Raziel sat on the floor of his room and looked at his own hands.
The physical blood was gone, but the memory of Gideon's mind stuck to his brain.
Soul Resonance flexed for the very first time inside that bathroom.
He did not control it because it triggered itself.
Gideon hit absolute rock bottom and possessed zero mental defenses, so the boy became a total void.
Raziel understood the mechanics now.
The magic required direct physical contact and a genuine emotional connection.
You cannot punch your way into another consciousness. You have to walk through an open door.
He needed to tame the Gift and he needed a conscious partner to practice.
***
He found Lara in the abandoned storage room near the old armory. She sat cross-legged on a dusty wool blanket.
She was the perfect candidate because her natural empathy made her mind very receptive to outside connections.
Raziel sat down right in front of her. He reached out and took her hands.
