Author's Notes: Here's our next new chapter. Now, a lot of this is still from the game, a lot of it isn't. I especially changed things at the end from the original that I wrote. I feel like maybe it's a bit more realistic to the situation. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 2: An Orientation Fracas

"Maybe the head mage had an upset stomach." A shorter than average white-haired, dark-skinned boy with bright red eyes was saying, arms behind his head in disinterest.

Kalim Al-Asim, a sophomore, and prince of the Al-Asim family from the Scalding Sands. He didn't take his grades seriously, preferring more to party, and had unfortunately set an example most of his dorm followed.

Crowley scowled. "I most certainly did not!" He told the boy. 'Really! What do these brats take me for? Me, getting a stomachache.' It was insulting at best.

"Speak of the devil." A short, light-skinned boy with short, neat neutral red hair, and livid blue eyes muttered. Riddle Rosehearts, son of a renown healer, also a sophomore house warden and a dutiful student with the highest grades in his entire year. The exact opposite of Al-Asim.

"If you must know, I was searching for the student who failed to show up." He said, moving aside and revealing the child behind him. "It looks like you're the only one who hasn't been placed in a dorm yet. Step up to the Dark Mirror. I'll watch your weasel." Crowley assured the boy who had given up on telling the man that he had never seen Grim before that night.

'State your name.' The porcelain mask with black markings in the void ordered in a deep and ancient voice. Henley shivered at the feeling.

"My name is Henley Veil." He told the mirror, bowing as he did so. It just felt right, to treat the ancient artifact in front of him with at least that respect. The mask's voided sockets studied Henley for a long moment before he finally spoke up.

'Henley Veil... The nature of your soul is... unclear to me.'

"What did you just say?" Crowley asked, not sure he had heard that correctly as the whispers started throughout the crowd of students.

'I sense no magic from this one. There is no clear shape of his soul. All I can tell is that it is colorless and has no sound. Therefore, no dorm would be appropriate.' the Mirror said.

"So, the Black Carriage retrieved a student with no magic?" Crowley asked, thinking on the absurd information. "Hm. This hasn't happened once since the selection process was put in place a century ago."

There was a loud gasp from Grim, who had finally broken the silencing spell Crowley had placed on him. "Me! Let me have his seat!" the feline shouted wriggling free from the head mage's grasp.

"Not so fast, you hyperactive weasel!" Crowley scolded.

"Unlike him, I can actually use magic! So let me be a student here!" He shouted. "Look, I'll show you! My Spells're the cat's meow!"

Henley's eyes widened when he felt a rush of the familiar energy- that he was pretty sure was magic at this point- with a harsh heat to it began to build around the cat. It was clear just what was about to happen. "Everyone, get down!" the red-haired boy and Henley shouted in unison.

Everyone had ducked, the students at the front of the room quickly casting what looked to be magical barriers around the students that were most at risk of being caught on fire. Crowley himself had used his feather great coat to cover Henley and himself.

One boy, the one who had thought Crowley had a stomachache, hadn't reacted in time and was soon trying to pat out the fire that had started on his butt. "Help! I'm on fire!" He shouted but was ignored by most of the people in the room.

"Someone, catch that blasted animal before he sets the entire school ablaze!" Crowley shouted at his House Wardens before turning to check on the boy's condition. His pale skin was still rather pink from the heat burns and he looked lightheaded, which was worrying.

"Ugh. Can I go now, or...?" A tall, heavily tanned boy with lion ears, bright green eyes with a scar across his left eye, and long brunette hair asked, hand running roughly through his locks. Leona Kingscholar, a slacking and prideful junior and prince of the Sunset Savanna.

"Oh? I thought you fancied yourself a hunter." A tall, fair skinned boy with shoulder length blonde hair- with lavender tips, and light-purple eyes said mockingly. "Go and help yourself to that plump little morsel." He insisted to the other. Vil Schoenheit, also a junior and a respectable and popular celebrity.

"Too much effort." Leona yawned. "Do it yourself." he replied, not in the mood to fall for a taunt as obvious as that.

"Allow me to handle this, Head Mage Crowley." Another fair skinned boy said. This one of average height for a sophomore, with short, wavy, light gray hair. He also had blue violet eyes framed by neat rectangular glasses and a beauty mark below his lip on the left side of his face. Azul Ashengrotto, additionally the manager of the on-campus cafe he ran out of his dorm.

"If none of you are up to the task of catching a small animal, I will accept the responsibility." he added, subtly tossing out a dig at the others who scowled at the boy.

