CHAPTER 8 – 3-4 = -1 (1)

"And just do the same. Now you get it right?" Psyand's mother says to Psyand, in Hindi.

I yawn, mutely, and look at these two sitting on the floor.

"Good morning Mr. Wrap," Psyand greets me.

"Morning. What are you… doing?" I ask.

"Math," Psyand says.

"In the morning?"

"She was thought about algebra recently, and doesn't quite get it, so…"

"Still, in the morning?"

"You don't seem to like studying," Psyand's mother points.

"Just the okay type, but yes, more towards that," I say.

By the time I and Psyand's mother stop conversing, Lost-Bird had come and squatted down, to peek into Psyand's book.

"It may seem tough because it starts to feel overwhelming. But think of it this way… if x is the number of guys in this house, and y, the number of girls, and we don't know that part yet, all we know is, that the total number of people in this house is seven," Lost-Bird says.

Lost-Bird writes down on Psyand's book, to make it clearer.

"That could mean many things, don't you think?" Lost-Bird asks, and waits for an answer.

"Yes… it could mean that there could be one guy, and six girls, or two girls and five guys, and much more," Psyand replies, after a little thought.

"Good girl," Lost-Bird says. "And so, they give another equation, to help deduce values. So, x minus y equals to one."

Psyand stares at the equation, and do I.

"So if we take y on the other side."

"The other side?" Psyand asks.

"Psyand-" Psyand's mother sighs.

"No-no, that's fine," Lost-Bird says.

I look at this go on, and just sigh to myself. Such a teacher like Lost-Bird would have been good, I think to myself.

But something kept bothering me, for the rest of the morning. Something which woke me up in between the night. Lost-Bird had said that he was going to work yesterday. But the thing was… yesterday was a Sunday.

It sure was dumb of how no one realised of it. And I sigh to myself, for almost the twentieth time, when drinking coffee.

Maybe someone realised it? Maybe Scelestha did? And they just keep it a secret, because they doubt me too?

"I'll get going," Lost-Bird says. "My workplace is too secluded, so it won't be a problem. I'll make sure no one follows me."

"We won't really have a problem, even if you get followed, as long as we are together," Scelestha says.

"Just come back alive," Psyand says.

Scelestha almost spits out her tea, and so do I.

"S-she means safely!" Psyand's mother says.

Lost-Bird just laughs lightly.

"I'll come too," I say.

"Why?" 'Rusk' asks.

"Oh, hey there Rusk," Psyand says.

"How are you Rusk?" Scelestha asks.

"You slept for a while Rusk," Psyand's mother says.

"Good day to you Rus-" Lost-Bird says.

"-HA, HA. Everyone teaming up. Real mature," Rusk says.

"I didn't get a dialogue in there. That's bad of you, Rusk," I say.

"Should have been faster then," Rusk groans.

"You coming right?" Lost-Bird asks me, looking at his watch.

I nod, and we go out of the room together.

"What work do you have today, by the way?" Lost-Bird asks me.

"Just the same as yesterday. I need to get just a few things actually," I say. "And pay this time."

We both exchange a laugh, and step outside.

On the bus, I ask him…

"What about Witch's nutrition?"

"Ahh, that. Even I was wondering the same. But she is in a kind of hibernation state. So not exactly needs to eat, I guess?"

"Let us hope so. I was thinking that maybe we can just place some food in her ripped-off stomach."

"I see where you are going with that. And no, even I have no answers," Lost-Bird sighs.

"I didn't want any," I shrug.

"Good… let's keep it that way."

We part ways, according to him at least. And I just board the next bus, of the same number, which was right behind the one we had boarded.

He indeed does go to his University, where he had said that he is a teacher.

I'm unable to follow him inside, and just buy some things, while I wait for him, to seem less suspicious.

At evening, he comes outside, and I greet him.

"Oh, sorry to keep you waiting," Lost-Bird says.

"Not really. Just about reached here a dozen minutes ago. That's fine."

We board the same bus number as morning, and go back home.

After we eat, Scelestha and Lost-Bird go to take a stroll, in the evening, to check for anything suspicious. And I take this chance to gather the others, and tell them about my suspicion, and me following Lost-Bird.

"How could none of you realise that yesterday was a Sunday?" I ask.

"With all due respect; world end takes the sense out of weekdays and weekends so…" Rusk says.

"How come you didn't know that, Psyand?" Psyand's mother says, like any Asian mom.

"Mom…" Psyand says, wordlessly.

Even a superhero is an ordinary brown kid, when it is Indian moms and kids, it seems.

"So you watched him all day?" Rusk asks.

"Not exactly, couldn't enter the college."

"College?"

"Well, university. He's a professor he said."

"Okay… So in that case you didn't exactly watch him all day."

"I couldn't," I correct.

"I mean, he could have gone anywhere else."

"Yes. But one is, he would just have continued coming back here, than again go back secretively into the college," I say.

"College has different gates, he doesn't even need to be secretive," Rusk says.

"Besides, he could have seen you and went back in, to avoid suspicion," Psyand says.

"Very good, you two. But... my gym buddy goes there to class. I contacted them and asked them to keep note of Lost-Bird, one or the other way. His friends helped," I say.

"The more you say about your ways Wrap…" Psyand's mother says, and makes a sizzling noise.

