I looked at the man across from me in the opposite cell. He came in covered in grime and dirt a few minutes ago being dragged by two others to the cell. He was a copper-colored Kythraxian, most likely from Eldora, one of the southern countries. Kythraxians are said to be descendants of the ancient dragons, but no one knows for certain these days, no one is old enough to remember.

They had humanoid bodies, however, they were covered in scales, and their heads were that of a dragon. They didn’t have any wings or tails, but they made up for it with how naturally strong they were. With the only light coming from lanterns at night it was hard to tell his features but the one in the cell across from me was a Kythraxian.

“Draup nur vir grah ji yu?” The man said in a thick Eldorian accent, startling me from my thoughts and my examination of him.

After a moment, realizing he was speaking to me, I said “I’m sorry. I don’t speak Auricant.” He raised his brow and did nothing but stare at me for a moment.

When he spoke, his voice was hoarse and gravelly.“Sorry young one, I’ll repeat in your tongue” It was obvious that the man was sick or something worse, however, he restated the question anyway, even though it pained him to do so.”

“Why are you looking at me?”

After a moment of contemplation, I decided to answer honestly. “I haven’t seen many Kythraxians Never a copper one anyway.”

The man made a growling sound, and after a few seconds, it grew louder. There was no visible sign of agitation from the Kythraxian, and I concluded that the sound was the equivalent of a laugh. “I guess my kind is rare even among our homeland, so how did you end up here? This is not exactly a place for someone such as yourself.”

“Well, I was taken a few days ago, maybe a week,” I had stopped counting a while ago, and the truth hurt, being forced to say it was like a punch to my stomach.

“I'm truly sorry.” He said, after seeing my hesitation he added, “But please, continue”

“Well, I guess they took me because of how young I am, and because I’m awakened” I admitted.

“Awakened? At your age, now that must be quite the story, you mind telling me it to pass the time?” I wasn’t sure if that was the best idea, but considering my current situation it didn’t matter. Where to begin though?

“Well, I suppose I can, don’t see much harm here.”

“When I was younger my father always gave me games. One game, in particular, was all about racing him to see who could move the light inside themselves faster. Now I know it was all about getting ether to move inside me, creating the conduits for it. Back then, I just thought it was about moving the warm energy throughout my body, and that I was trying to compete with him.

I created quite the situation when I awakened, I was visiting another country with my father. He was there for his work, and in important meetings, while I was there to try all the delicious foods they offered. I stuffed myself full from all the food offered, so I started moving energy as I normally did. I felt full of it from all the food I ate, which happened occasionally, so it responded much quicker than it normally did. I was moving the energy and noticed it was almost to where it came from, making a loop around my body. When it touched the source, it felt as if my entire body had shifted, becoming much stronger and more contained. I no longer leaked energy from the ends of the conduits, now rotating energy throughout my body and returning some of it to me.

After I took in all of the different changes I felt in myself I remember my excitement, for finally beating my father, it only took three years of practice. When I took in my surroundings, everything in a two-meter radius around me had been blasted away from me, and all of the guards were pointing their weapons at me. My father and all of his associates had come down to investigate the sound of chairs flying and boots clattering and saw me in the center of a cluster of guards threatening me with swords and halberds. To say my father was furious in that moment was an understatement.

After the room calmed down, my father approached me and asked me what happened. I had the biggest smile on my face and simply told him I won. The remaining anger in his face turned to a frown, betraying his curiosity, and he asked me to explain. I told him that I had finally got the energy back to the start and won the race. I explained that I moved the energy throughout the pathways, trying to show him. He chuckled and tussled my hair as he rose when he was fully standing he announced that his son, me, had awakened at six years old.

The entire room turned to chaos after he announced this. Some asked how it was possible for someone so young to awaken, and others asked about the specifics. My father asked his associates from upstairs if they were finished. After he had gotten their confirmation he took my hand and we walked out of that building. I was feeling on top of the world while leaving that building because I knew that I had somehow made my father proud.

