"The game consists of answering every question you're asked with nothing but the truth. Every player will ask you a question. You have to answer, at least, 3 questions. If you decide not to answer you will be given dares to do."
Ben explained and Roselyn nodded to the explanation in response.
The guy nearer Ben, who wanted to play the game introduced himself to Rose. He was Daniel, Ben's best friend, and he was known by everyone for being a player, just like Ben. They are on the basketball team, they are the classic school's playboys who every girl dreams of. Roselyn probably could imagine that, but she wasn't worried, she knew how to deal with that kind of boy.
"The first question is: do you have a boyfriend?" Ben asked.
"I do." She replied without hesitation.
"What a shame." He commented exploding in a loud laugh. Rosalyn ignored his comment.
"Second question. Are the rumors true? That you had a... Troubled past?" Dan said, showing a slight grin, raising his eyebrow.
"Yes," she answered, after a brief silence.
"slow down, boys. My turn." the girl talked, smiling to Rose, "let's talk about important stuff now." she winked "How many boys have you been with?"
Roselyn's thoughts start to chase each other, impeding her to think properly. Why would she ask such a thing?
"You mean, slept with or just dated..?" Roselyn whispered.
The boys at the table start to giggle.
"I mean, I didn't date many people. Just one boy so I was-"
"It's okay. We're just joking ." Ben sad.
Roselyn turned her head around to check if Andreas was still looking at her. But he wasn't, he was talking with some girls, probably about school matters.
"The important stuff was asked. Let's play another game now." Ben scoffed.
He slid out a paper from his backpack and put it on the table. He darted his gaze at Rose, then he said:
"Roselyn. Read carefully and quickly. The ink will last as long as the pen touches the paper, so as soon as I finish writing, it will disappear forever." Roselyn leaned close to the paper, to read better.
He started writing down:
The words only appeared for some instants and then disappeared fading away magically.
'Don't read this aloud so that any professor will be able to know what we're going to do.
There is a secret room in the school's basement, we always meet there every Friday to practice our powers and have fun. Be ready, when the bell rings, we're going to pretend we're heading out but, instead, we will go there. Just follow me.'
The words faded away, Ben smiled and tears the paper apart to destroy any proof.
The bell finally rang so Ben nodded at Roselyn, heading to the exit door, followed by the rest of the group.
Roselyn's heart started racing, she was worried, she couldn't even think properly when she was concerned. Her main worry was about the professors' capabilities of reading minds.
what if she wouldn't succeed in controlling her powers properly?
She started to shake, she tried to think about possible solutions but her thoughts were floating in perpetual darkness, driving her to be even more worried.
Ben turned around, facing Rose. He looked down, as he noticed her legs shaking. He took her hand, "it's all right, you have to trust me." he whispered.
After two long staircases, they found themselves in front of an old, cracked door, made of moldy wood.
The wood door creaked open, and they all walked in the middle of the creak. It was a little room with just two dusty tables. One of them was even made of stone.
The guy who hasn't talked yet faced Roselyn and says "show us what you can do."
Roselyn nodded no, she couldn't trust her powers and there was nobody who could help her if something bad happened.
"slow down Daniel, we're here to chill," Ben said while he took a radio from a shelf. The radio was perfectly cleaned, unlike every other object in the basement.
He put it on the table and turned it on.
A song started to play.
Roselyn smiled when the girl took her hands and started to dance, making Roselyn move, following the rhythm.
"Roselyn, I'm Karen, by the way," she said.
She raised her arms making Rose spin.
Meanwhile, Andreas was busy talking with the lady who welcomed Roselyn the first day, she was the president of the school and a member of the council of magicians.
He needed to talk to someone about Rose's performance and Pagos' appearance. Margaret was the only one who he truly trusted, she was a good soul and had known him since he was just 10 years old, when he entered the school.
"Are you sure, it was Pagos?" The lady asked, she laid her right hand on her forehead and massaged it, trying to figure out a solution.
"It can't be possible." She said shaking her head and facing Andreas.
He was walking around the room, tapping his fingers on his leg.
He explained: "When she was using her powers, to fight Pagos, she seemed different, like if she knew what she was doing. She wasn't hesitating nor was she scared to use her powers like she used to be during her previous test, this time she was confident and she controlled her powers perfectly." He said stopping his walk in the center of the room.
His hand went to touch his chin, he inclined his head and thought for a bunch of seconds.
"But she wasn't lying. We've always watched her during the years. We know everything about her. There must be some sort of explanation."
The lady scoffed, "maybe she gained confidence throughout the examination. Maybe she was willing to survive and she, unconsciously, set off defense mechanisms."
"What if Pagos appears again?" Andreas asked the old lady, his voice was full of concern.
"In that case, I hope she's with someone as powerful as you Andreas, who can defend her. Tell her not to fight him, maybe Pagos' intentions are not to attack. However, call me as soon as possible."
Andreas nodded.
"One last thing, keep an eye on her. And be positive. Maybe Pagos showed up because he's intrigued by her extraordinary capabilities." She smiled and walked away, leaving him alone with his thoughts.