Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Spirit of the Wolf ❯ Chapter 2: "Is It Worth It?" ( Chapter 2 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: WolfGoddess_77 
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Fantasy / Romance / Supernatural | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.18.2012 | Updated On: 09.26.2012 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.5K | Visits: 129 | Status: Work In Progress
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Fantasy / Romance / Supernatural | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.18.2012 | Updated On: 09.26.2012 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.5K | Visits: 129 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any semblance to actual people or places is purely coincidental.
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Cael blinked, sitting perfectly still as he stared at the girl in front of him. Surely he hadn't heard that right. How could he become more like her? "Explain," he said simply.
Reyith sat down in the chair across from him, sighing heavily. "It is...difficult to describe," she told him. "Basically, when I was created, I had muscle memory implanted, so that I would understand how to use my weapon. The same can be done to you, if you wish. It would give you the ability to use a weapon that is unique to you."
She stood up, moving to the center of the room. Like she had done in the training area, she raised one hand above her head. A glowing ball of dark red energy formed, and elongated into the shape of the black scythe.
Lowering it, she looked over at Cael, resting the bottom of the shaft on the floor and draping her arm over the blade, which was angled behind her. "This is my weapon, Metsu. He is the weapon that was formed specifically for me."
Cael arched one eyebrow. "What do you mean, 'he'?"
"Most weapons such as these house spirits. They have their own names, personalities…and will usually only materialize for their wielder. In rare cases, they will allow another to use them, but I do not know when exactly that would occur."
She moved forward, then held the scythe out to Cael. He looked at it for a moment, then up at her.
"You should get acquainted," she told him. "Place your hand on the blade, and close your eyes."
Despite his misgivings, he did as she told him, resting his hand on the cold metal. A moment later, he found himself standing on what appeared to be a blanket of stars. Tiny pinpricks of light stretched as far as he could see in every direction.
He took a step forward, and noticed ripples radiating out from where he had stepped. Water? Was he standing on water? Just where was he?
You are in my world, a deep voice said. It seemed to come from everywhere, and nowhere. It took Cael a moment to realize that the voice resonated inside his head.
A blinding light erupted from the ground in front of him, and when it faded, a tall figure stood in front of him. The man wore all black, and had a cloak fastened at his throat. His long silver hair nearly reached to his waist, and his face was pale. But what startled Cael the most were the man's eyes: they were exactly the same shade as blood.
Greetings. I am Metsu (1). The man bowed his head slightly, but it was clear that Cael would have to gain the spirit's respect. I have high expectations of you, young one. I trust you will take care of my wielder?
Cael nodded mutely, finding that this icy man was more than a little intimidating. He felt almost afraid. There was something about this being that was very dangerous. Even his name was enough to send a chill through Cael's blood.
Metsu continued to study him for a moment, then gave a single nod. You will make a good companion for my partner.
Though Cael was about to ask what the spirit meant, everything suddenly went black, and when he opened his eyes again, he saw Reyith standing in front of him.
"He spoke with you?" she asked, pulling the scythe away and letting it fade.
He nodded. "Yes, he did. But what is he? Something about him…scared me." Somehow, he didn't feel embarrassed admitting this. It was something that had to be said.
“He is…" Reyith paused, unsure of how to continue. "Metsu is a spirit - a weapon - of pure destruction. Both of us were created specifically for that purpose. He inspires fear in my enemies, making it easier to defeat them."
Well, that certainly explained a lot. Still, he was interested now. If he could become like her, then did that mean he would have a weapon created just for him?
Reyith was watching him carefully, and he had to wonder if she was reading his mind again. No, she had told him that she wouldn't do that anymore. Meaning that she was waiting for something. His answer.
"I'll do it," he told her. "Though, it might slow us down. I would need time to recover, wouldn't I?" She hadn't explained what would happen once the muscle memory was implanted, or how long it would take.
But surprisingly, she shook her head. "You will need no time to rest. The process is painless, though it will take a few hours. It is late afternoon now. If we begin immediately, it will be complete before midnight."
She moved over to the door and looked over at him. It was clear that he was expected to follow her.
Standing up, he crossed the room, following her out into the hall. Instead of leading him back downstairs, however, they headed towards the staircase that would take them to the upper floors.
"Papa will need to know about your decision," she told him, not turning around as she ascended the stairs. "We will need his help to complete the transfer."
Reaching the top of the stairs, Reyith opened the door. It seemed that, when opened from this side, at least, there were no locks preventing access to the floor above.
Eventually, Cael found himself standing outside of the double doors in the entrance hall. Reyith knocked gently on one of them, then, after a moment's pause, she opened it, stepping inside.
Kellan was sitting in the same chair as before, flipping through the folder that he had left on the table. Upon their entry, he placed the document he had been reading away, then stood up, turning to face Reyith and Cael. "Has he decided?"
