Hello! Another update!
A sidenote: I know a lot of you would like to have this on ao3, but I never upload my long fics to that website because I don't like the uploading process there! I apologize for the inconvenience.
It had been an unusually quiet day.
Even with the Winter Festival being so close, her chambers were… quiet.
Not that she didn't like the peaceful silence. Classes had been cancelled for the rest of the week, meaning she could relax just a little. Ideally she would be helping with the festival, but the headmistress didn't assign any tasks to her specifically.
"You need your rest," Diana said, sitting at her table. Chariot stood before her, dumbfounded.
"Well shouldn't I at least do something?" Chariot was stubborn, she wanted to help. Diana shook her head.
"Not this time. You have worked very hard these past few months and I think you deserve a small vacation," Diana replied.
Chariot sighed as she remembered the scene unfold again. She couldn't argue with Diana Cavendish. That woman was sharp and very, very smart, the redhead stood no chance. So, Chariot simply retired to her tower, using the time to do some cleaning and catching up on any paperwork.
Alcor, her old crow familiar, sat on his perch preening. The old bird was well into his senior years, scruffy, greasy feathers looked unkempt on his body. Chariot's eyes grew half-lidded, a pang in her chest; the old crow didn't have many years left in him. He noticed her gazing at him and lifted his head.
She smiled, reaching over and scratching his chin. He cooed at the display of affection, his body quivering. She withdrew her hand and leaned back, letting out a sigh as she looked above. Her gaze unfocused as she started to reminisce about the past. So much had happened in her life, she couldn't believe she was almost in her forties. Her own student had grown into a fine woman.
Now, Akko was a teacher herself, and a mentor to the new holder of the Shiny Rod.
Chariot frowned at the thought of the small girl. Unlike Akko, whose goal was to unlock the words and restore magic to the world, Seraphine was different. Her destiny now was to defeat a monster, the very beast that wreaked havoc onto Luna Nova several years ago. A powerful and mighty Sorcerer, whose ambitions were that of power, bloodlust and death.
Chariot closed her eyes as her mind wandered, to only a few years ago when the Sorcerer had made himself known again.
Croix.
An old... friend of hers, who became confused in her opinions of the magical world years ago. Croix did some questionable things when she taught at Luna Nova, but ultimately, her views changed. Chariot, cursed to probably never fly again, had been promised by Croix that she would find a cure.
Only, that promise was broken when the feared monster returned just a few years ago, making a temporary home out of the forbidden Arcturus Forest. A year before Akko was to graduate, "Croix" had returned to Luna Nova, baring similarities from herself years before. But everything was off about her. She was quiet all the time, taught classes and then disappeared for the day. After some investigation, Chariot's suspicions were confirmed.
Only, she was too late.
The day that Akko's class would graduate, Diana's inauguration was also held to be the new headmistress of Luna Nova. But… it ended in tragedy when the fake Croix had mortally wounded Diana, stabbing her through the back without a second thought.
It was only by a miracle that Diana had survived a second attack to her heart. Had Akko's own strong, believing heart not been there, Diana probably wouldn't have made it. But, this ambush had only spelled trouble for the real Croix Meridies. She was a wanted fugitive among the magical world, for doing such a crime that she didn't even commit.
It was all apart of his plan.
Not a week later, Croix had been lured in by the puppet, only to be attacked by the monster himself. It left her disabled, the Sorcerer having struck her left wrist with the deadly poison. It left her arm numb, the poison sucking the magic from her soul.
Chariot had saved her old friend after the beast left her to die, but the redhead's healing magic could only do so much. Chariot hid the injured woman in her tower, Croix having suffered three weeks of shock, fever, and the poison's effects. Croix then took her leave after she had healed enough, apologizing to the Chariot that she had failed.
Without her magic, Croix felt useless and defeated for a second time.
Ever since then, Chariot hadn't heard anything of the lavender-haired woman. She only assumed Croix had gone into hiding after she was so wrongly framed.
Chariot let out a tired sigh, her life was getting too exciting at times.
