A/N: This is the first chapter. The story saddles away mostly towards the end I believe, but other changes are rampant in the beginning as well, spread out.
Also, I didn't put it in earlier, but in this universe, the Disney movies aren't Disney movies from the human world. Just putting it out there. If you're curious about the mirror, I do have plans for it. But that's much later. Hope you enjoy the story.
Chapter 1: Night Raven College
He awoke with a gasp, wondering what had happened. He only saw darkness for his efforts and sighed. He sat up- or tried too at least. He instead smacked his head painfully into something hard and sturdy above him. He yelped and groaned, reaching for his head. The action was halted by walls brushing against his arms and making him freeze.
What was happening? Had he been kidnapped? Why would someone kidnap him? His panic was brought to a halt by a voice outside his prison. "...find a uniform before someone spots me." The voice was muffled through the lid, but it was definitely young and definitely male. He listened intently as the voice seemed to stop right in front of wherever he was. "Ugh! These lids weigh a ton. Alright. Take this! Mya-ha!"
And suddenly there was blue fire filling his vision, causing him to cry out in surprise and a little pain at the abrupt bright light and heat. He dimly noted that he was able to bring his hands up to shield his face this time with a tone of relief. Finally, the light and heat- fire? - stopped and he peeked between fingers to see what looked like a cross between a cat and a weasel. Dark gray fur, large blue eyes, with ears spouting blue fire. And a ratty and frayed gray and white striped bow. He blinked. He must have hit his head harder than he thought if he was seeing this. Then his gaze flickered behind the creature to see several floating coffins and a large, ornate mirror.
He sprung up, startling the creature as he exited his own coffin. He was officially starting to panic. "Floating coffins and a talking weasel. Oh man, what's next?" He muttered; voice hitched. He failed to notice the white mask of a face watching him from the mirror.
"Hey! I ain't no weasel! I'm Grim and I'm going to be the most powerful mage ever! Now, give me that uniform or I'll roast you." The creature, Grim, ordered. He looked around and spotted a door nearby and made a beeline for it. He was not going to get roasted by a cat even if he was dreaming or hallucinating.
He heard Grim cry out in surprise, then annoyance. "Get back here human and give me that uniform!" He just kept running.
Aster wasn't sure where he had eventually wound up, but it looked like a library. "This place looks as good as any to catch my breath." He muttered, slowing down. 'Alright... Where are we? Where were we? And what were we doing before?' he thought, almost like it was something he had done before. "Well, I have no clue where I am. So... Where was I?" He asked his next question. The only thing that popped into his head, no matter how hard he tried to remember, was a blurred forest. "Okay, what was I doing in the forest?" He thought for a moment, but just as he felt that he was about to recall something, a piercing pain shot through his skull making him whimper and crouch on the floor holding his head.
"Okay. That didn't want to work." He muttered, trying his best to keep his breathing steady so he wouldn't start crying. He was close to failing though. He didn't know where he was or how he had come to be here. He couldn't remember anything more than a forest where he had been before. He knew very little about himself. He knew his name, age, and date of birth. That was it. Everything else about his private or personal life was just... Blank. Was he alone? Did he have a family? Had he been kidnapped? Abandoned? Sold into slavery or something? Oh, he was definitely starting to spiral, wasn't he?
"Did you really think you could escape me, foolish human? The Great Grim!" The creature- Grim- yelled, having caught up to him.
'Crap!' Aster wasn't sure he could handle this right now. He couldn't even move his body and it was getting hard to breathe.
"Now hand over that robe or- Yeow!" Grim cried out as a dark whip smacked the cat away before he could catch the panicking student on fire. It was sudden and unexpected. As sudden and unexpected as the tall man who appeared as if from nowhere wielding the whip used on Grim.
