"And you lost again..." Mercury moved away from Blade as he noticed her trembling hands. She was lying on the ground hands cuffed to her back and he was squatting above her, she had not managed to defend herself yet again. "I'm all up for training Blade but what are we trying to achieve here?" He scratched his head. 'She's nervous a bit afraid even…again.'

Nebula growled, "Come on, you said you have all night. Just...lend us a hand, will ya?"

Amber nodded, "We would have done it, but...well, we can't compete with her. We tried, she floored us all," she looked to the night sky.

"Yeah, besides Nebula she floored everyone instantly. It wasn't comparable at all..." Snow helped Blade up, who frustratedly growled. Snow had recreated the prison cell in the arena grounds with her ice magic and they had covered the ice with sand to make it less slippery.

"I don't understand why do I keep losing...?!" Blade ground her teeth. 'I beat all the six guys. And now I can't even get rid of three… and the boys even pretend to fight like thugs and don't even do tactics at all….'

Julius sighed, "Well starting with hands cuffed on your back is a major disadvantage if you don't get a point to jump off at and get your hands semi-free - You're down on the ground in no time because you only got your kicks. And with so many of us even in the small space..."

"Yeah, half the time you stumble over your own feet. You need to be more careful. Last round I was so scared you would hit your head, Blade..." Keith was a bit tense. Blade had told all her friends a few days after the nightly session with Shanna what had happened just in words though. She didn't want them to see it, her fear, what they did exactly, the helplessness in her eyes, the blood. With words, it sounded less, even if they all knew it was horrible. They all had seen the chat photo after all.

"But I beat them, it can't all have been just damn luck! I know some were, but, but… Why am I losing now? I can understand that you get used to what I do by now... But in the start... I tried so many other moves and yet nothing!" Blade kicked against the icy bench prop.

"Not to be insensitive or anything. You won. You defended yourself. Yes, people died, but it was self-defence you said it yourself, plus they were assholes. So... why are we recreating this?" Michael asked as he went to his starting position.

"There has to be a way... I have the knowledge and the skill. I should be more than capable of stopping people without...without..." Blade didn't know what to do with herself.

"Killing?" Codatorta stepped out of the shadows from the arena gates. "Quite frankly you are losing because you try to be fancy and don't do what needs to be done to knock them out." And stepped closer, 'So, she's still bothered by it even after the talks with Avalon. He was right to ask to keep an eye out.'

Amber protested, "She can't just smash their heads in..."

"Of course not, this is training, that's why they pull punches or stop before a hit and are wearing some protection," Codatorta crossed his arms, "but the fact is that was a battle about life and death. And you won, Blade because you didn't hold back. Your agenda was to survive and get out alive and you did everything that was necessary to do so. Men are stronger than women at least those of the stature you faced in that prison cell. If you would use your magic this would go way differently. Especially if your opponents can't use magic. This training is pointless. The outcome will be the same even if you do it a hundred times more." He stepped up to her.

"How can you say that?!" Nebula hissed at him. "She's trying to be ready if it ever happens again. That she can protect herself!"

"Blade you did protect herself. You are capable. Blade, you are standing here. They are not. People die in battle. Playing nice in that kind of situation gets you killed," the Drillmaster paused. Blade knew that. Still, she was frustrated. "... Blade, two survived. One hit his head on the bench, that was his own fault. The big guy you jumped hit his head on the floor because he didn't pull his chin up and the head hit the ground. From what I have read in his criminal record he knew what he should have done to save his sorry ass and simply was sloppy. That was an accident you didn't mean to kill him. The guy you kneed in the face survived, and so did purple-hair who dragged you. The dude who...well, he would have survived if there hadn't been a wall right next to him, so circumstances. The only death you just might have possibly prevented is the last guy. You were out of it, panicked and not thinking at all by that point. You just kept punching... You want to train something to get a better outcome? Train not to freak, to stay calm as long as possible. So, you avoid making mistakes as those assholes did..." Codatorta suggested calmly.

"Stay calm? What do you mean with stay calm?" Amber got a bit pissed. "How can anyone stay calm in such a situation?!" She was all up in his face stepping in front of Blade.

Dean addressed her, "Freaking out either saves you or you make mistakes. Deadly ones. You won't get rid of anxiety completely that's not the point at all. But to not just rely on wild instincts and use basics which are more effective than scratching and screaming do save lives, Amber."

