Soren did not walk out of the integration chamber.
He stumbled out.
Like a man who had been spiritually slapped, emotionally wrung out, and mentally punted across a field.
Kael caught his arm before he face‑planted into the hallway. "Easy."
Soren wheezed. "I hate this place."
Lira hovered beside him, frost‑wolf padding quietly at her heels. "You did well."
"I DID NOT."
"You did."
"I DIDN'T."
"You did."
Aldric walked behind them, arms crossed, looking far too entertained. "You screamed less than usual."
Soren threw a pebble at him. "STOP TALKING."
The fox perched on Soren's shoulder, glowing faintly, chirping in soft concern.
Soren whispered, "Buddy… I think I'm dying."
The fox chirped.
Soren corrected himself. "Okay, maybe not dying. But definitely suffering."
The Walk Back (Soren Spirals)
They made their way across the academy grounds.
Students stared.
Whispered.
Pointed.
One first‑year gasped, "He looks worse today."
Another whispered, "Is he possessed?"
A third said, "He looks like he's going to cry."
Soren shouted, "I'M NOT GOING TO CRY."
He immediately looked like he might cry.
Kael sighed. "Ignore them."
"I CAN'T. THEY'RE STARING AT MY TRAUMA LIKE IT'S A SCHOOL PLAY."
Aldric snorted. "It kind of is."
Soren threw another pebble at him. "STOP TALKING."
Lira placed a calming hand on his back. "Just breathe."
"I CAN'T."
The fox nuzzled him.
Soren inhaled.
Exhaled.
Panicked anyway.
The Dorm Room Meltdown
The moment they entered the dorm, Soren collapsed onto his bed like a dying Victorian heroine.
"I HATE THIS PLACE."
Kael sat on the edge of the bed. "Tell us what happened."
"NO."
"Soren."
"NO."
"Soren."
"NO."
Aldric muttered, "Both of you stop."
Lira sat beside him. "We're here. You're safe."
Soren sat up dramatically. "NO I'M NOT. I'M NOT SAFE. I'M NOT EVEN CLOSE TO SAFE. I'M A WALKING MAGICAL LIABILITY."
The fox hopped into his lap.
Soren hugged him. "Buddy… he talked to me."
Kael nodded. "We know."
"No. Not just talked. He… pushed."
Lira frowned. "Pushed?"
Soren nodded violently. "YES. PUSHED. LIKE A SPIRITUAL SHOVE. LIKE HE WAS TRYING TO GET ME TO FEEL SOMETHING."
Aldric raised an eyebrow. "Feel what."
Soren threw a pillow at him. "STOP TALKING."
The Emotional Shift
Soren clutched his chest. "It was like… like he was messing with my emotions."
Kael leaned forward. "How."
"I DON'T KNOW. ONE SECOND I WAS PANICKING. THE NEXT SECOND I WAS ANGRY. THEN SAD. THEN CALM. THEN PANICKING AGAIN. IT WAS LIKE BEING POSSESSED BY A MOOD SWING."
Lira's eyes widened. "He's influencing you."
Soren screamed. "I KNOW."
Aldric shrugged. "Makes sense."
Soren threw another pillow at him. "STOP TALKING."
Kael asked, "Did Master Thalen say anything?"
"Yes. He said, 'Your emotions are a doorway.'"
Lira whispered, "A doorway to what."
Soren screamed. "I DON'T KNOW. AND I DON'T WANT TO KNOW."
The fox chirped anxiously.
Soren hugged him tighter. "Buddy, please don't let me become a doorway."
The Aftershock Hits
The symbol on Soren's chest pulsed.
Softly.
Then harder.
Then harder.
Soren screamed. "NO. NO. NO. I'M OFF THE CLOCK. I'M NOT DOING CORRUPTION THINGS AT NIGHT."
Kael grabbed his shoulders. "Soren. Focus."
"I CAN'T. I'M HAVING AN EMOTIONAL BREAKDOWN."
Lira placed a hand on his back. "We're here."
Aldric muttered, "Again."
Soren threw a sock at him. "STOP TALKING."
The fox's glow brightened.
Soren froze. "Buddy… what's happening."
The symbol pulsed again.
And then—
A wave of emotion hit him.
Not his emotion.
Not natural emotion.
Something else.
Something foreign.
Something ancient.
Soren gasped. "NO. NO. NO. STOP. GET OUT OF MY FEELINGS."
Kael held him steady. "What is it."
"I DON'T KNOW. I'M FEELING THINGS THAT AREN'T MINE."
Lira whispered, "What kind of things."
Soren clutched his chest. "ANGER. SADNESS. HUNGER. LONELINESS. CONFUSION. AND—AND—AND—"
Aldric leaned in. "And what."
Soren screamed, "AND MURDERY INTENT."
Silence.
Kael stiffened.
Lira paled.
Aldric blinked. "Oh."
Soren wailed. "I HATE THIS PLACE."
The Entity Speaks (Because Of Course It Does)
The symbol pulsed again.
The air thickened.
The fox growled.
Soren clutched his head. "NO. NO. NO. NOT NOW. I'M NOT READY."
A voice echoed through his mind.
"You feel me."
Soren screamed. "I DON'T WANT TO."
"You feel what I feel."
"I DON'T WANT TO FEEL ANYTHING."
"You are mine."
Soren screamed louder. "NO I'M NOT. STOP SAYING THAT."
Kael grabbed him. "Soren. Stay with us."
Lira held his hand. "You're not alone."
Aldric muttered, "This is getting interesting."
Soren threw a pillow at him. "STOP TALKING."
The fox pressed its head to Soren's cheek.
The symbol dimmed.
The voice faded.
Soren collapsed. "I hate this place."
The Final Blow
Kael exhaled. "Soren… this means Rhyxos can influence your emotions."
Soren screamed. "I KNOW."
Lira whispered, "And he's getting stronger."
Soren screamed louder. "I KNOW."
Aldric shrugged. "You're doomed."
Soren threw a blanket at him. "STOP TALKING."
The fox curled up on Soren's chest.
The symbol pulsed softly.
Like it was listening.
And waiting.
And amused.
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."