*
"The icy force is both foul and fair. Has a frozen heart worth mining"
**
???
Once upon a time in a land so far away, was a snowy empire that no mortal dared to face. Ruling with an iron fist and standing center stage, was the noble and pure crown princess lying inside a fancy coffin. Was she dead? No, not exactly.
Y/n Mielle Frostinelle was peacefully asleep inside the coffin before a sound of something scratching on wood was heard from the outside of the coffin. "What's...that noise...?" Y/n mumbled before fluttering her eyes open, only to meet with darkness in every corner of her sight.
"I better hurry up and find that uniform before someone spots me..." Y/n heard a voice speak from the outside. Curious, she closed her eyes to focus on listening before she heard her coffin door open slightly before it fell back down, making whoever was outside to let out a grunt. "Urgggh...This lid weighs a ton!"
'No. You're just weak...' Y/n dumbfounded.
"Try this on for size! Mya-ha!" The voice let out a loud cry with the temperatures inside growing hotter and hotter. Y/n felt slightly dizzy as she noticed blue flames from a small opening of the door.
'It's...fire...' Y/n pressed her lips together, staying calm as she channeled her power into her throat. 'I wish to barely use my magic...but desperate times calls for desperate measures...' she says in her mind while inhaling air and opening her mouth, exhaling a cone of frost in front of her. Her icy breath caused the door to immediately freeze into ice. The combination of ice and fire caused the hinges of the door to shatter while the flames were put out by her breath.
"Mrah?! What's with this ice! Cold!" Y/n heard the voice panic as she heard shuffling while opening the door.
Y/n slowly sat up from the soft cushion she was lying on in the coffin. She looked around, slightly confused as parts of her hair was in her face. Then, she noticed a grey fluff-ball using his fire to remove the ice, not noticing she was up at all, causing her to grow a bit dumbfounded from the figure's lack of awareness.
"Done! Now to grab the goods..." The figure was finally able to thaw all of the ice and turned to the coffin, only to see Y/n completely awake. "What?! You ain't supposed to be awake!" the figure exclaimed in utter shock.
Y/n, for some reason, didn't hear the figure yelp as she was too focused looking up at the floating coffins around her. "Floating...coffins?" she mumbled quietly to herself.
"Oh-ho! You got a lotta nerve ignoring me, human!" The figure shouted causing Y/n to turn her head toward the figure.
Coming eye-to-eye contract with each other, Y/n tilted her head in confusion when she saw who dared to call her a human. "Hm? A talking...weasel?"
Being called a weasel, the figure clenched his fists together. "How...how DARE YOU!" the figure stomped his foot on the floor in anger. "I am no WEASEL! I'm Grim, sorcerer extraordinaire! Tch. Whatever. You...human! Just gimme your uniform, and be quick about it!"
"Why should I give you my uniform?" Y/n politely asked the so called great wizard. 'It won't even fit him...'
"'Cause if you don't...you're gonna regret it!" Grim threatened, a small blue flame forming over his mouth.
"...." Y/n was dumbfounded. "Getting roasted alive by a worthless weasel? What will I dream next?" she wondered, talking in a indifferent tone that grew Grim's ire.
"W-Worthless weasel?!" Grim yelped, completely taken aback by the insult. "Well keep dreamin', 'cause I ain't no weasel!"
Y/n leaned toward Grim, their faces just a few inches apart, causing Grim to stare at her cold eyes in fright. "How about you move out of my way...?" she asked.
"What? How dare you! I- MYAH!" Grim screamed when Y/n moved her hand in front of his face, flicking his nose gently that suddenly caused the weasel to be blown away by the frigid wind, falling on his bottom when he landed. "C-COLD!"
