Akko Kagari and the Contest of Champions
Chapter Thirty-Six: Insanity
Akko woke up in the hospital wing, head pounding and her eyes practically crusted over, two days after the fourth round of the Games. Porlyusica had informed her, among other things, that Akko had suffered from magic deficiency, which came from her body exerting more magic than it was used to. Akko only had faint recollections, but nothing too concrete to explain what had happened during her fight with Ryuko and Satsuki. After Porlyusica gave her a clean bill of health and shunted her out the door with her broomstick, Akko went don't to the dining hall, becoming very aware of her growling stomach, which had not had a single morsel in the last two days.
When Akko walked into the dining hall, a sudden hush fell over as everyone turned their heads to look her way. Akko was reminded faintly of the final night in her first year shortly after she defeated Barbara down in the lower levels of the school. But unlike that time, when everyone quickly went back to their own things, there was a chorus of scraping chairs and booming shouts as everyone jumped out of their seats and practically smothered Akko in a tangle of arms. Before she knew it, Akko was being raised above everyone's heads carried across the dining hall like some kind of trophy. There were so many voices overlapping each other, she barely caught a single word:
"That was the most brilliant thing I ever saw!"
"Who knew you had it in ya, Kagari?"
"Too bad you still lost."
"How'd you do that, anyway?"
"I…honestly don't know," Akko replied with uncertainty.
And it was the truth. Even when the teacher's dispersed the crowd and Akko was promptly interrogated by her friends at their usual combined tables, she didn't have the slightest clue how she had done…any of that stuff in the last fight. All Akko could remember was a sudden swelling in her chest and a sudden sense of being that she had never felt before. Akko couldn't explain it clearly, but when she became…Akko Du Nord, as she was calling it, it felt like a mask had been ripped off and the real Akko had come out for the first time in years. After that experience, Akko somehow felt very out of place inside her own skin, like she was pretending to be someone else. But, predictably, when she told her friends this, they just gave her a bunch of strange looks and Amanda asked if she had cracked her skull during the fight.
Akko sighed. Seeing no point in trying to explain any further, Akko dived in to a full Japanese three-course meal while occasionally being congratulated by another student.
Unfortunately, her newfound popularity didn't seem to reach anywhere beyond Luna Nova.
Despite her amazing performance during the Games, thousands of people seemed to still focus on her Andrew/Diana love triangle problem as Akko was bombarded with a fresh pile of angry letters when she went to breakfast the next morning. Word had spread fast throughout Luna Nova, as it usually did, being a school for teenage girls, and by the time Akko had left Herbalism, the entire school soon learned of Akko's hate mail troubles. She was grateful that most from Polaris and Lunar (no doubt influence by Diana), thought Scaglietti's article was pure trash and knew Akko enough that she would never play with people's feelings intentionally. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for Andrew's jealous fangirls. Zizi and Chloe were muttering and shooting dark glares at Akko's back as they climbed the stone steps of the castle.
Akko ignored them; she didn't want anyone to think that Scaglietti's article had gotten to her, least of all Scaglietti herself, whom Akko had the sinking suspicion was hanging around somewhere, unseen.
She was able to find solace in Modern Magic when people were more focused on completing their year-long project instead of gossiping. Everyone had finished constructing the body for their Golem, and Croix was delighted to inform them that they would now attempt to make the Golems move. This caused the whole class to break in excited babble. They had spent nearly the entire year just making their machines and now they were finally going to have the chance to see if they worked.
Constanze and Barbara, who were really the ones in charge of making the Golem, were attaching a bunch of wires to some handheld machines that Akko couldn't hope to understand their function. They talked back and forth about technical mumbo-jumbo, all but excluding Akko from the group. If it wasn't for the fact that they needed Akko to participate to get a full grade, they probably wouldn't have let her anywhere near it. So when it came time to actually test the Golem, Barbara handed Akko what looked like a pair of miniature lightning rods.
"The Magicite Core still needs a charge," she explained while a pair of connecting cables to the Golem's back. "You have the largest amount of magical energy of anyone in the school, so it'll be your job to get the thing up and running. When Constanze gives you the signal, we need you to pour as much magic into those rods as you can. Think you can handle that?"
"No problem," said Akko smugly. "Just don't blame me if it explodes from too much awesomeness."
Barbara rolled her eyes irritably and nodded to Constanze. The diminutive witch replaced the goggles over her eyes – a bad sign if Akko ever saw one – and slowly turned the dial on her controller. A soft hum started building up from the machine; Akko felt the rods in her hands warming up and steadily vibrating; the hairs on the back of her neck started to stand up. It was subtle, but Akko could feel some of her magical energy slipping through her fingers into the rods, siphoning through the cables with a neon-green aura into the Golem. Constanze and Barbara hummed together, tilting their heads thoughtfully at the Golem, which had yet to move. They exchanged glances, and before Akko could make any input, Constanze turned the dial all the way.