When we returned home he sat me down and stared at me. He asked me how I felt and I answered truthfully, saying that I felt great, wondering what the so-called right answer would be. He got up from his chair, got down to his knees, right in front of me, and pulled me into his arms. He explained to me that what I did was called awakening and it’s something children don't often do until they are much older.

He told me I made ether pathways, like blood veins, but for ether. They carry ether throughout your body and allow a person to use ether. Then he asked if I knew what I connected them to and from. I then slowly nodded and told him about the big ball of light, however, I was still trying to understand his prior explanation.

Though my father seemed to move immediately past that and looked me up and down in a new way, he looked proud of me but also worried. His fear scared me but that changed when I saw his smile, he conceded that I had won his game and then challenged me with a new one.”

I still remember that day like it was yesterday having an enhanced memory, a side effect of awakening, the others included being physically stronger and being able to use ether. After that day my father gave me exercises disguised as games that helped me learn to control and use ether better, but I didn’t feel the need to share this part of the story with this new neighbor of mine.

He looked at me for quite a while, before finally responding. “Quite the tale, especially for one so young. I’m quite tired from this vlath day.”

“Vlath?” I asked while having a smile on my face. “I haven’t met many people who would swear in front of ‘one so young,” I added, putting a hint of sarcasm in my words.

“Thought you didn’t understand Auricant. Besides, I’m not just anyone; after what you went through, that should be the least of your concerns.” He stated right before laying his head down to rest, I didn’t blame him, it was most likely a long day for him.

“What do you think of him Surogh?” I asked the blue-feathered bird I had met days earlier, who was now sitting at the nearest window to me. As usual, there was no response, but I was comforted by the fact the bird seemed to listen to my rambling.

“You want to come here tonight, or do you plan to stay perched on the window?” Asking the bird became a nighttime ritual of mine, just something I could do to keep some level of sanity despite my, less-than-ideal situation. Our breathing evened out, and we drifted off.

The next day I woke up with Surogh gone, and me on the hard floor of the ship. There were a lot of questions on my mind from last night such as; Why does the Kythrax have such an interest in me? What exactly did they have planned for me? I had no answers, maybe some guesses but nothing I could confirm.

After sitting there on the floor for a while I decided on something, I was tired. I’ve been here for what I can only assume to be days, I’ve eaten nothing but slop, and barely had much to drink. Sleep is a commodity, my blue hair has probably turned brown with how much grim and dirt has managed its way into it. I’m fourteen, and even if my mental age is around twenty due to my soul growth, I still have the emotions of a fourteen-year-old.

Thoughts like these plagued my mind for longer than I could understand, could’ve been a minute, could’ve been several hours. Eventually, the Kythrax woke up across from me and snapped me out of my thoughts.

After he was more awake I asked him, “What’s your name?” He continued to lie on the floor, and he didn’t move for a while.

Finally, he said, “Well, how about we do this instead, you tell me how you came to get here, and I’ll tell you my name”

“It would only be fair if you told me how you got here, I already told you a story. Oh, and I want your name” As soon as I said this I realized, I was letting my emotions get the better of me again, I could’ve just brought up the story and left it alone.

“True, well where should I begin” It was a while before he began, but eventually he started the story.

“The day started around my wife, in Elysium, and I was required to meet with our clan’s leader so I began to travel towards his manor. This manor resides quite a bit outside the main town. The town still looked so beautiful…” He paused, and with him not facing me I couldn’t tell his expression, but I could vividly imagine the tears. “I was walking the main street, enjoying the day with her, we stopped at all her favorite stalls. I can still feel her hand around mine, pulling me through the streets, and after what only felt like minutes to us, we made it to the manor.

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Our leader had called us there to talk about taking out a few beasts that had arrived from the plains, and thinking that it would be easy enough to complete I accepted. So after grabbing our things, we headed towards the plains. It was just after noon when we arrived at where the beasts were.

