by Kayla Bashe
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Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe
——Press UP to make a choice
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Something smells amazing, like the best, freshest, most mouthwatering pie in existence. When you turn around, there’s a pale, dark-haired girl with the most beautiful green eyes you’ve ever seen eating… well, it looks like potato chips, but then why does it smell so fruity?
“Hey, what are you eating?”
“They’re tiny pies. I made them using a mini-muffin pan and a lot of patience.” She shows you the elaborate latticework crisscrossing each pie’s surface, and you can’t help but be impressed. “Want one? I made plenty.”
“Sure, yeah, totally!”
Buckwheat honey accents the fruit’s sweet taste, and the pie crust is perfectly warm and soft and flaky. “Ohmigosh. I’m in heaven. Did you really make these?”
She nods, a crisp movement. “I studied in New Paris for a semester before I came here.”
“That’s so cool! So… you’re a fabulous cook. What else?”
“I hike, I look for plants in the woods, I wear sweaters, and if it’s raining, I stay inside and read.”
“What sort of books do you like?”
“I like books about girls who are dangerous. There’s too long of a literary tradition characterizing girls as victims, even persisting into our era—the ‘beautiful dead girl’ and all that.”
“Right, totally! You know, maybe we should hang out sometime. Dress up as monstergirls and pretend we’re eating the hearts of our enemies.”
She smiles, adjusting her white silk scarf—and that’s when her pendant falls out. It’s a leaf, just like yours. For some reason, though, you’re not surprised. The connection between you feels natural.
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Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe
——Press UP to make a choice
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The two of you climb a long staircase to your hall and find your suite. Opening the door, you catalog its features.
Comfortable-looking chairs in ballet pink suede. A fireplace with flames that, although they’re only holograms, give off a glow of cheery warmth—and, on top of the fireplace, there’s a vase of sunflowers, just like the ones in Pommy’s garden at home.
Decorated in soft greys and pale pinks, with subtle accents of brickwork, the room feels grown-up, yet comfy. You feel happy and safe here.
One girl hums to herself by the fireplace, while another sits in an armchair, eating something that stains her fingers.
“I’ll let you introduce yourself,” Magda says quietly, and ducks into her room.
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(1/2) Talk to the girl by the fireplace
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(2/2) Talk to the girl in the armchair
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Please turn forward a page
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Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe
——Press UP to make a choice
* * *
The two of you climb a long staircase to your hall and find your suite. Opening the door, you catalog its features.
Comfortable-looking chairs in ballet pink suede. A fireplace with flames that, although they’re only holograms, give off a glow of cheery warmth—and, on top of the fireplace, there’s a vase of sunflowers, just like the ones in Pommy’s garden at home.
Decorated in soft greys and pale pinks, with subtle accents of brickwork, the room feels grown-up, yet comfy. You feel happy and safe here.
One girl lies on the floor, reading a large book; another is humming to herself by the fireplace.
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(1/2) Talk to the girl by the fireplace
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(2/2) Talk to the girl who's reading
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Please turn forward a page
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Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe
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She’s humming along under her breath, conducting the music with her free hand.
“Hey! I’m the new girl—Lucy Angel.”
She smiles serenely as the music swells and the expanse of her movements increases.
“Hello?” You’re starting to get the feeling that she’s not listening to you—and when you think about it, it’s kind of funny and cute how she’s so wrapped up in her music. Actually, you do the same thing sometimes, come to think of it.
When you tap her on the shoulder, her eyes fly open. She gasps, startled—then smiles, clearly relaxing, and takes out her headphones. “You’re the new girl, aren’t you? I’m Chant… sometimes Chant Cadenza, but mostly just Chant.” She has a warm, resonant voice. You wouldn’t mind if she kept talking.
“That’s me. My name’s Lucy Angel. It’s nice to meet you.
“Where are you from?”
“Nowhere. Everywhere. I’d… rather not say. What about you, though?”
You tell her about your childhood at Sunlight House, small-town life, eating ice cream and catching fireflies, your many parents.
“That sounds lovely,” she breathes.
You’re curious about her, though.
“Can you tell me about your powers? I bet they’re amazing.”
“Sure! My powers are music-related. I can charm or paralyze enemies by singing. As a bonus, I have perfect pitch, and I can play any instrument as long as I’ve heard someone else play it. Sightreading complicated sheet music… well, that I had to work for.” A shy smile flickers across her face. “I think my powers come from my love of music. Singing is very important to me. What about you, Lucy Angel? What do you do?”
“Well, I’m telekinetic. Sometimes I can talk to people mind-to-mind if they’re receptive to that sort of thing. I can create and manipulate light and form swords out of magic, and I can heal minor injuries and illnesses. I’m good with animals—that might just be a personality trait, though—and I can make fruits and flowers bloom out of season. And…”
There’s a strange expression on Chant’s face. It’s a mix of “ohmigosh, this is hilarious” and “I can’t believe what I’m hearing.” “Wow. Anything else?” she quips.
“Well, to be honest? Those are just the powers that I use regularly.”
“You’re certainly a one-of-a-kind girl, Lucy Angel.”
“We all are,” you reply, smiling.
“What are you listening to?
“One of my favorite operas. It’s based on primary documents from the time of the First War. This song is called ‘Maona’s Aria.’ It’s beautiful. I’m thinking of singing it at the end-of-term recital.” She offers you an earbud, and you sit and listen together.
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Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe
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A girl in a dark green dress that looks like the sort of thing you’d wear to a violin recital, an obviously hand-knitted sweater made from multicolored yarn—with large wooden buttons—and a black knit scarf, is eating something from a paper bag. You can’t see what it is, but it’s staining her fingertips an inky color.
