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eremiss · 4 years

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30. Splinter

Set post-5.3, spoilers below the cut!

It’s late, but Gwen is awake. Plenty tired, not restless, yet unable to sleep, even with the comfortable weight of Thancred’s arm around her waist, and the heat of his body against her back. Ever since they’d returned to the Source cuddling together has felt different in a way she can’t quite put her finger on. It likely has something to do with him being whole again, body and soul reunited. She knows that's not what's keeping her awake, though it's always a curious thing to notice.

When her chronometer lets out a single, muted chime, Gwen reluctantly admits defeat. There are better ways to pass a sleepless night than lying in bed, particularly when she doesn’t want to disturb her partner. Even with the aid of tonics and healing magic, recovering from months abed is a tiring, time-consuming process. Thancred and the others need as much rest as they can get.

She shifts away from him, dragging herself from beneath his arm ilm by careful ilm. She’s almost free before his breath catches and the limp hand sliding over her waist twitches to life.

He sleepily grasps at her, voice groggy, “Gwen?”

She pushes herself upright and turns to murmur gentle things against his temple, carding her fingers soothingly through his hair. He dozes beneath the calming sound and gentle touch, settling back into bed and only grumbling a little when she shimmies out from under his hand.

Gwen does her best to be silent as she trades her nightclothes for pants and a baggy shirt, shooting frequent glances towards the bed. She flinches when she fumbles her pen and sends it clattering to the floor and snatches it up again, freezing and listening. Thankfully Thancred doesn’t stir, the sedate rhythm of his breath not changing. His face remains half-buried as she grabs her journal and tugs on her shoes, and she witholds a sigh of relief.

She puts effort into not making a peep as she creeps to her door, and then squeezes through and closes it softly behind her. The hall is dimly lit quiet, and she hesitates for a moment to listen for the sound of him rising to follow. It doesn’t come. She finally allows herself a sigh of relief and then starts down the hall.

It’s a pleasant and quiet night, not too hot but plenty humid. The sky is clear and the moon is a thin sliver hanging above the lake, constellations twinkling in the darkness overhead. Gwen wanders the empty streets briefly before clambering up to a dark rooftop, an additional handful of stars fading into existence as she climbs above the streetlights and some of the Toll’s light pollution.

She perches at the apex of the roof, looking out over shadowy Mor Dhona and the inky darkness of Silvertear Lake. From here, in the faint light of the ambient gloom and the distant glow of corrupted crystals, her mind can almost twist the darkened ruins of the Keeper of the Lake into one of Amaurot’s towering structures, more hazily forming around it until the city itself is there, frozen in time in the lake.

The feeling resonating in her mind echoes in her chest, something not unlike the sense of longing similar to, but different, than homesickness. It was the same sort of feeling that had seeped into her senses when she’d first walked through Amaurot, an echo of familiarity more akin to recalling a friend’s description of the place rather than a memory of her own.

Her journal is heavy in her lap as she tilts her head up, picking out the constellations in the sky and imagining figures and shapes around the arrays of stars. Eventually she looks down at the leather cover, staring at it for drawn out seconds before tipping it open. She smooths her hand over the pages, flattening them down and feeling the texture of the paper, the constellations overhead conjuring the memory of the curious little crystals she’d gathered on her last visit to the seafloor.

She twirls her pen in her fingers, considering. Her thoughts aren’t quite solidified enough to be formed into words, or tacked down in writing. But the blank page is staring up at her, and her pen is poised expectantly in her fingers.

There are more ways to record things than just with words.

She has been known to draw on occasion-- though really it’s more like sketching. Usually it’s plants, crafting her own rendition of flowers and leaves for her notes place of a pressed or preserved sample, or whenever the mood strikes. Sometimes she sketches interesting buildings or weapons too, like the Hostelry in Kugane or Sidurgu’s greatsword. The lines are always wrinkled and the shapes come out crooked as often as not, but in they’re typically easy enough to identify in the end. She’s designed fantastical and ridiculous outfits with Tataru while she was in the midst of crafting new clothes for the Archons, which was always good for a laugh, too.

As for people, well… she tries every now and then, just for the heck of it. Just for fun. Her attempts usually wind up comparable to Alisaie’s attempt to sculpt a porxie.

The shape in her mind is, thankfully, a simple one: curved at the top, pointed at the bottom, narrowing down the sides. Nothing too difficult.

Her first attempt to copy it down onto the page comes out decent enough, if slightly lopsided. She pauses, pen hovering while a flicker of thought blooms into an idea. Then she slowly fills in the constellation the crimson crystal had carried, the first one she’d discovered after Elidibus had vanished and Y’shtola had left to collect her belongings. Beneath it, she writes out the soft whisper that had rung in her ears when she’d held it.

It almost scratches the itch in her thoughts. And it certainly keeps her hand busy.

“Heh heh… I see you are collecting stars.” She can clearly recall Hythlodaeus’ voice echoing in the quiet emptiness of Amaurot.

Gwen sketches the shape again and fills in the constellation from the yellow crystal next, penning its recorded voice beneath it. Then the green crystal. Then the rest.

“I mentioned before that there was a member of the Convocation who opposed Zodiark’s summoning and defected. One whose office was left vacant…” Hythlodaeus had said. “Defectors having been deemed unworthy of commemoration, no crystal exists for the individual in question.”

Another member of the convocation didn’t have one, either. The trail Hythlodaeus had scattered in the streets had been composed of only twelve crystals. The missing Fourteenth's made thirteen, but that still left one unaccounted for. Likely Elidibus’.

She draws a crystal for him anyway. At a loss as to what constellation it should hold, she leaves it blank. Beneath it, she writes the last words he'd murmured into the little stones atop the Crystal Tower.

“…Or shouldn’t exist, at any rate─ and wouldn’t, had a friend not created one in secret."

Oh. She realizes too late she hadn't put enough thought into sizing or spacing out the drawings, and the pages before her are full. The thirteen stones don't fill every ilm of paper, but they take up enough space that there isn't room to fit one more, even if she made it half the size. She’ll have to draw the Fourteenth's crystal on a different page, all on its own.

"A crystal bearing the forgotten name of her office, along with a magick of her own conceiving─ a singular incantation embodying her spirit."

She frowns slightly, tilting her head. It feels odd to break them up. Maybe she should start over on new pages, being careful with the sizing and layout this time.

Then again, the more she thinks about it...

“Among all the offices, the Fourteenth was most unusual. For while the rest sat in Amaurot, its holder was charged with gaining an intimate knowledge of the wider world.

...the more she finds it rather fitting that the Fourteenth's crystal be apart from the others.

She turns the page and draws the crystal's shape one more time. This one didn’t have a constellation, instead adorned with the image of a ring with two small beads around a central circle.

“In the course of her duty, she traveled the length and breadth of every land, and befriended countless folk.”

She senses the vaguest suggestion of a tease, a jest in good humor, about the fact that Azem’s crystal is orange, of all colors.

Once the drawing is complete, she takes a moment to look it over and check her work. After a few dragging seconds she realizes how intently she’s staring at and studying the curious little shape, half-searching for something in the lines and curves. What, though, she isn’t sure.

Gwen tap-tap-taps her pen on the other page until one section is fairly freckled, then tips her journal shut.

It’s quiet tonight. Noticeably so.

She draws up her knees, her journal pressing against her stomach and thighs as she wraps her arms around her legs and hugs them close.

So much has happened. The more she tries to think about it all, the more she feels like she’s barely wrapped her head around even a small part of it. No wonder she can’t sleep. It’s amazing she doesn’t have a headache from everything that’s clattering around in there.

She uncurls one arm and studies her hand, splaying and curling her fingers. There’s nothing to see, really. It’s just her hand, calluses, scars and all. Her whole, complete hand.

She heaves a sigh, wondering how much she should or shouldn’t try to keep digging into all the revelations and truths of the First, specifically the Unsundered and the Convocation. How much she should ponder her connection to the Fourteenth, and how much it ought to matter-- or if it should at all.

Perhaps not. She should remember everything she’s learned, but that doesn’t mean she has to dwell on it. She can remember who they were, that they were people who once lived their own lives, just as she and her friends do now. She can remember their deeds, and the world that they loved and lost.

Beyond that? She doesn’t really need to know. And the same goes for the Fourteenth.

She is who she is. It was true before she went to the First, and it still is now, after she’s returned. She’s still herself, no matter who she might be a splinter or shard of. She’s Guinevere Ashe and no on else.

...Mostly.

“You walk with another at your side, yes?” Hythlodaeus had mused when they’d first met, giving both her and Ardbert pause. No one else had known he was there. “Nay, I see no definite form… just the faintest suggestion of a second soul. I doubt it visible to anyone but me. Otherwise, I assume only you can see and hear this ethereal companion? Your connection is hardly a coincidence. In our time, the two of you were one─ the color of your souls tells the tale. A hue that distinctive cannot be mistaken, no matter how thin the soul is spread.”

Sometimes, when she really thinks about it, she can sense Ardbert somewhat. He’d spoken to her at the peak of the Crystal Tower, before she’d faced Elidibus, but that was the clearest she’d heard his voice since he’d joined her to battle Emet-Selch.

Now when he speaks his voice is dim, a thought slipping by that isn’t quite hers. It’s similar, but different, to how Fray whispers to her. There’s a faint presence that leans on her senses sometimes, akin to the feeling of being in a room and knowing by pure instinct that someone else is there, too, even though she can’t find them.

