"So I can manipulate fire?" I asked feeling slightly dizzy and apprehensive, even though I knew I was having a hard time dealing everything related to fire.

But letting myself know with the fact that my power is Pyreokenisis, did not soothe my concerns. I didn't yet understand why I was chosen to possess the stone that was changing my life into one I had never ever expected of, giving me the weird powers, and god knows if I could even manage to control it.

"Um-hmm," Celina replied sweetly, as if there was no bigger deal about it.

I sighed, "Now I understand what made me kill the hound."

She frowned and smirked. "Can you tell me what had happened between you and the hound? Because this is the second time I am hearing you saying it."

My shoulders slumped momentarily on thinking about the incidents once again. "There have been many situations that almost made me believe I was going crazy before Tyrell showed up and brought me here, some freaky situations."

"Oh," she said chuckling and turning completely towards me, "You are talking about the symptoms. You shouldn't be worrying about it. We all faced one or two symptoms like yours. Can you even imagine; I blew away my teacher out of the classroom's window when he was scolding me in front of all my fellow students about the math homework. I was so mad and I started cursing him. Strangely, the next minute he was lying outside the window. Thanks to Tyrell he showed up before I almost got suspended."

She laughed for few more minutes.

She closed the lid of the jar and said, "Okay, back to business. Now, what I want you to do is take this paper," she took out a piece of paper from her pocket, "and try to create little flames."

"How do I do that?" I asked taking the paper from her.

"Just concentrate on your stone, don't push it but be friendly with it, try to learn it in a calm manner and finally you should master over it. Remember, you have to command your stone, not the other way round. You must feel slight overwhelming sensation and when you do, say- Flame Formation."

"Flame Formation" I repeated, "Can you explain me a little bit more?

My habit of asking too many questions commenced. I was glad that she was being more patient with than Tyrell was.

"We are twelve members divided into two- Formation Samagraha and Breaking Samagraha. You, Tyrell, Pruthvi, Leena and I fall under the category of Formation Samagraha. We have elemental or kinetic powers and we form them; whereas Maahir, Naomika, Ruchin, Anila, Blythe, Ezhil and Donovan are Breaking Samagraha. They break into our minds and try to control them."

"Okay I get it, like Maahir breaks into our minds to check whether we are lying or not?

"Or like Naomika who can read our minds and finds out everything what's going on with our personal lives and intrude like a..."

"Got it," I said, interrupting her, "A question off the topic. Why doesn't Tyrell like Maahir?"

"You see, the main reason for them not to mingle with us, is that they are scared of our powers. They have this insecurity feeling that we are powerful than them. Tyrell thinks they are jealous of our powers but that is not it. He is just being silly."

I smirked.

But on thinking severely, I did assume breaking into minds and reading them could be sometimes much more dangerous than our powers. So it must be us who really needs to be scared of them. I shook my head mentally trying not to think about it anymore and so I moved on, firstly leaning to learn about me and my powers.

"You did not command it right," I asked getting back to the topic, "just now when you created that tornado and even Tyrell didn't, when he formed lightning on his palm."

"Hayden, I told you, we mastered it. Sometimes without any command our stone works for us, it can read our minds."

"So cool!" I said, impressed, "One last question, what happens if the stone commands us back?"

"You put yourself in trouble and trust me you don't want to be in anymore because if the stone keeps commanding you, doctor will never give you permission to mix up with normal people for the obvious reasons."

"Oh!" That was one thing I couldn't afford. I have to go outside. I still have my family-my aunt who loves me a lot. Also, I needed to ask her why she specifically mentioned the story of the two kings to me that is somehow related to the place Pruthvi claims to be now.

"Now close your eyes and concentrate," said Celina when I didn't question her anymore, "And oops! I almost forgot, wear this rubber glove. Since this is your first time and your stone having this reputation of being an uncontrollable one, anything can happen. So it's better we take some precautions."

I was astonished watching her being so thoughtful. I smiled feeling thankful and watched her taking out the glove from her other pocket and handing it over to me.

