Diana is worried about Akko, who finally learns why she's being ignored by her friends. Ursula asks for help and Croix doesn't think twice about offering it to her.

Ursula was calmly reading the notes Croix had left her last night with the research she had done on the terrorist group. Although the group was considered new, the reality was that they had been present in the political arena since before this incident. While she had heard a little about the movement during her time as Shiny Chariot, she had no idea of the transformation it went through. During her youth, the group was the laughing stock of the magic community and not taken very seriously. But right now, based on Croix's notes, they were successfully using magical artifacts against governmental entities. Their targets, most of the times, were witches and magical beings. Their success to having remained under the radar was that their attacks were not sporadic, but they were performed in such a way that at first, they seemed like individual incidents. It had taken for a witch like Croix to connect the dots and show an intricate pattern that started taking place five years ago.

(Flashback)

"I won't let them take Akko away!" Ursula says fiercely.

"I know." Croix tries to calm her down. "I also don't want them to take her. I care about her as well…" she confesses softly.

"I have to protect her." she whispers brokenly.

"I'll help you Chariot." the older woman promises her friend vehemently. "We must prepare."

"We need a plan." the red-haired woman says desperately. "Some sort of place to hide her in case they come to Luna Nova."

"I have a place." the lilac-haired witch tells her. "I used it to hide my inventions but there is enough space there for all of us."

"That's good." the younger woman whispers. "I'm sure that Principal Holbrook will also be on our side and she'll help us escape."

"What about telling her Chariot?" Croix asks. "Although the Ministry already has the demands of the terrorist group, unless the group conducts an attack dangerous enough to worry them, then Akko's position in the school is safe."

"I don't know…" the red-haired woman thinks about it. Akko knowing would only make the girl become extremely paranoid and worried, which in return would prevent her magic from working. "When Akko is under pressure or scared her magic stops working."

"Then perhaps what you should do is warn Miss Cavendish about keeping an eye on her? She's capable enough and it's less unusual for her to be with Akko. Us, we would be too notorious."

"That could work." Ursula says softly but also considers the blonde's feeling when hearing the news.

They would not be good at all…

"Then we shall not tell Akko anything. For all we know, they may be watching Akko right now in case they need to extract her." Ursula then looks at her friend. "They're probably watching all of us…"

"Don't worry, I took care of that before coming here. The wizards sent will believe that they watched us meet and go on a date. Nothing concerning Akko."

"That's good." she whispers relaxed. "Wait, a date?!"

"Of course! Why else would I come all the way to Luna Nova? I had to give them a good enough excuse. And, with our history it's not hard to believe that we could be lovers." Croix explains while blushing profusely.

"I guess you're right…" Ursula blushes as well.

Their relationship was tumultuous enough.

"So, before the wizards wake up and realize I'm not at the station, how about I tell you where my place is and give you a device that you can use to contact me?" her friend chuckles and this makes Ursula do the same.

(End of Flashback)

"Good morning Sensei." Ursula heard Akko say from the door. "I hope I'm not intruding."

"Not at all Akko." she gives her student a bright smile while putting away the documents she was reading. "You look happy."

"Really? Is it that obvious?" Akko chuckles embarrassedly. "I guess I feel better. After talking to you and seeing that my magic worked during Fineran's class, I'm starting to believe that finally things will start working for the best." the brunette chuckles. "I mean, for Fineran to even congratulate me…" she continues saying happily. "Everyone in the class was clapping and smiling during the whole time, Sensei. I mean, almost no one knew from where it came from, but Diana noticed right away what I was doing and she said that it was incredible."

I will protect Akko's smile no matter what…

"I'm very proud of you, Akko." Ursula tells her warmly. "And the magic you used for that first spell was very advanced."

"You mean you saw it?" the brunette asks her with a hoping smile.

"A little bird told me that I should head to your class soon after you left my room." Ursula says happily. "And I'm glad I listened to it. What you did Akko was very beautiful."

This makes Akko exhale relieved.

"I'm so happy you said that Sensei! I got inspired by you and your shows, so I wanted to do something similar. For you to say that you enjoyed my performance means the world to me."

