POV Narrator:
Tuesday 10 March 2020, Luna Nova
The pandemic was spreading in Europe and at this point Luna Nova, already declared the beginning of the quarantine, isolating herself completely from the rest of the world and with that not allowing any student to leave the school without a special permission, besides the procedures that are going to have each class to prevent as much as possible that the disease was spreading through the academy of witchcraft, starting the security procedures to guarantee that the virus didn't spread in the school in any way, even with the isolation the students were taking the maximum of care that they could, after all if one ended up catching Covid, she could be expelled at the time of the school.
POV Akko:
I wake up, another day of class, yesterday made me a little tired for having to clean everything, I don't know how I can stand this pain, I go to the bathroom to do my basic hygiene and let the water fall on my body, I take the chance to wash my hair, since yesterday I ended up leaving it very greasy, now I want to see how we'll have to do the classes from now on, it will be very different to breathe using the mask, I remember when I was in Japan it was quite normal to walk with a mask, especially in Tokyo.
I get out of the shower after a very relaxing bath, I put on my uniform, walking to the room, where I see the girls getting ready too, Lotte enters next and I wave to Sucy.
"Good morning Sucy" I tell her.
"It took you long today, I don't know why you went and invented washing your hair" Manbavaran said.
"Yesterday was tiring and now they're going to pick on us for cleaning, it's always good to be prepared and ready for what's coming, I don't doubt they'll try to justify any dirt on me so they won't let me in" I say to her as I put on some perfume as well.
I sincerely want to look as clean as possible, so much so that I took the uniform I was going to wear only on Wednesday, already clean so I wouldn't have to wear yesterday's, I don't want to look dirty and don't want to give any chance that they won't let me in the classroom today.
A while later going to class...
We're wearing masks, there's no way they won't let us in, there was already a queue in the classroom, the teacher Lukic was holding a small pistol and we were going in, the students were also rubbing their hands with alcohol gel, it makes me tense if I don't pass, I washed myself for nothing.
"I thought they would do a lot, but not at this level, they are even using an electronic thermometer for this, to think that they do not tolerate technology, but they made an exception for this" said Amanda.
"Not even in Japan it was like this" I tell her.
"I don't want to take Covid anyway, worst of all is that now isolated we can't even resort to knowing how the world is out there and if it will get here" O'Neill said.
"Actually, we can't, we're not without... It's better not to talk too much or everyone will know we have access" Amanda replies.
"Ah true, but it still makes one scared, well our turn is coming soon, sick I'm not" she said.
Amanda passed and it was quiet, then it was my turn, the teacher measured my temperature and put alcohol gel on my hands, the smell is kind of nice to feel I admit, I love that smell, but I'm not an alcoholic, the teacher let me pass and I'm even relieved, I see that the tables are even farther apart, how strange, it seems that the room is more spacious, I go to my seat and I see that there's a gap between my chair in the middle and Lotte's and Sucy's. They also come and sit down, getting a little far away.
They also arrive and start sitting down, staying a bit far away, they did everything so that we stayed away and didn't pass any germs to the other, they are very careful around here.
"Look how much distance there is between you and me" I tell them.
"Well it was expected, you don't want to risk it, that means no kissing between you too, or you might get sick" said Sucy.
"That's the worst part, but now let's see how the lessons go from here" I say anxiously.
They all have their temperature measured, I even wave to Diana entering the room, she waves back to me, I'll miss seeing her smiling, but I imagine that under the mask she is, the good thing is that I can show my tongue through the mask and no one will notice, or make faces, that's the advantage.
The teacher went to her desk, she also cleaned herself with alcohol gel on her hands and was getting ready to explain the class.
"Very well students, now the classes will be different due to what happened in the pandemic, as you can imagine some schools will close, but here it won't due to the fact that it is isolated from all the rest, but even so a process will be done in every beginning of class, before entering and leaving you will have your temperature measured and you will wash your hands, masks are mandatory throughout the class and covering the nose, nothing covering only the mouth, you have to cover everything, to finish, As you can see your desks are separated and by a distance of almost two meters from each other to avoid as much as possible a probable infection, the classes will happen normally, but we will not have a normal break period, you will fill a list with what you want to eat and it will be given to you here in the classroom where you will stay, because of this we even shortened the break time to only forty minutes between the morning and afternoon classes, after that you are free to leave, all procedures to ensure safety will be done - said the teacher and we understand.