Akko's hair completely stood on end like she had been plugged into an electrical outlet, her whole body vibrated violently, feeling the energy being siphoning off in huge quantities. She was shaking so hard that she started sliding across the room, unnoticed by either of her partners; Croix only watched Akko glide past her desk with a bemused look before going back to some leftover paperwork. She was bouncing past Gaëlle and Irene's desk, both of whom gave her strange looks, before Constanze was satisfied and shut the machine off. Akko slouched forward with a weary groaned when her body finally stopped vibrating. She quickly threw the rods away and marched back to her group desk, glaring down the tiny witch.
"A little warning would have been nice!" Akko snapped.
"Relax, you've gone through worse," said Stan-Bot; Constanze waved her off indifferently. "More importantly, did it work?"
Akko, Constanze, and Barbara leaned in close to their Golem. For a long minute, the little robot seemed inactive and Constanze started to look downcast, when their Golem's right arm suddenly twitched. Constanze perked up with a silent gasp; it was slow and fidgety, but their Golem successfully raised its right arm, curling its tiny fingers until it was giving them a thumbs-up.
"IT WORKS!" Akko and Barbara cheered, grabbing each other's hands and jumping excitedly.
"Not bad," said Croix walking over to their desk, having been drawn by all the noise they were making. "All that's left is to add some special features and you'll be done. I think you've made enough progress for today. Why don't you girls pack up and head on to lunch early?"
Feeling better than she did since this morning, Akko picked up their Golem by the armpits, who apparently did not like being carried as it pitched the back of her hand with its cold, steely fingers. Barbara used a spell to levitate the robot instead – it flailed its limbs in a fruitless effort to hit something – and carried it off to the storage bin. Akko and Constanze went to put away the tools back in the cupboard.
"By the way, what was all the ruckus about at breakfast, Akko?" Stan-Bot asked suddenly, Constanze looking concerned.
Akko told her about the hate mail she had received that morning, half of which Amanda found to be booby trapped when she carried them to the trash bin.
"God damn that Scaglietti," said Stan-Bot while Constanze scowled. "As if it wasn't bad enough what she did to Jasminka. You know she got all sorts of letters after Scaglietti wrote about her family? 'You're a monster and you should be put down.' 'You animals killed innocent people and if you had any decency, you'd hang yourself.' And some of them were even worse."
"No!" said Akko, looking shocked.
"Yeah," said Stan-Bot, Constanze closing the cupboard. "They're just a bunch of asses, Akko. Don't open them if you get any more. Throw them straight in the fire."
"We've nearly finished with our project," Barbara said to Akko and Constanze as they walked downstairs to lunch. "Are we still going with the final design that Akko made?"
"Of course," said Stan-Bot. "We should make it as anime as possible."
"You still watching those mecha shows I recommended?" Akko said teasingly.
"They – are – amazing!" Stan-Bot proclaimed; Constanze's lips curled into a wide smile, her eyes practically sparkling. "They've given me so many ideas. I'm thinking of making my next project a pirate ship…that transforms into a giant robot!"
"What have you done, Kagari," Barbara said with a grimace; Akko laughed.
They were walking past the second floor when they heard shouting coming from the corridor. Akko and Constanze glanced at one another; they knew Akko couldn't resist investigating, so the little witch only followed right behind her; Barbara groaned and reluctantly followed as well. They traced the shrill voice to Annabel Crème's office, her door slightly ajar to allow the noise to escape. Akko, Constanze, and Barbara cautiously peeked through the opening and found the young author sitting in her chair facing to the side, her smartphone to her ear and a severe scowl on her face.
" – care about your excuses!" she snarled. "I wanna know how she's getting into Luna Nova when it's been made expressly clear that she is trespassing!" She paused to listen. "Don't give me that – she works for your rag, so you have to have some idea how she's getting it. 'What's the problem?' It's an invasion of privacy and now people are being physically hurt over your trash! You – no, you – SHUT UP! Do you know who I am? I am ANNABEL CRÈME! I can, and will, destroy you! I want answers and I won't hesitate to tear you down to get them! You hear me? If I find you posting another one of Scaglietti's trash articles, you can bet it will be your ass on the chopping block!"
She slammed her phone on the desk so hard, even Akko flinched.
Hate mail continued to arrive for Akko over the following week, and although she followed Constanze's advice and stopped opening them, several ill-wishers sent screaming letters, which exploded in the dining hall and shrieked insults at her for everyone to hear. Even those people who didn't read Sorcerer Weekly knew all about the Akko-Andrew-Diana triangle now. Akko had hoped that her match against the Honnoji Sisters would have painted her in a more positive light, but that was before Amanda delivered her the bad news.
"Scaglietti's been pushing the 'love affair' across almost every social media and newspaper," Amanda told her with a grimace. "Whenever someone brings up the topic of your match, the woman posts some 'recently discovered information' that makes you looked back and pushes the Game out of everyone's mind. People love celebrity gossip more than sports, unfortunately."
