Daniel and Dain were taken to one of the other empty training halls where their teacher Brant was waiting for them next to a table with two boxes on it. He was not alone, however. The sister of the Belthi church called Greta that Daniel had met several times before was there, wearing her customary black church robes with a large pin over her chest of an iron fist within a circle. Also present was Caspian, a woman Daniel didn’t recognize, and Abigail.

They hadn’t really spoken since Daniel had implied that her Sprit weapon, the Royal Command Scepter that could control people’s bodies, was evil.

“Good, we can get started,” said Brant. “Most of you know each other already. The reason we are here is this woman, Alanna.”

The Stone woman appeared almost overwhelmed by such company. She was in her mid-twenties, with mousy brown hair but a kind face. Her simple dress suggested that she didn’t come from money. She came forward and said, “yes, I came to your city requesting help. I talked to a few people and was given a place to stay. Then some men sent for me and took me here, but I’m not sure why.”

“Tell them about the help you need,” prodded Brant.

Alanna nodded vigorously. “My village is sizeable, but in a remote part of Liria. It took me over three weeks to get here. Anyway, there have been mysterious deaths in my village. Some thought it was wolves at first, or maybe a bear. The killings were always gruesome. People being torn apart out in the woods. But then the killings didn’t stop and grew closer to the town. People started to say they witnessed a monster at night. We sent out hunting parties with skilled trackers, but they never saw any animal tracks or signs of anything. The townspeople have become desperate, and I was elected to make the journey here to request for aid.”

“Yeah, I’m still not clear about why we’re here,” said Caspian.

“Because you’re all going,” said Brant.

“Come again?” asked Caspian.

“Between Alanna’s testimony and the written testimonies she’s provided from other townsfolk, it looks like they’re being terrorized by a Corebeast.”

Greta loudly cleared her throat.

Brant glanced at her in annoyance before continuing. “Many in the testimonies, however, believe that a demonic Scourge has returned and is killing people in the town. Which is why the sister of the Belthi church is here. She will lead an expedition to the town of Fordham and investigate if there is Scourge activity there. The rest of you will assist her and if it turns out to be a Corebeast then you will slay it.”

“What’s a Corebeast again?” Caspian asked.

The others looked at him like he was asking for the color of the sky, which made Daniel think that he was asking for his benefit. Brant seemed to catch on too and answered.

“A Corebeast is exactly like what it sounds. It is an animal who, for reasons we don’t know, suddenly awakened their core and began absorbing essence. This process causes the animals to evolve into a deadlier version of itself. The problem is that aside from absorbing ambient essence, the best way is by consuming the lives of others, particularly people. It feels a rush of essence from the kill, and it becomes an addictive never-ending cycle. Now, Fordham is near the border between Liria’s medium essence zone and its low-essence zone, so while Corebeasts should be unheard of in the region. It is possible. Now it’s important that once you kill the beast that your tried to absorb some of its essence. It will be difficult, but this is one of the ways in which essence users and Spirited grow their cores. Achieving this will be an important step on your road to becoming Irons.”

“What about training?” Dain asked.

“Training will continue on your own time, but I’ll be leaving you with something to help.”

“You’re not coming?” asked Daniel.

Brant shook his head. “No, as I said this is Greta’s expedition. She is the team leader.”

“You can’t seriously expect me to go along with this,” said Abigail, finally speaking up. “I have responsibilities here.”

Brant nodded. “Your father told me you’d say that and I’m to inform you that workers have been hired to organize and catalogue books in the library during your absence. He’s always wanted you to be one of my students, and now you are. Congratulations.”

Brant opened a box that was on the table and pulled out a metal bracelet with some symbols etched on to it. He offered one to Dain first, who moved over to take it. Brant had him put his arm out and clapped the bracelet onto his wrist. The symbols on it glowed white briefly before dying down.

“Dain, you are going because while you show great potential as a leader, you have a harder time in a group of equals. This will be a learning opportunity for you.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Dain merely nodded before backing away.

Brant then urged Caspian to move forward and accept his bracelet. “Caspian, your father and I are pleased with your progress, but we cannot watch over you forever. You are being given a length of rope here. Please don’t hang your future aspirations with it.”

Abigail was next, and she looked like she wanted to argue with Brant before relenting and holding out her arm. “Your father wants you to get out and see more of the world and to work with others instead of being alone all the time.”

Abigail gave no reaction to this and simply stepped back.

Daniel was last. He expected to feel something when the bracelet connected, but other than feeling slightly cold, there was nothing. “Daniel, your presence in the city might cause some problems right now. I’ve had reports that Lambert Beaumont and his father are returning here soon and the other Lords would prefer you to not be here when that happens. They’d like to take his temperature to see if he can be reasoned with first. You not being around will make that easier. Doubly so, if you’re also providing a service to the church while doing it.”

“What are the bracelets?” asked Daniel.

