Hi everyone!
For those who don't know me, I am JapanDreamer (JD for short). I've been on fanfic before and wrote some stories here and there. However, things have been rough for me for the past year and a half for various reasons (I think a lot of us have gone through the same thing), and I had to stop writing because I just couldn't find the desire to continue.
However, that changed a few months back.
To explain how this story came to be, first off, I love Yana Toboso's work (specifically Black Butler), so when I heard that she designed the Disney's Twisted Wonderland characters and helped with the storyline, I immediately jumped into the fandom and fell in love with it. The game was just so fascinating because I don't know what to expect.
As I delved deeper, I thought it would be fun to try and write about the fantasy world from the mobile game and created a character who has to go through the whole school life but with some twists and turns here and there.
Let me say that with this experience, I thoroughly enjoyed it! It is fascinating to try and write these characters but add my own twist with it. I've learned a lot about soft magic vs hard magic system, fashion terminology, and so much more!
When I started out, this was supposed to be a fun exercise, but then the next thing I knew, I've written a chapter and then another one and then another one. Now, I've written so much (and with some serious hesitation on my part) that I decided to share my experience one last time before taking a final bow from the writing online world.
However, I realized that I haven't been 'in the game' for a while, so I've decided to give my readers a promise to this time upload with a schedule. I will be updating once a week, every Friday with a new chapter. This story uploaded is only the prologue of this game (hence the title).
As of writing this, that game has five chapters (not including the prologue), so some information here may be outdated as we move forward. I will do my best to update things as we move forward, but if you spot anything, let me know!
Enjoy reading! And please review, so I can answer directly to any questions or thoughts. I would love to hear your opinion.
Chapter 1:
"Well?" The question was irritated and impatient.
"Mission complete." The reply was languid. He held up a floating cube of purple light. "She tried to put up a fight. Didn't work."
"What if she remembers?" The question pursued, not feeling the same sense of leisure. Too much was riding on this.
"If she does" – there was a chuckle of amusement at the thought – "it'll be too late then."
…
Claire woke up to scuffling sounds and wondered blearily who or what was making such an irritating sound.
"People are coming..." A voice filtered through her ears as if she was underwater, "Gotta find... Grr, why is the lid so heavy?"
Regaining feeling in her arms and legs, Claire was starting to feel cramp and tried to get up. Instead, her head bumped into something hard. Puzzled now, she raised one hand and felt a flat metal surface. She tilted her head from side to side, but only saw darkness.
"Time for my secret move then!" the same voice from outside cried out, "Rawwwrrrr!"
She didn't have time to register anymore of her pitch-black surrounding when a powerful force slammed into her. The next thing she knew, she was violently thrown around and tumbled like clothes in a dryer. Her body slammed repeatedly against the hard surface before it gave way and toppled onto the cold stone floor.
"Ow! What the heck!" She clutched her head in pain.
"Gahh! Why are you up?!"
"Urgh, keep your voice down," she groaned, getting off the floor and into a sitting position, "Who are you anywa- ARGHHH! T-talking raccoon!"
"Just who are you calling a racoon?!" Standing on his hind legs, the gray cat-racoon hybrid had his tiny arms crossed across his white furry stomach. "I am the Great Grim!" he declared with an arrogance that didn't quite match his cute appearance.
His devil's pitchfork tail flickered up with irritation. A frayed black-and-white stripped bow was tied around his neck like a forgotten birthday present, but perhaps the strangest thing about him (other than him being able to talk) was the blue flames coming out of his pointy ears.
"Grim? What? Where…?" Disoriented, Claire glanced around the large empty room that she didn't recognize.
The large circular space was dimly lit by green lanterns and moonlight streamed from the tall glass windows. Glittered spiderwebs of glass beads connected from one chandelier to the other. In front of her was the largest mirror she had ever seen, but instead of showing her reflection, the glass was jet black. Floating around in the shadows were large rectangular boxes. After staring at them for a good second, she gasped in horror.
