Chapter Text
Three souls.
One path.
One solution.
A sliver of hope in order to prevent the tragedy that would befall Night Raven College. As these souls are brought into the shadows by the black carriage, passing through the thin veil that separates their world from our own.
We uncover a small glimpse of the unlikely heroes that take the stage in our story.
A union of man and a being of Old. Behind a sweet smile and innocent façade, holds a terrifying power that could rock the very core of the universe.
A hunter in fox’s clothing, The assassin bound to the contract of those who also seek to protect those
And a descendant of Wonderlands past. Separated and forgotten, this girl taps into the old magic by combining magic and technology in her own way.
These outsiders. This motley crew of strangers and personalities may be the key to finding an alternative to the massacre that would doom them all.
---
My dearly beloved.
A Lovely and noble flower of evil.
Truly, you are the most beautiful of all
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who is the one …
…
Those whose souls are guided by the black mirror
As long as your heart desires, Take the hand that appears in the mirror
For me. For them. For you.
We are all running out of time.
No matter what-
Don’t let go of my hand.
---
-*~*~-
“WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS PLACE!?”
A very disturbed and distraught voice echoes throughout the bowels of Night Raven College as the trio dash through the halls, dodging past blue flames and highly decorated corridors. Dashes of purple followed the sounds of rushed, heavy footsteps as the maniacal cackle of their feline(?) pursuer only seemed to grow louder by the minute.
“One minute, I’m walking back home from helping my brother clean his classroom for the summer-!” Neisha exclaimed, bits of her afro’s blonde and brown hair peeking out from the covers of the black and gold hood covering her head.
“And the next thing I know I wake up in a fucking coffin and being chased by a ratty-looking fire breathing raccoon trying to strip me and two random guys! I don’t do drugs, but this has to be either a bad dream or a really bad trip!”
“I. AM. NOT. A. RACCOON!!” The creature shrieks, before letting out a torrent of fireballs at the fleeing group.
“Oh trust me, when I say this is definitely not a dream or a trip!” Elijah, the tallest of the group added, ducking just in time from a blue fireball. The flame barely just grazed the side of his face. The movement, causing the hood to fall from his face, the fire singeing one of his short locs in the process.
“Those, at least, are fun. This bullshit-!” The taller gestures, “Is far from it!” Noticing the small burn and cursing the little rat for messing with his hair.
“Granted, I have been in much worse situations, but this is just annoying as hell!” Elijah says through gritted teeth, making a subtle gesture to the party to an open room. The three duck into it without somehow catching the attention of the strange fire creature, allowing them some time to breathe, at least until it actually realizes where they went to.
As soon as they get into the room, Ikon, a short, pudgy teen, slips down against one of the walls, wiping the sweat off their dark cheek with their sleeve as they threaten to fall from his face.
“Well, I mean, I guess the one good thing about this means we don’t have to deal with this madness alone, right?” Ikon gives a tired smile to the two, trying to at least bring some kind of silver lining to this situation.
Which, given the looks Ikon was getting from the two, wasn’t very convincing.
Not at all.
“Okay, I agree it still sucks…” Ikon deflates, bringing his knees to his face.
“There you go, pudgy, now you’re talking sense.”
“Really, dude? I don’t think this is the time for name-calling.” Neisha glares at Elijah.
“I mean, it's not like it bothers me. I’m pretty confident and happy with my fluff.”
“That's not the point here, fluffy.”
“So you can call them names but I can’t? Mhm-Mhm-Mhm, hypocrite.”
“Oh up yours, asshat!”
“Okay, Okay-” Ikon says, “Let’s just all calm down and breathe, okay?”
“This situation is very nerve-wracking for all of us. And, despite how some of us really rather not be here or around each other, the reality is that we're stuck together and it’s best to try to get along and work together so we can get out of this as soon as possible.”
“For now, while we still have some time to breathe, why don’t we take the time to do some quick introductions, yeah?”
Ikon stands at their feet, brushing off the non-existent dust on their robe as they do so.
“My name is Ikon, I am sixteen years old and I can go by any pronouns, but I prefer he/they. I love pastel colors and camping.”
“Wait, you actually like camping?” Neisha questions.
“Yes, I’m not the athletic/outdoorsy type obviously,” Ikon smirks, gesturing to their whole being. “But I do like just having a relaxing time out in nature, with good food and a nice book. It’s the best, especially in the colder seasons.”
“That's so weird..” Elijah and Neisha both comment at the same time, giving Ikon a strange look.
“Ehhh!? No it isn't!”
“Now that we’ve addressed Ikon’s weird past time-”
“Camping is not weird!” Ikon whines.
“I guess it’s my turn to introduce myself, then.” Elijah smirks, leaning on one of the empty desks.
“ Names’ Elijah, just turned eighteen a couple months ago. He/Him pronouns and I spend my free time either playing MMOs or playing the stock market.”
“Oh so camping's weird, but trading stocks isn’t.” Ikon mumbles under their breath. “At least my hobby is something teenagers actually do.”
Elijah shrugs.
“Hey, I never said stock trading was normal. Besides, it gives me money to spend on myself and my games.”
“I mean, he does kinda have a point. As backwards as it is…” Neisha adds.
“You too!”
“Anyways… I’m Neisha, seventeen, She/Her pronouns, and when I’m not taking care of my niece or helping my older brother at school. I like to spend my time reading books and making jewelry.”
“Huh, you’re actually pretty normal.” Ikon comments.
“Yeah, because I am normal. Not everyone has money to throw around to trade stocks or go ‘camping’.”
“ Why did you have to say it like that? And besides, camping is a very normal hob-!”
