I was going to wait until I was alone in my room where no one could see me but the tears burst out of me. It was a rush hour at the cafeteria and the people were gathering to eat. I had to fight for my way through the crowd that was filling out the space of the dining room. I lowered my head to cover my red eyes and the tears cooling down my cheeks as they rolled down. My vision was getting blurry as I somehow managed to push through the students, get out of cafeteria to less crowded and I was striding to the staircase to get to my dorm. I used the back of my hand to wipe off the tears. I didn't care if I smudged the remnants of mascara from yesterday's make up and must look like a raccoon now. I sniffled a few times to make a space for the air and be actually able to breathe. A few of the tears made its' way to the corners of my mouth. I could taste the saltiness in my mouth so I kept on wiping my face to get rid of them. I didn't care if my lungs die or my knees before that, but I was ready to run up those bloody infinite stairs to get out of sight. I flashed through the first like thirty stairs when I could start feeling my breath running out of me. My ears were ringing and everything was muffled despite the staircase bustling with life of students walking up and down. It was less than during a week day but still it was enough of an audience to see me being miserable right now. I wasn't going to be bothered to look at them or even listen to them, but one of the voices sounded familiar and not in a good way. My body reacted to that muffled voice with annoyance. I stopped all of my movement and gasped for air when I looked up to face the person whos talking was focused on me. I was met with the big round puppy eyes with the colors of a dusk sky, her wavy blond hair that was so shiny and always in a perfect hairstyle even though they were just let free next to her body that was covered by a slim tight white dress. It was Saxa with her best friend and couple of others, guys, standing behind them like hawks and acting as her bodyguards but you could see it in their behavior that they wanted to be more. She stood on the little platform that is about fifteen stairs above mewith her arms crossed and raising one of her eyebrows at me. I met her stair and she probably saw my puffy red eyes because she laughed and then whispered something to her bestie to which she started to laugh with Saxa. I tightened my lips out of anger and started to walk again. I reached the platform and was going to just pass the group but Saxa didn't want to let me go. She told the brutes of her little clique to get in my way.

Saxa: I still don't understand how, out of all people, you are a Zeus descendant. He is the highest god on the Olymp while you look...pathetic.

