Chapter 38: Woodward's sanctuary.

That day, when Akko entered Ursula's room for her usual extra lessons, something was different. She didn't barge in as usual; she actually knocked! And her walking speed wasn't fast and energetic, but almost taciturn. She also didn't wear her usual bright smile, but instead seemed to be too absorbed in her own thoughts to really be the shining beacon of happiness she always was.

"Hey… is everything alright?" Ursula asked once they were both sitting on the couch with warm cups of tea in their hands.

"Huh?" Akko seemed almost startled by the question, but quickly tried to cover it by faking a smile. "Y-yeah! Yeah, totally!" But Ursula knew her too well to be convinced. There was something on her mind, she could see it clear as day written on her face.

"Are you sure?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "You can tell me anything, you know?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, but… it's nothing, really, just…" She trailed off, taking a deep breath, and looking nervously to the side. She had that confused expression on her face she always made when she was about to ask a random question.

"Just…?" The professor prompted, and Akko squeezed her eyes as if trying to stop herself from speaking, but as always, it didn't work, and she ended up blurting out her question.

"Are you a lesbian?" She quickly deviated her gaze and almost shrank on herself upon saying it.

"Oh." Ursula blushed and looked away. She should have known that's what this was all about. "Uhm… I don't know." She muttered shyly. "I mean, the only person I've ever loved romantically is Croix, and she's a woman, so… I think so?" She laughed awkwardly. "Why?"

"I… I see." Akko frowned, deep in thought. "It's just… yesterday, after you told me you and Croix-sensei were girlfriends, I… I remembered something."

"What?" Ursula asked after Akko paused, a little bit worried about her student's almost somber expression.

"Well… when I was younger most of my classmates didn't know anything about Shiny Chariot, but when I spoke about her… about you non-stop for days, some of them decided to look it up." She paused, drawing in a deep breath. "And… they started laughing and saying in a mocking tone that if my idol was a lesbian, so that meant I must be a lesbian too."

"Oh." So this is what it was all about. Chariot wouldn't have guessed if she tried; it sounded so weird! To start, "How did they even know? I'm pretty sure I never mentioned having a girlfriend… I think." She furrowed her eyebrows, trying to remember if at some point she had slipped up, but… she was pretty sure she'd never said anything about her personal life to the reporters.

"I don't know." Akko shrugged. "There were some rumors on the internet. But… that's all they were: rumors."

"I see…" The professor blushed. Why was she just finding out about it?

"Anyways…" Akko sighed. "At first I didn't see the big deal. I didn't care if you had a girlfriend or a boyfriend or whatever, but… they way my classmates said it… it sounded like a bad thing. Heck, they said it was a bad thing! So… I started 'defending' you; saying that you were not a lesbian. And… I don't know… overtime, the word 'lesbian' kinda became like an insult to me."

Ursula stayed silent for a moment, not knowing what to say. What was Akko trying to say? That she was uncomfortable knowing she loved a woman? That surely couldn't be the case… right?

"Alright." She said. "But… how… how do you feel about it? Do you think that being a lesbian is a bad thing?"

"W-what?" Akko seemed to be a little startled at her words. "N-no! I-I… maybe? No… I don't really think so, I just… my head is about to explode." She groaned, clutching her head with her hands, as if trying to prevent a headache from forming. "It's… it's just difficult to reconcile what I've been told to believe my whole life with what I know to be the truth."

"Japan isn't really the most progressive country when it comes to homosexuality, I assume?" Ursula asked. She really didn't know much about non-magical cultures, much less Japanese culture! But that's the impression she got from what Akko was saying.

"Well… it's complicated." The girl said, looking at the ground. "It's not illegal or anything like that, but… gay marriage hasn't been approved either. And there's certain… stigma to it, especially amongst more conservative people."

"Oh."

"Yeah…"

"I see." Ursula sighed. "I think I understand… although I can't say that I relate."

"Yeah, I've heard Europeans are more chill about it."

"Huh? I… I wouldn't really know." She laughed. "But… probably?"

