Special Chapter 6: Palladium's Thoughts

There's been so much going on with the tests and the sudden malfunction that I've barely had enough time to do anything else. And today I'm supposed to go take care of the plants in the garden. Good thing I'll have Flora there to help out. If it was Onyx, it'd be quite the challenge...

I catch myself smiling at the thought of her. No. This is not right. I bring my hands up to my face and sigh.

"Professor Palladium! Is something the matter? You look more worried than usual."

I look down to Professor Wizgiz who was passing up me in the hallway. I try to put on my best attempt at a smile.

"It's just that I feel very swamped with everything that's been happening."

"Yeah. It's not fun having that little accident happen during the test. That machine malfunctioned not once, but twice! It's just that second time was because of Onyx' magic being a bit too strong for it. Maybe we should build it to accommodate Ankelons from now on, haha...!"

I zoned out after that. When Professor Wizgiz starts talking, it's very hard for him to stop.

I head to the garden when Flora is already there. I smile, seeing my student working so diligently.

"I see you've already started without me."

Flora turns to me and smiles.

"I just couldn't help myself. There are so many rare and beautiful plants here."

We both then work together, checking the plants and making sure they're all healthy. I got to say, this is taking less time than usual. Flora really has a very special bond with plants. I see her looking after some plants a bit further away. I lose sight of her after that. That's fine. I trust she can handle things.

After working for a bit, I notice the plants becoming restless. Some of them started drying up really fast. What's happening here? I check them with my magic, trying to communicate with them, but it's as if... they're frightened. Maybe Flora would know something about this.

"Flora! The plants are acting strangely. Come see."

I wait for a bit and see her reappearing. I look back at the plants and see the life coming back to them.

"Yes, Professor Palladium?"

I tilt my head in confusion.

"Strange... The plants seem fine now. Just a few seconds ago, they were completely frightened."

"Oh... Actually I know why that happened."

I look up to her.

"Really? What happened?"

"Onyx was just here."

My eyes widen slightly as I come to the realization. She probably wanted to come see the garden, but realized that she couldn't because of her nature...

"It looks like she left right away, though."

"Yeah, she didn't seem like she was doing well. She's been feeling quite down lately."

Why? Is it because of me?

"You don't seem to be looking too good either, Professor. Is everything alright?"

"Yeah. Let's just get back to work..."

The whole time while we worked, I couldn't stop thinking about Onyx. I just hope she's not feeling too down. I wish I could see her... Hug her... Comfort her... But this is all just my selfishness. I just want to feel her body against my own. I want to keep her in my arms and share each other's warmth. But this is all wrong. I cannot fall in love with my student. After we finish up, I go back to my office and try to not think about her by drowning myself in paperwork...

It's already spring break. I was able to give back everyone's grades for my classes. Even though some failed, the average is pretty good for the class. This year sure does have some very promising students.

Now that the exams are done, I need to start preparing for the second half of the term. Most of the girls went back to their home world to spend the break there.

I stretch after having worked for so long on my desk. I get up and decide to get out of my office. Looking through the window, I realize that the sun is already setting. It still feels kind of odd to not have anyone in the school like that. Most of the teachers are either working or went back to their homes as well. It's quite peaceful I must say. As always, my mind wanders back to Onyx. I wonder what she decided to do with her break... While I'm lost in my thoughts, I turn around the corner and bump hard into someone and we both fall.

"Sorry... I didn't mean to..."

That voice...! I look up and see Onyx on the floor. She looks shocked to see me. Then I see tears falling down her cheeks but she immediately looks down to try and hide them. I feel my heart squeeze at the sight.

"Onyx! Are you alright?"

I get up and extend a hand to her. She then slaps my hand away. Onyx, please... Don't act this way... She then quickly gets up and runs away. I can't just leave her like this. I can't leave her. I can't bear to see her in so much pain. I run after her.

"Onyx! Stop!"

She takes a turn and I keep running after her. She comes up face to face with a wall. She then glances behind her and comes face to face with me. Her face is filled with so much sadness.

"Onyx, please... Don't do this to yourself."

She tries to run past me but I get a hold of her wrist and firmly keep my grip on her. I don't want to let her go anymore...

"Let me go!"

I then let my feelings take over. I pull her closer without a word and hug her tightly. I've been yearning for her warmth... It's over for me... I've completely fallen. I hear her sobbing in my arms.

"It's not fair! I keep trying to forget you! Why are you making this harder?!"

Her voice is half muffled in my chest.

"I don't know... I don't know what I'm doing anymore... I just can't stay away from you. Onyx, please forgive my selfishness."

I squeeze her tighter into my arms. I want to be closer to her. Her sweet scent intoxicates me.

"I don't think I can keep going without you. It's too painful. It hurts to see you in pain everyday, and it hurts to know that I'm the reason why you're hurt."

I feel her body relax in my arms, and she stops resisting my embrace. I loosen my grip to look into her eyes. She's so beautiful... I can't stop my desire for her anymore.

"Palladium... I... This is so hard-"

Before she could finish what she was saying, I crash my lips down on hers. This is the most amazing feeling... How could I resist her for so long? My heartbeat gets faster and I feel warmth envelop my whole body. Her lips are so soft... I then pull away and look into her eyes. Her face is flushed. She looks so adorable. I want her so much.

