"I'm sorry."

His words echoed in my mind and reached dully to my heart. My body was rendered still as though under a petrifying spell. My eyes were dilated as wide as the full blue moon shining its azure moonlight upon the garden of deep blue roses in full bloom.

Yet in this midnight scenery, a tall young man of crimson red tousled hair was the single juxtaposing existence. He had his broad back facing me, shunning me.

I couldn't bear this reaction. He was looking towards the light whereas I was cloaked in darkness, the place where I was meant to remain in.

'Why wasn't he looking at me?' The question repeated in my possessed self that knew nothing but the familiarity of isolation.

In the end, he too turned the other cheek from my presence. Like everyone else, they look to the light. They leave me alone, fearing the dark world I was said to be born in and scorning my ugliness.

Don't abandon me, I wanted to cry out. Why must I always be tossed to the side in favor for someone more radiant than I? Am I truly not meaningful to be shown humanity? Am I a thorn to your bleeding side? Am I the stain to the white canvas you paint your future on?

What am I to you? What am I to this world that loathes me for a sin I never committed?

My thoughts were loud in my ears despite the silent night. They don't come filter through my lips. I always kept my hidden fears and thoughts from manifesting. Though I ask myself these questions, I always feared how others will see me differently if I reveal my vulnerabilities. I protect myself and others that way, for I dread the monster that will crawl out of the can of filthy worms squirming inside waiting to be released by me.

A cold breeze whistled past the gardens, scattering sapphire blue petals in its wake.

As I remained standing paralyzed in place, a single bead of sweat runs cold on my temple.

A black anonymous shadow stood menacingly in place of the redhead male. I recognized it all too well. The nightmare that haunts me wherever I go, whether in the real world or in my dreams.

A distorted voice between man and woman whispered through hollow lips baring white teeth.

"I will never remain a memory."

~~~~~~~

Problem Children

~~~~~~~

"Oi, wake up!"

I jolted awake from the voice. Whose squeaky voice that sounds like your typical animal mascot companion yelled at my ear...?

My expression fell when I recognized the source right after. "Oh, it's you."

"Hey, what's that weak reaction? You should be revering me as my henchman!" Grim huffed at me haughtily, fiery ears lowered flat.

Looking behind, I found myself resting my back against the podium of the Queen of Hearts' statue, front profile charred black with soot.

A dream...? No. That was indeed something that happened very recently. My lack of sleep must've hit me while I was trying to rub the spot off.

Grim stood before me with irate eyes. "How dare you slack off while I worked. You were like that when I fought off the ghosts last night, too. Just standing and yelling in my ear."

I yawned, barely registering his gripes I could care less about because I know I'm not feeling remorseful over anything he said.

Instead I responded, "I'm the brains and you're the brawn. I'm doing my part, too. Besides, you need to lose some pounds of that fat in exchange for muscle if you want to be a great magician."

I playfully tapped his roundly shaped stomach, much to his chagrin. He even hissed at me like a bonafide cat, which he denies vehemently still.

"If you're not a cat, not a raccoon, not a weasel... Then what are you?" I finally asked him, aggravated with how the topic of his species is already starting to run on a loop for me.

"I'm the world's future powerful magician, the Great Grim!" Was what he answered with paws on his hips and white chest fur puffed out.

I rolled my eyes. It's easier to call him a cat in my head from now on.

"Anyways, I wanna eat some grub! Imma need you to carry my food." Grim told me.

"It hasn't been that long since we ate breakfast though..." I muttered.

"But all that cleaning and fighting made me hungry again. Can't be a great magician without food in my belly!" Grim patted his belly for emphasis.

I slumped my shoulders in resignation. "Alright, alright. Guess I'll also grab a snack for myself while we're at it."

I stood to dust the dirt off my hand-me-down clothes and made the decision to leave my apron and cleaning equipment to the side of Main Street. I have little motivation to haul so many things in a huge domain such as this school when I was about to climb the slopes leading to Night Raven College. I'll return it eventually.

The daytime scenery of the building is less intimidating compared to my sudden arrival during the night. It actually looks impressive that I didn't think a modern school setting could take place in what almost has medieval vibes. Or maybe that just tells me I need to get out more.

Relying on the directory pamphlet of the main building Crowley had also given me, we arrived at the cafeteria with little to no difficulty. Long wooden tables are crowded with dining students chattering animatedly and others walking around with trays of food in hand.

I feel rather intimidated in a male-dominated setting. Though I'm no stranger with boys since I've been in co-ed schools, I already feel alienated with my body in the space I'm occupying now.

'I don't belong here.'

Meanwhile Grim was excited, unsurprisingly given his huge appetite. "Food, here I come!"

I make my way to the pantry. I never thought there would be a real fireplace used in a cafeteria until now. I suppose that goes to show how prestigious academies have higher standards than public schools.

Hanging in the center of the cafeteria is a grand chandelier whose candles are lit with green flames. It looks rather antique, and thus of more value.

I couldn't help but stop to admire it. My penniless self in this world may never comprehend the luxurious life of the prestigious. Now I just got a little bummed of the reality slapping me in the face of the difference. Survival in another world is too cruel.

'I don't belong here.'

"Don't stand in the way."

A shoulder bumps into me roughly that my own shoulder could have dislocated. I choked on my spit from the force against the side of my chest, nursing my left and trailing my gaze after the one responsible for the rude contact.

A larger male student, presumably an upperclassman from his body language familiar with his surroundings, in uniform wore a neon green vest, matching crystal pen and armband with a shield crest. I had noticed there were a variety of different colors the students wear.

Both Crowley and the Dark Mirror had mentioned dorm sorting before. Could the colors symbolize the dorm they came from?

My blue eyes darkened as they narrowed.

He clearly has the raw strength to turn the tides against me. Forget magic, I'll be pummeled like a pancake easily.

I wasn't going to get riled up over a shoulder bump, regardless. I'm more concerned about how much trouble will break out again just because a student rudely and unnecessarily had to shove me instead of politely asking me to move. I'm not Grim.

The student sneered. "What's with those eyes? Are you even human?"

My hand clenched into a fist at my side.

["With those hideous eyes, you're not human, and you never will be."]