"Are those… Coffins?!" She felt a chill down her spine as she staggered backwards. There must be at least a hundred, no, two-hundred hovering above her. Her hand bumped into something, and she turned and looked down to see a casket on its side with the lid busted wide open.
Had she been sleeping in that this whole time?!
"What are you screaming about?" the gray racoon asked, irritated at the dumfounded shock. "Well, whatever, human. Hurry and give me your clothes."
Clothes?! She looked down, seeing her outfit for the first time – black hooded robes with a royal purple inlay and gold embroidery stitched at the seams. When did she changed into this?
"What are you staring at? Hurry up! If you don't, I'll roast you!" The so-called Great Grim's mouth started to breath blue fire and a halo of fire surrounded her. He gave a nasty grin, pleased to see the horrified look on her face.
Coffins, dark room, talking racoon, blue flames. There was only one explanation that Claire could come up from this.
"NO! I'm not going to be sacrificed!" Claire yelled.
"What? Sacrificed?"
Ignoring Grim's puzzled look, Claire scrambled to her feet and without fear, or perhaps because she had too much fear, jumped over the blue flames.
"GAHHHHHH! What are you doing?!" he shrieked, not expecting this turn of event, "Don't burn my uniform!"
She looked around and coughed as the heat intensified and the smoke reached her lungs. In the midst, she spotted a giant door in the corner of her eye and ran towards it. To Claire's relief, the ancient door opened with a loud groan when she pushed against it, and she quickly slipped out into the night like a shadow.
"Get back here!" Grim cried out in anger, but the words were lost as the door slammed shut in front of his nose.
The scenery blurred past Claire as she desperately tried to find an exit; her robes flapped noisily in the breeze as she ran down the empty hall. All the random doors she tried were locked, and there seemed to be no true exit as she continued through this strange maze. Strangely, she didn't come across a single soul. Her only source of light and company was the full moon that shown brightly through the wisps of clouds.
After running across what appeared to be a large courtyard with a wishing well, she spotted one door ajar with soft light spilling from it. Without questioning it, Claire slipped in and closed the door behind her. Her heart pounded wildly as she stood there and tried to register what had happened.
What was going on? How did she end up here? Where was she? Why was she dressed up like a cheap amusement park fortune teller and was that talking racoon real?
This had to be a dream, she thought fervently. A really weird and realistic one but a dream nevertheless. She shook her head to try and rid these overwhelming amounts of questions pouring in. Her first priority right now would be to find an escape route and hopefully get back home or wake up in her bed. Whichever came first.
Taking several long deep breaths, she turned to observe her new surroundings which turned out to be the largest library she has ever seen. Thousands of books of different thickness and colors lined the shelves, never-ending. But the sheer number wasn't what made her drop her jaw – it was the ones floating in the air.
Several hundred of books, too many to count, were lined in single files, snaking around any obstacles and shelving themselves onto empty bookcases. It was almost like… like…
Like magic.
The revelation made Claire tremble as she watched the process in almost of a trance-like stance. She slowly walked down the passageway, passing bookshelves after bookshelves. The calming fragrance of parchment paper and ink and the sound of the sheets rustling calmed her nerves. She was almost afraid to touch anything for fear of disrupting the tranquil rhythm of work.
Part of Claire was dying to explore, but the sense of urgency to get out of here took priority. She looked around, wondering if there was an exit sign or maybe some sort of map that she could use for reference.
"HA! Found you!"
She flinched and looked up to see the little racoon, standing triumphantly on top of a fifty-foot tall bookstack. How did he find me so quickly?
"You thought you could get away with my sense of smell, huh? Dumb human. Well this time-WHOAAA!" The racoon lost his balance and came tumbling down along with the thousands of hardcopies. Claire couldn't help but wince as several tomes smacked against his head.
"Um, are you okay?" she asked. Hearing a groan in response, she spotted an open window on the second floor. That was probably how that racoon came in. If she could find the stairs to that level, she could escape through the roof.
"It's no use!" Grim managed to escape from his tome prison and knocked the books aside. "If you don't want to get burned, you will- GACK!" Immediately, a whip came out with a crack and the racoon fell like a tied-down steer. "What is with this cord?!"
