Chapter 7: Goodbye Luna Nova…
"UNBELIEVABLE!"
Akko winced as Headmistress Holbrooke was oozing with intense anger. She slammed her old wrinkly fist onto her desk multiple times as she continued to rant about Akko's behavior. Not only that but Professor Finnelan and Ursula were on her side giving Akko their own looks as well. Professor Finnelan had her arms crossed as she stared at Akko with her usually stern eyes but her normal scary look did not even faze Akko this time. No…Professor Ursula was definitely the one on top of that.
The blue-haired professor's whole face was red with anger, her stare could nearly burn holes into the poor brunette's skull, and she rocked her body back and forth while standing as if she was trying to hold back the urge to attack Akko.
Headmistress Holbrooke continued her outburst.
"I CANNOT BELIEVE THE STUNT YOU PULLED TONIGHT! OUT OF ALL THE FOOLISH THINGS YOU HAVE DONE THIS IS THE WORST! DO YOU EVEN REALIZE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!? IF THE PROFESSORS DID NOT GET MISS LUCIFER TO THE INFIRMARY FAST ENOUGH SHE COULD'VE BEEN SENT TO THE AFTERLIFE TONIGHT!"
Once Headmistress Holbrooke was done screaming and giving herself time to breathe, Akko slowly lifted her head and spoke.
"I-I…"
Her voice gave out on her for a bit but she forced herself to speak as she clenched onto her skirt.
"I don't know what happened! I didn't mean to hurt Elizabeth that bad and—"
"I know exactly what happened."
Everyone's attention turned to Professor Ursula as she walked up to Akko looking directly past her eyes and into her soul.
"You got out of the infirmary even though you were instructed not to and you attacked Elizabeth when she caught you. According to Diana, she says that earlier today you might have been playing to attack Elizabeth again."
Akko's eyes widened in shock, her favorite teacher, and her friend were going against her.
"N-no! This was a setup! Elizabeth is a vampire! I saw her get hurt like that a thousand times and she healed herself in all the—"
"Again with this vampire nonsense!" Professor Ursula's voice began to pick up as she towered over Akko, "When will you stop acting like a fool and take responsibility for your actions!?"
"Wow Miss Callistis," Professor Finnelan jumped in with a cruel smile. She enjoyed the face of Akko which looked like she lost all hope, "You are no longer taking her side? Are you finally seeing just how cancerous this troublemaker is? I told you that you placed too much faith in her and now look. She has betrayed your expectations and your heart. You must truly feel miserable."
Professor Ursula brought her head back up and looked at Professor Finnelan with the same pissed off look but the older woman didn't even flinch; she enjoyed the feeling of being right.
On the other hand, Akko was crying as she was trying to find the right words to prove her innocence.
"I-I'm telling the truth! The reason why she doesn't burn in the sunlight is because of sunblock! She's faking how serious the injury is to get me in trouble! P-please, believe me!"
Professor Finnelan shook her head as she smiled victoriously.
"Your pathetic excuses won't save you now, Miss Kagari."
"Indeed they won't," said Professor Ursula who walked back to her corner and stopped looking at Akko, "I'm fed up with you…"
"P-Professor Ursula…"
"Enough."
Headmistress Holbrooke spoke out; she was more composed but her anger was still seeping through her words.
"I am truly disappointed in you Miss Kagari. I thought after your magnificent performance at the Samhain Magic Festival that you would start improving but instead, you have gone backwards. Luna Nova has never had a worse student. I'm sorry to say this but...the school will no longer have you."
Akko looked up from her knees.
"Huh? What do you—"
"Atsuko Kagari, you are hereby expelled from Luna Nova!"
As if Akko was just shot in the heart her body just stopped functioning as she heard the words pass through her ears and into her brain. She blinked ten times and looked back at the three teachers' serious looks trying to find the answer to this problem but this was unavoidable. At first, she giggled a little, maybe a part of her believing it was a joke but the looks of the professors convinced her it was the truth.