Aster studied the man while his attention was on Grim. The man was pale. He wore a white long-sleeved shirt, black suit slacks with a black vest with dark gemstones bedazzling it and a pitch-black tie. His shoes were a dark blue and black set of loafers. He wore a great coat thrown over his shoulders like a feather mantle. Black on the outside and a dark blue on the inside with a large blue collar and purple lapels, both with gold details. He also had a set of small, oval mirrors(?) cased in gold frames hanging from his waist. Four golden key hanging from them, and his hands were covered by black gloves with gold claw rings on the fingers. The man had on a top hat with another small mirror adorned to it with three more keys, and he wore a black, half crow mask. In his hand was along black whip that was wrapped around Grim, keeping him in place.
His short, wavy hair was black and curled slightly around pointed ears, and his eyes were glowing yellow in an expanse of darkness provided by his crow beak half mask. Then, rather unexpectedly as he observed the strange man, the panic in his chest loosened, and Aster felt he could breathe again. Something about the man in the mask just calmed the turmoil that was in his chest and head. "That hurt! What gives!" the cat, Grim, demanded indignantly. Aster returned his attention to the sight in front of him instead of the calmness he now felt.
"Consider it tough love." the man harrumphed at the cat before turning on Aster. "Ah, I found you at last! One of our new students this year I believe, correct?" he asked. Aster blinked in confusion.
'Student? Surely not.' he thought.
"And my, were you ever eager to make your debut. And you brought an untrained familiar with you." He tilted his head. "Rather against school rules, you know." The man grinned, not sounding upset at the supposed rule breaking even slightly. Aster was kept from answering by Grim yowling in fury.
"ME!? As if I'd stoop so low as to serve some human! Now lemme go!" he snarled at the man, fiery blue ears flaring angrily. Aster tilted his head in curiosity. He could have sworn that there was a spike of something in the air around the cat. Nothing compared to the man who just had a presence that Aster, in his exhausted confusion, couldn't unravel at the moment. But something for sure.
"Yes, yes. Rebellious familiars all say that. Do be quiet, would you?" The man asked, snapping his fingers. All that came from Grim after that were muffled, angry grunts. Then those glowing yellow eyes landed on the boy who was still crouched on the ground but was lacking the panic he had felt in the air moments before. The child, he noted, was much smaller than any of the other students he had on hand. He didn't even reach his shoulders. An unseen brow raised in concern before he spoke again as the boy cautiously stood back up, pale hands falling to his side. The hood of the ceremonial robe had fallen at some point revealing a mass of long, now messy, midnight blue hair. His large, molten gold eyes focused on the man in cautious curiosity and confusion.
"I must admit, of all the students I've ever had, you are the first with the temerity to open your own gate and step out." He looked the boy in the eyes. He would have said something about the boy having no patience, but they were already running rather late to the orientation... It had him wondering just how long it had been that the child had been running from his rebellious familiar. "Well, we have an orientation to get too. Come along child." he said, turning to take him to the Mirror Chamber. He ignored the furiously struggling familiar in his hands.
"Gates...?" the boy's soft, and rather confused voice, stopped him from stepping away. He turned back to the child, his concern starting to increase.
"You... awoke in a room full of gates, didn't you? They symbolize the students leaving their old world to be reborn in another." He raised a brow. "Although, students normally have restraint to wait for me to open them." he added.
"So those floating coffins were gates?" The man nodded. Golden eyes blinked slowly. Aster was pretty sure that Grim had been the one who blew the lid off his.
"Indeed. As I'm sure you've surmised, it was your familiar who removed yours. Curtailing its behavior is your responsibility, by the way. Now let's move. We have an orientation to get too." He said, turning again. Once more, the child didn't follow. Instead, anxiety seemed to rise from him. The man sighed. 'Does he think he's in trouble? Or does he just not like crowds?' he wondered to himself. His thoughts were proven wrong by the boy's words.
"Um... who are you? And where am I?" the small voice asked cautiously. The man frowned, a feeling of dread and concern sinking in his stomach.
"Have you not... fully woken? Could the time space teleportation have addled your memories?" He asked, more to himself than the boy.
