Drop in the ocean


A few days later Blade was in Faragonda's office after lessons. 'I wonder what she wants…' Blade was currently waiting with Griselda on her. Griselda was eyeing Blade closely and with a still displeased look as head of discipline she still was rather upset over her behaviour, she wasn't one to forget so easily. Wordlessly they stood there, in awkward silence.

Softly the door opened and Faragonda entered, "Sorry, for the wait."

"Not at all," Blade answered quickly, 'Finally, someone says something.' She waited till Faragonda sat down, "You asked for me?"

"Yes, indeed I have. There are a few things to discuss," Faragonda interlaced her fingers. "For one, you and Aurum still have some detention missions waiting for you two. We paused them because of Griffins. But quite frankly I am a bit perplexed why they take so long. Care to elaborate?"

"Eh, well, she is requesting a lot of plants and herbs and they don't all grow close to the schools. I also have training in Red Fountain and homework and she keeps increasing the amount she wants every time I don't deliver what she asks for… I get it she wants to get back at me… but I already collected like fifty Violas and now she wants a hundred and twenty? We started with fifteen on the first day and I managed fourteen before I had to leave for special training with Palladium in the sandbox. There is just no end to it. She didn't even want to take what I got her from Laciport although the plants do the same. I asked Professor Eldora to find some spots in the greenhouse for them. She was happy to take them. Plus, all my normal Sorceress missions are running from A to B in the tower. It's a waste of time if you ask me…" Blade sighed, it really had been icy cold between them.

"Hmm…" Faragonda closed her eyes pondering.

"And you haven't thought about apologising to her, now did you?" Professor Griselda asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Apologise for what? Having an opinion? She started pushing her magic into my face, not the other way around," Blade crossed her arms.

'Kindergarten,' Griselda shook her head, "For being rude…for example…"

"So, she can pat her back and leave it at that?" Blade shook her head, "I understand that she has met some bad officers, really bad once, in her lifetime. Still, that's not a reason to let this chance go to waste and I won't apologise for my opinion and I will work with William in the future. That's not negotiable. I very much doubt that she wants an apology for anything else."

"How about telling her or us who hurt you? If it wasn't the police," Griselda added.

"That is Cloud Tower business and we won't intervene…" Faragonda rebuked Griselda slightly. 'Besides Riven promised it is nothing to worry about. Even if it happens in the future… he said… Whatever that means…. That boy… since he became a Head Hunter he is bending the rules on a daily basis… He is no liar though,' Faragonda gazed at Blade, "Well, the Council forwarded some requests. Apparently, Officer William has requested you several times for a mission of some sort, your redhead self. He wants to meet. But I see that Griffin kept you rather busy and away from Magix City…"

"He requested me? Oh right, the Id badge number… she has not said a word to me," Blade scratched her head. 'Typical that woman, truly…uuurgh…'

"Oh wonder…" Griselda rolled her eyes.

"Well Blade, Councillor Cahagan has informed me that the Council has overruled Griffin, or rather said, they want it done. 'They are tired of getting so many mission requests for something so simple.' Apparently William insisted on it being a Sorceress from Cloud Tower at least and Griffin is stonewalling. She even declined that another Sorceresses go in your stead to do the job."

"She did what?!" Blade lost her posture there. 'Oh, that stubborn…'

"Well, it's not my place, but I can't refute the Council on this. They have created you a charm, it basically gives you the glamour image of the Sorceress persona Griffin has built for you. Yet this time around it is a morphing spell for which you don't need to use magic to keep it going. In addition, though, be mindful of these facts, since it is a morph people can pull and grab your clothes like real ones. It also reflects your condition. So, no hiding cuts, bruises or busted shoulders. You always can use a glamour of course but you will have to rely on what you can do yourself. So, it works just like a morphing spell you trained in class with Professor Wizgiz."

'Ahh, … so it's easier for basically everyone to check how hurt I am. Still can hide stuff under clothes as well if it's just bruises if I don't want to use a glamour… mine are shit compared to Griffins and even hers got detected… well… Council Guard is good…' Blade nodded, "Okay."

"That's not all, since the Council doesn't want to leak to the public that there is a dark magic Fairy form, at least not yet, and certainly not to the general populous and lower law enforcement, who tent to gossip more you are not to use your Dark Fairy form without the charm in the cities of any planet. It is built to hide that form even if you transform. So it allows you to fly, it's truly a high-grade charm. On the one hand that is for your safety, there are enough unpleasant people around, who would want to study you… closer… to put it kindly, if they knew. Or people might see it as a threat and panic. That's the same reason why Griffin didn't let you fly around as a dark Fairy, besides the fact that your mission was a 'Witch mission'. On the other hand, no one knows yet where exactly that path will take you. We all are still searching for answers, just like you and no one knows what we will find out. We don't want repercussions for you if something bad gets unravelled and we might have to seal those powers away to keep you safe." Faragonda said it so lightly yet the implications were heavy.