I took a deep breath to clear my mind. I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate on my stone. I felt a minute pain in my forehead, when the image of the stone appeared and suddenly changed into a picture of the same girl I perceived before. I wrinkled my forehead trying hard to keep my eyes closed for longer time, focusing more on her; the girl who looked svelte and tender; running towards me, staring at me through her big deep eyes, her robes tightly hugging her. She looked scared and was definitely trying to talk to me.

All of a sudden I felt a pounding sensation in my head as I shouted-

"FLAME FORMATION!"

"Well done!" Celina cried at once, making me lose my focus.

I quickly opened my eyes to watch the paper in my hand to be already on fire and turning into ashes. I felt so proud that I was successful in my first attempt. But I was surprised on the fact that I emphasized the same girl again. She was definitely seemed to be in some kind of danger and wanted to tell me something. I opened my mouth to speak about her with Celina but I quickly shut it. What if it was my stone playing tricks with me? What if she laughs at me for picturing some random girl?

Why it has to be a girl? What can't I picture the tasty chocolate ice cream my mom used to make?

Thanks to the door knock that distracted my thoughts.

Celina, feeling irritated by the sudden disturbance, went ahead to open the door. It was Maahir standing on the other side.

"Hey Maahir, what's up?" she said trying not to be apprehensive.

"I want the daily report from you and the new person," he said holding up a slate with a paper pinned onto it and a pen. His eyes oscillated from her to me and then to her suspiciously, "I didn't expect you to be here."

Celina stood straight contemplating on a reason. "I am here just to talk to Hayden. Just to talk, nothing else."

She tried to sound a lot confident, but there was quiver in her voice, that was making her otherwise.

"And what you are doing right now?" Maahir asked.

"Oh! Nothing, I was explaining Hayden about the rules of the academy."

"Is that correct?" he asked looking at me.

"Of course" I said standing over the ashes to cover them up, "She was talking and I was just listening, since morning, only listening."

Maahir was silent for a while, looking at me intently. I was so sure that he was using his stone and reading my mind right now.

He said finally averting his eyes, "Celina, Hayden is new so I can't complain. But you do know you can't lie to me right?"

Celina sighed dropping her shoulders and admitted, "Okay, you got me. I was showing Hayden how to use his stone. You know doctor is not here, and Anmol too, so I thought I could give him some basics. I swear I was not doing anything out of rules."

He gaped again, trying to read every nerve of hers.

"Fine," he said finally, "But I don't want to be reprimanded if doctor verdict it as something against rules."

"Interesting choice of words," she said quiet sarcastically, "Don't worry, I will take all the blame and please Maahir, promise me that you won't tell anybody, especially to Naomika."

"I promise, but you have to be cautious too," he said and gave me a final glance before he left.

"Thank goodness," she said shutting the door, "For once I thought we were busted but I know Maahir would understand."

"So no one can ever lie to that guy?" I asked.

"Not a chance. May be only doctor, but nobody can get by him."

I nodded and then asked, "So what do you want me to do next?"

"I think this will do for one day," she said, pushing her hair out of her eye. "You should practice flaming papers for today, try until you burn without even concentrating a lot on stone."

"Okay, fair enough," I said, "Thanks a lot, Celina."

"Oh this is nothing, just don't burn your room," she smiled at me.

After Celina walked back to her room or probably to check on Leena, I practiced it for hours. I tried even flaming it without commanding. I was glad that I was making some progress but I was frustrated that my appetite wasn't helping me. I usually never ate anything between the big meals but since I joined the academy, I was feeling hungry as a werewolf that could even eat a complete horse. During the lunch I couldn't careless if Tyrell and others were laughing at me, at the way I was attacking my plate full of food.

By the end of the day I was jaded. I sat on my bed thinking about the stone and praising about my progress. Also, I was quiet surprised thinking about the girl I was seeing. Even though I did not want her to appear so often, I wasn't able to keep her out of my mind. I had no choice but to see her, again and again. The thought of seeing the same girl was scaring me a little bit. She was definitely trying to tell me something but even on trying so hard, I wasn't able to hear her. Once or twice I tried to keep my mind away from her, but as soon as I used my stone, there she was!

