It's the next day at lunch when I think this all catches up with us. The entire Camp Vargas group that I mainly interacted with (missing Floyd and Jamil for reasons I don't care to investigate), sits at the same table as if by some sort of calling. We all have the same dead look inside. And, quite frankly, if I didn't stay up to put together that piece and send it off at the wee hours I probably wouldn't believe any of it was actually real.

It was.

I'm surprised to see Ruggie and Leona. I didn't expect them to join the Trauma Troupe.

"So…" Ruggie starts the talking portion of this event. "That wasn't… the first monster?"

"No." Deuce sighs. "No—I mean. I mean no, that wasn't the first. We… we saw one last time."

Sebek swallows. "I… spoke with teacher-Lillia…" Oh, I dislike a quiet-speaking Sebek. Sure, it's just below a normal person's speaking voice but considering he shouts more than he talks at a normal level this is bad.

"What did the bat have to say?" Leona responds in his casual tone. He seems to only be here because that's where Ruggie set down his tray.

Seems.

"...That monster… is what is left behind when the… the host dies." There's a hard swallow in there. "When… the sorcerer that Overblots… d-doesn't survive."

"Which means… more than one miner Overblotted, and… died." I conclude softly.

Many gazes land on both Riddle, and Leona. Two opposite reactions. Riddle's stare is almost blank, he's pale, too—processing what could have been if we didn't save him; death was a known result, yes, but to leave behind a monster too? That… wasn't something we even considered as a true reality, more than speculation. It's… heavy, that's easy to see—and Leona? He's the same as ever, casually leaning back in his seat. Not even bothered by the possibility that it could've been him. Either he's stubborn, or he already knew the consequences and didn't care.

"So what?" Leona offers, giving a yawn.

There's a mix of confused gazes on Savanaclaw's Housewarden.

Riddle's was ire. "So what?! You Overblotted—I Overblotted! We could—we could both BE that now!"

"And we're not. Why are you worrying about it? We can't do anything about Dwarfs' Mine, and we're alive. Now we know what it was. Mystery solved. Move on." He snags his tray, standing. "Or you can cry about it some more."

I know exactly why he's giving me a glance. So the cave WASN'T dark enough to cover it this time… or maybe he caught it…

No one's confronted me about it. Either they don't notice, or they don't care—but Leona caught it at some point. Embarrassing.

"Why can you not take in the severity of-?" Riddle starts, his temper flaring as the heat shows in his face.

"You either survive, or you don't, Rosehearts. You survived this time." Savanaclaw is about strength, survival of the fittest. No one is more fit to be Housewarden than someone that understands that principle so intimately as Leona displays. "Ruggie. Don't sit us here again." And with that? He's off.

Ruggie lets out a sigh, frowning after Leona. For the moment, he doesn't follow. "He hasn't…" He trails off. Ears fall flat.

"Hasn't recovered yet." Epel finishes, and that sweet apple soul looks so sincere.

"I was told it could take months before I bounce back to full strength, depending." Riddle informs us, his temper calmed now that the trigger of it had gone. "I do not yet feel fully recovered, but I am close. I assume Leona will be in recovery for some time yet."

"At least he's right." Ace says, shaking his head with a sigh. "We survived. We live. The teachers don't believe us, so we really can't DO anything. Just… make sure no one else Overblots."

Riddle doesn't tear that down, he nods, though.

Many at the table nod.

Jack shakes his head. "Nothing we can do… maybe warn the students next year if there's another Camp Vargas."

"Yeah! It'll be our responsibility as upper classmen!" Deuce is of course on board for this. He is determined to be a responsible student, an honor student… if only it weren't for his dismal grades.

"Good. We are in accord…" Riddle turns back to his meal, but he sets down his fork, without appetite.

Grim, who was silent—and I realize why. He's eaten his tray… and half of mine. There's an apple, and the salad left. Ah.

