Crimson eyes looked glum besides two of her witch roommates. Yesterday night's witching purge was a failure, not only was she hit in the right arm by the 'murowa' spell, which was still feeling extremely sore, she was forced to retreat when her blade was only an inch away from Diana's throat because, for some fucking apparent miracle, the target had manage to alert the teachers.
It was shit, seeing as she was that close to killing the target.
She grumbled, and now here she was, along with the other witches, in the auditorium. Arm still feeling like shit, those bastard witches that she encountered when she first came here, were clinging to Diana like some kind of leech.
The principal had arranged an announcement, and Akko was guessing it had something do with her attack. She felt her lips tug into a smirk. How fun.
The students' chattering were surrounding the auditorium, waiting for the teachers and principal Holbrooke to appear. Akko yawned as she leaned her back against the wall, earning a few looks of disgust when she didn't cover her mouth. What funny looking pricks.
For what seemingly like an hour of waiting, the Principal, along with the teachers, had appeared in the stage. They walked in the center and the crimson eyed girl had quickly noted their serious expression. Even the fish that was in the bowl, she could tell, was also wearing her serious expression.
"Everyone, settle down." The teacher, Ursula, said in a calm voice, which was easily overpowered by the students' chattering. "SILENCE!" Professor Finnelan commanded, instantly shushing the students up, their gaze immediately finding hers as they gave her their full attention. The professor nodded to herself and walked behind the principal, who thanked her, and started talking.
"As you may have known, school had started just a few weeks back, and we were hoping you had already settled in the school. Security in this school is, of course, created by the great magical ministry to keep all the witch hunters away." She paused, as if taking a deep breath. "But unfortunately we were infiltrated-" The witches boomed, their scared expression making Akko smile inwardly.
"Settle down, settle down-"
"QUIET!" And just like that, all eyes were on Finnelan, who was wearing an annoyed expression. There was a pregnant pause, then the principal continued. "I would like for all of you to be cautious. The fairies are to be on surveillance and they would be strict when it comes to curfew, and the curfew would now start at eight instead of nine. I would also like Ms. Cavendish to see me in my office, that is all."
Principal Holbrook walked away along with Finnelan and Pisces, while Ursula was left behind to check on the students. True to the principal's words the fairies are on guard, they could be seen at any part of the school. Be it the dinning area, the library, the entrance to the dorms, the field you name it. Atsuko laughed, how silly.
Anyways, she didn't make any moves for a couple of days. Reason? Well, let's just wait and see.
Atsuko stretched her hands up the air, ignoring her roommates chattering in the background. It was after school, hence, students were flowing out of their respective classrooms. Well, it's not like talking to them matters anyways. She wanted to be out of this damn school, but the actual reason as to why she hasn't done anything yet is because she can't seem to get a good angle on her target.
She's either surrounded by teachers, which was a no, no in her book, surrounded by her peers, her roommates, not like she won't enjoy eradicating them too along with Diana.
"Hey, Akko, do you want to eat dinner with us? It's an opportunity to also start the assignment Professor Finnelan assigned us." Lotte said looking at her shyly, while her other roommate looked at them with a bored expression on her face.
Atsuko scoffed at herself, she'd rather be dead than to eat with witches.
She smiled at them brightly (?) as she opened her mouth to say something.
"Ms. Kagari?" The trio turned their gaze towards the voice, where they saw Professor Ursula looking at her through her lenses. "Principal Hoolbroke sent me to tell you to come with me to the principal's office." Ursula said with a kind expression.
Great. Just what she fucking needed.
Was it because she slept all through those boring classes and has no intention of actually studying that they're going to give her the talk?
"Oh, uhm, of course." Atsuko said with a nod, she turned her gaze towards her roommates. "It's alright if you can't join us," Not like she wanted to come. "Next time I suppose?"
She nodded, and watched the two of them walk away, well not until she saw Sucy look at her a few seconds long before following Lotte.
Creepy.
