forum Alfea College (Closed)

Started November 23, 2021 by @emilyevewrites group

tune

Nissa took a breath to calm her nerves. "You're right. Thanks," She said, smiling. "I guess I'm just a little nervous. Especially after what happened last year…" She trailed off, briefly thinking back to the 'incident.'

“It’s normal to be nervous. Just don't let it… hold you back.” she nodded, though she thought that she was starting to just sound like Headmistress Dowling. “If you don't mind me asking, what happened last year?” she inquired, raising a brow as she adjusted her grip on her notebook.

Nissa hesitated for a moment. "I…got into an argument with someone that was picking on a first year." She said, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Next thing you know…woosh." She formed a flame in her hand for emphasis. "Headmistress Dowling gave me quite the lecture, said I needed to work on being less impulsive." She sighed, playing with a strand of her long red-pink hair. "I just don't want to get anyone hurt." She turned to Mila, letting out a half-hearted laugh. "Guess I'm kind of a mess, huh?"

Mila’s eyes widened slightly at the explanation before biting her lip as she tried to hold back a laugh. “What a pair we make. And here I thought I gave Headmistress Dowling a tough time last year.” she smiled at Nissa. “I wouldn't be surprised if she gave us similar lectures. Last year, I was so nervous, I gave everyone around me and myself static-based afros and ended up getting private lessons about control.”

A pair of girls approached the Stone Circle, but they didn't have to be too terribly far away for Farah to pinpoint the red-pink hair of one and the pale blonde hair of the other. Oh no, she couldn't help but think. How in the Otherworld did those two meet? Still, she smiled when she saw them and put her faith in Mila and Nissa that they had worked over the break to control their emotions and, by default, their magic. Mila already mentioned that she had, but whether she'd been truthful or not, Farah would soon be able to tell. And as the two got closer to the Stone Circle, Farah thought she heard her name mentioned.

"Ladies," Headmistress Dowling greeted them warmly. "How are you?"

Nissa gave Mila an amused smile. "Afros, huh? Sounds like an interesting experience." She turned her head at the sound of Headmistress Dowling's voice. "We're doing great, Headmistress Dowling." She answered, her enthusiasm returning. "I think this year is going to be amazing."

“More embarrassing than anything.” Mila flushed softly before looking up at their teacher. “Quite well, Ma’am. Just going over some tips for the Stone Circle and comparing notes on last year.” she smiled politely. “Though I have to agree with my roommate about this year being much better.”

Ah, so they're roommates, Farah pieced together quickly. Who made that decision? "I would hope so, and… that goes for both of you." She gave them a good-natured wink before motioning to the stone benches where the other students sat. "The both of you may have a seat anywhere you like. The class will begin momentarily."

Nissa nodded, and lead Mila towards one of the benches. She could feel the other students staring at her as she took a seat. "Guess I'm not the only one who remembers the fire thing…" She muttered, flipping to a blank page in her notebook, where she started doodling flames and angry, chibi-style fairies in the margins.

Mila gave a polite nod as well before letting Nissa drag her to a bench. “Or they remember my unintentional hairstyles.” she pointed out, appearing nonchalant as she opened her own notebook and began preparing for the demonstrations and lecture. “Don’t let them get to you. Keep calm and focused. I don't know what you plan to do, but I plan to make a very… different impression this year.” she added with a brief, confident smirk.

Nissa looked up at her roommate. "Yeah, me too." She hesitated for a moment. "So, uh…friends?" She gave Mila a hopeful smile. "I mean, unless you don't want to be, then…"

Mila looked up from her book and smiled softly at Nissa. “Well, we are roommates. I don't see a problem with us being friends as well.” she agreed.

"Welcome back, second years," Farah began her practiced speech. "I hope over the summer recess you were able to practice your abilities. As you recall from last year, magic lives in the very fabric of nature. And here in our circle of stone, it’s magnified. The vessel tests your ability to channel that magic. In your second year, you will build on the core abilities you learned in your first year while also experimenting with more abilities across your particular element. Further down the line, you may learn to connect with other elements. In the past, some of the more advanced second years began to develop other elemental abilities. I don't believe that will be the case for anyone this year, however, I would like to see several of you prove me wrong." Her eyes cut very briefly to Mila and Nissa before she continued.

"One by one, you will approach the vessel simply to channel your abilities. Whatever your element, the emotions underlying it are the same for all fairies, and the duration, finesse, and level of control you demonstrate while performing ability will help to determine where each of you will start your second year, and I will be able to see who put in practice time this summer… and who did not. Gemma," Farah addressed an earth fairy sitting with her friends on the opposite side of the circle. "Would you like to begin?"

Gemma's grey eyes widened at the sound of her name, but she nodded all the same. "Yes, Headmistress Dowling." She popped off of her seat and walked toward the vessel. Her fingers touched the vessel, and the second they did, Gemma's eyes turned green.

"Earth," Ms. Dowling stated as Gemma commanded roots to form and blossoms to grow inside the vessel. "Soil, sand, rock, and all manner of plant life." Gemma blossomed little white flowers around the interior of the vessel, and when she withdrew her hands, magic caused the plants to disappear so the vessel was plain again for whoever used it next. "Good work, Gemma," Ms. Dowling acknowledged the girl with a smile. "Next. Cordelia?"

The next fairy approached the vessel confidentially. "Water," Ms. Dowling acknowledged as Cordelia's pale blue eyes deepened their shade to almost a royal blue. "The lakes and oceans of the world or the molecules that exist in all organisms around us." A pillar of water spurted up from the vessel and spiraled into the air. It looked amazing, but it didn't last long before Cordelia dispersed the magic into the surrounding air. Farah nodded. "Well done Cordelia. Minerva?"

