Chapter 7:

Brandon's POV:

It has been over a week since my dear Stella has gone to train with Lady Aria. I haven't seen her even once since she had gone and I am getting really worried. Anna does not speak of her training or how things might be going, though she was not at all happy when she returned the first day but she made fun of the girls for calling their transformation Bloomix. That was the only time she told us that Stella was not as strong as she had hoped and the training might not work out for her, and I am pretty sure she never went to go check up on Stella again. I am getting really worried about her.

After Stella, Anna and Lady Aria had left, we all went to our beds and lay down for a while after all we were really tired and had a long day and we needed time to process what was going on. I didn't realise until Helia woke me up that I had fallen asleep. Alex had told us to get ready so when I opened my cupboard to change into the clothes I had packed, I was surprised as to find all clothes were in white and not mine though they were my size. I really did not like them, they were white like everything else here. The planet is far too bright in my opinion. Everything just radiated light and it was hurts my eyes, not just mine but everyone else as well. And now we have to wear white clothes.

When we dressed in the bright white clothes, Alex took us to our training grounds. It was a huge arena with an assortment of weapons on the side, most were spears. He explained the methods and techniques he was going to teach us by the time Anna arrived. Anna was not in a good mood and that didn't make me feel any better.

I was very distracted throughout most of my training because I was very worried about Stella. It was Helia who helped me through it. Both of us always wound up together and I realised that Helia had great insight about a lot of things though he didn't show it. I felt bad for him though, Flora never left Alex and Anna's side and she never spoke to any of us properly since we had arrived. She didn't even speak to Helia or Layla properly and it looked to me like she was avoiding them the most. I really didn't understand what was going on with her and I could see Helia was not all that happy about it either, but he still kept his cool thinking that this was how Flora felt when Princess Krystal had arrived.

Our training was relentless. Alex and Anna who had finally removed their cloaks wore white clothes like us and were armed with spears in their hand and sheathed swords on their hips. They fought against us and we used whatever weapon and power we had, but we couldn't even make them move a step from where they stood. They used only light attacks against us so that we could train with and against it.

If they were not training us physically, they would give us lectures on how the origins of light came into being, how it became powerful, were it got its power from, why and how it could be dangerous and prevented and much more topics such as those. I did my best to pay attention because it could help me later. Especially since Stella was specialising in light.

It was getting harder every day, we used to eat in our room, we got minimal breaks, and by the time we put our heads on the pillow we would be knocked out cold. Anna left often during our training to do some work and would return troubled, I could not understand what it was about but I could barely keep up with what was going on with me to care about her. And more than anything else, Stella's absence hindered me. It felt like my universe was missing it sun without her there and I was getting more annoyed by the day.

The past few days have been hectic and I wanted a change. Hopefully that change would be Stella, and for once my wish was granted and I learned more about a few interesting things.

On the ninth day when I went to bed I couldn't sleep. I was dead on my feet but I couldn't fall asleep because I was worrying about how Stella was doing. If I thought our training was harsh I couldn't even imagine how hers would be going. I turned to my right and I saw Helia was awake as well. Maybe Flora not talking to him was bugging him more than he let on and I could understand how he felt.

"Flora what's wrong?" I hear Alex.

"Nothing is wrong Xan, you will wake the others if you are that loud." Flora replied softly.

"The others are dead on their feet and fall asleep as soon as they touch their heads to the pillow so obviously I am surprised you are still awake. I know you well Flora, though it has been a while since I last saw you, but you haven't changed much. So I ask again. What's wrong?" Alex asked calmly.

I look towards Helia and I see he is alert though he was trying to be nonchalant about it he glances towards me and notices that I'm awake to. He looks confused and I realise he is not the kind that would intentionally listen in on a conversation.

"It's about coming here." Flora replies almost like a whisper.

I couldn't see them because I had to lie down, but I could hear them well and clear. I looked at Helia again and he goes stiff.

"Flora, sweetie. How many times have I told you to forget about what happened? Does it still bother you as much as it used to?" Alex asks.

"Yes and no, it's not just that, I don't want them to go through what you and Anna have to go through on a daily basis. It is too much for them, I mean us."

"Hahaha you don't have to worry about that, even other paladins don't do what Anna and I do on a normal basis." He replies with a chuckle.

What do they normally do? Aren't they just instructors?

"But I understand. Kinda. You know you can't avoid them forever based on you stupid reasons, especially since they are your best friends."

