Chapter 4

Just as the muffled boom of spiritual energy bursting echoed from deep within the Forbidden Ground, Draven was fetching a Soul-Nurturing Pill from the Apothecary Hall.

His hand stilled, and the porcelain bottle rolled to the floor and shattered.

Rufina came hurrying over from the side, her voice sweet and soft. "Senior Brother, what's wrong? You look so pale."

Draven didn't answer her.

He turned and started toward the Forbidden Ground, the hem of his robe snapping in the wind, each step more urgent than the last.

He could feel it—the life-line on Seraphina's Spirit Meridians that connected the two of them was growing thinner and fainter, like a string about to snap.

Rufina jogged after him and blocked his path.

"Where are you going, Senior Brother?"

"The Forbidden Ground."

"You can't go!" She grabbed his sleeve.

"Senior Sister Seraphina is the best at putting on an act. She must be hiding her aura on purpose to lure you over. The moment you go soft and let her out, she'll throw another fit. How will the whole sect keep her in line then?"

Draven paused for a moment.

Rufina tilted her face up at him, her eyes red-rimmed, as if she were so upset she was about to cry.

"Senior Brother, think about it—wasn't she always like this before?

"Every time she upset you, you'd just leave her alone for a few days, and she'd back down on her own. Right now she's playing you. If you actually go, she'll only grow more out of control."

Draven's brows loosened slightly.

Seraphina really had done this too many times before. After every quarrel, she'd come find him within a day or two, tugging at his sleeve and saying, Senior Brother, I was wrong, I won't do it again.

Over time he really had come to expect it—that she would always bow her head, always come back on her own.

Seeing him waver, Rufina let go of his hand at once and softened her voice further. "Senior Sister's Spirit Meridians are damaged, yes, but her foundation is strong. A few days locked up won't be anything serious.

"But if you go soft and let her out now, she'll only know less restraint from now on."

Draven stood there for a moment, then finally drew his hand back.

"Let's go back," he said, and turned to walk away.

Rufina followed him, her lips pressed together, then shifted into a gentle, obedient tone. "I've had the barrier around the Forbidden Ground reinforced. Senior Sister is perfectly safe inside, so you needn't worry."

Draven said nothing.

His pace wasn't slow, but after a dozen or so steps, he turned back and glanced toward the Forbidden Ground.

That sliver of daylight was blocked completely by the barrier door Rufina had sealed shut once more.

Inside the Forbidden Ground, it was pitch black.

I huddled in the corner against the stone wall, half my meridians already choked off by demonic energy, only the wound at the side of my neck still seeping blood.

I heard the humming of the barrier being reinforced overhead; the door was sealed off completely.

That aura had gone.

Gone far away.