Differences


Blade was in the middle of battle class. They already had warmed up with a nasty flight parkour outside in the new training grounds. They had finally been finished. It was a bit weird it basically was one huge sandbox. Yet there were many runes engraved in the border stones. Those were used to create and reform the sand. So, the Professors with a little bit of effort of their own could mould any terrain out of the sand. One could say it was basically a secondary Simulator room, just less fancy. It already helped the school greatly with scheduling classes. Since most of the time, Palladium had hocked the Simulator Room, but now they hadn't to unless they wanted to simulate weather or extreme environments. Also, the Courtyard could be used more freely by the students to study or hang around without getting in the way of training. The most techno magic though was the forcefields. High poles with Alfea's flags were all around the edges and could be used to create forcefields. Currently, Professor Avalon and Palladium had divided the sandbox like a chess board. Every student was facing a magical energy sphere.

"Alright, since our prior incident..." Palladium cleared his throat as he noticed the cheeky side glance from Avalon. "…We will train today how to subdue magical forces. Each of you has a sphere of magical energy in front of you, this is simply light magic in the first stage. The second stage will create an elemental sphere that counters your personal magic, so be careful and think carefully about how you go about it. While time is important with such things, rushing it will end badly. So be warned." Professor Palladium clapped into his hands, "Well then, try your best." He together with Professor Avalon was circling the students checking their progress or lack there off.

Tasu flared up her magic she entrapped the light sphere quickly with her water magic and snuffed it out within seconds. "This is easy…"

"Great job," Palladium commented, "But are you regulating how much magic you used?" Palladium asked challengingly and activated the second sphere for her. It was ice magic.

Tasu smirked. "Easy is easy," Confidently she used the same technique but her magic froze and shattered falling as snowflakes to the ground. "Oh, come on…" Tasu pouted. "So, unfair…"

To which Palladium laughed, "Keep at it."

Amber flew closer and toughed hers and infused her fire magic and it quickly burned away as well. "Hmm… so if she gets ice… I'll get…"

"Earth," Dahlia laughed as she gazed at the second sphere.

Professor Avalon admonished her, "You better finish yours. It grows with time the longer you take the harder it gets." He looked over to Sienna who got smashed against her force field. "You okay?" He stepped into her segment and offered a hand to pull her up.

"Yeah," Sienna blushed slightly, she was so embarrassed, but still took it. "I used too much magic…didn't I?"

"Well, you smashed into your force field, there are subtler ways to do this," Avalon stated simply and pointed to the second sphere of hers. "Don't rush that one, please."

Sienna stared at it, it was widely changing sound magic, "Oh great… so many resonances…" She sighed and scratched her head.

Snow breathed out concentrated, "Ice cage!" Her magic swirled around and created an icy prison around the sphere, "Freezing heart!" The magic froze inside and the ice ball fell to the ground as the light inside faded out.

"Nice!" Blade smiled, they had spent a good hour coming up with that new spell after they had watched Avalon on several occasions and figured out how to freeze things through quickly.

"Yeah, we did it!" Snow was overjoyed.

"I see you are making good progress," Avalon of course picked up that it was similar to his technique the aura patterns of the spell gave it away. "So, how will you tame some fire?" He was eager to see how far her progress was.

"You can do it! Try the other one. It is stronger," Blade cheered Snow on. She had no clue how to deal with her light sphere which was slowly growing. She hoped to get an idea by watching the others closely.

Snow was a bit tense, "You sure? I don't want to overdo it…"

"Ah, don't worry, you'll be fine. You have used next to no magic yet or? Just...hmm encage it first, that way there should be less backlash," Blade encouraged her, but even she was a bit tense.

Snow breathed out, "Here we go, Ice Cage!" She created a wider orb this time. The fire magic already started to melt her spell. Snow flared up in magic and aimed at her orb, "Summus nullus condcio!" It was Palladium's light magic spell to alter already existing conditions. They had checked the spell in the library together with Rise.

Professor Palladium's head hurriedly turned as he felt the magic build up and shout out. "Be careful!"

