Chapter Text
At the sound of the Bell of Salvation, the city awakes. The soul of the City of Flowers. The people in the City of Flowers could hear the big bells as loud as thunder and to the little bells that are as soft as a psalm bringing so many colors, so many changing moods that make the city spring into life. The day was coming to an end with the fishermen, artisans, and bakers going back home after a hard day at work.
The docks were dark by the time Rollo Flamme was making his rounds trying to find the source of various complaints about a disturbance going on over there. Rollo hasn’t been by the docks since the “accident”, there was a heavy feeling on Rollo’s chest that he couldn’t ignore but he couldn’t ignore his duties to the City of Flowers either. Rollo was walking when he noticed a big black coffin by the shore of the lake, he moved closer to it to inspect it. At a closer look, Rollo noticed that it was decorated with gold accents with a big gem in the middle, the accents making it look like a mirror. Rollo recognized it, it was a Night Raven College coffin.
“ What is it doing here ?” Rollo wondered in his mind “ Magicians in the City of Flowers go to Noble Bell Academy and we don’t use this ”.
All of the sudden the coffin started to move. Rollo took a step back, considering his options. He could just leave the person inside, hoping that the Black Carriage would come back to the person because he didn’t want to be involved in this, not anymore.
“Help!” A voice inside the coffin yelled “Please help!”
Rollo looked surprised, from what he heard of Night Raven College students, they know what they are getting into beforehand so this type of situation doesn't happen. He shook his head while stepping closer to the coffin to help the poor unfortunate soul that was trapped inside.
He opened the lid to see the most beautiful person they have ever seen gazing up to him in fear and alarm. Rollo offered at hand to them which they hesitantly took. Rollo was blushing up a little bit at the sight of them. They stood up with the help of Rollo, once they were up they looked around, the color draining of their face the more they didn’t recognize the environment they were in. They stepped off the coffin still holding Rollo’s hand, letting go the moment they were out.
“ Their hands are warm ” Rollo thought “ I haven’t felt that warm in a long time ”
The person was staring at him, nervousness present on his face “Where am I?” They asked.
Rollo raised an eyebrow at them “You are in the City of Flowers” Rollo answered.
They furrowed their eyebrows in confusion “City of Flowers? Where is that?”
“In the Shaftlands… have you never heard of the City of Flowers?” Rollo answered.
They shook their head “No… What are the Shaftlands? I’ve never heard of that either”
It was Rollo’s turn to be surprised again while he understood that the person might have never heard of the City of Flowers, he couldn’t understand how this person hadn't heard of at least the Shaftlands. It was Rollo’s turn to ask the person from where they were but when they answered, he didn’t know the place. Rollo was sure they made up the place but the person in front of him looked so serious while answering that he couldn’t help but to believe them. Rollo took out his handkerchief to hide the nervousness on his face, he didn’t know what to do with them. The person raised their eyebrow at the sight. Rollo furrowed his eyebrows trying to find a way to help them, he decided to just take them to the principal and figure out their next step.
Rollo started walking while also making a motion indicating the person to follow him. The person was scurrying behind him. Rollo noticed that the mysterious person wasn’t wearing the traditional ceremonial robes that Night Raven College wear on their entrance ceremony, he supposed that they don’t change into them until they arrived at the school, which didn't happen to the unfortunate person beside him.
“What’s your name?” The person asked while looking up at them.
Rollo gave them a side glance “Don’t you know that it’s bad manners to not give your name first when asking that”
The person sighed “Sorry, my bad. My name is Yuu. What is your name?”
“Rollo Flamme” Rollo answered.
Yuu nodded “I know we just went over this but where exactly am I? I have never heard of the City of Flowers or the Shaftlands… Although there is a city where I come from that is nicknamed the City of Flowers, I don’t see a big metal tower in the middle so I’m thinking that is not the place I am familiar with, and I’m rambling. I’m sorry, I do that when I’m nervous”
Rollo took out his handkerchief to hide the small blush that was appearing on his face “ They are so cute! ” They thought but didn’t voice it out loud.
“You are in Twisted Wonderland” Rollo answered.
“Twisted Wonderland?” They asked surprised, “Okay, yeah, I’m pretty sure this is a dream, there is no place named like that where I come from.”
“ It’s a pretty dream then ” Rollo thought once again, lowering his handkerchief. Yuu eyed the handkerchief, widening their eyes in recognition. Rollo pretended not to notice.
