POV Narrator:
Friday, 15 December 2017, Luna Nova
The days passed since the disaster at the Cavendish mansion, luckily it didn't have any injured among the employees, but unfortunately it had the cost of the whole mansion collapsing and falling apart, after the implosion that happened in the building after so many explosions and fire the structure couldn't hold and ended up destroyed, a castle that had been built in the 17th century by generations of important Cavendish family names, was now in rubble, those that nothing can be left to recover, which was leaving Diana without much of the money left, only the necessary for the stay in Luna Nova, and pay for the damage that her own aunt made, leaving only a mere empty lot.
In the meantime Diana ended up entering a deep depression, noticeable by her quieter than usual behavior in class, now her participation in the midst of everything became much lower, she started to speak almost no words, everyone was noticing that she was really affected, including the three who were with her, what the red team was finding wonderful the fact that Hannah and Barbara didn't mess with Akko, even if Kagari herself didn't feel that happy, after all she was in the moment.
POV Akko:
Another day of class is over, poor little Diana can't even leave her room these days, I would even ask for her help, but I think it's better that I stay here with teacher Ursula, she's the one who is teaching me now, I might even learn another spell besides the Metamorphie Faciasse.
I stand facing a statue and try to use the new spell, but nothing happens.
"Sossomme Tiextrilla" I'm going for it, at least the pieces are moving and managing to come together.
"Come on Akko, the last piece" She said and I put it on, being relieved, but I look at the bigger model and see that the piece was all wrong, which I start to get frustrated.
"What a pity, it was close Akko, with a hundred attempts you almost succeeded, just keep going like this that you perfect" Said the teacher and I can't get excited.
"100 times, but nothing, I'd managed with far fewer times to perfect the Metamorphie Faciasse with Diana..." I say half-heartedly.
"Ah go relax a bit, tomorrow we'll manage, you're walking much better than before" said the teacher.
"Ah teacher, I wanted to go better, but lately I don't get too excited, you know, since I started the classes with you I get better, but after the events at Cavendish mansion I got a bit discouraged for everything, I lost my enthusiasm" I tell her who hugs me.
"I know how it is, you've been through a pretty traumatic event I imagine, but soon you get excited to continue, see you tomorrow Akko" Said the teacher waving to me.
Later in the red team's room...
I stare at the ceiling of the bed, just thinking about that day, everything going so well and wonderful, I had never seen Diana's so happy and then so collapsed as now, well I guess I'd better not try to think about that, and concentrate on me, after all I have to be a better witch too.
"Wow Akko, you have been different since the day you went to Diana's house" said Sucy.
"What do you mean?" I ask her.
"You haven't been the bouncy girl for a couple of weeks now, it's kind of weird we're not getting into detention anymore, I even miss the troublemaker Akko a little bit" Manbavaran said, as always picking on you to get shit done.
"Wow to think that it has been a good few months that I am here and taking tutoring classes with Chariot, but still I do not progress at all, I wanted to be a better witch, I wonder if she must know something about Chariot and that could help me a little to motivate more? - I ask them.
"Who knows, she is Chariot's classmate, why don't you ask her that?" Said Lotte to me and that gives an idea in my head.
"Ah I'm going right now" I say getting up and excitedly taking the staff in hand.
"I didn't speak now, but since you want to go" Said the blonde.
I walked down the corridors to Professor Ursula's room, knocking there she meets me, I see the red eyes that are kind of familiar, I never noticed how much she looks like Chariot, but it must be just an impression, then she puts on her glasses, she was wearing pyjamas, I'm sure she must have some wonderful idea to go on.
"What brings you here Akko?" she said, offering me some tea.
"I've been thinking here teacher, you are Chariot's roommate, so you must know what she went through, so she stood out in the class by the way?" I ask her, who is a bit confused.
"I can say yes" she said.
"And why she disappeared do you know too?" I ask, curious.
"Well... I..." Said she even more confused, I confess I filled her with questions, it's just that I got more excited now.
"Since I saw Chariot's show, I dream to be like her, to cheer up the children, but I am afraid, I am afraid of what can happen when I meet her, but I want to come and tell her, is it possible that I can be like you?" I say excitedly and the teacher goes to the window, I follow her, kind of looking at the moon.
"A long time ago, I also had someone who taught me things, a teacher I would say, she told me about Phaidoari Afairynghor" She said and I had no idea what it was.
"What is it?" I ask the teacher.
