▪︎Autor▪︎

"They will end up dead in a blink of an eye if they continue to fight like this" The group of friends agreed with Alina's speech "they have no idea what to do"

"It's me trying to help, and Dawling comes to disrupt" Verena said

"This is really annoying" Maia huffed "Let's get some crystals and see who gets rid of the Burned Ones the fastest?"

Her suggestion cheered some.

"Verena always wins. Without using magic. It's not funny anymore" Laurent grumbled

"So try your best to be better than me" she teased smirking "Get ready. I'll ask Ben to spread some out. Two for each?"

Everyone agreed.

Half an hour later the seven were at the entrance to the maze.

Alina's, Octavian's and Nicolai's eyes glowing, their hands twinkling with magic. Dorian, Maia and Laurent with their weapons strapped to their bodies. Verena with her swords behind her back, she finished fastening two black iron bracelets. They started at the wrist and went halfway down the forearm.

"Ready?" Harvey asked.

"Same as always?" Dorian rubbed his hands together excitedly.

"No bets this time" Verena denied, nodding toward Harvey.

She slammed the bracelets together, creating sparks, and the noise startled some. Iron started to grow. Going up and covering the arms completely from the shoulders, closing above the breasts.

Everyone's eyes widened, dismayed at the accessories.

Confident, they entered the labyrinth and scattered.

For a few minutes, the maze was completely silent.

The first growl was heard. Then another. And then several.  Sounds of magic and swords mingled in the air.  In less than five minutes the first two crystals were thrown up, falling at Silva's feet.

"They're Celeste's" smiled proudly

A few more minutes later Nicolai came out holding his two crystals.

"As usual she won" he laughed stopping beside them

"Weird she hasn't come out yet" Harvey commented craning his neck trying to find the brunette.

"Must be watching the people" shrugged

Little by little the rest of the group appeared.

"Something's wrong in there" Musa said with bright eyes.

"There really is" Terra whispered

It seemed to have started to wind between the walls of the labyrinth. Unlike the cold air with the onset of winter, this one was warm. Not like a summer breeze, but like a fire. A scream of pain penetrated everyone's ears, before they were thrown back by a wave of magic.

When they got up, the labyrinth was engulfed in flames.

"Celeste!!" Silva screamed getting up

Dorian and Laurent caught him just in time to protect him from another wave. The fire increased closing all the entrances.

Bloom, attracted by whispers and heat, ran through the flames and entered the labyrinth.

Alina, Octavian and Nicolai looked at each other before doing the same. Silva felt despair take over his body.

After what felt like an eternity, the fire went out. The leaves and branches returning to their previous state. As if nothing had happened.

Verena was being carried by Nicolai. He set her down on a bench carefully.

Silva broke free and ran towards her. A few steps away she raised her hands making him stop.

"No. No. No. No. Stay away " he looked at her, confused "I don't want you to get burned" She explained.

With a tug she released the iron lock. It gradually diminished until it returned to its original shape. Making contact with the ground, the grass hissed and smoked. Burning from the heat of the bracelets. Silva looked down at her arms for any signs of burns. Clothes with some holes and scorched. But her skin is completely intact.

"What happened?"  Dawling approached with Harvey and the Winx.

"I don't know. And before you start being the usual nosy, my head is almost exploding with pain, and I feel like I'm in an oven. And I almost got burned alive. The last thing I need right now, It's you bugging my ass with your questions and distrust. So y'all shut up and leave me alone!" Verena exploded, her face red and eyes watering with anger and weariness.

"Verena, are you okay?" Octavian asked worriedly

"I'm just tired" She replied quietly "I'm going for a walk" got up slowly staggering a little

Her body was weak and she felt nauseous. She couldn't take many steps. She had her back to them for a few seconds before she collapsed in a faint.

.........................
▪︎Verena▪︎

I open my eyes feeling them burning. I look around and see that I'm in my room.

"You woke up" I hear a sigh of relief

Saul sat on the bed holding my hand. There were dark circles under his eyes.

"I fainted?"  I ask trying to remember

Saul hesitated before answering.  He kissed my hand and his tears wet my fingers

"Yes, you passed out. Celeste there's something wrong with you. You started vomiting blood" my eyes widen in alarm "Farah called a doctor. He'll be here in a few hours"

"I don't need a doctor, Saul...."

"You will be seen by the doctor. Like it or not. Period!"  he thickened his voice looking at me annoyed

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"You should be resting" Saul said sitting next to me taking my hand.

