"We solemnly swear to faithfully uphold and enforce the laws of the Magic Council, protect the innocence of black magic, and maintain order in the face of adversity as members of 'The Denied' Trainee Student Unit. In the name of the Great Dragon, we pledge to serve and protect the magical realm of Magix with honour, integrity, and transparency," The whole lot of the nearly five hundred students from all schools on Magix swore as one army. The huge front yard of the Council Headquarters was packed full with the students taking the oath, but it was even scammier because of the many officials and citizens, family members and intrigued onlookers.
Blade looked around, besides the fact that it should have rained today in Magix City, it was sunny. Surely the work of some Fairies and Wizards. She and her three classes were on the big podium while the rest of the students were behind them. It was an amazing feeling, powerful. Many supporters had come, yet Blade didn't need to be a Council guard to find some people who grimaced and certainly hadn't come for support but rather attendance or simply to dampen the mood. Her parents were in the crowd, her uncle and aunt a bit further off to the left. As always, they weren't seen together. Together with Shanna she finally had managed to talk about what had happened in the cells now that all the bad guys were caught she had found the courage to fess up. Definitely had been the smarter choice as Basil and Trevan were short on buying a militia to go on a 'witch hunt'. Yet, since everything was already sorted out… that plan luckily got dismissed. Blade was sure that Votzaak or Nerrocean, maybe even Aithlin had gotten a call from Basil and got an earful. The three looked at her a bit funny, different than usual. Blade should have felt relaxed yet she couldn't shake that feeling that something was wrong, 'It's so overcrowded… the security on this…' Blade had spotted several Council guard teams and since they were on Headquarters's grounds most certainly more were camouflaged just like at the assembly.
"…We expect great things from you. And now with great honour, I present you, your official flag and badges…" Nerrocean had moved on with the ceremony. Dusk and Misery were first to receive them as they were the Sorceress representatives for meetings, next were Julius, Lion and Memphis; and lastly Tessa, Birdy and Tasu respectively for their fields; light, dark and armed forces. The students from all schools had voted on this. It had been hard to find someone willing in the Sorceress community. Dusk already was a Queen after all although everyone saw her as the perfect match she had been very reluctant to accept. Misery had been a total dark horse the grown-ups had put forth as a valid option. She had only accepted after Dusk had taken the job. Those two weren't always on the same page or best friends at all. Yet both could work pretty well with each other and talented Sorceresses that were respected to a certain degree in Cloud Tower.
Blade actually was participating in her Lucia persona. She had thought about it long and hard, yet due to the fact that Shane already could distinguish her dark Fairy magic from a Sorceress one, it was the saver bet. Some White Jade Fairy, Nimue, had taken her place with her aura reading it had been rather easy to copy a simple Winx transformation good enough to fool most especially if no one was expecting it. 'She's good…' Blade glanced over once more. Even she felt like she was standing next to a clone or something. It was a bit unnerving, but what else could she expect after meditating with her for hours beforehand. At least that would slow down rumours and theories, that indeed Blade and Lucia were the same person.
'Isn't that a pretty disguise,' A voice resounded in her head. Yet it was antagonising, malicious. It was a psi-link she was sure of it. 'Did you think that diversion would work? BLADE ASHFALLOW.'
Blade could feel the hairs stand up on her neck. Her eyes darted around in the crowd, 'Who are you? Show yourself!' While she stayed as relaxed as possible, being in the front row she couldn't throw a fit or react irrationally in the eyes of the viewers. All had expected that someone might try something so it wasn't a total surprise. Yet she had not expected a Psi-approach that was hard to track. That guy could be anywhere.
A chuckle from another voice, 'Peek-a-boo. I see you.'
'Zhoron!' Blade called out in her mind, he was around somewhere and picked up on it if she focused in on him, trying to reach for him. They all had been briefed on this before the ceremony had started.
Another amused laughter from the first voice, 'Please, hold the line…'
'Is she scared already? We haven't even started the game,' a third lower voice joined in.
Blade tensed up she couldn't get through to Zhoron. And there were so many people around all focusing on Nerrocean awarding badges to the students, 'I'm not scared. You are hiding like a little girl.' Blade growled in her mind. 'How the fuck do they know this is a disguise?! It's a morphing spell and we are on Headquarters ground…' She thought to herself and promptly felt a sting, her head hurt shortly before it subsided.
Once her head stopped acking She could hear the first guy again, 'Ah, don't hide in your mind… and of course we know. That's our job. We find people. WE always FINISH our JOB. Enjoy the rest of your life,' the low voice spat out that warning as if her fate was already sealed.
"Lucia."
Blade's heart pounded. She didn't care if anyone in the crowd noticed, 'Whisper of creation!' She had enough of this she had to find them. There was so much input. People animals, the guards, Blade wasn't even sure how to find a Psi-user.
"LUCIA."
Blade blinked out of nowhere Nebula was standing in front of her, "What are you doing? We are in the middle of the ceremony." Blade addressed her quietly and utterly confused.
Nebula squinted her eyes at her, "Blade, the ceremony is over… you already received your badge." She was getting nervous now herself. "You bowed and did the whole thing." Nebula nodded to the others who already made their way to mingle with the rest of the students to have a snack and drink.
"What? No, Nerrocean just started with Dusk and the others…" Blade looked at her friend spooked, but indeed the crowd was dispersing. "What the fuck…? Someone just contacted me via psi…spouting around some nonsense and making threats."
"I don't like this one bit," Nebula looked around and simply pulled Blade towards the Council Headquarters entrance, "Come."
"Where are you going?" Snow asked a bit puzzled as she saw them pushing through the students having a blast.
"Restroom," Nebula simply answered. She didn't want to create a commotion. 'They still could be watching or something.' Once inside the entrance hall she simply nodded to the secretaries, "Councillor Votzaak asked us to meet him up in his Office. We were to go ahead."
"Alright," The counter Lady waved them through. Enough was going on today and they had been running around in the building enough, that the statement seemed reasonable enough.
