Just a normal day...

[Shanza]

He snorted as she walked away, and she flicked her ears back in annoyance. She was hoping there would be some probable explanation for his reaction, but she doubted it.

"Arix please, let me take you back. You'll spend two more seconds with me, and then, if you don't want to, you'll never have to talk to me again, sound fair?"

Arix stopped, and looked around at him. She wanted to trust him, but couldn't. She shook her head, realizing for the first time how ironic that was. She could trust him for the exact opposite reason she had feared. Give him a chance, she thought to herself, it's not like you're acting all that reasonable either.

He appeared right in front of her, and she barely reacted. Arix perked her ears forward, realizing she was getting used to him and how desperately she wanted someone to be able to talk to, well, plot with was more like it.

"What's wrong with you!? Do you want me to be afraid of you? Do you want me to cower in fear while you tell me that your some sort of murderer that takes what she wants, hunts it down like a wild dog? I've seen that, Arix! I'm no innocent. I've seen murder, I've seen death, I've seen and experienced torture. Tell me that you've done something worse than that, and then I'll fear you. You have to understand, its my job not to fear what I should."

Arix lifted her head in startlement. "Fear me?" She said in slight confusion, "No, I don't want you to fear me. How the hell can I work with someone who fears me?" She snorted, shaking out her mane once again. "I wanted a reaction, something, anything, instead of you just staring at me like a lovestruck puppy! I can't read your mind just like you can't read mine! How the hell could I know you could handle what I can throw at you with testing you? How do I know you won't run off to the safety of the Academy when you realize who I am?" She glared at him, annoyed and slightly embarrassed. "How did I know what you've seen before?" She continued softer. "How do I know where you've been, what you've confronted? The only way I have of testing others is to see what their reaction is. You're the first who hasn't reacted. There's been others who have been wary, excited, annoyed, surprised, most have been fearful and for good reason, but you're the first who acted like nothing happened. So why the hell should I trust you? So do you want to see what I can do? Do you want to go there?" She took a deep breath, and continued. "If you want to, understand this," her voice took on a warning tone, and if he ignored it now, so be it. "If you betray me I will stop at nothing until you rest dead at my feet. Do you understand me?"

[ϞSymreeϞ]

Arix lifted her head slightly, and I caught a flicker of confusion. "Fear me?" She asked, "No, I don't want you to fear me. How the hell can I work with someone who fears me?" She snorted, shaking out her mane, but I held my tongue, there was more coming. "I wanted a reaction, something, anything, instead of you just staring at me like a lovestruck puppy! I can't read your mind just like you can't read mine! How the hell could I know you could handle what I can throw at you with testing you? How do I know you won't run off to the safety of the Academy when you realize who I am?"

She glared at me, her eyes holding annoyance and a bit of embarrassment, probably set in there for my behalf. I wanted to tell her that I would never turn her in. I wanted to tell her that she could trust me, but the words wouldn't come.

"How did I know what you've seen before?" She asked in a softer tone, "How do I know where you've been, what you've confronted? The only way I have of testing others is to see what their reaction is. You're the first who hasn't reacted. There's been others who have been wary, excited, annoyed, surprised, most have been fearful and for good reason, but you're the first who acted like nothing happened. So why the hell should I trust you? So do you want to see what I can do? Do you want to go there?" She took a deep breath, "If you want to, understand this," she said, her voice becoming harsh in warning,"If you betray me I will stop at nothing until you rest dead at my feet. Do you understand me?"

She wanted a reaction? My insides knotted, reactions weren't exactly a specialty of mine, but for Arix, could I give it a try? Her eyes bore like daggers into my own, and slowly I felt my mask lowering, I let her see into my mind, and I lifted my head higher, meeting her gaze with a wary and understanding respect. "I understand." I paused, shaking out the black tresses of my mane,"And I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you. However, you don't have to show me anything that you don't want to. I'm not here to gather information on you. That may turn into my cover if I find myself in need of one, but it is not my intention to uncover any deep dark secret that you may or may not posses. I just want to be your friend, possibly more if you'd let me in. But I understand. I've been told on more occasions than I care to remember that I am too quick to trust a stranger. You're not, and I respect that." I finished in a slight smile that I wasn't sure would be returned. "Will you let me take to back to the Academy? It's quite the flight."

