Kai stared at the blackened pebble, his expression grim.
"Blackness? What do you mean by that?" Leon asked, eyeing the pebble with confusion.
Without answering directly, Kai reached over and spread a map across his bed. "Look at this. It's a map of Shumara—or at least the parts the Rulin have managed to chart."
Leon leaned in, frowning at the sparse details. "That's… not much. There are so many empty spaces."
"Exactly," Kai said. "Shumara is essentially uninhabitable for anything but a Zhull. Even most Rulin haven't seen detailed maps like this, so I'm lucky to have access to one."
Leon raised an eyebrow. "Why do you have it? I know you're a scholar, but aren't Rulin supposed to be more important than scholars?"
Kai shook his head. "Rulin may rank higher in terms of military might, but most of them don't do research. The few who do tend to hold much higher positions are both scholars as well as Rulin. I may not flaunt it, but I work with influential people on Zhull and Shumara studies. I'm not just any scholar."
Leon stared at him with newfound respect. He'd known Kai was accomplished, but never suspected it ran so deep.
Kai tapped the map. "Now, do you know why the Zhull are considered so dangerous?"
Leon shrugged. "Because they're bigger and stronger?"
Kai let out a frustrated sigh. "You want to become a Rulin, yet you don't even know what you'd be fighting against? You're still clueless!"
"Hey, I'm learning," Leon protested. "I'm not a full-fledged Rulin yet."
Shaking his head, Kai began to explain. "Zhulls are creatures born of what scholars call Blackness. It's entirely different from Nafs, which draws on your psyche and emotions for power." He pointed to a red-lined region on the map. "This border here is infused with Blackness, and anyone who touches it disintegrates instantly."
"Seriously?" Leon asked, more intrigued than frightened.
"Plenty of high-level Rulin have died at these borders, even a few Guardians," Kai said. Then he gestured at the pebble in the white tray. "Your Nafs seems to have a trace of that same power—Blackness."
Leon's eyes sparkled. "So… I could destroy Guardians?"
Kai frowned at his brother's enthusiasm. "Don't get ahead of yourself. You probably can't even scratch a Disciple right now. But whether you're strong or not is beside the point. Listen carefully: you must hide this aspect of your Nafs. Train it in secret, and learn to mask it."
"Why?" Leon asked, perplexed. "If I can use Blackness, wouldn't that help us fight the Zhull?"
Kai took a moment to steady his temper. "Idiot, if anyone finds out you're wielding something exclusive to the Zhull, you'd be worse off than dead. Sentinels would capture you and experiment on you."
Leon blinked, trying to process it all. He still couldn't fully grasp the gravity of it, but he nodded.
Kai continued, "So no academy for you until you can conceal the Blackness. Understand?"
"What?!" Leon jumped to his feet, anger flaring in his eyes. "That's not fair! I've worked so hard to become a Rulin!"
"I'm sorry," Kai said with a dismissive shrug. "You don't comprehend the risks, and who's paying your tuition, anyway?"
"I'll pay for it myself," Leon retorted, his face red.
Kai's tone turned cold. "Go ahead and try, but I promise that won't happen."
Tears gathered in Leon's eyes, a mixture of fury and disappointment. "This is crap! I've poured my life into this—day after day!"
Kai sighed. He knew Leon's obsession. His brother trained relentlessly, often skipping meals and pushing himself to the brink. "Leon, I'm not doing this to be cruel," he said quietly, placing a hand on Leon's shoulder. "I've seen what happens when people exhibit powers that the Rulin cannot understand. I don't want that for you."
"I don't care!" Leon shouted. "You promised I could attend any academy I wanted!"
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Kai relented. "All right. Let's compromise. I'll ask a Weaver to help you awaken your Latifa. If your Latifa is unrelated to Shumara, you can enroll in an academy to train that instead."
The anger on Leon's face wavered. "You know a Weaver?"
Kai's lips twitched into a wry smile. "I know several. Your brother isn't just some minor scholar, Leon."
"Great!" Leon's mood shifted instantly. He wiped his eyes and looked at Kai expectantly.
Kai handed him a book. "Read this. It'll help you understand Latifa and what to expect. If you study it, you'll be better prepared when you meet the Weaver."
Leon glanced down at the cover before looking back at Kai, suddenly confused. "Wait… If you have so many connections, why haven't you awakened your own Latifa or achieved your Nafs?"
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Who said I haven't achieved my Nafs?"
Leon's jaw dropped. "But you always said—"
"I've been keeping it quiet. Dad knows, but that's about it." Kai lifted his hand, and a purple spiral of light swirled in his palm. "I'm actually at the Lawamma level."
"L-Lawamma?" Leon stammered, thoroughly stunned.
Kai smirked. "You think an average person could get their hands on all this information?"
