Blade stared into the endless blue. Her thoughts didn't echo out here, what a relief. If they did, all the Shadowlands would break loose. The water was uneven not as much as a mirror as it had been the last time they all had played around with this battle meditation. "Stay cool, Blade," She mumbled to herself. This was the one place she shouldn't be even near to. Another session at the White Jade Headquarters plenty of masters of aura reading attuned to the slightest difference being the best in reading people. This almost felt like an interrogation though this lesson was far from it or rather experiment part two. Shadion always took over when Blade entered a group meditation and what exactly happened or how; The risks, the inner workings… The fact that she could mix Dark with Light users during the meditation… it was as much a mystery as it was a highly sought-after ability for centuries. No one had managed it. There was only magical theory. And now she a commoner, a nobody, came along with a long-lost Fairy transformation that shouldn't exist and just… did it. Couldn't control it, but did it, the one thing that had eluded experts for so long.

Cei's orange hair flashed through the surface as he managed to walk up to the water surface of this endless blue as if he was coming from a cellar unlike Iolas who had pulled Blade under and she had come out the other side. "Now that wasn't too hard," the mage rolled his shoulder. It was still weird to be in that space that was so similar to the mind space and yet completely different to the endless blackness. "Don't forget to breathe, Blade," he examined the girl closely. "I expected the water to be much calmer. Iolas said it was like a mirror of water to walk upon." He lifted his foot. The water indeed was like solid ground where he walked but far off he could see the waves and there seemed to be two swirling currents below both of them.

"Yeah, well, maybe it's connected to the weather or something," Blade sighed and looked at his white and blue robes lined with gold in the Order's ornament patterns. She had managed to keep Avalon out of this group meditation. 'If he'd be here he'll pick up on everything…' She had calmed down. Still Seth, the ring, the news she had followed about Desertia it all was bubbling beneath the surface. She watched the current, 'Will you shut up… stupid conscience…'

"Blade?" Cei placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her half a jumpscare. "You got to relax. Discordia isn't here to nag and as you wished Avalon is watching over you from the outside." He didn't like that she was so unfocused. He'd take a stronger tone, however last time she had bolted into the sky and the training had ended. There was time for scolding later when it truly counted.

"I am relaxed," Blade crossed her arms and kicked across the water's surface. It splashed, but nothing more happened. "Well, what a finding?" She announced sarcastically.

Cei stared at her, "Noted," He answered dryly. "And now, concentrate and stay calm so I can do an aura reading of this space."

"I already told you, everyone, I don't know what happens. Why are you and not Gwaine entering the meditation with me? I thought that was the saver route."

The mage didn't let himself be deterred or riled up, "Everyone knows how Dark Magic convergence works and battle meditation with your own kindred. It won't do us any good. We discussed that-"

Blade pulled on her Jacket, "NOT. WITH. ME. Or what I WANT," She cussed. The waves afar built up more. Her mind kept jumping back to lost memories that feeling of walking into darkness without seeing the ground. A crumbling bridge to gap dangers with her - their - goals. So torn her fists clenched shortly to keep her fingers from picking her nails.

Cei simply turned his head staring at the scene and analysed it, "Hiding will never work. Problems have a way of biting one in the behind when one needs it the least."

Blade rolled her eyes studying the endless blue, "I'm not hiding anything," she clawed into her arms. Her teeth ground and her jaw tensed. What a relief he wasn't scrutinizing her, unlike Avalon who would have pierced into her very soul.

Cei didn't believe her for a second and commented dryly, "You are a teenager. Teenagers always hide something." He didn't smirk unlike Itzcali or Votzaak would have done. Instead, his eyes wandered the waves in the distance. He had a job to do. "The more riled up you get the stronger they grow."

"Oh, really? I wouldn't have guessed that in a million years," Blade turned away from him checking the horizon back to back.

"Enough," Cei's voice admonished her harshly. He could be Griselda's twin considering his piercing glare. "Focus. This is important."

Blade threw her hands into the air, "You were the one starting it, genius." Her arms fell to her sides as she walked a bit to create more space. This place truly was a mirror of her emotional state. 'For that, it's kind of calm. I don't feel calm. Weird.'

"I, in fact, did not," Cei didn't back down neither did he raise his voice, indeed the reincarnation of tranquillity. "If there is a problem opening up about it is the best course, to WHOM lies in your judgment. You have plenty of friends, teachers and Shanna, even family. Don't be a fool and let it eat you up. You already have enough on your plate."

