The Red Soul

Chapter Twenty

Myris was stunned at the sight in front of her.

The sun shone in its full glow on the twins parading around each other with weapons in their hands. The lake and the circle of mountains were supposed to be a natural wall in Myris eyes, but the two Fae only saw the area as a field full of possibilities.

Myris was astounded that Viera lasted so long as she had complained all the time that she had to move — actually the reason they started the fight. With every instruction Fyrian gave after they actually started training, Viera made a grumpy remark, whether it was a complaint that she could also concentrate on her breathing when she was in bed or grumbling about how Elyos and Amaeron were being allowed to sit quietly in the shadows of the tree.

Cearen had participated all the time with a slight smile but was also slowly getting tired. Only Aeryn enthusiastically tried to imitate Fyrian's movements with her short arms and legs, but she too often stopped to run to Cearen's leg as a sign that he had to lift her, often forcing the male to stop.

When Viera's gruff face remained, Fyrian had come up with an agreement. If she could beat him, they would stop or else she would have to run laps along the lake with him the next morning.

It did not seem to be the first time they got into a fight, but nevertheless, it was quite an experience for Myris. Especially since they were both allowed to use their magic. Despite the set limits of their magic use by Elyos, Myris' mouth fell open.

Before she could blink, Elyos had signed the starting signal and Fyrian had disappeared, only to flash by within a second, almost imperceptible to the eye. He ran faster than the wind, circled Viera and avoided all her attacks.

Viera, on the other hand, seemed to stop moving much to Myris' surprise. Only when Fyrian came straight at her did she understand why she hardly moved: as soon as Fyrian touched her, she disappeared into blue light and turned up behind him, the illusion broken.

When Viera was at a safe distance again after a couple of exchanges between their weapons, she pushed her dagger back in its hilt. With both hands free, she lifted them up, stretching her arms and sending waves of water to Fyrian.

He dodged the first one with the speed of his internal magic. Yet, it seemed as if Viera had predicted his movement and a second wave was already in front of Fyrian. The latter did not try to dodge this one as well. Instead, using his own strength and the wind for extra force, he slashed through the water with his sword, breaking the wave fast enough so that Viera could not turn the water in ice in time for the sword to get stuck.

Myris had no idea how they did it. How they managed to use their magic in such powerful yet almost effortless ways, while she could do nothing more than creating a small flame in her hand. 

Elyos, who had been talking with Amaeron after he had given the start signal, suddenly stood beside her. "Is the fight too complicated for you to comprehend? Or are you making that expression because you are afraid that they are going to hurt each other?"

"Who do you think is going to win?" she asked the man, as she kept her gaze focused on the fight

"That is always the question. Their specialities are very different from each other, both with their weapons and magic, but they are both well matched. Although Cearen could win from both if you ask me."

"Couldn't Viera just win by showing him completely different things with her illusion?"

From the corner of her eyes, she could see how the dark-skinned Fae tilt his head and shook it. "With other opponents, yes. After all, the magic of the dark blue Soul of prudence is deceiving. However, it does not work with Fyrian."

She raised her eyebrows questioningly. However, Elyos did not see it, his eyes fixed on the flashes that represented Fyrian. Still, he spoke further. "Maybe you did not know it yet, or you found it out during the fight, but Fyrian's inner magic, the magic of the Soul of courage, is having control over the body when it comes to senses, speed and strength. Whenever he wants, he can strengthen his senses. In this case, he was able to detect Viera's illusions with his sense of smell, as illusion have none. However, it does take him a few seconds to detect them, allowing Viera to use that moment between confusion and realization to strike or dodge. Her strength is, therefore, more based on tactics, something that she controls terribly well. But her illusions thus do not guarantee her victory when Fyrian is her opponent."

Myris mouth formed a silent "oh". Instead of continuing to watch the display of magic in fascination, her face fell as realized she used to despise those powers... The magic of which she now could not taker her eyes off in amazement. Both natural and internal magic. She was witnessing it, maybe not at full power – perhaps far from their full power – but it was enough to show her how wrong she had been for all these years. It made her regret so many things. It made her wonder about so many things.

