I have never seen or owned anything so beautiful. The fabric is so soft and light, but at the same time very thick and warm. The dress look exactly like the design Cyn had in her sketchbook, but I am still surprised how they turned out. Since I won't need them until the day of the ball, I fold them and put the box away into the closet.

Everyone from the 1st year is gathered in a small ballroom. We are meant to use high heels and I am not really good with those. I didn't even have appropriate ones and I had to borrow a pair from Gaia. I got ones that go around my leg and have some level of support.

When I finally finished tying laces around my ankles, the instructor called us to the dancefloor. We are meant to find a free space but still stay in formation. Thanks to Skylar, I already know the basic steps but I had hoped that I will be able to practice them with someone. We only have thirteen students in the year, which I thought would be an issue since one person won't have a dance partner to practice with, but I got corrected right after getting to the class. Only the girls are going to practice here while the boys got hauled off somewhere else. The whole ceremony is sacred and the dance is used for something during the actual ball. For this reason we are not meant to perform it outside of the Equinox ball. And a part of the ritual is also being chosen by someone. I am glad that Draco only declined to go with me for this reason, but how are we supposed to dance with air?

The whole class is more like a torture and the instructor is even worse than the soldier professors in Combats. We are being taught by an older Russian lady, but it's nothing like Skylar. Her accent is heavy and so are her instructions. She yells out if you make a mistake or don't correct your steps. Despite limping and using a cane to walk, she always manages to get to your spot quickly and taps your with a thin stick she is carrying in her other hand. Each hit stings against my skin and it will definitely leave some bruises.

Struggling as I expected, by the end of the first class I am sweatier than coming from a gym or training. My whole body hurts because the instructor kept correcting my form. I had to bend my arms, legs or back in weird angles, then keep holding them like that. If I was a cat or more flexible, it wouldn't be such a problem, but at this point, I am just a stick that has two options, horizontal and vertical, when it comes to dacing. Reilly seemed to get the hang of it somehow, but she trained her body for years. The most elegant and almost perfect as the instructor called them, were Saxa and Reira, and of course she had to threw that in my face by looking at me, lifting her eyebrows and slightly tilting her head. It pissed me off, but I can't risk an attack when Woreus is not here to protect me. They banned him from entering the ballroom, or more like the instructor isn't keen on dogs.

With the help of Reilly, I got back to my room and when Woreus saw me limping, he immediately jumped out from his bed and wants to know what happened. I barely waved at him to not be worried and told him to not even ask. Reilly betrayed me though and revealed what actually happened, earning me a good laugh from both of them.

Hot bath helped me relax the tense muscles but I still feel weak for some reason. It's this weird feeling of something between being sick and tired. We practiced only for two hours with a enough long break, so I can't be exhausted from that. Luckily, we can use this for some examination Woreus wants to do in order to find out who sealed off my source. If I was fully awake, it would make it harder for him, but me being tired helps him connect to the remnants of the magic better. I make myself confortable on the bed and Woreus lets me know it's okay if I fall asleep. I would love that but I also want to know what he finds, so I fight the sleep with everything I can muster. Watching Woreus as he walks from the head to my feet, sniffing and checking some invisible magic lines, I try to stay still and calm my mind. He freezes at one spot and keeps smelling it.

Woreus: It is faint but I can still detect it. The seal was in two places but one part is gone now and the magic used for it was weak, but this other one though...

Me: There was a mind block on me. I don't know if it was meant to conceal my memories or what, but I managed to break it. I also unlocked the source at the same time. Can you tell whose magic it was?

Woreus: As wolf, I can see all sorts of magic if I focus but without knowing who the magic belongs to, I can't pintpoint it.

Me: So you don't know?

Woreus: Don't worry, little sister. I know this magic very well, grew up around it.

Me: Was it Ulferonn?

Woreus: This one doesn't belong to our father, but I do smell his wolf on you. The magic used on you belongs to Thaenviel, but rarely seen him interact with people in the palace or even helping us bring you here, so I don't know the reason he would do this.

I want to know more about my other brother, our family magic and why was I brought here, but all of my energy is used up and I can't stay awake any longer. All of my questions will have to wait until some other time and I just hope that until then I won't turn into an animal myself.

My feet hurt and I have go through that torture again today. To add a cherry on top of that, I am also joining the Trials class too. With my soles on fire, I try to get better in the dance and get used to the heels, but I pretty much repeat every mistake I did yesterday. One thing keeping me in the game is my stamina I have build up over the months I spent in the gym. Still, I am glad when the class is over, finishing early today since we have more classes today. I gladly take off the heels and swap them for my comfortable sneakers.

