CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29:MINA SINCLAIR

After lunch, Aiden left the dining hall with his badge leading him down a corridor lined with high glass windows. His footsteps echoed faintly as he followed the glowing sigil on the badge that hovered just ahead of him, pulling him like a quiet guide toward the witch building.

His emotions were tangled. Half of him carried an almost childlike excitement, a hope that this class would finally reveal something about himself. The other half carried a quiet anxiety, the fear of once again being the odd one out, like he had been in the Fae class. He clutched his badge tighter as if it could anchor him.

The witch building rose in front of him, a towering structure carved with runes that pulsed with faint purple light. Its doors creaked open as he approached, as though welcoming him in. Aiden crossed the threshold and walked into the room for new witch students.

The sight that greeted him brought immediate relief. Sitting in one of the rows was Julian. Aiden’s eyes lit up, and a smile spread across his face before he even realized it. Without hesitation, he hurried toward Julian and dropped into the unoccupied seat beside him.

Julian looked up, and the moment his eyes met Aiden’s, his own face broke into a broad, happy smile. "I never thought we’d be in the same class," Julian said, his voice brimming with warmth.

Aiden chuckled, the tension in his chest easing. "Me too. I really didn’t think it would happen. During the Fae lecture, Ashton was placed in a different class, so I only saw him during lunch. But now... I’m glad I get to learn with you here."

"Same here," Julian replied, his grin refusing to fade. "I’ve been so busy. They’ve been drilling us on how to identify herbs for potions and all sorts of little details."

At that, Aiden frowned and rubbed his temple. "See? That’s exactly what I warned those stubborn instructors about during the potential test. I told them I might miss things. They swore everything was covered. And now look—I’ve already missed the herb identification lessons. And it’s even worse now that it seems like my bloodline is leaning toward the witches. That knowledge is going to be important for me."

Julian placed a reassuring hand on Aiden’s arm. "Calm down, tiger. Don’t stress over it. The head instructors already told me to help you as much as I can. Remember, we were already friends during the test, so they asked me to make recordings and notes for you. That way you wouldn’t fall behind. They decided to concentrate your time on the Fae and wolf classes, thinking you’d catch up in witch lessons with my help. They said you’d only need to attend the most essential witch classes."

Aiden blinked at him, surprised, then let out a relieved sigh. "Oh. That explains a lot. Maybe after this class I should tell them to stop wasting my time with wolf and Fae lectures. Everything I try there comes out futile anyway."

Julian frowned slightly. "What do you mean by futile?"

Aiden shrugged as if it were no big deal. "It’s simple. I think my bloodline leans toward the witch side. That’s why I can’t summon my Fae fire or sense my wolf. Nothing seems to connect."

Julian nodded slowly, accepting the explanation, then suddenly brightened. "Well, that’s fine by me. We’ll be the all-powerful witch duo. Honestly, I’m thrilled your powers are leaning this way. It means I get to stand by your side and we’ll rule the witch arts together."

Aiden laughed, the sound light and genuine. "Yeah, we’ll be unstoppable. No one will dare mess with us."

The two of them shared a hearty laugh, their voices blending with the buzz of the classroom. But their laughter was cut short as the classroom door swung open.

A woman entered, her presence immediately commanding the attention of everyone in the room. She was strikingly beautiful, her dark hair cascading in waves, her eyes sharp and calculating. Aiden’s breath caught in his throat. Something about her face stirred a sense of familiarity.

He leaned toward Julian and whispered, "Why does she look so familiar? I’ve never met her before."

Julian tilted his head closer and whispered back, "You might not know her personally, but you’ll definitely know her niece."

Aiden’s brow furrowed. "Who is her niece?"

Julian’s lips curved into a wry smile. "Seraphina Sinclair. Ryker’s fiancée. This is Mina Sinclair, Seraphina’s aunt."

Aiden’s heart sank. He frowned deeply and muttered, "Great. Just what I needed. I hope Seraphina hasn’t run her mouth about me to her aunt. The last thing I need is a petty teacher targeting me."

As if summoned by his words, Mina’s sharp voice cut across the classroom. "You two over there. Are you having fun whispering in my class?"

Aiden froze, unsure if she was referring to them. But when he raised his head, Mina’s piercing gaze locked directly onto him and Julian. His stomach dropped.

"Teacher Mina, sorry. We won’t talk anymore," Aiden said quickly, lowering his head.