"Lucia?" Amal had walked after them. He had spotted Blade and Nebula with no problem, "Where are you two going? You should be outside. You can't just leave…your public image…" He quietly reminded them as those two went straight like an arrow up the stairs.
"Blade was just threatened via psi or something." They rushed up the stairs. Nebula watched Blade already typing into the chat.
"They are all busy outside…" Blade shook her head. "No one's even reading the chat right now."
"So, what happened exactly?" Amal asked worried and got half a heart attack as Nebula simply laid a hand on the door and sparked up magic and instantly got zapped. "Nebula! You can't just- Are you crazy!?" He looked around frightened if someone had seen it.
"Relax, Votzaak has that spell stuff to alert him. If someone even knocks," Nebula giggled.
"I know, he is my boss, but-"
A surge of magic next to them, "What the heck are you up to? Party is outside." A scolding voice resounded from behind the three.
Nebula had a jump scare, "Gesh, you're fast…" She held her breath.
"It's my Office you tried to break into during an event with lots of distractions…" Votzaak voiced dryly. "Explain yourselves."
"Someone just threatened to kill me, or well – during the ceremony. I mean…" Blade wasn't quite sure how to explain it.
"Already?" Votzaak tesnly breathed out snapped his fingers and the seals unlocked to get inside. "Who was it? Why didn't you contact Zhoron? We told you all to reach out to him."
"I couldn't," Blade defended herself, "They blocked me!"
"You have a gap of like twenty minutes Blade. They didn't just block you," Nebula argued agitated as they all entered the office. "They controlled you or something."
Votzaak's demeanour changed instantly. "WHY DIDN'T YOU LEAD WITH THAT!?" He growled and simply opened a portal and shoved Blade through.
Blade stumbled through the portal. To her surprise, it closed directly after. Completely off guard she turned just to be hit by a bunch of watchful eyes, weapons and magic at the ready as a force field went up around her in the blink of an eye. It was conjured by some Wizards. "Woah, there, chill." Blade raised her hands high in surrender faced by such a strong reaction to her arrival and stared at the tunics, "Black Magic Hunter Division?"
"Calm down, stay put. No harm will come to you, we're just here to help," A Vampire Lady approached her. Yet stopped in front of the forcefield.
"I am calm," Blade protested, which earned her some other kind of glances. "What is going on?" She was so confused and so many on alert Hunters didn't make it better.
"Fane," Votzaak came around the corner with Nebula in toe. "Blade got mind-hacked. Check for traces and commands. Don't let her out till you're sure."
"Right," The Vampire Lady nodded. 'Those kids are truly a pain in the ass… urgh…'
Blade frowned, "What do you mean commands?"
"Sit down," Fane ordered in a firm tone and Blade promptly followed suit. That Vampire's presence and vibe were demanding to say the least.
To follow the order felt like a natural law to Blade. Expectantly she looked at the woman.
"Meditate." The Vampire ordered once more.
"What? I don't understand what are you-" Blade searched for answers. 'What good will that do? I already did…' But no one would interact with her besides Fane not even Votzaak when their eyes met.
Fane stayed ice cold, "Me-di-ta-te."
Nebula looked to Votzaak ready to speak yet he simply waved his hands and a circle appeared beneath Nebula's feet and her voice was muted.
Votzaak pulled her away into some random room, where a few puzzled Division Hunters in a meeting stared at them, "Now," Votzaak released his spell on Nebula. "Talk." He ignored his Order members completely this took precedence.
Nebula hissed at him a bit annoyed, "Rude. You don't see me going around stealing voices! We came for help, not some, some - What's going on? Why are you so cold to her, she did nothing?! Explain yourself!"
The seated Order members chuckled at her complaints a bit. Votzaak rolled his eyes unimpressed, "She did nothing - yet. Most Psi commands are activated by phrases. And you lot already chatted like a bunch of old Ladies. You can be glad she didn't cut your throat. Now, tell me what happened. What did she say?" Votzaak sternly inquired.
After a few hours of people standing around the forcefield presumably doing nothing besides mulling the conversation over and over. Blade was more than just a bit annoyed. Nebula had been sent home under guard, like the rest of the kids once the party was over. Votzaak had made some calls in the meantime and the people in question had met up in the Hunter Division. Fane debriefed everyone attending this emergency meeting. "Blade's fine. No commands were left behind. She simply got mind-jacked as she had continued to talk to them in the Psi-link. She created an opening for them."
"Them?" Faragonda sat there at the table fingers crossed as she raised a brow.
"Bites me, who it was. It's not like they have to leave a thumbprint. Hired people, I'd say, they didn't use Black magic. They were simply that skilled and Blade was careless."
"Doesn't mean they can't…" Votzaak budded in. He seemed to be still annoyed they had slipped through their grasp besides the precaution there weren't too many that could achieve something like that.
"Well, scum does like Black magic…by the wording, I'd say they tried before and failed. - We always finish the job – Or they simply wanted to scare her," Fane shrugged. "Made any specific enemies? Besides the whole Witch hating community?" Fane addressed Blade who still was on edge.
Blade dropped her head on the desk in front of her, "Aren't that enough enemies for a lifetime?"
"Don't worry, we'll keep you safe," Griselda tried to reassure her. "Those Officers really can't let this go." She was pissed alright. Typical grizzly bear.
Fane crossed her arms dismissingly, "Don't promise something you can't reinforce," She admonished the Professor harshly. Her purple hair integrated braided tribal-style and formed into four buns on the back of her head gave her a real stern yet graceful silhouette.
"How dare you," Griselda hissed back her short-cut brown her flicked with her rapid movement, "We always take care of-"
"Don't be stupid you can't be there twenty for seven," Fane fletched her fangs back at Griselda.
"FANE!" Votzaak put her in her place. "Apologise…" He warned her once.
"But!"
"NOW." Votzaak knew her temper all too well especially with a full moon coming up. And since she would be one of the teachers for the Joined Track this was a necessity.
"Sorry, I'm right…" Fane growled. Just to earn a smack at the back of her head by Nerrocean who had pushed off from the wall on the side. "Hey!" She turned around to face him.
