Firelight flickered, lighting the air. Dharen’s lips twisted upwards slightly, smirking at the thought. Though the Nulzan had so recently been assaulted by that very same fire, they were quite human-like in their ability to bounce back. All around, the smell of roasting meat filled the air, suffusing the surroundings with a tantalizing ambience.

With one of their major enemies defeated, the Nulzan were out in full celebration this night. Every alcove was lit with a cookfire, each group preparing their own section of the young Sky Serpent.

After returning from the hunt, Dharen had waited while his accompanying Nulzan had a short discussion with the chieftain. Following that, Tkzcht had appeared, exuberant and far more eager to establish a friendly relationship with Dharen.

At the same time, streams of Nulzan slid off into the jungle, returning later with massive sections of the defeated foe. For each that returned, the surrounding Nulzan would let out clicks of approval, voicing their excitement at their victory over the challenger for their territory.

He knew that the Nulzan had been deeply affected by his show of strength, and it appeared that most of them held no animosity towards him regarding the violent nature of his first encounter with the tribe, for which Dharen was deeply grateful. Though he had escaped them before, and believed that he could do so even now given his recently increased attributes, he would mourn the loss of such powerful allies.

Though the Nulzan were not beacons of Strength, especially when compared with monsters such as the adult Sky Serpent that he knew prowled the jungle, they had a certain cunning that blended well with their natural agility and speed. They resembled assassins, lethal shadows in the night. That, combined with the toxicity of the poisons that they concocted and coated their blades with, made them highly difficult adversaries.

Dharen walked along the bridge between two Skywoods, departing from yet another group of Nulzan that had wished to express their gratitude for his aid. Though he could not bring himself to let his guard down entirely, he had to admit that he was feeling far less uncomfortable within the Nulzan tribe, no longer highly wary of being attacked at any moment.

He returned to the main Skywood that housed the chieftain’s alcove, where he had been assigned a room in which to rest. Tkzcht had sent a member of the tribe as messenger, requesting Dharen’s presence.

He found the Nulzan chieftain waiting for him, much the same as he had upon their first encounter. This time, Dharen did not have to steel his nerves. He could see from the creature’s posture that he was quite relaxed, and so Dharen allowed himself to feel the same.

As he sat down, Tkzcht began to speak. “You have killed one of my enemies, and for that my entire tribe is grateful.”

Dharen nodded, keeping his expression in check.

“As promised, I will assist you in defeating your own enemy, who you claim that we share. However, to do so will require beating back many of your fellow light-bringers. They now only assault us in the daytime, hiding away within their lights at night, only returning when the light comes anew, when we are weaker and lack the shadows.”

Dharen, having already known that the Nulzan were nocturnal hunters for a reason, remained silent.

“I have another offer for you. Aid my people in sending the light-bringers back or defeating them, and we will honor your alliance. Not only that, but afterwards I will show you a path to greater power - a path that you light-bringers appear to neglect.”

Dharen, having had the opportunity to hear much of the Nulzan’s speech over the night, responded with a far greater fluency than he had prior. “If there is a path to greater power, you will teach it to me now. Afterwards, I will push back the humans. There are others who are strong among their ranks, and I will not challenge them alone for the promise of later power.”

Tkzcht remained silent for a moment. As the silence stretched on, Dharen began to tense, preparing himself. Just as he became certain that he had pressed too far, the chieftain responded.

“Very well. I will teach you now, as a show of faith. As an Awakened yourself, I am sure you are aware of the process of Awakening. In times of great emotion, of turmoil or victory, a soulseed can appear - the symbol of the Awakened. Only one can be obtained in a lifetime, and that soulseed is the foundation upon which true power is built. I, myself, have Awakened to Duty - to my tribe, to my people.”

“It appears that your people know of one of the ways to gain in strength - to devour the Seeds of others. Yet, there is another way. I do not know why your people depend only upon one path, but it is clear to see that they do. There is a weakness to your Seeds. When you look upon me, what do you sense?”

Dharen did not need to think upon his reply, for it was one of the very first things that he had noticed when he had met the chieftain. “Duty. Responsibility.”

The Nulzan nodded, seeing that Dharen understood. “And that is how I know of your people’s path. You do not delve into your Seeds, you do not suffuse yourself into the soul within. You cannot become what you have Awakened. You are soulless, empty.”

Seeing Dharen bristling slightly at the remark, the Nulzan raised one of his many hands. “I do not mean to say that you are weak. Merely that you are not strong in the way that you should be. You have power, but it stays entirely within your seed. It does not make itself known. It has not become what you are.”

Dharen thought for a moment, before nodding. Both Tkzcht and the adult Sky Serpent that he had encountered had seemed to fill the air with the power of their Seed. Meanwhile, his own soulseeds lay dormant, supplying him with power, but staying silent.

“You must delve into the soul within, that to which you have Awakened. Doing so will allow you to advance further and more powerfully, though the speed it will advance you will diminish as you become more and more suffused with its power. However, the benefits before then will be considerable.”

Dharen listened carefully as the Nulzan explained the process. After a time, finally, he felt ready to attempt it on his own.

As he was more familiar with the circumstances that led to his Triumph Seed being formed, he began with that. Following the chieftain’s instructions, he closed his eyes and set himself into a meditative position. According to Tkzcht, though such a measure was not actually required, it was helpful in initially learning to delve into one’s soulseed.

He cleared his mind, pushing out any distractions and attempting to hone his thoughts into a sharp, razor-edged focus.

Slowly, the sensations of the world fell away. He visualized his own soul, his own being, as if it was the rushing energy gathered from a foreign soulseed, tumultuous and untamed. He found himself coursing through his own veins, a burning flow of energy that scoured its way through his bloodstream. He steadied himself slowly, transforming from a tumultuous flood into something more manageable.

As his being came under greater control, he was able to chart a path through his veins. Though he knew not whether it took seconds, minutes, or hours, he eventually found himself at the golden boundary of his soulseed - at the boundary of Triumph.

He threw himself against it, attempting to force his way through. Yet despite all of his efforts, the boundary remained steady and unbreakable. He next tried to slip his way through, searching for small cracks and entrances through which he could slowly find his way inside. Yet, again, he was unsuccessful.

Despite hours of effort, all was for nothing. Though he could sense the power contained within, the seed itself felt soulless: it did not respond to his presence as Tkzcht had claimed it would.

Dharen fought off the encroaching frustration, deciding to take a new tack. He flowed past the nonresponding Seed, sending his awareness coursing its way through his body once more. He traveled for an indeterminate time, his mind lost in the sensation of rushing energy.

A black gate stood before him, a foreboding crystalline wall. Yet, whereas Triumph had been impassive and uncaring of his presence, Fear felt different. It was not a soulless wall, merely a reservoir of power through which to draw strength. Somehow, it felt alive.