Could she do things like that too with her own magic? Did she even dare to find out?

"You are making a weird expression again."

With great difficulty, she tore her gaze off the fight and turned to Elyos. His own stare was lingering on her as he looked down on her. He was silently studying her. His eyes were focused on her face as if he was trying to read her.

But he could not as Myris averted her face to the grass. With a sigh, she pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "I used to despise magic. I despised them."

"And your point is? Many people do. I did so as well."

Myris' mouth fell open, and she jerked her head. The male beside her still looked impassive, but his head was slightly tilted as he still stared at her with narrow eyes, as if he truly did not see the issue. While the words he spoke seemed like a horrible revelation to her, he acted like it was nothing more than a simple statement.

She rubbed her clammy hands. "How so?"

He shrugged, crossing his arms. "I was not a Fae before I evolved into a High Soul, nor am I one now. Even though the High Soul is dominant, a big part of me is still what I used to be before. And that part is considered highly depraved." He turned his head back towards the twins who were still fighting, but his gaze continued to linger on her from the corner of his eyes. "As you might have noticed, I am not acquainted with emotions. I only had a few in the past. When I became a High Soul, however, other emotions did start to develop inside of me. For most of them, I only still understand their concept, but I generally do not feel them. The ones I can feel, the ones I always was able to experience, are negative. Contempt and hatred are highly familiar to me.

His tone was casual, but his deep voice made Myris' entire body stiffen as she could not believe her ears. It was obvious that he could feel hatred, the fierceness of it seeping through his eyes when they were in Akratis, in Diva's presence. But feeling nothing besides that emotion...

Her eyes shifted towards the black stone in his chest and the lines spreading around it in his skin. It looked cold, an empty void, but it also still gave off a more dangerous sensation. If he could only feel negative emotions, would it not be better to feel nothing at all in that case?

Her own emotions were a mess because of it; made her look away. Instead, she watched Fyrian and Viera, who both slowly started to show signs of tiredness as they advanced closer to the mountains. Fyrian's speed was decreasing and Viera's illusions did not last as long anymore. They had stopped using their elements. Yet, both their faces were still focused. Both were still determined to win.

"You do not feel any positive emotions at all?" she asked, cautiously.

"I detect some unfamiliar ones occasionally. But before I can identify which ones they are, they have vanished again."

For a moment, he looked behind him, towards Amaeron, Cearen and Aeryn. Then, to Myris' surprise, he rolled his eyes and grumbled, putting his hands behind his back. "However, despite my inability to perceive most emotion, mainly positive ones in that matter, the ones I recognize, I manage to keep under control. That way, I have learned to tolerate Amaeron and the others. And with that, my magic also became more powerful."

He sat down next to her, his legs crossed, the fabric of his white lower garment flowing around him. "Regarding toleration, you have improved when it comes to Olèrian, the other Souls and their magic. However, when it comes to your own magic, you are still just as foolish as when you first entered this land."

Myris bit the inside of her cheek that reddened along with her entire face. "I am doing my best. I practise every day, but I can't seem to make any progress."

"Of course not," Elyos scoffed. "You can not make progress if you do not want it. But that also means that you will not become a High Soul."

With her body becoming tenser, she frowned at the words. The cold, crumbly feeling of dirt covered her hands as she dug her fingers in the ground, blades of grass protruding between them as clenched her hands into fists. "What do you mean 'not become a High Soul'? I am the High Red Soul right? That is what the others said I am. My eyes have also turned red."

"There are more creatures with red eyes. And regarding the others, they may have said that, but I do not agree. You are perhaps supposed to be the Red Soul, but you are far from it. Saying right now that you are the High Red Soul would be nothing more than a blatant lie."

Instead of becoming even stiffer, her shoulder sagged and her head lowered. There was no emotion as he said it. Nothing, as if he was just stating facts. As if he was simply telling the grass between her fingers was green. No emotion. No ill intention.

That only made it worse.