Well, at least it seems that the classes will end earlier, a pity that we won't have much choice there, since the school has a very limited menu of potatoes and potato variations, not that I don't like potatoes, but it's literally only potatoes that they have on the menu.
The class went on as usual and soon came the break...
I was almost asleep in class today, now at least the food will arrive, I ordered a rice with mashed potatoes and chicken, until the teacher comes measuring our temperatures, one by one, I think it came at the end of class, what a relief, I just want to imagine what it's like to eat here, it's going to be a pain to deal with, but I can take it and get used to everything.
"Very well, you must have remembered all the processes I said at the beginning of the class, it's always good to keep safe in class" said the teacher and I did.
My temperature was measured and then she gave me the alcohol gel, I love that smell, it's even tasty, it gives me a sensation, I don't know how to explain, well at least now I wasn't infected, I feel like this is a zombie apocalypse, it's as if any time a zombie from the covid would bite us and pass the germs and with that the zombie apocalypse of Luna Nova would begin hahaha.
"Everyone is fine, now you just have to wait for what you ordered to come and eat, remembering not to share the food, besides that the cutlery and everything is disposable as soon as you finish, throw it away as soon as you eat everything and don't forget to keep the tables and hands clean" said the teacher.
Soon the workers of Luna Nova arrived, carrying the food, they were using Styrofoam pots and by the looks of it they're going to use plastic cutlery, I hate to use it because it always ends up breaking while I'm using it, they were leaving it on each table and they even had our names on them.
They arrived at my table and left my plate, it's quite small, it's smaller than the one that was on the tray, good that at least we'll have more to eat from the food stored in Diana's room, because this doesn't fill anything, apart from this milk from this carton, they're trying to make us starve here in Luna Nova.
After the classes are over...
I don't know how some people stay awake in her class, I was almost falling asleep, drooling in my mask, well now at least it's time to get out of here, I was already anxious to get out of here. The teacher goes by measuring our temperatures, as well as washing our hands, with the alcohol gel, I'm already getting used to it and is releasing one by one of us, I leave and I'm relieved.
"Wow finally, now the classes are over" I say relieved.
"Well now we have to get used to it, don't we, it's going to be like this until summer" Amanda said.
"Stay two meters away from each other, here in the corridors students from different teams have tae keep a social distance if they want tae talk" Diana said.
"Really?" I say with a puzzled look on my face.
"It's one of the rules they put in place too, by the way, be careful when entering my room, we can't be caught entering rooms of different teams, even sae, dinnae forget tae clean yourself" she said and I got frustrated.
"Ah but this is so unfair, we have to stay so far away, since we are not even sick, since there is not a single infected person here" I tell them.
"Rules are rules, Akko, it's better that we respect them, especially ye, or we might run the risk of ye nae getting through, unfortunately it was the biggest blow that could happen at this time, but I guarantee that we'll get through this one, it'll only be three more months of class, love, twelve weeks go by very fast" she said and I went on rolling my eyes.
"These rules are way over the top, I just hope we can still celebrate at graduation" I tell her.
"I dinnae even know if we can do that, but hey, dinnae be like that, love, we can do it at home, what do ye think? We call everyone" said Diana.
"Well, that's the way, since here in Luna Nova it will be complicated to celebrate, at least I can get some potatoes, I'm starving, the food from lunch didn't come close to filling me up" I tell her with my stomach practically turning inwards from so much hunger.
"Turn pussy and come in my pocket, I'll take ye tae my room" Diana said.
I even smile a little more, I turn into pussy, she puts me on... Wait Luna Nova's clothes don't have pockets, by the time I go to look she's already sunk me inside her bra and all I could see was the darkness and Diana's cute little breasts underneath, jiggling with every step.
"Akko doesn't move much, it's sensitive you know that" She said and the urge to tease is huge, but I won't do it now.
I just went seeing in the gap in Diana's shirt, well by a frestra her moving through the corridors, up to her room, I even memorised the way, I remember she used to do this a lot earlier when Professor Finnelan would pick on us, I hear the noise of the door and then she takes me off my breasts and I come back to normal, seeing Hannah and Barbara standing there.
"Diana, you know we can take a risk here, go if Finnelan enters the room and catches you and Akko" Barbara said.
"I know, but trust me, she's all hungry, we're just going tae enjoy a little bit, love, do me a favour and clean yer hands, better... Come with me" she said holding my hand.