An ember sparks in my soul, yet I was quick to snuff it out just as it was born. I said nothing and walk away with a bruising shoulder. I heard the student sniff haughtily at my retreating back, getting the last laugh by mumbling something undoubtedly a petty insult born from superiority.

I won't try to be a winner. I still know little about everything around me. I won't try to act righteous. Being a pacifist is the most safest route I have at the moment. I'm still playing my cards safely by not starting fights. That's what the rude student would want from me; to get myself in trouble for laying a finger against a student when I'm just playing handyman.

When I find myself in mental conflicts like this, I always think back to my great grandfather's wisdom, his kindness, and his patience. They were what saved me, after all.

So I keep my fists clenched as a way to pinch myself from letting my rage get the better of me. That's how I've been controlling my temper. I am better than this. I was raised to be better than egotistical bastards who pick on the weak out of self-fulfillment affirming their place on their high thrones. Their thrones have brittle long legs that will easily collapse once they reach the peak of foolishness.

My throne, however small it may be, is stronger. Because my morals and virtues are what makes me stronger.

"Hey, human, you're really gonna let him get away with it?" Grim asked me, following my pace.

"The headmaster just punished us a few hours ago for making trouble. Don't make this harder for me or you." I told him without glancing to him. It seems to have effectively convinced him as he grumbled under his breath.

I came to a stop.

I debated whether to stand in line as though I'm one of the student body or waiting until everyone has their lunch. Sometimes not wearing a uniform just paints a bright red target on yourself to get ostracized. Anyone can tell I'm not a student, that I don't belong as one of them.

I was rooted in my place from the sidelines. To be honest, this invisible wall separating me from others is not new to me, even in a school environment. However, a voice continuously reminds me that I'm a girl; I'm not supposed to be mingling as a male student. I'm a blight to the traditions of this all-boys school.

But if I were to get kicked out now, I'll have nowhere to go. My existence literally spawned out of nowhere in Twisted Wonderland. I have no documents to my name. Maybe not even legal protection. How does this world perceive aliens from a completely different universe?

The fear of the unknown grips my heart. My hands gripped the hem of my sleeves tightly that it was sure to leave wrinkles. Can I truly survive when I have no one who could empathize me, a being without an ounce of mana in her body?

"Hey, minion, the Great Grim is getting hungry. Hurry up and get me food." Grim drawled as though on the brink of death, pawing my leg to draw my attention.

A frown settles deeply on my thin lips as I placed my hand on my stomach. On top of me not usually the type to eat a hearty breakfast to start the morning, I don't tend to eat large portions of my meals. I always have a small appetite, which explains my thin, underweight figure. Though it's not easy to tell with the layers of clothes I put on.

I lower my head from eye contact and enter the line, maintaining social distance. I could hear the students in front of me whispering about me and feel their glances yet I don't acknowledge them.

One student whispered, "Why's that guy not wearing a uniform? And that weird raccoon thing beside them..."

His friend responded, "That can only mean one thing. That 'guy' is a girl, the one that has no magic and came here by mistake."

"Seriously? What are they doing here?"

I acted disinterested by glancing around the cafeteria again. Only this time I was actually curious of one peculiar thing.

Are those...animal ears and tails? Knowing this world, they must be real. They do look quite authentic and tempting to touch...

There's a variety of different animal traits beyond your typical cat, dog, and bunny ears. I'm not quite familiar with the dark round fuzzy ears or the tiny triangular ears and thin tails with tufts of fur for the tip at first glance. What kind of animals are they supposed to resemble?

"What would you like?" An eerie voice asked.

I looked ahead. A ghost in a chef's hat wears a welcoming smile greeting me no differently from the students.

This world can hire ghosts as part of the staff? A curious part of me wonders how the competition in employment and job opportunities works.

I snapped out of my shameless gawking and skimmed across the array of food. Once again I am impressed by the quality of prestigious academies.

"Do... Do you know that I'm not a...?" I trailed off, lowering my head in shame. I could feel at least one pair of eyes on me in this area scrutinizing my presence. I'm sure of it.

The cafeteria ghost nodded. "The headmaster had issued a notice for all the staff about you this morning, miss. As unfortunate and scary your situation may be, you are still a child. We hope you will come to us adults in times of need."

I bit my lower lip, suddenly overwhelmed with emotions drowning some (not all, though) of my worries away. With words forming a knot in my throat, I could only nod in acknowledgment.

Wait, what did Crowley tell them specifically? I'd presume he kept my "otherworldly" existence a secret and just said that the Dark Mirror goofed up and I have to stay here until a way back home is found. Crowley did say it is the academy's responsibility to see me home when one of their black carriages brought me here in the first place.

"Henchman, pick me up! I wanna see the delicious food I'm smelling!" Grim called to me from the floor.

I complied and lifted him from under his arms.

I bit back a wince. Damn. That shoulder bump earlier is the worst bump I've ever had. My left shoulder is actually aching in pain.

The ghost did not let this go unnoticed, however. "Are you alright?"

I nodded automatically as the words slipped out like a lines from a practiced cue. "Yes. Don't worry."

Grim crestfallen at the sight of the table. "There's not a lot of choices..."

"These are our leftovers, then. It's enough for you and me, anyways." I then said to the ghost, "We'll take them all."

He appeared to want to say something to me but eventually abstained with a polite smile. "With pleasure."

A part of me feels slightly at peace with the cafeteria ghosts. To think the undead would be the first to ensure a comfortable space...

With a tray full of unwanted meals in hand, I searched for a vacant spot, once again ignoring the pairs of eyes trailing after my figure.

I don't see Ace in the cafeteria right now. Did we somehow pass by each other? At least I don't have to deal with him during our break.

I eventually settled on the edge of the table by the facing away from the windows behind me.

"Thanks for the food!" Grim said before feasting on his food.

Seeing him eat so happily has me wondering about my great grandfather. I wonder if he's still taking care of himself without me around. Though I can rely on my neighbors to keep tabs on Sidney, I can't help but worry regardless.

From a nearby table, I could hear a small circles of boys talk about Grim and I, more specifically me.

"Why did a girl have to be here? I enrolled to this academy so I didn't have to interact with girls at school." A student in a blue vest grumbled.

