Presage

Chapter 17.1 ♚ Training

A/N: Photo of Lucio, but with light purple hair and eyes, and not pointed ears :D

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The Devil.

The only word Zoe had been chanting ever since she started training with Dilinjer. Despite his composed and collected appearance, the healer was capable of unspeakable brutality. She had numerous tutors in the past, but his method of teaching didn't meet even a fraction of their sane methods.

During the first day, he was lenient. He explained that the flow of soul's energy was as simple as the flow of blood in veins and that all its power was released from the heart. It occurred naturally and with proper training, it could be controlled. For her to perfectly visualize the flow, the healer made her read books on the subject of human anatomy, which was a piece of cake since she studied it before.

Later that day, Dilinjer asked her to imagine the flow of blood in her body, coming from the core then rotating in her body. In the course of picturing herself and her blood stream, Zoe ended up dozing off.

That was when he decided to call it a day, but instead of dismissing her, they talked about the things she liked and disliked, which struck her with tons of discomfort and suspicion. She had no idea what was it for until the second day rolled in.

She was forced to wake up even before light broke into the horizon. Things turned for the worst when she was greeted by vegetables at breakfast. According to Dilinjer, the same routine would apply every day unless she passed her first test - concealing the energy of her soul.

"Although Krista and Lucio claimed that they could not detect your soul, still, we should be vigilant because those with the Gift of Sight can see you," the healer said after finishing his breakfast. "We can't tell when would someone from the Royal family visit Esgarya. And with the state of your soul, we would be in a great dilemma if they find you."

"Why is that?" Zoe asked, not breathing through her nose as she swallowed the broccoli. "Is it because I also have a dark soul in me?"

"Yes, and even if your dark energy is temporarily dormant, we should always take extra precaution." He picked up the book sitting on the chair beside him and opened it from the bookmark. "There are a lot of possible reasons as to why they would come after you. One, they would want to have you to gain power over the other kingdoms. Second, they would want to study you, to know how the two elements were able to exist in one soul." He looked up from his book, his face grim and serious. "And believe me, it will be nothing but unpleasant."

Her stomach somersaulted at the thought. She gripped her spoon and fork, staring at the varieties of vegetables swimming in her plate. The sun was still hiding in the clouds, but the market across the store was already streaming with people. Somehow, seeing the lively crowd through the glass door and windows made her feel like a vulnerable deer.

What if a Royalty passed by and saw her?

What if he or she was like the aggressive King Algerone and decided to kill her on the spot?

The last thing she wanted was to die while eating vegetables.

This is too dramatic to be really happening to me, she thought.

Dilinjer flipped the page of the book and said, "The third and worst possible scenario we could expect is the people who would want to kill you. It's possible that the person after you is already out there, somewhere, searching for you. For that person to be able to send trackers through the barrier only meant that he or she is powerful. And going to such extent only means that he'll never stop until he finds you."