The shimmering border of the Elves. The gust blew slight sand clouds. White Jade's magic circles shimmered in the sun. The blue sky above. Iolas's green cloak waved in the wind his golden-plated armour glistened in the sun. Votzaak's keen eyes on her.
Blade smelled the dry sweat on her skin from the tests prior. The Dark magic tingled through her veins. The breeze in her dark wings. Time crawled, the world moving, yet each second was like an eternity.
Crack. That subtle noise when the containment gave in.
Blade gathered her Dark magic and watched how the glass was painted with fine fissures spreading like melting ice in spring. Her chest rose as she reached out with her Dark magic ready to grasp it, to incarcerate it anew, to suffocate it where it was. 'Fool. There is no hope.' Daryun's words when she had grabbed that sword way back then. Blade was not taken aback by that force in front of her, from its destructiveness, its will to consume and destroy, its rage. It was weak. So weak compared to what she had faced that day. Sparks of Dark magic crackling at her fingertips…
The tiniest smoke cloud arose from the glass ball ready to burst free in its entirety.
Time froze, Blade's eyes narrowed with confusion, 'What is that?' The Black magic had not broken through the orb yet but some already rose and it looked more like some ashen cloud. 'How-'
The Black magic clawed its way out through the slim cracks, about to break the orb fully open to escape. Yet that whiff of a cloud had escaped already. Blade's heartbeat in her chest pounded like a war drum. Ones. Stopped as her eyes widened.
Long torn black hair, deep socketed red glowing eyes. Radged teeth, a wide jaw. Tiny pointed ears. A huge flat nose. That whiff of an ashen cloud darted towards her faster than light and yet that face was so clear before her, an outcry of pain and agony that roared nothing but despair…
'A Troll!? Wha-' Blade quickly amassed more Dark magic as that shadowy ash raced towards the Elven cleansing border. 'Shit, I got to stop it before-' Too slow, too damn slow. The cloud smashed into the elven border or so she thought. However, that thing just passed through it like nothing! Blade went pale.
Zhoron was connected to Blade's senses and saw what she saw. Witnessed an ashy cloud escape way too early from the orb. 'What in Magix!?' Never in his years as a Council guard had he seen that. Nothing like it, it didn't look like Black magic but what else could it be? That ball of undefinable ash bulleted towards the girl through the border his teammates had set up. Nothing stopped it! His hand soared in Light magic. No time to cast a spell, recite a word, draw a rune, just reactive he sent his magic out a massive uncontrolled explosion of pure Light magic before his warning even escaped his lips.
Blade tensed her leg muscles up. Another heartbeat - ready to jump into the air. Her chest fell. That massive magic explosion had done nothing, not a scratch. Cold sweat ran down her spine. A shrieking pain in her ears as that Troll's ash-smoking face screamed out in anguish.
Static noise blew Zhoron's eardrums away like something was splitting his skull.
Dizziness. So short of touching her Blade realised, 'No time!'
Horrified Zhoron with an unsteady aim threw another desperate raw explosion. Unhindered that thing blasted through his magic like it was nothing yet again. "BLADE!" His voice hollered through the arena.
Blade spat as a punch hit her stomach. She got ripped away by the torso with lightning speed so hard it turned her insides out. That sour taste in her mouth once more. Another flashing light before her. Gales lashed against her face.
Screams and shouts that mumbled in the thrashing winds.
"RETREAT!" The only thing loud enough.
Shortly after everything, the world went black. But Blade was still conscious… 'What?' She saw some white outlines of strong wings form.
Another echoing scream, her head shot to it. That Troll's face fletched its teeth right in front of her; such anguish edged into its face.
TOO SLOW!
That ashen cloud vanished straight into her chest. It took her breath away like something was drilling into her. Blade felt her magic reserves drop to zero in an instant.
'I can't help you…' a tormented voice in her head echoed. '…find the others…' The voices whispered before it faded into nothingness.
Static noise blew Zhoron's eardrums away. His hands clawed into his helmet. Disoriented he fell to his knees as the connection to Blade shattered.