She knew people looked down on her as a High Soul, most of them refusing to believe that she was one. If she had been in Akratis, she was sure they would not hesitate to remind her of it. It hurt her, but she managed to ignore it as Fyrian, Viera and Cearen supported her.

Yet, another High Soul thinking the same thing... To be told by, or so Myris had assumed, a fellow High Soul that she was not one of them... it was a stab right into her heart.

But she could not help but think that he- that all of them were right. Even after days of practising, she had not shown any progress. Every time she tried to go beyond the flame in her hand, things went wrong. Her inner magic even refused to resurface again. She could not help but agree that it would have been better if she had not been the Red Soul. She was not qualified for it, nor was she worthy. She used to hate them after all. How was she supposed to be something she used to hate? Even if she did not despise the High Souls anymore, it still did not make her worthy to be one. Someone else should be in her place instead because she was indeed nothing more than a pathetic excuse of the High Red Soul.

"You hated them, just like me... Have you really never thought that you were unworthy of being one of them?"

Elyos laughed. There was no true joy in it, but it was also not as hollow as she thought it would sound. She even heard a bit of amusement in it. "Unworthy? They should be honoured to have me as a High Soul."

"How can you say that so easily?"

"Perhaps because I want to be a High Soul, unlike you."

Myris froze. "I... I never said that..."

"But you just thought it." When he saw her shocked face, Elyos grinned. "Do you still not know the power of the High Soul of intelligence and temperance?"

Afraid to even shake her head, Myris stayed still. Her reaction only made Elyos' grin widen. Instead of opening his mouth, Elyos looked straight into her eyes. The natural power of the light-yellow souls of temperance is lightning. The inner magic belonging to the souls of intelligence, on the other hand, is mental. Just like the magic of the souls of prudence and perseverance. For prudence, it is illusions and dreams. For your light red soul, it is similar to a sixth sense. My inner magic, however, is connected with all the other parts that are possible with the mind. All of them."

A shiver ran down her spine as she could hear his voice inside her head. He could feel almost no emotions but had access to every mind. It sounded like a terrifying combination. How much had he already seen within her mind? And how much had he exposed to the others? Did he know about the fire?

And if not, was there a way to block him before he saw it?

She desperately hoped so, but she doubted it. Even if it was possible, he was not like the other souls that had the same ability. He was a High Soul. More powerful than the normal dark-yellow souls. Perhaps, only another High Soul could rival him. But as he had said, she was not one of them... or at least not now.

"Do you think I can become the High Red Soul someday? A worthy one."

Elyos' grin disappeared. "You should not ask me such a foolish question. Not if it can only be answered by yourself. It is you who has to decide whether you will become it or not."

"Then I guess the answer is no. I can not become it even if I wanted to. I do not even know how," Myris whispered defeated.

Rising from his place in the grass, Elyos scorned. "Truly pathetic. The supposed High Soul of tenacity and determination gives up even before she tries. No wonder your magic refuses to appear. You are indeed unworthy." He started to walk away. "However, that is your problem. Just like it will be your problem when you will not be able to free that person named Yrag."

In a split second, Myris was behind him, grabbing him by the hem of his sleeves. Her heart was hammering in her chest. "I need to free him. I will do anything."

Right now, she did not care if he had read her mind for that information. She did not care if he was reading her mind at this very moment, the only thing on her mind being Yrag and multiple scenarios in which she was not able to save him. But she had to.

If only they were not stuck in this country...

Elyos tilted his head in her direction, a smirk decorating his face. "As I said, it is your call. But let's just say that I am more interested in providing assistance to another High Soul than other people."

Myris did not move, remembering the reason she had wanted to meet him in the first place. She had wanted to ask for his help. She had forgotten about it when Fyrian had told her that they were stuck here; had thought that they would not have been able to get out of Olèrian.

But if Elyos offered her his assistance, he had to believe that they would be free again someday.

Was that box they kept talking about really the way out? Because if that was the case, she would do everything to get it. Even if it meant so had to go with them to a prison for soulless beings.

"What do I have to do?"

