Zinnia Broadstone

Back at Iori's place, everyone sat down on the floor before Carol decided to speak up. "My birth name, was Zinnia Broadstone. As it suggests, I was born into the Broadstone family."

"What is it?" Mimoko asked. 

"A family of witches."

Mimoko and Iori blinked in silence for a few seconds. "Wait, so then all those guys that attacked us-" 

"Yes, they were my relatives from the Broadstone family." 

"But why are they after you?" Mimoko frowned. 

"If I had to guess, it's because of the DNA stream. I don't know the exact reason, but if I had to fathom a guess, it's likely because it exposes my lineage, or rather, my aunt's lineage, as Japanese, and worse, a blood relation to a person like Iori, who she hates with every fiber of her being."

"Huh? What's her beef with me?" Iori scowled. 

"My aunt, Fianna, is currently running for president. And throughout her entire political career, she's been vehemently anti-Japanese."

Iori's scowl intensified. "Ah, so she's just flat out racist. And let me guess, she's "No fun allowed", no ecchi shit, just "complete control for me, misery for thee"." 

"That's right. Though my mother's the one that married into the Broadstone family, Aunt Fianna's always been the most political savvy of Grampy's children. As such, Mother Salem, the Broadstone matriarch, decided to adopt her into the family." 

"So can you use magic?" Iori asked. 

"No... No aptitude. Though the magic the family uses isn't exactly the most advanced stuff. Short-range teleportation, usually of small items into people, and levitation are the most common ones, though there are some with unique abilities like Emmie. That being said, I think 30 or 50 meters is the maximum range of their spells. Ironically, it's then men of the family that posses the most magical aptitude, yet they're often reduced to mindless living tools."

"That sounds horrible," Mimoko frowned. 

"So what led to you being on bad terms with them?" Iori asked.

Carol somberly smiled. "Well, with no magical aptitude, I was forced to go all-in on the second major trade of the family, politics..." 

August, 2018...

A young Carol with dark pinkish hair, grinned as her mother, Theresa, drove her to college.

"Zinnia, tell me will happen today," Theresa glared.

"Uh, I start college?"

"MORE specific!"

"Uh, I hit it off big?"

The car screeched to halt as Theresa slapped Carol across the face. "You insolent, immature, young woman. Today's the day you make your political debut. As such, you are to act like a mature woman worthy of the Broadstone name."

"Thought you always said women should express themselves the way they want-"

"DON'T YOU SMARTASS ME, YOUNG LADY!"

Carol trembled in terror as another harsh slap befell her cheek.

"Your immaturity is a disgrace. Now I expect you to hit it off well with Miss Berrinche, the head of the Misericordia faction of the political club here on campus-"

"Lol, Imma join the Ratiocinatio-"

Before Carol could finish, Theresa clutched her jaw and slammed her head into the seat. "You utter such filth again from your lips I will have you sent to a behavioral correction facility. Do I make myself clear?"

"But it was just a joke-"

"We do not "joke" in this family, nor do we laugh like loons, support degenerate media and actions, nor try and wisecrack like you always do. And if you think you can just gallivant and try to engage in degenerate acts behind my back at this campus, you're wrong. This is a sacred college for the political elite that prides itself on producing young political minds. Now, are you going to behave, or will I have to delay your enrollment to have you spend a year at a correctional facility?"

Carol trembled and stared into her mother's bloodshot venomous eyes and tearfully nodded that she did. Theresa glared and released her before taking her foot off the brake.

"Every time, why does she always gotta be so venomous when it comes to cracking jokes and just being funny? I thought the Misericordia party was all about compassion," Carol thought.

Arriving at the college, Carol was quickly acquainted with Imelda who decided to test Carol's merits by arranging a mock debate before the student body. 

"Miss Broadstone, why should we elect you president of the United States of America over the heartless fossil, Wiley Frisch?" Imelda smiled. 

Carol grinned and happily took the mic. "Well duh. I get elected, I post my nudes. Oh, and everyone who voted for me gets to grope my breasts on inauguration day."

The next thing she knew, Carol was on the ground bleeding and quickly losing consciousness along with all her teeth, to Imelda's kicks.