The spell worked. It froze the fire and it got snuffed out, yet the spell was so powerful and hard to control that ice spikes grew outwards into every direction, "Oh, shit!" Snow scrambled away and quickly build up a defence shield. "Ice wall!" But it cracked in an instant her other ice spell was stronger. "EEEHHH!" She squeaked as she got pulled up rapidly.

Professor Avalon flapped his wings above her, had dashed to her rescue and pulled her out of her area. "If you are not confident you can control a spell properly, don't use it." He admonished her. "Especially the higher level once…" He seemed calmed and collected, 'What were they thinking!? Using that randomly no less without training it with us…' He gazed at Blade. 'She really does inspire people to do the craziest things…so reckless…' He checked Snow over and couldn't find anything, "You alright?"

"Yes…" Snow was shocked, "I didn't know it could do that…"

Palladium breathed out again. "If you want to try high-level spells out, we'll test them first in the Simulator Room. That goes for all of you!" He was a bit upset and glared at Blade. 'That was her doing no doubt.'

Blade still was staring at the spike ice ball, "Looks like a morning star… at least it worked… besides the part where she…" She caught Palladium's gaze. 'Great he's still salty because of the snowman. I already apologized several times… man… What got him so riled up?'

"And why are you standing there watching everyone? They are all on the second stage, while yours's still growing," the Professor called her out.

Blade scratched her head, "I know…" She gazed back at hers. "I could easily pulverise it with pierce… I think. But you said you want us to subdue it… that's a different approach," Blade wasn't sure how to do that with her magic. She could create weapons, but subduing magic on purpose no less.

"You're thinking too complicated Blade," Birdy smiled at her as she was using her magic to simply overpower her second sphere of electricity. "Just use light magic not your fairy magic and simply use more than the spell contains." Her hands glowed up and the electricity sphere lit up as well and vanished.

"Wow," Blade was dazzled, "You're so good at this." So were the other class members. It was the perfect amount of magic and it looked effortless.

"HA!" Birdy giggled. "Well, after the bear attack I asked our High Mage to teach me some stuff. This is obviously to prepare us for countering black magic." Birdy grinned at the Professors.

"Ooohhh," Tessa laughed she was facing earth magic as well, "In that case, Reroute!" She shot her lightning and it connected to the ground and the earth's magic orb in front of her. The magic got drained into the sand. "Done."

Professor Avalon laughed, "And if that were black magic you would have corrupted the ground you are standing on." HE watched a bit pleased as Palladium made a sleight of hand spell and some vines crept up Tessa's leg and entangled her.

"DIE! TCH!" she suddenly fired a burst of lighting at her feet and raced upwards at light speed to flee, "Static Sphere… …What?!" But there was nothing coming after her. 'Fucking Zombies… damn it…' She breathed out annoyed. "Dahlia not funny!"

"Wasn't me I swear…besides, I would use the sand, not vines…" Dahlia laughed so hard. So, did the whole class of Fairies.

"You should know better, we aren't on Phere-Moan anymore, and even there no Zombie tendrils," Tasu had finished her ice orb just prior.

"Better be safe than sorry," Blade commented.

"Indeed," Birdy giggled and caught her breath.

The Professors looked at each other, 'Not good.' the Both thought, that kill incentive of theirs was still a concern for all of Alfean teachers. IN battle against an enemy that was favourable. But if they were to hit an ally not so much. The girls, all of them, seemed rather stable but this wasn't the first time where one of them was a bit more rattled. Even more impressive was though, that the class knew what was up before they had made the connection. Professor Palladium stepped forward, "My apologies, that was me. But Professor Avalon is right. While it is possible to guide black magic it will always corrupt. The earth is a living thing and therefore will react one way or another."

"Ahhh, bad grade for me…" Tessa complained.

Professor Avalon shook his head, "It was earth magic this time. You're fine, Diverting earth magic into the earth is a smart idea, especially with sand where normally fewer plants grow. I wouldn't recommend that tactic in a jungle though." Relieved he watched her aura reset rather quickly, 'Just a jump scare… good.'

