F-Rank Soul Eater-Chapter 135: Soulbound Warriors And Depression

Soren slowly sat up, regardless of the near literal scream coming from his muscles.

Then the question fell like a bomb.

"Cadet Soren, where is your shade?" Doctor Kaya asked.

Soren looked ahead.

His Glassheart was beside her, resting on a table.

~Silence.

And then slowly, and obviously painfully, he sat up right.

His gaze on her was one of furry.

"What did you do to me?" He asked, voice evident that the only reason that he had not leaped on her in the expression of his rage was because of his current state.

BAM...

He slammed the table.

"ANSWER ME!"

She paused.

Not shaken, but taken aback by his immediate violent approach.

Maybe it was because of his weakened state, or the annoyance he felt for himself—thinking he could trust this woman.

But right now, he could tell that the strength difference between them was much.

Like trying to seige a fortress with a mere cart.

He was the cart.

Still. This cart would rather ram, and smash itself to bits in attempt to regain its dignity, than be bullied.

~Silence.

It stretched longer this time. No chewing no playful attitude.

Just two individuals. Two pairs of eyes. Green and Brown, clashing mid air like salty and fresh water currents slamming into each other.

Then she answered, voice low. "Its Xanax. Old fashioned Xanax."

His gaze did not move.

She rolled her eyes. "Its a depressant. Humans that have anxiety issues take them to help... level the mood."

"Humans?" He asked back.

"What? Don’t tell me you don’t know." A smiled formed at the corner of her lips.

But his unrestrained frown spoilt her mood.

"The last time you were human was before you touched the Glass." She began.

"From the day you became a soulbound warrior your entire anatomy changed. Or do you think the super strength, and ability to be smashed through a wall and survive were the only gifts you got?"

She snickered. Looking away from him, and finally taking another bite out of her chocolate.

"Diseases no longer work like they should in a Soulbound’s body, why should medicine be any different?"

Soren’s brows creased deeper.

"So you are saying all the attacked cadets were given Xanax from those needles?"

He asked for confirmation.

She nodded. "Yes... but not all of them. Some of them were given: Valium, opioids, barbiturates, and even alcohol. All of which are depressants."

"But they were declared dead." He responded, confused.

"You need to brush up more on your Chemistry and Soulbound warrior anatomy. They could really teach you a lot."

She noticed he did not get her joke, and explained further.

"They were."

"But I heard you." He pointed towards the other room. "When you were talking to those lab assistants, you said that the cadets were not dead. How can they be dead and not dead at the same time."

She sighed, finding it annoying that she had to spoon feed him such basic information.

"Thats because those two that attacked are dead already. But the others..." she shook her head. "Their not... not yet at least."

Soren was taken aback.

Could this woman just speak straight and stop confusing me?

Doctor Kaya sighed again. She felt like an annoyed parent having to spoon feed a retarded child.

"Most drugs have opposing effects on Soulbound warriors. Meaning if it makes a human angry, then it will..."

"Make a Soulbound sad!?" He asked, slowly understanding what she was explaining.

"Yes. But how the drug affects the individual in certain cases, is determined by the body of the Soulbound warrior. Or to be more precis, determined by the bond with the Shade."

Soren froze.

A massive piece of the puzzle had just been slammed on the table.

The victims. All of them.

There was something he was missing. Something he did not see coming.

Now, he could almost taste the revelation.

It was like that moment you almost remembered a person’s name, but it just skipped the edge of your tongue.

Regardless, he had confirmed something.

Those cadets had not been possessed by Eldritch Souls.

Doctor Kaya’s eyes brightened. "Good. You figured something out." she nodded impressed. "You know, for a commoner with an unimpressive background, you are doing well... Very well."

Soren did not mind her.

He leaped down the table.

—falling to the ground, he crouched. His muscles still ached.

But on the bright side, he had not died and turned to whatever those things were. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The reason for this was something he was still wrapping his head around.