"This is no mere cord. This is a lash of love!" the flamboyant voice cried out.
Claire instinctively hid behind the nearest bookshelf as the stranger restrained her furry pursuer. Should she make a run for it?
"Now, now, come out," he called out, "There is no use in hiding, new student. You need to tame your familiar. He has already broken a number of school rules."
Claire clutched her fist close to her heart, trying to keep herself from trembling. What was she going to do now? And what did he mean by 'new student'?
"Let me go!" Grim yelled, "I'm no one's familiar!"
"Yes, yes, the rebellious ones always say things like that. Just quiet down for a moment." He quickly produced a cloth out of thin air and proceeded to gag the troublemaker. Only then did he call out again, this time in a kinder voice. "Please come out. I know you are hiding in the History of Magic section."
Deciding to meet her fate, Claire slowly stepped out from behind the bookshelf, unsure what to expect next.
The pale man before her looked to be in his late twenties, if not early thirties, and was well-dressed. His black top hat perched on his, and the thick long coat that draped over his shoulders had black feathers spread out from underneath the collar.
Covering the top half of his face was the most exquisite mask in the shape of a raven's beak with yellow hues glowing from the two eye sockets. He looked like a masked magician, preparing for a midnight masquerade.
"You shouldn't do things like that," he said and wagged his finger disapprovingly, "wandering out the Gate on your own and – what's this?" He covered his mouth in surprise as she removed her hood. "You're a girl!"
"Uh, yeah…" Claire said, narrowing her eyes in suspicion from his surprise tone.
"My goodness. Hmm, this is unusual… but not impossible… last time this happened was sixty-two or sixty-three…." The magician was lost in thought, mumbling under his breath, and Claire started to wonder if he was planning to get to the point and explain what is going on.
"If the Dark Mirror has chosen you… I suppose there is nothing to be done…" he finally said, "Well, anyways, the entrance ceremony is already well underway. Let us head back to the Mirror Chamber, shall we?"
He extended his gloved hand towards her.
"Back?" She eyed apprehensively his hand and noticed each finger bore a single golden-claw ring – five in total.
"Yes, the Mirror Chamber. It's the room you were in with all of the Gates." he said, gently leading her to the exit. She immediately stiffened but didn't feel any hostility from the man as he graciously escorted her out. Although he dressed rather flamboyantly, he didn't seem to intend any harm to her.
A thousand questions sprang up in her mind, and Claire decided to start with the first one that came.
"Did you say Gates?" Claire asked confused at the plural form.
"Yes, students who wish to enter this school must use those Gates to arrive here. Normally, they wake up after the door is opened with a special key but…" He shrugged, not finishing his sentence.
Hold on, was he talking about the coffins? Those coffins were gates?! Gates to where? Claire didn't know to feel relieved or horrified. Whoever came up with that design must have a real crude sense of humor.
"Um, exactly who are you?" she asked as he opened the door back out to the cool night.
"What's this? Had the teleportation magic affected your memory?" The tone of surprise sounded genuine. "Well, it happens often enough," he continued, not giving Claire a chance to speak, "Come, come! I'll explain on the way for I am most gracious." He led her across the courtyard with the restrained raccoon in tow who had been flopping around like a giant tuna.
Able to appreciate her surroundings now, Claire noticed how quaint the area was. The lawn was freshly mowed, and the paved stoned paths gave the feel of simplicity though the expansive size of the place suggested otherwise. She noticed in the distance the many towers jutting into the night sky, giving the structure of the school a rather medieval look.
"This is Night Raven College," Crowley said, spreading his arms out. "Mages blessed with a unique aptitude for magic, gathered from all corners of the world here at the most prestigious magical academy in Twisted Wonderland. I am the school's headmaster – Dire Crowley."
Night Raven College? Mages? Twisted Wonderland? His explanation just sprouted more questions, and Clare wondered if she somehow ended up in a LARP game.
"Look, Crowley. There must be some mistake."
