"Ayyye, it's the Lopez triplets, back at it again with some Disney dream tomfoolery!" DJ called out into the void as he and his siblings subconsciously met yet again via their Sending Stones. "I wonder what movie it's gonna be this time?"
"Dude, you are way too hyped for this," Dominic commented. "Didn't you say yourself that these dreams never lead to anything good?"
"I did, but that was before I realized how much stronger our powers are getting," DJ replied. He gestured to Devon. "I mean, Dev got those ink blot visions long before the last Overblot actually happened, right?"
"Yeah, but I had no idea who was actually in danger until it was too late," Devon countered. "It's not like it's a perfect science."
"Okay, fair. But these dreams usually give us a heads-up when something's about to go pear-shaped, don't they?" DJ pointed out. "And now that we can talk to you outside of these dreams without overworking Dom's blessing, maybe we'll stand a better chance of working out some kind of plan."
"I don't know that Overblots are really something can anyone can "prepare" for," Dominic argued. "All the other times-"
"Shh!" Devon interjected. "Hold that thought, guys. I think I hear something." The brothers quieted immediately and a melodious voice could be heard floating through the void, growing louder and clear with each passing moment. "Is that…someone singing?" She could see something begin to take shape as the void opened and her eyes widened once she recognized what she was seeing. "Wait…is that the Dark Mirror?"
The mirror in the scene playing out before the triplets certainly looked like the school's Dark Mirror, complete with a mask-like face inside it and everything, but Devon didn't have time to compare the two as a woman in a flowing black and purple robe and a crown on her head stepped up to it. The triplets knew exactly what Disney classic they were seeing even before the queen uttered her "Mirror, Mirror, on the wall" line, demanding that the person…spirit…whatever was trapped inside it tell her who the fairest one of all was. They also weren't surprised when the mirror revealed-much to the queen's shock, horror, and envy-that the fairest one of all was in fact her young stepdaughter, Snow White.
The scene cut immediately to said princess-forced into rags and made to work as a scullery maid as a result of the queen's jealousy-singing into a wishing well about how she hoped her true love would come and find her. Almost immediately, some random prince appeared beside her. In seemingly the only time in the film that Snow White acknowledged the possibility of stranger danger, the young princess fled into the castle…only to step back out onto a balcony as the prince continued to sing about how his song was only for her.
"Ah yes," DJ commented, "you know it's classic Disney when the lead and her love interest fall in love after knowing each other for all of twenty seconds."
"I'm more concerned about the castle's security," Dominic said. "Do they not have any guards? How'd he even get in there?"
While her brothers continued discussing the questionable decisions of the characters, Devon felt her gaze drawn to a window on one of the upper levels. The queen from earlier glared down at Snow White and the prince for a moment before yanking the windows curtains shut.
'And that's where it all began for the House of Mouse,' Devon thought.
Devon yawned as she sat up in bed, glancing out the window as she rubbed her eyes. It looked like even more snow had fallen last night and the cold was creeping into the room.
Grim shivered as the cold snapped him awake. "Brr… It's freezin' in here!" He looked over at Devon as she got out of bed. "Hey Dev, how much trouble do you think I'd get in if I went to class wrapped up in a blanket?" Devon didn't respond and when Grim looked over at her to see what was wrong, he found her staring into the mirror over the fireplace. "What'sa matter, Dev? Why're you starin' so hard at the mirror?" He gave her a flat look. "If you're worried about your hair, don't be. You look great. Now let's get a move on!"
"Mornin', guys! How's it goin'?" Ace greeted as Devon and Grim joined him and Deuce on Main Street.
"Morning, you two." Deuce shivered as a gust of wind blew by. "Brrr! It's cold out this morning, huh?" He glanced over at Devon. "I don't understand how you're able to wear a skirt in this weather, Dev."
Devon smiled. "Pretty easy when you've got a Fire Wisp to help you stay-" She trailed off when they passed the statues of the Great Seven. Her eyes landed on the Fairest Queen and she thought about the dream she had shared with her brothers the night before. DJ was right; those dreams usually meant something Overblot-related was about to go down, but lately she'd been wondering if there might be more to it than that or if Mickey was involved in some way.
Something rammed into the back of her leg and the quick "Ow!" that followed made her realize that she had stopped walking. Grim poked his head out from behind him, rubbing at his nose.
"What gives, Dev?! You can't just stop in the middle of the walkway like that! I just rammed face-first into your leg!" the little monster complained.