"It meant the world to me to see it as well." Ursula gets closer to Akko and holds her hands. "Since you came to Luna Nova, Akko, you changed my life for the better. Before I was too afraid to be myself, to remember my past and the mistakes I did during my time as Chariot. I was not living but merely surviving. And then I met you. You reminded me of myself; of when I was younger and wanted to just make people happy. I was afraid of you for a while, because seeing you with the Shiny Rod brought back memories that I had spent years trying to forget. But you charmed me with that smile and determination. You asked me for help and I couldn't stop myself from giving it to you. I wanted you to succeed in your dream, and perhaps that way I was also making my dream true."

"Ursula Sensei…" Akko whispers completely moved.

"And what ended up happening was even greater than that. Not only did you make my dream come true, but you saved me from myself." she says happily to her student who is staring at her with big eyes.

"Sensei…" Akko whispers. "Hearing you say that to me, it's like a dream come true." she hugs the woman tightly. "Thank you for staying by my side." she separates from the older woman and takes out her wand. "So how about it, Sensei?"

"How about what, Akko?" Ursula chuckles.

"How about we both do wonderful magic today?" she gives the red-haired woman a bright smile and Ursula can't stop herself from joining her.

Are you starting to forgive yourself, Chariot?

Maybe she was…

"Metamorphie Faciesse!"

LWALWALWALWA

"You've been spending a lot of time with Akko recently." Barbara tells her while following her closely.

They were on their way to class and it was true that it had been a while since she walked with Hannah and Barbara.

"She asked me for help and I accepted." Diana says simply.

"Is that really all? Some people are saying that you spend your nights together doing spells and laughing." Hannah adds as well. "And we know that you've been coming back from your rounds later than usual."

This makes Diana stop walking and stare at her 'friends'

"So what if I am?" she says solemnly. "It's no one's business what I do with my time and with whom I spent it with."

"But it's Akko!" Hannah says as if that's enough explanation.

"And you're a Cavendish. You can't be seen too much with witches like Akko who don't come from magical families." Barbara continues her friend's line of thought.

"I don't care about any of those things." Diana tells them firmly. "Akko is my friend and I will not stop talking to her just because of what some people may think about it."

"This is so unlike you Diana. Ever since you came back from your house things have changed."

"It's not like we're not grateful to Akko for bringing you back to Luna Nova, but you must realize that a friendship with her is just not possible for you." Barbara explains to her condescendingly.

"I will not let anyone dictate how I should be and what I should feel. I like Akko very much and I will not stop talking to her." Diana says firmly. "And if you can't accept and support my decision then that means you were never truly my friends."

"It's because we're your friends that we're telling you this!" Hannah exclaims but lowers her voice when people start staring at them. "Just trust us when we tell you that getting close to Akko is a bad idea."

There was something her friends were hiding from her.

"Why would you even say that? After what she did to save us all?"

"Listen, yes, she did that. But there are things that cannot be forgotten just because you happen to perform a heroic act." Barbara says calmly. "Like where she comes from and her family."

"Now that magic has returned to normality, families are starting to become more overzealous of people who don't come from magical roots. Since theoretically speaking, anyone with a magical artifact can use magic now, the magical families are arguing about reintroducing blood tests and rituals."

"What?!" Diana asks completely shocked.

Blood tests and blood rituals were part of the dark era of magic. They were done to bind magical beings into families and prevent them from acting against their leaders. If the practice were ever to be retaken, it would mean taking the freedom away from the witches and wizards that belonged to magical families.

"I heard my mother talking about it the other day when I went to town to meet her." Hannah explains to her. "You know that she works in the Ministry…" she looks down in worry. "And she's saying that a small faction inside the magical community is arguing in favor of this."

"It would start making sense to see groups of friends changing in school. I mean, they're even saying that's why Akko's old friends, Sucy and Lotte, started hanging out with others. Sucy's mom also works in the Ministry and she must have warned her daughter to stay away from Akko."

