Back from vacation to bring the last page of the prologue.

Special thanks to broken_synchronicit for beta-reader this chapter.

Susie Become Owner Of Deuce and Ace

Crowley looks outside, as the sun drips lower to the horizon. He was in an office with curtains on the windows, purple stars, a purple rug, and pictures of the Seven on his walls. He was doing some paperwork, enjoying the peaceful evening…

Until the doors slam open.

"WE GOT THE STONE!/GIVE ME MY TUNA CAN!" The group of troublemakers all shout at him. Crowley nearly jumps as they suddenly appear. The group took their monster friend who tilted his head and blushed when he realized they were all looking at him.

"What?" Grim shouted.

Crowley looks at the stone in Deuce's hands in disbelief.

"I didn't expect that you'd seriously do it. And never in my wildest imaginings did I think you would return with a mage stone. And here I spent all evening preparing your expulsion documents." Crowley admits to them. Deuce happily hands him the stone, while Melody put her arms crossed.

"Wait you thought we were going to fail?" Melody asked him.

Crowley looks sheepish, "You have no idea how hard it is to get my students to work together." Melody huffed in annoyance.

"But isn't that fault of the staff more than then students? If they don't work together." Haelth asked bluntly. Crowley coughs, shocked at Haelth's bluntness. Haelth blinks in surprise, "Did I say something wrong?" She asked the others.

"Nope!" Melody replied with a smug smile.

"You said nothing wrong at all." Ace covers his mouth to stop himself from giggling.

"You're fine Haelth." Oliver laughed.

Haelth blinks in surprise, "Umm…"

"He deserves it after not telling us about the monster," Grim said and gave Crowley a pointed look.

Crowley blinks in confusion, "'Monster'...?"

"Yeah. There was a monster, all right. A big, nasty one. It nearly killed us!" Ace adds his voice filled with annoyance.

Crowley narrowed his eyes and rested his chin on the back of his hand.

"Would you kindly relate this story in full?" He asked them. Susie told him the whole story, the Overblot, the ghosts, all having to work together, even Haelth's rune magic that work. Crowley's eyes lit up when Susie told him about the rune magic, "Rune magic?! Now that is old magic I haven't seen in a long time."

"What's rune magic?" Scott asked him.

"Rune magic is an old form of magic that draws magic energy from the world itself to use spells," Crowley explained, "They can be used in old ways. People use rune magic, but later Magi learned about how to use magic drawing it from themselves via using a pen."

"I never even heard of rune magic." Ace comment. Deuce nodded as well.

"Why was it dropped off? Would it be better to ask the world to use magic instead of drawing energy from yourself?" Scott asked.

"Because while in theory, it should let anyone use magic but only if the planet itself allows you. Which sometimes it can reject you. So it was too unreliable," Crowley explains.

"Wait, the planet is alive?" Melody asked them. The Twisted Wonderland resident looks at her funny.

"Um…yeah what make you think it wasn't?" Deuce asked being very confused.

"Yeah, it always has been like that," Grim adds, with a deadpan expression.

"Well, it wasn't in our world!" Melody huffed, feeling embarrassed. Ace laughs and Grim laugh while Deuce covers his mouth to hide his giggles. Melody puffed out her cheeks, "Yeah, laugh it up you assholes!" She shouted which made the boys laugh harder.

"And all of you worked together to destroy it, and then brought the magestone back to me?" Crowley asked them which got everyone back on track.

"I don't know that I'd call it 'working together.'" Ace scoffed.

"It was more like we just happened to share the same goal at the same time…" Deuce added. Still, Crowley looks shocked at their words.

"Oh, gracious... Ohhh... Ohhhhhhhh!" He started to sob and covered his face. Everyone was taken aback by this sudden behavior.

"What is this guy's deal?! Burstin' into tears in public? At this age?!" Grim commented.

"Come on guys. Let's not pick on him when he is down." Susie protests but Haelth blurs out, "Cringe."

The group busted out laughing, even Deuce and Scott who tried to hide they were laughing. Susie's face turns bright red.

