Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I have never published a fanfic before, so this will be new territory. It's only been original stories, sprinkled with a reader insert. I've also never written a foreword before, but deemed it necessary to provide some precursory information before we get officially started!

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧  

Our dear reader starts the story at age 17 and turns 18 as it progresses.

She’ll still remain a first-year, of course, but this age change ensures that the romantic relationships with adult characters (such as Vil, Leona, etc) doesn’t feel weird.

All characters will be love interests ASIDE from the following:

• Lilia Vanrouge - mentally, he feels far too mature to be an LI, especially as he actively takes on a parental role. He'll remain our peepaw in this fic. 
• Any staff/teachers, for obvious reasons 
• Ortho Shroud - that is a child to me
• Cheka for VERY obvious reasons 
• Some love interests may be subjective to change, but that's when your feedback comes in! There are many characters in Twisted Wonderland, and I cannot give everyone the same amount of screen time. I'll do my best, however! 
• Skully will be included in this fic, and I suggest you have a decent understanding of his story for maximum enjoyment! I love him so much guys, he made me start this fic

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧  

That’s all for now (well, all I can think of). I hope you have as much fun reading this as I had writing it!

Chapter Text

You were no stranger to adventures.

Exploring abandoned buildings? You’ve got your flashlight and bag ready. Myths about restless spirits and cursed trails which you found tucked away in a niche corner of the internet? You were out the door to see for yourself. A dangerous game you shouldn’t play in the elevator because it’ll lead you to your demise? You hope you could catch it on camera! Sure, you were careless. Reckless at times, even. However, you had enough faith in yourself not to be careless enough to end up unconscious in an unfamiliar building

.… Which seemed to be the case here! 

When you woke up, you found yourself laying against an old wooden floor in a dim room. Furniture lay half-toppled across the room: a broken chair, dirty couches, and a few paintings. Wallpaper peeled in long, curling strips, as if it had grown sick of the walls. There was also a fireplace! Though, instead of a nice warm flame, it was decorated with cobwebs.  

Not to point out the obvious, but this wasn’t your room.

You pushed yourself up, coughing when a cloud of dust assaulted your poor, unfortunate respiratory system. When you lifted your arm to wave the dust away, you paused. The sleeve didn’t look familiar. The fabric was pitch black, and embroidered at the cuffs was a beautiful golden pattern. Hold on, where were your normal clothes? What on earth was going on? 

You desperately wanted to take a deep breath to calm down, but a handful of dust going to war with your lungs didn’t sound like a jolly time. Instead, you silently did three backflips in your mind to relieve your stress.

“I’m in an unfamiliar building, I’m wearing weird clothes, my head is hazy, and I miss my cat. Backtrack, what was I doing before this—”

A voice was heard. A faint voice coming from beyond the walls of this dilapidated building. It sounded like… Was it opera? You weren’t a music connoisseur, so specific terms were lost on you. 

“Did one of the hundreds of supernatural rituals I performed cause this?” You tilted your head. “There are many ghost stories that involve a run-down building, after all.”

Staying inside wasn’t going to help. If the dust didn’t get you an early grave, the mold probably would. With that in mind, you hurried to the door. It screamed as you opened it, like you’d just committed a heinous crime. Once that awful noise passed and the door was open all the way, an old courtyard and a path of stone steps greeted you.

Though, that wasn’t what caught your attention.

A tall, lean young man stood a few meters in front of you — the source of the singing. He turned at the sound of your footsteps. Short white hair, which faded into black at the tips, framed his face. When he saw you, a soft gasp escaped him. His hands immediately flew up to cup his face in… what seems to be embarrassment? You couldn’t see his eyes as they were hidden by a pair of dark-lensed sunglasses, but a faint flush had risen against his unnaturally pale skin. 

“Ah, perhaps… you heard my performance?" 

It took you a moment to respond. “I uh… yeah? It was good though! Even if I didn’t catch much of it!”

The young man’s black suit jacket had thin straps looping around the ribs, giving the illusion of a skeleton’s frame. The look would fit an occasion like Halloween. It suited him, and it definitely suited the moment. The dark night sky was a perfect backdrop, and the bright full moon was like a spotlight for the stranger. 

“You’re very kind.” The young man relaxed at your words, and a smile graced his grey tinted lips. “I must say, I did not expect anyone to find me.”

“What?” You laughed. “Is it because you’re a ghost?”

“I suppose so. Ordinarily, the living cannot perceive ghosts outside of Halloween, as our forms are rather unstable. However, in places rich with magic, they can become visible,” the man explained. “Although, in my case, I took measures in veiling my appearance. You must be rather attuned to the supernatural, my dear friend.”

So he was a ghost? Oh my days, you were just messing around with that comment. You’ve adventured to haunted spots in your free time, but you’ve never actually seen an actual ghost before! Were you dreaming? Were you hallucinating? Did sleep deprivation finally make you delusional? 

“Pardon my manners. I have yet to introduce myself!” One hand rested behind his back while the other extended towards you in a graceful gesture. “My name is Skully J. Graves. Allow me to extend my gratitude in meeting your acquaintance.”

Before you could react, his cold fingers closed around yours. Skully bowed and brushed his lips against the back of your hand, giving it a soft peck. You froze, your brain tripping over itself somewhere between what the hell and what a gentleman!

“You’re very polite,” you said. “And ghosts can touch the living?”

“Decorum does not end with death, dear,” he replied, pleased. “As for your second inquiry, it’s a complicated matter. I would be more than happy to indulge you in the details. However, I suspect the conversation would have to wait. You have an entrance ceremony to attend, after all.”

“An entrance ceremony?”

“Yes, entrance ceremony,” Skully repeated. “Where you’ll be formally assigned to your dorm, courtesy of the Dark Mirror. Although—how peculiar. Did they change the procedure? You should have awoken inside a coffin, so what are you doing here?”

There came a point where you become so confused that your mind initiates an error screen. Questions upon questions piled up high, as if you were trying to one up Mount Everest. Dark mirror? Sorting into dorms? Was this some sort of school and the ceremony was orientation? Was Skully a student? Where did he get his fit—well, that question was a tad low on the priority list. 

“You seemed rather spaced out—” Skully stopped mid-sentence. “How rude of me! I never asked for your name.”

“My name—oh, sorry. That’s my bad. I forgot to introduce myself. I’m (Y/n).” You paused for a moment. “(Y/n) (L/n).”

You weren’t exactly used to introducing yourself with your full name, but you figured, why the hell not. Might as well match Skully’s impeccable gentlemanly aura. He looked around your age, but carried himself with a sense of maturity and elegance you couldn’t even find in adults.

“(Y/n)?” Skully repeated, as if testing the sound of your name. One gloved hand rose to his chin, his finger tapping in contemplation. “Ah, how silly of me. Though, your face was hidden beneath the ceremonial hood.”

Oh. Right. These robes did have a hood. You reached up, brushing your fingers over the fabric. The clothing was a size too large for you, give or take. The hood probably swallowed half your face in a shadow.

“I see, I see.” Skully chuckled in delight. “So the time has finally arrived.”

Whatever this man was seeing, you sure didn’t. 

“I can assure you, you are in no danger,” Skully said. “Night Raven College is a place of learning and adventure. Not to mention, the students are full of energy.” 

He held out a hand for you to take. The gesture was graceful—anyone would assume he was about to lead them into a ballroom dance. You weren’t exactly the type to frolic through fields with a stranger, but Skully was so effortlessly smooth it felt like a waste to turn him down. You took his hand, and he guided you down the moss-covered stone steps, away from the courtyard and toward a very rusted old gate.

“Everything will be explained in due time,” he said. “Now, you best be going. The headmage is surely looking for you.”  

“To the entrance ceremony? But I don’t attend here. I go to a different school—”

“I've found you at last! Honestly, I’ve never heard of a student exiting the gate on their own and wandering the grounds after arrival. You’ve proved to be quite the trouble already. However, I will not issue any punishment if you come along quietly, for I am so kind.”

A man stood beyond the gate, his face hidden behind a half-mask that resembled a raven’s beak. Through it, a pair of glowing gold eyes fixated on you. Did this place have a dress code that required everyone to be completely dripped out and committed to some kind of gothic theme? You turned toward where Skully had been just moments ago, ready to ask him who this birdman was, only to find empty air.

Skully?? My Shayla, where did you go?

The stranger cleared his throat; the sound was a blend between scolding and impatience. “Are you listening?”

“You…” You squinted your eyes, recalling Skully’s earlier words. “... Are you the headmage?”

“Goodness, you worried me for a moment with that blank expression. It seems your head is on straight.” He placed a gloved hand over his chest—were those golden claws on his fingers? “Indeed, I am. Dire Crowley, the headmage supervising this academy under the board chairman. Now, come along. We’re late for the entrance ceremony.”

Crowley turned around, the ends of his coat sweeping like a raven’s wings as he walked away. You stumbled after him, still not used to how these strange robes fit.

“Wait, wait! I think there’s a misunderstanding,” you frantically said, chasing after the man and his frustratingly long strides. “I don’t go here!”

“A misunderstanding? Are you not fully conscious?” He asked. “Perhaps the spatial transportation magic disoriented you. Surely a black carriage carrying a door came to collect you?”

Did something like that happen? You barely recalled what you were doing before this. Black carriage, black carriage… You tried to picture it: wheels cutting through fog, maybe the faint clatter of hooves against pavement. Something about it was familiar, yet you couldn't quite remember. It was like trying to catch smoke with bare hands. The man seemed to take your silence as confirmation—or maybe he just got tired of waiting for you to respond, since his explanations ended there. 

“What is Night Raven College?” you asked. “The, uh, space? Teleportation—whatever. That jumbled my brain, you see. So, if this happens to be common sense, it’s not so common to me.”

Crowley gave you a look. You didn’t know if it was one of judgement, disbelief, or pity. Maybe all of the above.  

“Night Raven College is an esteemed academy reserved for those with exceptional magical talent, those who are personally approved by the Mirror of Darkness.” 

Magic. Okay. You had a sneaking suspicion, given that Crowley was a headmage, but that was still wild. Sure, you loved reading about supernatural stories and investigating strange magical phenomena, but you’d never actually witnessed any of it. Were you even still in your own world? You’d heard of people being spirited away in folklore, but this didn’t seem to be the case.

You decided to cross-reference the information Skully supplied you with. “So, I was supposed to have awoken in a coffin and… not wander off?”

“Yes, indeed you were.”

“I’m surprised you’re not angrier about me running off on my own.” You didn’t run off, but Crowley didn’t understand your circumstances. “That’s nice of you, I guess.”

“Nice of me, you say?” Crowley smiled, and his mood seemed to have gone from impatience to merriment. “Certainly, I am gracious. How refreshing it is to hear that from someone else! It truly is a rare occurrence in this college.”

You had an inkling that his man wasn’t as gracious as he proclaimed himself to be.

You and Crowley entered a large building, and you followed him through several corridors, passing rows of tall doors and empty halls. Eventually, Crowley stopped in front of one particular set of double doors. There were muffled voices from inside. 

“Hey, does anyone know where the headmage went? He disappeared midway through the ceremony.”

“Some headmage he is.” 

“Did he get a stomach ache?”

Crowley proceeded to enter the room with a dramatic flourish. “I most certainly did not!” 

Crowley’s declaration echoed through the room, drawing every gaze straight to you. Oh, hang on. These students were wearing the same robes you were! Seeing them all together slightly gave off a cultish energy, though. Not that you were put off by it, but it did leave you wondering what the hell you were getting into.

“If you must know, I was searching for the new student who failed to show for orientation,” Crowley said. He then turned to you. “You are the only one who has yet to be assigned a dorm. Step up to the dark mirror and be quick about it.”

Aw, man. The way he phrased things made you sound like a delinquent. You walked across the room, doing your best to not suffocate under the gazes of the students here. Still, your curiosity kicked in despite the nerves. What would the Dark Mirror say about you? What kind of dorms were there here? How far away from home were you? What kind of magic did this world have?

While you were mulling over those questions, a particularly sharp glare broke your train of thought. A boy with red hair looked at you with disapproval. Was he angry because you interrupted the ceremony? Okay, that was fair. Though, you’d argue he looked a little too angry.

As you walked past him, you mouthed a quick, “Sorry.”

There wasn’t time to explain that you had woken up in an abandoned building, had no idea where you were or what was going on, and were possibly someone who didn’t belong in this world. Hopefully, your quick apology made it clear that you didn’t mean to cause any trouble.  

You stepped up to the mirror. A faint green mist swirled within the glass, and at its centre floated a mask-like face, black lace-like patterns framing its hollow eyes.

“State thy name.”

It speaks? Woah, what else were you going to experience today? 

“(Y/n).”

Alright, you had to admit. This was a tad exciting. Sure, you still had the usual anxiety and concern about what was going to happen, whether you’d ever make it back home, and so on. But right now, your curiosity and thirst for adventure are currently winning.

“The nature of thy soul is…” The mask’s eyes narrowed. “...”

Silence. The tension pressed against your ribs like a heavy palm. No one dared to speak. You weren’t even sure anyone was breathing. Any questions or comments were swallowed by the Dark Mirror’s authoritative presence.

“... Unclear to me.”

Murmurs and chatter filled the room. You glanced back, surveying the students. Some frowned in judgment, others watched with curiosity, a few looked confused, and some straight up didn’t care. Quite the variety. You also saw the redheaded boy from before. He was speaking to two others — one with dark green hair and a clover marking on the left side of his face, and another with mid-length orange hair marked by a diamond under his eye.

The diamond-marked one caught you looking. He grinned and gave you a friendly wave like you were old friends. He seemed nice! You raised your hand halfway to return the gesture, but Crowley caught your attention before you could commit.

 “What did you just say?” Crowley asked. 

“I sense no magical power from this one,” the mirror replied. “Soundless. Colourless. Shapeless. Utterly vacant. Therefore, no dorm would be appropriate.”

You were half-expecting the mirror to also add in no bitches, no maidens, no friends—like, did the dude have to lay it down on you like that? You’ve never had magic, nor believed you ever would. Yet, this artefact managed to bruise a non-existent ego. 

“Are you suggesting that the black carriage went to receive a person who cannot use magic?” Crowley’s exasperation rose the more he spoke. “But that is absurd! The student selection process has not erred once in its century of existence! How could this have happened?”

You raised a hand. “I think I might be able to explain that—”

“Let me have this student’s seat!”

An unfamiliar high-pitched voice interjected.  

CRASH!

Glass shattered and rained down as something burst through a window from high above. You briefly recognised a small creature, one that was roughly the size of a backpack you would wear when you were four. Your instincts kicked in, and you rushed forward, arms outstretched.

“Caught you! Are you alright?” You stumbled forward a little, but managed to not slam your face onto the ground.

A bundle of grey fluffiness tickled you, and the creature in your arms wriggled furiously. A pair of bright blue eyes looked up at you, which made your heart melt a little. How cute!

“Myaah! Unhand me, human!”

A… talking animal. You were beyond disbelief at this point. 

The creature—the cat? Raccoon? Whatever he was, he leapt out of your arms the moment you loosened your hold. He landed on two legs, fur puffed up in indignation, and jabbed a tiny accusing clawed paw at you.

“Unlike that human, I can actually use magic! Let me be a student here!”

You frowned. “Hey, no need to rub salt over my wound. You’re not a very nice cat.”

“Cat?! I ain’t no cat!”

“Raccoon?” 

“No!” 

“… Horse?” 

“That’s way too far off!” The not-horse huffed in annoyance. “I am the Great Grim, a spellcaster extraordinaire! Watch closely, rude human, for I will show you a taste of my power!” 

He inhaled sharply. 

You took a step back. “Wait, what are you—”

“Everyone get down!”

FWOOOM!

A burst of blue flame rushed toward you. Just as you were about to dodge, a hand caught your wrist and guided you out of the heat’s path. Not yanked, not shoved. All it took was one clean pivot, a steady pull, and suddenly you were safely behind a fair-skinned young man. He glanced back and smiled kindly at you. Though, oddly enough, that kindness didn’t quite reach his bluish-purple eyes.

“Are you alright?”

“I am. Thanks for saving me.” The person seemed nice enough, but for some reason, your instincts hesitated to trust him. “You are…?”

“Azul Ashengrotto,” he responded. “Housewarden of Octavinelle. It’s only natural to lend a hand when opportunity—trouble arises.”

“Azul,” you repeated. “Right. Very quick hands. Thanks again. I owe you one.”

“Owe?” There was a faint glimmer behind his glasses. It was the kind of look that reminded you of someone who had stumbled upon a very profitable opportunity. “Of course, I will make sure to remember your debt.”

“You’ll remember my what—?”

“A magicless student chosen by the Dark Mirror is quite a unique circumstance. May I put a name to this anomaly?”

He interrupted you! 

“... (Y/n),” you replied. 

Alright, this guy was suspicious. Your gratitude was fading by the second.

“(Y/n). I’ll be sure to remember that.”

There was an ease to his voice, smooth as an ocean on a peaceful day. However, beneath the calm, veiled something else. It was something you didn’t realise just yet, like a small fine print hidden away in a contract. 

“Now,” Azul continued, “this is quite the dangerous situation, isn’t it? Especially for a poor, unfortunate soul such as yourself.”

“Is it because I can’t use magic? It’s fine, I’m pretty quick on my feet.”

“Ah, there’s no need to flounder about like a lost guppy. I shall extend my benevolent hand towards you.”

Azul glanced behind your shoulder. Seconds later, two looming figures shadowed over you. No need to turn around. You already felt like a very small fish surrounded by sharks. 

“Floyd, Jade,” Azul said, “would you care to show (Y/n) just how dependable Octavinelle hospitality can be?”

Chapter Text

“Ehh? Sounds like a chore. Don’t wanna.” The voice came out in a lazy drawl while downturn heterochromia eyes glanced at you with disinterest. Then, suddenly, he grinned, displaying a set of sharp teeth. “It’ll be more fun to see a magicless student flop around~” 

He was tall, almost as tall as Skully. The student’s teal hair was pretty, and it reminded you of the sea. Also! The long streak of dark-gray hair that framed his right side was a unique look. Was it dyed? Was he born with it? 

“Hm? What’re you staring at?” He leaned down, closing the space between you two. The earring on his right, which had three teal diamonds dangling off of it, swayed with the sudden movement. “Do you wanna get squeezed?”

There was an easy, sing-song lilt to his voice. It was the sound of someone who found a new toy to play with. It had been less than a minute, and you already knew this was an individual you needed to be cautious around. 

“Are those real?” Your nerves swiftly packed their bags as fascination took the centre wheel of your actions. “Your teeth. They’re so sharp!”

The student blinked at your exclamation. The silence that followed made you wonder if he was going to use those sharp teeth to remove a limb or two. Just as you were about to make a run for it, he burst into laughter. The sound wasn’t conventionally pleasant, but it bubbled with so much unrestrained merriment that you couldn’t help but find it a little endearing.

“Curious about my teeth?” His eyes narrowed in amusement. “Wanna take a closer look?” 

You showed a wary smile. “If I say yes, you won’t bite off my face?”

“My, how unexpected. That’s not typically the first thing people say to Floyd.”

There was another one. At first glance, he looked identical to Floyd. However, there were subtle differences. The streak of dark-gray hair fell to his left, not his right, and his heterochromatic eyes were angled slightly upward, providing a sly expression. His posture was straight and a polite smile graced his lips. 

“Alright,” you said, smacking your fist into your palm with a little triumphant nod. “If he’s Floyd, then you’re Jade—”

“Someone!” Crowley’s voice cut through your amazing, spectacular deduction. “Catch that blasted animal before it sets the school ablaze!”

You tore your attention away from… what was it again? Octavinelle? Yeah, them—and took in the state of the room. Holy shit. The entire space flooded in blue light. Flames licked across the floor and crawled along the walls. Was Grim committing straight up arson now? Burning down the building in protest? Honestly, relatable. You brought the same attitude to your part-time job.

You wondered why he wanted to be a student so badly. Was this place really that amazing?  

“What a terrible situation. I do hope the first years come out unscathed,” Jade said.

“I’m guessing you’re a senior. Are you going to help them out?”

Jade smiled at you. 

You squinted. “... Jade—”

“It would be simply tragic if someone were to suffocate from the smoke before the flames reached them, or perhaps catch fire themselves, skin blistering and peeling faster than they can scream, or have their skulls crushed by falling debris.”

Oh. 

“Ah,” Jade said, moving on as if he hadn’t just dropped the most morbid string of words. “It appears Riddle has decided to personally enforce his rules.”

Riddle? You followed Jade’s gaze for this so-called rule enforcer and spotted the angry redhead from earlier. Oh, so Riddle was his name. Authority dominated his gray eyes as he took out what looked like a pen. Though, you had never seen one with a crimson gemstone before.

“Furry miscreant,” Riddle said, “I will not tolerate any rule breaking. You will be judged by my hand.”

Riddle stepped towards Grim, impervious to the blazing heat. You were wearing the same robes as him, yet Riddle’s demeanour made the uniform a million times cooler. What an icon. 

“Is Goldfishie doing something fun?”

“Goldfishie?” you asked.

“Floyd likes to give people nicknames based on sea creatures,” Jade explained.

“Oh, that’s kind of cute.”

“Cute…?” A soft chuckle slipped past Jade’s lips. “I suppose you can see it that way, yes. Do be sure to tell him that later.”

You had a feeling you absolutely should not do that.

The scene before you was nothing short of a fiery chaos. Some students were rushing towards the door, others were trying to smother the flames, someone yelled something about their butt, and a few students really couldn’t care less. Wasn’t this school magic? Can’t someone magic up water? Thankfully, however, with Riddle stepping into the scene, the chaos settled somewhat. Whispers circulated, and you listened. 

“... Did you hear what it said before? The monster wants to be a mage.”

“Is this some kind of joke? A monster being a mage? Get real.”

You frowned. Look, it was fair to be exasperated about Grim turning the place into a blue bonfire. But there was something ugly about the way the students said monster. Maybe you were a little biased. After all, you had a cat back home. And no matter how much Grim swore up and down he wasn’t a cat, he really did resemble one.  

“Well, Housewarden Riddle has stepped in,” someone said, “I guess it's off with its head.”

… Off with his head? Was that a figure of speech, or was it a spell? Like… literally off with his head? Nah, that couldn’t be it. You forced a quiet laugh under your breath, trying to shake the tension from your shoulders and suppress the irrational worry threatening to drive your reckless nature into action. Besides, Grim wasn’t your cat. He didn’t even look like him. 

When you returned home, you could see your cat again… Though, for some reason, the thought didn’t sit right with you. Huh, that's weird. You always had your cat ever since you were a kid, and since he was a kitten. Why didn’t—

Without warning, the events from before you woke up in this strange world came rushing back. The memories didn’t return smoothly. Instead, they were haphazard flashes, like a broken, flickering light bulb.

