Then he turned around and looked at Bayani, his face one of utter astonishment. “How did you–” but he could not finish the question.

Bayani was still standing in the river, staring in shock in his boyfriend. Nashtra walked over and grabbed his arm.

“Come,” Nashtra said.

Bayani blinked once and then shook his head slightly, nervously. He acted as though he was shocked, too stunned to move Nashtra pulled his arm, and he took a slight step forward.

“You have to get out of the river,” Nashtra urged him, and he took another step.

Peter called out to him too, and slowly he began to come to his senses. Bayani took a deep breath and walked back onto the shore, although now he shivered from the chill of the waters. Nashtra sat him down beside Peter. By then, Cerys and Himeko had found a safer way down the embankment in order to meet them.

“What happened? Himeko asked.

“Are you two all right?” Cerise added. She looked worried for her brother.

Peter was looking at Nashtra, narrowing his eyes at him. “You told us that the river was electrified.

“That word again,” Nashtra noted. “Still, I know what you are referring to. There is indeed energy in the water. I could feel it when I was in the river just now. I don’t understand how Bayani was able to get into the water unharmed. Something strange is going on.”

“Could the energy have left for moment?” Cerys asked.

“No, Cerys,” Himeko told her, “he said that he could feel the energy just now.”

Nashtra shaking his head, unable to understand what was going on. “Either you have some sort of special ability,” he said looking at Bayani, “or you are somehow extremely fortunate.”

“Bayani” Cerys said, her voice worried, “did you know that you could do it?”

But Bayani couldn’t speak anymore. He didn’t look shocked from any sort of electrical energy, but too stunned, surprised to hear that he had been so bold and unthinking in his need to protect peter. Not that he minded, of course. It simple came as a surprise to himself.