Soren did not want to be in the integration chamber.
He didn't want to be awake.
He didn't want to be conscious.
He didn't want to be anywhere near Master Thalen, glowing runes, or anything that involved the words "emotional test."
But unfortunately, he was all three.
Kael stood behind him like a calm mountain.
Lira hovered nearby like a worried cloud.
Aldric leaned against the wall like a smug inconvenience.
The fox perched on Soren's shoulder, glowing faintly.
Soren whispered, "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
Master Thalen Announces the Worst Possible Activity
Thalen stepped forward, cloak billowing dramatically. "Vale. Today we begin emotional discipline."
Soren screamed. "NO. NO DISCIPLINE. I CAN'T EVEN DISCIPLINE MY HAIR."
Thalen ignored him. "You must learn to control your emotions."
"I CAN'T."
"You must."
"I WON'T."
"You will."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
Thalen gestured to the center of the room. "Sit."
Soren sat.
"Close your eyes."
Soren closed one eye.
"Both."
Soren closed both.
"Breathe."
"I CAN'T."
"Breathe."
"I'M TRYING."
"Breathe."
"I'M PANICKING."
Thalen sighed. "Your panic is louder than your spirit."
Soren opened one eye. "Is that bad."
"Yes."
Soren closed it again. "I hate this place."
The Emotional Test Begins
Thalen raised a hand.
A glowing orb appeared in front of Soren — swirling with soft white light.
Soren frowned. "What is that."
Thalen answered, "A resonance orb. It reacts to your emotions."
Soren screamed. "NO. NO REACTING. I DON'T WANT ANYTHING REACTING TO ME."
Kael murmured, "Just try."
"I DON'T WANT TO TRY."
"You have to."
"I WON'T."
"You will."
Aldric muttered, "Both of you stop."
Lira placed a hand on Soren's back. "We're here."
Soren whimpered. "I hate this place."
Test One: Calm (Soren Fails Immediately)
Thalen said, "First emotion: calm."
Soren blinked. "CALM?! I DON'T KNOW HER."
"Focus."
"I CAN'T."
"Focus."
"I'M PANICKING."
"Calm."
"I'M TRYING."
The orb flickered.
Then turned bright red.
Thalen sighed. "That is not calm."
Soren screamed. "I KNOW."
Kael tried, "Think of something peaceful."
"LIKE WHAT."
"Water."
"I'M AFRAID OF DROWNING."
"Clouds."
"I'M AFRAID OF FALLING."
"Grass."
"I'M ALLERGIC."
Aldric snorted. "Pathetic."
Soren threw a pebble at him. "STOP TALKING."
The orb pulsed angrily.
Thalen rubbed his temples. "We will revisit calm later."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
Test Two: Joy (Soren Fails Again)
Thalen said, "Next emotion: joy."
Soren blinked. "JOY?! I HAVEN'T FELT JOY SINCE I GOT HERE."
"Try."
"I CAN'T."
"Try."
"I'M DEPRESSED."
"Joy."
"I'M TRYING."
The orb flickered.
Then turned black.
Thalen stared. "That is the opposite of joy."
Soren screamed. "I KNOW."
Kael tried, "Think of something that makes you happy."
"LIKE WHAT."
"Your fox."
Soren looked at the fox.
The fox chirped.
Soren smiled.
The orb flickered white.
Then—
The symbol on Soren's chest pulsed.
Hard.
The orb turned red.
Soren screamed. "NO. NO. HE'S INTERFERING. HE'S RUINING MY JOY."
Thalen nodded. "Rhyxos is reacting to your emotions."
Soren clutched his head. "I HATE THIS PLACE."
Test Three: Anger (Soren Passes Too Well)
Thalen said, "Next emotion: anger."
Soren blinked. "ANGER? I CAN DO ANGER."
"Focus."
"I'M ALWAYS ANGRY."
"Channel it."
"I'M TRYING."
The orb flickered.
Then turned bright red.
Then cracked.
Then exploded.
Soren screamed. "I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO THAT."
Thalen nodded. "Your anger is… potent."
Aldric smirked. "He's finally good at something."
Soren threw a shard of orb at him. "STOP TALKING."
The fox chirped.
The symbol pulsed.
Soren clutched his chest. "NO. NO. STOP. I'M NOT DOING EMOTIONS ANYMORE."
The Entity Interrupts (Again)
The air thickened.
The runes brightened.
The projection flickered to life.
The eye opened.
Soren screamed. "NO. NO EYE. GO AWAY. I'M NOT HOME."
The voice echoed:
"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. "STOP SAYING THAT."
Thalen stepped forward. "Rhyxos. Release him."
The eye narrowed.
"No."
Soren screamed. "WHY DOES HE ALWAYS SAY NO."
Kael held him steady.
Lira held his hand.
Aldric looked entertained.
The fox leapt onto Soren's chest, glowing fiercely.
The projection shattered.
The eye vanished.
Soren collapsed. "I hate this place."
The Final Blow
Thalen exhaled. "Vale. You must learn emotional control."
Soren whimpered. "Why."
Thalen answered:
"Because if Rhyxos can manipulate your emotions…
he can manipulate your decisions."
Soren screamed. "NO. NO. I LIKE MY DECISIONS. THEY'RE TERRIBLE BUT THEY'RE MINE."
Kael squeezed his shoulder. "We'll help you."
Lira nodded. "Every step."
Aldric smirked. "This is going to be fun."
Soren threw a book at him. "STOP TALKING."
The fox curled up on Soren's chest.
The symbol pulsed.
Softly.
Like it was amused.
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."