Please excuse any mistakes/typos in this 10k plus chapter I wrote all over the place.

...

She doesn't really like clear skies. It feels like the sun is shining on the ugliness she tries to hide.

That was why she was a little uncomfortable with him at first.

A relaxed laugh rings beneath the bright blue skies devoid of clouds.

"I'm Caelum, Sidney's caretaker and also your neighbor. Nice to meet you, [...]."

~~~~~~~

Shadow of Clear Skies

~~~~~~~

That following morning, Strix had a long day ahead of her in her mission to restore Ramshackle Dorm to livable condition. No more dust bunnies and cobwebs, no more musty curtains and chipped walls. She can't continue residing in a sorry state just to receive pitying looks and condolences.

This project has been in progress since Strix officially became the prefect. With the help of the ghosts (despite them voicing they wanted to keep the haunted aesthetic going), the workload was less taxing than just between a human non-mage girl and a little sentient monster.

On weekends, they take the day to clean. The sooner they finish the better they can relax without dust crumbling on top of them.

With this determined mindset, Strix would take her dose of caffeine in the morning to keep herself wide awake. Grim practically shrieked the first time he had witnessed a wide-eyed, unblinking Strix that could rival an owl's creepiness holding a mug of purely bitter black coffee. She could win a staring contest just by weirding people out to the point they can't bear looking into her round eyes. Strix was not proud of this, to be honest.

While Strix entrusted the ghost trio to remove the nailed wood planks barring the windows from the outside, Strix and Grim focused on giving their bedroom a paint job.

Sporting an apron over her simple tee and shorts and tied cloth over her head, the prefect was painting the walls to their bright beige glory. Grim was tasked with reaching the corners and spaces Strix can't reach with his magic.

Strix was humming the "Whistle While You Work" song from Snow White while she stood on a chair and made long strokes with the paintbrush. She had asked Riddle for the paintbrushes with the promise of being responsible to return what was borrowed. As for the beige paint, she had to personally pay out of her wallet using the monthly allowance from Crowley and "tips" as a part-timer at Heartslabyul. Sam's store never fails to have anything and everything for sale.

Strix soon worked her way to the green shelf holding two storage boxes and a large empty jar. Now to move these out of the way...

The female carefully carries the boxes and sets them on a round table meant to be for the chair by the fireplace. She opened the one box that has contents that may or may not be fragile if handled carelessly. It's been a month since she last checked.

Upon lifting the lid, she stared inside. A towel folded neatly inside served as a cushion for two glass cookie jars. One has colorful gem-like rocks of different shapes. Oddly enough, there wasn't three of them before.

However, the one that immediately had her pupils zero in is the other container. There is no black rock inside as it should have been! The same suspicious black rock that Grim keeps eating off the floor at any given opportunity-

Strix slowly looked over her shoulder to where Grim stood. At least, where she thought he was. For a moment she thought she could visualize a dust cloud replacing the monster.

"Grim you little-!" The little shit ran away!

Grim had hightailed the hell out of Ramshackle Dorm until he becomes one with the wind the moment Strix opened the box, abandoning his painting job if he were to live another day.

He hears the human chasing after his tail from a few ways away and sped up his pace, prompting more cursing under the rising sun.

The chase continued all the way to the Hall of Mirrors.

Grim had a bright idea of going into Savanaclaw. Strix didn't skip a beat in passing through the magic mirror warping her to the savannah. Once she arrived, she spotted the gray monster fleeing inside the dorm. He can't escape her 2.0 vision even in the darkest hours!

"Grim! Get back here damn it!" Strix didn't care if the whole dorm could hear her with their keener animal senses. Right now she is utterly pissed.

Residents notice the only female running past them in pursuit of the raccoon-like creature and stared at her fleeting figure until she rounded a corner. She didn't pay mind to the unusual staring questioning her.

Upon turning a corner, she spots a gang of three looming over a cowering Grim. They weren't looking pleased.

"Hey! Keep your mitts off him!"

Grim gasped as he looked to the human with glimmering hope. "Strix!"

She points to him.

"That raccoon is my prey." Said the girl, wide, icy blue eyes devoid of compassion.

"Strix?!"

"Haah? You're gonna have to fight for your prey then, human. You ain't got magic!" One of the residents retorted.

"I'm sorry, but violence against your like is considered animal abuse." Was what Strix quipped coolly. They seethed.

She continued, "I don't have magic, but I have familiars on my side."

A violet hawk with halberd blades for wings and a yellow eagle with circuit-like patterns on their wings appear on either side of her.

"I'll show you why birds are to be feared."

These two sharp-shooting birds pester their prey with their hit-and-run tactics, aggravating them. What piles on top of their frustrations was their tendency to stop and gloat every time they land a hit, to which Strix had to constantly remind the pair of birds to not do while in a fight.

The gang of three soon scrambled and ran away with tails between their legs, lest the damn hawk and eagle might come swoop in for it if their master so desires.

Strix huffed as she watched them flee and leave clumsy apologies in the process. Her two Dream Eaters released a cry into the roof of Savanaclaw and land on either of her shoulders.

Strix smiles and stroke both their crest feathers. Halbird and Eaglider croon and nuzzle their heads to her affectionately, eliciting a giggle from her. Birds, in her opinion, are badass. They're flighty and strong, yet are graceful creatures of the sky.

"Good job you two. You taught them what you're all about." She praised. She'll let the gloating slide, though.

Strix blinked at her hands and looks down. For some reason it took her until now to realize she was wearing Savanaclaw's biker uniform.

Though she has longer sleeves, a pair of rainbow beaded bracelets instead of necklaces on her right wrist and a leather brown glove on her left arm for birds to perch on. A lanyard wrapped around her waist held up a leather black protective layer covering her left side of the leg with a big pocket and a white fur accessory with gradient blue-white feathers and red sleeker feathers attached. A long black belt with a metal ring at the end resembled a grappling hook (probably for her bird spirits to grab with their beaks or talons?) was looped and attached to her lanyard.

'Must've been magic.'

Strix lightly tugged on Savanaclaw's trademark yellow-orange cloth wrapped around her head like she had worn when she was cleaning with their logo printed. She had never worn biker clothes before until now, so this is a rather refreshing change for her. She doesn't look half-bad if she says so herself.