"WTG Azul. Racking up those participation credits." A voice said from a blue and black tablet. Looking at the floating piece of technology, Henley found himself really wanting to touch and explore its features.

Idia Shroud, son of the Shroud family, and a reclusive junior and introvert extreme who mostly took his classes over his tablet. Spying the normally flaming haired boy was a rarity on campus outside of his dorm.

"I'm sorry." Crowley said, his stern voice causing every student in the room to freeze as he turned from Henley. "Were my instructions unclear?" he asked them cooly. His golden eyes boring into each of the five house wardens in front of the mirror. The freshmen in the room were shifting uneasily at the tension in the room.

"I'm pretty sure you can catch one mangy weasel on your lonesome there, head mage." Leona said, trying to sound unbothered despite the anxious lashing of his tan tail and the flicking of his ears.

Crowley was rather pleased with the reactions. He might play up his eccentricity and irresponsibility to an extreme, but it did not change the fact that he was this school's head mage and a more powerful mage than most of his students. And it did not change the fact that while they were princes, prodigies, and celebrities... Crowley was to be answered to, even by them.

"How many times do I gotta say it?! I'm not a weasel! I'm Grim, Spellcaster extraordinaire!" Grim snarled.

"Aren't you a spunky little fellow?" Azul asked. "Riddle, would you be so kind...?" Azul trailed off as the other boy joined him.

"Furry miscreant. I will abide no rule breaking. You will be judged by my hand." Riddle informed the cat who stuck out his tongue, shot another burst of flame and turned. Running from the chamber with the two youngest house wardens and a non-magical human hot on his heels.

Crowley blinked, seeing the child that was already sporting mild burns running after the weasel and two house wardens. He growled lowly, causing his students to stiffen and tense even more. /That child is far too reckless! Chasing after a beast that's already tried seriously harming him several times tonight. / He grumbled in an ancient dialect. He scowled before turning to the remaining students.

"You are to stay here and ensure the freshmen's safety while I go track down that reckless individual before he gets even more injured and put out the fires that beast is no doubt causing. I expect everyone to be on their best behavior. And for Sevens' sake, someone put out Al-Asim!" He ordered before rushing off after the group.

Twisted Wonderland: Welcome to the Villains' World

Henley couldn't say why he had chosen to chase after the two students and the cat beast they were after. He just followed what his body did as they rushed down the hallway.

He called out for the two students to dodge certain attacks or the falling debits of something that was usually flaming. The hallway had a subtle curve to it that seemed to be leading back to the Mirror Chamber and the trio subconsciously worked together to herd Grim down it and back to the other house wardens.

"Azul, duck!" Henley called out. Azul did so on instinct as a flaming ball passed over head.

'That was a close one.' Azul mused, sending a ball of ice at the cat who dodged, heading down another hall that would lead them back to the chamber.

"Go back kid. We don't need your help." Riddle ordered, only to dodge the falling, flaming tapestry that the kid called out a warning about that Riddle himself hadn't seen coming. Riddle scowled at his words being immediately refuted much to Azul's amusement. He didn't even bother trying to hide his snicker.

"I'm getting into this school! And that's final!" Grin shouted after they had cornered him just outside the chamber. He took a deep breath, ready to release a large plume of flames at the three children.

"Get back you two!" Riddle ordered. Azul, knowing what was going to happen quickly grabbed Henley and dragged him back behind Riddle. The duo was then dragged behind Crowley, who had finally caught up to them after extinguishing the fires, placing the students behind him for added protection.

"Off With Your Head!" Riddle shouted, waving his pen at Grim. Grim released a loud yowl as a red and black heart shaped collar appeared around his neck, a golden lock in front.

"What is this?!" Grim cried, paws up and yanking on the collar. But it remained firmly in place.

"The Queen of Heart's Rule 23: 'One must never bring a cat to a formal affair.'" Riddle said primly, a glower sent at Grim. "Your very presence here is a violation of order. In addition, you nearly harmed several students and vandalized this historic school with your flames."

The glare sent Grim's way had him slightly shaken. "You will vacate these premises immediately." Riddle told the cat.

"I ain't a cat!" Grim growled. "I'll burn this stupid collar right off!" Grim declared, only to be unable to do so. "Wha- What gives? My fire ain't working!" Grim cried, starting to panic himself as he began to roll around on the floor to remove it.

Henley watched the cat from around Crowley, while Azul was next to Riddle, admiring the other House Warden's handywork. "Until I deign to remove that collar, you won't be using any magic." An amused smirk appeared on the red head's face. "You're naught but a pet cat now." he said gleefully.

