Jax walked out of the lecture hall laughing and talking with his friends.

“Hah, that fatso Jerold actually talked about culls. I wonder what that loser cull would think if he knew that he could actually get a companion.”

Another student replied; “Even if we told him, he still has to be able to gain spirit power. There would be no fun in telling him!”

The whole group tormented the young boy, so naturally they would have no inclination to help him whatsoever.

What is this? Jax thought as he rubbed copious amounts of dust out from his hair.

Looking around he felt someone’s gaze on him, but couldn’t spot anyone.

Θ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ Ξ

Chuckling in the shadows, Cain watched as Jax shook the dust out of his head and looked around. He hurried home, he had finally found a way out of being ridiculed his entire life.

Finally exiting the city gates he reached the houses outside the walls of Starsk. Noticing many of the ragtag bunch of inhabitants all heading somewhere, he looked towards the group and searched for someone he could ask. Most of the people outside of the walls of Starsk didn’t care whether he was a cull or not. People who were too poor to afford a house inside the walls, where rejects themselves. Not on the same level as Cain, but still a blight on society in the eyes of the nobles.

The other group of people outside the Starsk wall wanted to better their strength and for the most part just didn’t care!

Cain asked a familiar figure that was walking with the rest of the group. “Hey Mr.Warrior, where is everyone heading to?” Cain didn’t even know his name, the fighter was equally grumpy with everyone and since he was second stage ranked he could be mad without any repercussions. Like most second ranked people he could pull his companion into his soul. Most ranked warriors, however, kept it outside of his body to show off how powerful they were.

“Cain, you were sneaking around the city I presume? Well everyone is going to see a birth of a child.” He said as he walked off, not even glancing back.

“Oh, finally. I can see a birth!” he muttered to himself.

Cain had lived outside the Starsk walls where a birth was an event, still he had yet to see one. His father didn’t like to show his son something that he could never have, a companion.

But Cain didn’t know that, he had no idea where companions even came from. Following the rest of the group to a small house, he saw everyone crowding around a makeshift bed strangely positioned outside of the house.

Shoving and burrowing under peoples legs, he managed to get a place in front of the rest of the crowd, albeit, showered with complaints.

"Hey" shouted some of the those he scurried under.

The mother was covered by a cloth and a midwife was crouched in front of her encouraging the young lady to push.

Dad wouldn’t be very happy with her, thought Cain who saw that she yelled obscenities he had never even heard before.

Finally the cries died a way and a baby was born, blood and all. It still hadn’t taken its first breath yet. Wait, that’s all! I’ve seen way more disturbing things in the streets of the lower district and near the dark expanse.

“It’s a boy” the midwife said, relieved after finally delivering the baby.

Before Cain could turn away in disappointment the surrounding air suddenly heated up and the adults held their breath. The midwife tapped the bottom of the newly born babe trying to get him to cry. The moment the baby took his first breath a shining green light burst forward and raced straight upwards.

“The natural energy left the baby, it’s coming,” a member of the crowd exclaimed.

The natural energy coalesced into a ball barely a meter above the baby and light continued to stream upwards into ball which slowly grew in size.

All of this happened in a matter of seconds. The light continued to stream until the ball looked like it was about to burst. Cain held his breath.

I can feel the natural energy changing to spirit energy. Is this what the teacher mentioned, Cain mused.

Still in total awe of the scene in front of him he didn’t realise the significance of his observation. It was the reason that it was an attraction to people who trained. The moment the ball burst, an indistinct curled figure was visible. It was cloaked in blue a throbbing energy.

That must be the spirit energy. As the babies cries calmed down, it slowly descended onto his small chest.

An infant wind fox slowly breathed in an out, looking up at the babies face. Tears streamed down the mothers face and the crowd began to congratulate her while Cain walked away.

Θ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ Ξ

Cain was in the kitchen hurriedly putting together his father’s dinner.

“I have to quickly get this done so I can try to convert natural energy, before father returns” he said under his breath.

Remembering what he had witnessed just moments before, he was very eager.

Finally finished he sat cross legged on the cold wooden floor of the kitchen. Cain had closed his eyes, he began to meditate. Ever since I saw the birth, I can sense the natural power very faintly. Causally reaching out with his mind he saw green particles that floated in the air. Cain counted all of the particles he could sense, eight.

I can only feel about a meter around me.

Not able to sense any further around him, he focused on the small amount of the strange particles he assumed to be natural energy around him. Not really knowing what to do, he tried to move them around. Revolving them around his head and feet. Cain didn’t have his eyes open but he could sense the room around him.

He could see the grains of the wood on the floor and even the dust. Not visually, but as a reflection of where the green natural energy couldn't reach. Strangely enough they moved exactly to his will.