Though he isn’t ‘there’ anymore, it’s heartening to be reminded Ardbert is still with her.

She feels the slightest pressure on her shoulder, something hair-thin and light as air, a bare suggestion of sensation so faint that it just barely brushes her senses. It almost, maybe, feels like the playful nudge of a friendly fist.

There’s a small, sharp clack! just beside her.

Gwen jumps and yelps, flailing ungracefully to keep from tumbling from her perch.

She whirls around and watches a small rock skitter and skip down the incline of the roof before toppling off the eave. Thancred is standing in the street below, idly tossing and catching another rock in one hand. A backup, in case first hadn’t caught her attention. Rather than trying to climb up and join her, he waves for her to come back down to the street.

She’s hardly surprised he’s awake, given how he can be such a light sleeper when the mood strikes him. He was probably faking it while she’d gotten dressed. Neither of them are wont to rest while the other can’t, but time and experience, have taught them to give each other the chance to have a bit of time and space to themselves before coming to look for them.

Gwen obligingly climbs down from the roof. As she nears the ground she calls, “Didn’t feel like climbing?”

“Not sure I have it in me yet,” he replies, tossing the rock away. “And Krile would have my head for trying.” He gives her an appraising look as she drops the last few fulms and lands lightly on her feet. “Odd hour to go for a walk.”

She shrugs, not disagreeing.

“Everything alright?”

She nods.

He frowns, one brow arching. He holds the skeptical expression for a beat to make sure he gets his point across, then lets it drop and slips his hand into hers. “If you say so.”

Gwen leans against him as they start heading back towards the Stones, savoring his loose but steady grip and the pressure of his arm against hers.

“Surprised you’re not in the stables,” he comments. “You usually cuddle up with your bird when you brood.”

“I could see the stars better up there.” She narrows her eyes at him, “And I wasn’t brooding.”

Whatever smart reply he has is interrupted by a yawn that he poorly attempts to cover much too late.

She gives him a sly grin. “Krile won’t be happy if she hears you’re up at this hour.”

“Which is precisely why she’s not going to hear about it,” he replies matter-of-factly, shooting her a look.

They settle in bed and cuddle together again, the lantern on the side table lowered to a dim, soft glow that’s just bright enough to read by. Gwen reclines against her pillows with a book in her hands and Thancred settles comfortably between her legs, his arms around her waist and his head pillowed on her chest, turned away from the offending light.

She reads and strokes his hair, and he’s sound asleep in moments.

Eventually the hour, the dull words, and the slow rhythm of his breath lull her to sleep.

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Splinter- noun a small, thin, sharp piece of wood, glass, or similar material broken off from a larger piece.

I’m still considering how knowledge of Amaurot and the Fourteenth affects Gwen and what she makes of it all. Clearly lmao. So have some pondering.

There was SO MUCH going on in ShB and so many revelations and my head is still kind of ALDKAFJSDLKFJAL about it lol I didn’t realize there were only 13 crystals until writing this. I’m just assuming Elidibus is the one who didn’t get one? It’s not like the crystals were all-that-decisively labeled, and we don’t know all of the Unsundered’s names.

Hythlodaeus is actually one of my fav characters from this expac. Anyone else?

hooly CRAP, FFXIVWrite2020 is done! :O

#ffxivwrite2020 #Guinevere Ashe #My writing #Shadowbringers #Pondering #Post-5.3 #The Unsundered #crystals #Hythlodaeus #what even are endings anyway

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ko-chan-the-blueberry-donut · 6 years

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Quiescis Chapter 4 (Deaf Akko AU) Little Witch Academia Fanfiction

@witch19

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

—Martin Luther King Jr.

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Chapter Four:

Akko blinked, wondering why the blonde-haired girl was so shocked at the appearance of the Shiny Rod. Maybe it’s because she expected it to be with Chariot? Akko knew that what she was wondering herself.

“Why do you have the Shiny Rod?” the girl pointed at her. Akko tilted her head. She pointed to herself, mouthing ‘me?’ and the girl narrowed her eyes, becoming exasperated with her. “Yes! You!”

“Well, I didn’t steal it if that’s what you mean.” Akko signed feeling offended, and Lotte translated.

“Hey, watch it, you defect!” the redhead girl Akko recognized from when arriving at the Leyline terminal snapped, her face contorting into an angry expression. “Don’t you know who’re you’re talking too?!”

Sucy and Lotte narrowed their eyes at what Hannah called Akko. Sucy readied a potion behind her back and Lotte grasped her wand tightly. As for Akko, she clicked her tongue at the address, but didn’t lash out yet. She encountered ignorant people before—she knew this wouldn’t be the last time either.

