Chapter 4

A New Career In A New Town.

Birds loudly chirping in the trees near Astronomy tower signaled the start of a new, wonderful day. Ursula tiredly tore her dry, tired eyes open. Yet another torturous day of this vitriolic charade loomed above her. For what reason? At what cost? Once again her body felt like she rolled down a stony mountain covered in bramblewood for the whole night. Another night gone, and once again she feels not rested. She closes her eyes and tries to get at least five minutes more. But it proves much too challenging, since her legs start getting unrested. Involuntarily she rubs her toes bone against bone loudly, damn joints trying to turn each other to dust. Professor turned from side to side, trying to catch at least a minute of calmness, but to no success. Morning inevitably takes it's toll, throwing tired woman from uneasy sleep right into new day, presenting no doping of a nice, fresh wave of stamina from a full night's rest, but yet another silent curse of beaten-up body. Lying in her small bed, feeling cold creeping up her toes, Astronomer tried to understand – was there even any reason to get up this morning? Why should she even get out of her bed today? *So, a new year. I don't expect much.* With a strain of muddled consciousness, poor girl tried to remember. *What even happened yesterday? Ohhh, where are the damn pills?* With a blind hand, blue-haired martyr reaches for her usual breakfast. As the head started to become slightly woozy, signifying the "snack" taking effect, mind and memory slowly become clearer as the frustrations fade away. *Yes. A lot happened yesterday. New students, forest...a new girl. Yes, that girl. She presented herself as Atsuko, right? Atsuko...that's a mysteriously beautiful name...* Thinking about that newcomer, Ursula felt a tingle of something fresh and unknown in her solar plexus, something like a... longing, perhaps? She felt a somewhat apparent interest to see her again. *Yes, that seems to be a reason enough to get out of bed.* - thought Professor, slowly sitting on her bed with her skull feeling like a hammerhead. Have you ever tried to balance a hammer on its handle vertically? Well, that's how Ursula felt right now.

*m-hmm, that was quite a start* - thought Sucy, bending her leg over her head - *but it didn't end there* Previous evening had been only beginning.

Almost dropping her crystal ball, Lotte twisted facing the loudly opened door. In there, she saw her two new acquaintances.

- O-oh Akko, Sucy! What a surprise!

- Ah, Lotte! How wonderful! - cheerily exclaimed Akko, walking into the room, happy to see the girl.

- We seem to be your new teammates – mourned Sucy, sliding into the door after Akko.

- M-hm! Now we are a team! - proudly voiced Akko with arms pushing into her sides. - I'm happy that it is with peopre I already know!

- Teammates ah? - surprised Lotte, still calming down from initial shock, was hit with a second one. - Ha-ha, well let's get along girls...

- We sure will! - furiously smiling nodded new team member. Her hair, going up and down with the head, agreed to just as much.

- So, I'm taking the separate bed – Sucy calmly slid to the single bed on the side and inspected the covers. It didn't seem to be worn out. Either the previous owners were careful, or the beddings were retouched with magic before each semester. Not too shabby.

- And where do you sleep, Lotte? - politely questioned Akko, looking from side to side, soaking up the student co-living atmosphere. She was so excited from the future life already revealing itself to her, she could barely stand still.

- I-I prefer the top one – timidly answered the Finn, pointing to the bunk.

- M-hm, m-hm. And this is all yours? - pointed Akko towards the shelves filled with what seemed to be the same book duplicated many-many times.

- Ah yes, yes. But you can put your things on the shelves just as much!

Akko took a step towards the table and bent her neck. *Ni..night..fall* read the spine. It appears spines were numbered. *Ah! Some kind of manga...* realized Akko without taking a closer look. Moving her eyes she also saw the skull lamp, acting as a final piece in the row.

- So, when is my luggage arriving? - Akko wanted to get to the boarding as soon as possible. Full experience couldn't wait.

*knock knock*

- Come in!~ - sang Akko, already feeling like a rightful lodger of the room.

The door opened and behind it there was a dwarf with a grey wheeled case as tall as him.

- Is this yours? - grumpily asked the "garcon"

- Oh, my things! - Japanese clapped her hands in delight – Thank you little guy! - happily said Akko while bending 90 degrees to gnome's head and smiling brightly.

The dwarf visibly flinched and grunted something to himself while eyeing Akko's brows.

- Oh my! Akko! That's SO rude of you! - quickly intercepted Lotte, and running up to the gnome hurriedly jabbered – Sorry-sorry she's just new here still catching up to the rules don't feel bad okay?!

A somewhat reconciling grunt from the bearded fairy showed the acceptance of amends. This time, he'll let it slide. Akko's still present sincere smile probably proved no bad intentions behind her words. Tipping his cap, the dwarf left.

- Akko, you can't just say little guy and bend down to the fairies!

- But why? I don't mean bad~

- Well they don't see it that way! To them it's rude!

- But what's so rude about it if I say it friendly?

- Akko, you have to consider your position! You are taller than him, you don't have to earn mana to exist and he is a janitor and much older than you! It sounds like you are a condescending noble talking to a commoner!

- Yes Akko, it's like saying "Thanks for the help you wage slave" or "Good job, mana junkie. You earned your fix today" - gave Sucy her input from the bed she stretched on.

- What's a "junkie?" - Akko questioned, while turning her head to the side with an earnest confusion on her face.

- ...ah, nevermind.

- Anyway Akko – Lotte continued her one-o-one on common reasoning – Fairies work not as much on their good will, but because they need mana to live! And School is one of the rare places where they can employ en mass.

