POV Narrator:
Sunday, 8 December 2017, Luna Nova
After the events regarding the dragon Fafnir and the whole draconic agreement coming to an end, since the dragon himself had been cheating the women of Luna Nova for about half a century with a super unfair taxation that forced the witches to spend a good part of their savings with the dragon, In addition to that the press of Luna Nova wasted no time and made sure to expose the whole world about what happened in the newspapers, which was even leaving a bit of Fafnir enraged by the news coming to complain through messages to the director that only replied to be kind of irrelevant for being only in Luna Nova.
So much that water passed quickly, since the interest would be the great visit of the Earl of Appleton, who would even promote a ball with his visit ensuring a much better food than the potatoes that everyone was used to, besides the visit of the son of the same accompanied by his friend, much to give a negotiated with the academy of witchcraft, since it was already another year that Luna Nova and Appleton are at peace with each other.
POV Akko:
What a shit, while the girls are enjoying themselves going to the ball soon I'm here in the yard doing these magic classes, at least something I'm managing to do, the teacher asked me to practice this so called Metamorphie faciasse, but it's always giving a bad one when I stay here trying.
"Come on Akko, you're doing well, just keep trying, we've already achieved the spell about four times in a partial way" said teacher Ursula.
"Metamorphie faciasse!" I say doing the spell and I just feel the change, I think it was for good now, but the teacher shows the effect and I got bunny ears, nose too, again another incomplete transformation.
"You are making progress Akko" she said.
"Ahhhhhhhh, this sucks teacher, we can rest now, I'm hungry, I don't know if I'm really going to make it"
"Oh... All right Akko, you look very despondent indeed, but look, believing in your heart is your true magic, never forget that, as Chariot herself used to say" She said and I even gave a little corner smile.
In the red team's room...
I lie on the bed, half looking down with the staff in my hand, I get a bit frustrated, I don't even transform myself back, both because I don't know, both because the teacher wanted me to try by myself to go back to normal, but it seems that my potential never wants to wake up, it seems that there is a lock preventing me.
"Teacher, do you think I might have a blocked potential? Maybe I need to find a place to be able to unlock it, like when Chariot went in the Polaris fountain" I show the letter to her who moves her glasses.
"Hmmmm, I really think it might be an issue with you, your potential being somehow dormant, about the source, it exists and it's here in Luna Nova, but I think you the way you are it won't reveal its potential yet" She said and I already got a plan in my mind, heh.
"Tell me more Professor Ursula" I say curious and already thinking about my plan here.
"Ah, it's in the ruins of the buildings of the second Luna Nova, it was made before the fire, one of the few remaining pieces from the times when we had borrowed it from Fafnir, even so it was kind of a dark era around here, the fountain itself it brings the witch's potential to the surface and she can become a more powerful witch, I'm not going there right now, it's too early for you," said the teacher and I'll obviously go to that place, I'll even show her the map and she'll point where it is, which I'll cross out and think of a tactic.
"Teacher, didn't you say you were going to get us something to eat at the dance?" I ask her and this will be my chance.
"Oh yes, of course, I'm coming Akko, behave yourself, don't think about leaving your room, we have to follow Miss Holbrooke's orders," said the teacher and then started to leave the room, closing the door afterwards.
I get a mischievous little grin, if she thinks I'm not going in that fountain, she's wrong,I'll even grab my shiny scepter and run over there, even as a bunny, I'll take advantage of it to be a loophole for when I unlock my potential to get back to normal on my own merits.
I wait a little, open the door of the room, look around and sneak down the path I've kind of memorized on a map I drew, the empty corridors, that's perfect, no fairies here, no servants, just the path to get... Polaris Fountain here I come.
Meanwhile in the courtyard of Luna Nova...
POV Diana:
Well today is the day of this ball and it is very strange despite everything Akko is nae here, I think the director exaggerated in excluding her from here, there is nae reason to be implying that she would embarrass and ruin the deal, Paul would never close this because a clumsy girl showed up, besides it is much more crime to chase witches.
"The Earl of Appleton is coming, as you girls know, it was the Earl of Appleton, Niall Hanbridge in 1730 who declared peace between witches and humans ending once and for all the season of witch-hunting and now his descendants will come here for this visit and to formalize another year of peace between us" said the headmistress, as we were getting kind of lined up.
