AN: I'm really sorry for the delay, I had some entrance exams to attend and couldn't finish this sooner.

A word in advance, I had the Idea for the whole story when we were at Ep 16, because I saw a certain picture

of Shiny Chariot on the wiki page, so canon stole from me...partly XD

Thank you all for still reading the story, you guys are awesome.

Enjoy^^


2018

Sitting on the stairs, leading to the school entrance, Akko was lost in thoughts. Holding the Shiny Rod in her hands, she looked into the blue sky, trying to ignore the read gleam that came from one of its gems. It had been that way, since the time Diana had broken down and collapsed in her arms. The teachers had said it was probably stress, that she worked too much.

And was it really that surprising?

From what she had read in the blonde's diary, she always studied with absolute dedication. Never leaving anything unfinished. Be it tasks for the school or totally unrelated topics, like the words the brunette had to search, she gave one hundred percent every time.

'She did tell me she was having sleeping troubles.'

Could that have been a symptom already?

She herself was sleeping wonderful lately. Akko had thought that after that strange occurrence in Ursula's lesson, she would uncover a new word. Or at the very least, get a hint for one. But that didn't seem to be the case. It remained a onetime dreaming session for her…

Well apart from that panic attack, she guessed...

But she doubted that these things were connected somehow.

Maybe Diana was really just sleep deprived...

Though… Akko had the sinking feeling that this wasn't the case at all.

For the blonde to break down so suddenly, especially after she had scolded her the day before, about the importance of her own endurance, staying strong for the sake of others, was hard to imagine. But here there were...

She was probably worried for nothing. Even the professors said that Diana was fine and would wake up soon. She just needed to rest for a while.

So why was she still feeling so dejected?

'What's wrong with me?'

As of late, Akko somehow couldn't get the Cavendish out of her head.

She didn't know why. At first, she couldn't even stand her, being so ridiculously perfect all the time.

Always infuriating the brunette with her 'know it all' attitude, always making her stomach twist and flutter whenever she got a glimpse of those crystal blue eyes. The funny tingling she got whenever they touched. The incredible happiness she felt, once the blonde praised her...

Shaking her head softly, she closed her eyes.

What was she thinking about?

"Maybe I'm sick", she muttered towards the sky, gripping the rod tighter.

"Please, don't tell me you have fallen ill as well, Akko", sounded Professor Croix's voice from behind the brunette, making her turn her head in surprise, eyes fluttering open again.

"Croix-Sensei", she greeted the tech witch defeated, releasing a lethargic sigh.

Croix appeared puzzled, before understanding flashed through her eyes. With a sad smile on her lips she crossed the distance between them and sat down next to her student.

"Are you that disappointed in me, for keeping my friendship with Chariot a secret?"

"No!", Akko almost yelled, shaking her head violently.

Quieting down slightly, she added: "I mean, it was quite a shock to find out that you and Shiny Chariot were actually friends, especially after Finneran-Sensei told me you weren't rivals, when I asked her, but...you saved her!"

The tech witch chuckled mildly at that.

"I don't know what exactly Finneran-Sensei has told you about my relationship with Chariot", she said lightly, a nostalgic note to her tone, as she too, looked into the sky with a hint of longing, "but she was right in that regard. Chariot and I were never rivals, we are so much more than that..."

She trailed off, apparently losing herself in a happy memory, a bright smile on her face. Akko had never seen Professor Croix look so content in the time they knew each other, which was kind of sad.

And now she could even guess why.

'I definitely have to find Chariot!'

Something awful must have happened, if not even her closest friends knew where she went.

Speaking of which.

"Does that mean you were friends with Ursula-Sensei as well?", Akko asked positively exited.

Maybe she could also finally get a larger picture of what her mentor was like as a student. She was always so timid and shy, fidgeting whenever she tried to broach the subject. So self-conscious...

But next to Chariot, that was probably expected. Not everyone could stand out like her.

Croix's peaceful expression morphed into a scowl, before she could force it back into one of her perfected smiles.

"Ursula-Sensei?", she pondered sweetly, stretching her arms above her head, leaning back against the edge from one of the stairs, facing Akko once more, "She was such an unimpressive individual, I must admit, I have forgotten that she even existed back then...