"What do you mean?" Akko raised an eyebrow, totally confused.

"Well… I don't know about the not-magical community, but amongst witches homosexuality is pretty common."

"Wait, what?" It looked like Akko's brain was having a short-circuit.

"Just ask your classmates." She smiled gently. "I can assure you that at least half of them have two mothers."

"W-what?" She repeated, looking at her like she'd grown a second head.

"Yeah." She shrugged casually. "And most of your classmates are probably into girls too."

"So… I've been in a school full of lesbians this whole time and no one bothered to tell me?" She was almost freaking out at this point.

"Is that really a big deal?" Ursula was amused at her reaction, but she also kinda felt bad for her. She couldn't even begin to imagine the arrange of emotions she must be feeling right now.

"No! Yes! … Kinda?" She blushed and looked to the say, muttering her next words, almost like she didn't want to be heard. "What if someone likes me and I don't know?"

I can think of at least one person. The professor thought, rolling her eyes, but decided to not say anything. She didn't want Akko's head to literally explode, after all.

"Oh, I'm sure that, if someone likes you romantically, she'll eventually get the courage to tell you."

"I guess." Akko shrugged, but then seemed to realize something as she turned to look at her professor, wearing a sincere smile this time. "Oh, but I believe you were going to tell me about how you and Croix-sensei became girlfriends!"

"A-ah… y-yeah. I guess so." Ursula blushed. "But… it's kind of a long story."

"Oh, I have time." Akko said, getting comfy in the couch already.

"Very well." She shook her head, smiling fondly at her student. "This story starts after Samhain break; the day we went back to classes."


It's the first day of school after a two-week break. Croix went to her house in Italy, while I went home with my aunt and spent most of the time helping her around the vineyard. We haven't talked much since the Samhain festival, which is why I'm more than eager to see her.

Of course, the first thing I do after dropping my belongings in my room (earning loud complains from my teammates), is rush to the Astronomy Tower to see my best friend. As expected, the door is locked, but I simply knock and yell at Croix to open the door, practically jumping in my place in anticipation.

However, when Croix answers, she only opens the door a crack, allowing me to see one of her beautiful teal eyes but not much more.

"Croix!" I start, trying to push the door open, but she holds it in place, confusing me. "Uh… Croix? Can I come in? I have lots of things to tell you!" I try to stay positive, despite everything, hoping she's just playing around.

"Chariot." She says as greeting, her eyes unexpressive. "I'm busy right now, and don't take this the wrong way, but you are a huge distraction, so…" She shrugs. "See you later?"

There's something in the way she looks at me, with longing and sadness, that gives me pause. But I know from personal experience that it's best not to push Croix, and besides, this isn't the first time she's kicked me out of her lab calling me distracting, so… I'll give her some space. For now.

"Okay!" I exclaim cheerily. "See you at lunch, then? I have so many stories to tell you!"

"Yeah, sure. Bye." And suddenly, the door closes in my face, Croix's voice having sounded strained.

Huh. I hope she's just moody or something. And that she'll be her usual self tomorrow.


A week passes and Croix still isn't her usual self. She's barely spent time with me at all, and has been acting weird when we are together. Distant. Sad, too. I have tried asking her what's wrong, but she just closes off even more, and I'm beginning to get worried.

"What if I did something to upset her?" I rant to Enid and Anaid for the tenth time. "I don't think I did, but… she's acting like she doesn't want to be my friend anymore!"

"Calm down. I'm sure she's just Croix being Croix." Enid shrugs, indifferent to my distress. "She said she's busy, didn't she? Once she finishes her thesis, she'll probably have time for you again."

"But that could take months!" I complain. "Besides, she could finish quicker if she let me help her."

"Yeah, right." My friends just laugh, and I pout.

"Believe it or not, I'm a good assistant!" I yell. "I bet she's simply mad at me about something. I wished she'd tell me what it is though, so I could apologize properly and leave this whole ordeal behind us."