"Is everything okay? How come you're starin' at the Fairest Queen's statue like that?" Ace asked.
Devon opened her mouth to answer when she caught sight of the Queen of Hearts' statue. Something clicked into place when her gaze moved to some of the other statues as well: the King of Beasts, the Sea Witch, and the Sorcerer of the Sands... She'd had dreams featuring all of them and each time she did, she was dealing with a problem concerning the dorm that was meant to embody their spirit. Did her most recent dream mean something was about to go down at Pomefiore? And which version of the Seven was more accurate: the clear-cut, obviously evil versions of them that she had grown up with or the rosier versions that everyone accepted as fact in this world? It was entirely possible that her dreams only featured the more villainous interpretations of the Great Seven because that's what she was more familiar with but she had a gut feeling that there was more to it than that. And then there was what that disembodied voice had said to her just before she woke up in that coffin.
"Welcome to the villains' world, my dear."
'All this time and I still have more questions than answers about this place,' Devon thought. 'I still don't even know how or why I was brought here.'
"Devon? Hey, Dev?" Deuce called, waving his hand in front of Devon's face to bring her back to reality. "You spaced out pretty hard there. Are you feeling sick or something?"
"She's been actin' a little out of it since we got up," Grim told them as he hopped up onto Devon's shoulder.
"Oh yeah?" Ace asked, giving Devon a concerned look. "Did something happen over break? Y'know, besides the whole Jamil thing?"
"Uhh… Maaaybe," Devon replied haltingly. "It's a little hard to explain but…"
Devon spent the rest of the walk to class explaining the dreams she'd been having and seeing Mickey Mouse in the mirror to her friends, though she made sure to take care not to mention that all of them were characters in movies she'd been familiar with since her childhood. She still wasn't quite sure how they'd taking hearing news like that, but at least now she had access to her Disney+ account if the time came to tell them and she needed proof. The group made sure to lower their voices once they entered the more populated areas of the main building, thankful that the murmurs of their classmates made their discussion less conspicuous.
"So you've been havin' dreams about the Great Seven more or less since you got here?" Ace summarized. "Well…I guess it's not that unusual since we pass by their statues almost every day."
"Normally I'd think so too, but the dreams I'm having don't quite line up with the legends," Devon elaborated.
"I've been told that I sometimes mutter the names of important historical figures in my sleep after cramming for magic history tests, but that doesn't sound quite like what you're describing," Deuce said.
"Personally, I'm more concerned about this Mickey guy you've been talkin' to. And you said he knocks on the mirror and everything?" Ace commented.
"Well, there's nobody at this school with that name. At least, not that I know of," Deuce added.
"Wait a minute. Is that what happened when you stepped on my tail the other night?" Grim asked Devon.
"That wasn't the first time I'd seen him but…yeah," Devon replied with a nod. "I'm not sure what all this stuff with the Great Seven means, but I'm positive that Mickey's real."
"But if it's not a dream, what else does that leave?" Deuce pondered. "Do you think the ghosts are messing with you?"
"They do like a good prank," Grim agreed. "I guess we can't really put it past 'em."
"Okay, how about this: The next Mickey shows up in the mirror, just snap a picture of him with that ghost camera thing Crowley gave you," Ace suggested. "It's a magic item that's supposed to be able to record spirits on film, right? It's the only camera that can capture ghosts perfectly year-round and not just on Halloween."
"Good thinking! If Dev can snag a photo of him, we might be able to figure out who this Mickey guy really is," Deuce agreed.
"And once he's ID'd, I'm gonna demand he compensate me in tuna cans for makin' Dev step on my tail," Grim added with a conspiratorial smirk.
Ace reached out to ruffle Devon's hair with a teasing grin on his face. "And if nothing shows up, we can just write it off as New York bein' a vivid dreamer."
The sound of footsteps approaching down the hall heralded the arrival of Professor Crewel, who appeared in the doorway to the classroom seconds later. "Alright pups, find your seats. It's time for homeroom and time to pull tight the slack you all enjoyed over the holidays."
The students immediately ceased chattering and scrambled to get to their seats. Devon and Grim settled into their usual place between Ace and Deuce.
Once everyone was seated, Crewel continued with the homeroom announcements. "Now then, as I'm sure you're all aware, the National Arcane Academy Culture Fair is coming up in mid-February. This year, Night Raven College will be hosting it."