"Um... I... I don't..." Aster felt like crying. He honestly couldn't remember anything. Was he supposed to be here? Or was he supposed to be somewhere else? The man approached the boy and placed a gentle hand on his head.
"Hey, it's fine. I'll explain things on the way, shall I?" The boy nodded. He ruffled the hair and left his personal space, not wanting to overwhelm him. "All right, onward." He said, before clearing his throat to begin unimpeded. "This place here is Night Raven College." He began as they stepped into the courtyard. Aster glanced at the well, a niggling feeling in the back of his head before he refocused his attention on the man before him. "It's an institution for up-and-coming young mages. The foremost institute in all of Twisted Wonderland. And I am Dire Crowley. The chairman placed it in my care, and thus am I Headmage." he began, giving the child a chance to comprehend that information.
"A magic academy?" Aster asked in surprise, looking around more fervently. Magic? A school? Why was that so familiar and yet foreign a thought?
"Yes. The Dark Mirror chooses those with who it deems as having an aptitude for magic. Those who are selected are summoned to the campus through those 'gates' which can appear anywhere? Where did yours appear?" He asked the boy. The boy closed his eyes in thought. But the blurry image of the forest was all he truly remembered, though he now recalled a dark carriage with a rather darkly beautiful horse dragging it along.
"I... I remember a blurred forest, and a dark horse?" he supplied to the man, Crowley. The man nodded.
"As it should be. After all, sending a carriage to meet someone on a special day is a time-honored tradition!" the headmage said jovially.
"So I was kidnapped." Aster muttered, surprisingly calm at the revelation. Crowley was more concerned at the words. He'd have Crewel look the boy over after orientation, just in case. Ignoring the words and the weasel's struggles, Crowley approached the large double doors that led into the Mirror Chamber.
"Time to attend orientation." Crowley said, throwing open the double doors dramatically and causing the boy to cringe behind him at seeing the many students in the large room. So it was.
"Maybe he had a tummy ache." A boy with pure white hair and ruby red eyes asked, tanned arms behind his head in disinterest.
"I most certainly did not!" Crowley denied in offense. What did his students take him for? As if he would get a tummy ache.
"Ah, speak of the devil." A boy with bright red hair and slate gray eyes muttered in disapproval of his tardiness.
"If you must know, I was searching for the new student who failed to show up for orientation." Crowley replied, stepping aside and revealing the... tiny... child. 'How old is this child?' he wondered, actually registering the child's height rather than just noting it. He looked around, deciding it would be another thing to have Divus to check out. "Hm. Looks like you're the only one left. Go on and step up to the mirror that summoned you here." The boy looked at him for assurance to appease his worry. Crowley gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I'll watch your weasel." The boy gave a soft snort. Yes, he knew it was a cat, but it had annoyed him by attacking the child in the first place. Crowley had witnessed the rebellious thing attempting to attack the child while he was about to have a panic attack and hadn't taken kindly to that. The cat didn't agree if the muffled yowl was anything to go by. He ignored it.
Aster cautiously made his way towards the large, golden mirror. He didn't feel magical, and he was rather certain he would know, so he really doubted he was supposed to be here. Since he had calmed down after Crowley arrived and saved him from Grim's attack, he had been... feeling, for lack of a better word. There was just... something in the air and in everything around him. It was light, dark, and warm. It was earthy and cool. It was in abundance. But since stepping into the Mirror Chamber- that's what the plaque by the door said, he's rather certain. Since stepping into the room, he had started getting dizzy by the sudden increase in this... whatever it was... He wanted to say it was magic, due to his learning that existed here, but he wasn't sure. Maybe it was just the building's vibes? Then there were the emotions flying around: Nervousness, boredom, worry, excitement, and so forth. He wasn't sure how he knew that, but it was like it was instinctual. Embedded in his DNA too deeply for even this amnesic spell to take away. Then there was Crowley and the mirror both.
