As always, thank you to everyone who took the time to read the last chapter. Special shout out to Prix-darkheart, who unfortunately will have to wait until chapter 6 to meet Helia. For now, let's meet Avalon.

Enjoy :)

Chapter 5: Aisha is officially an Alfea girl, and Tecna hates professor Avalon

It took hours for the others to get back. Stella and Brandon had gone through four MREs waiting for them. It was dark when they finally did emerge from the caves, the sun having set an hour or two earlier. Bloom, Sky and Aisha were accompanied by close to a dozen and a half pixies. As soon as the two locked eyes, Bloom had thrown herself into Stella's arms and Stella squeezed her tightly, relieved to see that the redhead was unharmed. They clung to each other tightly while Brandon called to have them picked up.

Timmy and Riven arrived near midnight according to the clock in the ship. Never in her life had Stella thought an uncomfortable seat could be so comfortable. It felt like a cloud compared to the hard dirt she'd sat and slept on in the last two days. They were all worn down and tired, but her poor Brandon looked like he was ready to pass out. He hadn't let her keep watch, insisting that she needed her sleep so they could get back to the surface. However exhausted she was, she could safely assume he was twice as tired.

The boys busied themselves with getting them home, leaving Stella, Bloom, Aisha and the pixies to talk amongst themselves. The pixies mostly stayed near Aisha, sitting on any available surface of her body – her lap, her shoulders, the top of her head. One of them, a sweet pixie with bright pink hair and a matching dress – a look that she rocked in Stella's opinion – had ventured towards her while they were waiting for the ship, complimenting how sweet she and Brandon were together. There's a lot of genuine love there. So beautiful and so precious. Don't let that go she'd said, words that Stella now kept looping in her mind as she watched Brandon talking to Riven.

"How did you become friends anyways? I know I'm new to this world, but I haven't seen any pixies until now..." Aisha had started to nod off, so Bloom had taken it upon herself to talk to the pixies. Knowing Bloom, though, she was excited to be. She loved learning things about this dimension even when Stella thought they were incredibly mundane.

"We met when Aisha was seven and she stumbled across our village. She was, if I remember correctly, on a trip to Magix with her parents" Amore said. She was the only one who's name Stella had managed to memorise – not a good look for the future ruler of Solaria.

"But that's ten years ago... How are you ten? You look like you can't be more than five..."

The pixie with short purple bob laughed. She carried a tiny scepter that Stella thought was just darling. It couldn't be longer than her hand, but was almost as tall as the pixie herself. "You think that because we're small, but really we're all in our early adult years. Except Piff, she's still a baby."

"So... how old are you?"

"In our early thousands" the chatty one replied. Stella found her a bit annoying – a comment she could already hear Musa calling hypocritical, but even Stella didn't talk that much. There hadn't been a single silent moment once they'd exited the cave; whenever there was, the chatty one had filled it with whatever topic came to mind. "The youngest of us, other than Piff, is Lockette and she just turned one thousand and twelve."

"Th-thou... what?"

"Pixies live to be about two thousand years old." Bloom's eyes opened wide at the Tecna-like pixie's reply. Stella could swear they'd learned about pixies last year, but maybe it hadn't been that in depth. It didn't help that she hadn't been listening all that much.

"Sorry, you said you met Aisha in Magix..." Timmy interrupted, turning briefly to face them. "I didn't even know there was a settlement in Magix."

"It's in a very secluded area. Not even the Magix council knows the exact location of our village."

Timmy paused for a moment, absorbing what the Tecna pixie had said. "So then... do you not communicate with the outside world?"

"We have a PO box for any mail that Livy picks up twice a week" Chatty informed him. Stella looked around, trying to figure out if any of them were Livy. Amore was Amore, chatty was not Livy because her name sounded something like chatty – Chatta! - Tecna pixie had some nerdy sounding name, Purple bobbed pixie's name was something longer that also started with L, old-fashioned pixie's name couldn't be Livy because it was too modern and casual-sounding... The other pixies were all piled together at Aisha's feet so that Stella couldn't see them well except for the one at the top that likes costumes who's name was... Buzz? Bing?

"Do you have tiny envelopes or are the letters the same size as you?"

