Summary: The Magical World is declining as the Collective Consciousness of Humanity embraces modern technology. During that time, a Fool begins her journey by enrolling in Luna Nova to follow her missing idol's footsteps. Can she rekindle people's belief in magic once more? (She probably needs to study first though...)
Summary: The Magical World is declining as the Collective Consciousness of Humanity embraces modern technology. During that time, a Fool begins her journey by enrolling in Luna Nova to follow her missing idol's footsteps. Can she rekindle people's belief in magic once more? (She probably needs to study first though...)
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This brown haired foreign girl dressed in an orange coat and carrying nothing but a pink backpack sure is annoying.
"Oi… Oi...!"
"Hey…!"
"Can you hear me?!"
"You are definitely going to Luna Nova as well? Right?!"
First of all, Sucy Mambavaran is not a friendly person. She looks like a stereotypical witch with all the warning signs turned up to eleven. There is literally nothing about her appearance that even remotely hints at approachability. The gloomy aura she constantly emits, the scent of poison and dangerous chemicals, and the ever-present frown on her face should logically drive away any person seeking her attention. How this foolish girl continued to attempt communication with her despite all these warning signs is just unfathomable.
As she continued to walk and the girl continued to follow, Sucy just did not understand why this girl picked her of all people to bother.
"I came all the way from Japan to attend this school all by myself you know! My name is Kagari Atsuko by the way, but you can call me Akko for short!" she introduces loudly, "anyway, ever since I saw Shiny Chariot's magic show when I was six, it's been my dream to become a witch as great as she is! You heard of her right? I'll bet she's very famous in the magical world, right?"
Is this girl serious? Not one person Sucy knew spoke of that Shiny Chariot stage-circus... thing with any kind of flattery. The gloomy witch mentally sighed. She needs to get rid of her ASAP.
The annoyance now dubbed as Akko continued. "You don't need to answer! Of course everyone knows that Shiny Chariot is amazing! Why did I even bother asking? How silly of me!"
Sucy reaches into her sleeves…
"...I guess it's because there are a lot people I know that don't like her… But oh well, I know the truth! They're just hiding the fact that they're sad that she left so suddenly-"
Akko paused just as she saw the gloomy witch extend a hand out to her, as if offering to shake her hand. "Oh! I'm sorry! Here, let me shake your hand!" the brunette cheerfully grabs Sucy's outstretched hand with both of hers, "Nice to meet you-"
Just as Akko took hold of Sucy's hand, she felt something coil around her outstretched arms. She looks down to find two very venomous and very angry snakes wrapped around the appendages. Both animals hiss at her angrily, baring their fangs and ready to bite her.
Sucy smirks. Snakes are her go-to option when she wants something annoying to leave. This should do the job-
Much to the Filipino's unexpressed surprise, Akko is totally calm. She swiftly grabs the reptiles and flings them into the nearby river. No screaming, no nothing.
"How did those get here? But no biggie! There is not a snake in the world that can scare the next Shiny Chariot!" she proudly declares.
Hm... It would seem having a small brain does indeed give you guts. One mystery solved. Sucy resumes her walking, while reaching into her bag for plan B.
Dusting her hands, the brunette continued. "Was that a transformation spell? That was pretty neat, actually! Chariot used to do that all the time at her shows and turned herself into a lot of cool things! I can't wait to learn to do something like that myself! My heart is going all doki doki waku waku thinking about it!"
Finding what she was looking for, Sucy pulled a bottle out from her bag and opened it. She poured about half the bottle onto the ground, right in front of Akko's path.
"I have ordered some books about magic from the school… But I don't really understand them! Maybe you can teach me-"
Too busy talking, Akko slipped on the lubricated patch of ground, comically sending her falling forward and slamming her head into the unforgiving pavement.
Sucy grins, that looked and sounded painful. Hopefully this gets the girl to leave her alone-
The face planted girl's arms suddenly move. Her palms press onto a dry patch of ground and pushes. Astonishing Sucy with her acrobatic fineness, Akko back flips through the air and lands slightly ahead of her. Akko gives the gloomy witch a smile all the while brushing some dirt off her perfectly uninjured cheeks.
"Woah, didn't expect the ground to be this slippery! That was totally how my first time ice skating went! Good thing I'm super tough now!" She declares obliviously.
That was... unexpected. Just what is this girl made of? Sucy thought the girl's physical ability would be subpar at best considering just how scrawny she appears. But apparently appearances can be deceiving with just how skillful those backflips looked. Sucy quickly reevaluates her impression of Akko.
Akko continued to ramble on. "... I have been talking about myself for so long, I didn't even ask for your name! What is your name anyway?"
Sucy doesn't answer and just continues on her path, already thinking of another way to get this girl off her back. Thankfully, passing by some grass gives her the right idea. She reaches into her bag for another potion.
"... Still not much of a talker huh?" Akko's happy face remains undeterred, "I get it! I'll just keep introducing myself until you do! Maybe you'll tell me your name when you know more about me - Eh?" The brunette tries to walk another step, only to learn that her foot is caught on something. Looking down, Akko watches as some grass weaving themselves into ropes around her feet and locking her in place.
Suzy takes this time to walk faster to put some distance between her and the brown haired nuisance. The binding potion she used is some of the finest of its kind. Even the strongest of predatory animals have no hope of escaping; more than enough to keep that annoyance off her back.
Unfortunately, the sound of rope snapping shatters that train of thought along with her hopes of ridding herself of that annoying girl.
"...Have to give it to you! Those were really strong!" Akko compliments. "Magic is so useful, isn't it? I can't wait to learn it myself!" She kicks the remaining grass off her boots.
This is madness. A tiger couldn't rip through those ropes let alone a scrawny Japanese girl like her! How is this possible...? A girl her age shouldn't have anywhere near the strength to-
This girl is… making her curious? Holy crap! Something other than mushrooms and poison has managed to catch her interest after so long!
A smirk so faint that one had to squint really hard to see it graced Sucy's lips. This girl has strength, agility, guts, and stupidity. This means she is safe to step up her game. Sucy reaches into her bag once more.
"Oh I know! Let me give you a bit of my backstory so you can get to know me better~!" Akko begins, "... You see, I come from a pretty normal family. They can't use magic and aren't very rich, so it took me a long time to convince them to let me attend Luna Nova! Well... actually, I earned all the money by myself. It was a lot of hard work, but nothing is too much for my dream I would say!"
Just as Akko finished blabbering out her past, Sucy points the mouth of a perfume bottle at her and pressed the button.
"What is this…?" Akko takes a good whiff of what she was sprayed with. "Why do I smell… delicious?"
As soon as those words leave her lips, barks and howls echo throughout the area. One by one wild, hungry dogs appear, attracted by the wonderful scent. Soon they surround both girls, leaving no room for escape.
"Eh…!" Akko whimpers, taking a step back, "Umm… nice doggies…?"
The dogs creep forward, their maws dripping with saliva.
"Bad doggies! No-!"
The dogs pounce at the brunette, ready to sink their teeth into her… Only to meet a massive surprise as Akko swiftly punch one out of the air and backflip away to avoid the rest. Upon landing, the brunette immediately took up a combat stance.
"Fine! Bring it! The next Shiny Chariot will not let herself be eaten so easily!" she declares as the animals charge at her.
Sucy observed how the girl fought the dogs off. She expected Akko, despite her strength, to struggle fighting off so many hungry animals. She is, however, proven wrong once more. Sucy has no knowledge of martial arts but even she could tell that Akko clearly is not an amateur. The Japanese girl exploited every opening the rabid canines left and countered every attack aimed at her with one of her own. The dogs were quickly proven to be no match against her as she dispatched them with ease one by one.
Just as the last dog went down, Akko turned to Sucy and dashed toward her, irritation plastered all over her face.
Sucy's eyes widen as she takes a step back. Is she…?!
"WATCH OUT!" Akko screams as she leaps in for a drop kick. Her foot smashes into a dog about to pounce at the gloomy witch from behind, spending it flying.
The beaten animals wince collectively in pain, deciding that the wonderful smell emanating from Akko just wasn't worth the trouble. Akko stood protectively by Sucy's side until all the dogs have fled. She hasn't even broken a sweat from the conflict.
The brunette turns to the gloomy witch with concern. "Geez! You should've payed more attention! That dog could've taken a chunk out of you!"
"... Why?"
"Huh?"
"... Why did you protect me?" Sucy questions, annoyed. "So far I have been doing nothing but trying to get you off my back. Why do you still insist on befriending me when I have been terrible to you the entire time?"
Akko looks at Sucy. She smiles at her once more. "When I saw you earlier, I thought to myself: 'gee, that is one of the gloomiest people I have ever seen!'. So I said to myself, 'Wouldn't it be great if I tried to befriend her? She looks so lonely, I'm worried she'll have a bad time at Luna Nova!'" She explains, "so here I am. Trying to befriend you. That and I just wanted to ask you about stuff that I don't know about our school yet..."
Sucy deadpans at Akko, "... What a stupid reason. You are the biggest moron I have ever met in my life."
Akko chuckles back happily, "I get that a lot, but you know what? If following my believing heart and achieving my dream gets me called those names, then so be it," she points to herself proudly. "Feel free to call me the biggest fool there is!"
Sucy stares at Akko's cheerful grin. Faces like these usually irritate her, but why wasn't she ticked off right now? Was she… actually enjoying talking to this girl?
Thoughts after thoughts surface in her mind. So, what has Sucy learned about Akko from all those attempts to get her off her back? This girl is stupid and annoying; that's one thing. But she was shown to be super durable and is somehow very physically strong despite the skinny build. She is competent in a fight and displays more acrobatic ability than a girl her age has any right of having. And… she wants to be Sucy's friend, plain and simple.
The more she thought about it, the more interesting Akko became. She just cannot believe what she has encountered. Atsuko "Akko" Kagari, is a person you can only meet once in a lifetime; strong and tough enough to be the perfect toy, too dumb and happy-go-lucky to be completely humiliated and driven away. This is an opportunity Sucy will not pass up. If the price to keep her around for personal use was to be her 'friend', then so be it.
"...Sucy."
"-Huh?" Akko pauses.
"... My name is Sucy. Sucy Mambavaran," she introduces formally and holds out her hand.
"... You're going to give me snakes again?" Akko asks innocently.
"No. Not this time," Sucy shakes her head, showing her rare moment of genuine goodwill. "You win, I will be your friend."
Almost instantaneously, a bright, happy smile splits Akko's face. She rushes in to grab Sucy's outstretched hand. "Finally! Nice to meet you at last, Sucy!" She shakes it like there is no tomorrow, "you are my very first friend at Luna Nova! I can't believe this! Our time together is going to be so thrilling and exciting!"
Sucy retracts her aching hand. This girl is way too strong for her own good. She will need to refrain from making physical contact with her in the future.
To be honest, her new friendship with Akko is not an entirely selfless one. Technically speaking, she befriend her to get herself a personal Court Jester made of steel. What a nice finding for a natural born trickster like herself. She is now free to do experiments and pranks that are normally too lethal for the average witch. Sucy just can't wait.
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A blonde haired girl with glasses dressed in a Luna Nova uniform struggles with multiple packs, each of them too heavy for her to handle.
Obviously Lotte Jansson is not a physically strong person. Her jolly dad is, but she is definitely not. She is more of a book person to be honest. So to her, being forced to carry a dozen different items to her boarding school is a daunting task she struggles to complete.
Dropping another package, the Finnish girl collapses to her knees and pants heavily. "Mom and Janne sent me too many souvenirs!"
She now regrets not asking her family to mail these directly to the school beforehand. At this rate she is going to be late. Luna Nova is a strict school, and any students that fail to attend the entrance ceremony will be expelled automatically. Her family has sacrificed a lot to get her here and she doesn't want to waste her chance by being late...
"Do you need help?!" A voice suddenly calls out. An Asian girl comes running to her, and starts picking up her fallen objects.
"Ah, thank you very much!" Lotte uses her broom to help herself up. "I couldn't carry all of these by myself, I am glad you came to help me!"
"No problem! How can I be the next Shiny Chariot and standby doing nothing while someone needs help?" The girl exclaims proudly as her companion walks up to her.
A very gloomy person, Lotte thought.
"Shiny Chariot…?" Lotte ponders, "Oh, I remember her. I'm surprised that someone is still talking about her though. I thought she wasn't so popular these days..."
"Heh heh… Just you wait! Everyone will be talking about the Chariot again when I become her successor!" the brunette states proudly. "Anyway! What is your name? I am Kagari Atsuko, you can call me Akko for short!" she gestures to her gloomy companion. "This here is Sucy, Sucy Mambavaran! My first friend of Luna Nova!"
The girl known as Sucy rolls her eyes. "Hello," she simply greets, attitude indifferent to Lotte's presence.
"Nice to meet you both, my name is Lotte, Lotte Jansson," the blonde girl introduces.
"So, you can't carry all of your stuff right?" Akko asks. "How about I carry them for you instead?"
"You will?" Lotte says.
"She can," Sucy comments, "she's all muscles and no brain."
Akko smirks, "just watch me!" She takes off her backpack tosses all of Lotte's souvenirs into it. "There! I can give them back to you when we get to Luna Nova!" she closes the zipper.
Lotte and Sucy raise an eyebrow. What in the world? Akko's backpack didn't change in shape at all. In fact it doesn't even look full.
"Oh oh! Is this one of those magical backpacks that has extra space?" Lotte says, excited, "I heard those are super expensive and almost impossible to get! You actually have one?!"
"Something like that~" Akko answers, picking up the pack with ease and carrying it again. "Let's go! We are going to be late!" she grabs Lotte's hand and starts moving.
"Wait, wait! Not so fast!" Lotte struggles to keep up to the sudden movement.
Sucy silently follows the girls as they get familiar with each other. Akko's previous ramblings echo throughout the gloomy witch's mind.
"You see, I come from a pretty normal family. They can't use magic and aren't very rich, so it took me a long time to convince them to let me attend Luna Nova! Well... actually, I earned all the money by myself. It was a lot of hard work, but nothing is too much for my dream I would say!"
"She said she is not very rich… And that she worked for her own money..." Sucy thinks to herself. "Like hell some random girl can earn enough for both this school and some fancy fourth-dimensional magic backpack. Does this mean that there is more to her than just Shiny Chariot this, Shiny Chariot that…? Just what kind of job did she have?"
Perhaps her previous evaluation of Akko is not as sound as she would like it to be.
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"So… there are no buses that lead directly to Luna Nova?" Akko asks as she looked up at the ceiling inside a tower with a sign reading "LEYLINE" in front of it. The ceiling glowed an ethereal green, twisting and pulsing as if it were a wormhole that led directly into another reality.
"Of course not, you idiot. What kind of bus would come to a place like this?" Sucy deadpans. "Do you even know what Ley Lines are?"
"They're like lines of magic that exists all over the world that witches can draw magic from, right?" Akko answers.
"That's correct Akko," Lotte nods, "but Ley Lines are more than just that. Since they spread all over the world, witches have been using them to travel far distances since ancient times."
"Oh! So they are like subways for witches?!" Akko exclaims. "So that's how Shiny Chariot exits her show all the time! I thought that was a spell all on its own!" she looks up on the ceiling again, "Eh… How are you supposed to get in from all the way down here?"
"You fly of course," Sucy deadpans as she mounts her bloom, "Tia Freyre." She rises into the air and heads for the portal.
Just as Lotte climbs onto her own broom, she then notices that Akko isn't doing the same. "Ah… You don't have a broom?"
Akko frowns. "... I-I thought they were going to teach me on how to ride one when I start class… I didn't expect that I would need to know that to even get to school… What am I supposed to do?" her face is that of defeat.
"... Okay. Tia Freyre," Lotte levitates, "Here, ride with me. This is my thanks for carrying my souvenirs for me."
Akko stared at the blonde as if she was the second coming of the messiah. She pulls Lotte into a crushing hug. "Oh thank you, thank you! ! !"
"Not so hard! I can't breathe!" Lotte struggles under the inhuman strength of the brunette.
"Are you two done yet?" Sucy asks, impatient.
"Oh- Sorry!" Akko quickly climbs onto Lotte's bloom, "Let's go, Lotte!" The witches begin ascending, eventually reaching Sucy's level.
"Open, O path to the Luna Nova!" Both broom riders chant as the Ley Line consumes them all.
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"So this is the inside of a Ley Line!" Akko excitedly says, looking all over vast green space of flowing magic, "this feels just like the Cognitive World!"
Lotte turns her head to Akko, confused. "Cognitive World? What's that, Akko?"
Realizing what she just said, Akko immediately covers her mouth. "D-Did I say that…? Heh heh…" she waves to Lotte in a reassuring manner, "d-don't mind me. I was just rambling! Just ignore me! Please!"
"O-Okay…" Lotte returned her attention to controlling her broom. Behind her, Akko sighed in relief and begin muttering to herself under her breath like a crazy person.
Flying behind the other girls, Sucy watches them as her eyes narrow. Her suspicions of Akko being more than meets the eye ever growing. For someone who said that she had never ridden on a broom before, this girl sure got the hang of it unnaturally quick; showing no shaky movements nor a word of a fear of heights.
Cognitive World… that term doesn't ring a bell. Just what is she talking about?
Suddenly, as if an earthquake had struck, the entire Ley Line begins to shake violently. The flow of the magical energy becomes chaotic, causing the girls to lose control of their flights.
"I-I've never seen a Ley Line do something like this!" Lotte says, while trying her best to keep things stable.
Struggling with her own flight, Sucy realizes, "wait a minute. I think I know what is going on. Are either of you carrying salt?"
"Salt?!" Akko questions.
"Ley Lines hate salt," Sucy states, "it's trying to send us away!"
"Eh…" Akko reaches into her jacket's packet and pulls out a small sealed jar. "Does this count?"
"What is that?!" Lotte asks.
"Oh, these are Umeboshi, salty plums!" Akko replies, licking her lips, "they're snacks I just can't do without!"
"Please, throw it away!" Lotte pleads, "I can't hold on for much longer-"
Too late. A massive wave of magical energy crashes into Lotte, knocking both her and Akko off the broom. Their bodies slam onto Sucy behind them, dragging her off as well. The group of bodies drift into the flow of magic, being sucked down as if caught in a whirlpool.
As both Sucy and Lotte struggle under the current, they feel their hands being suddenly grabbed and held tight.
"RAKUKAJA!"
The last thing they heard before unconsciousness was the sound of shattering glass as they were ejected from the Ley Line...
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"Hm? What's wrong, Alcor?"
A young witch with dark hair sits at a desk reading a textbook. Professor Ursula Callistis of Luna Nova turns to her crying familiar; a white crow by the name of Alcor. The bird caws repeatedly, beak pointing skyward.
Understanding what her familiar means almost immediately, the young teacher pulls out her wand and activates the projector in her office. Soon, the room blackens and the ceiling is littered with stars and constellations. Narrowing her eyes to focus, she suddenly gasps.
"Someone entered the Arcturus Forest?!"
Quickly rushing out after grabbing her broom, the young teacher left for the forbidden woodlands.
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As Sucy opened her eyes, she was greeted by the sight of a forest only seen in nightmares. The place is dim, dark, and filled with trees shaped like suffering, twisted humans.
"Hey, you're awake! Are you hurt?" Akko's happy face enters her field of vision and greets her.
"I am fine. Don't get so close," Sucy replies annoyed as she stands up.
Akko signs in relief. "I am glad… I thought my body wasn't enough to cushion the fall because you both still got knocked out anyway," she walks over to the still unconscious Lotte, shaking the blonde girl, "please wake up, Lotte!"
Sucy stared at the girl, surprised, "...you protected us?"
"Yeah!" Akko answers, proudly declaring, "a fall like that is nothing with a little defense! You can't break the next Shiny Chariot so easily, if ever!"
Taking a look at her surroundings, Sucy spots a deep human shaped hole just a few feet from where they were currently. She thought those only existed in cartoons. Seriously, just how tough is Akko? Even by Witch standards, which is just slightly more durable than the average human, she has already broken the limit many times over.
After awaking up Lotte, the girls decide to take a look around. They walk around the forest while the blonde girl mourns her broken broom.
"Just where are we? I have never seen this forest before!" Lotte asks fearfully.
"This must be the Arcturus Forest," Sucy responds.
"Arc-" Akko starts.
"-turus Forest?!" You are kidding!" Lotte interrupts as realization kicked in. "Isn't that the forbidden forest?!"
"Yes. The one where students of Luna Nova are banned from entering." Sucy replies, "a forest of old legends- a sacred place protected by magical trees and filled with monsters."
"But I heard this place is difficult even for experienced witches to get out of..." Lotte elaborates uncertainly.
"No way! Then we wouldn't make it in time for the entrance ceremony!" Akko cries worryingly.
"Forget the ceremony," Sucy sighs, "we might be stuck here for the rest of our lives."
Akko frowns as she starts muttering to herself, almost as if she were having an argument with someone. Her actions causing both Lotte and Sucy to look at her with bewilderment.
"Looks like that fall actually did some damage after all," Sucy thought, "now not only is she stupid, she is also crazy- Oh, what's this?" Sucy spots something on the ground, "is that…?"
A massive footprint can be seen near a patch of soft mud. It seemed to belong to some land-based bird, if the said bird is the size a house.
"This must be it," Sucy thought to herself, "the rumored legendary cockatrice that lives in the Arcturus Forest, with feathers that contain a type of poison so special, poison collectors everywhere would gladly pay millions and an arm for it. What luck! Saves me the hassle of coming here myself!"
Thanks to Akko, Sucy now had a golden opportunity to get her hands on that poison. If the brunette was just any normal girl, Sucy would have just trapped her where she is now and used her to bait the cockatrice. But since the girl can pretty much tear her way out of any trap she currently had, Sucy will need to alter her plan a bit. Thankfully, Akko is pretty stupid and easy to fool.
"Hey, Akko," Sucy calls out, "I have a plan."
Akko immediately snaps out of her own muttering, "-yes!?"
"I have a pass code we can use to call for Luna Nova."
"REALLY?!" Both Lotte and Akko responded positively.
"Yes. Repeat after me. Cutiurca Tela Flarra."
