Present Time, One week later after the fights with Schlangto. (Serene’s POV)

" Serene and Zeph, pair up and show me how much you have learnt so far. " Sarim Sensei ordered us while standing there with his arms folded. We were having a practice session preparing for the team tournament and all teams were preparing diligently for it on the training grounds.

My heart sank at his name. I knew he wouldn’t be comfortable with this match. He had hardly glanced at me in the past week. Today his expressions looked sadder than angrier though, I wished I knew what the matter was.

Although both of us have been practising hard, I knew I wasn’t on par with him when it came to hand-to-hand combat. He has done it his entire life while I had just started training for it. I was hoping to survive him long enough to not make a fool of myself.

As we stood in front of each other and bowed his eyes met mine momentarily. That darkness had a sad aspect to it today. I was taken aback by his glance, I tried to give him a reassuring smile but he had already looked away.

" Remember, this is just for practice. No need to break each other’s bones." Sarim Sensei reminded us. We took our positions, and I went with a punch to his face which he tried to block with his arms but instead of punching him I changed my stance and targeted his legs instead, kicking him in the knee. He lost his balance due to this surprise attack and fell down but quickly got up back again rubbing his knee.

I then moved to his side and targeted his temple with my fist, remembering what Zilver taught me to punch soft areas with my hard ones. This time he was ready for me, he didn’t only block but also caught my fist. I was sure that now I will be getting a punch in the face, but he just pushed me back instead of attacking me.

We continued sparring with each other for five minutes but he mostly blocked my attacks and let me get the upper hand. He hardly attacked me which was very unlike him. " Stop," finally Sarim Sensei put an end to our session.

" Good job both of you, Serene you have learnt some good moves from Zilver I see. Keep practising them and you will polish them in no time. Zeph, I know you have been holding back to keep this limited to just sparring and not causing an injury to your teammate. " Sarim Sensei gave us a bit of insight as we headed back to our places.

"Darius and Ayrden it’s your turn next," Sarim Sensei called out. I went and sat with Ralph. " He looks gloomy today. " I pointed with my eyes towards Zeph who had his back towards us as he sat on the ground on our left side. " He is always gloomy, don’t you know by now. " Ralph chuckled.

" Nops, something more is bothering him. " I replied sadly. " Must be Lourden, I hardly see him. She spends all her free time with him as if she owns him and he refuses to talk to me. " Ralph’s voice had an edge of sadness to it. It must have been so hard for him to see his best friend suffering alone and not be able to do anything about it. Both of us sat there in silence watching Ayrden kick Darius’s ass.

As they both came back laughing after their match. " Oh! man, is there anything you can’t do? You didn’t have to go so hard on me, you know. " Darius nudged Ayrden jokingly while Ayrden just batted her eyes shyly at him making us all laugh. Sarim Sensei gave us a break for 15 minutes so we decided to eat something. I looked around to see Zeph and he was already gone.

We made our way to the dining hall when I remembered I had forgotten my notebook on the ground. I told them to go ahead and went back to fetch it. Collecting my notebook, there was a note sticking out of the diary. I took out the note and saw three words written on it: " I am sorry, " I, quickly glanced left and right to see who might have left this note. But, there was no one in sight.

Placing the note back in my notebook I made my way back to the dining hall. Who would be saying sorry to me? Could it be Zeph? Different thoughts were swirling in my mind as I entered the dining hall and almost collided with someone. As I stepped back and looked up, I found myself staring into the red blazing eyes of Arlo.

" Are you alright? " He asked me quietly. " Yes, I was just startled," I told him. " You were lost in thoughts. " He whispered. " Umm, yes bit. " I replied calmly. " Zilver needs us in the common room. I, have already informed Ralph and Ayrden. Came to fetch you now. " He filled me in. " Let’s go, then." We left the dining hall and headed for the common room.

" You can talk to me if anything is bothering you. " His voice was soft as ever as he walked beside me. " I feel like I am causing pain to a lot of people without meaning to. I wish all of us could be happy. " I confessed.

" If you are referring to me, then be at ease you are not causing me any pain. In the case of Zeph, we will resolve whatever mess that is, besides he needs to change his haughty and smug attitude. " He said with gritted teeth making me smile. He looked at me surprisingly. " Well, you are not wrong about his attitude. " I smiled at him and he nodded his expression softening a bit. " Is that a smile on the corner of your lips? " I teased him and he smiled brightening up that handsome face of his.

We had reached the common room as we stood at the door. " Smile some more, it suits you. " I told him before he opened the door for me and we entered the room.