He could feel that same something from them. It was stronger than any of the others that were present, and it felt... old. Ancient even. Another thing he could tell just from a visceral understanding. It was confusing and just added to the worry and helplessness that he was feeling in the face of his own unknown. 'State your name.' the mirror's deep voice said, snapping Aster out of his thoughts.
He brought his head up, wondering when he had looked down, to look into the white porcelain mask that watched him with familiar voids. "A-Aster Merel." he winced at his stutter. It was just his name; he knew that still!
'Aster Merel... The nature of your soul is...' There was a long pause as the being searched. Aster could almost swear that his void eyes had widened a bit. '...Unclear to me.' the mirror settled on, getting loud whispers from the crowd of students. Aster took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising panic and anxiety.
'He knew he didn't belong here! He knew there had to have been a mistake. But what would they do with him now? Send him away? But where? Where would he go? He had no clue where he had even come from! He didn't even know where he was except for it being a school! What even was Twisted Wonderland?!' A cool hand placed itself on his shoulder and calm washed over him. He peeked over, wondering when his eyes had closed. Dark gloves with golden claw-like rings on the fingers. Crowley, the Headmage. Okay. He was still here. He was fine. Things would get cleared up soon and something would be done to fix it all. He hoped.
"Can you explain more about what you just said?" Crowley asked calmly. Allowing his hand to fall from the no longer panicking child's shoulders. They both failed to notice how eyes looked upon the interaction.
'I sense no magical power from this one. Soundless, colorless, shapeless. Utterly vacant.' The mirror said. Crowley frowned. There was something in the Dark Mirror's voice. Trying to push Crowley to a revelation of some sort. He had been for decades now. But he just... He couldn't figure out what the being was trying to get at, now or over the past decades. Honestly, it'd be simpler if he would just tell him, but he was rather cryptic plenty of the time. Probably due to whatever curse was on the being in the mirror. The mirror just sighed and continued on. 'Therefor there is no dorm that would suit him.' The mirror finished, giving up on his failed leading attempts. Damned limitations.
Crowley gave a thoughtful hum. "Well, well. This is certainly an unexpected situation we have on our hands here." he mused. 'The process hasn't erred since I put it into place a century ago.' he thought. "Hm... I do wonder how this happened." He could see the child- Aster, he reminded himself- was also curious. But there was still a low simmering of panic underneath the new calm, and it made him wonder just how addled his memories were from the teleportation magics. He might need to get the child examined by Crewel sooner rather than later it would seem. Memory addling shouldn't last more than 15 minutes at most. He was brought out of his thoughts by a loud gasp as the cat beast finally shook off his silencing spell and freed himself form the coils of his whip. Crowley's dark brows furrowed before he grimaced. He really should have kept a tighter hold on the thing.
"ME! Let me have his seat!" Grim cried, ignoring that all eyes were on the three of them. Aster was trying to find the best way to disappear from the whole thing.
"Not so fast, you hyper-active weasel." Crowley replied with a scowl.
"Unlike that human-!" Grim pointed at the boy who had just been about to try to slip away, making him freeze like a deer in the headlights. "I can actually use magic! Look, I'll show you! My spells are the cat's meow!" The buildup of heat was a clear indicator to most what was about to happen. Aster didn't need the sudden spiking in the environment to tell him was happening.
"Everyone, get down!" Aster and the red headed boy shouted. The spike of energy- definitely magic as it happened in tandem with barriers being cast over the freshman and other students- was too much for Aster who stumbled from the overwhelming pressure. Crowley himself had taken it on himself to protect Aster. He quickly pulled the child to his chest and spun, using his great coat mantle to shield the two of them from bright, cerulean flames knowing that his house wardens had protected the freshmen who were close enough to the flames to be burned. The bright blue hue died down and Crowley glanced over his shoulder to see the culprit jumping around, excitedly crowing about his flames.
