Genesis - the Battle Within (Pillars of Creation Book 1) by David Tucker

exercises.
    Over the years he became known as the Shadow, frowned upon by many in the Order, but nurtured by his Master. To the Elders’ disapproval, this art of stealth had come naturally to Genesis, becoming his ally. He attacked with the hidden hand while the other distracted in fanciful and over-elaborate moves. His blade would never come in at a simple, straightforward angle – he became the shadows, he came at his opponents where and when they least expected it, looking for their distractions.
    Genesis smiled through his meditation at this thought.
    His fighting was unusual in most measures, employing throwing blades and many other hidden weapons that were strategically placed within his robes; all utilising strikes that needed one contact only for fatality. This was his craft. It had been tempered into an art form and was his technique and tool of trade … only in this way was he able to compete with the others.
    At times it frustrated him when a simple raised hand and a tendril of telekinetic manipulation from another pupil knocked his strikes aside, slamming him back pitifully. But he’d moved past those years now.
    It wasn’t that Genesis didn’t have the Rieft or couldn’t use it; it was that the talent was so pathetically weak that he could barely perform the most basic of manipulations expected of such attributed Immortals. Even today he could still only use it to slight advantage, nowhere near the extent of his other brethren.
    Yet despite his obvious weakness, no matter the mission or situation, the Shadow, the weak human with the broken craft , would never lay down, he would always keep coming … always get up, no matter what the odds.
    Even with his limited healing ability he’d survived this long, and managed his Apocalypse armour transfusion and personality transplant years ago, which they’d said he wouldn’t and was a miracle. But apparently it all had meaning …
    Much later in his training, the Elders had explained why Genesis was originally chosen – at the time it was considered quite unusual for a boy of his background and socio-economic class to be selected for immortality.
    Every human raised into the prestigious role was selected for a specific reason, and usually had a DNA bloodline linking them to specific ancestors who had received gifts in the early stages of humanity. All of the other Immortals were carefully selected by the SINAI and Elders themselves for an attribute that was so blindingly prevalent and above the Crastepheon levels of other humans it made them stand out like shining diamonds amongst gravel. It was rare for such ones to be in poverty, and tempered like him, their bloodline should have been discovered long ago, with their households a place of prestige and nobility. It was strange indeed that Zeal had found and picked him; surely he was covered in the filth of this world and just a flicker compared to the others.
    Later they had told him that even though he did have signs of talent, with high Crastepheon levels – which was likely why his Master saw him – and a slight affinity within the Rieft, his Crastepheon had apparently been severed or was unattainable through the normal procedures that Immortals undertook, which explained his living conditions. Until recently, it had seemed that he was obscured from his talent and abilities. Today, he noted absently, actually marked the day, sixteen years ago, when the true cause of his problem had been discovered.
    Genesis shifted uncomfortably, his legs getting sore from remaining in one position. The shaft creaked as he repositioned, but luckily not loud enough to draw any attention …
    Come on Me’lina, he called to his Al, what’s taking so long.
    Genesis returned to his memories, ignoring his second personality as it tried gain purchase on him. Yes, he remembered the day well, bursting uninvited before the council, nearly costing him his right for immortality. He’d come to the Elders demanding answers of why