They open their eyes, nearly simultaneously and some of them covered their eyes from the light as they adjusted.
Some moarn rather displease, it wasn't a comfy landing. Jo was sitting up looking at the crew who were adjusting, "are you all alright?"
He said trying to confirm their status.
"uh huh."
Monika faintly reply, while aya hum in agreeing. Heather spoke still unpleasant from the travel.
"geez, not really."
Jo then stood up: "well, is not our first time going through a portal."
Aya was the next to stand up and agreeing while monika slowly stands up, heather added her concerns.
"yeah, is still not a pleasant travel."
"is never is."
Monika reply to her comment as Heather got up as jo decided to get a good view around and notice a town not far.
"hey."
He said loud enough to get their attention. He processed to walk around them as they followed his moves and see the town from a distance.
"huh..."
Monika said finding this convenient, the others were finding that as well. "well, at least it save us some for looking."
Jo first said while aya wasn't so likely on that assessment.
"unlikely, we still need to find this academy."
"right."
Jo agreeing to that, while Heather turn to us and said: "but how are we gonna get info?"
While saying that, she notice a tall tower from a distance, it looked cryptic and aged quite a lot with a tree growing out of it.
"whoa."
She said quietly as monika notice her awe expressing.
"hmm? What is it?"
Before jo and aya could answer, they were interested in monika perspective as Heather pointed upward as they turn around and see the tower.
"wow..."
Jo said impressed by it, aya wonder about the tower but let it aside for now. Monika though answer her question.
"why is there a tower near a town?"
Aya response: "Beats me, but our attention is on the mission now."
"ha, right." Jo said as he turned to the group as they look at him continuing his sentence.
"Well, let's not delay, let's move."
"right."
Aya and Heather agreed as they head off, monika look back at the tower still having lingerie thoughts on the tower existence.
They walk down a stone path surrounded by grassy plain and trees on the right side and a river on ths left.
The girls would take a gander at the town, seeing a few of the town folks walking on the sidewalks.
They walk in slience for a moment until they were reaching a bridge to cross the river. Monika was the first to speak.
"Hey guys, do you think the town folks have any info about the academy?"
"probably. Hopefully."
Jo said feeling rather doubtful which really didn't made aya and Heather confident in his assureness.
"wow, thanks for the vote of confidence."
Heather monk at him a bit which made him slightly upset. He turn to her clearly showing it.
"hey, this place sounds fishy."
Jo said as they were crossing the bridge, monika was going to diverse the fumes.
"hey, is alright, i can see what you mean jo. This place does sound fishy."
Aya agreed: "yeah, what kind of place is called luna nova?"
"unsure, but is an interesting place if these Invaders are going to it."
Jo said turning to them. They soon slow down and stop realizing they were now in town. They see a few town folks who were minding their own business and going out their way to places.
They were standing nearly shoulder to shoulder inspecting the area and the people. Heather was first to come out.
"okay, how are we going to do this?"
Monika turn her head to her: "do what?"
Heather turned to her: "Isn't it obvious? Get info on this academy, let alone directions."
"oh."
Monika feeling stupid for saying that, aya then spoke next.
"well, we could just ask someone?"
"ask who?"
Heather said questioned, jo apposed: "anyone."
Heather wasn't sure about that while monika was feeling the same but figure that this might be their only option. Monika said not have any options.
"well, i guess we can try."
"this gonna take a while."
Heather cross her arms looking unsure, while aya see a male dress formal was about to walk pass them.
She took the opportunity to ask and went towards to him.
"Excuse me sir!"
This caught his attention as he stops and look at her, aya said: "sorry for bothering you but me and my friends are trying to find a school call luna nova. Have you heard of it?"
"heard of it?" He spoke somewhat deeply: "That place is where witches learn how to make magic and cast spells. Why you and your friends want to go there?"
This caught them off guard, there was no data that the academy was a witch academy.
Aya nearly fumble on her words: "uhh, w-well we just need to see if this place is true."