“Of course, she doesn’t!” Barbara laughed. “She can barely speak English! She wouldn’t be cultured enough to know who the Cavendish family is!”

“Hannah! Barbara! That’s enough!” Diana chided them, uncomfortable with the way they were talking about Akko like she wasn’t even a person. She turned to Akko and bowed her head in apology. “I’m sorry. May I ask where you got that wand?”

“Come on, Diana! It’s just a toy! Chariot disappeared ten years ago!” Barbara said. Akko’s eyes widened when she read Barbara’s lips.

“Chariot’s missing?!” Akko signed.

“Ugh, she’s doing that dumb hand stuff again!” Hannah sneered. However, she yelped when Lotte seized the front of her uniform, pulling her closer, eyes alit in wraith.

“If you continue to insult my friend…” Lotte said calmly, “I will make sure you are haunted by malicious spirits for the next three years.” Hannah squirmed, sweating. Akko and Sucy’s eyes were wide with shock.

“Y-yes, ma’am!” Hannah squeaked. Lotte released her, Akko rubbing her back and Sucy giving her a thumbs up. Diana didn’t take her eyes off of Akko nevertheless through the whole exchange.

“Chariot is a disgrace to the magical world. It would be best to get rid of that wand.” Diana told her. Akko glared, a ferocity rising within her at the statement that her idol was being insulted. Birdy-san flapped angrily as Akko signed, Lotte verbally translating.

“’Chariot is the best witch in the world! Who are you to say she’s a disgrace when she made so many people smile? Chariot inspired me!’” Lotte recited as Akko vigorously signed. Diana sighed.

“For your own sake, you should get a new inspiration unless you want to fail like Chariot. It’s clear you have the odds stacked against you—don’t be stupid like she was.” Diana advised. Nonetheless, her eyes widened when Akko stomped towards her and pinched Diana’s cheeks. What the—

“Take back! Daiyana a meanie!” Akko growled, butchering her name. Diana just gaped while Hannah and Barbara gasped at the fact that Akko dared touch Diana like that.

“I—I beg your pardon?” Diana spluttered. Akko let go of her cheeks, Diana feeling a sting, and placed her hands on her hips.

“Meanie! Stupid! Chariot best witch!” Akko criticized, Hannah and Barbara still in disbelief how Akko was addressing the famous witch prodigy. She went over and retrieved the Shiny Rod, handing Birdy-san to Lotte. She readied the wand. “Will show!”

Akko took a deep breath, concentrating. She then waved the wand.

“Rux!” she commanded, everyone wincing at her pronunciation. Nothing happened. She grew frustrated, waving it violently. “Rux!”

Seeing that Akko was all talk, Hannah and Barbara smirked while Diana tried to compose herself from Akko’s brashness. Diana took out her own wand, demonstrating.

“Lux!” she commanded, the wand glowing brightly. Akko shielded herself from the light. Satisfied, Diana snuffed out the light, giving her a stern look.

“Take my advice—quit while you’re ahead. It’s clear you’re at a disadvantage with your poor communication skills. Maybe you should think of another path instead of being a witch.” With that, Diana, Hannah, and Barbara left them standing there. Sucy narrowed her eyes as they walked away.

“Somebody’s getting a contagious fungus in their food tomorrow…” she muttered. Lotte was worriedly watching Akko, who was looking down at the ground, her hair shadowing her expression from view. Birdy-san bounced to Akko’s head, peering at her in concern. Lotte walked forward, grasping one of Akko’s hands, intertwining their fingers. Akko glanced up, biting her lip. Lotte gave her a comforting smile, making sure Akko could read her lips.

“They don’t know what we know. You were able to do magic without incantations. You can do it again.” Lotte assured with confidence. Akko looked unsure, and Lotte squeezed Akko’s hand in a soothing manner before releasing her hand, signing. “I believe in you.”

“Let’s keep going.” Sucy told them, and they agreed, traveling further into the trees to prevent others from seeing them. They found themselves seated near a creek in a clearing between the trees. “Where do we start?”

“Let’s see…” Lotte opened a spellbook, scanning the text. “It is probably best to try something simple. Akko, is there anything in particular you want to try?”

Akko shrugged, not really picky. She examined the Shiny Rod, pondering if maybe it was a dud after all.

‘Or perhaps you’re the dud.’ Her mind chimed in mournfully. Akko growled, tensing up. She didn’t want what Diana to have said get to her, but it felt like an enormous elephant in the room inside her mind. What if Diana is right and she can’t become a witch due to her deafness? She never factored speech into her plans. Her Japanese was fine, but when she was learning English, it was exceptionally difficult to pronounce sounds from just reading it. Her parents and her didn’t really worry much about it because they had thought Luna Nova was proficient in signing, so she concentrated her efforts further into learning Sign Supported English. Seeing they were vastly wrong, however, presented to Akko an even further dilemma: if she sucked with her English, how was so supposed to even begin to comprehend pronunciation of spells? She can’t even say her “L”s right!