"I bet she'll bitch about boys and shit on us even if we haven't done anything wrong to her." Another in a ruby red vest said, lifting his fork from his plate as an extended arm gesture.

"For real, she's gonna walk all over us spouting crap like those pick-me girls and whine if we don't treat her like a princess." The third boy in a green vest among them had his nose crinkled at the thought.

"Especially since she doesn't have magic. All the more reason for her to get kicked out of here." The first said.

A frown settled itself on my solemn visage as I slowly scraped away meager portions of my food. Their words don't bother me, truthfully. I can understand part of their logic in their concerns, and I too don't wish to be in this world, after all. Though that doesn't necessarily mean they're not tiring to hear.

["Hey, it's the pianist prodigy that won so many competitions when she was only in middle school. Looking as anti-social and disinterested as usual."]

["She gives off the 'I'm out of everyone's league' vibes. I don't want to interact with someone like that."]

["She's freaky, but she can be freakier with that isolationist attitude. She's like a heartless monster who only sees us as inferior life forms. Can you believe someone like that exists?"]

My shoulders were low with disappointment. Perhaps they were always slumped that way subconsciously in my strides and the way I sit in a chair.

I never belong anywhere, even in another world.

The repulsive feeling in my guts compelled me to put down my spoon with a solemn clink of metal on porcelain.

For as long as I've known, the food runs dry and flavorless on my tongue, the world around me monochrome in my lifeless eyes. My heart is rendered unfeeling in this space.

My shadow illuminated by the sunlight from the windows darkens.

I didn't need to look to know a dark anonymous figure rose from within to loom over my shoulders ominously. Their ghastly presence is only perceived by me alone. They are the incarnation of my negative emotions that comes to haunt me when I'm at my lowest.

"You have no place to belong. No matter where you go, the shadows will always follow in your footsteps."

I remained unmoving, gazing down expressionless at the table in front of me.

"You cannot lie to the world nor yourself of your darkness. That's why everyone around fears you, harbors anger towards you. You are hideous and unwanted, a meddling presence intrusive to the space they were so comfortable in. Have you no conscience?"

I could do nothing against a shadow of my delusions. I have always been subjected to listen to their curses ever since I was a child. They are an entity of many words, always having something to say to wish my demise through eloquent and long, one-sided speeches. Though their language is used differently each time, the intent behind them is still fundamentally the same.

Perhaps that was the many insecurities speaking to me in the form of an unseen person. They always find a way to break me into pieces and then some. For more than ten years I have been subjected to my pathetic side. I have grown resistant to it. That doesn't mean I am immune to them, though.

Even as my shadow whispers curses in my ear, I still clung to a fragment of hope whose whispers spoke above my darkness dwelling in my heart. Even I have someone to hold dear, after all.

'I don't belong here... but I have to make the best with what I can do in my current situation. Right, Sidney?'

My hands clenched into fists on my lap. My resolve to return to my original world, the world where my family comprised of solely my great grandfather is, burns brightly.

The anonymous figure in black haze melts back into my shadow. My mind has become quiet with them gone now.

Yet I lament the fact that they are still kept alive in my heart.

For they will "never remain a memory".

...

"I'm already exhausted from cleaning all day... But now we have to clean one hundred windows..." Grim pouted, disheartened by the task arbitrarily issued upon us.

It was the end of classes at Night Raven College. Right now Grim and I were in the empty cafeteria bracing ourselves for the 1oo-window cleanup.

"There's nothing we can do about it." I told him. I rubbed my neck and lower back, dreading the soreness that comes with wiping windows that are two meters tall. I almost feel my head would fall off from looking up for about a hundred windows.

"That Ace guy is late. He's got some nerve making me wait for him! I'm getting annoyed!" Grim scowled.

"I imagine he's skipping out on the punishment. Cleaning a hundred windows on the first day of school does sour the mood." I casually remarked. That wouldn't surprise me.

"He does look like that kind of guy. If he does, I won't let him run away and leave the punishment to us!" Grim said. He refuses to wipe the windows until Ace is here for that reason.

I went ahead and started wiping one window from the top while on a ladder. Windows don't wipe themselves, unless there's some funky magic that enables them to, which I'd appreciate.

I had asked Grim to start scrubbing the bottom but he must still feel moody about Ace antagonizing him first thing in the morning. I told Grim to suck it up and move his paws, not his mouth. He complied, begrudgingly.

Five minutes passed. One window down, 99 more bastards to go.

Thirty minutes in, we covered ten windows. At least we got one-tenth of the task done. I'd stop at about 33 since there would be three of us working. Ace would take one more window and if he refuses, I'll deck him across the cafeteria and use his "explosion head" (as Grim has described) to sweep the dust.

One whole hour later, I had slept through the duration. By "slept" I meant sleepwalk. It's a bad habit of mine to fall in what I call "autopilot mode" where my eyes are open but my mind is in dream land. Grim was suspicious as to how I wasn't engaging or responding to his idle chatter but suspected I was too focused in my job to pay mind to him. There was some truth to it, but regardless he didn't find out.

When I came to reality, there was still no signs of unruly terracotta red hair. I was woken up by an infuriated Grim's cry who then proceeded to slap a rag cloth on the tiled floor. Suddenly he hopped onto my shoulder.

"Let's go, Strix! We'll catch Ace and make him clean the windows!"

I wordlessly made a beeline to one of the first year classrooms and opened the door.

"C'MON!! Where are you, Ace?! You'll pay for hiding from us!" Grim swore, only to blink. "...Er, there's no one here?!"

We looked around. The classroom is totally empty. Figures. By then who'd want to stay after classes?

"No. I am here."

We jumped at the source and swerved to a portrait of a historically dressed man. It was not only his eyes and lips animated. He can express his whole body. At least whatever is within the frame. That's...freaky.

Grim shrieked. I need to get used to having a monster cat next to my ear from now on, it seems. My eardrums... "The painting spoke!"

"So what? A talking painting should be nothing unusual at this academy. The lady on that wall, and the gentleman on this wall—all of us can speak. Portraits have mouths, and so they can talk. Isn't that normal?"

On cue, the paintings came to life and greeted us in their own manner.

"Good afternoon, milady." The gentleman next to the painting spoke to me. He tipped his top hat in greeting. "I hope the young lads here are treating you respectfully, no?"

