Guarded Secrets


Blade rushed away in a random direction, "They lied to me. Griffin knew they all knew..." Her heart was pumping from the hastened escape.

Her bracelet lit up, "Blade? You okay? Are you in trouble? I thought you get to leave Cloud Tower tomorrow?" Codatorta's voice resounded concerned.

"You knew and stayed silent, how could you? They killed them all…" Blade stared at the projection. "Why? Why lie?"

"What?" Codatorta was so confused. "Who got killed? Blade, what's going on? What are you talking about?" Codatorta turned away addressing someone off-screen, "Get a team ready…"

Blade clawed into the bracelet release mechanisms, "How can you possibly work for them? After what they did? This isn't a leash, it's a death trap. Stay away, I will fight you if I have to!" She got the thing loose and threw it as far as she could as she infused magic into her arm. And quickly afterwards she pulled her phone out and threw it away and dashed onwards. 'How could I be so blind,' Blade's thoughts were racing. 'They all pretended to be so incompetent and I fell for it…' Blade recalled all those training sessions in Cloud Tower. Yet suddenly it overcame her, Griffin had taught her dark Magic, Sorceresses magic, yet while her Fairy magic was similar it was different. 'No way… she couldn't have known. If she knew, they would have done my training completely differently, it all was just guesswork.' Blade stopped and looked back to the Tower in the distance. "They can't all have been lying… I would have noticed." Her gaze wandered to each school, "They had no idea what to do or how to train me… this can't all have been a lie…Blade, think, breathe," She had to calm down. "Pixis easily live for centuries…so do Leprechauns. Votzaak… He is fucking old and in the Council, plus leader of the Black Magic Hunter Division… he promised, Lorelei… he knew from the start, fair story my ass. He, they, erased history after they slaughtered them all…" Blade breathed out, 'Shit I should get the bracelet back. I need… no… if I tell them, they'll stick me in a wall or where ever to stay safe from him. I have a right to know.' She aimed for Magix City. "But why would Lorelei kill them, she obviously was torn about it. Her friends…. Nothing makes sense…" Blade couldn't patch anything together. None of this made sense. Sorceresses were tricksters but no one took alliances more seriously than them. "He could easily have let me die in the hearing. Votzaak didn't, why? The Dark Fairies did something if they built a task force…a war…uurgh… nothing makes sense anymore!" Blade breathed in to control her breathing, 'Only one thing to do. Confront him. He knows… he was there… I got to know…. Why spare me but kill all those before me? Or are they just going to seal that power away anyways? The Council is considering it after all…. I just got to know, I have a right to hear it from him…'

It actually took Blade a bit she flew through the forest so she wouldn't get spotted by the specialist party roaming the air, Codatorta already had one sent after her after all. Never in her life had she flown so fast, in no time, she had reached the Council Headquarters. A massive building complex with some sort of fence or wall around it. It invoked the feeling of some sort of rich guy's mansion and yet it obviously was a government building.

"How can I be of service," She was greeted at the reception. "Aren't you… yes, you are, that Fairy from the Desertia hearing, correct?" The guy was super intrigued. "Really impressive work. You showed those backstabbing…"

"Shh… dude…" The other receptionist admonished his college. "My bad, we have a lot of new people, who do not know the ropes yet. What can the Council do for you? Got an appointment?"

"Yeah… I am here because I need to hand in the next data set," Blade smiled kindly. She presented calm as a snowflake to the outside. She had to hurry. Votzaak had kept the truth from all the School directors. If she was to get to the bottom of this she had to do it now. On top of that, she had to find the files first, there had to be some records, some proof of this mass murder. Blade had to find them and then confront him. That Leprechaun would just deny it otherwise.

"Let me check…" The guy verified her claims with the appointment lists. This was a special phrase set up for Blade so she could enter the building and request a Council Guard to activate or deactivate her charm without giving away the information that she was the redhead as well.

"Ah yes, just go straight through the arch and then to the right down the hallway. There is the changing room and on-call guards, they'll be happy to receive you. I'll give them a heads up," The guy gave his regards and let her pass as he called them up.

