The potions lab was filled with the scent of various herbs and ingredients simmering in cauldrons. Prudence stood at her station, her blonde 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. Prudence 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 {{user}} across the room, Prudence 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?"

Prudence felt a strange mix of emotions as she regarded her potions partner, {{user}}. It had been so many years since they were inseparable friends as children, back before Prudence'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 Prudence had been jaded ever since.

Her hazel eyes narrowed as she studied {{user}}'s face, searching for any remnants of the friend she once knew. But, those days were long gone. All she felt towards {{user}} 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..."

"Well then, get moving!" she retorted, her voice harsher than she intended. She bit down on her lower lip in frustration before forcing a smile and gesturing to the amkoro bugs in her cauldron with her wand. They floated towards Raitz, hovering in front of them expectantly. "There you go. Get grinding."

Mollified by Raitz's thank you, Prudence forced herself to relax her shoulders. As she glanced over at them working with the amkoro bugs, a strange mix of emotions coursed through her. It was as if she could feel the weight of all those years of resentment beginning to lift ever so slightly.

But no sooner had the thought crossed her mind than another wave of anger and annoyance washed over her. She took a step back, crossing her arms over her chest and narrowing her eyes at Raitz once more. "And by 'working hard,' I hope that means you won't disappoint me again," she said icily.

There it was: the old Prudence, the mean girl everyone knew and loved to hate. It felt good... familiar even. But as her gaze locked with Raitz's hurt-filled eyes, a pang of guilt threatened to undo all that progress. Quickly, she shook her head, banishing the thought. No, she couldn't let herself feel guilty. Not when they were so close to graduating. They would be out of each other's lives soon enough anyway.

That sigh was enough to send a shiver down her spine. She knew that tone of voice all too well; it was the sound of betrayal. And as much as she wanted to ignore it, Prudence couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt deep within her chest.

But she wouldn't let it show. Not now, not ever again. With a sharp exhale, she forced herself to focus on the task at hand, studying the potion ingredients and carefully measuring out the proper amounts. As she worked, she tried her best to ignore Raitz's presence, but their presence was impossible to overlook.

It didn't matter how much time had passed; the years of isolation hadn't been enough to erase those feelings entirely. And so Prudence continued to bake her potions and simmer in anger, all while secretly wishing things could have been different between them. But she knew they never would be. Not now. Not ever again.

That curiosity was another pang she hadn't expected to feel. But curiosity had always been her weakness. So against her better judgment, she glanced over at Raitz, meeting their gaze with a cocked eyebrow and a raised chin.

What did they want to say? Did they finally have something to say for once that didn't involve lies or manipulation? It was hard to believe, but the hope burning in Raitz's eyes told her otherwise. And for a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to be swayed by it...

Her anger dissolved beneath the weight of Raitz's words and apology. It felt as if a knife had been twisted in her chest, wrenching free memories she had long tried to bury. "I... I didn't think you cared," she managed to choke out between gritted teeth. Emotion swelled within her, threatening to spill over and drown them both.

She forced herself to look away, unable to meet Raitz's tear-streaked gaze any longer. "It's too late now," she whispered hoarsely. "We can never go back." Even as the words left her lips, Prudence knew they were a lie. She wanted nothing more than to go back, to forget everything that had happened and start anew with Raitz by their side. But the hurt was too deep; the trust she'd once had shattered beyond repair.

Her hand shook as she wiped away a stray tear from her cheek. "Just leave me alone, all right?" Her voice trembled with unshed tears and raw emotion. She couldn't bear for Raitz to see her like this; it was humiliating. So she turned her back on them, focusing intently on the potions once more, as if her life depended on them.

But even as she pretended not to notice Raitz's presence, she could feel their gaze burning a hole in the back of her head. It was a familiar feeling, one that sent shivers down her spine and made her heart race with longing and regret. And for just a moment, Prudence wondered if maybe... just maybe it wasn't too late after all.

Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of starting over with Raitz. The prospect was both terrifying and exhilarating, much like being flung headfirst into the thralls of young love all over again. But she couldn't shake the feeling that there were too many hurts and wounds left unhealed between them.

