Moving around in circles, Akko can't stop herself from pacing from side to side. Diana had left the room and that gave the brunette witch some time to show how she truly felt. She didn't want to make her friend become more worried but time was going by and they still hadn't heard back from Croix-Sensei. Although only an hour had gone by since they last spoke with her, Akko was already terrified of what could happen to the older witch. She truly cared about her, perhaps even started to love her in a maternal way: Similar to the kind of love and devotion she had for Ursula-Sensei. Because, apart from them and Diana, no one else had ever cared about her or protected her in such a way.

Earlier, the three of them had been calmly listening to the conversations that were coming from Croix's cube, noticing how tense the people inside the mansion sounded. They had been relaxed about the fact that no one was trying to approach Croix or attempting to converse with her. And yet, it had been after listening to the conversation between the lilac-haired woman and her uncle that things started to get intense.

(Flashback)

"So parties of the elite are like that, huh?" Akko murmurs while sitting down in one of the chairs.

They had just finished listening to the conversation Croix had with her uncle and it made Akko be thankful to have a non-magical family. The way the two had talked with one another, hiding truths and speaking between the lines; it made Akko realize that there wasn't much to envy from their lifestyle.

Seriously, what was wrong with these people?

"Well, most people don't realize the intricacies of belonging to the nine olde families." Chariot explains to her. "What they're truly about and what it entails to be a part of them."

"And I thought Andrew's party was terrible because most people looked like they didn't want to be there…" the brunette says because that's the only party she had ever been to in the magical world.

And that one had also been filled with secrecy and lies.

"Andrew's party paled in comparison to the seriousness of this event." Diana tells her calmly. "Trust me, you do not want to be part of a meeting from one of the olde families."

"Croix despised them as well." the red-head informs them solemnly. "She was always so upset when her mother forced her to attend them. In fact, she was relieved when she was told to not attend them once she gave the leadership of the family away."

"Did you ever go to one Ursula Sensei?" Akko asks her mentor curiously.

"Although I come from a magical family, we're part of the newer ones. So, when I first joined Luna Nova many didn't take me into consideration because of that." she gives them a sad smile. "It was only when I met Croix that people started paying attention to me. Also, getting the help of the Shiny Rod allowed me to improve my magic and start winning competitions at school."

"That's right, you won the Lunar Witch award when you got the Shiny Rod." the brunette murmurs softly. "Similar to what happened to me that first week after the missile crisis."

"Akko, the Shiny Rod doesn't give the carrier more magic." Ursula explains to her softly. "It just helps you release your natural magic and talent easier. It aids you with concentrating your own magic and facilitating the process."

"So the magic that you used as Shiny Chariot was your own." Diana says understandingly. "It explains how you're currently one of the most powerful witches without using the Shiny Rod."

"So I was always using my magic?" Akko whispers hopefully.

"Of course!" the red-haired woman promises her quickly. "Can't you see how much you have advanced and the spells you're now using? They're a testament of the magical talent you have; a talent that is still waiting to be uncovered." she gives her student a bright smile. "With help and guidance, I'm sure your magic will flourish Akko and become more beautiful."

"And I know that Ursula and Croix-Sensei will help you in achieving that. As I will do too." the blonde witch promises her as well.

"Thank you…" Akko chokes out and starts feeling those old insecurities slowly getting away from her.

She looks at Diana with a bright smile.

"Thank you Diana, for offering to help me."

This makes Diana blush and look down in embarrassment.

Ursula notices this, of course…

"Friends like that help us grow and become better witches Akko." she tells her pupil softly. "Like you have Diana, I had Croix supporting me when I was younger and didn't know how to use the Shiny Rod."

"That's true. You two were very close when you studied at Luna Nova." Akko remembers warmly. "I bet you two were the most powerful witches of the school!"

"Croix became my friend way before the Shiny Rod appeared to me." Ursula smiles softly. "When I was a no one and she was the heir of the Meridies family."

"I assume Croix's mother wasn't very welcoming of your friendship." Diana says knowingly to the older woman.

"She refused to acknowledge Croix until she stopped seeing me. During that time, her mother was running for the position of Prime Minister and she didn't want anything or anyone jeopardizing that." the red-haired woman says softly. "She always saw our friendship as an obstacle because of my position in the magical world." she chuckles. "And when I became Shiny Chariot things certainly didn't improve."

"Because Shiny Chariot was seen as a rebel witch… As a traitor for using magic in that way." the blonde girl says softly.