Again, Reilly helped me to walk as we go to our next class. Today is a first day for me, so I have no idea where to go. Reilly explains the basics to me as we go to the combat grounds, but we walk further than usual. At the end of this long empty hallway are huge double doors, twice the size of the other doors used in the grounds. Reilly grabs the iron circle nailed into the wood and knocks with it two times. The door open with a dragging noise, revealing a gigantic room already filled with panting and sweaty students. Our year is the smallest apparently, but this place is overflowing with bodies. I notice a very familiar person with amber eyes and quickly realize that Trials is a whole-academy class, not just first years.

Trailing behind Reilly, I scan the room and try to quickly assess what is the purpose of this class. Some kids are standing on a weird chess board that is carved into the floor, every one of them acting like a chess piece. Ms. Edite is in charge of that group, talking to them and explaining whatever they are supposed to do there. Draco is within his own class from which I only recognize him and Leo. Their group is being led by Professor Radock. Nix and Zuna are mixing with their classmates. All of their groups seem to have more people than our year.

Everyone in our year is already getting ready to train. Nima has an eagle sitting on her arm covered in a thick leather glove and seems to be talking to it. Close to her is the guy that can change into a bear, I think his name was Dave. He is just sitting on the floor without his shirt, eyes closed and meditating.

Gaia is sitting in the corner behind a table specifically prepared for her, because I don't see any others around the room. She also seems to be talking to someone but the two remaining chairs on the other side of her are empty. I shudder at the realization that she is talking to souls, which essentially means talking to ghosts. Maybe my power is not that bad at the end.

As we get closer, I also see Castor warming up in front of a pitching machine while Professor Nalin is talking to him about something. Castor just nods and the professor leaves to change the settings on the machine. It starts to shake for a few moments before a tennis ball is launched at Castor. He just stands calmly like nothing is going on, keeping his hands hidden inside his pockets. The ball reaches him, but stops mid air before it can hit him. Another one is spit out of the machine but with the same result. Draco mentioned that Castor is from the same line, present, making him able to pause time, even though not for that long. But so far I can tell is that everyone is practicing their powers in a way, or the teachers are explaining something to them.

We join our class and Reilly tells me to go and warm out, because we will probably be asked to train our powers in combat before our group rotates to another position. I mostly end up massaging my feet and try to lessen the pain I feel on the arch of my soles. Reilly is the first one to be hauled off by Professor Nalin to the side where a stack of weapons is waiting. I can see the spark in her eyes catch on fire and sense the happiness she is feeling from being able to use the swords prepared for her.

I have time to relax because Professor Nalin goes to guide everyone else before it's my turn. Getting called to the side finally, I am joined with Saxa. She is alone because Reira is currenly standing around huge bowls which are either filled with water or empty. She is using her powers to create water snakes or separate the water completely, and moves them around. Never really saw or talked to her, so I didn't know her descendancy, but I guess she is from a Poseidon line. One enemy occupied, but that doesn't eliminate the danger I am still in, because we got instructed by Professor Nalin to enter something called the hologram arena.

I am glad for the outfit I chose for today, because it gives me mobility but I am not sure if I will be even able to use that to my advantage if I am asked to duel against Saxa. Trying to think of a plan, I can barely hear what is Professor Nalin talking about. I tune into the conversation when it seems like he is asking me something, but I don't know what it is so I ask him to repeat the question. Saxa scoffs and starts calling me pathetic, but Professor Nalin tries to calm me down.

Professor Nalin: Must be first time jitters but don't worry, Kaitlin. Our turn is focused on tweaking up the powers first. It will be basically like your Combats training.

It doesn't help at all, because students are allowed to duel within combat grounds, so there is still a chance I will have to fight Saxa. Her control is more precise and she can also deflect the strikes with the commanded lightning, while I can't even aim. I try to stay away from her, but Professor Nalin tells us to position ourselves on these red x signs which are painted on the floor, barely five feet from each other. We both face the same direction and wait for Professor Nalin to start our training. He explains what we are supposed to do but I only keep my focus on Saxa, checking her through my peripheral vision. She is just standing casually with her arms crossed in front of her chest and tapping her fingers against her upper arm, but I can't let my guard down.

Professor Nalin tells us to get ready and I realize that I haven't listened to a single word of what he told us about this exercise. I watch two crystal squares being launched from the wall to which they were mounted. They emit thin visible light beams and shine on the area in front of us. From the light, shapes of a person emerge, holding weapons and positioning themselves in a fighting stance, but they don't attack. At least until Professor Nalin doesn't yell out fight and these two holograms start running towards us.

I can't risk hitting someone else with the summoned lightning, and since I haven't mastered the commanded one, I only call out the electricity around my body. Practising with Draco and Reilly, I learned a few punches and kicks. Combining those with an electrical current, I run against the hologram. Slinding on the ground, I pass through the legs of the fake person, stand up and punch it through the back. Like it's a real person, the hologram starts convulsing because my electricity acts like a stun gun, and then it bursts into tiny specks of light.