Reyith nodded. "He has agreed to take the muscle memory."
This made Cael arch one eyebrow. What was that supposed to mean? Kellan had been expecting him to do this?
Noticing Cael's puzzled expression, Kellan spoke. "We knew that you would be coming to us without one of the skills necessary for your task. But you are well-suited to receive it. However, it has to be your choice."
Beside Cael, Reyith made a noise of protest. "Papa, I do not think giving him the full range of abilities would be-"
Kellan's violet eyes, so like hers, fixed on her, and she fell silent, looking away with her brow furrowed. He turned his attention back to Cael. "Be warned, you can't make this decision lightly. If you agree, it will permanently change you. There will be no going back."
Cael swallowed hard. Why hadn't Reyith mentioned this? "Can you tell me what will happen if I do this?" he asked softly.
Reyith sighed, then moved away from him, placing herself between him and Kellan.
"I'm sure that Reyith only told you about gaining the ability to use a weapon. That's just one of the things we can give you. If that's all you want, then we will respect your wishes, and you will not change. But your skill will be diminished. To fully bring out your potential, we would need to go further. You would have heightened reflexes, and senses." He moved forward, placing his hand on Reyith's shoulder.
"I did not want to show you this," Reyith said quietly as Kellan moved away from her. "I was hoping there would be no need. That is why I did not mention the full change to you. I did not think it was necessary for you to undergo such a drastic transformation." She took a deep breath, then closed her eyes.
A moment later, her body began to glow with the same dark red light that was used to form the scythe, Metsu. Suddenly, a column of energy surrounded her, crackling softly.
As it faded, Cael's eyes widened. The one standing in front of him still looked like Reyith, but only just barely.
Her eyes were now bright gold, and the wildness that he had seen in them before was now more pronounced. Cael noticed that her fingernails had lengthened, and now held sharp tips. But what drew his gaze was the pair of red wolf ears now perched on her head, and the tail that swished slowly behind her. Like her hair, it was red at the base, then slowly darkened to black.
She regarded him calmly, her ears pricked forward. "This is what you will become if you agree to take the full transformation. Unlike with the muscle memory, it will be very painful. I must ask that you reconsider. Your entire life will change."
Once more, Kellan stepped up beside her, laying his hand on her shoulder and squeezing gently. "He knows the consequences, my dear. You mustn't try to influence his decision."
This bothered Reyith. Why wouldn't Kellan let her tell him exactly what would happen? If he knew, she had a feeling that he wouldn't agree to it. But Kellan was deliberately withholding the information, and she didn't like it. Cael was human; he should never have to experience the urges that came with instincts like hers.
After a long silence, Cael spoke. It was clear that Reyith didn't want this for him, but he also knew that he would just be a liability to her if he didn't agree. "I'll take the change."
A soft growl made its way out of Reyith's throat, and, in another rush of energy, she transformed back. Though she moved to stand beside him once more, she avoided his gaze, choosing instead to stare straight ahead.
Kellan smiled widely. "Excellent. Let's get started then, shall we?" He moved past them, leading the way out of the room and back towards the stairs.
As they walked, Cael tried to speak to Reyith. "I'm sorry, but you know I didn't have a choice. If I don't do this, I'll probably be killed the first time we're attacked. This way, I can defend us both."
She took a deep breath, fighting back her temper. "Do not be so quick to make assumptions. Even with the abilities given to you by the full change, you probably will not be able to take on the stronger hoyu seishin (2)." At his surprised look, she explained. "That is what we call them. Quite a fitting name, is it not?"
Cael nodded, then continued. "Even if I can't fight the stronger ones, I can still protect us against the others. That has to count for something. Besides, if it means that I'll have a better chance of survival, then you should be glad I'm able to fight."
"Is it worth it?" Reyith asked softly. "Is the ability to fight worth more than your humanity?" She kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, though her eyes were narrowed. "Once this is over, you will no longer be completely human."
Though he knew it would probably anger her, Cael decided to tell her the truth. "I'm okay with that. I'm not afraid to change. To me, it is worth it."
"Then you are a fool. Power should not be the only thing that is important to you." Her voice was scathing.
"It's not. I only want it so I can make sure my partner isn't killed. Is that so wrong?"
This startled Reyith, though she didn't show it. "You are still a fool. You do not need to worry about me. I am perfectly capable of watching after myself." For a moment, it looked like a pink tinge had appeared on her face, but it was gone before Cael could get a closer look. "Your own survival should come before mine."
"Is that how you think, too?" he asked, giving her a knowing look. "Save yourself first, and to hell with everyone else?"
She was silent for a long time. "That is not the same. My instincts are to survive, but, more than that, to protect. To me, the safety of my packmates comes first."