"Look, Chariot." Anaid says, sitting up a little straighter to appear more serious, though her mischievous smile isn't helping much in that regard. "I consider myself an expert when it comes to reading others."

"How modest." Her twin snickers.

"And…" Anaid continues, pointedly ignoring her. "I truly believe Croix cherishes you above anything." I feel myself blush at her words. "But maybe something happened during school break. Or maybe you did something stupid to make her question her love for you."

"Which is far more likely." Enid unhelpfully adds.

"Either way, you need to earn her affection all over again, to… rekindle it." She looks over at her sister as she says the last part, at which her eyes widen before she adopts a rather mischievous expression.

"Oh. So are you planning on giving her that?" She asks.

"Why not? It's not like we have any use for it right now." Anaid shrugs. "Besides, it could be fun."

Enid seems to ponder about it for a moment, but then smiles at her twin, wearing that dangerous glint in her eyes that usually means trouble.

"Alright." She nods enthusiastically.

"Uhm… what are you talking about?" I ask, completely lost.

"Here." Anaid says, handing me a plastic bag that contains a mushroom inside. A red mushroom with white hearts adorning it.

"Huh? What is this?"

"We found it back home." She explains. "It's a very rare magic mushroom called Loveshroom."

"It's said to be able to reawaken love within one's heart." Enid adds.

"But Croix doesn't love me like that!" I protest, blushing profusely at the mere thought.

"Love is love. Whether it's romantic or platonic, the Loveshroom should work." Anaid responds, her sister nodding eagerly at her words.

"The Loveshroom simply amplifies or unearths repressed feelings of love! Just give it to Croix and she'll be begging you to be her assistant again in no time!"

"I think it's a terrible idea."Alcor says. He had been previously napping, perched on my shoulder, but apparently he awoken with our loud conversation.

"Shut up, old crow!" Enid yells (oh, right, I'm not the only one who can hear him when he cows out loud). "We're just trying to help Chariot!"

"Yeah! Don't you want her to be happy?" Anaid asks.

"I do." Alcor protests. "But I also believe Chariot should be patient. Croix will come to you in time; all you can do now is be there for her when she decides she's ready to talk to you."

"What's wrong with a little shortcut?" I ask, biting my lip as I eye the mushroom. The description seems harmless enough.

"A witch should never interfere in the affairs of the heart. It's one of the most basic rules of magic." Alcor explains. "You wouldn't want to be expelled once again, right?"

"Well… no, but…"

"Don't listen to him! What does an old crow knows about friendship and love?" Anaid interferes.

"Besides, if we simply pour some love-rekindling potion in one of Croix's ramen cups, no one would even know it was our doing!" Enid adds.

"I-I…" I hesitate, debating between doing the 'right thing' and using the shroom. On one hand, I know it's wrong to alter someone's feelings using magic, since it's very invasive in a personal level. On the other hand, the Loveshroom simply amplifies already existing feelings; it can't create them (unlike a love potion, for example). And the effects are temporary. Plus, this will be Croix's last semester at Luna Nova, and I'm planning on making the best of it, which I can't do if she stays all distant and moody for months, so…

"Chariot." Alcor sighs. "I know you think magic can solve just about any problem, but that's not always the case."

"But what else can I do?" I practically whine.

"Well… I may have an idea." He puffs out his chest, proudly. "Your friend is set on reviving the seven words, isn't she? Well, I know of a place where you can seek the answers you so wish to obtain."

"And if I tell her about it, she'll come out of her lab and join me in a big adventure!" I beam. "That could work!"

"Booooo! That sounds boring!" Enid complains.

"If it doesn't work, I'll just use the Loveshroom and you'll have all the fun you wish for!" I answer. "And if it does… well, then I'll just give the Loveshroom back to you and you can do whatever you want with it."

I then get up from my seat at the cafeteria, practically jumping in excitement, and wave my friends goodbye as I hurriedly make my way to the Astronomy Tower.


"Croix! Croix!" I yell as I pound the door, practically tearing it down in excitement.

