The Arcane Citadel was never quiet it was always bleeding. The rain was thick and mixed with stuff from the Essence it made puddles that glowed on the ground. These puddles showed the neon signs that were hammered into the walls of the slum. Nathan Voss was standing with his back against a pile of ritual cages he had a cheap knife at the throat of the enforcer who had trapped him in this dead-end alley.
The enforcer was a man he had tattoos that glowed blue under his skin. "You people from the slums never learn " the enforcer said, his breath was hot and bad. "You stole from a collector House Kane will make you pay for this."
Nathan smiled his lip was. It hurt. He was always ready with a joke it was the thing that helped him besides his knife. "That is funny the guy who said that ended up dead. You people from the Blessed houses always talk big until someone pulls your strings."
Then Nathan felt it the Veinweaver was moving inside his chest like a heartbeat. It was like threads of life that went through everything that was alive the enforcers neck, the rats in the shadows the pulse of the distant towers above. Nathan found out about this power a time ago when he was in a fight he was almost dead and desperate. Taking the Essence was not nice it was like stealing, raw and personal.
The enforcer tried to push Nathan but Nathan leaned in harder his knife cut the skin just enough to make the enforcer bleed. When they touched the threads became clearer and warmer. "Lets make this fast and educational " Nathan said, his voice was low and mean. "I take a little of your Essence you walk away.. I take more and you become food for the Trials. Your choice."
The enforcer started to say something. Then he stopped and made a choking sound as Nathan took his Essence. A thin thread of Essence came out of the enforcers body and went into Nathans hand it was like fire. Nathan felt strong his cut closed and his senses became sharper. The enforcer shook violently his tattoos flickered as his life force went down.
Nathan laughed he was almost happy from the high. "You taste better than the stuff on the street. All that training. You are still just a body with extra glow."
He took the stolen Essence and made himself stronger he healed his bruises from that night. But he did not stop he was hungry. This was a rare chance to get good Essence. He took more the enforcer screamed his body shook and his blood vessels burst. Nathan kept his knife in the enforcer he used the blood to take Essence. It felt bad, like sex, the way their bodies were connected.
When the enforcer finally fell down barely breathing Nathan cleaned his knife on the enforcers coat. Took his things. He found some Essence shards, enough for a meals or a nights shelter some money and a paper with the Kane house crest.
He read the paper under the alley light the rain was falling on the paper. "Ascension Trials – the chance for people from the slums. Sponsored by House Kane. All applicants go to the Underlift platform at dawn. Prove your worth in the Vein Harvest. Become part of it. If you fail you will die."
Nathan laughed it was a laugh. "Looks like the people upstairs are looking for blood this year." His heart was racing with hope and anger. The Citadel had killed kids from the slums they were drained dry in public or broken in the academy. But Nathan was not another kid he had the Veinweaver he could fight back.
He put the paper in his pocket he felt the Vein Burn it made his veins hurt like fire under his skin. He needed to calm down fix himself and maybe find a way to get rid of the edge before going to the Trials.
The Flesh District was not far it was a place with tents and brothels where people traded their bodies for money or protection. Nathan went through the shadows his new strength made him quiet and fast. A woman with eyes and scarred arms looked at him from the entrance of a tent. Her smile was nice but sharp. "Rough night face? Looking to forget or to feel?"
Nathan smiled he was wiping blood from his jaw. "A bit of both. I will pay double if you are open to something. No marks,. I like it intense."
She looked at him she sensed the power in him. "For a face like yours and whatever you're on? Deal.. If you hurt me my girls will find you."
What they did was fast and strong it was charged with power. Nathan kept it controlled at just pleasure but as the woman moaned louder he took a little of her Essence. Not enough to hurt enough to calm his Vein Burn and make them both feel good. She arched under him gasping the high made her hold him tight. For a moment it felt like they were sharing something.
Afterward they lay together her head on his chest. "You are different " she said. "Most guys just take. You give a back."
Nathan looked at the tent ceiling he was hiding his thoughts. "Yeah well the world is full of takers. I figured I would try not to be the one tonight." He paid her extra. Left before dawn.
The Underlift platform was big it was a disc with runes guarded by enforcers with glowing veins. They looked at Nathan with hate they sneered at his clothes. Accent as he showed them the paper.
"Another kid from the slums dreaming of the towers " one said. "Try not to get killed on the day."
The platform went up with a sound it took Nathan and a few other kids from the slums to the clouds. The slums became small they were replaced by the towers of the Arcane Citadel they were black. Had floating gardens, where the rich kids trained to rule and harvest.
As they arrived in the hall Nathan felt eyes on him. A woman with hair and cold eyes looked at him she was in academy robes. Frost was around her she looked at him with hate. "They really let anyone in these days. Try not to make the halls dirty kid from the slums."
Nathan looked at her he sensed the power in her it was strong and controlled. "My name is Nathan. And you are...?"
"Elara Voss " she said, her voice was cold. "Stay out of my way if you want to survive."
Before he could say something, back a gong sounded. Professor Vesper Kane, tall and cruel stepped onto a stage. Behind her a failed kid was dragged forward screaming as blades were ready to cut him.
"Welcome to the Citadel " Vesper said, her voice was smooth. "Here Essence is power. The weak feed the strong.. Learn what happens to those who fail."
The public harvesting started blades cut the kid Essence came out in a glow the kid screamed in pain. Blood and light sprayed on the floor. Nathan watched, his mind was racing this was the system this was what would happen to him if he failed.
As the screams stopped and the kid was taken away Vesper looked at the kids her eyes stayed on Nathan. "Some of you may be interesting. The tests start now."
Nathan moved his fingers he felt the stolen Essence still inside him. The game had started he was ready.