Elucard found Koda in one of Isana’s guest chambers scattered throughout the pristine alabaster palace. Without thinking to knock, Elucard walked in and approached the elf king who laid back on his bed, flipping through a book. Wildeye sat on the opposite side of the room and looked up from her mango lassi.

“Elucard, we heard there was trouble with Raine. What happened?” asked the cobalt wolf. Her face turned to concern as Elucard halted at the center of the room and rolled up his sleeve.

His left arm hummed with a verdant light. Elucard grimaced with discomfort.

“There was trouble—well, a situation. However, it could have turned serious and this damn arm keeps flaring with pain. It hinders me and I want it back to normal,” Elucard glared with fury at Koda and growled his last word, “Now!”

Koda sat up and walked over to Elucard. “I do not take commands from you, Elucard, but I will see if I can sedate the pain.” Koda beckoned Wildeye to assist him. “I could use your experience, Wildeye.”

“Of course, Koda,” Wildeye said as she hurried to Koda’s side at a brisk pace.

Elucard allowed Koda to take his arm as the king and wolf examined the Magi coursing within it.

Koda rubbed his thumb down the glossy flesh of Elucard’s wrist. “You mentioned it flared today, yes?”

Elucard nodded.

“Hmm…” Koda mumbled.

“What are you thinking, Koda?” asked Wildeye.

Koda’s eyes flashed pink with Magi. With it, Elucard’s arm burned green and blue. Immediately Elucard gripped his arm and collapsed to his knees. His veins pumped with freezing liquid as it rushed up his arm and into his shoulder.

“What are you doing!?” Elucard shouted. He grunted as he tried to withstand the agonizing sensation.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“It is as I suspected,” replied Koda. “My Magi is connected to yours. I believe when I flare my Magi, it siphons from yours.”

Elucard’s face trembled with frustration.

“The longer he uses the Magi, the more unstable your arm will become,” Wildeye translated. “But what of your tamed Magi, Koda?”

Elucard flinched as Koda formed a rose in his hand, but he experienced no pain. A relief.

“No, it seems only raw Magi,” reported Koda.

“A simple fix! Don’t use the Magi,” Wildeye said with a smile.

“So if you don’t use this power, will my arm be okay?” asked Elucard.

“That seems to be the case, Elucard.” Wildeye nodded. She turned to Koda. You can do that, Koda. Refrain from using the Magi?”

Koda frowned. “I need the Magi more than ever during the Mage duels. You saw how I handled Trent!”

“Koda.” Wildeye placed a calm hand on his shoulder. “You do not need the Magi to win your mage colors.”

Koda pushed away Wildeye’s hand. “Perhaps—Perhaps I can completely withdraw the Magi from his arm…” Koda tightened his hold of Elucard’s wrist but Elucard yanked it back.

“Wait, do you even know what you are doing?” asked Elucard, now weary of any experiments that Koda might perform on him.

“Truthfully? No, I don’t,” Koda said bluntly.

“I’ll take my chances,” Elucard said with a cold sneer. “Just don’t rely on your parlor tricks, and I’ll be fine.”

Koda narrowed his eyes. “When the time comes'' —Koda moved closer to Elucard until their sight was level with one another— “I will not hesitate to use my strongest weapon.”

Elucard snatched Koda by the collar. He bared his teeth and snarled. “I will not be left helpless because you have zero self control!” He let loose a scowl rife with aggression.

Wildeye’s eyes widened and Koda shook with fear.

Elucard eyed his hand as he strengthened his hold on Koda.

A gnashing growl came from the depths of Elucard’s mind. A familiar voice he had heard over the last few years. One that he struggled to shut out.

Always the animal. Always the attack dog. Who is the one with no self control, Elucard?

Elucard looked away with embarrassment and pushed Koda away. “I—I have to patrol palace grounds for any possible threats.”

Elucard turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.

Watch yourself devolve back into the criminal you alway knew you were. Nothing changes. Nothing matters. No one is safe, not from you, the cruel voice echoed in his head.

Elucard stroked his forehead. “Shut up,” he muttered to himself.