Zoya's alarm woke the pair up in the morning the next day. Zain threw a pillow on Zoya to turn off her alarm, which Zoya didn't appreciate and threw the pillow back at him. He quickly drifted back to sleep.

Zoya was ready for her first training with Professor Bakon. She sprinted down the hallways when she checked the time, and it was 3.55 am. She wasn't to be late on her first training day.

"Miss Fernando, I thought you forgot about our appointment," said Professor Bakon once she appeared on time at 4.00 am.

"But I'm on time," huffed Zoya, beads of sweat dripping on her forehead.

"Being on time still means you are late, Miss Fernando. I'd rather you be 15 mins prior to our session. Do I make myself clear?" Professor Bakon eyed Zoya.

She gulped, "Yes, Professor."

"Good. Now today I will exhaust your body with a few fitness exercises. I want to see the extent of where your body stops working, and which side is your weakest. This will help me prepare a proper plan for the two of us to work on."

Zoya was ready, and so the training began.

Professor Bakon made her do a 100 push-ups, crunches, a 10-min plank, and tried simple kick-boxing exercises where he instructed Zoya to punch the bags for another 100 rounds. Zoya's training clothes were dripping in sweat, but she wasn't tired yet. So Professor Bakon instructed them to run together for an hour as a start. Zoya finally broke after a thirty-minute run. Running wasn't Zoya's strongest suit, and Professor Bakon knew where to begin.

He excused her, and Zoya slumped towards the Lockers' room to shower. Her stomach grumbled loudly that it echoed throughout the empty lockers. She checked her watch only to find it was 6.30 am. Breakfast started, and she was ready to eat.

She arrived at the hallway and sat at the table far left. It was where the Quad Squad was eating, and she recognized it was the same table they sat on the day before. Nadeen was first to notice her, and waved for her to join them. Zoya ran eagerly and sat down, served her plate and began to devour her breakfast. Despite the change of the weather, the food remained warm. Zoya enjoyed their location as the morning sun reflected on the colorful mosaic glass that reflected funny bright rays on the food. It felt magical to Zoya. None of these new experiences could she compare to her home, except for her morning training. None of these bright colors made her feel so warm inside. Her wall room may have been her favorite color, but that was it. The Fernando mansion became cold when her grandma and mother passed away. And her grandpa now followed...

"Easy now, you could get a stomach ache if you keep eating that fast," Zain laughed at the scenery.

"I can't. I'm hungry," Zoya said, muffled.

"Can't she ever eat without speaking, I'm getting food crumbs on my uniform," Nora said as she whipped out the imaginary crumbs on her t-shirt.

Zoya rolled eyes and ignored her for the delicious food she was devouring.

"You can never deny a good appetite, can you?" Zain teased.

Zoya muffled a groan.

After attending different classes, separately. Zoya didn't skip a single class and took notes intensively. She was quiet in most classes, and replied when necessary. She took assignments enough to last her a whole academic term to finish, and they were all due a week after they were assigned. She made a mental note to plot revenge and havoc on humans who assign homework after she finishes eradicating werewolves. Bargaining the Siren sisters to haunt her Professors in their dreams would be interesting, would it not?

Zoya skipped lunchtime to attend a meeting with the Expedition Club. The meeting was at the gardens, which Zoya internally approved. Fresh air, and outdoors was what Zoya needed to cool off the remaining heat of the previous evening. That was short-lived once she spotted Zain. The group members assembled, and the meeting started.

"How are you guys feeling today?" Myra, the leader, asked.

"Hungry," Zoya replied too honestly.

The group laughed.

"True to that," Myra started, "I hate I'm taking away lunchtime but I found that was our only shot to gather at the same time. Today we will brainstorm ideas and programs for what you guys want to explore, and see what I can do to get approvals," she explained.

"How long do we meet?" Someone asked.

"Excellent question! So basically we meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 45-minutes each. Explorations are unlimited once we have your project approved, but we start by going out onto field trips Saturday's. Is that okay with everybody?" She asked nervously.

Asking to give up a weekend for expedition may not have been ideal for most, but it certainly was a perfect opportunity for Zoya. A time well-invested she would say. Most nodded, and the reluctant ones chose politely to leave the club. Myra saluted, and they were excused to resume their day.

Myra had a Poodle service dog beside her, he was sitting most of the time, so he didn't bother anyone. She was short, almost at Zoya's waist, with long curly hair that gave off she was taller than she looked, and bit her nails a lot while standing. Myra was a year-older than most of the students participating, but no one seemed to mind. Her bubbly conversations were much more interesting, as they continued to share ideas for their expedition.

