Everything he was currently doing was illogical.
These were all facts that Malakai knew deep down. Nyx was a Bloom, Laila and Grunde were Synergy stage, and they had each claimed they searched everywhere for Renlo but couldn't find him.
If people of their caliber couldn't find him, what made him think that he would be able to?
Malakai knew it was wrong. But it did nothing to stop his movements.
Multiple vita footholds appeared beneath his feet, and he ran on them across the skies as though it were his birthright.
His eyes had locked on the stronghold in the distance, fists clenched so tightly they'd turned white. Malakai had crossed more distance than he should be able to in such a short timeframe.
His senses were off the charts. He could see farther than he should be able to. Hear farther.
He was currently receiving so much information he didn't know what to do with, but Malakai ignored everything and focused on moving forward.
Ahead, he could see the forest ending and that wasteland stretching toward the stronghold. And it suddenly occurred to him that he didn't know where to search.
Was he supposed to wander through the wasteland looking for a boy even a Bloom couldn't find? Or was he supposed to go into the stronghold, where he'd probably be killed instantly?
Another wave of uncertainty hit Malakai once more. His mind was fighting, asking him to go back. But his racing heart kept his feet moving.
Renlo… Renlo was his first friend. His only friend.
Had he actually lost the only one he considered family? Would he never see that oblivious smile again? Would he never laugh at how ridiculous a boy could be…
'Stop.' Malakai gritted his teeth, but his mind refused to stop telling him the truth. He had lost another one of his family, and he had been unable to do anything.
He was still as useless as when he hid inside the compartment while his mother was torn into pieces. All these years, but nothing had changed.
It was only when he felt the wet streaks running down his cheeks that he realized, he was crying.
A firm grip suddenly grabbed his shoulder, causing his movements to stop. Malakai's eyes were blazing as he turned towards Nyx, voice glacier.
"Ninth vein…" Nyx's voice was riddled with guilt. Her other hand was clenched, and her eyes lowered. She had seen the tears streaking down Malakai's cheek, and every bit of it hurt her. "…please stop."
Malakai couldn't remember the last time he screamed. He doubted it ever happened.
Even during the numerous beatings at the clan, he had barely let out a sound. But at this moment, he felt the urge to do it more than anything. And he did.
He tried to yank his shoulder free, but despite his newly found strength, a Bloom wasn't a gap easily breached.
It didn't move an inch, but Malakai's eyes only grew colder. Killing intent spilled from him, drenching the air.
The vita suddenly began to respond to his calling. And Nyx watched, wide eyed, as a vita blade formed over Malakai's fist.
What the hell was happening? She wondered.
Though their bodies were filled with vita and attracted the energy, controlling it was another thing entirely.
Genesis grade evolvers couldn't sense vita past their bodies. Node Formation could sense a very small range but couldn't control it.
Synergy stage evolvers could sense a wider range, but still couldn't manipulate the vita in the air.
Only Bloom could achieve what Malakai had just done, but Nyx knew for sure, he wasn't a Bloom.
Malakai's arm whipped up, vita blade tearing toward Nyx's arm. But Nyx didn't remove her hand.
In fact, she took down all the defenses on her arm. She seemed ready to lose her hand as punishment.
But the blade was inches away from reaching her arm when a voice tore through Malakai's head.
Malakai snapped out of his trance as Valentine shouted.
"Calm down!" he said. "You have to calm down. You're never one to lose your composure . You are about to harm Nyx, who has done nothing but helped you."
Malakai gritted his teeth, so hard that blood pooled in his mouth. He knew Valentine was right, and that only worsened the pain roaring through him.
Laila and Grunde reached them at that moment. They had been slower than Nyx.
"Little bro!" Grunde shouted, landing on the highest branch of a tall tree. Unfortunately, he couldn't fly.
Laila was also on another branch. She spoke softly. "Ninth vein. We know how much he means to you. No words will make this easier. But rushing blindly will only get you killed and Renlo wouldn't want that."
Malakai's mind was filled with the image of a boy who would rather consider others first than himself.
'She's right.' Renlo wouldn't want that. He would never accept that.
At that moment, the vita churning around Malakai calmed, and silence descended in the forest. Malakai allowed the tears to fall freely from his cheeks. He made no attempt to stop them.
It was then that he realized he was standing high in the sky. The realization was followed immediately by his control over the vita vanishing. He was falling in the next moment.
But he felt the warm touch of Nyx as she grabbed him, backing him. He didn't resist as she began heading back toward their hideout.
Some seconds later, Malakai sat silently on top of a tall branch, staring upwards at the night sky. The moon was full, and its silver rays bathed the forest in ethereal light.
Malakai's mind was calmer than one would think. It was clear, blank like a canvas. He still couldn't bring himself to assess the changes in his body.
The branch was utterly silent. Nyx stood on one side, with Laila and Grunde on the other. Neither of them spoke as they didn't know what to say to Malakai.
Laila had stopped Grunde's attempts at approaching Malakai numerous times. The last thing they wanted was the big guy saying something insensitive.
Regardless, Malakai didn't appear to notice any of them. He seemed as though he was in another world. One where there was only the large moon in the sky.