Lilia opened the door to find herself in a vast training arena with a smaller control room overseeing everything. This was where she spent most of her time if she wasn't sleeping. She was supposed to meet the others here, but it looked like she was the first to arrive.

That's a first. I thought I was going to be late.

She dropped her things by the wall and moved to the training arena to start her warmup. As soon as she walked in, Lilia felt it. She knew she wasn't alone. At the corner of the room, the shadows were the thickest.

She greeted him with a nod, "Shadow."

A nineteen-year-old man with a tall, gangly build stepped out of the shadows. His purple-streaked midnight-black hair was pulled back in a ponytail. His skin tones were a couple of shades lighter than his hair.

His real name was Sean Shadowhawk, but everyone called him Shadow, not just because of his dark appearance but for his actions, as well. If it wasn't obvious, Shadow was a Lumeye and part of her Link. But even so, he was still hard to deal with.

Since Lilia's arrival at the Compound, Shadow had followed her like a predator stalking its prey. He had never let her out of his sight. Over the years, she had gotten used to it. It was still creepy, especially lately. The mood had changed somehow, and Lilia sensed that he wasn't content with just watching anymore.

Shadow didn't reply, at least not right away. He stared at her with his startling light grey eyes.

"Lee," Shadow finally greeted her in a silky tone. Lilia winced internally. … she hated that nickname; it always reminded her of when she was on that stage, and everyone was staring at her…

Lilia shuddered, just thinking about it.

"Please don't call me…."

"Lee," Shadow interrupted.

Lilia sighed in resignation. He will never change.

"Want to spar?" she asked, wanting to change the subject. On the other hand, sparring was one of the few things she relished. Using her abilities against another opponent was fun and challenging... especially a strong opponent like Shadow.

"No, I'd rather watch," Shadow's voice was chilling.

She couldn't help but shiver.

Putting that aside, Lilia was disappointed but not surprised. He had stopped sparring with anyone a long time ago.

"If I get serious, you'll be dead on the floor," Shadow whispered, just low enough that an average person couldn't pick it up.

He knows I can hear him.

Shadow trained as an assassin even before he lived on the Compound, and Lilia knew he was assigned for 'special' missions by Headmistress Weatherly. His words were just a reminder that he was dangerous.

Her thoughts were interrupted when two green-streaked, brown-haired, brown-eyed, dusky-skinned fourteen-year-olds borrowed into the training arena. The girl ran ahead and turned to taunt her twin brother. "You can't catch me!"

The boy only sighed. "Heather, please watch where you're going…."

Heather tripped and tried to catch herself. A swirl of wind manifested below her falling body, but she used too much force and slammed into the nearby wall.

"Terran!" she cried; blood gushed from a cut on her forehead.

"Geeze," Terran scolded her. "I warned you." He paused, looking her over. "Okay, but this is the last time." He placed his hand on the cut, then it glowed. The wound was gone when he pulled his hand away a couple of seconds later. "Now wash your face, okay?"

Heather smiled. She said in her traditional chirpy tone, "Thanks."

Lilia smiled at the antics of the two youngest members of her Link. It was nice to see them using their abilities freely. The training arena was one of a few places they could do that… a place where they could use their abilities as much as they wanted.

She waved. "Ha, you two."

"Hi, Lilia." They both responded before turning toward each other.

"Terran, can we practice my shooting, please? I don't have the angles on a moving target yet." Heather gave her brother puppy dog eyes.

Terran groaned out. "No, I am not going to be the moving target. Not again." He made a stopping motion with his hands. "The last time I helped, you cracked my ribs. Get Lilia or Shadow to do it." Giving a pleading look at Lilia.

Lilia answered with a 'Are you kidding me' look. Before shaking her head, no. No one liked being on the other side of Heather's sniping. The kid was ruthless.

Heather shook her head. "Lilia's tough but not Terran tough, and she's too quick." She gave her twin a look. "Shadow? Come on…ha… like he will ever agree."

He sighed. "Can't fault me for trying."

"And you're a healer, remember?"

"It still hurts."

