Adam stood frozen, rooted to the same spot, his heart a storm of mixed emotions. Julian and his group sauntered past, their laughter cutting through the air like a blade. Avoiding Julian's piercing gaze, Adam dropped his eyes to the ground.
"You bastard!" Julian's voice rang out, sharp and venomous.
Adam bowed instinctively, as a servant would to his lord. Julian's curses grew louder, his anger boiling over. He stormed toward Adam and delivered a brutal kick, sending Adam sprawling to the ground, clutching his side in pain. "You're still chasing me, even to hell's depths!" Julian spat. The group's laughter echoed, harsh and mocking.
Julian's attention shifted to a girl nearby. She tried to slip away, but Julian was faster. He seized her by the hair, yanking her back. "Why are you laughing, you failure?" he snarled.
"I'm sorry, Lord Julian," she stammered. "I did exactly as you asked."
"Then why is he here?" Julian roared, his voice rising with each "why!" He stormed off, fury and disappointment trailing in his walk.
As Julian disappeared, Adam's gaze locked onto the girl. Their eyes met, simmering with unspoken tension. Before he could speak, she lashed out, her foot connecting with a swift, painful kick to his groin. Adam collapsed, groaning, as she cursed and fled into the woods.
Gritting his teeth, Adam staggered to his feet and gave chase. The world around him felt different,sharper, stranger. He could smell her, a faint trace of her presence guiding him through the trees. Hidden behind a tree, she waited, ready to ambush him again ,but Adam had learned from her last trick. As she swung a heavy log at him, he leaped aside. Reaching for her shoulder, he misjudged his step, and she twisted, throwing him off balance. Adam hit the ground hard, his body twisting at an awkward 180 degrees.
She threw a punch, but Adam, now sharper, dodged. Her fist slammed into the dirt. Undeterred, she swung again. This time, Adam caught her by the collar and flipped her to the ground. He pinned her down, his grip unyielding as she struggled beneath him, her efforts as futile as moving a horse.
"Why?" Adam shouted, his voice raw with fury. "What have I done to you?"
He repeated the words, his anger and confusion spilling over. Then, abruptly, his grip loosened. He released her and slumped to the ground beside her, exhausted.
She looked down, her face shadowed with shame. "I'm sorry," she whispered, extending her hand. "My name is Kira, from the Rhodes ."
Adam hesitated. Normally, he'd brush off such gestures, but her sincerity felt genuine, free of malice. He took her hand. "I'm Adam, a Bone. Obviously."
Their eyes met, and a spark of understanding passed between them. They giggled, then burst into loud, uncontrollable laughter, though neither could pinpoint why.
Kira stood, brushing dirt from her clothes. "Follow me," she said suddenly. She took off, Adam trailing behind as they weaved through the trees, past other candidates, following the wind downstream toward a cave. Inside, Adam's eyes widened. A dozen kids his age, all ragged and unkept, filled the space. Some sang a sailor's tune, others practiced magic. Twin brothers Jade and Kade wrestled playfully nearby.
Then, a figure emerged, tall and confident, radiating authority. With a flicker of enhanced magic, he threw a punch at Adam with inhuman speed. Adam dodged instinctively, and the group erupted in a collective "Whoa!" Adam barely registered their reaction, unaware of the changes stirring within his own body.
"Look what Kira dragged in this time!" the leader said, his voice laced with amusement. In a blur of movement, he lunged at Adam, grabbing him by the neck. Adam gripped him back, their faces inches apart, breaths heavy, eyes locked in a fierce glare.
"Stop it, you two!" Kira shouted.
As if obeying a command, they released each other instantly. Kira stepped forward. "This is Adam," she said firmly. "He's my friend."
The leader, still eyeing Adam warily, snorted. "That's my brother, Kile," Kira explained. "Don't worry, he'll come around."