"I want to know how she's listening into our private conversations when she's supposed to be banned from the school!" said Akko angrily.
When they arrived for their next Fundamentals of Magical Self-Defense lesson, they were surprised to see Annabel Crème in deep discussion with Zeref that they didn't even notice the students walking in. Most of the teachers had a habit of avoiding Zeref out of fear or spite. But considering the fact that Annabel is as old as them and was raised by Humans, she very likely didn't know the dangers of the Black Wizard was capable of. Either that, or she was truly fearless.
When Zeref looked up and realized that his class was full, he muttered a few final words to Annabel, who nodded understandingly, and went to the chalkboard at the front of the class where he started writing down the day's lesson plan. When Annabel was about to pass them, Akko called out to her.
"Hey, what was that all about?" Akko hissed, giving the author pause.
"I was just asking Zeref if he's noticed Scaglietti around," Annabel crème replied in a hushed whisper, crouching low to stay out of Zeref's line of sight as he called out to the class. "He said he didn't see Scaglietti on the night of the Winter Ball. If she was using some sort of invisibility magic, he would have seen it. But she was nowhere near the dance floor, nor was she anywhere to be seen when he was walking the grounds. That proves that Scaglietti wasn't using magic to spy on people. This is science in origin."
"Maybe she had them bugged," said Akko.
"Bugged?" said Diana, joining in the conversation. "You mean like in those terrible spy movies."
"I'm more of an action-thriller myself," said Amanda offhandedly.
"But you can't beat a good fantasy flick," Akko responded.
"Are we really discussing movie preferences?" Annabel crème hissed. "And I already thought of that when I went to Croix. In the past, reports and paparazzi found ways of sneaking hidden camera, microphones, and recording equipment around schools during the Contest. So Croix sent up this elaborate scanning system that searches the castle routinely. I asked her if she caught anything unusual during the Winter Ball, but she said the whole school was clean."
"Plus, that wouldn't explain how she managed to overhear you and Andrew during the dance," Lotte added. "I doubt neither of you wouldn't have noticed if Scaglietti planted something on you both."
"Then how is she spying on us without anyone knowing?" said Akko.
"Do you need something, Professor Crème?"
Zeref had walked over to their seats without them realizing it, quirking one brow. Annabel Crème looked like a child who had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She stood up, laughing sheepishly.
"Uh…n-nothing really, Professor Dragneel," said Annabel Crème. "I'll just…be on my way now."
She treaded backwards through the door and closed it with a snap. Zeref walked back to the front of the class and resumed the lesson.
"I haven't seen Professor Crème this upset since she considered giving up her pen," said Lotte with a worried glance toward the door.
"We're not gonna get dragged into yet another personal vendetta, are we?" Sucy groaned.
Though she was the victim in all of Scaglietti's cruel writings, Akko chose not to pursue vengeance against her, for which Diana praised her for "taking the high road". But the truth was that Akko didn't really have time to consider any form of revenge because her workload was mounting ever higher in the days before the Easter holiday. She was flat-out just trying to get through all her homework, though she made a point of sending regular food packages down to the forest for Izetta; after a summer under her mother's strict dieting schedule, Akko had not forgotten what it felt like to be continually hungry. She closed notes to Izetta, telling her that nothing out of the ordinary had happened, and that they were still waiting for an answer from Councilwoman Ava.
They didn't hear word from her until they came back from the Easter holiday. Ava's letter was enclosed in a package of chocolate eggs the size of their heads no doubt made by Alphonse, the O'Neill's family butler. The councilwoman's letter was short and irritated from obvious stress:
As I am constantly telling the news, Org is taking a well-deserved break.
He is sending in regular e-mails with instructions to his office. No, I
haven't' seen him, but the fact that he is sending messages regularly
is good enough. I have enough fires to put out around the office
without trying to quash these ridiculous rumors. Don't bother me
again unless it's something important, or I will ground you for the
entire summer.
Love, mom
The start of the summer term would normally have meant that Akko was training hard for the last Chariot Race of the season. This year, however, it was the fifth and final game in the Contest of Champions for which she needed to prepare, but she still didn't know what she would have to do. Finally, in the last week of May, Ursula held her back in Foretelling.
"You need to go down to the Racing track tonight at nine, Akko," she told her. "The Grand Master will be there to tell the champions about the last game."
So at half past eight that night, Akko and Amanda left Polaris Tower and went downstairs. They came across Diana and Fate as they were walking past the third floor and came upon Nico and Makoto as they crossed the entrance hall.
"What d'you think it's going to be this time?" Makoto asked as they went down the stone steps, out into the cloudy night. "I heard the kids from Sanshu talking about underground tunnels; they think we've got to find treasure."