When you make your way over, she rises. About to shake your hand, she looks at her fing
ertips, clearly thinks better of it, and bows elegantly instead. “Abigail Gore. Quite pleased to make your acquaintance.” When she smiles, it’s as if you’re sharing a secret.
“Where are you from?”
“Not from anywhere in particular. I mean, I studied fine cuisine in New Paris, but—where are you from?”
It seems like she’s trying to evade the question; respectfully, you take the hint and talk about your beautiful hometown.
Subsequently, you ask “Do you know what your powers are?”
She nods happily. “My powers are related to the Wild Hunt. The forest as a whole, the principle of ‘eat or be eaten…’ Sometimes I can communicate with animals.”
“That’s so cool. What sort of things do you like to do?”
“I read, of course—horror, mystery, adventure. Anything complicated with drama and violence. I paint on occasion, sketch when the mood strikes me, and make collages and scrapbooks when I feel like it. I love to walk in the woods—and I cook. I took classes in New Paris before I came here. What do you like?”
You tell her about your interests and hobbies, and she listens intently.
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Please turn back a page
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Please turn forward a page
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Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe
* * *
She’s humming along under her breath, conducting the music with her free hand.
“Hey! I’m the new girl—Lucy Angel.”
She smiles serenely as the music swells and the expanse of her movements increases.
“Hello?” You’re starting to get the feeling that she’s not listening to you—and when you think about it, it’s kind of funny and cute how she’s so wrapped up in her music. Actually, you do the same thing sometimes, come to think of it.
When you tap her on the shoulder, her eyes fly open. She gasps, startled—then smiles, clearly relaxing, and takes out her headphones. “You’re the new girl, aren’t you? I’m Chant… sometimes Chant Cadenza, but mostly just Chant.” She has a warm, resonant voice. You wouldn’t mind if she kept talking.
“That’s me. My name’s Lucy Angel. It’s nice to meet you.
“Where are you from?”
“Nowhere. Everywhere. I’d… rather not say. What about you, though?”
You tell her about your childhood at Sunlight House, small-town life, eating ice cream and catching fireflies, your many parents.
“That sounds lovely,” she breathes.
You’re curious about her, though.
“Can you tell me about your powers? I bet they’re amazing.”
“Sure! My powers are music-related. I can charm or paralyze enemies by singing. As a bonus, I have perfect pitch, and I can play any instrument as long as I’ve heard someone else play it. Sightreading complicated sheet music… well, that I had to work for.” A shy smile flickers across her face. “I think my powers come from my love of music. Singing is very important to me. What about you, Lucy Angel? What do you do?”
“Well, I’m telekinetic. Sometimes I can talk to people mind-to-mind if they’re receptive to that sort of thing. I can create and manipulate light and form swords out of magic, and I can heal minor injuries and illnesses. I’m good with animals—that might just be a personality trait, though—and I can make fruits and flowers bloom out of season. And…”
There’s a strange expression on Chant’s face. It’s a mix of “ohmigosh, this is hilarious” and “I can’t believe what I’m hearing.” “Wow. Anything else?” she quips.
“Well, to be honest? Those are just the powers that I use regularly.”
“You’re certainly a one-of-a-kind girl, Lucy Angel.”
“We all are,” you reply, smiling.
“What are you listening to?
“One of my favorite operas. It’s based on primary documents from the time of the First War. This song is called ‘Maona’s Aria.’ It’s beautiful. I’m thinking of singing it at the end-of-term recital.” She offers you an earbud, and you sit and listen together.
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(1/1) >>
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Please turn back a page
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Please turn forward a page
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Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe
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The girl who’s lying on the floor, reading an enormous book, has dark brown skin and sleek dark hair. “Hmm,” she murmurs, turning a page. And then—“That is brilliant.”
“Psst. Magda,” someone else whispers loudly.
She looks up, shocked—and then her surprise turns to laughter, and she gets to her feet. “Hello. Absolute pleasure to meet you. Magda Pandora, book-related abilities.” She talks remarkably quickly, yet her perfect diction allows you to understand every word.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Lucy Angel. What exactly are book-related powers?”
“Well, basically, my attacks are related to books! I can summon sentient books to attack my enemies, use attacks based on events in novels, et cetera.”
“That’s amazing. What do you like doing?”
“Well, I read rather a lot—Chant always says that I can’t go anywhere without bringing a book, but that’s not true in the slightest.”
“It’s not?”
“There’s not even a scrap of truth to it. After all, I don’t bring a book when I’m taking a shower.” She giggles. “I do read in the bath, though.”
“She does read everywhere,” says the red-headed girl.
“Additionally, I tell stories and write poetry. I suppose you could say that I’m multitalented. What about you, Lucy Angel? What do you do?” The way she says your name makes it sound like a rare and special secret.
You tell her a bit about your many hobbies and everything you’ve accomplished.
“That is simply incredible. Have you read any good books lately?”
When you discuss your favorite works of literature, you find out that you have a ton of favorite books, plus extremely similar opinions about said books. Umm, friend for life much?
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Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe
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The next day, you have a Learning Period. You’re free to hang out in a comfortable classroom with large windows—or to do anything you want. (As long as you stay on school grounds, of course!)
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(1/4) Go to the library
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(2/4) Go to the gardens.
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(3/4) Go to the kitchen
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(4/4) Stay in the classroom and read
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Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe
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The next day, you have a Learning Period. You’re free to hang out in a comfortable classroom with large windows—or to do anything you want. (As long as you stay on school grounds, of course!)
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(1/4) Go to the library
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(2/4) Go to the gardens.
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(3/4) Go to the kitchen
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(4/4) Stay in the classroom and read
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