"Cuti… urca... Te...la Flarra?"
"Not bad, didn't expect you to mostly get it on the first try," Sucy compliments. "Now say it louder, yell it at the top of your lungs. Make sure the heavens can hear you."
Akko takes a deep breath, "CUTIURCA TELA FLARRA!-"
Immediately, a monstrous roar bellows through the forest as the earth shakes and rumbles. Something huge is coming to their location…!
"Good job Akko. Tia Freyre," Sucy says as she hops on to her broom and flies off. "Keep it distracted, would you?"
"What do you mean-?!" Akko yells just as the trees part ways to reveal a rooster the size of a house with massive eyes, dragon wings, and a green snake for a tail. Upon spotting the girls, it roars at them with primal rage, the sharp teeth inside its beak on full display.
"Long story short, I need you two to keep it busy for me while I collect its feather," Sucy explains, flying toward the monster's backside.
"But don't you care that we're going to be late?!" Akko asks in confusion.
"To be honest, no," Sucy answers. "I originally applied to this school for this thing's feathers alone. I would have come to the Arcturus Forrest myself even if the Ley Line hadn't spat us out here," she explains. "Meeting you was just an added bonus, so thank you for everything. Considering how tough you are, I have faith you will not die on me."
"W-What are we supposed to do, Akko?!" Lotte yells with fear, her legs shaking.
The cockatrice raises its head…
"WATCH OUT!" Akko tackles Lotte away, just in time to avoid sudden death. The peck from the cockatrice caused an explosion of dust; creating a miniature crater as well as blasting the girls back. Thankfully, this also give them an opportunity to escape.
Akko immediately gets back to her feet. She breaks off into a run, pulling Lotte alongside her. "Quick! We need to get away!" She tells Lotte, all while starting to mutter to herself again.
"Don't run so fast…!" Lotte pants, barely keeping up with Akko.
The cockatrice gives chase, its massive body smashing through twisted tree after tree without any signs of hindrance. Sucy follows close behind, ready to pluck her prize.
Suddenly the oversize poultry roars, sending a massive cloud of grey gas at the girls. Quickly helping Lotte dodges the grey cloud, Akko's jaw drops when she watches everything the breath attack touches turn to stone. "Oh, you're kidding me!"
"Just a heads up; the cockatrice's breath has powerful curses that turn things to stone," Sucy comments, still reaching and almost grabbing her feather.
Just then, Lotte loses her grip on Akko's hand and trips on some tree roots. Just in place for a sharp rock to slice through her right thigh, leaving a deep wound. "My leg!"
"Lotte!" Akko returns back by the timid girl's side again. "Come on! Please move!"
"I can't move anymore…" Lotte sobs, tears forming in her eyes.
The cockatrice arches its head back to unleash another blast of petrifaction breath directly at Lotte. Too tired and hurt to move, Lotte closes her eyes as her life flashes before her…
Akko clutches her fist and grinds her teeth as she steels her resolve.
"NO. YOU. DON'T!"
She rushes in front of the injured Lotte, throwing her right palm forward to meet the breath head-on...
The world erupted in blue flame...
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"A cockatrice!" Professor Ursula exclaims, "I need to help them as quickly as possible!" She steers her broom down, ready to rush to the aid of the running girls. But before she can reach them, she watches in disbelief as both girls are consumed by the cloud of ash colored fog.
"No…" she mutters as despair grips her heart, "I wasn't able to…"
So caught up in her sadness Ursula almost missed it, a faint blue glow seeping through the gray cloud of stone curses. Suddenly, a pillar of blue fire bursts outward and tears through the ashen cloud and erupts straight into the sky.
"Do you honestly think…" Akko's voice echoes out, filled with determination. Coated completely in the blue flame, the girl holds her hand outward, blocking the entire stream of stone breath from getting to her new friend with not a single part on her body petrified. She is somehow completely immune to the effect of the breath! "... that some pathetic curses can defeat the next Shiny Chariot?!" She swings her arm to the side and the rest of the grey gas is consumed by the brilliant azure fire.
The cockatrice lets out a cry of utter confusion. Its instincts now screaming at it to run away as quickly as possible.
Sucy, with feather in hand, finds herself unable to close her dropped jaw, her mind still reeling at what she just witnessed. Just what does it take to hurt this girl?
Lotte stared at her new friend with absolute awe. This is like something straight out of a scene of her favorite novel series, the Night Fall! What Akko just did can fit right into one of its more action focused story lines! Like that one time when Edgar-
The irritation on Akko's face is terrifying to say the least. The girl in front of Lotte is completely different from the super happy Shiny Chariot fangirl from just a moment ago.
"I made plans and tried my hardest to not reveal myself! But noooo…! Things always have to go out of their way to ruin me!"
The blue flame surrounding her body gathers around the girl's outstretched hand, coalescing into the shape of a card. The card is a clear light blue, almost as if it is made of glass. Upon closer inspection, one would realize it is a Tarot card of the Fool arcana.
"Persona!"
The card shatters into countless shards as the girl crushes it in her fist. As soon as it does, light and dark energy, and wind erupts around her, eventually combining to form an intimidating figure that looms over Akko.
Terrifying. That is the only way to describe the dark figure. Standing over Akko at twice her height, its form is an archetypical witch with skin as pale as a corpse. Its hairstyle resembles Akko's, but it is much, much messier. A pair of demonic horns goes along with the sharp face it has. The witches hat it dons is so pointy that one might mistake it for the missing hook of some unknown torture device. The witch's cloak it wears is torn and tattered to the point it resembles multiple raven wings. Underneath, it wears white clothing similar to Shiny Chariot's, but the fabric is taunted and soiled. Its legs are thin and goat like and carries a scepter with the head of a satanic goat in its claw like right hand, candles burning on the horns. What seems like white runes of pagan origin are scrawled on a few parts of its outfit. Green and purple markings that vaguely resemble a face harshly form into malicious eyes and grin. Chuckles filled with ill-intentions escape from it, its voice is almost exactly the same as Akko's own, with creepy echos filling the void.
Lotte drops her admiring gaze toward Akko and her expression is replaced by a look of terror. So terrified is she of the new entity, she would've run away from Akko had she been able. To be honest, she would rather face the other monsters in the forest then being near this thing!
Sucy, still in the air, almost dropped the rare feather she is carrying. While her expression had remained neutral, what Akko summoned made her mind go into overdrive with curiosity and excitement. She knew that Akko was definitely hiding something, but this? She had no idea what this was. Her psyche was currently working diligently to smother and execute all the surge of emotions that sprung up to protect her gloomy character from breaking.
Professor Ursula was rendered speechless. She honestly didn't know what this girl summoned. It seemed to be some kind of guardian spirit, but the feeling it emitted was completely different from any spirit that she knew of… But one thing is for certain; that entity is malevolent. She reached for her wand and prepared for the worst…
Just then, vines burst out of the ground, slowly but surely weaving into the shape of a familiar rod...
The cockatrice roars at the humans. The beast still trying to assert its dominance in an act of desperation and defiance. However inside its animal brain, its survival instincts continue to scream at it and insist the figure before it is not something to be trifled with.
With her resolve steeled, Akko glares at her summon. "There! I finally used you! Happy now?!" she shouts, clearly annoyed at the creepy chuckles and a nod she received as an answer.
"Then…!" Akko issues her command by throw her right arm out. "Get rid of that oversize chicken! Eiha!"
The horrifying summon responds without hesitation, raising its scepter faster than the cockatrice can react. The eyes of the satanic goat head flash red. A beam of powerful, dark energy surges toward the oversize poultry and slams into the monster square on the chest. At first, the cockatrice seems to be bracing the energy pushing it, but it wasn't long until it is pushed back. Its massive body is sent crashing through the dense forest like a bulldozer.
Everyone besides Akko drops their jaws in shock. The cockatrice weakly staggers back on to its feet again from amongst the forest debris, an unnaturally black colored bruise forming on it's now featherless chest. The monster immediately takes off into the air; finally getting the message and fleeing for its dear life.
Akko relaxes with a sigh as her summon bursts into loud laughter behind her, "it's not funny! Lotte almost died!"
More laughter follows.
"Fine!" Akko crosses her arms, sulking, "you were right! If I had called you out earlier, maybe things wouldn't have gotten so messy! But it's not like we have other choice!"
Professor Ursula watched on in silence. That dark energy the specter used was definitely curse magic. The power she felt behind it was some of the vilest she had ever encountered in her life. That cockatrice is going to feel that pain for god knows how long. She doesn't know if that injury would even heal if she understands her theory of curses. Whatever this student had summoned is dangerous…
She points her wand forward. She really did not want to do this, but she has a duty to protect the school. Just a quick sleep spell…!
Just as Akko moves to help the shell shocked Lotte, she noticed a green glow emanating from the ground close to her. "Wait, is that…?!" Without a second thought, she runs over to the location and pulls the object out of the ground. In her hand is a staff with seven gems embedded on it, all forming a pattern similar to the Big Dipper, "isn't this… Chariot's magic rod?! Why is it here?"
Professor Ursula gasps, just seeing the familiar casting catalyst as her spell leaves her wand; realization struck her of what this implies and what a horrible mistake she has made. Too late to stop the magic, she shouts at the girl in hopes that she can at least dodge it in time.
Akko looks up upon hearing the professor, but she doesn't need to do anything. Her specter has already moved in to protect her summoner. Without a care, she casually deflected the magic with her cloak. And without warning, the specter retaliates to the teacher's offense in kind by firing a spear of light at her direction
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, ARADIA?!" Akko's eyes widen; clearly too late to do anything.
Professor Ursula immediately conjures a barrier to protect herself. The light spear is surprisingly powerful and her barrier barely holds for a second before simply shattering. The sheer force between the clash of magical energy knocks her wand out of her hand, and while the shield did protect her from impalement, her broom is not so lucky. With nothing keeping her aloft, Ursula is sent plummeting straight toward the ground.
"Oh no!" Akko exclaims in horror. Quickly, she breaks off into a run in the direction of the falling witch, "Persona change! Pixie!" Quickly clutching her right hand, the haunting form of the witch like summon shatters away like glass. Another tarot card appears in her place; the Magician arcana. Quickly, it too shatters to bring forth another summon.
As Professor Ursula falls, she reaches desperately for her wand falling beside her. If she can reach it in time, she should be able to avoid serious injuries…!
Just then, her eyes catch a blue blur dart past her as her fall comes to a sudden halt. Looking up, she sees what saved her. It is a fairy about twelve inches tall, with curly red hair and dressed completely in deep blue. Struggling to pull on her uniform, the tiny creature's tiny wings are flapping intensely to keep her in the air.
She looks down and sees the Japanese girl sigh in relief as she falls to her butt. "Thank goodness Pixie made it…"
"So this girl can summon spirits too? Just what is she...?" The professor thinks to herself as the summon drops her to her feet at an acceptable height.
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"Ow, ow!" Lotte exclaims as Akko checks on her leg wound, "please don't touch, it hurts!
"It doesn't look infected. That's good, Pixie can treat this no problem," Akko reassures, turning to her summon, "can you cast Dia, please?"
The blue fairy nods. She raises her hand and green light begins emitting from it. Lotte's wound hastily knits itself together and disappears, leaving no evidence of it's existence. Not even a scar remains. "How's the leg?"
Lotte stands up and tests out her movements, "it really is healed! I don't think even modern magical hospitals can fix injuries this perfectly and quickly...! Thank you!"
With its job completed, the fairy gives Akko a thumbs up before shattering and fade away from reality.
Sucy lands near Akko, in her arms are even more cockatrice feathers. "First that thing with some insane curse spells, now a fairy with powerful healing magic. So I was right to suspect you to be something more than just some magicless idiot from Japan. You fooled me well."
"You were right though, Sucy. I really don't know any magic… yet. Those are my Personas. They're the ones doing the magic."
"Persona…?" both Lotte and Sucy asks, confused.
"Can you explain to me as well?"
The group turns to see Professor Ursula coming toward the group, after having recovered her broken broom and lost wand.
"That uniform! You are a professor from Luna Nova!" Lotte exclaims, "are you here to save us?"
"Yes I am. My name is Ursula, Ursula Callistis," she explains. "I was checking on the freshmen when I realized that there were some missing numbers…" she looks at Akko's group, "I can't believe you all somehow ended up in the Arcturus Forest. You girls do know this place is forbidden to students, and harsh punishment await for those that enter, right?"
Akko immediately stands straight, bowing her head as low as possible, "I AM SO SORRY! THIS WAS MOSTLY MY FAULT! PLEASE DON'T PUNISH THEM! AND I AM ALSO SORRY THAT MY PERSONA ATTACKED YOU!"
Both Lotte and Sucy were surprised; she is actually trying to take the blame for them?
Professor Ursula sighs. "Since you are all technically not students of Luna Nova yet. I will pretend this didn't happen," she continues, "that is… assuming that you girls do manage to become students in the first place. I think the entrance ceremony is going to begin soon, and the headmistress is definitely not going to be as forgiving as me..."
Lotte checks the time, "she's right! There is only about 3 minutes left! We wouldn't make it even if we had the fastest broom!"
Sucy shrugs, packing in her feathers, "oh well. I already got what I've came for, so it doesn't really matter to me."
Akko's eyes widen. She drops to her knees in defeat, "no… I was so close… All those months of fighting and earning money... was all that for nothing…?"
Professor Ursula raised an eyebrow at the mention of fighting. "What do you mean by that-"
The Japanese girl suddenly gets back to her feet, missing the teacher's words. "No! I wouldn't give up no matter what! How am I supposed to be the next Shiny Chariot if I am stopped by something like distance?!"
The first gem on the shiny rod began to glow.
"The Shiny Rod is responding to her!" Professor Ursula thought in disbelief, "that can only mean…!"
Akko gasps, "Yes! Shiny Chariot must think so too! I mustn't give up!" The brunette begins to swing the rod around, hoping to perform some of her idol's most famous spells, unfortunately, no responses came.
"Say the words."
"Huh?" Akko turns her attention to the teacher.
"I am teaching you a spell that might help," Ursula explains, "repeat after me- Noctu Orfei."
"Noctu... Orfei!"
"Aude."
"Aude!"
"Fraetor!"
"FRAETORRRRR!"
Upon the chant's completion, the shiny rod explodes into green light. Its shape unravels, reforming into that of a majestic bow. Akko's couldn't believe her eyes.
"This is… the Shiny Arc! This is the spell that Shiny Chariot always used when making a grand exit!" the girl yells in utter joy, "I understand now!"
She raises her other hand and the familiar card reappears. Seeing it, everyone near the girl backs off, now knowing what to expect.
"Come forth, Aradia! Get us all to the school!" Akko crushes the card, allowing her summon to manifest once more, this time not carrying her scepter. As soon as the Persona arrives, Akko climbs onto her back.
The Persona reaches for both Lotte and Sucy, gesturing for them to climb aboard.
"Fine…" Sucy sighs, quickly picking up her processions and leaping into the arm. Lotte stares at the Persona fearfully, hesitating.
"There's no time left! Just trust me! Trust us!" Akko persuades.
Lotte swallows her breath and shakily nods. She too grabs the rest of her belongings and climbs on.
Akko points toward the sky, "Sukukaja! We are going!"
A green wave of energy washes over the girls and Persona making them feel lighter and faster. The Persona's torn cloak begin flapping like wings, allowing her to fly. Professor Ursula follows closely behind after casting a quick spell to patch up her broken broom.
In the air, Akko raises her hand and concentrates. Magic condenses in her hand forming a brilliant green arrow. Once it appears, she notches the arrow and draws back the bowstring. Countless times has the brunette re-watched videos of Shiny Chariot cast this dazzling spell, so making a mistake now is not possible. Her idol's words echo in her mind, loud and clear:
"Never forget, a believing heart is your magic..."
"I never once stopped believing…! GO SHINY ARC! Take us to Luna Nova!" Akko bellows as she lets loose the arrow. A flash of green pierces the fabric of reality, tearing an entrance into the Ley Lines of the world. Without wasting any more time, the Persona drives into the magical portal. Following the guidance of its user's unbreakable resolve...
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Inside Luna Nova's auditorium, hundreds of students has already sat down and are waiting for the start of the entrance ceremony. The headmistress, Miranda Holbrooke, begins her speech.
"… This academy, in its long history has given rise to many great witches. Henceforth, you will all devote yourselves to studying magic once again with pride, decorum, and of course modesty." The green hair elderly says.
"Hey… Has anyone seen Ursula?" one of the teachers whispers to one of her colleagues.
This colleague is a serious witch by the name of Anne Finneran. "How could Ursula do this? It is so irresponsible and disrespectful to not show up to such an important moment. I have warned the headmistress many times of the risk of hiring someone so young and inexperienced. That girl continues to disappoint me," she sighs.
"Now then, let us begin the entrance ceremo-"
Just as those words leave the headmistresses' lips, the school's emblem at the center of the stadium begins to glow green. Suddenly, a loud explosion bursts from the emblem, sending most of the students in the front row into panicking screams. A few of the teachers draw their wands immediately, ready to face any possible threat.
They almost drop their wands in fear as the green smoke clears.
"What is that?!"
"Holy crap! It is terrifying!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The sudden appearance of Akko's Persona sends the crowd into an uproar. The absolutely haunting witch like figure protectively looms over her summoner and her newly-made friends.
Chaos broke out soon after. Whenever someone's eyes meet the Persona's faceless grin, an unnatural fear would well up within them. Even the most courageous soul was reduced to sobs in seconds. Soon students left their seats by the dozens and crowded all the exits. All of them are banging on the doors and begging and pleading for a way to leave. Some even fainted!
"Ow…!" Akko rises to her feet. Upon seeing where she was, the brunette threw up her arms and cheered, "YES! WE DID IT! WE MADE IT IN TIME! YAY-"
"Ah… Akko?" Lotte gets up. She pokes the excited girl while adjusting her glasses, "I think your… Persona, is it? Is scaring everyone…"
Taking a good look at her surroundings and the chaos erupting around her, Akko gasps. Turning to her persona with an accusing glare she exclaims, "Aradia, you cast Evil Smile on everyone!? Why?!"
The Persona chuckles, giving a shrug in response.
"That's not the way to protect us! Are we even in any danger?! Now the entire school knows!" Akko screams. "Our plan to stay off the radar is ruined!"
"What a handy ability to have," Sucy adds, a Cheshire grin splitting her face as she watches the terrified students, already making plans for the future, "mind if I borrow your friend sometime, Akko?"
The Persona chuckles once more.
"Augh! FINE! JUST COME BACK! We will talk about this later!" The brunette clutches her right hand and the Persona shatters away.
As her Persona dissipates Akko realizes that her tiny group has been surrounded by teachers, wands ready and pointing right at them. Judging from the looks on their faces, the school staff is not exactly happy.
"I-I can fix this I swear!" Akko protests, another card manifests in her hand, "Pixie can use Patra!"
Meanwhile, Professor Ursula managed to sneak back in unnoticed thanks to the commotion. She watches behind the headmistress' stand as the girls are forced to apologize to the affected teachers and students. She even brings out her other… Persona, the pixie, and offers to fix everyone affected by the unnatural fear.
With all of the commotion, that girl outright forgot to explain to her what those Personas are. At first glance those so-called Personas seem to be some form of summon magic. But after a bit of thought, they are definitely something never before seen in the magical world. If they are indeed summoned magical creatures or magical projections, those Personas should have an aura of magic that witches can detect. Except they didn't. No matter how hard she looked, she couldn't find even a trace of magical aura. Whether or not the other teachers noticed this, she had no clue. But it was clear to her that her colleagues were very impressed with the display. They probably assumed that the girl is some kind of summoner or something. With how rare those kinds of witches are nowadays, the school would garner a lot of much needed attention by taking her on as a student. Most likely only the headmistress and a handful of others managed to see past the potential rise in publicity, and glimpse at the true nature of the girl's summons.
Ignoring the issues with the Personas, the Shiny Rod has also chosen her as its new master. On top of that, this girl is a complete and utter fangirl of Shiny Chariot, to the point of blind worship! This is has to be a sick joke. She guesses she should be happy, considering how few people in the magical world remembered that title, and those that do have nothing but contempt for it...
Perhaps… This girl can succeed what she has failed.
Profile: An important figure in Wiccan and Neo-pagan mythology. Believed to be the daughter of a god of sun and a goddess of night, she is a messiah like figure said to have descended to Earth to liberate her believers from the tyrannical rule of the Roman Catholic Church and the upper classes. In actuality, she is a false goddess, lacking any real power but give her followers false hope.
[]
Pixie (Magician)
Resistance: Electric
Weakness: Fire, Gun, Bless
Skills:Zio, Dia, Patra, Traesto
Profile: Friendly fairies of the forest that tend to hide from humans. They like to play tricks on the Laz people. It is said they are the souls of dead, unbaptized children.
Akko's tiny Persona gestures her hands for the umpteenth time. Comforting light surrounds her fearful patient and snaps her back to reality. The recovered student scans her immediate surroundings, seemingly unable to recall what transpired.
"…That's… the last… one!" Akko pants, using a nearby table to support herself. Sweat rolls down her forehead as she stabilizes her breathing. Her Persona sends her a concerned look before shattering away. "I AM DONE!" she bellows as her eyes begin to grow heavy and her legs struggle to stand tall.
"Good job. That may have been the worst entrance ceremony in this school's history, but at least you took responsibility for the matter and fixed what you caused." Sending the Japanese girl a few more looks of annoyance, Professor Anne Finnelan orders the other teachers to escort the recovered students out of the infirmary, "the headmistress has permitted your continued attendance to this academy, but do not try pushing your luck any further. Are we clear?"
Akko gulps nervously, "Yes, ma'am..."
"Good. I will escort you to your assigned room now. Perhaps tomorrow we can have a discussion about your- Persona is it?- And see where you fit in our curriculum. I, as well as much of our staff, am interested in hearing about the nature of your summons," after a brief pause Professor Finnelan takes a glance at Akko, "you don't look so well though, should I request aid?"
Taking a shaky breath, Akko stands back up and gives the educator another tired smile. "... It's fine, I'll manage... Thanks."
"Alright then, follow me."