The two of them fell into silence as they continued walking through the now dark paths of the city, only being dimly illuminated by lamp posts. All of the sudden, the Bell of Salvation started ringing, surprising Yuu.
“What was that?” Yuu asked once again.
“That was the Bell of Salvation” Rollo answered “It’s the soul of the city. The city awakes with its sound”.
“Why is it called the Bell of Salvation?”
“A long time ago, the Fair Judge teamed up with the Bell Ringer to protect the city from villains who were breaking havoc, threatening to destroy the city. The Bell Ringer rang the bell to save the city” Rollo explained.
Yuu looked down at the floor, furrowing their eyebrows once again “The story sounds familiar” They replied softly.
Rollo and Yuu finally arrived at Noble Bell Academy. Rollo continued walking, noticing that Yuu was staring at the statue of the Fair Judge. Their eyes were wide while they were examining the statue.
“Do you recognize the Fair Judge?” Rollo asked.
“It looks similar to someone from a story back home… tell me more”
“The Fair Judge was a judge that lived a long time ago, he was respected within the City of Flowers given that he always made fair and just decisions that always helped the city and its citizens. He was also a father figure to the Bell Ringer when his mother abandoned him”.
Yuu furrowed their eyebrows “It sounds familiar but from what I remember the judge was anything but that, maybe it’s a different person” They wondered.
Rollo nodded “Maybe. Come on, we should go to the headmaster’s office to see what to do with you” He hurried Yuu.
They passed through a few buildings and classrooms until they arrived at the Headmaster’s office. Rollo knocked at the door to get permission to enter.
“Come in” A voice responded.
Rollo opened the door, entering the room while also motioning at Yuu to follow him once again. The office was full of big arches surrounding it, the windows were full of colored glass making beautiful patterns, there were some statues in between the pillars. The headmaster was in the middle of the room, standing in front of his desk. Yuu was hiding behind Rollo’s robe, trying not to attract attention to themselves.
“What brings you here at this hour, Rollo?” The headmaster asked as soon as he saw Rollo come in.
“We have a problem, Headmaster Elion… I found this person near the docks, they were inside of a coffin which I suspect belongs to Night Raven College given the decoration on it” Rollo explained.
“Th-that has never happened before” Headmaster Elion replied “According to tradition, the Black Carriage never makes a mistake”
“That’s what I’ve been thinking” Rollo established.
“We should contact Night Raven College then, say that we have one of their students” Headmaster Elion stated.
“That is not the problem” Rollo interrupted “They are not from this world”
“What do you mean that they are not from this world?” Headmaster Elion asked, surprised.
“Yuu, that’s their name, doesn’t know what is the City of Flowers or what is Twisted Wonderland, so I assumed that they are from another world.” Rollo replied while nudging Yuu to get in front of them.
Headmaster Elion turned to see Yuu “Is that true?” He questioned.
Yuu nodded “Y-yeah, I’m not from this world” They said nervously.
Headmaster Elion looked surprised “Can you even use magic?” He interrogated.
Yuu’s eyes widened in surprise “Magic? No? I mean, magic is not real… at least where I come from is not real”
Rollo looked at Yuu in shock. They were magicless. They weren’t corrupted by magic, They are pure and Rollo intended to keep it that way. He wasn’t going to let Yuu get dirty by the most evil sin that was in this unholy world. At least, not again.
“Headmaster Elion, we should let Yuu stay here instead of sending them to Night Raven College” Rollo offered, making Yuu looked at him “Night Raven College is going to kick them out because they don’t have magic, we are sending them to a place where they would be left on their own devices” Rollo emphasized.
“Here? Where? We don’t have a place where they could stay” Headmaster Elion exclaimed.
Rollo took his handkerchief out once again to cover his face while looking at the floor “In the bell tower, it’s big enough for someone to live there and it’s equipped to handle any weather”
“ No one can corrupt Yuu if they are in there, no one else can see them ” Rollo thought.
Rollo looked up at Headmaster Elion “Besides, you told me that I have to wash my sins… from the accident… and who knows, the lord works in mysterious ways, they could be useful for me one day” He begged.
Headmaster Elion looked at Yuu and then Rollo, he sighed “Very well, but you have to care for Yuu”
Rollo nodded while looking down to see Yuu but they got surprised when they realized that Yuu was staring directly at him, looking at his eyes “Thank you, Rollo-san”
Right there, right at that moment, he promised that he would do everything in his power to save this person from sin, from the evil that was called magic.