A shy mind fairy approached the vessel. Her eyes lit up purple almost instantly after she touched it, and a hazy cloud of thought came into view of the other students. "The mind," Headmistress Dowling explained. "Thoughts, memories, dreams." Her words were few, but her knowledge of the mind and its abilities ran much deeper. Few people knew just how powerful she was. Farah was easily able to feel Minerva's apprehension, and the rest of the class could soon tell as well as the girl's hands began to tremble while she maintained her abilities for another few seconds. Then, her eyes went back to their normal brown, the hazy mind-cloud disappeared, and she scurried back to her seat.

"Stop thinking." Farah was always quick to teach a lesson, and the first day was no exception. Her words were directed at Minerva, but they addressed the entire group. "Magic comes from emotions. Focus on clear positive feelings, and open yourself up to the magic of the world around you." Her dark brown gaze shifted from Minerva to Nissa, and Farah nodded to urge her to step up.

(Wow, that is so long… and I'm sorry.)

Nissa's smile widened before she turned to listen to their teacher's words. Her brows furrowed as she caught Dowling shooting them a glance. What was that about? She wondered. Was that supposed to mean something specific?

Nissa continued watching with interest, tensing when Dowling turned her gaze on her. She stood, shooting Mila a glance as she approached the vessel. Here goes… She took a deep breath to calm herself and reached out towards the vessel, her eyes glowing orange just as her fingers touched the surface. A plume of fire rose into the air, burning steadily.

Mila listened carefully to the older fairy’s speech, blushing a little at the pointed gaze that landed on her and Nissa. She took a deep breath as she resisted her impulse to bite her lip at the underlying message. I hope I don't let her down…

The blonde gave a small smile as her firey roommate looked back at her before approaching the vessel… and, she had to admit, was impressed by her display of magic.

The headmistress's eyes keenly observed the flaming spectacle. "Fire," she declared, circling around so she stood in front of Nissa. "Combustion, heat, temperature. Dangerous when wild, powerful when controlled." Farah gave Nissa and her magic a final once over before a proud smile bloomed on her lips. "Beautifully done, Nissa," she praised, a touch of her pride evident in her words.

Nissa pulled her hand back, the glow in her eyes fading as the flames died down. She broke out in a grin at Dowling's words, and even felt her face flush a bit at the praise. She returned to her seat, beaming at Mila. "I don't think I could've done that if you hadn't helped me calm down earlier…thanks."

Headmistress Dowling continued her leisurely stroll around the vessel as her eyes scanned the remaining students. Some looked frightened and nervous, and others looked much more confident and calm. Farah couldn't have some terrified second year losing control of their magic and making a scene on the first day of classes, and in the Stone Circle no less. "Mila," she selected Nissa's roommate to perform next. "Are you ready?"

“You did great.” Mila smiled back, honestly quite proud of Nissa though she wasn't going to take any credit. The young blonde let out another calming breath before standing as Headmistress Dowling called her down. She could feel the hair on her arms start to stand as she approached the vessel… But she still placed her hands on the edge once she was close enough, her eyes glowing pale blue, doing her best not to be nervous and remember the main part of her private lessons.

It took just a brief moment as a rumble of thunder echoed, either above her or from the vessel before it lit up with a bolt of magic lightning. Though Mila kept it contained within the pot.

Other students flinched at the lightning, but the headmistress was unfazed. "Air," Farah declared after Mila presented her ability. "Speed, temperature, sound. Its power, and electrical properties." Remembering how little control Mila had over her abilities last year, Dowling remained ready to step in, just in case things went south, but she allowed the girl the chance to redeem herself in front of her peers after the chaos that had occurred last year. After a moment, she spoke again, the same pride evident in her voice that there had been for Nissa. "Lovely work, Mila." Her naturally stoic features broke into a small smile as she nodded for Mila to sit back down.

Nissa watched Mila's display of magic, her smile widening as Dowilng praised the blonde. She was proud of her new friend, and she had a feeling that this year would be one to remember.

Mila smiled proudly back despite her soft blush as she stepped away from the vessel, her eyes reverting to their normal blue-green shade. “Thank you.” she said softly, almost whispering, before she walked back to her seat.

Nissa grinned, as Mila returned to her seat. "That was amazing!" She said, pulling the blonde into a hug. "We actually did it!" She pulled away, brushing her bangs out of her face. "And Dowling looked pretty impressed, so I'd say that's a bonus."

“Oh! Thanks.” Mila smiled, caught off guard by the hug. “I practiced all summer to be able to do that.” she admitted softly though the reminder that they had both impressed their teacher made her smile grow. “Hopefully that impression will keep other fairy's off our backs.” she chuckled, patting Nissa’s shoulder.

The headmistress moved swiftly on to the next few students – a male water fairy, a female light fairy, a male mind fairy, another female fire fairy, and finally, a male light fairy. Once they had all performed, Ms. Dowling stepped back into the center of the circle to draw the students' attention.

"Well done to you all. While some fared better than others, I must remind you that it is only the first day. For those who didn't do as well as they liked, you just need a clear mind. Distraction can cause magic to be erratic. And for those who improved from last year…" She paused briefly. "You continue to come to class every day. You focus, you learn, you grow. Eventually, greater progress will come. You are all dismissed."

As her students began to pack up, Farah took the moment to approach Nissa and Mila. "Ladies. May I speak to you both for a moment before you leave?"