“He’s gaining on you!” Selt could barely hear the warning over his frantic breathing. His breath hung heavy in the cold morning air as he struggled to keep up his mad dash in the treacherous wooded undergrowth. He barreled through a thicket, wincing as the sharp branches left small lacerations across his forearms before leaping over the log that suddenly appeared in front of him upon breaking through the curtain of leaves.

Coward! Are you afraid of a fair race? He cursed at Veneer in his head. It was clear the other boy would try to win this competition by whatever means necessary.

The race itself didn’t hold any true significance, it had begun as a friendly tradition between overeager young clan members to see who could be the first to reach the ceremonial grounds. Those who won brought no more than bragging rights and pride to their family, but that in itself was important in the Ren clan.

Victory and honor above all else.

That creed was why although it was infuriating, Selt had no choice but to swallow his tongue as Veneer and a few other boys who were working together to undermine the rest of the competition. Short of crippling or killing a fellow clan member, the elder would turn his head from any trick that led to triumph. Such is the way of their clan.

The ground beneath his feet sloped upwards as the muscles in Selt’s calves burned and protested from the miles he had already covered. He was on the last leg of the run and he saw a flash of the clan’s green and violet attire as somebody slipped free of the woods ahead.

“Veneer!” he cried out ahead of him. The boy faltered and looked behind him, no doubt surprised that Selt had managed to break free of those set to slow him down. He felt a smug sense of glee at the brief look of panic that shone on the other boy’s face. Straining his legs, he pushed himself for all he was worth to overtake Veneer. It was going to be close but as the faster runner he might just catch him.

Selt broke through the tree line, starting up the green grassy slope just seconds away from his rival as the goal of the competition came into view. Small orbs of colored light denoting lesser spirits floated lethargically around a wide variety of plants and trees that grew upon the hill’s summit. The various flora marked the boundary to the chosen grounds and the home of their ceremonial overseer.

The ambient life essence the flora produced overflowed down the mountainside like a river, flourishing the ground and nearby forest with life. The energy naturally make its way into his overworked limbs, trying to soothe and mend his muscles even as he strained them even further.

Veneer was twenty feet away, then ten. The outer edges of the domain grew steadily closer as the other boy’s ragged panting that so closely matched his own became audible. The mixed shouts of several boys and girls bounded up the hill behind them as more competitors broke through the forest only to realize the race was drawing towards a close.

Just as he made it within arm’s reach of Veneer the other boy suddenly pivoted. Swinging his foot in a high arc meaning to take him in the jaw with a surprise spin kick. Selt had expected the sudden aggression, he ducked low determined to break ahead when the kick’s lack of resistance threw Veneer off-balance.

The kick sailed over his head as planned but right as he went to slip past Veneer’s right hand came around; a tightly closed fist that left behind a trail of purple dust that sparkled like diamonds. A feint! Selt closed his eyes and threw up his hands to cover his face just as the blinding powder burst apart on his palms.

The fine powder slipped between the cracks of his fingers irritating his skin and finding its way up his nostrils to burn the inside of his nose. He stumbled away from the substance trying desperately not to breathe it in when a hard blow slammed into his chest. He felt his body fly back with the punch and it was all he could do to tuck in his head and try to roll with the inevitable downhill fall.

He struck the ground hard and continued to tumble down the steep mountain like a runaway boulder, the lush grass doing what it could to cushion his painful descent. It wasn’t until something else crashed into him from the other direction that he finally came to a complete stop.

“Are-you-alright?” breathed a feminine voice.

Selt managed to open the eye that wasn’t tearing up from the powder to see who had bothered to stop him. Looming over him draped the long, curly brown hair of a girl around fourteen summers with a petite and angular face. Her brown eyes stared at him in concern as she tried to catch her breath.

“Apologies for interrupting your race Aurora,” he managed to groan out. “This one seems to have lost his footing.” It was an obvious lie, but he refused to admit that Veneer had got the better of him. Taking the extended hand up, he rose to his feet with a soft grunt of pain, it was difficult to keep upright but at least nothing seemed broken. It might be prudent of him to spend the night on the mountainside, letting the vital essence soak his skin and heal the many bruises he was sure to be soon sporting.