But if you are that interested in her, why don't you browse the yearbooks? I'm sure you will find everything you want to know there."

The brunette's mood sunk quickly, her gaze trailing down to her lap, fixing the Shiny Rod with a slight frown. The gem still glowed red. She didn't want to think about the reason behind this. She was already feeling sick enough as it was.

"I apologize", the tech witch said, after it became apparent, that her student wouldn't answer her, "I spoke without considering your feelings on the matter. You are, of course, worried about your mentor."

Akko felt a warm hand on her head, patting it gently, making her freeze, as she let out a strangled sob.

Why was everything so wrong right now?

Why couldn't Ursula just wake up again?

She really needed her at the moment.

'I want you to pat my head again...'

Croix continued to ruffle her hair, trying to sooth her.

"Don't worry Akko", she whispered softly, "I'm positive that Ursula will open her eyes, at the very latest tomorrow."

Wiping her eyes the brunette looked up again.

"You promise?"

The tech witch laughed lightly. It sounded kind of fake, but maybe she just imagined it.

Pulling her hand back, she stood up, flipping her cape.

"Have more faith in my abilities", she said confidently, a hint of arrogance in her tone, "I am Chariot's savior after all."

Turning around to the school entrance, she walked a few steps, before she came to a halt again, looking over her shoulder, apparently waiting for Akko to follow her. The brunette rose too, tucking the rod onto her belt, which made Croix pause.

Motioning to the rod, she cocked her head to the side, questioning.

"Since when is it glowing like that?"

Glancing down quickly, Akko scrunched up her face in a thoughtful expression.

"Since Diana fainted, I guess", she said, slightly concerned, "I haven't really paid attention to it for a while. Is this bad?"

'I hope not.'

Akko had an uneasy feeling about this. Ursula would know about it, but she wasn't here. Why was this happening? School was supposed to be fun, but lately everything seemed to get just...wrong.

"Diana?", repeated the tech witch, ignoring the question entirely, "Didn't you complain about her not even a week ago?"

'Diana...'

She felt strange again, kind of...content.

Flashing a sheepish grin, the brunette scratched her head in embarrassment.

Her eyes suddenly gleaming with excitement, as she rambled:

"Well... that's totally on me, I misjudged her so bad. She is actually really kind and caring and strong and her smile is so beautiful and-"

"Would you say, you like her?", interrupted Croix, with a smile of her own in an upbeat tone, turning to face Akko completely.

'Like her?'

"Huh?", spluttered Akko surprised. What kind of question was that?

"Of course, she is-"

"If she were in danger", her teacher cut her off again, eyes unusually cold and calculating," would you do anything in your power to save her?"

'What the?'

"...what?.."

The thought alone, filled Akko with an unbearable amount of dread. Balling her hands up into fists, to stop them from shaking too much, she stared at her teacher in terror.

Croix seemed to contemplate what she had just said and shook her head, still smiling, when she met the younger witch's gaze.

"Never mind."

'But I do mind.'

Her stomach twisted violently, churning, leaving a nauseating taste in her mouth. What was wrong with the professor lately? She did get more and more the feeling that Croix wasn't as kind as she tried to appear...

But that was of course nonsense.

She was friends with Chariot after all.

Her mind was probably just playing tricks on her...

Maybe...

"Am I sick Sensei?", Akko asked, her voice cracking slightly, sounding miserable.

The question seemed to rattle the tech witch, crossing her arms, a frown upon her face.

"What makes you think that?"

Her tone was warmer now, but still had an edge to it.

'I don't get her at all.'

That didn't mean that she wouldn't try to understand her. She was one of the few teachers she could actually get along with. And she was super smart. She could probably help her with her problem too.

"Whenever I'm thinking about Diana I just...", she said slowly, searching for the right words,

"I feel really strange..."

Staring at the tech witch expectantly, fiddling with her thumbs, she jumped, as her teacher began to laugh...loudly. Supporting herself on the stone wall, her arms circled around her stomach, she gasped for air, still not calming down. She sounded carefree, observed Akko.