"It's not very polite to make fun of someone's size" Old-fashioned pixie scolded, smacking Brandon with her tiny, dainty umbrella. She reminded Stella of an etiquette teacher she'd had growing up. The woman had only lasted two months. Not only was she strict, but she was incredibly high strung. Every time one of the girls messed up, she would need to take a minute to breathe, and start shouting about how they were young ladies of high society, and they should already know most of these things, as if seven-year-olds should act properly.

"Er... sorry?"

Aisha, who it turned out was not asleep, scolded the pixie for hitting someone that had come to help save them. "Tune is the pixie of good manners" she told the group.

"What a dull power."

Tune glared at the princess, though her tiny frame and soft palette made it hard for Stella to find her intimidating. Stella shrugged half apologetically which did nothing to appease the offended fairy. It wasn't her fault old-fashioned pixie had the most boring powers in existence. The pixie, who Stella learned was called Tune, stuck up her nose and floated away at a storming pace. The other pixies called after her, following her into the back corridor of the ship.

"I think you offended her" Sky chuckled, leaning over to look down the hall at the pixies. Stella looked back to where the pixies were huddled around Tune as she fumed quietly. "But I'm right though. Manners? As a power? What can she even do?"

No one answered, all accepting that Stella might be right. Bloom turned to Aisha, questioning if the princess had ever seen Tune use her powers. "She... Actually, I don't know. She makes cups of tea appear but that's about all the magic I've ever seen her do."

"See!" Stella's vindication caused everyone to break out into laughter which faded away into an easy silence, broken occasionally by the pixies' hushed voices. Stella felt bad that she'd offended Tune, but when they'd come back and she tried to apologise, Tune hastily accepted her apology before she could extend it.

It was almost two in the morning when Timmy radioed to tell Tecna they were approaching Alfea. The technological fairy had woken her and Flora in a hurry. Musa was groggy and grumpy; whether because of the early hour or because what little sleep she had had wasn't very restful was up for debate. She threw on the first pair of sweats she could find – the ones on the floor – and any random t-shirt.

The campus was quiet, she liked it like this. She liked the quiet moments when there wasn't another soul around and their voices and footsteps didn't fill her head. When she could just sit in her emotions and let them flow out into the stillness of the night. Tonight, their hurried footsteps echoed through that same empty night as they rushed out to the main gate where Faragonda and Griselda awaited them and the returning team.

Faragonda spoke for them, thanking the boys for their assistance and dismissing them before Musa could see them and know if Brandon and Sky were okay or before she could get one last look at Riven. Why Faragonda wouldn't let them see the boys was anyone's guess, but Musa supposed they were probably looking forward to bed too so she could let it slide.

Stella's arms wrapped around her neck as Musa pulled the blonde into her. Their friendship was still one that surprised her, but she really had come to love the princess. She hugged Bloom and Aisha tightly, thankful that every one of them was unharmed. She'd hug than again when they showered because, despite only being gone for two days, they really did stink.

"So, what did we miss? Anything good happen?" Musa rolled her eyes at the blonde. They hadn't had the chance to catch up last night and, now that they were finally together at breakfast, the first thing Stella wanted to do was catch up on gossip. She looked at her friends like an excited puppy as she bit into an orange slice that she'd picked from the top of her high-piled plate. Bloom shook her head with a laugh while Flora and Tecna looked about as surprised by the question as Musa had been. Aisha was in Faragonda's office – the headmistress had asked her to come by last night – so Flora was saving her a plate.

"One of the first years apparently fucked some specialist in the bathrooms during the welcome dance" Musa volunteered after a few moments of Stella watching expectantly and no information being given.

"Musa" Tecna scolded, giving her shit for spreading rumours. Especially to Stella who tended to drop information without thinking. It wasn't like Stella could ruin anyone's life here: Musa had overheard the girl and her friend in the bathroom between classes. She didn't even know who either of them were, just that the specialist had not been a good lay.

Stella's curiosity settled once Flora informed her of another rumour, a particularly interesting one that Dufour and Bohara – their potions teacher – were intimate. Musa wondered who she'd heard that one from, but Flora had changed the subject before Musa could ask – or even fully process the information.

"How was Shadowhaunt?"

"Oh, awful. I do not recommend it for you next vacation. It was dark and dirty."

"And wet in Stella's case." Bloom chuckled at the confused glances that were thrown her way. Out of the corner of her eye, Musa saw the dirty look that Stella gave the redhead which only served to increase her own curiosity. "She jumped off a cliff into a river."

