You're in the headmage's office as you explain the nights events with the others jumping in to add their interpretations. Crowley has a large wooden desk with floating portraits behind him. Each one has a picture of what you guessed to be the great seven. As you finish telling what happened, Crowley put a hand to his chin in thought.
"Hmmm. So a mysterious monster was living in the mines. And the four of you worked together to destroy it, and then brought its magestone back to me?" He gave you all a quizzical look.
"I don't know that I'd call it working together." Ace disputed.
Deuce nodded. "It was more like we just happened to share the same goal at the same time."
You roll your eyes at them. Leave it to those two to argue about teamwork.
"Oh, gracious... Ohhh... Ohhhhhhhh!" The headmage bursted out sobbing. All three of you take a step back, surprised at the sudden outburst. Grim looked up at you in your arms.
"What is this guy's deal? Burstin' into tears in public? At this age!" Says Grim.
"In all the decades I've worked at this school..." Crowley dabs his eyes with a handkerchief. "The day has finally come when the students of Night Raven College have joined hands together to defeat a common foe!"
"Whoa! No! No way would I join hands with that guy!" Deuce waved at Ace.
Ace scoffed. "Okay, one, there was no joining of hands. Gross. And two, exactly HOW old are you, headmage?"
"At this moment, I am moved beyond words." Crowley puts a hand to his chest. "This incident has proven my hopes were justified. Y/N, my doubts are allayed! For you... You possess the talents of a beastmaster!"
"A... a beastmaster?" You ask. "What talents are those, exactly?"
"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. Most are so self-reliant and self-centered that they never even consider cooperating with others."
You throw a glance at the two boys on either side of you and grin. Guess you got that right.
Grim huffed. "You make it sound like that's a bad thing."
"But you, Y/N, possess no magic." Crowley continues, ignoring Grim. "Yet in spite of that - or perhaps because of it - you were able to convince those who CAN use magic to work together for a common goal. The everyday, humdrum mundanity you possess may be exactly what Night Raven College needs!"
"But... none of those words are good things?" Questioned Ace.
Crowley focuses entirely on you. "Y/N, I am convinced that people like you are necessary for the future of this school. My educator's intuition tells me so. Trappola, Spade - I hereby revoke your pending expulsions! Furthermore, Y/N... I am granting you the qualifications necessary to attend at Night Raven College!"
"WHAT?" Ace and Deuce shout in unison.
"As an actual student?" You hug Grim tighter to your chest. "But I don't have any magic."
"Of course. This is extraordinarily kind of me." Crowley congratulates himself. "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! As for you, Grim... 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 and Y/N will share a single enrollment at Night Raven College."
Grim perks up. "Myah! I... I'll get to go to this school...? As an actual student? Not a janitor?"
Crowley nods. "Correct. However! There must be no further incidents like the one that occurred today. Are we clear?"
You and while Grim looks like he's going to hyperventilate. "Myah... Myah... Y/N, I... I finally... I FINALLY DID IT!"
Grim raises his paws in the air. You hug him tightly, burying your face in his fur. "I'm so happy for you!"
Deuce places a hand on your back. "Congratulations Y/N, I look forward to seeing you in class."
Ace appeared by your other side, placing a hand in your shoulder. "Can't wait to see what else you get up to."
You smile at the praise, feeling more happy and hopeful than you felt since you arrived in this new world.
"Accordingly, I will now present to Grim the magestone that is issued to every student here."
Grim smirked. "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." He presents a black and whit striped ribbon with a dark lavender purple gem in the middle. "Is it possible that I am, in fact, too kind?"
You hold out Grim so Crowley can place the ribbon around his neck. Grim holds the magestone to get a better look at it. "Ah, sweet! I look awesome! A magestone collar, to be worn only by the legendary archmage, Grim!"
The headmage shakes his head. "You're not listening to anything I say, are you? Y/N, as you can plainly see, Grim remains oblivious to the customs of human society. You are to keep a tight rein on Grim, and ensure there are no further incidents!"
You nod determinedly. "I will sir!"
"Wow, that's quite the promotion." Ace gave you a smirk. "From janitor to student to prefect, all in the span of a day."
Deuce tilted his head. "Oh, I see. So if your dorm is just you two... and the headmage himself is putting you in charge of Grim, that makes you... the dorm prefect!"
Ace let out a laugh. "Well, that's gotta be a Night Raven first! A magic-less prefect? But sure, why not? Whatever works!"
