As Theo stepped foot outside the arena, he imdiately noticed Jim’s group.
They stood so distance away, quietly murmuring to themselves.
Finally, he noticed Jim himself.
’Look at that,’ he thought, letting out a quiet chuckle. ’Seems like I deflated his ego.’
Jim stood with his hands on his knees, staring at the ground with strange eyes.
He turned away, his gaze returning to the road.
’Well then... ti to pick up Owen.’
Theo let out a quiet sigh, planting his hand over his eyes.
’Why’d I even promise to go shopping with him today...’
But just as he was about to walk away, clicks echoed out in front of him.
’Footsteps.’
He glanced forward imdiately.
A slightly familiar face stood in front of him.
The brown-haired girl from before looked at him with a sweet smile.
Yet, Theo took a small step back with narrowed eyes.
’She’s not right,’ he thought. ’What is this strange feeling?’
It was as if a soft thump kept hitting his head.
Almost like the lie-detecting ability he had.
But... she hadn’t said a word yet.
’’Hey,’’ the girl said, her tone sweet.
She gracefully raised a hand in front of her.
’’Nice to et you,’’ she said. ’’I am Sophia Whitmore, third daughter of the Whitmore main family.’’
A chill ran down his spine imdiately.
’Whitmores? Here?’ he thought. ’Hell no!’
He didn’t even know they were so crazy split-up family.
But it imdiately explained the bad feeling he was getting.
’She’s trying sothing...that’s for sure.’
Sophia’s expression slowly froze as she held out her hand for several seconds.
’’Not taking a lady’s hand is considered rude,’’ she finally said, still smiling sweetly. ’’Would you mind saving so face at least?’’
Theo snapped out of his thoughts.
He quickly glanced around, noticing the stares he was getting.
’That’s not good.’
With a forced smile, he shook Sophia’s hand.
’’I’m Theo Lane,’’ he said. ’’Nice to et you.’’
Sophia let out a strange giggle.
’’It sure is nice to et you,’’ she said. ’’You were so amazingly strong in the arena!’’
The thuds in his mind kept continuing, but it wasn’t just one this ti.
’She’s lying,’ he thought, reaching for his head. ’But what are these other thuds?!’
Seeing him reach for his head, Sophia’s smile widened for a mont.
She leaned in closer imdiately.
’’Would you like to... go back to my apartnt?’’ she whispered close to his ear. ’’We can have sothing to drink, and even so other fun...’’
Theo backed away imdiately, his head aching in pain.
Faint lightning ran through his hands, shocking the place of pain.
In an instant, the thuds completely disappeared.
’Finally,’ he thought, shaking his head faintly.
That’s when his eyes widened.
In front of him, Sophia held her hands to her face.
The sweet smile from earlier had completely disappeared as thin lines of blood trickled through her hands.
For a mont, Theo didn’t know what to do.
He scratched his head awkwardly.
’’I’ll have to go now,’’ he said. ’’I have sothing planned with a friend of mine.’’
With that, he turned around—
And before Sophia could even say sothing, he sped away.
Theo didn’t slow down until the arena had completely disappeared behind him.
Only then did he co to a stop.
He let out a long breath, pressing his fingers against his temples.
’What the hell was that...?’
The thudding sensation was gone now.
Almost like it had never been there to begin with.
’It was so similar to the lie detector,’ he thought. ’But also... the sa?’
Whatever it was, one thing was certain in his mind.
’She was doing sothing fucked up.’
Not just the thudding—
Even just lying about being happy to et him and her amazent at his strength.
His mind slowly went back a few minutes.
’If I hadn’t used my lightning right there... what would’ve happened to ?’
He paused for a mont.
’’I have to ask Elise about this tomorrow... and warn Owen too.’’
There was no telling what that crazy woman was planning to do.
But if it was a Whitmore, he doubted it was anything good.
He straightened again and continued walking, heading straight to the training rooms.
Just as he got there, Owen stepped outside.
His forehead was covered in sweat and dirt, but the wide smile on his face told a great story.
’’Yo,’’ Theo called out, running over.
Owen turned around, wiping his forehead.
’’Theo?’’
Theo ca to a stop just in front of him, breathing slowly.
’’Go back inside,’’ he said, pointing at the training room. ’’I need to tell you sothing.’’
Owen stood there for a mont.
But as he noticed Theo’s expression, he nodded imdiately.
Both quickly went into the training room.
Theo slowly explained what had happened, while continuously warning him.
When he finally fell silent again—
Owen’s expression had completely shifted.
’’So it’s those damn Whitmores again,’’ he said, raising a fist. ’’If I co across her, I’ll knock her out or at least break her nose.’’
Theo imdiately shook his head.
’’Don’t,’’ he said, his tone firm. ’’We still don’t know what that shit is.’’
Owen frowned slightly, but nodded.
’’Alright, but if she tries sothing to either of us...’’
He didn’t need to finish the sentence.
Theo nodded once, his expression serious.
Finally, he let out a deep breath.
’’Let’s head back then,’’ he said. ’’We still need to go shopping, rember.’’
Owen nodded, grabbing his bag without another word.
The two of them left the training room together, walking through the academy in silence.
Neither of them spoke much on the way back.
Both were thinking about the sa thing.
The Whitmores... again.
After cleaning themselves up, they went to the city.
The tension had faded again as the two bought new equipnt and normal day items.
Once they got back ho, both settled into their own things.
Theo bought more spells for his elents.
Owen cultivated quietly inside his room.
Like that, three days went by.
And they’d have to leave for the Santa Barbara competition in just two more days...
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