Chapter Text
One
"The cupid bee, though often thought of as a form of sentient magic, is in fact properly categorized as volitional magic. The "bee" is merely a vessel for the spell, an artificial construct with no instinct or will of its own. Its behaviour is determined by the intent of the spell caster."
Diana scowled at the book as she read through passage after passage that dissected the enchantment and broke it down to its base elements in excruciating academic detail. And while normally she'd have considered it fascinating–or informative at the very least–this evening she found herself impatient, skimming rather than absorbing. She had an important question that required an answer.
"Whatcha reading?"
Akko didn't just ask; she pounced. One moment Diana was sitting alone in the library with her book, the next, Akko was leaning over her, hands on Diana's shoulders, her face close against Diana's cheek. Diana's breath caught. Her pulse stuttered. Her palms broke out in a sheen of sweat.
It was moments just like this that had made her situation abundantly clear to her.
The first time had been on an ordinary weekend when she'd gone to town to run an errand. Rain had been in the forecast so she'd been prepared when, upon stepping out one of the shops, the first raindrops had begun to tumble from the sky. Safe under the cover of a large blue umbrella she'd glanced across the street only to see Akko. The poor girl was peering up and down the street searching for the nearest place to take cover. She had no umbrella. Of course.
"Akko!" she called out, and waved for Akko to come over. Akko beamed, her lips parting into that huge grin of hers.
Already damp, Akko scampered across the street and ducked under the wide arc of Diana's umbrella. "Diana! Thank you! Your timing couldn't be more perfect." In spite of being wet she was smiling, her eyes shining with glee.
"You didn't check the forecast before you left?"
"It was sunny!"
Diana sighed and bit back a comment about how the weather was as changeable as Akko herself. But that would be unkind and not quite fair. "You should try to be more prepared."
The rain came down harder, pattering against the umbrella at a faster tempo. Akko squeezed in closer to get as much of herself as possible under cover and then shrugged, still grinning. "Why, when I have you to back me up?"
"You can't expect me to always..." The rest of that sentence died on her lips. What she was trying to say was true: she couldn't always be there to get Akko out of trouble. But... she rather wished she could.
"I know, I know," Akko muttered, her smile turning into a pout.
"I still have some errands to run," Diana said. "And we should find you an umbrella."
Akko nodded and as they set off together, she linked her arm through Diana's and huddled close to avoid the rain. Diana was well aware that Akko was as effusive and affectionate as she herself was reserved and rigid, but the gesture still caught her off guard. She glanced over at her.
A string of raindrops had settled on the collar of Akko's jacket like translucent pearls. Diana's eyes lingered there for a moment before sliding up the line of Akko's throat, along her jaw, to the soft curve of her lips. Diana licked her own lips and abruptly returned her gaze to the street ahead. The scent of fruity shampoo wafted from Akko's wet hair and her body was a little bundle of heat against Diana's side.
And just like that, in the middle of town on a rainy day, Diana felt like she was drowning in Akko.
Diana stifled a groan. She knew exactly what this was. Rapid breathing. Rapid heart rate. Increased swallowing. That sudden nervous fluttery feeling that had no outward cause. These were the hallmarks of attraction. To come to this realization while walking arm in arm with someone under an umbrella was simply embarrassing. It was the stuff of pop songs and rom-coms!
That was how she'd come to revisit the incident with the cupid bee, itself a popular staple of soap operas and romance novels. In fact she'd heard that cupid bees figured in the Night Fall series in no less than twenty-seven of its 365 volumes. The effects of the bee's sting were supposed to be temporary. Diana had made it her mission to confirm that this was indeed the case. Because even now, in the library, with Akko's cheek close to hers, and Akko's slim, clumsy fingers resting on her shoulders, she certainly felt those symptoms all over again.
"Volitional magic?" Akko said, her eyes on the book.
Diana shut it and cleared her throat. "Some extra research for History of Magic. Did you need something?"
"I was wondering if you had to time to help me with a spell."
Smiling, Diana nodded. "Of course." It was gratifying that Akko was willing to ask for her help these days instead of going on about that rival nonsense as she once had. They'd wielded the power of the Grand Triskellion together after all. They could accomplish amazing feats when their abilities were channelled together rather than being constantly at odds with one another.
Akko's face lit up. "Yes! Thank you, Diana. Now come on!"
"Wait, Akko–what–"
But Akko had snagged her by the wrist and was dragging her out of the library without pausing to answer.