"That's hardly fair," Cael protested, arching one eyebrow. "It isn't right for you to protect me and yourself. I can watch after you, and you can look after me. That's why I was brought here, after all. To protect you."
"You were brought here to teach me about the outside world, not protect me from the hoyu seishin. I must fight them, and that means putting myself in danger when we encounter one." She sighed. "Perhaps it would be better for me to go alone. If you interfere in battle, trying to protect me, then we will both be killed."
"I won't interfere unless it's absolutely necessary. But if you're in a situation you can't get out of, I will step in."
Reyith's gaze was sharp as she looked over at him. "Your logic is flawed. If the hoyu seishin is too much for me to handle, then you entering the fight will only make things worse. I will need to protect us both, then. If I am ever in a situation like that, you must run."
Cael was about to reply, but before he could, Kellan stopped. By now, they had arrived on the final floor. Kellan had led them to a metal door, although there were no windows to allow Cael to see what lay inside.
Kellan opened the door, then went inside. With a sideways glance at Cael, Reyith followed. The interior of the room was painted a stark white, and Cael was reminded of a hospital. It even had the same antiseptic smell. There were various machines lining the walls, and two examination tables stood in the center. To Cael's horror, he saw that both tables had restraints on them.
Reyith noticed his gaze out of the corner of her eye. "I told you, the full change is painful. You will need to be restrained."
"But there are two tables."
"I will be connected to you," she said quietly. "I am going to open a link between us; that will allow me to take away some of the pain you feel."
He shook his head, opening his mouth to protest. But before he could, Reyith had taken his wrist and led him over to the first table. She pushed him down onto it, giving a warning growl when he tried to stand back up.
"This has to be done," she told him. "The pain might put you into shock if it is not shared. I will be fine. There is no need to worry." The smile she gave him was small, and, though she sounded confident enough, he could see that it was false.
Quickly, she strapped him down to the table, then reached up, holding his head in her hands. She locked eyes with him, and he felt the familiar brush against his mind. The touch was gentle, almost hypnotizing, and he found himself beginning to relax.
"Open your mind to me," she whispered, leaning closer to him. Slowly, her eyes closed, and, for a fleeting instant, he thought that she was going to kiss him. But instead, she rested her forehead against his. The touch on his mind became more insistent, and he knew that she was looking for a way to enter.
"Relax. I will not harm you." Finally, Reyith found what she had been looking for; his acceptance of the link, and carefully slipped into his thoughts, securing the link between them. Though she was surrounded by his memories and thoughts, she didn't look at them, focusing instead on what he was feeling.
Drawing back, she moved over to the table beside him and lay down. Kellan crossed the room from where he had been standing next to one of the machines and strapped her wrists down, as she had done to Cael. But while the restraints holding him were made of leather, hers were iron shackles, similar to what she had been wearing before.
This time, though, Cael knew the reason why hers were made of metal. Reyith would be able to break the leather bonds easily if she tried. His eyes closed for a moment, and he tried to relax, though it wasn't as easy as he would have liked.
After unlocking one of the numerous drawers that lined one of the walls, Kellan walked over to him, holding a syringe filled with a red liquid. Cael thought it looked sickeningly like blood. "Don't be afraid, and don't fight the change. That will only make it harder." That said, he produced an alcohol swab and cleaned the inside of Cael's elbow. Carefully, he slipped the needle into a vein, and injected the liquid.
For a moment, nothing happened. But suddenly, Cael's world exploded in pain. It felt like molten fire was pouring through his blood, burning him up from the inside out. He became aware of someone nearby screaming in agony, and it took him a moment to realize that the voice was his own.
Just when he thought that he wouldn't be able to take another second of the excruciating pain, it began to fade. A curious sensation, almost like cool water, poured into his mind, slowly erasing most of the pain.
His senses returned, and he looked over at the other table, where Reyith lay. His eyes widened as he saw her. Though she was silent, it was clear that his pain was now hers. She was shivering violently, and her teeth were clenched. Her eyes were fixed on the ceiling, but they were glazed; it was clear that she wasn’t seeing anything.
"Reyith," he whispered, his voice hoarse from screaming. Maybe, if he could get her attention, he could take her mind off the pain.
But unfortunately, she didn't respond to his call. Her eyes closed, and she fastened onto the pain that was still flowing through her. It was beginning to diminish, and she knew that the worst of the change was almost finished. She was absolutely exhausted; all she wanted to do was sleep.
"Only a few more minutes," Kellan said, looking up at Cael. "Then you can both rest. Would you rather share a room, or have one of your own?"
"I'll stay with her," Cael said, fixing his eyes on Reyith's trembling form. He noticed that she was breathing hard, though the pained expression had left her face now.
