Once in a Blue Moon (RevisionEdit in progress)

by HeroProject39

"Don't chase the dreams. They'll lead you to nowhere, just an abyss you'll never be able to wake up from." She delves deeper into the mysteries of Twisted Wonderland and its inhabitants...until she may never wake up from a world that blindfolds her gently from the reality waiting beyond the road. (OC) REVISING. Main story ON HOLD.

10. On the Prowl (REVISED)

Blegh, by the time I post this, I'll be back in college. Except they're ALL in-person, damn it. That means slow update season is back again! But since this is in the revision process, it shouldn't take too long to catch up to where I left off. After Savanaclaw, everything else shouldn't be too much to change and edit.

Warning: I don't think I have to say this but I'm rewriting parts of the Savanaclaw chapter to fit my narrative, meaning it's not going to strictly follow the main story. If I happen to find fics that follow the unique events I specifically made in my writing, they're sus. Some dialogue I wrote are original, too, in order to fit the plot. Anyone who remembers what happened in the game would detect these changes.

It happened to me a few times on Wattpad where writers blatantly copy what I wrote and replace my OC with their own or a reader insert while pretending the writing is their original work. Not cool.

I feel like I have to put a disclaimer or something for this because I hate feeling upset over plagiarism and lose my drive to write for a fandom I actually want to share my stories with.

Don't think "inspiration" equals "I can copy this person's homework but I'll slap my name on it and not give credit".

Rant end.

...

I can hear the sound of the wind whistling.

I open my eyes to behold a gigantic inclined rock that pierced the heavens.

It was when I felt something strange with my body that I look down to find a pair of furry white paws. Flexing them, sharp claws protrude from within.

I gasped, looking behind me. Black stripes run across the back muscles and along the long tail raised.

Black pupils narrow into slits within the pool of azure blue irises. I'm a white tiger cub?! Tigers aren't from Africa, though?! I stick out like a weed! (1 - Please read my notes at the end for explanation)

As I was panicking over my completely different form, a male lion treads on top of the rock, followed by a mandrill behind him.

Upon arriving to the peak, the mandrill was holding a lion cub colored with yellow life in contrast to the monochrome dream world. The adult lion and lioness watch as the mandrill lifts the cub to the skies, where the clouds part to bestow the blessing of radiant golden sunlight.

The animal kingdom stomp their hooves and feet, creating an uproar for the birth of the heir. The tremors rocking my small body had my fur standing and ears fold to my head, an involuntary hiss seeping past my set of jagged teeth.

The next I realized, a male rainbow lion replaced the characters and is now the lone figure standing on the rock with a regal air. His red mane glows in the sunlight, exuding a radiant, majestic aura like a rainbow halo.

From my place below as one of the audience, our gazes meet.

He extends his jaws open and...

~~~~~~~

On the Prowl

~~~~~~~

I nearly fell off the bed upon the sudden roar bouncing off the chipped walls. The roar came from Grim, who was apparently sleep talking about his own ego. In contrast to the majestic scene from "The Lion King", Grim's was... not so majestic.

Disgruntled by the wake up call, I rouse the gray beast from his sleep. "Grim, wake up."

He was mumbling about showing "that tyrant, Riddle, who's boss" until he opened his eyes. He stopped squirming and lifted his head. "What? The Ramshackle Dorm?"

His expression flattened along with his burning ears. "It was only a dream... I thought I'd knock Riddle out and become the strongest wizard ever. So disappointed."

Ah... I remember it as though it was only yesterday. The revenge Unbirthday Party was really fun.

Though I do wonder why I dreamt of "The Lion King". As much as the opening sequence is glorious, I thought it was odd. I guess I was in the mood to listen to "The Circle of Life" song?

Grim stretched his back like a cat, yawning and rubbing his eyes before patting his cheeks. Determination fueled his spirits. "Okay! Time to get going... Another day closer to becoming a great wizard! Y'know~"

I plant my face onto the mattress, groaning. At least someone is chipper enough to start their morning.

I try to stand up but my knees suddenly buckled. I caught myself from face planting the floor, slamming my palms on the floorboard in the process.

Grim quirked an invisible brow at the sight of me on all fours. "You okay?"

"Y-Yeah..." I said as my legs quivered a little. I felt out of tune with my body after I dreamed as a white tiger. I was like a newborn fawn struggling to stand for the first time. Grim makes that look so easy.

...

It was break time now. With our usual group of friends including Ace and Deuce, Grim and I were heading to the cafeteria to eat.

"Ugh... Professor Trein has to be using some sort of spell to put me to sleep. No matter how hard I resist I lose to drowsiness!" Grim complains, slouching on my shoulder.

"You fell asleep five minutes in. That's not resisting at all." Deuce called him out.

I rolled my eyes. "So much for that enthusiasm this morning..."

"Lunch time, what should I have today~" Ace sang as we arrived. However, we were surprised at the sight.

"...Hmm? The cafeteria is extra crowded today." Ace noted upon seeing the bustling mass of students in black gathering near the pantry.

A cafeteria ghost drifts about in the air above, announcing, "Today is a special day that happens once a month! A super popular bakery in town is here to promote at school! It sells out fast, so early bird gets the worm!"

"Three chocolate croissants for me!" A student called out.

"I actually got something this month! This egg salad sandwich is the best!" Another beamed happily.

The hungry students hustle to obtain their desired menu items.

"The egg salad sandwich is already sold out! There's only one deluxe minced meat sandwich left!" The ghost announced. It hasn't even been less than a few minutes.

"Everything looks really tasty. I might have to go get something." Ace licked his tongue, rubbing his hands together.

I felt the weight on my shoulder slip from me and gasped. I had let the hungry beast unleash itself unto the battlefield. "Grim!"

"Outta my way!! All of you! That deluxe minced meat sandwich is mine!" Grim leaps over the heads of the students and makes his way to the counter, ignoring cries of protest.

"Hey jerk, no cutting in line!"

"You've got some nerve cutting in front of your seniors, freshman! Get outta here!"

"He loses himself to food way too easily!" Deuce exclaimed. Meanwhile Ace heaved a long sigh. At this point that would be my reaction as well.

I rushed through the cluttered line of men to catch Grim, muttering apologies as I squeezed through. The boys follow shortly behind me.

I hear Grim up ahead, "Do you get how strong I am now! This last deluxe minced meat sandwich is all mine! Nyahaha! I'll also be taking yakisoba bread and cream filled bread!"

I pant under my breath after wrestling myself through the crowd and caught Grim before he could get his grubby paws on any more. "Does your gluttony know no self-restraint?!"

"Grim, knock it off already!" Deuce then faced the upset line of glowering students with a low bow, "We're so sorry, everyone!"

"Ah, I'd like a roast beef sandwich with lotsa lettuce!" Ace ordered past Deuce and I.

"You don't get to just cut in line either!" Deuce barked at his dorm mate.

We excused ourselves from the line.

"Nyahaha! The taste of victory, I'll take my time savoring it!" Grim licked his lips, possessively clinging the sandwich close.

I swear, my back pain is going to get worse with handling Grim...

"Oh. Hey you. That's pretty great. You got your hands on a deluxe minced meat sandwich, huh." A student with large dark animal ears wearing the school uniform rather big for his frame spoke to Grim. He must be from Savanaclaw judging by the orange yellow vest and armband. And those ears... Aren't they spotted hyena ears? I remember the hyena trio from "The Lion King" movie having the same shape.

Grim acknowledged him vaguely. "Huh? What's it to you?"

"You see, I really have to buy that bread today, but they're all sold out. So I have a proposal. Would you trade that deluxe minced meat sandwich for my mini red bean bun?" Asked the spotted hyena, holding out his red bean bun the size of his palm.

"Hah?! No way in hell!" Grim rejected immediately, tucking his sandwich away from the boy's sight.

The day Grim willingly gives his food out is the day pigs fly. Wait, but this is a world of magic, so that's not impossible...

"Aww, that's too bad..." The beastman wilted, crossing his arms behind his head.

"Hey, outta our way! Y'all are blocking the path!" A student suddenly interrupts.

We look to the side. A stampede of brawny beastmen from Savanaclaw heads towards us with no intention of stopping nor making detours around us.

With our hands still preoccupied with carrying our trays of food, we scrambled to move away from their path, otherwise we'll get flattened into pancakes.

We watched as the group of massive young men passed us and join the crowd for their meals.

"Just how popular is that bakery...?" I wondered to myself. Cafeteria fights are horrifying.

A horrified shriek elicits from our little gray monster companion.

Ace, Deuce, and I look down. I asked, "What's wrong?"

Grim tears up, "My deluxe minced meat sandwich!!! It's gone! I had it just a second ago..."

"Maybe you dropped it and those guys accidentally kicked it away. Or worse, it got squashed before getting kicked away." I presumed, then suggested, "In that case, you'll have to forget about eating it."

Grim wailed, "No way...!"

The rest of us didn't share his woes as Grim had enough on his platter to begin with. What's one sandwich a difference for the gluttonous Grim?

I glance around our surroundings. Did the hyena guy already leave?

...

In the hallway, the Savanaclaw spotted hyena beastman held the deluxe minced meat sandwich with a pleased grin.

He muttered to himself, "Trade complete~ Shishishishishi~"

He hustles to his destination, whistling a tune without a care in the world.

...

Grim was biting through his tears and munching on his bread. "Today... is the worst... day ever. My bread was taken from me..."

"He says after vacuuming up three of them." Ace sweatdropped.

"Maybe it's karma for inflicting so much chaos unto this academy. You win some, you lose some, as they say." I halfheartedly reasoned after eating an egg and ham sandwich for my meal.

Grim growls, "I got that sandwich fair and square!"

Does leaping off people's heads and cutting the line count as fair and square? Was what the three of us thought as we stared dully at the monster cat.

Failing to incite a meaningful reaction from us, Grim cried, "Argh, I'm gonna eat to feel better! Deuce, gimme some of your pasta!"

Before his grubby paws could snatch some, Deuce was quick to take the plate away from his reach. "This doesn't concern me! Knock it off!"

I grabbed Grim's ribbon collar to prevent him from creeping for someone else's meal. Grim's whines fell on deaf ears.

"Oh yeah, the headmaster said he has something to talk about so to come to his office after class today. I wonder what it is?" Ace voiced aloud.

"If I were to guess, it probably concerns the incident with Dorm Head Rosehearts the other day." Deuce suggested.

"The 'evil berserker mode' incident? That might be it, yeah." Ace agreed.

I had released Grim by that point. He sinks into the seat. "Hah... We might get a whole pile of canned tuna for how hard we worked!"

"No canned tuna please." Ace shot down in a heartbeat.

...

We knocked on the door to Crowley's office.

"Headmaster, pardon the intrusion." Deuce spoke as we filed in.

"Pardon us." Ace drawled less dutifully.

I simply bowed.

There the headmaster was, sitting at his desk with the seven floating mirrors of the Great Seven behind him. "You're all here, I see. Let's get right to the matter at hand... Now that things have calmed down after the Heartslabyul incident the other day, you all need to know about the berserk state Rosehearts-kun fell into if you are to become wizards."

