Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

She stared at the small, white creature before her, its red eyes boring into her. The intensity of its gaze anchored her to the ground, her feet unable to move. Trying to do so made her feel like she was moving through molasses, something inhibiting her movement.

Don’t move,  her mind whispered to her,  everything is wrong. IT is all wrong.

"Kyubey," it introduced itself, its voice soft yet high-pitched. "I am a magical being who can grant wishes to those in need. However, there is a price—you must become a magical girl and fight witches."

She swallowed back her fear, and whispered, her voice hoarse, “Grant… wishes…?” Kyubey nodded. Those eyes never left her, staring at her with unnerving intensity. She shivered."Yes, I have the ability to grant any wish you desire," it said. Its tail swished behind it, a mundane thing that did nothing to settle her nerves. "All you have to do is become a magical girl and fight witches."

She paused, looking briefly to the side, where— 

Don’t look. Don’t look. 

Stomach curling, she took a deep breath, but it only made her nausea worse, the smell of decay wafting into her very being, shaking it and tearing at her composure.

Tears clung to her eyelashes and rain soaked her to the very bone, but it was all lost on her. She turned away from them and looked to Kyubey. If I do this, I can change everything. My life, everyone else’s.

What should I do?

After a moment of silence, she spoke, her voice small,"... Will you really grant my wish, no matter what it is?" 

Kyubey nodded again. "Correct. I will grant your wish, no matter what it entails.”

“Then…”

__________________________

Kyubey was silent. Then, it spoke, its voice clear despite the rampant noise around them, “An outer wish can cause your soul to shatter.” The words were bleak, no implications needed—the truth was laid bare for anyone to see, to witness. It felt like an inevitability.

Her eyes widened, but she managed to keep her composure, tempering the slowly traveling shake of her knees with the small, festering hope blossoming in her chest. If Kyubey can help me… if it can grant my wish… won’t it be worth it ?

“What do you mean?”

Kyubey's expression remained blank. "Your wish is too big, too complex. Attempting to #… —— ? …???!!. is a feat that could surpass the bounds of this world, even your own soul. The power necessary to accomplish that would rip your soul apart. In any case, your soul may be lost between worlds in order to grant it.”

Her heart sank. Doubt crept up her spine like a vicious snake, strangling her and withholding the air she desperately needed. 

"Is there no other way?" she asked, desperation creeping into her voice. Those beady eyes never wavered as they stared into her own, piercing her flesh and staring right at her core—her soul. They felt hungry, those eyes,  excited.

How much energy will you generate?

Kyubey shook its head. "Your wish has already been decided. Your soul will wander around every world that holds ?????¿¿ within it.”

She stared in shock, feeling the weight of her own foolishness crash down on her. Her eyes, unfocused and wet, clenched shut.  I really am an idiot , she thought bitterly.  But if my wish can come true…  Regret sat heavy in her mind, but she tore the words free anyway, a small way to convince her of a lie — it will be worth it.

The weight of her newfound knowledge weighed heavily on her chest, but she stood up and nodded grimly at Kyubey. Ignoring how her knees shook, she settled a determined look Kyubey’s way.

"I accept my fate."

Despite knowing of her own doom, a small glimmer of determination flared up in her chest, the hope from earlier bubbling up inside her. Even if her soul was destined to wander between worlds for eternity, she would not give up. She would fight with all her might to ?????¿????¿ in each world she visited. And maybe, just maybe, she would rest in the end.

“Very well.”

She braced herself, but nothing could have prepared her for the pain that tore through her body. It felt as if hot needles were being stabbed into every inch of her flesh. She could feel her bones lengthening, her joints popping and shifting and her flesh stretching and contorting. It was as if her body was being torn apart and reworked. An electric current ran through her, different from the pain— magic , her mind cried, voice terribly quiet as it struggled to compete with her screams,  it’s magic . 

She could feel it as it coursed through her veins, raw and powerful. It was a strange feeling, knowing that she was now capable of things she had only dreamed of before, but the pain was excruciating, and Yuu could barely think straight.

“So that was the wish worth your soul, huh…”

Everything turned black.    

 _____________________

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...

…

As she lay on the ground, the debris digging into her back, Yuu’s ears picked up on a gentle wind. For a moment, all she did was breathe until words registered in her mind, and her body jolted up. “If your heart bids it, take the hand that appears in the mirror,” the airy voice told her.

Yuu blinked. Hard. And blinked again for good measure. Despite her subconscious insistence that the voice was merely a figment of her imagination, the mirror in front of her didn’t go away. To her surprise, inside the mirror she saw a hand reaching out to her—it was pale and slender, with long, delicate fingers. It beckoned her forward, tempting her to reach out and grab ahold of it. “Take the hand,” the voice whispered again.

Without much thought, she slipped her hand into the other. It was cold, unfeeling, not unlike porcelain, yet it burned to touch; energy washed over her as the world began to spin and warp, and suddenly, she was yanked through the mirror without a chance to scream.

She landed without a sound, but her heart beat rapidly in her ears, her chest heaving as her lungs struggled to keep up. Eyes flicking around, she couldn’t see anything except for pitch black darkness. Where am I… ? Am I in a coffin?!

“I better hurry up and find that uniform before someone spots me...” Yuu’s frantic breaths hitched, and she slammed a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with terror. 

Someone’s there. She slammed her eyes shut as she tried to calm herself down, Why did I take the hand—?!

Yuu flinched violently as the lid virtually disintegrated, pieces of wood and sparks of flame falling on and around her. Panting, she jumped out, patting out the small fires on her clothes before stumbling backwards. Her eyes, shaky and unfocused, darted around the room before settling on the culprit. Its eyes narrowed at her, the fires in its ears flaring. The thing looked similar to Kyubey, cat-like and dangerous. The thought didn’t help her anxiety, and she nearly fell over when it spoke.

“You ain't supposed to be awake!”

Yuu stared at the raccoon in shock, taking a step back.  Kyubey… is this what it meant by my soul shattering? Being sent to… wherever this is?

“A talking raccoon?” she whispered to herself. Is he another version of Ky—

“How... How DARE YOU! I am no RACCOON! I'm Grim, sorcerer extraordinaire!” Grim roared. It exhaled smoke from its nostrils, a snarl threatening to rip from its throat. 

Yuu flinched, her hand coming to rest on her ring—

Wait, when did I get this ?

Grim stopped, huffing. “Tch. Whatever. You… human! Just gimme your uniform, and be quick about it!”

Yuu's mind was reeling. Sorcerer? Uniform?  She had no idea what the raccoon was talking about, but it seemed desperate. A kindred spirit, then,  she joked to herself, feeling the anxiety leave her—she was a magical girl now, after all, and Kyubey said she’d gain powers. Surely they’d be enough to protect her from the raccoon…?

"You got a lotta nerve ignoring me, human! The name's Grim. Believe me, you won't forget it! Now gimme your uniform!" 

Or maybe not. It’s best to not put that to the test right now.

Yuu backed away even further. She was stuck in this strange place, and this talking raccoon was demanding her uniform? She had no idea what was happening, but she could understand rage well, and upon seeing Grim’s face crinkle with anger, fire licking at its teeth, she decided it was time to flee.

“Getting roasted alive by a raccoon? No thanks,” Yuu grunted, forcing her legs to  move  and sprinted toward the nearest door, pushing it open with all of her weight before slamming it shut behind her. 

She didn’t have much time to take in the area around her, her hair whipping around her face as she ran as far away from the demon-raccoon as possible, but as her breaths started to grow heavier, her head dizzy, she slowed down, coming to a stop in front of an intricate mirror.

As Yuu stared at her own reflection in bewilderment, she noticed a strange ring on her finger. It was a dark, gleaming band with an intricate design etched into it. Could it be some kind of magical artifact?

Yuu stared at her reflection in bewilderment, noting the odd robes and ill-fitting hood with an affronted look. It didn’t last long, however, before her attention was brought to the ring adorning her finger. Her brow furrowed.

Yuu touched the ring, pressing firmly against the surface, and to her surprise, a small gem appeared at its center. It was a deep, rich purple color, its surface shimmering faintly. Is this some kind of magical stone?

As Yuu continued to examine the gem, a sudden realization dawned on her. Could this gem be related to her transformation into a magical girl? Was it a part of the powers that Kyubey had given her?

The possibilities raced through her mind, and she realized that she still had much to learn about her new abilities. Or, more accurately, she had almost everything  to learn about her new powers.

Yuu’s thoughts slammed to a halt as a thundering crash! echoed throughout the hall. Ears straining, she could barely hear the soft thudding of paws on marble; without a second thought, she was off.

She ran through the halls, turning this way and that, until she found herself in a library. The bookshelves towered over her, some books floating in the air and some putting themselves away on their own. She gaped at the scene, her eyes wide with wonder.

It really is magic, then, she mused, stepping further into the room. 

"Foolish human! Did you really think you could slip away from ME? Now, unless you wanna get burned to a crisp, take off that—Me- YEOW ! That hurt! What gives?"

Whipping around— she really needs to stop getting distracted —Yuu watched as a strange man who’s wearing a crow mask, of all things, lectures Grim, a whip-like tool wrapped around the raccoon tightly. “Consider it tough love,” he snapped at the creature, and they both watched as Grim growled and struggled against his bindings before the man locked onto her form with unnerving accuracy. “Ah! I’ve found you at last. Splendid. I trust you’re one of this year’s new students?”

Without waiting for her response, he continued, “My, were you ever eager to make your debut! And bringing a poorly trained familiar with you?” He tutted. “That is a clear violation of the school’s rules.”

Yuu remained silent, stunned at the scene in front of her. She hadn’t expected anyone to be here at all, much less help her out. Uneasiness crept up her spine, however, her mind warning her. Something is off about him.

Grim, meanwhile, bristled with anger at the man's words. “As if I'd serve some lowly human! Now lemme go!”