As Akko follows the Professor slowly out of the infirmary, she glances at a nearby clock. "Oh man... It took that long?!" She thought.
"128 thou has counted." A voice chuckles wickedly in her mind, "such a tedious task thou art forced to do."
"And whose fault was that!?" Akko tiredly shouts.
Professor Finnelan turned and shot a glare at Akko, "is there a reason for the sudden outburst?"
Akko exhaustingly sighs, "I-I... was just thinking out loud, sorry."
The professor continues on her path and mutters under her breath, "seriously, youth these days..."
"Mental voice, Akko," the voice points out, "remember, my voice is but whispers that others cannot hear. Thou forgets this fact too often."
"Yeah, yeah," Akko thought, annoyed, "but seriously, Aradia. What you did was overkill."
"Wands of aggression were pointed at thee and thine new friends. Be thankful of mine own level headedness," her Persona replies, "the fact they failed to resist such a simple spell however, I find far more concerning. Witches are not as resilient as they were in ages past."
"Duh! They're just normal people! They aren't like us!"
"Thy point still stands. The quality of witches has degraded."
"How are you the Persona closest to my heart again?" Akko sighs.
"Thou hast found the answer to that question already."
"We are here," Professor Finnelan says, interrupting Akko's mental discussion, "this will be your room from now on. Remember to be respectful to your roommates." She opens the dorm room...
… Revealing both Lotte and Sucy relaxing atop their beds in their pajamas. As the three pairs of eyes meet, their minds are filled with nothing but astonishment.
"Be sure to behave and to get along for the next three years." The teacher threatens, "if you don't the school will take very harsh disciplinary measures. I guarantee you all that." she closes the door.
Finally left to their devices, smiles creep their ways onto the girls' faces. "What luck!" Akko exhaustedly mutters out.
"Luck? More like they grouped us up together to keep an eye on us," Sucy deadpans, "But I don't mind. Being roommates with you means easy access for me."
"Yeah!" Lotte says with gratitude, "you saved my life today, Akko! I didn't even get to properly thank you!"
Akko proudly replies back, "no need to thank me, Lotte… As the next Shiny Chariot, it's only natural that I save the helpless..."
With the stress of the day gone and the sight of a warm room with familiar faces, Akko's legs finally give out. Lotte to gasp in shock, quickly rushing to aid the exhausted girl. "W-What's wrong?! Are you okay?!"
"S-Sorry... I'm at my limit... I'm just…really…sleepy..." Akko murmurs, her words quiet and lacking in energy.
"Was it from healing all those students?" Lotte asks. "Just casting spells shouldn't be this tiring, though. Your summon was the one doing all the work, right?"
"... Personas... use energy from me..." Akko answers weakly, allowing Lotte to help her sit down on the bunk bed, "... I've never had to heal so many people... so many times before... I'm completely drained."
"Wait a minute. What Akko just said doesn't make any sense," Sucy lays out in her mind, "witches use magic by drawing magical energy from Ley Lines. Sure, a witch casting a lot of magic will get tired. But the reason she gets tired is because of the activity, not because her spell drains her body's energy."
"So... Your summons, those persona things, cast magic with your own energy?" Sucy asks.
Akko nods.
"That… sounds impossible," Sucy deadpans, "hey, Akko, can you explain it furth-"
Sucy's question is cut short by the sound of rhythmic breathing. The tired girl never even got the chance to change her outfit. She just flopped onto the bed and passed out, face buried in the fluffy, white pillow.
"... They do say stupid people fall sleep faster," Sucy sighs.
"They do?" Lotte asks.
"Hey Lotte," Sucy gestures, "go get Akko's backpack. I want to see what's inside."
"I-Isn't it... rude to touch Akko's stuff without her permission?" Lotte hesitates.
"Now, now. Don't tell me you don't want see what's inside?" Sucy tempts, "don't you want to know more about Akko?"
"W-Well... I do, but…" Lotte answers hesitantly, "…maybe we should wait for her to wake up so she can tell us herself?"
"And what if she doesn't want to tell us?" Sucy tempts once more, "she told us she was a normal girl when she clearly wasn't. If today didn't spiral out of control, we probably would've never even learned about what she can do. What if she has even more skeletons in her closet? Besides, you still need to get your stuff out of there. So what do you say?"
"... O-Okay. I guess," Lotte hesitantly agrees, feeling guilty about the complete disregard of privacy. "But let's help Akko get into bed first. It's the least we can do after what she did for us."
Both girls get up and start undressing the Japanese girl, removing article after article of clothing until they finally remove the coat, revealing something they never would have expected.
Scars littered Akko's skin. Some are faded, most seemingly coming from the general wear and tear of an active life style. But amongst the remnants of small cuts and scrapes, two prominent scars mark her right arm.
"Look at all of these," Sucy examines closer. "I thought she could heal herself?"
"Yeah… she fixed my leg just fine," Lotte wonders.
"Or maybe her... Persona, can't fix scars?" Sucy says as she picks up Akko's right arm, "these ones remind me of botched injections."
"Really?" Realization hits Lotte, "are you suggesting that Akko is on some kind of drugs?"
"Could be. That would explain some of her weird behavior," Sucy grins a bit at the morbidly funny thought of a ragged, disheveled Akko shooting herself up with a cocktail of different chemicals to behave to way she does. "But these scars aren't recent though, they look pretty old."
"I see," Lotte nods as she puts away Akko's clothes. "Just guessing here wouldn't get us anywhere. We can ask her tomorrow if she is willing to tell us."
As Lotte gets Akko under the covers, Sucy eagerly unzips the backpack and begins sifting through its contents. It didn't take long for her to recover all of Lotte's souvenirs, which the Finnish girl happily accepted back. After that, Sucy began her exploration into the depths of the seemingly bottomless backpack.
Digging through the backpack, Sucy grabs the first thing her hand touches. Pulling it out of the bag reveals the hilt of a sword. With a huff Sucy pull the rest of the blade out of the bag, raveling a claymore ¾ of Akko's height. The moment the blade left the bag, the entirety of its weight bared down on the gloomy witch and she struggled to lift it. Unable to carry it entirely, she drops the weapon by the bedside, burying the tip of the sharpened steel into the floorboards.
"I-Is this real!?" Lotte exclaims shaking.
"Judging by the weight and the gash in the floor..." Sucy rubs her sore arms, "yes."
"W-Why does Akko have something like this in her backpack?!" Lotte asks shakily.
"I have a feeling that this is only the beginning," Sucy looks back into the pack, curiosity glinting in her eyes.
Rummaging through the rest of the bag with the help of magic, the girls find a myriad of different weapons. Daggers, katanas, and whips emerged from the mouth of the bag. Spiked clubs, cutlasses and falchions were added to the pile of ever growing weaponry. Battle axes, shields, rapiers, and Japanese paper fans with razor edges joined the arsenal. And perhaps the most shocking and absurd of them all, guns, actual guns, now littered the floor. The guns alone were enough to arm a small militia. But with the amount and variety of bladed implements at her disposal, Akko looked ready for an all-out war.
"W-Well..." Sucy stammers as even she begins to lose her cool, "who would have thought she liked collecting weapons? I expected Shiny Chariot merchandise or something."
Lotte timidly examines one of the guns, a masterfully crafted revolver that looks like it is ripped straight out of a Western fantasy. She sighs in relief as she checks the chambers. "These guns aren't loaded. Thank goodness... but still..."
They continue rummaging through the pack, seemingly having emptied Akko's entire stockpile of weapons. And now they have seem to stumbled into the girl's stockpile of medical supplies. Bandages, syringes, a myriad of different medicines, sutures, and other miscellaneous medical supplies emerge from the pack. Why Akko has enough medicine to supply a small clinic is beyond them. Investigating the never ending void that Akko calls a backpack further, Sucy finds a bag filled with small rocks. Each stone within is marked with archaic green symbols. Both witches can feel thrums of power emitting from each and every stone.
"Are these... Magic Stones?" Sucy stares in disbelief.
"Magic stones?" Lotte asks, "how did she get her hands on so many of them?"
"Exactly," Sucy growled in annoyance, "these are supposed to be super rare and expensive outside of certain areas."
They continue on, searching for any other insane and extravagant things that may have found their way inside. They found talismans and voodoo dolls, Sucy quickly realizing these are just cheap imitations rather than the ones used by actual witches. They found tons of books written in Japanese, which neither of them could read, and judging by the cover, probably too difficult for the likes of Akko. They found a myriad of precious gems, all of different shapes and sizes, colors and luster. Lotte was at a loss for words when they stumbled upon a ruby the size of her fist. They were also items they couldn't identify, like a red mirror with words scrawled all over its surface. Both girls had no idea what it could possibly be for.
"Enough," Lotte grabs Sucy's outstretched hand, stopping the gloomy witch from pulling anything more from the bag, "if you pull anymore out, our room will run of space!"
"One more, and we'll stop," Sucy replies as she pulls out... a strange looking feather. "This is...!" Sucy begin sniffing it like a mad dog.
"What is it?" Lotte asks, her eyes widen as she realizes what the object is. "Is that feather special?!"
"This is… incredible!" Sucy storms to her desk in a hurry. Quickly prepping her chemistry equipment. The girl begins experimenting on the unknown object.
"What are you doing, Sucy?" Lotte asks.
"..." Sucy did not reply. Completely and utterly burying herself in her work.
Lotte looks at Akko's sleeping form from across the room, muttering 'shiny chariot' repeatedly under her breath. She sighs. "...I'll clean up this mess, I suppose. It'll be bad if any of the teachers see this."
As Lotte began packing Akko's belongings using levitation magic, an idea sparks in her mind. "Oh, I know! Let's try this. This will surely tell me something."
With her ability to draw out the spirits of ancient items, Lotte casts a spell in an attempt to commune with the spirit of Akko's backpack. Holding her wand above the backpack, she began to sing, "la la la la..."
Nothing happens.
Lotte sighs in disappointment, "it's too new it seems. That's unfortunate..."
As she continues putting Akko's things back in where they belong, she would occasionally tries the spell on other objects. But much to her surprise, not a single object she tested had a spirit she could talk to. Not even any of the older looking items.
"That's strange. That backpack I can understand, but why doesn't this ancient looking sword have a spirit?" Lotte scratches her head.
This piqued the Finnish girl's curiosity, but she was far too tired to dwell on the issue. After packing up the last of Akko's belongings, she bids good night to Sucy, who just waves, and goes up to the top bunk of the bed.
The gloomy witch continues to experiment into the night.
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Akko's eyes slowly open as the gentle, elegant melody of a piano, followed by the near angelic singing of a disembodied voice, fills her ears. The soothing aria stirs the girl into consciousness as she take a hazy look at her surroundings. Akko's eyes snap completely open as her mind comes into focus, realizing that she is no longer in her dorm room, but rather standing behind a podium in a large courtroom tinted from top to bottom in a peculiar shade of blue.
"Eh... EHHHHHH?!" Grabbing the edges of the wooden podium before her, the girl cries out in disbelief, "How did I end up in here?!"
The atmosphere of the room, with the color scheme and disembodied music, is alien yet somehow calming. Dead center of the room in front of Akko's podium, fire; the very same flames that accompany her personas when summoned, springs from a bonfire, its blue light illuminating the room in azure hues. Multiple cages of cold steel hang from the ceiling, suspended by long iron chains. Jury stands loom over the girl, their seats void of life. A fair bit behind the fire, seated high on the judge's stand, is the strangest looking man Akko has ever seen.
His appearance is unnerving to say the least. The man is old, thin and lanky, donning a black business suit with a white undershirt and black tie. His head is round and balding, white hair congregating at the back. His wide, bloodshot eyes focus on Akko unmoving and unblinking. His ears are pointed and long, his nose sharp and elongated, and a wide, unchanging grin stretches across his face, reaching from ear to ear.
"Welcome, Accused, to the Velvet Room," the strange man greets in Japanese. "My name is Igor. I am delighted to make your acquaintance."
Akko settles herself and bows. "...Nice to meet you, Igor-san," she politely replies, "my name is Kagari Atsuko. Can you tell me how I ended up here?"
Footsteps echo throughout the room as a small girl enters the room. She appears about twelve, maybe thirteen, her height barely reaching to Akko's chest. Long, platinum hair cascades down the girls back. Her outfit consisted of a blue dress reminiscent with black accents, black long-sleeved gloves, black shoes and white knee high socks. A blue headband with white butterflies and yellow flowers adorns her head. A massive blue tome that is certainly too big for her is tucked underneath her arm; the title reading 'Le Grimoire". The newly arrived girl came face to face with Akko, looking dead at her with brilliant golden eyes filled with authority.
"Do not be alarmed, the you in reality is currently fast asleep," she answers, "you are only experiencing this as a dream."
"Oh right... I fell asleep after using so much energy..." Akko mutters, "but still, where exactly is this… Velvet Room?"
"This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter," Igor answers. "It is a room that only those who are bound by a "contract" may enter..."
"Contract...?"
A blue butterfly appears out of nowhere and lands on the wooden podium, in front of Akko. Closing its glass-like wings, it patiently waits. The girl's eyes widen immediately upon recognition.
"That was the butterfly that saved me and awaked Aradia!" the Japanese girl exclaims. "It was you all along, Igor-san? Thank you so much!" she happily bows.
The young girl beside her shakes her head. "Your gratitude is misguided. Master Igor is not the one that granted you the power of the Wild Card. He and I merely aid those with that power on their journey."
"I see. But still, if you know who granted me this power. Please tell them that I couldn't be more grateful to them. Eh?..." Akko looks at the girl before her, "I don't know your name yet, sorry."
"My name is Lavenza, and like Master Igor, I am also a resident of the Velvet Room. I have been selected as your attendant to assist and guide you along your journey." Lavenza bows back, "it will be a pleasure working with you from now on."
"Yes! Lavenza-chan! I hope so too! I will be in your care!" Akko reaches out her hand. Lavenza, surprised at Akko's actions, hesitantly but happily shakes it.
"Now that the introduction is over," Igor begins, "allow us to discuss the contents of your contract."
"I understand, Master Igor," Lavenza bows. "The Velvet Trial is now in session!"
"Eh...? EHHHHH?!" Akko's jaw drops as Igor pulls out a judge's gavel and brings it down with a mighty crack. The bonfire rages as the sound echoes through the room. "What am I on trial for!?"
"The crime of Witchcraft of course," Lavenza answers.
"But I'm studying to be a witch! I'll be guilty for sure! I thought they ended witch trials centuries ago?!"
"It is not only you that is on trial, but also witchcraft itself," Lavenza elaborates.
Igor pulls some files out and begin reading. "The case of this trial is "whether Witchcraft is detrimental to humanity". However, with the lack of a defense attorney for the Accused, the court has no other choice but to find the defendant guilty-"
"OBJECTION!" Akko interrupts, her face filled with anger. "Did you even ask me!?"
"I see. So the Accused will take up the role of defender herself, is this correct?" Igor asks, looking down on Akko.
"Yes I will! I don't know why you guys are putting magic on trial, but I will do everything in my power to stop it!" Akko declares.
"The court will allow it then," Igor states, "Kagari Atsuko will now be the defender of both herself and the credibility of witchcraft. In the upcoming journey, the new defender shall establish her bonds as credible testimonies." A loud crack echoes throughout the room as Igor swiftly brings down the gavel once more. "The court is adjourned."
Akko's vision begins to blur...
Lavenza waves goodbye at the fading Akko. "I am sure you are confused. But I assure you, everything will become clear soon. Now, return to the waking world. The evidence you seek will come as your journey marches on."
"'Until we meet again…" Igor also waves his farewell.
Darkness fills Akko's consciousness...
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Akko stirs in discomfort as rays of sun beam down upon her from the window, pulling her from slumber. Weird, she remembered falling asleep with her clothes on. Did her new roommates change her?
Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, Akko looks around her new dorm room. She spots Sucy sitting by the desk and working diligently on some test tubes. The gloomy witch dons a plain white dress, seemingly her pajamas. Her uncovered eye is marred with a heavy black bag, evidence of her pulling an all-nighter.
Light snoring from above makes its way to Akko's ears. Lotte perhaps?
The brunette gets up and scans the room. The room appears to be the same as before she fell asleep, but… why are there gashes in some of the floorboards?
"Good morning Sucy!" Akko greets, resting her legs by the bedside. "Didn't expect you to be a morning person, did you slept well?"
Sucy remains on her seat. Silently put down the test tubes and went still. Without warning, the gloomy witch turns to face the Japanese girl, whipping out a handgun and appointing it directly at Akko.
"S-Sucy?!" Akko throws up her hands. "W-Where did you get that gun!?"
"I should be the one asking you," Sucy says, "this was yours to begin with."
Akko takes a good long look at the weapon before recognition sparks in her eyes. She takes a glance to the side and catches her backpack at the corner of her vision. "You went through my backpack!"
"Lotte wanted her souvenirs back and you weren't waking up anytime soon. It was only natural," Sucy answers tiredly. "And imagine our shock when we saw just what kind of stuff was inside your backpack," her visible eye narrows. "I would like a little explanation on how you get those, and this." She shows Akko the object she has been studying on all night.
"Oh that? What about it? That should be junk," Akko answers after looking closer.
"Yeah, like I'm going believe an feather, coated with a kind of poison I have never seen before, is junk," Sucy deadpans.
Akko's expression is confused, "it's not junk?"
"Just tell me where you got this from," Sucy deadpans.
"Alright, let me think…" The memory hits her, "Oh, I remember! I got it from those annoying things. What were they called again... Zhen?
"Zhen-" Sucy suddenly jumps out of her chair, shocked. "As in ZhènNiǎo?!"
"Yeah, I think, what about it? Those are just annoying Shadows. I've fought hundreds of them back when- Oh no." She swiftly covers her mouth.
"What did you mean you fought hundreds of them?!" Sucy asks, lack of sleep and the rising curiosity letting her emotions slip a bit than she personally would've liked, "ZhènNiǎo, a Chinese bird said to only exist in legend. It is said to produce a powerful poison mixed from the viper heads it eats. A poison so legendary that comparing it to that of a cockatrice's would be like comparing diamonds to coal. Poison collectors across the globe consider it nothing more than myth because no one ever found the bird!"
"It is that valuable?!" Akko exclaims. "I had so many parts from them! When I tried to sell them no one would take them. If I had known that I wouldn't have thrown most of them out!"
Sucy just stares at Akko, "You. What."
"Heh heh... I opened another can of worms didn't I...?" Akko laughs awkwardly.
Lotte, woken up by the commotion, puts on her glasses and looks down at them from the top bunk. "... Am I interrupting something?"
"Nothing much, just got Akko to spill the beans. Want to hear about it?"
"Sure, just let me come down first."
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An uncomfortable emotion settles over Akko. The stares both Lotte and Sucy sent her way made her feel like she was on trial. Maybe that's what her strange dream was, a prediction of her future.
"So... Where should I start?" Akko says airily, "there are a lot of things to go over and I don't think we have enough time before classes start."
"Just give us a summary. Let's start with your summons," Sucy asks tiredly. "Last night, you said that using them uses your own energy. Witches and magical creatures draw magic from the Ley Lines or things that store it like the Sorcerer's Stone. So what you said, about your summons drawing energy from within you, just doesn't make any sense."
Akko raises an eyebrow, "that's how magic works? I really thought it would work like how my Personas do..."
"You wish. If we could use our own reserves then we wouldn't need to pull battery in our wand," Sucy rolls her eye.
"Huh, I guess Aradia was right then..." Akko blinks.
"Aradia is that scary witch right…?" Lotte asks. "She can talk?"
"Yeah. You don't remember? I argued with her a lot yesterday, Lotte," Akko raises an eyebrow.
"But I didn't hear anything aside from chuckling..."
Akko frowns. "Only I can hear my own Persona speak. A Persona is the manifestation of my ego. They're masks I wear to protect myself against the world," she puts her hands on her chest. "At least, that was how Aradia explained it to me when I first summoned her, anyway."
"That... doesn't make any sense," Sucy deadpans.
"Hehe. I personally still don't quite get it either, if it makes you feel better," Akko laughs. "To put it simply I guess, they are things I can summon from my heart. They can cast spells and perform magic even though I can't yet. They use my own power rather than magic from the Ley Lines. Although being near a Ley Line allows me to bring them out much easier. "
"Alright, we'll take that explanation for now, even though it didn't make any sense," Sucy sighs. "How do you get a Persona then?"
Akko flinched and began to rub her arm. Her question must have hit a sore topic if Akko's reaction was anything to go by. "I-I don't like talking about it. Let's just say something bad happened and I summoned Aradia out of desperation."
"How bad was it that you don't want to talk about it...?" Lotte asks with worry. "Does it have something to do with your scars?"
"... Yeah. If I hadn't awoken Aradia back then I wouldn't even be here, let alone meet the two of you. S-so can we just change the subject? I really don't want to talk about it!" Akko grimaces. Whatever happened, she clearly didn't want anyone to know, so the girls decided to drop it.
"Fine," Sucy nods. "What about your backpack and all the things in it?" Her eyes narrow, "Is it related to this 'cognitive world' thing you were blabbering on yesterday?"
"Cognitive… as in peoples' minds?" Lotte ponders, "how is that a… world? I've heard of complex spells that let witches link their mind with others, but physically entering it? Is that even possible?"
"I don't think I should explain further," Akko sighs. "The Cognitive World is a very dangerous place. I wouldn't want either of you getting hurt. Besides, people without a Persona can't enter it anyway."
Sucy closes her eyes, evaluating Akko's words. "So you're saying that there is a place that not even the magical world knows about and only you can enter? Where you can get all kinds of stuff for free?"
"Well... I wouldn't say free but yeah pretty much, if you discount the danger that is."
"Take me there."
"Eh?!" Akko exclaims, "but I just said...!"
"We wouldn't know unless we try." Sucy points out.
"Why do you want to come so badly though?" Akko asks.
"Why else, I am a poison collector," the gloomy witch maliciously grins, "I will go anywhere and do anything if there are new poisons to collect. Being able to get my hands on a supply of ZhènNiǎo's poison will boost my reputation amongst the other collectors. Hehehe..!" Her chuckles sent chills down Akko's spine, recalling yesterday.