"You mean the Overblot, sir?" I said. We didn't get to discuss much the last time.

Crowley nodded. "Yes, that's right."

"I've heard about it from my bro before, but seeing someone build up enough blot to become that was something else. He really went full 'evil berserker mode'." Ace remarked.

"Hey, what is 'blot' anyway?" Grim asked.

"Oh, that's right. You two need that explained as well. I shall fill you all in. For I am gracious."

Crowley cleared his throat. "Blot is a type of waste created after one uses magic. In the same way a vehicle creates exhaust as it burns fuel to run. Spells burns magic to manifest, and create blot at the same time... That should be easy enough to understand."

"In other words, it's kind of like an exhaust pipe for magic?" I summed up.

"Exactly. Blot has been researched since the dawn of recorded history, however there are still many mysteries to unravel. One thing that is known for sure is that blot is a toxin and building up too much can cause great harm to the mind and body." Crowley explained.

"Oh yeah, my grandma used to always say, 'You'll build up blot so don't use magic willy nilly'. She went on and on about it." Ace said.

"With great power comes risk. No matter how great the wizard, they cannot indefinitely use magic." The headmaster stated.

"So you're saying the more we use magic the unhealthier it becomes?!" Grim spoke dreadfully.

"No, that's not exactly right." Crowley said before humming thoughtfully to himself. "It might be faster to just show you rather than just explain."

He then suddenly calls, "My dear ghosts, it's time for work!"

By his summons, a few ghosts appear.

"Yo yo. You called, Headmaster."

Ace looked at the ghosts, alarmed."Eh? W-What now?"

"First, please lend a hand in helping temper these young ones." Crowley requested from the astral beings.

Deuce stood on guard as one of them floats to him. "Eeh?!"

The ghost in front of him smiles mirthfully. "Here we go. Let's go a round."

"Ready your magical pens everyone. Your special lesson with the headmaster isn't over yet."

After some time of casting spells towards the ghosts, they were dismissed by Crowley, much to our confusion.

"Oi, headmaster! Talking about blot and fighting ghosts have nothing to do with each other!" Grim said.

Crowley tipped his head slightly. "Grim-kun, take a good look at the magical crystal around your neck."

Once the gray cat did, his blue eyes widen. "My magical crystal's got some dirt on it?! I can't wipe them off with my paw!" He desperately tries to rub the tainted color from the gem to no avail.

"I don't think that's dirt..." I noted after picking up Grim to examine it myself. The color was within the gem, corrupting the once pure purple color with black at the edges.

"There should be black smudges that look like drops of ink on the crystal. Those are the blots created from using magic." Crowley explained.

"Ah...! Now that I look closely, there's small smudges on my magical pen as well...!" Deuce's ruby red crystal also have dark stains.

"Blegh, it's so dirty!" Grim remarked upon closer inspection of the boy's pen.

I frowned and ask, "Is it a permanent effect?"

The masked raven shook his head. "No."

"I'm relieved! Phew." Grim relaxed in my arms.

"With enough rest, the blots will vanish in a matter of time. Magic crystals not only help with performing spells, but they also prevent blots from accumulating directly within the caster. They are truly a wonderful item that can shoulder your burdens."

"I see. In other words, if our crystals start to darken, we need to let our bodies rest." Deuce concluded.

"That is correct. Eat well, sleep well, and normal blots will disappear on their own." Affirmed Crowley. Well that shouldn't be too hard.

"How 'bout that! Then when I become the greatest wizard ever, I can fire off spells like bang bang with no problem! I eat and sleep a lot already." Grim grinned. I can attest to that last part in a heartbeat.

"The amount of mana a person has varies from person to person, but aside from very special cases, the difference doesn't really affect the maximum blot a person can tolerate." Crowley continued.

Grim looks at the man. "What do you mean?"

The man elaborates, "In other words, people like Rosehearts-kun, who have a lot of mana, have to be exceedingly careful about how much blot they are accumulating."

"If you aren't paying attention and just keep using a bunch of magic, you're just gonna get covered in blot." Said Ace.

"Well, with the amount of mana all of you possess, I don't think there's any danger of that. Isn't that great!" Crowley chirped with a smile.

"That line of yours doesn't bring us joy! Like, at all!" Ace quipped. I sweatdropped.

"If you use too much magic and your crystal becomes completely black, you'll go into 'evil berserker mode' like Riddle? That huge evil spirit thing was super scary." Grim paled at the memory.

I still think it was strange how it was the Queen of Hearts behind Riddle. Maybe it's because he shares similarities with her and also respects her to the point that his shadow reflects the one model he follows? Something doesn't quite fit with just that theory, though.

"The amount of blot a person accumulates if greatly influenced by their mental state. Anger, sorrow, fear, confusion... Being swathed in negative energy makes blot all the easier to build up and Overblot occurs much more easily as well." Crowley said.

"Negative energy..." Deuce mumbled. That's the emotional stress Crowley had referred to, huh.

"The giant shadow that appeared behind Rosehearts-kun when he was rampaging. They say that appears as the incarnation of negative energy fused with blot, however... The details aren't understood at this time. There is still so much we don't know about Overblot. Due in part to there being very few cases of it happening." Crowley mentioned.

"Who would want more cases of that?! I certainly don't." Ace said. I sincerely hope the same.

"It is truly fortunate that Rosehearts-kun was brought back to his senses, if he hadn't..." Crowley suddenly bursted into a scream, "I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT! HOW FRIGHTENING!"

We flinched at the abrupt volume.

Grim almost fell off my shoulder because of that. "Don't yell like that, you scared the crap out of me!"

"Ahem. Apologies, I lost myself there for a moment." Crowley had composed himself and said, "This became long winded, but I hope you understand that using magic comes with certain dangers. You'd do well to never forget that."

"Yes." The boys responded.

"Now, I take it there's also another thing you wish to ask. Noctowl-kun, will you enlighten them about the peculiar creatures?" Crowley's golden beast gaze slid to me.

I feel all eyes on me. "Right."

I set Grim on the floor and moved to the side so everyone's attention is on me.

"The colorful bunny everyone saw... It's called a Dream Eater Spirit, and there's a lot more different kinds waiting in the realm of sleep. They've sworn loyalty to me as I'm their master, so it's unlikely they'll betray me. I can't say I know anything about their existence, though. I'm also new to this stuff."

Ace looked at me, curious. "Dream Eater Spirit...?"

"You can think of them as familiars. But they come in both good and bad types. The one you saw is a Spirit, they're the brighter color palette. The other is the Nightmares, obviously the evil type. Nightmares target people with dreams. The Spirits guide and protect the dreamers and 'consume' nightmares."

I fiddled with my fingers. "Back when I fell unconscious after Riddle Overblotted... I saw Riddle's Memory after using the ghost camera. The real reason I fainted was because after that, I'd 'dropped' into his dream and defeated the nightmare with the help of a Spirit. I call it the 'Dream Drop Dive'."

The "nightmare" was actually Overblot Riddle. I didn't actually encounter a Nightmare Dream Eater yet.

"And what if you failed to conquer the nightmare?" Crowley asked.

My lips formed a thin line. "...From what the Spirits told me, I would get kicked out of the dream and return to reality. It's not easy dropping into someone's dream the second time. Not to mention I'd have to use up my energy to compensate for their power..."

Crowley stared. "I see..."

"Dude, you might as well be an official beast tamer now." Ace told me.

"For once, I'm not against that idea." I responded. Even if I have no intention to begin my "career" as a tamer, the title sounds dope.

"Thank you for enlightening us, Noctowl-kun. With that, your special lesson with your gracious headmaster -and Noctowl-kun- to a close! Everyone, please return to your classroom." Crowley dismissed.

Before we would take our leave, I spoke, "Headmaster, I asked you this before and it's been a good while since, so I'll say it again: about the way to get me home..."

Somehow the fact that he had to register that a second too late irked me. He avoids my narrowing gaze as he spoke, "Pardon me, but I've been so busy lately. Getting ready for the Inter-Dorm Magical Shift Tournament in October has had me swamped."

I raised my brows at the unfamiliar event. "Magical... Shift?" Another unfamiliar term...

Grim shared my sentiments as he repeated, "Magical Shift Tournament?"

"What, Strix, you don't know Magift?" Ace looked at me as though I've been living under a rock. That might as well be the case.

"It's famous around the world. There's a pro league and a world cup, too." Deuce said.

I sweated nervously behind my poker face. That sounds like a major sport anyone in this world should know about. Too bad I don't count, but they don't know that I'm from a whole other universe...

"I don't know, either!" Grim spoke up. It would make sense since he's a beast.

Ace explains, "Magical Shift... Magift for short is a sport played by two teams of seven. Put simply, there's a disk that you have to throw through the other team's goal to score points. The team with the most points wins."

I was intently listening by then and had made a conclusion. It sounds like American football, but with magic!

"That sounds fun." Is what I said, despite my blank expression not matching my words.

Ace looked over me. "Hm... But it might be hard for you to take part in a game of Magift, Strix."

"Why's that?" Grim asked.

"Magical Shift is a sport that uses magic. The disk is carried with magic, and all defense and offense also use magic." Deuce explained. Of course it requires magic. What else is new.

"How big a spectacle you can make with magic is also part of being a great player~" Ace sang. That aspect sounds really entertaining to watch. At least I wouldn't have to watch tiny people just run around with a frisbee. I never understood the fun in that, at least as a spectator.

"Yes! That's why Night Raven College is known as a champion around the world! Countless alumni have gone on to be pro players!" Boasted Crowley.

Crowley tones his excitement down to state, "Magift is just an athletic sport but one that uses magic to compete as well. Our school's Inter-Dorm Magical Shift Tournament is attended by representatives of pro leagues and those from different magical industries around the world. The arena will be lined with food stalls and visitors from different countries will grace the stadium. It is a tournament that'll make your palms sweat and works the whole world into a frenzy thanks to the live broadcast TV cameras."

Listening to all this fills my eyes with curiosity and wonder. "Wooow... Amazing."

"Worldwide broadcast?! Then, if I play in that tournament the whole world will be paying attention to me?!" Grim's eyes sparkled.

Crowley nodded. "Certainly! Those who play in the tournament will without a doubt become popular with pro leagues and any number of sponsors."

"In your case, Grim, I think they'd be more surprised by seeing a monster play." Deuce quirked an amused smile at the thought of the world's reaction.

"Oh yeah! I'll start some special training today and stand out to everyone in that stadium!" Grim declared.

"Oh but Grim-kun, you can't play at all." Crowley told him.

Said beast paused mid-cheer and looks at him. "Eh."

"Haven't I said 'Inter-Dorm' several times already? Your dorm doesn't meet the seven person requirement does it? So you can't even apply."

Grim screamed, "WHAT?!! No way...!" and wilts on my shoulder. Wow, way to utterly set his hopes up for them to get crushed.

