F-Rank Soul Eater-Chapter 198: Tommy Is Back

....The Holding cell was systematically different from the detention center.

—major difference being that the latter was used to punish cadets when they offended, and the former was for actual prisoners.

Enemies to the academy or the empire.

The room was filled with different aether runes, pulsating in a deep red light.

Each one was interconnected with one another leading to the biggest one on the ceiling, above the head of the Shade Stealer.

On the floor, middle of the room—kneeling— bonded with six red glowing chains, all of which was spread out in opposite directions— was the Shade Stealer.

In this binding position, all nerves in the body had been restricted.

In fact, aside blood flow that was most necessary for survival, it is rumored that the formation in this room slowed down thought itself.

At such a time, the aether neurallinks flicked.

Just once.

A seed, like a grain of rice fell on the ground, before the eyes of the Shade Stealer.

Its gaze concentrated on it—expectant.

And then cracks traced along the body of the seed.

It split open.

A green stem slithered out of the seed, growing, becoming thicker—as its edge formed a bud.

The bud bloomed.

But instead of a normal looking flower, a face was formed from the red petals.

If Soren was here, he would recognise this person instantly.

Polystar.

"After laying it all at your feet. You had one job... To save your kind. To have freedom...

You blew it."

The Shade Stealer tried to move, but the Aether neurallinks glowed fiercer, and the chains surrounded its body tightened.

It could only move its eyes. In its gaze was protest.

"Yes, I know. The Waterfell kid. To think that’s how it all backfired."

If Soren had heard these words, then he would have known.

After all, the last time he met Polystar, he had asked if Polystar was no longer interested in protesting on behalf of shades.

Polystar had responded with, "I am letting that go for now."

Back then, the words had seemed strange to Soren.

What he did not know was that Polystar was the one.

The person that placed the bounty on his head.

"You will have to forgive me. But you can’t resist them even if you want to. When they pry open your core, they will find out."

The Shade Stealer’s gaze settled, head slightly bending lower.

It had accepted its fate.

The flower suddenly developed a needle.

Swishhhh...

The needle launched for the throat of the Shade Stealer.

The shade Stealer spasmed a bit—once—twice.

Black veins spread from the point of needle’s penetration— like webs, decaying as they navigated their individual path across its body.

Polystar looked on, brows frowning, eyes narrowed as tear fell.

But he did not look away.

Not until the Shade Stealer had been totally consumed.

At the same time, the Aether neurallinks in the room flickered, becoming less bright, like a slow dying flashlight.

"You will not be forgotten..." The flower dried up, and withered away.

...

A few days later.

"Cheers..."

Glasses clinged in the air.

"Tommy, I... your grandfather is back!"

Everyone drank the cocktail mixture except for Polystar who merely looked at it as a little beneath him.

But Soren, Bloodshine, Pencil, and Tommy—who sat in a wheelchair, emptied their cups.

Cynthia drank using a straw connected to a opening directly from the jug.

Everyone laughed, and made merry.

Tommy thanked Soren and the others for avenging him.

To which Soren admitted the code he left behind was a hige help.

There was food—mostly cake and bread. Made by Cynthia and Pencil.

This was Soren’s sitting room. It had been decorated with lights, and huge cardboard cut outs of Tommy’s name.

Light wordless jazz music played in the background.

Tommy and Bloodshine gisted as she updated him on everything that had happened since he left.

Meanwhile, Pencil thought to share the cake for everyone, but cynthia shook her head—pointing to the other plate.

"Breeeaaad."

"No... cake."

"Breeeaaad."

"No... cake. Everyone knows cake is better. Its always better during parties."

"Breeeaaad!!!"

As they went back and forth, Soren coukd not help but carry a smile on his face as he walked towards Polystar. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Thank you... I didn’t think you would come when I sent the invite."

Polystar nodded, as he put down the cup, "me neither. But you have a habit of attracting interesting things. I don’t mind staying close for now."

Soren’s eyes shone, "so does that mean you thought it over?"

