Andrew stood over the two witches to make sure they wouldn't do anything. There was no need to do it though because they were tied and probably couldn't use magic in their current state.

He let out a deep breath and walked to the balcony. He was supposed to come with his father for a dinner then leave, but of course he was caught up with something concerning witches. Every time he's met with Atsuko Kagari, things take a different turn.

When he stepped outside, he expected to find some fresh air and relax, however, what he was met with was the complete opposite.

He didn't understand what came over him, but he saw a shadowy figure flying and a person –a witch he assumed- in the sky with it. The monster wasn't looking at him, but Andrew could notice the red glint and he forgot how to breathe.

He grasped his chest and fell on one knee, feeling an intense weight dropping on him. He was suddenly terrified. The fear was crawling on his skin like a snake waiting to poison him and eat away his insides.

He felt so small, so weak… And he had no idea why.

However, that didn't last for long, because a green fire came out of nowhere, surrounding the trees, and touching the monster, causing it to disappear.

The weight was gone so suddenly that it almost felt as if his soul left its vessel. He panted, and closed his eyes, before opening them again.

He managed to stand up, but his body was still shaking from what he experience.

But he couldn't think of that now, because he saw someone fall when that fire happened.

He did the first thing he could think of, and it was freeing the twins.

"What happened?" One of them asked as he loosened the ropes, allowing them to free themselves.

"There's a fire outside and someone stuck in it!" He quickly said then ran to the balcony. Fortunately, they didn't ask any more questions and followed him.

They brought their brooms, and he sat behind one of them, and gulped as he felt his feet leave the ground, then let out a yelp when the broom moved forward, too quick for his liking.

He needs a break from witches, that's for sure.

-ED-

Croix groaned, and tried to push herself up, but she didn't have any energy left. She blacked out for a minute or two, and her side was still bleeding.

There was the distant feeling of poison in her veins, and she could tell it belonged to Chariot. Something must have happened to her, and she feared that Diana's life was in danger as well.

She breathed in and out, even though it hurt like hell, and stood up, only to take a step and fall again. She yelled in pain as her wounded side hit a rock, and bit her arm, trying to suppress whatever cries that might escape her lips. Her side was throbbing, and there was a loud ringing in her head. But, She started crawling slowly, because she couldn't afford to stop moving. She couldn't stop when they needed her.

She had to get to them, she had to.

She couldn't lose anything or anyone again. She couldn't go through that pain again.

It doesn't matter how much she would bleed, or tear herself apart. She had to reach them. She

Tree branches started to fall, and the fire she caused started to catch up to her. She tried to crawl faster, but her body couldn't only take so much before it would collapse, and when it finally did, she heard a couple of voices, but her vision was too blurry, that she couldn't see the faces, and she was too dazed to recognize the voices.

"It's Meridies! Get her on a broom!"

"She's bleeding!"

Andrew kneeled down, before carefully pulling the witch up and trying not to worsen her state. With the help of the twins, they got her on a broom, and they used their magic to stop the fire.

"Green fire? What happened here?"

"We should heal her first! We can ask the questions later!" Andrew yelled as he watched over the older woman. His anxious face turned into confusion when he heard the witch talking in her unconscious state.

"Chariot… Diana… I have to get to them…" She said, and he started to wonder if she was regaining her consciousness.

"Please…"

That was all he heard from her before she completely left

-ED-

Chariot breathed in and out as she forced herself to get up and walk to her student. Her side was throbbing and her vision was failing her. She almost fell if it weren't for Akko catching her by the arm.

"You got hurt… because of me…" Akko muttered, still in disbelief. It all happened so fast. She came here to protect them, but in the end, she ended up being the one protected. She was so disappointed in herself, and fortunately, her teacher noticed.

Chariot put a hand on her head and softly stroked her hair.

"It's okay, I'm fine." She smiled, but the pain caused it to look more like a grimace. "Thank you for saving us, it would have been hard to protect Diana and fight at the same time." She reassured her student, who only looked back conflicted.