The three arrived, all the girls started tae be charmed by Andrew and Frank, seriously, I just kept my face, I can't stand men, even more these two that are close to the family too, the worst of all is that there is a whole issue of mine with Andrew that they push me.
"Ohhhh Andrew is a work of art" Hannah said.
"I agree, what a big man" Barbara said and I just stood still.
They were walking through the corridors, I stared at them and noticed Andrew's sacked face, just like mine, his friend gave me a wink, I even felt like showing the middle finger, but I held myself, because this is too informal, until they got tae the headmaster.
"Welcome, everyone, this is the Earl of Appleton, Paul Hanbridge, his eldest son and viscount is called Andrew and lastly Frank Howard, a family colleague who has come to visit," said the headmistress.
"No need to introduce us this way every year, the girls already know what I am, well as usual you witches continue with your old fashioned art of magic, which is quite disappointing" He said already tarnishing the tradition of magic which was making me a bit angry, how can this be considered a guest here.
"Diana, why don't you introduce Luna Nova to the younger guests and accompany them" Said the headmistress and when things couldn't get worse, yes they do get worse, I take a deep breath and walk all formal to them.
"Aye headmistress Holbrooke," I answer her formally, then go on tae shake hands with each of them, sort of kissing each one's hand, how seriously disgusting, while the girls there seemed to get jealous.
I honestly envy them, they could be any one of them with those two, but me... It seems that they do everything to want tae push me tae Andrew, and I don't like men, that makes me angry... I dinnae know how my mother dinnae end up being forced to Paul, it's even strange, I dinnae even get to know my father too, anyway... Let's go, right?
"Come on, I'll introduce the Luna Nova locations to you, come with me" I tell them both and they nod their heads in agreement, while we walk out of the ball to the corridors, where they loosen up a bit more.
I'm walking with my hands on my back half quiet, but I'm holding myself to nae talk any nonsense, I know that Andrew makes unnecessary comments against witches, we have already been beaten when we were kids because of that, but honestly I dinnae know how they keep pushing me so much for a man that I dinnae like... I wonder if this happened with my mother too and that's why I dinnae know anything about my father.
"So Andy, is this the Luna Nova you keep talking about? Dude, it's not that bad, I actually liked it here, there's only pretty lassie, look at the one that's accompanying us, Cavendish man! She is one of the most beautiful lassie in all Scotland" said the guy from Frank and I was trying not to roll my eyes.
"Honestly Frank, it's not the good looking girls that are going to make this place any less worse, it's a place that still perpetuates the dated art of magic, they've never let go of the traditions" Andrew honestly sometimes begs for a punch.
"They are traditions after all, you have tae respect them and it is our art, being dated or nae, we are doing something to keep it alive, if you care we are getting too far, here is already a place on the outside" I say looking at the night sky.
"Well congratulations on getting us lost on our first visit Cavendish" He said, already giving me a hard time.
"Maybe if you guys dinnae distract me with your absolutely unnecessary comments I would focus better on the way to present Luna Nova, but since we are here, these are the ruins of the old Luna Nova, it had been renovated a thousand years ago when we made a loan tae a dragon, but then a fire occurred here in 1517 and there are only few remnants, we also recently discovered that the dragon itself had been taking money from us through extortion" I tell them and from the looks of it Andrew seemed uninterested.
"A fire? And even so they managed to get back on their feet, until you witches have some history, Andrew keeps saying there's nothing much, tell me more about it Cavendish" Said the jerk all interested and I shrugged.
"Okay, I tell more of this place, which also besides having the ruins of the ancient Luna Nova, also hides a secret that is a known source of magic, where it can unlock the potential of every witch, but that may just be a legend, exalted by the myths that Shiny Chariot with his letters brought" I go talking with the blond half clown, without realizing that Andrew left my radar, he goes listening tae things, until at least one of them really gets interested in the history, I just hope Andrew doesn't get lost, but he won't be missed either.
Very close to there...
POV Akko:
That's it! I managed to cut everyone off and get out unnoticed, the polaris fountain will soon be a place for me to gain access, I was walking until a bit distracted by the sides, which I end up hitting someone head on, when I turn my face after falling to the ground I see a tall, handsome man, holy shit, he has green eyes, beautiful hair, parted in the middle, so much so that he crouches in front of me and starts messing with my ears which ends up hurting a lot.
"Ouch! That hurts!" I tell him.
"Oh so those aren't fake ears?" said the boy and I blushed and took his hand.