"Selling drinks in the stands the day of, preparing the field for the tournament, there are many things that have to be done. Standing on the field as a player isn't the only role." Crowley assured. As if any of that was going to make Grim feel better.

"No way no way!" Grim protested. "I wanna hear 'Kyaa! Grim is so cool!' 'Hey, did you see his super play?!' from the crowd as they all cheer for me!"

"That's a pretty wild delusion..." Ace sweatdropped.

"Yeah. Can't be helped since you don't have enough people. You might have to give up on this year and hope that some freshmen get sorted into Ramshackle Dorm next year." Deuce said.

"That's impossible..." I muttered. Unless another non-magic person somehow winds up here like poor me.

"I really must get back to work now!" Crowley suddenly spoke, our cue to finally leave. He then mumbles to himself, "Aah, so busy, so busy."

"You got my hopes up for nothing, you jerk..." Grim whimpers, heartbroken. It didn't help that just earlier he lost his deluxe sandwich to a student. Now he's twice as depressed.

I rolled my eyes. "I'll treat you to canned tuna later, okay?"

Grim did not react at the mention of his favorite food. For once, his gluttony is prevailed by his desire to play.

...

I was floating in a sea of colors dotted with glittering stars. All the different colors reflecting the time of day in the sky are cluttered into one vast dimension that is the sleeping realm; the dream domain that belongs to my conscience.

This is also where the Dream Eaters reside, though I'm the only one in this void with no one but a mysterious voice as my companion and guide. The voice that answers all yet doesn't.

[You made a wise choice to not reveal the truth of the consequences, my liege.]

I didn't feel remorseful nor proud. "Obviously. The boys would never let that up if I admit it to them. Crowley technically just asked what if I had failed, not necessarily if the darkness put me in danger. I didn't really lie, so it shouldn't be that suspicious."

[You do not fear of the disaster Nightmares bring?]

"Of course I do. I have things I'm scared of coming true. It's just..."

[Do not underestimate the Nightmares. They will target your worst fears even you yourself may not be aware of.]

I frowned. I always assumed the terrible things since I was born. Is the voice saying even if I think I know myself, I really don't?

"How could I be scared if I expect it? You think I never imagine the worst of the worst? I know my nightmares." I've steeled myself every time I visualize it, despite how awful I'd hate to see the scenario recreated into reality. In that, I was mentally prepared.

[Reality impacts you to the brink of no return. You'd best avoid the evils Nightmares will use to tempt you to despair.]

"Yeah... But isn't that what Spirits do? To protect me?"

[We are not indestructible shields. We simply lead you to pleasant dreams, to devour the vile darkness. However, light and darkness are of the same coin. As Spirits consume Nightmares, Nightmares corrupt Spirits.]

"..."

[Do tread carefully on the dreams of others. One false move and the nightmares will consume you whole instead.]

The sea beneath me swallows my body whole, slowly pulling my conscious back to the other side that is the real world.

...

The following day, Grim was sprawled in the couch staring at the ceiling with dead eyes.

He drawled a groan. "I just don't wanna do anything... Nothing brings me joy if I can't play Magift."

I stood before the couch with crossed arms and looked over his unmotivated state. "Still not over that?"

The Ramshackle ghosts appear.

"What's up, Grimmie boy? You haven't been energetic at all lately." Laverne the small ghost remarks upon the lifeless, still body of Grim.

"He's sulking 'cause he can't join the Magical Shift Tournament." Hugo the bloated ghost laughs his peculiar ghost laugh.

"If you wanna play that bad, we'll play against you." Victor the lanky ghost offered. "We were players that drove the crowd wild 90 years ago!"

"Just how old are you guys..." I mumbled to myself.

"It's impossible without seven players, right?" Grim said dully, glancing at them flatly.

"It doesn't matter if it's not an official match. Come on, let's go!" Laverne ushered both Grim and I to the open yard by the dorm.

"You join too, Prefect," He said after seeing me linger by the side. "You don't need magic to play for this match."

"Right..." I join the field.

"Don't worry too much about the rules. Just take the disk and put it through the goal." Victor said.

"All right. I'm gonna leave you all in the dust!" Grim spoke confidently, the disk floating above his head with blue sparkles.

"Better watch out, everyone goes after the guy holding the disk with magic." Hugo laughed eerily.

"Game, start!"

"Alright! I just have to take the disk and score some goals!" Grim runs toward the other side until two of the ghosts appear and spook him, much to his fright.

"Wh-Wh-Wh-What are you doing?!!" Grim shrieked, nearly stumbling back on his two feet.

"Hee hee! Getting in your opponents way is part of the game." Hugo told him.

"That's not even magic!!" Grim retorted.

I had run to the side and shout, "Grim! Pass!"

Said cat then tries to fling the disk at my direction. However, the disk went totally off course and curved too early.

The disk was about to land on the ground until it was caught by the mouth of a brightly colored creature.

We acknowledge the new presence with wide eyes.

"Meow Wow?!" I exclaim. It's been a while the last time I saw it at Dwarfs' Mine. I never thought it had the power to become humongous.

Said Dream Eater bounced towards me. I could only watch dumbly as it then stopped before my feet. I take the disk (what the hell, is this disk made of metal? (2)) from its mouth and smiled. It's so adorable like a marshmallow.

I bend on my knees and rubbed its squishy head. "Did you want to play Magift with us?"

It closed its eyes happily and bounced in place excitedly.

"Great. Now it's three on three!" I announced for everyone to hear.

"Interesting. Well, what're you standing there for? Let's get back to playing!" Victor hollered.

Turns out Meow Wow is freaked out by fire. It instinctively tries to avoid Grim's fire elemental magic. I don't know why, but it does have an apparent weakness. Dream Eaters are really not super powerful like you'd think. I was warned about that in my dream.

"Don't you think you can appeal to the crowd with your Dream Eaters?" Hugo suddenly suggested as we played.

"Yeah, flashiness is also important in winning your audience over." Laverne added.

"Just the color is already flashy." Victor remarked before snickering.

"Of course seeing a whole new race of monsters would drive people wild," I replied. "As fun as that sounds, I don't want the entire world to come after me if I do participate. I have a home to return to, after all. So there's nothing in it for me other than glory." I toss the disk to Grim who catches it with his magic.

Laverne shook his head, only mildly disappointed he wouldn't see the day come. "A shame."

Grim growls in frustration. "Trying to shoot the disk is hard!"

"Hee hee hee! You're not fit to join the tournament at this rate." Hugo said.

"No no. He's done pretty well for a first-timer." Victor said.

Grim huffed. "I'm a genius, so give me a moment to get used to it and I'll be a star in no time."

I quirked a smile. The ghosts were trying to cheer him up and they succeeded, even if they did bully him a little by spooking him a bit more than they should be. That's cute.

Laverne floats to me. "Look at you grinning. Having fun, Prefect?"

He may have mistaken my grin for the informal Magift game, though that isn't a lie either. I bobbed my head. "This isn't so bad. Right?"

I look down to Meow Wow beside me. It rolls on the ground before standing on its legs.

"I never got to thank you for your help back at the Dwarfs' Mine. You saved us. I'll treat you to something sweet next time." I told the cat-dog hybrid.

It then takes its leave in a flash of light, presumably satisfied.

We spot a dark figure emerging from the stair entrance. It was Crowley. "Hello, everyone. Are you playing Magical Shift?"

Grim made a face at him. "Geh. It's the guy that always brings down the room."

"I see you're getting along well with the dorm ghosts. Splendid, splendid." Crowley smiles at us coexisting together.

"We are not getting along!" Grim retorted before asking, "So, what do you want?"

"I have a request to make of you. Talking outside won't do, so let us head in."

We follow Crowley to the lounge room. Once we settled down, Grim asked, "What's this request about? We aren't your handymen anymore, y'know."

"Oh? I don't remember saying anything about your room and board being free of charge? Labor is a beautiful thing, Grim-kun, Noctowl-kun."

I meet his unnerving smile with a frown. Was that a threat?

"Ahem. Then I will get straight to the point. Recently, there have been an increasing number of students injured in suspicious accidents. I'd like to have you investigate them." Crowley requested.

So now we're detectives? I never thought I'd be appointed so many job occupations in my whole life. I should keep a list for my resume...

"People getting injured?" Grim tilted his head.

"Yes. Tripping down stairs, burned by boiling water... The causes vary, but in the past several days, the number of patients in the infirmary has dramatically increased. Including the person who fell down the stairs yesterday, that makes ten people injured. I'm glad none of the injuries has been severe, but..." Crowley trailed off.

"That's terrible..." I frown. I had winced by the boiling water part. Those could scar you!

"Aren't they all just clumsy?" Grim suggested.

"The whole school is giddy for the approaching Magical Shift Tournament, that's true. Even still, there's too many people getting hurt if you look at past years. On top of that, those injured in these accidents were all in the running to be starting members for their dorm's team." Noted the headmaster.

"Though, Diasomnia and Savanclaw have experienced fewer injuries than other dorms. These two have historically had more skilled Magift players, so they can react faster and protect themselves." Crowley added.

My eyes narrowed as I listened. "It smells like foul play."

Crowley nodded. "Very nice deduction. However, I have no evidence to prove it was foul play. All the victims from across all seven dorms were injured in places with plenty of people around them. Nevertheless, all bystanders had this to say: 'They looked like they weren't paying attention'."

I slowly raised my brow. "'Not paying attention'...?"

"Sounds like they all just screwed up. There, problem solved." Grim said nonchalantly.

I shot the cat an admonishing look. "Grim!"

"My dear Grim-kun, that's quite irresponsible of you." Crowley looks at him, disappointed as well by his attitude towards this.

"It has nothing to do with me. It's not like I can join Magift anyway. Doesn't matter to me what happens to the tournament." Grim acts indifferent and stuck his tongue out.

"Is that so... I'd thought to give you a tremendous reward for your help but..." Crowley trails off.

"Hmph! That's not gonna work this time! You'd need at least 100 canned tuna to buy my help." Grim said.

"Then what about... allowing you to participate in the Magical Shift Tournament?" His beady yellow glowing eye shifted in a side-eye look.

That caught Grim's attention now. "Eh?!"

"If you shed light on this series of events, then I shall prepare a way for your dorm to participate as competitors. How's that sound? Aren't I the most gracious ever?"

More like desperate, for whatever reason. I kept the thought to myself, though.

Meanwhile, Grim was failing to form words.

"Your gallant figure will be broadcast world wide. And you'll be able to bask in the applause of the coliseum filled to the brim. They'll scream things like 'Woohoo! Here comes the stand out rookie, Grim!'"

I suppressed a snort at Crowley's acting voice.

"Th-This is bad... I can already see it happening." Grim was getting lured in by Crowley's promising words.

"However, you said that you wouldn't help solve this matter. How unfortunate, but please forget I said anything." He stands up and begins to leave.

"Hold it right there! I'll do it! I'll definitely do it!"

The masked raven looks over to Grim. Hook, line, and sinker.

"Oh? You will now?"

"Being in the tournament changes everything! Right, Strix!"