"I think I've had enough of tunnels for one lifetime," said Akko, thinking vividly of her trip through the xenomorph-infested sewers and wondering if they had been cleared out yet.
They walked down the dark lawn to the Chariot Racing stadium, turned through a gap in the stands, and walked onto the field.
"Okay…," Amanda spoke slowly, stopping dead. "Is anyone else seeing this, or is it just me?"
It wasn't just her – they could see it, too. What looked like a giant, twisted ball of stone and steel hovered over the field. A wide ring of metal bars and boulders were floating around the chaotic sphere; Akko saw one of the metal beams glide into the ball and merged from the side.
"What are they building?" asked Nico, observing one of the boulders break apart and form a new wall on the surface of the sphere.
"Hello there!" called a cheery voice.
The Grand Master was standing in the middle of the field. The other teams had already arrived, many of them looking up at the floating monolith hanging above their heads. The Luna Nova champions made their way toward them. Ryuko beamed at Akko as she came close. They had become very good friends since their match in the last round and have been occasionally meeting up for drinks.
"Well, what d'you think?" said the Grand Master happily as Akko and the others joined them. "Coming along quite nicely, isn't it? Give it a month and it'll be bigger than this stadium. Don't worry," he added, grinning, spotting Akko, Diana, and Fate's less-than-happy expressions, "you'll have your track back to normal once the game is over! Now, I imagine you must be wondering what it is we are building – "
"Isn't that the Sky Labyrinth from the Grand Magic Games?" Yuna Yuki pipped up, making the Grand Master go still.
"Yeah, it's the thing they use in the preliminary matches," Midoriya added.
"Didn't we already do a maze in the first round?" said Sumireko irritably.
"They're just basically copying someone else's work again," Ryuko complained.
"That's lazy writing if I've ever seen it," said Eruna.
"Anyway!" The Grand Master hissed indignantly. "The last game is…yes, another maze – don't give me those looks," he snapped at everyone's unimpressed stares. "You think it's easy coming up with all these challenges? Look, the last game is straightforward. The Contest trophy will be placed in the center of the labyrinth. All champions will be participating. The first person to touch the trophy will win the Contest for their team."
"Just like that?" asked Mikoto Misaka strangely. "Even if the other teams have more points?"
"Oh, there are no points," said the Grand Master offhandedly.
"What d'you mean there's no points?" Ace questioned with an intense stare.
"The points were just an element to add a level of suspense and excitement for the games," the Grand Master explained like he was telling everyone two plus two equaled four. "They were never of any real importance because the winner would be determined in the last game no matter what happened during the other ones."
"So…you're saying…," Ryuko spoke in a low, heated voice, "that we went through all that crap…for nothing?"
"Mmm…yep, pretty much," the Grand Master admitted flippantly.
Satsuki and Sanageyama grabbed Ryuko before she could do something that would get Honnoji disqualified.
"There will be obstacles," said the Grand Master happily, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "The teachers will be providing a number challenges…creatures to battle…spells that must be broke…all that sort of thing, you know. And, of course, there will be the other champions you will be contending with. There are no rules other than no killing, so you are free to do as you please. And if you could make the fights as big and flashy as possible, the better. You will all enter the labyrinth at an equal distance, so you'll all be in with a fighting chance, depending how well you get past the obstacles. Should be fun, right?"
Akko had a horrible flashback of the trails she faced in her first year searching for the Shiny Rod. She wouldn't put it past Ursula to bring back Arcas – she considered the great beast as something akin to an oversized dog – and thought it was unlikely to be any fun at all. However, she nodded politely like the other champions.
"Very well…if you haven't got any questions, we'll go back up to the school, shall we, it's a bit chilly…."
The Grand Master hurried alongside Akko as they began to wend their way out of the stadium. Akko had the feeling that the Grand Master was going to start offering to help her again, but just then, Diana tapped Akko on the shoulder.
"Could I see you over here for a moment?"
"Yeah, all right," said Akko, slightly surprised.
"Somewhere private?"
"Okay," said Akko curiously.
The Grand Master looked slightly perturbed.
"Shall I wait for you, Akko?"
"No, it's okay," said Akko, suppressing a smile, "I think we can find my way up to the school just fine."
Akko and Diana left the stadium together, but Diana did not set a course for the school. Instead, she walked toward the forest.
"Why're we heading this way?" said Akko as they headed toward the paddock where Study of Abnormal Creatures was usually held.
"You'll see in a moment," said Diana, sounding slightly irritated.
When at last they had reached a quiet stretch of ground a short way from the paddocks, Diana stopped in the shade of the trees and shot a heated glare into the darkness.
"There, I brought her," she said, glowering, "make it quick."
Akko looked perplexed for a moment, wondering what could make her so angry or if potentially led Akko into a trap, but was surprised when she saw Andrew Hanbridge step out from his hiding spot behind the trees. He was dressed in his casual wear, which likely meant he wasn't on Luna Nova grounds for business. Andrew looked relieved when he caught Akko's eye, which quickly turned neutral when he turned to Diana.