"Wait a second, seal away? You mean like forever?... but, eh, the Council does know that basically, a Tower full of students who deal in gossip know of my form right? Plus, Alfea and even Specialists…" Blade found that super weird. 'That's a bit late for considerations…Did they find something to cause that change of heart?'

"Well… Griffin has her students under control, most of the time. Your peers and their families were instructed not to mention it either, by the Council no less. Yes, there were some complaints, but to our luck, you introduced it with a jelly Snowman to most students. The Council cleared it up with all the kingdoms. You luckily could miss that meeting, besides you got it on Phere-Moan and used it to cleanse the planet. So there currently there is more credit in favour of the Fairy form. Still, crown houses know how hard it is to keep the balance besides the complaints. Yet without fodder, no one can openly appeal against it. Yet you gained a few more gawking eyes, don't forget that. Try to be o your best behaviour when using it, okay?" She smiled trying to reassure her as she gazed at Blade. "Also, don't forget, Sorceresses only trade if it's worth something and since no one knows how to really gain it. It's nothing more than a myth from a fair story and at least for all outside our school and affiliations. But once we all know what it does and how it comes to be it will be much more worthwhile, so the Sorceresses will hold off at least until then with spreading the word. At least now a lot more kingdoms are scavenging for information about Shadion in their archives."

"So, the Council basically promised to seal it away if there is any definitive proof that it is an evil power? Because I screwed up being high and all, wonderful. And now all who want to unlock or gain that power for their kingdoms are searching for information on it. Not to mention those who hate all Sorceresses and see this as an attack on everything they stand for…." Blade facepalmed.

"You should have expected that. Did you not wonder why no student asked you about it AT ALL? You battled your Professors in the middle of the schoolyard with a Witch. Secrets don't stay secret if you use them openly or are planning to in the long run. You can be glad that Votzaak…"

Faragonda cleared her throat, "Back to the original topic, the Council charm is also stronger. It's of the highest grade and in tune with law enforcement magic." Faragonda explained further.

'Wait Votzaak? The Councillor? What has he… great and we're moving on…' Blade didn't understand. Blade frowned a bit displeased but apparently, all was taken care off. And truly besides some more whispers, which she was already used to since the hearing or well the first year. There had been no talks besides with her friends in more private settings about Shadion she had picked up. And the students were normal to her, superficially polite as ever. Actually, that had changed a bit with the hearing, some liked her more others less. But it was of no consequence since they all head separate classes and were in different years. She shook her head to concentrate again, "What did you say? In tune with…what?"

"Well, for example, the Council Headquarters has anti-magic runes for several purposes. For example, no one can sneak in and pretend to be someone else. So, your last glamour from Griffin would have been lifted. This one doesn't vanish. So, you can go into all public buildings as a Sorceress," Faragonda paused.

"Wow, that's so cool! I didn't even know that would have been a problem…" Blade was a bit overwhelmed.

"Blade… Griffin can weave such spells as well, she didn't, because it's a two-edged sword," Faragonda sighed, "That also means if you get arrested by the police you won't turn back."

"I doubt I get much into trouble with the police. Besides, I always can take it off, can't I?" Blade wasn't bothered by it too much. 'It's not like bad and good Officers are split fifty-fifty after all.'

"No, this is a complicated charm and so is it's activation, most of your Professors or Council guards and such can notice, activate or deactivate it. So, if you want to swap you got to come back to the schools or go to the Council Headquarters, you will find qualified people there. That's another reason why this morph charm will reflect injuries as they are. So please, I'm all for improving public relations for the Sorceress but be careful. You have your bracelet, there is an emergency function, just press the button, and it is YOUR LIFELINE."

Blade glanced at her bracelet, that button was another new feature added just a few days back. She basically just had to tip the upper corner. "But the bracelet gets triggered anyways if I am hurt or something is off, plus you have the video and all that. What's the point of imbedding something like this into the software?"

Griselda adjusted her glasses, "Yes, but if you get chased by not so Witch-friendly people that will save you some valuable seconds. It also works for other occasions. For example, if you meet another zombie horde or a rampaging dragon or whatever giant threat. You can just press it before you get burnt to a crisp or cursed."

"Hmm, so basically a call for backup…" Blade grinned, "That's nice, I used the voice option to call Nebula or others so far, but that way is subtler. Depending on the situation…I can cast spells and call for backup, neat."

"It's versatile, yes, just remember that the video recording will be activated as well if you tab that. So maybe not press it accidentally in the toilet or anything," Faragonda chuckled.

"Wait, but the bracelet is not in tune, now is it?" Blade scratched her head.