Since the incident two days ago, he's been watching me constantly. And the fact that the doctor couldn't tell him what was happening to me only made him more frustrated. Everyone looked at me as if I were helpless and disabled. I couldn't sneeze that someone would come to ask if I needed help.

I am grateful for the care and concern. But I was hating to be seen as a weak little girl. I was freaking out.

"I swear if you tell me to go get some rest one more time, or ask if I'm okay or feeling anything, I'll hit your nose" I threaten

"Celeste there is something very wrong with you. You're not okay."

"Saul I love you. I really do. But everyone's excessive concern is already pissing me off"

"It's because everyone cares about you"

"I know. But that doesn't mean you can treat me like a porcelain doll."

"It's ok. I'll try to calm down" he promised kiss my finger that was with the ring

"Thank you" smiled at him

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"Hey" I say softly

Riven looks up at me worriedly.

"Don't you dare say 'are you ok?'" I roll my eyes sitting down with him "I understand you're going through some things, but you're terrible at training Riven"

"Yeah, I know. You don't have to rub it in my face" he sighed "It's enough with Dane and his shit jokes"

"I heard. And that's why I'm going to help you" He turned his confused face to me

"How?"

"You'll see" I smile at him "Dane!" The students next to me jumped in fright. Dane turned quickly and looked at me fearfully "Here. Now!"

"Yes, Miss Neith"

"You" point to another specialist student near us "Fight each other. No fairies. And get serious" I command

They go to the middle of the mat and start fighting.

"Analyze his movements. Pay attention to his strengths and weaknesses. Look for gaps, holes that you can use to hit him" I instruct low "And try to be quick so he doesn't have time to do the same. Like me, you like two swords. It helps us defend more than one side, but it also leaves us a little more exposed because we have to make more open moves. So be quick and short."

"Why are you doing this?"

"You're going to fight him. My job here, right now, is to teach you how to fight for real. Not this shit Dawling's doing. And you've got potential. You just need someone to show you how to use it. And I will teach you the best. So look at Dane, see how he fights, and take him down hard"

Riven nodded and focused on the fight in front of us. Dane managed to knock the other student down and smirked.

"You ready?" I ask. Getting a nervous smile in response "You can do it"

Face to face, Dane made the first attack. Riven defended with ease. Attack and Defense. They moved in sync. Riven was managing to take control of the duel, but something behind me distracted him. Dane took advantage and knocked him down. I turn around to see Sky and Bloom. I feel a small light bulb glowing in my head.

I go to Riven pulling him off the ground.  '

"Stay there Dane. It's not over yet" I say taking Riven to a corner.

"You'll try again"

"I can't....."

"Yes you can. You can't give up. If you fall, you get up and keep trying until you succeed"

"Verena, I can't concentrate. I won't be able to...."

"You will. Use training as a distraction so you don't think about your problems. You're frustrated. Take it out on your opponent. Unlike fairies, negative thoughts are even good for specialists. They give you more fuel and energy. Physical strength increases. Just don't let it take over your mind. If you let it blind you, then you lose. Or go too far. Take him down, cause your next opponent will be Sky"

Riven stared at me, absorbing what I said. He returned to the mat, confident.

This time, he was the one who started the fight. His movements more precise and direct. More aggressive.  Unable to withstand the new pressure, Dane began to back away.

"Don't push. Put him down" I exclaim

In one swing Riven hit his staff hard into Dane's face.

I reach over and check Dani's face. Bloody nose.

"You broke his nose" Riven's eyes widened in regret. I smile calming him "Nice blow. If it was a real sword he would be dead"

"Verena what is this" The pebble in my shoe arrived

"Real training, Dawling. These students are soft. You are soft. They have to be strong to withstand a war and the Burned Ones. And for that they need to be beaten" As expected she glared angrily at me"Sky you're next"

"Verena" Riven tugged on my arm. He was nervous again.

"You've fought him several times. Just focus more this time" I squeeze his shoulder showing my support "A tip, see which side he defends the least and hit him. Keep him focused on his arms and make him forget about his legs"

In the positions, the two face each other.  The tense atmosphere was palpable. Riven looked at me. I smile at him with a quick nod.

He attacked. With each blow he unleashed his anger at Sky.  And he took every chance to hit him in the ribs, belly, hip, back. Evidently Sky was tired and in pain. With a quick flick of his staff, Sky fell to the ground.

Riven turned to me, panting. I smile proudly.

"You told him what to do. It wasn't fair" Sky complained.