“ Now that our little team-building exercise is over.” Neisha cuts Ikon off, as she moves towards the classroom door. “We really should start moving before that thing finds us again. Maybe we can find someone who knows why we were brought here and find a way back to our homes.”
“Agreed.” Elijah adds, getting up from the desk to follow after her.
“ I! Uh-Oh nevermind.” Ikon pouts, and follows after, leaving the classroom behind.
The three of them continue to make their way through the maze of the school, out to the courtyard and then finding their way into what looks to be the school’s library.
Just as they pass the threshold of the library, the familiar and screechy cackle of the fire raccoon from before. A wide, almost crazed grin on the creature's face as it confronts the group once more.
“Did you three really think you could run away from my nose? Hehehe!! Dumb humans!”
“Oh for fuck’s sake! You know what, I usually don’t hurt animals, but you’re really starting to piss me off!” Elijah growls, as he steps up to face the creature, taking an offense position.
As he takes this stand, a glow starts to shine from Elijah’s palms and eyes. Yet, when he starts to attempt to cast something, a small flash from his neck and wrist block the spell from forming.
“What the hell-!?”
“Nyahaha! You think you can defy the great Grim-sama’s amazing power!? Now, if you three don’t want to get roasted, ‘better hand over your ro-!”
A loud crack of a whip echoes in the room, immediately restraining the ‘The Great Grim-sama’ in its grasp.
“Bwah?! OW! What’s with this rope?”
The swift clicking of dress shoes(?) against the tile is followed by the appearance of a tall, masked, strange middle-aged(?) man.
“This is no mere rope, It is a lash of love!” The mystery man corrects Grim, before turning his attention towards the group.
“Ah, found you three troublemakers at last. Are the three of you new students? That won’t do. You musnt leave the Gate on your own!” The man scolds, taking Grim in his arms as he moves closer to the group.
“As for whoever owns this creature-!?” He starts. “It is against school regulations to bring your untamed familiar on this campus.”
Grim squirms in the stranger’s restraints. “Let. Me. Go! I am not a freakin’ familiar!”
“Sure, sure. That’s what all the rebellious ones say. Just be quiet for a moment.”
“Mmmghmmm!”
“My goodness. It’s unprecedented for a new student to leave the Gate on their own. Uuugh… How impatient can you three be? The entrance ceremony is well under way. Come along, Let’s head to the Hall of Mirrors.”
“Wa-Wait a second!” Ikon blurts out. “New students? Gate? Entrance ceremony?! I’m sure that there has to be some misunderstanding, right guys?”
“Uh, hell yeah there is. I got my diploma three years ago.” Elijah says. “And last time I checked, I didn’t sign up for any college classes like this.”
“Yeah, same. I’m in my last year of high school and ‘already doing dual enrollment at my local community college so…” Neisha adds on.
“Everyone, please, one at a time!” The man gives an exasperated sigh at the bombardment of responses and questions from the group.
“The Hall of Mirrors is the room that you all woke up in with all the doors and such. All students who were admitted to this academy must pass through one of those doors to come here. In any normal circumstance, students would wake up only after the door is opened with a special key, but…”
“Whatever, this raccoon-” Ikon running the information through their mind, causing cogs and lightbulbs to take shape in their eyes. “-cat thing done with the fire must have woken us all up earlier than expected.”
“And they bid farewell to the only world they’ve ever known and are reborn. Those doors were designed with such sentiments.” The man then looks down at his wrist, looking down at the watch on it.
“Oh my! Unfortunately now is not the time to answer these questions and be long-winded. The ceremony will soon come to a close.” The masked man starts to walk out of the room, motioning for the group to follow after him.
“Come along! Let’s make haste!”
The group, having no other options, follow after the masked man, still very confused about their situation.
“He-Hey, just wait one fucking second, old man!” Elijah walking next to the masked stranger. “Where the hell are we?! And who the hell are you!?”
“Well, first of all, language!” The man scolds, making Elijah roll his eyes in response. “And second, it seems that you all must still be dazed by the teleportation magic that brought you here. Oh well, no matter. It is a very common issue. For I shall give you an explanation as we make our way there, for I am gracious, after all.”
As they pass through the courtyard once more, the man clears his throat before beginning to speak.
“This. Is ‘Night Raven College’.” The man gestures to their surroundings. “Budding mages blessed with unprecedented talent gather from all over the world here at the most prestigious magical academy in Twisted Wonderland.”
“And I am the board chairman-appointed headmaster in charge of looking after this college, Dire Crowley.”
Dire tipping his hat as he finishes his statement.
“Mages…” Ikon mumbles under their breath. “Night Raven… why is that name so familiar to me…?”
Dire, upon hearing part of the quiet mumbles of Ikon, nods towards them.
“Only those deemed worthy by the Dark Mirror can attend this school.”
At those words, the image of a black carriage traveling through the collective memory of the trio.
“An ebony carriage carrying a Gate should have come to meet you all as well. The Ebony Carriage goes to welcome new students chosen by the Dark Mirror. They are special carriages that carry the Doors to the academy.”
As Crowley continues to speak, the group moves through the halls once again, leading back to the Mirror Room that they had all come from.
“Carriages are the vehicle of choice for special occasions. Is that not what conventional wisdom has dictated since the days of yore?”
“So wait.” Neisha jogs up to catch up with Crowley’s stride. “You’re saying that the carriage just brought us here on its own?”
“Yeah, also ‘yore’, really? Nobody talks like that anymore, like how old are you?” Elijah snarks, receiving an annoyed glare from Crowley from that comment.
“Yes, that is what happens when you are chosen by the Black Mirror, I am pretty sure I have explained this before!” Crowley huffs, stopping at the entrance to the assumed mirror room.
“Now, come. We have an entrance ceremony to attend to.”