'You don't say. Fucking clueless…' Blade huffed annoyed and stared at the ground where raindrop ripples fanned out from her feet while Cei didn't seem to have any at all. So vexing. "And next you tell me I can talk to you…" She muttered trying to relax. It wasn't helping that this space felt like it was hers and not hers at the same time.

"No. That be a questionable choice as well, you have plenty of options far more suitable. I don't know you well enough to truly give sound advice for something that seems so personal. Nonetheless, if you deem me the right one. I will not decline your request for council," Cei closed his eyes and breathed in deeply in and out, taking his time. His senses fully honed in on collecting as much information and sensations as possible. "So, how do you feel?"

Blade groaned loudly splashing some water again with her foot. "You just said that you'd be-"

"Focus," Cei cut her off. "We're trying to figure this ability out not discuss life choices or teenage chaos." He breathed through once again his shoulder relaxed and slacked. "So, again, how do you feel? Describe it. What do you notice? What are you drawn to the most? What scares you? What feels natural?" He paused turning back to her he opened his eyes again to read her aura instead of the surroundings.

"Uhhh…" Blade was a bit stomped. She shook her head quickly to rattle herself out of that endless guilt trip. "I – uhmm," she stared at her hand moving the fingers with intent as if to grasp the answers. "I feel… stronger. No, more effective?" Her voice pitching at the end. She was so unsure lacking focus was the right word for her predicament. "I see the same things you see, a floor of water, ripples, waves, blue sky, horizon line, mirroring effects… I am mostly drawn to… well, where we stand. I don't feel like it is a good idea to wander in the distance. Not that it would help."

Cei squinted his eyes his orange hair still as the slight breeze had stopped once Blade had found her centre, "Why wouldn't it help?" The current below her ebbed down as well and her reflection became clearer.

"It makes no difference," Blade answered intuitively. "I mean… it doesn't, right? Everywhere looks the same besides the waves far off. And no matter where I walk they stay the same distance. Not that I truly tried."

"Interesting," Cei mumbled to himself and nodded slowly as if he had cracked a secret, "Continue."

Blade grumbled slightly. This felt like some quiz from Palladium. "It's scary because I don't understand this, obviously. And still, it feels right. Kind of safe and yet… not entirely," Blade sighed loudly, "That's not helping is it? I mean it's all - obvious." Blade ruffled through her dreadlocks and massaged her neck.

"Any self-reflection is helpful. We're gathering information so we can figure this out, together and apart. Everyone has his theories. The most important thing is that you, yourself, find peace with this and can use it. Or not use it if you don't like it. Just cause one can cast a spell doesn't mean you have to speak it," His blue eyes searched the sky which truly was clear and bright but there was no sun. The girl didn't even find it important to not she looked normal and wasn't in her Shadion form, outside in the real world she most certainly was. 'This place is raw… just like the mind space.'

Blade snorted suppressed after his words had lingered in her mind, "You sound like Avalon. You are all kinda the same kind of…well jade-ish." She cringed as she wasn't sure how to put it. Yet Cei didn't seem to be offended or confused.

"Of course we are," Cei pulled on his dark blue sleeve, "White Jade isn't some wild Head Hunter stash of muscles and brains. We are a special kind of division. Fineness and a narrow code of how we conduct ourselves as well as values narrow our ranks down considerably. Not to mention, aura reading needs precision, a clear mind, balance and a nag for the trade. So, yes, we are all jade-ish." He tucked one last time at his sleeve and was finally content with the result which contrasted starkly with what he said next. "To be honest, out of all of us, Curate Avalon is the oddity. He never intended to go the White Jade route in the common sense. Still, Grandmaster Parcival and Master Morgan both saw wisdom in his request and let him join the Order. No one surpasses him in aura reading teenagers to this day. Yet the Professor lags behind in general to our peers, both in combat ability and overall aura reading skill. That said, he's a genius in picking up skills and dedicated to a fault once his mind is set. He was the first to hit the rank of Curate in record time just to leave the common rank-ups and instead became a Professor. If he only aspired to it, he could easily catch up, so I believe. Conversely his focus then and now is on guiding the next generation BEFORE they enter 'a battlefield'. I can't quite understand what he values about the job of a Professor. We help a lot more people when doing our duty here to cleanse people and help them reconcile with themselves. However, it is honourable and undoubtedly important to help students face the world, themselves and the unknown. A route I would never consider."

Blade tilted her head. Her dreadlocks fell to the front, "I'm not sure if that was a compliment or bad-mouthing. What has that to do with anything here though? I thought we are to – focus." She brushed the dreadlocks back over her shoulder.