"What?" "The fuck?!" "HUH?"

"It was..." Stella waved her hand dismissively, as if that would stop them from asking what the fuck she had been thinking.

"Are you insane?"

"What were you thinking?!"

"I wasn't! Brandon fell and he was in danger, and it was just... instinct. I didn't exactly think it through."

"Yeah, that checks out" Musa laughed. She loved Stella – though anyone that heard how they spoke to each other sometimes would doubt that – but the blonde did have a habit of not thinking things through.

"Hey!"

"Well... it was stupid, but I guess it was kinda romantic too" Flora sighed dreamily. Musa shoveled a forkful of scrambled egg into her mouth to stop herself from pointing out that people only did shit like that in movies – and if they were Stella, apparently. Flora had a romantic heart; it didn't take a genius to figure that out. Musa just didn't see the great deal to romance. Micah had done the whole flowers and chocolates with handwritten love notes thing all the time and he'd cheated on her. She would much rather have someone who challenged her, but who's devotion to her was unquestionable.

"Yeah, I guess it kind of was. Even if you did almost give me a heart attack" Bloom admitted. Tecna shook her head and Musa found herself thankful that she had lucked out with the roommate that wasn't a big sap for romance.

"I've spoken to your parents multiple times over the last few days. Now, to spare you any further punishment, I have told them you were under medical care for the last two days and still sleeping." Aisha commended the woman for the lie – though it was probably also to save her own ass. It was certainly wiser than telling them the truth; they were probably furious enough that she'd snuck off in the first place. "Before you call them, I do want to say that, should you want to stay, Alfea would be happy to welcome you."

Aisha raised her eyebrow. She hadn't even considered staying. It had just seemed so obvious that once the pixies were rescued, she would go home. Home, where the only thing that awaited her was rules and a near-suffocating amount of pressure. At Alfea, she could just be Aisha; let herself be a normal girl even if it was only for a bit. Maybe it wasn't all that awful an idea, she would just have to figure out how to get them to agree.

"King Teredor, Queen Niobe, good morning. I'm very happy to say that Aisha is awake and well." Faragonda flipped the screen as she announced that she would give them the room. It appeared that Faragonda hadn't told them about her adventures to Shadowhaunt the first time around either because, before she could even speak, her parents were telling her about how worried they'd been, how they had plain-clothes soldiers scouring Magix trying to find her and how relieved they'd been when Faragonda had gotten into contact with the Androsian embassy. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay. A little sore -" because she'd just gotten back from another spelunking adventure in the underworld "-but okay."

"Thank the Gods" her mother said, clutching the collar of her dress. Aisha recognised it as one of her everyday favourites. It wasn't fancy, but it was still a full skirt with a high collar. Modest and elegant; the two things her parents had strove for in appearance. "We'll send a ship to get you right away. You must be so looking forward to coming home."

"And we can't wait to have you home, where you belong."

Aisha took a deep breath. She'd been working up the courage to suggest staying at Alfea, but it seemed the universe didn't care to let her take her time. Forcing herself completely upright in the chair, Aisha tucked her hair behind her ears and forced the most confident and composed look she could. "About that: I would like to stay at Alfea. Headmistress Faragonda had extended an offer to have me jo-"

"Absolutely not" her father replied, cutting her off. The king was usually so supportive of hearing Aisha out that the immediate dismissal surprised her. For all his rules and restrictions, he was so encouraging of her forming and voicing her opinions. She would be the first ruling queen of Andros and he wanted her to rule like a king, with the same confidence, power and respect as a king.

"But I've made some really wonderful friends an-"

"Aisha, darling, we are not letting you stay in Magix. Your father has already refused it and I one hundred percent agree."

"Would you please just hear me out. Dad, you always say that I should be able to support my arguments if I want the courts to agree with me and I think you should give me a chance to do so."

"Very well" Teredor agreed reluctantly. She saw the uncertain glance her mother shot him, but Aisha elected to ignore it. It was a lucky she was good on her feet and, as much as it had been a pain, had been drilled into always analysing how her actions would affect her realm and her people.

