With that long rant over, the students were given a map of the building and free roam. How was giving a bunch of children ranging from 7th to 9th-grade free reign a good idea? If I had an answer, I'd surely tell you.

Not that it changed anything for Lucy. She was smart enough to not cause an explosion accidentally... And no teacher alive is capable enough to stop her from creating one intentionally...

Lucy looked at the map, taking back what she thought earlier. She didn't take it into account because it didn't matter to her but including the dorms of this place, this school is massive.

"Recreational hall? Do they make it this vague on purpose because that is so mean and I love it." Lucy muttered to herself

Wandering about, she was suddenly snapped out of her own world as she heard music start playing. It sounded... Magical.

Literally.

Mana was flying past her to the pace of the music. It was converging somewhere.

'A magical tool? A member of the Clergy?' She wondered.

Unlike Witches who used their own bodies as a catalyst for magic and Sentinels who used a living being in the form of their Agent, the Church used enchanted items to get their desired effects.

'Why would they be using magic in a school though?'

Lucy had a bit of time to burn before the day ended and she was quite curious as to what was going on.

Taking a quick glance at her map, she saw that a musical prep room was nearby, the sound was most certainly coming from there.

She wasn't the only person curious about the situation. A few other students were curiously moving toward the music. Aside from it being able to move magic, the song they were playing was just quite nice to listen to, even if Lucy wasn't a particularly huge fan of classical piano it just sounded... Mesmerizing.

She and the other students kind of just awkwardly looked at each other with 1 girl in particular blushing and running away from the small group that formed.

Looking at the 2 others that remained with her, she assumed that the girl ran because of a boy.

He didn't wear the school uniform and had a cap on with an Ahoge sticking out of it. Long hair, heterochromia, tall, yeah, if Lucy was shy she'd have the same reaction probably.

'Wait…Oh my god, I have a type...' She suddenly realized.

Her sudden realization of her ideal man being long-haired pretty boys aside, the group all glanced in to see a somewhat petite girl playing a beautiful tune on the piano.

Seconds passed and turned into minutes. The other two left as their curiosity was sated but not Lucy. Mana was still flying towards this girl but quickly passed even her and left out an open window.

It was like she didn't even know she was controlling the mana.

"If you're gonna spy on someone, you should hide yourself better."

'Oh shit. I was found out!' Lucy panicked inwardly, thinking of a way to not look like a creep.

"I wouldn't call it spying. Just... Admiring."

Real smooth...

Her words caused the unidentified girl to chuckle before turning around.

Black hair and starry eyes, the pale girl sat with her chin resting on her knee.

"If you wanted to admire you could have made yourself known. Although, those three others did a wonderful job of that for you."

Lucy was mildly flustered with that remark.

'So it was them! But... Even I barely heard them leaving over the music. How sensitive is her hearing?'

"Ah, I'm Lucy! Lucy Lotus. I'll be attending this school as of today in the 8th grade!"

"Lucy-chan, huh? A beautiful name for a beautiful girl."

Hearing those words, Lucy froze as her face flushed completely red and her eyes grew wide. It wasn't out of embarrassment, rather blood was just flowing to her head as her mind ran a mile a minute.

Her brain had never worked so fast. At least, not in such a lax situation where adrenaline wasn't pumping. It felt like her Chronomancy had activated without her doing anything.

'The exact same words...' She repeated to herself inwardly over and over again.

The exact same words that Deus Ex Machina said to her 9 years ago. Even if it was a coincidence, the fact that it even happened was enough to make Lucy stop and think about it.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

The girl let out another chuckle, this time while moving her bag onto her lap.

"You're also quite an interesting one. I'm Sayaka. Kawaguchi Sayaka. 9th Grade. Looks like you're my kouhai then."

'I figured as much but she's Japanese, huh? If I recall correctly, didn't Diana mention that the specialization of mystics from Southeast Asia was limited to Exorcism and Spiritualism? Is there a reason she's different?'

"Sayaka. Such a pretty name!" Lucy said after regaining herself from her possible delusions.

"So h-"

Speaking of Diana. Lucy was abruptly interrupted by her phone ringing.

"Oh shoot. I gotta go. Was nice meeting you!" Lucy smiled and waved.

Sayaka returned the gesture before Lucy ran off.

The moment she ran off though, Sayaka's expression changed. Her innocent smile turned smug as she looked at her bag.