I don't exactly share the sentiment, but I am worried about the strange incidents spreading. The boys I know are potential targets.

"Don't we need seven people to make a team?" I inquired.

"Fret not. As the headmaster I will perform a magical miracle to supplement the other five people you need." Crowley assured.

"Right..." I have no clue what he means by that, but I'll just have to take it.

"Hooray! You got a deal! Let's go find the culprit!" Grim said, leaping off the stool.

"Ah, Grim, hold up!" I try to call out to the little beast already darting out of the room and follow after him.

Crowley smiled. "I'm counting on you two."

...

Our first destination is the school infirmary. Just like Crowley had said, the infirmary is packed. Among them is the Heartslabyul student who hurt his leg yesterday. He was accompanied by his friend sitting near his temporary bed.

"Excuse us," I spoke when Grim and I approached.

The uninjured student recognized us. Well, who else is the only female walking with a familiar? "You're those guys from Ramshackle Dorm that were at the Unbirthday Party." And that, too.

"Ooh, look how famous we are!" Grim said. Actually all the patients in the infirmary are staring at us, probably having nothing better to do after sitting in bed for who knows how long.

I ignore the stares and whispers and asked, "We'd like to hear how you got injured."

The student frowned. "I don't really get it either. He and I were just talking... Before I knew it, I'd fallen down the stairs."

"Yeah. It wasn't like he stumbled or slipped or anything." His friend said.

"Almost like my body just kinda left forward... I can't really put it into words well." He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

Grim bobbed his head. "I see. I see."

It doesn't sound like there's any clues behind it, though, I thought to myself.

"Thank you for your cooperation." I bowed my head before leaving to talk to the next person on the list of victims. Basically anyone who is visibly injured.

Upon entering a classroom, we spot our next target and approached during their conversation.

"Hey hey. You got hurt pretty bad not too long ago, right? Tell us about it." Grim said.

A Pomefiore student looks at us with a scowl. "And who are you two exactly?"

I held my hands up meaning no harm. Damn, someone's sorely upset.

His friend explained to us, "His feelings are hurt right now because he trained so hard for the Magift tournament but can't participate in top condition!"

"How could you be so tactless, throwing salt onto someone's wound like that. I challenge you! Pick up the glove!" The other student suddenly declared, having thrown his black uniform glove at the floor before us.

"Eh?! Right now?!" Grim exclaimed. We are in a classroom setting.

I pick up the glove and walk towards the victim who is watching me with tense shoulders. He was surprised I wasn't backing down.

"We're sorry for that. I understand your frustration, but we don't have time to be your human stress ball. We're busy." I lift my index finger to touch the wrinkled folds between his furrowed brows. "Calm down and tell us what happened to you."

I closed my eyes and call upon the aid of the Spirits. 'Please grant this student sweet dreams for tonight.'

A soft pink ripple effect emanates from my fingertip and spreads to the student's conscience. Both Grim and the other Pomefiore resident watched in awe at the sight as the victim's expression loosens up. He was now looking ahead in a daze, under the harmless spell of the Dream Eaters working their magic as we speak.

After I let my hand fall limp to my side, I glance to his buddy who flinched slightly under my neutral blue gaze. "You also, fill us in on the details."

"I-It happened in the laboratory. Out of nowhere he grasped a pot of boiling potion with his bare hands and threw the whole class into an uproar! Then he went and knocked over the pot all over the counter. I was so surprised!" The student retold the incident with a flourish.

"Are you going to tell them everything?!" Having returned to reality, the victim retorted to his classmate in embarrassment.

I was pondering about what his friend told me until I bowed my head,. "Thank you. Please take care."

When we left the classroom to continue our search, the uninjured student looked to his friend. "What did she do to you?"

"I don't know. My mind just relaxed and I got a bit sleepy..."

"I thought she doesn't have magic?"

"I think that was the work of something else..." Was what he mumbled before dozing off.

"Hey, don't go off to lala land!"

After some time, we returned to the foyer of Ramshackle. Our forlorn expressions revealed the lack of progress made.

Grim spoke up, "I can't see anyone we talked to as anything other than clumsy. Do you still think these weren't accidents?"

Before I could reply, the intercom buzzed.

Grim looks back at the entrance curiously. "Hm? Who's there?"

I open the door. It was Ace.

He waved. "Yo. Oh, Grim, you look better." The red-haired male remarks upon seeing the familiar not being so sulky since the last time. Did he come to check on Grim because he was worried?

Grim's eyelids flatten at the all too familiar face. "Ugh, it's just you. Listen, I'm pretty busy right now so I don't have time to hang out."

"Busy? You're not gonna finish the homework?"

I speak up, "Actually..."

We relocated to the lounge and fill Ace in on our mission personally requested (read: ordered) by Crowley.

After we finished, Ace crossed his arms. "Hmm. People getting injured suspiciously, huh."

"But while we were listening to them, it just sounded like they were being clumsy or getting caught up in the excitement for the tournament." Grim said.

Suddenly clicking footsteps run into the lounge to reveal a frantic-looking Deuce. "Ace! This is bad!"

He glanced to him. "Huh? What're you panicking about..."

"Clover-senpai got hurt falling down the stairs...!"

We widen our eyes. "Eh?!"

Grim squeaked, "You can't mean that unflappable Trey?"

"I can't really picture him being clumsy." I muttered. The responsible, diligent vice dorm head of Heartslabyul... tripping down the stairs?

"You're right, Trey-senpai isn't the kind of guy to just trip over nothing." Ace agreed.

"Let's go ask him what happened!" Grim prompted.

We immediately head to Heartslabyul and make a beeline to Trey's room where he was in.

Ace knocked on the door. "Pardon the intrusion."

We then filed inside to see the third year resting in bed. Cater was also there.

"Clover-senpai, are you all right?" Deuce asked.

"Yo, Glasses! We came here to check on you!" Grim said.

"Oh, it's the A-Deuce combo. Plus Gri-chan and Stri-chan in tow." Cater waved to us.

I lifted a brow. "A-Deuce"?

"Hello... Wait, Cater-senpai, what's with the 'A-Deuce' thing?" Ace asked a second too late.

"Eh? It's 'cause both of your names end in '-ce' so I put them together." Cater explained.

I placed the bottom of my fist to my palm. "Oh, I like that." I threw a a rather amused smile at A-Deuce's way. "Like two peas in a pod."

"Just call us by our complete names!" Deuce exclaimed.

"More importantly, how is Trey-senpai's injury?" Ace asked.

"Ah. I misstepped going down the stairs. I did my best to catch myself but my right foot is toast. I'll be on crutches for a while." Trey said, the crutches propped by his bed.

"Eh! That's a pretty bad injury." Deuce creased his brows in concern.

"I'm probably completely out of this year's Magift games." Trey said as a matter of fact.

I crestfallen. "That's horrible..."

"Geez, give me a break. Our star player, Trey-kun, being out makes everything harder, and we have to have tryouts again." Cater sunk his shoulders.

A-Deuce suddenly seemed attentive and excited for some reason. "Tryouts?"

Someone knocked on the door.

"What are you all doing. Taking over an injured person's room..."

Grim looks at the new presence entering. "Hot-headed Riddle!"

Gray eyes narrowed. "Hot-headed, huh. I won't get angry if you all don't break the rules."

Riddle approached the vice dorm leader, speaking gently, "Trey, how are you? Is there anything you want to eat or drink?"

"Didn't I tell you to not worry about me so much?" Trey quirked a sheepish smile at Riddle fretting over him. Usually it was the other way around.

Riddle frowned. "But, it's my fault you got hurt..."

"What do you mean?" Ace asked.

The redhead explained, "I had something to take care of so I went to the third year classrooms during lunch. Then..."

Apparently Riddle also tripped on the stairs but was saved by Trey the last second and had protected him from a royal fall.

"Trey went out of his way to keep me from falling down the stairs and got injured..." Riddle finished.

"I think you'd have been able to break your fall, you know. I sprained my ankle, that's nobody's fault." Trey assured.

It was apparent the guilt is still eating at Riddle. "But..."

Ace whispers to me, "Strix, is this..."

My eyes narrowed. "This is getting suspicious..."

"Now now! Riddle-kun. No need to be so gloomy." Cater assures. "It sucks what happened to Trey-kun, but you'll just have to do your best in his place~"

Riddle nodded. "Y-yeah. You're right."

"Now, let's give the injured person a chance to rest. Disperse, disperse~" Cater ushered all of us to leave Trey's room, relocating to Heartslabyul's lounge now.

"So, Cater. Is there something you don't want to talk about in front of Trey?" Riddle looked at the ginger from his seat on the velvet red throne chair.

"As expected, Riddle-kun." Cater then turns to me. "So, Stri-chan. You caught on the situation quick. Do you know anything about how Trey-kun got hurt?"

He must have heard Ace and I whisper to each other back then. It doid rouse suspicion. I didn't intend to hide it, though.

I readily begin my explanation, "Well..."

...

"I see, so that's what the headmaster thinks..." Riddle mumbled.

"Thought so. I knew Gri-chan wouldn't be visiting without a reason." Said Cater. I had nothing to say for the monster's defense. He was right, unfortunately.

"Actually, I thought something strange was going on so I had Cater start gathering information." Riddle said.

"It was obvious pretty quick that all the people getting injured were starting candidates for their teams like Riddle-kun and Trey-kun." Cater stated.

"At that time I didn't trip over anything or feel someone push me from behind." Riddle informed before continuing albeit uncertainly, "But... how should I put this, it felt like my body moved on its own."

"Everyone else was saying something like that!" Grim said.

"I think it's safe to say someone is intentionally targeting Magift candidates." Riddle concluded.

"They're targeting their rivals to up their standing in the Magical Shift Tournament?" Ace questioned.

"The whole world will be watching. One's performance in their matches can lead to a career in the future. It's not strange that some will do whatever it takes." Riddle stated.

Putting people at a disadvantage by harming them is too extreme then, whether indirectly or not.

Cater hummed. "Still, it's weird. You didn't feel any wind magic coming from behind you, right?"

"Yeah, it didn't feel like an impact." Riddle replied.

"There were some who were injured during class. I really wonder what's going on?" Cater voiced aloud.

"We will just have the culprit spill everything when we catch them. To that end, I will assist you in the search." Riddle declared as he looked at Grim and I.

We reciprocated the look with surprise. I uttered, "Really?" All the more the better!

"Huh? You're gonna help? What're you scheming? Especially you, Cater!" Grim then shoots a pointed look at the third year.

"Wow, rude much. This is what you do when your fellow dorm mates are targeted." Cater simply replied.

"If that's the case, we'll help out too." Ace spoke.

"We gotta get payback for Clover-senpai!" Deuce said.

"You guys are all fired up." Riddle remarked to the duo.

"Oh, I got it. You're after those open spots on the team?" Cater suggested.

Ace sheepishly grinned with a hand behind his neck. "Hehe, was it obvious?"

By comparison, Deuce denies, "N-No, I wasn't thinking that! We do want revenge!"