"Love?" Next thing I know she's got me in the bathroom.
"Well, I'm already infected with ye, sae the best way is tae take a shower tae cleanse everything" she said, taking off her clothes, and I understood her intention.
I go to take mine off too, while she turns on the water in the bathtub, at least this will be interesting, taking a bath with Diana so we don't pass germs to the girls, after all a witch prevented from diseases is always clean, she even catches me giving a kiss, what I was missing, a kiss of those that is full of grip.
"Did ye think we were going tae stay out of this Atsuko Kagari? I'm nae staying out of it with my girlfriend" She said, then biting my neck.
One bath later...
I think it was too much, I had already showered earlier today, but this here was much longer lasting than when I washed my hair, well at least it was really quite relaxing, the feeling that passed was one of huge relief, we came out of there and only saw Hannah and Barbara's faces of astonishment, while we were both still pretty scarred, I think Diana bit too hard on my shoulder.
"You really used that as an excuse to do that" Hannah said.
"Well, we just wanted tae have some fun, but these days we haven't been able tae meet sae much with Akko fae these things" said my girlfriend.
"Love!" I say half blushing.
"Well at least we took a shower and nae one can complain that we can pass on some virus tae ye, now make yourself comfortable here in our room" said my girlfriend, who still gave me a slap on the buttocks.
I go to the pantry, to get some snacks, I was starving, besides going to the fridge to get some cans of coke, coming back to Diana and the girls, where we sit on the couch and the two of them were going to choose something to watch on Netflix, while Diana and I were taking the time to be romantic, so much that I got one of the chocolates and we ate it together, heh, very cute us biting in half.
"You two really don't stop being so mushy, even I'm not like that with Amanda" Hannah said.
"We have tae enjoy it, especially now with the pandemic, it will nae be every day that we will see each other, and it is stressful nae being with Akko, she brings me great comfort" said my girlfriend.
"It helps a lot too, with Diana I can concentrate better in class, it is as if they had taken this away from me so that I would not pass, but I am confident, I know that at the end of the second term I will pass and graduate I hope" I tell them.
"I don't doubt it, we have seen you evolve Akko, I remember how you were in the beginning and today, you are two totally different witches, you have overcome yourself and you are even better than us, you have shown that with dedication you can go far" Barbara said.
"In reality it was the number of times they tried to attack us and I was forced to defend myself, from all the times I was beaten I was going to get over it, I was always beaten here in all forms, you never saw a teacher other than Chariot who said I was doing a great job when I did well, the most I got was that I did the minimum" I tell them.
"It affects me sae much that I have even been a target of it, the teachers have started tae mistreat me a lot just because I took Akko's side, out of nowhere the prodigy who was adored has become someone they dinnae want tae see" said my girlfriend.
"Well let's try not to think about it and watch something, just to brighten up the day" Hannah said as she scrolled through Netflix.
I even see Diana comforting herself on top of me, she's all cute like that, I'm even caressing her with one of my hands, since the other one I was eating a doritos, finally something to fill my stomach better, I was already getting desperate with my stomach shrinking with today's classes, it was really a bummer.
A long time later...
It's already dark, I don't even notice how much time has passed, I was so attached to Diana that I forgot that I still have to go back to my room, well at least it was nice to spend the time here in Diana's room, it gave me a relief from the tension that is still to come with the pandemic, seriously, I didn't imagine that things would be like this, I even get up from the couch and walk to the window, Diana follows me on the way and hugs me.
"Time to go... I even forgot there's still class tomorrow" I tell her.
"I'll take ye in a little paper aeroplane up tae yer room" Diana said all cute.
"I just really want this pandemic to end soon, it's only one day of quarantine and that's it, imagine how it will be to endure a few more weeks of this, without going crazy, well at least I know I won't give up, we've been through worse, but being far away from you has been the thing that gets me the most, I can't stop thinking about us" I tell Diana.
"Me too, soon we'll be living together in Edinburgh, doing the projects of the witches' revolution, getting married, having Bellatrix, it's just a matter of time love, now let's go, before saying goodbye tae ye, a kiss like that just tae remember" She said and kissed me.
And it was really an unforgettable kiss, I never thought I would feel such a good sensation, it gives me a relief, I get a feeling of the last kiss in all that happens like that, I remembered the days when Diana and I used to kiss when we used to sneak around, we still do that, but it's more a nostalgia, since now the reason is another one, we don't even enjoy Finnelan stopping to annoy us and another bomb comes.