"First and foremost, Prince Skylark is in Magix. Being able to befriend him would be good for strengthening our alliance with Eraklyon. I've also befriended Princess Galatea of Melody's cousin. I believe working that friendship could get her to introduce me to her cousin and, during my reign, form an alliance with Melody. They are, after all, one of the closest realms to us, not to mention one of the most culturally influential given that they control a significant portion of the entertainment industry. Finally, my roommate is Princess Stella of Solaria. We all know Andros could benefit from an alliance with one of the strongest militaries in the dimension."

"Interesting..."

"Interesting? Teredor, you can't possibly... So far from home..." Aisha schooled her face to remain impassive, but she felt like screaming. She had just laid out a great reason for her to stay – for Andros' future – and her mother was really going to go with the everything outside of Andros is too dangerous argument. Everything inside of Andros could be dangerous too; how did she not get that? "It could be dangerous."

Predictable.

"Everything is dangerous" Aisha snapped. She had never snapped at her parents before – at least not since Teremun died. As a child, she'd hated the way they dressed her and the expectations they set for her, and she'd had no qualms about telling them so. Then her brother had died, and her world had changed; talking back would result in being locked away to think about her attitude, eventually wearing her down so much that it was better to just suck it up. But now, once those three words had left her lips, the rest came out like word vomit. "I'm going to be queen one day. You can't keep me locked up until then. I understand that you have expectations of me, and you worry about me. I understand that something happening to me ends our family's reign, but I need to be allowed to live. What kind of queen can't socialise beyond polite small talk? What kind of queen has never seen the world beyond her own palace? I nee-"

"Aisha." Her father gave her a stern look. She knew it well; it was the one that usually preceded her being locked in her bedroom until she apologised for whatever she'd said. There would be no apologies this time. She hadn't done anything wrong. "Your mother and I will talk it over."

Well, that was unexpected.

"Okay, yeah" she mumbled, needing a moment to make her thoughts cohesive after the curveball she'd been thrown. Never since she'd taken the heir position had there been consideration of what she'd wanted if it didn't align with what they wanted. Her parents loved her, she didn't so much question that, but they'd always wanted her to be a clone of themselves and she wasn't sure she could be. She agreed with a lot of their ideas, but whether that was because they were good or because she didn't know any other way of thinking, she couldn't be sure.

Having Bloom back – and all the others, of course – was such a relief. Two days of waking up to an empty bed had given Flora flashbacks to the war. The pixies were safe and now, hopefully, they could settle in for a nice, quiet year. If all went according to plan, the worst thing this year would be exams. No battles, no heartbreaks, no switched identities, no injuries and certainly no death. Just a whole lot of studying and hanging out.

"Some third years told me that second year is much harder than first." Flora flipped the page of her book. It was one of the girls in the greenhouse – Marcia, also from Linphea – who had told her. Marcia had said that, even though she'd done well in her first year, she hadn't been prepared for how much tougher classes were in second year. That had made Flora incredibly nervous; they hadn't even gotten to finish their first year, would they be ready for their second?

"Yes, I have heard that too, so we should be taking our studies seriously" Tecna agreed, glaring up at Stella who was resting on the couch with her feet hanging over the arm, filing her nails. Musa looked up at Stella too, and she and Tecna shared an eye roll.

Bloom took a seat beside Flora on the floor, propping her book up on her knees. "I hope you had good teachers on Andros because I can tell you from experience that not knowing what's going on freaking sucks."

"I doubt I'll get to stay." Aisha had told them about Faragonda's offer to let her remain at Alfea, but she kept saying that she didn't think her parents would accept it. Flora hoped they would. What little she knew of Aisha told her that she would like the princess.

"Of course she had good teachers, she's royalty" Stella laughed, finally sitting up and opening the book that had been resting on her stomach for the better part of the last half hour.

"The best Andros had to offer" Aisha announced with an eye roll. "All of them with a stick up their ass."

"Sounds about right. Most royalty and people around them have sticks up their asses" Musa chuckled. Flora took a deep breath. She could see the storm coming. It always did whenever Musa voiced her less-than-favorable opinions about everything royal, which, given, how little Musa hesitated to give her opinion, was often. Flora understood why Musa hated the royal life so much – having basically been forced into it – but her opinions on royalty always caused fights and Flora hated when they fought.

"Are they really that bad?" Bloom asked innocently.

"Excuse you" Stella scoffed. "I don't have a stick up my ass."