Kellan nodded. "Very well. I need to tell you, the pain has now faded, but you will continue to change for another day or so. Until then, be very careful. Though you are like her now, don't rush recklessly into battle. You will need to test your abilities first, and find your weapon. But that will come later."
He released the shackles holding Reyith, then moved over to Cael. "I will have Amara bring you something to eat, and whatever else you may need."
"Thank you." Cael sat up slowly, still feeling lingering traces of pain running through him. Before she could move, he had crossed over to Reyith and scooped her up, holding her gently against him.
"What are you doing?" she asked, opening her eyes and looking up at him. It was clear that she was unnerved by how close they were, but Cael didn't put her down.
"I'm carrying you," he said simply, turning towards the door. "You helped me, and exhausted yourself. Let me do this for you." To this, she was silent. Closing her eyes, she hesitantly rested her head against his shoulder. He carried her out into the hall, then began ascending the stairs. At the top, he stopped, debating. Though he didn't want to put Reyith down, he also didn't want to risk dropping her.
His answer came a moment later. Reyith reached down, turning the handle and pushing the door open. He was surprised; he had been certain that she had fallen asleep.
Going out the door, he began heading for Reyith's room. A sigh escaped his throat as he walked. "I'm sorry," he whispered finally. "I didn't know that you would have to do that. You shouldn't have had to share my pain like that." It occurred to him then that her presence was now gone from his mind, leaving him feeling strangely alone. When had that happened?
"Do not misunderstand," she said, leaning against him with her eyes closed, a neutral expression on her face. "I did not have to share your pain. But I knew that, if I refrained, you might not have survived."
"What exactly happened, anyway? I've never felt anything like that before in my life."
She was silent for a few moments, and just when Cael thought that she wouldn't answer, she spoke once more. "The process was different for you, since you are…were…completely human. The liquid that Papa injected carried the data needed to change you. It entered your body and merged with your blood, encoding it with the necessary information. But as you were told, minor changes are still taking place within your body. By morning, it will be complete, and I can begin your training."
Somehow, he had been expecting this. He may have the potential now, but he didn't know how to use it. He gave a quiet sigh, then nodded. "Yeah. Teach me well, Reyith." Though he wasn't sure if she would allow this familiarity, he decided to risk it.
Reyith opened her eyes as they came to a stop outside of her room. Reaching down, she pressed the keys that would unlock the door, then pushed it open.
Cael made his way into the room, and placed Reyith down on the bed. He removed her boots, putting them beside the bed. She immediately turned over onto her side, curling into a tight ball. "Are you still in pain?" Cael asked, noticing how she was laying. That position was usually taken when trying to protect oneself from harm. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.
Predictably, she smacked his hand away, though it was more by reflex than anything else. "Do not concern yourself with my well-being. I told you, I will be fine. I am tired, nothing more."
It was only then that Cael noticed a wonderful smell drifting through the room. Turning away from the bed, he saw that someone - presumably Amara - had left a large tray of food on the table. His eyes lit up when he saw this; he was starving. But first…
Turning, he looked over at Reyith. "Come get something to eat. It'll help you restore your strength."
Reyith opened one eye and glanced over at him, but didn't move. "I do not require food," she told him. "It is how I was created. I can sustain myself without the nutrition gained from eating."
He stared at her for several moments. "Well, that's certainly…" The word he wanted to use was 'odd', but he knew that she wouldn't take well to that. "…convenient," he finished after a moment.
She arched one eyebrow, and Cael was certain that she had recognized the silence for what it was. Still, to his relief, she didn't say anything about it.
Cael crossed the room and sat down at the table, pulling the tray of food towards him. "If you're sure, then." He didn't want to let her go without eating, but he wasn't sure whether she was telling the truth or not. Just in case she was, he decided not to push her. Even though she was tired, she was still dangerous. Annoying her was not a good idea.
Reyith gave a quiet hum of acknowledgement as Cael began to eat. "What will we do tomorrow?" he asked after a few moments of silence. He wasn't really expecting an answer; she probably wanted him to be quiet so she could sleep.
But once again, after a short pause, Reyith answered. "We leave at sunrise. After that, we will need to find a private place, where we will not be disturbed. You need to be trained before we begin looking for the hoyu seishin."
"You know where to find them, then?"
"Not until they are within a certain range," she admitted. "But I assure you, they will find us." She looked over at him, her eyes half closed. "Until you have learned enough to effectively defend yourself, I will protect you. You have nothing to worry about."
Cael finished eating, then went back over to the bed. Cautiously, he sat down on the far edge, half expecting Reyith to tell him to leave. But she was silent.
Slowly, inch by inch, he pulled himself up onto the bed, then stretched out. The bed was big enough for both of them to lay comfortably, without coming near each other. Finally, he closed his eyes with a sigh. "Good night, Reyith."
