Luna Nova corridors
It is early morning in the second Tuesday of the current semester.
Having just finished her early morning self-studying session in the library, Diana, with her academy-issued broom in one hand, is on her way to the sports field for the day's Broom Flying Class.
Her mind briefly wandered back to the incident in the cafeteria yesterday. On how Elsa accused Hannah and Barbara of dumping paint all over her, how the Norwegian student violently lashed out at the duo, how Amanda accidentally stopped time in the process of intercepting Elsa's attack, how the Irish-American redhead proceed to pull all sorts of pranks on her fellow students...
Diana felt herself boiling with anger at the thought of how Amanda, during the stopped time, had decided to be an opportunist. The nerves of that Amanda O'Neil! Who knows what other ways has she taken advantage of her in in what is essentially a literal instant...
Unfortunately for the ace student, she has no way to prove any of it, which meant that Amanda basically got away with... as Amanda herself put it, "removing the stick that was jammed up there for years"... and could basically keep doing it for as many times as she like, and Diana would never even realize it. Diana hoped that the "stick-removing" was the furthest extent of what Amanda did to her during that instance.
Curse that American delinquent and her American mentality.
She instinctively has to look prim and proper at all times, so Diana forced herself to snuff out the boiling anger, as she perfected her posture and calmly made her way toward the sports field. In contrast, most of her fellow students within the same corridor are running (some appeared to be still chewing their breakfasts) toward wherever their next class will be taking place in. Although it's not that Diana's aristocratic background makes it unbecoming of her to even think of running, but rather that her respiratory illness will prevent her from doing so.
Diana felt it suddenly difficult to breathe, an indication that her respiratory illness is kicking in. She stopped in her tracks, pulled out the inhaler that the academy infirmary insisted on her using since her last visit there, and quickly put it to her mouth and took a puff of it before her breathing could become too labored for her to even stand.
Feeling her breaths becoming steady again, Diana removed the inhaler from her mouth, and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the mouthpiece of the inhaler before putting both items away.
She didn't like the so-called modern technology due to them undermining the ancient traditions of magic. But when it comes to dealing with her respiratory illness, she decided that she is willing to make an exception for her inhaler. Before the inhaler, she had always used a constant stream of magic to suppress her symptoms, and her unexpected magic duel against Chloe made her realize that it is dangerously inefficient and she had to spend the rest of the day in the infirmary just to make sure she doesn't choke to death.
The ace student soon noticed that she has stopped next to a cabinet full of photos of previous graduates of Luna Nova starting from the 1900s.
Out of curiosity, she scanned through all of the photos displayed on the cabinet. All of the photos are labelled with the names graduation years of the graduates (and dates of passing for those who have since passed on), which allows current students to identify their predecessors.
Diana easily recognized some of the graduates depicted in the photos.
Anne Finneran, graduated year 1979.
Adrien Nelson, graduated year 1979.
Huh. It wouldn't have ever occurred to Diana that Luna Nova's Deputy Headmistress and Broom Flight instructor would contrast each other so much in many ways, especially back when they're still teenagers. Finneran being totally stoic and rigid in her graduation photo reminded Diana of herself (if she's brunette and Irish), but Diana had to force herself not to giggle at the sight of a teenage Nelson performing an American military salute in her graduation photo while still wearing her Luna Nova ceremonial robe complete with witch hat. Nevermind the thought of both Finneran and Nelson being former Red Coven themselves...
Diana then moved on to the next photos displayed on the cabinet.
Dora Dorlin, graduated year 1978.
Marjolaine Villard, graduated year 1978.
Diana knew that Vice Chancellor Dorlin of the East Morgiana Republic and Miss Marjolaine the Rockstar Witch were Luna Nova graduates too, having heard about them from the Luna Nova News Network. She also recalled that they were two of the Luna Nova alumni that are going to attend the coming Alumni Homecoming Party. As her seniors, Diana has much respect for them, even if her career options are going to be completely different than what they chose for themselves.
Diana continued scanning through the photos of past graduates, and then stopped at one particular name.
Chariot Du Nord, graduated year 1999.
Chariot Du Nord, the one witch that managed to make herself a celebrity even before graduating. She took the showbiz world by storm with her flashy and extravagant performances as Shiny Chariot, but in the process got herself branded as a heretic by the most hardcore traditionalist families of the wizarding world. Diana can't help but feel sorry for the French performer, but could not express it to anyone as her statement to Atsuko Kagari about Chariot being a fraud would get her labelled as a hypocrite.
Diana continued scanning through the photos. But her mood went from stoic to sour upon laying eyes on one particular photo.
Bernadette Cavendish, graduated year 1957.
Bernadette Cavendish. That is the name of her mother. The prodigy of Luna Nova at that time. Hailed by Wizarding Britain to be the greatest witch to ever come out of Luna Nova, if not Wizarding Britain, in the modern times.
And the reason Diana is denied the rights to even touch the Claiomh Solais.