"Oh ho, rest assure, there is no mistake!" the headmaster said in a flourish voice as if he expected such uncertainty. "Only mages viewed worthy by the Dark Mirror can attend this school. Students from all around the world and from many different backgrounds are summoned here. An Ebony Carriage carrying a Gate should have gone to meet you."
"Carriage?" Claire racked her brain, but she couldn't remember anything of the sorts. In fact, the last thing she remembered (now that she had time to think about it) was heading to the grocery store to pick up some late-night dinner.
Was this guy pulling her leg?
"Yes, the carriage goes out to welcome the students who were chosen by the Dark Mirror. It is a tradition carried on for decades," Crowley said with relish.
"Let me get this straight," Claire said slowly, "Instead of sending out an acceptance letter (like normal people do), this school sends out carriages with coffi- I mean 'Gates', and if they accept, students lie in this 'Gate' while the carriage brings them to this school?"
"The market team decided that this was the best way to welcome people on special days."
"Okay, yeah…" Claire said, deciding enough was enough, "See, here is the thing, I am not –"
"Mmmugmm! Mummgggh!" The tied-up Grim interrupted with another ruckus, twisting back and forth.
"Oh, before I forget," Crowley said, nodding his head towards the racoon, "I'm let you off the hook this one time, but see to it that this familiar gets his proper punishment after your sorting."
"Wait, Grim is not my familiar –"
"Come now! Let us hurry!" He briskly walked off, ending the conversation and forcing Claire to jog to catch up. They finally arrived at the door she escaped from earlier, and Crowley opened it in a flourishing manner to announce their arrival.
"Headmaster," a cheerful voice called out from within, "we were wondering where you went? Did you get a stomach ache?"
"Of course not!" Crowley objected, "I cannot believe you all. We were missing one new student, so I went to find her." He swept aside and gently pushed Claire forward into the now more brightly lit room, which was no longer empty. The blue fire Grim released from earlier was gone, but she could still see some scorch marks on the stone floor.
No longer empty, a sea of identical robes like hers filled the room. Blinking in shock, Claire realized that this so-called headmaster wasn't joking. She had somehow ended up in a school – a magic school no less.
The crowd have already been divided into seven groups with six of the hooded individuals sitting next to the giant floating mirror. Claire couldn't get a good look at their faces, but judging by how everything was set up, they seem to be the heads or leaders of the students.
Actually, now that she was looking carefully, Claire noticed that one of those six was actually a floating hand-held tablet.
"Wait… did you say 'her'?" another voice spoke up, confused.
"Oh, what's this? A girl? Surely you are pulling our leg, Headmaster."
Suddenly, it felt like everyone's eyes were on her, and actually observing the faces, she finally understood why Crowley was surprised when he first saw her.
She was the lone girl in the midst of an all-boys magic school.
…
A different type of terror was clutching Claire's heart, and she almost lost track of the conversation as everyone continued to stare. Whispers filled the room, wondering why a girl was here.
"Actually," another voice spoke up, this came from one of the leaders standing in the front. He was rather on the short side. "Anyone is allowed to attend as long as the Dark Mirror approves – Rule 3 in the school handbook." His voice was clipped with precision.
"If you say so, Riddle, then it must be true," one of them said and shrugged his shoulders. "You know the handbook like the back of your hand."
"Who cares?" another complained before stifling a huge yawn, "Hurry up so we can get this stuffy ceremony done with."
"I'll watch over your familiar," Crowley said to Claire as Grim continued to struggle against the whip, "Step in front of the Dark Mirror."
"Again, he's not my… forget it," Claire sighed. It was clear no one was going to listen to her until she finished this whole ceremony. She'll go along with it for now and clear things up once everything was done. Everybody's eyes were on her as tried to keep her focus on the destination.
"Step in front…" she mumbled as she followed the instructions and stared at the black glass. As Claire wondered what was supposed to happen next, the glass erupted into green flames from deep within, and she almost yelped in shock. Slowly, a giant white theater mask appeared from within the green flames and spoke in a slow somber voice.
