You're Kidding Me!

"That's horrifying!" Aqua cried out, "But you can also manipulate blot, milady. Yet, you so much better to be around with than such terrifying people!"

"That's because I suspect someone from my family is a demonic cultivator. Born and grew up able to manipulate blot like energy as we do with mana." Lotus explained, "However, the two are different."

"How come they're not related to demonic cultivators?"

"Demonic cultivators are different. They were born and raised in the demonic realm. Cultivated and practiced method to influence the negative aura around them. They rarely take it into their body if their body isn't suited to taking it in like mana." Lotus explained, "However, it's rather clear one of my biological parent is a demonic cultivators and seeing my reincarnation is a plant fairy, I suspect that they were descendants from an ancestor that was changed into demons by force. This made the need for mana to survive into blot for survival. It's been so many years now too. So, the descendants adapted to the change gradually over time. I suspect it is the same with other demonic plant cultivators sadly."

In fact, she wonders just how many have become unable to return to their natural state since her descension to her death. There should be a way to turn back, but something this valuable and wanted would require more time and resources to search the world for. Those children too...

"The aura around mother is evil. I can't let that harm her body and corrupt her mind. Sadly, I have both demonic blood and celestial in me, so my presence would alarm the aura and give her headaches and nausea and it wound harm my soul and my body which still retains pure mana." She frowned, "But the only way to save her is to break the curse. I also need to make sure that they didn't play any tricks on her while they did this and how they were able to accomplish this in a land where there are no dead bodies or blot?"

"If we take out the source, can we break the curse?" Aqua questioned curiously.

Lotus shook her head, "Rather than take it out, we can cut the connection between them. To remove blot is difficult. When there are mana, there are blot. Light and shadow. This school has many ambitious students and there has already been a few overblots in the past few months which is the most amount in history within one place. The residue of blot is a perfect medium for evil cultivators. The only place where you can gather more blot than anywhere else... I'll have to send my people to investigate this."

"What about you, milady?" Aqua looked to her nervously, "The preparations for the fairy gala..."

"I'm going to investigate Diasomnia dorm." Lotus responded.

"But, you can't!" Aqua responded firmly, "You only just broke through and still recovering from your injuries!"

"I know. That's why I can't do this on my own." Lotus shook her head, "I'm unable to tell how far the curse has affected mother from afar and I must put an end to those people before mom gets further affected. However, the queen is putting her all into this year's fairy gala and the number of invitations is ten times more than the previous five galas. Everything needs to go smoothly. I can't juggle all of these together at once. That's why I'm entrusting the gala to you and Maisey."

"What?!"

"I can't leave the curse to continue to fester." Lotus responded, "That's why I need you to follow the instructions and follow the gala's set-up according to what I wrote down."

Lotus handed her the piece of paper and then continued, "Usually, I would ask for Pyro to accompany you, but he's already struggling the stacks of papers with father. That's why I can only leave this to you and Maisey."

"Princess... That means you'll be looking for a way to break the curse or pursuing the cultprit..." Aqua responded hesitantly, "You're still recovering from the old injuries too. At least, bring a guard with you."

Lotus shook her head, "Evil cultivators have curiosity beyond acceptability. I shudder to think what they will try to do to a fairy, much less a magician, to discover what makes them tick. I still have the Zhang siblings with me and that person. I'll, at least, be safe. However, mother's life is more important right now. That's why I have to be able to save her first. In the meantime, when the gala begins, you must guard the perimeter well and Maisey must stay by mother's side. The duty of the guards us to protect the people. If something were to happen to everyone, my mother would never hesitate to give her life away to protect the masses. That's why I'm counting on you two. Protect my mother well during my absence."

"This..." Aqua hesitated before nodding her head in defeat and frustration, "I understand. We'll protect her majesty!"

