A Brand New Beginning

The Disease

Rain poured over Luna Nova as lightning illuminated the skies. Akko walked towards Diana's dormitory with a red flower in her hand. "I picked this one for her yesterday," she thought, "I hope she likes it!" her smile then faded when she saw several teachers outside Team Blue's dormitory, they all seemed worried. Akko's heart dropped as she let go of the flower, making it hit the floor gently. "Diana!" she cried. Hannah and Barbara lifted their heads as they saw Akko run towards them. "Excuse me! What's going on?!" she asked as she made her way through the crowd of teachers surrounding Diana's bed. "Stay back, Miss Kagari!" Professor Finnelan said. Akko noticed she was wearing a mouth cover and latex gloves. Diana laid in her bed nearly motionless--she looked almost dead. She struggled to breathe and she was trembling violently. She would leave loud but soft groans as if she was in pain. "Chariot! What's wrong with Diana?" Akko tugged Chariot's sleeve. "I'm afraid she has contracted an unknown magical disease," Chariot replied. "Is she going to die?!" Akko sobbed. "No," Chariot replied, "but she will be in pain."

--"There's a cure, right?" Akko asked nervously, "Please! There has to be a cure!"

--"Miss Kagari! Silence!" Professor Finnelan shouted. "Let's go talk outside," Chariot suggested, leading Akko back outside with Hannah and Barbara, "Listen, Akko. I need you to be strong. There has not been a cure yet for this disease, for it is unknown. We can just hope Diana will get better within time. As for you two," she looked up to Diana's teammates, "you two will be moved to temporary dormitories for health measures. You cannot be in there while Diana has the disease."

--"Yes, professor," Hannah and Barbara said in unison. The rest of the day seemed eternal to Akko. Every minute that passed stressed her. With Diana sick, she felt how her heart became heavy. What if Diana doesn't make it? She knew her mother died of a disease. She remembered Diana lost both her parents at a young age. What would be of the Cavendish family without their head? Every thought that spun in Akko's head slowly drove her into despair. Things started to worsen by the following morning when more Luna Nova students had fallen ill to the same unknown disease Diana had fallen in. Adelina and her other teammate had to be moved because Candice had contracted the disease. In Team Blue, Michael and Barbara caught the disease as well. Within her team, Akko heard the news that Klaus and Sucy had fallen ill as well. "Sucy!" Akko cried when Sucy fell to her knees. "I don't feel very well," Sucy said, "I feel like the flames of Hell are licking me."

Every student that had fallen ill was moved to another part of the campus because the infirmary was overpopulated. Sooner than later, teachers started contracting the disease as well. "Until further notice, all classes will be canceled," Professor Holbrooke announced, "I will reunite with the heads of Starshine Academy and Solarium Academy to discuss measures. Be safe." Meanwhile, at Starshine Academy, nurses and doctors ran up and down the infirmary. Yoon-hee sat alone in her dormitory. Clarisse had fallen ill to the disease and was instructed to leave the infirmary. She looked sadly the mouth cover she was given, feeling worried about how her friend was in pain. All the while, Courtney and some of the Starshine Student Committee members had contracted the disease as well. "I do not care about the cost," Headmaster Diamond shouted frustrated, "I want to find a cure and I want it now!"

--"This disease is not like anything we have seen before," Professor Lawrence said, "I am afraid there is no cure. It will have to be a question of time."

--"Time?! A question of time?!" Professor Diamond shouted angrily, "My daughter is dying of this epidemic and you say there is no cure?! What kind of warlock are you, Anton?! You should find a cure! We have everything we need!"

--"Technology is not always the solution to our problems, Marcus," Professor Lawrence replied, "We must conduct research first. This may be a magical disease and no technological advances can help us out!"