Akko's face started showing a tint of sadness. Remembering the amount of magic places left in the world always made her sad. Taking peace with unpleasant reality was never her forte.

- So they have to do everything for us for mana.

- Yes Akko – added Sucy – If you wreck the relations with them, it would be bad. For me.

From the look on brunette's face, it seems she started understanding the complications Academy found itself in daily.

- You remember losing your luggage during the fall, right?

- Y-yes...

- Well who do you think got it all together for you?

- M-maybe the case was sturdy... - with a tint of hope squeaked Akko. She really didn't want to discover just how rude she was right now.

- No Akko. The fairies went into the forest and gathered your belongings.

Akko just stood there with her head down and face timid. There really was no other way the case gathered itself after falling form leyline onto the hard roots of moody forest. She remembers her backpack remaining on her back, and also quickly picking up her belongings that spilled from the handbag back then, on the broom, during the fall. But during all the commotion like saving her plushie from the man-eater plant or running away from the cockatrice she didn't really think about her suitcase. And now it was delivered safe and sound to her dorm.

As her brows furrowed and lips stirred a decision was born, clearly visible from a decisive "Hum!" and a glint in her eyes.

- I'll be right back! - said the girl with determination and ran down the hall, almost knocking down a girl with hair like an upturned half-peeled orange.

- Watch it, you!

As Akko dashed down the winding stairs, she calculated where the dwarf can be. She wanted to apologize, feeling that, despite not meaning harm, she stabbed the little fella right in the sore spot. But where to start? Easiest step would be to ask someone local, maybe a professor. But usually when you're in need of information, the people you met either knew nothing, or told you the wrong things. Girl may have been an airhead, but she knew this much. It seems like luck was on her side, one grey short janitor was exiting the room further up the hall.

- Excuse me-e, miste-er!

- Wha-what's the deal – stuttered the shocked goblin, taken out of his thoughts by a shout out of nowhere.

- Where can I find the dwarf janitor? I have to tell him something! - despite being in a hurry Akko was smart enough to hide the real reason and be vague enough.

- Which one? - usually, suspicious goblin would start with a "why?" or "what?". But today, he was just tired. Too tired to question. He wanted to finally finish his shift and go crash somewhere, preferably as far away from professors as possible. "Thankfully", with school being barely populated he had enough places to choose from.

- The ("short one" obviously was the first thing to say, but Akko barely had held her tongue) bearded one! With long beard. Like a radish!

Goblin rose his tired bloodshot eyes to the girl and silently sighed. This was just the perfect icing to the crapcake of the day.

- All dwarfs wear beards, miss. Very similar ones.

- Erm... oh! He was sent to collect student's berongings in the Arcturus Forest today!

The word "yours?" hung on the tip of the goblin's tongue, but he wanted to conserve his energy, so he skipped the unneeded parts and simply answered:

- Follow me.

With a tired step, goblin went up the hall and down the stairs, with Akko nervously tailing him behind. She wanted to ask him so and so much. Well, not as much as ask, but more like expand her bottomless energy outwards. With being in a hurry, she felt the need to run, but janitor was leading her slowly and Akko, being more considerate for the rest of the day, since a good night of sleep wiped all life lessons of the previous day from her disk, didn't want to ask him to speed up. So she needed other outlet for her energy. Barraging him with questions was just as risky, so instead, Japanese girl turned her head left and right and observed the school. Now, at the second glance, Atsuko noticed that the Academy was not exactly in a tip top shape. They were leaving the commonly used halls of the school and moving into the barely visited ones. And it was visible. In the corners of the barely lit corners and tops of the ceiling arches there were cobwebs, here and there. Dust covered the wooden bracers and beams. And despite the amount being not much, signifying them being dusted at least somewhat regularly, the halls Finneran had led them through were squeaking clean. The stone floor itself felt much more desolate, and the doors lacked the feeling of being used, despite the scratches on the floor being present. Maybe exactly their presence revealed the fact, that the time these rooms were used was long ago. In the common part, the doors were oiled regularly and scratches magicked away. Here, even bronze doorknobs were green with oxidizing since the time when they were polished with hands of eager students was long ago. Now, barely anyone visited these halls. Walking through the Academy suddenly felt like a visit to the tomb. Akko felt her energy calming down, sadness taking its place. This was the backside to the famed Luna Nova she adored this much. It was not constant holiday in Luna Nova. The amount of students really went down. And the staff were either overworked and didn't have time to clean here, or...

Akko perked her nose higher. It was up to her to finish what Shiny Chariot started! Bringing the magic back. Bringing the interest back. Bringing the students back! Making everything the...erm... the right way! Whatever that entailed. She wasn't sure what was meant to be done and what the result would be, but she was eager to do it! Something! And first, the dwarf!

Meanwhile, the goblin led her through the maze of halls and stairs, up and down, up and down, until they reached a hall with no windows. Akko didn't quite understand whether they were still over the ground, or in basement sectors. But wherever they were, it was considerably away from used locations. Now, the two of them stood near a simple wooden door. The goblin opened it, leading Akko inside.