"But you only stopped talking to Croix-Sensei after you became Shiny Chariot. And, you left Luna Nova one year before your last show." Akko says confused. "How was Croix-Sensei able to remain friends with you during all that time?"

Diana smiles warmly at the older woman.

"She abandoned the family." she says knowingly because she knew that if it were Akko and her in the same situation she would have done the same. "Before she graduated Luna Nova and soon after you got the Shiny Rod."

Ursula nods softly while blushing profusely.

"She chose you as well." Akko whispers brightly and both Diana and Ursula notice the way the brunette stares at Diana.

"Indeed." the red-haired woman says warmly. "And for a while she helped me with searching the words, consoling me when things didn't work out and saving me from trouble."

"Until the incident…"

"I failed to see that Croix was suffering from abandoning her family. That she was still bitter about not being chosen by the Shiny Rod and that I was not getting the results she had been expecting." Ursula says sadly. "At that time I didn't understand how much Croix cared about bringing magic back. I didn't realize that doing so would prove to her family, to her mother, that she had been right."

"And she grew bitter and restless because of that." Diana can understand her mentor's past peril. "So she used forbidden magic without telling you and that's when you two stopped talking."

"I was heartbroken." she confesses to the younger witches. "It felt like the ultimate betrayal and all Croix could see was her own desires." then she smiles softly. "We were both selfish with each other. I guess that's what happens when you're young and only worry about your own dreams."

"But still, even after Croix abandoned the family she still kept in touch with her mother…"

"Not many outside the family knew and Croix used that to her advantage." Ursula tells them. "Being the daughter of the Prime Minister does bring you some perks for researching magic."

"Still, Croix-Sensei did sign a contract. So why is the brand still on her? Shouldn't it be on her uncle?" Akko asks her mentor.

"I'm not sure." she responds solemnly. "Perhaps because the contract Croix's uncle used is newer magic, it failed to eliminate the effect of the Seal of Loyalty."

"Similar to the magic of the Words; its power came from its age." Diana thinks out-loud. "Hence, the effect of the brand wasn't nullified."

"So that means that in this meeting Croix-Sensei is considered the head of the Meridies." the brunette says worriedly. "And we wanted her to stay out of the spotlight."

"Well, none of us could truly know how the rituals work. Only active members of the families are allowed to see them." Diana explains. "Since Croix-Sensei abandoned the family before graduating Luna Nova and I haven't become an active member of the Cavendish family, we were in the dark regarding the matter."

Chariot nods in agreement.

"Right now, what we're hearing goes against the traditions of the magic community since the nine olde families were established."

"Well, traditions were meant to be changed." Akko says surely. "Especially ones that use torture and slavery to continue functioning."

"The dark side of magic." Ursula whispers sadly to her pupil. "Not what you had imagined when you first joined Luna Nova, right?"

"I was very naïve in believing that things would be that simple." the brunette chuckles bitterly. "But I still don't regret anything; coming to Luna Nova to learn magic, meeting all of you… I would never want to change it."

This makes Ursula and Diana give her warm smiles.

"Besides, things were not like this at first. The first week after the missile crisis…" she remembers warmly. "It was the best week of my life. Before all this madness started happening." the brunette looks at Diana. "Did you ever think that things would turn out this way?"

"I only thought of bringing magic back." Diana confesses softly. "I never considered the repercussions of doing so."

"Neither did we." Ursula admits to them sadly. "I think that we were all too worried about making magic return that we didn't consider if we should bring it back."

(End of Flashback)

Closing her eyes in exasperation, Akko tries her best to not get out of the room to search for Diana. She knew that the blonde witch was feeling tense about the situation and the last thing she wanted was to exasperate her.

"Can I come in?" she hears a soft voice ask her and the brunette sees her mentor standing at the door.

"Of course Ursula Sensei." she says immediately and the red-haired woman sits next to her. "Any news?"

"Unfortunately, nothing out of the ordinary. It seems that they're waiting for the Master of Bloadell to arrive to the mansion." the older woman replies carefully. "Diana is staying in the living room making sure that we don't miss anything."

"I should be there with her as well…" Akko murmurs bitterly. "Ever since this whole incident started, Diana has been taking care of and protecting me from everything."

"And is that so bad?" Ursula asks her softly.

"Of course it is!" she responds immediately. "Because it makes her become tired and more worried. She has to care about herself as well!"

Ursula stares softly at her.

