Iolas felt his heart pound. He opened his eyes water was beneath him and his head pulsed so strongly. "Great…. And I concentrated so fiercely … did I still not pay enough attention this time?" He looked around. He was standing on a water surface thin as paper and reflective as a mirror an open vast blue never ending. "Blade!" He turned his head in search of her. His body was so sluggish like it wasn't quite his yet, but that feeling faded with every second. "It's so similar to a psi dive… But not an endless black…" As he walked on ripples fanned out with every step. He halted and reached out with his hand as he would in reality or in a mind space ready to move the waters and command it. His arm stretched out tensed but his hand couldn't grab any via magic or mind. "Not mine to control… and yet…" He could feel his magic within that flat surface. "It's more than just my magic…." His eyes pinned the ground as his thoughts raced his view fading out of focus as he calmed down and breathed with purpose. This was unnerving even for him, but falling victim to his own fear and nervousness was not the answer and for a trained Council Guard this was easy to counter. He saw a shimmer just for a second, "Blade?" Gone. Gone was the glimmer he had seen reflected on the water. His head shot up but she wasn't up in the sky, "A trick of the mind? No…" His eyes scanned the spot again as he kneeled down. His finger touched the water mirror and sent out a ripple flattening any disruption. The surface turned glass-like, see-through, and what he saw… Baffled Iolas blinked, "Blade?" He called out but she didn't react. He looked at her from the bottom up their feet only apart by that thin water mirror. Iolas shortly held back. He called upon his magic and tried to send a flare through his system to sign Pallagis outside. If it worked or not he wasn't sure his body didn't quite respond the normal way. A last breath his golden hair reflected in the water before Iolas drew his arm back to grab Blade and pull her to his side or at least get through so she could pull him to her side.
Blade felt so at ease the wide open blue was just so amazing so at peace everything made sense here. She felt so powerful like everything was possible. Out of the blue, her leg got grabbed and all that tranquillity went up in smoke. "What the?!" Blade panicked as she was yanked into the sea she flailed around unsure what to do as her head submerged. 'FUCK!' She tensed up ready to defend herself yet the second after her head was out of the water there already was solid ground beneath her. Blade coughed so hard she felt the mirror surface ripple intensely a shadow that fell upon her. "You little!" She swiped her leg and jumped up to punch whoever or whatever had come for her. In spite of that, her rapid punch got deflected. She stumbled past a white robe as her motion had been redirected. Her head shot around that tree those golden leaf ornaments… the golden dragonwing-like boots and that reassuring smile with hands in surrender. "Iolas?!" Blade wasn't sure what to say. "Are you crazy!? What did you do that for? How did you even-"
"My apologies… but you didn't hear me, Blade. I didn't mean to startle you I just had to try. Glad to see you're not wet," Iolas beamed at her to comfort the startled girl. 'It's a lot to take in even for me…' But he was experienced magic never was simple he knew that. She on the other hand wasn't fine at all.
"What?!" Blade ruffled through her dry dreadlocks. "What the heck is going on?!" She looked around it had been nice alone, peaceful, that calm was gone now. This was just another dumpster of unknown shit. In response waves emitted from her ever-growing sending both into a slight wobble on the surface.
"Woah, woah," Iolas closed the gap between them and lowered a bit to see eye to eye. "You got to stay calm, Blade. I'm here. Outside everyone's there. We'll figure it out."
Blade balled her fists the waves now making their stances unstable. She tensed up from tip to toe it was like her anxiety had just doubled. "You keep saying that! It's not true! We know nothing and we never will. There's nothing to FIND!" This stupid guessing game. All day long she did what she could, what they asked and for every answer there were five more questions. The sea was in turmoil and overtook everything the sky tainted darker just as the water below them did.
Iolas's eyes jumped around noting everything. He could feel her emotions so intensely as if they were his own. "Blade calm down, you got to," Iolas reached out. He was trained not to follow emotional instinct and subdue them so this while weird was easy.
"No, I had it with that stupid PIXI!" Blade brushed away his hand a giant surf building up behind her rapidly shooting for them.
"Blade, you got to calm down," Iolas took hold of her shoulders in haste and stood composed despite the escalation.
"Fuck you!" Blade bashed away his hands furiously. At the same moment that wave crashed over them and Iolas got flung back and submerged.
