Chapter XIV
Digna
Walking down the streets, one in front of the other, with Akko watching Hannah's back, all kinds of thoughts flooded her mind, and one in particular began to resonate more than the others.
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Was she really ready to take this step?
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She wondered over and over again.
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Was she sure she could sustain a relationship, or would her mental state betray her?
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'No, I'm not the same as before.'
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Was she worthy of being with someone like Hannah?
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'Am I?'
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'Pffft, obviously not, Atsuko, you're not,' said a voice in her head.
…
'You, again.'
'Yes, my dear Atsuko, me again.'
….
'What do you want?' Akko said with fury.
'Nothing, just to tell you the truth, and that is no, you're not worthy.'
'How do you know?'
…..
'How many times have I told you, why don't you understand, Kagari?'
'Understand what?'
'Do I have to spell it out for you, or wasn't it clear?'
'Shut up!'
…
'Atsuko, you will never be worthy of someone.'
'Shut up! Shut up!'
'They will never love you, Atsuko. Not Diana, not Hannah.'
'Don't talk anymore!'
'It's just a matter of time, Atsuko.'
….
"N-no more. Please."
For a few seconds, Akko didn't know where she was. Her mind had clouded over, and her vision had blurred. The memories of that day came back with relentless force.
"¡D-D-Diana, I like you !"
She was back in front of those judging blue eyes. She couldn't breathe, feeling as if her chest was being compressed.
"Is this some kind of joke?"
She heard her say. Her hands began to tremble, and an inexplicable cold took hold of her body.
"How do you think someone like you could be with a Cavendish?"
Yes, someone like her, a failed witch, someone life had never given a single chance.
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"Ak..."
She heard something in the background.
"Akko..."
She felt someone shake her abruptly, and lifting her gaze, she noticed eyes that were not blue, but black.
"Are you okay?"
Akko kept looking into Hannah's eyes, and the sorrow and misery she felt before were replaced by embarrassment and irony.
"Where are we?" she managed to whisper, averting her gaze she felt a gust of wind pass over her face, and in front of her was an incredible view.
"This is where I wanted to bring you," she heard as she saw the entire city full of life. "Beautiful view, right?"
Akko, who at this moment felt nothing, allowed herself for just a few moments to see how the world moved, a world that in the end would never embrace her.
"Akko, I have something very important to tell you," the Japanese girl looked back at her companion, and seeing the nervous expression on her face and the fidgeting of her hands, she knew what was coming next.
The girl took a breath and, looking into her eyes, looked at her seriously and said, "Atsuko Kagari, I like you. Will you go out with me?"
...
..
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An uncomfortable silence followed after Hannah spat out those words, and seeing no response, she repeated her name to get her attention. "Akko?" But still, there was no answer. A few more minutes passed, and laughter was all that was heard.
"Hahahahaha, really, Hannah?"
The girl, thinking it was Akko's way of lightening the situation, simply smiled and said, "Seriously."
What she didn't realize was that when she raised her gaze, which had been lowered in shame, she was met with an empty look. There was no hatred or contempt, just the emptiness of a red that shone more dimly than usual. This chilled her, and the following phrase was what left her pale. "I'm sorry, Hannah, I can't go out with you."
"W-what?" came from the girl's lips. Akko, indifferently, turned around and started to walk away from the place without any explanation, only with a short answer.
Hannah, not understanding what had just happened, ran and grabbed the girl by the arm. "Akko, explain!" she heard her scream, but the Japanese girl wouldn't open her mouth. "Tell me something." Now her tone was lowered, and still, there was not a single movement of lips. "Please, talk to me," she said this time in a whisper. Yet not a syllable came out, and as strength left her, Akko broke free from the grip and continued her way, leaving the English girl collapsing on the spot in a sea of tears.
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Already at the Ley Line, Akko looked for a way to return to Luna Nova. Fortunately for her, there seemed to be rental brooms available for just a bronze coin for the return trip. Taking the offer, she grabbed the broom from the little gnome and, pulling out her magic wand, recited the spell she had practiced so much, not knowing this would be her last journey.
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Hannah, gathering the few strengths she had left, rose from the ground and started walking directly to the "Gecko Café", as she knew it wouldn't be safe to return to Luna Nova in her current condition.
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Akko, now in the dimensional tunnel, without really understanding why, started to feel her broom failing. The damned tool zigzagged uncontrollably. She just screamed and cursed as she crashed into the tunnel walls, which was obviously very bad news.
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Hannah opened the door of the café, which was still open. The grandmother, turning to see her, was about to start an exchange with the young witch, but seeing the look on her face and that she was alone, understood something was wrong. So, with a sigh, the old lady came out from behind the counter, approached the girl, and hugged her. Immediately, Hannah melted in her arms, and the old lady only comforted her while moving her hand up and down her back.
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Akko didn't know where she was. When she opened her eyes, she found herself surrounded by branches everywhere. Trying to get up, she noticed her leg was wounded, it had a deep cut, and she couldn't stand. In the distance, roars began to be heard, and she, desperately trying to crawl to hide, but everything seemed to indicate that nothing would save her from her fate.
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Hannah, finally calmed down, separated from the grandmother, and she was guided to the nearest chair, where she heard her say, "Rest here, my girl." Hannah, just nodding, saw how the old woman went behind the counter and prepared something. When she was finished, she saw her approaching with two cups emitting a pleasant aroma. "Drink this, it will relax you," said the grandmother. Hannah, accepting the concoction with a small "thank you", looked into the grandmother's eyes and said, "Grandma, can I stay at your house tonight?" Surprised, she looked her up and down, only to smile sweetly and reply, "Of course, my girl." And so, Hannah spent the rest of the day with the old lady, trying to clear her mind of everything that had happened.
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Akko, no longer feeling her legs, had abandoned all hope of returning alive to Luna Nova. The growls were now inches from her, and in a gesture of surrender, she turned to look at the sky, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes, hoping her death would at least not be too painful. When she felt the first bite, she didn't dare to move; then came a scratch, followed by another bite, and so it continued until her last breath left her body, and the realms of death embraced her eagerly, while the last thought left her mind:
"After all, I wasn't worthy."
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The next morning, Hannah got up early to head straight to Luna Nova. Now with a somewhat calmer mind, she knew something was not right with Akko the previous afternoon, and today she was determined to confront her, whatever happened. She wouldn't allow what they had built to crumble away like that. Saying goodbye to the grandmother with a hug, she dashed to the Ley Line terminal, took her broom from the gnome, took the dimensional portal, and in the blink of an eye, she was already at Luna Nova. Entering through the main door, she walked through the corridors, but what surprised her was seeing a crowd of students gathered at the infirmary.
Approaching, she noticed very loud wails and, making her way through the students, saw Lotte kneeling, sobbing incessantly. Beside her was Sucy, who, looking at a bed with a figure covered by a sheet, had tears streaming down her eyes. Entering without asking for permission, she approached the girls, but before she could even say another word, she heard Nurse Wong speak:
"Are you sure it's her, Professor Finnelan?"
"Yes, Nurse Wong. She was in the Arcturus Forest. There was nothing more I could do for her; the wounds were too deep to even give a glimmer of hope," beside her stood Professor Ursula, who, with a lost look, was wiping the tears from her eyes.
At this, an inexplicable chill ran up Hannah's spine, who, heading towards the covered body, started to walk. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if her feet were made of lead, and when she was already beside what seemed to be a body, she removed the sheet that covered the head of that person and, immediately recognizing the face that lay on that pale, cold corpse, her world shattered.
"Akko."
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FIN.