"But… I wish I could have been more helpful…"

"You are helpful, but remember that it is my duty as your teacher to protect you. Don't ever feel bad about the risks I take, okay?" The red head asked, and Akko nodded, still conflicted, but looking less guilty.

She helped Chariot walk towards Diana, and when they reached her, they bent down, and Chariot was about to put her hands on her shoulders and shake her, but hesitated.

Perhaps… she shouldn't touch her. Diana must hate her, and she didn't want to make her uncomfortable. She had every right to despise her. After all, she lost the shiny rod, just because she was too scared and reckless.

It pained her to think that her student would feel that way towards her, but it was nothing compared to how happy she would feel to see Diana safe and content.

Even if it meant watching her from a distance.

It was the least she could do after shattering her dreams.

"Chariot-sensei? Are you okay?" Akko asked, glancing between her teacher and her friend. One was poisoned, the other was unconscious, and here she was sitting between them, not knowing who to worry about more.

Her teacher only nodded, but didn't dare to touch the prodigy, so Akko did instead.

She shook her by the shoulders, calling her name, but there was no answer. She shook her again and again, but she showed no sign of waking up. She and Chariot exchanged a look, before looking back at Diana. She wasn't waking up, in fact, she was being pulled away more and more from reality.

She drifted away, to a world of dreams and regrets, to the memories of her mother's death.

She stood in her mother's room, and everything around her seemed faded and blurry, as if she was looking through worn out lenses. She turned, to see her mother smiling and holding her hand. She saw her younger and more innocent self-loathing her teddy bear and smiling, excited to hear what her mother has to tell her.

Diana's heart clenched, not because she was reliving the past-it was something she'd do every day- but because her mother's eyes were hidden, and her voice was distant, like a song with strange lyrics with no sense playing in the background.

She had no idea what she was saying, and it dawned on her… Has she forgotten her own mother's voice?

Was she losing more and more traces of her? In the end, would she lose everything left from her mother?

Was she going to lose her family's legacy as well? Was everything she ever did for nothing?

"Diana!" There was a voice calling for her, it was loud and clear, but she couldn't answer, she couldn't.

Her mother turned to her, and smiled, and the voice and words that left her mouth made her fall on her knees in despair.

"I'm disappointed, Diana. The Cavendish name will fall with you."

"I… I can still save it! I still have time…" Diana said, but her voice became nothing but whimpers. When her aunt would tell her such words, she would shrug them off and answer with a cold voice, but now that she heard them from her own mother…

She has never felt so hopeless.

"Perhaps you could, but…the only way to do it is-"

"I'll do anything!" Diana suddenly lost control over her own words, she had no idea why she said that and how, but her fear grew as her mother's hand reached out for her.

"Take my hand, Diana."

GASP

Croix's eyes opened wide and she pushed herself up only to feel an unbearable amount of pain. She clutched her side, and gritted her teeth.

"Stay still! We're not done treating your wound!" She blinked, and finally noticed that she wasn't alone in the room. The spaghetti twins were using her wounds to heal her wounds, while Andrew stood in the doorway.

She had no idea how she ended up here, but all she could think of right now was…

"Diana! I have to get Diana! She's in danger!" She blurted out and tried to leave the bed but they stopped her.

"For the last time, mama won't do anything-"

"Not her! He is after her, you have to let me go!" Croix said and pushed them away, but when she forced herself to run, she ended up falling.

"You can't go anywhere in this state." A voice that she didn't recognize appeared in the room, and Croix looked up to see an old servant looking down at her with a gentle smile. She bent down and gave her both arms to lean on. "However, I think I can help you." She said as she helped the lilac haired witch stand up.

The help however was not what she expected. Croix found herself setting on a wheelchair with Anna gripping the handles, it was true that she couldn't reach it on her own, but she didn't like being so helpless.

She had no idea that the chair she was using once belong to Diana's mother.