The next two days I practiced a little bit more advanced. Celina taught me few more commands that had worked for me very well in the initial stages of my practice. She was keeping her patience right on check and I was surprised how she was doing that. I wondered if it was yoga that had actually created a lot of impact on her. But if that was the reason, why Tyrell had been otherwise.

On the third day of my practice, Celina stepped up and decided that I should get trained in the training room and that she would take care if anyone objects. On being asked by me she said, "Your powers are increasing and you don't want to barbecue your own room."

Then she taught me how to have a real fight- fight with one another, that helped us use our stones in apt manner. Firstly, I had the visual training. She asked Tyrell's help for it. And then I understood the real meaning of being a Samagraha. Tyrell vs Celina-Lighting Vs Air, watching them fight simply blew my mind away. Celina was so stronger than Tyrell that it took no more than five minutes for her to conclude the fight.

"She has those weird Nebraska man hands," commented Tyrell when Celina defeated him effortlessly.

That very evening she showed me one of the fieriest commands till date. I was surprised by myself when I formed it in few attempts and so was Celina.

"That was wonderful!" she cried enthusiastically.

I admit I was terrible for the first two times. Once I wasn't careful enough and was about to set her hair on fire. But she took all my blunders very gracefully. I was glad that she was so determined teaching me use my stone.  I didn't know why but she kept saying, "You are the most powerful of all the Samagraha and I can see why."

But watching her in action I felt very juvenile.

"I think this should do. Let's call it a day," she said moving towards me, "How are you feeling?"

I shrugged. "I think I am getting better. Don't you?"

"Of course you are," she said smilingly and sitting on the bench and adjusting her tank top, "No one has mastered the stone so quickly like you did. Doctor should be proud of you."

I smiled thanking her.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked wiping my sweat and sitting on the bench across her, "How your parents...I mean, how did they..."

"Died?" she completed for me.

She turned away before she continued, "We were in a local exhibition, that we used to visit every year, back in my home city, Lincoln. I was only thirteen. For a moment my parents went up to a shop to buy us some stuff leaving us behind."

"Us?" I asked.

"Me, my brothers and their wives."

"You have brothers?"

"Of course I do. Why is it so shocking?"

"Oh! No...I mean...nothing." Even I didn't know why I was surprised.

She smiled faintly and continued, "I and my brothers were waiting for them and suddenly there was a huge blast. It created a lot of sensation that year. Police thought it could be a gas leakage or something. But nothing was proved. I didn't even have the last chance to see their bodies."

She sniffed and glanced down at her hands.

"I am so sorry," I said, sympathetically, "I shouldn't have asked you."

"That's okay," she said looking up with her watery eyes, "I don't mind telling about the incident to my friends."

I smiled tremulously, watching her wipe tears from running down her cheek.

"What about your brothers?" I asked, "Do they know you are a Samagraha?"

"My brothers?" she scoffed, "I don't think they even care whether I am alive or not."

"Sorry?" I asked.

"I have three brothers, three elder brothers, who are supposed to look after their little sister. My oldest brother is like twelve years elder to me. Most unfortunate thing was that his wife was carrying when this incident took place. Like any elder brother he thought it was his responsibility to look after me so he took me in. For a month everything was okay but later my Samagraha symptoms started showing and everything began turning into hell. I wasn't able to control them. My sister in law was so frustrated about my freaky actions. She was scared for her unborn child. So, she quickly asked me to leave their house to which my brother didn't object. Then my second brother came in, who was newly married. He took me in but I repeated the same there too and he himself asked me to leave."

"What about your other brother? Is he married too?"

"He could be by now. I don't know. But he used to live with his girlfriend whom my mother never liked. She was cruel, I don't understand how my brother was coping with her. He didn't even let me in, saying that his girlfriend might not be so comfortable with me living around with them. So I had no other choice but to live in a homeless children care center and spent a while there. I was glad that Tyrell showed up and brought me here. Otherwise I was afraid my powers would have killed a few."