Riddle looks at them dubiously. "Good grief. Well, I'll take it into consideration if you manage to apprehend the culprit."

A-Deuce cheered, "All right!"

I rolled my eyes. I guess I'm the only one out of the freshmen that genuinely cares for Trey's safety. Or at least am humble enough to voice my concern for another person. I should visit to check up on him when I can.

Riddle then said, "Back to what we were talking about, if we're going to catch them we need to anticipate their next move."

"Anticipate them, how?" Grim asked.

"For example, put a bodyguard on students that seem like likely targets. When something happens, we promptly get the student safety. Then we hunt down the culprit in that immediate area." Riddle explained.

"The stakeout strategy, is it." I said, to which Cater beamed.

"Stri-chan, that's exactly it! Actually, among the starting candidates there's already a bunch that I've got my eye on that seem like they'd be next. I'll make a private group on Magicam so we can message each other. Take a look at the group's album, okay."

Everyone except Grim and I, who don't have phones, checked their group chat.

"Diamond-senpai, this is a huge amount of info." Deuce looks at him in surprise.

I looked over his phone screen and deadpanned. We're really going to narrow down this list?!

"Well, yeah." Cater shrugged it off (how??). "Then, let's go figure out the next target."

"Off we go!" Grim announced.

...

Upon stepping out of the Heartslabyul mirror, Riddle immediately recognized someone in the Hall of Mirrors.

"Leona-senpai."

A tall, dark, brunet man with lion ears and tail glanced to us with summer green eyes. "Oh look. It's the young red master and his herd of hedgehogs."

The man named Leona glanced to me. "...You're the one who stepped on my tail."

"Don't say that like I bullied you!" I said defensively, trying to ignore all eyes staring at me in bewilderment.

"You stepped on his tail?" Riddle asked incredulously.

"It was an accident!"

"Then you better watch your step when wandering in unknown territory, little birdie." Leona warned.

I hung my head, avoiding his burning eye contactw. "Duly noted."

"You know this guy?" Deuce whispered to me.

"He's the one I told you guys back when we picked chestnuts, remember?" I whispered back.

"Oh yeah, the 'caretaker' from the botanical garden." Ace recalled.

"This person is Leona Kingscholar, the dorm leader of Savanaclaw. He's a third year, therefore your senior." Riddle introduced on behalf of the upperclassman.

"He looks bored out of his mind yet still exudes an intimidating aura, don't you think?" Ace whispered to us.

"Definitely not someone to think about messing with. I doubt the culprit behind the incidents would target a dorm leader like Kingscholar-senpai..." Deuce whispered back.

"I think so, too. I never considered him as a target in my list because of that." Cater agreed in a hushed voice.

While the trump card soldiers were huddled whispering in the background, I stepped forward to Leona.

"I'm Strix Noctowl. I'm put in charge of investigating the incidents surrounding many potential Magift players getting injured. Since you have the most authority in your dorm, would you be willing to share any info with us?" I asked.

The Heartslabyul boys swerved their heads at me, jaws agape.

Cater whispered horrifically at my boldness, "Stri-chan?!"

"Cutting formalities and leaping straight into the bush... I don't dislike that." An amused smile formed. "Fine by me. I also wanted to get to the bottom of this myself."

Riddle was mildly impressed by his cooperative attitude. "For you to be this motivated... Why is that?"

"Why? Because I'm pissed. I want to teach the perp not to mess with my dorm, my pride." Leona scowled, fangs bared the slightest.

Grim squeaked, instinctively clinging to my leg. At this point I've let him use my leg as a lifeline without bothering to shrug him off.

"Your 'pride'?" I echoed.

Leona continued, "The one plotting all this is putting my dorm's reputation to shambles. Our pride in Magift will not lose to the scumbag weaseling their way to the top taking out their opponents before the game even started."

"Wow. He makes the A-Deuce duo look super selfish by comparison..." Cater offhandedly remarked.

"It appears I misjudged you, Leona-senpai. You do care about the spirit of your dorm and your students." Riddle said.

"You flatter me." Replied the wry Leona.

I was quiet, azure blue eyes unwavering and unblinking.

"The tournament really does mean a lot to people like you, huh." I remarked.

Leona scoffed. "Hmph. Obviously."

"I see... Then let's do our best together." I said.

I received an odd look from him.

"Together? You don't expect me to tag along now, do you? I'll be investigating separately from you guys. You all already stand out with your numbers." He turned his back on us and spared a glanced past his shoulder. "Male lions tend to hunt alone."

With that, Leona exits the Hall of Mirrors.

I shrugged. "At least our network expanded to someone reliable."

"Will he actually do work, though? All I remembered was him playing hooky in the gardens. And being rude." Grim piped up.

"Leona-senpai may be a rather... callous person, but he is a dorm leader." Riddle began. "If something proves to trouble him greatly, he would have to force his hand. Even he has his moments."

"He did get defensive over his dorm. He can't be all that bad if he's willing to take action." Deuce said.

"We can worry about his capabilities later. Let's get back to what we were doing originally: our first target." I prompted.

Beyond the mirror to the Pomefiore Dorm is a castle-like stone brick building with pointy blue tiled roofs and gold apple motifs. Upon entering the lounge, I was almost blinded by the extravagant interior of royal blue and gold. Is that a gold peacock throne chair I see past the red curtains?

"First up is here. Pomefiore Dorm. I've marked third year Rook Hunt in my 'Cater Check'. His trademarks are his blond bob and hat." Cater informed.

"Last year, Rook-senpai was a stand out player. But, there's something off about him..." Riddle trails in the end.

We were searching the room until Deuce spotted him, "Ah. Isn't that him sitting over there?"

Upon seeing Rook sit with two other Pomefiore students, we almost saw anime sparkle effects surrounding them.

"Wow. They all look like they're sparkling..." Ace remarks in disbelief.

"They're brighter than my future..." I muttered.

We watch from a safe distance and try to listen in.

"Non non, Epel-kun. It is not elegant to put your fingers through the handle when you drink tea." Rook lightly chides a feminine pretty boy who is really small compared to his circle of three. I remembered him from the cafeteria when Grim and Deuce mistook him for a girl. He stood out in my memories because of that.

"Eh... ah, yes. I'm sorry." The boy named Epel softly muttered out.

"I'm still undecided about the makeup for the tournament. I'm very curious about the new foundation from Felicite Cosmetics." The third member said. He has shoulder-length champagne blond hair with lavender purple tints. For a moment I thought he was a woman at first glance. A real pretty boy.

"Hahaha! My lovely Vil, our Roi des Poison!" Rook cried (was that French in the end?) theatrically, "Your brilliance is not determined by the quality of cosmetics, is it?"

"I am aware, my dear. But if I want to aim one rank higher, I can't hold back." Vil replied in all his seriousness.

"Wonderful! That spirit of yours. It is truly marvelous!" Rook admired. Isn't he chipper.

Grim squints at our suspected target dubiously. "That guy doesn't seem strong at all. If I was the culprit, I wouldn't go after him."

After listening to them engage in beauty talk (I noticed Epel looking uncomfortable and disinterested behind his seemly polite demeanor), we decided Rook was most likely not the culprit. What is this talk about "foundation" and all that makeup chit chat?

Cater crossed his name off the list and said, "Then let's go check the next one out."

We return to the school and found our next target(s) in the courtyard. We were hiding behind the bushes and may or may not be attracting attention from students passerby.

"Next is Octavinelle Dorm. For my Cater Check, I marked the second year brothers Jade and Floyd Leech as high probability. According to my info, they're known for their combo attacks and using them to wipe the floor with any opponent." Cater reports.

"Wah! There's two dudes with the same face." Grim remarks.

Both have short teal blue hair and a long black strand of hair for a peculiar hairstyle. Despite being near identical, their mannerisms and attire contrast the other; one loose and carefree, the other neat and composed. This is my first time seeing twins in person.

Ace pales a shade. "And, uh... those two, they're so tall, don't they make all the other students around them look tiny?"

"I thought it was the perspective but now I can see it..." I mutter almost dreadfully. Their legs look longer than I thought. Scary...

"They look lanky but they look like they aren't ones to mess with." Grim noted.

"Then should we mark those two?" Deuce asked.

Riddle hummed. "If I was the culprit, I'd go after them last. Those two... Especially Floyd, aren't people I want to get anywhere near to."

"Ah~ It's Goldfish~~!"

Riddle gave a start. "He saw me!" The moment we had glanced away from the twins, our location was exposed.

"Goldfish, what're you doing? Hide and seek? That looks fun." One of the two brothers, the loosely dressed one, smiled like an innocent child eager to find a playmate. A really odd weed sticking out in the yard along with his brother.

Riddle straightens his posture, though he still regards the young man awkwardly. "F-Floyd. How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that weird nickname?"

"I mean, you're small and red, like a goldfish right?"

I took another glance at Riddle.

Upon acknowledging my stare, Riddle shot a firm look. "Don't you dare agree."

I feigned ignorance and look the other way. At least not out loud I will admit it in front of the boy.

"This guy's a weirdo." Grim whispered to me while looking at Floyd. He seems really carefree.

Floyd noticed Grim and looks at him with wide heterochromatic eyes of one dull and one brightly colored yellow. "Wow, a talking cat! So funny. Hey hey, can I give you a squeeze?"

As he spoke, I noticed he has a set of sharp teeth like a shark. Or maybe some other aquatic sea creature I can't exactly put my finger on. Regardless, I'd hate to be bitten by him.

"S-Squeeze?! Stop it!" Grim hides behind my head, cowering slightly. I had to support his body with a hand before he'd fall off my shoulders

I flinched slightly as Floyd's droopy eyes landed on me yet still stood my ground. I think I stand up to his chin. He's a head taller than me! My neck hurts from the close proximity.

A mysterious expression crossed his visage as he stared. "Hm?"

It was then the other brother, Jade, approached. "Oh my, Heartslabyul is all together. Are you perhaps doing reconnaissance for the Magical Shift Tournament?"

Compared to his brother, this one is mild-mannered and polite. His eye color is also heterochromatic, but the bright yellow is on his left; the opposite of Floyd.

"Um, we actually have a lot of reasons so..." Cater sweated nervously.

"We simply cannot overlook your attempts at spying now can we. Can we hear in detail the reasons why you were observing us?" Jade asked.

"This guy's demeanor says calm and collected but his eyes aren't smiling at all..." Ace muttered.

"Anyways, pardon the intrusion~!" Cater quickly bids before we flee the courtyard.

Deuce looks back, only for his eyes to bulge. "Uwah, they're coming after us!"

"Hey hey, wait up~" With Floyd's long legs, it looks like he's skipping in a flower garden while we're genuinely running for our lives. Such is the nightmares brought by tall people.

"As if we'd wait just because you said so!" Riddle retorts before ordering, "Everyone, retreat!"

As the twins watch us scurry out, Floyd drawled a disappointed sigh. "There they go."

Jade chuckled. "It was an enjoyable game of tag."

"Hey, Jade, did you see that girl? Doesn't she look like a mermaid?" Floyd remarked as he looked to his brother with a gleeful smile. "Almost like a princess."

