princess project au, teenagers, shiki takes charlie
The faculty is actually very pleased with the recent development. The two have a unique synergy between their magic: Where green gives energy, stimulates growth and life and healing, black siphons it and pours it into containment, restricting the movement of magic around it. They could feasibly use their power together to bring true life to new creatures, to force a permanent bond between creatures, to store magic in case of emergency.
Not only this, but Princesses dating makes for good press. Look at our esteemed students! Look how free they are to love and manage to balance it with their studies! Imagine what they could create together!
Thandi watches this unfold with an uneasy feeling in her chest. Her one companion had finally fallen away, tugged from her by Coal. Alone…is what she prefers. White magic has too many applications for her to stop her studies just for one boy. Even if it was him keeping her topped up with focus and power and tea. She finds her performance beginning to slack, sleep trailing after her, catching up to her at last.
When she falls asleep for the third time, the professor taps her awake at the end.
“Princess Alabaster. Are you all right? You haven’t been doing okay lately. Are you… sick?”
“Oh. Professor, no. I’m just a little worn out. I’m fine, don’t worry! Rather, I’m so sorry to have fallen asleep in the middle of the lecture.”
The professor sighs and cocks their hips, resting their hand on their chin. “I’m sorry your companion got taken. He was helping you study, wasn’t he?”
“Oh, no! That was just a coincidence. I’m under the impression that he was gathering data?”
“Well, Princess… if that is what you say. I do recommend you revise your schedule, though, if you’re not relying on him anymore.”
“I’ll take it into consideration!”
For once, her notes and books remain closed with lunch. She watches everyone around her, and though she wouldn’t normally notice, it sticks out today. Everyone looks exhausted, most of all, the Princess Moss.
His head is on the table, Coal rubbing his back with a smile. She can see Moss blushing and accepting food from Coal. It’s. Insufferably doting. Thandi wonders if perhaps he had gotten sick himself.
She narrows her eyes. There’s something off here. What color does she need to see both of their auras? Blue. Redirection, absorption. She plucks it out from the tangle of her magic and turns her gaze to the pair.
Moss’ aura clings close to his body, and there is a small trail bridging between himself and Coal. It’s as if Coal is spooling it, gathering it all up, storing it. Why? Not only that, but his isn’t the only bridge. It’s like Coal is a tangle of knots. Everyone is being leeched.
Everyone but her. It seems her exhaustion… is just hers. Should… should she step in? Thandi holds her head. She needs to know more. It’s not just her Princess Moss—
It’s not just the Princess Moss.
The Princess Moss, who used to keep her company and quietly admired her with a sweet smile and gentle eyes and made not a single demand of her. Who did… somehow make her life easier.
He’s arm in arm with the Princess Coal. They kiss when they think no one is looking.
Somehow… that hurts.