"No, your prototype will be given out soon to your classmates and also in Red Fountain to some teams. The Council can't or rather won't in tune them. They don't want the wrong crowd to hunt you for them to back hack the Council runes and security measures in official buildings. That would be a major security problem to all of us. The charm is very hard to spot if you are not working with the Council and trained for it or know what to look for. They can track the charm as well if need be. While the bracelet hopefully will be widely used so people will definitely pick up on it." Faragonda smiled, "You're thinking ahead even more than before."

"Well, planning is important… especially on solo missions," Blade looked up from the bracelet.

"Well then, enough explanations," Griselda wanted to get a move on, "You will meet with Officer William today as the Council requested, he got informed. And on a side note, tomorrow I'll see you and Arum during detention, you both were behaving less than stellar, to put it mildly, these past days. So, on top of your three detention missions from which you both have only done one separately so far. This comes on top."

"But I have special training in that time frame…" Blade grimaced displeased.

Griselda answered harshly, "Well, then don't be such a child and follow the rules we are an elite school after all. We already are not revoking your magic, young Lady. I will have discipline, you are making a habit of disobeying."

'Figures… she convinced Faragonda…' Blade sighed, "Yes, Professor Griselda."

"Make sure you are rested and not arrested. You'll need all your magic," Griselda grinned menacingly and checked her clock, "Ah, already time for classes… Good luck, stay safe." Griselda moved past Blade.

'Was that a joke from her!?' Blade was a bit perplexed. 'Wait all my magic? So, we are training something after all? What? He?' Blade looked confused to Faragonda for answers as the door fell in its lock.

"She's not kidding. Bring you're A-game. She's not one to hold back. She blocked all your free time after lessons till evening," Faragonda smirked. "Alright, any questions concerning your Council mission?"

"I…eh…" Blade gulped just thinking of what horrors Griselda would come up with. "I, hm, so I am just to meet him? Did he say what he needs?" Blade tried to refocus.

"No. Well, he said the police needs support with everyday matters, which is as vague as it can get," Faragonda smiled, "Well, then if there is nothing else," She stood up with a little box in hand and stepped towards Blade. She opened it there was a round shiny amber-coloured stone inside it enclosed some sort of talisman with runes inscribed and had several throughout its transparent body connected with fine lines currently darker and dormant. "This is the charm in question, you ready?"

"Sure, but that's just a stone…" Blade wasn't sure how to make sure she wouldn't lose it.

"Ah, not to worry, it fuses with your body so no one can just take it from you. The Council uses similar charms for undercover missions," Faragonda pressed it between her collarbones and infused magic into the stone, "Speciem alci facito ab uno in alium!" The headmistress drew some runes with her aver hand above the stone.

It tingled slightly as the stone got warm and shortly a bit hot and then vanished into her skin. Blade could feel the magic flowing throughout her body shortly and now morphed even she could see and feel the redheaded Sorceress's new body and clothes. "That's a weird feeling to get used to…"

"Ha, it's worth it. I wish you all the best and be careful," Faragonda laughed and guided her out of her office.

Blade walked down the hallways and down the big stairs outside. Already she earned some confused looks from her peers.

"What is a Witch doing here?" some whispered.

"Did she steal something?"

Tessa spotted her, "Got reprimanded Lucia?" She laughed loudly. "Told ya." She loved to tease Blade and this was no different to her.

"Yeah, yeah…" Blade shook her head, "Have fun in your glitter bucket, watch out that you don't choke on your fairy dust." She grinned back.

"Excuse you?" Professor Dufour went straight towards her with an angry face. "You will…"

"Sorry, on a mission, got to hurry!" Blade grinned a bit helplessly, 'Shadion!' She activated her dark form and jumped into the air. 'Gotta stick to my image at least a little bit otherwise I miss the fun.'

"Get the Witch! She's using dark magic on school grounds!" Tessa joked around and smirked as she saw her classmate rush off. Yet to her surprise, some Fairies were getting up in arms. 'Oh, what?!'

"Now, now," Wizgiz hopped out the window of the teacher's lounge on the ground floor. "We have style, Ladies, we don't randomly shoot Witches from the sky. Battle magic is used only in classes and missions where you need it…" He sternly glared at Tessa. 'New morph charm works and truly is a masterpiece… good luck Blade.'

"Sorry…" Tessa rushed inside the library to escape a reprimand. 'Didn't think our peers would so easily be triggered and ready to fight. Yikes… They all were at the hearing at least for half of it…'

Blade had flown to Magix City. Half way it started to rain and Blade used her chance to train her body enhancement magic with her dark magic. Now in the city, she sat down and walked over to the police station the rain already let up. 'Whisper of creation!' She checked if William was even in the station, she located him easily. "Well then…" She glimpsed a shadow on the roof which quickly vanished. 'hmmm…' She closed her eyes again. 'No way, what the…' Blade flew up.

"You sure she didn't-"

"Hey, there, Lion, Seth, Tyson, Max, Damon, Alex," Blade greeted Team A.

