Chapter Two
While Mirta was talking to Ms. Faragonda, three of her roommates had found their quarters. Inside they located their specific rooms and left their luggage in the closets. Then they sat on the couch in the common room.
Luna had straight, dark forest-green hair that ended just above her shoulders, matching eye color, and was from Caron. Priscilla had dark red hair not much longer and brown eyes. She was from Bronn. Kansa had white hair, medium gray eyes, and light gray skin. She was from Ektar.
After introductions, they made small talk while waiting for the others.
Mirta found Elanor still looking for her room. The shy girl brightened after hearing who else she would be with. Her roommates last year had been too noisy and rowdy for her, and they didn't like her because she wouldn't join them. The very idea of threatening them with bad luck would never occur to her, so it was an uncomfortable year.
They walked together to the suite, and went in without knocking. Greeting and being greeted, they joined the others on the couch.
"Well, this is five of us," said Priscilla, "Just have to wait for the last one."
A few minutes later there was a knock and the door opened. The Fairy standing there was covered in a loose-fitting cloak and hood that was bright red with yellow trim. She pulled back her hood and smiled, nodding at them.
"Hi, Trasundah!" said Mirta, "I'm kinda surprised to see you, after all the complaining you did last year."
The Downlander shuddered. "It's still too warm and dry here for my tastes, not to mention bright. But it's important to the Downland Kingdom that I graduate, so here I am."
She was the first Downlander to attend Alfea, and distantly related to Princess Amentia. She was a junior, and had earned her wings only at the end of the last year. She was a little taller than the others, with pale yellow skin, black hair, and large amber eyes.
Mirta pointed toward a door. "You've got a room by yourself, so you can adjust it the way you like it."
"Wonderful," she replied. "Oh, hi, Elanor, I didn't see you there," said Trasundah, nodding. "Priscilla, Luna, I guess you're happy to be in the same dorm this year?" She sat by Mirta, who scooted over a bit.
"You know it," said both at the same time.
"The rest of us know each other, so let's introduce ourselves to Kansa," said Mirta. "I'm Mirta, the Fairy of Pumpkins."
"She got her Enchantix last year," said Priscilla.
Kansa's eyes were wide. "You're an Enchantix Fairy?"
Mirta nodded, turning a bit red in the process. She didn't like making a big deal of it.
"She also assists the Guardian Fairy of Linphea," put in Trasundah. "If I remember right, Luna, you're Water, and Pri you're Air. Right?"
"Yep," said Luna, "We spent the summer together, practicing and seeing how our powers can converge. We learned a lot on our own."
"I have the power of the Chelzan crystals that grow near my home," said Trasundah.
"My power base is Bad Luck," said Elanor, and fell silent, embarrassed to call attention to herself.
"What's your power, Kansa?" asked Mirta.
The freshman girl looked at her lap and muttered something.
"Sorry?" asked Luna.
"I- I-" Kansa stopped talking, looking very unhappy.
"What's wrong?" asked Mirta.
A flush appeared on Kansa's ashen skin. "I knew this would come out sooner or later." She looked at them, prepared to lose some potential friends. "Decay."
She got four confused looks and one knowing look in return.
"Decay? What do you mean?" asked Priscilla.
"My power accelerates things breaking down," clarified the girl.
At the still-confused looks she got, Kansa sighed. "Okay, I'll demonstrate." From a pocket she pulled out a steel ball bearing about the size of a marble. She put it down on the coffee table, and all eyes were on it. "You might as well understand what you're going to be afraid of."
She took a deep breath and held her palm toward it. "Entropy!" she said. No visible magic came forth from her hand, but the ball bearing suddenly rusted, and over the course of a few seconds broke down into a tiny pile of iron.
Four sets of wide eyes moved from the ex-bearing to the girl who had made it change. Trasundah smiled and stayed silent.
"Wow! I'm impressed!" said Elanor.
"Me too!" said Priscilla and Luna at the same time.
Mirta looked at it closely. "Incredible! Can you do this to anything?"
