Chapter Text
It was a beautiful spring day, the sun was out, chasing away the last bits of winter that had tried to cling to Sage Island. The air was sweet, as cherry blossom petals floated in the breeze, covering all of Night Raven College in their soft pink petals. A much needed quiet calm had descended on the school, after a host of overblots and other incidents everyone was much looking forward to a peaceful end to a turbulent year.
Yuu was no closer to finding a way home than she had when she appeared during the opening ceremony. Crowley had offered her use of Ramshackle for the summer, with some more ridiculous caveats attached, that had turned into Ace and Deuce squabbling over which one of them the girl would stay with, like some parents in a custody battle. It only ended when Malleus had extended his own offer. A room in his castle, with access to a mirror where she could visit any of her many friends whenever she wanted.
Change was in the air, as flowers emerged from their winter slumber, everyone preparing for the next stage of their life. Some parting for what might be the last time, as the 3rd years were set to be released into the world, many walking a path that would follow them into adulthood.
It was a busy time for most, preparing for exams, finalizing summer plans, and reinforcing the connections they’d made the previous year. Some wondering how they were going to explain their grades to their parents. Others excited to see their family after being away all school year.
None of this applied to the ginger currently sitting in the window of one of the school’s tallest towers.
The days until the end of the year felt like a timer over Cater Diamond’s head. NRC had been his refuge for the last 3 years of his life. A more permanent location than he’d ever experienced before. The truth was though, he had no home, no internship, no future. He wasn’t even sure where his parents were currently living. His mother had told him that they were moving after the winter holiday, not out of kindness or love, but to make sure that all his things were taken care of and not a burden to anyone else in the home, family or servants alike. Cater had no idea where he was going, or what he was going to do on the last day of school.
Down below he smiled, and laughed, played off his lack of internship as just a quirky indecisive part of his personality. Part of the Cay-Cay brand. No one knew anything about what the ginger was going through, and he preferred it that way. Everyone kept at arm's length, never getting close enough to see the cracks in the facade he’d erected. Lilia had gotten close once, it had made him anxious as the bat fae started to lift up the layers he hid himself behind, thankfully he’d been distracted before he’d seen anything too significant. Lilia had his hands full with his own dorm, he didn’t have time to poke too deeply at his clubmate.
Kalim had never worried Cater, he seemed to take his friend at face value. To Kalim, Cater was that chill guy he liked hanging out with and playing music with. He’d go with the flow, goof off, and just have fun. The platinum blonde seemed to thrive on the other’s live in the moment way of looking at life. Jamil, however, had surprised Cater more than once. It was clear the servant, had pulled back the curtain gazing a little too deeply. The ginger for a while thought he might have a real problem on his hands. Jamil had dropped more than one hint he could see the man behind the mask. But in the end, he had only looked to make sure that Cater wasn’t some conman looking to prey upon his master. Jamil had let the drapes fall once he knew that the ginger wasn’t a threat to Kalim, and moved on. Something Cater was still grateful for in a way.
No one else had even come close to cracking the mystery that was who he really was. Cater had always told himself that’s what he wanted, a way to protect himself from the pain of caring about and then losing someone. But as he watched from his perch, there was a hollow feeling in his chest. Everyone down below had a place in the world, as he was once more left on the outside looking in.
Cater closed his eyes tightly, trying to drive out the memories of watching his mother dote on his sisters from the shadows. The illusion of a happy family, as the pair laughed and smiled, basking in a warmth he was always denied. Was still denied, over and over again.
Watching Lilia comfort Malleus on Halloween had turned his stomach. The other had dared try to claim he understood Cater when he had something like that at his fingertips. A familiar scene, of love, of understanding, kind words, and promises, that would never be meant for him. He would always be on the outside. Like there was an invisible barrier he couldn’t cross. People like Lilia would never understand him. Hell the fae had almost thrown it all away, didn’t he understand the gift that he was given?
And in the end that was it. No matter how many times Cater told himself it was better this way, this is what he wanted. This was how it was meant to be, he knew he was lying. Every fiber that made up Cater Diamond, craved a connection with those around him. He wanted what he’d seen but couldn’t touch. Wanted to mean something to someone beyond the frivolous shallow connections he’d made. Wanted to be more than that amusing kid who sometimes showed up on your magicam page. But he didn’t know how, it was like there was a secret language or set of rules everyone else knew but him.
With no future in hand, each passing day was a reminder of just how little he meant to everyone around him. Ace and Deuce talking about meeting up over the summer, Riddle making promises to stand up to his mother, and visit Trey’s bakery for the first time since he’d been a small child. They all lived in the Queendom of the Rose, it was easy for them to stay in touch. With Cater’s official residence in Pyroxene, including him in any plans was impractical. Traveling was expensive after all, especially for those who didn’t have easy access to mirror transit. A shrug and a laugh about wanting to see pictures had seemed to be the beginning and end of that conversation.