"I also want to come…" Lotte whispers, raising her hand timidly.
"Lotte! You too?! Why?!"
"Think about it," Lotte explains, "a bunch of students running headfirst into the unknown and having thrilling adventures, with teachers and students none the wiser about what's happening. It's just like a novel." Lotte proclaims with stars in her eyes, "i-it sounds like fun, actually."
"Lotte… is it just me or are you are actually weird inside?" Akko remarks, shocked.
Sucy grins as Lotte clasps both of her hands together, staring expectantly at the brunette. Akko sighs in defeat almost immediately. "Fine! I'll think about it next time I go back to the Cognitive World! I can't guarantee anything though!"
"Fine by me," Sucy nods.
"Me too," Lotte smiles. "Oh, Akko. I have another question. May I?"
"Sure."
"Since you already have your Personas, why did you even bother attending Luna Nova in the first place?" Lotte asks, "you have a power that the magical world hasn't even heard of. You want to be the next Shiny Chariot right? Isn't your Persona enough? "
Akko remains silent for a moment.
"... I don't want to rely entirely on my Personas. Shiny Chariot doesn't have this power, or at least I don't think she does. If she did then she hasn't used it in any of her shows. She went to this school and became a witch legitimately, so I want to do the same."
Hearing that made Sucy and Lotte look at Akko in a whole new light.
"Beside! If I tried to perform with Aradia she'd just scare away everyone! How can I be the new Chariot if my audience all runs away crying?! That and the fact that Persona magic has one tiny problem."
"There is?" Lotte asks.
Akko frowns. "So far all the Persona magic I've seen, aside from the healing ones, are offensive. Its only recently I managed to achieve anything close to a performance with Aradia that isn't a safety hazard."
"I see. Thank you for telling us, Akko." Lotte turns to look at the clock. "I think we should prepare for class. We wouldn't want to be late after all."
Akko nods as she goes off to search for her uniform.
Her talk with both Lotte and Sucy made her feel like she had truly managed to befriend and connect with them. Perhaps something more will come from this...?
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Carrying a dozen heavy textbooks, Professor Ursula is walking down a hall with Professor Anne Finneran.
"That was unsightly of you. Almost falling asleep while the Headmistress was talking. How disgraceful," the strict teacher complains.
"...I am sorry. I was researching something and didn't get much sleep..." The young teacher apologizes.
"Hmm," Finnelan frowns, "anyway, about your request. You want to mentor the new student, Kagari Atsuko?"
"Yes," Ursula answers her superior. "I am quite interested in her summons. I would like to study them while also mentoring her in my free time. Most teachers are probably too busy to pay attention to her specifically, so I figured I could be the one to do it."
"How considerate of you. But what makes you think that she needs a tutor?" Finneran asks her. "If she already possesses the ability to summon such incredible spirits, through a method I have never seen before mind you, I doubt she would need a tutor."
Ursula's eyes narrow behind her glasses. "I see, she still hasn't realized the nature of that girl's summons yet."
"Well...! Miss Kagari is the school's first student from Japan after all! From a non-magical family no less! I just thought that I could help her get used to the new environment."
"I still don't understand why her profile even has that written. That girl clearly has an aptitude for magic so why did she say otherwise when she applied?" the strict woman wonders. "Still, I personally think you would be better off spending your free time improving your skills as a teacher," she frowns disapprovingly, "you are inexperienced and lack the discipline and dignity a teacher of this school should possess."
"... Thank you for your advice, but I'm sure I can manage doing both," Ursula hiding her annoyance behind a mask of bashfulness.
Her train of thought was shattered when she bumped into a goblin janitor and is sent tumbling forward. Dozens of heavy books are sent flying into the air, all of which Professor Ursula rushes desperately to catch before they all hit the ground.
"Catch her! Slime!"
The sound of shattering glass fills the hall as something wet and slippery breaks the bespectacled educator's fall.
"Professor Ursula! Are you alright?!" The brunette shouts, running to help the fallen woman.
"I-I am fine, Miss Kagari! Thank you," Ursula replies as she climbs to her feet. Glancing down to see what broke her fall, Professor Ursula is met with a mass of green ooze, reminiscent of sludge and grime. The pile of goo begins to move, three holes forming on its surface, creating a face like pattern with red eyes. The creature groans and gurgles before shattering away.
Several students pass them by during the display, equal parts amazed and disgusted by the freshman's summon.
"Hehe. Sorry about Slime. It is a bit gross, but it is the only Persona I have that is, um, soft enough." Akko apologizes as she helps pick up the teacher's scattered books, "You should be more careful!"
Ursula eyes the girl. "Perfect timing," she thought.
"Professor Finnelan, since Miss Kagari is here, do you mind allowing me to talk with her for a bit?"
"V-Very well," The strict teacher says, snapping out of her stupor. "Just remember to meet myself and the Headmistress at Jennifer's Memorial Tree with the research I asked for."
"I understand."
Professor Finneran walks off, leaving Akko and the young teacher. "Do you have a minute Miss Kagari-"
"Atsuko is my given name, but you can call me Akko. Professor Ursula," the Japanese girl corrects. "I don't mind if you got it wrong though, we just met yesterday after all."
"-Akko," The teacher begins, "I want to speak to you quickly in private, do you have some time to spare?"
"Sure," she signals to Sucy and Lotte, "you guys go on ahead. I'll catch up."
"Okay Akko. See you later," Lotte replies as she and Sucy head to class, while Akko and Professor Ursula head off to a secluded hallway.
"So Professor Ursula..." Akko drops her head and bows. "I can't thank you enough for what you did yesterday! If you hadn't helped us, we wouldn't even be here right now!"
The young teacher is a little taken back. "You don't need to thank me really... You are the one who did everything on your own."
"No! If you hadn't told me that spell, I would've never activated Shiny Arc!" Akko replies. "Although... how did you know the incantations to Shiny Chariot's spell?"
Professor Ursula froze, sweat rolling down the back of her neck. "Akko... I-!"
Akko's eyes narrows, "could it be...?" she points a finger at the teacher.
Professor Ursula flinched, expecting the worst-
"ARE YOU ALSO A FAN OF SHINY CHARIOT!?"
"…What?" The teacher asks, astonished.
Akko rushes to grab the teacher's hands and shakes them, her eyes gleaming with pure excitement. "Of course you are! Only a die-hard fan would know the spells written on the limited edition trading cards! Noctu Orfei Aude Fraetor: those were the exact words written on the collector's edition of the Shiny Arc card! How could I have forgotten that yesterday!? I would have chanted it right away!"
"They made limited editions of those things?!"
"Yes! You don't know? I've got all but one of them!"
Backed into a corner by the beaming girl, Professor slowly replies, "yes... Akko. I am a Shiny Chariot fan too..." Just play along Ursula...
"Yay!" Akko throws her arms up and cheers. "It must have been an incredible moment when I found the Shiny Rod, right?! I bet your heart's going all doki doki waku waku!"
The young teacher nervously laughs. "Ahaha, yeah..." an awkward silence settles over the two. "A-Anyway! We can talk about our common interest later, Akko! The reason I wanted to speak with you now is because I want to offer to tutor you during my spare time," The young teacher states.
Akko's eyes beams again, "y-you want to tutor me?!"
"Yes. I read that you were born to a non-magic family from Japan. So, I thought you could use some help getting to know some of the basics," the young teacher explains, "if that is alright with you..."
"O-Of course! I'm just surprised that you would go out of your way to help me. Again..."
"I should be the one saying that. You're the one that surprised everyone yesterday," Ursula points out.
"Hehe... I am so sorry. Originally, I was going hide the fact I have Personas. But that plan went out of the window fast..." Akko blushes. "Oh well, there is not much I can do about it now... but on the bright side, I can use everyone to my heart's content!"
Unknown to Akko, the young teacher's eyes narrow behind her reflective glasses.
"What you summoned... a 'Persona', is it?" Ursula begins, "what kind of magic are they? What you did doesn't match any known summoning magic. Most of the teachers are still puzzled over yesterday's event. And what do you mean you were going to hide them originally?"
"Oh man..." Akko frowns, "I just spent most of the morning explaining to Lotte and Sucy too... Now I have to do it all over again."
"Just give me the short answer, maybe?"
"...No. It will take too long. The short version will just make things even more confusing. I'll have to tell you next time, sorry Professor Ursula..." Akko glances away from Ursula's disappointed face.
"...Very well," Ursula nods, "how about we schedule a meeting? Then you can tell me all about them in private. How about we meet tomorrow in the library around six?"
"Yeah! I'll be sure to bring my card collection so you can have a look at them too! See you later, Professor Ursula!" the girl waves her goodbye and leaves for her class.
Ursula sighs. That talk was exhausting, but for some reason, she feels just a bit more cheerful then she was for almost an entire decade.
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When Akko registered for Luna Nova, she somewhat expected the classes would not be as fun as she would've liked. TV had a knack for making things out to be more what they truly were.
"The Luna Alphabet is an old writing system used by ancient witches..."
But god, which ever one that heard her, she never expected learning about magic to be this boring.
"Save me, Aradia," she mentally pleads.
"How interesting. Thou hast never expected the Luna Alphabet to still be in use," the witch Persona chuckles, "what a hassle. The nine hags of old never once admitted it was a flawed system of writing. Even today, their disciples still insist on using it in the name of tradition."
"Is there a way out of this...?" Akko begs.
"Afraid not. All the spells they teach here are written in this worn-out script it seems."
Akko sighs in defeat. She spares a glance both of her friends and spots Lotte diligently taking notes, but clearly uninterested in the topic. Probably she already knew most of this. Sucy on the other hand is out completely cold, burying her face in her arms and gives herself to the cozy embrace of slumber.
"Akko, I have complete faith in you," Aradia comforts with gentle tone, "thine victory over the English language was a fierce battle of trials and tribulation. Now achieve that feat once more with this outdated dialect! This beast honestly cannot be any worse than thy native tongue of the Land of the Raising Sun."
"... I hate it when you use your happy tone. You're just trying to make me do what you want!"
"Remember, what I do, I do for thy benefit. At any rate, have fun with thy note taking."
A cacophony of chuckles ring out in Akko's mind as she begrudgingly grinds her teeth in annoyance. Sighing, she scribbles down everything Professor Finneran says and writes on the blackboard. Whether she understands the context or not, Aradia is right in that she should at least have it on paper.
The rest of the class went by rather swiftly. The occasional question was asked by the Professor and a few people tried to answer, but eventually no one really cared. Can't blame them; why bother when 90% of all the questions asked by the teacher are answered by the same girl? The apparent genius had the whole "ojou-sama" attitude. She had platinum blonde hair with bright yellow highlights that reminded Akko of fresh lettuce. Whenever she answered a question the entire class would clap in amazement and flattery.
"That girl... that hair... where have I seen her before?" Akko briefly thought before returning to her notes.
The next two classes before lunch were just as bland as the first, except with different subjects. Akko had hoped Fundamentals of Magic Pharmaceutics, aka the potion class, with Professor Lukic, the creepy old witch, would be interesting. All she got was the noxious fumes the woman called breath and a lecture of various different potion ingredients. At least Sucy had fun during that class. Magic Numerology was even worse, with it being essentially the subject Akko hated most, math. The only interesting thing she got out of that class is the ojou-sama correcting Professor Badcock.
They might have been the driest, dullest, and most sleep inducing classes she ever had the displeasure of sitting through, but at least she could feel her Knowledge has increased.
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Akko plops down with her lunch at a table, "I actually remembered all of those! But I still can't believe learning magic can get so... boring!" she sighs.
Both Sucy and Lotte look at the ranting Akko completely deadpanned.
"I don't know what you are expecting then," Sucy remarks, "Lotte, pass me the pepper."
"O-okay," Lotte nods and hands Sucy her spice.
"I don't know... more dreams and miracles and shiny things?! I never would've thought I would rather sit through my old math class more than the last class!"
"But that was Magic Numerology… which is math..." Lotte points out.
"I know! And I just wish it wasn't so boring!" Akko bellows, banging her fist against the table, "my old high school teacher at least tried to make us like math!"
"At least you remembered what the teachers talked about, which is far more than I expected out of you." Sucy remarks, "I was sure that you would've fallen asleep right as the lecture started."
"But Sucy... didn't you fall asleep yourself?" Lotte raises an eyebrow.
Akko sighs and rubs her temples, "my Personas kept me awake. They said that learning all of that would help me with my goal."
"Wow, that's a really handy thing to have. Having voices in your head that give you advice." Lotte says, "I kind of wish I had something like that. I am not very good at numerology myself..."
Akko, barely touching her food, whines, "... Shiny Chariot is amazing. I don't think I can comprehend how she can become such a great witch from those boring lessons."
"You do it with hard work, of course," a voice called out from behind the group. The girl with the lettuce hair walks up to Akko's table, with two more girls trailing behind.
"Oh! Ojou-sama!" Akko responses.
The lettuce haired girl raises an eyebrow, "Ojo...u-sama…?"
"Hey! What did you just call Diana?!" The girl's brown haired sidekick says, "don't you know who you're talking to?! This is Diana Cavendish. Cavendish, as in the famous family of witches! Show some respect!"
"Hannah, please!" The bark blue haired one whispers fearfully, tugging on her friend's sleeve as she avoided looking at Akko, "Don't you remember what happened yesterday?! What if she brings out that... thing again?!"
"Don't worry, Barbara! I won't fall for the same trick twice!"
Akko looks at the two fearful sidekicks. "Oh! You were two of the people affected by Aradia yesterday. I think I remember treating you both," Akko frowns as she rubs the back of her head, "Sorry about what happened. Aradia can get a little... trigger happy," she answers apologetically.
Diana clears her throat, "so Kagari-"
"Kagari is my family name," Akko interrupts politely, "my given name is Atsuko, but you can call me Akko."
"Very well. Akko, then." Diana continues, "Akko, for your information, no one in the magical world acknowledges what Shiny Chariot does as magic."
"What did you just say?" Akko's eyes narrow in anger.
"I said no one in the magical world takes Shiny Chariot seriously. Her display of magic is heavily disapproved of by almost everyone," Diana explains, "because what she did was not proper magic, a mere fabrication of the real thing used to entertain the ignorant masses. Real magic is difficult, and often boring to learn."
"... Then the magical world is wrong then," Akko replies unflinchingly, "how can they say that when her shows were so popular all throughout the world?"
"The same way a flashy movie with no plot can still bring in a lot of viewers," Diana answers, "flashy displays with no substance don't hold people's attention for long. Ten years since Shiny Chariot disappeared, and no one even bothered to look for her. You know I am right."
"She got you there Akko," Sucy comments.
"I refuse to believe this!" Akko gets off her chair, "Chariot filled my heart with dreams, and you can even say she saved my life! The magical world is wrong!"
Images of past showings of Chariot's performances flash through Akko's mind. Memories of every showing, down to the last detail, from the time of day to the faces of the audience, she have remembered them all. Looking at Diana's face, one particular memory resurfaced.
"Wait...!" Akko begins walking around Diana, getting uncomfortably closed as she examines her face in detail.
"Hey back off! What are you doing! Haven't you heard of personal space?!" Hannah calls out.
"Uh huh!" Akko claps her hands, and a metaphoric light bulb lights up in her mind, "now I remember! You were at one of the shows during Shiny Chariot's tour through Japan from ten years ago!" she loudly declares.
Everyone else in the cafeteria stops and their sight turned to Diana, eyes wide with shock.
"W-What?!" Diana stutters. "Y-You have the wrong person! I've never been to a Shiny Chariot show, not once! I've never been to Japan, either!"
Akko shakes her head, "no! It has to be you! When I first saw you earlier, I was wondering why your hair reminded me of something! I remembered seeing you at that show from the photos I've been collecting! That hair is unmistakable!"
"It cannot be! You must have the wrong person!" Diana rebutted, her reactions more violent than anyone really expected, "t-that could have been anyone from my family! We all have the same type of hair! You have no evidence of that outrageous claim either!"
"D-Diana...?" Both Hannah and Barbara are stunned, having never seen their friend so nervous before!
"Hehehe... We will see about that!" Akko smirks, "because I have the photos with me right now!" She reaches for the pouch attached to her belt, and pulls out a folder much bigger than the actual pocket, shocking everyone as she flips through the pages, "here! No use denying now!"
The photo she is pointing to is a family shot of a mother and father with their child, but ignoring them the evidence is there. Behind the unnamed family is unmistakably a younger Diana. The honor student's younger self has a satisfied smile on her face as she passes by the photo with her old butler; completely ignorant that she had been caught in the shot.
"Look at the smile you had! I can tell without a shadow of doubt that you enjoyed it!" Akko proudly declares. "So why are you saying such mean things toward Chariot now?!"
The look on Diana's face is one of denial, anger, and shame, while simultaneously trying to suppress said emotions. Her heart stings when she sees her younger self's happy smile, an expression that she almost never wears these days. Hannah and Barbara couldn't believe their eyes and can only glance at their rich friend in disbelief. The entire cafeteria is soon filled with a cacophony of gossip, all about Diana.
"No way! The honorary student is secretly a fan of the Shiny Chariot!"
"Everyone has hobbies, but I never expected Diana's to be this lame!"
"Haha! She goes on and on about how lame that Chariot is but secretly a big fan herself? What a hypocrite! Didn't expect that from a Cavendish!"
"I think I understand what is going on. Oh Diana, there is nothing to be ashamed of!" Akko says as she puts her right arm around the stunned girl's shoulders, her face beaming with joy as she waves around her folder. "It is so rare to meet a fellow Shiny Chariot fan these days! I can't tell you how sad I was when fans just stopped caring. I even know some of them that started to deny liking Shiny Chariot in the first place. Probably a coping mechanism... But you don't need to hide it anymore! Maybe we could form a Shiny Chariot fan club and try reignite everyone's hearts-"
Without a warning, Diana shoves Akko away and runs straight out of the cafeteria, her expression hidden beneath her hair as she swiftly disappears down the hall.
"DIANA!" Barbara immediately chases after her friend.
"Y-You...! We will not forget this!" Hannah weakly threatens. Her words have little meaning. She turns and hurries down the hall.
Akko stands there confused.
"I didn't think you had it in you, Akko. That was amazing," the gloomy witch gives Akko a smirk, followed by Lotte laughing lightly.
"But I was just genuinely happy to meet another fan…" Akko frowns as she shoved her photos back into her pouch, returning to her seat and food, "I don't know why Diana is so embarrassed..."
"It's pride," Sucy says.
Lotte ponders. "Maybe it's because Shiny Chariot is… um… unpopular to most of the magical world. If Diana suddenly revealed that she was a fan, it would give her an association with something disliked by the majority of her peers. That could hurt the image she was trying to keep."
"That's dumb," Akko frowns, "can't even like what you want to like because of what other people think is… I can't even imagine. Must be hell."
Unknown to Akko and her friends, Professor Ursula was listening in on them from the second floor balcony, her face is marred by a frown from both today's tiring research and Diana's words.
However, the frown the quickly shifted to a smile of gratitude. It truly has been a long time since someone defended the name of Shiny Chariot so passionately and somewhat succeeded.
But during that exchange, a lot of things Akko said caught her attention. One particular statement stood out amongst the others.
"That show in Japan...?" Ursula's eyes widen, horror creeping up her back, "no... they both can't possibly be…!"
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Akko's Personas:
Slime (Chariot)
Resistance: Phys
Weakness: Fire, Wind
Skills: Evil Touch, Eiha, Lunge
Profile: A primitive monster with a viscous body. There are various theories as to its origin, but it is still under debate. Said to compulsively collect shiny objects.
I guess it's time to watch little witch academia in order to understand this better. The writing is A+, original persona, BAG OF ENDLESS HOLDING- and that Velvet Room plot like woah
ALSO HOLY DAMN THAT ART WOW WOW WOW
I mean it's basically perf except for Lavenza looking off model, but who cares when you got that Aradia being so unf? Dat plot tho omg
Profile: An important figure in Wiccan and Neo-pagan mythology. Believed to be the daughter of a god of sun and a goddess of night, she is a messiah like figure said to have descended to Earth to liberate her believers from the tyrannical rule of the Roman Catholic Church and the upper classes. In actuality, she is a false goddess, lacking any real power but give her followers false hope.
Artist741's comment:
My first encounter with the false goddess was back in SMT:Nocturne, years ago. I went to look up on her after finishing the game and I know I want to work on a character based on her one day. Thankfully Cous has the same idea and eventually I got to do so in this fanfiction.
Aradia is very interesting in my opinion, but much to my disappointment she barely appears in Western literature (and pagan religion as a whole BTW). Don't know if there is a stigma or something about writing witchcraft but whatever.
The fact that she appears so little in western fictions means it is hard to find reference, and there don't seem to have any ancient illustration on her. Her followers usually describes her as just a naked woman or confuse her form with her mother. So I just create from pure logic...
Well, well. I remember the laugh I had when I give her the golden horns in the sketch and she ultimately end up resembling Aradia Meigdo. I don't even know this character until Cousin pointed out to me! So I just shrugged and made it from an unintentional reference to a proper one.
The dark and edgy outfit is meant to create a contrast between Akko's colorful and loving personality; a black spot in her life if you well... That's all I am going to say.
She has no idea what this was. Her psyche was currently working diligently to smother and executes all the surge of emotions that sprung up to protect her gloomy character from breaking.
I've reread this thing so many god damn times, I have became blind to the many mistakes there. Thank you, my friendly neighbourhood grammar nazi for saving my day.
Diana was a descendant from the House of Cavendish, a long line of aristocrats that was established by one of the Nine Old Witches, Beatrix. Her lineage was so old in fact, it could be traced all the way back to the dawn of the sixth century. It was due to this rich history that her family was highly respected in the magical world.
Naturally, with fame comes expectation, especially when you had such a famous name attached to you since birth.
For most of her life, Diana had been hard at work to make herself as adept at everything magic related as humanly possible. She had mastered multiple ancient languages like Elvish and Draconic, many which haven't been in use for centuries. She had studied ahead and already knew far beyond the curriculum of Luna Nova by heart despite being just a freshman. She had mastered multiple high-tier spells and could cast them with ease, a feat vary few famous witches of old could proclaim.
