Kael gagged at the smell of blood and the warm, slimy sensation running through his fingers as he scrubbed the floor only made it worse. It had been ten minutes since he started cleaning, but all he could wonder was how it was possible for a rabbit to hold so much blood? It seemed endless. The more he cleaned—soaking the rag and squeezing into a bucket—the larger the pool of blood got. It was like the there was a spring under the wooden floor oozing blood.

"Why do I have to do this?" he asked, whispering as he dunked the blood-soaked rag into a bucket of water. "He's the one that made the mess."

He turned to see Eztli, sleeping in the corner of the room—curled up into a ball, his belly expanding as he breathed. The calm look made him seemed...normal. Almost as if he was just a regular rabbit, but Kael knew that wasn't true. Just a few moments ago, Eztli had been a monster. One full of hatred, rage, and killing intent. Kael shuddered. He had almost died. Hesitation and doubt sprouted inside him. He wondered if he should just let Eztli leave. It would be safer. Kael thought, soaking up more blood. But…he did help heal me. Besides, the anger wasn’t directed at me, but at someone named Wes. I wonder if he placed him inside the rabbit…

 Suddenly, Kael noticed a small stream of blood moving away from the pool. At first, he thought his mind was playing tricks on him or that he somehow caused it by accident, but as he squeezed the rag he saw it move again. Kael stared dumbfounded as the stream formed a small needle-like point. It stretched, wiggled and crawled towards Eztli. T-that's right, he thought, Eztli mentioned that once refined the blood could be brought back into the body!

Kael threw the rag into the bucket, frustration building in him as he realized that he had cleaned for nothing. He almost rushed up to Eztli to shake him awake, but stopped. The images of him controlling the blood spikes, the anger in his eyes and the killing aura were still fresh in Kael’s mind. However, the more he thought about it the more it sparked his mind. His curiosity. How did he do it? Kael wondered. If I can manage to do that… Quickly, he searched the room for something to prick his finger. He needed to try it himself. He needed that power. With it he could make his father and Dean proud.

A half hour into his search, he finally noticed a thin metal nail—poking out of the wooden wall. Kael struggled, but the moment he decided to add more force to pull it free, he felt a wave of energy travel through him. Astonishingly, it caused the nail to come free so easily. Kael inspected the nail not paying attention to the sudden energy, his mind eager to control his blood. It was the size of half his finger and its point was dull. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough to pierce his skin if he used force.

Kael sat and took the nail in his right hand. He motioned the dull tip towards his left index finger. Upon contact, he clenched his teeth and pushed it further. The skin gave way and sent a sharp pain up his arm causing him to wince a little. The pain was soon replaced by an itch, but he ignored it and focused. He brought his hand inches from his face and turned it palm downward—watching the small drop of blood beginning to form on the tip of his extended finger.

How do I control you? He asked himself, thinking of ways to move the red drop. Would it be like controlling qi? Or would there be a special way, one which involved something else entirely, to be able to control it? Well, I'll just have to figure it out.

He concentrated and tried to control the blood with his mind, urging it to move back into his body. That failed horribly. The only result was that the blood had time to grow large enough that it broke, falling from his finger and unto his lap, staining his tattered robes. Sighing, Kael put pressure on his finger to get more blood out, but none came out. Perplexed, he wiped the remnant blood of his finger causing his mouth to fall open in shock. His wound had healed.

Damn it. So that was why I felt an itch until a moment ago. Kael thought as he remembered that Eztli had explained that his blood would heal him unconsciously and at one point would even be able to restore lost limbs; he just didn't think it would be so…fast. Kael looked down at his leg and touched the perfect skin—no signs of ever being wounded. Well, I guess it’s normal for such a small wound to heal so fast. After all, my leg was healed almost instantly once I finished refining. I’ll just think of this is as a benefit.

An inconvenient one at the moment for it meant that he would have to pierce his finger every time and feel pain. It wasn't much, but it was still pain. Pain that he could easily avoid, yet he burned to know how to control his blood. Taking the nail again, he punctured his finger—without even blinking or wincing—and tried to control the blood.

He repeated the process many times—all unsuccessful—during the night. He didn't grow tired; his body had been brimming with energy since he refined all of his blood. Then, there was the fact that he was nervous about the test that would dictate the rest of his life. The one he would use to, hopefully, make his father proud. Frustrated, he laid on the wooden floor, feeling its coolness embrace his back. He turned his head to look at Eztli. The blood had already pooled near him and had grown visibly smaller—definitely going back into him. Kael estimated that it would take a couple more hours for him to absorb it all back.

Just how are you doing it? Kael wondered, sighing. I tried controlling it with my mind, like qi and even tried to command it like one would a beast, but nothing works. And you are even doing it unconsciously! Kael threw his arms upwards and stared into his palms. He felt his blood flowing around inside him, unlike before, it felt different...like it was a part of him. It sounded silly as blood was already a part of one's body, but he never felt it. Not like he did now.

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It was like breathing. One took it for granted, but it would feel majestic and heavenly if one were to be drowning—or holding their breath for a very long time—and then suddenly be able to take that deep breath of air. One would feel it as it traveled, filling their lungs with the much-needed air and their bodies with life. It was exactly like that. Kael had taken his blood for granted and now it was as if it filled his body for the first time in his life. Its presence was so...clear and calming. He felt alive.

