I walked straight back to my cabin. I plopped down on my bed and thought for a while. Zarah had said something nobody else has.

"My name's Zarah, daughter of Pshyce. Goddess of the human soul."

"Krystal, daughter of Hades." She nodded.

"I can see your soul just likeeveryone else'ssoul. I know people see you as scary and evil and stuff. But I don't. I see the real you, your soul. You are an incredible and kind person. You are brave and beautiful. Your soul shines brightest
/of everyone's here."

I started at her with surprise in my eyes. Nobody has ever said anything that nice to me after her. She smiled kindly. And she meant it. I smiled back. I watched her walk away as I thought of how sincere she had been. She had seen
/the real me. And as I walked back to the cabin, I smiled.

"Hey."

"Nico!" I bonked my head of the ceiling. "Don't do that!" I climbed down the ladder of my bunk.

"Do what?" He chuckled. Then his eyes softened. "I'm glad your back."

"I am too." I hugged him tightly. "I should go."

"Bye. I have a date anyway."

I waved and ran out the door and looked back to see Will Solace and Nico standing together. I looked forward again and saw Jaxon standing near Pelus, the guard dragon. I walked up the hill to meet him.

"Hello." He nodded in greeting.

"What?" He stared at me pointedly.

"I suppose I should tell you what Zarah said to me huh." He nodded and looked at me with interest.

I told him what she said and at the end, he said something that surprised me even more.

"I already knew that you were like that. Bold, kind, incredible, smart, and beautiful."

I face turned red. Oh my gods. Why. Is. This. Happening. To. Me. I looked at the ground intently. Too embarrassed to look up. I could feel his steady grey gaze on me. I put my head on his chest and stayed there (with nothing else touching, just my headyou
little shippers) and closed my eyes.

"Why do you do this to me Smith." I sighed.

"You do the same to me." He pulled me into a hug. We just stood there in a comfortable silence, looking at the sun setting over the water.

"Hey guys!" Katie yelled at the bottom of the hill.

Jaxon looked annoyed as we walked down the hill.

"Sup loser! Hey Krystal!"

"Hello Katie." I waved.

"Dylan and I had an idea!"

"And what would that be?" Jaxon wiggled his eyebrows and smirked at Katie.

"W-we went on a quest together right? And we made a good team. So we decided that we should be a group!"

"But there's four of us. If there are other quests one of us could go!" Jaxon retorted.

"Yeah, so? We could just be the 'fightingsquad'.You know? We could train together and fight monsters together! It would be fun!"

"It could be." I said thoughtfully. "Why not?" I shrugged.

"Yes!" She pumped her fist in the air. I smiled and Jaxon rolled his eyes. My first human friends I've had in a while and I hoped that I kept them.