Soul: Book 1 (DISCONTINUED)

Break the Weak

The earliest memory Seto could remember was one of coldness and darkness. The young boy could barely make out the light that was quickly fading above him as he sunk lower and lower into the dark, inky depths of the lake. Seto's mind was racing as he attempted to move his arms, but they were sluggish in the icy, frigid water. His lungs ached. He needed air desperately! 

Mama... Papa... Help...

Bubbles escaped his lips as darkness gradually enshrouded his vision. The ice above him glowed with a faint light was already so far away. The boy was suddenly filled with dread and fear. He didn't want to die! He wanted out! He wanted to be anywhere other than here!

Although now come to think about it, sleeping didn't seem like such a bad idea...

Seto didn't know why, but his mind started drifting back to a picture book he'd been reading just that morning. He'd never even gotten to finish it. One of the pages had an intricate drawing of a forest and a lake.

That seemed... Like a good place to be in... A place where he could be safe and warm...

Rather... than... here...

The last thing he saw was his hands glowing a bright, bright purple that seemed to scare away the shadows for a moment. Then everything in Seto's vision went pitch black.

---

Seto's face hovered over the basin of water. Sweat drenched his forehead and several occasional drops distorted the sorcerer's reflection. His brown eyes were tinged with red-orange as he stared intensely into the water. Come on. Just move it. You've done it before, you can do it now! But nothing happened. The water, which had always bended to his will so easily, was now unresponsive. Seto pursed his lips together with frustration and he could feel anger start to bubble in his stomach. Just concentrate harder! He can't have taken away the powers you were born with! The veins on his forehead bulged as he clenched his jaw tightly, imagining an invisible hand holding the water as if it were solid.

Finally the water reacted, only in a way Seto hadn't expected. Instead of moving, all of the liquid promptly turned into hot, thick steam. Seto blinked in startled confusion and stared at his hands, which were now glowing like fiery embers.

"I see that you're practicing your new abilities," someone said. Seto didn't even have to turn his head to know who it was. The mere sound of that voice was enough to make him stiffen with a mixture of fear and hatred. "Look at me when I'm talking to you," the voice said threateningly.

Slowly, Seto turned to look at the tentacled sorcerer standing outside the bars. "Good. See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Dr. McNulty said with a pleased smile on his face. Seto didn't respond. He merely glared at him. The smile on the doctor's face faded a little. "I asked you a question, so answer it."

"No, it wasn't," Seto said, each word hanging in the air.

"Well, what do you think about your new powers?" Dr. McNulty asked, pacing back and forth in front of the cell with a leisurely manner, holding his hands behind his back. Seto had a feeling that he was being observed like one would to a caged animal. "I see you can already turn water to steam. That's a simple skill. Soon, you'll be able to master far greater abilities."

Seto huffed. "I was trying to move the water."

"Well I'm sure both you and I can agree that that is no longer possible," Dr. McNulty said, his black boots echoing as he walked. Against his will, tears of frustration began prickling behind Seto's eyes. "Oh, don't be upset. You should be happy! You are a whole new being! You have undergone a transformation..."