"Haelth, that is rude." She scolded her peer.

"Have you met me?" Haelth exclaimed. Her bluntness made the group laugh harder and Susie rubbed her temples.

"Haelth…"

"In all the decades I've worked at this school…" Everyone fell silent as Crowley stood up from his desk, his tears were dry now, "This incident has proven my hopes were justified." He walks around the desk, stopping in front of Susie. Who looks at him worried as she can't make out his expression. But then he beam at her, "Susie, my doubts are allayed! For you... You possess the talents of a beastmaster!" He cheered as he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her in happiness.

"A…a beastmaster?" She asked, confused. Crowley stopped his excited shaking before coughing. He got his professional look back as Susie straightened herself up.

"My students have all been selected by the Dark Mirror for their exceptional talent and potential. But great talent begets great pride and big egos." Scott looks at Ace and Deuce. Deuce looks down while Ace looks innocent, "Most are so self-reliant and self-centered that they never even consider cooperating with others."

"You make it sound like that's a bad thing," Grim mumbled under his breath.

"If it wasn't for us you would be a monster pancake," Oliver replied with a smirk.

Grim growled, "I would have gotten that monster if you guys hadn't gotten in the way!" He hissed. Scott, Melody, and Haelth snort at that.

"Sure…" They all said.

"But you, Susie, and your group possess no natural magic. Besides rune ones. Yet despite that - or perhaps because of it - you were able to convince those who CAN use magic to work together for a common goal." Crowley dramatically holds his arm out, "The everyday, humdrum mundanity you possess may be exactly what Night Raven College needs!"

"But... none of those words are good things?" Ace points out.

"I mean…you guys couldn't work together even to fight off a monster that was going to kill you. If Susie didn't yell at you then you two couldn't work together. Guess the whole beastmaster thing is on the nose because she had to show you guys who is the boss like you were shed dogs." Oliver teases them.

"Hey!" Ace glared at him.

"Nah, if she had to do then sh she would have bitten our ears," Deuce said matter-of-factly. The two boys look at him in shock.

"What the heck does that mean Deuce?" Ace asked him.

"I heard it from someone that that's what they do to shed dogs to get them to listen to you!" Deuce tried to explain but the boys looked at him like he was crazy, which made Deuce's ears turn red.

"Suuure, Loosey-Deucely." Ace teased him.

"Shu-"

Crowley coughed, and the boys stopped. Crowley looks at Susie and her group.

"I am convinced that people like you and yours are necessary for the future of this school. My educator's intuition tells me so." He looks at Ace and Deuce, "Trappola, Spade - I hereby revoke your pending expulsions!" The two boys look at each other with their mouths open in shock but soon hug each other and cheer.

"Gay!" Oliver shouted.

"SHUT UP!" The two students said while Oliver giggled.

"Furthermore," Crowley turned to Susie and her group. They stood nervously as Crowley had an unknown expression before smiling, "I am granting you the qualifications necessary to attend Night Raven College!" The other world teens look at him in shock.

"WHAT!?" Everyone beside Crowley screams.

"Really?" Susie asked in disbelief.

Crowley nodded, "Of course. This is extraordinarily kind of me."

Haelth cheers, and turns to Scott, "Scott! You're a wizard now!" Scott gives her a deadpan expression.

"How long have you wanted to make that joke?" He asked her.

"For a while now." She replied with a smile

"This could be fun," Oliver said to Melody, who smiled. She notices that Grim crosses his arms and pouts. She frowned and was about to reach out to confront him but Crowley wasn't done yet.

Crowley holds up his hand and the otherworldly child, "However, there is one condition. Your inability to use magic is, for a mage, unacceptable. You would not be able to adequately pursue the school's curriculum!" His yellow eyes look over to Grim, "As for you, Grim…" Grim gulped as headmage looked down at him, "Your actions today have made it clear that you possess sufficient talent to become a mage. In light of the total sum of your respective circumstances, you, Susie, and others will share a single enrollment at Night Raven College."