I grimaced. "Well, no... Not really."

"Poor dear, you must be terrified to be in an all male school." A lady in a Victorian dress brought a hand to her lips as she gazed upon me with pity.

A delightful smile replaces her former pitying expression as she beamed, "Do not fret! You have us to talk to. I'm sure the other ladies will welcome you warmly with open arms. Well, as open as we are able to, picture frame and all."

"We as well share the same sentiment, milady." The gentleman piped in. "We heard about you and the raccoon's ("I'm not a raccoon!") dilemma. We pray for your safe quest in returning home. Rumors travel quite fast, I'll have you know." He then chuckled.

I nodded in response. I think to myself, 'This is so surreal.'

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. But I've never had talking portraits where I'm from. Are you similar to a ghost?" I asked in a polite manner. Could these paintings have spirits like the trio from Ramshackle Dorm?

"Rather than restlessly floating in the air, I've been sitting on this wall perfectly still for more than fifty years." The portrait on the wall replied.

"Hah, try another fifty more." The gentleman painting spoke.

The lady painting scoffed. "Don't sound so proud of it. It makes me want to throw my head back in woe." She theatrically said, much to the gentleman's chagrin.

The man stuck between the two cleared his throat coherently, might I add. Silence. He then spoke, "So? Are you two looking for someone?"

"We're looking for this guy named Ace. He's got a heart on his face, and a big sweep of hair on his head." Grim described, making arm gestures all the while.

"He looks like the textbook picture of the most brattiest, obnoxious teenage boy known to mankind." I added with a straight face.

That seemed to jog his memory. "Ah, I know him. He's one of the new students that came in today, right? A little while ago it seemed like he was heading back to his dorm..."

"What?! He really was trying to bail on us! Do you know where he went?!" Grim asked.

"The doors to the dorms are in the back of the east school building." He answered and pointed to what should be eastward.

"Strix, let's go after him!"

"Aye-aye..."

The paintings bid us farewell as we left the classroom and ran east. I need to be careful not to somehow embarrass myself in hallways from now on. The walls literally have eyes and ears in this building.

After a trip out of the main building, we arrive at the Hall of Mirrors, where a small building is dedicated to seven mirrors. Up ahead, a familiar mop of orange hair was treading down the hall.

"HEYYYY!" Grim shouted.

Ace swerved to see us (more like me running with Grim perched on my shoulder) chasing right for him and jolted like a deer caught in headlights. "They found me!"

"Ace! Stop right there!! I'm not letting you be the only one getting out of this!" Grim said.

Said boy makes a dash for it. "I really don't have the time to stop! See ya!"

"Running off by yourself isn't fair! I wanna skip too!"

"Not on my watch you will." I sharply said to Grim, who stiffened once he realized who was hitching a ride on.

"I-I was just joking!" "Uh huh."

From ahead, I spot another student who I know will be caught in our business. He's our only hope of stopping Ace!

"Hey you! Catch him! He's a bad guy for not taking his punishment of cleaning!" I shouted.

The boy grew flustered by the sudden turn of events. We can hear him conflicted over a magic spell, however we didn't give him the time of day.

"Anything works, just sock him in! Now!" Grim cried.

I do feel bad for pressuring him, but right now my bitterness for Ace neglecting to redeem himself from this morning is stronger.

The navy-haired male whipped out his ruby gem pen and called upon something heavy. A giant black cauldron falls on top of Ace.

Ace was suddenly sent smack dab to the floor in a comical fashion. How did he not die from that?

He looked behind his shoulder only to gawk incredulously at the object. "The hell is this?! A pot?!"

I finally reached to Ace and rest my hands on my knees to give myself a breather. I hate this.

Grim cackled. "Look at that, Strix! Ace got squashed under a giant pot! He's so lame!"

The student who summoned the cauldron looked on with concern. He has a black spade mark on the corner of his right eye. What's with the solitaire card aesthetic going on?

"I didn't think I'd summon a cauldron. Was that a little too much?" He mumbled.

I recollect myself and stood straighter. "No, that was perfect. Thanks for the help."

Spade Guy gave another look over me, eyeing my casual clothes in stark contrast to the school uniforms everyone else has been wearing. He doesn't remark on them and instead rested his eyes on the bigger elephant in the room that is the monster, Grim. "That raccoon on your shoulder..."

"I'm Strix Noctowl. This little cat/raccoon/whatever monster is Grim." I introduced in a rather nonchalant tone.

"Strix... Grim... Is he your pet?" The boy asked me after echoing our names.

"How dare you! I'm no pet! I'm the master here, and that means this is my lackey!" Grim asserted atop my head.

"He's lying. I'm not his lackey at all." I assured.

"Ow, ow, ow..." Ace moved the pot off his back and nursed the area where it had hit him hard. He says to me, "Can't you just quickly clean those hundred windows yourselves?"

"You have some audacity to suggest that." I mutter lowly. "Who do you think you're talking to? Even then, it's also your responsibility to make up for your trouble this morning. I haven't forgiven you for dragging me into this!" I bend down to jab a forceful finger at Ace's chest, who was still kneeling on the floor from being flatten like a pancake. He falls on his rear this time.

Spade Guy looked to us incredulously. "You have to clean one hundred windows as a punishment? What did you guys even do?"

"I did nothing but warn them not to stir up trouble." I said and bend up to full height, facing away with hands shoved in my pockets. "Don't look at me."

"When I was messing around with that furball over there this morning, the statue of the Queen of Hearts got a tiny bit burnt." Ace pinched his thumb and index to spare a slither of a narrow gap in between, face sheepish.

The unnamed student's peacock green eyes swerve to Ace. "You damaged one of the stone statues of the Great Seven?! Obviously you'd get in trouble! You just got enrolled in this prestigious school... What are you going around doing on the first day...?"

Ace frowned deeply as he looked down at the floor before his feet and slowly stands up. "...Whatever. Anyway, who are you?"

"I'm Deuce. Deuce Spade. Why don't you try to remember the faces of your classmates?" His expression then fell as he stared at Ace. "Um..."

"Look at the pot calling the kettle black." I non-maliciously called him out with an expressionless deadpan. Or in his case, a cauldron.

