Chapter 8: The Hall Of Binding
Orin stepped into the Hall of Binding, the weight of its power pressing against his chest. The chamber was colder than he had expected, its pale blue light casting long shadows on the ancient walls. The air was alive with an energy that made his skin tingle, like the moments before a lightning storm. His gaze was fixed on the orb at the center of the room, its light pulsing faintly, almost as if it had a heartbeat of its own.
"Step forward," General Sheil Luthren instructed, her voice steady but laced with an unspoken urgency. She lingered at the doorway, her sharp eyes watching his every move. "The orb will guide you, but you must open yourself to it."
Orin hesitated, his legs frozen in place. The memory of the forest flashed in his mind—the blood, the screams, the loss. *Untamed power is destruction,* Sheil had said, and she was right. He had seen it firsthand. But stepping forward meant facing that power again, confronting the beast that lurked inside him.
"What… what does it do?" Orin asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sheil's gaze softened, though only slightly. "The orb will bind you to the essence of your Monari-Kai bloodline. It will help you understand the beast within and draw the line between control and chaos. But the binding is not without risk."
"Risk?" Orin swallowed hard, his chest tightening. "What kind of risk?"
Sheil tilted her head, her silver braid catching the chamber's light. "The binding forces you to confront the raw essence of your nature. If your will falters, the beast will consume you."
Orin clenched his fists. "And if I succeed?"
"Then you will take the first step toward mastering your power," Sheil replied, her voice firm. "But make no mistake, Orin. This is only the beginning."
Orin took a deep breath, forcing his legs to move. Each step toward the pedestal felt heavier than the last, the orb's light growing brighter with every inch he closed. The pulsing sound grew louder, resonating in his ears until it matched the rhythm of his heartbeat.
When he reached the pedestal, he hesitated, his hand hovering over the orb. The light shimmered, faint tendrils of energy reaching toward his fingers like it was alive. The sensation was both alluring and terrifying.
*Sonny believed in me.*
The thought steadied him. With a deep breath, Orin placed his hand on the orb.
The world exploded.
A wave of searing heat coursed through Orin's body, followed by a cold so intense it burned. His vision blurred as a torrent of images flooded his mind—flashes of dark forests, raging storms, and towering beasts with glowing eyes. He saw himself, transformed, his claws tearing through shadows that screamed and writhed like living things. The beast inside him roared, its presence overwhelming, its rage suffocating.
Orin screamed, his knees buckling as the energy of the orb surged through him. His muscles trembled, his veins felt like they were on fire. The beast inside him stirred, clawing at the edges of his consciousness.
*Let me out,* it growled, its voice deep and primal. *You can't contain me.*
"No!" Orin shouted, his voice breaking. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand. "I'm not… letting you win."
The beast's laughter rumbled through his mind, a dark and menacing sound. *You think you're stronger than me? You're nothing without me.*
The orb's energy shifted, pulling Orin deeper into its grip. He felt himself falling—spiraling into a void where the beast's presence was all-consuming. Shadows wrapped around him, tendrils of darkness slithering across his skin like chains.
Suddenly, a voice broke through the chaos. It was faint, distant, but unmistakable.
"Orin…"
It was Sonny.
Orin's eyes snapped open, the darkness peeling away to reveal a faint light in the distance. Sonny's voice came again, stronger this time.
"You're more than this, Orin. You always have been."
The words cut through the beast's roar, silencing it for a moment. Orin's heart ached at the sound of Sonny's voice, the memory of his mentor's unwavering belief giving him strength. He clenched his fists, his body trembling with renewed resolve.
"I'm not nothing," Orin growled, his voice steady now. "I'm Orin Slain. And you don't control me."
The beast roared in fury, its form coiling around him like a shadowed serpent. But this time, Orin didn't falter. He reached for the light, its warmth pushing back the darkness. The chains around him shattered, and the beast's presence began to waver.
With a final roar, Orin surged forward, his hand reaching for the light. The shadows dissolved, and the beast's growl faded into silence.
When Orin opened his eyes, he was back in the Hall of Binding. His hand was still on the orb, though its light had dimmed, now glowing with a steady, gentle pulse. His breathing was ragged, his body drenched in sweat, but he felt… different.
Sheil stepped forward, her expression unreadable. "You survived."
Orin looked at her, his chest heaving. "What… what just happened?"
Sheil studied him for a moment before nodding. "The binding has begun. You've taken the first step toward controlling your power, but the road ahead will be difficult."
Orin's gaze dropped to his hands, the faint scars of his transformation still visible. For the first time, he felt something other than fear when he looked at them. It wasn't control—not yet—but it was a start.
"What now?" he asked, his voice quiet.
Sheil's lips curved into a faint smile. "Now, your training begins. Welcome to Hachi Academy, Orin Slain."
As Orin left the Hall of Binding, the weight of his encounter with the orb still lingered. The beast was still there, still waiting, but for the first time, Orin felt like he had a chance to face it. Sonny's words echoed in his mind, a reminder of the belief that had brought him here.
The road ahead was uncertain, but Orin knew one thing for sure—he couldn't turn back now.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone