Cold wet on Blade's submerged face, air bubbles rushed past her cheeks. Magic soared through her body fought against that pull that call from beyond the grave not to lose, to limit what magic would be taken. Since Avalon and Votzaak were back from Eraklyon, there had been some revelations the reason there was no magic from the remnant was simple in retrospect. It needed her magic to be voiced or manifested which made sense as the dead didn't have magic and the Black Magic from the Red Crystals couldn't be used of course. Itzcali had even managed to use her telekinesis to rip one cadaver free from the only big crystal it had in the absence of Blade. And afterwards, they had placed the bird in Blade's presence. Even without those crystals the remnant still manifested, which proved just like in the tests that it simply had to be a victim or at the very least enough remnant of the victim to pass on a wish.

'I can't help you, find the others,' it echoed in Blade's mind.

'I found plenty,' Blade ground her teeth underwater Votzaak was truly bombarding her with those stupid remnants, summoning one pigeon after another in his stupid crystal balls that kept the Black Magic at bay. Another hot tingling sensation soared through her body before with a Dark Magic shockwave the water parted. Blade staggered a step forward her chest heavy her lungs burning as the water pooled back together. Blade could see her hands tremble. Her blue eyes shot past her soaked Dreadlocks a victorious yet tired grin on her face as her glare hit Votzaak. "Is that all… you…g..ot?" Her knees gave in her sight blurred, but her will was stronger, 'not this time.' Her head only briefly greeted the water's surface and she caught herself with her arms and didn't faint. However, before she could do anything she was clasped under the armpit.

Iolas pulled her up, "Easy there." An intense stare at Blade as she coughed and freed her nose of some unwelcomed water. He didn't let her go although he felt her gentle tug. 'Well, she did extremely well this time around.' Her resistance was growing and even on such short ranges, she managed to block some remnants completely by now. Twenty-three pigeons she had handled one way or another in this round. He couldn't be prouder.

"Hey!" Blade squeaked as suddenly she felt the cool air swish by and she ended in a bridal carry. "Let… me… down! I told you-" She coughed some more before finally, the reflex subsided. Nonetheless, her squirming was ignored and within a few seconds, Virion and Pallagis were doting over her at the edge of the cistern.

"Ahh, you wound me, it's not often I get the chance to carry a Fairy out of the water," Iolas snickered trying to lighten the mood, "Normally I catch them mid-air." It was fascinating how Blade could still bicker about this no matter how often he had done it today, he was running out of jokes. Not to mention she had been unconscious or too drowsy to realise more often than not. One too quickly forgot how young she still was not even an adult in human messures. This was tiring and repetitive for her and not the satisfying kind of combat training. Her little outbursts were manageable for now, though.

Virion and Pallagis both gave her that stern look. Her complaints didn't make their jobs easier either, "Blade…" a long tense warning from Virion.

"You did it like twenty times today. I'm fine," Blade nagged back and pushed their hands away they always were touching her forehead when checking her over. "Anyone can see that!" All this pointless medical treatment was nerve-wracking. Professor Avalon and the rest of White Jade checked her during the test, those two Elves after and the rest continuously stared at her analysing anything and everything. From eye bat to nail picking. ANYTHING. Let alone that damn Guardian Pixi who lit up like Great Dragon Festival fireworks whenever there was a success or improvement. No matter how grumpy Discorda pretended to be. All that bitch fighting with Votzaak had lost its appeal a bit because that stupid bitch wasn't saying squad… Blade felt that well-known light pressure of the fingertips and the magic flowed through her every vein. The magic was piercing, searching, her very being down to the bonemarrow nothing a secret to Virion or Pallagis. Blade grumbled as she aggravated slapped Virion's hand off her forehead. "Sto-"

"Enough." Virion grimly eyed her. A tiny magic spark flew as the spell got interrupted by her. Virion firmly gripped the raving hands as the girl threw a tantrum and tried to stand up, "This is not up for debate, Blade. And if you keep making this difficult I will paralyse you until I'm done." Those discussions became wearily with each round for both parties. "This is for your sake. We want to be sure you are fine - not 'just see it'. Eyes can betray you."

Pallagis laid a hand on Virion's shoulder. He had not lost his cool even once so far, his nickname Saint wasn't misplaced. It was different to be a field medic or to have patients within healer wards. Field medics helped people, simply put, to survive and their help was always accepted eagerly. Healer wards on the other hand had patients that just wanted to get the fuck out of there. This was Pallagis's normal. They did it for her, yes, to make sure she was fine. Any and every further test run could change things, luckily it didn't and she indeed was fine. So her frustration was palpable. "Shadion is new to us all Blade. You're doing so well just be a bit more patient with us. Shadion is part of yourself and even for you, it's a mystery. Check-ups as tedious as they are, ARE the only thing we can do for you to ensure your safety. How would your mother feel if something were to happen solely because we got sloppy?"

"She worries either way," Blade hissed back as she set up straight, halted there and looked to the ground. She knew it as well as they did. She had so many questions about Shadion or how a 'last wish' would affect her. Immediate, short or long term. She had no idea and they had no answers… either.

Votzaak, Itzcali and Parcival gave each other silent glances at that comment of hers. The White Jade Grandmaster let his magic subside and nodded to his subordinates and the runes in the cistern and their glistening sparkle faded out before they all stood up. Everyone had been highly concentrated this entire day searching for the tiniest change it was demanding for everyone involved even if it looked like some things were redundant. He met up with the other two leaders shortly on the side.

Professor Avalon loosened his shoulders before his suit glowed brightly and changed to his Order robes without the armour plating, "Let us find you someone else to fight, shall we?" A challenging smirk to Blade. "After your che-"

Blade's eyes sparkled, "YES!" She was so enthusiastic at that prospect that she ignored Virion's warning and jumped to her feet. However, mid-way four hands pulled her straight down to the ground again, "I'm so-" Too late. The stun already took effect and Virio and Pallagis were in no hurry.

"You should let your elders finish speaking, Blade…" Avalon pinched his nose bridge. He waited patiently for her to be cleared by the two healers. Pallagis wasn't all too happy about the stun but this was a pull on the same string scenario. Still, Avalon saw it in his aura.

Itzcali, Votzaak, and Parcival finished up their rather quiet chat as Votzaak turned to Discorda. "So, Shadion and the last wish of the dead. That's great and all, where are the footsteps?" The Leprechaun appealed to the Guardian Pixi of Cloud Tower who shrouded herself in silence. Blade was too busy dealing with the fainting problem today so it had slipped her mind a bit. None of the Order leaders had forgotten that part though. The warning of the footsteps was important because of their apparent danger considering how Athena had phrased it. Sadly, or expectedly the dear aincent Pixi said not a piep. "Seriously?" Votzaak deadpan stared at Discorda who still was atypical and unhelpful towards the Dark Fairy's problems, "Give the girl a break. It was more than obvious you're -"

"I won't tell you. The degree was final, get it into your heads," Discorda's purple robes raved in the magic around her as she flew right into his face. "Now get that proximity spell off me before I-"

"Or what?" Votzaak glared back at her, "Refuse to talk? If you can't trust us, at least trust her. This," the Grandmaster pointed into the cave, "Isn't the answer. She could have DIED. If that accident had happened up in the air… It's ONE unlucky day that kills even the greatest heroes." He made it sternly clear, yet was unusually…nice… to her for once, well nicer, at least for nowadays.

"I KNOW," Discorda growled back. "Kid…" She was older which had been a revelation in itself. The two already had fought side by side at times both had seen Cloud Tower fall and rise over the centuries. Griffin held it so well despite all those Trix antics barely two decades ago and finally the prestige of Sorceresses was growing.

"Kid?" Votzaak raised an eyebrow at her. He was older than most it was weird to be the young one, yet the true kid here among them all was only one, Blade. "THE KID deserves better and you know it." He only pointed at Discorda rudely before he turned around. 'Still, a mistake to let her go after today, Parcival,' A side glance at the White Jade Grandmaster before he sauntered on, "So, break it is? Great. You, Sanari Cei," he addressed the White Jade Mage, "Show me where I get some food around this hour and not the crappy cantina stuff."

Discorda shook her head before she realised, "HEY! I TOLD YOU TO-" Her head turned to Itzcali as the Lady's claws spread wide. Her shuricans dangerously circled around those pointy sharp tips.

"If that girl dies, cause you can't see beyond one stupid rule. I'll personally hunt you down," a beastly growl before the Wereaaradwolf made a hastened turn her bushy tail flicking around annoyed, "I'll find you…" a whisper-mumble as she eagerly chased after Cei and Votzaak. She wasn't happy with the prospect of letting that fly off the hook this easily, 'Votzaak's right. We're way too gentle with them.' Nonetheless, food was an excellent idea.

Gwaine watched the cave emptying at a rapid speed for a much-needed break for everyone it was around afternoon or early evening by now. He stepped closer to the remaining crowd, "Well, those two are in a 'great' mood. Excuse their rudeness Guardian Pixi. We'll make sure you can depart to Cloud Tower today." He ruffled through his brown hair it was a sad excuse he knew that. Gwaine watched Blade get up and dash outside heeding the Pixi not a second glance. 'She truly hates them… a Fairy that hates Pixis… I'd call it impossible…' He gave Avalon a nod to be right behind him before his buddy left for the stairs. "I didn't see you use your aura to calm either of them down, Grandmaster." He asked a bit surprised.

Iolas together with Virion and Pallagis turned away their heads from the tunnel as Blade and the Professor vanished from sight. "They know Council rules they won't break them. They're venting just like Blade." He understood that all too well. He was frustrated but connecting to nature for a few hours would help him more than lashing out. And this cave the whole White Jade Headquarters was such calming site. Nature was in balance here. "Give her some slack next time, Virion," He commented as he reached behind to tie up his hair with a ribbon he summoned. It was nice to be in their Order robes a lot less weight than the armour.

"You're fostering the wrong attitude with that, Iolas. Those two Orders in general…." Virion noted as he looked to Parcival happy there was at least one Grandmaster ranked here who wasn't a ball of seemingly untamed emotions.

Pallagis chuckled as they joined the remaining circle, "And that's the reason you clash so often with her. You care, but Blade's super tense around you, cause she knows you're serious when it's about health. She fears your scolding and her own vulnerabilities you so easily reveal to her bluntly. You're not as approachable as Votzaak. He mirrors her to a certain degree to grant her more voice. Though I bet that's also a nice excuse for him not to play politics." Pallagis noted as he looked to Discorda who was the victim of all of this yapping. She still looked so calm. The Pixi knew she earned the scorn of many but her conviction was unwavering that was clear. Pallagis sighed before getting the conversation back on track, "Blade tries hard. Maybe too hard… this training isn't easy…not at all. Her willpower is our only saving grace here." He stated his opinion as he crossed his arms in thought about how to help his brother's student better, and well, his permanent patient for the foreseeable future.

"Your saving grace!? She's not some sacrafi-" Discorda abruptly hissed and stirred. That rage that emanated from her for just a brief second was intense before she cut herself off and clasped the charm on her neckless to ancor herself.

Parcival tilted his head his eyes narrowed. "No one talked about sacrificing anyone and certainly not a young girl. Blade's in full agency of her own life and always will be." The giant Paladin looked down at the Pixi who already shrouded her aura again. She had slipped up there in her eyes apparently.

Gwaine frowned his hands shortly caressing his beard, "What are you so afraid of?" He asked straight forward. It wasn't always so obvious but her outburst confirmed what Parcival and Aithlin … even Votzaak had guessed. The Pixis feared for the girl's life but why? There was nothing there to suggest anything dangerous that was harmful to Blade or others, that called to intervene so drastically.

Discorda huffed offended, "…." Only turned her head away high and mighty as she crossed her arms dismissingly. However, those long gazes just made it impossible for her to stay quiet. "Don't take her willpower for granted." She stated clearly her unrest boiled beneath her snappy exterior. She fought so hard against herself under those questioning eyes before she couldn't hold back those words that so desperately had to be voiced. "Blade saved many Kingdoms on Phere-Moan. SHE DID. Don't you ever DARE to FORGET that!" With that, she flew, or rather fled, directly through them. Her purple spiderwebbed wings hummed like crazy in magic. "Now, where's that stupid Leprechaun!? I told him to erase that obnoxious proximity spell!"

"Discorda…" Parcival reached out but let her off the hook. "… That fear…"

"Deepseeded," Gwaine agreed. "But who can blame her or any of them? That degree, the lack of historical records… The Pixis were there. They witnessed the Dark Fairies…vanish?"

"Being snuffed out," Iolas closed his eyes this was phrasing it nicely. He remembered the day when Blade had stormed the Council and accused Votzaak of killing… exterminating... No genocide. Thousand of Faries, Dark Faries, gone. "A horrifying prospect to be forgotten…erased from history…."

"A scenario not to be repeated," Parcival stated firmly. "It's up to this generation to do better. The old Council wanted a fresh start for Dark Fairies free of the past. I do not intend to disappoint them." His presence was so calm yet strong as a mountain ready to weather that storm.