"How did you reach that level?" Leon asked in awe."Mastering your psyche and emotions that deeply isn't exactly easy."
Kai shrugged. "I study a lot, so understanding myself came naturally. Besides, there are people far more gifted than I am—some have become Guardians at a younger age."
Leon shook his head, reeling. He had always assumed he'd surpass Kai in Nafs training. Yet here his brother was, already on a higher level.
"It doesn't matter," Kai said softly. "My Nafs isn't special. Yours, on the other hand, is practically unheard of. Anyway, you can go now. I'll send letters to a few Weavers I know. If they respond, they'll come help you for a while."
Leon nodded, still somewhat dazed, and left the room.
As soon as Leon was gone, Kai picked up the tray with the pebble again, studying it closely. Tiny black tendrils had begun to form on the pebble's surface. Though barely visible, Kai's trained eye caught the movement as they slowly devoured what remained of the stone.
His eyes widened. Quickly, he grabbed a glass jar, poured the pebble and its eerie growth inside, and sealed it tight. "It's… creating a Zhull?" he whispered in shock.
Sitting down at his desk, he grabbed a few sheets of paper and a quill. Dipping the quill into ink, he began writing a letter, his face grave. After several minutes of careful writing, he leaned back, pressing his fingers against the bridge of his nose as a headache formed.
"Things just got a lot more complicated," he muttered under his breath.
A few days later, Kai's experiment had not produced any drastic developments, but he spent that time watching the jar carefully and devouring research. His darkened room, even messier than before, was cluttered with scraps of paper scrawled with notes and theories.
Suddenly, a loud knock jolted him from a half-doze.
"Kai! Come out! Someone's here to see you," his mother called through the door.
Kai opened his eyes blearily and realized he had fallen asleep at his desk, head resting on a mess of books and maps.
"Huh?" he mumbled, disoriented.
"I'm coming in!" his mother warned. Light poured into the room as the door opened, nearly blinding him.
I swear I heard something hiss… his mother thought, squinting into the dim.
"Mom?" Kai draped an arm over his eyes, trying to block the sudden brightness.
She scanned the clutter in disbelief. "Look at this mess! Have you even changed clothes since you started this 'research'?!"
Kai yawned. "I've been busy…"
Clearing her throat, his mother shifted in the doorway. "This might be awkward, but…" She stepped aside, revealing a petite figure behind her.
Kai blinked, gradually adjusting to the light, then widened his eyes. "N-Nahlia?"
A familiar voice responded shyly, "H-hi…" She stood there in a delicate blue dress, a lovely necklace, and a pair of new earrings. Her hair was styled in an elegant bun, a few loose strands framing her face.
His mother tapped her foot impatiently. "Did you forget you're supposed to spend time with your fiancée? Nahlia came all this way, and here you are, buried in your books!" She turned to Nahlia with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry about him. He gets like this when he's researching. You'd better brace yourself for married life."
Nahlia blushed and glanced at the floor. "It's alright," she managed softly.
"Kai, get ready and take her out somewhere," his mother ordered.
"Y-yes, of course." Kai slid past them, heading for the washroom. "Please wait downstairs. I'll be right out."
With that, he disappeared around the corner.
His mother gave Nahlia a tight smile. "I'm really sorry. He's hopeless in situations like these, but he means well."
"I don't mind," Nahlia said, offering a small smile. Then her gaze flicked to the disheveled room, where piles of papers and books were strewn everywhere.
Seeing her stare, Kai's mother quickly tried to tidy up. "He's normally cleaner, believe me. He's just been swamped with research lately. Why don't you wait downstairs? I'll make sure he changes and comes right down."
Nahlia shook her head. "I'll help you clean up." Despite her lingering blush, she stepped into the room and began gathering the scattered pages.
What a sweet girl, Kai's mother thought with a grateful smile.
They spent several minutes straightening the mess. Just then, Kai appeared in the doorway, wearing only a towel around his waist.
"Mom, can you pick out some cloth—" He stopped mid-sentence, finally noticing Nahlia. "Oh…"
Kai spun on his heel and darted out of sight, equally embarrassed.
Kai's mother shook her head. "Honestly, he walks around shirtless because it's usually just family here. But now that you're engaged, we need a bit more decorum." She snatched some clothes from the closet and left the room.
Nahlia stood there, cheeks burning. After a moment, she glanced at the half-cleared desk. She noticed a mix of research volumes and storybooks.
He really does love reading… She picked up one of the books and read the title: Detachment. The synopsis didn't hold her interest, and she placed it back on the desk. How do people enjoy reading so much? she mused.
Her eyes drifted to Kai's meticulous notes. He's so thorough. If I studied like this, I'd pass my exams with ease.
A few moments later, Kai returned, now dressed and looking sheepish. "Sorry about that," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "Shall we go on our date now?"