Jade held a fist to his chin thoughtfully. "True, her eyes remind us merfolk of the ocean. However, she is most certainly human with no magic. Yet she tames magical creatures called 'Dream Eaters'... I'm sure Azul would be interested to learn of our encounter. Now, it's almost time to get ready at Mostro Lounge. We'll have to save playing with them for another time."

"Fine." Floyd replied lazily.

Meanwhile we had hightailed it out of the courtyard and continued until we wound up in the Main Street. It looks like they gave up chasing us once we were out of the courtyard.

Grim pants for his breath. "...That was scary. What's their deal?"

"Don't ask me. They've been that way since last year and I just can't handle them." Riddle told the cat.

"I'd be afraid of their revenge if I went after them." I said. They look capable of repaying the favor tenfold and I'd rather not be on the receiving end of that.

"I wouldn't even try." Ace visibly shuddered, rubbing his arms.

Cater glanced to the sky. "The sun's gonna start going down soon so let's get to our last Cater Check for today. Jack Howl from Savanaclaw. First year. He's super good at anything involving physical activity, and I heard a rumor that he got a flood of invitations from every sports club."

"It's late enough that he might already be back at his dorm." Deuce said.

"Aah, it's already 5:00. Laws of the Queen of Hearts, Number 346: 'One must not play croquet in the garden after 5PM'." Riddle stated before saying, "I'm going back to the dorm. There are those who break the rules if I take my eyes off them."

"I thought you'd loosen up a bit but you're the same as ever." Grim said.

Riddle choked, having been reminded of his pre-Overblot self and his tyrannical ways. "I-I think I'm being a little lenient on the rules lately, though..."

Cater nods in agreement. "You are much more lenient than before. Your seriousness is one of your good points, Riddle-kun."

"I think so, too," I spoke up. "Don't mind Grim."

Riddle tentatively nodded. "Thank you..."

"All right then, good luck, Riddle-kun." Cater waves him farewell as he left.

"Okay, we should get over to Savanaclaw." Ace prompted.

...

Through the Savanaclaw mirror, we arrived at the entrance. It has a tribal African theme to it, unsurprisingly.

"Whoa... So this is the Savanaclaw Dorm." Deuce looks up at the dorm.

"It's rugged and looks like it's made from rocks! What animal did that big skeleton come from?" Grim wonders aloud as he glanced at the skull by the entrance.

"An elephant, isn't it?" I suggested. It has large and long tusks. I wonder if there's an elephant graveyard here like in the movie.

"It's got a totally different vibe from our dorm." Ace remarked. Unlike the sweet scent of roses, this place has an earthy scent.

"Right. It's, like, rough and tumble? Just the air feels wild, y'know." Cater replied.

"So, Jack, was it? What's he look like?" Ace asked.

"Tan skin with silver hair. His wolf-like ears and bushy tail are his trademarks, apparently." The ginger reported.

"Bushy tail... Oh. Isn't that him? The one jogging by himself over there!" Grim points his paw over. A tall muscular young man in his PE uniform is seen by the yard.

"Bingo! Gri-chan wins this one. He fits the description perfectly. That's him, no doubt." Cater confirmed.

"First the tall twins, and now we've got another dude who's macho!" Ace exclaimed upon seeing him. Even from here we can see how massive he is with his muscles.

"That's why all the clubs were trying to scout him." Cater said.

"He's probably good at martial arts too with that brawn." Deuce noted. Jack would be a literal beast and I would not be surprised.

"Let's go talk to him." I said, sweating a little. Or maybe that was the weather of the savanna getting to me.

"Are you nervous, Stri-chan? It's okay, you're fine, relax! If he tries to bite you I'll protect you, okay." Cater winked in the end.

I nodded, appreciative of his support, before we approached Jack.

"Hey, prickly guy!" Grim called out.

The wolf-human stopped jogging before our group and glowered at us with golden yellow eyes. Damn, he's as tall as the twins if not even more, but bulky like Professor Vargas and more massive plus intimidating now. "...Hah?"

"Some bad guys might be coming after you so we have decided to protect you! How 'bout it, aren't you happy!"

I almost let out a shaky stammer before harshly whispering to the cat, "That's the worst thing you could say to a Savanaclaw student! Or anyone!"

Jack's eyes narrowed. "Who the hell are you? Don't get in the way of my running."

From behind, Ace drawled out a sigh. Here we go again.

"Wait a sec, Gri-chan, your way of confronting him has way too many problems!" Cater hushed him.

He then smiles at Jack albeit nervously. "Sorry about that. Can you listen to what we have to say for a bit?"

"What do you want out of the blue? You're going to protect me, you say?" Jack frowned.

"Recently there have been a large number of accidents around campus involving students likely to be playing in the upcoming Magical Shift Tournament." Deuce began.

"And we're looking for the culprit." Ace told him.

"What's that got to do with me?" Asked Jack.

"Put bluntly, we think you're likely to be targeted next so our plan is to put a mark on you and catch them in the act." Cater explained. "How 'bout it? Will you cooperate with us for a bit?"

Jack was silent until he answered, "I refuse. I'll figure something out on my own so there's no need for you to protect me."

"It might be more dangerous by yourself." I said.

His voice almost broke into a growl as he said, "... I said I don't need it. See ya."

I quickly stood in his path, boring my eyes into his. Damn, my neck pain is acting up again. "Look, I don't doubt your strength. But the culprit could do something far terrible than break someone's ankle. A senpai I know is suffering from that."

"I'm doing this because students getting setup for injury over a sports tournament is pathetic. Don't you think eliminating the competition defeats the purpose of a tournament? You're going to let everyone drop out like flies while the culprit cheats for their own gain?"

With each sentence I utter, I step forward. Likewise, Jack stepped back each time with a tensed expression, ears folded back. His brows furrowed, perplexed at my confrontational attitude. "I..."

"Oi, what are you guys doing over there?" A gruff voice from behind called out.

We look to see a group of three Savanaclaw students sizing us up. They look very friendly.

"Ah, they're from Heartslabyul." A striped hyena beastman student with bright red hair pointed out. Rather lightheartedly, might I add. His shrunken hazel brown eyes were wide with innocence. He appeared innocent compared to the rest of the group.

"Hehehe! They're that red brat's grunts!" A boar beastman pointed out.

"Did you really think we'd let you come into our territory and just leave like that?" A meerkat beastman taunted.

Deuce's eyes widen. "This pattern is..." Ah, he was a delinquent in the past. He definitely had this kind of moment numerous times before.

"Ah, we're leaving! Sorry about the intrusion~" Ace tried to smile nonchalantly as the boys crept away.

However, they surround us.

"Don't be like that, come hang with us!" The bright-eyed striped hyena student offered amiably.

"Hehehe! Let's play a hunting game! 'Course, ya guys will be the prey!" The boar beastman smirked maliciously.

I keep thinking back to the redhead of the trio grinning like a fool. The whiplash of their characters is distracting that I couldn't take them seriously as I had thought.

As I stood my ground, the Savanaclaw students and their keener senses did not let me go unnoticed.

"Oh, it's the girl freshman everyone's talkin' about!" Again, this was the redhead striped hyena pointing the fact out like a child calling their mother's attention. Who is this guy and why is he here with the other two punks again? I suddenly have an immense need to know.

"She's got a sweet scent going on." The meerkat beastman of the three said.

The boar beastman smirked, eyeing me as though undressing me through my disguise.

"Hey missy, ditch these herbivores and we'll show you how us carnivores know real fun."

My expression turned dark. I glowered at the howling beastmen (minus the redhead standing quietly and out of place), muttering, "I'll show you who's the carnivore..."

However, Cater holds me back by the shoulders. "Stri-chan, don't let them provoke you like that. They're not worth your attention."

"But..."

Meanwhile Jack was peeved at his fellow dorm residents. "Pathetic, this kind of unsavory behavior from upperclassmen..."

"Don't get full of yourself, freshman. In this dorm, it's the survival of the fittest. It's in our nature to feed on the weak." The meerkat beastman of the group told him.

"Knock it off you all."

Everyone looks to see a rather familiar face with a jagged scar and lion ears and tail.

All the Savanaclaw students stand straighter upon his presence. "Dorm Head Leona!"

"We followed the scent of something sweet and heard a commotion at the entrance." The striped hyena beastman reported.

"These guys are the ones who thoughtlessly encroached on our territory." The meerkat beastman pointed at us.

"We were just gonna rough'em up a bit!" The boar beastman couldn't suppress his cackling glee as he spoke.

Accompanying Leona was a boy with spotted hyena ears and biscuit brown hair. His droopy blue gray eyes zeroed in on us. "Ah, aren't y'all the guys I met in the cafeteria?"

Grim recognizes him as well and points a claw at his direction. "Aah, you! You were after my deluxe minced meat sandwich before!"

"I only asked if you would trade with me and backed down after you said no. Don't sound so upset. Ruggie Bucchi's the name, by the way." The boy named Ruggie introduced himself, crossing his arms behind his head nonchalantly.

"Leona-san, Ruggie-san, let's show'em who's boss!" The meerkat beastman said.

"Stop yapping, you idiots. What're you gonna do if your little fit of violence interferes with the Magift tournament?" Leona casted his half-lidded green gaze over them.

"You're sayin' we should ignore these trespassers? But they're such tasty looking prey." The boar beastman drooped.

"Don't you remember what I told you all on the first day?" Leona began before glaring daggers into them with his bright piercing gaze.

"Lay a finger on the woman and I'll personally bury you seven feet under in the graveyard."

The residents who were harassing us squeaked fearfully, cowering in their boots. "G-Got it!"

I blinked owlishly. That was... oddly refreshing. I didn't expect it from Leona of all people.

"Hey, what about the rest of us?" Grim spoke up on behalf of him and the Heartslabyul boys.

He was ignored when Jack spoke up, "Leona-senpai, Ruggie-senpai. I got approached by these guys 'cause I could be a potential target to get injured by the culprit. But I won't lose my spot and let the dorm down. I look forward to playing Magift with you."

I raised my brow. His demeanor changed. Compared to his stand-offish aloofness keeping us at arm's length, Jack seemed pleased to be in the presence of his superiors. Namely Leona, the dorm leader, of course. His eyes were bright with admiration and anticipation. Not to mention he's talking more than he did with us.

Speaking of Magift, I remembered what Crowley had mentioned to me before.

"Though, Diasomnia and Savanclaw have experienced fewer injuries than other dorms. These two have historically had more skilled Magift players, so they can react faster and protect themselves."

Something about this dorm based on the King of Beasts has me wondering...

"I heard Savanaclaw is supposed to be really good at Magift. Is it true?" I inquired curiously.

"Hell yeah we are!" The meerkat beastman readily said without skipping a beat.

Ruggie snickered. "Is the kitten underestimating our play?"

"'Kitten'...?" I muttered incredulously. I never thought I'd have someone call me a pet name like "kitten", especially with a non-flirty intention. At least, I think?