"You don't become what you dream of, you become what you strive for" The teacher said and I found it quite touching, I thought it was a beautiful message and I also notice how the moon was kind of bluish.
"Tonight is the night of the blue moon again, it is kind of rare that this happens twice in a year, once on earth and once here in Luna Nova, they say that an amazing thing can happen on blue moon nights" Said the teacher.
"If it is about the Cavendish mansion in the case it was a fire indeed" I tell her.
In the headmaster's office, there was Principal Holbrooke arguing with two other teachers about Luna Nova's situation and with that came Diana arriving there wanting something
POV Diana:
Two mothers... I haven't stopped thinking about it since I became leader, I wonder who this witch is, do they have any knowledge of the nine witches about this that can enlighten me... I've always said by the nine witches lesbians, because they are, they had their lineage between them, but how? They are sae impressive I wanted tae know how, I get tae the board, I see them talking.
"We have to find a way to increase the number of students that will join Luna Nova, it is our lowest number of students since the foundation, if we continue like this magic can end" said teacher Lukic until they noticed my presence.
"This is because we have become completely dependent on the energy of the sorcerer's stone, every year it gets bigger and bigger, we cannot let this happen to a point that magic dies," said Professor Finnelan.
"Oh Diana, what brings you here?" asked the headmistress.
"I just came tae ask for the manuscript of the nine witches, I couldn't find it in the library and perhaps ye might know where ye have it" I say tae the headmistress.
"Oh yes I have it here, have you noticed that tonight is the night of a blue moon?" Dinnae even remind me of that, it was on a blue moon night that I lost everything, I just agreed with my head and took the parchment.
"Cool" I say half-heartedly.
"They say that on blue moon nights, something magical can happen" said the director and I honestly don't even want to know, it happened to me exactly the opposite, blue moon nights activate more a trauma in my head than enchantment for her.
"I am sorry for what happened at Cavendish Manor Miss Cavendish, but it is good to see that you are back, I don't know if Luna Nova would hold on without having an exemplary student like you, other witches are simply opting for other academies or disinterest in magic" Said Professor Finnelan, which I am starting to understand a bit where this disinterest comes from, but thank ye fae yer attention just the same.
POV Akko:
Walking through the corridors after the talk with Professor Ursula I get a bit pensive Phaidoari Afayringor, what a deep meaning, but where can I apply this... Wait a minute, tonight is the night of the blue moon, there is one of the Chariot cards that says about it, does it... Does it have anything to do with that word? The Blue Moon Ghost... I just remembered.
"Wonderful!" I shout alone.
I start running in the opposite direction where I was going, I think it must be towards the tower of Luna Nova, I am sure, I bet the place must be open there, I go running without looking ahead, which I end up unintentionally bumping into ironically, Diana... I fall to the ground and help her up, she was sort of holding a scroll, I keep wondering where she is going;... But I have to but I have to stay focused.
"Sorry Diana" I tell her even bending down.
"Oh you dinnae need all that Akko, but pay more attention where you're going, you almost spoiled one of the sacred scrolls of the nine witches... In fact may I ask what you are doing here at this hour?" She asks, arching her eyebrow.
"Tonight is the night of the blue moon, right? So I remembered here that in Chariot's letters it says about the blue moon ghost, he might be here in Luna Nova, so I'm heading towards the tower" I tell her.
"Ye want tae go in the abyss of the blue moon? That's right... It's too risky fae ye tae go, go back tae yer room" she said and I stamped my foot.
"So you come back too, where are you going?" I ask her.
"Ahhhh, Akko, by the holy lesbian Beatrix I'll go with ye then, but first let's stop by the tower of Luna Nova, I want tae see with ye what's in the scroll of the nine witches, it might be important fae ye too, after all as a student of Luna Nova, ye have tae know about our past and have a sense of what we are" She said and I just shrugged.
"All right then, if you won't let go of me on this one and you don't want me to go alone, then I will go, let's see if at least the blue moon night here in Luna Nova brings something magical"
At that moment I took Diana's hand and held it, as she stood there all embarrassed while we walked, since we are supposed to go together, then together we will go, no one will see us holding hands, so it is completely safe to go through the corridors, at least no one will make fun of us.
In the tower of Luna Nova...
We arrived, I climbed on the broom with Diana, where she came and put the wand inside the scroll cylinder, which then revealed a key, from it we opened a door, in this door we entered a room, it was not yet the abyss of the blue moon, from what it seems, a book was on the shelves with chains, as soon as Diana got close she made the chains magically disappear.
