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Chapter 17: Malfunction

Today's the day! The exam… I'm stressing out. I'm not the only one, though. Flora has been a nervous wreck for the whole week. The girls and I all head to the simulation room where Professor Palladium is already there, waiting for us. I feel really uncomfortable seeing him again. Ever since yesterday, I feel like he only views me as a student. It almost seems like he's making a conscious effort to make me see that I'm nothing but one of his students. Not even glancing my way, he starts explaining how today will proceed.

"Alright ladies, in a few minutes we'll begin. You'll go one at a time."

He then turns to the computer and starts powering it on.

"I'm just so nervous!"

Musa says to Flora.

"Yeah, same here. I hope I don't have to go first."

Flora voices her worries.

"I think it might be better to go first. That way you get it over with and then it's off your mind."

Stella says casually. Bloom doesn't seem to be listening to any of this, though. She just looks really fascinated by how Professor Palladium is working the computer. Once he's done, he turns towards us.

"Alright, do I have a volunteer who would like to go first?"

Nobody seems like they want to. Not even Stella… I'm not volunteering for that either.

"I knew this would happen. I guess I'll be picking who goes first."

He looks at everyone, while still avoiding me. What is up with him? Now he's just being unfair!

"Bloom! Which one of the tests do you choose?"

"Um…"

Bloom looks surprised at being chosen to go first.

"Well, the second option sir… I want to work on a damaged environment."

After Bloom says her choice, Professor Palladium motions for her to step forward.

"Come on, then. You can choose the environment. What would you like?"

"Hmm… Well, I'd like a desolate environment. The most desolate possible."

She seems confident. After clicking on a few buttons, Professor Palladium starts explaining things to Bloom.

"There's this place called Domino. It's one of the saddest most miserable places in the magical dimension. Have you ever heard of Domino?"

He asks Bloom.

"No, I've never heard of it."

She answers. I've personally learnt about it back in Infinite Castle. It's a planet of legends, the chosen planet by the Great Dragon as its final resting place. It became a desolate, barren planet after being attacked by the Ancestral Witches in an attempt to gain the Dragon Flame. The King and Queen were dragged along with the Witches to Obsidian, where they're all trapped there. Nymph Daphne is actually the daughter of the King and Queen of Domino. Not much is known about her whereabouts. It is also rumoured that she might have a younger sister. Not much is known about that one either. I doubt any of the fairies here know about this. Maybe just the professors and the headmistress would know.

"As soon as you enter the simulation room, Domino will appear around you. Are you ready?"

Professor Palladium asks Bloom.

"Yes, I brought a few ingredients and some potions with me. Can I take them along?"

"You may take whatever is of help to you."

He then opens the door to the simulation room and Bloom walks in. We all then see her on the screen in the control room. Professor Palladium then goes and sits on the chair in front of the computer. After pushing a few buttons, a virtual rendition of Domino appears all around Bloom. After she looks around at her environment, Bloom reaches in her bag. Kiko, her pet rabbit, then immediately jumps out. She seems really surprised by it. He must've snuck in. Bloom then takes out a few seed and concentrates her magic to sprout some plants.

While she's doing that, the three witches materialize behind her.

"What?"

Flora exclaims.

"What are those three doing here?"

Musa retorts.

"Bloom's in danger!"

Stella screams.

"They shouldn't be able to hurt her, since this is a simulation."

Tecna says, but I still sense a bit of worry in her voice. What are they doing here, indeed? Is it part of the exam? No, it shouldn't be. The three then start attacking Bloom. I won't stand for this! I go up to Professor Palladium.

"Stop the simulation!"

"I'm trying, but it won't respond!"

"Can't you just shut it down?"

"These things don't work that way, Onyx. If I force it shut, we might lose all of the data."

"Who cares about the data when Bloom's in danger?!"

"She's not in danger! Three witches are just as virtual as everything else."

I clench my fists as I see Bloom struggling against them, even after transforming. It's obvious that their purpose isn't to get rid of Bloom. There's something else. It's like they're testing her. The three of them then started targeting Kiko, sending him falling down a bottomless pit! They're trying to provoke her! I'm sure of it. I then sense a surge of power, similar to the one back in Magix coming from Bloom. The Dragon Flame. Bloom was then engulfed and surrounded by flames. The flames grew and disintegrated the witches. The system then started spawning a lot of copies of Kiko. It seems to be malfunctioning, but at least Bloom was able to find the real Kiko unharmed. Professor Palladium was finally able to shut that thing down. Everyone then rushes in the simulation room to check up on Bloom. I'm glad she's fine, but I can't help worrying about what just happened. I should definitely talk to headmistress Faragonda about that.

Professor Palladium announces that the test will be postponed to tomorrow, to have enough time to fix up the computer after what happened. Everyone cheers for Bloom, but I can't help but frown. Not because it's postponed, but because of the unease I'm feeling. While they're all busy cheering for Bloom, I slip outside the classroom, heading straight for Faragonda's office.

I knock on her door.

"Come in."

As I step inside her office, I see her sitting at her desk with a serious face.

"Oh, Onyx. What can I do for you?"

She smiles at me, but I can still see that she's preoccupied by something.

"Headmistress, I have some things that are concerning me."

"I'm listening."

She motions to the chair across her desk. I take a seat.

"About today's test in the simulation room, something very strange happened."

Faragonda nods.

"Yes, I've witnessed everything from here."

"That makes things easier. I just found it really odd that the three witches would just plant virtual images of themselves into the simulation without any ulterior motive. I doubt it's something as superficial as tormenting Bloom."

"Oh? What is your opinion on that?"

"Well… I'm pretty sure that Bloom is in possession of the Dragon Flame."

"The Dragon Flame?!"

It seems like Headmistress Faragonda didn't know about that part.

"Yes, this is the second time I've sensed that power from her. Of course, she has no idea that she possesses it. That's why, my theory is that the witches sensed it the first time, and wanted concrete proof of that."

Faragonda nods, her eyes wide open.

"It did seem like they were doing everything to provoke her. I think you might be right on that one. I just have one favour to ask you."

"Yes?"

"Don't tell Bloom or anyone about this. Not yet, at least. If it is true that the witches are targeting the Dragon Flame, then we should keep it undercover until Bloom becomes strong enough to hold her own against them."

"Yeah, I think that would be best as well."

Faragonda then smiles at me.

"Thank you, Onyx. You really are exceptional to have figured something like that out."

I smile at her compliment. It makes me happy to hear that I'm being useful with my powers. I leave Faragonda's office and start heading towards my next class. This time it'll be a history exam.

"Onyx! Wait!"

I turn around and find Professor Palladium calling out to me. I don't have time for this…

"What is it?"

"I want to know why you were so agitated about what happened today, even though I told you that Bloom couldn't be harmed."

"That's none of your concern."

"It is, since I was the one controlling the computer."

"Well, you should've controlled it better. Now, if you'll excuse me, I don't want to be late for my next test."

I have nothing to say to him. The fact that he didn't trust me on this and closed the computer might now put Bloom in even more danger. I'm done with him. He's just another professor. I have much bigger things to worry about right now.

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