"Don't worry, you are no more sick than me", wheezed Croix out, pausing for a moment, to catch her breath. She looked so much younger when she laughed like this, the brunette surmised.

"You feel that way too, Croix-Sensei?"

Seeing the teacher that happy raised her own spirit immensely.

"Let's just say, you might feel the same way about Diana, like I about Chariot."

'Huh?'

What did she mean by that?

Akko could only blink owlishly at the older witch, who stepped away from the wall, facing away from her, climbing the stairs, apparently done talking to her.

"Wait!", the younger witch called after her, ""What about the Shiny Rod?"

Croix stopped dead in her tracks, not turning around, not even throwing a glance back to Akko.

"Oh that", she drawled...amused?

"It means its owner is most likely in danger."

'Well that's a rel-

Wait!'

She said it so nonchalant, that the brunette needed a moment to grasp the meaning of those words.

Her teacher didn't seem to be phased, continuing her way up, lazily waving with her right hand over her shoulder, as a farewell.

"Well, I probably should go now. Can't leave poor Ursula-Sensei to fend for herself after all.

Have a good day."

Akko stared after her, her mind in turmoil.

The owner of the staff was in danger?

But...that would mean...

'I need to warn Chariot!'


July 2006

"Again Alcor, match me!"

Chariot whirled around, her wand in her hand, standing on her broom, floating a few meters above the ground. She wasn't really that high up, but kept track of her surroundings nonetheless.

'You never know.'

She knew, that she wasn't supposed to use magic at the moment. Croix had told her this time and time again and made her promise to take it easy the next few weeks, before she even allowed her to go outside unsupervised. The redhead really didn't want to break it, to make her worry..., but she couldn't just do nothing. From what she was told, she had already slept a whole week away. Wasn't that enough bed rest? Grumbling slightly under her breath, she refocused her attention back to her trick. Trying to keep her balance on the broom, she raised her wand in the air and yelled:

"Metamorphie Faciesse!"

Transforming herself into a red cat, she jumped on the passing Alcor. They had worked on their timing for the last two hours, only taking short breaks to drink something.

'At the very least, Croix can't get mad at me for being dehydrated.'

The little crow was a perfect addition to their little family. She still couldn't explain the bond, the two of them seemed to share, but that didn't mean he was always on her side. To the contrary, he and the lavender haired witch had apparently teamed up and berated her every chance they got, to stop her from doing something, that they deemed too straining. She had to bribe Alcor to get him to train with her today. If Croix would find out about this, she probably would manufacture an unbreakable bird cage for him...

Her behavior worried Chariot a bit. They were always together, since the first time they met. There wasn't a day when they wouldn't see each other, which evolved into the relationship they now seemed to have...

Even if she still couldn't bring herself to call the older witch her girlfriend out loud...

But that was mostly because they were still at school and Croix's admirers would have a field day with this. Probably making her life a living hell once the lavender haired witch would graduate next year...

She didn't even want to think about that...

'What am I going to do without you?'

Could their relationship survive this?

A believing heart was her magic...

She had to believe, even if it was hard. They could do this.

Which brought her back to the fact, that Croix was always watching her. She loved her, she really did, but after her accident, the older witch had become overbearing to the point of attempting to control her every action. Never actually forcing her to do something against her will, but...she didn't even let her hold the Claiomh Solais anymore.

Which was ridiculous, because she had to revive the words, after all.

Alcor circled around a tree and rushed back towards the still floating broom. Keeping it in the air took immense concentration on her part. Jumping from the crow's back, doing a somersault, she transformed back into herself. Gripping the handle of her broom with both hands, she flipped herself back into the air. Feeling the wind ruffling her hair, she focused on her landing. On the nearer drawing ground, the green grass, the two brooms...

'Wait...two?'

A wave of dizziness washed over her, making her head spin. She tried to sense the strands of magic, willing them towards her, but she couldn't hold onto them. They slipped out of her grasp every time she tried.

With sudden clarity, the redhead knew she was going to crash. Squeezing her eyes shut tightly, she braced herself for the impact, listening to her rapid heartbeat, to Alcor's loud cawing...

