POV Narrator:
Monday, 15 October 2018, Luna Nova
The days were going by in Luna Nova, but Diana's nights were getting much calmer, since she no longer had Daryl's presence controlling her dreams, although the opposite is happening with Hellene who has been having her head messed up by Daryl, trying by all means to destabilize McLaren as a tactic to get even a little bit of the girl's head. In the middle of these days also things in Luna Nova are going on and the reputation of Diana Cavendish is something that has changed in an extreme way, the former prodigy is now being called as a fake, much because of events that were not even her fault, even more that they could not talk about the mobile phone being recovered, what everyone from Luna Nova was passing the looks of adoration for Hellene, who occupied the place of the most coveted student of the academy of witchcraft.
In the midst of these days was also coming the festival of Samhaim, which was another thing Akko was looking forward to, finally she could get a second chance to become the moonlight witch and the draw would happen just two weeks before, determining what the roles of the teams would be.
POV Akko:
I'm all excited, today is the draw, classes are over, now I can't wait to arrive and get a paper that I'm sure I'll do better, I went with the girls leaving the classroom, but the headmistress arrives, she approaches us, but that's strange, anyway, it must be something important apparently.
"Oh you are here, we have to give you something special, we will need your help" said the headmistress.
"Something special how cool! I'm all looking forward to it" I say excitedly.
We agree and we follow the director, I really hope I don't miss the draw, she takes us to the directorate, where we sort of observe the decoration things there and then the director opens the drawer and in it there were some medals, but how strange.
"Well, I want to reward you with a medal for not paying detention for months, for your great behavior you deserve this medal, since I imagine that in your position it is difficult to hold on without getting into trouble" said the director and we thanked her for the medals.
"Wow, I feel really honoured by this" I say happily.
"Now stand against the wall, I will record the moment, be very quiet" said the headmistress.
We go to one of the walls and get in position, but the director is taking the photos very badly, asking us to move right, and the position is legal, ahhh, this is taking too long, damn it, this way we will lose the draw for the Samhaim festival teams, damn it... It took a while, but finally the picture was taken, we had to show the most seriousness, I wanted to smile.
"What a delay" says the headmistress.
"Now there's just one more thing to do ladies, sign here, don't forget to read what's written, the term of gaining medals doesn't allow signing after reading everything, it's a way for us to sign a contract in the magic world without the person signing without knowing" She said and I was about to turn my face, but what the hell.
I started to read, letter by letter, the term was long, a sheet of A4, but with some tiny letters, this way I'll take forever... Ahhhhhh, I want to finish it all at once, for the nine witches, I am reading everything in a hurry and yes I accept the terms of the medal, no need to repeat and repeat, I accept the conditions, but what the hell, they will be really boring.
It took a while, but we managed to sign in the end, I was already a bit hopeless, but at least I could sign the deal.
"Ah very well ladies, you are free now, sorry for disturbing you" said the headmistress.
"Come on girls! - I say in a hurry.
I'm running, in a hurry, I don't want to miss the draw, I can't, it's my chance to be a moonlight witch like Chariot, I've been waiting all year for this, I can't miss my chance right now, for the nine witches... On top of that Professor Finnelan approaches us, signalling for us to stop.
"No running around here" she said.
What a bummer, this way I'm going to lose the lottery for good, what a mess... We walk, with the teacher still looking at us, until we get to the yard and all the girls were lined up there, panting I come to the teacher Badcock, begging to get it.
"Late again Miss Kagari, unfortunately everyone has already taken the papers they had available, so that leaves only the sacrifice for you this year" she said and I broke down, I felt crushed, another year in a row with this damned paper.
"No! Please, teacher, can you give another paper? Can you redo the draw? I was called by the headmaster, this is unfair" I tell her, already crying.
"If you were called by her, it wasn't good, coming from you, I shouldn't even give this role to you then, take it or leave it... No one else is going to want to give up her role after waiting so long for them to fall for what they want, now it's up to you to take it or else we're going to have to choose another team for the sacrifice" she said and I took a deep breath, kind of frustrated.
