Winter's thoughts distracted her as she tried to watch the other fights. She saw Leo watching her and gestured him over. "I didn't know you knew how to dodge like that." He trailed off before getting a better look at her and asking, "Why do you look like that?" She shrugged, "Not important." He grabbed her face in his hands, "What do you mean not important, you look completely drained." Winter stared into his golden eyes, "Did you find any details?" He moved his hands, "About Aliana?" She quickly covered his mouth as Sam's attention fixated on them. She let her guard down and spoke directly to his mind, "You're not supposed to talk about her out loud remember?" He winced and spoke back, "I'm sorry I got so used to saying everything out loud with you that I forgot we could do this." Sam's stare pierced into them. "Tell me what you know." Leo moved her hand from his mouth but only spoke with his eyes, "I don't. I tried searching around in people's minds but no one seems to remember anything about her." She picked at her nails and thought, "What about the person who died during the mock war? Do you know anything about that?" Leo squinted, "I can't remember ever seeing anything. That's only from what I've heard." Winter groaned, "Okay let me know if you find out anything else." He nodded and moved away from her.
Winter glanced at Sam who was staring back at her. She looked down at her ring. So no one other than him remembered her. She didn't have any leads. Winter swallowed, if they faked her death and hid her until now, why was she back? She eyed her bracelet, then turned her eyes over to the ones around Sam and Jax's wrists. Another commonality between the three of them. Jax said he got his in the detention dungeon just like she did. But she still didn't have a clear idea on what the bracelets did. The burn wound she got flashed in her mind. Winter scratched her head. Maybe it sensed that she was trying to remember and burned her as retribution. That still didn't explain why only the three of them wore one when no one else remembered her. Jax's arm draped over her shoulder, "What has you in such deep thought?" He whispered, "Your eyes are orange." Winter shook her head and looked at him, "I need to talk to you about something." Jax raised his eyebrow questioningly. She looked over his shoulder to see Lucas watching them closely, "Not here. Skip next period and go to the pool." He narrowed his eyes at her, "Skip? What's this about?" She leaned in and whispered, "It's about the bracelets." Jax glanced down at his and nodded before Lucas came up to them and said, "Jax it's almost your turn." Lucas faced her with some hostility in his expression. Winter still couldn't figure out why he got so jealous. When they walked away, Winter skimmed the room again. She saw M.J. watching the fight and Brenna stealing glances at him. Winter grinned. A little more and she would be claiming M.J. as her soulmate. M.J. caught Winter looking at them and winked. Winter gave him a thumbs up and turned away before she got Brenna's attention. She tried organizing her thoughts when she heard Cornell say, "Sam Tudor and Jax Ryan to the front." Winter stilled. Why did they keep getting put up against each other? They were forced to fight during sparring practice. Then during the mock war they were put on the same team. Now they were competing again? During training it didn't make sense for them to fight each other. Their powers and ranks were so similar that a fight would seem almost stagnant.
Jax and Sam faced each other. Jax glared at Sam. Sam looked back, the same expressionless countenance as usual. "Begin." Immediately Jax sprung into action, thrusting his hand out to grab Sam. Sam slipped just out of his reach. Jax's heightened emotions were his weakness, while Sam's calm disposition was a strength. Jax, using the same technique as he did during the mock war, iced the floor beneath them both to decrease traction. Sam, completely unfazed, moved graciously as though the ice wasn't even there. He attempted a sidekick which Jax caught and pushed aside. They were perfectly matched. Sam's expression hardened and he set his hand aflame, Jax did the same. They glared at each other, as their eyes began to glow. The same second, they both set a strong burst of fire rushing at the other. Jax's blue flame made contact with Sam's red flame. In the center was the purple flame they had produced during the mock war. It was a push and pull of equal strength. Neither budged an inch. Winter stared, completely fixated on the purple fire, allowing her thoughts to scramble. Was this the reason they were set against each other again? Someone was pushing them together and that same person needed her to watch. Her head swam as she tried putting the pieces together. They were the only three with the bracelets. They were all elementals. Both of their flames combined created the color of her bracelet. Which meant both of them were tied to her somehow. A shooting pain went through Winter's hand. She looked down as the bracelet singed the hairs on her arm. She made a mental note of when it got activated. The combination of their powers created an explosion and a heat wave spread throughout the room as they were all shoved backwards by the blast. Jax stood, gripping his arm in pain. There was soot on both their faces. Healers rushed forward. Sam walked away and out of the training room. A murmur fell over the crowd. "Did you see that explosion?" "That was insane." "As to be expected from two of the Untouchables."
Winter walked through the halls in a daze after training ended. She knew Sam's connection to her but what about Jax? Her mind refocused when Darren appeared in front of her with his lackeys. The lanky telekinetic stood next to him with her arms crossed smugly. "What? Did you want another broken nose?" Darren smirked at her, "Actually I came to return the favor."