I'm updating so fast! XD I just wanted to get the Special Chapters over with so that we can go on with the story after this. I mean, it is fun to write, but I don't think you guys want me to spend an eternity on those.

I hope you guys enjoy this one too :D

Special Chapter 2: Palladium's Thoughts

"Girls, in today's class, you need to learn to listen to the voice of nature."

As always, no one in the class is really paying much attention… I wish they would.

"Professor Palladium! A mosquito bit me!"

It's Francine again. Of course you'd get mosquito bites in a swamp…

"Yes, well we are near a swamp and it's only a mosquito, no big deal."

"But it bit me right here…"

Oh my! Sh-She's lifting her shorts up to high!

"Well… I… Uh… What I meant was…"

A few of the fairies laugh at me. This isn't my day either is it? I wish they'd show me some respect. At least Onyx is not laughing at me. She's actually frowning at Francine and her crew which makes them stop laughing. It makes me happy that there's a student looking out for me, but it kind of hurts my pride that I can't look out for myself. I should just get on with the assignment.

"No magic is allowed in this assignment. Remember to close your eyes and open your ears to the voice of nature."

I then cast a vanishing spell on myself, leaving them in the Black-Mud Swamp. I then teleport myself to the clearing of Gloomy-Wood forest since this is where our meeting point and the assignment's end is.

When I get there, I use my magic to have a clear view of everyone, so that I could evaluate them properly.

Most of them are doing great. No one's using magic either at this point. What's this? Onyx' team can't seem to hear the Voice of Nature? Flora says that nature is scared of Onyx. I sigh. Even nature misunderstands her.

Is that a Red Fountain airship? It's crashing! I should go help out… Oh! Onyx' group is already on their way. I guess they probably won't need me immediately. I'll interfere if any of them is in danger. It seems like they're setting out to find a creature that escaped from the Red Fountain boys. I shouldn't just focus on Onyx' team! The others also need me to evaluate them.

Some of the fairies actually sneak in a bit of magic to find their way. Well, if this were a real test, I'd fail them. Of course, they think it's a real test, which makes their actions all the worse.

It seems like Onyx' team is encountering the Quietous Carnivorous. Flora knows they hate noise, but Stella still doesn't heed her warning and gets the plant angry. Onyx doesn't seem amused by it. She's actually threatening the plant. For some reason she looks really adorable doing that.

After a quick check on the other teams, I check back on Onyx's team. They're crossing a river by jumping over slabs of earth. This could be dangerous… I'll interfere if something happens. Oh no! One of the Red Fountain boys lost his footing. Onyx jumps after him. The current is too strong, they could both drown! I have to do something before… Onyx! She transforms and gets them both out. I know I said no magic is allowed, but I'm glad she used it. It's good to have a mind of your own and not blindly follow rules and orders. Besides, she looks stunning…

A lot of fairies start to arrive at our meeting place. Lastly, Onyx' team arrives in the Red Fountain ship, since it was getting pretty late. They come face to face with me. For some reason, Onyx is avoiding my eyes completely.

"You girls are finally here, I see. Congratulations to everyone for completing this assignment. I must say that I am impressed with some of you, while I am disappointed with others. Nonetheless, I have decided not to put a grade on this assignment, but to keep it as an exercise. Class is dismissed. Let us all return to Alfea, now."

I then turn to Onyx. I want to congratulate her on how well she did, but doing that in front of the other students might create some misunderstandings; especially that she broke the rules of the assignment.

"I'd like to see you in my office after this, Onyx."

When we get back to Alfea, I go straight to my office. I have so many things to do… After a few hours, I hear someone knock on the door. Who could that be? I should clean up to make place for whoever it is.

"Come in!"

I look to see who it is and I immediately smile when I see Onyx. What is she doing here? Not that I'm complaining or anything.

"Onyx! Go sit in the chair; I'll be right with you."

I put away the stuff in my hands while she sits down. I then go sit at my desk.