Nerrocean instantly flared up magic his tattoos brimming, "Don't try me, you'll lose."
'...' Blade looked back and forth. "Why are you fighting…?"
"Stay out of this, twerp," Fane hissed at Blade. She got more agitated by the second.
Avalon stood up, and straightened out his jacket before he stepped up to the Vampire calmly yet with purpose, "Long shift?" He looked straight into her black eyes. The Vampire Lady ground her teeth. 'Thought so…' The Professor looked to Blade, "You always have one of your protein bars with you, right?"
"Sure…" Blade pulled one out from her belt pocket. "Why-" She couldn't even react so fast that the bar was swiped from her hands. "Eh?"
Fane unrapped and bit down on it straight away, "Typical White Jade aura shit…" Her demeanour had changed instantly.
"You're welcome," Avalon looked at her a bit amused. "Don't forget to thank Blade for sharing her food." He gestured towards his student, 'Fane gets really hangry. That might become a problem…or maybe she simply had a long shift. She's supposed to teach our students, that will be…fun…'
"…" Fane tilted her head considering to have a go at him yet turned her head towards Blade, "Thanks…" She bit off another chunk. She was pleased with some food in her hands.
Blade was so weirded out, "Sure thing?" Her hesitance got her another annoyed eye roll from the Vampire. 'The heck?! She's so different from Gadiel… He's always chill.'
Faragonda cleared her throat, "So, what's the plan? Surveillance, bodyguards? We can't take this lightly."
"Oh, come on, please don't… I just had babysitting for two months. Not to mention my parents still being nuts… Calling each day and me writing them back EVERY time I travel from school to school or Magix City…" Blade moaned.
"Don't be stupid, Blade until we know who it was, you'll get an escort," Nerrocean simply decided.
"In fact, every one of the students will get one," Votzaak nodded in agreement, "This might be nothing and only to scare you. But it's not the first time those crucket Officers used something Psi-related. And if it's another group it's even more dangerous since we don't know who. This isn't up for debate."
"Another group?" Blade looked at them all. That didn't sound good at all. "Tell me, you have to have some idea. Spit it out." She demanded tired of another guessing game.
Faragonda sighed as she adjusted her glasses and moved up the chair closer to Blade, "Blade, you are making a lot of ripples. Desertia, the hearing and now the Police… You are becoming a symbol, both Lucia and you. We keep it on the down low as much as possible, still, your assembly speech is no secret. Don't underestimate your enemies. They have a lot of pull. Before all this, you were there but unseen. Now you have entered the political stage officially. That goes for all your friends in fact. New threats come with that."
"And new friends," Nerrocean made directly clear. 'Besides, we already had them followed since the new teachers needed to check those kids out. We just can take some trainees now…'
"Great…" Blade puffed exhausted. "It's just one thing after another, isn't it?"
Griselda still glared at Fane, "Well, time to go before the dome goes up." She obviously disproved of that Vampire strongly for some reason Blade couldn't figure out.
"Right…see you on Thursday," Faragonda nodded to all. Giving Votzaak a telling gaze to sort his Vampire out.
'Thursday? How many more meetings are there to do!?' Blade just couldn't bother with it anymore and simply got up and walked out of the door.
Avalon quickly followed her, "Blade, hold up…"
"No. No more, checking me out or whatever, I was stuck in that stupid forcefield for hours after already meditating before the ceremony with one of your Jade guys. If I do any more meditating I'll become a golem and squash you with rocks, I swear!" One could hear her from the hallway so loud she bickered.
"Little firecracker, ain't she?" Fane had finished her protein bar and was all calm and collected again.
"You have no idea…" Griselda sighed deeply. "And you better get a grip on that temper, when teaching; Alfea has standards."
"Oh? In that little base camp for princesses?" Fane smirked at Griselda. "Like what? How to apply rouge."
Out of nowhere, Griselda flared up magic that actually made Fane flinch for a second. The Vampire had not expected that one. "Don't make me mop the floor with you," Griselda warned her sternly.
"HA!" Fane laughed out loud, "So, you do possess real bite. Nice. Maybe that teaching position won't be so boring after all."
Votzaak shook his head, "Arena is on the other side of the compound, leave the walls intact, Ladies…" With that, he moved on as he stretched his arms and neck and left the briefing room.
A few days later the girls were on a chase, a hunt for some lasting glory. Besides the fact That they knew they had bodyguards, they saw no one though, which was unsettling when it came to mind, but also helped to calm down and finally relax. The grown-ups had made it clear that they had it handled. "Come on, faster!" Nebula dragged Snow with her through the air. The sun was out and the class dashed through the treelines following the coloured dots on the bark of the forest trees. They nearly had rounded the whole lake by now and were close to the end of their little scavenging exercise.
"Guys… not so fast…" Dahlia tried her best to keep up.
"Ahahahaha, come on, we can beat that record!" Blade laughed so hard as she stopped to wait for her.
Amber grinned, "We could shortcut if I burn the forest away." She joked around as her firey-red hair blew into her face.
"Ha! We just reforested I don't think Faragonda would approve," Sienna's voice resounded from the mid rows of their flight group.
"Faragonda? I think we better should duck for Griselda in that case," Rise chuckled.
"There will be no burning of anything," Tasu rolled her eyes, "we just got back to normal school and have exams soon. I'll not miss out on that because of MORE detention…"
Tessa passed her by at high speed, "Ah, come on, we just got you to the evil side of skipping classes and copying homework. Live a little Tasu." She stuck her tongue out.
Tasu shot a waterbubble into her face, "I did not skip classes!"
Birdy was upfront with Blade, "Well, at any rate, we are burning magic like crazy… We easily could do half the time without a sweat why are we going like hummingbirds?"
"To set a record of course! With all those lamos in Alfea, we'll stand in the books for ages! You heard Palladium and these riddles are easy," Nebula was so fired up for this.
Blade laughed as she grabbed Dahlia's hand, "History makers!" They had a blast this truly was so easy and they already were faster than the last record time by far.