All went black…
It was Blade's turn now. She was last to go. Votzaak had seen her distant gaze at the beginning of the explanation. Black magic was nothing to joke around with and with her prior experience there of course were some memories triggered. So, he had given her time. But now, there she stood… Votzaak had a keen eye on the orb as his hand rose but also on Blade. That Dark Fairy form its poison-greenish gleam. The ripped black clothes. White dreadlocks waving in the slight breeze. Her skin paler as the Drion was pulled out to form and sustain the wings. Yet Votzaak's concentration never lost the glass orb out of sight. That Black magic menaces, that he had incarcerated for these tests. A testament to all the horrors the realms held. Pleased he recognised Blade was focused again already her nervousness had vanished. It was always astonishing to see that Fairy form that had been lost to time and now resurfaced with that magically underwhelming girl with a dragon's heart of courage. What a joke history sometimes played. "Your turn!" He proclaimed.
Cracks formed. Avalon's gaze focused on the runes. Their White Jade convergence an intricate net that would keep them all safe. He could feel his other Order members' magic, their magic like one steadfast thread wound together never to break. 'Show them…Blade… you've grown so much.' He couldn't hide his gentle smile. Blade had faced so much, and had come so far. This Joined Track and her applying to it against all odds was a testament to all her hard work. He knew this test was a breeze to her. Not one flicker of fear in her aura as the Black magic announced its rise.
Iolas had his staff at the ready. His team in its entirety was focused. Proudly he could stand there as the team leader of the most renowned team of the Council Guard. His eyes only focused on Blade, she was calm amazingly so as the orb cracked. Yet he noticed it. A frown that turned to fear in an instant. 'What is she staring at?' There was nothing. "Vot-" Abruptly, his head ripped around to Zhoron, whose hand glowed in a giant radiant light. Pure Light magic that was totally out of control.
Without hesitation, White Jade activated the cleansing spell a pure white light expanding as their magic circles lit up like fireworks. The elven formation not a second after full throttle activated their star border. It brimmed in a warm light and became a solid impenetrable border to contain that white light keeping it from blinding anyone.
"FANE!" Nerrocean watched as Zhoron's Light magic smashed down in an open area of the arena sand OUTSIDE of the protective spells. Nerrocean's tattoos were burning to their fullest the magic rushing through his veins like adrenaline. That Elf shot his attack into nothingness. It hammered into the sand exploding sky high in a sand-geyser. 'ZHORON!?' He tried to reach him via psi.
Parcival sure the orb was destroyed dropped out of formation immediately. He had seen something a whiff of aura belonging to someone. 'A ghost? No…' He quickly summoned his White Jade studded Kanabo, a long and massive club, that could shatter anything of Black magic with one swing. But Zhoron's unruly magic explosion tainted everything in its aura so he lost sight of it, "STOP!" He called out to the Elf, but his aura was erratic even more so than Blade's. That Elf was freaking out.
Zhoron's second explosion was closer to Blade nearly in front of her face not six feet away from her.
Nerrocean with his loaded scythe simply took a swing; water bubbling forth at its tip.
Fane, that beast, took the full brunt of Zhoron's second magic outburst, she was no more than a white lilac blur. She snatched the girl away as Nerrocean's massive wave of dark glistening water raced across the open field wide spread.
Nerrocean hit nothing. That water sickle crashed into the elven border instead, which tremored but held, "What?!"
Iolas was high in the sky like Ararel and Virion. Their eyes darted flaming up in magic, 'What is Zhoron aiming at!?' Shield and attack spells at the ready. 'Nothing!?'; "Zhoron!" his subordinate had fallen to his knees completely exhausted shivering in his armour holding his head. 'Psi?! An illusion? But our armours should protect-'
"FANE! RETREAT!" Parcival thundered his chest trembling as he spotted that damn aura-like thing again it still was racing after that Fairy. 'It's faster than Fane!?' Shocked he nailed his Kanabo down a cleansing crack like a snake rippled through the sand as he infused it with more magic anything else he could do would be slower…but even then…
Suddenly all went black. Dark magic so heavy in the air it was suffocating. Everything turned black and white like someone carved a Copper image only outlines of people and edges in fine white lines. A massive rune circle that covered the sky even across the ranks. Votzaak's hand quaked under the stress his hands above each other as if he tried to enclose something, his breath shallow. That was one stun spell that could bring a palace to a standstill.
The Green Jade in the Council armours reacted with a magical shockwave freeing them from the stun. Fane and Nerrocean were unaffected like Parcival. One by one Votzaak cleared the rest for movement.
But no one saw anything foreign show up in white lines. The arena was clear of anything or anyone who wasn't invited to the party. Everyone else was stunned no movement possible, unless cleared, but no one at the ranks had any magic presence big enough to fool all of the seasoned warriors.