Just when he was about to drift off, he heard her whispered reply. "Good night, Cael." Tomorrow, their quest would begin.
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(1): Metsu: destruction
(2): Hoyu seishin: possessed spirit
Converting /tmp/php7JJhRB to /dev/stdout
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Cael blinked, sitting perfectly still as he stared at the girl in front of him. Surely he hadn't heard that right. How could he become more like her? "Explain," he said simply.
Reyith sat down in the chair across from him, sighing heavily. "It is...difficult to describe," she told him. "Basically, when I was created, I had muscle memory implanted, so that I would understand how to use my weapon. The same can be done to you, if you wish. It would give you the ability to use a weapon that is unique to you."
She stood up, moving to the center of the room. Like she had done in the training area, she raised one hand above her head. A glowing ball of dark red energy formed, and elongated into the shape of the black scythe.
Lowering it, she looked over at Cael, resting the bottom of the shaft on the floor and draping her arm over the blade, which was angled behind her. "This is my weapon, Metsu. He is the weapon that was formed specifically for me."
Cael arched one eyebrow. "What do you mean, 'he'?"
"Most weapons such as these house spirits. They have their own names, personalities…and will usually only materialize for their wielder. In rare cases, they will allow another to use them, but I do not know when exactly that would occur."
She moved forward, then held the scythe out to Cael. He looked at it for a moment, then up at her.
"You should get acquainted," she told him. "Place your hand on the blade, and close your eyes."
Despite his misgivings, he did as she told him, resting his hand on the cold metal. A moment later, he found himself standing on what appeared to be a blanket of stars. Tiny pinpricks of light stretched as far as he could see in every direction.
He took a step forward, and noticed ripples radiating out from where he had stepped. Water? Was he standing on water? Just where was he?
You are in my world, a deep voice said. It seemed to come from everywhere, and nowhere. It took Cael a moment to realize that the voice resonated inside his head.
A blinding light erupted from the ground in front of him, and when it faded, a tall figure stood in front of him. The man wore all black, and had a cloak fastened at his throat. His long silver hair nearly reached to his waist, and his face was pale. But what startled Cael the most were the man's eyes: they were exactly the same shade as blood.
Greetings. I am Metsu (1). The man bowed his head slightly, but it was clear that Cael would have to gain the spirit's respect. I have high expectations of you, young one. I trust you will take care of my wielder?
Cael nodded mutely, finding that this icy man was more than a little intimidating. He felt almost afraid. There was something about this being that was very dangerous. Even his name was enough to send a chill through Cael's blood.
Metsu continued to study him for a moment, then gave a single nod. You will make a good companion for my partner.
Though Cael was about to ask what the spirit meant, everything suddenly went black, and when he opened his eyes again, he saw Reyith standing in front of him.
"He spoke with you?" she asked, pulling the scythe away and letting it fade.
He nodded. "Yes, he did. But what is he? Something about him…scared me." Somehow, he didn't feel embarrassed admitting this. It was something that had to be said.
“He is…" Reyith paused, unsure of how to continue. "Metsu is a spirit - a weapon - of pure destruction. Both of us were created specifically for that purpose. He inspires fear in my enemies, making it easier to defeat them."
Well, that certainly explained a lot. Still, he was interested now. If he could become like her, then did that mean he would have a weapon created just for him?
Reyith was watching him carefully, and he had to wonder if she was reading his mind again. No, she had told him that she wouldn't do that anymore. Meaning that she was waiting for something. His answer.
"I'll do it," he told her. "Though, it might slow us down. I would need time to recover, wouldn't I?" She hadn't explained what would happen once the muscle memory was implanted, or how long it would take.
But surprisingly, she shook her head. "You will need no time to rest. The process is painless, though it will take a few hours. It is late afternoon now. If we begin immediately, it will be complete before midnight."
She moved over to the door and looked over at him. It was clear that he was expected to follow her.
Standing up, he crossed the room, following her out into the hall. Instead of leading him back downstairs, however, they headed towards the staircase that would take them to the upper floors.
"Papa will need to know about your decision," she told him, not turning around as she ascended the stairs. "We will need his help to complete the transfer."
Reaching the top of the stairs, Reyith opened the door. It seemed that, when opened from this side, at least, there were no locks preventing access to the floor above.
Eventually, Cael found himself standing outside of the double doors in the entrance hall. Reyith knocked gently on one of them, then, after a moment's pause, she opened it, stepping inside.
Kellan was sitting in the same chair as before, flipping through the folder that he had left on the table. Upon their entry, he placed the document he had been reading away, then stood up, turning to face Reyith and Cael. "Has he decided?"
Reyith nodded. "He has agreed to take the muscle memory."
This made Cael arch one eyebrow. What was that supposed to mean? Kellan had been expecting him to do this?