Ace squinted and points a finger at him. "You don't remember me, either—"

"A-Anyway!" Deuce interrupted, "Since this is an order from the headmaster, you're going to have to do it seriously."

"Yeah, yeah, I know... All right, let's get on with it then." Ace looks over my way and noticed something.

I quirked a brow and looked behind. Suddenly I realized Grim had eventually disappeared from my shoulder. I swear I'm going to drill that rat's head with my bare fists.

"Ah! The furball's gone!" Ace exclaimed. "Damn him! He took my place!"

Cursing through his teeth, he then swerved to his classmate, "Oi! Er, what's-your-face, Juice?"

"Wha- it's not Juice. It's Deuce! Deu!" Deuce emphasized.

"This is your fault too, so help me catch that furball!"

"Why do I have to?!" Indignantly squawked Deuce.

"'Cause the other option is dull and can't use magic, so they're out! Now c'mon!" Ace drags Deuce with him, leaving myself offended.

"Hey, I'm going, too, magic or not!" I called out before following after them.

And so, the three of us chase after Grim's forked tail around the campus. Ace and Deuce were bickering as they tried to use magic to stop him, bumping shoulders every time as they did and giving the monster the slip at every opportunity.

"Stop getting in my way!" Deuce glared at Ace.

"You aim better then!" Ace barked back.

These guys are hopeless, I groaned from behind. I might as well have facepalm myself now.

I ordered, "Ace, aim your wind magic at his feet! Then Deuce will-!"

"Don't tell me what to do when you ain't got any magic!" Ace retorted over his shoulder.

Deuce frowned at him. "Hey, don't be so rude! You should listen-!"

"As if I'd obey someone who shouldn't be here in the first place! I'm gonna do this my way whether you like it or not!" Ace spat, leaving Deuce wordless at his cruel words.

A scowl forms on the spade boy's face. "Why you...!"

I audibly groan with head in my hands.

We end up following Grim into the cafeteria. By then he was fleeing to the chandelier, an obstruction hung in the ceiling.

"Damn! He keeps scampering around!" Ace cursed.

"Hehehe! Catch me if you can!" Grim taunts from above with a wiggle of his tail.

"Get down from there, you troublesome cat!" I ordered, predictably earning a "I'm not a cat!" retort. He's even climbing to high places like one.

"Climbing the chandelier just makes you a coward! I still haven't learned flying magic yet... Maybe something to sandwich him between, or to catch him..." Deuce mumbles something until he lit up like a lightbulb. "Ah, I know!"

"We need some good ide— uh, oi oi oi, hold on! Why are you pointing your magical pen at me?!" Ace had turned to only jerk back once the pen was at his face.

"I'm going to throw you!" The boy said, much to our bewilderment.

I try to stop him, "Wait, there has to be another way-!"

"You're joking, right?! Whoa, whoa, whoa! I'm floating! You're going to throw me?! Stop! Seriously!" Ace flailed helplessly in midair. Oh dear. This is not going to look pretty.

"Make sure you catch him! Aiming right there... Now GO!" With a wave of his pen, Ace is sent hurling for Grim.

I shunned my eyes from the collision and winced at the crashing sound of the chandelier falling. That really just happened.

Ace coughs from the dust clouds spurred by the crash. He cried in exasperation, "Unbelievable!"

Grim was limp and moaning on the floor, eyes swirling in a daze.

Deuce realized his mistake too late. "C-Crap! I wasn't thinking about where you'd land after you caught him...!"

I stared at him. Seriously?

Ace suddenly shot up and promptly yelled, "Are you an IDIOT?!! Yeah, I caught Grim, but if the headmaster finds out we destroyed the chandelier—!"

"If I find out...what?"

Deuce and I swerve behind us and gasped. There he was, looming over us with ruffled feathers.

"What...in...the...world...ARE YOU GUYS DOING?!" Crowley's booming voice could shake the whole cafeteria, if not the entire building. Meanwhile Grim was still under the spell of the impact.

"As if damaging one of the stone statues wasn't enough, now you've gone and destroyed the chandelier?! I am no longer going to tolerate this. All of you are expelled!"

"WHAAAAT?!" Ace and Deuce exclaimed. As a handyman, I'm not affected, but the same doesn't apply to these two. Crowley sure likes to arbitrarily deliver extreme punishments from the get-go.

"No! Please, could you forgive me just this once? I have something I need to do at this school!" Deuce pleaded.

Crowley stared with dry eyes. "You can blame yourself for behaving like a fool."

"I'll do anything to make it up if it would just get you to forgive me!" Deuce persisted. We did pull him along, but he made a grave mistake using Ace as a human cannonball and creating collateral damage.

"This chandelier was no ordinary chandelier. This was an enchanted chandelier! It was powered by magic, and its candles were never supposed to burn out for all of eternity!" Crowley said.

He explains, "This was something crafted by a magical artifact meister of old. It had been carefully passed down ever since this academy was founded... Considering its historical value, it would be worth no less than one billion madols. Could you make that up?"

Damn. All four of our lives wouldn't even make up remotely close to that high value.

"O-One billion...!?" Deuce uttered out.

"B-But, can't you just fix it up quick with your magic, Headmaster...?" Ace suggested.

"Magic is not all-powerful." Crowley stated. Yeah, after an all-seeing mirror couldn't even take me home, I lost all hope trying to rely on magic already. I'm exhibit A, really.

He continued, "What's more, the magic stone, which could otherwise be called the heart of the magical artifact, has broken. No two magic stones are the same. This chandelier might not be able to light up again."

Ace wilts. "No..."

Deuce clenched his gloved fists by his sides. "Damn it... What was I doing...? How am I going to tell Mom...?"

"...Oh, actually, there is one thing. There might be a way to fix the chandelier—but only one." Crowley proposed.

The two boys immediately perked up. "What?!"

"The magic stone that was used in this chandelier can be mined at the Dwarfs' Mine. If you were to obtain a stone that had the same properties, it might be possible to repair it." Crowley said.

Suddenly I'm thinking of the seven dwarfs from Snow White. Could it really...?

Deuce stepped forward. "I'll go get the magic stone! Please let me go!"

"However, I'm not certain there are any magic stones left in the mines. It's been quite some time since it closed, so there's a high chance all the magic stones have already been dug up." Crowley discouraged.

