Chapter 9 Part 4

["They," the man continued. "Are my boys. Cadets that after this year, they will become your personal guard. Your protectors. Their sole purpose is to make sure you live until you hit Master. By no means does that imply they are your personal servants or slaves. They will be your comrades, your companions, your friends. You will need to trust them with your life as they will do so with theirs. Do I make myself clear?" he boomed, eliciting a mumbled acknowledgement from the young Wielders. "Each of you will find themselves a partner for this field trip. Take this rare opportunity to get to know them. If the Creators would have it, both of you would choose each other in the pairing next year." the man finished and allowed Master Rwoy to step forward]

Haiden was eager to get to Tasgal, he waited impatiently for Master Rwoy to finish his speech warning everyone of the dangers the Backwoods posed. With awakened ones you don't really know what you're getting. The infinite variations of traits the creatures can take on made for the wildest of beings to emerge, from a wee little thing minding its business simply existing to a flaming wild mron running towards you at full throttle. Master Rwoy attributed the presence of the Ash'en cadets to this factor of unpredictability with the creatures of the Backwoods.They have been training in combat ever since they arrived at the Academy while the young Wielders only just began to learn self control and some Minor spells.

The volatile and condensed nature of the ambiental Fios within the Academy grounds was in Master Rwoy's words, extremely dangerous. The apparition of awakened ones is so frequent within the Backwoods that the Academy organizes occasional parties to dispose of them before they become a threat to the students and the city of Elo'yn. It was both an advantage for training in real combat but a danger that had to be kept under control. Master Rwoy finally advised them to keep their shield at the front of their minds and always ready and to trust their Ash'en.

Once dismissed, everyone approached the Ash'en timidly. For some, it was the first time meeting one and just went about randomly saying hello, while others, mostly girls, like Malticia and her gang, went straight for the most handsome men, though one would argue all were extremely good looking.

It didn't surprise Haiden that Justinia, a beautiful blonde by normal standards that was part of Malticia's cackle, went straight for Tasgal. This lit a fire in Haiden's stomach. His feet marched on their own accord straight to them ignoring Maree and Camila mid conversation.

As he approached he could hear Justinia trying to butter Tasgal up to pair with her. That bitch, he briefly thought, a sense of possessiveness overcame him. He cleared his throat as soon as he approached the two.

"Haiden!" Tasgal said prying off a sleazy hand off of his bicep. "I do apologize, Lady Justinia, but as I said earlier, I had made a promise to a dear friend of mine that we would pair together." Relief flushed over Haiden. He bit the inside of his lip trying not to smile in triumph.

Justinia, dumbfounded, looked at Haiden once over then back at Tasgal. "You're blowing me off to pair with this dirty lowly commoner?" her nasally voice scraped the insides of Haiden's brain.

"Dirty? I- " Haiden wanted to rip her a new one, but he bit his tongue. He didn't need to make another enemy, he already had one of the most influential students targeting him, he didn't need Maliticia's cackle going after him too, not that they didn't hate him, but at least they tolerated him and stopped at petty gossip.

"No!" she stamped her foot. "No! You will pair with me! I am the daughter of Lord Thun'adal and this is an order!" she insisted. Her face twisted in an unseemly pout, turning red then a slight tinge of purple dusted her cheeks.

"I understand your displeasure, my lady." Tasgal places a comforting hand on her shoulder. At once her posture relaxed. "But as an Ash'en I cannot go against my word. I assure you, it brings me great pain to pass such a fine offer. To make amends, please, allow me to introduce you to Vick, one of the best, if not the best, Ash'en cadet I've had the pleasure of meeting." Tasgal waved at the tall man. His dirty blonde hair, let loose to wash across his shoulders, caught the diffuse light of the morning with soft hues of gold. His ruggedly handsome features and sharp jaw made for quite the combination. No wonder a couple of girls were already surrounding him. They voiced their disappointment as soon as he turned away from them. As he walked towards Tasgal his muscles bulged through his winter coat.

"You called, Tas?" he asked. He gave Haiden a dirty look and scoffed.

"I would like for you to meet Lady Justinia Thun'adal. He said, accentuating her last name. At once Vick's eyes shot at her. "I think you two would make a great pair." he told him, with big pleading eyes. He mouthed please. Luckily Justinia was too taken by Vick to see Tasgal. Vick poorly hid his annoyance and sighed, giving Tasgal a look that could only mean he would owe him big time.

"Lady Justinia. An absolute pleasure." Vick's voice suddenly turned smooth and gentle. He took her hand and kissed it, never breaking eye contact. Justinia tried to stifle a squeal. Once Vick let go of her hand she tried to calm herself and straighten her cloak.

"Very well, Tasgal. Your friend will do just fine." she said with a completely different attitude and left with Vick on her trail.

"What was that all about? And since when do you know what manners are?" Haiden asked. He had never seen Tasgal speak so eloquent. It was a side of him he didn't even know existed.