For most people, doing this much would be the accomplishment of a lifetime, much less at her age. But for Diana's standards, it was just the bare minimum she needed to do to carry the Cavendish name.
However, with the fiasco that was yesterday's entrance ceremony, doubt of her worthiness bubbled to the surface for the first time in many years.
When Diana first saw Aradia, as that girl called it, she searched for an answer amidst her vast knowledge, only to find it lacking. She couldn't understand what that girl had beside her. Was it a type of guardian spirit? A Familiar? Some forbidden demon summoning?
Her conclusion after careful thinking was: none of the above, as she could not feel even a sliver of magic from Aradia like she would any other magical creature. This fact was both intriguing and confusing for Diana. Just what was this girl's summon?
When Aradia smiled at her with her faceless grin it was like getting struck by a tidal wave of pure negativity and malice. Paralyzing fear crept up her back and threaten to consume her very being. Only through biting her lip and sheer willpower did Diana not succumb to the mental assault. Thank goodness that she had studied curses before and had experience in resisting them.
Her friends were not so lucky however. Hannah had been reduced to a crying mess, sobbing intensely as she could barely stand. Barbara fared no better as she tugged on Diana's uniform and pleaded for her to get them out of there and to get as far away from the monstrosity in front of them as possible. Their capacity for reason had been overwhelmed by the wave of intense fear, leaving the normally smug duo in tears.
"Do not worry! I will treat you both immediately!" She said as she tried to restore their senses with healing magic. The Cavendish line is known for many things, but their specialty had always been healing spells. It was only natural for Diana to know dozens of such spells that should easily clear mental afflictions such as this.
Except nothing happened. Both of her friends were still wailing messes in their seats. Diana casted spells one after another, everything she knew about countering curses and psychological attacks, but nothing worked.
For the first time in Diana's life, the knowledge she had worked so hard to master had failed her.
"I-I can fix this, I swear! Pixie can use Patra!"
Diana's disbelief only grew stronger when the root cause of this mess apologized, dismissed the troublesome summon and replaced it with another spirit, this time a pixie dressed in blue. She began commanding it to fix the students under the watchful eyes of the angry teachers. And it worked.
Patra... That spell didn't ring any bells. There were similar sounding words that were components of other spells, but she didn't know of any healing magic that only took one word to cast. Healing magic repairs the human body. It re-knits the flesh and mends the mind, which is a complicated thing. There shouldn't exist a one word incantation unless the caster was a lying hack, yet the pixie's success spoke for itself. Just what made her fairy's spell different, and possibly superior to her family's?
Another thing; how the adults failed to realize that she summoned her spirits without using a wand was beyond Diana. Summoning magic warps space with magic to bring you something, so the skill required for such a complicated spell was astronomical. Take summoning her family's unicorn familiar for example, something even she herself rarely did because of how much concentration and skill it needed. This girl did it by just crushing a card and saying the summon's name, effectively causing all past witches who dedicated their entire lives to perfecting the art of summoning to collectively roll in their graves.
Diana was extremely close to just running up to confront the girl, but with the sheer amount of affected students and teachers surrounding her, she ultimately decided against it to avoid making a scene. She helped Hannah and Barbara lineup for the infirmary, and then spent the rest of the evening checking things in both her own collection of books and in the libraries. All that research just confirmed what she suspected.
That girl's summon was an unknown.
That night, concern arose in Diana's mind. She would need to be careful from now on. If that girl could do magic that she couldn't then there would be problems. What if she manages to get better grades than her? It is a childish worry, but not an impossibility. Even if both of them were equal in marks, she would still lose due to the girl's unique brand of magic.
If this does happen by some miracle, then it could ruin her. It would be a total nightmare if the ranking at the end of the school year put her in second place because that girl managed to impress the teachers more with her unknown summons-
-No! How could she even think such petty thoughts? She quickly suppressed such vile ideas back into the darkest depths of her psyche. The thought she just had was utterly selfish, unfit for someone with the name of Cavendish, the Witches of Affection. She wanted to be the best of the best, but not at the cost of others if they were also working as hard as her. So what if that girl has magic that she has never seen before? She would do what she always did and work her way towards mastering it herself.
Come to think of it, when was the last time she had someone that she could consider a rival? She didn't think she ever had one. She was always on top ever since she steeled her resolve. It was kind of refreshing to be in the unknown for once.
Diana went to bed after, deciding that she would go confront that girl tomorrow and maybe get her to share her strange magic. If there were still things to be learned when it comes to witchcraft, then Diana would make sure she knew it as soon as possible...
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... Diana's confrontation was a complete and utter disaster.
Why must she be so stupid? The goal of the confrontation was to ask about Akko's summons, not have a debate with her and point out why it is silly to believe in Shiny Chariot's "magic". But no, despite having that goal in mind, she ultimately couldn't help herself and did it anyway, a childish mistake that blew up in her face more horribly than she could ever imagine.
Now her personal secret has been revealed to the world, once again, and she looks like an utter hypocrite now. The terrible memories of her humiliation during preschool comes to mind; she can only hope history will not repeat itself once more in Luna Nova...
"Diana! Can you open the door please?!" Hannah knocks hard on the door of their room.
"Come on, Diana! We won't laugh at you! We promise!" Barbara attempts to comfort.
After another five more minutes of knocking, the door finally reopens to reveal her frowning face. Barring the trails of shed tears and slightly swollen eyes, Diana manages to appear like she had gotten her emotions in check.
"So..." Hannah begins, scratching the back of her head, "...you really are a fan of Shiny Chariot?"
Diana takes a deep breath and sighs. "... At this point, there is no use hiding it. That girl has the evidence and if I deny any further, it will just make me look even more hypocritical. I will have to admit this with the pride of a Cavendish."
"Then... all the trash talking and lecturing you did over the years was just an act?" Barbara asks.
"... Yes. Looking back, my actions was really petty wasn't it?" Diana frowns harder. "The very person that has inspired me to take the path of magic, is also the one I ended up constantly criticizing and belittling to make myself feel better… How ironic..."
"Well it's still that no good Chariot's fault!" Hannah points out angrily, "she just up and disappeared, leaving fans like you heartbroken! You have every right to be angry with that fraud!"
"Yeah, Hannah! You said it! Don't beat yourself over it, Diana!" Barbara nods.
"... Thank you, both of you. But it is already too late..." Diana frowns again, "the entire cafeteria heard Akko's outburst. The rumor has already spread. The image I have tried so hard to keep has been soiled..."
"Hell no!" Hannah exclaims. "They're just rumors right?! Nothing a bit of intimidation can't cover up!"
"Heck yeah we can!" Barbara agrees, "Just leave it to us! We will make sure those rumor spreading bottom feeders forget this within the week!"
"Both of you...!"
"In fact, we should go after Kagari!" Hannah points out again, "if we can get our hands on those photos she has...!"
"That's a great idea, Hannah! We can have our revenge on what she did to us!" Barbara nods in agreement, "if we can destroy the evidence then today will just remain a rumor! Just like those morons that said you couldn't do magic back in elementary school!"
Diana frowns once again. It is true that she doesn't want unauthorized photos of her private activities out in unknown hands, but is she really going to sink so low as to threaten Akko with force to get them back?
"I will let you two deal with the rumors then," Diana orders, "but I will go negotiate with Akko to see if I can get her to relinquish the photos."
"Oh c'mon Diana! Why even waste breath talking?!" Hannah asks, "she obviously won't give them back. Just pressure her! You have money, status, and magic!"
"No. I will handle this in a way that will not tarnish my family name," Diana states as she walks past her friends.
"Diana, where are you going?!" Barbara asks.
"Heading for class, what else? The day isn't over yet," she disappears down the hallway.
"Oh crap! We completely forgot!" Hannah and Barbara immediately shuffle off to follow Diana.
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The rest of the day for Diana was annoying to say the least. While the remaining classes were quiet and respectful, the halls were filled with whispers. Hannah and Barbara did their best, and always stayed close to her like guard dogs. They easily intimidated any students that dared to mention Shiny Chariot in their presence.
The one that said the least was surprisingly Akko herself. Whenever Akko saw Diana, she would wave to her in complete honest goodwill, and Diana would in turn ignore her and causes her to frown in disappointment.
That girl's teammates also worried Diana, especially that gloomy girl- Sucy, if Diana recalls. Her occasional wicked smirk towards her group felt almost like a looming threat that she will use her new found knowledge to bring them trouble.
Due to what has transpired today, and the fact she had missed lunch crying, for the first time in Diana's school life she remained mostly quiet. She only raised her hand to answer when she knew for sure that the teacher missed something.
The afternoon bell signaled the end of the classes, and also the time for Diana to act. (After she grabs something to eat, of course.)
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After classes ended, Akko, Sucy, and Lotte had been hanging out at the school's courtyard, enjoying the afternoon.
"Ah! Finally! Classes are over!" Akko rises her arms and stretches her back, "what a boring day... I still can't believe I have to call my magic class this!"
"If it makes you feel better, Akko, all of those were just introductions. We'll be using our wands for real tomorrow," Lotte points out, "the broom flying class is also tomorrow. I'm sure you'll find it much more exciting."
"Really?!" Akko exclaims with glee, "I'll finally learn to ride a broom after ten years! Yay!"
"Doesn't your Persona already fly?" Sucy deadpans.
Akko huffs like a child, "it isn't the same though! I want to fly with my own magic! Don't you know how embarrassing is it to have Aradia carry me around?! I am not a child!"
"Hey Akko," Lotte begins, "I was wondering until now. Is your belt purse also like your backpack?"
"Why yes Lotte, they are the same!" Akko reaches her hand back to unzip the purse attached to her belt. "The backpack is where I carry all my random stuff, while this here is where I put all of my valuables. Like my new Shiny Rod!" The casting catalyst emerges from the tiny bag, which the fangirl immediately marvels over.
Sucy stares down at the rod as well, "Come to think of it, why was it in the Arcturus Forest anyway? Isn't it supposed to be with your idol?"
"... I honestly don't know, Sucy. I've been asking that myself since yesterday..." Akko looks at the rod with a slight frown, "Why isn't this with Shiny Chariot? Just where has she gone...?"
"Akko..." Lotte frowns also.
"Well, wherever she is, I'm just glad I was the one that found it! Maybe she even put it there herself in order to help out her biggest fan!" Akko beams.
"Yeah, no. Keep dreaming," Sucy deadpans again. "I doubt she even knows who you are. You said you only went to one of her live shows, remember?"
"Boo Sucy, you party pooper," Akko huffs.
"I'm just stating facts," Sucy rolls her eyes.
Suddenly Akko snaps her head and stares off in the direction of the courtyard. She then lowers her head again and ponders in thought.
"Akko? What's wrong?" Lotte asks.
"Oh...! Nothing!" Akko frantically replies, "A-Anyway, guys! Mind if we go to the cafeteria? I want to grab a snack!" she shoves the Shiny Rod back into her belt purse and gets up. "C'mon!" she gestures rather unnaturally.
Sucy sends a look at Lotte and the Finnish girl understands the message instantly. Both girls get off their seats on the grass and follow Akko.
When all three are at the entrance of the school building, Akko suddenly clutches her abdomen in pain, her expression that of displeasure. "Oh! Sorry guys! I need to go use the toilet real quick… It might take me a while... so go ahead without me!" She leaves in a hurry... back to the direction where they just walked from.
Lotte and Sucy look at each other with their eyebrows raised.
"... That was some of the worst acting I have ever seen." Sucy deadpans.
"She's not even going towards a bathroom..." a sweat drop rolls down Lotte's forehead, "I suppose we should follow her and see what she's up to?"
There was no need for a verbal answer. Both girls start walking.
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"Aradia, is it near here?" Akko asks, her head cautiously scanning the surrounding area for onlookers. She is currently at a secluded part of the courtyard, behind lots of trees.
"Positive, an entrance exist nearby. How fortunate we found it so quickly," her Persona replies in her mind.
"Me too. I just hope there aren't some ridiculously powerful Shadows inside the cognition of Luna Nova right now."
"Unfortunately Akko, the chance is rather high. It is a school after all, buried emotions are everywhere," Aradia points out.
"I know, but I can still hope, right?" Akko frowns, "hey! There we go!"
Before her is a hollow tree trunk about the size of a car. It looks like it was the foundation of a majestic tree that existed long ago, but now it is merely an oversized stump of wood that refuses to decay.
To any normal person, there is literally nothing at the spot that Akko's eyes are focusing on and the girl would come off as a crazy person. But Akko sees the truth invisible to the average person; a distortion exists in the space inside the opening of the tree trunk, resembling an unstable mirage.
"Eh, a tree trunk? Didn't expect that."
"Witches are beings with a great connection to nature. It makes sense that their cognition would open near dense vegetation," Aradia comments, "this fallen tree also looks like a place of memorial. Thou wonder if there is any connection?"
With a grin, Akko rises her dominant hand. The card of the Fool Arcana descends down onto her palm. "Persona!" The Haunting visage of Aradia manifests. Without wasting any time, she thrusts both of her claws into the unstable space and begins prying it open.
One would think ripping open the fabric of reality itself would be astronomically disastrous, but very anticlimactically, the distortion pealed apart relatively calmly, similar to pulling open one's curtains. The resulting rip in space matched perfectly with the hole of the hollow tree trunk, turning the inside of the stump red and black.
"Yay!" Akko cheers, "let's go, Aradia!"
"Akko...? What is this?!"
Surprised, Akko turns her head to look behind her as Lotte and Sucy are walk up to her, their astonished expressions getting larger by the second.
"Lotte?! Sucy?!" Akko exclaims in confusion, "why did you both follow me?!"
"Your acting was terrible, that's why," Sucy points out.
"A-Akko, please tell me what you opened was a Ley Line...!" Lotte says, her voice shaking.
Akko quickly looks back and forth between the tear space and her friends, her face in utter disbelief. "Wait! Both of you can see this?!"
"Who wouldn't notice a tear in reality...?" Sucy deadpans. "Ah, I see. This is the Cognitive World you talked about earlier, isn't it?"
Aradia gives off a chilling chuckle. "Interesting, thy new friends have borne witness to this distortion. Perhaps they too possess the same potential as thee?"
"... No way! You think so?" Akko gasps.
"Is your Persona saying something?" Lotte asks.
"Ah..." Akko turns to Lotte and Sucy. "Be honest with me. Are you both really seeing this entrance?"
Lotte nods, "Yes Akko. Is it a problem that we can see this...?"
Akko ponders to herself again. "... Remember what I said earlier today, that the Cognitive World can't be entered without a Persona?"
"Yes."
"Hehe... That's because normal people can't see the entrance." Akko mutters, one finger scratching her cheek.
"W-Wha- Are you saying...!" Lotte gasps.
"I get it, since we can see this, you're suggesting that we might have Personas too?" Sucy finishes. "That's interesting."
"Maybe…? I don't know?" Akko shrugs, "but it'd be super amazing if you two can get a Personas though! Because then I won't be the only one in this school anymore!" she cheers.
"So, since we can see the entrance, are you actually going to take us there now?" Sucy asks, a greedy smirk forming on her face, "Also, why did you decide to go ahead in the first place?"
"Well I noticed this entrance earlier, so I thought I'd scout ahead first before maybe bringing you both. I'm not familiar with Luna Nova's space yet," Akko explains, "but since you're both here already, I supposed we could explore this together. Come on, follow me. I'll explain while we're inside."
With that, Akko turns toward the gap of alien space. Causally, she takes a big leap and disappears completely into it. Aradia follows right after, vanishing too into the red and black within the gap.
"I suppose that's our cue," Sucy comments as she walks towards the portal. Lotte hesitates, but quickly steels her nerves to follow.
As the group enters the tear and disappears from reality, a student with the familiar lettuce hair emerges from behind some trees. On her face is an expression of utter astonishment.
"What in the world…?"
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The first thing Lotte realizes when she enters the so-called Cognitive World, is that Akko wasn't kidding. The feeling she felt was almost indistinguishable from that of entering a Ley Line. It would've fooled her if there aren't other sensations in the new environment that set it apart. Namely, the view.
Upon seeing their new surroundings, the timid girl realizes just how wrong this place felt.
The entire sky was dyed pure red. The lack of a sun made the entire area dim and foreboding under the cover of the crimson atmosphere. It is absolutely terrifying to Lotte, and reminds her some of the best scenes of Night Fall's Halloween arcs.
Even more of a shocker is that, they are in an exact copy of Luna Nova! Aside from the color, the buildings, even the courtyard... are all the same, down to the same formation of trees! It feels so familiar to the girls, yet entirely alien.
She takes a glance at Sucy beside her, a mask of neutrality covers her face as the gloomy witch tries to hide the fact that she is on edge. She wonders if she is secretly as unsettled as her, and is just refusing to show it.
"W-Where are we?!"
"Welcome to the Cognitive World!" Akko exclaims walking towards them, her Persona trailing behind her, "or more specifically, the cognitive version of Luna Nova. Pretty spoooooky huh?" she wiggles her fingers to emphasize 'spooky'.
"Cognitive version of... Luna Nova?" Lotte asks, her voice shaky, "what does that mean...?"
Aradia gives out a creepy chuckle. "We are in the realm of human consciousness, child. A world formed from the Cognition of all those perceiving this very school. A place formed from one's true feelings and where everyone's lies are laid bare for all to see."
Akko groans, "that explanation is really wordy... You're going to make me repeat word for word to them, aren't you?"
The Persona nods.
"Fine..." Akko sighs as she diligently repeats what the Persona said to her friends.
"Realm of human consciousness…?" Sucy absorbs in the words, "so you are saying we are essentially in a dream world?"
"This realm exists separately from reality, not as a dream but as its own dimension," Aradia chuckles. "The simplest distinction is that a dream is the realm of the unconscious, while this is as thou said: a realm of those perceiving reality."
"Wait… Where would that put that Velvet Room place then…?" Akko mutters to herself after paraphrasing her Persona.
"Velvet Room… Akko?" Lotte asks.
"Oh nothing! I was just thinking!" the brunette laughs it off.
"... I give up. This is definitely not my place of expertise," Sucy shrugs.
"Same here, Sucy. When I first awakened Aradia, she said the exact things I've just paraphrased, and I didn't understand any of them until much later!" Akko rubs the back of her head, laughing. "C'mon, it's better to experience this world than to talk about it. Trust me when I say you both will pick up all the details from just exploring," she declares, "anyway, remember to stay close to me. There are... things here, and they're super dangerous."
"You talked about 'Shadows' before, I suppose that is what you are referring to...?" Sucy recalls.
Akko simply nods as she heads toward the alternate copy of their school. Both of her friends acknowledge her advice, even though Sucy is slightly irritated from having her personal space invaded. It isn't long until they are out of the trees and into the open replica courtyard.
"...! Aradia, come back!" Akko exclaims as her Persona shatters away in a hurry. She quickly grabs her friends and escapes from view by hiding behind some plant bushes.
"Ow! What happened Akko-" Lotte is about to cry out, but the brunette immediately covers the girl's mouth.
Akko gestures a finger to her lips. "Shhhhhhh...! Sorry! But please be quiet...!" she whispers apologetically. She peeks out of the bush, "...look!"
Lotte and Sucy peek out as well. Their eyes widen with shock when they see what Akko is hiding from. Slithering around by dragging its body with its many useless arms, the creature a few meters away is essentially a pile of liquid darkness. Multiple white masks with empty eye holes cover its surface, each moving around as if they were an entirely separate face. Grunting and gurgles of raw hunger accompany it when it moves, adding to its creepiness.
All three girls lower back down into the safety of their bush.
"W-What is that?!" Lotte whispers/shouts, "I have never seen any spirit or magical creature like it!"
"I have seen scarier monstrosities to be honest," Sucy comments, "but that still makes the top five. Just what is that?" She sends a look at Akko, "let me guess, this is a 'Shadow' isn't it?"
"Yep! You're a sharp one, Sucy!" Akko smiles.
"Calling a creature made of darkness... A Shadow. How original," Sucy humors.
"Hey, I didn't name them. It's more of a name of their... species, I guess?"
"W-What are we supposed to do now? It's so close to us!" Lotte says worried.
"Well, it doesn't have a red aura, so it's safe to say it's a weakling..." a smile appears on Akko's face. Her right arm reaches into her belt purse, and to her friend's shock, pulls out a metal baseball bat. "Wait here, I will take care this. Be back in a jiffy!"
"What are you doing Akko-" Lotte asks before the girl flickered and disappeared. The girl just vanished, leaving Lotte and Sucy shocked, awed, and very confused. One moment she was sitting beside them, the next she has shot herself out of cover as a blur and is descending on the Shadow creature with her weapon.
"Reveal yourself!"
The bat smashed onto the monster, causing it to cry in pain. Akko immediately backs off from the creature, doing multiple back flips before landing gracefully on her feet as she poses a battle stand.
The smashed Shadow jerks violently, its shape destabilizing before it outright explodes. The black goo it produces reforms into two entirely new shapes. Stepping out of the liquid darkness are two horse-like creatures. Their fur is black as night but their manes are snow white. On top of their heads are green beautiful goat-like horns that shine as if they are made of emeralds. They neigh angrily at Akko.
Akko's shoulders quickly drop in disappointment. "Really, Bicorns? I was expecting something different since we're in England..."
"Bicorns...!?" Lotte gasps in surprised. "How...?"
The magical creatures(?) neigh at their attacker once more. "You have some nerve attacking us!"
"And they talk!" Lotte continues, "Wait, Bicorn can talk?!"
"None that I know of," Sucy adds.
"Yeah yeah... Not scary..." Akko's disappointed expression shows she is neither intimidated nor interested in the creatures. The Magician Arcana appears on her right hand palm. "Take care of this quick, Pixie. Zio."
The card shatters and the cute fairy appears amongst the blue fire. She waves her finger and conjures a jolt of electricity toward the Bicorns. The lightning struck the one on the left and obliterated the beast in a flash. The creature dissipates into black particles upon annihilation, evaporating into the red atmosphere.
"YOU! DIE!" The other Bicorn roars and breaks off into a charge, intending to tackle the girl head on. Its attack is short-lived however, as Akko offhandedly bitch-slaps the beast away with her bat. The magical creature(?) doesn't even get to hit the ground before it is also destroyed by Pixie's electricity.