"How about finding the lost Tomb of Alexander the Great?" One suggested.

"No way! I'd rather go and find Queen Hateshput's tomb!" Another protested.

There were many ideas floating in-between, and Zoya listened to all. Fasticanted by the many possibilities, she had one target alone.

"What about missing mythical devices?" Zoya proposed.

There was a moment of thought, before everyone began to pitch in their chosen devices to find.

"Excellent ideas everyone! I can proudly call you Explorers," Myra announced and clapped in pride.

Zain locked eyes with Zoya in realization, but it was too late.

"Thank you Zoya for sharing such an interesting idea. Please submit your final groups and pitch the mythical devices you wish to find. You will have access to the national library, and our school's for any further assistance."

With that Myra concluded the meeting, and Zoya's angry stomach was her motivation to jog back to the dining hall. By the time she reached, the food was gone. Lunchtime was over, and Zoya thought of releasing havoc on the school cafeteria for closing too early.

She attended the remainder of the school day, quite moody. The more hours passed, the more Zoya became grumpier and much impatient for dinner. Her stomach grumbled twice in her English class, and distrusted Professor Kinn's lecture on Past Participant.

"Miss Fernando, if you could kindly hold your stomach. I can't explain this example when you're rumbling in class," she explained. Her eyes narrowed and her chin almost touched the ceiling.

Zoya's face burned red, and she hated being put in the spotlight. She held her tummy tight, and that somewhat eased the loud rumbling sound of hunger.

By dinner time Zoya was too fatigued, she was ready to eat an entire hippopotamus. She didn't know how she would survive when her expedition activity officially started in a week. Zain and Zoya met back in their dorms and filled their joint monthly planner as agreed the previous night. Zain added study and work times in the early morning, and was rudely interrupted.

"Wait, are we going to do that now?" Zoya asked as he started filling out the planner.

"Yes, I like to work ahead of schedule," he explained.

She took a glimpse of their joint calender and realized most of their work was in the early morning, before breakfast.

"No way in the mystical world," she shouted and pointed at what Zain wrote, "I need my morning time to train with Professor Bakon at 4.00 am every morning. Forget it, mornings are mine, afternoons are with you," Zoya protested.

"No. I work best in the morning," Zain insisted.

"Maybe when you day, you can be productive in hell. But I need my mornings to train. If I don't, my magic goes wild," she whispered, fearing the students passing by would hear her.

"Well, control it then," he said.

"I can't!" she protested.

"Why not!" he shouted back at her. His face got heated by their proximity, and he watched as Zoya was removing her t-shirt, wearing nothing but her bra. He quickly averted his eyes to respect her privacy, and body.

"Because my grandpa passed away before he could teach me how!"

"What happens if you don't take it out, then?"

"I don't know," Zoya replied, fear cracking in her voice. "But this hurts."

She showed him her tattoo arm, mystical beings like Zain would know that's a hunter's mark, and the small burn around her wrists.

"Oh don't be such a baby! Look at my arms," she demanded.

Zain scrutinized her hunter's symbols, and touched her arm with Zoya's consent. She shivered, as his cold touch burnt her skin.

He sighed, "Fine, evenings are for us. Mornings are for your training and my own studies."

They agreed and moved on, continuing to bicker on how to find a basis for them to work together. Zoya jotted down all her Extracurricular activities and class time. Zain did the same. And they found mutual spare time to work together on their projects and group work.

Weeks passed, and they memorized each other's routines. Zoya woke up and got dressed for her training with Professor Bakon. Zain threw the pillow at her every morning to wake her up.

"Why do you set an alarm if you are a heavy sleeper!" he'd whine half-asleep.

Zoya in return would prank the life out of him. Last week she put itching powder on his undergarments, and he itched so hard he went to the school hospital. Nadeen sometimes helped with giving her ideas, as Nadeen herself is a master prankster. The things she does to Memphis was much more comic. Zain would agree he'd run naked than have his brown hair turn flash pink overnight. Memphis' red face didn't help. Nadeen and Zoya eyed each other mischievously during lunchtime, Zoya granted his wish. The other day she changed his shampoo to glue, and that was a funny scene running to the clinic, located at the opposite of the campus, naked.

"You guys stop laughing!" Zain protested.

Nora snorted, Memphis's face reddened that it felt he was about to burst from laughter, Zoya and Nadeen clenched their stomach so hard they weren't able to breathe.

"We...can't," Zoya said in-between her laughter.

"It was all your fault!" Zain's face was as red as the cherry tomatoes he threw on her.

She threw some lettuce back, the trio joined, and soon they began a food fight in the Grand hallway.