Blade hurried along the hallway, 'Oh crap, why does he have to call them… shiiiiit…. ahhhh…They'll just activate the damn thing and send me on my way. I need to find the file room… or library or something…' She never had been in this building at all. 'Where do I go?! Damn it…' She just bolted for the stairs leading up. 'Stay calm…stay calm…' She nodded to everyone roaming the hallway as she simply tried to get an overview of where the heck she was going. She stopped as she finally found a map on the wall. 'Files… files… files…. maybe his office…' She got a bit nervous all she could find were the room plans for the Councillor offices but there were so many. No library or anything that sounded remotely like something one would find files or records. 'Great…what do I do now? GO empty-handed…'

"Can I help you?" A familiar young voice resounded behind her.

"EHHH…" Blade turned around fearing the worst. But it was just that boy from the plaza. "Don't scare me like that…."

"M-My apologies Ms Ashfallow," The boy smiled and gave a slight bow. He was wearing his Court uniform and his blue-greenish curly hair was bound together into a knot.

"You know my name?" Blade asked a bit perplexed.

"Of course, from Songwind, plus I am a runner for a very busy Emissary from Zenith. Remember Lord Calculus?" He tried to jump-start her memory. "I was the guy who had to get you after you stormed out of the hall the first time around."

"OOOOoooooh, right…." Blade had no idea whatsoever and it wasn't important right now. 'Stay calm. They have no idea where I bolted off to. You got at least a little bit of time, Blade.' She had not paid that much attention, "Wait, you were in Desertia as well with your Emissary or? I saw you leave… You were packed full." She was a bit on edge but if she would hurry the conversation it would ring his alarm bells.

"Ah, yeah, my ungraceful stumble. Lord Hypothis was so mad…" The boy sighed deeply. "We left for the festival… I am so sorry for what happened." He looked at her devastated.

"Not your fault, no one could have known… Otherwise," Blade balled her fists. "Anyways… do you by chance know where the files are stored?" Blade smiled brightly at him. 'Gotta get a move on… he might know, he works here.'

"Eh, files? What kind? For what do you need them, Ms Ashfallow?" The boy asked confused.

'Wow, he got more confident… Didn't he stutter a lot in Songwind…?' Blade's thoughts jumped as she searched for words. "Just call me Blade. I, eh, uhm… the really old ones. I was asked to get something…about Phere-Moan." Blade tried to look confident. 'That got to be old enough… Mister G said he knew Dark Fairies.'

"Right…" the boy glanced as he heard some ruckus downstairs. "Follow me, and it's Amal. Nice to officially meet you." He blushed and pulled her with him. He opened a door to an office and stepped in.

"Can we simply go in here?" Blade asked confused. 'At least I'm off the corridors…'

"Of course, that's Lord Calculus's office," Amal snorted. "And you are a citizen of Zenith and supervised."

"And what if he comes back?" Blade asked a bit reluctant. 'Can't have that.'

"You are on an official mission are you not?" He gave her a side glance. "He will be out for a while, meeting over fancy dinner," Amal activated his console. "Let's see… Phere-Moan records - that was the planet you were stranded on, right? With the tons of Zombies."

"Yeah…zombies are no more though," Blade looked around trying to stay calm, she couldn't run to Votzaak guns blazing. There was so much techno-magic in this little office that one could open a store. It was a good distraction. She whistled, "This room is impressive… isn't that the…"

"Yeah, type X234-GR345.9," the boy grinned proudly as he brushed away some strands of his bangs.

Blade shook her head, "But that isn't even on the market yet…" Blade bit her nails.

"We get the cool stuff all the time. We are the FACE of Zenith, after all, only the best, Amal, always present the best," He quoted his Lord. "You know tech stuff?" He frowned shortly, 'Is she okay? Maybe stressed… We Interns always get worked to the bones….'

"Nah, just dabble…have enough on my plate," Blade looked to the door again. 'Hurry it up…Amal. Ahhh, breathe, damn it.' She breathed out deeply.