"Even years after that tragic day, she continues to haunt me..." Diana muttered to herself. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists as memories of the day in question surfaced.
Steeling her resolves, the ace student then suppressed her emotions and continued on her way to Broom Flying Class.
...
Sports field
"Alright, ladies, listen up!" The drill sergeant-like tone of Professor Nelson bellowed out of the magical megaphone she summoned out of her wand.
The entire class of first year students recoiled at the Flight Instructor's louder and more serious than usual tone.
"I am fully aware of the stereotype about Broom Flying being elegant for a true witch." Professor Nelson continued. "I'd like to say that it is all a load of crap!"
Everyone recoiled again in response to that statement.
"Professor Nelson," Diana took a step forward and said. "I believe it is improper for you to be using such vulgar languages in front of the class."
Professor Nelson shot a glare at Diana in response to that. Though Diana isn't intimidated one bit by it.
"As I was saying," The Flight Instructor continued. "there is nothing elegant about true Broom Flying..." She paused briefly to shoot another glare, this time at Amanda who is showing off among the senior students again. "and only professional stunt-witches perform acrobatics, which you will NOT be learning in this academy, ever!"
So they never teach broom acrobatics at Luna Nova... Akko thought to herself. Maybe Shiny Chariot and Amanda learned it on their own.
"In last week's class, you learned about how to simply start hovering on your brooms." Professor Nelson said as she held her broom out for emphasis. "For today's class, you ladies are going to learn about basic mid-flight maneuvering that simply gets you from Point A to Point B."
So this time it's just getting from one place to another on a broom. Akko hoped that her hovering height of inches wouldn't impact her ability to simply move around on a broom, though damn did Amanda made it look easy.
"However!" Professor Nelson added. "To ensure that nobody is sabotaging anybody, you ladies are going to be doing this one at a time!" The Flight Instructor then pulled out a clipboard. "When I call your name, you're going to come over here with your broom," She pointed at the small yellow flag next to her. "and then when I give you the signal, you're going to fly from here, to there." She then pointed at a small red flag a short distance away. "How fast you make the trip doesn't matter, only that you are able to do it properly."
All the first year students murmured something along the lines of "This should be easy." Except Diana, who gave a bored look, and Molly and Elizabeth, whom somehow looked like they've gone through this several times already.
"Alright! Enough explanation!" Professor Nelson said, grabbing everyone's attention. "First up: Alianov, Verochka!"
Verochka stepped forward. She briefly turned to give Akko a glare - much to the Japanese girl's confusion as she has no idea why the tall Russian girl did so - and then made her way toward the yellow flag. She mounted her broom and chanted the levitation spell upon getting into position.
"On your mark!" Professor Nelson informed before putting a whistle to her mouth.
As soon as the Flight Instructor blew the whistle, Verochka took off toward the red flag, at a speed no faster than an average person running. She reached the red flag without any issues.
"Well done." Professor Nelson told the tall Russian girl. "Now come back so your fellow student can have her turn."
Akko simply watched as she waited for her turn.
Once Verochka made her way back, Professor Nelson called for "Archer, Jeanne" to take her turn.
The redhead mounted her broom, and upon being given the signal to go, shot off to her destination, digging her feet into the dirt in order to slow down upon reaching the red flag.
"Using your feet to slow down from this speed is definitely something that you can do when broom flying, although Anne's not gonna be happy about how you tore up the turf doing so." Professor Nelson commented on Jeanne's performance. "That being said, well done."
Jeanne then flew back at a slower pace so there is no need for her to dig her feet into the dirt.
"Up next," Professor Nelson called out. "Cavendish, Diana!"
Diana stepped out and walked gracefully toward the yellow flag.
"Hold it!" The Flight Instructor suddenly stopped Diana. "You're not wearing your safety equipment again, Miss Cavendish!" She angrily pointed out. "And I won't let you start unless you put them on!"
Groaning in disgust, Diana went back to put on her safety helmet and parachute before returning.
"In light of your condition, Miss Cavendish," Professor Nelson reminded. "I'm going to have to ask you not to do anything that will give you a hard time breathing, even if it means giving other students a chance to do better than you."
Diana let out a softer groan. She doesn't seem happy about giving other people a chance at outperforming her.
Once Professor Nelson blew on the whistle, Diana took off toward the red flag at a moderate pace. It took her about 15 seconds to reach the red flag, which she wasn't happy about (Verochka made the trip in 13 seconds while Jeanne did it in 10). But she took it nice and slowly specifically to avoid setting off her respiratory illness, and given the obvious fact that an airborne broom is the worst possible place to have it happen, she decided to just accept the unsatisfactory result and be done with it.
As Diana rejoined the first year students and Professor Nelson called for "Chang, Lin-Lin", Akko noticed that off the distance where the senior students are supposed to be practicing what they learned from the previous semester, Hannah appears to be bullying Lotte again. Oddly enough, Barbara isn't joining in with her auburn-haired friend with bullying the Finnish girl.
