"And that 's how it all works!"
The first years nodded even though most of them didn't understand a thing professor Palladium had just explained. The only one obviously interested in the whole technical aspect of the simulation room was Tecna. Samara had never seen the girl so enthusiastic.
"Now moving on to the test you need to take in a few weeks." Palladium said.
Some groans were heard throughout the group.
"There are two types of situations that you can choose from." He went on. "I need one volunteer so I can show you exactly what it looks like."
As expected no one replied.
"Alright than, I'll pick someone…Edith how about you?"
The blonde fairy took a sour face. "Why me, I'll have to do it all over again next year anyway!"
Samara hid her laugh. Since Edith was taken out of project Sword and Shield, it was already clear that she'll fail this year but her parents were so mad at her that they made her stay at Alfea anyway.
"Go on." Palladium said with a strict face, gesturing towards the door that led to the simulation room.
The girl groaned and muttered several words as she made her way through the door.
"Now Edith listen closely, walk to the end of the path to the middle of the room." Palladium said.
The girl did as she was told.
"Now keep standing where you are, don't be alarmed when the path starts to disappear, nothing will happen to you."
The huge lamps turned on and slowly became brighter and brighter. The fairy of wind let out a small yell as the path started to move away from underneath her feet but she stood still. Samara shifted uneasy on her feet, remembering just how badly her last visit to the room went.
Now the simulation room was filled with white light and slowly faded, revealing a deserted and awefull looking terrain.
"You're first option is to turn a complete wasteland into a florishing environment." Palladium said. "You can use whatever you want, potions or herbs or whatever spell you think comes in handy."
Flora smiled, this was right up her ally.
"Now the second option is as followed."
The elf pressed several buttons and suddenly Edith was surrounded by witches and toads. The girl shrieked.
"Sorry Edith, nothing to worry about these are just holograms." Palladium said through the microphone.
Samara thought she could hear a bit of amusement through the professors voice.
"In this situation, some witches have turned fairies into toads and you have to undo their curse." He went on. "You have until next Monday to decide which situation you want to tackle during your exam."
He turned the simulation off and ordered Edith to come back to the control room.
"We will use the rest of our time allowing you all one by one to get into the simulation room to get used to it." Palladium said. "The rest of the lessons you will have time to prepare yourself for the exam, learning spells or potions that you want to use or go out into the forest to gather some herbs." "If you want to use the simulation room to see how the things turn out that you've learned, you can always ask me." "Now if you are done with your turn inside the room, you can leave." Palladium said. "Who wants to go first?"
Stella bumped into Samara's shoulder. "Guess you want to go last so you can stay a bit longer around your crush huh?"
Samara huffed. The thought of getting back into that room send shivers across her back but Stella really got on her nerves.
"I'll go first." The princess of Eraklion said.
Palladium shot her a surprised look but nothing more. Since their talk on the field after the attack of Bloom, they hadn't spoken anymore.
"Fine, which sitiuation do you want?" He asked.
"The first one, the wasteland."
"Alright, go ahead." Palladium said with a bit nervous edge around his voice.
Samara walked to the door, trying to seem as calm as possible. But when the door closed behind her, her nerves took control. Her legs shook as she step by step walked to the middle of the room.
No problem, you know how this works…just keep your feet where they are…
The lamps slowly turned on and the path began to vibrate underneath her feet. Samara closed her eyes and imagined that she was standing on firm ground.
But the second the path started to move away from her, panic took over. Samara squeezed her eyes, forcing them to stay closed. Images of her falling as a child filled her mind, the fear overwhelming her. New images of her flying high above the ground made it almost unbearable. Her heart was racing and she knew for sure that she was about to lose her breakfast.
"The surroundings might be familiar to you." Palladiums voice sounded.
Samara slowly opened her eyes and saw that she was standing in a deserted village. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"This is a replica from a ghost town in Eraklion." Palladium continued.
Samara looked around and indeed recognised it. It was deserted, the ground was dry and the houses were in awefull condition.
"This would be a nice environment for your exam, so take a good look around and try to think of ways to improve it."
She wanted to move but noticed that her legs were not quite fond on that idea. Her feet stayed still. Her heart was racing still and she had the idea that her body was in a complete panic attack.
"Are you ready to get out?" Palladium asked after a few minutes.
"Y…yes professor." Samara said.
It was remarkable how steady her voice was.
A white light surrounded her as the environment faded away and suddenly there was nothing but the simulation room, leaving Samara to stand on nothing. Her breath got caught in her throat as she looked down by accident, staring into the dark abiss. The path came towards her and slid underneath her feet. The door opened and Musa stepped inside.
"My turn." She said with a smile.
That smile disappeared when she saw Samara's face.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
Samara stared at her friend and forced her mind and body to follow her lead
"Yeah, fine…just having to get used to it." She said with a small smile. "Good luck."
The fairy of the Moon quickly walked out of the simulation room. The other fairies were all glued to the window to see how Musa started her simulation but Palladium walked towards her with a worried look. Samara wanted to leave but he stopped her by grabbing her by the arm.
"I'm sorry I forgot to mention that the environment would disappear so quickly." He said.
"No problem, it's fine…just need to get used to it." Samara repeated.
"Would you stop that?" Palladium asked irritated. "I can see you're not fine, you look awefull."
Samara was taken aback by the power in his voice.
"Come to the west rooftop tonight, we need to talk." The professor said.
He turned around when Tecna asked a question and walked back to the control panel. Samara quickly walked out of the room through the large doors and headed straight to the nearest bathroom. She was just in time as her breakfast came out with powerfull heaves. After it was over, the fairy of the Moon sat down next to the toilet, groaning in agony. After a while she got up and made her way to the hall for lunch. Musa and Bloom were already there.