"Oh, hey there, fancy seeing you here…" Tyson, Keith's brother, greeted her.

Blade stemmed her hand into her hip, "Yes, what a coincidence, truly, … who send you? Faragonda? Griffin?"

"Codatorta…" Max mumbled quietly.

"Coda?" Blade blinked irritated. "Why? He has the bracelet data."

Lion rolled his eyes, "That you circumvented…duh, of course, he sends one to find out."

"But you already know…. Ahahaha, wonderful…" Blade giggled.

"Well, he also wants a go team at the ready if your William was just pretending to be a nice guy," Seth explained shortly.

"Mother hens all of them…" Blade shook her head, "Very well then. Someone cares to join me? Or will you follow me on the rooftops all day?"

"All day?" Damon seemed a bit irritated, "That mission of yours goes so long?"

"No, clue, might be…" Blade scratched her head.

Alex sighed, "Well, till we deem it save, we gotta stay and no we can't join. Cloud Tower doesn't work with Red Fountain. That would be too obvious and suspicious. You have to present as a Wit-Sorceress after all. Sorry, my bad, habits…"

"All good," Blade nodded, "Well then, have a nice hang out…gotta go." Blade waved them good-by and jumped off the roof and slowed her fall down and landed and made her way into the station.

"Welcome, how can I be of… you…" Officer Lena greeted Blade and stuttered.

Blade raised an eyebrow, "Do we need to try this a third time?"

"No, no, William has been expecting you for days… he was worried. He didn't even get a call back from your Headmistress or any answer really. We were beginning to think something happened to you," Lena explained.

"I was off-world for most of the time. I do have to studies and stuff to do," Blade simply shrugged.

"Right, well go in I'm sure you know the way," Officer Lena opened the second door to the desks and offices.

Blade was surprised, "No escort or army?"

"No, you haven't done anything - yet," She added with a bit of concern, but friendly.

"Thank you very much," Blade smiled at her, "Have a good shift."

"Y-yes… you too?" It was still awkward for her. Still, she was way more relaxed than last time.

Blade wandered along the hallway until she reached William's office. She still was greeted with surprised and perplexed faces even quiet hellos but besides some staring, there was nothing weird going on. 'I don't understand Griffin at all… these people are nice, they'll get used to it no problem.' She knocked at the door.

"Yes, come in," Officer William's voice echoed from inside.

"Good day to you," Blade entered.

"Ah, good day to you too…eh," William stood up from his chair to greet her but stopped mid-sentence, "…CT-50-81724"

"Hm? … oh right, I never gave you my name…" Blade chuckled, "Lucia will do, Officer William."

"Ah, alright, call me William. Please," He offered a chair and sat down again.

'Anty was so proud then I told her I choose her name. ''Have a blast, make me proud,' tch, she's always up for shenanigans,' Blade sat down, "You got a mission for me?"

The officer was searching for the right words, "Yes, I need your help." He took a small tablet out of his drawer. I need you to go to these locations and get the items."

"A shopping list, planning a party?" Blade took it and scrolled, "Wow that are a lot of locations all over town…"

"And it's already shortened…" He muttered to himself. "Well, can you do it? Before five would be perfect."

"Five? Well, sure… but those are a lot of locations…" Blade scratched her head.

"True… well then, let's make it half past four, try to get as much done as possible and meet me at the plaza mid-town, alright? I got something else to show you which is more important as well," William waited for her approval.

"Okay… is that all you need?" Blade asked still confused. 'That's nothing more than a fetch quest, wonderful…'

"Yes, that be a great help, oh, if things get too heavy, call or just give the stuff to the Officers at the front desk. I will be out as well," He took a business card and gave it to her. "Well, then, I have some reports to write."

Blade nodded stood up and left the station. She leaned against the column of the fence wall outside of the station and inputted the locations all into her map on the bracelet to calculate the shortest route. 'That still is going to be a lot of running… well then, let's put Iolas's training to the test.' She stretched and off she was.

"Uurgh, what is this shit…" Blade held her nose. She had moved to her fifteenth location and one was stranger than the next. The location had stopped in the middle of a quiet street after a bit of searching she had found a sewer tunnel entrance. 'That stinks soooo bad… and I thought Michael and his fruits were bad…' She looked around and there indeed was a small box stuck in some debris. 'Probably fell into the water with last night's storm.' She fished it out. And stuffed it into a shopping bag she had gotten from a random food store. 'Should have brought a backpack…' She sighed. Her gaze fell on the rune circle further in the tunnel which would lead into the sewers, "Off to the next one…"

'A bracelet…' Blade was a bit perplexed. A front yard before her yet there was no bracelet to be found. "Maybe the mailbox? But I can't open other people's mailboxes…"

A grandma waddled up from behind, "Are you lost dear?"

