I am in awe at this building; sure, the Mirror Chamber is strange and impressive, but how much money have they put into this school to have stone-crafted archways with shimmering mirrors, that I now know are portals to other places far away from here. It's amazing—the brightly-lit room in its equal parting, that no house is superior to another. That as you're part of your own piece of this school, you make up a special part of the whole of Night Raven College.
I can't say there's anything like this on Earth, considering the magic, but there are a few places I feel the same sort of unity and common goal. I like it this way, too.
We approach the Heartslabyul mirror, its decorated with—cards? Why is that so familiar? My mind tugs at something hazy, that isn't quite there. Maybe a dream I had recently? Could it be crazier than the reality I now find myself in? Doubt.
The four aces, many cards, sitting on a story book. Strange mushrooms grow at the edges of the steps. Two hands of a clock, maybe? And is that a rabbit? I have no idea. It is beautiful, this elaborate stonework. Was it all made by magic, or was it carved by hand? The lights on either side of this gateway glow… red?
I'm not even listening as we finally step through the gate. I wonder what mysterious world we'll find this time.
Oh! This is-a castle? Is this really a castle? My eyes are greeted by rich green and gorgeous reds, brilliant white all around! A stone path leads to a heart-shaped fountain, I think—and it looks like card suits are the theme as I see diamond and heart windows. Heart-shaped trees with red roses line the walkway, with stone pillars and red-rose filled pots between. Everything is in its own order, and properly placed. I wonder what work goes into such a grand place.
"Wooow!" Grim exclaims in amazement that I'm keeping to myself. "This place is gorgeous! It's the opposite of our dorm!" Ouch.
"Grim, our dorm is a work in progress." I'm a little envious, but at the same time I'm just glad I have somewhere warm to sleep with running water. Definitely need to solve the food situation, too.
"You can say that again." Ace jabs.
I give him a look.
He shuts up.
But, I hear a voice calling out in distress. "Oh no! This is the worst! I have to paint these roses red!" My brows knit, because I swear—I swear I've heard—what is going on?
"Someone's calling for help?" Grim asks, and of course my natural instinct is to go toward the voice because I am a problem solver and I can't help myself.
"Careful!" The voice calls to someone else. "If there's anything left white, it's off with your head!"
I frown. "Is this deja vu?" I ask basically no one as I lead the path toward the distressed individual. "It makes no sense."
"Like your name." That was Ace again.
We come upon a diamond-faced young man in the same uniform as the other two—he must be a fellow dorm member. His hair is pulled back at the top and tied, which is a style I don't necessary comprehend. A furious orange in a shaggy cut—and I notice he doesn't have the red vest that the other two sport. Is he out of dress code? Should I be wearing a vest of some color? I didn't find one in the closet… I'll keep my blazer… buttoned. Even if it seems to be an older style, it's what I've got.
"Oh? Can I help you four with anything~?" Green eyes have a look in them I don't trust.
"This? Can't you see—I'm painting the roses red!" Yeah, I am hit with such a wave of flashback right now.
Deuce and Ace are pretty shocked by this. Like twins! "Eh, why would you do that?!"
The ladder-stander grins. "Hm, hm! That's totally cute and fresh! Hah! Ohhh! Now that I get a closer look, you two are the freshman that destroyed the billion-mark chandelier yesterday! Oooo!" Okay, so basically everything I ever do in this school will spread like wildfire.
Noted.
"Ugh, man, I feel like we're going to hear about that until we graduate." Ace grumbles.
"And you-" He points an accusing finger at Ace, losing his OSHA-mandated three points of contact. "-are the one that stole the Housewarden's tart and have been punished! How lucky! I got to meet these feisty new freshman so early in the morning!"
Okay, so everyone here is a weirdo confirmed. "...Yeah."
He hops off the ladder in a non-OSHA approved way, "Hey, hey, hey! Let's take a selfie!"
Oh no. That exists here too.
I see the cellphone come out of his pocket and I realize that only means that Twisted Wonderland is also infected with social media. The diamond-faced stranger strikes a pose and takes a picture with the startled four of us.
"Ah! I'm going to post this—I'm going to tag you, tell me your names!"
"Deuce Spades."
"Ace Trappola."
"I'm Grim—and that's No!"
"No-?" He only takes a moment. "Okay! It's posted! Alright! Hello! I'm Deuce and Ace's senior, I'm a junior at Night Raven College, Cater Diamond!" I sense a theme.
Does he have to pose almost like a sailor scout when he introduces himself? Is he a v-tuber? A vlogger? Whatever it's called?
"You can call me Cater, but Cate's fine too!" I swear he verbally made an emoticon, but I can't discern what that sound he made means. "Nice to meet ya!"
"It's nice to meet you too." I was raised with manners.
Now, Cater takes a good look at Grim and myself. "Ooooh! You two are the rumored ones that live in the Ramshackle Dorm! I can't believe you two live like that."
Grim and I wear matching frowns, but he grumbles, "Rude guy…"
"Let it go, Grim, let it go." We're going to run into a lot of that here.
"Oh! Wait—I can't just stand around talking!" Actual panic, even terror seizes over our social media junkie. "There's a party the day after tomorrow, and if you're late it's off with your head!" That phrase is coming up a lot—didn't that Riddle Kid use it to summon the collars? "Heeey… so do you four want to help me paint?"
Huh—wait. What?
Ace crosses his harm, huffing. "Why are you doing that anyway? It's weird."
"It's more photogenic if the roses are red for the party." That makes no sense. "But I'm also in charge of coloring the flamingos for croquet at the party! I'm super busy!"
"Coloring flamingos…? What a weird job…" Grim's right.
