The walk back to the academy was the longest, most stressful, most "I‑am‑definitely‑going‑to-die" walk of Soren's entire life.
Kael walked steadily.
Lira walked protectively.
Aldric walked like he wanted something else to fight.
Soren walked like a man carrying a cursed glowing secret in his chest.
Because he was.
The fox perched on his shoulder, glowing faintly, occasionally chirping in concern.
Soren whispered, "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
The Gate Guards Notice Immediately
As soon as they reached the academy gates, the guards stiffened.
One guard pointed. "What's that on his chest."
Soren screamed. "NOTHING. IT'S NOTHING. I'M NORMAL. I'M AVERAGE. I'M UNIMPORTANT. IGNORE ME."
The symbol pulsed.
Brightly.
The guards stepped back.
Kael sighed. "Soren…"
"I CAN'T CONTROL IT."
Aldric muttered, "Obviously."
Lira placed a calming hand on his arm. "Just breathe."
"I CAN'T."
The fox nuzzled him.
Soren inhaled.
Exhaled.
Panicked anyway.
The Instructors Arrive (Soren's Day Gets Worse)
Instructor Seraphine appeared first, phoenix blazing on her arm.
Her eyes widened. "Vale. What happened."
Soren pointed at his chest. "THIS. THIS HAPPENED. I DIDN'T ASK FOR IT. I DIDN'T WANT IT. IT JUST—ATTACHED ITSELF TO MY SOUL."
Seraphine blinked. "Your soul?"
"I THINK SO."
The phoenix screeched.
Soren screamed back. "I KNOW."
Then Instructor Veylan arrived, nightmare‑wolf at his side.
He stared at Soren's chest.
Then at Soren.
Then at the fox.
Then back at Soren.
Soren whimpered. "Please don't kill me."
Veylan said, "Not today."
Soren collapsed. "I hate this place."
The Commander Arrives (Soren Dies Inside)
Commander Arcturus arrived last.
Cloak billowing.
Eyes glowing.
Aura terrifying.
Soren squeaked.
Arcturus looked at the symbol on Soren's chest.
His expression changed.
Not dramatically.
Not obviously.
But enough that Kael tensed, Lira gasped, and Aldric muttered, "Oh, that's bad."
Arcturus stepped closer. "Vale."
Soren squeaked again. "Yes?"
Arcturus's voice was calm. Too calm. "Explain."
Soren inhaled. "Okay. So. We found a corrupted tree. And then a Guardian. And then the Guardian tried to kill us. And then my fox glowed. And then I panicked. And then the core whispered to me. And then it pulled me. And then I touched it. And then it exploded. And then it went inside me. And now I'm cursed. I hate this place."
Silence.
Arcturus stared at him.
Soren stared back.
The fox chirped.
Arcturus exhaled slowly. "Bring him to the Hall of Resonance."
Soren screamed. "THE WHAT."
Kael whispered, "It's where they examine dangerous magical anomalies."
Soren screamed louder. "I DON'T WANT TO BE AN ANOMALY."
Aldric smirked. "Too late."
Lira squeezed his hand. "We'll be with you."
Soren whimpered. "I hate this place."
The Hall of Resonance (Soren Regrets Everything)
The Hall of Resonance was a massive chamber filled with floating crystals, glowing runes, and enough magical pressure to make Soren's hair stand on end.
He clutched the fox. "I don't like this. I don't like this at all. This is where people explode."
Kael corrected him. "This is where they prevent explosions."
"I DON'T BELIEVE YOU."
Lira whispered, "Just breathe."
"I CAN'T."
Aldric muttered, "Both of you stop."
Seraphine gestured. "Stand in the center."
Soren screamed. "WHY."
Arcturus said, "Because we need to see what the core did to you."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
He stepped into the center.
The crystals lit up.
The runes activated.
The air hummed.
The symbol on his chest pulsed.
The fox chirped anxiously.
Soren whispered, "Buddy… please don't let me die."
The fox nuzzled him.
The Revelation
The crystals projected an image above Soren.
A swirling mass of red and white energy.
Kael's eyes widened. "That's the core."
Lira whispered, "It fused with him."
Aldric muttered, "Idiot."
Seraphine stepped closer. "No… not fused. Bound."
Arcturus's expression darkened. "This is worse than I thought."
Soren screamed. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN WORSE."
Arcturus looked at him.
"Vale… the core didn't just attach to you."
Soren swallowed. "What did it do."
Arcturus answered quietly.
"It chose you."
Soren fainted.
Again.
Kael caught him.
Again.
Aldric rolled his eyes. "Pathetic."
Lira sighed. "Expected."
The fox curled up on Soren's chest and chirped.
And the entire Hall of Resonance watched the boy who accidentally became the host of a corrupted forest core.