Chapter 7
A rare snow was falling on the DWMA, covering it in a soft white blanket as finals rolled around the semester ended. Through some miracle, Akko passed everything fairly well and was really looking forward to heading home for Christmas.
That's why Akko was so antsy when she was packing up her books on the last day of classes and her professor asked her to stay behind.
She told Lotte and Sucy not to wait up and headed over to the professor. "You wanted to see me?"
"Ah yes. Lord Death would like to see you and Diana right away. Please gather her and report to the death room as soon as you can."
"Yes Ma'am!"
Lord Death? What could he possibly want with us both? I need to find Diana. Her class lets out half an hour before mine, she should be at lunch.
Hitching her bag higher on her shoulder, she hurried through the crowded halls to the Cafeteria. It was packed, but thankfully she managed to locate Diana at her usual table near the back of the cavernous room. Naturally, she had Hannah and Barbara on her right, and her nose in an ancient book.
"Oh well look who it is? What could you possibly want?" Hanna said in her usual whiny high-pitched tone. Before Akko could get a word in, Diana had looked up from her book and looked at Hannah. "That is my Meister Hanna. I asked you before to show her the respect you show me, or shall I assume you've forgotten?"
Hannah mumbled something and looked away, embarrassed. Finished, Diana looked up at her partner. "Yes Akko, what do you need?"
"Shinigami-sama is looking for us. We're to report to the death room ASAP!"
Diana masked her concern well. "Alright, let us go then," she snapped her book shut and slipped it into her bag before getting up and leaving with Akko, leaving behind a confused Hanna and Barbara.
Hanna frowned "Who's Shinigami-Sama?"
The raven-haired weapon pulled out her phone and typed in the term "According to this, it's what the Japanese call Lord Death."
"Oh. Ok."
(~*~*~*~*~*~)
On the walk down Diana decided to probe Akko. "Did the professor say what Lord Death wanted?"
The shorter girl shook her head. "No. I don't think I did anything wrong. My grades have gotten better since you started to help me study. I mean I did melt that desk in chemistry though…"
Diana sighed. "Akko, don't panic. We don't know what he wants from us, and there's no reason for us to be concerned. And besides," she continued. "You didn't melt the desk, you just put a hole in it."
(~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~)
Lord Death was finishing up a call with someone when the girls came in. "Yes thank you, Arya. Great work! I'll be in touch!"
"Thank you sir!" the raven-haired, green-eyed woman bowed and the mirror returned to its normal reflective state. "Ah hello, ladies! What can I do for you?"
"Uh, sir Professor Orix said you wanted to see us?"
"I did? Hmm…. Ah yes! I did! Ladies, I have something I'd like you to look into over Christmas break, assuming neither of you minds working over break?"
The girls looked at each other before nodding their consent.
"Excellent! Now here is your file with all the information we have on the case. Please be sure to study it carefully." the words were hardly out of his mouth before Diana had it open and was skimming it.
Diana blinked. "It's in Glasgow?"
"Yep! That's why I chose you! It's right by Edinburgh! Close enough that you will still be able to see your family and spend time with them when you're done! And Miss Kagari should have enough time to fly back to Japan to see her family! Now Professor Ursula tells me when you two first joined you had quite a powerful reaction, correct?"
They both nodded and Diana spoke up. "We experienced a soul resonance, I believe."
Akko looked confused.
"From what I understand, that is exactly what happened. I know Professor Ursula hasn't addressed that with you yet, and rather than have her do it I'm going to be letting another team do it. They are based out of Glasgow and will be assisting you on this mission."
Akko spoke up. "But sir, why not Professor Ursula?"
"Well, this team is very strong, as I said, and are quite good at resonating. Plus, I believe it's good to learn from more than one person since everyone does things differently. You might learn something Professor Ursula couldn't teach you! Now, as I'm sure you both know, resonating untrained can be dangerous, so I want you both to avoid it until they train you, alright?"
Both girls nodded.
"All right! Now have a safe trip and good luck on your first mission. Oh, I'm so proud! They grow up so quick!"
Both girls got red and mumbled something not quite audible.
"Diana?"
The girls were walking down the hall towards Ursula's office. Neither had said much for most of the trip. "Hmm? Yes, Akko?"
"What's soul resonance?"
Diana sighed. Akko was doing better, but she still said things sometimes that just… made her wonder. "It were a meister sends their souls wavelength to their weapon, who then amplifies it and sends it back to the meister. This is repeated, creating a very powerful wavelength. Do you remember what happened during the pairing event?"
"How could I? That was incredible!"
"Indeed. I believe that was soul resonance."
"But, if it was, why didn't they tell us right away? Why didn't you say anything"
Diana kept her gaze focused ahead. "Well, I can't speak for them, but I didn't say anything because I wasn't completely sure if that was what happened. I also didn't feel we were ready. You struggle with your basics, and I-" she hesitated for a second like she was about to stop herself but kept going instead. "Don't feel grounded enough in my weapon form to want to take on so much power at once."
Akko stopped walking and grabbed Diana's hand to stop her. "Diana, what are you talking about?"
The blonde sighed. It was a sore subject with her but Akko was her partner and deserved to know. At least some of it in any case. "Sometimes...sometimes I lose control and cant hold my form. Sometimes because of emotional distress, sometimes because of physical pain. Sometimes just sudden distraction. I lose control and change back to my human form."
The brunette blinked. "So? Diana that's perfectly normal! Remember they said so on the first day! It's ok! We'll study hard and train hard together and turn you into a death scythe in no time! Believing is your magic!"
Diana was quiet for a minute. Even though she was flawed, Akko didn't care. Any other person would have freaked out that the great Diana Cavendish isn't as perfect as she appeared but Akko accepted her as she was. It gave her comfort she hadn't felt in a long time, perhaps because though simple words took some weight off her shoulders. Because now, if she made a mistake, Akko wouldn't ridicule her or pick at her for it or be greatly disappointed like she knew the other students would. She would simply help her pick herself up and carry on.
Diana wasn't sure what to say but Akko made it so she didn't have to. "Come on, we have to go pack!" The blonde nodded her agreement "You're right, however, may I have my hand back?"
"What? Oh! Yeah sorry." Akko quickly released Diana's hand and turned to start walking, her face suddenly red. What she didn't see was the slight blush that had crept its way onto Diana's face as well.
