"Yes?", Adrian answered. Even though he responded so calmly the chaos that was going on in his hand was like an explosive..

At times he swears the way his hands misbehave makes him feel like he is walking around with wet pants, and everyone can see that. But it's all in his head except of course if anyone is paying extra close attention to him.

When his hands act like this ,the only thing that he would like to do is detach them from the rest of his body because the tingling seems to be restricted to the upper part of his body . And right now as he is squeezing his hand the pain just moved three quarters up his forearm, and he just hopes that this would be the furthest it can go..

" Good day, Gao ZongZhu and Xiao'An", a familiar voice spoke causing the audience of the room to award him their attention

Adrian felt his lips go pale when he acknowledged Ryle s presence in the room

It's been some time since he had seen him in such a secluded environment but it's just infuriating that they are meeting again here. And usually seeing him should cause a reaction but the staleness he feels right now is an unwelcome familiar feel.The thing that makes it a bad sign is that he can almost guarantee what is about to happen next.

Adrian half-bowed to him because Ryle is a little bit older than him as is Valian to Syin. But even if he wasn't he would still want bow to Ryle to avoid awkwardness. It was truly for the better that Ryle is his senior

Ryle smiled slyly and walked over to Jakhyer s table.

To be honest in Adrian s eyes ,Ryle is the replication of perfection, he can never do any wrong however, there is one very specific thing that Ryle keeps doing that makes Adrian want to just isolate himself from Ryle,this time without feeling bad because if he witnesses it he really doesn't trust his ability to control his anger

When Ryle does this uncalled for 'thing', the chest compressions Adrian experiences when he sees Ryle can escalate to the need to throw up . And though these two acts seem in sync, they hit him differently because they feel like they are invoked by two different sources ,with two different objectives

He can't say that Ryle behaves differently because he does this a lot, with nearly anyone in his circle. Take for example the young royales here. He is no more as perfect stranger to them as is anyone yet he is so comfortable to be himself around them that he can enact his playfulness on them especially on Xiao'An s roommate, Joln , the most iconic of the three. They seem like friends so Adrian doesn't mind too much when he does it . However one place and one particular individual he unapologetically minds to be a victim of that is Jakhyer.

" Sect master, do you need help?', he spoke the second he reached the table . His tone was so sweet coupled with that little soft spark in his eyes that he gives everyone and despite it seeming so scripted , it's actually meaningless, hopefully. The way Adrian was so distracted, he didn't even notice when Ryle passed next to him.

" Just need to dry the powder, dilute and titre it for the buffer", He answered. And instantly Ryle walked closer to Jakhyer to help him pick up the petri-dishes.

He reached for the equipment at the top shelf and he handed them to Jakhyer who just dumbfoundedly placed them in the table. Twice in the time span of ten seconds of selecting those equipment whenever Ryle s eyes met Jakhyer , he would give him one of those smiles of innocence. Yet again Jakhyer didn't react because he doesn't really understand its meaning

Witnessing this Adrian wanted to make a rude comment. If Jakhyer wanted help why didn't he tell Adrian. It's not like Adrian can tell the difference between a lid and a petri-dish.

"It's not safe for you to be here", Jakhyer told Adrian who was staring at Ryle blankly who seemed a too facetious, a little bit more jolly than he ever is with him

'What!! Is he hearing properly?', his mind went blurry at the processing of that sentence..

Jakhyer can't seriously be asking him to leave so he can stay alone with Ryle. Is he too like Ryle delighted to be in each other's presence?

This felt like too much for Adrian, even if he might be a little bit overreacting.He gets that they are close to some level a bit less than that of strangers. Reason being Jakhyer tutors Ryle on chemical cultivation while Emair is his official teacher.

The sect masters have agreed to let Ryle be the lab assistant but he would only be assisting on the main lab to make actual chemicals because he already excels in the basics. Of course it's a well know fact that Ryle is understudying Jakhyer but the other wolves don't know what for.

Despite their knowledge on the fact that one needs to be at a certain core level for them to become a sect master, most wolves assume that Ryle is already at that stage . But they forget that to reach that level through natural means of cultivation, Ryle would have to be Atlas three times his age right now. And if they assume it's core transfer then Ryle won't need to receive instructions from the sect masters as they would be his peers . As such if he chooses he can do any sort of teaching he wants

Anyway this information about why Ryle is always with Jakhyer, Adrian obtained it after having an akward conversation with Kijad.

The conversation didn't start off uncomfortably, just that Kijad has a way of making Adrian speechless sometimes in a way like a young adult reasoning with his teenage young brother.

It was some years ago when Adrian fell sick often. Kijad had gone to visit him at night and observe him while he takes some medication and so that he notes down the progress of his health.

Adrian laid supine in his bed while Kijad was sitting at his study table reading a book he had got from the library. His breathing sounded like he was about to cough out his lungs. It was late therefore his fever was probably acting up so he was having small difficult of breathing but it is humongously better than three days ago when he sounded like he was inhaling charcoal .

Adrian knew that the book Kijad was reading he got it from the library so he began by asking when he got it. This question was really unnecessary but Kijad just answered that he got it just before Ryle left to go and have his tutorial sessions with Jakhyer.