Right now he was technically supposed to be at a school assembly. And he was or at least one of his clones was fulfilling his obligation. Right now being around people was the last thing Cater Diamond could handle. Being surrounded by people but feeling all alone was an oddly contradictory sentiment, yet one he’d felt many times. The last few weeks he’d been slowly pulling away,( Not that anyone would have noticed, given he had the ultimate cheat code for time alone) preparing for when yet again he’d have to say goodbye.
And the last week he’d spent the majority of his time up in the tower that had been his little hideaway since he found it his freshman year. A crumbling tower in disrepair that no one paid any mind to. His current clone had been running for the last 72 hours, as Cater couldn’t bring himself to return to Heartslabyul. He’d pay for it with a massive headache when his clone finally remerged but right now he didn’t care, it was better than being down there.
Maybe this is why, no one noticed anything amiss. Every other incident this year had been preceded by slowly growing tension. It had been clear that those that had succumbed to overbot had broken after a long and bitter struggle with their inner demons. The anger, hopelessness, and pain they’d felt. But Cater’s clones were just as cheerful, bubbly, and charismatic as he’d always been. They’d been ordered not to break from the Cay-Cay persona he’d carefully crafted. No one can know my life isn’t magicam perfect.
So as the ginger’s magic pen grew darker, and his eyes grew more dim, no one was ready for the flood of ink that followed, as Cater Diamond’s mask finally shattered. Everything would play out on the stage that was Night Raven College.
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The assembly hall was abuzz with chatter as the students gathered Crowley going over the end of the year celebration and the 4th years that would be returning for their graduation. It was a busy time for most of NRC’s students. The clone that Cater had sent stood back with a smile on his face. He’d pestered a few people for a picture, a parting memory with his classmates. None had accepted of course. Vil had looked at him as his face had twisted in annoyance, snapping that he was thankful this old song and dance would end. What did he need of a memory of someone who’d hounded him since his freshmen year?
Malleus who’d managed to make it to the meeting for once in his tenure, had disappeared as soon as the question had been asked. Lilia had patted him on the shoulder and told him maybe another time, with a smile, as he followed his prince.
Leona’s ears had folded back in annoyance. Wondering what had made Cater think he’d want to take a picture with him at all. He had no desire to remember his final days at NRC, given how long he’d lingered here. Rook had laughed politely and told him he faired far better on the other side of the camera, but he looked forward to the beautiful memories Cater could capture. Trey hadn’t even been asked, at least not at the meeting. While he’d been willing to let his dormmate capture any of his confections, he’d always denied his own picture or name being mentioned in any of the ginger’s posts. Idia had an Avoid Cater Diamond At All Costs protocol running. He was under enough stress without having to deal with his overly extroverted groupmate thank you very much!
It was fine, he’d never actually expected anyone to take him up on the offer, but if he hadn’t have tried he wouldn’t have been Cay-Cay. He’d accepted each rejection with a smile on his face, just like the real Cater Diamond wanted him to. It was why when the ink came, even he was startled. “What” he gasped as he held up his hands turning black.
“Cater?!?!” Ace took a step back, and then another, as Trey and Riddle, who’d been conversing about the dorm’s role within the end of the year planning, turned to look as horror spread on their faces.
“I…” The ginger’s clone wasn’t allowed to break character, so he smiled and laughed it off. “It will be alright guys, no big deal!” he spoke with laid back tone. One he’d used hundreds of times to comfort others. In the context, however, it seemed a bit unhinged, as his eyes turned black, the clone dripping with ink.
By now the whole room had caught on something was wrong, as the negative energy they’d all grown to associate with blot, filled the air. Many of the student body fled, the room, but those whose lives had been touched by overblot held their ground. Crowley had disappeared with the flood of those fleeing, under the guise of helping with the ‘evaculation efforts.’
“Why are you all looking at me like that.” Cater’s voice echoed, as he brought his inky hand up into his signature V. “I told you everything is fine.” another distorted laugh left the clone’s lips, before he completely dissolved into a puddle, leaving a mass of pitch black cards behind as they fluttered to the ground as those still assembled watched on in horror.
“A clone?” Riddle brought a hand to his lips. “When did he?!?!”
“I have no idea,” Trey replied as he adjusted his glasses.
“That’s not exactly important right now!” Leona snapped, as the puddle started to rise up, taking a vaguely humanoid shape.