"I'll do anything if it means I won't have to be expelled!" Deuce said in a heartbeat.

The man stared. "...Very well. Then I will wait only one night. If you do not bring me a magic stone by tomorrow morning, you all will be expelled."

Hope relights in Deuce's eyes. "Right...! Thank you!"

Ace rubbed the back of his head. "Ah, geez... Guess I got no choice. All right, let's go get that magic stone."

"Grim and I will come, too. We're responsible as well, one way or another." I said, as much as I had to grit my teeth through it. Only the first day and I have too much work to dig around.

"You can get to the Dwarfs' Mine in an instant if you use the gate in the Mirror Chamber." Crowley directed.

"Yessir!" Deuce then runs out. We only have the night, after all.

It was then Grim finally came to his senses. He looks around and sees our grave faces. "Ha! Wh-What...? What was I doing..."

I grab him and screwed my knuckle into his skull, eliciting a screech as he squirmed in my secure hold. I ignored his protests and cries as Ace and I follow after Deuce. If only I was the one passed out this whole time...

"Ah, geez... Why did things turn out like this? I've had so much bad luck today..." Ace heaved his shoulders. Why is everyone ignoring my troubles? Like I wasn't the one dragged into the nonsense since I came to this world?

I decided to hold my tongue and inwardly sped up my pace so that I brushed past the red-haired male.

"We don't have time to stand here and complain! Let's go! Mirror of Darkness! Lead us to the Dwarfs' Mine!" Deuce commanded.

I squeeze my eyes shut, swallowed by a flash of light.

...

We were warped before a bridge leading to a small abandoned cottage situated in the eerie silent woods. Even the structure and design is like the cottage in the movie, except this is real.

I glanced behind in concern. "Hey guys, how do we get back? There's no mirror back to the academy." (1)

"Since we went through the Dark Mirror, we use our magical pens to access it. It's like an ID card for the Dark Mirror to let us go out and come back to NRC whenever it's available." Ace explained, tugging at his blazer to show the ruby gem for me.

A faint glimmer reflected across its surface from the moonlight.

In response, the ground from where we once arrived on rippled with a green glow. As long as the magic gem was in range, the magical circle remained visible.

I accepted the explanation offered surprisingly generous from Ace (again today). "Oh, I see..."

My disappointment must have been evident when Ace threw a snarky grin at me. "Sucks to be you."

"On contrary, I'm not bothered. Sounds like anyone holding a magical pen can use the mirror." I responded calmly.

My unnatural eyes glowed eerily with my thin smile. "...You better watch out."

Ace clammed his mouth shut and inwardly reeled away, effectively being intimidated by my gaze. I guess I do appear to be the type to kill a man in cold blood.

Deuce looked around our desolate surroundings. "This is the Dwarfs' Mine... Long ago, this place seemed to be a bustling place to mine for magic stones..."

"Uu... It feels spooky here..." Grim nervously scanned around our nighttime surroundings. Maybe the trees would suddenly form faces and try to grab at us like Snow White had been imagining in her moment of fear. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised.

"Oh, there's a house back there. Let's go see if they know anything." Ace pointed over.

We approach the entrance of the cottage. I doubt anyone would be inside. There are cobwebs and lint lying around every surface that exists.

Deuce knocks on the door. "Good evening!" No response. "...Is it empty? It doesn't look like anyone's been taking care of it."

We slowly file inside the building. Wooden floorboards creak under our weight as we venture further. Somehow compared to Ramshackle, the cottage's state of debilitation is not as horrendous. At least we're not in a sea of dust.

"Pwah! I'm getting spiderwebs in my face!" Grim spat and wipes off the sticky webs tangled in his claws frantically.

Up ahead by the window was presumably the dining room area. Ace curiously goes up to the table. "Don't the table and chairs and everything look really tiny? You think they're meant for kids?" He then counts, "One, two, three, four...seven! That's a lot!"

I suppress a giggle behind my knowing smile. I didn't think dwarves could be so tiny. I think I could barely stand on the chair with just one foot. I'd like to check out their bedroom for the size of their beds, too, but I know we're crunched on time.

"I'm sure this house was full of activity when the Dwarfs' Mine was still in business." Deuce was examining the fireplace. Just full of soot and accumulating dust with a dash of cobwebs.

I silently laughed through my nose. This place could very well be perfect as an attraction for Disneyland.

"What're you smiling for?" Ace squinted at me oddly.

"Just thinking the size difference between humans and dwarves is cute." I responded, dropping the grin I had in favor of a blank face.

"That's the most girliest thing I've ever heard from you." Was his reaction, looking seemingly creeped out. I already committed Ace's murder in my mind from how crass and ultimately dumb that kind of response was in modern society. Yet simultaneously I wasn't surprised to hear the nonsense that comes unfiltered from the mouth. The fact that I was disappointed of this explains my annoyance.

I simply conveyed that through my eyes and left it at that. The displeased frown that pulled his lips was enough to entertain me.

"Guess there's no point looking here. If there's even any magic stones still around, they'd probably be in the mines. All right, let's go." Ace said, walking past me.

We leave the cottage and follow the path to the mines.

At night, the void of the Silent Woods is filled with nothing but our soft treading footsteps crossing the dirt path... And a quivering cat clinging to the side of my face.

"...Could you let go of me?" I finally spoke up in the dead of the night. The vibrations he's releasing is tickling my skin and making my muscles twitch nonstop. It's almost hard to keep a straight face yet here I was speaking calmly.

"H-How come you're not scared?!" Grim asked in a whisper, astonished by the sheer deadpan energy I was radiating. I have a serious poker face going on, though this might be my neutral look.

"I'm more of a nocturnal person; in other words a night owl. I'm not afraid of the dark." I reply while keeping an eye on the two boys walking ahead of us, Deuce the leading man of the group. I'm sure I can navigate through the night the most out of all of us.

"I don't see why you should be afraid of the dark with your flames though, Grim." I said to him. He makes a good nightlight with his active blue flames in his ears.

"Wh-Wh-Who said I'm afraid of the dark? I-I just don't like how everything's all silent." Grim defended as I continued walking down the path. When I drew close to a towering tree, however...