"To become a proper High Soul? For a start, a High Soul is able to use the magic of both souls." Elyos taunted, gesturing to Fyrian and Viera. "You wanted to know who is going to win. Use your inner magic and predict it yourself."

Myris hesitated, contemplating if she should refuse and spare herself the humiliation of failing once again. But he had already humiliated her by not acknowledging her as a High Soul. Besides, she actually did not dare to refuse. Not when it sounded like an order.

So, she watched as the twins manoeuvred around each other. Fyrian was slashing his sword through multiple illusion in the form of Viera. As he destroyed the last one, the real Viera charged at him with her dagger in her hand. When she was close to him, she slid over the ground, hooking her feet behind his leg, making Fyrian lose his balance.

However, he did not fall as he placed his hand on the ground and pushed himself with one arm so that he flipped through the air. He gracefully landed on his feet. And as he did, a new attack started.

Myris tried to summon the red light around them. Similar to how it appeared around Fyrian when they were in the library. But they moved to fast and she could not focus as both Fyrian and Viera disappeared out of sight and reappeared in a different place every second.

As the red light refused to appear no matter how hard she tried, she started to lose hope that she could do it. She had not thought she could do it in the first place.

She groaned when Elyos smacked her on the back of her head. "You lack confidence. Determination. Your own perseverance. Show what your soul stands for. Show which High Soul you are supposed to be and try again."

With tears threatening to spill, Myris followed his command. Of course, she wanted it. It could help her save Yrag. She had not realized it when she had escaped, but without her magic, trying to free him would be like a suicide mission. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to learn to control her magic. Not only for Yrag, but the others as well.

Memories came to mind. Not only of Yrag, but also of Cearen that gave her tea and hugged her, Viera who smiled as she drew a picture of her. She thought about Fyrian and how he told her she was strong. How he had kissed her and her scars. They had done so much for her. She needed to repay them- wanted to free them first. She wanted to free the entirety of Olèrian. Even if she did not know how to.

She would free them.

Her eyes widened as the red light finally appeared. It circled around Fyrian and Viera, enveloped them. It was dancing with them like the twins were moving around each other. Yet, it did not disappear by either of them and kept surrounding both. The light did not seem to choose a winner.

When Myris turned to face Elyos and wanted to tell him what she saw, she was startled. The man was once again observing her. Perhaps he was reading her mind again as she noticed the light in his piercing eyes.

But her own light appeared as well, the lines moving from Fyrian and Viera to the male next to her. Yet, they were different. They were not calmly swirling around Elyos like they had done by Fyrian in the library. Nor were they enthusiastically dancing as in the duel. Instead, the streamers of red light were raging around him in an almost desperate way. They were twisting and turning in convex ways. It looked as if the light wanted to get away from him. She had only seen it ones before, between the shadows... and it meant absolute danger.

They began running wilder as Elyos eyes darkened suddenly.

The look in his eyes made her back away immediately. Fear started to rise inside of her as she saw the black lines around the stone in his chest were increasing, spreading further along his skin, covering his chest as if it was struck by lightning.

Behind them, Amaeron had stood up abruptly.

Having noticed it, Elyos gaze shot towards the other male before he turned away and closed his eyes. For a minute, he sat there unmoving. His body was slightly shaking; his breathing had increased. As the lines continued to grow, the black stone shining in a sinister glow, his face scrunched up in pain.

Cearen, who had been sitting next to Amaeron with Aeryn on his lap, stood up. Taking Aeryn by the hand, he took her with him towards the castle. Away from Elyos.

Both Fyrian and Viera had noticed it as well. Their fight immediately stopped, but their stance did not falter, only changed direction. They seemed as if they were ready to attack Elyos. But their faces showed uncertainty- showed fear. Something that only made Myris more scared.

For minutes, no one dared to move. Only when Elyos opened his eyes again, and the lines slowly withdrew to their normal size, Myris and the others dared to breathe.

Although his body was relaxed again, for a couple more seconds, he remained still, staring straight ahead to nothing in particular. Then he turned to Amaeron and gave him a silent nod. Amaeron sighed in relief as he sat down again.