"Is that all you got?" With a click of the tongue, Itzcali shook her head. The slowly setting sun outside was wonderful that slight breeze through her fur and the four ribbons of her cloak waving in the gusts nothing could be better. Challangingly she waved Blade to come and try again. They all had taken a break each doing their own thing for relaxation and she had been much faster in selecting some food in the cantina than Votzaak and had taken over for Avalon so he could get a break of his own.

"Ohhh, you'll regret that," Blade ground her teeth and pulled up. Deep groves from her fingers on the ground. Her training clothes were already sweaty clinging to her skin despite the fact she had taken so many dives today and they were covered in grass and mud stains. Blade charged straight at Itzcali again it wasn't smart fighting she knew that but it felt so good to just charge like a bull.

Itzcali greeted her with a wide grin as her palm enclosed the girl's fist and she yeeted her over her shoulders into the dust once again, "Now, that was sad." She chuckled so hard. "Maybe you should team up with someone so this doesn't get embarrassing." Her black eyes sparkled as the sunlight hit them. She had hoped to observe that cunningness she had seen in the tests but today was not the day.

"Oh, you!" Blade went for a kick from down on the ground to swipe her, missed and used the momentum instead to get back up ready to storm the castle, but instantly felt a fist in her stomach and slumped on it. 'Damn, she doesn't pull punches either…' She was somewhat regretting her chosen fighting style but no matter how much she tried, this was all she could muster.

"Blade, don't get so easily triggered. Remember to find your stance first," Professor Avalon rubbed his forehead as Blade fell back to the ground when Itzcali withdrew her punch. 'She's a mess…ready to explode…' His grey eyes were on his troubled student. He wished to tell her everything would be fine and it would be – eventually. However, with so many questions left unanswered, this wasn't the time. He noted that Pallagis and Virion's heads perked behind the next treeline where they had sat down to meditate and centre themselves.

Blade coughed for air her eyes level with the earth beneath her. The patches of vibrant green grass before her. Every straw reaching for the sun. Little bugs startled crawling on them searching for the right direction. Some she had never even seen before around Alfea or even Laciport. For just a moment she closed her eyes as her cough died down. The cool air on her skin caressing her gently. She should be mad to lose yet again within seconds. Still, seeing all these filigree plants and little bugs it only made clear how vast the universe was and how everything had its place within. That there was so much she didn't know and still the worlds would turn. "You must feel overwhelmed as well with giants stomping on you." She snickered as she moved her hand to let a bug crawl onto her hand. That particular one was exceptionally confused running wild circles as Blade sat up watching it find its way to her fingertip where it halted. A faint smile on Blade's face as it sunbathed.

"Always amazing, isn't it?" Itzcali breathed out the girl's attention like a ping pong ball. 'At least she's in high spirits again.'

Blade looked up at the priorly so imposing Wereaaradwolf now so gentle and thoughtful, "Yeah. It's pretty. You'd never find something like this on Zenith. It's a desolate planet for wildlife as small as this one…"

"Pretty poisonous, you mean…" Itzcali noted casually.

"Poisonous?" Blade frowned, "I don't sense anything poisonous from it…"

Itzcali sighed, "Tch. Tch. Tch. What are you teaching her in school, Professor? She can't even identify a Fairystinger." The dear Professor came to check if something was wrong and threw an equally questionable look at the Head Hunter those two Ladies had stopped mid-battle for a bug. 'What's our Apex up to now?'

"Fairystinger?" Blade inspected the shimmering beetle. "It has no stinger…"

Itzcali undeterred countered, "Yes. Cause it bites Fairies and poisons them. It's just so fast originally people thought they stung. The name never got changed those bugs fool plenty of Fairies eager to connect to nature in the middle of nowhere. Entrancing their minds…leading them to their nests where the females wait and-" She went dangerously quiet.

"And what?" Blade's eyes wandered up to the Apax Predator who intensely stared at the bug waiting to strike it down. Such a serious expression. Avalon was calmly approaching he was in no hurry at all.

Itzcali let a phanto-dagger disconnect from her ribbon cloak and activated it all with her telekinesis, "Don't move, dear." She gave a dry warning. "You truly don't know…huh?… They crawl to the backside of a Fairy and wait directly at the magic wing muscles once the Fairy wakes and activates her wings," She moved the dagger to the right angle the Professor just a few steps behind, "They stick to them and lay eggs. The Fairy's wings shimmer brighter and with the Fairy dust, the eggs rain down mid-flight, a vicious cycle that weakens the Fairies in an entire Kingdom. It took years to figure that out." Itzcali raised her hand behind her head to give her shot a bit more vigour.