"It is a compliment, missed chances and matter of fact. Just cause we disapprove of something isn't a reason to drown in emotions," Cei gestured to the water below his tone stern and admonishing. "I am sure you have noticed. There are currents beneath us." He openly gestured to them as if it spoke for itself.

"Of course, I did," Blade raised her eyebrows her tone questioning his finding as she leisurely stretched her arms over her head. Unaffected by the scolding or whatever he was trying to do. 'Disapprove… What does he know? Nothing…'

Cei nodded relieved she wasn't at least paying attention to some degree. Her dismissal didn't go unchallenged, his blue eyes hit hers. "Well then, you - of course - can tell which current of the two is yours." He put out the query and wasn't impressed to see her dazzled stare at the water below.

"Two… oh, yeah…" She said but she hadn't noticed. It took quite a while for her to truly discern between the two. They parted and merged several times in different patterns. Cei waited just like Avalon would, giving her time to study, to understand and to draw conclusions.

"The more swirly one." She pointed at a branching out part of the currents.

Cei barely gave a nod of approval. "Yes, and when you take offence to things I say, they divide. If we agree or feel similar they merge and become more stable. It's in constant flux. The biggest difference between us though is both currents flow into your feet. Your current seems to come from the wide space. While I only have the current that connects us both. In short, as it already was theorised you are a conduit. However, it is less about magic skills and a lot more about control and connection of emotions. The better we are attuned on a social level the more streamlined the currents get. There is no difference in size or radius between the currents. The waves in the distance most likely are connected to the subconscious. If it gets closer to the surface the more this solid ground turns into a raging sea. Your state of mind is also more prominent and factors in the overall state of this space the most." He walked closer to her. He could see the doubt in her eyes. "I tested it not to worry when I got angry not much changed."

"When you were angry?" Blade echoed in utter confusion. "When were you angry?"

Cei didn't answer at first, "It's not only vexing to you to be faced with secrets and no clear leads." He brushed over his clothes as if it could wash off that annoyed stare of hers. "If I were to guess, the thickness of currents is based on magic, somehow. You said you feel more effective. I currently am less effective in safety and information gathering I decreased our gap for this round. We'll have to try with Gwain as a third participant for the real deal. And maybe your classmates. You said they will come to pick you up after their classes or homework."

"Our gap…" Blade exhaled and gave one short glare into the distance. Indeed the waves were lower now. When she was distracted from the troubling things in life. "Great way to rub it in…" She joked pushing her worries into the background. "Okay, well, let's see how much magic we regenerated and can be divided now. Surely Avalon, Gwaine and Nimue are eager to discuss results… That hopefully turns up a lead."

Unlike last time with Iolas, there wasn't a massive amount collected that defied known logic. Instead, a medium-sized orb—exactly double Blade's expected output alone. This already solidified suspicions about how Dark Fairies influenced battle meditation. The next test would confirm their theories.

For this round, Cei had mimicked Blade's regeneration rate to a tee—or magic flow, as Avalon had roughly explained it before the test. Magic flow was a deeper concept, describing the currents of magic within the body. Slowing the flow reduced regeneration, much like how slowing one's breathing could calm the heart rate.

The White Jade were renowned for their aura reading and cleansing abilities. Influencing magic flow was the foundation of their skills and their supreme tool to gain arcane mastery. However, that level of precision was excessive for combat and time-consuming to study. Beyond healers, most didn't even dabble in it.

"Well then," Avalon gave Blade a confident smile as he tugged his long, tailored coat into place. "Ready for the next round?"

Cei looked at him unimpressed, "This isn't a combat session. If you stir her more than needed, Professor, it only will cause trouble." His hand swept through his curly hair. His eyes fixated on the meditation circle searching for cracks and defects.

"Ahhh," Nimue gave him a hard clap to the back. "Always so uptight. Maybe we should check your robe's measurements. Maybe you need a new one." She laughed her long black hair dancing in her delight.

Gwaine snorted as he looked at her lovingly, "Don't try, dear. His sternness makes him so likeable as my teammate."

"Indeed, if we both would act as pleasuras as you we'd never get the job done," Cei sounded so serious but clearly was returning the jab. His gaze hit Blade, "You did listen, right? Or were you spacing out again?"

Their little discussion had taken a lot longer than Blade had thought. "Of course, I listened to the key points. Gwaine enters the meditation and we all use our normal regeneration rate." Blade massaged her hand that pale skin of her Shadion transformation made her look far worse than she felt. Her neon green wings fluttered shortly offended.

"All? You are not train-" Cei couldn't stand inaccuracy yet Gwaine slung his arm around him the Paladin's weight making him stop.