"N-no…" Akko breathed out, "No...y-you can't…"
"We can and we will…"
Professor Finnelan spoke with obvious joy in her voice. The student that she disliked the most was finally going to be out of her hair.
"We have already contacted your parents and they will be expecting your return. You will be leaving tonight as soon as you get everything packed. You leave alone at night and subtly as if you never existed because those are the rules for those who leave the academy."
"However we are aware that you can't fly," interjected Professor Ursula, "so I will be the one to fly you out of Luna Nova."
"Y-you guys can't be serious-"
"Not only that but we will confiscate the Shiny Rod from you!" Headmistress Holbrooke stated.
"WHAT!?" Akko screamed, "WHY!?"
"Do we even need to explain Miss Kagari?" Professor Finnelan shook her head, "You have nearly sent Miss Lucifer to her grave, of course we will not let you carry such a powerful weapon with you!"
Akko's body began shaking as if it was going to fall apart.
"B-but you can't! It's mine—"
"No it's not!" yelled Professor Ursula, "It belonged to someone else and you just simply found it in the Arcturus Forest! We let you hold onto it because you seemed to have control over it, but lately, you have failed to do so, and especially tonight you have destroyed any remaining trust we have in you."
The broken brunette fell out of her chair and onto her knees. She crawled over to Professor Ursula clenching onto her robe, crying profoundly as she begged.
"P-PROFESSSOR URSULA! *hic* PLEASE DON'T DO THIS! *hic* I-I-I NEVER MEANT TO HURT ELIZABETH— I P-PROMISE! SHE TRICKED ME! THIS WAS ALL A SETUP BY HER!"
"ENOUGH!" Professor Ursula grabbed Akko by the shoulders and threw her to the ground. "JUST ACCEPT YOUR PUNISHMENT AND BE DONE WITH IT! I HAD FAITH IN YOU BUT YOU HAVE STEPPED ON IT AND CAST IT ALL AWAY! SOMEONE LIKE YOU— WHO IS SO HATEFUL AND IS OKAY WITH HARMING OTHERS CAN NEVER BE A WITCH WHO CAN BRING JOY!"
Those words made Akko's body run cold as she sat and looked at Professor Ursula's upset face. This was the end...it was over. No one believed her, in their eyes, she was the one in the wrong. No matter what truth she could tell them they would just see it as a horrible lie to get out of trouble.
"Why…" Akko hugged her knees, "Why is this happening to me…?"
Headmistress Holbrooke spoke for the final time.
"Professor Ursula will escort you to your dorm and wait for you on the balcony to fly off. Make haste please."
Professor Ursula walked over and forced the broken Akko to stand as they left the office. Akko cried silently as she traversed through the halls, this would be her last time walking through it again.
It was a struggle for Akko to break down the news to Lotte and Sucy. As she explained the situation their faces shifted and their emotions seeped through. Lotte took off her glasses as she wiped away her tears and Sucy just stared at the floor.
"I'm…" Akko sniffed as she rubbed a tear off her cheek. Her voice sounded hoarse from crying too much, "I'm sorry…"
"Why?" Sucy lifted her head and looked straight at Akko, "Why did you attack Elizabeth? What happened?"
Akko slowly shook her head, "I-I don't know…"
"You don't know?" Lotte put on her glasses and gave Akko her more serious looks, "What do you mean you don't know!?"
"I don't know what happened! I saw Elizabeth get stabbed and blown up but she regenerated each time! She's revealed to me her vampiric powers could—"
"Oh— enough with the vampire crap!" Sucy stood up from her bed and started yelling, "How long are you going to keep saying that!? Vampires don't exist anymore! Are you going insane!?"
Akko stared at Sucy but her eyes were stained red from crying too much and her face showed barely any emotion.
"So *sniff* you don't believe…?"
"Of course I don't!" roared Sucy, "There is no evidence to back you up!"
