The woods in Centrum are different from the academy`s. Instead of twisted, knotted, ancient oaks, rows of thin pine trees shoot straight up to the sky. They tower over us like silent sentinels. The air is crisp and heavy with their scent. Dark green pine needles litter the ground, giving us a silent trek along the uneven, winding trail. It`s darker under their towering shade, but feels vibrant, alive.

　　Our pace is fast. It`s not fast enough for me to break a sweat, but I wipe my brow and let out a heavy breath now and then to fake some exhaustion. The steps in front of Centrum Building were the fun part of our run before we entered the trees. An exercise in footwork with the shorter step lengths keeping us on the balls of our feet. I had to slow down at one point when it felt like I was hovering over steps instead of landing on them.

　　The captain has kept to the rear, which was always my spot at the academy. She`s close behind me and silent, except for her heartbeat. It beats the same as it did in the tunnels, steady and strong. My powers surge close to the surface in waves with someone behind me. I try to focus on the steady fall of Iva`s combat boots in front of me as a distraction.

　　We round the final curve back to Centrum Building and the bright clear sky breaks through the trees. My body finds calm training, in the release of pent-up energy. But this run has me in knots. Counting breaths isn`t helping to calm me either. I close my eyes and let my hearing guide me. I latch on to the squad`s steady cadence on the trail. My footfalls adjust to their beat. A slow calm washes over my mind and flows to my center. I`m in sync with the rhythm and my chest feels lighter.

　　I take in a deep breath and push more power into my hearing to hold on to the soothing rhythm. The beat is consuming and my muscles relax in the lull. It thrums through my center, a metronome my body adapted as it`s own. Thump-thump, thump-thump, comes from behind me steady and sure. Behind me? It`s the captain`s heartbeat.

　　Even though I can`t see her, my body moves with hers. I can`t understand it. I instinctively know she swaying left and I do too. I`ve locked on to her and my mind flashes to the Blaze demon during my trial, how his flaming body pulsed to my heart beat. I feel taken over and sluggish to break loose.

　　My eyes shoot open and my breath quickens. I slam my fist into the center of my chest to will my abilities to surge or retreat, anything to disconnect from the captain. My stomach sinks when I get no response. She`s always unbalanced me and now this. My vision narrows, the woods zoom into crystal clear focus and I know my eyes must be glowing. I stop dead in my tracks, squeeze my eyes shut, and get slammed from behind. We both go down to the dirt.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

　　I`m face first on the trail with sticky pine needles stuck to my cheek. It`s not that unusual for me to be thrown down in the dirt but it`s the first time I`ve had a tiny warrior sprawled across my back, cursing. I don`t dare move or speak.

　　"Oren!" Her shout vibrates into the center of my back.

　　She`s swift and graceful as she jumps off me and onto her feet. I flip over onto my back. Shit, there`s no way to explain why I stopped so I might as well use this to my advantage.

　　"Still throwing yourself at me? You`re not my type, remember." I say and watch a hard green glint take over her eyes. Looks like I`ll be heading home sooner than I thought.

　　"Put your face back in the dirt, warrior." Her calm tone has me cringing more than her shout did.

　　"While you`re there, give me one hundred push-ups and explain why you thought it funny to mess with your commanding officer...on your first day!"

　　I start my push-ups. After the third one, she places a foot between my shoulder blades and shoves me down lower for the next. Each one is a little lower until my nose bends into the trail.

　　"Talk warrior. And cut the cute shit." The captain removes her boot from my back to stand by my head.

　　What am I going to say? My secret uncontrollable abilities locked onto your heartbeat like a damn demon and I liked it. I liked how calm she made me feel. I liked the lightness that replaced my burden.

　　"I heard something in the woods." It`s not a lie. I heard something alright.

　　"You`re not in the outer regions anymore. There`s nothing in these woods except an Elite trainee, on probation, working to get sent home."

　　I finish my push-ups but make no move to stand.

　　"Looks like we have a lot to teach you, warrior." She walks a few feet down the trail. "On your feet."

　　I rise fast to attention. I can feel her eyes as I stare ahead just past her. The rest of the squad is long gone. I push my abilities deep inside and shield my hearing. It`s something I haven`t done in years. But I don`t trust myself around her. I need to block her out.

　　"Looks like you`re behind me, Oren. Run ten sets of steps after dinner." She turns her back to me, leaving me in a salute.

　　My eyes lower to watch her run off. When she`s no longer in sight, I start at a slow pace to follow. I can`t get too close, and I can`t enhance my hearing around her. I don`t want to think about why my powers locked on to her or worse, why I want to do it again.