"Order! Order now!" Shouted one of the Professors.

She yelled so loud, Zoya could see the veins pop on her forehead and her neck.

The once noisy hallway fell into utter silence.

"Who started this?" The Professor began.

None replied in fear of the outcome.

"If you don't come forward now, you will all get detention," she smiled wickedly.

Fear wrapped itself in each student's bones. As fear itself was afraid by her wicked smile and unease tinkling gray eyes.

" I did, Professor. It was my fault," Zoya confessed.

"Zoya, what are you doing?" Nadeen whispered.

But Zoya stood from the flabbergasted table, met the Professor halfway, and found the courage to lock eyes with the Professor. She gave out an uncomfortable vibe and her eyes were of serpents, easy to set one's heart into stone. Zoya's mark heatened, something felt wrong.

Zain was very inspired by what she did. She earned the Squad's undivided respect. Zain stood up, looking at the Professor and said, "I did too."

He reached Zoya's side and felt uneasiness. There was a smell. Something unusual about the Professor made Zain softly zoom at her. Zoya heard him and held his wrist to remind them of their surroundings. He cooled off almost immediately, but was cautious.

Soon enough, Nora and Memphis followed, and then Nadeen had nothing to do but stand up as well and claim that she did as well. The prankster queen got her first detention for the first time in several years.

"All right detention!" Announced to the Professor, her voice echoed through the room.

It threatened anyone who dared to take them into a hallway.

She led the Squad in silence. They walked up to the grand staircase that led to several flights. They reached the Second floor, walked to a room at the end of its gloomy corridor. It was very dark. There was no light, and the Squad saw each other's reflection by coincidence when they passed by Moonlight rays, gracefully welcoming them into the dusty old room.

"You will clean this room until it's polished and shimmers. I want it to be done by tonight, no exceptions." She challenged them.

"Tonight!" They shouted in unison, "but—"

"No buts, and no exceptions. This should be enough to teach you how to respect a meal," she pressed.

Her words laid too heavily on the children's bones. She turned and left.

Zoya's hair neck stood electrified, cautious of a neighboring mythical creature. She watched the Professor walk inaudible to a human, and glimpsed something. She blinked twice, but whatever illusion it was, was gone.

Zoya could have sworn she saw an inch of a claw mark threatening to reveal itself from the Professor's neck. But that was nonessential as the Professor wore a blue turtleneck plover. Zoya shivered and shook the unease out of her system.

"Are you going to stand there or help?" Nora brought Zoya back to their unpleasant reality.

"Oh my god! Ew! Ew! Zain!" Nadeen started as she shook her left arm vigorously and danced the dust of her bod.

"What is it?" He jogged towards her.

"Sp-sp-spider!" She shivered so hard that her pant's wrinkles began to dance to her shiver beats.

"There's nothing on you," he argued.

But Nadeen wasn't comforted by that fact until she felt she danced off and over the spider.

Nora claimed leadership and assigned each to one fifth of the dusty room.

"Memphis, you do desks and windows. Nadeen, declutter clothes from homework materials. Zoya, you clean the floor and old antiques. Zain and I will find all the broken equipment and bag them."

She looked at each of them as she assigned them their duty, and similar madness...tbc

"Hey, it's not fair! You and Zain would mean less work for you!"

Nora snorted, "Totally not true, Memphis. It's tedious work, unless you want to crouch your back for hours on end finding broken pieces of glass and shredded paper?"

Memphis' pimples reddened, and Nora got her answer.

"I thought so."

She turned and started to look for plastic garbage bags.

"You know that bright side is, if we do Nora's way, we can definitely finish before midnight!" Nadeen squealed, clearly eager to get out of that sulky room.

Nora squealed, and several unidentifiable objects crashed together on the greasy floor.

"Ew! Moldy Cheese. Yuck."

Nora did a similar dance as Nadeen's earlier, so she decided to step in. If these girls were too disgusted, Zoya would need to handle this. After all, Moldy cheese was the least disgusting thing she touched before.

Zoya quickly remembered the time when her grandpa took her to her first grizzly bear hunting. It was exceptionally fun.

"If you are disgusted, we can switch. Moldy cheese never bothered me," Zoya pitched in since the Professor left.

Zoya could see Nora's face wrinkled like a squashed banana. She didn't care, it was one of Zoya's virtues as her grandpa would say.

'Never care of those who misjudge you, my little rebel. But remember that those are your people. We protect them anyways, despite their cultural disapproval of us.'

Zoya's chest clenched and suppressed any remaining thoughts of her grandpa for the day.

"You? You think you can handle this tedious job?" Nora snorted.

