After Mr. Bauji's class ended. The pre-awakening lesson begun.
"Well, the class seems lively today," Elder Walath said as she entered.
"I'm not going to remind you of yesterday's lesson. If you can't remember, you're not fit to become a Seeker."
A low hum of discontent rippled through the room.
"In a seeker's journey," Walath began, "there are four levels they must climb if they wish to progress."
Every student leaned forward. This was what they had been waiting for.
"Awakened is the first level. Most seekers stay here their entire lives."
"Becoming a seeker is never easy. The majority die during the awakening ceremony. Only a few succeed. That's why most people never attempt it, the chance is slim and the danger is real."
"If an Awakened manages to advance, the second level is called Kindled. I myself am a Kindled Seeker." She paused. "The top warriors, all the teachers here, and every village elder are at least at this level."
The room grew quieter than ever.
"The third level is Illuminated. Only the Village Head and Elder Holswell have reached it in Amala. Even in other villages the number is small. Marable has only one."
"The fourth level is the hardest. In the entire Mayu T'aqa Valley, only our four ancestors ever reached it. They were called Consecrated Seekers."
Students frantically tried to memorize the names.
"Rumors brought by merchants from far lands speak of a fifth level, but even they treat it as children's tales."
Elder Walath turned to the wooden board and redrew the humanoid figure with its vertical spinal line.
"A seeker is a mortal whose Inner Lattice has awakened through the binding of a cinder, granting them the ability to use Myrr along a chosen path."
Walath tapped the board.
"The Inner Lattice is dormant at birth. The only use for Myrr is to nourish the soul so it keeps functioning. But when the Inner Lattice awakens, two things happen: the soul begins generating excess Myrr, and that Myrr can be used for far more than simple nourishment."
"Now let's return to today's lesson," Walath said. "A seeker is someone whose Inner Lattice has awaken."
"So how do you awaken it?" She smiled. "That is where the cinder comes in. A cinder is a spiritual flame. When a mortal's soul absorbs one, it does not burn flesh or bone, it burns the soul itself."
"What the hell…" Edwin whispered before he could stop himself.
Every head turned. They were all scared too, but it was the devil child who had spoken.
"To become a seeker, one must bind a cinder to the bottom tip of their Inner Lattice."
She drew a small burning flame at the base of the vertical line.
"If the awakening succeeds, your Inner Lattice will form a sigil around the cinder."
"A sigil is two vertical circles stacked inside each other, with the cinder at the center and a celestial diagram between the circles."
"A cinder is what allows Myrr use, but how it is used depends on the family the Cinder belongs to."
"Alright, that is enough for today." Walath set the chalk down and left.
Students began filing out, exhausted but buzzing.
"Guys!" Molai appeared from the front row.
"Molai, we didn't see you when we arrived," Isabella said.
"Probably because he's too short," Mateo teased. He and Edwin laughed.
"Guys…" Molai started, but William Holswell and his two dogs stepped pushing him aside.
"Child of chaos," William's face was red with anger. "Your great-grandfather had the Village Head on my grandfather's back over yesterday's matter, didn't he?"
He grabbed Edwin's collar and yanked him to his feet.
Mateo tried to step in but was blocked by the two dogs. The scene repeated itself from yesterday's.
Molai and Isabella were useless, each staring at Edwin.
"Devil, are you going to answer?" William's fist gushed Edwin in the stomach and threw him to the floor. "You took me a fool, faking your own death."
"I hate it when I ask questions and get no answers." He raised his leg to slam Edwin's chest.
Suddenly his leg was caught. Edwin surged up and slammed William backward into a desk.
"Demon! You dare fight back?!" William screamed in rage.
Edwin took the opening and bolted for the classroom exit.
William and his two dogs were behind him. His legs burned.
---
The other students stopped and formed a circle, watching the devil child get beaten.
Edwin's lips curved into a dark smile as the kicks rained down.
William knelt to grab him. Edwin suddenly twisted and threw a handful of dirt straight into William's eyes.
"Devil! You're playing dirty!" William staggered back, clawing at his face.
Edwin jumped and kicked William in the cheek, forcing him to stumble. Instead of running, Edwin stood his ground.
He roared like a cornered beast and threw a wild punch. The chubby boy threw himself in front and took the hit to the forehead.
"Fattie, what the hell!" Edwin screamed.
The slim boy was already fighting Mateo. Molai popped up and tried to pin the chubby boy down.
By the time William cleared his eyes, he was in uncontrollable rage. "Demon, you have truly angered me!"
He blocked Edwin's next kick and drove a heavy punch into his ribs. Edwin lost his footing and stumbled.
William grabbed him by the throat and squeezed.
Isabella struck William from behind, giving Edwin a desperate gasp of air. He dropped to his knees, gasping like a madman. "I can breathe… I can damn well breathe…" His acting was overboard.
William spun and slapped Isabella hard. Mateo rushed to her side, he had already beaten the slim boy. Molai was still trading punches with the chubby one.
William didn't care about them anymore. Edwin had embarrassed him twice today, once in class and now in front of everyone. He had to crush this nobody.
As he turned, pain exploded in his cheek. Edwin had leapt onto his back and sunk his teeth deep into William's face.
William screamed and tried to shake him off, but Edwin refused to let go. Blood poured.
William fell backward, slamming Edwin into the ground. For a split second Edwin released his bite. Blood covered his entire lower face.
Before William could recover, Edwin grabbed his head and bit down on his ear.
William's scream was inhuman.
Then it went silent.
Edwin released and spat out a piece of flesh. He had torn off the upper part of William's ear. Blood soaked the entire right side of William's head and face. The boy collapsed unconscious.
Elder Walath and two guards arrived at that exact moment, but it was already over.
Edwin stood there, blood dripping from his mouth and chin, staring straight at her.
"Take him to the council for punishment," Walath ordered, voice cold.
One guard seized Edwin's arm.
"Carry the other one to the medical post," she added. "Healer Alma should still be there."