"Thank you, Diana," he said gratefully.
"Whatever," Diana snapped irritably. "Just hurry up before someone catches us."
"Uh…what's going on?" Akko asked slowly, looking between the two.
"I apologize for the secrecy," said Andrew, "but I just had to see you. After Scaglietti's article, father won't even let me near Luna Nova grounds. Has a whole team of spies watching my every move. Good thing I have a witch for a maid that can pose as my double while I sneak off."
"You know that article is a load of crap, right?" said Akko quickly. "I would never – "
"Trust me, I know," said Andrew with a small smile. "You're not nearly coordinated enough to slip a love potion past either of us," he gestured to himself and Diana.
"Uh…thanks?" said Akko with a raised brow.
"Regardless, the news has stirred up a lot of trouble on a political level," said Andrew, frowning. "My father and Diana's aunt have been pushing for our political marriage for some time now, so you can imagine that they were not happy to see Scaglietti's rag in a magazine."
"I personally have received numerous threats from Aunt Daryl to 'break things off with that'…I'd rather not finish that sentence," said Diana, grimacing.
"None of that stuff that Scaglietti wrote about is true," Akko insisted. "She just making it all up."
"All of it?" said Andrew, looking suddenly suspiciously at Akko. "Including the parts where you have feelings for us?"
Akko instantly clammed up, finally coming to the realization of what this secret meeting was all about. Andrew was visibly frowning when Akko didn't offer and immediate response, and Diana kept shooting glances in Akko's direction when she thought she wasn't looking. Akko suddenly felt unbearably hot under the collar despite it being exceptionally chilly that night. She opened and closed her mouth several times, the words slowly forming on her lips, but stopping herself before she could get them out.
Andrew stared at Akko for a few seconds, then said, "Akko…what are your feelings for us?"
This was so, so, so bad, Akko thought. She always knew she would have to deal with this matter eventually, but she had hoped to have prepared a little instead of being ambushed. Diana was now fully turned to Akko, biting her lower lip as she usually did when she was worried about something. Andrew was folding his hands over and over as if to give them something to do. Akko looked between the two as she stammered slowly.
"Uh…I…um…."
But something moved in the trees behind Andrew, and Akko, thanking whatever deity that was looking out for her, instinctively grabbed Andrew's arm and pulled him around. Diana looked almost hurt for a moment before Akko drew the Shiny Rod from her belt.
"What is it?" asked Andrew, concerned.
Akko shook her head, staring at the place where she'd seen movement. Diana followed her lead and pulled out her own wand from her belt, though, if Akko was honest, she probably didn't need it.
Suddenly, a man staggered out from behind a tall oak. For a moment, Akko didn't recognize him…then she realized it was Org.
He looked as though he had been traveling for days. The knees of his robe were ripped and bloody, his face scratched; his long beard was disheveled and his face gray with exhaustion. His strange appearance, however, was nothing to the way he was behaving. Muttering and gesticulating, Org appeared to be talking to someone that he alone could see. He reminded Akko vividly of an old hobo she had seen once when out shopping with her mother. That man too had been conversing wildly with thin air; Mrs. Kagari had seized Akko's hand and pulled her across the road to avoid him.
Wasn't he one of the representatives?" said Andrew, staring at Org. "Isn't he with the Magic Council?"
Akko nodded, hesitated for a moment, then walked slowly toward Org, whop did not look at him, but continued to talk to a nearby tree.
"…and when you've done that, Lahar, send a message to Holbrooke confirming the number of Myojo students who will be attending the Contest, Yuri Meichi has just sent word there will be thirteen…."
"Mr. Org?" said Akko cautiously.
"…and then send an e-mail to Theresa Apocalypse, because she might want to up the number of students she's brining, now that Meichi's made it a baker's dozen…do that, Lahar, will you? Will you? Will…"
Org's one eye was bulging. He stood staring at the tree, muttering soundlessly at it. Then he staggered sideways and fell to his knees.
"Mr. Org?" Akko said loudly. "Are you all right?"
Org's eye was rolling in his head. Akko looked around at Andrew and Diana, who had followed her into the trees, and was looking down at Org in alarm.
"What's wrong with him?" asked Andrew.
"I haven't the slightest clue," Diana muttered. "We should go and find someone before – "
"Chariot!" gasped Org. He reached out and seized a handful of Akko's tunic, dragging her closer, through his eye was staring over Akko's head. "I need…see…Chariot…."
"But…Chariot isn't here…," said Akko slowly. "Um, Mr. Org, how 'bout we get you up to the – "
"I've done…stupid…thing…," Org breathed. He looked utterly insane. His eye was rolling and bulging, and a trickle of spittle was sliding down his chin. Every word he spoke seemed to cost him a lot of effort. "Must…warn…Chariot…."