She stomped her feet in impatience. "I have no time for this." She grabbed her brother's hand and dragged him towards the sniper range. "You know that this will help you too. You need to be quicker with your earth shields." Rolling her eyes. "Geeze, little brothers."

Terran encased his feet in rock, hoping the weight would stop her from dragging him away. Instead, Heather just stopped and looked at him. Then she changed her tactics and pulled him with her telekinesis.

Lilia watched them disappear into the long-range section.

She wished Terran her condolence.

Despite how they appear, Terran and Heather work well together. In fact, with Heather's long-ranged shooting and Terran's defences, they were a hard team to beat.

Now, the only ones who were still left to arrive were…

Lilia turned toward the sound of the door opening. There stood the golden couple, Druid and Bryson.

Druids stayed by Bryson, but she smiled and waved. Bryson, on the other hand, didn't even bother.

That condescending jerk, Lilia thought to herself.

Lilia came closer to Druid and Bryson and greeted, "Hi, Druid, Bryson."

Bryson crossed his arms. "Hello, Lilia." He looked her up and down, making it known that he didn't like what he saw. "Your state of the dress is more unkempt than usual. If that was even possible."

He meant it as an insult, but Lilia just stretched up her arms. "Yeah, I just woke up from an amazing nap."

"Clearly."

"Bryson, be nice," Druid warned, turning back to Lilia with a smile on her lips. "Lilia, do you want to train with me?"

She felt her cheeks redden. Druid was like an older sister to her, but that doesn't mean Lilia was immune to Druid's beauty. "Sure."

Bryson spoke up, stepping forward. "Don't you dare go near…"

He suddenly stopped talking when Shadow had his medium, one of his daggers, lying gently against Bryson's throat. "Don't! Or do you need another reminder?"

Bryson looked back in fear, but he managed to clench out. "You bastard."

"Now, Now," Druid smoothed; caution was evident in her voice. "Let's put the dagger away, shall we? Bryson wasn't going to harm Lilia. He was just talking."

"He wasn't backing down." Shadow's tone was chilling.

"No, but he is now. You made sure of that." Druid looked deeper into Shadow's eyes, showing her sincerity and trying to persuade him.

There was a pregnant pause before he allowed the dagger to disappear. Then he slowly walked away, the danger still hanging in the air.

Druid's eyes followed him, and worry edged on her face.

On the other hand, Lilia couldn't help but sigh in relief; given how unpredictable Shadow was, that could have gone either way.

"Druid." Bryson tried.

Druid held up her hand. "Not now."

"But Druid."

Sighing. "Bryson, take a walk."

"Okay, then come with…."

"I want to train with Lilia." Druid interrupted, but when he hesitated. "Please."

He glared at Lilia one last time before he turned and walked out.

"It's not time yet."

Lilia's head whipped around to stare at Druid. "What was that?"

Druid placed her finger on her lips. "Let's pretend that you didn't hear that. Shall we?"

Lilia wouldn't deny that she was curious but didn't want to pry.

"Do you still want to train?" Lilia asked.

With a thumbs-up sign. "No problem." Druid began to stretch. "Now, do you want me to stick to elemental abilities, or do you mind if I use my foresight and teleportation as well?"

Lilia's eyes glinted. "Use whatever you want." The more challenging, the better.

"Oh." Druid brought up her hands. Her fire element ignited. It quickly consumed her whole body, and then she disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Oh, how she wished that she had teleportation. She would never ride an elevator again.

Lilia felt the heat behind her. She turned to Druid, who had her medium in hand, a snake-like whip, aiming to hook Lilia's feet. She flipped out of the way.

As a Life Elemental, Lilia's physical abilities and senses were more enhanced than Druid's, but it wouldn't do much good if she couldn't get close enough. So, Lilia gathered her energy into her fingernails, turning into claws of shimmering light.

She swiped at Druid, but Druid had disappeared already, leaving flames in her wake. Lilia scrambled away, trying not to get a face full of fire.

This is so much fun.

Her soul was soaring—not just because of the fight. It was the connection, a Link the six of them shared—even with Bryson and Shadow, despite their differences. That Link had only gotten stronger from that day four years ago.

The day they first met…