Zalan ignored Aktatin's childish antics and turned to glance at the glowing ball once again. Determination flashed in his eyes to see the power he previously possessed, whatever it may be. Despite not expecting much this time around, Zalan continued to stare at the star which seemed like it increased in light intensity. Even covering his eyes with his hands and leaving little slits to see it if made it any easier, the radiant light still showed no mercy and seared his eyes.
'Come on!' Zalan thought finally turning his stinging pupils away. But not before noticing a mere silhouette of cage like black stripes behind it. Almost as if the star was being held hostage and that was the thing trapping the star within this environment.
"What's that black thing behind the sun?" Zalan asked Aktatin and temporarily closed his stinging eyes to rest them.
Aktatin abruptly stopped laughing and looked back at Zalan with his normal look.
"Huu.. Who knew you would see it in the end?" Aktatin said, slight surprised, before adding:
"If you can only see those lines, there's no point in telling you right now. Even if you use it, your body will explode from the power it contains. So in the terms of your human power scale, you have to get to tier 4 before even being able to see it".
Zalan was only taken aback
"What kind of power do I have that requires me to be tier 4 before even seeing what it is?"
Not wanting to answer the question, Aktatin remained silent as if contemplating and the shook his head. Zalan was about to protest but fell silence when Aktatin brought something else up.
"I have a gift for you." He spoke abruptly.
Upon registering what the statement meant, Zalan could only stand there stupefied. Wide eyed and now hanging his mouth open, Zalan never even expected in a million years that he would even be friends with a Chasm-Born. Now, one was showing hospitality to him and even offered a gift. Zalan didn't believe it and slapped himself twice across the face. Expecting to see his bedroom ceiling, he was once again disappointed with the unwavering scenery around him remaining the same.
'Since when were they this friendly?' Zalan pondered in a daze.
Aktatin ignored Zalan's antics and raised his arm to point at Zalan's forehead. His long black fingernails pressing on the soft flesh.
"What are you doing!" Zalan shouted upon the contact before hopping backwards.
"Zalan, it's my gift to you. If I wanted to hurt you you wouldn't even be here. I would have just replaced your soul."
'He has a point' Zalan agreed before allowing him to continue.
Aktatin resumed and stuck his finger back on Zalan's forehead.
Abruptly, the wind started picking up around them and making the environment slightly chilly. Only then did Zalan realize that he was actually still in his training clothes from when he was practicing the concealment technique, it was just a regular shirt and some tiny pants that he had on. Raising his arms to rub his sides to generate heat from friction, he couldn't help but take a peak at Aktatin.
'What is he mumbling about' Zalan thought whilst looking at Aktatin standing there with close eyes but fast twitching lips. Soon, Aktatin finished, opened his eyes and released his finger. The cold sensation disappeared instantly replaced by the climate prior to the gift.
Not feeling like anything significant has happened, Zalan opened his mouth to ask.
"What happene—"
But Zalan regretted moment he spoke. Waves of pain invaded Zalan's entire body.
"AAAAAHHHHHHH!" A gut wrenching scream flooded the calm gardens around them. Clenching his head and now laying on the ground, Zalan felt like he was being skinned alive.
No. Even being skinned alive would be more comfortable than this. The pain felt more like someone was individually replacing parts of his body like Frankenstein and then soldering them together. Simply unbearable even to the most macho. That was the last thing Zalan experience before passing out.
—About 5 minutes later—-
"Finally awake again?" Aktatin's voice rang inside Zalan's head—failing to making Zalan even feel the slightest amount of compassion. On the contrary, it now sent shivers down Zalan's spine.
"Wha—" Zalan tried to speak but felt a throbbing pain on his head.
"Ugh" he grunted.
Reaching above to feel if any part of his physical appearance change, Zalan took his first breath of relief upon realizing that he didn't have any horns or other body parts not normally found in humans. Even if there was a small horn on his head, he would be furious at Aktatin.
Just as Zalan was about to ask, Aktatin seemed to be able to tell from Zalan's reaction and spoke out before Zalan had the chance to do so.
"You look the same" Aktatin's voice out indifferently. As if wanting to prove so, he also made a mirror appear out of nowhere and held it down to Zalan.
Fortunately, nothing even remotely scary happened- aside from the pain of course. Zalan's pale face and large brown eyes stared right back at him. His hair was just staring to come out with little brown streaks scattered messily atop his head.
"Oh thank goodness" Zalan couldn't help but say in delight.
Despite feeling as if various body parts were emerging from his body, Zalan felt elated that those were just feelings and nothing more.
Aktatin showed his horrid smile again before kneeling to see Zalan eye to eye again.
"Good luck in your journey" Aktatin said before offering his finger out to Zalan.
"Thanks Aktatin" Zalan replied sentimentally as he reached out and clasped his entire hand over the finger before the two of them engaged in a hand shake. Aktatin continued:
"Our interaction here was simply the reunion of old friends. I've paid back my debt to you even if you don't remember it. I wish you good luck Icarus, hopefully you can bring glory back to the Chasm-Borns once again".
What seemed like a heart-warming goodbye only alarmed Zalan.
"Wait! What did you mean glory—"
But Zalan was swiftly interrupted when Aktatin waved his hand and removed Zalan from the consciousness space returning him back to the real world.
***
"Zalan! Zalan! Zalan!" Alex's worried voice filled the quiet training space as he gently shook the unconscious small child in his arms. Zalan was a pale shade with blood dripping from his nose. Alex was startled right after hearing Zalan's cry and immediately dashed over. In seconds, Zalan was twisting and shaking.
"Did something happen to his body? But he was fine just a couple of minutes ago when he was still practicing what I taught him'
Not wanting to scare Amanda, Alex could only try to deal with this situation himself and hope that Zalan didn't have any problems.
Glancing around frantically with eyes that darted like ping pong balls, Alex dashed over to one of the crates and ripped out a yellow crystal from one of the crates lining the side. With no time to spare, he sat down in a meditative position and began channeling Vis through to Zalan's body.