So she was avoiding us, but mostly Helia and the winx. I look over at Helia and I can't read his face.

"No I wouldn't avoid them for that and it's not a stupid reason, wait I never said I was avoiding them." Flora tries to defend herself.

"I repeat, I know you very well. Why have you been avoiding them then?" Alex asks.

I suddenly have a feeling I should not be listening to this conversation.

"If you know me so well, why don't you tell me what's wrong and why I'm avoiding them?" Flora contradicts him.

"I would say because you're scared they will come to know about what happened to you here and about that asshole." Alex states.

I didn't hear a reply and Helia's face was still unreadable but I could feel that the situation is a very tense one. What happened to Flora here? A few minutes later I heard her reply.

"They are like family to me Xan. All of them. You must understand I don't want them to get hurt, I love them and it would ruin me if anything happened to them." Flora whispers.

Wow I didn't know she care about us so deeply.

"I understand, and don't worry I shall try my best to make sure nothing happens to them." He promises her. "Go to sleep now, tomorrow will be tiring as well, till the Blondie returns you must train hard."

I don't like the way he calls my Stella, but I knew he didn't have any bad intentions by calling her that.

No one said anything else after that and I look over to Helia who had his eyes closed. What was Flora hiding? I drifted off to sleep thinking about what I had just heard and about my dear Stella.

Having had little sleep, I woke up extremely tired. All those days of intense practice is finally weighing down on me.

Anna and Alex were already up as they always are before us. I had not heard Anna return last night which could only mean we will start with physical exercises and light defence classes today morning. I was too tried to even get out of bed, but I knew I had too. Stella was training hard elsewhere so I could not afford to slack off now. I got up and I could see everyone else was already up and getting ready.

Anna was talking animatedly to Flora and she seems happier than usual. Maybe she would go easy on us today.

We were all ready and assembled in the arena when a bright light appeared in front of us. The last thing I saw before I closed my eyes was Anna smiling and she didn't do that as often as I thought she would.

The light dissipated and I saw the most beautiful creature in the universe standing there along with Lady Aria. I lost the ability of speech for about a few seconds and all I could do was gape at her. She looked stunning even though she had bags under her eyes and was bruised everywhere, she was exquisite.

I was still in shock when all the girls ran up to her and hugged her, they all spoke to her at the same time but I did not understand what they were saying. I am sure this is all just a dream and when I wake up, it will be back to dreadful training again.

Sky pushed my back and I came to reality, all the girls moved aside for Stella who making her way over to me. I went up to her and hugged her tight. I didn't let her go for a few minutes and she was very still, very non-Stella and when I looked down I saw that she was asleep. She looked so peaceful and so beautiful. I kissed her forehead and carried her bridal style before turning around and facing everyone else.

"I officially conclude you training on the light planet over." Anna announces.

A grin broke my face and it was reflected on everyone else's. Stella was peacefully asleep in my arms, our training here is over and we can finally move on. This day gets better and better.

We returned to the place where we were staying. Anna explained that we would simply waste time if we stayed here chit chatting. We all prepared to leave while Stella slept like a baby the entire time. Anna and Alex wore grey cloaks and we all got onto the ship which was in the clearing of the woods, the ship which was white is now completely black.

We went back to where we stayed and changed our clothes and got prepared to leave because Anna had told us we could not waste any more time here. Stella slept the entire time and Anna changed her clothes when we were all getting ready. Anna and Alex wore their signature cloaks before we left. I carried Stella to the ship in the clearing in the woods to see that the ship was now in black.

The doors opened and I found shopping bags on the far side of the chairs along with our suitcases which had not moved an inch since we had left them. Anna, Alex and Flora went upstairs to start the ship while Lady Aria walked up to us.

"Stella is truly an amazing girl. She has trained hard and has thought of all of you while doing so. She has a brilliant motivation and I wish all of you all the very best. Take care of Stella." Lady Aria tells us while her eyes burned with passion, she turns around to leave. She takes two steps and turns around again. "When all things seem to be lost and your heart has gone astray, look towards the light for guidance and follow it. It shall never fail." She steps out of the ship and the door closes behind her.

"Well that is useful information. Now onto the next planet!" Anna tells us clearly thrilled.

We have finished one planet, but we have six more to go. Will all of us be able to get past it? And what was Flora talking about before? It is still bothering me even now. I look at Stella and feel peaceful, even if it will only last for a few moments before a whole new adventure starts.