Iolas's eyes opened he felt sick and drowsy he had a hard time aiming his spell, "Desi-" His hand shot forward and searched the blob of collected magic. He just knew.
"Shell surface, cube!" Votzaak cast his shield but Discorda's Pixi magic was way faster as if she had expected something like that. Anyone else was quick enough to chip in as quickly as possible and not a second too late as the whole blob ended in a massive magic explosion, gone wrong. The air vibrated.
Pallagis and Virion had pulled Iolas and Blade out and away from the magic circle. "Fine."
"Fine."
"Okay."
"All good."
One by one they all called out to each other.
Blade ripped free from Virion her neon green wings humming as she dashed towards the Guardian Pixi full speed ahead, "Come here, you stupid little shit! TELL ME!"
"BLADE!" Professor Avalon darted and seized her arm his golden angel wings contrasting with her ominous Shadion form. "Stop!"
"No!" Blade reached out with her hand, "Whirling Chakrams!" Magic particles gathered with intent solidified then she sent out her circle blades after Discorda. She would not escape her, not this time. That swelling of emotions; so many of them. Sorrow, hate, confusion, helplessness, anger, care… it was all just boiling over, too much for just her mind to hold and control. Her aim of her magical weapons couldn't be more of a bull's eye. Yet despite her use of magic, the Chakrams got stuck mid-air.
An annoyed sigh from Itzcali who used her psi to counter the girl's magic control with ease. Her other paw held the Pixi like a squish ball as she pushed her down and behind. Itzcali's arms stretched wide, "For the record, she's right." Itzcali hissed at Discorda who was in the shock of her life.
"Let go!" Blade struggled and kicked. Avalon already had managed to wrap his arms around her torso and safely fold the wings to her back at the same time. "I'm done playing nice! She knows! I just got to punch it out of her! Let- URGH!" The air bashed into her face as everything blurred and Professor Avalon dragged her into the sky.
"That's enough." A strong determent tone, harsh going through skin and bones. Avalon let her go with a bit of a push so their wings wouldn't clash. The others were far below no more than ants. 'Hopefully, out of sight out of mind…' He crossed his arms on the chest ready for any foolish stunt. "You're not a brute punching people into submission, Blade. You're a Fairy." He made it utterly clear.
"A DARK FAIRY!" Blade roared back. Her pale skin was a contrast to the darkening sky as the night set in slowly with the last beams of the day vanishing. "A DARK FAIRY! I CAN BE ANYTHING I WANT!" Magic sparked around her in shimmering green.
Avalon raised his eyebrows as he saw that oozing magic she let out trying to voice herself and also… a sad attempt to intimidate him. He stayed unaffected and grounded in this 'discussion' of sorts. "Anything?... Last time I checked you're a person NOT a THING." He took her seriously however she was over the top, yet again. 'Anything Shadion-related that isn't combat just sends her off the roof.'
"Oh really!? Last time I checked I'm a stupid bookcase Orders just LOOOOVE to sink their teeth in while fumbling around doing NOTHING to get actual INTEL when it flies directly under their noses! ELITE MY ASS!" Blade wildly gestured around her ghostly eyes piercing like arrows. She just couldn't calm down some of those emotions weren't quite her own.
The Professor sighed deeply, "We're here to help YOU." He could understand that train of thought and to a certain degree it was true, but she was nothing like a labrat to them. 'Maybe, she had enough for one day… weird though for her to explode from zero to a thousand like… well…hmm.' He couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Blade shook her head she knew him to be right and yet she couldn't settle down, "As if! Standing around looking pretty as Liverworts ain't helping!" She screamed into his face surprised herself she didn't talk like that. 'Liverworts? A plant?' Her eyes widened as she understood that swell of emotions wasn't her own it was… she gazed below but couldn't make Iolas out. "What…?" Tesnse she cracked her knuckles before Blade darted higher into the sky just racing, just flying, the freezing air on her skin. She couldn't cut those feelings off, that scared her.
"Blade!" Avalon dashed after her, he was about to catch up with her as he spotted the little Cheweeli swarm racing towards his student. "..." He broke off and watched carefully.