Akko felt herself boiling with anger as she watched Hannah snatch Lotte's glasses off her face and then laugh about it, while Lotte sat balled up on the ground whimpering at the mere presence of the bully.
Just as Hannah looked like she is about to throw Lotte's glasses onto the ground, Barbara suddenly grabbed her friend's hand and stopped her from doing so. Barbara then proceeded to snatch the glasses from Hannah's hand, and simply placed it down in front of Lotte. After that, Barbara guided Hannah away while the latter seemed to ask the former why she did that. Lotte is confused as to why Barbara did that, and so is Akko.
"Kagari, Atsuko!"
Akko was snapped out of her thoughts when Professor Nelson called out her name.
"It's your turn right now, Kagari! So come on over with your broom!" The Flight Instructor called out again, just as Teresa Finneran walked past with a face full of mud.
Akko fumbled a bit with her broom as she made her way toward the yellow flag.
"Remember, it doesn't matter how fast you get to the red flag, only that you are able to get to it without looking like you're showing off." Professor Nelson reminded, but without her usual drill sergeant tone.
Akko then mounted on her broom, and with a chant of "Tia Freyle", she started hovering... mere inches from the ground, just like in last week's class.
However, the Japanese girl isn't going to let that get in her way. She is going to make the trip, no matter how long it takes, just so Hannah and Barbara don't get one new thing to mock her with.
"On your mark!" Professor Nelson announced for Akko to get ready.
Akko adjusted her witch hat, tightened her grip on her broom, and steeled her resolve as she waited for the Flight Instructor to give the signal.
It felt like an hour has passed before Professor Nelson blew on the whistle.
Upon hearing the whistle being blown, Akko shot off toward the direction of the red flag...
...At a slower-than-walking pace.
The combination of Akko's hovering height of inches and her slower-than-walking flight speed inevitably elicited a chorus of giggles from her fellow first year students (except Diana), causing her to blush in embarrassment as she slowly inched toward the red flag on her broom.
Akko is a bit confused by this. She was certain that she was at least average speed when she flew through the Leyline Tunnel to Blytonbury last Saturday...
Okay, so Hannah and Barbara are definitely not going to let her hear the end of this if they hear about it. However, she can still try to at least reach the red flag so that the Blue Coven bullies don't get one more thing to laugh at her for.
As she slowly made her way toward her destination, Akko found herself staring at a Minotaur in janitor uniform who appears to be carrying two large wooden boxes into the main building of Luna Nova, looking around him as though making sure he isn't being watched. Akko could make out what looked like the letters "FIG" on the side of one of the boxes.
What could be in those boxes?
"Watch it, Kagari!" Professor Nelson suddenly called out, snapping Akko out of her thoughts right at the moment she bumped into the red flag and knocked it over.
That elicited yet another chorus of laughter from the other first year students (except Diana, again).
Akko quickly dismounted from her broom, and fumbled as she tried to reset the red flag. As soon as she is done with that, she scanned her surroundings for the Minotaur janitor, but he has already disappeared.
"Maybe next time, you should watch where you're going..." Professor Nelson commented on Akko's performance. "That being said, you still made the trip safely, if a bit on the slow side." She then added. "Now get back there so your fellow first years can have their turns."
Akko picked up her broom and patted off the dirt from her hands as she made her way back to rejoin the other first year students, at the same time Professor Nelson called for "King, Abigail".
"Hey, Akko..." Sucy called out as Akko neared her, holding out a glass jar toward the Japanese girl. "Mind if you spit into this jar for a bit?"
"Why?" Akko asked. "You're not going to clone me, are you?"
"No. Cloning is not my expertise." Sucy informed. "Even then, it's all pure fiction." She impatiently shook the jar before Akko's face. "Just do it, would you?"
"Alright, alright, fine..." Akko responded as she spat into the jar, which Sucy then covered with a lid, and stuffed into her sleeve. "You're not going to do anything weird with my spit, are you?"
"No." Sucy answered straightforwardly. "By the way, how's your leaf hair?"
"Leaf hair?" Akko tilted her head in confusion.
Sucy then pointed at Akko's ponytail, while trying her hardest to suppress her giggling.
Confused even further, Akko reached over her head to grab at her ponytail. "What is so funny about my ha-"
Akko froze upon realizing that where her ponytail should be, there is instead a small plant.
"About time you noticed." Sucy said as she continued to suppress her giggling.
"WHEN DID YOU DO THIS TO ME?!"
"Yesterday, during Professor Badcock's class..."
A Minotaur carrying two boxes labelled "FIG". Hmm, I wonder what that could be foreshadowing?
So many questions have been revealed, and yet none of them are even close to getting answered. You want to know what I'm building up to? Well, you'd just have to keep on reading, then...
Also, opportunistic Amanda is opportunistic.
"Just remember: a believing heart is your magic..."
Afterwords end here.