She untangled her crossed arms and pointed on my whole body with her right hand. I don't know if she is just trying to pick up another fight, provoke me to start this one so that she doesn't get striked for it this time but it was working. I don't know why her words bothered me that much. I knew it. I knew she was right. Pathetic. It was the best word to describe me right now. I can't control my powers, I was probably left to die because of a curse or whatever this thing on my back is, and all I bring is trouble. How did Reilly manage to stay with me all those years and not hate me? It was coming from Saxa, which her opinions were completely irrelevant to me even though we might have the same ancestor, but the word stung like hell. The tears were pushing its' way onto the surface of my face and I wasn't going to give her more satisfaction to see me like this, so I tried to push through the muscle she brought, but with no luck. They were bigger than me and stronger because they looked like they work out regularly. My body only bounced back and I stumbled a few steps, returning to the spot I was before. I tried one more time. They didn't touch me, or grab me. All they had to do was move from right to left to block my path, and when I wanted to push them to the side, they locked their feet to the ground and stood still like a mountain. So I opted for another route. This time grit my teeth and moved to the side where Saxa was standing. The guys were too slow to move to the side to block me. I was already on my way. Saxa did try to stop me and make more fun of me but I gathered some momentum and then managed to pass around her while bumping into her shoulder, almost knocking her down. She stumbled in her stilettos and if she was standing on the edge of the platform, she would probably roll down. One of the guys grabbed her upper arm and then slid the other one around her waist to prevent her from falling on her butt. I stopped to watch the whole situation unravel for some reason. Saxa didn't even thank the guy and quickly brushed him off, telling him to let her go and don't touch her. She adjusted the skirt of the tight dress that got lifted up a little bit and then proceeded to stare at me. She started yelling, calling me names and I could see a new shade added to her blue and purple eyes. It was red. Flaming red that perfectly represented the anger she was throwing towards me. I started slowly walking back and wished she wouldn't start blasting her powers again because I knew for sure I wouldn't be able to stop her. The last time it was just luck on my side that I somehow managed to tap into my power source in a need, but right now I don't want to do it. I don't want to do anything with my powers. I don't want them at all. I knew she wasn't stupid to get herself kicked out even though there must be sort of favouritism when it comes to her. She is, was, the only living Zeus descendant. Of course they would protect her like they must have been lenient with the punishment for the first fight. But she wouldn't risk fighting in the open with other people around who saw what was going on as they passed us on the staircase and quickly assessed the situation that it would be better to just go and don't meddle or get caught in the crossfire. She had it all. Saxa was beautiful, rich, had her reputation and mostly, she had control over her powers. And she wanted it all for herself. She didn't want to share the glory of being a descendant of one of the main gods of Olymp so getting rid of me was better for her rather than befriending me and bonding over the shared ancestry. And she made her plan what to do with me pretty clear. I didn't want to loose but I didn't want to use my powers either. But I also didn't want to die despite the fact that it was probably supposed to be my fate when they left me alone during freezing winter. I was going out of this world my way. So the only option here right now would be to flee, to try and run as many stairs I could before my lungs would be on fire and my legs hating me. I didn't know how far I could get and if that distance would be enough. Enough to be out of reach for her powers, which I don't even know what they are in the first place, what it is that she possesses in her arsenal. Some sort of same electricity or lighting that she can blast out to incinerate me? But I needed to at least try and run away. I shifted my weight onto my toes and pressed into the ground and was getting ready to turn around to run. But then the reaction on Saxa and the others around her surprised me. Suddenly couldn't see me? I heard her yelling out, asking what happened and where did I disappear to meanwhile I was standing only a few steps in front of her. I didn't know if somehow my powers did that or not, but it was my chance to disappear for real this time. I grabbed the straps on my backpack to secure it while I run and spun on the spot to face the stairs that lead up to the dorms. I picked up my pace and took two or three stairs at once to get higher and higher, as far away as I can to not get pulverated out of existence. The only problem was that for some reason the people who were coming down the stairs also couldn't see me. If I didn't managed to jump out of the way as I was climbing up, I would have crashed into them. I stopped moving and stood on two stairs. One leg bent in knee, resting on the upper stair while my right leg was straight and pressing into the lower stair as I watched that person just walk down without even looking at me. Some other students were returning from somewhere when they saw their friends walking up and called their names and asked them to wait up. Two girls who were near my level stopped and then waited for the third girl that tried to catch up with them. I still had time before she reached them so I walked towards them and greeted them, but nothing. They just talked to themselves and continued their casual conversation. I lifted my left arm and waved my hand in front of their faces, but also no reaction. I was invisible. The staircase was bustling with life and I could also hear Saxa yell out orders to go and find me. The guys that followed her like puppies around scattered. One of them went in my direction but he just passed me. Yes, I was completely invisible. And then I remembered this feeling. It was the same like back then when I was walking with Mr. Hale and he used his powers so that other students weren't gawking at us because he noticed how uncomfortable I looked while walking with him. The girl caught up with her friends so I let them pass and then walked to the side of the staircase so that no one bumps into me and looked around. I bent over the railing and looked down but nothing. No trace of him. And then I heard his name resonate through the school. Good afternoon, Professor Hale, as someone has greeted him. I changed the direction of my gaze and lifted my head, and there he was. His eyes shining in bloody red while he stood near the railing and was resting one hand on it and keeping her other one in her pocket, he didn't even reply to that girl student who greeted him. Maybe because you could hear the subtle "hey notice me and I like you" tone in her greeting or maybe it was because he was focused on using his power on the whole school, on every person who was on the staircase so that I was erased from their sight. The toll on him and it was wasted just on me. The sheer amount of power it must take, I realized, and it made me shudder. The girls from Ossilor dorm before the party said that his powers are not that great and more defensive but this sight was far away from just being weak. I couldn't hide my amusement and at the same time the fear I felt of his power but also respect. It took me a few seconds until I gathered myself and then quickly ran up the stairs to meet with Mr. Hale. I went as fast as I could, maneuvering between the students on the stairs so that I don't hit anyone on my way up, and finally reached him. I thanked him, the words being cut by my heavy breaths. I was grabbing my knees, supporting myself and preventing myself from crashing on the floor like a domino before I could speak normally and properly thank him again. My breathing calmed down and my legs could support me standing again so I straightened myself and looked him directly in his eyes that were still glowing like two rubies. I remembered that I must look pathetic right now so I quickly lowered my head to hide my reddish eyes and puffy face. I tried to take a step back so that Mr. Hale won't see me but all of a sudden I was being pulled towards his body. My heart started beating faster and it wasn't because I was climbing those bloody stairs. Mr. Hale was holding my wrist that was leaning against his chest and I was pressed against his body. I looked him directly into his eyes once again but then quickly lowered my head and almost buried it into his chest. I cleared my throat and was going to speak up but Mr. Hale beat me to it.