Y/n climbed out of the coffin, noticing the change of clothes she was now wearing. She saw that she was wearing a formal ceremonial outfit. As customed, she has a hood over her head that has two holes to accommodate her horns. The black robes she wear have a purple belt with the school emblem being on the center of the gold buckle. The robe's cuffs have golden embroidery in the image of the Mirror of Darkness. It's back embroidery is in the image of a crow's tail wings. The hood is slightly pointed in the back. Underneath the robes, Y/n has a long black under-robe that has golden embroidery on the collarbone area in the image of a crow's wings. The sleeves have a ring that passes through her middle finger. She has black boots that reach below her knees with purple and gold at the ends. Since she was quite short, her ceremonial robe looks more like a dress while her pants were way too big for her.
Y/n stumbled a little when she stepped on the pants, causing her to let out an annoyed sigh before picking up the pants like a dress as she turned to Grim. "I must bid thee adieu. Farewell, Grim," she curtsied before turning her heels, making a B-line toward the exit while holding onto her pants so she could at least run.
Grim, who was struggling to break free from the ice, panicked when she was getting away. "Hey, come on! I'm on a tight schedule here!" he shouted. He let out an angered yell when she disappeared in a blink of an eye, leaving a trail of illusionary ice butterflies.
*
Library
'I'm hungry...' Y/n thought as she managed to run into a large library. As she closed the doors, she looked around awkwardly, seemingly looking lost in thought as well. "Where am I again?" Y/n wondered out loud, already forgetting where her location was. She stepped closer to one of the shelves, her fingers slipping over a cover before a ball of blue fire passed over her head, in which she stared blankly before the flame dissipated. "It missed..."
"Foolish human! Did you really think you could slip away from ME?" A familiar voice exclaimed from behind. Y/n turned her head to see the worthless weasel approaching her, heavily panting from exhaustion.
"Yes I did," Y/n bluntly confirmed. "You look extremely exhausted from trying to catch up to me...perhaps I was indeed too fast for you to chase after..." she said.
"Shut up!" Grim shouted, getting extremely agitated. "Now, unless you wanna get burned to a crisp, take off that-" before he could even finish his sentence, Y/n heard a loud crack echoed throughout the library. "Me-YEOW! That hurt! What gives?" he whined from the pain.
"A...whip?" Y/n softly pondered, a bit baffled from the sudden appearance of the cord that was certainly wrapped around Grim.
"Consider it tough love," A voice spoke. Y/n blinked in confusion as a man with a top hat and a crow mask that covered the upper half of his face approached her, being the owner of the whip when she saw him holding onto the handle.
The man took one look at the crown princess and beamed. "Ah, I've found you at last. Splendid. I trust you're one of this year's new students? My, were you ever eager to make your debut," he huffed. "And bringing a poorly trained familiar with you? That is a clear violation of the school's rules," he scolded.
Y/n tilted her head with a frown. "My what? I don't remember owning a worthless weasel,"
"As if I'd serve some lowly human! Now lemme go!" Grim exclaimed at the same time. He then let out an angered gasp upon hearing what Y/n said about him, making the weasel to immediately glare at her.
"Yes, yes. Rebellious familiars always say that. Do be quiet for a bit, won't you?" The crow man ordered as he covered Grim's mouth with a familiar cloth.
'That's a Permafrostine made cloth...Just who is this man?' Y/n narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Mmmrph!"
"Dear me," The Crow man sighed. "Of all the students I've dealt with, you're the first with temerity enough to open their own gate and step out of it. Does the very notion of patience elude you?" he asked, sternly looking at Y/n's covered eyes. "No matter. Your orientation has already begun. Let us return to the Mirror Chamber,"
"Student...?" Y/n mumbled.
"You awakened in a room full of gates, did you not?" The Crow Man asked. "All of the students here at the campus arrived by passing through such gates. Although typically the students have restraint enough to wait until I open them before waking up," he explained to Y/n.
"I think something blew the lid off mine..." Y/n answered monotonously, forgetting that she kinda froze the door.
"The culprit appears to be that familiar of yours. You're the one who insisted on bringing it, so curtailing its behavior is your responsibility!" The Crow Man scolded. Oh if only he realized who he was talking too as two tick marks appeared on Y/n's forehead as she had a indifferent expression. "But now is not the time for such prattle. You've a student orientation to attend! Go on, now. Make haste," he says, gesturing her to follow him.
