POV Narrator:
Friday 17 April 2020, Edinburgh, Scotland
Diana ended up being a victim of the Covid infection that happened in Luna Nova, trying to protect Akko from the worst that could happen, but she still feels happy for having managed for a last moment to protect her beloved from being expelled and reproved from the witchcraft academy. After testing most of the students it was discovered that six more students from the first year were infected too, due to the three girls and with that a week was started there with the first year students studying the distance of their room with crystal balls, while the room and their room was being sterilized to prevent any chance of the students getting sick and the virus spreading further, already taking eight students of the school of witchcraft.
In Edinburgh, Diana had already been through the hospital, having the drugs prescribed to help her treatment with Covid, as had all the attention focused on her as Laura was there to look after her sick daughter.
POV Diana:
I wake up from my bed, I look around, I see that the alarm had gone off, it's time tae take the pills, I get up already taking some deep breaths, I start taking the pills, even with some tranquility, except the biggest one that seemed that was going tae tear down my throat, ahhhhhhhh, what a horrible taste the pill was melting just now, after that I go tae my bathroom, I look at my face I'm with my nose running already, it seems that the symptoms arrived, the headache the fever, well I hope I can stand it all.
Leaving the bathroom I walk around the room, luckily nothing here is with plastic, my mum decided nae tae enter here sae often and still give me the freedom tae stay in the room without all that protocol, until I hear knocking at the door.
"Ye can come in mum" I tell her opening the door, I see her coming in all protected as if she had a raincoat full of plastic.
"Good morning Diana, enjoy today's food, now I'm going to go, soon you'll be able to leave and I'll fill you with 'ugs, it's just to warn you of de worst dat can come" said my mother closing the door.
I know, at least she does that trying tae avoid the worst, she brought breakfast fae me, some pancakes, a glass of milk, cookies, everything in a disposable tray, my mum really did everything thinking about taking care of me and avoid getting sick, I soon get the tray, I put it on a table in my room and eat, while I was turning on the TV, I put on youtube and watch some random videos, I think I'm going tae watch those about building a pool in the middle of the woods, it's a bit of a lie, but it's interesting to see the result afterwards.
"Thanks mum" I say as I eat.
At these times I just keep thinking about Akko, she must be less protected without me, the other girls will think she is paranoid fae defending herself from being infected, but that's nae sae true, it's just really tense tae escape from this thing, I hope she's nae sick, sae much that I keep picking up my mobile tae check the messages, I see a lot of messages of support when they find out I was sick even, but what really matters tae me is tae know howAkko is.
[Akko: Good morning Diana, I woke up here in Luna Nova, another day of school, I hope you are well there at home, I will be here from afar rooting for you to get better my love, don't worry that even away think that my ghost is holding your hand] 7:28
[Me: I'm starting to feel the symptoms, headache, fever, runny nose, it's really like having the flu only much worse, the food itself has no taste, I'm getting sick, but I think about everyone else and try to ignore it really, I just really hope you're well and safe there in Luna Nova, that's what matters most to me] 7:33
I go back tae eat, while I watch these guys making some bizarre pools in the middle of the bush, I try tae find the trail of an excavator or at least a shovel, it can't be that there is nothing, look there, the marks of the tyre, it can only be an excavator that passed, they dinnae even hide that they do business like that, I wonder how it must be later with the abandoned place, the stagnant water.
I finish eating, I think it filled up a little, I go tae the rubbish and throw everything out, with due care, since the mother is taking the rubbish later fae fear of getting infected, I open the door with the gloves and wearing a mask, I put the things inside the rubbish and then close the bedroom door, breathing deep
"Here we go the loneliness... Yesterday it wasn't sae much, but today is the first day of it" I say, even a bit melancholic, I end up hearing a phone ring in my room, it wasn't my mobile phone, it was a real phone, one of those old ones and I answer.
"Hi daughter, I know you are kind of alone dere away from everything and everyone, but whenever you want to talk to me just call me and I'll answer, I also feel alone 'ere, we can talk a lettle to relax what do you think?" I said tae my mother on the phone and I even smiled a little.
"Thanks mum, it's really going tae be a test here being isolated fae a fortnight, this covid thing is starting tae give me the symptoms, I really hope I can cope" I tell her.
"You will, I'm sure, look we can distract ourselves by chatting about some Luna Nova gossip, or I can tell you more about my past with Bern" She said as I start coughing.
