Soulwielder Book Two: Corruption

Re-Understanding

I walked into the stone temple and Unity slid the door shut behind me. We stood in the darkness with the faint glow of Unity's body being the only light provided.

I tried to put the concern for my friends out of my mind. The only way I could help them was if I figured out how to use my power and stop that monster.

I set my staff down at my feet and looked around. "So, how do I start? Do I just practice my Soulwielding?"

Unity shook her head. "No, this isn't a matter of physical training. You must have re-learn what you understand about your Soulwielding in your mind."

I looked down at the faint outline of my hand and tried to conjure some of the energy. I had never done that without my staff and this time was no different.

"How do I do that?" I asked. "What do I need to understand?"

Unity sighed. "There's only so much I can do to help you, Avian. At some point, it is just a matter of doing it. But, think of it this way: Soulwielding with your own Soul is simply manipulating your own energy into what you desire. It is like moving a muscle, it is an extension of your Self."

I took a deep breath. "Well, I'll give it a shot then." I still didn't understand how to put what Unity was asking of me into motion. I understood that the Elemental Power was apparently my Life Energy, but how could I manipulate it?

I imagined the energy as if it was part of me. I focused on that part of me I channeled every time I tried to conjure the power when I was battling.

Past struggles against Corrupt beings such as Lycitor and the stone titans filled my mind. Each time I had used that power I had been calling on something I didn't quite understand.

It had worked out for me then, being able to rely on whatever spewed out when I urged it to assist me, but now I needed to wield that energy.

I was my Soul. And I was a Soulwielder.

A new image flashed into my mind, my friends were fighting the Guardian outside the temple. Dustin was barely dodging and parrying the blows while Lily, Kipp, and Geolus were forced to watch.

I wanted to call out, I wanted to reach out a hand and help him in his battle. To use what little power I had and help them now.

"Avian?" Unity asked me. My eyes snapped open and I noticed I was closer to the door now. Had I been moving the entire time?

How had I gotten so sidetracked? I walked back to the center and focused on that power again. I could control it, I had to be able to control it.

I urged that energy out the same way I had before. This time I channeled it into my hands. I visualized it pouring out from them and forming two larger hands made of energy.

I flexed the internal muscle that let me manipulate my energy and focused as hard as I could to bring it out.

Another image flashed before me, this one was unfamiliar. I was fighting some Corrupted person and they were Soulcasting at me.

I deflected the magic and flew into the air. How was I flying? As we were about to collide I suddenly turned to see what looked like Dragons on the horizon.

The vision began to blur and I desperately tried to focus on it. I needed to know what it meant but then I realized something.

The images I had been shown had an almost energy to them. A wavelength that had the same feeling as the very Soul Energy I had been just about to control.

Something seemed to click in my mind and I understood something. My Soul was the one Wielding me. The energy tried to string me along on tangents so I would continue to let it operate freely and be desperate for what it allowed me.

The wild and untamed energy sensed my growing realization and tried to drown the feeling. It tried to drown my very consciousness.

My Soul, MY SOUL, was taking control over me. The very Energy I was gifted with was trying to fight being used by me. Was my Soul Energy sentient? Was it somehow different from the consciousness I was having these thoughts in?

My mind felt Soul Energy pour into it like a monsoon. I could barely keep hold of a single thought as my stream of consciousness was turned into a hurricane.

One solitary part of myself seemed to be in the eye of it all. Surrounded by the power flying throughout my mind. I willed that part of myself to maintain control.

I willed all the clustered parts of my mind to accept the energy and to take it in. How could I wield something I wasn't connected to? That I didn't understand on a fundamental level?

As the storm subsided it dawned on me that my eyes had opened and there was a familiar energy in my hands. I was sweating and my hands were shaking but I nearly cried from the joy of seeing the power coalesced in my palms.

I sent out the energy to form the two arms and the Soul Energy became just what I envisioned. They moved exactly how and when I wanted them to.

I snapped my fingers and the two arms fused and turned into a tornado before dissipating. The tornado of energy activated the temple and it began to light up.

"You did it Avian! You've mastered your Soul!" Unity cheered.

The temple had various engravings on the walls just like the temple where Geolus lived. "I-I did it!" I exclaimed.

From the walls, voices began to seep out and into my mind. "Well done, Avian. We have hoped for a long time that a Soulwielder with your potential would seek us out." The voices said in unison.

I was confused for a moment but immediately understood that the voices were that of old Soulwielders. "Soulwielders, I hope that I'm able to carry out your legacies," I said.

I was a bit eager to leave and turned to the door but the voices began to speak again. "Hold on child, you have some time left and this is highly important." I begrudgingly waited. "Great change is about to occur. Change that you are not yet ready to handle."

I wanted to ask what they meant but Unity signaled for me to be quiet. "When you return home, you must go to the World of Ice and seek out the Dragon Amulet on its South Pole. The journey will be long and difficult but you must persevere to get this power. It is the only way you can save the Five Realms."

Dragon Amulet? On the South Pole of Frigidity? That would take ages to get to even if I were to survive. "You must trust us Avian, the Amulet was forged eons ago and contains unfathomable power. You will learn what you need to learn where it is contained.

"Great loss and struggle lie in your path, we only ask that you continue to fight. If you do, you can save untold numbers of people." The voices died down and the light of the cavern vanished.

"I-I don't even know where to begin," I said to Unity. I was in shock from what they had told me. How could I possibly do this?

Unity drifted into my line of vision as it began to blur. "Avian, listen to me! You will find that you're much stronger than you give yourself credit for. I've observed you for many months and seen what you're capable of. We will get through what comes out way together. But right now, we must assist your friends."

I suddenly shot out of my trance upon Unity mentioning my friends. "You're right." I channeled some power into my hands and made my way to the exit. "Let's do this."