Without blinking, Strix swiftly caught a sneaking rascal by the collar. "Not so fast, Grim."

Grim squeaked. He sweats anxiously as he was lifted to her eye level. Three pairs of eyes were bored into him. Suddenly Strix became a lot more intimidating with two big birds perched on her shoulders.

"I'm very disappointed, yet I'm not surprised." Strix began. Her grin was sickening sweet that it was clearly plastic. "I bet those rocks taste so good that you can last a month without canned tuna."

Grim paled and flailed in protest, "No, not my canned tuna!"

Her heart was never going to be swayed by whatever promises Grim will be desperate to claim. "A price to pay for your gluttony. I bet you sneaked a black rock from Leona's Overblot behind my back!"

Grim couldn't be more of an open book than he was right now.

Strix made a grim face. "Two months. Two months of anti-canned tuna starts today."

Now Grim was squealing from the excruciating pressure of Strix's knuckles drilling into his skull. Those are painful as hell!

Tears swell in the monster's eyes. "You're so mean! This is animal abuse. Power harassment, y'know?!"

"Technically you're a monster. You said it yourself: your stomach is different from a human. And no animal would eat an obviously suspicious black rock off the floor." Strix said as a matter of fact. Grim noted she was not defending herself from the last bit, though.

She begins to head back to the entrance. "Now let's go back to fixing Ramshackle. I'm going to work you to the bone today."

A whine leaves Grim who fell limp from her secure hold around him. "This stinks!"

"Ah, Strix! Perfect timing!" A certain hyena boy spotted the Ramshackle duo and jogs up to her, throwing an odd glance to the bird spirits sandwiching the girl and acknowledging him with a glance. "And you got new threads?" Plus familiars?

"I think this meant I get to blend with Savanaclaw now." Strix shrugged before asking, "What's up?"

Before Ruggie would answer, a familiar voice called out, "Ah, it's big sis!"

A small bundle of warmth and joy comes up to Strix and hugs her around her torso, burying his face into her shirt while giggling.

Grim crawled up to her shoulder and peered down at the boy. "You're that Cheka kid from last night."

Strix had stood rigid. A child is hugging her. Would it hurt his feelings if she pulled away from his innocent touch? She'd hate to see him cry, much less unintentionally wound him to the point of the Kingscholar family placing a target on her back.

She settled a harmless, tentative hand on his small shoulder and greeted politely, "Hello, Cheka."

Cheka beamed up at her. "I didn't know you go to this school with Uncle Leona. You're in Savanaclaw, too?"

Strix internally sweatdropped. Honestly, she'd be surprised as well. "No, I'm from another dorm. This is my...work clothes. I do part-time jobs here." Though, ignoring Ruggie's skeptical look, she doesn't know what she would be doing at a dorm for jocks.

Strix makes eye contact with Ruggie. Why is Cheka here? Didn't he return home last night? What is going on?

"He begged his parents to let him stay over until evening today." Was what Ruggie replied.

"Mom and Dad said I get to stay when I told them about you." Cheka pulled away to peer up at Strix with a bright smile. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome...?" She's not sure if she's safe now that his parents know about her. What did Cheka even tell them? That she has a sweet smell? Definitely that fact. Surely this can't be the only reason the king and queen would let their only son and heir be away from the kingdom.

While Cheka was fixated on the peculiar colorful spirits hovering in the air above him, Ruggie slides to whisper to Strix, "Leona's retired for the whole day because of the Overblot and doesn't want to deal with him. The kid seems to be attached to you a lot. I'm still recovering from my injuries, you see..."

"You're telling me to babysit until evening." It was more of a statement than a question.

Ruggie grins. "Glad you pick things up quick. You look like you're good with kids, anyway." Quite the contrary, no. But she wasn't able to tell him that as he snickered and wished her good luck with her babysitting duties.

"This is the repayment we get for saving him?" Grim frowns while watching the hyena walk away.

"To be fair we did thwart their plans. Besides, it's not like I expect anyone to owe me a favor, especially so earnestly." Strix shrugged. In this villain school, it's very unlikely.

"I can't believe the Great Grim has to stoop to watching over a human kid." Grim grumbles under his breath.

"You can go back to Ramshackle if you don't like it. However, you'll have to put in double the effort to make up for it. And don't think about slacking or running away. If I hear from the ghosts, I'll make sure tuna cans will only be a distant dream." Strix said rather nonchalantly.

Grim was set down on the floor. He shivers at the prospect, mumbling if Strix had been so aggressive or merciless.

"It's either babysitting or painting the dorm. Take your pick."

Strix bids him goodbye as he stalked off before looking to Cheka who was having fun chasing Halbird and Eaglider.

She subconsciously rubbed her gold heart lock and heaved a silent sigh. This might be a long day yet again for Strix Noctowl.

~~~~~~~

Crimson red hair that burns brightly as fire under the harsh glares of the sun. A bright, incandescent smile that lights the world around them. Big hands radiating warmth and the strength to protect.

She could tell from first glance he was a man loved by everyone.

Her first instinct was to actively avoid him. She didn't understand this stirring emotion threatening to spill from her mouth that was familiar yet completely new to her. What she did realize was that she was burning from his light that she could never bear to tolerate; her ugliness was darkening the stronger he radiates.

She would bristle and immediately leave the room whenever Caelum is present in the same area as her. Any attempts at interacting were discouraged by the child.

Caelum gave her space for a while to get accustomed to her unfamiliar surroundings. While he resumes his business tending Sidney to his needs, the girl would watch from afar.

The community loved him. Everyone, young and old, male and female, showered him with adoration and respect while still establishing a closely-knit bond akin to family.

She once scowled at the sight. How aggravating was it to see not a single soul harbor neutral to negative thoughts about him. He's practically perfect.

She loathed him, but more so everyone else around him who spared boundless love for him. The moment she inflicts the slightest offense, be it intentional or not, the whole world turns on her. People like him and her dead mother are most dangerous.

One day when she was driven to a corner of her pitch black foulness, she lashed his hand and left a red wound across the back. It wasn't deep for blood to clot, but it was visible on his sun-kissed skin.

There was a presence of glee lifting her heart upon seeing the flicker of pain contort his youthful visage, the dead skin cells clinging under her fingernails. As long as she was finally free from the persistent nagging of the sun, she was content with it.

Only did she later realize in the darkness of her bedroom that her ugliness was pure filth.

She was supposed to move on from being the apathetic soul her family despised her for. Yet when the light came back, she is repeating her mistakes again wherever she goes.

She cursed and cursed and cursed. Why is the light the bane to her existence?