"We said no weapons…" Professor Avalon now saw Apex Predator Itzcali's dagger and her readiness to strike which indeed drew the attention of all who sat around in that garden on the small floating island and Itzcali drew them in like flies.

Blade suddenly began to laugh out loud so hard and gave the bug a little blow. It dashed away, "AHAHAHAH….I never heard…ahahahahaha!" She snorted and toppled over and had to hold her stomach even getting to the point where it hurt so much her breath got stuck. "Who told you that crap?! PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF! AHAHAHA!" She grimaced this ached so much but she couldn't stop laughing.

"Everything alright?" Virion analysed her immediately startled by the hovering weapon. 'What's going on?' He looked at both the Head Hunter and Professor.

Itzcali clicked her tongue and ruffled her snout, "Ahhh, too bad. I thought you'd be at least that gullible considering Votzaak's screw-up in the tests." She put the dagger away as it made the healers jumpy.

"It wasn't a screw-up! I made a calculated risk assessment," Votzaak landed right next to them with some tasty festival food Cei right behind him who wasn't pleased at all but rather annoyed by the obnoxious Grandmaster. "And your cantina needs an upgrade, Parcival. All that healthy stuff is depressing…" A big fat ass grin on his face at the lighthearted display. They were a tad late.

"…" Parcival, who just had come from a garden walk, only shook his head his eyes wandering to the Pixi hidden within the tree crown who was more than content to see the young Fairy laughing. He had not lost her out of sight even once. "Gullible?" Parcival turned back to Itzcali. It didn't go unnoticed that the girl was turning a bit blue she couldn't get a grip whatsoever. He nodded to the Elves to get that 'fixed' as he didn't want to use his aura effect on her right now. It always was bad to subdue positive emotions forcefully.

Pallagis held Virion back and let Iolas handle it, 'That's not a job for a healer.' Virion agreed. They had used their time to talk a bit more in-depth. It had been hard for them to find the time to do so properly being busy as they were. Nonetheless, the two needed to be on the same page with Blade.

Blade finally managed to get a grip as Iolas kneeled down and helped her get some breaths in. Blade inhaled still amused, "Gullible? Pff, Fairystingers might be plausible as creatures but your story was invalid from the start. OBVIOUSLY." She pushed herself up using Iolas's shoulder. "You don't expect me to believe that Professor Avalon would miss such a dangerous creature when he notices everything, that's preposterous. He could tell you how many straws of grass are in that patch," she pointed to the spot where she had picked up the bug, "He would rather get stung himself and be a ball and chain." A somewhat growly face to him. They both knew exactly what she was referring to and while it was in the past it still left her a bit salty.

'She's still mad about it. Should have known…' Avalon sighed and avoided an inquisitive stare from Sanari Cei. He hadn't told everyone of course. It had been a rather private occasion. "I hope that wasn't the only reason…" Still, it was hard to hide from such a grand compliment she trusted in his abilities to a fault.

Itzcali gave up and stretched her arms, "True enough, glad to see you still so vigilant, but counting straws during our combat training? That's a bit far-fetched." She stared at the Professor. 'Oh, Students… gullible…'

"One thousand three hundred seventy-two," Avalon stared back a monotone answer if there ever was one. "You're free to count on your own time," He didn't even falter a bit. "And you, young Lady, manners. I won't let slandering pass, " A little comeback to her chain and ball comment. That situation had been much more complicated than she let on.

"Uuuh…pulling out the big guns, huh? If I were you I wouldn't count, it'd be too embarrassing," Gwaine slung his arm around Avalon's neck as he noticed Itzcali took a screenshot with her bracelet of that patch of grass. "But since when do you get nervous about getting rescu-" The word got stuck in his throat by that little elbow punch to his chest. "Ouch… why so shy…?" Gwaine withdrew his arm and rubbed his ribs.

"Sounds like a story worth knowing," Itzcali smirked at the Professor. "Do tell?"

Professor Avalon gave a gentle smile, "We still have to figure out what happened during your meditation mishap." His eyes fixated on Iolas and crudely changed the subject.

"I'm not your scapegoat," Iolas crossed his arms. The white robe with the Yaggdronus tree symbol upon it billowed as righteous as the White Jade's. "What's that story about?"

