At the end of the triage test, only thirty per cent of dummies could be saved by Virion, the rest of Iolas's team, Fane, Itzcali and Riven – And of course the students…
Yet it didn't feel like their victory. Before failure already had been nagging at them. But those other tests had been 'stupid tests'. Doable if known for sure or with a bit more training.
The triage test on the other hand had been a total disaster. If Blade had fallen any earlier it would have been over. Not to mention that it was Virion, Iolas and Ararel who looked spent. They had given it their all as if this had been for real.
A hundred twenty dummies there had been in total, forty they had saved in that Armageddon the students had created for themselves. And the students? Around ten dummies had died before they had found them and got to them at the start. Fifty had bled straight out, wrong priorities, anemone, the boulders, the fight had truly devasted the grounds - all kinds of things. And twenty dummies had left the triage point due to the fact the kids weren't too persuasive.
The blue spores had infected half the camp, the Stream Crickets all, and the enemy attack had hit a few students not to mention a lot of dummies in the explosion radius. Bottom line forty dummies had survived. And that was besides the fact that all students were allowed to help once Iolas's team intervened. All students hit by the goop were informed they were theoretically dead, but still, they allowed them to help out at the end. The trainers wanted to get a bit more of an assessment. Luckily for the kids, neither the spores nor the Crickets were sources that killed fast. It simply was the wildlife's way to gather food and reproduce. Long term of course that would have killed anyone. So, the bottom line, the only 'achievement' was that they had protected the camp from an anemone by sacrificing nearly half the people in their care.
The kids were fuming, especially the Sorceresses nothing made any sense. NOTHING was up their wheelhouse. They neither saw the point to all this nor were they up for any more bullshit. The only thing that kept them going was the fact it was free education by powerful people, the possible rebuke of Griffin and the lack of words of encouragement by their friends, a bit out of spite so to say, to prove them wrong.
The Specialists had been bickering a lot with each other about the wrong priorities, which team had screwed up more. Also, they got into fights with the Sorceresses who they also, mostly, had identified as pure hinderance. They couldn't understand their attitude, insubordination and lack of communication above all.
The Fairies… They, they had to chew on the fact that despite what the news normally reported, the greatness of Fairies and their unrivalled deeds, they indeed had been as useless as the Sorceresses. They were greeted by the dummies differently, but they couldn't help them either. This was basic medical stuff, things they had expected at some point in the duty for their kingdoms they would need to do. The Fairies knew how to break curses, had more magic than the Sorceresses, better bedside manner…but bottom line, that had made little to no difference. Because all but Tasu had no actual healing spells or in Blade's case first aid experience. They could cook a thousand potions but never had the time or ingredients to do so.
They all excelled in fighting in their age group but it was more than clear that, that fact wasn't always the solution.
On the ranks, there was still a lot of snickering, way more hidden after Fane had made it more than clear that no one was to spit on her new subordinates. Yet also a lot more whispers and eyes had fallen on Blade.
Blade hadn't truly noticed yet too busy with everything. In the triage test, she had activated Shadion openly. It had been just for a few seconds, still, it had drawn attention… All specialists who had worked within the task force were not surprised at all. They hadn't even batted an eye, just like anyone else from the teachers and trainers or fellow classmates. Yet all those Specialists who hadn't been part of the task force, which was the great majority, were…confused. It was no big secret that Blade was also a student in Cloud Tower. But her Shadion, being a Dark Fairy, was.
Blade was a commoner and it had been nearly a full school year of her visiting courses in Cloud Tower. Yet the Headmasters and backers had gone to great lengths to keep the real reason quiet. At the Desertia hearing it had first come to light, but only in close circles. The Lucia persona had been created for outdoor training and Griffin had kept her students in check so they hadn't spilt the beans. Blade's first screw-up had been in the Halucinga accident. A Dark Fairy at dawn attacking teachers wasn't the best publicity, but she had been high, and in the company of a Sorceress at the time and it all had been able to be explained away for the most part – most had thought it a curse. That she got tricked by one of her Cloud Tower classmates. Just a glamour or some fiddling around in their 'drunken' state – nothing more than an illusion. Most bought it or the families in question needed just a bit of a hoodwink …easy enough of a Court play for Faragonda.
The true hick-up had been with Aurum in their detention. Dublare was equal if not worse than Solaria with gossip. Faragonda had had her work cut out to reinsure the King and Queen and the family had stayed quiet so far.
