As Theo stepped foot outside the arena, he immediately noticed Jim’s group.

They stood some 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... time 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 immediately.

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 meet you,’’ she said. ’’I am Sophia Whitmore, third daughter of the Whitmore main family.’’

A chill ran down his spine immediately.

’Whitmores? Here?’ he thought. ’Hell no!’

He didn’t even know they were some crazy split-up family.

But it immediately explained the bad feeling he was getting.

’She’s trying something...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 me some 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 meet you.’’

Sophia let out a strange giggle.

’’It sure is nice to meet 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 time.

’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 moment.

She leaned in closer immediately.

’’Would you like to... go back to my apartment?’’ she whispered close to his ear. ’’We can have something to drink, and even some other fun...’’

Theo backed away immediately, 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 moment, Theo didn’t know what to do.

He scratched his head awkwardly.

’’I’ll have to go now,’’ he said. ’’I have something planned with a friend of mine.’’

With that, he turned around—

And before Sophia could even say something, he sped away.

Theo didn’t slow down until the arena had completely disappeared behind him.

Only then did he come 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 same?’

Whatever it was, one thing was certain in his mind.

’She was doing something fucked up.’

Not just the thudding—

Even just lying about being happy to meet him and her amazement 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 me?’

He paused for a moment.

’’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 came 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 something.’’

Owen stood there for a moment.

But as he noticed Theo’s expression, he nodded immediately.

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 come across her, I’ll knock her out or at least break her nose.’’

Theo immediately 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 something 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. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

’’Let’s head back then,’’ he said. ’’We still need to go shopping, remember.’’

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 same thing.

The Whitmores... again.

After cleaning themselves up, they went to the city.

The tension had faded again as the two bought new equipment and normal day items.

Once they got back home, both settled into their own things.

Theo bought more spells for his elements.

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...