"I can take her there. It would be faster." Andrew suggested, and glared at the twins who were about to protest. "I think you should all stay here to make sure that monster doesn't come back." He said.

Anna nodded, then looked at the witch and leaned down so only she could hear her.

"Please take care of her." She said before letting go of the handle. Croix nodded and she and Andrew finally left.

What she experienced earlier was familiar to what happened when she lost complete control to the darkness. Diana was there for a brief moment, and this time, it was Croix who saw a glimpse of the darkness taking hold of her.

Even though she was free of his control, she was still connected to him…

Although, that connection was finally useful to her.

"What does that thing want with Diana?" Andrew asked as he wheeled the chair as fast as he could without making the witch fall.

"Trust me kid, you don't want to hear the details." Croix said, too focused on what she needed to do that she couldn't bother to tell everything to a guy who'd never get involved into this mess.

"It's ironic how you're offended when I mention your age, but you call me a kid."

"LISTEN-"

"I might not show it, but I care about Diana and I would like to know if something were to happen to her." Andrew confessed, making the woman frown and cross her arms. They might have their differences, but she was still his relative, and a childhood friend. Just because he didn't agree with her, doesn't mean he doesn't care about her wellbeing.

"She'll be fine. I'll make sure of it." Croix answered, and no other words were exchanged. She won't let Diana lose her innocence and her dreams. She will protect her at all costs.

Croix won't lose anything again.

Andrew pushed the door open, then turned to Croix and helped her up, and he could tell that she was in no state to move. She was pushing herself beyond her limits. Before he could say anything, a hand ruffled his hair, messing its composure.

"Thanks, but I'll go on my own." Croix said with a smile as she walked through door.

"You can't make it on your own!" Andrew said, but she kept walking. He sighed and tried to fix his hair. "What a strange woman." He muttered.

Croix had to stop walking because of the pain. It felt like daggers were impaling her side whenever she took a step, but she took a breath and forced herself to move forward. Slowly, she started moving faster, and was eventually running. She would have to deal with her injuries later.

Chariot who was trying to wake Diana up, felt the sharp pain, causing to turn. She gasped and pushed herself up, and was immediately caught in her lover's embrace. Croix's hand was placed on her red hair, while the other on her waist, and she pulled her closer and sighed in relief.

"You're okay!" Croix said, closing her eyes and losing herself in the moment. All her pain was forgotten as she felt Chariot's warmth. She feared that the red head's state would be worse, but fortunately, she was strong enough to fight the poison. She opened her eyes and glanced at Akko, who was smiling at their reunion, but she quickly frowned when she noticed the state her teacher was in.

Chariot's heart was beating loudly, trying to jump out of her ribcage. Whether it was from the surprise or from the anxiety she was feeling the whole time, she did not know. She pulled away, noticing Croix's beaten up state and her bloody clothes.

The lilac haired witch felt a sudden pang in her chest.

"You're bleeding!" Chariot said and quickly reached for her injury to check it but Croix stopped her.

"We'll worry about that later, for now we have to save Diana and have her heal you."

"You're the one who needs healing!" Chariot argued, feeling dazed due the smell of the blood. She has seen this before, the memory of Croix's cold and bloody corpse flashed before her eyes, and it caused her lover to feel another heartburn.

Akko had to turn and focus on Diana, because the same memory came back to her. The sight of both her teachers lying down, one of them in a pool of her own blood.

Croix frowned, and kissed the redhead's forehead, before walking to Diana and taking her in her arms.

Perhaps she could hear her through the connection they have. Perhaps her voice could reach her and wake her up.

"Diana, wake up! Don't let him get to you!" She said, her voice begging to be heard.

And it was heard.

Diana whose hand was inches away from touching her mother's, froze in place. Two voices were calling for her, and neither of them held the malice that the one before had.

If she takes this hand, she could save everything her family worked for…

That didn't feel right… Something was off about this, but her feelings were a mess.

Which one should she trust? The distant voice echoing in her mind? Or her own mother?

"A believing heart is your magic!"

