Today was an amazing day, but the day at the school is still far from over. It has been noon already, but Doorwell remembers it feels like it was morning. Maybe time passes so quickly in the human world. But it doesn't mean Doorwell can't catch up with it.
People in the classes are wandering around the hallway, while Doorwell was flying through in search of the cafeteria. So many bushes, if I had to say, but nothing could hurt with a little bit of green. It feels like I've been here for more than a year now, despite my arrival being just today.
"Dudududu~!"
"Oh, what a friend we have here~!"
"Oh...I want to make them all green~!"
"I mean not the humans, but the place~!"
"But I guess you know what I mean~!"
I meet with some humans with my wings spread above, where I am the tallest student here. They were chit-chatting about something, but I swear I heard 'Doorwell' and 'love' in it. So I decided to peek at one of them with a smile.
'Aah, the new student! I mean, Doorwell...right?'
"Yep! One and only!" I salute.
"Uhm, yeah..." The girl said. "Anyway, we'll be going now. No need to follow us, okay?"
"Okay!" I took one feather off my wing to give to them. Their astonishment doubles as they hold it together.
"That girl is weird...can you imagine how terrible it would be if she got sticky by rain?"
The next human goes for the two bloomers, who immediately caught my attention. They were sitting by the lockers, one timid but brave boy nervously holding a book, and a girl standing beside who was talking with him. It was the perfect time to spread my name!
"Hello there!"
"Aah! What are you...? Hey, you're the new student..."
"Definitely. So, who's the lucky bloom here?"
"What?"
The learning boy and a sports girl. I can sense a mixture of sweet and savoury in their relationship, and they'll make a perfect dish! But when I asked them about this, they were in denial about their true love. Yet they were in the same space to waste time, with the boy still having his life ahead of him.
"Wait, you misunderstand! We're not a couple! We're just chattering here."
"Aww, don't be scared. I know first love can be terrible, but with the right message, you can always make everything come true."
"No, we're serious! We're not lovers or anything!"
I have a precious tool for this situation. Way before I started this day, I made some powders to make up for my lack of long-lost magic. Crafted with Doorwell's finest sugar and art, may these bloomers find a chance to relive their memory romantically.
"Alright, here goes!" I raise the powder on my hand. I was ready to blow them in their faces.
"No, please! Put it down! We're not lovers!"
"But you are! I can always tell one from the looks!"
"Then you're failed, because we're siblings. Do you really not see the hairline?"
Just as I was about to blow a wonder to their heads, I was immediately frozen by their words. A romantic partner turned out to be a familial and stronger bond! Not for romantic purposes, of course. The poor dust almost blew into their noses, and perhaps Doorwell would have made a mistake. But I was lucky enough to draw off.
"I...oh...I'm sorry..." I bowed. "Oh, no! Not again! Why do I never learn??"
"Yeah, you should. Now get off before you make it even strange for us! Stupid girl..."
"Sorry! Sorry!"
I left quickly with my face reddened with shame. If Doorwell made that mistake again, who knows what fee she would pay before she lost a finger again? That's what happened in the studio not long ago. I quickly went to the cafeteria with regret, hoping that I could feast myself to forget.
This room is immense, it could contain Dordreds (hundreds) of Joylings here. But my eyes were only locked on the humans who were waiting for me at a distance—Ariel and Luriel. They have even placed a seat there for me to join, so I don't have to find a lonely one.
"Hey, Doorwell. You look exhausted..." Ariel remark. "Maybe you shouldn't run around like the teacher said."
"Oh, don't worry about me! I'm only in a hurry because I didn't want to miss an opportunity to help anyone. And to not make you feel lonely!"
"Yay, Doorwell Lovemore sitting with me! Yay!" Luriel claps with excitement.
They offered me an apple as the teacher asked, and I ate it gracefully and gratefully. The sweet nectar of life tastes as lively as I hoped. This is the first time I taste nature in the human world, and not some 'processed' meat and a bunch of crushed 'nutrients' on the plate. I could only cry tears of joy at the taste.
"*Sobs* Aww...it tastes amazing..."
"Must be so relieving to finally eat a real fruit before?" Ariel asked.
"*Sobs* Yes..."
I never felt so alive from eating before, and I want more than just an apple today. But the lady at the counter does not provide a good lunch for the children. There's nothing but dark and tedious food on the tray, where meat doesn't even look like meat.