The task force had been the next big thing. Blade had earned the respect of the Sorceresses so they had stayed quiet further.
Yet the Lucia reveal in the Council's annual meeting had been a smart move, but wasn't something one could take back. Blade had gone into her Winx form that wasn't the problem. Anyone with only a basic understanding of magic simply took her statement at her word. However, anyone with magical training knew there was no way that there was not one person within the Hunter Division able to copy the simple Dark magic of a Fairy who sometimes studies at the Cloud Tower. Any Order Witch with enough talent and time, even a Wizard, would be able to copy the presence of a third-rate Fairy using a bit of Dark magic on the side.
"Not good…" Faragonda looked worried at the students meditating or walking about in the arena ground.
"What do you mean?" Itzcali snorted as she brushed a bit through her beige mane. "The bickering within the class or the confused kids on the ranks." She wrinkled her nose nothing escaped her eyes.
"Well, she did use Shadion even if just for a second. We told her it's fine now within the schools and on missions. However, I didn't expect it this early." Palladium paused as his eyes wandered from the ranks to the students, "You're right though, Apex Predator Itzcali. They're splitting… and not just by profession." Palladium sighed as he massaged his neck.
"Of course, I am," Itzcali sounded a bit offended or maybe she just pretended to be.
"There is no reason to apologise," Avalon informed his friend who was about to apologise.
The Wereaaradwolf snorted when caught, "Aaaah, White Jade always takes the fun out of it."
"I only state the truth," Avalon nudged Palladium in the side and adjusted his suit's sleeves as he puffed, "On the other hand though, that's one aura cloud of devastation."
"I knew, we built to fail, but…" Saladin watched his boys with a worried gaze. The Specialists on the wall would have to guess a bit longer, before understanding what Blade had used but that was fine.
"I should have drilled them better, so many unnecessary mistakes," Codatorta grumbled as he tensely cracked his finger joints. He had expected Team A and E to do much better.
Griffin simply stared like a harpy at her girls, 'Useless, they were utterly useless…'
Faragonda noticed her old friend's gaze and laid a hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry, team spirit can easily be learned."
"Ts, they already should have that. Two months of running around and they still behave like brats," The Headmistress hissed back.
Master Aithlin just came back with the other Orders from comparing notes, "Headmistress Griffin, you taught them to be solo operators for years. Two months do not erase that. What did you expect would happen?" He sounded a bit scolding he wouldn't sugarcoat it. Not to mention that the students' behaviour only just started to change. His Council Guard had more than a few run-ins during a week with Cloud Tower students, to say the least. Even those who had been on the task force.
"Old habits die hard," Sanari Cei simply stated.
"Ahh, you sound like being a solo operative is a bad thing. It's not that's why Sorceresses are such good Head Hunters. They are autonomous. Unlike the blue stag beetles and butterflies, which get squashed easily when alone," Itzcali poked the other Headmasters and earned a glare.
"Hey…" Riven complained.
Nabu chuckled as he pushed his long braid over his shoulder, "I don't think she means you. LONE wolf." He teased his old teammate. "The only problem I see is that they don't know how to switch between the two."
"Well, well, now that was underwhelming. Nerrocean you owe me, pay up," Votzaak sauntered over with his second in command. Suddenly his gaze darted to the shadows of the ranks, where more students had come out to watch the spectacle and eagerly awaited that the next test would start to get a glance.
Nerrocean followed his Grandmaster's eyes but there was nothing next to that statue he was pinpointing. He frowned as he summoned some candy bag from a festival and begrudgingly handed it over.
Fane straight walked up to Saladin, "Headmaster." She just had come back from the lower levels.
"Yes?" Saladin turned towards Fane as he leaned on his staff as always.
"I want that third year's file, the one with the short haircut and the rapier," she cleaned her hands off the sand from dragging that annoying noble to the infirmary, who had insulted her new subordinates since that noble indeed had collapsed from all that running. He had pushed too hard. The Vampire simply had picked him up, flown over to the windows a couple of levels below and had chucked him into the arms of the infirmary staff.
"Hmmm," Nerrocean tilted his head, "I'm not so sure if he is a fit. He tried hard to impress, but if that's the best he can do…"
Votzaak smirked as he took a look at the candy bag and straight away stuffed one drop into his mouth, "Well, leagues better than our new sad bunch. Pretty sure though he has no clue what it means to be a Division Hunter."