"Someone! Catch that blasted animal before it sets the entire school ablaze!" He ordered the house wardens, before turning back to the boy. Something was really wrong with the child. He was holding his head like he was dizzy and clutching onto Crowley's arm to stay grounded. And despite shielding the child, his once pale skin held the unmistakable hue of minor burns on his face and hands. He cursed under his breath as he set about trying to ease the boy's discomfort as he listened to the arguing that was taking place behind him.
"Ugh. Can I go now, or...?" Crowley huffed, recognizing the voice as belonging to Leona Kingscholar. A lion beast man and prince from the Sunset Savanna.
"Oh? I thought you fancied yourself a hunter. Go and help yourself to that plump little morsel." Vil Schoenheit. Those two, Crowley swore.
"Too much effort. Do it yourself." Leona replied back to Vil. Crowley pulled up the boy's sleeves just to make sure there weren't any burns there. Thankfully, the ceremonial robes did their job and at least protected what they covered. He nodded when the child thanked him, voice slightly slurred, but relieved.
"Allow me to handle this, Headmage Crowley." Crowley didn't let his relief show as he stood up from his crouch and gently pulled the child up with him, steadying him when he stumbled a little. That was disconcerting. "If none of you are up to the task of catching a small animal, I will accept the responsibility." Azul Ashengrotto. And of course, he would get a jab in at the others.
"WTG Azul. Rackin' up those participation credits." Crowley idly wondered if Idia Shroud was ever going to show up to one of these things in person instead of just streaming from his tablet.
Seeing as none of them were moving yet and the creature was still shouting for everyone to see his awesome flames, his patience was wearing thin. "I'm sorry," and they all froze at the tone. "Were my instructions unclear?"
A heavy sigh later. "Preeetty sure you can handle catching one mangy weasel all on your lonesome there, headmage." Leona said, but Crowley could hear the caution in his voice. Good, he was still the headmage despite the status of some of his students.
"How many times do I gotta say it? I'm Grim, spell-caster extraordinaire! I am NOT a weasel!" Grim yowled in fury.
"Aren't you a spunky little fellow?" Azul asked in amusement. "Riddle, would you be so kind...?" Azul asked.
The red headed boy gave a haughty look towards Grim. "Furry miscreant. I will abide no rule breaking. You will be judged by my hand." Riddle Rosehearts said sternly. Grim looked at the two mages with large blue eyes and Crowley thought, for a split second, that the creature would go quietly. Then he smirked at them and darted off, spitting more fire. Crowley sighed as Rosehearts and Ashengrotto gave chase, only to blink and realize that Aster had chased after them too.
"You have GOT to be kidding me! That child shouldn't be anywhere near that thing! It's already tried to kill him twice!" Crowley growled under his breath. But those with any decent hearing or nearby heard the words and were deciding to step away from the headmage who, to their shock, gave chase after the small, non-magical child who was surprisingly fast.
-NRC-
Aster wasn't sure what had spurred him to follow after the trio, but he did. To his immense relief, the pressure from the mirror chamber had dropped considerably and he could breathe easier now. They were in a winding hallway from what he could tell. "Check it! See how strong I am!" Grim hooted as he cast a bright blue flame at a nearby wall that sent a tapestry up in flames.
"Azul! Move!" Aster shouted out a warning, noticing the cloth falling towards the focused boy. It was instinct that had the silver haired, bespectacled boy do as he had been told.
Riddle sent a spell that almost got Grim, causing the cat to shout in alarm, realizing he was maybe, in a little bit of trouble. "Go back kid, you're not needed here!" Riddle called back, not trying to be mean as he dodged a blast. Then swiftly twisting to one side to avoid a falling torch the kid had called out a warning about that Riddle had failed to notice. Riddle scowled at the immediate rebuffing of his words. Grim hit a cabinet as he rounded a turn, the trio dodging it in tandem. "How very brazen of you to go on breaking rules in my presence!" Riddle shouted after the beast who turned and stuck out his tongue before facing ahead once more. Riddle's patience wore thinner.