The sun was glittering on the water's surface. As the girls dashed through the treeline towards the Roccaluce Lake. As out of nowhere a giant Tide Snake summons rose and explosions went off.
"What the?!" Nebula spiraled to the side as a dark magic watersickly gone astray passed her by.
"AS IF I LET YOU WIN!" Kitty hollered across the lake as her Tidesnake smacked Gilliana into the water with its giant tail.
"What are they doing here?" Amber looked to the girls who upended their speed all together as a gust of wind blew them backwards.
Breeze had spotted them, "HA! That prize is mine get lost Fairies!" She was nearly there. A small buoy tossed around in the now rippled waters, floating on the surface. Nearly in reach Breeze got shot with some kind of energy net and fell into the water.
"ONWADRS!" Lion roared and commanded his team on Windriders who dived down from above on their bright red techno-magic bikes.
Just for them to get caught off guard as one massive energy blast crossed their path. Mercury stuck his tongue out as the Owl he stood upon decloaked. "Gotta do better than that- woah…EVADE!"
"Shadow binds!" Dusk watched pleased as her shadow strings shot out from the water and grabbed the Owl to pull it below the water's surface.
"Consuming fire!" Vulcano shot at the other guys as well to hit their engines with several magma orbs. "Sitting ducks, ha!" The boys had to jump off.
Misery reached out to get the bouy, that round little ball that got tossed around on the water, 'Ha, suckers…' As she noticed that her invisibility spell faded for no good reason in proximity to the buoy.
"ICE WALL!"
"Oh shit…" Misery raised her head as ice spikes rose from all around the buoy.
Snow smirked satisfied, "That thing is ours!"
"Yeah! What are you even doing here!?" Nebula laughed out loud. "Fog image! Mirror space!"
"HEY!?" Blade squeaked as she suddenly was right next to the damn thing.
"GRAB IT!" All the Fairies shouted.
"WILLOWS GRASP!" Alyssa called upon the alge from below and strangled Blade half to death, "YOU WISH!"
Birdy aimed quickly, "Slicing feathers!" Her razor-sharp projectiles soared around Blade cutting her free as well as pushing Steela back who had made a run for the buoy.
"NOW!" Nebula ordered.
"BOULDER!" Dahlia screamed with all her might.
"PARTING WATERS!" Taus reached out to control the massive wave that was created by the giant boulder Dahlia just had dropped into the lake to push the buoy towards them.
"GRANITE!" Marble countered as she summoned her own boulder to block the wave. "Over my dead body!"
"GOOO!" Kai slung Dean to the frontline with his elemental sword; where vines had stretched out from just for them to vanish again as his magic subsided.
Dean like a tank took only a few hits as Micheal's arrows shot straight into most spells detonating them prematurely.
"NOO!" All the girls screamed and everyone used their spells to take hold of the damn buoy as Dean finally managed to hold on to it a chain sickle wrapped around his hand. Lion and his team wouldn't give up so easily either.
"HA!" Keith rejoiced, "WE WON!"
"EH… GUYS?!" Dean could feel a surge of magic growing inside the buoy. "OH SHIT; LET ME GOOO! ALL OF YOU!" Panicked he screamed as that thing lit up right in front of him.
A ginormous water geyser shot up. And smashed everyone into the water. "AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Those red glowing tattoos and that massive Dark magic presence was overwhelming and just way too familiar to them all.
"NERROCEAN?!" All the kids were so confused now.
The Fairies complained first, "What are you doing here?! This is our scavenger hunt!"
"Scavenger hunt!?" The Sorceresses were so confused. "It's a challenge for-"
"No, way, we were told search and rescue!" Julius looked to Lion who nodded.
A mischievous grin on Nerrocean's face, "YOU. TALK. TOO. MUCH!" He stomped his war-syth into the lake and yet another tsunami rose from behind all the students. Panicked yet with no time left to evade not even the water magic users could escape. They, all, got caught in the wave that straight pushed them towards Alfea's shoreline.
Everyone was coughing as they hit the sandbank the grass completely drenched and their heads pounding. They moaned as they coughed up water and some even held their heads as everything was spinning. The Fairies' wings were soaked. Water still spilt out of the paladin armours from the boys. And the Sorceresses were already spent as they had fought each other the whole day searching for those clues to win the challenge and earn the promised special prize.
And if that wasn't enough some more people decloaked. The three headmasters, Codatorta, Griselda, Zarathustra, Palladium, Ediltrude, and Alvaon. Who all were a bit embarrassed by that display of their students.
"Are you sure they are up for this?" Apex Predator Itzcali laughed her ass off. She even teared up as she stepped out of the rune circle keeping everyone else still hidden.
"Guys… you can do sooo much better…" Riven facepalmed. After all he had trained some of them a tiny bit on Phere-Moan.
Nabu crossed his arms as he stared Blade down who had spotted him, "I'm not so…"
"Oh, come on!" Blade jumped to her feet. "It was one time!" Yet the Wizard looked still unmoved and unimpressed at her.
"One time?" Gwain looked to his buddy Avalon. Blade's aura had changed rapidly with Nabu's comment. But his old teammate was as clueless as most here.
"Want to enlighten us, Votzaak?" Sanari Cei, from the White Jade, looked to the Leprechaun who besides Riven, Iolas and the Queen was the only one not surprised at all and Votzaak unlike the rest was grinning amused.
Votzaak crossed his hands behind his back, "Why me? Riven should have the honours. It was his mission to babysit."
"Nothing happened," Riven growled ducking away from a death glare from Faragonda.
Iolas with his boys and Aithlin stepped out of the rune circle as well and were revealed, "Wouldn't call it nothing…but well nothing to dwell on…she learned her lesson. I THINK."
"Are you kidding me, Blade?!" Dusk stampeded over to her. "You told them?!"
"I did not! He was the Division Hunter who spotted us at the -" Blade stopped herself just in time as she point blank gestured at Nabu.
Griselda sighed deeply, "Nabu..."