Lotus smiled softly and nodded, "I know you two will. When the gala begins, if Maisey ever needed to drop out, you need to stay by mother's side at all times until he returns. There are some newcomers whom I met with earlier. They're still new to their jobs and isn't able to recognize the nobles and the invited fairies yet. So I need Maisey to step in during the opening of the gala and make note of their arrival. I just sent Chili to let Father give them another chance during mother's birthday banquet. Everyone has a lot on their plate this year. So, we must give it our all to make it through. If anyone needs any help, don't hesitate to reach out. Right now, success is important, but life overweighs success. If something dangerous happens, do not hesitate to evacuate everyone."

"Understood." Aqua responded firmly, "But, what if her majesty finds out about this?"

"Mother will be fine physically for now. However, she will be mentally stressed if she worries too much over it. If she worries about this curse, tell her this: Mother is a strong fairy. Petty greed and negativity can't hold her down. After all, she's not alone either. Right?"

"Yes!" Aqua nodded with a bright smile.

"Good. Now, continue following the instructions. As for the magical stones, the human students have an interesting idea..." Lotus chuckled, "Do remember that they are children and try not to crack down too hard on them."

"Obviously." Aqua sighed, "Her majesty already reminded everyone to allow the students go back outside if they are ever caught. She never intended to harm the children. Thankfully, we were already made well aware of their haughty personality ahead of time to make this arrangement."

Lotus smiled, "Yes. They are brash, loud, and hard-headed, but the foolish ones never mean what they say and the wise know when to fess up but never to the point of cowardice."

"A strange school filled with unusual students..." Aqua hummed in deep thoughts.

Lotus giggled, "But, I find that's what makes Night Raven College so unique. They are ambitious and, no matter how much they fail, they refused to let a loss be a loss. Between Night Raven College and Royal Sword Academy, I feel that, no matter how much their rival wins, the one who is getting stronger would always be Night Raven College as it takes more strength to accept a defeat than it would a victory. Otherwise, the school would not have withhold a standing so close to first place after losing to their rival over a century since its establishment. Other would've long given up."

Aqua muttered, "That's true. I remember how stubborn Robin was when he lost to you in chess the day you picked it up from Afterglow Savannah. He was very persistent to land a good trick on you till he finally won."

Lotus wore a dry smile as she added, "He was so proud of himself too. I was ready to just make my next request for him to stop asking me for matches, but things got more interesting since he won the game. The new games he brought were so diverse and fun too... All right. It's time for you to go back to work. I need to go and start my investigation now."

"Princess..." Aqua said hesitantly, "You must be careful and take care not to harm yourself. Otherwise, the queen could very likely faint from you getting injured than a curse."

"I know." Lotus chuckled, "Being quite honest this time, aren't we?"

"Sh-Shut up!" Aqua snapped before covering her mouth abruptly upon realization, "I-I'm going back to work now! P-please excuse me!"

With that the water fairy dashed away from the scene. Lotus couldn't help but smile wider upon seeing the familiar scene before her, "There she goes again. I hope she looks up this time when she's flying too..."

With that, she turned around and left the botanical garden. Upon returning, she noticed the sudden flash of light to the stone she acquired from Pomefiore dorm's guardian the other day and frowned with a sunken omnious feeling, "You're kidding me..."

.....

In the darkness of a dark, noble yet gloomy castle, the servants were busy hurrying back and forth for the night as the shadow of a tall figure was shown on the wall followed by a few others. Sitting next to a very tall and poised butler, a young man with well-combed red hair across the table spoke firmly with a frown, "Coral Sea can create a marketing network to Briar Valley with regards to the magic stones for your kingdom and open trade with Briar Valley for magic stones artifacts."

"Very well." The calm voice of the queen responded, "We shall provide the finance required to create this network."

"That's too kind of you, your majesty." The young man responded passionately with a bright smile on his face, "However, I shall personally see to the finance of this network myself. All I request is simply an audience with the craftsman of these gorgeous works of art. These magic pen and amplifier portray so much emotions of the craftsman. I would like to have the opportunity to meet with the creator. I simply must meet with them!"