Aurora gave him a knowing smile, “Indeed the morning dew has made the climb quite sleek, shall we tackle it together?”

Selt shook his head, his pride refusing to let him accept the subtle offer of assistance. “Gratitude but I have already delayed your ascent long enough. This one will meet you at the summit.” he cupped a fist and leaned down to give a small bow of thanks as he turned her down.

Aurora rolled her eyes at his display. “Try not to slip again.” she said with a small grin before picking back up her pace.

He took a cautious step after her, grimacing at the pain that lanced through his badly sprained left-ankle. Steeling himself, he started up the path once more.

* * *

Selt had the shame of being the last one to reach the ceremonial grounds by a large margin. All the other participating clan members watched his disgrace as he limped past the colorful vegetation to join the awaiting group.

The contemptuous smile Veneer gave him as he approached made him burn with indignation, he longed for nothing more than to challenge the other boy to a duel to regain his honor. He returned his smile with a promising glare knowing that such things would have to wait, he would only disgrace himself further if he delayed the proceedings any longer.

The other clan members his age were situated in a semi-circle kneeling in respect as they awaited the presence of their clan’s guiding spirit. He started for a small opening in the formation were he could squeeze in, but as soon he approached the adjacent clan members shifted, quickly closing the gap. Either nobody wanted the great spirit to see them next to one as shamed as he, or Veneer had used the honor he had gained from being first to further degrade his own position.

Cheeks burning with both embarrassment and anger, he looked around for any space that might be available. The soft clearing of a throat caught his attention and he looked over to see Aurora open a space next to her for him to join.

Before her neighbor had a chance to close the gap he quickly limped over and knelt down on her left. “Gratitude.” he whispered. She had helped him salvage his honor not once but twice this day.

Her cheeks reddened at his words but she gave no other reply, clearly embarrassed at being next to him. Selt looked up and found Veneer directly across from him, his smile twisted to an angry sneer.

Thoughts of retribution flitted through his head but were quickly washed away when a flash of light erupted from the epicenter of their circle. Immediately each boy and girl pressed their head to the ground in reverence and respect to the presence of their clan’s guiding spirit.

“Arise.” The silken words flowed over the clearing and they raised their head while keeping their eyes still downcast. It was customary not to look directly at the spirit as a sign of respect to the being that had been guiding young clansmen down their chosen path since the founding. Still, Selt couldn’t stop his brimming curiosity from sneaking a peek at the powerful and otherworldly being.

Spirits were fragments of a beast’s soul, their bodies ethereal and made entirely of the type of essence the beast had been able to cultivate and wield in life. When a beast dies and its spirit is first born into this world, they are no more than a shard of their former selves, their memories and personality all but gone. It is only through establishing a domain and absorbing the vital essence that all creatures and objects produce, that their splintered soul is slowly able to restore itself.

The ghostly humanoid standing before Selt shone like a celestial goddess, her well-defined form a testament to the countless millenniums she had spent harvesting essence. She possessed a well-endowed and lithe body that could almost be mistaken for human if one were to ignore the massive empyreal wings that loomed out her back or the long silver hair that flowed down her head like a river of starlight.

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He found himself unable to turn away from the majestic being whose history in the valley far-surpassed even the oldest of the clans. His abnormal behavior drew the attention of the ancient spirit and she turned her gaze upon him.

A thrill of excitement and fear coursed through him as her purple eyes set within a pale, timeless face noticed his insignificant presence. The weight of her gaze was like a physical force as she seemed to strip away the layers of his very soul to judge his true character.

He knew he should bow in deference to the spirit and beg forgiveness for not granting her the respect she deserved, but his body refused to obey. His mind continued to yell at him for his actions, even as his soul desired something different. He yearned to understand the creature in front of him in a desire that went far-beyond simple curiosity.

“Zalaphrine.” The word floated to his mind and passed unbidden from his lips before he realized he had spoken.

The spirit flinched in surprise from the name, her eyes widening in disbelief. He felt he was on the cusp of realizing something important when a discreet elbow to his side knocked him out of his stupor.

“What are you doing?” hissed Aurora as she continued to hold her head low in reverence.