"Ms. Kagari?" Ursula called out, waiting for her student to walk with her. Atusko sighed to herself, before walking towards the witch and towards the principal's office.
"So, got any idea why I'm walking towards the principal's office?" Atsuko said rudely, not like she cared what they thought of her. "Uhm, to be honest with you, I don't really know. Principal Hoolbroke just asked for me last minute." The professor said with an unsure smile. To be entirely honest, she wasn't quite comfortable with Kagari Akko. There was something about the kid that does not sit well with the professor. "How are classes going?" The crimson eyed girl looked at the professor as if she had said something weird.
Well asking something like that out of the blue was weird in itself.
"Hmm." Atsuko replied. Not really much a reply. "If I may ask, Professor, why do you think they set up the leyline barrier?" She asked, completely ignoring the question. Ursula seemed to slow down her tracks and looked at the younger girl, who was looking at her curiously and was smiling at her innocently.
"Well, I can't really answer that question since I don't have the answer to that." Ursula finished, smiling at her student in another unsure smile. "Really? Shouldn't you know why? I mean even my roommate gave me an answer. She told me it was to keep witch hunters away." the crimson eyed girl said, with a tilt on her head, her face showing confusion as not to raise any suspicion.
Ursula furrowed her eyebrows slightly, but continued to smile. "Well, that is mostly correct, witch hunters have been quite active lately. But for the entire reason for the need of the barrier, I have no idea." The professor finished.
Atusko observed her professor with an eerie smile, then she hummed once again, walking just a little bit ahead of the professor.
"How boring." She whispered, but it wasn't missed by Ursula, who looked at her suspiciously. The Professor opened her mouth to ask why her student had said that but was interrupted by her student.
"Professor Ursula?" The woman in question snapped back in reality and noticed that they were in front of the principal's office.
"You got to be fucking kidding me." Atusko whispered as she stared at the girl a few feet from her.
Lets recap this shit show, shall we? Well, after her and Ursula went to the principal's office, she was told that her grades were dropping and that if she keep on failing, they would have to send her back.
Which was absolutely no problem for her to be honest. The only thing hindering her from wholeheartedly dropping out of the damn school, was that she hasn't actually killed her target yet, and the main reason why she even agreed in coming here in the first place.
She has yet to find Chariot du Nord.
After a bit of talking, with Atusko clenching her teeth and clucking her tongue every chance she gets, which was highly disrespectful specially in front of the principal, they had eventually come into terms. That terms being Ursula would teach her half of the basic spells and would actually help her pass, the other being, another student would help tutor her in technical subjects.
Don't misunderstand. Atsuko is highly intelligent. She was actually top of her class back in the 'other' academy, advanced combat combined with advanced studies, makes her all the more terrifying.
It's just that she's actually not feeling it if she's surrounded by a bunch of shitty witches who thinks they're all high and mighty, but cowers at the sight of death.
And that's how she finds herself staring at her target in a library. Diana Cavendish, who was sitting on a chair doing something on a piece of paper as her quill dances through it.
Okay.
What the fuck.
They have over 5,420 students inside this damn campus, trust me she counts, and the other student to tutor her was Diana. Really Principal Hoolbroke? You really want Diana killed that bad? Well, not like she's complaining or anything, makes her job more easier.
Atsuko reached behind her back, where an expertly hidden knife was located. She observed the surrounding, no students are in the vicinity, Diana was located at a closed off area, sounds wouldn't be a problem if she'd take her target by surprise. How unfortunate for Diana to choose such a spot and to be alone nonetheless, and how fortunate for Atsuko for Diana to be alone.
Atsuko walked slowly, her footstep muffled by the carpeted floor. A few feet and moving closer, and closer-
"Ms. Kagari?" She heard Diana said, causing her to hide her knife behind her back swiftly. Blue eyes turned to meet crimson, "Ah, yes, I have been informed. So you're the student I'm tutoring?" The witch asked, then she shook her head. "Don't answer that question, why else would you be here for?"