"Okay... We'll take the sacrifice" I say in frustration and with that she puts it on the list.
"Very well, now the draw is finished, you can prepare and rehearse for the presentation of the festival, just to remind you that you can't change roles, the one chosen will be your definitive role" she said and I went on with my head bowed, joining the crowd.
Another year that I won't have the slightest chance, simply because of a stupid delay, now I'll spend the most shame inside the disgusting creature, it's horrible to breathe inside, I feel disgusted by the consistency of that liquid inside her until today... Ahhhhhh, it gets into everything and it's still gooey, the worst of all is seeing Sucy smiling.
"It's a pity we can't exchange Akko... I would even accept" Hellene said, as always being nice.
"No... I wouldn't accept, do your best Hellene, I know you have great potential" I tell her with a huge smile on my face.
"Oh I don't know, I just want to do something nice, you look like you really want dat Moonlight Witch title" she said.
"It's my dream, Shiny Chariot was one, last year I didn't have a chance, this year I thought I could have a little bit of that chance, but nothing... I think only next year. Good luck against Diana, she is very good too" I say to her sister, the way everyone here in Luna Nova is respecting her I don't doubt that she will become a Moonlight Witch herself.
"I can't, the Moonlight Witch who wins the title can't participate in the festival anymore and accumulate achievements, once ye win it's only once, it would be unfair if ye could participate more than once and accumulate more titles, since that would make the others who tried nae have the slightest chance, in case one was slightly superior, anyway, good luck Akko, I know ye can, even with yer role, last year ye surprised" said Diana appearing behind us.
I wish it was like that, they even give me a little hope, then I walk a little down, going back to my room, honestly I'm not going to rehearse or anything, since it's not worth it, I'll lose anyway, but soon teacher Chariot arrives, she notices my expression, coming to talk to me.
"What is it Akko? Are you that down? Has something happened?" she asks.
"Another year being the sacrifice, teacher, I was trusting the chance this year, I wanted to be the moonlight witch, like Diana is, like you are, like Hellene will be, but now I don't have the slightest chance of that, I already accepted... I'm just an ordinary person next to you, I'm not a real witch" I said half down.
"Akko... Arae Aryrha is what I have to say... " I have no idea what that crazy word means.
"What's that? Some kind of crazy spell?" I ask her.
"Don't compare yourself with others, do what you can do" she said with her hand on my shoulder... It was really quite poetic, I could even understand the message.
"Thank you teacher, but still, it's not a magic word that will make me have any chance, I'm at a sacrifice, never that someone..." I say that and she puts her finger in my mouth.
"Where is the Akko from before? Never give up girl, you can be the first, show your potential, you never know what can happen at the festival" she said and I was even a little bit delighted.
I think I got the message and I really can't give up, I have to move on, I have to get back to the spirit I had before, I trust I can get far if I try hard enough, I am Atsuko Kagari.
POV Narrator:
Wednesday, 31 October 2018, Luna Nova
And even with the role that wasn't satisfactory, there went Akko trying to impress, she rehearsed a lot a way to be able to impress, so much so that she prepared a choreography where she used the shiny scepter, confident that she could be able to impress more with the shiny arrows and also the axe.
Not only was she preparing as were the others, Amanda took the same role as the previous year's clean up confident that she could impress as much as the year before, which was a near miss, but due to Diana's favouritism and her team, O'Neill
herself didn't make it, as did Hellene who was going about her business with the girls to do something to charm.
The day of the festival arrives, starting as a normal school day, with some students being decoration volunteers since the previous week preparing Luna Nova for the event, which was to have the same three judges as the previous year, Marjoirane, Ural and Dorlin.
POV Hellene:
I'm pretty nervous, de performances 'ave already started, I'm watching de green team lassies, they've really done well, gee, Amanda is a great acrobat, I really can't wait to see what de grays have come up with dis time, I just know I might be able to pull it off with my friends, we've rehearsed a lot for a jaw dropping performance.