[Shanza]

When he started to react, Arix relaxed. She could see the expressions only begging to show in his eyes, and watched as he lifted his head to match her eye to eye.

"I understand."

Arix belived him; in that moment she believed he knew that she didn't make idle threats. "And I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you. However, you don't have to show me anything that you don't want to."

She watched him in suprise, for after he didn't react earlier she didn't think he'd react at all. Arix hid a grin as she realized she had presumed way too much about this stallion. "I'm not here to gather information on you. That may turn into my cover if I find myself in need of one, but it is not my intention to uncover any deep dark secret that you may or may not posses. I just want to be your friend, possibly more if you'd let me in. But I understand. I've been told on more occasions than I care to remember that I am too quick to trust a stranger. You're not, and I respect that."

Arix smiled back at him, happy that her first impressions of the bay unicorn were right. She would show him what she could do, but not yet. She had a flair for the dramatic, and she really wanted to stun him. To be able to do that she had to get control of the runes first. When that time came... to hell with the consequences.

"Will you let me take to back to the Academy? It's quite the flight."

She took a deep breath and prepared herself for what she had to do. He likely didn't expect it, but she felt it was necessary. "Malgo, I have to apologize. I was rude and quick to judge. Normally that isn't a problem for me, but lately I haven't been quite.... myself." She offered a small grin, "I become rather reckless of late. I believe I did scare Ms. Kathridge quite to death yesterday." She grinned widely as her eyes flashed with their golden sheen. "I must say, it was quite fun."

"I do believe I'm ready to head back now, but there's one thing I need to say first. If you want to change me, go ahead and try, but just expect a hell of a battle on your hooves." She smiled again, glad that everything just might work out.

[ϞSymreeϞ]

Arix took a deep breath, "Malgo, I have to apologize. I was rude and quick to judge. Normally that isn't a problem for me, but lately I haven't been quite.... myself." She smiled slightly, and I blinked back my surprise. "I become rather reckless of late. I believe I did scare Ms. Kathridge quite to death yesterday." Her eyes shone a deep an mischievous gold that I was beginning to connect with enjoyment. "I must say, it was quite fun."

I smirked when she turned away immediately, not allowing me to get a word in. It had been hard for her to admit that she had been wrong about me, and she wasn't about to let me tell her that I held no hard feelings about it. No, she was changing the conversation to something more within her comfort zone. "I do believe I'm ready to head back now, but there's one thing I need to say first. If you want to change me, go ahead and try, but just expect a hell of a battle on your hooves." She smirked again in a way of challenge, and I blinked at how far she had strayed from the original conversation. "Change you?" I muttered lightly,"I couldn't change you any more than I could change the tide of the sea, and I wouldn't want to." I took a step closer to her to stop the rays of sun from blazing into my eyes. "If I had to change you in order to like you than I wouldn't have bothered. Its too much work." A smirk twisted onto my own features, and I transported the step required to place her by my side. I had to admit, the power had it's uses. "Lets go back," I said, "Before they lock up bounds."

[Shanza]

Arix was truly happy, giddy almost. Arching her neck as she trotted through the woods she thought of how her relationship with the bay traveler had spiraled nearly out of control in the days that had passed since the Mortigi Desert. She felt as if they were standing at the brink of an abyss, taking the first steps to taking the plunge into the unknown. They were sneaking around behind the professors' backs, hiding especially from Draldoth. More and more she realized how much acting like this reminded her of her time as a filly in Sunthara. Running around behind her parents' backs, disregarding rules and her belligerent attitude when caught brought a devilish grin to her features.

She emerged into the gym clearing early, only Malgo stood there. "Where's the prof? You teaching today?" She teased him as she glided up. She ran her muzzle through his mane, loving how it felt and loving the fact that what she was doing should be completly off limits. Backing away slowly, she eyed him critically. "You up for a game of cat and mouse? We got time," again Arix grinned, the golden light dancing in her eyes.