"Here we have it… The books that have been translated from the temple you were at are currently in… eh…library research department… that's the big one in the city. It's not even on campus…" Amal frowned. "Your Headmistress should know that though…" He looked up to Blade.

"Ehhh, well I think she was…" Blade rang for words and panicked as Amal reached to a communicator on his desk, "Okay, I lied, I'm sorry. PLEASE, don't report me!" She rushed over to grab his hand, "I just, they are hiding something from me, I got to know."

"Uhm, I just wanted to get my drink…" Amal looked her in the eyes a bit perplexed. 'She broke in!? Does she always do those crazy stunts on purpose? No way…'

"You did," She looked at the desk indeed his water bottle was just a bit further, "Huh…woopsie….I really suck at this Sorceress stuff…" Blade bit her lip, 'Fuck, calm down girl. If they wanted you dead, they already would have killed me. They need something.'

"Sorceress?" Amal tilted his head.

"You know being sneaky…" Blade tried to correct her mistake.

Amal looked at her, "So, that truly was you on the roof… you saved me and the red crystals."

Blade was speechless, "How…what? How do you know?! You couldn't possibly have known that."

"It's kinda easy… for one not many call Withes Sorceresses and your bracelet gives it all away, there is only one like it in use currently. Will change the next weeks though. So those two combined, for a tech nerd like me that's a dead giveaway I am also the best analyst my Lord ever had, his words not mine. But yeah, I remember lots of things, for a long time. Plus, that bracelet came up in nearly any report I had to write up about you. I thought you have to wear it all the time? Where is it? You came here unauthorised… and without…," He chuckled, "You probably have an army searching for you by now. And you come here? That's bold. So, what are you searching for, Ms Sorceress? I still owe you, after all. And if it's about crime I gladly help to bring the truth to light." The boy smiled at her. "That's what you do after all, right?" He gave her a chance to explain herself.

"I need to find the proof, the Council killed hundreds of, eh… how to put this…." Blade wasn't sure how to explain this.

"Dark Fairies?" Amal could barely keep his excitement contained. "I tried to find something. But there is nothing I could dig up on the magicWeb and Council files."

"How much do you know?" Blade was a bit confused. 'Who else knows?! The fuck, I sneak around all day and they blurt it out to the streets…'

Amal laughed, "There are lots of people in this building who know, it's the Council, but it is confidential information so don't worry too much. Plus, you are a citizen of Zenith. The King ordered us to be ahead of things. What you do could have a major impact on things, politically speaking. I mean after the hearing you were the talk of the Council. Not just you, granted, but also your friends of course. Consider me a fan, I never would have thought that you get so far. You pulled through. You didn't let people stop you. You even convinced Queen Swallow to change her mind about you. You're amazing you know that, right?" He went a bit red there. "Sorry, I'm nerding out… Focus, Amal, focus, sorry, just had to file and write up so many reports about you… Back on topic, there are no records to be found. I searched for Councillor Votzaak for weeks… after all, he has the Council seat for Zenith."

'The King of Zenith… I never even have met the guy… but sure makes sense that he wants to stay informed…Wait, what?' Blade deadpan stared at the boy, "Votzaak asked you, the best analyst to find something about Dark Fairies and you came up empty-handed? That…shit…" Blade tensed up again, 'He wanted to make sure no one will find something, didn't he? … No, no, no, if he wanted me to stay silent he would have killed me in the hearing. But this explains why I only found books in strange places. If Dark Fairies were at Cloud Tower, they hid stuff. Hard copies. They couldn't be erased if no one knows where to look. But still why leave me alive, Votzaak? He clearly wanted to get rid of all of the Dark Fairies in the memory. – He was sad as well… it was more of a this has to be done attitude. Fuck what am I going to do? Nothing makes sense.'