~~~~~~~

Not wanting to attract potential unwanted attraction with Cheka around, Strix took him to the back of the dorm. They sit by the base of a tree under the perpetual sunny sky of the savannah. It's surprising how the sun has yet to reach at its peak by now.

Meanwhile Halbird and Eaglider soar through the skies. They must've felt the need to show off in front of a child as they performed several tricks mid-air and wowing Cheka. In turn, their egos are massaged and more dynamic spins and loops are made.

Strix sweatdropped. If her bird spirits are this egotistical, does that imply something about their night owl master herself?

The blue-haired girl glanced to Cheka whose eyes are still on the pair of Dream Eaters.

Strix doesn't know how to watch over a kid. Is it okay if she just sat down and not do anything but keep an eye on him? She doesn't share Cheka's boundless energy literally radiating from him as though he was the literal sun itself. After nearly blowing her top off from Grim's disobedience, Strix exhausted her caffeine she had intended to use for Ramshackle. Now she has the urge to doze off. But she would be neglecting her responsibilities...

Halbird and Eaglider seem to have grown tired as their flips were slower. They pause in their tricks and perch on a tree branch to the side of the stone the two humans sit on. One may notice their visible panting as they regain their energy by taking a break. It was almost comical in that sense.

"Are you okay having me around, Cheka?" Strix asked. "You came here because you wanted to spend time with your uncle, right?"

Cheka was not disheartened. "It's fine. Uncle Leona said he'll come back on the holidays. I didn't want to go back home yet. I want to play with you, big sis."

"Me?"

"Yeah. Do those birds belong to you?" He asked and look up to their higher positions.

Upon overhearing this, Halbird and Eaglider perk up after preening their crest feathers. Two pairs of yellow pupils surrounded by black are now attentive.

"Yes. They're my familiars. That's Halbird and that's Eaglider." Strix said while pointing to the respective bird.

"I never saw colorful birds like them before." Cheka said. "They look like that big cat from the tournament."

"That was Meow Wow. It's also my familiar, too." Strix replied.

"Wow, how many do you have?"

Strix sheepishly smiled. "I don't know myself, but I'm betting a lot."

Cheka gasped before asking excitedly, "Do you have a lion?"

Strix smiles knowingly. "I do. Want to see him?"

"I do! I do!" Cheka was almost bouncing off his feet at this point.

Strix grinned and summons Aura Lion before them, surprising Cheka with its colorful palette. He gasped. "A lion!"

Said spirit leans his head forward and indulges in Strix's affectionate rubs and strokes of his rainbow mane. She looks to the awed Cheka. "This is Aura Lion. He's a Dream Eater."

"A Dream Eater?"

Aura Lion glances to Cheka. He sniffs him before lightly nudging his blue green muzzle to the child's cheek. Cheka hugs the Spirit by the head and giggled.

"I remember he deserves a treat for the hard work he's done. Dream Eaters likes eating sweets than anything. Or rather, that's the only thing they'll eat." Strix said.

She produced a blue pouch from her outer pocket and opens the sack to reveal colorful rock candy. It's her favorite konpeito candy. She would have konpeito on her person in times when she feels tired. They say sugar helps fuel you.

Cheka caught a whiff of the sugary candy and peers inside the pouch curiously. "What's that? They look like stars."

"It's rock candy, specifically konpeito. They're my favorite." She pops a pink candy in her mouth and holds the opened pouch to Cheka. "You can have some."

"I will. Thank you, big sis!"

Strix pours a few konpeito on top of his cupped hands. He tries a piece. Round doe brown eyes widen and shimmer like stars. "It's good!" The red-haired boy then eats more than one of the konpeito from his palm.

"There's plenty of those to come around, so you should savor them while you can." Strix tells him kindly. Cheka takes his time dissolving the fruity sugar in his mouth.

Her expression soften at the sight. She stands up and moves a few feet into the open field before facing Aura Lion. Between her pinched fingers was a konpeito candy. "Aura Lion~ How about some konpeito?"

Aura Lion's attention shifted on the rock candy. He approaches Strix and looks up as she lifted the treat above her head. She cooed, "Come and get it~"

The lion spirit lifts his front legs to reach for it but Strix was quick to step back. With a mischievous grin, she continues teasing the Dream Eater and move around in a circle until she relented and stood in place. Aura Lion stands upright with one of his front legs resting on her shoulder, pawing the konpeito treat just hovering before his face.

Strix pops the candy into his open mouth. A single tiny piece was never satisfactory by itself, so she fed a plentiful amount. After consuming them, Aura Lion lets out a pleased rumble from the throat (lions can't purr) and nuzzles her cheek while still standing on his hind legs.

Strix grinned and rubs his face a little roughly as he'd like it. "Good lion."

She gestures him to return on all fours before looking to Cheka who had been watching. "You can feed him konpeito if you like." Strix hands the pouch to Cheka who eagerly accepted.

He watched as Aura Lion eats the konpeito from his palm, the rough tongue cats are known to have grazing his skin. Cheka squeals from the ticklish touch.

While watching the adorable scene unfold, Halbird and Eaglider flew to perch on Strix's shoulders. They croon softly for her attention.

"Oh right, I should thank you two for before." Strix noted. "Cheka, would you mind feeding them?"

"Sure! Here ya go." He scatters konpeito on the ground for them to take.

Both bird spirits land on the ground and pick the candy with their beaks.

Strix smiled. Cheka is having fun playing with the spirits. She wouldn't know what to do if she didn't have them by her side.

Damn. The more she looks at Cheka, the more she would have liked to sing Simba's "Just Can't Wait to be King". However, the lyrics are for narrative purposes rather than a meaningful message. It would be out of context and a hassle to explain if other people discover this. Guess she'll have to sing her heart out in her mind.

'Oh I just can't wait till Dad dies-' Strix coughed. Wrong lyrics. 'Oh my species is going extinct-' She shakes her head. Too many dark parodies are stuck in her head now. (1)

"Cheka, have you ever heard of Hakuna Matata?" The female asked.