Kael clenched his hands. I have to get him to tell me. He told himself. I need to know how to control my blood...before he leaves. Kael spread his arms to the side until they rested on the floor and tried to clear his mind; letting himself enjoy the calming pulses that filled his body. If he focused hard enough, he could even feel every minute change—his heart pumping, vessels expanding—as the blood circulated. It was intoxicating.

In that moment, a sudden realization hit him and Kael sat. The blood...its...A smile appeared on his face, his hope rekindled—mind flowing with ideas on how to control the blood— and he took the nail and pricked his finger. However, the result was the same. He failed. The blood didn’t even tremble. No. He thought, throwing the nail across the room in frustration. I was so sure...Just how do you control it.

He glanced at Eztli again, part of him wanted to wake him and ask, but he restrained himself. If he did...Eztli would probably get mad and maybe even refuse to help him tomorrow. Kael wrapped his arms around his knees trying to wash away the feelings of frustration; filling his mind with Leggy. It was the longest time he had spent away from her. I wish I had Leggy with me...I wonder what she will feel once she sees me again. Kael thought as he tried to focus on their bond, but he could only feel its existence. No emotions or feelings. It was like if Leggy was not even there.

Kael grew worried and bit his lip. Supposedly, from what he had read, a tamer would always be able to feel their beast no matter how far away they were from each other. It was the very foundation of a contract circle. It would bind them without distance in mind. The only reason why a tamer would not feel his beast was if the beast was…dead. No! She is alright. Dean would have taken care of her. Kael thought, filling his mind with positive thoughts and memories. There has to be another explanation for it. There is so much we don’t understand. Hell, Eztli managed to make a five-layered circle and speak to me! Leggy will be fine. Kael thought, smiling and continuing to force the thought of Leggy being hurt out if his mind.

Out of the corner of his eye, Kael saw a book peeking from under the bed. It was the one he took from the library with Dean’s permission. Immediately, he reached for it and then proceeded to look for his father's journal. He hadn't touched or read it for the past month. He had been so focused on refining that he didn’t think of anything else. Finally, he found it hidden behind the small desk. He picked it up—its weight heavy in both his hand and heart—and he traced the embossing on the cover. He opened it and took in his father’s writing and smiled. Then, he hugged it close to him and he shed some tears.

After a long while, Kael felt calm. He felt his father close to him again, even more than when he saw him when Brin was beating him. His words rang in Kael’s mind again. Then, as if triggered by them, he picked up the Anthology and began to read.

Getting lost in the world of myths and legends, particularly everything about the phoenix. The one his father believed in. The one he hoped to prove real.

A loud horn rang, breaking Kael out of his reading. He looked out the small window and saw the morning sun—lighting the world bright.

"It's time for the test." He said, standing fast and changing his robes excitedly. After, he took his father’s journal and hugged it one last time before hiding it within the bed to keep it safe. One wasn’t allowed to take any outside objects into the test, only their clothes and beast. This rule was to make sure that nothing affected the results. Pacing towards Eztli—who slept without a care—Kael picked him up and inspected him. There was no blood or wounds on him; the floor wasn’t even stained. He hesitated. Better wake him up once we are at the test. Kael thought, walking outside, Eztli in his arms.

The other kids had already clustered happily—beasts in tow—in front of Dean, who stood with hands clasped behind his back. Upon seeing him, Kael's eyes widened and he hurriedly walked towards him, wanting to ask about Leggy. Dean noticed him and he gave him a small smile and nod. He then mouthed at him to stay with the crowd of kids. Kael frowned, but did as he was told, although he felt awkward amid the thirty or so kids. Quietly, he looked for Nar. He needed someone to talk with.

 Soon, he spotted him lingering on the edge of the crowd. Kael made his way through the cluster of kids and beasts. Finally clear of the kids, he got glimpse of Nar and shuddered It was like he was looking at a corpse. His expression was bad, his eyes were sunken in—as if he hadn't slept in days—and his calm composure was nowhere to be seen. He only appeared cold and dark.  His fox didn’t look any better. It looked agitated and shifted awkwardly in Nar’s arms as if trying to get away.

"Hey Nar!" Kael said, running to him.

Nar just looked at him and nodded briefly before looking forward; clenching his fox tighter.

"Sorry I didn't visit you. But you must have heard that I was punished and had to stay thirty days confined in my room. Say, how did your binding go?" Kael said, motioning his hand to pet the fox.

“No. Don’t touch him.” Nar said, retreating coldly. "Be quiet and leave me alone."

"Why all of a sudden-"

"Leave me alone, Kael!" Nar yelled, his expression contorted even more—like he was under extreme pain—as he shied further away from him.

Kael was shocked. His mind couldn't process what had happened. His best friend…had just told him off. A laugh found its way into Kael's ears followed by a mocking voice. "Looks like your friend finally grew tired of being with a loser like you, Kael."

Kael turned to face Levy. He stood proudly, tamed beast at his side. Unlike a month ago, it seemed confident and larger. Kael stayed quiet, ignoring the sneers and mocks that started rising from the crowd. He even ignored Dean's caring stare. The only thing he could do was stand and stare at Nar's back as he rounded the crowd.

What did I do? He thought. No. What happened to him during these thirty days?