Realizing their justification attempts aren't going anywhere with Y/n, Riddle gives up and moves on. Once more he points his pen towards Grim, who is still being held down by the ink arms,
"Off With Your Head!"
A heart-shaped collar appears on Grim, causing him to yell out muffled complaints.
"The Queen of Heart's Rule 23: "One must never bring a cat to a formal affair." ",
The Devil Fruit user isn't quite sure what the red haired boy is talking about or what the collar is supposed to do, she is doing a good job of stopping the little creature's rampage so what's its purpose? As she mentally questions the need of the collar, Riddle informs Y/n that she doesn't need to keep holding him. Making the arms vanish, she watches curiously as Riddle continues,
"Your very presence here is a violation of order. You will vacate these premises immediately."
"But I ain't a cat either! Don't you try'n collar me! I'll burn it right off! Huh...? Wh- what gives? My fire ain't workin'!"
'Does anyone know what this thing is? Cat, weasel, racoon, familiar...'
The furry creature tries spitting fire, but nothing happens. With a smug expression the boy with red hair explains,
"Until I deign to remove that collar, you won't be using any magic. You're naught but a pet cat now."
"M- meoWHAT?! I ain't nobody's pet- nothing!"
Unimpressed, Riddle waves his hand and reassures Grim,
"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."
Azul takes the opportunity to reinsert himself into the situation, applauding and giving a charismatic smile,
"Ha- HA! Good show as always Riddle. Your signature spell locks down any magic. It's quite handy. I've just GOT to have it- ah, I mean, I've just got to have respect for it."
Y/n makes sure to remember the information she just heard, how his "signature spell" can stop others from using magic. A part of her wonders how it would affect her Devil Fruit ability and if she should ask him to try it on her, just to test it out. Azul directs his attention to the woman, stopping her train of thoughts,
"And that spell of yours! You made quick work of that spunky little thing. I've never seen such magic before, I do hope you get assigned to Octavinelle."
"Oh, I didn't-"
Y/n was going to explain how she can't use magic and that it's her Devil Fruit ability, but Crowley interrupts her and reprimands Yuuken,
"Yuuken! Was I not clear that you are expected to take responsibility for your familiar? Now discipline your- what's that?! Isn't it yours?"
Tired of the Crowman ignoring him, Yuuken yells out how it isn't his. This time Crowley has no choice but hear what he's saying,
"I've told you repeatedly that it isn't mine!"
"You literally saw him almost get roasted, why would you think it was his!?",
Y/n can't believe how dense and oblivious this guy is, and he's the one in charge here? No wonder the students can't work in teams, this dude can't even listen or connect the dots on his own. Crowley brushes of her comment,
"Oh... is that so? *Ahem* Then I shall have it expelled from campus. I shall even spare it from being served as dinner. My, but I AM kind... someone take this away, please."
'Universe, God... please give me an opportunity to punch him. I don't ask for much, so please let me have this, just one punch'
"Nooooo! Let me gooooo! You fools better remember my name! Cause I'm gonna down in the annals of magic history! Just you wait!"
Staring silently, Y/n can feel how desperate Grim is to go to this academy. She doesn't feel too bad that he's being thrown out, he did almost burn everything down, but at the same time she grew up with Luffy and all the messes he made that were way worse than this. Still, wishes she could have heard Grim's reasoning.
"Now with that matter settled, only you are left to be assigned to a dorm... hopefully without any issues. Go on, step up."
Crowley nudges Y/n in the direction of the Dark Mirror. Now that all the panic has settled, the only thing that echoes are her steps as she stands before the floating mirror. The Devil Fruit user doesn't really care how the mirror will describe her soul, but is hoping it won't insult her like it did with Yuuken.
"State your name."
"Y/n L/n"
"The nature of your soul is... hypocritical."
Somehow being called hypocritical was worse than being called boring and bland. Her expression changes from neutral to pissed,
"... Hah!? What the hell is that supposed to mean!"
