Chapter 2 - Weight of chains

787 I.C, May 15, Everwinter: Underworks, Morning

The underworks, a grand network of tunnels below the castle reaching deep into the mountains.

It held highlights such as the great furnaces that kept Everwinter warm and provided a steady supply of metal and parts to keep the castle intact.

There were also the ever expanding mines where the lesser folk were given the honor of breaking their backs in search of the precious ore that the world craved.

At present I found myself in one of the so called 'barracks', in reality it was little more than a long hallway with lousy beds set along the walls.

The high pitched squeak of a rat echoed through the hallway and made me grit my teeth in irritation that was fueled by the simmering hatred and heartache inside me.

Another squeak made me peek out from the bed cover as I searched along the wall for the source. I found it moments later near by the base of the bed next to mine. It was a rather big rat struggling to bite through what like a discarded sack.

My eyes stared at the critter as I reached out with my mind and made threads of magic seep from the bed. It crawled along the floor, surrounded the pest, and then snatched hold of it.

SQUEAK!

The rat writhed against the restraints of magic as I pulled it closer and lifted it into the air.

I imagined the rat as father... mother... Raymond... Clyde... and everyone else as I thought of the way I had been discarded, the way they had flipped a switch and my very existence turned from wondrous expectation to nothing but filth.

POP! CRACK! RIP! SQUELCH!

I did not intend to create such a mess but my emotions had overruled me as the rat was now nothing more than crushed pulp.

The human who had been sleeping in the bed stirred and awoke, his eyes widened as he saw the now crushed rat.

I released my hold and the rat dropped to the ground with a wet splat. The human seemed to cringe and then caught my eye. My appearance must have scared him as he turned over in an instant.

"Did you do that?" The voice was male and came from the bed behind me.

I turned over in bed and caught the eye of another human, this one had brown eyes, a rather flat nose and an unkempt beard that looked a bit like fur.

Seeing the rather ugly hybrid was a reminder that my own changes were rather discrete yet useful, an enhanced sense of smell, good eyesight. I may have had fur on my head but I liked it.

"Yeah?" I murmured.

The human blinked and seemed to hesitate, "You must be pretty powerful to do something like that."

Really?

"Your point?" I asked.

The human pointed toward the underside of my bed, "That's a lot of stuff you have there."

"Touch it and I'll do the same thing to you as I did with the rat," I warned.

The human raised his hands as if backing off, "Understood. You don't look like you're from another section. Are you from the floors above?"

My lips twitched a little, "What's it to you?"

The human resettled and leaned closer to the edge as he lowered his voice, "I'm Ben, I could help you around here, if you return the favor."

"Why would I need your help?" I asked with a skeptical frown.

"People like you don't survive for long down here."

"People, like me?" I asked in wonder.

Ben glanced around and whispered, "High percentage hybrid, good breeding stock, unfortunately you're male."

"... What do you mean?" I asked.

Ben raised his brow, "You don't know? The males upstairs don't exactly approve of us... screwing their bitches, they'll force you to do it... sooner or later. But you won't survive the following morning when the male wulfkin gets his hands on you."

It made sense, after all, mature wulfkin couldn't procreate with one another. Successful breeding required a mature wulfkin and a high percentage hybrid.

Lower percentage hybrids like Ben were bred with others like him until the wulfkin inheritance became potent enough that they could be bred with a mature one. In a way we were cursed as wulfkin blood would propagate and grow in strength.

"And what about the females?" I asked.

"The bitches aren't as vengeful and often let the women live following birth."

A troubling thought rose in my head and made something dawn on me, I loved my wulfkin mother but she had tossed me aside just like father. What if my real mother was down here?

My focus turned to Ben once more, "And how could you help me with that?"

"I can't... not with that at least, but I know my way around here... easy jobs, places to avoid."

"... And what do you want in return?" I asked.

Ben pointed his hand at me, "Your magic, it'd make life down here a lot easier for the lot of us."

"Us?" I asked.

Ben rose and looked around the barracks, I did the same and realized that the entire section were focused on us. They seemed tired, desperate, and some wore scars that could only have been made by sharpened claws.

"I see," I said as I lay down once more.

That strange sensation hit me once more as my mind was forced to realize something else. These humans weren't just tools to be used and discarded, they were people, just like Leonard, like me.

It disgusted me on some level to be compared with them... I was wulfkin, proud, strong... yet... that wasn't true... was it?

787 I.C, May 15, Everwinter: Rastlin's Workshop, Midday

My heart pounded as I stepped in front of the large door where Rastlin's workshop waited.

Most of the wulfkins had ignored me on my way here and it was easy to ignore them in return. The problem were the few that reacted to my presence and promptly shunned my very existence. It hurt for the simple reason that I suspected them to be classmates that I couldn't even recognize any longer.

I forced the thought aside aside as I refused to think or feel it yet again. It hurt too much and I couldn't risk doing it unless I wanted my mind to crumble once more.