And inside there lied the habitat of the fairy staff in all their variety. With the work day mostly finished for the major part of the staff, the fairies were busy with their night routine. Some goblins were cleaning their jumpsuits, some were preparing for the early morning beforehand. A minotaur was checking the state of his broom, with bearded cyclops nearby lying down over the beat up couch. Some sprites were sitting near a kettle on a stand over a small fire fairy. Something resembling a weasel was talking to a weird hairy midget with horns. Akko stepped over into the room following her goblin guide. He took of his cap and hung it on a hook near the door alongside the multitude of same ones. Hiding the broom in the closet to the right, the goblin moved further. Akko used this opportunity to look around. The place was sure cramped. There were a couple of couches near a window with darkness behind the glass. And near the couches were two tables, showing a long history of use. On the walls there were shelves, filled with work related items mostly. Either there were other rooms, or the fairies didn't have a lot of possessions. There was a closed door further down the wall, maybe that was the place workers were sleeping in. Anyway, Akko came here to do a particular thing, so she hurried after the goblin.

- Mhm? - grunted the janitor, looking at Akko. With some tint of surprise on his face, it seemed he already forgot that he brought her here.

- *Ahem* About the dwarf...

- Oh. Yes. - remembered the goblin. He took a couple of steps towards a circle of bearded workers surrounding a table. Some were sitting on a discoloured old couch, a couple rested on beat up chairs. Seemed like they were absorbed by a card game. Despite them looking almost the same to Akko's eyes, she did manage to kind of recognize the one who came to their dorm with her case. Goblin pointed her to the same dwarf.

- Umm mister dwarf.

- Urm? - grunted the dwarf, rising his eyes under the furry brows to her.

Akko bent herself in two, her chin almost touching her ankles. With such deep bow her hair went over her head and spread itself on the floor.

- I'm sorry for what I said earlier! I didn't mean to be mean! It's just, it was my first time meeting a fairy, so I didn't know the common courtesies. Please don't hold it against me!

The dwarf sure looked surprised. But judging by his face, it seems he accepted her apology. With a fave of his hand he grunted something unintelligible, but his eyes told that he doesn't hold a grudge. Happily, Akko straightened herself and smiled widely. Seems like this was resolved peacefully.

Meanwhile, Sucy rose from her bed. *Well, have to start unpacking*. It didn't seem like she had much with her. She sent her bags to Luna Nova beforehand. Seems like coming from a magic family and actually reading the letter of acceptance and enclosed materials had it's benefits. So, with a hunched posture she took a lonely path towards the storage office.

- Uh Sucy?

- What.

- Are you going out? – asked Lotte

- A-ha

- Can I come along? - Lotte decided to use the opportunity to get to know the girl better. Or at least get somewhat used to her before they share the room at night. Those self-contained characters tended to get unpredictable.

- ….don't mind

- Great! - faked the interest Lotte.

And with such open and trusting spirit in the air two girls left the room. The taller witch hunched silently towards her destination, seemingly knowing where to go beforehand, the shorter one followed. Silently, they passed through the dorms and descended the stairs. It didn't seem like Sucy would break the silence any time soon, so Lotte tried to raise a chat.

- So...Sucy, and where are you from?

- ….Philippines – came a disinterested answer.

- Ohh from so far? It must be tiring to travel so far here!

- Not exactly – followed a monotone answer.

The duo went through a stone hall, passing by a student with a travel case. Seems like they were approaching their destination.

- Ah..do you come from a witches lineage, Sucy?

- Yes.

- Ah, me too! You must like magic then!

- Kind of.

- Same as me, he-he... - despite Lotte's polite attempts, it didn't seem to start anything.

Sucy stopped near a opened door abruptly. The brass plank on it read "Post".

- Oh, we're already here!

Silently, Eastern witch entered the room and went up to the counter. The worker, resembling some sort of kangaroo in a cap raised it's eyes to the girl and gave off some sort of throat mhh.

- Manbavaran. Sucy Manbavaran. Two suitcases and a rucksack.

With a nod, the rodent as tall as a ten year old kid went to the shelves. Lotte, going inside the room reluctantly, looked around. The storage for students' luggage and mail was quite simple. A desk for the receptionist near the entrance, a wooden waist high barrier separating the entrance of the room from the storage shelves. Magic lamps in the walls with one in the center of the ceiling created a calming and mysterious atmosphere of playing shadows. With the relaxing smell of wooden dust and post hanging in the air, Lotte felt an urge to just slow down and take everything easy. The room itself felt like time was seeping slower in it. Further into the room there were several long stands with shelves, on which cases and boxes rested. Seems like some students were yet to take their parcels.

In a minute the receptionist rodent fairy came back, carrying two suitcases and a tied bag, stacked in his hand in a pyramid. The airline post tickets hanged from the handles. With a grunt, fairy put them on the desk and took out a book. Scanning the pages, he found Sucy and put a mark in the line near her. With a snort he turned the book to her and presented Sucy a quill. Silently, the girl wrote a complicated ensemble of letters and swashes in some Asian script. Satisfied, the fairy put the book somewhere down behind the counter and stopped paying attention to the two visitors, turning to the newly arrived short girl with a toy robot on her shoulder.

Sucy pulled down the rucksack and put it on her back. Pulling down the suitcase she turned to Lotte.

- Here, you'll carry this one – and with a pause added – Okay?

- A-ah alright! - being asked something, even if for work, that was still some communication progress.

And, taking the second bag in her hand, Sucy silently went out the door. Lotte followed.

Without dialogue, girls were making their way back. Obviously, discounting the question of carrying the case, no actual communication happened. So Lotte tried to make a second attempt. If they were supposed to be a team, they had to be somewhat on the same page, right?

- So...Sucy. What's in the bag?

- Flasks.

- Oooh? And aren't you afraid to break them in transit? Post nowadays is not that careful.

- I put the "fragile" stickers on the bags. - a brief silence followed – Saves some hassle.

- Right, I guess...But can't you use the school flasks?

- I prefer my own stock.

