Chapter 9: Akko the witch.
Akko wasn't nearly as exhausted because of the magical induction as she'd been last week. She felt strong and powerful. She could finally feel the magic coursing through her whole body, like the comforting warmth of hot chocolate on a cold winter night. Her body had apparently accepted it, and now it was hers… if only she could figure out how to use it!
But she would be patient this time. Now that she could actually feel it, she knew it was only a matter of time before she casted her first spell, and she wanted it to be special, spectacular, awe-inspiring. Like her mom's shows! She wasn't just going to let her first spell be a boring translation spell, or a mundane repairing spell. No, in her opinion, magic always had to be extravagant and out-of-this-world. Otherwise, what was the point?
So, she didn't insist Babcock let her participate in class for the hundredth time (she would have probably said no again anyways), and she didn't even ask Finnelan about her practical education yet again. No; this time she waited. Waited for her chance.
Maybe during flying class? After all, flying had always been her dream. But making a broom float a few meters above the ground could only be so impressive. Hmm. Maybe she could use illusion magic, like her mom did during her shows! But… wait, she didn't know the spell!
Actually, she only knew one spell, and it wasn't exactly the most extravagant in the world, but… she guessed it'd have to do. After all, if she attempted something more complicated without even knowing the basis, she was sure she'd end up looking like a fool, and she obviously didn't want that. This was her big moment, after all! The moment where everyone who doubted her would have to recognize she was a witch.
But alas, her opportunity hadn't come yet. And she was starting to get impatient. Like, seriously, it was lunch time already and still there hadn't been a single chance for her to get to show off her new powers in a flashy manner. Ugh. Maybe she'd have to resign herself to just doing a completely normal spell during class and be done with it, since she wanted to do some magic by the end of the day.
She was thinking about that while chewing her potatoes, barely paying attention to whatever her friends were talking about, when her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by someone colliding with her chair and dumping their tray contents all over her hair and uniform.
"Hey, watch it!" She shouted, turning to look at the culprit… and finding Hannah and Barbara staring at her with amusement.
"Oops?" Hannah said, not looking apologetic at all, much less when they both started laughing afterwards.
"Hey Akko, why do you have food all over yourself? Is that the new fashion amongst mortals?" Barbara asked, still laughing.
"Maybe she's just stupid enough to think that covering herself in potatoes would somehow give her magic." Hannah added, smirking maliciously.
"Cut it out, you two!" Amanda yelled from the other side of the table.
"Heh. Now the second biggest idiot in the school is defending her." Barbara added.
"That's because Akko is too stupid to defend herself." Hannah said, staring right at Akko's eyes with a challenging expression, as if daring her to fight her again, to get another punishment. But honestly? It was working. Akko was already seeing red and clenching her hands with rage. All she wanted was to feel their stupid faces being hit by her fists once again.
"Stop it! Don't you have anything better to do?!" She yelled, still trying to reign herself in.
"Yes. But sometimes you just have to give in to your guilty pleasures." Barbara answered nonchalantly.
"Plus, we're doing a public service here, really." Hannah interfered once more. "I mean, no one wants a non-magical girl attending a witching school." She then gave a judgmental gaze towards the other members from the red and green teams. "I mean, aside from these stupid morons, who were probably just hoping for someone who is worse than them at magic."
"Okay, that's it!" Akko got up from her chair in one swift movement, making it tumble to the ground with a thunderous crashing sound, attracting the attention of everyone in the cafeteria. Granted, they were already used to the Japanese girl's fights with the blue team, but unlike usual, this time Akko didn't recklessly throw herself at her sworn enemies. Instead, she got out her wand and pointed at them menacingly.
"And just what are you gonna do with that?" Barbara scoffed. "Stab us?"
"Yeah, it's not like you could cast a spell if you tried." Hannah mocked her too.
"Akko." Lotte said in a pleading tone as she tugged at her shirt, trying to get her to sit down again. But the brunette was far too enraged to just let her bullies go unpunished.
She knew she had never casted a spell before. She knew she had just recently became a witch. She knew she would look like a complete idiot if it didn't work. And she also knew there was a big risk of that being the case. But she also didn't really care. She was far too angry to actually think before acting.
"Metamorphie faciesse!" She yelled, picturing the two girls in front of her like two disgusting sewer rats. Then, she felt… something. Like tickling, but more pleasant. Like warmth. Like… power. It originated from her chest, and traveled through her whole body before reaching the tips of her fingers and, finally, her wand. It felt like a bolt of lightning was leaving her hand when a ball of light appeared and then a cloud of smoke.
But… something was wrong. Hannah and Barbara were still human. But the spell had worked! She felt it, then what…?
Huh. Something hit her legs. Something long and fleshy. Ew. She turned around, trying to see what it was, but found nothing. Huh. And there was that feeling again, at the back of her legs. This time she didn't turn around though, but used her hand to try and catch it, see what it was.