I turn into a little mouse, Diana goes making a paper aeroplane, which she throws on the window and waves to me, of course she controls it with magic so it doesn't end up crumbling with my weight, I love to fly like that to escape.
"Bye love, see ye in class tomorrow, dinnae forget tae text" She said waving at me.
I soon reach the room where Sucy always leaves the window open for me to pass and I already enter returning to human form, which doesn't surprise them, they just go on doing what they always do, I, on the other hand, get my pyjamas, as always I leave the rouba well folded on the bed, I take a deep breath and go to the bathroom to change.
Meanwhile in the purple team's room...
POV Hellene:
I dedn't know it would be sae different in the pandemic, at least I 'ave my friends in my room, I can't even imagine what it's like for my sis, it must be very tense, gee, now it's made me really mad, all dis being cancelled, I wanted to go out with Marianne in springtime in Japan, propose to 'er under de cherry trees, but now I'll 'ave to invent another way, I don't know 'ow.
"Hey Hellen, you've been thinking a lot lately, has the pandemic got to you?" Mari asks.
"A little bit, I wish I could 'ave gone to Japan, us hanging out together dere and seeing de awesome stuff, you know" I tell her who shrugs 'er shoulders.
"Ah it was really annoying, but soon it will pass and we'll be able to go there, with Akko, the girls, it will be nice, don't be like that Hellen" she said stroking my head.
"I just wanted to do something special, but now I don't know 'ow to do it" I tell Leclerc.
"Look, what is important is the intention, you don't need the special place for that, but anyway, I wanted to talk to you about something that I've been thinking about this pandemic, I think you must share the same idea too" said the cute one.
"I'm sure you do, you dink so too" I tell her.
"This disease has been weaponised, someone has launched a biological weapon to mess with us and I don't doubt that it has the boss's hands in it" The Frenchwoman says and I open my eyes.
"I thought de same ding, stopping to dink, look 'ow convenient it was, de isolation came when Finnelan's bomb dropped, as we know de boss is wanting to do everything for Akko to be reproved, de escape from Arcturus, it seems dat everything was in convenience, I 'ave my suspicions... The boss is 'ere in Luna Nova and it is one of de teachers or the director Holbrook herself, dey are all old enough to impersonate de boss, dat's what I 'ave been imagining" I say theorizing to Mari.
"I don't know about it being someone from here, but the certainty of the pandemic being something caused by the boss I don't rule out, just thinking that the pandemic was a way to stop the activity going forward only reveals that she's scared of the witch revolution going forward, but hey, your theory of it being someone from here can be raised, what do you think we can do?" Ask Leclerc and I was waiting for that.
"Basically we are going to keep an eye on de habits of de teachers and de headmistress, de risk is dat we might get caught or dat de boss might reveal herself and we might then be really screwed, so we 'ave to look as less suspicious as possible, trust me, it's someone from here, no one smells good, not even headmistress Holbrook, I 'ave been typing dis since the first broom relay, dat woman lies and lies very well" I tell Mari.
We 'ear knocking on de doors, which we quickly put our masks on, I go to answer who it is, already Mari kind of keeps waiting and Annabel is as always writing, when answering I see teacher Finnelan, it seems dat great grandmother wants to confiscate my room, luckily it was all on keychain since no one was playing, she goes entering de room and closes de door.
"What do you want with us? We don't 'ave anything against de rules here, we're even wearing masks"I tell 'er in a tone already a bit annoyed.
"Sorry for the sudden entrance, you two can leave the dormitory I want to talk alone with Miss McLaren" said de teacher and I see it's something to do with Diana.
Dey leave and I guess I'll just 'ave to put up with being alone with dis woman, what a shit, well at least I can vent some of my resentful anger for everything she did to Akko now, I know well she's my great grandmother,
after all we've been through she doesn't deserve our forgiveness really, when de door closes she opens 'er arms, as if to hug me and I shake my head in denial and even cross my arms.
"You can stay away from me Anne, you never respected me and now you want a hug, neither did you respect my mother Laura" I tell 'er very clearly.
"I've been thinking a lot these weeks about these things, I didn't want to go and talk directly to your sister because you know she is much more stubborn and I've been thinking, maybe if I listen to you I could better understand your side of things" I raise my eyebrows all suspicious.