She fell quiet for a while. Even though she was hurting inside she was still trying to be strong. May be growing up with three brothers and then living in a homeless center made her all this tough. I was the only child to my parents and so I had been feeling all alone when my parents died. Whereas, she still had her family somewhere still living and yet she was living a life of an orphan. I just couldn't even imagine stepping onto her shoes and living the life she had been through.

"Sometimes I even thought of going to India," she said, grabbing my attention, "to visit my grandparents."

"India?"

"Yeah my mom is an Indian," she said, "She is from New Delhi."

"Your mom is an Indian?" I said feeling excited, "Mine too."

She laughed watching my anxiety, "We all are related to India somehow, except Tyrell of course. Pruthvi's and Leena's, both their parents are Indians."

"Yeah I actually guessed Pruthvi's and Leena's," I said and it struck me, "Is there by any chance we are related to the kings painting hung in the dining hall."

A sudden hunch of my aunt's story being linked with the paintings on the wall erupted inside me. Celina might deny for now, but yet I knew there was something only my aunt knew and that she had been trying to tell me through that story.

"We always thought that they might be our ancestors or something," replied Celina.

"Haven't you ever asked Doctor regarding it?"

"Doctor never allowed us to talk to him about the paintings. Right from the beginning he stood on his words. Tyrell always said that he has changed and was being nothing like the doctor he met the first time."

"Haven't Tyrell ever asked him?" I said and somewhere my conscious told me I was asking too many questions. But I was glad she was patient. "I mean when he thought doctor was being himself."

"Tyrell was only ten when he first arrived here. Watching him today I don't think any painting could have interested him."

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Later I was practicing on my own. Celina said she needed a time off for she wanted to spend the rest of the day with Leena. She was incredulously crying again and I understood she needed someone by her side. Tyrell, on the other hand, was busy talking to the Breaking Samagraha asking them if Pruthvi had by any chance contacted them or if they knew where Doctor and Anmol could be. But as far as I understood watching his strange antics, he was just trying to keep himself away from the brooding girl.

After an hour or so, I was jaded of staying alone, commanding my stone at no one but in the air, visualizing the girl who was trying to reach out for me. I know I was being foolish but I was sympathizing the girl I didn't even know exists.  I needed to talk to someone about the girl, but I was scared if this was just the teenage hormones toying with me. After a lot of dilly-dallying I finally gave up on my stubbornness and decided to talk about the girl with my new friends but little did I know that things were about to turn uglier.

"Tyrell are you there?" I asked knocking.

The door quickly opened. Tyrell was standing there without any cap on which I was seeing him for the first time without one.

"Get in quickly," he said, "There is something we need to tell you."

I couldn't understand what might have happened for him to be so anxious. I stepped in quickly and found Celina and Leena there, sitting on their usual chairs. I found Leena's face to be completely blotched and Celina had her hand around shoulder, trying to calm her down.

"Is everything alright?" I asked looking at Leena.

"I talked to him," she said, her voice breaking.

"Pruthvi?" I asked, excitingly, "What did he say?"

"He said he is in Dakshinpur, a village in India. He is stuck and we don't know how to bring him back. Doctor is not here. I don't know what to do."

And I forgot everything about the girl.

"Don't...Don't worry," I said trying to cool her down and turned to face Tyrell, "I need to contact my aunt. She mentioned the place before. I am pretty much sure she knows something about it. How can I do it?"

"You cannot," he said putting his cap on, "You have to walk out of the academy which you are not allowed."

"Does anyone have a cell phone?"

"We don't use cell phones Hayden but we have Call Logs located in Pruthvi's shop. But unfortunately Pruthvi locked his shop and we cannot access them without him."

"Pruthvi's shop?" I asked. I was getting irritated having a very little information about this academy. Tyrell promised to show me everything but I was so immersed in practicing that I almost forgot to remind him.

"I told you everyone has a job in here," said Tyrell, "Pruthvi works in the retail shop which is located at the other side of the lobby. He looks after all our daily needs."

"And what the hell are Call Logs?" I wasn't able to control my angry tone.