I let out a groan. "REALLY, Grim?"

"Snooze you lose, No!" Grim huffs. "Besides, we have the BIG tests coming! Have to feed my brain, right?"

"What brain?" I reply dryly.

"Ah—the tests…" Riddle starts, but he frowns, not saying a word.

"You mean…" Ruggie trails off.

The two of them share looks.

"What is it?" Epel prods.

"We...can't." Ruggie starts, and stands. "Anyway. See ya nerds! Don't ask us for help, got it, unless you have payment or something." Off the hyena goes with a laugh.

Jack turns back to us. "...We do need to study. No, could we come over to Ramshackle tomorrow night?"

"Sure! Is everyone free… after dinner?" I do not want to feed this army today.

"We'll bring snacks." Epel offers.

"Sure, sure. Six?" Ace offers.

"Yeah—I'll be after practice…" Deuce trails off. "Yeah. That'll work out."

"What do we need to focus on?" I ask.

"Potion ingredients." A CHORUS there. Oh boy, yeah, we're going to have a memorization test of a hundred basic ingredients this time. I almost forgot. Fuck.

"I'm glad to see you two so ready to study." Riddle comments, but he seems pleased.

Sebek is uncharacteristically quiet… ah! I think I know.

"Sebek!" I am a little loud to get his attention. He's out of sorts over the monster. We all are to different degrees, but this is a place of emotional instability where people shove down everything until they Overblot so we're going to go compartmentalize and deal like men. Die early.

"Y-yes?"

"Want to join? Meet at Ramshackle tomorrow at six for a study session tonight?" I offer to our newly adopted member of the Trouble Troupe whether he likes it or not.

He straightens a little. "Of course. It would be a blight on Diasmonia and Lord Malleus if I did not study!"

"So WHAT snacks are coming…?" Grim asks.

It's good to laugh. We all really needed that.

I do manage to feel okay with a side salad and apple at least. But I am definitely not frying up some tuna cakes this weekend after that bullshit.

Are they going to be okay? I glance to Deuce and Ace as we line up on the field. It's our first time seeing Vargas since the utter bullshit that was Camp Vargas.

I pause; because as he approaches saying some absolute bullshit, I see a… bandage on his hand…

So THAT'S who I bit.

iGood/i.

Vargas notices we're not all too happy with his hunting us down and actually ends class early.

Good call, Coach Furry.

The night… is quiet. I can't really sleep; so I sing. Ramshackle is empty and barren again. My mysterious almost-friend of the night may really just be part of my imagination. A bit of a relief? Or, am I disappointed? I've got a couple nicknames for him, after all.

The night passes like that, and the next morning comes. I wake up

"-"

"-!"

"NO!"

I startled out of my walk and look surprised to see Epel in his lab wear so eager to get my attention. "I was calling for you!"

"Oh. I'm sorry…" I'm still spacing out. Ugh, I can't get it out of my head yet. I need a little more time to process.

"Don't worry about it! Remember, the Voice Changing Potion?" No, Epel, I do not.

"...For Crewel…" I start, trying to let my brain load and figure out what was going on.

"Yes! Today. I convinced Rook to help us!" Oh! OH. EPEL!

I remember, yesterday! Oh gosh I spaced out so hard I forgot we agreed to all work on it together so we can turn it in today, early, and get it out of the way so we can fully focus on the study session! Oh that is RIGHT! And here is sweet Epel saving my dumb ass! I have to get my head back into school. I'm probably the only one that's still entirely out of sorts too!

"Right! Uh—Grim and I need to get our lab gear. Can we meet you?" I ask, and Grim perks up a little.

"I can just go with Epel…" He shakes his head. Oh, yeah, he doesn't really… wear stuff.

"Yeah! Alright, I'll meet you two, okay?" Get your head in the game, No Wei!

"Sure! See you soon, No!" Epel waves, and the two head off.

