𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒚𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎 | Riven

𝟏𝟎

═━ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐍 ━═

It had been three days since the banquet, three days since Rosalind's revelation about Bloom and the Dragon Flame. Three days for the word to spread like wildfire across Alfea.

As Fallin sat in the bustling cafeteria, she could feel the weight of every stare directed at their table. She, Bloom, and Aisha had chosen a spot by the window, hoping that the sunlight might offer a brief distraction from the whispers that filled the room. But the sunlight did nothing to stop the curious eyes of nearly every student in the cafeteria, all drawn to the same place: Bloom.

Bloom sat beside Fallin, opposite of Aisha who was trying to study from Blooms notes, poking at her food with a fork as though each bite required her full concentration.

Fallin took a small bite of her food, trying to ignore the murmurs floating around them. It was almost impossible, though-every other conversation seemed to hold Bloom's name, mixed with awe, fear, and disbelief. She'd heard someone mention "Dragon Flame" at least three times in the past minute alone.

It was like something out of a myth, or a nightmare. The Dragon Flame-the ancient power that had supposedly been lost a thousand years ago, the one that could create or destroy entire worlds. And now, that same power lived within Bloom, a girl who had spent most of her life not even knowing magic was real.

Fallin stole a glance at her friend, wondering how Bloom could even sit here under all this attention. And yet, Bloom hadn't missed a single meal in the cafeteria since that night, proving everyone that she wasn't the scared little girl she was first year, when she hid from everyone talking about her being a changeling.

"Wanna take bets on when the staring's gonna stop?", Bloom asked them, watching another group of kids walk by their table, their voices hushed but their eys trailing over to Bloom every once in a while. Fallin swallowed her food and replied, shrugging: "Like a month. Give or take."

Aisha looked up from Blooms notebook and explained: "Look, the Dragon Flame's a legend. Now you are too. I give it at least another week before they get bored." She then turned back to the notes in front of her: "Is this an eight? Eighty-something?", she asked unsure and Fallin reached over to get a better look, as she furrowed her brows: "No, I think that's a wave. Are those waves?", she looked at Bloom not understanding what she wrote.

Bloom looked over her shoulder as Fallin showed her the notebook. She looked up at her grinning, then to Aisha as she answered, as if it was obvious: "BW. Blood Witches." Fallin laughed as Aisha said: "Oh." She then went back to studying the words as Bloom exclaimed: "I cannot believe, you didn't do the reading!", looking at Aisha as if she was crazy.

Aisha looked up again and answered: "I've been swimming a lot." Bloom and Fallin exchanged a look and Fallin asked Bloom, smirking: "Is that what they're calling it? Swimming?" Bloom mirrored her smirk as she asked Aisha: "What's, uh, Grey's favorite stroke?" She and Fallin chuckled, as Aisha looked at them deadpanned.

The water fairy rolled her eyes, as she answered: "Butterfly." Bloom put down her cup, smiling satisfied. Aisha then explained: "And I know about Blood Witches. They aren't super common, but they are a thing. I assumed I could wing it." Bloom sighed as she looked at her notebook again: "My handwriting is not that bad. Let me see." She leaned over the table and furrowed her eyebrows, trying to make out the words, as Fallin watched grinning.

Bloom then said: "No. Uh, Blood Witch powers. Basically, their element is blood, so they can control muscles and bones. Their own and other people's. Creepy. And now, apparently, they steal magic from fairies. Creepier." Then, Aishas phone chimed in front of Fallin, making Aisha reach for it, as Fallin used her powers to make it levitate out of her reach, her eyes glowing silver as she looked at Aisha judgingly.