The crow man ignored Grim's protests, his gaze fixed on Yuu. Out of nowhere, Grim stopped yowling, his mouth looking almost sewed shut. Yuu’s eyes drifted toward the man’s free hand, which unclenched from whatever sign he’d drawn in the air, and gulped.

"I am Dire Crowley, headmage of this prestigious academy. And you, my dear, have caused quite a commotion."

Yuu stared at the ‘headmage’, unsure of what to say or do. She was still trying to wrap her head around everything that had happened since waking up in that coffin.

"Of all the students I've dealt with, you're the first with enough temerity to open their own gate and step out of it. Does the very notion of patience elude you?” He sighed. “No matter. Your orientation has already begun. Let us head to the Mirror Chamber."

Yuu frowned. Gate? Orientation? Just where had Kyubey put her?

"So those coffins are like...gateways?” she asked, probing the man for answers. I wonder if he knows they’re also gateways to other worlds, Yuu thought. 

“Yes, those are indeed gateways. The Dark Mirror conjures them so all of the students can arrive on campus. As for your orientation, it is a tradition we hold at the start of each semester to introduce newcomers to our academy and its rules. It seems you have already skipped ahead, so shall we return to the Mirror Chamber and join the others?”

"First of all… where am I?"

Crowley, who had turned around after his lengthy monologue, glanced at her, amusement crossing his expression. “Hm? Have you not fully regained consciousness? The timespace teleportation must have addled your memories…” The headmage shook his head. “Well, these things happen, I suppose. I shall explain it to you while we walk, for I am gracious!”

As they walked, Crowley launched into a detailed explanation of the school. It was hard to focus on what he was saying with Grim squirming in the air beside them, but Yuu managed. “You are currently at Night Raven College, a prestigious institution for the study and cultivation of magic. 

He continued, “Our student body is comprised of some of the most promising young mages in the world, hand-selected by the Dark Mirror. All students here are sorted into one of seven dormitories, each goes after a famous mage figure from history.”

Yuu listened intently, trying to process all the information she was being given. She had never imagined anything like this existed, and yet here she was, being told she was supposed to attend this strange school for magic… She doesn’t even have magic. Does her being a magical girl even count?

Crowley continued his monologue, seemingly oblivious to Yuu's inner turmoil.

“Only those who the Dark Mirror perceives as having a talent for magic are admitted to the college. Those who are selected are summoned to the campus through those ‘gates,’ which can appear anywhere. A black carriage bearing one such gate should have come to meet you."

Yuu's eyes widened. A black carriage... she vaguely remembered being tossed into something that felt like a carriage, before being thrown into that coffin.

“That's right...” she muttered, the memory starting to come back to her.

"That black carriage serves to receive a student chosen by the Dark Mirror.It too bears a gate that connects to this campus. And as you know, sending a carriage to meet someone on a special day is a time-honored tradition."

Yuu nodded slowly. So that's how she had ended up on campus. She felt a flicker of relief at finally having some answers, but it was quickly followed by a wave of uncertainty. What did this all mean for her? Was she really meant to join this school for magic, despite having no magic of her own?

As if reading her mind, Crowley spoke up again, “Ah, it seems you still have many questions. I can understand your confusion. But fear not, for everything will become clear in time. For now, let us attend your orientation.”

They soon reached the Mirror Chamber, and Yuu could see a group of students gathered inside the room. They all looked to be dressed in similar robes as her.

A stern-faced, red-haired boy stood firm in front of a group of students, his posture perfect and his clothes clear of any wrinkles. He looked regal, if a bit up-tight. “We’re done with orientation and dorm assignments?” he asked. His voice was crisp and clear, smooth. He turned to the students behind him after a moment of consideration. “All right, new students—let me be clear. At Heartslabyul, I am the law. Break the rules, and it’s off with your head!”

Yuu shivered. Those words, said so calmly, nearly made her break into a cold sweat. From the fidgeting of the students, she wasn’t the only one unnerved by the boy.

Another boy—Yuu blinked. Is he meant to be here ? The  man in question yawned, fangs glinting in the dim light. She could vaguely see an outline on the top of his head, through the robe’s hood, and had to pinch herself to prove to herself that  yes, this is real, and no, this is not a dream.  “...Well, that ceremony was as boring as ever.” He turned to leave. “I’m going back to the dorm. If you’re in Savanaclaw, follow me.”

The next boy—and he actually looked the part, unlike the last one—wore glasses and had striking silvery hair. It looked fluffy, Yuu noticed. “New students!” His arms were spread wide, a smile overtaking his face. “Allow me to be the first to congratulate you on your achievement. As the dorm leader of Octavinelle, I am honored to have the opportunity to support you in what I hope will be a fulfilling campus experience!”

Yuu watched as the three boys introduced themselves to the new students, each one sounding more impressive than the last… Well, all except the lion one.

“Some headmage he is,” a digital voice grumbled. Yuu’s brows furrowed as she looked for the source. Surely there aren’t androids here, too,  she thought sullenly. 

Her attention was snatched by another voice, just as unfamiliar as the rest. “Maybe he had a tummy ache?”

Crowley, who had waited at the doors, listening in on the conversation, burst into the room, dragging Yuu in behind him. She stumbled, her legs significantly shorter than the headmage’s, and threw the man a dirty look. 

“I most certainly did not!” he shouted.

The stern, red-haired boy frowned. “Speak of the devil,” he muttered. 

“... And he shall appear,” Yuu finished sagely. She flashed the boy a smile when he looked over at her in surprise. He didn’t smile back, but the smirk that danced across his lips felt similar.  He seems nice, she thought.  Much nicer than literally everyone else I’ve met today. 

"If you must know, I was searching for the new student who'd failed to show for orientation."

Crowley looked at Yuu, his expression stern. “I found him, at long last. Though he took a brief detour on his way to the Dark Mirror.”

The other students turned to look at Yuu, their expressions ranging from curious to wary. Yuu felt a wave of confusion wash over her. Him? What was this clown on about—

Crowley continued, ignoring Yuu's confusion. “You are the only one who has yet to be assigned a dorm. Step up to the Dark Mirror, and be quick about it. I'll watch your weasel.”

Yuu nodded nervously and stepped forward, approaching the Dark Mirror. The other students watched curiously as she approached, their eyes fixed on the mirror. She could practically feel their anticipation wafting through the air.

The mirror looks similar to the one she saw with the hand, the one that took her here. Yuu’s eyes narrowed  Could it be …?

"State your name."

Yuu took a deep breath before speaking, “Yuu Haruno."

The mirror seemed to consider her for a moment, its expression unreadable.

“Yuu,” it repeated. The voice was cold like stone, unfeeling and uncaring. “The nature of your soul is… unclear to me.”

The other students gasped, their eyes widening in surprise. Crowley looked taken aback, clearly not expecting this response. "What did you just say?" he demanded.

"I sense no magical power from this one. Soundless. Colorless. Shapeless. Utterly vacant.Therefore, no dorm would be appropriate."

The room fell silent as the other students digested this unexpected revelation. Yuu wasn’t too surprised, of course her being a magic girl doesn’t count.

Crowley looked stunned.

“Are you suggesting that the black carriage went to receive a person who cannot even use magic? But that is absurd! The student selection process has not erred once in its century of existence! How could this have happened?”

The mirror did not respond to Crowley's exclamation, its expression remaining unreadable.

“Even more perplexing...” it said, its voice low and contemplative. “I sense a faint thrumming within you… like a moth beating its wings desperately against the glass of a jar.”

Yuu's heart sank. Was she really such an anomaly that even the Dark Mirror couldn't figure her out? The room grew even quieter as the other students waited with bated breath for the Dark Mirror's final verdict.

 "Mmmph! Nnnrgggh… ME! Let ME have this student's seat!" The moment was broken by Grim's outburst.

Crowley scoffed. “Not so fast, you hyperactive weasel!”

"Unlike that human, I can actually use magic! So let me be a student here! Look, I'll show you! My spells're the cat's meow!"

The red headed boy was the first to act, yelling, "Everyone, get down!"

The other students quickly dove for cover as Grim prepared to demonstrate his magic. 

Fire spouted from the feline’s mouth, dousing the curtains in flames and damaging what little furniture the room had. Students screamed as they dodged the flames, some attempting to wave around their sticks and others flailing around like headless chickens.

Yuu watched in alarm as a burst of flame suddenly erupted from Grim’s paws, shooting towards the ceiling. For such a small creature, it was deadly—more so than she imagined, at least. 

“AHHHHH! HELP! I’m on fire over here!” 

"Someone catch that blasted animal before it sets the entire school ablaze!"

As Grim continued his wild display of magic, the other students scrambled to avoid the flames. The boy with glasses looked at Crowley. “Allow me to handle this, Headmage Crowley. If none of you are up to the task of catching a small animal, I will accept the responsibility.”

The man with ears on the top of his head sighed. "Pretty sure you can handle catching one mangy weasel all on your lonesome there, headmage."

Grim’s face twisted outrage, his small stature seeming so much bigger as his magic grew.  Is this what they would call an ‘aura’?  "How many times do I gotta say it?! I'm Grim, spellcaster extraordinaire! I am NOT a weasel!"

_______________________

"OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!"

As the collar snapped onto Grim's neck, he let out a surprised yowl and froze in place.

“MYAH?! What are you doing?!”

The red-headed boy fumed with anger. "The Queen of Heart's Rule 23: ‘One must never bring a cat to a formal affair.’ Your very presence here is a violation of order. You will vacate these premises immediately."

Grim looked at him in confusion. “The hell are you talking about? I'm no damn cat! Don't try to collar me! I'll burn it right off!” His paws reached up to the collar, a smug smirk pulling at his face. It fell quickly. “Huh...? Wh-what gives? My fire ain't workin'!”

The boy hmphed, turning his nose up at the creature. Despite his displeasure, Yuu could see a smirk, similar to Grim’s, on his face. Unlike Grim’s, however, his didn’t fall. “That's right. As long as you're wearing that collar, you won't be able to use magic. And until you leave campus, that collar stays put.”