"Shall we make this quick, then?" Azul asked. "I'm afraid we don't have much time to spare." Azul called to his two companions, feeling the rising heat in the long hallway. He didn't do the best in heat, after all. And this could seriously hamper him. The kid behind them wasn't faring much better if the bright pink on his face and hands was anything to go by. And he was pretty sure the headmage was trying to catch the kid. Dark gray eyes narrowed, taking in the observations before returning to face his quarry and sending a particularly strong freezing spell at the cat beast. He'd figure their situation out later, he decided.
"Gah!" Grim screeched, barely dodging the blast that froze a portion of wall in front of him.
"Must you relish playing with your quarry, Azul?" Riddle asked as the silver haired boy was catching his breath. The other child had come to a stop near them as well, barely out of breath, which was really unfair, considering he was being hampered by burns and running just as much as them.
"Heh. And here I thought we were both the sort to enjoy this." Azul commented lightly. Aster snorted in amusement at the two.
Riddle huffed. "Please. I'm not like you, so spare me your drivel." He retorted, turning a steely glare at Grim who gave a small squeak as he realized that he might be in more trouble than he thought. Desperate, he blew a stream of flame near the trio. It was Aster pushing them out of the way that kept them from the worst of the heat. Then Grim was running down the parallel corridor that led back towards the Mirror Chamber. The trio scrambled after him. Crowley cursed at missing the child again, as he cast a spell to put out the fires as he had been traversing the hallway after them, always keeping an eye on the trio ahead of him. He finally caught up to the trio after they cornered Grim at a dead end when he had gone through the wrong archway.
"Myah! It's a dead end!" Grim cried, alarmed as he knew he had two angry mages chasing him.
"Poor soul. Ran yourself straight into a corner, did you?" Azul asked mirthfully, voice just slightly sadistic at the creature's predicament.
"I suggest you surrender. Otherwise..." Riddle allowed his threat to trail off.
"NO!" Grim screeched, making the four of them wince at the volume and pitch. "I'm gettin' into this school, and that FINAL!" with that last declaration, he sent out a larger wave of cerulean flame. Crowley ran faster, watching as Riddle and Azul both cast a barrier over themselves and Aster to protect from the painful glare. The barrier fell and Riddle growled.
"Stand aside you two!" The red head ordered. Azul recognized the tone and grabbed Aster by the arm, pulling the two of them back and right into Crowley who pulled them behind him in turn.
"MYAAAH!" Grim screeched in alarm.
"Off With Your Head!" Riddle shouted. A flash of light and a heart shaped collar appeared around Grim's neck. The trim was gold while the heart itself was half red and half black. At the front was a simple heart lock.
"What is this?!" Grim yowled, pawing at the collar.
"The Queen of Heart's Rule 23: "One must never bring a cat to a formal affair." Your very presence here is a violation of order." Riddle paused before adding even steelier. "On top of which, you endangered several students. You will vacate these premises immediately." Riddle ordered.
"But I ain't a cat either!" Grim shouted in offense, ignoring the final accusation. It's not like he would have actually hurt any of them. "Don't try to collar me! I'll burn it right off!" He growled angrily. They watched as he attempted to do so, but nothing happened. "Huh...? Wh- what gives? My fire ain't working!" He cried in despair.
Riddle gave a haughty sniff. "Until I deign to remove that collar, you won't be using any magic. You're naught but a pet cat now."
"M-Meo-WHAT?! I ain't nobody's pet-NOTHING!" Grim spat, yelping when Crowley picked him up by his bowe after casting some cooling charms on trios' burns. Aster and Azul both having sported burns a bit worse than Riddle's due to both being far more sensitive to the heat.
Riddle snorted. "Oh, you've nothing to worry about there. I certainly have no interest in having you as a pet. The collar will disappear once you're removed from campus." Riddle told the cat as the group entered the Mirror Chamber once more.
Azul laughed. "Good show as always, Riddle. Your signature spell locks down any magic. It's quite handy. I've just GOT to have it-" he winced, seeing two warning looks sent his way along with a cautiously curious one from Aster. He coughed. "Ah, I mean, I've just got to have respect for it." he corrected. Crowley nodded in approval while Riddle kept a suspicious glare on him.