"It's only going to get weirder here, isn't it?" I'm always right, too.
"So… the tart that Ace stole was for the Dorm Leader's birthday party… That's why he was so angry." Ah, well, looks like Deuce solved the mystery.
"No, that's not it." Cater shakes his head.
"Then who's birthday is it for?!" Ace cries out indignantly. He's still collared for a good reason.
"No one's! The day after tomorrow is our Dorm's anniversary Unbirthday Party! It's a traditional tea party that the dorm leader decided on, and chose a day that didn't land on ANYONE'S birthdays."
IT GOT WEIRDER.
"What—the heck?" Yeah, Ace, you're right. It's weird.
"Anyway—everything else can wait! You guys can help me paint the roses red! Deuce and Grim can use magic, right? Ace and No can't, so here are a couple of paint brushes!" Cater is shoving things in our hands…
"Change colors with magic?" Deuce baby…
"You know, I've never done something like that before…" And by his crossed arms he's not too excited.
"We'll manage! Now come on, we have to hurry or it's off with our heads!" I feel very railroaded by Cater right now.
I dip the paintbrush into a bucket, and go to the nearest rose to paint it carefully red. A sing-song voice might be coming out, "Painting the roses red, painting the roses red…"
Over by another tree, Cater is giving instructions to Deuce and Grim, who uses his magic to turn the roses from white to red. It's dazzling, honestly! And it makes what I'm doing look slow. But I'm doing my best to help out, because I assume failing this task means people get collar'd and that's not a kink I'm into.
Maybe.
Deuce seems to be struggling as one pops out blue… and Grim sets some of them on fire.
"Ah, you guys are worse than I thought…" They're both freshman, what does he expect?
"I mean, why can't we just have white roses? They're pretty the way they are." Ace comments an obviousness but this is insane world so there's got to be some weird reason.
"It's tradition! Unbirthday parties have red roses. The croquet match will have seven different-colored flamingos and headhoges for balls. It's the spring flower concert where the roses have to be white. WE have to remember this!" Cater is spouting out nonsense, I called it.
"These rules are weird." Grim grumbles.
"These rules were made by the Queen of Hearts herself, one of the Great Seven!" Ahhh, ridiculous old traditions. Got it. "Riddle is very serious about this! Out of all the Dorm Leaders he's the one that keeps traditions going… But I can't deny he goes overboard about it all sometimes."
"Ahhh, so that's it. Well, I need to talk to the Housewarden anyway. Is he still inside?" I feel like Ace's attempts are going to go sour and we're going to have some more shenanigans.
"Yeah, I think so." Cater replies but I don't like his expression. "Ah! Speaking of that—did you bring a replacement?"
"No—I just came straight here. I don't have anything."
"Well, Queen of Hearts Law, Article 53 states: You must replace what you stole. So, I can't break that rule—and I can't let you back into the dorm." Cater's our gatekeeper.
"AH!? What the hell!?" Ace shouldn't be surprised.
"I guess we'll figure out how to make a tart after classes and bring one, Ace…" Mmm, weird, a case of me being ignored again. I must speak quietly or something.
"Look, you have to follow the rules to stay here, Ace. If I let this slide, it's off with imy/i head! Sorry—have to go before Riddle notices!" Yep, Cater's headed off.
"Really!? You're serious?! C'mon—help me out guys?" Ace sounds a bit desperate.
"Why me?!" Deuce exclaims.
"C'mon! I'm begging you—I can't even use magic right now!" How that must suck. "Oh shit—he's using magic!" And Cater throws the first strike!
"Out of the way, Ace!" Who dodges, sending a gust of wind his way.
It's weird, because—basically, Cater… disappears and reappears? He sends another strike.
"Deuce, dodge left!" And a cauldron smashes Cater—but then he reappears!
"Grim—fire!" And sure, the fire seems to hit but…
He just pops back up.
It makes no sense.
A big blow of magic comes our way, knocking us all to the ground.
Cater gives a laugh as we get up, recovering from the spell. "Don't come back until you have a tart! Bye!" I feel used.
I snag Deuce and Ace by the arms for a tactical retreat. Monsters, fine—but I'm not about to fight another student on my first offical day as one.
"What the fuck is wrong with him!?" Ace is almost roaring in frustration. I get it.
"He just reappeared after we hit him! Does he have hallucination magic?" Deuce thinks, but with how his gears don't quite spin the right way I don't think that's it.
"And anyways, I can't even go in without a tart… this was a useless trip." He's right. "And he used us to help paint, too!"
"Yeah…" I owe Mr. Diamond a smack to the face.
"I'm disappointed." Grim sighs.
"We'll bring a tart after school to make up for it—oh no, this is bad!" Deuce suddenly starts to panic.
"Oh no." We're late, aren't we?
"The bell rang! We're going to be late!"
"This could ruin our first awesome day!" Grim shouts. "We have to hurry!"
"Oh—what classes are you guys in?" Ace asks as we all tear off.
"1-A! That's what the headmaster said! Remember?!" I forgot. Go Grim.
"Oh! We're in the same class! Our first period is Potionology!" Deuce explains as we run.
"This is going to go SO fun!" Ah, at least Deuce is excited.
"But I still can't use magic! Will it be okay!?" Ace does have proper concerns.
"We'll be fine, Ace!" At least, I hope.
"Sure, Mr. No Magic!"
"Good one!" I can appreciate it, at least.
Boy, do we get down to the laboratory and quick! Oh, I feel like my lungs are about to pop out with all the running I've done in the past few days!
Luckily, Ace and Deuce flings the door open and even rushes, we start our first day of classes.