"Hakuna...Matata?" He tilts his head. It seems that phrase doesn't exist in this Disney-based realm.

Strix nodded. "It's a song from my world."

"I wanna hear!" Cheka bounced to life at the idea of hearing her singing voice. "Please? Pretty please?"

She giggled before clearing her throat.

"Hakuna Matata. What a wonderful phrase! Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craze. It means no worries, for the rest of your days~ It's our problem-free philosophy, Hakuna Matata."

Cheka's ears twitched along with his tail raised. "Hakuna Matata... It means no worries for the rest of your days!"

"It's our problem-free philosophy~ Hakuna Matata."

Strix lifted a finger to her lips and winked. "Keep this a secret between us."

Cheka wanted to hitch a ride on Aura Lion. His bubbly laughter can be heard from afar as the lion spirit made regal yet powerful leaps befitting of the king of beasts around the vast savannah field. Strix can trust her spirit to protect Cheka from danger without her physically there to command orders.

Halbird and Eaglider joined in what then became a race between the three spirits as they raced around the dorm. Cheka can be heard encouraging Aura Lion to win on his back after one lap pass the tree Strix stood at.

Aura Lion (plus Cheka) came out victorious. It didn't help that the pair of birds, while a capable Dream Eater duo, were also competitive rivals to each other and were nearly at the other's throat at the last stretch.

When everyone returned to Strix, the lion spirit of light grew tired from playing with Cheka. After the boy dismounted, he lays by the base of the tree and rested his chin atop his crossed paws.

Strix sits with him, Cheka following suit. The former stares into the distance thoughtfully as the tranquility of the savannah was grazed by the gentle breeze.

She spoke, "I had an idea just now after seeing you with Aura Lion. I think Dream Eaters are more likely to appear with children like you."

Cheka meets her gaze. "Really?"

She nodded. "Children with hearts of light have stronger affinity with the Spirits. They have countless dreams to pursue. You have a dream, too, right?"

"Yep! I'll be king of Afterglow Savannah, and I wanna be great at Magift like Uncle Leona!" Cheka answered in a heartbeat.

Strix smiled. "Look at you dreaming big. Don't lose sight of them. They'll become reality in the near future if you keep working hard."

She lifts a hand, only for it to hover just before Cheka's head. She had caught herself from actually touching him. It would be going too far for her.

Before she could retract it, a mess of sunset red hair leans into her palm. Cheka had a wide grin curled like a cat's.

Strix had to refrain herself from squealing. She's been suppressing her urge to touch the fluffy kitty ears with every fiber of her being. She can only do so much, especially with fluffy things being her weakness.

The blue-haired girl placed both hands flat on his tawny ears and watched as they pop back upwards after letting go. She's trembling from how adorable that was. She had always wanted to do that.

Cheka tilted his head curiously. Strix playfully ran her hands around in circles and ruffling his hair, causing him to giggle from her touch.

"That tickles, big sis!"

"That so?" Strix scratches behind his ear. Cheka purrs, melting into goo by her soothing touch and being bathed in her lulling scent.

Before Strix realized it, Cheka fell asleep in her arms. The girl sheepishly smiled. Children need their sleep to recover their youthful energy in their small bodies, after all.

A yawn leaves Aura Lion's gaping mouth baring white fangs and yellow tongue, yellow armored tail occasionally whipping one side to the other.

Strix lets Cheka rest on the spirit's side and adjusts herself to rest her back against the lion. The little boy snuggles closer to his bright orange hide.

Her eyes creased. For a moment she saw her younger self replacing him.

Strix wished she could stay forever a child and never grow up, but she understood nothing is eternal. Her three years of happiness with her big brother would never stay the same even if Caelum had stayed instead of leaving.

While she is awkward with children, she also envies their youthful innocence. If only she was nine years old again...

Strix looks upwards into the green foliage of the sun-kissed tree and released a long but soft exhale. Closing her eyes, she soon drifts to her dreams from the gentle rise and fall of Aura Lion's belly.

Unbeknownst to Strix, a certain lion had been watching their interaction from the balcony of his bedroom. Leona had awoke to the gleeful childish laughter that could only belong to Cheka and looked out to see the commotion. To think the herbivore would come back here, in Savanaclaw's uniform no less, and prance around with the kid and her familiars.

Bright green eyes squint at the sight of his nephew huddled all too closely and intimately to the girl. The faint sweet fragrance carried by the breeze reaches him.

He sniffed.

"Cheeky furball."

~~~~~~~

She had decided this emotion was what some people may call "hatred".

She hated the love surrounding Caelum. She hated how no one gives a second thought to her existence overwhelmed by his blinding presence. She hated how the world favors him when she had done nothing wrong.

She hated him for being dearly beloved, the exact opposite that she is. In that aspect, her resentment ties back to her deceased mother, whose death inspired more tears and empathy for a dead woman than the appreciation of a child's birth.

Her mother was loved more than the girl herself. Caelum's existence was a constant reminder that she could never be loved.

Just when she had been pulled into Sidney's open arms, she pries away, harboring hostility towards the elder as well. He must have also been drawn to the man's light like her father and grandparents were to her mother. Sidney will not care for her like he claims he will. The light is more comforting than darkness, after all.

Caelum was a despicable force pitted against her chance of starting anew.

No matter where she would go, there was always a light that robs everything from her.

~~~~~~~

"Oi, wake up."

Her eyelids fluttered open to the familiar voice and looks to the side. A buff figure kneeling before her was blocking the sunset light from hitting her. Then she noticed the white wolf ears and bushy tail.

"Jack?" What was he doing here?

"An attendant came to pick up the kid." Replied Jack as though he read her mind. He jabbed a thumb behind him. A servant from Afterglow Savannah stood by the entrance looking at their direction and waiting patiently for the young prince.

Strix looked around to see Aura Lion had disappeared while they had slept. She gently rouses the lion cub awake.

Cheka rubs his eyes. "Ah, already? Aww... I wanted to play more."

She smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure we will the next time we see each other."

He perks up. "Promise?"

"Promise. Now don't keep them waiting, go on." She kindly ushered.