Birdy-san pecked her in the eye. Yelping, Akko glared up to find Sucy was holding Birdy-san out to her.

“I didn’t peg you for a quitter.” Sucy stated. Akko looked surprised, reading her lips. “In case you’ve forgotten, you’ve already done spells—you just have a different way of doing things.”

“Sucy’s right, Akko.” Lotte spoke as she signed. “Just because you can’t do something the normal way doesn’t mean it’s the only way to do things. It’s like math—there’s multiple ways of solving a problem—we just haven’t found the way that best fits you.”

Akko stared at them, registering what they said. She felt tears come to her eyes, smiling wide, as she spoke and signed.

“Thank you.” Akko said, gratitude overwhelming her. She appreciated how much Lotte and Sucy had so much faith in her despite only knowing each other for two days. She took Birdy-san from Sucy and plopped him on top of her head. Birdy-san pecked her forehead in thanks. She went over and hugged both Sucy and Lotte, the former patting her back awkwardly while Lotte embraced her snuggly. Akko released them, holding Chariot’s wand close, determination rising within her.

“Let’s do the light spell.” Akko signed. Lotte translated and Sucy and her nodded in agreement. They took out their wands and they each took a stance.

“How did you do it before Akko?” Lotte asked the brown-haired girl. Akko pondered hard, trying to remember the circumstances to non-verbal casting.

“I just repeated the words in my mind, imagining a poral to take us somewhere safe.” Akko answered with gestures.

“How did you know the words?” Sucy asked.

“A voice reminded me of the words spoken at Chariot’s show when I was a kid.”

“A voice?” Lotte questioned. Sucy sighed.

“She claims she heard a voice in her head even though she can’t hear.” Sucy explained. Lotte looked interested.

“How mysterious…” Lotte said. “We should try to find research into the Shiny Rod. See if it has any connections with strong magic…”

“Enough talking—I wanna try out this non-verbal magic.” Sucy said, readying her wand. Akko and Lotte nodded, readying their wands, and taking a deep breath.

They waved their wands, thinking the spell, but nothing happened. They tried again several times, but no results.

“Maybe we’re not doing something right…” Akko signed.

“It could be cause of lack of medium. Oral incantation is used to help a spell to become physical form—maybe just thinking the word isn’t enough to create a medium.” Lotte said.

“Let’s keep trying.” Sucy suggested.

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Diana, Barbara, and Hannah journeyed towards where the Jennifer Memorial Tree was being held. They had caught wind of the tree’s condition from a staff member who had implored Diana to help. The Cavendish heiress immediately set forth to the Jennifer Memorial Tree, Hannah and Barbara tagging along, continuing to make fun of Akko.

“I don’t get why Headmistress Holbrooke let her come in the first place. It’s clear she has no magical prowess.” Barbara said to Hannah. Hannah snickered.

“Did you hear her accent? She can’t even say certain things right!” Hannah goaded.

“I know right? Daiyana? Imagine when we do actual spellwork! She’ll be a disaster!” Barbara mocked.

“Maybe we’ll get lucky and she’ll get kicked out for failure.” Hannah said. Diana stopped walking and turned towards them, giving them a look. They flinched at her glare. “E-eh? Diana?”

Diana sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. She remembered Akko shouting at her, pinching her cheeks, calling her a meanie, and Diana felt something stir within her. She wasn’t used to such abrasiveness, nor was she accustomed to someone disagreeing with her so violently. Nonetheless, it needed to be said to the girl that she was at a clear disadvantage—someone like that couldn’t be coddled when they were pursuing magic. It was good she set Akko straight to look into other options. Being a witch wasn’t for the disabled.

‘Yet why do I feel like such a jerk?’ she wondered, guilt swirling in her stomach.

“Let’s focus on fixing the Jennifer Memorial Tree, shall we?” Diana suggested, and the two nodded. As they entered the sanctuary, they caught sight of Professor Finnelan, Professor Ursula, and Headmistress Holbrooke.

“I’d like to study it more.” They heard Professor Ursula say. Headmistress Holbrooke nodded.

“Please get to the bottom of this.” The headmistress ordered. Diana addressed the headmistress.

“Headmistress!” she announced their presence. “I can’t believe the Jennifer Memorial Tree has weakened like this.”

“Yes, Diana. Unfortunately, the tree is very old.” Holbrooke replied. She glanced at the rotting tree. “I’m afraid it might be getting close to its time. We must go now to see what can be done.”

