The Beast Within

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

"I was out spying on you two as usual…"

"What?" Ceraun cut him off, a dark look on his face.

Adrik was equally shaken, he had been rest assured that they had been alone the entire time.

"How long have you been spying on us?" Adrik asked in a quiet voice, looking troubled.

"Ever since the first time we met." Haneul shrugged nonchalantly. "I was not supposed to approach you but to instead stay in the shadows and watch but I wanted to warn you somewhat, not that I would have reported you but in the case they sent someone else.

"They didn't though and I did the spying for the rest of the time." He concluded and at the questioning look in Adrik's eyes who was no doubt surprised with how flawlessly he did it, he replied with. "I'm a very good spy." He added smugly.

Adrik hummed, he could see that but at least it confirmed that Haneul was truly on their side.

"I could not warn you without blowing my cover." He said, a faint sadness coloring his voice. "But that is not what I'm trying to say, Morton was an evil incarnate, not just to me but to all of the other children who were made to be spies, we are all grateful to you for getting rid of him." He added seriously, bowing to Adrik then Ceraun.

"So if my previous reason for wanting to join the army was pitiful, then I would like to join to repay this debt to you." He bowed again, to Ceraun this time.

Ceraun choked, his cheeks coloring up slightly. "I was merely defending myself." He mumbled, rubbing his cheek nervously.

A short silence fell over them again, the weight of the decisions made in that very moment weighing heavily in each of them.

Ceraun was the first to get up, determination steeling his black orbs. "We might as well get to training."

He glanced at Haneul to see the Mage nodding furiously.

"Now that you are with us, you have to join in the race, it's tradition." Ceraun stated, happy to make a new friend.

Adrik was more recalcitrant, he had been quiet ever since Haneul mentioned that he always spied on them.

It had shaken him who was the self appointed one in charge of lookout, he would speak later with the other Mage, he was curious of just how he managed to elude his sharp sight.

Ceraun bounced in place, impatient to surpass someone else.

Adrik easily kept up with him but it was common knowledge that in a real race, Ceraun would easily take the trophy.

"Fair enough." Haneul accepted gravely, excitement twinkling in his desert brown eyes that had gained more stars in them since the first time he met them.

He got up to his feet after Adrik and made a couple preparatory movements, stretching to ready himself for the upcoming race, flexing out his wiry limbs.

Ceraun was the one to call the starting words. "I'll give you two a head start simply because I'm quite generous." He announced smugly.

Adrik snorted, Ceraun at competitions was anything but generous.

Ceraun called the starting words after stating that he would wait a couple more counts before joining them.

His surprise was palpable when neither Adrik nor Haneul ran down the slope after they were set to go, waiting on him instead for when he would start to run.

Ceraun trailed off on his counting, sounding impressed. "I should have known you were both too noble to take advantage of me, I hope you will not come to regret this." He stated grandly.

Adrik rolled his eyes, knowing that irritating Feyrer was only being this extravagant for Haneul's sake.

And just as he feared, Haneul looked enamoured by this act, very impressed.

Daily training with Ceraun was about to get doubly tiring.

This time they all took off from the slope at the same time, the angle of the land giving them ample amounts of acceleration which could also turn on them in an instant if they were to trip or lose their balance.

Ceraun glanced at Haneul to see the wiry boy easily scaling down the incline like he had done this a lot of times but considering the fact that he had said that he spied on them daily, it would be no surprise if he had.

What did surprise him though was how fast Haneul was moving all of a sudden, at first he had been impressed that Haneul had managed to easily keep up with them because even when they had all gone back to the village together, he had not been able to keep up with their pace.

Or had he simply been hiding the full extent of his strength?

Then Haneul had dashed down the rest of the way down the incline like he had wind for feet, keeping a wide berth between them as his wiry legs ate up the distance to the river.

Ceraun had choked in his shock, nearly swallowing his tongue and tripping at the turn of events.

Adrik quietly exclaimed at this, getting over his shock as he used magic to strengthen his limbs, he had a score to settle with Haneul anyway.

"See you at the river bank." He nodded to Ceraun before increasing his speed and leaving the Lightning Magic User in the dust.

Ceraun did not slow down, pushing himself to pick up the pace but yet he could not catch up with them.

He arrived several minutes later, breathless and huffing and very put out of place.

It was doubly upsetting because he had been the one to brag but that was not the only sensation tumbling through him.

He was exhausted, if his legs giving out under him as he struggled to catch his breath was any indication.

He was also sorely hurt, having been left in the dust that way by the very same people he had promised to win against.

But above all that was the excitement of surpassing his present level of speed, that easily overwhelmed his upset.

He struggled to sit, taking out his flask of water to drink from.

Adrik and Haneul were standing easily, staring down at him.

Adrik with his usual disinterest and Haneul with slight worry.

Meanwhile, Ceruan's mind was already torn apart with thoughts on how to get faster.