But Mina’s lips curled in a cold smile. "Your apology is not enough. I need to make an example out of you both, so no one else dares to whisper in my class again. Stand up. The two of you will remain standing for the rest of this lesson."

As she turned toward her desk, Julian leaned close and muttered under his breath, "Looks like she has heard about you. And yes, she’s definitely petty."

Aiden could only nod, frustration bubbling in his chest. All this just because he had spoken to Ryker once, and Ryker had responded with disdain. Now it seemed Seraphina had tattled to her aunt. Aiden gritted his teeth. The Sinclair family was starting to feel like the pettiest family he had ever encountered.

Even so, he forced himself to focus. Mina might be petty, but she was still the teacher. And when she began the lesson, her authority became clear.

"What I will be teaching you today," she announced, "is how to light fire with your mind. This is not something that follows a neat, step-by-step method. It requires concentration, determination, and the will to ignite. Watch closely."

She lifted her hand, and within seconds, fire flickered into existence in her palm, glowing brightly without singeing her skin.

"To be able to set parts of your body aflame without feeling the heat and without harm is something you will learn later. For now, we start small. That is why I have brought these."

She reached into her bag and withdrew several candles. With a graceful flick of her fingers, the candles floated across the room, each one landing gently in front of a student. Not once did Mina move from her spot at the front of the class.

"Your task," she continued, "is to light these candles with your minds. Once you master that, we will progress to larger objects, and eventually, we will reach the level where you can channel fire through your own bodies safely. Beyond that, you will learn telekinesis—moving objects through the air. But for today, focus on the candles."

Aiden leaned toward Julian, awe written across his face. "Witches are so cool," he whispered.

Julian grinned. "Of course."

Mina’s sharp eyes caught them again. "Even during punishment you two still find a way to chatter."

Aiden and Julian straightened instantly and said together, "Sorry, Teacher Mina."

Mina’s expression did not soften. "Save your apologies. They mean nothing."

Turning back to the class, she raised her voice. "Begin focusing. Light the candles with your minds. Remember, this is not about whether you are high, middle, or low potential. Determination matters most. Even if some of you have high blood potential, it does not mean you are better than the rest."

Her words lit a fire in the other students, who straightened with renewed determination. But Aiden and Julian both frowned. They were the only two in the class with high blood potential, which meant Mina’s jab had been directed at them.

Julian’s jaw tightened. He turned to his candle, and within seconds, the wick flared to life. He looked up at Mina with quiet defiance, as though silently saying, "You’re wrong about us."

But Mina only frowned at him. "I had not even told you to begin. Do you think being high potential makes you superior to the rest? Extinguish that flame, and wait like everyone else."

Julian lowered his gaze without arguing. He calmly blew out the flame and said, "I’m sorry, Teacher Mina. I’ll wait for the others."

Mina gave a curt nod. "Good. Now the rest of you may begin."

The moment she gave permission, Julian’s candle flared back to life almost instantly. This time Mina said nothing to him. Instead, her eyes drifted toward Aiden.

"You and your friend share the same potential," she said coldly. "So why is he able to light his candle so easily while you, with even higher potential than him, still struggle with the rest?"

Aiden stiffened. Before he could respond, another student with middle blood potential managed to light her candle. Mina gestured toward the girl. "See? This is what I mean. High potential does not make you superior."

Julian leaned toward Aiden, whispering urgently, "What’s going on? Why haven’t you lit it yet? It’s not that hard."

Aiden shook his head, panic rising. "No. This can’t be happening. I followed everything she said. Why isn’t it working? Does this mean I’ve failed to use all three bloodlines? It can’t be true."

Julian’s eyes softened. His friend was rattled, and it showed. He whispered quickly, "Calm down. We’ll figure out what’s wrong later. Do you want me to help you light your candle for now, just so Mina won’t humiliate you further?"

Aiden shook his head firmly. "No. I don’t like shortcuts. I’ll keep trying. I refuse to believe I can’t do this."

Julian sighed, frustration tightening his jaw. He could only watch as Aiden strained, sweat forming on his brow while the wick of his candle stubbornly remained dark. Julian himself began to feel restless, his fists tightening under the desk. Mina’s disdainful gaze never left Aiden, her eyes sharp and cold.

If not for the fact that Mina was far more powerful than him, Julian might have lost control. He might have confronted her, or worse, poked her eyes just to stop that disdainful stare she aimed at Aiden. But all he could do now was stand, watching helplessly as his friend struggled, determined to succeed no matter how impossible it seemed.