"Wait, you said you lost her at the plaza…" Griffin squinted her eyes at Dusk, who went instantly pale.
Grandmaster Parcival was just impressed by all these auras around them, "Why is it embarrassing though? Your two auras look like-"
"NOOO! SHUT IT!" Both girls hissed while the rest of the students broke out into utter laughter.
"Maybe you should make a tactical retreat…" Lion suggested.
Kai snorted, "As if they would get that far…"
"NEBULA! HOW COULD YOU!?" Blade stared at her best friend speechlessly.
Nebula only scratched her head helplessly, "Well, it was a good story…besides you never told me how exactly-" She stopped as she didn't want to make it worse – even more.
"Mercury, please just end me here…" Blade moaned as she turned around searching for anywhere else to go.
Mercury on the other hand did not pity her, "And condone that behaviour. I think not."
Ararel had to snort there, 'He's getting there…'
Mercuy didn't care what she had worn exactly and he didn't want to know. Or why. It was bad enough that she had even gone there a second time in his eyes without a proper back up no less. 'I know Dusk was there but… she was not a true ally back then.'
"Traitor…" Blade hissed at him.
Mercury raised an eyebrow, "Idiot."
"Now, now, what did we talk about…" Virion butted in.
Dusk couldn't care less about those two fighting all the time. "Who else knows?" Dusk stared Nebula down.
"As I said, I, we, know no details. Blade left the juicy parts out… but well…" Nebula's gaze wandered around in the student crowd.
"ALL OF YOU?! You are worse than the Dublareian Court! I swear by the CROWN of Eventide. If ANY OF YOU…" Dusk had it. This was a political disaster in front of so many high-ranked Order members. She was a Queen after all.
Kitty smirked, "How much are you willing to pay?"
"Did the mission go that badly?" Karim, from the Head Hunters, gave Riven a side glance of sympathy.
Riven straight away defended himself, "I was babysitting, and was to keep her safe, she came back safe. I did the job I was hired for."
"Safe means unharmed…" Palladium with a dangerous smile squeezed down on his shoulder.
While Codatorta squeezed down on the other, "Indeed, I taught you better. Maybe we should have A TALK. For the good OLD TIMES sake."
"Kids. Never shut their traps…" Riven grumbled as he squirmed under the pressure point-grip of the teachers.
Tasu cleared her throat loudly, "As much… as whatever this is… May I ask why, we have so many guests?" She tried to smoothly swap to the next topic.
"Oh no, she's not getting away with it that easily…" Griselda shut the attempt down.
Nerrocean moved to the front to stand with the other grown-ups, "I second that."
"No!" Queen Dusk protested, "I will make your life-"
"A fifth-rate kingdom like yours, by ALL MEANS, try. Go ahead, Queen Dusk. I'll gladly pay you back in training sessions," Nerrocean grinned looking forward to it.
"Declined, Master Nerrocean," Votzaak gave his vote to Dusk, to everyone's surprise.
Julius bumped Micheal into the shoulder, "Did he say training sessions?"
"That's not a matter for the Black Magic Hunter Division…" Faragonda was more than eager to follow up on this unexpected break and get to the bottom of that incident.
"Yeah, he did…" Micheal whispered back to Julius. Most students were already exchanging confused glances.
Votzaak laughed out loud at Faragonda's comment, "But it is for King Cyros. As Councillor it is my duty to protect the good name of ALL his subjects, a duty I follow up on diligently." He opposed Faragonda openly.
"Wait…" Blade gulped, "You know?" She looked at Votzaak wide-eyed.
Votzaak grinned, "Of course, I SAW to be precise. Glamours and morphs are a thing after all." Blade went a bit paler there. "Why so surprised? I'm Councillor of Zenith AND Nabu's Grandmaster and he is not stupid enough to refuse an order. He THINKS before he ACTS. Only thing I couldn't figure out so far is what you needed so much money. You never bribed William or any of his men after all."
"Who knows," Blade held straight against it. 'As if I would tell you. Or any of them. I can't even if I wanted to…'
Votzaak squinted his eyes at her, "Hm, maybe I could show them. We are all good friends here," He replied equally determined. Yet he like everyone else noticed the students growing whispers.
"Go ahead," Blade didn't budge to the surprise of her Professors, who had hoped for just a second to get some answers after all this time. Blade was super nervous and already dreaded his answer.
"Not the time and place unfortunately…" Votzaak glanced behind where some other Fairy students stuck their heads out to see what that massive magic burst and thunderous wave had been all about. 'Why is she so stubborn about this in particular…hmmm…'
"Well then…" Saladin brought this discussion to a close as he rubbed his nose bridge. This was giving him a headache. Plus, he had noticed the onlookers as well. "We are here to inform you all, that you are all being pushed back to first grade." He simply stated as if it was the most natural conclusion.
"HEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHH!?" All the students were mind-blown and stared at each other and back to the high-ranked crowd.
"But!"; "We-"; "WHY?!"; "You got to be kidding me!"; "How the fuck am I going to pay for that!?"; "Blaaaaade!"
"Silence!" Saladin stomped his dragon staff on the ground and everyone shut up.
Nerrocean sighed shortly and took the lead, "In light of your efforts and leading role in the purge of corruption of the Police on Magix. I gladly announce that you all made the cut to be the first – guinea pigs – for the Joined track."
"Guinea pigs…?" Seth frowned.
"No way in the shadowlands," Queen Dusk declined promptly, "I'm noone's guinea pig."
Misery mulled the words over, "Joined Track? What track?"
"Nerrocean!" Faragodna admonished him. "No one is a pawn…" She looked to Dusk. 'Wait, so, she told Blade of the second nature of her scholarship…' She found her composure again. "Magix and the schools as well as the Black Magic Hunter Division, White Jade, the Head Hunters, Hoggar and the Council Guard are funding a new Joined Track. An education track where all magic professions and magic alignments are welcomed. You will study together and learn at each school the basics of Light and Dark magic as well as combat and battle tactics. The supporting Orders will have additional courses you can choose at will. And no," She looked at the Sorceresses, "You don't have to pay for it. The track is fully funded by all backers. So, you not only have no costs. You even get the best Education for your age you possibly could wish for. For those who need permission, we already sorted it out with your families. The rest of you, well, BE SMART."
