Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Ma…ma…”

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“Help…me…”

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My earliest memories was… Darkness, I was weak, I wasn't able to save them, I couldn't do anything, I let them down… It's my fault.

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“Ah, my dear esteemed benefactor… My proud, beautiful flower of evil… You are truly the fairest one of all…O magic mirror, thy wisdom I entreat… Reveal unto me the visage I seek… You, whose image the Dark Mirror did beckon forth… If your heart bids it, tale the hand of the one reflected in the mirror.”

Drip

“As flame reduces even the stars to ash.”

Drip

“As ice seals away even time itself.”

Drip

“As great trees swallow even the sky.”

Drip

“Fear not the power of darkness. Now—demonstrate your power.”

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Who's making that loud noise…

“I better hurry up and find that uniform before someone spots me… Urgggh…! This lid weights a ton!”

I don't like it here, let me out.

The coffin lid bursts open as a petite figure gets up, the one making the noise from earlier looks shocked, “What?! You ain't supposed to be awake!” The person cries out, the petite boy rubs his eyes and looks towards the person, “A Talking Tanuki? Weird.” The boy bluntly says.

The “Tanuki” as the boy called him yells out, “How… How DARE YOU! I am not a Tanuki!! I am Grim! The sorcerer extraordinaire!” Grim yelled, “Sorcerer? I'm probably dreaming…” the boy muttered to himself.

“Anyways, human! Give me your uniform and make it quick! If you don't want to get burned!” Grim said, as blue flames appeared around him, “Uniform?” The boy silently questioned not being afraid of the fire “Wait… I don't remember wearing this and I don't have any of my equipment…” the boy says as he quietly panicked searching for something, as he panicked, he quickly ran away looking around the school to check if he knew the place.

But… To no avail he didn't find anything and instead ending up in a library “Where am I?” The boy muttered as Grim finally catched up to him panting “F-foolish human..! Did you r-really think you could slip away from me…?!” As Grim finally catches his breath he summoned blue flames again then shortly removed them “Now, unless you want to get burned, take off that—”

Grim was cut off by a whip hitting him, “Me-YEOW!! That hurts! What gives?!” Grim cried, “consider it touch love!” The person responsible said, with a sigh he turned to the boy, “I've found you at last. Splendid. I trust you're one of this year's students yes?” Slightly frowning he scolded the boy, “my, were you eager to make your debut?” looking disappointed “ And bring a poorly trained familiar with you? That's a clear violation of the school rules.” He continued

“As if I'd serve a lowly human! Now let me go!” Grim protested, “Yes, yes. Rebellious familiars always say that. Please be quiet for a bit, you can do that yes?” The man put his hand on Grim’s mouth to make him quiet, as Grim protested the man turned to face the boy
“dear me. Of all the students I've dealt with, you're the first with temerity enough to open their gate and step out of it, does the very notion of patience elude you?” As the boy was about to speak he was cut off

“No matter. Your orientation has already begun. Let us return to the Mirror Chamber.” “Student?” The boy questioned, “You awakened in a room full of gates, did you not? All the students here on campus arrived by passing through such gates. Although students typically have enough restraint to wait until I open them before waking up.” The man said.almost

“Ah I see, sir may I get your name please?” The boy asked in a polite manner, “I am Crowley, Dire Crowley Head mage of Night Raven Collage.” Crowley replied “Ah, where are my manners?” The boy smiled which almost looked like a fake one as he continued, “I am Yuki Unmei, or Yuu for short, pleasure to be your acquaintance Headmaster Crowley.”

Chapter Text

As the two walked to the Mirror Chamber, Yuu turned to Crowley, taking mental notes of his features, wavy black hair, a mask that resembles a raven's beak, his eyes glowing a golden colour can be seen through the mask, a greatcoat over his suit with black feathers that curls from the blue collar, with tips of the coat cut to resemble two bird wings, black gloves on both hands with golden claw rings on all of his fingers, three mirror like accessories on his hips with four golden keys attached, his hat has a mirror like charm on it, which had three more keys on it making a total of seven.

'Does this guy have an obsession with keys and mirrors?'

While in the Mirror Chamber, the orientation seemed to be over. “we're done with the orientation and dorm assignments, all right, new students—let me be clear, at Heartslabyul, I am the rule. Break them, and it's off with your head!” A small boy with red hair declared with a stiff expression that could send shivers down anyone's spine, “that ceremony was boring as ever. I'm going to back to the dorm, if you're in Savanaclaw, just follow me.” A boy with light dark skin and lion ears said.

