Mila, on the other hand, jumped a little when the flames appeared. It was obviously a surprise but she was relieved when the Headmistress took control and listened carefully to what Nissa’s response would be. The fact that her roommate had been able to actually use her magic when she couldn't…
"It felt… kind of scary, actually." Nissa answered. "Like, I didn't know how my emotions would effect the magic." She paused for a moment. "But letting it out like that actually felt kind of good."
"The release of magic is an overwhelming pleasure," Farah acknowledged with a nod. "But now you both see how your negative emotions can impact your magic. Mila, you couldn't even grasp your magic, while Nissa, you let yours get wildly out of control. Now, I want you both to think of the most pleasant memory you can. Whatever comes to mind, I want you to focus in on the moment, then the feelings you associate with it, and let it fuel your entire being."
Mila nodded, somewhat embarrassed by her lack of performance even though she had done what had been asked. It wasn't the first time a teacher had, essentially, set up a student to fail but the request to suddenly switch gears was… a little uncomfortable. She knew there had to be a point to this lesson, Headmistress Dowling wouldn't do this without a reason. Mila trusted her mentor. So, she let out a slow calming breath and nodded again. “Al… Alright.”
Farah lifted her chin, noting Mila’s apprehension as it rolled off of her in waves. “Don’t think too hard about it,” she suggested. “For this exercise, it isn’t necessary to have the most powerful positive emotions, i just would like you to get the picture. But in the future, you should have the most powerful memory readily available in your mind.”
Nissa placed her hand on Mila's shoulder, giving her a reassuring smile before taking a step back. She wanted to give her friend a bit of space to breath.
Mila understood what Headmistress Dowling saying and nodded. There was a strong possibility that so much more than a good grade could rely on anyone at this school. She needed to control herself if she ever wanted to be able to protect someone. “Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry. That first negative memory got the better of me.” she apologized, briefly placing her hand on top of Nissa’s and giving her a small grateful smile.
Headmistress Dowling cracked a small, kind smile. "There is no reason to be sorry. What I asked of you was difficult, but this is an important point I need to make before we continue here. Negative emotions are unreliable and weakening. But strong, positive emotions–"
Suddenly, without any knock of warning, the door to her office burst open, and in strode Specialist Headmaster Silva. The look on his face was urgent. "Farah, there's been–" He stopped speaking quickly when he saw the two girls. "I need to talk to you," he eventually said. The headmistress met his gaze, and a mutual understanding passed between them.
Finally, Ms. Dowling nodded. "Please excuse me, girls. I'll be back momentarily." Farah was out the door, Saúl following her and guiding her with a hand on her lower back before either of the girls could say anything. The door shut soundly behind them.
Mila nodded, listening intently to her mentor’s words. It wasn't the first time she'd heard similar speeches last year about how a fairy’s mental and emotional state affected their magic but the occasional reminder was not unwelcome.
When Headmaster Silva interrupted so urgently, Mila jumped. It had to be serious… but about what? Her first thought was obviously something to do with the Burned One's but it was rare that one of those monsters could make it past the barrier that protected the school.
"What was that about?" Nissa muttered, turning to Mila. "Do you think something's wrong?"
(I should've mentioned this earlier, but it's fine, you don't have to change anything. The student's knowledge of the Burned Ones is minimal. Like, they can know that Burned Ones existed at some point in the past, but they've been gone for sixteen years, as Farah said earlier. Just saying! :))
(oh, oops! 😅 maybe I can play it off as something she read/heard about (possibly from history or something) and it was just the first serious thing that came to mind?)
(No, that's perfectly fine if she read about them. They're a big part of Alfea's history, especially before Farah became headmistress. Under the previous headmistress, there was literally a war against them)
"What was that about?" Nissa muttered, turning to Mila. "Do you think something's wrong?"
“I’m not sure.” Mila admitted, shaking away her thoughts. She bit her lip slightly as she looked at the door. Surely they wouldn't talk about it so close to the office with two students nearby. “Should… Should we try to listen?” she asked softly.
Nissa thought for a moment, then nodded. "We've got to know what's going on." She knew there was a possibility that they'd get in trouble, but her curiosity outweighed her reasoning.
Mila nodded, feeling the same way as she carefully made her way towards the door… but didn't open it. That would just give them away.
The two were close together and speaking in hushed voices a few feet away from the door to the headmistress' office. Callum had left his office, so the space was clear.
"I've spoken with my contacts in the other realms," Saúl murmured. "No other sightings of Burned Ones."
Farah sighed softly. "So ours was just a fluke?" she asked, looking at the door to her office briefly. There was a sort of hope to her tone, but she knew as well as Saúl did that it was most likely misguided hope.
"Maybe, but it's a dangerous fluke," he countered.
At that, Farah looked back at him quickly and quietly scoffed.
"The capitol's prison is more secure than ours, and the queen would scan its memories if you asked." The headmaster's voice sounded almost desperate, like this was something he'd been trying to convince her to do before.
Farah inhaled swiftly. "This is my school, Saúl." Her voice was set and stern.
"Yes, it's a school, and there's already gossip," he said almost immediately. It was like he was prepared for exactly what Farah was going to say. She loved that about him. But sometimes, like now, she hated it. "It's only a matter of time before the kids cross the Barrier to find it. Please, let's do this right."
Farah hugged her arms across her chest and pressed her lips together, looking at him skeptically.
"Farah… the chains in the barn won't be able to hold it forever. It obviously is somewhat resistant to the Zanbaq. If you gave it as much as you said you did, and it still woke up, I'm worried. It very nearly scratched you this morning. Let me make arrangements with the queen's army to transport it safely," Saúl said gently taking her hands in his.
The headmistress closed her eyes and sighed. "Alright," she whispered softly. "But be careful."
Saúl nodded. "I will be."
"Please, Saúl," Farah insisted, opening her eyes again quickly, and he pulled her hands to his chest above his heart. "This is serious."
"I will be," he repeated confidently.
Farah exhaled slowly. "Be back as soon as you can."
(I let this end here so they could react before Farah comes back in)
(You’re fine. I just got busy yesterday…)
Mila covered her mouth to hide a gasp at what she heard. It was hard to make out everything but… It sounded like something dangerous was chained up, for now, in a barn. Only thing was she didn't know where that barn could be or if she actually wanted to find it. “We should move.” she whispered, gently, as she moved away from the door.
Nissa's eyes widened. "A Burned One?" She whispered as she stepped away from the door. "I thought they were all gone…" She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The Burned Ones still existed? How many of them were there?
"Farah, I swear to you I won't be back a second later than I have to be." He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead to relax her, and it worked. "Let me go call Luna and make the arrangements." With that, he dropped her hands and left, his footsteps receding in the distance.
Farah sighed and watched him go, hugging her arms around her torso and thinking for a moment.
“I thought they were too.” Mila whispered back as they made it back to their positions. “But at least it sounds like there's only one… Maybe it was better at hiding before or something.”
"Yeah… maybe." Nissa had a sneaking suspicion that it was something bigger than that, but she stayed silent. She'd explain her thoughts to Mila later, when they were alone.
Farah re-entered the room, shutting the door behind her. "I'm sorry for that interruption, girls," the headmistress apologized. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long. Would you like to continue?" She circled around in front of them and noticed slightly different emotions coming from them. At the discovery, she leaned back against her desk and arched her eyebrows. "Were you listening to my conversation with Headmaster Silva?" she asked pointedly.
(Bump! :))