Everything was confusing. His face felt artificial. Something was weird inside his skin, amidst muscles and bones.
The place where he laid was soft and warm. A bed.
Was it that transitional moment when you wake up from a night full of sleep and your mind slowly realizes you'll have to start another day?
But what he saw wasn't the intimate familiarity of his bedroom inside the building of the Ramshackle dormitory. It was the infirmary.
Yuu didn't need to remember why he was there. Grim.
It was his third time there. And the second time because of Grim.
The little fairy who assisted the nurse looked at him. She was a pretty little girl, with blond curly hair and cold eyes.
''What happened?''
No.
Yuu knew what happened.
A rain of thoughts entered his head. Grim had attacked him. He had scratched his face with his claws. Grim's expression was that of a feral creature, antinatural and brutal. Grim wasn't himself.
A deep sadness opened a place for itself inside Yuu's chest. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. It was unsettling. There was something strongly disturbing about being attacked by Grim, of all people. The Grim with whom Yuu shared mornings, meals, classes and the bathroom.
Grim was boisterous and selfish and rash. But never to the point of utter violence.
That night, it seemed as if he was somebody else. Savage and murderous, to the extreme of causing serious harm.
Yuu couldn't put it into words. He couldn't think about it.
The nurse checked on the boy and asked routine questions. He didn't answer Yuu's questions. The only information the boy managed to get was that he was ''brought there at very late hours''. Then, instructions to wait. The old man showed his back to Yuu and walked away.
There was something abnormally cold in his behaviour.
Things were off.
The impression grew when the headmaster walked inside the place and went straight to Yuu's bed. He signalled the nurse to leave them alone and for some reason, Yuu didn't want it to happen. But he kept it to himself.
''Last night, we were in an ugly hurry because of you. We even thought Draconia overdid it for a while, but you just fell into a deep sleep''
Then, he added in a strange tone of voice:
''The leader of Diasomnia is something else entirely, don't you think?''
Dire Crowley was casual and informal. With exaggerated mannerisms, yet straight to the point. But Yuu's train of thought was too fast for him to consider it all. Draconia? Was it the Horned Guy, Malleus? What did he have to do with Yuu's problems? Why was he involved? Where was Grim?
''Your expression is full of questions, prefect'' he said ''but if you stay calm, we can answer them all''.
He sat on a chair by Yuu's bed, his walking stick with a raven's head by his side.
Yuu knew the headmaster didn't truly need it.
''Last night, Draconia found you injured in the stadium. He was kind enough to superficially treat your wounds and call for help. The nurse checked on you and helped heal your face, so you can feel safe: there will be no scars left.
The nurse I picked has a keen eye and is very good at his job, don't you think? I provided a good professional service to the student body''.
And then, in a high-pitched voice:
''Because I'm so kind''.
The words. The intonations. The movements of hands and hips. The changing expressions of lips and eyes that Yuu could see behind the mask.
The annoyance that Dire Crowley caused to the boy returned him to reality.
That guy was just like that. His flamboyant personality, the veiled (and not-so-veiled) manipulations and the open disposition.
Yuu sat straight on his bed.
Something changed in the atmosphere around them. And Yuu understood it wasn't a wise choice: the headmaster suddenly felt very strange. Yuu's body language was confrontational.
The headmaster was fast:
''A little bird told me that Grim, the monster that is supposed to be your charge, had an encounter with some black stones…''
Dire Crowley's voice was very controlled. High-pitched, even more than usual. It was a subtle threat.
An intuition deep inside Yuu's mind told him it was better to keep his mouth shut on the subject.
''I don't know where he is''
Yuu answered from the bottom of his heart.
Where could Grim be? There was anxiety in the air, and it took a hold of Yuu's chest.
''Then, prefect Yuu, I must say I'm very disappointed with this situation. You are supposed to monitor Grim and look after the Ramshackle Dormitory, that's what I entrusted you with''.
''But, sir! You only did so because you were supposed to find a way to return me home! This only was a temporal measure!''
The words escaped his mouth before he could think. Things weren't fine.
''And I'm still doing it! I swear on the Great Seven! I'm researching thoroughly for a way to ensure a safe return to your native world, Yuu''
It was an obvious lie. But Yuu's outburst helped to even the situation. His personality wasn't like that. But then, his life routine was turned upside down.
