Start Training

"Are you alright?" Pel turned to Crista.

"Yes...thank you" she smiled shyly.

Just then his watch beeped and after checking, it was a message from Tulip.

'It's such an inconvenience to communicate like this' Pel frowned. "Ito is there any way you can help?"

[...]

[I can send your visual protection over]

"Can't complain, it would be much better if humans had systems as well" Pel sighed.

[You can use a phone]

"You mean that rectangular box...no thanks it's creepy" Pel said and Crista laughed again.

"What is funny?" Pel asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You really are an alien..." Crista chuckled. She understood that those who didn't know his identity as an alien will find him a weirdo.

"O...kay" Pel turned away. "Ito you can begin"

[Host can hold Crista's hand for faster absorption]

Pel did not think much and did what Ito suggested.

* * *

After Tulip sent the message to Pel she expected him to find instructor Clinton like he always did and then the instructor would call her but while waiting, a holographic image of Pel and a girl suddenly appeared and the eyes widened in shock.

"Holy shit!!" Des exclaimed and stood up. The others did not fare any better since they were all startled by Pel's sudden appearance.

"What is this?" Fizz asked. "Don't tell me the academy gave them watches that can send visual projections"

"They don't, this boy is full of surprises" Grace said with her arms folded.

Again Tulip was being stared at like a product on display. The poor girl could not help but facepalm.

"Pel what is this?" she questioned seriously.

"As it is, your backward technology is causing me inconveniences" Pel said with a distressed sigh.

Tulip's smile cracked but she shook her head to pull herself back together. "And who are you?"

"I'm Crista" Crista said as her grip on Pel's hand deepened.

"What do you know...you got yourself a girlfriend" Tulip teased.

"I don't understand why does your human mind work in the same way?...or is it that you're desperate to find a partner that you find any slight interaction between others as romantic?" Pel said looking genuinely confused.

Des could bit hold himself back and started laughing while Tulip's smile turned upside down.

"Pel.." she called gritting her teeth. Her blood pressure was probably rising due to anger and that genuine expression did not help.

Fizz stared at Pel's projection and frowned. He did not like Pel's tone even if he was considered a genius. "You should not speak to someone older than you that way"

Pel turned to him. "Maybe you but with my understanding of humans Tulip is probably just as old as me or maybe a year or two older"

Tulip's expression turns grim. Pelwas talking too much now and the awakened here weren't fools sooner or later they would suspect his identity.

"Let's just forget that, I called you for a reason"

Winx stared at the scene and smiled. 'So there more hidden...he just gets more interesting'

"Sure, what do you want my help with?" Pel said, ignoring the others now.

"I need more rings"

"Sure how many?"

"Aren't you gonna ask why?" Tulip raised a brow.

"You're strong enough to handle yourself, besides I think you're a clever human...um let's just say you haven't done anything to make me think otherwise" Pel smiled.

Tulio rolled her eyes. "Get them ready by tomorrow, the more the better"

"Sure" after that Pel asked Ito to stop the visual projection.

Tulip sighed in relief but when she raised her head she was met with the expectant gaze of everyone. "What?"

"Start explaining, who is Pel" Winx interrogated.

'Why is this witch always trying to make things hard for me?' Tulip frowned. "I don't know what you're talking about"

This time Grace spoke up. "You humans...ring a bell? why does he speak like that?"

"Like what?" Tulip asked, refusing to budge.

"Come on Tulip, we're not stupid, there's something seriously wrong with that kid and not just because he makes things no one had heard before" Fizz said with a serious expression.

"We should respect his privacy" Tulip said.

Winx scoffed. "What privacy? he says it subconsciously so someone is gonna find out sooner or later"

"You're probably right but I'm not of liberty to say anything...if you're so curious you know where to find him" Tulip then sat down and refused to speak more on the topic.

"Let her be...you know Tulip, she won't talk if she doesn't want to" Des said and the others let it go..but Winx clicked her tongue.

* * *

"What is your real age?" Crista suddenly asked.

"I'm 22, in Kerki years" Pel answered before walking towards the clone.

Silence permeated the air for a while making Crista feel a bit uncomfortable.

She was curious about Pel's origin but didn't want to poke her nose in his business, probably she was scared he would ask her about hers and right now she was not in the state to disclose what really happened.

Starting at her palms she closed her eyes and sadness gripped her heart.

Pel felt the energy disturbance behind him and turned around. Crista was glowing and the glow was growing brighter by the second.

Immediately he ran to her and shook the hell out of her. "What happened?"

Crista then realized her actions. "I'm sorry...I'm...so sorry"

Pel frowned. "Is something bothering you?"

Crista shook her head and Pel decided not to press on further. She would talk when she was ready but she had to learn to control her ability.

Towards night Pel excited the lab with Crista and went to the training hall. The hall was large enough to ensure their privacy and when Ito checked there were only two people practicing their abilities.

"Why are we here?" Crista breathed.

"We have to at least get some start on controlling your ability, I don't want to think of what could have happened today if I hadn't stopped you on time" Pel sighed.

"I'm sorry..." Crista looked away hesitant.

"What?" Pel frowned.

Crista gulped. "Aren't you bothered by the dark?"

Pel stared at her in disbelief. "You're scared of the dark?...you lived in the forest when I found you"

Crista bit her lips in frustration. "I...glow every night"

Pel was speechless and then sighed. He felt like he was on babysitting duty. "I'm here, so there's no need to be scared...Ito please show me her stats"

[Affrimative]