Bellwether n. one that takes the lead or initiative: leader; also: an indicator of trends

Three days ago Lulu had set the statue in the Institute's main hall ablaze, despite that the thing was solid bronze and fire was not her element. The resulting violet smoke had cleared the passageway, and the noxious fumes that lingered still confounded the veritable army of mages employed by the League.

Then in yesterday's match, Lulu made all the krugs on the Rift sprout wings and fly away. Which, the esteemed mages responsible for enchanting and maintaining the Rift asserted, was simply impossible. The magic on her and the krugs and the Rift all prevented such things. They continued to stand firm on this position even when a wayward krug smashed through their window on the 23rd floor.

Something had to be done, Poppy decided. She wasn't magical enough to know what that something was, so she called upon her tried and true hammer diplomacy. But since she wasn't about to hit the little mage over the head with her hammer, she would go with the diplomacy part.

"She's been fine!" Lux said as she trotted beside Poppy on the way to Lulu's favorite little glade outside the Institute. "Who knows how much magic she has? She could have always had the power to break the Rift. It wouldn't be too surprising."

Poppy said nothing through this, though she did wonder how such a smart girl could be so blind. And while Lux might be right about Lulu's ability to overcome the Rift's magic, that hardly explained Lulu's actions recently. Poppy didn't know magic, but she did know people, and Lulu didn't do things for no reason. There was always a reason, even if it wasn't always immediately apparent to anyone besides the sorceress herself.

Lulu sat in the clearing perfectly still, though the first thing Poppy noticed was the pixie. Usually she tried to ignore the pesky thing, but now it was darting around Lulu's oversized hat at breakneck speed, leaving loops of sparkling purple in its wake.

Poppy cleared her throat.

Lulu turned, staring at them with giant green eyes. "Popsy. Other Other Shiny."

Poppy cast a concerned look in Lux's direction and was met with a shrug.

Then Poppy gave Lux another look, more pointed this time. The two mages had been thick as thieves recently, though Poppy wouldn't have guessed it now.

Lux took a few steps forward towards the unmoving yordle.

"Hey Lu! Why so blue?" When the expected response didn't come, she continued. "But you are looking a lovely shade of purple today. What is your secret?"

This earned a half-hearted giggle.

Poppy stepped forward awkwardly. Well, she had to try. "You know, I've heard that dancing can really help in situations like these." She took a few shuffling steps, eyes locked on Lulu's dull ones the entire time.

Lulu didn't move, so Poppy took a few more steps, grabbing her hammer and swinging it in a non-rhythm as she flailed. After a moment, the purple menace that usually had nothing for Poppy besides sparkles in the eyes joined in too.

Slowly but surely, Lulu's eyes brightened. She rolled upright slowly, following for a few hesitant steps.

Poppy picked up the pace, and Lulu followed, the pixie whirling in between. Lulu was grinning now, and even if her laugh did not have its usual energy, it was better than whatever un-Lulu like trance she'd been in before.

Lux twirled around with them. At some point she caught Lulu's eye.

"Rainbows! But you're the wrong shape! Don't worry, I can help you with that!"

Shining violet flecks surrounded Lux, who continued to spin in circles, giggling. Then she began to bend backwards, forming a preliminary arc.

Poppy slowed her dance, watching cautiously as brightly colored sparks spit from her staff.

Lux's legs had begun to shake, her toes just barely grasping the ground. "Hey Lulu," she called with an upside down smile. "Lulu, that's enough. Can you let me up now?"

Lulu just continued her strange giggling, eyes shadowed in the splotchy light filtering through the trees.

"Lulu, it's time to stop," Poppy told her quietly, stepping up even with her.

"Lulu!" Grasping purple light lifted Lux's body off the ground, forcing it into a narrower arch. "Lulu, stop! Please, you're- Aaaah!"

The pixie flew around Lulu's head frantically, but Lulu ignored it, swinging her staff and humming without a care of the world.

Poppy grasped her by the shoulders, trying not to let her grasp convey her mounting concern. "Lulu, you have to stop!" She shook her slightly, then harder when Lulu's glazed eyes continued to look past her to the tortured girl hanging in the air.

Lux's body continued bowing backward, and the light mage let out a strangled whimper amidst her frenzied breathing. A tear broke loose from her wide eyes, and trailed up her forehead and disappeared into her hanging hair.

Poppy looked at Lux's face and couldn't think of any other option.

Grabbing her hammer from her back, she swung it just so. The jolt up the handle as the hammer head hit skin and bone through the layers of fabric twisted her stomach. Lulu crumpled to the ground in a silent heap, and Lux collapsed a second after.

The pixie, for once, didn't attack her. They just shared a long moment, Poppy with the weight of her hammer heavy in her hand, and the pixie shedding sparkles that somehow seemed duller than usual in the air. The only sound disturbing the glade was Lux's rasping breathes.

Poppy shook her head as she helped Lux up and gathered Lulu to bring her back to the Institute. Things must be even worse than she thought.