Instead I pushed the door open with a slight glimmer of hope that spending time with Rastlin's real students, rejects like me, would provide some degree of comfort. To my surprise the large workshop was silent and devoid of others.

Confusion filled my mind as I stepped inside, shut the door, and looked around. A red but ragged carpet covered the ground, it seemed dirty and the room was thick with the scent of various chemicals and Rastlin's identity.

Bookcases lined the walls while various workbenches filled the open spaces. Machines, crystals, artifacts, discarded books and junk was piled in the corners.

This was truly the place of an eccentric man who had lived his life pursuing the arcane arts.

A creak was heard followed by movement as a door by the back of the workshop opened, Rastlin walked out and made a dismissive wave with his hand as the door shut and locked itself with a heavy click.

I focused on the task at hand, "Good morning Rastlin."

Rastlin glanced at the ticking clock on the wall, "You're on time Avery, good."

I nodded and approached, "Where are the others?"

"If you are referring to your previous classmates, then they are blessed wulfkin by now who can no longer wield magic."

"... There's just me?" I asked.

Rastlin shook his head, "No, there are other individuals like yourself, I also have a few students originating from the lower levels."

"So where are they?"

Rastlin motioned to the vast space of the workshop, "Me and others teach young wulfkins in order to refine, sharpen and focus their minds, not in order to grow their skill with magic. This is different, you are now my student, and I teach my students as individuals, not as a class."

"I see," I said.

Rastlin stepped up to me and reached into his robe, moments later he pulled out a blue crystal caged in metal wiring and a small piece of obsidian.

"What's that?" I asked as he offered it to me.

"This is a beacon, it will glow and grow warm when I have need of you. My orders take precedence over any other, do you understand?"

I reached out and took the encased crystal, "... I understand, but..."

"If it glows then you come to me, if anyone tries to stop you, refer to me," Rastlin said.

"Understood," I said with a nod as I pocketed the beacon.

"How are you adapting to the lower levels?"

"I'm surviving," I answered.

Rastlin's dark sunken eyes focused on me, "Good answer. Do you realize the nature of things now?"

"What do you mean?"

"In the eyes of Everwinter you have no innate worth any longer. You are not wulfkin and your worth from here on is determined on your utility, the services you can provide."

I nodded, "Yes, I have gotten that impression."

"And?" Rastlin said as he stepped closer and cocked his head a little.

"... I don't follow."

"Magic is now your craft, embrace it, grow your strength, it is the only way you will survive. Do you understand that Avery?"

"Yes."

Rastlin stepped into reaching distance and made a deep frown as he focused on me, "Do you?"

I met Rastlin's gaze and drew a deep breath, "My heart aches but I am not weak Rastlin, if this is what I have to do to survive, then I will do so."

"Good, then my lessons won't be wasted on you."

I nodded and steeled my heart, "Thank you for accepting me as your student Rastlin."

787 I.C, May 15, Everwinter: Mess hall, Evening

I followed Ben as we pushed through a throng of humans in search of the food line. The coordination and relative calm was surprising, after all, humans were a chaotic species that served little more than a stepping stone for something better. Breeding stock meant to usher forth the pearl which was wulfkin.

It was difficult to maintain such a perspective now that I found myself their equal, it gnawed on me with a conflicting sensation of shame and guilt that tore at me.

Ben grabbed a round plate of worn wood and a simple spoon, I followed suit while glancing in front as a strange smell hit my nose.

Fungus? Roots? Dirt?

Ben held up his plate as another human used a ladle and poured some kind of thick and chunky brown mess on his plate. A disgusted tightness gripped my gut as I held out my plate and watched another pile being deposited.

Another step in the line led to another station and this time Ben received what looked like several slices of brown bread.

That's a relief...

I stepped up and watched as two big slices were placed on my plate beside the earlier gunk.

That's... not bread...

The slices jiggled as I followed Ben to a table and joined his side. Ben was eager to start eating as I prodded at one of the slices with my spoon and realized what the rubbery substance was.

Cooked cave mushroom, stewed in its own slime, it was a kind of fauna that was considered a foul pest in the upper floors, here... it was food.

"... You eat this?" I asked.

Ben swallowed and glanced over at me, "Yeah?"

"How often?"

"What do you mean?" Ben asked with a raised brow.

"Is there like... a second menu?"

Ben raised blinked in confusion, "Rat is pretty good if you roast it over a fire."

"... This is all you eat?" I asked with a sinking sensation of despair.

"Ever... winter... It's not like anything else grows around here," Ben said as if stunned by my ignorance.

I scooped up a piece of the jiggling mess and brought it to my mouth, it smelled like raw dirt mixed with something akin to decomposing hay. It tasted worse and my tongue burned as I forced myself to swallow without chewing.

The slimy piece slid down with ease but the mere thought of what I had eaten made me queasy.

"This is disgusting," I said.

"You'll get used to it," Ben said.

No... I won't... I refuse it...