"Aster!" Crowley turned to the child, several things on the tip of his tongue. "You should not have chased after them. This creature has already tried killing you twice."
"I wasn't actually going to burn him to a crisp!" Grim sounded offended, but Crowley ignored his protest.
"What you did, no matter your intent to help, was reckless and endangering to yourself." Aster looked down at the scolding. Crowley sighed. "However, you did so with an intent to help and even provided some valuable support to Ashengrotto and Rosehearts. Thank you for stepping up with them to the task. Some of my other students could learn from such an example." He added, knowing the other Housewardens had heard him. "Now, since it is currently inhibited from magical use, and therefor doesn't pose an immediate threat, you should set about disciplining your-" he began, only to stop himself at the look Aster was giving him. "It isn't yours, is it?" He asked with a sigh.
"Never saw him before in my life." Aster confirmed softly.
"Ah... I see..." He coughed into his free hand in embarrassment, getting a soft chuckle from the boy. Which made him fight a smile. "Then I shall have it expelled from campus. I shall even spare it from being served as dinner." He added, smirking at the many green faces of his freshmen in contrast with the ones who weren't green at all but maybe a little disappointed. "My, but I AM kind." Silence. "...Someone, take this away, please." He requested. He wasn't sure which student grabbed it from him, but that was at least taken care of now.
"NOOOO! Let me gooooo! Fools! You better remember my name!" Grim hollered for them all to hear. "Cause I'm gonna go down in the annals of magic history! Just you wait!" He shouted, the doors closing and blocking whatever else he said out.
"I feel kind of sorry for him now." Aster muttered. Crowley sighed in exasperation. Of course the child was feeling sorry for the creature that tried to kill him. He shouldn't have been surprised.
"Well, that was quite the unexpected fracas!" Crowley said, voice filling with amused joy. Several students mouthed 'fracas' in bemusement. "I hereby declare that orientation has concluded." Crowley looked over the sorted students. "Welcome to Night Raven College my dear students. I hope you have a fun and productive year full of learning. Housewardens, please escort your students back to the dorms." He paused and looked around in confusion. "...Hm? Come to think of it, I don't see Housewarden Draconia of House Diasomnia anywhere." he observed.
"And that surprises you?" Kingscholar asked with a scoff. "Dude's a total recluse." He was definitely back to normal. Seems his seriousness hadn't kept the lot of them subdued for long.
"Wait a sec... Did anyone even invite him?" The white-haired boy asked. Kalim Al-Asim. Another prince, this one from the Scalding Sands. Crowley was so thankful that Viper was his Vice Housewarden, or else Scarabia might have been at the very bottom of the dorm placements. If only placement hadn't been decided by the board because of large donations.
"If you're that worried about him missing out, maybe you should have told him yourself." Schoenheit suggested to Al-Asim. Crowley sighed. Draconia shouldn't have had to be invited. It was in the NRC handbook that Housewardens were required at the Orientation ceremonies and other important events... It might be that simply no one told him the orientation was that evening. After all, Housewardens and Vice Housewardens arrived two days before the other students, orientation could happen on either night, depending on the Dark Mirror.
"Maybe, but I don't know him too well either..." Al-Asim trailed off.
"Draconia... Like Malleus Draconia? THAT Draconia?" A freshman asked.
"So it's true? He really goes to school here?"
"Yikes." Aster looked around; brows furrowed in displeasure. It sounded a lot like everyone was just saying things based off what they heard. Did any of them even know this Draconia person like, actually know him? UGH! He hated it when people judged others without getting to know them. He was scowling at the freshmen who were saying these things- many flinching under the look. He also sent a scowl of disapproval to the Housewardens up front. They were supposed to be leading by example and they were setting a really poor one.