Blade turned around, "Eh…kinda…" She gazed at the old woman, 'Wow, she has some huge magic presence… is she a Sorceress?'

The woman squinted her eyes, "Well, out with it." She glanced at Blade's Cloud Tower badge that dangled out from her skirt pocket.

"I just lost something, but I don't seem to have lost it here…" Blade sighed, 'Maybe William forgot to cross it out.'

"I found a bracelet recently, used it as decoration, you may have it back…" She giggled amused and went inside her house.

Blade irritated stared at the flowerpots indeed there were some beads hanging from them, 'No way… those are…what?!' She moved up to the flower pot and collected them quickly.

Later on, she entered a rug shop, 'Ask for pancakes…' Was the instruction. "This is ridicoules…"

"And what can I do for you?" A wealthy clothed shop owner approached her. "I think this store is a bit out of your price range - witch…" He addressed her very rudely and with disgust.

"Got any pancakes?" Blade simply answered.

The man went pale, "Outside! We don't serve your kind!" He hissed and then whispered quietly. "Go to the back…"

A good hour later she was on the other side of town, "I'm starving…" Blade shook her head, this was the weirdest treasure hunt ever. "Great…" Blade stopped in front of a weirdly shuffled graffiti tag on the back of a billboard up on a skyscraper. "Another one?!... that's like the seventh…" She tipped on the parts and swapped them around till she got the picture correctly rearranged. The Graffiti lid up and transformed into yet another scroll. "Who the heck places scrolls all over town like that…"

"You can't be serious…" Blade looked to her left and right and quickly flew up to the statue in the middle of a junior high. It was displaying the Winx and Bloom had a moustache engraved. "Ahhh," she flew up to it.

"HEY!" A teacher had spotted her from a window, "YOU HALT! DMAN YOU WITCHES! Not again!" He roared.

'Shit, shit, shit…' Quickly Blade infused dark magic into her hands, somehow the metal moustache squeezed out of the statue and now she could rip it off.

"YOU!" The man threw a wet sponge at Blade, "I'll report you to the Council! You'll scrap the floors of this school TILL YOU DIE!"

Blade evaded the sponge just in time, "Chill, I came to fix it…wasn't me…"

"As if!" The teacher rampaged on to the amusement of his students. "FICKING WITCHES!"

"IT'S SORCERESSES!" Blade growled back. But decided to leave as more teachers were coming out of the building. 'Crap…'

There were many more peculiar hiding spots. In the library in books, she found tons of surveillance photos hidden. In the background of advertisement banners, keys in other locations to unlock security lockers at the teleporter station… Things hidden insight streetlight wiring boxes. Invisible stuff in trash cans glued to the bottom. A dove with three pink spots living in one of the parks had a minimised package attached to its leg. In a candle in a restaurant she had to go to and order something, the waiter had thrown her out and basically thrown the candle after her and she had noticed the ring hidden inside. A biker gang she had to meet at a bus stop asking if she wanted to buy a snowman plushie. Not to mention the tons of coffee she had to buy to reveal ink on blank papers.

After over four hours of widely chasing after coordinates and solving puzzles or meeting contacts. Blade was facing off with a Dire Chihuahua. She had been in a stalemate in the last ten minutes.

It growled at her snapping and yapping. "GRRRRRRR."

"Who thinks enchanting dogs from Gardenia is a smart idea… that thing is huge…" Blade tried to step closer to the dog as big as a car in some rich guy's backyard.

"Yeah, get the Witch! Fiffy, get her!" the snob was hiding behind his deckchair. "RIPP HER TO SHREDS!"

"I SAID SIT!" Blade used her nature connection she had enough of this, and flared up her dark magic.

The dog winced wide-eyed and bolted over the hedge.

"Oh, come on…arrrgh, stupid dog…" Blade lost it. "Get back here!"

"Fiffy, NOOOOO!" The man was devastated, "You traitor! I'll never love you again. I trusted you!" The guy theatrically stormed inside his house and looked everything down.

Officer William was checking his watch a bit impatiently. "Where is she? Don't tell me she gave up and just left…"

Blade came up from behind him, "Sorry… had a dog to chase…huge dog…"

"And I thought you deserted us already," William chuckled, "How was your hunt?"

Blade stared at him deadpanned as she gasped for air, she had flown so fast, "Hunt? Treasure hunt more likely…" Blade shook her head, "What was up with that? Why do you even need all that stuff? Half of that are magical trinkets…"

William snorted, "Don't faint on me. Come," He led the way. And with a bit of walking, they reached a housing area where a big gravity police van was parked out front. He guided her up the staircase and unlocked the door. It was a smaller apartment but nice.

"Reminds me of home," Blade smiled as she entered with William the living room, "Woah?! What is that? Those look like they'll topple any moment…" Blade stared at boxes stacked on the top of the ceiling.