With that, the professors departed, leaving Diana, Hannah, and Barbara to examine the tree. Diana had a pensive expression on her face, crossing her arms.

“This tree has been said to inherit the great witch Jennifer’s spirit.” Diana mused. “It is the tree of life of Luna Nova.”

“Let’s get started!” Hannah said excited. The girls began setting out stones around the tree in multiple rows. Barbara peeked around the tree to address Diana.

“I’ve finished this side.” She said.

“I’m going to try to use revitalization magic on this tree.” Diana explained. “It will give this large tree strong nutrients and revitalize it. This has been secret magic that has been handed down for generations by my family.”

Barbara and Hannah took a step back while Diana prepared her wand, the tip glowing as she readied her magic.

“Louperial Ral!” she shouted. Magic sprung forth, lighting all the stones, and igniting throughout the tree. Hannah and Barbara gazed upon the display of magic in awe. The tree’s branches perked up, the rotting wood repairing itself. Diana smirked, proud of herself.

“The nutrients must’ve been absorbed.”

“Amazing, Diana!” Hannah praised.

“Let’s go tell the professors!” Barbara suggested, the two racing off to find the headmistress, Finnelan, and Ursula. Diana pocketed her wand, smiling in relief. However, the relief was short-lived when she noticed something rising from the ground. Her brow furrowed in confusion.

---------------------------------

Ursula searched for information in the library, relieved to be doing something instead of listening to Finnelan’s screaming from before about how Holbrooke accepted a deaf student.

“Headmistress! What were you thinking when you told Atsuko Kagari yes to coming to Luna Nova?!” Professor Finnelan demanded. The other professors looked like they wanted answers as well.

“The girl could barely keep up in my class. She looked like she was giving herself a headache trying to read my lips all the time.” Professor Badcock chimed in. Lukic nodded.

“They have a point. No potion’s going to fix that mess.” Lukic said. Ursula felt bad for the poor girl. It’s clear she was here because she wanted to learn, but none of the teachers had any idea on how to accommodate her nor did they understand the headmistress’s decision to accept a student that would obviously struggle to the point of failure off the bat.

“Exactly! Headmistress Holbrooke, it goes against tradition! What can a witch do if she can’t hear how she is reciting her incantations? Not to mention she has no magical background on top of it! She’s useless in the classroom.” Finnelan complained. Holbrooke pursed her lip and gave the woman a stern glare.

“Careful, Finnelan. My father was deaf and nonmagical and was just as capable as anyone who could hear.” Holbrooke chastised the red-haired woman. Finnelan flushed, embarrassed by being called out.

“Is that why you accepted her? Because your father was also deaf? That doesn’t really seem like a good reason.” Badcock crossed her arms.

“This doesn’t really seem fair to the kid.” Nelson said.

“But we have a mute student—what’s the problem of having a deaf one?” Ursula decided to speak up for the girl. Finnelan scoffed.

“And she has resorted to magitek because she also has trouble with incantations! It goes against traditional spellcasting!” Finnelan said. Ursula bit her lip, narrowing her eyes at Finnelan, but didn’t speak against her. The other teachers were murmuring in agreement to Finnelan’s statement.

“Enough!” Holbrooke commanded. “Listen to yourselves! You’re acting like Miss Kagari has the plague! She is just like any other student who has come here to learn! Are we the ones to decide who can learn magic and who can’t based on our own bias?” Silence answered her. Holbrooke sighed, smiling tiredly. “I admit fault in not preparing any of my staff for this dilemma. In my arrogance, I did not realize that Miss Kagari would need extra accommodations or struggle. I was simply captivated by her spirit—her desire to learn. It exceeded anyone’s enthusiasm here, and I refused to tell her no just because of something she can’t control. I had thought many would think like myself.”

“But what can we do?” Professor Pisces asked. “We can’t pass her out of pity or favor with her. It won’t be fair to our other students or to Miss Kagari.”

“I have faith in Miss Kagari to succeed.” Holbrooke replied. She gave them a whimsical smile. “Those who are given the deepest despairs are those who shine with hope the brightest.”

Ursula smiled, glad that Miss Kagari was being given a chance by the headmistress. After all, Holbrooke was right—they couldn’t decide who could and could not learn magic based on their own bias towards disability.

‘I should offer to help the girl at least.’ Ursula told herself. ‘I’m sure she would appreciate it.’

Ursula turned the page of the giant tome, eyes widening when she caught sight of an illustration—the evidence she was looking for.

“It seems the miracle will be happening soon.”

-----------------------

“What interesting cards! How were you able to collect them all?” Lotte signed. The three witches were taking a break, eating snacks and playing with Akko’s Shiny Chariot card collection. Akko was grinning happily as she signed her reply.

“Yes! When I was a kid, Chariot was so popular they made a card game! Everyone I knew was collecting cards!”

