Kain's consciousness snapped back to his body, his mind still reeling from the huge change in what he suspected was the little guy he'd once carefully nurtured.
Its progress left him with a strange mix of pride and awe.
But there was no time to dwell on that now. Darius was sitting upright in the chair, his chest heaving as the glowing array on his skin began to fade. His eyes were wide, his expression a mixture of shock, disbelief, and overwhelming emotion.
"Darius," Kain said, his voice calm but firm. "How do you feel?"
Darius didn't respond immediately. His hands trembled as he stared down at his right upper arm, where the array had been etched. His breathing was ragged, and his face was pale, but there was a glimmer of something in his eyes—something fierce and unyielding. He had endured the pain of the array, and now he was reaping the rewards.
"I… I can feel it," Darius finally managed to say, his voice hoarse and trembling. "So this is what having a contract feels like…."
