Iorda

"Bliss, I'm becoming a witch!" I interrupt, my words barely audible to myself through my hands. But Bliss heard them. I heard the flutter of her wings slow down. I couldn't look up—couldn't meet her eyes—so I kept my face hidden. "It's been going on for several months, and the…" I choked on a sob. "The transition has been going on for years now; the dark part of my magic eating away at the other part. In a few months… I'll become a witch for good." Trembles shook across my body. "I wanted to tell you before our bonding breaks, and I'm sorry that this has to happen… I've never wanted this to happen…"

Bliss was silent, and her heart stopped at the thought of her hating me for this. I couldn't look up or say anything else. All this was too much. If I break down while telling Bliss then how will I manage to tell the Winx? If I don't tell them will they just find out with me changing Inseimix forms—if I ever get Inseimix—without my control?

"Iirda, crying will not do anything about it!" Bliss said, her encouraging tone completely void of the disgust I would expect. I hesitantly look up, pushing my hands under my glasses to wipe away my tears. "The Winx are your friends, and even if I'm not your bonded pixie after you become a witch I'll still be your friend, too! No matter what I'm gonna accept you for who you are, even if you are a witch!"

My eyes widen and I finally meet Bliss' gaze. "You're–you're not disgusted or… afraid of me?"

Bliss smiles brightly, moving to sit on my knee. "Now why would I be afraid of you? You are an amazing magi and I am really really glad to be your friend and to have been your bonded pixie for all these years! I would never be afraid of you, no matter what."

I gently reached forward and embraced Bliss, feeling her little hands wrapped around my fingers. Tears began to fall down my eyes because of the pure relief I felt, and it means so much to me that Bliss accepts me for what I'm becoming—who I'm becoming.

"That means so much Blissy." Our embrace ended, but the two of us were still smiling at each other. "Really. You have no idea."

"Anytime!" Bliss smiled, wings fluttering happily.

Slowly, I stand up. Ms. Faragonda advised us to get rest after what happened in Oscurita—and more than anything I want to rest after forcing myself to use positive energy—but I'll live if I go to the archives to find any information about the Shaman Witch. It's frightening how the witch just swallowed up Cloud Tower out of the blue and that we didn't see it coming. I wonder just how many things she's capable of…

"I'm off to the archives," I started. "I need to see if there's any information about the Shaman Witch. Everything's happening so quickly and I don't like the idea of not knowing what she's capable of." I smile at Bliss. "Do you want to come with me?"

Bliss thought for a moment. "I think I'll go back to the dorm! Livy is going to come back soon with updates from Nifea!" I nodded—it would be good to see if Pixie Village is doing well—and then she flew down the hall with sparkles trailing behind her, disappearing around a corner.

I'm grateful that the confession went well. The last thing needed right now is the stress of it not going well on top of the Shaman Witch situation. I started walking to the archives, thoughts of everything going through my mind and I tried to ignore the rising feeling of panic.

The witch fought us once in the Dark World, the next time she sent the three sorceresses, and then she somehow transported Cloud Tower to Oscurita. The first time we fought her she very clearly was targeting Flora and Stormy, specifically Stormy, and didn't she say that she'd been spying on us to find our weaknesses? And during the last time we went to the Dark World she was targeting Darcy, trying to turn the witch's guilt against her from what I saw in her mind. She was trying to get rid of us, but where did Cloud Tower fit into all this?

The Shaman didn't show much interest in conquering Magix at first—she only wanted to get rid of the Winx, Trix, and me—but then again we hardly know her motivations. She must have a larger motive besides getting rid of us, and maybe the fact that she's trying to get rid of us points to the fact that we could be a nuisance to whatever she's trying to achieve. None of us know about that.

I'll have to talk to the others, but all that I know is that the Shaman Witch is trying to get rid of us, likely by targeting us one by one. I wonder… who will she—no, I can't think of that. I'm not ready to think about whatever the witch will use against me, I can't go back to the past yet. We still have to discover her motives.

A buzzing fills my ears, and I feel my phone vibrating in my jeans pocket. I halt my pace and pull it out, assuming that it must be one of the Winx before I raise the phone up and see the number that messaged me. My heart stops in reflex, fear going through me before I push it down.

The last time I saw that number was years ago, during the situation with Selina and the Legendarium…

I'm pretty sure I was at Cloud Tower at that time. Learning at Alfea ever since I found out about magic was amazing, and it was at the suggestion of Headmistress Faragonda and Headmistress Griffin that I spent at least a year at Cloud Tower to strengthen my abilities in dark magic.

There were some witches who hated me, even though it was the first day—the prejudice against each other has done nothing to disappear—but there were a few who I knew, and relatively got along well with, from when the Winx and I had to go the Cloud Tower to protect the Codex.

It was… the beginning of the first class. I sat next to Nith, a witch of water, Pyris, a witch of disguise and deception—my girlfriend—and Lucina, a witch of blood. We were talking about something before Headmistress Griffin walked up to her podium and started announcing the new school year.

The memories of the rest all blurred together. The Trix transformed Griffin, they transformed again, they broke through the windows, everyone went back to their rooms and by some miracle, I wasn't seen.

I went to the dorm I was sharing with Nith, Pyris, and Lucina. Pyris went to check something out, something to do with the Winx, or the pixies, or… I don't know, it's been too long. We were worried about Pyris then I got a phone call.

The Trix had Pyris, they knew I was at Cloud Tower. I… had to help them otherwise Pyris would die. I knew where the Winx were going, but they still contacted me to make sure things were okay. It went on until Nith got out, and some other witches helped her. I recall being back at Alfea soon after.

When we were in China, I went into the restaurant to find the Winx who I've been following since Egypt. The Trix were there. I got caught—

Snap out of it!

I shake my head, burying where my thoughts were going before I lean against the wall and look at the number again. Remembering that I'm safe, nothing bad is going to happen if I answer the text message, and that after everything the Trix are good now.

Stormy is getting along well with Flora, and the two seem to be getting closer which is good for the both of them. Darcy seems to be doing okay with everything, and some of the tension between us has gotten better, but what happened in Oscurita just now definitely brought a lot of the awkwardness back. Icy, well, I think she's doing okay. She just looked worried through every minute of this, but I can't really blame her.

Brushing my hair out of my face I open my phone, and look at the message from an unnamed contact—but I know it's from one of the Trix regardless.

—

Unknown:

This is going to be awkward, but I wanted to

ask if we could (on here) talk about what happened

in the Dark World just to clear things up.

