I thank KatherineOzawa of Wattpad for helping me.
Darkness. Nothing but black as far as the human eye could see.
Slowly, small pieces of a chamber were poking out here and there in a wide room. And in the center was a large ornate mirror, where green flames bursted inside the glass.
"Ahh...my dear esteemed benefactor... My proud, beautiful flower of evil."
A lone figure slowly staggers to the mirror.
"You are truly the fairest one of all."
The figure kept drawing to the mirror as if entranced.
"O magic mirror, thy wisdom I entreat… Reveal unto me the visage I seek…"
Then everything was swallowed by blackness.
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The sound of hoofbeats could be heard as a lone horse pulled a carriage containing a coffin, sealed, inside towards a grand building in the distance. The iron gates were open, the skies were painted a dark purple, and the bright moon the only source of light. Casting shadows on the dark ground it burned, a breeze flowed on, swaying the barren branches of trees, and the vehicle passed under the iron arch into hallowed grounds.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
The figure stood in front of the mirror, closer now.
"You, whose image the Dark Mirror did beckon forth... If your heart bids it ,take the hand of the one reflected in the mirror."
A hand with elongated fingers materialized inside and the figure took it with no hesitation.
"To me. To them. To yourself. The hour grows long, and time is scarce. Keep steady your grip, no matter what may come…"
XXXXXXXXXXXX
The sounds of rattling were heard, waking up the person inside, but all that was seen was darkness.
"What's that noise?"
"I better hurry up and find that uniform before someone spots me…" a high pitched voice complained somewhere. "Urgggh! This lid weighs a ton! Try this on for size! Mya-ha!"
Next thing, there were blue flames.
"F-fire?!" the person squealed, trying to shield their face from getting burnt.
Something thudded and there was light peeking between the crevices of their fingers.
The room was full of floating coffins in a circularly widened room, small lanterns flickered with green light, giving off an eerie vibe to the room. And a large mirror hung up onto the wall in front.
The person looked down to see a small cat-like creature with grey fur muttering to himself. He had a scruff of white fur on his chest, pink paw pads, Blue flames on his ears, matching eyes and a pitchfork tail. Tied around his neck was a black and white striped ribbon.
"Now to grab the goods... What?! You ain't supposed to be awake!" the creature jumped back, scared.
"A talking…weasel?!" The person's eyes jumped from the creature to the thing they were inside. "And why am I in a coffin?!"
"How… How DARE YOU! I am no WEASEL! I'm Grim, sorcerer extraordinaire! Tch. Whatever. You…human! Just gimme your uniform, and be quick about it!" The creature demanded.
"Are you crazy?! I'm not going to strip!" The person shouted, shielding themself from him.
"If you don't…you're gonna regret it!" To prove his point, Grim summoned a barrage of blue flames. But the person was left unfazed by his threat.
"Getting roasted alive by a weasel? What will I dream of next?" they snarked.
"Well keep dreamin', 'cause I ain't no weasel!"
But they took off before the creature could make a move.
Rooms passed by their eyes in flashes. A hallway, classroom, an outside yard and a library, which they ducked into for cover.
"Where am I?" they wondered. But a semi-circle ring of blue fire stopped them in their tracks and they halted as Grim emerged from the shadows.
"Foolish human! Did you really think you could slip away from ME? Now, unless you wanna get burned to a crisp, take off that-" But a black whip shot out of nowhere and ensnared the creature. "Me-YEOW! That hurt! What gives?"
Behind the person, a man with dark green hair and pale skin appeared. He donned a white collared shirt and black tie, dark blue vest and black slacks and dress shoes. Draped over his shoulders was an extravagant coat with black feathers, and in his clawed-like hands was a large golden key acting as a walking cane. But the most questioning of the newcomer's appearance was a black bird mask that covered the top portion of his face, leaving behind two pinpoints of yellow for eyes through the mask's holes.