Tensing her body, she slammed into something...soft, with a dull thud, followed by a yelp of pain beneath her. Opening her eyes slowly, the only thing she saw was green. The most beautiful and welcoming green Chariot had come to know. A soft hand caressed her cheek gently, trailing her thump along the redhead's jaw line.

"Are you alright, Chariot?", asked Croix, her voice full of concern.

Chariot nodded. She was absolutely speechless. She had thought this was it. Surviving the Sensorial Overload, only to break her neck afterwards.

Her friend mustered her intensely, leaving no place on her head unchecked, sighing in relief.

Hugging her close, she mumbled into the crook of her neck:

"I'm glad."

Before pushing the redhead away, a sour expression on her face, pointing two fingers at her.

"Two days, Chariot!", she said sternly, glaring at her, making the younger witch shrink into herself, "You couldn't even wait two days, before you tried to kill yourself again!"

Flinching away from the harsh words, Chariot hung her head in shame.

"I'm sorry Croix...", she muttered defeated, feeling absolutely miserable.

Her head was killing her, still spinning, making her want to vomit. She really wanted a hug right now, but Croix seemed too angry at the moment, continuing her triad:

"You always are.

Why can't you just listen to me? Is it really so funny to rile me up like this?

Always doing those things that endanger your life further.

Can't you forget your stupid dream for one second?"

With every sentence she said, the volume of her voice increased, almost spitting the words out.

"But...", whispered Chariot, shaking slightly, as tears blurred her vision, "I want to make people forget their sadness with a smile and-"

"Do I look happy Chariot?", the older witch all but screamed," Do you see me smile?

Or is mine not that important?"

"N...no...", she replied, her tone sounding unusually high pitched, no more, than a squeak.

It didn't even sound like her voice at all.

Appearing unfazed, by her friend's turmoil, Croix pressed on:

"Exactly, no!

Looks like you failed!"

'I...failed?'

Green eyes widened in horror, realizing what she had just said. Extending a hand towards the redhead, to keep her in place, Croix's voice grew desperate:

"Wait, I didn't mean-"

But Chariot slapped her hand away, scrambling to her feet and took off, without another glance in the older witch's direction.

"CHARIOT!"

Running away from Croix probably wasn't the best Idea, but she had to get away for a moment. It was simply too much. Tears streamed down her face and her whole body ached from the strain she put herself under. It didn't matter, she failed after all. The one thing she swore to never let happen...

'I failed Croix!'

Her feet carried her through the familiar passages, towards the only other person who even remotely cared about her: Professor Woodward.

When she reached her goal, she finally stopped, tumbling to the ground, her breathing labored. Her lungs were burning, every breath she took made her cough violently, making her hiccup ever so often.

Crying helplessly, she wished for the first time, she hadn't woken up at all.

Why did this happen to her?

'It's all the Leyline's fault!'

If it hadn't collapsed, then everything would be fine. Croix wouldn't treat her like an invalid, wouldn't have said those things to her. They would still be searching for the fifth word, laughing together, having fun...

'She loves me...'

Chariot knew that to be true, but...

'For how long?'

Yes, how long, until the other witch realized that she wasn't worth it?

"Chariot."

The wind picked up, whirling leaves around, marking the appearance of the blue moon spirit.

"Woodward-Sensei", whispered the redhead tiredly, sitting up from the ground, to get a better look at her, crossing her legs underneath.

"You are in turmoil Chariot", Woodward spoke softly, gazing gently at the younger witch, who wiped her tears away, "your belief is shaking, it's waning.

Don't let little Croix's demons become your own."

'Croix's demons?'

Chariot somehow felt slightly offended right now. Her tiredness forgotten, ignoring the pain in her battered body, she stood up.

"No, she was right, I disregarded her feelings...", she said quietly.

"Jealousy is not an easy burden to carry around."

'Jealousy?'

"That's not what this is about!", argued the redhead hotly.

What was wrong with Woodward today? Or better, what was wrong with everyone lately?

Taking deep breaths, to calm herself, she was forced to listen to the old witch once more.