"Here it is, that's what I wanted tae find" Diana said.
"A book? Did we come here to get a book?" I ask her.
"This book could be the answer tae a question that has been sticking since the day I became head of the Cavendish family, but it could also be fae the good of all of Luna Nova" She said as I noticed the staff glowing.
"Diana the shiny rod" I show her with the jewels glittering.
"It looks like yer replica is working and wants tae point tae a place, it must be tae the abyss of the blue moon, I'll read the book later, we'll see about that" She said to me and I nodded in agreement.
Then we started to walk in the middle of the staircase, it was dark, the staff helped us to guide and Diana's wand using it like a torch, look I didn't ask for anything, but seeing her helping me with the way is being a cool and interesting experience, at the time I see someone at the bottom Chariot ... It's her I recognized and went running.
"Chariot!" I say excitedly.
"Akko dinnae run she is an illusion!" Diana said, but I didn't care much, I'm sure she came to help me with this one.
"Chariot, I have so much to tell you, how you got there, how you made your dream come true, I really want to make it come true too".
"I should have realised that no matter how far you try to get, you will never achieve your dreams" Said the fake Chariot and I am already touching myself, while Diana is by my side.
"It is an illusion, she is even wanting tae affect me, with me I am seeing my mother, try tae resist Akko" She said and I still hit mouth with the blue moon ghost.
"It's not true, Chariot wouldn't say such a thing, it was she who said that believing in my heart is my magic, show who you really are" I say in a more serious tone which the ghost ends up disappearing in Chariot's appearance.
On the ground ghosts start to appear and I go walking backwards, I even stumble, but I'm held by Diana who helps me and I even thank her for the strength, then everything comes together in a huge creature with appearance looking like a tree monster, I was getting with the staff in a defensive position, I don't want this thing to attack me.
"I already imagined it, you are the ghost of the blue moon, you just came to scare us" I say to the tree.
"Why are you here?" asks the tree.
"I want the answer to some questions, since you must know answers about the past and the present right?" I say to her, until Diana also appears half in front.
"Can ye really answer about the past?" She said in a more eager way than ever as the tree formed what looked like a face, I never imagined Diana like that.
"One at a time from you, but I can given my limitations, I will answer the brown one first, but I assure you that I know things that no one here can know" Said the tree.
"So there goes the question, can I become a witch like Chariot? I will become like one, since you know the future" I say, already being direct.
"Pious question, and as for you Cavendish, you can ask" said the tree.
"Hey, you didn't answer me" I say, looking a bit puzzled.
"I'll answer you later, let your friend ask" said the tree.
"What is my origin? Where did I come from? Is it possible for two witches tae have a child?" Woah, Diana sent a question that was kind of personal, but she was right on the money on that one.
"Two very silly questions, but I have the answer to each one, first the Cavendish, you came like any other child, from the love relationship between two people and one day your mother got pregnant with you, but it was not by a means that everyone knows, there is a magic relic called the fertility stone ... As for the little girl there with Claiomh Solais, you very much desire that future by becoming Chariot don't you? So go through that door and into that future, but you will lose your past" said the tree.
At the time I see a future with me performing on a stage like Chariot, I was becoming enthralled, while Diana seemed to see something different, I think it must be related to her family.
"And what about me? I only see the future of Akko" asks Diana.
"You can discover your past, but for that you will sacrifice your present and your future, you can discover right now and not forget the day you were born, but you can go to the other side, know who your mother is, but you will return exactly on the day you were born forgetting what you went through to get here" said the tree.
"You both can have what you want, one wants a glorious future but it will come at the cost of your whole past, the other can have a glorious past but it will come at the cost of your whole present, future, even the past you had now, the future and the past have prices, you have to pay those prices, not everything comes for free"
At the time bubbles start to appear around us, I see my memories of Luna Nova, me having good times with my friends, everything else, even my failures, but they are memories that I have affection, I lived them and I'm not ashamed, they are part of my effort as a person, I also see Diana's, her past, even the present, with several moments of ours, including the day I came to see her and it was wonderful, having fun with the girls, others with a girl that looked like her only with brown hair, a red-haired woman that embraced her, I take the staff in hands forcing my hand already.
"Wait a minute! Don't erase my memories!" I say to the tree, watching the bubbles burst.
"And you don't want to become Chariot? Your friend seems to be taking it well" said the tree.