I scooped up another piece and stopped breathing as I made a point of swallowing the pieces whole.

"See, not that bad?" Ben said.

"It's survival..." I muttered.

"So what did you guys eat upstairs?" Ben asked.

"All kinds of food, I like roasted rabbit, with herbs and lemon... a glass of warm Krobian wine is always a nice treat."

Ben's eyes grew wide as he leaned closer, "Rabbit? Where did you catch one?"

"There are a few rabbit farms in the mountain but most of the food is brought here by the traders."

Ben licked his lips, "Tell me more."

"What?"

"Food, what other kinds have you eaten? How did it taste?"

"Uh... I... Is this really all that you've eaten all your life?" I asked in horror.

Ben looked at his plate and resumed eating, "Well... no, I've eaten... rat... there are berries... then there's that fruit, what do you call it, apples. My mum gave me one of those once."

I never realized...

787 I.C, June 3, Everwinter: Rastlin's Workshop, Morning

A shadow moved over the desk and made me glance up, Rastlin stared at me with his beady eyes.

"What are you doing?" Rastlin asked.

"I... I'm doing what you asked Rastlin."

Rastlin raised his bony finger and pointed at the slab of obsidian that I was working on, "Explain your thought process."

I looked down at the arcane patterns of the obsidian and nodded as I took a deep breath, "The idea is a defensive construct... as you ordered. This is the buffer for the aether..."

"Yes, go on?" Rastlin said.

I pointed at another section of runes, "This is the main detector, it uses a vibrance crystal to sense magical fields. Anything above a certain field strength triggers this section..."

"Uh huh?" Rastlin said with a nod.

I pointed at the next section, "This one generates a secondary field and projects it toward the one detected by the vibrance crystal."

Rastlin leaned closer and observed the patterns, "And what spell does it cast?"

"... A typical counterspell, it's meant to disrupt the magical field and render it harmless."

"I see several rather glaring mistakes with this design," Rastlin commented.

"Oh?" I said.

"Do you know what happens when a spell is disrupted? Or when you use any kind of magic?"

"The energy returns to the aether?"

"Correct, but the energy takes time to resettle and creates what is called flux."

"So what does flux do?"

"Flux at low levels makes it difficult to cast spells and forces one to expend more energy to overcome it, that in turn creates more flux."

"I see."

"Flux is dangerous, especially for those with much aptitude for magic, it poisons us, interacts with our bodies, you'll begin to feel sick and it can even kill you."

"That sounds like quite a tactic if used right."

Rastlin nodded, "Indeed, but there are ways around it."

"Like what?" I asked.

Rastlin walked over to one of the bookcases, fetched a large tome, returned, set it on the table, flipped open a page and pointed at it.

"These designs can absorb some flux and use it to either stabilize the aether or recycle it for use."

I stared at the complex design that seemed to span pages and used a whole load of various crystals and runes, "This is rather complex."

"If magic was simple then this world would look very different Avery."

"Yes, I realize that, thank you Rastlin."

Rastlin crouched a little and caught my eye, "Do you like magic Avery?"

I pondered it for a moment, "Yes."

"You are one of my students now and you will tell me truth, always, do you understand?"

I gulped and met his beady eyes, "Understood."

"Do you like magic Avery?"

"Magic is... interesting enough for me to forget."

Rastlin blinked and rose tall as he sighed, "Still longing for life as a wulfkin?"

I shifted in my chair and looked up at Rastlin, "How can I not? Don't you feel it? In your blood? The hunger? The need to run free? The anger at how we are being treated?"

"Of course I do, but those are demons that you need to master. This is your fate, do not try to fight it."

I looked back at the book, "For as long as my life lasts."

"What do you mean?" Rastlin asked with a curious stare.

I scratched the fur on my head, "I've heard what happens to hybrids like me, we're bred and then killed in a fit of jealousy."

Rastlin made an amused hum, "There's a way around that you know."

"Oh?"

"Rise above my other students, become my apprentice and the next seer to be, the others will never accept you but they won't dare to touch or degrade you. I guarantee it."

Rastlin's proposal may not have been an answer to what I wanted in life. But it was a road, an option that would allow me something to focus on.

"I will strive not to disappoint you Rastlin," I answered.

787 I.C, June 22, Everwinter: Ore Processing, Evening

The thundering roar of the ore processing machines made my head hurt. Even the ground seemed to shake and I couldn't imagine what it would be like to work in the actual facility.

A bulkhead opened with a heavy groan and the noise picked up strength as several men stepped into the hallway. I averted my gaze and stared into the maintenance hatch, their reflections caught in the metal as I watched them pass.

Powdered stone stuck to their sweaty skin like paint and their backs had grown crooked from the years of hard labor. It made me wonder what made them go on, how they could endure such hardships.

It made my own troubles seem shallow as the men moved on while I continued my work on the arcane conduits that fed the machinery with magic. It didn't take long for another disturbance to come along, and this time it called my name.