"Very well green team, you were excellent, but you've already saturated your stunts, it's the second year in a row with practically the same number" said the youngest, who is all handsome, falling 'ead over heels for Amanda.
"I agree with Marjoirane, we want innovation coming from you witches, this just shows how we are in a constant same situation, besides showing your clear lack of innovation, well it was not a bad choreography, but it is dated" Said the other who was de woman with monocle.
"I conclude here that this is the least worst, this year has really come very weak, you are even worse, how do you intend to be the future of magic, if this is the best I don't even want to see the others" Dis would destroy me in a way dat I 'ave no idea, 'oly Mary McLaren this is a 'orror, these people 'ave some self love.
After de lassies from de green team leave with deir faces all upset it's time for de lassies from de grey team, I'll be rooting for Mirage, Jeanne and Brooke, I trust dey can be good enough too, even more Mirage who knows 'ow to disassemble de broom, dey are like de story paper, dere's no way it can get bad, Jeanne is excellent at it.
Soon it gets a darkness, but den everything becomes several platforms of disassembled broom, kind of walking over it was Jeanne with a sword, then Brooke with a staff, as if dey were facing each other, dis while Mirage was doing kind of imitating a circus trapeze and not bad.
"Mate what the fuck, these girls are going to beat us, look at the level of this" O'Neill said.
"You lassies did great too, I loved watching your acrobatics, you know Amanda you would make one of the best acrobats, I wish I knew as many acrobatics as you, even though I have good broomstick control I am not an acrobat" I tell her.
"Ah these three who are Cavendish eggheads anyway, they don't appreciate my art, luckily Diana is not around so we might have a chance, but look at this, the grey team girls took a performance off this level"
And I was watching it really amazing, as if it were a war of witches and warriors, it was being demonstrated with dem jumping from one platform to another, with Mirage drowing some magic effects to make the scenery more beautiful, wow not winning would be a tremendous bastardry.
Dey end up with a very cool final pose, making a 'uman pyramid, 'ow is dat not awesome? Seriously, I'm amazed, I feel like I'm at the circus.
"Excellent gray team, but where acting like a circus is something related to history? The presentation was the best so far, but this here is witchcraft and not circus, this is serious stuff, a presentation like this only causes the impression that we witches are a joke, take your circus away I'm screwed"
"I agree with Marjoirane, you would do well if you went to a circus," said de one with de monocle.
"It is even sacrilege in the name of magic, how can they allow such a thing? The fashion of Chariot Du Nord has passed, this is a presentation about the importance of magic, not the Circus of Soleil" said de eldest of them.
At dat moment I see Brooke even in tears leaving de stage, she comes to us, which we gave a nice 'ug to 'er, now I 'ave to impress, I took de invocation of familiars, there's no way dis can go wrong, even more dat we came to enchant.
"Hey Hellene, kick the ass of these judges, impress them" Brooke said wiping 'er tears.
"Yeah, just do it, show that we can be awesome too" Mirage said.
"We trust you Hellene" said Jeanne.
"I'll see what dey'll say, I really want to charm dem" I say to all three.
I nod my head and walk towards de stage, where de lights are going off, with my magic I start to do de effects, still kind of hidden in de darkness of de stage that I left around us, at dat time Mari goes walking in the middle of de grass effect that I made and Annabel passes by de other side, de Two give de hands, de way I taught them.
Dey start to go up in the skies, shining and going up two lines of yellow colour and another one of red colour, that of dem leave two foxes dat meet de faces and it was dere dat de orange fox gives de faces, it's my turn, passing under de arc dat dey made between dem, I pass with de bigger fox, mounted on top of 'er, I even snap my fingers and I impel myself to give a mortal in de middle of de arc that was made between de two foxes dat go spinning and then going up to de skies.
"That's an excellent mastery of magic, without a wand" One of de judges said.