"hmm..."
He stares at her and trying to find any sense of lying, but aya was keeping true to her words, even know is not true.
"Well, sorry to say but i don't. I don't trend on that mess, and i say that you and your friends shouldn't as well. It might be dangerous."
"ahh, i see. Well thank you for your time."
"sure, no problem."
The man turned and head the opposite direction as aya sigh softly and head back to the gang.
They were letting all that info in as the three were slightly disturbed by that information.
"an academy full of witches...?"
Monika said feeling a bit uncertain, jo on the other hand was now feeling like he knows this somehow.
"i don't know, but it seems familiar."
"really?"
Heather said in interested.
"really jo?"
Monika ask questioned as jo look at her and said.
"yeah. But i just can't remember, i don't why but all of this sounds familiar."
"well, this is not gonna help."
Heather feeling a little impatient about this, aya said: "do you remember anything?"
"ahh, no."
Jo gesture like he was about to remember but couldn't, which really sink down their hope.
"oh."
Monika said as aya kept her chin up.
"well, if jo can't remember then let's keep searching around for clues. Somebody might know something."
"true."
Monika reply as jo said: "well, let's get searching."
They nearly end up splitting up but stay close but not close enough. They end up heading down the street searching for answers but mostly got nowhere, until monika got a vital information.
She went up to an elderly woman who was slightly hunch over.
"Excuse me."
Monika was byside her as she turn her head to her: "huuh?"
"Excuse me ma'am, but me and my friends are trying to find a place called luna nova. Do you know how we can get there?"
Monika bend her knees and put both hands on it to get close to her level. The elderly lady was in thought humming for second.
"well, i did saw a brochure in one of the book stores near this corner."
She point behind her.
"I think you can find the info there."
Monika brighten a little and said: "ahh, thank you very much ma'am!"
She quickly turn around and head off to her friends as the elder lady said: "no problem swe-- Oh..."
Monika already run off to the others. The first person she went to was jo, she gain his attention.
"hey, jo!"
"hmm?"
He turn to her curious.
"I believe i find information."
This really brighten him up as well. "really?! That's great! You're wonderful honey."
Monika smile sweetly at him as jo see aya walking around the corner looking dismay.
"hey," Jo notified Monika: "is aya, let's get her."
Monika turned around and see her, she agrees: "alright." As they head to her as aya saw them and stop.
"I didn't find any luck."
"well, we did. Technically it was her."
Jo speak for monika as she hum agreeing. Aya was genuinely surprised and was pretty happy to hear this: "really, that's great."
"yeah, but we need to find Heather."
Monika said as aya point in a general direction as they look at where she is pointing.
"i guess we don't need to look."
Heather was still looking around, trying to gain anyone attention as they head towards her.
"come on, anyone?"
Heather getting irritated as she heard their footsteps as she turned around and saw them. She look quite surprise to see them.
"ah geez, i thought you were gonna rob me or something."
Jo reply: "unlikely."
As aya told her the info: "Heather, monika got information on luna nova."
"really?! About time someone got something."
"yeah."
Jo agreeing as aya said to monika.
"so monika, what's this info?"
"oh right. I talk to this elderly lady who told me their a pamphlet in a bookstore just around this corner."
Monika turn around and point at the stores. Heather simply said: "oh."
As jo went forward and said: "well, let's go, no time to waste."
Everyone said in unison: "right!"
They head off and see the bookstore just three row down as they entered. The store was rather big but it was a common size for a bookstore. Jo commanded.
"alright everyone, look for a brochure stand of any."
Everyone said in unison again: "right."
They went off in the same direction as Heather was the first to spotted it. She points at it and head towards it.
"There it is!"
A random person shush Heather which she reacted but didn't quite stop. The team follow behind as Heather was looking for anything that said "Luna Nova."
They soon started looking as well and it wasn't long until one of them found it.
"found it."
Monika said quietly as they look at her as she grab it, the pamphlet did said luna nova as they were about to head out but aya stop her: "whoa whoa, ain't we supposed to pay for it?"