"What?!" Grim cried in shock, blue eyes wide as he stared at Riddle in horror.

"Rest assured, the collar will disappear once you're removed from campus." Riddle said.

Azul laughed heartily. "Good show as always, Riddle. Your signature spell locks down any magic." he said. "It's quite handy. I've just got to have it!" He said fervently. Two warning looks were sent his way, another just curious. "Ah." Azul coughed lightly into his fist. "I've just got to have respect for it." Azul corrected himself.

Crowley was still suspicious but nodded his acceptance while Riddle was glaring at the boy, not trusting him even slightly. "Henley! You shouldn't have chased after this animal. It has attacked you on multiple occasions tonight." Crowley scolded, snatching the cat up by his collar as they entered the Mirror Chamber once more where all the students had remained.

"I wasn't really going to hurt him or anything. Geeze." Grim growled at the man.

"Now that it poses you no threat, you should properly discipline it for its behavior." Crowley said, only to pause at the wary look on the small boy's face. "It's not yours, is it?" Crowley sighed.

"Never saw him before tonight, I'm pretty sure." Henley confirmed. Crowely's brows furrowed. Right. The addlement of the mind.

"I see. Then I shall have it expelled from campus. In fact," Crowley sent the cat a creepily pleasant smile. "I'll even spare you from being served as dinner tonight." He said cheerfully. Grim somehow paled drastically even under his fur. Some of the students looked green. Others looked disappointed.

"My, but I am kind." Crowley mused with a pleased grin. "Someone, take this away, please." He said after a comically long silence.

"No! Let me go!" Grim cried as another student, Henley wasn't sure which, grabbed him by the collar and began to leave the chamber. "You fools better remember my name! Cause I'm gonna go down in the annals of magical history! Just you wait!"

Henley winced at the reaction. "I kind of feel bad for him now." he muttered, too quietly for most to hear. Crowley, who did hear, almost frowned.

It didn't surprise him, for some reason, that the small child would feel sympathy for one who had attacked him. He just needed to send the students back to their dorms so he could have the child checked by Divus and work on what his situation was. "Well, that was quite an unexpected fracas!" Crowely exclaimed, his eccentricity back in full force.

'Fracas?' Several students mouthed in disbelief.

"I hereby declare that orientation has concluded. House wardens, please escort your students back to the dorms..." Crowley trailed off as he glanced around the chamber. "Hm? Come to think of it, I don't see House warden Draconia of House Diasomnia anywhere." he sighed.

"And that surprises you?" Leona asked with a scowl, still on edge around the head mage. "Dude's a total recluse."

"Did anyone even invite him?" Kalim asked.

Crowley sighed as the house wardens fell into a slight argument. The other shouldn't have had to be invited. Orientation was mandatory for house wardens to attend. If anything, Draconia hadn't been informed of the time and day of orientation, as it could happen on either of two days. It depended on the mirror really.

Henley glanced around the chamber with the beginnings of a deep scowl on his face as he listened to what the others were saying. "Draconia... Like, Malleus Draconia? That Draconia?"

"So, it's true? He really does go to school here?"

"Yikes."

Henley felt very offended on this Draconia kid's behalf. None of them seemed to even know the guy, and they were out here spreading unease and fear about him. And the house wardens certainly weren't helping things either. He scowled at the three main ones having the discussion. They were supposed to set an example, and this was a poor one.

Crowley glanced at the boy when he sensed annoyance coming from him. He was surprised to see the boy was scowling so deeply. He glanced at the house wardens who were also aware of the scowl coming from the boy. And while they were trying to ignore it, all three were shifting just slightly, clearly uncomfortable with the look from him. Leona's ears were pressed flat to his head in discomfort.

The head mage almost snickered at the reaction. They didn't even know the boy, and here they were shifting under his disapproving scowl. How interesting. He and Henley both glanced at the entrance to the mirror chamber when a short boy with black and magenta hair, deep red eyes, and pale skin with pointed ears entered the chamber, looking around with a slightly sad air about him.

"Just as I expected. I figured I'd come to see for myself whether Malleus had made an appearance or not. I suppose he wasn't informed about the time of the ceremony." Lilia Vanrouge, Vise House warden of Diasomnia and a junior.

"You have our sincerest apologies." Azul told the other boy. "I assure you; this oversight was in no way intended as a snub." Azul apologized sincerely.

"No matter." Lilia said. "All who were assigned to House Diasomnia, follow me." Lilia called. More quietly where very few heard him, he muttered. "I just hope he doesn't sulk about this."

