Category: Winx Club
Rating: T
Couples: none
Warnings: Major AU, MAJOR Blood, Character Death
Chapter: 3
Copyright: © characters and places by Iginio; © Plot and OC by me
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In the end, they told him. Hey, they wanted answers and what difference would it make if they told him that information? It wasn't like he couldn't find out himself.
Waves and waves of anger washed off of the Phoenix, his eyes burning in the shadow of his helmet by the end of their story. His claws dug into the stone of his throne as he struggled to remain in control of his senses.
"Those idiots." He snarled. "Very well, our deal stands. Information for information. The first two tests are not the problem. They are easy." He started to pace in front of his throne. "It is the last test, the one of Control, which Faragonda objects to. What do you already know?"
"Not much, only that there are three tests." Bloom told him.
"And about the exam's end?"
"Nothing."
"Then let me tell you something: it ended because the Headmaster who had introduced it was dead. I killed him." Darkar ignored the gasps of his audience. "I burst from this very mountain and killed him. With him died that exam. He was the only thing that prevented it from being cancelled forever."
The Shadow-Lord walked to one of the windows of his throne-room. "I remember the day well. I passed by Cloudtower, my presence being heralded by a blood-red sky. The Headmistress did not stop me. She wished me luck. I came by a group of Specialists training at Lake Roccaluce. The Headmaster was present too. He asked me what my business was. 'Aenor's death.' I stated. He let me pass. I came to Alfea, encountering a powerful windshield. Faragonda had started to work at Alfea as teacher recently and she had erected it to protect the school. She had felt my attempt to enter and she came to confront me. She too demanded to know what my business was. 'Aenor's death.' I answered again." He turned to face the humans. "She led me pass, her only words of warning being that as long as I did not threaten the students, no one would oppose me. She was right. No one opposed me, and no one tried to retaliate when I killed Aenor."
"Really?" Sky doubted it. "Why is that?"
"Pain. Terrible pain and a need for vengeance." The Phoenix answered him, returning to his throne. "They wanted him dead, needed him dead, but he was too powerful for them to kill themselves. I cannot tell you exactly what the exam entails, but I can give you this word of warning: I killed the one who instituted and practiced it and no one, not even Faragonda herself, tried to even stop me. Ask yourselves why that would be."
"Why can't you tell us?" Layla demanded, getting up to confront him. "Faragonda said you knew."
"I do, but why would I tell you that? Why does it concern you?" He demanded in turn, remaining calmly on his throne. "You are not required to attend."
"As a matter of fact, some of us are." Bloom pulled Layla back at the hem of her shirt. "Depending on the outcome of our attendance, it will become permanent or not."
For the first time since coming here, they had shocked him. He rose, trembling in fury. It did not take a smart person to guess at least one of the participants.
The red glow around his body lessened as he got himself back under control.
"Very well." He bit out. "Give the Council my regards for having such idiots in their midst. And whoever attends, warn your parents they might be in need of a new heir once this is over."
"WHAT?" Stella exclaimed.
"Attendance is checked after the exam is over. Survival is the key to pass. People die in the last test. I recall years where none 'finished their education' or better even 'attended the exam', because they died doing it. Aenor has more blood on his hands than I do."
"But… But why would they allow it to continue?" Helia demanded in horror.
"Ancient policies. A Head in his or her school can do what they want, they are rulers there. None can oppose them. There was no Council of Light Rock to control them." Darkar sighed. "None could stop Aenor in matters of his own school, nor in matters of Cloudtower and Red Fountain, who were controlled by Alfea at the time. He reveled in the death he brought. Faragonda's year, if I recall properly, had over 150 students of all three schools beginning the exam-year and only 72 of those ever finished their education. It was one of the better years. The rest, in the official records at least, is still attending Alfea. Go through the old records of the time. You will find thousands are still attending Alfea without following classes, taking lessons, attending tests, being present. Ditto for Cloudtower and Red Fountain. They died during the exam, and as such, were listed by Aenor as still attending the schools."
His fingers scrapped along the stone of the wall. "There are corpses in the depths of Alfea, thousands of them. I do not know what exactly is the third test is – I never took it – but I warn you now. Have control, or your corpses will rest there too. I do not care for you fairies, but I refuse to have that come around again."
His eyes flashed in anger. "That is something even I abhor. Go now. And remind Faragonda of something for me: I know what rests in your cellar, Faragonda, and I know the wards on it. Remember those."