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

across the drop falling a couple of floors as his hands grasped the row of vents. The fall would have been impossible to stop if he wasn’t an Immortal, or still an apprentice and novice Wielder like before. Back then , Genesis smirked, my mission would have just ended .
    With little strain on his muscles, the Shadow clambered inside the small opening without difficulty or concern, and continued his mission towards the ship’s bridge, pitted against an entire crew and a ship full of the greatest threat to his religion. If only my Master could see me now, he thought painfully …
    Slath , it felt so damn long since his wretched Master had abandoned him.

Chapter 4              Zeal
    74 years earlier
    Zeal strode ahead impatiently, already worried for the boy. This was a terrible mistake, he thought angrily, the boy could barely fight one Immortal let alone go up against all the other pupils. And how the hell was he to break down his Sacred weapon and infuse the Mouziz stone, when he couldn’t even use the Rieft?
    This was a mistake, the trial surely had to be cancelled; it had to be a joke, the whole thing was a farce. If only the Elders, like he’d argued many times before, would keep their noses out and let him train the boy as he needed to. Zeal heard his pupil behind him and he spoke harshly, not caring if he showed his frustration, “Hurry up boy, keep it moving,” he grumbled with little emotion. The boy fumbled up next to him awkwardly, trying hard to keep pace.
    “Yes Sovereign, sorry Sovereign.”
    Zeal sighed, “Stop apologising, it makes you look weak.” Zeal stopped and turned towards him severely, “Look at me boy.”
    His pupil turned, eyes just like when he’d found him – lost and searching for answers. Zeal couldn’t help but give him some sort of explanation, he felt sorry for him, and uncharacteristically Zeal decided to let him in on what was going on, just this once, a bit.
    “Look boy, I’m not sure if today is actually going to happen, but if it does you will be tested for the next step in your training as Weapon’s Wielder of our religion. This means you’ll be going up against at least three other Immortals, who will be trying to kill you.” The boy’s face lightened, which infuriated Zeal even more. Zeal knew the full extent of these tests.
    The boy’s voice betrayed his inexperience and young excitement, “I know this Sovereign, but I’m ready I can—”
    Zeal cut him off sharply, not wanting to hear the rest of it, “ No … you are not ready boy, without your Rieft this trial is a farce, as are you. I don’t know what is broken inside of you but without your Rieft you will be massacred, do you understand?” He didn’t give the wounded boy a chance to respond, and he certainly didn’t look in his disappointed eyes.
    “You were lucky to have even survived the nano-molecular infusion to your DNA boy, and by Sacred you will need your feeble healing abilities more today than ever … you may have thought my training was harsh on you boy, but today …” Zeal looked up and cursed to himself, “look just keep it moving, we have to be in the Temple by sunrise – you fight best in low light, so we don’t want you there late morning, when the shadows have shrunk.”
    Zeal felt the boy’s pain and ignored it with little difficulty; he knew the boy was used to his Master’s disapproval, but Zeal had to be harsh. But did he know why? This question often plagued him. Did the boy know it was all for his own good, not to become close?
    Zeal felt the emptiness rise from his depths, the day had arrived and the boy was still unaware, still unprepared, even all his years of brutal, extensive and minutely detailed training would most likely not be enough to keep the boy alive. This trial was one of the Immortal’s biggest hurdles, and even talented users of the Rieft often perished. But for this boy it was just the beginning of his sorrows.
    How was the boy supposed to