I am over the paper the first article in; how am I going to manage this the entire school year? No one knows! Not even me! I maybe, sort of, want to punch someone that's named Headmaster Dire Crowley in the face. I don't enjoy writing. I'm pretty good at it for school projects, but this interview Birthday stuff is just absolute bullshit.

I need a bit.

I need more than a bit this is absolute bullshit. What the actual fuck?

But…

Ah.

Camp Vargas probably doesn't go in this point and I probably am having a weird order to the vignettes that will be referenced/mentioned but... at the same time...

This week has been absolutely insane! Trey had a cold, Trey gave the cold to Riddle—Riddle ended up actually skipping classes which resulted in a man hunt across the school and ended with finding him in the infirmary taking a well-deserved nap—then, the seniors were playing a round of one-on-one death match soccer which resulted in a ball being kicked so hard and so far it almost got Grim—who is still angry. We saw Ruggie and Lucius having what looked like a gang deal a couple days ago—and I'm forbidding Grim from going out to investigate because I swear to God if they were dealing with catnip and that causes Grim issues I will have Ruggie for a pelt.

Plus, Jack's spent like the week senpai-ing Ruggie.

At least it's the end of the school day. "Now that those BORING classes are over—let's go back to the dorm, No!" Grim, I wish you'd take studying more seriously.

"How about we make a detour first?" As I'm already heading out in the detour direction.

"Huh? Is that Jack and Deuce?" Grim asks.

"Yep—our detour." I'd like to chat with my friends, after all.

Grim, the ever-so sociable, greets them: "What's up, dumb asses? Why are you two so serious?"

"Grim!" I scold.

Jack's silent. Huh. He looks downtrodden.

"...Oh, hey—No, Grim—we were just talking. Man stuff." Deuce, really?

"...It's… anyway…" Jack starts. "Ruggie's calling me a pest, and sending me off… I'm not sure what to do."

"It's been a week or so, right? And all you want to do is help out." Deuce is helpful in explaining the context, at least.

"Ruggie isn't taking Jack up on that? Weird… I'd think he'd love to have someone do stuff for him." Grim's not right in his assessment.

"I bet he's suspicious of Jack's intentions." I offer.

"No idea." Jack—c'mon. Not you too. "I'm just trying to stay by his side at all time so that I can back him up if there's another fight. ...And when he goes places, I make sure it's safe first. Plus, an errant ball came—so I protected him from it.

God, that is so dumb and so cute.

Grim gives me a look. "Be more like Jack."

"No." Hah.

"Is there something else…? What else should I be doing?" Oh, poor, misguided Jack.

"...To be even more ridiculously and unnecessarily overprotective, you mean?" Deuce—hitting it had again. I also didn't know he knew six-syllable words and I'm very proud.

It means Ace doesn't have the brain cell today. Now I'm concerned.

"Ugh! Having a huge brute like you following him around has to be obnoxious!" Ouch, Grim.

"We need to be more gentle in our delivery, Grim." I am trying so hard to teach him. But some days…

"What?! It's a subordinate's job to protect his superior with his life!" What are you, Yakuza? Mafia? My God.

"Yeah… but we're at a safe school environment… so what do you have to protect him from?" Deuce asks a dumb fucking question.

"More Overblots." We've had two.

"What'd you say?" Jack, don't look at us like that.

"...I mean… it's… I didn't realize you put stock into the dorm hierarchy…" Deuce has lost the brain cell.

"...He's a wolf though… pack mentality?" I offer.

"Aren't you more like, iI gotta work out hard—no time for this shit, punks/i." Who taught Grim cuss words again?

I'm going to blame Ace on this one. Fucker.

"I… just want to earn the respect of those that I admire…" Jack's all embarrassed again to have feelings. Tsundere. "I haven't forgiven them for their cowardly tactics during the interdorm Spelldrive Tournament." Which was like a week ago or something. I can't tell time here. But Jack continues, "But I admire how Ruggie never abandoned Leona, and did everything he could to serve him. I want to match that level of dedication!" Jack really is a pack animal, huh? But so is Ruggie, being a hyena. "I want to improve myself. I want to start putting in more effort, more importance on what, and who I wanna be—who I look up to."