"State thy name."
Overcoming her initial shock, Claire opened her mouth and managed to sputter, "C-Claire Tyche."
"The shape of thy soul…" the talking mirror paused dramatically, and the anticipation was almost deafening. "I don't know." Silence filled the room but this time from shock. Even the leaders seemed baffled by the situation.
"Come again?" Crowley asked, bewildered.
"I sense not a spark of magic from this one… The color, the shape, all are nothing." Murmurs of shock and confusion arose from the other students; Claire could feel the invisible spotlight glaring even more brightly on her now.
"Therefore," the mirror concluded, ignoring the rising voices of disbelief from the audience, "they are not suited for any of the dormitories."
"B-but that can't be right," Crowley protested. "I understand that the mirror has chosen one or two females in the past but a student with no magic?! That's impossible."
And yet here I am, Claire thought sarcastically but held her tongue. Now that more than 200 people knew that she was a fraud, what were they going to do with her now? Should she make a break for it?
"An Ebony Carriage would never bring someone who can't use magic!" Crowley continued, still refusing to believe what he was seeing, "In the 100 years since its time, there has not once been a mistake in the student selection. So why in the world..."
"Then I'll take her place!" a lone voice cried out. Everybody turned to see that the raccoon called Grim had managed to escape his confines during the commotion.
"Hold it!" Crowley cried out, readying his whip again. "Stay right there!"
"I can use magic unlike that dumb human! If you need proof, I'll show you right now!"
Realizing what was about to happened, Claire jumped off the platform just as all the new students started screaming. Blue firestorms showered the room like the apocalypse had just arrived.
"Everybody, get down!" the one called Riddle cried out, but the blue flames caught hold of some of the tapestries hanging from the hall and started to consume everything in its path. Crawling towards the nearest corner, away from the chaos, Claire cowered and watched wide-eyed as the everybody continued to panic.
"Oww! Hot, hot, hot! My butt is on fire!" One of the leaders with white hair hopped around, leaving a trail of smoke. It would have been a comical scene if the entire audience weren't busy shrieking in terror.
"Please, everyone, remain calm – will someone catch that racoon!?" Crowley said exasperatedly as he tried to address the madness.
"Making us do the work?" The one who had yawned earlier snorted with disdain, his voice deep and rumbling. Unlike the others, he wasn't perturbed by the chaos unfolding before him, and he leaned back farther in his chair. "How bothersome."
"Oh? Isn't hunting your specialty?" The soft and flowery voice came from a robed individual with a slim figure. His manicured nails were painted in a deep poisonous indigo. "Doesn't it look like a delicious midnight snack you can morsel on?"
"Why are you asking me?" the bored guy said, not taking the bait. "Do it yourself."
"Headmaster Crowley," a pretentious voice cried out rather loudly. "Allow me to take care of this. I'm sure the others couldn't stomach harassing the poor creature."
"That's Azul for you," the floating tablet mumbled, sounding more robotic than human. "Always trying to get points."
"Hey, could someone help me put the fire out already?!" The white-haired guy pointed to his burning pants.
"Are you guys even listening to me?" Crowley cried, his hands up in the air as Grim continued to run around on all fours, hurling fireballs everywhere.
"It's just a racoon, Teach," the bored guy growled in irritation, "Can't you take care of it?"
"How many times do I have to tell you?" Grim cried, standing still for once in the center of the room, "I'm not a racoon! I am the Great Grim! You are looking at the next greatest mage."
"Enough!" Riddle said, sounding irritated. He pulled out a black pen with a red jewel on the top. He pointed tip towards Grim as if he was about to give a command. "OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!"
The air seemed to shudder from the force of Riddle's voice, and a loud metal 'click' resounded across the room. The sound of chaos was silenced, and the flames that had engulfed the room quelled almost immediately.
"What the heck is this?" Grim cried. Enclosed around the racoon's neck was a large red-and-black collar.
