“Yes, ma’am.” Mila nodded, clearing her throat a little to hide the almost chuckle at her teacher’s words. She closed her eyes and let out a slow steady breath as she focused on channeling her magic. It honestly always felt a little harder without the help of the Stone Circle but that was exactly what part of the practice was to help overcome. Once again, there was a soft rolling sound of thunder before a bright flash of light appeared, though not quite as… neat as Mila’s demonstration the other day.
Farah narrowed her eyes for a split second at Mila's display. She could feel the girl's unease, which was most likely the reason her magic was slightly unstable. "What in the Otherworld are you so worried about, hmm?" she asked suddenly, lifting her chin in the air and arching her eyebrows while she spoke. Her eyes glowed with power, and when she waved her hand through the air, Mila's magic became nothing more than a crackle of static for a moment before completely disbanding. "The both of you are unspeakably anxious. Your emotions are completely unpredictable, which makes your magic erratic, which can be quite dangerous. Regulate your feelings." She slowly paced out from behind her desk again and faced Mila intently. "Focus," she said firmly, but not unkindly. "Remember, you control your magic. It does not control you. Try again."
(Also, I made an official character sheet for Farah: Farah Dowling)
Nissa gave her friend an encouraging smile. She knew Mila could do it. All she had to do was focus.
(Sorry it's so short. Kind of lacking in creativity at the moment)
(It's alright, I definitely understand that.)
Mila nodded as she heard the familiar lecture. She should have seen it coming… She didn't know why she had been nervous since she had been through this whole process before. Taking a deep breath, the sky fairy gave her roommate a small brief smile before her expression turned to one of determination. This time, the thunder was clearer and the flash of her power was much more controlled.
Farah immediately felt the shift in Mila's emotions and saw it in her demonstration of power. "Beautifully done," she praised. "That was much better." Her gaze shifted now to Nissa. "Runaway emotions lead to runaway magic," she stated to precede the fire fairy's attempt. "Reign it in. Control it."
Nissa nodded and took a deep breath. She lifted her hands, flames swirling above her palms. She stayed for a moment, then let her hand fall back to her sides, the flames disappearing.
Farah's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. The magic was executed well. There was just something else. "Try again," she instructed, studying Nissa and her body language.
Nissa lifted her hands again, repeating the process. She was nervous, and though the flames were controlled, her movements were stiff. She stayed focused on the flame, before letting it disappear.
Farah squinted briefly and tilted her head. She didn't need her abilities to see through Nissa. Reading people was a skill she'd developed from years of being the headmistress and a mind fairy, and as she observed Nissa, the girl's nervousness was obvious. Slowly, Farah approached her and softly murmured, "You're terrified."
Nissa's eyes widened. She didn't think her feelings were that obvious. She hesitated, unsure how to respond. "I…"
Farah held up her hand to make Nissa fall silent. "You don't owe me an explanation. When you channel magic and apply it in a physical form, it mirrors your emotions. Your fire was controlled, which was excellent, but stiff and restricted." She spoke to Nissa, but she addressed Mila as well with her next words. "I know that last year, you struggled. But don't let that define you this year, especially not when you come to this office. You are here because I chose you. Let your positive emotions fuel your magic. Release it, but control it. Now…" she tilted her head to the side as she looked down at Nissa. "Try again."
Mila blushed a little at the reminder of how hard her magic had been to control the first year of school. But when she had come for these private lessons, things had gotten much better. And she was sure the same thing happened for Nissa…
Nissa took a breath, letting herself relax. She formed another flame and channeled her emotions into it, watching it grow brighter. Her movements had more of a flow to them, and she seemed more comfortable.
Farah cracked a small smile, impressed with Nissa's shift in emotions and how it reflected in her magic. "Very nicely done," she praised with a nod. "Excellent work, the both of you. Alright then…" Dowling paused as she mentally went through what she'd prepared, but she decided to rework it in a spur-of-the-moment decision. She only hoped she wasn't making a mistake. "Now, I hope you two are up for a challenge." Her eyes sparkled with concealed mischief.
“What kind of challenge, ma’am?” Mila asked, raising a brow slightly though there was a definite crackle of excitement at the idea… Whatever it was.
Dowling arched her eyebrows and didn't answer the question directly. "A challenge not necessarily of magic, but of mind. I apologize for starting it this way, but I promise you it will get better. I promise. Now, I want you both to think of a memory, specifically a memory when you were sad or angry or hurt. You don't have to say out loud what it is, just close your eyes and envision it." She leaned on her desk and watched them observantly.
Mila raised a brow at the way her mentor phrased the challenge but nodded and closed her eyes. It wasn't easy trying to think of a specific memory but eventually she settled on one of an old breakup she’d gone through even before she came to Alfea. She had been the one who ended that relationship but she could still remember how much it had hurt at the time and how she had even cried despite it being the right thing to do at the time.
Nissa hesitated a moment, then closed her eyes. The memory of when she first discovered her abilities instantly sprang to mind. The anger she had felt just before the flames, and the fear that kept them going. It all rushed back to her like a flood from a broken dam. Her hands formed fists at her sides. She hadn't thought about that day in a long time.
Farah's eyes glowed silver-blue. She didn't intrude on their memories, she was only checking to feel their emotions. After a moment of letting them linger for a moment longer, she lifted her chin. "Now, channel your magic. Carefully. Control it as best you can. I want you to feel how anger and sadness and fear impact your ability to harness and control your powers. The second you feel unstable, cut off the power."
Mila took a shaky breath, surprised at how much the memory was affecting her. It almost felt like reopening an old wound. She kept her eyes closed at her teacher's request but didn't argue… Though it seemed to go against a lot of what she had been taught last year. As she tried to reach for her magic, she would compare it to trying to grab a cylinder made of jello with trembling hands.
Farah could feel Mila's instability, and she gently touched the girl's shoulder. "That's enough," she said firmly. "Did you feel it? How uncertain and dangerous the magic was."
She turned her head and looked to Nissa. "Have you tried to reach for it yet?" she asked calmly, her eyes studying the other girl observantly.
“Yes, ma’am.” Mila nodded, letting out a relieved sigh as she stopped reaching for her magic and looked at her mentor. She flexed her fingers a little to shake off any more of the residual unstable sparks. That has been so… Something she didn't want to attempt again unless she had no choice.
Nissa shook her head slightly, then took a deep breath. She felt the magic within her and reached for it, flames forming in her hands. She let her emotions fuel the fire, feeling it grow stronger. Suddenly, the flames shot upwards, nearly scorching the ceiling.
Without flinching, the headmistress used her own powerful magic to extinguish Nissa's flames. Once they were gone, Farah arched her eyebrows. "Nissa, how did that feel?" she asked, striding around to come in front of the girls again so she could look Nissa in the eye when she asked her question and Nissa could do the same when she responded.
