Jordan breathed even deeper, taking in as much air as he could fit inside his lungs. More of the misty strands holding him in place disappeared.
As the odd tingle of energy inside of him intensified, Jordan tried not to think about the potential implications of his eroding sanity that led him to trying this insane act. Instead, he opened his eyes and focused intently on the back of Corporal Wolf’s head.
What followed was a mental tirade of frustration and anger oriented in the Kid’s general direction.
A full minute passed before Jordan gave up, realizing it was pointless. Well, mostly pointless. The tirade did help him feel better. He knew there was no such thing as telepathy. Everyone knew that. Such things were straight out of trash novels and even worse movies. No, it was time to try something else.
The problem was, there was nothing left for him to try.
Jordan huffed out a breath in annoyance. There were even more floating balls of cotton candy than there had been before. Six if he was counting correctly. Even more disturbing, it felt as if something was trying to force itself into his mind.
Growling, Jordan pushed back. Whatever influence was trying to pit their mental might against his had no idea who they were dealing with.
Without thought, Jordan took his largest breath yet, welcoming the unknown surge of energy as he stilled his mind. More threads of mist holding him in place dissolved.
Bending his will and mind on Corporal Wolf, Jordan tried casting his thoughts toward the Kid a second time.
This time, something happened. Thoughts and impressions of fire and pointed ears came flooding back, interspersed with moments of intense excitement.
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The oversized cotton balls flying around him increased in number yet again, all of them clearly agitated about something. If he didn’t know any better, Jordan would have guessed they were trying to get his attention.
Again, an outside presence pushed against his mind.
Jordan breathed, denying whatever entity was trying to invade his thoughts as the fire in his chest grew to the size of an inferno.
Turning his attention back to the young Corporal, something in his mind clicked.
As if he had done it a thousand times, Jordan cast a thread of thought like a fishing line toward the Corporal, catching hold of the Kid’s mind.
“Corporal Wolf?” Jordan projected.
“MAJOR GLADE?” Corporal Wolf yelled in shock before turning toward him with an idiotic grin. “THANK GOD YOU’RE OK! YOU ARE OK, RIGHT? I MEAN, YOU LOOK BETTER THAN OK…”
“Not so loud!” Jordan projected back, visibly wincing.
“Oh, sorry sir,” Corporal Wolf replied, his lopsided grin somehow growing twice its normal size. The Kid was literally bouncing with excitement as he launched right into the strangest monologue sprinkled with questions Jordan had ever heard. “There is so much to discuss, I don’t even know where to begin. You were in terrible shape after we arrived. Seriously, there was blood everywhere, and I’m fairly certain you died for a short time. But the Fragments saved you! By the way, have you seen this place? It’s incredible! I just finalized my status screen and think I’ve made some fantastic choices! Do you have access to yours yet? I’m waiting for my selections to be processed. Before that happens, can you tell me how many boons you were awarded? I’m assuming you used one to activate this telepathy ability, right? More importantly, have you tried to change your race yet? If not, then I suggest…”
Jordan stared dumbfounded, doing his best to parse out what the Corporal was saying. Fragments? Boons? And did the Corporal really just ask if Jordan was about to change his race?
Worry started to worm its way into Jordan’s thoughts. The Kid either knew something he didn’t, had been drugged, or his brain had snapped from the stress.
He gave it a 50/50 chance between the last two options.
And what, exactly, did Corporal Wolf mean about him dying?