Rain pouring against a road. 

Shaky, trembling hands as you glanced at the small creature in your arms.

A sign of life. 

And a desperate rush to get medical treatment. 

A slight headache surfaced, and a sense of panic as well. Unfortunately, you didn’t have time to sort through your thoughts or come to terms with your recovered memories.

“The Queen of Heart’s Rule 23: One must never bring a cat to a formal affair.” Riddle’s words weighed heavy on your chest. “Your very presence here is a violation of order.” 

Your heart thudded. Rationally, you could’ve asked Jade, Azul—or even Floyd—what Riddle was about to do. But what if they answered too slowly? What if the answer was what you were worried about? So, instead of staying idle, you choose to be a tad impulsive. 

You ran. 

The crowd blurred into a rush of purple and black, smoke stung your eyes, and flames reached for you with hungry, predatory claws. Adrenaline and experience fueled your movements. Where you leapt over a chair here, you had done the same over half-collapsed fences back home. When people moved to block your path, you slipped between them like water through fissures in stone.

It took less than a minute for you to reach Grim. You snatched him up from the ground. 

“Myah! Again?!”

He struggled wildly in your arms, pitch-fork tail smacking your face as he thrashed. It was like trying to tame a fur-covered hurricane.

“Just play along,” you pleaded, tightening your hold as you pivoted toward the nearest exit. “Even you got a bad feeling about Riddle’s magic, right?”

Grim’s voice was muffled against your sleeve, but his protest came through strong as he yelled, “I can handle a mere human myself!”

“Yeah, okay. Let’s say that’s the case. How about the rest of them?”

“Are you underestimating me?! I am destined to be the greatest mage to exist. In no time, this college will be begging me to—”

“How can you be a great mage if you get yourself hurt here?” you shot back. “Think for a moment how reckless this all is! This is the school you want to go to and you’re setting it on fire!”

That gave Grim pause, but his eyes still held the same determination to proceed with his arson. There had to be a reason why he was so persistent. You sighed. 

“I believe in you, I really do,” you said softly. “I believe you can be a great mage. I’m not doing this because I underestimate you, Grim.”

For a moment, Grim stared up at you, speechless. In his eyes, you caught a glimpse of your cat. It was bittersweet. You pushed the emotion aside. Later. You can fall apart later. 

“You dare interfere with disciplinary action?”

Despite the heat, Riddle’s voice made your heart freeze. He didn’t yell. His voice wasn’t deafening. However, it carried the weight of absolute authority. Ah, your rationale was finally catching up to you. The situation was bad. Riddle was about to capture Grim, the same Grim who was currently setting the building on fire, and you had interfered.

“This beast will vacate these premises immediately. Step aside, unless you wish to be punished as well. You have three seconds.”

“Wait, wait! I think we can sort this out without any disciplinary action—”

Riddle’s eyes narrowed. “Two.” 

There was no reasoning with Riddle, was there? Your tongue was not sharp enough to talk your way out of this situation, and you really doubt running would evade whatever attack Riddle had prepared. In this tight time-frame, one idea came to mind. 

“Azul!” You yelled. “You said you’ll show me Octanivelle hospitality, right?! Now’s the time—”

You never had the chance to finish your sentence. 

“Off with your head!” 

Riddle’s voice was a verdict, one that could not be refuted. A red glow illuminated from the pen in his hand, followed by a blinding light that lacerated the air like a knife aimed straight at you. Shit, could you dodge this? What if you threw Grim out of its way and let it hit you—

“... Bind the heart.” 

At the command of those words, the magic hurtling toward you twisted midair, veering sharply to the side. Soon after, a tall figure stepped into your line of sight.

“The way you were darting around earlier was hilarious!” Floyd laughed. “You looked like a little shrimp tryin’ to not get grilled.”

“Shrimp?” Was that your new nickname now? “Wait, not important. What did you just do? Riddle’s magic went flying.”

“Mmm, nah. Explaining’s boring.”

Setting aside your frustration at not having your curiosity satisfied, you had a feeling there would definitely be a price to pay for receiving Floyd’s help. Oh well, Azul was already forcing his benevolence. You might as well make proper use of it.

You turned to Riddle. He was not happy. Oh god, he was SO NOT HAPPY. His face was red. Like, blood-pressure-through-the-roof, veins-popping-at-the-temple kind of red. Riddle’s grip on the pen was tight. You imagined it was your back, and he was about to snap it in two.

Ah… It was a good life. I hope my soul ascends upwards. 

Floyd’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “Aw, lookit that, Goldfish is matchin’ his gemstone.”

Don’t provoke him?! 

Riddle’s shoulders went rigid. When he spoke, his voice came out low, clipped, and shaking with restrained outrage. “Floyd.”

Floyd rolled his right shoulder with a lazy grin. “Ah aha! Wanna throw down? Sure, I’m in the mood.”

Oh, no. No, no, no. Were your actions going to be the catalyst of a huge fight? You frantically stepped forward, one hand half raised in surrender while the other still secured Grim. The feline was yelling about something, but you ignored him. 

“Sorry! I wasn’t trying to cause trouble or disrespect you! I panicked that you were going to literally lop Grim’s off or do something equally horrifying!”

Was that a sufficient explanation? Or did you anger Riddle even more by assuming he’d do something as heinous as decapitation? Ah, geez. Your mind worked terribly under stress. 

Someone placed a hand on Riddle’s shoulder. It was the student from earlier, the one with glasses and a clover-shaped mark on his cheek. He kept his voice low, so you only caught snippets of their conversation. There was a mention about you being new here, your distressed expression, and a brief comment of what happened during Riddle’s first year. It appeared to successfully calm Riddle down, just a little. His expression was still strict, but the redhead looked a millimeter less inclined to kill you.

“While the Queen of Hearts did order executions for disobedience, my unique magic does not literally behead the target. Instead, it seals away their magic,” Riddle explained. “The effect will remain until this beast is off campus.”

Ah. So you did intervene for no reason. Now you felt a tad silly. 

“Now that you are no longer ignorant, unhand that miscreant.”

The student with the clover mark glanced at you. His eyes said, please go along with it. You didn’t have a reason not to. Additionally, his talk with Riddle had just saved you. It would’ve felt like an asshole move to undermine his efforts. Your hesitation must’ve given away your intent, because Grim suddenly squirmed with renewed vigor. He tore free from your grasp, smacked a paw square across your face for good measure, and landed on the floor.. 

“I’m not gonna let you seal my magic off!”  

You threw your hands up in surrender and stepped back. Yeah, sorry, Grim. No saving you this time. You stood behind Floyd for good measure while Riddle executed his unique magic.

A flash, a snap, and a heavy clang. 

In a matter of seconds, a heart shaped collar clasped around Grim’s neck. He spluttered in surprise, unable to produce his usual fire. Afterwards, Crowley stepped in and ordered someone to take Grim away. You sent one last look at Grim, feeling a little sorry. 

“I hereby declare that orientation has concluded,” Crowley announced. “Housewarderns, please escort your students back to the dorms.”

Finally, things calmed down. Floyd left your side to rejoin Azul and Jade, disappointed that the fun was over but happy that something interesting happened during the entrance ceremony. That was when you realised just how exhausted you were. Not the physical kind, but you’d taken a truckload of psychic damage.  

Time to digest what just happened in the last hour was very much needed. For a while, you paid no mind to your surroundings. It didn’t last long, as a deep voice caught your attention. You were shocked to discover that it belonged to a student with such a cute face. 

“Ah, just as I’d expected.” He sighed. “I came here thinking that perhaps he might be here, but Malleus didn’t come, did he? Once again, he was evidently not informed that his presence was required at an official ceremony.”

“You have my sincerest apologies. I assure you, this oversight was in no way intended as a snub,” Azul commented.

Riddle folded his arms. “You must admit, he’s not exactly the easiest person to strike a conversation with.”

Surprisingly, you had some energy left to be curious about this Malleus fellow. He sounded important. A housewarden, maybe? 

“No matter. All who were assigned to Diasomnia, follow me. I just hope he doesn’t sulk about this.”

The room gradually began to empty, though a few people lingered. Most of the housewardens had already escorted their dorms out. However, Azul and Riddle remained, along with Floyd and Jade. While you were smoothing down your robes, Riddle approached you. 

“That creature flagrantly contravened school regulations. By intervening, you render yourself complicit in that transgression. I trust that you understand this?”

You frantically nodded. “Got it. Loud and clear.”

“Very well,” Riddle said, “I will allow your audacious behaviour to slide this once. Next time, it’s truly off with your head.”

You sighed in relief. 

“That said,” Riddle continued. “Leaving your assigned coffin and wandering off is completely inexcusable.”  

There was no longer relief. 

Thankfully, Crowley stepped in before it was off with your head. “A most unfortunate turn of events. I’m afraid you will not be attending Night Raven College. I cannot very well admit a student with no magical ability to my academy.”

“The carriage took in a magicless student?” Riddle’s eyebrows furrowed. “That is unheard of. How did this happen?”

“How unfortunate, Azul,” Jade remarked, his smile polite as ever. “It would seem your investment was for naught.”

Azul adjusted his glasses, unfazed by the jab. “Sometimes, the best investments are the ones that bear a little risk. This is hardly a loss.”

“Whatt?” Floyd whined, stretching his arms behind his head. “So Shrimpy’s not gonna be a student? That’s boring. Hey, enroll next year when you’ve got magic.”

“Worry not,” Crowley said. “The Dark Mirror will see you safely home. Simply step up and visualise the place from whence you came.”

Oh, that was easy. And here you had been bracing for a full-on ritual (a sacrifice, a blood moon, bargaining away your soul, etc.) to go home. Adventures were fun, but it didn’t mean you wanted to stay in an unfamiliar world where you had and knew nothing. 

“O Dark Mirror!” Crowley’s sudden exclamation surprised you. “Return this soul to where it belongs!”

The mirror was silent. Uh oh. Was the magic broken or…? 

Crowley cleared this throat. “L-let us, er… try this again. O Dark Mirror! Return this soul—”

“There is no place in this world where this soul belongs. None.”

What. What?

You’d been taken somewhere so far that even an artifact like the Dark Mirror couldn’t send you back? Before your brain could process a cosmic-level existential crisis, someone had grabbed you from behind in a rib-crushing, back deteriorating, grave-sending, hug. Holy fuck. Oh my days, weeks, months, and years. That HURTS. 

“Just when it was about to get boring, something weird happens.” Floyd’s cheerful laugh rumbled against your back. “Man, you never disappoint, Shrimpy!”

“C-can’t breathe.”

“Floyd, the poor human looks like she’s going to pass out,” Jade said. “Do be mindful.”

Mindful?! Aren’t you going to tell him to stop?! 

Thankfully, Floyd released you before you could see the pearly gates of heaven—or the dark gates of hell. You stumbled forward, greedily inhaling as much oxygen as your lungs could handle. Whatever expression you were making, Floyd apparently found it funny.

“How can this be? My, today is a veritable cavalcade of impossible phenomena!” Crowley exclaimed, completely oblivious to the fact that you’d nearly suffocated seconds ago. “This has never happened throughout my long tenure. I must confess that I am at something of a loss.”

Riddle’s question drew you away from Crowley’s theatrics. “Where are you from?”

You gave him the name of your hometown. Blank stares. You tried again, naming your country. Still nothing. Not even a hint of recognition. You mentioned Earth and were flabbergasted to not earn a positive reaction from that. 

A cold realisation sank. Getting home wasn’t going to be easy after all. 

Chapter Text

Crowley was intimately acquainted with the origins of every student who has ever attended Night Raven College. 

Well, that was until you arrived. Now, Crowley was a very busy man. However, because he was so charitable, he personally accompanied you to the library to research your homeland. And yet, not a single record could be found. Not on a world map, nor in any history book. 

For a fleeting moment, Crowley wondered if you had been lying. However, he soon concluded that was not the case. In a school full of rambunctious and overconfident magicians, it was quite simple for him to notice when someone was being truly earnest. 

In the end, the only conclusion was that you hailed from another world, or perhaps another dimension entirely. You didn’t appear shocked. It was as if he had confirmed a suspicion you already held. Thank goodness you did not panic. If you had been in hysteria, Crowley would have been at somewhat of a loss. 

Overall, you were a rare sort of company. Troublesome, yes, but cooperative and not too difficult to handle. 

“So, about these coffins,” you began, following Crowley out the library. “What’s the deal with them? Is it some kind of symbolic thing? Like rebirth? A new beginning? Do students get keys to exit the coffin, or is it magic? I assume that housewardens appear at the ceremony along with the first years, but there were also a few—”

Although, it’d do you well to understand when to stop talking.

Now, Crowley could not allow a magicless student on campus. Yet, he could hardly toss you out into the streets. You had no form of identification, no communication device, and not a single cent to your strange name. Therefore, he resolved to permit you residence in one of the academy’s unoccupied buildings.

 Ah, how truly charitable he was. A model educator, a beacon of compassion!  

.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

Crowley led you to a very… charismatic building. The same one you initially woke up in. The first thing you did after the headmage left you to your own devices was search for Skully. Unfortunately, the gentleman ghost was nowhere to be found. Instead, you met three other ghosts. They varied in size; one was tall and thin, the other was one round, and the last was somewhere in between. The first thing they did was try and scare you.

Unfortunately for them, your reaction wasn’t what they expected. 

“Ghosts!” You clasped your hands, glowing with joy. If enthusiasm could manifest into light, you would’ve blinded the ghosts by now. “I’m going to be rooming with a bunch of ghosts? This is great! This would’ve never happened back on earth!”

The ghost trio paused. 

“We haven’t had guests in so long, I thought we finally found someone to scare…”

“The enthusiasm’s appreciated, though.”

“She’s really staring at us.”

Feeling a little better now, you decided this place could use some cleaning. You wouldn’t be heading home anytime soon, so you should try your best to appreciate what you currently have. Although, you wondered how long it’d be until your parents noticed you were gone. And your cat… You slumped. Right, your cat. 

You had remembered the exact events that occurred before you arrived here. The night involved your usual ghost spot-hunting escapades, and this time your cat tagged along. You told yourself it was fine; the area wasn’t far from home, he liked following you, and you liked the company.

You only looked away for a second. 

The screech of tires grabbed your attention, and your quick reflexes acted. You sprinted, arms out, and caught your cat just in time to get him out of the way of the incoming car. Thankfully, there was no crushing impact, but the car bumper did briefly hit him. The car sped off while you were on the ground, cradling your beloved pet. 

Your cat was alive, but he was injured. You rushed him to the veterinarian. Due to your panic, everything was a blur after that. The vet’s voice came in fragments—‘we’ll do everything we can,’ ‘you should wait outside.’ You went out for a walk to clear your head, and the last thing you remembered was a black carriage. 

That was how you ended up here. 

“Hyii! It’s really coming down.”

Before your mind could go down an anxious spiral, a familiar voice was heard. You rushed to the window, noticed it was raining, and saw a certain grey furball trying to break in. 

“Grim?”

“You weren’t expecting me, were ya? I aint givin’ up on goin’ here, so you have another thing coming if you think kicking me out will stop—”

“You’re soaking wet. Will that ruin your ears?” You sighed, opening the window wider so he could get in. “Come in. The roof’s leaking, by the way. Watch out for that.”

Grim mumbled something under his breath, but ultimately took shelter with you. Now that there was a chance to talk, you asked why he was so desperate to become a mage. First, Grim emphasized that he was a genius. Alright, confidence. Love that. Second, the school was tragically unaware of the prodigy (him) by their gates. Third, if the carriage wasn’t going to come to him, then he’ll come to the school himself. You respected the hustle. 

“I’ll grant you the role of my hench-human!”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re a smart human for recognising my greatness, so it’s natural. Just quit treatin’ me like a house pet.”

Yeah, that was a tall order. 

“You’re planning to take shelter here, right?” you asked. “That’s fine with me, just don’t let Crowley catch on—”

The door opened.

“Good evening. In another gesture of my immense kindness, I have brought you dinner.” Just your luck, the man himself walked in: Crowley. “Not only that, I went to speak to Sam and—”

You grabbed Grim and shoved him behind your back. 

“Y-yes?” you replied, your smile stiffer than you’d like. “Anyways, what about Sam—”

Grim wrangled himself free from your grasps, leapt over your shoulder, and made himself very visible. 

Your efforts were in vain.  

.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

An interesting sequence of events occurred after.

Soon after Grim exposed his existence to Crowley, the trio of ghosts returned to terrorise the cat, suggesting he join them as apparitions. Naturally, Grim responded the only way he knew how: arson. There was no stopping him outright, so you went with another plan, which was to direct him on where to aim. Mission success, the ghosts retreated.

And Crowley was left quite impressed. 

“I’ve never seen anyone bend a monster to their will quite the way you have,” Crowley mused. “I must confess, my educator’s intuition did sense something about you after that brouhaha at orientation.”

While Crowley was mumbling something about you having the makings of an ‘animal trainer,’ you cut in.

“Can Grim stay here with me?”

Crowley looked at you as if you’d told him his jacket was ugly, insulted his shoes, and threatened to curse his family name. “What? A monster, stay here?”  

“Please? Aren’t you so—uhm, so gracious, or something?”

“I’m not sure how I feel about you using the term gracious so blithely, but I suppose I cannot deny your plea.” He sighed. “Very well.”

“Myah?! Really?” Grim’s eyes lit up, and he leapt onto your shoulder with a triumphant flick of his tail. It hit your face. “I get to learn magic?”

“Do not misunderstand. Under no circumstances would I admit anyone to Night Raven College who has not been selected by the Dark Mirror—especially not a monster!”

You patted Grim’s head to silently give him your condolences. He smacked your hand away with his paw. 

“Nor do I intend to allow you, (Y/n), to freeload until you are able to return home.”

Now you were catching strays. 

Grim frowned. “Hrmph. Never shoulda got my hopes up.”

Crowley had plenty to say afterwards. Your attention span wasn’t great when it came to large information dumps, so you had to lock in. 

Essentially, the Dark Mirror had ripped you away from your world, so technically, the school bore some responsibility. And, in his infinite generosity, the oh-so-kind headmage Crowley will allow you to stay in this run-down, dust-choked building. For free! Your food, clothing, and other incidentals? Out of your own pockets, unfortunately. 

“However,” Crowley added, followed by a magnanimous sweep of his arm, “concerning feminine hygiene products, those will be supplied free of charge.”

You blinked. “Oh? Wait—actuals?”

Crowley nodded. “Indeed. Simply visit Mr. S’s Mystery Shop tomorrow morning. He will have them in stock.”

“Headmage…” You feigned yourself holding back tears. “You’re oh-so kind!”

Crowley laughed. “Aren’t I?”

The headmage continued; this time, slapping the title of janitor on you. He mentioned how you were ‘quick on your feet’ and ‘capable enough of handling odd jobs.’ You were chill with being a janitor, Grim wasn’t. Though, his complaints quickly dissipated when Crowley threatened to throw him out again. 

“Then I beseech you both…” Crowley began. “To work hard as the newest members of Night Raven College’s janitorial staff!”

With that, you and Grim had a new position in the school. Finally, it was time for you to sleep. 

.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

Dearest displaced soul

Spectre unmoored from the world which created you 

Brought by the Dark Mirror’s error

The Queen of Hearts Trial will soon commence

A kingdom of madness 

A kingdom where sentence comes before verdict

A kingdom where rules are absolute

Dearest displaced soul

Will you lose your head? 

.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

The air was cool and crisp, a gorgeous blue and lavender painted the skies, and the first light of dawn crept over the horizon. It was a peaceful morning, especially as it was very early. Now, you were not an early bird. Sleep was terrible last night, it kept coming in short blocks. At one point, you grew frustrated and decided to just start your day. It was nice having Grim by your side, though. He provided some comfort.  

Grim was still sleeping when you left the bed, and you allowed him to rest while you got ready for the day. You were shocked he didn’t wake up, considering how much the floors creaked whenever you so much as breathed. The shower was… running. Somewhat. It was good enough, you didn’t want to talk about it anymore. 

Crowley had stopped by, too, and offered some old uniforms to change into. Plain dress shirts and dress pants. Not very stylish, but beats wearing robes everywhere. After that was a trip to Mr. S’s Mystery Shop. You met Sam and left his shop with a content hum, the goods tucked in a bag. As you made your way back to Ramshackle, you mentally listed the things you needed to do.

“Okay,” you muttered under your breath, “after I clean the statues on Main Street, I’ll head into town for supplies. The broom at Ramshackle has to retire, so a replacement is needed. There’s also gloves, disinfectant, a mask—”

“I’ve caught you, Shrimpy!”

A pair of arms wrapped around you from behind, and your instincts yelled at you to drop like a rock to avoid the incoming hug. Your knees took a hit to the ground, and you wondered if your kneecaps had shattered. You looked up to see Floyd leaning over you, his grin wide and his sharp teeth very visible. 

“Floyd,” you wheezed. “Good morning. Pleasedonotsqueezeme.” 

“Eh~ You’re so slippery, and you’re talkin’ all funny at the end,” Floyd teased.

He wasn’t in his ceremonial robes anymore, but his school uniform instead. The collar of his dress shirt was a mess, but you liked the sleek black jacket and greyish vest he wore.  

“Anyways, Azul wanted me to come fetch ya.”

You stood up, brushing dirt off your knees. “This early in the morning?”

Floyd hummed. “I was in the mood."

“Right,” you said. Floyd didn’t strike you as a terrible person, maybe. Though, he definitely required more vigilance than the average guy. “Is it time to repay my debt?”

“You catch on quick!” Floyd laughed. Again, there was something so unique about his laugh that you found kind of loveable. “Are you a student now? I don’t see you wearing a uniform.”

You shrugged. “I work as a janitor.” 

Floyd’s grin slipped into a frown. “That sounds boring.”

Woah. His mood dropped faster than you had earlier to avoid his hug. You would’ve never guessed Floyd could sound so flat. 

“I’m a janitor living in a haunted building,” you added. 

That perked his interests again. 

Floyd then led you to where Azul was. The chatter along the way was actually pretty great. No matter how many questions you asked, he answered them all. You told Floyd about the Ramshackle ghosts and the ordeal with Grim, which he found hilarious. In return, he filled you in on Octavinelle. It was an underwater dorm, with the Mostro Lounge being a café run by Azul. You learned about mermen, potions that could semi-permanently turn a mermaid into a human, and so on.

“Didja know the Mostro Longue has a secret menu that I came up with?” Floyd asked. “Feel free to come try it anytime.”

“When I have more money, sure.”

“You’re broke?”

“Okay, you don’t need to put it that bluntly.”

“Don’t worry, that’s not going to be a problem for long.” Floyd giggled. “Maybe. It depends on how your conversation with Azul goes.”