"Avery?"

I glanced back and caught sight of Ben and his flat canine nose, "Yes?"

Ben walked up to me and glanced into the hatch for a moment, "We could need your help."

"With what?"

"... One of the ore haulers broke, the whole thing toppled over and dumped tons of rock all over the rails."

"And?" I asked.

Ben frowned in irritation, "We don't have the tools or the manpower to get it up, the guys upstairs haven't caught wind of it yet but... heads will roll when they do. Can you help?"

"Tons of rock Ben, a whole ore hauler, I'll be sleeping for days if I strain myself like that."

Ben glanced around, "Please Avery? We'll cover for you."

"... On one condition," I said.

"What?" Ben asked.

"You know your way around here, even the nurseries, right?"

"Yeah, how so?"

"Can you check if anyone knows of a... twin birth?" I asked.

Ben cocked his head, "Yeah... sure, but why?"

"Do you want my help or not?" I asked.

Ben raised his hands, "All right, no questions asked."

787 I.C, July 6, Everwinter: Training Hall, Midday

My hands were clenched and my teeth felt ready to break as I bit together.

I hate you... I hate you all...

The black furred wulfkin I had last seen in the transporter chamber was now in charge of training the latest recruits. A group of wulfkin that just happened to be my old classmates, friends, and even my brother.

I had since last time learned just who this wulfkin was, Doros Fangweth. A cruel wulfkin who had led a hundred battles, a great leader who sought to follow in magistrate Phaeris footsteps.

Doros lived up to his reputation, his white fangs glinted as he spoke and the scars along his arms were deep enough to reveal gray skin. His yellow eyes were sharp and his dark voice had a growling rumble that demanded respect.

Doros raised his huge clawed hand and motioned toward me, "... where you will encounter mages, like this one. Most of you may have wielded magic in some way, and gained respect for it, such a thing is no longer necessary."

Doros faced me and approached with a cruel glint in his eyes, "Mage?"

I have a name you stuffed up imbecile!

"Yes?" I said.

Doros seemed irritated with me for some reason as his lips quivered while he cocked his head, "Tell me, do you know how to summon fire? Or is that beyond you?"

"I know how to summon what you refer to as fire," I answered.

Doros stepped closer and loomed over me, his scent wafted over me, it was pungent and had the acrid odor of something that had either rotted or gone foul.

"Are you trying to be a wise ass?" Doros asked as he bared his teeth.

Calm yourself... Now is not the time or place...

I lowered my head and glanced away, "No, there was no such intent, forgive me."

Doros crouched a little and made a light growl, "What's that? Filth?"

Calm...

"Forgive me, my lord," I said in hope of calming his ego.

Doros rose once more and stepped back, "That's better, now, give me your best shot, show us the extent of your power."

I looked up and locked eyes with the big wolf, "What?"

"Go on, give it all you have, show us the might and power inherent in your magic."

Wulfkin were almost immune to magic which made the point of his request obvious. Still, it made me wish for some way to hurt him, to get around the immunity.

Doros snarled, "Come on then you worthless waste of flesh, what are you waiting for!?"

A sudden realization dawned on me as I remembered Rastlin's lessons. Magic mimicked the real world, arcane fire may have been hot, but it was not real fire, a chemical reaction. That's what made the wulfkin immunity to magic so powerful, it interacted with any kind of aetheric field and ripped it apart.

But what would happen if I collapsed the roof we were standing under, would the rocks somehow dodge him out of respect for his magical immunity, or would it simply crush him like the insect he was.

While the idea was tempting I realized that doing such a thing would have meant my death.

Instead I raised my hand and focused the magic inherent in me, arcane fire that burned red formed in my hand and coalesced into a fireball. I leaned back and then hurled it at Doros.

The ball of fire hadn't even come within reaching distance as the color shifted followed by a crackle as it dispersed into nothing more than a puff of vapor.

"That's it?" Doros asked with an evil grin as his dark furred tail snapped back and forth.

"... Do you want me to do it again?" I asked.

Doros huffed and looked out across the class, "Our immunity to magic can be sensed by mages, I'm sure many of you used to feel it. A tingle, a small disturbance in the back of your head, as if sensing something just beyond your sight."

I glanced to the others for a moment and noticed nods among the large group of wulfkins.

Doros focused on me once more, "Magic aptitude and usage enhances the effect, doesn't it, mage?"

"Yes," I answered as Doros had a point, the class itself now felt like a cloud that buzzed with something that disturbed and warped the aether itself. A sensation that had been growing ever stronger since becoming Rastlin's student.

Doros grin took on a bemused glint, "The beast races of this world are like distant cousins to us, they may be simple-minded and weak of body but they are useful for hard labor. Humans serve us as breeding stock but are otherwise little more than annoying gnats to be held on a short leash."

The big black wolf stepped closer and cocked his head as he stared me in the eyes, "Mages think themselves above regular humans, they consider themselves gifted, even better than wulfkin, you can see it in the eyes of this one. Pride fueled by desperation, burning jealousy."