Griffin stepped forward, "You will take part. Is that clear?" The Headmistress stared her Sorceresses down, who slightly nodded in disbelief of the news.
Snow still was so confused, "But we already are in our second school year, why push us all back? We are better than first years."
Parcival gently smiled at her, "In your own tracks yes. But neither do you Fairies or Specialists know anything about Sorercess cursology. Nor do Sorceresses know about nature magic or Etiquette for that matter. Not to mention besides Blade none of you young women know anything about battle tactics or have any good hand-to-hand or weapon training. You all get the basics tailored to your professions in school but overlaps are slim if at all exsistant. Orders have to put in a lot of time and effort to train any recruit up to standards."
"In short, your coordination on the battlefield and understanding of your roles and history is shit," Votzaak rephrased it bluntly. "The upside besides more work and a prolonged stay in the schools is that you also got a chance to make an impression. Even if you don't choose any of the possible Orders here. We DO have CONNECTIONS. So, don't screw up, stop whining and get your asses in shape."
All the students looked at each other baffled speechless and it slowly grew to a big grin and squeaking; fistbumbs; and pretending to be unphased by the news, to look cool.
Blade had the biggest grin ever, "HA! For the first time I have less to do than you all, ahahaha..ha …ha..?" She knew that look of her Professors, "…Right?"
"Well," Iolas grinned, "Your grades sucked in a lot of areas. Plus, since you know a lot, you will tutor a lot. Not to mention some extra homework to bolster your magic pool since it's still lacking for a Fairy."
"More work again!? AHHH, you did that on purpose!" Blade complained as Kai ruffled through her dreadlocks to cheer her up.
"We're counting on you, Sis," Dean smacked her so hard on the back that she lost her balance and stumbled as he laughed.
Saladin cleared his throat once more he got at least half the attention he needed, "In two weeks. We'll start the assessment of your capabilities across the board together with all your teachers. Your books and timetable are in your rooms." He elaborated lastly before the kids got sent off to their rooms and schools each.
"And we need you to put these over here. No, no, no, the present table goes to the left side, not the right," Basil eagerly coordinated the troops to set up the birthday party on Phere-Moan.
Trevan laughed so hard, "You pretend like this is one of your big company festivals. It will be just fine, Basil." Yet he couldn't wait either to see his daughter finally and spent some time before the horde of teens would storm Phere-Moan.
"She should already be here…" Flaxa, Blade's mum, complained as she worried and took her husband's hand. "I should text her again…"
"Oh, Flaxa, she probably is still mulling over what to wear. I told her anything is just fine," Lucia laid a hand on her shoulder, "She is fine and safe." Blade's aunt tried to calm her down.
Flaxa stemmed her hands into her hips, "That's what I was promised when she started at Alfea. All the evidence-"
"I can assure you, Headmistress Faragonda does her very best to keep Blade safe. All that is in her power in fact. She does that for any student," The most sweet and calm voice resounded from behind. And a young Lady with long brownish-blond lush hair smiled at the two women, with a small little girl on her arm.
"Oh, aren't you a cutie," Lucia straight up smiled at the girl staring at them as she slightly bowed down to be face to face.
"Say, hello, Sola," Flora brushed away a strand of black hair and the light green eyes of the little girl sparkled through in the sun.
The girl grimaced shortly a bit unsure before her quiet, "Hello…"
"Don't scare her, Lu," Flaxa pulled her best friend a bit backwards. "Don't mind her, Sola, she just adores children." Flaxa giggled before she looked at the young woman, "Lady Flora, I presume?"
Ever so gently Flora smiled back, "You can drop the title. We are among friends here."
"Making new friends as always, My Love?" A strong build man just joined them coming from the Phere-Moan temple.
"Daddy!" Sola jumped off to run at him and hug his leg tightly.
Helia boobed her on the nose, "Hey there, Sunflower."
"You know me too well, Honey," Flora kissed her husband after he had picked up their daughter and joined them.
"So, how is it going with the revertilasation of the planet? Basil keeps talking about the progress," Lucia tried to stir the conversation away from the hot topic.
"Oh, no, Lu, I want to hear this. If Faragonda does her best, then how come my daughter always ends up in trouble? And not a minor one I might add," Flaxa indeed was pissed, but mostly it was her motherly worries that came through. "If this is Fragonda's best, I-"
Helia nodded, "Yes, there indeed were many incidents. Horrors even to face. We did our fair share back in the day, sometimes it's life, sometimes fate. With your daughter Blade, some were just happenstance. Yet other wars your daughter chose herself." Helia gave to consideration.
Flaxa crossed her arms vehemently disagreeing, "This has nothing to do with fate. There is no grand legend or prophecy or destiny to fulfil for her. She isn't Queen Bloom."
Trevan had snuck up from behind to sling his arms around his wife's waist, "Indeed she is a spitfire just like you. She is a Fairy certain danger comes with the territory. We discussed this. Even before we told Blade she has a scholarship waiting for her." He comforted Flaxa, nonetheless, everyone could see the concern in his eyes as well.
"I'm not so sure Flaxa that there is no prophecy. She unlocked Shadion…an ancient Fairy form," Lucia noted once more.
Flora looked around in the group of grown-ups. They all were wavering one way or another if this still was a good idea. And more than ever she understood. Unlike most of the Winx she understood why the family had come to talk so often with Councillor Votzaak, the schools basically everyone to voice their concerns and Flaxa as Blade's mum above all was a mother bear. A notion that now, didn't seem so crazy or overprotective as some of her dear old friends saw it. "Faragonda and we from the Winx Club and Association will-"
"People, people!" Basil with his loud voice chuckled and joined the group, "Be careful with the cake!" He shouted at some employees who were joking around before he refocused. "You look like the Shadow Phoenix has risen again. This is a Party. A BIRTHDAY party. Blade will be here any moment to set up the test ground for later. This is not the time for politics or worries. This is her day, let her have it. She needs this. - We all need this." He reigned the cloud of doom in and gave a reassuring gaze to his sister.
