While all of this was interesting, I’d already covered most of it with Hank and my trainers during the Five Dragons Challenge. While Professor Song explained how to summon serpents quickly, an art I’d mastered weeks ago, my mind drifted back to the conversation with the elders.
Their offer was an opportunity for me to do real good for Empyreals. Stopping the anti-Flame protestors would make everyone safer and stabilize a society that had been dangerously upended by my actions last year. And, if I did a good job, maybe the Shadow Phoenix Elders would help me find my mother. The danger from defying Tycho had passed, and I wanted to bring her in from the cold. She deserved a better life.
There were so many dangers to the job, though. If anyone discovered who I was, they could go after my friends or the school. They might even hunt down my mom to use against me. And then there was the very real danger that someone would discover my Eclipse nature.
I had no idea what I was going to do.
“Now that I’ve explained the concept to you, let’s see it in practice,” Professor Song said. The sudden weight of his attention on my core dragged me out of my thoughts. “Mr. Warin, would you care to help demonstrate the use of serpents as a defensive measure with Mr. Vilrose?”
“I’d be honored to be part of your demonstration,” the Disciple of the Jade Flame said as he stepped out of the semicircle and up to Professor Song. “I will be the aggressor.”
“As you wish, honored Professor.” My friends clapped me on the shoulder as I stepped forward. “I suppose I’ll be on defense.”
Everyone chuckled at that, including the professor. He stepped back, letting the Disciple and I square off with one another. It had only been two days since my last fight, and I fell easily into a ready stance.
The Disciple’s eyes burned with excitement as he raised his clenched fists to protect his head. Aspects of energy and anticipation flickered in his aura along with a few dark sparks of fear. He was looking forward to his chance to prove himself in front of the rest of the students. If he could land even one punch on the undefeated School champion, his clanmates would consider him something of a hero.
That wasn’t going to happen.
“Jace.” I offered my opponent my hand.
“Kyle.” He gave my fingers a squeeze but decided not to try to crush my hand when I squeezed back.
“Good, good,” the professor said as he stepped into the space between us. He raised a hand to each of us. “This isn’t a fight, it’s a demonstration. Mr. Kyle, your goal is to strike Mr. Warin at no more than half strength. Mr. Warin, you will defend yourself using only your serpents. Ready?”
We both nodded.
“Begin!” the professor shouted, and leaped back.
The Disciple pushed jinsei into his legs to fuel a gliding step that covered the space between us more quickly than I’d expected. More of the sacred energy glowed around his right fist, which was cocked back to his shoulder. The power grew in intensity as he approached until the entire length of his arm shone like polished gold.
That was a lot more than half strength.
My Eclipse core responded to the threat instantly. The Borrowed Core technique lashed out to rats beneath the dojo’s floor. The connections clicked into place easily, and I cycled beast aspects through my core and into my aura with a single breath. My training during the Five Dragons Challenge had made me much more efficient with my use of aspects, and I used the minimal amount I’d gathered to conjure a pair of thin serpents.
The Disciple planted his feet, and his fist rocketed toward my face. The golden glow around his arm shifted to a deep shade of red as he activated a potent striking technique. He grinned with wild glee, sure there was no way my meager defense could block his powerful assault.
My Eclipse nature raged at this unwarranted attack, and my serpents struck without conscious thought on my part. One of them looped around the Disciple’s arm, and the other speared into his core.
My blood ran cold. It was Singapore all over again.
The Disciple tried to push through the coils of the serpent I’d tangled around his arm. He leaned into his punch, beads of sweat sprouting from his forehead as he poured every ounce of effort he could muster into the attack.
Against most opponents, that might’ve been an effective tactic.
Against an Eclipse Warrior?
It was pointless.
My serpent leeched the jinsei out of his arm’s channels before he knew what had happened. My unique power stripped the aspects from his technique and used them to harden my aura. In the same moment, my other serpent hit his core and began to siphon away the jinsei it found there.
If I didn’t stop it, my Eclipse nature would suck every ounce of sacred energy out of the Disciple. He’d be dead in a heartbeat.
Darkness erupted across my vision. I blinked hard to drive it away and willed my core back into submission. The urge raged against me, hungry for the sacred energy in my opponent. It was confused and hurt by my unwillingness to finish my foe. The Disciple had attacked me, and it was my duty to defend myself to the utmost of my ability.
The Disciple gasped and fell to his knees. His face was white, and his eyes rolled back beneath fluttering lids. His breath came in shuddering gasps, and he collapsed onto his face.
I banished my serpents and severed the connection between me and my opponent. Denying the urge sent a shock of visceral pain through my core, and I stumbled away, hands over my face to cover the darkness I knew had flooded my eyes.
“Give me room,” Professor Song shouted.
“It was an accident,” I choked out. “He was going all out. I had to
