The specialists were quick on their feet, organized, and downright straightforward. However, they had no idea how to act around fairies, even if they were of the same gender; it was still a touchy subject- boys becoming fairies and girls training to be fighters.

After a month's trial, the fairies now stood at the front of the gates, the magical doors now blue, a sign of serenity and genderless stereotype, and awaited the arrival of the combat-driven warriors. 

Sure enough, the Specialists arrived, all wielding individual weapons and all carrying themselves with assurance and pride. Unlike the fairies, they were armed to the toe, donning red armour with blue running through the crevices. They did not possess inner magical abilities, so they rely on skill and physical attributes. Those who did have the gift were at an advantage, but it was endurance and stamina that won them the battle.

Both sides lined up, their backs straight and their gaze meeting one another's. They cleared a path for both their instructors, who were holding a checklist, which was now suspended by magic. When discipline was instilled within their students, they called forth the names of both sides, making them a team for six months.

For the first twenty names, there was no debacles. Thorn was called on the twenty-fourth, paired with Quake. Blaze expressed dismay when his friend wasn't with him, but he was now certain that Thorn was in good hands. However potent his magic may be, he was often carefree and careless.

There were fifty students on each side, which meant fifty pairs. Cyclone was called next, and he was paired with a Specialist named Thunderstorm. He bore sharp red eyes and onyx black hair, skin as tan as honey. As they both emerged from their respective groups, it's clear that their personalities were as diverse as night and day. While Cyclone carried a face of optimism and earnesty, Thunderstorm held himself with an air of mystery, the invisible marks of a scowl imprinted on his face.

Cyclone's smile visibly dampened, and he was subdued slightly. As they headed towards their assigned spot, Blaze couldn't help but feel bad for the wind fairy. He would be stuck with that hostile Specialist for half a year.

Time went past, and Blaze was still standing in the now small line of fairies. The forty-seventh name was called out, and it was him.

"Blaze of Alfea, you will be paired with Solar of Red Fountain."

Blaze breathed a sigh of relief. He walked out, ready to greet his new partner, only to find another Specialist that looked equally hostile to Cyclone's partner Thunderstorm. But Solar didn't just look the part. The prideful way that he was carrying himself, his aura emitted knowledge and understanding of the world itself. He wore gold-rimmed glasses, and blond hair.

Without even turning to Blaze, he whipped towards the further parts of the school, already aware of their schedule. "Come on," he said harshly. "We don't have all day."

Blaze felt something inside him snap, and it was his anger. He was tempted to burn this guy's face, but that wouldn't be the best introduction. Maybe he was nice? Perhaps he just needed to spend some more time with him.

Maybe. For now, they have a tour to finish.

* * *

On their way to the potion lab, Blaze ran into Quake and Thorn. They were getting along swell, but it looked like Thorn's energy was too much for Quake to handle. Despite being 95% of Blaze's impulse control, he was no match for the almighty fairy of talking poodles and oversized shrubs.

To conserve time, each pair was assigned different locations. The rest of the school remained in class as usual, though no one really paid the opposing school's visits any mind, as they were used to the change. Fairies wielded magic and magic would change, so they were surprised to shifts in reality or whatever's similar to it.

Blaze tried to be nice and introduce each place to Solar, but Solar would always beat him to it. All he needed was a glance of the room and he would know what it was for. Even the mysterious room that had jars of petals in liquid was no problem. It was a room to reserve the wildlife's magic through petals, and even Blaze, who studies here, didn't know what it was.

Not only did he answer most of Blaze's questions (despite his first time coming here), he also could name all the spells that operated the school, and every single detail. What the walls were made of, what flowers would make the perfect healing potion, and whichever socks were the right pair.

By the time it was done, instead of giving a tour, Blaze was given one. He wasn't sure whether to thank him or punch him in the face, especially when Solar held a smug expression whenever Blaze looked confused.

"It's your own school. How do you not know it?" Solar sniggered.

Blaze's eye twitched. "Well, I spend my time practising my magic. Not learn which closet has the most lizard tongues!"

"Lizard tongues are vital to a witch's potion-"

"I don't want to hear it!"

Later, Blaze also ran into Cyclone and his partner, but there was no serious dynamic. As Cyclone enthusiastically described each section with vague details, Thunderstorm kept his hands crossed and nodded as he turned to him, noting that he was indeed listening. They weren't fighting, so that was a good sign.

Meanwhile, Blaze could only sigh in defeat as Solar continued to defeat him in his knowledge of Alfea.

When lunch came, Blaze and the other two met for lunch. Ice joined them soon after. 

For the first time in a long time, the cafeteria was full, with extra tables and chairs moved in with magic. Fairies sat with fairies and Specialists sat with Specialists. But most of them were sitting with their partners, and conversed decently enough to be discussing their training and difference in power.

Across the table, Cyclone craned his head to see Thunderstorm, Solar and Quake sitting together, though Solar and Thunderstorm were bad-mouthing each other every three bites of their meal and Quake just sat there sipping his coffee.

Were they on good terms? He questioned himself.

"Man, I can't believe you got Quake as your partner," Blaze complained to Thorn, poking his steak with his fork. "I got a narcissistic smartass that won't shut up."

"He must be very smart if he knows how magic works," Ice noted, shrugging. "If I can shove a whole encylopedia in my head, I'd brag about it too." He yawned. "But, I can't. And neither can you. Suck it up."

Thorn blinked, frowning. "He's nice, but to be honest, I'd rather have your partner." He sighed. "Quake's no fun. He doesn't let me carry him to let him see Alfea like how we see it."

"He does have a fear of heights." Blaze recalled, remembering the times where he turned stark white after he levitated him with a spell when they were younger. "He's pretty cool."

Cyclone grunted. "You think? Thunder here, wasn't even paying attention to what I was saying." He leaned back to his chair. "He walked away halfway and I spent twenty minutes talking to myself!"

"At least he doesn't make you feel dumb every three seconds!"

"You try talking to him! It's like talking to a brick wall enchanted with a silencer!"

"I feel like I'm talking to an enchanted cow that tries to show off the milk he makes!"

"He's like a wand that's cursed to make my hands itchy every time I touch it!"

They continued to argue, but their voices were still drowned out by the roar of the cafeteria. Across their table, the trio were now fully focused on the two's argument, and looking unamused.

Solar took a bite of his sandwich. "Looks like my partner's winning against yours."

Thunderstorm closed his eyes leisurely and drank his coffee, his legs crossed in relaxation. "I'm willing to take that bet."

Three seconds later, Thorn snapped his fingers, and strings of vines curled around their mouths. They shut up instantly, both turning to the plant fairy in fury.

"Either you two shut up or I'm feeding you to the Guardian Wolf."

They shut up.

Thunderstorm and Solar both gawked in disbelief, and Quake chuckled as leaned back on his chair, his arms crossing behind his head in triumph.

"Yeah. Your partners' got nothing on mine."