All the students, Crowley and Yuuken included, are taken aback by her change in composure. Just a few moments ago she is calm and collected, now she looks like she wants to fight the mirror.
"She posses no magical ability, yet great power, with infinite potential, that must be nurtured. She fits into no dorm and all dorms at the same time."
Silence... then-
"SHE?!"
Not expecting such a reaction to what the said, Y/n is startled and whips her head around to see what's wrong. The room is again filled with students talking, about herself she assumes. Crowley's voice causes the students to quiet down,
"This is even more unprecedented! Not only another magicless student, but also a female one? That can't be! Y/n, take your hood off!"
Not understanding what the problem is, she does as she's told. With her hood off and her face no longer hidden by it, Crowley takes a good look at her face. Slowly as the gears shift in her brain, she asks Crowley a question,
"Did... you not notice I'm a girl?... do I look like a boy to you!?"
"Ah!... no but-"
"BUT WHAT!?"
"Well, there are some boys who happen to have very feminine features so-!"
"Look at my face! My voice! Why would you think I'm a boy with feminine features in the first place?!"
"Of course I'd assume that! Night Raven College is an all boy school!"
"...? Ah, I see."
Everyone there share confused looks, taken aback once more by how her attitude switched back. No one says it, but they're all thinking the same thing. They understand what the Dark Mirror meant with "hypocritical".
Fixing his composure, the Headmage clears his throat and gains the attention of the students,
"Well, that was quite the unexpected fracas. I hereby declare that orientation has concluded. Housewardens, please escort your students back to the dorms. ...Hm? Come to think of it, I don't see Housewarden Draconia of house Diasomnia anywhere."
"And that surprises you? Dude's a total recluse."
"Wait a sec... Did anyone even invite him?"
"If you're that worried about him missing out, maybe you should have told him yourself."
"Maybe, but I don't know him too well either."
It was the two guys from earlier and the red eyed boy Y/n had helped out. Hearing the whispers around her about this Draconia guy, she doesn't get their issue with him. What did he do to be avoided this badly that no one tells him anything? A deep voices pierces through the crowd,
"Ah, just as I'd expected. I figured I'd come down and see for myself whether Malleus had made an appearance. But once again, he was evidently not informed that his presence was required at an official ceremony."
Azul and Riddle try justifying themselves,
"You have my sincerest apologies. 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."
"Sheesh, what kind of cowards are you guys? You can't even tell someone they're invited just cause they're a little hard to approach? Weak."
After Y/n speaks her thoughts, a boy with lion ears counters her,
"Tch. You've never met the guy and are already defending him. I'll do you a favor and give you a heads-up, don't bother with that overgrown lizard."
"Jokes on you, I'm going to befriend him now. We're going to be such good friends, you don't even know!"
The Devil Fruit user is being completely serious with her declaration, ignoring people telling her to reconsider her goal or that it was a bad idea. But it's too late, she's made up her.
"Hehehe, I'll be sure to tell him so. Might I know your name so he knows who to look for?",
The deep voice, now coming from behind her, asks. She turns around to answer him with a grin,
"I'm Y/n L/n-!"
Looking at the owner off the deep voice, the woman is stunned to see such a young face. Not only that, but the fact that he's floating catches her by surprise too... before she remembers magic. Pretending to not notice her expression, the boy with a deep voice gives her a nod then speaks to the student crowd,
"All who were assigned to house Diasomnia, follow me. I just hope he doesn't sulk about this... though knowing someone wants to befriend him might lift his spirits."
They bid each other goodbye, as each of the housewardens, and a floating slab, lead their dorm students out. The floating slab and a beautiful boy leave first without looking back. The boy with red eyes runs up to Y/n and holds her hands,
"I wanted to thank you again! A-and to introduce myself. I'm Kalim Al-Asim, Housewarden of Scarabia. I hope you get to stay here, and that you'll join one of our banquets!"