"Mum, tell me a bit about yer past, I love tae hear these stories" I tell her, already feeling my throat filling up with phlegm.
"Oh den let me remember a moment 'ere, I dink I 'ave nae told you when Bernadette and I went to de Valentine's Day ball and we went dressed as casual as possible, everyone looked at us funny, de teachers and de headmistress even kicked us out of the event, we went straight tae our room, if dey did not want to receive us we did de ball ourselves, I will tell you more about dat day, Bern was already much looser, she did not lower 'er head so much to de demands of others" said mum.
"Please mum, tell me more" I say half coughing.
POV Narrator:
On the first day they talked to each other on the phone, Laura and Diana found a way to distract themselves and spend time talking on the phone as Cavendish was playing this game when McLaren wasn't making the food for her daughter, who remained isolated in the room, talking once in a while with Akko by message, Kagari was even worrying a lot with her girlfriend.
The night was falling and Diana had her first day in isolation, with 13 more to go to complete the isolation and she was calmer with the attention she received from her mother Laura.
On the second day the symptoms were much more intense, Diana could hardly move so weak she became, she felt strong headaches, body aches, tiredness, loss of taste, more intense dry coughs, it was on this day that Laura went into the room more often to help her daughter to eat and stay healthy, although she was still holding her breath on that day, being one of the worst until then.
In the third day the symptoms were similar to the second one, but a little less intense, what she could stand moving more around the room, getting a little stronger, where Laura didn't need so much to carry the food to her daughter's table, as the first day she was talking with her mother and there creating a little more bond and approach of both, it was a moment that Diana could take advantage to know more of her mother who was always telling stories of the days that she spent with Bernadette.
Fourth day and significant improvement, the symptoms were weakening, thanks to the medication and with that Diana was already getting back to what she was on the first day, still feeling a lot of pain all over her body, but not enough to bring her down, she was also following how Akko was in Luna Nova, always reading her girlfriend's messages and showing the proper attention and as always worried if someone was trying to infect her.
The fifth day, a routine was starting to become common between Diana and Laura, as usual they spent the whole day talking to each other about the moments that they lived, improving more the bond that they had, already in Luna Nova everything was very calm, Akko told about the classes and how much he missed his girlfriend who also missed being there in Luna Nova.
Sixth day, the improvements were coming, Diana's body was getting stronger again, she wasn't feeling as much pain as before, she was already getting more willing to do things around the room, where she was already taking advantage of those days to dedicate her free time to some random hobby and what she was doing in that time was starting to dedicate herself to making origami to pass the time, as she was talking all the time with her mother about the progress she was making with the folds, what Laura was getting into the wave and also doing the same thing.
A week had passed since the isolation started and Diana was already showing a huge improvement, thanks to the care and attention given, she could be quite willing to do the activities during the day, besides gaining a little more confidence to go trying to alternate in the things she was doing, besides the focus in learning origami, she was also stretching and doing yoga in her room, trying to relax somehow, besides the many talks with her mother Laura.
The eighth day, another weekend was coming, on this day Diana decided to talk toAkko who told her to give up a study day to relax a little and try not to get so hot-headed and full of commitments, so both were staying the whole day of call, She was showing Akko how she'd been learning about origami and how much she'd been talking to her mother, getting closer to her these days, just thinking about the opportunity to be free soon and the birthday that was approaching right in the middle of the isolation days.
Ninth day, Diana practically felt cured, she didn't feel the Covid's symptoms anymore, due to the medication, she could practically feel as if she was getting better again, what was better for her that she was slowly getting back, she was already having some taste and her mood was only getting better, she was even dedicating herself better to the hobbies that she was acquiring, while in Luna Nova, Akko was taking a Sunday off to dedicate herself to study, she wanted to show that she was overcoming herself and that she was going to pass as one of the best in the end.
Tenth day, it was already ten days and the symptoms were already history, Diana was already showing that almost the Covid was won, she still didn't think it was the moment to leave yet, waiting for the right day, she was dedicating herself more to hobbies, in a few days perfecting the origami art, besides the useless things she saw on the internet and was learning to do as a way to pass the time since the days were starting to get very monotonous, besides when she was listening more stories from her mother, knowing a lot of her past.
