"Off with your head!" The cross boy, Riddle, shouts with such a power that it makes me stumble!
There's a flare of some strange power I've never felt before in the air. It's more than the spells that flew at Grim just moments ago. It sends a strange shudder down my spine.
A strange collar appears, like magic (no shit), around Grim's neck. It's a large, disc shape. Gold with its inner fill-in of red and black. I can't see the back completely from here, but I think it's shaped like a heart? That's… weird. It gives me hard Harley Quinn vibes. Except not as... fun? This feels a lot more sinister.
"NYAH?!" Grim shouts in surprise! Eyes wide and freaked out by the sudden collar. I feel some sympathy, rubbing my neck… Wait, why do I feel sympathy?
It's because he looks like a cat, and let's face it, I'm a sucker for kitties.
"The Queen of Heart's Law, 23: We must not bring cats to ceremonies." Riddle proclaims. SEE? I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THINKS HE'S A CAT!
I feel so vindicated. Vilified? It's a v word and it means—maybe justified? I don't know! I just feel right. "You, cat, are trespassing—your very presence violates the law. Leave immediately."
"I'm not a cat!" Grim protests. "I will burn this collar off!" But the cat that says they're not a cat looks shocked and surprised in the next moment. Maybe even a little fearful, like losing something precious. "Huh…? Why aren't my flames working?!"
I'm starting to feel bad for him, when Riddle answers. "The collar suppresses your magic. You are nothing more than a cat now." I can feel the smugness permeate the air.
"Nya—what?! I'm not a pet!"
"Don't worry. I have no interest in a pet like you."
Grim looks rightly miffed.
"I will remove the collar when you leave the school."
The silver-haired helper chimes in, "Amazing, Riddle. Your unique magic seals others' magic. I have to have it—I mean, I do not want it used on me…"
Maybe later I'll ponder exactly what that means. But what is he talking about, unique magic? Is there special magic for sorcerers and magicians? Are they sorcerers, magicians, or wizards? Is there really any difference between any of them? I really don't know. I have zero knowledge when it comes to that kind of lore.
"No Wei!" Dire Crowley crows, and it takes me a second to realize that he thinks my name is No Way.
Fuck. "That's not my name-"
He cuts me off, of course, "Was I not clear that your familiar is your responsibility?! Take responsibility!"
"I don't own Grim!" I call out sharply.
Suddenly, the sternness leaves Crowley as he comes to a realization. "Oh—wait… He isn't yours?"
I want to murder this crow-elf-vampire hybrid creature.
But it's not that satisfying to kill someone in a dream.
"I have tried to tell you that. Repeatedly!" Great. A lot of people are staring at me again. I mildly want to drown in this too-big robe.
"Oh…? You did?" He conveniently coughs, "Well! I will remove him immediately. We will not even eat him. I am so nice, after all. Someone, take him away…"
"Nyahhh! Let me gooo!" Grim shouts as a few students grasp the flailing fire-cat. I'm starting to feel sorry for him as they drag his thrashing, flailing self away. Maybe… I wish I understood why he couldn't be a student. He has magic! And I… don't. "I will, I will become the greatest magician! Remember my name!"
As they open the doors and take him away, I only feel pity for the angry ball of fire and fur. "I… feel a bit sorry for him."
Dire Crowley turns to settle down the crowd. "Despite the unexpected, I declare the opening ceremony has concluded. Dorm leaders, please take your new students back to your dorms." He pauses a moment, brows furrowing. "Hm? Where is Dorm Leader Draconia of House Disamonia?"
The cat-eyed man comments dryly, "That's normal for that recluse."
It's the jolly, red-eyed, butt-formerly-on-fire that perks up with a question, "Huh? Did no one invite him?"
The very handsome, prettier-than-me responds, "Why didn't you tell him?"
"Hm, but I'm not close enough to…"
Aren't the dorm leaders supposed to look out for each other and make sure they come to these things? Maybe I'm on the outside here, but it's weird that they didn't tell an important figure to come to the new student orientation…
Maybe I'm wrong. But I doubt it.
A random student's words catches my attention, "Draconia… Like, Malleus Draconia? THAT Draconia?"
The second responds, "It's true? He actually goes to school here?!"
"Yikes." A third.
So, I guess he's infamous? What, am I in an anime or something? This feels like the set up for the mysterious character that's super cool or something. Like a prince in a high school. I'm getting some deep early-2000s high school anime vibes. Not sure if I like that turn in this nightmare-dream. I like my slice-of-lifes a little more cute than that.
A small boy with a very deep voice pipes up. I notice there's pink stripes in his hair, and bright, lovely, unnatural pink eyes. It's like a fairy in a story book. His skin is as ghostly pale, almost ethereal like Crowley's. But instead of creepy, glowing eyes, they're honestly really pretty. "Oh, just as I suspected. I thought he might show up. But, it looks like Malleus didn't get the announcement he was required to attend."
Azul, the slimiest, "My sincerest apologies! I assure you, we didn't mean to leave him out." I don't believe him. My instinct tells me, and I'm usually right.
"He's just unapproachable, admit it." Riddle's harsh.
Lilia sighs, "It's fine. New students of House Disamonia, follow me." I catch a bit of a murmur, too, "I hope he isn't sulking about this…" Honestly, watching him leave I swear he's floating.
The other dorm leaders gather their groups and guide them away. I count seven different groups using a strange, labelled portal each to escape from this strange, floating-coffin housing. It looks like they're labelled? But from this distance I can't exactly tell. It's such a strange thing, isn't it? I don't really understand, but I guess they have portals to go from place to place? It is some sort of magic school, so that makes sense to me with whatever topsy-turvey magic my mind's dreaming up right now.
I've never had a dream this vivid before, or involved… Well, that's not true. It's just that I feel like they're never this long. This MUST be the absolute best sleep of my entire life. I'm really looking forward to waking up in the morning nice and refreshed.
Now, discount Phantom of the Opera School AU has to cut in, "Well then, I hate to say it, but I must ask you to leave Night Raven College. A student without magical ability cannot attend. Fear not. The Dark Mirror will send you back home. Come, to the gate, and ask to return home."
"What a long dream…" I comment as I approach where I came in. The coffin with the scorched lid. I am ready to wake up after this nightmarish affair. Maybe, if I remember, I'll tell my friends about this crazy dream! They'll probably enjoy it. I do have some of the weirdest, most-involved dreams when I remember them.
I feel like I'll remember this forever.
"Mirror of Darkness! Return this soul back to whence they came!"
The mirror in its ever, fancy-laced-faced glory says nothing. Oh no.
"Ahem! Again! Mirror of Darkness! Guide this one-"
For once, someone cuts off Crowley. "Nowhere." The Mirror declares.
"What?"
"There is no where in this world where this one belongs. Nothing."
"Shit." I'm definitely ignored.
"That cannot be!" Mirror top-hat looks at his hands, for a reason I cannot understand. "That is impossible! Today is a day of the impossible miracles!"
The mirror is silent, but Crowley continues.
"This has never happened before, not since I have been headmaster. Tell me, where are you from?"
"Well… I don't know where this is." I start to explain. "But I'm from Texas…" He seems very, very confused. "The United States of America?" There is no recognition on this creature's masked face. My stomach sinks a little more. "North America?" Nada. "Earth?" Nope.
His chin rests upon a clawed finger. Pondering deeply, but I can only see part of his face. "I have never heard of those places. I know the birthplaces, the places of all of my students. I have never heard of those. Let us go to the library and find it."
I have a very, very bad feeling about this.
"Fuck." Luckily for me, Crowley is no longer paying attention.
