Nar’s wails stabbed deep into Dean’s mind like a knife through air.

How can a boy be possible of producing such an inhumane scream? Dean thought shivering. Not even the Shorn scream like this. Dean remembered the nights Kael claimed he had heard his father’s voice during winter after he died. He’d heard it too, but knew it was impossible. Ian had long been dead.

Even then, he had used his qi to block it out, but that only made it worse. It revealed the twisted voices underneath. That was the day he believed the legend that the Shorn could take one’s voice. He’d never actually seen them as he would drag Kael back inside before he could, but that day remained imprinted in his mind as it was a day filled with fear and the day he lied to Kael a second time: That he hadn’t heard the screams.

Another scream shook him out of his memory and caused him to take two steps back in shock, palms sweating slightly.

Something is wrong, Dean thought, recalling the feeling he felt when the formation started.

At first, Dean was glad that Kael was holding out well as he did, but deep inside he'd had the inkling suspicion there was a problem with the formation—for the colors had change too fast compared to previous tests—but had passed it off as him looking for faults.

A way to cause Kael to fail and not follow his father’s footsteps.

"Stop the formation," Dean said, turning to stare at Isaac.

Isaac's eyes flashed with hesitation.

"Isaac. At this rate he will die."

"I-I know." Isaac said with a sigh as he turned and paced toward the tower. Only the Sect leader and council members had the ability to forcefully shutdown the formation—they only needed to place their hand on the wall of the tower and willed in their instructions to cease all activity. It had been originally intended to have the Sect leader or a council member personally precede over the test—in case something happened—but as time went by the sect grew lazy with those rules. Nothing had ever happened and as the test occurred four times a year, it was decided to give formation disciples control over starting the formation, as the formation would stop on its own.

"No need for that, Isaac." Tint said, his voice devoid of emotion as he watched the screen.

Angered Dean stepped forward. "How can you say that. He'll die."

"Dean,” Tint said, facing him. “There's never been a death within that formation. You know that it was designed to never harm the disciples. There have been times when disciples feel a slight discomfort, but that’s the extent of it."

"You can’t be serious. This isn’t a slight discomfort. Listen to him scream. This is more than that. I know there is something wrong with the formation." He insisted. "The pressure increased too quickly, at first I thought I imagined it, but the color change happened too fast."

"You are over exaggerating, Dean. There is no way that there is something wrong." Tint continued. "I admit his screaming is more than just a discomfort, but it’s probably him trying to forcefully withstand the pressure to the point his bond is breaking. So, pain is understandable."

Dean turned to the screen and shuddered as Nar's screams burrowed into his soul. “How can you say that, Tint. I've experienced bond severing myself. It's painful, but not that painful. This sounds like the boy is being tortured to death. It sends shivers down my spine, like if something terrible is happening."

Tint's expression turned grim and he fell silent.

"No," Junn said, standing next to Tint. "It shouldn't cause this amount of pain, but in his situation, it's understandable." She turned to Isaac. "I'm sure you noticed how unstable the boy's bond was. Almost as if had just done formed it yesterday...and the way his beast looks and acted wasn't normal. That could be a contributing factor. There’s also the fact that he is nothing more than a mortal child. He has never absorbed qi so the pain could have compounded as a result. I think that it’s normal."

Dean saw Isaac nod and felt his soul burn with anger. "Think? You think this is normal." Qi gathered around him—swirling and whipping his hair around—as he stepped toward

Isaac.

"Dean, think about what you are doing." Isaac said as he took a slight defensive posture.

He knew if he attacked that he would be considered a traitor, but as he focused on his own analysis and Nar's screams, his resolution firmed. "I know formations better than anyone here. And believe me. Something is wrong and if you aren't going to stop it. Then I'll have to do it myself. I won't stand here and do nothing while you let a disciple die."

"Stand down, Dean." Tint and Junn said in unison, willing their qi to form a shield around them. "If you don't, we will use force. Even with you, at the Second Mending, are no match for us with support from the oath."

Besides, Junn's qi guided voice sounded in his ear, do you really think a formation created by the Sect Founder—with the help from Ylos' power, would be defective?