"Laws of the Queen of Hearts Rule 23: One shall never bring a cat into a festival," Riddle stated flatly. "You have broken the law for simply being here, and as such, I will ask you to leave at once."
"You think a collar will stop me! I'll just burn it off!" Grim scrunched his face and raised his arms to send out another blast of blue flames. However, no matter how much he waved his paws around, nothing came out. "W-what? I can't use my fire!"
"You won't be able to use any magic until I remove that collar," Riddle said as he pocketed his pen, "For now, you are just an ordinary cat."
"I'm not some pet!" Grim rolled around the ground, trying, and failing, to kick and push the collar off his neck.
"Don't worry," Riddle said, calmly watching as if dealing with a screaming toddler, "I would never keep a pet like you. I'll remove the collar once you leave the premises." With the source of chaos contained, the rest of the students were ushered back to their seats.
"Thank goodness that's over," said the white-hair leader with now charred pants.
"As expected, Riddle," Azul applauded lightly with praise, "Your Unique Magic seals any and all magic… Oh, how I want it… No, I wouldn't want it cast on me…" He muttered this quietly to himself.
"Everybody, thank you for your patience," Crowley said to the room as a whole, "Glad that is taken care of. More importantly, you!" He pointed to Claire who was brushing off the smoke from her singed robes.
"What, me?" She looked up blankly as everybody, once again, turned to stare at her. She was starting to hate this attention. Maybe she should've just run off when she had the chance.
"Why did you not do anything? It is your familiar! You should properly discipline it!" Crowley pointed to the raging raccoon.
"It's not," she stated flatly.
"What?" Crowley said, confused in his voice now.
"It's not mine," Claire groaned, hands on her hips, "That's what I've been trying to say this entire time." Now that the fear of being burned was gone, a sense of irritation was building up inside of her.
"Y-you did? I-I see," Crowley coughed in embarrassment.
"Honestly, Headmaster. If the mirror stated that the herbivore had no magic, what makes you think she has a familiar?" This came from the one who refused to lift his finger earlier. He spoke in a slight mocking and insulting tone. Claire glared at him, but all she could see peeking out from under his hood was an amused fanged smile.
"Regardless, let's get it out of our school," Crowley turned to the now helpless Grim, "We won't turn you into a stew this time for I am gracious. Someone, please take this creature away." He clapped his hands, and a student immediately appeared.
"Let go of me!" Grim cried as one of the students lifted him by the neck and tried to bite their hands. "I'm going to become the greatest mage! Let go of meeee!" He continued to scream before the door shut out the rest of his words.
"Now," Crowley continued as if they were never interrupted in the first place, "this brings the ceremony to a close. Dormitory leaders, please show the students to their dorms… Wait, I don't see Diasomnia's head – Mr. Draconia."
"Again? Same old, same old," the lazy fanged leader sighed in irritation.
"What? Did no one tell him about today's ceremony?" the pants-on-fire guy said, sounding genuinely shocked.
"If you're going to complain, you should've done it yourself, Kalim," the one with painted nails interjected sternly.
"But I don't know anything about the guy…" Kalim mumbled and looked down at his feet.
While each dorm leaders spoke offhandedly on the matter, the name spoken had garnered whispers among the new students. Murmurs of fear seeped into the already cold atmosphere.
"Draconia? Do they mean 'that' Malleus Draconia?"
"Then the rumors are true. He's at this school."
"That's scary…"
Claire couldn't help but feel curious by the apprehension among the new students, who were now too distracted by this piece of information.
Who was this Malleus person and what did he do?
"So, it is true," someone spoke up, cutting the chatter. This came from a hooded petite individual, who had been standing at the side of the room. For someone so small, he had a rather deep calming voice with a mix of modern and olden English.
"I thought Malleus would join for once, yet he really didn't. It seems the invitation 'never arrived' again." He spoke this rather sharply and gazed at the six leaders.
"My apologies, Lilia," the one called Azul said hastily, "I promise you and the Diasommnia dorm that we didn't intend to exclude him."
"His aura makes it hard to approach him," Riddle clarified.