I stared back and clenched my teeth as imagined myself skinning the bastard.

Doros continued and inched closer, "Mages are weak, weaker than regular humans in fact, they are crippled by our presence, paralyzed, poisoned."

Doros lashed out without warning and I barely had time to blink as his padded hand snatched hold of my throat.

URK!

I gasped in surprised and clutched his massive furred arm as he held me in an iron grip.

"Try to use your magic mage. Anything? Attack me? Kill me? I give you permission," Doros said.

I squirmed as he held my throat and felt a strange sensation of crippling unease radiating through my body.

"Nothing? Use your magic or I will gouge out one of your eyes," Doros ordered.

His grip tightened and I began to panic as I couldn't breathe, survival instinct kicked into action as I let go with one hand and aimed it at Doros face.

I focused with all I had and tried to blast his face with fire, pain began to radiate through my arm and made me wince in pain as the air started to crackle with small embers, my magic wouldn't work.

Doros lifted me in the air before heaving me back like a discarded bag.

I crashed into the floor before tumbling to my side with a coughing fit as I clutched my throat. My eyes teared up and I wheezed for breath as I heard Doros speak once more.

"If a mage decides to cause trouble, touch them, grip them, it'll render them useless."

I glanced up and saw the class staring at me, Clyde, my own brother, their expressions were callous if a bit curious as their ears were perked.

They no longer saw me, Avery, their kin, instead they saw something else. It hurt something fierce, far more than the physical pain inflicted on me.

You will all regret this... and you Doros... one day I will make you burn for real... I promise you that...

787 I.C, July 15 Everwinter: Underworks, Night

I hid underneath the blanket as I opened my book and summoned forth light from my hand.

The pages were illuminated and a slight smile formed on my lips as I wondered where the books would take me tonight.

The plains of Krobia? The island of the exceptionally ungifted? The scorching sands of Karashak?

I flipped to the bookmark and read the title, 'Chapter 13: The grand archive of Alexus'

'Blood dripped from his shield as Marcus descended into the depths. He couldn't stop now that he had come so close to the answers he sought.'

'The passageway opened up and revealed a gigantic underground room filled with a blue glow emanating from pillars that reached top to bottom.'

'Thousands of bookcases were connected to one another and seemed bound to the pillars like an enormous maze. There must have been millions of books, scrolls, and artifacts.'

'How would he ever find the stone of fate in such a place?'

'Marcus approached the gigantic library and looked up at the tiled roof marked with arcane runes. A pattern formed and they all led toward a large crystal hanging from the roof. The air around the crystal shivered and wisps of magic could be seen fading in and out of existence.'

'He recalled the words of Selenia, priestess of the Antalorian order: Beseech the library, speak to it, it will provide what you seek.'

'Marcus placed his shield on the ground, discarded his weapon, and removed his armor as he raised his arms and looked to the crystal.'

"Archive of Alexus, I beseech you!"

'The crystal flared to life as a wizened female voice echoed through the archive.'

"What dost thou seek, brave warrior?"

"I seek the stone of fate!"

A sudden voice snapped me from my world of fantasy, "Avery! Avery!"

I sighed and eased back the blanket as I saw Ben approaching his bed, "What is it Ben?"

Ben settled on his bed with a creak before leaning in as he whispered, "I talked to the ones in the nursery, there's a midwife that knows something."

"Hmm. When can we go?" I asked.

Ben shook his head, "Not yet, but there will be a gap next week, I think I can sneak us in then."

"Great, thank you Ben," I answered.

787 I.C, July 20, Everwinter: Nursery, Night

The nursery was different compared to the rest of the lower levels, the walls were painted in bright colors, it was well furnished. Light fixtures powered by magic lined the walls and every room had its own door to provide privacy.

It smelt of women, food, warmth, new life, a strange rather foreign combination as I followed Ben down the corridor.

"So tell me about this midwife?" I said.

"Shh," Ben glanced back and whispered as he put a finger by his mouth.

I kept my silence as Ben led me down the corridor and then motioned toward a large room that featured a crackling fireplace and several rows of tables.

It looked like a mess-hall and there were a number of plush toys littering the room.

A creaking sound caught my attention and made me focus on a dark corner, two eyes reflected back in the light of the fire. I stepped closer and realized that the corner hid an an elder woman seated in a rocking chair.

Ben leaned in and whispered, "Her name is Raina."

I approached and spoke with a hushed voice, "Hello Raina?"

Raina seemed to ignore me as she reached down and fetched a knitting set from a small basket beside the rocking chair. I fetched a chair from one of the tables and then sat down in front of her.

"Excuse me?" I whispered.

"Speak up, I can't hear you," Raina said as she raised her brow and gave me a glance.

I swallowed my frustration and raised my voice, "Ben told me you knew of a twin birth."

Raina stared at my eyes in silence as if pondering something, "... Twin births are rare, but I am old and I have seen many."

