Chapter 35
Quarrel
The next morning.
Cassandra tried to hide a portentous yawn. Despite having spent the last twenty-four hours practically lying on a bed, she was exhausted and felt that she had not slept enough. Well, that happened to her every morning actually. This time however she was in good company: even her friends looked, some more than others, like they hadn't slept more than a couple of hours, as well as their classmates scattered in the canteen. Fortunately, the lessons were suspended for them, at least for that day. Palladium had decided to keep them all under control, without subjecting them to excessive reinforcement. To tell the truth, the prospect of spending all day between her room and the elf's lab didn't make the girl particularly enthusiastic, but she never dreamed of leaving school, outside she would have been even more vulnerable. "This is the most idiotic thing I've ever thought" she said to herself. Valtor had amply demonstrated that he could do whatever he wanted inside the campus. "However, now that I think of it, the spell of Darcy and Musa served to prevent him from spying on us, not attacking us. In theory that's the job of the barrier, but probably it wasn't active". Faragonda's umpteenth negligence, in this case. Evidently the headmistress didn't know the terrestrial proverbs, otherwise she would have known that prevention is better than cure.
Palladium's first visit was about half an hour later so, after breakfast was over, Cassandra followed the Winx and the Trix out of the canteen. She joined them in the corridor.
- Would you like to talk? - she asked vaguely.
- Free day Cass, we have all the time we want. - Aisha replied.
- Excellent, because I have some questions to ask you. Would you wait for the others, please? It's about all of us. -
Stormy stopped with a grimace.
- I see where you're going. -
Seeing the group heading towards the courtyard, Mirta started to go with them, curious, but was stopped by Amaryl.
- What are you doing, going after the witches? Are you crazy? -
- What's wrong with that? You remember that I too was a witch, don't you? - replied Mirta.
- And it shows. Are those printed on your jacket your X-rays? - sneered Amaryl, referring to the other girl's sleeveless jacket, which had a print that reproduced a human x-ray rib.
Mirta turned her back and started walking quickly again. How could Amaryl waste energy to sow discord in a situation like that? You couldn't even say her behavior was caused by shock, she was always like that! More than a fairy, Amaryl would have been an excellent witch and in Cloudtower she would have found bread for her teeth, she was sure of it. There it was full of jealous girls ready to dump their frustrations on someone else, especially if this was minute, tender and unable to defend themselves. She clenched her fists and quickened her pace even more, squinting when the sunlight hit her in full.
The other girls had settled on the benches around the well, to stay away from the windows and not be heard or disturb the lessons.
- Hey Mirta, how come that face? - Flora asked her as soon as the ex-witch was within reach.
- Kindness in person wanted to exchange a few words with me. - she snorted in response, adding a shrug, - You instead, what are you doing? -
- We are looking for ideas to strengthen the school's protective barrier. - said Rebecca.
- Cass pointed out to us that the spells we cast worked and continue to do so, but we left out the physical protection of the campus. - explained Tecna.
- We thought we shouldn't take care of it, - Stormy pointed out, - but we had to expect it after all. When did Faragonda ever keep us out of this school? -
- Actually, you have always been good at sneaking in anywhere. - said a severe and completely unexpected voice.
- Miss Griffin? What are you doing here? - Darcy asked turning to the voice.
The principal of Cloudtower advanced towards the girls, her arms intertwined behind her back in her usual rigid posture. Behind her there were Aire, Desirè and Maria.
- My students insisted on verifying your condition and, as I was going to visit you soon, I personally accompanied them. I am pleased to see that you are much better since the last time we met, Icy. -
The witch of ice twisted her nose. Griffin was referring to early summer, when she was still in a catatonic state. She didn't want to remember that period, also because she couldn't: she had no memory of it. Her inertia had reached the point that her brain had not even memorized the events of those months, turning them into a huge chasm in the calendar.
- I can get up. - she hissed between her teeth.
- I don't doubt it, I've seen you do it many times. Aire gave me a detailed account of what happened yesterday, and I was really impressed with the way you destroyed that monster, with a convergence. You asked for help from others... clever of you. -
Icy shrugged.
- It was the only thing to do, when I regained consciousness the others had already attacked it individually without getting anywhere. -
Griffin nodded, turning her gaze to the fairies and examining them one by one, even though she knew that Icy's bond was not one of them. Icy was trying to make her believe that she had acted rationally, with her usual coldness, but with an emphasis on her apparent individualism ("I can get up" she said, no mention of the help she had certainly received) she seemed almost to want to get her away from something, make her take a wrong direction that would not have allowed her to reconstruct the mosaic.
