"You... too?" Kyran looked at her skeptically.


    When Ste managed to enter his magic sphere, he already felt something different about her. Despite her magic being different from his, he felt a kind of familiarity with it. And when she stopped his magic and he was unable to break free, it felt different from the restraining effect he once encountered with the army officers.


    Kyran was also unable to gauge her magic level. She did not possess the same pressure as Nn so he knew she was not a Magus.


    Then there was her unusual magic array.


    "There are others who have forbidden magic?"


    Nn almost flipped when Kyran asked a question.


    "Argh! Look Missy-Lord-whatever you''re called, you seemed knowledgeable enough about Kyran''s situation so you probably know his family tried to keep him within the estate. That''s why he''s clueless about the outside world and especially magic," Nn told Ste.


    Kyran''s brow creased at Nn''s words. He turned and red at him.


    Did Nn have to say it like he was some sheltered young master? Besides, he did leave the estate for four years when he attended the Milfiore Military School.


    Ste giggled after seeing the disgruntled expression on Kyran''s face. She turned to Nn and said, "I know. Rin was pretty reluctant to teach him anything about magic. I don''t me her, especially after that happened."


    Kyran frowned slightly and looked back at her.


    "My mother? Did they not teach me because they don''t want the army to find out about me? And wait, what do you mean after that happened?"


    ''Here we go again...'' Nn  could not help but sigh.


    This kid really loved to ask questions. The time or ce did not matter to him once his curiosity was triggered.


    Ste did not mind. She simply smiled and answered, "We''ll talk moreter. First, you need to get yourself cleaned."


    She walked up to him and made a quick look over his appearance.


    Because Kyran''s coat was ck, the blood from the cuts he got from when he fought Dante early that day, then with his run-ins with the Tower''s security, and finally with Malek, was not that obvious. However, his face and even the little skin that was not covered by his clothes had small cuts, bruises, and blood.


    Ste''s gaze paused at Kyran''s hands, which were drenched with blood. A mncholic gleam shed in her light blue eyes.


    Although the blood was not Kyran''s, Ste could only imagine the state of his mind earlier that drove him to brutally attack Malek.


    She cautiously reached out for his hands.


    <o>,m Kyran did not trust Ste yet, even after she took an oath. But before he could avoid her hands, he saw her worried expression and hesitated. Once again, he was reminded of that familiarity he felt with her.</o>


    Ste''s expression also reminded Kyran of a time when his cousin Pheobe visited him at the Milfiore Military School Dormitory and she saw his hands covered in cuts and bruises. That time he was the new ''toy'' of the seniors because he was very meek. But after an incident which involved a phony angel-faced girl, Kyran snapped and broke the faces of all the seniors who dared fight him.


    Pheobe looked very worried, but she kept a smile on her face and did not ask him what happened. She just cleaned his wounds in silence.


    Kyran felt guilty that time.


    "Your magic has grown too fast. You even prevented Malek''s blood to return to him," she said almost in a whisper.


    "Return?"


    Ste held his hands and looked at him with a smile, "Yes. That''s how I ''healed'' him earlier. Were you not aware of what I was doing?"


    "I only know you are trying to save him and it pissed me off."


    Steughed.


    Herugh annoyed Kyran earlier, but now he did not mind.


    "I know you have a lot of questions. About the Conve''s connection with your n, about your magic and what you must do moving forward, I''ll answer as much as I can. I can also help you study your magic and improve it further."


    Kyran''s expression darkened, "My priority is to save my n. I don''t have time for anything else."


    Ste smiled teasingly, "Well aren''t I your lucky break then? I''ll be able to give you the ''time'' you need. After all, that''s my magic."


    Kyran''s expression changed upon hearing that. He had been wondering about Ste''s magic since she managed to enter his magic sphere. And when she admitted her magic was also a forbidden type, he was even more curious. Now she admitted her magic was ''time''. A lot of questions as well as opportunities for him shed in his head.


    "Ahem," Nn cleared his throat.


    He felt awkward interrupting these two while they were getting... chummy, with their hands linked and all. But he sensed Kyran''s curiosity sparked after Ste''s admission about her magic. If he did not interrupt, they would end up with another Q and A session.


    "But let''s save the questions forter," Ste said before Kyran could open his mouth to ask more questions.


    Nn sighed in his heart. At least this Missy was sensible.


    "Uhm... Will you remove your domain now?" Ste asked sheepishly and released Kyran''s hands.


    ''Oh, no. Don''t tell him that-!''


    Kyran tilted his head, "Domain?"


    Ste saw Nn gave an X sign using his arms while frantically shaking his head. She realized something and finally gave a softugh, "Oh. I meant this sphere. Will you release it now? Actually, I only managed to enter your... sphere because I used my magic barrier, but after I released it, I can''t use my magic anymore. And well, I can''t leave here as well, ahaha..."


    "Why can''t you leave?"


    "Well... because I entered your sphere without being...err... scanned, I''ll use that term for now, anyway, I was an uninvited guest and if I walk out of your magic sphere, well... it will destroy me."