You asked Floyd what he meant, but he dodged your question as he didn’t want to ‘ruin the surprise.’ You tried asking again, but more desperate. Didn’t work. Instead, he picked up the pace and forced you to chase after him to the Hall of Mirrors.  

You wanted to catch your breath, Floyd didn’t care, and entered the mirror with the spiral shell symbol above. You followed suit. The glass surface rippled like water before swallowing you, transporting you into another part of the school.  

“Woah… This place is stunning.”

Octavinelle’s dorm had a very chic look going on. Cool blues, purples, and hints of silver dominated the space. The fact that it was underwater still baffled you. The school sure had a budget, huh? Couldn’t they spare some on Ramshackle?

Floyd led you to an office. There was where you found Azul and Jade. Azul was at his desk—was that a whole vault behind him? The walls were lined with bookshelves, and if it weren’t for Floyd ushering you in, you would’ve taken the time to check the titles. It did not feel like a normal office, let alone an office belonging to a student. You would be damned to find something this elaborate back in your world. 

Azul’s fountain pen glided across whatever document he was working on. “Floyd, you’re back earlier than expected.”

Jade stood beside him, hands folded neatly in front, and he smiled when he met your gaze. “Quite the early riser, aren’t you?”

“I couldn’t sleep. Figured I might as well start my day early.”

There was a table between two dark, plush couches. You took a seat. Azul soon joined, sitting across from you. The Leech twins stood behind the couch on either side of him, looking down at you with a predatory gaze. 

You were intimidated. 

“Thank you for taking the time to come see me,” Azul said in a pleasant tone, the kind of pleasantness that scared you.  

“I don’t think I had a choice.”

“Now, now. Are you suggesting I would resort to coercion?” Azul set a pen down, which was accompanied by a thin booklet. “Let us get to the point. I am offering you a position at the Mostro Lounge.”

… You were getting employment?

“You will be compensated for your efforts, of course.” Azul smiled. “You are quite the topic on campus at the moment, a magicless student brought by the Dark Mirror in error. On top of that, whispers of you coming from another world have circulated. Public interest is good for business.”

You narrowed your eyes in suspicion and picked up the contract. Oh, fuck me. The sheer amount of text could legally qualify as a weapon. There was a table of content for different clauses: position, terms of employment, definitions, remuneration, leave, performance agreement and review—it was going to take you three business days to comprehend this. 

“Do take your time,” Azul assured. “One should never sign anything they don’t understand.”

“What if I say no to the contract?”

Azul steepled his fingers, and there was a certain look in his eyes that almost made you regret asking. Jade’s amused expression and Floy’s grin did not help settle your nerves. 

“I would, of course, respect your decision. You are under no obligation to sign.”

“... Keep talking.”

That earned an amused laugh from Azul. You, on the other hand, were not amused. 

“It’s refreshing to deal with someone who has a shred of prudence. Rest assured, should you refuse, I’ll simply find an alternative way to collect your debt. Though, I cannot guarantee it will be quite as benevolent as this offer.”

You swallowed. “I’ll sign. Just let me read and understand what I’m getting into.”

You nearly gave up on the fourth page. There was just too much to get through. Alright, switching to plan B. You decided to do what you did best—obnoxiously ask questions. 

“‘For the first week, the employee will be available for summons at any hour by management.’ Do you literally mean anytime?” 

“Of course, it would be within work hours,” Azul responded. 

“What time does the lounge close?”

 “Officially? The hours are listed on our website.”

“What about unofficially?”

“Flexible.”

You resisted the urge to engage in violence. 

Azul then assured he wouldn’t summon you during inconvenient times, but the term inconvenient to him could very well differ from yours. You groaned. You were NEVER going into debt with this man again. 

You flipped to the next section, eyes narrowing at Azul as if it would somehow intimidate him. “Alright, next question. Here it says I need to fulfil all duties with diligence and decorum. Define decorum.”

“You will exhibit professional behaviour, punctuality, and politeness to patrons and staff.”

“So, no snapping back at rude customers? What if they, I dunno, make fun of my nonexistent magic?” 

“You may smile through gritted teeth.”

“... Great.”

That wasn’t the last of it. If Azul was going to put you at a disadvantage, you were going to at least ragebait him with endless questions.  

.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

You walked out of Octavinelle somewhat satisfied. 

Floyd left the room out of boredom half-way, and Jade watched in amusement as you continued to hurl questions at Azul. Some questions were genuine, others were bait to annoy him. Though, frustratingly, he answered everything flawlessly. Not once did Azul’s composure falter. 

When the exchange ended, Azul didn’t display even a small inkling of exhaustion. You sure did, however. Tired of thinking, tired of reading, and tired of him. Though, Azul did offer breakfast as celebration of your official position here. You had to really make sure that accepting his gesture wouldn't put you into more debt.  

Here was your deal with Azul, a simplified version:

You’ll be working part-time at the Mostro Lounge, with pay. The money was not bad, and you’ll even get a snazzy uniform. What was bad is the fact that, aside from the hours he set for you, Azul could also summon you ‘at his convenience’ during the first week. The first week was sort of a trial period. If you don't suck, you’ll remain as an employee. If you do suck, he’ll fire you.

You sighed. “Alright, time to clean the statues on Main Street. From the front gates to the library, was it?”

It was honestly therapeutic after your ordeal with Azul. While cleaning, you leisurely read the inscriptions about the Great Seven. These were historical figures in which the dorms were based on; it seemed like Night Raven College held them to a high regard. 

“I’ll do some extra research in my free time,” you muttered. “It seems interesting.”

Once you were done, you returned to Ramshackle. Grim was still asleep, and the ghosts agreed to watch over him when you asked. There was still some cleaning left to do, but you wanted to run a few errands first—mainly to gather supplies. Mr. S’s Mystery Shop had most of what you needed, but you also wanted an excuse to explore the world. Plus, you were in need of some new clothes.  

Crowley gave you an advance for your work, and he added a little extra after you gassed him up on how kind he was. You then asked Crowley for directions to Foothill Town, as well as how to navigate the shops there. The man gave you a map and called it a day. 

It was a long walk, but you didn’t mind. In fact, you were having a grand time with the novel sights. When you arrived at Foothill, you were in awe. The streets were bustling with people. It was familiar, as they had market stalls, shops, and so on. However, there was something foreign about it. Was it the brighter colours? The animated chatter? Or just the knowledge that this wasn’t your world?

You stepped aside into a quiet corner to check the map. To put it bluntly, it was a terrible map. It did you well getting to Foothill, but the details stopped there. You rolled it up and sighed. Alright, you were going to wing it. 

“I really hope I don’t get lost,” you mumbled. “Times like these, I wish I had my phone—”

“Excuse me, do you need any help?”

Like a gentle breeze, a soft voice called out. You turned around, and the owner of the voice stunned you. Light brown eyes, framed by long eyelashes, met your gaze in worry. He was beautiful, a kind of beautiful that shouldn’t exist outside of romantic storybooks.  

 “Uhm…” You blinked and glanced around for a moment. “Oh, me?”

You fumbled. Gosh, this stranger looked like the epitome of a pure, kindhearted person. The kind of guy surrounded by woodland creatures in a fairytale. Were his cheeks naturally rosy? That was actually unfair. 

“Yes! I noticed you were holding a map.” He smiled. “Are you new here?”

“You can say that, yes. I’m (Y/n), by the way.” You tried to match his gorgeous, sunshine smile. You probably didn’t even achieve ten percent of it. “Who may you be?” 

The kind stranger paused a little, but then he happily responded. “You can call me Neige!” 

Chapter Text

“It’s nice to meet you, Neige.” Your eyes went from his wholesome smile to his equally wholesome outfit. “I like the sweater you have underneath. The charms and pins on your jacket are cute as well.”

Somehow, Neige’s already-rosy cheeks became even rosier. Even random bystanders walking past stole an awed glance. Hell, even the sun was smiling down at him. Some people giggled, some whispered, and one person literally gasped. Uh. Wait, hold on. This was a bit too much attention here.

“That’s so sweet of you to say!”  

You almost forgot you were in the middle of a conversation. Neige’s smile was pure, and his uniform reflected the same sentiment; he wore a white jack that had golden accents. He also wore a black sailor hat, which had a red imprint sewn onto it. You tilted your head as you tried to read the text. Someday My Princess Will Come. Alright, that was cute. 

“Quick question, are you from Royal Sword Academy?” you asked. 

According to what you gathered from the vague map Crowley provided, Foothill Town was situated between two schools, which were Night Raven College and Royal Sword Academy. 

“Yes, I am! Today’s a rare occasion where I do not have first period, so I decided to stop by town to buy some supplies. I can show you around if you’d like.”

“I won’t be in debt to you, right?”

Neige blinked, his pretty eyelashes fluttering in confusion. “In… debt?”

Your interactions with Azul might have left you a little traumatised. 

“There’s no need to worry about repaying me.” Neige giggled, one hand delicately covering his lips. “I’m always happy to help, and it isn’t any trouble at all. Foothill Town is a lovely place, it’ll be fun to show you around.”

You ended up accepting Neige’s offer. He was easy to talk to, attentive to your words, and his hand gestures were adorable when he spoke. Not to mention, the sweet fragrance that subtly drifted from him was comforting. For the first time since you’ve stepped into this world, you felt relaxed and at peace. Riddle’s threat to behead you, Floyd’s attempts to kill you via hug, Jade chuckling at your demise, Azul’s contract, Grim’s fire, and just Crowley—yeah, you were in desperate need of normal company.

Skully was nice, but who knows when I’ll see him again. 

“Did you recently move to Sage’s Island?” Neige asked.  

“Yeah, I've only been here for a day. I think my place has some mold.”

“Goodness, that’s terrible for your health. Do you have someone to handle it?”

“Uh…” Well, Crowley was useless. Grim sure wasn’t going to do anything. “I’ll live.”

Your response caused Neige to frown in concern. Hah. Wait until he finds out about everything else wrong with Ramshackle. 

“Your health is extremely important! Please don’t neglect it.”

“I know, I know. I’m just not in a position to do much about it.”

Of course, you didn’t plan on letting Ramshackle’s conditions drag your health through the dirt. Now that you were working for Azul, maybe you could save up to make renovations. Maybe. It’d definitely take some time. Ideally, you’d be home before you have to worry about all that, but you didn’t want to bet on it.

Neige was in deep thought. Did your response shock him that much? Just as you were about to call to him, he suddenly clasped his hands together. Neige’s expression was bright, as if the most brilliant stars had paid a visit to his eyes. 

“How about you show me your house? I know my way around fixing older buildings.”

You paused. “... You want my address? Someone you just met?”

It took a few seconds for Neige to realise the implications of his request. His cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

“Oh—! Oh, no, that’s not what I meant!” he stammered, hands fluttering like a startled dove. “I didn’t mean to come across that way.” 

Neige looked genuinely distressed. You laughed, hoping your carefree expression eased him. “Relax, I know. It’s not that I want to refuse, but the situation is a tad complicated.”

Neige sighed in relief, fanning a hand over his flushed face. “Complicated, how so? Oh, please don’t feel pressured to answer. I would hate to pry.”

“I don’t mind but… “ You glanced around. “There’s a lot of people around. A lot are looking at you, too. Are you a celebrity or something?”

The last question was meant to be a joke, a little teasing to lighten the mood. That was until you listened into the conversations around you.

“That’s Neige LeBlanche!”

“His smile is dazzling as always. I want to approach him, but he seems busy.”

“Did you see the latest movie he starred in? It might be my new favourite.”

“I love all his movies, but I prefer the older ones~ Though, I adore how much his acting has improved!”

He was a famous actor? That… made so much sense, actually. Neige noticed your baffled expression and giggled. 

“I know of a quiet spot for some privacy. Would you care to follow me?”

You were very curious about where Neige was going to lead you. As you walked through the streets, greetings exchanged between passersbys and Neige flowed as naturally as a river. No matter who it was, he smiled at every person who greeted him. It seemed like a usual occurrence. You wondered if he ever grew tired—you sure would if you were in his position. 

The two of you entered a small, charming bookstore. It didn’t seem too popular, but you liked the cottagecore aesthetics it had going on. The moment Neige entered, the librarian’s face went from god I’m tired to an angel has arrived! 

“What a surprise!” the woman exclaimed. “Looking for something new to read?” 

Neige shook his head. “Not today, but may we borrow one of the side rooms for a little while?”

That was all the explanation Neige required for the librarian to hand him a key. Neige was famous, yes, but also incredibly beloved. His situation was honestly a culture-shock; you caught a glimpse of a life with connections different from yours. Neige proceeded to lead you to the room. 

“Is this okay?” Neige asked, taking a seat while you sat across him. “Are you uncomfortable?” 

“Not at all.” Wow. Neige’s generosity in the past twenty minutes was more than what Crowley could ever hope to achieve. “Where to start… the information could be a bit surprising.”

“Take your time! I’ve met a lot of surprisingly people—”

“The Dark Mirror from Night Raven College summoned me in an error. As a result, I’m staying at an abandoned building while the useless—kind headmage finds a way to send me home. Oh, right. Home. Did I mention I wasn’t from this world?”

Neige blinked. “Ah.”

You added a few extra details, just the basics: waking up in Ramshackle rather than a coffin, a brief mention of Grim (you left out most of the arson), and your current career as a part-time janitor. For the first time ever, you saw Neige truly speechless. 

“That’s…” Neige trailed off. “Very surprising.”

“Very articulate there,” you teased.

Neige laughed, a little embarrassed. “I’m sorry, words fail me at the moment.”

“I’m surprised you believe me.”

“Why wouldn’t I? I can tell you’re a genuine person, (Y/n).”

There was a moment of silence. You started to feel guilty dumping all that information onto Neige. Maybe you shouldn’t have. Even if he was kind, the two of you had just met. Still, you couldn’t deny the relief that came with finally venting your dilemma.

“It must’ve been difficult,” he said quietly. 

Woah, was Neige about to cry? You knew your situation wasn’t great, but you didn’t think it was sad enough to earn tears. Well, okay. It was sad, but you weren’t crafting a sob story when you explained things to him. It was either Neige was very sensitive, or there was something else going on.

“You woke up in an unfamiliar world, you’re away from family and friends, and your future is uncertain.” Neige sighed, shaking his head. “If you allow me to be blunt for a moment, the conditions you live under are inexcusable. How could they leave you like that?”

Neige was seriously your #1 defender. If you had woken up in Royal Sword Academy instead, would you have gotten better treatment?

“And yet,” Neige continued. “You’re still smiling. I think you’re very strong.”

He sounded so kind; you couldn’t roll your eyes or write it off as empty pity. It wasn’t naive sympathy either. He genuinely felt bad, and something in his eyes looked like he related to your situation. It felt nice. Did you want someone to acknowledge your struggles? You’d been coping by not thinking too hard about your situation, but maybe the escapism wasn’t exactly healthy. 

You were flustered. Now words failed on you. 

“Alright, I’ve made up my mind!” Neige said, determined. “I will have to ask for permission from Ambrose first, but I’m sure he’ll allow it.”

“Ambrose?”

“Ambrose is the headmage of Royal Sword Academy. He’s very kind, don’t worry.”

“If it’s coming from you, I trust it.” You folded your arms on the table. “But ask permission for what?”

“I can’t say yet, but I’ll text you the details once I’ve confirmed things—ah, you don’t have a phone.” Neige frowned, his eyebrows furrowing a little in thought. “This is troubling… Oh, I have a temporary solution!” 

Neige slid something across the table.

“Here, take this for now.”

.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

You now owned a phone.

Neige’s phone.

It was temporary, though. Neige reassured you that he had a second phone, one that could still text the number of his main device. Bless his soul, he had zero issues giving you his passcode, allowing you to access literally everything on his phone. ‘I trust you!’ he says. That was too much trust, Neige. Of course, you didn’t intend to do anything malicious. It was just—the thought of knowing you’d have access to Neige’s gallery, contacts, and so forth was nerve-racking.

Hence, just before Neige was about to happily hand over what should be a very classified set of numbers, you cut him off and insisted you were fine with just receiving messages through notifications. Neige frowned and asked ‘are you sure?’ like fifty billion times before finally wilting in defeat.

“On top of that…” you mumbled. 

The librarian gave you and Neige free tickets to a museum. It was a limited time showing on gargoyles and grotesques, or something like that. Neige politely declined the offer, as he was busy on the day. The librarian was more than happy to dump both tickets on you. You hadn’t decided who you would drag along yet, but you were sure as hell going either way.  

You passed by Main Street. Seeing the polished statues from your handiwork was pretty neat. With Neige’s phone, you checked the time. Aw, his wallpaper was a cute collage of woodland creatures and apples. After Neige left to return to RSA, you wandered and explored for a while and managed to purchase most of the essentials you needed. 

“So, according to this time, the first three periods should be over by now.”

Well, according to your understanding of NRC’s class schedules, at least. You’d managed to wrangle some extra information from Crowley early this morning before he kicked you out of his office. 

While you were walking, you stopped by the statue of the Queen of Hearts. The inscription read:

A queen who ruled over a maze of roses and brought the rule of law to a chaotic kingdom. Under her strict leadership, no rose was off-color, nor was any playing-card soldier out of step

“Hm? Don’t tell me you also don’t know the Queen of Hearts.”

A boy with an energetic smile and fluffy reddish-orange hair casually approached you. Unlike Floyd, the vest under his black jacket was red—the same red as his eyes and the painted heart over one of them. Did he have to paint it on every morning? You respected the commitment and the artistic skill. You would spend an hour only to end up with a wonky heart.

“Aside from the inscription on the statue, I don’t know much,” you responded. 

“Well, got any questions?” he asked, rocking back on his heels with a cheerful smile.

Your eyes lit up. “Plenty! What’s the punishment for breaking a rule?”

“Oh, that’s simple.” The boy traced a slicing motion across his neck. “It was off with their heads, of course.”

Oh, right! Riddle did mention that the Queen of Hearts executed people for disobedience. 

“I’m a fan,” he continued. “Who would bother to obey a queen that was kind all the time?” 

You nodded. “I can see that.”

There was a resemblance to Riddle. Now you wondered what kind of rules the Queen of Hearts had. Was there a proper court system established so people could defend themselves when convicted, or was it absolute? 

“Thanks for answering. I’m (Y/n), can I get your name?”

“It’s got an interesting ring to it. Name’s Ace.” Ace held out a hand for you to shake. “A first-year student as of today. Pleased to meetcha.”

Hey, were you finally about to meet someone reasonable? Hopeful, you gave Ace’s hand a firm shake.

“Are you from Heartslabyul?”

“Oh, nice. Seems like you’re pretty familiar with NRC’s dorms.” Ace hummed. “Not bad for a magicless janitor. Didn’t know empty heads could hold information.”

Huh. 

Ace’s smile was so friendly that, for a moment, you didn’t register his jab. You proceeded to watch as the friendly sparkle from Ace’s eyes literally fade. His shoulders loosened and his eyes narrowed in mischief. 

“Pft—haha! Yeah, with that expression! You know, it took everything I had not to burst into laughter in the middle of the ceremony. You and that direbeast sure know how to cause a scene. Thanks for the circus showing. Orientation was beginning to bore me.”

Oh my days. You were being bullied. Ace was so quick with it, so you literally just stood there and took it all.

“Dude. Where did this come from?”

“Am I wrong?” He had the audacity to smile innocently and shrug. “And what’s with a bit of teasing?”

“What? Are you trying to feel better because you’re insecure or something?”

To be honest, you didn’t mean it as a jab. The question just kinda… slipped out. Genuine. You weren’t ragebaiting—you planned to, but not like that. It seemed like you were successful, however, because Ace glared at you and scoffed. 

“Insecure?” Ace laughed. “You’re not important enough for that, sorry. It was some light fun, like kicking around an old bucket.”

Alright. Lock in. 

“Dunno, you seem to be giving me plenty of attention right now.” You let out a dramatic sigh, pressing a palm against your cheek like a distressed maiden. “It’s fine. You can poke fun at the magicless janitor who was ripped away from her friends and family because the oh-so-great Dark Mirror made a careless mistake. By all means, I encourage it! I hope it helps you feel a whittle bit stronger because all the other students are leagues ahead of you.”

You sighed again and placed a sincere hand on your chest. You looked at Ace as if he were a pitiful cat caught in the rain. “It’s rough out there for poor Ace. This magicless janitor feels sorry for you."

Ace was speechless. You smirked, and he narrowed his eyes. Right before he was ready to fire back, a voice cut in. A voice belonging to blue-eyed cat-who-will-die-before-admitting-he-is-a-cat. 

“THERE YOU ARE! You think you can run away from your cleaning duties?!”

You spotted a peeved Grim barreling toward you at light speed. Ace groaned. 

“Didn’t think he’d notice that quickly.” He pivoted, already stepping away as he tossed you a casual wave. “Welp, I have places to be! You have fun picking up trash!”

Ace bolted off before you could get another word in. Meanwhile, Grim jumped onto your shoulder. 

“Hench-human, you abandoned me this morning!”

“You looked peaceful sleeping,” you said. “Plus, I did most of our cleaning duties.”

“Oh! As expected of my hench—wait, that’s not the point!” He was shaking your goddamn shoulders with his movement. “We need to catch him!”  

“Catch Ace? Why? Did he piss you off too?”

“He was on cleaning duty with me!” Grim hissed. “That fire-head ditched me!”

“Why? We’re the janitors here.”

Cue Grim stumbling through an explanation of everything that went down this morning while you were off happily frolicking with Neige. In summary: this morning, Ace made fun of Grim like he did with you. Grim retaliated, which involved fire (no surprises there). Ace fought back with wind magic, shit went down, and the statue of the Queen of Hearts got charred. Crowley was angry and punished them both to clean windows.

“So, Ace bailed on you?”

“Yes! Now let’s go get him!” Grim was still shaking your shoulders. You were going to dislocate a bone at this point. “But where'd he run off to?”

“If I were to guess, he’ll be heading to his dorm. Hall of Mirrors it is, then!”

Good thing you were dragged by the mafia fish this morning, the information came in handy. After a lot of running, you and Grim reached the Hall of Mirrors. Well, you did most—if not all—of the running while Grim hitched a sweet ride on your shoulder. You also had to carry your stuff from your trip in Foothill, which was fun (it wasn’t).

“Oh, we made it on time!” you exclaimed. “There he is.”

The moment Grim saw Ace, it was on sight.  

“Stop right there, you jerk! No fair gettin’ a head start!” 

While Grim and Ace did their thing, you noticed a student with dark navy blue hair and bright cyan eyes. Over his right eye was a painted spade symbol. 

“Outta my way!” Ace yelled. 

“Hey!” The unfamiliar student was startled. “What gives?”

“According to Grim, he’s shirking his cleaning responsibilities!”