Fane stopped her retreat spinning around to see behind her in the blink of an eye she had reached the other side of the arena, "Come at me you flee bag!" She roared as a White Dragon projection expanded around her encompassing Blade and herself. Yet… she saw nothing.
"KEEP RUNN- FUCK!" Parcival watched as that remnant of an aura simply passed through Fane's projection hitting Blade in the chest and puffed out of existence shortly after as he had thought his attack was too slow. And even if Fane had kept running she'd be out speeded greatly. The girl's aura drastically shifted as Blade fell unconscious. "SHOCK HER!" Parcival roared.
Fane looked at Blade who slumped in her grasp and her Shadion vanished, "The fuck!?" Never ever could something pass her projection without her notice. Nonetheless, something had sucked the Fairy dry. Fane fletched her fangs and her massive projected wings beat and she took off into the air. Iolas, Ararel and Virion had a close triangle formation around them as they made their way back to Iolas's team already creating a defensive circle. Fane flooded the Fairy's limb body with her Dark magic to get Blade's pool running again while she dived to land.
"It went inside her!" Parcival rushed up to them eyes stuck on the girl, but nothing seemed off, "Avalon?"
"It?!" The Professor raced towards the group his white suit flung in every step.
Fane speechless stared at Votzaak, "Nothing passed my projection. I swear! Did she get hit by a curse?!" She left the Fairy in Virion's and Avalon's care within her dragon projection. She scanned the arena, but even with her empath abilities, she couldn't pick up any malice from anyone in the school. Only confusion and fear from all those students. The big dome also wasn't breached.
"No injuries," Virion stated trying to grasp what just had happened. He looked up to Zhoron way back in the arena collapsed as well. "Just unconscious…like him?" His eyebrows narrowed.
Avalon studied Blade intensely searching for an erratic fluctuation in her aura. His black ponytail waved in the dragon's settling wingbeats. "What am I looking for?" Everything seemed fine, he knew Blade's aura inside and out - nothing was wrong.
The White Jade Grandmaster breathed in, words stuck in his throat. "Something…"
"Oh, by the Great Dragon…" Votzaak ground his teeth while he checked all who he had caught in his stun spell. 'Where is that damn caster!? How dare he mock us! Trying to bullshit around with us here!' He was boiling, raging. This was bad… He knew if Parcival couldn't tell what's what, they were in deep shit. He hadn't even seen what the Paladin saw and the best Parcival could tell was that he saw 'something'!?
Nerrocean further away from the main group had reached Zhoron and turned him on his back. A face full of sand and no response, but he was breathing.
"Good, he's alive and well…" Cei and Gwaine had raced towards them. A watchful eye out, but Zhoron had seen something the same as Blade and their Order's Grandmaster. They needed answers.
"Hey, sleeping beauty, wake up…" Nothing. Nerrocean pulled Zhoron up by his armour and cloak and shocked him with his magic. "I said, WAKE UP."
An exhausted groan escaped the elven youngster as his head wobbled around.
"Don't make me cut your hair…" Nerrocean growled in hopes of rattling Zhoron.
"Stop, that won't help him," Sanari Cei sighed deeply. "No amount of force will get him back to his feet. His brain is overloaded not his magic system…" He scolded the Master as he came to hold next to him and already wrapped his White Jade rope dart around the Council guard.
"I sense no Black magic…" Gwaine puffed relieved yet also troubled. Cei nodded in agreement once the White jade string had glowed up and no reaction had shown. The stun spell held everything still in black and white. Once they had filtered out the aura-noise everything was much clearer to read. But there truly was nothing.
All the while the other group still bickered around. "What do you mean inside her?" Votzaak didn't like those implications, "Stop speaking in ancient. Out with it. I can't hold this spell all day…" He hissed. "For Fuck sake Fane he told you to run!"
"I did! I needed to know where the heck it was safe to run to. I barely stopped," She snarled back grinding her teeth her nails burrowing into her fists. "Would you rather have me leave the stun spell area and go out into the open, or what!?" She had screwed up in her eyes. 'First day as an instructor for pipsqueaks and I failed!? I trained hundreds of - fuck!'
"That's enough." Ararel shut them both up. "None of us could stop… it? Are you sure there was something?" He was still in slight disbelief. The other kids luckily were stuck in that little dome of theirs. Karim and Aithlin had strengthened it so they weren't running into their deaths. But boy, did the kids make a ruckus to get out.
