I barely open my eyes over the next few hours of travel – I hardly need to when little has changed since the last time I looked, hours back. Of course, the mountains are beautiful, but they never seem to get closer no matter how long we ride and the rest of the land around us is rolling farmland and pastures. It’s more than a little monotonous – no sooner have we reached the top of one rise, than we see another just ahead of us.

  Even while meditating, I remain aware of movement in the wagon behind me – those who are tired climb in to have a rest while those who have become bored of resting climb out to jog for a bit. Bastet keeps me company for a good portion of the journey, lying over my feet and keeping them just a little too warm.

  Pleasant as it is, I still get stiff. Deciding to have a break myself from meditating on my Energy Heart, I carefully ease my feet out from under Bastet – and accept her accusing stare that glares up at me when I thought I was home and free.

  “I’ll be back,” I promise her. Bastet eyes me for a moment and then stands up and stretches herself.

  I was going to check on my cubs anyway, she insists, hopping off the side of the moving wagon.

  “You do that,” I call after her belatedly. Instead of following her, I climb over the bench to enter the belly of the wagon itself. Keeping my eyes pointedly away from where Kalanthia’s head seems to be at the same time just pressing against the cloth roof and also going through it, I notice one of my companions looks troubled.

  “What’s the matter, Loran?” I ask him, stepping closer.

  Alyna glances up briefly from where she’s carving into what I’ve learned is an enchanter’s apprentice tool – Master Mirena gave both her and Hunter one. It indicates how accurate a rune is when carved into its surface, and is able to erase previously carved runes on command. Very useful.

  When Alyna sees that I don’t necessarily want her attention, she silently bends her head over her work again. Hunter isn’t here – I wonder idly if she’s spending time with Master Mirena. The Master Enchanter did say that she would work on tattoos even during the journey.

  Loran darts a look my way, and then shifts his gaze to his hands.

  “Nothing,” he replies quietly.

  “Please don’t lie to me,” I request firmly, fixing Loran with a hard look. It’s not the first time he’s done this – negated his own feelings. And it’s not healthy. “If you don’t want to tell me, then that’s fine – say that. I’ll accept it. But please don’t say that nothing is wrong when I can see that something is.”

  Loran’s eyes dart up to mine for a moment, and then lower again. I can practically see the thought process going on. I can certainly feel the tumult it causes over the Bond.

  “I…didn’t mean to lie to you,” he murmurs quietly. “My apologies, my lord. I just…it’s stupid.”

  “No, go on,” I urge. I see his eyes wandering over to the Energy Heart that lies between Fenrir’s paws. The lizog was running the last few times I looked but has eventually decided to take a break. Clearly, that break includes meditating. I approve.

  “Do you…do you think I could absorb a Core like they do? I don’t have a Class but…neither do they.”

  Loran’s voice is quiet and fragile. I hesitate for a moment before speaking frankly.

  “Honestly, I’ve been wondering exactly the same thing,” I admit. “What might happen to a human without a Class who absorbs a Core. The honest answer is that I don’t know. Cores generally help the beast’s internal matrix to grow. I don’t even know what a human’s internal matrix looks like. Certainly my own is very different from any beast’s I’ve seen – but that might just be because of the Class.”

  Maybe that’s a bit too honest – Kalanthia did warn about revealing too much of one’s Energy channels. Much like saying too much about Skills, it offers a great deal in terms of one’s weaknesses. But if I can’t trust my Companion, who can I trust?

  The other man nods slowly, his eyes thoughtful.

  “Do you think you can look? At my…internal matrix?”

  “Sure,” I agree. “Not a problem,” Actually, if anything, I’m downright eager to see the similarities and differences between my Core space and another human’s. “Would you like to start now?”

  Loran looks a little startled but he dips his chin after a moment.

  “If that is well with you, my lord,” he murmurs.

  “Sure. Come sit here in front of me,” I instruct, sitting cross-legged myself on the floor of the wagon. He sends me a brief wide-eyed look and then does as I bid. I reach out to lay my hands on his shoulders – though I can access the Core spaces of my companions without being in physical contact, it’s always easier to do it that way, and the first time accessing someone’s internal matrix is always the hardest. Since this is my first time accessing a human’s space, I want to stack the odds in my favour.

  As it turns out, accessing the Core space is no different from any of my other Bonded. But what I find in there is.