Eleven days of isolation, Diana was already cured, she didn't feel any symptoms, she was already talking to her mother about the possibility of returning to the doctor to say that she was fine and if she could be released, but Laura decided that she should stay a little longer, what Cavendish understood, she spent the days as she always did, already kind of hoping to be released soon.
Twelve days went by and Diana was spending the most of her days practically dedicating herself to the hobbies she had acquired, after a considerable time she was already showing more that she was also completely cured, which Laura warns that they would go to the doctor the next day, still taking the proper care, as they did not want to risk with McLaren also getting sick.
Wednesday 29 April 2020, Edinburgh, Scotland
Thirteen days have passed of isolation, with no symptoms, Diana and Laura go to the hospital for a check-up to see if they are cleared to continue at home without being totally isolated and there they go with due care, Diana even gets anxious being tested even and waiting to see what the doctor will tell her when she gets to the consultant.
POV Diana:
They were very different days, I dinnae think I could stand it, until it was nice tae talk tae my mother on the phone, that was a curious thing that she put in and made the days more bearable, sae I wouldn't go crazy, well the Covid test was enough, I hate always having tae do that, my mother a little bit distant is looking at me while I'm a little bit nervous.
"Diana Cavendish!" He calls me tae the doctor and I go into his office walking in a little anxiously.
"Good morning" I say tae him a little excited.
"Very well Diana, how have you been feeling, you took Covid these days didn't you, now you are giving the return, did you do everything as recommended?" said the doctor.
"Yes I did Doctor Dundee, my mother and I were quite isolated from each other, I practically dinnae leave my room, today I dinnae feel anything, I am practically cured, nae a blocked nose, nae a headache or a pain in my body, I feel renewed, do ye think I can be released sae that my mother and I are nae sae distant?" I tell him.
"The test here was negative, from what you told me ypu have had very significant improvements in these 14 days, this is very good indeed, many patients end up coming here too late and things get worse, but it's good that you came here when the symptoms came early, it helped you cope, well I can say yes, ye can go home and rest and remember tae stay at home, you can still catch it again" said the doctor and I jump with excitement.
"Thank ye!" I say, getting up.
"Keep taking care of yourself Diana, even now that you are cured, don't go out too much or avoid going out, we are still in a pandemic, if possible do things from a distance and clean your room, it is always good to do
this to avoid spreading the virus even if in a very small way, your mother can't get sick too, then things will reverse and you will have to take care of her, have a nice day" he said and I left the office very excited.
I look at my mother arriving at her, who still gives a little distance and then we go back home, I'm already getting anxious fae what's tae come, now I'm finally free, I dinnae need tae stay only in the bedroom, I'll be able tae walk in other rooms of the house, what a huge relief.
"Look, first of all, it's time to clean up, take all your clothes, including de one you are wearing now, and put them in the wash" said mom
"And what am I going tae wear?" I tell her.
"I brought clothes if you're embarrassed to clean de room naked, I imagine you are haha, but dere's only one problem, my trousers don't fit you, but dere's always a way, den you're free, tomorrow we'll celebrate a lot, but today is a day to leave everything clean to ensure our celebration together, avoid in any way de spread of Covid" said my mother.
POV Narrator:
Diana and Laura went about their day cleaning the room, clothes and everything, even using ultraviolet light to be able to completely sterilize the virus, Cavendish's clothes were all cleaned in one day even to avoid that, she had to wear her mother's baggy clothes that with magic she can make her mother's trousers fit her slim waist, plus a lot of work they both went about the house.
All for what is to come the next day, Diana was finally cured of Covid before her eighteenth birthday, which she hoped she would be able to have this party in Luna Nova, even before the pandemic she thought she could enjoy the day more, but due to circumstances she would be away from her girlfriend, away from her friends, with only her mother around as the girls were forbidden to leave Luna Nova by Ley's lines.
Thursday 30 April 2020, Edinburgh, Scotland
And the day comes, Diana turns eighteen years old, coming to adulthood, not as she expected, since she wanted to have a party in Luna Nova, having to stay at home with her mother since she was kicked out of Luna Nova, but she wouldn't be without celebrating, After the tiring day of cleaning all the house she would have one more freedom, even if the Cavendish house wasn't a mansion anymore, it was still a big and spacious house, she woke up the best way she could, getting up from the bed wearing one of her mother's clothes, since her clothes were still drying.
