Kael was tired, dirty and his leg throbbed with pain again. It had been hours since they arrived at the material palace but there was still four of them left.

The disciple called out once again. Please call me, he thought, I can’t stand anymore. He would have sat like a few kids did in the beginning, but the disciple would skip anyone sitting and pick the next person. Kael had noticed him smile discreetly at the confused and frowning faces. It seemed he found it fun messing with people. Unfortunately, he picked the short kid without a beast. He approached quietly, but fast. There was a slight displeasure in the disciple’s eye.

Damn it. Kael thought, did he really like making them suffer? The disciple had actually been leisurely doing his job causing those who entered to occasionally get yelled at by the elder for making him wait. I should report him…

He closed his eyes and shifted most weight onto his left leg; that seemed to help ease the pain. The guards moved, their armored boots clanged and echoed through the empty hall, alerting him for a moment. They were leaving. Kael looked around and in the distance, he saw another pair of guards coming.

Changing shifts already. He told himself. Just how long have we been here?

Noticing Levy standing near the door, awaiting his turn, Kael inched towards the thoughtful Nar. "I don't feel good Nar." He whispered.

"We should have told Elder Dean." He snapped.

"Anything but that. Help me to the room on the way back. I don't think I can make it there on my own."

"Fine Kael." He said, sighing. "But promise me that if you still don't feel well by tomorrow, you will tell Elder Dean."

Kael looked at Nar for a long time trying to decide. "I promise." He finally said.

The disciple by the door called and pointed at Levy. "Your turn."

"Finally, I thought I would have to wait here for another day." He said.

This time, however, it didn't take long for him to return holding a small cage. A weak and scared looking brown rodent huddled into a ball—no bigger than a fist. Shifting its eyes at every movement of the cage.

"Damn," he said, "I thought they would at least provide for a better beast, but this is just pathetic. Just like someone." He looked towards them.

"I wouldn't have guessed that you knew yourself that well, Levy." Nar said mockingly.

Levy fumed his face turned a deep red. He approached fast raising his fist towards Nar but stopped as he heard the guards clink their boots to warn him. Levy calmed himself down and just narrowed his eyes.

Damn it Nar. Kael thought. Would it kill you not to tease him?  Nar just wasn’t himself today for some reason.

The disciple came out again. This time he stood watching them and finally pointed at Nar. “Your turn.”

Nar quickly clutched his fox—sleeping after spending the afternoon being feisty—and rushed to the disciple.

"Bastard is lucky there are guards here." Levy said, glancing at Kael. "Tell him it's not over. We will see just who’s pathetic tomorrow when I beat him." With that he stomped away.

Kael wobbled losing his balance, but managed to steady himself. He closed his eyes, focusing on his heartbeat and breath; slowly drifting into unconsciousness.

"Your turn." The voice interrupted his drifting.

It was finally his turn. Kael limped forward, passing Nar on the way. He seemed a little disappointed and his eyes blank. Kael wanted to ask him what happened, but the disciple yelled again. "Hurry up. Walk faster."

Oh, now you want to rush. Kael thought, picking up the pace. I'll ask him later.

As he crossed the door the disciple angrily pushed him forward and closed the door. Kael fell hitting the floor hard. He struggled to stand as his right leg couldn't take any weight. Using his hands and tired left leg he finally stood.

Just wait until I meet you again, bastard. Kael cursed. I’ll definitely report you tomorrow.

Pacing forward slowly, Kael made his way along the narrow hallway. A few paintings embellished the hallway. The largest painting—placed on the center of the hall—caught his attention. It was a phoenix, burning bright as it perched atop the sect's central tower. Transfixed, Kael lingered his eyes on the phoenix. His soul felt drawn in to the phoenix’s eyes. They felt alive and filled with intelligence. A stream of warmness started to fill his body. Kael reached with his left hand touching the phoenix's wing.

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"Boy. I know that painting is beautiful, but to spend half an hour staring dumbly at it is too much." A voice said.

Turning, Kael noticed an old man—white beard reaching his hip and long bushy eyebrows that merged with his mustache—standing next to him with hands clasped behind his back.

"What? Thirty minutes have gone by?" Kael asked. Had he really spent that long staring at the painting? It seemed like it was only seconds…

"Why would I lie boy." The man said.

"That would mean Elder Roan is still waiting..."

"Oh, he’s not waiting anymore"

"What! Did he get mad and leave?"

"He did get mad, but then he came out and noticed a kid staring at a painting."

Kael eyed the man finally noticing his long blue robe. It was indeed Elder Roan. He bowed. "Sorry Elder." He said softly. "I was just lost in the feeling of the painting."

"Feeling?" Roan asked.

"Yes, the feeling of warmth. The phoenix looking back at me."