"Details, details, the outcome is the same," Gwaine grinned brightly into his face. "Now let's get this done before you need to go, movie night with Kitty, right? You know how impatient the flamboyant Sorceress gets." He dragged Cei slightly along to the meditation circle.

"Yet another disaster to happen…" Cei shot another disapproving scowl at Avalon. It was inconceivable to him that students of their Curate were so arrogant. The Joined Track was beyond the first weeks. In the White Jade, such behaviour would have been eradicated a long time ago.

Avalon sighed shortly he didn't argue that point, "Sanari Cei, with all due respect, besides Queen Dusk there is no royal or even noble blood coursing through the Sorceresses. And that goes for a good portion of the specialists too. Order and conduct took your entire childhood to learn and perfect in the suitable surroundings – Lord Cei. Teaching the young takes time and you'd bite on granite with Kitty if you think the same tactics you experienced would work on her."

Blade looked forth and back between them, "True," She snorted, "Before Kitty hits a wall she never reconsiders."

"Says the right one," Nimue noted as she passed the young fairy turning into her Sirenix with a graze that was dazzling. The carabian blues and greens flashed in the sunlight and that diadem made out of White Jade painted her in a royal flare, though the woman was far from it.

Blade paced up and down the mirroring floor of the endless blue. The current was a lot quieter this time around. It didn't take long before an enthralled Gwaine greeted her from behind.

"Yoh," he lifted a hand casually as if they met in the streets. Fascinated by this space and took in the overall tranquil and yet slightly stirred atmosphere. "This was rather- you okay?" He quickly stepped towards Blade.

"Hm? What? Yeah," Blade swayed shortly then blinked confused before the world came back to focus. The offered hand she instead used to push up straight again rather than to lean on it.

Gwaine crouched to see her face his eyes shortly flickered to the currents but they were fine. "What's wrong? Tell me." However, Blade stepped back to create a bit of distance and gain personal space. His hand hovered around her as he analysed everything.

"Nothing just felt sick for a second there," Blade opened and closed her hand as if to get the feeling back. "It's gone now," She balled her fist. There was that trembling within her. "So much power…" She whispered baffled. This wasn't even close to what she was used to like her veins were on fire ablaze with magic. "You feel nothing?"

"No," Gwaine's voice echoed cautiously. He scanned the horizon, waves, currents... "It's just like Cei described." He didn't like it. There was nothing off besides that glint in her eyes. The one when people felt the ecstasy of power beyond their grasp. What adrenaline did for the muscles or Black magic consuming the mind though there was no trace of it. "Blade look at me." He touched her shoulder firmly to ground the girl. "Focus, don't let it take over."

Blade frowned as she noted the worry in his features, "I'm fine. I'm not going… insane or anything. It just feels great. I am definitely in control. Promise." She smiled. Finally, something that felt right, like something positive – useful.

Gwaine wanted to preach self-control as his head shot to the side. The dripping of water resounded as Cei entered the space as if he was walking up cellar stairs again. "Already? You said you give us about two minutes."

"I did, one-ten to be exact," Cei wasn't pleased to see what Gwaine had already spotted in Blade. His second foot hit the floor of water floor as the gap behind him closed. His lips barely parted, "Gwaine!" His toes pressed off. He dashed. A shot of pain hit his chest and interrupted his sprint.

Disoriented Gwaine stumbled backwards. He saw Cei flickering out and in of existence. His field of vision spinning before Gwaine managed to brace himself again. His hand shot out to Blade, yet it felt like he was stuck in slow motion.

Blade only saw the water beneath her feet, the floor rapidly coming closer. Her body didn't listen, like a timber, she fell face first towards the currents. Her sight blurred. There was so much power, so much magic. It was literally knocking her off her feet.

Gwaine had managed to catch her arm and buy that split second. So Cei who had pushed through the pain, was right by her side and scooped the Fairy's upper body into his grasp. "How by the Great Dragon…? My magic flow got slowed. I adjusted to the forced throttling." He quickly noted as he held on to the girl as her body slacked.

Gwaine stared at the horizon. He had expected that the meditation plain would shatter or a tsunami would swallow them up, but nothing. "The currents," He pointed them out as Cei lay Blade down on the ground. "They changed again."

"Yes. We got three and they were broader before she collapsed," Cei gently held his hand against Blade's cheek. It was strange it felt like hot coals, nonetheless, there was no extra heat source and the water they stood on cool as the sea. "However now they are still broader than in my first go, alone."

