Soren had never been escorted anywhere before.
Not by guards.
Not by instructors.
Not by a phoenix, a nightmare‑wolf, and a commander who radiated "I will throw you into the sun if you twitch wrong."
But that was exactly what was happening.
Two guards walked ahead.
Two walked behind.
Arcturus walked beside him like a very disappointed father.
Seraphine walked on the other side like a very stressed mother.
Veylan walked behind him like a man hoping Soren would explode just so he could study the aftermath.
Soren whispered, "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
Kael, Lira, and Aldric followed at a distance — not because they weren't allowed closer, but because Soren was radiating the energy of a man who might spontaneously combust.
The Walk of Shame
Students stared as they passed.
Whispered.
Pointed.
Gasped.
Soren covered his glowing chest symbol with both hands. "STOP LOOKING AT ME. I'M NOT A SPECTACLE. I'M A VICTIM."
Aldric muttered, "You're a spectacle."
Soren threw a pebble at him. "SHUT UP."
Lira whispered, "It'll be okay."
"NO IT WON'T."
Kael sighed. "Just breathe."
"I CAN'T."
The fox nuzzled him.
Soren inhaled.
Exhaled.
Panicked anyway.
A group of first‑years whispered loudly:
"Is that the boy who absorbed the corruption core?"
"He looks normal."
"He looks terrified."
"He looks like he's going to cry."
Soren shouted, "I'M NOT GOING TO CRY."
He immediately looked like he might cry.
The Dorm Arrest Announcement
When they reached the dorm building, Arcturus stopped.
Soren froze. "Please don't kill me."
Arcturus blinked. "I am not going to kill you."
"Please don't let me explode."
"That is the goal."
"Please don't put me in a cage."
Arcturus paused.
Soren screamed. "WHY DID YOU PAUSE."
Seraphine stepped in. "You're not being caged. You're being… contained."
Soren screamed louder. "THAT'S WORSE."
Veylan added, "You are a hazard."
Soren pointed at him. "YOU'RE A HAZARD."
Veylan nodded. "Correct."
Soren deflated. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
The Rules of Dorm Arrest (Soren Suffers)
Seraphine conjured a glowing scroll.
Soren groaned. "Not another scroll."
She read:
"Rule One: You are not permitted to leave your dorm without escort."
Soren screamed. "ESCORT?! LIKE A PRISONER?!"
"Rule Two: You must report to the Hall of Resonance at dawn, midday, and dusk."
"I'M NOT A PLANT. I DON'T NEED SUNLIGHT SCHEDULES."
"Rule Three: You are forbidden from engaging in combat training."
Aldric gasped. "What."
Soren pointed at him. "WHY ARE YOU UPSET. I'M THE ONE BEING GROUNDED."
"Rule Four: You are forbidden from using your bond unsupervised."
Soren clutched the fox. "NO. NO. YOU CAN'T TAKE HIM. HE'S MY EMOTIONAL SUPPORT GLOWING CREATURE."
Seraphine sighed. "We're not taking him. We're supervising him."
Soren hugged the fox dramatically. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
The Magical Lockdown
Arcturus raised his hand.
A glowing sigil appeared above the dorm door.
Soren screamed. "WHAT IS THAT."
"A containment seal."
"WHY."
"To prevent you from wandering."
"I DON'T WANDER. I PANIC‑MOVE."
"Exactly."
Soren collapsed. "I hate this place."
Kael placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll visit."
Lira nodded. "Every day."
Aldric shrugged. "Maybe."
Soren glared. "YOU BETTER."
The fox chirped.
Inside the Dorm (Soren Spirals)
The moment the instructors left, Soren paced the room like a trapped animal.
"I'M GROUNDED. I'M ACTUALLY GROUNDED. BY THE ENTIRE ACADEMY. THIS IS HUMILIATING. THIS IS TRAUMATIC. THIS IS—"
Kael grabbed his shoulders. "Soren. Stop."
"I CAN'T STOP. I'M A PRISONER."
"You're not a prisoner."
"I AM A PRISONER."
Lira smiled gently. "It's temporary."
"TEMPORARY UNTIL WHAT. UNTIL I EXPLODE."
Aldric muttered, "Hopefully."
Soren threw a pillow at him. "STOP SAYING THAT."
The fox hopped onto his head and chirped.
Soren froze.
Then sighed.
"Okay. Fine. I'll calm down. I hate this place."
The Final Blow
Kael sat on the edge of the bed. "We'll help you through this."
Lira nodded. "You're not alone."
Aldric smirked. "You're barely functional."
Soren glared. "I hope the core haunts you."
The fox chirped.
Then—
The symbol on Soren's chest pulsed.
Softly.
Once.
Twice.
Soren screamed. "NO. NO PULSING. PULSING IS BAD. PULSING MEANS SOMETHING IS HAPPENING."
Kael stood. "We need to report that."
Lira nodded. "Immediately."
Aldric sighed. "Already?"
Soren clutched the fox. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped louder.
And the symbol pulsed again — brighter this time.
Something was changing.
Something was waking.
Something inside him.