"Yes… very sure. It hit her and vanished into smoke," Grandmaster Parcival searched for any lingering effects but it wasn't a curse, it had no remnants of a psi attack. 'What was that? ...'
"So, it was nothing or something none have seen or READ about before?" Votzaak asked once with a dire undertone. Still infusing this spell that drained a shit ton of magic from him.
Iolas tensely stated the consensus of the group. "Yes…?"
"YOU DAMN-!" Votzaak roared and vanished from the spot in a teleportation circle. The stun spell that had everyone in its grip burst into Dark magic particles as he broke it off.
Next, one could hear him raging on the stances near that statue he had eyed today.
A high-pitched squeak upset and a pinch of fear in it, "LET ME GO! YOU RUFFIAN!"
Votzaak had her, "IN YOUR DREAMS…" He growled and teleported back down into the arena leaving some scared-to-death students behind.
"LET GO YOU-" Athena coughed so hard as she got slammed into the sand.
"CANCLE!" Master Aithlin caught Votzaak's arm ready with a magic orb brimming inside its palm to decimate that fly in his grasp. A wind gust blew as Aithlin came to a hold, he had dashed to stop him. "VOTZAAK! ENOUGH!" He and the Headmasters had rushed over as the stun spell had shattered with Votzaak's teleportation.
"You have three seconds before I blast the Elf Master sky high and throw you into a dimension you'll never crawl out of in one piece ever again…" Votzaak was pissed Dark magic still flaring from him like a bonfire. His black Order robes were tossed around in his own magic outburst.
Athena shivered in his hold, "EHHHHHHHHHHH!" Her red hair - a mess. Her robes - a mess, and her diadem was crooked on her head.
"ATHENA!" Saladin was scared for her and short of firing on Votzaak.
Griffin on the other hand readied a spell to stop Saladin and Faragonda stepped between them to keep the Headmasters from bashing each other in front of so many gawking students. Now that introduction of Shadion had gone off the rails.
A loud thud as Parcival nailed his Kanako down into the sand and a wave of pure white glowing magic pulsated for a few seconds everyone froze at first before all their spells and magic ebbed down. So, did their high raging emotions, their poses and demeanour changed drastically - pacified. "Now…" Parcival breathed out loudly. "Let the Guardian Pixi go, please…" He only asked once, nicely.
Votzaak freed his wrist from Aithlin's grip and begrudgingly released his hold on the Pixi. He had calmed down a lot, more or less had been forced to. "SPEAK," He ground his teeth he wasn't going to let this rest though.
Athena a heavy breath sorted out her dress, hair and diadem first. She watched as Blade came to. "Blade, dear…? Are you feeling better?" She damn right ignored Votzaak for his rudeness.
Blade shook her head still a bit disoriented, "What the heck was that … that…cloud face thingy…?! Wait, did I get corrupted!?" Shocked she looked at all those around her the stern yet worried glances that hit her didn't bode well after all. She was utterly confused.
"Blade!" Zhoron's voice called out. "Put me down, you," He nagged Nerrocean still had him in his grasp and flung over his shoulders.
Nerrocean had slivered over, relaxed mostly, a deadly glare at that Pixi, "Speak now, what did they see?" He chucked Zhoron into Virion's arms who was more than eager to check him out as well.
"I see you are as energetic as ever," Athena was pleased and smiled at Blade, ignoring Nerrocean as well.
Blade grimaced, "Give an answer, damn it!" She hissed at the Pixi. Her blue eyes simply wanted to freeze that Pixi's wings off.
"All is well Blade," Athena with her composure back was as cryptic as any other of the four old Pixis. "You should be proud, this is proof of your growth. Well earned," She complimented her. She was excited?
"That tells me nothing, you stupid-!" Blade was short of plugging that Pixi's wings herself but Professor Avalon held her back by the chest.
Avalon sighed, "That won't get you anywhere." Still, his face like most had a displeased look edged in.
"What attacked her? Did you shoot it down? Blade are you alright? ..." Zhoron finally was back to his thinking self and worried beyond belief as he still was missing a bit of information here. He tried to pull up again, but Virion's firm grip kept him down on the ground for further check-up.
Athena giggled charmed, "Oh no, they didn't, how could they? They have nothing to hit 'it' with." Gloomy gazes pierced her like spears. 'Great… next time Concordia can handle this… this…ahhh.'