The beasts didn’t look too dangerous and I could handle it myself, so I had my wife stay back just in case. I fought the beasts for some time. Most were wolf-type beasts, and some were bird-type, but none of them could use ether properly. I beat them quickly but it turned out that the beasts we were hunting were being targeted by the same people who took us. So after I killed all the beasts I was quickly surrounded and immediately went into another fight.

These people were skilled, but I was much stronger and more experienced. I took out at least ten of them before I saw my wife being taken. Deciding to save her I took a risk and sent a strong spell with the hopes that it would take out the person holding her. I had to aim it quite carefully and it expended a lot of my ether, but it hit its mark and saved her. I yelled at her to run and soon after I was captured.

I still don’t know whether she got to safety or not. That’s most of it, and it happened a few weeks ago. They have been moving me around cells, about every week or so I’m in a new one” He finished, it was quite a lot to take in, he had been captured only because he had to save his wife. Regardless the entire tale only left me with respect for the man.

“I’m sorry that happened to you…” I didn’t know what to continue with… Was there anything to continue with?

“I believe I owe you my name still, I’ve gone by many but I’m fondest of the name Ghezin,” He told me.

“Thank you Ghezin, and now I owe you my story” I didn’t know where to begin, and I had to think about it for a while before I finally started.

“Me arriving here was because of my ignorance, and because of blind trust. Either due to my young age or my willful ignorance, it doesn’t change what happened. With that in mind, it all began in Serenith, my hometown, and was like any other day. My father was out working once again, and my mother was pregnant with my sibling. Deciding to step up into the role of firstborn son, I went out and tried to get what was needed around the house. Food, water, the works, and I spent quite a while doing so.

While doing so I saw a friend, Surogh, and he looked distressed. I went over to help and found one of the townspeople, I had seen them around before and figured nothing was wrong. When I asked him about the problem, he motioned toward the woods. Deciding to try to do what my father would, I headed over.

When I finally got to the woods I found that there was a beast nearby, I probably would’ve died but the man saved me. Offering my thanks I asked him if I could do anything to help him, an innocent question. He led me to the docks and onto the ship. By the time I questioned it, I found myself restrained, and bound.” I finished and by saying this out loud I realized. I was foolish and immature, I let emotions lead instead of logic. This was the problem with awakening before you mature, you might be as logical as an adult, and your reasoning just as flawless, but your emotions are still that of a child. Realistically I know that I didn’t have the experience, I couldn’t have done much differently, but I still hated it.

“Will this regret go away?” I questioned, both to myself and Ghezin.

Ghezin took a moment, seeming to study me before finally saying something, “I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating it. I’m sorry this happened to you, but no it probably won’t” The man looked heartbroken, you could see it in his eyes.

“Did you have a son Ghezin?” I asked.

“No, we were supposed to, but now I suppose I’ll never know” He replied.

“I suppose it’s my turn to be sorry,” I replied, and after I said it I felt a little remorseful, not knowing how he would take it. However, my worries melted when I saw how glad he looked, even in an unknown place. So we sat in each other’s company, letting the days pass.

Later on, in the week, me and Ghezin had just woken up and I decided to ask him a few questions. I started with, “Ghezin, do you know where we are?” I had already learned a lot about controlling my ether. He also made sure to teach me a lot about his native language and culture, I found it fun to learn.

“Somewhere at sea, probably a week away from the destination unless we are heading to the other side of the world.” He answered while eating his slop. A grey and brown lumpy mess, I don’t think it could even be considered food.

“So how well can you use ether?” I continued to ask my Kythaxrian associate.

“Quite a change in the topic there. Well, I would be able to fight most beasts around where you came from” He answered after some hesitation. “But I can’t use it until they lift the seal from my body”

I was confused after hearing that, letting my curiosity get the best of me I asked, “They put a seal on you? They didn-”

“Don’t finish that sentence” He interrupted while looking around, “Don’t know who’s around” Saying the second part in a hushed tone. It took me a second to realize what that meant, at least the more important reasons. First, they either didn’t know I could control ether or they thought I wasn’t much of a threat, most likely the former. Second, they had someone who knew how to use ether to a very high degree, or they had an object that could seal, both required a degree of professionalism.