You laugh with Ace, realizing how funny that would seem in this magic world. "I'll do my best!"
"Heh heh heh. Good luck to you, Magic-less Prefect!" Ace teased.
Deuce gave your shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Let's see that same spirit you showed us in the Dwarfs' Mine!"
"Ah, Yes. I suppose that does make you a prefect. 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! Now, I have something for you." He handed you an old school looking camera. "This is called a ghost camera."
"A ghost camera?" You take the camera in your free hand.
Ace leaned over your shoulder to get a better look. "Ooh, my grandma's told me about those. Those are, like, super old magic items, right?"
Crowley gaped in offense. "I would hardly consider them super old!" He clears his throat. "But it may indeed have been invented when your great or great-great grandmother was a child. It's a camera enchanted with a special kind of magic. It enables the user to photograph not just the subject's physical form, but parts of their soul itself."
"Wait," Deuce looked at the camera skeptically. "that sounds... sketchy."
"They're called Memories." Crowley assured. "Here's the thing: when the soulbond between photographer and subject deepens... The Memories captured in this magic camera's photos come jumping out!"
"Soulbound?" You question.
"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?"
Deuce and Ace cringe at the headmage's phrasing.
"That almost sounds like ghost photography!" Deuce added.
"Very astute." Crowley nods at Deuce. "Hence the name 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! I've heard many a tale of people who were deathly scared of being photographed by such cameras."
Ace shakes his head. "This tech sounds like way more trouble than it's worth."
"Y/N," Crowley continues. "I would like you to photograph Grim and the other students with this camera, and make a record of your campus life."
"I guess I always thought the school photographer job sounded fun." You reply.
"Myah ha haaa! Sounds like the perfect way to immortalize all my finest moments!" Grim says in triumph.
Crowley clears his throat. "Make especially certain to capture the mischief caused by certain students who struggle with impulse control. Keeping a photographic journal sounds far less tedious than writing me lengthy reports, wouldn't you agree?"
"Uhhh,"
"As a prefect, consider it your duty to maintain a sharp eye on your surroundings and record them. 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?" Crowley smiles to himself.
You bow your head tow the headmage. "Thank you sir. I'll give it my all."
Crowley nodded at your determination. "The hour has grown late, so further details shall have to wait till the morrow. You are all dismissed. Return to your dorms."
"Good night sir." Deuce replies.
You and the others walk down the hall leading from the headmage's office. You feel so elated, maybe things are starting to go right after all.
"Phew," Deuce breathed a sigh of relief. "We managed to avoid expulsion. That was a close one!"
"Yeah, no kidding." Ace confirmed.
"La la la la la! I'm a student at Night Raven College! La la la!" Grim was happily skipping beside you. "I'm gonna be the top mage on campus in no time. Enjoy eating my dust, boys!"
"Big words for a sentient pile of lint who's literally only half a student. Still..." Ace turned to face you. "Good for you."
"I guess we're schoolmates now." Deuce smiled at you. "Y/n, welcome to Night Raven."
You let out a small giggle. "The pleasure is all mine."
Ace groaned. "Okay, seriously, can we quit it with that stuff?"
Deuce chuckles. "We'll be seeing each other all the time now. We'll see what a pleasure that turns out to be. Especially you, Ace, since we're in the same dorm."
"Yeaaah, can't say I'm jazzed to see your smug, self-important scowl every day."
"Better than your lazy, dopey grin." Deuce countered.
"Keep bawling, crybaby. I haven't forgotten how you almost wept when he said you were expelled. Catch ya later, Y/N." Ace shot you a wink as he a Deuce make their way to their own dorm.
You wave goodbye to them. Grim sighed. "Man, those two are made for each other. Maybe they're the type who bond through squabbling? Anyway, Y/N, let's get back to the dorm!"
You and Grim collapsed onto the couch in the dorm foyer. Exhaustion completely taking over. Grim crawls lazily onto your lap. You pet his soft fur as he stretches out.
"Tomorrow when we wake, it won't be as janitors. Finally, finally... My glorious education as a proper Night Raven College student is about to begin!" Grim dozed off as he finished his sentence.
You chuckle and pick up the sleeping cat and carry him to the room you've chosen for yourself. You gently lay him on the corner of the bed as he softly snores. You change into your pj's and crawl into the bed, thinking of the new adventures ahead.
Maybe staying in this world won't be so bad.