Blade turned to face her ever-growing first orb. Most of the class was already done or nearly finished. "More light magic than the orb, huh…" Blade didn't like it. She flared up her magic and countered the orb and it puffed out of existence. Blade landed as she was panting from exhaustion. She had waited so long, too long. "Great…" She stared at her second sphere it was highly condensed light magic energy, way more than she had left. "You got to be kidding me…"

Professor Palladium came to a halt at her segment he would not leave her out of sight. 'She's to drained… please recognise that…'

Bladeglared at the sphere, 'What to do… Is that my lesson… I should leave the countering stuff to others?' She bit her lip. 'But I won't always have that luxury… I could go for convergence with Nebula.' Her bestie had used her massive mana pool just like Birdy to drain her sphere once she had seen Birdy do it. She would have more than enough magic to help out.

"Giving up?" Nebula teased her from the far right. "Come on, you can do it, be smart about it!"

Professor Avalon raised an eyebrow, 'That's not helping. She doesn't have enough magic…'

"Yeah, Balde!"

"You can do it!" Rise encouraged her as well. In fact, the whole class was roaring.

"And if nothing else, summon the protector, he'll smash it for you!" Amber laughed out loud.

"Ha, ha," Blade shook her head as a smile hushed over her lips. 'They'll never gonna let this go…' She closed her eyes, she needed a plan. 'Dark magic counters light magic they are opposites… but can I make that without going berserk? What did Griffin tell me… right I can connect to nature and therefore ask it for help if push comes to shove. But that takes training… I barely manage my whisper of creation for search…' She breathed out. "Well then…CHARMIX!" She used the boost and diminished as much magic as she could, before it vanished. The orb was still there, yet weakened.

"Even Charmix has it's limits, Blade," Professor Palladium shook his head. There was no way she would be able to counter it with her light magic.

"SHADION!" Blade amassed her dark magic around her. She had not yet have enough control to guide it outside of her body properly to use it to subdue another spell.

Professor Avalon stepped into her segment, "Not wrong there, but I doubt you'll be able to control your dark magic precisely enough. There is no shame in admitting tha-"

Blade dashed forward straight at the sphere and pressed against it with her hands. "I've not given it my best yet!" She pushed further and further as the dark magic protected her from harm within a second, she was inside that sphere.

Palladium's heart stopped, "Avalon!" He had thought he would stop her.

But Avalon stayed cool as he read her aura, yet flew upwards closer to the sphere, "Give her a chance. Lapus Sturei'et…" He prepared his dispel magic just in case.

Blade inside the sphere simply burst into dark magic flames, she released as much as she could without going too low in reserves and being burned by the light magic, she tempered herself, while she focused on her frustration.

In astonishment, everyone watched as the weakened sphere dispersed from the inside out. And what remained was Blade in some light sparkles all around her.

"Wow…" Rise blinked her eyes.

"Yeah, I knew you could do it!" Nebula was so proud and the rest cheered along. 'Those traitors will pay. Just you watch out. We're coming for you, all.'

Blade sat down on the sand. She now was drained in both light and dark magic. She instantly dropped her form and pressed her hands on her knees. "Ha, that was nothing!" She grinned back at her friends.

"Come here!" Birdy dashed forward and so did the others for a group huddle. They were all just so happy. They just all laughed so loud.

"Ha, let those traitors come. We'll smash those crystals in no time!" Sienna's loud voice could be heard in the giggling chatter.

"Yeah!" Amber was excited.

Avalon landed next to Palladium, "Nothing, huh…she's out for the rest of the class."

"I know," Palladium sighed, "Why is she always going to her limits? Certainly not for the grades… How am I even to rate this…we're only training light magic here. Cloud Tower is for dark magic."

"Well, she used her magic, it worked, she didn't faint, and she didn't hurt herself either. She took longer than she should have. All in all, not too bad," Avalon smiled as the girls were enjoying their huddle.