The twilight sky burns across the savannah. As Cheka was escorted by his retainer, he looks back and waved. "Bye, big sis!"

Strix waves as she sees him off. Turns out babysitting Cheka was really nice. It was mostly her Spirits that did the job but details are details.

Strix bit back a groan as she recognized the emptiness in her stomach. She didn't get to have lunch earlier this morning because of chasing Grim out of the dorm. He most likely ate her lunch without her there to restrain him. Konpeito simply isn't enough to suffice.

"You should head back to your dorm before it gets dark." Jack spoke from beside her. "I'll accompany you."

Strix looks over her shoulder to the dorm. She wanted to have a talk with Leona about a few things, but it is too late to ask.

She reverts her gaze to the first year glowing with the amber lighting. It was an appropriate sight to behold his handsome features. "Thank you, Jack."

Damn pretty boys.

When they stepped out of the Hall of Mirrors (Strix's outfit prior to the uniform came back) and walk down the path to Ramshackle, the silence between them was not particularly uncomfortable.

Strix was a few paces behind Jack despite taking normal strides. His legs are too long for her to keep up. It didn't matter too much at the moment as her focus was elsewhere.

'Tail... Fluffy. Must...resist... the floof!'

Every time the long rugged tail sways her hands impulsively twitch. It's so close yet so far... But! She has self-restraint. Hands to herself!

Her sight is forcefully pried away to the side. Yet they always revert to the tail again. Her breathing grows heavy as she creeps for the fuzz with groping hands. Just this once, let her be satiated by the soothing potential.

Jack flinched. He craned his neck to look behind him.

"So fluffy~" Flowers and soft light are practically surrounding her as she rubbed her face on the tail with a blush dusting her cheeks. A flowery giggle leaves her lips.

Jack instinctively pulls away from her wandering hands. Long wolf ears pulled back behind his head. "Wha-What are you doing?"

A wave of disappointment drooped in her her expression before she made an uplifting, harmless smile. "I'm sorry, fluffy things are my weakness. I couldn't resist. Did I somehow hurt you?" Could she have pulled his tail by accident? She swore she was really delicate with it.

Jack then relaxed his guard. For a moment he thought he had been pounced on expecting fangs to rip him to shreds. "No, you just surprised me."

"That's a relief. I might be called 'the tail crusher' if I did it again for the second time..." R.I.P. Leona's tail.

Jack sweatdropped. "I heard from the seniors about what you did to Leona-senpai's tail."

She couldn't meet his eyes. "An accident. I've said it plenty enough, please don't remind me that again..."

They resume walking to Ramshackle.

Soon Jack tersely spoke, "You shouldn't come over to Savanaclaw often. It's dangerous."

Any animal hybrid with a sharp nose can detect her sweet scent in immediate vicinity. She's practically walking up with a sign that says "eat me" for the carnivorous bunch.

Strix was unfazed by his warning. She smiled confidently, "I can take care of myself. I have my familiars, my wits, and you."

Jack expresses surprise. "Me?"

She raised a brow. "I'd think we're not complete strangers enough to lend a hand after what happened. You'll be seeing me sooner or later, since I'm Night Raven College's one and only supervisor. Have to get familiar with the dorms like the back of my hand."

"Unless... You don't like me being around?" A dull apathy occupied her gaze not matching the lighthearted tone.

Jack's golden hues widen at the implication. He was quick to reply, "No, that's not it! I mean, you being here despite not having magic is admirable. It reminds everyone to not half-ass themselves when someone like you is giving their best even in the worst situation. How could you not respect that?"

Strix stared at him blankly in a daze. Was Jack this honest when it comes to seeing the good in other people?

Jack clams up and looks away. "So... I don't mind. You got a lot on your plate, but if you got that much spunk then you might handle Savanaclaw."

Her eyes creased the slightest, a glimmer of cheeky youth lighting her expression. "Not 'might', I will adapt to Savanaclaw."

A faint smile twitched in response. "Yeah."

The sun was about to completely set from view by the time they arrived before the Ramshackle gates. Strix faced the wolf and bowed, "Thank you for the escort. Have a good night, Jack."

Jack nodded in acknowledgment and gave his farewells before taking his leave. Strix passes the gate and climbs up the stairs leading to the building. Inside the foyer she called out for Grim to announce her return. When she heard no response, the first thing she does is head for the lounge.

There he was, playing a card game with the ghosts. Judging by the mischievous grins and snickering, Grim was not faring well in the round.

"Did Grim do his job seriously?" She asked the ghosts.

"Wouldn't want to lose them canned tunas forever if he didn't." Was what Laverne replied.

She hummed. "Glad you took me seriously."

"Then the two-month ban-!"