I think it'll just be easier for both of us if we

don't talk about what happened in person

or telepathically.

—

It makes sense that they would want to talk about this in text. As I read the second message I assumed that it was Darcy who was messaging me based on the 'telepathy' part of the message. To be honest, I was grateful that they were making this effort to clear things up. I really should've taken the initiative to do so as well, though. But learning about Cloud Tower and talking to Headmistress Faragonda about the flashes were a lot on their own—as if that's any excuse for ignoring what happened.

Shaking my head at myself, I begin to type out a response.

—

Iorda

That sounds like a good plan.

I agree that it'll be good to clear

things up—I should've

acknowledged what happened sooner.

Just to double-check this is Darcy?

Unknown:

Yes, this is Darcy.

And you aren't at fault for not

acknowledging this, all that matters

is that we're doing so now.

Firstly, I just want to thank you

for helping me. I appreciate it.

Iorda:

Don't worry about it.

I'm just glad everything worked

out okay.

Unknown:

I'm being blunt here, Iorda,

by saying this, but if you

didn't help me I wouldn't…

have hesitated to drink the potion.

It was unfair of me to blame you

for still feeling fear, and I want to

apologize for saying so.

Iorda:

I'm grateful that you are open with this, and

I know it must be hard to do so.

I would help you again if anything

like that happens again, without hesitation.

And you don't have to feel bad about

saying that. I didn't take that to heart, and

I won't take it to heart because I know how

hard what happened must've been for you.

You don't deserve any of the horrible things that

Aria put you through, none of them, and if you need

support over what happened I'm here if you need it

or anything else.

Unknown:

I appreciate that, thank you.

I'm still not over the fact that you are willing to

help me, Icy, and Stormy with everything that's been

going on. And that you, as you said in the

Dark World, 'care about me' enough to help me.

It's surprising, considering everything.

Iorda:

Like I said back then as well, I see that you (and

Icy and Stormy) are good people. You've changed and

I no longer resent you for anything that happened

before now.

I do care about you (even for me that is mildly

surprising to be honest), and your well-being.

You are a good person and from our conversation

the first time we went to the Dark World I can tell that

you really do care about moving forward from the

past and clearing things up.

I value you as a person, and with time I'm sure the Winx

will feel the same way.

Unknown:

Haha, I hope so. But I doubt it

Secondly… I wanted to ask you something

else. During the fight with the sorceresses

I saw that you were, exhausting yourself, to

say the least. The first time you absorbed the spores

you were exhausted and your mind was… chaotic.

I didn't read your mind, but I felt that regardless. You

kept on absorbing the spores and I felt that you were in pain

because of it. That was concerning and I wanted to

make sure things were alright involving that.

If it was just a hard spell to absorb, or if it

is something else.

Just like you said you value me as a person, it

goes both ways. You've been helping all of

us a lot. And if something is going on burying

it won't help. As hypocritical as it sounds

for me to say that.

Sorry if that was too much.

Iorda:

No, don't worry, it wasn't too much.

I guessed you would've seen that, just, to

say the least, it's difficult to talk about. What

happened back there wasn't… just that it was a

difficult spell to absorb. And… something is

going on.

The thing is that I haven't told the Winx or my family

about what is going on—only Bliss—and I

haven't even made peace with it myself.

I would tell you, it's just that it's hard

to admit what's going on.

Unknown:

Alright, I understand.

I'm going to try to say this in the most

reassuring way possible, but whatever is

going on isn't going to upset the Winx

or your family.

And don't ignore what's going on,

the thing you haven't told anyone yet, okay?

It's not going to help anything.

Iorda:

Okay, I'll keep that in mind.

Thank you again, I really do

appreciate your advice, and it is reassuring

to hear that. Really.

On a side note, do you know where everyone

went after leaving Headmistress Faragonda's

office?

Unknown:

Thank you too for agreeing to this

conversation. It helped.

As for your question, Flora and Aisha are

in the dorm. Flora's resting by the order of Bloom

and everyone else, while Aisha hardly wants

to be near us. Everyone else is in the Alfea library

looking for information about the Shaman witch

Iorda:

Okay, I'll be on my way to the archives as well.

Reading over my last message I realize how avoidant it seemed. I debated adding something else, like a 'see you in a bit,' but it was stopped by the fear that arose after finding out that Darcy suspects something about why I was acting strange in the Dark World. I appreciated her reassurance that the Winx and my family won't be upset about the situation, but if anything, it's making me more worried. It makes me want to try and tell somebody—my family, the Winx; ome, even Darcy—and that scares me.

I bury the thought of telling people about this and make my way to the Alfea Library. The halls are empty, and it gives me time to reflect. My heart was beating and I felt warm, all because of the memory that arose earlier. If I wasn't a psychic I wouldn't have been able to stop it. Even though I hardly use my psychic magic—leading to a lack of control—I know enough to be able to dismiss memories I'm not ready to acknowledge. But eventually, I need to stop avoiding it. Now's not the time. I can't have everyone worrying about me when the Shaman Witch is trying to do dragon knows what.

And now's not the time to avoid the Trix.

I paused in front of the door to the Alfea Library, looking up at the roof, and taking in a deep breath, before I opened the door and stepped in. The library isn't as spacious and eccentric as the Archives, but it is still beautiful in every way. Tall, brown bookshelves stretched all across the walls and were filled with thousands of books. Tombs, novels, and encyclopedias were all sorted by alphabetical order just how Miss Barbatea likes it, even though she's absent over the summer. Dark wood tables and chairs were littered orderly across the floor, and in the corner of the first section of the library a gold butterfly-shaped pedestal sat.

Bloom and Stella were sitting at a table, towers of books around them as they read through them; Musa was looking through the bookshelves, probably frustrated from their expressions; Stormy and Tecna were using the searching pedestal—thank the dragon, the two groups are interacting—with several books hovering above them; and Icy and Darcy were reading through three giant encyclopedias.

"Hey," I said as I walked into the room, briefly waving slightly. Everyone was focused on their research, though I did manage to get a smile and a 'hey' from Musa and Bloom, as well as a small wave from Stormy who had her eyes glued to a tomb. But still, there was so much awkward energy in this place.

I walk over to Bloom and Stella, grabbing one of the books hovering above them and looking at the title: Timeline of Enemies of the Magic Dimension. "How's the research been going?"

"Ugh, horrible," Stella groaned, smashing her face into the desk. "We've gone through so many books and we've found nothing. This is hopeless."