"It's fine," Lilia said as this was normal, though his tone suggested otherwise. He didn't push the topic further and turned his attention back to the students. "Members of the Diasomnia dorm can come with me…" He left with the new crop of students, muttering, "I hope this doesn't upset him..."
"Heartslabyul, with me," Riddle said, motioning to his line.
"Finally, it's over. Savanaclaw, follow me."
Each dorm head quickly escorted their new crop of students, and soon it was just Claire, Crowley, and the Dark Mirror.
Glancing around at the charred but empty room, Claire stuck out her bottom jaw in uneasiness, not sure what to say or do exactly. They haven't vaporized her yet, so she was probably going to get out of this alive. Maybe. Hopefully…
"Now then. To business," Crowley said, turning his attention back to her. "Miss Claire, was it? I'm terribly sorry, but we need you to leave the school. Those without magic cannot attend class here."
"Works for me," Claire shrugged, feeling a sense of relief. As much as the idea of magic existing and a school for it intrigued her, there was no way she wanted to sit in a stuffy classroom five days a week – she had her own set of problems she needed to deal with back at home. Even if there was the slightest possibility that this was all real, she could chalk it up as a bad dream and go on her usual life.
"Oh um. Yes, I'm glad to see you are reasonable." Crowley was rather taken aback by her indifference. Usually, rejected applicants would beg on hands and knees to be able to attend this glorious school, and he would have to make his glorious and heartfelt speech to encourage of them of other prospects before throwing them out.
"Oh wait, how am I supposed to get back home?" Claire eyed the floating coffins uneasily. She did NOT want to go back in there.
"There is no need to worry. The Dark Mirror will send you directly back from whence you came. Simply picture your home clearly in your mind."
"Okay…" Claire sighed in exhaustion, now ready for a hot shower. She hopped onto the platform to face the Dark Mirror and squeezed her eyes shut, conjuring up an image of her room.
"Oh, Dark Mirror!" Crowley called out to the floating theater mask, "Guide this one back to the place they belong!"
In her mind, Claire saw every detail in her room– her bed, her desk, the broken clock that she never got around to fixing, and her extensive collection of books lining up on the shelf. After a long silence, she opened one eye and saw that she had not moved from her spot. The Dark Mirror merely stared back; its face frowning.
Claire turned to Crowley and raised an eyebrow.
"Umm, let's try this again," he cleared his voice, "Oh, Dark Mirror! Guide this..."
"It is not here," the Dark Mirror spoke.
"What?" Crowley said.
"The place they belong is nowhere in this world..." the Dark Mirror shook its head, "It does not exist."
"What did you say?" Crowley looked doubly perplexed, "That is unbelievable! Hmm, well, the unbelievable has been the theme for today."
"Wait, are you serious?!" Claire interrupted, "How could you bring me here if you don't know where I came from? Didn't you say that students come from all over the world?"
"I mean places in Twisted Wonderland. Like Rose Kingdom, Isle of Lamentation, Coral Sea…"
Other than sounding like theme parks, the names held no impression to Claire, and she merely shook her head. "Never heard of them."
"How strange… This is the first time it's ever happened since I became headmaster, what should be... Where exactly did you come from?"
"A planet called Earth," she said jokingly, but Crowley didn't laugh and stared blankly. The half-grin slowly turned into horrified confusion. "Wait, you never heard of Earth?" Claire asked.
"Unfortunately, no. I have a general grasp of where all the students come from, but I've never even heard that name before. Let us investigate in the library. Perhaps we are missing something." He quickly walked towards the door, ushering her to follow him.
Stunned, Claire pinched her arm, trying to force herself to wake up from this nightmare. When nothing happened, she finally realized for the first time tonight that this dream may actually be real.
Author's Notes
Hello again! Meet Claire - the new girl. Not to mention the only girl in the entire school. XP
Seems like she got isekai'ed to another world with no way back home. Everything is confusing, befuddling, and she almost got burned to death. Looks like it's going to be a fun ride ;D
Thanks for reading, and I'll see you next week!
-JapanDreamer