~~~Mirror Chamber~~~
Back in the Hall of Mirrors, a cluster of students were gathered in the center of the room, all donning the same robes. The Entrance ceremony, where new students have been chosen their new dorm houses, has just concluded as students murmured amongst themselves.
Standing to the sidelines were six individuals and a blue floating tablet.
"Is that all of the new student dorm assignments?" The shortest of the bunch spoke up. Underneath his hood, he had dark red hair, fair skin and stern grey eyes that scanned amongst the room of newcomers. "Listen up, new students! Here in Heartslabyul, I am the rules. Break them and it's off with your head." He instructed those that were chosen.
The person next to him let out a yawn. "Ugh...the stupid ceremony's finally over." He grumbled. He didn't bother brushing a lock of his brown hair out of his tanned face, as he opened his eyes, revealing piercing green orbs. Above his left eyelid was a faint scar. "We're heading back to the dorms. Savanaclaws, follow me." He muttered out his order.
"To the new students, congratulations on entering this academy!" The third one said. He harbored silvery-blue wave-like hair combed over to the left with eyes to match, obscured behind glasses. He smiled graciously, "Enjoy your life here to the fullest. As the dorm leader of Octavinelle, I will support you to the best of my ability!"
"By the way, where did the dean go? He flew out right in the middle of the ceremony..." the fourth spoke up. He has porcelain skin, a sharp jawline, and amethyst eyes. His hair reached above his shoulders, the ends fading into a beautiful lavender, and the top portion tied up.
"Abandoning his post..." the tablet spoke up.
"Did he get a stomachache or something?" The fifth perked up. His eyebrows creased above his bright red eyes, as he swiped away some of his short silvery-white hair out of his tanned face.
As if their questions have been answered, the person in question burst through the doors, a student in tow. Their hair spilled in front of their shoulder as they walked with him.
"Not at all!" Crowley spoke up as he ushered the person forward.
"Ah, there he is!" The redhead spoke up.
"I can't believe you all! We were missing one new student so I went to find them." He introduced the figure. They looked up and underneath their hood, the six men saw it was a girl.
The ones who had spoken, the dorm leaders, looked at the new person in question, with different emotions, and thought,
"Who is SHE?"
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We took several twists and turns but we finally made it to the ceremony. There was a cluster of students already chatting amongst themselves, six other individuals and a floating tablet??? They stood at the sidelines, watching over the bunch.
Wait. Don't tell me....
Are they all boys?!
"My dear, you're the only one yet to be assigned a dormitory. I shall watch over the raccoon. Now, step in front of the Dark Mirror." Crowley instructed as he stepped aside, a squirming Grim in his arms.
I do as he says. I remove my hood, revealing my face. I stare up into the mirror as a face appears before me.
"State thy name." The face commands. In a clear and loud voice, I say,
"Charlotte."
"Charlotte...." he repeats my name for all to hear. "The shape of thy soul is...." All goes silent. I don't move as I continue to state into the face before me, my eyes unwavering. The face squints, and then says,
"I don't see it."
"Come again?" Crowley answered, incredulously.
"I sense not a spark of magic from this one..." the face confirms. "The color, shape, all nothing. Therefore, they're not suited for any dormitory."
I felt my jaw drop. I came here for nothing?! Great! Fucking awesome!
I hear murmurs behind me as I turn to face the crowd. The others must've been surprised that a non magic being like me could ever be chosen to come here.
Crowley approaches me. "An Ebony Carriage would absolutely never go to meet someone who can't use magic!" He wonders. "In 100 years, there hasn't once been a mistake in student selection. So, why in the world....?" He rubs his chin in thought.
You tell me dude...I'm just someone who's had random visions now and then and got my aunt's key stolen by a raven! And now I'm in this mystery world where I don't even know where home is!!!
Some muffling was heard, and soon, Grim was free from his bonds, and spat the rag out of his mouth.
"If that's the case, let Yours Truly take their place!" He rushed forward.
"Stay right there! You raccoon!" Crowley demanded, as he shielded me.
"Unlike that dumb human, Yours Truly can use magic! Let me into the school instead!" He really wasn't gonna go down without a bargain...
"If you need proof of my power, I'll show you right now!" He smirked.