"You're right…" Flaxa loosened up a bit. Yet this discussion was far from over. And not ten seconds later everyone could hear Blade's laughter.
"Oh, G, it's been far too long. I am so sorry, we had so much to do," Blade giggled and joked around with the ghost, their faithful companion.
Mister G laughed out loud, "Ha, well, Fairies were snobs even back in the day." He teased her. "Besides, those elven historians are great conversationalists. And I've become half a librarian myself by now. They truly had trouble translating and preserving the old books at the start you know. Best thing was when that one toughed one book to pull it out and it crumbled to dust. His face! You should have seen it! Ahahahaha."
"Oh, I can imagine. Even if Basil owns the planet, visiting rights were truly restricted. This is the first open event so to speak besides the memory service for Jewels…" Blade looked up ahead. Where still that giant statue of her dear friend stood in front of the temple. The glicenging light play glittered and reflected. Everything had become a green oasis by now. It nearly felt like a jungle and the greenery spread out beyond the rolling hills. Trees, bushes, flowers, the lake with Lotus full in bloom and down the slope the city ruins of the capital, which had been stabilised and the ruins scavenged for remnants of a long gone by area. Blade stood still for a second just to take it all in, "Jewels…" She clenched her fists shortly. This place forever would be pride and joy and yet also a grim reminder of her loss.
"She'd be proud," Mister G floated in front of the young Fairy to console her. "From what I heard she was an amazing and impressive Fairy, just like you are. You saved this planet, all of you did. There are no words, no deed of mine that could ever make up for this." The ghost looked Blade straight in the eyes.
"Blade, over here!" Lucia shouted out to the two.
"Aunty! Mum, Dad! Uncle!" Overjoyed Blade ran to them, Mister G close behind. "Have you seen the big lake? I met our Mother Lou, she has become ginormous even bigger than the one in Desertia. And she's so beautiful and, and, all those underwater plants and…" Blade had come through the Ocean Portal this time around. "Lady Flora," she had spotted the Winx Club member straight away of course, "Thank you so much. This looks, like it's just amazing what you can do and how far you have come."
Flora blushed a bit there, "It wasn't just me. The Elves and Oscuria College helped a great deal as well. Not to mention Aisha and Stella who fixed the weather and climate. Bloom boosted the cleansing progress of the wisps. Those tiny little helpers just work day and night. Not to mention the other Lous." She wouldn't take credit for it all. "And even little Sola helped." She looked proudly at her little daughter.
"I made flowers grow!" Sola exclaimed proudly.
Blade smiled, "Really? That's so awesome, thank you. You have to show me before you go okay?" The girl nodded eagerly. She finally had come out of her shell.
Helia couldn't hide a smile. It was rare that Sola warmed up that fast. But she loved Mister G and a friend of Mister G was a friend of hers it seemed, "Yeah, and Nabu and the Black Magic Hunter Division searched every inch of this planet to find even the last hidden Zombie or Black magic source. The planet was officially proclaimed safe to travel through since what was it?" Helia looked to Basil.
"Two days ago, just in time for the Birthday Party. Now come here!" Basil simply rushed Blade and cuddled her so hard, "Happy Birthday, Blade."
"Hey!" Flaxa complained, "I wanted to go first…" She pouted which made everyone laugh.
The Family had spent a few hours together after Flora, Helia and Sola had left. Their own little party. Just like in old times. Basil had forwarded a lot of presents from a few friends and Councillors who officially couldn't just hand them over. As well as their own before they left for Zenith again and left the planet to the teenagers. Even the historians and other Elves and workers restoring the planet left so the teenagers would have the planet for themselves. It was a huge banket that could easily top any garden party in a royal palace. In the first few hours, anyone from The Denied had been invited to come and have a blast, games and some fun. It so to speak was their private party without all the special tam tam from the awarding ceremony; before they left to let Blade's close friend circle have their inner circle party.
"Okay, okay! Enough food and drink, guys!" Blade roared. "We'll have some competitions now!"
"Party games! WOOOOHHH!" Kai was excited, to say the least.
Kitty was all fried up, "I'll squash you all!"
"Well, well, we'll see," Blade grinned, "Come on, follow me!" Blade shooed them all onto the test ground she had set up with Basil and some Lunasteel company workers.
"Woah…" Seth stared at a wall with a bunch of elemental weapons several target dummies and something like an area, which reminded them all a lot of the sandbox at Alfea.
"Tournament!" Nebula suggested excited. "Please, please, say we are going to have a tournament. I still have a bone to pick," She glared at Memphis.
"Well, of course, we'll have some matches for all who want. But," Blade took the only techno-magic crossbow from the weapon wall. "Some, safer competition first." She propped the crossbow against her shoulder and loaded it up with some light magic, powering it up an icy arrow formed in the barrel. She aimed with the scope, slowed her breath and with a big recoil the arrow shot out. A good three hundred meters, she missed the target still by a few feet. However, with a flare-up of magic huge ice spikes rose and obliterated the target to shreds nonetheless. "HA! Finally, and it even didn't explode in my hands…"
Snow stared at the ice, "Holy…explode in your hands?!"
"You can barely hold that thing, Blade…" Amber noted.
"It's cool though…" Gilliana admitted. The boys seemed to share the sentiment they were just speechless. That was one powerful elemental Paladin weapon.
"Yeah, that one, gave me, Basil and the smiths the worst nightmare days…a bitch to get stable." Blade grimaced annoyed. "It can go easily over five hundred, with the short load up. If you really push this thing you can go beyond three kilometres. So, Micheal, better train your accuracy, before you shoot any of us out of the sky." She pressed that beauty into his hands, that definitely was the weapon she was most proud of.
It was a lot heavier than Micheal had expected, "Wait, what?"