"That was Lord's Thun'dal's daughter. He's the one who supplies weapons to the Academy for our Ash'en training, and to the Emperor's personal army." When Tasgal said this, it really dawned on Haiden that Master Rwoy was not bluffing. The Academy was full of the Empire's elite, the richest people alive. Everyone he had met so far, came from money, and he had nothing, he was nothing. He didn't have anything to call his own, not even his memories. "Istrek told us to make sure by all means she's happy. I've never thought she'd go for me." he sighed in relief.

Anyone with eyes would go for you. He avoided saying that outloud and instead focused on Justinia.

"And I'll have you know, young Wielder Haiden, that I, your faithful Ash'en, am equipped with skills fit for all sorts of situations. Dealing with overly important self-serving adult babies is one of them." Tasgal felt good not filtering his thoughts around Haiden. He hated dealing with those stuck up highborns.

"I never knew she was that important." he admitted, he just thought she was a normal girl, despite Master Rwoy's constant warnings and apparent lavishness the Wielder side of the Academy benefited from.

"You don't know your own classmates?"

"Well, aside from Maree, Camilia, and, of course, Bras, no one dared talk to me. It's been a few months and I still don't know all their names. So, no. I don't know much about the rest of them." Haiden remembered the first day of class. It was an introductory class with all Master Wielders. When he had walked into the class, deafening silence fell over. He knew they had heard of him already, Master Rwoy had warned him. Servants talk. Once he had sat down everyone burst into a gossiping torrent of whispers. They had been avoiding him like a plague. He held no status, no power, he came from nothing. No one wanted to have anything to do with him, except Tasgal, and then after he saved Maree, he and Camila welcomed him in their tight group. He wondered if he had never stumbled upon Maree that day, would they have even given him a second thought?

"I see," Tasgal trailed off into his own thoughts. Haiden wanted to know what he was thinking of but welcomed the moment of comfortable silence. "Well, no matter." he finally said. The morning chilly wind brushed his dark hair away from his face, revealing his blue eyes. Something bubbled inside Haiden. Anticipation, perhaps. "As long as you don't get on their bad side -" he caught himself. "Any more on their bad side, you should be fine." he laughed it off. Haiden chuckled. Not that he found it funny, but hearing Tasgal's soft voice rumble, made him...simply put, happy.

"They're not making it easy." Haiden joked. "So how come you never told me the Ash'en is joining?"

"Wanted to see your surprised face when you saw us marching."

"And did you?"

Tasgal and Haiden enjoyed their few minutes they had to spare to chat as everyone finished up pairing. Tasgal was glad to hear that there had been no more sign of Regor since the other day. They saw Camila had paired with Kip. Her charismatic smile and bold attitude visibly made Kip blush. Maree had been among the last ones to pair. One of the few Ash'en that happened to be women had finally gone up to him, with almost two heads taller than him and bulking mass of muscles, she was intimidating. But he did seem happy with his pairing.

After the last pair had formed, Master Rwoy and Istrek gathered everyone to the back of the gardens to a tall ornate metal gate. Master Rwoy opened the doors with a flourish of his hand and ushered the first group through giving each his own baskets

"Remember," Master Rwoy boomed. "Your goal for today is to gather as many plumpberries as possible, and to describe at least one awakened one you encounter. Stay together! Master Coner will join us shortly at the gate. In your basket you will find a few special light stones. Levitate those as far as you can, they will signal us your location and we'll come get you."

As Haiden and Tasgal approached the gate they heard Master Rwoy and Istrek happily chatting while handing out baskets.

"How many injured do you think we'll have this year, Istrek?" he asked with slight concern in his voice.

"Don't fret 'bout it, Rwoy. Conner's gunna be'ere this time and take care of them." His demeanor changed. His stern face disappeared and he let his slight accent show. "Just think 'bout the fresh plum'erry wine." Istrek answered enthusiastically.

"And the pies!" Master Rwoy laughed.

"And the pies!"

Haiden rolled his eyes at their exchange. "Is it really that dangerous?" he asked Tasgal as he looked around for Maree and Camilla. He saw them just next to the first few trees and waved. The backwoods was a mosaic of varieties of trees. There were the low emler, a few tall green mossle broke beyond the dense canopy of grey and brown naked branches, but mostly skatterblooms occupied the land - their huge flowering branches make for an impressive display during the summer time. And lastly, the plumberry trees that were scattered through the middle of the small forest behind the imposing white castle that overlooked it.

"Not really. Last year there were just a few missing limbs." he said with a smirk. Haiden gasped and turned to Tasgal only to see him holding in his laugh, making him retaliate with a light punch on the shoulder.

"That's not funny!" he said as they joined the other two pairs. Haiden was glad to make Riya's acquaintance. She was Maree's pair and was another of Tasgal's friends, or at least someone who he got along with. They didn't waste time and walked together into the forest trying to avoid the other groups of people,

It has been a while since Haiden had stepped inside a forest. It made him churn with anxiety at the familiar landscape that had haunted him for a long long time. Listening closely at every sound around him he jumped with every snapping twig underfoot.

