Smiles were present on majority of the occupational exam's candidates. From the look of things, many candidates passed the exam. No doubt, an increase in Occupational rank equals an increase in status in the society. Two lads standing in front of a bald Middle-aged man had different expressions with sweat trickling down their faces. The Middle-aged man was Azna. The young men were Nuzar and Ptah.
"But Dad.... you know the bonding ceremony is a fifty/fifty. His soul energy is still weak at the moment, you can't ju.... ". Ptah voiced out.
" Hold it there, I might be related to you by blood ties but you'll have to give me the respect I deserve". The bald man warned sternly.
" I'm sorry Master Azna." Ptah said in a cheerless tone. " Prepare yourself for your bonding ceremony, Nuzar". Azna said. " Follow me".
The two friends followed their Master into the a large room with high ceilings and walls lamps giving the slightly dark room a golden yellow hue. The room was filled with sick patients with terminal illness and most of them are Comatose patients. Azna walked towards a patient that was laying in the far end of the large room.
When the trio got to the patient they met another Master physician and his disciple with his Advanced tiered Physician emblem proudly displayed on his chest. He was examining the patient.
" Well, If it isn't Azna the bald healer and his little runts." The Physician said with an annoying smile on his face. " It seems you're also eyeing the grand prize for finding a cure for this patient"
" You guys should pay attention to what I'm about to do. I'll ask you some questions after I'm done". Azna said to his disciples, completely ignoring the other physician.
" Azna, you're not only annoying , you're also a proud one" The physician raised his voice.
" Shhhh! You're too loud, Von I'm sure you know we're in the ICU....and please you can take your leave once you're done examining the patient".
" I wasn't able to find any clue about this illness and I don't see you fare any better than I." Von angrily replied.
" It seems you're done with examining the patient, can you please leave". Azna replied, clearly frustrated.
" He's kinda annoying" Nuzar whispered to Ptah.
" That's an Understatement. " Ptah giggled " He's our master's nemesis".
" I'm not leaving... I'd like to see how you'd fare". Von replied, grinning inwardly.
Von stepped away to allow Azna examine the patient.
. Thirty minutes passed and Azna wasn't able to get any clue about the illness.
" I guess you haven't been able to find anything... have you?". Von giggled. His disciple who was silent all this time also let out a loud laughter.
" Von, I can take insults from you but I'll not tolerate one from your disciple". Azna warned.
Nuzar was staring into the ceiling of the large hall subconsciously. Many things were running through his mind after he saw the sorry state of the patient which reminded him of something. He immersed himself in the System and tried the analyze skill.
[ Analyze skill ]
[ Amati , Son of Swordmaster Kizan. Outer disciple of the Ramses Clan ]
[ Physical body status : stable ]
[ Soul status: Partially possessed by a basic tiered demon ]
[ Daily Quest reminder: Perform an exorcism ]
' How do I go about this quest?' Nuzar asked himself. As if the system heard he s thought, it replied with .
[ Hint : Extend your Pure soul energy into the target's body ]
" Let me give it a go". Nuzar requested.
" What can you possibly do... even I don't have any solution to the ailment. Moreover you don't have a bonded spirit to help you with the healing process". Azna questioned.
" Azna, let your boy give it a shot. You know it's against the code of ethics to discourage your disciple when trying his best to save a patient's life". Von said with a mischievous look on his plum shaped face.
" Nuzar, you've put our Master in a tight spot. He would have to choose between the devil and the red Sea". Ptah whispered to himself.
" Fine... but don't do anything foolish that would implicate me".
" Yes sir "Nuzar nodded.
One of the things Nuzar noticed about the said patient was the greyish hue on the patient's skin. Something he also saw on the demons from the tower of Fortune.
The patient looked lifeless the only sign of him being alive is the fact that he still breathes albeit slowly.
Nuzar got close to the patient and touched the patient's glabella with two of his fingers. He Suddenly felt himself plunged into a dark room.
It was a feeling of Deja Vu. The moment he mysteriously found himself in this dark room, he remembered vividly that it was the same as the one he met himself when he first transmigrated to this world.
' There's something sinister about this place '. Nuzar murmured. The place Nuzar found himself was called Void . A place where souls of every individual is located. The void of souls are usually partially illuminated by the individual's soul but this one was completely dark.
Even Nuzar's soul energy that was giving a slight golden glow was beginning to get covered in a dark fog.
" I see you're here to force me out of his void." A sinister voice giggled. "
" Show your self, don't be a loser" Nuzar taunted the voice, probably the person behind the voice.
"Such petty tricks don't work on me". The voice roared in laughter to which Nuzar smiled. He had gotten what he wanted–The location of the voice. He sat down cross-legged like a Buddhist Monk and stretched out his right hand and seemingly grabbed the air.
The moment he 'grabbed' the air, he let out a mischievous smile. Black foggy smoke started entering Nuzar's soul. " Hahaha... your foolishness would be your downfall, I'll consume your soul energy". Moments later, the voice sounded again: " What are you doing to me!....You puny beast....SCREW YOU!'.
The black foggy substance that was surrounding Nuzar's soul was getting mixed with his Golden coloured soul energy, until the black substance vanished without any trace. His Golden soul was glowing brightly. He stood up and examined himself. ' My soul energy has become purer and compact. But wait, where's the soul of this host'
Although the major threat has been cleared, Nuzar realized that he was missing something. Something very important–The host's soul. After a quick examination of his soul he stood up from his cross-legged position and started searching the Void for the host's soul.
.....
"Master, I don't think Nuzar can do find any clue about the patient not to mention heal his ailment". Ptah whispered.
" Neither do I. I was put in a tight spot and I had to make a decision. If I hadn't allowed Nuzar to have a go at it...it would mean breaching the code of ethics which equals banishment and if he causes the death of the patient, he'd have his emblem revoked and I'll also be severely punished." Azna analyzed staring in the direction of his rival, Von.
" I see. That was the best decision out of the two". Ptah reasoned, nodding his head slowly. Ptah never took his eyes off Nuzar. It had been a minute since Nuzar placed his fingers on the patient's glabella. He was ready to interrupt the healing process in case it went wrong.