Amal gazed at the young Fairy from his reports fighting a war in her head, "Well, Emissary Calculus is actually doing all the Council daily stuff for Votzaak since he is Grandmaster of the Black Magic Hunter Division, and is away a lot, also his social skills… well, the King thought it best to give him a stand-in. Still, for hearings, he always goes. The one Council duty he follows up on diligently. Anyways, I guess that ruckus downstairs was because you started to wander astray… Plus, without the bracelet, everyone will be on the lookout. And you are sure there is some crime being…" Blade nodded to him. "Well then… let justice be done," Amal leaned back in his chair. "I still owe you a favour for saving my life. Better to pay a Sorceress quickly," He smirked to lighten up the mood. He was so calm. 'She is no match for anyone here… nobody can get hurt.'

"You would do that for me?" Blade couldn't believe it, "Truly?"

"A crime is a crime. If Councillor Votzaak is part of some murder, this has to be followed up on. Besides, I already gave a fugitive shelter. I am sure things will clear up, though. He is an ass, yes, but he follows the law. Besides this is way more exciting than boring reports. I always wanted to change the world for the better. Gotta take my chances I'd say," Amal laughed and leaned forward intrigued as he typed something into his console. "Yeah, Red Fountain is searching for you... Hear me out, I'll make a false report of spotting you hmm, north wing… The Guards will know shortly that you are in the building. And fewer guards are there most of the time, plus a free way to Nerrocean's office."

"Nerrocean?" Blade stared at the boy, he truly seemed to want to help, "Why him? I need Votzaak…"

"Yes, but those two always hang around together and on Fridays Nerrocean has to be in his office. Open door hours. I don't think you'll find files even with weeks of preparation, but now is your chance to ask him unprepared. But remember accusing someone of mass murder, are you sure? Well, no time for this, sorry my thoughts tend to wander a bit. Here," He pulled out some techno device. "It can record your conversation. If anything happens. I promise I'll get the word out. I can use the magicWeb, call your schoolmasters, Councillor Aithlin… plenty of people. That's the best thing I can come up with… in such a short time. At the very least there will be proof."

Blade nodded, "Okay." She balled her fists. "Got a cloak or something? I can't be seen or your misleading report is for nothing. Bigger problem though is the charm… Shit, I'm running out of time…."

Amal smiled, "Here take mine. And Blade, you got to stay calm, be wise. If you get arrested before you get anything, this will be for nothing… and I don't know how you will get out of this predicament any time soon," And off they were.

Nerrocean was chilling with Votzaak in his office. "I keep telling you this is a waste of time. No one ever comes to speak to the Councillor of Magix, because everything of importance is decided in Court or assemblies. Why did I even let you talk me into this position…." He sighed deeply as he waved his hand. "I place my Terror Wolf in attack mode and now that I have three in a row I use their special ability pack pounce. And I'll go destroy your Frost Racer Snake…"

"HA!" Votzaak rejoiced, "…That's why that seat is perfect for you, we can hang so I don't have to talk to incompetence on two legs or well fins… and you get a nice office, plus you get to vote on stuff and are smart and you don't fall for bribes, I need you right in this seat… Anyways your group attack activates my trap card, thunderbird, which allows me to summon help from my deck, if the first three cards are all monsters or elementals I can place them all," Votzaak jumped up and down on the couch. "And I draw… Halucinga, Whisper wolf… and…you're so doomed…."

A knock at the door.

"YES!" Votzaak already could see the glittering image of what would be his third monster card and turn the tide of this battle.

'Someone actually comes to talk to me?' Nerrocean looked to the door. "You gotta be kidding…" He watched as the two unexpected guests entered, "The Fairy?" He answered a bit perplexed.

"What no, that's a Witch card, I think…" Votzaak stared at his third card. "Shit, that means I'm dead…"

"Uhm..." Amal was super confused. The cards were flying in the air, dark magic mini-monsters were summoned or rather displayed in the middle of the room. And at the windows were plenty of dead mauled or ripped apart mini monsters in some sort of miniature graveyard that floated in the air. It was a top display of horror for a simple card game for kids. The accuracy of details was astonishing.

"Who said you can come in!" Votzaak hissed at the two youngsters and everything vanished with a snap of his.