"You always focus on the good," Palladium opened up the tablet and tipped on the grade section, "Well, B-, I guess…"

"I'm a White Jade Paladin, of course, I do." Avalon chuckled and took the tablet, "Give her a C+, that way she has more room to grow and celebrate. I'm sure she'll do much better next time we test this." He changed the grade. "Let's switch the training up a bit and do the combat training next time."

"Good idea, Blade's not the only one who miscalculated a bit," Palladium nodded in agreement.

"Alright Ladies, gather on the grass and sit down. For the rest of the class, we'll do trance training, this will help you protect yourself better from PSI attacks…" Avalon walked forward to join the class and left Palladium to shut down the force fields and finish the preliminary grading.

It was Friday and Blade was walking the halls of Cloud tower aiming for Griffin's office. Her chipper self was still irritating for most Sorceresses. But she had no intention of pretending to be all pouty. After all, today she would get her first real solo mission and she was all up for it.

"And then I smashed the chandelier, like wham! You should have seen it, masterclass of destruction! Best thing though, they couldn't even charge me because I was high. If I had known…" Kitty was boasting in the hallway to Alyssa, Steela and Misery. Latter didn't quite seem so interested though.

"If that's the case, we might be able to use this…" Steela was already plotting in her head.

"Nah, don't even try it. You can't really think clearly and faking that with the Leprechaun there, will be impossible," Alyssa waved her hand dismissively.

"Oh, man, but I want an A+, too…" Steela moaned.

"Hey there," Blade greeted the group. "How are you doing, Kitty?"

"Great!" She smirked, "Oh, and by the way, you were correct. Answer my call, Halucinga!" A dark magic bee hovered beside her. "I was able to make my ritual and get one."

"Well, we did kill a lot of them. A Queen bee would be sweet though," Blade smirked. "Does it-"

"Nah," Steela laughed, "It's not so strong. She would need to summon several and they are really squishy."

"Hey, I just will have to use some potions and enhancement spells and they'll be as effective as the real deal," Kitty growled at Steela.

"Good luck getting those expensive ingredients," Misery commented condescending from the side as she tipped on her cell phone.

Blade raised an eyebrow, "Not enough in the school's lab?"

"Pfff, moths," Alyssa shook her head, "You need to pay the school if you want to use that stuff."

"Or not get caught…" Kitty mumbled as she thought about it.

"Pay the school?" Blade was confused.

Misery put away her cell, "Oh, glowworm, you have no idea, do you? This isn't your fancy-ass glitter bucket where everything is shoved into your ass. This is the real world, not some fairy tale. What are you doing here anyways? We don't have your classes today." She always was a bit aggressive around Blade.

"Mission for today plus weekend buffer," Blade crossed her arms, "Did I do something to you?"

"Why?" Misery hissed back.

Blade frowned, "That's why."

"You might use dark magic that doesn't make you one of us. You have no clue about what it means to be a Witch."

"Sorceress." Alyssa corrected her directly.

"Whatever…" Misery dismissed her. "Fact is you'll fail." Misery pushed passed the others. "What's that Water worm up to?" She reluctantly asked as she turned around again.

"Water worm?" Blade was confused.

"The Water fairy," Kitty explained shortly as she checked her nail polish.

"Tasu? What's she to you?" Blade found this strange to say the least.

"Nothing," Misery grunted, "She just pissed me off in Hoggar…"

Blade chuckled, "By sitting next to you? You don't have enough money to pay me to snitch on my friend."

"I always could extract the information out of you…" Misery grinned devilishly.

"Please, try," Blade was already reaching with her hand into her belt pocket to get a phanto-weapon. The other Sorceresses were stepping aside. While Blade had found some credit through the snowman stunt. There was no way any of them would interfere.

"Tch," Misery flared up her magic, "Someone needs to put you into your place."

A round toothy mouth opened next to Blade, "Get your ass into my office! This instant. I will have Faragonda on my heels if you get hurt before your mission. I don't have all day!"

"Ha, saved by the bell. You're nothing more than an incompetent pet. Can't do anything on your own…" Misery relaxed a bit and turned around and left.

Blade let go of her weapon, "Coming…" She glared at the girl, 'What's her problem?!'