“What? That’s not right! But how should I stop him? Like, freeze his legs? Or bind him with a rope? Or maybe I could…”

Grim yelled. “I don’t care how! Just do something! Anything!”

“Anything?! Anything, huh…” He looked way too serious for this. “Here goes anything! I summon thee… something heavy!”

A cauldron. A cauldron fell from who knows where and crushed Ace. A clamorous CLANG! shook the air and a bit of dust kicked up.  

“What?! What the heck, a pot?!”

No, Ace. A cauldron. 

For a moment, you stood there, bewildered. Then, you walked over to Ace and the new boy with slow, tentative steps. A tiny chuckle slipped out first. Then you outright burst into laughter. Grim was cackling beside you, having the absolute time of his life. You reached out and gave the spade-boy a firm pat on the back. 

“Great work. Magic is awesome.”

The boy stiffened a little at your contact. “I wasn’t expecting a cauldron. I may have overdone it this time.”

“No, no, no. You did well. This is like therapy to me.”

“You’re…” He took a look at you. “You're the student without magic.”

“Yup, I’d prefer it if you called me (Y/n) instead of a magicless janitor, like that loser over there. What can I call you?” 

The boy straightened his posture and showed you a friendly smile. “I'm Deuce. Deuce Spades.”

“Cool name.”

He brightened at your compliment. “Yours as well! Even if it's a little different from what I'm used to.” Deuce paused for a moment. “(Y/n)... pronounced like that?” 

“Hey, you got it first try!” 

While you and Deuce were bonding, Ace stumbled upright, muttering complaints under his breath. 

“What are you bothering me for? You coulda just banged out the work yourself!”

“I’m not washing a hundred windows!” Grim retaliated. 

Your eyes fluttered in surprise. “Okay, I didn't know it was a hundred. But to be fair, you charred a statue of the Queen of Hearts.”

“You damaged a statue of the Great Seven?!” Deuce exclaimed. “How the heck did that even happen?” 

Ace rubbed a hand behind his neck, treating the conversation as if someone were calling him out for nothing worse than a slightly crooked button. 

“I was just screwing with that furball a little and the statue of the Queen of Hearts got a teeny bit charred. Sue me.”

You didn't have the money to sue Ace, unfortunately. But the school would. 

Deuce shook his head, disappointed. “After you managed to get into this school, how could you get into trouble on your very first day?”

“Oh, shut up,” Ace snapped. “Who are you anyway?”

“Deuce Spades,” you answered. “And he's likeable, unlike you.” 

Ace stuck his tongue out at you. Meanwhile Deuce showed you a wholesome smile. 

“Don’t you remember your own classmate?” Deuce paused. “Uh…”

Ace pouted, you could hear it in his voice. “You don’t remember my name either, do you?”

“That’s not the point! You shouldn’t try to shirk an order from the headmage!”

“Yeah, yeah, message received… Fine, let’s bang out the windows already.” Ace sent a pointed look your way. “You’re coming with me.”

“Why? I didn’t burn the statue. I was chilling in Foothill while that all went down.” 

“Well, you’re the magicless janitor here. I thought you’d be good at that stuff.” 

Could Ace stop bringing that up. It wasn’t even an insult because you were, in fact, magicless and a janitor. But coming from his mouth? It may as well be a slur.

“Unless you can’t even do that as well?” Ace asked. “I didn’t know you were this lame.”

This guy. 

“You—wait, hold on. Grim’s being weirdly quiet.”

There was a moment of silence where you, Ace, and Deuce surveyed the area.

“That furball! He’s gone!” Ace turned to Deuce. “Hey! You there! Uh… Juice?”

“My name isn’t Juice! It’s Deuce! With a D!”

Yeah, tell him, Juice. 

“This is partially your responsibility, you know,” Ace said. “So help me catch him.”

“How is this my responsibility?!"

“Well, for starters, Grim’s useless friend here can’t use magic—”

“You’re saying a lot for a boy who was crushed by a cauldron.”

Ace and Deuce ran off first. You stood there, genuinely weighing the pros and cons of inserting yourself in all this. That was until you remembered Crowley telling you that Grim was your responsibility. Man. Your cat back home was such a sweetheart. Even when he knocked glasses off the table, scratched your couch, scratched you—okay, never mind. Grim was just being a cat. With an exaggerated groan, you ran after Ace and Deuce.

It was a great day for your ego when you managed to outrun the two boys. Only by a few meters, but a win was a win. All those late night fight-or-flight decisions (you always chose flight) when you ventured out into the obviously suspicious woods had paid off. You reached the cafeteria, stepped inside, and saw Grim on the chandelier. It looked expensive, too, and it was dangling precariously from the ceiling. 

“Grim, get down,” you said. “I'll help you wash the windows, alright?”

“That explody-head is just gonna force me to do his part of the work!”

Are you fucking—okay, fine. You know what? You were going to discipline this brat of a cat. Tough love. You placed your stuff on a nearby table before turning back to Ace and Deuce. Both looked a little startled by your stern expression.

“There’s a broom with a good reach in one of the storerooms,” you said. “One of the ghost chefs told me about it. If we stand on a table, we can get Grim. Wait here, I’ll be back.”

You had the key to the storeroom, courtesy of your janitor privileges, and unlocked the door. Inside were a ton of cooking equipment and cleaning supplies. You glanced around and quickly found what you were looking for. Alright, nice. You were feeling optimistic. 

That optimism went out like a candle in a storm when you heard Ace’s muffled shout, followed by a thunderous crash. You sprinted outside. What did you find? Not Ace and Deuce waiting where you told them to be, but a far more disastrous sight. The chandelier was on the floor. Grim was on the floor. Ace was on the floor. 

Ace coughed, waving a hand to rid of the dust. His red eyes glared at Deuce. “I cannot believe you just did that!”

“Oh, right! I probably should have come up with a way to soften your landing after you caught him…”

Deuce, sweetheart, that was not the issue. You were immensely disappointed. You pressed a hand to your face, fingers sliding over your eyes, while your other hand tightened around the broom. Was this the kind of anger Riddle felt during the entrance ceremony?

“You guys couldn't have waited?” you asked. Your volume was leveled, but your tone was thick with displeasure. “Really. Couldn’t have? For five minutes.”

Deuce flinched. “S-sorry, Grim was going to run away. I haven’t learnt flight magic yet, so I figured if I could throw Ace…”

Man. You couldn't get mad at Deuce. 

You huffed, marched over, picked up the half-dead Grim, and let him rest on a nearby table while he mumbled something about the world spinning. No shoulder privileges for him. Then you extended a hand out to Ace. As much of a prick as he was, you couldn’t help but feel slightly bad. Dude took plenty of physical damage today—first a cauldron, and now a chandelier.

Ace scoffed. “I don't need your help.”

You proceeded to smack him with the broom. 

“What—hey! I’m already down, come on!” Ace swatted your lethal weapon away and stood up. He glanced back at the broken chandelier and winced. “We got Grim, but we broke the chandelier. If the headmage finds out about this—”

“If I find out about what?”

Ace looked like a kicked puppy. “Ah, headmage…”

Crowley emerged from who knows where. Could’ve been from under the table, for all you knew. His golden eyes narrowed, and his voice boomed louder than when the chandelier crashed to the ground.

“YOU. TWO. AGAIN. What have you done this time?! Burning a statue wasn’t enough for you? Now you’ve destroyed a chandelier?!” Crowley turned towards you. Oh no. “(Y/n), I entrusted you to watch over Grim. Now then, would you care to explain how he has managed to get into trouble twice in one day?”

You groaned. “The first one, fine. I wasn’t there to watch him. But the second time? I tried okay.”

“Enough. All of you are expelled. (Y/n), you will continue with your janitorial duties.”

“What about Grim?” you asked. 

“He will be thrown out.”

Ouch. It was nice that you only got off with a scolding, but you didn’t anticipate expulsion as a consequence. All the effort to keep Grim in the school went down the drain on the very first day, and the cat was still too out of it to realise. 

Deuce panicked, taking a few staggered steps forward as he pleaded, “Headmage, please! Give me a second chance! I can’t get expelled from this school!”

“Then blame yourself for your own foolish behaviour.”

You winced. The desperation in Deuce’s voice really made you feel for him. He came across as an earnest person, even if he made a stupid decision of throwing Ace into the chandelier. Did he deserve punishment? Yes, to reflect on his actions—but nothing permanent like expulsion. 

“I’ll pay for the damages!” Deuce exclaimed. “However much it costs!”

Crowley proceeded to explain that this chandelier wasn’t ordinary, because of course it wasn’t. That would make life too easy. What you found pretty cool was that the candles were meant to burn for eternity, thanks to a legendary artificer. On top of that, this chandelier has been present since the school’s establishment. Wow. Okay. Out of all the chandeliers to break. 

“Considering its historical value, I would estimate its worth to be no less than a billion thaumarks, and yet you intend to repay that sum?” Crowley asked.

Deuce paled. “A… A billion thaumarks?!"

Ace interjected with a sheepish smile. His voice was more timid than what you were used to, and he tried to smooth things over. “I’m sure with your magical talent, sir, you could snap your fingers and fix it right up!”

Unfortunately for Ace, his attempt went about as well as stacking a house of cards in the middle of a hurricane. Magic has limits, according to Crowley. Plus, the magestone—the figurative heart of any magical artifact—was cracked. It wasn’t easily replaced, and Crowley dramatically rambled on about how the candles of this majestic chandelier would never burn again.

“This is bad…” Ace trailed off.

“What am I going to do?” Deuce whispered. “How am I going to tell my mother?”

You looked at the boys in pity, tapping your feet against the ground. You felt bad. You shouldn’t—you’ve met these guys for less than an hour. But Deuce really didn’t deserve this. And Grim—you had a soft spot for him. Ace, uh. Well. He’s… Anyways! In short, you didn’t want to sit still. 

“Headmage, is there a way for them to not be expelled?” you asked. “I’ll chip in and help if I can.”

Deuce looked over to you, eyes wide with gratitude. Despite that, his next words were quite noble.

“(Y/n), this wasn’t your fault. You don’t have to intervene.” A confident on his lips, Deuce curled his hand into a determined fist and pressed it firmly against his chest. “I’ll take responsibility. That’s what being an honor student means.”

Oh, come on. Now you had to help him. 

“There might be one way,” Crowley announced. 

That caught everyone's attention. You, Ace, Deuce—and an unconscious Grim, you suppose—waited for Crowley to finish his sentence. The man had the gall to stretch out the suspense, as if he was being paid to keep you guys anxious. 

“Perhaps…” he mused. “Yes. There is one tiny sliver of a chance to repair this chandelier.”

Chapter Text

Ace had the worst luck. 

Seriously, just the worse. He could count on one hand the amount of times he wasn’t caught up in something today. First was the fire with the furball. Two sentences. Ace got two sentences in before the direbeast flipped out on him. Next, professor Crewel called him out for slacking. Ace swore that man had a thing for chewing students out. Trein also caught him nodding off during magic history. It really wasn’t Ace’s fault. No sane student alive could stay conscious through his sleep-inducing lectures. 

Then there was you. It’s been a while since Ace met someone so oblivious to everything. Case one: impulsively challenging his housewarden. It was baffling at the time, but he guessed you earned a sliver of leeway once he found out you weren’t from Twisted Wonderland. But even so, you seemed like a total pushover. 

So, when you suddenly started firing off paragraph-long insults at him without pause, as if you had drafted and edited them beforehand, it caught Ace off guard, and he completely forgot about the prank he meant to pull on you.

“The Dark Mirror really can take us anywhere, huh? We made it to the Dwarf’s Mines in no time!” You looked around, wide-eyed and delighted by… the uneven path they were walking on. Riveting. “Actually, I noticed this school uses mirrors as a main form of transportation. Are there other ways to get around campus?”

It was impressive how you never ran out of questions. Ace shuddered at the thought of you as his classmate.

Ace was supposed to be back in his dorm—eating dinner, messing around. He could’ve unpacked the new deck of cards he bought and practiced a few tricks or played some card games with his roommates. Anything. Anything but be here, walking in the middle of a forest after the sun had long dipped. 

“You can turn back if you want, (Y/n),” Juice Deuce said. “You must be tired from working all day.”

“Deuce, I told you, it’s fine. This is a plus for me, anyway. I like adventures!” You patted Deuce’s shoulders. “And again, I wanna help you and Grim. Ace is debatable.”

Grim puffed up his chest proudly. “Naturally! Who wouldn’t help the Great Grim? You’re a good hench-human.”

Ace rolled his eyes. “You seriously have it out for me.”

You rolled your eyes. “You had it out for me first.”

“Whatever.” Ace waved a dismissive hand. “Hate me all you want if it makes you feel better.”

“I don’t hate you. I do tolerate your presence, I just do it annoyed and irritated.”

“That’s pretty much hate?!” 

Oh, come on. Ace was just poking a little fun at you. Was a grudge really necessary? 

Alright. Maybe it was a low blow from Ace considering you weren’t from this world and you were still recovering from—well, a bunch of things. And maybe you were valid in snapping back. And maybe Ace had a microscopic thought about slipping in a quick apology when he caught that split second where you froze up after he first made fun of you.

“Is that a house—no, wait.” You squinted your eyes. “It looks like a cottage! I wonder if anyone’s inside. I’m going on ahead!”

You took off running before anyone could get a word in. Ace sighed. He wanted to get this over and done with as soon as possible. Hopefully, he wouldn’t miss the call he promised his older brother later tonight. 

.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

While there wasn’t anything useful in the house, it was super interesting! All the furniture looked so tiny, and you could tell the place was well used before it was abandoned. The place was probably brimming with life when the mines were more prosperous with magestones.

“Looks like we’ve made it to the mines,” Deuce said. “It’s kind of hard to see what’s inside.”

Deuce was right. Beyond the entrance, any discernible features of the mines were swallowed by the darkness. At the ominous sight, Grim swiftly revoked his position as the man (animal?) in front and hid behind your leg. 

There seemed to be a giant tree on top of the entrance; its roots stretched down like large tendrils, forming an archway. The wooden support beams looked withered and very much not stable. Knock on wood—you hoped the entrance wouldn’t collapse on you guys. Not even Ace. That was how far your concern stretched. 

“Well, good thing I have this.” You dug into the small backpack you brought and took out a torch. “Sam sold it for pretty cheap as well.”

Deuce stared. “You’re very prepared.”

“Just a habit of mine.”

You also brought snacks (you will not let Grim know that), a small first aid kit, water, and a kitty charm Sam gave you for free. 

When you four ventured into the mines, a bunch of ghosts dressed in rags immediately came looking for someone to torment: you guys. Your eyes lit up in interest, and you eagerly stepped forward to talk to them. Ace and Deuce each grabbed an arm and pulled you safely behind them as if you were a toddler trying to play with a venomous snake.  

Well, whatever. If you couldn’t talk to the ghosts, you’d at least enjoy taking in the sights. There were many pretty minerals around, enough to make a crow dive into the mine headfirst, but no sight of a magestone. 

Would’ve been really nice to bring a camera along. Oh well, my eyes would have to do for now—

“The only reason we’re here in the first place is because of the stupid stunt you pulled!”

“Oh? I’m pretty sure this all started because you tried to shirk your window-cleaning punishment!” 

You zoned out for one minute, and you found Ace and Deuce arguing. 

“So we’re bringing up ancient history now?” That happened, like, today. Ace. “Then if you wanna get down to brass tacks, this all started when furball torched that statue!”

You let them have their fun and walked on ahead. That was when you heard an ominous sound. A low groan and the scrapping of metal against rock bounced off the cave walls. 

“Did you guys hear something?” Ace asked. “I didn’t imagine it, right?”

The presence from beyond was dangerous. Anyone rational would turn back, or at least hesitate to move forward. Even the subtle draft in the caves seemed to desperately whisper for you to leave. 

Deuce was on guard. “Sounds like it’s getting closer…” 

Grim turned to look at you, but you were too distracted to pay him any mind. 

There was the first sharp prick of danger that stung so deliciously, followed by the adrenaline rush in your chest that left you gasping for more. It wasn’t safe. It wasn’t smart. And yet there you were, fingers tightening around your torch, trying to get a better look, trying to see what was beyond the darkness. 

Trying not to smile in anticipation. 

“Stonesss… “

Stones?

“Stooonesss… AAARREEE MIINEEEE!” 

The creature emerged from the darkness, hunched over before slowly dragging itself upright—if you could even call it standing. In place of legs was a slug-like mass of muddy, dark ink that bled into the stone floor. It was as if the creature were an extension of this cave. Its head was a large, round jar filled with black liquid—ink maybe? On one hand it clutched a rusted pickaxe, the other held a lantern that illuminated a crimson glow. The clothes it wore were tattered and stained in ink. 

“Just…” you swallowed. “What is it?”

A miner who went insane? An apparition? A phantom? How long has it been here? What drove it—anger? Vengeance?  

“Oi, (Y/n)!” Ace yelled, his voice interrupted your thought as he harshly grabbed you by the arm. “What are you doing standing there?! Do you want to get killed?!” 

You stumbled, still wrapped up in your thoughts; your feet dragged a little as Ace yanked you away from the danger. It took a few seconds, but you eventually snapped out of it. 

“It said something about stones!” You exclaimed. “There could be a magestone here!”

Ace did not care. “Don’t give me that right now, we’re getting away!” 

The monster caught up to you guys. The word begone spilled out in a furious cry. Then something slammed against Deuce, and you heard a pained cry from him. Though any impact wasn’t good, you were relieved that the monster struck Deuce with the lantern instead of the pickaxe. Ace let go of your arm, positioned himself in front of you, and took out his magic pen.

Magic had its limits and visualisation was key. Hence, strong magic required plenty of training. That was the basics of what Neige told you after you asked him questions about magic. Where you were going with this was—as first years who hadn’t been in this school for more than a week, there was only so much Ace and Deuce could do.

Ace glanced back at you. “Don’t go running at it, yeah?”

Ace unleashed a burst of wind magic; it was impressive, powerful, and ultimately useless. The monster was impervious and it snapped its attention to Ace. Just as it was about to strike him with its pickaxe, you shoved Ace out of the way. The force knocked him flat on his back, and you narrowly dodged the monster's attack by leaping in the opposite direction. The monster’s pickaxe was stuck on a rock, so you immediately rushed over to Ace. 

He was still on the ground, and you offered your hand. “No injuries?”

Ace accepted your gesture and hauled himself up. “No injuries. Well, maybe a broken spine because of a certain janitor."

You winced. “Shit, sorry. Are you okay?”  

Ace laughed, his smile teasing. “I’m poking fun at you. Thanks for the save.”

Deuce and Grim soon rejoined you and Ace, with Grim leaping in front of you. If you were being optimistic, you would say he was trying to protect you. He inhaled and released a burst of blue flames. For once, you were happy to see his arson. The creature was set ablaze, its entire figure consumed by Grim’s fire. 

However, seconds later, when the flames thinned out, the monster stood there unharmed. 

“It’s not even a little charred,” you whispered in disbelief. “How sturdy is this thing?”

“Wait, in the mineshaft,” Ace pointed out. “There’s something sparkling.”

“Could that have been a magestone?” Deuce asked. 

The monster roared again and the cave trembled. The four of you bolted, sprinting down the tunnel with the monster’s furious cries echoing behind you until they eventually faded into the shadows. Everyone made it out of the cave, but that wasn’t enough to guarantee safety. You four sprinted into the silent woods before finally taking a breather. 

“Hench-human! Are you hurt?” 

Grim’s words sounded like more of a demand than a question from a place of concern, but you’ll take it. 

“I’m fine, thanks for worrying.”

“I wasn’t worrying!”

You laughed weakly at that, petting his head. Grim grumbled, but he didn’t hit you this time. Nice. 

“Anyways, what was that thing?” Ace asked. “No one said there’d be anything like that.”

“Even as a master sorcerer, I don’t think I can take that thing down!” Grim exclaimed. 

“Let’s just give up and go home,” Ace said, both hands on his hips. He looked completely done with it all. “I’ll happily take the expulsion if it means never having to fight that thing again. No education is worth death.”

You took slow breaths, allowing your mind to drift while Ace, Deuce, and Grim’s conversation blurred into the background. The phantom was dangerous. You stood no chance. You were fast and agile, but you weren’t sturdy, strong, or gifted in magic. 

But even so, this feeling…

It was the same feeling you experienced as a child when you read your first ghost story far past bedtime. A sense of awe, a sense of wonder—the thrill of imagining what monsters lurked out there. That was the feeling that made six-year-old you wander into a forest alone, chasing shadows you thought were ghosts.

No parents scolded you, no guardian told you no. 

In your all adventures, you never found anything supernatural, of course. However, the thrill of it never stopped. The possibility, the mystery, the unknown—it was what kept you company through a lonely childhood.  

“Oh yeah?! Fine, go back to your coop, you big chicken!”

Deuce’s voice was loud and a tad aggressive. The sound hit you like a splash of cold water, effectively removing you from your thoughts. 

“Whaaat?” Ace laughed derisively. “Who’re you calling chicken, huh?”

Deuce scowled and his hands balled into fists that looked ready to lay a punch any moment now. It took you by surprise. 

“Deuce, you alright?”

The boy blinked in shock, coming back to his senses. He coughed into his hand, trying his best to compose himself. 

“Sorry…” Deuce muttered, smoothing out his uniform. “Lost my cool for a second there—”

“I say we head back.”

Ace looked at you like you were crazy. 

“(Y/n), come on. I was relying on you to put a rational word in.” Ace sighed, exasperated. “Ahh, but given the stunt you pulled at the entrance ceremony with Riddle, I guess I was overestimating you. You and Deuce are being stupid—you especially, (Y/n). Deuce doesn’t wanna be expelled, but what’s your excuse?”

Ace was blunt. His words were pointed, accusatory, and he made unnecessary jabs. However, it didn’t come from a place of malice, you don’t think. It was different from the encounter earlier this morning. 

“I don’t want Grim thrown out. I also don’t want Deuce expelled.”

“Oh, please,” Ace snapped, disbelief concentrated in each syllable. “This isn’t about Grim and Deuce.”

“It is—!”

“No it isn’t,” he shot back immediately. “Not right now.”

You froze. “I—I also have a few reasons of my own.”

“Oh, great. Reasons of your own.” Ace mimicked your tone with a disappointed frown. “Sure, I’ll nod and go ‘oh, makes sense!’ and happily play along.” 

Ace took a step closer to you. When he spoke, his voice was quieter, but his words were no softer. 

“Don’t think I didn’t notice you staring at that phantom. If I hadn’t pulled you back, it would've been off with your head because of that pickaxe. You didn’t look scared, worried, or even cautious.” Ace stepped back. “I’m not saying you gotta spill any secrets, but you seriously didn’t even notice you were lying.”

You were speechless. Being called out, confronted … it was foreign to you. The words hit harder than you expected. For a moment, all you could feel was the sting of irritation, indignation, and the urge to snap back.