"Oh shit, not again!" I grimaced.
"Everyone get down!" The redhead ordered. Without thinking, everyone, and I dove for the floor, covering our heads.
"Hnnnnnnnnnah!" Grim summoned a surge of blue flames that engulfed the entire room in a second.
"Waugh! Hot hot hot!!! My butt's on fire!" The white haired male hopped up and down in pain, patting his butt to put out the fire. I tried to stifle my giggles behind my hands.
"At this rate, the school will be engulfed in a sea of fire!" The headmaster grimaced. "Someone catch that raccoon!" He demanded, helping me to my feet. The other students looked amongst themselves, unsure of what to do.
"Tch, suck ups." The scarred male rolled his eyes.
"Oh? Aren't you good at hunting?" The blonde teased. "Doesn't it look like a nice, plump snack?" He smirked, eyes glinting mischievously.
"Why me? Do it yourselves." The first muttered back.
"Crowley-sensei, leave it to me!" The one with glasses spoke up. "I'm sure the others couldn't stomach harassing such a poor creature, so I will take it upon myself!
"That's Azul for you~! Always trying to earn himself points~!" The voice from the tablet spoke.
"Hey! Can someone please help put out my butt fire already?" The one from earlier spoke up, his ass still smoking.
"Is anyone even listening?" Crowley muttered with exasperation.
The scarred one sighed, "If its just catching a stupid raccoon, why don't you do it yourself, Teach." He crosses his arms.
"How many times do I have to tell you, Yours Truly is NOT a raccoon!" Grim griped once more. "Call me Grim, the Grim that will become greatest magician ever!"
"Well, it's a stubborn one." Azul sighed, turning to the redhead. "Riddle-San, care to lend a hand?"
"I can't let those who bend the rules get away with something like this. Let's catch him as fast as possible." Riddle spoke up.
Suddenly, I fell to the floor.
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Her heart started to beat fast, her mind was growing foggy, and her vision was getting blinded. Charlotte was losing control of herself.
"Miss Charlotte!" Dire ran to the young woman's aid.
"No, sir! I-I'm okay!" She lies through her teeth. Clutching her head, the room was spinning like a top. She felt like barfing.
Everything was getting blurry by the second. But she saw something...
In place of Grim was a fiery monstrous being.
Nearly the size of a dragon, he looked so...menacing from an angle. His feet were different, a collar of blue fire wrapped around his neck, he donned wings and tentacles, and so many more features he seemed like an amalgamation of creatures combined. And standing before him were seven people, but their figures were too blurry to make out from where she was.
Crowley had a hand on the girl's shoulder. She looked close to passing out. With quick thinking, he summoned a ball of light in his gloved hand, bringing it towards the girl. It floated towards her and melted into her chest.
——————————
I felt....warmth. Comfort. Relief. Like all my pain had just vanished into nothing. The visions had vanished.
I took a deep breath of air, the room clear of blue fire. I look up and see Crowley looking down at me with concern.
"Thank...thank you, sir!" I forced out in deep gasping breaths. He held me by my arms as I stumbled back onto my feet.
"Charlotte, are you all right?" He asked. I nodded.
"Yea. I just...had a dizzy spell for a moment there." I needed to say something or else he'd get suspicious. Maybe I'll talk to him about my dilemma later.
My eyes wandered over to the two who managed to catch Grim. Azul held him by the scruff of his neck and Riddle was standing in front of the creature, smiling victoriously. Then, in a loud voice,
"Off with your head!" And with a flourish of his hand, a collar was snapped onto Grim's neck.
"Ngyah! What the heck is this?!" He sputtered.
"Law of her Majesty, the Queen of Hearts. No. 23: 'One shall NEVER bring a cat to a festival.' And you, being said cat, means you've broken the law. I shall have you leave this instant!" Riddle exclaimed.
Hold the phone....Queen of Hearts?! As in....Alice in Wonderland's Queen of Hearts?!
Wait...that mirror....don't tell me it's the same one from the story of Snow White?!
"Yours Truly is not a cat, either!" Grim growled. "I'll just burn this collar right up and...e-eh?! Why can't I use my fire?!"
Riddle smiled. "Hmph! You won't be able to use any magic until that collar is gone! For now....you're stuck as an ordinary cat!"
