You are in your room, a cozy corner tucked high within the academy’s wing tower. The walls are lined with overstuffed bookshelves—most of them holding the weight of old books and neatly-kept scrolls.
There's a will‑o’‑the‑wisp in a lantern casting light on the large book in front of you. A cup of tea sits beside your open book, still faintly steaming.
Your finger traces a line of the text, eyes unblinking in concentration. The firelight catches the gold in your curls as your eyes flick down the page.
"Nine Witches…" you murmur to yourself, eyebrow slightly raised with a hand holding your chin.
You sit quietly and think to yourself.
"For a time while the witches were weak, they, the Nine Witches, established Luna Nova to rehabilitate them."
You reach for your cup of tea, fingers wrapping around the warm ceramic without really thinking.
"If I did a bit of research, I wonder what I could find about what they did to-" HM?
Your hand froze just short of your lips. The unfamiliar smell of the tea caught your attention.
"What's with this black tea's scent?" you muttered, lightly covering your nose with a finger, brows knitting in mild confusion.
Suddenly, you were startled by a voice that came behind you. A figure randomly popped out next to the bookshelves wearing a maid uniform, hair neatly tied up in a bun.
"Well, it's actually Japanese plum tea," she said offhandedly, like it was no big deal.
"AAAAAAHH!"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM!? You shot up from your chair, eyes wide as you stared at Akko—now standing confidently in front of you, hands on her hips and a tray balanced in one hand.
"You're so loud..." she muttered, as if barging into someone’s room was completely normal.
"—And... What's with that appearance..." You trailed off, unsure whether to be alarmed or just confused.
Akko averted her gaze, awkwardly pressing her index fingers together.
"Uh. Th-thats... My monthly allowance stopped getting.. No, more like, stopped coming.. O-oh well, can't be helped. The goblin staff got me a part-time job.."
You eased back into your seat with a quiet sigh, resting your hand thoughtfully against your lips.
"So your grades were so bad they stopped giving you allowance, huh." Your tone held sympathy—genuine, even if your words didn’t.
"UGH..." Akko groaned, burying her face in her hands at the harsh reminder.