Damien spent the rest of his day computing in his head different strategies of how he could use his blessing in a fight. Since he literally had all the time in the world to do such things. Other than needing to be changed and fed he was mostly in his mind for the most part. Unlike most infants he had no desire to play with random objects. Instead he had already awakened his conscious and therefore wanted to get as far ahead as he could in this dog eat dog society.
He would idly chat with the rest of the kids and Tepmin, but they could see that his gaze was constantly showing signs of deep thinking. Tessa knew what was going on because she could see all the scenarios he made up in his mind. Part of her souls ability to shape others allowed her to see things in the soul and mind that no others could see. It allowed her to give direct input from an outside perspective on how things looked. Something Damien highly valued for his strategems.
"Hey brother?" Tessa interrupted Damien's train of thought for a moment.
"Damn, I think I was on to something. What is it Tessa?" He sounded a little annoyed, but his tone changed as he turned to her directly.
"I achieved my first soul lock today so I was wondering if you'd be okay if I left until I completed it?" Her voice sounded small and full of worry.
"Tessa, I'll be alright I promise. Plus you'll finish fairly quickly if you're anything like me." Damien smiled warmly. "Remember you can take your time the first trial is ten days to one of ours."
"Oh, thank you. You're sure you'll be okay though?" She looked at him her brow still creased.
"I'm sure and how will we get stronger if you don't go do this for yourself? We still have a long way to go sis. Just cause we got a head start doesn't mean we can slack off."
"When did you become so diligent. As I recall you whined the whole year round." Tessa giggled at the look of disparity that Damien gave her.
"Yeah, well things can change there's still a lot I need to learn, I'm still just a baby after all." Damien gave her a serious look this time. "Take your time Tessa don't try and rush back, make sure you can get your blessing. I got lucky honestly because there was another trial runner in my sparring class, but usually defeating a trial runner is a life or death fight."
Tessa nodded "are there other ways to complete the trials?"
"Not yet that I know of, you don't really get told an objective."
They continued talking for a little while longer until Damien had given her all the information he could. By now it was late into the night and Damien was tired of both body and mind. "Alright sis, well I'll see you off, and remember to be careful and stay wary. Good luck and Godspeed."
They hugged briefly before she turned, her body flashing in white before winking out as she entered her soul prism.
Damien meanwhile started to close his mind off allowing it to rest. Finally able to welcome that bliss of darkness yet again. It had been awhile since he'd had a dream. He welcomed the change in pace as he wondered about the future and what was to come with it. His last thoughts before drifting into the abyss was of his sister. "I can feel it, her soul is stronger than mine, but her mind is weak. She might falter if it comes to killing, I hope she can keep that innocence, however I hope she steps up if her life is on the line."
Wind whistled furiously through the canopy of a dense forest. Tessa hadn't been as lucky with her entrance of the trial. She stood on the outskirts of an open plain, with the forest to her back. She heard howling far within it's depths. There was a city far off in the distance with what looked like a small village in between. Not knowing whether the village would be friendly or not she decided to play on the cautious side and do some reconnaissance. Looks like she was on her own for this one. She started heading to the forest, unaware of a pair of eyes glinting on the edges of the forest watching her move away.