"Are you alright, Haiden?" Camilla eventually asked.

"I'm fine. This brings back bad memories." Everyone fell silent in understanding except for Riya and Kip, who wanted to probe further by the look of their faces but they decided not to in the end.

Snow and fallen leaves protected their leather boots from the muddy ground as the threaded forward. The trees were tightly packed and the deeper they ventured in the more it seemed to come alive with the signs and sounds of critters and other creatures that called it their home. Haiden reached with a hand for the altered light stones in his basket, it brought him comfort to know that there was someone out there looking for their signal in case something went wrong. At the same time, he reassured himself that now, with more control over his powers than he had ever had he was capable of fending off any creature that would try to attack them.

Distracted by the interesting calls of Creators who knew what, Haiden tripped over a root that everyone else seemed to have noticed. Tasgal, with his inhuman like reflexes, had caught Haiden and helped him steady.."Thanks, Tas."

Tasgal's strong grip was ice cold on his uncovered skin. Sometimes, Haiden forgot that not everyone could call forth a heat cloak at their own convenience. Looking at his sleeveless tunic and simple cloak and then at the Ash'en's thick clothing he felt for them.

"Be careful, now. Don't want to haul your unconscious body all the way back." Haiden liked how Tasgal tried to lighten the atmosphere. It made it so much easier and comfortable for Haiden to talk to him.

"I will. Here, let me." He took Tasgal's hands, which by now were dry and very red, and sent a wave of warmth that lingered.

"Thanks, that feels much better." he smiled and Haiden's heart skipped.

They resumed their walk in comfortable silence until they reached the first plumpbery tree. Maree and Riya called dibs on the first one and the rest of them moved forward. Haiden's thoughts kept wondering about all kinds of subjects that day but mostly they were about Tasgal, of course. He was right there. His presence made it quite hard for him to focus on anything else. He was grateful for meeting him. Without Tasgal he would have never escaped unscaved from those thugs, probably would have been forever lost in the labyrinth that is Elo'yn. He thought back to the city, it's white stone buildings and impressive architecture, it's rude people, delicious smells; he wondered briefly what lady Aliza was fairing. What a weird person she was. He would have loved to have seen more of it. Maybe someday, maybe with Tasgal. The thought of them going alone in the city simply enjoying each other's company made his heart quicken. He quickly stifled his train of thought. What am I doing? He pushed everything aside. He needed to stop now until it's too late. He didn't know if Tasgal liked him the same way he did, not to mention if he even had the same preferences. He thought back at the woman in the plaza. He was clearly disgusted by the town's people behaviour, but he didn't say anything. Why would he? He had barely known Haiden. He then, looking at Tasgal's broad back, decided to stop fueling his feelings for this perfect man that stood before him. He would be happy just being friends, he told himself over and over again in his mind, trying to convince himself.

Haiden didn't notice when they lost Camila and Kip, he just figured they had found another pumpbery tree. "We're quite far enough, don't you think? I think that's a plumpbery tree over there!" Haiden asked.

"We're not even at the center." Tasgal said advancing through the thick roots and tight packed trees. "There should be more trees up ahead." Haiden nodded and followed him. Soon the trees were so densely packed, Tasgal had to use his sword to cut a way through. Haiden followed and tried to make conversation to keep his mind off of the weird sounds he had never heard before that seemed to raise no alarm with Tasgal.

Tasgal had suddenly stopped. He raised one finger to his lips to signal Haiden to stay quiet. He looked around with one hand to his ear as if it would help him hear better and his sword in his other one. He then made a sharp turn left and hacked his way through a small clearing.

Haiden followed, straining his ears to try to hear whatever Tasgal noticed but didn't hear anything until he stepped inside the clearing. A soft hum permeated the air. At the center of the clearing was a small plant that radiated a warm glow. It was enough to melt the snow around it.

"A snowblossom. Awakened too. I wonder what it does." Tasgal said in an unnecessary whisper.

"Awakened?" Haiden looked back at the tiny flower. It didn't seem special, except for the fact that it glowed."That's it?" he pointed at it. He was in all honesty disappointed. He was expecting something more wild and dangerous. All that talk of needing Ash'en to protect them, all the hype, for a small single flower.

"Not what you expected?" Haiden shook his head.

"I thought we'd have to fend off a giant crystal horned creature with poisonous fangs and wings." Haiden said and sighed. His wild imagination made Tasgal burst into laughter.

"That would have been an awesome fight." Tasgal agreed, swinging his sword in mock battle. "But hey, beggars can't be choosers." He sheathed his sword." Now, draw it quick or whatever and let's go and eat...I mean gather all the plumpberries we want" he gave an awkward laugh.

"Yea...gather." Haiden squinted his eyes suspiciously at Tasgal.