"Huh… you mean every word of that. Could've sword I even saw you tear up there… anyway. I can definitely tell how much you admire Ruggie." Deuce, you don't call out a tsundere.

"I'm not tearing up!" Jack protests vehemently.

Did I just take a picture? I did.

"You are! Hah! You seriously look like you're moved just at the THOUGHT—ha ha!" Grim! I. I need to get him people-ing lessons. Bad.

"SHUT IT. I'm NOT!" Jack doth protest too much, methinks.

But man, this is so cute. "You're like a little kid idolizing an older brother…" I can't help myself. It's adorable.

"Really?" That got Jack's attention.

"Is that how siblings work? I'm an only child, so… I've got no idea." Deuce comments. "What about you, Jack? Do you have any siblings?"

"Younger ones. I'm the older… but—an older brother, huh?" Jack's getting there. "Never thought about what it'd be like… but now… that you mention it… I guess it fits."

"Oh—hey. Speak of the Devil!" Grim is learning some phrases at least. "There's Ruggie!"

"Sir?!" Jack whips around like an eager puppy. I swear I saw that tail wag. C u t e.

I want to pet him and it's a struggle every day.

"Shoot! This is bad—this is so bad!" Ruggie's probably… yeah hm…. That panic though.

"What is it, sir? You're frantic—if you're in trouble-" That sweet summer child.

"Sorry—no time to talk to you. BYE!" And Ruggie RUNS AWAY!

"There he goes… wonder why he's in a rush?" Deuce. Please.

"Wow… weird… for such a carefree guy… huh. Wonder what's up." Grim is showing consideration for others. THAT'S some progress.

Jack frowns, watching Ruggie's ever-disappearing figure.

And there he goes.

I shrug at Deuce who's flabbergasted at this. Ah, well, I'm not entirely surprised.

"Leave 'em." I suggest to them both. "Come on, Deuce—I figure you need help studying too."

Deuce's cheeks flare up. "Y-yeah…"

Well, we'll go to Heartslabyul, then. Probably pick up Ace and maybe score some sweets. Good day, good day…

I do not appreciate waking up four hours exactly after I fall asleep but that's an unfortunate part of my life. For some reason my body decides most days that four hours out of twenty-four is fine and I can fuck off and die if I don't like it. Misery, misery is my name. But after some coffee I'm right as rain.

Thank you God for Twisted Wonderland having some good ass coffee.

Tea is only good if it's Southern Sweet, otherwise it's British and belongs in the fucking harbor.

I'm grumpy.

I've also finally gotten the windows on the bottom floor unboarded, so that lovely sunrise streams in. I peer outside to see the lack of wildlife and…

Grim yawns beside me, stops, as he stands on his step-stool to get some breakfast and squints outside. "Is that… Jack?"

I blink a few times, because I do think I see Jack Howl in one of our not-alive trees. "...I… guess?"

"Huh." Grim remarks, and goes back to his food.

"Huh." I mirror.

It's such a fucking weird week.

Classes aren't any less weird. We sit down with Epel, one of Jack's classmates. He's kind of the latest addition to the group. Apparently Jack and Epel started sitting together after an incident with onions not too long ago, and naturally we've sort of adopted them both into the lunch group when it's possible.

So we take our seats, Epel looks pretty concerned. "You okay?" I ask.

"Deuce—No. Have you two seen Jack today?" He asks us.

"Jack… not since track and field yesterday, why?"

"He hasn't been in classes today… and he won't answer his phone, either—so the professors are concerned." That's not good. Epel has every right to be worried when Jack's such a straight-laced student.

Grim, of course is in his own world and chowing down. Sigh.

"Grim—No, have you seen Jack?" He asks us.

"We've been with… well. Actually. Pretty sure we saw him in a tree this morning." Grim remarks, and gets back to the food-consumption.

Glad lunch is a bill that Crowley foots.

"Why would he be in a tree? Are you sure it wasn't a bag or something?" I get it, but Deuce, please, you're the one sharing a brain cell. Not us.

Where is Ace? Hm. He fucked off and that's suspicious.

"Deuce. Really? Are you shitting me?" Okay I am still not awake or in a fabulous mood.