Not waiting to hear his response, she danced off into the field. "Besides, the professor generally doesn't arrive until later, so what's the problem?" Trying, and failing, to hide a smirk she gave a passing thought to Kathri. That mare thought I was going to kill him, she snorted humerously. Sure, it passed my mind a time or two when I first met him, but now? No way; I like this game too much. With a snap of her wings she was airborne, challenging Malgo to bring her back to earth.

[ϞSymreeϞ]

Frankly, I was amazed that we hadn't been caught yet. In every heartbeat, I prepared myself for a visit from Draldoth, one that luckily hadn't come yet. True, we were being careful, and sneaky, but somehow, despite all of that, I never would have dreamed that our rule breaking would go on for this long. I had expected more from the headmaster, and for the first time in eons, I was disappointed. It was a happy disappointment, but it seemed to confirm my fears. Either he was too busy with other things to notice what we were doing, or he knew, and let our relationship continue because it kept me busy, and out of his other affairs.

I waited, alone in the long field that we used for gym class. The coach had asked me to come early, that he wanted me to help him set up the field for the game that we would be playing today. He had said that he would be here two hours ago, and I pawed the earth impatiently. It wasn't like him to be late. It wasn't like me to go behind Draldoth's back. Maybe no one here was exactly as they seemed. In combination with Draldoth's lack of intervention, this frightened me a bit more than it should have. Did that mean that whatever they were keeping me from was nearly complete? Did all of the staff know about it except me? No, there had probably just been a last minute staff meeting or something, or that was the lie that Coach would feed me when he returned.

Arix glided up on silent wings, a mischievous grin on her features. "Where's the prof? You teaching today?" Her tone was a teasing one as she ran her muzzle through the black tresses of my mane. I closed my eyes slightly, loving the feel of her muzzle against my coat, and her warm breath before she slowly backed away. I rubbed the side of my face affectionately on her shoulder and then stood, slouched on one hip and smiling. It was impossible to frown with her around. "Maybe," I said with a hint of annoyance. "Coach was supposed to meet me here two hours ago."

"You up for a game of cat and mouse? We got time," She said,as the strange golden cast shimmered over her eyes. She didn't wait for an answer, she didn't need to. I was always up for a game of cat and mouse.

She danced off into the field, "Besides, the professor generally doesn't arrive until later, so what's the problem?" She tried and failed to hide a smirk, and launched herself into the air. I watched her silver body flash across the sky. We had figured out that it was harder, the faster that she traveled, but by now, there was no part of her that was a blank in my minds eye. Had she been standing still, somewhere out of sight, I could bring her to me virtually without effort now. The hard part was to catch her now in the sky. I had to predict where she would be a moment before she arrived there in flight, otherwise she would keep sailing overhead, taunting and teasing until I got it right.

The first try I missed her by a hair, but the next moment, she was standing right beside me, her heart still racing from her wild flight above. We were both getting faster. I blew gently into her mane, a smirk dripping across my face. "Tie game," I said, "One miss, one catch."
She flew off into the sky again, and I watched her fly, wishing that I could join her. At that moment, I would have willingly traded my horn in for wings, but it just didn't work that way. This time it took me two tries to catch her, but catch her I did, and she appeared in a swirl of color back on the earth beside me. We both laughed, our bodies pumping with adrenaline. Playfully, I ran my muzzle down her neck, and rubbed my forehead on her shoulder. She in answer,tugged affectionately at my mane. There was a feel of illegality about the touch, but I was becoming addicted to the rush. I knew that I was breaking the rules, and it brought a wild smile to my lips. Draldoth would kill me if he knew, and that somehow made it all the better, all the more worth it.

"Malglo!" The voice was cold and rough, spoken in a tone that could only belong to one creature. I turned to look into the cool, dark eyes of a tall grulla stallion. He towered over me, body rigid in anger, but a hint of satisfaction played in his eyes. Jormax had returned.

