Waiting for something to happen, I end up being disappointed because nothing did. No light or some crazy firework show to symbolize the spell. And I don't feel any different either. Reilly asks if that's it, but I have no idea if we even did it right, so I ask Woreus. He looks between us and tells me that the bond is brighter, stronger now. Walking closer to me and Reilly, my brother sniffs around our bodies and adds that we also smell different. On instinct, I bring my arm closer to the nose and take a whiff too, but besides the detergent and perfume, I don't smell anything else.

Woreus: There was an adjusting period for my bond with others. At first everything seemed the same, but slowly, the connection settled and my chosen family began to tap into the bond powers.

Me: Does that mean that Reilly will be able to shoot lightning too?

Reilly: Ares, I hope not.

Woreus: Your abilities are binded to the source and only to you, but if you have any sharing-type of powers, you might be able to send it through the bond. For my family, they can channel the bond, grow stronger and bigger than other shifters. Might not apply to you though.

Me: So besides tying Reilly to me, the bond is pretty much useless?

Reilly: Hey! At least it makes us somehow sisters, no?

Woreus: Your source reminds me more of our brother Kalai. And your mother is magician too, so I think there might be something passed from that.

Repeating everything to Reilly, we think about it for a while. My brother mentions also some palace privilages when it comes to the bonded people, but we are more concerned about the shared powers. The only thing I can think of is the spell-casting. For me it's normal, because I am of a mixed blood, but Reilly is a full demigod. I share my thoughts to her, and even Woreus agrees that it might be possible.

Luckily, I saved the Aveus notes, so I get one of the old notebooks and show Reilly a basic spell. We debated which one to do, so that it's useful to her as a magical soldier. Ended up picking the shield spell, but I also suggested the communication one.

I explained everything to Reilly is best as I could when it comes to accessing the energies. How it feels, what she should think about and how to navigate it, then I showed her all the hand movements. I summoned the shield by myself first, so that Reilly can visualize it. When I dropped mine, I let Reilly try. Her movements were stiff at first, and she made multiple mistakes, but after I guided her, Reilly managed to correct it immediately. With everything etched into her mind, she finally went for the real deal. Reilly's hands still moved awkwardly and every set of movements was correc, but it still didn't matter, because nothing happened. Reilly had years of practice with her powers, so she can easily detect the energies, but all she feels are the Ares powers.

Me: See, the bond is useless.

Reilly: But it means that it's not dangerous or I am not tied to you like a slave without my own will. Plus, your brother said I have some privilages when it comes to the palace, so I take it as a win.

Me: You probably just want the access to the royal armory and steal some ancient weapons, huh? You sword-loving freak!

Reilly: Maybe.

Woreus: I like her.

Me: I have always wanted to be her sister. Even if I didn't have this bond power, I would still think of her as one.

Woreus: I hate to bring an innocent people into this feud, but I can't really go against her feelings.

Me: But we should be safe on Ethos, no?

Woreus: For now. And I hope it will last, until we gather the numbers and you can also protect yourself.

Reilly: Hey you two! The bond doesn't work for the mind connection, so I can't hear anything you two are saying.

I burst out laughing but Reilly still sits with her arms crossed in front of her chest, pouting and pretending to be angry. It makes me glad though, since not hearing all the stuff shields Reilly from knowing something that might put her in danger.

Hours passed and nothing has happened. We took it as a good sign and went to bed. Reilly still wanted to work out more, get rid of the spare energy she has, but I am juiced out. Going to sleep right now sounds amazing, better than eating my favourite strawberry cake.

I slid under the blanket and snuggled with it, but as I closed eyes, a sudden gong noise resonated so loudly, that it must have been heard through the whole school. I jerked out of bed and immediately look at Reilly. She reads my expression perfectly and only shrugs her shoulders, conveying she also doesn't know what's going on. Two more bangs followed the first one, making me and Reilly get out of bed and just stand next to each other in the middle of the room, hugging our bodies to create heat because the thin pyjamas are not enough.

After the painful three loud signals, a voice started to talk to us. It is distorted, like a school announcer speaker, but I can still tie it to Principal Idarin. There is nothing else, no talking sphere or an envelope, so I just end up looking around the walls and ceiling.