A cascade of ice ripped across the room, as the inkling was encased in glittering crystals. “Are you a fool?” Vil retorted. “I’d say it’s highly important. We need to find the real one.”
“Now is not the time for pointless bickering.” Jamil crossed his arms. “But Vil’s right, given Cater Diamond’s unique magic, it makes him a very dangerous foe.”
“This can’t be real.” Deuce brought a hand up to his head in thought. “Cater’s like the chillest guy on campus. There’s no way he overblot.”
Jade Leech brought a hand to his chest. “Whether or not you seem to think it’s possible is irrelevant. Cater Diamond is a rather complicated person, for those who’ve taken the time to look. However unlikely you may or may not think it is, we have to accept the fact it’s happened.”
Riddle seemed uncharacteristically silent, his eyes still focused on the ink that moments ago had been his friend.
“I think we should split up and search all of campus.” Rook offered a bit solemnly “I agree it is imperative we find him quickly.”
“Man Campus is huge, who knows where he is?” Ace crossed his arms looking slightly defeated.
“I’ve located 7 possible targets.” Ortho’s voice cut through the noise. “I am unable to distinguish the real Cater Diamond, but there are extremely high concentrations of blot located in the Botanical Gardens, the Colosseum, the Sports Field, Heartslabyul’s Rose Garden, the school Courtyard, the Library, and the woods behind the school building.”
“Ace, Deuce, Trey, follow me, we’ll head back to Heartslabyul.” Riddle finally tore his eyes away looking at his dormmates.
“Of course!” Deuce replied slamming his fist into his other hand, as Ace and Trey nodded in agreement.
“I’ll take Ruggie and Jack and search the Botanical Gardens.” Leona offered dryly.
“Yeah if anyone knows where to hide there it would be Leona,” Ruggie replied with a bit of a laugh, which only earned him a glare from his dorm leader.
“I’ll take Floyd and Jade to the library.” Azul offered bringing a hand to his chest. “I dare say some of you could have spent more time there.”
“Rook, Epel, and I will check the courtyard. I’ve been over every inch of it before thanks to the film club.” Vil crossed his arms, clearly not willing to take any arguments about the matter.
“Jamil and I can take carpet and explore the Colosseum!” Kalim declared wanting to do what he could to help his friend. “It's large, so it would make the most sense.”
“For once, I have to agree.” Jamil shook his head. “Though I’d rather you stay out of it entirely.”
“I have to help Cater.” the heir declared with a fire in his eyes.
“I know.” the other sighed bringing a hand to his forehead.
“I unfortunately will not be able to assist and will be returning to Diasomnia” Malleus did look truly upset about the matter. “But I give Silver, Lilia, and Sebek leave to help with the search.”
“We can take the sport’s field.” Silver quickly offered. “Sebek and I are fairly familiar with the area thanks to our club.”
“I would rather stay with Lord Malleus, but I will do as you wish.” the first year looked at his prince bringing a hand to his chest.
“I can scan the woods behind the school.” Ortho declared. “Idia can meet me there.”
“Ortho.” the elder Shroud sounded exasperated through his tablet. “What did I tell you about volunteering me for things.”
“We can’t let Cater-san perish.” the robotic boy scolded, as some form of commitment came from the other side of Idia’s device.
Yuu brought her hands to her chest, clearly conflicted. “When you find the real one you should contact the others. I have a very bad feeling about all this.”
“Why don’t you come with me?” Malleus offered her holding out his hand. “I can keep you safe.”
“I’m not worried about me.” the prefect shook her head. “I want to help find Cater. But I don’t want to get in the way.”
“Why don’t you come with us?” Ace piped up with a bit of a smirk on his face. “You’ve been through enough of these things, I think you qualify as some kind of expert.”
There was some slight hesitation in her eyes before she smiled and nodded. “Okay.”
“Sounds like we’re all decided.” Riddle was clearly antsy to leave, diving headfirst into finding the ginger, he turned and left, throwing open the doors to the assembly hall where a thick blanket of black miasma filled the corridors. “What?!?!” He was startled bringing a hand up to cover his mouth.
Malleus lifted his hand for a moment as green flames burned through what had accumulated, the others looking at him. “Go,” he ordered, before teleporting away leaving nothing but scattered fairy lights behind.
“You heard Lord Malleus.” Sebek barked, before he pushed his way past the rest of the group, as Silver sighed swiftly running after him.
Riddle was just as quickly back in his pursuit, as the others dispersed and Leona sighed. “Couldn’t have a waited a week could he?” he scoffed, hiding his own concern. It was time for them all to find Cater Diamond. Little did they know the challenges that yet awaited them.