POV Diana:
I just woke up and I see my mother in front of me, starting to sing Happy Birthday and playing the horn, I wanted tae sleep some more, but at least this will cheer me up, I look at her rubbing my eyes and yawning, I sit up in bed, she even smiles at me, showing me a cake she made, in it were some candles showing the number 18, who would say that now I'm definitely an adult.
"Good morning, good morning my daughter, today you woke up like a grown woman, congratulations Diana!" she said all excited and I was smiling at her.
"Good morning mum" I say half grumbling with sleep.
"Dis is your first day as an 18 year old, enjoy it a lot, I woke up very early today to make dis cake for you, I know you love chocolate so I made sure to make it with a lot of chocolate" she said and I even smiled.
"Do ye think it is safe fae me tae blow out the candles and pass covid mum?" I ask her and my mother rubs the back of her head.
"Look even cured I think ye're right about that, I think it's better if we dinnae risk blowing out the candles on the cake, but we still have tae do it" She said taking out the candles and placing them on the table, lighting them the same way.
She started singing Happy Birthday, I was even getting emotional, these two weeks I could really feel connected tae my mum, in a way I never thought I would, it's good tae see us closer, it makes me think how it would be growing up with her, well now let's go, it's Diana Cavendish's 18th birthday, I blow out the candles when she stops singing and my mum even claps her hands.
"Happy birthday Diana" she said stroking my hair.
"Thank ye mum" I say smiling at her.
"You deserve it girl, but de day doesn't end 'ere, we will still enjoy more of de day" she said and I hope so.
Soon I started tae share the small cake, giving the first piece tae my mother, I wish Akko was around, this distance really kills me and I also got a piece for me, when I was eating the cake I felt the delicious taste of chocolate, but inside there was something else, dulce de leche, I love it too, it was like an explosion of flavors inside my mouth.
"I love it mommy! Ye made the best cake ever" I say, enjoying the cake.
"I found out from your conversations, but it's also something I know, it runs in de family, girl, your mother's favourite cake was chocolate with dulce de leche, I knew how to make it in a way she loved" said my mother and I was even happier knowing dis.
"Ye hit the nail on the head mommy" I say loving every piece of the cake.
"Wow, you being eighteen is something I never imagined I would see, I remember when I was eighteen, I got my first car which I still have today, when Bern turned eighteen we had de biggest party in Luna Nova, den I kicked everyone out of 'er room at night heh, actually Bern did de same, those were other times, it's been 30 years... it seems like yesterday, me and Bern at your age" said mum with a corner smile remembering her times.
And I went finishing eating that slice of cake, filling myself up, gee I really loved the cake, then my mum puts a blindfold on my eyes, I dinnae know why, but it's ok, she's taking me around the house, I just feel the walk down the stairs, getting tae the outside, where I end up having the blindfold taken off seeing something wrapped with a huge cloth under the roof where the garage would be and outside the rain falling.
"Mum?" I say shocked at what it could be.
"Come on it's yours, you'll like it" she said, then came with me with an umbrella as we walked across the yard to the garage.
I arrive and I take the cloth that was on top of the car and it reveals tae be a Mercedes, I dinnae know which one it is and I dinnae know sae much about cars, but it's a Mercedes and it's very pretty, I go looking around her, it's kind of an old car, she has a huge spoiler on the back, black and old, she has style I go taking a good look, I look behind her and I see the name 190E.
"Why an old Mercedes mum?" I ask her.
"A car to give you more of an air of freedom, dis car is a street version of what was once a race car, 'ave fun, dis car lets go of everything, it will basically teach you 'ow to drive for real, I know you got your driver's license last year, now is de time to have a car of respect" My mother said and I was going to admire the car.
"I dinnae expect a car, even old this Mercedes has a charm, it even has an energy in it... It made me want to..." I just see my mother throwing the key to me.
"Kill dis desire soon, let's go for a ride" said my mother and I go excitedly getting into the car, I just found it strange that the steering wheel is different.
"Diana, dat's a German car, de steering wheel is on de other side - My mother said and I even rub the back of my neck.
A drive in the rain after...
I think I understood why my mother bought me this car, I park it in the garage and when I get out I could feel an energy that still passed me, then I walk back home and my mother really made me drive this thing even in the rain, lucky that there is almost nae one around here on the streets which was a wonder to accelerate.
"Turn on de TV Diana, dere's something else for you" said my mother.