Once again, the talk died out. Seems like Sucy had little interest in responding. If Lotte wanted something, it was up to her to provide the solution.

- So, you like alchemy?

Yet another attempt.

- Mhh-m

- And I never found myself really interested in potions. Couldn't get the timing right or overall...

- …..

- Guess I'm more of a fairy person.

- For each their own.

Was that a reply or a jab?

- You probably know a lot about potions.

- ….Probably, compared to beginner.

- So what do you prefer to make them out of? Herbs, flowers?

- Mushrooms.

- Oh, a mushroom aficionado? - in despair to actually shake the iceberg, Lotte tried to use a rare word. It yielded no result.

- So, did you bring some rare mushrooms with you? I guess you would...

- Yes, the case I'm carrying has them.

- Ooo-h. So how do you carry them? Like, in spores or maybe pieces of roots-

- Not roots. Mycelium. Mushrooms have mycelium. And it's their real body, not roots. Mushroom is just a fruit.

- Oh, I see. You seem to know a lot about mushrooms. - happily chirped Lotte. Seems like stumbling upon Sucy's interests got some sort of real reply. Even if brief.

But alas! They already made it to the room. They opened the door.

- Look look! It's my uniform! Ha-ha and a hat! I look just like a real witch! Wait, I AM a real witch now! Ha-ha-ha!

- Oh Akko, you made it back! - surprisedly said Lotte, seeing foreign witch in her hat, boots and tunic – So, how did it go?

- Oh flawresly! - happily and loudly answered the girl, putting a hand to her heart.

As the story about traversing the wilderness towards the fairy abode began, Sucy nonchalantly went to her bed and dropped her large load near her bed. Lotte followed near, meanwhile Akko already paid little attention to them, describing with eyes closed (for better immersion) just how far and wide she traversed the castle. Eventually she did turn around to the audience and grazed them with a quizzical look.

- Oh and what are you doing Sucy? - said the girl hopping near the crouching witch.

- Setting up my mushroom.

- Uoooh! How interesting! - came an honest surprise from Akko. She crouched near the array of flasks, bottles and crates filled with brown flakes. - Uo-ow...

Her curious hands immediately went for the wonders.

- Don't touch them – warned the mushroom girl, taking out her wand. Murmuring a spell, she pointed the tip of the wand into the neck of the bottle. A harsh stream of steam fizzled from the tip, immediately filling the bottle. - They've been sterilized.

- A-ah, and what are you gonna do next?

- Set up the mycelium

- Mhm mhm. Can I help.

- Sucy took a glance, brief but very careful and scrutinizing, of Akko.

- No need, I'll manage.

- Okay – the cheery girl was in a mood far to good to sense the condemnation in Sucy's voice. - Meanwhile...

- She hopped to the bed and grabbed her prize.

- I'll tell you about this!

- Oh that stick you found! - tried to support the conversation Lotte.

- Akko held the staff high.

- It's not just a stick! It's Shiny Chariot's Shiny Rod! The very same rod she used for her magic! - big shiny stars sparkled in fan's eyes.

- Erm...Akko, why do you think so? - questioned Finnish girl.

- Just look at it! It's the exact look, down to every nook and cranny! Even the gems are the same!

- But Akko, it might just be a similar thing. Besides, Chariot disappeared years ago, how would the rod appear in the forest?

- Does it matter? - denied brightly smiling girl, hugging the Rod - It's the one, that's all that matters!

- How do you know? - for the first time Sucy said something, carefully putting a piece of fleshy net using a pincer into the bottle. Then the vial was safely corked and stored on the shelf above the girl's bed alongside several more.

- Pshh Sucy~ How do you think we ended up here?

- ….

- I casted the spell and Shiny Ark opened the door to the Luna Nova!

- Really – Lotte was quite surprised – I don't remember much aside from falling.

- Well when we were falling I heard Chariot's voice and she told me the words! So the Rod turned into a bow, just like Shariot did! And I opened the portal with an arrow, and so we are here!

- Wow Akko, that's impressive.
Lotte didn't understand much, but she wanted to support the conversation, albeit not really understanding what they were talking about. Akko was smiling so brightly and was so happy, Finnish girl didn't want her saying all of this fascination without a listener. And since Sucy seemed to ignore the Rod adventures, it was all up to glasses girl.

- So it's obviously the real thing! And someday, someday I will return it to Chariot! Oh to think that I will meet her in person! A-ah, what a wonderful magic! - Akko closed her eyes, hugging the rod. She was one step closer to her dream, and with this staff in her hands, she certainly would not fail. After all, this rod is certainly Shiny Chariot's blessing.

- And that's just the first thing you can do with this rod! With practice you can...

Lotte sat there, patiently listening to Akko describing all the wildest dreams and miracles you can do with this rod, just like Shiny Chariot!

- ...and then you can turn it into the broom...

Sucy carefully unpacked her glass boxes and sterilized them, one by one. Crouching near her bed over the opened suitcase, she picked samples of mycelium and stored it into various glass habitats.

- ...so the sparks, no, waves! Whole waves flush over the people...

One by one the mushroom bodies found their home on the shelf and under the bed.

- ...and she turned into an angel! Oh, how beautiful she was, hust like a real one!...

Finally empty, the suitcase was sent into the corner of the room. Sucy stopped crouching and rose up.

- ...but Chariot is brave, she never gives up! Oh, Suschy, what are you doing? - abruptly stopping the sermon, Akko turned to the half-naked pale girl.

- Changing – said the girl, pulling out her uniform from the rucksack.