Another voice, loud and clear came to mind, and that was when Diana made her decision.

Croix was calling for her over and over, and helplessness started to fill all their hearts, especially Akko who promised that she'd be protect Diana, but ended up breaking that promise.

However, as they started to lose all hope, a pair of eyes, flickering between red and blue started to open, and as their vision cleared and they met green eyes, their color settled to blue.

"Mom…?" Diana whispered, causing Croix's eyes to widen, but that didn't last for long because the older witch pulled her into her arms, and Diana could only cling to her. The dread that was taking over her disappeared, as she felt safe for the first time in the past few days.

Her mother could never say such cruel words to her, and even if she didn't clearly remember her voice, she will always remember that she was the most caring person in the world.

Diana believed in her heart, and this is where her heart brought her.

It brought her back to the people she loved, and their love is more powerful that anything the darkness could give her.

Diana then realized what she said to Croix, and pulled away blushing.

"Oh God… I'm sorry I…Oof-" Diana was cut off by a bone crushing hug from Akko.

"You're okay!" Akko said and pulled away with a grin then pointed at the unconscious Daryl. "Look! I stopped your evil aunt!" She declared, causing the other two witches to sigh and shake their heads, and Diana to look at her aunt with disappointment and sadness. She closed her eyes and looked back at Akko with a warm smile, then noticed the state Croix and Chariot were in.

"You're injured! Follow me and I'll treat your wounds!"

-ED-

"Why are you all staring at me like that? I'm not dying." Croix asked with crossed arms as the three other witches watched her cautiously. Diana has treated both her and Chariot -and even brought Daryl as well- but Croix could still feel the lingering effect of the poison, not to mention the great amount of pain.

The three sighed causing her to roll her eyes. She wasn't a death magnet, was she?

They were in a room full of beds with walls surrounded with what looked like tree roots. It was lit up with the green light of a wand. This room used to be a secret hospital that the Cavendish used to heal people during the war, but now…

Diana turned and stared at the exit that would lead to what could be called a grave of books.

Chariot sat next to her girlfriend and took her injured hand. The burn looked bad, and might leave a scar. Croix looked at her, and they both didn't notice Diana leaving, and Akko following her.

Once again, Croix has gained a new scar, and it made the redhead's heart ache. She brought the burned palm to her lips and kissed it with so much intensity that made whatever words the lilac haired witch had to say get stuck in her throat.

There were so many words she wanted to say, but she couldn't. Instead, she wrapped her arms around her girlfriend and leaned into her, burying her face in her neck.

Once again, she almost lost Croix.

Croix frowned, and pulled her closer, while running a hand through her hair.

That would be enough for now.

Diana stared at Beatrix's statue, while Akko looked at all the books floating on water. She turned to her friend, and waited for her to open up, but she was met with nothing but silence.

"Diana… shouldn't you finish your ritual?" She asked, and her friend could only sigh.

"It's too late. I won't make it." Diana answered, and hugged herself as she kept looking at her ancestor. "The Cavendish family's motto is 'affection'. Our purpose was to always heal those in need, even the enemy. A lot didn't agree with us, but we never gave up on our ideology. I'm truly proud of what my ancestors, and my mother achieved. I wanted to protect that…" She admitted, then turned to Akko. "I wish your faith in me wasn't misplaced."

"What are you saying? Of course it's not!" Akko protested and took both of her hands. "I'm sure you can do it, Diana! I believe in you! So please believe in yourself! You can become the head and come back to school." She said with a smile, making her let out a sad chuckle.

"I don't think it's possible… even if I do become the head, perhaps I won't be able to revive the Cavendish name with all the technology around. I should just give-" Diana was about to say, but Akko gripped her hands tighter and kept her gaze on her.

"I won't let you! It's true that I have no right to tell you what to do, but I know that this isn't what you want! I won't let you do something you will regret!" Akko told her, and if her resolve wasn't enough for Diana, someone else entered the scene.