I make a bigger effect where we hold hands, all foxes get together in one dat goes up in the middle of the sky, dis will be too enchanting, a domain of aura like dis we learned a lot, causing an effect dat becomes a cerberus fox, now I want to see if dey are not impressed.
I summon a nevermore, which goes towards our cerberus fox, which start to go up, meeting and causing a whole effect of light, which ends with a rain of magic dat was falling exactly on us.
Where we stayed together in a sort of waiting position and were followed by excellent clapping, I was even drilled with de result.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! That's how I want to see it, the show, the impressive, a use of magic that only the best can do, you did the best performance of the day and you didn't have to turn it into a circus, that's how you show the value of magic" said Marjoirane who miraculously did not fall down on us.
"I applaud because this here is the true value of a witch, you of the purple team showed that, an impressive control of familiars, besides the invocation of a rare creature, with an excellent choreography, this is eye-catching, without a doubt deserving to become a Moonlight Witch" said de one with de monocle and I was getting emotional.
"Congratulations, you really showed how deserving witches you are, a very high level presentation, this only adds value, it seems that the gold really came, you deserve this title, this is how we expect to see the magic" said Dorlin.
I leave de room feeling happy and excited, I can't believe I'll have de chance to share with my sister de same position she got, I go back to where de girls are waiting and dey clap for us, but I didn't do much, just de basics, I dedn't want to show too much, just be simple and impressive, but it worked out very well, I 'ope Akko also does something cool, I'll be rooting for 'er and de others too.
POV Akko:
I already thought Diana was an almost impossible barrier, but Hellene is practically on another level, for the nine witches, I hope we can present her legally, because she will win and I am already sure of it, well I trained these days, today you will shine Shiny Rod, show your ability.
"Hellene you are amazing" I tell her and she scratches the back of her neck.
"Amazing are you all, I just wanted to cheer up, no matter what de dree of dem over dere say 'ave fun, I dink you're de best" She's a sweetheart of a person, gee, I'm even impressed that she's Diana's sister, even though she's a sweetheart, although she doesn't even look it with her strong looks.
The presentations go by, one by one, without impressing at all, simply the jurors didn't consider any of them up to the standard, until it came to the sacrificial presentation.
I nod to Hellene, who pats me on the shoulder and I go with my Shiny Rod in hand, I just want to see what they'll say when they see that I'm amazing in my own way too. I
walk to the stage and stand right in front of the three, they were already starting to laugh just remembering what was last year, but now I'm another Akko.
"Look at that, she's back this year, we were really waiting for the clowns to come, a circus isn't full without a good clowning" What this woman has to be beautiful she has to be cruel too hein, I'm glad her words don't affect me, she'll swallow every word, every girl here who left crying.
"For the Luna Nova circus has begun!" I tell her sarcastically.
The monster comes after us, Lotte and Sucy go flying to separate sides, which I get in the middle, I am catapulted by the two before the monster comes to devour me, I master its patterns now and feel the power of what the Shiny Rod is, I aim it right at the creature.
"Noctu Orfei Aude Fraetor!" I strike a magic arrow at the creature which swallows the arrow and starts to swell up and then back to normal, with a magic explosion happening inside, who would have thought.
I start to do metarmofosis spells, becoming an elephant, I'm flying with my ears, using some magic too, imitating the dumbo and calling the monster to devour me, really provoking, Lotte and Sucy were throwing potions, kind of making the monster even more angry, by the way I want to see what they're going to say, I'm managing to get some good laughs.
"Looks like the clowning continues, this girl still does the metamorphosis spell pretty badly, it's still pretty biased than amateurish, I love how this stage has been the most fun of the festival - She said and I was already expecting a comment just like that.
The nasty comments don't get in the way at all, I go on transforming into other creatures, annoying the creature more, until I see it going to get Lotte, on the spot I return to human form, call my broom, getting mounted standing on it.