Heather interject: "Ain't pamphlets free?"
Jo comment: "Think we just ask?"
"that seems like a wish decision."
Monika suggest as they head to the counter as monika ask the cashier.
"Excuse me but are pamphlets free?"
The lady turn to them and look at the pamphlet, she said: "well, yes in this store it is."
"okay, thank you."
Monika said as the team soon leave the store as she check the pamphlet.
Everyone soon try to look over monika shoulder to see the pamphlet, Heather was having trouble though.
"well?"
Heather trying to know, monika see that the pamphlet was a map, and told the others.
"is a map," She turn to them: "you remember that tower out of town?"
Everyone agreeing on it as aya already fit it together: "wait, you saying that was our way to luna nova?"
"are you serious?"
Heather seems uncertain as monika look back at it to second check and back to them while nodding her head.
"mmhm, i'm sure. It seems that this tower has a layline terminal that leads to the academy."
"well, that explains a lot."
Jo commented as aya and Heather look at each other feeling the same uncertainty. Monika finish.
"well, is a start."
"true, then let's go."
Jo finished as heather sigh unhappy and said: "can't believe we got to go back."
Without another word they head off leaving the town as monika decided to have small talk: "that town wasn't so bad. It seems nice."
Monika always feel fond of being in another world that is rich with new and interesting places. Heather though wasn't exactly fond of that town.
"well my experience wasn't so great. Everytime i ask for direction they just turn a bind eye to me."
"that happened to me too."
Jo said as aya agreed by humming while monika said: "yeah, i believe that happened to everyone."
"yeah, that how it is sometimes."
Jo said as they crossed the bridge and head up hill. The walk was long but they have plenty of energy, they need to save it when they meet whoever they need to counter.
As they were reaching the tower they saw a person at top near the entrance.
"huh?"
Aya exclaim in confusion as the others were following suit.
"who's she?"
Monika ask as the others didn't reply but was approaching her.
They were getting close as the girls hair was black and white, the black were highlights while the white was the main front.
What really made their attention on her was the broom she was holding on her right hand. The girl heard them and turn around wondering who was coming up.
Her appearance was pretty good looking, she has dark blue eyes, caucasian, and was wearing a dark navy blue dress with a black ribbon wrap around her waist and hat.
She blink twice while staring at them, fixated on them. They were standing there and realized that they should not stare at her creepy like.
"oh."
Monika was to first to realize and speak, the girl now looked suspicious of them as Heather apologized: "uh, sorry."
"didn't mean to stare."
Monika finishing her sentence and try to play this off like a mistake.
The girl was now curious on them: "who are you guys? Why are you here?"
She speak almost Prestige but less uptight. They realize they need to come up with something.
"oh umm..."
The others were trying to come up with something as well but were overlaying with each other.
Jo find this situation comical like but also find it painful.
"guys?"
Jo spoke up as aya took control: "what we trying to say is: We are trying to get to an academy call luna nova. Can you help us?"
The girl nearly look perplexed, she then turn doubtful on them.
"Why do you wanna go to luna nova? You three are too old, and boys are not allowed to be teach there."
"uhh..."
Aya trying to come up with a solution but was having issue to come up with one.
Monika wasn't content when she mentioned that they were old: "hey, i'm 19, i'm not even that old yet."
The girl didn't seems to care but Heather spoke up: "listen, we just need to get there somehow, we're not planning on joining or anything. So can you please help?"
She stares at her in silence for a moment then turn back at them: "If what you saying is true, then i have to break it to you."
She look nearly devious at the end of her sentence while turning around. They all said in unison: "huh?"
The girl approach the tower reacting the entrance and stop. She turn her head back at them: "No ordinary people can get to luna nova without going into the layline."
"the layline."
Monika repeated as she turn her head to the others as they did the same in uncertainty. Jo moved forward as they follow behind.