"Okay, you wouldn't trust me, but… it's true," I say.

"I regret saying that we shouldn't open up about our lives," Rusk sighs. "But we will see tomorrow once."

"How?"

***

I and Lost-Bird step out, to take a stroll.

While TBC had not given us access to see through their cameras, we thought that this was for the best, to just do what we can. Something which won't bother the other superheroes.

It was the second, or possibly could be said as the third night, with me and Lost-Bird taking a stroll. But today's felt a bit rushed, by Wrap. He for some reason didn't want either of the two of us to be there.

Was it Lost-Bird's birthday or something?

"You are… wearing the gauntlet," Lost-Bird points.

Probably even he knew that the silence was too much. Even when it was a stroll to check for danger, last night, and even now, it was way too silent between us. And he had already seen me wearing the gauntlet last night.

"Yeah. It's to do the paralyze thingy," I say.

"Ah, neat," Lost-Bird says.

"It even helps me see through the night," I say.

Really? Why did I do that?

"Wait, for real?"

No. I'm lying.

"Yeah. Partly why I'm wearing it."

Partly lying.

"But wait, wouldn't it make sense if it was the helm which gave you such power?"

It would, wouldn't it?

"Yeah. But that's just… hmm, you could call it armour magic," I say.

Great, now he will ask for him to wear it and try it.

"Ahh… you could say that it's handy huh," Lost-Bird laughs lightly.

I laugh a bit too hard too, but look around at the same time.

Not exactly that kind of guy huh. Interesting.

I sigh inwardly, at myself, for lying.

Being a… Primevel warrior, had its perks. We all got to read this amazing book, by the first Primevel warrior, the Harbinger of Death, HOD.

The book contained many great things, and knowledge. But… there was a very childish method of secretiveness, which not many follow. It was ways of lying, and masking many things, relating to your power, life and many other things.

Wait a minute, who am I even talking to?

"Have you moved in newly?" a voice asks.

I turn and see that it wasn't a question to me, or Lost-Bird. Rather, it was for Psyand and Psyand's mother.

We were currently at an intersection. While me and Lost-Bird were coming back, probably Psyand and her mother were coming to find us, as we had extended our stroll today.

The guy who had bent to Psyand, looks at us, and then back at Psyand.

"Just visiting," Psyand's mother says, grabbing Psyand closer.

"Too many visitors," the guy laughs. "Oh by any chance… are you with that older gentleman, I don't remember his name."

He looks towards all the four of us, for an answer.

Psyand's mother just fears more and grabs Psyand closer.

"Ah…" Lost-Bird says and goes forward. "No."

I mentally ready myself to use the Urge of Lightning, feeling the jolts running through my gauntlet-hand.

"I'm sorry, had you come to look for us?" Lost-Bird asks to Psyand's mother.

"Dinner is… ready so…" Psyand's mother says.

I hear her shaking, and her heart beating faster, the smell of her sweat becomes strong. I smell Lost-Bird's sweat too.

How come I had already memorized this, and could even recognise? I feel a sense of pride.

On the other hand, the guy has none of these sorts.

"Ah, you know each other," he says and scans everyone's faces, which are masked by a mask. "Yet you don't know that old man? He is even more…"

"Uh, we don-" Lost-Bird tries to explain.

"-We have no idea what you are saying," I interrupt. "Besides, wake up, you are scaring her."

The guy gets up and looks at me.

"Ah, I'm sorry," he says, lifting his hands.

He walks towards me, but stops just beside Lost-Bird (not too far).

"Anyways, I must say… masks inside the apartment is illegal," he laughs in a way which annoys me.

Lost-Bird laughs along too, but no one else does.

The guy just pats at Lost-Bird's shoulder and doing a weird nod towards me, walks away.

Probably Harriett must be proud of me being this way. After all, it's her who thought me to be this way.

Except, she wouldn't know me, sadly.

Lost-Bird sighs loudly. "I hate guys of that kind."

"But you were friendly to him," Psyand says.

"Thank you, Psyand," I sigh.

"That…" Lost-Bird says.

Psyand's mother says something in another language.

"What… does that mean?" I ask.

"She said that those kind of people are neither hero or villain, just…"

Assholes?

"Passing by hard wind," Lost-Bird completes saying.

We just go back, to have dinner.

"Ma, when are we going to the playground?" Psyand asks.

"Not anytime soon…" Psyand's mother says.

"We have a playground at the front…" Rusk points, pointing outside.

"Ah… That is not the kind…" Psyand's mother says

"You see there-"

"-Psyand. We all agreed on not telling each other everything. So I guess… they'll understand," Psyand's mother says.

"That's something to… use that secretiveness on?" I ask.

"Well…" Psyand's mother says, and looks at Psyand, then at everyone. "It's a special place where she goes every Sunday."

"Today is Sunday?" I ask, thinking.

"No…" Wrap says, with a pause. "It was yesterday."

After dinner, Wrap and Rusk let me know what is up.

"So we need you to spy him," Rusk says.

"Me…?" I ask, and look at Rusk. "I'm a… knight, of sorts. Not a spy."

"Don't you have ANY way at all?" Wrap asks.

"Ugh… what's the… punishment for trespassing?" I ask.