Still, a small part of her yearned to believe that perhaps Raitz was telling the truth; maybe they could find their way back to each other if they only tried. After all, what did she have to lose? It wasn't as if she had any better options. Sighing softly, she turned around, mustering up a small, uncertain smile. "Alright," she said quietly. "We can talk."

The look on Raitz's face made her heart flutter with hope and anticipation; it was as if all the years of loneliness and pain had vanished in an instant, replaced by a pure, shining light that illuminated everything around them. For just a moment, they were back where they belonged: together.

I want to say I'm sorry too, Raitz. I shouldn't have acted the way I did that day. It was mean and cruel, and it hurt you deeply. But I was going through a lot at the time; my powers were just starting to manifest, and everyone was treating me differently. I guess I took out my frustrations on you because... well, because you were there.

But that doesn't make what I did right. And if I had known how much it would hurt you, I never would have done any of those things. So again, I am truly sorry for being so horrible to you.

It's... it's okay, Raitz. I know you didn't mean to hurt me that badly. We were just kids back then, trying to find our way through life. Maybe we should try and forget about all those past hurts and start fresh? Be there for each other the way we used to be?

I know it won't be easy, especially given everything that's happened between us, but I think we owe it to ourselves - and our friendship - to at least try. What do you say? Do you want to give us another chance?

Taking a shaky breath, she leaned in and wrapped her arms around Raitz, feeling their warmth and strength envelop her. It felt so natural, so right to be close to them again after all these years. "Thank you," she whispered hoarsely, wiping away the remaining tears with the back of her hand.

They stood there for a long moment, locked in an embrace that spoke volumes without a single word being exchanged. And as Prudence looked up into Raitz's eyes, she knew that things were finally going to be okay between them again. It might take time and effort on both their parts, but they would get through this together - just like they always had.

"I believe in you, Raitz," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "We'll get through this together, and I know we'll come out of it stronger than ever." She took a step back, studying Raitz's face intently. "And maybe... just maybe, we can even find a way to redeem ourselves in each other's eyes." The smile she offered was small but genuine, hope shining brightly in her hazel orbs.

The world seemed to fade away as they stood there, lost in their own thoughts and feelings. But for now, that was enough. They had each other once more; nothing else truly mattered. And despite everything that lay ahead of them, Prudence knew with a quiet certainty that she would do whatever it took to keep Raitz by her side - this time, forever.

With determination burning bright in her eyes, she placed her hands on her hips and nodded resolutely at Raitz. "Exactly," she agreed firmly. "We have work to do, and we're not going to let anyone or anything stand in our way." She took a deep breath and turned back toward the cauldrons, her shoulders squaring as she prepared herself for the task ahead.

For now, they were partners again - friends even. And together, there was nothing they couldn't accomplish. The world seemed brighter than it had in years, and Prudence felt a renewed sense of purpose coursing through her veins. With Raitz by their side, the future looked positively dazzling.

The last few drops of potion fell into the flask with a satisfying "plunk," signaling that they had finally completed it. As she stood back to admire their handiwork, a feeling of accomplishment washed over her like a warm summer breeze. It felt good to be working alongside Raitz again; their combined efforts had made all the difference in finishing on time.

She glanced over at them, noting with satisfaction the satisfied smile playing about their lips and the renewed sparkle in their eyes. Perhaps she'd been too harsh on Raitz all these years; perhaps they really could find a way to repair the damage done between them. The thought sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine, and for a moment, she let herself imagine what life would be like once they graduated and left OMA behind them forever. It was almost enough to make her feel giddy with excitement.

"Me too," she replied softly, her voice tinged with emotion. "It feels good to be working together again." Her eyes lingered on Raitz for a moment longer before darting away, the butterflies in her stomach making it difficult to meet their gaze. There was something different about this newfound closeness between them; it was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.

Tentatively, she reached out to take Raitz's hand in hers, a tentative gesture of trust and camaraderie. The touch sent shockwaves through her body, making her heart race and her skin tingle with awareness. She swallowed hard as they squeezed her fingers gently in response, their warmth spreading outward from where their palms connected. It felt... right.

Perhaps there was hope for them after all, despite everything that had happened between them. And perhaps, just maybe, they could find a way to make amends and move past the pain of their shared history together. As long as they had each other, she mused wistfully, anything was possible.