Mabye!

He tried to break apart the particle and it split into two pieces. Almost a second past and a minuscule amount of blue energy dissipated suddenly moving towards his chest.

Right now Cain could see that his soul was a transparent sea, the minuscule amount of natural energy raced towards that sea. Even if he wanted to stop it, it was too late. The moment it touched the surface of his soul’s sea, it turned wild. Huge waves smashed against each other and the natural energy slowly dissipated.

It began to calm down and even looked as if nothing happen. Cain was stunned, inspecting further he could not see any differences or changes but he knew something was different. Hearing the door move he got up.

“What! It’s already dark?” Cain exclaimed. He didn’t notice but his meditation had taken almost two and a half hours. It seemed like hardly a second.

Cain looked to the door as his father rushed in, slamming the door open. Looking around frantically, he asked.

“Cain. Was anyone here a moment ago son?”

“No.” Cain felt a little guilty, hiding something so important from his dad. A soon as I become even more powerful I will shock him so much. A small grin emerged on the boy face.

Θ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ Ξ

Tokè had hacked against the trees, putting the might of his lower back into each swing. He had yet to reach his quota, so he had to hurry if he wanted to get home before dark.

When the sun went down the dark expanse became infinitely more dangerous, bigger more dangerous beasts could appear.

He heard rumours that a fifth stage Sun Lion and even stronger beasts had killed some workers in the past the last two months. A shiver ran down his spine as he looked up and wiped the sweat of his brow. Its already pretty dark.

“Bark,” he called to his companion “Get ready, we are going to speed things up!”

The little woodpecker chirped back and spread his wings as he landed on Toke’s shoulders. The pair started to glow an iridescent yellow, the same as the companion’s feathers. Suddenly Tokè let out a short bellow, “Speed!”

Almost immediately Tokè began to increase in speed and hacked almost triple the speed. The wood splintered and another tree was felled.

After a good ten minutes of using his first stage ability, he was able to finish his quota. Just in time Tokè thought as he realised the sun had set. Ignoring the dark looks from his jealous co-workers he dragged all the wood he had pile up to the boss.

“Boss, I need to request something.”

The boss was a taciturn old man, who somehow managed to piss of big shots inside of Starsk and land himself in the most dangerous position outside of the city. Yet, he still was fair and just to those who worked the hardest. Not saying anything but a nod of acknowledgement to continue.

“I need a day off tomorrow, it is my son’s birthday.” Tokè wasn’t a man to make excuses or complain and requested the favour outright.

The boss raised an eyebrow before glancing at the huge pile the man had just turned in. “Fine, but you won’t get payed.” Tokè nodded gratefully before thanking him and began to head home.

Tokè headed to the city walls entered without a problem, people rarely bothered him. Even though within the huge city of Starsk the amount of people was nothing to scoff at, a cull was still a one in a million rarity. Most people recognized his son but not him, unless he mention his name.

Tokè headed to one of the only jewellers in the lowest district, it was extremely close to the high district. Reaching the door, he opened it and heard the bell behind the door chime. An old man came to the desk with a smile on his face he said;

“Dear customer what will it be today.”

Toke took of his necklace off and replied “My good man, I wish to remove the aquamarine gem in this and place in bracelet for a child.”

“No, problem. It’ll be quick job, maybe a few hours. It’ll be ready for you tomorrow.”

Tokè nodded and handed the necklace over, but hesitated as it landed in the old jewellers hand. Almost as if he didn’t want to part with it, he let out a sigh departed.

“Ill come back for it tomorrow” he said as he walked out the door.

Θ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ Ξ

He strolled peacefully towards his house, until he felt the tell-tale ripples of soul energy in the air. Of course he wasn’t surprised, many people practiced their energy or practiced attacks with their companions. In fact, many times he and Bark practiced while working. However the closer he got to his home the more the strange feeling grew.

Oh, by the gods!

Tokè realised the displacement of soul energy was coming from his own home. Not sparing anything he called on Barks power.

“Speed,” a bellow emitted again as he began to run. The dirt on the ground blew back in plumes and he began to move extremely fast.

The closer he got to his house the more scared he felt. Barely even opening the door before shouting, “Cain.”

Looking around carefully, he realised there was no-one in the room except his son. “Was anyone here a moment ago son?”

Cain said no, but how could he could mistake the feeling of soul power coming from his house.

Double checking the room he scratched his head while his son smiled strangely.

:)

Thanks for reading. I just thought to mention that bold text is for thoughts, if it wasn't obvious.

ps. HURRAH, for followers and stuff

pps. mirror, I put this chapter up early there because my net dc'ed for a while randomly. Weird :0