However, Ace was right. It almost made you angry how right he was. 

“I…” You lowered your head. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

Grim was quiet and Deuce looked like he wanted to reassure you. You smiled at him and shook your head. You were in the wrong and you didn’t want anyone cushioning that fact. Meanwhile, Ace didn’t seem to anticipate you’d back down so quickly. He averted his eyes and rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish awkwardness.

After a moment of silence, Ace let out a heavy sigh. 

“Okay, fine,” he said. “You wanna head back for whatever reason. Do you even have a plan?”

Ace’s tone was a surprise. It wasn’t biting, accusatory, or sharp. It was gentle—well, as gentle as Ace could get. You were slowly understanding what kind of person Ace was. He said what he thought, even if the person looked like they didn’t want to hear it. Sure, he could’ve chosen a nicer way to deliver his words (it seems like he's incapable of sugarcoating), but the heart of it was there.

“You’d be a good friend,” you said.

Now Ace was really caught off guard. “Where did that come from?”

You laughed and shrugged. “Anyways, I had something in mind for a plan. We’ll need to work together.”

“Teamwork? Like some kinda buddy move?” Ace seemed appalled. Offended, even. “You can say the lamest things with the straightest face.”

“Agreed,” Deuce said. “No way could I work together with him.”

“Right, perfect. Now that we’re all in agreement on that!” Ace spun around. “Let’s call it a night—”

“Yeah, but gettin’ expelled on the first day…” Grim chimed in. “That’s pretty lame too. Maybe even lamer.” 

Go ragebait them, Grim. 

You and Grim locked eyes for a moment. Then, you both grinned. 

“Imagine telling your friends all that,” you said. “Isn’t that kind of pathetic?”

Ace rolled his eyes, scoffing at your smug smile. “Fine, let’s get this over with. So, what’s the plan?”

.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

“Let’s keep it loose and keep it lively.” Ace swung an arm across his chest in an energetic stretch. “Let’s do this!”

The plan kicked off with you and Grim acting as bait—something you vehemently believed should not become a long-term role for you. Yes, you were fast on your feet, but you had zero interest in gaining experience dodging a vicious pickaxe.  

“Alright, Ace!” You called out. “It’s here!”  

“You bet! One extra-large gust of wind, comin’ up!” 

“With a side of Grim’s special blazing hot fire!” 

After spinning his magic pen between his fingers, Ace whipped his magic pen forward and summoned a large tornado. The wind caught Grim’s flames instantly, turning the blue fire into a vicious inferno.

You bounced on your feet, excited that the plan was working. “Alright, go Deuce!”

Deuce stepped forward. “The biggest, heaviest thing I can think of—Get em’ cauldron!” 

A massive cauldron materialised above the monster and came crashing down. It was effective in stunning the monster. 

You tapped Ace on the shoulder. “Look, that was you before.”

“Coulda done without the reminder…” Ace then showed you a small smile. “Alright, your turn. We’re counting on your quick feet.”

You couldn’t help but show him a wide, beaming smile in return. It caused Ace to blink in surprise.  

“Don’t miss me too much!”

Ace let out a short laugh, and the two of you slapped your hands together in a crisp high-five. 

You took off running the next second. In no time, you located the magestone; it was a gorgeous, iridescent colour. You soon emerged from the cave, only to find Deuce absolutely spamming cauldrons at the monster. If it weren't for the dangerous situation, you would've found it hilarious. 

“She’s got the magestone!” Deuce yelled. “Let’s make a run for it!”

Even after all that effort, the monster was still chasing you guys. 

“Are you kiddin’ me?! It’s still coming! It pushed off all that weight!”

“It’s too fast!” Deuce exclaimed. “It’s about to catch us!”

“It’s weakened, right?!” You yelled. “How about we try fighting it again?”

“Aw, fine! Let’s just smash the thing. Try not to wet yourself, Deucey!”

“Same to you, Ace!”

“I’m gonna show ya why my hench-human calls me the Great Grim!”

Since when—

Grim summoned his flames, Ace amplified the flames with wind, and Deuce proceeded to slam down more cauldrons. Their efforts were admirable, but they were starting to grow tired. The monster was also beginning to adapt; it began to dodge the fire, the wind, and the cauldrons. 

“They’re not going to make it,” you muttered. “What can I do to help…?”

You examined the phantom. Specifically, its lantern. At first, it looked like the monster was swinging it randomly, but the more you watched, the more obvious it became. It wasn’t random at all. A glass jar for a head, full of ink… of course it couldn’t see well! The monster wasn’t looking at you guys at all, it was relying on the light.

“Grim, Ace! Go to the left!” you yelled. 

Without much resistance, they followed your order. They slipped out of the lantern’s radar and then attacked. It was a direct hit!  

Ace glanced back. “How’d you know where to go?”

“I’ll explain later. For now, everyone just listen to me!” You shouted as loud as you could, even if it meant a sore throat. “I’ll tell you where to attack and where to go! Just trust my words!”

The monster stumbled the more everyone attacked where you had directed them. The constant combination of fire, wind, and falling metal was wearing it down. The monster cried loudly, but no one faltered. They kept attacking as if stamina were a myth. You were in awe at everyone’s efforts.

Deuce slammed down a final cauldron, and it hit the monster square on its head; it even caused a crack on the jar. Finally, the monster was defeated. The ink at the bottom of its torso melted into a puddle of black liquid.

“Is it… over?” Ace asked, gasping for breath. 

“I think we won?” Grim then smiled widely, pumping his cute paws in the air. “I think we did it!” 

Deuce yelled, “All right!”

Ace threw an arm over your shoulder. “Woohoo!”

“Victory highfive!” Grim cheered.

You all cheered, relieved that everything was over. You can't remember the last time you had laughed this hard. 

“Great teamwork everyone!” 

Okay, now the three of them looked at you as if you had called them a slur. 

“I don’t think that had anything to do with it,” Deuce said. 

Literally what.

“Yeah! Spare us the cliches.”

Ace, shut up. 

“There’s no together here! We won ‘cause of me! All from me being a magical genius.”

Grim. Please.

“Sure, whatever…” 

You were too close to collapsing to argue. You swayed a little, and Ace helped steady your balance. You thanked him, and Ace stepped back once he confirmed you weren’t about to drop like a brick.

“We made it cause of your plan, mostly,” Ace said. 

“It was teamwork, okay? Let’s leave it off there.” You placed both hands on your hips and smiled. “Alright, let’s finally head home!”

  .·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·

You could not believe this. 

You all came back, dead tired, only to find out that Crowley—this goddamn birdman—hadn’t expected you four to actually risk your lives and return with the magestone. What did he EXPECT? He literally told you guys to go—oh my god, he had to be ragebaiting. Everyone was rightfully peeved, especially as you guys had to face off against a terrifying monster. 

On top of that, Grim ate something weird! It was a black stone that came from the remains of the monster. Grim swore it tasted rich and full of flavour; you accepted that his tastebuds were wrong. 

“If you get sick, Grim,” you warned, “I’m going to be the one stuck dealing with it.”

“If you wanna get away from Grim, you can crash in my room,” Ace teased, popping one of the snacks from your bag into his mouth

“No way.” You passed the bag of chips to Deuce before asking, “Don’t you room with three other dudes?” 

“Hey, give me some of that!” 

You narrowed your eyes. “Grim, you had ninety percent of my snacks.”

Currently, you, Ace, Deuce, and Grim were trailing behind Crowley on the way to his office. When you four mentioned fighting a monster in the mines, he implored the details to be related in full. Crowley walked ahead. Meanwhile, you four shared snacks and conversations.

You glanced over to Deuce. “Hey, we got the stone. Now you won’t be expelled.”

Deuce’s shoulders were far more relaxed now, and you found it a little funny that you accidentally addressed him in the middle of chewing. 

“Yeah, it’s such a relief,” he said. “I’m glad everything worked out.”

“I think you mentioned your mother earlier. Is she the reason you’re trying so hard not to get expelled?”

“It does.” His voice softened immediately. “She works hard for the both of us. The last thing I want to do is disappoint her.”

Deuce was just giving you more reasons to like him. 

“That’s very sweet of you.”

A faint blush dusted Deuce’s cheeks. He proceeded to shock you with the purest smile known to mankind. 

“It’s nothing, really. I just want her to be happy and not cause trouble for her anymore.”

You weren’t close with your parents, so you couldn’t relate, but the warmth in his voice was very endearing. You had a feeling his mother was very proud of Deuce.

“Take lots of photos at NRC,” you suggested. “Let her know you’re doing well.”

“I plan to! I’ll be sure to update her when I can.” Deuce then turned the conversation to you. “You’re not from this world, right? It must be tough being away from your family.”

“My family…” You hummed. “Yeah, I miss my cat.”

“Your cat?” Ace repeated.

“He was my best friend ever since I was a kid. The last time I remembered him…” 

You wondered if opening up was a good idea. It was weird to you, laying out your emotions to others. However, you saw Deuce’s earnest expression, willing to listen. Even Ace was quiet and patient—even Grim. 

“He was injured. Everything was a blur, so I can’t remember how severe it was, but he was still warm in my arms. I rushed him to get medical treatment, but I ended up in Twisted Wonderland before I could find out if he was okay.” 

You straightened your back, smiling.

“But I think he is! It’s just… I won’t be there when he wakes up. I hope my family takes proper care of him, or at least gives him to someone who will love him.”

Your chest ached. You hadn’t allowed yourself to think this deeply because you didn’t want to get wrapped in negative emotions. 

“Hmm, now I see why you sprinted to save Grim during orientation,” Ace commented.  

Grim’s ears shot up. “You still think I’m a cat?!”

“During orientation… I was freshly dropped into Twisted Wonderland, so my emotions were everywhere. I saw my cat in Grim.” You looked over to Grim. “But don’t worry, you two are nothing alike. My cat isn’t a genius spellcaster, after all.”

That made Grim smile proudly. “Of course he isn’t! Anyways, don’t worry about ya cat. I’m not a cat, but I know they have nine lives. He’s probably buried in tuna back in your world.”

Deuce added, “And when you see him again, you’ll have plenty of stories to tell him.”

“Just don’t yammer on too much,” Ace said with a teasing laugh. “You tend to do that.”

Were they trying to comfort you? These people? 

The same people who gave you several headaches in the span of a day? You couldn’t help but find that strangely endearing. It’ll take some time for you to accept that you will have to wait a while until you could meet your cat again and that it’ll take even more time for you to overcome your anxiety concerning his wellbeing. However, it was nice to know you weren't alone. 

Finally, you four reached Crowley’s office and stepped inside.

Crowley's office was very… purple. Violet curtains swept along the walls, stitched with patterns of stars and crescent moons. Furthermore, a long purple carpet stretched across the floor, leading straight to Crowley’s desk. And above, the portraits of the Great Seven floated. While Ace and Deuce talked to the headmage, you looked around—by now, the duo were accustomed to your distracted nature whenever something interesting caught your attention.

Your observations, however, were soon interrupted by some very ugly crying.

“In all the decades I’ve worked at this school…” Crowley sniffed, glancing down at his clawed hands. “The day has finally come when the students of Night Raven College have joined hands together to defeat a common foe!”  

… There was no way teamwork was that rare in NRC, right?

Deuce was quick to retaliate. “Whoa! No! No way would I join hands with that guy!”

“Okay, one, there was no joining of hands.” Ace looked way too offended for this. “Gross. And two, exactly HOW old are you, Headmage?” 

Crowley blissfully ignored them. 

“At this moment, I am moved beyond words. This incident has proved my hopes were justified.” He looked over to you. Uhm. “(Y/n), my doubts are allayed! For you… You possess the talents of a beastmaster!”

“Did you just insinuate that Ace and Deuce are beasts?”

Crowley proceeded to ignore you. Deuce and Ace’s offended expressions were hilarious. 

“My students have all been selected by the Dark Mirror for their exceptional talent and potential, but great talent begets great pride and big egos. Most are so self-reliant and self-centred that they never consider cooperating with others.”

Grim mumbled, “You make it sound like that’s a bad thing.”

Alright, you’ll condense Crowley’s yap. Because you had no magic, you could get the self-centred mages of NRC to make nice and play friends (debatable, but sure). As you quoted Crowley, “your everyday, humdrum mundanity” was what NRC needed.

“I am convinced that people like you are necessary for the future of this school. My educator's intuition tells me so.” In a theatrical gesture, Crowley spread his arms out. “Trappola, Spade—I hereby revoke your pending expulsions!”

The two lit up, Deuce especially. It was a cute sight; you were happy for them. It was strange, wasn’t it? Just this morning, you had no idea who these people were. And while these guys would rather jump off ten cliffs than admit anything of the sort…

You felt like you had made some pretty good friends. 

“Furthermore, (Y/n), I am granting you the qualifications necessary to attend school at Night Raven College!”

Everyone yelled in unison, “WHAT?!”

“Oh!” You paused. “Wait, do I still get my pay for my janitorial duties…”

Crowley sighed. His gold eyes narrowed into two unimpressed straight lines. “Yes, you will. There will also be a bonus because you worked so swiftly. Goodness, I was quite shocked when the ghost chefs said you cleaned the entire kitchen.”

Aww, yeah. You locked in this afternoon, and it paid off. Cleaning and sanitising wasn’t easy, especially as it was a kitchen. You know, a place where food was made. The ghost chefs took health codes very seriously and drilled every regulation into you.

“As for your enrolment, there is one condition.”

“Gonna make a wild guess here,” you said, “and that it involves my lack of magic.”

“Precisely, you would not be able to adequately pursue the school’s curriculum. As for you, Grim… Your actions today have made it clear that you possess sufficient talent to become a mage.”

Grim perked up and he looked at you. You winked at him and whispered, "Go on, listen. This part’s for you."

“In light of the total sum of your respective circumstances, you and (Y/n) will share a single enrolment at Night Raven College.”

Grim gasped in surprise. “I… I’ll get to go to this school…? As an actual student? Not a janitor?”

Grim’s voice was timid, almost as if he were about to cry. You resisted the urge to scoop him up and give him a big, affectionate hug. 

“Correct. However! There must be no further incidents like the one that occurred today. Are we clear?”

Grim turned to you. “(Y/n), I… I finally…”

You kneeled down and petted his head. “See? My faith in you being a great mage was spot on.”

“Yeah…” Grim actually leaned into your touch. His cheeks squished against the palm of your hand. “Yeah! There was no doubt about it!”

Cue the celebrations. Grim received a purple magestone around his neck. A custom ‘magic pen’ as his paws couldn’t handle writing implements. Grim’s eyes sparkled and he proudly showed off his magestone.  

“I look awesome!” Grim boasted. “A magestone collar to be worn only by the legendary archmage, Grim!”

Ace laughed. “Alright, alright. I’ll be nice for a bit and let you have your spotlight.”

Deuce leaned down a little, trying to get a better look at Grim’s magestone. “It’s kind of amazing how one accessory can change someone’s whole look.”

“Grim’s not listening to anything I say, is he?” Crowley approached you. “As you can plainly see, Grim remains oblivious to the customs of human society.”

“So I keep him out of trouble?”

Crowley nodded. “Precisely.”

“Can I get paid for that—”

“No.”

Ace let out an impressed whistle. “Wow, that’s quite the promotion. From janitor to student to prefect, all in the span of a day.”

“Oh, I see,” Deuce said. “So if your dorm is just you two, and the headmage is putting you in charge of Grim, that makes you the dorm prefect.”

“Well, that’s gotta be a Night Raven first! A magic-less prefect?” Ace shrugged. “But sure, why not? I think that’s cool.”

Mind you, the person complimenting you now was the same person who basically bullied you this morning.  

Crowley then gave you a little something. A camera, one that was beige and brown in colour. It was pretty compact and fitted nicely in your hands. There were gold detailings, such as around the large circular lens. It seemed pretty… antique? Was that the word to describe it?  

“This is a ghost camera,” Crowley said. 

“Ghost camera?!” You were bouncing with excitement. “No way—I was actually saving up for a camera! And you’re telling me this has ghost in the name?” 

“Oh, my grandma’s told me about those,” Ace said. “Those are, like, super old magic items, right?”

“It may have been invented when your great or great-great-grandmother was a child.”

… It was a little old. Which made it even cooler. 

According to Crowley, this camera was pretty special. It could capture the subject's physical form and parts of their soul. He also mentioned soulbonds between photographer and subject. If it was strong enough, the picture could jump out and create animated videos. You were DELIGHTED. Back home, you rarely went on an adventure without a camera; you always hoped to catch something spooky.  

“Thanks, headmage.” For once, you thought Crowley was actually generous. “Even if you probably just dumped this device on me.”

“I most certainly did not dump it on you. This was a gesture that is extraordinarily kind on my part.”

Ace chuckled. “Look at you, (Y/n). If I squint, I can see your eyes sparkling.”

“Take lots of photos of me, hench-human! These’ll be worth a billion thaumarks when I’m famous!” 

“I think it suits you,” Deuce commented, “is that weird to say? I’ve only known you for a day, but I can tell the camera looks right at home.”

Your eyes drifted from everyone to the camera. 

Life was interesting. Twenty four hours ago, you were ready for this experience to be temporary. You were simply waiting until you had the chance to go home. Yet, you had formed bonds and even became a student of Night Raven College. While the day had ended, it felt like a new beginning.

Your journey was only getting started, wasn’t it?  

A/n: Fellas, QUICK QUESTION. I drew up an RSA oc based on the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. It was done in, like, ten minutes, so nothing is final. I was wondering if anyone would be interested in him becoming a character that shows up in the story! 

I also have a Neige, Skully, and Ace sketch :D 

Chapter Text

The Queen of Hearts' Trial will now commence 

A kingdom of madness 

A kingdom where sentence comes before verdict 

A kingdom where rules are absolute 

Now then, will you lose your head?

─── ⋆⋅ ♰ ⋅⋆ ───

The Queen of Hearts' Trial

Dream Sequence I: Croquet 

─── ⋆⋅ ♰ ⋅⋆ ───

The first sensation that reached you was the touch of grass beneath your hands—soft, a little damp, and faintly ticklish. Next was the scent of roses. It was sweet and reminded you of tea. However, oddly enough, the scent was mixed with the artificial aroma of paint. 

When you lifted your head, the world entered your vision like a hazy, blurry watercolour painting. The colours were vibrant, as if you had stepped into an illustrated page of a children’s storybook. The clouds drifting slowly through the blue sky looked as if someone had dabbed them on with a sponge and white paint, the grass blades resembled the strokes of a paintbrush, and the sun was bright yet provided no warmth.

You slowly rose from the ground, afraid that any abrupt movement might tear the picturesque scenery, like a sharp pencil to paper. Where am I? The question lingered as you continued to observe your surroundings. Then your gaze dropped to your feet. Written in cursive white letters across the grass, it read: 

Her Majesty invites you to play

There were no directions, but your legs instinctively guided you along the right path. You strolled past bushes with white roses, white roses that were half dripping with red paint. From your breathing to the subtle twitch of your fingers, everything felt like a nonsensical daze. 

You stepped beneath a tall hedge arch, entered a garden and saw card soldiers scrambling to set up a game. On the lawn, flamingos were used as croquet mallets, their long necks twisting uncomfortably. Hedgehogs curled into quivering balls, rooted to the grass. 

For some reason, you expected a queen to be present. 

Then, before you knew it, something was forced into your hands. A mallet. A flamingo. You hadn’t uttered a word, you hadn't agreed to play, but it didn’t matter. 

Beneath your feet, new words were written. 

Rule 346: You must not play croquet in the gardens past 5 PM

Your gaze shot up. Just a few moments ago, the sun had been high in the sky. Now it had slipped below the horizon, as if someone had dragged it down with a single, impatient tug. Night had fallen. You stood alone with a mallet in your hands. You had broken a rule, and you released the flamingo in a panic. 

It was too late.

In one moment, card soldiers seized both of your arms, their grips clamping down like an iron vise. In the second moment, your head was forced against a hard surface. In the third moment, you heard a clear, angry voice: 

Off with her head.

.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

The moment your eyes opened, you sat up and your hands flew to your neck, checking if your head was still attached. A succession of coughs scratched your throat, sweat slid from your forehead, and your vision blurred like a foggy camera. Your heartbeat hammered so violently it felt like it was rattling your ribs loose. 

It could’ve been seconds, minutes, or much longer—you didn’t know. But eventually, you registered the familiar sight of Ramshackle. It looked as rundown as ever, yet it made you sigh in relief. Beside you, Grim stirred. His ears twitched first, then half-lidded eyes peeked up at you. 

“… (Y/n)? Why’re you makin’ all that noise?”

You swallowed. Gosh, your throat was drier than sandpaper. “It’s… nothing. Just fell in my dream, which spooked me a bit. You can go back to sleep.”

Thankfully, Grim was too sleepy to be suspicious of your words. Poor kitty was tuckered out from the Dwarf’s mine expedition. Grim muttered dreams’re weird before curling into a fuzzy loaf of bread. You tried falling back asleep, but it was useless. Maybe a walk would help. You slipped out of bed and made your way downstairs. Thankfully, the trio of ghosts were nowhere to be found, and you peacefully left Ramshackle.

The moon was bright and the night was still, as if the world had also fallen asleep. You wandered without a destination in mind. 

The dream you just had—its tactile, auditory, and olfactory sensations were vivid. The feelings of confusion, panic, and dread were also vivid. Yet, the visuals and specific details were hazy. It was just a dream, right? A nightmare, even. They weren’t real, so you didn’t need to be so emotionally tangled by it.

You reached for your neck. “Gosh… That felt too real.” 

Your wandering feet soon led you to Main Street. You stopped by the statue of the Queen of Hearts and stared at her in silence. Like an iron branding, a single phrase burned deeply into your mind.

Off with your head. 

Details of the dream were coming back. You had broken rule 346, which ultimately led to your execution. Riddle’s words from the entrance ceremony came to mind. 

“While the Queen of Hearts did order executions for disobedience, my unique magic does not literally behead the target. Instead, it seals away their magic.”

Did the dream occur because you had been surrounding yourself with students of Heartslabyul? Or was there some sort of symbolic meaning to your dream that you were supposed to take to heart? Hell, was some weird magical happenstance the cause of your dream? Psychoanalyse the dream, ask someone about it, ignore it, try and recall more of it—there were too many choices. You were overwhelmed. 

“My mind’s swimming with questions,” you murmured. “But these questions make me feel icky. Gotta distract myself.”

And so, you continued to wander around Night Raven College. After some time, you stumbled upon a courtyard with a path that led you to… Was that a well? The thing you use to get water? Huh. A surprising find. You planned to examine it in more detail, but an unfamiliar person caught your attention.

