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FIVE

CHAPTER FIVE

A pulse of power in his being

*Xru'lar*

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Ytai believe in the Holy-Entities.

But Ytai aren't pious to their Gods; they rarely pray, if ever. If they follow a religion, it's power, the blade, their hierogram. Many believe in foreordained lives; some prioritise creation. Very few believe in reincarnation. Fewer still in ghosts.

Xru'lar cares not much for them but agrees with one - ghosts. Because Xru'lar is the ghost haunting Ytéan. He's the sort of ghost that wants to be seen; acknowledged. But people fear those ghosts the most. They tried purifying him, exorcising Ahst's claim, and on failing, abandoned him to his fate. They shoved him into the shadows for the world to forget, and the gloom claimed him with glee. But an unseen ghost is still felt. And they try everything in their power to constrain him.

At present, Xru'lar feels seen; it coats his heart unserene.

The world still overlooks him. It's Dhai'va.

After a lifetime of invisibility, Dhai'va's scrutiny gathers in lofty waves, pulling him underneath. She watches him in her free time - which is limited - waiting to catch him default to Ahst. With the Xzia'on war dragging on, in the two years Dhai'va lives in Xroui'lm, Xru'lar has few interactions with her, all initiated by her and curbed by the Tv'orm. Dhai'va is intense, chaotic; a killer. A trained killer who hasn't killed anyone. Yet. At least that he's aware of. She's Ance's Defender, protecting Ytéan from him. He's Ahst's vessel, bound to destroy Ytéan - the one who's supposed to have a lust for blood. Yet, she roams the halls looking for the one misstep from him that allows her to acquaint her blade with his heart. She doesn't daunt him, though. He's accepted her challenge as he has the world's dare. He'll prove her wrong. Also, she feels too familiar to fear, even when she's scowling at him, sword raised, waiting, waiting for his stumble.

Xru'lar is almost disappointed that nothing happens in two years of their proximity. Both Eo'ar children under one roof must have wrought some mayhem, if not supreme pandemonium. For each time he's close to her, the air simmers with power; he feels his body too little, too tiny to contain him. If she comes any closer, he'll erupt, explode, escape his bones, and bleed into the Universe.

Little has changed in two years. The war progresses, Iro'va calls every few months, other kids train, he sneaks out at night to his shr'dyt, and the Tv'orm train Dhai'va to end him. Rya has cleared the Council-exams and prepares for the Royals.

'None will be surprised when he makes it into the Jia'rur-Guard,' Xru'lar notes, closing a copy of Literary works from ancient Ytéan.

Syv'h agrees with a tail-swish and jumps from the table. Enyr are divine creatures. One can't capture enyr, tame, and own them. Enyr choose to be someone's, and legend deems them blessed. As if Dhai'va needs any more blessings. At this rate, the world will run out of them. Syv'h's resolution to follow Xru'lar doesn't rephrase him as less blasphemous, but people notice. It keeps them from purposefully antagonising him, and he basks in the lonely freedom.

Dawn glazes the white-city golden. Sparkles from doorway gems twinkle on the ground. White sand huddles in corners swept by night-wind; miniature mountains of glitter. Xru'lar hugs books he's borrowed, zipping past early-risers to the Jia'rur. Eyes linger longer on the enyr than the boy carrying a Vou'ran-sized spire of books. He hurries, wanting to deposit them in his room before breakfast. He spends an entire minute scanning his room, mentally marking every used space. Books overflow on the narrow study-desk, to his cot fashioned out of ervy vines, the windowsills, and even the chair. Syv'h tilts her head like she's judging his decision-making skills. Yes, Xru'lar must stop bringing in new books until he reads the ones he has. It's a surprise the Librarian continues to entertain him. Keep this trend, and Xru'lar will reconstruct the Library in his room. He places his current stack on the floor, apologises to the books for not finding them a better spot, and rushes out.