Chapter 2

  As Drakkel laid in the darkness, he heard a conversation taking place.

  “What did you do to His Highness?!”

  “What did I do? If you all had been taking care of him, he never would have ended up in this state!” Aurien Wavel yelled. “His sword energy is out of control! He has now entered a sword energy deviation! If he can't make it through…!

  Aurien Wavel and Lif seemed to be having a conversation.

  Indeed, Drakkel felt his meridians begin to break as his energies ran rampant.

  The conversation outside continued.

  “I told him!” Lif said. “I said that he had two types of energy in his body and that they weren't compatible! He had to expel one! But His Highness insisted on keeping both!”

  Aurien Wavel was silent for a moment.

  Then, with a trembling voice, he said, “But the choice to expel sword energy lies in the individual alone. Maybe…” Aurien Wavel hesitated. “If it looks like he will die, we can destroy his martial arts.”

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  “But wouldn't that fate be worse than death? Besides, destroying one’s martial arts would destroy their core, making them unable to utilize sword energy.

  There may have been a guarantee that he would live through it if he were completely human. But he’s part demon. Demonic energy, unlike Sword Energy, is the very essence of life for a demon. If you expel it from his body, he might die.”

  Drakkel heard someone's hand slam on a hard surface. “So, are you saying we're out of options?!”

  Lif breathed a heavy sigh. “No. We should still have some time. The deviation has just started. We can do research to see if anything can be done, but ultimately, it is up to His Highness on how to proceed. He can either expel his Sword energy, or he can find a way to harmonize the two energies currently in his body. The latter though, is unheard of…”

  Drakkel heard the sound of footsteps disappearing into the distance. Soon after, a drop of water touched his cheek.

  “Drakkel…” Aurien Wavel pleaded. “Please…don't go…" His voice grew desperate. “I’ve been looking for you. Font, Piral, Antin, Winfra, and I have been looking. Please don't leave us…”

  He sniffled. “Master told me to take care of you, yet, the moment I show up, you begin to slip from my fingers. What good was studying medicine when I can't even save the people I care about?”

  Drakkel felt someone grab onto his hand. “Drakkel… I’m sorry…”

  Drakkel wanted to shake his head. He wanted to embrace his Senior Brother and tell him that everything was going to be ok.

  But he couldn't.

  He was stuck floating in a black void, feeling his two energies clash within his body.

  Determined not to die, Drakkel sat in a lotus position and focused his mind on the energies within his body.

  As they clashed, his essence was brought to another scene.