Notes from the Author

By the way, did I mention this was going to be a slow burn?

Chapter 2

The Tapestry of Beatrix

Blytonbury was usually busy on the weekends, but on that particular Saturday, the small town was absolutely bustling.

Finding a table for six at the Last Wednesday Society hadn't been feasible, so the Red and Green Teams found themselves squeezed together at a small table as they sipped their tea and shoveled pastries into their mouths. With a full day ahead of them, the six friends were planning exactly where they wanted to go.

"The book shop, of course!" Lotte was saying to Jasminka, who was hardly listening as she feasted contentedly on a glazed pastry. "The new Night Fall came out yesterday and I can't wait to see how Edgar—"

"Lotte, please," Amanda groaned, rolling her eyes and running a hand through a shock of orange hair. "I am so sick of hearing about Night Fall."

"The Alchemy shop just got the shipment of rare mushrooms I ordered," Sucy said, mouth spread into a wide grin as she rubbed her hands together. "I'll be able to make so many new potions to test on Akko later. There's one I'm particularly excited about where her fingers will uncontrollably start—"

"Miss Constanze will be paying a visit to the technology store," Stanbot piped up before Sucy could finish. "There is some equipment that is vital for the advancement of our new automated note-taking device."

"Akko, do you have anything fun planned for today?" Lotte asked, directing her gaze at her roommate, who was balancing her chair on two legs and looked lost in thought.

"Not really—" Akko started. But, before she could finish, a sharp voice cut in from behind her that caused her to lose her balance and go crashing backwards.

"Lotte!" Barbara squealed, ignoring Akko's groans and rushing over to the Finnish witch with uncontrolled enthusiasm. "Tell me you're getting the new Night Fall today!"

Amanda let her forehead crash onto the table, causing the teacups to rattle with the impact. "Not again," she moaned. "By the Nine, have mercy."

"I know," Hannah grumbled, grabbing a chair that had recently been left unoccupied and pulling it up next to Amanda. "I've been hearing about it non-stop all morning!"

Apologizing to a family at the table behind her, Akko clambered to her feet. "Geez," she said, wincing and rubbing the back of her head. "You sure know how to make an entrance."

"I apologize on Barbara's behalf," came the familiar voice of Diana Cavendish. She stepped up to the table, taking a sip from her teacup and claiming a seat in an empty chair. "She seems to be unable to control herself this morning," she added, shooting a pointed glare at Barbara.

Barbara tossed her hand dismissively at Diana without a break in her excited conversation with Lotte.

"And what do you have planned for the day, Diana?" Amanda asked with a sneer, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms over her chest. "Is there anything in a pauper town like this that would appeal to an heiress such as yourself?"

If the slight bothered her, Diana didn't let it show. She set her teacup gently down on its saucer, raising her eyes to meet the devious smile of the American witch. "There is a new exhibit in the Magical History Museum that appeals to me. I was planning a visit."

Sucy smirked at Akko, who was dunking a pastry into her tea. Strawberry glaze coated the witch's lips as she haphazardly shoveled the tart into her mouth. "You should take Akko. She has no plans today."

Diana shrugged. "That would be fine."

"Whergh?" Akko garbled around her full mouth before swallowing hard. "What?" she repeated. "Why would I want to go to a boring old—"

Sucy's foot slamming down on Akko's under the table quickly cut off her sentence.

"Ow! What was—"

Akko realized that the table had grown silent and looked around to find the eyes of every single other witch on her. Quirked eyebrows from Lotte quickly reminded her of the Defensive Magic project and the necessity to work cohesively with Diana, which required… getting along.

Akko let out a loud groan.

"Fine," she grumbled, rolling her eyes and sighing. "I'll go."

"Museums would be a lot better if there was stuff to do," Akko whined, peeling her eyes away from a rusted wand from the 9th century (which Akko was convinced was just a stick someone found in the Arcturus Forest) to stomp around the dimly lit, and much too quiet, museum exhibit.

"There is much to do, Akko," Diana said, moving away from studying a particularly boring (in Akko's opinion) display. "And please, conduct yourself in a manner that isn't disruptive to other visitors."

"What other visitors?" Akko exclaimed, waving around at the completely empty building for emphasis. "We're the only ones here! Everyone else is out having fun!" Disgruntled, she trailed after the taller witch toward the new exhibit that Diana had expressed interest in.