Amal bowed deeply, "You said yes, so I thought it safe to enter… My deepest apologies…."

Blade bowed as well. 'Are those two playing a kid's card game with magically enhanced visuals of their own?! Don't have they anything to do here? They are Councillors! Chill, stay with etiquette, I have to get to the bottom of this. I have to know the truth…'

"Well, then, Intern, what was it…?" Nerrocean asked somewhat intrigued that finally after all those months someone actually needed him.

"Intern Amal from Zenith…" He quickly stated, 'I was too hasty…shit. I gotta help her somehow…murder, that guy… this is so weird… but she isn't one to lie and I can read her not him, hmmm…'

Votzaak snorted, "Obviously, you're the boy who couldn't find anything on Dark Fairies. And how can the esteemed Councillor of Magix and Master of the Black Magic Hunter Division, Nerrocean, help you two?" He built up the suspense.

"…" Amal got his words stuck in his throat, "I- w-we, well- Ms- Ms Ash-…." He kind of froze. This had been a major etiquette no-go already, barging uninvited into a room even if it was a stupid mistake and now they weren't even searching for him but Votzaak and to accuse him of murder no less.

Blade sighed, 'Now or never.' She stepped forward, "I got to apologise I asked him to tell me where I actually could find you, Councillor Votzaak. I never was to the Council Headquarters before… so… I got lost a bit. Intern Amal was so kind to help me to locate you since you weren't in your office…"

"Of course not, no one ever comes to my office. He should know that…" Votzaak glared at the boy. "No one knocked at my door either, my spell would have alerted me." He squinted his eyes, 'She's lying, and on edge even if she tries to hide it… where is her bracelet? Did it break again?'

'And he already knows we are half lying…wonderful…Wait, nobody comes to him, at all?… Is anyone besides interns working in this building?' Blade had a hard time keeping a straight face.

"Well, since you are already here…" The giant block of muscle of a merman rose from his seat.

Amal went paler and paler waving around with his hands those two already had an ominous aura and he couldn't stay, he had to be ready to spread the audio file. "W-Well-Well th- then…G-g-good luck…" He looked at Blade concerned and rushed away without any warning.

"Yeah, stay Nerrocean, unless Ms Ashfallow has something private to talk about for which she would have needed an appointment…" Votzaak growled a bit pissed. 'The heck does she want, not to mention Faragonda should be here or would have given a call.' He looked to Nerrocean who had the same drift. They knew each other so well, they needed no words to communicate.

"Please stay Councillor Nerrocean, I'm sure this will be quick," Blade stared at the leprechaun. 'I'm so fucked. If he has lied to them all at least there is a chance that guy can save me.'

Nerrocean sat down again, 'This is going to be good. She is sweating buckets.'

"Soooo?..." Councillor Votzaak asked. "You already will waste my time, Fairy, don't do it by saying nothing."

Blade looked at the small Leprechaun, 'Doing what, play cards…?' She bit her tongue.

Need some water?" Nerrocean created a bubble with his magic. 'Oh, she came here on her own. No one knows that's for sure. Her bracelet is missing as well, hmmm. She was and still is a blunder in etiquette. She looks like she's going to faint…'

"No…" She instantly felt like she was in an interrogation. Those two were no psychics, but they were tearing her down layer by layer with just stares. 'How do I do this?! Can I just accuse him… or … shit…'

"Hm, she says, no," Nerrocean let the bubble vanish. "You look like you'll topple over."

Votzaak sat down on the couch, "Have a seat." Votzaak ordered as he shook his head, 'She came here without Faragonda…Shadion… has to be. She is out of breath and low on magic.'

"Speak," Nerrocean tapped his finger. They didn't care much for security matters unless they felt a black magic presence or if they were called they just ignored everything.

Blade wasn't sure what to do or better what not to do. She stood there like a statue, "Why did you kill all Dark Fairies?" Blade looked forth and back between the two and focused in on Votzaak. Somehow this room gave her the creeps all of a sudden. There was something ominous in the room as if this was a battle or a balancing act and one wrong move would send her flying into a bottomless pit.