Principal Idarin: With an immediate effect, all Umbras students are prohibited to cross the barrier to Aveus until further notice.

We waited for more words, but the announcement ended. It is all sudden and there was nothing more that would explain what is going on, but it must be something big, when they are putting us under lockdown. Not that they will tell us anything since we are just students, but I can feel that there will be some riots tomorrow about this. I don't care much about not being able to buy cheaper food at the Aveus cafeteria, because I have that ridiculous amount of money in the bank account, but banned to cross the barrier means I won't be able to meet up with the girls. And like on signal, my phone dinked with a notification.

I chatted with the Ossilor girls for a little bit, sharing our thoughts about the ban, because they also heard it, even though they are not able to cross. The girls think there must have been some huge fight, but I remembered the weird static and how different it felt to cross the barrier. Wonder if it has something to do with the crossing ban. The thoughts occupied me for a while, but the pull of exhaustion won over me at the end.

With the next morning, I woke up later than usual. Reilly is already gone, training, based on the note she left me, meanwhile I am still rolling in bed after twelve. It's Saturday and we don't have any extra or special classes this time, which means I can just do nothing. I felt bad for not letting Woreus go run into the forest, but said he can feel my body being weaker and he doesn't mind hanging around the room. All I managed to do is drink a glass of water, leave some food leftovers on the ground for Woreus and I was back in bed.

It has been a long time since I had this dream last. The blue light memory returned but I don't feel the usual cold. I just go through the whole thing playing in my head like a movie and then I wake up. With only my eyes open, I remain glued to the bed, but I am curious about this memory, so I sit up and search for Woreus while also calling him through the mind. He replies but then also another voice calls my name and it surprises me. I slap hand over the mouth after a high-pitched scream left my throat. Reilly starts to laugh but also apologizes for startling me. Not expecting her to be back so soon, I looked at the time on the phone and my eyes shoot open when I see it's already four in the afternoon.

Me: Why didn't you wake me up?

Woreus: You seemed tired and the sleep does you some good. But also I tried and you didn't respond or when I nudged you, I just got slapped away.

The monotone voice Woreus used made me snort and even though he is in the wolf form, I can sorta see his annoyed expression too. It makes me chuckle more but since I got reminded of the dream, I asked Woreus about it. He confirmed it's a memory from when I was brought here and the blue light is actually my connection to the Viysus obelisk, but the reason why it's haunting me in this way is a mystery to him. I remember reading about the obelisk in my mother's research notes. She must have found it and I can only guess what would Professor Coldos do to have this information.

Reilly asked me to join her for lunch but I declined, told her I am not that hungry right after waking up. It is somewhat true, but I mostly didn't want to run into Draco. Facing him while knowing about this bond thing, I might say something I will regret later. And when the bond thought crossed my mind, I noticed a certain tug towards Reilly, like there is a bunch of invisible strings tying us together.

Woreus: That's the bond. It finalized over night and will mature even more, but I doubt there will be more changes. You will be able to feel it though.

It doesn't feel uncomfortable, or giving me any weird feelings about Reilly, which gives me a little bit of peace. Reilly also didn't gain some crazy powers either, so I don't think it's necessary to break the bond.

Even though later I regretted thinking that and I would love to break free from her, because Reilly somehow managed to drag me into the cafeteria. And like I predicted, Draco is here too with the rest of the group.

Reilly got her usual haul, but I took only vanilla chocolate pudding. I don't feel like eating at all but Reilly wouldn't stop her nagging, so I got something easy for stomach at least. With our food, I pointed at empty tables, far away from the Chronos descendants, which of course made Reilly suspicious. Maybe I should have picked one that is closer. Without any hints or even telling her, Reilly immediately nails the problem on its' head.

Reilly: Whatever happened between you two, don't let it drag for too long. Just apologize or speak your mind to him, and get it over with, Kaitlin, or it will be too late to save it.

Me: Nothing happened.

Reilly: Uhuh, sure. That's why you are avoiding him.

Me: I just don't know how to face him.

Reilly flicks my forehead and swiftly grabs my arm to pull me towards the table with Draco. I resist but I try to make it look less obvious, before Draco figures out I don't want to be with him right now.

Reilly: Girl!