"How do you train not to freak out? Don't you need to be, eh, freaked?" Snow was so confused. It made sense and yet didn't.

"Yes and no, people who never were in that situation simply can train their muscle memory or well their brain by repetition to respond accordingly," Codatorta elaborated. "Blade, you already used that successfully. Your problem is that your brain can't simply hit the reset button. Shanna is not going to erase that memory. You were starting to panic, whenever you got pinned in this little exercise of yours. You can and should work on that."

"I didn't panic, we are friends I know nothing is happening here. They are my friends what are you talking about?!" Blade protested annoyed.

"Blade…" Mercury laid a hand on her shoulder his heart was aching to see her like that. 'She hasn't noticed?'

"No," Blade moved away and walked passed Amber to confront the drillmaster. "I'm not freaking out, I'm not scared of my friends. I know I am safe here!"

Codatorta eyed her, "Do you trust me?"

"What? Yes of course…" Blade glared at him.

"May I show you what I mean then?" He spoke very caringly.

Blade growled, "Sure, but I am telling you, you are wrong. I haven't panicked in any class."

Codatorta nodded, "Right then, listen. We'll not cuff your hands at all. You lay down in the sand and I'll sit down on your stomach. I won't do anything, just sit. You can bare that for ten minutes. I'll do stable duties for your whole team for a month," he offered her.

"Pah, you'll regret this. That's easy," Blade accepted and Amber removed the training cuffs. Blade is directly laid down in the sand.

"If you want me to stop at any point, you just give the word. I'll stand up right away. You got that? If you rather want one of the guys to do so-" Codatorta didn't rush this at all even if she was.

Blade snorted, "Pfff, I can take you. Afraid, Drillmaster?" She was truly pissed.

Codatorta shook his head, 'Wonderful… just great…' He slowly first sat down next to her and then slung his leg over. "You alright?"

"Yes, of course, I am," Blade felt insulted, 'What is he getting at!?' She lay there, smirking, staring at him. Yet not thirty seconds passed and she evaded his gaze, she was getting a bit restless beneath him.

"Need me to get off?" Codatorta asked concerned.

"Don't be ridiculous, I can do this all night," She glared at him. 'I am safe. So, shut up…'

The girls eyed each other they already could see that she was nervously twitching.

Blade felt her hand tremor she balled it to a fist, 'You are safe this is nothing, you are safe…this is nothing…' She closed her eyes to focus.

"Master Codatorta…" Keith already got worried. "Blade, be reasonable…"

"I'm not afraid," Blade hissed but her breath started to pick up. "How long?" She didn't look at any of them eyes shut hard.

"Barely a minute…" Julius commented anxious himself. It was obvious that she was uncomfortable.

'A minute? But…' Blade ground her teeth, 'breathe…for the boys… come on… in and out… you can do this, just… this is nothing. I'm not afraid.' And she turned her focus inwards to blend out her surroundings.

"Blade, open your eyes. Blade, please, look at me…" Codatorta addressed her gently.

Blade growled, "I'm fine!" She bit her lip, she was trembling so hard.

"BLADE, open your eyes," he repeated sternly.

"No, I can do this, I," Blade rose up and stared at everyone, "Huh, but when? How?" Her hand was shaking so much that she grabbed it with her other hand to bury it in her stomach and calm her erratic breathing. "I didn't fall unconscious, why did you get off!?" Codatorta was kneeling beside her, concern was written all over his face.

"Because you are pale and tremoring. Your breath's erratic, the bracelet is blinking yellow. You didn't even notice me get off," Codatorta looked at her worried. "If you want to work on something work on that. Go home, come back tomorrow or whenever you feel up to it and you should talk about this with Shanna."

"Yes, fine... I'll talk to her. But how long? Seven? Five minutes? How long were you…?" Blade asked annoyed.

Nebula puffed as no one wanted to answer that directly, "One minute and forty-three seconds…."

Blade stared at her wide-eyed, "You're joking..."

Snow came in to instantly hug her, "You'll get there. I would have died in the first twenty seconds. You are brave."

"No, I can do better," Blade growled in Snow's embrace, "Do it again, I'll get that mark, just you wait."

Codatorta shook his head, "I think you had enough for one evening. Go home."

"Coward, you just don't want to lose," Blade's fear had vanished into anger.