"Okay, okay, I get it!" said Akko loudly and clearly. "Let's get you up and we can go see Chariot, all right?"
Org's eye rolled forward onto Akko.
"Who…you?" he whispered.
"I'm a student at the school," said Akko, looking around at Diana for some help, but she and Andrew were hanging back, looking extremely nervous.
"You're not…hers? Whispered Org, his mouth sagging.
"No," said Akko, without the faintest idea what Org was talking about.
"Chariot's?"
"Yeah, that's right," said Akko.
Org was pulling her closer; Akko tried to loosen Org's grip on her tunic, but it was too powerful.
"Warn…Chariot…"
"We'll go get Chariot, Mr. Org, but you have to let go first," Diana leapt forward and said. "Just let go and we'll go get her…."
"Thank you, Lahar, and when you've done that, I would like a cup of tea. Superintendent Crowley will be arriving shortly, we are going over the details of our Anti-Magic armament agreement."
Org was now talking fluently to a tree again, and seemed completely unaware that any of them were there, which surprised Akko so much she didn't notice that Org had released her.
"Yes, twelve cases of Ant-Magic plated armor as we agreed upon, most satisfactory, knew Crowley was the right man for the job, yes, agreed, yes, very good. Now, if you could bring me that memo from the Pope, I think I will have time to draft a response…."
"You need to go find Ursula," Diana muttered fretfully in Akko's ear. "We'll stay with him until you get back – "
"You want us to stay with him?" Andrew hissed doubtfully, staring down at Org, who was still gabbling to the tree, apparently convinced it was his assistant. "He's off his rocker!"
"Yeah, and wouldn't it be better to get Professor Holbrooke?" said Akko. "She might be able to help – "
"Just…go find Professor Ursula – immediately!" snapped Diana, who seemed to purposely avoid Akko's eye. "Trust me on this."
Akko didn't see any point in arguing; they were wasting valuable time as it was. She started to get up, but her movement seemed to trigger another abrupt change in Org, who seized her hard around the knees and pulled Akko back to the ground.
"Don't…leave…me!" he whispered, his eye bulging again. "I…escaped…must warn…must tell…see Chariot…my fault…all my fault…Crowley…dead…all my fault…Kuroi…my fault…tell Chariot…Akko Kagari…she's coming back…I hear her…her voice…I hear her…bringing her back…The Star-Born Child…."
"We'll find Chariot if you let go, Mr. Org!" said Diana, tugging Akko's tunic alongside her. She looked furiously around at Andrew. "Help us, would you?"
Looking extremely apprehensive, Andrew moved forward and squatted down next to Org.
"We'll keep him here," said Diana as Akko pulled herself free. "Bring Ursula back with you."
"And please hurry, won't you?" Andrew called after her as Akko sprinted away from the forest and up through the dark grounds. They were deserted; The Grand Master and the champions had disappeared. Akko tore up the stone steps, through the oak front doors, and off up the spiraling staircase to the astronomy tower.
Five minutes later, she was hurtling up the staircase towards Ursula's living quarters, stopping on the landing below clutching the stitch in her side. Before she could continue climbing the rest of the way –
"Kagari, was it?"
Akko was frozen in place as effectively as one of Zeref's spells. She looked up as someone came down the stairs she was headed. It was Ram from Black Star Academy, casting an emotionless gaze that seemed to pierce Akko's soul. She came to a stop a few steps avoid Akko, hands folded serenely behind her back, and tilted her head in curiosity.
"And what brings you here, Kagari?"
"I need to see Professor Ursula!" said Akko, gesturing wildly to express the urgency. "It's Org…from the Magic Council…he just showed up…he's in the forest…he's asking – "
"Org? From the Magic Council?" said Ram, her golden eyes glittering. "What are you talking about?"
"Org!" Akko shouted insistently. "You know – bald, one eye, looks like a Lord of the Rings reject! He's lost his mind or something – he's in the forest, he wants to see Shiny Chariot! I just need to see Professor Ursula – "
Akko made her way to go around when Ram held out a hand to cut her off.
"Let's not be so hasty," said Ram, her thin mouth curling into an unpleasant smile. "Ursula is very sick, after all. No need to bother her with such trifles."
"I've got to tell Ursula!" Akko yelled.
"Perhaps you should let me handle this, Kagari?" said Ram silkily. "If Org has truly lost his mind, as you say, then he could be very dangerous…."
Ram seemed to be getting some sick satisfaction out of this. Whether it was because of Akko's panic or because of whatever was happening to Org, she couldn't say.
"Look!" said Akko fearfully. "Org isn't right in the head – he's – he's lost his mind or something – I need to talk to Professor Ursula – "
They heard a clatter of footsteps coming down the stairs behind Ram. Ursula was standing there, wearing her ratty old track suit and a mildly curious expression.
"Is there a problem?" she said, looking between Akko and Ram.