She remembered when she was a little girl, excitedly buying booster packs to collect the whole set. She would often display them to her black cat, ‘Suppi’ Spinel Sun, and other classmates. Akko still kept her binder in good condition, making sure her cards were safe. Her mother and father encouraged her collection—happy their daughter was no longer despondent since the onset of her deafness.

“I just couldn’t find one of the premium cards, even though I really wanted it.” Akko continued to sign to her friends. Sucy picked up a card

“This mushroom card is supposed to reawaken romantic feelings.” She noted. Lotte examined another card.

“Ah! This one is a unicorn!”

“An eternal holy animal that protects the happiness of young women.” Akko signed.

“You memorized it?” Lotte asked, hand gesturing. Akko nodded.

“Of course.” Akko smiled. “I remembered everything! I am just not good with pronunciation of spells.” She hand gestured.

“I know this card—it’s a butterfly.” Lotte signed, speaking for Sucy to be kept in the conversation. Akko nodded, grinning with enthusiasm.

“P-A-P-P-I-L-I-O-D-Y-A.” Akko finger spelled, then demonstrated the sign made for the name. “It’s a butterfly that can fly across five continents! It hatches every 120 years and is said to give hope to anyone who sees it.” She explained, signing.

Suddenly, roots from the ground burst forth, scattering the cards. They scrambled up, avoiding being hit. Akko hurriedly collected her cards, securing them. Lotte pointed towards where the commotion was happening, and Akko turned to see a trail of branches leading somewhere.

“Let’s go!” Akko signed, gripping the Shiny Rod, and pointing to where the roots were bursting forth. Sucy and Lotte nodded, grabbing Birdy-san and leaving the clearing.

-----------------

Diana gasped as the Jennifer Tree became ashen. The ground was shaking violently, roots bursting forth all around her. However, she stood her ground.

“What is happening?!” she exclaimed. She heard footsteps running towards her. Her blue eyes enlarged when she saw it was Akko, Sucy, and Lotte. A root sprung forth, stopping them in their tracks. “Stay back!” she ordered the three.

“What’s going on?!” Akko signed. Diana was confused—she had no idea what Akko was saying and was frustrated she couldn’t understand her. Lotte grabbed Akko by the shoulder, pointing to something she saw.

“Look there!” she said to everyone else. The four witches were shocked to see glowing cocoons on the roots of the tree. There were hundreds of them!

“Looks like pupae.” Sucy said.

“Pupae?!” Lotte exclaimed. Sucy nodded.

“And they’re not ordinary pupae.”

“They were parasites in the roots!” Diana shouted. “My spell gave the nutrients to these vermin instead of the tree!”

The pupae continued to grow in size, the tree’s life being seeped away. Diana glared.

Meanwhile, Akko was ignoring the chaos around her, examining the cocoons. She furrowed her brow, pondering hard. She’s seen these before…

A shot of magic burst forth, cutting off her thoughts. She jumped away from the injured cocoon, pivoting around to see Diana shooting spells at the things. Akko resumed her thought process, examining one of the dead specimens.

‘I wonder… is it really?’

She looked towards Diana again, and realization hit her where exactly she has seen these things before. She ran forward, blocking Diana from eliminating all the cocoons.

“Wait! I think I know what these are! Don’t shoot any more of them!” Akko signed. Diana growled, flicking her wand.

“Get out of my way! I don’t understand what you’re saying, nor do I care!” Diana made gestures, hoping the dumb girl got the hint to leave. Akko stood her ground, spreading her arms wide.

“Wait! Diana, Akko’s trying to tell you they’re not parasites!” Lotte shouted, realizing what Akko had signed. Sucy surveyed curiously, wondering what was going on in her friend’s mind.

“I don’t care! She obviously doesn’t know what she’s talking about! I’ll show you.” Diana turned towards another glowing cocoon, getting ready to cast a spell. Akko felt her world slow down.

She needed to stop Diana! If this was she thought it was then Diana was making a huge mistake! Desperation clung to her, seizing her heart. She needed Diana to stop this! Diana had to stop!

“STOP!” Akko signed.

Diana felt her entire body freeze, locking into place. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Why couldn’t she move?!

She tried to break whatever was holding her in place, but nothing worked. She couldn’t even move her mouth! What happened?!

“Akko!” Lotte cried, Sucy and her staring at their friend in awe. Akko was panting, gazing at Diana’s frozen form in amazement. She fell to her knees, her friends and Birdy-san running towards her, steadying her.

“Woah—that’s some paralyzing charm you did.” Sucy whistled. Akko turned to them, frantically signing.

“It’s the Pappiliodya! That’s their cocoons!” Akko told them. Lotte gasped, understanding what Akko was saying. Sucy looked confused.