"It seems we will have t Elyos muttered to himself as he cracked his neck. When he looked completely composed again, he looked at her again. His eyes were back to their normal mess of yellow hues. In them, Myris saw something that resembled... approval?

"Perhaps, you will not get killed then." He said and he walked away back to the tree, where Cearen was meeting him halfway with a cup in his hand. Vapour surrounded Elyos' mouth as he drank from it fast. He tossed the cup to the side when he was done.

Myris gasped when a hand grabbed her arm. Fyrian pulled her on her feet. "Are you alright?" he asked as he put away his sword.

"I... what was that? Is he alright?"

"He is now," Viera answered as she also put her dagger in the corresponding sheath. "Although, it was strange. It hasn't happened for so long. I wonder what triggered him so suddenly..." She looked at her twin brother, who shook his head as an indication that he also did not know.

Myris wanted to ask more, but Viera and Fyrian started to walk away to join the others. Reluctantly, Myris took Fyrian's outstretched hand and went with them.

Viera was the first to drop into the grass besides Cearen and closed her eyes. Myris could hear her mutter something that sounded like "finally". The corners of her mouth curled upward at the lazy state that the woman had returned to as if she had just not shown at all that she was capable of pulverizing a group of adult men on her own.

"I think it's a draw again," Fyrian laughed, announcing it to the others. Before he could say anything further, two small arms embraced around his side, too short to wrap them all the way around the wide waist of the Fae. A small giggle sounded behind his back. Myris laughed as Fyrian spread his arms and lay down, leaving Aeryn trapped under him. She laughed and screamed, struggling to get out from under him, but Fyrian pretended to be asleep.

Surprised, Myris looked at the child who looked at her. With her doe-like pink eyes, she reached her arms out to Myris.

Myris was frozen for a moment. She did not expect Aeryn to ask her for help. After all, she was still a stranger. Still, it warmed her up inside. She leaned to the side and took her little hands and started to pull softly. There was no movement. Therefore, she then tried to push Fyrian away from her, which only gave her laughter from the man.

She glared at him, but he did not budge. Then Myris realized that Aeryn's smile was slowly disappearing. "Fyr..." she began doubtfully. He hummed softly in response but did not move yet. 

However, he jumped to his feet before she could answer. "What in the world, Elyos?" he cried indignantly.

The dark-skinned Fae looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Small sparks still spilt from his index finger, which he had just poked into Fyrian's side. "Yes?" he asked indifferently

Fyrian opened his mouth again, then saw the youngest shuffle herself of the ground and throw herself into Elyos' arms. Realization crossed his face together with an apologetic look in his eyes. But then he laughed at the man in front of him.

Elyos looked wide-eyed at the child in his lap. He tried to push her away, which only made her hold on to him tighter with a giggle. He looked up at Fyrian narrow eyes. "Get it off me."

Everybody laughed. Even Viera briefly opened her eyes to look, then closed them again with a grin on her face.

Myris immediately noticed that the man had no idea what to do with the young girl. He stared at her as if she was a completely different creature he had never heard of. It was strange to see how the man, who barely felt emotion now seemed so uncomfortable.

Luckily for him, Aeryn's attention was moved when Amearon cleared his throat. He shifted on his place in the grass, hesitating. "Myris, I think it is time to ask you again. Do you want to join us to Eurum?"

It was not Myris who answered.

"Yes, she will. If she wants to become the Red High Soul, she will." Elyos peered in her direction, daring her to go against him.

Amaeron raised his eyebrow, seeming not sure about what Elyos meant with that. But he shook it off as he focused on Myris. "You do not have to listen to Elyos. It is your choice. We do not want to pressure you. If you do not want to-"

"I am going with you." She did not need to hesitate anymore. The moment Elyos had offered his assistance, she had decided she would go.

"Are you absolutely sure?"

When Myris nodded resolutely, Amaeron grabbed his cane of the ground and stood up. "Alright then, be ready by tomorrow morning."