Grim looked around, his ears flicking this way and that as students began chattering excitedly once again. "Myah? We're havin' some kinda festival?"
"Hmm… It would seem some of you haven't even glanced at the school's event schedule even though it was posted back in September, at the beginning of the fall term. Lazy curs!" He cracked his pointer/whip in frustration, prompting Devon to grab Grim and lean back to stay of its range, several other students following suit. "Very well. Since disciplining you all is my responsibility anyway, I'll provide a recap for those who need it. The National Arcane Academy Cultural Fair is a yearly event for students representing magic schools across the country. The festival lasts for two days and includes showcases for fine art and music, presentations of various fields of magic research, and speech contests. In short, it's an interscholastic event for culture-oriented clubs. Here at Night Raven College, students spend their senior year off-campus at internships and research placements related to their intended professions. However, they will be returning to campus for this festival to present on their findings."
Huh… I guess we haven't run into a single senior since we enrolled, have we? Never really thought about it until now," Ace mused.
"I knew they were training off-campus, but that's about it," Deuce replied before nodding resolutely. "Better make sure to pay our respects."
"Come to think of it…" Devon made a mental note of all the students she'd met since arriving at Night Raven. "Yep, the oldest students here are all juniors, aren't they? Heh. Didn't realize mages did internships too."
"The festival also gets attention from plenty of outside organizations looking for fresh talent, not unlike the Spelldrive interdorms," Crewel continued. "I think it's safe to say that we can expect representatives from the Bureau of Magic, the Magic Board of Education, other universities, research institutes, magic-related businesses, and even the entertainment industry. Those of you in art clubs had best ensure that you're well-groomed and presentable!"
Ace leaned back in his seat. "So the art clubs are the stars of the show this time, huh?"
"Guess that means those of us in sports clubs won't have much to do," Deuce sighed, shaking his head in disappointment.
"If this is a festival, does that mean they're gonna have tons of food stalls like they did at the Spelldrive tournament?" Grim asked eagerly.
"Why do you have to make everything about food?" Ace asked in exasperation.
Crewel clapped once to get everyone's attention. "That concludes the homeroom announcements. First period will be a practical lesson in defensive magic." His smirk grew dangerous. "Now then, pups-come here!"
Crewel gestured for Devon to remain behind once first period was dismissed. "Ms. Lopez, if you wouldn't mind hanging back for a moment."
Devon nodded as Grim hopped from her shoulder to Deuce's. She waved as her friends headed off to their next class before refocusing on her professor. "Is everything okay, sir?"
"I should be asking you that, pup," Crewel replied. "I heard about what happened with Viper over the break. I'm thankful the situation was resolved without any serious injuries, but I confess I was concerned about you from the moment I heard you and Grim would have to stay alone on campus. The headmaster assured both myself and Professor Trein that you two would be provided for, but I wanted to check with you personally."
"Well… I'll be honest, I kinda seemed like he completely forgot about us until we approached him in the Mirror Chamber to make sure we'd have food over break," Devon reported. "You can check with Ace and Deuce; they were there too. I guess we did end up spending more time at Scarabia than Ramshackle over break and Azul and the twins were still at Octavinelle, but we didn't know that when we went to talk to the headmaster. He did give us his phone number so we could reach him if there was an emergency…and then didn't pick up his phone when we'd been kidnapped and were stuck in Scarabia."
Crewel was barely able to suppress an eye twitch. "I see…"
"But we were able to get help from Octavinelle," Devon continued quickly. "I mean, yeah, Jamil still ended up Overblotting, but we brought him out of it without anyone getting seriously hurt. And the headmaster did make good on his promise and had food delivered to Grim and me. All in all, it wasn't as bad as it could've been."
"Be that as it may, he shouldn't have left you in such a precarious situation," Crewel replied as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "It seems Professor Trein and I will need to have a word with him after his meeting this afternoon." He met Devon's eye again, his expression softening just a bit. "I understand that you're now able to communicate with your family again, thanks to the combined generosity of Briar Valley's queen and the elder Shroud brother."
Devon's eyes widened in surprise. The news wasn't exactly a secret, but she was still surprised that the faculty apparently knew about it. "How did-?"
"Sam's, ah, associates keep us well-informed," Crewel supplied. He gestured to the Pop Socket-like device on the back of Devon's phone. "To think that tiny device can allow for communication between two completely separate worlds."