Hold on, could you even call him a person? He had long black horns on the top of his head, which curved into an S shape at the tip. Furthermore, his vivid green eyes, framed by long eyelashes, were far too captivating to belong to a simple mortal. It was the kind of beauty you’d find in gothic novels—walking through a mansion and crossing paths with a mysterious presence. Yet despite all that, he wore the same school uniform as anyone else.

“Hm…?” The student’s steps slowed before stopping a few metres shy from you. “Well, this is a surprise. I was under the assumption that humans retired around this hour. Who may you be?”

Huh, interesting. So far, everyone you had met knew you were the magicless student. Rumours about you had spread unnaturally fast. Either everyone here had loose lips, or someone was very purposefully flapping theirs.

“Oh, my name’s—” You paused. “Wait...”

You observed the stranger more closely. No, it was not because he was attractive—okay, fine, he was. But that wasn’t the reason you hesitated. Peeking out from his long black hair were pointed ears. 

Now, here was where you were going with this. Just before you and Grim parted ways with Ace and Deuce for the night, you had asked a few questions. One of the questions was whether NRC had species other than humans—and they do. 

One of the species mentioned were faes. 

“What’s the matter?”

“... I'm not giving you my name,” you said. “You're a fae, right?” 

“That I am. Though I fail to see what that has to do with you offering your name.”

“In mythology? Plenty.” You counted on your fingers. “I’ve heard faes can use your name to curse you, control you, enforce deals on you—it really depends on what mythology you’re reading. Overall, you gotta be careful.”

“That’s quite an odd set of assumptions.” The stranger folded his arms. “There's no harm in telling me your name.”

“That is exactly what someone who could harm me with my name would say.”

Both of you fell silent. His eyes narrowed, and for a moment you wondered if you should give up your name before he gave you a swift and elegant upper cut.

Then he laughed.

“You dare defy me?” Amusement danced in his eyes. “And with so little fear. Your impudence is interesting. What other myths do humans believe about my kind?”

“Dude, there’s a lot,” you said. “Off topic, but I really thought for a moment you were going to end me right here.”

“I'm not childish enough to cause a fuss because a human did not tell me their name,” he replied. “If you shall not tell me yours, then I will not give you mine.”

That seemed a bit childish to you, but okay.

“Well, we’re kinda at an impasse here. What about nicknames?”

“A nickname?” 

“A nickname! I don’t want to call you a mysterious, attractive stranger that could kill me with his gaze alone every time I see you. The abbreviation’s not that great as well.”

MSTCKMWHGA. Yeah. Not Great. 

“Ah, so you are aware that I am dangerous.” A serene smile graced his lips. “Yet, you speak so casually. If that is what you wish, then I shall indulge you. After all, it is for your benefit that you do not learn who I am.”

Either this man had astronomically high self-esteem or you were an unlucky idiot talking to someone who could vaporise you on sight. The latter seemed more interesting to you, though. 

“How about Tsunotarou?” With a teasing smile, you lifted your hands to your head and curled your fingers like little horns. “Because of your horns.”

“Tsunotarou…?” He laughed softly. “It’s acceptable.”

“I’m glad. Your horns are very neat, though! I wonder how you sleep in them. They angle behind your head a bit. Wouldn’t that make lying down difficult?”

“You’re quite observant. I do have custom pillows to accommodate my horns.”

“That makes sense, then I guess the ceremonial robes are the same. Do they cut openings in the—wait, I’m getting carried away.” Damn, Ace was right. You did yap too much. “So, do you have a nickname for me?”

Tsunotarou went quiet, studying you with a thoughtful gaze. Hold on, was he wearing dark eyeshadow? Gosh, it made him look so pretty. You absolutely loved how the men in this school wore makeup so freely. Once money stops being an issue, you would have to start looking into cosmetics to keep up. 

“You were wandering around, drifting through the courtyard like an apparition. Ah, that’s it.” He smiled at you. “Little spectre, what are you doing on Night Raven grounds when most humans are asleep?”

His composure and posture was dignified—regal, even. He reminded you of a prince. However, there was an almost childish triumph in his eyes that belied his intimidating presence. Little spectre, was it? Alright, fine. Tsunotarou had the height to call you little. Spectre means ghost. You loved ghosts. Approved. 

“I couldn't sleep. I figured a walk would help. What about you?”

“I was on my way to visit an abandoned building.”

“Abandoned building? You mean the one past the botanical gardens?” You asked. “Crowley dumped me there.”

“You’ve taken up residence?” He asked, a faint sigh leaving his lips. The disappointment came off as if he was lamenting the loss of a semi-important keepsake. “I liked having a place where I could go to enjoy the peace of solitude. It’s a pity that it is no longer abandoned.”

“Sorry about that. It was either Ramshackle or the streets,” you replied. “But I also like exploring abandoned places! What are your favourite spots? I like ones that are said to be haunted.”

“Haunted?” Tsunotarou repeated. His neutral expression made you feel ten times more animated than usual. “Ghosts are quite common. Do you not see them in Ramshackle?”

“Well, back in my world, I meant.”

“Back in your world… Ah, you must be the magicless human.”

“That’s me, but we’re getting off topic. Don’t escape my question. What are your favourite spots?”

Tsunotarou chuckled at your insistence. “Buildings with gargoyles are always worth a visit.”

“Gargoyles?” You remembered your outing with Neige where the librarian gave you tickets to a museum. “Did you hear about the exhibit they're having in Foothill? It’s on gargoyles and grotesques.”

His eyes lit up in interest. “There’s an exhibition?”

“Yup! Are you free this weekend? I have two tickets.”

Tsunotarou froze, his eyes wide in shock. You did a double take, trying to figure out if you’d just said something deeply offensive or had unknowingly broken some obscure fae law.

“You’re asking me to accompany you?” 

You nodded. “Yeah! Pretty much.”

“In other words, this is an invitation.”

“Y-yes?”

The student glanced off to the side, as if contemplating the most difficult philosophical question of the century. Then, laughter left his lips—warm, soft, and gentle like the glow of a single candle. It sounded a little disbelieving, but it was unmistakably the laughter of someone genuinely happy.

“My, you truly have no fear at all.” With an amused smile, Tsunotarou placed both hands on his hips. "Nonetheless, I shall graciously accept your invitation.”

“Well, it’s nice I have someone to go with. But is an invitation really that special—”

“Would you mind telling me the details?” he asked. “I would hate to be late.”

Oh, true! You kind of asked on a whim, so you had no plans in mind. 

“The details are on the tickets. Wait here, I’ll quickly run and get them.”

You expected a simple ‘of course’ or some elegant equivalent of a response. Instead, he gave you a look that seemed like you had just declared you’d walk to another plane of existence on foot.

“There’s no need for that.”

Tsunotarou lifted one hand, and a faint green light illuminated at his fingertips. In one breath you were standing in the courtyard; the next, you were standing outside the gates leading to Ramshackle. You were absolutely baffled.

“Did we just teleport?”

“You said you wanted to retrieve the tickets,” he replied. “So I simply offered my assistance.”

The man was acting as if he had handed you a spare pencil. Was teleportation something any student could do? Was it a fae thing? Maybe you needed to be very capable? Did he just visualise Ramshackle and then whoosh—teleportation? So many questions, but for now, you will refrain from asking them.

You ran into Ramshacke, stared at Grim’s sleeping face for a few seconds, snatched the ticket off the dusty nightstand, and then hurried back out.  

“It’ll be later in the evening,” you said. “Wanna meet up in front of Ramshackle?”

Tsunotarou nodded in agreement. “Then, I shall be going now.”

You showed him a slight wave. “And I’ll tell you more stories about what we humans think of fae the next time we meet.”

His eyes were warm with delight. “I look forward to it. Have a goodnight, little spectre.”

Tsunotarou vanished, leaving a few sparkles in his trail. You blinked a few times before letting out a sigh. Wow. There never seemed to be a moment where there wasn’t something going on. Even something as mundane as eating dinner was a task—a tactical warfare between you and Grim’s grabby little paws.

Strangely enough, a memory from the entrance ceremony surfaced. It was the scene after Grim had been taken away by Crowley. A boy with vivid pink eyes caught your attention and said: 

“I came here thinking that perhaps he might be here, but Malleus didn’t come, did he? Once again, he was evidently not informed that his presence was required at an official ceremony.”

Malleus… Could that be Tsunotarou’s name? At the mention of Malleus, fearful and intimidated murmurs swept across the room. First, whoever Malleus was, he was probably very powerful. Second, he was likely a housewarden since his ‘presence was required at an official ceremony.’ When you hold that information up against Tsunotarou’s confidence, his effortless use of teleporation…  

“Well! Let’s not jump to conclusions,” you said to yourself. “Plus, I can always ask him this weekend.”

You yawned. Sleep was finally calling for you. Though, you hesitated at the thought. The dream with the Queen of Hearts remained fresh in your mind. You had died in it; and while the pain wasn’t physical, it burned in your subconscious. However, despite that, your heart traitorously quickened in anticipation at the thought of what might happen the next time you entered a dream. 

“... Hm?”

There was a beautiful, faint voice in the distance. Singing… Ah! It was the same opera you heard when you first arrived in Twisted Wonderland! Alright, your drowsiness can take a hike; this was far more important. You pushed past the rusty gates and walked up the steps leading towards the dorm. You glanced around the serene night in search of the gentleman ghost. 

There he is! 

The moonlight’s pale, silver glow enveloped his presence like a gentle embrace, and his red eyes illuminated behind his tinted glasses. It was a sight you’d find in a mysterious and hauntingly attractive painting, tucked in the deepest rooms of an abandoned castle. You hid behind a corner, peeking out just enough to watch.

“I believe a lovely lady is spying on me.” A quiet chuckle left his lips. “It makes me feel quite shy.” 

With a sheepish smile, you emerged from your hiding spot. “Hey, Skully. Sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt. Your singing is great.” You gave him a thumbs up. “This time I had a chance to properly hear it.”

“Why, thank you, my dear.” One hand sat neatly behind his back while the other touched his chin with a thoughtful poise. He then asked you, “What are you doing awake at such a late hour? Sleep is important, especially when you have such a busy week ahead of you.”

The way Skully casually addressed you with such romantic terms—my dear, lovely lady—you could almost delude yourself into thinking he was courting you. Also, you couldn’t help but notice the familiar warmth in the way he addressed you, as if he already knew you. Nah, there’s no way. You’d definitely remember a character like him. 

“Couldn’t sleep. Probably because today—well, yesterday now—was filled with too much excitement.”

There was a knowing smile on Skully’s lips. “Is that all?”

Skully’s words could easily be brushed off as a light tease, nothing serious. So why did it feel like he knew you were hiding something? 

“… I had a nightmare,” you replied. “Gosh, you’re perceptive.”

“It’s nothing of the sort, I can assure you. I merely have… experience. Let us leave it at that. What troubles you? I can lend an ear, if you’d like.”

You hesitated. Skully’s offer wasn’t unwelcomed. In fact, you found it very sweet. But you weren’t the type to air out your emotions to others. Not because you were guarded, but because you never had the option to.  

“If you do not wish to tell me your thoughts, please do not feel pressured. However, I would like you to understand that I am here for you.”

Warm, fuzzy feelings wrapped around your heart. Skully briefly reminded you of Neige in how kind he was. 

“Now,” he continued. “I am sure you have many questions to ask me.”

“That I do! I know it’s a bit late, but… Who are you? Were you a former student? Or maybe an apparition tethered to this school? What—oh, sorry. Rambling again. Feel free to tell me whatever you want!”

Skully laughed softly. How could someone’s laugh effortlessly sound like a dulcet melody?  

“Do not apologise, your enthusiasm is positively endearing,” Skully replied. “Indeed, I was a former student at Night Raven College.”

“That makes sense! You knew about the entrance ceremony and all. I guess you’re my senior, then.” You displayed an exaggerated bow, one hand on your chest and the other lifted an imaginary ballgown. “A pleasure to meet you.”

Skully brought a hand to his lips in surprise; a faint rosy tint was on his pale face. “Oh my… pardon me. I seem to have lost my words for a moment.” He recovered with a charismatic smile. “Then, as your senior, may I offer a word of advice?”

You nodded, and Skully continued. 

“Form bonds, friendships, and reach out to others. Remain open minded, even if values clash.” His gaze softened, as though reminiscing a distant memory. “You have a darling personality. It would be a shame to hide something so precious.”

Alright, your cheeks were feeling warm. Gosh, how could Skully say such words without so much of a stutter? And he was a ghost, too—your weakness! 

“Y-yeah, friends are cool.” Your mind scrambled to think of something to say. “Any, uh… suggestions?”

For a few seconds, Skully was in thought.

“Sebek Zigvolt,” he said. “A young man with a strength I greatly admire. His loyalty and discipline is remarkable as well. As for his passion…” Skully chuckled softly. “You will see for yourself.”

You had no idea who Sebek was! But if someone as gentleman-like as Skully brought him up, surely he was someone you would enjoy the company of.  

“Sebek… Alright, I’ll keep him in mind. How do you know him?”

Skully’s smile became playful. “I’m afraid that’s a secret.”

Dammit. Secrets—your other weakness! 

“Fine, next question it is,” you declared, hands on your hips as if you were interrogating the ghost. “When we first met, I asked if ghosts could touch the living. You said you’d give me the details later.” You brightened, leaning closer to Skully. “So! Can I get the details now?”

Skully’s smile wavered a little. 

“I… ah… was hoping I might think of one by the time we crossed paths again,” he admitted, voice quiet and timid.

“So you didn’t know?!”

Skully cupped his face in embarrassment. “I’m awfully sorry for disappointing you, my lovely friend. I’m afraid I spoke too confidently.”

You laughed. “No need to apologise! I was just caught off guard, that’s all.”

“Thank you,” Skully replied, his shoulders a little more relaxed now. “I do have other observations, however. Ghosts’ forms can vary quite a bit. For instance, those who linger in the corporeal realm tend to be unstable and cannot be perceived outside places infused with magic, such as Night Raven.” 

You nodded. “You mentioned that last time, yeah.”

“In my case, I take measures in veiling my presence to not attract attention. Yet, you can still see me and I am unsure why.”

So, from an outsider’s perspective, you looked like someone talking earnestly to thin air. Lovely. 

“Only my hobbies come to mind,” you replied. “I love supernatural related things and spend a lot of my free time exploring haunted places, trying out cool rituals, and so on. Should we chalk it up to that?”

“It’s an interesting mystery, is it not?” Skully asked. “You’re very special, (Y/n).”

“I’m flattered.” You laughed. “I’m assuming you’re not always around Night Raven? What do you usually do?”

“I travel the world to celebrate Halloween!” he exclaimed proudly, placing both hands over his chest as he sighed dreamily. “It is a dear passion of mine, one that fills me with boundless joy. When time permits, I return to NRC. It’s a nostalgic place for me.”

“Halloween? The holiday?”

“Yes!” His eyes lit up like a crimson lantern amidst a foggy courtyard. “Simply speaking of it brings such delight to my heart.”

Skully was honestly so cute, and you also love seeing someone express joy for their passions. 

“Can I hear more about it?”

Skully shook his head. “I would love to, but I fear I may become too enthusiastic. You need to sleep, after all.”

“Not sleepy yet.”

“But—”

“You know, I’ll have great dreams if a certain ghost could talk to me about Halloween.” You dramatically sighed, looking at the stars as if you had lost your husband to war. “If only…”

Skully laughed. “My, is someone trying to manipulate me with theatrics?”

“Whatever are you talking about?”

In the end, Skully relented with a defeated laugh. The two of you settled on the front steps of Ramshackle; Skully fretted over the dirt, insisting he go fetch you a blanket. Unfortunately, a stock of clean blankets was a work in progress for Ramshackle. You assured him you would change into fresh clothes before heading to bed. 

From then on, conversations flowed naturally. You asked question after question, and Skully answered each one with vivacity—about Jack Skellington, about why he was so passionate about Halloween, about his journey spreading awareness to the holiday. You happily listened to it all.

Time went by unnoticed like snowflakes descending from above, piling up into a beautiful winter wonderland. As the minutes passed by, your eyelids became heavier.

Skully paused mid-sentence, his voice gentle with adoration. “I think it’s time for you to rest.”

“Mmm…” You rubbed your eyes in a daze. “I wanna talk more… I dunno when I'll see you again.”

“Not to worry, my friend. I shall remain in Sage’s Island for some time. I intend to support you.”

“... Support?” You yawned. “Why're you being so nice to me…”

Skully was quiet for a moment. Then he lifted a hand and removed his tinted glasses. It was a small gesture, but it allowed you to see how sincere he was. 

“Because you are someone who deserves endless kindness.”

The latter half of his sentence blurred into a muffled haze due to exhaustion. You wanted to respond to Skully; however, fatigue was faster than your tongue. Slowly, you leaned sideways, and your cheek rested against something comforting.

.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

Skully’s eyes briefly widened when you leaned against his shoulder. However, surprise quickly melted into endearment. How sweet of you. Despite your drowsy state, you still humoured him. It felt like he was back in Halloween Town, sharing a pleasant conversation after the two of you had snuck away from the group early in the morning. Skully’s heart soared with happiness when he shared his passions, and you would listen with such beautiful sincerity and attentiveness. 

Much time had passed since then, yet the memories were clearer than the finest acrylic glass.

“Pardon me…” Skully mumbled

He slid one hand beneath your legs and the other around your back. Skully then drew you close to his chest before returning you to your bed. Ramshackle’s state was quite desolate, and Skully worried for your health under these conditions. Well, you had appeared healthy when you met him back then, so he supposed he would try not to worry too much. 

Skully entered the bedroom. Ah, there was Grim. The two of you really had been inseparable from the start. Such a lively duo, there was never a dull moment. Skully’s heart warmed at the memory as he settled you onto the mattress. He carefully covered you with a blanket before adjusting it so the material would cover you and your furry companion.

“I hope your dreams tonight are peaceful. Though, I suppose overcoming those trials is something you must do to grow,” Skully whispered. “Till our paths cross again, may your days be spent surrounded by those you love.”

Chapter Text

You had a realisation this morning.

You were no longer a janitor. That meant one source of income had been ripped—no, it was violently torn from your feeble grasps. At this rate, you would be financially dependent on Azul. The thought was more ghastly than any cursed book. No way. You learnt very early on that relying on Azul was the equivalent to building your own coffin. 

That line of thinking was what led you here, standing in front of Crowley’s desk before class.

A hand on your chest, you offered your most heartfelt plea, “Please continue to give me odd jobs, at least for the first month—lest I starve to death or rot in Ramshackle.”

Crowley was behind his desk, a pen in hand with some paper work to accompany it. He probably took it out to look busy.

“I understand that I told you I will be willing to lend a generous ear to your troubles,” he said, “but I must admit, this is the first time a student has made such a demand on their very first day of school.”

“Was there anything normal about my presence at Night Raven to begin with?” You sighed. “My job at the Monstro Lounge isn't enough to cover the costs of a new heater, air conditioner, blankets, shampoo, Grim’s big back, hygiene essentials for Grim—”

Crowley hastily interrupted you. “Yes, yes, I see the plight you are in. And because I am so kind, I shall grant you a budget.”

You smiled happily at that. Crowley scribbled something on a piece of paper before handing it over to you. You held it close and squinted at the numbers written. 

“Surely, there’s a zero missing at the end…”  

“There most certainly is not.”

The budget was tight enough to strangle Ace if he ever bullied you again. Didn’t Night Raven have funds? Why was Crowley being so stingy?! 

“... Can you still give me some jobs here and there?”

Crowley frowned. “As prefect and a student of Night Raven College, you should be focusing on your studies. Why, I think of your education day and night. It would pain me to—”

“I focus better when I am not poor.” You turned around. “I'll be back tomorrow to ask again.” 

“Wait.” Crowley sighed, shaking his head. “I suppose I can assign a few tasks.”

“Sweet! Anyways, so I had some questions about NRC I wanted to ask—”

Crowley kicked you out of his office. 

Man, whatever. You got what you wanted. You walked along the exterior hallway, admiring the architecture. Surprisingly, you had a decent amount of energy despite going to bed so late. Speaking of sleep, the dream with the Queen of Hearts didn’t come back. Was it a one off thing? Well, time would tell. You also didn’t remember returning to bed. The last thing you recalled were Skully’s eyes, and then it was morning. 

I hope I can see him again. Not only is he super nice, but there are just so many mysteries around him!

As for your uniform, you didn’t have one of your own yet. It made sense considering your transition from janitor to student was pretty last-minute. For subjects that required a lab coat or a sports uniform, you borrowed old uniforms from past students. 

Crowley informed you, at an ungodly hour even earlier than when you visited his office, that a proper uniform would be prepared for you sometime next week. You were barely conscious when he tossed a measuring tape into your hands and instructed you to give your measurements to your Potionology instructor. Apparently, the person has a brilliant aesthetic sense.

You turned a corner and found Ace, Deuce, and Grim waiting for you. To no one’s shock, there was an argument going on.

“Guys…” Deuce sighed. “Let’s not fight again…” 

Ace shrugged. “I’m just saying, when the furball fails his class—”

“I AIN’T FAILING NOTHING!” 

Just as Grim was about to launch himself to attack the redhead, he saw you in the corner of his eye. The argument fizzled out instantly and Grim swiftly found his spot on your shoulder. 

“Didja convince him to get me my tuna?”

“Well, I'll have the money for it.”

Deuce sighed in relief at your arrival. “Good morning, (Y/n).”

“Morning Deuce. And Ace, too, I guess.”

“Someone’s playing favourites.” Ace shot you an offended pout that was actually a little adorable. “Anyways, did you work nonstop back in your world or something? You always seem hyper to keep yourself occupied.”

“Well, I actually do need the money,” you replied whilst tutting Ace like a teacher would to a student. “But yeah, I’m used to being on my feet. My parents were always out, so I gained independence early on. I also took up a part-time job as soon as I could.”

You watered things down, but this wasn’t the time to delve into your history.

“If you need, I can lend you my notebooks and stationery,” Deuce said, smiling. “I have plenty to spare! Just let me know.” 

Grim held his head high. “You’re already blessed with the Great Grim’s amazing presence. You’re welcome.”

“I guess I'll lend you some stuff.” Ace grinned. “If you ask nicely.”

It was nice to see everyone show their support, even if the wholesomeness scale varied in their responses. You lightly slapped Ace’s shoulder at his response, and he laughed. Grim offered you his help by pouncing onto Ace’s face like a furry canon ball. You did nothing to help. Deuce decided to be the responsible one and tried to pry Grim off. 

It was such a stupid sight, but a sight you found endearing. 

"I can sneak you guys into the storerooms if you want,” you offered. "Dunno what you’ll actually do there, but it’s an option.”

Ace was still fixing his uniform after Deuce finally managed to peel Grim off. Deuce settled Grim on the floor before asking you, “Storerooms?” 

You dangled a metal keyring between your fingers, letting the assortment of keys jingle. A mischievous smile played on your lips.

