I finally realize that the memories that I'm showing Sophie also have to do with me transforming, and my eyes snap open. Paling, I reach forward and almost rip the disclosers off of the female Percipient's temples. My heartbeat increasing rapidly by the second, I gaze down at the black crystals in my hand. Did she see it? I ask myself. Does she know now..?

Still pale, I glance up to see Sophie blinking, clearly caught off guard. I feel guilt mixing in with my dread, and I can't help but ask, "What did you see?"

I have to know.

The female Percipient, still shocked by what happened, says that she only saw my memories until the entire thing turns white. That is, until that all played out again. Not missing the stutter, I internally frown. Memories that are projected only play once... and they don't stop at a certain point...

I pale even more than before, my muscles tensing up. Oh God, I think to myself.

She lied...

"What's wrong? Did something else happen?"

I glance up to see Sophie staring at me worriedly. I muster a smile to mask my own worry, dread, and fear. "No, nothing happened. We're alright," I assure her, wincing inwardly at how ironic I'm being. Something did happen.

I think my secret ability has been blown...

...

"But I know that something's off, and I don't know if she saw it..!" I say to Steven, late into the night. I had transmitted to him to meet me in my room a few minutes prior to my ranting, exclaiming that it was an emergency. And indeed it was. Running a hand through my hair, I continue pacing across my room. "Why did she lie? Why did she not say anything?"

"Fitz-" Steven begins to say.

"I didn't even realize that this would happen..!" I almost shout, pacing even faster. "I just knew that my dragon form's been affecting her more than I could've ever thought of!" I cover my face and groan, the sound coming out muffled. "And I know that you said that we shouldn't tell anyone, but I didn't think about this..!" I open my eyes and look at the forensic pathologist again. "What have I done?"

Steven points to my bed, telling me to sit. When I do, the pathologist then pulls my chair from my desk over to me and sits himself. "First of all, I didn't even think of this, so it's not your fault," he says comfortingly.

I start to interject, "But-"

He holds up a hand to pause me. "Also," he says, eyeing me in a way as if he's saying, "Be quiet and listen to me." When I stay silent, he sighs and adds, "I actually could've worded it better myself. I shouldn't have told you that I don't want anyone to know. You should feel free to tell anyone."

Looking down, I say in no more than a whisper, "But I don't want her to be scared to me..." I look up, my eyes widening considerably. Paling, I ask, "Wait- is she afraid of this?"

Sighing, the pathologist places a hand on my shoulder. "We can't know for sure..." he begins, making me dread where this will go. "...until you tell her what she needs to do," Steven finishes. "Everything she needs to know."

"But-"

Steven interrupts me. "But you don't have to," he quickly clears up, making me relax slightly. "Then again, she's going to find out somehow, and I think that you should be the one to tell her-"

"-before Aeron does," I finish for him. We both nod at each other, knowing that this has much more to do with than just Sophie. After a moment of silence passes between us, I furrow my eyebrows in thought. Frowning, I ask, "Wait- just who is Aeron exactly?"

The forensic pathologist pales slightly before sighing in defeat. Instead of answering me directly, the blond scientist walks over to my desk and picks up my laptop. When I open my mouth to say something, Steven shakes his head and sits back down. Other than the sound of typing on my keyboard, my bedroom is enveloped in silence.

Suddenly, Steven hands me my computer, the screen showing a biography on Aeron. Raising an eyebrow, I read that Aeron Medea is a 25-year-old who was in the military, working towards the position of army general. He used to have a wife, but she apparently died from mysterious circumstances. "Of course she did," I mutter bitterly, remembering Arien and Fitton's relationship.

I notice that the wife's name isn't mentioned anywhere within the article, making me frown. But then again, it never really talked about Aeron's backstory either...

Closing the laptop with a bit more force than I had intended to, I sigh in irritation over the lack of information. Looking at Steven, I ask, "What am I going to do about Aeron knowing about..?" My voice trails off, so I wave my hand in front of me, as if that's going to explain anything.

Steven looks at me. "You'll have to do something," he says. "But hopefully, that 'thing' is telling Sophie. Is it..?"

I run a hand through my hair. "I don't know," I say honestly. "Maybe..?" But inside, I can feel the fear and dread building up inside me.

"I know that it's hard," Steven says softly, now seating himself next to me on my bed. "I can tell that

you're feeling extremely conflicted about what you should do. But remember- you managed to tell her about your scar. This has to do with that scar, doesn't it?"

I shake my head. "You can't deny that it sounds like I've gone insane if I tell anyone that I can

transform into a dragon," I point out, furrowing my eyebrows. "They'll think I'm lying."

Steven frowns for a moment. He closes his eyes for a second, and the room is met with an abrupt silence for a few minutes. Once he opens his eyes again, he nudges his head towards the door and says, "Open the door."

"Wait- what?!" I ask, standing up. I forget that the laptop was on my lap before I stood up, but I manage to catch it with my telekinesis before it collided with the ground. Levitating it back onto my desk, I stare at the forensic pathologist. "What did you just do?!"

Steven uses his telekinesis to open my door just before Donovan can kick the door open. The male Sovereign's followed by Caroline and Benen. The Altruistic, Sovereign, and I wave at each other. "What are you doing here?" Benen asks.

"It's his room, idiot," Donovan says, rolling his eyes.

"I was going to ask you that," I admit. Turning to face Steven, I add, "But I don't think I'll be getting

the answer to that right now."

Suddenly, the pathologist stares at Donovan so silently and intimidatingly that the Sovereign steps

back, clearly taken aback. "What the-" he begins to say.

"Check his memories," Steven tells Caroline. "I can sense some halted memories."

Nodding, the chemist places her fingers on both of his temples, all while Donovan screams, "What are you two doing?!"

"Steven-" I begin to say, reaching forward.

He levitates me away from Caroline and Donovan. "This process can't be interrupted," Steven tells me. His stare is so different from his usual expressions that I stay where I am for some reason.

A few moments later, Caroline steps away from the male Sovereign. "There's a memory affected by nebmentia in his mind," the chemist explains. "We'll have to speed everything up."

"Speed up?" Donovan asks, paling slightly.

"Everything?" I voice, my eyes widening.

Caroline bids her husband by kissing him, much to Donovan's distaste and my uncomfort. Benen, however, smiles at the married couple. We'll explain later, Steven and Caroline's voice echo simultaneously in my head. But not right now.

"How are you two doing that?" I ask, raising my eyebrows in shock. "I thought only one person could transmit at a time..."

"It's what happens when you become Sentiates..." Steven explains. "It's hard to explain, but I'll tell you that when you become a Sentiate with someone, you'll be creating some massive chaos, let me tell you."

My eyes widen. But instead of asking more about the topic of Sentiates, I ask, "What are you speeding up?"

Steven's gaze hardens considerably, making me step back. "Everything," he says vaguely. "We have to speed up everything."