"You looked like a newborn cub who only just opened their eyes. Well, seeing is believing. How about a game of Magical Shift to demonstrate?" Leona suggested.

"Eh? Now?" Deuce spoke up.

"Sure. Unless... You're not feeling confident in your abilities? You're free to tuck your tail and run for the hills." Leona crossed his arms and smirked.

"Them's fighting words! No way are we gonna let you get away with saying that!" A fire is lit in Grim's eyes.

"And Grim already took up his challenge without our say..." Deuce heaved a silent sigh.

"Fine by me. Let's do this. Cater-senpai! Don't forget about the tryouts." Ace reminded with a wink.

"Eeh~ Seriously? You're all hopeless~" The third year drawled before looking to me. "Stri-chan, watch from somewhere safe. Watch the other team and help us figure out their plays."

I didn't respond right away. I pondered the choice before asking Leona, "Can I summon one of my familiars to play in my stead?"

"Be my guest. Your team already has a beast playing in the field, anyway." Leona said, referring to Grim.

We moved to the Magift stadium situated atop a cliff in front of the dorm. I stood by the spectator seats and watch as both sides meet at the center. They exchanged a few words before assuming formation.

Among my arsenal of Dream Eaters, I had listened to the call of one Spirit who was willing to lend their aid.

Grim stood in the front in anticipation for the game to begin when the earth shook beneath him. He staggered into a shadow overwhelming his own, compelling him to turn around.

Standing before him is a rainbow rhinoceros with a mainly violet body and a large drill-like horn looming over Grim easily.

A shrill escaped the little beast who felt like a mouse compared to the Spirit.

Drill Sye's appearance caught everyone's attention, for the better or worse. Leona's team grew wary of the mysterious creature's capabilities, and to an extension, my authority over the Dream Eater as I remained a spectator.

Jack's eyes widened. "That thing looks strong."

A determined smile replaced his surprise the next second. "This should be interesting!"

"She sure sent out something impressive-looking for us." Ruggie noted calmly for Leona to hear, though he wasn't smiling like he would.

Leona narrowed his eyes at the creature, a frown pulling at his lips.

Meanwhile Team Heartslabyul were freaking out about a rhinoceros being a part of their team.

"A rhino? Cool beans! I'd take a selfie pic, but it's too massive, and the colors would drown me out in the photo..." Cater lamented as he stood near the Spirit and tried different angles to no avail for a picturesque shot.

Deuce stood in awe with youthful eyes sparkling wide. "I've never seen a rhino up close! It looks powerful..."

"Hey, Strix! Are you sure this guy won't hurt accidentally hurt us in the process?" Ace called out to me while pointing at the Spirit.

"It'll be fine! Trust me!" I simply reassured.

Ace had to double check. He glanced at the massive green horn sitting proud and tall on Drill Sye's nose. The tip shone in the glaring sunlight.

He suppressed a shudder and shouted back, "Just so you know, we haven't signed any waivers for this! You'll have to take responsibility!"

I rolled my eyes.

Leona was kind enough to let the visiting team have the disk first. Grim took possession of the disk rather giddily before casting magic to make it levitate above his head.

On the count of three, Grim dashed across the field in an attempt to reach the goal. The meerkat beastman of Team Savanaclaw rode on his magic broom as he casted fire magic to deter him.

Sticking close to Grim were Ace and Deuce. They casted defensive shields as they move nonstop to reach the enemy's zone.

There was also Cater for the assist, riding on his own magic broom as he casted magic to deflect stray spells.

Of course, the opposing team has their own formation.

The meerkat beastman in flight pulled back from attacking to move towards his team members.

Ruggie sprinted and grabbed onto the broomstick in one swoop, hitching a ride. Then, he swung his body and hung himself upside down by the legs, magical pen aimed for the other team. I couldn't believe it!

Fireballs shoot for them.

Using my quick thinking, I issued a command telepathically for Drill Sye.

Behind Savanaclaw's flight path, a spiky purple ball with green needles magically sprung from the ground.

The spotted hyena and meerkat looked back in horror before the broom swiftly ducked below it by a hair length from its spikes. The ball reverted to Drill Sye's original rhinoceros form upon landing.

"Now!" I yelled.

If Grim can aim the disk right for the ring floating in the center of the goal, they can score a point!

Before Grim could launch the disk, however, someone came swooping in to blow the boys away.

The disk is lost from Grim's magical grip, tumbling and rolling on the ground before eventually falling flat.

A slight breeze brushed past the Magift field, stirring up sandy clouds. Crouched on the spot where both teams clashed was Leona. He slowly rises to his full height, an arrogant smirk curling his lips.

I was stunned in my spot. So this is a real game of Magift... It makes Ramshackle's mock game look like a kid's playground.

Meanwhile from a distance away, Jack was glowing like a young boy before his idol. "Leona-senpai's strength up close...! It's amazing!"

Ace and Deuce plus Grim groan as they sat up, black school uniforms now stained with dirt.

"Our uniforms are definitely going to get sullied if we keep playing like this. This is why I was hesitant to play Magift..." Deuce lamented.

"That Ruggie guy played on the defensive like I've never seen, hanging upside down on a flying broom..." Ace began to stand on his feet.

"I'm seeing stars..." Moaned Grim, eyes swirling from the impact of Leona's might.

Cater gently floated to ground level before the three. "Y'all can still go on for another seven rounds?"

He received vague answers of yes from the somewhat still disoriented freshmen.

"Don't mind! It's just the first round. You guys can do it!" I encouraged.

Yet deep down, I believed Savanaclaw was too powerful. Despite their dorm leader's lethargic demeanor, Leona's intellect rivals a tactician. Their formation is impenetrable. Not to mention they have more experienced students in the field.

I tried to plan one step ahead of them with each round, but Leona was three steps above me. Even with Drill Sye as a surprise element, they have a clear weakness I had failed to recognize earlier: Drill Sye absolutely hates being hit with magic. They didn't have any magic skills in their arsenal to counterattack, resorting to using their body to deal blows and tank damage.

That's when Savanaclaw ganged up on Drill Sye by dealing elemental magic whenever it was out of its spike mode. Hearing its wounded cries emotionally wounded me in the process, as someone who is fond of animals. A part of me was remorseful for being responsible of its pain.

[We are not indestructible shields. We simply lead you to pleasant dreams, to devour the vile darkness.]

That's what I've been warned. Yet instead of calling them away, I let Drill Sye stay to the very end. Its conviction to want to serve me stayed strong despite its abhorrence for magic.

Of course, this didn't magically changed the tides of the game. By the end, the results were one-sided. Savanaclaw won by a landslide.

A wide grin broke out from Jack's lips. He pumped his arm, "Alright! Complete victory! How was my throw, Leona-senpai?"

Leona acknowledged his excitement awkwardly. "Not bad... For a fresh baby."

Jack seemed satisfied, nonetheless. Even from where I'm standing, he looked like a hyper puppy that I'm surprised his tail wasn't wagging. Maybe he was trying to suppress it.

"They didn't let us score a point... They're so brutal!" Grim uttered through his panting, slouched face down on the ground like a gray blob now.

"Leona-san's so mean to the bright-eyed freshmen, not showing mercy even in a practice match. Shishishishi." Ruggie snickered cruelly.

Leona smirked mirthfully. "Someone's bound to teach them the world isn't meant to be fair. I was being generous."

Yep, this school is still full of assholes and jerks. Thanks for the reminder.

I was petting Drill Sye by its cheek to comfort them (and myself to an extent), congratulating their amazing efforts and promising them sweet treats before letting them be dismissed in soft pink light.

I approached the boys, guilt eating me away. "I'm sorry, guys. If I didn't bring up Magift in front of Savanaclaw, you wouldn't be in this messy situation."

"It's okay, Stri-chan. A-Deuce combo got a taste of what the real competition in the Inter-Dorm Magift Tournament will be like, anyway." Cater reassured before adding to the boys, "Still not sure about the tryouts for you two, yet."

Ace groaned. "Ugh, I'm so gross. Let's just go straight back to the dorm."

"I'm getting hungry, too." Grim uttered weakly.

"Before that, let's get you cleaned up, okay?" I lift the little monster and pat the dirt off his fur before holding him in my arms. Grim falls limp in my hold and relaxes, too tuckered out to move around.

Leona approached me, Ruggie trailing behind like a shadow. "Are you convinced now?"

"No doubt about it. I'm sorry if it sounded like I was belittling you guys, though. I really didn't mean it like that." I lowered my head.

"Not at all. Did our match help you with the investigation?" Asked the dorm leader.

"Yeah. I can see the potential targets the culprit would aim for. You guys would be at risk if they're desperate to turn the tides." I said.

Ruggie raised a brow. "Heh~ Is the kitten concerned about us?"

I sheepishly rubbed the back of my head, eyes round with innocence at the question. "Well, yeah. Why wouldn't I?"

The hyena and lion exchanged eye contact. They must have not expected my honest response.

Leona let out an amused laugh by the nose. "Fresh babies will still be fresh babies. You don't gotta fret over your upperclassmen. That's our job."

I owlishly blinked. "Right..."

Summer green solemnly meets my azure blue. "If you ever need help... We'll be there. And by 'we', I mean Ruggie."

Said hyena squawked indignantly, "What?!"

"Did I stutter?" Leona drawled a yawn as he sauntered away to return to his dorm.

"Hey, Leona-san! Don't go assigning me to people! I get to decide based on the pay!" Ruggie tails after him.

"So he'll do anything in return for a favor... Of course." I sweatdropped.

I was then approached by the white wolf, Jack. He says, "I didn't think you'd have a strong familiar like that rhino tanking our magic. How'd you tame it?"

"I... I just listen to their voice in my dreams and let them manifest in them real world." The more I spoke, the more uncertain I sounded. It doesn't sound impressive when I explain that.

Golden amber beady eyes bored into me unblinkingly. "You don't sound too sure."

"Sorry. They just... pop into my mind when I need it, I guess." I responded weakly, not making eye contact all the while.

"...If you got those 'Dream Eaters' to obey you, you must have something they're drawn to. Like Leona-senpai's strength as dorm leader of Savanaclaw." Suggested Jack.

I didn't think much about it until someone actually pointed it out. Meow Wow and the others sometimes appeared when in times of trouble or if I needed help.

Something the Spirits are drawn to... What would that be...?

"Everyone, it's getting late. We should return to our dorms now." Cater spoke up for us.

"Then, Jack-kun, we're going back now. Be careful not to get hurt, all right." He bids him farewell.

Jack took in the boys battered state. "You guys aren't in a position to worry about me. Go home already."

I cast a quick look to the wolf before climbing down the stairs to leave Savanaclaw.

When we were gone, Jack remained at the Magift stadium and was silent until he ran a hand over his face and rubbed his nose. His hand then hovers over his mouth. He released a breath he had been holding.

"That woman's scent is really sweet... It's dangerous for her to be here..."

...

That night, Grim was sleep-talking rather loudly. He was mumbling about his super play, most likely about the Magift game back then.

