Chapter 174

Chapter 174
Ivan

I started getting ready for the day. I made food quickly and got changed. Before I knew it I was heading out the door. Ariya had stayed awake this time, keeping me company while I got ready for the day. I left heading to the facility. Our connection was getting stronger with each passing day. It was getting easier to establish our minds being connected and we were able to feel what the other felt better. I was able to tell her reactions even without seeing her face. I could tell if she was grinning or pouting at this point. 
I neared the front of the building and Ariya went quiet as usual. I opened the front door and walked through security. Like last night the guards all seemed to shake in fear when they saw me. They greeted me in the usual way and I responded with my 1 word answer as usual. I went to my office and completed any paperwork that was left for me. After all was done, I swung by the room Ariya was in. I already knew she was awake but she turned the light on as well. 
“I’m just dropping off food for you. I’ll be checking in with Boss in a minute.” I told her. 
Ariya nodded but didn’t say anything out loud. She knew I had done it on purpose. Though we knew no one was watching or heard us.
I really want to kiss you, princess. I told Ariya in our mind. 
I know but you need to see Boss first. Besides, didn’t he say he would explain about the ability thing today? Ariya asked. 
He said he would but I’m not sure if he meant immediately. I’m also not sure if he’ll tell you directly. 
He might. Your memory showed that he knows I saw. I had my Dragon’s Eye activated. I’m sure he’s assuming I saw everything. 
It could be dangerous, Ari. I warned her. 
It’s ok. Boss might give us more information than he plans to. We just have to do what he does to me. Read between the lines and pay attention. 
Ariya finished eating and I looked at the time. I had about 5 minutes until Boss showed up. It was just enough time to walk to his office. 
I’ll be back, Ari. I told her. 
Are you severing the connection? She asked and I could feel the worry in her voice. 
No, just leaving the room. I reassured her. 
Oh, ok. 
I told you, I want to be connected with you as much as possible and as much as you’ll let me. 
I felt Ariya grin as I walked down the hallway. 
I want to be connected to you as much as possible too.
I grinned internally, keeping my outward expression blank. I got to Boss’s office right on time. Boss raised an eyebrow, surprised that I had met him at his office instead of beating him there and waiting outside. 
“She was up, I gave her food already.” I told him. 
“She’s up earlier today.” Boss noted. 
“Probably from the fight yesterday. She passed out pretty early. I had a feeling she’d be up earlier today.” I explained. 
Boss chuckled, “You did good yesterday. It was better than I expected. She’s fast though.” 
I nodded, “I’m still faster.” 
“Not nearly as much faster as I thought you would be. Ariya is only going to get stronger. It’s probably best if you work on increasing your speed. She’s likely to start working out. She’s been there long enough, she’s probably getting antsy.” Boss chuckled. 
Well I guess we don’t have to convince him. I thought to Ariya. 
“Do you want me to stop her from working out?” I asked him. 
“No, let her. She needs to get stronger anyway. If we’re going to beat Drake she needs to be able to get as strong as him.” Boss said. 
“It could take a while if we just let her try to do it. She’s likely not going to workout when I’m in the room.” I told him. 
“True. I thought about having you train her more so she increases her power faster but I don’t want her to get stronger than you. We don’t need her to become a problem.” 
“I can keep ahead of her. I just need to be able to train on my own outside of basically training with her.” I told him. 
Careful, Boss might get suspicious if you push training me. Ariya warned. 
Don’t worry, Ari. I’m just telling Boss what he wants. He wants me to be the one that is ok with adding more work onto myself. I told her.
“Are you sure you can keep ahead of her? She’s going to progress at a rapid rate.” Boss warned me. 
“I’m sure. If I think she’s even getting close to my level I’ll let you know. Do you think we’d be able to use her against them?” I asked. 
“It’s possible, but I doubt it. She’s getting memories back which means her old self, the one that was raised by the Navi, is going to become more predominant. I doubt she’ll turn on her own. Especially the Ivan boy. Whoever and wherever he is. She may not remember everything about him, but she loves him. That is evident in her memories. Turning on Drake though, she might be willing to do that if the circumstances are right.” Boss told me. 
“So for now we let her gain strength so we can use her to figure out how to beat Drake.” 
“Exactly. Keep her in the room when you train. I don’t need the others seeing what’s going on. Your performance yesterday has them quaking in their boots.” Boss chuckled.