Routine slowly started to catch up with them. Vil & co came to pack up their belongings and prepared to leave Ramshackle. As a surprising gesture of goodwill, Vil admitted his mistakes and tried to compensate his team with a generous amount of the local currency, madol.

Life is easy when you are rich.

Yuu and Grim gladly accepted the money. No one asked about the rumours of Yuu spending a night in the infirmary the night after the Vocal & Dance Championship, nor about Grim's mysterious absence the next day. To be honest, Yuu doubted Vil even knew, Jamil was not one to concern himself with other people's business and Kalim probably wasn't aware. Rook was a wild card. And Yuu preferred it that way.

The school's landscape was still snowy. It was cold at night.

Yuu, Deuce and Ace took turns to tease Grim around and guide him during homework.

Night Raven College demanded an intense workload and Yuu didn't want to be left aside. It was a matter of responsibility. Yuu was told that it was okay to learn, even if he was a magicless boy*.

Even if the mannerisms and teaching methods of some professors were harsh, Yuu welcomed the open-mindedness of the teacher personnel: education was important. They were willing to provide him with that much, at least.

Even if that knowledge was useless in his homeworld, where magic didn't exist.

The irony was delicious.

Since the cold season was ending, Sam had put lots of ramen noodles, instantaneous coffee and other hot beverages for sale and Yuu and Grim gladly took advantage of the situation.

Grim behaved normally but Yuu had to admit his roommate had matured with the pass of months. The racoon-looking monster was calmer and took time to consider his surroundings and people's feelings around him. He was still selfish, but there was a great change from his first days at school.

He still claimed to have no memories about his disappearance and the night he spent at the College's stadium. Sometimes, Yuu couldn't help but guess.

Grim had an ambiguous past. He refused to speak about it but his scarce words were enough for Yuu to understand: cold and lonely. Without affection nor guidance. One couldn't blame Grim for the circumstances that lead to his behaviour.

What scared Yuu were his flashbacks. A carriage. The school's entrance…

A feeling of uneasiness grew inside the boy's stomach.

Something was off. Grim had to stop eating those weird stones. It was obvious they were related to the Overblots of the students.

A dark corruption that possessed people and things…

Yuu couldn't help but remember his dream from the previous night, the one about the silver sword becoming black.

But he had no one to share his fears with.

And perhaps, it was for the best.

A person with common sense should look forward to what they could change, not the impossible nor things that escaped their control.

Yuu decided it would be wise to distract themselves by hanging Lilia's thunderstones around the dormitory. The boy didn't believe in their protective power as a charm, but it was a nice gesture. And Grim seemed ecstatic at the idea of decorating the room, even if the stones looked old, because ''those things had power''. Yuu never felt anything about them, but the curious ghosts from the Ramshackle dormitory also commented on the ancient energy from the thunderstones so he realized it was better to remain quiet. After all, he was the one who lacked magical powers. If there was some inherent magical energy to the stones, then Yuu wouldn't question it just because he couldn't experiment with it on a first-person basis.

The ghosts helped them decorate and gave them advice about the best places to put the thunderstones on. They were entertained, one of the ghosts even chose to turn on the radio and all the occupants of the Ramshackle dormitory spent the time singing pop songs.

It was during that activity that one of the ghosts realized they lacked thread and Grim volunteered to search for more. He disappeared inside the deepest parts of the Ramshackle dormitory. They had a tactic agreement with the ghosts to not go on the highest floors of the building: such rooms belonged to their undead companions.

Grim returned with a wool ball of thick red yarn. One of the ghosts criticized his choice because the colours wouldn't match with the decoration of the room - conveniently for them, the ghosts didn't seem to remember that they used to live among ruins until Yuu and Grim started to live with them-, but that wasn't the only thing Grim brought them.

He had also brought a pair of shiny little dragons. The creatures were carved on obsidian and had an elegant hue of purple. Miniature scales, whiskers and batwings were reproduced with wondrous detail. Their eyes were made of purple and green stones.

''Yuu! Look at these!''

''They are very pretty''

''We could make a lot of money with them. The headmaster is a miser with us, ya know?''

''I think these statues are too expensive for us to deal with''

''But Yuu!'' he was annoyed ''this could be our chance to have more money. Think about the tuna!''

''We already have the money Vil gave us. And that's a lot''

''But this could be our chance!''

''It would bring too much attention to us. Even secretly. You don't want to deal with an angry headmaster, do you? This could cost our stay at the school''

Grim took a moment to think.

His ears fell low. He was disappointed.

Yuu sighed.

''Grim, your desire is to become a magician…''

''The best'' his companion interrupted him, excited.

''That's right. You want to be the most powerful magician. To do that, you must remain at the school and graduate as a proper student''

''Well, in that case, I'm keeping them''

He disappeared inside the building, taking the pair of stone dragons with him. He didn't return until much later and by that moment, Yuu and the ghosts had finished distributing the thunderstones across Ramshackle. The places they chose were subtle and camouflaged to avoid problems with the school's personnel. The only obvious spot was the big old doors at the entrance, but the ghosts hanged the thunderstone at a particularly high point and had previously agreed to retire it in case someone complained.

But no one did.