Devon smiled. "Idia really is amazing. He made these little adapters for my families phones, but he also hooked a bigger one up at Ramshackle last night that not only made the campus Wi-Fi connection better, but it lets me toggle between Twisted Wonderland's internet and my world's internet. Don't ask me to explain how, though; Ortho and my brother Dominic tried to give me the run-down but I wasn't nearly tech-savvy enough to understand it."
Crewel nodded, impressed. "I'll admit that I'm intrigued. I had no idea Shroud was capable of something on that scale. I'm guessing the device of his only works within Ramshackle?"
Devon nodded. "The one I have does. I have a sneaking suspicion that Idia's got one for his room too, probably so he and Dom can play games together online." She smiled warmly. "They're pretty cute." The sound of a bell echoed through the building, signaling that the next period was about to start.
"I'm happy for you, Devon. Truly. And while I'd love to learn more about your world I suppose I shouldn't keep you any longer. I just wanted to make sure you and Grim were actually alright," Crewel said, a genuine smile on his face. "Professor Trein already knows that I intended to speak with you after first period so you won't get into trouble for being late."
The first day back to classes passed without incident and now six of the dorm leaders (and Lilia) gathered in the Mirror Chamber for their first meeting of the new term. Crowley was already waiting for them at the round table he always trotted out for these meetings. Nobody knew where it was stored when it wasn't being used, but he always seemed able to have it ready at the drop of a hat.
"Are all dorm leaders present?" Crowley asked as everyone filed in and took a seat. Well…everyone except for Idia, whose tablet floated over to one of the chairs and hovered there.
"Everyone except Malleus," Vil reported. "Not that that's anything new."
"Apologies," Lilia replied. "I knew where he was up until lunch break, but I'm afraid I lost track of him after that."
"There's no way this vanishing act of his isn't on purpose. He pulls this stunt every time," Idia grumbled.
"It's not that, I assure you," Lilia said. "Time just flows a little differently for us fae. It also seems he's got quite a streak of bad luck when it comes to these things."
"Ah ha ha!" Kalim laughed good-naturedly. "I know what you mean! Jamil's always getting onto me for forgetting about meetings and stuff."
"Khe heh," Lilia chuckled in response. "If nobody has any objections, I'd like to stand in to represent Malleus today as Diasomnia's vice dorm leader."
Leona groaned and let his head loll back. "Who cares if the lizard's here or not? Can we get this meeting started already?"
Crowley cleared his throat loudly. "Very well. I hereby call this meeting to order. Now then, as you all know, we've spent quite some time preparing to host the National Arcane Academy Culture Fair. It will be upon us in less than two months now." He looked over toward Riddle. "Management Committee Chairman, your progress report, if you please."
Riddle nodded and stood up. "Of course, sir. If everyone could please refer to the handouts in front of you." He gestured to some papers that had been placed at each seat and waited until everyone was at least looking at them before continuing. "At present, we are still accepting applications for student admissions and presentations from magical academies nationwide. Booths for food, drink, and craft vendors are limited in number and, as such, have already been filled."
Kalim tilted his head. "Hmm? I get the food and drink booths, but what do you mean by crafts?"
"That primarily refers to things produced by the various art clubs in attendance: clothes, pottery, engravings, paintings, that sort of thing," Riddle explained. "Some things will be available for sale while others will be on exhibit. We also had applications for live painting demonstrations and showings of independent films."
"Oooh, that sounds like a delight!" Kalim replied with a smile.
"Moving on," Riddle continued, "regarding the venues for speech contests and research presentations, we plan to install three stages on campus: the Red Stage on the sports field, the Blue Stage in the gymnasium, and the Purple Stage at our largest spot-the coliseum. We are still accepting press coverage applications for all presentations, both from domestic and foreign sources, but…" Riddle's expression grew troubled. "…Mm."
"Is something wrong, Riddle?" Kalim asked.
"There's going to be a musical presentation called the Vocal and Dance Championship held on the Purple Stage," Riddle elaborated. "We've been absolutely inundated with applications from external media outlets to cover this program to a degree that I would call excessive."
"Yes, I should think so," Azul spoke up. "The Vocal and Dance Championship-or VDC, as it were-is a competition on a global scale between the most talented singers at schools all across the country."
"Ah, I see. I was picturing something more in line with a choral contest since it's categorized as a musical presentation," Riddle replied.
"Back when the culture fair was first established, that was the extent of the VDC," Vil chimed in. "However, as time went on, it came to encompass a greater scope of musical expression. These days, dances and other such productions are well within its purview. It's become widely regard as the most sure-fire way to break into the entertainment industry."