[Shanza]

Arix looked over at the stallion who had finally caught them in the act. She held back a growl, for she knew everything would change now. Just like everything had in Sunthara, only now she didn't intend on running away. She was going to keep Malgo; no one would be able to stop her. The gray pegasi glanced away as she shook her head, trying to fling the anger away as her mane lashed back and forth. This was not a time to challenge anyone. She still had a lot to learn and this place was the only place that could, or would, teach her.

Apparently Jormax was waiting to give them a lecture or was saving the privileged for the headmaster. "Follow me," he growled at them. From what she had heard about his personality she doubted that he would be taking them to anyone else to get a stern talking-to from. He enjoyed it too much for that. Arix glanced at Malgo several times, wondering what he was thinking. How much trouble would he be in? She was certain that he was in for a bigger headache than she was; he was almost a teacher, after all.

As they were entering the main school grounds they passed Enjori and Kathri headed the other direction. The two mares stared as they passed, and Arix mentally chalked one up to the grulla appaloosa who suspected the truth that the gray pegasus was a killer. She snorted as they continued around the bend. Why did they have to pass them? Why couldn't she at least keep up a slight appearance that she wasn't on the teachers' radar? Well, she rather gave up that right when she started messing around with Malgo.

Jormax stopped beside a large, slightly gloomy looking entrance. "In. Now." Malgo went first, and then Arix followed. She wondered what it would be like once inside; pleasant and lit or damp and creepy. She preferred the latter herself, and guessed that Jormax would as well.

[ϞSymreeϞ]

This was delicious. Spectacular. Stupendous. I finally had something against Malglo, something concrete that would get him out of our hair. He'd messed up, and this time I had proof. I finally had a reason to get him out of the academy and out into the open, where nature would hopefully, kill him off before the winter thaw next year. Even that much was wishful thinking, but this time, Draldoth couldn't ignore me. This time, something would have to be done about our blood bay colt. Impertinent, shameful, colt. A colt that, lucky for me, had just discovered his hormones. I could have danced, and sung my joy to the skies, but frankly, it just wasn't my style. I hid my joy behind a harsh growl, "Follow me." I led them through the main grounds at a brisk walk, the only indication that I was eager to speak with them. As we walked, we passed by the other students as they headed towards the field that we had just left, a few even stared and whispered at the sight of Malglo and his forbidden romance. They may not have known for sure that that was what it was at all, but I liked to think that they would be punished by multiple rumors in addition to punishment set down by the administration. That was why we walked this way, and not around back to get to my office. We came to the shadowed entrance of my office, and sharply I ordered them in. Malglo, always the idiot, went in first. I supposed that he had to make sure it was safe for his lady friend. I snorted to myself as I followed behind them, rather appreciating the fine curve's of his mare's rump. As much as I wanted him dead, he had good taste. My eyes wandered the familiar dark tangle of vines, and the cool mulch turf, that squished slightly under hoof. A thick canopy of leaves blocked out most of the sunlight, and spiderwebs glistened in artistic places around the office. I was a very gifted decorator given what I had to work with.

I turned towards Malglo, eyes drifting casually across the rest of the mare's body. Quite exquisite actually. My gaze flicked back to Malglo, orbs narrowing into slits. "How stupid do you think we are? Did you truly believe that you would never be caught? That you could break the rules without consequence? Malglo, you, at the very least should know better, I wouldn't expect any form of maturity from you, but Draldoth does, he thinks that he can trust you...doesn't seem like that's the case at all here."

The blood bay held my gaze evenly, his eyes empty, all smart-ass remarks swallowed or bitten back. He knew what I could do to him, he knew how much trouble his friend would be in as well. He was smart enough not to push his luck. "How long has this foolishness been going on?" I snapped, quite enjoying the silence that I had finally induced on the stallion. "And no lies, I'll be able to tell."

Malglo's jaw clenched and unclenched, "Two weeks," He replied tonelessly.

I smirked as I imagined how much control he was dedicating to not kicking me in the face. I saw a muscle in his foreleg quiver. A low chuckle danced up from my throat. "Two weeks. Tell me Malglo, was two weeks worth you being tossed out of here like a rag doll?"

"Yes."