- Ah-ha and what's next? - curious, Atsuko shuffled to the changing girl.

- Get a dinner.

- Ah, dinner! The very first one in the Academy! Oh, to think what wonders we may see in the cafeteria!

Lotte didn't want to burst Akko's bubble.

The trio of girls entered the food court. With a gasp, Akko turned her head left and right, soaking in new experience. The vast hall overlooked the forest through the tall and wide glass. A wonderful orange light of sunset bathed the hall in it's calming, warm glow. Spread over the floor, multitude of tables stood there, joined by chairs, mostly in groups of three. Standing on the balcony over the hall, Akko spotted the counter with food, positioned at the far wall. Behind it, several fairies hovered around the food. Feeling her stomach voicing it's interest in witch cuisine, the bright ball of happiness and wonder ran down the stairs to the food. On a distance, not in a particular hurry, two teammates followed. Akko ran up to the counter and stared at the dishes expectantly.

And it turns out witches, or at least students, didn't feast on various multitudes of delicacies. With a slightly disappointed face, Akko saw several types of potato cuisine. Potato baked, potato mashed, potato boiled, boiled and cut, boiled cut and sided with potato salad (or so you could guess from the pieces of potato mixed together with something white), fried and deep fried. And to wash it down - water and potato water.

- So, what's your pick miss? - asked the cook, a gray goblin with cook's cap on his bald head.

With a brief choice, Akko settled on deep fried potatoes. Can't go wrong with that. Potatoe, that's a funny word. Potatto. Potatoe. Toepot. Pots in the toe. Toes in the pot.

Turning around and picking a table, Akko moved to the center of the hall. Sitting down, she immediately started turning around, with her hair swaying left and right. Soon, her teammates joined her.

- So girls, what did you pick? - Akko crossed her arms and stuck her nose to the girls' plates – boiled potatoes for you, Lotte and...mushrooms? How did you get them, Sucy? I didn't see any!

- You have to know the trick.

- What trick?

- …you'll learn in due time – calmly said Sucy, staring nowhere in particular, hunching over her plate filled with two kind of mushrooms.

Akko felt like learning it right now. It felt like a secret magic, so she felt that she should join the fun of knowledge despite the "due time". In fact, that "due time" was right now.

- C'mon Sucy, tell me~ Don't hide it from your teammate! - grinned Akko right in Sucy's face.

- With a slight recoil from a face so insolently close, Sucy wrinkled her eyelid. And didn't respond.

- Sucy-y don't be so secretive! You're supposed to share with your teammate! - cunningly pleaded Akko with a childish voice. But Sucy was still busy soaking in the example of what their upcoming life would be like. She didn't want noise, she didn't crave attention, but since the moment Akko appeared, the idea of silence was lost. And seems like this was set in stone. Spending time together like this was inevitable. And something told Sucy that regular exposure to infamy would be something she should make peace with right now.

- Sucyyyy don't hide i-it. Tell me-e – moaned Japanese witch.

It didn't seem to end any time soon, so Sucy gave up. That was a small sacrifice for maybe getting Akko of her back.

- I asked.

- And that's it?!

- Yes.

- I'll be right back! - perked Akko, standing up and running towards the counter.

And so, the dinner passed. During the meal, Akko continued her sermon about just how fantastic the Chariot is and how much she influenced the girl. The cafeteria was mostly empty, and tired students were not in the mood to listen to a loud new kid. Most of them spent their time catching up in the garden or in their respective rooms. Soon, the girls followed the example, moving back into the dorm. Despite Sucy being not exactly open to teamwork and Lotte not succeeding in raising a common theme for all three of them to talk about, Akko's Chariot torrent managed to fill the void. With the constant background noise of "Shario" filling the ears, girls stood up from their seats and rose up the stairs, passed through the halls and entered the dorms. What ran through their minds? We will never know, since any attempt to follow your own thoughts was choked in the birth by Akko. At that moment, only the shining greatness of brave, strong, beautiful and confident queen of magic Shiny Chariot existed. At best, Sucy could curse the day she decided to give in to her mother's words: "My daughter had to have high education!" and temptation of getting rare ingredients in Arcturus forest. Was it all worth what seemed to loom in the future? Sucy had her moderate doubts.

*I wish I had a bit of this vigor. She talked for the whole evening and since she woke up and all in circles. Yet she doesn't seem to stop.* - thought the mushroom fan, finishing her stretches. The birds were chirping, the sun rose over the trees, basking the school and rooms in silvery-gold light. The most productive time of the day began, since I can vouch – the best hours to work are from 7am to around 16 o'clock. After that, the time speeds up considerably and overall the quality drops. So take the hint, greenhorns. *wink-wink*

- Akko – kindly voiced her advice Lotte – would you be on time to wash yourself before breakfast? We don't have that much time in the mornings.

- Oh, right right! - Akko quickly grabbed her toiletries and dashed outside.

- She seems nice – said Lotte – she has passion for what she likes.

- Mhhm

- I think it's nice to have a girl like that around.

- We'll see... - said Sucy, taking out her shower parcel from the nightstand. With hunched slow step girl went out of the room. Lotte silently stood there for a second, before following the girls.

- Okay okay! - Akko vigorously took her tunic from the chair, on which she carefully placed it the night before, so not a wrinkle wold tarnish the fresh dress.

- And-a one! And-a two! And a three! Transformation complete! Yay! - Akko was once again in her uniform, feeling like a real witch in training. Albeit...

- Akko, that's not indoors set, this tunic is for ceremonies and outdoors.

- Wha-? But it's so cool! - Akko turned around in front of a small mirror.