I'm actually glad to see Grim go on his own with other people. I might not be around the entire four years of Night Raven College. That he's making friends and connections that he can go off and not be by my side all the time is a really good thing. I want him to be capable of taking care of himself and what he needs to do before I leave.

I mean, I also slightly doubt that's going to happen because wow look at the 0 progress we've made, especially Letdown Role model Crowley.

I get my equipment and Grim's goggles just fine. It's easy enough to navigate back to the lab too. I'm keeping my head out of the clouds and I'm doing my best to focus on the task at hand. Ah—right.

Weird bathroom guy.

And his AWFUL bowl cut. Who said that was okay? WHO? It should be forbidden.

It's terrible.

At least he's wearing a hat, it makes it a lot more tolerable to look at him. Praise the Lord.

"Now then, my wonderful students! I shall teach you the art of the Voice Changing Potion; I will show you what every Pomefiore student must be: a master of this beautiful craft." Oh wow this guy is weird.

I knew that, but… this is our first extended interaction.

"We're not Pomefiore." Grim comments as I make sure his goggles are secure.

"Yes, yes—Trickster No, Monsieur Hirsute! But these skills with aide you as you continue to bloom at this school!" Rook has lost me.

"Thank you for taking the time to teach us too." I am a very polite girl here. I know how to say my please and thank-yous. I mean, my parents would rise from the grave to tan my hide if I didn't… in certain situations, like this one, at least.

"Of course, of course!" And oh boy.

Holy. Fuck.

HOLY ACTUAL FUCK.

I have never met someone so meticulous and thorough in my entire life. Mind-numbingly so. Every single step and measurement is absolutely agonizing. I'm not sure if I'd rather do this or watch paint dry because that is the awful problem with it! SO yes, yes, after many hours and a lot of words we have completed the project but was this worth my sanity? Was this worth the French? I didn't even know this world HAD French. That's just the weirdest part. I mean—I recognize that it's French but the language I'm actually speaking right now isn't ENGLISH.

I'm.

I'm going to die, aren't I? Is this Hell? Is this Purgatory? What sins did I commit for this fate? I don't know but I am SORRY!

PLEASE FORGIVE—OH.

Oh.

We have the potion.

Okay.

Rook bids us goodbye, and I do not like the weird smile on his face but it doesn't matter because we are free from whatever alternate prison reality that is and back in Twisted Wonderland! I have never been so thankful to be in Twisted Wonderland before now!

I am blessed.

We walk down the Hall, Epel holding our project in hand as we head to Crewel's office to turn it in—early! What a miracle that is!

"We're done! We're done!" Grim exclaims with glee!

"And we finished early instead of last minute, which means we're not panicking." I point out to the slacker part of this duo.

"Ugh! It was so brutal! Crewel's classwork is evil." He ain't wrong. "And if we didn't have Epel as our partner, we would've never made it perfectly!"

"Thank you, Epel, this worked out. And—we'll make it to our study session without worrying about it!" He's great. We are blessed with this friend.

It's kind of weird that he sort of just came with Jack but I'm not complaining.

"I'd really give Rook all the credit, we wouldn't have done it without his teaching." Epel smiles.

"Gimme! I wanna hand it to Crewel and see his face that we made something PERFECT!" Maybe this might encourage Grim to be more studious in the future?

"Hey—keep your eyes on the prize, Grim, we're not done yet. We'll get it in, and then you can help me clean up for the study session." Hah, as if he's getting out of helping straighten up. The lounge area is fine, and so are a few rooms—but I need some more help in the kitchen and the upper floor… it's a long project, after all.

"Look out!" Epel suddenly shouts.

And there is impact. Grim flies into the leg of someone approaching. The cat-like creature stumbles back with an ioof/i.

The unfortunate leg, unfortunately…

Belongs to maybe one of the last people I want to see: Leona Kingscholar.

"What was that?" He looks down. "Ah, it's not a bug—just a fuzzball." Yeah…

"L-leona…" Epel stammers.

