Soulless didn't respond. He stayed on one knee, eyes fixed on the ground.
Alex watched him for a moment before speaking. "You're slower than I expected," he said. "But not stupid."
Soulless slowly stood. His legs trembled slightly, though he forced himself to stay upright.
"Stand there," Alex said, pointing toward the center of the training yard.
Soulless obeyed.
The yard was wide and bare, its dirt packed hard from years of combat. The air felt heavy, as if it carried the echoes of past battles. Soulless rolled his shoulders, wincing faintly.
Alex circled him. "Attack."
Soulless raised his fists. He hesitated for half a second—then his vision shifted.
It wasn't dramatic.
No light. No colors bursting across the world.
Just a faint pressure behind his eyes.
Alex's body came into focus differently. Not his face. Not his expression.
A small, dull gray mark rested near his left shoulder.
Soulless's heart skipped.
So even humans have them…
He lunged.
Alex easily deflected the punch and stepped aside, shoving Soulless off balance.
Soulless stumbled but didn't fall.
"Too slow," Alex said.
Soulless attacked again, adjusting his angle slightly. His fist passed closer to the gray spot this time—but missed.
The pressure behind his eyes grew heavier.
Alex countered, striking Soulless's ribs with controlled force. Pain flared, and Soulless fell back.
He gritted his teeth and pushed himself up.
Again.
This time, Soulless didn't rush. He watched Alex's movement—his breathing, the way his weight shifted.
The gray mark flickered.
It moves…
Soulless stepped in and swung—not at Alex's head, but lower. His fist grazed Alex's side.
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Lucky," he muttered.
Soulless didn't respond. His vision blurred slightly, but he stayed focused.
They exchanged blows again. Soulless was still outmatched—Alex blocked, dodged, and redirected almost every strike—but Soulless kept adjusting.
Each time, he got closer to the gray spot.
On the fifth attempt, Soulless's punch landed squarely where the mark had been a moment earlier.
Alex stepped back.
"That was better," he said.
Soulless's breathing grew heavier. Sweat dripped down his face, and the ache behind his eyes sharpened into a dull burn.
He forced himself to relax his gaze.
The gray mark faded.
Alex moved suddenly, sweeping Soulless's legs. Soulless hit the ground hard, the air knocked from his lungs.
"Enough," Alex said.
Soulless lay there for a moment, chest rising and falling rapidly. His eyes throbbed.
Alex looked down at him. "You're improving too fast for someone with no formal training."
Soulless turned his head slightly. "I learn quickly."
Alex studied him, then shrugged. "Talent, then. But talent breaks easily."
Soulless pushed himself up, ignoring the pain in his ribs.
Alex pointed toward the far end of the yard. "Run. Six laps."
Soulless didn't argue.
As he ran, the world swayed slightly. His legs burned, his lungs screamed, and his vision swam at the edges.
By the last lap, he nearly collapsed.
When he stopped, he dropped to one knee, coughing.
Alex hadn't moved.
"You rely on something," Alex said. "I don't know what—but you do."
Soulless stiffened.
Alex continued, "Whatever it is, it won't save you if your body fails."
Soulless nodded faintly.
Training ended soon after. Alex dismissed him without ceremony and walked away.
Soulless remained in the yard long after, staring at the dirt beneath his feet.
His head throbbed. His body felt hollow.
So this is the price, he thought.
That night, alone in his room, Soulless sat on the edge of his bed. He pressed two fingers against his temple, breathing slowly until the ache faded.
No one had seen anything.
No glow.
No reaction.
No proof.
Just him.
He lay back and stared at the ceiling.
"I'll keep it hidden," he whispered. "Until I'm strong enough."
Deep within him, something watched quietly—patient, unseen.
And Soulless closed his eyes, already planning his next move.