The girl was inside the tower looking up, the team were near the entrance and look up as well, seeing a blue portal near the top.
"whoa."
Jo exclaim as the others felt the same way but didn't reply. The girl turn around to face them: "As you can see, no one can enter without transport. Like so."
She show them her broom, the girl continues.
"But, if you want to go to luna nova then i'm afraid that is not possible to get there without a witch broom or any magical help."
"can you help us?"
Monika asked, the girl hum in thought.
"hmm... Sorry but there's no room."
The others moarn in disappointed and upset, the girl said: "well, i'm afraid i must go. Today is the first day back to luna nova, and i hate to be late. Buh bye."
She have the broom between her thighs and pronounced a word.
"tia fraley!"
Her broom started to float as she flew up and entered the portal.
They stood there being stump, Heather said: "well, this suck."
"shit."
Jo exclaim displeased at this situation, he turn and pace around as monika ask the question: "how are we gonna get there?"
"That is what we need to find out."
Aya taking her eyes off the portal while searching around for anything to get them up.
Heather was standing there thinking while jo said: "Great, what now?"
Monika replied: "we're thinking jo."
Heather remembered her wand that she have, something just pop into her mind.
"hmmm?"
She hum thinking about using it, she only use it for combat then useful tools.
She told the others: "i might have something that might help."
They look at her curious, jo see her holding her wand and said: "you still have that wand?"
"yeah." Heather reply, monika asked.
"uh heather, how is that going to help?"
"well... I don't know, something is telling me that their's more potential to this wand than how i used it before."
Aya coming a little close and said: "if you think it can help than try it."
"yeah, why not?"
Jo reply as monika nod her head agreeing. Heather stood there feeling fond of her friends suggestion.
"alright, here goes."
She grasp it with both hands and said: "transform."
Lights flicker around her as she turn into her pink uniform, this was aya first time seeing Heather in that outfit.
"wow..."
She smile in awe and humor, doing a better job of holding her laughs.
Jo and monika were close, jo was feeling a little doubtful that this might work, while monika was starting to feel the same but have confidence that she will come up with something.
"well?"
Jo said a little impatient, monika wasn't fond of that: "jo."
Jo heard her and kept quiet to not sound rude, Heather was now feeling a little embarrassed but ignored her vulnerable.
She stood there thinking, figuring out how to get up there. But realize the only way was to fly. And that hit her.
"fly."
She spoke out loud as jo commented: "what?"
She turn around and swing her wand wand to the ground as it glow and appearing was a pink platform that was see-through.
This surprise the others as aya said: "whoa!"
"wow, a platform."
Monika look at the platform as jo followed behind: "hey, will this help?"
Monika turned her head to him: "well, if you think it won't then try it out."
She present it to him as Heather smile smalley: "Yeah, try it out."
"okay, i'm not liking this but i will."
He approach it and put one foot on it. It move up and down slightly as he put both foot on the platform as it bounce up and down a little: "whoa."
Jo smile gleefully while aya said: "how is it?"
"is very light." Jo reply as suddenly it spring forward as he nearly lose his balance.
"whoa!"
"jo!"
Monika exclaim concerned, jo stand straight, he nearly ran right into aya as she step aside but stop nearly in front of her: "what happened?"
Aya response as jo said: "i-i don't know, i just bend my knees and it took off."
"huh?"
Heather feeling a bit concerning about it, monika talked to her.
"Heather, do know how this works?"
She said concerned, Heather stares at her: "I don't know, i never knew i could do this."
While that was going on, jo bend his knees slightly while keeping his cool. The platform was going on slowly.
"hey, i'm making progress. I think."
They turned to him moving a little as jo turn his legs to the right as it turns right in a u turn.
This made aya and monika surprise: "Is working."
Monika said as aya turn to Heather: "hey, think you can make more?"
"uhh, well i think i can."
She points at the ground as her wand glows as another pink platform appeared.
Heather giggle briefly as aya approach it and said the same as jo but more knowledge in how to use it.