- Perhaps the Sages were right: after all, you can change. - she said.
The provocation was crystal clear. Stormy's cheeks turned red and a small lightning flashed through her hair.
- If the Sages were right, at this time I would be dead. If I change it is not their merit. - Icy retorted sharply.
Would she have added anything else, if Tecna and Darcy had not made her understand with a look that it was better to stop? Griffin decided to tease her again.
- You're free not to believe me, but I'm happy. Any change imposed from the outside in my opinion is not permanent, unless you get to cancel your identity. A change induced by the will of the individual may take longer, but the results are always better. This is one of the reasons why I wanted to assign you the recovery of the Mystérion, although I didn't expect you to get help. - she said, sliding her gaze again over the faces of the fairies.
One of them bit her lip, unsure, and then decided to talk.
- On Earth we have ethics, that moral code that is impossible to write. Magix may be more technologically advanced, but sometimes has black holes at an intellectual level. Intellectual understood as the capacity for thought. - said Cassandra.
- It doesn't seem to me that you follow this ethics much, since yours is one of the bloodiest histories of the Magical Dimension. - observed Griffin, intrigued by that little girl who spoke to an authority like that.
- Unfortunately, it's true, selfishness and thirst for power often prevail, as if we were a medieval society. I guess things are different here, right? - she replied, with a note of irony in the question.
Who was the principal to allow herself to point the finger at the defects of the earthlings when Magix itself presented the same faults?
Griffin smiled, amused by the fact that a girl of maybe eighteen had put her back to the wall. She could not reply, so she decided to return to focus on Icy.
- What did push you, Icy? -
The witch's eyes fixed on the headmistress, who thought she saw a glimmer of tension, like that of a prey that stumbles upon a predator without knowing if it is satiated and will let it go or if, hungry, it will start hunting it.
- Something tells me you already have your answer. - Icy answered cautiously.
- I wouldn't waste time asking you in that case, but you told me exactly what I wanted to hear. -
At that moment, both understood that the other knew. Icy was perfectly aware of her bond and Griffin was expecting an evasive answer there, in front of so many witnesses. This was confirmed by the rigid posture of the former and the satisfied expression of the latter. What would Griffin do now? Would she inform the Council? Or would she wait until she had proof, if she still didn't have it?
Icy could not have known that Griffin had no intention of intervening and turned pale when she headed for Faragonda's office.
- I have some things to discuss with my colleague, it won't take long. - she said, addressing her students.
As soon as she disappeared inside the building, Icy dropped onto the bench with a desperate sigh.
- She knows everything, I'm screwed! - she said, careless of the fact that they had all heard her.
At that point, what did it matter?
- If you can console yourself, we too. - said Aisha, - We knew everything from the beginning and Faragonda won't let it go. -
- What are we talking about? - asked Ioanna.
- It concerns me, don't worry. You are out from this. - said Icy.
- No, now you tell us. If there's a conspiracy I want to be part of it too! - Rebecca protested.
- It's better this way girls, really. - tried to dissuade Bloom, to which Mirta broke in.
- If you don't tell us, I use my powers and read her fears. - said the red-haired fairy, taking a step back when Stormy sprang to her feet in a threatening way.
- Don't you dare Mirta, it's not your business! - exclaimed the witch, clenching her fists.
Musa stood between the two.
- Stormy calm down. Neither… -
The fairy of music was interrupted by Aire.
- Stop it, everyone, it's nothing important, ok? - the girl blurted out.
She put her head in her shoulders as if to make herself smaller and avoid the questioning glances of the others, clearly amazed by her statement.
- You...you know it? - Darcy asked, blinking in wonder.
Aire met Icy's gaze and blushed. She was tremendously ashamed of the results her talk with the principal had brought, although Griffin wanted to help the Trix. Here, maybe knowing this could reassure them a little.
- Yes, but it's not like I wanted to know. And... I was the one who told Griffin, but you don't have to worry, she won't say anything. Well, for now. - she said uncertainly.
A flash of understanding crossed Icy's face.
- It was yesterday, wasn't it? Before you healed me, you saw her because at that moment my only concern was that she didn't feel anything, right? - she asked, and her tone without accusations gave courage to Aire.
- Exactly. - she answered nodding promptly, happy to hold on to that idea that had not even touched her.
