Vanessa has spent her life believing she was abandoned, shuffling between neglectful foster homes and haunted by strange nightmares. When her suppressed magic resurfaces, she is thrust into the mysterious world of Alfea, a school for fairies. There...
Vanessa stood at the edge of the lake, her reflection rippling in the water's surface as the cool night air brushed against her skin. The bond hummed faintly, its presence a steady reminder that Alexander and Sky were nearby, but tonight, their usual warmth couldn't soothe her.
Her thoughts were a storm, swirling with fragments of the trial, Bloom's fiery temper, and the faint whispers of her own past. The orb they had retrieved lingered in her mind, its energy thrumming faintly in sync with her locket. It felt like a clue, a puzzle piece she didn't know how to place.
"You're thinking too hard again," Sky's voice broke through her thoughts.
Vanessa turned to see him approaching, his grin softer than usual. Alexander followed a step behind, his green eyes scanning her face with quiet concern.
"Can you blame me?" Vanessa asked, her voice low.
Sky shrugged, settling beside her. "No, but you're going to drive yourself crazy if you keep this up."
Alexander stepped closer, his expression calm but serious. "You're worried about Bloom."
Vanessa sighed, her gaze dropping to the locket in her hand. "She's... connected to all of this. I can feel it. But she won't let me in, and I don't know how to help her."
"She's still adjusting," Alexander said. "Give her time."
Vanessa managed a faint smile. "You always say that."
"Because it's true," Alexander replied. "She'll come around."
The bond thrummed faintly, their presence a steady comfort. Vanessa exhaled, some of the tension in her chest easing.
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The following morning, Vanessa made her way to the archives, the orb tucked safely in her bag. The library was quiet, the faint hum of magic in the air a comforting backdrop as she began her search.
She started with the basics, flipping through ancient texts and scrawled notes about elemental magic and its ties to the veil. Most of what she found was vague, references to ancient powers and forgotten lineages that offered more questions than answers.
But then she found it.
Tucked between the pages of an old tome was a folded piece of parchment. Vanessa's heart raced as she opened it, her eyes scanning the intricate runes and symbols that lined the page. At the bottom, in faint, elegant script, was a name she recognized instantly:
Rosalind.
Her chest tightened as she traced the name with her fingers, the bond buzzing faintly with Sky's curiosity and Alexander's tension. She had heard whispers of Rosalind's power, her manipulation, and her role in Alfea's darker history, but seeing her name tied to the orb felt like a warning.
"This can't be a coincidence," Vanessa murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
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Vanessa approached Bloom later that day, the parchment tucked safely in her bag. The first-years were in the middle of a training session, their laughter and chatter filling the air as they practiced simple spells. Bloom stood apart from the group, her fiery magic flickering faintly in her hands.
"Bloom," Vanessa called, her voice steady but cautious.
Bloom turned, her fiery temper flickering in her gaze. "What do you want?"
Vanessa hesitated, her chest tightening. "I need to talk to you. It's important."
Bloom sighed, crossing her arms. "Fine. What is it?"
Vanessa pulled out the parchment, holding it out for Bloom to see. "Does this mean anything to you?"
Bloom's eyes widened as she scanned the runes, her fiery magic flaring for a brief moment before she extinguished it. "Where did you get this?"
"The archives," Vanessa said. "It was hidden in a book about elemental magic."
Bloom's gaze flicked to Vanessa, her expression guarded. "Why are you asking me?"
"Because I think you know something," Vanessa said, her voice firm. "Bloom, this is connected to Rosalind. And I think you are too."
Bloom's fiery temper flared again, her hands clenching into fists. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Then tell me," Vanessa said, her voice rising. "If you know something, tell me. Because this isn't just about you, Bloom. It's about both of us."
Bloom's gaze wavered, her fiery presence softening for a moment. But then she shook her head, her expression hardening. "Stay out of it, Vanessa."
"Bloom-" Vanessa began, but her sister was already walking away, leaving her standing alone with the parchment in her hands.
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That evening, Vanessa sat in the common room, the bond thrumming faintly with Alexander and Sky's concern. She clutched the parchment tightly, her mind racing with questions she couldn't answer.
"She knows something," Vanessa said finally, her voice quiet. "But she won't tell me."
Sky frowned, his usual grin absent. "Maybe she's scared."
"Or maybe she doesn't trust me," Vanessa muttered, her chest tightening.
Alexander's green eyes softened as he sat beside her. "You can't force her, Vanessa. She has to come to you."
"I don't know if she ever will," Vanessa said, her voice trembling.
The bond pulsed faintly, Sky and Alexander's presence a steady comfort. Vanessa exhaled, the tension in her chest easing slightly.
"Thanks," she said softly. "For being here."
"Always," Sky said, his grin returning. "You're stuck with us."
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As Vanessa lay in bed that night, the parchment tucked safely in her locket, her thoughts drifted to Bloom and the secrets she was hiding. The bond thrummed faintly, its warmth a quiet reassurance, but it wasn't enough to chase away the unease coiling in her chest.