“Crowley forgot I still have my janitor keys.” You gave it a little twirl around your index finger before slipping it in your pocket “I'm not saying shit until he notices.” 

“Oh, nice one.” Ace smiled. “Let’s use it to play hooky.”

“How are you thinking about skipping classes in the first week of school?” Deuce shook his head in disappointment before turning to you. “(Y/n), is it alright to keep those?”

“We’ll find out.” You winked. “If y'all see me kicked out of Ramshackle, you know what happened!”

“Please don't joke about that!” 

  .·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

It was a pretty wild coincidence that you four were in the same class. The universe was basically telling you that there was no escape from these guys. The first period was Potionology. When you entered the classroom, you were wide-eyed and excited. Now this was a magic school! Shelves upon shelves lines the wall, containing glass bottles of various colour, specimens preserved in a glass, and—

You tapped Deuce’s shoulder and whispered to him. “Look, there’s a cauldron. Don’t let that get near Ace.”

Deuce stifled a chuckle.

Even after you all settled into your seats, you were looking around with enthusiasm. Your neck was really putting in overtime at your movements. With a chuckle, Deuce tapped your shoulder so that you didn’t forget about the professor. 

“My name is Divus Crewel. You may call me Master Crewel. We’re going to start with the basics, and by that, I mean beating the names and distinguishing characteristics of one hundred herbs and poisons into your tiny brains.” 

The man walked around the room with a teaching pointer clasped in his red gloves. You sincerely hoped it was decorative—was that a collar attached to it? Setting aside that questionable detail, Crewel really had presence. He looked less like a professor and more like a model strutting down a runway.  

“Now, pups,” Crewel continued, “in groups, take a look at the sample trays on your tables. You will find some botanicals. Identify each specimen based on its characteristics. I trust you have brought your textbooks?”

Dammit. Crowley gave you fuck all to prepare for class. Thankfully, Ace and Deuce had theirs. Deuce enthusiastically brought out his textbook while Ace looked like someone sentenced him to death row. You four then peered into the tray Crewel mentioned. There was a neat arrangement of specimens. No poisons were in there. At least, that was what you hoped.

Ace sighed. “I’ve never been one for memorising. Can’t we wing it when we make the potions?”

A sharp smack! hit the table. Everyone jumped at the pointer; Grim nearly fell off the desk. Okay, so the pointer was NOT decorative. Crewel’s grey eyes glanced down at you, his authoritative gaze slightly veiled by strands of white hair. It was a look that could kill, and some would die happy.

“While I encourage failure as part of the learning process, I certainly do not appreciate slacking,” Crewel said. “I trust you pups won’t be requiring remedial lessons with me?”

Even Ace and Grim shut their mouths. Meanwhile, you raised a hand. 

“I don’t have a textbook, neither does Grim.”

“You’re the new student who cannot use magic, correct? That’s fine.” Crewel folded his arms and sighed. “I’m not the least bit surprised that Crowley failed to supply you with any school necessities. You may borrow textbooks from the library.”

“Thanks! Oh, speaking of Crowley, he said I should give my measurements to you…?”

“For your uniform, yes.”  

“Will it be like everyone else’s?”

“It will follow the standard Night Raven uniform. However, adjustments can and should be made to suit you. A uniform ought to complement its wearer, after all. Meet me in my office after you’re done for the day. We shall discuss the details then.”

Crewel glanced around, assessing the classroom full of… well, boys. Rowdy, loud, and chaotic boys. His eyes narrowed at the sight.

“… I cannot condone a young woman having to navigate a school full of rowdy pups, and with so little support,” Crewel said. “Really, what was Crowley thinking?” 

“I'll protect my hench-human, obviously!” Grim declared. “She’s nothin’ without me!” 

“I'll make sure no one messes with her,” Deuce added, his gaze sparkling with such earnestness you wondered if his eyes had turned into magestones.

Ace rested his cheek against his palm, a grin on his face. “Guess I gotta make sure she doesn’t get into trouble.”

While you were happy with the responses, Crewel didn't look impressed at the slightest.

“Before any of you unruly students do any protecting, straighten your behaviour.” When Crewel turned his attention to you, his expression softened—just a tad. “While independence and adversity are important ingredients for growth, your situation puts you at a disadvantage. I will keep your circumstances in mind, but understand that I refuse to coddle you.”

You nodded. Honestly, that was more empathy than Crowley had ever shown you—well, alright. Crowley did help you here and there, but as headmage he could’ve done a little more. Such as what? Not dump you in an abandoned building full of health hazards, for starters. You were getting off topic. Now, while it would’ve been great, you didn’t expect the professors to drop everything to accommodate you. Crewel’s words didn’t come off as a surprise. 

“That being said,” Crewel continued, “come prepared with an idea for your uniform.”

You tilted your head in confusion. “I mean, anything comfortable works. I’m not picky.”

“Nonsense.” Crewel cut the idea off, like the snap of a scissor to a loose thread. “Clothes are more than fabric and stitching. Not only does it send a message about who you are, but it also influences how others treat you.” 

Crewel smacked the teaching pointer against his palm, a crisp and confident gesture. There was pride in his eyes, the kind of pride that came with years of success and experience. 

“Not to worry,” he assured you, “you will look proper, sharp, and most of all—confident.”

Crewel hadn’t even designed your uniform yet, but the conviction in his voice already made you want to hold your head higher. While Crewel wasn’t hand holding you as if you were a lost child, he was still offering his support. That made you happy. 

“I don’t know much about fashion, but I’ll be sure to have something in mind,” you replied. 

Grim launched himself onto the table space between you and Crewel. “Me too! I wanna stand out, gimme a cool uniform as well!”

“Oh? I seldom tailor for cats,” Crewel responded. “I’m more accustomed to working with pups and dogs.”

Grim hissed. “I ain’t a cat!”  

You looked at Grim in disbelief. “That hiss did not help your case.”

Crewel hummed thoughtfully. “I suppose I could fashion something for you.”

“Nyaha! Of course the Great Grim would—”

Crewel’s pointer struck the table, the impact was just inches away from Grim. “However! You will require thorough grooming, and it would be an intensive process. I trust you are ready for that?

Grim shrunk, ear flattening. “... Nevermind.”

With that, Crewel walked off to deal with the other students. You and Deuce put in proper effort—taking notes, double-checking the textbook, and even sketching some of the herbs out. Ace was less enthusiastic, but still helped out (after Deuce scolded him). As for Grim, you had to stop him from eating the specimens three times. Crewel would periodically stop by to check in on you four; you and Deuce accepted his help in earnest. Now, would you actually remember everything you learnt from this lesson? Probably not. But hey, you were having fun. 

Towards the end of class, Crewel placed a thin booklet on each group’s desk.  

“For your homework, you will complete an introductory field exercise,” Crewel announced. “Gather the herbs from your assigned category. We covered each of these in class. I expect them to be correctly collected and labeled by the end of this week.”

Ace flopped against the desk. “Homework? On the first week?”

Grim shared the same sentiment as Ace. The cat even used your arm as his pillow. 

“Well, better a group task than doing it solo,” Ace mumbled. Then he perked up, red eyes filled with mischief. “How about we play rock, paper, scissors? Loser has to gather the herbs.”

“It’s group work,” Deuce argued. “We should be doing it as a team.”

Ace waved a dismissive hand with an unimpressed sigh. “But we are, someone still needs to label them.” 

“But still—”

“What are you, chicken? Scared you’ll lose?”

That was enough to convince Deuce. 

“Wait, can Grim’s cute little paws even do scissors?” you asked. 

Deeply offended, Grim raised said paws in the air. “HEY! I can do anything—!”

“Oh, I got it!” you exclaimed, turning over to Grim. “We’ll be a team. If I lose, I'll take the L and collect the herbs myself. Sounds good?”

Suddenly, Grim’s desire to defend his pride had disappeared. With that decided, the three of you balled your hands into a fist. 

“Alright,” Ace said. “On shoot.”

You all raised your hands. 

“Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!”

Ace threw rock. Deuce threw rock. You threw scissors. You stared at your hand in shame. 

Slowly, you looked over to Grim. “… So about what I said before, Grim. I changed my mind. How about we work together—”

“No!”

  .·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

“I am your History of Magic teacher, Mozus Trein. And this is my familiar, Lucius. You are here to learn the rich history of magic, and how it has sculpted the world which you now so easily take for granted.”

Your professor was a man with neatly combed-back grey hair and a stern expression—if flimsy excuses were not tolerated with Crewel, then they would be vaporised in Trein’s presence. You sat between Ace and Deuce while Grim made himself comfortable beside your arm.  

“I grade based on classroom behaviour as well as the quality of work. Don’t let me catch you sleeping.”

Ace leaned over to whisper to you. “Hey, the professor said don’t let me catch you sleeping.”

“Ace, don’t even try,” you whispered back. “I’m not covering for you.”

“Now,” Trein continued. “Let us open our books to page fifteen.”

You didn’t have a textbook (woah! no way!). Just as you were about to ask either Deuce or Ace if you could borrow theirs, both boys instinctively nudged their textbook closer to you. You blinked. They blinked. Then all three of you stifled your laugher. 

“This section concerns the magestones discovered in the Dwarf’s Mine…”

Trein lectured in a steady and authoritative cadence. You weren’t going to lie… His almost monotonous manner of speaking made it hard to remain energetic. Although, Lucius meowing every now and then was a nice addition. You listened to Trein while quietly jotting down questions to ask after class. As much as you wanted to ask them in the moment, you had no intention of interrupting the lecture every five seconds and earning the collective ire of your classmates. 

You weren’t an honour student, but you also weren’t a total slacker. Plus, if a topic interested you, then you’d lock in. Still, you were never the type to be super diligent and on top of everything. You’d forgotten homework here and there, and you had your fair share of last-minute exam study sessions as well. 

Deuce was invested in Trein’s lecture. So invested to where he failed to take any notes. The student was whispering comments to himself with a small smile on his face. Alright, he looked cute. Hence, you decided to put extra care into your notes for Deuce to copy later. Meanwhile, Grim dozed off five minutes in and was promptly woken up by Lucius.  

Eventually, class ended.

“Shoot!” Deuce sighed. “I didn’t take many notes…”

“You can copy mine.” You offered your notebook. “Just return it back by tomorrow.”

You truly believed that you had already seen Deuce’s most wholesome expression; however, his look of gratitude in this moment had proved you wrong.

“Thank you! You really saved me there.” Deuce frowned. “I can't believe I forgot to take notes until the very last minute.”

“You were invested in the lecture. That's better than ninety-nine percent of the class.” 

Just as you were about to leave the classroom, Trein called out for you.

“(Y/n). Please stay behind for a moment.” 

Ace snickered. “Ooh, someone’s busted.”

Deuce elbowed Ace. “Cut it out. If she was in trouble, then you would’ve been expelled.”

Deuce told you that he and Ace would wait outside the classroom. Grim remained on your shoulder as you approached Trein’s desk.

“I sincerely hope I didn’t do something wrong,” you said. 

“Not at all. I wanted to inform you that I have spoken to the librarians. They will lend you the necessary textbooks for your classes for as long as you need.”

“Oh, thank you! Professor Crewel mentioned that I could borrow textbooks, but it’s nice not having to worry about any return dates.”

Trein nodded. “With that said, I expect you to study diligently. You may feel it unnecessary, given that you do not originate from Twisted Wonderland. However, history teaches us how to avoid repeating past mistakes, and a firm grasp of our history will help you navigate this world.”

You had no issues with what Trein said and found yourself nodding along. Lucius let out a low meow; if you had to guess, he was agreeing with Trein. Grim, at this point, had somehow dozed off on your shoulder. You were a little amazed at his feat. 

“And while you may believe yourself at a disadvantage,” Trein continued, “I would argue the opposite. An outsider’s view may see what the rest of us have overlooked.”

Trein’s gaze fell onto the sheet of questions in your hands. You noticed and gladly offered it to him. Your professor’s expression remained stern, but the corners of his lips faintly curved upwards—you could’ve deluded yourself into believing it was a smile. 

“These are thoughtful questions. Your penmanship, however, could stand to be improved.”

“Yeah, sorry. I’ve always admired people with super neat writing.” 

As you had physical education next period, there wasn’t time for Trein to answer all of your questions. Your professor reassured you that he would have your questions answered by your next Magic of History lesson. 

“And one more thing,” Trein added. “Come to me if you require tips on grooming Grim.”

Suddenly, Grim woke up. “I don’t need grooming!”

.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

“I’m coach Vargas, and physically educating your feeble little bodies is my responsibility. Great sorcery begins with a great physique! Behold the muscles you can build with a diet of raw eggs!”

A robust, broad-shouldered man stood before you with enthusiasm strong enough to crush mountains. Now, you had nothing against striving to improve your physique, but… a diet of raw eggs? 

“A great mage needs a great physical constitution!” Vargas blew his whistle. “So gimme twenty laps, and a hundred push-ups!”

Ace was not enthusiastic. “Bleah. The forced exercise is bad enough, but meatheads like this guy drive me nuts.”

“Twenty laps, huh?” you mused aloud. “Anyone wanna race me?”

Grim frowned. “NO! Explain to me the appeal of runnin’ around in circles! Do I look like a hamster?”

“I don’t mind racing,” Deuce said, his smile competitive. “But don’t expect me to go easy on you.”

“Good, cause that’ll be boring.”

Grim and Ace looked at each other and shared a mutual agreement: they were not participating in whatever you and Deuce were doing. 

“Alright.” You stretched out your legs a little for good measure. “Ready, Deuce?”

“Ready!” 

You both took off. You prided yourself on being a fast runner; after all, you had outrun Deuce yesterday when he and Ace were chasing Grim. However, Deuce was different when he got serious. Heck, you almost tripped because you were caught up in his expression. 

In the end, you managed to beat Deuce by a few seconds. You bent over, hands resting on your knees as you caught your breath. Aside from the time you rushed to save Grim from Riddle, that was the hardest you had ran in a while.  

“You’re fast,” Deuce said, “Were you in the track club back in your world?” 

“Nah. I just went on a lot of late-night adventures that required running.”

Deuce nodded thoughtfully. “I guess you would’ve ran away when you thought there was danger.”

You blinked. “Towards danger.”

Deuce blinked back. “Away from danger.”

“Huh, what’s the point of a ghost hunt if you run away from—”

You paused mid-sentence when you realised that Vargas had zoned in on you and Deuce as if you two had target marks on your backs. 

“SUCH ENTHUSIASM!” His voice thundered across the field. “You two seem eager to build muscles as magnificent as mine!” 

Now hold on, you did not remember expressing such enthusiasm. Also, this was cardio, not strength training. The logic was confusing you. Vargas proceeded to clap his hand on your shoulder, and the force nearly caved your goddamn knees to the ground. 

“(Y/n)! Since you are not a mage, I expect you to train even harder!” He placed both hands on his hip, laughing loudly as if he blessed you with a million dollars. “In fact, I will make a personalised training regime for you!” 

“Now, hold on—”

“Do not fear! I will communicate with you daily until you’re ready!” He grinned. “No one would want to mess with you if you’ve got a physique to boast about!”

… Was this Vargas’ way of looking out for you? He was definitely being pushy, and you weren’t as excited about his help as you were with Trein or Crewel—but hey. Support was support. Plus, if the Dwarf’s mines were any indicator, training up wasn’t such a bad idea.

“Okay,” you replied. “I’ll bite.”

Vargas beamed proudly. “That’s the spirit! Now, next up is one hundred push ups!”

Oh.

So, push-ups didn’t go very well. You were struggling, your arms were burning, and your breath was ragged. You genuinely thought death had finally come for you, but it was just the ground to your face. Fuck this self improvement. A monster could upper cut you for all you cared. 

Hell, even Ace was starting to feel bad upon seeing how much you were suffering. 

Vargas stopped by to check in on you. “Good job, (Y/n)!”

You looked up with hope. Did Vargas see your blood, sweat and tears and decided to cut you some slack—?

“You’ve completed TEN out of one-hundred! Keep that determination burning!”

Fuck. 

.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

You made it to lunch without dying. An amazing feat.

You decided to get a head start on the homework Crewel assigned your group. Why? Because you knew once tomorrow started, your muscles would be far more sore. Meaning doing any physical labour would become a nightmare. You didn’t join Ace, Deuce, and Grim in the cafeteria. Instead, you ate something quick before heading to the botanical gardens. You’d make up for your smaller meal with a larger dinner.

“Botanical gardens…” you mumbled. “It’s my first time being here! Very exciting.”

When you entered, the fresh scent of nature invited you in. Sunlight streamed through the glass dome, enveloping its golden hue around plants that bloomed in a spectrum of colours, as if they’d stolen pieces from a vibrant rainbow. Although, vivid greenery still dominated the space. 

You sincerely hoped you wouldn’t get distracted.

You walked while thumbing through Crewel’s booklet, eyes glancing between the pages and the plants around you. A few minutes into your adventure, you stopped walking. 

Something was blocking your way—a tail. A tail that belonged to a sleeping individual who was peacefully laying on the grass. The first thing you noticed about him was his long dark-brown hair and the lion ears on top of his head. Next was the yellow vest he was wearing; you assumed he was from Savanaclaw.

Well, you weren’t here to admire him. You returned to the task at hand.

“... Tch, you sure like to make a lot of noise.”

A low and irritated voice called from behind you. When you turned around, you saw a pair of green eyes—ones that were looking at you in annoyance. A few stray strands of hair fell over his face, and there was a thin scar over his left eye. 

“Oh,” he drawled. “You’re the herbivore Ruggie’s been complaining about, snatching up all his odd jobs around campus.”

Herbivore…? The people in this school sure loved their nicknames. You preferred Shrimpy over this. However, Skully’s nicknames remained superior. 

“I don’t know who Ruggie is, but sorry. The money isn't going to magically appear in my hands.”

“Ain’t nothin’ wrong with being proactive,” the stranger replied, tone so uninterested you couldn’t tell if he planned to keep talking or dip mid-conversation. “Now, are you going to stand here squinting at leaves all day?”

“I’m trying to do my homework! It’s my first official day, cut me some slack.”

“I would’ve if you weren’t making such a racket.”

“Fine, I’ll try to be quiet. You can go back to your nap.”

To look cool and competent, you went back to work. You had no idea if the student went back to sleep—actually, nevermind. You could feel the weight of his stare; it didn’t feel like the stare of someone who was impressed. The student sighed, and the sound made you feel like a giant disappointment to society.

“So hopeless,” he muttered. “It’s that one. And don’t touch it yet. It’s damp.”

Your gaze trailed to where the student pointed. “Damp… and that’s bad because…?”

He gave you a look that suggested he was pondering the death of common sense. 

“Harvesting wet plants increases the chance of mold or mildew. Ruins the leaves, ruins the storage, ruins the whole damn assignment.”

You opened your mouth. “Oh.” 

“Yeah. Oh.”

You didn’t like this guy’s attitude, but he was really helpful. Hence, you kept any witty remarks to yourself. For now, at least. 

“How did you know it was the herb that I needed? You barely glanced at it.”

“How can I not? The scent’s obvious enough.”

You knitted your eyebrows together. “I don’t smell a difference?”

“How do you people live with such a dull sense of smell?”

“Well, I bet the chemicals in alchemy give you a huge headache, then.”

“Obviously. Why do you think I cut alchemy lessons?”

Your first impressions of this man? He was probably one of those geniuses who seldom needed to study. Everything from his breathing to his movements screamed minimal. You doubted you and this guy would mesh well, especially with how enthusiastic you could get. 

“You look like you don’t discriminate on what lessons you skip…” you muttered. 

“You’ve got quite the mouth on you, you know that?” 

Slowly, the student pushed himself up from the grass. When he stood to his full height, you might’ve felt slightly intimidated. With relaxed shoulders and unhurried steps, the student approached you. 

“The words on that booklet of yours is a guide,” he said, “but you gotta learn to use your senses.”

“My senses?” You smiled playfully. “What? Can you smell if I have magic or something?”

His reply was instant. “Yeah, I can.”

“D-don’t do that, please.”

“Relax. You’re staring at me like I’m about to sink my claws in.” The student’s half-lidded eyes glanced at the one herb you harvested. “Your cut’s too low. Crewel’ll chew you out for that. Do it again.”

You paused. “What? You’re helping me?”

“Not out of charity. The sooner you complete that assignment, the sooner I get my peace back.”

“I swear I wasn’t that loud—” You stopped. There was no point arguing. “Anyways, I didn’t even get your name.”

The student clicked his tongue. “Why should I introduce myself?”

“Alright, a nickname it is!”

He looked incredibly offended. Alright, damn. Tsunotarou appreciated yours. 

“Leona. Leona Kingscholar. Happy now?”

“Very happy. My name’s—”

Leona did not care about your introduction. 

He wasn’t an enthusiastic teacher, but he was very efficient. Leona’s instructions were quick and clipped—you’d sooner see pigs fly than witness the man patiently repeat himself. He provided tips on what major characteristics to look out for and how to use your tools effectively. Of course, Leona didn’t give you all the answers. In fact, it seemed like he found some amusement in seeing you struggle. 

“I’m done! I thought it would take me two visits.” You smiled at Leona. “Thanks so much! You’re super knowledgeable, so I’m guessing you’re a senior. Do—”

Leona held up a hand, palm facing you, and you zipped your mouth. “I can tell you’re about to give me a headache with useless questions. Don’t. Now that your assignment is done, leave.”

You nodded and turned around to do just that. You barely took a step before you paused and glanced over your shoulder.

“I’m not… in debt or anything, right?”

“What? Don’t compare me to that cephalo-punk.” Leona dismissively waved you off, his patience hanging by a very thin thread. “Just don’t bother me again.”

You smiled. “Well, thanks anyways.”

Leona didn’t acknowledge you. He simply flopped back onto the grass, one arm over his eyes—wait, was he asleep already?! It had only been three seconds!  

You stepped out of the gardens just in time for the end of lunch. Hey, the homework was already half-completed! You were smashing this whole magical-student life. Ace had been teasing you nonstop about losing the game earlier during Crewel’s lesson. Boasting about your quick work in his face was going to be fun.

Chapter Text

“Shrimpy~! How’m I supposed to feed you if you keep runnin’?”

It was closing time. After hours. Meaning, no customers. Hence, the Mostro Lounge was meant to be calm and quiet. It should be a time where you cleaned in peace and looked forward to calling it a night.

Instead, you were engaged in a perilous battle. Floyd was on one end of the table while you were stranded on the opposite. For the past ten minutes, he had been trying to feed you a sample of next week’s menu special. This wasn’t because Floyd wanted to be nice—no, no. It was a ploy to get you to drop your guard and keep you within appropriate proximity. 

You clutched the serving tray close to your chest; it was your only source of defence against the giant moray merman across the table. You glanced over to Jade, who was currently cleaning up the remaining dishes and glassware.