"Diana, don't go! We can find out your mother's whereabouts someday! Give me your hand!" I say holding her hand, which has gone a bit blushy.
"Akko... They are my living mothers" she said half crying.
"I like my life the way it is, my stumbles frustrations, failures, mistakes, they are part of me, I didn't get this far because I am a spectacular witch and all, I got here by my effort and I will continue to strive to make my dreams come true, I don't become what I dream to be, I strive to make them come true" I say this as the tree went on erasing the memories, I go holding the staff up hard.
"Akko... The staff" Diana said then taking a few steps backwards and I noticed the staff turning into an axe.
"Phaidoari Afairyngor" I say this as I use the staff with everything towards the tree, this is what the word meant and this is what I intend to make of my future, I intend to build it and I will not give myself away for an easy offer.
The ghost kind of starts to spread between places, I get scared which is something quite strange, but at the same time a huge wave of energy and light comes towards me and Diana, I think I used too much magic, but I'm getting it, I will be Atsuko Kagari, better known as Akko and I will make it my destiny, motivated by Chariot.
POV Ursula:
I knew she would come here, I couldn't resist finding out what the words were, well I hope Akko is alright, when it was my turn I fainted, but luckily she helped me by getting me out of here, well let's see how it goes, it's quite dark here, I get there and I am surprised to see that Diana and Akko are lying on the floor, I check to see if they are alright, both are breathing and alive, I think it was the strong impact of the spell that left them asleep.
"So those are the ones with Claiomh Solais now, it surprises me that finally the staff can share again between the female users" Woodward said to me.
"Yes it's them, how Diana ended up here that surprised me, I didn't expect her presence, but it's good that she has someone by Akko's side in this journey" I say as I caressed the two and was with my hair in normal form.
"Chariot, look after these girls, they could be the future of magic, it's up to you and the others to help guide them to the seven words, you know how important they are to reviving magic" Woodward said.
"You know how well I know this and how I have been in their shoes, when I also had to leave Claiomh Solais because of the events of 2007, but I guarantee that they will be in good hands, the future will tell" I say to Woodward who flashed a smile.
"I can feel it from them, now I wish you good luck, please guide them to the best path, now by the looks of it you are the mentor of these kids, don't be shy to also ask for help from the previous one" Woodward said.
"She can't, if you helped her with the curse who knows things might be different" I tell her as I go about using magic to float each one.
"She could have found it had she put more effort into the seven words, unfortunately she didn't see it as a solution, anyway, goodbye Chariot" Woodward said disappearing.
I go on taking the two girls by magic, a little heavy, but I think I can manage with my strength, walking through the corridors, a little afraid of being discovered with red hair, I reach my room, where I lay one on each of my sofas, I think they must be sleepy now, after going through this journey so much.
"Good night girls" I say this giving a little kiss on the forehead of each one.
The next morning...
POV Akko:
Where are we? It's Ursula's room, I get up from the sofa, look around, seeing that Diana was kind of reading a book, at the window was the teacher looking at the landscape, I start to yawn and also take a stretch, I get up and walk to where the teacher is.
"Good morning Professor Ursula" I say to her.
"Oh Akko you have woken up, the effect of the words really made you feel the impact of the spell, but how nice to see you are finally on your feet" She said and then I see that Diana has also arrived beside us.
"I read a little bit of the book in the first pages, you really dinnae have a replica, that in yer hand is the real Claiomh Solais, I'm surprised that this time they allowed ye tae be the chosen one, anyway, I could see that they were right, a person like ye who has everything that nae one expects in a witch, who has been striving since always, I think it was deserved," Diana said, which even surprised me by her reaction.
"So should we go hunting for the seven words?" I ask them.
"It's a long process that can take years, it's not so easy just knowing the words, even witches descended from witches like Chariot took time, you just discovered the second word with three and a half months after the first, from here on it goes on the witch's merit and the way she understands it" Ursula said to me.
"Actually, I discovered the first word by accident, when I was 11 years old and found the staff lying in the middle of the top of a hill that I always tried to throw myself in the hope of flying with a broomstick, or even doing some spell, unfortunately nothing worked, but when I found the staff, I said the words that Chariot always said when opening the shows and there I was almost shooting an arrow, but the staff stopped and I had to deal with some children picking on me" I tell them both that are getting to know a side of me that I had never told anyone before.
"Ah sae ye were the chosen one all along, ye've been with the staff fae about four years now so, make smart use of it Akko, the journey tae revive magic is in our hands, it seems I also ended up bumping into ye on the way and apparently we're going tae work together on this one," said Diana who was in a more encouraging tone than before.