"Stella there are still hundreds of books we haven't gone through. There's bound to be something," Bloom reassured as she closed the book in her hands and began to read another one.

Agreeing with Bloom, I sat down and started to read the book in my hands. First, to the table of contents. There were sections on the Ancestral Witches, Darkar, and The Wizards of the Black Circle. None about the Shaman Witch. It makes sense, considering Daphne said that the Shaman Witch came from the Dark World in the first place. Wait…

I look up. "Bloom, do you know where Daphne got the information about the Shaman Witch?"

Bloom's face lit up. "No, but I'll ask her!" She pulled out her phone and sent a message to Daphne. She, Stella and I waited eagerly for an answer. I could hear everyone else discussing the things they'd found, all their voices blurring together, then Bloom's phone dinged and she smiled brightly.

"What did she say?" Stella asked, leaning over Bloom's shoulder eagerly.

"She said that she got the information from a book called The Legend of the Witch of Oscurita; the book she showed us before we went into the Dark World!" Bloom exclaimed, reading the message Daphne sent. "Daphne says it's in this library, but since the searching pedestal was added after the book was brought to Alfea we won't be able to search for it that way."

I laugh under my breath. "Well either way it's a win. We should tell the others."

Bloom nodded before she stood up, phone in hand. "Hey everyone! Daphne said that a book that will have information is called The Legend of the Witch of Oscurita! But she says it won't be able to be searched using the pedestal!"

"Dammit," Stormy mumbled from the searching pedestal. "This is gonna take forever."

Tecna shrugged. "It's better than nothing."

And so all of us started to search with new intent. Now that we have a specific book in sight there'll be hope for us to find information. All of us were spread apart along the shelves and rooms of the library to find the book as fast as possible. I was in the Southeast wing of the library, digging through a box of books shoved into one of the shelves, with Tecna and Icy. The two of them aren't too awkward with each other. Maybe that's why they branched off this way.

I pulled a book out of the box—nothing to do with what we were looking for—before resorting to reaching into the bottom of the box since nothing in reach was useful. If we find this book then we can learn more about the Shaman Witch and how to defeat her for good!

Two hours have passed without any success…

Books were spilled all over the floor around me after I resorted to taking multiple out at once and flipping through them; taking one out and putting it back in was taking way too much time. Titles from books blended together, and after I closed a book I couldn't remember what was in it. We… we can't stop. The Shamna Witch has already taken over Cloud Tower. There's no time.

Stella, who was just around the corner, poked her head around with a book in hand. "I found something!" She walked over to where Icy, Tecna and I were. "It's not the exact book we're looking for, but it might at least have something."

We all sat down at a table—all of us needed a breather, and my legs were cramping from standing—except for Tecna, who kept on searching through a bookshelf near the table, glancing behind her to listen to the conversation.

Stella revealed the cover of the book as she placed it in front of her. The silver detailing across the book read History of Diamond—oh dragon. I looked from the corner of my eye at Icy, and she looked like a deer caught in headlights. If we read this book it would be anything but pleasant for her, and by chance if the book mentions her…

"What's that book about?" Tecna questioned, using her magic to return a book to the shelf.

Stella smiled, completely unaware. "Y'know how the Trix saw the Shaman Witch on Diamond, right? There must be something in here about why the witch was there in the first place—"

"There won't be anything," Icy interrupted coldly, nails gripping the edge of the table. Silence followed, and I glanced between everyone, eternally grateful that Aisha wasn't here otherwise an argument would've started already.

After the silence, Tecna finally broke it. "There could be."

"You really think we'll find information about that hag in some random book?" Icy rolled her eyes. "We're wasting our time."

"Why are you so weird about this book?" Stella asked, her voice rising.

"Maybe I don't want to fool around, Stella, and actually find a solution," Icy sneered. Her patience was clearly reaching its end, and if we don't move on from this I won't be surprised if she decides to throw the book across the room just to get rid of it and this conversation.

I need to get the book away from everyone. The last thing we need is a fight between these two or for Icy to get exposed. Transportation could work. I can just move the book somewhere else in the library within a second, but with the three of them so focused on the book—

"What's going on?" Darcy asked in confusion, walking into the area, and drawing everyone's eyes to her entry. Thank the dragon that she decided to come here.

While Tecna, Stella, and Icy were looking at Darcy I quickly focused my magic on the book. In an unnoticeable shimmer, the book disappeared from the table and to a space underneath Miss Barbatea's desk. If it is relocated properly. I looked up at the scene in front of me to make sure no one saw the spell—Darcy obviously saw, but it wasn't her I was worried about—and everyone was still.

"I found this book that could help us," Stella answered, turning back to the table. "But someone won't let us read it." She paused.

"Um…" Tecna froze; eyes on the book's previous placement. Icy seemed just as confused, turning to Darcy silently, thinking that she was the cause of this. "The book was there, right?"

I shrugged. "Maybe the book just didn't want to be read. I mean, all the books in here are magic so it makes sense that a lot of them would have a mind of their own." Icy—and clearly Darcy—suspected that I made the book disappear, but my explanation seemed to please Stella and Tecna.

Stella sighed. "Let's just keep searching then."

Even with the five of us, there wasn't any progress being made with the search. Some of the books we found were mildly useful—Curse Prevention, Spells for a More Harmonious Convergence—but none of them were what we were searching for. I wonder if Daphne got the location of the book right… No, she teaches history, of course she's going to put the book in the right place. We just have to keep going and find it.

I pulled out a book from the shelf, glanced at the cover, and slid it back in with a sigh. The silence between all of us—besides some chatter—gave me time to think, time I hardly wanted. I need to decide who I need to tell next about the flashes. It scares me; the thought of telling someone again. The conversation with Bliss went well, better than I thought, but there's no guarantee that it'll go well with the Winx, my family, or… anyone else. It's hard to admit that I know that Darcy is right about holding this in. Every time I have trouble casting a spell or a flash occurs—even through the excruciating pain—there's so much fear and panic. Thoughts going through my head that I have to tell someone, I can't tell someone, they'll leave me if they know, I'll be alone, and everyone has too much to worry about already.

That last one is what kills any thought of speaking about this. The Winx are worried about the Shaman witch, the Trix are as well—and I'm guessing they're also stressed about the situation with Icy's planet—and as for my family, it's too dangerous for their sake if I visit them while the Shaman witch is trying to do who knows what. All I know is that the witch wants all of us gone, and I can't bring my family into this.