Aha! She got it! It felt like a… worm? But when she tried to tug it to have a better look at it, it wouldn't budge and she also felt a painful sensation at the bottom of her back.
Wait… was this a tail? And…? She let it go to touch her ears, finding the fluffy round ears of a mouse instead.
The spell had worked! Just… not completely. And also not on Hannah and Barbara.
"A-Akko!" Lotte gasped loudly, being the first one to break the silence that had settled over the cafeteria. "You did magic!"
"Why did you transform yourself into a furry?" Sucy cackled.
"I wanted to turn them into rats!" Akko answered, pointing at her bullies, who were just staring at her with wide eyes.
"It doesn't matter. The real question is how?" Amanda interfered. "How the hell did you suddenly become a witch?"
"I…" What was she even supposed to say? I let a stranger experiment on me in order to gain magic? They wouldn't believe her. And if they did, she'd probably have to admit that she'd been seeing Croix. A blood witch. This wouldn't end well. "Uh… I believed in my heart?" She said, but it sounded more like a question.
"Bullshit!" Hannah exclaimed, quickly closing the distance between them. "You're a blood witch, aren't you?" She said while she shoved her finger into Akko's chest accusatorily.
Akko felt her blood run cold. While the accusation certainly wasn't true, she really was a blood witch in principle, wasn't she? But how could they tell the difference? Ugh. She should have thought about this sooner. Now she didn't know what to say!
"Akko? A blood witch?" Barbara scoffed. "Come on, she's too stupid to kill a witch by herself."
Thank you, Barbara! … Wait. She'd called her stupid, hadn't she? Still, Akko had never been happier to hear the black-haired girl talk.
"Maybe her mother did it for her." Hannah accused. And that just was the last straw; Akko forgot everything about magic and blood witches and whatnot, and just threw herself at Hannah, punching her like there was no tomorrow. Of course, she also got hit by the two girls from the blue team, but despite it being two versus one, she managed to land quite a few punches.
And of course, the three of them ended up in Finnelan's office once again.
"Unbelievable!" The teacher was yelling at them, like usual. "I expected as much from Miss Kagari, but you two are from the prestigious England and Parker families! You are supposed to maintain the composure and dignity befitted of Miss Cavendish's roommates. What would she say if she was here?"
Barbara looked like a kicked puppy, truly ashamed and repentant of her actions, but in Hannah's eyes the fire seemed to be burning still with anger and desire for revenge, and the same could be said about Akko.
"With all due respect, professor, I believe Diana would have acted the same." Hannah answered. "Especially considering that Akko here is a blood witch!"
"I'm not!" Akko immediately protested.
"Oh, really? Then why do you have mouse ears?" Hannah retorted, pointing an accusatory finger at her.
"You didn't cast the spell?" Finnelan raised an eyebrow, as she alternated her gaze between the two English girls.
"Of course not!" Akko interfered, not wanting them to take credit for her first spell. "I did!"
"See?!" Hannah shrieked.
"Really?" Unlike what Akko's main bully was expecting, the professor didn't seem perturbed or surprised. Just… thoughtful.
"Professor, please!" Akko intervened. "These two have been teasing me relentlessly, and now they also accuse me of being a blood witch! You gotta do something!"
The professor, however, didn't seem to be listening, as she remained immersed in her own thoughts for a few more seconds before addressing the girls once again.
"Hannah, Barbara." She started. "I assure you there's nothing to worry about. Akko is not a blood witch, and I would appreciate it you don't go around dispersing such rumors."
"But she's a mortal that gained magic!" Hannah kept arguing. She was probably just as surprised as Akko of seeing the professor apparently defend the Japanese girl for once.
"Miss England." Finnelan said firmly, making it clear that it hadn't been a request. "If I hear another word about this subject from any of you two, there will be severe consequences. Are we clear?" Her tone of voice left no room for argument, and while Hannah still looked like she wanted to protest, she ended up pursing her lips and nodding stiffly, alongside her roommate.
"Yes, professor." They both said in unison.
"Very well." Finnelan said, apparently pleased with their answer. "You two are dismissed now."
"What about me?" Akko asked, but the professor didn't answer and instead just watched as the girls from the blue team gave Akko mocking looks as they exited the office. "Professor?" She inquired once more, once the two of them were alone.
"Sit down, Atsuko." Finnelan said, rubbing her temple as if she was getting a headache. The girl couldn't help feeling like she was about to be punished as she sat down on the chair, despite knowing she wasn't the one at fault here… unless Finnelan suspected she was a blood witch, which… how was she going to deny that, again? It surely seemed suspicious that she suddenly gained magic, now that she thought about it.
"Atsuko." The professor called, startling her. Ah, by her angry face it seemed like she had said something Akko had missed because she had been thinking about something else, so she giggled nervously and promptly answered.
"Y-yes?" The professor just sighed in response before speaking once again.
"I asked, how did you gain magic?"