I laughed again, this time with real humor, "Why? Why was she worth you being kicked out? Do you think that you love her? Does she bear your foal?"

Malglo's face hardened. "No."

"No what?" I taunted, "No you don't love her?"

"No," He growled, "She doesn't carry my foal."

I smirked, "Well, now that's a blessing for you both," I turned my attention to the mare, "Were you aware that it is against the rules of the academy for you two to be dating, and that Draldoth could expel you for such a transgression? Were you aware that Malglo could loose his staff position? Or was this all a game to you?"

I knew that Malglo wasn't one to break the rules without heavy provocation. That meant that the mare wasn't guiltless in this, and I would have the happy honor of turning them both in to Draldoth.

[Shanza]

Arix knew the older stallion was checking her out as she walked by him. She flicked her tail, grinning to herself. It was nice to be envied. Like she expected, it was dark and gloomy, exactly her style. She glanced around at the cobwebs, smriking. "Nice decorations." Jormax slid past her and settled behind his desk, turning to round on Malgo. This was the first time she had met him, although she had heard much in passing. A angry teacher, many believed that he taught for the enjoyment of passing out detention. He certainly had the track record for it.

"How stupid do you think we are? Did you truly believe that you would never be caught? That you could break the rules without consequence? Malglo, you, at the very least should know better, I wouldn't expect any form of maturity from you, but Draldoth does, he thinks that he can trust you...doesn't seem like that's the case at all here."

"How long has this foolishness been going on? And no lies, I'll be able to tell."

Arix watched as Malgo checked his anger, replying calmly to the question. Bravo, she thought to herself. He has self disapline. She was rather amused, but not sure why. She had gone from being worried about his position to laughing at their situation in the space of two minutes. Breifly she wondered if something was wrong with her, then remembered it was. She killed for a living, after all. She barely kept in the laughter, quietly trying to keep a blank face and extremely grateful for the dark.

"Two weeks. Tell me Malglo, was two weeks worth you being tossed out of here like a rag doll?"

"Yes."

He replyed, and Jormax was laughing, but Arix wasn't. So that's how he feels, huh? She was slightly startled. As she thought about it, she realized that she wouldn't get kicked out for him, but she would do a whole lot else. Sinking slowly into self reflection, Arix started seriously thinking of the depth of emotions she had for the bay traveler.

"Why? Why was she worth you being kicked out? Do you think that you love her? Does she bear your foal?"

Arix snarled under her breath as Malgo replied to his last statement and Jormax continued to taunt him. Her anger flashed through her eyes, the normal pitch black color seemingly shining deeper. The dimness of the cavern did alot to hide the effect, but Arix wasn't at all sure that Jormax wouldn't notice. If he wasn't so intent on crucifying Malgo he would have for certain, she was sure of it. Calm down, calm down, she thought to herself. Let him handle it. He can handle it. She wanted to rip his throat out.

"Well, now that's a blessing for you both. Were you aware that it is against the rules of the academy for you two to be dating, and that Draldoth could expel you for such a transgression? Were you aware that Malglo could loose his staff position? Or was this all a game to you?"

"Let me ask you one thing," Arix hissed. "How is it a blessing for me not to be in foal? Do you hate Alicorns that much? I have suffered too damn much to take your crap. So tell me," she spat at him. "I'm an adult, he's an adult, why do you insist on treating us like children? Would you like to turn this into Sunthara? You do know how pegasi are treated there, don't you?" Scorn laying thick in her voice, she continued. "So screw your damn rules. I'll learn how to do this by myself. It's always how its been. Nothing changes." Glaring at him, she walked out through the entangling vines.

[ϞSymreeϞ]

"Let me ask you one thing," Arix hissed. "How is it a blessing for me not to be in foal? Do you hate Alicorns that much? I have suffered too damn much to take your crap. So tell me," she spat at him. "I'm an adult, he's an adult, why do you insist on treating us like children? Would you like to turn this into Sunthara? You do know how pegasi are treated there, don't you?" Her voice grew thick with scorn."So screw your damn rules. I'll learn how to do this by myself. It's always how its been. Nothing changes."