Yet again.
And he was tired.
Oh, yes. Yuu was tired.
And so, he spoke. The boy spoke about how he had spent months in a foreign place, that he was supposed to be at home when his homeworld was submerged in the middle of a pandemic, that he didn't know how his family and friends were doing, that he also had his school and plans back home.
And he pronounced it all clearly and loudly. At that moment, Yuu didn't care about the rest of the students hearing him. He didn't care about the gossip and rumours his words would create. He didn't even care about the director.
Something was trapped and tense inside Yuu's chest and the boy finally released it. But he didn't talk about the Overblots nor the shady doings inside the school nor the shenanigans going on.
Dire Crowley looked calm for the first time. Patient and serene.
And then…
''It seems I picked a bad moment to appear''
''Mr. Vanrouge, it's wrong to appear hanging upside down in the infirmary!''
Yuu yelled. Lilia was close. Too close to his face.
Red eyes. A childish face with a mischievous smile and tiny fangs from his mouth. Like a bat. The gaudy visual-kei haircut with magenta highlights only accentuated how bizarre he looked.
Lilia would stand out in any street.
That impression only became more apparent after hearing his deep and grave voice, unfitting of a teenager.
Something was uncanny about him.
''I just wanted to check on Yuu. And He told me to bring him something, too''.
Lilia carried a small bag made of dark cloth.
Yuu became aware of the confused and curious students looking at them. And so did the headmaster. The man elegantly stood up, took his walking stick and looked at Yuu.
''Since your wounds are fine, you can return to your normal classes today, Yuu. If you experience sudden tiredness, the nurse recommends you to drink coffee, and if it persists, you'll have to return here''
Then, the man bade them adieu and left the room.
Wasn't it supposed to be the nurse's job to deliver such news?
''Is it too late for classes?''
Yuu felt confused. He was wearing his pyjamas. Next to him, laid the overcoat he hurriedly had put on the previous night, when he had to chase Grim after his magical reunion with Mickey Mouse.
''It's still early, but your temper tantrum woke some people up''
Lilia took Yuu's overcoat and silently signalled the boy to pass his arms through the sleeves. He seemed accustomed to that type of activity, too. It was fast. He then passed Yuu's shoes to him and the boy quickly put them on and tied the shoelaces.
''Thank you''
It was clear Lilia wanted something from him. But the prospect of leaving the infirmary was too tempting for the boy. Lilia guided him through the room until they reached a corridor.
''What time is it?''
''You have a couple of minutes until the dining hall opens. I'd recommend you to return to your room and change into your uniform if you don't want to miss breakfast, but first… I wanted to talk with you''
Yuu stopped to hear him. The corridor was empty, aside from them.
''I'll walk you to Ramshackle. It's the least I can do for you. Yesterday, He seemed very worried and, despite the circumstances, I must say it became an interesting stimulus for him''
''He?''
Did he mean the Horned Guy?
Sure, he was weird but cool. Malleus had helped them with the aftermath of Vil's Overblot and because of that, they could safely carry on with The Vocal & Dance Championship. It was an act of generosity, even if he behaved rather arrogantly about it.
Oh, well. Tsunotarou being his eccentric self was the least of Yuu's problems at the moment.
They left the main castle's grounds and the cold morning air struck Yuu's face. Winter remained there, giving its last breaths of life. Snow and sleet were dispersed on the grounds, crystallized after the cold night. For Yuu, who was from a warm place, it felt like a vision of a fairy-tale.
''Yuu, there isn't snow where you are from, is there?'' Lilia asked.
''No. This coldness is something new''
To think of his home made Yuu feel something cold in his heart as if a thin icicle pricked him.
''You miss it. Your home''
It wasn't a question.
''Yes, I do''
Days that became weeks. Weeks that became months. Months that became seasons.
''It's been too long''
Lilia was silent. He looked at him with his piercing red eyes and Yuu saw understanding and other things in Lilia's sight, but he kept it for himself.
That morning, his mood wasn't a good one.
