A New Beginning (Akko x Andrew) *HIATUS*

Holiday Break (Part 2)

Within Luna Nova castle lies many secrets. Dark and mysterious secrets that were not meant to be rediscovered; many of which were kept underneath the castle and deep inside the dungeons. Dungeons that holds many dangerous traps and monsters. Entry to these places are forbidden. Those who try to do so may be cursed with terrible fate...

Unaware of the potential dangers, three students, Atsuko Kagari, Sucy Manbavaran, and Lotte Yanson were about to enter one of these mysterious dungeons by the instruction of Headmistress Miranda Holbrooke. They were to be accompanied by Professor Chariot du Nord whose job was to look over the girls' safety. Their mission was to locate the Pandora Box and bring it back to the headmistress, unopened. The students--minus Akko--were worried since the mission seemed too dangerous for witches in trainings. After all, students were not normally allowed to enter the restricted parts of the school. Even their guardian, Chariot, was feeling uneasy about it. Akko, alone, was the only one who was excited about their "quest" and the adventure that awaits them.

They arrived in front of a storage room. Professor Chariot unlocked the door with a key and led them inside. Akko made a confused face. The room was dark and small. It had nothing except a few old tables and chairs that were covered with dust and spider webs.

"Umm professor... Why are we here?" Akko asked, fearing that they have to clean the dirty room as punishment.

"Wait, Akko," Chariot replied as she was searching around the tables in the corner, "Ah," she pressed on something and it made a click, "Here it is."

The ground started to tremble and the wall next to the professor started to move. Lotte lost balance and cling on to one of the tables to prevent herself from falling. "What is going on!?!" yelled Akko.

The floor stopped trembling. The place where there once was a wall had turned into a staircase leading down. Akko left her mouth open wide in awe. She peaked down and could not see the end.

"Alright everyone, light your wand and follow me closely," Chariot instructed and started walking down the mysterious stairs. The red team looked at each other and nodded. They casted a spell to illuminate their wands and followed their professor. The group walked down the spiral staircases, which seemed like a never ending pathway. Professor Chariot led the way and followed by Akko, Lotte, and Sucy in that order.

Lotte clenched her fist, and her heart started to raise faster as nervous and worries hit her. Sucy looked at her friend and noticed her behavior. She reached forward and touched her shoulder as an attempt to calm her down. Lotte looked over shoulder and saw Sucy smiling at her slightly. She blinked and that image disappeared, replaced by Sucy with her usual, emotionless frowns. Sucy let go of her. Lotte looked back foward and tried to smile. I swear I saw Sucy smiling, she thought to herself.

They finally reached the end of the stairs, which revealed a hallway that also seemed to be going on forever. They could not see much since everything was dark except for the lights on their wands.

"Wow!" Akko spoke, "I never knew Luna Nova has a secret dungeon. This is awesome!"

"Awesome is far from truth, Akko," Chariot replied as she continued to lead the way, "This place was kept a secret for a reason."

Akko tilted her head and asked, "Say, professor, why did Headmistress Holbrooke assigned us with this task? I mean the dungeon was supposed to be a secret, right?"

"I can't tell you more than what the headmistress already told you girls. I'm sorry."

Chariot stopped when they arrived at a giant door. She whipped out a paper from her sleeves and looked at it and at the door, back and forth a few times. She then put it away in her sleeves and prepared her wands. She took in a deep breath and sighed.