Astrid and I chatted for a bit, discussing everything from school to hobbies. She seemed friendly and down-to-earth, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something more to her. As we talked, I noticed Austin and Greg watching us with interest, probably wondering if Astrid and I would become a pair.But beneath the surface, I felt a growing sense of unease. What's wrong? I asked Zha'thik in my mind, trying to keep my expression neutral."I'm monitoring Astrid's energy signature," Zha'thik replied. "It's... unusual. I'm not sure what to make of it yet."I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. What do you mean? I pressed, keeping my thoughts focused on Zha'thik."Her energy signature doesn't match any known human patterns," Zha'thik explained. "It's possible she's... not entirely human."My eyes flicked to Astrid, who was laughing at something Austin had said. Could it be true? Was Astrid somehow connected to Zha'thik or the core?As I pondered this, Astrid's gaze met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of something in her eyes – a spark of recognition, perhaps, or even warning.As the days went by, Astrid and I grew closer, bonding over shared classes and interests. She was easy to talk to, and I found myself looking forward to our conversations. But I remained cautious, trying not to reveal too much about my powers or Zha'thik.One afternoon, Astrid and I walked out of school together, discussing our plans for the weekend. As we strolled, I noticed she seemed to be scanning our surroundings, her eyes darting between the trees and buildings."Everything okay?" I asked, trying to sound casual.Astrid nodded, her gaze snapping back to mine. "Yeah, just... being aware of my surroundings, you know?"I nodded, sensing there might be more to her words. Zha'thik's presence stirred in my mind, and I wondered if Astrid's behavior was connected to her unusual energy signature.As we parted ways, Astrid smiled and said, "Hey, want to study together soon? Maybe we can grab coffee?"I agreed, feeling a spark of excitement. But Zha'thik's voice whispered in my mind, "Be careful, Gillian. Astrid's intentions are still unclear."As we made plans to study together, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Astrid was hiding something. I decided to keep my guard up, careful not to reveal too much about my powers or Zha'thik.The study session arrived, and Astrid came over to my house. We sat at the kitchen table, surrounded by books and notes. As we worked, I noticed Astrid seemed particularly interested in a book on advanced physics."You're really into physics, huh?" I asked, trying to gauge her interest.Astrid nodded, her eyes lighting up. "Yeah, I find it fascinating. The laws of motion, energy transfer... it's all so intricate."I sensed a deeper meaning behind her words, but couldn't quite put my finger on it. Zha'thik's presence remained vigilant in my mind, warning me to stay cautious.As the evening drew to a close, Astrid packed up her things and headed for the door. "Thanks for the study session, Gillian. You're a great teacher."I smiled, feeling a mix of relief and curiosity. As she left, I couldn't help but wonder what Astrid was really after.Zha'thik's voice echoed in my mind, "Gillian, I've been analyzing Astrid's energy signature further. I'm convinced she's connected to your... situation."My eyes narrowed. What do you mean?"I'm not sure yet," Zha'thik replied, "but I think Astrid might be more than just a curious student."