"The audience votes for the winners in real time as well," Azul added. "Keeps the event from feeling staged, you know. Plenty of stars got their start there." He turned to Vil with a grin. "As I understand it, you'll be performing this year, won't you, Vil? No wonder the press is already swarming the event.
Vil answered Azul with a scoff before closing his eyes and crossing his arms.
"Is that so? I had no idea," Riddle said.
"Come now, Riddle. One would think someone at the top of his class would be more up-to-date on trending topics." Azul's tone was deliberately antagonistic, as was the smirk on his face. "Don't tell me you were unaware of Vil's status as an international celebrity."
"Are the constant bards really necessary?" Riddle remarked dryly. "I don't live under a rock, you know. I'm well aware that Vil has a flourishing career in the entertainment industry."
"Indeed he does!" Azul exclaimed, launching into what sounded almost like a sales pitch. "He's a highly popular and versatile figure who does everything from modeling to acting. I imagine he'll be flooded with offers from big-name brands again once Fashion Week kicks off, to say nothing of the fact that he held the record for runway appearances in last year's fall and winter seasons. And that's not even getting into the fact that he's a Magicammer with well over five million followers. All this on top of his student and dorm leader responsibilities!" He pushed his glassed up the bridge of his nose. "They say that any product he promotes is guaranteed to fly off the shelves. He's the textbook definition of an "influencer"."
"Goodness. I wasn't aware he was that famous," Riddle replied.
"Hmph. Ever the chatty one, aren't you, Azul?" Vil spoke up, narrowing his eyes. "I don't appreciate your embarrassing slavering. All of that was basic information-hardly worth the show you just put on."
"Actually, speaking of influencers…" Idia's soft voice floated through the speakers on his tablet. "Vil's not the only one making an appearance at VDC this year. I hear Neige LeBlanche will be there too. It was all over the online news sites the other day. No surprise the media's all over it."
"Neige LeBlanche…," Riddle repeated before pulling out a multi-tabbed binder. "I believe we received a registration form for him a few days ago," He opened the binder and began leafing through the papers before pulling one out. "Ah, here it is." He looked it over carefully. "He's a sophomore from Royal Sword Academy."
Vil's hands clenched discreetly into fists as the Neige discussion continued.
"From what I understand, he's considered the most likable celebrity in the world thanks to his disarming good looks and approachable nature," Lilia said. "Hardly a day goes by that I don't see his face plastered on one screen or another. I had no idea he went to Royal Sword Academy."
"There, you see? He's like the normie poster boy and…" Idia paused for a moment as Lilia's statement sank in. "Wait a sec. You guys actually watch TV in Diasomnia?"
"Khee hee hee! Of course we do!" Lilia replied with a laugh. "I can't speak for everyone in the dorm, of course, but I know I'd simply keel over and die without my dramas. I've also been known to enjoy a little gaming when I have the time."
"H-Huh… Can't say I was expecting that," Idia mumbled.
"Vil Schoenheit and Neige LeBlanche," Crowley began dramatically. "This year's Vocal and Dance Championship with play host to two internationally famous celebrities. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this may be the highest-profile year in the history of the event." He fixed Riddle with a stern stare. "Mr. Rosehearts, you must take every precaution to ensure that there are no incidents on the day of the show."
"Y-Yes, headmaster," Riddle replied before adding under his breath, "It seems this will be an even bigger to-do than I was anticipating."
Never one to let an opportunity to put someone in his debt pass him by, Azul pounced. "Even the slightest mismanagement of an event on this scale could trigger some sort of commotion that will surely only be exacerbated by the swarms of fans in attendance." He gave Riddle his 'absolutely no ulterior motives here' smile. "I would be more than happy to offer my assistance if it gets to be too much for you, Riddle." His eyes narrowed in Leona's direction as his smile twisted into a smirk. "As you might imagine, the uproar at the Spelldrive tournament gave me ample experience is crisis management."
Leona glared right back at Azul. "I'd suggest shuttin' your trap if you don't want that tongue of yours dried out and turned into jerky, octo-punk."
Azul's smile indicated that he wasn't the least bit intimidated. "Goodness, how frightening. Heh heh heh."
"Thank you for the offer, Azul, but it won't be necessary. I have no intention of putting myself in your debt," Riddle replied. "There's no telling what you might ask for as compensation. Just focus on your own duties."