Mr. Hale: It's dangerous to stand here while others can't see us. We should leave.

I realized that he pulled me away because one of the students was walking in our direction and he would bump into me since no one can see us. I nodded my head in response, letting him know I agree with his plan. Mr. Hale leaned over the railing one more time to check where Saxa and her group went. I did the same and when we couldn't see them anymore we started moving. I only stumbled with my steps and followed Mr. Hale who was still holding my wrist and leading me to go somewhere. We started walking up the staircase and made our way into front of my dorm room while he was still using his power to cloak us. He didn't say anything, didn't preassure me to explain the situation and only walked with me in silence, making sure I got back without getting caught by Saxa or her goons. We stopped right in front of my room. I thanked him again for helping me out and he started to walk away. I opened the door only a little bit and realized Reilly was working out or something inside because I could hear her heavy but regular breaths. I wanted to make things right with her but then when I thought about it, I was also a bit mad that she got jealous over me being friends with the girls. I got that it was always just the two of us. We promised to do everything together, never leave each other and that if we get separated, we would always try to find a way back. But I've changed, my life has changed completely and I've met people who are worth to get close to. If she had problem, she could have just told me and not instantly blame them. I wanted to reconcile with her and talk about what was on her mind but not right now. I closed the door in front of me and then called Mr. Hale. He turned around and looked at me with his eyes that were back to his casual green ones.

Me: Are you perhaps free right now?

Mr. Hale: I only have to grade some papers but I don't have anything planned. Do you need me for anything or have more questions?

Me: I just don't want to hang out around here right now with people around. Can I go to your office?

Mr. Hale only nodded and I walked up to him. I didn't want to bother him but his office seemed like a good place where I could lock myself out and think about things without being interrupted by people. I joined him and we started moving out of the dorms when I noticed his eye glowed in crimson shades again.

Me: Don't use your powers. It must take a lot of energy and it's not worth it.

Mr. Hale: I don't mind.

Me: If they see me with you, I doubt Saxa or her squad will try to do anything with you around so you don't really have to.

Mr. Hale: Are you sure?

I replied yes in response but his eyes didn't change colors. He kept using his powers to cloak us as we walked through the school. The hallways turned into similar ones and I knew that we are close to his office. At this point, my brain didn't register the pain in my legs and I could barely move them. I still managed to walk the whole way which was again, silent. Only after we entered the office, Mr. Hale finally spoke and told me to sit down on whichever couch I want. I set down my backpack on the couch and watched him walk behind his table to his chair. Mr. Hale seated himself and then took out a stack of papers, then a red pen. He started reading the top sheet but after a few seconds he placed it down and looked at me.

Mr. Hale: If you want anything to drink, you already know where the stuff is. Help yourself, you don't need to ask.

Me: Oh, thank you. I will make tea then. Do you want anything?

I was already standing up and was on my way to the cupboard with stuff I need to make tea when I asked Mr. Hale if he also wanted something. I remembered how he liked his coffee so I could make one for him again. I opened the cabinet and took out a cup for myself and placed it on the counter. Then I reached up again to get a cup for Mr. Hale just in case he responds that he wants his coffee when I hear heard him grunt but he didn't say anything. That noise sounded like he is in pain so I peeked from behind the cabinet's door to look at him. He was rubbing his temples, his eyes closed tight. I felt guilty because I knew it must be from all that power he had to use to make us invisible. I decided to make one cup for him even if he doesn't ask for it but then he looked up to see me watching him and he asked me to prepare a cup of tea.

Me: So you are a tea person today?

Mr. Hale: I guess I am.