Codatorta sighed, "Why are you insisting on this Blade? This won't go away tonight, I can promise you that. There is still a lot to work out with Shanna. You have time to-"

"Fuck time! I want MY LIFE BACK!" Blade wanted to rise up, but Snow held her so tight in her hug. Everyone looked at her devastated. "Stop, will you all just stop, I don't want your pity! I won. I came out on top and so will I here." She freed herself of the hug.

"Blade..." Snow reached out for her hand, but Blade pulled away and straight bumped into Kai who was there out of nowhere.

"I, the great Kai, accept your challenge!" Kai grinned mischievously as he propped up his hands on his hips. "Make yourself ready for onslaught!" He proclaimed.

"Onslaught? Challenge?" Blade frowned confused, but already jumped back as she saw him dash forward to tickle her.

Kai grinned so brightly as he caught her. "AHAHAHA," He tickled her in the sides till she fell to the ground. 'No way I let her leave with that sad face…'

"Hey, what are you doing?!" Blade just in time caught his suit and pulled him with. The two rolled over the sand pinning each other here and there.

Until Kai cuffed her again as he had nicked the cuffs from Amber beforehand, "Ha, I knew it," Kai was on top yet again and with his phanto-sword pinned the cuff chains to the ground. Now she was truly stuck, "I knew you can't keep your hands off me, Sis, our love can transcend anything." He laughed theatrically like a maniac and tickled her some more.

"Hey, stop that," Blade had a hard time holding it together. "Stop, pff- wi-ll you, aahhh, Tchhhhh," She couldn't free herself not with him messing around like a child.

"Ahahaha, you can't escape my brotherly love," Kai had no intention of stopping to poke her into her sides or boop her on the nose.

"I'll - get y-y-you for that!" Blade barely could form a sentence she was so out of breath because he didn't let up and the rest was just standing there staring.

"Moral officer in action, huh," Julius shook his head slightly.

"Well, at least we end the training on a high note," Keith snorted.

"Ahhh, pfff, get off!" Blade tried yet again to free herself of that predicament but failed. She simply couldn't tense up like she needed to throw him off.

"Say you give up! Declare me the winner or pay the consequences, Sister!" Kai demanded in his onslaught.

Julius stood there baffled, "Just how is that working...?"

"No clue, but it does…somehow…" Mercury was so confused. The two always had goofed around like kids. He would never dare to do something like that and somehow that upset him a bit. Not to mention that Codatorta was with them, but he wasn't interfering, besides the strange brother-sister love jokes he was observing.

"Stop, stop, please," Blade gasped for air she was getting dizzy and not a second later Kai was off her and pulled the sword out of the ground.

"There you go," Kai pulled her up and opened the cuffs, "That was around one fifty. And you're not panicked whatsoever. See, you already have your life back." He ruffled through her dreads. "Now go home and bake me some cookies! Your brother demands his due tribute! AHAHA," He goofed off further.

"What?" Blade was utterly confused now. 'He, what? One fifty…what? Oh… he was on top… just like Coda…and I - I didn't panic…I didn't,' Blade smiled at her realisation.

"Well, I was the victor, the victor gets to decide the price," Kai smirked and waved his goodbye. "Ha, and make it some good once, double chocolate no quadruple Chocolate!"

'Kids…unbelievable that clown,' Codatorta smirked, "You heard the man, it's late you need to leave before the dome goes up. I won as well, so you owe me too. Plus, you need to pay my team for their extra hours. So, I think a dragon food sack full should suffice."

"But those are huge!" Blade was lost for words. "That wasn't the deal…"

Julius chuckled, "It is now, happy baking."

"Ahhh, can't wait. If you have more of those nuts you totally should grind them in," Mercury blushed and quickly turned around to smash those ice constructs to pieces with his axes so they would melt overnight.

"Wonderful…first herbs, now cookies…" Blade sighed but couldn't stop grinning herself.

"I help you for ten per cent of the goods," Nebula teased her.

Amber laughed out loud, "Count me in!"

A week passed, mid-terms were on the horizon and everyone was studying hard. Blade walked the hallways of Cloud Tower Kitty right beside her they were on the way to Griffin's office and moved up the spiral through the cafeteria. This was the fastest way after all.

"She hasn't even gone back into the city has she?" Some quiet whispers rose from the corners and tables.