"So, what brings you here, Onyx?"

"Didn't you tell me to come to your office after the assignment?"

I did…? I did! I'm such an airhead sometimes.

"Oh yes! That's right! I'm sorry it completely slipped my mind. Yes, so I called you here to talk about your performance in the assignment."

She nods at me while smiling. Her smile then disappears.

"You're disappointed, aren't you, Professor?"

I widen my eyes.

"Disappointed? Why would I be?"

She did so great in that exercise.

"Well, I used magic when you specifically said that it wasn't allowed…"

"You really think I'd be upset about that?"

She blinks a few times at me. She can really be adorable sometimes.

"You're… not?"

"Not at all, that was a matter of life or death. If you hadn't jumped in to rescue your friends, I would've."

She sighs in relief. She actually thought I called her to my office because I wanted to criticize and reprimand her. That's probably all that the Ankelons did to her.

"I think that was the first time I've seen a Dark Ankelon transformation. It was pretty impressive."

"Impressive?"

She hangs her head low after hearing that. Did I say something wrong?

"Of course. Is something wrong?"

"I… no one has ever said anything positive about it."

I guess that makes me the first one. I kind of feel happy at the thought, even though it isn't something good that no one has ever complimented her on that before.

"But it's such a beauti-… No! I mean it's a very… umm… good transformation! Yes!"

I then instinctively scratch the back of my head and start looking around while laughing nervously. How could I even let that slip up like that?

"Th-Thank you, Professor Palladium."

"I told you that you can call me P-Palladium outside of class."

We're both stuttering. Did I just make things really awkward? She seems happy, though. She gets up. Why is she getting up?

"You're leaving already?"

"Yeah, my next class is soon."

"Oh… Alright, it's good to be a… well good student. If you ever need any help for any of your classes, don't hesitate to come and talk to me. Of course, if… if you need anything else, I'm also always happy to help."

She giggles and nods.

"Thank you Palladium."

She then leaves the office. I wish we had more time together. My heart can't seem to stop beating so fast. But she's my student! I can't feel like that towards her… It's not right. I lean on my desk and burry my face in one of my hands. This is really… painful for some reason.

The next day, during class, I announce that they'll be having a pop quiz today. Right then, one of the students starts moaning in pain. Of course there'd be at least one that does that trick… Worst is that all the other students are now pressuring me to take her to the Infirmary. Alright, you win again…

She dramatically and excessively leans on me for support.

"Take it easy, Anabelle, we're almost there."

She still keeps whining. I reach to open the door of the Infirmary.

"It hurts… I really don't feel so good, Professor."

"Alright, alright. I'll take care of you. Just hang in there until we reach the Infirmary."

We get into the Infirmary and I sit her down on the bed. I notice someone else in the room. I turn around and see… Onyx! Is she hurt?

"Ah, Onyx! Did something happen? Did you hurt yourself?"

I rush to Onyx to see what's wrong

"No, it's nothing. I just need a bandage."

She then immediately turns away from me. She looks upset. What happened? She then gets a bandage from the first-aid kit and wraps her finger. She is hurt!

"Onyx, let me see."

"It's alright. I have to hurry back to the kitchen, everyone's probably waiting."

She hurries out of the Infirmary. Why? She seems so distant all of a sudden. Maybe this is just a wakeup call for me. It's to tell me that nothing can or should ever happen between a student and her teacher. I should've known that from the start, but I still let my weak self fall into all of this. It doesn't matter anymore. I'm nothing more than her teacher, and she is nothing more than my student.

If you liked it, tell me. If you didn't like it, also tell me. XD Just tell me! I wanna know! What's even more fun than writing for me is reading your reviews! I get so excited when I get a notification that someone reviewed. I mean, I also love it when you follow and favourite, but when you review I can take your opinion into consideration. If I didn't get the review for Palladium's POV, I would've never done it.

So review! XD I really love reading and replying to your reviews.