"I have to agree." Croix said and walked towards her student. The brunette let go of her friend, and took a step back so her teacher could face the prodigy. "If anyone can revive the Cavendish name, it's you. I believe in you Diana, you can do the impossible if you set your mind to it. You are the family's future." She reassured her student by putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I don't think I can do that… I can't achieve what all my ancestors achieved."

"Then don't."

"Huh?" Diana's eye widened, and she stared at her in confusion.

"You will never be like them, because you are you. You can only learn from them, so you can use that knowledge to create something better. You can only create the future by using the past and the present." She explained, and it caused a glint to show up in Diana's eyes, as if she saw something under a new light, and that was how it was. She saw things from a new perspective, and apparently she wasn't the only one, because the shiny rod was glowing in Akko's hands, waiting for a new word to be unlocked.

"When traditional and modern powers mingle, the gate to an unseen world will open…" Diana said, and gasped, while the teachers watched with a knowing look. "Akko! Recite it! Sybilladura…"

"Sybilladura…" Akko did as she was told and raised the rod up, feeling its magic enveloping her.

"Lelladybura!"

"Lelladybura!" Akko recited the whole word, causing the staff to rise in the air and change its form into the broom that Shiny Chariot once used…

"It's the shiny volley!" The brunette threw her arms in the air, excitement filling her chest. Croix looked at Chariot, amused, and the latter blushed, embarrassed at the name she once gave the broom.

"With this we can reach the shrine…" Diana muttered, but she was unsure if she had the right to the broom, but everyone nodded causing her to smile. She gripped it, and extended her hand to Akko, who smiled back and took it. In the matter of seconds, the two flew away, leaving their teachers behind.

"These two… are going far." Chariot said, fondly, and Croix couldn't help but chuckle.

"Yeah…"

"Croix?" Chariot turned to her lover, and quickly caught her before she could lose her balance. She took her back to the bed, and had her lie down. Because she pushed her body beyond its limits, and was affected by Chariot's poisoning, she was in an exhausted state.

"I'm fine… just tired…" Croix admitted as her lover took her hand. "You know, I've always wondered what our lives would have been like if the darkness never existed." She started, and it sounded like she was half asleep. She did have a bad fever, so she wasn't really aware of what she was saying. "Would we have found the seven words and unlocked the Grand Triskelion? Or did we have a falling out? I was really envious of you back then, and perhaps I should have talked about it… I really thought I was a bad person for being envious of my friend… no, I still think I'm a bad person." She let out a bitter chuckle, making Chariot grip her hand tighter.

"Croix…"

"Maybe we would have been married? That is if I ever found the courage to confess… Or maybe we would have been nothing more than friends… There isn't a day where I don't think of all the possibilities and the time that we lost because of him…" Ten whole years were taken from them, ten years of separation that left scars on them, some were physical, but most were emotional. "But today I faced him, I fought him… I… wasn't scared of him, Chariot." She said, smiling as she closed her eyes. "I'm stronger than I was. I still can't love myself but… I'm going to become someone I can be proud of… and… and I'll…" She struggled to say as sleep started to take over her. "I'm going to make you the happiest person in the world, Chariot…"

Chariot brought her free hand to cover her mouth, as tears started to flow. She then wiped her tears and watched her girlfriend sleep with a smile.

"You already have."

However, she finally noticed that something about the room was different, and she was too focused on Croix to realize it.

Daryl has left the room when they were talking to Diana.

-ED-

Diana and Akko flew at an incredible speed, reaching the shrine. The eclipse was almost over, but they were sure they could make it, that was until Daryl appeared.

"Aunt?!" Diana stopped, and glared at her aunt, who was pointing her wand at her. "Why are you doing this? Is it all for power? Is that all you ever want?" She asked angrily. She was hurt that her own flesh and blood would do this, but, she expected it, but she always hoped she would be wrong.

"Diana we don't have the time!" Akko argued.

"Everything I do, I do for this family!" Daryl yelled and used a spell on them. "I'm not letting you go down the same road as my sister!"