Reluctantly, Kansa nodded. She didn't trust her voice right now, waiting for the obvious question.
"Including... living things?" asked Luna.
"Yes." Kansa looked at them with anger in her eyes. "Do you all fear and hate me now? Are you going to say I should be going to Cloud Tower instead of Alfea?"
The other five looked at Kansa like she had suddenly grown another head.
"I don't understand," said Priscilla, "Why would we hate you, or be afraid?"
"Or want you to go to Cloud Tower?" put in Luna.
"Well, that's what everyone who sees what I can do says!" she said, suddenly uncertain. These girls weren't acting like everyone else always had. She looked down. "I hate my power."
"Are you kidding? That's a great power!" said Luna.
"I can think of some things I'd like to do that to!" said Priscilla.
"Me too," said Mirta, having a 'Witch-flashback' and thinking of her ex-family.
"Decay is a natural thing," said Trasundah, "Where I live it happens far more rapidly than here because of the environment. You won't find me hating you."
Tears began rolling down Kansa's cheeks. "Y-you don't hate me? Really...?"
All five girls immediately went to her and began to comfort her.
"We all know what it's like to be an outcast. I was a Witch before I transferred here. I only had one friend at Cloud Tower, and very few here. I wouldn't reject you just on the basis of what you can do," said Mirta.
"I'm usually ignored and forgotten because I don't say much, or push myself into the limelight," said Elanor. "Others are sometimes afraid of my power, which is Bad Luck."
"I suppose I'm too different culturally," said Trasundah.
Priscilla and Luna exchanged a glance. "We're kinda outcasts too."
"You? Why?" asked Kansa.
"Pri and I got really close really fast when we first met," said Luna, "So to some people that makes us lesbians. We're not, though. We are just very compatible and comfortable with each other. Our powers mesh well, and we miss each other when we aren't together."
Mirta blushed. "I gotta admit that's what I thought too. But it's also none of my business, and embracing differences is part of being a Fairy."
"Besides, Kansa, with a power like that, I'd rather be your friend than your enemy!" said Priscilla.
"PRI!" said the other four in unison.
"Sorry..." the Air Fairy was immediately contrite.
"That's okay, I'm used to it," said Kansa.
"Well, you're gonna have to get un-used to it!" said Mirta, "I'll be there for you if you need me."
"And me," said Elanor. She leaned forward toward Kansa, put her hands on the chair's arms and looked her in the eyes. "I'm your friend now."
"We all are," added Mirta, and got agreements from everyone.
Kansa was trying to control her tears, and smiled. "Thank you all. I feel much better now. And I'll support all of you if you need me."
"I might take you up on that," said Trasundah.
"You said you were a Witch?" asked Kansa, looking at Mirta on her left.
Mirta nodded. "I transferred after the Alfea War a couple of years ago."
"We've known her since she transferred," said Elanor.
Kansa looked thoughtful. "Do you think I should be a Witch?"
"You COULD be," answered Mirta, "And probably be one of the most powerful ever. But I don't think you don't have the attitude for it."
"I don't understand," said Kansa.
"Do you like to brag, or put yourself first?" asked Mirta. "Are you always confident, even proud, in public?"
"No..." was the reply.
"Do you prefer being alone or with friends?" asked the half-Witch.
"Friends," was the immediate answer, "But I've never had many to be with."
"There you go. Witches tend to be loners, and Fairies to be gregarious," said Mirta. "Your temperament is Fairy."
"Oohhh... big word," said Luna.
"It means 'be with other people'," explained Mirta, eyeing the Water Fairy.
"I'm the same way," added Elanor, "Some people think my bad luck powers are evil. But I have learned and thought of ways to use them for good."
Kansa smiled. "I see. So now I can defend being a Fairy. Thanks!"
"I'm speaking from experience, here," said Mirta, "But you don't need to defend it. It's your decision, and nobody else's business."
The ashen-skinned girl thought to herself, 'If I can find friends like this, I might just come to love this school!'