Chapter 6

The Final Exam

Akko could feel the eyes of her classmates staring down at her. It was enough to make any student nervous, but the fact that she'd been under the limelight so much made their exclusive attention much less unsettling. What did make her nervous, though, was the major detail that she and Diana hadn't spoken since their final night of studies. At all. Not even when their teams had gathered outside over the weekend for a few friendly broom relays. Which Akko hadn't participated in for... well, reasons. Namely the inability to fly.

Even Lotte and Sucy had asked what was going on between them.

"One moment ladies. My apologies. We seem to be having some system issues," Professor Badcock was saying from her podium. "Strange, really, everything was just fine when I ran checks prior to class."

As they stood at the head of the classroom, Akko could feel the unease that circulated between herself and Diana. While Professor Badcock was preparing the simulation, she stole a sideways glance at the blonde witch at her side.

Diana was staring straight ahead, the muscles of her jaw tightened in a way that Akko could only describe as stoic. Her hand rested on the handle of her wand as she waited for the simulation to begin, mind likely running through the possibilities of the trial.

But Akko was hardly thinking of the monster that awaited them. To her, the monster was the wedge that had worked its way between she and her friend. The weight of their words that hung in the air surrounding them. Akko was sure that whatever awaited them in their final practical exam would not be nearly a much of a challenge as the two of them coming together to defeat it.

"Ah! There we go. Alright, ladies, your time starts now. You have ten minutes," Professor Badcock called from her podium, a shrill beep echoing through the classroom as the simulation booted up.

Once again, the ground was shifting beneath their feet, the wind was howling in their ears, and the nervous silence of the classroom gave way to the sounds of a completely new environment.

When the world stopped shaking around them, Akko and Diana opened their eyes to find themselves standing in a desert.

"Interesting," Diana said, drawing her wand.

The two witches slowly took in their new environment. Sand stretched as far as the eye could see. There was nothing else. No cover. Nowhere to hide. And no... monster?

"Um, Diana?" Akko spoke up from her teammate's side. "Where is it?"

Diana shifted into a defensive stance next to Akko, cool blue eyes scanning the cloudless sky. "I'm not sure," she replied, turning rapidly in an effort to find the threat that they knew loomed somewhere among them. "Wait," she finally said, pointing to a large sand dune in the distance. "There."

Akko's eyes followed to where Diana was pointing. It was difficult to see with the sand drifting through the air, but there was no mistaking the fierce beast as it moved closer, spiraling around them. The great head of a lion peered at them through a pair of menacing black eyes, lips curled back in a threatening snarl. Flames licked the air around its mouth, smoke rising from flaring nostrils.

From its back rose the head of a large goat, whose lips pursed in a shrill bleat as it waved its sharpened horns in the air.

And whirling from what would have been the tail of a normal creature was the curved body and dangerous diamond head of a massive snake. Drops of venom dripped from its wet fangs, scorching the sand around the prowling monster.

"Is that..." Akko started, readying her wand as the beast lowered itself to the ground, growling from the great lion head that was staring directly at them as though they were a gourmet meal.

"A Chimera!" Diana called, green light already flaring from the tip of her wand as she readied her stance. "Akko, look out!"

With a roar that threatened to make Akko's eardrums collapse, the Chimera leaped forward in a pounce that closed the distance between them so fast that she didn't have time to think.

"Circum Praesidio!" Diana yelled, wand twirling at her side. Just as claws the size of swords came swiping at them, a wavering purple shield erupted from her wand to repel the monster into a surprised stumble. "Akko," she said, teeth grit together as she held the shield. "Cover the space behind us!"

Akko knew what she meant. She whirled, pressing her back to Diana's as she lifted her arm and in the same motion, though not quite as fluid, shouted, "Circum Praesidio!" The barrier half mooned into Diana's, shield's pulsing into each other to strengthen and block out the Chimera as it circled them, snarling and swiping at the magic shield which rocked madly with each blow.

"We can't hold this for long." Sweat was already dripping down Diana's temple as she strained to feed more magic into the shield. "We need a plan. Akko, do you recall Sucy's suggestion?"

"Uh, yeah," Akko panted just as the goat slammed its horns into her side of the shield. A large crack erupted, etching a jagged line across the weakening barrier. "I do. Are you saying-"

"Yes." Diana drew a deep breath. Akko could feel her lungs inflate against her back. Flames shot from the lion's mouth, scorching the connection of their two shields. "As much as I hate to admit, it's extremely applicable in this case. Are you ready?" She paused, glancing back to see Akko's confident nod. "Now!"

Diana dropped the shield just as Akko yelled, "Metamorphie Faciesse!"

Akko felt her body jolt as her form popped into that of a large mouse. With a great spring from her hind legs, she launched into the air, gripping the mane of the startled lion as it began to shake its head back and forth in confusion.