My jaw slid down slightly as she stormed out of Jormax's office. The grulla stallion was left speechless, his jaw rigid. It was a reaction that I had never seen from him before, and never expected. Usually it seemed like a physical incapability for him to keep anything bottled up. This time it was different. The stallion was livid, positively dripping with anger, but he didn't speak, didn't move a muscle to go after her.
I watched him in a stunned silence, my own expressions under a careful guard. Dark and cold, his gaze turned back to me. "She needs to learn to hold her tongue, and control her temper."

I nodded cooperatively, but in my mind, it seemed that he spoke more of himself than of Arix. She only exploded because she knew how far she could push his buttons. She could get away with it, partly because he had taken a fancy to her, and partly because she had a certain expertise in that area.

Vaguely I thought of how I was supposed to be in gym class, helping the coach set up the field. I imagined him asking students where we were, and I imagined Kathri and Enjori telling him that Jormax had come to collect us, and that we had walked with him somewhere. Little did I know, the professor was thinking, his gears turning, hard at work determining whether or not I was useful enough to be allowed to keep my position at the academy.

Jormax shoved into me, pushing me towards the exit, "Go," He said, following close behind me, "We're going to Draldoth." I lurched forward, caught off guard at the strength of his shove. I glanced back at him, face torn between curiosity and surprise. I caught a flash in the depths of his beetle black eyes and had a feeling that there was more to Jormax than I had ever expected. He had always been punctual, emphasizing politeness and pushing for respect. Something had changed.

I stood outside of Draldoth's office, gathering up my courage, hoping that he was in a good mood.

"Draldoth," Jormax called, "Malglo here has something he'd like to confess to."

[Shanza]

Draldoth shook his mane out of his eyes as he walked the academy grounds. With everything they had done, it still wasn't enough. He didn't know what else to do; all resources were being unitized, all strings being pulled. Well, all except for Malglo. Draldoth didn't want to use him; it was too early yet. Besides, he wasn't all that sure he would follow orders. After all, the blood bad stallion didn't have an excellent track record on that account.

Jormax, herding Malglo ahead of him, caught Draldoth's eye as they headed towards his office. He snorted, grinning to himself. He should stop wondering and accept the fact that no matter how or why Jormax would always be Malglo's worst nightmare. It should be no wonder then that the first day back the Professor would already caught him up to something. Draldoth quickly picked up a trot as the two vanished around a large shrub hedge and entered his office from the small backway. He still wondered why they had 'offices' because the only time they were used were to talk to others. He guessed it gave the feeling of privacy. Draldoth shook his head, just settling in as Jormax arrived at the front enterance.

"Draldoth, Malglo here has something he'd like to confess to."

"Then why don't you both come in." Draldoth knew it was serious the moment he saw the absoulte glee on Jormax's face and the slightly depressed look on Malglo's. He would have to talk to Jormax about hiding his triumph from the rest of the school; it would only make them fear and hate him worse. "Around mid-eve today would you tell me all you know, Jormax? I'll meet you at the lone pines at the south end of campus. Thank you," he inclined his head and indicating that he should go. It was a moment before the teacher took the hint and left, wearing a slightly stormy look. Draldoth was sure he would have loved to see Malglo getting a good dressing down. They were practically mortal enemies, after all.

"So, Malglo. I think you had better tell me everything, and start from the very beginning. Not only today, but when this whole thing started." He looked over at his student, a slight grin tugging on his features. "How in the world did you screw up so badly to get Jormax's attention first day back?"

[ϞSymreeϞ]

Draldoth welcomed us both in, and my heart sunk several notches. I didn't want to think about how much that bright voice would change when he knew what I had done behind his back.

"Around mid-eve today would you tell me all you know, Jormax? I'll meet you at the lone pines at the south end of campus. Thank you,"he said, dismissing the grulla professor. A faint smile tugged at my lips. I knew how much Jormax would have loved to stay and watch my torment. He practically stomped out of the headmaster's office.

