That left 13 more, excluding him.

Around three of them gave Agi the same intense feeling of bloodlust as Annika… it likely meant there were three others who had opened their gift.

This trial was bound to be a blood bath, and Agi wanted no part in it.

Annika seemed to respond well to this word… Friend. It might be useful later.

He moved quickly, finally setting his eyes on what he was after.

It had taken nearly all day, he had finally found food.

Ramana had told him that outside the temple you have to hunt, and so he had no choice.

His prescene was ignored as he reached down and grab the rabbit by the neck, crushing it.

Ramana had told him it would be difficult… but it wasn’t at all?

He looked down at the creature in his hand, laying limp… How do I eat this?

He sat down, staring at it for a while before finally sinking his teeth in.

Tearing through the rabbits brown fur he bit down through its flesh.

“Tough.”

He thought with mild annoyance, continuing to chomp through it, bones and fur together.

His physique was far from being a normal human, despite not holding The Gift he was on par or even above traditional unopened gifts.

People like Nerva who were very close to opening their gift were a problem, a fatal one at that.

But eating a rabbit whole shouldn’t pose him many more problems than a slightly upset stomach, and a bad taste in his mouth.

He drank the water with no regard and continued to move.

Sleeping was not a good idea, he did not know how long this would last, but the longer it did, the more safe he would become.

Sleep can come later.

However that did not mean he wouldn’t need shelter. The night was far too dark to handle.

Settling in the cave, his stomach slightly upset, and his mind finally at ease, he hid within a corner, and after around and hour he drifted off unwillingly. It seemed he was more exhausted then he initially believed.

However as his eyes settled onto the red skies he cursed.

Annika sat atop a branch grinning at him.

“Little friend, did you trick me?”

He shuddered, for some reason he couldn’t feel that eerie presence, however it didn’t matter if she was here.

There was plenty more to fear.

He stepped back, “You misunderstood me, Elder friend.”

He didn’t understand this friend thing, so he added elder to the front, just as she added little.

She leaped down,* “You’re so weird.”

She shot forward, her hand narrowly missing Agi as he dodged.

The attribute that had caused him so much anguish in the past became his saving grace.

He had felt extremely exhausted within the internal world, it was always the same.

It must be the same for her.

She sighed, “It’s really annoying without my gift.”

Without her gift? That was without any gift blood at all?

His mind recalled being dispatched easily by Vistar who had not used his gift.

He nearly bit his tongue.

The lack of that being was an unexpected boon.

The instinct that settled dustily over the floor began to conform around him, and Agi began to physically change.

The internal world was a manifestation, a pure manifestation of his intinct. And for that reason attempting what he had done in the real world, would be many times more effective here.

It wouldn’t be a flimsy cover, it would be a complete summoning, a calling to a harrowing fiend.

Agi became a massive lizard like creature, its form was indistinct, no matter how hard one looked, they could’t quite tell what it was.

and as Agis mind settled into his instict he roared like a beast.

His body shook as he billowed forward, making Annika grit her teeth as his massive head which towered over her small form smashed into her.

She was pushed back, nearly losing her footing as she slowly stopped Agis tackle with her monstrous strength.

She grab his scales, twisting her body Agis gargantuan body rose from the ground, his limbs scurrying as they looked for ground, only for Annika to slam him down.

“This is new? Wow~” She says poking at his scales observing before he flips back over, slashing a claw at her.

She spins, her heal causing shockwaves as Agis hand is forced back.

Agi began to bite, slash and slam his hands down, like a torrent.

Annika, realizing she may be outmatched pulled back.

“Little friend, when you stop playing lizard, lets have some more fun.”

She waved running off, Agi lost to his instinct roared out, his lizard legs carving into the ground incessantly as he scurried after her.

As Agis eyes open again he breathes heavily, his hand gripping over his heart,

“AGHHH!”

He cried out through clenched teeth, his legs were kicking as he bent over, his head touching the cave floor.

His eyes were dull, tears pouring through them.

He had never felt such piercing, shattering, stabbing pain in his entire life.

It may have stopped him from being killed temporarily, but as his saliva fell through his wide open mouth, his eyes losing focus…

if he could think right now, he would never transform like that again.

Annika was too dangerous, he can’t fight her, she is not like others he met.

