Kael threw up behind Barracks Nine.
Bile burned his throat, hot and sharp, as he braced both hands against the cold metal divider. The walk from the Dark Door had been an obscure, dim corridor, turning hallways, as well as numerous gazes. Presently that he'd ceased, his body at long last gave up. As well as much. As well as being quick.
He touched his neck where the needle had chomped him. A little tie sat there beneath the skin, difficult as stone. It throbbed — a gloomy resound of the rune's beat in his palm. Checked twice presently. Once by the Void. Once by them.
"Listened, they dragged a Void rodent into the pet hotels."
The voice was smooth. As well as smooth. Harm within the tone.
Kael wiped his mouth. Turned.
A boy stood within the entryway, arms crossed. Obsidian eyes. Hair like gold string — as well as clean for this put. His uniform fit as well. Like armor. Like it was made for him, not given down.
"Didn't realize they were letting strays in this year."
Kael remained calm. His clenched hands were at his sides.
"Silas checked you, didn't he?" The boy came closer, eyes flicking to Kael's neck. "That small blessing beneath your skin? It implies you're on borrowed time. Pot chews up Void-touched quicker than Gate-spawn." He grinned. Cold. Sharp. "Valen Thorne. House of Press Runes. Keep in mind it. Once you break, I'll be the one who reports your debasement."
Valen turned, hurled a look back over his shoulder. "Attempt not to drain on the floor, canal rodent. We prepare here."
The Cauldron Yard wasn't soil.
It was fiery remains.
Fine, dim fiery remains that clung to everything. Got in your boots. Filled your nose with the stink of ancient fire and burned bones.
Around him, twenty other stars stood in free bunches. No one looked at him. Their eyes slid past like he wasn't there.
As of now, dead.
A gong smashed the stillness.
Out came the teachers. No armor. Fair, a worn calfskin coat, and eyes like rock. She moved like a cut.
"I'm Commander Rhys," she said. Her voice was broken like a whip. "You're meat. Frail. Untested. Useless. The Pot exists to turn you into weapons — or break you."
Her look cleared the yard. Halted on Kael.
"To begin with the lesson. Channeling."
She raised an uncovered arm. A blood red rune gleamed, spiked, like lightning. The discussion undulated with warmth.
"Rune-channels center power. Lose control, and it eats you from the inside. Nowadays, you light your stamp. Hold it ten breaths. Black out, and it's the pit for you."
Valen went to begin with. His rune flared gold, relentless as his smile. Ten breaths. Simple.
Others taken after. Blue. Green. White. One young lady panted when hers started and burned her wrist.
"Pit. Presently," Rhys said without squinting.
Kael ventured forward. Cinder crunched beneath his boots. Eyes were taken after him presently.
He rolled up his sleeve. The violet check lay noiseless.
Center.
He came for it. Outrage. That's what he gave it. At Valen. At the needle. At the Doors.
Light it.
It detonated.
Violet fire tore from his hand. Not light—force. It yelled through the discuss, thumping him off his feet. Fiery remains stung his eyes.
As well as much.
He attempted to halt it. It wouldn't halt. The impact burned a dark line over where Valen had stood.
Valen expanded. At that point smiled. "Debasement! You see, Commander? It's eating him alive—"
And torment was hammered into Kael's neck.
The tie burned. White hot. His control faltered, the violet light biting the dust.
Rhys was on him in seconds. Snatched his wrist, yanked his arm up. The blurring gleam lit her confront.
"Unsteady," she murmured. She squeezed her thumb into her cheek. Torment speared up his arm.
"But not void-sick. Not, however." She pushed him toward the edge of the yard. "Pit. You misplaced control."
Kael faltered. Fell into the trench. Cold, smudged water gulped him.
Valen's snicker cut through the yard. "Appreciate the shower, Void rodent."
Kael came up choking.
On the remote side of the yard, leaning on the shed divider, stood the scarred Seeker.
Their eyes met. No grin. No gesture. Fair, a long, difficult gaze.
The Seeker lifted two fingers. Touched his possess neck where Kael's stamp burned.
The cut implies they fear you.
The Seeker vanished into the shadows.
Kael dragged himself out of the pit. Cinder clung to him, stuck to the stink of the water. Valen grinned. The rune throbbed in his hand. The hitch beat at his neck.
"Once more, Thorn!" Rhys yapped. "Light it. Or suffocate."
Kael raised his hand.
Violet glint. Powerless.
The Cauldron had its beginning with blood. His.
End of Chapter 4.