- Icy, why not tell them? Nobody can hear us, and this secret will surely lead to a mutual mistrust that will prevent us from working well together. Besides, we have to trust someone in this world! - said Tecna.
Icy looked straight into the emerald eyes of the fairy. She hated to admit that she was so weak, but trust was the thing she was more reluctant to grant. The fear of being betrayed and wounded again was so great, not to mention that it was not right to drag Lzzy into the midst of that situation. The earthlings could have known her.
- If you don't trust us, we can't trust you either. - Maria added.
- Come on, I'll be a grave, I swear! - begged Rebecca.
Icy hesitated a moment longer, then said:
- Alright then. This summer I had a Bonding, how and with whom is my own business and of the person I'm bound to. If she agrees, I will tell you. - she said briskly.
- That's all? And are you worried about this? - Francesca asked incredulously, she couldn't see the problem.
Maybe for a witch it could be embarrassing, given the individualism they tried to boast, but it didn't seem like that was the case with Icy. Even if she wasn't too smiley, it was obvious that the witch of ice was happy to be able to count on the help of Darcy, Stormy and the Winx, if not even theirs.
- Let's say that the conditions in which I met this person should not have occurred, according to the rules of the Fortress of Light. - Icy answered.
- So, she isn't from here, right? - asked Cassandra.
Icy shook her head.
- Come on, the important thing is that Valtor doesn't know. - said Ioanna.
- But Valtor knows. - replied Icy, - And she can't defend herself, she barely controls her powers. -
- Ah. Ouch. - commented Ioanna, tormenting her hands.
- We used on her the double of protection spells we used for us Icy, she is safer than all of us. - assured Stella.
- I really hope you're right, Stella. - Icy sighed, looking down.
That afternoon.
She liked being on the towers of Alfea, seeing the whole campus and making her gaze travel up to the tallest buildings in Magix and on a large part of the Gloomy Wood forest. There was always a bit of wind up there, feeling it in her hair was a sweet feeling that reminded her of flying. But at that moment there was nothing sweet for Bloom, the wind seemed to be pressing her to say what she had to say, and Sky agreed with the wind.
- Why did we come here Bloom? Is everything alright? -
His concern was sincere, she saw it in his eyes. Of course, what was the point of being so cold with him, of barely greeting him and dragging him away while the others hugged their boys and Stella almost threw Brandon on the ground to jump in his arms?
- Would you worry as much if I were another person? - asked Bloom, crossing her arms over her pink shirt.
- What do you mean? -
As if he didn't understand.
- If I were Icy would you care about my behavior, or about me in general? -
Sky frowned.
- Get to the point, Bloom. - he said simply, angering the fairy.
- Do you want me to get to the point? Well, here's the point: why didn't you help her?! You let Amentia seriously injure her and you did nothing to prevent it or to help her! It's not a behavior worthy of you Sky, and Icy doesn't deserve your intransigence! - she cried, staring at the blond straight in his eyes, - I know you saw her do horrible things, but I saw her too and I know how much she has changed. That evening at H.Q. I thought you understood who she really is, and it hurts me to realize that I made such a big mistake! -
Sky closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again and said:
- It was her who put all these things in your head, didn't she? Don't you understand that she just wants to put us against each other? -
Bloom shook her head, her hair moving in small waves of fire.
- No Sky, not at all. Indeed, Icy explicitly asked me to let it go and tell you nothing, but it doesn't work like that in a couple. If something goes wrong with a couple, it is discussed, and the same is done between friends. -
Sky spread his arms in disbelief.
- But she is not our friend, you were sick, and she was not! I couldn't blindly trust her after what had happened! -
- No Sky, you could! I would have done it! -
- But the two of us are different Bloom, I don't think like you! -
- Let's put it this way: if you don't trust them, you don't trust me! -
- Oh is that so? Well then, we have nothing else to tell each other. When you start thinking again with your head, you know where to find me. - exclaimed Sky, turning his back on Bloom and heading for the stairs.
- You don't solve anything by going away like this, you know? Nothing at all! - cried Bloom again as the first tears began to flow down her cheeks, but Sky did not come back.
The fairy of the Dragon Flame remained for who knows how many minutes staring at the stairs and crying, then she shook herself and hurried down, her eyes clouded with tears as she ran towards the dormitory. She didn't know if she had crossed Sky along the road, she didn't even know if she had crossed anyone, she didn't see anything except the floor that flowed under her feet and she felt nothing but her steps and the beating of her heart. She entered the apartment like a fury and ran straight to her room, where she threw herself on the bed with her face on the pillow.