The glasses-wearing boy chuckled, staring at the red-haired boy with an odd twinkle in his eyes. "Ha-HA! Good show as always, Riddle. Your signature spell locks down any magic. It's quite handy. I've just  got  to have it— ah , I mean, I've just got to have respect for it."

Yuu tugged on the edges of her sleeves, weirded out by the display.  Is everyone here high?!

Crowley clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention. “Enough of this!” He turned to look at Yuu, who stared back at him blankly. "Yuu! Was I not clear that you are expected to take responsibility for your familiar?"

Yuu stared at Crowley, her eyes widening with confusion. “My familiar?” she repeated. Then she remembered Grim, who was still sitting on the ground, collared and pouting. His ears flattened against his head, and he grumbled under his breath.

“I've never seen that creature before in my life.”

Crowley recoiled, looking between Yuu and Grim. “You don't know this creature?”

She crossed her arms.  He is so annoying — didn’t he see Grim chasing me?!  "I'm not repeating myself."

The headmage put his hand to his chin, cradling it. “Oh… Is that so?  Ahem!  Then, I shall have it expelled from campus. I shall even spare it from being served as dinner. My, aren’t I gracious. Someone take it away, please.” With an exaggerated twirl of his staff, his shooed Grim away.

The creature growled, but it was cut short as the red-headed boy, Riddle, snatched him up. His face was a mix of control and pure rage. 

Yuu took a step back.

Grim yowled. " Nooooo ! Let me gooooo! You fools better remember my name! Cause I'm gonna go down in the annals of magic history! Just you wait!" Grim tried to resist, but Riddle tightened his grip.

“Let's get this over with...” he muttered, lifting Grim into the air with his magic. The other students watched as he walked out, taking Grim with him. Yuu let her eyes stray from the display of magic to Grim, who clawed at the air desperately.

I can’t decide if I feel bad for him or just find him pathetic…  Then again, he nearly lit her on fire, and while she loves cats, she has a job to do—there’s no way she’s going to die to a  cat.  Er, raccoon? Weasel?

Yuu watched as Grim was carried away, feeling a twinge of sympathy for him. Despite his obnoxious behavior and attempts at setting the room on fire, she couldn't help but feel a small flicker of empathy. After all, she knew what it was like to be considered an outsider and a nuisance.

… She could maybe forgive him for almost setting her on fire.

Crowley sighed. "Well, that was quite the unexpected fracas. I hereby declare that orientation has concluded. Housewardens, please escort your students back to the dorms.” He paused. “Hm? Come to think of it, I don't see Housewarden Draconia of Diasomnia anywhere."

The boy with lion ears smirked. “And that surprises you? Dude's a total recluse.”

“Wait a sec... Did anyone even invite him?" 

Crowley's grip on his staff slackened, realization dawning on his face. “What?!”

The students around him exchanged knowing glances. Yuu stood there, feeling so out-of-place that she wished she could turn invisible and  run.  Was it normal for people to gossip and joke about their teachers right in front of them?!

The handsome boy looked at the boy with red eyes, the one who had originally spoken out. “You're that worried about him missing out? Maybe you should have told him yourself.”

Another boy, who was shorter than most of the other students, grumbled to himself. Yuu noted the pink highlights in his black hair, tuning out all of the idle chatter around her. How do they get anything done here? 

“Now, now, enough gossiping.” Crowley cleared his throat and tried to regain his dignity. “Let us move on to other matters. I imagine everyone is eager to get settled into their dorms.” He turned to her, a show of sympathy masking his annoyance. “Yuu, this is a most unfortunate turn of events. I'm afraid that you will not be attending Night Raven Collage after all. Surely you realize that I cannot very well admit a student with no magical ability to my academy.”

She tried to keep her voice steady as she spoke, “I understand, Headmage. I appreciate the opportunity you've given me, and I apologize for any inconvenience my lack of magic has caused.”  Kyubey, why did you drop me here if I can’t even stay?!

He waved away her concerns. "Worry not. The Dark Mirror will see you safely home."

Yuu’s stomach swirled with relief and disappointment as Crowley confirmed what she had expected. She wouldn’t have to attend this magic school, which was a bonus considering the fact that she  doesn’t have magic , but her wish… Her existence here cannot be a mistake, but what can she do to stay?

Crowley stood before the Dark Mirror, his voice echoing through the room. “O Dark Mirror! Return this soul to where it belongs!” 

The Mirror's surface shimmered for a moment followed with silence. Yuu stepped forward. “Headmage—”

 "L-Let us, er… try this again. O Dark Mirror! Return this soul—"

The Mirror cut him off. "There is no such place."

Crowley sputtered in confusion. "What do you mean there is no such place?" he demanded. Yuu took an unsteady step back, her lips pursed. 

The mirror, however, remained as impassive as ever. “There is no place in this world where this soul belongs.  None ."

Yuu’s fists clenched.

“You’re… joking, are you not? This has never happened throughout my long tenure. I must confess that I am at something of a loss.”

Yuu stood silently, taking in the conversation between the Mirror and Crowley. The knowledge of her own displacement didn’t surprise her—in fact, it made sense… If what Kyubey said was correct, then this was to be expected.

What am I?

Crowley was growing more frustrated by the minute. “Tell me, Yuu, from what land do you hail from?”

"I’m from Kazamino City,” she said, frowning. “Listen, headmage—”

Crowley raised his hand. “I'm afraid I am not familiar with such a place. I am intimately acquainted with the origins of every student who has ever come here, and yet... This mysterious homeland of yours eludes me.”

Yuu’s face twisted into a snarl. Just let me speak!

“No matter,” he said, trying to maintain his composure. "Let us go to the library and look it up, shall we?”

Crowley led a fuming Yuu to the library, where they began to sift through the shelves for any mentions of her home. Despite their best efforts, however, they returned empty-handed, no trace of her homeland mentioned  anywhere.

“It’s no use,” Crowley muttered. “It’s as if such a place does not exist…” His eyes hardened. “You’re not lying to me, are you? Or is this perhaps some joke or jape? If not, the only explanation is that you’ve come from another planet, or perhaps you were summoned here from another dimension…”

For magic users, that might not be the most out of pocket situation,  Yuu concluded, burying the remains of her irritation.  He’s smart.

“This is a most perplexing situation, indeed.” He shook his head before shooting her a placating glance. “I apologize if my words cause alarm, but it appears that you are far from home. Further than I had thought.”

He took a deep breath. “Show me everything that you brought here with you.”

Yuu hesitated for a moment before presenting Crowley with the only thing she had right now, her ring.

They both stared at it, entranced.

"This is the only thing you brought? Hmm… It seems to be adorned with a gem." He peered more closely at the jewel, a glimmer of recognition in his eyes. "And a rather fine one, at that."

He leaned back primly, his movement oozing restless aristocracy. "Well, this is quite the predicament. I cannot have someone with no aptitude for magic bumbling about my magic academy. And yet, as an educator, I am loath to expel a young person without a cent to their name, or any ability to contact their guardian… Truly, my grace is boundless."

Crowley smiled, his gaze far away as he got lost in thought. “Hmmm…” 

Yuu shuffled awkwardly as she waited for his verdict, unconsciously fiddling with her ring.

…

…

…

“Ah- HA !” Yuu jumped at the sudden shout, a small yelp forcing its way past her lips. The headmage forged on, ignoring her, a self-satisfied grin adorning his face, “There is a vacant building on this campus. It was, in fact, used as a dorm a long time ago. With a proper cleaning, it should be habitable enough. Out of the profound kindness of my heart, I will allow you to live there for the time being.”

Crowley looked pleased with himself, his tone becoming smug as he continued, "Until you can find yourself a place to go, that is. However, I’m afraid that you cannot receive financial aid from Night Raven College as you’ve no magical ability. For the time being, you'll have to work hard at any odd jobs you can find. Ah, it seems that's all I can provide for you. I'm such a generous soul!"

… Were there even jobs on campus? A sudden chill slithered down her spine. Am I being played?

Crowley led Yuu to the ramshackle building, pointing out its various... ‘features’ as they made their way through the dimly lit corridors.

"Yes, a very fine piece of architecture. You’re rather lucky, you know.” he said, trying to mask the disgust in his voice. "Not many students would relish the opportunity of living in such... unique accommodations."

Crowley led Yuu outside, and they followed a long, winding path to what he called the ‘Ramshackle Dorm’. He barely seemed convinced of its quality, spewing nonsense about its various ‘features’ like he was handing out candies on Halloween.

She ducked her head, trying desperately to tune out the crazy man beside her. She could play damage control later, for now, her sanity mattered more.

There IS something wrong with that man.

"This is too much character, if you ask me,” Yuu said. Her voice sounded off, far away. 

Crowley chuckled. “Ah, well, as they say, one man's trash is another man’s treasure… You see, this particular building is special to NRC. It has a long and distinguished history, being one of the very first parts of the school to be constructed. So many memories were made here! Why, I'm sure there is a perfectly good reason why it isn't used anymore…”

Crowley took one last look around before turning away. "This should keep the elements at bay for the time being. Now, I should return to my research. Do try to find some way to keep yourself busy, but don't let me catch you wandering the campus!"

The headmage disappeared as abruptly as he’d come, leaving Yuu to survey her new surroundings. Nose wrinkling in disgust, she took in the old and run-down building. It looked on the verge of collapse, she noted, with peeling paint and crooked floorboards. 

Crowley was right about one thing, though—it’d keep her out of the elements for now, and that’s what mattered the most.

She walked deeper into the house, pinching her nose as the need to sneeze grew. The walls and furniture were caked in dust and if she squinted, she could see the dust particles in the air, floating around her. Cobwebs decorated every corner, but what really disgusted her was the musty and stale smell, a sure sign of mold. 

It was more than apparent that she was the first to ‘live’ here in a  long  time.

"GWAH ! It's pouring out there!"

Yuu jumped, her heart racing as she turned around. She almost laughed out loud when she saw who it was, her heart rate steadily slowing to normal as her panic dissipated. Grim stood before her, soaking wet and shivering. His fur clung to his body, making him look even more disheveled than before. 