"First, just tell me two things: Where am I? And who are you?" Y/n meekly asked.
"Hm? Have you not fully regained consciousness?" The Crow man asked, narrowing his eyes in worry. "The timespace teleportation must have addled your memories...Well, these things happen, I suppose. I shall explain it to you while we walk. Truly, my magnanimity is boundless," he says as they both walked out of the library.
'This guy is a complete weirdo...'
*
Courtyard
"*Ahem* This is Night Raven College," The Crow man began explaining the basic details as they walked through the courtyard. "It is an institution for students the world over who demonstrate a rare aptitude for magic. It is the most prestigious academy of its sort in all of Twisted Wonderland, second only to Northern Lights University and Academia. And I am Dire Crowley. Having been entrusted with its care by the chairman, I serve as headmage," he introduced.
'Dire Crowley...why does that name sound so familiar?' Y/n hummed in thought before she noticed the name of the school. "Academy?" she wondered out loud. 'Night Raven College? Isn't that where big brother Isfrid will be studying at for the next four years this time...?'
"Only those who the Dark Mirror perceives as having a talent for magic are admitted to the college," Crowley mentioned. "Those who are selected are summoned to the campus through those 'gates,' which can appear anywhere,"
"A black carriage bearing one such gate should have come to meet you," Crowley stated.
"I do kinda remember a horse with a dark carriage..." Y/n remembered. 'But isn't Night Raven College an all boy's academy? I shouldn't be here...everyone must be worried since I'm away from the palace for this long...'
"That black carriage serves to receive a student chosen by the Dark Mirror," Crowley continued. "It too bears a gate that connects to this campus. And as you know, sending a carriage to meet someone on a special day is a time-honored tradition,"
"Uh, a time-honored tradition WHERE?" Y/n sternly asked bluntly. "I see no such thing,"
"Mmfff! Mmmmmmfff!" Grim tried to say something but all the two people heard were muffled yells.
"Now, let us attend to your orientation," Crowley beamed as he sped up his walk, having Y/n quickly followed after.
*
Mirror Chamber
Inside the Mirror Chamber, where everyone was wearing the ceremonial robes like Y/n, Prince Isfrid was patiently waiting in line to be sorted into a dorm. He used his magic to conceal his aura, not wanting to scare the new freshman around him. 'There is a 99.9% possibility of me being sorted into Diasomnia again. This time, HE is housewarden, right?' he thought as he scanned the room. His eyes, without moving his head, adverted to a familiar boy with lion ears. Isfrid watched as the boy with lion ears let out a tired yawn as if not wanting to be here, causing the frost prince to click his tongue in annoyance. 'That lazy-ass failure of a prince never even changed when I first met him. Shouldn't he have already graduated by now? Tch, the other 0.1% could mean I will be sorted into Savanaclaw. No matter how much I hate that dorm of brutes, I'll be sure to challenge and win the duel for the seat of Housewarden,'
"Pomefiore"
A beautiful boy, shorter in height like a certain someone, with mid-length lavender hair, got sorted into the dorm of beauty. Isfrid perked an eyebrow in curiosity when he saw the look of the lavender-haired boy's expression. He looked like he wasn't amused to be sorted into Pomefiore but that dorm was the one that matched the essence of his soul the best.
The student meekly walked over to the Pomefiore group, the student in front of Isfrid stepped froward and state his name. "Sebek Zigvolt," he answered.
Isfrid crossed his arms as he was next. He smirked when he heard the boy's name, immediately recognizing the boy. 'Heh. He'll be in one hell of a shock once he finds out I'm here as well'
"Diasomnia"
The mirror shorted the student named Sebek into the dorm of nobility, which immediately made him beam with excitement. "Yes! I'm in the same dorm as young master!" he grinned. Sebek turned toward the group of students sorted into Diasomnia and walked over eagerly.