"Consider it tough love." He walks forward to the small figure. "Ah, I've found you at last. Splendid. I trust you're one of this year's new students? My, were you ever eager to make your debut. And bringing a poorly trained familiar with you? That is a clear violation of the school's rules."
The new person spoke up, "But he's-"
"As if I'd serve some lowly human! Now lemme go!" Grim shouted over them.
"Yes, yes. Rebellious familiars always say that. Do be quiet for a bit, won't you?" the mysterious man waved away his claim and, taking the furry creature, covered Grim's mouth with a white cloth. The creature started to shout in protest behind the rag.
"Mmmrph!"
The new person got back to their feet and turned to the mysterious figure. "Dear me. Of all the students I've dealt with, you're the first with temerity enough to open their own gate and step out of it. Does the very notion of patience elude you? No matter. Your orientation has already us return to the Mirror Chamber."
"Wait… student? And what do you mean by a gate?" They asked, confusion in their eyes.
"You awakened in a room full of gates, did you not? All of the students here at the campus arrived by passing through such gates. Although typically the students have restraint enough to wait until I open them before waking up." the mysterious guy was unsure.
The hooded figure narrowed their eyes at Grim, deducing, "I think something blew the lid off mine…"
The bird man followed their gaze and caught on to what he was saying. "The culprit appears to be that familiar of yours. You're the one who insisted on bringing it, so curtailing its behavior is your responsibility!"
"But I didn't-" They tried to tell him the truth, but was overruled yet again.
"But now is not the time for such prattle. You've a student orientation to attend. Go on, now. Make haste." The bird man ushered them out of the library.
"First, just tell me one thing: Who are you?" the person backed away from him, demanding answers.
"Hm? Have you not fully regained consciousness? The timespace teleportation must have addled your memories... " the bird figure spoke more to himself, then said, "Well, these things happen, I suppose. I shall explain it to you while we walk. Truly, my magnanimity is boundless."
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Walking in the Courtyard, the man began to speak, "Ahem. This is Night Raven College. It is an institution for students of the world over who demonstrate a rare aptitude for magic. It is the most prestigious academy of its sort in all of Twisted Wonderland. And I am Dire Crowley. Having been entrusted with its care by the chairman, I serve as headmage."
The newcomer let this information sink in slowly, and the only word that left their lips was, "Magic?!" They said it like they were hallucinating, that magic and fairytales were nothing but jokes of imagination.
"Only those who the Dark Mirror perceives as having a talent for magic are admitted to the college. Those who are selected are summoned to the campus through those 'gates,' which can appear anywhere. A black carriage bearing one such gate should have come to meet you."
The person stopped from blurting out the next thing on their mind as they strained to recall things: the forest, the sound of hoofbeats and whinnies of a horse, and the bumps on the road.
"I do kinda remember crossing a dark forest..." They said unsurely.
"That black carriage serves to receive a student chosen by the Dark Mirror. It too bears a gate that connects to this campus. And as you know, sending a carriage to meet someone on a special day is a time-honored tradition."
That caught the person's interest. "Uh, a time-honored tradition WHERE? And are you telling me that carriage just dragged me here against my will?"
"Mmfff! Mmmmmmfff!" Grim kept struggling against the binds.
"Now, let us attend to your orientation." Crowley pushed on.
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The mirror chamber was different now. The eerie green lights were now a warm yellow and red, changing the room to a friendly atmosphere. Several students were whispering amongst themselves.
"We're done with orientation and dorm assignments?" One with wine red hair and a heart ahoge spoke up. His steely, slate gray eyes looked around the place. "All right, new students-let me be clear. At Heartslabyul House, I am the law. Break the rules and it's off with your head!"
"Well, that ceremony was as boring as ever." Another yawned with boredom. His summer green eyes were hooded out of sleepiness, a faint scar seen on his left, and dark skin with strands of chocolate hair peeking from under the hood, and tucked under were a pair of lion ears. "I'm going back to the dorm. If you're in Savanaclaw House, follow me."