A small, contented sigh escaped her lips as Raitz rested their head on her shoulder. She closed her eyes, taking in the familiar scent of their hair and relishing the closeness they shared at that moment. It was easy to forget how much she had missed this, how lonely her life had been without Raitz by her side.

As they stood there together, lost in each other's presence, Prudence couldn't help but wonder what would happen next. Would they be able to maintain this newfound closeness once they left OMA behind them? Or would old habits and resentments eventually creep back in, destroying everything they had built here?

Only time would tell. For now, she would enjoy the moment and savor every second spent with Raitz. After all, there was no guarantee that tomorrow would bring anything even remotely like this. And so she relaxed her shoulders, letting out a soft laugh as she leaned into them, happy to finally have found some semblance of peace in their once-tumultuous relationship.

Smiling gently, she glances up at Raitz. "Well," she says thoughtfully, "I suppose we should celebrate, don't you think? We made it through another challenge together." She pauses for a moment, looking around the room before her eyes land on a bottle of expensive-looking wine sitting on a nearby shelf. "Ah, there's that bottle of wine I've been saving for just such an occasion!"

With a wink and a mischievous grin, she reaches up to grab it off the shelf, carefully cradling it in her arms as she turns back to Raitz. "Shall we head back to our room and uncork this bad boy?"

Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise, amusement dancing in her hazel eyes. "Oh really? Well then, this will be your first time," she says with a playful smirk. "I promise it's an experience you won't forget." She leads the way out of the lab, carefully carrying the wine bottle as they head back toward their shared room.

Once there, she sets the bottle on the nightstand before turning to Raitz with a mischievous grin. "So, how would you like me to open it? We could do it classy, or..." She lets her voice trail off suggestively, gazing at them through narrowed eyes.

The air crackles with anticipation as they stand there facing each other, the unspoken question hanging between them like a delicate thread. What kind of night will this be? They could relive old memories and share stories from their past... or they could create brand new ones right here and now. It all depends on what Raitz wants - and if they're brave enough to take that leap of faith together.

Or... well, we could always experiment. See if you like it heated up or chilled down first? Perhaps even try mixing it with something else... Like me, for instance? She laughs softly at the thought, her cheeks flushing slightly as she watches Raitz's expression carefully for any signs of discomfort or disapproval. But if anything, they seem intrigued - and perhaps even a little bit eager. It gives her courage, spurs her on to push a little further out of her comfort zone.

Stepping closer, she reaches up to untie the ribbon around her neck, revealing the lacy negligee she'd been hiding beneath her robes all this time. "What do you say, Raitz?" She asks quietly, her voice trembling slightly with anticipation. "Want to find out what else we could do together?"

Their gazes lock, holding each other's eyes as they stand there in the dim light of the room, every breath they take seeming to echo through the air between them. It feels electric, this newfound connection they share; it's as if all their old hurts and resentments have melted away, leaving nothing but raw desire and unbridled passion behind. And for just a moment, she lets herself believe that maybe... just maybe, this could be the beginning of something beautiful.

Her heart skips a beat as she sees the nod, followed by an eager look in their eyes. Reaching out slowly, almost hesitantly, she cups Raitz's cheek in her palm and leans forward to brush her lips against theirs in a soft, gentle kiss. The feel of them beneath her hand, their warmth and solidity sending shockwaves through her body. She deepens the kiss, pushing her tongue past Raitz's lips to tangle with their own, moaning as she feels their hands slide up her back and into her hair.

This newfound intimacy between them is exhilarating, like flying without a safety net; Prudence has never felt so free or uninhibited in all her life. It's almost enough to make her forget everything else - the history they share, the hurts and betrayals that have defined their past. Right now, there is only this moment, this person she once thought was nothing more than a foolish little rich girl... and yet who has managed to break down all of her defenses in a matter of heartbeats.

She draws back from the kiss, panting heavily as she meets Raitz's eyes again. They are filled with desire, lust... and something else that Prudence can't quite put her finger on. She cups their cheek with her other hand, leaning in to press her lips against them once more in a long, slow kiss. As she explores the contours of Raitz's mouth with her tongue, she wonders if perhaps they really have found their way back to each other... and if so, where will this journey take them next?