Our Ideal Place (Little Witch Academia)

Chapter 2: A Strange Potion

Her footsteps echoed across the labyrinthine corridors under the manor. Diana opened the door to the potions workshop and entered. With a flick of her wand, the lamps lit, revealing a room filled with jars of various exotic ingredients and glass apparatus interconnected by metal and plastic pipes. She closed the door and leaned against the wall. A smiled formed on her lips and she giggled. She had done it. Her aunt and cousins were out of her way for at least the entire summer. As a bonus, Akko was here. She had not planned to invite her but when she overheard her complaining about not wanting to go home, she impulsively decided to take a chance.

Ah, the things they would do together. Where should they start? A tour of Wedinburgh? Maybe visit Avebury? They must go to the fair, of course. She smiled sweetly. All in due time. But first, she must attend to the matter at hand.

While Akko was hugging Lotte with tearful goodbyes, Sucy pulled her aside and gave her a small bottle with purple liquid.

"Take it if you don't want Akko in your dreams," whispered Sucy.

"What's this?"

"To counter Dream Walker."

"Sucy! I'm going to miss you!" Akko turned Sucy around and hugged her tightly.

Sucy obviously gasped. "H-hey... I can't breathe..."

Diana didn't get a chance to ask Sucy for more details before they left Luna Nova. She would have to find out what it was on her own. It didn't take long to retrieve a book that described Dream Walker. She gasped in surprise when she read it. The potion prevented an intruder from entering one's dreams. Does that mean that Akko is a Dream walker? Then her blue eyes narrowed. If she is, what was she doing in Sucy's dreams? Dreams were very personal and intimate. Her mind began to imagine Akko and Sucy together in a mushroom filled paradise.

"No, no, no..." She shook her head vigorously to banish her thoughts. With a deep breath to calm herself, she reasoned that since the potion exists, Sucy created it and her motivation was to keep Akko out of her dreams. Therefore, Sucy didn't wish to share something so personal with Akko, so her relationship with Akko was most likely platonic. In fact, she had often seen Sucy playing a prank on Akko whenever she fell asleep in class. Given Sucy's tendency for jokes, she had to make sure.

She walked to a table with various instruments and illuminated an orb. Taking the bottle from her pocket, she held it over the orb and let the orb's light pulse through the liquid. With summoned quill and paper, she listed the patterns of the liquid against various pulses. Next, she put single drops of each liquid on several dishes to determine its individual ingredients. After consulting several books for distillation agents, she prepared the necessary components. If she had done everything correctly, the ingredients will separate and she would get confirmation that the potion is indeed a Dream Walking blocker.

While waiting for the results, she continued her research. The dream walking ability was rare. "You continue to surprise me, Akko," thought Diana.

At about a quarter before noon, she noted the progress of the reactions and locked the room. It was time to get Akko for lunch.

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Artist shoutout for this chapter is plastic-pipes! Check them out at deviant art!