Grim's eyes widened, "Myah!" He looks at Crowley in disbelief, like he said something so out there "I... I'll get to go to this school...? As an actual student? Not a janitor?!" He asked in awe as if he was in a dream and was scared that he'd wake up.

Crowley smiled kindly, "Correct. However!" He gave everyone in the room a look, "There must be no further incidents like the one that occurred today. Are we clear?"

"Yes sir!" Deuce, Ace, Scott, Susie, and Oliver.

Meanwhile Grim walks over to Melody and Haelth shaking a bit.

"Myah... Myah… guys... I finally…" He couldn't bring himself to speak as his emotions were all over the place.

Haelth smiled, "I'm so happy for you!"

Melody grinned, "You go get them, tiger!"

Grim jumps up and down in happiness.

"MYAAAAAH! I FINALLY DID IT!" He cheered along with so did the girls.

While that was happening Crowley went into his desk and pulled out something. Once he got it, he went over to Grim who stopped cheering and looked at the headmage with a happy expression.

"Accordingly, I will now present to Grim the magestone that is issued to every student here," Crowley told him, showing off a clear purple oval stone.

Grim grinned, "Heh! A magestone, eh?!"

"It is typically attached to the 'magic pen' that each student uses. But I suspect your paws cannot handle implements. Therefore, I have a custom solution for you." Crowley kneeled, he wrapped a striped ribbon on Grim's neck with the stone, "Is it possible that I am, in fact, too kind?" Crowley smiles as he pulls back and steps away.

Grim smiled, admiring his look.

"Ah, sweet! I look awesome! A magestone collar, to be worn only by the legendary archmage, Grim!" Grim strikes a pose and Haelth, Susie, and Melody clap their hands.

"Should we tell him it looks like a collar?" Oliver whispers to Scott. His green eyes widen slightly and he turns sharply to the albino.

"Hell no! You want to start a fight?" He hissed. Oliver looks sheepish.

"You're not listening to anything I say, are you?" Crowley said looking down at Grim who was still admiring his new look. He sighs, rubbing his temples before turning to Susie, "Susie. As you can see, Grim remains oblivious to the customs of human society. You are to keep a tight rein on Grim, and ensure no further incidents!"

"Wow, that's quite the promotion. From janitor to student to prefect, all in a day." Ace comment.

"Oh, I see. So if your dorm is just you six…" Deuce said, thinking about it, "And the headmage himself is putting you guys in charge of Grim… so which one is the dorm prefect?" He asked.

"Well, I can be certain it's not me." Haelth told them, "Don't want that responsibility." She prefers having fun thank you, please.

"Same," Scott added.

"What about Susie?" Oliver suggests. The group looked at each other and nodded. Susie looks at them in shock. Did they see her as a leader?

"I'm fine with that." Melody shrugs. Scott and Haelth nodded as well.

"Aww, you guys." Susie's heart grew warm under the chest, "'I'm not sure I'm cut out for this… but I'll do my best!"

"Heh heh heh. Good luck to you, Magic-less Prefect!" Ace teased.

"Good luck to you, Prefect. Let's see that same spirit you showed us in the Dwarfs' Mine!" Deuce add-in.

"Ah, Yes. I suppose that does make you a prefect." Crowley spoke up, "I just so happen to have a job for you, and that title will make it all the easier to foist-... er, I mean, congratulations!" Otherworldly children beside Susie give him a look, which made the headmage backtrack, "Now, I have something for you." Crowley reaches in and pulls a camera, "This is called a ghost camera." He handed Susie the camera.

"Ghost camera?" Susie raises an eyebrow. It looks normal but with three circles and a lens.

Ace's eyes brighten as realizes, "Ooh, my grandma's told me about those. Those are, like, super old magic items, right?"

"I would hardly consider them 'super old'... ahem." Crowley caught awkward, "But it may indeed have been invented when your great or great-great grandmother was a child."

"Wow, that old," Haelth commented but Crowley tried to ignore it. But deep down he feels that one.

