Nar could hardly believe that the man in front of him was the founder of the sect and he completely refused the idea that he was about to receive his inheritance. It just wasn't possible.

He was weak. Nothing special. The only he could call talent was his mind. He learned things better than any other kid and recalling that information was easy for him. Hence the reason he was gifted with identifying herbs. Then there was his Sight, but recently he treated that more like a curse. It had hindered his progress in forming a bond, caused his body to move and do things without his knowledge and plagued his mind with visions.

But in the end, it gave me a weird binding circle. Nar thought. And the visions always included him...could it be true? Part of him really wanted to believe it. That he would receive his inheritance. With it, he would be able to accomplish his dream: reaching a high enough position and be respected by others. It was a foolish dream, but for a commoner with ambition like him, it meant the world.

"Why chose me?" Nar finally asked.

"Well, I didn't choose you," Ior said. "You just happen to be the only one who met the requirements in the past thousand years. There have been multiple disciples that have achieved one or two of the requirements by the time they entered this formation, but sometimes their soul was tainted or their bond was lacking."

"What do you mean?”

"There are only three requirements: one, to possess a large mental capacity, for learning and storing. If not, the memory transfer would kill the receiver; two, to have a soul pure enough to receive the basic purification, enhancement and the fragment memory of the binding formation I left in the spring."

Mental capacity? Pure soul? Nar thought, trying to make sense of what Ior was saying. What really caught his attention, however, was the spring part. Is that what happened at that time?

"Lastly, for the bond created with your beast to be perfect." Ior said, frowning.

"So, I met them all?" Nar said, voice wavering and eyes lighting up.

Ior sighed and shook his head. "Actually, you did not."

I didn't meet them? Nar thought, the trembling the light of excitement vanishing from his eyes. Then why I am here?

"Your bond is imperfect." Ior continued. "Your tamed beast was supposed to manifest in here like you have. I, myself, don't understand how it was possible for you to even activate the inner formation and setting my soul fragment loose. I can only speculate that the beast you tamed happens to possess a special bloodline descent. One strong enough to mend the imperfections in your bond creating an optimal pathway to accept the preliminary formation during the first part of the test."

So that’s why it stood still and didn’t listen to me. Nar thought. But is the fox really that special? He frowned as he realized that the fox was actually the only reason he was having this vision. It gave him the opportunity.

"S-so I'm not receiving the inheritance?" Nar asked, his voice trembling. I need this, please. He yelled inside.

"Yes, you are." Ior said, smiling. "Although the last requirement was not met fully, you possess the purest soul I have seen besides mine. That is a rare thing indeed. With it you’ll be able to accept Ylos’ full strength. Not only that, but your mental capacity is actually superb for someone your age."

Joy bubbled inside Nar causing him to feel euphoric. He was going to receive it. He was going to become important.

Ior stepped forward and placed a hand on Nar's head. "After you receive the memories and exit the formation, inform the council of what has happened. They will know what to do from here on. Ylos has waited long enough. It's time for him to return and soar the heavens. It’s time to end Keres once and for all."

Nar sense the change in Ior's tone. There was sadness, longing and a deep hatred in his gaze. "Ylos? Keres?" he asked.

"Ah, you'll understand once the memories are transferred." He smiled and ruffled Nar’s hair. "Promise me you'll take care of Ylos for me. No matter what happens."

Nar sensed the seriousness of this promise, but still nodded without hesitation.

"All right. Close your eyes so I can begin the transfer—"

Ior's eyes widened in shock and looked up. The runes over them shifted slightly causing the vision world to tremble. "I-impossible! There shouldn't be anyone capable of probing into this formation."

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Before Nar could ask anything, Ior disappeared, but his voice still resounded in his mind.

"Kid, wait here. I need to take care of something."

##

Eztli laughed like a child playing with his favorite toy as he analyzed the formation.  This is amazing, he thought. This formation is just like my soul extractor. But why would it be here? He hated to admit it, but the formation was even more perfect than his own, yet, he didn't get discouraged, only more excited. Who could have possibly created such a wonderful formation?

Suddenly, a strange energy shot from the core stone into him—breaking his concentration—as a yellow glow filled the room increasing the pressure. At the same time a few kids gave a scream and were ejected from the formation.

"Who are you?!" A voice roared in Eztli’s mind.

Disbelief filled Eztli's face as he turned to the stone. It was no longer the same plain looking stone, but had lit up with dozens of runes, some which he recognized. T-the stone, Eztli thought as he trembled. It's a soul container!

"How did you break the defenses I placed around my sect and get into my formation?" the voice roared again, sending an attack towards Eztli.