"Fgna! A tree monster! It's gonna grab me!" Screeched the little creature who nearly fell off me had I not instinctively caught him (despite part of me wanting to let him plummet to the ground out of spite).

"Relax, it's just a tree that coincidentally has a frozen face. Your flames are casting shadows that make it look more scary." I told him unfazed.

"O-Oh..." Grim was obviously embarrassed. His tail was tucked between his legs and held close to his chest. I chose not to point this out for now. I wouldn't want to deal with a stressed out creature as is.

"Come on, let's get going." I then brushed it off and walked away. Grim became my second pair of eyes watching my back as he looked behind somewhat still trembling.

We finally arrived at the Dwarfs' Mine. The moonlit entrance leads to the dark tunnel of the abandoned mine. The wind entering in and out whistled. Somehow it feels foreboding...

Grim shivered. "Y-You wanna into that pitch-black cave?!"

"What, ya scared? Wuss!" Ace taunted with a smirk as he leaned forward to mock Grim on the ground. I had to wrestle Grim off my aching and bruising shoulders beforehand.

"What?! I-I'm not scared! Since I'm so great, I'll even be the leader! All of you, follow me!" Grim swore before marching inside. I rolled my eyes as we trailed behind.

It's rather too quiet for the mines to not be housing some kind of resident. I glance around the tunnel curiously.

"You're way too calm, you know." Ace remarked from behind. I realized I was the one in front of the group instead of Grim, who may or may not be visibly relieved for that.

I look back to meet their gazes, my doe blue eyes betraying nothing of fear.

"Aren't ya scared?" Ace asked exasperated.

"I've never been in an abandoned mine, so I am a little cautious, but other than that I'm fine." I said truthfully. In fact I'm a little excited to see the specks of pretty gems embedded in the stones up close.

"I don't think any high school student would have been in one..." Deuce sweatdropped.

"I thought you'd be all 'Eek! I'm scared~! Let's turn back!'" Ace admitted, squealing as though mimicking my voice.

I scoffed. "This is just an old abandoned mine. If anything, we have a flamethrower with us to repel any monster in sight."

Grim jolted upon my eye contact. He quickly puts up a strong front. "Y-Yeah! When you put it that way, I'm unstoppable!"

When we were deep in the mines, Deuce suddenly spoke, "Wait!"

"What?" Ace asked.

He glanced around cautiously. "Something's there!"

We fell silent as we await with suspense. Grim hiccuped, quaking in his knees.

Eerie laughter echoes. "It's been ten years since we've had guests!"

Two ghosts manifest in their white sheet forms.

The other spoke, "Why don't you make yourself at home here? For eternity!"

Oh come on, I just received the same kind of threat last night! This is two nights in a row! At some point those words will be empty threats and I'll have Crowley's ghost magic potion ready to sucker punch them to oblivion.

Grim practically jumped a foot in the air and screamed, "I-I-I-I knew it!" He proceeded to dart behind my leg, shaking like a leaf.

"Idiot! Calm down!" Ace told him.

Deuce cursed. "Dammit, we don't have the time to deal with ghosts right now...! We'll run 'till we lose the ghosts!"

We hightailed the opposite direction and away from the ghosts who fly after us. They were persistent even after the many turns and forks in the road.

Grim pants and looks over his shoulder as he ran on all fours, "They're still chasing us!"

The ghost speaks between heavy breaths, "Make...yourself...at home...!"

"How are you out of breath?! You're a ghost!" I said.

Deuce was also shocked. "Ghosts have lungs?!" "I know, right?!"

"Can you wait 'til we're done to talk about that?!" Ace retorted. "Let's go!"

Eventually we lost them after more turns. Good riddance they were desperate!

"I didn't know there were ghosts hangin' around here too." Ace breathed out.

"This'll never end if we keep engaging them. Keep moving!" Deuce said urgently, turning on his heel to take a different route.

"I'd rather you not be actin' all tough and ordering me around. This never would've happened in the first place if you weren't acting like an idiot!" Ace barked.

"If we're going down that route, you're the one who started this for skipping out on cleaning!" Deuce retorted, swerving back immediately to point a finger at him.

"Okay, well, this furball over here is the one who burned the statue of the Queen of Hearts first!" Ace pointed an accusing finger at Grim who took offense.

"Huh?! You were making fun of me, so that was your fault!" Grim hissed, fur bristled.

I silently groaned in the sidelines as they were arguing. From the corner of my eye, I could have sworn I saw a shadow shift in the darkness with my 2.0 vision. That wasn't a ghost... Right?

"GUYS! Do you know the situation we're in right now? We're going to get expelled if we don't bring back a magic stone by morning!" Deuce shouted.

"That's why we should've split up from the start! Man, I'm pissed off." Ace scowled.

"Shh!" I harshly hush them and lift a finger, never leaving my sights from the tunnel ahead. "... I think I just heard a voice."

"Not...give...nn...not..."

We stood on edge.

"W-Who...said that?" Ace stuttered, red eyes darting everywhere.

"Stone..." Groaning. "...mine..."

Ace sweats. "It kinda...sounds like it's getting closer..."

"Stone...is MIIIINE!"

Emerging from the shadows beyond the tunnel was a monster of unknown entity. It crept forward with a pickaxe in one hand and on the other a red lantern as its guiding light.

My eyes widen. It was wearing clothes in red like one of the seven dwarves, Grumpy, except it didn't have a face. A round glass bottle filled with black ink leaking from the thin cracks was illuminated by the subtle red glow of the lantern.

We screamed, "A MONSTEEEER!!" before booking it out of its sight (if it had any).

"What was that?!" Deuce screamed. Grumpy's ghost, that's what!

"No one said anything about that being here!! Let's get out of here!" Grim runs as fast and far his little legs could take him.

"That was terrifying! But didn't it say something about the stone?!" Ace inquired.

It moaned, "Sdome...stone...not give...!!"

It was then we all realized the implication behind them.

Hope lights Deuce's visage. "So there still is a magic stone here!"

Grim stammered, "N-N-N-N-No way! I may be a prodigy, but there's no way we'll win against that!"

"But if we don't bring back the magic stone, we'll be expelled... I'm going!" Deuce stops running to face the Faceless Monster.