Gwain pulled up right next to Avalon, "She finally made too much of a ruckus, huh. Was wondering the whole day when they would show up." His little grin showed. He watched as dozens of little Cheweeli caught up to Blade easily and wrapped around her. "They make our job so much easier…"
Cheweeli were rare little snake-like dragons of the Fairy Animal category. While extinct or never native on next to all Kingdoms. Here at the White Jade, they nested in masses. Their bodies were a light sky-blue with a crescent moon pattern and their wings were made of clouds of the setting sun as well as their horns and tailfin. What they loved and why they thrived here was the serene and balanced nature of the White Jade Headquarters. If they found any inconvenience, someone in turmoil be it one of them or any other visitor on the sky islands they swarmed to deal with it.
"Hey, what the?!" Blade fed up tried to brush off those snakes that began to cover her like leafwork. "GET OFF!" She growled at them all. They weren't even bothered by her Dark Magic. 'Where did those even come from?...' Her breath already slowed down and that raging storm inside faded so quickly. Blade could finally breathe again. Her prior fear and annoyance faded to surrender as she got nuzzled by the Cheweeli. She even snickered as they tickled her. Yet her eyes spotted some Cheweeli growing blackish their sunset eyes a gleaming pink and white as they darted off into the sky. "Heh?" Blade shuttered as in an eye bat her eardrums were blown out by a thunder roll and lightning strike that rushed over the horizon, a blinding white that even pushed her backwards. "Woah…" It was then, that her mind was clear again and her deep breaths had the intended outcome. One of the little Cheweeli snuck through her top and pecked her on her cheek. "Sorry… I interrupted your…" Blade's eyes wandered along their fluffy could wings. "Sunbathing?" A cute chirp as they altogether pulled her along with their swarm.
"Enjoying the downtime?" Gwaine grinned as she was 'brought back to the chaperones'. He scratched one Cheweeli under the chin.
Blade looked a bit embarrassed to the side, "… It… it wasn't me… I don't freak like that…"
"Oh, I know enough about you to know that's not entirely true. But yes, Cei confirmed your aura at the disconnect was spiking similar to a psi control adapting that of another," Gwaine inspected her and waited.
"Another… huh… that would mean it truly was….. Iolas?" Blade was speechless she turned to check the floating island but it was still too far away. "But he's so calm and never…" Like drapes, some Cheweeli were satisfied and let go of her and flew off into the night.
Avalon's eyes followed Blade's as a breeze caressed his skin, "Blade, just because we look composed. Doesn't mean we are. Iolas is an Elf they are full of emotions. You know Professor Palladium how quickly he gets upset with you, all the time…"
"I did not let Amal write that assay!" Blade defended herself promptly and finally could hum her wings again as the little cloud puffs let them go. However, one newly found friend stuck to her.
"Assay?" Avalon shook his head he had to ask about that fine little story another day, "That's not the point. Eques Iolas is a trained Council Guard even if they are in high-stress situations they manage to block such things out. That doesn't mean the turmoil is non-existent." He signed for her to fly down again and take the lead. Up here it was getting way too cold for her Fairy wings once the sun was gone.
Despite that, Gwaine flew past her and turned upwards as he flew on his back, "We stay calm so you have an anchor. Sure, we're no teenage hormone bomb," he snorted, "but we got feelings too. I promise." He theatrically touched his chest and spoke in that overdramatic voice.
"Tch. Sure, you do…" Blade rolled her eyes and let the Cheweeli glide along her arm it was such a beautiful creature. And those wings were like candyfloss, just not that sticky.
Gwaine looked at Avalon, 'Boy she's at a limit if she doesn't complain about the teenage comment.' His tabard flapped in the wind as he turned and went into a straight dive.
"Hey, I didn't mean-!" Blade wanted to chase after him but Avalon cut her off.
"Let's go." He nodded into a different connection.
"But I didn't mean it like that… I'm not some heartless Pixi," Blade protested.
"Gwaine knows, believe me, Blade," Avalon smiled at her hiding his worry, "You gotta get the little one back to his nest before the mum comes looking. You don't want to see an angry mum." He noted stoic as ever. His grey eyes were on her at all times, searching.
"Yeah… one is enough…" Blade rubbed her eyes shortly a little yawn on the side as she turned to the constructs that Avalon had pointed out. "Better not upset your mum, little one." She tipped on the Cheweeli's nose and got another happy chirp in return. "So cute…" A faint smile. She was so enthralled with that cutie and the ethereal way it moved.
