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This Is Maladonian Prime News, the number one news network in the Collective, and I am Thavi Metamal. Last week was the third week of Bruem, the first month of the great stone goddess Ishira. We have reports from Thabos, in the Viravian Empire, that the fourth person to receive Ishira's blessing has awoken. Rilet Caldus, the son of Rondo Caldus, the Viravian representative to the Galactic Consul. This is a proud time for the Caldus family. We shall see which lucky two souls are still to be chosen this month. May the grace of Ishira be with you all.

"ERRT! ERRT! ERRT!" the alarm blared through the bedroom startling Advos so much that he fell out of the bed in a panic. He had just managed to drift to sleep after a restless night of anxious tossing and turning thinking about Corvin and what was he going to do. His stomach was in knots, the palms of his hands were sweaty, and he felt mentally drained just thinking about it. He had to peel off the sweat-soaked sheets, in disgust, then stepped into his shower. The warm water washing over his body did little to calm his mind or relieve his tension. Slipping into his uniform, he let out an exasperated sigh. He stared at his disheveled appearance in the full-length mirror, not even bothering to fix his hair.

While Advos made his way downstairs it was apparent to Asani that something was wrong with her son. He walked into the kitchen without acknowledging anyone, his father and mother watching him in angst.

"Is everything okay sweetheart?" she asked placing Advos’ breakfast down in front of him.

He didn’t respond; it was as if he couldn’t hear anything she was saying. All he could do was stare at the table, deep in his own head trying to figure out what he was going to do. How long could he avoid Corvin today? Should he tell the twins so they would be ready to run at a moment's notice? No, he couldn’t tell them; they would be terrified the whole day. He thought about telling his parents but what would they do? What could they do? They would probably make things worse. He felt the same way about telling one of the teachers, but they couldn’t watch Corvin all the time.

"Advos!" Asani said, raising her voice and placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Wha... oh morning mama. Thank you for breakfast."

"What's going on son? You know you can talk to us about anything that is bothering you."

"It's nothing. Just thinking," he said feigning a smile. Finally, he resolved that Corvin wouldn't go so far as to kill him. But how many beatings could he take before the year was over?

"Children, take a jacket; it's going to be chilly today."

"Yes, Mama," they all responded in unison. The twins paused and looked at Advos and started giggling to themselves as if the world's greatest joke had just been told. Advos groaned; definitely not in the mood to deal with them today. It took at least five minutes to calm them down enough to get them into their coats.

During homeroom Corvin glared at Advos the entire hour. Advos could feel the hair stand on the back of his neck and refused to meet Corvin’s gaze. The tension in the room was closing in on him, practically suffocating him, as the entire class seemed to be sneering at him.

As soon as the bell chimed to signal the end of the period, Advos moved as fast as he could to make it to his next class. The rest of the day was average—the same level of passive aggression that he dealt with every day. By the end of the day, he could feel a dull pain in the pit of his stomach. If he could make it through today maybe tomorrow would be better. He convinced himself that if he just gave Corvin the time to cool down then perhaps everything would blow over.

The last bell for the day chimed, and Advos made his way over to his locker which was in the basement away from the primary foot traffic. As he slammed shut the steel gray box and clicked the padlock in place, Corvin appeared out of nowhere around the corner.

The dread Advos has been suppressing the entire day leapt into his throat. Corvin had a sadistic grin painted across his face. He started to move faster down the hall. Immediately Advos tried to walk in the opposite direction. He was looking over his shoulder when he slammed into a wall of muscle. Advos looked up right into the eyes of Corvin's two goonish sidekicks, Irel and Tarin. They grabbed him and turned him around just in time to feel a fist pummeling his stomach. Bile rushed out of him as he fell to his knees in pain.

"You've been running all day Advos," Corvin snickered. "You knew I would come for you," he said and then spat at him.

“Please, Corvin,” Advos coughed.

"You think you are so smart, but we all know you don't belong at this school. And we are going to make sure you learn that.”

“Corvin, please, can we just talk about this?”

“What is there to talk about? You are a piece of shit, and you will always be a piece of shit—you and those two little brats.”

"Please leave them out of this," Advos pleaded, still trying to catch his breath.

A sharp pain radiated through Advos’ jaw as the coppery taste of blood flooded his mouth. He lost his balance and fell to the floor. Corvin laughed standing over him.

"You don't get to tell me what I can or can't do, Trash!" He kicked Advos in the shoulder. "What do you think you are going to do to stop me? You and your garbage family need to be put in your place. After I'm done beating that into you, I'm going to go beat it into them."

It was one thing for him to get beat to a bloody pulp, but for anyone to touch the twins was unacceptable. He was their big brother and if he couldn't protect them then what good was he to anyone? "Leave them alone," he said struggling to stand. Corvin and his friends began to laugh. Corvin then punched Advos again knocking the wind out of him.

"Leave…them…alone," Advos whispered, gasping for air.

"Go get them. I want him to watch," Corvin said to his two friends

I could help you Advos. You just need to ask my child.

Advos had no clue where the voice was coming from. He looked around frantically, but the only thing he could see was the three bullies in front of him.

I know you cannot see me. Do not be afraid, for I am Ishira.

His heart sank in his chest; he had no idea what to do now. The priests had told all the children about what to do if Ishira were to come to you, that it was a great gift of unfathomable importance. But he distinctly remembered something about consequences that he couldn't pin down.

You need my help if you hope to save your family. Just say the word and my power shall be yours to wield.

He struggled with the idea of accepting Ishira’s gift. Then the words of the priest hit him. “If you are not strong enough to control the power you will be turned into a syndas, and ascend to be a servant of the gods for eternity.

It was better that he suffers rather than the twins. Damn the consequences. A mixture of courage and duty built up in Advos deep in the pit of his stomach.

"Yes," Advos said softly.

Corvin laughed and went to punch Advos again when his fist crashed into something hard. The pain shot through his arm like lightning. Before him was a solid piece of marble with the same pattern as the floor. Before it registered what was happening the slab of stone began to move pushing him in its path, much too fast for him to get out of the way. He knew there was a wall behind him and the speed at which he was traveling was sure to crush him to death.

With the air rushing past Corvin's ears, he braced himself for the impact that would surely kill him, when suddenly everything stopped. The air was calm and when he opened his eyes, there was nothing to see but darkness and the faint sound of talking. There was only enough room to move his head from side to side before he realized that he was inside the wall.

"You killed him!" Tarin began to shout at Advos before they saw the brick-like brand on his right hand.

"Ishira mark!" they both gasped.

"What?" Advos questioned. He could barely speak, his ribs were throbbing and probably cracked.

They both kneeled in front of him bowing their heads.

Advos looked down at his hands, turning them over and saw the brick-like brand on his right hand.

"Was that me?" Advos said to himself. “Did I just kill someone? His mind was racing with so many emotions—guilt, fear, and even satisfaction.

"Hello…can anyone hear me? Please help me?" Corvin said sobbing from inside the wall.

"Do you hear that?" Advos said as he walked closer to the wall.

Irel and Tarin looked at each other in confusion.

"Go get help!" Advos ordered them in a panic. "Corvin is still alive!"

At that very moment Advos could swear he saw a grey and black striped tail flicker just at the limit of his eyeline.