"Phaidoari Afairyngor!" The Shiny Rod becomes an axe and with that I cut one of the creature's tentacles and thus saving Lotte from being devoured, it makes a boost glyph and throws me to save Sucy as well
Now I'm showing my skills with words, going from one side to the other being propelled by glyphs and cutting the monster's tentacles, which didn't impress the judges at all, on the contrary, they were laughing, what I make sure to close with one last spell that would be casting an arrow, if I'm not going to win, then I won't let myself be devoured by this thing, I'll break the monster's curse with the power of magic.
"Look at that, she thinks she's Shiny Chariot" said the other.
"Not much different, but at least Du Nord had some finesse, whereas this one, she's not the clown, she's the whole circus" Mean comments as usual.
"Noctu, orfei..." I get caught by the tentacle on the spot and the tentacle comes too, damn, I couldn't help it, then comes Sucy and Lotte, they were already inside the monster that was still quite angry on stage, so much so that the stands were floating and being levitated.
"Give up Akko, the only way we could make it would be this" Lotte said.
"No! I won't give up, I just need to get the Shiny Rod" I say, already feeling the taste of the creature's goo inside me, ahhh, how disgusting.
"I don't know about you guys, but this is wonderful, I love it when I'm inside this thing" Sucy said being crazy as always.
Come on Akko, take this staff, you can do it, I'm getting closer legal, the monster is still in the same place, I was seeing the witches all laughing, even they couldn't contain the monster of Vajarois, who is quite angry and causing some damage, my finger comes, now yes, I can do it, come on Akko.
"Akko... Try to remember what teacher Chariot told you" And I remember the words well.
I take the staff in hand finally, I notice that the creature has something inside it, it must be the throat, if I keep swinging it, we'll be spat out, I manage to move the glowing scepter towards the one of the throat, the girls hold my hand too, finally we're having some unity, even the staff glows, and a third sphere is glowing, that's a good sign, will I finally succeed? After trying so hard.
"I remember well what Chariot told me, Don't compare yourself to others, do what you can do, Arae Aryrha!" As I speak this strange word the staff suddenly turns into a hook and hits the monster's throat.
"What?" We all said in shock.
"Ahhhh, so it was the third word all the time, girls come on! Let's save ourselves from this monster! Let's pull it out!" I tell them and I can't stand the taste of this goo in my mouth, the worst of all is that I can't vomit and if I did it would only get worse, it's like when you go to the dentist to have your teeth made and they put that paste, only much more viscous.
We pull with enough force and the throat of the monster is breaking, we go with enough force, it's time to change the things, I continue like the girls and it was enough to break that what in the hour the people finishes if freeing of inside of the monster that if imploded and calmed down, the panic gave an end, of this business that I broke it left a pink-haired girl that was with the hands seeming that she was going to pray.
"We've done it! We are free of the monster of Vajarois!" I celebrate excitedly.
"Thank you for setting me free" Said the girl who then mysteriously ascended to the heavens.
"I can't believe it, you've broken the curse of the 1600 year old monster of Vajarois, you've done something spectacular, that was a fitting closure, you will surely go down as one of the deserving ones to hold the title of Moonlight Witch"
"This is something unique, you will go down in history, putting an end to a tradition that has been very harmful to witches, an excellent job, deserving of the title of Moonlight Witch, it is really a performance to put on as great" Ural said and I was feeling honored too.
"Excellent, excellent, this is what we expect from this new generation, something to come and show the world the newness, excellent, breaking a 1600 year old curse and freeing Vajarois is something that only a great witch can do, it deserves all the applause for sure, I can say with conviction that they will be in history with a huge greatness" I get all jumpy, I can't wait to see the results.
I came from total hopelessness, to someone who has now seen the light at the end of the tunnel, thank you so much Chariot, you have really lit the way with your advice, I have really managed to do something great and I can be recognised for it, I can't even believe it's true in the end.
When I return with the others, all the girls were applauding me, they recognize how good I really am, but the teachers didn't seem to be enjoying it, with the exception of Chariot, Nelson and even teacher Pisces, the rest looked at me with contempt, being that I helped a lot.