Haiden approached the snowblossom cautiously and prepared his notebook and a pencil from his bag. Tasgal had plopped himself at the base of a mossle tree on one of its high roots and watched him carefully, with one hand on the hilt of his sword. Ready to intervene if something would go wrong.

"So, what do you know about snowblossoms?" Haide shouted back at Tasgal from near the center of the clearing.

"Not much, they're just small white flowers that usually bloom after the first snowmelt. I've never seen a single one before, they're usually like a dozen. People think they bring luck. Other than that, they're just simple flowers." Tasgal watched Haiden's every move and Haiden felt it. He felt the warm gaze on him, making him forget completely how basic functions like moving or walking worked, allowing him to trip and land on his face in the wet soil. "Haiden!?" Tasgal called out and Haiden groaned.

"I'm fine! I'm fine." He got up and wiped his face on his cloak. "I'll need to wash that later." he mumbled. He heard Tasgal snicker behind him. "It's not funny!" he called back and the Ash'en quieted down.

"I didn't say it was." he continued to snicker. "I'm here if you need help, alright?" Haiden ignored him and studied the flower.

It was a white delicate looking thing. It would have passed for a normal pretty flower were it not for the warmth radiating from it. Haiden closed his eyes and felt the air around it. He could feel a dim stream of slow and steady static all around him. It was hard to believe it all came from such a small flower reaching the corners of the clearing. This clearing must be a pocket of ambient Fios, he thought. He tried to feel the air beyond the static of the snowblossom but there was nothing, no matter how much he concentrated, he could not feel that energy. It was incredible to him that this small fragile thing was able to feel and use it.

Haiden wondered how long it took this simple being to develop into an awakened one, from what Camila had mentioned they were supposed to be conscious, but it looked no different than any other plant in the forest. He reached out to touch it and before he could stroke its fragile petals, a tremor sent Haiden backwards falling on his ass.

"Haiden, come here. Right now!" Tasgal said in a very concerned voice..

"You're scared of a little flower, Tas?" He looked backed at the snowblossom and it had disappeared. "That's weird. Where did it go?"

Haiden began to grow concerned "Haiden! SLOWLY walk back and don't make any sudden movements." Why was Tasgal so nervous, and where did the flower go? Another tremor made Haiden lose his footing again as he was getting up but Tasgal was already there to catch him. He grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the edge of the clearing.

"Hey! That hurts" Haiden protested and yanked his arm back when another tremor hit. This time, all around the clearing multiple snowblossoms shot up from the wet soil. "What the fuck?" Haiden gasped at the multiplying flowers. The clearing's wet ground turned into a field of white flowers. "Hey, Tas. Didn't you say they usually grow in dozens?" Haiden's voice trembled.

"Oh shit! it's calling its friends. We need to go. Now!" Tasgal urged and just when he pulled on Haiden's arm again something flew from the ground towards them only to be met by an invisible wall making a sickening thud on impact. Haiden had raised his barrier just in time to protect them. At the base stood a small round rootlike creature with sharp teeth that tried to gnaw at the invisible wall. On top of his head, the snowblossom dipped and bobbed and swerved as it moved his head.

"The fuck is that!?" Haiden exclaimed.

"Awakened ones." Tasgal replied, his voice wavering. Three more thuds startled both of them as three more creatures smashed against the barrier.

"No one said there were going to be more than one."Haiden expanded the barrier around them in a full circle in case of any sneak attacks. Others soon started flying towards them and hitting the invisible wall. In no time they were surrounded by these strangely cute gnawing balls of roots. After a while the thuds had stopped and they all stood there just trying to get past the barrier at any costs. They stepped over each other, small hands scraping the thin skin of their brethren while others threw their jaws in every which way with no regard to what they were aimed at, or who. Some retaliated while others ignored even missing chunks of their bodies like it was nothing. They were massacring themselves while attempting to get to Haiden and Tasgal.

"What do we do now?" Haiden asked, he winced at the gruesome show.

"Get your notebook and do what you need to do, then we kill them." Tasgal said confidently, taking his sword out.

"No! I can't kill them!"

"Then I will." He grabbed the hilt of his sword and readied his stance.

"You can't! There has got to be another way for them to leave us alone." Haiden insisted. "They're somewhat adorable." he added.

"Ador... they're trying to take a bit out of you, Haiden. While killing THEMSELVES!"

"I know, but just look at them!" Haiden pointed at one through his barrier. "This one got chubby cheeks" he said pouting his cheeks at it. He felt safe enough behind his barrier to study the creatures more in detail.

"Are you shitting me? That's not up for debate." Tasgal wanted to roll his eyes as Haiden calmly sat down with legs crossed, but something made him sigh and smile at him while the young Wielder just started doodling the creatures and writing something in his notebook. "You're such a dork." he mumbled."

Haiden suddenly stopped in realisation. "They're all emanating warmth, do you feel that?"