Saladin smiled, "Well, that's up to you to teach him. Since we are obviously not good at our jobs. I'll make sure to send him your way." He sounded a bit salty but proud at the same time a weird combination.
Grandmaster Parcival shook his head, "We're not saying you aren't good at your job of educating the young." Yet Griffin didn't believe him, it was clear from her aura colour.
"You should see the sorry excuses of 'smiths' coming to Hoggar. Ridiculous," Hagen complained. "You can smack talk all you want," He glared at the Division Hunters. "Without us, you'd be stuck with incompetence of the highest grade." As always, he got very passionate when it was about his craftsmanship.
Karim nodded to Gwaine satisfied. They had analysed the students in the aftermath of this test together with Shanna for a few minutes by now. Gwaine and they were taking some notes on their tablets before they turned around to join the rest. Karim with a gentle smile added, "Now, now, everyone has to start somewhere and it's most often the bottom." Still, he looked worried.
Gwaine shared that incentive, and was about to say something, but stopped. He noticed, just like the other adults, that Blade was approaching and continued differently, "They are too used to succeed. This is -"
"Not true," Avalon countered directly, he was so confused, it was unlike Gwaine to say such things his aura didn't even fit his statement, yet he went along with it - Gwaine never did something without purpose after all.
"Yes, they are."
Avalon noticed his friend's eyeing glance. Gwaine was focused on Blade's aura for sure. "I am not wrong. You are." Avalon let the scenario play out. 'Poking the bear, are we?'
"Curate Avalon," a deep sigh from his Grandmaster, "Professor, even if dire fates have hit them. AND it's nothing LAUGHABLE. Currently-" It was definitely in earshot.
"- we got used to success?" Blade finished the sentence angrily from behind the grown-ups. "ONES we weren't UTTERLY devastated. And now SUDDENLY we are TOO USED to SUCCESS!?" She clenched her fits that had hit a nerve even the tiniest Dark magic sparks rose from her fists. 'Why is she so silent!? Godmother Fairy my ass-' Her glaring gaze wandered from Faragonda to her Professors and Votzaak with his piercing stare; he was analysing her. 'Are you kidding me!? Another stupid test, urrgh. Fine, I can play too…' Highly agitated and pissed Blade summoned the probably most unstable Dark magic sword for a long time on purpose. "Wanna say that to my face!? Come on, tell me, what faults did JEWELS HAVE, HUH? Come on, spit it OUT! LET'S HAVE AT IT, SHALL WE!?" She bared her teeth flurried the sword and raised the tip to the Grandmaster's face, but he didn't even flinch. He didn't even take the threat seriously unlike Palladium and a few others that weren't quite so calm about this escalation.
"Blade, that's ENOUGH! Desi-!" Besides all the briefings they had made. Palladium's true self broke through. Yet the firm hand from Avalon on his shoulder and his shaking his head stopped him. Irritated he looked back to Blade.
Blade still held her sword up the crackling magic like a hiss rang in her ear before she dispersed her sword, "Tch. Write that down in your stupid notes. YOU DON'T MAKE FUN OF DEAD PEOPLE! Not even for a stupid test. You asshole. Quote that, please, I INSIST." She snarled at the White Jade Grandmaster. There was no point in pretending now that he had seen through her. 'Did he from the start?' It was so vexing.
"I will," Parcival nodded. He didn't mean it callous at all, he was rather caring. And did as requested and showed his note to Blade for her to check.
And there it stood in black and white her quote, but also: Smart. Sees through charades quickly. Yet responds aggravated nonetheless. Already quick to reign herself in. High self-control. Yet magic even unstable on its own, besides on purpose loss of control. More support and comfort still are needed. Team leaders should be advised to keep an eye out for HER and the mission's sake. Personal Note: Talk to Shanna.
Blade stared at it and a bit longer… and longer.
"Blade?" Mercury panted a bit as he reached her. The others were too spent or hadn't even noticed that little skirmish. Everyone was so fixated on themselves. "What's wrong? Why would you raise your sword at-"
A fierce side glare from Blade, "NOTHING."
Mercury didn't believe her for a second. "Right…" But that rage flickering in her eyes stopped him from asking any further – for now. "Why approach them? Are you not feeling well?" He refocused on the reason he had walked up to them.