"Of course, the Pixi knows…" Fane rolled her eyes annoyed. "How about telling us that before we smash half the arena to pieces? Urgh!" She snarled at the Guardian Pixi of Red Fountain.
Athena ignored Fane as well and simply turned to Zhoron. "Don't worry they're just remnants, they won't hurt her." She truly meant it. She tried to calm the confused psi user down, who never in his lifetime and probably would see that again… 'Well maybe…'
"So, it was harmless…" Gwaine breathed out and relaxed. There was no double meaning to Athena's words. He as any other White Jade member could tell by her aura and gave a nod in agreement.
'They will bite my ear off Discordia…ahhhhhh….I swear…but we can't tell her nothing…why me?!' She had no joy in this or its aftermath. Athena stated just the same, no lie there either. "Only the ghosts can…"
…
…
…
"Say what now!?" Blade freaked out raving her hands around like no tomorrow, "What ghosts? Mister G would never!" But she already saw the Pixi leaving. "Come back here! You useless piece of a shitty guardian!" Oh, how she wanted to plug that Pixi's wings but Avalon wouldn't let her. 'I'll tear those four to pieces! Second time today! She knew! She knew that that would happen and said nothing!' Blade was so sure of it. A growl so deep it could be from a Black Mountain Bear.
"Athena please," Saladin pleaded. "You can't leave her with more questions than answers." He didn't understand his school's trusty Guardian Pixi one bit. He didn't understand the high-ranking Pixis at all these days their unwillingness to say something. "I get that there is a contract… but ghosts? Remnants?... that's not an explanation."
Athena sighed, "And what if? You throw her under the dragons because you want to test something and understand it before it is time? No. I don't think so. I'm sorry, Blade. This is for your own good. You have to figure this out in YOUR own time. Not ours, not theirs, yours…" She glared back at Votzaak as she could feel his fingers twitching. "One more piece of advice I gladly grant: Don't ever follow the footprints alone. And never the dark ones." She said it with such intensity it was frightening.
"Footsteps!? What footsteps!? Do you mean that fog cloud of a-?" Blade wasn't happy at all.
Athena shook her head, "I am pretty sure you know what footprints are, you'll know don't worry. So, don't ever follow the footprints alone. And never the dark ones." She repeated her warning if one wanted to call it that once more before she teleported away herself with a smirk before Votzaak recognised the spell.
"Aithlin, if we ever going to kill those shitty flies, please invite me. I'll find every single last one..." Votzaak balled his fists and tried to vent his frustration but now earned a disapproving glare from anyone but his own Order members.
"There will be no attacking or VISITING the Pixi Village…" Master Aithlin gave a stern warning.
Blade growled, "So a hostile takeover and tyranny are valid options?" She asked dissatisfied.
"Blade!" Shocked Faragonda scolded her directly. "The Pixi's were-"
"Exactly, WERE! What a shitshow of - 'it's for your own good' - bullshit. For all I care they can burn in the Shadowlands, tch," Blade hissed pissed as she energetically freed herself from Avalon's hold and stood up to dust off her clothes. She meant her words, oh, how she meant them wholeheartedly. "So, I get a second try for the test?" She simply chose to ignore all that had happened she was so frustrated.
'Yikes…' Gwaine was a bit taken aback. No Fairy ever would show such an aura when talking about Pixis. "I don't think that's a good idea… the same thing might repeat and you collapse again."
"Great…" Blade just tossed her hands into the air and walked passed the grown-ups towards her friends.
"Blade…" Avalon sighed. On the outside, she was pretending like she didn't care, that it didn't bother her, that she just cared for the grades and tests… Her aura on the other hand a mess.
Griffin shook her head, "Wonderful, thanks to your oh so dear Pixis," She aggressively pointed her finger daringly right into Faragonda's face, "This outcoming blew up in our faces. I already can imagine how this story will spread like wildfire. Four schools, four Orders and none has a clue or ability to keep that corrupt Fairy in check… Blade's assessment is right, they are no friends of hers."
"They are, they make it more than clear that it is for her own good, she isn't ready. Blade always tries out everything to the fullest, who knows what would happen if she did!" Faragonda protested and pulled Griffin's finger gently out of her face.
"I can vouge for Athena she is one of the wisest people I know. She would never harm Blade," Saladin's opinion was steadfast. "We know next to nothing about Shadion if she thinks this is best…"
Votzaak growled, "Best? Are you kidding me? How are we to protect her if they keep secrets?" He infuriated straightened out his black Order robes.