I chuckled when I remembered that conversation we had before and I called myself a "tea person" while Mr. Hale said he is a "coffee person" then. And I heard his little chuckle but before I could check it out and see his smile, he was already back to reading the exam sheet and writing down something on the paper. I went back to preparing our drinks and tried to search for something that would help his headache. I picked a tea bag of green tea for myself already but that one isn't good for Mr. Hale right now. Searching through the different boxes and packages to see if I could find maybe a chamomile tea or some herbal one, I finally found a box of rosemary tea. Sadly it wasn't packed in little tea bags so I had to search for something I can put it into. I opened a drawer on the cupboard to pick out two tea spoons, placed them next to each cup and then continued to rummage through the drawer to find a strainer or tea infuser. I bent down my body a little bit to check the back of the drawer and I saw a little silver metallic tea ball strainer. I reached for it without looking and tried to grab it when suddenly I could feel a sharp pain on the side of my hand. I yelped and retracted my hand out of the drawer really fast. I took a look on my hand, rotating it in the air in front of me only to be meeted with the red liquid running down my forearm. Shit. I quickly ran to the couch and opened my backpack while holding my right hand up in the air. There was no sick for me to wash away the blood so I my only option was to check my bag and see if I had any tissues on me. I was bent over te couch, going through my bag, my head basically buried in it when I could feel a warm hand hug my arm and then tie some sort of cloth around it. I straightened my body only to be met with Mr. Hale's gaze. His body was close to mine, radiating warmth towards me. His breath was a little bit faster than a normal human pace and his face had a worried expression on it. I tried to snatch the white linen tissue he used to bundle up my cut hand and stop the bleeding. The cloth was now ruined with red bloody spots all over it. Mr. Hale didn't let go of my arm and told me to sit down so that he can take care of the wound properly.

Me: I am fine. You have already done so much for me and you have work to do. I can take care of it. I don't want to bother you this much.

I protested against his hands and the pull of his arms that was meant to make me sit down but the moment I managed to free my arm, he grabbed it again and started bandaging my hand. No matter how hard I pulled, he always took my hand and pulled it closer, stabilizing it so that I am not moving it around. Mr. Hale didn't look up at all. He was so focused on attending to my bleeding hand that he didn't even notice a strand of his long dark hair fell right in front of his face. I didn't register what I was doing and then it was too late after I realized how my body moved on a reflex. My fingers brushed against the loose strand of raven hair that felt so soft against my skin and then I tucked it behind his ear, my fingertips brushing against his ear and the side of his hair. Mr. Hale lifted his head to face me, his gaze falling directly into my own eyes that I could almost see my reflection in them. I cleared my throat and was going to apologize but Mr. Hale suddenly stood up and then walked towards the cups that I left half ready on the counter.

Mr. Hale: All done. You should be more careful.

Me: I can finish it up.

Mr. Hale: I might be a tea person for today but I don't think I would enjoy this new "red" flavor.

He held up a cup I prepared for him and it had droplets of blood on the sides. I sighed and apologized but he only chuckled and said it was alright. But I wasn't going to let him do all the work. I wasn't hurt badly that I am not able to make a simple tea so I fought my way to stand in front of the counter. My hand traveled inside the drawer once again to take out the tea strainer but Mr. Hale stopped me. He held my wrist, not letting me put my hand inside to grab anything. I looked at him, squinting my eyes in a playful anger but he only smirked, then he lifted his other hand in the air. Something silver and shiny jingled in front of my face. After I realized that he has already took the strainer out, he let go of my hand that was fighting for its' way into the drawer. I pouted in a small defeat but the fight still wasn't over. I snatched the tea ball infuser out of his hand which was pretty easy because his grip was weak as he was holding only the thin chain between his index and middle finger. I opened the little metallic ball and filled one of the halves with the tea leaves. As I was closing the tea strainer, Mr. Hale has already filled the kettle with water and placed it on the heating pad to let it boil. And also blood inside me started to boil because he was treating me like an injured dove while I am still capable of making a stupid tea while being hurt.

Me: If you are so set on making tea, should we switch places then and I go grade the papers? I am not going to bleed out from a little cut and I can still lift a pen and write.