Holy crap. A collar that restricts people and creatures alike from using magic?!
"N-Nani?! Yours Truly is not some pet!" Grim was practically seeing red.
"Don't fret, I'd never keep a pet like you. I'll remove it once you're removed from the premises." Riddle explains.
"Ah, wonderful like always! Any and All magic gets sealed by your unique collars, Riddle!" Azul chimed. "I want that...oh! I mean, I wouldn't ever want something like that casted on me!" He corrected. I raised my eyebrow at that. That...was odd.
"You must do something about this! It's your familiar!" Crowley broke me from my thoughts. I held my hands up in mock surrender, carefully backing away.
"Sir, please, you've got it all wrong! That thing's not mine!" I plead.
"Properly discip- huh? It's not yours?" He asked.
I groaned, "That's what I've been trying to tell you! But no one would listen!"
"Have you...?"
Oh my god, WHAT IS WITH THESE PEOPLE?!
He coughed to cover his mistake. "Anyways, let's get it out of the school at any rate. We're not turning you into food, so be grateful you're spared with your life. I'm that generous. Someone, please!"
Just as a student grabbed Grim, he screeched. "Gyaaa! Let me go! You'll see! I'll...I'll...become the great magician ever!" He yelled with determination as he was dragged through the doors. With a loud scream and a bang from the doors, he was gone.
Everyone had stared at the door where he had just left. No one said anything.
'I feel kinda bad for him...why was he so desperate?' I thought. Eh, who cares? At least he's gone!
"Well, sir, you got your wish! He's gone and out of your hair!" I smiled. Crowley looked at me in surprise. He just nodded and spoke aloud,
"Forgive me, we had a bit of trouble along the way, but this brings our entrance ceremony to a close! Dormitory Leaders-" he turned to the sidelines, where the six were, "-please lead your new students back to their respective dorms!" He instructed, but halted for a second. "...Hm? Now that I think about it, I don't see Diasomnia's Leader, Draconia, anywhere...." he hummed.
'Draconia?' I thought.
"That's no different than usual. Pft." The scarred man spoke.
"Huh? Did no one tell him about the ceremony?" The white-haired requested. The fire on his butt was long gone.
"If you want to complain, you should've done it yourself." The blonde retorted.
That made his comrade grimace. "But I really don't know anything about the guy...." he finished, obviously uncomfortable with the topic at hand.
All around, the handful of newbies were whispering amongst themselves. Their voices were hushed, eyes big and wide, full of fear....they looked so....scared.
Who was this Draconia they're talking about exactly?
"By Draconia...do they mean THE Malleus Draconia?" One asked, shaking.
"He's seriously attending this school?" Another pondered, equally nervous.
"Scary~" a third shivered.
Wow. Whoever this Draconia dude is really has a reputation among the student body and in the world....one that definitely strikes fear into hearts anywhere.
"So...I was right." A voice perked up amongst the chatter. It was the sixth person lined up with the other Leads and was besides me. He was around the same height as Riddle, with a black bob and dark magenta highlights. His eyes shined as bright as rubies. And he seemed totally pale. "I thought he might come but it seems he didn't...seems the invitation 'never arrived' again..."
Uh....yea, I guess he's really not liked around most of these people....
"Our sincerely apologies! I promise, we never meant to exclude him!" Azul sighed dramatically.
"His aura makes it hard to approach him." Riddle put in his two cents, making me, Azul and the Red-eyed one look at him.
"It's fine." Red-eyes brushed it off. Turning back to the front, he declared, "Members of the Diasomnia Dorm can follow me...if you wish..."
He then turned in my direction and winked with a smile and left.
The tablet floated in front of me. I heard what sounded like a camera shutter, and it left too.
The blonde smiled and nodded his head at me.
The white-haired grinned and saluted to me.
Azul tilted his glasses in my direction and winked fast.
The scarred one grinned smugly before turning and leaving.
And Riddle left with a curtly "good day!"
One by one, the students and the leaders all left the room until it was just me and Crowley left.
"Well then, Charlotte..." he clasps his hands. "I'm terribly sorry to say this....I must ask you to leave the school. Those with no talent for magic can't be allowed to attend classes here." I frown. Well that was a waste of time....but a bit fun while it lasted.