Gwaine broke off his dive and set for landing his golden wings beat up the dust and made the grass bend. "Yeah, we're not doing anything else today." He dispersed his wings.
"You're kidding? After all my work?" Votzaak glared at Discorda who at least for a second looked a bit concerned with a hint of guilt.
Itzcali growled as she spun around Blade's chakrams with her psi. "Great… and I missed a mission for this… dragging day…"
Iolas on the other hand was rather concerned, "Why? Is she alright? That lightning was ginormous. His eyes searched the sky as he boosted them with magic still following their path. "This is all my fault…"
"Woah, cool your dragon fire," Gwaine stepped in front of him. "Avalon's simply bringing her to a nice comfy room with a few Cheweeli around to keep her company before her eyes fall shut. They take to her and she to them, like any other Fairy."
"Blade's reckless. There's no way that she so easily would give in to a few words of goodwill. I tried. She's reckless and trains till she topples over," Virion somewhat protested in disbelief. "Not that that's a good thing…" He corrected promptly.
"Nah, she didn't even react to the teenage comment," Gwaine chuckled, "She's done for today, believe me. Followed the dear Professor like a duckling. Funny how she does that when always fighting with all of you like a wild boar." He smirked at the Elves.
"Well," Discorda butted in, "Time to release me then, kid," the Pixi glared at Votzaak. "NOW."
Votzaak stared at the Pixi his red slit pupils fixed on her, "I should just bind you to her with that proximity spell." Still, he snapped his fingers and the spell ring around her wrist dissipated, "But she would kill you. Can't have that you're one of our lexicons."
Discorda huffed offended and was more than eager to leave when she got stuck in the air, "HEY." Her gaze zoomed in on the Leprechaun but it wasn't him.
"Ah, ah," Itzcali had her hand stretched out and held her in place, "Why did she go crazy? What do we need to train with her?" The Wereaaradwolf Lady had no intention of letting the Pixi go without that piece of information. "Speak." She hissed a last warning and tightened that grip.
Discorda was taken aback faced with that wild display, "Missed your flea shot?... urgh….. Isn't that obvious? Meditation."
"Yeah… no… that didn't work out so well, now did it?" Itzcali ever so slightly squeezed the Pixi with an angel's smile.
"ENOUGH," Parcival gave one warning and the Lady let go of the Guardian Pixi.
Discorda breathed out, "You're all so slow on the uptake, you got thousands of ways how to calm your shits, pick on and teach her." She gave in. They would be stuck with Blade's pace either way and the risk was high that Balde would try with some friends alone – eventually. So, that breadcrumb only cut short a discussion they already had in their minds. "Portal, NOW. Unless you want Aithlin up your ass." Discorda turned to Votzaak as she finally was free of the psi hold.
"Fine…" Votzaak a bit saddened opened a tiny portal to Cloud Tower, "For your sake, I hope the Tower is happy with you. Or Griffin." A slightly manic chuckle before he opened another to leave, "Well, see ya all around. Don't lose my Kings ward, Parcival." He waved his goodbye and was even gone before Discorda.
A quiet knock on the door before Iolas stepped inside. Avalon's head turned from the night sky to the entrance. Avalon was relaxing in the window beam, uncharacteristically with one leg dangling outside his back leaning against the white sturdy walls.
Iolas spotted Blade straight away who had fallen asleep on some fluffed-out nest amidst some Cheweeli hatchlings. Peaceful. "…"
"Thank you," Avalon addressed him quietly.
Iolas raised an eyebrow as he stepped to him a few little runes and Iolas created a simple dampening field for sound around them. "For what?"
"You care," Avalon swung his leg over and stood up.
Iolas raised his eyebrows even higher, "You too. We all do."
Avalon smiled a bit bemused, "Aah, I'm her wise guy. And yes, I do care. Nevertheless, first and foremost I am her Professor. And that won't change." He massaged his neck he was already back into his suit and tucked his sleeves and jaquet into postions.
"And I'm her trainer. Won't change either," Iolas was confused. His golden boots flashed through the white Yaggdronus Order coat.
The Professor breathed out long and slow, "You're a field trainer. Even an active leader on missions. Already were. You have her trust, Eques. I can't, well don't have the time, to help her in the field. I can do the aftermath until Shanna takes over. Be a voice of reason and guidance. You on the other hand indeed are a brother in arms to her. That's more." Avalon stared into Iolas's leaf-green eyes.