"Sucy stop!" Lotte got up now and stepped in front of the pale girl, "It doesn't matter anymore...it's over…"
"Yeah...she's right...it's fine if you don't believe me Sucy…" Akko said with her head down.
Sucy started to feel uncomfortable and looked away, "I-it's not like I don't wanna believe you it's just—"
"No...it's okay...I get it..."
Silence covered the room as the three girls refused to look at each other for at least two minutes straight. After those minutes had passed Akko went up to her bed and took out her suitcase which was under it.
"I'm gonna get my things together. I wasn't even supposed to be talking to guys anyway according to the rules so I'm probably wasting time for Professor Ursula who is supposed to drop me off. She's already super mad at me and I don't want to make her even more upset…"
Akko took all the clothes she had in the closet and drawers and packed them in her suitcase. She took the Alcor stuff toy that was always on the working desk and shoved it into her backpack. Finally, she took off her uniform folded it neatly on the bed, and put her normal clothes on.
The former witch looked ready to go with her orange jacket, brown shorts, and her purple backpack. She stared at her former teammates and slowly approached them.
"I-I know I'm not supposed to talk to you guys...but—" Akko choked as tears began to hopelessly fall from her face again, "I can't help it! *hic* I'm sorry things turned out this way! *hic* I know I'm the most annoying most insufferable and most idiotic person on the planet and all I have done was drag you guys into trouble! *sniff* But you guys are still my best friends!—"
Both Lotte and Sucy ran up to Akko and captured her in a warm and tender hug.
"You're our friend Akko!" Lotte cried, "No matter what you will always be our friend!"
"You may do idiotic things…" Sucy said quietly as tears rolled down her cheeks, "But you're our idiot. And you always find a way to make days interesting and put smiles on people's faces. You even find a weird girl like me as your friend even after all the times I've experimented on you. I can't just look away and say I don't care…!"
"Lotte…*sniff*...Sucy…"
"But this isn't the last time we will see each other!"
Lotte broke from the hug and went towards the desk picking up something interesting. It was a glass ball like those witches in fairy tales had.
"This crystal ball can work as a cellphone," Lotte said as she held it up, "There is a sorcerer stone inside it so you can go anywhere with it. We can't use phones in Luna Nova but crystal balls are allowed. Call us anytime you want and we will answer when we are free."
She placed the crystal ball in Akko's hands and the girl quivered as if she was just given the best birthday present ever.
"Thank you...thank you guys so much…"
Akko hugged them one last time fully taking in their embrace. The hug only lasted for a minute or so but to the Red Team, it was a precious eternity. Neither of them wanted to let go, but they knew that this moment could not last forever. Akko was the one to break first as she wiped the tears from her face and took up her suitcase. She grabbed onto the doorknob but before twisting she turned to the dorm room again, realizing how much she was going to miss it. She took a deep breath and opened the door.
Waiting outside were the members of the Green Team: Amanda, Jasminka, and Constanze. Jasminka for once in her life had a frown across her face, Constanze had sad-looking puppy dog eyes as she stared at Akko, and Amanda looked a mess as if she just come back from a fight. Her hair was all over the place and her face looked dusty as if she fell on the ground.
"W-what happened to you, Amanda?" Akko asked as she noticed the way her friend looked.
Amanda sighed, her voice sounded sore probably from screaming a lot.
"Some assholes were making fun of you and calling you a monster and I…I just couldn't stand it."
"Amanda…"
"I don't care what happened! I know you're not a monster, I know it! Sure you're an idiot and don't think things through but you would never hurt people on purpose I know that much!"
Akko's hurt felt warm by hearing Amanda's comforting words.
"Thank you…"
"Please take care of yourself Akko," Jasminka said as a single tear went down her left eye.
"We'll miss you," Constanze's Stan-bot stated as Conze herself stared down at the floor trying her hardest to keep the tears in.