"Epel… and the bunny from Ramshackle, too… you should know better than to run in someone's way. Especially when they're bigger than you." And his hands are on his hips. No apology. No nothing.

This guy.

"I'm sorry that Grim ran into you—he should've been paying attention." Apologizing is way easier when it doesn't start a fight.

"Oh no…" Grim's small voice comes.

"What is it?" Epel asks.

I look down. Oh.

Oh fuck no.

Our potion is all over the floor… oh no. OH NO.

"The potion… it… we spent ALL DAY making that! Now it's all over the floor!" Grim's voice rises in obvious panic. Ah fuck us we needed that done now so we can study more for our tests!

"W-what'd'cha'sa'?" I do—wait. Wait. What am I hearing from Epel? "Af'a all tha'?!"

Holy shit I hear country.

"It—it isn't my fault!" Grim, no. Take responsibility for not paying attention. Ugh, one step forward and one step back! Why!?

"Move. This is none of my concern. I need to get to the field." Leona could walk around us but apparently he's in the mood to be an ass today. No wait. That's EVERY day. "Epel—you're late for club too. Forget that classwork and get out on the-"

"EXCUSE YOU!? I worked my TAIL off for this!" Grim scowls, ah, please, no fights. "This happened because YOU weren't paying attention.

We've seen what Leona can do. Okay? I don't want to deal with that. And that's not accurate either! UGH!

"From where I'm standing, you weren't paying attention, fuzzball." Ah fuck me he's got his arms crossed and he's glaring down at Grim.

"Please don't fight." I plead.

I am ignored.

"NO—THAT'S-!"

"You're both blind! Let's stop—it doesn't change anything." I cut in, louder.

"No's right—but this ain' no time f'-a-anyway. We… fighting isn't going to change anything!" Epel you are hiding a certain side of you that we need to discuss more thoroughly in the future! I SPEAK that language. It's a little dead but I REMEMBER.

"This took all day!" Grim looks down at the spilled potion. "What are we going to do now…?"

"We're… going to have to do it again—another day… A-and explain to Rook what happened." Epel sighs, so dejected.

Leona, who finally got the idea to go around us, stops and looks at Epel, snagging his arm. "...Did you say Rook…" Oh?

Is there something going on that I don't know about?

Epel huffs. "Ow! Let go!"

"Run that one by me again." Leona does not ease up.

"I said that we have to do it-" Of course, the earnest Epel starts.

"After that." Leona continues.

"That I'm going to have to talk to Rook about what happened…" There's a glint in Epel's eyes too. I'm not… hm.

"Why does that pain in the ass matter?" The frustrated look, how his hand is up—ah. There IS something going on there! Leona and Rook… hm.

"Rook helped us craft that potion." Epel starts, such a deep sorrow to him. Oh…

"HIM? How can you learn anything when that fuck is always speaking gibberish?" Leona has a point. I don't understand half of what comes out of his mouth either. Probably less than that, now that I think about it.

"He's a potionology expert—of course we turned to him for help." Epel starts.

"He was scary, too…" Grim adds.

"He was with us the entire day. And… when we tell him it's ruined…? It… it won't go well…" Oh, my poor broken-hearted friend.

"He'll understand. Accidents happen." I try to comfort him the best I can. "Grim—come on, let's go." With his hands up in defeat. "We'll have to tell him every detail. He'll interrogate us on everything, so—be prepared. He's thorough."

"Fuck." Leona curses.

"Language." No one pays attention to me.

"We're not doing that." I catch Leona saying as I see Epel hauled into the air and over Leona's shoulder. Uh. One, that is some strength, and two—that is a little hilarious.

"Woah! What?!" Epel is very confused.

Bending down, Leona's snagged Grim too.

"Wah!? Why am I up here?! No!?" There's a bit of panic in Grim's voice. I am the only one that picks him up on the regular, after all. "Leona?! Lemme go! I'm not for lifting!"