"New students! Allow me to be the first to congratulate you on your achievement." The third smiled. He opens his eyes to show off sky blue irises underneath a pair of glasses. To match his hypnotic eye color is light olive skin, and silver hair parted to the left. " As dorm leader of Octavinellen House, I am honored to have the opportunity to support you in what I hope will be a fulfilling campus experience."
"Hey, does anyone know where the headmage went?" Someone with a beautiful face spoke. His champagne gold/lavender ombré hair was tucked underneath his hood, a few pieces falling over his shoulders, amethyst gemmed eyes holding a questioned look, to make up for the lack of facial expression his fair-skinned face held. "He disappeared midway through the ceremony..."
"Some headmage he is." A shy voice muted from a floating tablet.
"Maybe he had a tummyache?" Another person questioned. His garnet eyes had a bit of confusion in them, a frown etched onto his tanned face as he adjusted the turban wrapped around his head concealing part of his pearl gray hair.
Suddenly the man in question bursted through the doors, with the second person in tow. "I most certainly did not!"
"Ah, speak of the devil." The red-head nodded.
The person with Crowley scanned the room carefully and saw that not only were they wearing the same robes as the other students, but that said students were all guys.
"If you must know, I was searching for the new student who'd failed to show for orientation." He turned to the new student, "You are the only one who has yet to be assigned a dorm. Step up to the Dark Mirror, and be quick about it. I'll watch your weasel." He stepped to the back as Grim still squirmed and screamed vehemently in his arms.
The student did as he said, muttering to themself, "They'll have to find out sooner or later…" Once in front of the Mirror, they removed their hood to reveal light skin, bright aquatic eyes with a neutral face. And dark purple hair in a high ponytail, bangs swept to the right side of their face.
"State your name." The spirit in the mirror commanded.
"I'm Niho Shimoba," was the reply. Despite the long hair, no one noticed that the person's true gender was a female.
"Niho… The nature of your soul is…." all was silent as the mirror stared at the newcomer. "…unclear to me."
"What did you just say?" Crowley shook his head as if he heard that right.
"I sense no magical power from this one. Soundless. Colorless. Shapeless. Utterly vacant. Therefore, no dorm would be appropriate." The mirror replied.
Several murmurs swept the crowd at this revelation.
"Are you suggesting that the black carriage went to receive a person who cannot even use magic?" The headmaster spoke in disbelief. "But that is absurd! The student selection process has not erred once in its century of existence! How could this have happened?"
"Mmmph! Nnnrgggh…" Grim managed to wiggle out of the ropes and spat out the rag to speak. "ME! Let ME have this student's seat!"
"Not so fast, you hyperactive weasel!" Crowley moved forward to apprehend the creature.
"Unlike that human, I can actually use magic! So let me be a student here!" Grim continued with a smirk. "Look, I'll show you! My spells're the cat's meow!"
"Everyone, get down!" The redhead screamed. Everyone dove for cover just as-
"Myaaahhh!" A storm of blue flames started spreading around the venue. The boy with the turban wasn't so lucky.
"AHHHHH! HELP! I'm on fire over here!" He screamed, starting to run around frantically with his butt burning.
"Someone catch the blasted animal before it sets the entire school ablaze!" Crowley demanded. But no one followed his order.
The lion man clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Ugh. Can I go now, or…?"
"Oh?" The blonde with jeweled eyes raised an eyebrow. "I thought you fancied yourself a hunter. Go and help yourself to that plump little morsel!"
"Too much effort. Do it yourself."
"Allow me to handle this, Headmage Crowley." Glasses stepped up. "If none of you are up to the task of catching a small animal, I will accept the responsibility."
"WTG Azul." The voice of the tablet spoke. "Rackin' up those participation credits."
"Hey, um my butt's still on fire… Could someone maybe put this out?!" The turbaned guy asked as a few tried to calm the flames.
"I'm sorry, were my instructions unclear?!" Crowley looked close to having a migraine.
The lion spoke up with a groan of annoyance. "Preeetty sure you can handle catching one mangy weasel all on your lonesome there, headmage."
