The tiny dorm room smelled faintly of burnt sugar—again—as another pink spark fizzled out above Madoka's trembling wand hand. She blew a stray pigtail out of her face, cheeks flushing as the failed levitation charm sent her astronomy notes fluttering to the floor like wounded birds.

"O-oh no, not the lunar phases diagram—" She scrambled to gather the papers, nearly tripping over her own loafers. "N-no! I- I needed..."