The first form?
Soren remembered it clearly. This was the same skill Boyed had used to defeat the Eldritch that attacked his town.
Instructor Marcus explained, "While many can easily unleash their soul energy and its abilities..." His hands glowed in faint red as he demonstrated, sending soul energy into the soul-steel blade. "...Passing it through the soul-steel gives it focus, direction, and even amplification." The blade glowed like his fist.
Soren, like many, was amazed by what he was seeing.
Unlike when Vass released his soul energy back then, this one was not excessive or chaotic.
It was like the instructor's soul energy had been forged with the blade itself.
Such was the necessity of the soul-steel blade they were gifted.
Soren was smart enough to understand that the blade helped to teach one how to discipline their soul energy.
"This knife will serve as a foundation for your weapons training. Do not lose it."
Marcus continued, unbothered by their awe of his skill.
Some cocky cadets tried to mimic him, but the technique was just too difficult to execute.
"The first form technique itself is not a big deal, but it will be the first display of the difference in talent between those of you with a lower soul rank and those of you with a higher one.
Which, in turn, will serve as the basis for how your military career will be judged. Do you have any questions?" His eyes darted around as if to say none should dare ask.
But one person raised a hand. Obviously, not taking the hint.
Regardless, the instructor nodded, allowing the question.
The boy stood to his feet. The way he acted made it clear that he was of noble lineage. His dark hair was combed with almost annoying discipline, not a strand daring to rebel.
Thin, rectangular glasses sat on the bridge of his nose, and he pushed them up with his index finger in a habitual manner before speaking.
"Instructor Marcus," he began, clearing his throat lightly and adjusting his glasses again, "you taught us a few days ago that the relationship between a warrior and their shade is one of give and take. It's the reason soulbound warriors suffer a kind of curse when we initially bond with the Shade."
He paused for a breath, his eyes narrowing behind the lenses as though calculating an invisible formula.
"You all say that for us to take, we must give. But in this class… You have pointed out that we can take without giving." He shifted his weight strategically, as though positioning himself in a debate hall.
"I have two questions. Firstly, are you not contradicting yourself? And secondly… if we take without giving, are we not STEALING from the Shade?"
When he finished, he lowered his hand, fingers brushing his glasses once more—the unconscious punctuation mark to his challenge.
Instructor Marcus frowned, and then he smiled. "Good observation, Cadet...erm..."
"Pill Polystar, sir," Polystar replied, adjusting his glasses again.
"Of course, of the Polystar noble family. A Viscount family, am I right?" Marcus asked as he steadily approached the boy.
"Yes, sir."
"I see the healthy mind of a noble at work in you. However," his stern expression returned, "you have gotten the fundamentals wrong. It is important to give and take during the initial bonding process. But it is not necessary to execute the Give and Take to acquire the power of the Shade. Do you know why?"
The question was directed more to the other cadets than to Polystar.
None answered.
But before Instructor Marcus could respond, another cadet rose from his seat with a kind of theatrical swagger.
He literally performed the exaggerated motions. Making both Soren's and Tommy's faces morph in cringe.
"Is... Is that really a dude?" Soren asked in a whisper.
"I have been asking myself that same question since we came here," Tommy replied.
The boy had blond hair, bright as sunlit straw. It fell over one eye, and with a dramatic flick of his head, he swept it aside as though he were on a stage rather than in a classroom.
Even more, the blond boy had a bird sitting on his shoulder.
The bird was just as large as a fist, its feathers a soft storm-grey. The creature chirped once, almost as if echoing its master's arrogance.
The boy folded his arms and tilted his chin upward, ensuring every pair of eyes landed on him.
"Because Shades are beneath us and should conform to our will." He shot a sideways glare at Polystar, lips curling in dismissive amusement. "At least to the will of my Goldsworth family."
His tone dripped with an air of superiority.
"Obviously, they are barbaric creatures that need taming, like certain subjects of the empire." His arrogant gaze landed on Polystar.
"How dare you?" Polystar clapped back, adjusting his glasses. It looked like venom would spill from his gaze alone.
Marcus' gaze fell on the two boys standing. It seemed like a silent storm was brewing.
