The Fairy of Space [REVISED]

Chapter 8 - A New Club

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A few weeks passed, and the girls had finally begun to feel somewhat at home at Alfea. 

Cyan was a quiet scholar, often earning high marks and being true to her assignments and study habits. Brittany, on the other hand, struggled to pay attention — although she ultimately wanted to try her best. She got in trouble sometimes for chitchatting or daydreaming in class.

Spark had boundless energy and had a hard time sitting still for long in class; her restless legs kept tapping against the floor as each professor droned through their lessons. If anything, she was cooperating simply for the chance to be able to get to use her powers quicker.

Nani was also a reserved student, though more soft spoken and timid than anything. She'd get a bit flustered when called on, though ultimately she knew what she was talking about.

Selena was enthralled with all she was learning, though her underlying anxiety failed to cease — Palladium had been talking up their first battle exercise coming up. While everyday she became more sure of her knowledge of magic and spells, she also became more unsure of her own ability to perform them.

She drummed her fingers absent-mindedly against her desk as she listened to the elf professor explain today's mission: get through the Black Mud Swamp without magic or technology. Not quite a battle yet, but something. 

Palladium had split them up into groups of either five or six girls, since they had a large class. The assignment was a long one, lasting most of the day, and it was the first time that Room 302 had formally worked together as a team. They did surprisingly well, managing to finish in second place — only losing to a group that had mixed sophomore girls in there. 

There was one girl, tall and lean with pale skin and fluffy dark hair, that kept looking over at them. Something about her was familiar, but just strange enough that it didn't ring any bells. She was with the first place group and only ever hung off to the side, looking either bored or indifferent. Hard to tell.

Then she felt the same energy that she had felt at the Alfea Ball — something... dark? Not necessarily dark magic, but... a strange energy to be coming from a fairy. This must be the same girl... anytime Selena had seen her, she'd been in the shadows. She frowned to herself, lost in thought.

"...Now you, girls, please give a brief report on what you did." Palladium's smooth voice wandered over to Selena's ears, breaking her from her spying on the mysterious fairy. She jumped in her own skin, earning a few giggles. 

She glanced back, finding that the entire group was looking at her. "Me!?" She whispered fiercely, glaring at them. 

"You had the best calls," Spark noted, shrugging. "Why don't you speak for us?"

"No way, I—"

"Girls?" Palladium pressed, raising an eyebrow.

Selena gritted her teeth in frustration before relaxing and turning back around. "A-A report, right, yes... um, well first, we..."

She went on to explain their dynamic. Selena had been the voice of reason between some bickering points while Cyan generally had the best and most mature decision-making. Spark was intelligent, but her concentration was hard-won; she had to focus and try not to run off in order to accomplish what they were looking for. When she did focus, she was a wealth of information. Nani really came into play when telling them to be quiet or careful, keeping an eye out on the small details. And Brittany was great in heat-of-the-moment decisions, going with her gut and being right more often than not.