"Thought it over?" Polystar raised a brow, then he remembered. "Oh, your message," he adjusted his glasses.

"No."

Soren’s shoulder’s slumped. "Come on... Just say yes, and you can be a part of my party.

Come on. Just say yes. Please."

Polystar suddenly felt a headache rise. "Quit it. I can’t be in your party even if I want to. It’s just not possible.

Your party has not had its first hunt yet. Meaning you don’t have sponsors—you don’t pay remunerations.

You maybe a lot of things, Soren, but you can’t afford me."

The words came out with a finality that refused to be questioned anymore.

However, Soren was not mad. He expected Polystar to say such a thing.

After all, they were other Parties out there.

When the top three parties wanted to recruit Soren, they were very willing to pay him 10,000 points per month.

That was a lot of money. The fact that they threw the number so casually was proof that they were capable of much more.

Although not like the the top three parties, they were other parties that paid monthly remuneration of up to 5000 points.

Soren could truly not afford Polystar.

Then again, from the look of things, the bespectacled noble boy never intended to join any.

He was never the social type, and mostly kept to himself.

Still, Soren thought it was waste to just get him go.

Polystar was capable of so much. The battle at the Science reasearch institute proved it.

But Soren was not going to push the matter. Still, he had to ask. "So what about the Winter games. I heard the authorise changed the criteria again."

Polystar nodded, "yes. But don’t worry. It has nothing to do with your defeating the Shade Stealer."

"Then why?" Soren asked.

"Its because they are coming." A voice replied.

It was Tommy. He pressed a button on the wheelchair and it rode towards the two boys.

"The winter games is merely a preparation for teams that will represent the Imperial Soulforge Academy against other Soulbound warrior academy schools." His eyes shone so bright, it almost eclipsed his skull.

"Wait a minute... they are other schools?" Soren was surprised.

But both Polystar and Tommy looked at him like he was dumb.

"There is only one Imperial Soulforge Academy in the empire, and by law of the land, it takes all the Heirs of every noble family.

In fact, coming here is proof and criteria for ascending to head position of a noble family.

It also houses top talents in the empire. Let me ask you this. If you never achieved the girst form before reaching the academy, what do you think will happen to you?"

Soren shrugged his shoulders.

Tommy face palmed. "Its simple. You are kicked into any of the lesser schools."

"Oh..." soren nodded.

"As someone that has served tome in prison, surely you know that its illegal to touch the Glass abd become a soulbound warrior without the empire’s permission."

This much Soren knew. People like Vinegar and cynthia had touched the glass by accident when they were mere kids, and still served punishment for it.

However, if one had served the length of their punishment, their names go into official records as Soulbound warriors within the empire.

They are then allowed the freedom to use their abilities and serve noble houses.

However, most of these people never learn up to the first form.

Its not that it was impossible, but that it was rare.

The secrets to high power, and control were gated by the noble families.

In this world, knowledge was power. No one gave it out without a cost.

Even within the Imperial Soulforge Academy, learning the second form required one to be affiliated with a noble family.

Back in prison, Soren never met another person capable of using the First Form.

This was further proof of how heavily gated the knowledge was.

"Yeah... but if the Imperial Soulforge Academy was merely competing against the lesser schools, then it would be a breeze. Many Clowns in the academy can do significant damage.

The true challenge are the schools from the other worlds."

Tommy paused here intensionally searching for that surprised look in Soren’s eyes.

—unfortunately, he could not find it.

What he did not know was that Soren had already heard of certain stories of the other worlds.

Still, Tommy continued, picking his nose. "The other worlds are places that have been revealed to human beings as a result of the Glass.

From what I heard, these worlds, just like ours, do not exist in the Glass but beyond it.

For a thick skull like your’s Soren, it means that the Glass is not just a place on its own... its a Passage."

(Author’s note: oh, How I love lore so much. Also, even when you send powerstones, Goldentickets, I see them. I love them. I appreciate them. Please don’t stop. And if you are not sending support but enjoying the book, that’s just not fair—you know)