"Yes. I ate a bear's gut before. So this is nothing," she explained coolly.

"Ew." She heard Nora barf. "Okay, you and Zain handle this, but don't touch me until you have sanitized your hands like three times."

With that, she picked up the nearest mop and began to cleanse the floor.

Zoya didn't realize Zain was smiling in the dark until she was close enough to make out his expressions.

"What?" She whispered.

"Nothing." He remained to master his friendly smile and started to look for plastic bags.

After a few minutes, they realized there were none.

"Can we use these old boxes then?" Zoya prompted.

Zain looked at the direction of where Zoya was pointing, and gathered the old water boxes from behind the corner.

"Yup, those should do it," he placed them neatly in front of them and started their tasks silently.

Nadeen and Memphis began to discuss how to approach their expedition findings. Nora grunted every time Zain would approach Zoya and help her with a task.

"What's the deal with you two?" Zoya whispered.

"Hm? What's the deal with who?" Zoya looked at her half-crouched with the empty box suspended in the air.

"Are you and Nora...a thing?" She asked before she could hold her tongue.

Her facial expression matched those of Zain's. Surprise was most of what each reflected off the other.

"Forget—" but she was cut off by him.

"No. We're friends. Nora can sometimes be overprotective, I guess? But there's nothing but genuine friendship between us," he explained himself.

"You didn't need to explain yourself like that," she was taken aback.

"I know," he semi-shrugged and held a subtle smile.

"What?" Zoya felt her face heat up, and it was neither anger nor disgusted that fueled her. It was a peculiar feeling she didn't comprehend.

"You surprised me. I think sometimes the best people that come into your life are those who surprise you the most."

Zain stepped comfortably closer to Zoya, and she didn't need to summon Amir, her sword. He was already summoned by Zain's approach.

"Careful, beast. You're in uncharted territory," she whispered as he hovered over her petite physique.

He lent his back until there was a safe distance between their lips. Zoya began to hear Zain's pounding beats as his eyes scanned her face and stopped at her lips. She saw him gulp and she realized her body was itching to touch his face. Those friendly eyes, and welcoming lips. Unknowingly her sword wrapped itself into his symbols again on her wrist, mesmerized by this unprecedented moment. Amir was willingly tamed by the unthinkable, though Zoya's heart wasn't as convinced.

"It's Zain. My name is Zain, Miss Fernando," he challenged her.

His voice was serious, his breathing still despite his fanatic heartbeats. Zain's warm breathing wrapped itself around Zoya's skin, and she hated the comfort that came with it.

An opportunity represented itself: a careless werewolf, and the proximity to finish the job neatly. An opportunity Zoya's muscles fought to grasp, and she did not take.

They kissed each other with their eyes, taking in one's features. The plus-size boy, and the athletic girl: a huntress and a werewolf. Zoya tried to memorize his thick eyebrows, small nose, and full lips, until she reached the one thing she didn't want to hold on to: his eyes.

Once their eyes met, they didn't let go.

They were interrupted by Nora who threw at them the wet mop.

"Oh sorry, was I interrupting something?" She glared at them.

Realization hit Zoya as she realized the frightening proximity between her and Zain. Her face heated and changed colors, before she remembered the ungifted can see silhouettes but not clear colors as her and night beings.

"Ow! What was that about?" Zain was back to his usual self.

Whatever serious expression he had, it was quickly dissolved.

"You guys are doing god-knows-what while we," she pointed at Nadeen, Memphis and herself, "are working!"

"We are finishing our tasks too! Tell her Zoya," Zain approached her in surrender.

Nora had an interesting influence on Zain that he had the eagerness to please her, Zoya concluded.

"It's true, we have these two end corners and we will be finished," she interrupted.

Nadeen and Memphis looked at each other and shared a moment. Their silence caught the group's attention.

Memphis was bright red amidst the formidable night and the tinted rays of moon that graced itself with her blessing.

Zoya knew, they saw. They were nearest to the window, and they saw their shadow' reflection on the wall. But the idea vanished once Zoya noticed Nadeen's mischievous smile and Memphis' nervous laugh. They didn't catch them because they were kissing.

Air and relief introduced themselves back again in Zoya's trapped lungs.

Slowly Nadeen and Memphis stood, and they started splashing water at them.

"Hey!" they replied in unison.

But their childish glow and imaginative minds still appealed to their 12-year-old selves. They began a water fight, then ended up with pillows. All their two-hours cleaning was ruined, and they had to relive the cleaning process till dawn.

They may have got detention that day, but it was worth it. For the first time, Zoya learned how to act her age.