"Trick me dat I like, until a few weeks ago you came full of ideas on 'ow to sabotage Akko, I am not an idiot, I read what you lassies talked about at de 2018 broom relay and de Samhaim festival, plus when Akko won de 2019 one, I know you lassies are systematically oppressing 'er, I know there is rotten 'ere, I will not trust telling you about my intentions to you Anne, a neglectful great grandmother and mother, how do you expect our respect?" Wow I even got my blood rising for dat, I dedn't get nervous, I even managed to hit it head on with 'er what a miracle, I even see 'er feigning a sadness.
"I just want to know, why? Why do you insist on that? Why do you think the other side is so wrong?" Oh, so you want to know why? I will expose some dirt and she will know, if she doesn't already know.
"Don't play cynical, you should already know, but I explain it well, you lassies 'ave twisted everything Jennifer believed, she was quite traditionalist, yes, but she promoted a bit of modernity, she worked with Victoria a few times, boeht what has happened since Holbrook's administration dat shows 'ow dings 'ave only gotten worse, since she entered Luna Nova, Dis push for tradition kills us witches, it will only become an art dat will become dead, but anyway, the kind of ding de rotten wrong, just remembering dat in de various attempts of revolution, what you did, you killed us, destroyed our lives, sabotaged us, all at de behest of a boss, a boss who has been spreading dese things" I explain briefly to 'er.
"Boss? All right, I only preach for the preservation of traditions, I don't want magic to die, it's the right thing to do, modernity would only kill magic" she said.
"Except dat it is de tradition dat has been killing 'er, how many children were interested in being witches in your time and 'ow many are today? Dere are far fewer children interested because de art of magic does not adapt, does not modernize, does not revolutionize, de most you can do is a reform or other" I tell her.
"But de essence of magic, she..." said the teacher.
"De essence of magic has always been dat of progress, you 'ave seen what de nine witches truly preach, one of de seven words of Claiomh Solais is about a gate that opens to an unknown world by uniting mordernity with tradition, dese are dings dat can go hand in hand, we want to change dings to save everyone, even humanity, not only de witches" I explain a little more and she is still looking at me.
"So that's what you preach, I can understand why you want to change, but I have many doubts, I have never looked and listened to the other side, you know... You can help me to open my eyes, my great-granddaughter" and I was a bit disgusted, this is already too much.
"Please Anne don't force it, you want to understand de other side because either you are de boss or you are just a subordinate of 'er" I tell my great grandmother.
"I don't know who this boss is, but you seem to be very determined to defeat her, but seriously, I just want to change things, to better understand what I believe, or do you think it was easy to have reality exposed, I'm starting to question whether what I believe was correct and I begin to see that there are many things wrong, I see that this can only separate me more from my family, my grandchildren hardly speak to me because of this and now I understand why, I was an old homophobe" she said and I honestly do not believe in 'er change.
"Even if you're being sincere with your words, you 'ave to understand that I'm not going to open up just like dat, you 'ave to earn someone's trust for dat and it's not going to be mine for everything you've already caused us" I say clearly to her who gets up from her chair, heading for the door.
"I understand Hellene, I understand your side, know that I will keep trying, I want to understand better, that's why I came to talk to you, it's that which goes against everything I believed in, I want to see what the consequences of my thoughts are, but it was a good conversation with you, know that... I can't say that yet because it would be too forced, one day I might learn to love my great-granddaughters, my homophobia
distanced me from my great love of my life, maybe you wouldn't be like this if I didn't think Bella betrayed me, goodbye my great-granddaughter" She said leaving my room and den de lassies entered dere.
I got a very closed and pissed face, it wasn't noticeable in de mask, but when I took it off I got a very genuine anger, seriously, I can't look at dis woman and not dink about de homophobia dat my mothers and my sister suffer at 'er hands, you can't empathize, so much dat de girls notice my anger.
"Everything OK Hellene?" Mari asks.
"Now de old woman wants to force de issue with me," I tell her.
"Is she looking to be accepted? Maybe this could be our chance to pull her to our side, hey, have you thought about something, she could be useful for us to find out the identity of the boss, that will be extremely useful" Leclerc might be right.
"Maybe dat's a good ding, but we 'ave to be careful, I don't trust dis woman one bit and you know why" I said very clearly.
POV Narrator:
The quarantine classes have been strictly following protocols on how well they are going to prevent any trace of covid in Luna Nova, but there may still be some risk as more and more cases begin to appear around the world, a disease that could still change the way people live together.
See you, Covid witches...