They walked in silence for a while. The path to the Ramshackle dorm was a long one: the place was separated from the main castle of the college. Most people went to their dormitories by walking through magical mirrors, yet Yuu and Grim's dormitory was placed on the school's grounds.
Yuu kept walking, immersed in his thoughts. Lilia quietly accompanied him until they saw Ramshackle's fence faraway. There, Lilia spoke.
''As I told you before, He was worried about you. That's why that boy insisted I brought you these, even if I knew you would be fine''.
He opened the small bag. Long stones with strange marks were inside, some had triangular shapes, others were rectangular.
''He doesn't show his emotions easily, but I can tell He cares about you''
Yuu didn't know what to say. And Lilia laughed: a big, hearty laugh.
''Well, it's understandable. You are a foreigner. I think even natives from here don't know much about these, though people still use them in the Valley of Thorns''
''What are these... rocks?''
Yuu didn't know how to call them.
''These are thunderstones, imbued with Thunaer's thunder. Thunderstones are used for protection against dark magic and to protect houses from lightning and thunder. Malleus believes you'd need one''
And after some reflection, Lilia added:
''He seems to be rather fond of Ramshackle Dormitory, too. That's why he tasked me with giving you these''
Lilia extended the bag to Yuu, who accepted it, confused.
Carved rocks that protected people? It sounded like some ignorant superstition, he didn't believe in those things. But Yuu still took the bag: it would have been impolite to not do it.
''You don't understand much about this, don't you?
Lilia sighed. They were getting close to Ramshackle's fence.
''I'd recommend you to put one in the front door. If you can't do it, then hang one from a window. Fae and humans also differ in their ways of using them, so I don't want to cause a mess for you''
Differ? A mess?!
Yuu knew very well to be careful when handling magical items. In a place where he lacked magical powers, he had put extra effort to avoid incidents in class. People could call him naïve or forgetful, but no one could deny Yuu was equipped with a lot of common sense when necessary.
''This is powerful magic. You'd better be careful with it, even if you lack magical powers. I'd recommend you to distribute these around the dormitory and to be discreet about it. I know you'll probably think this is some folkloric superstition, but it's important to do it''.
Lilia kept talking.
''Malleus found you last night and he didn't like what he saw. I think he is being unnecessarily overprotective, but well… he is a perfectionist, too. And we trust his instincts.
These stones are mainly aimed not only for Ramshackle protection but also to its occupants''.
Yuu gave Lilia his sincere thanks, even if the boy didn't understand much about what was going on.
And then, he asked:
''Do you know anything about Grim?'' And he added: ''About where is he?''
''Now, now. This is interesting. Few people in the world would worry about their attackers, even less in Night Raven College. We are quite a problematic bunch, so this is an exception''.
''Grim still is my partner''
They were counted as One, after all.
''Yuu'' Lilia said.
There was something neutral about his voice.
''Where we are from we still worship Wotan, despite His Many Names''
''His names?''
The boy didn't understand.
Despite?
''Wotan gave us thunder and runes and other forms of magic. He also gave us music and poetry. But Wotan was also known for his treachery. He had many names: Ganglari, Sanngetall, Aldaföðr… even Men had a name for him: Veratýr*''
His tone of voice was serious.
''One of His names was Grímr. Do you know what it means?''
Yuu moved his head from side to side, dumbfounded.
''It means mask. You'd do well to remember it. While I'm sure Grim is a good child, if a bit mischievous. I'd recommend you to be careful, Yuu''.
Something shone in Lilia's eyes.
''After all, we don't want the past and the bad dreams to repeat themselves again, do we?''
He then disappeared amidst green sparkles.
Yuu shuddered, and it wasn't caused by the cold temperature around him.
*All of these names are old names to call Odin.
The French band Skáld takes old Eddas and turn some of them into songs.
You can hear a translated version here:
watch?v=wT14Ba_oj4s
Ganglari: He who wanders/travels
Sanngetall: He who intuits truth/Soothsayer
Aldaföðr: Father of Men/Time
Veratýr: God of Men
Grímr: Mask
It's been a while since I updated. I see we've reached +350 visits, and it makes me happy. If you want to leave comments about the story or just to chat (this post-lockdown isn't working very well with me), write, please! I'd love to see your impressions of this story.