"How many times do I gotta say it? I'm Grim, spellcaster extraordinaire! I am NOT a weasel!" Grim shrieked.
Glasses, Azul, scowled lightly, "Aren't you a spunky little fellow? Riddle, would you be so kind…?" He looked over to the redhead.
"Furry miscreant. I will abide no rule-breaking. You will be judged by my hand." He nodded.
Together, the two go after the creature, who started running away from them in the ensuing chaos. Attack after attack was thrown, but like the Whack-A-Mole arcade game, the furry being ducked and weaved his way out in time before he could get hit, sending more blue flames scurrying across the room as a result. Leaping over objects, people and even climbing up on the walls, he was nimble and fast.
Grim was about to believe he was in the clear, when some student had grabbed and thrown one of the nearby chairs, at the raccoon. Grim screamed in fear and almost disappeared, but the chair collided into him, sending him crashing into the wall. He grew dizzy as he scurried to pick himself up, when two shadows looked over him. He looked up to see Azul and Riddle standing above, glaring down at him.
"Off With Your Head!" Riddle shouted.
"MYAH?!" Something snapped around the creature like a vice. When Niho looked around a few people, she saw a black and red with gold heart-shaped collar locked around his neck. "What are you doing?!"
"The Queen of Hearts's Rule 23: 'One must never bring a cat to a formal affair.'" Riddle answered. "Your very presence here is a violation of order. You will vacate these premises immediately."
"But I ain't a cat either!" Grim shrilled with anger. "Don't you try'n collar me! I'll burn it right off!" but the creature never saw his power materialized and grew confused. "Huh…? Wh-what gives? My fire ain't workin'!"
Riddle smirked as he picked up the creature by the scruff of his neck. "Until I deign to remove that collar, you won't be using any magic. You're naught but a pet cat now."
"M-meoWHAT?! I ain't nobody's pet-NOTHING!" Grim tried to swing his paws at the redhead, but due to the distance couldn't land a punch.
"Oh, you've nothing to worry about there. I certainly have no interest in having you as a pet. The collar will disappear once you're removed from campus."
"He-HA! Good show as always, Riddle." Azul sighed happily. "Your signature spell locks down any magic. It's quite handy. I've just GOT to have it-ah, I mean, I've just got to have respect for it." He corrected.
"Niho! Was I not clear that your are expected to take responsibility for your familiar?" Crolwley scolded Niho. But after hearing that sentence constantly, the girl was clearly getting irked. "Now discipline your-"
"HE'S... NOT... MY... FAMILIAR!" She screamed, so loud it shook the entire room.
Crowley stopped, letting her words sink it. "What's that?! It isn't yours?"
"Ugh, of course not! That's what I've been trying to tell you!" She fumed, annoyed that he didn't give her a chance to explain her side of the story.
"Oh… Is that so?" but Crowley coughed to cover himself "Then I shall have it expelled from campus. I shall even spare it from being served as dinner. My, but I AM kind." He snaps his fingers. "…Someone take this away, please."
Two students walked up to Riddle and took the creature from his grasp, dragging him away through the doors. Grim struggled against their hold, but he was no match for their size and physical strength. "Nooooo! Let me gooooo! You fools better remember my name! Cause I'm gonna go down in the annals of magic history! Just you wait!" And the doors were slammed shut with his decree.
All was silent amongst the room as the chaos died down for a while. The last few flames were extinguished, and everyone was calmed down from the excitement.
"I feel kind of sorry for him." Niho mumbled.
Crowley faced the crowd once again with a refined stance, "Well, that was quite the unexpected fracas. I hereby declare that orientation has concluded. Housewardens, please escort your students back to the dorms." he turned to the ones off to the sidelines and made eye contact with all of them, but noticed something...off. "... Hm? Come to think of it, I don't see Housewarden Draconian of House Diasomnia anywhere." he mumbled.
"And that surprises you? Dude's a total recluse." The lion hybrid shrugged nonchalantly.