" Why is Xiong'Ry getting tutored by ZongZhu Gao?", Adrian immediately asked. It wasn't a bleak question because of the tone of his voice which sounded like he had been curious for sometime.

"To help in the main lab." He responded without raising his eyes

"Shouldn't the tutoring be done by ZongZhu Tian", Adrian quickly inquired and simultaneously turned his head to face Kijad

"Jakhyer is no different", he justified while paging swiftly through the book

"But Tian is experienced", Adrian argued

"And so is Jakhyer"

"In elemental", he ran out of breath while speaking but his curiosity was still burning hot

"Ryle doesn't mind that or he would have refused."

"Aghh", he sulked and turned his head back to the roof as he can tell this is a losing battle

"Why do you care who teaches Ryle?"

"I don't. I am just saying that he should learn from someone with experience", he answered while sulking. Kijad doesn't need to look for he can hear Adrian rolling his reddened eyes

At this point Kijad could just thaw the tension and announce that Jakhyer is just the tutor but he feels like Adrian is about to explode on something. Moreover his character is really amicable when he sulks. Biased young tulip.

"Does it bother you", he asked with a slight pitch in his voice, an obvious sign that he is trying to lead him on.

"No", Adrian was quick to deny

"You sound bothered", he mocked him

"I am not. What's there to be bother about?", he continued sulking

"I also don't see it", he spoke carefreely like a senior mocking the inexperience of his junior

" Because it doesn't exist", he answered with his teeth clenched

" It does exist but you can't see, that must mean one of two things. Either you are too ignorant which is improbable ..",he paused because Adrian coughed a little like a dying bird, which was very inappropriately adorable

" Or... what bothers you is not something that can be seen",

Xiao'An wanted to defend himself but he just gave up then knitted his eyebrows. Adrian turned to the side and he hugged his arm to his belly as he felt the tiny electric tingle in his hand. He was done with this conversation for the reason that the direction it's heading, he is starting to feel 'weird'

Up to this day Adrian doesn't know what Kijad meant by that but it's Kijad. Sometimes he acts sweet, other times he acts like a poet and other times he acts like an overprotective brother

"If I wear safely, can I stay?", he asked though he partly knew the answer would be no.

" You have class and must prepare", Jakhyer answered him tranquilly, almost whispering . Despite there being no noticeable change in Jakhyer s voice, Adrian felt like was a lot more sheltered and cold like Ryle s ice snowflakes which he must have also learnt from his 'tutor'

Adrian further clenched his hand.It's clear that they didn't want him here .. After he bowed to them , he felt blood boil through his other hand. This was the first gamble of a sign that his finger tips are begin to redden, involuntarily

He turned away from these two and repositioned his hands in front of him, to conceal them.

He could feel the need to through a tantrum brewing inside of him and he didn't likes it. He was fighting the need to turn around and just scream at both of them.

Two things make him feel apoplectic. The fact that Ryle looked so convivial with Jakhyer who was playing like wall when he is with Adrian . Another thing is that Jakhyer seems to have a soft spot for Ryle that he can actually discuss things with him. Is it because Ryle smiles so much with him that he warms up to him. Why would he fall for that?

His eyes were turning a shade close to red and he could feel that he is about to release a tornado.

Ten seconds later , he managed to leave the door and he immediately turned to the side .

As soon as he turned to the corridor , he fought to stop his eyes turning completely red since his finger tips were already blood-red . He turned to face the wall because he didn't want the wolves moving at a distance to see him. He clenched everything and he was already hyperventilating because he didn't realize he had held his breath. How can a moment than is less than ten minutes make him more agitated than fighting himself in a cave??

" Someone is angry", Ryle chuckled before turning back to the shelf to pick up the titration equipment.

Jakhyer remained looking at the door and he felt indifferent.

" Don't worry.." Ryle consoled him . He doesn't know if he is worried but anyone can feel guilty for making their junior or someone like Xiao'An indignant for no reason.

" I am not worried", he answered. But both of them know that he is lying. He reverted back to Ryle.

As a matter of a fact, he wanted Adrian to stay and he likes it when he visits him but honestly speaking the chemical that they are handling right now is very detrimental for Adrian in all respects.

Considering the fact that Adrian used to fall sick so effortlessly, it's best if they don't test the waters by letting him stay when they are at work. If Adrian is really upset, he will get over it ..

But Jakhyer can't help wondering why Adrian got disturbed . Did he really want to stay out of curiosity or something else? He keeps telling him the lab is not safe but he persistently comes back. What thing could be so irresistible to keep him coming back?

"Can I ask sect master something?", Ryle rhetorically requested. He knows that Jakhyer won't respond to him but there is a high possibility that he is indeed curious..

" Why are paranoid wolves dangerous ?", He spoke while taking the petri-dishes to wash them in the sink. Feeling that the delay was growing, he turned to look at him , as a way of prompting an answer

" They try to defend themselves because they think they are going to lose their lives",He spoke sedatedly

"Apprehension. So an organism gets enraged because they are afraid of losing something as important as life itself ", he pretend to reach a conclusion..

Jakhyer looked back to the door again.

At the same time he did this Adrian who was still standing by the corridor stopped caring about who is watching and immediately stormed away as he felt himself get more exasperated.

What fear!!!!