Just as she felt herself starting to relax, there was a few hard knocks at her door. She rose up in a panic, realizing she was still in her pajamas.
"Just a moment!" She called out as she looked around frantically. She perked up when she spotted one of her robes draped on the edge of her bed, and ran over to slip it on.
The door unlocked and opened just slightly as Chariot peered out. Standing there was Purple Team, Edlyn standing in front of the other two.
"May we come in?" Eddy leaned forward, and Chariot blinked.
"Ah! Of course!" Chariot exclaimed, pushing the door open to allow them in. Eddy walked in first, Alli second, and finally Seraphine was last. Chariot felt something was off with Seraphine, the girl's head drooped to avoid eye contact.
"What might bring you three here?" Chariot turned after closing the door.
"We were assigned the Special Ceremony by the headmistress! She suggested we come talk to you since you might have better knowledge of flashy magic," Eddy explained as Chariot started walking over to her desk to make some tea.
"The Special Ceremony? Oh! You mean the ceremony Diana is organizing for her wife? W-Wait, Diana assigned such a big task to freshman?!" Chariot yelped, nearly spilling the hot tea kettle. Both Eddy and Alli shrugged, but Seraphine was still quiet, her bangs covering her eyes.
"My… While I don't doubt Diana in any way, it does feel a bit… much to assign such a thing to young, inexperienced witches like you three," Chariot murmured as she pondered. She then looked back at them and smiled.
"Would you like some tea?"
All sat in chairs, formed in a small circle as they held their tea. Eddy and Alli had further explained some ideas they had discussed on the way here, but Seraphine hadn't said a single word. Chariot could sense a distressing aura around the small girl, as if something was plaguing her mind.
"Have any of you heard of transformation magic?" Chariot asked and Eddy shook their head and Alli tilted hers. Seraphine remained unresponsive.
Instead of telling them, Chariot set her cup of tea down on the table next to her and rose to her feet. She grabbed her wand from her hip and closed her eyes to concentrate. She hasn't used this spell in years.
Metamorphie Faciesse!
Chariot yelled out, raising her arm as green magic swirled around her body. Seconds later, she disappeared in a bright light as her body changed. When the light died, Chariot landed in the form of a dog, fur bristled red just like her hair. Eddy rose to their feet in an excited manner, almost spilling their tea.
"That's so cool!" Eddy's eyes were sparkling. Chariot dipped her head before leaning down, another cloud of smoke appearing as Chariot changed back. She straightened her back out, letting out a shaky breath.
"While transformation magic is very useful and especially flashy in many regards, it is a higher leveled spell as it can take a lot of energy from the caster if they used it on themselves," Chariot said as she brushed herself off. Eddy took their place again, taking a sip of their tea.
Seraphine saw it all. It was certainly the very kind of magic they would need. She remembered it, from when she watched her mentors magic shows.
But could they pull it off?
"Of course, if you had a strong source of magic, your ability to maintain the spell would be longer," Chariot replied, sitting back down with a huff. Seraphine's head rose for the first time since she had left Diana's office. Chariot blinked and her teammates glanced at her.
"The Shiny Rod," Seraphine murmured and Chariot had to strain to hear her soft voice.
The Shiny Rod.
It held enough power to pull off such a grand performance. The kind of power they needed if they had any chance at succeeding.
But there was one problem.
Seraphine was its wielder… and she had had no such luck in even awakening the rod. Her heart lacked the kind of magic it needed to come alive. But because Seraphine was fighting her own demons right now, her heart was empty. It lacked the love she so desperately wanted.
And because of that, Chariot was worried. But the spark of light in the girl's green eyes was a small light of hope. Clasping her cup, she nodded.
"The Shiny Rod will lend you the power to pull off the special ceremony. But first, you must harness it," Chariot grew serious. If magic was not harnessed correctly, the caster could face deadly repercussions.
"I know," Seraphine's voice held a hint of strength. Something none of the others had heard. Chariot blinked once before smiling softly.
There was still a chance.
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