"I told you I'm busy, Chariot!" She answers, clearly irritated. But I don't let her hostile tone deter me.

"But it's about the seven words! I thought you'd want to hear about it." I answer, stubborn as ever. I pause to wait for her to respond, however, and hear a heavy sigh at the other side of the door before she opens it and speaks with a tired voice, purposely avoiding eye contact with me.

"Fine. What is it?"

She leans on the door and crosses her arms over her chest. I can't help but notice her disheveled appearance and black bags under her eyes. She also looks pale. Has she even eaten anything lately?

"Have you ever heard about Woodward's sanctuary?" Alcor says in my stead when I fail to answer, being too concerned about my friend's health.

"No, but it sounds like a pretty awful thing." She deadpans. Oh, right. I forgot she hates Woodward… for some reason.

"Well, it's the most likely place for you to contact her spirit, since that's where her body was buried and the tree that inherited her will was born." Alcor explains, not caring about Croix's cold attitude.

"We could ask her about the seven words, Croix!" I exclaim excitedly. "And that's not even the best part! The sanctuary is here! At Luna Nova!"

"At the forest that surrounds Luna Nova." Alcor corrects me.

"Right." I smile sheepishly. "But it's still pretty close!"

"And you want to go… now?" She raises an eyebrow, eying the bag of 'supplies' (mostly food) that I grabbed on my way here.

"Of course! The sooner we unlock the seven words the better, right?" I answer.

"I suppose…" She deviates her gaze, adopting a serious expression as she apparently considers her options. Then, between clenched teeth, she gives me her answer. "Alright then. Lead the way, old crow."


After exiting Luna Nova and following Alcor into the forest, we stop for a moment to change our clothes into the white magically-enhanced ones, but then we keep walking, set on making our way there and back before nightfall.

Still, I try to make small talk with Croix, but when she keeps answering only with grunts and nods, I instead ask about her thesis and her secret experiments, in which she elaborates a bit more, but still seems to have her mind somewhere else. That's when I decide to ask what's really been bothering me.

"Croix…" I call wringing my hands together nervously. "Are you… mad at me?" I don't dare to look at her eyes as I wait for an answer. However, her reaction isn't what I was expecting; she stops dead in her tracks and stares at me with wide eyes.

"Mad? No, I'm not mad." She looks genuinely surprised about my question. "Believe me, if I was, you'd know." She chuckles, but it sounds forced, and unnatural, so I narrow my eyes in suspicion. Okay, so she isn't mad at me, but something is clearly wrong.

"Then, did something happen? You look…" Angry? Sad? Tired? "Stressed." Is the word I end up settling for.

"Stressed?" She exclaims in disbelief. "Well, yes! Thanks for noticing! I'm stressed! I have a thesis to finish, personal projects I cannot do thanks to said thesis, grades that seriously need improvement, seven ancient words to revive, and a friend who is nothing but a big distraction even when she's not here! Gee, I wonder why I would be stressed!" She rants, looking angry and pretty much crazy. But I still get where she's coming from. Maybe I should have realized sooner.

"Croix… I-I… I'm sorry I can't be of more help, but if there's anything I can do… all you have to do is ask." I pause, reaching to grab one of her hands. She stiffens, but thankfully doesn't pull away, giving me the courage to continue, looking directly at her tired eyes. "I know I may not be the best student, and most of the time I mess up, but your friendship means so much for me… I'd even be willing to study numerology if that helped alleviate your workload!" I giggle, trying to lighten the mood, and earning a soft smile from my best friend. "Just… don't pull away, okay? Don't cut our ties. I missed you so much during break, and all this past week you've been distant, so…" I shrug, blushing for some reason. "Yeah, whatever you want, I'll do it. All you have to do is ask."

"Thank you, Chariot." Croix finally speaks, using a softer voice than before, and adopting a resigned expression. "I appreciate the feeling, but… I'm afraid that there are some things going on my life that you can't help me with."

"Try me." I smirk, confident that, whatever it is, I can at least be a moral support. She, however, just shakes her head and deviates her gaze, staring sadly at the horizon.