"It's a camera enchanted with a special kind of magic. It enables the user to photograph the subject's physical form and parts of their soul itself." Crowley explained to them.

"Wait, that sounds... sketchy." Deuce looks at the camera confused.

"Yeah, can you explain more instead of being high concept?" Scott said.

"Well to put it in simple terms: They're called Memories. Here's the thing: when the soulbond between photographer and subject deepens...The Memories captured in this magic camera's photos come jumping out!" Crowley explained to them.

"Sounds like a normal camera," Melody commented, as she tilted her head.

Crowley waved a finger at her, "Not really. When the photographer and subject grow closer, their photographs grow animated like videos… And sometimes the photographs take on corporeal form and slip out. Is that not what you youths would call 'wicked keen'?" All the youths cringe as he says that.

"Nobody said wicked keen anymore," Scott commented.

"I know but we have to hold strong!" Deuce fights through the cringe. He managed through the cringe, "That almost sounds like ghost photography!"

"That's why it's named 'ghost camera'. I understand it was developed as a more vivid way to capture moments in time, in an age before video. As Spade observed, in days of yore, when people saw Memories jumping out of photos, they would get spooked and yell, 'Ghost!' That almost sounds like ghost photography!" Crowley told them.

"This tech sounds like way more trouble than it's worth," Ace commented as he put his hand behind his head.

"Susie," Susie looks up at Crowley, "I would like you and others to photograph Grim and the other students with this camera, and make a record of your campus life."

Grim well grin at that, "Myah ha haaa! Sounds like the perfect way to immortalize all my finest moments!" The students all rolled their eyes and laughed in amusement.

Crowley coughs, "Ahem... Make especially certain to capture the mischief caused by certain students who struggle with impulse control." He turns to our worldly teens, "Keeping a photographic journal sounds far less tedious than writing me lengthy reports, wouldn't you agree?" He turns to Susie, "As a prefect Susie, consider it your duty to maintain a sharp eye on your surroundings and record them."

"I will sir." Susie stood there proudly.

Crowley laughs, "Note how generous I'm being in providing a rare magical item that even someone like yourself can use. Is my kindness not beyond all reckoning?" Melody rolled her eyes, while Oliver and Haelth laughed.

"Speaking of," Crowley turns to Haelth, "Miss Haelth is it ok if I borrowed your book?" He asked her. Haelth holds the book close to her chest.

"What-why?" She asked almost defiantly. Crowley walks closer but stops to see Haelth defending the book.

"I just have a feeling that this book will be the key to getting your kids back home. I just need to look over the contents." He explains to her. Haelth looks at conflict over giving the book to Crowley or not. It was Scott who convinced her by putting his hand on her shoulder.

"Haelth just give him the book." Haelth looks up at him.

"But-"

"Come on! If it's going to take us home then give it to him. Besides, he's going to give it back." He snapped, and he gave Crowley a look, who caught on and nodded.

Crowley nodded, "Like Evergreen said I will give the book back to you once I'm done. You have my word, young Francis." He promises her.

Haelth sighed and handed him the book.

"Here." She said, handing him Karaguri's book. Crowley smiled as he took it.

"Thank you, Miss Francis. Now don't worry, I'm just going through it and I will give it back once it's done. And you can come anytime into the office to look at it and read it." He promises her.

"Ok." Haelth looks down. This was hard for her to hand over that book as it was very important because it belonged to her Mapa, but if this could get them home then it was worth it.

Right?

"The hour has grown late, so further details shall have to wait 'til the morrow. You are all dismissed. Return to your dorms." Crowley said as he walked back to his desk.

"Good night, sir!" Deuce said his goodbyes and so did the others before they all returned to their dorms. Crowley smiled at them as they left the office. Once they left Crowley let his smile drop and his tone became more serious. His eyes look at the old book.

"So old soothsayer is back. But why did they send these children? Is something going to happen in the future?" He wondered out loud. Crowley tapped on his desk looking at the book, "I've got in contact with the staff about this."