"Yeah, well, to answer your questions, these apparently are all mission items from missions handed out by the Council to your school. I also found some, how to put this, evidence of other ongoing cases. I know I said you can come to me, but I meant the station… In the start I only had a few things in my letterbox… but now your friends are well, breaking in…well, trespassing on my balcony and drop their shit off…" He was a bit displeased.

"Oh… oooooooh, you mean…wow…" Blade was dazzled by the sheer amount.

"Yeah and those nice calls, I tried to well, get to the locations for 'hand-offs'. I do have other stuff to do though. So, your friends started to well, hide them which is a pain in the ass. I can't chase dogs or be seen with strange crowds." Officer William elaborated.

"Yeah, not to mention you need magic to get some of those…" Blade didn't know what to say, 'How? When? Kitty didn't say anything, not even Dusk… or Alyssa, Steela… but even then, that is so much more stuff…' Blade puffed, "I didn't expect so much…"

"That makes two of us. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to have it and get it to their owners or the Council, that is my job. But… I can't go on a goose chase for hours each day. Also, this hurts my reputation, people might get the wrong idea about me with so much stolen or missing stuff in my living room. I enforce the law after all I'm not some black-market dealer," He picked one of the boxes up, "Come, I need to get it to the precinct before my shift ends."

Back at the station Steve and some other Officers unloaded the boxes, while Blade and William had another sit down in his office.

"I would like to continue this partnership. You are actually helping us quite a lot. We also had a lot of well, old ladies coming in handing stuff in people lost and collecting the finder's fee. I even started to pin the lost reports into the lobby. They are taken care of quite quickly, even cases from years ago. It's astonishing…" He was truly baffled by it.

Blade smiled brightly, "But you can't have your apartment end up a treasure trove. Not to mention that some items might be dangerous or there are people who want it back but shouldn't get it back…"

"Exactly," William nodded, "So, in your opinion, since you are the only one coming here un…transformed… what is a good solution for all of you?"

Blade smirked, 'Untransformed? If he knew I was a Fairy… oh boy…' Blade scratched her chin as she thought for a second. "A drop off…best would be at all stations to divide the work."

"They already can drop it off here," William shook his head. "They are not as courageous as you are."

"But they have to go inside this building… Griffin is really intense about not entering police stations. There had been really bad … confrontations… back in the day – one might call them even assaults." She looked him straight in the eyes and checked for his reaction.

"Yeah… about that. I crisscrossed what the Queen of Eventide had talked about. I got to agree with your Headmistress. There are tons of reports of arrests that make no sense whatsoever. And I only checked this year or well part of it. As much as I hate to say it the past is not in the past. Your Headmistress is not completely wrong there, I couldn't find assaults though. Back in the day, I heard from older staff that some Witches had tried to break out of cells and died as they tried to stop them. The pictures I saw painted really devastating destruction caused mainly by magic not weapons though. But I doubt the police would write that down if they were the culprits and apparently no Wi-Sorceress has filed a report for ages. I can't tell you what side is true and all Officers in question are all out of the force I think at least very old by now. So, for now, you should only work with us; or well police officers which I deem trustworthy to work with as a Witch, just in case. Don't go to other stations and if you get arrested just sit it out or if you get a call. Call me. I'll find some more people for you to work with don't be hasty, until then we'll somehow manage the paperwork. I don't want to sully the relations with you Witches."

"Sorceresses," Blade corrected him straight away. 'At least he is trying… So again… police and Sorceresses don't mix well, if William even says so…ah, crap…I'll never hear the end of it from Griffin.'

"Yes, Sorceresses, but truly. I mean being stuck in an arrest cell is nothing dangerous. But I am sure you and others have other stuff to do than spend a night in a cell," William sighed deeply. "Again, I am on the lookout for more willing police officers. But I guess, both sides first need to prove that we can trust each other. So please, come to this station and only us for drop-offs - for now at least."

Blade leaned back in her chair a bit devastated, "And I thought this is a breakthrough…" She picked her nails, 'So, Griffin was right? If even he says that…'

"It is, don't sell it short, Lucia." He tried to cheer her up, "Things need time."

"You can't have it from the get-go," Blade quoted Codatorta, "Well, the distrust is mutual by the looks of it….. Your roof is flat. Why not build a drop-off there? I saw a lot of notes with ID badge numbers on the items I collected. Something to validify the badges a storage room or a shaft to drop it down. You know like a mailbox…That might work."

"Hmm, yes… that would secure the items as well…" Officer William nodded. "But I hoped to see more Witch-Sorceresses in person not just their shadows…"

"Well, put a greeting message, drop-off inside get ten per cent more finder's fee… I'm sure some will jump on that," Blade joked around.