"Yeah!" Akko yelled, paws clutching the thick hair of the beast as she climbed high onto the top of its body, avoiding the paws that swiped around its head in an attempt to dislodge its newest addition. "You want me? Come and get me, you big dummy!"

She hopped onto its back, barely avoiding the charging horns of the second head. The goat bleated in frustrated anger, spraying Akko with spit.

"Oh, gross!" Akko grumbled, jumping up onto the goat's beard and climbing around the side of its face. "Don't you know manners?"

From the corner of her eye, she could see Diana. Magic was swirling around her as she waved her wand, gathering power for her next spell. Which... definitely hadn't been communicated to Akko. Just as the snake was bearing down at the mouse with dripping fangs, Akko was able to hear Diana cast with enough time to shout, "Metamorphie Faciesse!" only a half-second after Diana yelled, "Ventus cuniculum!"

Akko took flight into her new form as a hawk right as the Chimera was blasted backwards in a flurry of flying heads and claws. As it leapt back to its feet, its eyes glared down at its new target: the blonde spellcaster who had hit it with a wind so forceful that the flames had nearly fizzled out around its bared fangs.

The Chimera tensed and bellowed a roar, smoke pluming from its nostrils. It opened its mouth, reaching the lion head back before blasting a spray of fire at Diana. The flames grew so hot that Akko had to ascend higher, feeling the tips of her wings burning from the heat.

Diana rolled to the side to narrowly avoid being engulfed in the line of fire that had been shot her way. She could feel hot sweat pouring down her face and was partially aware that a few holes had been burned into her nicest school uniform. She took a deep breath, readying herself for the next attack as she watched Akko circling overhead.

The snake head was twirling wildly in the air, straining to grip the tantalizing hawk in its deadly fangs. Akko readied herself and took a sharp dive, pulling up at the last minute to evade the mouth attempting to snap into her. She knew the lion still had Diana in its focus. She had to pull something, and fast, to distract the Chimera once more.

"Try harder!" Akko yelled, laughing as she dove to and fro. But her arrogance earned her a misjudged taunt. She dipped far enough to evade the snake, but momentarily forgot about the tossing head of the angry goat that rose from the middle of the monster. She felt the air leave her body as the powerful horns smacked into her side and sent her flying backwards into a nearby sand dune, where she found herself morphed back to her normal form and fighting to get breath back into her lungs.

The Chimera whirled. Akko blinked up to find herself face to face with sharp, flaming teeth. The heat bore into her as the snarling lion growled only inches from her face, snake tail whipping angrily around its heaving sides. It opened its mouth, foul breath and thick, black smoke pouring over the scrambling witch in front of it.

"Akko!" She heard Diana call. The Chimera crunched down.

On her wand.

She peeled her eyes open, feeling the hot breath of the Chimera directly on her neck as she strained to keep the beast at bay with the wand she'd wedged into its mouth. She didn't know how long she could hold it. The creature was way stronger. She felt her elbows buckling in an attempt to fend it off. Flames from the canines pressed up against her neck, burning into her flesh. She choked back the pain of her own searing skin.

Diana's heart was hammering against her ribcage. She pulled to a stop behind Akko and drew into a stance that showed confidence despite her exhaustion. She raised her wand, feeling her own magic and even some of Akko's flow through her bloodstream as she threw her wand forward and yelled, "Sonum aquarum!"

Bright green magic flew towards the Chimera, morphing into an onslaught of water that sprayed into the monster's mouth. Akko felt the water pouring over her body but stayed still, pushing her wand forward with all her might until she felt the jaw slacken and pull away from her.

The flames were extinguished. Smoke no longer billowed from the creature's mouth. Instead, droplets of water fell to the sand and dissolved in a puff of steam.

The snake head coiled inward, the massive goat head lowered its horns, and the ferocious lion let its mouth quietly shut as it backed slowly away from the two witches. With a final growl, it turned and fled across the sea of sand.

Akko allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief as she examined her wand. A few teeth marks had scratched the metal, but nothing detrimental. She pulled her shaking body up, water dripping from her hair and clothes, and turned to look at Diana with a broad smile.

"Diana!" she shrieked, tucking her wand into its holster and launching at the other witch to wrestle her into a tight hug. "We did it!"

Diana's body stiffened at the impact of Akko's. She felt her stomach lurch. Her heart was still pounding, but she knew it wasn't from the Chimera any longer. She gripped Akko's shoulders and pushed the smaller girl back with a reassuring smile, tensing her jaw at the familiar surge of energy that pulsed beneath her skin. "Yes, we did," she confirmed, nodding. "If you don't mind, Akko, you're a bit... wet."