Isfrid noticed that all five dorms had their respective housewardens present. Riddle Rosehearts of Heartslabyul, Leona Kingscholar of Savanaclaw, Azul Ashengrotto of Octavinelle, Kalim Al-Asim of Scarabia, and Vil Schoenheit of Pomefiore with their respective vice housewardens. Plus, there was a floating blue tablet that belonged to Idia Shroud, Ignihyde's Housewarden, who virtually attended the ceremony. Diasomnia was the only one who didn't have their housewarden present, which Isfrid would rather old.
"Step foward, returnee,"
The Mirror of darkness spoke. Leona Kingscholar narrowed his eyes upon realizing who was back in which Isfrid noticed. "Isfrid Frostinelle,"
"Isfrid...I welcome you back to Diasomnia,"
Isfrid's name caused an uproar amongst the freshmen, especially those who know him on a personal level. His name also caused the ire and annoyance of some students with most being from Savanaclaw. "Hey, isn't that..." one student gasped.
"He's the previous housewarden of Diasomnia!" A student gasped. More students mumbled among themselves. Most were of high praise but there was some of fear since not only was Isfrid the 3rd prince of a powerful country, he was a formidable mage.
Isfrid walked over to the Diasomnia group, causing Sebek to happily stepped to him. "It is an honor to be in your presence once again, Master Isfrid!" Sebek exclaimed happily.
Isfrid smiled and patted Sebek on the shoulder. "Good to see you two, Sebek,"
"I must say. Seeing you, the previous Housewarden, makes me quite worried for Malleus's position," A familiar deep voice playfully spoke.
Isfrid chuckled as he turned to the familiar figure. "Brother-in-law needn't fret. Unless he shows his incompetence as housewarden, I have no intention of stealing his role. If I was sorted in Savanaclaw...that would be a different scenario, Lilia," he grinned.
"Kekeke," Lilia Vonrouge, vice housewarden of Diasomnia chuckled. "I'm sure with you guiding Malleus once more, he wouldn't at all be incompetent. I'm quite eager to see how you perform in the Spelldrive tournament in October this time,"
"Since I get to play this time, the battle won't last for long," Isfrid says, turning his head over to the person who has been glaring holes into his skull. The culprit was none other than Leona Kingscholar. Seeing his face made Isfrid smirk in amusement and stuck his tongue out while pulling his right eye down. "Bleh~"
Leona let out a low growl that Isfrid was able to hear, playing ignoring him. "By the way, Isfrid, how is our little beasty doing since that day?" Lilia asked, talking about the attempted assassination.
"Lord brother's wife, Liliane, says that Y/n has been completely recovered physically from her high fever, not getting them as much as she used to after leaving the tower," Isfrid informed. "The barriers have been strengthen on our carriages so this won't ever happen again,"
Lilia widens his eyes before smiling proudly at the progress. "I'm glad she's so strong. I wonder, when it comes to her amnesia...imagine if Y/n would fall in love with Malleus once again if they spend some time together in the near future, knowing that she's able to remember things a lot more than before,"
"Hahaha," Isfrid laughed. "That would be far too cute that I might actually have a heart attack," he says as Lilia laughed as well, remembering the first time Y/n and Malleus met.
As the two had a good laugh, some time passed when Isfrid suddenly heard a familiar voice in his head. "If the day comes that we are reborn once again, brother...It'd be nice to play with you once more. So I'll wait for you 'till then,"
"...." Isfrid grew quiet as he placed a palm on his face. 'Why am I remembering your words...Riliane...no, I mean...Y/n...?'
~To be Continued~
*
Modern era secrets:
~Isfrid gets sorted into Diasomnia
~The Frostinelle family was one of the first families to have their son graduate from Night Raven College during the first four years of existence.
~Isdis was the very first Diasomnia Housewarden
~Isleif was the 50th Diasomnia Housewarden
~There was some foreshadowing.
~ Y/n is an airhead :D