Nerrocean laughed so hard, "Are you accusing my Order Master of mass murder?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Blade stepped closer towards the couch a shiver went down her spine, 'Are they going to kill me? Did I misjudge, he could have just let me die. He wouldn't be so stupid to kill me here. People already know I am in the building.'

"I killed more Fairies than most, those that have fallen to Black magic though. Yet there was no Dark Fairy amongst them," Votzaak addressed her with an impending tone. 'He, she lost her mind… and she's scared shitless, what fun, this is better than the card game. Where did she pick up that foolish sentiment?' He looked to Nerrocean who shared the intuition. They had no idea what she was up to or thinking of accusing him of murder out of nowhere.

Blade turned around this had gone wrong way too fast, and her heart was pounding, 'Stay calm get as much info as possible' She balled her fists slightly and controlled her breathing, "You are lying, you killed hundreds if not thousands of Dark Fairies. And don't even dare to deny it, I know this to be true. I want to know why. Why would you do something like that? You didn't like the sentiment to begin with. Why follow such an order even if from the Council?" Blade stopped in her tracks and stared at the ground.

"Pfff, what? Council killing Fairies?" Councillor Votzaak fell into laughter and relaxed, "Oh, you got me there, child, that was a good one, did Aithlin tell you to do this? Ah, Ah, maybe Gadiel because I refused to pay that much for new weapons for my Order." He nearly fell from the couch because he laughed so hard.

Nerrocean chuckled as well, "Maybe we should give Gadiel just a bit more if he resorts to this. He worked so hard on these weap-" Yet the young Fairy wasn't laughing at all or relaxing. She was balling her fists trying to control her anger. Irritated he looked to Votzaak. 'Wait this isn't some prank.'

Votzaak had stopped laughing as well, "Wait, you mean this? You do know that my Order protects peace, hunting Black magic users. Not Dark magic users, I am one myself," He quickly waved his hand which glowed up, but he couldn't find any spell on that Fairy. 'Eaden, get your ass up here, bring Aithlin, we got some new leads. Hurry.' He simply focused on the Psychic, he would get his message.

Blade flinched back as she felt the magic, yet as in reflex she flared magic up to protect herself, but a rune cycle appeared on the ground and zapped her which stopped her magic from even manifesting, it stung. "Shit…" She got scared.

"Calm yourself," Votzaak walked around the couch table to face her. "The runes in this building prohibit unauthorised magic, little Fairy, you don't want to hurt yourself."

"Oh, stop, tell me why. I have a right to know. Keep it from the schools fine. But me? What am I getting myself into here? You already are discussing in the Council to seal my powers. Is this your new solution because you would be unable to hide what you did before, this time around? How many did you kill hundreds? Thousands? For what, why? How could that possibly have helped the Council to bring peace to the universe? Sorceresses don't betray their allies; did you bewitch the first Headmistress of Cloud Tower? She had no intention of betraying the Dark Fairies. And you were heartbroken about it. And yet you two… she agreed…they were her friends…" Blade still couldn't make heads or tails of this. That guy didn't seem to know at all what she was talking about.

"Wow, wow, wow, first Headmistress of Cloud Tower?" Votzaak tilted his head, 'To whom did she talk? What did she find this time? First a poem than a grimoire...'

"Child, what you are saying is none sense," Nerrocean shook his head, "Votzaak is old, but not that old, he never even met that woman. He wasn't even born. Where is all this coming from? Who is your source? Someone's playing you."

"No, that's impossible, liar. The Tower clearly showed him." Blade protested, but again the feeling that something was wrong, the puzzle was missing something, overcame her again. "Lorelai clearly named you," Blade ground her teeth. "If you're going to kill me anyways. At least be straight with me, or can't you look your victims in the eyes," She stepped towards Votzaak. 'I'll not run.'