- We wear the vest for studies, hurry up! - said the ginger blonde, taking her books from the shelf. In a moment, Akko re-dressed and with a vigorous punch into the air joined girls.

- So, what's the first lesson?

- Magic Linguistics – informed the girls Lotte.

- Uoh Linguistics! - eagerly repeated Akko. Immediately, pictures of mysterious words, tight circles of witches surrounding ancient books, sounds of unknown languages filled her thoughts. Magic Language, this will be so fun!

The girls moved towards the class, with Akko marching in the avaunt-garde and her two comrades flanking her from behind. Strangely, no one else shared the excitement. Everything around seemed like an ordinary school, sans the relic building. Students of various grades and coloured sashes walked around, waiting for the classes to start, chatting about girly things and giving Akko the looks and glances. *Must be because I got the red sash, just like the colour of Chariot's hair!* M-hm, definitely. This only served to widen Akko's already wi-ide grin. At last Lotte said: "Akko, wait, this is the one" and with a couple steps back, the trio entered the room.

Akko stood at the entrance, with her arms at her hips and mouth wide open, soaking the spirit of higher education (okay, I know that's a high school relative year, but please, you can't compare regular school and Academy). The tall room reached high, with wooden squares of rich maroon colour supporting the ceiling. The rows of seats, slowly being filled by trios of students, rose towards the depth of the auditorium. And in the back, a mural enriched the wall, stimulating students towards the rigorous study of language old. Well, it was supposed to. In front of them, a tall blackboard hanged, with no chalk in sight. Old parchments or canvases, Akko didn't bother making it clear, flanked the board, side by side. With Sucy and Lotte taking their seats, Akko hurried to them. Finally, her first class was about to begin! She could hardly contain the excitement. Rest of the students were probably so excited the previous night they barely caught any sleep, since no one else was as jumpy and yayed as Atsuko. In fact, not a girl showed interest in what was about to happen. Akko turned her head to see the young witches. There they were, the girls who soon would be her friends! She was so (moderately) excited about it! That one, a girl with an orange flower upturned on her head, no wait, that's her hair, with hands behind her neck and closed eyes. She was probably concentrating before serious studying. Or that one, with a hand under her cheek and disinterested look in her violet eyes. She was probably far away, mentally preparing for new knowledge. Just like that wavy, blue haired girl near her, fiddling with her quill. She must be checking what would be the best angle to hold her feather. And what about that model of diligence! A platinum, or maybe light green, perhaps blonde hair, the lighting that shone over her locks made it hard to get a clear look through the shining aura around her, fingers crossed in front of her, and a stern look in her sapphire eyes, drilling air in front of her in a calm concentration showing rigorous discipline. She sure was the most noticeable in the room. *Must be my future rival! Since all main characters have a rival!*. And her teammates, strangely familiar, trying their best to not stare at the girl openly in admiration and curiosity. Seems like the crew was just right. Yes, this would be so... yay!

- And so the semantics of Moon spelling denotate the meaning...

Akko was dumbfounded. Everyone around her scribbled in their notes, while glancing at the board, filled with an array of dots and circles. The books were opened on the page just as weird as the signs on the blackboard.

- And if such suffix is applied then...

Suffix...what's that? It was the first time Akko heard such English word. What does it even mean? And where is it? Professor Finneran was pointing at the three by two dots block in the belt of similar signs. How do you even write it? Do you draw all the dots, half-circles and rings? Is that already a word? Or some graph? Turning her head left and right, Akko looked at what others were doing. Students appeared to quickly write down the symbols using... it was hard to make out what exactly they were noting down. But they were occupied, that's for sure.

- And with such root meaning being supported by such comma...

Comma? Where is it? There are only dots! How, how do you write them! Are you supposed to use English? Are everyone understanding this? Left-right, left-right, Akko turned her head discreetly. Everyone were busy, joined with the rhythm of the lecture, taking notes and looking at the pages and board. Were everyone so sharp? To the left of Akko, Sucy seemed to just stare at the board without writing anything. Oh, she must be just as lost!

- Sucy...Sucy-y... - Akko whispered towards her teammate.

- M?

- Do you understand anything?

- M-hm

- What are we writing down?

Akko's quietest whisper was not masked by scratching of feathers.

- Miss Kagari (H-hai!) please refrain from whispering – sternly pointed Professor Finneran.

Ah, damn it. The lesson went on and on and Akko was yet to make a single note in her notebook. Slowly rising since the beginning, the cold feeling of being not included already conquered Akko's knees and was advancing its frost up to her stomach. She was out of the loop. She didn't get a thing of this language, if it even was language and not graphs of punctuation. Feeling alone and lost in a torrent of busy students was certainly not the feeling she enjoyed.

- Lotte, pst Lotte(!) - *nudge nudge* - what are we doing?

- Sorry Akko I barely keep up! - desperately squeaked Finnish girl, scratching her quill over the paper as fast as she could.

- Miss Kagari, is everything alright?

- Yes!

- Then please be quiet.

Yes? No! Nothing was alright! Akko didn't understand a thing that was going on, but something kept her from answering plainly that she has no idea what is happening. Maybe she didn't want to be a fool, maybe she didn't feel the possibility of just going against the flow of everyone understanding with her "I have no idea!" cry. Whatever the reason, she just sat there for the rest of the class, counting every second until the bell would deliver her from this frenzy.

- And so we add a toad, but do it fast so it won't get dry. The enzymes and mucus have to be just right out of the solution or else most horrible of curses would fall upon your heretical head he-he-he...