“You’re back.”

Grim scowled at her. His bravado was nowhere to be found, and he looked nowhere near as dangerous as he did in the mirror room. His pout made her want to pat his head. “Of course, I’m back! Did you think those idiots could keep me away? Pah! As if they could! I’m the Great Grim, after all!”

"Why are you so determined to go to this school?"  I wouldn’t want to be here if it wasn’t for Kyubey,  she thought mournfully,  why would he want to be here with all of these… She struggled to find the words.  Delinquents…?

Grim looked up at Yuu, his eyes gleaming. “Why, are you kidding? To become the world’s most powerful wizard, that’s why! Imagine it! Great Grim, Wizard Extraordinaire! I’ll rule over all the witches and warlocks.

“They’ll be so impressed by my incredible skills that they’ll beg me to teach them! Just imagine the endless mountains of tuna I’ll have at my disposal! So I've been waitin' and waitin' for that black carriage to come for me. And yet…” His eyes watered, his voice growing fainter. Yuu’s shoulders relaxed an inch, her face softening.

“Grim…” she muttered.

“ Hrmph ! That Dark Mirror's got no eye for talent!"

Would he claw my face off if I tried to hug him?

Grim let out a frustrated huff, his tail twitching behind him. He eyed the couch before glaring up at her. “C’mon, scoot over! I’m getting dripped on over here!” 

Right on time, a few more raindrops splashed onto Grim’s head. “BWAH ! There’s another hole in the ro—” Grim batted at his ears and face insistently, spraying water everywhere. Yuu leaned back to avoid the spray, glancing up at the roof. “These famin’ ears are like my trademark, y’know!”

Yuu watched the creature with a mixture of exasperation and curiosity as he surveyed her new ‘home’. He seemed desperate, and she hoped that was enough to prevent him from potentially attacking her.

She could defend herself—probably—but she didn’t want to hurt a cat, not even a pyromaniac one with a penchant for destruction.

Grim glanced at her, noting her silence. His eyes narrowed slightly. “How long are you gonna stay here in this dusty old place, anyway? Do you not know how to magic yourself outta here or somethin’?”

“I don’t know,” she said simply. Yuu figured it was best to be frank with the creature, considering his… Her mind flashed to his earlier tantrum.  His child-like personality.  “I just turned into a magical girl a few hours ago. I don’t think my magic is similar to yours, though— or anyone else’s, ” she added in a whisper.

Grim's ears perked up, a gleam appearing in his eyes. It reminded Yuu too much of Kyubey, and she frowned. She didn’t like that look. "That mirror said you’re magicless.”

Yuu nodded. She was probably just overreacting—there’s no way  Grim , who threw such a big tantrum earlier, was similar to Kyubey. And even if he was, that wouldn’t matter much anyway; her contract was clear, after all. "Yes, the Dark Mirror said that I have no magical ability whatsoever. It was quite expected, to say the least.”

Should I even say more than that..? No, that would be too much information for an outsider… I’ll leave it to that for now.

Grim let out a loud scoff, his tail flicking back and forth impatiently. "Can you imagine? A magicless wizard!? Absurd! You’re useless!”

Yuu’s lips thinned. What little care she held for the creature dissipated in a flash, and she fixed him a flat look, gesturing toward the ceiling where yet another drop of rain fell and landed on Grim’s head. "Then fix it yourself, I don’t care about helping you."

Grim bristled at the suggestion, his eyes narrowing. “Heh? You want  me  to help  you ? Ha! You got the wrong idea. I'm just a stranger takin' shelter from the rain. You ain't the boss of me.

If ya had some cans of tuna to trade, well, that'd be another story. But I don't work for free.”

So, he’s just the kettle calling the pot black, then. 

Yuu got up and dusted off her robes, turning around without a word. Since Grim wasn’t going to be of any help, she’d need buckets. Preferably a lot of them.

Grim followed her, growing more and more irritated the longer she remained silent. “Huh, you’re not really gonna just ignore me like that, are you?” he muttered.

Suddenly, Grim froze, his ears pointing straight up as a loud  crash  echoed from down the hall. 

Yuu grimaced. What now? Ghosts?

“Eh, what’s that?! Sounds like a creaking noise, or a thumping. You’re not afraid, are ya?” Grim whispered, turning to Yuu. 

Yuu continued searching for buckets, her face blank. As long as she stayed away from that side of the house, she figured she’d be fine.

Grim scowled, clearly put off by her lack of response. Yuu could hear him growl under his breath, but couldn’t make out if he said anything. “Hmph! I’m gonna go see what that noise is— MWAAHH !  GHOSTS !”

Yuu quickly turned around, her eyes blazing. “Who are you?” she demanded. She positioned herself for an easy escape if need be, sweat lining the back of her neck.

The tall ghost was the first to speak. "All the people who used ta live here got scared of us and ran away." The shorter one chuckled, it’s eerie body phasing in and out of objects as it moved closer to the duo. "We just want a new ghost to play with! What do you say, buddy?"

Grim trembled, his fur standing on end. “Ah, um, I-I ain’t scared of ghosts or nothin’. Not me, not at all. You’re just a bunch of scary lil’ babies!” he said.

Yuu nearly facepalmed. If there was  one  thing she knew in life, it was to  not taunt a ghost that’s right in front of you . Predictably, one of the ghosts popped out behind Grim, a loud bellow scaring both Yuu and Grim enough that the rest of the apparitions burst into laughter.

Yuu grit her teeth. “Grim—”

"Nuh uh! Not even close~!"

"Over here! Over here! Hahaha!"

Grim ran behind Yuu, attempting to hide behind her legs as the ghosts continued their relentless barrage of scares. “W-What are you just standing there for!? Help me or somethin!!” he cried out.

Her hand twitched, and she remembered the ring.  Kyubey… this better work.

Yuu felt a warmth spread through her as she touched the jewel, a familiar sense of power flowing through her body. As she raised her hand, a flash of brilliant purple light surged from her palm.

Her hand wrapped around the hilt of the rapier, fingers sliding into place as though she’d done this thousands of times before. 

Yuu stood her ground, rapier in hand, as the ghosts appeared before her. Their expressions shifted from playful to alarmed, and they began to float back. A chorus of whispers passed between them, their voices tinged with fear. “Whoa... that’s a real weapon?! Not cool! You brought a real weapon. You’re cheating!”

Something’s off. I’ve never used this weapon in my entire life, but it feels so familiar!

Yuu held the rapier firmly, her instincts guiding her movements as she brandished the weapon at the attackers. Her glare hardened. “Leave us alone!”

The ghosts hesitated, their initial fear replaced by confusion and unease. They whispered amongst themselves yet again, their gazes fixed on Yuu. 

Grim cowered behind her, his body digging into her legs as he tried to burrow himself closer to her.  He really is like a child.  Emboldened by their halted advance, Yuu thrust her rapier closer to the trio of ghosts, and they scattered without so much as a word.

Flying in three separate directions, the ghosts disappeared from sight without a sound, leaving behind only the quiet panting of the creature behind her.

Grim looked up at Yuu, his eyes wide with bewilderment.

“Wow… I’ve never seen anything like  that ,” he marveled. 

He’s just a kitten. Like a toddler.  Yuu smiled at him. "Thanks for your help,” she teased.

Grim huffed, pouting. “Aw, geez, I was scared outta my—I mean, they didn't faze me one bit! Just a walk in the park for a mage of my caliber! Whaddaya got to say now, ghosties? That's right!”

As Yuu touched the jewel embedded in the ring once more, the rapier dissolved into a flurry of brilliant purple butterflies. They hovered around her for a moment before shattering into purple sparks, their glow evaporating.

Kyubey mentioned I was going to fight Witches… I guess that was my weapon. 

Grim gaped at the air. “What the— Where did that cool sword go? Why’d you make it disappear?”

"It wouldn’t be practical to carry it around everywhere,” she explained. “And besides, I would probably get in trouble with the headmage if he saw it—”

Before she could continue, a familiar voice interrupted her. "Good evening! In another gesture of my immense kindness, I have brought you dinner.” Yuu eyed the bag he was holding.

He didn’t forget about me!  To be honest, she half-expected him to make the building collapse on her not that it really needed the help and cover up her death with the classic, ‘she’s been sent back home!’ To see him come back with  food  was a welcome surprise.

“—Wait. That's the creature we ejected for causing trouble at orientation! What is it doing here?!"

“Huh?” Yuu held out her hand. She was pretty hungry… The food was for her, right?

Grim bristled, his expression defiant as he glared at Crowley. “Takin' care of yer ghost problem, that's what. You're welcome, by the way!”

Crowley raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? How exactly did you manage that?”

Grim puffed out his chest, misplaced pride pouring from his very being. “Heh, it was a cinch! Me and the’ magicless wizard here took 'em down in a heartbeat!”

Crowley looked from Grim to Yuu, who was still looking at the bag of food, then back to the creature. 

“Would you two be so kind as to demonstrate your ghost-eradication methods for me? I will play the part of the ghosts."

Crowley, in the guise of a ghost, took on an ethereal, translucent form. His body glowed with a faint, eerie light, and his voice echoed with a haunting, otherworldly tone. 

“Behold, I am the terror of the night!” he declared, his form shifting and wavering as he floated closer to Yuu and Grim.

Yuu snapped out of her reverie. “No way!” she protested. “There was no ghost-erad—OW!” 

“ Shut up, human! ” Grim whisper-shouted. He had the audacity to look unbothered by the blood (her blood!) coating his paw and continued, eyeing the headmage. He had the same glint in his eye as earlier. “This is my chance, and you’re not gonna ruin it for me!”

“I ain't scared! Just you watch, Crowley! I’ll show you what I’m made of!” Grim gathered his magic, channeling it into a bright, blue fiery ball of energy that hovered above his head like a miniature sun. He launched it at the ghost Crowley, and they both passively watched as the magic soared toward the  now ghost.