"Lorelai?" Votzaak frowned. He never had heard that name. "The Tower showed you? Cloud Tower? You sure this wasn't a dream? Nightmare? It does like to play tricks." This was the first solid lead besides the fair story they were trying to find the original version of.

"Are you kidding me?" Blade looked into two puzzled faces. The two were all relaxed and not at all aggressive. They weren't even trying to intimidate her at all anymore. "Did the Council erase your memories or something!? How deep does this go?" Blade was lost for words. 'How can he not know? He has to… is he that good of an actor?' Blade reached out to grab him at his white Order uniform.

The door got flung open, and Aithlin with Iolas, Griffin and Eaden stumbled in as they all rushed through the door. "What do you think you are doing?!" Griffin went pale as she spotted her student assault a Councillor.

"Maybe Luduana then?! Come on, you created the Hunter Division to kill the Dark Fairies. REMEMBER!" Blade hissed, "You got to remember! You don't get to forget mass murder and live on as if nothing happened! THE COUNCIL WIPED THEM ALL OUT!"

Iolas rushed past the speechless crowd and in seconds seized her arms and pressed them on her back to get some control of her, "Blade, calm down," But she was like a bloodhound pulling towards Votzaak. 'Aaah, I told her…crap,' So, he pressed down on her knee hollow to bring her to her knees and make sure she wouldn't do something stupid, "Blade. STOP," He ordered he wasn't keen on arresting her.

"But, they…" Blade started to cry, "The Council… they did… you…." She looked up at the Leprechaun they were nearly eye to eye now. "Why? Just tell me why…"

"Child," Councillor Votzaak straightened out his uniform, "The first Grandmaster of the Black Magic Hunter Division was indeed a Leprechaun called Votzaak. He also severed in the Council for some time. But he was my Great grand, grand, grand, grand Uncle or something. Many of my bloodline are named after him, because of his great achievements… he was an honourable Leprechaun, are you sure you understood the Tower correctly?" He didn't like this at all. 'What has the Tower told her? We checked with it. It gave us, Griffin, nothing…'

"Your two hundred and thirty second Great grand Cousin removed, to be exact…" Discordia hovered above them all, "What a mess…" She looked worried at Blade.

"Say what?" The whole room looked to the Guardian Pixi of Cloud Tower who randomly had appeared.

"You. You stopped the Tower from telling me the truth!" Blade tried to rise up, but Iolas wouldn't let her just yet. She was way too riled up for his taste. And that Pixi wasn't known for her battle strength, unlike Votzaak.

"And how do you know?" The Leprechaun frowned, "There are near to no records, even my family Clan doesn't know." Votzaak piercingly stared at Discordia.

"Because I helped Lorelei to connect with the Tower after all the Dark Fairies…. were… no longer in the Tower," The Pixi answered reluctantly. "The Tower should never have told you, Blade." She stared at the girl. "You got the wrong guy, your anger is misplaced," She turned around to leave.

"Wait a second… are you saying that you are that old…" Councillor Eaden stared at the Pixi but there was no way to read her mind at all. He couldn't even connect their minds.

Nerrocean as well as Aithlin blocked her way, "And where do you think you are going? Pixi," The merman growled. He wouldn't let her get away, after all the Council had talked to the Pixis as well, all of them and they had not said a word before. "You, said you don't know nothing. Before your time, you said. Neither did the Tower tell Griffin anything? Yet here you are."

"And I won't tell you anything more, neither will Cloud Tower," The Pixi crossed her arms. "This discussion is over."

"Why? Who ordered this?" Councillor Aithlin was super confused. 'Pixis help Fairies, what is going on here?!'

"You did," She stared into mystified faces, "The C.O.U.N.C.I.L." She sighed, "Do you think people went to so much trouble to get rid of information, just for fun?" She shook her head.

"What is this power, am I doomed to be killed?" Blade asked befuddled and scared. "I have a right to know, this is my life we are talking about!" All she wanted were answers.

With a deep sigh, the Pixi descended to the young Fairy.

Votzaak immediately cast a shield around her and Iolas, who was on edge himself, "Try to hurt her I'll plug your wings." The Councillor growled.