Diana could not believe what she was hearing. And yet, it made too much sense. It explained why Akko felt like people were judging her harshly, why her group was dissipating and why things outside Luna Nova didn't seem peaceful. Diana had been too distracted to notice these changes herself. She talked to her aunt, but since she never mentioned Akko to her it wouldn't have given her aunt enough reason to warn her about what was happening outside Luna Nova. And, based on all she was hearing, Diana was starting to believe that it was connected to breaking the Grand Triskellion's seal.

They had been so worried about bringing back magic that they never thought what would happen after magic came back.

"You know Diana that many of our parents work in some capacity for the Ministry." Barbara says softly. "And if our parents warned us about this, then it means that there's something else going on. Something dangerous…"

The blonde witch closes her eyes.

"I thank you for your warnings." she tells them softly. "But I have not changed my mind. I will not stop being Akko's friend just because of some old traditionalists feeling threatened by the new generation of witches and wizards."

"Diana!" Hannah berates her. "Don't try to be a hero and for once stop being stubborn!"

"I am afraid that's not who I am." Diana simply says and moves away from her friends. "Now if you'll excuse me…" she finishes and walks away from the classrooms.

There was something going on and she had to find out right now what it was.

LWALWALWALWA

"I feel terrible about this Sucy!" Akko could hear Lotte say from outside the door.

She felt awful about hiding and spying on her friends' conversation, but it was not her fault that she happened to forget some books she needed for her class when she left earlier.

Deciding that it was enough eavesdropping from her part, Akko almost opened the door.

"It's not fair that we're treating Akko this way when she has done nothing to us!" this makes Akko stop herself from going in.

"I don't like it either Lotte, but my mother warned me! She said that things outside Luna Nova are not the best and that I should stay here. She even prohibited me from going to town." Sucy says dejectedly.

"Did she at least tell you why?" Lotte asks sadly.

"She only said that some magicians are trying to bring back blood rituals and tests. And, that it was possible that the Ministry would allow this."

Blood rituals and tests… Akko had no idea what this was or what this had to do with her.

"That's horrible." Lotte whispers worriedly. "Many inside my family are not magical beings but use magical tools."

"It's very difficult to find pure modern magical families since many mixed after magic started disappearing. But since Akko restored magic, factions are arguing about bringing these old measures back."

So it was her fault?

"I don't like this Sucy! Akko doesn't deserve this!"

"What else are we supposed to do Lotte? Go get ourselves in danger and make our parents worry about our wellbeing? My mom begged me to do as she asked and she sounded completely terrified Lotte. I know that there's something else going on that she's not telling me but I can't ignore what she asked of me."

"It's not Akko's fault that she doesn't come from a magical family."

"Neither is it ours." Sucy whispers.

Akko had heard enough.

Opening the door, she notices Lotte and Sucy jump in surprise. Ignoring them and just going directly to her desk, she gathers her books and starts putting them in her bag.

"Good morning Akko." she hears Lotte tell her.

"Good morning Lotte." she simply says and gives them one last look before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

Now everything made sense. Why people were not talking to her or getting close. Why they were only looking at her from afar and admiring her work while not trying to become friends. She had assumed that it had to do because of their prejudices towards her (that she couldn't do magic before) but the reality was that they were avoiding her because of where she came from.

Because she wasn't from a magical family.

Knowing that she was close to losing her composure, Akko was sure that going to class in this state would be a complete mistake. So, what she did instead was run towards her shelter, her safe place where she was loved and cherished for being herself.

To Ursula Sensei who understood and accepted her. Who perhaps even loved her.

But would Ursula Sensei also avoid her if she heard the rumors and things people were saying about her?

No, the feelings Ursula Sensei had shown her were things that could not be faked. She believed the red-haired woman and she was going to continue doing so until she was proven otherwise.

"Miss Kagari?" Akko stopped moving when she heard Professor Fineran addressing her.

"Yes?" she asks softly.

"Aren't you late for class?"

"I'm afraid I'm not feeling quite well." she whispers. "I was returning to my room." she lies a little.

"Wouldn't it be better then if you go to the nurse's office? Perhaps she can give you some herbs that will alleviate your pain?"

"It didn't occur to me…" she says and walks towards the infirmary. "Thank you for the suggestion Professor Fineran."

