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Shivering slightly, I lie curled up on the bare ground and stare silently into space, my mind full of the horrible images of that day. The screams, hungry flames that wanted to consume all, and the sickening euphoric smile that had been on my face as power flooded into me… it. I feel a tear slide down my cheek. What I did to those people was unforgivable; causing so much pain, so much suffering to innocents, and I helped it. If I hadn’t given in if I hadn’t let it take control maybe that disaster wouldn’t have happened. Maybe all those people wouldn’t be hurt, or dead. It’s all my fault.

A wave of anger suddenly burns in me. No. It isn’t my fault. It is the fault of that man whose eyes had glowed green. He was the one who passed this thing into me, he was the one who caused all this. I clench my fist. If I ever see him again-.

My thoughts are interrupted as I feel the thing wake. It had fallen into a slumber ever since that day and now I can feel the full force of its newfound strength. For a moment I relax, letting go and reflexively surrendering my body to it to prevent more pain. Then my anger rises up more furiously than before. No. Not this time.

It pauses as if surprised by my decision to resist. It thought it had broken me. I thought so too until I remember the kind of destruction it is capable of causing if left to its devices.

“You’re resisting,” its voice rings in my head, sounding a bit amused. Almost immediately my resolve weakens. It had broken me before, shown me that resistance was futile, and now it is stronger than ever. Can I really resist something like that? No. But my anger wouldn’t be quenched that easily. If I can’t get one thing, then I’ll get another.

“You want me right?” I ask. It doesn’t answer. “I know it. You want my cooperation. Well, I’ll give it to you, on one condition.”

After some seconds of silence, it asks. “What condition?”

“Help me kill the bastard that gave you to me.”

Soft laughter rings in my head. Deal!

* * * * * *

Ian

After classes ended, I decide to visit the Lands of Time again. Partly to train, and partly because some part of me wanted to see that deer again. So far, I have not really had any chance to really get to know Fasurus, and then one that isn’t evil presents itself to me. For the Laen to trust it enough to let it roam unhindered it must be harmless, so seeing it shouldn’t put me in too much danger.

In the Lands, after retracing my steps to where I had seen it before, I begin training. I mostly focus on the things I had learned training with Drew before, as well as a few things I had learned in school. A few hours later, I am almost done with my training. The deer has not appeared and at this point, I am beginning to doubt whether it will come, still, I have one more thing to try before ending my training,

I take a deep breath and unleash my Uua before Focusing it. Almost immediately it forms a mist-like covering around my body. It isn’t as thick as Drew’s had been but so far this is the best I have been able to do. To be honest, compared to my first few days of learning Focusing, this is a big improvement. Next, I activate the noer the deer had shown me, and almost immediately my ability to sense Uua and Eani increases by leaps and bonds.

A smile appears on my face. Why? The moment I used the noer I immediately realized that my Focusing suddenly seemed as though it hadn’t reached its limit. That means I can do much better than I currently am doing. I pour out more of my Uua and Focus it before coming to a stop a second later, not because I had reached my limit, but because at the rate I am going I would probably exhaust my Uua if I continue, and the tiredness I feel from Uua exhaustion is not something I like,

With my training officially done, I disperse my Uua. Before I leave the Lands, I take one more look around myself, then I see it. The deer is sitting some distance away from me, partially hidden behind a tree and licking itself. It becomes aware of my attention and stops, staring at me.

I had wanted to see it, but now that it is in front of me I am unsure of how exactly to act. After a second hesitation, I raise a hand and wave at it. It stands up and stretches before slowly walking toward me. It stops not too far from me before gently sitting back down.

“You did a good thing,” it says, “Saving those people from the fire. A very good thing.”

“Thanks.” I wonder how it managed to find out about that. It doesn’t look like it uses a smartphone so I can maybe scrap that option. Most likely someone told it, or it has some way of getting information from the outside world.

It nods, then tentatively suggests. “You know, if you really want to train better, you should have a training partner. I could help with that if you aren’t opposed to it.”

A Fasuru training partner, that isn’t something bad actually. I’m most likely going to have to fight a Fasuru in the future, having some experience now is probably going to be beneficial. “Alright.”

“Great,” the glee in its voice is unmistakable. “Since you’re about to leave, we’ll start the next time you come. See you then.”

It gets up and is about to leave when I speak up. “Wait.” It pauses, turning its head to look at me. At that point, thinking of how offensive my question may sound to a Fasuru, I almost back down; then I remember the faces of those I had seen at the hospital, the grief I had felt after the concert had come to a fiery end, the hungry eyes of those Fasurus as they prowled the edge of the Arena, trying to find an opening in the formation of Wranths blocking them, and I push forward. “Why do… why do some Fasurus love causing pain to people? Is that really the only way they can get stronger, by wrecking other people’s happiness?”

For a few seconds it doesn’t speak, just quietly watching me with those emerald green eyes. Then it lets out a tired sigh. “First, understand this. We spirit-kin don’t derive strength from suffering. There are two ways we can become stronger: first, by finding a suitable familiar-kin, and second, by feeding off any sufficiently strong human emotion, and it can be as much pain and suffering as it can be joy and happiness. But let me ask you this, which is easier to produce? Love? Joy? Happiness? Or pain? Anger? Grief? There are a lot of spirit-kin out there who decide to take the easier path because they are just too lazy to strive for the alternative.” It sighs again then spits something at the ground. Another noer. “If you ever need my help with anything, use that noer to get me. See you later.”

And with that, it runs off, leaving me alone with my questions.