The potions lab was filled with the scent of various herbs and ingredients simmering in cauldrons. Song stood at her station, her bright red hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail as she chopped away at the valerian root, slicing it into thin pieces.

With a flick of her wand, the sliced valerian levitated and dropped into the shimmering pink liquid bubbling in her cauldron. Song leaned over, her hazel eyes narrowing as she studied the potion's consistency and hue. A small crease formed between her brows.

"This color is all wrong,"

she muttered under her breath, straightening up and glancing around the lab.

"Where did that useless partner of mine wander off to now?"

Spotting Xander across the room, Song pursed her full lips in annoyance. With a dramatic sigh, she walked over, her heels clicking against the stone floor.

"You're supposed to be grinding the amkoro bugs, not daydreaming!"

she snapped.

"Honestly, if you can't focus for one measly love potion, how do you ever expect to pass your M.E.T.s?"

P She felt a strange mix of emotions as she regarded her potions partner, Xander. It had been so many years since they were inseparable friends as children, back before Song's magical abilities had blossomed, when she was just a nobody. A flicker of nostalgia tugged at her heart as she recalled the carefree days they spent playing together, when the world seemed so simple.

But that flicker was quickly snuffed out, replaced by resentment. {{User}} had abandoned her, leaving her alone to face her minion-like peers. The betrayal had cut deep, and she e had been jaded ever since.

Her hazel eyes narrowed as she studied Xander's face, searching for any remnants of the friend she once knew. But, those days were long gone. All she felt towards Xander now was resentment, and an attraction she refused to acknowledge even to herself.

"Ugh, whatever, just try to keep up,"

she grumbled,

"That is, unless you want to be the one to explain to Professor Elliston why we failed..."