"You guys...I-"
*BAM*
Before Akko could give her words of thanks a rock made an impact with the side of her head making her stumble. The girls looked over to see Hannah, Barbara, and a whole congregation of students on the other side of the hall, looking at Akko with hateful glares and shouting at her.
"What are you still doing here, monster!?" one of the students yelled.
"Get out of here before I make you pay for what you did to Elizabeth!" screamed another as she cracked her fists.
"Akko! Are you okay!?" Lotte went over to Akko and looked at the spot where she was hit.
"I-I'm fine…" Akko said as she was able to stand up perfectly rubbing the now bruised left side of her head.
"You deserved that she-demon!" Hannah yelled.
"Hurry up and get out here! We hope the likes of you never step foot in this academy again!" Barbara screamed across the hall.
Amanda growled at them, "If you guys wanna fight then fight me! Just leave Akko the hell alone!"
"It's okay Amanda," Akko put her hand on the American girl's shoulder to calm her down, "I'm leaving now..."
"But—"
"It's okay…"
Amanda took a deep inhale and exhaled to let out the anger. She turned to Akko and gave her a quick hug.
"I'm sorry things turned out this way…" Akko said.
"Me too…" replied Amanda who seemed like she was on the verge of crying.
With that, Akko walked away from the Red Team, Green Team, Blue Team, and the other students as she headed out to reclaim something that was hers and to speak with one final person.
Akko walked down the hall, she planned to see Elizabeth and check on her, but standing by the door of the infirmary like a guard was Diana. The moment she saw Akko she frowned and her eyes turned dark.
"I had a feeling you would come here…"
Akko cleared her throat.
"Hey, Diana…is Elizabeth alright?"
"She's stable now, but she won't regain consciousness in a few days."
"I see…can I just check on her?"
Diana's frown got deeper.
"Akko, you know why I'm not letting you near her…"
"Yeah...I'm sorry…"
After Akko's apology, silence was the only thing exchanged between her and Diana. The blonde witch did not even look at Akko and just stared at her floor as she clenched her fists tightly. Something was bothering Cavendish but she didn't know what.
"Do you...know I'm going to be leaving…?"
Diana lifted her head up and sighed.
"Yes...Professor Finnelan came here not too long and rejoiced in your expulsion."
Akko inched closer.
"Are you happy about this…?"
Diana returned her question with silence as she looked away from the girl again.
Akko nodded.
"That's okay. I know you wanted me gone for a while, you're finally getting your wish right?"
"Akko—"
"I didn't mean to hurt Elizabeth like I did, I promise. I'm sorry things turned out this way," Akko said this all with a smile but her constant voice cracks as she spoke proved that there was no happiness behind it, "I know you'll definitely graduate and be an outstanding witch. Good luck, Diana."
Diana still did not respond as she looked away; she felt like if she looked at Akko again she could die. Knowing that Diana was not going to speak or look at her again Akko turned her back and went straight for the door. But before she left she let out one last thing.
"I guess your prediction was right Diana…"
And Akko vanished behind the corridor.
"My prediction…"
Diana remembered the fortune she made during the exams which showed Akko leaving the academy. Predictions are never truly accurate but it seems that Diana's was true.
"Yes...I got what I wanted...that nuisance is gone...but—"
A stream of tears fell from Diana's eyes as she stared down the hallway where Akko came from.
"Why do I f-feel this way…?"
Professor Ursula was at the end of her patience; an hour and a half had gone by from the time Akko was supposed to be with her. The young professor was going to head back inside the academy walls and find her herself but she didn't even take two steps in as Akko appeared before her with a weak smile.
"I'm ready…"
Akko said with her head down.
"Were you saying goodbye to everyone?" Professor Ursula asked.
"I couldn't help it…" Akko admitted as she went up to the professor.
"Well you're here now, let's go."