Yuu frowned. She just wanted to eat and go to bed. 

Should I even help? I don’t think I should let Crowley know about the ring…She closed her eyes briefly. A headache was starting to form in her temples. I’ll guide Grim, instead.

As the ghostly form of Crowley staggered back from Grim’s attack, Yuu watched carefully, her eyes trained on every move he made. But she held back from aiding Grim, not wanting to risk revealing too much about herself prematurely.

“Grim! Behind you!”

Another ghost crept up behind Grim, but her shout snapped the creature out of his single-minded pursuit. He spun around, his mouth opening to spew out more fire. The spector was engulfed in his flames, and it dissolved into a cloud of smoke.

"On your left!"

Yuu jumped out of the way of an incoming flame, silently cursing Grim for his poor aim, before diving under  another  attack. She glared at Crowley before leaping to another location, this time behind cover. 

Grim spun around again, his fire flickering as he searched for the new threat. He threw a ball of flame when he locked onto the new ghost, Yuu’s warning proving helpful. It shuddered before evaporating, leaving the remaining ghost—minus Crowley—alone.

“Grim, now it’s on your right—”

_____________________

Yuu held Grim in her arms while the poor thing panted. She didn’t feel tired at all despite hopping around the room and dodging all of the projectiles.  Perks of being a magical girl, I guess.  

“Incredible…” Crowley, now back to normal, said. He looked almost disappointed that their ‘duel’ was over, but Grim was much too tired to keep going. “I’ve never seen anyone bend a monster to their will quite the way you have. I must confess, my educator’s intuition did sense something about you after the mess at orientation, Yuu. I could tell you had a certain animal trainer-y, beast master-ish quality to you. Oh, yes. That said, I…”

He just keeps going.  Yuu gently rubbed the top of Grim’s head, carding her nails through his soft fur as the headmage continued to speak. He’d need a bath if they were going to stay together—Grim was soft, but he wasn’t exactly what you’d call  squeaky clean.

Yuu cut the headmage off, asking, "Would it be possible for Grim to stay with me?" The creature wasn’t nice , in fact, he was quite rude, but Yuu gets it. As long as they can broker a peace between them, then it should be fine. If it all goes down the drain, she can always threaten him, even if she doesn’t want to.

“Eh?” Crowley stopped talking, looking puzzled. He scratched his chin thoughtfully, considering. “Well now, that’s an interesting proposition. It’s true that Grim has proven himself quite useful in dealing with the ghost problem. However… keeping him as a permanent companion would not be without its challenges. Are you certain that you’re prepared for the responsibility?”

"What if there are more ghosts? You can’t leave a magic-less teenager all alone in a dorm full of danger all around with no backup." 

Crowley regarded her for a moment. “You have a point,” he said. “It might indeed be prudent to have Grim stay with you for the time being. After all, we can’t have you wandering into danger unprepared.” 

He turned to Grim who slept peacefully in Yuu’s arms. Yuu smiled a little; Grim was like any other cat, and cats are cute—she could see Crowley resist the urge to coo, and decided that  maybe  he wasn’t so bad. Cat lovers have to stick together, right?

“Grim’s been shown to have some skill when it comes to dealing with supernatural threats.” Yuu nodded—Grim had been helpful, all things considered. Crowley didn’t need to know about what happened with the ghosts from earlier. What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. “Very well, Grim shall serve as your familiar, and it will be your responsibility to ensure he follows the school rules and doesn’t cause any further disruptions. Do we have a deal?”

Yuu blinked. “Uh—"

“I GET TO STAY HERE?!”

Yuu flinched, almost flinging Grim from her arms. “Ack— Grim! Don’t yell in my ear! … When did you even wake up?!”

She was ignored. “We have a deal, headmage!” Grim cheered, his eyes filled with stars he was so excited. Yuu sweatdropped. 

Whatever works, she thought.

Crowley smiled, looking like the cat who got the cream. “It’s settled, then. Grim shall be your familiar and provide you with magical support while keeping you safe from any supernatural threats that may arise.”

“And Grim,” Crowley continued, his voice deepened as he turned serious. Yuu subconsciously stood straighter. “Remember that you are now under Yuu’s care and must follow his instructions and the school rules at all times. This is until I find a way for Yuu back home, of course.”

"Hmph… never shoulda got my hopes up." Grim muttered under his breath, his pride deflated. He turned to Yuu, a grumpy expression on his face. “I better not regret this, magic-less human,” he muttered.

"However, you will need to pay for your own food, clothing, and incidentals. As to how you will do so, penniless as you are… Haha. Yes, a fine plan."

Just tell me what you want from me and stop beating around the bush!  Forget being cat-lover pals, she really dislikes this guy. 

Crowley clasped his hands together, a sly smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Ah, yes, the  payment . You see, a solution has already presented itself to me. After all, the most obvious way to remedy your financial troubles would be for you to take on a part-time job. 

“I just so happen to have the perfect position in mind for you!”

Crowley ignored Yuu’s stare of disbelief. Or maybe he didn’t see it.

"You needn't seem so alarmed. I'm simply going to ask you to do a few odd jobs around campus. From what you've done here, Yuu, I can tell you know your way around a broom.

So what do you say to you two working together as a janitorial team? If you agree to that, I will make a special exception and allow you to remain on campus."

Janitorial team ... Yuu repeated the words to herself. On one hand, the idea of working as a janitor was kind of illegal considering her age, but on the other hand, it could be the only opportunity she had to stay on campus. She glanced at Grim, who had also fallen silent, his expression unreadable. 

Perhaps together, they could make it work... They probably have different laws regarding students and jobs, but still.

"I'll also allow you use of the library, so that you may study, and research ways to return home.How soundlessly charitable I am. Ah, but only when your work is over, of course!"

Yuu nodded, feeling a burst of hope at the mention of access to the library. It could be her key to learning more about this world and, hopefully, finding a way home.

Is that even possible? Can my shattered soul really be able to return home to see if my wish had any positive impact there?

Yuu’s lungs stuttered, her breath catching in her throat.  Home. Will I ever…  She ignored the concerned gazes directed at her and nodded. “It’s a deal, headmage,” Yuu replied, determination holding her head high.  I’ll find a way. I’m a magical girl now, that should be easy!

Crowley tipped his hat. “Excellent. It's settled, then. You two will work as a janitorial duo, and you'll have access to the library once your duties are finished for the day. I do hope you learn to value the importance of tidy surroundings.”

____________________

"Making a sixteen year old work as a janitor… Is that even legal here—do you know, Grim?"

Grim scoffed, his tail flicking irritably. “Bah, who cares if it’s legal or not? I just can’t believe that’s the only option they’ve given us. Being a janitor? I’m a great mage, not some lowlife cleaner!” He continued muttering, indignant.

Yuu couldn’t help but laugh at Grim’s tantrum. She’d never met someone so full of themselves before. “I don’t see why you’re complaining. It’s not like we have much other choice, unless you’ve got a secret stash of money somewhere hidden away?”

Grim bristled, his fur standing on end. “Of course I don't have any money! I'm a great mage, not a wealthy businessman!” he retorted, his voice rising with disgruntlement. “This is such an embarrassment. To think, the great Grim, relegated to sweeping floors and dusting bookshelves. It's humiliating.”

“Yeah, yeah… It’s your only chance at this, so take what you can get. Anyway, I figured you should know considering we’re partners now—I’m not a boy.”

Grim blinked, his annoyance momentarily forgotten as he processed Yuu's revelation. “Wait, what?” he sputtered. “What do you mean you’re not a boy?” His confusion turned into disbelief. “Are you mocking me, human?”

Yuu rolled her eyes. “No, I'm not mocking you,” she said, trying to keep the exasperation out of her voice. “I'm telling you that I'm not a boy. I'm a girl. Everyone is just assuming I’m a boy and I don’t know why.” Well, I have a suspicion.

Grim tilted his head, his irritation momentarily forgotten as he regarded Yuu with a newfound curiosity. “Wait, really? You're saying you're a girl?” He sniffed the air, his sensitive nose detecting a hint of floral fragrance. “Huh,I guess you do smell kinda girly. Don’t know much about humans but even your face looks… uh… what’s the word?”

Yuu snorted. “You mean 'feminine'?”

Grim nodded vigorously, his eyes wide with realization. “Yeah, feminine! You look kinda feminine, I guess." He squinted his eyes, studying her features closely. “Now that I think about it, I can kinda see it… Your eyelashes are longer than most guys. And your voice is sorta higher pitched. And your fingers are kinda longer… You’re short, too.”

Yuu’s amusement vanished. Her eyebrow raised and she crossed her arms, offended. "First of all," she retorted, fixing him with a steely glare, "Where I come from, 160 cm is the average weight for a grown woman. I'm only sixteen and already stand at 160, making me taller than average. And second of all, you're the size of a cat, I’m huge compared to you.”

Grim bristled. “Hey, you take that back! I'm not the size of a cat, I'm a mighty fire-breathing monster!”

Good, Yuu thought, relishing in the pettiness she wouldn’t dare to display outside of her mind, doesn’t feel so great when you’re the one being mocked, huh?!

She put her hands on her hips. “Listen up! This is important, okay? If my guess is right and this is a boys school, can you keep my gender a secret? I wouldn’t want to get in trouble."

“You humans are weird, but sure."

Yuu breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for Grim’s loyalty, temporary as it might be. “Thank you, Grim. That means a lot to me.” She glanced around, only now noticing just how odd Ramshackle felt. She wondered if the ghosts were watching them and that’s why she felt so discomfited. “It’s late… We should probably get some rest before our first day.”

Grim yawned, his tiny body stretching with fatigue. “Yeah, you're right. I'm beat! Sleeping always makes me feel better.” He curled up on one of the empty beds nearby, his fiery tail flickering contentedly. “Goodnight, magic-less human.”

"Magic-less… Ah, that too. I don’t think I can use my magical powers freely either."

