forum Alfea College (Closed)

Started November 23, 2021 by @emilyevewrites group

tune

"I suppose I'll see you guys at the Stone Circle," Aiya said, "I'll be in my dorm if you need me." As she walked away, she grinned cunningly back at Asra as she walked away.
"Seems it's all good guys this year," she said once she was sure she was out of everyone's ear reach, "I suppose it's always been that way, though. It keeps me on top of the villain chain, at least."
(Yes, I know they're all suitemates, Aiya just doesn't know yet.)

Mila only nodded as the third year walked away, more than a little confused by the whole interaction. She didn't recognize the other fairy or understand why she had chosen to speak with her in the first place. It felt like she was missing a large piece of a puzzle but decided not to dwell on it. It was only the first day after all, and since she wasn't a mind fairy there was no point in her trying to take that as anything more than a strange random first encounter as she made her way to the dorms, finding hers with no problems.

(K. Also I'm just assuming that Nissa doesn't know Mila)

Nissa eventually made it to her dorm, a bit out of breath. She opened the door, letting out a breathless laugh as she carried her bag inside. "Man, almost thought I wouldn't find this room." She said, looking around. Her gaze landed on a fairy with pale blonde hair. "Oh! Hey there. Name's Nissa, and you are…" She trailed off, waiting for the fairy to introduce herself.

(that’s fair.)

Mila turned when she heard someone, presumably one of her dormmates, walk in and introduce themselves. “Mila. Nice to meet you, Nissa.” she smiled politely as she set down her belongings. It was a bit of a surprise that the same fairy who had nearly run into her and the headmistress was one of her new roommates but there was no reason to bring that up.

"Nice to meet you, too." Nissa replied, smiling. She set down her belongings and brushed her bangs out of her eyes. "Any idea who else we'll be rooming with?"

“I think we have three or four more suitemates but I only remember Asra’s name.” Mila shrugged, scanning the room for any kind of clue about their other roommates. “And that she's a Light fairy.”

"What are you?" Nissa asked. A moment went by and her eyes widened "Oh my glob, that sounded rude, didn't it?" She lifted her hands as if surrendering. "What I meant was are you like, a water fairy or a light fairy or…" She dropped her hands feeling a little embarrassed, and she was certain her face had turned red.

Mila smirked as she faced Nissa, understanding what she had initially meant… Though she would agree that her question could come across as tactless, at the least. “I’m an air fairy.” she answered simply, raising her hand and letting a few sparks dance around her fingers. “What about you?”

"I'm a fire fairy," Nissa replied, perking up a bit. She gave Mila a grin, briefly raising her hand as flames danced above her palm. "I can't wait to meet the others. All I need to do is not set any of their things on fire. Shouldn't be too hard, right?" She muttered the last parts to herself, almost forgetting that Mila was in the room.

“I’m sure that would be ideal.” Mila chuckled a little. “But that is why we're here. To learn how to avoid… magical mishaps.” she said, trailing off a little as she remembered the start of her first year again.

After showing a group of first-years around, Farah and Saúl made their way back to the headmistress' office.

Farah strode across the room, made her way around her desk, and sighed as she sat down. "That was exhausting."

"Is it just me, or are the Type A personalities slowly becoming more common," Saúl asked, shutting the door behind him as he entered. "They must've asked two dozen questions. And since when did fairies become such history nerds?"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Farah arched an eyebrow, and Saúl quickly shook his head.

"Nope. This is a trap."

Farah laughed quietly and picked another file up from the stack beside her. "Not a trap. Just… wondering where you were going."

"Ah. That definitely means it was a trap," Saul retorted, approaching her desk.

Farah smiled and looked at him through her lashes before scanning the information in the file. "I have work to do, Saúl."

Aiya noticed the other fairies were her dormmates. "I didn't realize you guys were bunking with me," she told them, "I guess we'll get to know each other over the year." Her smile seemed almost fake, too toothy and too wide.

Nissa looked up at the other fairy. "Oh! Hey there," She said, giving the newcomer a smile, "I'm Nissa, and I promise I'll try not to set any of your stuff on fire." Her smile faltered, "I said that last part out loud didn't I…?" She groaned and sat down on one of the beds. She took a deep breath and looked back up. "Okay, one more time." She cleared her throat, standing and holding out her hand. "Hi, I'm Nissa. It's nice to meet you, and I'm sorry about all…that."

Mila’s lips twitched at poor Nissa’s introduction to their newest roommate… but that quickly stopped when she recognized the other fairy. “Oh, hello again. We weren't properly introduced earlier.” she said, attempting to be amicable. “I’m Mila.”

Headmistress Dowling made her way through the halls of Alfea with long strides. Trailing her was a non-fairy man named Callum who carried a small, flat pot in his hands. Callum was Farah Dowling's assistant, and in his hands, he carried the vessel used at the Stone Circle to channel fairy magic. In the bottom of the vessel, a small collection of clear crystal-like objects rattled around.

After a short walk across the grounds, the pair made it to the Stone Circle. The headmistress pointed toward a tall and flat stone in the center. "The Vessel goes there," she ordered. Callum nodded and walked to place it where the headmistress had pointed. As Callum walked away, Farah took a deep breath and closed her eyes briefly. The magic was palpable here, blossoming under her fingertips and waiting to be unleashed. She felt multiple elements called out to her as opposed to her first year as a student when a weak, single element whispered her name. Now, a chorus of mystical murmurs begged her to reconnect with the nature of her magic as she had learned it here, in Alfea's circle of stone.

Her eyes opened as Callum approached her again. "The Vessel is in place, Headmistress," he addressed her formally.

"Thank you, Callum," Farah replied. "You may head back now."

The man nodded and began his trek back in the direction they had come from. Once he was out of sight, Farah headed over to the Vessel. The murmured grew louder in her ear as she neared it, and when she put her hands on the Vessel, she felt a rush of power pass through her as she channeled a wide array of her abilities through the Vessel. She relished the moment, the power of having a raw connection to nature that was limited in the Otherworld.

Eventually, she retracted her hands and looked back at the school as she waited for the second years to make their way to the Stone Circle.

“Come on, Nissa. Don't want to be late today.” Mila called out a bit more eagerly than usual. The Stone Circle was a big deal, she was sure, to all fairies. First-year students got to find out what their magic was, Mila still remembered the buzz from her experience. This year, however, she was looking forward to seeing how much she had improved… And she wanted to show Headmistress Dowling that she had stayed with her training and was taking her lessons seriously.