"Are you sure?", she asked mildly, as if she was a small child, who didn't know any better. It made her absolutely furious. "I felt a disruption, rippling through the Leylines, a disturbance."

Chariot shook her head, clenching her hands, staring defiantly at the blue moon spirit.

"If Croix is responsible for this she probably did that to save me!"

A look of surprise flashed through Woodward's eyes, only to be immediately replaced by an uncanny blank mask.

"I wonder...", she contemplated out loud, "A force like this could do many things...maybe even to the Leylines themselves..."

The Leylines? Why would that be relevant? Croix always researched new ways of magic, but she still needed the support from the original sources...

'Was she saying...?'

Staring at the old witch in disbelief, she felt how her insides turned to ice.

There was no way! Croix wouldn't endanger other people for her experiments, especially when Chariot herself was involved.

"No, Woodward-Sensei", she corrected her vehemently, "she wouldn't do something like that!"

"I wasn't implying otherwise", the blue moon spirit stated calmly, "but keep in mind. The Claiomh Solais has its own head and it chose you, little Croix on the other hand is not even allowed to touch it, a phenomenon I haven't seen occurring for hundreds of years."

'I don't care!'

That stupid rod didn't know the first thing about her friend.

"Then it's wrong about her, just as you are!", finished Chariot forcefully, gritting her teeth.

She really was too emotionally unstable for this nonsense.

She should have listened to Croix.

"I hope you are right."

'Do you really?'

It was pretty bizarre. She had run to Woodward, in hopes of feeling better afterwards, but now she was only more depressed, than before.

"CHARIOT!"

Chariot turned her head towards the direction from which the call had come from, startled.

'Croix!'

Did she actually run after her?

'I never should have left her to begin with.'

Glancing at Woodward out of the corner of her eyes, she walked a few steps, into the direction, that would hopefully lead her back to her friend.

"Go", encouraged the old witch kindly, "little Croix is searching for you."

She didn't need to be told twice.

As Chariot continued to walk away, she almost crashed into the lavender haired witch running towards her.

"Chariot-"

"Croix-", they said at the same time, gazing at each other painfully.

"Ah", stammered the redhead, feeling uneasy, "please, you first..."

Crossing the short distance between them, Croix pulled the younger witch into a hug, throwing an angry glance towards Woodward, not acknowledging her at all.

Chariot relaxed into her hold, relishing at the feeling of her friend's strong heartbeat, her radiating warmth, her familiar smell. It grounded her.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things to you."

Returning the hug, tightening her hold on the older witch, the redhead asked disbelieving:

"Why are you apologizing? You were right, I was reckless. You shouldn't have to worry about me all the time."

Pulling away slightly, Croix shook her head.

"I will always worry about you, Chariot. I don't think you can stop me-"

Catching her before she could fall down, the younger witch froze in shock. Looking her friend up and down, she realized in what a state Croix was in. Her uniform was ripped in half, exposing her back, where a mean cut ran along it. Her sleeves were torn and one of her knees was bleeding strongly.

"Croix, you're injured!", Chariot cried out, panicking, trying to steady her to keep her afoot.

"Pay it no mind", Croix rasped in a tired voice, throwing another hateful glance to Woodward, who was watching them quietly. Following her line of sight, the redhead frowned. What happened between them?

Straightening herself up a bit, the older witch refocused on Chariot again, stating with a soothing tone:

"It doesn't really hurt anymore."

Barely audible, her face twisting into a slight grimace, she added:

"In my haste to follow you, I might have run into some 'trouble' along the way."

The way she said the word, made her hair stand on end. What kind of trouble were they talking about?

"What?!", yelled the redhead alarmed, "Croix, your wounds-"

"Can be treated at the school", interrupted Croix firmly, flashing a forced smile, "and besides, I feel fine, see?"

Letting go of the redhead, she tried to whirl around, hissing mildly in pain, as she put weight on her damaged knee, almost losing her balance.

"Croix!"

Chariot pressed forward again, holding her friend upright.

Chuckling to herself, Croix conceded:

"Alright, maybe not as fine as I thought..."

'Not as fine as she...?'

Was she serious right now?