"Professor!" Akko said, sidestepping Ram before Ram could speak, "Org is here – he's down in the forest! He's asking for Shiny Chariot, but – "
Akko expected Ursula to ask questions, but to her relief, Ursula did nothing of the sort.
"Lead the way," she said promptly, and she swept off down the stairway behind Akko, leaving Ram behind with a scornful look on her face.
"What did Org say, Akko?" said Ursula as they swept swiftly down the spiraling staircase.
"Said he wants to warn Chariot…said he's done something terrible…he mentioned Mato Kuroi…and Crowley…and – and kept saying something about her – something about 'bringing her back'…."
"I see," said Ursula, and she quickened her pace as they hurried out into the pitch-darkness.
"He's acting crazier than usual," Akko said, hurrying along beside Ursula. "I don't think he knows where he is. He keeps talking to a tree and thinks it's his assistant., and then he flips out and says he needs to see Shiny Chariot…. I left him with Diana and Andrew."
"You did?" said Ursula sharply, and she began to take longer strides, so that Akko was running to keep up. "Do you know if anybody else saw Org?"
"No," said Akko. "Me, Diana, and Andrew were talking, the Grand Master just finished telling us about the last game, we stayed behind, and then we saw Org coming out of the forest – "
"Where are they?" said Ursula as the paddocks emerged from the darkness.
"Over here," said Akko, moving in front of Ursula, leading the way through the trees. She couldn't hear Org's voice anymore, but she knew where she was going; it hadn't been much past the paddocks…somewhere around here….
"Diana?" Akko shouted. "Andrew?"
No one answered.
"They were here," Akko said to Ursula. "They were definitely somewhere around here…."
Ursula whipped out her wand and summoned a ball of light with a flourishing motion. Its faint rays traveled from black trunk to black trunk, illuminating the ground. And then it fell upon a fair of familiar shapes.
Akko and Ursula hurried forward. Both Diana and Andrew were sprawled facedown on the forest floor. They seemed to be unconscious. There was no sign at all of Org. Ursula turned Andrew and gently lifted one of his eyelids.
"They've been knocked out – physically," she said softly. Her glasses glittered in the light of the shining spell as she peered around the surrounding trees. "Likely a blunt strike to the head. Both of them are lying face-down, so their attacker struck from behind, catching them unaware."
"Should I get someone?" said Akko. "Porlyusica?"
"No," said Ursula swiftly. "Stay here."
She raised her wand into the air and pointed it in the direction of the school. Akko saw a red-and-gold flare dart out of it and streak away toward the towers like a phoenix in flight. Then Ursula bent over Andrew, pointed her wand at him, and muttered, "Surgit."
Andrew opened his eyes. He looked dazed. He sat up as Ursula moved over to Diana, turned her on her back, and cast the same spell to wake her.
"He attacked us!" Andrew muttered, putting a hand up to his head. "That old madman attacked us! We heard a noise and thought it was Akko coming back, so we turned around and he attacked us from behind!"
"Be still for a moment," Ursula said, easing Diana into a sitting position.
The sound of hurried footfalls reached them, and Blair came panting into sight. She was holding up a jack-o-lantern above her head.
"Ursula!" she said, her eyes widening. "Akko-nyan – what the - ?"
"Blair, I need you to fetch Professor Holbrooke, and Finnelan if you can," said Ursula. "One of her students has been attacked. When you've done that, kindly alert Zeref – "
"No need, Ursula," said a chilling voice. "I'm here."
Zeref stepped into the light of Blair's lantern, emerging from the shadows like a phantom that even Blair let out a surprised yelp.
"I would have arrived sooner, but I got caught up with Ram on the way," he said. "What happened here? Did anyone see where Org had gone to?"
"Org?" said Blair blankly.
"Holbrooke, please, Blair!" said Ursula sharply.
"Oh yeah…I'll get right on that…," said Blair, and she turned and trotted up to the school, her lantern bobbing in the darkness.
"How did you know Org was here, Zeref?" Ursula asked suddenly. "Did Ram tell you?"
"No, I saw him coming out of the forest on Chariot's old guidebook," said Zeref evenly. There was a moment where Ursula shot a look toward Akko, who purposely turned away, whistling innocently. "But then I noticed something…odd."
"Odd?" Ursula repeated.
"When Org appeared in the book, he was with Kagari, Cavendish, and Hanbridge," Zeref told her. "Kagari left them and ran back to the castle. But not a moment later, Kagari went back down to the forest…and she was with someone else."
"We didn't see Akko coming back/I didn't come back," Andrew and Akko said at the same time.
"Well, her name was printed clearly on the book," said Zeref.
"And who was the other person, Zeref?" Ursula interrupted before Akko could argue.
"That's the strangest part – the name was left blank," said Zeref. "I watched Kagari and the second person approach Cavendish, Hanbridge, and Org from the side. All of a sudden, Org's name disappeared off the book, Cavendish and Hanbridge stayed in place, but Kagari and the second person ran back to the castle. About a minute later, I watched you and Kagari running back down, and that's when I decided to follow."