"They are like telephone booth. But they work differently."

"And you are saying we cannot access to this call logs because they are in the shop and Pruthvi is having the key to access it?"

"That's correct."

I was now completely infuriated. Not remembering they were still newly acquainted to me I started shouting, "OKAY, THIS IS CRAZY. I CANNOT USE CALL LOGS. I CANNOT WALK OUT OF THIS PLACE. DOCTOR IS NOT HERE TO TALK TO. DOES ANYONE CARE TO TELL ME HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO FIND PRUTHVI WHO IS LIKE EIGHT THOUSAND MILES AWAY?"

Tyrell was standing still with his mouth half open watching me astonished. Leena started crying loudly again.

"Hayden, wait," said Celina, standing up, "Please calm down. There are things that we need to follow..."

"WHAT THINGS?" I asked her, "WHY DO I HAVE TO FOLLOW? WHY HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING FOR PAST YEARS? DO YOU HAVE ANY ANSWER TO ANY OF MY QUESTIONS?"

My uncertainties hit her on spot. She couldn't reply me but simply stared back with her shiny eyes.

"I lost my parents. You lost yours. We don't know why they were murdered and we don't know why Pruthvi is abducted. THIS IS RIDICULOUS."

My voice reverberated throughout the room, then creating a strained silence filled with tension among us. Only thing I was hearing was Leena's sniffs, that was making me much more furious.

Finally, all my anxiety, all my concerns were let out. I was not proud of myself for my behavior but I had enough. I needed some answers and I needed them right now.

"I need to get out of here," I snapped breaking the silence.

"No, you can't," said Tyrell but I didn't listen to him.

I dashed out of the room. I know Tyrell was following me but I wasn't giving him any chance to stop me. I walked out of the aisle into the lobby and reached the elevator when suddenly, without my knowledge, I was inflated into the air and thrown to the other side. I was slammed against the wall that made my left shoulder hurt. I looked up to figure out what had happened. And then I found a boy standing beside Tyrell; his hand pointed at me.

"Donovan, stop it," I heard Tyrell saying, "He was just out of his mind."

"Then tell him to calm down," the other boy said looking at me, "No one is allowed out of the academy."

I slowly tried to get up but I only managed to sit on my knees. I looked up at the boy carefully and recognized he was the one who always sat beside Naomika in the dining area. He was shorter than me but extremely skinny. He was in his khaki shirt and jeans. The only thing I liked about his appearance was his short beard. We stared daggers at each other for a moment and I was the first to let it go. Tyrell strode towards me to help me stand up.

He whispered in my ears, "He is Donovan Singer. His power is Levitation."

I was breathing heavily, controlling my anger. I didn't want to know who he was and what his power was. I just wanted to get out of here.

"You are new," Donovan said, "We all want to know why we are getting trained in here. Just because you are given a job doesn't mean you can do anything against the rules."

I was startled. How did he know about the job?

"Don't look at me like that. Ruchin told me," he said quickly, "He heard you and doctor talking."

At that matter of time, I couldn't careless who Ruchin was and how he was able to hear us.

"I have to go out. This is important," I said grudgingly.

Donovan walked towards me and said, "Did you know what would have happened if I haven't stopped you? Watch me."

He moved towards the elevator and landed his one of the fingers on it. A green spark arose from it, glittering in all direction. Tyrell's mouth dropped instantly.

"Did you see that?" he asked, "This is called Ignition placed by doctor. He hexed it. You touch it, you get caught and not to mention it causes some serious consequences on your health. You better stay away from it."

"Great," I muttered, "Your doctor thinks about everything. But did he even figure out how I can find Pruthvi without going out of here?"

"We will figure out something Hayden," said Tyrell but I didn't listen to him.

I gave Tyrell a cold shoulder and walked past him towards my room, shutting it tight. And if it was in my will, I could have shut the whole world once and for all.

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That night I wasn't able to sleep. All I could do was to stare blankly at the canopy of my room. Tyrell told me that we can connect to the other Samagraha only if we have literally seen them. So the idea of talking to Pruthvi directly was ruled out.