"Of course not! They're real, I did it for a spell! If you want I'll show you!" I tell him and he crosses his arms.
"Oh you witches really want to show up today, well then show it girl" He said and I make sure to show it.
"Metamorphie Faciasse!" I say that, but it backfires and even too much, ending up affecting him, with ears and a donkey tail that end up growing which even makes me laugh a bit.
"So where is it? I only saw light effects and nothing much" he said and I keep laughing.
"Touch his head" I tell him that as he touches it he notices his ears growing.
"Get me back to normal immediately witch!" He says all nervous and I make a point of gesturing.
"I can't, but if you help me get to the source of Polaris I might even be able to get you back to normal, my name is Atsuko Kagari, but you can call me Akko and please don't tell anyone you saw me" I make a point of dealing with him and he scratches his cheese.
"Andrew Hanbridge, okay bunny girl I can keep it a secret, since you must be breaking the school rule and possibly wanted to see me or something, like every girl ends up doing, but I'll tell you right away I don't want kisses or anything, get away from me in trying to make any headway" Said the cocky guy and I just got the biggest look on my face.
"I want to go to the polaris fountain and you appear out of nowhere, it's not my fault, the world does not revolve around your ego, the hottie" I say very clearly to the boy who even gets a different reaction.
"Oh if that's so then, less worse, I will accompany a witch to her attempt to maintain the dated art of magic, at least it's less worse than putting up with Cavendish explaining the history of this decadent place" He said and I kind of found it a little funny, but hey don't badmouth Luna Nova like that either.
The two of us walked together through the ruins of the Polaris fountain, getting into the middle of the place that was quite abandoned and looked as if it would collapse at any moment.
POV Narrator:
Elsewhere in Luna Nova, Ursula was returning with all the food in her hands that she brought from the ball, but notices Akko's absence, already having the realization that she had gone to the source of Polaris where she remembers that there also not only hides the so called magic that reveals the witches' potential, but also has another hidden secret that is around the place that is apparently a "guardian" which soon the duo that invaded the enclosures of the ruins of the ancient Luna Nova will discover.
"Arcas... I forgot to mention Akko about him, well I better go before the worst happens" said the teacher who was getting the broom and leaving the room to go save her student.
Returning to the labyrinthine corridors of the ruin, the duo of Akko and Andrew would walk through, not noticing anything, just the brittle walls and just nothing, they kind of end up safe, but that peace won't last long as they attracted the attention of the great Arcas.
POV Akko:
A quiet little place, now I think we are arriving on the right way, since it seems that the dumb boy is getting tired of being in this way and also of following me, but he knows that without me he gets lost hahaha, but I will guide everything right, until we start hearing the sound of some footsteps, besides some trembling.
"What is this Akko? It's not enough to take me into this labyrinth where we are lost, now you are sending me into a trap" he said, and I looked back.
"Holy shit it's the Coke bear! Run Andrew! Run!" I tell him.
"Don't be joking bunny girl, I'm serious now" Said his own until he looked back and got all scared and with that we go running with everything.
We go terrified, scared to death of the bear of coca cola to catch us, we jump where there was the ladder, I manage to get me caught in his trousers by luck, I almost lowered everything, I could even see his underwear that was a blue plaid, then I was helped to get up and the creature was getting ready to make the jump.
"Let's go!" he said.
We kept running, the animal managed to jump and follow us at the same level, I can't believe that the teacher didn't mention that there was a coca cola bear watching these corridors, we go in the greatest desperation, the animal followed and there was another jump that he simply crouches and I take impulse on his back, where I reach a higher place and then I support myself to catch him, the boy is heavy, but I manage to hold on, and he almost turns into bear meat.
"Akko, you have led us into a trap" He said and I grew more desperate in trying to survive.
"Let's go this way, before the bear takes another way to get us" I tell him who nods in agreement.
We went up more stairs, the creature was still trying to follow us, I looked back and I saw it later managing to go up what I started to cry of desperation the creature was coming, only that suddenly it stopped, I think that we are arriving, what I was relieved, at the same time finding strange.
Akko didn't know it, but it was Professor Ursula who calmed Arcas down, she had gone about in her true form, revealing the strands of blue hair being fake and showing the reddish hair that eventually calmed the animal down.
We arrived at the staircase of the fountain, things were much calmer, what I was getting even relieved, with that Andrew just keeps watching as I went up there, finally the polaris fountain, my potential will be unlocked.