I can't bring anyone into this…

"What is it now?" Darcy questioned several shelves down my right, looking at Stella who was holding up a book; wincing as if it was going to attack her.

"This book has a heck of a lot of negative energy." Stella tossed the book to Darcy. "One of you guys hold it."

Darcy opened the book without any problem and began flipping through it, Icy looking over her shoulder and Tecna over Stella's, before her eyebrows knit forward in confusion. "That's weird… The first page says the book is forbidden. Well, for the most part."

My heart jumps. They can't be talking about the book Headmistress Faragonda let me borrow. They can't. I walked over to the group and walked around Stella to see the book, praying that I was overreacting. Then I saw the first page of the book; the first page of the book I've read over and over to understand what is happening to me: The Theory of Changing Classes. No, no, no, if they read it they'll suspect something and start asking questions—

"Shifting… Changing classes…" Tecna mumbled, skimming the book as Darcy flipped through it absently. She glanced towards me. "Hey Iorda, isn't that what happened last year?"

"Ohh… The Butterflix to Shiftix thing," Stella recalled, her tone light and calm, not knowing that the 'thing' was one of the occurrences that started all of this.

It first happened last year, when the Trix merged with their fairy animals after gaining the power of Wild Magic from Brufillious. Kalshara and her brother fell into a pit in the cave soon after, defeated by the Winx's and my fairy animals and the animal residents of the cave, but even with all of us together we couldn't defeat the Trix. Icy, Darcy, and Stormy were firing attacks at us relentlessly, their need for revenge towards us making them even more ruthless.

Eventually, we were protected under a barrier—one that would not last forever—made from a spell from Aisha and Tecna. We didn't know how this would end. The fairy animals were anxious, and we were too. But then I looked at Almah who was standing next to me. She was my mentor during my first year at Alfea, turned into only a spirit by the Ancestral Witches along with Daphne, and she was the Fairy of Dark Arts before me. Months later she was killed by the Trix, and years after she appeared to me in a new form—one of a magic wolf with feathers and fur—and was so much more than a fairy animal to me.

Almah looked at me solemnly. "Iorda, there is something you can do that may allow you all to defeat those witches."

I told her that I'll do anything.

"You have to merge with me like they did with their own fairy animals. Their current transformation, Shiftix, may be that of witches, but whether you like it or not there is a large part of you that is a witch. Your magic will allow you to transform as they did, but only temporarily, and it will never leave you the same."

I asked her what she meant, why it'll 'never leave me the same.'

"You'll know soon enough, and when you do, speak to Faragonda. If I told you now there is no guarantee you will do this, but now you have to make a choice. You're better than your fear. You're better than what you don't know."

I didn't know how this would affect me, but I did it anyway. I merged with Almah, crying at the thought that we would no longer see each other, and with the Winx's help and my temporary Wild Magic to counter the Trix's, we defeated them and the Eternity Swan and banished them to limbo.

I could no longer transform into Butterflix after that, only Shiftix. Almah lied to me that this was temporary, but even back when I first met her she had a habit of hiding information for my 'benefit.' The word got around, and several times I heard a few hardly kind fairies call me a witch behind my back, something that I had forgotten about until now.

When we got Cosmix I felt free. I no longer had to transform to Shiftix, and I was as close to a fairy as someone with the magic of the Ancestors could get. Then the first flash happened two days later. It was in the middle of the night and I felt a sharp pain in my chest. I ran to the forest so my approaching screams would not wake up the Winx, and when I fell to the ground I transformed into Magix Winx, the base-witch transformation that I later learned was called Evlix, and back and forth again.

I've experienced painful things, and the flashes were close in pain to having my wings mutilated, but not knowing what was going on added to the pain. I told Faragonda the next morning, and when she told me what was going on and lent me the book, I told no one else.

Fear jolted through me and words spilled out quickly. "That was a one-time thing. Almah said it was a one-time thing, I talked to Faragonda and she said it was a one-time thing. So yeah, it's not happening again."

I chuckle softly, trying to hide all of my emotions and passing this off as something funny. I turn away from the book to the bookshelf, pretending to look for Daphne's book, hoping that everyone will drop this and go back to the search. I see Darcy hover the book up to where it used to be, looking at me from the corner of her eye. She saw something was wrong. I have to calm down, otherwise, she'll feel how panicked I am. She probably already knows! I forgot she could feel my emotions. I shouldn't have come to the archives!

Blinking away the wetness in my eyes, not looking at the others, I realize that no feelings of revelation or surprise were coming from Darcy. She's just perceiving the situation and is curious about it. It's fine… All of this will be fine.

Tecna walks to a nearby table and looks over a towering pile of books stacked upon it, responding to my fake chuckle with a short laugh of her own. "Apparently symptoms of it are these things called 'flashes,' having trouble using respective emotions to cast spells—or casting spells in general. So if you don't have any of the symptoms I doubt you'll be changing classes anytime soon."

I laugh. Searching through the books I ignored everything; how Darcy whipped her head towards me immediately after Tecna listed the symptoms as a lighthearted joke and the shock the dark witch felt as she did so. She knew something was off the moment I struggled to absorb the spores in Oscurita, that my mind was chaotic, and now… now she knows why. I have to go back to searching for books. I… I can't deal with this!

"Yeah definitely not," I responded, smiling, forcing myself to walk slowly back to the shelf I was first searching for the book. Everyone else went back to searching, going off in three groups—Stella with Tecna, Icy with Darcy, and myself alone. Nothing was going through my mind, and I wasn't able to even think of the possibility that my secret got out.

No one knows.

I'm overreacting.

Everything is fine.

Icy

"That book clearly touched a nerve with Iorda," I pointed out. But I know that if I saw how nervous Iorda was, then Darcy definitely saw. "Do you think…?"

It doesn't take a psychic to tell how nervous Iorda was when Tecna and Stella were asking her questions about the book; it's a wonder the two fairies didn't notice, and if anything, it makes me doubt their perceptions.

But I'm not worried about Iorda. I can't afford to worry; to make awkward connections. Opting to keep my distance from Iorda is the best choice, especially since I have no intention of addressing the past. After we all get Inseimix and defeat the Shaman Witch, I can restore Diamond and go far, far away from any of the Winx. I don't need anyone else to be put in danger because of me. Already I feel guilt for starting all of this, among other things.

This entire situation is already my fault.

"She's changing classes?" Darcy finished. "Definitely. And based on the conversation we had over text earlier—when I brought up how weird she was acting in the Dark World—she hasn't told anyone except her pixie."

