Katherine inserted the spare key into the lock and turned it, the sound of the mechanism clicking open echoing through the hallway. Ascar, who had been standing frozen in panic, suddenly sprang into action. He quickly stripped off his clothes, his heart racing with desperation.
"Mom, I'm naked!" Ascar exclaimed, his voice trembling with embarrassment. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist, his hands shaking with anxiety.
Katherine pushed open the door and stepped inside, her eyes widening in surprise as she took in the sight of her son standing before her, clad only in a towel. "Ascar, have you always been like this?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of confusion and concern.
Ascar's face turned bright red as he realized his mistake. He had hoped that his mom would be shocked and embarrassed enough to leave him alone, but instead, she seemed to be taking the situation in stride.
Ascar's hands began to shake even more as he tried to hold the towel in place. But in his nervousness, he accidentally dropped the towel, his hands shivering as he tried to cover himself.
Katherine's expression softened, and she looked away, trying to give her son some dignity. "Okay, okay... we'll talk about this downstairs," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "At least get some briefs on, geez."
Ascar quickly grabbed his clothes and got dressed, his mind racing with thoughts of what he was going to tell his mom. He knew he couldn't tell her the truth, not about Brindlemark and the magic that had transformed his body. He would have to come up with a convincing lie, something that would explain his sudden growth spurt and muscle gain.
Ascar took a deep breath and headed downstairs, his heart still racing with anxiety. He found his mom and Emily waiting for him in the kitchen, his mom sipping a cup of coffee, Emily looking a bit more composed than she had earlier.
"I'll drop you guys off at school," Katherine said, scanning her son's new physique. "You're too late to walk, but before that, Ascar, explain yourself."
Ascar took a deep breath and launched into the first excuse that came to mind. "I kinda took some steroids, mom," he said, trying to sound as convincing as possible.
Katherine's expression turned stern, her eyes narrowing in concern. "Oh, Ascar, you don't have to do all this because of those scums," she said, her voice filled with a mix of disappointment and worry. "You're only putting yourself in more danger."
Ascar felt a pang of guilt at his mom's words. He knew he had lied to her, and it didn't feel good. "I'm sorry, mom," he said, trying to sound as sincere as possible. "Also, I'm sorry you both for... you know... earlier on... flashing..."
Emily's face turned bright red again, and she looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Oh no, it was a mistake anyway," she said, trying to sound casual. "I didn't see anything, haha."
The three of them laughed, trying to break the tension. Ascar felt a sense of relief wash over him, grateful that the situation hadn't been more awkward than it already was.
As they headed out the door, Katherine reminded Ascar that they needed to stop by the principal's office to get him a new uniform. Ascar's heart sank at the thought of facing the principal, but he knew it was necessary.
When they arrived at school, Emily headed off to class, while Ascar and Katherine went to the principal's office. The principal was flabbergasted by Ascar's new physique, and Ascar could tell that he was struggling to come up with a suitable explanation.
After getting his new uniform, Ascar headed off to class, feeling a sense of trepidation. He knew that his new physique would be the talk of the school, and he wasn't sure how he felt about that.
As he walked into the cafeteria for lunch, Ascar was greeted by a sea of staring faces. He felt his face grow hot with embarrassment, but he tried to ignore it, focusing instead on finding a seat.
Emily sat down beside him, a concerned expression on her face. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, her voice low.
Ascar nodded, trying to sound casual. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit... self-conscious, I guess."
Emily nodded understandingly. "I can imagine," she said. "But you look great, Ascar. Really confident and strong."
Ascar smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Emily. She was always so supportive and kind, and he appreciated that about her.
Just then, Tyler, the school bully, walked up to their table, a sneer on his face. "Ascar is now using steroids, haha," he said, his voice dripping with malice.
Ascar felt a surge of anger at Tyler's words, but he tried to keep his cool. He didn't want to give Tyler the satisfaction of getting a rise out of him.
"Hey, Tyler, leave me alone," Ascar said, his voice firm but calm.
Tyler's expression faltered for a moment, and Ascar could tell that he was taken aback by his newfound confidence. But then, Tyler's face twisted into a sneer again. "Or what, Ascar? You'll beat me up with your steroid-fueled muscles?"
Ascar's face remained calm, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm not looking for a fight, Tyler," he said, his voice steady. "But I'm not going to back down either. Just leave me alone."
Tyler snorted, but Ascar could see the uncertainty in his eyes. For a moment, the two of them just stared at each other, the tension between them palpable.
Then, Tyler turned and walked away, muttering something under his breath. Ascar watched him go, feeling a sense of relief wash over him.
Emily turned to him, a look of admiration on her face. "Wow, Ascar, you really stood up to him," she said, her voice filled with excitement.
Ascar smiled, feeling a sense of pride. "Thanks, Emily," he said. "I'm just tired of being pushed around."
The two of them sat in silence for a moment, enjoying their lunch and each other's company. Then, Emily spoke up again.
"Hey, Ascar, can I ask you something?" she said, her voice curious.
"Sure, what is it?" Ascar replied, his eyes meeting hers.
"I saw your room glowing yesterday," Emily said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Is that the real reason you're like this?"
Ascar's heart skipped a beat as he realized that Emily had seen the glow. He hadn't expected her to notice, and he didn't know how to respond.
"Er... it must have been the current," Ascar stammered, trying to come up with a convincing excuse.
Emily raised an eyebrow, looking skeptical. "The current?" she repeated, her voice dubious.
Ascar nodded, trying to sound convincing. "Yeah, the current. It must have been causing some kind of electrical surge or something."
Emily looked at him for a moment, then nodded. "Okay, if you say so," she said, her voice neutral.
But Ascar could tell that she didn't believe him. He could see the skepticism in her eyes, and he knew that he would have to come up with a better excuse if he wanted to keep his secret safe.