Into the Shadows

Damien rested for around three days. No thoughts, training, or studying. Just that blissful embrace of darkness he loved so much. Everyone let him rest, they knew he deserved it. He gave very few complaints in his year of absolutely dedicated growth.

As he awoke Uncle Tep was there to greet him. "Good morning little tike, you've been out for quite a awhile now haven't you."

Groggily Damien shook his little head. "I reached the first lock Uncle Tep."

Tep's eyes widened "that's impossible! No one has ever reached their first soul lock until the age of ten. You're not fuckin with me are you little tike?"

"Why would I lie about something like that, I spent the last year training my soul the whole time while also doing my training and studying."

"How did you manage that."

"Well it wasn't easy, I had to compartmentalize part of my focus to just slotting and unslotting the souls that were in my possession. Then I had to shift it to work in subconscious. Finally I had to set my mind in a way that even while "sleeping" I could still do it. It took the whole first day to figure it out. So I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention in my first day of studying or training."

Tepmin's jaw dropped, "you really are a little monster aren't you? Also how did you know how long it would take to be finished?"

"Oh I just calculated the math and how many souls I would need to complete it in a year. That's why I asked to borrow any extra souls you had in your possession. I was honestly lucky you had four otherwise I'd be still be grinding out the slotting and unslotting."

"You're frustrating you know that? Just when I think you got nothing left to surprise me with you do it again." Tepmin laughed. "So what's the plan? You only have a few more days of studying left then after that it's just training in your mind until your body can move like you need it to."

"Well obviously I need to do my trial, I want to be able to practice my first blessing as soon as I can, that way I can tier up and reach my next soul lock. How am I gonna protect anyone else if I can't protect my own ass?"

"You're absolutely right. Just remember to stay alert and be careful. If you fail a trial you'll fracture your soul. So make sure you come out healthy and as unscathed as possible."

"Ugh, I know Uncle Tep, you only made me repeat souls class twice despite the me actually passing the first AND second time." Damien rolled his eyes irritated.

"Now, now it was just to show you how important it is that you protect and grow your soul." Tepmin raised his hands in surrender. "Now off you go little tike, I want you back for supper by the end of the week."

"Yeah, yeah, ye... Wait what do you mean by the end of the week?!"

"Oh I must've forgot to mention. Soul lock trials take many days not just a few hours." Tepmin ducked away laughing as Damien threw his empty bottle at him. Luckily Tepmin's bright mood lightened his own a little bit. He wasn't scared to admit that he was nervous. Even though he liked the darkness the trial of shadows sounded just a little bit ominous for his taste.

As Uncle Tep walked away, Damien settled himself back into his crib comfortably. He then closed his eyes and embraced the darkness allowing his mind to recede into his soul. His soul was like a maze of temples right now. He could move the walls as he pleases but each temple or so he imagined represented one of his soul locks. The one he had reached was glowing in a soft purple. He walked straight through the labyrinth the walls shifting to his will moving the maze around him. He reached the first temple and looked up the stairs where the door was. The words looming over its frame like a quiet omen. "Well here goes nothing." Slowly he walked up the steps his bare feet resounding off the labyrinth walls quietly. Reaching the door he put his hand against it. The door opened of its own accord to nothing but only shadows. Damien took a deep breath and stepped into the shadows.