"Yeah, the whole clearing was a few degrees warmer than the rest of the forest. Now it seems to be concentrating around us." Haiden noted, as he let down his heat cloak. He didn't need it anymore. The collective warmth of the snowblossom kept rising. "It feels like an over in here. At least we know they like to cook their meals. You can write that down too." Tasgal joked.

"Very funny. But that actually is quite interesting. I wonder if they simply need warmer temperatures to survive or if it's just a byproduct of them feeding on the ambiental Fios." Haiden speculated. "Let me try something." Haiden reached a hand and pulled on his Fios. "I'm going to use Minor Cold on them and see what they do." He went over the mechanics in his head. Cold is just the absence of energy. Minor Cold and Heat are a single spell with two different sides, just like a coin. The only difference is what side of the coin you actually use, and what you discard back into nature. This was the first spell he had learned from Master Rwoy when he first came to the Academy, he was confident in his mastery with this one and so Haiden focused at the area around the little creatures and at the area twenty feet above them, realising it back into the air. He slowly decreased the temperature around the creatures, making it cooler for them as well. He didn't have the concentration needed to put a heat cloak on them as well, and if he used the warmth he took from the creatures, he feared they'd cook themselves to death.

One by one, the creatures slowed their movements until they finally came to a halt. No more gnawing or flailing of tiny hands against the barrier.

"They stopped!" Tasgal cheered. But Haiden wasn't finished, with a fluid motion of his hand he pulled in his fist and the creatures around them freezed in an instant. He turned around giving Tasgal a smug smirk.

"Seems like I don't need the protection of a mighty Ash'en, do I?" Haiden dropped his barrier and just as he did so, another couple of creatures flew towards him. Propelled perhaps by the pure force of revenge for their brethren. Haiden didn't have time to react but Tasgal's trained reflexes moved faster than he could think. His blade flashed two times and the creatures dropped dead from mid air.

"Missed two. Are you sure you don't need my help?" Tasgal smiled triumphantly. "Finished your homework, little -"

"Don't you fucking dare!" Haiden hissed and raised a hand at Tasgal.

"Alright! Alright! Don't get snappy." He raised his hands in defeat. "I don't want to end up like them." He pointed his head at the direction of the frozen tiny round creators. Haiden marched forward mumbling something about not being snappy, but as he passed Tasgal his lips curled into a smile. He had so much fun with Tasgal, he wished this day would never end.

With one objective out of two completed and the sun was still not even at its highest point that left them with more than enough time to pick the plumpberries, so they moved towards the center of the forest, where Tasgal promised there would be more trees, at a leisurely pace. Haiden thought back at his encounter with the strange creatures. It wasn't what he expected, but it was definitely more exciting than sitting in class listening to Master Parvell talk about another rebellion. He wondered what Maree and Camila had encountered, if they had encountered anything at all. All in all, he actually had fun, with Tasgal by his side. He hoped for more expeditions into the forest sometime in the future.

Tasgal had abruptly stopped forcing Haiden to crash into his firm back. This brought memories of when he had first met the man. An image of Tasgal's privates flashed through his mind and made all the blood in his body rush both to his crotch area and to his head.

"Haiden, are you feeling well?" Tasgal's soft rumble tickles his ears making it even worse.

"Y-yeah, why wouldn't I be? Don't worry. It's nothing. Where are we? Why have we stopped?" the string of words came out of Haiden without a pause.

"Alright..." Tasgal turned his back to Haiden and stretched his arms wide. "Here we are, plumpberry paradise!" Everywhere he looked there were plumpberrie trees with each branch full or sweet ripe berries that weighed down the whole tree.

"You weren't kidding. I thought you were bluffing and just wanted to explore."

"Of course I wasn't kidding. Who do you think I am?"

"A dickhead." Haiden joked, he was glad to hear Tasgal laugh.

"That sure brings back memories! That's what you called me when we first met" Tasgal laughed

"You remembered?" Haiden eyebrows rose in surprise. His heart flustered unexpectedly. No! He chastised himself. Calm down. Bad Haiden!

"Of course, not everyday you pee on someone, then begs you for help, then calls you names, then you become good friends." Tasgal rubbed his nose and looked as if he was reminiscing.

"Shut up you perv!" Haiden's face was a deep red.

"Maybe." Tasgal laughed and grabbed his basket. Haiden reached for his own and each went to pick as many as they could. Haiden used Wielding to pluck the trees of the best looking berries while Tasgal climbed up with the basket over his hand. Shoveling five berries in his mouth and a couple in the basket each time.

"You better leave some for Master Conner." Haiden warned.

"Hey, they're going to fall and rot anyways, might as well enjoy it." Tasgal's wasn't wrong, so after a few moments of internal deliberation Haiden began to indulge himself with a few berries now and again.

When they filled their baskets and their bellies, they met at the base of a tree and agreed that they must've gathered twenty pounds of berries in total. Both of them had a ring of purplish black stains around their mouths, evidence of their crimes. They laughed at each other until they realised that the staining was mutual.

