It didn't take us long to return to my cell. This time, I found a more filling plate of food waiting. The usual gruel was there, but now it had chunks of white meat simmered into it, making it closer to a light stew. A slice of dark, slightly tough bread lay beside it, along with a small pitcher of goat's milk. I also noticed my bedding had improved—better linens than the thin rags I'd been used to.
"Compliments of being sponsored, Edric," Instructor Kushim remarked. "Make sure you eat well and sleep well. I heard they want you to train beyond the normal standard, so things will change for you starting tomorrow."
He gave me a gentle shove—nothing aggressive, more like a teacher's nudge to a favored pupil. I appreciated the gesture; it made me feel as though he cared. But it didn't take long for him to say his goodbyes and head back to his own quarters, leaving me alone in my cell. Well, not entirely alone—the Elder was across from me, though he looked a bit off tonight.
"Sir, how are you?" I asked, probing for any sign of distress.
"Oh, Edric… I'm… I'm all right, I suppose," he replied. "But how about you? You seem different somehow. Did your fight go well?" He'd been sitting on his straw mat, but he shuffled closer to the bars once I spoke.
"Me? Haha, no, I didn't do too well, but I survived, so that counts for something." I scratched the back of my head, then took a seat near my own set of bars.
"Oh, don't sell yourself short, my boy. I'm sure you did well enough—especially considering you've got a small feast over there." He pointed a finger at the plate of food in my cell.
"Ah, yeah… that's a long story," I admitted, rising to pick up the bread. I returned to the bars and held it out. "You can have this, sir. I know it's not much, and I'll give you more later if I can. But tonight, I think I need to keep up my strength."
A pang of embarrassment hit me, offering so little to someone I respected, but I was uncertain I could spare more. The Elder simply waved his hand dismissively.
"Edric, you needn't do that. This old frame can barely handle the slop they give me now. Keep it for yourself and make sure you're at your best tomorrow morning." He shooed the bread away, a small but genuine smile on his face.
"So tell me this long story… we have nothing but time," he said, grabbing his bowl and beginning to eat.
I recounted everything, from when I left my cell to the moment I saw the cloaked woman. Although the Elder sat quietly, I could tell he wanted to interrupt with questions. Instead, he held back until I finished.
"So that's how it went, huh... yeah, that does sound like plenty for one day. As for the necklace, I really wish she hadn't made you remove it. That spoiled brat—but what's done is done." He sounded genuinely angry—though it wasn't aimed at me, but the princess.
"Sir, I don't see why taking it off is such a big deal," I admitted. I understood it did something, sure, but I wasn't exactly sure what. Even now, I felt little spikes of pain throughout my muscles, like tiny tears or spasms.
"Edric, how much do you know about your condition?" He shifted slightly as he asked, looking taken aback by my comment.
"Not much, sir. Just that when I was young, they did something to me. Oh, and I have some sort of new organ near my heart, but that's about it." I tapped the spot on my chest where I felt a solid mass.
"A new organ? How do you know that's what it is?" His eyes focused sharply, suggesting he might know more about this than he let on.
"I can feel it—like a heartbeat that doesn't pump," I explained, my hand lingering near my ribcage, unsure if I should say more.
"So you really are the closest they've gotten. That's probably why they haven't killed me yet," he muttered to himself, but loud enough for me to overhear.
"Sir, what are you talking about? Why would they let you live just because of me?"
It's simple, Edric. They surgically implanted parts of a Flame of Rebirth's Deva in you. This isn't the first time they've tried it, but you're the only one I've seen survive. As for me, I'm sure they kept me around hoping I could notice—or help you—since I follow the Flame's teachings," he said, as though it were the most straightforward thing in the world.
"Sir… what are you talking about? Please explain it one step at a time," I insisted. I sensed this information might be vital. Maybe the winged figure in my hazy memories was the Deva he mentioned, but I still didn't understand how it all fit together. The rest just left me feeling lost.
"Yes, yes, well, let me start with the easier questions. That new organ you have is actually a soul core. It's like a stronger tether for your soul to your body. I don't know why you have it, but I can tell you Devas have them—or should—and so do most saints."
"So why didn't they use the Deva's soul core when they did the surgery?" I asked him.
"Because it houses their soul. If they transplanted it into someone else, the soul core could—and would—boot out the body's original soul, since the core has a stronger link to it. That's why they didn't."
I nodded. It made a strange sort of sense. They wouldn't want their enemy's soul just reborn into a new body.
"Now, about the necklace," he continued, "I gave it to you to slow down your transformation. While you probably won't become a full Deva, given your human base, you're definitely turning into something else. I hoped that by slowing it down, your body would have time to adapt."
He held out his palm. "You can give it back, if you want. Now that your transformation's been kicked up a notch, it won't do much."
I shook my head firmly. "No, I'd still like to keep it, if that's alright."
He withdrew his hand, smiling. "Of course."
"Now for the last piece," he went on, "you're not the first they've done this to. You might be the only one sent here, but in Emberlain, we had spies who reported a few other Devas being taken. We didn't fully understand back then, but once I saw you, I realized what must've happened."
I raised my hand to stop him. "How come this is the first time you're telling me any of this? When we met, you acted like nothing more than an old man."
He let out a small laugh. "Why would I spill everything to someone I'd just met? Don't get me wrong, Edric—I liked you well enough, but I wasn't about to share the whole truth. Now it feels like I have to, at least in part. Also," he added, extending a hand toward the bars, "my name is Mark, in case you'd prefer to call me that instead of 'Elder."