Being the night owl I am, I was already wide awake. I opted to take a walk outside to relieve my muscles a bit. And also spare my ears from the obnoxious snoring.

I randomly slip on a gray sweater over my black pajamas before exiting the bedroom.

A cold breeze hits the skin of my face and bare feet sporting outdoor sandals as I stepped out of the dorm. The autumn season is getting chillier by the month.

I crestfallen as I gazed at the night sky. I grazed my thumb over the face of my wristwatch and feel the worn scratches beneath. I wonder if I'll ever get home...

The sound of rustling disturbed the night silence.

I flinched and look from the sky to the forest where the source was heard. A tall figure steps into the moonlight. A naturally pale man with black curved horns akin to Maleficent's protrude from his dark midnight hair whose long locks draped over his chest are tinted blue. His features are graced by the subtle moonlight hue, making him all the more majestic and noble like.

In that moment, I thought he was really beautiful.

"Hm? Who goes there?" His deep voice penetrated the still darkest night and snapped me out of my reverie.

I should be asking the same! ...Is what I wanted to quip, but I've been robbed speechless by his rather overwhelming presence. I feel like I should be bowing before his grace or something.

Acidic green eyes with a yellow ring surrounding black slit pupils examined me.

"Well, now this is a surprise. You are a child of man."

I was puzzled by his peculiar word phrasing and glanced to the green vest and armband. Isn't that from the Diasomnia Dorm?

"Do you live here? This building had been abandoned for a long while. I'd been quite fond of it as a place I could be quietly left alone." The man continued.

I found the words clogged in my throat and instead asked him, "Who are you?"

"Who am... You don't know who I am? Truly?" His eyes widen astonishingly as he absorbed the confusion swirling in my doe blue eyes.

He then smiles amusingly. "...Hmmm. Is that so? That is... exceedingly rare. What name do you go by?"

"What name do I go by"? Did he have to phrase it like that?

I couldn't suppress a knowing smile. If only he knew...

"I'm the prefect of this dorm, Strix Noctowl. Isn't it polite to give your name in return?" I say with all given respect.

"Strix Noctowl..." He echoes my name through his tongue, finding himself wandering lost in thought before returning to reality.

The man with horns' eyes mirthfully smiled. "My name, you say? Fufu, it will be better for you not to know. The moment you hear it you'll feel a frost spread over your skin. For your ignorance, as an exception, I'll allow you to call me whatever you'd like. Though, you may come to regret that someday..."

I wonder if I'd really feel the terror behind his name. I don't know why he avoids giving me his name, since names are harmless, right? I would have been okay with a nickname or even a fake name. I did it. The fact that he gives a roundabout way to hide it is peculiar.

I suppose I should be wondering why people at this school, both students and staff, are weirdos, but I guess pre-Disney knowledge is keeping my head on my shoulders (or maybe the opposite?). It's better to numb your mind to the world's strangeness as soon as possible, as someone who is a certified alien is speaking.

"Hm, even so... Now that people are living here, that means this abandoned building is no longer abandoned. That's too bad. I have to find another abandoned place for my nightly strolls. I shall excuse myself now."

He disappears, leaving sparkles from where he once stood. It was now just me by my lonesome. Just when I thought of indulging in idle chatter with someone who looks like Maleficent, he was quick to peace out on me. Damn.

Once I was sure no other passerby would wander here, I mutter to myself in resignation.

"I live in a Disney world where all the men are good-looking and handsome." I dryly chuckled, "I'm in danger..."

Around the same time...

The night in Savanaclaw is tranquil underneath the starry sky. The once lively dorm is now preparing to rest for the morning sun to rise.

In his bedroom specially large for dorm leaders, Leona sat hunched in front of a chessboard, the black and white chess pieces strewn across the tiles. The pawns have been moved from their original spots, making their advancement to the other side.

He moved a black knight already near the other side of the board to topple a white pawn. Most of the white pawns were removed from the board by that point. All by the work of his knight.

The door to his room opens.

"Leona-san, good evening. I brought your dinner." Ruggie stepped inside to place the tray of tonight's meal on the table before lowering his voice, "And I took care of another job."

Leona glanced behind him. "Ahh. Aren't you an efficient one, Ruggie."

"Well, naturally. If it's for you, Leona-san, it's easy." The spotted hyena grinned.

Leona scoffed. "Ha, don't flatter me. You're doing this for yourself."

"...Oh no, Leona-san. This is for us, y'know." Ruggie responded before his smile faded. "Everyone wants to turn this world on its head. The hyenas in the legend of the King of Beasts followed him because they wanted to improve their lot in life. I'm just doing the same."

"Hmph. Then be discreet while you 'hunt'. Don't leave evidence." Warned the brunet.

"Shishishi! Of course. It's hyena policy to never leave a scrap of their prey behind."

"And? Why haven't I heard news of Diasomnia yet?" Asked Leona.

"The headmaster insisted there's no solid proof that they're the culprits. It's still clear that he favors their participation, though." Ruggie reported.

A scowl forms, baring white fangs. "That Crowley... He would never disqualify Diasomnia as long as their dorm leader, Malleus, is there."

Three remaining white pawns move two spaces from their posts. Three black pawns move accordingly in return. The white pawns were protected by the white rook following closely by the side, should the enemy pawns move further and into the rook's range. He would leave the pawns be.

Leona's eyes narrowed. "We'll have to take Malleus out by force."

A devious grin no stranger to laughter branded Ruggie Bucchi's expression perfectly. "Shishishishi. Time to finally stop using our claws and sink our fangs on 'em, huh? The others will be drooling over the plan."

"I'll say." A humored smile played the dorm leader's lips until it molded into a solemn frown.

"I know you're eavesdropping. Show yourself."

"Huh?" Ruggie fell quiet, turning to the entrance.

The wooden floor creaked under the weight of a pair of footsteps.

It was the lone wolf, Jack Howl.

Heartbroken betrayal painted the first year's face. "Leona-senpai, Ruggie-senpai... You two were behind the incidents?"

Despite the new presence, neither the lion nor hyena showed signs to deny the claim.

"I didn't take you as the type to eavesdrop, Jack-kun." Leona sneered. "You should find a different hobby for those giant ears of yours."

Jack explained, "I was still stoked about the practice match today and wanted to thank you guys for the experience before going to bed, but..."

"To attack people before the competition even started... It's cowardly and just plain wrong!" Berated the wolf.

"Ooh, playing the 'hero of justice'? Jack-kun is so cool~" Said Ruggie, though there was a wry undertone accompanied by his dark gaze.

"I'm saying I don't abide by such methods. There's no point to playing a game where every dorm is not at their full strength. That ruins the challenge in overcoming strong opponents!" Jack insisted.

"Jack... You know I'm only thinking about what's best for all the members of Savanaclaw? If we shoot down Malleus, we'll get revenge for all our unsightly crushing defeat broadcasted to the whole world in the past two years. Savanaclaw's reputation will be restored." Reasoned Leona.

"It's already been decided that if we don't win this year, Malleus will be entered into the hall of fame. This is our last chance. Yet you want to give it up for your sense of justice? Do you want to destroy your upperclassmen's futures?"

Jack averted his gaze. "Th-That's...!"

"Using your head when chasing prey is the basics of hunting. There's nothing cowardly about it." Leona said.

"Shishishi! In this school, it's survival of the fittest. Goodie two shoes can't survive here." Ruggie snickered.

Jack persists, "Dorm head, if you gave it your all, you would have no problem against Diasomnia! I still remember your play from three years ago. I...!"

"Don't talk like you know everything!" Leona roared. "Give it my all? Utterly foolish. Even if I did, nothing would change."

He tersely spoke, "...Leave. If you want to see the morning sun."

Jack bit his lower lip and turned his back to them, exiting Leona's room.

"That guy's a liability. Should I get rid of him?" Ruggie asked after he was out of earshot.

"Just wait. Even if he goes and tells Crowley, he has no evidence. That, and we need him to crush Malleus. Keep a close eye on him for now." Leona advised.

"Yes." Drawled out the hyena before taking his cue to leave as well.

Now alone in his chamber, Leona clicked his tongue and closed his eyes upon feeling a headache wash over him. "...Tch, damn fresh-baby... Sounds just like my brother..."

His eyes become blown wide open.

"If Jack is as righteous as him, he'll open his big mouth and blab on me...! No one with a sense of justice would just wait it out. He'll tell his classmates, or perhaps..."

A certain student's face revisits his memory.

"I'm Strix Noctowl. I'm put in charge of investigating the incidents surrounding many potential Magift players getting injured."

Leona returned to the chessboard, reviewing the pieces' roles and their worth in the current situation of the field. He was now acting as the white chess pieces' player, as it was their turn before he got interrupted by Jack.

His gloved hand ghosted the white pieces until he eventually placed one near the black knight he had actively used.

The white queen has begun to move. The queen may devour the knight the following turn if Leona does not do something to stop the queen's rampage.

Summer green irises glanced upwards to the sky.

Amidst the sea of stars is the crescent blue moon, the same color as the eyes of a certain owl who was sent out by the raven's orders.

Reverting his gaze to the chessboard, Leona taps his finger restlessly on the table, tail lashing as he conjures a different plan to get rid of Malleus, the crown prince to Briar Valley. The prime model of the "perfect first prince" that he loathes so much. Do those people exist to taunt Leona as the second born prince?

He is not the "inadequate second prince". He had proven himself to also be worthy, far more than his older brother who wears the crown willy nilly with a carefree, sunny attitude. Yet being born first in line equates to competence? Such thinking makes Leona roar with laughter.

Except he lost all feeling in his laugh for that joke. What is there to smile for when his future was set in stone the moment he was born years after his brother?

He claws through his hair in the midst of his turmoil. "Damn it. All these fresh babies prancing around like gazelles and meddling in my plans..."

Remembering his dinner delivered by Ruggie, he reached for the fork.

"If I can't be the king of my country, I'll claim the title of king through this Magift tournament... This time, I will show the world who truly deserves the right to the throne."

He stabbed the slab of meat and tears it apart with his grinding teeth, jaws clenched tightly as he did.

DRIP DRIP...

~~~~~~~

(1) - I'm aware tigers are not from Africa (they're from Asia) when writing it. I knew that way before having to research to confirm it. Y'all can stop losing sleep over it and stop bashing me in the head about it.

But because it took place in a dream, Strix is an anomaly in that case. She is an outsider, so being a tiger would easily isolate her as not part of the savanna. If you immediately thought, "Tigers are not from Africa, dumbass author!" then congrats! That's the whole freaking POINT!

Aside from symbolism behind why I chose a white tiger, I purposely chose it so applying logic wouldn't make sense... because it's a DREAM. Here's me reminding y'all what Strix is dealing with.

(2) - According to Riddle in Ace's PE uniform story, the disk is made of metal with magical properties. It's no ordinary frisbee.

If you haven't known, it's said in fae lore that when you give your real name, they have the ability to control you. The same goes vice versa. What's really peculiar is that "Strix Noctowl" is not remotely close to her real name.