"And what about your family's things? How are you going to do it, you had lost everything, even the mystery surrounding your other mother, everything you are doing to be able to fulfill this journey, are you going to give it up for the staff?" I said, a little worried.
"I don't need to throw all this away fae Claiomh Solais, these things can help even on the way, my family itself has only me now, what's left fae me is tae work tae be able tae gather money and rebuild the Cavendish family house, since now there's nothing left, there's nae reason tae insist on having a castle, there were too many expenses tae maintain and I am getting money by selling portions of land and animals that were left, I just need the most important corners, it is hard tae detach, but it is the way for me to be able to live when I am adult, unfortunately the Cavendish family is now at the bottom of the well, but I will do it little by little, I have amazing people supporting me..." She said looking at me which even made me blush a little.
"You will one day be the great witches of the future, now you have understood the second word, you don't need to run to discover the others, do it in your own time, the opportunities to change the world will be all around you" said teacher Ursula to us.
Then I hug her thanking her for the rescue she made by finding us in the middle of the abyss of the blue moon, where next we are leaving her room, I keep looking at Diana and she really is with a totally different expression, it seems that having gone with her to the abyss helped her, I think she definitely can be my friend, we are now in the same since she lost everything.
We stop halfway between the corridors to the stairs and with that she put her hand on my shoulder.
"Akko, thank ye fae last night, ye've really been the entertainment fae these days, despite everything that's been happening, I manage tae have a reason tae smile and keep going, you helped me in the end even with the most important event of my life so far, I have tae say thank you... Anyway, see ye later Akko, I hope ye can find more words, I already respected ye before, now I respect you even more" she said and I got a more malicious face.
"So you mean you're going to consider me your rival?" I say, already provoking a little.
"Ah awa' an' bile yer heid, dinnae push sae solid, a wullnae be yer rival, fur ah dinnae see ye as yin, see ya later akko" Hahahahahaha I love when she speaks with that funny accent, after that I hug her, we separate going to our rooms, I even see some of the girls looking at us from far away.
I arrive back to my room, opening the door I see that the girls were just doing the same as always, Sucy messing with potions and Lotte reading Night Fall, I take the opportunity to throw myself on the bed with a huge smile on my face, finally after a night like that I can rest.
"At last in Akko, what a night it was, you were out all night, what were you doing with Diana?" she said, hinting at something else.
"Don't worry Sucy, we just found out about a spell from the glowing scepter and then we fell asleep, in the end we woke up in Miss Ursula's room"
"Ohhhhh, look at her, that's the girl, after she went to her sweetheart's house, now she's gone on the attack and slept with her, who would have thought hahahahaha" Sucy said and I just raised my middle finger to her.
"Seriously, stop making fun, we just went to do something about magic, I ended up fainting, so did she, the teacher got us out of there, we woke up in her room and here we are, she told me that the staff is important for the journey we will have in the future, that I was the chosen one, I said that it's not a replica... Even Diana now knows too" I tell them, continuing with a few giggles.
"Oh Akko, you really fall for everything, but it's good to see that you are building a better relationship with Diana, it's good that this is making you better, who knows you have real chances of passing the year, it would be amazing if this really happens, I think that maybe if you dedicate more and continue in these classes, your cheerfulness will come back, look at this, it was only going out with Diana that you were cheerful, not even when we went out these last few days you were so cheerful" Lotte said.
"Ah, but it was because I got one more word out of the seven from the glowing scepter and I could see the likely future where I was like Chariot, I know I'm only a few steps away from meeting Chariot in person, I just need to try harder, other than that I still feel the weight of going to Diana's house and the fire happening, would a fire break out if I stayed out of it? Or would things be worse, because you have no idea what a monster Diana's aunt is, she literally made Hannah and Barbara look like the kindest people in the world" I tell them.
"I don't know how things are with Diana's family and I couldn't care less, but that you're having a crush on her, I can tell" Said Sucy who came from picking on me, now she's going to stay at it anyway.
POV Narrator:
Phaidoari Afairyngor, the second of the seven words of Arcturus, which will be the ones through which Akko's journey comes to begin, in a way that fate has come for Kagari to become a witch with a story similar to that of Chariot or perhaps not so much, but it is quite remarkable that in this one, now things are getting better and better for the Japanese girl, little by little she will be able to get closer to her probable dream.
See you, dream witches...