"Wait a sec… Did anyone even invite him?" The turban guy asked, his butt now clear of any flames, but he still shifted in slight uncomfortableness.
The blonde beside him gave him a look. "If you're that worried about him missing out, maybe you should have told him yourself."
He noticed the look given and brushed it off like nothing. "Maybe, but I don't know him too well either…"
The crowd soon filled with murmurs and worried glances are shared here and there. Niho caught onto what one group was talking about.
"Draconia... Like, Malleus Draconia? THAT Draconia?"
"So it's true? He really does go to school here?"
"Yikes."
A new voice snapped her out of her thoughts, "Ah. Just as I'd expected. I figured I'd come down and see for myself whether Malleus had made an appearance. But once again, he was evidently not informed that his presence was required at an official ceremony." She looks over to see someone much different than the clothes she's seen. A boy with milky palish skin, and raspberry red eyes. Diagonal cut bags of black with hints of magenta were peeking out from under the hood.
"You have my sincerest apologies. I assure you, this oversight was in no way intended as a snub." Azul apologized.
"I mean, you must admit, he's not exactly the easiest person to strike up a conversation with." Riddle added in.
"No matter. All who were assigned to House Diasomnia, follow me. I just hope he doesn't sulk about this..."
The students filed out of the room one by one until Niho and Crowley were the only ones left in the spacious area.
"Well, Niho. This is a most unfortunate turn of events. I'm afraid that you will not be attending Night Raven College after all." Crowley turned to the lone female. "Surely you realize that I cannot very well admit a student with no magical ability to my academy."
Niho nodded and said, "And since we're alone here and you're finally listening, you should know...I'm a girl."
Needless to say, Crolwey was a bit taken aback by her claim, not knowing what to say. "W-Well...I-I.. don't know what to say... But worry not. I shall keep this under wraps with your consent. Now, The Dark Mirror will see you safely home. Now, step into a gate, and visualize the place from whence you came." he pushed her towards the mirror with a gentle hand.
Niho closed her eyes, "Phew..." She emptied her mind to picture her home. But her eyes snapped open in confusion. She thought, 'Wait a minute. Something's wrong. I remember where I live and my hometown, but I can't remember my house, my room or even my family.'
"Oh, Dark Mirror! Return this soul to where she belongs!" Crolwey demanded.
But all was awkwardly silent.
Crowley cleared his throat, "L-let us, er…try this again. Oh Dark Mirror! Return this soul-"
"There is no such place." The Mirror replied.
"What?"
"There is no place in this world where this soul belongs. None."
The headmaster was even more shocked. "How can that be? My, but today is a veritable cavalcade of impossible phenomena!"
He ran a hand through his hair carefully, "This has never happened throughout my long tenure. I must confess that I am at something of a loss. Tell me: From what land do you hail?" he asked.
"Sure. I'm from…" Niho began to explain her origins, or what she subtly remembered even if it wasn't much.
When she finished, Crolwy rubbed his chin in thought. "I'm afraid I am not familiar with such a place. I am intimately acquainted with the origins of every student who has ever come here, and yet… This mysterious homeland of yours eludes me. Let us go to the library and look it up, shall we?" He waved for her to follow him and together they headed to the library.
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Minutes of searching from everything: encyclopedias to world maps, everything but not a trace of Niho's home was found.
"Just as I'd suspected. Nothing. Not only is your homeland not listed on any map from any point in history." Crowley gave the girl a cryptic stare. "Now, are you QUITE sure that you come from such a place? That wasn't some sort of lie, or jape?"
Niho gave him a sort of offended look, "No. Why would I lie about this?"
"If so, the only explanation is that you've come from another planet. Or perhaps you were summoned here from another dimension?"
Her mouth dropped open at the claim. "Another dimension?!"
"Show me everything that you brought here with you. Do you have some form of identification, a driver's license perhaps? Or even a… shoe? You do seem a tad bit…empty-handed."
She shook her head, "No. As you said, I've got nothing."