"Just like those in Japan… At least they're simple to defeat," Akko sighs as her summon shatters away.
"Akko!" Lotte and Sucy rushes out of the cover. The Finnish girl's face is in horror and astonishment as she confronts her friend. "D-Did you kill them!?"
"Yeah. What of it? They're just Shadows." Akko shrugs.
"Well, I hope you're happy. Bicorns are considered an endangered species, and there is a massive fine for anyone caught hunting them," Sucy deadpans.
"Lucky for us those weren't real Bicorns then, am I right?" Akko smirks.
"What do you mean by that? How are they not real...?" Lotte asks confused.
Scratching the back of her head, Akko crushes another card and Aradia returns once more. The creepy witch chuckles at both girls, almost as if mocking them. "Children are so naive these days. So kind-hearted as to pity the vile darkness of humanity."
"What Aradia is saying is, I should've explained what Shadows were first," Akko frowns as she paraphrases.
"Alright, we are all ears," Sucy crosses her arms.
Aradia cracks a chuckle.
"You guys remember how I told you about the Cognitive World right? How this is a world formed from the collective subconscious of everyone perceiving Luna Nova? In layman's terms, a dimension made from their feelings?"
Lotte and Sucy nod.
Another chilling chuckle.
"Well, what do you think would happen to their bad feelings then? In a space where feelings can become real?" Akko points out, "we call those... Shadows."
"I get you, so 'Shadows' are essentially monsters created from people's negative emotions?" Sucy formulates. "Makes sense in a world inside people's minds, I suppose."
"Similar things are not unheard of before in the magical world. Things like vengeful spirits are also formed from negative emotions like grudges," Lotte points out, "but this is the first time I've heard of 'Shadows'."
"But why Bicorns?" Sucy ponders.
"Oh, it's not just Bicorns. Shadows can appear in many, many forms. I once fought an Angel of all things, wings and everything. She even told me to go pray to god," Akko recalls, "I don't know the exact rules, but Aradia said that they're simply cognitive versions of the real things that exist in myth and legend."
"Ah, that's why you claim to have fought many ZhènNiǎos before," Sucy understands.
"But... do you have to kill them though?" Lotte mutters.
"Lotte, if I don't those Shadows will murder me in cold blood," Akko answers. "I've been surrounded a few times in the past and it was terrible! I almost died a few times! So I don't have any remorse for them."
"... I'm sorry. That was insensitive of me." Lotte apologizes.
"It's okay. If it makes you feel better, the Shadows I defeat will actually come back after a while," Akko stats, "I once killed a Shadow ten times in a row, to the point it started to recognize me and ran from me on sight! That was crazy!"
Lotte and Sucy stopped and really processed that statement; they didn't expect such cruelty from Akko.
"Another reason to destroy Shadows by the way..." Akko turns to the spot where the Bicorns died. "You get sweet loot!"
On the floor sat two very familiar green horns, and lying beside the monster parts are two £5 bank notes- Wait what?!
"Yay, they do drop British money! Now I don't have to go exchange my yen!" Akko happily cheers as she collects the items.
"Why is there money?!" Lotte says shocked. "Is it real?!"
"Yep! Want to touch it?" Akko hands the bills to Lotte. The girl checks the money in detail, and her glasses slip off a few inches when she realizes it is in fact real.
"How...?" Sucy is shocked.
"No idea." Akko shrugs as her Persona chuckles, "Aradia said it has something to do with how money is the cause of a lot of people's negative emotions. It honestly doesn't make much sense, but it's free money so I just roll with it."
"Are you sure they're safe? What if they're counterfeits?" Sucy asks again.
"I went to check with a bank before with the money I got from Japan's Cognitive World, and they said it's as real as it can get." Akko shrugs once more, "it's a mystery of the Cognitive World I have no answer for."
"I see, that's what you were referring to with 'all those months of fighting and earning money'?" Sucy asks.
"Yep! I spent an entire year fighting in the Cognitive World to earn money for Luna Nova's tuition," Akko sighs. "That was... not fun. But anything's worth it to achieve my dream!"
"An entire year of fighting with your life on the line?! That's… crazy!" Lotte exclaims. "I can't even… How did you do it for so long without going insane, Akko?!"
Akko waves off the statement. "Oh, it's nothing Lotte. As long as I have my believing heart, there is nothing to worry about!"
"Believing heart…?" Sucy raises an eyebrow.
"Yes! As Shiny Chariot would say: A believing heart is my magic!" Akko does a cheerful spin and then spread out her arms with a smile. "As long as I believe, I can do anything in here!"
"I think Lotte is onto something here… you might want to get your brain checked." Sucy deadpans.
Akko drops her arms and frowns. "I'm serious, Sucy! Having a believing heart in here is incredibly important!" She huffs, "I'll show you both eventually!"
"Alright then." Sucy shrugs.
"Anyway, do you want these, Sucy?" Akko hands the Filipino the Bicorn horns. "Now that I know these have other uses other than selling, maybe you can use these in your potions?"
The gloomy girl brings the horns to her nose, taking her time to analyze the scent. Her eyes widen when she realizes the quality of them. "... No wonder they banned Bicorn hunting. This stuff is good. Hehehe..." The grin on her face when she realizes there is a bright future set for her cauldron.
"This place, this Cognitive World, is crazy. It's literally filled with riches and things that only exist in peoples' dreams. Akko could've made herself the wealthiest person in the world by now if she was any smarter." Sucy thought to herself as she secretly grins. "Bicorn horns, ZhènNiǎo feathers… Heheh… I wonder what else I can find in this world."
Akko stores her spoils of battle into her belt purse. "Alright. Let's head toward the cognitive version of our dorm," she rests her baseball bat on her shoulder as Aradia shatters away. "Remember still, stay close to me."
"Why our dorm though, Akko?" Lotte asks as they begin walking.
"Well, I definitely want to get this place mapped out, but obviously there is no way we can achieve this tonight," Akko ponders, "... we can, if we skip dinner, but that would be a bad idea. So I figure we'll just explore the dorm, since I'm familiar with the real one already. Should be quick!"
"If you are familiar to the real one, what's the point of knowing the layout of a replica?" Sucy asks.
"I need to make sure! Sometimes the copy is not exact and can have extra hall ways, extra rooms... things like that. I don't want to get lost while hunting!" Akko replies. "I also need to set up a home there before we go."
"Home? Don't tell me you want to live here Akko?!" Lotte says astonished.
"No, not that kind of home! I'll show you both when I set it up. I guarantee it will blow your minds!" the Japanese girl cheers.
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The three enter the identical copy of their dorm building; with everything the same save for the color tones, which is now a bizarre mix of yellow. Lotte didn't realize how much more creepy the hallways could get with this color palette, especially when the windows are dyed bright crimson due to this world's sky.
They move in and begin their survey. So far most of the layout is the same as the real world's, even down to the decorations and furniture. About halfway though they encountered new hostiles, and quickly, Akko drags her friends to the corner of the halls. All three peek out to see two Shadows patrolling the hallway; unlike the one from before, these ones are more humanoid and are actually walking on legs, their shapes resembling young teenage girls.
"Why do they look different from the ones outside?" Sucy asks.
"Don't worry, it's always like that," Akko replies plainly, "Aradia told me that the forms of Shadows are influenced by the cognitive world they live in. They're people's negative emotions after all."
"So, do we just deal with them the same way as you've been doing?" Sucy deadpans.
"Yep." Akko readies her bat. "It'll be quick, wait here."
Once the Shadow isn't facing her, Akko rushes in for a surprise attack. Moving as swiftly as before, she zips on to the back of the Shadow and smacks it with her bat, alerting the other one at the end of the hallway. Causing it to rush in to help confront Akko with its injured ally.
Akko backflips away as both burst into goo. The darkness reforms into two women with green skin and hair. They don orange dresses, seemingly old English maid uniforms. They don't have visible legs and are floating in midair with the end of their dress brushing the floor.
"How could you attack fair maidens like us?! You must pay with your life!" The Shadows cry in irritation.
"Oh, Silkys. Yay..." Disappointment plasters all over Akko's face. "C'mon. Let's make this quick."
"How dare you mock us!" The Shadows- now angered Silkys- raise their hands as freezing cold air begins condensing before them...
"Take them out, Berith.Maragi."
A new card appears in Akko's hand; the Hierophant arcana. She crushes it, revealing a new Persona. The new summon is massive and towers over Akko twice over, barely even fitting in the hallways. It is a knight in blue full body armor, riding on a majestic red horse. With a quick wave of his golden trident, a wave of fire burst forth to consume the Silkys.
"Ahhhhhhh...!" the female Shadows wail in pain as the fire claims them, dissipating away just like the Bicorns from earlier.
"Still the same even in England," Akko stretches her back, bored. Her knight Persona shatters away just as Sucy and Lotte comes up to her.
"You called them Silkys, Akko?" Lotte ponders before she realizes the meaning of the name, "I think I've heard of them from my grandma once. Silkys are these really nice spirits that come into your house to help you clean," she explains. "I can't believe these Shadow monsters would take the form of such kind spirits…"
"They're just cognitive versions of the real thing, Lotte. They might have the looks, but they usually don't act the same way," Akko shrugs.
Sucy walks over to the spot where the Silkys had perished and found two discarded maid kerchief that formerly belonged to the Shadows alongside some money. "That's unfortunate, they didn't leave anything I can use," she grumbles and hands the reward to Akko.
"Don't worry, I have use for these," Akko nods and stores them in her belt packet.
"By the way, Akko, I've been wondering," Sucy asks, "just now many Personas do you have?"
"I have six," Akko counts her fingers. "Aradia, Pixie, Slime, Berith, Mandrake, and Silky. That's the max my heart can house it seems."
Sucy does a double take, "... did you just say Silky? As in the ones you've just killed?"
"Yeah!" Another card appears in Akko's hand, this time of the Priestess Arcana. Crushing it in her hand brings forth the exact creature she had just fought. The green skinned maid greets her summoner's friends with a polite bow.
"You see, if I can convince a Shadow enough, I can actually make it into a Persona I can use! Pretty neat, huh?" Akko smiles.
"So you can actually talk the Shadow into not fighting? Why didn't you do that earlier then, Akko?" Lotte asks.
Akko shrugs. "I could, but its soooo hard! I almost always have to beat them up until they're limping and begging for their lives before they're willing to talk! Some would even fight me to the death rather than answer my greetings, or trick me so they can sneak an attack in! Unfortunately, it's just safer, faster, and more rewarding to defeat them."
"I see, Sucy grins, "so your Personas are just Shadows that you've beaten and made into your slaves. Got it."
"What? N-No, it's not like that!" Akko frantically defends herself from such a cruel accusation. "It's more like… um... Pokémon! Yeah!"
"Pokémon…? I can see the comparison," Sucy shrugs, "but I wasn't criticizing you though. It's pretty normal for witches to go out and hunt for a familiar if they want one. What you're doing isn't that different."
"Huh…" Akko eyes her friend. "Do you have a familiar, Sucy?"
"Don't remind me..." Sucy deadpans, dropping the question and leaving her friends wondering.
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Hanging out before the cognitive version of the trio's room, is the biggest Shadow so far. It resembles the shape of an adult woman. The masks covering it are shaped differently and colored purple. A blazing red aura flows from its body like fire.
"Didn't you say something about red auras earlier?" Sucy asks. "This is a tough one, isn't it?"
"... I can even feel it from here. Is this… what pure malice feels like?" Lotte stutters, her legs wobbling.
"Oh man… I shouldn't have complained so much about things being boring, huh?" Akko sighs.
"Yes," Sucy crosses her arms. "Anyway, why is there a Shadow this strong right in front of our door anyway? Does your Persona know?"
Suddenly, the gloomy witch is interrupted as whispers echo through the hallways like creepy background music. Lotte almost screamed in fright. Thankfully Akko was fast enough to cover her mouth before the massive Shadow was alerted.
"That girl from Japan, she is definitely trouble!"
"That thing she had… it's scary…!"
"How could she make me into such an embarrassment? Now I'll surely be a laughing stock…!"
"Oh man, that thing she summoned looks so cool! I am so jealous!"
"She must be some kind of demon summoner… The school needs to kick her out before she sacrifices us all for even more monsters!"
"... Are these voices from the students of the school?" Lotte asks as she takes Akko's hand off her mouth. "These are rumors about Akko?"
Akko hammers her fist into her palm in response. "Ah! Now I remember! I've seen it happen before! Whenever there are nasty rumors flowing around, you can actually hear them in the Cognitive World. During times like this, you can find strong Shadows!"
"So… You're saying this big one is entirely your fault then?" Sucy deadpans.
"Well… Aradia's fault. I wasn't the one who went trigger happy and cast Evil Smile on the whole assembly hall," Akko huffs, "but anyway, let's wait for it to look away. If I can get the drop on it, I should be able to beat it with ease."
The trio wait behind their cover diligently. Unfortunately, the Shadow continues to stand its ground. Not a single opportunity arose after ten straight minutes of waiting.
Sucy picks her ears while yawning heavily. "These whispers are grating on my nerves…" her eyes are watery and her lids begin to droop. "and… my coffee is wearing off too. Is that thing moving or not?"
"It's guarding our room for some reason..." Lotte points out. "Maybe we should just retreat, Akko… Do you really have to defeat it today?"
"Yes, I want to get in our room and get everything done today..." Akko taps her foot in annoyance. "Argh, to heck with this! If it won't turn around then I'll just go fight it directly! Aradia and I can handle this!"
"Wait-" Sucy and Lotte's eyes widen, but their fingers are too slow to grab Akko before she zips out of cover.
Like several times before, the brunette smashes her bat into the massive Shadow and backflips away as the monstrosity inside manifests to engage her. A beautiful, skinny woman steps out of the liquid darkness. She is entirely naked, but there's nothing to be embarrassed about since her body is doll like, lacking any genitalia. Her skin is dark purple and her hair reaches down to her shoulders is plant like, as if they are roots of some sort. Her back is covered entirely with tree bark and twigs resembling scales.
"Oooh… You're new," Akko says, her eyes narrowing both in interest and surprise. "What are you?"
"You!" the Shadow smirks maliciously. "You are the reason I was called forth! I am Skogsra, and the souls of this place wish for your death!" The plant woman declares as her eyes flash red with power.
Underneath Akko's feet, a pool of dark magic manifests and explodes upward, consuming the girl in an eruption of curses.
"AKKO!" Lotte exclaims.
The blonde's worry is alleviated as the girl bursts out of the pillar of dark energy without a scratch on her. In her hand is the Fool Arcana once more.
"Aradia! Kouha!" the card shatters and the witch immediately fires a spear of light at the plant woman. The spell struck home on the chest, pushing her back. However, instead of piercing the Shadow now dubbed Skogsra, the spell only bruised her.
Akko backflips away to give herself a little more distance. "Uh oh! I guessed wrong! Persona change...!" Aradia shatters away and is replaced by the Hierophant card…
"Not so fast now!" the Shadow interrupts and reaches out her hand. "Come to me… my lovely…!"
Too busy switching her Persona, Akko is engulfed by a bright pink aura. Rose tinted magic feels gentle… comfortable… and loving… As the pink aura dissipates, Akko's raised hand drops to the side and the Hierophant card vanishes.
"Akko? AKKO?!"
The brunette ignores her shouting friends. A heavy blush dusts her face and her eyes are narrowed. She drunkenly wobbles toward Skogsra, who has her arms spread wide as if she is inviting her in.
"Yes… come into my embrace…!" The Shadow whispers lovingly with a malicious grin.
Just mere seconds before she could draw Akko into her arms, a few dozen ropes are tossed through the air and drape over the Shadow's body, surprising her.
"That's enough," interrupts Sucy's annoyed voice, "Juras Halas Halas."
Upon the spell's activation, the ropes harden and contract to bind the Shadow. Skogsra yells in surprise and is swiftly forced down to her knees. The Shadow struggles, but her physical strength is not enough to break free as each rope is now as tough as solid wood. "Damn witches!"
Using this opportunity, Sucy and Lotte run out from their cover. The gloomy witch tosses down a potion, creating a massive smokescreen as it explodes on the floor. Using smoke as cover, both girls drag the infatuated Akko a safe distance away.
"Akko! Akko?! Please answer me!" Lotte grabs the brunette's uniform collars and begins shaking. Much to her dismay, Akko's only response are drunken chuckles.
"That magic has affected her mind," Sucy points out, "we need to snap her out of it." She gestures Lotte to move aside as she grabs the collar of Akko's uniform, "let me try something, this usually works on stuff like this."
"What are you going to-?" Lotte's face twists into a wince when her answer arrives in the form of a heavy slap to Akko's face. Sucy's hand moves as fast she is physically capable, smacking the girl's cheeks over and over again.
"Ow! OW! Stop, stop! I'm up! I'm up!" Light returns to Akko's eyes after the sixteenth slap. She caught Sucy's wrist before the seventeenth connected. Immediately breaking off from the gloomy witch, she rubs her slightly reddened cheeks in pain. "How could you, Sucy! That HURT!"
Sucy shakes her own sore hand, which is now more swollen then Akko's cheeks. "Says the one with skin this thick. Now go deal with that before she kills us all!"
Just in time too. The smokescreen hiding them has dissipated, giving the Shadow a clear sight of the three girls. Skogsra's eyes glow red once more, forming a pool of curse energy directly underneath their feet. "DIE! ALL OF YOU!"
With her superior speed, Akko swiftly grabs Sucy and Lotte's hands and drags them away before the spell consumed the three of them. As soon as she is a safe enough distance away, the brunette releases her friends and calls forth the Hierophant card. "This time for real, Berith! Maragi!" she throws the tarot card at the Shadow as a projectile before following up with a crushing gesture with her hand.
The card shatters on the space above the bound Shadow, and the massive knight atop a mighty stallion comes down on Skogsra at full force, crushing the poor plant woman underneath the steed's powerful hooves. Judging from the resulting sound, it has to be really painful if not outright gruesome. As if that wasn't already enough, Berith's trident then ignites as he drives it down, setting everything beneath his steed ablaze.
"AHHHHHHHHHH…! ! !" Skogsra screams in agony, unable to escape due to the crushing weight and the binds. Sucy's ropes just end up adding fuel to the blazing inferno. The fire burns until the Shadow goes quiet and dissipates into black particles.
"Thanks, Berith..." Akko sighs in relief as her Persona shatters away once more. All three girls drop to their butts, their backs now resting against each other.
"... Tell me, how did you survive in this place for so long?" Sucy asks with doubt.
"Ahaha… The truth is I usually don't engage a fight like this unless I absolutely have to." Akko frowns as a painful memory resurfaces. "The last Shadow with a red aura gave me so much injuries I had to stay at home for two straight days..."
"I hope this is the last thing we're fighting..." Lotte confesses, hyperventilating even though she didn't really participate in the battle. "I don't think I can take much more today…"
"Then let's calm ourselves first." Akko suggests. Another card manifests in her hand; this time the Death Arcana. "Mandrake,Energy Drop."
The card shatters between her clutched fingers and brings forth a tiny being about the size of an eight year old. It has a feminine pink body with roots for limbs. She shakes the massive flower on top of her head, causing green light to envelope the girls. Their exhaustion evaporates and frayed nerves settle as the green light revitalizes them with renewed energy and calmness.
"That's a mandrake…?" Sucy raises an eyebrow as the adorable Persona shatters away.
"Yeah, is there a problem?" Akko asks.
"Real mandrakes don't look like that," Sucy answers.
"Really?"
"Yes. Maybe I'll show you a real one someday," Sucy smirks wickedly.
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After much hassle, the three girls finally enter the cognitive version of their dorm room. The room, just like the entire Cognitive World so far, is just a monochrome copy of the real thing. Not a thing about the room stands out to the trio.
"So, here we are," Sucy deadpans, "now what?"
Akko grins, "can you both give me some space?"
Lotte and Sucy do as they are told and back off, allowing Akko to stand in the center of the room. Once the girl is in position, she places her hands on her chest and closes her eyes in concentration. Blue light that always accompanies her Persona began emitting from her body, although she wasn't calling out a card.
"I believe… THIS PLACE IS MY HOME!"
Soon after, the mono-colored copy of their dorm room begins to change. Colors bleed out from underneath Akko's feet and seep into everything, from the walls and floor, to the beds and window. Eventually, the room becomes truly identical to the real thing.
Akko opens her eyes, takes a look, and cheers. "Yes! Success!"
"W-What did you do, Akko?" Lotte asks, astonished.
"I replaced the cognition of this room with my own," Akko explains, "that's why I said having a believing heart in this place is important!"
"What does… replacing the cognition do though?" Sucy asks, raising an eyebrow.
"... I can't demonstrate it right now, we don't have the time," Akko sticks out her tongue playfully, "you'll just have to see tomorrow, but I promise it will blow your mind!"
Sucy rolls her eyes, "so I suppose this is the part where we go back to the real world?"
"Pretty much."
"Akko, please don't tell me we have to walk all the way back to the entrance…?" Lotte frowns, already dreading the idea, "Right now, I don't think I've got it in me to do that again…"
"Don't worry, I got this covered," Akko grins and gestures to herself, "can both of you hold onto me?"
Lotte and Sucy give her a puzzled look, but at this point they know to trust Akko. They do what they are told and lock arms with her.
The Magician card manifests in her hand. "Pixie, Traesto."
The blue fairy appears as the card is crushed. The tiny being points up and concentrates as a white light engulfs everyone.
"Wha-" Lotte and Sucy reopen their eyes as their vision returns. Astonishment fills their minds when they realize they are now outside again, right next to the rip that leads back to the real Luna Nova.
"So you can teleport now?" Sucy deadpans.
"Only to the entrance of any Cognitive World," Akko replies, "trust me, you don't know how important this spell is… It has saved me more times than I can count..." she says as she heads for the exit. "C'mon, let's go back to reality. I think dinner's starting soon and I am STARVING!"
Both Lotte and Sucy nod in agreement. Even with the boost from the Energy Drop, nothing will ever beat having a proper meal and rest to truly refresh the body. Eagerly, they follow Akko as soon as she leaps into the tree trunk.