The outworld children said their goodbyes to Ace and Deuce as they headed back to their dorm. When they got to Ramshakle, the party crash on the couch. Grim on the other hand, grins and pumps his fist in the air.

"Tomorrow when we wake, it won't be as janitors. Finally, finally…" His body shook with emotions, "My glorious education as a proper Night Raven College student is about to begin!" He jumps up, and cheers.

"Grim I know you are happy but please we are all tired." Melody grumbled, "I'm so hungry." She mumbles.

Grim peeked up, "Oh yeah!" He runs to the kitchen, "Do we have some tuna?" He asked as he opened the fridge and looked through it. Susie turned her head, grumbled, and got up.

"Wait, Grim. I will make something for you in a second." She said as she got to the kitchen.

Oliver frowns at that, "Are you sure?" He asked, "You seem pretty tired." He points out.

Susie waves him off, "I'm fine. I will make something quick." She told him. Oliver frowned and got up.

"Let me help you." He said as he got up and walked to her. Susie peeks out from behind the fridge.

"Oh you don't have to do that, Oliver." She told him. Grim looks up at her, in confusion as he picks up a can of tuna.

"Come on Susie. You're tired and I just want to help." Oliver points out to her. Susie was about to tell him she was fine but then a ghost suddenly appeared in front of her.

"Greetings!" Grim yelped and hid behind Susie. Susie tensed up and the others got up from the couch. The ghost laughs, "Hahahah the jumping ones are always fun." The ghost grins at them.

"Why are you here?!" Grim yelled at them as he hid behind Susie's leg. The ghost laughed at the monster cat's actions.

"Oh, just that headmage decided to give you all pizza and we were sent to deliver it," Ghost said, while two others giggled and pulled out pizza boxes for them. Three in total, as they place it on the kitchen table. Grim's and the other kids' eyes widen, and they immediately rush to the table to get paper plates and eat. The pizza was plain but it didn't matter to them.

Most likely it was just cheese because Crowley didn't know about any other food allergies they might have. The only one who stayed behind was Oliver who watched as his friends ate before turning to the ghosts.

"Is there a gluten-free option?" He asked, "I can eat cheese but I must take my medicine afterward." He explained.

One of the ghosts nodded, "Not to worry youngling the headmage brought a gluten-free one. Just in case." He said bringing out a pizza box for him.

"Thank you umm…" Oliver then realized that he and others never got the ghosts' names. Though they only knew them for two days first and when they first met they tried to scare them. The ghost laughed and realized his confusion.

"Sorry, we were having so much fun scaring you that we forgot to introduce ourselves." The large ghost chuckled while two ghosts appeared at his side, "My name is Moss."

"The name is Jasper." The skinner ghost told him.

"The name is Grubb!" The smallest ghost exclaimed.

Oliver smiled, "Well it's nice to meet you Moss, Jasper, and Grubb."

Haelth wrapped him in a one-arm hug around his shoulder and asked, "Hey Oliver who are you talking to?"

Oliver points at the ghost, "Moss, Jasper, and Grubb here." The three ghosts smile at her and tip their hats off to her.

Haelth's jaw drops, "THEY HAVE NAMES!?"

While they were all sitting at the kitchen table that had seen better days, Oliver brought up the topic of Karaguri and the book.

"Haelth, has Karaguri ever told you where they got that book?" Oliver asked her. Everyone stopped and looked at Haelth. If this book was connected to this world then how did it end up in Karaguri's hands? Maybe if they figure out a way, they too can figure out a way home.

Haelth tilted her head in thought, "From what I remember, Mapa said they made some of the stuff up in that book when they were traveling around the world." Haelth looked at her half-finished pizza in her hand, "I asked them one time when I was younger and they said they stay wrote it when they were a kid." She frowned a bit, "They don't like to talk about their past no matter how much I bring it up. But they did say that their father did wood warping as a living." She explained to them.

Scott frowns, "That's all they told you?" He asked her.

Haelth nodded, "Yep!" Scott frowned, there was more to this story that just didn't add up. What could Karaguri be hiding? Judging from the deep-thought look Haelth had on her face she was thinking about that too, as much as he was.

