"Each spell is best used at a specific time of the day. It is best to cast spells to enhance self development at night while for healing and new beginnings, dawn is preferred."

"That's interesting,"muttered Ethan.

"And did you know, I can actually draw water from different sources? Like storm water is suitable for spells related to emotional strength, motivation and force while river water focuses on the movement, breaking through rough paths and warding."

Ethan nodded, although he did not understand much of it. Ask him to tell you about the dynamics of the pack system and he would have had a lot to say, but mana manipulation was something which totally made him clueless. Not to mention how he had had some extremely bad incidents with casting magic.

"Umm, Ethan,"asked Ahsid,"it's personal, but can I ask you something?"

"Even if I say no, you are going to ask it anyways."

Ahsid sighed. He was right, of course.

"Why did you leave? I never heard the real reason from you."

Ethan stiffened. But he knew he would have to spill it out. He had not wanted to come to terms with it, let alone talk about it with Ahsid of all possible people.

"It's alright if you don't want to tell me that you are a 収差(shūsa),"muttered Ahsid.

Ethan knocked the sandwich out from Ahsid's hand in surprise.

"Who told you that,"he thundered quietly.

"Is it true?"

"I asked you a question first. And I won't repeat it."

"No one you don't know,"gritted back Ahsid, banging the table, partially annoyed at losing her food.

She had had enough of his secretive nature. They had known each other for so long.

Why did she have to hear about his problems from someone else?

Had their friendship really been built on such flimsy bridges?

How could she trust him if he didn't trust her?

Suddenly, Ethan grabbed Ahsid's shirt collar. But he had underestimated the power of her anger. She pushed him back hard and curling her palms into a fist, dotted him on his jaw. Ethan stumbled back, knocking over a desk, although he kept his balance. His eyes flashed a dangerous blue. But before both of them could proceed, Zion ran into the classroom and grasped Ethan by his shoulders, shaking them.

"Ethan, she's a mortal...a mortal. You are the Werewolf King. It's not her fault. Keep calm. Don't hurt her..don't hurt her,"he spoke urgently.

Ethan's breath hitched and his eyes turned towards Zion's face.

Ethan was about to hurt her? Ahsid ran out of the classroom, overcome with emotions. She ran to the backstair and punched the wall hard. She had been lucky that the students in the classroom had all been outside on the field and had missed their altercation. Tears threatened to spill out of her eyes. Where was the Ethan who rarely lost his calm and always stood by her? She kicked the wall once.

"Ahsid?"

"Mona,"whispered Ahsid.

Mona was her acquaintance who stuck around with Ahsid for the perks, like notes and help in physics sums.

"You alright?"

"I am just not in the mood right now, Mona. Please go."

"Ahsid, I am sure Ethan didn't..."

"SHUT UP! KEEP YOUR NOSE OUT OF THIS,"roared Ahsid.

She began to shake in anger. Suddenly, she realized that it was becoming difficult to hold in her power. No! She could not let anyone see that she could wield magic.

"Just go,"pleaded Ahsid and walked away from her. She locked herself in the washroom and cried to her heart's content.

"Why is it that I can trust noone,"asked Ahsid to herself,"Disha, please talk to me."

She used to consult with her imaginary alter ego in difficult times like these. It helped her to analyse her own actions and what she could have done differently to avert the situation from snowballing into something nastier.

"Maybe you should not have prodded him,"Disha whispered to her in her mind.

"Is it really that difficult to accept? He's always the one to tell me to firmly face whatever bouncer life throws at you but does not follow it in his own case?"

"You know that people are not very reasonable and turn hypocritical when asked to assess their own actions?"

"At least I have you, Disha, to keep me sane and help me with that. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Aww. I love you, Ahsid."

"You too, Di."

She calmed down. It helped talking to someone who would not judge you, even though it was only you talking to yourself. She would not apologize, no, but she was at least a bit in peace after talking to herself.

She then remembered Dane. It wasn't that he did not give her a headache with his cold demeanor but he would never ever do anything to hurt her. Right? She could trust him, couldn't she?

"I messed up, man, didn't I?" Ethan slumped to his chair, his hands on his head, drained out.

"You were about to transform, weren't you?"

Ethan did not reply. Zion was distraught at the thought that Ethan would have really done something awful to Ahsid if he had been a minute late. Ahsid could defend herself sure, but she just wasn't that strong to take on a former wolf, even without his transforming skills.

"How did you even know we were arguing?"

"Your rage. I felt it through the kingship bond."

Ethan was dumbfounded.

A kingship bond was established when a Alpha was accepted by his subjects as their ruler. When he had forsaken his world, the bond too was destroyed. If Zion had felt his emotions through the kingship bond, there were two possibilities.

One, Zion was lying, and the second where he had wholeheartedly accepted him as his Alpha even though he had abandoned them.

"Zion..I am not fit to rule. I..."

"Oh, shut up. I am joking,"laughed out Zion,"as if I will let you be King so quickly after you rejected us as subjects."

Ethan's face turned bright red. A kingship bond was special as it worked both ways. He had obviously not felt it's presence even though he had accepted Zion, and than nothing less than his Beta.

Little did he know how wrong he was. Zion definitely had a thing or two up his sleeve.

"Hey, pal, you remember the conversation we had on our first day? If you deem yourself as unworthy, I kill you."

"Those weren't your exact words,"sneered Ethan, annoyed.

"I know. It was another joke,"said Zion and began to laugh again. "Now get ready to apologize,"he urged.

Ethan rolled his eyes.

"I will do it myself,"he whispered and went off to find her.

"Man, his moods change like a torpedo,"moaned Zion to himself.

He wished Dane would come back quick and give him some break from this drama as he acted a fainting scene to no one in particular.