When I arrive up there I see a half empty place, apparently the fountain only appears for the witch, deserving, but for me she had not appeared that strange, I was getting a little frustrated, but suddenly something was appearing.
It was Chariot! I was starting to see Chariot in her Luna Nova years, getting excited to see that she was exactly like me, a clumsy girl who even missed a lot of spells, blew up the room, went to detention, that got better, she came here too, only she left, the source didn't reveal anything to her either, so will it show me how I can be worthy of all the potential of magic?
The visions continued, showing Chariot studying, dedicating herself more to magic, helping people around her with her magic, bringing happiness, so it seems that's the secret, she did those things, then came back here... She made it, so that's what rolled over, she dedicated herself more to herself to be able to unlock the potential she had in herself, she wasn't always an exceptional witch like she is today, she also had a whole road to get here.
"I have to believe in myself to reveal my magic" My staff starts to glow, I walk down the stairs excitedly, getting close to Andrew, he stares at me until a little more friendly.
"And then you succeeded?" he asks.
"No, but Metamorphie Faciasse" I say and right away I feel the magic flowing through my body and then I see us returning to normal and he touching his own ears.
"Hmmm, I guess that can count as an experience I had today, you can show an interesting side of magic Akko, I still find it a dated practice, but at least I could have fun today, I guarantee your secret, thanks for the day" He said himself.
"Wait, how are we going to get back with Big Bear waiting for us?" I say to him and he stops and rubs the back of his neck, only suddenly I feel a magic involving us.
Out of nowhere we are transported back to the place where we had met for the first time, I see someone in the sky, it was a woman with long reddish hair who was flying with her broomstick, it was dark, I could not notice the clothes she was wearing, but I noticed the red that shone with the moonlight.
"Chariot" I say looking at the sky.
"Who?" Andrew said.
"I saw Chariot in the skies, she saved us, she is closer than she looks... My dream one day may come true" I say getting full of hope.
"Well anyway if this witch helped us, I have to thank her, anyway, I'm going now, Cavendish might miss me and I don't want to make things worse for you, if she catches you it could really get worse couldn't it?" he said and I nodded.
"I don't know if she would rat me out, but anyway, I appreciate you helping me out, fellas?" I give my hand to him and he shakes it himself.
"I can say yes, we are friends, just don't hit on me, my interest is not in women, as we are friends I can say that my interest is only in men" Andrew said what was even shocking, so he is gay.
"I like them both, I'm bi, it's always good to enjoy people from both sides, don't you think? Anyway, you'd better go soon because Diana must be making out with her friend who is with you hahahaha" I tell him who shrugs his shoulders.
"Cavendish is a lesbian, she doesn't tell anyone, but since we were kids we already knew each other about our orientations, there are few people who know about it, anyway I'm going" said Andrew waving to me and leaving.
Lesbian... I didn't expect that, I thought that because she was a starched woman she only wanted to go out with starched men, but looking at it this way it might make sense, so Diana only likes women... Well, I'd better go back to the room, I'm sure Professor Ursula will be mad at me for leaving the room, but it was for a good cause, I'm sure she'll understand.
Meanwhile Andrew was coming back...
POV Diana:
"And that's how the great witch Jennifer managed tae overcome all barriers, in the middle of a great political fight between her and Victoria McLaren, both competed tae be the main influence centre of the witches, on one side we had the traditions and on the other a way to conform with the mundane ideas and somehow kill the magic with technology, it was thanks to Jennifer's victory that the traditions could be kept" I say to Frank and I'm soon noticing that Andrew was coming, until finally, I think that I've been able to eat long enough.
"Did you miss me?" I said with a straight face.
"I could leave anyway" I reply sarcastically.
"I wanted to, but finally my father would get on my nerves, how was it then Frank, you put up with the Cavendish stories" he said and I just kept quiet.
"Dude it's too cool, witches have a whole history of overcoming, they were persecuted, they had to build it all up from scratch, to be able to become someone, they did amazing feats, this great witch Jennifer must be really cool, I'm gonna love coming here again, you told me there's her memorial tree isn't it?" I said the same and I went just trying not to roll my eyes, by the nine lesbian witches why did I go I had to force myself into that fate.