"Oh," I said.

Raina looked down and seemed to focus on her knitting set, "Return to the castle above and abandon your silly quest."

"... I cannot," I answered.

Raina froze and gave me another glance, "Why?"

"My blood is not pure enough... I never transformed."

Raina sighed, "I see, and now you seek roots elsewhere."

"I need to know... my name Avery, I have a twin brother, I'm 19 years old," I said.

Raina resumed knitting, "Your mother is dead."

The fire crackled and I stared at Raina in silence as I pondered my feelings. To my surprise I felt surprisingly little, no sadness, no despair, just... disappointment. Then again, how much could one feel for a person one had never met.

"Tell me about her?" I asked.

Raina shook her head, "There is nothing to be said that will ease your life, forget about it, move on, and live life as well as you can make it."

I reached into my pocket and fetched a small bar of refined helidyte, "I can pay you."

Raina glanced at the small bar and then met my eyes with an irritated frown, "What do you take me for? Insolent brat."

"... Then, as a gift for the nursery perhaps?" I asked.

Raina drew a deep breath, "The answers you seek will only burden you."

"Then I choose to carry that burden, please? I'm begging you?"

Raina reached out and snatched the bar from my hand before leaning back in her rocking chair.

"Your mother's name was Edith, both magic and the blood of wulfkin ran strong in her. She was vibrant in spirit, kind, considerate, she seemed immune to the harsh environment she was raised in."

"What happened to her?" I asked.

Raina gave me a curious glance, "What do you think boy? She was bred."

I gulped a little as the harsh reality of things began to sank in, father, who I still couldn't help but love, had in effect raped this woman. Just like every other wulfkin brought to this world.

"I mean, how did she die?"

Raina glanced away in silence.

"We had a deal, tell me," I ordered.

"Twins, she gained weight at an astounding rate and Rastlin took a great deal of interest in her."

"Rastlin?" I asked.

"He's the seer, I'm surprised you don't know him?"

"I know him, but why did he take an interest in her?"

"Rastlin divines the blood and Edith was special for some reason."

"So what happened?"

"We tried our best, crystals to strengthen the aether, the best of food, medicine... a single wulfkin child is a big drain, twins even more so, but this... was different."

"..." I waited in silence for her to continue.

"She withered as if something sucked the very life force out of her... and she died... even before birth."

"I don't understand."

"Rastlin cut her belly open and pulled the twins from her womb, one with red eyes, he called it a sign."

A sinking sensation filled my heart as I leaned back in my chair, "So much for a sign..."

"I am sorry... but you asked for it."

"I know, thank you Raina."

787 I.C, August 1, Everwinter: Rastlin's Workshop, Morning

I sat on the desk and watched with curiosity as Rastlin lined up several rocks and pieces of metal on a crate. He looked deep in thought and I stayed my tongue as I knew from experience that it was best not to disturb him at such a time.

"Tell me Avery, what is a Molassian function?" Rastlin asked.

Math... boring...

"It's... uh... a function that you can plot with values, it's shaped like a bell curve," I answered.

Rastlin pointed to a rather thick piece of metal, "Break this in two for me."

My eyes widened in surprise, "That looks like steel, there's no way I'd be able to split it in two using magic alone."

Rastlin gave me a bemused smirk, "Oh, why is that?"

"Magic is still tied into the physical world and any action requires energy, trying to cut that in two would be like asking a person to lift a boulder."

Rastlin raised his brow, "You say that as if it was not possible, have you ever heard of a pulley system?"

"Oh, you're saying that there are different ways of applying magic?"

"Exactly, and many of them can be plotted like bell curves. One method can be inefficient when manipulating things on a small scale but quite efficient for others. Observe..."

Rastlin made a flick with his hand and a crack was heard as a diagonal split formed in the steel block.

The cut piece slid to the side and fell onto the crate with a thud as it revealed a fine cut that glowed red.

"That should have required an immense amount of aetheric energy, but I could barely sense it, how did you do it?" I said.

"Focused energy on a small scale, a mere thread of magic heated to a temperature where it can cut steel like butter. It did require a lot of energy but the majority of it was absorbed by the metal rather than leaking out, it is a discrete and very useful skill to master."

"Teach me," I said with an excited smile.

787 I.C, August 19, Everwinter: Training Hall, Midday

At first I thought they kept bringing me to the training halls merely in order to humiliate me.

That may have been true but I also realized that it served a more utilitarian purpose. It made the others used to those with a strong magical aptitude. A nagging sensation in the back of my mind hinted at something else as well, but I didn't want to consider it, yet at least.

This time I served the purpose of enabling the others to play. I fetched balls and playthings using threads of magic, moving equipment and cleaning up.

It had started out rather uneventful as I did my task while they left me alone in the corner I was assigned to. But things had changed since then and it had now become a game to hinder my efforts as they tried to sabotage and cut the threads of magic that I weaved.