"P-please put me down!" Epel squeaks.

"Stop it, pipsqueaks." Leona scolds them. "No, come on." Well, now his attention's on me. "I'll chase you down, bunny."

I feel threatened.

Then, this smirk comes over his face. "Unless… you want me to carry you too~?"

Am I being teased?

Or threatened?

"I'm not running today." I reply, hands up. "Lead the way."

"Let's go." Leona takes off, and maybe I should've taken him up on his offer because he walks fast, and I'm basically jogging behind as I watch Epel and Grim squirm in his hold!

"Let me go!" Grim protests. "No—help!"

"Oh, yeah, uh, no." Leona is like eight inches taller than I am, and both twice my bulk and muscles. Plus, I have SEEN him in action! I am 0% likely to win.

"Please let me down!" Epel adds.

Honestly, I get a photo of this.

"Sure." And Leona is just dropping him right then and there.

"Wah—help!" Epel's re-caught, and thrown back over.

"Be careful what you wish for." Leona comments.

"UGH! THIS GUY!" Grim complains, and pauses. "Wait—how did you get in your lab wear?!"

I would also like to know that. Did I zone out a second?

"You don't need to know every little detail." Leona yawns, continuing to cart them off. "Do I look like some magically-incompetent herbivore to you? A clothes-changing spell is a breeze."

And that is when he dumps them both on the ground and they land with a thump! Photo two of the afternoon.

He shoves them both further into the lab. "C'mon."

Epel shakes his head. "Ugh-"

And Grim groans. "Why?! What am I, garbage?!"

"Wait… why are we in the lab?" Epel questions.

It's a good question, but… probably to make a potion.

"Everything's still out. Good… hm. A voice-changing potion." Leona just looked it all over once. "That would be hard for newbies."

So his being held back is because he's a lazy fuck. Got it.

Well, he does have a lot of power and he's a Housewarden—plus with that Overblot it's clear he has a LOT of issues. Which means he's purposefully failing at school. A fear of moving on? A fear of not being good enough when he gets to the real world? He has family issues too, right?

I think Riddle and Leona might do some good for one-another if they talked and shared their experiences…

"Hey! Crewel said it was challenging!" Grim, that means for first years. Sigh.

"It's basic." Leona replies easily. He's laying out things easily, not really paying attention to us?

"...What're you doing with that stuff?" Grim questions.

"I'm remaking it." The Savanaclaw Housewarden responds stiffly.

"You should put on your goggles…" LAB. SAFETY.

"They're for clumsy bunnies like you." He replies smoothly.

That fuck.

"Wait—wait. YOU'RE making a replacement?! Who are you and what have you done with Leona?!" THAT is the appropriate reaction, Grim!

But at the same time I suspect it has to do with Rook? He freaked a little at the mention of him.

"I'm not getting drug into something with Rook. Your bitching worked." The lion-man shakes his head, scowling. Oh, so he REALLY doesn't like Rook. WHY is that? I think I should talk to some students.

"But…" Epel says softly. "Rook told us this potion needs careful adjustment of its quantities with different temperatures and humidity—that any misstep would lead to disaster." That is very accurate. It was dramatic in presentation, too.

"Uh-huh." Leona is throwing things around in the cauldron. "Bunny. Stir."

I am stirring as commanded.

"A-and he said it was so hard it showed up o-on graduation tests!" Epel continues.

"Yeah, mhm…" Leona responds, throwing in a couple more ingredients.

"E-even upperclassmen struggle!"

There's no response, he only knocks a few things haphazardly into the cauldron.

I keep stirring.

"I—it's impossible to do it quickly-" Epel.

"Impossible?" Leona questions.

"Yeah, I mean, especially for a lazy fuck like you that's gotten held back at least once." GRIM. THAT'S RUDE.

And this potion looks about the same color as the last one. Holy fuck.

