Ok Mom !!!

Pheonix kept his meger belongings inside the store and came to backyard with a pillow and blanket in his hand. Kate shoved the spare blanket and pillow which was in her room to Pheonix's hand and instructed him in a stern voice to sleep in the hall and not to sleep outside.

" Don't worry, I will try to arrange a bed for you in a couple of days." Kate also told him feeling bad about Samantha's behaviour towards this handsome boy.

Smiling at the fus Kat had made a few minutes back, Pheonix sighed happily and placed the pillow and the blanket on the side. He then took off his boots, pant and shirt placing them neatly on a side. He was only in his half Pyjama's and a tunic.

He had looked around throughly before taking off his cloths and had found that the pond was a private one. Accessible only to the residents. It was around 20 meter in radius surrounded by thick trees and a 3 meter high wall on the inside obstructing outsiders view.

The only one that can watch what Pheonix was doing was the two ladies inside their room. A small balcony was provided for both the rooms where they had two chairs and can sit and enjoy the serene view of the pond and the trees, providing them with a feeling of being amongst nature.

Stretching for a few minutes, Pheonix started to walk towards the water. He walked in a few steps until the water reached his waist and then simply turned, layed back and started to floating on it. He had missed this feeling since past couple of years. It was so relaxing, that he fell asleep while floating on top of the water.

Coincidentally both girls opend their balcony doors and stepped out breathing in cool night air. The cold wind brought goosebumps on their arms. Rubbing for warmth both of them took out a shawl and wrapped it around their shoulders and saw Pheonix walking into the pond.

" Is he crazy...!" Samantha spoke out her thoughts loudly. "I don't know, but he is a fool for sure." Kate smiled fondly. Then they both turned in surprise and looked at each other and then again at the pond. They were dumbfounded to see Pheonix floating on the water in a relaxed position, breathing deeply, his eyes closed. Even after several minutes passed, they noticed that Pheonix was still floating peacefully on top of the water.

Both shaking their head in disbelief went back into their rooms. Both girls were unable to get good sleep in this new place. Out of curiosity when they saw from the balcony door, they found the boy to be still there at the center of the pond, floating ontop of the water.

Frustrated over inadequate sleep Samantha got up early in the morning as the sun was about to open his eyes, and found Pheonix sitting on a rock next to the pond in a lotus position, meditating.

Without thinking too much about it, she did some stretches took shower inside the attached bathroom. After dressing up she came down the stairs and saw Kate also walking down her side of the staircases yawning and rubbing her eyes.

" Morning Sammy, I hope you got some sleep in this new place?"

"Alas, I had a few hours of sleep that too not on a stretch. Instead of wasting my time rolling on the bed, I took shower and got ready."

"Good morning girls, like to have some tea?" They heard Pheonix asking them from the side of the hall ment to prepare tea. He had kept a kettle which was steaming and was sipping on a cup with contented expression.

"Definately yes..."

"No thanks..."

Both girls said together. Kate looked at Samantha with a pleading eye. Who ignered her look and walked out of the house.

Sorry about that. Kate sighed and sat opposite Pheonix and poured a cup of hot tea.

When she took her first sip, she commended Phoenix for brewing a good tea. After a xouple of sips, her expression changed completely. She felt completely relaxed and after a few more sips, all her fatigue seemed to completly vanish.

"What is this Pheonix. It's so tasty and I feel like.... I am filled with energy."

"Its a special type of herbal tea. I learned brewing this from my master. If you consume it daily, you will look young even when you ar in your fourty's. It will help keep your skin fair and it helps reduce stress and fatigue by a lot as you had experienced now."

"So this is the secret of your youthful appearance. I was wondering why a 10 year old boy was allowed inside the academy but now I know the secret." Kate grinned at Pheonix who laughed and they both drank two more cups of tea.

"Pheonix, what the hell were you thinking getting inside the pool at night in that cold? Are you mad? Till what till were you floating like a dead body? I saw a few time at night but you were still there."

"Actually Kate, I slept like that till the morning. It was so relaxing you know. I missed it for such a long time."

"You fool, what if, you were drowned and died while you slept? Never do such a thing again."

Pheonix was reminded of his mother, Martha. Who used to fuss about him for each small thing in his childhood.

" Ok mom, I will be careful from next time." Phoenix said instinctively.

"I don't care what you call me, but don't act foolishly. Tell me one thing, does this tea make someone only looks young or does it even make their brains to shrink too?"

Both Pheonix and Kate started to laughed hard after looking at each other's face.

"Well, can you make this tea for me everday Pheonix? It's so tasty and refreshing."

"Why not. But I have the supplies that will last only for a couple of months, after that, I need to go inside the forest to restore my supplies."

"Deal then, you make me this tea everyday and I will help you in restocking your supplies when the time comes." Kate extended her hand and Pheonix shook it.

Kate then went upstairs to get ready meanwhile Pheonix went to the reading room and found that, there were hundreds of books neatly placed in the shelves on either side of the wall. On a small notice board a notice was displayed.

" Dear students,

The books on your right hand side are here to give you some insight and provide you with additional information about your academic studies. The bottom row books have the content for the first year, the middle row contains second year's contents and the books on the top row are the ones ment to help you on your third year.

The book shelves on your left hand side are not related to your studies but if you have time and study them, it might be useful to you in your future endeavors. All the best and try not to damage the books.

Head Librarian,

Humma D. "

Phoenix instead of looking for academic books, started to look at the books on the left hand side when he heard someone enter the door. It was Samantha. Phoenix ignored her and continued looking at the books.

Samantha entered the library and found out that Pheonix was also there. She, ignoring him, read the notice and started to look at the academic related books. She wanted to have an upper hand in the classes and have a competitive nature in general.

By the time Samantha took out a book and sat to read, Phoenix had browsed through all the books on his side. In an inconspicuous cornor of the top level a book was hidden. He curiously took out a very old looking book. It almost looked out of place between these neatly stacked, well maintained books. It looked like one of the old occupent of this quarters might have stuffed this book here and forgot about it. He could make out that the leather cover of the book had became brittle. He felt, it might turn inot dust if held tightly. It even had something written on the bottom of the book.

" Expand your mana pool."

Intrigued, Pheonix decided to read this book first and turned around. He saw Kate looking fresh and energetic, enter the reading room.

"Already reading unwanted things. Are we?" Kate gave him a wry smile after going through the notice.

"Come on mom. You know it is mentioned that these books might help us in the future?"

"But son, it "Might " emphasizing on the word, " help you in the future if you study well in the present. Not wasting time studying unwanted things now, you know."