“New students! Allow me to be the first to congratulate you on your achievement, as Octavinelle's Dormleader, I am honoured to have the opportunity to support you in what I hope will be a fulfilling campus experience.” A white haired boy with glasses congratulated them with a smirk

“Hey, does anyone know where the Headmage went? He disappeared in the middle of the ceremony…” A handsome boy asked, “Some Headmage he is…” A voice from a tablet muttered “Maybe he had a tummy ache?” A boy with red eyes questioned

The door flung open as Crowley came, “I most certainly did not!” Crowley said, “Oh there he is,” the boy with red hair said, “If you must know, I was searching for a new student who failed to show up for the orientation.” Crowley continued, “Now, you're the only one who has yet to be assigned to a dorm. Step up to the Dark Mirror, and be quick about it, I'll watch over your Tanuki” He said as Grim continued to protest.

As Yuu went over to the Mirror, it spoked, “State thy name.” It commanded, “Yuki Unmei.”, “Yuki…Hm…The nature of thy soul is…unclear to me.” “What do you mean?” Crowley asked, “I sense magical power, it is weak and faint, but complex and strong, its spirit is unknown to me, therefore no dormitory is suited.”

Whispers and murmurs filled the room, many students looking surprised, Yuu only chuckled bitterly, unaffected, “Mmph! Pah! Then take me then!” Grim said as he finally broke free, “Wait, stay there Tanuki!” Crowley shouted, “Unlike that lowly human, my magic is stronger!! So let me in! You need proof? I’ll show you!” Grim said as his blue flames surrounded him. “Oww!! It burns! My butt is on fire!!” The red eyes yelled, Yuu looked at him and approached to help, “Don't worry the flames didn't burn your skin, you should be fine, but i do recommend getting it treated.” Yuu smiled as he put out the flames, “Ah! You're a life saviour! Jamil would have killed me if it did! But I'm kind of used to it!” The boy laughed, “I'm Kalim! Scarabia's dorm leader! And you?” He asked, “Yuki Unmei, or just Yuu for short, nice to meet you Kalim.” He smiled, “Nice to meet you too Yuu!!” Kalim also smiled, a smile that's brighter than the sun Yuu thought to himself. He turned over to Crowley and checked what was going on,“At this rate, the school will be a sea of flames, someone please stop him!” he shouted.

“Tch, so annoying…” A boy with lion ears said, “ara, aren't you supposed to be good at hunting? Doesn't that Takuki look like a nice, plump treat?” A gorgeous man teased, “Do it yourself.” The boy harshly replied, “Mr. Crowley, will you allow me to do it for you?” a bit with glasses spoke with a smile, one that definitely looked fake, well at least to Yuu, “I'm sure that others couldn't handle harassing a poor creature, so I'll do it myself.” “That's Azul-shi for you… Always trying to earn himself credit.” A voice from the tablet said, “hmm… It certainly has a personality. Would you care to assist me, Riddle-san?” Azul asked a red haired boy, “I can not overlook those who have broken the rules. Let's hurry and do this Azul.” Riddle replied

As they were chasing Grim, Yuu just observed quietly, taking mental notes of this so-called “magic” they possessed, to be frank, he thought all this “magic” was nonsense, who wouldn't? Imagine just minding your own business then all of a sudden, you got transported to a place you don't even know where magic exists and meeting a talking Tanuki, anybody would have lost their minds, as the fight was still going on, Yuu remembered what the Mirror said, “I sense magical power, it is weak and faint, but complex and strong, its spirit is unknown to me, therefore no dormitory is suited.”, ‘ me having magical powers? The Mirror surely jests’ Yuu thought, then suddenly he heard a loud voice,

“Off with your head!”

He looked over to see Riddle in front of Grim and a heart collar with one side red and another black, “F-fgna?! What is this?!” “Queen of Hearts, rule number 23 “One shall never bring a cat to a festival.” You being a cat violates that rule, I shall have you leave at once.” Riddle stated, “I'm not a cat either!” Grim protested, “I'll burn this collar right now..! E-eh?! I can't use my fire!” “hmph! You won't be using your magic until I remove the collar, now you're just like any other ordinary cat.” Riddle smirked “w-what?! I'm not some pet!” Grim said, trying to remove the collar, “Don't worry, I would never keep a pet like you,” He said, “well, I'll eventually take it off when you get out of here.” His words sound reassuring, but his tone definitely does not. “Wow, wonderful as ever! Any and all magic gets sealed by your unique magic Riddle-san, I just gotta have it…Ah I mean I just gotta have respect for it!” Yuu raised an eyebrow at Azul as he questioned him.