“I-I don’t know…” He trailed off, his mind finally asserting control over his actions once more. He bowed his head and refused to raise his gaze again least he fall back into that strange trance, hoping that his transgression would be overlooked by the benevolent creature.

A few more tense moments passed until at last the great spirit spoke. “Children of the Ren Clan I greet and bid you to raise your heads as you prepare for your melding. The path you are about to embark will be one you will walk the rest of your lives. Garnering knowledge and experience as you struggle through the tribulation we call life to pass down to your clan’s posterity, until the day comes when your souls shed their mortal coils to reenter the cycle of rebirth once more. Such as it was before and such as it will be again.”

The great spirit raised her arms gesturing to either side of her where green and purple orbs had started to gather, the lesser spirits congregating to her call. “Before you stands two choices. The Path of Life.” She drifted forward her left hand, allowing the green life spirits that had gathered to spread out and inspect the kneeling clansmen. “One dedicated to the symbiosis of the natural world.”

Selt stared in longing at the spirits as they floated around their heads, searching for a match between their souls. This was the path he longed for. His family had followed the life path for generations and he desperately hoped that one of these spirits would choose to meld with him just as they had his brother.

He watched in nervous anticipation as one of the orbs floated over to him. It did a circle around his head before stopping to hover just inches above him. He smiled as he basked in its soft green glow, enjoying the gentle kiss of warmth it emitted against his skin like the caress of a ray of sunlight. Hope mixed with excitement surged within him causing his heart to quicken and he tentatively reached out a hand to the fragmented soul. Are you the one for me?

The spirit inched closer, seeming to accept his desires before it paused. Just as his fingers moved close enough to brush against its ethereal body it darted away like a startled rabbit. He couldn’t help but let out a sigh in disappointment as the spirit moved on to inspect its other potential candidates. He knew it wouldn’t come back, when a spirit meets an individual it will either meld with them or it won’t, there were never second chances.

Still there are plenty of others, I just need to be patient. He reminded himself as he looked out to the veritable swarm overhead.

A gasp of excitement sounded out in front of him and he lifted his head to find Veneer’s body shining like a silver beacon. His eyes were closed and his whole body shook as the spirit’s soul melded with his own. Those next to him whispered in excitement at his transformation, such a quick bond was almost always a sign of great compatibility, the hallmark of a powerful warrior.

As expected of the clan patriarchs’ son. Thought Selt dejectedly. He felt a pang of jealousy as a small circlet of a green vines formed to envelop Veneer’s wrist, the telltale sign of a chosen who had started down the path of life.

Selt started performing a breathing technique so that he could clear his mind of unsavory jealous thoughts least they scare away a potential match. He folded his hands in his lap and watched the spirits continue to weave their way above, he merely needed to wait, his time would come soon enough.

As the minutes trickled by, he began to feel more and more desperate. It was bad enough having Veneer chosen before him, but when almost two-thirds of those gathered had been chosen he felt he might weep of frustration.

At last the moment he had dreaded came to pass as the great spirit raised her hand once more and all the remaining life spirits departed. “Those of you who have not yet been chosen do not despair,” she spoke her eyes sweeping over her stalwart audience. “For your potential lies within the second option, the Path of Time, where the three fates of the past, present and future intertwine.”

As she let her other arm fall spirits of lavender drifted to the center of the clearing. Unlike the life spirits they had no need to fly around and inspect the remaining clansmen. These spirits were composed of the essence of time itself, they had glimpsed the flow of fate and knew who it was they were meant for. As one they slowly drifted towards their respective chosen.

Selt couldn’t help but feel disappointed, as he watched the remaining clansmen meld, their skin aglow before their own spirit-sign manifested, a purple symbol in the center of their forehead. He may very well be disowned by his family when he returned with such a mark, it would be a brand of shame he would have to bear for all time.

A white gleam caught his eye and he looked up in surprise to see a small white fox darting through the air towards him. A light spirit! He realized what it was in shock. The paths of life and time were the most common of his clan but that wasn’t to say all other paths were shunned.

