𝓕𝓻𝓸𝔃𝓮𝓷 𝓗𝓾𝓮 [Slow Updates]

Grimhilde, are you alright?

The four outcasts were slumped in their classroom, the weight of boredom hanging heavily in the air. Jay and Carlos had turned their desk into an impromptu wrestling arena, Evie strained her eyes at the blackboard, and Mal was engrossed in sketching the Fairy Godmother's wand on her notebook. The class's instructor, the Godmother herself, spun around after scribbling a question on the board. Taking note of the less-than-engaged quartet, she raised her voice to recapture their attention.

"If you're handed a wailing baby, do you choose A, to curse it? B, to lock it in a tower? C, to offer it a bottle? Or D, to extract its heart?" The VKs leapt from their seats, jolted by the unexpected inquiry. The fairy's raised eyebrows met their startled gazes, and she frowned. Amid the startled silence, the blue-haired Evie tentatively raised her hand, her confusion palpable. To the teacher's delight, her confusion melted into an eager grin. She quickly singled out Evie for a response.

"What was option B again?" the blue-haired girl inquired, her brow furrowed. The teacher suppressed a groan and shifted her attention to Mal, confident in her always-accurate answers.

"Choice C: offer it a bottle," Mal monotoned. The fairy's hands clapped together in delight.

"Correct. Bravo," she exclaimed, circling the correct response on the board and beaming at Mal. The other three students stared in awe at Maleficent's daughter.

"Girl, you're on fire!" Carlos cheered, his voice carrying across the room. Mal responded with a dismissive scoff.

"Just pick whatever sounds like no fun," the disgruntled princess muttered from the back. Confused eyes turned toward the white-streaked girl.

"Could you remind me why she's here?" Mal inquired of the Fairy Godmother, her tone laced with exasperation.

The teacher offered an awkward smile and shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure, actually."

"Ben asked me to keep an eye on you," the princess interjected, casting a meaningful glance at Mal that hinted at the events of the previous night. Mal's lips tightened, and she shifted her attention back to the teacher.

"That makes a lot of sense," Evie muttered under her breath, a reference to the princess's earlier advice on answering the instructor's questions. The unnamed girl gestured for the others to pay attention to the lesson. As the fairy was about to continue, Jane, her daughter, entered the classroom. Jane's face was rattled at the sight of the four, and she rushed toward her mother, briefly acknowledging the princess with a respectful nod.

"Hello, Mom," Jane chimed, a note of protest in her voice. Her mother chuckled and gave her a pat on the back, signing a slip of paper for her. Jane took the paper and dashed toward the exit.

"Hi. You don't need to mind me. Carry on," she mumbled as she passed by the four, nearly tripping over herself in her haste.

"Are you alright?" a soft, raspy whisper sent shivers down Jane's spine. She was too close. "You're lucky I have quick reflexes."

The royal maiden's gloved hand rested at Jane's waist, supporting her weight. Lifting her up, she steadied Jane on her feet and gently adjusted the shy girl's face, guiding her gaze to meet the princess's piercing blue eyes. "Look straight ahead next time, like this. Or is the floor more fascinating?"

Jane blushed furiously, squeaking out a small "thank you" before fleeing the room, escaping the encounter. The brunette raised a quizzical eyebrow, unaware of her unintentional flirtatious remark. "Stop staring at the ground. I won't always be around to catch you," she admonished as Jane unconsciously lowered her head again.

"She's got some flirty vibes, though she's oblivious," Mal chuckled under her breath. A hint of amusement played on Evie's lips. The fairy cleared her throat, redirecting their attention.