"I'm sorry, Onyx. I just can't resist you anymore."

I then push her gently against the wall bring my forehead to hers. We look into each others' eyes for a bit and then I smile softly at her. She looks so innocent and vulnerable from this angle. It makes me want to do everything to keep her safe. She smiles back. A wave of happiness fills me. I love her so much...

I kiss her again. This time, she seems more prepared for it and wraps her arms around my neck. This is... the happiest moment of my life.

After the spring break ends, there's still the flying exam that the girls need to get through. Onyx spent her break with me, while also practicing for that exam. I don't think she even needs any practice, since she's already much better than fairies at flying. We also spent some time talking about our relationship. We agreed that it was for the best to keep it secret, since it might cost me my job and her reputation if people discovered about our teacher-student relationship. As long as I'm with her, I'm happy.

I make my way to the indoor flying grounds with all the other teachers. The girls are not here yet. I go sit in the bleachers surrounding the arena until everyone gets here. The first years will be sitting right behind the teachers. I finally see Onyx and her friends making their way to the bleachers. She ends up sitting right behind me. I can't help but smile after seeing her. I turn around and give her a gentle smile. I see her blushing and she smiles back.

"Welcome, my dear students."

Everyone's attention shifts to Headmistress Faragonda, who was standing in the middle of the arena, facing all of us.

"Today I will personally evaluate your flying and reaction skills. This exam is very important in your growth as a fairy. And Ankelon."

She looks at Onyx and winks. One after the other, the fairies that are called pass their test. Some exceptions end up losing control and falling to the ground, but none of them get hurt. Headmistress Faragonda sometimes materializes some surprise obstacles to test the reflexes of the one taking the exam.

"Next is... Onyx!"

As she heads down, I wish her good luck. She looks a bit nervous.

"Alright then, please start by transforming."

She nods.

"By the power of light and darkness, transform!"

She's then enveloped in a black sphere. Even though I've seen her transform a few times already, it's still quite impressive. Such big black angel wings... She just looks so striking. I hear some of the fairies hushed exclamations of surprise. It's probably the first time for a lot of them to see an Ankelon transform.

Headmistress Faragonda and some of the teachers levitate some hoops and moving walls. The hoops are not stationary either. She's supposed to pass through each hoop and avoid the wall obstacles. Let's see how she does.

"You may begin."

As soon as Headmistress Faragonda says those words, Onyx flies up, her wings causing a gust of wind that reaches all the way to the bleachers, blowing my hair back. At high speed, she goes through the hoops, retracting her wings each time to fit through. After four hoops, she's met with a wall that she easily goes around. As soon as she does, projectiles are fired her way. I clench my fists, still a bit nervous for her. Her body moves gracefully as she avoids all of the projectiles. They however come around and chase her.

"Destruction Sphere!"

A small sphere leaves her hand and, as soon as it comes in contact with one of the projectiles, it enlarges and disintegrates all the others. She then flies to the rose and lands in front of Faragonda in a matter of seconds.

"Well, I think we have a record time here! That was very impressive, Onyx. You pass with flying colours!"

She transforms back and smiles shyly as we all applaud her.

"Thank you, Miss Faragonda."

She then goes back to her seat next to her friends. They all congratulate her. I can't help but smile at her success.

After the test, I go back to my office. I work on some things, but soon I find myself thinking of Onyx. I pick up my phone and look up her contact number. Let's see... I should just be straightforward.

Come to my office if you're free.

I then wait impatiently for her arrival. At least, I hope she comes... I just really want to hold her. It's such an uncontrollable urge.

After a bit of time that seems like an eternity, I hear knock on my door. My heart almost leaps out of my chest. It's her! No, it might not be her, I can't be sure.

"Come in."

I make my way to the door as the doorknob turns. It is her... She closes the door behind her and as soon as she does, I lift her up in the air by her waist.

"Palladium...!"

She giggles as I twirl her around.

"My beautiful Onyx!"

I then put her down and hug her tightly. She always smells so nice...

"You don't know how hard it is to control myself from holding you every time I see you."

I say softly in her ear.

"I know... It is hard. But I don't care how hard it is, as long as I'm with you."

I hug her even tighter as she says that. I feel her breasts crushed on my chest. I burry my face in her thick black hair and then kiss her neck.

"Hah!"

I chuckle at her high pitched moan.

"You're so cute!"

"You know that I'm sensitive there!"

I pull away and give her a peck on the lips.

"That's why I do it."

She sighs and smiles. This has been going on for a few weeks already. The only time we have together is the time we spend in his office when there are breaks between classes. If we did after or before classes start, it would be too suspicious, since we'd be missing the breakfast and supper. I wish we had more time... I want to be closer to her. I want to be more intimate with her. I want her. My lovely Onyx.

How was it? Do you like the contrast between their thoughts? I wanted Palladium to have a more mature approach to his feelings, wanting to go all the way and whatnot, compared with Onyx who's basically in her first serious relationship. There's also the whole big age difference between the two, but then again, they're both magical creatures so I feel like these norms don't apply to them like it would apply to humans.