"Well, this is quite the predicament. I cannot have someone with no aptitude for magic bumbling about my magic academy. And yet, as an educator, I am loath to expel a young person without a cent to their name, or any ability to contact their guardian... Truly, my grace is boundless."
He tapped his fingers against his cane for a solution, then found it. "Hmmmmm... Ah! There is a vacant building on this campus. It was, in fact, used as a dorm a long time ago. With proper cleaning, it should be habitable enough. Out of the profound kindness of my heart, I will allow you to line there for the time being. In the meantime, we will investigate other ways to send you home. Dear me, but I am a gracious man indeed! A model educator, one might say." He smiled, giving himself praise. "Well then, I shall take you to your dorm straight away. It is an older building, but it has plenty of…character, one might say."
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Niho didn't know whether to take the headmaster's words seriously or think he was just that looney. "This is too much character, if you ask me." she stared at the grounds and the building. The gateway was mangled and crooked, several dead trees dotted the yard and, gathering cobwebs, around the house, which by the way wasn't looking all that good either. Some of the windows were boarded up, and with just one little mishap, the place could cave in on her if she didn't watch her step inside.
Crowley was unfazed by her sarcasm, though. "Right, right. Scoot inside now. There you go."
However, the inside was just as much, if not more, of a traffic accident than the outside: the paintings were crooked, or removed from the wall, the wallpaper was either peeling or faded, chairs and tables were overturned, the rug was rolled up and rumpled, and dust and cobwebs were everywhere.
"This should keep the elements at bay for the time being. Now, I should return to my research. Do try to find some way to busy yourself. But don't let me catch you wandering the campus! Ta!" Crowley left without another word.
Niho stared at the place tiredly. "Look at this place...I don't even see a clean place to sit."
So, she got to work. She scavenged the place looking for some cleaning supplies, and somehow found them in a supply closet further down one of the halls: a broom, mop, bucket, soap, cleaning spray, towels, a feather duster, and a few more things to help her get a head start. With that, she rolled up her sleeves and began to get to work.
She grabbed the broom and began to sweep, while singing a little song.
"Seven a.m., the usual morning lineup. Start on the chores and sweep 'till the floor's all clean." The floor began to look a bit more clean after that. She ran the bucket under a somehow working faucet in the kitchen and got a decent amount of water, added soap and began to mop, clean the windows and fix the fireplace, stacking the kindling, whatever she saw and to get it down as best as possible.
"Polish and wax, do laundry, and mop and shine up. Sweep again, and by then it's like 7:15."
"And so I'll read a book Or maybe two or three." She set the tables and chairs back upright along with the couches and other chairs.
Followed by setting back the rugs, and spot cleaning any places she may have missed. "I'll add a few new paintings to my gallery. I'll play guitar and knit. And cook and basically. Just wonder when will my life begin?"
'Seems like I remember Disney movies…' she thought, nostalgia hitting her as she recalled how happy they made her when she was a child.
She wiped the sweat off her brow and took a look around the room. Still a bit more work needed to be done, but hey: it's a start. She leaned against the broom to catch her breath. But a sudden noise caught her attention, and she looked outside the partially cleaned windows to see a bit of rainfall coming in.
"Looks like it's starting to rain."
"GWAH! It's pouring out there!"
Niho's eyes widened, but she didn't turn a round in time as she felt water hitting her back. She let out a gasp as the cold hit her, and turned to see Grim shaking out his fur of rain water.
He started laughing at her. "Bwahaha! That look on your face is priceless! Like a bat that got blasted by a water gun! As if I wouldn't just sneak back onto campus the second I escaped pryin' eyes. You all got no idea what I'm capable of! I ain't givin' up goin' here just 'cause I got kicked out one measly ol' time. And if you think otherwise, you don't know Grim!"
She sent him a glare, "Guards! Guaaaaards!" That seemed to shut the creature up instantly. "Besides that, why are you so determined to go to this school?"