"I'd be damned." He said. "You are the only person to feel it after your father. This is good."

Father felt this? Kael thought.

"I remember that day. He came to ask for some herbs from the elder, but ended up sitting in front of the painting for hours." Roan continued. "The next day he returned and sat in the same spot for three hours. He did it a total of five times—each lasted less than the previous one—before he stopped."

"Why did he do it?"

"When the elders asked him, he mentioned that he felt the painting held some secret and that he discovered it. The elders then tried staring at the painting for days, but no one ever felt anything.

"Finally giving up they asked him what he learned. Your father never did say. He only claimed that if he said anything he would lose the knowledge. The elders grew angry and thought he had pranked them. In the end, he was punished for three months." Roan said, laughing. "Maybe it's destiny that you could feel it too. Or you are just pranking an old man. Like your father did."

"Elder, I wouldn't d-"

"Come on now let’s get you those materials for your beast and fix that leg up." He said, turning around and pacing towards the door at the end of the hall.

"How did you know?" kale asked, stunned.

"Boy, Dean cares for you more than you think. He told me to help you once you were called in. Also, it’s stupid to think a master at their first mending wouldn’t notice the wound."

Kael stood dumbfounded. Dean was at his first mending? Impossible, that would make him on par with the sect leader.

“I take it that you didn’t know about his true strength.” Roan said. “He probably doesn’t want to know as he was helped by your father with his dying breath.”

“F-father helped him?”

“it was the last thing your father did. I was there. He did it as a gift for their friendship and for you. He wanted to leave someone to protect and care for you.”

Now that he thought about it. Dean always looked at him with so much care. Even today he glanced at him expectantly. I'm so stupid. Kael told himself, feeling his eyes begin to water. Dean knew about the wound, but waited for him to tell him. To trust him. Kael sighed. I'll tell him what happened and apologize when I see him.

Roan smiled at put his hand on Kael’s shoulder. “come on boy. Let’s tend to those wounds.”

The strong herbal smells burned Kael’s nose every time he breathed. His eyes watered and his throat hurt.

“You’ll get used to it.” Roan said, unaffected. “Now sit and let me take a look at that leg.”

Kael sat. Roan poked at his wounded leg causing a shock of pain. He winced at the sudden pain. Then watched Roan frown as he removed the cloth, uncovering the wound.

“Boy, how in the heavens did you get this wound.” He said, shocked. “This is worse than I thought. How were you even standing and walking?”

Kael stayed silent and looked at the wound. It looked worse than back at the spring. Probably because of all the standing.

Roan rushed to his study and brought out a colorful cluster of herbs and proceeded to crush them.

“So, are you going to tell me how you got this wound?” he asked.

“I-I just fell.”

“Boy,” he sighed. “Don’t lie to me. If you don’t want to tell me just say so.”

“Sorry, Elder.” Kael said, lowering his head.

“I must say, you did a wonderful job applying first aid to the wound.” He said, lifting his eyebrows in praise while cleaning the wounded leg of old herbs. “The choice of herbs, the ratios of the mixture and the application area all perfect. Have you ever considered training to be an Herb master?”

“I didn’t do it. It was my friend Nar. He came in just before me.” Kael said then remembered. “That’s right. What happened? He seemed down after leaving.”

Roan stopped applying the herbs then sighed. “That boy…he wouldn’t listen to me about that fox. He was adamant on taming it. If I knew he had this much talent in herbs I would have offered him more help. Even taking him as my apprentice wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Something was wrong with his beast?” Kael asked.

“Yes, that fox. Something is not right with it. Those black feathers of it aren’t normal and its personality isn’t any better. I think that boy will have a very hard time bonding with it. Could you tell him to reconsider and come see me again? I can bend a few rules if I take him as an apprentice.”

“Sorry. I don’t think he will agree to changing beasts. Plus, I don’t think Elder Norman would allow that. He already has his eyes on making him his apprentice.”

“What? That bastard.” Roan said loudly then sighed. “Can you still try to get him to change beasts? I’d hate to see a talent like him fail.”

Kael stared at Roan, who seemed to give up the apprentice part at the mention of Norman, and nodded. He smiled and continued to apply the herbs. Finishing, he got a clean set of bandages and wrapped them around the wound.

“Try walking.” He said.

Kael got up and walked about slowly. The pain was gone and he could manage a straight gait.

“Thanks.” He said, smiling and bowing.

“Don’t thank me boy.” He said, laughing. “Thank Dean. He was the one who asked me to do this. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have. Now I should warn you to keep off that leg as much as you can. If possible don’t walk on it for a week.”

“Yes. I will be sure to do that.” Kael said.

“Now, let’s look at that beast of yours.”