She doesn’t feel fear, she’s easy to manipulate, but it doesn’t matter.

She’s unpredictable, and unlike him, she has strength to act on.

How did someone like her end up in the warrior trial?

She should be made a knight!

He couldn’t lament further, his mind focusing on one man.

Adam Vitold.

His elder brother, the sixth lord.

Agi was rarely humiliated so thoroughly. Perhaps his mother was the sole example of his humiliations.

He had told Esfir to grovel, but she wasn’t even worth that much, only being the now tenth lord.

No, Adam… he will make him grovel.

His eyes set, they were bloodshot, and his heart was enraged.

He steadily walked from the cave.

The sun rose, Agi had guessed it had been around a month since they had entered the second trial.

His body was thin, he had managed to sneak back to the other cave, so he wouldn’t die of thirst.

However he had found only one more animal. The trouble was not killing them, he understood now why hunting was hard, you had to find the prey, and if he wasn’t hiding his presence it was almost impossible to even catch a rabbit.

Some more preceptive animals noticed him when he was within striking range, managing to get away from him.

If he wasn’t worried about causing a scene it wouldn’t have mattered.

He had cracked lips, his mouth dry.

However he grinned as a red light encircled the second trial.

Agi had passed.

He had survived.

Had he fought every day, he would have died.

Starving to death like a beast.

He would have liked to cull the competition, in fact his heart throbbed dangerously, his hands twitching.

He held back desperately, he couldn’t. Not yet. This place is too uncertain.

As his body reapeared within the hall, he settled on the mat.

His eyes closed in contemplation.

And by the time they opened they were once again clear.

Before hit sat a plethora of food, expensive alcohols, and most importantly water.

He looked ahead, the Knight that had decided to follow him bowing.

“Our lord has suffered. However you were glorious.”

Agi tilted his head, they could see him?

He locked eyes with Adam, he seemed skidish, averting his gaze.

With that personality, it seemed unlikely he would make an attempt on him.

However he had, and therfore he would take revenge.

Agi consumed his meal wildly, with no regard for manners. Slowly the survivors began to manifest.

Agi didn’t know why some were slower than others, nor did he care.

Some approached for his food, and he only ate simply, “Swear loyalty and you may eat.”

Two actually did it.

They both had inky black hair, and distinct red eyes.

Traditional of the Temple.

Samuel and Morgan.

Their loyalty would be shallow, but Agi could use them, two helpers in the coming trial would be a great help.

Not to mention, they were quite daring, to actually swear loyalty in front of the Emperor.

Agi let them eat.

There were eight survivors in total, including Agi.

Two were on his side… so he had five opponents.

Turthfully, it was not a competition amongst peers to become a warrior.

Most only reveled in the combat, seeking it out instinctually, and nobody stopped them anyway.

All eight of them could leave here warriors.

Or perhaps none of them would.

Annika, who clearly didn’t need any food, sat down and began eating uncerimonously.

Agi gritted his teeth, he wanted to kill her. But there was nothing he could do.

Slowly Adam walked over from one of the lowered thrones beside the Emperor.

He seemed nervous and Agis fingers twitched readily.

“Uh… Anni…”

He said slowly, his voice quiet.

Annika perked up, looking at him with a small smile, “Yes?”

He looked around, “W-wheres Nerva?”

She gave him an irritated look, “Seriously? He’s dead you dullard.”

Everyone seemed a bit shocked at the blatand disrespect, but Adam just look downturned.

“Oh… How?”

She pointed at Agi snickering, “The twisted little bastard crushed his skull.”

Agi furrowed his brows, “Everyone was watching, you should alreayd know, so why are you acting like you didn’t know?”

Agi felt like this was some strange tactic he couldn’t understand.

However Adam only looked at the ground, “Ramana told me… its better not to watch.”

Agi frowned.

This guy attempted on his life?

But Adam looked hesitantly, “Little brother… Why would you kill him?”

Out of all his family, Adams “Little brother” had sounded the most genuine.

And that pissed off Agi, “Shut up.”

Adam flinched, and looked toward Esfir, he recalled Agis earlier threats and backed away, “Well… okay.”

Agi looked at Annika, he had questions, but they couldn’t be answered now.

The third trial would begin soon.