My focus at the moment was on a ball that had been kicked from play. A thread of aetheric energy shot out, latched onto the wall, reached up to the roof, and then crawled along the surface until it reached down and snatched hold of the still ball.

One of the nearby wulfkins, one with cream colored fur that carried a big grin saw his chance as he leaped for the ball. He swiped at the air above the ball and cut the invisible thread in an instant, a jolt of unease hit my side as I felt the effect slam into me.

I exhaled in irritation but stayed stoic as I strengthened the surviving thread and snatched hold of the ball once more. More of the wulfkins leaped into action but this time I snatched the ball to the side and hurled it over the field.

Another wulfkin along the path jumped up and swiped above the ball without seeming to realize that it was now hurtling through the air using physical force alone.

A secondary thread waited on the other side of the field and snatched hold of the ball before lowering it onto the field where it was expected.

Goal accomplished...

Some of the wulfkin glanced toward me with a sour look, they didn't like being outsmarted by a useless mage, it was unbecoming.

I tried not to meet their eyes and told myself that it would have been better to let them have their way rather than irritate them. It was difficult though, always bowing, obeying, to swallow one's pride over and over again until you felt like nothing more than an empty husk kept alive by hatred alone.

A rather intense glare caught my attention as I looked up. Raymond was staring at me with his tail snapping in irritation, he was big, covered in thick brown fur and wore a pair of simple shorts.

The room stank of the others, hormones, something akin to sweat, it was rank and heavy in the air. It was a lot worse than the adult wulfkin and it made me wonder what differed.

Something else was happening though, Doros was on the move, whispering to the others, riling them up. Something bad was coming, I could feel it in my bones.

It only took minutes until the class started to draw near and gathered like predators looking for prey.

The proximity of them felt like an encroaching cloud of static and the weaker threads of magic that I maintained were already fraying. The cream colored wulfkin from earlier was the first to walk up to me with a bemused glint in his sharp yellow eyes.

Do you think I'm stupid or something?

I cut the aetheric threads at once and withdrew my magic, "What?"

"Hah!" The wulfkin barked out in triumph as he made a wide swipe over my head with his large paw-like hand in an attempt to cut the threads of magic that no longer existed.

His expression faltered in an instant and was replaced by a confused wide-eyed stare when I didn't react in the least. Moments later he frowned while his lips pulled back in anger.

"Where are you keeping that magic of yours?" The wulfkin snapped in anger with a thread of drool dripping from his teeth.

I made a slight shrug and ignored him as more of the wulfkin gathered and started to surround me.

Why do I never learn... just let the morons have their fun...

For a moment my old instincts came to life, stand tall, look big, protect your turf, show that you're though even if you're small, they'll respect it. That wouldn't work though as it only applied if one were part of the group, where respect was an attribute that still existed.

My heart began to pick up pace as a throng of wulfkin formed just outside reaching distance, they all stared, waiting for someone to make the first move.

How can they do this? How can they not see me?

My eyes wandered along the ones in the front and caught on a pair of eyes like blue ice, Clyde.

"I'm Avery, you all grew up with me, or did you forget?" I asked.

A few of their ears perked while others folded back, it was clear that they didn't like to be reminded, perhaps that was the only way to save myself, to remind them.

Doros loud voice called out and made all of the wulfkin shiver in surprise as they glanced back.

"Yes, you did, and I'm sure everyone remembers it," Doros said.

The wulfkin opened up a path as Doros approached me with a feral grin, "Do you know what a parasite is? A brood parasite to be specific?"

"... I know of the concept," I answered.

Doros looked to the other wulfkin, "Of course you do, that's because you are one. In short, a parasite raised by hosts where it doesn't belong, a parasite that steals valuable energy for itself instead of the host's own young."

Doros was smart and manipulative and I could already tell that he had won both the battle and the war, it was an explanation that fit the others mindset and perhaps even my own brother.

"I did everything you asked for, I obeyed," I said.

Doros grinned and stepped closer, "Yes, you're finally learning your place, but you're still a parasite feeding off the rest of us, you should be thankful."

Thankful... I power the teleporters, maintain the castle... You'd be crippled without people like me...

I thought of making a sarcastic remark but held my tongue as I bit together.

Doros waited a few moments as if waiting for me to take the bait, it didn't work as he turned his attention to the others.

"What do you say we all play a game? And let the mage join in?"

The others began to glance at each other in confusion while Doros focused on me once more and pointed a claw at me, "The others hunt, and you're the prey."

My eyes widened in horror at what he was suggesting, mere moments later he made a dark chuckle, "Don't look so scared human, it's just games, you know, that real wulfkin play?"

Some of the others began to smirk and chuckle while I glared at Doros, "Not a very fair game."

Doros huffed, "Predator and prey is seldom a fair game, besides, we protect the castle, we are the warriors of Everwinter, we allow you to live in our domain, the least you can do is provide a little entertainment. Right?"

You will pay for this... I swear on it...