“Thank you Ashengrotto-kun & Rosehearts-kun I will take care of it from now on.” Crowley said as he took Grim in his arms and opened a door, “Gahh!!! Let me go! I'm going to be the world's greatest magician—AHHH!!” Crowley threw Grim outside and then shut the door. “Well we had some trouble with this year's ceremony, but it is now over. Dorm leaders, please guide the new students back to the dorms.” He said as if nothing happened at all, “Hmm? Now that I think about I haven't seen Diasomnia's dorm leader, Draconia-kun here at all…” “That's no different, is it?” The boy with lion ears said, “What? Did someone told him about the ceremony?” Kailm asked, “If you're going to complain, you should have done it yourself.” The beautiful man said. “Hmm…but I really don't know anything about him….” He replied.

“Dranconia, a-as in that Malleus Draconia?”
“Is he seriously attending this school?”
“Scary…” Yuu could hear whispers everywhere, ‘At least know how to whisper correctly…” He thought as he heard a deep voice near, “I was correct… I thought he'd come, but Malleus really didn't…It's seems the invitation “never arrived” again…” He said, “My deepest apologies Lilia-san. I promise we didn't intend to exclude you…” Azul apologised, “His aura, does certainty make him hard to approach.” Riddle bluntly said “It's fine. Diasomnia come with me…I hope this doesn't upset him…” Lilia said, muttering the last part.

“Well then, Unmei-kun, I am terribly sorry, but we must have you leave this school… Since your magic is not suited for any dormitory, please do not worry, the Dark Mirror will directly send you back to the place you're from.” “Please do not worry about it Headmage.” Yuu replied, “Now, close your eyes and imagine where you are from.” Yuu closed his eyes and imagined home, to be honest, he didn't really liked is “home” but he shrugged it off. “O’ Dark Mirror, guide this one back to the place they belong!” “.....”
“E-eh? Once again, ahem, O’ Dark Mirror guide this one–”
“—it is nowhere.” The Mirror replied. “Eh?” “The place they belong to is nowhere. It is nowhere.” “ w-what?! You must be lying…” Crowley said but the Mirror just remained silent “Never once in my life as the Headmage this has happened… where exactly do you come from?” He questioned. “Shibuya, Japan.” Yuu replied, “Hm… I have never heard of that place… I have a general grasp of where all the students are from, but I have never heard of that place…. Let us do some research in the library.” Crowley said gesturing Yuu to follow him.

Chapter Text

“It really is weird… Not only the world map, but the name of your home isn't written in history, are you truly from the place you say you're from? Are you lying to me by any chance?” Crowley asked, Yuu only shrugged and moved his head saying no, “..Looking at this, you may have somehow been brought here from another world.” He sighed.

‘Another world? Is this some type of Isekai story?’ Yuu quietly thought, “What did you have when you came here? Do you have any identification, like a licence for a magic car, name on a shoe?” He asked, Yuu thought for a moment and checked if he had anything, only to find his purple star earrings in his pocket, he showed it to Crowley thinking it was nothing, as he took it out of his pocket, Crowley had a surprised look on his face, “What's wrong?” Yuu asked him, wondering why Crowley had that look on his face.

“Are these earrings yours?” He asked Yuu, bending down a bit to look at it more clearly, “Yes, I had it with me since birth,” Yuu calmly replied, “is there something wrong with it?” He asked

“These earrings are made up of a special type of Magestone called ‘Crystal Tear’ which is said to be very powerful and supposedly gone, he said putting his hand on his chin ‘How could this child get an extinct Magestone?’ Crowley thought, Yuu only looked confused by what he just said, “uhm..excuse me, but what exactly is a Magestone?” He quietly asked, “Magestones are gemstones that absorbed magical powers around them, giving them magic.” He replied,

‘Oh, that makes sense.’ “Ah, going back on topic, I cannot let someone who the Dark Mirror didn't assign a dormitory to, but I also cannot let a teenager with no forms of communication…” Crowley said, getting in a thinking position, “I have an idea! There is an unused building on the campus, I can call some cleaners to help you clean it up so you can stay! Meanwhile I’ll look up some information about how to get you back to your world. Let's head to the building, it's a bit old but it has a charm to it” He said, taking Yuu’s hand and walking like a parent.