Oliver swallows a piece of the pizza in his hand.

"Maybe they came from here." He suggested. Everyone turned to him in surprise.

"What makes you say that?" Haelth asked him.

Oliver rubbed his chin, "Well, Crowley knows rune magic works here and it works here. So the only way that Karaguri could know, is if they were a part of this world before." He explained.

"I agree." The group turned at Melody as she spoke, "It's too much of a coincidence that runes work here and Crowley knows what they are." She pointed out, "Maybe Karaguri came here."

Scott waves his hands, "Wait! Wait!" Everyone turns to him confused, "That's a huge leap in logic. If Karaguri found a way to our world then why haven't they gone back? Why haven't they told us or even Haelth for that matter?" Haelth looked down as he said, "And wouldn't there be a missing person report on them if they came here?" He list out.

"That's…true." Melody looks down.

"Well, we haven't been here that long." Haelth spoke up, her fingers drumming the crust of the pizza, "So we just need to find a way to look up missing people and see if we find Karaguri. To the library!" She exclaimed. Haelth put down her pizza, got up, and ran to the door. She was about to head out but Susie grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Wait! Wait!" Susie held back the wiggling the smaller teen before setting her down, "We just got off fighting a monster, nearly catching on fire, and almost dying. We are not about to head out yet." Susie's firm said. She blushed when she saw everyone was looking at her and let go of Haelth, "I-I mean, you should stay here and rest up." Susie said in a meek tone of voice.

Haelth snapped put her shock and huffed, "OK fine." She slipped out of Susie's grasp and was about to head to bed, but then there was a knock on the door. Everyone froze and looked at the door. "I know it's the middle of the night, but I think we've got a visitor," Grim said as he climbed up Haelth's shoulder.

"Maybe it's Crowley again." Susie said then Haelth rushed forward, "Hey-" Susie chased after her.

Haelth wonders if Crowley found something. A way back home? A way to get into contact with their parents? Can he magically fix their dorm?

She opens the door to reveal Ace who has a very annoyed look on his face and a very unfashionable metal collar around his neck.

"I can't go back to Heartslabyul House. I'm joining your dorm. For good." Ace declared.

"Myah?! Come again?!" Grim yells in shock.

"Ace, it's only been a couple of minutes." Susie deadpans as she stands beside Haelth, who looks stunned.

Here they go again.

The door swings up and Karaguri flips the light switch on. They went to the desk to pull out some drawers. They mumble to themselves.

They just got back from filing a missing person report along with other crying parents. They put up the mask of being worried too, but they were mad. They can't believe this, their daughter and her friends stole their book. After taking her in from the street, giving food, water, and a roof over her head. Haelth stole their book.

After looking for a while they found it. Five crystals each different size and cut into opal shapes. But only one was real. Karaguri's bracelet glows, the rune around it glows light blue, and in response, the crystal glows. Karaguri took it and held it in front of their face.

"Show me Haelth." The crystal glows and an image shows up on the crystal. Showing Haelth talking to Ace alongside Susie.

Karaguri frowns, "Of course, they end up there." They pitched the bridge of their nose, and took a deep sigh, "I'm going to have to out shopping to get some ingredients." They groan as they look at the image of their daughter, "Until then, try to not get into trouble will you." They grumbled as they pulled out a list. She thought maybe her friends should stay out of trouble until they got there. But deep down they knew better.

Oh well!

They will wish they never touched their book when they get their hands on them.

End of Prologue

That's a wrap.

Finish with Prologue. Finally. Going on a small one-week hiatus before moving on to book 1 as the outline might take as long. Plus I need to make a new cover.

Hope everyone having a good pride month. Did so because of my vacation Going back to streaming and looking for jobs. As for other stuff doing an artfight next month as well as going back to college. So let's see how that goes.

Check my Twitch where I'm playing Fate/Samurai Remnant and Final Fantasy 16: firedragonx23

My Tumblr where you get updates of my fics: firedragonx

And lastly my discord: CKmutXFYGF