"No. I'm not feeling well," Blade was still aggrieved and simply moved on to Iolas and the other Elves sitting in a circle meditating further behind all the trainers and leaving the rest of the adults standing in the rain without any further explanation including Mercury.
"What happened?" Mercury frowned at Parcival. He tensed up.
'Ouch. Now that's some change. His perception is easily influenced by Blade. She triggers him to protect or confront. And he isn't even aware of it,' Fane stated in the psi link. She couldn't aura read, but as an empath that was all too obvious. Yet the boy still stood there waiting for answers. So shortly Fane answered, "A test. She failed." Not everyone agreed to that, so much was apparent. But all were more interested in the fact of what the Fairy was up to since she hadn't stampeded off yet.
"Iolas?" Blade addressed the Elf sitting there with his team all in the golden Council armour.
"Yes?" Iolas opened his eyes slowly and waited patiently.
Blade bit her lip. She was so annoyed by being judged every second of this day for EVERYTHING. A thousand eyes laid upon her right now. So, she focused on Zhoron. 'Can you link me in?'
'…Sure,' Zhoron raised an eyebrow. Most of the team was looking at her by now.
'Who of you has regained the most magic?' Blade asked she was unruly and still upset.
Mercury didn't understand the world anymore, "What is she doing?"
'That be us mages. Why?' Iolas asked intrigued and rose to properly talk with her.
'Any test you three need to supervise or do you have a break for the time being?' Blade asked really short questions. And in a way one could best categorise as a failed attempt of apathy.
'…' Iolas looked at her a bit questionable. 'Cat and mouse won't get you anywhere, Blade. Especially if you ask so obviously for information. I will not reveal any-'
Blade breathed out relieved, 'Great. Well then, since you have time… please, show me that meditation technique you are doing, I won't last the day. And I can't keep holding back and regulate all the tests through. You are doing one of those combat meditations, are you not? Is it the one where you share magic with your team and redistribute? Or a single-person one? Avalon said those are advanced techniques in battle class we'll eventually learn along the line. I need that skill now if… if the missions get this hard… otherwise…' She sounded a bit bitter and was tense.
Iolas simply nodded, 'Sure thing. Come with me.' He laid a hand on her shoulder and Blade could feel some magic circle forming, it was tiny. And then he firmly guided her along.
"Hello? Blade? Are you fine? Do you need to sit down? Come on, say something…" Mercury was no fool he could read her body language with no problem, but she wasn't saying anything.
Blade wanted to answer Mercury this was amazing news! If they could simply meditate with them – but her voice wouldn't come out. Irritated she looked at Iolas.
'Let him and the others figure that out by themselves. There is no cheating in tests,' He commented in the psi link while his helmet on the ground vanished into thin air.
"Hey…" Mercury was utterly clueless. "Blade? Iolas…" But they seemed to ignore him. He turned around to Ararel. "What's going on?"
"…" Silence.
Mercury decided to follow the two.
"No," Ararel warned him, "Not you."
Mercury stopped and bashed his blue cloak away as he flung around, "What!? But – come on, she is my squad member! You can't just- If something is wrong with her I have a right to know. I am her vice leader. Is she ill? Did she get hurt?" But Virion was still sitting there and went back to meditation.
"Indeed, you are. She is low on magic," Ararel updated him before he closed his eyes again to meditate.
"She's always low, she has next to no magic for a Fairy. What are you getting at? She should meditate and not run about." Mercury frowned, "Why would Iolas in the middle of a test day… leave and…"
"If there is no other question," Ararel hid his astonishment. 'Those kids… even after such a test they still don't get it, not at all.'
"Wait she is low on magic and…" Mercury stared at the meditating Elves who one by one closed their eyes. "W-" His voice faded out as a shadow towered behind him.
Aithlin with a kind voice addressed him quietly. "Training hall nineteen. The rest have to figure it out themselves now off with you. Iolas is waiting inside the hallway." He gave the boy a little shove in the right direction. 'To think it took them so long to figure this out. Why would Blade request to hide the conversation though? She said nothing wrong.' He looked to the teachers. Zhoron simply had added Blade to their general psi-link, they had heard everything but simply had stayed quiet.
'Well, how would you feel to be under a scrutinizing watch for twenty-four hours, Master Aithlin?' Palladium stated with such certainty and no one opposed this of course.