“Floyd is a wonderful cook,” Jade said. “Why don’t you give it a try?”

While Jade’s tone remained delightfully polite, his amused smile—sharp teeth on full display—made it abundantly clear he thought your misery was hilarious. 

For context, it was Friday evening; your shift at the Mostro Lounge was wrapping up. Your school week went rather smoothly without any incidents—at least, no incidents as bad as a charred statue, a broken chandelier, and having to fight a literal monster. However, you were definitely chronically overworked thanks to Azul. He really wasn’t kidding around with the spontaneous summons. Your wallet was filling up, but your energy was bleeding out even faster. Azul could sense your free time with scary accuracy. On Thursday, Jade and Floyd were literally waiting outside your classroom to drag you to work. Ace, Deuce and Grim were rightfully concerned. 

“Alright…” You set down the tray. “I’ll try your food.”

“See? That wasn’t so bad.”

You approached the student with the same caution someone would exert when handling a dangerous animal. Floyd smiled happily, and you took a look at the plate in his hand. It was pasta. A buttery and savoury herb aroma emanated from the dish, and you found yourself almost forgetting that Floyd was the one serving the food as opposed to a professional chef. 

“Here, you can use this, Shrimpy.”

Floyd offered you a fork, which you accepted. You took a bite of the pasta. It was good. It was really good. Alright, Floyd was definitely in the mood when he made this. For someone who rarely measured out ingredients, the flavours seemed perfect to you—well, and the fact that you weren’t a picky eater also played a role. 

“Good, isn’t it?” Floyd asked, a sing-song lilt playfully attached at the end of his question. “I just threw in a little bit of this and that.”

The moment you saw Floyd’s arm move, you reacted on pure, primal survival instincts. Swiftly, you ducked under his arm, your shoes sliding across the freshly mopped floor. Then you threw yourself behind the nearest piece of furniture like a scared cat.

“Aw, what? No fair, you got away again!” Floyd complained, a frown on his lips. “You’re always avoiding my squeezes. What’s the big deal?”

“Maybe because they HURT?” You pointed an accusing finger. “I still get flashbacks from orientation!” 

“Eh~ but I wasn’t tryin’ta hurt you.”

“The one time you performed the splits to avoid Floyd during work was quite amusing,” said Jade, who appeared at your side so suddenly and silently you nearly screamed.

You sighed. “Yeah, Azul scolded us for five minutes after that…”

Speaking of Azul, you managed to confirm that he was, in fact, the one who had spread the rumours about you being magicless and from another world. On your first shift, many students showed up out of interest. Being the sole girl in an all-boys school also played a role. Being eyed like some rare piece of candy wasn’t a great experience. Not every student was like that, but enough were to where you felt uncomfortable. Thankfully, Azul ensured any harassment directed your way was swiftly dealt with. You didn’t even have to ask. Jade and Floyd also acted as your unofficial bodyguards from time to time. 

“... Floyd, (Y/n). I trust that you two are not slacking off in your duties?”

Ah, here was the big boss man. Azul walked in with presence and a sharp gaze; he was the perfect picture of a scheming businessman. One time, you had to stay behind to find a single thaumark that was missing from the final sales total. You came home at midnight.

“Man, I’m not in the mood anymore.” Floyd began walking off. “You two can clean.”

Another one of his mood swings, huh?

You’d endured enough of Floyd’s mood swings for them to become a normalcy rather than a novelty. Not even Jade, his own twin brother, could fully manage them. Welp! This was good for you. You had successfully escaped Foyd’s squeezes. 

Azul let out an annoyed sigh. “… Jade, (Y/n). Please proceed with your duties.”

Azul went to fetch Floyd. Meanwhile, you and Jade continued cleaning the lounge. Finally, the peace you craved! Today had been another exhausting day of classes, and having to work non-stop didn’t help. At least your professors were treating you well, especially Trein. He wasn’t obvious about it during class, but he always checked in on you after the lesson ended. 

“How are you finding Night Raven College?” 

You were in the middle of dipping the mop into the bucket and wringing it out when Jade asked the question. 

“Well, I passed the surprise quiz Professor Trein gave us. I didn’t do amazingly, but considering that a quarter of the class failed, I’m proud of myself.”  

“My, it seems like you’re doing well. Here I was hoping—worried that you were having trouble adjusting.”

At his Freudian slip, you gave Jade an unimpressed look. “Funny words for a man within range of my mop.”

“Now, now. Let's not be hasty.” 

After that, you two moved to the kitchen. You focused on restocking whilst Jade cleaned out the machines, his sleeves were neatly rolled up as he did so. The first time you saw Jade expose his arm, you felt like a Victorian man seeing a woman’s ankles for the first time. 

It was mostly quiet. There was the click of containers, the occasional short sentences exchanged, the faint tap of footsteps, and the rhythmic sound of scrubbing. The moment allowed your mind to slow down and you began to reflect on your world. 

You did feel homesick.

You missed the normalcy that wrapped around you like a well-used blanket. You missed your cat curling on your lap, acting like the center of the universe because, honestly, he was to you. You missed buying the same drink on the weekends as you talked to the shop owners who watched you grow up. Whenever you asked Crowley about progress on sending you home, he’d give some colourful excuse or claim he was working diligently. You doubted he was. 

Twisted Wonderland was exciting—you laughed, you smiled, and you found friends in the strangest situations. But even all that wonder couldn’t settle the sinking feeling that you may never return to the people you’d left behind.

Twisted Wonderland had its charms, but none of them could completely dull the sting of being torn from your life without warning. 

Twisted Wonderland allowed you to experience new and interesting things; however, its wonder often highlighted how naive you really were to this foreign world. 

“(Y/n),” Jade said as he rinsed out a filter. “Is there any particular class you enjoy the most?” 

You blinked. “Huh—Oh. Classes I enjoy?”

Small talk with Jade during downtime at work wasn’t uncommon. However, the question caught you off guard because you had sunk to the bottom of the ocean known as your thoughts. Had Jade noticed? He did seem to enjoy observing others, after all. 

“It’s only been a week, so it’s hard to say.” You closed the cupboard. “I’ve been enjoying Physical Education. It’s a nice break from sitting around all day. Though, Vargas can definitely dial down on the strength training…”

“I can see that,” Jade said. “You are an enthusiastic person. I often wonder where it all comes from. It is truly one of a kind.”

“... That was supposed to be a jab. I just can’t prove it.”

Jade blissfully glossed over your words with a light chuckle. Impressively, it sounded both polite and mocking. “Have you considered joining a club?”

“Not yet. Sadly, there's no paranormal club, so I was thinking of something that would let me explore and learn more about Twisted Wonderland.”

For a brief moment, you swore Jade’s eyes lit up. Should you be worried? Probably. Absolutely. In fact, you should make a run for it now. 

“The Mountain Lovers Club engages in regular hikes and exploratory outings."  

You had a feeling the club was for those who loved mountains. Just a hunch. 

“Everyone goes on hikes together? That seems fun.”

“Correct. All members attend, meaning myself.”

You blinked. “Wait, are you the only member?”

A short silence took place, one that involved Jade smiling pleasantly and you looking at him in confusion. 

“Yes,” Jade replied, “I explore the mountains alone. Every week.”

Oh, man. That was kind of sad. You even visibly winced like someone had pinched you. Surely, Jade didn’t feel bad about that, right? That didn’t seem Jade-like to you—but then again, you’ve only known this guy for five days.

“I’m envious of those who have someone to converse with.” Jade placed a hand to his chest with feigned grievance. “Alas, I remain silent and companionless as I traverse the mountain paths.”

You fumbled with the rag you were meant to use to wipe down the kitchen counter. “... That’s, ah. Sucks, man. I’m sure more people will join soon.”

“Yes, I had great hopes for the incoming first years. You could imagine my heartbreak when none of them expressed interest.” Jade looked at you. “Of course, it has only been a week. Perhaps I am jumping to conclusions.” 

The conversation ended there, but Jade’s words didn’t stop weighing your mind. Fuck. This was exactly what he wanted. Aside from the occasional friend who tagged along for a bit, you ventured alone in your adventures. Being alone never bothered you; your attention was too focused on the creepy stories and the anticipation of discovering a ghost. However… you guess having someone to talk to wouldn’t have been so bad. 

Obviously, you were conflicted on the matter. Apparently, you weren’t doing a good job at hiding the aforementioned conflict on your expression; Jade noticed it like a shark sensing blood.

“May I also add that it’s an excellent way to learn more about Twisted Wonderland? Should someone accompany me, I’d gladly answer any questions they ask.”

“... Any questions?”  

“Yes, any.”

The bait was so obvious. It was comically obvious, but it was working. You put the rag away with a defeated sigh. After lamenting your loss like an athlete who fumbled their chance at gold in the Olympics, you responded to Jade.

“... Can I accompany you on one of your hikes?”

Jade showed a brief look of surprise—the audacity was impressive. The man acted as if he didn’t set this whole thing up. 

“Why, of course. I would be delighted to have you as company. What an unexpected offer.”

There it was, that satisfied tone Jade had when he successfully reeled someone in. It was hook, line, sinker and you were the fish. 

“Are you free tomorrow morning?” 

“Unless Azul decides to give me another shift, I should be free," you responded. 

“Then, I’ll do my best to convince him to let you rest over the weekends.”

“Hey, that was actually nice of you.” 

For the rest of your shift, Jade appeared to be in better spirits. He would offer to put away items and the usual entertainment he received from watching you struggle—like when he just happened to need you to grab the plastic bags on the highest shelf—was put to a merciful halt. 

Finally, you were done for the night. Your joy wasn’t hidden as you literally cheered in happiness, reenacting the man breaking free from his shackles meme. It wasn’t too late into the night either, so you would have a few hours to spare before bed! A rare occurrence! 

“I’ll be heading out now.” With your whole arm, you happily waved goodbye to Jade. “Have a good night!”

“Yes, have a pleasant night.” 

Humming a jubilant tune, you made your way out of the lounge. Ah, freedom tasted so sweet; the faint, salty ocean air in the dorm was suddenly heaven to your senses. You took one step out of the lounge. 

“(Y/n), wait a moment.”

That was Azul’s voice. Or, if you coped hard enough, it wasn’t his voice. Surely he wasn’t standing behind you with a polite smile on his lips despite the intention to cruelly vanquish your remaining free time. Surely. You resisted the urge to let out a dramatic sigh before cautiously turning to face Azul. Ah. He did, in fact, have a polite smile on his lips. 

“I require your assistance,” he said. 

And he very well intends to cruelly vanquish your remaining free time.

“I… I just got off work…”

“You haven’t forgotten the conditions of the contract, have you?”

Sometimes you wished you did. As you trudged back inside, you saw Jade offer a polite nod.

“Welcome back.”

You returned Jade's comment with an exaggerated frown.

Azul led you to his office; it was the second time you've been in here. Floyd wasn’t present to rush you this time, so you had the luxury to examine the books on the shelves that encompassed the room. After a quick scan, you noted the titles were business and economics orientated. Your head grew dizzy at the thought of consuming so much information. 

“Did you read all of this?”

“Of course,” Azul replied, “Only a fool would start a business without the necessary preparations.”

You desperately wanted to respond with: but you’re not even an adult yet? Azul ran a business and demonstrated diligence in his studies. You’ve heard whispers about his grades from other students. And once, during a Mostro Lounge shift, you caught Floyd in a good enough mood for him to share a few crumbs of information. Apparently, Azul's study guide was the real deal. 

Plus, Azul always remained on top of his endeavours. When an issue in the Mostro Lounge arose, he would swiftly solve it himself. And while Azul did recruit you through not-so-wholesome means, he treated you properly. He even personally supervised your first shift and offered good advice. 

All in all, despite his shady personality, you respected his efforts. 

“Did your parents run a business?” you asked.

Azul folded his arms, and the look he gave you appeared a little guarded. “You seem awfully curious about me.”

You raised both hands in defense. “I’m not trying to work at an angle or anything. You should know how I am when it comes to questions.”

“That is true.” Azul adjusted his glasses. “It wouldn’t hurt to share some information. My mother is the manager of our family restaurant and has invested in Mostro Lounge.”

“That’s super cool! Did she inspire you?”

“I have great respect for what she does, so I suppose she has influenced me to an extent.”

“Well, what you’re doing now takes dedication.” 

“I’m no stranger to diligent work. Though, being limited to only two arms does impact my efficiency.” Azul then moved on. “Now, would you please take a seat?”

You sat across Azul, hands on your lap and everything. Man, this was giving you flashbacks to where he roped you into working for him.  

 “So…” you began. “Am I getting fired?”

“No, I will not be firing you—why do you look so disappointed?"

“It's just your imagination.”

“You are frowning deeply.” 

“I am not.”

“... And now you’re giving me a very odd looking smile.”

You groaned and buried your face in your hands. An actor was now at the bottom of your career list. 

“Azul, you know how overworked I am.”

“I was simply taking advantage of the temporary detail in our contract. It would be a shame not to,” he responded professionally. There was no shred of empathy. “However, starting next week, that will no longer be the case. Rest assured, you’ll be assigned proper shifts and worker's benefits.”

“... That makes sense.”

Azul smiled. “It’s a pleasure to continue working with you.”

You secured employment with Azul. Only time would tell if it was a financially good decision or a mentally damaging one—most likely both, to be honest. 

“Alright, I doubt you brought me to your office to just talk about that. What sort of labour do you need me for now? Missing a thaumark again? Want me to run a late night errand to the school store?”

“Nothing of the sort.” Azul placed a fancy looking pen and notebook on the table. “I require your creativity.”

You slumped back onto the sofa like a deflated car-sales balloon. “I need to use my head… Fine, let’s get this over with.”

Azul sighed softly. It was such a gentle sound; why, you could almost convince yourself he was a pure-hearted person and your actions were tormenting his poor soul. 

“You appear unmotivated.”

You dragged yourself back up. “What are you talking about, I’m raring to go—”

With the elegance of a seasoned businessman, Azul slid an envelope across the table. You looked at Azul, then at the envelope. Carefully, you slid the item closer towards you, picked it up, and checked what was inside. What you saw was quite the tempting sight.  

With a smile, you set the envelope down. “(Y/n) (L/n) at your service."

Yes, Azul successfully bought you.

Anyways, he asked you to provide ideas for events and promotions the Mostro Lounge could hold in the future; insights from someone who came from another world was valuable and whatnot. You weren’t as business savvy as Azul was, but you did your best to impart whatever wisdom you had (you might’ve added a few paranormal suggestions here and there).

“You know, Azul,” you said, “You’re pretty amazing.”

Azul’s pen stopped and he glanced up from his notepad. “Where did this come from?”

“Just sayin’ what’s on my mind. Managing a business and balancing school isn’t an easy feat. I respect you.”

Azul mentioned his mother’s influence contributed to his decision to run the lounge, but was there another reason to why he was so ambitious? Maybe you were overthinking things. 

"Trying to gain my good graces are we?”

“Azul, there’s this crazy thing called a compliment.”

The housewarden displayed inklings of doubt, but ultimately let it slide. 

“... Well, I appreciate your words,” Azul said. “That will be all for tonight. You’re dismissed.”

You narrowed your eyes, as if scrutinising a scene of a crime.  “Am I truly dismissed? You won’t drag me back the moment I step out of the lounge?” 

“Unless you would like to help me with this stack of paperwork—"

You were out the door. 

.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

There was one more stop to make before you head back to Ramshackle and reunite with your lovely (and now dust-free!) bed. You skipped over to the school cafeteria and unlocked the door to the kitchen with the janitor keys Crowley still hasn’t taken away from you. You entered with a beaming smile; no one would’ve guessed Azul had wrung your energy dry earlier today 

“Evening!” you chirped. “Great work today everyone!”

One of the ghost chefs phased from underneath the floor. “Oh! It’s the little lady from another world.”

“You came back for leftovers again?” Another asked. “We saved you some special items!”

“How was your shift at the Mostro Lounge today?”

Yes, you befriended the cafeteria ghosts. 

Apparently, in their past life, they were renowned cooks—they won awards, worked at high-end restaurants, and earned big bucks. You truly wondered how the hell Crowley managed to hire them. You talked to them a little when you worked as a janitor, and you came back to hear more of their tales after becoming a student. As thanks for your enthusiasm and company, the ghosts gave you leftovers every night. It was a spectacular hack to save money. 

“Actually, I have some stuff to say about today’s shift,” you said, “I was trying to clean up and Floyd—”

Yup, you also gossiped with the ghost chefs. For the next twenty minutes, you chatted with the ghosts before they urged you to get some rest. You placed the leftovers in a tote bag that Deuce gifted you (bless his heart), nudged the door shut with your right foot, and locked up the kitchen. 

On your way out of the building, you were preoccupied with sifting through what kinds of food the ghost chefs gifted. That was why you almost bumped into someone. Taking a couple steps back, you opened your mouth to apologise, but the individual spoke before you could. 

“Aw, come on. Did someone get there before me?” 

The student’s hair was sandy-blonde, which faded into a darker brown towards the top. Now, if his hair colour caught your attention, his hyena ears basically stole it. With a sigh, he tilted his head and examined you a little more closely. 

“Ah! You’re the one who took all my odd jobs around campus.”

The student pointed an accusing finger at you, and for a second you almost believed you committed a genuine crime. Upon seeing his outstretched hand, you noticed the school uniform was way too big on the guy. The jacket sleeves hung loosely, and you wondered if he bought the wrong size, did it on purpose, or borrowed it from someone. 

“Hey, now. I was assigned those jobs fair and square.” The term ‘odd jobs’ jogged a memory. Specifically, one from the botanical gardens when you encountered a certain sleeping lion. “Wait, are you Ruggie?”

“You know me?”

“Leona mentioned you,” you replied. “I ran into him in the gardens earlier this week.”

Alright, it was safe to assume Ruggie was from Savanaclaw. 

“Well, I also know who you are. The magicless student from another world. No one here hasn’t heard of you.” Ruggie let out a snicker. “Shyeheehee, ain’t it nice being famous?”

“It makes introductions easier, but that’s it.” You sighed. “And you can blame Azul for getting the word around so quickly.”

“Yeah, that makes sense. That guy would take any opportunity to fill his wallet, not that I can’t relate. Anyways, how’d you know about the leftover cafeteria food?”

“The ghosts told me.”

“That’s all?”

“Yup.”

Ruggie’s ears flattened and a small pout formed on his lips. “I had to do way more than that.”

So this was a common occurrence for him. Taking odd jobs, getting free food—going off on that assumption, you didn’t think this guy led the most opulent life. Hence, you couldn’t help but feel a small bit of sympathy. 

“I can share some of what I have. This is too much food for me and Grim to finish before the expiration date.”

Actually, Grim could probably blast through all this food. 

“Oh?” Ruggie smiled. Though, it appeared more mischievous than thankful. “You’re a real pal.”

“And this pal says you owe her one.”

He frowned and his ears twitched a little in annoyance. “Man, you looked like a pushover.”

“Blame the people I met in NRC.” Azul. Blame Azul. “Don’t worry, my demands aren’t that bad. Just answer some questions here and there about Savanaclaw.” 

Ruggie’s expression lit up. “An easy deal for me.”

You let Ruggie reach into the bag to fill up his own. The more as time went on, the narrower your eyes became. 

“... You bastard, have some class. Don't take all the good ones.”

“Oh, you noticed?”

Somehow, Ruggie managed to get the better end of the deal, and your bag was lighter than his. How? Why didn’t you stop him? There were even moments you just… moved on some weird, hazy autopilot. A doughnut passing from your hand to his without hesitation, or the times you’d angle the bag just perfectly right so Ruggie could pluck the specials without any effort.

“How did that even happen?” you mumbled. 

Ruggie smiled and shrugged. “Couldn't tell ya.”

He definitely did something. Luckily for him, you were too tired to dig deeper. You’ll just take the defeat and move on. 

“Fine, whatever. Can we start with the questions now?”

“Already? I guess I have time to spare.”

You fired questions after questions; your exhaustion had seemingly disappeared. What kind of people were in Savanclaw? Who was their housewarden—to which you found out was Leona and that he was literal royalty. The topic of Spelldrive came up as well, and you made sure to ask more about that. It seemed like one answer from Ruggie led to five additional questions from you. 

“Y’know…” Ruggie sighed. “You’re like some kinda hyper little puppy. You ask questions faster than I can haggle.”

“It’s a fair price for the food you got,” you responded. “Thanks for answering earnestly, though. It's best to hear information from the dorm members themselves.”

For a short moment, Ruggie appeared contemplative. He took a quick inventory of his bag, the one filled with the leftovers you gave, and a faint smile of approval settled on his lips. Resting a hand on his hip, he turned to you. 

“I’m feelin’ nice, so I’ll give you some advice." The cheeky smile Ruggie had made you question how genuine this advice was going to be. “Haggling’s important. And by that, I mean you gotta learn to not compromise. You wear your heart on your sleeve, y’know? Pretty easy to read and pretty easy to handle.”

You were not expecting a lecture. “I can be uncompromising—”

Now, hold on. Self-reflection time. Case one: you accepted Crowley’s atrocious budget and his gracious decision to dump you into an abandoned building without nearly enough pushback. Case two: agreeing to Azul’s contract a little too easily. In hindsight, you probably could’ve negotiated, or at least tried to. Sure, you didn’t have a lot of power, but it was the willingness to be more assertive. You like to think you were good at being proactive, but pushing back was another matter.

“Okay, fair point about being uncompromising. However, I can’t help but wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m not one for acting.”

“No need to put on a show,” Ruggie replied, “Figure out what the other team wants, then give ‘em just enough to feel good about themselves. If people can read you easily, then you gotta get better at reading them.”

“Huh… That I can do.”

Jade seemed skilled at that. After all, he managed to talk you into joining his mountain-hiking excursion without a hitch. 

“Handling people’s a skill. Takes time to learn, so don’t sweat it.” He grinned, expression smug. “For the record, I can haggle in ten different languages.”  

“You can fucking what.”

“Impressed? Well, gotta head back. Still need to get Leona’s clothes into the wash.” Ruggie turned around and threw you a lazy wave. “Thanks for the food. Feel free to give more if you’ve got some to spare. Oh, and catch.”

Ruggie tossed a small plastic package towards you, and you caught it. In your grasp was a chocolate flavoured doughnut. 

.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

A/n: I was thinking of expanding further on RSA (because twst refuses to give us any info 😭), especially as Neige will be quite involved in my story. I have a slight sneak peak of a potential dorm. If I go through with this, I'll be drawing up character sheets for my RSA ocs! It'll take some time to flesh out as it would involve research and lots of drafting. Plus, drawing is HARD. For fun, here's a coloured sketch I did of no one in particular!! Hope that gives a decent impression of what kind of art y'all will get.