Me: When I said nothing happened, I meant it Reilly. My brother said that the same bond we have, can be created between others too. Out of want, need, protection or love.

Reilly: And you are disappointed that mine is out of protection and his is out of a different emotion? Is there like a hierarchy of bonded people depending on the strength of the feeling?

Me: There is none between us. I love him, and I am not doubting that Draco loves me too, but apparently it's all in our heads. The "human" part of feelings as Woreus called it.

Reilly: Maybe it takes longer to develop? Don't come to conclusions so fast when we don't know how the bond actually works. And even if it doesn't appear, is it so bad when you still love him?

Me: It just threw me off and I don't know what to think.

Reilly: But ignoring him is not the way, Kaitlin. Just spend the time together like you never heard about this bond thing, and decide if it's really bad you don't have one with Draco. Not that I like the fact there isn't one.

Me: Are you also on Woreus' side? Maybe your crush on my brother is getting too strong.

Reilly: Not that, but I kinda like I am the only one right now. Makes me feel special.

Narrowing my eyes on Reilly and shooting an annoyance at her, I try to look angry but she only snorts and then hits my forehead with her palm. My head is pushed back with the slapping noise and I stagger backwards a little bit. With I growl, I stare at Reilly even more, but she only shows me the tongue and quickly leaves to join Draco's table. I can't help the chuckle and it makes me feel that having this bond only with Reilly isn't so bad, like she said. She is special to me anyway and if I had to pick only one person to bond with, I would probably choose her. That doesn't mean I can't love others.

I somehow talked it out with Draco without mentioning the bond, and I blamed the exhaustion and stress from everything happening. Luckily, Draco took it without questioning, but I still haven't spent the remaining weekend with him. I excused it with saying that we will meet during Trials anyway.

Waking up on Monday felt like hell. I turned off my alarm and ended up sleeping anyway. Then Reilly tried to get me out of the bed, but even her attempt was unsuccessful. Woreus isn't much of help either since he thinks studying is useless, so he let me sleep. I woke up for the third time because of Reilly's shuffling and stomping around. She suggested that I stay in today if I am feeling sick and she will let the professors know. I love that idea but I also want to learn how to aim and having an empty combat ground to do whatever I please with the lightning is a good opportunity.

It took me a while to get there and Ms. Edite was surprised to see me, probably because Reilly has already told her I won't be coming, but I still wanted to train, even though Ms. Edite tried to persuade me to rest more. My body is heavy and it feels like I won't be able to produce much today, but small steps count too.

Majority of the class I sat in the middle of the mat and controlled my breathing. I felt the tingles of the electricity in the air against my skin. I let that sensation fill every cell and slowly adjusted to other stuff as well. How the air gets colder to breathe but warmer against my body. How the room smells like if there is a storm brewing in it.

Imagining the energy as small shining particles, I push them with mind towards a spot, hoarding them like pebbles above the target. When I am satisfied with the feeling, I open eyes to check the situation before I release the lightning. In a split second, there is a sharp light followed by a deafening sound. Following the trajectory, my eyes land on the scorch mark created only a few inches away from the target. With a groan, I slouch, my shoulders dropping and I sit like a shrimp, then I fall on the ground and stare at the ceiling.

Woreus: You are getting the hang of it.

Me: I still missed.

Woreus: Good for a first try though.

Technically, I have it is not a first one, since I have attempted to learn how to aim before, but I take the small win. At least I have figured out how to connect to the energy and how to be a boss of it.

Two more shots, which still missed the target, and I am starting to loose control over my body. Just lifting arms is hard, like there is an iron anchor tied to each one of them, while my legs feel like the strawberry jello I ate this morning. Tapping into the source, I can tell that the Surge point is not close, so I should be safe when it comes to using powers, but the problem is my weak exhausted body. Not wanting to risk another visit and scolding from the nurses, I go take a break, informing Ms. Edite that I am done for today or maybe I will try only one more time, she agrees and excuses herself to go attend her other duties.

Woreus has been also practicing, if you can call him jumping around, biting and growling at various targets a practice. Ms. Edite praised me for teaching my familiar, because from what she heard about them, they usually serve as guides or magic storage, not as some offensive aid. Ossilor girls were also surprised when I told them, more like lied to them because I didn't want to reveal my weird family to the whole world, that it is unsual for a wolf dog to be familiars. Some magicians have affinity to be bonded but it's usually a cat, fox or an owl, something small. I haven't tried the actual familiar sigil I have, but just thinking about it, I hope I won't summon some frog or a lizard if I do use it.