Grim looked up from his spot on the bed, his yellow eyes narrowing in confusion. “Wait, what do you mean you can't use your powers?” he asked. “You used them just fine earlier!”

"You weren’t there at the end of the orientation, but the mirror said my soul doesn’t belong anywhere here, in any case, I’m an anomaly and that alone is a dangerous information I can’t let anyone use against me. Plus, considering I’m from another world, my magic is also an anomaly."

Grim listened intently, his tail flicking restlessly as he contemplated her words. "So your soul doesn't belong here? That's pretty weird. But it makes sense why the mirror didn't see you then.” 

Yuu could tell he was confused. She felt a little bad for not explaining, but it was for the better. Grim nodded despite his confusion, and said, "Yeah, you'd probably draw unwanted attention if people knew you had magic from another world. Better keep it lowkey, magic-less.”

"Mhm. So I would rather you not tell on me, accidentally or otherwise."

Grim rolled over, his eyes glinting mischievously. “Yeah, yeah, I won’t blab about your weird magical anomaly and your strange soul. You’re secret’s safe with me, magic-less.”

Yuu’s shoulders fell as relief swept through her like a gentle stream. For the first time since arriving here, she felt okay. “Thank you, Grim. I appreciate it. I’ll buy you some tuna with the first payment we get.”

Grim perked up at the mention of tuna, his tail flicking back and forth excitedly. “Oh, now that's what I'm talking about! If we're going to be working together as a janitor duo, tuna is a must.” He licked his chops, a dreamy look in his eyes.

Yuu sat on the couch, only now remembering her earlier quest to get buckets as water continued to fall onto the floor. She sighed and closed her eyes. Tomorrow. 

“Night, Grim,” she muttered, using her robe as a makeshift blanket, shuffling around to get comfortable. Turning over, her back to the couch cushions, the food Crowley brought earlier grabbed her attention, and she snatched the bag from the coffee table in front of her, aghast that she had almost forgotten about it. 

Her stomach growled. Yeah, food sounds good.

Grim yawned again. “Night, human...” he mumbled, his eyes closing as he succumbed to his fatigue.

Yuu chewed quietly for a moment before muttering a soft  sweet dreams . 

It tastes bland. Yuu sighed, staring out of the window, watching the moon as it sat in the sky, unperturbed by everything swimming around it. She took another bite, her mouth suddenly dry. Lucky you.

Chapter Text

“Finally found you.”

Yuu jolted awake. Her heart raced as she looked around, trying to pinpoint where the voice came from. However, the room was silent except for Grim’s quiet breathing beside her. The vestiges of her dream clung to her eyelids, the girl, crying and pleading, holding onto her hand—

Don’t do it, Yuu, please—

I don’t want to become one of the—

Yuu flinched. She wanted to settle down, slip back under the covers and go to sleep (to see her again), but her body urged her to stay awake, pumping adrenaline through her veins. She bit her lip, her fingers twitching from where they lay on her thighs.

Something’s here. I can feel them, but where are they…?

She locked eyes with—

“Kyubey!?”

Having been found out, it effortlessly appeared beside her, closer to the end of the dilapidated bed. Yuu still scooted back, giving it a wide berth. “So you do remember me,” it mused, beady-red eyes only leaving her face to briefly glance at the happily-asleep Grim next to her.

Yuu frowned, her heart beating painfully fast, slamming against her ribcage and nearly knocking the air out of her. “How?” she asked. “This is a different world, isn’t it? So, how can you…” Yuu trailed off, lost.

“Be… here?”

Kyubey stared at her. "I exist in every world and in every reality," it said simply. “Human girls are not the only species I’ve made contracts with, after all, but they are the most fruitful.”

Yuu’s eyes narrowed. “And why do you make contracts in the first place? I’m not saying that I’m ungrateful, but…” She huffed. “Anyway, yeah, why do you make contracts in the first place, exactly?”

Kyubey paused, studying her. “To save the universe, of course,” it said. Its voice was as perky as ever, cute but ever so annoying. Despite this, its tone sounded stern, and her back straightened automatically. “When do you think the universe will die, Yuu?”

“What? I don’t… Probably a long time from now, right? Billions of years in the future and all that.”

Kyubey hummed. “Perhaps, perhaps not. But, think about it—with the death of the universe, all living things, even dead things, will cease to exist. Maybe not immediately, but eventually. My goal is to combat entropy, which requires energy.”

She nodded.

“Emotional energy yields the greatest amount,” Kyubey revealed. It took a step closer.

“Wait!” Yuu’s eyes widened, her volume rising with her outburst. “Are you saying that—”

Grim grumbled, and she paused in an instant, going shock-still. He turned over on his side, and Yuu nearly breathed a sigh of relief. She would’ve if the circumstances were different.

Kyubey tilted its head before continuing, “Human girls give off the most energy, so I make contracts with them to get this energy.” Before she could speak, it said, “So, in order for the universe to continue its existence, human girls become magical girls and fulfill their duty so I, an Incubator, can collect their energy.”

Yuu’s mind reeled. “So you contracted me to what, harvest my energy? What does that even mean?” Her words echoed in her head, and then she realized.

“No.” Yuu shook her head, denial making her voice hysterical. “You wouldn’t do that, would you?” Her hands twitched, and she felt the need to grab something, anything, and—

“I don’t want to become one of the witches, Yuu, please! No, I…”

The parasite hummed. “I hadn’t expected you to figure it out, most don’t. But yes, Magical Girls will eventually transform into Witches. That’s how energy is created and thus harvested.

“In fact, you have great potential. Not quite on par with her, but still, you will yield us a decent amount! So, really, it’s quite the honor—”

Its head fell to the floor. Yuu panted, staring at the creature with wild eyes before stalking forward, her rapier still in hand. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked. Her voice was low, almost a growl, but tinged with an anger so hot that it nearly burned her.

The depth of her rage scared her.

“Did you know we wouldn’t agree? Is that it?!” Yuu roared.

Kyubey’s corpse remained silent.

“Human…?” Grim’s voice pulled her out of her mind; she sucked in a deep breath. Tears clung to her eyelashes, and with a startled realization, Yuu found that she was shaking. Her entire body quaked with tremors so severe that her teeth knocked together. When she tried to speak, she nearly bit off her tongue.

Grim shouted in shock when he noticed the blood pouring down her chin. He sprung out from under his blanket and stood at the edge of the bed, pawing at her leg when she didn’t respond. “Human! What happened?! Are the ghosts back?!”

Yuu’s body felt cold. The world seemed foggy, like her eyes weren’t her own. “Grim?” she asked. Even her voice felt off, far away and odd, like she’d been screaming. “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?! You’re bleeding!”

The next thing she knew, she was in a bed, surrounded by white, and very confused. Her legs refused to work when she tried to maneuver them out from under the heavy comforter, and she eventually gave up with an exhausted sigh after a few minutes of struggle.

“What happened?” she asked herself. “I only remember…”

Yuu’s face turned complicated. Rage, sadness, fear, all of them twisted her face into something unrecognizable, foreign. Grief clung to her eyes, and they watered with the intensity of it.

“Miss Yuu?”

She stiffened, then tried to discreetly wipe her eyes. “Y-Yes?”

A man came into view. He was modestly dressed, with slacks and a blazer on, and wore a concerned look on his face. He looked her over, tutting quietly over her messy blankets, but otherwise didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

He didn’t mention it, at least, Yuu thought. Gratefulness surged through her—she didn’t think she had it in her to explain why she was crying, not that she could. Subconsciously, her shoulders relaxed, and she sent him a timid smile. “Is something wrong?” Yuu asked.

The man shook his head. “No, no, nothing like that. I just wanted to make sure you were still in bed, is all,” he reassured her, stepping closer. He took hold of the clipboard on the end of the cot she was lying in, briefly reading whatever was on there before pursing his lips.

Internally, Yuu squirmed. Who even brought me here? Do they charge money for this—

“Slight dehydration, malnutrition…” The man paused. “Miss Yuu, what has your diet looked like within the last few months? Your musculature seems healthy, but there are signs of moderate decay; is everything alright?”

Yuu nodded without a second thought, all instinct. She was used to these questions. “Yes, sir, I’ve been on a diet, so it probably looks a bit weird, huh?” Yuu laughed.

“If you say so,” he acquiesced. “Make sure to eat your fill in the cafeteria, young lady. I’ve already informed the Headmage about this, so don’t worry about paying for anything, I’ll handle it.”

Yuu gaped. “Sir, that’s—”

“My duty as the head nurse,” he interrupted. “You may not be a student here, but you’re still a child, and I have sworn to help others. Spending money on a kid’s lunch will hardly hurt me, so don’t worry about feeding yourself.”

Her lips trembled. “I don’t even know your name,” she argued. Her argument was weak both in strength and volume, the words barely escaping her mouth. There’s no way he’s being for real, right? But the Headmage already knows…

“Oh, my name is—”

BANG! “YUU!”

Both of them, patient and nurse, startled at the loud, and quite frankly, annoying voice that pierced through the air.

“Headmage,” the nurse greeted, his eyebrow almost to his hairline. “I would ask for your patience, but—”

“Yes, yes, Mr. Knox, I understand. Now, Yuu, as I was trying to say, are you alright yet? Your familiar has been wreaking absolute havoc in the school.” Crowley paused, almost gasping for air.

Yuu frowned, looking around. “Why isn’t he here?” she asked. She would’ve thought whoever brought her here would bring Grim, or if they had, at least let him stay. Well, he probably didn’t want to. And knowing how he sleeps, I wouldn’t have gotten much rest if he had.

“He insisted, and I quote, ‘I wanna see those weird statues! An my stupid henchman is still asleep, so I have to go alone!’ … Quite bothersome, truly.”

Yuu’s sigh echoed throughout the infirmary. However, it wasn’t she who spoke next, but Knox.

