Alethea is a kind-hearted girl carrying the weight of the Magic Dimension on her shoulders. Read as she tries to find her place in a world full of chaos, while she herself is anything but. Adjusting to a life filled with danger when all she wants is...
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⑅ ♥̩̥̩♥̩̩̥͙♥̩͙ˊˎ
Alethea's POV:
I brushed the leaves aside as we crouched behind the bushes, the worry for Bloom so strong that we couldn't just leave her alone, not when she might be about to do something rash.
Kiko leaped into Bloom's arms, nuzzling close as she smiled softly at him. "Hey, little guy. No matter what, I can always count on you to love me," she murmured tenderly.
I stepped out from our hiding spot, keeping my voice warm and gentle so I wouldn't startle her too much. "And us too, you know," I added with a small smile.
Bloom blinked in surprise, her shock melting into a warm smile that reached her eyes. "...I know."
"Excuse me, miss," Flora chimed in, stepping forward with a twinkle in her eye. "Did you happen to order a picnic for lunch?"
Bloom looked puzzled, glancing between us. "A picnic?"
I grinned, snapping my fingers. "Exactly! We thought it might lift your spirits a little." My voice was gentle, the cheerfulness an attempt to lighten her mood without overwhelming her.
Right on cue, the Pixies floated out of the bushes like tiny attendants. Amore conjured a picnic blanket, Piff brought out a basket of delicious food, Nixie used her magic to summon a bowl of vibrant fruit, and Chatta proudly presented a plate of golden, flaky croissants.
Lockette nodded approvingly as I stifled a giggle, "The service here is absolutely flawless," she declared.
Tune, ever precise, tied a napkin carefully around Bloom's neck, and Stella created a beautiful bouquet with her magic. With a quick snap, she even transformed Kiko into a tiny butler, complete with a little tuxedo, which made us all laugh—Kiko looked so adorably lost.
"Now everything's just right!" Stella announced, beaming. I slipped my arm around Bloom's shoulders, giving her a gentle side hug. "We all care about you, Bloom. Enjoy, okay?"
Bloom untied the napkin, glancing at us with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, everyone... but I just don't feel hungry."
A hint of worry tugged at my heart. Skipping meals wasn't like her. "Maybe a few bites?" I encouraged softly, trying to be supportive without pushing her too much.
She sighed, then reached over to take my hand, squeezing it with warmth in her gaze. "I really do appreciate all of this... I'm just too upset to eat."
Just then, a small noise caught our attention, and we turned to find Kiko sitting on the ground, looking adorably guilty—he'd managed to eat nearly everything already. I pressed a hand to my mouth to hide a giggle.
"Well... it seems someone appreciated the lunch," I giggled, and a little smile appeared on Bloom's face, a flicker of light returning to her eyes.