"Pff, first she spouts all that shit around and brings others in danger - working with the police what a joke… If you ask me she deserved that."

"HEY!" Kitty had heard that of course, just like Blade but Blade just gazed to the ground. "Apologise!"

"Hey, what?" The third year crossed her arms, "Want something pesky fly?" She was not afraid of them.

"You take that back!" Kitty growled.

Blade shook her head, "Kitty…"

"No!" Kitty couldn't believe it, "Blade, you can't let this stand. NO ONE DESERVES THAT!"

The girl stared them down, "Tch. At least you know your place, glow worm."

Serina flew down, "Then we better teach you yours." She was ready to face her off.

"Stop fighting!" Blade screamed throughout and went in between as they all were flaring up magic. Blade took to heart, "Yes, I am glad that it was me. None of you would have been able to fend that off like I did. I put you all in danger when I pushed Griffin to work with the police. There truly are despicable evil Officers who hate our guts," Blade spoke up so everyone could hear. She already had noticed that there had been factions in the Tower, because of what had happened. This wasn't the first time she had heard such comments.

"Duh. Of course, they hate us. If you had believed Griffin instead of trying to force her to take a chance, you could have avoided this," the third year talked down at her. "But nooo, Fairy believes in peace."

"And I STILL do," Blade stared the girl in the eyes, "There are those who hate us, and there are those, who have heart. Who have Sorceresses in their families or simply judge people by what they do and not what magic they use. William is such a man."

"You haven't even been to that oh-so-precious station of YOURS. You weren't even in the CITY yet! What a joke. If it's so safe, what are you waiting for, glitter wing?" She hissed at Blade and whispers and muttering rose across all the tables.

Blade closed her eyes and held in her tears. She breathed in deeply, "I haven't had the courage yet." She admitted. "You are right. But I'll find it again. I will go back and I will fight for what I believe in." Blade with fire in her eyes looked around in the cafeteria. "I'll fight for this. I lost the battle, not the war. I believe in a future where all of you can walk the streets of Magix without fear. I can't tell you how long that will take. And YES, others might get hurt or," she clenched her fists, "Or even die. I know that. I was the one who got attacked! I KNOW! – I know…BUT if we don't do something. That will certainly happen again. With every Officer's heart, we change, and we'll get there to safe streets for us. If we do nothing, nothing will change. Those Officers, if you even can call them that, will not vanish just because we stop trusting those who are on our side. So, yes, I was blind. I didn't know the horrors. Or how you felt all your years studying dark magic. Not truly. But now I know, more than most of you…" She couldn't hold in her tears after all.

"Oh, what a glorious speech, worthless. Find another fool to die in your stupid war," the third year turned her back on her, "I'll not DIE for a FAIRY'S cause." She was about to leave.

"Thanks for trying though," Blade looked to her.

The third year turned around, "WHAT?!"

"You went to the station, didn't you? William's station. You tried. Every bit helps. So, thank you," Blade had no idea if that was true or not. She simply guessed.

"I - that was, I was late, I had no choice!" The third year hissed back flustered.

Blade nodded, "Then thank you for even considering that option then. It made an impact, a positive impact." Blade stepped on.

"HEY! Don't you dare turn your back on ME! Who do you think you are?! Where do you think you are going!?"

"I'll go to fight MY war. I already told you, I'll fight for that future, we need it. And if I have to I'll do it alone. But I'm already not. I have friends, who believe in a better future and are willing to put their lives on the line. We'll train. We'll be ready. We're going to do tag teams if we take Fairies, Specialists or even go in with bigger Sorceress groups they'll have a harder time doing what they did to me. It's not foolproof, but tag teams save lives. Anyone who wants to join training or needs a tag partner ask Marble she'll invite you to our chat. It's not quite ready yet, but once we are you'll be messaged." Blade explained shortly. They had come up with that idea while chatting about how to help Blade. Since she was too afraid to go alone, they simply suggested going with her, if need be with over thirty people. Even if that might blow her cover for being a Fairy. "Tell you what I'll go to Williams station TODAY. I'll prove to you that I mean this!"

"HA, as if! You are even trembling now!" The Sorceress dismissed her, "You are crazy and an idiot! First the police, now working together with Specialists and FAIRIES?! Bonkers! MOTH!" The third year growled. "I'll be there to watch you fail." She grinned victoriously.