"YOU HEARTLESS TRASH! HOW DARE YOU UTTER SUCH DEGENERACY FROM YOUR LIPS!" Imelda fumed as she kicked Carol's teeth in.

"IH UZ US A OKE [IT WAS JUST A JOKE]!"

"We don't joke like that! Heartless degenerate trash does!"

"I AN ACK OKES [I CAN CRACK JOKES]!"

"NO YOU CAN'T! In fact, it seems you are in dire need of reeducation in compassion."

"O [No] I-"

Imelda quickly shut Carol up with another kick to the jaw. At this point, Carol had no teeth left, and would require medical attention for her jaw, yet Imelda didn't care.

"Oi, could ya stop beating up that girl?" a voice rang up.

Everyone turned to notice a boy with squinty eyes and a bowlcut. The boy was Christian Barnes, the man who would eventually become Carol's boyfriend and die protecting her.

"Back off you heartless filth. This heartless wretch is being disciplined for breaking the law," Imelda glared.

"And what law did she break?"

"MULTIPLE!"

"All she did was make a funny joke, and unironically, I'd vote for her."

"FOUL DEGENERATE! HOW DARE YOU!"

"Right back at you. You're beating that girl to death."

"Absolute compassion has NO tolerance for heartlessness! Did you not hear Manny's latest speech!? If we are to be compassionate, we must be ABSOLUTELY compassionate. NO leeway will be tolerated for heartlessness!"

"You disgust me. You're beating a girl to death, and you rag on about being "compassionate"."

As Christian attempted to help Carol, a wall of students blocked him.

"This woman is Zinnia Broadstone, who hails from the Broadstone family. We will not allow you to taint her any more," one sneered.

"Yes, it was THIS man who tainted her, thus he must be expelled, EXPELLED!"

Some of the students began chanting "Expel, expel" while most stared in silence.

Imelda began to burst a blood vessel as she angrily popped two cigarettes into her mouth. "Why do I not hear cries against injustice!? Will you stay silent and let this heartless trash pollute our world!? Expel, expel, EVERYONE!"

Everyone meekly joined in the chanting, as Christian let out a sigh. "If the school is like this, maybe enrolling elsewhere isn't a bad idea. But treating that girl like that? I can't stand that. I'll have to try helping her if I can," he thought as he watched Imelda drag Carol away. 

...

When Carol finally came to, she found herself strapped to a chair in a dimly lit room.

"So you're awake. I just finished talking with your mother. She was disappointed to say the least, but sadly not surprised. You were in a degenerate mindset on your way here, which explains why it carried over. Looks like you truly will be tough to reform, but it's a duty I must perform," Imelda glared.

Carol attempted to speak, however her mouth hurt too much to move.

"Oh, and you won't be allowed to get implants until you've been deemed compassionate enough. In the meantime, you'll be given a diet of mashed food. Now, let's fist reacquaint you with our party's core tenements."

As a video began to play, life vanished from Carol's eyes. "College my ass, this is just a brainwashing facility, and I'm in the hell of it," she somberly thought.

As her consciousness began to fade, she managed to hear Imelda talking on the phone with her mother in the adjacent room.

"I see. You've done a big favor for me, Miss Berrinche."

"Oh it was nothing. I know those heartless ingrates would raise a heartless fuss if you tried to discipline Zinnia the way I've been."

"Yes, clearly a law and precedent that needs to be reformed, though I suppose child protection laws do have some merits as they do help us save children oppressed by heartless trash. Though I guess it's fine leaving the issue of discipline to peers as well. After all, peers can be closer than parents."

"So pleased you're in approval of this."

"No worries, I spoke with Mother Salem, she has given the approval to go as far as need be. Death is even on the table should she be beyond reforming, though if such an option should be required, you'll be required to martyr her in a way to best take down our foes."

"Yes ma'am!"

Upon hearing those words from her own mother, Carol was truly broken, and slowly, fell into line. Yet one small speckle of hope remained within. 

"That boy... he stood up for me... Maybe... he'll save me," Carol meekly thought.