I turn on the huge TV in the living room, which soon reveals that it's the lassies, they were all gathered in Constanze's lab, I get emotional, they start wishing me a happy birthday and even baked a cake there, I start tae cry of joy, I dinnae expect something like that.
"Surprise!" They all said.
"Ye ..." I say crying.
"Did you think your big eighteen birthday party would be left out? I made sure to do it my love, I couldn't miss celebrating your day Diana, happy birthday love, I love you, if you were there I would give you a huge kiss" Akko said and I was all crying.
"I love ye all, I can't believe ye haven't forgotten" I tell them
"We wouldn't forget, how could we forget a day to eat crisps and a cake? Congratulations, 18 years old, you didn't forget mine either, even in the middle of the pandemic, you still gave me a present, we didn't forget yours, besides Akko here would cut our heads off if we didn't do something" said O'Neill.
"Don't exaggerate Amanda, I won't leave out of celebrating my beloved's birthday, besides she did the greatest heroism possible, she infected herself and protected me from the worst, it could have been me being expelled, but she who is at home, deserves all the homage of the world, mainly for being someone so special for all of us" Said my Kagari and I was just laughing at the two of them.
"We really missed you around here Diana, I hope everything's ok there, you said you're already better" Barbara said.
"Nae doubt I am, thanks tae my mother" I say even hugging her.
"Mum!" Said my little sister also appearing.
"Hellene even did ye come?" I tell her.
"I'm not goin to miss my big sister's birthday, I'm happy for you, you're finally cured of dat damned Covid, an injustice dey did to you Diana, look I'm glad mommy took good care of you, I'm going to miss you both a lot, really" said my sister and I smile at her.
POV Narrator:
Away from there in The Council's lair, the boss arrives for yet another plan as the attempts to pass Covid to Akko didn't end up working out too well and not matching her plan, arriving in the meeting room quite suddenly startling the members there with her presence.
"Woah! Boss you came, we were doing the Walpurgis night meeting" said the leader of The Council.
"I'll shut down the activities to cause terror based on infecting Kagari, I think we have to act soon, in a fortnight time they'll have what's called WTE, it's a test that guarantees approval, they'll all be in their rooms for a whole week full of concentration taking tests, It's the perfect time for a call for presence, this week we will show up to vandalize Luna Nova, the corridors will be full of the creature's blood, spreading it around, just to cause panic, affect their psychology so that when the graduation comes we come with the mass attack" Said the boss to the members of The Council.
"So how are we going to do that?" asks one of the members of The Council.
"I will do it, I will enter Luna Nova and spread this fear, the rest of you just focus on physical training, soon will come the mass attack on Luna Nova, the massacre that will go down in history" said the intimidating boss.
"Let's cause the fear so they die with even more fear, I learned that Cavendish was expelled, that was a very valuable target for us, she would be perfect to make future members with the purity of a witch like her" Said the leader of The Council.
"We'll take care of her after the Luna Nova massacre, for now we'll focus on this one, for sure no one there will have any idea of what awaits them, we'll just scare them with the creature's blood being used, leaving the message that we'll soon show up, but they won't know when, they'll do the exams with fear" said the boss practically laughing.
"You are great boss, but I ask you, why didn't you infect the target in the first place?" asks the leader.
"Because it's not funny, I want to cause fear and dread, I want her to tremble and be afraid that at any moment she could be defeated, my tactic is to cause panic, so she is headless when the massacre happens, she will be much easier to later make another soldier for our troop, imagine how she would be without emotions, one thing we can not rule out, she has a great body and disposition, she would undoubtedly be able to advance and cause real havoc to whoever stands in our way, if we do everything right, we may have in our hands a way to conquer the world and wipe out magic once and for all, you win a war before you fight it and fear is one of my tactics, enemies fight worse when they are afraid, they make more mistakes" said the boss who even stepped on an orange that was on the table and the members of The Council were clapping their hands for her speech.
Diana held on being strong the whole time with the covid, taking care of herself and avoiding the possible that her mother didn't end up being a victim of the disease, being the most terrifying, she could get cured right at the moment she would turn eighteen, having a party with a special way, that even the distance and the pandemic were not enough to keep Diana away from her friends that still found a way to talk among themselves and enjoy a party among themselves. The boss comes with a new plan already preparing for what may be a future massacre in Luna Nova, the fear will again show its face and scare the students for one more time, as another attempt to prevent Akko can approve in Luna Nova.
See you, healed witches...