"So, Malglo. I think you had better tell me everything, and start from the very beginning. Not only today, but when this whole thing started." He looked over at me, a slight grin tugging on his features. "How in the world did you screw up so badly to get Jormax's attention first day back?"

I sighed, wondering where the beginning was. I finally decided on a day. "Well, do you remember that day that Kathri tried to drown me in the river? Well, that day we played some hackey sack, and as you probably remember, both Kathri and Arix were sorta- going after me- I guess? Well, anyway, you put them in detention together with the healer the next day, and apparently Arix did something that scared Kathri out of her wits. It was something about Arix being able to produce fire? Well, she ran to Enjori and I hatched a plan with her to keep an eye on Arix, make sure that she was perfectly harmless, you know? Well...sir, I observed her for a while, and she couldn't get this rune right. She kept practicing and practicing, so I decided to help her." I stopped, remembering our field trip to the Mortigi desert, our fight, and the weeks that followed, the dreamlike way in which my life had been playing. Until now.

"Draldoth, I betrayed your trust. Arix and I were courting." I let the bombshell hit, meeting the professor's gaze as evenly as I could. "We have been for two weeks. Jormax caught us in the gym field."
"I'm sorry that I betrayed your trust, but honestly, I haven't been quite so happy in a long time. I'm not saying that it's fate, or anything like that, but...I dont know- I trust her."

I shifted slightly, hating his silence, "Please say something?"

[Shanza]

Draldoth kept his expression neutral and his mind blank as Malglo related his tale. He knew that Jormax would only have dragged the bay down to him if he had concrete proof of Malglo's transgression. He had known it was likely to involve the gray pegasi, but he feared the extent Arix was actually involved. At the mention that Arix scared Kathridge, he fought the impulse to snap at his pupil. Of course Arix had scared her; it was very likely that she was raised on the habits of manipulation. The next sentence caught him unawares and his jaw almost dropped in surprise. Fire creation? But how could that even be possible? His mind whirled in confusion and settlement as Malglo's voice dropped into the background. Could Kathridge have created the fire and not realized it? He didn't doubt fire was created, but Arix the one creating it? It couldn't be possible with her magic. It wasn't possible. It just wasn't. Draldoth stared back at Malglo, face quiet but mind reeling. The only magic that was capable of anything like that would be a natural black magic; but she possessed water, not just a mimicry of it. Could it be possible? She would have to have black magic, and not only basic training. Arix would have to be extensively trained. By an expert.

He heard Malglo's admission of guilt, and watched as he continued talking. Draldoth's mind quieted and his attention focused completely on Malglo with his admission of 'I trust her.' Malglo shifted, wanting an answer that Draldoth didn't know how to provide. He couldn't condone Malglo's perspective, but he couldn't trash it either. If he went against Malglo's view, he would likely just ignore Draldoth and continuing seeing the dangerous mare. He would have to set the bay up to see how explosive she was, and hope that he could see his way clear.

"Could Kathridge have created the fire herself? Is it likely that she didn't know she created it? What was her exact count of the incident?" Malglo looked taken aback, and Draldoth snorted forcefully, pinning his ears to his skull. "The fire incident during the detention I assigned. What happened exactly?"

He paused, watching for Malglo's reaction. He wanted to warn Malglo to back off, but the base problem of Arix's power was way more worrisome at the moment. "Have you noticed anything about her? Have you seen things, do you suspect things about her? In your time of watching, has she done the unexplainable?"

[ϞSymreeϞ]

Draldoth was silent for too long, and it was starting to make me nervous. I knew that he took pleasure in watching me squirm, but for some reason, this didn't feel like a silence designed to torture me. He seemed to be thinking, and genuinely attentive.
When he finally did speak, I felt as though there was a certain panic to his voice, and it frightened me. There must have been something serious at hand if Draldoth was looking at me like that.

"Could Kathridge have created the fire herself? Is it likely that she didn't know she created it? What was her exact count of the incident?" I felt certain that I looked taken aback, and Draldoth snorted forcefully, pinning his ears to his skull. "The fire incident during the detention I assigned. What happened exactly?"

He paused, watching for my reaction. "Have you noticed anything about her? Have you seen things, do you suspect things about her? In your time of watching, has she done the unexplainable?"