"So, what did you think Yuki? She's a Witch right?"

Popping out of Sayaka's bag was a small white and gold snake.

"I ssensse Gaia'ss power on her. Be careful."

"Gaia? I see. Just as we lose contact with her, another girl appears with the same Mana signature... Is it finally starting?"

...

"You sure you don't wanna come over? It'll be a great surprise!"

"Yeah, last time you said that, you summoned a child of an Eldritch being."

"Right... Good times..."

"You nearly destroyed all of France."

"Nearly. It didn't happen! Plus, Auntie was there to deal with the aftermath!"

The bickering and banter between Lucy and Diana continued as the two made their way to Lucy's place of residency.

Since it was her first day and Diana didn't have any extra work she needed to do, Diana offered to drive Lucy home.

"Right... Anyways. Have you had your talisman around?" Lucy asked.

Stopping at a red light, Diana turned to Lucy, shaking her head in confusion.

"No, why? If they were around 24/7 the church would catch on sooner or later."

Hearing this Lucy nodded. Diana had some of the best surveillance abilities. One of the reasons she had gotten the epithet Moonlight Witch was because it was like the very stars were watching you for her.

"There are two people aside from us who are capable of manipulating Mana at that school. One is most likely with the Church."

Well that certainly wasn't what Diana was expecting to hear

"How do you even know that? I'd notice if anyone used mana to activate a talisman much less a spell." Diana questioned genuinely.

Lucy shrugged.

"The girls name was Sayaka... Sawa..."

"Kawaguchi? The Japanese girl? Damn~ You've not even attended a class yet and you already have a senior hitting on you. Talk about smooth~"

"S-shut up! An act to get information was all it was. Humans aren't worth getting worked up over."

"Mhm~ I'll look into her. If she really is with the church It'll be troublesome. I'll prepare you a high-ranking cloaking talisman just in case."

"That'd be much appreciated."

"What about the other one though?"

Lucy thought about that for a minute. By the time the assembly ended their signature was gone. At first, Lucy thought it was a Witch who didn't know of their heritage but that was clearly wrong.

"I'm not exactly sure. There was some Mana circulating in the Auditorium. I noticed because it was really close to me but I couldn't pinpoint it."

"Alright... Don't push yourself. And what's so important that you need to look into exactly?"

Lucy paused considering if she should answer that truthfully or not. Frankly speaking, Diana was far too powerful to hide her identity as a sentinel forever.

"On my way to school... I got attacked by an Invader..." Lucy said, rubbing the back of her neck while chuckling nervously.

Diana nearly swerved off the road hearing that.

"AND YOU DECIDE TO TELL ME THIS NOW WHY?!"

"Okay, listen... Promise you won't be mad."

"Lucille. I will send you to another dimension." Diana said calmly with a smile.

Lucy felt shivers run through her very being.

"Honestly... I considered it for a while and then realized you'd figure it out anyway."

Diana could only sigh at Lucy's antics.

"Yeah so uhm. You know the Operators that worked around here? Aside from 2, they all died and 1 of the remaining ones got her Mana Core crippled... I plan to go visit her sometime soon."

"The fuck you are?!"

As the light turned green, Diana placed a talisman on the wheel and the car began driving itself.

"Absolutely not! They're dangerous! Freaks! You're going to walk into such an uncertain situation?! Hell no!" Diana freaked out.

Lucy shrugged, expecting such a response.

Unlike her who adored Sentinels, most Witches, ESPECIALLY Diana despised them. The weakest Sentinels tend to be at the Warrior Rank, something that takes others a decade on average to achieve.

"Given 5 years, you're expected to surpass mother in power. You cannot talk about being a freak."

"No, BECAUSE I'm also a freak, I can. Lucy, I do understand your admiration but it's dangerous. If you're put into dan-"

"So is throwing me into the Forest that connects Earth and Hell but I came out of that alive! I'll be fine! Plus, it's not like you can stop me. I only told you because Rain is urging me to."

Diana paused and only shook her head.

"Fine, however... Will the second Sentinel be there?"

'Considering I'm the other one who survived...'

"If I had to guess, yes."

'Honestly... I can't believe this girl... Priests, Hebephiles, and now Invaders? If I didn't know better I'd say she was stuck with a curse... I'll have to call auntie and ask about it...' Diana mused to herself.

"... Don't get yourself hurt."

"I'll consider it."