"Akko dat was too awesome, you turned de staff into a hook, lemme see it" Hellene said and I went to show her.
"Just be careful that you can..." She took it and didn't get a shock, it was as if she was holding normally.
"Woah! I can feel de power of dis thing from 'ere, it's awesome, it's just like Chariot, right? So dat means I can speak Noctu Orfei Aude Fraetor and..." By the nine witches, she simply revealed the first word with ease.
"I can't believe you can do it" I say shocked and awestruck.
"Wow, that's cool, lass, it's de real staff, isn't it? I can feel de magic here, den show me more, my sister would love to see dis staff, I don't know 'ow she did it but dis is too cool, even I wanted one of dese" she said making the staff return to normal and giving it back to me.
This girl is from another world, she can't be, she can just hold the staff calmly and activate it, it even seems that she doesn't necessarily have a chosen one, but someone who is pure enough to be able to hold the staff, since Hellene has no evil in her heart, not that I have seen at least.
The voting and conversation with the board of Luna Nova ends regarding Samhaim's festival and with that they all stay there gathered on the stage to listen to the results of the festival.
Now is my chance, I even look at Diana there on the stage watching us and I trust that this time I will manage to impress, I stay confident, I know I can win or lose, I did something great and I can even go down in history, I broke a curse that is really impressive.
"We have reached a conclusion here, it was difficult to decide between the red team and the purple team, but due to an eventuality given by the board we have an important announcement from one of the teams that will be disqualified" said Marjoirane and gee, if this happens to Hellene it will be unfair, it would be the greatest helplessness just because of her prosthesis.
"The red team is disqualified, due to having done something out of the expected of its role, besides breaking the rules, it was not communicated to the board about any of this curse having an end and due to that, with regret we took the position of the red team, we were actually considering giving the title of moonlight witch to her, but as rules are rules we can't do that" Ural said, and I broke it, I turned pale at the time, how can that be fair? The girls and I gave our lives for this role, we made a huge effort and still broke a curse.
"It is with great regret that the victory of this event and the title of Moonlight Witch will be granted to the excellent presentation that is not behind the purple team, you can step forward that we will grant you the Moonlight Witch attire, feel honored, put the leader in front of you" said Minister Dorlin and I was even crying.
They went forward, Hellene takes the picture, with the moonlight witch costume, I felt collapsed, as if the whole world fell on me, how can this be fair? I did something great, Hellene deserved it too, she could win, but disqualifying me is already a persecution.
Until we got down from the stage, I was very discouraged, I went to a stool where I went crying, after all this, I still didn't get it, it seems that they will never respect me for being mundane, soon I feel something being put on my head, I raise my head and I see Hellene, she gave me her hand and I see Diana too with her moonlight witch outfit.
"dat's for de real moonlight witch" McLaren said.
"Thank you, but I don't want to, it's up to you" I say half-heartedly, returning the hat.
"That was too unfair, there is nae rule against what ye did Akko, they are trying tae put ye down" Diana said and I noticed a lot.
"I know, but you can try, I will still impress and show that even from a mundane origin I can be a great witch" I say giving my hand to Hellene who lifts me up.
"Dat's why you deserve to be de moonlight witch" said the redhead.
"You also did very well Hellene, it wouldn't bother me to come second behind a witch as talented as you" I say with a smile on my face.
"I wish I was second, it's not just any witch who puts an end to such a silly tradition" she said cheering me up and let's see next year I'll come with everything, you can be sure.
POV Narrator:
The festival of Samhaim was yet another attempt of Akko trying to get the acclaimed title of Moonlight Witch, but her dreams were broken due to the prejudice of the witches with her mundane origin, which put her as disqualified, even performing a historical feat, which put an end to a cruel tradition that only served to humiliate the students in the end. Hellene becomes the youngest Moonlight Witch of the witch academy and is allowed to sit honoured alongside other witches such as her older sister Diana Cavendish and also Chariot Du Nord.
See you, Samhaim witches...