Gifts and Doubts

"What just happened?"

Nirup asked Maya. He didn't know the stuff about plant vampires and plants.

Maya understood. This plant chose her. They are bonded. She didn't show any refusal too. Only when the feelings are of the same level, the bond can form. The bonded plants are very close to their vampire. They can sense the feelings and only if they find their expected level of love, they will bond.

Bonds that are formed by the plant first are rare. Because no plant wants to stay with the human vampire. Plants love to live in their forest and they dislike following humans.

But this plant had no choice.

"If someday, when you are free, and if you want, I can unbind you."

The plant said nothing.

She knew the bond wasn't due to her feelings but because the plant was in danger.

Nevertheless, she was happy.

The plant would be safe by her side. Because now, the plant changed. The whole signal and characteristics will be changing.

And if anyone had a tracker on the plant, it won't work. The tracking charm tracks the magical signature. And the plant's signature will be influenced by hers thereby no longer remaining the former one.

The tracker in the council hall went off and the place was quiet, like the one before a storm.

Maya still pestered Nirup. He didn't say anything but kept listening to the classes. Maya was exemplary in every class because she had learned most of this in her first life. And she didn't disturb Nirup when he was studying.

Never disturb a person who was studying. Because it is tough to get into a mood to study. Whay if you disturb and the person loses the mood? A major crime. Maya had lost her study moods as often as she ate carrots. And that was a lot.

Nirup didn't say anything to Maya. He likes being quiet but he also likes listening to her rants about anything and everything.

Their friendship had a weird start but they were good friends. Nirup had gone back to remove their traces after dropping Maya off.

He didn't want any loose ends threatening them.

He was a witch and witches were also on the most-watched list of blood vampires.

Maya who was eating like a pig didn't know how much Nirup did to keep her identity safe.

After eating, Maya people-watched. It was her favorite pastime.

She used to watch vehicles from the balcony in her second life for hours. But here she watched the vampires. They were all coquettish bastards. The charm was only a characteristic of blood vampires.

She understood why the heroine was able to make all the Male leads follow her.

And most of the male leads were werewolves. Those idiots were almost dominated by instincts when they faced her.

Maya felt that the plot was idiotic because all of them wanted to be with the female lead but they never fought. Really confusing.

Maya glanced at Nirup. Why wasn't this guy one of the male leads? Maybe because he had a working brain, she answered herself.

Nirup felt her burning gaze and tensed up.

Did he have something on his face?

Maya then glanced away. He breathed a sigh of relief not knowing why he was relieved.

Maya played with her tissue paper and made some baskets of flowers. She felt that magic power was good to open a boutique. That way, she could earn money openly.

But these powers would only stay with her for a week. And she would be home then.

Maya resumed her people watching and she was shocked on seeing Riya with a guy.

Nirup's power greatly influenced her presence. So Riya didn't notice her. But Maya saw her.

Riya was with a guy. Now Maya was also with a guy but it was different. Maya was friends with Nirup.

But Riya looked different. Maya lived for two lives and she understood what deep infatuation was. How did she not notice this in the past few days? Or was this happening before they joined the school? Maya didn't know. And she hesitated on asking. It was Riya's personal life.

The angel on her shoulder told her to not mess with other people's personal lives.

While the devil snorted and almost burned Angel's hair.

"You idiot, what if this jeopardizes their mission?"

"That doesn't mean you can burn my hair."

"What can you do to me? Take revenge."

The devil snorted. The aggrieved angel turned her back and sobbed quietly.

Maya knew that the devil had won. So, she would ask Riya about her crush.

Nirup saw her looking over her shoulders for a long while and then shifting her gaze to another shoulder. He watched her for a long time but smile quietly.

"Hey Nirup, what other powers do you have?"

Nirup looked at her and saw that she was serious.

"I can communicate with plants and animals. I can tell people who are evil. I get a premonition when there is danger. I only know about these for now."

For now? Then what about later?

"Will your number of abilities increase?"

Maya was really curious. She had never met a witch in her previous life.

"Yes, Witches have a deep relationship with nature and nature blesses us with powers. The ones who have a deeper relationship and understanding of nature are blessed."

It was the same with the plant vampires.

"Then who is in your family?"

"My mum and dad."

"No siblings?"

He shook his head.

"What about cousins?"

"Only one."

"What? My cousins are in the hundreds. We were in the same class. It was a mess."

"You don't know this. But witches have less population. There are only a thousand of us. We are a close-knit community."

He smiled. His smile lit up her world. Some people have a healing smile. You fall in love with that smile and can't help smiling back.

"Then why are you here, if you don't mind me asking?"

"It is okay. Not a big secret. Witches are sent to keep a lookout because sometimes major changes are to be reported back to the head. Our head thinks that the changes will be major in the community of blood vampires so I was sent here."

"Oh. Good. I'm here because our tribe sends people every year to find news. We are like reporters, haha."

Nirup smiled a little bit.

"So, what changes do you think will happen here?"

"I don't know. But I'm very concerned about what was behind the gate your bonded plant was on. It should be something of concern."

Such stuff wasn't in the book. The book only focused on the relationships of the female lead but nothing about the world outside. The book was no help at all.

But Maya wasn't worried. She could find out on her own.

"Yes, when should we go back?"

"Not anytime soon. Maybe the freshers' ceremony is a good time."

The freshers' ceremony was just a party for the new high schoolers. There will be some official performances for the authorities and then a student-only party.

It was a good time to sneak out and do spying activities.

She gave him a thumbs up.

"But that's like a month away."

"Yes, now there must be security over there. But after a month, that incident will become cold and e everyone will be more focused on the heirs of all the council members in the freshers' ceremony. A perfect time and opportunity for us."

He was right. A smart witch.

"But how will we sneak out? The security in the ceremony should be very tight."

"I have my ways. You will know later."

Maya pouted.

He didn't budge so she left the matter alone.

"How do you keep up this 'making everything look insignificant to others' power?"

Nirup stayed silent for a while before answering.

"It's like breathing for me. Easy to do. I can only use it for only one other person. More than that, I can't do anything."

Oh, she understood.

"Maybe you should try increasing the limits. That way you could get new experiences too."

"I know, but I have never told anyone and who should I practice it on?"

"Good question. You bring a pet. A small one and then try to work on your powers."

"I'll try."

He added.

Maya also realized that she was behind. In her previous life, she had mastered all the advanced spells but now she didn't learn any starter spells.

She knew how to perform the spells but she didn't have that much power. So her first task was to increase her power first. It would be good if she raised her level by one before the freshers' ceremony.

"Also, what are your hobbies?"

"I like gardening."

He was really cool and adorable. She could imagine him tending to flowers.

"I like watching movies. And playing games."

"Where do you want to go to spy today?"

"The mall. I need to see what kind of items are being sold here. And what's the price range."

That evening they quietly sneaked off to the mall. And the mall was crowded because of the sale of game merchandise.

They split up to cover more area.

When they reunited, Maya got him a smoothie.

While Nirup gave her the new game.

Maya almost squealed with joy.

It was a game that she didn't get to play in her previous life. She thought that she was over it but seeing it in his hands made her happy.

"Thank you for your gift."

She hugged him.

"You are blushing, " She observed.

They remained quiet the whole way back.