*Okay. Maybe Linguistics were just not the best starter. It was something complicated and systematic, you had to have a starting knowledge. But Pharmaceutics is just a step forward from Alchemy! This would be a real start! Magic will happen!*

- As you can see the the colour changes, but be wary he-he-he – the long white haired witch moved her nose away from the cauldron – if you stop stirring even for a minute this would cause a snowball reaction!

Psssssh. A cloud of thick smoke erupted from the cauldron and cloaked the class, avoiding the Professor. Akko coughed just like everyone, apart from Sucy, who took a nice big snort. Seems like someone was enjoying themselves.

- Obviously a competetive inhibitor and substrate cannot bind to the enzyme at the same time so it results in such side effect. But don't worry girls~ It would only itch for a hour or so he-he-he.

Something was clearly wrong. A-cough-coff

Two professors walked down the hall. The seemingly younger one carried a stack of books in her hands, listening to the older one's sermon. Was the discipline discussion yearning a fruit? Who knows.

- And how are the new students, Professor Finneran? - the blue haired woman asked from behind the pile of tomes.

- Problematic, Professor Ursula. I had the chance to observe the two of them during the class.

- And how was it?

- Miss Manbavaran showed little interest in Linguistics, barely taking any notes, but I believe she somewhat understands the basics of language. I prefer to think she was simply disinterested in basics, already known to her. That would be the preferred answer.

- And how is Miss Kagari? - asked Ursula. She felt a tinge of interest inside her, something more than simple curiosity about a newcomer. Or else she would not be worried about what she expected to hear.

- Miss Kagari would find herself in trouble, just like I feared. She was fidgeting the whole period and it's obvious she didn't understand a thing. And where are not talking about troubles with linguistics. I can tell from experience that girl is a blank slate. She would require constant diligence and work to not only keep up, but simply catching up to the current expected level. I knew that accepting a student with no magic background into class midway through school would spell troubles, and foremost to the girl herself.

Ursula's eyes looked at the book cover in front of her, saddened. She wanted the foreign girl to feel happy. Thinking about that bright smile and joy sinking in the troubles of falling behind everyone, drowning in the sea of thing she barely understood, problems she was not to blame for stacking one on another... Ursula felt murky. Girl needs help, and before everything goes way too far. Hmm... she did want to mentor someone, didn't she? Wasn't that what she thought about yesterday? Maybe it's her time to take the step

- Professor Finneran, I can take Miss Kagari as an apprentice, if it's possible – for some reason, saying this made Ursula more nervous than usually – I can give her a basic understanding of fundamentals she probably lacks until it's too late.

- You think so?

- Yes, I can help her understand basic concepts after class, so she would catch up to everyone else, seeing as she is having her first time learning magic. Help the girl feel like home here, for the next three years.

- Hmm... Well I don't deny that this may prove to be helpful, but you do understand that it would be quite a task, don't you, Professor Ursula?

- Yes yes! - hearing her idea being accepted, that brought a touch of something new, more than simple reaction towards idea advancing.

- Alright, notify Miss Kagari about your decision. And preferably, start right this evening. I believe recollection of today's periods is a proper place to start. So, with this off the list, did you look into the state of Jennifer Memorial tree? The situation is getting critical.

- I-I still don't think I'm the one for the job...

- Well normally it would be up to Professor Ingrid, but seeing as she is participating in the conference overseas and won't be back in a three days more, we have to take action now.

*There it goes, back to the game, I see* - noted Ursula, adjusting the stack of books, suddenly much heavier.

- Akko, Akko wake up! - whisper of Finnish girl and a nudge in soft side under the rib woke Akko up.

- Ah, pfshh Lotte? - Atsuko fazed out of some sort of stupor she found herself in for the last hour and a half. - Wha-what's going on?

- The class is finished, let's go.

- A, wha? - Japanese witch wiped saliva from her chin and tried to understand what was going on.

The Professor...Badcock? Yes, that, she thought, was her name, already left, leaving homework assignment softly hanging on the board in holographic text. Student left and right were picking up and leaving the class. So, the class is done? What it even was about? *Something with number I think*. Whatever it was, it happened to be so boring and uninventive Akko soon found herself clicking out of reality, her head delivering nods as the consciousness slipped away. And now the class, which felt endless, like it was the only thing existing today, ended. Akko barely remembered the class before this Numerology thing, was there anything before? It wasn't easy to remember that today, there was morning, and breakfast and two more periods, almost as boring. Plus the room was stuffy and muggy as hell. Badcock had said that fresh stream from the window was making her cold, so she closed the sunlight room's windows off, leaving everyone to boil in the improvised sun oven. But it only served to strengthen Akko's sleepiness.

- Time for dinner – reminded the trio Lotte

With her head still unclear, Akko followed two girls, this time being the one behind. Rubbing her eyes and yawning, trying to shake the fog away from her echoing head, Akko slowly regained her reason.

- Lotte?

- What is it?

- Are magic lessons always like that? Or will there be normar ones?

- What do you mean by normal? Today was just as usual as always.

- But it doesn't feel like magic at orr! - Akko was slowly waking up.

- What do you mean? - wondered the bespectacled girl.

- Well magic is supposed to be fun! - Japanese girl was slowly getting back to her favourite topic – It's supposed to be bright and magical, not like that!

- Well, Akko, before everything you have to learn the basics – tried to parry Lotte – And magic is not simply bright show...

They were already in the line in cafeteria. The time of lunch has came, and so did girls. Everyone picked up a tray and stood near the counter, behind which goblins and other fairies were handing out the desired nourishment for tired students.