Diana pursed her lips, not bothering to respond to Akko as she stepped into the dimly room. A large banner, hanging from the back wall where branches from a model Jennifer tree snaked around it, read:

THE NINE OLDE WITCHES

Diana seemed to know exactly where she wanted to go. Much to Akko's surprise, she ignored the other displays and walked right past them.

Akko followed her as she snaked through wide passages to a final room, where she finally came to a stop before a particularly familiar looking tapestry.

"Wait." Akko's eyes widened as her gaze trailed over the scene of the tapestry. The familiar blonde witch, reaching toward the stark white unicorn atop the comforting branches of a large tree. "Is that—"

"Yes," Diana confirmed, crossing her arms over her chest and eyeing the artifact with a distinct look of pride. "The Tapestry of Beatrix."

"But, Diana," Akko started, scrunching her eyebrows in confusion as she turned to face the other witch. "I thought—but your Aunt tried to—"

"I'm aware," Diana said. She knew that Akko was referring to the night where, over dinner, Aunt Daryl had tried to sell some of the most beloved artifacts of the House of Cavendish to the Hanbridges. She remembered the rage that had welled inside her at the shameful display of desperation, and, along with it, the outburst from Akko when she realized the effect that Aunt Daryl's actions were having on Diana. Though the night had been frustrating and, above all else, embarrassing, she recalled the memory fondly as one of the first times Akko had spoken up on her behalf. An action that, along with the events that occurred during the Venusian eclipse, had jump-started what Diana would even come to acknowledge as a friendship.

"Why is it here?" she heard Akko ask.

"I donated it." Diana's answer was simple. Upon seeing the confusion still glinting in Akko's red eyes, she chose to elaborate. "The Tapestry of Beatrix is a crucial artifact that deserves to be shared with the entirety of the magical community. I could no longer bear to see it neglected."

"Oh." Akko nodded as though placated, turning back to the tapestry. "That was nice of you."

Diana shrugged, though Akko could see the hint of a smile flash across her lips at the comment. "It's not about being nice, Akko, but merely preservation of history and tradition. Though," she pointed to the plaque that read THE TAPESTRY OF BEATRIX CAVENDISH, donated by the House of Cavendish, c.657, "The actual year was 658, the year after the death of Beatrix, so this seems to be an error. I was under the assumption I provided that documentation. I will have to see Madam Mensch regarding the correction."

Akko shifted, expecting Diana to move away, but the taller girl didn't move. She stood still, eyes trained on the artifact before her, expression solemn. She looked… almost… sad?

"Um, Diana?"

"Yes, Akko?"

Akko twirled a lock of hair between her fingers, gaze lingering on the side of Diana's face. "Is everything alright?"

A soft sigh slipped through Diana's slightly parted lips. "Everything is fine," she said, cool blue eyes locking onto Akko's crimson. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, as though she was about to say something, before finally adding, "Nothing to be concerned about." Though, the statement almost seemed like a reassurance to herself instead of Akko. She turned back to the tapestry.

Akko offered a small nod, shoving her hands into the pockets of her robe as she turned to stare at the portrayal of Beatrix's gentle demeanor. Though difficult, Akko had come to understand Diana's need for privacy. But even if she wasn't privy to whatever was on Diana's mind, she could still keep her friend company.

So they stood, silent as each of them relaxed into vastly different memories, both well aware of the feeling of static coursing between their bodies at the proximity of their magic.

A sensation that had become all too familiar, but not at all a discomfort.

"Oh, girls!"

The familiar voice made Akko look up from the enormous ice cream cone that she'd been warring with for the past few minutes. Following their visit to the museum (which was brief, by Diana's standards, yet an excruciating amount of time for Akko), Diana had allowed herself to be dragged to the ice cream parlor, where they were waiting for the rest of the Red, Blue, and Green Teams to arrive.

And where Akko had gotten quite possibly the largest ice cream cone that she had ever seen a single individual take on by themselves.

"Honestly, Akko, have you no self-control?" Diana had asked as she ordered herself a single scoop in a cup.

Akko had merely shrugged and immediately got to work on the cone that would even rival what Diana imagined Jasminka would order. Diana could only watch with a vague tug of entertainment as Akko swiped her tongue around the edge of the waffle cone in a desperate battle to keep the melting treat at bay.