"We need to wipe it off before we head back. They'll be mad for eating the loot." he joked. Tasgal rubbed as hard as he could with his sleeve but the stains remained.

"Let me." Haiden closed in without thinking and using Minor Condensation he pulled the moisture from the air and reached for Tasgal's lips with his right hand, barely touching his sensitive skin. He awkwardly realised what he was doing too late and it would have been even more weird for him to pull back. Their eyes locked for a second and. Haiden audibly swallowed; he used his thumb to swirl the water around the stains on his lips, removing it completely. Both immediately pulled away once he was done, turning their backs to each other..For a second Haiden thought he saw Tasgal blush, but he must've imagined it. He wasn't like him. He can't be, he told himself.

With a clear of his throat, Tasgal pulled himself together and said "We should head back."

"Yeah, great idea. We already have the baskets filled to the brim." Haiden stopped for a moment and did the same to himself removing the stains. He used the same thumb as he did on Tasgal. Making his heart beat uncontrollably to the point where he was in a daze, unable to think straight.

A twig cracking in the distance grabbed Tasgal's attention and he warned Haiden to be careful, but he didn't pay much attention.

A figure between the trees, in a dark green cloak stared at them in disgust.

"What are you doing here?" Tasgal shouted. "Where is your Ash'en?" Haiden turned around to see who Tasgal was yelling and he saw Bras watching them with a distinct revolution on his face reminiscent of that of the people from the plaza.

"Of course you're a Yeva'ah too, I should've known! Is this nobody your lover, then!? Abominations like you should disappear. You make me sick!" He shouted. Haiden couldn't get a good look at him as the world seemed to spin. He had been discovered. He knows. He's going to tell everyone at the Academy. He looked at Tasgal and wondered what must be running through his mind. Is he disgusted as well?

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Tasgal replied. Haiden panicked, he didn't know what to say, what to do. But whatever he had planned was already too late, he saw Bras make a sudden movement as he dropped his fists to the ground in front of them and a wave of powerful static washed over Haiden. All he could do was throw a quick barrier around himself and Tasgal hoping it would protect them from whatever Bras had thrown at them and closed his eyes.

The ground opened beneath their feet and swallowed both of them in a fast tremorous motion that shook them to their core. They fell for a few solid moments until they hit the rocky ground beneath. The gasm, the only source of light, soon closed.

Haiden had hit his head but luckily he was still conscious to sustain the barrier as a few boulders dropped on the shield shattering on impact. Haiden breathed in relief. He was alive, but had a massive headache. He gathered the remaining strength that he had and called out for Tasgal but no one answered. He maintained his barrier as a search perimeter in the dark and gently patted the ground until he found the soft warm winter jacket that could only be Tasgal.

He shook the man a few times to wake him up but he was out cold. The scare of Tasgal's death went quickly away the moment Haiden felt his breath on his skin. He allowed himself to catch his breath and think of a way of escape.

In the dark, Haiden had no way of telling how much time had passed. It reminded him of the first night that creature attacked in the Avlan forest. How ironic for him to meet his demise in another forest, next to another man that he cared for. Life really knew how to give it to him, he mused. The darkness soon began to take a toll on his senses. He started hearing and seeing even darker shadows in the viscous infinity that stretched beyond his eyes.. Some more time had passed until Tasgal grunted in pain. He quickly grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

"Tasgal, can you hear me?"

"Barely. What happened?"

"It was Bras, again. Are you alright?" Concern was firm in his voice. He heard Tasgal wince in pain.

"My leg, I think it's broken. I can't move it." Haiden felt around his leg, and felt something wet below Tasgal's knee and around it on the floor. It was blood and he must've been bleeding for some time. He debated healing Tasgal, he needed him conscious if they wanted to find a way back. But the blood coming out from his leg forced him to close the wound. He cursed himself for not checking before, if he had noticed earlier, Tasgal wouldn't have lost so much blood.

Haiden closed his eyes and just as he did with Mara, and in the training pit, he focused on Tasgal's own body, own cells that would heal him. But, instead of going the full mile, healing the wound like he did then, he just made sure that bleeding stopped and removed any pooling blood clots from inside. He then looked at what he imagined Tasgal's head to be and said. "Tas, are you still with me?"

"I think so?" he asked, unsure himself he was awake or dreaming. "I don't know what you did but I'm feeling woozy."

"I healed you a bit, but not enough to put pressure on your leg. Just to stop the bleeding. You will feel drained for some time, but you gotta stay with me. I need you to stay away, alright?"Haiden pleaded.

"I'll try." he replied his voice was already soft and half asleep.

"Fuck, come on, Tas. Stay with me." He slapped his cheek.

"I'm here! Creators, I didn't know you were into that sort of thing." His voice trailed and Haiden slapped him again.