Aithlin sighed, "That's what we both hear in the Council all week long. We keep secrets as well for the good of others. We're just not used to being on the receiving end…" But that didn't change the fact that he was tense and rather would like to know as well.
"They at least could tell us. We can shut our traps like in all the other matters. If they don't want to tell her…" Fane hissed as she tightened her tribal hair again.
Parcival chuckled, "Oh? And you truly think we would resist such a carrot dangling in our faces? That we wouldn't test stuff, get her into situations to trigger it, to 'guide' her into enlightenment?" He raised his Kanabo from the ground and let it vanish and looked to Griffin, "It's not the easiest thing for Blade but it's a good thing that all those nobles see that besides our lack of knowledge, we have a close eye and are VERY cautious. Anything else would have more backlash along the way. Let them know we aren't omniscient that way they won't cut our heads off later once something truly bad happens."
Iolas was tense as well, "That's not fair to Blade though to us those people are nice they have to be. She's nothing more than a student and 'runt' who has no grasp of Court play…" There simply was no good answer to it all.
"Blade!" Her whole class ran up to her as finally Itzcali, Hagen, Riven, Palladium, Karim and Nabu let them go. "What happened? What's going on? What…?"
Blade was overrun by questions, "I don't fucking care anymore…" She simply left them standing. She was so fed up. She had no clue and no answers to give. "Ask the damn Guardian Pixi." She balled her fists so intensely as she squinted her eyes in frustration. Suddenly a soft furry touch.
"Don't worry, we'll find answers," Karim, that Werefox from the Head Hunters, kneeled before her with a tender look in his yellow eyes. "You did well."
"What?..." Blade was so irritated. "If you want to-"
"He's right," Riven stated promptly. "You're the only one who wasn't afraid of that Black magic orb until… well, whatever that was, happened…" He was as confused as anyone he simply pulled out his sword from the sand and rested it upon his shoulders. "Next time you just kick ass and all goes well...don't worry." He grinned wide and bright.
Itzcali shook her head and pointy ears her beige mane ruffled a bit through the motion, "You still just go in with your head first through every wall…Riven." She inspected the Fairy from top to toe. She was fine agitated but fine.
"No… I have used the sword for at least ten years now," Riven light-heartedly protested.
Nabu rolled his eyes at Riven's comment, "Sure… you also use your tackles and kicks… and then scream for backup. Don't ever take him as an inspiration please…" He pleaded with the kids.
"Pfff, I at least don't need a hot Vampire chick to save my ass all the time… or some Grandpa," Riven snorted.
"Be glad THEY didn't hear that…Unbelievable, you still got the greatest death wish after all this time…" Nabu stared at Riven exhaled and refocused on the important things, "Come, sit down, let's meditate you all need your magic back for the last test." He invited all the kids and moved a bit to the side.
Blade wasn't in the talking mood and even a thousand questions wouldn't help her as no one had answers. She stood there like an unmoving mountain.
Palladium nodded to Nabu relieved that someone had a smart decent plan. His gaze wandered the ranks. 'This went so bad… I thought after that first hick-up that we were through with surprises today… Are those two things connected?' His eyes interlocked with Avalon's, who had just re-joined the group with the others, but he had no clue either. Palladium knew that face of his all too well. 'Great another mystery… and the Pixis won't …or rather aren't allowed to help….' He with worried puppy eyes watched as the kids followed Nabu's calm demeanour and went to meditate all but her. 'Blade…'
The ranks were buzzing with chatter and confusion. Even those from the Task Force were in disarray. By the Great Dragon, what had happened? They had seen nothing. Besides Order members shooting at nothing. Massive spells one could swear that some had peed their training suits. Blade had been dragged around just to collapse either way. 'That never happened before. Why?!'
Shanna could sense all those surface thoughts that bubbled up and brewed a storm. Not to mention, Blade's own frustration and destructive thoughts like a cloud of doom. Shanna looked at the Order members just once, 'I don't care what you're testing. Enough is enough, I won't let her break.' A harsh comment in their re-established psi-link with that, she dropped out of the link and turned around to her patient, "Blade, come here." Shanna's hands lid up in green. It drew the attention of a lot of onlookers. It was one beautiful huge lotus flower she created with her Elf magic.
"Just leave it…" Blade grumbled.