"It's something stupid that I have to forget about… but I don't want to." She says after a few moments of silence.

"Okay?" I say numbly, not understanding what she means. Something she has to forget? Like, a bad memory or something? "Would talking about it help?"

"Not right now." She answers, pulling away hastily and releasing my grip over her hand. "Just… be patient with me, okay? Maybe when I'm ready I'll be able to talk to you like a normal person." She sighs, starting to walk away. "For now, we have a word to find."

We walk through the forest for about an hour, following my trusty avian companion, before descending through a set of deteriorated stairs completely covered in moss and vines that look like no one has used them in centuries. We find a couple of giant spiders and mandrake sprouts in the tunnel the stairs lead to, but nothing my enhancement magic and Croix's powerful spells can't deal with.

The tunnel is long, descending in a subtle slope deep into the ground, and the floor is covered almost completely by thick roots that make us stumble every two steps. The darkness and moisture don't help much either, though thankfully the light emitted by our wands is more than enough to keep us from running into the large rocks that have apparently fallen in some parts of the tunnel, but not to see much more than what's directly in front of us.

Alcor is also very useful, as there are some places where the tunnel branches off into two or more paths, and he's able to fly ahead and decide which one we should follow. He also warns us of some magical traps that Croix quickly disables.

At the end, after what feels like hours of walking inside this wet, mossy tunnel, we arrive at some sort of circular chamber with a very high ceiling from which a few rays of moonlight are able to enter, illuminating the rest of the cave.

It's a very ample space, wider than… I don't know, than the inside of the cathedral of Notre Dame. In the center there's a tall and wide pillar (about fifty meters in diameter, at least) sculpted to resemble a tree. Though when we get closer, I realize it is actually a tree. A tall and wide trunk with old, rough crust from where all the roots that impeded our advance originate. And, now that I think about it, the ceiling isn't really a ceiling, but the canopy of this giant tree.

"Is this…" Croix starts speaking, but she stops mid-sentence, her jaw hanging open in awe and her eyes the size of plates.

"Woodward's tree? Yes." Alcor answers with certain arrogance in his voice as he perches himself in one of the nearby roots.

"It's amazing!" I say, unable to contain my emotion as I carefully approach it. "And very big!"

"It has to be about 1500 years old." Croix agrees, as she also steps ahead. "But I wonder, how can we call Woodward's spirit? Do you think a simple communication spell will work?"

"I don't know." I shrug. "I figured she'd feel the presence of the shiny rod and manifest herself." I say as I take the thing in question off my sash.

"She won't if you keep calling it that." She deadpans. "It's the Claiomh Solais! Have a little respect for ancient magic!"

"Says the witch who spends half her time playing with technology." I retort, rolling my eyes.

"Now, now, girls. There's no need to fight." A soft voice speaks, startling us both as we turn to look for the source, finding no one else in this cavern. Still, I raise my wand just in case some hostile spirit has followed us. "Both of you are correct; it is important to honor ancient magic, just as it is to expand its horizon with innovative ideas."

As the voice finishes speaking, there's a blinding light and a strong breeze that forces me to close my eyes for a moment, and when I open them again, I see a tall glowing figure of Woodward emerging from the tree; her dress fusing with the roots. And she's absolutely massive! I even have to crane my neck and take a few steps back to be able to see her face, it being about thirty meters from the ground.

"Professor Woodward!" I exclaim in awe. Just seeing her installs in my heart a sense of reverence and admiration. She irradiates power. Her face is wisdom personified. For a moment, I even wonder if it would be appropriate to, maybe, kneel or something.

"Sounds to me like only I was correct." Croix retorts, snarky as always, crossing her arms over her chest. She doesn't seem to be fazed by the giant, glowing spirit of an ancient witch that just appeared before us.

"It's been a long time, hasn't it girls?" Woodward smiles, ignoring Croix's commentary. Then, her eyes land on me and I shrink under her gaze, feeling small in more senses than one. "Ah, Chariot. I see you were able to unlock the third word."