"I said most."

"Girls" Flora groaned.

"And you're royalty too."

"Not according to you."

"If y-" Stella was interrupted by a most perfectly timed knock at the door. Flora could kiss whoever was at the door. Their squabble was about two or three comments from reaching screaming level. Flora got up to open the door. A school messenger waited patiently at the door with a broad smile on his face.

"Good evening, a message from Headmistress Faragonda."

Flora took the folded paper from his hand and, before she could thank him, he was off to the next door. She opened the paper and read it silently as she walked back to the girls. She looked up at the window where a storm raged, droplets splattering against their window and trees whipping in the wind, then back down at her friends. "It says we're to meet her out by the lake."

"Where? The lake is huge..."

"There are coordinates" Flora answered, flipping the page around to show Tecna the indicated coordinates. The technological fairy opened her computer and inputted the coordinated.

"Does it say why?" Musa asked.

"It's pouring out there..." Stella grumbled.

"It doesn't, just to meet her out there right away."

"Does that include me?" Aisha questioned. The girls exchanged uncertain glances.

"Might as well come in case you end up staying." Bloom shrugged before they split off to gather raincoats, rainboots and put on real clothes.

They trekked out to the meeting point in the storm. Despite her large hood, Bloom found herself being hit with raindrops that were being sent in every direction by blustery winds. Flying had been considered, but she wasn't a huge fan of being blown away – neither were the others – so they settled for walking. Stella complained the whole way, though, really, Bloom couldn't blame her. When she'd come to fairy school, this was not what she'd pictured. Not that anything that happened at the end of first year was either...

When they arrived, Bloom was surprised to find that all of the second year girls had been called. For some reason she'd had it in her mind that it was just their dorm. Faragonda stood by the water in front of a large black stone. It must have been at least twenty or thirty feet high and wide enough to fit their entire class. How she hadn't noticed it while they were walking up to the headmistress was a mystery to her.

"Thank you all for coming." Faragonda explained that the monolith – as the headmistress called it – had appeared unexpectedly. Bloom looked over the imposing stone wondering how something to big could just appear out of thin air. Even with the storm raging, there must have been some sort of quake as it appeared. "I would like you girls to destroy it."

"What? Why?" Amaryl questioned, speaking what Bloom was sure all the girls were thinking. She knew she certainly was.

"It's sudden appearance is concerning to me an-"

"So call the cops! Don-"

"I have. They seem uninterested..." Faragonda replied, cutting off Amaryl's annoyed exclamation.

"That is unsurprising considering they were nowhere to be found during the trix's siege of the city" Tecna mumbled behind her.

"...I would like you all to give it our best shots."

Resigning themselves to giving the headmistress what she wanted, the twenty-some girls left in Alfea's second year class transformed. They gave their best efforts and strongest blasts to little result. The monolith stood strong. Curses and groans escaped the girls' lips, many wondering what the fuck this thing is made of.

Many girls dropped out within the first twenty minutes and by half an hour in, she and Christianne were the only two left. Bloom could tell she was getting tired and that her attacks were doing little to take down the stone, but she was determined to succeed; her dad always said that determination and hard work was half of success. She had to succeed. She was the keeper of the strongest power in the universe – and she was already struggling in classes. She needed to prove to everyone – and herself – that she wasn't a waste of power, that the flame was well placed with her. That's why when, after close to thirty-five minutes, Christianne gave up, Bloom kept going.

Waiting for Stella to finish showering had taken forever. It was one of the things she would be happy about when she did go home: being able to shower when she wanted. And sit where she wanted. As it was, she refused to sit anywhere in the room other than the bed they'd put in for her. Her first night here, when Stella had been lending her pants, she'd been told not to touch the blonde's stuff. Stories of Flora's plants ruining Stella's clothes and makeup had been shared and Aisha really didn't want to receive any of her wrath. That Bloom and Stella – and the others – had been so gracious to her when she'd messed up and somehow forced Bloom to accompanying her back to Shadowhaunt was a miracle; she wasn't going to ruin things by accidentally getting mud on one of Stella's many one-of-a-kind pieces.

