Kyle stared at the glowing status screen floating before him. The blue holographic letters pulsing faintly in the dim training room light.
The flickering illumination cast strange shadows across the walls, making the words seem to breathe before his eyes.
His fingers twitched at his sides, nails digging into his palms hard enough to leave crescent marks as he read the line again:
——
[Soul-bound Spirit]: Zalrielle (Dormant)
——
"Huh."
The sound escaped his lips before he could stop it, rough and disbelieving.
His mouth had gone dry, tongue sticking to the roof as he swallowed hard.
Soul-bound Spirit?
Zalrielle?
"When did I—"
He cut himself off, the words dying in his throat.
His hand flew to the storage ring on his finger.
His fingers fumbling in their haste.
The ring slipped, nearly clattering to the floor before he caught it with a curse.
'Calm down.'
He took a steadying breath, then focused.