"Yeah, no," Shanna declined the request and set her warm hand down on Blade's shoulder a faint golden buzz before Blade relaxed tremendously and Shanna could guide her to step onto the flower and the bud closed around them.
Dear Blade exploded as soon as Shana removed her hand from her back and ended the spell. "What!? I swear, if I get a worse grade because of this," Blade balled her fists. "I don't need this right now!" Her dreadlocks flew like a raging lion mane as she raised her finger daringly into Shanna's face. "I'M FINE!"
Yet Shanna pulled her in by the head and simply hugged her. "This place is safe, no one will hear, see or read your thoughts or aura it's all blocked out. You could explode a magic orb in here and none would be the wiser. Just let it out. It's okay..." Caringly she caressed her head. Teachers weren't allowed to it wasn't per se professional for her either and definitely not something she did all the time. However, it hit the mark. Bull's eye.
Blade's body began to shiver first before tears rolled down her cheeks. "I hate this!" She screamed into the old elven Lady's chest. "I just want to tear them apart, BOIL THEM ALIVE!"
"It's unfair towards you," Shanna stated there were no two ways about this. She agreed with Iolas yet for different reasons. "Fate plays cruel sometimes. The question is, what do you need? And what will you do?" She gently moved her away from the chest to look at her properly.
"Understatement of the century…" Blade growled. Her blue teary eyes were fixated on the ground. "So, there is no catching FLIES and punch them till they tell me, huh?" That still was her favourite approach. She tried to get a grip again. That Hug had been sooo good.
Shanna chuckled as she waved with her hands again and some petals curved to create something like chairs. "I don't think I need to answer that, now do I?" She floated to her seat and sat down. "Why do you want to hurt them?" She calmly asked.
"That's obvious!" Blade hissed and begrudgingly took the seat, all tense and crossed arms.
"Enlighten me," Shanna leaned back her posture wide open and relaxed. "There's no judgment from me you know that."
"They are bastards with answers and say nothing! Today, I- This was supposed to be the day I proudly proclaim Shadion. And it backfired. Not to mention that shit-ass Troll face! Smoking Black magic shit! How is keeping secrets from me THE way to save me!? When NOONE can see the damn shit! – BUT me. And-" The words like a waterfall of rage just kept coming out of her mouth.
Shanna raised her hand to stop Blade. "Not so fast, I'm an old lady." She smirked and tried to lighten the mood. "So, one, they screwed up your spotlight. Two, you saw a Black magic Troll?" She squinted her eyes.
"No, not a troll. A face. I mean, it was more than a cloud…or rather… Like an orb but with a face and smoke. Ash! … It… it…" Blade looked pained to the ground. That scream that pain edged into its face. It sent another shiver right down her spine. "Straight out of a nightmare…" She slung her arm around her knees as she pulled them up self-soothingly.
"Hmm, that sounds horrible indeed. It scared you, didn't it?" Shanna calmly helped Blade to come to terms with her emotions. It didn't matter now what exactly it had been or what the cryptic warnings were about. Right now, Blade needed to calm down and feel safe again.
"Yes, those eyes…" Blade tensed up her hold around the legs.
Shanna nodded, "Well, we don't have all day right now, sadly. I can make it so if you'd like. But I bet you don't want to miss out on the fighting test." Her white long hair draped down to the floor while she brushed it to the front as she crossed her fingers.
"Fighting test? You mean!" Blade's eyes sparkled. Finally, she would be able to hit something!
"Yes, Marksman Fane will smash you all into the ground. I'm sorry," Shanna rolled her eyes just thinking about it.
Blade grimaced, "Fane?... great… She's way too fast…" Blade already got a stomach ache just thinking about it.
"Yeah, my apologies. Kitty won't be happy, I bet." Shanna laughed before she refocused, "Yet, Blade… it's not always about winning or acing. Life has many pit wholes as you well know the best you can do is give it your all and stand up time and time again." She winked at her.
Blade rolled her eyes, "I know that…it's always the same…" She hissed. "When do I get a break?"
"Hm," Shanna thought about it. "Well, I ask myself the same question for centuries. If you do find the answer, enlighten me, okay? I'll tell you if I find a solution as well." She was so kind-hearted, and warm. It was incredible how easily she could create a safe place.
"Yeah, but you don't have to deal with the fate of…" Blade stopped and looked at her as her own posture finally relaxed a bit.