Noticing Cael's puzzled expression, Kellan spoke. "We knew that you would be coming to us without one of the skills necessary for your task. But you are well-suited to receive it. However, it has to be your choice."
Beside Cael, Reyith made a noise of protest. "Papa, I do not think giving him the full range of abilities would be-"
Kellan's violet eyes, so like hers, fixed on her, and she fell silent, looking away with her brow furrowed. He turned his attention back to Cael. "Be warned, you can't make this decision lightly. If you agree, it will permanently change you. There will be no going back."
Cael swallowed hard. Why hadn't Reyith mentioned this? "Can you tell me what will happen if I do this?" he asked softly.
Reyith sighed, then moved away from him, placing herself between him and Kellan.
"I'm sure that Reyith only told you about gaining the ability to use a weapon. That's just one of the things we can give you. If that's all you want, then we will respect your wishes, and you will not change. But your skill will be diminished. To fully bring out your potential, we would need to go further. You would have heightened reflexes, and senses." He moved forward, placing his hand on Reyith's shoulder.
"I did not want to show you this," Reyith said quietly as Kellan moved away from her. "I was hoping there would be no need. That is why I did not mention the full change to you. I did not think it was necessary for you to undergo such a drastic transformation." She took a deep breath, then closed her eyes.
A moment later, her body began to glow with the same dark red light that was used to form the scythe, Metsu. Suddenly, a column of energy surrounded her, crackling softly.
As it faded, Cael's eyes widened. The one standing in front of him still looked like Reyith, but only just barely.
Her eyes were now bright gold, and the wildness that he had seen in them before was now more pronounced. Cael noticed that her fingernails had lengthened, and now held sharp tips. But what drew his gaze was the pair of red wolf ears now perched on her head, and the tail that swished slowly behind her. Like her hair, it was red at the base, then slowly darkened to black.
She regarded him calmly, her ears pricked forward. "This is what you will become if you agree to take the full transformation. Unlike with the muscle memory, it will be very painful. I must ask that you reconsider. Your entire life will change."
Once more, Kellan stepped up beside her, laying his hand on her shoulder and squeezing gently. "He knows the consequences, my dear. You mustn't try to influence his decision."
This bothered Reyith. Why wouldn't Kellan let her tell him exactly what would happen? If he knew, she had a feeling that he wouldn't agree to it. But Kellan was deliberately withholding the information, and she didn't like it. Cael was human; he should never have to experience the urges that came with instincts like hers.
After a long silence, Cael spoke. It was clear that Reyith didn't want this for him, but he also knew that he would just be a liability to her if he didn't agree. "I'll take the change."
A soft growl made its way out of Reyith's throat, and, in another rush of energy, she transformed back. Though she moved to stand beside him once more, she avoided his gaze, choosing instead to stare straight ahead.
Kellan smiled widely. "Excellent. Let's get started then, shall we?" He moved past them, leading the way out of the room and back towards the stairs.
As they walked, Cael tried to speak to Reyith. "I'm sorry, but you know I didn't have a choice. If I don't do this, I'll probably be killed the first time we're attacked. This way, I can defend us both."
She took a deep breath, fighting back her temper. "Do not be so quick to make assumptions. Even with the abilities given to you by the full change, you probably will not be able to take on the stronger hoyu seishin (2)." At his surprised look, she explained. "That is what we call them. Quite a fitting name, is it not?"
Cael nodded, then continued. "Even if I can't fight the stronger ones, I can still protect us against the others. That has to count for something. Besides, if it means that I'll have a better chance of survival, then you should be glad I'm able to fight."
"Is it worth it?" Reyith asked softly. "Is the ability to fight worth more than your humanity?" She kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, though her eyes were narrowed. "Once this is over, you will no longer be completely human."
Though he knew it would probably anger her, Cael decided to tell her the truth. "I'm okay with that. I'm not afraid to change. To me, it is worth it."
"Then you are a fool. Power should not be the only thing that is important to you." Her voice was scathing.
"It's not. I only want it so I can make sure my partner isn't killed. Is that so wrong?"
This startled Reyith, though she didn't show it. "You are still a fool. You do not need to worry about me. I am perfectly capable of watching after myself." For a moment, it looked like a pink tinge had appeared on her face, but it was gone before Cael could get a closer look. "Your own survival should come before mine."
"Is that how you think, too?" he asked, giving her a knowing look. "Save yourself first, and to hell with everyone else?"
She was silent for a long time. "That is not the same. My instincts are to survive, but, more than that, to protect. To me, the safety of my packmates comes first."
"That's hardly fair," Cael protested, arching one eyebrow. "It isn't right for you to protect me and yourself. I can watch after you, and you can look after me. That's why I was brought here, after all. To protect you."