"Isn't it obvious? I was born to do this! I'm a magical prodigy who's got the makin's to become one of the greatest mages who ever lived! So I've been waitin' and waitin' for that black carriage to come for me. And yet… Hrmph! That Dark Mirror's got no eye for talent! That's why I took the initiative and came here myself. You humans don't understand what a mistake you're makin'! Not lettin' me in is a great loss to the world!" Grim explained. Then, he recoiled as he felt a water drop hit his head.
"Mrrao! C'mon, scoot over! I'm getting dripped on here!" He tried shielding his head with his arms, but it didn't work as he felt another one. "Bwah! Another hole in the roof! These flamin' ears are like my trademark,, y'know? I can't let 'em get doused!"
Niho looked up at the ceiling to see several holes in the roof of the place and water leaking through the cracks. "Guess I'll go look for some buckets." She bit her lip in frustration.
"I dunno why ya don't just magic those holes away. You could have it fixed in half a jiff. Ahhh, right. You can't use magic at all. Pffft. Man, you're useless."
"Then why don't you do it?!" she rolled her eyes at his snarky and rude comment.
"Heh? You want ME to help YOU? I'm just a stranger takin' shelter from the rain. You ain't the boss of me. If ya had some cans of tuna to trade, well, that'd be another story. But I don't work for free." Grim brushed off lazily.
"Then you're even more useless than me." She spat in his direction, narrowly avoiding a sudden raindrop from a different hole in the ceiling. "…About those buckets."
She doubled up the stairs and made it to the second floor hallway, where it was in a lot of disarray like the lounge. Huge cobwebs hung from the ceilings, Several paintings and objects were strewn across the floor and dust bunnies were cooped up in corners.
Suddenly, she felt chills rack her spine. "This place really freaks me out."
Out of nowhere, three ghosts appeared before her. She screamed.
"Yes hee hee… Bea ha ha ha ha ha. We haven't had visitors in ages! Oh, I'm just itchin' for new friends! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha!" One cackled.
"Gh-gh-ghosts!" she screamed and backed up, nearly tripping over her own feet.
"Hey, keep it down over- AAAAAH! GHOSTS! GHOOOOOSTS!" Grim, having her the shriek, went upstairs to see what the commotion was until his eyes landed on the ghosts, and now he was freaked out as her. She cured up against her legs in fright.
"All the people who used ta live here got scared of us and ran away." The second moaned.
The third wailed 'friendly', "We just want a new ghost to play with! What do you say, buddy?"
"Look, I can understand if you're lonely, but killing isn't how you make pals!" Niho tried to reason with them.
"Eeeeep! I'm a master sorcerer! I ain't afraid of any dumb ghosts! Myahaaa!"
Blue fire began to engulf the hallway.
"Nuh-uh. Not even close."
"Over here! Over here! Ah ha ha ha!"
Grim grit his teeth in frustration. "Argh! They keep disappearing and reappearing!"
He started spitting more fireballs.
"You can't aim with your eyes closed!" Niho glared at the cat, who glared back.
"Shaddup! I don't need any lip from you, human!"
Niho fumed silently, until an idea popped into her head, "Beat them, and I've got a can of tuna with your name on it!"
Grim froze at her proposal "Myah...!?" he muttered to himself silently, "Hmph… I'm Grim, Master Sorcerer! How come I can't even hit one of these little-" He flew back when the ghosts popped up and began to laugh at him. "Hrmph! Ganging up on us… Yer a bunch a cowards!"
"Did I say one can of tuna? I meant two." she one-upped her offer. That seemed to satisfy him, for he turned to her and demanded.
"Myaaaah… You, human! You tell me which way the ghosts are!" She saw something starting to materialize behind Grim's shoulder.
"To your left!" On command, Grim whirled around and blasted a fireball at the ghost just as he fully appeared, receiving hot flames to the face.
"Aaaaah! It buuurns!" He wailed and shrank away.
"Ha, got one! Keep it up, just like that…!" Grim smirked and took a battle stance, Niho behind and ready to kick ass.