I barked at him which must have took him by surprise because his face was in shock. I quickly realized that even though he is young, he is still my professor and I have yelled at him, overstepping the boundries. Mr. Hale didn't say anything and returned to his table. He seated himself on his chair, picked up the paper he left and continued reading through the student's answers. I waited for the water to boil and after I heard the heavy gurgling of water bubbles, I took it from the pad and filled our cups. From Mr. Hale's point of view, he was right a little bit about helping me, because I was nowhere capable of carrying two cups with tea spoons and everything while the side of my hand was almost split in two, so I have to make two trips taking one cup at a time. But that doesn't mean I wasn't able to use just one hand to pour water and prepare the tea bags and he had to act like I was a little child. I picked up one of the cups that had Mr. Hale's tea and carried it, mostly in one had and secured it slightly with my wounded one, and set it next to the stack papers carefully, because I didn't want to spill it and ruin the exam sheets. My hands did shake a little bit, making the cup wiggle a little bit followed by a clanking noise but I didn't spill a drop and successfully brought the tea to Mr. Hale, then spun on the spot and walked back to the counter to get mine. The walk was the same as when I was carrying the first cup of tea but this time I moved towards the couch with my backpack sitting on it and took a seat.

Silence. Destroying deafening silence was spread around the room which was only broken by the sound of papers Mr. Hale shuffled from time to time and teaspoon hitting the sides of the cup as I was stirring my tea to dissolve the sugar. I didn't dare to speak up after how I talked to him but Mr. Hale didn't kick me out of his office either so I just remained here, sitting on the couch while sipping on my green tea. I wondered which brand he has in here because it tasted so good, different somehow, but good. Besides the usual taste of green tea, there was some fruity flavor to it which I couldn't really recognize. Never had anything like it in my life. If Mr. Hale hates me after this and kicks me out, I might have to come back somehow and steal his stash because this tea is fricking good! I chuckled at the thought which must have alarmed Mr. Hale who stopped reading yet another exam sheet and asked if I am okay. I replied to him, not revealing my actual thoughts even though he could easily read them. Or...not. I completely forgot that he told me about his powers and how for some reason he can't get into my mind to read it. And also the talk about my freaky powers. And this silence was going to make me crazy which is why I decided to initiate a conversation.

Me: Did you find anything about demigods being able to use spells?

Mr. Hale: I am sorry?

Me: Oh, no, I am sorry. You are probably too busy to be focusing on what troubles my private life but I was just curious if there is any update on that matter.

Mr. Hale: You don't have to apologize. I agreed to help you. I tried to research some things as secretly as possible I could without alarming anyone. There are some mentions and some books.

Me: That's great. Have you learned anything?

No response after that one. Mr. Hale only cleared his throat and then shifted his focus back onto the paper in front of him. Is it something bad? Or classified? Or is he really mad at me for snapping at him? I hugged the still warm teacup on my palms and shifted on the couch to move my muscles a little bit before I get stiff or numb. He definitely didn't want to talk about it right now. I started thinking of a different topic we could talk about. Uhm. But I don't really know him that well. What should I even ask about? His favourite color? Ridiculous and dumb. Asking anything that's private or sorta goes into that territory is definitely weird right now. Or any other time. He is still my professor at the end of the day. My professor? I mentally slapped myself because of how that sentence has two meanings and that I even thought about the second one. He doesn't even teach any of the classes that I've attended so far. I exhaled, pushed air out of my mouth that if I pressed any harder I could do a horse noise, and looked around the office to see if something will catch my eye, something I can ask him about. But his office is normal or at least what you would expect from a teacher's office. Just his desk, the two mirroring twin couches, bookshelves and a small spot that serves as a "kitchen". There goes that idea. My professor. Back to that one and I rolled my eyes but it was targeted towards me and my stupid brain, but then I came up with something I could ask that's not weird or intrusive.

Me: You must be grading some exam papers right now. Even though you are a demigod, you are teaching at Aveus.

Mr. Hale looks up from the papers once again to catch my gaze that's moving from his face and onto the papers back and forth. There is nothing that would scream anger at me in his expression. Just his emerald eyes staring deep into mine with a mix of emotions I can't even place and then he breaks his silence.

Mr. Hale: That is true. Why are you interested?

Me: Just that all of that power mixing makes universe go boom and the rule about the barrier and stuff, why do you teach there as a demigod and not at Umbras?

Mr. Hale: I've told you about parts of my powers, right? Let me see if you are really a good student and can tell me why is it that I teach at Aveus.

Me: A test, really?

Mr. Hale: Or are you not confident in your knowledge or deduction skills? I promise it's going to be easy.

Me: Shoot then.

Mr. Hale: I am a professor at Aveus Academy for 3rd years, those who are placed in the Dorhan house. Now can you tell me why I teach at Aveus?