“These are the Pappiliodya cocoons!” Lotte shouted. Diana was shocked. Pappiliodya? This girl knew about the Pappiliodya?!

Suddenly, the Shiny Rod began to glow, and Diana felt herself be flooded with even more disbelief.

‘What’s going on? That wand didn’t work before!’

“Akko! You gotta cast the spell to save them!” Lotte signed. Akko nodded, grabbing the Shiny Rod, her friends holding her up from her weakness earlier. She took a deep breath. She then blinked, realizing if she couldn’t even pronounce a simple light spell, how can she sound out a complicated one like that?

“Papillio Fillio Nymphodya.” A voice sounded in her head. Akko’s eyes widened.

‘It’s you! That voice from before! How can I hear you?’

“Don’t worry about that right now. Do your thing, kid.”

‘My thing?’

“How you made the portal before! Jeeze, do I have to do everything?”

‘Oh!’ Akko realized, and concentrated on imagining the Pappiliodya being safe—being born and free so everyone can see them. Hope rose within her—she wanted to see them! She wanted to feel what only legends foretold!

‘Papillio Fillio Nymphodya!’ she and the voice shouted in her mind.

A tidal wave of light erupted forth—reviving the cocoons anew. The cocoons cracked, and the Pappiliodya emerged rejuvenated, their gold wings spreading.

The whole garden was surrounded by lights of gold. Akko, Sucy, Lotte, Diana, and Birdy-san watched in wonder at the sight. The Pappiliodya left the Jennifer tree, soaring off into the sky for the whole campus to see.

“Go see!” Akko exclaimed, bouncing up and down with eagerness. Nevertheless, she wilted, the energy leaving her. Sucy supported her.

“What about her?” Lotte spoke and signed, gesturing towards the frozen Diana. Sucy gave Akko to Lotte before going over to Dian and poked her cheek.

“Meh, she’ll unfreeze soon. I’m not really inclined to help her after what she said today.” Sucy shrugged. She then walked forward, grasping Akko from the other side, leading them away from the frozen Diana.

‘Wait—they’re just going to leave me here?’ Diana thought. She then recalled Sucy’s words of her actions and sighed. ‘I suppose to them I do deserve it…’

As she waited for herself to thaw, Diana let her thoughts about Akko Kagari run wild. How did Akko freeze her? She didn’t remember any incantation was said from the girl’s mouth, and how could she even accomplish such a high-level spell when she could even pronounce simple ones. And how did she come into possession of the Shiny Rod? None of this makes sense!

‘Her friends didn’t even question how she did it! They know something!’ Diana concluded. The more Diana pondered on one Akko Kagari, the more mysterious the girl was. She wanted to know the girl’s secrets. ‘Those three are hiding something!’

But yet… the more Diana thought of any likely explanation, the more confused she became. It just wasn’t possible to do what Akko did—especially the girl’s circumstances. But here she was, frozen, and her earlier treatment of the girl smacking her in the face, and the fact that she let Hannah and Barbara treat another human being like that was appalling.

‘I thought she couldn’t do any magic—that she was just admitted here out of pity.’ Diana mused, remorse seeping into her body. ‘I was proven wrong. No wonder they left me here…’

Feeling came back into Diana’s body, causing her to sigh in relief that the enchantment was wearing off. Once she was able to move her mouth and arm again, she undid the spell, still standing at the foot of the Jennifer tree.

‘Next time I see her, I will apologize.’ Diana promised.

“The memorial tree! How splendid!” Headmistress Holbrooke exclaimed. Diana jumped, pivoting to see the headmistress, Hannah, Barbara and Finnelan.

“Diana cast a spell on the tree to make it better!” Hannah explained.

“Thank you, Diana.” The headmistress said in gratitude. Akko’s face popped into Diana’s mind and she shook her head.

“No! I didn’t do this!”

“Who else could possibly do this other than you?” Finnelan praised. Diana stared at all their proud faces and felt sick inside.

“Excuse me.” Diana bidded farewell, not bothering to stay to hear a reply. She exited the garden house, looking up towards the sky. The glow of the Pappiliodya was still strong. “Is that…?”

And there was Sucy, Lotte, and Akko, flying in the air with all the Pappiliodya. An exhausted Akko was in between Sucy and Lotte as Lotte flew them through the orange sky. Diana gazed upon their expressions of contentment, and a sense of longing filled her.

‘I’m the best student at Luna Nova…’ Diana thought, smiling bitterly. ‘And yet those three have achieved something I’ll probably never have…’

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There is Chapter 4! Please let me know what you think.

#lwa #akko kagari #atsuko kagari #lotte yanson #sucy manbavaran #diana cavendish #little witch academia #sukko #diakko #ankko #deaf akko #deaf au #deaf witch

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