The distorting feeling washes over them again, and then, their eyes no longer see pure red, but instead the orange of the setting sun.
Everything seemed fine and dandy… Until they realized that they landed face to face with Diana, wand at the ready, aimed at them and the tree trunk.
"Explain yourselves," the honor's student tiredly demands.
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Akko's Personas:
Berith (Hierophant)
Null:Gun
Resistance: Fire
Weakness: Ice
Skills: Double Fang, Rakukaja, Maragi
Profile: One of the 72 demons of the Goetia. Known as the Duke of Hell, he rides a gigantic horse and burns those without manners.
[]
Silky (Priestess)
Resistance: Ice
Weakness: Fire, Electric
Skills: Bufu, Dia, Dormina
Profile: A fairy of England and Scotland. She carries out household chores while everyone sleeps and is a welcome spirit. It is said you can hear her silk skirt rustle as she works.
[]
Mandrake (Death)
Resistance: Psy
Weakness: Fire, Bless
Skills: Tarunda, Energy Drop, Psi
Profile: A magical plant whose roots look like a human. They are valued for their healing properties in potions, but the screams they let out when pulled from the ground will kill anyone who hears them.
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Enemy Shadows:
Bicorn (Moon)
Resistance: Curse
Weakness: Electric
Skills: Eiha, Lunge
Profile: An Evil Creature that looks like a horse with two curving horns. It is said to be the opposite of a Chichevache.
Profile: Beautiful wood faeries of Swedish folklore. They are said to resemble beautiful women from the front, but their backs are covered in bark. They are known to blow on huntsmen's rifles to bless them, as well as protect campfires while travelers sleep. They yearn for the company of a man, but those who see their backs flee in terror.
She is not. Skogsra is a SMT demon that had first appeared in Devil Summoner: Soul Hacker. And had since appeared in Strange Journey and SMT4. She was mostly a Wind elemental, but I made her Curse here. But she will no sell Gun in some way as always
She will probably never appear in the Persona games, if she will than never with a 3D model. She's simply too nude to use in 3D. She's one of Artist741's favorite, that's why she's here now.
"D-Diana?!" Akko exclaims. "What are you doing here?!"
The ace student huffs as she stares down the trio with suspicion. "Originally I wanted to speak with you privately, Akko. While looking for you, I caught the sight of you sneaking into the woods," she says as her eyes narrow. "So naturally, I followed you, and..."
Akko rubs the back of her head. "I think I can guess the rest. You saw, didn't you?"
Diana nods. "Indeed. I saw your call out your summon. I saw it do something to the fallen memorial tree... And I saw you all just leap into the trunk and vanish into thin air."
"Oh?" Sucy eyes the surrounding area. The place all around the tree trunk it's littered with spell-books. "You were trying to figure out how we disappeared, weren't you?"
"I just don't understand," Diana sighs as she collects her books. "I originally thought that you had somehow opened a Ley line and left the campus without permission. But the lack of even a trace of magic proves otherwise..."
"So you can't see it, Diana?" Akko questions, "the entrance that I made?"
"See what? What are you talking about?" Diana asks curiously, "all I can see is empty space."
Sucy smirks wickedly. With a taunting shrug, she replies in a sarcastic tone, "Diana. Are you saying that you, a Cavendich, are unable to see something so obvious? I guess you aren't all that special after all."
"What do you mean by that!? Again, what are you referring to?!" Diana asks, her anger rising.
"That's something you don't need to know," Sucy replies mockingly. With a shrug she continues, "telling you would just be a waste of time anyway. It's not like you can do anything with that knowledge," as she walks passed Diana she beckons the other two to follow. "Come on, Akko, Lotte. Dinner is waiting."
"Hold it!" Diana interrupts. "While I cannot force you to divulge how you left, you all have still violated school policy and left campus without permission. As a student of Luna Nova, I cannot turn a blind eye to such blatant disregard for the rules."
"Eh?!" Lotte finches back in fear.
Sucy suddenly turns, her uncovered eye staring daggers at Diana, the hardness of her gaze surprising the honors student.
"Try it," Sucy threatens. "You already said you can't find even a trace of magic. You can't even prove that we went anywhere. Try it. I dare you."
Diana meets Sucy's glare with one of her own. "My word alone is more than enough to convince-"
"Oh, you're going to play that game," Sucy says, a wide smirk stretching across her face, "then I wonder what people would think if Akko's photos managed to find their way onto the internet. That outburst in the cafeteria could just blow over given time, but with photographic evidence…"
"Y-You wouldn't dare!" Diana exclaims as she flinches back.
"You're the one that started it," Sucy looks back unflinchingly. "You hit low, I will hit lower. Is getting us in detention really worth the world knowing about your dirty little secret?" Sucy taunts with a chuckle.
Realizing the tension in the air, Akko quickly steps in to interrupt, "hey, hey! Everyone just calm down alright?!"
"...Akko," Diana quickly responses. "H-How about we make a deal? I will pretend what happened here never occurred, but in exchange you give me every photo of that Shiny Chariot performance that I had appeared in."
"Eh?!" Akko finches back. "Oh… I get it! You are trying erase those precious memories aren't you?" the brunette exclaims in shock. "I don't get it. Why are you so embarrassed of other people knowing that you're a fan, Diana?!"
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!"
Akko takes a step back, "D-Diana…?"
"Of course I am a fan of the Shiny Chariot! Her performance was the whole reason for my love of magic!" she responds, a tear streaming down her face. "But I can't… I have an image to uphold and expectations to meet. I just can't let something so childish ruin my reputation. I have already been made a laughing stock once!" she glares back at Akko. "I can't afford to have it happen again!"
Akko, stunned by the sudden outburst, just blankly stares back at the British girl.
Diana's gaze softens as she glances at Akko, a pleading look in her eyes. "If it's just Luna Nova I can keep it from reaching the public. Please… just give me the photos. Maybe I can buy them from you? How about I offer you free tutoring-"
"No," Akko declines, her voice toned with worry, "you are letting your negativity consume you, Diana! You need to calm down, let loose a little! It's dangerous to-"
"Oh, that's too bad," Sucy taunts, "looks like you won't be getting those photos."
With that, Diana clenches her teeth and gives the trio one last glare before storming off with her books. Her expression hidden by her hair.
"Diana no! Wait! Come back! I am not done-"
"Don't brother Akko," Sucy stops the brunette, "insufferably smug people like her need to be taught a lesson every once in awhile," she says as she walks off. "Let's go to dinner."
Lotte walks up to Akko. "I get where she is coming from, I really do, but I think Diana is over reacting. I don't think people knowing would hurt her reputation as much as she thinks it would," she frowns. "I just hope Diana won't come to hate us…"
"Me too. She said her love of magic came from Chariot too, right?" Akko smiles. "In a way she's like me. Maybe if I had bumped into her during that show all those years ago, we could've been friends by now?"
"Who knows?" Lotte nods. "But that probably would've been the start of a beautiful friendship."
As Akko and Lotte follow Sucy back to their dorm, she ponders about a creeping suspicion in the back of her mind.
"Aradia. Please don't tell me-"
"Keep thine eyes on her and Cognitive Luna Nova," the Persona groans in annoyance, "that child had too much negativity and repressed emotions for her own good. Knowing our luck, Thou have no doubt that trouble is brewing..."
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After dinner and a trip to the showers, the exhausted trio returned to their room. Within ten minutes, they're in their pajamas. Both Sucy and Lotte flop onto their respective beds, their energy all but spent. Despite their fatigue however, they are somehow unable to fall asleep.
Akko chuckles at the condition of her friends. "You guys are down already~? Both of you are in serious need of a workout!"
"Well, excuse me. I am not the one with a year's worth of combat experience," Sucy replies. "I don't get it... Why am I so exhausted right now? I pull all-nighters all the time and I've never been this tired. Also, how am I not asleep?"
"Me too," Lotte adds, "I feel like I just helped my dad chop an entire forest down... We didn't do much in the Cognitive World right?"
Akko mutters to herself and nods.
"Aradia just said that it's probably because your bodies aren't used to the Cognitive World yet," the brunette paraphrases her inner voice. "I was like that in the beginning too. At first I could only stay in the Cognitive World for a few hours or so before I had to leave," she says as she scratches her cheek. "And… I think that Energy Drop might be what's keeping you awake… oops?"
"That's just great," Sucy grumbles. "I really want to examine the piece of bark that Skogsra thing dropped. I'll have to wait for tomorrow I suppose."
Lotte buries her face into her pillow, "thankfully there's no homework yet..."
"Well... since you both are so tired right now..." she unzips her belt pouch. "I'll just have to distract myself," she says as she retrieves some nails from the pouch.
Taking a glance at the brunette, Sucy lazily asks, "what are you doing...?"
"I'm decorating my spot," Akko answers happily. "I didn't get to do it yesterday, so I'm doing it now."
"I was wondering where you keep your collection, considering how much of a fangirl you are," Sucy remarks just as a metaphoric light bulb lights up in her head. "Actually, this is perfect."
"Perfect for what?" Akko raises an eyebrow.
"Tell us every little detail about your collection," Sucy requests. "Listening to someone go on and on about the stuff they like is one of the fastest ways to fall asleep."
Akko frowns. "... Should I be offended?" she than shrugs, "oh well! You asked for it! Maybe by the time I'm done, both of you will be a fan of Shiny Chariot! Behold! MY COLLECTION!"
With the nails, she hangs up a poster on the top of her bunk bed. It is a colorful image of her idol riding her broom, with "Shiny Chariot Magical Festa" printed on it.
"This is the poster that came along with the tickets to the live show!" Akko explains ecstatically, "Trust me when I said you probably can't find another one these days!"
She places a plush doll of a white crow with a cross marking on its chest by her bed side.
"Shiny Chariot had a white crow as a familiar, therefore so do I! Isn't Alcor the cutest?" Akko announces as she shoves the doll in Sucy's face.
"I get it... Please get off from my face," Sucy says as she pushes the doll away, clearly annoyed.
Akko then brings out a beautifully crafted case. The ornate container has gems embedded all over. The platinum and gold metal (probably a cheaper metal with the same color) it's made of gives off a reflective sheen. The brunette quickly brings out a key to open it, revealing a deck of cards, each and every one themed after Shiny Chariot's performance and spells. Plastic covers, the ones used by hardcore card collectors cover them all, protecting them from the elements.
"And these... these are my treasures," Akko takes each card out and delicately rubs her cheek on them. "Getting these was so hard... My parents and I would argue about them. We had to make a payment plan and used five years' worth of my future allowances to buy them. All the chores... all the missed birthday gifts... All the cuts to my lunch money..." a single drop of tear appeared on the corner of her eye. "And in the end, I still don't have them all... If only I acted faster that Christmas night..."
Sucy rolls her eyes. "This is a bit much isn't it...?"
"Sucy...!" Akko dramatically declares, pointing a finger at the gloomy witch. "Of all people, I thought you would understand the most! You went so far as to apply to this school just for that chicken's poison right?! Well, it is the same for me! I would've done anything for another chance to buy the last card!"
Sucy shuts her eyes and mulls over Akko's rebuttal. "Yeah... I guess that's something we have in common? I guess we're both geeks in our own way."
Lotte smiles. "Oh, me too. If it is anything Night Fall related, you can be sure I know it."
"Night Fall, Lotte?" Akko asks while reorganizing her cards, locking them back into the case.
"Night Fall is a series of novels that's a huge hit all over the world! You've never heard of them Akko?!" Let it be known that whether it be heat or cold, rain or shine, that Lotte is always able to talk about Night Fall.
"No..." Akko asks, "it's a huge hit right? What's the story about? Maybe we can read it together if I find it interesting?"
Enthusiastically, Lotte begins, "Night Fall is about a girl named Belle, a high school science teacher, visiting a manor with her fiancée just before their wedding. But... after a strange turn of events, they manage to slip into the past! There she meets a handsome young man named Edgar... But it turns out Edgar is a vampire! And Belle gets dragged into a great feud that changes the course of history!" She finishes. "It is a tale of love, adventure, thrills, conspiracy, friendship, and youth!"
The Finnish girl finishes her speech, stars glistening in her eyes, while both of her friends try to wrap their head around her explanation of the plot.
"I heard of this series. Now that I know the plot, I'm not touching it with a ten-foot pole," Sucy remarks, disregarding the frown on Lotte's face.
"What literary travesty did I just listen to?" Aradia whispers in disbelieve inside Akko's mind. "Just what fiction has modern humanity created these days...? Truly, mankind has the potential to be the greatest of monsters."
Akko scratches her cheek. "Hehe... I will... think about it. Thanks, Lotte, for the summary."
"You're welcome Akko..." the blonde nods. "Volume 365 is coming out soon by the way. There is going to be an event. Maybe we can all go together?"
"Sure! I would definitely like to!" Akko nods and swiftly changes the topic. "Now, back to my decorating!"
Much to everyone's surprise the brunette pulls out something not Shiny Chariot related. She places five different colored figurines onto the work desk, arranging them all in a group pose.
"What? Am I not allowed to have other interests?!" Akko asks, addresses the strange glances she is receiving.
"What are these?" Lotte asks.
"These are figurines of Phoenix Ranger Featherman! A series of live action TV shows that are super popular in Japan!" Akko explains, "I am not surprised that you guys don't know them though. I think they only air in Japan."
"What's the show about?" Lotte asks.
Akko smirks and strikes a dramatic pose.
"In the year 200X, earth is attacked by an alien force from the planet Clarion! To protect earth, the director of the Earth Administer Forces (EAF) developed the Feather Factor! Transforming five of their officers into the guardian of planet Earth... the Phoenix Ranger Featherman!"
She matches her poses to all the figurines on the desk, while name dropping each character.
"Red Ranger- Feather Hawk!"
"Yellow Ranger- Feather Owl!"
"Black Ranger- Feather Falcon!"
"Blue Ranger- Feather Swan!"
"Pink Ranger- Feather Argus!"
"TOGETHER, THEY ARE PHOENIX RANGER FEATHERMAN!"
"Death must not be needlessly feared. But it must not needlessly be desired as well. Face it and fight, Featherman!"
Akko relaxes and smiles at her friends, "pretty cool huh?!"
Sucy sighs and looks away. "Yeah, not touching this one either..."
Akko just smiles at Sucy's reaction while continuing her explanation for Lotte. "Phoenix Ranger Featherman is one of my favorite series from my childhood- especially the V series. That was the best season in my opinion! Out of all the members, I like Feather Argus the most because her bow reminded me of Shiny Arc!" she says as she mimics notching an arrow, "some of way I fight is copied from how they fight in the show too! I can't be more grateful for the influence they had on me!"
"So who else besides Shiny Chariot do you idolize, Akko?" The blonde asks further.
"Well... I like a lot of magical girl anime, especially the PreCures. I also like the Phantom Thieves."
"Hm... I don't think I've heard of them... Can you tell us more about them?"
Akko looks at the Finnish in confusion. "Ok, I can accept that you guys don't know much about anime, but you've had to at least hear about the Phantom Thieves?"
Lotte shakes her head, "I don't think I heard of them."
Sucy shakes her head also, "doesn't ring a bell."
"Alright, let me tell you everything I know about the Phantom Thieves. Their backstory is so cool!" Akko begins explaining, "about two years ago a group of vigilantes appeared in Japan. They called themselves the "Phantom Thieves of Heart". As their name suggest... they steal the heart of the people they target."
She puts on a red baseball cap with the Phantom Thieves logo on it; a gentleman's top hat over a masquerade mask with fire burning out from the left eye.
"They steal hearts?!" Lotte exclaims, "s-so they kill people?!"
"That's metal," Sucy adds smirking.
"Nononono...!" Akko quickly denies. "Not the actual heart! The metaphoric one!"
"Oh... Why do they do it then?" Lotte asks.
"In their words... to change them. Which makes sense because their targets are only ever really, really bad people; like the kind of people the law can't touch," Akko elaborates, "once they steal their heart, the target would turn themselves to the police and confess every crime they have ever committed! It's incredible!"
"... Sounds like powerful mind control magic to me," Sucy responds, "the magical world would've prosecuted the living daylight out of them if they tried it in England."
Akko shrugs. "Of course, a lot of people don't like them. Some people are even terrified of them because one of their targets actually died on live TV. Although one of their members made a post online saying that they didn't kill him. I don't know if it's true or not."
"Huh... So why did you like these Phantom Thieves again? Don't tell me you like alleged murderers," Sucy asks, "I didn't know you had such edgy tastes."
"... I like them because while I don't necessarily agree with their methods. It's a fact that they did a lot of good," Akko smiles, "just go to any forum dedicated to them. They really helped a lot of people by changing people's hearts."
She pulls out her Shiny Rod and points it up, the gems glistening in the light.
"I really like the idea of changing someone's heart; but unlike them, I will do it by becoming the next Shiny Chariot! I will create a performance so wonderful, anyone that sees it would want to fill the world with goodness and joy!"
"Well… good luck with that," Sucy deadpans, closing her tired eyes. Even she didn't have the heart to ridicule a wish so naive and foolish.
"That's… a noble goal?" Lotte whispers, trying her best to phrase it without hurting Akko's feelings.
Akko puts away the Shiny Rod and hangs up her Phantom Thieves hat, a determined smile spread across her face. "I know you guys don't believe me… That's okay. As the second coming of Shiny Chariot, I make sure my dream comes true!"
"Whatever you say…" Sucy rolls her eyes yawning, "... are you done yet?"
"One more… The last thing I am going to show you…" Akko reaches into her pouch, "...is my friend!"
From the bag emerges a strange teddy bear around the size of the Alcor plush. It has large eyes, thin blue fur, and is clothed in something reminiscent of a red jump suit. A zipper wraps around his "neck", hinting that the plush toy can be opened.
"Friend?" Sucy raises an eyebrow.
"He's my friend from the town I lived in," Akko explains. "This doll here is a replica of himself. He made it from his own fur and gave it to me as a good luck charm."
"You lost me," Sucy says, her mind trying to comprehend the information. "So you are trying to tell me that you have a sentient teddy bear for a friend?"
"Well... Technically he's human but it is complicated..." Akko ponders. "You know the bottomless backpack and pouch I have? He's the one that taught me how to make them."
"Really?" Lotte exclaims, "he is also a magic user?"
Akko shakes her head. "Actually no. The items he makes aren't really magical..." she explains, "I didn't explain earlier, but if you craft items in the Cognitive World they can actually gain supernatural properties if your Believing Heart is strong enough!"
"I definitely made the right decision," Sucy says, "you're one in a million, Akko..."
"What is that supposed to mean…?"
"Wait, what time is now...?" Lotte asks. "It's nine..."
"...I actually sat and listened to you talk about your interest for an entire hour..." Sucy frowns, "what's happening to me these days...?"
"Akko... as much as I like talking to you..." Lotte says before yawning, "... I don't think I can stay awake for much longer... Good Night..."
"Well... do you guys want my Persona to help you guys sleep better?" Akko asks.
"...Huh?"
Akko calls forth the Priestess Arcana, and bringing forth Silky.
"Silky has a spell called Dormina, it puts people to sleep," the brunette explains, "sleep induced by Dormina is actually more energizing, and on top of that it literally heals you! Want it?"
"... Are you sure it is safe...?"
"Yeah, I cast it on myself all the time," Akko reassures, "Dormina sleep is amazing! …Unless the Shadows do it to me, than it is not."
"You should've said so earlier… But… sure..."
"Alright, Silky. You know what to do!"
The green maid does as she is ordered. She raises her palm and blew out a cluster of bubbles. Once the bubbles reach the tired girls' faces, they burst, covering the girls in a milky white aura. Within seconds, Lotte and Sucy fall unconscious. A peaceful smile settles across their faces as restful sleep claims them.
"Thanks, Silky!" Akko remarks before yawning herself, "...now it is my turn..."
The Persona nods as she helps her summoner tuck into bed. The Japanese girl holds her beloved Alcor doll closely, her head full of happy thoughts.
"I can't wait for tomorrow...! I'll finally get to do magic and ride a broom...!"
Silky's Dormina makes contact and the Persona user falls into a blissful sleep. Her mind wondering what dream she will get tonight...
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"Welcome to the Velvet Room."
"Oh…" Akko looks around the blue court and then releasing a brief sigh of disappointment. "...Hi, Igor-san, Lavenza-chan..."
"Greetings to you too, Accused," Lavenza responds with a bow. "Master Igor has summoned you here. He wishes to speak with you and offer you some advice for your upcoming journey."
Akko looks at the mysterious residents before nodding, "okay. But can I ask you both some questions as well?"
Lavenza nods, "of course. You are free to do so after Master Igor has spoken."
"So Accused," Igor begins, "do you believe in fortune telling?" With a wave of his hand, a deck of tarot cards appears on his desk. Despite her distance, Akko can see the cards clearly.
"I do, Igor-san," Akko agrees. "Witches do it all the time. I think I have a class on that tomorrow. I can't wait to learn how to do it!"
"Very good." Igor replies. With a wave of his hand, the cards spread out across the desk, seven of which form a hexagonal pattern. "Each reading is done with the same cards, yet the result is always different…" he chuckles. "Life itself follows the same principles, doesn't it?"
"Aradia told me something similar. She said that "the arcana are the means by which all is revealed" Is this true?" Akko asks.
"Ah yes, very true indeed. Now, let us see what your future holds then…" Igor flips the first card, "Ah... The Death, in the reverse position."
"Doesn't that symbolize... Resistance to change...?" Akko wonders. "That's strange? I am very susceptible to change! Why is that the card...?"
Igor flips the second card. "The Hermit, in the upright position."
With that Lavenza speaks up. "Impressive, Accused, your knowledge of the Arcana is surprisingly vast."
With an embarrassed grin, Akko rubs the back of her head. "Thanks, Lavenza-chan! Aradia forced me to memorize them all... I'm glad I did though! That means one less obstacle to deal with in Luna Nova!"
Lavenza shakes her head. "While your knowledge is impressive, I would advise you to stop interrupting Master Igor. Would you please allow him to finish the reading?"
Akko finches back. "Oops! I'm so sorry...!"
After a brief pause Igor continues. "It seems you will encounter some resistance to change, and your journey would be one of self-discovery..."
