Chapter 5 - Part 4

["Free me." it said, in an icy whisper right in Haiden's ear. He turned around to see nothing behind him. He quickly turned again to the figure but it had disappeared. Haiden's blood ran cold and his heartbeat raced almost bursting out of his chest, but not because the figure had disappeared, but because of the voice. He'd recognize that voice anywhere.]

"Boy! What are you doing outside at this hour?" a round shape had startled Haiden making him jump back, it seemed to be made of blankets that could only be Master Uligarth.

"I-I thought I saw something." Haiden said in disbelief, rubbing his eyes glancing again at the tree.

"There's nothing else here but a loud brat. You woke half of the Academy with your shouting! Scoot you rascal, back to your room!" static surrounded Haiden as the man spoke, prickling his skin. He felt a pulling sensation and the dark surroundings moved past him at an incredible speed. In moments he had arrived at the entrance of his dorm.

"Fucking crazy old man!" he shouted and marched angrily to his room, while constantly looking over his shoulder. Haiden could not shake the feeling that someone or something was watching him. The voice he had heard moments ago was replaying over and over again in his head, 'Free me'.

It couldn't have been, could it? he thought. Finally changed into his sleeping clothes and got in bed. Haiden raised his hand looked closely at his right palm. He traced his fingers over it in the dark. He felt faint scarring in the rough shape of a circle. "How are you here?" A few stray tears escaped his eyes, memories flooding in.

Morning came fast with no warning. The loud voices of other students coming from beyond Haiden's door brought him out of his dreamless sleep but the comfortable warm bed would not let him go. He opened his amber eyes and was met by bright warm light. The noise outside meant that he had missed the time for breakfast, which he didn't care much for. His hunger was stifled by last night's events which left him wondering; 'How was it all possible?'

It's going to be a nice day, he thought lazily as his eyes trailed the green walls until his gaze landed on his wardrobe; he had to get dressed and go to class.

On his way to the history class, with Master Parvell, he met with Maree and Camila. Maree, as expected, greeted him with disinterest while Camila flashed him a bright smile. History class went excruciatingly slow while Master Parvell talked about how the Empire was formed with as much excitement as a toddler in a sweetshop. Sadly enough, no one shared his interest in the subject. The students lethargically scribbled bits of information on paper while their minds drifted somewhere else, some even groaned at the never ending string of words coming out of Master Parvell's mouth on the subject of how the Ashanti dynasty came to be.

Haiden's mind wasn't preoccupied by the Ashanti dynasty nor the figure he saw last night, but by a different subject altogether; Tasgal. He wasn't sure when he'll see him next, since he won't be in the infirmary anymore. Camila's words about Wielders and Ashen never really getting the chance to interact rang in his head Part of him was disappointed and part of him was glad Tasgal was feeling good enough to go back to his training. His thoughts were soon disrupted by Camila shouting his name.

"Haiden! It's lunch time!" she waved from the door. Haiden cocked his head to see her better and gave her a nod. Assured that he'll be right there Camila turned to chat with a fellow student.

"Hello nobody." said a voice behind Haiden. He turned around to see Brass, the young man who beat Maree the other day.

"What do you want?" Haiden asked, his brows furrowed. His head turned back to the doorway where Camila was waiting, but she had her back to him.

"You're just like that little Yeva'ah, looking to a little girl for protection. Pathetic." Bras sneered spraying Haiden with spit.

"I don't need her to protect me. In case you forgot you I took you and the two idiots you call friends on." Haiden retorted.

"You're lucky someone was coming, otherwise I would have ended you right there! So you better watch it, Yeva'ah lover." Bras' warned, his mouth twitched in disgust.

"Or what?" Haiden taunted. His amber eyes locking onto the deep greens that were blazing with anger. Haiden took a step closer, trying to intimidate Bras, but he didn't go down so easily. He too took a step forward, their chests inches from each other.

"You can't always be with her, nobody." Brass said, his lips sneering before spitting in disgust on the floor next to Haiden's foot, and pushed past him ramming into his shoulder as he walked by. Haiden turned around after him only to see an angry Camila with her hands on her hips and Maree behind her, both staring at him.

"Don't push his buttons, Haiden. He's dangerous." she warned after Bras was fully out of earshot.

"I can take him." he said, throwing his bag over his shoulder.

"It doesn't matter if you can kick his ass, man. His father's one of the Emperor's councilman. He'd have you assassinated in no time." Maree said the last words in a whisper. "You can't fight him."

"He's right, Haiden. " Camila added seriously.

"I'm not going to fight him, but I will defend myself if I need to." he said. "So, what's the deal with you? Why does he care so much if you're here or not." he asked Camila.

"His father owes my papa a lot of money. One word from me to my papa and his family's reputation is ruined." she said with a smirk. "He won't touch you two while you're with me." said looking pointedly at Maree.

"Can't you just tell your father even if you weren't here"? Haiden asked.

"I've known Bras since we were children, he has a close relationship with my papa and he won't accept it if I don't witness it happen, so I can share it with a bonding stone, and he knows this. That's why I need this idiot to stay close to me, alright?" she glared at Maree.

"Alright, Creators! I'll try not to be late anymore." he said throwing his hands in the air. "Now let's go get lunch, and you," he turned to Haiden. "need to show us how to bloom that shitty ass plant." Haiden chuckled and followed Maree and Camila towards the dining hall.