Votzaak snickered, "Oh… if it wasn't so late already. Afraid you are, Goldylocks." He looked to the Fairy who watched the grown-ups all too closely and not all too content for that night to be discussed openly a miscalculation on her part. So, he helped his King's ward out. "Blade, you'll be fine if a bird or any other remnant crosses your path, I think. Just make sure to choose wisely. There certainly is a reason why you encounter remnants and surely it's not to deny a last wish. - Well, Goldylocks, since you made the time to be here. You're the poor soul to group meditate with her."

"What?!" Iolas glared at the Gremlin, "If you're so keen to know you do it. You're far better suited and knowledgeable than me in that regard," It had been such a weird experience he wasn't eager to relive it.

"Oooh, but I am a Grandmaster, I can't be seen fainting." Votzaak gestured like it couldn't be helped. "White Jade has to analyse, your Elf friends are the healers and Itzcali can't initiate a group meditation. She's mainly a psi user, so you're the only one left. Should have brought Aithlin, oh, what a tragedy." It was so easy to draw attention away from the prior topic with the right fodder.

'You little…' Iolas gave him the stink eye. "Pulling the rank card. Chicken…" He grumbled and looked for a good spot he'd not get out of this one. It wasn't something they could do in the cistern as his aura pattern would disturb the waters and become unclear, plus, outside Blade was much more relaxed the sun did her good as pretty as that cave was it was confining. "Very well… Let's get you some magic back before bedtime," He made a wide gesture to a free spot near some lush flower bushes a few meters away.

Blade stared at Iolas as she sorted out her elbow bandage that had ruffled a bit too far along the upper arm when she had hit the ground, 'Did he just imply me to be a little kid?...' She stood there unmoving for just a second thinking really carefully and then turned to follow his gesture. "Ahhh, you wound me, it's not often I get the chance to knock out an esteemed Eques," Blade couldn't help but smirk no matter how cool she tried to play this, "Normally I can only scare the shit out of them." She barely managed to add, much to the dismay of Virion and Iolas.

Itzcali and Votzaak snorted so loud they had to turn away before they would lose it completely.

"…" Iolas was stomped, "Blade…" A bit of a scolding tone he just didn't know what to say. 'Should have seen that coming…'

Blade turned around, "Oh, come on, you're like a brother to me." She stated in all her innocence as she grinned at him in a small pirouette all girly-like.

Iolas was speechless yet again, 'I'm what?' He was one lucky Elf to have enough training to avoid blushing. He staggered in his steps unsure how to take this out of the blue confession of sorts.

"Brother in arms, that is," Blade snickered over her shoulder visibly enjoying that she had landed two hits. She saw Iolas's ears perk just as Itzcali's who burst out into more laughter. 'Heh, Alyssa was right. Works brilliantly on them. Elves, tchehehe.' This made her cheeks tingle. What a great victory finally she wasn't the victim, at least one thing going her way.

Cei shook his head unamused by that display and simply turned to find a good spot for observation, "That's on your 'parenting'. She comes after you…" He fixated on Grandmaster Votzaak and then the rest. "You're way too leisurely in her presence. She's a student, not a college," with that the White Jade Wizard moved to take a fitting spot. Of course, he knew they tried to ease the girl's tension, yet they forgot themselves and earned what they sowed, there was no grounds for their complaints now.

Discorda just flew down from her hiding spot in one of the trees. Votzaak had not let her go, just yet, despite her protest. Now it was clear why. Cloud Tower would bitch around anyways if she were to come back early with a job left undone. 'Blade's so much like them… it's uncanny…' She stirred some faint memories of the past and took pity on the baffled Elf torn between restrained emotions for only a second. this was too funny. "Let's see who lies in whose arms next, heh," She added as she hovered next to Iolas's head.

"…" Iolas side eyed Discorda. "Well, surely not you in hers with the rate you're going…" he mumbled more to himself than anyone else.

Discorda rolled her eyes, "You better not betray her trust in you…or you're even harsher than me." She hissed as she flew on. Her mind wandered to times long past as she followed Blade who was rather annoyed by Discorda showing her face yet again. A heavy heart as Discorda was faced with such hate. 'Don't worry… I'll never let it happen again. Never… Luduana, if you could only see her,' Discorda didn't need Blade's respect or even kinship. She was more than willing to watch from afar.

