Siobhan had never expected to ever become a Magical Girl.

In fact, she had never expected to end up at Kaleidoscope at all. She and Kleo had always dreamed of attending when they were kids. Of becoming knights just like Storm Vixen and Tesseract, two of the greatest magical girls of all time.

But Siobhan had been disappointed that fateful day, when she and hundreds of children had been brought before the Guardians for the Knight Selection Process.

She and Kleo had been inseparable, and had held hands as they had steeled themselves to face their destinies.

It was a mystery how the Guardians really chose their candidates. Even if a few would stray from their paths, they overwhelmingly selected for children that were kind, resilient, capable of acknowledging and learning from their mistakes, and ultimately heroic in nature. They seemed be able to pierce through a person's innate nature and nurture to see who a person really was and would become.

It was those qualities that they sought. And ideals she tried to live up to herself.

Kleo had always been sweet and outspoken, if a bit shy and insecure, and Siobhan had wanted nothing more than to raise up her best friend. Even when they were little, though, they did their best to embrace the values of cooperation, friendship, and loyalty. They were captivated by the story of Arcadia Vox, the all-loving hero had risen up to defeat Mortifera Nox herself. It was a story that resonated with the two of them, and had inspired them to pursue dreams of knighthood.

Their parents used to joke that they were practically sisters, and they might as well have been. Both sets of parents had lived next door to each other, and they both had older siblings who supported them.

Kleo's brother Ioannis had played Magical Wonderland with them, and their older sisters had taught them how to play make-believe with stuffed animals and dolls.

Siobhan's face fell as she remembered the day everything changed.

She would never forget the day their families took them to the local headquarters, and she stood on that crowded lawn, clutching Kleo's hand tightly as a dozen Knights had paraded by, swinging their weapons high and giving it their all to impress her and the other kids.

And she still remembered how Kleo had beamed, her eyes shining as she had turned to Siobhan, saying, "I want to be a knight like her when I grow up. I'll train every day and get even stronger, and then I'll protect and save everyone who needs it."

It had only made Siobhan more nervous as they approached the front of the line, shivering as she stood before the Guardians.

As they'd parted, Kleo had looked back at her, a defiant look in her eyes with a confident smile. "I'll become a Knight today. One that others can look up to and admire. Don't give up, okay? We're in this together."

She had turned away, clutching her necklace tightly as she returned Kleo's smile. "You'll be amazing, Kleo. You already are. Whatever they decide, remember that I'm here with you. I'll always be here for you."

They were explicitly told to be careful to not show it if they were chosen, of course, but they were both trying so hard not to cry at their big moment of destiny.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly as Siobhan waited in the back of the room, watching them come and go in the blinding white lights.

Then, Kleo had come out, her eyes brimming with tears as she rushed forward to hug her.

"Shhh," Shiobhan patted her back. "Hey, you okay, Kleo?"

"I-I did it," she whispered quietly. "I got a contract. Can you believe it?"

Siobhan stiffened. "That's wonderful, Kleo. I knew you could do it! When do you start training?"

"Tomorrow." Kleo choked back a sob, her voice tight. "I... I didn't know. Grandpa was a knight. He was super-secretive, but it all adds up now. He told me on the way out that he was a bigshot knight once upon a time, and it was only fitting that his granddaughter would continue his legacy. He said he'd done his best to keep me from being recruited. But I just... I want to be strong, Siobhan. I want to be just like... like Storm Vixen or... or Tesseract. Or gramps. He just smiled and said he'd help."

Siobhan sighed, seeing her number coming up as the line behind them shifted. "I know, Kleo. I'll support you. Hopefully side by side. I don't know what I want to do. But we'll always stick together, right? Being a knight isn't everything. We'll still play Magical Wonderland and dress up, just like we did when we were little."

She chuckled, sniffling as she straightened. "Sounds like a plan."

In the end, Siobhan had not been chosen.

She'd walked out of the ceremonial chamber, lined with cloaked figures in masks and capes, a deflated feeling in her stomach. Her father had just shaken his head, patting her back consolingly.

"No luck, huh? Well, try again next year, kid. Not everything can be easy."

Siobhan would never forget that one day. Never forget Kleo's eyes as she walked out, tears streaking down her face as Siobhan gave her a reassuring smile. She'd whispered her rejection to Kleo, who gasped and stayed silent with downcast eyes.

"It'll be alright, Kleo. We'll make the most of this."

Kleo had smiled, her lip quivering, before looking down as they followed their families out.

Something had changed then, though.

Kleo wasn't the same after that day.