'Uhh, to kill you?'
Atsuko didn't say anything, whilst Diana fixed the books that were on the table to create space. As she finished, the burgundy haired girl has yet to take a seat. "Well? Are you just going to stand there?"
Atusko chuckled, confusing the other girl. "Geez there miss perfect, let me just prepare." Diana looked at her with furrowed eyebrows. "Prepare for what, if I may ask?"
The crimson eyed girl smirked, as she met Diana's blue eyes.
"Well, for one I'll be stuck in these confinement you call library with possibly the most boring girl on campus." Atsuko said with a smile on her face, her sentence causing Diana to feel anger rise within her, but completely dissipated as fast as it had appeared.
"Define me whatever you would like, Ms. Kagari, you're not getting out of this confinement." Diana said as a matter of fact as she looked at Atsuko with challenging eyes.
"Sure, whatever you say, honey." The witch hunter said with a wink, irking the prodigy further but didn't say anything.
Atusko actually had to say, these lessons with Ursula was quite bit entertaining. It not that she's actually enjoying magic or anything, in fact very far from that, she just thinks that it was really convenient for them to be so stupid.
Teaching a witch hunter magic? How unheard of. It almost makes her want to bark a laugh at how pathetic the situation is. Well, it's not like they could help it, her disguise as a student is very effective, and as much as she hated to admit, she might actually have to thank Daryl for this one.
"So then, prof, I'd just have to point the wand to anyone and utter 'murowa'?" Professor Ursula shook her head. "No, Miss Kagari, you don't use offensive spells to anyone unless absolutely necessary." The blue haired teacher massaged her forehead, an hour of basic spells and she's here trying to figure out how to actually teach the other girl, who doesn't seem to take the lessons seriously.
"And we are not here to practice such spell today, I heard from you professors that you've failed to perform a metamorphosis spell?" Atusko just shrugged, flicking her wand and toying with it. 'How ridiculous is this piece of shit? Magic comes out from this? If it were me, wouldn't it be more convenient to use magic without this crap?'
"Well, Miss Kagari, please stand over here." Ursula beckoned for her student to stand to where she had pointed. With a sigh, the witch hunter begrudgingly walk towards the professor. Crimson eyes looked at the Professor and awaited for what's next.
"This is a simple magic, one that does not require a lot of magic. All you have to do is imagine the animal you want to turn into and channel the magic throughout your body for the transformation. Once everything is secure, utter this words 'Metamorphis Fascies.' Ursula explained, making a motion with her hand before turning to look at her student. "Why don't you try it out?"
Atusko sighed and closed her eyes, and silence surrounded the two for a few seconds then-
"Metamorphis Fascies." As soon as she said that, nothing happened. But the witch hunter opened one eye and created a sound of explosion, and grinned. "Boom! I'm a tiger, roar!" She said with much vigor, as she messed with Ursula, who looked at in disbelief.
"Why a tiger?" The professor asked, ignoring the fact that her student failed to comply. "Hmm, Miss Perfect turned into one." Atusko said without any explanation.
"Miss Perfect?" The burgundy haired girl nodded. "Diana Cavendish of course, they asked us to cast it this morning. Doesn't she have a huge stick up her ass?"
"Miss Kagari! We do not badmouth other student in this campus." Ursula said, but her face was betraying her. Well, it's not like she didn't like Diana, to be honest, she's pretty much impressed by the student. But sometimes she does have her moments.
Atusko laughed and smirked at the giggling professor. "See? You get it too professor."
Ursula giggled but then she looked at the crimson eyed girl. "It maybe so, but badmouthing other students is not good, Miss Kagari." Atusko grinned, and hold up both her hands. "Anyways, shall we continue?"
"Haah~" Atusko let out a big sigh as she plopped on the bed. School had just finished and now she needs to go and meet Diana and Ursula for another tutoring bullshit she doesn't actually need. The tutoring had been happening for three times now. After an hour with Diana, she needs to meet and stay with Ursula for basic magic something something.