Jo was slowly approaching monika: "hey, i'm coming for you hon."
Monika seeing him coming close to her in 5 mph. She couldn't help but find it pretty funny.
"haha, you sure are."
Jo decided to pick up the notch: "really now?"
He bend his knees a little more as he went slightly faster than before and control it better. Next thing he know it, he was right next to monika.
"hey."
Monika was quite surprise while that happen, but find that amusing.
"heh, you sure are getting used to it."
"i am--"
Aya was testing it out and she decided to bend it way down and flew right out of the tower, exclaiming her fright.
"oh shi--"
Jo said as the others were concerned as well. They ran outside while jo flew off and saw that aya wasn't anywhere in slight.
"what? Where is she?" Heather questioned as they search around then heard aya.
"up here!"
This caught them by surprise as they look up seeing her floating in air, this baffled monika: "how did you get up there!?"
"i-i don't know! The sudden spring of moment send shockwave through me! And all i wanted was to stop but then, i end up here!"
"can you get down!"
Jo call out, aya was in thought, as suddenly she was floating down. Monika gasp as Heather said: "is working! You're coming down!"
"but how?"
Jo questioned, aya though figure it out: "i think i know why."
She was back close to the ground as she continues: "i was thinking of going back down as it floats down. I think it reply through thoughts."
"oh."
Jo now understanding as he use what he learned and fly up and then back down.
"huh, simple as that."
Monika was quite impress: "wow."
She turned to heather: "can you make me one?"
"well, we do need to get up there somehow."
She did a gesture for a moment and point her wand down confidently as it glows and the pink platform appeared.
Monika went up to it: "thank you."
She put one foot on and the other, she learned how to use it thanks to jo and aya. Heather then made hers as they soon entered the tower together.
"alright, are we all ready?"
They all agreed in unison.
"alright, let's go."
Jo said as they fly up and entered the portal.
Inside the layline look awfully like the portal they saw while entering this world.
They fly through it while staying together.
"soo, this is the layline."
Monika said as they look around.
"yeah, it look like the portal we entered."
"i was about to say that."
Aya exclaim as the ride was odd but pretty relaxing compared to their last trip.
It wasn't long until they leave the layline and was flying over a large forest.
"we're out!"
Monika said as jo reply: "yeah, no kidding."
He said playfully, monika didn't quite like it that much: "hey!"
Jo chuckle briefly to indicate that he was kidding.
"hey look!"
Heather pointed at a few of the witches flying on their brooms.
"look at that...!"
Aya pointed forward as they saw a building and a very tall tower that glows at the top.
"that must be luna nova."
Monika pointed out as aya agreed: "yeah, it gotta be."
"well, if it is then let's get moving."
Jo said as he speed up a little as they followed as monika feeling a little worried about the students reaction.
Soon they landed near the outskirts of the forest near the entrance and the brink road leading straight to the academy.
The pink platforms vanish into sparkles as the four huddle close behind the trees and bushes.
"how are we gonna introduce ourselves?"
Heather suggested which made this uncomfortable.
"aww geez."
Jo exclaim his discontent while the others were feeling the same. Aya suggest.
"why not introduce ourselves?"
"not sure about that."
Jo said not so fond of that idea.
"well, better ideas?"
Aya response as the team just stood there still in thought while looking out and seeing all of the witches landing and entering through the gate.
"hmm..."
Monika thinking and said.
"i think we have no choice."
"what?" Jo turn his attention to her.
"i mean, we don't exactly have a plan ahead, why not improvise for now."
The team didn't response, jo finding what she said is pretty true.
"okay, i guess we introduce ourselves."
Heather sigh: "and hope for the best."
The four was about to leave until aya mention to Heather.
"umm, Heather, you still wearing that outfit."
She look down and realize she is.
"oh, right."
Feeling embarrassed as it dispace back into her ordinary uniform, the four went off and head torwards the gate. The students all see the strangers appearing out of nowhere and was walking side by side torwards the entrance.