Yet the one to break the pondering was no other than Fane, herself, 'Ha! Knew it.' The Vampire giggled her ass off as she saw Mercury run off into the hallway leaving the arena grounds, 'Blade does have a friend with benefits, she's just not the one to-' SMACK. Her face hit the sand. She puffed hard trying to get the sand out of her mouth. The others felt her pain, which had been one dominating head slap.
Nerrocean balled his fist, 'Will you FOR ONCE temper yourself, FANE? I swear I will do a week's worth of underwater fight training if you keep this up. ONE O' ONE.' He threatened his Marksman.
Nabu gulped deeply and a shiver went down his spine even if he wasn't the one being addressed and had received training from wizards of waves himself.
No one could have guessed that a Vampire could go any paler. Their skin was already pure white after all.
Votzaak watched his second-in-command do his work and chilled as he snacked his candy. 'Splendid work. Think that was the best one of the month, yet.' He applauded Nerrocean for his ehad slap.
Shanna looked unimpressed at all three, 'Are you always so… hands-on with her?'
'Try to make her respond to anything else…' Nerrocean grimaced and complained. He summoned and chucked Fane a large bag of caramelised jerk strips surely over a kilo. 'Have you seriously already chewed through yours? I just gave you two bags yesterday. Unbelievable.' He caressed over his head fin in disbelief.
'SO? I didn't see you doing missions all night. There are shit tones of Red Crystals and you know that! Have you not read my reports?! For whom am I writing that shit.' Fane countered offended and shoved the jerk strips down her throat one by one as she kept talking in the psi link. 'While you two slept in your holy feathers someone has to do the work after all. Fifty trolls, those stupid pigeons, not to mention the onslaught of thugs who think they are the kings of the magic realms using that crap all night long. Fear me… wooooooh, I am powerful. My ass they are; fucking pussies run all the time. Fucking Sissis. Stupid punks, useless waist of…' She devoured the bag in less than thirty seconds as she colourfully continued her name-calling in psi. Those fangs ripped through the jerk no problem.
Grandmaster Votzaak had patiently waited. '…' Shook his head and raised his brows, stepped forward as she was about to jump to her feet. Fane froze in her movement.
'Hey, you two just loooove to waste magic teleporting to only the Dragon knows where to. I can't leave the work just to the troops, I won't leave them on the battlefield alone. I am their superior, it's my job to get them home SAFE.' She was tired alright and hid it with her empath abilities, yet again. Even White Jade had not picked up on the severity.
'I TOLD YOU to keep track of your resting hours. Kids…ahhh…' Votzaak snapped against her forehead. 'Time for a nap.'
'What?! No-' A loud snore in everyone's ears as the magic circle formed on Fane's forehead.
Parcival shook his head, 'You shouldn't work her to the bones like that. No wonder she's so unruly all the time. Vampires do NEED sleep or enough food to compensate.' He was a bit amazed that was the first time her aura had shown clear signs of exhaustion and only because Votzaak had made her slip up.
'There will never be enough food. Fane is a bottomless pit and she is too compassionate. You should see the Order's supply bill.' Nabu sighed as he ever so kindly conjured a pillow and gently laid her head on it.
Karim was surprised, 'Never enough? How much does she compensate with food?'
'Enough to have a Fane food expenses slot for the yearly report,' Master Aithlin sighed. He was aware of that 'happenstance' still Fane's ability to overgo her exhaustion was astonishing. He hadn't noticed her to be particularly tired.
Virion wouldn't believe that, 'You're joking? Right? I get that she wants to do as much work as you, but-' he looked at Votzaak and Nerrocean. That had rattled him from his meditation.
'Well, you are welcome to try and teach her restrained. You won't get very far. You've met Vampires, Eques. They are stubborn and prideful. I simply stuff her into a cell for a week or two if it gets out of hand.' Votzaak answered calmly. For him, this was more or less normal.
Faragonda stared at him, 'This is not out of hands, is it? This is her standard…' She pushed her glasses back and scolding looked at the two Division Hunters.
The merman wasn't taken aback whatsoever, oblivious one might say. 'Oh no, there is way worse…' Nerrocean scratched his head. 'We do hope though that as an instructor at your schools she hopefully benefits from a tighter sleeping schedule. That's simply a luxury we can't always provide in the Hunter Division and she unlike others can skip sleep, IF she eats enough.'