The break basically did nothing to the exhaustion, but I want to do one more hit before I leave today. Standing drains my energy and shifts my focus since I have to keep thinking about not falling on my ass, so I sat down. Playing what I want the powers to do in the head like a movie, I stabilize my breathing and let all of the sensations get etched into my memory.

Woreus: Maybe you should open your eyes and then you won't miss the target.

I heard my brother say with a soft chuckle and I can see the smug face he would have if he was in the human form. Sending down a few swears through the connection, I loose the focus and open my eyes at the end. I have been summoning the lightning without actually watching the target because imagining the particles is easier that way. I always checked where the dummy is standing before closing eyes and estimate the position where I am supposed to send the cloud of energy. What Woreus said makes sense, but it's easier said than done. I still try though. Connecting to the air energy, I push the particles I feel all around me. In my head, it looked beautiful, but of course the light show I imagined is not really happening, so it looks like I am just some idiot sitting on the ground, squinting eyes at a wooden mannequin. It is quite harder to do it with eyes open, but it seems to be working. And when I sense the little zaps of electricity fight each other, ready to be released, I let go of the reigns and summon the power. The lightning strikes perfectly at the top of the wooden head. Energy travels through multiple cracks into every direction before it splits the target into half and burns it.

Woreus: I knew you can do it.

Those praising words mean a lot to me and I want to squeeze Woreus tight, but moving fast to catch him and hug him is not an option for me right now, so instead I thank him, because half of the achievement belongs to him, since it was his guidance that made this happen.

I waited until the target gets extinguished with the magic of the room and then to meet up with Reilly. As usual, she is hungry like a wolf and wants to go to the cafeteria, but my stomach still feels heavy and acidic, I don't want to eat anything, not to mention that right now, the only thing that sounds appetizing is me face-planted into the pillow. I still followed Reilly though and we met up with Nima and Gaia on our way.

All I bought is green tea and cookies, but the plan was to just drink and leave the food for later. It gained me some concerned looks from the girls, so I took at least two cookies and munched on them slowly. Reilly of course complained about the amount I am eating, especially right after coming from Combats, but I am too tired to argue with her and she must have noticed that and stopped her nagging.

Reilly: Anyway, have you guys received your dress? I don't like the girly stuff much, but those togas look really amazing, don't you think?

Nima: They do. The girl that made them is very talented, but I am still afraid of the backlash we will get for the coloring.

Reilly: If it's not strictly written in the rules, there is no way they can punish us for it no?

Nima: I hope so. Ours should still be fine, after they see what Gaia is doing.

Me: Are you adding embroidery to it as well?

Nima: How did you know?

Gaia: I am planning on to. For now, I am still practicing on old fabrics. It is hard to do it without actually being able to see, but I am trying.

I am so glad that Gaia actually took the whimsical wish Nix blurted out for real. He didn't say anything about them being together, and I haven't heard Gaia say it either, but then I remembered Draco teasing Nix about being friendzoned. Even though they are not in a romantic relationship, I am just glad that they ended up being friends. Gaia won't be so lonely, pushing everyone away because of her lifespan, and Nix is also pushing her to go back to the old hobbies and dreams, so maybe I should treat him to lunch or something.

Remembering Gaia's issue with making friends, it makes me think about me, my family and also others. I have read in the General magic gene biology Vol. 1 book that the magic might be powerful tool, but it doesn't allow us to be omnipotent. I thought there could be some elixir of life or something the magicians could use to prolong their lives, but I got disappointed very quick. But at least it means no one will try to abuse that power, even though multiple people have been documented to give their lives to the research of immortality. Especially magicians, since their lives are pretty much the same as human ones, adding give or take thirty years. The demigods have it better with their lifespans extending up to two hundred years, three hundred when it comes to the main god descendants. Unfortunately that means I will be stuck on Earth with Saxa for three centuries.