"Is that... bad?" Akko whispers.
The man chuckles again. "As the residents of the velvet room, it is our duty to assist you so that misfortune does not befall you. In the end however, everything that transpires is dependent on the actions you take, Accused."
"I… I think I understand, Igor-san..." Akko nods, "while I don't know what exactly the future has in store for me, but no matter what it is I'll definitely be ready for it! Thanks for the reading!"
"My pleasure," Igor responds positively, "now, with that out of the way, Lavenza and I will do our best to satisfy your curiosity."
"Yay!" Akko cheers, "so, Igor-san, Lavenza-chan, just what this place? This Velvet room...?"
"As master Igor said during your last visit. This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter," Lavenza answers, "it is a room that only those who are bound by a "contract" may enter."
"A contract, huh…?" Akko wonders, "I don't remember signing anything recently though… Aside from Luna Nova's application form… I guess?"
"The manner in which the contract is established matters little to us," Lavenza states. "What matters is the fact that you are bound to one, and it is our duty to assist you with the best of our ability."
"Thank you guys so much then! I am in your hands!" Akko cheers with a nod. "Anyway, on to another question… Can you both explain to me what the Wild Card really is? I know it lets me use multiple Personas, but I could really use a more detailed explanation… Aradia's wasn't very informative and my friend doesn't know the exact details… I heard his senpai is also a Wild Card."
Igor chuckles. "Compared to that of others the Wild Card it is indeed very special, as it is like the number zero, empty, yet holds infinite potential. As the Wild Card, you are capable of unimaginable growth."
"I can get even stronger?!" Akko exclaims in disbelief.
"The ability of Persona is the power to control one's own heart… And the heart is strengthened through bonds," Igor explains, "as you form bonds by becoming involved with others, your own Social Links will gradually develop. The power of these Social Links is what will determine your Personas' abilities."
"So basically I just need to go make more friends?!" Akko beams, "already working on it~!"
"Is that so? Then I look forward to see where your journey will take you..." Igor chuckles once again.
Suddenly, Akko's vision starts to go blurry. As a sudden wave of drowsiness washes over the girl, she grabs the sides of her podium in an attempt to stabilize herself and barely maintaining consciousness, "b-but I still… have so much… I want to ask…!"
"Our time is coming to an end it seems. It cannot be helped," responds Lavenza as she waves her goodbye. "The next time you come, we will discuss the services we will be offering."
With a wave of his own, Igor bids Akko his own goodbye. "Until then… farewell."
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The next day begins smoothly with the first class being Magic Astrology. Much to Akko's delight, Professor Ursula is the instructor for the course. While she hasn't actually attended one of Professor Ursula's lessons yet, she's been hoping so ever desperately that the class would be a river of interest in a desert of boredom.
So excited for class that day, she even arrived earlier than the rest of her classmates, taking Lotte and Sucy with her. Waiting for class to begin, the trio sat in their assigned seats, helping themselves to some freshly baked bread from the cafeteria.
"Cafeteria's bread tastes so much better fresh out of the oven," Lotte remarks, swallowing the last piece of her plain breakfast. "It's all thanks to you, Akko. That was one of the best nights of rest I've ever had! I feel like I can reread the first 100 volumes of Night Fall at lightning speed!"
"No problem, Lotte! With this, maybe we can get Sucy to be less gloomy!" Akko cheers.
"Not happening," the gloomy witch beside her grumbles, but with how glossy her skin looked and how her eyes lacked any trace of dark bags, she don't exactly hate the idea.
Sucy's train of thought is cut abruptly short as Diana enters the room, Hannah and Barbara in tow. Compared to Akko's group, the British girl looks out right terrible. Her hair is disheveled, if only slightly, dark heavy bags hang underneath her eyes, as if she hadn't gotten any proper sleep, and the make-up she's using does nothing to hide the fact. She looks at the trio, seemingly surprised at the fact that someone other than her group has arrived early for class.
"Good morning Diana!" Akko waves earnestly.
Putting up a façade of indifference, she drily greets the brunette. "... Good morning to you too, Akko." As they head towards their seats, Hannah and Barbara both shoot a nasty glare at the trio before huffing and continuing on their way.
"Rude," Sucy deadpans.
Akko frowns. "Hm... Diana looks so tired. Maybe I should have Silky go help her out later."
"I really doubt she wants to see your face all that much right now," Sucy comments.
As time passes, more and more students fill up the lecture hall. Professor Ursula arrives just as the class fills up, hefting a few text books and an astrological projector. Akko waves warmly at the woman upon her arrival, and while Ursula couldn't exactly return the greeting out in the open, she did send a warm smile at the brunette.
"Good morning class. Today we will begin Magic Astrology, let's go over the introduction." The teacher announces, opening a large textbook to begin the lesson, "Magic Astrology, in its essence, is the observation of the stars to predict the future. It is the foundation of many styles of fortune telling. By the end of this year, students are expected have memorized the majority of the zodiac constellations along with all of the important stars, as well as becoming adept at using tools like tarot cards and crystal balls."
With a flick of her wand she activates the projector, filling the classroom with a simplified map of the northern sky. Akko lets out an amazed gasp, earning her multiple looks from her classmates.
"To start off simple, can anyone tell me the name of the brightest star in the Big Dipper?" The constellation lights up in the projection.
As Diana raises her hand to answer the question-
"ME! ME! ME! Let me answer that Professor Ursula!" Akko beats her to the punch with ease, waving her raised hand excitedly.
The teacher nods, "you may, Akko."
"The brightest star of the Big Dipper is Hokkyoku Sei- Polaris! It can be found using the other eight as the guide!" she states as she counts them off on her hands, "the other eight are: Tanrō Sei- Dubhe, Kyomon Sei- Merak, Rokuzon Sei- Phecda, Bunkyoku Sei- Megrez, Renjō Sei- Alioth, Bukyoku Sei- Mizar, Hagun Sei- Benetnasch, and last but not least, Ho Sei- Alcor!"
"The Japanese names are not really necessary. But you are entirely correct, Akko." Ursula nods with a smile. "Excellent work."
"Thanks, Professor Ursula! It took me a really long time to memorize them all!" she replies as she rubs the back of her head, a proud smile plastered on her face.
As the class continued on, Akko displayed a surprising amount of knowledge on astrology. Professor Ursula asked question after question and almost every time Akko raised her hand to answer. The sheer amount of knowledge she had on the subject was astounding. But what was truly surprising was how silent the Diana was. Throughout the class she had barely spoken up, only answering one or two questions. Thanks to today, the class' perception of Akko's Charm has increased.
"That was satisfying," Aradia's voice echoes in her mind. "All that hard work I had spent on you has finally paid off. My little girl is growing up so fast…!"
"EW, EW, EW!" Akko exclaims in her mind. "Don't talk like Kaa-san! It's so cringey coming from you!"
"All right, my little imoto then." The scary witch says in Japanese.
"ARADIA!"
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The next class had Professor Badcock teaching Culinary Magic. The lesson divided the students into groups at different tables, each having their own bowl of apples, oranges, and a myriad of other different household fruits.
"Culinary Magic is the art of enhancing food's flavor. To start off the year, we will begin by increasing the sweetness these fruits," the short woman instructs.
Presenting an apple to the class, she recites a short incantation, "Bouden Dariard."
With a flick of her wand, green energy dances around the fruit. Despite there being no visible changes, the class could tell the magic did something.
Akko directs her gaze at her own apple with joyous anticipation. "Looks easy enough! After I learn this, maybe I can get my own plums to taste better?" Following the instructor's example, she casts the spell. "Bouden Dariard-!"
Instead of a gentle wave of energy, however, she gets a small explosion. Akko and her friends back away from the reaction, examining the results only after the mist dissipates.
At first the apple seemed fine… that is until the shiny red skin began to sag. Within seconds the entire apple liquefies into a puddle of slurry abomination, releasing a foul odor that fills the classroom.
Everyone but Sucy immediately covers their nose. The smell is absolutely foul, comparable to some of Professor Lukic's worst concoctions.
Sucy groans. "You moron! Your spell caused a chemical reaction with the cyanide in the seeds!"
Professor Badcock sighs and shakes her head. "Indeed, Atsuko Kagari. Now be responsible and clean that up, would you? There's a mop and bucket in the-"
Akko frowns. "It's okay, I got it covered…" she reaches out her hand. Much to everyone's surprise, blue light radiates from her body as the Chariot arcana appears. "Slime!"
The grotesque blob of green manifests and drops onto the table. It didn't take long for the creature to soak up every drop of the foul liquid and rid the classroom off the terrible stench. As it does, parts of its body change from green to purple.
"Can you go to the nearest bathroom and get rid of that for me?" Akko requests with a clap. "Thanks!"
Slime's "face" emerges, and moans affirmatively. The creature slithers off the now clean table and out of the classroom.
About five minutes later, a terrified scream echoed out from the first floor's bathroom. A few seconds later, more astonished cries and yelps reverberate from the hallway loud enough for the entire school to hear.
"Very interesting," a chubby girl with pink twintails comments to her teammates while stuffing herself with all the fruits on her table.
Professor Badcock groans. "Jasminka Antonenko, you will not get any more fruit to experiment with if you eat them all. So please stop it!"
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The next class has Professor Woodside, a middle-aged woman with dark green eyes and light green hair, teaching some Basic White Magic. With a stoic expression, the one she always wears, she begins the class.
"Does everyone have their statue?" the teacher asks, a mass produced replica of renaissance artist, Michelangelo's "David" in her hand. "Now, break off the head."
The entire class does as they are told, snapping the head off with ease.
"Now we will reattach it, like so. Sosomme Tidiare." She flickers her wand. Both pieces of the statue flew up and connect, once again becoming whole.
"Oh! Useful!" Akko flicks her wand, "Sosomme Tidiare-"
Just like the last time, she completely and utterly failed at casting the spell. Instead of seamlessly reattaching the head to the rest of the statue, she had annihilated it entirely, reducing it to dust.
Akko coughs as the dust clouds her vision. She frantically waves her hands to get rid of the dust cloud. When the dust settles she asks. "... What spell is needed to fix this?" her finger pointing at the pile of fine powder before her.
"You've somehow managed to completely pulverize that statue," the green haired teacher deadpans. "Only best of the best white magic user can fix something that has been reduced to sand. So unfortunately, it is irreparable."
"I am sorry…" Akko apologizes. "Let me clean it up right now…" she stretches out he hand as blue light radiates from her body. "Help me out, Silky!"
From the blue fire came the green skinned maid surprising the rest of the class who were expecting something either nightmare inducing or disgusting.
Silky places her hands on her waist as her normally closed eyes slightly open in irritation. She huffs, expressing her anger as she gestures down to the mess Akko has made.
"I am sorry alright?! Please help me clean this up!" Akko clasps her hands and begs.
Silky sighs and moves her fingers. Cold air condenses around her hands and rapidly condensing into a broom, brush, and a dustpan. Silky then tosses the dustpan to Akko while she begins sweeping.
"Yes, ma'am..."
On the other side of the room, a short girl with navy blue hair can be seen with a screwdriver tinkering with the statue.
"I saw that," Professor Woodside declares pointing at the student. "Machinery is not allowed in class, Constanze Amalie von Braunschbank-Albrechtsberger. Please put them away."
The now dubbed Constanze glares at the teacher with distaste as she reluctantly puts away her tools.
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Later in the courtyard, a professor wearing a pair of pilot's goggles sets foot onto a platform, standing above the students so she is visible to the entire class.
Adjusting the aviator's cap underneath her witch hat, Professor Nelson begins. "Good afternoon, students. Broom flying class is now in session and the day will go as follows; new students will have a special class on the basics while others with experience will practice how to gain speed." She claps her hand and the rest of the class split off. "All right. Begin!"
"It's finally here!" Akko mutters under her breathe, gripping her broom in anticipation. "This entire day may not have been too good, but now is the time. Once I'm in the air everything will be A-OK!"
"Broom flying is the most basic magic for a witch, but you must be very careful or you will get hurt. Understood?" Professor Nelson lectures both her and Sucy.
"Yes!" Akko nods affirmatively and listens closely, not wanting to make any mistakes at this crucial moment.
"Alright then. First, hold the broom."
The brunette does exactly as she was told.
"Pay respect to the broom, then get on."
She does an over the top salute to the broom, showing absolute respect. Sucy beside her raises an eyebrow at the unnecessary action.
"Imagine yourself flying in the air, cast the spell, and take off."
The professor levitates with ease and so does Sucy. It's show time.
"Alright! TIA FREYRE!"
Akko's chant echoes out into the air, spoken like a declaration to the world. Her words are filled with so much hope, happiness, and excitement. At long last, after an entire decade of waiting she will finally get to fly on a broom just like her idol! No longer will she need Aradia to help her travel! No longer will she have to feel the embarrassment of being carried like a baby! No longer will…-
"…"
"…..."
Except nothing happened. After a handful of seconds had passed she was still on the ground.
"Ehhhhhh?" her eyes widen in shock.
"Try concentrating! Concentrate on the broom!" the flying teacher encourages.
Her broom does not responded to her. She chants the spell again and again all the while leaping up and down like a madman. No matter how many times she cries out the spell, the fact of the matter is she is simply not flying.
"Urgh!" Akko yells, grabbing her broom and violently shaking it. "WHY. WON'T. YOU. FLY?!"
"Could you speak up, I don't think the rest of the school heard you," Sucy remarks. "And what happened to all of your respect?"
Professor Nelson frowns. "I don't know what to say... I've never seen a witch incapable of flight before, Miss Kagari."
Within the minutes, the news of Akko's inability to fly spread amongst the class like wildfire. As the girl struggles with her bloom, a number of students pass by to mock and laugh at the Japanese girl, probably as a form of petty revenge for what Aradia did to them at the entrance ceremony.
Akko shakes her broom one last time before letting a determined expression spread across her face, "NO! I won't give up yet!"
She rises her dominant hand and the familiar blue light surrounds her body for the third times today.
"ARADIA!"
The mocking laughter died down almost immediately as the card shattered and the terrifying Persona manifests itself into the physical world, making both Professor Nelson and Sucy back off. Many of the students flee in terror, doing everything in their power to make sure that they are nowhere near the Persona.
"Sukukaja, now!" Akko orders.
The Persona crosses her arms and give her summoner a look, the faceless expression and body language forming a wordless: "Are you serious?"
"Yes! It has to be!"
The Persona, seemingly sighing in exasperation, lazily waves her scepter and causing a wave of green energy to wash over Akko.
"Perfect!" The brunette cheers as she mounts her broom again, "Now… TIA FREYRE!"
Yet again, nothing happens.
The Persona approaches her summoner and gently pats her on the shoulder. With a shrug, she shatters away, leaving the shell-shocked Akko to wallow in her despair.
"Miss Kagari? What did you have your summon do, exactly?" the instructor asks.
Akko sulks, "I had her cast Sukukaja on me… It didn't work…"
"Sukukaja...? I have never heard of that spell before. What does it do?"
"It makes me lighter and faster..." Akko answers, before going off on a tangent, "I DON'T UNDERSTAND! I'm light as a feather and can move faster than a speeding arrow! But I still can't fly! Why?! What is going on?!" Finishing her rant, Akko runs off to attempt to take flight once more to no avail.
"Well, if that's the case. Then you have a problem, Miss Kagari," the professor remarks. "Because if you can't fly even with other magic helping you, then you are officially the worst flyer I have ever seen in my life-"
"Yahoo!" All of a sudden, everyone's attention is taken by the blur zipping around the sky.
In the air, performing a myriad of different aerodynamic tricks is a student with red hair and green eyes. Flips, drops, spins, the girl does it all with ease. The sheer flashiness of some of the tricks causes some of the students to watch in awe.
Professor Nelson blows her whistle. "Amanda O'Neill! No acrobatics during class!"
The girl now known as Amanda groans as she stops her broom in midair and rests her body on it. "Yeah, yeah, you sure like ruining my fun..."
"Don't sleep on your broom either!"
Meanwhile, Diana continues her own practice session, a bit of sweat forming on her brow as she crosses the finish line. "How is it, Hannah…?"
Hannah stops her stopwatch, her face is a frown. "... 11.4 seconds… Not your best Diana."
A group of students nearby start to gossip.
"What's up with Diana today? She's been really quiet."
"She looks so tired… maybe today is just not her day, she's only human after all..."
"I can imagine with what happened yesterday! I'd be having a bad day too if my embarrassing secret got out to literally everyone in the goddamn school…!"
"HEY!" Barbara yells as she rushes in to interrupt them. "What are you bunch of bottom feeders talking about?!"
The gossiping students groan and fly away from the black haired girl, resuming their discussion once they're out of earshot.
The honors student massages her temples before walking away to grab some water, barely managing to hide her distaste.
Professor Nelson frowns after witnessing the scene. "Diana of all people? I can't believe this. What's going on today…? I hope this doesn't affect her performance in the upcoming relay..."
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"So Miss Kagari is having trouble performing any kind of magic?" Headmistress Holbrooke asks in disbelief.
"That seems to be the case," Professor Badcock replies, adjusting her glasses. "The way I see it, she has trouble applying the right amount of magic, either using too much or too little. I believe with practice she should be able to overcome this problem."
"But that doesn't explain why she can't fly a broom," Professor Nelson adds, "even inexperienced witches can at least levitate. I have never seen a witch who couldn't fly at all before. What's more, even when she had her summon support her with magic she still couldn't get off the ground."
"This is... very concerning," Professor Finneran frowns in disapproval, "to think the first summoner we've had in decades is only at this level is quite disheartening. While there is no doubt that she is very proficient at what she specializes in, the complete inability to do even the most basic of traditional witchcraft is a disgrace."
"I suppose that would explain why her application states that she is from a magic-less family," Holbrooke frowns, "let us hope it is just a phase, and that with hard work and proper guidance from us she can still improve."
Professor Finneran turns to Professor Ursula. "While I don't personally approve of you focusing all of your time on only one student, I do wish you the best of luck at tutoring Miss Kagari-" she does a double take. "... Are you crying, Ursula?"
"... Excuse me, Finneran. There are some sand in my eyes..." Professor Ursula denies, wiping a few tears from her face, putting up a false smile, "what were you saying just now?"
The rest of the teachers accept her answer at face value, not knowing of the sorrow and guilt that plagues the young professor's heart.
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Akko's broom lays beside her as she lies in the grass, defeated.
"Giving up?" Sucy asks.
"Akko, you have been at it for an entire hour... Maybe you should call it a day?" Lotte suggests.
Akko gets back up from her laying position, still frowning at her inability to fly. "You're right Lotte… let's call it a day..."
"It is really surprising that you're having this much trouble," Lotte says, "I guess having Personas doesn't contribute to your magic?"
"I honestly don't know..." Akko sighs, getting up, "but I know I shouldn't sit here and beat myself over it. I need go cheer myself up before I come back to tackle this again..." She picks up her bloom, "I'll be back, you hear me?!" she childishly threatens the object before stuffing it into her bottomless belt pouch. "Anyway guys, let's go have some fun!"
"Have fun where?" Lotte asks, "do you want to take the Ley Line and go to town, Akko?"
The brunette shakes her head. "Nope. I'm going to show you both why I set up that Cognition yesterday," she points toward the woods. "To the Cognitive World!"
After a quick trip back to the dorm to grab Akko's backpack, the group makes their way to the fallen memorial tree. Upon arriving at Cognitive Luna Nova, they notice that everything is exactly the way they left it.
"We're here, now what?" Sucy deadpans. "Please don't tell me we're going to have some "fun" with the Shadows. If it is, I'm going because I just can't today."
"Me too, Akko. I don't really want to get tired today..." Lotte frowns, "we'll definitely come explore this place with you, but just not right now."
"No, no! I'm not here to do that!" Akko grins, "we are here so I can show you both the other utilities of the Cognitive World!" she reaches into her belt packet and pulls out something made of what seems to be plant balm and silk.
"What is that-?"
"Hehe!" Akko gives out a smirk, she raises the item into the air, "this is… GOHO-M!"
In a flash of light the object explodes, just like the Traesto from yesterday, blinding everyone and transporting them somewhere else.
When Sucy and Lotte reopen their eyes they are rendered speechless. The sight that fills their eyes is nothing short of breathtaking. Grass fields with stunning flowers stretch on and on as far as the eyes can see. Lush vegetation litters the hills and streams flowing with clean, crystal clear water twist and wind through the landscape. The sky is so blue and the air is so fresh that even Luna Nova's, which is filtered by magical trees pale in comparison. If someone told them this was a section of the Garden of Eden, both girls would have probably believed them no questions asked.
Akko puts a hand over her left ear and cups her mouth, imitating a train conductor making an announcement to her passengers. "Dear passengers, we have arrived at our destination. I hope you both enjoyed taking the cognitive express~" She jokes.
With wide eyes Lotte asks, "w-where are we, Akko?!"
"Welcome to Cognitive Inaba, the Cognitive World of a quiet town in Japan," Akko walks up before her friends, and spreads out her arms. "Also where I was living before I went to Luna Nova!"
"Welcome to Cognitive Inaba, the Cognitive World of a quiet town in Japan." Akko walks up before her friends, and spreads out her arms. "Also where I was living before I went to Luna Nova!"
I know it lets me use multiple Personas, but I could really use a more detailed explanation… Aradia's wasn't very informative and my friend don't know the exact details… I heard his senpai is also a Wild Card.
The gloomy witch beside her grumbles, but with how glossy her skin looked and how her eyes lacked any trace of dark bags, she don't exactly hated the idea.
There's two places in this chapter where you misspelled her name as "Barbra". Also, using my browser's Find function to count them up made me also notice that you made that error once in the previous chapter too.
...but some girls are more best than others, amirite? That reminds me, I like how you write Sucy. Interesting take on being mean while also having kind of friends.
Thanks, I just wrote her the way I think TRIGGER was originally was going with until they realized there are not enough ep for her. One Filipino reader even told me that she in this story is pretty in-line with actual Filipino attitude; so that's a job well done if I do say so myself.
One Filipino reader even told me that she in this story is pretty in-line with actual Filipino attitude; so that's a job well done if I do say so myself.
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