Which was exactly the scene that was playing out when the two witches looked up to see Professor Ursula approaching them. Her hands were full of bags from different shops, flustered blush of exhaustion dusting her cheeks as she dropped her wares at their table with a huff. She flashed her characteristically friendly smile. "I've been looking for the two of you!" she exclaimed. "I've been so busy grading coursework that I haven't found the time during the school week."

"Professor Ursula." Diana gave her a curt nod, setting her ice cream down on the table. Professor Ursula had, once again, taken on the appearance of the meek teacher that she had always been. The flaming red hair that had coined her as Shiny Chariot was gone, replaced by the soft blue from before. Though Diana, Akko, and a handful of others now knew the secret she had withheld during her time at Luna Nova, the larger population of the school was still completely unaware.

Akko had halted her voracious attack on her ice cream cone. Pink and white blended together as it melted down over her knuckles. Though the other witch had tried to hide it, Diana caught a glimpse of the uneasy expression that slid over her face like a shadow. Akko rarely spoke of Shiny Chariot and the heartbreaking realization that she had come to the year before, and Diana could tell that it still gave the other girl misgivings. Diana, too, wasn't sure how to feel. She recalled the night she found Akko sitting in the snow in Blytonbury, how the usual ferocity had drained from the witch's very being at the knowledge that her role model, her childhood idol, had harmed her in a way that she could never have imagined.

Diana felt her jaw clench.

"What's up, Professior Char—uh, Ursula?" Akko asked in her usual friendly lilt, returning to her ice cream and ignoring the fact that it was dripping from her hand and onto the table.

"I've been meaning to speak to you about a certain event that Sam—er, Professor Badcock brought up in a staff meeting," Ursula started, her eyebrows pushed together in concern as she flicked her gaze between Akko and Diana. "I heard that the two of you had a bit of an outburst in her Defensive Magic class last week."

Diana hardly considered her words to Akko an outburst considering she had never lost her composure. But did the whole staff really have to know what had taken place between them? Granted, it was in front of an entire class of students, but…

"I suppose to could say that," Diana finally said after an uncomfortable silence.

Akko shot a sideways glance at Diana. "It was my fault," she said quickly. "I didn't listen to Diana. We've talked about it."

"It was my fault as well," Diana said.

Akko's mouth dropped open as she stared at Diana. A few drops of ice cream dripped over her lips and down her chin. "What?"

Diana shrugged. "It was a team effort," she said, directing her attention back to Professor Ursula. "And, as such, there is a mutual responsibility."

"Alright, well, as long as you girls are on the same page," Professor Ursula said with a genuine smile.

"I wouldn't go that far," Akko grumbled.

Professor Ursula chuckled. "Well, after the staff meeting, I went ahead and reserved the two of you a practical exercise room so you can exercise your magic and work together outside of, well, a situation of impending doom. I know they're in high demand with finals coming up, and, last minute, well—" She looked down, fiddling with her sleeves, and added, "It's the least I could do—"

"Thank you." Diana cut Professor Ursula off, noticing the darkness that flashed across Akko's face. "We certainly appreciate it."

"Thank you, Professor Ursula," Akko added, quickly recovering and letting her ice cream covered lips spread into an easy smile. "That was nice of you." Her attention strayed down the road, where a group of laughing and joking girls were headed in their direction. "Anyway, um…"

Professor Ursula nodded in understanding, gathering her bags. She couldn't fault Akko's hesitation. There was a lot that would have to be done on her own part to fully mend the relationship between them. "Have a wonderful weekend, girls," she said, giving the two a look that she hoped expressed the intentions of her actions.

As she walked away, she could hear Diana scolding Akko.

"Honestly, Akko, please use a napkin. You have gotten that all over everything."

Though, there was a different tone in her voice. One that wasn't as harsh as it usually was when she corrected other students, or pointed out behavior that she didn't find appropriate for a student of Luna Nova. It sounded almost like… compassion?

Professor Ursula turned to glance briefly at the two witches who were being joined by their group of friends. And she swore, for one small moment, she saw Diana look at Akko with a ghost of a smile that she knew all too well.

It was the same look that Croix Meridies had once, years ago, given her.