He pulled himself up, using the table as help.

"You should rest, you know." She suggested.

But he did not need her words.

"Hmmm..." she mused. She could tell from the way he now looked at her, that he no longer trusted her.

Given what she did, it was expected. Regardless, she was right.

Soren knew she was right. But he still persisted.

With much difficulty, he finally stood on his feet—one arm resting against the table though.

"Tell me. Can you save Tommy and the others?" He asked, more hopeful than ever. If he could survive the needle, they should be a way for them too.

"Well," she nodded, "the Imperial Soulforge Academy is paying me a very generous sum to do that. So... I guess that settles that." she waved dismissively.

Soren nodded, then turned to leave.

However, he paused.

He had forgotten something.

He staggered up to her--his gaz on her, remained menacing. He leaned over the table, and took his Glassheart.

As he left the room, her voice reached him again.

"Soren... I going to find it. That Shade you are hiding."

Soren did not respond.

He left the room.

However, the moment he was gone, she touched a button on the table and a holographic projection shot up.

It was of Soren’s pendent, revolving about its axis.

The neural link runes on it shone in an eerie red light.

Doctor Kaya frowned. "Would you look at that."

....

On leaving the room, Soren made his way out of the facility.

Winter made the outside world white. He activated a bit of Vass’s fire ability to keep warm.

Heat steaming from his lips.

From a Red sword inquisitor, he had been updated on a few things.

Polystar and Vass had been victorious in their battles.

However, their opponents died.

Truly died—this time around.

According to the inquisitor, they turned to ash—and it was not because of Vass’s flames.

Even more, he learned that Doctor Kaya had kept to her word and defended him and the others, saying that she had invited them over anticipating the threat.

Of course, Instructor Eagle-wing eyes did not buy the story.

But considering Vass’s and Polystar’s contribution, as well as the fact that Soren had known Doctor Kaya from his days in prison as an alibi for familiar connection, the instructor let the matter go.

Additionally, the sponsors had been very excited about the battle.

But most importantly, this time around, it showed on camera.

This was what Soren was most baffled about.

Why did his interaction with the Black clad figure not appear on the CCTV and this fight did?

If he did not know any better, he would have concluded that someone was trying to set him up.

Still, the current outcome was one he had not expected.

Right now, he needed to sit and think—away from Doctor Kaya.

She had been bugging him about his Shade since they first met, and now that she knew his Shade was not in his Glassheart, Soren could only imagine the thoughts in her head.

The reason he had been bold enough to not answer her regardless of how many times she asked was because he could tell—

—he didn’t have to.

Soulbound warriors had secrets. In fact, they were encouraged to keep them.

Too much knowledge on you, and someone could find a way to hurt you.

While his Shade not being in his Glassheart could have been a big issue, it was only on the condittgat the rest of the world knew that information.

With inquisitive nature the doctor had, even hoing so far as to lie for him and his friends—Soren knew she would not say anything to anyone.

It was a matter he would have to deal with later.

Right now, he had been reminded once again of how weak he was, and how vital it was to become stronger.

Eventually, he made it past the Yellow zone.

Soren did not notice the figure staring at him from the admin building.

In no time, he had made it to his dormitory.

On arriving, he went through the reception.

He could hear a bit of conversation here and there.

It was not about what happened in the science Research institute.

Something about the Lion Hearts and the upcoming Winter Games that was due in a few days.

He had other things to worry about.

While Doctor Kaya had confidently said she could help Tommy and the others, he still had to make the person that caused this problem pay.

To do that, he had to find them first.

"Good job today." Hector complimented from across his table, cybernetic eye zooming in on Soren. "I saw what you did in the... Red zone."

"Thank you." Soren nodded politely, walking past faster, very much avoiding the conversation as best he could.

"Hey, if there is anything you need, and I can help with, make sure to tell me, okay." Hector smiled.

Soren paused.

An idea lighting up in his head. "Actually, there is..."