That night, Grim and Yuu were chatting after having supper at the cafeteria. Grim was gulping down ramen noodles (his next dinner) at the garden. The pair were enjoying the chilly atmosphere in relaxation, Yuu had forgotten his dislike of cold temperatures in favour of enjoying their free time in silence.

It was a rare occasion.

Grim returned commenting he was feeling tired. It wasn't a wonder, considering he had just gulped down a bowl of hot soup. Sleeping after eating delicious food had to be one of the best pleasures in the world.

Yuu stayed behind. He wanted to enjoy the night. He never felt a strong affinity to it before, but the quietness and the calmness of the dark was something that brought peace to his soul.

In the darkness, he could reflect without the pressure of daily activities.

The boy didn't feel surprised when the green fireflies started to float lazily in his direction. Yuu walked towards his friend and greeted him.

''Hey, Tsunotaro! Thank you for what you did that day!''

Malleus appeared in front of him. He was clad in the Diasmomnia uniform, his arms crossed in front of him and his green eyes sparkling, even he didn't want to look too open.

A textbook case of a tsundere. Yuu knew enough of anime culture. It was on the things that made him bond with the tall student who had blue flames for hair. He was shy but every once in a while asked to pet Grim in exchange for a favour. Yuu agreed most of the time: Grim needed to be humble and the guy didn't look too mean, compared to the likes of the Octavinelle students or troublemakers like Rook and Riddle when in a bad mood.

''Child of man''

''...''

''Child of man…''

Malleus was speaking to him. Yuu apologized.

''You were too immersed in your thoughts, even if you were the one to greet me first''

''I'm sorry. I was just… thinking''

''Are you fine by now?''

Then, he changed his tone of voice. It was softer, slower.

''Has that monster given you any problems?''

Yuu understood the promise of danger.

''Oh, no. Grim has been behaving well''

Malleus' eyes showed he didn't believe him.

''You spoil him too much''

''Grim is boisterous and selfish, but he is not bad at his core. And he has changed for the good, too. Grim is different from what he used to be''

''If you say so…''

He then waved his hand. That subject of conversation was done. The Horned Guy wanted to talk about something else.

''This night is pretty, isn't it?''

Yuu saw nothing different about it, but he agreed with Malleus out of politeness.

''Winter is leaving. Back home, people would be rejoicing. Frûa's times are approaching''

''Frûa?''

''You have this lore. The Norsemen used to call her Freya''

Yuu opened his eyes, in acknowledgement.

''The goddess of beauty and fertility''

''That's right, Child of Man. Frûa would also take the slain to her hall, Fólkvangr''

''Didn't the dead go to Valhalla''

''No, you got it wrong. Only those who were slain in battle go to Valhalla. The valkyries would choose them''

''Valkyries?''

''Yes. Do you know what they are?''

''Yes, I read about them. Pretty women who would travel around helping warriors''

''Helping?''

Malleus' expression was twisted. He was holding up the laughter.

''More like corpse-eating old women. They would deviate arrows and swords towards warriors so they could die and be taken to Valhalla in order to help Wotan in his war preparations''

''That sounds… nasty''

''They were the witches who served Wotan. If a soothsayer saw one in their predictions, a person was certainly lost''

''Oh, I see…''

'' Not a funny conversation topic ''

Malleus' laugh was sinister.

A shooting star flew in front of them. It was fast and left an elegant silver tale behind. It disappeared, too.

''Child of Man, what do people in your world do when they see a shooting star?''

''It's custom to ask for wishes''

''Did you ask for one just now?''

'' I wish that…''

Yuu wanted to return home. But he couldn't say it aloud. Even less in front of Malleus. Yuu's struggles were his alone.

''It's fine if you do not desire to talk about it. We all have our secrets''

His tone of voice was clear when he pronounced the last sentence. Yuu felt his shoulders relax. His voice was leaving his mouth before he realized it.

''Tsunotarou, what do you wish for?''

His companion opened his green eyes, surprised.

''Me?''

Mallus put his finger close to his mouth, in deep thought.

''I desire for… no, no that.''

He looked at Yuu.

''Child of man… I think that I'd like to visit the Norðrljós. They can be seen in the skies during this time of the year''

His words were carefully chosen and Yuu didn't expect anything less. As Malleus talked, his words started to go faster, like a flow of water.

'' That way, I could enter the Bifröst. That way I could travel. That way, I could challenge the Hunt…''

''The hunt?''

''The Wild Hunt''

It sounded dark and heavy. It was an unnecessary contrast to an otherwise peaceful night. And Yuu felt annoyed, even if he couldn't tell himself why.

''Why would you like to do that?''

''For freedom''

Malleus spoke before he thought. His tone of voice was different, lower, softer.

The prince suddenly wished Yuu a good night and disappeared. The boy knew it was because Malleus had not intended to show such vulnerability, but he did.

Freedom.

After that, Yuu didn't see Malleus for days.

*I remember one of the professors told Yuu that, but I can't find WHO was.

I always found it rather cute, he is one of the few people who addressed the player's situation and talked about something else than magic. It had less to do with power and more with education and knowledge. I liked that.

Now, leaving that comment aside: sorry for the lack of updates. I haven't been well lately. The good news are that I have the story outline worked by now and we still have 10 chapters left. This fic is a huuuuge slowburn and I've been dropping clues here and there. The next chapters are going to be very mythology-based.