While putting back another useless book I looked at Darcy, seeing how quiet she was. She's clearly thinking hard about something, not that she isn't constantly. I know that she's concerned about Iorda. After the fairy—witch, or whatever is she now—pretty much saved Darcy's life in Oscurita it… I can tell Darcy is confused about what to do now that things are changing more than we've ever thought they could.

"You want to bring it up to her?" I questioned, hardly asking it as such. "Because you clearly do."

Darcy rolled her eyes, shoving a book back onto the shelf loudly. "Yeah, I do. But she clearly doesn't want to talk about it."

I scoffed. "Like you don't want to talk about Zenothe?"

"Yes."

I sighed, looking over to Darcy. "And how well did that turn out for you, exactly?"

Bringing up what happened in the Dark World, which, as far as I can assume, is a sore spot for Darcy, wasn't the best move I could've made. Iorda doesn't want to talk about what's going on with her, and Darcy hardly wants to talk about or address any difficulty in her life. If Darcy—as cagey as she is—lets Iorda isolate as she does, it's not going to fix anything. Out of the two of us, the only ones who know about this, Darcy's the only one who can bring it up to her.

"Not… well," Darcy admitted before sighing defeatedly. "Okay, fine, I'll ask her about it. But if she closes off—"

"Darcy," I started. "You are the person she's most likely to open up to. The Winx have their stupid and immature witch prejudice, Iorda and I haven't even spoken to each other—and I prefer to keep it that way—but she'll trust you."

"Only if you tell someone about Diamond," Darcy retorted, and I could practically feel her satisfaction. "I can see how this stress is affecting you, and you need to tell someone that's not me or Stormy. Bloom, for instance, probably understands what you're going through."

Does Darcy really think it would be a good idea for me to tell Bloom of all people? Yes, her planet was destroyed and she brought it back yada yada, but I am not telling the fire pixie that I destroyed my planet because I was without strength or dignity back then!

"Really?" I frowned.

Darcy shrugged. "Would you rather tell Aisha?"

"Hm, fine." I rolled my eyes. Darcy isn't going to talk to Iorda unless I do this, but I'm not going to let her off the hook that easily. "At the very least the sob story will turn into uncomfortably awkward banter. I'll tell her about Diamond if you talk to Iorda and tell someone about Zenothe."

Darcy froze before responding. "No, out of the question."

"You literally just said holding it in doesn't go well."

"I'm a hypocrite," Darcy smirked, turning back to the books to end this situation in a not-so-subtle way. As if I was going to let this end. Darcy nearly got killed because she didn't address anything, and somehow, I'm going to get her to talk to someone about Zenothe.

"You and Stella seem to get along well," I said sarcastically.

Darcy sighed as she came back into the conversation. "I'm not telling her that I cursed my planet. Do you really think that's a good idea?"

"There's always Musa."

She looked at me as if I'd lost my mind. "You're joking."

"I wonder if there's anyone else you could ask," I tilted my head as I asked, knowing that both Darcy and I know the one person she'll even consider asking. She knows what I'm doing. I just have to hope, for her sake, that it's working.

"No," Darcy said sharply, the knuckles on her hand gripping a book turning white. "I already have to talk to Iorda about her own issues. I'm not going to add my own into the mix."

"Darcy, you need to tell somebody," I said, keeping my voice within a whisper, the only thing keeping my voice from rising being the Winx's proximity. "If you don't want to tell Iorda, I won't tell Bloom, but you must stop being so hypocritical and open up to someone. I know you don't normally do that, but please try for the sake of your own sanity"

Darcy glared at me, only silence between us—and the quiet mumble of everyone else talking elsewhere—before she sighed, hand rising up to bury two budding tears before they could surface. "Fine. I'll… tell Iorda about Zenothe." She glances to where Iorda and Tecna had disappeared earlier. "But when an opportunity comes up."

I smiled slightly. Darcy, hopefully, will stay true to her word and tell Iorda; talking to her about Iorda's own issues as well. Who knows? Trauma bonding could help their situations. Pursing my lips, I grab another book—

A book hit my head—painfully—and there's no doubt in my mind who did it. "Darcy! What the ome?" As I turn I see her finger glowing purple, a laugh bubbling out of her as she throws her head back.

"That's what you get!" She laughed, and I chuckled she went back to the books—

"We found it!"

Darcy and I looked at each other at the sound of Musa's voice, hope in Darcy's mind and in my heart. If the book Musa found is really The Legend of the Witch of Oscurita, we can find out why the Shaman Witch is doing this in the first place. Why did she destroy Diamond in the first place?

Musa placed the book in the center of the table—the Winx on one side of the circle and my sisters and I on the other. Gold detailing embellished the book over the ink-black cover, just as it was when Daphne showed it to us two days ago. My hands itched to open the book now, just reach forward, grab it, and find out more about the Shaman. Though that would make the Winx think something is wrong; the situation with the other book probably already set Tecna and Stella off.

"Well… Might as well give it a shot," Musa broke through the silence, hand hesitantly reaching out to the cover before flipping it open. Unusable information was on the first several pages, about the author and where the book came from—written by some scholar that went to the Dark World before dying; hardly encouraging for us. Then the table of contents came up.

"This book will take forever to read if we go through all of it," Stormy said, looking at the seventy or so chapters listed before glancing around the table. "Might as well skip to the summary and see if we need to go back afterwards."

Everyone agreed, and so, Musa began to read out the last chapter of the book: the summary…

"As shown throughout this book, the tale of The Witch of Oscurita is not just a tale, but a lesson. At the beginning of the creation of the Magic Universe, twenty-six years after the Great Dragon settled on Domino, there was a growing number of horrible creatures on all the celestial bodies. These creatures were ones of darkness, and spread chaos and trickery based on instinct and thoughtless needs…

Then one day, the first known fairy and witch, Arcadia and Notani, volunteered to find all these creatures and stop them from bringing disorder. Arcadia was a powerful Enchantix fairy, and Notani was a powerful witch outcast from society, and yet, they were willing to work together. Keeping in mind that this was at a time when witches were rare, and no one yet knew where their magic came from; they were seen as disgraceful to the Great Dragon, the bringer of positive magic and life.

As the two searched they found a growing rift at the farthest West corner of the Magic Universe, mirroring the position of Domino on the East side. This rift was described as a wound leaking out negative energy, spilling out without any rhyme or reason. Arcadia and Notani ventured into the rift to find a world of gray, clouded skies without hardly any life. This location came to be known as Oscurita, and soon it was revealed who led this world. Oscurita was created once feelings of greed and hate came into contact with sparks of the ten elements of magic, and warped them into a twisted form, many of these said forms being horrid entities of their own will.