"What are those things they are eating? It look abominable to look..."
"Yeah, that's what they called Nana's wardrobe here. Everyone had to eat that every day..." Ariel feasts on his black, gooey-like meat.
"Couldn't they find a better recipe?"
"The school didn't have a choice."
It only took an apple for me to feel full, and I'm relieved not to have my mouth eating on those things. I continue eating with my new friends, chattering about things in Doorwell's life. Luriel was the first to become my first admirer to share the story.
"And then Doorwell defeated Excellence once again and said to the crowd..."
"She said...uhm..." I mutter. "Bloom? oh, wait...that's for the Baker's Mishap. Or was that on the Withering on the Wonder?"
"You're served cold!" She said. "You don't remember that?"
"Waa! I must have forgotten that one specific show. I'm sorry, Luriel...I have disappointed you..."
So many things about me in her head to talk about. From my name, my story, my show, my friend, and even my personal trinket, which I didn't know how she managed to find out. But Luriel and I were so connected with this passion so much that I almost thought of her as a cookie.
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But Luriel was interested in one of the powders in my pocket, saying that the colour was enticing to see. I explained to her that this dust is a homemade ingredient for my performance in this school, but I haven't yet had anyone test it. Even a chef like me still has doubts about the affectionate effect of this dust.
"Ooh...love dust. I never heard of that before!" She said.
"Oh, that's because I improvise them myself after I'm out of the studio. I just made them at home..."
She asked me how I made it because she was impressed that I still knew the ingredients despite not being in the studio again. The magic that I mastered is not something too difficult to make, considering all the ingredients were already in this world. I explained to her that this powder is only a cheap fragment of our magic.
"So, it was the first time you made it?" Ariel asked nervously. I didn't know why he would be so nervous.
"Not really. It wasn't my first time making it. But it was the first time I made it after my release into this world..."
I could have made a potion, a puff, or even something more consumable, like a sweet. Instead, I could only make a powder of the remnants of my missing wonder. It was for the power that I had lost long ago at the cost of allying with the doctors.
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[Institute]
However, things like this are not suitable for many humans to see. Some doctors did not like me to make powder at the Institute, going so far as to forbid me from the kitchen. One month ago, I made my last powder before my release.
"Doorwell! What are you doing there?"
"Sorry, sir! I was just busy refining my love powder here. Two Joylings were asking for a shot of nostalgia from me, so I decided to make one since I couldn't use my power..." I sat on the cabinet, picking up all the flour and powder that they had left open.
"W-what? How? Did you..."
I thought they were interested in my art, but they were scared and threatened to stop doing it. I told them I cannot do so out of my duty as a Lovemore, but they warned me that I'll lose my chance. A scared me could only comply and stop, but not before the doctor asked me about what I did.
"It's simple! A few flour dust, an oil, and a flower. Perhaps something like Datura..."
"Good. You are now prohibited from going to kitchen again. Get back to your dorm."
"What? No!! Not fair!"
In the end, I was never allowed into the kitchen and was forbidden from holding those things I had told them again. Doorwell was tricked, but they didn't do anything to her at all. They said it was dangerous to play with chemicals she didn't know about. But she knew all about it.
"Doorwell, we need to talk!" Dr. Volcker confronted me at the door of my dorm. But I was crying in disbelief at their hurtful decision. I was expecting punishment, but there was none, and I could only cry.
"Huhuhuhu..."
In the end, I had a long talk with Dr Volcker about it and discussed how unjust the doctors are, only to hear him supporting their voices against me. I was in despair, but it didn't last long because Dr. Volcker comforted me. He told me I can make a friend someday, and it makes me happy.
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"We can help you! That doesn't seems too difficult for us..."
"Yeah! There are so many people you can try on here..."
Ariel and Luriel were very supportive of this plan. The glowing purple dust doesn't even look too ugly to be a poison. Children are such wonderful souls who have yet to find their passion for life, and I'm here to help them reach that moment of bliss.
"Hmm...so where we should start then~?"
We observe this place with a keen eye, waiting for a loose bloomer in need of our help. One slipped on our eye, and we found ourselves a first friend. She was a poor girl, and the girl beside didn't seem to love her back. Maybe they didn't understand each other? But Doorwell and Ariel are going to make them.
"Those two are a bloomer. That's what I heard and see every day here..." Ariel replies.