"I won't fail," Blade glared back at her as she tried to calm her nerves, 'What was I thinking!? I'm- I can't. Shit…' Blade had to use a breathing technique she was freaking out, with a shaky voice she stated, "Working together is not crazier than continuing to roam the streets alone and hoping that it's not you who'll eventually get arrested by an asshole out for blood." She moved on, everything was said and she needed to get out before she would puke in front of everyone.

"You- YOU! URRGH! FOOLISH FAIRY! I'll be there to see you fail, you're just full of EMPTY WORDS!" The third year burst out into anger and darted away. The whispers, stares and quiet discussions weren't settling down. In fact, they rose as Blade, Kitty and Serina rushed up the stairs.

Once in the hallways, Blade darted towards Griffin's office. Her heart was pounding her breath heavy, just the thought of going into the city still made her stomach turn. This had cost her everything to speak up. She ripped the door open and searched for hold of the bookshelves as she covered her mouth unsure if she truly would puke. "…."

"Blade!" Kitty laid a hand on her back. "Breathe, just breathe," The girls were right behind her. They had not interfered once it had been clear Blade wanted to do this her way.

"What's wrong?" Startled by the sudden intrusion Griffin rose from her desk.

"Nothing, it'll be fine…" Blade gasped for air.

Serina shook her head, "You're not ready to go into the city, Blade. This is crazy. Why would you make such a promise?!"

"What promise? What's going on?" Griffin didn't understand anything anymore and closed the door.

"She proclaimed that she'll meet William today, in the city," Kitty rubbed Blade's back.

Griffin shook her head, "Why would you do that? That's-"

"We can't lose! We need the other Sorceresses, just our class is not enough to create change," Blade balled her fists the tower already reached out with fine roots to calm her.

Griffin helped her up and set her down on the couch she conjured up, "Blade… that's my responsibility."

"No, it's not," Blade looked to her, "We are fighting together, no one is alone." Blade pulled up the chat.

I'll go today. 4 pm ~BladeMaster

WHAT?! ~Alyssa

You sure? Crap, gonna have to sneak out and ditch the mission or something. ~ChaosLord

I'll be there ~More-Curry

Griffin sighed deeply, "Blade don't rush this. Think of your health."

Blade shook her head, "No, yes, I mean…ahhhh. No. No more hiding. No more. I'll do the hearing once I am cleared. I'll get justice. I'll…" Her hands trembled so hard.

Griffin took hold of them, "Blade, there is no guarantee that you'll get justice. I did everything I could to get as much evidence as possible. But, they were good – they know how to hide their tracks. Maybe you should-"

"Take revenge? I can't fight for one thing and do the other in the shadows. That's hypocrisy. We can't, if this is to succeed. In future," She nearly gagged at the thought that something like this could happen again to someone else. "We - we have to go to the hearings. If we don't file… we…" Blade breathed unsteadily. "How can I ask-k others to… if I don't …I hav-e to!" She looked green.

Kitty shook her head, "Foolish Fairy. And what if you lose? They'll be cleared and untouchable. If we touch them after a fail in the hearing…they'll squash you."

Griffin rose again and paced in her office, 'She's not wrong… but… that… this was no small number. It's not just a few unearned hours of prison. That evidence is so thin… the camera tape is worthless. If others had filed against that station. In the past…if I had used those days… but that station is record clean of any wrongdoings. Not to mention that we have to clear Blade first of the accusations that she helped that criminal. That hearing is just around the corner. Shit.'

"How about, before you make any rash decisions you first focus on this afternoon and then on what you want to do afterwards?" Serina stared with her piercing purple eyes at Blade.

"Right…" Blade had managed to calm down again. 'But if we wait any longer… I have to make a decision soon.'

"Okay, again, why did you call the Council to send help quick the best they can?" Iolas scratched his head. His helmet was under his arm. They had been emergency summoned to the police station and more teams were called back from other tasks to back them up. Today had been such a busy day and this wasn't helping.

The Officer was skittish pale even, "I'm telling you, they are everywhere. They'll blow this building sky high."

"And you have proof of that how?" Ararel rubbed his nose bridge.

The female Officer with a shaky voice answered, "Have you not seen how many are in our district, they are lingering around like vultures. Yes, we had more the last month but this is… like all of Cloud Tower or something. They aren't even doing something. They just sit around biding their time. Haven't you seen that rampage of the Tower a couple of days back? That attack on the Wit-Sorceress. They hate us, all of them had vanished for at least a week. They think we set them up!"