Arcadia and Notani ran into an entity known as the Shaman Witch, and lost the fight, leading to them roaming Oscurita for two-hundred and eighty-seven years. Along the way, the two discovered the strength of the creatures there and their similarities to the creatures plaguing the Magic Dimension. Arcadia during a brutal fight had reached a hand out to Notani during a fight, and when both of them accepted their differences and were willing to work together, they gained the transformation of Ancientix: gained only once rifts are closed between individuals with the most polluted blood and the one known transformation that both fairies and witches can achieve.

Both of them after many battles come into contact with the Shaman Witch once more, and when Arcadia is close to being defeated the Shaman tells Notani her plan; seeking Notani to join her cause. When the Great Dragon created the Magical Universe, darker entities began appearing in order to achieve balance.

The energy of these entities gave birth to the class of witches, each witch being able to trace their magic back to a specific entity if the bloodline was direct. As more of these entities gathered they created a powerful rift that soon took a corporeal form: the Shaman Witch. The Shaman was of Oscurita itself and created the majority of the dark entities of the Magic Universe. She sought to corrupt the Magical Universe with the very essence of Oscurita and swallow the Magical Universe into the world of darkness. Notani refused to assist in this plan, and so, she and Arcadia defeated the Shaman Witch and closed the rift with a powerful Ancientix convergence spell.

There were no further rifts known at that time, and as far as the Magic Universe was known, the secret of Oscurita and the origin of witch magic was forgotten. If you are reading this, I am to assume that you know about the world of darkness. This book will be able to transport individuals to Oscurita, though only once and not more, the spell cast by Arcadia and Notani in case a rift would appear somewhere in the Magic Universe."

Musa, hands shaky, closed the book slowly and quietly. I was silent, and everyone else was as well, besides our quiet breaths. My nails dug into my palm, not hard enough to draw blood, but it kept me able to focus on one thing at a time.

Why hadn't I known that witch magic, my magic, came from something like Oscurita? No one I know has knowledge of something like that, and if Griffin does… or… did, she could've at least made her students aware that—wait. On the other hand, if we did know—or if any sensible witch knew—we probably would've tried to sacrifice everything to find the oldest source of our magic.

I repressed a shudder, knowing that if the Ancestors came from the Dark World, that means that the Shaman Witch is above them in strength. We really have no idea how bad this is…

"So the Shaman Witch wants to infect the worlds with one another? The Magic Dimension and Oscurita?" Bloom simplified, looking around the table to make sure she got the right impression.

"Sure sounds like it…" Darcy said, eyes still fixed on the book, as still as a statue.

"But… But this doesn't make any sense!" Stella exclaimed after a second of silence. "This book doesn't even mention how the Shaman Witch got here in the first place. We don't even know where the rift is!"

"Considering how old the book is I'm not surprised there's nothing about it," Stormy responded, picking at the wooden table. Stella thought for a moment before shrugging in agreement.

"Wait. Daphne mentioned that the Shaman destroyed the planet of Diamond a while ago. That might just be where the rift is," Tecna suggested before pausing, raising a finger up to her lips in thought. "But that doesn't explain why it's taken her this long to make a move."

My thoughts drifted back to Diamond, wondering if there was a pattern or something I was missing—

"Maybe the Shaman Witch is trying to… neutralize Oscurita and here," Iorda began. "If Oscurita is the opposite of the Magic Dimension the Shaman might not be able to stay here long without retreating."

Darcy looked up at Iorda's statement. "That makes sense… If she wants to make the entire world one of darkness she would have to do it slowly…" Her eyes widened as she met my gaze, and I knew we were thinking the same thing: that's why the Shaman Witch cursed Diamond, to bring it into her world of darkness.

"So that hag, one, is going between the worlds because she can't stay in this one for long," Stormy said, listing her statements off on her fingers. "Two, she wants to merge Oscurita and here into one bigger Oscurita. And three, we still have to find the rift she came out of in the first place."

"Not to mention we still have to find the remaining seven elements of the Dark World to close the rift," Bloom added. "And to do that we all have to gain Inseimix, since all of us together already represent the ten elements."

"It's going to be hard to do that. Even if we can get Inseimix by letting bygones be bygones, Stormy, Flora, and Darcy got Inseimix in the Dark World," Musa stated, gesturing to the three. "Going back there is our best bet, but it's dangerous."

"Not doing anything is dangerous. The Shaman already has Cloud Tower. Who's to say Alfea's not next?" I said, realizing that this was the first time I had spoken since the conversation started.

After Alfea gets destroyed, then it's Red Fountain, then maybe even Magix itself. Next would be Linfea, Zenothe… Everywhere. Going back into the Dark World is the only thing we can do. It's better than letting…everything fall into ruin. Something I've always wanted to happen now is another fear added to the ones already pressing down on me. I can't let that… that hag destroy everything.

"And has anyone else noticed how the Shaman Witch is… targeting us?" Iorda said, her knuckles turning white, hand gripping the edge of the table. "One after another?"

Her statement brought more silence to the table because Iorda was right. First, it was Stormy and Flora, then Darcy; Aria made it very clear that she was sent by the Shaman to get rid of her. The Shaman Witch knows that if she targets us alone she can use our worst fears against us without any interference. Use our past to tear us apart.

Panic shot through me, and all I wanted to do was to close my eyes and forget everything; the Shaman, the things she could use against me.

We have no idea who the Shaman Witch will target next, and we have no way of knowing.

Stormy

While spraying the succulent plant Flora gave me—probably on impulse since these things are literally her children—I could pretend to forget about the entire imminent death situation. Pretend is the key word there. I have a bit less to worry about than the others in terms of gaining Inseimix, but I can't help but worry about Icy. If the Shaman Witch is picking us off one by one like Iorda said then Icy will be hit hard. Mega hard.

On the way back to the dorm Icy, Darcy, and I were walking together. Icy only spoke once during the entire discussion, and even though she'd been quiet during any interaction with the Winx, we had been talking about the hag that destroyed her planet and destroyed her life. She was shaken, and even I was myself at the information that the Shaman Witch is the ruler of all other dark beings. Including… the Ancestors.

"Icy, you doing alright?" I asked, looking to my left and raising my brow in concern.