Whatever happened left her in this state. That was not a laughing matter. Turning around hopefully, she tried to ask Professor Woodward what she could do to help her friend, but...she was only met with eerie silence...

Woodward was gone.

Where did she go?

'What's going on?'

"What are we going to do?", she spluttered, eyes widening in terror, "Can you walk? We have to hurry!"

"I'm not on the verge of death, Chariot", huffed Croix, rolling her eyes at the younger witch's obvious panic, as she desperately tried to support her friend over her shoulder, failing miserable.

She was just too exhausted herself.

'I'm lucky if I could even make it back to school by myself.'

Keeping them both standing was using up all of the energy she had left. Hanging her head, she muttered darkly, an empty look in her eyes:

"I'm sorry, this is all my fault. You're in this situation because of me. Because I can't stop doing stupid things. I really did fail you..."

"No", Croix said vehemently, gripping the younger witch's shoulders, forcing eye contact, "don't you dare say that!"

Chariot's eyes flitted away. She couldn't bear to look at her.

"But-"

"No!", reaffirmed Croix vigorously, "I was frustrated and afraid and I took it out on you."

Sighing loudly, she began to caress the redhead's cheek, her voice turning soft.

"The truth is", she almost whispered, "You make me the happiest person on earth. Sure, you are immature and borderline naive sometimes. You make me angry, you make me sad, you make me all those things, but that's alright..."

Hesitating for a moment, she added firmly:

"Because you are mine."

Kissing her forehead, she murmured:

"Mine to keep", before trailing down to her nose,

"Mine to cherish", pecking it gently, before letting her lips hover over Chariot's, only a few millimeters apart, whispering hotly against them:

"Mine to love."

Crossing the remaining distance between them, Croix kissed the redhead impossibly soft, almost without any pressure at all, plunging the younger witch's senses into a jumbled mess. Her face was burning so hot, she was sure she would explode at any minute now, or at the very least melt.

"Croix...", she breathed out in a daze, as the older witch pulled away again. Trying to convey the extent of her own feelings through her shaking voice.

As if on cue, Croix blinked in remembrance, with new vigor, she let go of the redhead altogether and pulled something from her belt. It was the Claiomh Solais, bundled in some kind of linen.

"Here", the lavender haired witch said determined, handing it to Chariot, with a small smile on her face, "we need it revive the words after all."

Staring at her friend speechlessly, she took the rod, freeing it from the cloth. Her gaze falling on Croix's still outstretched hand, when a sudden realization hit her. She had touched it...

'Croix touched the Claiomh Solais.'

And that meant...

Seeing the blisters on her hands, Chariot was overwhelmed by her feelings. Croix hurt herself for her, still coming after her, even though they had fought before. Looking after the redhead, trying to cheer her up, even apologizing for being worried about her. Saving her life...

Always, always supporting her...

"Thank you!", she whispered tearfully, taking the older witch's hand in her own.

'I don't deserve you!'

A dim light flickered in one of the gems, directing both their attentions towards the rod.

[Lyonne]

'Huh?'

Blue eyes flashed before Chariot's inner eye. She knew that voice...

Where had she heard it before?

A bright, green light enveloped them.

The feelings in her heart swelled on, building up her magic, her mouth forming the words almost by itself.

"Lyonne"


2018

When Chariot opened her eyes, she didn't know where she was. Feeling utterly drained, she scrambled to sit up, looking around. Gasping lightly, her expression morphed into one of shock. She appeared to be in Croix's room, or better, her laboratory, on a soft bed.

'Figures she would sleep here too.'

Shaking her head vigorously, trying to clear her thoughts, she stared at the machine right next to her, whirring faintly. Extending her arm towards it, she hesitated.

Was it the same machine from all those years ago?

The one that saved her?

Before she could make up her mind, whether to touch it or not, another thing caught her attention.

There, on the table, where Akko had once laid, glowed something.

Squinting through her eyes in the dim light, she saw the outline of a...staff?

'What?'

Almost jumping from the bed, Chariot tumbled to the ground with a loud thud. Gritting her teeth, she tried to calm her racing heart. Could it be?

Trying to support herself on wobbling knees she stood up again, wavering towards the table, absolutely bewildered.