Henley felt his heart bleed for the boy. If he was to remain here, he'd have to find the kid and get to know him. At least he had someone that cared. Soon, it was just Crowley, Henley, and the Dark Mirror left in the chamber.

Twisted Wonderland: Welcome to the Villains' World

"So, what now?" Henley asked, looking at the man before him.

Crowley hummed thoughtfully. "Has your mind cleared from the time space teleportation addlement? Has anything been recalled?" he asked.

Henley thought about that... Had anything new come back? Twisted Wonderland and Night Raven College were definitely familiar to him. He just didn't know how or why. He wasn't surprised magic existed here, despite not having any himself according to the Mirror. He still knew his name, age, and birthday.

Then there was Crowley and the Mirror themselves, who he just felt a familiarity for but again, much like Twisted Wonderland and the college, he wasn't sure how. Besides, neither recognized him, so he was probably projecting. And he had been brought here by the Black Carriage in a gate.

"No." Henley said after a while of trying to think if something new had been triggered.

"Hm, I see." Crowley hummed. He couldn't exactly send the child back in this condition. While he could be very irresponsible, even he had limits to just how irresponsible that was. And sending a child- one that he was nearly certain had amnesia- to an unknown place... That was beyond even him.

"O Dark Mirror, from where did you retrieve this soul?" Crowley asked.

'A place where the soul did not belong.' The Mirror replied. Crowley frowned deeply. That was not only foreboding and worrying, but had certain implications that Crowley was hoping he was wrong about.

"O Dark Mirror, where does this soul belong?" he asked. Maybe they could get an idea of where he belonged. That would be a good starting point to figuring out more about the boy.

'There is no one place that this soul belongs.' the mirror answered, before disappearing, indicating it was done answering questions.

Crowley scowled at the mirror before sighing deeply. 'No one place' huh? He grimaced. He would have to look into their records to see who it was that had enrolled the boy. After all, while a dorm hadn't been assigned to the boy, it didn't change the fact that the Dark Mirror had accepted the boy into Night Raven College.

He had been picked up by a Black Carriage and come through a gate. This meant Henley was his responsibility. Not a great thing, considering how he'd been portraying an eccentric and irresponsible personality to those around him for several decades now.

However, until he got more information on the situation, he wouldn't be allowing the boy to attend classes. Not only would it open him up to bullying if any of the other students took...exception to his non-magical status. But he wanted to give Henley some time to adapt to his amnesia and recover a bit more from the whole ordeal this night had become. He glanced over at the boy to address all of this when he saw he was... Oh, dear.

Henley stared at the mirror, confused and worried. Why was asking where he was from turning into such a huge issue? Why hadn't the mirror been able to just tell them? And what did it mean, that he was taken from a place he didn't belong? That he didn't belong to any one place now.

He just... didn't know. He didn't know where he was from. He didn't know if he had any family that might miss him, that he couldn't miss due to the stupid amnesia. He... he was tired. He was frustrated. He just, wanted to know what home was, so he could go there and sleep. It was too much right now.

He wasn't even aware when he started crying until a hand gently swiped the tear away. Then he was looking into the golden, glowing eyes of the head mage of this school. "I know that this must be difficult Hen." The man said gently, having crouched to be on Henley's eye level. "It's scary and frustrating. And while I can't guarantee it's going to get easier; I can promise that I'll do my best to help you." Crowley told the boy.

The boy who was lost, scared, and confused. Who was exhausted and stressed. Damnit! Crowley wished he had the answers for the child who was trying to get himself under control. He sighed, and gently hugged the boy. This was far from professional, but the boy needed some kind of comfort. At the very least, he seemed comfortable around him.

It was several long moments later before Henley pulled back from the head mage apologizing. Crowley smiled comfortingly as he handed over a black and blue handkerchief with an embroidered raven in flight.

"It's alright Henley. This is a lot to take in right now. You need time to get used to your situation. You need time to adapt. There's nothing to apologize for." he reassured the boy. Once he was sure the boy was doing a little better, he stood and held out his hand. "Come along, Mr. Veil."

"Um, where are we going?" Henley asked, taking Crowley's hand anyways. Crowley smiled gently.

"We're going to the school's infirmary to get you a proper check-up." He answered, flicking his empty hand and a dark cane with a raven top appeared in it. Henley's visible eye widened in awe at the display. The boy nodded and together, the duo left the chamber.

Author's Notes: There we go. I feel like maybe this is a bit more realistic in Henley's reaction to his situation. He is a 15-year-old boy with no memories after all. And I was already establishing that Crowley could be responsible at times.

Next Henely meets Divus Crewel, the potionology teacher and NRC's assigned nurse.