Y/n already thought this guy seems super nice, in comparison to all the the other students, but inviting her to a banquet makes her put him at the top of her favorites. She eagerly agrees and tells him she's already looking forward to it.
"It's a shame you didn't get properly assigned. Though if you're interested, please feel free to visit our dorm.",
Azul approaches her next. It didn't take much for the woman to notice how shady he is, from the way he phrased things, to the glint in his eyes and his smile. He definitely wanted something.
"Sure!"
But Y/n doesn't really care if he's trying to trick her, she saw him "fight" Grim. She can handle Azul.
As Azul walks past her, she immediately feels someone staring at her. Looking around, she finds the boy with lion ears staring- no, glaring into her soul. It was as if he wants to say something to her, but in the end he averts his gaze and leaves, a group of students following behind him.
Riddle is the last one to leave, sparing Y/n a look before his cheeks start to redden slightly. Whether it was out of anger because of the two times she called him out or something else, she couldn't tell.
Now, the only people remaining are Crowley, Yuuken and Y/n.
"Well, Yuuken, Y/n. This a most unfortunate turn of events. I'm afraid that neither of you will be attending Night Raven College after all. Surely you realize that I cannot very well admit a student with no magical ability, or female one, to my academy. But worry not. The Dark Mirror will see you safely home."
Yuuken sighs in relief, clearly not used to the chaos that had transcended,
"Finally, I'm ready for this to be over and to be back home in bed."
"Yeah, the idea of learning magic is fun and all, but I have stuff that needs to get done and going to school wasn't exactly on my plan.",
The woman shrugs, though a part of her is still curious as to why this happened in the first place, she's more focused on wanting to return to her base so she can continue researching the letters. Crowley pushes Yuuken towards one of those coffin gates,
"Now, step into the gate, and visualize the place the place from whence you came."
Returning to the mirror, Crowley speaks more,
"O Dark Mirror! Return this soul to where it belongs!"
"..."
The mirror really likes taking its time with poor Yuuken, and Y/n is getting a feeling that the Dark Mirror is going to say something bad for him. She isn't the only one to notice this and Crowley clears his throat,
"*Ahem* L- let us, er... try this again. O Dark Mirror! Return this soul-"
"There is no such place."
The mirror cuts him off, as Y/n and Crowley respond at the same time,
"What./What?"
"There is no place in this world where this soul belongs. None."
"... well, let's try with you Y/n, certainly there's no way you too-"
Before the crowman can shove Y/n into one the coffins, he's interrupted once more by the mirror.
"The place where her soul belongs is beyond this worlds reach."
"Uhh, hold on! What's that supposed to mean?? That's... that can't be true, right Crowley?"
A few moments ago this entire situation was fine and dandy for her, since she imagined this was just a kingdom or island she hasn't heard of... but the implications of the mirrors word... is she in a completely new world!? What about her friends, her brothers, THE MYSTERY LETTERS SHE STILL CAN'T TRANSLATE!? Hundreds of thoughts race through her mind as she tries to make sense of this.
"How can that be? My, but today is a viratable cavalcade of impossible phenomena! This has never happened throughout my long tenure. I must confess that I am at something of a loss. Tell me: From what land do the both of you hail."
"What land...? Sure, I'm from Japan."
"I grew up in Foosha Village, Dawn Island. But before arriving here I was traveling through the Grandline."
"I'm afraid I'm not familiar with either of those places. I am intimately acquainted with the origins of every student who has ever come here, and yet... these mysterious Homelands elude me. Let us go to the library and look it up, shall we?"
The three of them head towards the library in silence, Y/n's mind is completely blank as she struggles to make sense of what's happening.
The Devil Fruit user regrets not calling her brothers or friends before falling asleep.
ꕀꕀꕀꕀꕀꕀ𓊝ꕀꕀꕀꕀꕀꕀ
TO BE CONTINUED