"If you have enough energy to joke around you have enough energy to stay awake, you hear me?" He felt Tasgal nodding. "Good. Now we need to make a plan to get out of here, it looks like we're in a cave system. I don't know if Bras knew about it or it was our shit luck. But it beats being buried alive." Haiden continued talking and Tasgal just mumbled some words or sounds letting Haiden know he was still awake. Something about a safe word Haiden didn't understand.

Haiden pushed his barrier in one direction and he felt the resistance of something massive. It must've been a wall he reasoned. He pushed it in the other direction and it went on for a few feet. He did this to map his surroundings, relying on his barrier to see.

"Come on." he told Tasgal. "Grab my hand and don't put pressure on your right leg." Tasgal threw his hand sleepily around Haiden to support his weight. Haiden knew it wasn't the time but having Tas so close to him, especially his smell, made his mind whirl in a sea of emotions. He struggled more to focus than with the man's weight.

Haiden walked slowly along the nearest rocky wall to make sure he was going straight while supporting Tasgal. They walked for what felt like to be forever until they hit a dead end, so they took a right. Frustration built up within Haiden, and soon began panting under the weight of his friend. Although slow, they made what seemed like good progress until they hit yet another damned wall. "Fucking fuck!" Haiden let out a guttural primal scream right next to Tasgal's ear, eliciting a displeased grunt from him. At least his screaming served a purpose. Tasgal had drifted away and no normal person could sleep through that. He let Tasgal down with a grunt of his own. He sat next to him with his back on the cold rocky wall and cursed again.

"We'd be lucky if the dead didn't hear you." he joked. Haiden didn't bother looking at Tasgal, he wouldn't have seen him anyway from the pitch blackness of the underground tune. He hugged his knees in comfort. We'll get out of this." Tasgal assured, but Haiden wasn't so hopeful. He knew Bras was waiting his time, waiting to catch Haiden alone. He was prepared for a confrontation but never thought Tasgal was going to end up in the middle. For a second he thought what went through Tasgal's mind when Bras called him a Yeva'ah, he thought at Tasgal's reply, but it made no sense to dwell on it now. They would probably die anyway.

He sighed and pleaded in his mind for the Creators to help him, but no one answered. Nothing happened. He could feel Tasgal slipping away again, he couldn't carry the man if he was unconscious. He condensed a bit of freezing water for him to drink, hoping it will keep him awake for a few more moments and luckily it worked.

Fuck! Haiden screamed in his mind trying not to alarm Tasgal again. Please! Anyone! He pleaded. Help.

Me c-can help. A familiar voice ran in his mind.

Who are you!? He asked.

Me Screech. Forgotten already? It asked.

No. Don't lie! That can't be. You were a dream. He denied. If the thing that called itself Screech was real, it meant that Haiden was no better than them.

No dream. Me real.

You can't be real. If you're real... he trailed off. I can't be like them. I can't be like him!

You hurt Screech.

No! That wasn't. That was just a nightmare. He insisted.

Screech hurt. Hurt bad. You hurt Screech bad. It said. It's voice, it's pitiful voice from the other night ringing inside his mind begging for him to stop. Haiden grabbed his head and shut his eyes tight releasing the pooling tears.

You can't be real! He repeated.

Me real! It boomed inside his head forcing Haiden to open his eyes. In front of him, in the total pitch of darkness stood that sad blob of a thing, floating, lookin at him with one eye slightly bigger than the other. Haiden scrambled to his feat and just like that day, a wall behind stopped him from backing up and running away. See. Me real.

You're...real.

Yes! The thing twirled in the air.

I...I'm so sorry. Haiden said, dropping to his knees. I did such a terrible thing to you. I... i have no words

Screech knows. Screech understands. It said with a remorseful tone. Screech hurt you too. But Screech now help. Took time to recharge after Screech hurt.

You can help us? The thing nodded enthusiastically. Why would you want to help ME. I did such a terrible thing to you?

No choice. Us are linked. If Haiden die Screech follow. Screech no want follow. Haiden remembered the ritual of the priestess of Hundui. The stone of joining was, as he thought, the bonding stone. It worked, in a sense. The ritual had actually worked in its entirety. But, it wasn't Regor's soul that was intertwined with Haiden's as he hoped, but this thing's. And Haiden tortured the poor soul. Tasagl's groan pulled Haiden from his spiraling thoughts. This was not the time to contemplate what transpired in a moment of pure rage. He was feeling that Tasgal was slipping away. This would have to be another thing he would have to make amends for, but not now.

"Stay with me you dickhead!" He shouted and shook Tasgal until he felt him jump awake.

Help us, please! I will make it up to you for what I've done. Please!

Screech help! The shape of moats was thrusted into Haiden's mind's eye. The vague irregular shape he usually sees when he Wields. The shape felt like an intense itch he couldn't not reach, and it intensified. And as it did the shape became less and less vague. It wasn't an amorphous round shape, but multiple infinitely small points of energy that vibrated to a harmony so pleasant it drew him in, it folded and collapsed on itself only to be reborn again. One of the points from the outside dropped and then climbed back to where it was, and again, and again, increasing in speed until it was too fast to distinguish anything from changing.