Kitty smirked, "Don't let her under your skin, you're a chosen one after all. Show her or I'll take all the credit in no time."

"You wish, Kitty, you wish," Steela giggled as she gave a slight nod to Blade.

Alyssa flicked her hair behind her shoulders, "Don't get buried…I won't be there to save you…"

Blade shook her head. This was about the nicest things she could expect from them. Their way of saying you can do this. It was hard to get along with them or to fit in. Sorceresses loved to pretend. And be loners, yet to her surprise, there were smaller groups to be found. Even if they would sabotage each other for sport, giggles and better grades. She also had noticed that there were a lot of trades and favours going around, a peculiar complicated system, that somehow worked. Or if it didn't, ended in some skirmishes. Blade hurried and knocked at the office door, but no answer. "He?" She waited one minute, two minutes. She noticed the chuckles from other students nearby.

"Give me ten Maggi I tell you what you need to know," Gilliana leaned against the wall next to her.

"What?" Blade was confused it was the water Sorceress. In her blue skirt and shirt.

"You're already screwing up. I can help you for some cash," Gilliana grinned at her.

Blade scratched her head, "I'm just waiting to be let in…"

Gilliana opened her hand, "She asked you to hurry, didn't she?"

Blade eyed her closely, "How do you…you spied."

"Duh, you're quick money grab," Gilliana smirked and pushed her hand closer, "Ten Maggi."

"Five," Blade started to haggle.

"Ha, five and a favour," Gilliana meant it.

"Two and an equal favour," Blade crossed her arms she wouldn't butch so quickly.

Gilliana growled, "Hmmm, fine, three and an equal favour. Last chance, not my problem if you get a bad grade after all."

"Deal," Blade took out her money and pressed the three coins into her hand. "Now what's that, oh so, important information."

"You're already on your first Witc- Sorceress mission…No one will open a door for you. You're at the bottom of the food chain. Get used to it. If you want something go and take it." Gilliana stated coldly. "Now to your favour. How's Tasu doing these days?"

"EH?" Blade tilted her head, "Why are you asking… Misery…" Blade rolled her eyes.

"Pay up," Gilliana sighed annoyed. "Equal favour, remember."

Blade didn't like it, "She's fine. Happy and doing great."

"Oh, come on, give me something… that's not just meaningless," Gilliana got a bit pissed.

"She did well in today's training. I don't know. What does Misery want from her anyways?" Blade got defensive.

"Great, thanks. Business concluded," Gilliana passed her by.

Blade grabbed her and as she was just two steps passed her, "My wallet. Or are you keen on starting a fight in front of Griffin's office?"

"Ah, damn, here," Gilliana chucked her wallet.

Blade caught it with her one hand and checked inside, "The rest please…"

"Who would have thought…" Gilliana seemed a tiny bit impressed and gave her the twenty Maggi back she had swiped in just those few seconds.

"I'm not a princess…" Blade put them back into her wallet not leaving her out of her sight. But the girl simply walked away meeting Misery in a side hallway whispering into her ear and then transformed into a water puddle and vanished through some cracks in the wall. 'Gotta need to keep an eye on that one…' Blade turned towards the door and opened it.

Griffin was staring into her crystal ball, she had watched it all. Organa was standing next to her holding a piece of paper and reading over it. "Took you long enough."

Blade sighed, "Sorry, I am used to knocking?" She wasn't sure how to respond.

"Well, being polite has its advantages," Organa commented dryly.

"If used correctly…" Griffin countered. "Well then, your first mission. You got all you need?"

Blade nodded, "I think so, yes, weapons, bracelet charged and all functions activated, money…"

"I don't care what you need," the headmistress was already annoyed, "Place your Alfea badge and school ID card on the table." She ordered.

"Why?" Blade was confused she could use it to get around the city.

"Simple, at least once, I want you to experience a real Witch mission. So, since this one is simple, give it here, or do I need to take it?" She sounded menacing.

Grudgingly Blade placed all her Alfea identification on the desk, "There you go."

"Great, was that so hard?" Griffin studied the items before she snapped and they puffed out of existence.