"Don't mention it." the older woman tells her softly. "Miss Kagari, things may seem a little difficult right now. And perhaps more hardships will come…" she warns her. "But I have seen firsthand how strong, although stubborn at times, you are. So, if the world is against you, then stand strong and strike back." she gives Akko a soft smile. "Even the past can learn things from the present."

Akko smiles softly at this.

"Thank you, Professor Fineran." she says honestly and watches the other woman leave her.

She was not going to let this stop her from becoming a witch that made people happy. She was not going to give up and she was going to continue learning. Turning around, Akko makes up her mind and decides to return to class.

She was going to show them all what she was capable of.

LWALWALWALWA

Why were they doing this now? Diana thinks while getting closer to the astronomy tower.

Blood magic and rituals had never been popular. Most of the traditionalist she knew were completely against using that type of magic because of its binding effects. So why were they even considering it now? That made Diana think about what Hannah and Barbara had told her earlier and how right they were about the Ministry's position.

Now that there was an overflow of magic, regulating it would only be possible by binding magical beings. And magical families did so by using blood magic. So, if the Ministry were to pass a law that enforced all magical families to perform the ritual then that would mean that from their side, magic would be regulated.

And yet Diana felt that this approach was completely wrong because it failed to consider the other side. It didn't control the fact that people without magic were now capable of using magic. And, this group was out of the Ministry's sphere of influence.

Finally getting to the tower, Diana notices Ursula Sensei walking towards the woods by herself and, although it surprises her, she doesn't plan on following her until she sees another Ursula leaving the tower and heading towards school. Worried about what was happening, Diana starts following the first Ursula and enters the woods. The moment she does, she senses magic and looks up to see two brooms coming down.

Confused by all of this, Diana waits for a couple of seconds and makes out two witches in formal clothes landing and leaving their brooms behind. Not familiar with who they are, the blonde girl realizes that they're following Ursula Sensei with their hand in their wands. As soon as this happens, the Ursula that had been inside the woods comes out from behind them and raises her wand.

"Desmemento!" the older witch says and a shot of light comes out of her wand straight to one of the witches in suits.

A forgetting spell…

The other, who noticed her partner being hit, evades the other spell that was heading towards her and starts moving her wand from left to right…

A paralyzing spell…

Before she can complete it by chanting the words, Diana takes out her own wand and comes out from behind the trees.

"Desmemento!" she says and her spell hits the witch straight in the chest.

Momentarily thinking about the repercussions that would come from her doing this, she sees Ursula Sensei getting close to her.

"Quickly, we must implant the memory we want them to remember."

"What do I want them to remember?" she asks desperately.

"That they followed Chariot to class and that nothing special happened apart from that." Ursula Sensei says and moves her wand. "Recordare Specifiti!"

She just said Chariot. The woman in front of her was not Ursula Sensei.

"Recordare Specifiti." Diana murmurs and after leaving the two women sitting next to a tree, she sees the older witch using her magic to take out the spell she placed on herself.

Long red hair starts transforming to a shorter lilac. Red eyes with the shape of stars become green and instead of her sweet Sensei in front of her there was now standing a familiar woman with a mischievous smile on her face.

"Croix Sensei." she says surprised about seeing her at Luna Nova. "You're here…"

"Hello Miss Cavendish." Croix tells her with a smile. "It has been a while."

"Indeed." Diana tells her with a soft smile. "Not that I'm not happy to see you're doing well, but would you kindly explain to me why we attacked these witches?"

Now that she thought about it, why were these witches who were not a part of Luna Nova here at the school?

"The Ministry sent witches to keep a watch on specific people at Luna Nova." Croix tells her calmly while heading back towards the astronomy tower. "Chariot noticed them earlier but couldn't exactly face them because of her position as a teacher."

(Flashback)

"Croix, they're following me." she hears her friend tell her from her phone.

Well, that was quick…

"I haven't heard anything new concerning the terrorists." Croix tells her calmly. "Probably the Ministry sent those witches in case they needed to react quickly."

"I also noticed some witches looking at Akko after she left our lesson. When I mentioned this to Fineran she said that the Ministry had asked for permission to have these witches stay at Luna Nova. Something about their living quarters in town being under reparation…"

"And Fineran bought it?" she chuckles while taking some ramens out of the microwave.