  There’s nothing there. It’s almost like Noir’s used to be, but for the blackness being as luminous as my own, rather than the void his was before he absorbed a Class stone. There is no trace of Energy channels, no indication of an internal matrix. It’s just…blank.

  I pull out of his Core space and lean back with a frown on my face.

  “What’s wrong?” Loran asks fearfully, clearly misinterpreting my expression.

  “Oh, nothing’s wrong,” I assure him. “At least, nothing that I can detect.” The state of Loran’s Core space didn’t feel unnatural in the way Noir’s did. “It’s just…interesting.”

  “Interesting?” Loran and I both jump at an unexpected voice coming from the open back of the wagon. I glance over to see Nicholas riding Tempest as close as he can to the wagon without interfering with the horse’s trotting stride. “How so?”

  “Nicholas!” I exclaim in surprise. “I didn’t see you there,” I comment lamely. The man makes an impatient gesture.

  “I came closer when I heard you speaking of an intriguing topic. Now, what did you find there?” he demands commandingly.

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  I narrow my eyes at the lord. I’ve come to recognise that when Nicholas is nervous or uncertain, he compensates for it by becoming more authoritative and commanding. It was the same when we were summoned to the palace. When he’s completely comfortable, he’s far more patient and understanding. Which begs the question: Why is he feeling uncertain?

  Regardless, I’m not going to let him bully me – or Loran.

  Would you like me to tell him or not? I ask Loran privately so Nicholas can’t hear me speaking to him. I’m perfectly willing to refuse on your behalf. The state of your Core space is your own. And mine, if Loran chooses to consult with me about it.

  It’s fine, the young man allows a moment later, though I sense in our Bond a flicker of pleasure that I asked.

  “He has no Energy channels – that’s what’s interesting,” I answer Nicholas, telling Loran at the same time. “In that way, he’s much like Noir before he absorbed the Class stone.”

  “Noir. He’s the one you gave the Class stone to, correct?” Nicholas confirms.

  “Correct.”

  “And was he not the one whose father left him soaking in the Pure Energy stream as an egg? The one with an unusual Energy channel arrangement?”

  “Yes, and yes,” I agree. “And I know what you’re getting at. I do think it’s likely that the reason he was able to accept the Class stone was because he had no internal matrix of his own. Which implies that Loran isn’t an exception and humans don’t naturally have Energy channels since, as far as I know, humans don’t tend to have issues with accepting Class stones?” I raise my eyebrows at Nicholas.

  “Not as far as I know,” he agrees, then his face lines in thought. “All beasts have this internal matrix, do they?”

  “Apart from Noir, it appears so, yes,” I agree.

  “And they shape it by absorbing Cores? That is why you had Tempest choose what he absorbed, correct?”

  “It is,” I confirm. “It seems that different Cores have different effects – and not all Cores suit all beasts. Some can actually do damage to the internal matrix.”

  “Do you–” Loran starts, then cuts himself off with a quick glance at Nicholas.

  “Go on,” I encourage him. He sends Nicholas another glance, but when the man doesn’t react except to eye him coolly, he flicks his eyes back to me and starts again.

  “Do you think that I could…develop an internal matrix if I absorb Cores? Like the rest of the pack?”

  It’s an interesting question.

  “Possibly,” I muse. “I don’t know if it’s possible to grow something that doesn’t appear to even be in existence, but…perhaps it’s worth a try.” If it was as simple as just killing creatures and absorbing their Energy, surely there would be a difference between experienced hunters or farmers and those just starting out? Then again, maybe they never make it to Evolution – that’s where the biggest changes happen. Or perhaps it’s that a Class stone works because it creates a matrix when humans are incapable of developing them naturally?

  “Historically, such attempts have been met with poor results,” Nicholas warns. “Many people have attempted to gain Class-like features without absorbing a Class stone, and very rarely has it been met with anything like success. I have heard of a large group who strongly believe in meditation and consuming potions of various herbs, and out of everyone, they are the only ones who have had at least some success with some members becoming supernaturally strong or learning to use magic. But even there, the failure, even death rate tends to be far higher than the success rate. Additionally, none of them have been recorded as being capable of using Skill stones even after demonstrating supernatural abilities.”

  That is a bit disheartening, but there is one factor that perhaps Nicholas hasn’t considered.