Professor Ursula sat on her broom and ushered Akko to sit in the back and hold onto her. Taking a deep breath the teacher chanted "Tia Freyre" and was off into the night sky.
As Ursula flew up high Akko stared down below her to see the wondrous castle that was once home to her, the courtyard where she would try to fly or practice magic spells, the New Moon Tower, and the beautiful glow from the Sorcerer's Stone. Akko knew in her heart she was going to miss all of that. The feelings, the memories, and the adventures she had in this academy replayed in her head as she got further away, and each tear that left her eyesockets connected with the ground leaving a trail of small diamonds.
Akko held onto Professor Ursula tightly and quietly whispered, "Goodbye Luna Nova…"
Coming out of the leyline Ursula descended her broom to a familiar scenery. It was the Leyline Terminal building with the tree sticking out of the top. Akko got off the broom and adjusted herself.
"Okay...thank you, professor…"
Akko bowed and walked off.
There were words that Ursula wanted to say but she could not let them out during their ride, but seeing Akko leave she put away her hesitation and said aloud.
"Why did you throw away your chance Akko?"
Akko stopped where she was but she did not turn around to meet the professor's eyes.
"You wanted to be a witch right!?" Professor Ursula's voice was getting higher with emotion as she spoke, "Why did you throw it all away!?"
Before replying Akko took a deep breath and responded loud enough for her to hear.
"I didn't throw away anything. I just fought a battle I never had the chance to win. You're saying this is my fault? You're saying I wanted this? I could give you my "excuses" but you would just toss them aside. So in the end I have no words for you. Sorry professor."
And with that, Akko continued her trip down the stairs. She had nothing to say to Ursula even though she once loved her. She was her favorite professor but all she felt at this moment was sadness and anger towards her. Professor Ursula was quick to not believe her and had taken the Shiny Rod from her and the connection she had with Shiny Chariot. The poor brunette was betrayed and robbed by the one person she respected and cared about.
Professor Ursula sighed to herself and jumped back on her broom. She flew back up the leyline and returned to the castle of Luna Nova. She entered her room and sat down on the desk with her head down taking off her glasses, releasing a few tears.
Alcor flew to her side and rubbed his head on her right cheek. Ursula petted him and smiled.
"Thanks Alcor…"
Once she felt better the young professor looked at her desk to see a bundle of cloth wrapped in tape. Inside this bundle is supposed to be the Shiny Rod itself that Ursula took from Akko. She started removing the tape and unraveling the bundle.
"What am I going to do with this?" Ursula said to herself, "Maybe I should put in the Labyrinth with— huh?"
Once the bundle was completely removed Ursula saw that it was not the Shiny Rod but a tree branch. The blue-haired professor stood up in shock.
"Wh-what!? Where is it!?"
Akko removed the Shiny Rod from her backpack and held it tightly as she traversed through the streets of Glastonbury.
"You may have taken Luna Nova away from me but my dream is not dead," the girl declared, "I'll become a great witch like Shiny Chariot. Just you wait…"
"You definitely will— with my help~!"
"Hm?"
Akko turned and screamed in surprise. Standing before her in an infirmary goon and fully conscious with an energetic face was Elizabeth.
"E-Elizabeth!?"
"Hello, Akko~!" Elizabeth waved. "Now that you're no longer a student, can we talk some more~?"
Author's Note:
Akko has been expelled…it's a sad time. But I feel bad for Akko…because it's only about to get worse for her here before it gets better…
Please check out my own original web novel, "The Branded Hero Volume 1: Baxter the Failure". The tale of a hero who has been outcasted by the world since releasing The Demon King: /series/The-Branded-Hero-Volume-1-Baxter-the-Failure/info
And please check out my webcomic, "The Curse of Gringerfield" on Webtoon and Tapas!
Webtoon: https/en/canvas/the-curse-of-gringerfield/list?title_no=970667
Tapas: /series/The-Curse-of-Gringerfield/info
Next Chapter: Loss of Humanity