    "How?"


    "How? Your magic is void so-."


    "Not that," Kyran looked uneasily at his sphere. "I''m not exactly sure how to release this."


    "What?"


    "Oi, kid. What the hell do you mean you can''t release it?"


    Ste and Nn blurted respectively.


    Kyran looked at Nn and replied, "I was pissed earlier and just wanted to kill that psycho."


    Beads of sweat appeared on Ste''s forehead from Kyran''s bluntness. He really intended to kill Malek. She made a mental note to correct that.


    "I admit I wasn''t thinking straight. This sphere just came out," Kyran added.


    Nn had a thoughtful expression. Kyran was still in the process of controlling his magic. If he had no recollection of how he summoned his magic then...


    "Try to remember what you felt, if you can''t remember what you thought at that time," he suggested.


    "I was feeling murderous," Kyran answered bluntly.


    ck lines appeared on Ste''s head. Yes, she really had to clear the misunderstanding between them as soon as possible.


    "Hm. It seemed this sphere might have been influenced by your emotion. As long as you are able to release your pent-up emotion, then you''ll be able to undo this sphere," Nn said.


    "Release my pent-up emotion... But." Kyran looked reluctant. "I... want to hit him in the face at least once."


    "Ahaha..." Steughed uneasily. "Then let''s do thatter. It''s better to give him a good smack in the face when you''re well rested, don''t you think? You can even use your full strength. Don''t worry, he will not retaliate. I''ll make sure of that."


    Kyran looked at her. He was still unconvinced, but since Malek was not here, he could only wait until they meet again.


    Nn was a little surprised that Kyran surprisingly had a vengeful side to him. He was suddenly reminded of his fight with Dante. After being bombarded by Dante''s attacks, Kyran became very focused and when he was able to return the favor, his mood improved.


    ''He got his temper from Cade,'' he thought with a sly smile.


    "I''ll hold you to your words," Kyran told Ste.


    Ste nodded.


    Taking a deep breath, Kyran closed his eyes and started to control his emotions. Right now, he was still uncertain about a lot of things. He did notpletely trust Ste, but he could learn to because he needed her magic.


    Slowly the air inside the sphere changed. The sphere also decreased in size and became more transparent.


    Suddenly.


    "Argh!" Kyran''s eyes snapped open as he clutched his chest, and fell on his knees.


    "Kyran!"


    "Oi, kid!"


    Ste and Nn eximed respectively, and rushed to his side.


    The sphere started to disintegrate and both of them noticed how Kyran''splexion also turned pale.


    ''Not good,'' Nn thought and prepared to summon his domain, after all, inside his domain he had better awareness and control on anything inside it. If he brought Kyran in, he''d be able to determine what was wrong with him.


    However, before he could rouse his magic, a huge golden array-like clocks appeared above where the sphere had already disappeared.


    Ste spread her arms and looked up. Several array-like clocks appeared and covered the still disintegrating sphere.


    The color of the sphere started to change from ck to purple. It started to condense and soon it changed into a huge purple ring around them.


    Kyran''s eyes already blurred when the huge purple ring touched the floor. Its size further decreased and slowly returned inside him. After the ring entered his body, he also lost consciousness.


    Nn caught him just before he fell on the floor.


    "Ugh..." Ste moaned the moment Kyran''s magic returned to him. She also fell on her knees and was breathing heavily.


    The toll on her body when using her magic depended on the scale of her usage. Normally, she would not feel exhausted at this scale. But although Kyran''s sphere already decreased in size, the magic contained within it had been too strong.


    "What the f*ck just happened?" Nn wondered out loud feeling very anxious.


    To be honest, he already had an idea of what happened, but the idea he thought of, scared him.


    "His magic seemed to have grown too much, his body can no longer contain it. I tried to revert it to an earlier state, but it''s only temporary."


    "Yeah, that''s what I''m afraid of. Damn this kid, scared the shit out of me."


    A smile crept on Ste''s lips, after witnessing Nn''s concern over Kyran''s safety. A thought crossed her mind and she looked at him thoughtfully. Finally, she asked, "Why did you not tell him?"


    Nn stiffened at her question. Without looking at her, he replied. "Tell him what?"


    "You don''t have to pretend not to know what I meant."


    After a short pause, Nn finally looked at Ste and said. "How much do you know?"


    "Well. Malek''s vision was not exactlyplete. We did see bits and pieces. But from what I can tell,  after meeting you, it looks like you did not tell him much about yourself."


    "I told him what he has to know. That''s enough," Nn replied with a shrug. "So, where do you want to take him. I''m telling you, I''m not gonna clean him up."


    He immediately changed the subject.


    Steughed softly. She could take a hint, so she decided not to pursue the matter. After all, it was Nn''s business and she had to gain his favor and trust as well if she wanted to get on Kyran''s good side.


    "I''ll take care of that," she replied and stood up. "Please help me take him to my quarters."