"What's the mission?" Blade asked bluntly ignoring the question.

Griffin smirked, "Well, then, to business first. There was a break-in in a jewellery shop in Magix City. The culprit was cuffed."

"I heard of that…" Nebula had told her that Organa was Faragonda, they had no secrets from each other and that was really useful information after all. Plus, she wasn't sure if Griffin was aware of that. And in fact, Faragonda tried to help her out. "But if he is cuffed, what more is there to do?"

"Fairies…" Organa shook her head. "Just because the flashy public part is over, doesn't mean the problem is solved."

"Indeed," Griffin agreed, "The guy was on payroll and other shops were hit as well. The police couldn't find other leads, well they didn't bother. They got their positive media coverage and the shops are insured. Yet we got approached by some owners who rather want to know who the higher-ups are, so they feel safe again. You have the entire weekend to find out where the stolen goods are or what is left of them. Who paid for the hits and why." Headmistress Griffin stated as she leaned backwards in her chair.

Blade stared at her, "Alright… and where do you want me to start."

"At the beginning. Now to address-"

"What?" Blade didn't understand, "What do you mean at the beginning? Where, who do I talk to? at least the contractor's name…"

"Do I look like a newspaper to you? This is your mission, it doesn't matter which one asked. He'll know less than the police. I told you, what you get paid for. How much depends on your results and so does your grade." The headmistress already was raising an eyebrow. "This was a mistake…Let me call Alfea, they can have your sorry ass back…"

Blade shook her head, "No! I'll manage, not need to call them." Blade was startled by her sudden change of mood.

Organa laughed amused, "Well, you heard her. I'll bet she can do it. She has street smarts at the very least. She won't come back empty-handed."

"Oh, you're on," Griffin took the bet in an instant. "Well, since you're supposed to realistically experience this mission. And the police knows your face all too well…" Griffin dropped the ball, that she knew of her screw-up. "Let's change your appearance, we can't have a Witch with wings flying around after all." Griffin flared up her magic and a rune circle surrounded Blade in an instant.

It tingled, Blade let it happen even if her first reflex was to counter it. She looked down at herself but she was the same as before, "Didn't it work?" She asked confused.

"Pah!" Griffin got upset, while Organa pointed at a mirror in the office.

Blade stepped in front of it. She spotted a red-haired girl, with pale skin in a punk outfit. Caro rock in red, black shirt with a scull on it. Some leggings and fitting shoes as well as some chains and spikes here and there. "A glamour spell…" Blade uttered.

"Correct," Griffin stated coldly. "Now, shoo, I have more important business to discuss." She ignored her completely from there on and Blade left the office.

"You really think she'll find something?" Griffin turned to Faragonda.

Faragonda smiled, "Got to believe in my students."

"Yeah, yeah, Fairy Godmother… still, I'll keep you to that bet," Griffin grinned devilishly.

"I just hope she's up to go alone… Fairies are not used to solo missions…" She sighed concerned.

Griffin shook her head, "Your mistake really. Well, she has the bracelet, plus, I gave a tracking mission to Dusk. She needs to improve on her shadows in the none combative areas."

"Ah, yes the Queen of Eventide. Can't believe she chose Cloud Tower…" Faragonda shook her head.

"Ha, what's not to like, way better than your glitter bucket," Griffin laughed so hard. She was enjoying that fact too much. "Watch out, I'm coming for your Crown houses, your days are numbered."

"You wish," Faragonda chuckled. "Is she doing well, though? She's not better off than Jewels…"

"Not to worry, I have my eyes and ears open, so butt off, not your playground. Just don't get your commoner killed. She would have made a better Witch," Griffin complained a bit.

"And the Queen a better fairy… but it's their choice…we can only guide them," Faragonda sighed.

"We do more than guiding Faragonda… You shouldn't play over that fact. If something happens to her it is as much your fault as any others… You could have dropped her in the first year, before Desertia and her Charmix awakening."

Faragonda rolled up the paper, "I know. But I know she can do it and so do you. She has the willpower and endurance to make it."