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On the way there, Yuu couldn't help but look at Crowley, he wondered why was he being so kind to him, to be frank, nobody was this kind to Yuu when they first met, they were often scared of him and avoided him, he clutched his chest with his free hand while looking down, ‘There's a warmth in my chest…it's weird, but it feels good…’ He thought to himself. Crowley seemed to have noticed, and asked if he was okay, Yuu only nodded and smiled at him, to which Crowley smiled back, for the first time, Yuu’s smile was actually genuine, it was small but warm. (No, it's not romantic, I headcanon them as father and son.)

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After a while they finally made it there, “I think this a bit too much charm sir…” Yuu hesitantly said, “I see! Let's head inside now!”

“Staying here can at least protect you from rain, I'll call some cleaners to help you clean this place up tomorrow, I'm going to go do research. Make yourself at home! Oh and it's probably best not to tell anyone about your earrings.” He said, leaving the building.

“I can work with this.” Yuu said as he looked up to the sky admiring it, he noticed the clouds and figured it was going to rain soon, not having that much time, he searched and found some cleaning equipment, “Better start now.”

Yuu put his earrings on and went to work, he swiftly moved the furniture away to make it easy and put some buckets he found earlier under where there are holes in the roof and started cleaning, he was actually very good at it, having experience f̶r̶o̶m̶ h̶i̶s̶ p̶r̶e̶v̶i̶o̶u̶s̶ "j̶o̶b̶” from teachers.

He noticed the place didn't have electricity, ‘I could ask Crowley to fix it later…’ he thought. After a few minutes of cleaning, he was done, it wasn't fully clean, but it did the job, then it started to rain, the holes in the roof allowed the water to leak, annoying yes, but oddly peaceful.

“Hyyhi!! It really is coming down!” A voice notably Grim's voice was heard near the door, “Oh, it's you again.” Yuu said, tucking his hair behind his ear. “Hey! What's that look for!” Grim shouted, clearly angered by Yuu's calm expression.

“Even after being kicked out, you still came, I don't know whether to be surprised by your determination or your stupidity.” He bluntly replies, “Of course I would come! I am destined to become a great magician!” Grim stated, ignoring the last part of Yuu's reply.

“I always dreamed of the ebony carriage getting me….but…but…” Grim said, tearing up a bit. “The Dark Mirror doesn't have a good eye!” He complained.

Yuu turned to the hallway and started walking away, “H-hey!! Don't go without me!” Grim cried, rushing near Yuu's side, “Where are you going anyway, human?” He asked to catching up to him, “I need to put these cleaning equipment back where I found them.” He said, “Besides I have a name you know?”

“Yeah yeah anyw–” before he could finish his sentence, Yuu covered his mouth and got into a fight position. He may not have any weapons, but he still is a very good fighter.

“Hehehe….Haha… we haven't had a visitor in so long..” A voice said. “I'm itching for some action.” Another said. Then suddenly, three ghosts appeared in front of them.

“Who's voice is th—GYAHHHHH!!!! G-GHOST!!!!’ Grim exclaimed loudly, obviously scared. “The people living here got scared and left.” One ghost said, “We've been looking for a ghost pal, how about you guys instead?” Another continued.

“Preferably not.” Yuu replied, “Grim, get ready to fight.” He said, “T-the Great Grim isn't afraid of ghosts!” He said, quickly summoning his blue flames and firing them on the ghosts, but they quickly dodged, Grim was going to summon his fire again, but was quickly stopped by Yuu

“You're wasting your energy, I'll tell you where they're coming from, and you fire at them, okay?” Yuu said, tucking his hair behind his ear. “Fine, I'll work with you human.” Grim said getting ready.

“Okay, looking forward to it—to your left!” He said quickly as a ghost appeared to Grim's left, “Myaah!!” Grim swiftly summoned his blue flames burning the ghost. As the ghost disappeared, Yuu felt a presence in his right and quickly told Grim that the ghost was about to come there, and he was right, Grim managed to burn the other ghost.

This kept going on for a while, until the ghosts finally left. “Hah…That's the Great Grim for ya..!” Grim said, panting. “Good job Grim.” He said. Right then he felt someone near them and quickly got into a position and got ready to fight, Grim didn't notice and sat on the floor not noticing Yuu. The door opened to show it was….

“Headmage?”