“She won’t be leaving for another few hours at least,” the nurse insisted. His voice didn’t raise, nor did he get angry as he scolded the other man, who was presumably his superior. Yuu almost wanted to stop him, but was too entranced by the display to do so. “The medicine is still working through her system, and who knows what would happen with those dogs running out and about? No, Headmage, my patient will be staying with me.”

Yuu watched quietly as Mr. Knox expertly put down the Headmage’s arguments, which were more like tantrums a toddler would throw, and felt a spark of admiration hit her.

After Mr. Knox shooed the pouting Headmage away, he turned to Yuu with an apologetic look. “I’ll leave you to it, Miss Yuu, but let me know if you need anything, alright?”

Her eyes went wide. Oh, he knows. How did I miss that, he’s been calling me that from the very beginning! “Sir, could you keep my gender, er…”

His eyebrow raised. “A secret? Of course. I don’t trust those students at all, much less with a lady. Your secret is safe with me, don’t worry.”

Yuu breathed a sigh of relief, almost breaking out in laughter as the tense set of her shoulders fell (when had they stiffened?). “Thank you,” she said, smiling up at the man, feeling as though she had maybe made an ally in this world. “I appreciate it.”

Then, what he said kicked in, and dread settled into her stomach. Just what kind of people attended this school for him to say that?!

Whatever, she told herself, I can probably defend myself now, right? She sighed and settled her back against the pillow. It wouldn't do anything for her to be worried about that now.

A few hours pass by with Yuu alternating between dozing off and being lost in thought. Grim was still nowhere to be found, but Crowley hasn’t returned, so she assumed that he’s been wrangled under control. She hadn’t heard anything from the nurse, either, who she assumed to be asleep or unimaginably quiet.

Yuu sighed, her neck aching from the pain of being hunched over for too long. As she massaged the area, she leaned back, her head just missing the pillow and nailing the headboard. Muffling her yelp of pain, Yuu bolted back up, reaching for the glass of water on the side table when—

“Yuu.”

She stiffened, then her face contorted into anger. All thoughts of water were forgotten, replaced with a haze of grief and fury. “Kyubey,” she hissed, her hand hovering over her ring. “Get out.”

It ignored her. “I’m here to help you, whether you believe me or not.”

“Help me?” Yuu snarled. Talking with it made her want to bash its head against the stone of the infirmary and watch it pop. “Tell me one reason why I shouldn’t cut you down right now. C’mon, tell me!”

“You’re going to need my help,” it said, as if its only goal was to test her patience.

Yuu’s eye twitched, and her rapier appeared in hand. Her legs refused to move when she attempted to leap out of bed, so she thrust the blade closer to Kyubey’s head instead, glaring at it with pure malice in her eyes.

“You understand that Magical Girls become Witches, but you don’t know much more than that, do you?” Before Yuu could interject—I don't need your help, you liar—Kyubey continued, “Whether or not you use magic does not matter, though that is the main way of filling up your soul gem, because simply being a Magical Girl uses magic. You will become a Witch, but you don’t have to anytime soon.

“Magical girls use grief seeds to purify their soul gems, so—”

Yuu’s rapier turned heavy in her hand, her grip wavering as her muscles spasmed due to the unrelenting hold she had on her blade, but she refused to set it down. Rage bellied in her throat, an aching pain rising and spreading throughout her body as she fought her anger. I need to know this. With tremendous force, she stayed her hand, and inclined her head.

“—what will happen to the grief seed after it’s been used?” Kyubey asked. It looked at her.

Yuu grit her teeth. “I don’t know.”

“The witch will be born anew, and you will be forced to fight and kill her again.”

Yuu’s paper-thin patience snapped. “Then what’s the point of fighting them?!”

Kyubey's smile widened, but she could tell it was entirely artificial. Nothing could convince her that it held any emotions for anything, much less her. "That's where I come in. I could make the 'regenerative nature' of the grief seeds go by faster, effectively putting the Witch 'to rest'."

“You…”

“Witches are present in almost every world. It’s necessary. The lives of the many outweigh the lives of the few—you understand, don’t you? Think of it from our perspective, would you rather sacrifice the entire universe for the lives of a relatively small few?”

Yuu wavered. “It’s still—”

“Evil? Cruel? Wrong?”

She growled, feeling like a rabid beast that was locked up, caged. The thinly-veiled mockery grated at her ears so heavily that she wouldn’t be surprised to find them bleeding.

“In any case,” Kyubey continued, “you will need my help. That fact is undeniable. You must find the Witches and collect their grief seeds to continue living.”

Is there even a point to living anymore?

“You’ll want to see the effects of your wish, correct?”

More than anything. “Fine,” Yuu bit out. “Just—tell me what I need to do, no more riddles or rhetorical questions!”

Kyubey looked out the window behind her, staring at the night sky blankly before turning back to Yuu. “You will have to leave the campus to search for the Witches. After all, this is a boy’s school, isn’t it? No Witches will be created here as of now.”

“How will I know where they are?”

Kyubey hummed. “They typically congregate around areas with negative emotions. Graveyards, schools, hospitals... But, instead of relying on guesswork, you can use your soul gem.”

Yuu tilted her head. A headache raged at her temples, its intensity growing by the minute. She felt, for a bizarre second, that she was in some anime or TV show, and that none of this was real and that she would wake up anytime now. The moment passed, and she knew it was all very real. Her blood is on my hands, real and without question. “My what?”

“Your ring, it’s your soul gem. Magic, the type Magical Girls use, not this world’s magic, fills up your soul gem. If the soul gem is filled, the Magical Girl will turn into a Witch.”

Yuu looked to her rapier, and then to Kyubey, who remained impassive.

“I have no reason to lie.”

Hysterical laughter bubbled up in her throat. “Don’t you?”

Kyubey shook its head. “I have never lied to you, or any other Magical Girl.”

“But, you did! Do you not remember?! You didn’t tell me that I would become a Witch! You never…” Yuu stopped, her heart pounding deafeningly in her ears.

“I never lied to you, Yuu,” Kyubey repeated. Its voice was alarmingly mild, as if she were some child throwing a tantrum and it was a parent trying to get her to calm down. “Or any other Magical Girl.”

Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. Yuu’s body trembled, and she was starkly reminded of just how out of her depth she was, how juvenile she felt in front of an alien cat.

“Tonight, we should leave to search. Most of the ‘hotspots’ will be empty at this time, considering how early it is for humans.”

It was true. The clock reflected its words, bright red numbers flashing right at her. It seemed almost mocking. 2:00 AM. What had been boredom earlier was replaced by unease, and she wished she hadn’t wasted so much time doing nothing.

“The sooner the better?” she asked, already slipping her legs free of the comforter. Her rapier had gone back to where it came from, her… soul gem. Despite only having it for less than a day, she felt naked without it, defenseless.

“Of course! Witches gather at places with tons of despair and negative emotions. These areas are usually deserted and provide an ideal environment for hunting witches, like I said. Now is a prime opportunity.”

Yuu stiffened when it landed on her shoulder, its paws feeling no different from any other cat. Somehow, that made it much less comforting. “Let’s go, then, and get this over with,” she muttered.

The night air was cold, but Yuu couldn’t feel its effects, no goosebumps or shivers or chattering teeth. She couldn’t feel much of anything.

It was a welcome change.

______________________


The silence dragged on. Kyubey didn’t make any attempts at conversation, for which Yuu was grateful, but its constant presence on her shoulder made her mind whirl with uncertainty, unable to completely separate her emotions from her sense of duty and survival instinct.

Without Kyubey, Witches would continuously revive, stuck in an endless cycle of despair and unknown. Yuu didn’t know if she could handle that many Witches, or any (though, if things went according to plan, she’d soon find out). With Kyubey, more and more girls would form contracts, becoming stuck in the loop of despair and unknown, but in order to protect the Magical Girls already created, they needed it to get rid of used grief seeds.

Yuu was conflicted. She was scared, angry, and she didn’t know what to do.

Breaking the silence, which had started to become oppressive, Yuu asked, "Kyubey, when you said that Magical Girl’s are stronger than ordinary people, how exactly? I don’t feel any different.”

Just interacting with it made her feel slimy.

Kyubey remained focused on the trail, but she could tell it heard her. “Magical Girls possess extraordinary abilities that far surpass those of normal humans. These powers come from the contract they—which includes you—entered with our species, the Incubators. In exchange for their wish, Magical Girls are granted magical prowess, increased strength, agility, endurance, enhance healing capabilities, and sometimes, depending on their wish, elemental powers.

“Besides those, however, Magical Girls also have abilities that have been tailored for them based on their wish and desires—it’s what many call Unique Magic. Some have healing abilities, which make them more able to perform a supportive role, and others have more attack-like abilities, which make them more capable of taking on Witches by themselves.”

The more it talked, the more tense Yuu grew.

Kyubey continued, “They can also use weapons and items, like you. These weapons and items are often tailored to their specific abilities and can be used effectively in combat. Also, I’m sure you’ve already noticed, but Magical Girls have a sense of heightened intuition. It allows them to sense the presence of Witches, danger, and even allows them to predict the next move of their enemies. Of course, if you do anything with that information is up to you.”

“So that’s how I got the rapier?” No wonder I knew what to do with it right off the bat, it was tailored for me.

Kyubey nodded.

Yuu’s mind buzzed, her thoughts whirling around as she thought of the possibilities of her newfound powers. The rapier was just the tip of the iceberg, surely, and that meant she would gain new—or, perhaps she already had—abilities. “So… I’ve never used a rapier, nor have I seen one, for that matter—why did that manifest instead of something I have used? I’ve handled a gun before, why not that instead?”

“The magic granted to you will manifest based on the depth of your inner feelings and desires,” it explained as Yuu wandered down another alley—she was wondering just how far this Witch was. Her feet ached. “The rapier could represent your subconscious yearning for power, protection, or even a symbol of precision and control. Our powers tap into the depths of your soul, revealing your truest desires regardless of your life experiences.”

Yuu fell silent once more, digesting the Incubator’s words. Questions lingered in her mind, but a shiver ran down her spine, making her flinch slightly, jostling Kyubey and sending it to the ground, where it landed gracefully, all four paws glued securely to the floor.