"Of course not. She said she didn't feel comfortable about this but that they couldn't refuse their request without a specific reason. I don't like this at all Croix." the younger woman whispers worriedly.

"I'm keeping an eye on conversations the Ministry is having with different factions officially and nothing stands out. Since I'm meant to be under house arrest, they don't let me communicate with people apart from my superiors." Croix closes her eyes and remembers something a guard had mentioned in front of her earlier. "Although, now that I think of it, I heard some rumors yesterday after I came back from Luna Nova but I just thought that they were not true. Something about the Master of Bloadell being granted an audience with the Prime Minister."

"The Master of Bloadell?!" Chariot asks her loudly. "He's supposed to be dead!"

"I thought so as well…" Croix murmurs deeply worried. "But if the Ministry already has people inside the school then that means they're taking the threat seriously. A faction like the one owned by Bloadell would take advantage of the situation."

"Principal Holbrooke is also concerned about the way the Ministry is handling this. The older witches and professors are keeping watch at night and all students will be warned to travel in groups. Apart from that, there's nothing else we can do."

"This is not good, Chariot… There are too many pieces moving at the same time…" Croix closes her eyes.

The resurgence of the antimagic group, the move done by the faction of Bloadell; none of them were a coincidence. It was all connected to the fact that magic had become available to everyone.

"Could it be that both are using Akko and the breaking of the seal as an excuse?" the lilac-haired woman says out-loud.

"Then the best response that the Ministry could have for both extremist groups is to give them Akko…" Chariot whispers from the other side of the line and Croix can hear how terrified her friend is feeling.

"I'm on my way." she promises her friend.

"But your arrest… If you leave they'll think you have escaped and they won't give you another chance…"

"You are more important." the older woman says surely. "And I wouldn't be capable of staying here, doing nothing, while knowing that a young girl is in danger. Specially one that has forgiven and accepted me…"

"Croix…" Chariot whispers. "Does this mean that we leave tonight?"

"We leave tonight."

(End of Flashback)

"Watching specific people? You mean Ursula Sensei?" Diana asks shocked. "Why would they even be watching her?"

"Who said they're only watching her? Haven't you noticed anything amiss Diana?" Croix asks her knowingly. "A reason why you're not at class and instead were coming to see Chariot?"

She knows what I talked about with Hannah and Barbara...

"You knew I was coming." Diana tells her quickly. "You heard my conversation and you knew I was planning on asking Ursula Sensei about the blood rituals…"

"I had my suspicions. When I came to Luna Nova yesterday, I installed microphones and cameras around campus." she lowers her head in a sign of apology. "Your acquaintances are not so far away from the truth, though. Things outside Luna Nova are becoming dangerous for witches. Specially for witches that do not come from magical families."

Witches from non-magical families.

Witches like Akko…

"What do you mean by that? Why make your appearance now? Did something happen?" Diana keeps asking questions.

"You mean you haven't heard?" Croix asks surprised. "I had assumed you would be on top of things, Diana." the older woman gives her a sad smile. "There has been the resurgence of a terrorist group who wants to use magic to destroy magic."

"Use magic to destroy magic…" she whispers worriedly. "Is that why there are witches from the Ministry? Why did we attack them, then?"

Croix gives her a sad smile again.

"Yes and no." the older woman says cryptically. "They're not here to protect you. They're here to take someone away. And the reason I'm here is because I've come to stop them from doing so."

They're here to take someone. Someone that is connected to Ursula Sensei and that she cares enough about to ask Croix Sensei for help. Someone who comes from a non-magical family who is in this school. Someone who had been involved in this whole thing since the beginning.

Diana knew very well who this person was…

She was terrified of confirming it, but she had to.

"Who are you talking about, Sensei?" she whispers brokenly.

"You mean you haven't figured it out yet Diana?" the older woman asks her softly, as if knowing the girl in front of her wanted to be proved wrong. "The reason why the Ministry is here; they've come to take Akko, and Chariot and I are going to prevent that from happening."