“These are training tools,” explained Brant. “They make it far harder to cycle essence unless you do it perfectly. My suggestion is to learn how to do it slowly at first and then speed up. Once you can cycle essence at a rapid rate with perfect absorption, the bracelets will automatically come off. Until then, essence cycling is going to feel like moving through mud.”

“Is that wise after sending us to hunt a demon or a Corebeast?” Abigail asked, frowning.

“If it’s a demon, then Greta will handle it and if it’s a Corebeast, it shouldn’t be a particularly strong one. Besides, it won’t affect essence abilities. You will still have your full strength and speed. You just won’t be able to replenish your cores without great difficulty. But the journey takes a little over three weeks. That will give you plenty of time to practice on the road. Most of you might have cracked it by the time you arrive.”

Brant gestured that he was finished and Greta turned to the rest of them and put on a big smile. “I’m excited to go on this journey with you. My name is Sister Greta and I am an Iron fist of Belthi. Even if this does just turn out to be a Corebeast, I’m allowed to supervise and render aid to ensure that there will be no fatalities. You’re all perfectly safe in my hands.”

Nobody in the group really looked convinced except for Alanna, who put her hand over her heart and whispered a prayer.

Brant clapped his hands together. “Okay, well, everything you need is being prepared as we speak. You’ll be setting out on your journey momentarily. Daniel, would you mind staying behind for a moment?”

He nodded and everyone shuffled out in various states of excitement or annoyance. Caspian and Abigail both looked ticked off to being forced into this. Dain’s stoic expression never wavered while Alanna and Greta seemed pleased by the turn of events.

Once it was just the two of them, Brant said, “don’t panic about the Beaumonts. Putting you on the expedition was just a safety precaution. Conrad and Dawes will get things sorted by the time you return, but on the off chance they don’t. I’ll have a pre-planned strategy to ensure your safety.”

“Thank you. I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything. It was my laxness in security that allowed for Clarence to abduct you and almost have your Spirit weapon extracted in the first place.”

Daniel nearly shuddered at the thought. Apparently, the only way to extract a Spirit weapon is through severe torture until the subject feels compelled to rip out themselves, permanently destroying their core in the process.

“It’s important you keep that to yourself, though. Lord Dawes tells me that he hasn’t told Abigail the truth about what happened to her bodyguard and he’d like to keep it that way.”

“So, lie to her?”

“Or avoid the subject entirely. Look, you do what you feel is best. I’m here to train you and look after your personal safety while you’re here. I’m not here to tell you how to make friends. Speaking of, don’t trust Greta.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’ll be on you the moment you leave and try to sweet talk you into joining the church. Despite me and the Lords wanting you on this expedition, she actually reached out and requested you by name first. She wants you and your Spirit weapon badly, but if she can’t have you, she might just settle for the gauntlet. So watch your back around her. Be polite and cordial but don’t express any interest in joining the church.”

“I think that’s one thing you don’t have to worry about with me,” Daniel replied dryly.

“Good. Now, the other thing. Greta has been informed that part of your training requires seclusion at certain intervals. This will be your cover for when you teleport. I’m assuming you’ve got a better handle on it now?”

Daniel nodded. “I can choose where I go and sometimes induce or suppress the ability now. The only problem is that it still has to happen eventually and there’s a recharge time.”

“Well, I warned her that you might disappear for up to a week at a time and that you’ll be given your own map with the route marked. I assured her that you would be able to catch up to the group regardless of how far they’ve travelled.”

“I’ll do my best.”

There was that second box on the table, which Brant pointed to. “I had this custom made for you to help train your Invictus punch. The box has its own essence battery at the bottom that will absorb whatever you throw at it. The box opens up and I’ve got a list of things I want you to put inside it,” he said, handing Daniel the list.

Daniel read some of it aloud. “A glass jar, a glass jar with a vegetable in it, a piece of paper with a small circle drawn on it… What is this?”

“The punching box will hopefully do several things. The first is that it will allow you to practice your Invictus punch without the fear of running out of essence. The outer box walls are made of the same stuff as the Andartan training platforms, so there’s no fear of you breaking it. All you have to do is punch it and then tap into the essence battery to regain what you expended in the punch. The second is that I want you to practice how much essence you expend. Right now, an Invictus punch costs you nearly half your core. I want you to practice until you can throw punches with a lesser essence cost.”

“And the objects?”

“That will allow you to hone the ability. Imagine what you could do if you could throw a dozen Invictus punches with pinpoint accuracy?”

Daniel was taken aback by the thought. It would be a game changer. He’d be ten times stronger with his gauntlet. The thought excited him greatly.

“Good, I can tell that pleases you. Take the box and work hard. You’ll find the others out by the stables, getting their horses ready.”

Daniel’s face dropped and a tight knot of dread formed in his stomach.

“Did you say horses?” Daniel asked.