"You were brought here to teach me about the outside world, not protect me from the hoyu seishin. I must fight them, and that means putting myself in danger when we encounter one." She sighed. "Perhaps it would be better for me to go alone. If you interfere in battle, trying to protect me, then we will both be killed."
"I won't interfere unless it's absolutely necessary. But if you're in a situation you can't get out of, I will step in."
Reyith's gaze was sharp as she looked over at him. "Your logic is flawed. If the hoyu seishin is too much for me to handle, then you entering the fight will only make things worse. I will need to protect us both, then. If I am ever in a situation like that, you must run."
Cael was about to reply, but before he could, Kellan stopped. By now, they had arrived on the final floor. Kellan had led them to a metal door, although there were no windows to allow Cael to see what lay inside.
Kellan opened the door, then went inside. With a sideways glance at Cael, Reyith followed. The interior of the room was painted a stark white, and Cael was reminded of a hospital. It even had the same antiseptic smell. There were various machines lining the walls, and two examination tables stood in the center. To Cael's horror, he saw that both tables had restraints on them.
Reyith noticed his gaze out of the corner of her eye. "I told you, the full change is painful. You will need to be restrained."
"But there are two tables."
"I will be connected to you," she said quietly. "I am going to open a link between us; that will allow me to take away some of the pain you feel."
He shook his head, opening his mouth to protest. But before he could, Reyith had taken his wrist and led him over to the first table. She pushed him down onto it, giving a warning growl when he tried to stand back up.
"This has to be done," she told him. "The pain might put you into shock if it is not shared. I will be fine. There is no need to worry." The smile she gave him was small, and, though she sounded confident enough, he could see that it was false.
Quickly, she strapped him down to the table, then reached up, holding his head in her hands. She locked eyes with him, and he felt the familiar brush against his mind. The touch was gentle, almost hypnotizing, and he found himself beginning to relax.
"Open your mind to me," she whispered, leaning closer to him. Slowly, her eyes closed, and, for a fleeting instant, he thought that she was going to kiss him. But instead, she rested her forehead against his. The touch on his mind became more insistent, and he knew that she was looking for a way to enter.
"Relax. I will not harm you." Finally, Reyith found what she had been looking for; his acceptance of the link, and carefully slipped into his thoughts, securing the link between them. Though she was surrounded by his memories and thoughts, she didn't look at them, focusing instead on what he was feeling.
Drawing back, she moved over to the table beside him and lay down. Kellan crossed the room from where he had been standing next to one of the machines and strapped her wrists down, as she had done to Cael. But while the restraints holding him were made of leather, hers were iron shackles, similar to what she had been wearing before.
This time, though, Cael knew the reason why hers were made of metal. Reyith would be able to break the leather bonds easily if she tried. His eyes closed for a moment, and he tried to relax, though it wasn't as easy as he would have liked.
After unlocking one of the numerous drawers that lined one of the walls, Kellan walked over to him, holding a syringe filled with a red liquid. Cael thought it looked sickeningly like blood. "Don't be afraid, and don't fight the change. That will only make it harder." That said, he produced an alcohol swab and cleaned the inside of Cael's elbow. Carefully, he slipped the needle into a vein, and injected the liquid.
For a moment, nothing happened. But suddenly, Cael's world exploded in pain. It felt like molten fire was pouring through his blood, burning him up from the inside out. He became aware of someone nearby screaming in agony, and it took him a moment to realize that the voice was his own.
Just when he thought that he wouldn't be able to take another second of the excruciating pain, it began to fade. A curious sensation, almost like cool water, poured into his mind, slowly erasing most of the pain.
His senses returned, and he looked over at the other table, where Reyith lay. His eyes widened as he saw her. Though she was silent, it was clear that his pain was now hers. She was shivering violently, and her teeth were clenched. Her eyes were fixed on the ceiling, but they were glazed; it was clear that she wasn’t seeing anything.
"Reyith," he whispered, his voice hoarse from screaming. Maybe, if he could get her attention, he could take her mind off the pain.
But unfortunately, she didn't respond to his call. Her eyes closed, and she fastened onto the pain that was still flowing through her. It was beginning to diminish, and she knew that the worst of the change was almost finished. She was absolutely exhausted; all she wanted to do was sleep.
"Only a few more minutes," Kellan said, looking up at Cael. "Then you can both rest. Would you rather share a room, or have one of your own?"
"I'll stay with her," Cael said, fixing his eyes on Reyith's trembling form. He noticed that she was breathing hard, though the pained expression had left her face now.
Kellan nodded. "Very well. I need to tell you, the pain has now faded, but you will continue to change for another day or so. Until then, be very careful. Though you are like her now, don't rush recklessly into battle. You will need to test your abilities first, and find your weapon. But that will come later."