He knew the amount of strain caused by using qi to guide a voice. The amazement that she managed to send her voice outwards more than five feet shook his angered mind and calmed him. He thought rationally and doubt sprung inside Dean. His qi started to calm as he thought of the absurdity that something was wrong with such a divine formation. Was he really imagining problems that weren't there? Was it really just because Nar's bond was unstable? Did the pain increased because he hasn’t cultivated? No, those screams aren't normal. Dean thought, willing his qi.

In the depths of his mind he kept telling himself. I'm not doing this to stop Kael. I'm doing it to save Nar.

"Still, I can't stand here while you let a disciple die. Much more, let it happen in front of every disciple." He turned, gazing at the disciples to make his point; some covered their ears, a few girls had wet eyes and others stood in shock, trembling.

"That will be explained to them, shortly. It was the boy's fault for having an unstable bond. In fact, it will serve as a lesson for the next examinees not to slack in their training. For the same thing might occur to them. So, you will stand down, Dean." Tint and Junn's qi flared and intertwined in mid aic become one. "This is your final warning."

"Is the damn test really worth that much." Dean said, fists tightening as he glared at them. Anger boiling inside him. They are always like this. He thought. They don’t care what happens to the disciples. They did the same thing to Ian and it happened to Kael a month ago. They…they. Then, he noticed the hesitation in Theo's eyes and Dean saw hope. "Theo, you can stop this. All you have to do is go touch the tower and will it to stop. No one has to die."

Theo trembled as he heard the words and he look at the tower and took a few steps toward it.

"Theo,” Tint said. “remember your oath. The sect comes before anything. If we stop the formation now, it could cause unexpected repercussions. It could also affect the disciples running it if you stop it momentarily. Our resources are already running thin, we can't afford to waste any. It's the life—which is in not in any danger—of one disciple against the well-being of everyone."

The look of hesitation disappeared from Theo's eyes and he nodded. "I understand what must be done."

Before Dean could process what had happened. Nar's screams stopped and he was ejected from the formation.

##

"What have you done!" The soul screamed in anger as he rushed toward Nar and examined him completely ignoring Eztli. "No. No. I must maintain the connection. I must give him the memories. Ylos must be reborn."

Memories? Eztli thought curiously, eyes glinting as he watched the man placed his hand on Nar's head and chanted. The chant sounded ancient, yet somehow familiar. Eztli tried to piece it together as his mind worked at max capacity. This...it's almost as if he is forming runes with just his voice. That's impossible. But the more Eztli listened the more he was assured his conjecture was right. He had never thought runes would be spoken, to actually create formations. He laughed at the new information in front of him.

Eztli? Kael’s straining voice resounded in his mind. W-what happened to Nar?

Not now kid. Frustration build up. Focus on supporting the bond. If you don’t Nar will die. He lied, he didn’t have time to deal with him right now.

Okay. Just save him.

Eztli ignored him and turned his focus back on the chant. The strange words turned longer and longer until they became one continuous sound. Then it stopped. Light flashed around the man, converging into his arm and expanded into a formation.

It’s...It's a soul transfer. Was Eztli's first thought, but reading the formation once more he realized it was more of a soul fusion rather than transfer. I see now. The soul’s sole purpose was to fuse and convey stored information. And because it’s only a fragment—and its main soul is gone—it would just imprint memories without affecting the host's personality.

The formation gave a slight hum, expanded and gave off a more intense light. Eztli's eyes glistened with excitement as he commanded a large portion of his soul energy to intercept the formation. I have to steal it. I have to know about this rebirth.

Sensing the disturbance around him, the soul willed the formation's qi to shield him, but it was too late. Eztli's soul energy surrounded him and broke the formation. Nar then tumbled back and was expelled from the formation.

"No!" the soul screamed and turned to Eztli. The formation roared, the pressure increased and the soul's killing intent bore down on Eztli. "Y-you...vile servant of Keres. I, Ior, founder of the Reigned Phoenix Sect vow to destroy you. Even if it causes me to slumber for hundreds of years."

"Come and try." Eztli said, his expression turning serious as he felt the pressure in the formation increase and caused the deep blue glow around them turn a deathly black.