Those who deviated would find it much harder to advance as they would likely lack the available guidance of a living mentor, but their recorded knowledge would help pave the way for future generations. With enough accumulated knowledge the path of light may even find common use among the Ren clan, such was how it went for the path of time long ago.

The fox drew closer and Selt couldn’t help but feed giddy about bonding with such a well-defined spirit, it would possess far more of its ancestral memories then the formless ones had. The techniques he could learn from such a spirit could one day place him as the foremost warrior of his entire clan.

He lifted a hand out to it, eager for such an opportunity. The white fox didn’t even slow as it passed him by and dove straight into the chest of the girl still kneeling next to him.

Aurora let out a gasp as her body glowed like a descended sun. “A gold rank-spirit!” cried out the boy next to him. Murmurs and whispers filled the clearing as those gathered looked on with yearning and jealousy as Aurora melded with the soul of such a powerful beast. With such a spirit to guide her everyone present knew they were witnessing the birth of a new legend among the Ren clan.

As the light dimmed Selt gaped at all the changes, her auburn hair had turned snow white and her face a shade paler, but most eye-drawing of all were the two white tufts of fur that had sprouted atop her head.

Aurora opened her now silver eyes in a daze, she looked around in confusion when she saw the rest of the clan members starting at her. “What is it?” she whispered to him, cheeks coloring at the attention.

“Your spirit-sign it’s-it’s…” Selt trailed off failing to find words to describe such a glamorous transformation, in the end he merely patted his head to indicate what had changed. It’s beautiful. He finished in his head.

Aurora reached up and felt the small fox ears that had formed on the top of her head and immediately turned away from him with a gasp. Her hands continued to probe the rest of her body searching for anything else that might have changed with her melding.

Selt turned away aware that she might need some privacy to adjust to her changes. He was glad for his friend’s good fortune but saddened by it all the same. The day would surely come when she outgrew her place here in the clan.

“Look at how bewitching her spirit-sign is, I wish I had bonded with such an elegant soul.”

“What of the boy next to her, I don’t see the mark of time or life on him, did he bond with a foreign spirit as well?”

The mutterings of his current position caused Selt to snap back to reality. He looked around in horror seeing that all the spirits had already retreated. Was he really so tainted that no spirit had been willing to bond with him, was such a thing even possible? In all of the clan’s history such a case had never occurred. To have to go through life all alone, without an eternal partner, and be left unable to cultivate and follow a path was the cruelest fate he could imagine.

Selt swallowed knowing that if he didn’t speak up now he would regret it for the rest of his life. He pressed his forehead to the dirt and closed his eyes taking a deep breath before speaking. “Revered Great Spirit.” he began, his words silencing nearby conversations in the clearing, as those close to him stared in shock that someone had the audacity to speak directly to the celestial being. “Forgive this one’s rudeness, but this one appears to have been passed over in this ceremony.”

By now the entire clearing had gone silent as everyone realized what he had said and who he had said it too. Some let out small gasps of surprise from his revelation while others gave him a look akin to horror.

There was a moment of silence before she walked over to him, her bare feet gliding over the ground. “And so you have.” She replied simply.

Her statement was like a knife being thrust through his heart, he had hoped there had been some sort of mistake, that this would all be rectified if he just brough it up, but her words showed there had been no error. Was it because he had dared to steal a glance at her form? Wasn’t this punishment far too cruel for such an action.

“Honored Spirit, may I inquire as to why I was not chosen with the others?” he struggled to keep his voice from breaking as he asked the question, least he appear unworthy of reconsideration. Tears began to swell in his eyes unseen as his head continued to remain pressed against the ground, the shame brought upon him from this day was far too much to bear.

“It is because I am not quite certain what to do with you as of yet. You are an existence whom for all my divinations was…unexpected. I require time to ponder your character before deciding your fate.”

Selt lifted his head from the ground, confusion from her words blurring his thoughts. Why was his existence unexpected, but more importantly did that mean there was still hope? If she finds me worthy is there still a chance I may receive a spirit?

He clung on to that thought like a bonfire in the night, letting it guide his mind away from despair as the ceremony drew to a close and word quickly spread of the girl who had bonded with a gold ranked spirit and the boy who had bonded with none.