So deeply that the Elf's eyebrows furrowed. "It's different... Not more or less. Don't lie to yourself, Professor. - Avalon... I won't get in between you. I can't and that isn't my goal. She's my student – a team member at times. I do care about her as much as any other student."
Avalon chuckled, "Ahh, who's lying to himself now, huh? Blade's different even to me. And inside this Order, I had my fair share of talks, deep ones, with patients, before I became a Professor. Black Magic leaves its scars even if cleansed. She creates the puppy syndrome with anyone she gets into contact. Well, besides Cei… he's somewhat immune to puppy cases."
Iolas gave him a questioning look.
"Had too many," Avalon hid a smirked. "Didn't hear that from me."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Iolas stated objectively. "Puppy case, huh? I wouldn't call her a puppy… rather a raging dragon. She tares society apart wherever she goes."
Avalon proudly nodded, "She's change. They all are. Jewel's death was a catalyst for everything - for them. For all the Fairies. Even the Sorceresses… and the Police added the boys. The Denied are more than just a side project or a fluke. It's one of many sparks of the next generation. And…"
"And?" Iolas asked quietly after a moment as the Paladin didn't continue.
Avalon turned back to the window. "Jewels's death hit her hardest. Blade doesn't have siblings. Maybe it's too far-fetched. Nevertheless, I think to some extent Jewels was like a sister to her. She has not forgiven herself… not completely. Every time she's hit by that… notion of supremacy so many Nobles portray she snaps." He sank his head and closed his eyes. "She needs people like you. Like Votzaak… like me. Blade needs to learn how to bend but not break. She takes everything personally. She's not just compassionate… she connects…" A chuckle. "Techna's wish for Zenith to connect with other worlds to be part of the bigger picture and not just sales number-wise, it reflects in Blade so strongly. She's the first Fairy of that realm to really connect with nature, well, at least from all those Faries we have seen in Alfea. First lesson she had, she ran into a wisp…" He halfway snorted and had to clear his throat promptly.
Iolas started at Blade. 'A wisp? As a none…magic bloodline…' He knew Blade had special encounters but a wisp in the true wilderness.
"…Iolas." Avalon turned back to him. "We can't let her fall. Jewels's death was… No one should have to witness a true burnout as heroic as those are, they leave scars – scars that need more than time to heal. So, please, you… I can be there for her when she's back from a mission, philosophise with her. Help her find peace. You; you are with her on missions. Don't just lead her, protect her. I know we shouldn't show favouritism or neglect others. And it's dangerous to…" He knew it and still, there was no way he wouldn't voice his request. "I don't want to see her heart shatter again. Not like that. Not like-" He bit his lip. Just remembering that night on the Red Fountain stands was enough to let a shiver run down his spine. "…Being a Dark Fairy. So much… death… history… she cares too much for her own good. The past is always at her heels. She's not in balance. She-"
Iolas tilted his head slightly as he laid a hand on Avalon's shoulders. "Just answer me one question first." He stared at the Paladin who was still composed. It wasn't desperation that spoke rather knowing he alone wasn't enough or unable to fill that gaping hole. "Why me? You already got Vot-"
"You're a wise Elf. Iolas, you get her. You care, just as she does, no matter who you meet. Yet unlike her, you're in balance. You figured it out. Being a team leader and still seeing your team as family. You got centuries of experience in the field." Avalon elaborated without a doubt. "I never planned on being in the field for long. I joined White Jade, so I gain knowledge and prevent tragedies, train, and impart wisdom to the next generation before they go into battles against dark forces. That's not enough with her. Blade… she seeks… justice… maybe even revenge to some degree. She'll chase after any traces she can find. She doesn't back down. You have all that I lack. What Palladium lacks. And, funny as that may be, more time. You have the luxury of simply asking one of your Council Guard colleges to step in if need be. I can't just leave a classroom unl-"
Iolas squeezed the Professor's shoulders, "Hmm, I wouldn't say I have more time per se…" He chuckled there just a bit. "But I can do my best to make time, as often as I can. It was always the plan to help each student to find said balance." He knew what the Professor meant. And indeed he had an in with her occasionally. "So, yes, if she lets me…" His gaze wandered to Blade. Carefree she slept inmids all those Chewleei as if she was part of their swarm. "… you have my word. As a trainer and as a friend."