#
A cool evening breeze whispered through the long grasses at the edge of the campus and tousled Diana's hair. Next to her, Akko was staring ahead with a look of fierce determination. "All right," Diana said, crossing her arms and peering at her friend incredulously, "now that we're here are you finally going to tell me precisely what you need assistance with?"
"I'll show you." Akko drew her wand and pointed it at the field stretching out before them. "Planntrais Deance!" The grass swirled and flickered and shifted for a moment, the lush green colour fading. Diana blinked... and when she looked again she was staring out at a vast desert of white sand.
She glanced at Akko and was puzzled to find her scowling at the sand and grinding her teeth. "The spell appears to have worked as expected."
Akko shook her head. "No, Diana, you don't understand," she wailed. She looked on the verge of yet another teary meltdown. "It was supposed to be snow."
"Ah."
"See?" She gesticulated furiously with her wand like a mad orchestra conductor. "I keep practicing but I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong."
Diana looked out over the field of sand and considered the matter. This spell was more spread out than the type Akko was used to casting. Akko's experience so far was with localized magic such as transformation spells or repair magic. Those required a tight focus on a single object. What she was attempting here was broader in scope, more like the illusions Chariot used to perform at her shows because they required the application of power over a wider area.
"I suspect the issue is that as you're pushing the spell outward it is thinning and losing focus. By the time it manifests, it's lost the clarity of focus required to complete the intended transformation. It becomes... blurry I suppose you could say." Akko sighed. Diana offered her an encouraging smile. "When you practice try to focus harder. Keep the image of what you're trying to create fixed in your mind even as you cast the spell."
Akko's face scrunched up and a drawn-out groan poured out of her. "I was hoping it was something simple. Like I was pronouncing the spell wrong and then I could fix it right away and get it to work now."
"Why in the world do you need to make snow at this very moment?"
Akko's mouth opened but for a moment nothing came out. She looked at Diana and then quickly turned back to the sand and spoke the word to undo the spell. A flicker of magic and the field returned to its natural state. At least she'd mastered that part. "Well... You see..." Akko wasn't looking at her. Instead, her eyes dropped to her wand as she kept fidgeting with it. "It's not really snow I'm trying to make."
"What then?"
"I was hoping I'd be able to show you but..." She sighed. "I guess I'll have to practice more."
The downcast look on Akko's face tugged at Diana's heartstrings. She truly wished she could help her, that she could make magic natural to Akko the way it was for most of the students here, but Diana knew firsthand that practice and perseverance were the only method of restoring the magical ability that had been lost to them both.
On impulse, she reached out and squeezed Akko's shoulder.
Akko's expression cheered immediately. "Maybe I should just show you anyway even if it's not perfect yet." Eyes bright with determination, Akko drew herself up and raised her wand again. "Planntrais–"
"Diana!"
They both looked up as the caller swooped down out of the sky and stopped her broom on a dime right in front of them. Normally, Diana would have chided Amanda for her showy flying but something in Amanda's expression stopped her. She looked serious–a rare and rather alarming thing for Amanda O'Neill. "There you are." Her eyes fixed on Diana. "Everyone's looking for you."
Diana stiffened. "Why? What's wrong?"
Amanda shrugged. "I don't know. Just that there's a message for you from home."
#
When Diana emerged from Mistress Holbrooke's office, the letter still clutched in her hand, Akko was waiting outside the door.
"Diana! Are you all right? You're as pale as a unicorn."
"I'm fine," she murmured, just as she had when the headmistress had asked. The letter was not good news.
"Liar," Akko snarled. Diana glared at her. It was just like Akko to be vexing when she needed a minute to think, to come up with a plan of action. "Why can't you just tell me?"
Diana shook her head. "A family emergency. I need to go home."
Like always, Diana was caught off guard when Akko surged towards her and took both her hands, squeezing tightly. "Just tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can help."
Diana looked away, unable to bear the worry in Akko's expression, those big brown eyes of hers. "There's nothing to be done. I need to go."
"I could come with you."
"No! Out of the question." Akko flinched and looked momentarily like a kicked puppy. Diana knew her reply had been too sharp but the thought of Akko coming along turned her insides to ice. If what her cousin had written was accurate then it would be dangerous for anyone to come to the estate. No, Akko had to stay at Luna Nova where she would be safe, where at least Diana knew she wouldn't have to worry for her. Akko would be safe; that at least would be a comfort in all this.
"But, Diana–"
"It would be dangerous for you to involve yourself." She tore herself away from Akko. She needed to get to her room, pack a bag, and get home as soon as possible.
"Diana..."
She paused but didn't turn back. "I'll come back to Luna Nova when I can."
If I can.