"But don't worry. The Dark Mirror will send you directly back where you came from." I smile lightly.
"Grazie." I smile and walk towards the mirror.
"Enter the Gate, and picture your home clearly in your mind." He instructed.
I shut my eyes and I see....
My house. A large one story house, with a deep green lawn, flowers lining the front pathway. I see Shawn, Elaine, and Aunt Sam waiting for me, smiling inviting smiles reserved just for me. Their arms are open, waiting for me to run to them and hug them like there's no tomorrow. And I see...
"Oh Dark Mirror, guide this one back to the place where they belong!" Crowley commands.
....mom.....and dad....
I'm coming home....
Silence.
I crack open one eye. And I'm still in the mirror chamber.
Huh? Are we having....technical difficulties?
"Uh...Once again! Oh Dark Mirror, guide this one-"
"There's no place." The mirror answers.
Both my eyes open in shock. WHAT DID THE FLOATING FACE JUST SAY?!
"Huh?"
"Come again?!"
"The place she belongs is nowhere in this world...it doesn't exist." The mirror confirmed.
I felt my heart stop. I CANT GO BACK NOW?!
"What was that?! That's unbelievable! Hmmm...well, then again, the unbelievable has been on parade today..." he murmured. "This is the first time it's ever happened since I became dean, what should be..." he turns to look at me and I fidget with my hair out of nervousness. "Where exactly did you come from?" He asks.
"Well, sir, the truth is...."
I explained to him my hometown and where exactly in the world it is in full detailing. After I've finished, he claims,
"I've...never heard of that place. I've a general grasp on where all the students came from, but I've never even heard that name before." Well, it is a small town where I come from. It's rarely well known...
"Let us search in the library." He waves for me to follow him, and I do.
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~~in the library~~
After minutes of searching, from textbooks to even geography maps, not a single ounce of info on my hometown! The more we continued searching, the more I felt my heart sink further away from hope. Maybe there really was no way I could get back....
"There really isn't anything...." Crowley muttered. "Not only the world map, but the name of your home isn't written in any history." He looks at me skeptically. "Are you truly from where you say? You aren't lying to me by any chance?"
"Wha-no!" I shout. "Sir, I'd NEVER lie to you! Or anyone! I'm a woman of my word!" I plead. And it's true....most of the time: there are a few times when I'd have to bend the parts to make it seem like I'd seem sane or even oblivious. But still! A little white lie never hurt anyone! Right...?
"Well, looking at all this, you may have somehow been brought here from another planet." And Cue the record scratch sfx....Say what?
"There's also the possibility you're from
another world." He continued.
" 'Another world'?" I repeated like the word was foreign to me. Dio mio, IM NOT SOME ALIEN!
"What did you have on you when you came here?" He asked me. "Do you possess any identification? A name certificate?...you seem to be empty-handed."
"I had a bag with me when I-" I stopped, trying to word my sentence carefully. "-I came to this place. It had all my personal belongings in it, and now...I don't know where it is!" I run a hand through my hair. Looks like I really am screwed....
"This is concerning....I can't just let someone who can't use magic to stay at the school. However, as an educator, I can't just toss a penniless teenager out onto the streets with no form of communication, being that I'm so gracious, hmmmm..." he tapped his chin in thought as I chewed my lip in fear.
"That's it!" He smiled. I perked up, with a "please-don't-kick-me-out" look.
"There's an unused building on campus. It was once used as a dormitory in the past, but if you clean it up, you should at least be able to get some sleep there."
Wait...so not only am I an unknown being in a strange universe, but I'm a homeless person now?! Today's just not my day...but it'll have to do, I guess!
"For the time being, I shall allow you to reside there! And I will look for a way for you to return home."
I smiled and nodded.
"My graciousness is limitless! I'm a model for ALL educators!" He boasted. I didn't mind, but that 'gracious' saying thing may be getting outta hand....
"We had better be on our way. Let's head to the dormitory. It may be a bit old, but there is a certain charm to it!" He closed the books as they magically fly to their respective places in the shelves. He starts for the door as I jog to catch up.
I Wonder what my new place'll look like! Hey, in times like these, you still need hope.