Discordia raised an eyebrow at Votzaak, "Such a child." She gazed back at Blade, "Your path is yours to choose, Blade," Discordia stated firmly. "You decided what you make of Shadion or if you follow its path to the end. Nothing is set in stone. You are not bound to a fate of doom. We are not in the age of selfish kings and tyrants any longer. The Hunter Division has been disbanded long ago. And just as promised to Lorelai, in its place the Black Magic Hunter Division was formed. He kept his promise," She closed her eyes, "So relax. Times are different now. Just like all of us you can fall from the light and be forever lost. That's a fate all who try to sustain the balancing face, with Shadion or without. There is no reason to seal it away now or abandon it - yet."

"Yet?" Votzaak eyed the Pixi. "And what does that mean?" He didn't like at all to be the one in the dark. "Do we have to protect her from herself or not? Seal it now?" For once in a long time, he felt how it was not to be the oldest in a room, to not know things.

"I'll tell you when it is of any consequence not to worry. I promised Lorelai on her deathbed, that… Never mind. It won't come to this. Now let me pass," The Guardian Pixi glared at Aithlin and Nerrocean.

"Well then, if the Council forbade you to talk we relieve you of that oath," Eaden simply stated. "Tell us about Shadion. Now." The psychic still tried to pry into her mind but couldn't. 'She's too good. No wonder always connected to that beast. Thousands of years to train. Shit.'

"Ohhh, predictable," Discordia snapped with her fingers and a sealed document appeared. "You can't. The order clearly states that any new Council can't revoke this decision. But I am to inform you, that it is your job to decide if Dark Fairies are to roam the universe again and deal with any possible outcomes. So, Blade, be the good example you have been so far. Write a new history for Dark Fairies. Be wise and kind. Lorelai would have been proud to know that you someone who fights for what is right, has taken up this mantel. You are the spitting image of what the Dark Fairies stood for. Griffin, I'll be back in a few days, I have to talk to Athena, Concordia and Ninfea about this development," And with that Discordia suddenly vanished before all their eyes.

"Wait!" Blade shouted out but the Guardian Pixi was gone Iolas still held her back but at least released his tense hold now. "I don't understand, what?" She looked forth and back between her elders. "What will happen to me?" But they had no answer. "Why? But Pixis have been the allies of Fairies since… since forever? Just who was that cousin of yours?" She turned to Votzaak again.

"Removed," Votzaak growled deeply. "Aithlin, the order?"

The Elf still stared at the scroll, "It's true, they are forbidden to mention the Dark Fairies and whatever happened in the past. The seal is real."

Headmistress Griffin moved to Blade, "We'll get to the bottom of this. I promise you." She wanted to lay a hand on Blade's shoulder to comfort her.

Yet Blade stepped back and bumped into Iolas behind her, "Am I some kind of monster that has to be put down? I don't get it? She quoted the poem. Why were the Dark Fairies lost to history? How can a Council wipe out history?" She was scared by this revelation and side-glanced at Votzaak, but he was brooding himself. "You all have no idea… you truly know nothing. And the ones who do aren't allowed to talk about it? What is this, a sick joke!?" Her heart pounding, breath irregular, she pressed against Iolas, who was as steady and strong backbone as ever. He didn't get pushed back no matter how hard she pressed herself against him.

"I'll be gone for a few days, hold the fort in the Division, Nerrocean," Votzaak simply stated and with a rune circle beneath his feet vanished as well.

"But…eh?" Nerrocean was a bit confused, he gazed at Blade, "Sit her down," He summoned a water glass, "Edean, please, calm her down, she'll faint otherwise… I don't want that." He ordered the Eraklyon Councillor and stepped towards the scared Fairy. "Blade, we're not going to kill you. First of all, we only hunt down Black Magic users, which you are NOT. No matter what may have been in the past. The Order's first rule is to use killing as a last resort. We always try to save anyone from corruption first, reach them. Every Life is a precious thing to be protected." He reassured her.