"So, you freaked and called for an army?" Ilrune raised his eyebrows and shook his head.

'Zhoron?' Iolas asked in the psi link.

'There are a lot, we just made a quick run at least a few hundred even older ones not just students, if they are here to attack… I'm not even sure we stand a chance without backup,' Zhoron reported.

'They didn't answer any questions, none of them, just hissing and bitching,' Daeleth sighed. 'On our way back now.'

"Lena…Steve…" Officer William joined them in the desk area. "Calm down, why did you call the Council? Why am I only hearing about this now…?"

"Have you looked outside?" Officer Jason pointed to the door. All the station Officers had retreated into the station and were cooped up inside. "We're getting swamped by Witches."

"Sorceresses…" William corrected him, which made Iolas's side glance at him amused. "They are back in full numbers? That's a good thing." He had been so busy making calls and meetings today no one had dared to disturb him.

"Full numbers? They are here with an army!" Steve was nervous, to say the least. "All because that Witc-Sorceress got attacked. I'm telling you they look grim. They are out for blood, this was a mistake. Of course, they blame us for what happened at the raid. The past is not so easily forgotten."

"William, we tried," Officer Jason tried to reason with his superior.

A knock behind them at the secondary glass door. Everyone turned to see.

"Lucia," William's eyes widened. There she was. After days of silence and no word from her. Backed up by a bunch of students even Fairies and some Specialists. He quickly stepped to the door to open it. The Councillor of Magix had asked him some questions, he had not told the others that Lucia was the one who had gotten attacked as he was sworn to secrecy.

"Wait, what if, those could be others in disguise," Lena held him back.

"Look at her, she's pale, trembling, she's more afraid of us than we of her. Besides Council guard is here. We're safe. It'll be alright, she isn't such a Sorceress. I'm sure of it," William pushed on.

'Hey Iolas…' Virion was so surprised. 'Total overkill…'

'Yeah, I see it…' Iolas kept a straight face. All of them had seen through the glamours. Avalon, Codatorta, Palladium even Griffin were amongst the group of students, hidden away from the eyes of the police. Griffin's magic wasn't countered by any of the Council runes in this building or triggered an alert just like in the headquarters, 'This will be interesting.'

"You're back, I'm so glad you-" William stepped back as he noticed Lucia had flinched as he approached her. "I'm so sorry… I…"

Blade breathed out, "Officer William, got a minute…" Her voice trembled being in a station was so hard. Her gaze fell to the stairs leading down to the cells.

William stepped in front of her sight, "Sure, my office is the other way. Don't worry, you have my word, no harm will come to you."

"No, I'll first have to check something. Then we can talk," Blade pushed past. Just as the rest of her student escort. Mercury, Memphis and Julius had joined her as well as Nebula, Snow, Tasu, Marble, Steela, Kitty and Alyssa.

"Lucia?" William was irritated, to say the least. He followed them downstairs as did the Council guard and the Officers close behind.

With every step, Blade trembled more. Nebula took her hand Snow the other. Still, every one of the students flinched as their magic subsided once they entered the anti-magic area. Snow, Nebula, Memphis, Mercury, and Julius more than the other Sorceresses and Tasu. "It's the same…" Blade stared at the big door of the single cell followed by the small crowd cell deeper in.

"The same?" William was confused. "What's the same?"

"Doors," Avalon commented dryly disguised as another Specialist.

Blade turned around and looked at the camera, "It's different… isn't it, Marble?"

The girl looked up and back to the doors and stepped closer to the prison cell doors. "You would see it in this one, I'm sure of it."

Kitty ran up the wall and pressed herself into the high corner of the hallway. Just to jump down and do it on the other side as well, "No scratches or marks." She let herself fall down to the ground again.

"See what?" William didn't understand at all what was going on. Neither did the rest of his Officers who now got the draft that the one that had been attacked was Lucia of all people.

"Doors…" Palladium repeated also disguised as a Specialists.

William frowned, "You said that but an explanation would be great…"

Blade looked at William and breathed out, "You are different… You're a good man. I'll learn to trust you again."

Griffin laid a hand on Blade's shoulder she was so tense, "Let's go upstairs."