'…' Virion was already up on his feet and settled next to her and waved his magic around, 'You just called her a bottomless pit…' He indeed was not happy about the readings he got back. 'How easily do your Order members are able to reach her? Or is there a room where-'
'Really? ' Votzaak looked at him deadpanned, "Black magic doesn't wait for nap times. If some subordinate asks for help you go. Our Order members ask only when…'
"Well then," Iolas opened the door to training hall nineteen. His long hair bounced as he stepped in. He was happy that Mercury and Blade had figured out that they could ask for help. AND SHOULD.
The room was a normal training room. The walls were covered with some red vinyl-lined forcefield buffers able to harden or soften depending on the impact and sensor read. The vinyl gave the room a matt finish.
Yet to Mercury's surprise, the room was not set up for combat training but the drain stream was activated as they stepped in, which they had never used in their Specialist's classes so far. The Drain was used to absorb an overflow of magic and conveniently it was sent to the engine room of Red Fountain. The big magic circle though was something he had not seen before. It shimmered dimly since they had entered. "What's that?"
"No way… you had prepared this all along? Wow," Blade of course went straight to inspect the rune script. "That's…a high-grade rune circle?" She looked up to Iolas. This cheered her up so much. She had hoped for at least some pointers but this was a full-on spell drawn by the Elves most certainly.
"Well, high-grade in security measures and helpful extra stuff to make it work better with beginners," Iolas explained as he went to a smaller circle with a few different runes around it than the others and sat down cross-legged.
Mercury was no wizard but there were a lot of more mini circles connected through the big one for people to sit inside than just the two of them, "But if you have it prepared for everyone… then why not simply invite us? Everyone is pretty pissed at, well, kinda all of you, you know, this would totally lift their mood." Mercury tried to make his point as he settled down himself.
Iolas chuckled, "Really, is that so? Haven't noticed." He surely had like all the adults. "Besides your hostilities towards us we are not your enemies. And we do reward performances if they prompt it. But you should already have figured that out, by now." He looked to Blade who still was trying to place the runes.
Blade caught his gaze, "Sorry, I just- Professor Avalon… never mind," Blade quickly rested in another free circle, this wasn't the time.
Now that they were making a perfect triangle connected through the rune lines Iolas started to explain, mainly to Mercury, "Alright, this is a battle meditation group circle, there are all kinds. This one is especially good for beginners. The basics are that everyone within a group meditates but instead of keeping the magic inside oneself, it is projected outwards into the middle where it is held. That way Paladins who often have a smaller magic pool can help full-magicians to replenish more. Or a mage, or backup, can help replenish a squad that's already been in the field. Once there is magic gathered in the middle and a group decides to end the meditation the amassed magic can be redistributed at will to the members that took part."
"But sitting makes one vulnerable to attacks. Why is it a battle meditation?" Mercury tightened his half ponytail. This would need his full attention.
"Well, you should use it under guard or in safe locations. Still, it is a valid option even in hostile areas. And like with all battle meditations if you need to use it. Something went wrong," Iolas breathed in deeply. "Now then, we'll go first Mercury, Blade will join once you are settled. That should make it easier for you to get familiar with how the rune circle works." He waited if Mercury had any more questions, 'People, I'm drop out need to concentrate here. We'll see you outside when they are finished and punctual for the next test.'
'Alright,' Aithlin agreed shortly before Iolas dropped out of the psi link.
'This is so awesome…' Blade already used her bracelet to make a scan and save the outlines. This could be handy today even if they weren't allowed to tell the others to ask the grownups. 'We just might be able to create the circle on our own.'
Mercury closed his eyes as the magic runes lit up. Very slowly a tiny thread built up and was drawn to the middle of the circle. "Uurrgh," It was so irritating and threw him out of the meditation.
"Concentrate, I know it feels weird the first time around, but don't let yourself be distracted by anything. Watch your breathing don't let it get erratic. You are safe here and you should focus only on this, nothing else clear your mind." Iolas started his meditation as well so the stream in the middle would stabilise a bit quicker. And indeed, it helped Mercury's thread thicken.
It took Mercury a good ten minutes to get completely settled. Iolas looked to Blade she had quietly waited, yet also searched the bracelet for all these rune combinations. "Blade, your turn to add your regeneration to the pool."