"It…" Icy started. "It's just that the… Shaman is way more powerful than we thought. That means she's probably even more powerful than the Ancestors, or even something like Valtor. She can just—just swallow parts of the Magic Universe into Oscurita, a she did with Cloud Tower. It… makes me wonder how hopeless this really is."

"At least we know how to get the ten elements," Darcy said before bringing her voice down to a whisper, leaning in closer to the two of us. "And maybe even where the rift is." She was talking about Diamond, but I guarantee that there's more than one rift somewhere, it just seems more practical.

For the Shaman, not us.

"Darcy's right, we just have to focus on the elements and gaining Inseimix. And am I the only one who forgot about the visions of the future we saw in the Dark World?" I step in front of them, looking between the two, and from their expressions, they definitely forgot about it. Sighing, I decided it was time for some reassurance to get these two out of there 'what will happen in the future that I can't control' nonsense. "You'll be with your sister again." I looked at Icy. "You'll be doing whatever you saw in your vision." I looked at Darcy.

"In Magix city, with us and the Winx; no one trying to kill each other," Darcy answered plainly.

"There, perfect. And I'll be at a dance at Alfea for whatever dragon-forsaken reason."

Darcy brought up that the vision could be a trick, but we agreed that it wouldn't make sense for Aria and the others to show us happy futures. Even if it is a trick these two overthinkers needed something to hope for, or else we'll all just give up along the line. Icy finished by saying that we can't do anything about the 'swallowing up the two worlds thing' unless all of us gain Inseimix, and we can't do that unless we go into Oscurita, so that's the only thing we can worry about.

When we just met each other, even, I would be the one to draw these two back into reality. Ome, even when we were plotting. There's no use worrying about the things I have no way of doing right now, which…also led to a large amount of procrastination while we were still learning at Cloud Tower.

Darcy nudged Icy, smiling at me conspiring. "The only thing Icy has to worry about is talking to Bloom about Diamond."

My mouth fell in shock. "How did you get her to agree to this?" It sure was a surprise that Icy—the cold-hearted and closed-off witch—was going to open up to Bloom, the preppy fairy. Though… it does make sense, considering both of them did have their entire planets obliterated.

Icy sighed, trying to bury her smile. "I only agreed to tell Bloom if Darcy talks to Iorda and tells her about Zenothe."

I looked at Darcy, smirking when she rolled her eyes. "So you have to tell her about your planet and talk to Iorda about how she's becoming a witch? Damn Icy, that's harsh." Looking up at Icy I see the surprise on her face, and when Darcy was wearing the same face I wondered why they would look so—

"You know?" Icy asked, eyes wide.

I paused. "About… what? About Iorda becoming a witch?"

"Yes!" Darcy whisper-yelled because even though the Winx had already left the hallway we were in, if we were too loud they would hear us.

"...And you two didn't?" I questioned warily.

"No, we've known since all of us were searching in the library, but how do you know?" Icy asked, peering around to the end of the hallway to make sure no one was coming around the corner.

"Because… it's kinda obvious," I started. "Iorda transformed into Shiftix, a literal witch transformation. After that, her energy was darker, not to mention her total lack of control over her attacks during the whole 'Star-Case thing." Surprisingly, I was the first to figure this out. "You two seriously just questioned this now?"

Darcy paused at that question, not wanting to hurt her pride, but eventually answering honestly. "Yes…" She sighed, and the three of us continued to walk to the dorm. "So yeah, I have to talk to Iorda about that and…talk to her about Zenothe."

Shaking my head, I realized that if the Shaman Witch wanted to target Icy first she would've done so already. Either that, or she's waiting to get strong enough so she could do… something really messed up.

I can't believe the three of us left our life of crime for only three months and then we got thrown into the role of being heroes without even a warning. We have to do all of this and we don't even know what the Shaman's next move will be. Sighing, I place the spray bottle of water next to the dewdrop-covered succulent. Well, we just have to focus on what we can do. Go back to Oscurita, get Inseimix, close the rift, annihilate the hag, and then we're done. Then I can go back to whatever life I want. One that definitely does not involve me going to a dance at Alfea.

The door to the room opened, and Flora walked in holding a cup of some herbal-smelling concoction. She looked way better than she was when we were transported back here from the Dark World, but she clearly needed sleep.

"She lives," I smirked, Flora waving small in greeting with a smile.

"Thankfully." Flora walked over to the chair in front of a desk, the one near her bed, before sitting down. "You know, with Inseimix I thought it would be less draining to work with nature. My spells are more powerful, but…"

"It still drains you?" I finish, plopping down on my bed—the comfiest thing—before running my fingers through my hair to detangle it.

Flora nodded before she took a small sip of her drink. "It does. Spells where I have to create and control the plants; it takes a lot of energy." She placed the cup on her bedside table and began adjusting the covers on her bed. "But now, all of us can get some well-needed rest."

Since I hardly had the normal magic known to Linfea I couldn't relate much to Flora's struggle, but I learned enough from my years on Linfea to know that spells where you have to actively create vines, flowers, or plants instead of just firing a beam are draining to the person casting them. It would be the same for me if I created a tornado and tried to make it stay still, whereas I usually just create one and let it run wild without control.

For the second time the door opened, and Iorda walked in with a book in her hand, closing the door behind her.

"Please don't tell me that's another depressing tomb for us to read," I said. The last thing I want to do is have more detailed information about how done for we are before I go to bed. I haven't had nightmares in years, but if we read another damn tome I might just start again.

Iorda chuckled shortly. "No, don't worry. It's just a book I lent Musa years ago about Earth mythology." She walked over to her bed and sat down, placing the book next to her. "The last time I read about mythology was when I was on Earth, so I need to brush up on it."

"Iorda, what you need is sleep," Flora said softly, smiling as she adjusted the plant on her bedside table. "Reading late isn't going to help."

"I know, but I still need to—

"Just because you're the only one who knows about this stuff doesn't mean you have to exhaust yourself," I said, going under the bedcovers—seriously, when I leave Alfea I'm going to steal this bed and the blankets with it—and a feeling of tiredness slowly falling over me. "If you need to, read some, but for the love of the dragon listen to Flora and get some sleep."

"Fine, two against one, I won't stay up late," Iorda relented, going under her blankets and opening a page in the book that was bookmarked. "I'll just read a bit then get to sleep."

Flora nodded and smiled, the very clear mom-friend of the group satisfied that Iorda was going to get sleep. With a tired wave of her hand, Flora turned off all of the lights in the room and placed her head on the pillow, eyes closing. "Goodnight everyone…" She yawned.