"GRIM. That is SO RUDE! You don't say that to people!" I have turned to the side to scold him properly.

"Huh. Sounds like you two want to be eaten whole." Leona stops my stirring. I comply.

"Rook said there's—there's no absolute, surefire way to make this potion—that every one requires careful consideration and methodology!" Epel says in.. "And it's all trail and error!" -he really admires Rook, doesn't he?

That's really sweet.

Leona's doing that thing again when he's irritated or frustrated.

"How could this be done quickly? We'll be here all night! I—I think we should apologize and ask him to help another day…" Oh, the woeful Epel continues.

Leona is… snoozing?

"Are you… listening?" Yeah, he's not, Epel.

"You're sleeping while we're panicking…? Really?" Grim.

"Shut up. Both of you." Leona finally says, taking a flask and filling it. Handing the beaker over to Epel.

"What is this…?" Please Epel.

"What do you think? It's a voice-changing potion. Go give it to Crewel." He crosses his arms with a small scowl.

"...How…? How?! It's the right color and everything! How do you perfect it just like that?!" Epel is in total shock.

Me? I'm starting to get an idea on Leona as a whole.

"It's probably not! I bet he got lazy!" Oh, Grim… is there a manners class for him?

"Then throw it out." Leona scoffs.

"No. Try it out! Let's see if it works!" No tuna cakes next week either, Grim.

"Really? You're going to use me as a tester for this stuff, Grim? If I'm out, who's cooking and writing?" I shake my head, I am so disappointed in him.

"No—no. This is right. The smell, the tri-color sheen… it's perfect." Epel seems… worried? Impressed? I can't read that expression.

"See? Newbie stuff. Basic. Now keep Rook out of this. Don't come asking me for favors. I'm out." Leona says, and he is heading out already.

"WAIT!" Epel calls out, stopping the lion in his tracks. The loud noise made his ears go flat. Huh.

I will remember that.

"What now?" Leona groans—ah. That's the Leona we know and don't love.

"I—how? How did you do this so easily?!" Epel—well. Huh. Interesting. I'm glad to see how studious he really is.

"...How…? How you're supposed to do it." He's turned back to us, arms crossed.

"Normal way?! Yeah right! Cheater is as cheater does!" GRIM.

"Grim, can you not?" I hiss.

"It doesn't matter if it's a cheat or not—what is the reliable process you just used?!" Ah, well, it's good that Epel wants to know and learn for the future. "I want to get as good as you are at this! Please show me?"

"Yeah! If there's some cool trick share it!" Both of you are fairly poor at asking for stuff, but Grim is just terrible.

I can't believe they're both grabbing his sleeves and tugging like children. I'm just. "Hey—guys. That's—that's not how you ask for favors…" This. School. I. Swear. NO MANNERS.

"Hey! OFF!" Leona scowls. "The only reason I did this was to keep that hunter pest out of my hair! And now I've got you two clawing at my back!? Kids! No manners, no restraint, no thing! Can't fuckin' stand 'em, either! You're making the bunny look like a model student."

"Tell us!"

"Yeah, tell us!"

Leona throws them off fairly easily with a scowl. "What's wrong with both of you!?"

I get in the way this time. "Guys! That's now how we ask for help! Seriously!?"

Ah, and that guy is GONE. He moves fast.

"REALLY NO?!" Grim complains.

Epel sighs. "Let's… let's just take it in, okay?"

"You're right—we have studying, remember?" I push.

"...I'll… meet you two later, okay? I'll drop this off…" Oh, I do feel bad with how dejected he is, but Leona could seriously hurt them if he wanted to, and I couldn't risk that, either.

I feel like the bad guy…

"C'mon Grim." I sigh. "Let's go fix up Ramshackle, okay?"

Grim huffs, and crosses his paws—storming off. "See ya, learning ruiner!"

The fuck…

I really just can't win, can I?