Silence.
Maelor stared in sheer disbelief. The force of that kick was beyond the capabilities of an ordinary human. Even at the peak of Soulforge, he couldn't muster such strength; only someone at the peak Vinebound stage could achieve that.
A peak Vinebound at this age? The mere speculation sent chills racing down his spine. Dismissing the alarming thought, he reasoned, 'It must be some sort of artifact. If he truly were a Vinebound, senior Liora would have detected it, and she wouldn't have led us to our potential doom.'
He regarded the youth anew, pondering, Just who is this kid? Pushing the puzzlement aside for the moment, Maelor's gaze shifted to the unconscious Jaevin. He was uncertain of the extent of his friend's injuries, but the cacophony of cracking bones he'd heard earlier was an ominous sign. If Jaevin had sustained internal injuries, they'd need immediate attention.
Clada, meanwhile, cautiously set his left foot down, the muscles twitching uncontrollably. He felt as if he had lost a fragment of something invaluable, an act he was beginning to rue. Yet his countenance remained unyielding, showing no trace of discomfort.
[You said we were only supposed to use that in life-or-death situations,] Ren remarked, his voice edged with disapproval.
[That's precisely what this is. If all of them are as capable as this guy,] Clada motioned towards the unconscious Jaevin, [we can't afford to be careless.] His gaze settled firmly on Maeler, who seemed to be wrestling with internal turmoil. The man merely stood there, shaking his head intermittently, neither challenging nor fleeing.
The stillness was almost palpable until Ren's sigh punctured it, echoing in Clada's mind. [And if you had overestimated him and he just evaded your kick?]
[I... don't know,] Clada admitted. The kick he'd delivered was undeniably powerful, but it came at a cost. The sheer force he'd expended was taxing, and even now, he had to muster all his willpower to remain upright. If Jaevin had been more cautious or had chosen to draw his weapon from the start, the outcome could've been drastically different.
[Rest. I'll handle this,] Ren offered.
[Be careful.]
[As if I'd need to exert as much effort as you. Besides, I fancy a chat.]
***
As Maelor looked on, something odd caught his eye. The boy's eye color shifted from a deep green to a pale grey. His posture altered subtly, and in place of the previously emotionless face, a broad grin unfurled. It was as though he was staring at a completely different individual.
"Hello there, friend," the new presence chuckled. "Ready to answer my question now?" His eyes fixed on Maelor, his grin stretching even wider. "Who are you?"
Mealor's eyes widened in realization. It's clear now why she wanted him captured—he possesses twin souls.
His gaze shifted to his injured companion, contemplating a course of action. "I'll answer your questions, but first, I need to give this to my friend," he said, reaching into his belt pouch.
The boy's warning came swift, the smile on his lips lending an eerie edge to his words. "Any tricks, and you'll regret it."
Slowly, deliberately, Mealor withdrew a small brown pill. "May I give this to him? Once I do, I'll answer—"
The boy cut him off with a simple shake of his head. "No. Clada said you can't go near him until you've answered all our questions. So, who are you?"
Maelor gritted his teeth, then spoke. "My name is Maelor, and as you've likely deduced, we're acolytes from the Nightsteel Academy. What more do you wish to know?"
The boy's eyes sparkled with anticipation, barely containing his eagerness. "How did you get to this island?" He blurted out, unable to hold back the question any longer.
Maelor raised an eyebrow, puzzled by the seemingly basic question, but answered regardless. "We sailed here on a boat, the four of us."
The boy's smile widened, eyes shining with curiosity. "Really? Where's your boat? And which direction leads to the vast lands? I've heard they're so expansive you can't even see the sea from atop a mountain. Is that true? Plea—"
He stopped abruptly, looking chastened, as if someone had reprimanded him. Recovering quickly, he pressed on, "So, where's that boat?"
Maelor's confusion deepened. "It's anchored on the southwest shore. Have you never left this island?" The realization struck him: the boy spoke Echoloch, yet this island was recently discovered. How could a human have lived his entire life here? Was the boy pretending? Or was he part of some experiment?
"We grew up here, never set foot outside. That's why we need a way out. But... before you point us in any direction, why the capture attempt?" The boy's eyes sharpened as he threw the question.
Maelor hesitated, his throat dry. "This is Nightsteel Academy land. Rules say any intruder must be captured. We had to try."
The boy held his gaze, then smirked. "Doesn't line up, does it? If capturing us was the plan, you'd have jumped on it. No chat needed." He leaned in, that smirk still in place, "So there's something else, or you're just feeding me lies. Which is it?"
Feeling the weight of the boy's scrutiny, Maelor's pulse quickened. He thought, 'Maybe half the truth is better than the whole story.' "I wasn't hiding anything, but you speaking in Echol..." His voice trailed off as an unusual sensation gripped him. It was as if icy fingers danced down his spine. His legs, once firm, began to tremble. The world seemed to tilt, making it difficult to maintain balance. His vision swirled, colors melding and morphing, turning the vibrant forest into a blurry, indistinct haze. Fighting the overwhelming dizziness, he tried to keep his eyes locked onto the boy's. "What the... what did you…" As everything dimmed, a fleeting moment of clarity showed the boy's face, transformed from playful curiosity to a deep, poignant disappointment.
***
Ren looked down at the unconscious form of Maelor, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "Well, I lost that bet. I genuinely thought his bulk would mean he'd withstand it longer."
From behind, Clada's fuzzy form emerged, giving Maelor a wary glance. [You should've prioritized asking why they wanted to capture us. Had their intent been solely to kill, it would've been a simple situation.]
Ren waved a dismissive hand, "Details, Clada. The important thing is, we might have a way off this rock now."
Clada looked at Ren, exasperation evident in his eyes. [Please, don't expect me to just follow along with your impulsiveness this time. Think it through! Do you even know how to sail? Navigate? And once we reach the vast lands, what if the humans there want us captured for the same reasons as these?] He pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly frustrated. [We're flying blind, Ren. We need to face that fact.]
Ren looked down, lost in thought.
Seeing this, Clada sighed, understanding the weight of their situation on his companion. He knew how desperately Ren had wanted to leave this place. [Where there's a will, there's a way,] Clada offered, trying to comfort him.
For a moment, Ren didn't respond, his head still lowered. Then, abruptly, he looked up with an unexpected sparkle in his eyes. "Got it! We should bury them!"
Clada blinked, taken aback. [Bury them? Were you even listening to me?]
Ren, seeming a tad sheepish, responded, [Oh, were you saying something?] Then he continued, [But yeah, if we leave them exposed in this dark, they will be done for in their current state. We could bury them, just leaving their heads out to breathe.]
Clada just shook his head in disbelief but with a hint of amusement. [I really can't follow your train of thought. But alright, let's hear the rest of this 'genius plan' of yours.]
***
After several hours of waiting, Liora gazed into the dark expanse of the forest where she had sent her juniors. With no news from them, she let out a weary sigh and rose to her feet. "It seems I'll have to move and see for myself," she decided.