"You grew up surrounded by specialists and were raised and trained by one from a young age. You've always had more of an advantage than anyone here. Do you really want to talk about what's fair or not?" rebate the farm stay quiet

"Verena your nose" Riven runs to me

I touch wetting my fingers in something slimy. Blood. My fingers start to shake and my breath hitches. River took a cloth and began to gently wipe my face.

What is happening to me?

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"You're not being very discreet, Bloom" I catch her and Sky's attention "Can you leave us a minute?"

Sky walks away looking sad. He wasn't enjoying my new treatment of him.

"You have the power to remove her from office don't you?"  Bloom asked idly looking at the headmistress who was passing by.

"I have" I frown trying to understand his reasoning

"Why don't you do it?"

"There's a lot you don't know and don't understand Bloom. And a lot at stake"

"And I thought you'd be more open. Not giving answers just like Dawling."

"Watch your mouth!" Bloom swallowed hard "You better respect me. I didn't give you the right to talk with me like that. Dawling hides things to protect her own skin and protect people. I hide because certain things are none of your business."

"Sorry" I sigh biting my bottom lip

"Bloom, we need to face difficulties in life, so we can grow. To be strong. It's those difficulties that will, in part, shape us for our future. If someone keeps giving us the answers, we'll never learn. So if you're going through something now, it's because you're being prepared for something bigger"

We were silent for a few seconds until Bloom spoke again.

"Maybe I have a chance to find out more about my past. If I find out about mine, we might have a key to yours."

"And for that to happen, let me guess, you need to go up against the current headmistress" I laughed humorlessly.

"You know about Aster dell, don't you?" I grumble in agreement "So how can you do nothing? How can you stay with Mr Silva?"

"Again, there's a lot you don't know. And you'll only find out when it's time. Until then, do what you think you have to do" I blink at her accomplice "And don't forget, be careful who you trust and the decisions you make will take"

"Yes ma'am" saluted and went to Sky "Can we go again, please?"

I don't let the exchange of glances between Silva and Sky go unnoticed.  Nor the strange way my fiancé looked at me.

▪︎Autor▪︎

"That'll be attempt five for Bloom and Sky" Said Aish

"And?" Dawling glanced at her

"He's slightly winded. She's frustrated, but neither of them are fatigued" Musa described "They know that I'm reading them, but it still feels invasive. Can't I use my magic against an actual enemy?"

"Not all fairy magic is suited to combat roles" Dawling calmly explained "Support is equally, if not more, important. Your magic can help us assess fragile states of mind or uncover hidden enemies"

"Like Beatrix and Viperive" Aisha said with a bored tone

Dowling agreed

"How are they, by the way?" Musa asked "Have you found out why Beatrix killed Callum?"

"Let's keep focused. Who's next?"

"Healmistress Dawling, with all due respect, I want to learn how to use my magic in combat. Verena said it's possible..."

"Verena?" interrupted "She doesn't know what she's saying. She's not a fairy. She doesn't understand magic"

"She seemed pretty sure" insisted

"Everyone she helps get better quickly. They can use stronger magic easily" Aisha decided to support "Maybe if we listened more to what she has to say...."

"The answer, is no!"

"Farah.."

"No, Saul. Can't you see what she's trying to do here?"

"She's helping. In a few days the students have evolved a lot..."

"Just like in a few days many strange things happened. Including her little disappearance for an entire night and her friends not reporting any more."

She continued walking, dismissing the matter as closed.

Silva stopped and looked at Verena. She watched the students train. Her posture stiff and her arms crossed. A hand came up and she began to play with the diamond around her neck. Silva sighed in agony seeing blood running down her nose again.

"You love her very much" he jumped at the voice of the fairy beside him "Sorry" She smiled awkwardly

"It's okay" he looked back at Verena "Can you read her?"

"I never could. She's pretty closed off"

"Please try" he asked.

If Verera wouldn't talk to him, he'd try to find out on his own.

He turned to Musa when she grunted.

"She's in pain. A lot of pain" she blinked hard "She's anxious, afraid, and confused. Worried. But the worst is the pain"

Musa opened her eyes, sighing in relief but confused.

"What?"  Silva asked

"She locked"

Verena stared at them from afar.

"The last thing I felt was anger. She didn't like what I did."

"Go back to help Headmistress Dawling. It's not you she's mad at"

Muttering an apology Musa walked away.

Verena and Silva stared at each other for long minutes. Only stopping when Nicolai walked over to her.

The two ran to the school leaving Silva confused.

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kisses and I hope you like it♡♡♡

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