The hot water felt amazing on her skin. It stung her bruises and cuts – the few that were left – and made her feel rejuvenated. Showers and baths had been her escape for the longest time. When she was little, their pool had been. She would splash around and do laps in the pool for hours when she could. Then Teremun had died and her parents had grown even more overprotective. She wasn't allowed to do anything alone anymore. Secret service agents would stand guard over her when she swam and, while she knew they were just doing their jobs, it made her uncomfortable. Eventually, she stopped. Her only way to spend time in the water without having her every move watched was showers and baths, so she would sometimes take baths that lasted for hours. When she had stressful days and no time to herself, she would sometimes forgo sleep to take a bath, often staying until the early hours of the morning and her entire body was pruny.

When she finally joined the girls in the common room, Flora was boiling water and preparing cups of tea or cocoa. She offered Aisha a cup, but Aisha refused. She'd never cared much for hot beverages. Plain water was better anyways. Musa softly strummed a guitar, eyes glazed over as she seemingly paid very little attention to the girls around her. Tecna and Stella sat on the couch, absent-mindedly picking from a box of cookies. Bloom was still nowhere to be seen.

"This new kitchenette is really fantastic" Stella commented as she shoved a cookie into her mouth and happily accepted a cup of cocoa from Flora. "We can keep so many more snacks in our dorm. No more late-night trips to the kitchen."

"How many light-night trips to the kitchen did you take?"

"That's not important" Stella replied, waving at Tecna dismissively. "I won't need to anymore."

"I wonder how long Bloom is going to be out there" Flora wondered aloud after a particularly nasty gust of wind rattled the windows. The flower fairy placed a cup of tea beside Musa, who smiled up at her appreciatively.

"It cannot be that much longer. Even the Dragon's Flame does not give her infinite energy."

"I hope not. She'll catch her death out there." Flora looked out the window worriedly, as if she could see past the rain and trees to where the redhead was likely still blasting away at the monolith. Aisha couldn't for the life of her figure out why Faragonda was asking her students to get rid of it when the headmistress was no doubt capable of doing it herself.

"I'm sure sh-" Stella started, only to be cut off by a knock at the door. Five sets of eyes turned towards the door and, from her spot across from the couch, Aisha could see the way Stella's brows furrowed in irritation. "Why are people always knocking while I'm speaking?"

Tecna was the first to move from the couch. When she opened the door, Griselda was standing in an unflattering grey nightgown with a bathrobe thrown over it. Her glasses were perched on her nose, tired eyes glaring over them. "Good evening ladies -"

"Hardly" Stella mumbled.

"Princess Aisha, we have received word from your parents" Griselda continued, ignoring the blonde's comment. Aisha lifted her head, anticipating the rejection of her proposal. "They've accepted to let you stay."

"Oh goodie!" Flora smiled, clapping her hands together.

Aisha blinked twice. She must have misheard. Was there any word that sounded similar to accepted that she might have misunderstood? "Did you hear me?"

Oh, it was real. "Really?"

"Yes. If you would please come with me, we will need to select your classes." Aisha stood up in a daze and followed the head of discipline out. Her parents had accepted to let her stay. Something she had said had convinced them. She couldn't believe it.

"We've already received your schooling transcripts from your private tutors. Based off what you've studied, we assume you are up to par with – if not possibly a bit more advanced than – the average second-year student. We'll be putting you in those classes starting tomorrow, but Miss Faragonda would like to have you do some testing over the weekend just to be certain." Aisha nodded dumbly, half registering what the woman said. She was still far too busy doing a mental happy dance to care if she had to do some stupid placement tests. She would take all the placement tests they wanted if it meant she would actually get to stay – and maybe get to be her own person for once.

Their first Technical Incantations class was outside. Tecna could not for the life of her figure out why. Faragonda had met them in the classroom that the course was supposed to take place and requested that the students follow her. From her classmates' chatter, Tecna deduced that they were as confused by the turn of events as she was.

"Excuse me, Miss Faragonda, why are we outside?" Dahlia questioned. Tecna had noticed over the last year that Dahlia seemed to detest the outdoors. Any time they had a class that took them beyond the school building, she grumbled and moaned the whole time. Tecna knew this for a fact because she and Dahlia shared most of their classes last year.

"Your professor will be meeting us there." Tecna waited for Faragonda to say more but she didn't, merely continued walking straight ahead and calling out the occasional instruction when she would be turning.

"What's this professor like?" Aisha asked. Bloom shrugged in response.