I shook my head slowly, trying to sort out all of his questions. The look on his face screamed at me to pay attention. Just this once hear what I'm saying, and see that I fear for your safety!-Draldoth's eyes seemed to say. I took a deep breath and launched back into the story. "Enjori came to the healers area to talk to me, she said that Kathri and Arix had been talking, Kathri tried to defend herself, to let Arix know that she wasnt afraid of her, even though she is, and she must have said something that made Arix mad, because she was trying to scare Kathri, just enough to freak her out a bit, and then she came to Enjori with the story that Arix had produced a flame. Kathri was very specific about it, she was certain that she hadn't created the flame herself." I paused, never looking away from Draldoth.

"I've noticed a lot of things about Arix, headmaster," I continued cautiously, "I've noticed that she is a very fast learner, that she's smart, and that she knows a lot more about magic than she lets on. Yes, I have seen strange things, headmaster, and I suspect things about her, but none have sent off alarms inside of me, as I told you already, I trust her- I," I stopped at the look in his eye. He looked like he was asking me to question everything that had come out of my mouth. Did I really believe a word of it?
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before looking back up at him. "I've been blinded by the enemy, haven't I?" I took several more breaths, trying to even out the racing pain in my chest, the uneven rattle of my heart. "Yes, Headmaster, I have seen her do the impossible, and I suspect her of having many different kinds of magic. I also- I know it will sound insane- but I also believe that she was not born with those wings. I- I think that at one point she possessed a horn."

[Shanza]

As Malglo started talking about Arix, Draldoth flicked his wings in surprise. He hadn't expected, let alone believed in the possibility that Malglo would open up to him. After all, he was falling for the mare, and what else was so blind as love? No matter that she had a secret, albeit cunningly hidden, love would follow its own path. Draldoth had learned that firsthand at a young age.

The Headmaster wasn't surprised to hear that Arix was smart and a fast learner. He had assumed she knew more magic than most of the beginners, but Malglo implied that she knew much more. Draldoth nodded in simpathy, frowning with the depth of the disturbing news as Malglo started to realized what the pegasi supected all along. Arix might or might not be a spy, planted into the academy for gaining information, but she was appearing to be more and more of a threat. His next words struck home, as Draldoth knew that Malglo's definition of impossible was very broad indeed.

"I have seen her do the impossible, and I suspect her of having many different kinds of magic. I also- I know it will sound insane- but I also believe that she was not born with those wings. I- I think that at one point she possessed a horn."

Draldoth rocked back slightly, looking away and staring into the distance. He moved slowly, as if in a daze, out from behind his desk to the far side of his office. "Are you sure?" He continued, speaking softly, without waiting for a reply to the rhetorical question. "Of course you're sure," he mumbled. "Fire and water, water and fire. Base of fire, air, and water. None able to transform, unless Black Magick mimicry is used, but that would only be for a very short time. Nothing else I know can even begin to explain it." His head jerked up, and he whipped around to face the bay. "You said several kinds of magick, what exactly? Was it suggestions of the magic, or was it a full-blown demonstration? How much knowledge of magic does she have? Extensive? Limited? The hidden loopholes that only the most advanced of us would know? I want to know exactly what she said; her words, her implications, her ideas. Did she give you any idea of how this would be possible?

"What inclined you to think she didn't have wings, but a horn? Anything specific, or a slow gathering of knowledge over time? Positions, cues, implications? Anything and everything is relevant. I want to know, this Academyneeds to know." He took a deep breath, closing his eyes, and relaxing his wings. Carefully he took the time to relax the muscles throughout his body, and then opened his eyes again. "If she's a threat, which I strongly believe is the truth in all likelihood, we need to know why, how, and how dangerous she is. Think carefully, and try to recall every detail, every instance, every moment that you've been around her. Most importantly, we need to find out the source of the magic that is giving her this power. Is it her? Or is it someone else, someone in the sidelines that supplies the tricks as she delivers the performance? Anything and everything is relevant. Everything is important. Are you willing to begin?"