"Y-y-yes!" I squeak, instinctually clutching the shiny rod closer to my chest.

"Did you obtain the power of the stars as well?"

"If by 'power of the stars' you mean a stupid crow that just won't shut up, then yes. She did." Croix replies before I can say a thing. Honestly, I wonder why she has that salty attitude with Woodward; I mean, I've never seen her act like that with any other adult! Maybe she still resents her for choosing me? But it was the shiny rod who chose me, not Woodward!

"Alcor?" Her eyes quickly look around the room, searching for my familiar, and when she finds him, the ancient witch smiles gently. "Ah, you haven't changed at all, my old friend."

"Mistress." Alcor cows, making some sort of curtsey.

"I believe you have a new mistress now." She answers, looking at me once again, her gaze piercing straight through me. "Please, take good care of her."

"Of course!" He answers. "I can already tell she's destined for great things!"

"A-Alcor!" I blush at the compliment, more so when Woodward nods in agreement, and when Croix (rightfully) protests.

"Can we focus here? This isn't just a friendly visit! We came all this way to ask something." She sounds upset, but I can't really blame her. Woodward is giving me all the attention while pretty much ignoring Croix. Granted, I can't blame the Professor either, since my friend has been more than a little disrespectful ever since their very first interaction.

"R-Right!" I perk up. "About the s-seven words…" I trail off unsure of what I even want to know in the first place. After all, for me, this whole thing was just a way of getting close to Croix once again.

"What about the words?" Woodward prompts, curiosity lacing her voice.

"Well… we were wondering if, maybe, you could tell us something about them?" I finally say sheepishly, making it sound more like a question. "Uhm… Like, what do I have to do to unlock the fourth word?"

"I see…" She hums, her lips forming a thin line. "If that's why you came here, then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."

"What?!" Croix and I yell in unison, though she sounds more upset, while I'm merely confused.

"Why? Is it because you don't know how? Or because you don't want to tell her in front of me?!" Croix snarls, and I look at her with concern. Sure, she and Woodward may not have the best relationship, but I doubt the ancient witch would hold such information from her, especially since she asked her to help me find the words.

"You give yourself too much importance, Croix Meridies." She answers, narrowing her eyes. "And while self-love is a good thing, in excess it could lead you to darker paths."

Before my friend can upset Woodward any further, I decide to intervene.

"Please Professor, I'm sure Croix didn't mean anything by it!" I say. "We just really need to know about the next word. Then we'll be able to find it sooner!" I try sounding hopeful and cheerful, but because I'm still a little intimidated by Woodward, my voice ends up sounding restrained.

"You must be patient, child." She chastises me, though her expression softens considerably. "I'm aware time doesn't flow the same way for children as it does for adults…"

"Or fifteen centuries old ghosts." Croix unhelpfully comments.

"… However, having revived three of the seven words in less than a year is a great accomplishment." She continues, unfazed by my friend's disrespectful comment. "Do not rush into things."

"B-but… Professor Woodward…" I start, not even knowing what I want to say, only that I wish she would at least give me a clue or something.

"Please, professor! If it's because of my attitude, then I'm sorry!" Croix interferes, sounding more desperate and exasperated. "I'm sorry, I promise I'll be better from now on, but please tell us something about the fourth word!"

"I accept your apology." Woodward answers with a polite smile. "However, that still doesn't change the fact that I can't tell you anything more about the fourth word."

"Professor Woodward, please!" My friend protests once again, getting even more worked up, if possible, but still seemingly making an effort to restrain herself. "Why won't you just tell us what it is?" At her words, Professor Woodward adopts a thoughtful expression for a second before answering.

"The word is…" Woodward starts, surprising us both. Did our begging finally work? Is she really going to reveal the meaning of the forth word? "… Something that you will find out in your everyday life as you learn and grow." She finishes, making Croix purse her lips in anger and disappointment. And while I can't say I didn't want her to reveal something more useful, I had already figured she'd say something like that.

