"Whoa, Brother is glowing! How amazing!" Luna's voice rang out, her eyes wide with wonder.
Helios didn't answer. A strange sensation washed over him—it felt as though he were floating, his very atoms expanding as they drank in the crimson energy. But beneath the rush of power, a faint, discordant scratching echoed in the back of his mind. Distant voices, layered and weeping, whispered unintelligible secrets into his ears.
He snapped his eyes open, the red glow receding slightly as the instructor stepped forward, a look of cautious approval on his face. "Are you alright, Leader?"
"I'm fine," Helios exhaled, though his heart was still racing.
"It seems today's lesson will be shorter than expected since you've already mastered the absorption of Spiral Power," the instructor said. "However, there are three things you must remember. First: never, under any circumstances, listen to those voices. The Fallen will not help you."
Fallen? What is he talking about?
"You look confused," the instructor noted. "The Fallen are the residual souls of Seekers who died consumed by resentment. They crave a physical vessel to inhabit. Since they can not possess the living, they whisper to you, trying to lure you into situations where you might die so they can snatch your body."
Helios felt a chill that had nothing to do with the room's temperature.
"Second," the instructor continued, "do not over-absorb. Taking in too much Spiral Power in a single day can lead to madness. The limit varies for everyone, but it is best to stay on the safe side. Lastly, once you are capable of manifesting your summon's realm—bringing a piece of that other world into our own—you will have reached the Middle Rank."
"I thought you said you couldn't measure Spiral Power," Helios challenged. "So how do these ranks work?"
"We can't measure the exact energy units, so we categorize by feat: Low, Middle, and High. Low is the entry level; High is the pinnacle."
"Then tell me this," Helios said, gripping the hilt of his training sword. "How do I actually activate my abilities? I have the crown, but I don't know how to use it."
The instructor's expression turned sheepish. "To be honest... we don't entirely know. Our research team is still investigating the triggers. All we know for certain is that in high-stress situations—specifically when a Seeker is on the brink of death—their abilities tend to awaken."
Crown, do you have a better idea? Helios thought desperately. I'd really like to avoid the 'almost dying' part if I can.
I'm afraid not, the crown replied, sounding bored. My previous masters were not human. I have no idea what triggers the spark in your fragile species.
You're incredibly helpful, aren't you?
I recall you saying you wouldn't call me 'useless' again. Do humans not value their word?
I didn't use the word 'useless,' did I? The thought never even crossed my mind, Helios lied smoothly.
"This is exactly why you should fund the Research Facilities, Leader," Ray interjected from the sidelines, his eyes fixed on a clipboard. "If we had more resources, you might have had your answer by now."
This guy only thinks about money, Helios thought bitterly. Wait... do I even get paid here? Is this just high-stakes forced labour?
"Do I actually get a salary?" Helios asked, his face dead serious.
The room erupted into laughter. Even the stoic Riku cracked a smile. Nova doubled over, clutching his mask. "Leader! You're the one who runs the organization! Why would you worry about being paid by yourself?"
Right. I keep forgetting I own the place. Helios felt a wave of relief wash over him. Does that mean I'm rich? Can I finally move Luna out of that shack?
"Brother, why is everyone laughing?" Luna asked, looking up at him with confusion.
"It's nothing, Luna," Helios said, his voice trembling slightly with embarrassment. I can't tell her they're laughing at me. My pride as a big brother would never recover.
"We can discuss your personal finances later," Riku said, drawing a heavy training blade. "For now, let's see if we can't jumpstart those abilities. Ready, Leader?"
Before Helios could protest, he was ushered into the centre of the combat ring. The spectators pressed closer, eager to see the new Sovereign in action.
"We'll be using real steel," Riku stated, tossing a standard longsword to Helios. "It might sting a little."
"If I get seriously injured, who's going to run the show?" Helios asked nervously, testing the weight of the blade.
"Don't worry about that!" Sara shouted from the balcony. "My ability allows me to rewind, slow down, or speed up time! You two can fight as hard as you want!"
Time manipulation? Helios stared at her. What kind of broken, overpowered ability is that?
"Now, pay attention," Riku said. He flicked his wrist, and a sleek black bracelet materialized on his arm. "This is my summon: the Shadow Bracelet." He opened his hand, and a blade of solid darkness coalesced in his grip. "And this is my weapon, the Sword of Shadows. I can slip into shadows to attack, and I'm immune to physical strikes while in a shadow state. I won't tell you my weaknesses—you'll have to find them yourself."
Riku vanished into a blur of motion. He closed the gap instantly, bringing his dark blade down in a vertical arc. Helios parried, the force of the blow vibrating up his arms. Riku followed with a lightning-fast horizontal swing, but Helios managed to catch it on the flat of his blade.
"You have good instincts, Leader," Riku noted. "Have you trained before?"
"No," Helios grunted, teeth grit. Unless you count the Night Walkers. I can still feel the phantom pain of those claws.
"Then you're a natural. But playtime is over. I'm using my ability now."
Riku's silhouette flickered and then simply... dissolved. Helios spun around, eyes darting across the room, but the man was gone. Suddenly, a sharp, searing pain erupted in his back. A blade pierced clean through his shoulder.
"Guard your rear, Leader, or you're already dead," Riku's voice whispered from the air.
That bastard! He actually stabbed me without a warning!
Helios lunged forward, the blade sliding out of his flesh with a sickening squelch. Blood began to soak through his shirt. As he tried to reposition, Riku emerged from the shadow cast by Helios's own body, slamming his boot down onto Helios's sword, pinning it to the floor.
"Always watch your footing," Riku advised calmly.
Pain flared in Helios's foot and shoulder. He kicked off the ground, vaulting backwards to create space, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he bled onto the mats.
"Brother!" Luna's scream pierced the air. She was sobbing, trying to rush onto the floor, but Nova held her back firmly.
"Stay back, little one," Nova said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "This is what it means to be a Seeker."
Helios looked at his sister, then at the blood on the floor. A cold, familiar rage began to bubble up from the depths of his soul, and the crown on his head began to pulse with a dark, rhythmic light.