  “Are they capable of seeing internal matrices?” I ask.

  Nicholas hesitates.

  “I cannot say,” he admits finally. “I would suspect not as I would imagine that the ability would have become well-known if so, but it could have been kept as a secret.”

  I nod, then focus back on Loran.

  “Well, ultimately, it’s your choice. If you wish to experiment, we can do so. I’ll keep a sharp eye on your body and Core space and will tell you if there are any negative effects there. Or you can choose to work hard and earn a Class stone – I will be making them available to those who distinguish themselves one way or another.” Though I’m tempted to give one to Loran anyway, Nicholas made a point when we discussed it earlier about doling out rewards carefully so as to continue motivating people to work hard. And I don’t want to be too obviously partial to my Companions even if some favouritism is to be expected.

  “Thank you for the offer, my lord,” Loran replies with a bow that looks terribly awkward when done from a seated position. “May I think about it?”

  “Of course,” I tell him firmly. “Take as much time as you like.” I might be curious, but I’m not going to pressure him into any sort of experimental treatment. I push myself to my feet and then turn my head to Nicholas.

  “Did you want to talk about anything else?”

  “Not at present,” the lord replies slowly. “Though you’ve given me much to think about,” he murmurs, almost too softly for me to hear.

  “Well, good,” I reply awkwardly. Biting my lip, I send a glance around those currently at the back of the wagon. They are all busy with their own tasks – most either meditating or sleeping. “Anyway, if there isn’t anything else, I might get back to my own absorption.”

  “What’s the rush?” Nicholas asks, his brows lowering. “We are headed into battle – you will have plenty of opportunity to level up there without wasting Cores. They’re hardly efficient ways of levelling up, after all.”

  “I’m certainly hoping that the beast wave will offer some good Energy,” I agree. “But I don’t think it will be enough. I’m hoping to make it to level thirty before we head off to Whalehost,” I admit.

  Nicholas’ eyebrows shoot up.

  “Markus, I know that you have somehow managed to increase your level by two in the last month and a half, which is already far faster than normal, but attempting to reach level thirty soon after we solve the issue with Zlona? That’s unreasonable! Or at least, I hope it is,” he adds grimly.

  “Maybe it is unreasonable,” I admit. “But I want to try.” The fact is that one benefit of long road trips is plenty of time to relax into Heavy Meditation with an Energy Heart in my hand. The journey to and from Sandend gave me time to level up to level twenty-seven – putting all of my points into Willpower, of course – and I’m already a quarter of the way to level twenty-eight, some of that from this morning’s absorption.

  It’s not as easy as just relaxing in my bathtub and benefiting from the ambient Energy, and I’m already seeing some damage to my internal matrix as a result, but I really want to have those Class Skills before I leave for the Lost Continent if at all possible. The damage to my internal matrix isn’t anything I can’t fix, though I make a mental note to make sure it’s in good condition before I level up next.

  Nicholas looks at me for a long moment and I’m vaguely aware of Loran and Alyna both sneaking looks at me too.

  “You believe it’s possible,” he concludes.

  “I do.”

  “How?” he asks simply.

  I pull out an Energy Heart.

  “With this.”

  “One of those natural Cores you showed me before?” he comments, his brow furrowed. I nod. “And how many of those do you go through for a single level?” he questions, raising one eyebrow.

  I shrug.

  “Just one.” Less than one, actually, but I decide it’s near enough. Nicholas’ other eyebrow shoots up to join the first. He eyes the Core with increased interest.

  “Far more efficient than beast Cores, then?”

  I hesitate, but then nod after a moment. In my experience, it depends more on compatibility. The Cores I’ve been using are Fire and Flesh Cores primarily, because those seem to be the ones I absorb best. But a beast Core is no less efficient for me than a Water Core, for example. And a beast Core that has one or multiple fire abilities tends to be easier for me to absorb than a Water Core. I still live in hope of finding a type of beast that tends towards Flesh-Shaping or something similar – I expect that those Cores would be almost as good as the Energy Hearts.

  But all of that is more than I think Nicholas knows about Cores at all, and more than I want to share with Loran or Alyna at present, so I won't go into it.

  After a moment, Nicholas nods slowly.

  “Very well. I shall be interested to see if you meet your own deadline.”

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