"Don't you think that it calms Diana to know that you're close to her? That you're by her side?" And that perhaps that's the reason she wants to be with you?"

This makes Akko think in contemplation.

"I mean, wouldn't it be the same for you if the situation were the opposite? If Diana was the one in danger, wouldn't you want to always be next to her?"

The brunette witch nods in confirmation.

"One thing that I have noticed during the time we've spent together is how similar you and I are, Akko. I guess that's why you reminded me so much of myself…" Ursula chuckles softly. "And, I have learned that it is hard for people like us to realize that we need help; That we can't be the ones helping others all the time."

"I don't understand Sensei…"

"Before I got the Shiny Rod, I wanted to use my magic to make people happy. I knew what I wanted, but not how I could make it a reality. And, during my first year at Luna Nova I failed at every test and project I was asked to perform. It left me heartbroken because I was slowly realizing that perhaps I wouldn't be capable of making my dream come true."

Akko notices the way the red-haired woman's smile changes to one of complete elation.

"But, in perhaps the best day of my life, I almost killed one of the prodigy students of the school with my broom." Ursula chuckles warmly. "That was the day I met Croix and realized that I couldn't do things alone. That there were other people around me who had the same dream I had."

"The same dream…" Akko says softly. "Diana also wants to make people love magic. She wants to show the world how wonderful it can be…" she smiles warmly. "Which I guess is what brought us closer after I went to get her back."

"See…" her mentor gives her a knowing smile. "Don't push the people closest to you away. Accept them with everything that they come and enjoy what they have to give you. Don't question their presence or their motives if their actions are in order to protect you."

"I will try not to." she promises the older woman because she knows that she's right. "It's just hard getting used to the idea that there is someone out there that cares that much about me."

"You're a very bright girl Akko." Ursula gets close to her and caresses her cheek tenderly. "Who wouldn't want to get close to you?" she asks and is immediately hugged by the younger girl.

"Thank you." Akko whispers while holding her mentor tighter. "For coming to see me and console me after I was so awful to you a couple of hours ago."

"I was angry at myself as well." the red-haired woman tells her. "I don't like feeling so helpless. And, I care about Croix the same way you care about Diana. She is the only person that has been by my side since the start of everything. She is the one." she confesses to Akko surely.

Akko can understand, even if Ursula doesn't say those special three words, what her mentor feels for Croix-Sensei.

A bond that went beyond friendship and that had been nourished between the two of them for years…

I care about Croix the same way you care about Diana…

Did she care about Diana in such a way? She had never asked herself that question in regards to anyone. She had been more worried about finding Chariot and becoming a great witch. Which is why when the bee stung Andrew, she had not felt sparks, only embarrassment about being a second-hand victim of the animal's wickedness. And, in their next meetings, what Akko had felt for Andrew was deep care and camaraderie. To her, Andrew was more like her older brother who allowed her to get away with things.

But love… That was something else.

And, although Akko had never thought about being in love, she knew enough to realize when she liked someone. She had felt the emotions; the butterflies in her stomach, the happiness of knowing that the person she loves was close. The sadness of thinking that said person would abandon her. The worriedness of considering that she was being selfish and putting her loved one in danger. All of those emotions Akko had mistakenly considered them friendship. But now, after hearing and watching the way Ursula-Sensei talked about Croix-Sensei, it was pretty clear that what Akko felt was more than that.

Because, although being betrayed by your best friend certainly hurt; the pain Ursula-Sensei had described to her a long time ago was much larger and deeper than that.

It was the pain of a lover…

And Akko had confused it.

Hence, if Akko had to think about a person in her life that took priority over all others like the way Ursula-Sensei saw Croix; then there was one name that was at the top of her list. How watching that person from afar gave her chills. How being with her made Akko feel truly happy and complete. How accepting her help had calmed her heart and had allowed her to heal. How that person was slowly fixing her insecurities and showing her a whole new world.

Akko had been a fool. Too blinded because of what had happened to them, she had failed to realize the depth of her feelings. And now that she finally understood them, she was desperate enough to confess to said person the love she felt inside her heart. Because Akko knew that she could do it right now. She could because the owner of her heart was only a couple of feet away from her. The blonde witch had showed Akko time and time again that she had chosen her; that she was going to stay and protect her. The young girl with the blue eyes had proved to her with her words and actions the way she felt.

Akko was certain of her feelings.

She was just feeling embarrassed about the fact that it took her a long time to realize that the feelings she had for Diana Cavendish were because she was in love with her.

And that was so typical her…