"No, one more thing," Blade stepped forward and turned to William. "No one's in the anti-magic cell, right?"

"No, not currently, we rarely had any magic inmates these past months," Officer William made clear. "They all came out unharmed."

"Then would you open it for me?" Blade asked as she breathed out deeply. Everyone was confused now.

'What is she up to?' Thallan noticed that even the Professors were confused right now.

William stepped to the door and unlocked it and pulled the door open. The runes began to lid up and ready to hold a prisoner, "See, it's empty. We would never-"

"Please, step back," Blade approached him at the doors. William followed suit to give her some space.

Codatorta looked confused at Avalon who shrugged. He didn't know either, Blade had said nothing about this. "Lucia maybe…"

'You can do this,' Blade stood there at the doorstep and with squinted eyes she reached out to the door edge and in one swift move stepped inside and let the door fall shut behind her without a warning to anyone.

"LUCIA!" The students freaked out rushing to the door but it wouldn't open for them.

"Open it up!" Nebula hissed together with Kitty.

Blade stood there her heart pounding the world spinning around her. She breathed in. She could hear the ruckus outside. Tears dripped down her face as she stood there. "I'll win, no matter what…I'll win…"

The door flung open and her friends rushed inside, "Are you crazy!?" Snow was scared half to death.

"You can't just," Kitty was lost for words.

"That was stupid!" Alyssa was so riled up.

Mercury pushed past them and laid a hand on her shoulder and turned her around, "How long do you want to try? I'll stay with you." He looked into her light blue eyes. "You can do this. I know you can."

"I can do this alon-" Blade looked at him. He wouldn't leave her not in a million years and somehow this relaxed her so much to have someone believe in her. "Ten. I'll reach ten this time."

Nebula wordlessly sat down. So, did Snow, then Alyssa, and Kitty, one by one all the students slid down the walls of the cell.

Julius looked to Codatorta, "Close the door, make sure we get out."

"I'll set the timer. Just, got to knock," Iolas stepped past the Professors lost for words and glancing at each other unsure if this was a good or a horrible idea and he pushed the door shut. "See you in eleven minutes." He smiled at Blade. 'You can do this, Blade.' He encouraged her via psi link as Zhoron and the rest just had arrived at the stairs.

Blade stood there shaking, breathing in and out as Mercury breathed out loud in a calm rhythm for her to follow. She wanted to gag but pushed it down. 'I can trust William. I can. I won't back down. I'll win my hearing and then drag those assholes before one, I'll file a complaint anything. Everything, I can do. I'll…'

Mercury saw that she didn't stop shaking. Slowly he reached out around her shoulder and pressed her gently towards his chest as he continued the breathing exercise.

The girls and boys smirked at each other as Blade calmed down. Standing there. No one said a word.

Blade could hear Mercury's heartbeat slow and steady. She found her centre eventually. The time passed it was impossible to tell how long they were in there, no one had a working watch in here. First Blade's breath slowed. Her trembling subsided until she was calm and collected. Her thoughts had stopped racing. She looked up to Mercury who let her go. She looked to the others all around her. "We can do this. We have to, we are not in the days long past. This, this is what I want for every one of us to feel safe. If we can work together we can achieve so much more. You deserve to feel, no, to be as safe as we are. Jewels fought for this too late on Desertia, we lost. Never again," Blade looked to her Sorceress friends and then around to the rest.

Nebula snorted, "No more double standards. I'll say bring it on." She rose.

Snow stood up, "Yeah, no more. We'll not lose another friend, Jewels fought this. She knew she understood how important this was."

Steela nodded, "I barely gave her a second glance, but she truly was concerned for me, for us. If she had survived Desertia… I'm with you." Brightly she smiled at Blade.

"She even risked breaking you out, crazy, Crown Princess making a prison break in her own palace," Alyssa stepped towards them. "To think I would ever work with you and not ask for favours, Moth." She chuckled.

"Well, I do crazy things all the time, what's one more," Memphis joined them.

Julius shook his head, "Don't get my team in trouble. That's my job."

"Oh, let the chatrooms be flooded and our voices be heard. This will be our reckoning," Marble grinned ready for action.

"Just have to say the word, and I'll answer your call, Blade. We'll defeat the evil one," Kitty joked around.

"Seriously?" Tasu chuckled so hard, "Way to ruin the mood, cat."