She was just quieter, more focused, and more withdrawn. But at the same time, she grew more confident and assertive. She became faster and stronger, and soon, began to even overtake Siobhan academically. Kleo could run a mile in a minute, and had graduated to learning spells and casting magic before Siobhan had even considered the path of a Pioneer.

The Kleo that had once clung anxiously on Siobhan's hand, dreaming of being a magical girl, was slowly fading away, replaced by a confident, reserved, almost cocky and talented young woman.

For months, Siobhan had wondered what it would be like to be a magical knight herself, with a mysterious power to protect the weak and fight evil. Their dynamic had been strange, but it had survived. Siobhan found herself looking up to Kleo, their roles somehow reversed over the last few years. She was working hard to catch up with her, but with her best friend as a rising star, it was no easy feat.

Soon, Siobhan began to feel Kleo walk away from her, distance creeping into their conversations. And their time spent together became less and less. It wasn't a deliberate move on Kleo's part; it was just a natural progression. Kleo was a promising cadet in search of a team to sidekick with and all, and Siobhan couldn't blame her for focusing on that.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

But Siobhan had kept her promise. She would support Kleo wherever she went.

Siobhan stayed up through late nights to study for Kaleidoscope's exams and entrance tests, studying by candlelight in her bedroom. She'd dragged herself out of bed when she could barely stand, not wanting to miss a second of her future.

Eventually, the day had come. The day when they would be tested to get into the prestigious Kaleidoscope Academy. Even if Siobhan couldn't be by her side as a fellow Magical Girl, she could still support her best friend. Kleo's powers revolved around plant and energy manipulation, while Siobhan was more focused on knowledge and information gathering under the Analyst track, with a specialization in botany and biology."

It seemed like such a long shot, but she could finally stand alongside Kleo as a fellow peer and student.

And here she was, in a cruel twist of irony.

Siobhan had genuinely admired her back then. Kleo had grown from a shy, reserved girl into a bright and outgoing rising star. But deep down inside, Kleo had never truly overcome her anxieties and insecurities.

Despite surviving the Cataclysm by the skin of her teeth, Siobhan had never told Kleo about her status as an emergency contract holder. Kleo had reacted poorly to the news, venting to Siobhan while in her transformed green-haired magical girl persona. She'd always felt like an imposter at heart, and the news only fueled her discomfort and frustration.

She had moaned about how unfair it was, how emergency contracts couldn't possibly be as great as real magical girls, and how they were better off left for dead.

Unbeknownst to Kleo, her words had stung Siobhan to the core, even after all they'd been through. She had always doubted her place in the world, and Kleo's criticism didn't make her any more or less worthy of her feelings. Siobhan had arrived late for the commencement, and had been in the city when the portals began to open. It was the best she could do to get a pair of young brothers to a side alley and help them sneak away while dozens of monsters descended from the skies and ripped through the streets.

She'd survived through pure wit, luck, and ingenuity before she was discovered by a roaming Guardian. The Guardian had been impressed with her abilities and wits, and had offered her a contract in the midst of chaos. It had been the most harrowing and terrifying two nights of her life, where she'd gradually learned to control her powers and fend for herself and her charges as monsters stalked the city.

And so Siobhan had kept quiet as her old friend ranted away, pretending to be sympathetic. She'd ignored the pit of guilt gnawing at her stomach, reminding herself that Kleo hadn't meant it. She was just stressed and conflicted with her own position.

She'd held her tongue, up until arriving at her first formal exercise under the Magical Knight program.

It was fate, Siobhan supposed.

But perhaps it wasn't destined to be destiny after all.

In the real world, she'd just been a good-intentioned if not slightly awkward girl with a handful of skills that allowed her to scrape by. She had no reason to boast, no great talent that she could put on display, and few could really appreciate her skills when it came down to it. She and Kleo shared a green thumb and an interest in animals, but that was it.

They were friends, as they had always been, but they had been following different paths for a while.

Paths that had converged as Siobhan followed the purple tethers searching for her assigned partners, leading straight to Vespera and Neo Dymium.

They had immediately stared at her with suspicion, their conversation dropping to a hushed whisper as she approached. The standard admissions students and emergency contract holders had separate orientations, making them easy to identify. She could see it in their eyes — a disdainful, suspicious stare, with a dismissive swagger that left a bad taste in her mouth.

But the fact it was coming from her oldest and dearest friend, of all people, hurt far worse.

Siobhan had earned her place. There had been no back door or outside influence to help her through, and she'd fought for it through the mundane, excruciating route with no special talents or pedigree to help her.

