The rest of the day passed quietly, though the lessons felt painfully redundant.
There were the basic ones that taught us what Fairies were. Yes, we had Light Fairies and Dark Fairies. To simplify: Light Fairies controlled light magic—bending light, shining in the dark. Dark Fairies? Dark magic—sapping energy, destruction, shadow manipulation. As for Love Fairies, well, we had love spells and more.
Arisa also taught us spells. Most were ones I already knew by heart—how to cast love spells quickly, how to sever bonds between mixed-species fairies.
Sometimes, it was necessary to prevent species from intermixing. Love Fairies with Dark Fairies? Taboo. Light Fairies with Love Fairies? Also taboo.
Light Fairies with other Light Fairies? Fine. Even abusive, quarrelsome Light Fairies with each other? Apparently, still fine.
The logic was tangled at best.
I couldn't hold back any longer.
"What about strife, communication, shared experiences, and building relationships?" I asked, my voice steady but edged with incredulity.
Arisa's gaze sharpened. "Species will die out if you wait for that. This is the only way." Her words were clipped, leaving no room for debate.
I felt the weight of those words but could tell there was no point in pressing further.
"What if we're attacked by Dark Fairies?" Doverel asked sweetly, her voice just a bit too innocent.
I bit back a smile. A girl in a white skirt with a pink ribbon asking about Dark Fairies? But no one laughed. Arisa's response was swift, blunt.
"Work during the day. Stay out of their woods."
Doverel wasn't done. "What if they're hunting us?"
Arisa's eyes narrowed. "Then you're in the wrong place."
I felt a flicker of defiance stir in my chest.
"What if we learned offensive magic?" I asked, trying to sound casual, though I knew the question carried weight.
Arisa's eyes turned to ice.
"Offensive Love Magic?" she echoed, disbelief in her voice. "Like causing an enemy to fall in love with his reflection?"
"Yeah, that sort. You know, to protect ourselves?"
Her lips curled in disgust. "That's an abomination. Love Magic is pure. It should only be used to create romance and prevent extinction. Offensive Love Magic stains its purity. If you're in danger, you've wandered off too far."
The room fell silent, her disdain settling like frost on our skin.
I exchanged a look with Doverel. This was madness.
"Now," Arisa continued, her tone colder still, "you are ready. You have one month to create couples. Humans, Light Fairies, Love Fairies, even animals. You will be graded accordingly."
I blinked. One lesson and now we were supposed to go out and make couples? Was this a joke?
"No practice session?" Doverel asked.
"No," Arisa replied, voice flat. "Best performers are rewarded. Worst performers are punished." She glanced around with a look of finality. "Do as you are told."
I saw the same frustration etched on Doverel's face.
"'Do as you are told'?" I scoffed under my breath. "As if blind allegiance will lead us anywhere."
Doverel came up to me, shaking her head. "So apparently we are ready, after just one lesson."
I smirked. Yeah, she gets it.