"You're going to do your magic on them, Ms. Doorwell?" Luriel's eyes sparkle.
"You know it! But we have to do it sneakily...because it looks like our friend there wouldn't like to have a guest with her lover..."
"Okay..." Luriel replies happily.
The three of us snuck ourselves like mice catching for a cheese on the counter, carefully avoiding the curious cat as we reached the lonely-hearted girl in her distant seat, eyes staring at the indifferent guitar lady who sang for her friends. Her music was beautiful, but she did not sing enough for everyone.
"Aww, why didn't she notice me...?"
"This is unfair...I did everything..."
"Hey there~" I wave.
She was spooked to see me, dazzled perhaps. Her eyes turned from the frowny longing of love to a helpless shock at a recipe of love. But she wouldn't be so doubtful anymore now that she has a little help from us. My pink powder is still on the work, but I assure it will work on her.
"Don't worry! We'll get that girl with you and you can thank us later."
"W-what? What are you talking about?"
"Here's the girl! She's madly in love with you!" Luriel yelled.
We brought the girl that she was fell in love with in one spot. They were a perfect match, but there isn't enough love from what I see in their eyes. The loving girl was flustered, and the guitar girl was—indifferent. But my magic powder says that these two should've been a bloomer by now!
"What? No! What are you doing? I'm not!"
Poof! The magic has begun to take its effect. Pink clouds unfurled before their eyes, and we watched the miracle as their eyes sparkled. It attracted dozens of humans nearby, calling for an unprecedented show before their eyes.
"What? What is happening? What is this? Why is my head...? I...feel strange..."
"Wait, no! Don't do this! I'm...I'm—uhm...feeling lovely...?"
The humans here had no idea what had been put in motion under my crafts. It's nothing like a danger, yet still it thrills them to see. Eyes were looking at me in confusion, as if they were asking how I made it and why. Luckily, I had my hat on for this show.
"Ladies and gentlemen! What you're seeing here is Doorwell's new performance outside the studio! Think of it as a little show for your new day at school!" The speech is on. Wings are floating with me, as I chatter scriptless to the audience.
"No more boredom, no more sadness! Only happiness for all of you!"
"Woo! Yeah! Doorwell!" Luriel and Ariel await in the audience seat with a clap.
"Now, for my first talent! I'll make these two bloomers confess their love! Watch as when the cloud dwindles, their friendships turn into acquaintances."
Bwoosh! The clouds diminish. No more pink, but a beautiful eye awaits these two girls who were madly in love now. Everyone was waiting to find out what would happen next. Would it be love? Would it be hate? Or would it be nothing? (It better be love)
"Oh, Theresa. What a beautiful face you've had..."
"Mia, I never thought you would say that! I always loved your music as much as I loved you!"
The first thing these two bloomers did was admire each other, like how every cookie is. They had finally seen each other from the side that was truly tempting to look at. They were beautiful, and only now were they realising it.
My talent hasn't ceased yet! The wonder in their eyes, along with the humans who were gazing with stunned surprise at me. This must have been the best day for them and for me, because now everyone was coming to me with such wonders.
"Did...did they just..."
"She just made them fall in love with a dust!"
"The new student is a cupid! A cupid!"
So many eyes, and so much adoration before me. I feel like a star once again, ready to take on the stage like before. Boys and girls were loving me, and the cafeteria was as noisy as it should be.
So many boys and girls wanted to join me in my adventure, learning more about the works of the dust and love. But I couldn't have more than Luriel and Ariel on my side, especially with their help to bring me here. Hence why I gave a little spotlight for them, too.
"Nice job, girl. I bet you can do that to all my friends, too."
"I'd pay thousands to get that powder off!"
"Weird...so weird seeing those two get along. I think they should've been better as...friends..."
They weren't too brave to talk to others, but the poor siblings finally had the recognition they needed, more than just a mean-hearted jest and endless teasing. It's the prize I could give them for being loyal to my teaching for a long time without being eroded in hate.
"Thank you! Hehe! Next time, don't even doubt us anymore!" Luriel leaps with joy. "Doorwell forever!"
"Woah, is this what it feels to be a Lovemore?"
"Of course!" I replied. "For helping me test this dust, the two of you have now been appointed as the angels on my side! What do you say?"
"We're in!" I watched the two jump in joy.