He was just as quickly sucked back in realty. Blackness everywhere aside for Screech looking at him.

Do It said. And just as that Haiden understood what Screech wanted him to do. He used his Fios to single out a mote, and concentrating on that one the image in his mind became more clear. He sent energy to it and concentrated on the points shown to him by Screech. It immediately reacted without Haiden doing anything but stream his energy. A soft warmth like the sun enveloped him. When he opened his eyes he saw a ball of light floating in his hand. In panic he threw the luminous sphere away for fear of burning himself and it fizzled away slowly as it hit the ground. Haiden checked his hand and he felt no pain.

No! No! Not hurt. Warm. Light to see. Screech insisted and Haiden made another one. This was incredible, he had no idea he was capable of doing this without the light stone.

Thank you, Screech. He shone the light on Tasgal, his eyes were closed but he lightly tapped his cheek and opened his eyes. He screamed in pain and surprise as the light was too bright after spending hours in the dark.

"What the fuck is that!?" He tried to get up but as he put pressure on his leg he collapsed in pain. Holding back another scream he clenched his teeth.

"Don't worry about it, Tas. Stay awake." Haiden started inspecting his wound. It didn't bleed, it was already scabbed, but it was far from healed.

Screech, do you know the way out? He asked.

Screech knows, follow.

"Come on, we're getting out of here." Haiden grabbed Tas from under his arm and used himself to support him. He then floated the light in the direction that Screech was headed and followed him to freedom.

The dark tunel eventually took them to an underground man made waterway that trickled away from the Academy to the outskirts of the forest. Both of them collapsed in relief and laughed as they thought they'd never see the surface again.

The sun was casting it's last rays setting the trees ablaze with fiery pinks, yellows and reds. As much as Tasgal reveled in the beauty of the sight, Haiden couldn't help but think of it as a reminder of his rage. Bras had gone too far.

They hurried as much as they could with Tasgal barely being able to walk. They had arrived at the iron gates of the gardens as soon as the green sister shone its calming light.

"Where in the Creators' name have you two been!?" Master Rwoy boomed when he saw them and ran towards them. Master Conner and Istrek right behind him.

"Boy, you have some serious'explaining to..." Istrek trailed off when he saw the state of Tasgal.

"What happened, Haiden?" Master Rwoy asked in a calmer voice as soon as he saw the state of them. Both of them were black with mud and dirt, and Tasgal's broken leg. "Coner, if you will."

"Of course." Master Coner poured a sunline stream of energy over Tasgal and Haiden, healing them fully within minutes. Haiden was feeling much better but once golden light stopped, Tasgal collapsed, completely exhausted. Luckily, Master Coner caught him and levitated him gently across. "I'm taking him to the infirmary, he'll need plenty of rest." Haiden wasn't sure he wanted to let him go, but he had no choice. This would be the second time Tasgal ended up in the infirmary because of him.

"Of course, thank you." Master Rwoy then turned to Haiden. Once Tasgal was taken care of he could now relax. He began to tell him what happened and noticed the crowd of people around them. Among the curious onlookers and gossipers was Bras with a shocked expression. They locked gazes and shock turned to disgust.

"You! You did this!" Haiden marched angrily over to Bras, with every step rage built inside him, but he contained it. "Why did you do this!?" He was now inches away from Bras' face

"You're an abomination, you don't deserve to live." He said with venom in his voice spraying Haiden with spit.

Haiden gathered all his strength in a clenched fist and punched Bras in the face sending him flying back. The crowd gasped. Bras quickly got up and prepared two icicles to retaliate and sent them in the blink of an eye only for them to stop before they reached Haiden.

"Enough!" Master Rwoy was furious. He let down his hand and the two icicles splashed on the ground.. "What is the meaning of this!?" he demanded.

"I don't know, Master Rwoy. This mongrel just came out of nowhere and punched me in the face." Bras turned his cheek "see?" Master Rwoy was visibly disappointed in Haiden, shaking his head.

"He did this to Tasgal, he trapped us!" Haiden shouted.

"He's lying!" Bras shouted over him.

"Enough already! If you want to squabble then squabble like real Wielders not cowards. In the coming Trials of the three sisters both of you will enter and you will have the chance to fight on fair ground. The looser must admit defeat and apologize."

Both of them started protesting, but Master Rwoy had enough of this debacle. He raised a hand and forcefully silenced the both of them. "My word is final, If I see, hear, or SMELL a fight or any foul play until on EITHER side both of you will be out of this Academy faster than you can say mronshit! Have I made myself clear?"

Haiden nodded while Bras just stared at him with pure hateful venom in his eyes.

He had no choice but to show Bras he was not one to be messed with.