"I'll make it one month and a half. That's it, Grim."

~~~~~~~

At the young age of five, she was estranged from her father. She lost her voice from the emotional trauma and became even more lifeless. Her grandparents wanted nothing with her and continued passing the baton to someone, anyone who must take custody of the child.

Sidney was the only willing family member to bring her under his roof, despite the protests trying to protect the elder from raising a "troublesome problem child" on his own. He had faith the little girl would pursue happiness in a different, welcoming environment away from her original home.

She was begrudging of the old man she knew nothing about. She had only discovered she had a great grandfather on the day she was told to pack her belongings and move to a relative's home. The child wanted to be left alone with only her dark suicidal thoughts to keep her company.

The darkness clouding her eyes from the world was a prominent presence.

Then the kind-hearted young man Caelum barged into her new life.

In her viewpoint, he was always trying to butter up to her. She had a distinct feeling he wouldn't want to upset Sidney's great granddaughter after bringing her out of her former household. However, she was not obligated to play along.

Persuaded that everything about the boy was artificial, the child knew nothing more than defying his approaches. She hated the idea of being smitten by someone without flaws. All her family spoke about her mother were nothing but positive things. Even if she asked about the woman's downsides, they wouldn't answer to a heartless monster.

The light placed on a pedestal is light she will not submit to.

A few days after she inflicted a big scratch wound on Caelum, she came to the wall-slamming realization that he wasn't all blindingly white as everyone made him out to be.

It was when Caelum had suddenly collapsed while boiling water for tea. She had stumbled upon the scene when the kettle whistled and scrambled for Sidney's help (after turning the gas off of course). He wasn't moving for some reason, and he was burning up while breathing heavily. He's sick!

The elderly man was about to call the hospital when Caelum persisted in trying to stand on his two feet. Despite sweat dripping from his quivering temples trying to focus, he repeated "I'm fine" and "It's okay" throughout his denial. He could barely stand straight.

After tucking him to the couch, he had gave in and revealed he would always push himself to the brink of falling ill on his bed. His parents worked overseas for as long as he's known, so they wouldn't be aware how many times he's fainted from exerting his body. He lived by himself, with no one he could trust to nurse him to health. Not when everyone depends on him. He couldn't bring himself to make others worry.

"You should be worrying about yourself, young man," Sidney once told him. "But your heart of gold is too pure and raw to let you think about yourself. What am I going to do with you..."

He pleaded Sidney and the girl to not let a single soul in the neighborhood find out he fell sick. The pitiful sight compelled them to respect his wishes. The child would continue to nurse him back to help while Sidney would manage on his own without Caelum's aid. Things would only be slightly more difficult, but his spunk makes up for the challenges an old man shoulders.

The little girl wouldn't admit it but she has become softer on Caelum since that day. He must've been working so hard to make people smile. She could never fathom the devotion and effort it takes to continue smiling despite the pain and suffering you hide underneath your shell. In one sense, he was strong. In the other, he was not so strong.

Caelum's stubbornness and soft heart made him weak. The neighbors had praised these to be his strong points. Though no one outwardly said it for word, if given the opportunity they'd be insistent that Caelum is the equivalent of a saint.

Saints don't nearly kill themselves through overworking. They have awareness to their limits and exercise their conduct appropriately.

Caelum was none of that. And that severe flaw was whitened out by his peers and adults around him. Caelum was to be pure and devoid of darkness, it almost seemed like everyone was saying that. They just haven't realized the damage they've done to their idol.

A black thorn embedded in her heart.

She misunderstood all this time. Caelum was not being nice to earn her grandfather's favor. He genuinely sought to befriend her with all his innocent intentions. She was rude to him.

Harming him, and even taking some joy out of the pain she had failed to empathize back then, was a grave mistake she can't take back even to the day she dies.

Her family was right. She is a heartless monster.

~~~~~~~

Ruggie was strolling down the interior hallway making a beeline for the cafeteria when someone bumps into him from the corner.

A wave of sweet aroma hits him. His breath hitched from the prominent scent he could practically taste. As an animal-human hybrid, his keener sense of smell is sensitive as well. Now he could only focus on the intoxicating scent emitted by the lone female in the school.

He didn't think getting a strong whiff would be like getting drunk.

Half-lidded blue eyes beneath long lashes glance to the hyena from the corner. From behind the stray strands of midnight blue hair, glowing irises surround beady black holes that could gravitate one closer.

A shudder was suppressed. There was something alluring yet soul-penetrating in the hazy blue hues.

When he least expected it, his wrists are suddenly seized and held above his head. Stormy gray eyes widen, ears standing upright. Such fast reflexes!

Though his instincts kicked in and tell him to release from her grip, they were numbed by the unusually soft and somewhat cool fingers wrapped around his wrists.

Strix blearily squint up at the hand. "...Huh? What was I..." Her eyes then meet Ruggie's. "Ruggie-senpai?"

Her brows scrunched slightly. Then her eyes shot wide open, releasing a squeal once she grabbed his ears.

A beaming smile stretched her lips. "So fluuuffy~!"

Cue a spluttering Ruggie. What was that?! Her character did a 180!

Meanwhile Strix rubs his dark brown hyena ears. So big and smooth! She can feel the muscles twitch from her touch and the heat emanating from it. This is so realistic for a dream.

"So soothing~"

"Uh, hello? Wonderland to Strix?"

Strix was still in her own little world to hear him. Feeling emboldened by the opportunity presented to her, she scratches behind his ears.

Ruggie jolted. Then his eyes and ears droop as he leaned forward to her touch. All the tension tightening in his temples unwind. Are her hands like magic?

The blue-haired girl runs her hand through his messy hair around his ears. An airy sigh leaves her. "Cute..."

Hyena ears perk up. Did she just call him cute? No, she's just too enamored with his ears...right?

He glanced up. Yep, that's the gaze of an animal lover.

Strix soon realized this was not in fact her imagination. She was touching the real ears of Ruggie.

Her hands sharply retracted as though it made contact with fire. "Ah, I'm sorry! I was sleepwalking. Did I make you uncomfortable?" Her eyes were wide with worry swirling inside. It was a drastic change compared to the dazed ones she first unknowingly demonstrated.

"No, it's fine..."

The blond gingerly rubbed a finger on his wrist where she touched him. Her hands were unbelievably smooth and dainty, like a baby's bum. "Did you use some kinda fancy skin product from Pomefiore?"

Confusion. "No, I'm not familiar with them." Realization. "Wait, did you mean my hands? I've been told that they're stupidly soft and smooth."

She smiles proudly and raises them with wide open palms. "All natural, no hand cream needed, too. They're so nice to the touch that they can put people to sleep."

As they were up close, Ruggie couldn't help but note how long and slender her fingers are. "That so? Pomefiore would pounce on you the moment they learn that." No joke there, Strix had detected. It's indefinitely possible.

Ruggie then caught a whiff of something from her palms. "I smell something sugary..."

"Sugary? That might be the konpeito." Strix produced a glass bottle of colorful rock candy from her blazer pocket. "If you'd like, I'll share some with you to make up for my rudeness."

"I'd never deny free treats. Thanks." Something good came out of this, he grinned to himself.

She popped the cap open and pours a few rainbow candy on his cupped palms before having some herself.

"Oh yeah, I wanted to ask you where Leona would be right now. I have some things to talk to him about." Strix said.

Sometimes Ruggie is reminded that this person is a student under the title supervisor. Sounds like a load of work. Imagine dealing with an entire school of Leonas. He shuddered from the idea.

"He's usually at the botanical garden." The second-year replied.

"Thanks, and take care of your injuries." Strix takes her leave.

Ruggie watched her back become smaller. He tries to not think of the worst possible outcome when she happens to meet Leona. He continues his path to the cafeteria. "Maybe he won't get too hissy if dealing with Strix..."