He understood what was going on. The boys were from different houses that had opposing beliefs.
This happened a lot with nobles. It was one of the reasons the academy was created. To centralise and teach one belief.
Not just Marcus, but the entire class could sense it.
"What exactly is going on?" Soren asked Tommy. He felt like he had joined a movie when it was already halfway through.
He needed an update. Tommy was willing to give a quick run of the gist.
"Do you remember when I told you Soulbound knights are divided by their status and ideology?"
Soren nodded, eager for more.
"This was what I was talking about. At least the ideology part. "
Tommy was smart. He was the kind of person who always paid attention to his environment. It was a skill one developed in poverty, not to offend the wrong person.
It was also helpful in acquiring information.
As the saying goes, 'If you want knowledge of the birds in the sky, ask the ground. It is always looking up there.'
Tommy explained that the Polystar family was a house of Shade sympathisers, while the Goldsworth family was a house of what was best described as Shade abusers.
The former believed that Shades were unfortunate beings from another world seeking shelter from the Eldritch in ours and should be treated like refugees in need of help and grace.
While the latter believed that there was no difference between the Eldritch and the Shades, only that one was more useful than the other.
As one would expect, both sides had substantial evidence and support for their claims.
Even worse, both sides were willing to go to great lengths to support their own ideology.
Tommy stated that they even went to war several times.
Such a history of the empire was not taught in schools. Soren nodded in understanding and fascination at what noble families considered a problem worthy of a battle, when people from his hometown fought for the opportunity to eat good food.
The way the family representatives looked at one another, it was clear a fight would soon break out.
"That's enough, both of you!" Marcus's strict tone arrested the attention of all. "While I do appreciate the diversity of your valid opinions, I would have to disagree with both of you."
Marcus waved his hand, and his Glassheart, as if drawn to him, unhooked itself from his belt and floated in his palm. --An interesting trick that pulled their focus to him.
Marcus walked up to Polystar. Bringing the Glassheart before the boy. "You claim we are STEALING from the Shades, like it is some righteous indignation, but you forget that what attracts both shades and eldritch to this world are intense negative emotions: hate, hopelessness, long-term suffering, pain... And the list goes on and on. Meaning that foundationally, they all feed on the 'wronging' of people. Tell me, Polystar, how do you claim righteous indignation for a man who only survives when the unsteady blade of demise sits at your throat?"
Polystar wanted to talk, but he held back.
Marcus then turned to the opposition—Goldsworth. "At the same time, where is our righteous indignation if we see our aides as slaves, worthy of only indentured servitude and death simply because of their nature? Do you curse all dogs to death because their existence forces them to eat shit? What moral high ground do we stand on to oppose the forces that 'will' the universe when our faults plague us ourselves?"
The instructor's words were thought-provoking. Neither supporting a side nor condemning them. As if to say you are neither right nor wrong. However, when it came to extreme views, neither side liked the person sitting on the fence.
"What exactly are you saying, Instructor Marcus?" Polystar asked the troubling question on everybody's mind, scrutinising Marcus with a gaze.
Marcus raised his Glassheart. Now, it spun in mid-air on its own. "What I am saying is this. The justification of their existence lies simply in their usefulness," he gave a side smile. "Just like dogs, we do not judge them for their nature, and we do not cry for their liberation. Rather, their purpose is all that matters to us. Do you understand?"
Goldsworth gave a light frown. No doubt he disagreed with the instructor's conclusion. But he nodded and sat.
However, Polystar was surprisingly more stubborn. "I disagree with your conclu..."
SMACK
--A slap landed on his face.
Polystar fell to the ground. Blood spilling from his lips.
Marcus did not even look at the result of the slap on the floor. "Let me make it clear to every one of you. The Imperial Soulforge Academy does not care about your many ideals. It simply strives for one ideal: the one that best aligns with the EMPIRE's goals. You are soldiers of a higher calling beyond your families and their will. Is that clear!?"
"Yes, sir!" the cadets replied in unison.
{Author's note: I really hope I stir your minds with some thought-provoking questions about the world we live in and what we consider beliefs. While I manage to entertain you all. Thank you for enjoying my book.}