"Oh! There's Ruggie. Maybe he knows something?" Sweet Epel… or sour Epel? I still don't know him very well, and he doesn't trust me with giving fruit away anymore because of that peach incident. Heh.

Fair.

"Ruggie!" I call out.

The surprisingly worn-down, but usually chipper Ruggie sighs. "What do you want?"

"Hey—you and Jack hang out a lot… do you know where he is?" Epel's sweet face is a lie, but I don't think Ruggie knows that.

Guy's basically this world's version of a country folk.

I heard the accent earlier. I know that well.

"Jack? Haven't seen him today…" Ruggie's ears are down. Oh… what's wrong?

"You're really out of it… something happen?" Grim, take notes. What Deuce is displaying is called care and consideration…

Not that I need to say anything because he's eating and ignoring the world.

Great.

"Nothing. Gimme my space." Translation: something is but fuck off. Ruggie, why.

And off he goes…

"Is something bad going on?" Epel asks, frowning at Ruggie's retreating figure.

I sigh. "We'll check on their dorm tomorrow. They're probably having more problems…" Not surprising.

"Ehhh—it's none of our business, No! You don't have to get in on every dorm event at school!" Grim huffs at me.

"But we have friends there. We should at least let them sleep on it, and the interfere." I offer.

The brain cell-less Deuce is giving it serious thought. "Jack is our friend… you're right. We should go tomorrow."

We make plans; tomorrow after school we will meet up and investigate.

We don't need to, because at lunch Jack sits with us and tells us the entire story.

"—so, everything worked out." Jack finishes after engaging us all in a tale of a lost necklace, searching crow nests, and saving the day.

"Your dorm doesn't have a dull day, does it?" Ace asks.

"I wish our dorm had dull days." Deuce sighs.

Grim, is stuffing his face.

"Most of our days are dull." Epel sighs.

"Pardon me!" A loud voice is heard, and we all look over to see a very tall Diasomnia student. He's got wild, slicked-back green hair—and eyes that remind me of a beastman's—sort of like Leona's, but not. Wow. He and Jack are probably close to the same size. "Is this seat taken?!"

There is an empty seat by me. "Nope. Our group's seated." Deuce, Ace, Epel, Jack, Grim, and myself. So… yeah.

"Thank you!" Though this student seems a wee bit distressed, actually.

He's got a sad frown as he sits and quietly eats. I guess he couldn't get a seat with his friends… probably other Diasomnia students. Boy, he looks woeful.

"Leave. It. Alone." Ace hisses in my ear.

iI refuse/i.

"Are you okay?" I'm not ignoring this face. He looks so absolutely distraught.

"...M'fine…" Oh, my gosh, he's mumbling like an upset child. It's pretty adorable.

"Are you… upset you couldn't sit with your friends?" I ask, prodding gently.

Deuce has a hand over Ace's mouth, and Epel and Jack are staring intensely—they need to be like Grim. Not. Focusing. On. This.

He lets out the most mournful sigh.

"What's your name?"

"Sebek. Sebek Zigvolt. Class… 1-E…" He hasn't really looked at me yet; he's just poking at his stew. Aw.

"So, Sebek… what happened?" I want to pat his broad back but people are really weird here.

"...I… was unable to… find a seat with Master Lilia and… Silver…" He mumbles it a little.

"Yeah, the cafeteria fills up pretty fast. I'm sorry to hear that you couldn't sit with them today." He's so cute. Oh my gosh.

I have a weakness.

"Oh! Lilia? He's so cool!" Epel sparks up. He's not trying to be demure, good.

"You know him?" Sebek's interest snaps to Epel.

"Yeah! He helped me out yesterday in the gardens! Some upper classmen were—you know, bullying me because of my sides and then Lilia swooped in and kicked their asses! It was iawesome/i! I definitely want to learn how to fight like that! I've never seen someone so small, like me, kick ass!" Yeah, boy, he's fired up.

Him and Deuce have that punk side…

"Yes! He is a wonderful teacher indeed!" Oh, boy, Sebek's at a seven and he needs to be a three.

"Yeesh—lil' quieter, dude. We can hear you." Ace grumbles.

"AH! Yes. Yes…" He does quiet, at least. Good Sebek.

"So how long have you known Lilia?" Epel asks.

