Benjamin was thinking hard in his room. Even though he didn't like to admit it, he knew exactly how powerful and wonderful he was. It was impossible not to. He'd grown up knowing he was a prodigy.

His mother was earth born so she was without magic but she knew of the magic and powers of the people of Rodia through her connection with his father. His father's magic has become weak upon his entry to earth so it wasn't exactly impressive. He didn't mind losing his magic since he'd found love in return.

Benjamin's father hadn't expected his son to possess any form of magic since his wife was earth born and he'd lost most of his as well. In fact, Benjamin had pretty much been your average cute toddler with his dark brown eyes until one strange day.

As a child, Benjamin liked taking his cornflakes with two sugars and two cups of milk every morning. He was very particular about it and wouldn't eat anything else even on his birthday or Christmas Day. It was one of the ways he'd been strange as a little boy.

One morning, their regular milk man ran a bit late so Benjamin had to wait in agony. His mother had tried offering him bread and fried eggs but he turned his nose at the meal. He had been a very particular child when it came to food.

Sighing deeply, his mother went to pick up the phone to call the milk man who had been held back by one delivery. When she returned the table, she found Benjamin pouring some water into a cup. But when she looked into the measuring cup he used, the water had turned to full cream milk.

After that day, strange things kept happening around Benjamin. It was impossible to ignore the little boy had powers. His father had been forced to teach his son about the magic of Rodia.

On his seventh birthday, his eyes became the colour of pure gold. He began to cast spells that people five times his age still had issues trying.

Benjamin was unique.

It was always said that Benjamin was born lucky. He hardly ever needed to lift a finger to be the best. His physical progress was unparalleled and his unusual intelligence caused his teachers to both fear and admire him.

Oddly enough, this didn't make him arrogant or nonchalant as most would expect. It only made him wary.

When Larry's friend, Aria developed a crush on Benjamin, he'd been very uncomfortable with it. He was used to be being admired and chased but it didn't make him happy. He never felt any desire to pursue a relationship. Something always felt missing. At the time, he hadn't realized it was because he had a synergy.

Benjamin avoided the girl until she was forced to use her powers to see if he would end up being with her. Though the girl had been young, she'd been determined. Her determination led to her death.

He blamed himself for Aria's death. If he had been firmer perhaps she wouldn't have tried to see so much into the future. Perhaps she wouldn't have turned into dust.

One of the reasons his power never got to his head was because he knew there were many people far more powerful than him. Over time, he'd gotten more relaxed since he'd never met an enemy he couldn't beat.

Getting attacked by Herbert changed everything. He'd heard so many times that Telepathers were a million times stronger than Magis but he'd never felt the power of one.

He'd been completely hopeless when Herbert used his confusing emotions against him. Despite how hard he'd tried to shove the man out of his head, it felt like he was being run over by a truck over and over again.

The man probed his head, invaded his thoughts and revealed his pain to him in the most vile way possible. Benjamin didn't even have the power to defend his mind from seeing images of Larry with Selene. It was the worst thing ever.

It was the first time he understood why Tianna had been wary of Selene. Selene also possessed the power Herbert did. His tongue felt dry when he imagined Selene using her powers against him.

He buried his hot face on his palms. It was the first time he'd ever realized exactly how weak he was in the face of true power. It was the first time he realized he wasn't strong enough.

A soft knock on the door brought him out of his melancholic thoughts. He rose from the bed and flung the large wooden door open.

"Speak of the Devil." Benjamin mumbled when he saw Selene looking up at him with her big brown eyes. The same eyes that had caused him so much pain earlier that day.

He hated and loved her at the same time. A part of him wanted to kiss her and another wanted to turn her away. She was the source of all the grief he'd felt in the last few years.

She raised an eyebrow at his comment but didn't bother trying to ask what he meant.

"May I come in? I'd like to talk to you for a while." Selene asked. Her voice sounded a bit strange. She looked a bit strange.

He scanned her face for a few seconds before stepping aside to allow her enter. He couldn't turn her away no matter how much he wanted to. She slipped into the room with more grace than he could remember she possessed. Her powers were becoming more evident.

Benjamin sat on the bed trying to pinpoint exactly what seemed different about Selene. She didn't sit though-she kept pacing around the room with what seemed like nervous energy.

Benjamin didn't speak because he wanted to hear what she had to say without him prompting her. Her grey robes trailed behind her as she walked.

"First, I'd like to apologize. Everything you've been through these last few days is my fault. You've been in three battles in less than three days because of me and you got attacked by Herbert because of me. I'm so sorry." Selene suddenly stopped walking.

"It's not your fault." Benjamin said tilting his head so he could look at her.

Selene sat beside him, taking his hands into hers. She looked at him with sad eyes. She had such beautiful eyes. How could something so beautiful cause him so much pain?

"It is. Herbert was right. Neither you or Edith should have been forced to fight for me. I should have been able to fight on my own. I failed because I was afraid." she said sadly.

"I don't blame you for anything that's happened. None of the battles you've been involved in have been your fault." He said shaking his head.

"I'm sorry for the argument we had before we got attacked at aunt Tianna's. I shouldn't have suggested severing the bond. I didn't know how dangerous it was." Selene said hurriedly. He could tell that was why she had come in the first place.

"It's fine. I shouldn't have gotten angry either. I had a lot of pent up emotions. I'm sorry." He said.

Selene gave him a watery smile as she squeezed his hands. He gave her a watery smile of his own. He felt some of his anger fade.

"I'm curious. You attacked that woman in the hall with Telepathy. Does this mean you've gotten your memories and power back?" Benjamin asked.

Selene seemed to be considering his question. She rubbed her small nose as she thought.