"Shiny Chariot is a shameful spot on magic's respect! You won't find anyone admiring her in respectable magic circles or in this school. Frankly, it is because of such exploits as her that the magic gets wrong look in the eyes of everyone. You yourself are the victim of disinformation just the same." - echoed the verdict. Ursula's eyes looked at the ground in pain. Yet another stab at the wound, just like every day. At this moment all she wanted was to run back to her room and hide under the covers. Immediately she was reminded of everything – failure, shame, foolishness of youth, defamation, loss. The things she lived with every day, the things keeping her up at night. The alias that became her new self. The solitude and loneliness, being all alone in this school, with no one to turn to. The moment her mood lifts up and she feels like at least one day would pass peacefully the hammer falls, pushing her back in the dirt. The moment she forgets that her name is fake, that Ursula Callistis is not who she is, the moment she believes that this is her real life, she is cruelly reminded. It's like an unseen hand throws impossible to traverse rocks on the path she tries to walk on just to torture her for crimes she perhaps committed. If only there was someone, someone to help her, to lend her a hand, to listen to her, to simply take her as a person and not a walking shame. Someone to be her friend. Oh how lonely and lost she felt at this moment. And all she did was overhear someone loudly talking in the cafeteria. What even pulled her to this balcony, overlooking the dining hall? Hastening the steps, Astrologist hurried away from the scene, not listening to the rest of the quarrel.

Laughing, Akko got off Lotte's broom. The shining butterflies finished their parade around the school castle and flied away to the distance like a glowing cloud of sun. Finally, some real magic happened. Linguistics, numerology – all wrong. This! This is the real magic Akko wanted to see and learn. And once again, the Rod helped her bring a real sorcery on stage. What a wonderful end to the say that started from the wrong foot. Seems like things are picking up, despite a couple mishaps like these classes, magic was still present. Smiling brightly and looking at the leaving butterflies Akko wondered if the day has something more up it's sleeve. From the back, a blue-haired Professor hesitantly approached to the girls. There she was, brown hair, arms waving towards the butterflies leaving, all in front of a bright sun setting down. A strange feeling of risk rose in Ursula's throat and chest. And why? She didn't understand. *This is it Ursula, don't flop this one*

- Miss Kagari?

Akko, with Shiny rod in her hands, turned on her heels, still smiling, with stars in her eyes.

- Yes?

Once again Ursula found herself in face of a coincidence strange. For the second time she meets this new girl, and for the second time in unusual circumstances. First she saw her falling from the air right in the middle of ceremony. And now, with sun's evening rays bathing everything in soft gold, turning the sky into a shining curtain over the spectacle of two girls saying farewell to the sparkling cloud of fairy creatures. Reflecting the light, the grass waved softly as a carpet most expensive. Calm soft wind providing serene quiet to everything in the yard. And a lithe girl turning around, with a smile most delightful and happy and eyes so charming. Ursula felt something pulling on her solar plexus, something she didn't feel so long she couldn't even remember when was the last time she experienced such anxiety. She almost pulled her hands to her chest in an instinctive attempt to cover her vulnerability that appeared out of nowhere. There was something special about Atsuko, something unique that only this blue haired astrologist thought she could feel. From the moment she put her eyes on her photo yesterday in the office she understood that whatever there was in this Atsuko, it was certainly meaningful for Ursula. But what was it? She didn't know. Not yet, at least. So she absolutely couldn't fail the ordinary, common thing to come.

- My name is Ursula Callistis and I'm Professor of Astrology and Astronomy.

Akko answered her with a smile and widely shining eyes.

*Okay Ursula, do it smooth*

- I have...been appointed as your personal mentor. To help you catch up to everyone else, seeing as you had no magic training beforehand. We can meet up after class and you can consult with me on anything. And we can go over anything you found hard to do in the classes. Or basics. And prepare for the upcoming ones. So...

After shooting all of this in a cluttered way, Ursula stumbled. What to say next?

- Wow my personal mentor! - sparked Akko – I'm Atsuko, but you can call me Akko! Pleased to meet you! - a wi-ide toothy smile found it's way to Akko's face.

- Ah-a, so... Why don't you come visit me in class 115 today at, let's see...18 o'clock and we can get to know each other, to get acquainted I mean. We'll see what you can already do and what has to be done. Yes.

*That didn't sound as smoothly as I wanted. If she thinks I'm a klutz, now that would be bad* Why exactly it would be bad and how it would differ from her usual stance with students, Ursula couldn't answer even to herself. But nevertheless:

- Alright!

- Great, so, see you then! - answered Ursula and went away into the building. Okay, the hardest part was done, and no that shabby.

- We should be going to the next class, Akko – reminded her Lotte.

- A-ha, just a minute!

Finally, a mentor! Like a real apprentice of magic Akko got herself a mentor! Things were picking up and rolling. Some mishaps were bound to happen, but overall it was getting on the right track. So thought Akko, staring into the distance where the butterflies disappeared to.

Okay, this one was long and complicated. Don't be shy to post a critical comment if you think this one was not clear, cluttered or choppy or if you think the chapter was about nothing and felt like a waste. My head was woozy from meds so I myself don't think this chapter is a crystal of clarity. So in a while I will go over it again and perhaps reword some places, and probably (we'll see) add some small tidbits here and there for fluidity. Some places did end abruptly or were not smooth. But as you can see, I didn't include papillodia event on screen. It was basically the same as in anime, so why bother.

I want to use this opportunity to write something as author comments for you to read, but nothing comes to mind. So, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.