"Since I was young! I've been under his tutelage for many years!" An excited, affirmative nod from Sebek.

It looks like we've started to cheer him up. Good!

"Oh—yes! What are your names?!" Sebek has some manners too, good.

"I'm No Wei—this is Ace Trappola, Deuce Spade, Jack Howl, Epel Felmier, and Grim." I introduce very politely to our downtrodden guest.

"A pleasure—wait." His eyes widen. "No Wei—THE No Wei?"

"Uh… yeah?" Uh, what?

"The—mm! I mean—you-I have heard of you!" I have no idea what he was starting with but his expression is pretty easy to read. There's something he's not going to tell me because it's some sort of secret, or maybe it's a negative opinion. I don't give a fuck, really, so why would I pry into Sebek's bullshit? ...I'm curious…

Fuck.

"...Uh… that's… well… um. Here I am! In the flesh!" Yeah. Me. In the flesh.

"I saw you during the Spelldrive Tournament." Oh no.

"U-huh."

"I am surprised at your survival. As you are just a human, and one without magic."

"...Yeah…"

His eyes narrow. "Though you have peculiar eyes for a human."

"I haven't been able to explain that one either, actually." I reply easily.

"You're not fae…"

I hold up a hand. "Fae?" I ask.

His brows furrow. "What do you mean?"

"I… don't… know what fae is." I explain.

He straightens, a bit offended. "How can you NOT?!"

"Woah! Woah, look—let's check that right now, Sebek. I'm not even from Twisted Wonderland. I'm still getting used to the whole beastmen thing, so you're going to have to introduce the magical creature—my perspective—thing to me easy and slow." My hands are held up defensively.

That does seem to simmer him down—and that is when I basically get to spend the rest of lunch listening about fae—and how there are different types of fae—and he's half fae.

The bell rings, signalling lunch is over and my head is spinning.

"—ah. I must go to escort Lord Malleus!" He stands in a rush—then looks at me, smiling. "I will see you again, No Wei!"

I.

"...My head hurts…" I admit.

"And that's what you get for making friends!" Ace scolds me.

Yeah.

I deserve it.

"—and basically basketball practice turned into a dance session." Ace explains, as we gather for our nightly study session. I'm finishing up another stupid Birthday Boy paper. At least I should only have to do, like… too many. Hah!

"So, basically, this Floyd Leech is pretty capricious and that guy, Jamil Viper's got skills?" I surmise.

"Yep." Ace laughs. "At least it isn't boring."

Actually, I only have fifty, total, I'm told, and that's fifty too many.

"No… do you understand this…?" He asks, pointing out one of our basic classes' work. It's… grammar.

"Lucky you, I do." And I slide closer to him, as we go over it.

I have a feeling his delinquent tenure means he's behind on a couple basic subjects—but it's fine, I don't mind going through all of it with him.

And, Grim gets out of doing anything for these classes because it's all writing by hand and he can't hold a pen or pencil! Or write with his mouth.

So it's basically the stuff saving my GPA.

Thursday's here before I know it, too, and I head with Grim to Crowley's office with a couple changes of clothes and basics in my bag, along with a notebook, pens, and the camera. I'm ready for this Camp Vargas, after all.

Well. I don't want to be, but here I am.

"Headmaster?" I open the door without knocking as the ghost directs us to go right in.

"Man, we're losing a weekend over this…" Grim gripes.

I totally agree.

"Ah! There you two are, follow me! I'll send you to settle in before I send the other campers! Remember, after camp you have one week to finish the article… I am so kind, after all…" The Crow casting reject informs us.

"I'd rather not…" Grim grumbles. I agree.

"Yeah, yeah… we'll… have fun… or something…" I know he's no longer listening.

But, we're led to the Mirror of Darkness—and off we go, a one-way ticket back to Dwarfs' Mine.

"It's too soon to be back here." I comment to Grim.

"This. Blows."

"Indeed, it does… ...You know… we never really got what was supposed to happen, now did we?"

"Nope!"

"What a Crowley thing to do."

So, I set off with Grim to the cabin to make sure there's running water, or I'm going to beat Crowley with his own pimp-cane and give him a proper bitch slap.

If I could reach. If.