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...
The stormy tension between Vanessa and Bloom continued to simmer in the days following their confrontation. While Vanessa buried herself in training and research, Bloom threw herself into her magical studies with a recklessness that worried both students and faculty alike. The bond hummed faintly with Alexander and Sky's concern, but it wasn't enough to chase away Vanessa's growing unease.
Vanessa found herself in the training hall one afternoon, watching as Bloom practiced her fire magic with increasing intensity. Flames roared to life in Bloom's hands, flickering and twisting in erratic patterns that mirrored the storm inside her.
"She's pushing too hard," Sky said, stepping up beside Vanessa. His usual grin was replaced by a rare seriousness.
"She doesn't know how to stop," Vanessa murmured, her chest tightening.
Alexander joined them, his green eyes narrowing as he observed Bloom's wild magic. "If she keeps this up, she's going to hurt someone-or herself."
Vanessa sighed, the weight of the bond pressing heavily on her. "I need to talk to her."
Sky glanced at her, his blue eyes filled with sympathy. "You sure that's a good idea?"
"No," Vanessa admitted. "But I have to try."
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Vanessa approached Bloom cautiously, her locket glowing faintly as she stepped into the fiery heat of her sister's magic. Bloom's gaze snapped to her, her fiery temper flaring in her eyes.
"What do you want?" Bloom demanded, her tone sharp.
"To help you," Vanessa said, her voice steady despite the tension. "Bloom, your magic-it's unstable. If you don't slow down, you're going to lose control."
Bloom's fiery magic flared, the heat radiating off her in waves. "I don't need your help, Vanessa. I can handle it."
Vanessa's chest tightened, frustration bubbling to the surface. "Why won't you listen to me? This isn't just about you, Bloom. You're putting everyone else at risk."
"Maybe you should worry about yourself for once," Bloom snapped, her tone laced with anger. "You're so busy trying to be the perfect heir, the perfect sister-maybe you should focus on your own problems."
Vanessa recoiled as if struck, her throat tightening with a mix of hurt and anger. "Bloom, this isn't about being perfect. It's about keeping you safe."
"I don't need you to keep me safe," Bloom said, her fiery presence burning brighter. "I don't need you at all."
Vanessa stared at her, the bond buzzing sharply with Alexander and Sky's alarm. For a moment, she didn't know what to say. Then she turned and walked away, her chest heavy with the weight of Bloom's words.
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The incident happened later that night. Vanessa was in her dorm, poring over the runes on the shard, when the bond pulsed sharply with Sky's alarm.
"Vanessa!" Sky's voice came through the bond, urgent and strained. "You need to get to the courtyard. Now."
Vanessa bolted upright, clutching the shard as she ran. She reached the courtyard to find chaos: students scattered in every direction, their shouts and screams filling the air as a massive wave of fire roared across the grounds.
At the center of the chaos was Bloom, her fiery magic spiraling out of control. Flames engulfed her, their heat scorching the stone beneath her feet. Vanessa's chest tightened as she took in the sight-her sister, consumed by the very magic she was trying to master.
"Bloom!" Vanessa shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.
Bloom turned to her, her fiery gaze wild and unfocused. "Stay back!"
Vanessa ignored her, stepping closer as her locket glowed brightly. The bond pulsed sharply with Alexander and Sky's alarm, but she didn't stop.
"You're losing control," Vanessa said, her voice steady despite the fear tightening her chest. "You need to let me help you."
"I don't need your help!" Bloom shouted, her fiery magic surging outward.
The flames rushed toward Vanessa, but she didn't flinch. Instead, she raised her hands, summoning a barrier of water and wind that extinguished the fire before it could reach her. The bond thrummed faintly with Alexander's steadiness and Sky's warmth, grounding her as she stepped closer.
"Bloom," Vanessa said, her voice soft but firm. "You're stronger than this. You can control it. But you have to let me in."
For a moment, Bloom hesitated, her fiery magic flickering uncertainly. Then the flames began to subside, their intensity fading as Bloom's breathing slowed.
Vanessa reached out, her hand resting lightly on Bloom's shoulder. "I'm here, Bloom. You're not alone."
Bloom's fiery presence softened, and she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Okay."
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The courtyard was silent in the aftermath of the explosion, the charred stone and scorched grass a stark reminder of what had happened. Vanessa stood beside Bloom, her locket glowing faintly as the bond thrummed with quiet relief.
"You did good," Sky said, his grin returning as he stepped up beside them. "That was intense, but you handled it."
Vanessa managed a faint smile, though her chest still felt heavy. "Thanks."
Alexander joined them, his green eyes scanning the courtyard. "This wasn't just an accident. Something triggered her magic."
Vanessa nodded, her gaze shifting to Bloom. "Bloom, what happened?"
Bloom hesitated, her fiery gaze flickering with uncertainty. "I don't know. I was practicing, and then... it just happened."
Vanessa frowned, her chest tightening. "We need to figure this out. Before it happens again."
