[accidental audio]

[shiningwaters]

Terra, you and I have our Mark of Mastery exams tomorrow. I made us good luck charms.

[Her voice sounds happy, but forced. This is a tough thing to relive, knowing how things turned out the last time.]

...Somewhere out there, there's this tree with star-shaped fruit, and the fruit represents an unbreakable connection. So long as you and your friends carry good luck charms shaped like it, nothing can ever drive you apart.

[And now her voice is wavering. Badly.]

So promise me. No matter where we go, no matter whether we pass or fail this exam, no matter what happens--we'll always find a way back to each other. That we won't let anything get in the way of our friendship.

[Then she manages to get her voice back under control.]

Sorry if that sounded a little weird. I guess I'm just nervous about the exam...

Comments

[pikapikapikarin]

Are you okay? The exam getting to you I mean, having to retake it?

[shiningwaters]

I'm not sure. I think I'd feel better if someone else was there. I know those spheres are going to be corrupted and attack.

[pikapikapikarin]

I can come over. Grab a friend too actually.

[shiningwaters]

I think I'll only be able to get a small group in to watch, especially on short notice. But it should be enough, between us and Ven.

[pikapikapikarin]

It should be enough for the time being then.

[shiningwaters]

I think so. I just wish it was a lot easier to avert.

[pikapikapikarin]

I'm sure you'll find out something really good to do honestly.

[shiningwaters]

I hope so. Unfortunately, my friends are stubborn.

[pikapikapikarin]

Stubborn friends are a key activity in our worlds.

[makewayforroze]

[It's hard to miss how forced she sounds.]

You seem more scared than happy. Is everything okay?

[shiningwaters]

Everything started to go wrong at the exam. Things went wrong, and Terra suddenly had a dark power coming from him. I'm scared it'll all happen the same way, and I won't be able to do anything about it.

[makewayforroze]

If you know what's going to happen, can't you change it?

[shiningwaters]

I hope so. I just don't know what caused it. And Terra's extremely stubborn.

[makewayforroze]

I've seen how far you're willing to go for your friends so I think it will be alright.

[shiningwaters]

I wish I had as much faith, but thank you.

[makewayforroze]

It isn't about blind faith. I've seen what you can do. It's okay to believe in yourself.

[shiningwaters]

Thank you.

1/2; not here

[bookishnettler]

[the emotional friendship stuff kind of hits Hermione right in the heart, but she doesn't think it's her place to comment on it, so...]

[bookishnettler]

Oh, good luck! You have been studying, haven't you? As long as you've prepared I'm sure you'll do just fine.

[shiningwaters]

Thanks, but I'm not as worried about myself as I am for Terra. He failed last time, and...well, he didn't take it well.

[bookishnettler]

Will you study with him? It sounds as if he could use help, doesn't it. I'm sure if someone helps him prepare he'll do much better.

[shiningwaters]

He's ready for it, but it's during the exam where something goes wrong.

[bookishnettler]

Oh, no. Exam anxiety?

[shiningwaters]

I don't know. But the darkness inside him expresses itself. We've been taught all our lives to control and suppress the darkness, since it leads to destruction. And he's always been a kind and wonderful person--I don't know why that darkness showed itself, or why it's strong enough to appear in the first place.

[bookishnettler]

... Oh. That does sound a bit worse than exam anxiety, doesn't it.

Isn't there anyone who can help him?