"Night," I mumble, mushing my face into the pillow as my eyes begin to flicker close. Finally, there would be a break from danger, one where I could get rest.

Icy

Before all of us started to get ready for bed Darcy got a telepathic message from Aroma, her pixie. Aroma explained that they'll all be back at Alfea tomorrow morning and that all of today they'd been discussing strategies in case the Shaman Witch would attack the village. They aren't going to get involved—thankfully because it's only a danger to them—but they'll still have a plan in case things get worse.

The idea of Bivlee getting hurt was not one I could stand, but if the pixies keep standing off to the sidelines they might just escape this unscathed and without any harm to themselves, or their village. She… is extremely sweet though, Bivlee that is. She reminds me of Sapphire, and even though being with the pixie sometimes brings back feelings of guilt and hopelessness, it does make the old wound heal a little bit. Seeing my sister in Bivlee's eyes makes me remember what I'm working towards; my goal of saving Diamond, and keeping Darcy and Stormy out of harm's way, was the thing keeping me going during all this.

I was making my bed, still a mess from this morning. Even if I was going to sleep soon, I would not be able to fall asleep with the bed being an absolute hot mess. Though this was just a distraction. I hadn't forgotten that I needed to tell Bloom about Diamond, which is going to be horrible. If Darcy couldn't read people that well I would say I'd done it, but since she can, I'll have to tell Bloom otherwise she won't talk to Iorda.

Taking out the hair-tie I realize that Bloom, sympathetic as she is, won't pry. I can just tell her what happened at Diamond—it might be nice to tell someone, but that's a stretch—and she'll forget about it and won't bring it up with anyone. Just to make sure I'll have to make her promise not to tell any of the Winx. I have to get it over with and then I can stop bringing people into my life and my problems.

The door opened and Bloom walked in, stifling a yawn before she walked in. "Hey, Icy," She greeted, smiling as she walked over to her bed.

"Hey." I let my hair fall and placed my hair tie on my bedside table. My hand twitched to the drawer carved into it, wanting to check on the crystal flower to make sure it was still there, but if I brought it out now Bloom would start asking questions. Sighing, I turned around to face Bloom and sat down on my bed. "Bloom, I need to tell you something, but you need to promise not to tell anyone else."

Bloom's eyes widened as she quietly pulled the chair away from the desk, and sat down. "Sure…" She looked very confused. "What's so important that you have to tell me?"

"I'm telling you as part of an agreement, more so a bet, between Darcy and I. Nothing more," I clarified, breathing in deeply and dreading every moment of this. "Remember when… we all went to Diamond a while ago? To get the last Prime Star and there was this fox?"

"Yes," Bloom answered, nodding calmly with her hands neatly placed on her lap. "Does the fox have something to do with you?"

"Yes, it does." That fox is what I'm working to save; what's keeping me going. Regretting ever making this agreement with Darcy, I make a reminder to jinx her in some way or form if she doesn't hold her end of the bargain. "In short, Bloom, that fox was my sister. When we were naive children with no pride a witch came to Diamond and froze it in ice; cursing my sister with it. That witch is the same one we're facing now, and the only reason she regrettably left me alive back then is because I told her where the King and Queen of Diamond—my parents—were."

"That's…" Bloom breathes in before answering. "That's horrible, Icy; what happened."

"It's not, and if anything…" I smirk at Bloom before getting into my bed. "I deserved it. Now if you would be so kind as to forget any part of this conversation ever happened then I can go to sleep in peace knowing my part of the bet is handled."

Biting her lip, Bloom paused. "I won't mention this to anybody, or bring it up. But… you didn't deserve anything that happened to you, none of it—"

"Are you a therapist?" I questioned. The banterful energy that is normally between Bloom and me was arising, and I planned to take every advantage of it to end this topic of discussion.

Bloom raised an eyebrow. "No?"

"Then stop talking," I said, smirking as I put my head on the pillow and turned towards the wall. Barely I could hear a tiny laugh from Bloom and her lying down as well. There was pride in me knowing I told her about this, and relief that she dropped it quicker than I expected her to.

"Good night, Icy," Bloom said with a playful tone, one that reminded me of the teasing we did when we were throwing spells back and forth before all of this. I could practically see her half-smile even though when I waved my hand and turned off the lights, all I could see was darkness.

"Night, pixie."

Darcy If Stella hadn't collapsed on her bed the moment she walked into the room I wouldn't be this worried about interacting with Musa. But Stella was asleep under her covers, leaving me to make decent conversation with the fairy that, besides Aisha, despises me the most from what I can tell. I was folding the clothes I wore that day, dreading talking to Musa—who was talking to Iorda in the main dorm room—and thinking back to the bet I had with Icy. More like an agreement, but if I call it a bet I'll have more motivation to fulfill what I promised: to talk to Iorda about her becoming a witch, and to tell her about Zenothe. The door opened and Musa quietly walked in. I didn't turn around. Any other fairy I could at least try to talk to, albeit awkwardly, but Musa is the closest to Iorda. Flora too, but since I don't share a dorm with her she's not a problem. At the beginning of everything, all the battles and hurt, Musa was there for everything that happened to Iorda; all the things I've put that girl through. She most definitely resents me for that, and I don't blame her. I'd be more worried if she didn't… "Alright," Musa started suddenly. I turned around, and she did so as well; both of us eye to eye. "This—" She gestured to the space between us. "Is not working." I leaned back and rested my hands on the desk behind me, barely resisting the urge to roll my eyes. "'This?'" Musa paused, pursing her lips. "The awkwardness." She sighed. "I know I've been… horrible at trying to interact with you, Icy, and Stormy. But… we all have to get Inseimix, myself included. The last thing I want is for this to become a therapy session between us, so, let's agree to leave all this drama behind until after… If all this is over." I nodded plainly. As far as I know, I haven't started any drama, but I haven't addressed the awkwardness either. Musa though… She is clearly worried about everything, and even if I can't relate to her in any way whatsoever, I can empathize with her concern. "That sounds like a good plan, Musa." Looking into the fairy's eyes I know how much of a step this is for her. From what I did to Riven all those years ago to how I've hurt her closest friend, I wouldn't dislike her for not talking to me at all. The only reason she's doing this is because of the way to gain Inseimix, and I suspect it had something to do with Iorda as well. She's the person in all of this that's keeping us from tearing apart each other's throats. And the person that's tearing herself apart.

A/N: LORE. Have a good day, hydrate, and remember, you deserve everything!