He released the shackles holding Reyith, then moved over to Cael. "I will have Amara bring you something to eat, and whatever else you may need."
"Thank you." Cael sat up slowly, still feeling lingering traces of pain running through him. Before she could move, he had crossed over to Reyith and scooped her up, holding her gently against him.
"What are you doing?" she asked, opening her eyes and looking up at him. It was clear that she was unnerved by how close they were, but Cael didn't put her down.
"I'm carrying you," he said simply, turning towards the door. "You helped me, and exhausted yourself. Let me do this for you." To this, she was silent. Closing her eyes, she hesitantly rested her head against his shoulder. He carried her out into the hall, then began ascending the stairs. At the top, he stopped, debating. Though he didn't want to put Reyith down, he also didn't want to risk dropping her.
His answer came a moment later. Reyith reached down, turning the handle and pushing the door open. He was surprised; he had been certain that she had fallen asleep.
Going out the door, he began heading for Reyith's room. A sigh escaped his throat as he walked. "I'm sorry," he whispered finally. "I didn't know that you would have to do that. You shouldn't have had to share my pain like that." It occurred to him then that her presence was now gone from his mind, leaving him feeling strangely alone. When had that happened?
"Do not misunderstand," she said, leaning against him with her eyes closed, a neutral expression on her face. "I did not have to share your pain. But I knew that, if I refrained, you might not have survived."
"What exactly happened, anyway? I've never felt anything like that before in my life."
She was silent for a few moments, and just when Cael thought that she wouldn't answer, she spoke once more. "The process was different for you, since you are…were…completely human. The liquid that Papa injected carried the data needed to change you. It entered your body and merged with your blood, encoding it with the necessary information. But as you were told, minor changes are still taking place within your body. By morning, it will be complete, and I can begin your training."
Somehow, he had been expecting this. He may have the potential now, but he didn't know how to use it. He gave a quiet sigh, then nodded. "Yeah. Teach me well, Reyith." Though he wasn't sure if she would allow this familiarity, he decided to risk it.
Reyith opened her eyes as they came to a stop outside of her room. Reaching down, she pressed the keys that would unlock the door, then pushed it open.
Cael made his way into the room, and placed Reyith down on the bed. He removed her boots, putting them beside the bed. She immediately turned over onto her side, curling into a tight ball. "Are you still in pain?" Cael asked, noticing how she was laying. That position was usually taken when trying to protect oneself from harm. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.
Predictably, she smacked his hand away, though it was more by reflex than anything else. "Do not concern yourself with my well-being. I told you, I will be fine. I am tired, nothing more."
It was only then that Cael noticed a wonderful smell drifting through the room. Turning away from the bed, he saw that someone - presumably Amara - had left a large tray of food on the table. His eyes lit up when he saw this; he was starving. But first…
Turning, he looked over at Reyith. "Come get something to eat. It'll help you restore your strength."
Reyith opened one eye and glanced over at him, but didn't move. "I do not require food," she told him. "It is how I was created. I can sustain myself without the nutrition gained from eating."
He stared at her for several moments. "Well, that's certainly…" The word he wanted to use was 'odd', but he knew that she wouldn't take well to that. "…convenient," he finished after a moment.
She arched one eyebrow, and Cael was certain that she had recognized the silence for what it was. Still, to his relief, she didn't say anything about it.
Cael crossed the room and sat down at the table, pulling the tray of food towards him. "If you're sure, then." He didn't want to let her go without eating, but he wasn't sure whether she was telling the truth or not. Just in case she was, he decided not to push her. Even though she was tired, she was still dangerous. Annoying her was not a good idea.
Reyith gave a quiet hum of acknowledgement as Cael began to eat. "What will we do tomorrow?" he asked after a few moments of silence. He wasn't really expecting an answer; she probably wanted him to be quiet so she could sleep.
But once again, after a short pause, Reyith answered. "We leave at sunrise. After that, we will need to find a private place, where we will not be disturbed. You need to be trained before we begin looking for the hoyu seishin."
"You know where to find them, then?"
"Not until they are within a certain range," she admitted. "But I assure you, they will find us." She looked over at him, her eyes half closed. "Until you have learned enough to effectively defend yourself, I will protect you. You have nothing to worry about."
Cael finished eating, then went back over to the bed. Cautiously, he sat down on the far edge, half expecting Reyith to tell him to leave. But she was silent.
Slowly, inch by inch, he pulled himself up onto the bed, then stretched out. The bed was big enough for both of them to lay comfortably, without coming near each other. Finally, he closed his eyes with a sigh. "Good night, Reyith."
Just when he was about to drift off, he heard her whispered reply. "Good night, Cael." Tomorrow, their quest would begin.
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(1): Metsu: destruction
(2): Hoyu seishin: possessed spirit
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