"Hey, you all just sound so cheesy! I don't want to sound like a lamo when we have to tell the story to our friends or are written into the history books," Kitty hissed.

"Ahh…we got to work on your etiquette you are worse than Blade," Tasu shook her head as she took her place in the circle.

"Is that even possible?" Mercury snorted.

"Hey!" Blade whisper-screamed instantly and stomped on his foot. "I improved… a bit…" Everyone laughed as Mercury grimaced and tried not curse.

"Wait, is that one of those occasions where you pick a fancy group name?" Alyssa asked a bit excited.

"What like chaos squad?" Memphis snickered.

Julius promptly declined, "We're not naming us after the squad with the highest stable duty rate in the history of Red Fountain."

"Wings, brooms and swords then?" Nebula snorted.

"Oh boy, you all suck at names," Marble shook her head in utter disbelief.

"We don't need a name guys," Blade smiled, "This is not for us or because of us. I don't need or want that glory. It will be up to all who fight for this cause, this is bigger than us. We might start this battle but without others, we won't end it. No one is more important than the other. We're not fighting for an agenda or fame. We do it because it's the right thing and long due. Theory into practice. We're just a bunch of friends and so will be others."

"Can we at least make a tag though? You know something cool. I want a tag…Like a flag symbol or an emblem or something. So, anyone can see who they can approach, who'll help out if they need help. You know for the tag teams and stuff," Snow pouted a bit.

"Sure, why not, let's put a contest out in the chat once it is up and running," Marble grinned. "That way we can get the best result. Plus, contests are fun."

Alyssa pondered, "Maybe we should make the name a chat vote as well. I'm not so sure if we should leave it open…"

"If people agree on a name we can just adapt that, we're not a music band or a sports team. It doesn't ride all on us. Again, we are one team of many." Blade snickered, "Besides anything is better than wings, brooms and swords…" She shook her head at Nebula.

"Hey, it was on the fly…don't expect a masterpiece," Nebula growled.

Julius chuckled, "So basically, we're a coalition, not one voice is more important than the other."

"Of course not," Kitty crossed her arms, "Never should be."

"All life is sacred," Tasu nodded.

"Besides, we don't need a leader for this change because change will come with us. Everyone, who'll work on it," Memphis grinned satisfied.

Blade snorted, "You are just afraid to work with a hierarchy. They don't suit your style."

"Hey…" Memphis looked at her deadpan.

Mercury smacked him on the back, "She got you there. PFFFF."

Everyone got silent and stared at each other. It was a bit awkward, "Do we need to, uh, put hands in the middle, high five? Fist bump? What are we doing?" Snow asked a bit unsure.

The Sorceresses declined promptly, "Do we look like cheesy Fairies?!"

"How about a convergence something?" Nebula shrugged.

"In an anti-magi cell… Nebula have you visited that bar again?" Tasu turned to the door and knocked.

Nebula grimaced as everyone made their way to the door, "No, of course not. That was one time and you were the most drunk out of all of us!" She stomped her foot as the door opened promptly. "I'm not drunk!"

"You butterflies were drunk during school days? How did no one notice that?!" Kitty laughed so hard and promptly stopped as the Professors were staring at them relieved to see Blade all up and well.

"Hey, Woaah!" Everyone wanted to get out rather quickly for so many the cell was a bit small. Marble bumped into Nebula and fell backwards and got pushed forward by Kitty. Marble held of course onto her as she got startled and suddenly everyone was stumbling and falling out.

'Kids…' Iolas stood there confused just like the other grown-ups. "You alright? Need a hand?"

Blade was the only one quick enough to evade that mess and simply jumped over the fallen crowd, "You gotta work on that coordination of yours if we want to get anything done…" She snorted as they all tried to stand up and pulled each other down by trying to do so. Half a squabble ensued.

"Hey!"; "You!"; "Get your foot-"; "Move!"; "I can't!"; "What are you-?"; "Uuuurgh."; "Ouch!"; "I rather work alone…"; "This is pure chaos…"; "I can work with that."

Blade scratched her head, "Officer William, we should talk," She breathed out deeply, "I got a hearing to prepare for and need you as a character witness." She addressed the confused Officer who wasn't sure if he should help the rest of her friends or if that would make anything worse. 'I am safe here.'

"Right…eh, to my office then?" William shook his head and turned towards the stairs to lead the way past all the onlookers.