It is advised for demigods to move around and change identities a few times, an amazing gift of a new life created by the Magical bureau. You just go in, ditch your whole life and come out with a new one like nothing happened. Not that I love the life I had so far, but I want to keep it, even though I am tempted to do it and get far away from this whole power-hunger drama. I wish I could go to Viysus.

Woreus: When the things settle down, I will bring you back.

Me: Woreus? Did I send it accidentally through the connection?

Woreus: I don't mind.

Me: I do. Having you stuck in my head is enough, not to mention there are some things I don't want you to know. Hearing that voice all the time makes me feel a little bit schizophrenic.

Woreus: We can work on shielding later.

Hearing my brother suddenly mixed up the thoughts and I forgot for a while what I was thinking about, but it all came back and made me feel even worse than the exhaustion. If I was a casual demigod, I could live with Reilly and others for a few centuries, but based on how long Woreus has been around, I think I have more than just two hundred years to spare. I am too scared to ask Woreus and let him confirm the math I did, but at least there is one person I can relate to – Gaia. Hades descendants have been known to have extended lives to unknown. Whether it's infinity or a little bit more than three centuries is not documented. Their community is very tight and strict when it comes to this secret, but based on Gaia's thoughts about making friendships, I can tell it must be a long lonely life. There is no way I am revealing that to anyone yet, not even Reilly, but I do create a small plan about sticking to Gaia in the future, if it comes to us being two long-lived monsters.

The cookies churn in my stomach, trying to escape but not through the usual route. The thoughts about seeing everyone perish as I live, sits on my chest like a boulder. I stare at the remaining tea in my mug, wishing to go some abandoned place and clear my head. I love Reilly as I would my own sister, but sometimes her protectivness is smothering me. Would they mind if I disappear for a few days and go into the forest?

Woreus: You wouldn't last much in this weather and your current state, but when you feel better, we can have a run together.

Me: Dammit, again? How do I turn this thing off?

Woreus: There is no switch on our connection, little one, but like I said, there are ways to shield yourself.

With the nausea and strong negative emotions I feel right now, annoyance is added to the mix. It makes me also relate to Mr. Hale a little bit. Being able to hear everyone must be terrible, and I only have one voice inside my head.

Before I throw up in the cafeteria and give people some drama to talk about, I excuse myself and leave early while the girls keep eating. I also left because the constant growls of boredom from Woreus kept getting on my nerves. He didn't say anything, but I could tell he is not comfortable lying under the table and would rather be running free in the forest. Domestication of my wolf brother... failed. Before I let him go for the week, I ask him to show me the way to shield the connection.

I sat on my heels and stared at Woreus. The shield works from his side and I am unable to hear anything but my mind is open like a field. Being tired doesn't help either and gathering energy to create a mind shield right now takes a toll on me. I gave up and was satisfied with the aim achievement I got today. Going up and down the stairs to see off Woreus almost killed my lungs, but I pushed through and gladly dropped on the soft bed to sleep until the next morning.

First thing on today's menu I have to survive is the dance class. With being so tired all the time, I let the solo practice slip my mind and the level of my dancing is still the same, which is terrible. But I don't care about the instructor's remarks or Saxa's laughs today. Hell, I don't even try to remember the new stuff.

Glad that I am free from the torture, I go to the Trials class. We usually have Combats on Tuesdays, but the class shift from time to time, and even with that, I still don't attend the same amount as the senior years. I wish it was time for Combats this week, because I would be able to practice the aim more and not having to face Draco as well. I decided to give it a shot, despite knowing there is no bond between us, but the thought still lingers, making me question our relationship.

Since I don't want to talk to Draco or exhaust myself even more, I ask Professor Radock to be excused from the training and go back to just watching the class today. I mostly stared at Draco's half naked body, after he tossed away the sweaty shirt and spared with Leo. Maybe it is really just my body reacting to him, that's all.

Woreus: Hmmm...

I didn't hear any words, but I could tell that my brother heard the thought. I rolled my eyes and finally decided to put this to an end, being tired or not, I will push through. And that led me to the familiar door of one of the offices at Umbras. I knocked without hesitation, even though my heart is beating like crazy. The person inside opened his office for me and his expression is a surprised one. If it's a good or bad one, I can't tell, but he is the only one that might be able to assist me with his powers, so I greet him and ask for his help.

Me: Good afternoon, Mr. Hale.