"Really? Ha, well we would need funds for that or we need to plunder our own coffee funds," William laughed as well. "Anyways, Please, tell your friends to hold off for a few days. I'm sure something can be done for a drop-off quickly, I'll request the Council for the changes the shaft would need to be protected by runes and stuff after all. I don't want a red crystal cat crushing through the shaft into the station."

"Red crystals… have you heard anything about that?" Blade asked. 'We haven't found anything solid not too mention that the teachers have eagle eyes in that matter.'

"Not more than you that's for sure. But there have been incidences where birds were found with dust or little shards. Or dead once remains. I heard the Black Magic Hunter Division is taking care of it. So, rarely people come across them, luckily," William tipped on his table pondering.

"Well then, five o'clock, time for you to get some rest," Blade rose from the chair.

"Wait, your fee," William halted her.

"Nah, not for this mess…" Blade declined.

"You sure?... Oh, before I forget. Your headmistress is really hard to get on the phone or to reach in general. Please, give me five minutes, I'll write something up. Could you take it to her in person? And take a message for me?" William requested quickly.

"Sure, I'll check out that lost and found board of yours…" Blade nodded and left the office.

Blade stood in front of the door to Griffin's office she was not keen to face off with her again. After all she had been sent on a mission by the Council where Griffin had gotten overruled. William had told her Griffin was right to be cautious at least partly. Yet even with her own research, she had not come up with any story as bad as what Palladium had told her. So, Blade wasn't sure anymore what to think, truly. William proved to be a capable and trustworthy man and for now, that was enough. Plus, the other officers of the station had changed a bit as well. It was awkward, but they gave her, all of them, at least a chance. 'Still, she ordered me not to go into stations… yet I come back with a personal letter… of the one guy she believes attacked me… wonderful…' Blade had no idea that Griffin had believed Avalon. They had not reopened the discussion at all. She only went into her office to deliver her the herb haul of the day and then was sent to store it and how much more she would need to gather because she failed to bring it all. 'She did do her best to keep me away from Magix City…' Blade puffed.

Suddenly the door flung open and Griffin with an angry glare hissed, "Will you grow roots?" She turned around and sat down at her desk again. "Fairies…"

Blade startled walked in and closed the door, "…" She wasn't sure what to say.

"What? You are here to bring your next haul; don't tell me you visit the desert this time… I want what I ordered and no substitutes this time," Griffin stated bluntly as she continued to work on some papers. 'How dare the Council butt in and overrule me, if she had come back with injures, I would have burned their stupid Headquarters to the ground, those - at least the morph is solid…'

No one had to be a psychic to see that she was boiling inside. Blade breathed in once, "I'm sorry…"

Headmistress Griffin's head rose, a piercing stare, "Come again?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Blade stepped closer, "I disobeyed your orders, well I was ordered to, but still… I had not expected the Council to…"

"To the Shadowlands with them," Griffin nearly broke her feather pen into two. "Ignorant ingrates." She inspected Blade closer, 'No injuries this time…' She breathed out heavily and was relieved. "If you have no herbs then don't waste my time. Council mission go report to them."

"Oh, come on, at least you can meet me halfway…" Blade complained and shook her head, "It still was a Sorceress mission. I report to you first."

"Oh really? Since when? Then tell me…" Griffin started.

'She won't let this go… gesh, all I want is for Lilly to be save and fine,' Blade interrupted her softly, "The mission went fine. It was the same kind as last time. Officer William needed help finding stuff. I brought it back to the station. No one shot at me. No one attacked me. I only met Team A, they apparently were there to make sure I am safe. They also left once I got out of the police station, I think, I didn't see them again." Blade reported shortly.

Griffin simply began to work on her papers again, "Well then, off you go."

Blade bit her tongue, 'She took me by my word… nothing besides magical teachings…shit… how will I even get her to read the letter from William…'

"What are you waiting for? I am busy. Faragonda can deactivate the charm," Griffin didn't even bat another eye. 'That girl, so foolish to simply follow the wimps of some random Councillors.'

"William said," Blade started.

"I don't care," the Headmistress pointed to the door, "Out." She gave a warning.

Blade balled her fists, "Okay, you were right, police can be dangerous. Palladium said so and William agreed. I was wrong." She blurted out.

'The officer agreed? Why would the officer agree?!' Griffin looked up flabbergasted and leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms, "You don't say…"

"You were wrong too though. I was more than safe and greeted kindly, I wasn't just lucky," Blade replied sternly. "William is a good man, so please, believe me, and at least listen to what he has to say or well written."

"Written…" Griffin tapped on her upper arm, 'He did send a lot of mails…most were that stupid mission request. Which Officer would willingly agree that there are dangerous people in their own institution?!'

Blade breathed out, "I understand you were scared that I get killed, going in so blind with Fairy eyes. I get that in the past students died or at least nearly did. William… William checked into the accusation that Sorceresses get arrested without proof, and what he found worried him. He has appealed to me that I shouldn't visit other stations until he is sure there are people willing to work with us."