"But…how that even possible?" asked Diana. "Who was it?"
Akko already knew – that hooded figure that had broken into Zeref the night she and Diana had deciphered the clue for the third game. Somehow, they knew Org was on the grounds and had done something about it while Akko was looking for help.
"I don't know how to explain what the book saw," said Ursula, "but it is essential that we find Org."
"I'm on it," said Zeref, and he walked off into the forest, blending in with the shadows.
None of them spoke again until they saw the unmistakable light of Blair's jack-lantern returning. Professor Holbrooke and Professor Finnelan were hurrying along behind her; Finnelan looked particularly pale and agitated.
"What is this?" she cried when she saw Diana on the ground and Ursula and Akko beside her. "What's going on?"
"We were attacked!" said Andrew, getting to his feet now and rubbing his head. "Org or whatever his name – "
"Org attacked you? The representative from the Magic Council? He attacked you?"
"This is a very serious accusation," Professor Holbrooke said, peering over the rims of her glasses. "Are you absolutely sure – "
"We're not positive," Diana cut in before Andrew could get a word in. "We didn't actually see the attacker. Our backs were turned when they struck us from behind – "
"Which is where that old man would have had the ripe opportunity to attack us from!" Andrew snapped.
"I understand that you are upset, Mr. Hanbridge, and you have every reason to be if what you say is true," said Professor Holbrooke soothingly. "But before you go shouting it to the whole world, think about what you have said for a moment. A representative of the Magic Council – one who is responsible for helping the Contest of Champions, which is supposed to represent unity between species – has attacked you, who is from a family of one of the most influential Humans in the world. If word were to get out of such an incident –
"My father wouldn't hesitate to use this as an example of anti-human sentiment on the Demi-Human's part," Andrew muttered, his brow furrowed. "It would spark controversy and mistrust."
"Almost as if someone wants that to happen," said Diana suspiciously. "Perhaps…whoever did attack us wants to turn Humans and Demi-Humans on each other?"
"Like the Purifiers," Akko mumbled; flashes of the Chariot Racing Tournament and men in futuristic armor appeared in the forefront of her mind.
"Right now, it's nothing more than baseless suspicion," said Professor Holbrooke. "Until we learn more about what happened, I suggest we keep the incidents of this night to ourselves, rather than sending everyone into a blind panic. Blair, Kindly escort Miss Kagari to the school. Please do the same with Miss Cavendish, Professor Finnelan. Professor Ursula, I hope it's not too much to ask you to see Mr. Hanbridge back to Appleton safely."
Frowning, Ursula cast an uneasy gaze into the forest.
"Maybe I'd better stay here, headmistress…."
"Please tale Mr. Hanbridge back to Appleton, Professor Ursula," Professor Holbrooke repeated firmly. "Blair, Professor Finnelan, be sure that everyone returns to their dorms. And Miss Kagari – I want you to stay there. Anything you might want to do – any letters you might want to send – they can wait until morning; do you understand me?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Akko begrudgingly. She must have already known that, at that very moment, Akko had been thinking about sending a letter straight to Izetta, to tell her what had happened.
"I'll leave this here for you, granny," Blair said, pushing the jack-lantern slowly across the air until it was hovering over Holbrooke; the brim of the headmistress's hat cast a deep shadow over her eyes, making her expression unreadable. "C'mon, Akko-Nyan."
They marched in silence past the paddocks, following behind Professor Finnelan and Diana, and up toward the school.
"What were you thinking?" Blair suddenly hissed angrily to Akko, who looked up at her, taken aback. "Wandering off in the middle of the night, doing god knows what? You of all people should understand how dangerous that is, especially now, especially when the world is turning on its head. Has the past four years taught you nothing – "
"I wasn't on my own!" said Akko as they climbed the steps into the entrance hall. "I was with Andrew and Diana – "
"And a lot of good they were," said Blair grimly, stomping up the stairs. "Both of them were knocked flat on their faces and Org got away. What the hell was Hanbridge even doing here in the first place?"
"They wanted to talk," Akko said, annoyed. "About Scaglietti's article and –
"Are you ser – AKKO!" said Blair furiously, and she looked quite frightening for a moment. "You put yourselves in danger for teen drama? Akko, how many times are you going to keep putting your life at risk before start using common sense? You're not a little kid any more. You're almost an adult, and you need to start acting like it!"
For someone who was saying she was almost an adult, Blair was certainly treating her like a child, Akko thought irritably. She was quite glad to say good-bye to her at the dorm entrance. She clambered through the archway into the common room and hurried straight for the corner where Lotte and Sucy were sitting, to tell them what had happened.
Again, please show your support for Serenity Academy, because you know I'm just going to keep repeating this message over and over again.
Next chapter: The Dream