She needs to be honest to herself, she really just wanted to get it over with and just kill Diana when they're having lessons, but Chariot has yet to appear making it really shitty for her.
"Close your mouth, you might catch some flies." Sucy said, not taking her eyes off of her mushroom. "Well, I'm frustrated since I have to head out again just to meet with Diana and Professor."
"That's what you get for being so stupid." The Filipino said nonchalantly. Atsuko sat up and stared at her roommate, she smirked. "Heh~ You want to challenge me? Wi-Sucy?" She nearly slipped. Be careful.
Sucy turned her head to meet crimson orbs, then back to her mushroom. "On what? Who's more stupid than the both of us?"
"How about surpassing Diana Cavendish with a subject?"
Sucy turned her gaze away from her mushroom, as she studied Atsuko's face before smirking. "You? Surpassing Cavendish? How rich, but nonetheless, I accept the challenge on one condition. If I win you get to be my guinea pig."
"And if you lose?"
Sucy shrugged, not really thinking what would happen if she loses. Atsuko hummed as she tried to think of something, then she too smirked. "You get to do everything I say."
"How fishy." The gloomy witch said, but stuck out her hand nonetheless. "You got yourself a deal, guinea pig." The burgundy haired girl accepted the hand and shook.
It wasn't a surprise for Atsuko to actually surpass Diana on one subject, namely Fundamental Alchemy. Back in her academy, even if they are so against magic, they had to use alchemy to create one of the most potent vial against witches. Either to nullify magic, which one could actually live without once you reach a certain rank, for speedy recovery, to heighten their senses, or to create an effective weapon against witches.
Well, it was no surprise. You can't kill magical beings with normal materials, you kill magic with magic.
Even if it was no surprise to the crimsons eyed girl to surpass the prodigy, the witches sure did. Nearly barking out a powerful laugh as she saw their mouth agape, as disbelief was etched on all their stupid faces. Even the prodigy herself was surprised at the outcome of the test, heck the teacher too. She smirked, well not like she could help it, it was refreshing to put these witches in their place.
Sucy was actually quite surprised too, grumbling to Atsuko when the results came out, while Lotte was congratulating her enthusiastically. But still, it doesn't matter if Atsuko had surpassed probably the most intelligent student in the campus, she still wasn't getting out of being tutored by her.
Which leads to now.
"Miss Kagari, as nice it was for you to surpass me on one subject, don't let it get it all on your head and finish what I've asked you to finish." Diana said with a scowl, her eyes showing annoyance. To which the witch hunter could only just chuckle.
Diana might be her target, but it was actually quite cute to see her rile up.
"Geez, princess, what got your panties in a twist?" The blue eyed girl cringed at the statement. "How crude, what I ask of you is to finish what was given to you, and here we are thirty minutes in our lesson with only thirty minutes left, and all you have done is ruffle my feathers." Atsuko grinned whilst the witch glared. "I'll have you know, that what happened a while ago does not bother me, in fact it enlightens me that what we're doing is actually beneficial to you."
"Hee~ What we're doing?" The crimson eyed girl said with a lecherous look on her face, Diana furrowed her eyebrows as the other girl leaned up just to meet Diana's face and whispered in her right ear. "What exactly are we doing, Di-a-na~" The prodigy's face lit up as she leaned away from the witch hunter.
'How easy.' Atsuko grinned, plopping back down to the chair and giggled. "Relax, I won't do anything and I understand what you mean." Diana scowled at the giggling girl but shook her head. "Just finish your work." The blue eyed witch whispered, to which the hunter smirked and nodded.
The burgundy haired girl chuckled, as she grabbed the quill and scribbled. Diana, too focused on her work, noticed that the girl in front of her had finally started working. Until Atsuko giggled.