Mr. Hale gives me all the information I need to figure this out, or at least I hoped he did, and I started to think about it. Aveus academy means he is teaching magicians despite being a demigod. Something a demigod could teach magicians. He mentioned his powers. I only heard about him being able to read minds, talk to people in their mind and also change their vision or somehow make people not see the target he choses to make invisible. Was there something else? My brain is trying to process everything and come up with an answer. If you could hear my head working right now, it would probably sound like an overheating pc. But what that tells me? He is not teaching them any spells so that's not the reason for him to be assigned to Aveus as a professor. I groaned because I know that the answer is so easy and it's just my brain trying to think of something big. Next. What else do I know? He said 3rd years at Aveus are in his class and that they are from the Dorhan house. If they are 3rd years and placed in Dorhan, they must have manifested their powers. That's it! Their powers, that's why he is teaching them.

Me: You are a teacher for the Controlling class.

Mr. Hale: Good. But that's not the reason.

I rolled my eyes again and Mr. Hale must have seen me. I was worried that it will make him angry but he only chuckled and encouraged me to think about it, that I know the answer because I am smarter than I think. Controlling classes are devided by years, by houses and by powers. Before they found out I was a freaking Zeus descendant and that my powers were some sort of me creating a magnetic field with electricity or lightning in this case and moving things around without touching them, I also attented those under Professor Defer who was teaching me how to control my telekinetic powers. I've remembered how I only wasted time by sitting in those lessons and not doing anything besides writing a few notes and then only watching people test their Manifestations. I couldn't move any object after the incident that placed me into Ossilor for some reason. Well now I know why, for obvious reasons, if you can even "being a child of a god" an obvious reason. But I didn't have other classes because I was already placed with a Manifestation. I was Ossilor. At first I was meant to be telekinetic, then electrokinetic something but that's completely different than Mr. Hale's powers. Right, Dorhan! He said he teaches Dorhan kids. It hasn't been that long since I've transferred academies and I did manage to learn the basic stuff for Introduction class and History but my mind was now blank and I couldn't remember what Manifestations were under Dorhan. After I've been placed to my house, I sorta filtered any other house and didn't care learning more about them since I've got mine. Geez but forgetting even the basics, Kaitlin, really? Focusing on the knowledge that I hope is stored somewhere in my brain. My thinking got interrupted my Mr. Hale's voice that was a pitch deeper than usual, sounded a little bit playful and it sent shivers down my whole body.

Mr. Hale: Do you need a hint?

Me: NO!

Mr. Hale: Only a small one.

Me: No need. I got this. I have to learn and I have to be able to solve things if I want be able to control my powers at some point.

Mr. Hale: As you wish.

I went back to my thinking and my brain who was working harder than usual. Last time I had to think this hard was when we got the riddle for The hunt, and this question is much more easier than what we had to figure out for The student's week. But as hard I am trying to think to come up with an answer, I have nothing. I didn't want to ask for the hint, especially I was here a few moments ago saying how I am not a little kid who needs help, but I gave in.

Me: Can I please get that hint?

Mr. Hale: Are you sure?

Me: Apparently I am not as smart as you thought I am so yes, please help me out.

Mr. Hale: You are smart. You are just not used in connecting stuff around the magical world that much since you haven't been raised in it. Here is the hint: It's not the same way or the same type of magic if you want to be specific but my powers are similar to those student's that are in my class.

Me: How is that a hint?

Mr. Hale: I've told you it's a small one. Now try again to come up with an answer.

I groaned because the hint didn't reveal anything I don't already know. His powers, his students that he is teaching must have similar ones bla bla bla OF COURSE IT'S SIMILAR SINCE YOU WERE ASSIGNED TO TEACH THEM. I talked to Mr. Hale in my head like he could hear me think those words. Which with any other student or person he should be, just not me. And then it hit me.

Me: Telepathy. You teach telepathy.

Mr. Hale: Good job.

He says as a response to my deduction with a smile on his face that was a half genuine proud smile and half of it seemed like a smirk. I don't why it made me so happy that he was proud of me but it did. And another part of me was happy too because I answered correctly and that somehow it still made me feel like I am a part of this world. The magical one at least. But I didn't want to fell into that silence again so I continued the conversation.

Me: Do you teach only specifically at Aveus or do you have any classes at Umbras too, for the demigod part at least.

Mr. Hale: There are few descendants of Athena at the school, same as me, but from a different blood line. We have separate meetings which you can't really call those classes since it's not really part of the curriculum.