I'm not going to back down if that rich fuck wants to fight. Haiden thought. Bras was one of the people that Master Rwoy had warned him about. That only care about toying with others for fun, and keeping their status. People with lower social standing weren't even human in their eyes. For some reason this lit a fire in Haiden, he had a hard time understanding how people could be so cruel. Unlike with the woman in the plaza, this time he could help, he could save a life.

"Go on, genius boy. Show us how you do it." Maree said after pushing his empty plate of food. He was the last one to finish.

"First, show me how you two do it, so I can see what you're doing wrong." Haiden said.

"Fine! But I'm running out of light pebbles." said Camila scrambling in her cloak's pocket for a pebble.

"And how exactly will you see how we do it?" Maree asked. Haiden leaned closer to the two, which were sitting across the table and whispered.

"I'm an empath, I can sense fios. But don't tell anyone else, alright?" he told them, disregarding the warning that Master Rwoy had given him, apparently it was something he exceed at.

"I don't believe you!" Maree scoffed."Ouch! What was that for?" he scowled at Camila while holding the back of his head.

"Don't be a little shit, Mar." she said in a hushed voice. Haiden just rolled his eyes. "My mother was an empath, she knew what spell you were trying to do before you could cast it, she was amazing." Camila's eyes glistened with sadness for a brief moment then her cheerful smile went right back on. Haiden noticed the past tense but didn't ask about it. He didn't want to pry into a subject so sensitive.

"Yes, I can guess more or less what your intention is when someone uses fios, but that's only if I focus really hard, but I can easily gage how potent the Fios is and I can guide you two." he partially admitted, withholding the extent of his ability. Camila and Maree looked at each other and nodded. They each took a light pebble and placed it in front of them. Haiden felt immediately the static of their Wielding. It washed over him as two separate waves, one belonged to Camlia, strong but calm, and the other one to Maree, weak and erratic, it would spike one moment then drop the next." Haided nodded to himself understanding why the pebbles had disintegrated almost instantly with the way these two imbued their Fios, it was so careless.

"So?" Maree asked at Haiden impatiently.

"I can see why you two are struggling with this." Haide said with a small chuckle. "I think I can help," he added after seeing their worried look and both of them breathed in relief. He continued to explain why the pebbles would turn into dust for them.

"How dare you! My Fios is not weak!" Maree almost snarled at Haiden. "How come hers is strong?" he said crossing her arms.

"Stop being such a baby, Mar. And I'm clearly stronger than you are." she retorted with a smug face sticking her tongue out to Maree starting a full on raspberry war. Haiden laughed at their childish antics, he missed having someone around he could have a conversation with and even laugh with. It soon became more physical and they began swatting at each other. Haiden quickly intervened and cleared his throat to get their attention and raised an eyebrow at them.

"Sorry." they both said at the same time. "I got carried away." Camila added looking embarrassed.

"It's alright." he laughed. "You two need to learn how to keep you Fios constant without fluctuation and how to increase it a tiny bit at a time." Haiden said.

"And how do you suppose we do that, genius boy?" Maree asked.

"Cut that out, Mar."

"I don't mind," Haiden chuckled. He actually enjoyed the banter. "Try to release the tiniest amount of energy without doing anything and just focus on keeping it constant. I'll be able to tell when you're fluctuating, and tell you." both Maree and Camila nodded and did as Haiden instructed and the static washed over Haiden again.

"Camila, you're releasing too much energy, try to cut down. Maree, you're jumping all over the place, calm yourself and visualize a constant stream of energy." Haiden advised.

They had been at it for hours. Maree's forehead glistened with sweat and his blonde strands stuck to it. Luckily for them, they did not have anymore classes after lunch so they trained until dinner time. It was rare for Haiden to eat dinner as he was used to a one, and rarely two, meal a day diet. Maree and Camila had improved significantly to the point where the pebbles didn't burst into dust immediately, but they still had a long way to go.

The sun had long been gone and the green sister gently shined its light behind a thin blanket of looming dark clouds. Haiden had said his goodbyes to Camila and Maree as they went to their rooms on the first floor. Camila on the left wing and Maree on the right, as they were separated by gender. The dormitory corridor was illuminated by light stones placed on either side of the walls. The large window panes that almost covered the whole wall, formed black mirrors from the light. His reflection followed him as he went up the stairs towards the second story. Haiden stopped at the head of the stars, something was off. His brows furrowed in confusion, mild static washed over him triggering his senses. The hair on the back of his head stood up, warning him that something was not right. He took a deep breath and popped his head around the corner looking both left and right. There was no one there beside him. Relieved he stepped towards the right wing towards his room, however, the constant feeling that something was wrong still bugged him. He had arrived in front of his room only to notice red markings on the window opposite to it.

"You don't belong here," Haiden mouthed as he read the markings. The creases that scored his forehead deepened as he drew closer and touched them. It was wet and the smell was so familiar. A slight sensation of vertigo hit Haiden as he realized what the red liquid was.

It's fresh, he thought as the wooden door next to his room silently creaked open, behind him. A sudden pressure of static overwhelmed his senses, too fast for him to react . The moisture was instantly sucked out of the air - it burned as he drew breath, Haiden went to turn to see who it was, but pain freezing flared in his back pushing him forward only to collapse on his knees and steal his breath right out of his lungs. Another blow followed and his head met the cold stone floor of the corridor with a dull thud. With darkened vision Haiden uselessly struggled to push himself up, new pain radiated from his head as the the world went completely dark.