"So, bigger…" Gwaine took a moment longer to inspect them. "True. Before you entered we were the same size and the currents were thinner." He tried to get a pulse from Blade but it didn't work like that inside this plain. Nonetheless, her breathing already slowed and the redness in her cheeks faded slowly. "She shortly felt sick. Nothing of this calibre before you joined."

"Same size?" Cei closed his eyes and centred himself before he let his eyes wander again comparing it to the last round.

Gwaine was relieved to see Balde's fingers already twitched. A few silent groans announced her return to awareness. "You said throttled, you didn't adjust your magic flow yourself, Cei?"

Cei shook his head nearly unnoticeable his hands free to his sides ready for anything. "Not at first. I reacted. Just like we do in magic flow training sessions. However, you have no ability to throttle my system, which means..."

"…Shadion…" Gwaine mumbled, "Well, this makes it easy to understand. We get your regeneration rate. The only reason why she would collapse and I feel a boost. She barely managed to adjust to me and yours floored her." He chuckled released as he caressed through his beard. Somehow she managed to knock your capacity down a peck." His hand resting on his chin.

"The fainting…." Cei leaned his neck into his back. Recalling the aura readings from Iolas.

Avalon was still honed in on Blade her aura was flickering weirdly as the magic blob in the middle steadily grew after some rapid flux. Her bracelet noting down all the data it collected he had opened up the overview screen just in case he'd miss something. "How's Cei?"

"Knocked out cold for a second. I'd say he is back to normal though. I won't move him back up to his sitting position just yet. It might unbalance something," Nimue quickly checked him out. "His magic flow dropped. And then caught itself," Nimue lifted her gaze to the blob. Her magic water currents still swirled in a circle around the gathering magic in its Caribbean blue. Almost a serene picture as the sun glistened off it. However, the spell was ready to encapsulate the magic and swallow it whole. Sure of her diagnosis she pressed off her knees and with a few steps she reached Gwaine who was still sitting upright. A short press on his back with her hand, "They have the same magic flow. Strange This Magic flo is higher than Gwaine's normal rate." Worry in her eyes as she saw Blade's aura flicker. It was strained in its pattern but otherwise, it was the same.

Avalon breathed out deeply, "Her body can't sustain this for long. It's not used to such levels. She's trying hard as always." He pressed His hand covered in glistening ice crystals against her neon-green wings. They were glowing brightly in rising intensity. "They are burning up. They'll shatter in the worst case. We got to pull them out. She needs a lot more training before she can meditate with anyone higher than Gwaine's normal output."

"Agreed."

Blade's head rested against one of the garden stones. She pressed some ice wrapped in Professor Avalon's handkerchief onto her forehead. The cold liquid trailed down her temples. She still felt a certain ecstasy she couldn't quite grasp. That feeling of having such a high regeneration rate was baffling to her. 'No wonder nobles are so confident…' Her lips moved but no sound escaped her, her thought unspoken.

The four had already drawn their full conclusion in an enthusiastic discussion. Simply put, if she understood them right through Shadion within the battle meditation. Dark and Light magic got broken up into Mana and Drion and then merged, the reason it worked without her being able to converge the two natures. And somehow for that reason, the magic flows of everyone got boosted the the strongest within the group, in this case, Cei. Her body wasn't able to buffer it, so somehow it had forced Cei's hand. Who luckily was trained enough to adapt, unlike Iolas who had been knocked out all the time. Gwaine was a trained Paladin nowhere near the level of a Wizard so with him she only had felt a slight sickness.

"Hey there," Gwaine let himself fall into the grass beside her shortly giving her a rub on her upper arm. "Feeling better?"

Blade tilted her head to him. "Depends. My body feels back to normal. Still, I'd like to keep that kinda regeneration for everyday life." The possibility, of matching some of the other fairies or outpowering them the prospect was alluring to her.

"Sad news, you won't get there not permanently at least. We'll find some training exercises for you, so you can meditate with the likes of Cei and higher. Your body just needs to learn to adjust to such power outputs. Even if you don't have them inherently. Infusing one's magic into a battle meditation circle is a bit counterintuitive. Needs practice to be effective. Don't worry about it, you'll get there. And that should ease the strain on your body. It just tried to hold onto the power."

Blade sighed and let the ice drop from her forehead into her hands, "Sucks to let go…"

"Better than cooking yourself from the inside out," Gwaine smirked and gave a wink before he pulled up, his hand reached out to her. "Come on, we'll check your upper limit and then you earned your popcorn, hm?"

Blade took hold of his offered hand and with a little tug was up again, "Sounds like you will pay for the snacks?" She smirked back.

"Only if I am invited to the girls' night out," Gwaine laughed at her cheeky try. And they moved back to the meditation circle.