Me: So we don't get special classes devided by our god ancestor to help us control our powers?

Mr. Hale: No, not really. Wait you haven't had any of the classes yet?

Me: It has been hectic. I transferred then it was already The hunt and I won so I got excused from my classes for this week. Then it's The student's week so I will be excused from classes again and all knowledge I have right now is the basics they teach us at Aveus. Since we are not demigods, they don't really explain that stuff to us because it's basically useless. Not like, useless as demigods are...

Mr. Hale: I know what you mean. This might make it harder on you with the upcoming competition and if you don't get enough time to train, you will be a sitting duck.

Me: Competition? Sitting duck? Are we going to have yet another event that is basically a war between students where Saxa can finally kill me?

Mr. Hale: You could call it like that. It is more intense than The hunt...

Me: More than running from a crazy little psycho fairies while freezing in the forest?

Mr. Hale laughs. Like a real genuine laugh came out of him. It is the first time I heard him laugh like that. Hell, it's the first time I heard him laugh ever. I only caught him smile or chuckle but not a full blown laugh. It surprised me and the reaction of my body was not the one I had on my mind. I wanted to laugh with him but instead I crossed my arms in front of my chest like a butt-hurt little child who got teased for something. There goes me trying to prove I am not a kid, again. He saw my reaction and must have realized what I felt so he apologized if his laugh made it sound like he is making fun of me, but I apologized too for I am acting today.

Mr. Hale: Is there a reason why are you not in a good mood? Why you decided to spent time with me over some boring test papers rather than with your roommate?

I debated whether to tell him about the tattoo or not. We didn't find anything in the library and it's not like tattoos or art is his specialty. And of course I didn't want to add more to his "Kaitlin research list". But it's worth a try to get another pair of eyes or hands or another brain on this. I decided to tell him at the end and his reaction was somewhat concerned.

Me: Something else happened.

Mr. Hale: Tell me.

Me: It was only me who actually saw it and it's also a reason why I might have gotten into a small argument with my best friend, with my roommate Reilly. Well, not even an argument. I yelled at her, which is what I've been doing to everyone lately I guess, and then she didn't talk to me...

Mr. Hale: Kaitlin. You are spiraling in your explanations.

Me: Oh yes, sorry, of course. You probably don't want to hear about my private life.

Mr. Hale: If you want to tell me, I am not going to stop you but I don't think you are in this bad of a mood just because you fought with your friend.

Me: You are right. Sorry. To summarize it all up, I was in the bathroom and I saw a weird blue light which was coming from a light tattoo that appeared on my back. It disappeared the moment Reilly walked inside the bathroom, after I screamed of course.

Mr. Hale: Did it scare you?

Me: Pretty much. I am still trying to figure out who am I, what am I, and every time I get closer to one answer, something new appears and I left with more questions than I had before. And all of the things that happen are usually not good.

Mr. Hale nodded, placing down the paper sheet he was still holding and focused fully on the conversation now. He pondered for a while and then ask me if I recognized the tattoo, which of course my "mundrel ass" as Young would call me, has no idea where it even came from. I told him about our search in the library with the girls and that they've promised to ask around their family and friends who dabble in that area to see if they find something, but I was still unsettled with the outcome that it might have been some dark bad omen of incoming doom or whatever. Mr. Hale then asked me to describe it or draw it on the paper but best I could do is the same doodle I did for the girls. I took my secret notebook/diary out of my backpack, tore out another page and then did a rough sketch of what I saw. I wanted to walk towards Mr. Hale's desk and hand him the drawing but in the meantime I was drawing it, he stood up and was already standing over me, waiting for me to finish it. I got a little scared and surprised by seeing him suddenly next to me but I handed him the paper and he sat down. He looked at it carefully, twisting the paper but then he told me he has never seen any sigil or anything like this in his life. Not that it means it doesn't exist, just that it's outside of his knowledge and expertise. And I also knew he wasn't impressed by my Picasso skills either which didn't really help us to decode it. It might be much more easier if we had the full clear picture of it but I don't remember and I can't draw for the love of god, or my father or Zeus, whatever. But there is at least one way for us to maybe get the picture or get some of the answers that I seek and if that tattoo is really a bad omen, I don't care about the consequences of the way we get to them anymore.

"I trust you, Mr. Hale."