Blade ignored the confused stares and whispers of her friends. "Of course, you get your typical round shield and machete as well. Those are the once you like the most correct?" She had taken the two weapons off the wall as well.
Mercury with an open mouth understood now. He had spotted the two axes. A Katana and boomerang, Julius's favourite weapons even a chain sickle, Lions' favorite weapon, "You didn't." He uttered and went straight to the wall picked the two axe hilts and activated them. Fire and wind. He could feel it instantly. "How did you? … I had discussed it over like a few weeks back before our stakeouts with Codatorta."
"Blade, worked on them for quite a while not to mention I studied your test results and training sessions like crazy to get the the specs right," Amal smirked. He had known all along. Those two had had enough lunch breaks and Blade just had to tell at least one of her friends who would indefinitely keep their mouth shut. "Although, Lunasteels AI bot and program is freaking accurate already. I only could find minor tweaks. Not to mention the weapons have a battery. You can store magic energy in them, just like with Blade's ancient hilt. So, you can make more elemental attacks in general."
"But, that's impossible," Julius shook his head confused.
"Not anymore, well, not entirely," Blade snickered, "It has a time limit before it loses the power or it becomes unstable, just like with mine, as we have found out. All these are prototypes, so be prepared to fill out some reports and do some additional tests at Lunasteel here and there. Since I brought back the ancient hilt, Daryun's weapon. Hoggar and Lunasteel as well as Councillor Gadiel's forge reverse engineer the weapon. While they are still unable to make it elemental fluidly. You indeed can store magic in them. All courtesy through the Star Crystal I picked up at Laciport. That one was military grade and still some is left over for over projects. The rest of the materials are more or less the same as other Paladin weapons."
"But Blade…" Keith picked up his long bow hilt. "Those must have cost a fortune..." He wasn't sure what he should say. "I can't possibly accept-"
"Shut it," Alyssa growled, "You all should just nod and don't look a gifted horse in the mouth." She admonished them as she flicked her braided hair behind her shoulder.
"Yeah," Steela agreed promptly. "You will be in our joined track and our frontline we hide behind. So, you better get some gear upgrade or you'll just be in the way and utterly useless!" She hissed and simply moved to pick something off the wall. And of course, her gaze fell on a sword hilt. "Ankhs…" She picked it up and lit it up a shimmering bright green blade and promptly deactivated it as she could barely hold the two-hander. Yet she had spotted the old inscribed Desertian glyphs. "I believe this one is yours, Seth." She handed it to him carefully. "Don't lose that one. If you break it…" She warned him.
Seth stood there a bit perplexed not sure why she was so pissed. As he read the runes as well he understood. He fell silent.
"What?" Tessa couldn't read it just like everyone else. "What does it say?"
"May your time never run out," Blade teary-eyed looked at Jewels's brother, who couldn't even find words to say anything. "It's based on sand magic. You are good with earth. We are pretty sure you will do even better with sand. As Jewels had glass magic and they are somewhat related. It needs the most magic for one swing. But you have ways and talents to get there. I just know it." She smiled at him. But the boy still was silent. Blade got a bit unsure, "Did I…overstep?"
Seth looked up from the hilt before he charged at Blade to hug her tightly, "…" Still he could not find the right words, till he finally stated, "It's perfect."
Every single Fairy was close to sobbing and Blade had a small tear run down her cheek as well as she hugged Seth back.
"OH, COME ONE!" Marble complained short of showing some tears as well, "Enough of sad faces! This is a birthday party, by the Great Dragon! Let's smash some stuff!" She simply picked something off the wall and activated it. "Woah!?"
"Careful!" Dean jumped to the rescue before she could stab herself with one of the hook swords meant for Alex.
"Ahahaha, I want one too!" Rise eagerly made a pick as well. And the boys quickly swapped to damage control as the girls blatantly showed they had no idea whatsoever about weapons or where to point what end.
The hours flew by matches, shooting targets, and simply going crazy with the elemental weapons. Comparing the power to spells of the same magic nature. Mister G had been a good judge and jury. Not to mention that eventually, the ginormous Mother Lou had decided to come and greet her old friends from the battle. They had a blast and surely got hungry eventually. All were seated at the banket in front of the table cake in masses. They were laughing and joking around.
Mister G cleared his throat. "This occasion needs what's it called a photo. We need to preserve this for the ages!" He loved techno-magic at least what he had seen so far and photos were by far the most fascinating thing for him. He even showed them his collection of priced shots from scaring the shit out of Elves in the old library. He flew in front of the banket tables and propped up the camera in the right height. "Okay and now, pretty face all of you! Twenty seconds. Don't forget to smile!" He rushed back to them all to fit into the picture.
Everyone looked at each other a strange vibe in the air as Mister G counted town, "Fifteen…fourteen…"
'Blade's never going to expect that,' Nebula eyed already the cream cake next to her and Blade.
"Eleven…"
'Time to cream the Fairy faces!' Polarissa gave Volcano a look who agreed.
Tyson pinned Keith down, 'Brother, you're so going down.' Their eyes looked at each other.
'Eh…' Snow was so confused. 'Don't tell me…'
"Seven!"
Memphis already was ready to flip the table, 'Ooooh, you're all asking for it.' He had spotted his enemies.
"Three!" Mister G posed properly floating above Blade and the rest.
"TWO," All joined in. Magic build-up all around.
"ONE!" A war cry erupted everywhere.
"CHARMIX"; "ICE WALL"; "Willow's grasp!"; "TAKE THAT!"; "YOURE MINE!"; "FOR DESERTIA!"; "Fog Image, Mirror space!"; "Piercing spear!"; "Oh, no you don't!"; "YIKES!"; "Missed me!"; "Yuck!"; "The poor ca-"; "DUCK!"; "NO!"; "LION! YOU WILL PAY!"; "Julius, watch out!"; "AHAHAHAHAHA!"
Mister G ducked away as nearly one of the girls phased through his incorporeal body. A mealtime mayhem. "What is this? Clash of Cakes!?" He was utterly confused.
"FOOD FIGHT!" Everyone screamed in echoing laughter.