Blade nodded finished her notes and closed the folder. "Right." She breathed in found a comfy position reached out with her magic to activate her mini circle and closed her eyes. Indeed, it was an interesting feeling to regenerate more magic yet lose it at the same time. That magic pool in front of her, she could feel the three magic streams. Feel Mercury, Iolas, herself, it was unlike any meditation she had done before. She felt her breathing rhythm joined theirs. Eventually, she felt the magic swirl becoming one with everyone, she dived into that feeling, it was amazing as if she was drifting in a vast ocean, yet peaceful, the waves settled down until it became an even surface like some kind of mirror and the amassing magic appeared before her. She reached out to touch it to complete her connection. This felt so easy, so natural.
Iolas surprised or rather alarmed felt a Dark magic flare up from Blade. 'What is she doing!? It won't mix it will explode in our faces-' He hurriedly opened his eyes on the verge of jumping up, Blade was in her Shadion form, her wings spread wide. A shock to his system as his regeneration rate got cut down drastically for no good reason. His mouth opened, but not one word crossed his lips, his body didn't move an inch instead he tipped to the side. Unconscious.
Mercury heard a thud, 'What was that?' About to open his eyes to check. 'No, no, Mercury, keep calm. Meditation… meditate. Concentrate. They won't catch me screwing around. Iolas just told me not to get distracted by anything. Ahh, everything's a test here. Not with me buddy. I'm just getting the hang of this. This is getting easier by the second. Ha! Awesome, I'll show you…Nothing will distract me. NOTHING.' He breathed in deeply and only concentrated on meditating.
"Hey, Cletus," Cody called out to his fellow mechanic. As always around midday they were stuck checking updates cleaning engines and repairing whatever needed repairing.
Cletus nearly was finished checking the new vents for the gravity engines, "Yes?"
"What the hell are those maniacs doing in training hall nineteen, boss?" Cody saw no rhyme or reason to these readings.
Cletus massaged his neck, "It's that special training stuff. Joined track. Don't bother with it. Damn those fan flaps they're just not…"
Cody grimaced, "So what? Those Order members can be as good as they are. But they set the drain at student settings."
"I know… Now, how do I, maybe the switches are…" Cletus breathed out annoyed.
"Would you listen!" Cody growled. "I know that, but then why is the drain CONSTANTLY at max drainage? They said only one adviser would join the meditation. We doubled it just in case they screw up and generate too much since we have some boys, Witches and Fairies in the mix." He checked more in-depth and called up the diagram. "Half an hour?!"
"Half an hour? Are you telling me they-" Cletus jumped from his chair. "You're just reading it wrong."
Cody showed the time magic drain diagram to him. "I am not…"
"The heck!? Idiots, are they pranking us? …I heard the Hunter Division always pulls some kinda shit." He sighed deeply. Thought for a second then tapped on the table twice. "I'll go check, the drain at that setting won't last, it'll destabilise we already have enough work as it is. Those flashy guys… truly for what did I give them a short briefing if they ignore it anyways… one would think…" Cletus rolled his eyes and left.
A loud hiss as Cletus stampeded through the hallways of Red Fountain. Mumbling to himself. "Stupid… high and might…urgh…" He turned around the corner and stopped. Blinked. Blinked again. A Light magic fog was spilling through the door cracks. His eyebrows twitched. "Those…what in Athena's name are they doing?!" He charged at the door and ripped it open ready to give that trainer a piece of his mind. "YOU CAN'T-! WHAT THE…"
That Council Guard was unconscious on the floor, collapsed, yet still his magic was drawn towards the huge ball of magic in the middle. The spell still worked as far as Cletus could guess. The Elf was breathing. "Uhm…" Then there were also the two students, one of their runts obviously feeding that ball of doom as well, and… And a Fairy in neon ghostly green and blackish clothes. Her Dark magic was drawn from her and merged with the Light magic ball. Yet THAT weirdly enough was pure Light magic. 'How…What?... Is that a Witch pretending to be-' The drain was trying its best but with the student setting it wasn't able to drain all that overflow of magic the yield was too high.. "H-h-hello?" Cletus tilted his head. But no one answered. It was quiet as a toom in here. Those three had finished replenishing their magic pools the faint glow around them made that more than apparent. "HELLO!" Cletus found a bit of courage. No answer. This gave him the creeps. He slowly, very SLOWLY, stepped backwards. 'Nope, above my pay grade.' The automatic doors opened and closed. He stared for a few seconds against the metal doors. "What the fuck!?" He cursed at the door and rushed off.
"Oh, you, shut up! That wasn't my fault!" Polarissa hissed at Sienna.