"Hey, how did it go?" Samara asked as she sat down next to Bloom.
Musa shook her shoulders. "It isn't really that exciting."
"I choose the same scenario as you." Bloom said. "I have to restore a wasteland on the planet Domino."
"Domino, that whole planet is a big wasteland." Samara said.
"Yeah luckily I only have one small part of it." Bloom laughed.
"I am going to break the witches curse." Musa said.
"You want some?" Musa asked as she held a basket full of bread towards Samara.
"No thanks, I'll have a salad today."
Soon enough Flora and Stella joined them.
"Tecna insisted on being the last one, so she could ask Palladium some more questions about the control panel." Flora said.
"Maybe she is the one with an eye on Palladium." Stella said.
"You seem to be quite obsessed with him yourself Stella." Flora said with a smile. "Are you sure Brandon is the one for you?"
Stella's head turned red and the others girls laughed.
"Okay, okay I'll stop it from now on." She said. "Pass me the butter please?"
The day went by slowly. Samara noticed that she couldn't quite focus and kept on thinking about what was so important that she had to meet Palladium on a rooftop in the middle of the night.
Finally she was in bed, staring at the ceiling. It was almost midnight and Samara could hear Tecna switching off the lights in the livingroom. Slowly she slipped out of bed, put on her jacket and shoes and sneaked out of the dorm. The corridors were deserted and Samara prayed they would stay that way. The western rooftop was not far from the dorms. Samara walked up the long spirtal staircase, making sure not to look down. The door to the rooftop was open and as she stepped onto the roof she saw a small figure standing at the edge of it. The wind wrapped around her, covering her in goosebumps.
Samara slowly walked further, being gratefull for the high edges around the roof so she couldn't see just how far above the ground she was right now.
"Uhm professor?" She called out.
Palladium turned around and smiled.
"I was afraid you wouldn't come." He said.
Samara walked towards him but kept her distance from the edge.
"Why did you want me to come all the way up here?"
"It will all make sense in a minute." Palladium said. "Come here and look up into the sky."
Samara did as she was told and stared at the moon.
"You want me to stare at the moon?" She asked. "I do that all the time from my room."
"Yes through a window." "But have you looked at her from outside?"
Samara frowned, she really didn't understand where this was going.
"Professor listen, if I did something to offend you…"
"Ssshhh, we'll get to that later, first I need you to just stand still and focus on the moon."
Samara's confusion reached a new level but she realized she didn't have a choice. She looked up again and stared at the moon. The white light that came off of it was beautifull, especially since it was a clear night. It was soothing and she noticed that the tension in her body slowly disappeared. For the first time in many weeks she actually felt calm. Not only that but the weakness in her legs seemed to have gone also and the sick feeling in her stomach along with it.
"Can you feel it?"
Samara looked at him. There was a glint in his brown eyes.
"Yes…" She whispered. "But how?"
"You are the fairy of the Moon, so obviously you get your power through the moon." Palladium said. "I thought about it for the first time after your match with Crystal." "She told me she had to reload herself using her gemstones she brought here from her homeplanet."
Samara nodded, now that he explained it like that it seemed very obvious.
"Thank you." She said.
"I think we can now establish that you were not fine." "Why would you torment yourself so much?"
There was a hint of desperation in his voice. Samara stared at the ground.
"It's complicated."
"Is it?" Palladium asked. "Is it really that difficult for you to admit that you need help?"
"You don't understand, but yes it is." Samara said feeling an anger rise inside of her.
"Well then help me understand!"
Palladium was getting angry himself. Samara felt tears sting in her eyes.
"I am a princess I can't be seen weak."
"You are not the only princess of a planet in this school." Palladium said. "Princess Stella of Solaria, princess Alicia of…"
"I am the princess of a planet that loathes magic." Samara said loud. "I am the princess of the most strict monarchy in the magical dimension." "I grew up while being told that weakness is not allowed."
The tears were now flowing over her cheeks but she whiped them away with a strong gesture.
"You don't know what it's like to be the exact thing that your own parents hate." "The second they realized that I was a fairy they completely ignored me, the only thing they wanted from me was being the perfect princess and make sure not to embaress them."
Samara wanted to turn away and leave but as she was about to, two hands took her by the arms and pulled her into an embrace. She was shocked and didn't know what to do.
"I'm sorry." Palladium said.
He let go of her and stepped back. Samara stared at him but didn't say anything.
"But it still doesn't allow you to torment yourself." He said. "Here on Alfea you are not the princess of Eraklion, you are my student and I care about you." "From now on you come to me if anything is wrong."
Samara nodded slowly.
"Now be honest with me." The elf said. "Were you hurt by Bloom's attack?"
"Y…yes my back hurt like crazy…" Samara finally admitted. "And my head was killing me."
Palladium nodded with a frown. "And today's lesson?"
"I was terrified, thought I would pass out again…"
Samara felt her face burn with shame. If her parents would hear her now…
Palladium smiled softly. "And how do you feel right now?"
Freaking ridiculous about admitting my fears and absolutely going crazy to be standing underneath the night sky with you and not being able to enjoy it…
"My headache is gone, my stomach settled and I am the most calm I have been in a long time." Samara said.
"Good, this time I actually believe you."
He turned back towards the moon and sighed. "Can you believe we are already halfway through the first year?"
"Not really…it seems like yesterday that I first came here."
Palladium looked at her and felt his cheeks flush. She looked absolutely gorgeous in the pale light of the moon above her. He barely registered her saying that she was going back to bed and gave her a slow nod. He heard her walk down the stairs and sighed when the sound died out. Suddenly the moon light seemed a little bit duller.