Soren did not want to go to his first integration lesson.
Not because he was tired.
Not because he was scared.
Not because he had fainted three times yesterday.
But because he had a very strong suspicion that whoever the academy had chosen to "train" him was going to be:
Terrifying Mean Unnecessarily dramatic All of the above
He clutched the fox to his chest as he walked across the academy grounds with Kael, Lira, and Aldric.
Soren whispered, "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
Kael said, "You'll be fine."
"I WON'T."
"You will."
"I WON'T."
"You will."
Aldric muttered, "Both of you stop."
Lira smiled gently. "We'll be right outside."
Soren whimpered. "I hate this place."
The Training Room of Doom
The "integration chamber" was located deep beneath the academy — past the Hall of Resonance, past the sealed doors, past the "students absolutely should not be here" signs.
Soren stopped at the entrance. "No. No no no. This is a dungeon. This is a magical dungeon. I'm not going in there."
Kael nudged him. "You have to."
"I WON'T."
"You will."
"I WON'T."
"You will."
Aldric sighed. "Both of you stop."
Lira squeezed Soren's hand. "We'll be right outside."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
The door opened.
Soren screamed. "WHY DID IT OPEN BY ITSELF."
Kael answered, "It's enchanted."
"I DON'T LIKE ENCHANTED DOORS. THEY HAVE OPINIONS."
Aldric smirked. "So do you."
Soren threw a pebble at him. "STOP TALKING."
The Trainer Appears
The room was circular, lined with glowing runes and floating crystals.
The air hummed with ancient magic.
Soren whispered, "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
Then—
A figure stepped out of the shadows.
Tall.
Cloaked.
Radiating power.
Soren screamed. "NO. NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT. WHY DOES EVERYONE HERE HAVE A CLOAK. WHY CAN'T ANYONE BE NORMAL."
The figure spoke.
"Vale."
Soren froze. "No. No. I know that voice. That's a scary voice. That's a 'you will suffer' voice."
The figure stepped forward.
It was Master Thalen — the academy's most powerful, most mysterious, most terrifying arcane specialist.
Soren screamed. "NO. NOT HIM. ANYONE BUT HIM. I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE."
Kael whispered, "He's the best."
"HE'S THE SCARIEST."
Lira whispered, "He's the only one who can help."
"THAT MAKES IT WORSE."
Aldric shrugged. "Good luck."
Soren threw a pebble at him. "STOP TALKING."
Master Thalen Introduces Himself (Soren Panics)
Master Thalen's eyes glowed faintly. "Vale. Step forward."
Soren shook his head violently. "NO THANK YOU."
"Step forward."
"I'M GOOD HERE."
"Vale."
"NO."
"Vale."
"NO."
Thalen raised one eyebrow.
Soren immediately stepped forward. "OKAY. FINE. I'M HERE. PLEASE DON'T KILL ME."
Thalen studied him. "You are… unstable."
Soren screamed. "I KNOW."
"You are frightened."
"I KNOW."
"You are untrained."
"I KNOW."
"You are loud."
Soren paused. "Okay that one's rude."
The fox chirped.
Thalen continued, "Your bond is strong. Your spirit is reactive. Your panic is… impressive."
Soren blinked. "Is that a compliment."
"No."
Soren deflated. "I hate this place."
The First Lesson Begins
Thalen gestured to the center of the room. "Sit."
Soren sat.
"Close your eyes."
Soren closed one eye.
"Both."
Soren closed both.
"Breathe."
"I CAN'T."
"Breathe."
"I'M TRYING."
"Breathe."
"I'M PANICKING."
Thalen sighed. "Your panic is louder than your spirit."
Soren opened one eye. "Is that bad."
"Yes."
Soren closed it again. "I hate this place."
The fox hopped into his lap, glowing softly.
Thalen continued, "You must listen to the entity."
Soren screamed. "NO. I DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO HIM. HE'S EVIL. HE HAS AN EYE."
"You must listen."
"I WON'T."
"You will."
"I WON'T."
"You will."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
Rhyxos Responds
The symbol on Soren's chest pulsed.
Hard.
The air thickened.
The runes brightened.
Soren screamed. "NO. NO. I'M NOT READY. I'M NEVER READY."
Thalen said calmly, "He is responding to your fear."
"THAT'S NOT COMFORTING."
"Focus."
"I CAN'T."
"Focus."
"I'M DYING."
"You are not dying."
"I MIGHT BE."
Thalen raised a hand.
The room darkened.
The projection appeared.
The swirling red‑and‑white energy.
The eye.
Soren screamed. "NO. NO EYE. GO AWAY."
The voice echoed:
"You return."
Soren screamed louder. "I NEVER LEFT. YOU LIVE IN MY CHEST."
Thalen said, "Ask him a question."
"NO."
"Ask."
"NO."
"Ask."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
He inhaled.
Exhaled.
Then whispered:
"…What do you want."
Silence.
Then—
"Awakening."
Soren screamed. "NO. NO AWAKENING. I'M NOT AWAKENING ANYTHING."
Thalen nodded. "Good. Again."
"NO."
"Again."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The Lesson Ends (Soren Suffers)
After what felt like hours of screaming, panicking, and being spiritually bullied by an ancient entity, Thalen finally said:
"That is enough for today."
Soren collapsed. "I hate this place."
Kael helped him stand.
Lira hugged him.
Aldric smirked. "You survived."
Soren threw a pebble at him. "STOP TALKING."
The fox chirped.
The symbol pulsed.
Softly.
Like it was amused.
Soren screamed. "STOP BEING AMUSED. I'M NOT FUNNY."
Kael sighed. "Come on. Let's get you back to your dorm."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
And the first lesson ended with Soren more traumatised, more confused, and more determined than ever to never awaken anything.