Crowley glanced down at the child who was still on his arm and blinked at the scowl. He looked at where the child was sending his disapproval. The Housewardens, who were definitely noticing and shifting a bit. Kingscholar scowled back, but his ears had flattened against his skull in discomfort. Wasn't that interesting and amusing, he observed. Then he and Aster turned to face the doors. Both sensing the ancient energy of none other than Lilia Vanrouge. A fae that was the closest to Crowley's own age outside of the Dark Mirror. "Ah. Just as I'd expected." Vanrouge mused. "I figured I'd come down and see for myself whether Malleus has made an appearance." He sighed deeply. "But once again, he was evidently not informed of the time of the ceremony."
"You have my sincerest apologies." Ashengrotto apologized. "I assure you; this oversight was in no way intended as a snub."
"I mean, you must admit, he's not exactly the easiest person to strike up a conversation with." Riddle added with his own sigh, though it was easy to read that he was regretful of the situation.
"No matter." Vanrouge replied before addressing the students of Diasomnia. "All who were assigned to House Diasomnia, follow me." He called. Just under his breath, Crowley, Aster, and a few others with enhanced hearing could hear his muttered. "I just hope he doesn't sulk about this." Aster felt his heart bleed with sympathy for this Malleus kid. Poor thing. Was he forgotten like this often?
It was quiet between Aster and Crowley as the students left the chamber. It was only when they were alone that Crowley spoke up. "I'll admit, tonight was far from typical." he mused.
"Are you going to send me home?" Aster asked softly, his voice hesitant.
"Has the addling of your memories worn off?" He asked in return. Aster blinked and looked down shaking his head. Crowley sighed. "It's fine child. I'm sure the Dark Mirror that summoned you will know where to return you." He looked up at the mirror who was returning his look with a hard one of his own. "Well?" he asked the mirror when it did nothing.
'There is no place in this world that the soul belongs. None.' the mirror answered, placing subtle emphasis on his words.
"Then another world." Crowley suggested with narrowed eyes, voice cool. 'Don't tell me that the Dark Mirror not only summoned a child with no magic, but also summoned the child from another world. That would be tantamount to kidnapping!'
'There is no other world that this soul belongs in.' the mirror answered, again with a subtle emphasis on his words.
"How can that be?" Crowley asked, jaw dropping in shock. "You can't be telling me that you just stole a random child from the ether!" He cried. Silence. He sighed. "My, but today is a veritable cavalcade of impossible phenomena." he mused. The mirror answered by disappearing. It was unsure whether the other would figure it out, but it was the most he could do at the moment. Soon though, he'd be able to do more.
Crowley looked over at the child who was starting to panic again. Well, the child had every right to be freaked out. "This has never happened throughout my long tenure." He admitted to the child who was naming things he could see under his breath. He knelt down to be eye level with the child, so he didn't fall deeper into the pool of panic. "I'll admit, I must confess that I'm at a bit of a loss. And you have no clues as to where you're from?" He asked after the boy was calm once more. He shook his head miserably.
"I only remember a blurred forest. When I try to remember anything else, I get piercing pain in my skull." Aster admitted.
"I see." Crowley thought for a moment. "Well, first thing first. Let's get you to the infirmary." he said, getting a startled look from Aster.
"Why?" He asked, cautious. Crowley looked the boy in the eye before answering.
"I don't think your affected memories are a result of the time space teleportation magics anymore. I think you came here with amnesia. You also need a checkup to make sure there's nothing else to be worrying about." he explained softly. Aster looked unsure for a moment before nodding. Crowley gave an encouraging smile before standing. "Shall we?" he asked, snapping his fingers, and his whip was replaced by a long staff shaped like a key with a raven at the top. Aster's golden eyes widened in awe at the display before nodding and following side by side with the man whose arm he still had yet to release. Crowley didn't mind. If the contact was helping to keep the boy grounded and secured, he'd allow it.
A/N: And there is chapter 1. Chapter 2 will begin with it's very own original scene! Where we learn more about out MC: Aster. Until next time.