I simple just couldn't wait for Pruthvi to connect to someone else. I had to figure out something.

I shifted my stare. I was really not happy with the way I behaved with Tyrell and others. I didn't even have proper dinner with them. Even though I didn't want to, I made up my mind that I had fix things up. Hesitantly, I got out of my bed and went ahead to meet Tyrell.

"Tyrell are you awake?" I asked knocking.

He opened the door quickly.

"Why aren't you asleep?" he whispered.

"I can ask you the same question."

I walked inside his room only to find out there were some dozens of caps on his bed arranged in an organized manner.

"Do you know you have a million caps sleeping on you bed?" I asked.

He chuckled humorlessly and said, "Yeah, I love caps. Wait, I have to ask you the question first. What are you doing up so late in the night?"

"I came here to apologize. I am sorry I behaved rudely. I didn't mean to."

He put his hand on shoulder and said, "Don't be sorry. I understand you were frustrated. It's been only few days you have been here. Slowly you will adjust."

"I wish so."

He smiled.

"Hey do you go to kitchen and grab something?" he asked, "I think my stomach is calling me."

"Sure." I said liking the idea to spend some quality time with him.

He quickly dumped all his caps into his metal trunk and asked me to follow him. But as soon as we were about to pass the aisle, I grabbed him by his hand pulled him back.

"Hey!" he cried watching my sudden reaction.

"Sshhh... Look," I said pointing him towards the pond.

There were two people who stood facing each other, completely covered a brown shawl that made impossible for us to recognize their faces.

"Who are they?" I whispered.

"No idea. But watching them like that, I don't think they belong to the academy."

Tyrell slowly walked nearer to them. I followed him and we sat behind the wall making sure not being spotted.

"Is anyone suspicious?" one of them said, "You better be very careful."

Tyrell glanced at me in disbelief. He recognized the voice.

"It's Anmol!" he said completely aghast.

Other person didn't reply but only nodded. I remembered the person from the lobby, sitting beside doctor -Anmol, the one under whom Celina works as an assistant.

"I have to go now," Anmol said, "You better follow me for your reward. You have done good kid."

He then walked past the other person and dived into the pond followed by his companion.

"Are they going into the doctor's secret room?" I asked when I was sure they were out of sight. I remembered Tyrell telling me about the rumor of the secret room inside the pond.

"I have never seen anyone visiting his room before," said Tyrell nervously.

"What do you think they were talking about?"

"Hayden, I have been with you all the time. How am I supposed to know that?"

"Alright, I know I ask too many questions. But I am trying to make some theory here."

I hate it when he loses his patience with me. Why can't he be like Celina?

"What theory?" he asked, suddenly showing interest.

I quickly recalled the little conversation we just heard. Even though I thought it was unlikely I had to come to a conclusion.

"I think Anmol has something to do with Pruthvi's abduction."

Tyrell frowned. "No way!"

I knew he was going to say that. Anmol has got the reputation of being one of the loyal persons working in the academy. Tyrell's acceptance was secondary; I bet even doctor himself wouldn't have accepted if Anmol was to be accused.

"Look," I said standing on the statement I just passed, "we just heard him talking something about being suspicious. What else someone would be suspicious about?"

Tyrell blinked his eyes hard.

"No, Hayden. Anmol has always been very trustful to doctor. I don't think he can betray him by abducting on of us."

My mind raced. I couldn't understand whom to and what to believe. The words of Tyrell or the conversation I had just heard between Anmol and the other person. But I was sure of one thing- Anmol was up to something and I was keen to find it about. No one could deny with the fact that as soon as Pruthvi's abduction was acknowledged, Anmol disappeared too.

"I am going into the pond," I said and that came from nowhere.

"Wait...What?" asked Tyrell astonished.

But I didn't respond his bewilderment. I walked straight towards the pond and stood across it watching my own shadow lingering on the water.

"Hayden, what are you up to?" Tyrell asked standing beside me.

"I am going to follow Anmol," I said fervently, "Care to swim with me?"