And so, she'd been left on her own when the gates opened and they were introduced to the vast forest beyond, with Vespera and Neo arguing over a clue and a path to the other side of the field

She had done her best to focus on the task at hand, keeping an eye on their surroundings as Vespera and Neo locked in some tense standoff. And though she was torn, conflicted, and a little bitter, she made her best effort to stay on course.

After all, she'd always done her best to support her friends, and their differences had never stopped them from staying connected before.

But her voice had only been met with scorn and dismissal.

It was ironic, in a way. Vespera had always believed in love and redemption, beauty and grace, and the strength of kindness.

She had been a powerful voice for hope and change back in their childhood home, always making her views and beliefs heard and giving hope to those who felt lost or hopeless.

In the end, though, she'd become cold, callous, and slightly cruel as she dismissed Siobhan's efforts to engage and cooperate, rolling her eyes and striding ahead, choosing her arrogant partner over a girl she could not have known was Siobhan. They'd both lost their tempers at the same time, and cursed each other out to the point Siobhan couldn't even remember what they'd even been saying.

And so, Neo Dymium and Vespera left her behind.

It was disappointing and heartbreaking, and Siobhan could have sworn she saw a shadow of regret and guilt flicker in her eyes. But in the heat of the moment, she had been too bitter and frustrated to care.

So, she'd let it go.

And suddenly, she was alone.

A lone willow in the forest.

She had been foolish to ever think she could show up and inspire Kleo, let her know who she was, and restore their friendship. But when push had come to shove, her friend had pushed her away and turned her back on the one person who had cared for her through thick and thin.

Siobhan held back her tears as she walked through a clearing, only to hear a boy clearing his throat from her side. She blinked, turning in surprise as she caught sight of a stern-looking boy of average height with a well-built frame, a long black trenchcoat, large sunglasses, and long, spiky black hair.

"You too, huh?" he muttered, shaking his head.

Siobhan raised an eyebrow, tilting her head. "Huh?"

He sighed, rolling his eyes. "You're an emergency contract holder, right?"

She blinked in surprise, before nodding stiffly.

"Yeah, I remember you at orientation. I was asking if you got told to shove it by your randomized groupies," he muttered, folding his arms as he stared into the forest.

She frowned, her cheeks burning with humiliation. "Yeah. They did. I feel like I was meant to be an afterthought, right? They just zoomed off and ditched me."

He had a bit of an nasally voice. The type you'd hear from someone who was just... tired of witnessing dumb things. Whatever they were.

The boy gave a short, bitter laugh, running his fingers through his hair. "Well, I expected some bumpy roads but I didn't expect a freaking tribalistic witch hunt. Not sure what the hell they're on, but not a good look."

Siobhan studied him curiously, frowning. "You've been through it too, then?"

He snorted, rolling his eyes. "Yup. Guilty as charged. I got ditched as well. No skin off my back, though. Not much I can do to stop these morons, so..."

She smiled awkwardly, shifting uncomfortably. "Ah, yeah, I get that. Well, my name's Forest Willow. Want to work together, by any chance? If you'd be open to a partner, I mean. I'm not going to judge."

He stopped, narrowing his eyes as he studied her intently before laughing out loud. "I go by Null for now. Null Pero. Not that it's important. Hmm, yeah. Why not, Forest Willow? We might as well team up, eh?"

She breathed a sigh of relief, smiling brightly. She hated being alone in a big scary forest, and it was comforting to know she had someone else to watch her back now.

"So, what can you do?"

Null gave a small shrug, his expression mildly amused. "Oh, plenty of things, though I know how to incapacitate pretty much anything in this forest that would pose a threat. I can't transform beyond the Cadet Mode or what they call 'Incognito Shift' though. I haven't quite figured out my guiding core principles or whatever else it takes to fully unlock my soul."

Siobhan's eyes widened, blinking in surprise. "Whoa. I see. What's your natural affinity toward then?"

He smirked, letting out a dry laugh. "Convergence. A bit of area denial and a lot of chaos. With me, the floor is basically lava — well, more like violent molasses. I can extend my aura through the ground I'm standing on and shift the... energies of any specific territory that comes within range. It carried me pretty hard through the Cataclysm, but without my full combat form, I'm basically just a human with a cool set of skills."

Siobhan nodded slowly, studying him with a curious frown. "Well, that sounds useful! At least for this exercise, and I could use the help."

She was tempted to bring up her old friend, but she held her tongue.

"Well, let's get on ahead," she said quietly, drawing in a deep breath. "No use in looking back, right?"

Null nodded sagely, following in her footsteps. "Yeah, I'm with you there. Onward and upward. Yadda yadda."

Siobhan grinned, laughing as she pushed through the dense foliage.

"Know what, Null? I like your style."