Akko chuckled, looking down at her soaked clothing. "Yeah, guess so. That's okay. We're totally going to get an A!"

The sand beneath them was already shifting rapidly as the ground began to shiver. A light breeze had picked up, sending a chill through Akko's wet body. Akko braced herself, ready for the familiar nausea to take hold as the world changed.

But instead, a high-pitched whine erupted from somewhere above and Akko slammed her hands over her ears in an attempt to drown out the sound that followed, one she could only describe as a crack. The ground swayed beneath them, shuddering violently.

"What's going on?" she asked Diana, red eyes flashing to meet the blue of her teammate's.

"I... I'm not certain," Diana replied, glancing around.

The ground suddenly quaked so violently that both witches were thrown from their feet. The world grew silent once more.

Akko climbed to her feet, spitting sand out of her mouth as she looked around. The sky had darkened to an ominous grey, but no clouds were in sight.

But she did see something familiar.

"Uh, Diana."

Diana was brushing the sand off her uniform. "It seems there continues to be a system er-" Diana's voice trailed off as her eyes settled on the same spot that Akko was staring at.

A red sigil was burning against the wavy sand, growing brighter with every second until it flashed in a brilliant spark of crimson and faded away.

And there, where the sigil had once been, stood five figures in a V formation.

"It can't be," Diana said, hand flying to her side to firmly grip her wand. The other flew out to grab Akko's wet sleeve, pulling her in close. "Akko, ready yourself. Do not go anywhere."

Not that Akko had planned on going anywhere. Another loud crack resounded throughout the world, echoing across the desolate landscape. Akko took a sharp breath.

"Ah, Diana."

A soft male voice came from behind them. Diana and Akko both whirled simultaneously to find themselves face-to-face with a tall figure, cloaked in the same black robes that adorned the other five figures. The hood was pulled far over his face, shrouding his eyes and a large portion of his face. But Akko could see his mouth and the lips that had pulled back into a dark smile.

Diana raised her wand.

The man's hand shot out from his side, covering Diana's wrist in a hard grip. Akko could feel the sensation of dark magic flooding through them, straining against their own. A shiver ran down her spine.

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you." He sneered back at them, lifting his hand from Diana's. "The star of Luna Nova, I believe they call you? A successful witch such as yourself would not want to suffer the devastating curse that would come with committing fratricide." In a slow, deliberate motion, he tugged the hood down around his neck.

And Akko found herself staring back at an oddly familiar face.

She was greeted with the prominent bone structure befitting in a wealthy family. The youthful features of his face told Akko that he couldn't have been much older than them, maybe only a few years. Cold blue eyes set under arched blonde eyebrows were burning into Diana's, staring the witch down with a look of superiority and bemusement.

But his hair. Slightly wavy, but slicked back. Blonde, with tea-green highlights.

She felt Diana's sharp intake of breath at her side.

Her breath hitched in her throat as she looked between this strange new man and Diana. Finally, her red eyes settled on him. "Who are you?" she demanded.

"I would ask the same of you, but most fortunately for me, I already know much about you, Atsuko Kagari." He smirked back at her, eyes flashing. "It does not surprise me that Diana has never spoken my name. I am, after all, an exile."

"Damien." As composed as ever, but Akko could feel Diana's hesitation. "What are you doing here?"

"You know exactly why I'm here," he replied.

"Damien?" Akko glanced back and forth between the two. "Who is Damien? Could someone please enlighten me?"

"He's my brother," Diana said at last, eyes narrowing as she glared back at him. "And Akko has nothing to do with our family affairs, Damien. I demand you leave her out of this."

"Demand?" Damien chuckled, running a hand through his wavy hair. "You demand that of me? Need I remind you that I, as the elder, am the rightful heir of House Cavendish. Or, I will be, when the Martian Eclipse takes place." He leveled his gaze at Diana. "Almost amusing, but you always did have such a dreadful sense of humor, Diana."

Diana said nothing. Her fists clenched at her sides.

A foreboding sensation overwhelmed Akko. She glanced to the side to see that the five figures were now standing only feet away, heads bowed as though in prayer.

"As it happens, this girl here," Damien waved a hand at Akko, "has found herself in the unfortunate circumstance of already seeing too much. Besides," the corner of his mouth quirked with a sneer, "I believe she cares far too much for you to be able to distance herself from this situation. Thus, easier to dispose of the both of you together. This simulation offered the perfect opportunity. Such low grade security deserves a proper hacking, don't you think?" He lifted an eyebrow. "I believe this will be Luna Nova's lesson to learn. Not yours."

"What do you mean by that?" Akko cried, but it was too late.

With a gentle flick of his wrist, the man that was Damien Cavendish dissolved before them. The five cloaked figures, too, disappeared without a trace.

But the quivering of the ground told them that they weren't alone.