Saxa hasn't defeated hers and seems to be waiting for something. As I run back to my spot and wait for another hologram to appear, I notice the ground being suddenly wet. I stomp on the pool of water that seems to be flowing from one direction.

I follow the stream and the source is close to Reira. She is still moving the water from one bowl to another, pretending like nothing else is happening, but I can tell she is also commanding the one flowing to the arena. Not wanting to give her the satisfaction of turning myself into an idiot by slipping on the wet floor, I slow down.

In hope that she will be angry and I won this little fight, I look at Saxa and tilt my head in provocation to let her know I have figured out their plan. But to my surprise she keeps smirking at me as she is summoning a lightning above her hologram. Making a fool of me didn't work out, so she has to show off? I roll my eyes and don't care about it much, until Professor Nalin shouts at her to stop. Of course, she doesn't listen.

I watch the lightning form and start shooting down from the ceiling, when it suddenly freezes mid air. Professor Radock shouts at someone and command them to get her out of there and I only realize he meant me, when I get lifted, tossed into the air and land on something huge and fluffy that carries me away. I grab the long thick fur as I am being tossed up and down slightly, like riding a horse. When we finally stop, I stop pressing my head against the back of the beast and slide down. On a reflex, I thank Woreus out loud, but then I realize it's not him, but Dave transformed into a black bear.

I get placed down on a dry spot and the lightning resumes in its' trajectory. It hits the hologram, making it burst in the same manner as mine did, but it doesn't stop there. After hitting the ground, the energy current is spread around the wet floor. My eyes open in horror, because I haven't thought of that scenario and thanks to my stupidity, I could have died. They used Reira's water as a conduit to spread the electricity from the lightning, and if I have been standing there, I would get electrocuted.

Ms. Edite and Professor Radock stopped our training. They ask Professor Nalin to join them and all three walk away. Talking in their small group about something, mostly the two professors are discussing while Professor Nalin is just nodding. They finish quickly and only Ms. Edite leaves. Professor Radock and Nalin walk back to us, informing me that I will be swapping groups.

Professor Nalin: Usually we keep the winter Trails within the class year, but given your history with Ms. Fendrick and this incident, you will be placed with the fourth-years.

Professor Radock: Under perfect conditions, we would put you with the next year so that the power level difference is not that big, but since Mr. Evren is acting as your Help, you will be joining their class.

Saxa: More like because they are sleeping with each other, no?

Professor Radock: I am aware of the talks about their romantical relationship, but I assure you, Ms. Fendrick, this has nothing to do with our decision and you can only blame yourself that we are forced to do these measures. Kaitlin, Ms. Edite informed me about your current state of power control and I don't recommend testing your powers in an active combat yet. You must be accustomed to training with Chronos descendants from what I've heard. Practicing a duel with their set of abilities should be better for you.

Professor Radock doesn't have to tell me twice and I follow him. I don't really want to duel with Draco, Leo or any other fourth-year, but it's better than facing Saxa. It also gives me an opportunity to test out the air ions theory. If I can at least figure out how to aim, I will be ready for this upcoming competition and I might stand a chance in the future if I have to fight.

Draco welcomed me to their class and quickly checked me out for any injuries. I just patted his chest and joked if he is not confident in his abilities. I figured it must have been him who paused time around the lightning. Professor Radock confirmed it by thanking Draco for helping out. He then informed the whole 4th year about me joining their Trials class until the end of the school year. Everyone just nodded but basically ignored me after and they went back to their training. Draco doesn't even have to ask the professor to be paired up with me for the 1v1 duels. With him around pausing the time, I can practice the aim without hitting anyone accidentaly, but I still ask Professor Radock if there is a more secluded space.

Professor Radock: With the presentation I saw in the hologram arena, you won't need that much space. Utilizing your power in the close combat is brilliant. Draco is skilled in fighting, so he will be a good opponent for you to test it out.

I guess they gave up on turning me into a blasting weapon since I can't control it, not that I am complaining, but I do want to try the aim. I can't protest against the decision of a teacher, so I find a relatively free area to train with Draco.

Obviously I am overpowered every time I try to strike him. No matter how much I trained with Reilly, I still lack the real experience and years of practice. Thankfully, Leo joined us too and with Draco, they instructed me. It reminded me of the dance class but this one is much more fun. I try to correct the twisting of my legs, extending of arms at a better timing and also something about using my hips when I punch. I got the hang of it after first try and only wish they would swap the stupid dance for a martial art performance, since I am better at this. But at the end, I am still slammed against the floor more than I can keep myself standing.

The next time I got tripped and start falling, Draco grabs my arm to prevent the fall, but I crouch anyway and slowly sit down, trying to catch my breath. I stopped using the electricity half an hour ago, because it kept draining my energy. Getting slightly dizzy, I give up on sitting and just let my body drop on the floor.