"It's a bit difficult to explain. After Edith and I found out how my mom died, I got back some of my memories but I still didn't know how to use my powers until you got attacked. It just suddenly came back to me-kind of like that moment when you finally remember the answer to a question in an exam. I don't really understand what happened to be honest." Selene sighed.

"But your memories are back? And you know how to use your powers?" Benjamin asked.

"Not all my memories are back. I know what happened to my mom that night and I know that it was partly my fault that she died because I was too scared to use my powers." Selene said slowly.

"It wasn't your fault." Benjamin insisted.

Selene smiled sadly.

"I can also remember how to use my powers which is a bit strange. I'm still not used to it but with what Herbert's taught me, I think I can understand how." She said.

Benjamin nodded. He observed every inch Selene's face. There was something different about her but he still couldn't tell what it was.

Was it her hair?

No. Her hair still looked unruly and curly as usual. She'd tried taming it that morning but she'd ended up pulling it until it looked a bird's nest.

Was it her skin?

He didn't think so. Her skin still looked the same.

Was it her face?

"I was thinking too. Part of what Herbert said made me realize I still don't know enough about this woman who keeps attacking me. There are a lot of things that don't add up." Selene said before he could finish his thought.

"What doesn't?" Benjamin asked.

"Even when you and Aunt Tianna told me about this Her Majesty woman, there were so many things I didn't understand. I never understood why she seemed so desperate to kill me. I know she hated my mom but it didn't feel like it was enough reason. But now I'm sure there's another reason." Selene said.

"You are?"

"When Edith and I saw the day my mother died, I knew I was right. They didn't want to kill my mom. They only wanted me. Part of why I was unable to attack those creatures was because they were able to penetrate into my mind. They showed me something that broke me." Selene shivered.

"What did they show you?" Benjamin frowned. It was all news to him.

"Dead bodies. Little dead bodies. They weren't just dead. It was like they'd sucked all the blood out of their bodies. Their eyes...I know they were dead but there was something strange about them. One of those Hunters referred to me as the antidote. I need to know what that means. I'm at a disadvantage since I lack both information and time. I need to even the scales. Even if it's just a little." Selene looked determined.

Benjamin pulled his beard thoughtfully. She was saying all the things he'd been wondering for a while.

"That sounds reasonable. I can tell you've been thinking about this for a while. What is our next line of action? What are we going to do?" He said.

Selene blushed furiously. She liked the fact that he'd said 'our' not 'your'. She'd been worried he wouldn't want to help after everything.

"I'm going to start from where it all began." She said slowly.

"Where it all began?" Benjamin raised one of his perfectly arched eyebrows.

"All accounts say this whole business started when my mom was still in school. I'm going to her school to see if I can pick up any clues about what happened that day." Selene said.

"When are we going?" Benjamin asked.

"Not we. Just me and Edith." Selene shook her head.

"Why?" His eyes were filled with hurt again.

"No no! It's not because of anything you're thinking. I'm taking Edith because she's a Necromancer and she's the only who can draw memories from inanimate objects. Also, I was hoping you could help me poke around in Rodia to learn anything you can about this woman." Selene said.

"Why can't Edith scout instead?" He pouted.

Selene used her fingers to brush away the furrows in his brow. She had a beautiful smile on her face. At that moment, he would have given his life if she asked.

"Edith is a Necromancer. Necromancers aren't exactly known for being social. If she's seen snooping around, it'd spell trouble. And I can't do it either. You're the only one who can gather the information we need." She said.

He was forced to smile back.
"Fine." He sighed.

"The only problem is your eyes. They're golden so it might spark some suspicion." Selene frowned.

Benjamin chuckled. His eyes suddenly went from gold to dark brown-the original colour at birth. Selene gasped when the colour changed back.

"I can change the colour of my eyes at will. I can also change my appearance in case they have an idea of what I look like. Considering strong my magic is, I doubt any Senser would be able to tell." He said.

"Are you sure it's not too dangerous?" Selene held his hands again.

"I'll be discrete. If I sense any form of trouble, I'll be out of there. The only problem is that I can't return here without you. The doors of the castle are closed to all except a Telepather." He said.

"We'll arrange a meeting point." Selene said.

Benjamin nodded and kept staring at her face. There was something so different about her. Without thinking, he reached forward to tilt her chin up.

As expected, Selene blushed furiously. She still didn't really like being looked at.

"What?" She asked.

"You look different. I can't tell what it is." He said thoughtfully.

"Is it in a bad way?" Selene asked.

Benjamin thought for a while.
"No. You look prettier. Not that you weren't pretty before. Did you do something to your face?" He asked.

"No." She shook her head.

"I guess it's the aftermath of using Telepathy. Telepathers are often said to be extraordinarily beautiful." He said letting go of her face.

Selene cleared her throat feeling uncomfortably. He smiled at her enjoying how uncomfortable she looked.

"Ahem. Anyway....we leave at dawn. That way we'll be able to cover much ground." Selene said.

Benjamin nodded, suddenly looking serious again. Selene sighed.

"I'm still confused about a lot of things. My memory is still a bit foggy. I still don't think I feel things the way I should but that doesn't mean I don't care about you. It was never my intention to hurt you." She said softly.

Benjamin nodded since he wasn't sure he could even speak. It still bothered him a lot. She leaned forward to kiss him. He kissed her back without even thinking twice. He inhaled her sweet scent before she pulled back.

Selene looked at him with eyes that were every bit as confused as he felt before she left the room.

He watched her leave wondering what he would do if she never felt the bond of synergy the same way he did.

He didn't think he could stand letting her go either way.

#M.M