'Why is she so bothered with betrayal…?' Avalon had a bad underlying feeling. Concordia was like a mother to Fairies yet nowadays was always calculated in her talks with Faragonda. Athena was always squirmy and energetic and yet held back. But Discorda - she was always ice cold and yet… beneath all that… she was so desperate to protect Blade from harm, any kind of harm, made threats and 'enemies' right and left. Avalon wasn't the only one who took notice of that. Today it was crystal clear. 'All three of them, they slow us down so much. Down to Blade's speed… for her own good…' Those words were the constant message. Nonetheless, it was unfathomable with the acquired knowledge why the Pixis made such a big deal out of Shadion, and even that long-gone Council. There was no ground for that behaviour or those measures - erased them from history.


Iolas had created the battle meditation circle in a minute or two still a bit irritated by what had been said. Eventually, he sat down in one of the smaller rune circles that was connected to the big one. It was a bit overkill considering it was just Blade, but they wanted to test it with the same meditation spell as in the tests, which had been for plenty of people. With the remnants, it had been clear that it wasn't bound to be transformed into Shadion. In this case, they had no other clues besides the one happenstance. "Well, do you remember how it works? We meditate and instead of keeping the regenerated magic within oneself, it will be drawn outwards through the magic circle into the middle to be redistributed later since I am a Light user and not able to converge with Dark Magic, please, use Winx powers…" He added this time the chances were she'd use Shadion nonetheless…or well it would activate and take over but it was worth restating as he wasn't keen to be knocked out. 'Right, focus, Athena said I was not paying attention. Let's solve at least this mystery to its full extent today.'


Blade transformed into her Winx and sat down in another smaller run circle opposite to Iolas. She waited a bit so Iolas had enough time to create a starting bubble of regenerating magic. That fine golden thread that weaved through the air before it merged with the rest of the free-floating magic creating a stream was calming in itself. Last time she had been so focused on the runes themselves that that beauty had escapted her. Deep breaths one last glance to Professor Avalon who gave her a reassuring nod. They were all there for her not just to figure out Shadion, no, for her. Nothing said that better than Avalon's expression before her eyes closed. She turned inwards felt the magic and heard Iolas's breath synched with his. This was so easy, second nature. She had had so much trouble when she had gone to Red Fountain in her first school year not anymore. A vast open sea before her as she felt her magic connect. Unruly waves at first her stance wobbly upon that deep blue. "Tch. Not gonna take a dive here," She snickered a bit to herself. The surfs died down quickly this time creating an endless mirror so quiet the water on which she walked upon became. "Hmm…" She turned and turned around this was different from the mind space. It didn't feel like hers, no she could feel Iolas so clearly here and they weren't a separate thing. "Iolas?" Her voice echoed but somehow she knew this wasn't a place where she could find him so there was no way to communicate with him. "Weird…where is he?"


Votzaak huffed long and loud it had taken maybe a second or two before Blade's Shadion had taken over and Iolas had hit the ground unconscious. "Hmmm…so Shadion just ate her Winx once she started meditating, huh." This made absolutely no sense. He never had seen this or anything like it. His head wandered to Virion and Pallagis who each checked out Iolas and Blade without interferring in their meditation. Blade's Light Magic thread had already turned dark as her Shadion had activated, but whatever Dark magic she sent into the bubble it didn't turn up as Dark Magic. 'It's not muddying it.'

"And I thought Iolas is sturdy…" Itzcali found this somewhat hilarious. The Elf had been so concentrated and on alert, nonetheless, could do nothing against fainting. "Maybe it's just not compatible and you got to meditate with her anyway," she shrugged at Votzaak, "or Gwaine he has Dark Magic as well." Her glance wandered to Discorda just like so often today. Nevertheless, that Pixi was deviously enjoying this in a good sense, when their eyes met she turned her head away high and mighty just like before in the cistern. 'Uurgh, if Parcival wasn't here…' Itzcali earned a glare from none other than Votzaak which let her flinch ever so slightly. 'Ts, for all his talk he has no bite…' It was the big difference between the Head Hunters and the Hunter Division. Some of them while presented as unruly were in fact truly law abiding.

"He's fine," Virion looked at Pallagis, "Just like she is... It was the same the last time. She isn't hurting him or vice versa." He scratched his head this was baffling and it had gone down so fast. 'No wonder he didn't break it off last time. He can't even really bat an eye.'

Pallagis nodded in agreement. He gently stroked over Iolas's cheek, "No sensory response though. That's not ideal at all for a battle meditation." His eyes pinned on the big blob in the middle that looked like it was supposed to be gathering Light Magic, yet Dark Magic fed into it.

"Hmmm, very astonishing…" Parcival moved around the blob with Gwaine and Avalon, while Cei remained seated. His eyes sprang from Blade to the blob to Iolas, forth and back. "You see it?"