"May I ask what's so funny?" The crimson eyed girl looked up from her work, then she shook her head with a smile. "Nothing, nothing." The prodigy stared for a moment, before shrugging it off. Only to be interrupted by another giggle.
"Miss Kagari-"
"Alright! Alright, I'll stop." Atsuko said as she tried to stifle her laughter, continuing her work, making Diana's scowl deepen. It only took a few seconds before the burgundy haired girl's laughter erupted, causing the blue eyed witch to glare at her, and with a flick of her wrist, the paper Atsuko was working on flew to Diana's hand.
The prodigy's eyebrow twitched, drawn on the paper, the crimson eyed girl was suppose to write her answers, was a portrait of her. It wasn't a drawn picture where someone would appreciate it, in fact it was an interpretation of Atsuko of her, with closed eyes in a haughty manner along with her signature wavy locks and a pointed nose upturned.
Blue eyes shifted her gaze towards the girl in front of her, who was busy trying to stifle her laughter with her hand, then the prodigy sighed and shook her head as she set the paper beside her.
"Miss Kagari, would you please focus on your work? It would be much appreciated if you did and we could move on to the next subject." Diana said said in a calm manner, causing the laughter in Atsuko to slowly die down.
"Fine, fine." The witch hunter said with a smile.
"Hmm, it seems that today is still no good." Ursula said as she studied Atsuko's form. It's been half an hour when after Diana's lessons, and half an hour since they have started basic magic with Atsuko still becoming anything. Well, it's not like she could blame herself, she isn't a bitc- ahem witch.
This is their fourth meeting with still no magic whatsoever, but still, even if the hunter wasn't able to perform any magic, the professor was still there cheering her on. Saying things like she would eventually get it or you could do it. It was...refreshing. In her academy, even if she was able to perform even the most complex task she wouldn't get any praise or anything, just the higher ups noting that she was ready to be deployed.
But Ursula was different. She actually cares for her, Atsuko could feel it. Saying words of encouragement, patting her head when Atsuko just get infuriated on why she had to do magic when nothing comes out, smiling gently and asking her to try again and never give up.
It was...refreshing.
Ursula placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and smiled gently. "How about we try again?"
So much so that she hates it.
Ever since she was a child, she didn't need anyone. Why? When they were gone from an early age. She didn't need words of encouragement to survive, she would be better off without it, she didn't need someone to pat her head when she was get infuriated, telling her to not give up, being able to tell when something was bother her.
Why?
Why was Ursula so kind?
"Eh? Miss Kagari? Child, why are you crying?
Crying?
The witch hunter lowered her wand and placed a hand on her face and felt something damp. She was crying.
"Oh, uh, don't mind me, it's my time of the month. Emotionally unstable right now." She said with a wet laugh. Ursula's face looked concerned and placed a hand on her student's back. "Are you okay? Do you want to cut the lesson short? I could-"
Atsuko brushed the hand away from her back. "I'm fine, I'll just- I'll take your offer and cut the lesson short if that's alright." The professor looked at her student the concern written in her face still has yet to go away.
"Of course, please use the remaining time to rest. I suppose I'll see you tomorrow." Ursula said with a gentle smile, making it harder to breath for the witch hunter. She needed to get out.
Closing the door behind her, the crimson eyed girl bolted away from the room. Just a while ago she was having an okay day, with surpassing Diana and all that and actually talking to her target, which she surprisingly enjoyed, and now she's crying?
There must be something wrong with her. The burgundy haired girl shook her head and narrowed her eyes, she have no time for this. Walking to where her room was located, rushed footsteps was heard in an almost empty hallway.
She wanted to take her mind off things.
She wanted to vent and just move her body.
She wanted to feel the pump of blood through her veins.
She wanted to feel hot red liquid in her face.
The witch hunter closed her eyes as she stood in front of her mahogany door, standing there for a moment, and opened her eyes to reveal cold crimson eyes. Then she smirked.
'Guess I'll try killing Diana again.'
I swear 'Illusion' isn't dead.