Griffin raised her eyebrows, "He did? So, you believe him but not me…" She growled, 'HE got through to her where I didn't?! Really? Urgh. At least she understands now…'

"He doesn't throw magic into my face… Please read the letter, I didn't check what is written inside. But I vouge for him, he is a GOOD Officer. I still stand by my word, I will fight this circle of hate. I will not hide or ignore this. Yet there is nothing against taking it a bit slower. Preparation is key, and I can do so with William. So, would you kindly jump over your shadow and not burn it to a crisp." Blade pulled out the letter.

"You sound like a Fairy all apologetic and whimsy. Where is that spitfire of yours? Don't just make a one-eighty change if you want to be heard and respected."

"Apologising and admitting a mistake is not a weakness. The opposite in fact. Otherwise, You wouldn't even know I have a letter for you. You wouldn't even listen to me, you are as stubborn as Sorceresses come," Blade answered a bit agitated and tensioning up. 'Uuurgh, wouldn't hurt her to apologise as well…know it all-'

"Ah, there the spitfire is… and I thought you would go all Fairy on me," Griffin smirked pleased. "Is it truly that important to you that you would vouge? The word of a Witch is only as good as its reputation. You vouge to me and it goes south, your word will be worth squad," Griffin pressed, 'She's so sure of herself… this still could be a trap, a rouse.'

"I'll take that chance. Besides, I don't want to become Witch. And I am no Sorceress either, I am a Fairy. We trust people and we give people second chances. All of them," Blade looked her straight in the eyes.

"Ha," Griffin laughed once. "Fine, give it here. I'll thoroughly investigate that Officer of yours. If I find…"

"I don't know what he did in the past. But I know he means well and is willing to change. Please, don't throw this away…" Blade laid the letter on the desk and rose. "Sins can be forgiven, people gave you a chance despite your black magic corruption," She dared to compare.

Griffin got a bit tense, 'She's… that's … did Faragonda tell her to say that? Stupid mind games of hers…'

'Shit, I overdid it…' Blade was worried that she just had destroyed William's chance. "So how many more herbs do I need to collect this time?" Reluctantly she asked as Griffin stayed silent.

"I believe you have a complete list…" Griffin took the letter and tapped it on the table, 'At least she sees reason and if that William attacks her now or double crosses me. He'll regret it for the rest of his life. Plus, finally, she won't run into every station of the city…'

Blade nodded, "Thank you… maybe there is more than just magical teachings we can agree upon after all…"

"We'll see… now leave I am rather busy…" Griffin shooed her out. Once Blade was out she checked the letter for traps and curses and whatnot. Nothing. She opened the letter.

'Dear Headmistress Griffin,

I hope this message reaches you. I know there has been a devastating past between the police and the Witches Sorceresses. But your student showed me that not all I believed and heard is true about your kind. Never have I seen her determination and will to stick to the rules or at least… stay within a moderate closeness to the law. And so, have other students of yours, which was more than just a surprise to me and my colleagues. Still, Lucia is the only student to openly come and work with us. Trust needs to be earned or better said rebuilt - on both sides - I understand that. I would like to suggest a few things. If you would be willing to come to the station or tell me when you have time, I'll come to meet you at Cloud Tower. I would like to discuss some options to improve relations.

I guess, that Lucia, will not be allowed to visit again. She said you are strictly against it and it already took a lot of letters and favours to see her again. I apologise that I forced your hand there. But she makes her voice heard. I needed you to listen since my other attempts to contact you had failed…

I'm rambling off… anyways… What I actually wanted to say is, Lucia looks like the kind of person to me who rarely gives up, no matter the costs. I would hate for her to get hurt or run into the wrong crowd. I am sure she told you I looked into the arrests. I'll shortly send you a list with police employees which I came across a bit too often for my taste in those reports I checked. I also will add names of Officers I consider friends and possibly could become contacts. This information is without guarantees, I had not the time to check either side. Please see this as a gesture of faith. And I hope I don't hear that these people had …strange… encounters, it's NOT a hitlist for you. Things have to be proven and dealt with by the LAW.

Things have to change, at least on that we both can agree on, - I hope. When I leave the force one day and know I made it a better place.

Sincerely, Officer William'

Griffin stared at the letter reading it over and over, "I'll fight it with everything I've got…" She remembered Blade's words. "This is a drop in an ocean…" She shook her head. The Headmistress stood up and walked to her window and watched Blade fly off to Alfea. "And still more than we had since The Winx left for their kingdoms… She vogued for him. She barely has spent two hours with the guy. The stupidity of naïve Fairies…" She wasn't sure what to make of it all. "…and yet, one drop can tip the scale." Griffin felt hopeful for just a second before she tensed up again, the bad aftertaste of past years was nothing she would forget so easily. 'Let's see to which side…'