Azul's smile never wavered. "Very well, but know that the offer still stands if you change your mind. My benevolence has no expiration date, after all."
Kalim grinned and nodded eagerly in agreement. "Yeah, same! Let me know if you run into trouble with anything, okay Riddle? I'm always happy to help!" He wiggled excitedly in his seat. "Ooh, I can't wait for festival day!"
"Yeesh," Idia spoke up, audibly cringing at Kalim's enthusiasm. "Must be nice being an eternal optimist, huh? Meanwhile, I'm over here stressing and about to tear my hair out trying to think of a way to present my research without actually going up on stage. I just know if I go up there, everyone watching's gonna be like, "Is his hair on fire?" "Isn't he from the Shroud family?" "What kind of creepy research could he possibly be doing?" The rumors are just gonna spiral, I can already tell." He let out a groan. "Uuugh, this sucks. Public speaking is, like, max difficulty for introverts like me."
"Idia, the rules make it quite clear that all researchers must take to the stage in person," Riddle replied firmly. "I cannot and will not make an exception for you."
"Ah, there it is: Riddle's special "Walking Rulebook" skill," Idia grumbled. "Am I the only one who thinks that rule is beyond outdated? For starters, nobody wants to listen to a geek like me mumbling into a microphone. Text-to-speech would make for a much smoother experience."
"Are we not having a normal conversation right now, Idia?" Riddle challenged. "You don't seem to be having any trouble speaking to us."
"Th-That's not the same!" Idia stammered. "You can't compare voice chatting with people you know to giving a presentation to a room full of strangers, okay? And that's not even getting into the Q&A afterwards! I feel like I'm about to pass out just thinking about it…"
"You have just over a month until the festival. Perhaps you might consider using that time to practice delivering your speech loudly and clearly without stumbling over your words?" Riddle suggested. "I'd be happy to help you practice after classes if you'd like."
"Erk! N-No thanks, I'm good," Idia declined. "I'll… I'll figure something out before I have to present." He lowered his voice so nobody else could hear him. "The last thing I need is a mandatory grind on a repeatable training event with Mr. Impossible-to-Please…"
"Very well. In that case, I'll be looking forward to a fully composed presentation, Idia," Riddle replied with a smile before turning back to the rest of the gathered dorm leaders and Crowley. "That concludes the management committee's report."
"Then I will adjourn today's dorm leader meeting," Crowley said. "I expect all dorms to continue with their festival preparations."
Everyone stood to leave, eager to get to the Hall of Mirrors and back to their dorms. None of them seemed to notice the scowl on Vil's face as he stepped through the mirror portal leading to Pomefiore.
Vil locked the door behind him once he returned to his dorm room, sitting down at his vanity and pulling out his phone. "Mira, Mira. Tell me something."
The phone's AI assistant pinged as it registered the command. "Yes. What would you like to know?"
"At this moment, who is the most beautiful of all?" Vil asked.
"One moment," Mira said as it paused to gather search results. "Displaying results for the account with the most comments using the word "beautiful": Neige LeBlanche."
"Neige…!" Vil growled as he gripped his phone tightly, his usually polished expression slipping into one of uncharacteristic rage before he pulled in a deep breath and tempered it into a much less intense glare. "It would appear the time has come."
"I'm sorry. I didn't understand your command," Mira replied. "Could you repeat that?"
Devon froze as she found herself seeing yet another ink blot vision, this time against an indigo background.
'Crud. Not again…'
Ending Notes: Aaaand the Pomefiore arc is officially underway! There's a part of me that gets some kind of sadistic kick out of Vil feeling all of this rage and resentment toward one of the biggest cinnamon rolls in Twisted Wonderland. And Neige just genuinely wants to be Vil's friend. …I also can't wait for Devon and Neige to meet and become buddies at VDC while Vil just quietly seethes whenever he sees evidence of it, even after his Overblot. He comes to view Devon as an adopted sister as the arc goes on and he gets pretty possessive of her when it comes to Neige.
I meant to mention this a couple chapters ago, but I forgot: by the end of the story-heck, probably by the time the Diasomnia arc starts-Devon will have a uniform from each of the dorms. She already has one from Scarabia and Octavinelle and Yuu/MC canonically gets a Pomefiore one in the Ignihyde arc. Eventually I can see the dorm leaders turning it into a competition to get her to wear their dorm's uniform the most.
Thank you all so much for reading! As always, feedback and constructive criticism are welcome. Geekinthepink, out!
