The village square was filled with noise and bodies when Kael arrived.
Torches flickered, casting jagged shadows over Thornskull's huddled crowd—orphans, bakers, hunters, all crammed shoulder-to-shoulder, their breath fogging in the evening chill.
He stayed at the edge, a hoodie covering his face.
The ashfox squirmed inside his tunic, it's body hidden inside of his cloth.
He'd tucked her there to hide her. Nobody needed to know about his beast, not yet.
Not until he was stronger.
Right now, everyone thought him a magicless runt. Only Eryn knew of the fox yet, he hoped to give them a rude awakening.
The elders stood on a creaky platform, their gray robes flapping in the gentle wind.
old man Hervan raised a hand.
"Quiet!"
His voice boomed over the crowd, subduing their murmurs immediately.
The crowd went quiet, and he was good to continue.
He had been talking for quite a while now, and withe every sentence, the crowd murmured, it was getting annoying. He had gotten to the part which they were desperate to hear.
"The Cresthaven Academy scouts arrive in two weeks. Their exams begin a week after, lasting for another week. one month total, six students will be chosen..."
Kael's stomach twisted. Three weeks.
Three weeks to turn his walnut-sized Inferno Spark and scrawny arms into something worth picking.
Mara shifted, a faint whine muffled by his cloth. "Shh," he whispered, pressing a hand over her.
The elder wasn't done speaking, but he had said everything Kael wanted to hear, he was leaving.
Kael edged back, slipping toward the alleys, head down.
Thom, Rigg and Lila were in the same gathering. Thom's eye caught Kael weaving through the crowd, heading for the exit. He raised a brow, what was that boy doing here?
Thom tapped Rigg. "Hey man, I've got to go pee." Then he stared at Lila. "I'll be right back."
Rigg nodded absent mindedly, focused on the elder.
Lila furrowed a brow, a bit suspicious.
***
"You leaving already, runt?" Thom's voice cut through, it was spiked with venom, stopping Kael cold.
He turned around, catching Thom's smirk in the torchlight, the both of them were alone.
Thom stepped closer, blocking the narrow path, his bulk looming under the dark.
"What, scared to hear you're gonna fail?"
Kael's jaw tightened, but he kept his eyes low, clutching Mara tighter.
"Move, Thom,"
He muttered, his voice low and unsteady. "I don't want trouble."
"Trouble?" Thom laughed, harsh, stepping so close Kael smelled the sweat on him. "You're a walking joke, Kael. You and that dead sister of yours—Mara, right? Beast food, chewed up and gone. Bet she screamed your name, huh?"
Kael's blood roared. "Shut up!" His fist flew before he could think, slamming against Thom's cheek.
It was powerful.
Pain flared in his knuckles as Thom staggered back, his eyes widening as blood welled up around his lips.
He slowly got back to his full height, grinning wildly, he looked meaner.
"Oh, you're dead now."
Thom's hand shot up, mana gathered around.
"Come, Razorquill!"
The air shimmered, and a C-rank beast materialized—a Greater-grade porcupine, it was three feet tall, and it's spines glinted like knives, it's eyes eyes black and hungry.
It snorted, striking the dirt.
Mara writhed in Kael's tunic, growling, it's claws scraping to get out.
"No!" Kael hissed, holding her tight, arms shaking. She'd fight...she'd die.
Even more than he didn't want trouble and he wanted to hide his powers, things could go awfully wrong. The Razorquill was a C-rank, Mara was still D-rank, the difference was much.
No chance. Her wounds from the forest were barely healed; he couldn't lose her too.
"Stay put, Mara."
Thom sneered. "What, no beast to save you? Awww, I forgot for a moment, you are magicless!"
He snapped his fingers, and the Razorquill charged, it's spines rattling.
Kael stepped out of the way, his heart thudding across his chest as the Razorquill sliced the air above him.
He scrambled up, dodging another lunge, the beast's claws grazed his arm, his blood was already welling.
His breaths came ragged, his legs burning, but the Razorquill was faster, stronger.
Thom laughed, leaning back like it was a show. Kael ducked a third charge, his boots slipping in the mud, but he was done—no stamina, no tricks.
He couldn't fight a C-rank beast.
The Razorquill spun, spinning it's tail. It swung it at Kael, who dodged, but the Razorquill attacked again, using one of its spines this time.
Kael's pupils constricted, he hadn't seen that attack before.
The spine caught his side, stabbing into his body as it ripped his cloth, then seared his skin.
The spine then connected steeply, the impact full. Bone to bone.
The impact pushed Kael off his feet, sending him flying.
He screamed, his vision blurred instantly and he collapsed, the world tilting black.
The Razorquill snorted, stepping closer, it's quills poised for the kill, but Thom raised a hand.
"Nah, not yet."
He raised his hand again, focusing his mana. The Razorquill was suddenly drawn in, disappearing into his palm.
He strode over, looming over Kael's limp form, and stomped hard on his stomach.
"Wake up!"
Kael groaned, the extreme pain keeping him awake, blood poured from his mouth. He retched as the pain spread to his stomach.
His face twisted, his pupils constricted as he rolled in the dirt.
Thom's boot hovered, a sly spreading around his lips.
"Pathetic."
He kicked again, harder this time. Kael groaned, curling tighter, his vision spotting a red color.
Mara burst free, slipping from his tunic with a snarl. She bared her teeth at Thom, but it was small, pet-sized.
Kael's hand shot out, weak but firm.
"Mara… don't," he croaked. "No growing... Stay."
She trembled, growling louder, but obeyed, locked in place by his words, her eyes blazing.
Thom didn't understand. He stared at her, then threw his head back, laughing.
"You intend to fight me with this?"
He stomped Kael's ribs again, drawing a choked gasp. "A mangy pup named after your trash sister? Cresthaven'll spit you out!"
"Stop!" Lila's voice sliced through, sharp and panick-stricken. Her pale face was lit by the dim moonlight as she ran up.
"Thom, what the hell are you doing!"
Thom flashed a smile, looking self-righteous.
"Hey… L-Lila, I was just teaching the brat a less—"
"Leave!" Lila snapped, her voice was icy cold, her eyes blazing.
Thom couldn't believe it. "L-lila...?"
"Now!"
"L-Lila…" Thom faltered, his smile was bitter now.
"I said leave!"
She stepped between them, her fists clenched, shaking. She looked like she was going to hit him.
Thom clicked his tongue, spitting at the ground. "Tsk. Whatever."
He stalked off, his shoulders stiff.
He stopped, taking one last glance at Kael. "That damn brat..."
Lila stood frozen, staring at Kael. He was bloodied, curled in the mud, clearly in pain.
Her eyes watered, voice soft. "You're a mess…"