Diana resumed her flying and avoided the spell, and managed to pass by her aunt. The latter however, didn't give up, she chased after her only to get electrified by a magic barrier protecting the shrine, and when she fell, she was starting to turn into a tree.

Of course… she forgot about the calamity that would hit whoever interrupted the ritual. It was a fitting end for her…

"Ennor Fiendennor!" She heard Diana casting a spell, and the she lost consciousness.

The next morning she would find out that Diana sacrificed the ritual so she could save her.

-ED-

Diana couldn't finish her ritual, but at least, she wasn't taken over by the darkness, and so, Chariot managed to rest at peace. Anna prepared rooms for everyone to rest in for the night, and thanks to her, she managed to have a rare moment of peace where she'd wake up next to Croix, and admire her beauty. She pushed her lilac strands away from her face and smiled as she caught a rare glimpse of a peaceful Croix. She chuckled, she was too cute. Her lilac hair, her green emerald eyes, her voice, her smile…

Ever since what happened yesterday, something has changed.

Chariot was feeling giddy, like a happy child, perhaps it was Croix's promise to her, perhaps it was something else. She didn't know, but she knew that all she wanted was to be close to her, to have a life with her.

She hugged her, and her hand traced lines on her back, especially on the scar. That scar, while she wished it never existed, was a sign that Croix has survived everything that was thrown at her, and it made her proud as much as it brought her pain.

"Well… what a way to wake up." Chariot stopped her work, and pulled away to see Croix smiling at her. There they were, the smile and the eyes… "What are you up to?" Croix asked, causing the redhead to chuckle.

"Nothing, I love you." Chariot said, and kissed her.

"I love you too."

They then sat up, and Chariot took a tray of food from the nightstand. She brought it earlier because she didn't want Croix and Daryl to clash and she knew her girlfriend would still be tired from her encounter with the darkness.

"I can eat on my own, you know." Croix said, embarrassed as Chariot fed her.

"I know, I know. But I just want you to rest and be comfortable. It's being on thing after another and you didn't get the chance to breathe a little." Chariot said, making her lover smile grateful for the care she was giving her.

"Come one Diana! You can do it"

"I-I will! Stop pushing me-" Two voices from outside the door caught their attention, and Diana was pushed inside by Akko who immediately closed the door, stopping her from leaving. The prodigy turned to them embarrassed, and looked away. "I… I should come back another time."

"No, what is it, Diana?" Croix said, as she put away the tray of food.

"I came to talk to you two." Diana said, and looked at Chariot who looked back alarmed and confused.

"Chariot- Professor, this whole time I… I blamed you for…" She struggled to say, ashamed of what her feelings have led to, but thankfully, the redhead spared her that struggle.

"I know. I heard your conversation with Croix." Chariot said, making her student look at her with guilt and fear. "It's okay Diana, I don't blame you for thinking so. You have every right to hate me."

"I don't!" Diana admitted, then sighed. "I understand now the reason behind your disappearance, and I don't blame you for anything, in fact, I should apologize. I'm so sorry, professor." She said, gripping her arm, but her dread was replaced with surprise when her teacher smiled and nodded.

"I forgive you, Diana." She said, with a soft and caring voice, making her student speechless. She didn't expect it to be that easy, and she didn't really feel like she deserved it.

"So? Is there something you want to tell me?" Croix asked, smiling. She could feel a warmth in her chest caused by the happiness Chariot felt. Diana turned to her and she opened her mouth to say something, but closed it, unsure.

But when she finally said something, it was only two words.

"Thank you." She said, and the couple glanced at each other. Croix opened her arms, inviting her student into a hug which she accepted, then they both looked at Chariot who blinked before getting pulled into the hug by her girlfriend.

"Hey! Can I join?!" Akko opened the door and smiled at them, causing the three to chuckle and nod. She grinned before running and joining them.

Her mother used to be her home, and all of what was left of that home was Anna, but now…

She finally found another place to call home, and this was all she needed.