"These are stories fabricated by the witches themselves to make them seem more impressive than they really are, Frank"
We were walking in the corridors and the worst thing was that Frank became a real nag to talk about witches, I can't believe that this bimbo lad really got interested in this, I only talked about the basics of the witch hunts era and the time of the great witch Jennifer, anyway I hope Andrew didn't get into any trouble too.
"And you Cavendish, don't you want to know where I've been in that time?" asks the idiot.
"Nae, I dinnae care and I dinnae want tae know, what you do or dinnae do in the corridors is none of my business"
"Maybe he got off with one of the lassies and didn't say anything, how lucky" does Frank know? Apparently nae... The only thing that should interest Andrew here is leaving to go back to Appleton and hook up with several lads, little does Frank know what his little friend likes.
"I'm not going to tell anyway, I just went out so I wouldn't have to listen to nonsense coming from a witch's mouth" And here he is talking just like his asshole father, who would have thought they'd be the same rotten fruit wouldn't they, I should have beaten this kid more so he'd realise what witches are.
We arrived in the middle of the place, the girls were drooling over the boys as usual, I got tae Paul and the director, who apparently were chatting, while everyone else was kind of eating at the party, now admiring the two soft asses.
"They finally arrived" said the older asshole.
"Here they are, we did not manage to explore Luna Nova as a whole, but I was able to tell some stories, finally my responsibility here is over" I say to everyone and leave.
"Well done Miss Cavendish, I'm glad you've done a job well done, you'll certainly get more credit for that, she's one of our best students in the whole history of Luna Nova, she's our pride, our current best student, a true prodigy in magic" Said the headmistress licking my boots as usual, I hate this adoration, I'm literally just doing this for pressure.
"Ah but as Cavendish is her obligation, a witch in her position has to be at least competent, even if this art is a bit dated, they at least have something else of interest, which could be a great asset for the near future, which she should already understand very well for a girl of her age" I just wish I could tear myself in half now, I'm nae marrying your son, you will one day see me with a lassie Paul and your son with a lad, I can't wait for you and my aunt tae break your face with a deal that will never come tae fruition.
In the red team's room...
POV Akko:
On the other hand I met Andrew, he must be a long time friend of Diana's, it seems, besides discovering that both of them are from the valley, who would say, snobbish, rich and gay, that makes a great fanfic story... I hope Professor Ursula doesn't kill me for leaving the room, I pull the knob and see her she was sitting on a chair with her arms crossed.
"Beautiful isn't it?" she said and I scratched the back of my neck.
"Professor Ursula is that... I went to the bathroom that..." I mean, but she doesn't buy the story.
"No need to lie Akko, I know you tried to risk going to the polaris fountain, tell me how it went, I promise I won't rat you out, here we'll be like two friends, got it?" I said, and I only denied it with my head.
"She showed me Chariot's past, how I needed to be more deserving, but in the end, look the staff helped me get back to normal, besides I could learn a lot of things, why didn't you tell me about the coke bear that was in the corridors?" I tell her, and she looks at me with a puzzled look on her face.
"Because you weren't even supposed to leave in the first place Akko, but anyway, I'll let it go, at least you got rid of him and got out alive, right?" said the teacher.
"Chariot helped me teacher, I saw her in the skies, her red hair shining with the moonlight, but I couldn't see her face, she's with big hair now, her clothes were kind of baggy and dark, I couldn't notice much, she was with a broomstick with a different shape too, but it was amazing, this is a sign that she's around and not only that, she's watching over me and protecting me, do I have something special? Will I be worthy of meeting her one day?" I say all excited and the teacher nodded her head in agreement.
"Well I'm sure she is, if she's looking out for you, just follow in her footsteps and one day you and Chariot may meet in person, she may be closer than you think" said Mrs Ursula and I jumped for joy.
"Ah, I'm starving too, did you bring anything?" I ask the teacher and soon I see the table full of snacks where I'm eating some and already see that there is also the lack of others.
"Well, I ate some in the meantime, I felt a little hungry too, the food is very good, I recommend it, I'm glad you are well and starting to understand more of yourself as a witch, if you continue this, I'm sure great things will come to your journey, Akko" Said the teacher while I filled my mouth like a squirrel.
POV Narrator:
The day of the ball of the visit of the Earl of Appleton was quite different from what Akko expected, a day that had a lot of action besides the random moment when she herself could meet the English aristocrat who still has a very distorted view about witches, but is slowly revealing himself as someone friendly too, Andrew Hanbridge who is also the third cousin of Diana Cavendish.
See you, potential witches...