Something cold is pressed against my cheek, leaving a wet spot on my skin. I only twist head to see Draco holding a bottle, nudging it towards me. Reluctantly, I sit up and get the drink. It cools down the heat inside my body from using powers for too long, but it doesn't help my arms and legs, which I can barely feel.

Since there is not much time left until the end of the class, Draco tells me to just rest, gather some energy. He takes the emptied bottle and leaves to toss it out, then returns to keep me company. Leo joins us too, not speaking a word as he is untangling the boxing bandages. I just sit with head between my knees as Draco is playing with his fingers on my lower back. I gave in to the amazing massage, enjoying it as much as I can without falling asleep but it got interrupted by a loud cracking noise.

My body jerks to the sound I have etched in my memory very well by now – the hit of the lightning. We all know in which direction to look. Everyone gasps in terror but also amusement, commenting on how great it must be to have such power. All I put together is a scoff and an eye roll. From the side, I see Saxa staring at me and Draco, and that's probably why she decided to show off her powers, turning the attention on her like Mairi loves to do it. Despite the hate between magicians and demigods, I think those two would make a great duo of best friends. But both of them should be taught in how to control their feelings more than their powers. I am with Draco now, and Saxa has a free range to go after Mr. Hale like she wanted at the start of the year, so it makes no sense that she is still jealous. I can't say that this thought about them being together isn't bothering me, but what I can do about it? I shake head to get that idea out of mind and decide to ignore Saxa. I tell Draco that I am going to pack up and go grab something to eat.

I ended up waiting anyway, because Draco wanted to get the whole squad together. Leo finished as first, stood as a guard right next to me and we watched Draco gather the rest. Zuna got hauled together with Castor and Reilly. The remaining one is Nix, who is trying to help out Gaia with cleaning away the table. I yell at Nima to join us as well, but she she only shook her head. When Reilly walked up to me, she explained that Nima has to go take care of the eagle and can't join, but wishes us a nice lunch. The only one that isn't in the Trials class is Orion, since he is a fifth-year and won't participate in the competition. Leo texted him though and got a comfirmation that he will meet us at the cafeteria.

Gaining a small amount of energy thanks to the food, I stretch myself and get ready to go back to my room. Before we separated, I asked the Chronos guys if they can train with me for Combats. I mostly need Draco or Castor to stop time, but I enjoyed Leo's teaching as well, so I wouldn't mind him joining too. I didn't want to bother Orion when he has to focus on his ascension but he agreed to join when he has time.

It was tough to climb up the stairs and I got hit by a feeling of déjà vu, like I am at the same when I got here first. I end up getting carried by Draco the last two floors though. We get inside my room like a groom carrying her bride, but I am too tired to be bothered by how it looks like to others and what they think about us.

Woreus isn't worried about me this time. He just sends a joke down our mind connection, asking if I am really that bad when a simple dance is destroying me like this. I want to show him a middle finger but I end up just sticking out the tongue, because he is my older brother after all. Draco looks at our interaction and checks if I have a fever, when I seem to be arguing with a dog. Brushing his hand of my forehead, I start telling him that binding a familiar creates a mental connection and Woreus keeps nodding his head, but I want to get back at him a little bit for the dance joke. I also don't want to lie about an important thing to Draco so I blurt out the truth.

Me: This dog is actually a shrunken wolf that is also my brother.

Draco remains quiet and only stares at me. I tell him that it's true but he burst into a laughter. I slap his shoulder but the hit isn't that hard since I could barely lift the arm. Draco then looks at Reilly and pointing at Woreus he asks if it's true.

Reilly: Yeah, I have seen his human form. He is kinda hot.

Draco still doesn't seem to believe it but he plays into the "joke" by asking if his clothes fit the dog. I change my gaze to Woreus and start talking to him in my mind, asking him if he can shift. I know that the shift is painful but it is the only way to show it to Draco.

Woreus: Why don't we just let him think that you are just joking?

Me: It should be safe after you removed the timeloop, so why not?

Woreus: I don't feel like it.

Me: So you will let me look like a crazy person instead?

Woreus: Okay, then let me make it clearer... I don't like him.

Me: I don't know what your problems is with Draco, but I love him and I chose him!

Woreus doesn't reply to my last sentence but he stands up from his bed and trails off into the bathroom. He closes the door with paw and then we can hear the painful moans through the breaking and cracking of bones.

The transformation is over in a few minutes and when the door opens again, Woreus enters the room. He doesn't have shoes on as usual, so his steps are light. Only the sound of his skin pressing against the floor fills out the quiet room while everyone is holding their breaths. It is Reilly that breaks the silence and lift the gloomy mood.

Reilly: See I told you. Kinda hot.