"I have heard that he is one of the best and brightest in his field." Tecna was really looking forward to this class. It had previously been taught by Professor Vermon, who had retired at the end of last year after close to fifty-seven years at Alfea. Professor Vermon, while apparently a rather entertaining teacher, had a reputation for being rather lazy with the grading and the assignments. She wanted a teacher that would challenge her and broaden her educational horizons; this professor promised to do just that.

"Heard? Have you never met him?"

"He's new" Flora told the princess, who merely nodded in acceptance of the answer. Tecna liked Aisha fine – she wasn't very loud or self-centered, and she was respectful of their space – but she didn't immediately take to her. Not that Tecna every really immediately took to anyone except maybe Musa and Timmy. "Apparently he used to teach at some really prestigious academy."

"I wonder why he left" Bloom asked, brushing her hair out of her face. One of the many reasons Tecna preferred short hair was not having it blow in her face when it was windy. As a child, she'd had long hair and she had found herself annoyed by it frequently.

"Maybe it was scandal. Like he was having an affair with a student or something?"

"Stell, this isn't a TV show" Musa laughed. "Alfea is probably just paying him more."

"I don't think I'd want a teacher that gets involved with his students anyways. That's super creepy." Tecna and Flora agreed with Bloom's statement, earning an eye roll from Stella. S: "It d-"

"Alright ladies" Faragonda stopped, gathering the girls around her. Tecna had brought them back to the monolith, a fact which wasn't lost on her classmates, who pointed to it and whispered to each other curiously. What the suddenly appearing object had to do with a technical class, Tecna couldn't begin to guess. "I trust you all had a restful evening. Welcome to your first Technical Incantations class. I am very happy to introduce our new professor, a master in his field, Professor Avalon."

An older man, maybe in his mid-fifties, with long, dark hair tied in a sleek, low ponytail and a strong square jaw walked up to them, greeting the girls with a familiarity that seemed incredibly off-putting and fake to Tecna. Despite what Stella's numerous magazines said about light colours washing out pale skin – which the blonde had pointed out to fair-skinned Tecna on multiple occasions – Professor Avalon managed to still pop, as Stella would say, in his white suit and light blue shirt.

"Oh, he is gorgeous. He could f-"

"Hey, isn't that the paladin from the caves?" Tecna heard Aisha whisper to Bloom, who mumbled that she was pretty sure he was. How could he have been in the caves with them? What would he have been doing in Shadowhaunt? It didn't seem the place for a distinguished professor, certainly not one that was set to start a position at a top-tier school a few days later. They must be mistaken, Tecna rationalised. Maybe the paladin from Bloom and Aisha's story simply looked like Avalon. That would be much more logical.

"Professor, could you please destroy the stone for us?"

Avalon nodded politely, saying a few words in a language Tecna did not understand. It certainly wasn't the popular tongue – the universal language of Magix – or Zenithi. It didn't sound like any other language she'd heard before either. She hoped technical incantations didn't require her to learn a whole new language, that would be hard to fit into her schedule.

The monolith disappeared. It didn't crumble or fall, but simply vanished from existence. The spot on the lake where it had protruded remained calm, undisturbed. It was as if the stone had never existed at all.

"How is that possible? We spent most of our energy trying to destroy it and he just mumbles a few words, and it vanishes..." Dahlia exclaimed.

"What you girls have witnessed is a technical incantation at work. It is much different than what you are used to, which is using your magic instinctively. It will require you to analyze the situation logically and then perform the spell through proper pronunciation. I realise that it sounds easy but let me assure you: it is not. The mispronunciation of a single letter can have damning consequences."

Tecna stood dumbly as the other girls in the class ooh-ed and aww-ed at Avalon's skill. They had forced them all out into the pouring rain to push themselves to near breaking point – poor Bloom had basically passed out the minute she reached the dorm – and for what? To demonstrate that Avalon knew how to do what he had been hired to teach? As some ridiculous way for him to demonstrate his ability?

"Thank you, headmistress. I look forward to an exciting year." Avalon smiled at the students. They all fawned at his smile as if he were one of those boyband singers Stella liked instead of their teacher. Tecna could already see this going badly. She didn't know why, but she just didn't like him. "Before we begin our introductory lesson, I'd like to open up the floor to any questions."