A New Alpha

Chapter Twenty Three

"You sure this is allowed?" said Lynx, following close behind Mason. Their footsteps echoed sharply against the stonework.

"Of course it is. It's no different than a study group really," Mason said over his shoulder.

"I don't mean about working together," said Lynx, "I meant about being down here..."

"On the first floor?" said Landon. "Yeah, that's chill. The other students don't come down here is all, not because it's not allowed, but because it's colder here and out of the way. Particularly when there are plenty of places to study and practice and hang out on the top two floors."

"Why didn't we go to the second floor then?" said Lynx.

"That floor is out of bounds. According to reliable, solid rumors.. the floor is reserved for teacher and staff stuff."

"Now you've got me interested," said Lynx, mostly joking.

Mason laughed and took another turn. The hallway opened up to a magnificent room. Water leaped in a celebratory kind of way from a white-marbled fountain containing a roaring lion statue that was situated in the center of the large room.

The windows were long and narrow and placed high on the wall. Light poured in from above and, transformed by the lapping water, landed on the opposite walls in prisms of dancing color.

"This is amazing!" said Lynx. He touched the nearest wall, and the light painted his hand in color and warmth.

It was a short time before Lynx started thinking about his classes and what was gonna happen to him... their purpose for being here... For Mason to teach him what he needs to learn now that he can shift. He had to learn as much as possible just in case people found out he was a Hyrbid. If they did then he'd have to be ready for the council trying to take him for power.

He thought about how hard he'd been working, and how in this moment he was unexpectedly blessed with things as beautiful as the room, his new abilities, his renewed sense of belonging. He savored that for slow minutes before thoughts of 'the council finding out what he was' intruded.

In that moment he thought about how.. it's good that he's working hard, and being diligent... but ... but that it's also good to be in the moment also. To be...happy. To just stand and enjoy the lights waltzing across the palm of his hand in warm joy. He couldn't help but smile.

Though he had to be cautious just in case the teachers knew he was the Hyrbid. Thought that day he shifted he did it near other students and a teacher so it'd be likely they knew and if they did then it's most likely the council knew, though It's been weeks since that day so maybe they don't know. And if they didn't know then he had to make sure they didn't find out, if they did then they'd probably try experiment on him or try and kill him so he doesn't fullfill the prophecy.

He glanced at Mason. He thought Mason would be mesmerized by the lights also, but Mason was only looking at him. There was curiosity in the depths of his amber eyes.

"You have to hold the idea in your mind," said Mason.

"What idea exactly? Having improved smell?" said Lynx. They'd found a large rounded study room where they could practice. It was lit with thousands of tiny lights spaced organically all over the ceiling like stars in the night sky. The fireplace was overlarge, and a fire burned hot in the heart. The room was empty apart from two rounded benches set adjacent to the wall.

"It's not just... being able to smell better," said Mason. "But rather thinking about how it would feel to be commanding that ability."

"So... I should sniff the air or something," said Lynx, who was having a hard time believing this would work.

"Sure?" said Mason. "I can't tell you what is the right way, because it's going to be specific to whoever is trying to use this enhanced sense ."

"Hm," said Lynx, moving slightly away from the nearest bench.

"If you had that enhanced sense right now, and were employing it then what would you be doing? If you would be sniffing the air then... It would seem that'd be the right thing to try."

"I guess if I had that shifter ability I would... be standing here, and ...smelling things stronger than I currently am," said Lynx. It was weird because the idea seemed straightforward.. and yet to implement it seemed challenging.

"Perfect!" said Mason. He made it seem like it was a breakthrough of some kind. "So what would you be smelling more of?"

"The wood burning in the fireplace," said Lynx. "And I guess the stone has a subtle cool smell about it. There's a kind of cinnamon smell also."

"Focus on those. Visualize them becoming more intense."

"You said every shifter has this sense?" said Lynx, after practicing for a few minutes without success.

"I said they have the potential," said Mason.

"That mind-reading stuff is bogus right though?" said Lynx. "I'd rather not have a bunch of random shifters shouting in my mind.. even if we were part of the academy."

"There is a mind sense where shifters can sense what your thinking through touch, so far as I know, but it's not an everyday kind of thing. I've only heard of witches' potions that can alter that. Then again I don't know what the Lycans or Hybrids are or will be capable of."

"Maybe me and the super-smelling don't mix," said Lynx. "Is there another werewolf ability I should try?"

"Don't say that!" said Mason. "If you say you're not good at it.. with werewolf abilities... you won't be good at it."

"Um," said Lynx. "I can't say I'm following."

I don't fully understand it myself, said Mason. "This is deep werewolf magic we're talking about. It's still being studied. But there's a theory that suggests that you must think about it first before you can do it. If you say 'I can do it,' and somehow make yourself believe that you can do it.. there's a higher chance that you will be able to learn. If you say I'm not good enough..."

"Like mind over matter?" said Lynx thinking. He'd never thought of this kind of idea before.

"Yeah, a bit like that," said Mason. "And.. if you don't think you can access and master the ability, then in basic terms... like would you even try? And if you didn't try... you'd never learn how to accomplish the goal."

Lynx felt like a window onto a brand new world was opened for him. He wondered what other abilities shifters were able to attain. What abilities would he be able to access?

Lynx has to learn as much as he can until the council finds out hes the Hyrbid.