The soul inside didn't dissipate? Eztli thought, as he raised a shield around his soul and focused on the runes. How is this possible? Yes...the way this rune here...

A man materialized in front of Eztli, giving off a red shine. "You dare ignore me?" the voice grew angry.

Eztli frowned. There was one thing he hated most and that was to be interrupted when experimenting or analyzing something. "Why should I care about you?" He scoffed. "That soul attack was too weak it would never hurt me.”

“You think that attack was all my strength? It was but a warning. If you don't answer me I will kill you. Just who sent you?"

Eztli scanned the soul briefly and he could sense that it was no lie. Although it was only a fragmented soul, it was enough to rival his when he was in his human body. Now, however, it would be able to kill him, albeit with much difficulty. Sighing, Eztli finally turned to face him. "I was sent by no one. I'm here to study."

“Well, then you won’t mind if I do this?” The man’s gaze narrowed and sent a probe into Eztli.

The action caused Eztli to rage. He condensed his soul shaping it into a shield to fight off the probe. “Those tricks won’t work on me. You’d need to be a complete soul at the very least. Now, if you don't want to be the one destroyed, piss off and let me analyze this wonderous formation."

“K-keres.” The man whispered and took several steps back in shock then laughed. "This is unbelievable. To think you expect me to sit here and watch as a servant of Keres tries to analyze my secrets.”

“I’m no servant to anyone but myself.” Eztli said bluntly

"As if I'd believe that. Such a strong human soul inside a beast, littered by corruption and tainted by Keres. You are here on that bastard’s orders to infiltrate and destroy Ylos.”

Laughing, Eztli shook his head. "If you weren't going to believe me and arrive at your own delusional conclusions, why bother asking?"

The man’s soul flared with rage. Its energy increased and commanded the yellow aura released by the stone to turn heavier. Strands soul energy wiggled and guided the energy—condensing it into a sphere—and infused it with a strange red energy. The sphere then shot towards Eztli.

Fuck. Eztli cursed realizing the power behind the sphere. This isn't good. Flaring his own soul, Eztli raised up multiple shields before the sphere struck. The outermost layers crumbled to dust almost immediately prompting Eztli to continuously create more. What the hell is that sphere? How come it's this strong?

As he defended, Eztli sent a probe into the sphere, but, to his surprise, he could not penetrate it. No, this...this energy is just like the one inside the boy. Quickly, more of his soul defenses began to shatter; yet the sphere never dwindled in strength. Frantically, Eztli searched for a way out. If he didn't he would face soul exhaustion long before the sphere disappeared. And he would die.

A strand of Eztli's soul darted across the formation searching for a way to hamper it. There has to be a way to stop this. He screamed at himself. There has to. I can’t die like this. Then, he spotted a minute connection between the formation and one of the kids and his beast.

Nar and his fox.

The fox! He thought. It was branded by a preliminary formation earlier. That is probably the trigger for the inner formation. If I destroy that…

Immediately, Eztli sent a stronger strand—a fusion of soul energy and blood qi—to attack the fox. It made its way inside it and shrouded the preliminary formation. "I bet this is very important to you," Eztli grinned wickedly staring at the soul. "Let's see what happens once I break it."

Eztli ordered his energy to squeeze and destroy the formation. The fox roared and convulsed in pain as the edge of the formation crumbled.

"Stop!" The soul yelled. "You don't know what you are doing!"

Ignoring the soul, Eztli commanded his energy to squeeze harder, breaking the formation inside the fox completely. Noticing the soul was distracted, Eztli willed more of his soul to defend and managed to deflect the sphere. The sphere hit the floor and shattered.

"No!" The man’s soul rushed to the fox, but stopped in its track and then laughed. “Your plan has failed.”

The fox's blood oozed out of his body; however, as soon as it did it fused with the formation. Tendrils of yellow light entered the fox and transformed its bond into the same preliminary formation as before.

"Be prepared to face death." The soul walked towards Eztli, its energy flaring so great the stone roared and sent out a blue glow. "Your plan to stop Ylos' rebirth has failed. He will be reborn and Keres will finally be destroyed."

"Look, I don't know who the fuck this Keres or Ylos you keep talking about are, but this rebirth you mention interests me."

"Stop trying to fake it. The phoenix's aura in me screams at how much of his taint your soul holds. But that will be over soon. You won't be able to stop the following attack."

"I wouldn't be so sure." Eztli said, grinning. Turning to the fox, he willed the remnant blood qi inside to destroy the new bond.

The fox convulsed and twisted gruesomely followed by Nar's terrifying screams.