Meanwhile with Strix she mumbled to herself, "He's either got really small wrists or big hands..." She doesn't know where she was going with this information about Ruggie, honestly.

~~~~~~~

How can she apologize to Caelum? She doesn't know what to do to ask forgiveness.

After changing the towel for a refreshing cold one, she sat by his side as he laid on the couch to rest. The white bandaged hand was propped on his chest gently rising and falling with every faint breath. He was asleep at the moment.

She gingerly grasped his wounded hand in her small ones and brushed his callous knuckles to her forehead. A solemn air weighed her head.

Nothing she wanted to say could come out. She was mute. It was two simple words, yet they couldn't form.

A hand rubs her bowed head. She looks up with a quivering expression wide in surprise. Her eyes were wavering but not wet, something she has yet to uncover at this point.

A smile swelling with warmth thaws her frozen heart.

"Thank you, for caring about me. That's very kind and sweet of you."

She clutched his hand tightly and trembled in place. The warmth spreading to her forehead was a gentle reminder that she hasn't been shunned away.

She has never cared for someone like this. No one ever said "thank you" so genuinely and earnestly as Caelum did. No one made her feel warm as he did. For him to place his trust in her after being nothing but terrible and bratty is considered a special place reserved from everyone else.

In turn, he too became someone she can confide to along with Sidney whom she had erased all doubts of his responsibilities as her legal guardian. She would express her apologies and he would hold no qualms about it whatsoever, all the wiser seeing behind her fragile heart.

On this day she developed an innocent crush easily interpreted as adoration for the young man. Yet for her, it was an emotion far incomprehensible to grasp.

~~~~~~~

Strix wanders in the temperate zone of the botanical gardens in search of a certain lion. This was where they first met after she made an unfortunate mistake in not looking around her surroundings and stepping on his tail.

However, this time she's very attentive to her environment for any sneaky tails begging to be stepped on in her path. If the same thing happens she won't come out unscathed the second time after the warning.

A dark tuft of fur attached by the end of a long slim tail is spotted from the intersection of the path. Upon approaching near, she finds Leona dozing off behind the potted flowers while sitting upright and crossed arms and a bent knee.

She glanced to the space on his head.

A dainty little leaf had somehow wound up in his hair.

Strix slowly reached out to remove it without trying to wake him up.

Her wrist was seized by a leather gloves hand. Her body jolts from the contact. The next second the world spun in her eyes.

Her back hits the tiled pavement. The sunlight refracting through the dome glass building was now blocked by an overwhelming silhouette.

Suddenly her mind was blank. His long braids brushing against her thin blouse and big hands pinning her wrists sent a tingly sensation through her bones. Sculpted muscles expand and contract behind the loose uniform baring a chiseled clavicle. Striking green eyes glowed from the shadows that couldn't hide the jagged scar running from his left eye.

She couldn't look away from the mesmerizing beauty of the lion prince. For a second she forgot to breathe. Pretty people up close does leave you breathless.

Leona leans forward. His husky voice slurred with the mild high of her intoxicating aroma reverberates in her now warm ear. "You approach a sleeping lion with that delectable sweet scent and expect to come out unscathed? You're playing a fool out of everyone..."

Strix shuddered. She plays her voice off as composed as she spoke, "It's not something I can control. Please let go..."

His grip tightens slightly. "Easy for you to say. Anyone at this distance would have gave in to their instincts and gobbled you up already. I'm this close to getting a taste, but you make me practice self-restraint."

He then mumbles to her ear, "Why not resist, then? Either you're a really confident herbivore or easy prey to submit to my fangs."

A memory from her childhood emerges.

"[..., you have to keep your guard up with boys. Men are wolves, after all. If they try anything funny, you have the right to fight back in self-defense. Using your head is one of your strong points."

Her eyes shot open in resolution.

WHAM!

Ignoring the throbbing sensation from her head, Strix quickly scrambles away.

The stunned brunet groaned and held his red nose. His tail lashes irritatingly while ears fold over his trembling head. For some reason he's getting deja vu? But this is their second time interacting one on one??

"Ow... This is your idea of 'resisting'...?" It's like being pecked by a bird. Hard.

Strix fiercely meets his eyes, feeling no remorse over his pain. "My brother told me to head-butt guys when necessary!"

Leona cursed at this brother of hers who gave her a funny idea and encouraged it. The 'using your head' is taken a bit too literal.

But... This herbivore has fire. Not passionate as the sun, but the moon's pale light.

He ran a hand through his hair before resting an arm atop his bent knee. The pain has subsided. "...So? What brings you here?"

Strix adjusts herself into a sitting position, though not facing the man. Her emotional health is still recovering from what just happened. It's the hormones, she repeated in a mantra inside her brain. "...I wanted to ask you some things."

An audience with the king, she says? "Go ahead."

Strix tries to form an appropriate wording for her question. "How do I get rid of this 'sweet scent'?"

"You don't."

She frowned slightly. He had answered in a heartbeat. "Really?"

"Your scent is part of your identity, of course you can't permanently remove it. You could try covering it up with whatever, but it'll never go away. You'll have to deal with it for the rest of your life."

Strix hummed in contemplation. "Are sweet scents like the equivalent of catnip?"

"Not really. You're just a little more unique than others." Leona shrugged.

There's something in her scent that can make the most ferocious beasts become like domesticated house cats. She may have an idea that would be the case, but does she know how dangerous that is?

Strix didn't seem to accept that answer but said nothing about it. She glanced at her surroundings once before remarking, "This is a really nice place to take a nap in."

Leona's lips twitched upward. "Yeah, the feel here is perfect." He closed his eyes and basked in the warm environment that is the temperate zone.

Strix stared at him, contemplating. He seems okay after two days since the Overblot rampage. Though...

Leona's brows twitched. He peeked one eye open to see her hand hovering in front of his face. A pale finger traced the space between his brows, feathery touch grazing his skin.

"Are you still feeling unwell?" Came a voice angelic and gentle from the girl.

His eyelid lowers halfway, emerald green irises staring into the distance. "Some shut eye is all I need."

She didn't believe it. "From what I've heard that's all you've been doing, especially yesterday. Something else is on your mind, isn't it?"

He fell quiet.

"I don't expect you to resolve it soon. As long as you settle things with Ruggie-senpai and the others, I won't lecture you on how to apologize."