She didn't know what Croix had done in her absence, her memories where hazy, just like the last time, she overloaded herself, but it couldn't be good. Reaching the table, her breath hitched.

It was the Claiomh Solais!

Or better, something that looked eerily like it.

Where the original staff was light, that one was dark.

Well, a dark brown, to be exact.

Looking at the rod, her heart began to pound madly in her chest. She felt a soft pull, tugging at her senses, urging her to take it.

'What's going on?'

As if in a daze, she raised her arm towards it.

She just wanted to know, what it would do, magic surging around them.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you", cut a voice through the tense silence, breaking the magically charged air.

Forcing her gaze away from the dark rod, she looked at her old friend, standing a few feet away from the automatic door leading to the laboratory. How did she not hear her entrance?

"Croix!", she acknowledged her, an angry note to her tone.

The tech witch flashed her a smug smile, which infuriated Chariot to no end.

Crossing her arms, sparing the staff on the table a short glance, she drawled amused:

"So Chariot du Nord finally woke from her slumber? I was afraid I would have to call you Sleepy Chariot from now on."

'The nerve of her!'

"Cut the crap, Croix!", the younger Professor said sharply, "You trapped me!"

Shrugging awkwardly, the tech witch's smile widened.

"What can I say? I did. Although it wasn't my intention-"

"Then why-", Chariot chimed in, getting more and more frustrated, only to be interrupted herself.

"At first, but what did you expect would happen when you connected yourself willingly to my SSS?

A system that generates magic itself?"

So it was her own fault now? Really? Was this one of her clever attempts to manipulate her?

She was done feeling guilty for protecting the people she cared about. Croix wouldn't succeed with whatever she had planned. Chariot would stop her.

'For sure.'

"It wasn't your magic that overloaded my senses and you know it", she replied hotly, trying to ignore her fatigue, placing her hands on the table in front of her.

"Perhaps", Croix conceded lightly, still fixing her with an unfathomable smile, that made her heart flutter. Her beautiful green eyes practically radiating confidence...

'Stop!'

"Does it really matter now?", asked the tech witch knowingly, as if she was aware of the effect she had on the younger witch, "You're awake again."

How could she be so nonchalant about this?

"You trapped me there for days!", she almost yelled, gritting her teeth.

What was wrong with that woman?

"You tried to boycott my experiment", came the imminent reply.

"I was protecting Akko!"

Croix seemed to pause at that, her focus lost, apparently in deep thoughts.

"Did you?", she finally asked amused, her head slightly cocked to the side, tapping her chin. Before raising her hands defeated.

"Well, I just wanted to check on you and be on my way again, so do yourself a favor and rest."

With that the tech witch turned around, walking back to the door, her cape fluttering behind her.

'Is she really just going to leave me here alone?'

"Croix, what-"

Holding up a hand over her shoulder, to stop the younger witch from talking, never faltering in her steps, that lead away from her, she said:

"We can talk once I'm back."

Chariot could practically picture the smug expression on her face right now, hearing the overconfidence in her tone when she added:

"No snooping around Chariot, you might not like the consequences if you do."

Leaving her alone with the swish of the door.

She actually left her here...

Was she so sure, that Chariot couldn't do anything to stop her?

'Is she really expecting me to stay here?'

No, Croix knew her too well for that. She must have plotted something...

Just what?

Her gaze landed on the dark rod again, as she considered her options carefully.

She could do as Croix said and rest, maybe trying to probe the older witch for more information once she got back, but she could easily warp the truth, like she did back then. Or she could leave right now. It was probably for the best, if she took the staff and brought it to Professor Woodward. She would know what to do with it. If it was dangerous for Akko.

'I won't let anything happen to you.'

Her best course of action was to go to the old witch and after that, she would have a talk with Diana.

The poor girl was probably blaming herself for her accident. She reminded Chariot of herself in that regard.

Making up her mind, she took the rod from the table. As soon as her hand closed around it, she felt magic surging through her, responding to the silent call that resonated from it. Gripping it even tighter she went to the door on unsteady legs.

She couldn't let Croix do as she pleased.

'I will stop you!'