"Yes, it was. You had no control over where you put all that rubble," Sienna butted heads with her.
Most students had meditated on their own, in the arena, on the ranks, and some had gone to the cafeteria to get food. They were spread all over the school and had bitched around for at least an hour afterwards. The tension was still high and smaller groups had formed and there were also quite a lot of Sorceress loners.
Saladin shook his head, "At it again? How often will they have that discussion…?" His head was hurting from all that bitching. But as this was also important for the stress test and how the kids handled this, they didn't intervene.
"Bunch of noisy brats," Itzcali rubbed her ear. "Why don't they just brawl it out and spare our ears…" The girls weren't the only ones fighting after all.
Shanna looked disapprovingly at the Wereaaradwolf Lady, "No. That is not constructive in any way."
Master Aithlin checked the time, "Well, we'll continue any minute now. We should tell our people and recall them." Since the kids had split off to so many locations some of Iolas's team had camouflaged and spied on the kids. So, did others like Riven, Nabu… more or less everyone once the need arose. But most were coming back as the students were as well.
Professor Avalon just rejoined the group. He had kept an eye out on Birdy and Tessa they had gone for a walk. "Say… why have Iolas, Mercury and Blade still not arrived? Is Mercury that bad with meditation?" He looked to Codatorta. "He didn't make that impression."
"Knowing those two they keep chewing his ear off…" Codatorta chuckled. "Now that they have figured that out, they can ask stuff." Everyone chuckled just to get interrupted by shouting from the other side of the arena.
"Oh really?! If I remember correctly it was your Team A that collapsed like flies. Max was the one to-" Julius had it. Their 'debriefing' had gone haywire.
"Oh, if you think Sorceresses are such PERFECT team members you go next time to report to Crisis Headquarters with them," Max growled back. He was so sick of getting blamed, "Or better yet stick yourself in an elevator with Serina. See how you like that!"
"Woah, woah, woah, chill, we all have worked with them in the task force…" Dean tried to calm him down.
"Chill!?" Damon carded through his jelled hair, his piercing red eyes met the green ones of the giant.
Keith had it, "Will you two stop! None of you were stellar…" He tensed up.
"Says the Healer…" Kai answered with a bit of sass.
Tyson got upset and pulled the green-haired boy towards him, "Wanna say something about my brother, huh?"
"ENOUGH. Tyson let him go," Lion still had a headache and he wasn't sure if it was from all the screaming or the botched tests.
"How can she sleep through this?" Sanari Cei looked down at Fane, who was still sleeping like a baby. "The spell faded like ten minutes after you cast it." He was impressed, to say the least.
Votzaak smirked, "If there's one thing female Vampires can do better than anyone else besides eating, it's sleeping. Have you not met another besides Fane?" He was a bit surprised.
"No, I-" Cei stopped mid-sentence. "He seems under duress…" He nodded towards a mechanic sprinting like his life depended on it towards them.
Saladin turned towards the new arrival, "Cletus, what's wrong? Are you alright?"
Cletus out of breath halted, "ME? Tell that to the maniacs in training hall nineteen!" He promptly focused on Master Aithlin, "If your people are too tired to keep watch over a wanna-be Fairy-Witch… and one boy they have no business in MY School. They'll blow one of the reactor engines, damn it. Go FIX that magic shit now! I swear, I'll bill you. We have better stuff to do!" Cletus was pissed.
Master Aithlin's expression changed drastically, 'Why would Blade be in her Dark Fairy form when they are group meditating with Iolas and Mercury? Zhoron contacted Iolas. Now.' He asked the others through Psi. "Too tired? I don't understand." He refocused on the mechanic
"The students are not responding whatsoever and your wonder boy collapsed and that damn rune circle is going haywire. The drainage is set way too low. I told you to use the student's setting if they are weak, not because of some age cap. Were you even listening!?" Cletus went half on a rampage he was way too upset. "Your Witch-" He was about to give Griffin a piece of his mind as well.
'Haldir, you stay with the others, keep watch,' Ararel decided and turned to the exit of the arena. The two Alfea Professors were already ahead.
Cletus got left there standing as a good half of the crowd rushed off including Griffin, "Yeah, you better fix that! The nerve…" He growled.
Haldir calm as ever patiently turned to the mechanic and tried to get anything useful out of the mechanic. "So, what exactly happened?"