"Lastly, I'll tell you this: you're not some second prince royalty; you're Leona Kingscholar. Even after learning about it, I've never thought of you more, never less." A smile graced her lips. The light in her eyes sparkled with acknowledgement of not a prince, but the fellow student sitting in front of her right now.

Green eyes slowly widen, pupils sharpening into thinner slits.

Everyone from the castle never met eye-to-eye with him. Before they could, they would never fail to crane their heads at his older brother's way, the eldest son automatically guaranteed to inherit the throne.

For once, he saw his reflection in her eyes. He looks like crap, was what he thought to himself before the weight of sleep lulled him to the state of unconsciousness.

Her finger slips away.

She watched the gentle rise and fall of his chest move in a steady rhythm, snores leaving him with every breath.

Strix huffed, a smile still finding its way back to her lips as she shook her head. Men are so hopeless, she swears.

~~~~~~~

He was the sun to her moon. The day to her night. The light to her darkness.

Everyone loves and adores him; she was scorned and ostracized.

To be the sky means to be open and accept everyone.

To be the night sky... She has yet to learn.

By the time she would ask Caelum for the answer to her question, he would leave into adulthood, a world far beyond her reach even after seven years pass. He may not even know himself, but the possibility was there. She had a feeling he might.

A young girl gazed into the black space devoid of stars from her bedroom window. Despite being nocturnal, she does not harbor an emotion that resonates when seeing the night.

Perhaps that emotion is the clue to her role. And that clue can only be found through her journey alone, in another world whose skies embracing its people of its own will one day provide the answer.

~~~~~~~

Blue pairs of groggy eyes stared blankly.

"What are you guys doing here?"

Ace, Deuce, Cater, and Jack greeted her doorstep in their PE uniforms first thing in the morning.

"We heard from Dorm Head Rosehearts. You've been working hard fixing the place since school started, haven't you?" Deuce spoke.

"We can't have poor Strixy manhandle the work by herself, right?" Cater winked.

"I'd rather not worry about losing my head while the prefect's around, so I'm here to escape." Ace nonchalantly admits. His brutal honesty is honestly refreshing at times.

She looks to Jack standing a bit behind the Heartslabyul gang.

He rubs the back of his neck. "It's not like I want to help. Leave the heavy-lifting to me."

Strix looks over their hopeful grins and relented with a faint, sheepish smile. "Thanks, guys."

Ace helps mop, wipe, and sweep. For the third latter, the orange-haired male thought using wind magic would take care of the job in an instant. He didn't take into account of the sheets and other light objects flying out the window. His magic isn't all too concentrated at an expert's level to be precise.

Strix soon entered the room and without a word slid a finger through the window sill. A dust-coated finger waved in front of Ace. To the broom and feather duster with him!

Deuce is in charge of maintenance with the lightbulbs and such involving appliances, given his skill. He would have to make a trip to Sam's store once he has everything checked out.

Strix placed a hand on his shoulder. Deuce was confused why she was staring at him with newfound respect and appreciation.

"Deuce... you'd make a wonderful husband."

Cue a spluttering and beet-red boy. "Aren't we going too fast with this?!" "I'm not actually proposing, Deuce, calm down." Boy was still flustered as hell by the confession, though. No one ever said that to him, okay! His mother would be overjoyed to hear this.

Cater and his clones run around painting the entire dorm both inside and out. Strix had firmly told him to keep the colors the same and that they are not going to change anything, much to his pouting disappointment. He had a library of color palettes that would go well with the dorm!

No Cater, they are not going to paint the dorm lilac purple like Strix's vest color. You mean lavender? No, it's periwinkle! Wait, aren't those two the same shade? Lavender is brighter, silly! Agh, she could have sworn this shade is the same one she was looking at. What shade? She doesn't even know at this point. Now Cater lost track of which purple Strix was referring to. It's whatever purple he's hellbent on, though.

He also hangs the paintings and decorations while posting on Magicam about the "Ramshackle Dorm Project", unsurprisingly. Now everyone in NRC knows. Cater may also hint at Ace ditching Heartslabyul duties for Riddle and other students to see in the tags, but you didn't hear it from me.

Jack hauls and lifts furniture and throws out junk. (He was the one who caught the sheets and random pots and vases back in one piece after Ace's mishap.) After hearing that Deuce plans to make a visit to Sam after the day is over, he volunteered to buy the needed tools while the boy was preoccupied with maintenance. Imagine their surprise when the lone wolf came back within fifteen minutes.

"You're fast!" The campus is ginormous, and Sam's shop is rather far from the dorm. Getting anywhere in this school is a workout! Did he run back and forth?

"I'm in track and field club." Ohhh. And Deuce is also a fellow club member to Jack, too. Who'd have thought?

"You'd think him being a wolf would be the first thing to come to mind..." A snarky side comment from Ace earned a swift threat from Strix to wipe all windows (in and out) by himself. Flashbacks to the first day of school haunts him. He was not gonna let that punishment go full circle, thank you very much.

The boys assured her to take a break and let them handle the rest, but here she was making sure they don't accidentally cause the whole dorm to collapse (along with Grim who was fooling around making more mess to spite Ace). She's still grateful for their assistance though.

While the boys take their lunch break, Strix steps out of the dorm for fresh air.

She often finds herself looking up at the sky than at her the shadow before her feet compared to her home world. At Night Raven College, the skies are rarely ever purely blue. On days it would be cloudy but bright, gray but not dark, and even brown sepia around the dorm. The sun barely smiles 24/7 here.

That made her feel reassured. She can still hide some ugly parts of her.

Strix raised her chin to the partly cloudy skies and breathes in the refreshing air brought forth by the gentle breeze. A teem of dense clouds then obscured the sun. The entire Ramshackle Dorm grounds was veiled in darkness.

Dry blue hues look into the distance.

~~~~~~~

She's bad with clear skies. She wants to hide her ugliness from the light.

But things lurk in the shadows cast by that light... And she was a little interested in finding out more about them.

For she is the darkness that couldn't live without her other half.

~~~~~~~

(1) - The parody lyrics are from Honest Trailers The Lion King and YouTuber Paint's "Ever After Ever 3" respectively. Imagine breaking into a catchy song with morbid lyrics lolol