We abruptly came to a halt to look at him incredulously.

"Are you serious?!" Ace cried.

"You can't do it alone!" I told him. This is too reckless!

"There's no way I'm going to let myself get expelled!" Deuce whipped his magic pen out.

"Leave! Leave!! Leeaaaavee!!!!"

The Faceless Monster swung his lantern at him before he could conjure a spell. Deuce instinctively raised his arms crossed to avoid a blunt blow to the head. However, I was quick to pull him to our side in time for the lantern to strike the wall.

"Thanks for the save." Deuce said, staring bewildered at the spot where he would have been struck by the lantern.

Ace clicked his tongue. "Stand back since I know you have no control, Mr. Serious! I'll stop it!"

He tried to stop the monster with wind magic, yet it must have been too weak to faze it. It roared in aggression before swinging a flying black fist to him.

I was quick to push Ace out of the way. The sharp twist of using my arm struck a really sore spot on my bruised shoulder.

I sucked in breath while cursing the stupid injury I the same breath, collapsing on the ground with Ace.

Ace got up on his elbows and looked over to me. He was about to say something until he witnessed me clutching my left shoulder and wincing in pain. "You...!"

Grim shrieked, "Stay away!" and spewed fire at the monster. However, it just growled unflinchingly from the flames. "I-It's not working at all!"

Past the monster's figure, something flashed.

I gasped, sitting upright and barely registering my pain. "Did you guys see something just sparkle?!"

The two boys look beyond the ink monster.

"Behind that thing! At the end of the tunnel, something..." Ace trailed off.

"That light, is it a magic stone?!" Deuce exclaimed. There's hope after all!

The Faceless Monster gargled incomprehensible noise until it yelled, "WON'T GIVE!!"

"L-L-Let's get out of here! We're done for at this rate!" Grim ushered, to which I second as the thing is approaching closer.

"Run for it!" I cried.

We scrambled out of the mines and escaped to the cottage. I never thought I'd feel so safe in this abandoned place after witnessing that thing.

I pant before looking behind us and confirming, "This should be far enough. We're safe here."

The adrenaline dies down as Ace eventually recovered. "What in the world was that? No one said anything about that!"

"It didn't seem like any old ghost." Deuce said, pondering what that creature would even be classified as. I'd think that thing was similar to the ink Blotlings from Epic Mickey. I wonder if there are more like that Faceless Monster...

"Let's give up and go home. I'd rather get expelled than fight that thing." Ace said defeatedly.

Deuce's eyes widen. "Wha?!" His voice grew a few octaves low as a dark shadow scrunched his visage. "Don't screw with me! I'd rather die than face expulsion! There's a magic stone right in front of us and you wanna go home!"

"Ha. You talk big for someone worse at magic than me. Go alone if you want. I'm done." Ace crossed his arms behind his head and tipped his chin upwards defiantly.

"Ooh, that right? Then stay right there cowering like a spineless coward!" Deuce spat, cracking his knuckles looking ready to throw hands in a literal sense.

Grim and I flinched at Deuce's sudden attitude change. Did he just switch to a yankee character?

Ace smirked rather maliciously. "Huuh~? Coward? Who exactly are you talking about?"

"U-Uuhh... Deuce. Did you switch up your character?" Grim asked meekly.

Deuce realizes this now and recomposed himself, the high brow and snarling teeth gone. He cleared his throat. "M-My bad. I lost my composure a bit." A "bit"?

Putting that aside, I furrowed my brows. "Can magic help us at all?"

"Like the headmaster said earlier, magic isn't all-powerful. If you can't imagine it then it won't materialize. Large-scale or complicated magic require a lot of training to use." Deuce explained.

"But that's why we have schools for magic. You have to practice a lot to use magic just as it comes to mind. Bluntly, you'll screw up if you lose your cool." Ace said.

"Everyone has just been using it willy-nilly." I deadpanned. I don't know if that's natural, but I find myself questioning how some use the spells they pull off.

"Stuff you're good at you can go off instinct." Ace answered. Ohhh.

"At any rate, I'm going in there. I'll figure out how to beat that thing and come back with a magic stone."

Deuce turns on his heel when Ace spoke, "However. Judging by the chandelier incident, you're a complete idiot. You couldn't land a single hit earlier but now you'll 'figure it out'? It's going to end the same."

I crossed my arms and closed my eyes. My brows were twitching impulsively.

Deuce swerved to glare daggers at the heart-marked boy. "Come again?! You think of..."

My fingers twitched almost uncontrollably under the folds of my sleeves. I had to clench my arms to try to keep it together.

Grim crossed his arms. "Here they go again."

But of course I've had enough.

"Will you two knock it off!!"

All three were startled by my volume. The trees almost rustled in response, but of course there was only two uncooperative idiots, a raccoon, and myself in this land. Now that the moon is well above the skies, I'm fully awake and eager to talk their ears off.

"Why are you shouting all of a sudden?" Grim asked.

"Neither of you could do anything back there." I uttered those words with no mercy and look at the two students with dry ice blue eyes. The cutting edge could have sliced the air in half.

The boys knew what I said was a hard pill to swallow, and swallow they did as they couldn't look at me in the eye. Grim looks between us, troubled.

"B-But... What exactly should we do?" Deuce asked.

"We have to come up with a proper strategy." I proposed. We didn't know what was waiting for us when we entered. That was natural. Now we should approach this differently.

"Strategy? You mean get along and work together? Ha! That's cold. You have no problem saying lame things with a straight face, huh." Ace snarked, almost disappointed.

Deuce crossed his arms. "Agreed. No way I'm working with this loser."

"But... I feel like it's way lamer to get expelled on the first day of school." Grim spoke. I perked up. Good going, Grim! I'll give you a head rub after this whole thing for saying something smart!

"Uhh, that's..." Ace clams up. Now who's being lame, huh?

I smirked. "That's not cool at all."

After debating a mental battle inside his mind, Ace sighed exasperatedly in defeat. It was now he realized he is not left to taking his highway, but someone else's. "Fine! We just have to get it done, right! So, what's your plan?"

"Glad you asked."

...

(1) - This is just my HC on how the teleportation mirrors works. Idk if the light novel actually explains this bc the game never indicates how but atm this is my interpretation.