Finally, after working up some courage I asked, “Who are these people, do you know?” The possibilities playing in my mind. I wasn’t exactly certain he wasn’t working with them, but I hoped I could trust him.

He must’ve noticed because he went to comfort me, “Calm down young one, you should be fine” Though after what looked like an internal struggle he added, “However, to make sure of the fact I’m going to try to coach you through suppressing your ether while it is inside of you”

With many different thoughts still swirling around I questioned him, “Why… why would you do that?” I couldn’t guess his intentions, whether he wanted to know how much I would be worth, or maybe just genuinely trying to help me.

Flashing his teeth at me he answered, “Now that’s a good question, call it personal interest, or maybe I’m selling you out. From where I’m sitting we both don’t have many options here” he had a good point, it was either that or trying to hide by myself.

“Alright, fine, but you have to answer two questions” I stated, trying to sound like I wasn’t terrified. He nodded and prodded me to continue, “How does this benefit you? Another question, why did you offer”

“Good questions all things considered, but you putting conditions on teaching you is odd. However, I will answer them regardless. This can benefit me in many ways, if we ever get out it's a nice favor to have. If you get strong enough, which is unlikely, escaping becomes an option” He stopped for a moment.

“As for your other question, the Kythrax believe that telling someone a piece of your story is a great honor, and it often curries favor with my people. So now that you know these things, what is your choice?’ He stared at me, waiting expectantly while his tongue flickered out his mouth like a snake would.

“There was a choice? Let’s get to this” I responded, I could even feel myself tremble from excitement. I hadn’t trained with anyone but my father ever. He didn’t respond for a while so I asked, “Are we doing this?”

“Going straight from terror to excitement, even if you have a mature soul, your emotions are not in tune. This might cause you to trust the wrong person, or make bad decisions” He stated, “I’m sorry, that wasn't my place” I nodded, acknowledging his apology. “However enough of that, right now you can’t hide your signature, the fix is simple, difficult in practice, but simple enough to explain. Draw ether in at the same rate you expel ether from your body”

“That sounds impossible, you are asking me to both grab and let go of something at the same time” Despite my… complaints, I still worked towards making it happen.

I achieved nothing, it didn’t make sense, fundamentally, or in actuality. How would you even attempt to do something akin to breathing out and in at the same time?

“Got any advice for me Ghezin?” I asked after what seemed like an hour.

“Most people think of filling your soul as breathing or eating, but it’s more like your heart. Can’t help you with it past that due to having different souls, and bodies” He stated. With the advice, I went back to work.

I started by thinking of the differences between breathing and eating, compared to something like my heart. I came up with nothing the first day, and the second. On the third day, I asked Ghezin for anything else, and he refused. On the fourth, I believe I got what he was hinting at.

The soul is connected very differently compared to what I thought. It goes everywhere throughout my body, and even if it started as one path, it has become hundreds. I may not be able to breathe in and out simultaneously, but what if I had two different passageways? What if I had hundreds?

The second problem that came was when I tried to do anything while absorbing the ether within the air. Usually, you would absorb it naturally through breathing, or eating. You could increase that process when you fully focused on drawing it in, essentially mediating.

With that in mind, it still felt like the most challenging thing I had ever done, but it did feel possible. As I worked on this throughout the days, I found little success like moving my arm and absorbing simultaneously. Eventually, I had it to the point where I could move around the room and still try to do it with some success.

“Ghezin, what’s it called?” I asked one day.

“What’s what is called?” He replied.

“The hiding technique”

“Oh, I call it Ether Cycling, another thing, if you get good enough you could probably also use it to increase how many spells you could use without running out of ether,” He said. If I could do this while casting spells, at least partially, I would be able to return some ether as soon as I used it. “Also make sure to keep this going” He added.

Easier said than done, if I slipped up my ether would fluctuate and the guards could realize that I could weave ether. It was frustrating, knowing that if I wasn’t locked in this cell, I could’ve progressed much faster.