"Oh! Uh…" Akko trailed off, not knowing what to say. Should she just say the truth? But she wouldn't believe her! And even if she did, what if they thought Croix was a bad blood witch? She might be forbidden of seeing her ever again, which just wouldn't work if she wanted her to date her mom. No. She had to invent something, but what? Quick, Akko, think! "Uhm… I just… woke up like this?"
Yeah. No way she'd believe that. Stupid brain.
"I see." The professor nodded pensively.
Wait, what? It worked? That was… unexpected.
"I always thought that would be the case." She kept talking, making Akko more confused with every word. "I never quite bought that Chariot would just adopt a non-magical baby because 'she's just too cute'." She rolled her eyes, as she used her mom's exact words. "I figured you were probably the daughter of a witch. Why she kept it secret and suppressed your powers, I can only guess, but I had a feeling you might regain them shortly after her disappearance."
"Uh… what?" Akko had no idea what she was talking about, to be honest. Suppressing her powers? She didn't have any to begin with!
"This might be a shock, I know, but she did warn me something like this might happen, only a day or two before she was… gone." She seemed to hesitate before saying that last word. Was she hidding something from Akko? She just had a feeling she wasn't sharing everything with her.
And wait… how did her mom even know she'd gain powers? Did she know about Croix's technology? Had they talked before she left? She had so many questions!
Ugh. Her head was starting to hurt.
"Atsuko, listen to me." Finnelan started, using a serious tone that immediately put her on high alert. "I may not know the whole story, but I do know this: you gaining powers just after your mother's disappearance is not a coincidence. Something big is happening right now, and you are part of if somehow. We all are."
At those words, Akko gulped.
"The War of Witches, you mean?" She asked.
"I see you've been paying attention in class." The professor raised an eyebrow, obviously impressed.
"No, I read on my own." Akko shrugged.
"It's better than nothing, I guess." Finnelan sighed. "Anyways, what do you know about the War of Witches?"
"Not much." She admitted. "Just that my mom is the chosen one who will end it."
"You are referring to the prophecies." It wasn't a question, but Akko still nodded in response. "I don't know about their validity, but there are many people who do believe in them. Powerful people. People who will try to hurt your mother, do you understand?"
"You mean… blood witches?" No way Finnelan was going to be the first one to support her apparently crazy theory! But yes, the professor actually nodded gravely in response.
"Despite popular belief, they are not myths, and they are very cunning and powerful." At this point, she paused to give Akko a severe look. "They are seductresses, able to make you believe anything they want, so I must ask you to be careful."
"I understand." Akko said, but really, she was thinking about Croix and how nice she'd been to her. There was no way that had been an act just to lure her in!
"I don't think you do." Finnelan retorted, apparently sensing her hesitance. "Now that you have magic, you're a target to them. Especially because you are the chosen one's daughter."
"Adoptive daughter." Akko normally didn't make that distinction, but she felt this time it was important. Surely they wouldn't want her so much if she didn't have the chosen one's blood literally coursing through her veins… right?
"They will use you to hurt her, Akko." She answered her unspoken question. "Worse, they might sense you as a potential threat and kill you preventively. That's why I'm asking you to promise me, for the good of your mother and every other witch in this planet, that you will be careful and not have any contact with blood witches, alright?"
Did Croix count? Like, she wasn't actually a blood witch anymore. And she was nice too! And smart, and beautiful, and the whole reason she had magic, not to mention her future step mother!
No. Croix definitely didn't count. And Finnelan definitely didn't have to know about her.
"I promise." Akko answered.
"Good." Finnelan sighed in relief. "Just don't go to town alone and don't talk to strangers, alright?" When she got another nod from the Japanese girl, the professor also nodded in satisfaction. "Very well, you are now dismissed."
"Thanks, professor."
And with that, Akko got up from her chair and started walking away. She was about to grab the doorknob, however, when she was stopped by Finnelan once more.
"Hold on." The professor said. When Akko turned around, she noticed she had taken out her wand and was pointing at her. "Metamorphie faciesse." Instantly, she felt a tingling sensation on her nose, ears and the base of her back. Oh, right. She'd completely forgotten about the failed spell.
"Thanks." She said sheepishly.
"Next time be more careful with your spells. This happened because you weren't concentrating enough." The professor said and Akko nodded. "I'll inform the other professors that you are now allowed to partake in the practical subjects."
Akko's smile grew to the point it almost split her face in two. Finally! She'd become a real witch! Just like she'd always wanted!
"Yes! Thank you, professor!" She exclaimed much more enthusiastically this time before running off to tell the good news to her friends. She felt her real adventure was just beginning, and her quest to save her mom was definitely on the right track! She'd become a witch so powerful that blood witches wouldn't dare messing with her ever again! And she'd save her mom with her awesome powers! After all, it should be easy now that she had magic, right?
A/N: Well, that was the last chapter I had pre-written. I'll try to keep updates consistent nonetheless, but I can't promise anything. Still, I hope you liked it and that you continue supporting me with reviews/favorites/follows. See you soon! :)
Thanks to my beta reader moonwatcher13.