"Yes, it's obvious now. The Dark Magic gets taken apart into Drion and Mana… just before it hits the blob. It's not convergence at all. You were right Avalon," Gwaine smiled at his old buddy who stood there pondering in his Order robes. The white and dark blue were just as contrasting as this phenomenon.

"How… does that work…? You didn't teach her or did you?" Avalon turned his focus to both Pallagis and Virion. Virion had used something similar at the hearing it was an old healer's trick that had been born out of necessity. Often Light Magic healers met wounded Dark Magic users and barely any could converge those opposite magic types. So, healers learned how to split their magic into Drion and Mana, a tedious craft and not good mid-battle but outside of it definitely doable. Instead of using pure Light or Dark Magic they rather mimicked the composition of either infusing Drion and Mana separately. It took several years to learn and even then…it was often better to find a Dark Magic healer.

"Teach her? You do know how long that takes. She wouldn't even be old enough if we had started with her as a baby," Virion sounded a bit offended.

Itzcali saw Votzaak rummaging in his mind probably with the same question there, "And where did you learn it?" Her black-tipped tail swished around.

"Healer school," They simultaneously answered like a choir their hands and eyes still busy with checking their patients out.

"Oh really? I mean historically. I heard Elves are the best in it. Doesn't mean you invented it," Itzcali stretched a bit as her eyes checked the clouds it was such a nice evening and they were stuck here playing eeny, meeny, miny, moe.

Pallagis frowned as he checked Iolas's pulse by hand not to disturb anything, "We Elves of course invented it the ancient records document this well. We're the first to use it. Our innate nature connection makes us the most suitable as well." He tucked his green tunic wrappings over his Order robe a bit professor-like or maybe just a tiny bit upset.

"Mh, hmmm, and who exactly created it? The fellow named….?" Itzcali stared at them flinging around one of her cloak strips with the phanto-weapons attached.

Virion sighed. Blade herself also didn't react to touch but she was meditating in utmost peace and even he noticed that blob of magic was growing faster than it should, "It's not so simple. Officially it is proven that it was the healer schools which one exactly is hard to guess. Those old scripts are mostly damaged and those that remain fully intact lack information. Unofficially from word to word from one generation to the next the leading expert was an elven Druid named Yathanae. No one is opposing that notion. It is the truth but you won't find it ink on scroll. Therefore any medical book states it as a collaboration of schools." He looked to the Weraaradwolf with a deadpan stare. "And, yes, very old records."

"One of your women?" Itzcali squinted her black eyes her nose ruffled as her hind claws drew groves into the soft earth. "It's unlike Elves to be sloppy with their records," Itzcali crossed her arms challengingly.

"Hmm, well,… Yathanae… I mean, in general, is a human and elven-used name. Elven Druids are simply the Human Fairy equivalent both are strong in connection with nature. An elven Druid rarely leaves Yaggdrasor though. Shanna as an elven woman outside of Yaggdrasor is in itself already an exception not even considering her psi abilities. Don't you find it weird Yathanae was named with a birace name? Elves avoid that most of the time although there are exceptions…"

"Are you implying we Elves stole from Dark Fairies and called it our own!?" Pallagis found the utter thought repulsive. "We'd never do that. We're not some stuck-up snobs we always credit people. ALWAYS. It is against our credo and that never has changed." His greyish eyes directly shot to Discorda. "We did NOT betray any Faries ever. There is no way that would be erased from our private elven non-public records."

Discorda expressionless and emotionless stared back at the healer, "What are you looking at me for? You already know history never lies."

Izcali clicked her tongue, "People do." Another deadlock and that fly wouldn't tell what's what. Both scenarios were incredibly possible.

Parcival breathed out loudly the warmth of the setting sun prickling on his skin, "We'll task Master Aithlin with this. He has the better connections." He got a nod from Votzaak. "Well, enough guessing. I can verify my first findings a few weeks back. There is a third aura from the magic that's gathering in the meditation circle. It is a mixture of both of theirs." He looked to Professor Avalon and Sanari Gwaine but none of them disagreed.

"The reason they are not responding is cause they are so deep in meditation… they fuse two auras into one…" Gwaine elaborated his theory or rather findings.

Professor Avalon nodded, "But why do Iolas and her remember nothing? Or Mercury… Though Mercury said it was easier than ever before for him to meditate… Iolas and Blade both know how to meditate… a shared aura… hmm… what if it's more like…?"