Doros motioned for the others to clear a path, they did so within moments while I caught their tails wagging in excitement.

"Run," Doros said in glee.

"... No," I answered.

Doros frowned and stepped closer with a heavy stomp as he bared his teeth, "The one who catches the human gets a whole rabbit, fresh and warm."

The cream colored wulfkin leaned in and whispered by my ear, "Run, or we'll eat you instead."

I gulped and wondered who this cream colored wulfkin was, someone who used to be a friend, an old enemy, someone I'd never met before.

Doros grabbed me by my chest without warning and hurled me toward the open path. I stumbled, almost lost my balance and glanced back as I tried to slow down.

The eager ones stared as if watching live prey and were already pushing between the others as they readied themselves to snatch hold of me.

The hunt had started whether or not I wanted it and they'd tear me to pieces if they caught me like this.

I ran...

787 I.C, August 19, Everwinter: Rastlin's Workshop, Evening

I glanced up at Rastlin as he dabbed a small towel in water, "Is there such a thing as healing magic?"

"Take off your shirt," Rastlin ordered.

I obliged and pulled the shirt over my head, it scraped at the claw wounds on my back and made me cringe in pain. The shirt was shredded and one could see streaks of red covering it.

"How does it look?" I asked.

Rastlin grabbed my shoulder and then dabbed the cloth on the stinging wounds, "You'll be fine Avery, the cuts aren't that deep so they won't even scar."

"Uh huh," I whispered.

"There is such a thing as healing magic, but it is weak, inefficient, and notoriously difficult to master."

"Can it raise the dead?" I asked in wonder.

"Many kinds of magic can animate the dead Avery, if you're asking if it can restore a mind that has been lost, then the answer is no."

"I see, do you know any healing magic?"

Rastlin touched my cheek and made me look up as he dabbed a clean part of the towel on my split lip.

"I explored it once, I think the books describing it are still in the library, but as I said, it would exhaust me and barely mend wounds as small as these. A simple poultice and our wulfkin blood is far more efficient."

I raised my brow in confusion, "I knew that wulfkins heal quick but I didn't realize we did as well."

"Not as quick, but our blood gives us an advantage compared to regular humans."

"I see."

Rastlin walked over to a workbench, grabbed some leaves from a small plant, placed it in a mortar, and then started to crush it with a pestle, "How did you end up like this Avery?"

"Doros ordered my presence in the training halls, he... enticed the others to hunt me through the castle... I couldn't escape."

"You should know better than to trigger our hunting instincts Avery."

"... I know, I tried to get caught by just a few of them but... well... you saw the result."

"Who?" Rastlin asked as he looked over at me.

"I don't know, I think they avoid using names when I'm around... Clyde was there... and Raymond."

"Hmm," Rastlin hummed as he grabbed a few pieces of cloth and approached with the mortar in hand.

"Doros is really pushing to create a divide between myself and the others, I'm a human, a mage, he's doing everything he can to make me as non-wulfkin as possible."

Rastlin nodded while scooping a bit of the green gunk from the mortar, "That is to be expected."

"Why? How can they do this to us? We contribute, we power the transporters, maintain the castle, magic flows through this place, Everwinter cannot survive without magic."

"You're not thinking Avery, the reason should be obvious."

"... Then why am I not seeing it?" I asked as Rastlin applied the poultice to my wounds.

"Because you don't want to accept it I'd wager, because you still cling to the idea that you are one of them."

I am wulfkin! I can feel it in my blood... I... This is not my nature... Damn it...

"Explain?" I asked as if begging Rastlin.

"Do you consider wulfkin to be evil?" Rastlin asked.

"I'm starting to... after having been on the other side... after having seen how the humans of Everwinter are treated."

Rastlin made a slight nod, "What would you have answered a few years ago?"

"Wulfkins aren't evil, we're a proud race, loyal, we value truth, we keep Everwinter safe and the humans that live here should be grateful for the privilege."

Rastlin made a bemused smile and applied the small pieces of cloth on the poultices.

I frowned in irritation, "But still, I can see now, they should be able to see me, I grew up with them, why can't they realize? That I... still matter."

Rastlin met my eyes, "Because if they did, if they accepted you, or me, or some other non-wulfkin that they cared for, then that opens up such a mess that all of Everwinter could collapse. Wulfkins do not like being called evil because they do not consider themselves as such, they are strict, but good."

"That's... willful ignorance... delusion... weakness," I whispered.

"Weakness?" Rastlin asked as if bemused by the discussion.

"Yes, it's weak... To behave like this because one doesn't dare face the system."

"Would you have acted differently? What if it had been Raymond instead of you?"

I met Rastlin's eyes, "I want to think so, I may not have been willing to die for the cause but I would have told him, explained, helped him as much as I could. My father, Javier... threatened to kill me if I ever mentioned our blood bond. It was cruel... unnecessarily so, he discarded me like dirt. It infuriates me... I hate him."

"Yes," Rastlin whispered.