"An assembly?" Stella wondered aloud. "Why didn't we know about this earlier?"
"If we knew, we wouldn't be hurrying," Musa answered, taking long and swift steps.
Earlier in the morning Griselda had announced that an assembly would take place half an hour after breakfast. Faragonda hadn't been present, which alone could have told that this was something serious, even though Griselda kept her calm.
They soon reached the auditorium and sat among the students. "It seems like everyone hurried," Bloom mumbled more to herself, her words drowning in the loud gabble.
The headmistress soon walked up to the podium and gazed around. "It seems like everyone is around, so I'll get straight to the point." She cleared her throat. "Girls, the reason you've been told to stay here is that streets of Magix are not safe for anyone, as you might have heard. You may have been told that those attackers, who killed their victims, were just muggers. They're actually proven to part of bigger groups and they have a leader in Galigine, Mortuus Montgomery."
Murmurs rose and Faragonda held her hand up. She swirled her hand and a badge appeared on it. After a simple spell the badge began circling around the room for everyone to see.
"The groups wear this. If you in the future confront someone with this badge, you must report to me immediately." The demanding look she gave to them was enough to ensure that would happen. "I'm not going to lie to you. At the moment we're under serious threat."
Her speech was interrupted by a sound that reminded Bloom of breaking glass. Startled yelps were heard and whispers exchanged. Only few seemed to notice Faragonda, who had gone wide-eyed and mouthed something like 'the barrier'. In the next second the headmistress was leaving the auditorium.
"This means no good." Bloom frowned. "Come on, girls." She shot up from her seat and gestured the rest of the Winx to follow. When they arrived to the corridor, there was no sign of the headmistress.
"Wow, didn't know she's so fast," Layla said, blinking rapidly.
"She must know a short cut or something," Tecna muttered, scanning the corridor with keen gaze.
When they reached the doors they finally spotted Faragonda. She was standing still, eyes focused on the barrier. As they got closer, they noticed a broken part and a crow near it.
"How is this possible?" Tecna narrowed her eyes and studied the flickering barrier.
"That bird is cursed." Faragonda held her arm up when the said bird flew towards her. The crow landed on her arm, tapping its leg against it. The leg had a note tied in it.
Stella tried to look over Faragonda's shoulder as she unfolded the note. "What is it?"
Faragonda was silent for a moment. She crushed the note in her hand. "It's a warning. They're coming here soon." She drove away the crow and spun around. "Warn Griselda, she'll know what to do. I'll try to contact Magix." She rushed away before the girls could say a word.
"They're coming?" Flora repeated in disbelieve.
Musa huffed. "Well, they don't waste any time, it seems." She winced when the crow let out a sharp squawk.
Bloom frowned. "Let's do as Faragonda said. If my eyes don't lie, there are more of birds to come." She pointed at the dark spots in the sky, which approached the woods around Alfea.
Little did they know there was something more than just birds approaching the school.