"But professor…!" Croix tries to protest once more, but is interrupted by Woodward.

"Do you know the meaning of the first three words?" She asks, turning to look at me, and I quickly stutter out some sort of answer.

"Uh… I mean…"

"The first one: strive for your ideal place." She says, and I try the recall the moment I unlocked it, making sense of the meaning. I remember assuring Croix that our dreams would come true; that no matter how hard it got or how long it took, I'd make sure we'd get there. Yes, I see it now! Strive for your ideal place… that makes sense.

"The second one…" Woodward starts, but pauses, waiting for me to answer.

"Uhm…" I trail off, remembering my little encounter with her at the Blue Moon Abyss; how she offered me to make my wish come true at the expense of erasing all my memories. I also remember which was my answer. "You have to make an effort?" I answer, though it comes out more like a question.

"You don't get the things that you dream of; you only get the things that you work for." She nods. "And the third one…"

"Don't compare yourself with others!" I answer, remembering what I was thinking as I entered the fountain of Polaris. The old witch smiles and nods again.

"Don't compare yourself with others, do what only you can do." She says.

"Great. What about the fourth one?" Croix asks, and though that's a question I was eager to ask as well, I can't help thinking my friend is being a little too impatient and disrespectful interrupting this important moment with our mentor.

"As you can see, all the words are lessons; things you need to learn in order to become better witches and people. As so, you can't force your way to get them." Woodward wisely responds. Still, though I have to (begrudgingly) admit she probably is right, that doesn't mean she can't at least give us a little nudge into the right direction, right?

"But Professor Woodward…" I start, but she cuts me off hastily.

"I'm afraid I'm almost out of magical energy now." She says as her skirt starts to fade. "I hope to see you soon, however."

"Wait!" Croix yells, reaching out, but just then there's a flash of white light that forces us to cover our eyes and, when we can see once more, we realize we're alone now, just standing in front of the giant tree. "Great." She growls. "Now that was helpful!"

"Croix…" I place my hand over her shoulder, trying to calm her down, but she just pulls away and clenches her fists as she glares at the ground.

"Now I've wasted a whole evening when I could have used that time working on my thesis or testing my magitronics!" She continues to rant, looking as tense and angry as ever. "Great! Because time is just something there's an abundance of!"

"I-I'm sorry." I speak, feeling bad about it. Maybe my plan wasn't so good after all? Maybe I should just have gone along with Enid's. Or simply given her more space.

"It's not your fault." She sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. "It's mine."

"How?" I ask in confusion, having figured she'd blame Woodward.

"I shouldn't have come." And with that said, she turns around and starts walking back into the tunnel without even waiting for me.

"Wait, Croix!" I say as I start running after her, Alcor following me and coming to perch on my shoulder when I finally catch up to her. "At least let me make it up to you! Is there anything I can do to help you?" I ask, hoping this whole excursion will at least serve for what I was hoping for; mainly, making Croix stop acting so weird and welcome me back into her life.

"No, you can't!" She yells, stopping so abruptly I almost bump into her. "Don't you see? You're just making everything worse!"

"H-how?" I say in a small voice, feeling as my heart breaks a little at her words and tears instantly appear in my eyes.

"Just… stay away for now, okay?" She answers, slightly more composed, but still unwilling to turn back and look at me. "I promise I'll solve this soon enough. You just have to be patient."

And with that, she starts walking once again, leaving me to wonder what her problem could possibly be and why she can't confide in me to solve it. I sigh. More than a year of being friends and I still feel like I can't understand her more often than not. Anyways, it's not like I can leave her to deal with whatever is troubling her alone, since apparently she isn't making a very good job at it.

"I guess it's time for plan B." I say, feeling the inside of my pocket where the Loveshroom still is.


A/N: Well, looks like things are about to get interesting, huh? Hope you liked this not-so-little chapter XD. And please follow/favorite/review if you haven't. That really helps! Thanks for reading.

Thanks to my beta reader moonwatcher13.