Shanna still had a gentle smile on her lips, "Yes, Blade. I don't have the fate of the Dark Fairies on my shoulders yet I am part of your journey. My 'fate' is to see you grow up into a magnificent person. Make you ready for life, listen, help you make decisions and find solutions. And that doesn't go for just you all of your friends now will be in my care as well. Everyone has their own struggles. I can't tell you an answer to your questions about Shadion or what to do. Whatever you choose I'll always be waiting for you." She chuckled. "What a sad answer indeed. I am as useless as those Pixis." Shanna added.
"What no!" Blade instantly protested. "They are heartless idiots who hold on to stupid promises that they made ages ago! They are stupidly stuck in their past and can't see-!" She fired harshly against the last part of the statement.
"Hmm, so they are like you with Jewels…" Shanna provokingly put the question out into the room.
"What? That's not comparable! Those traitors hurt people! They killed, they!" Blade felt the anger rising inside her. "They killed Jewels who was innocent in all of it!"
"Indeed, she was. Still, to me, it seems… at least so far that the Dark Fairies were innocent too. Otherwise, Athena wouldn't have shown up when she did."
"But!"
Shanna signed Blade to let her finish. "I don't think they are right in how they go about it. I'm on your side in that regard at least, from the information we have gathered so far. Yet… I did sense a great obligation, care and also… sorrow."
"You sensed? Not even Eaden could read- how do you know this? How can you be sure?! Why would they feel sorrow… regret?" Blade frowned. "Are you not telling me something? Are you grown-ups-!"
Shanna shook her head, "Calm yourself. The explanation is simple. Yes, White Jade can't get a useful aura reading and same as Eaden I can't, well, I never would even try to invade a mind uninvited. Eaden is stronger in that regard anyway. However, I spent hundreds of years talking and guiding people through their crises. So, I am pretty sure I read them right even without magic or innate abilities."
Blade wanted to contradict but Shanna was truly skilled in that regard. There was no true reason to doubt her besides out of spite for the Pixis. Blade breathed heavily out. "…"
"I don't think they mean to hurt you, even if they do." Shanna felt for Blade. Slowly she traced the edges of the petal she sat on, "Maybe it's the most stupid way. Maybe they can't decide on a better one. The Pixis made an important promise to their friends even if they are long gone. Maybe they are right in how they do it. And you, WE, are not ready." She paused and looked at Blade caringly.
The young Fairy shook her head frustrated. Blade was unhappy.
Shanna looked to the ceiling the lotus in its fine white petals layering into a dome. "They obviously try to slow everything down. Yet, they are also here. Athena watched you, she predicted this. I think they try to give as much information as they feel safe to give. AND Faragonda is right. Pixis were and always will be the allies of the Fairies and a Dark Fairy is still a Fairy. Bottom line, considering you are the only and 'first' Dark Fairy for a long time… I think they are afraid to lose you to a dire fate. So, they rather have you hate them." She knew that was barely a consolation, she hoped it could give Blade some perspective.
Blade ground her teeth, "So you think, the Pixis have suffered a great loss? Just like when I, we, lost Jewels… … The entirety of the Dark Faires vanished from history…" Blade mumbled more to herself. 'How many had there been?' She knew from Cloud Tower that there had been thousands at some point, but she didn't have any accurate numbers. "One to fall from the light…One to turn forever lost…The balance to sustain, our struggle might end in vain." Blade had remembered that poem inside out so often she had read it at night. Still, she had no idea what it exactly meant.
"Yes… the lines that most likely belong to the Dark Fairies considering we know which lines belong to the Light Fairies. One to shine too bright. One to burn at her cost. The balance to sustain, our struggle might end in vain." She remembered the oath Fairies still took to this day in some ceremonies.
"Forever lost…" Blade mumbled again. 'That troll looked pretty lost. But that's not a Fairy…' She sighed deeply. "I'm still pissed at them..." She finally stated.
Shanna looked to the side as she saw a glow upon the petal wall. "Makes at least two. Five considering how Votzaak and team reacted…Let's look at your troll face once we have our next official appointment, okay?" Shanna asked as she stretched her stiff neck. "Someone outside gets a bit impatient…" She complained.
"Right, have to fight Fane…" A shiver went down Blade's spine. "Any tips?"
"Maybe don't run?" Shanna chuckled as she saw Blade's face with the - you don't say - look, "I'm good with the soul not with combat. My apologies."