Her mouth parted, but before she could say anything, pure despair forced her to her knees, the smell of decay and antiseptic invading her nostrils. Lightheadedness hit her like a sledgehammer, and Yuu groaned, her hands cradling her aching head.

Yuu’s eyes watered. Existing felt unbearable. Ears ringing, her mouth turned dry as she heaved, feeling overloaded with sensation yet also the lack of it. She felt ill just thinking of speaking, but she tried anyway, choking out a garbled, “Kyubey—”

“It’s in the hospital,” it informed her. Its eyes didn’t stray from the building in front of them, its body completely still. “Can you feel it? That’s the Witch you’re after.”

Dragging her eyes from the creature to the building, she could barely make out the cross symbol on the front of it, the bright red sign blinding her for a few moments before the effect gentled. Even then it lingered, the edges of her vision narrowed and blurred.

“Hospital…” she whispered. As her strength gradually returned, her body accumulating to the despair dominating the air, Yuu found enough power in her legs to push herself up. She stumbled briefly before righting herself.

The hospital, despite being welcoming during the day, reeked of oppression, of grief and sickness and pain, and it burrowed deep into Yuu’s bones, almost as though it was trying to rid her of every other feeling. She shivered. Witches, Magical Girl’s who have fallen into despair… They really are powerful.

She didn’t know what she had expected, but it wasn’t this.

“This could be a challenging fight,” Kyubey stated, looking no worse for wear. Yuu battled against the incredulity budding in her mind, focusing on its words and not her hatred for the thing. “A Witch that is located, or created within a hospital would possess access to all the negative emotions associated with suffering, illness, and loss. Its power will most likely be formidable. Are you prepared for this, Yuu?”

Yuu took a deep breath. Her legs no longer tingled with pins and needles, and her breathing came as easy as it always had. As she went through a mental checklist of each part of her body, she fiddled with her ring, itching to hold her rapier, her mind screaming at her to be alert and to protect herself.

Determined, she nodded. Everything felt right, strong. She just needed to get used to the despair, she guessed. “I’m ready. Lead the way.”

“Very well,” it said. With that, Kyubey hopped gracefully ahead, leading the way into the darkened hospital. It was uncannily coordinated, easily navigating the darkness while Yuu struggled to keep her feet straight in front of her.

A pang of fear shot through her, the air growing heavier and they drew closer to the Witch’s lair. They stepped into the hospital. Yuu recoiled. The weight of grief and despair was palpable, struggling to suffocate her. Gritting her teeth, she tightened her grip of her rapier—

Wait, when did I… Without realizing it, she had manifested her weapon, her nerves and instincts drawing it into her palm without a moment's hesitation. With her weapon in hand, Yuu felt infinitely more confident, her back straightening from its cowardly slouch.

The hospital smelled off, the sterile scent of antiseptic mingling with a subtle, sickly sweetness, but she couldn’t identify what it was.

Maybe it’s the Witch, she thought. She altered the very essence of the place, why couldn’t she be able to affect the smell or look? It wouldn’t make sense otherwise, anyway.

Yuu eyed the shadows, which seemed to be growing as she and Kyubey ventured deeper into the hospital. They remind me of…

“Those shadows are likely a manifestation of the Witch’s power,” Kyubey said, cutting off her thoughts. “They serve as its minions, gathering and amplifying negative emotions to strengthen the Witch.”

Yuu took a deep breath, trying to clear her mind and rid herself of her fear. If it only made the Witch stronger… Her heart pounded in her chest. I’m just making this harder for myself.

The shadows themselves seemed almost… playful, but she knew better than to trust it. Her hypervigilance could end up saving her life, multiple times, and she wasn’t about to start her first mission with such a grievous—and potentially deadly—mistake.

They were merely a guise for the Witch’s power, sucking out the emotions from humans and turning them into husks as she utilized their emotions for her own gain.

A tingle went down her spine just as her heart started racing. Wait, there’s—

Yuu whipped around, instinct driving her to bring her rapier in front of her face. Her blade clashed with the shadow’s face, driving a small scream from the thing, its voice small and child-like. It recovered quickly, however, and spun around her, trying to confuse her, but Yuu was faster. She plunged her rapier into the shadow’s body, deftly avoiding the stray projectiles it shot from its mouth.

Her heart pounded, blood rushing through her veins—she felt like a hurricane, powerful, relentless, and unstoppable. It was a high she’d never experienced before.

Each strike of her blade ripped a high-pitched yell from the shadow, its voice echoing throughout the hall. Sweat beaded at her temple, Yuu’s efforts straining her muscles and stamina.

As it slowed down, unseen wounds draining its vigor, Yuu took her chance and forced her rapier into its skull, the shadows parting easily. Its voice quieted, a small whimper stuck in its pseudo-throat.

The shadow disappeared silently.

Yuu stood still for a moment, her breathing calming much quicker than she’d expected. Silently, she marveled at her new body. That was exhilarating, she thought, eyeing the remaining shadows. I don’t know why, but I really like fighting. How weak are the shadows compared to the Witch? Or are they—

“Be careful,” Kyubey warned her, snapping Yuu out of her head. She jolted to attention, embarrassed, but it wasn’t even looking at her. Her shoulders lowered slightly. “Those shadows draw power from the Witch. The longer they persist, the stronger they become. We have to be quick and locate the Witch’s primary form before she gathers too much strength.”

Yuu nodded, her face growing grim. The shadows writhed and twisted like tendrils, their movements growing more frantic, coiling up before unfurling—it repeated incessantly, as though they could do nothing else. They clearly sensed her presence, too.

Yuu took a step back, her form tensing in preparation for a fight. She eyed the shadows warily, and then—

“Agh!” As her rapier tore through the shadow, its snake-like body coiled around her arm, latching onto her skin and tugging. Half of its body was already gone, but the rest clung to her like a child would their mother. “Get off!”

Pressure built up in her arm as Yuu tugged on the remains of the shadow. Hurriedly, she ripped it off and howled as that pressure released, the shadow’s mouth full of her skin, bloodied and jagged. Before she could catch her breath, the pain in her arm slowly ebbing, another shadow was on her.

She parried another tendril, its whip-like tail attempting—and failing—to wrap around her blade. It fell to the ground in two pieces. Twisting around to block another attack, this time from the left, she couldn’t lift her blade completely in time, and with a sharp crack, her rapier split in two.

“Shit!” Yuu yelped, jumping back. Her finger ghosted over her ring, and the magic manifested into her rapier, intact and with a second to match.

Dual-wielding them was easier than she thought it’d be, Yuu found out.

Tearing through the snake-shadows, Yuu easily eradicated the rest, her blades soaked in an odd, black goop. As the last one fell, its body evaporating into a dark mist, Yuu relaxed.

Sighing, she turned toward Kyubey. “Wow! I’m ti—”

However, the brief respite was short-lived as more shadows sprung forth from the darkness, their numbers swelling with every passing moment. Yuu squeaked as one wrapped around her ankle, dragging her forward for a moment before her wits caught up to her and she sliced through its body. It released her as it faded away, leaving behind a faint glimmer of its blood on her skin.

"Kyubey!" Yuu called out urgently. "We need to find the Witch's core! These shadows won't stop coming unless we eliminate the source!"

Kyubey nodded in agreement, jumping forward and avoiding the shadows with feline grace. "It's likely hidden somewhere deep within the hospital."

We can’t stay here, or else I’ll be overwhelmed, Yuu thought, slicing through another shadow. Can we even lose them here?

“Kyubey! Let’s go!”

They took off, Yuu sprinting with all her strength and Kyubey practically dancing around the enemies. If Yuu wasn’t running for her life, she would’ve felt jealous.

As they got closer to the inner sanctum of the hospital, Yuu felt her soul gem pulse. It started slow, but ramped up in speed and intensity the farther they ran. At the end of the hallway sat a large pair of doors, and Yuu knew.

Is this what Kyubey meant? My soul gem is guiding me—

Yuu burst through the doors, and her soul gem nearly exploded with excess energy. It pulsated so strongly that Yuu was becoming ill. Warning sounds echoed in her ears, joining her soul gem’s incessant chanting, her body on high alert.

As they stepped into the room, her soul gem quieted.

The room was dimly lit, and somehow that was more terrifying than complete darkness. She’s here. At the very center of the room, nestled between hospital beds and supplies, sat the Witch’s core. It emanated an energy that was indescribable—all Yuu could think was it’s evil.

Her breath was stolen from her as her eyes laid upon the Witch’s true form. It flickered around the edges, a surplus of stolen energy that was too much for her body to contain encasing her form. Her face was twisted, a writhing mass of shadows that coalesced into a bouquet of hands, pale as the moon but in no way as serene. The Witch oozed a wretched slime that reeked of puss and vomit—it came from every pore and crevice, even the hands that showed from underneath her shadowy ball gown, which was just translucent enough for Yuu to see.

Yuu retched.

The Witch's eyes, a swirling vortex of darkness, fixated on Yuu. Chills ran down her spine. It didn’t give her a second moment’s rest, and shot the shadows twirling at her feet towards Yuu. Leaping to the side, Yuu kicked away a stray wheelchair that drifted into her path, and landed behind one of the four main pillars in the center.

I have to get to the cor—

The pillar crumbled behind her as the Witch screamed. Shadows bound toward her, grazing her skin but too slow to hurt her. Summoning her rapier to her hand, Yuu sprinted toward the Witch, her heart pounding in her throat. All she could think was I can’t screw this up.

The hands under the Witch’s skirt crawled out from under her, their claws leaving jagged marks in the floor. Yuu swore, swerving out of the way as one leapt at her, narrowly avoiding a swipe of its claws.

Taking their chance, the shadows swarmed around her, all while their creator crooned a distorted melody. The high-pitched humming burrowed into Yuu’s head as she deflected another attack, the shadow’s claws leaving a scar on her rapier. Gritting her teeth, Yuu shoved the shadow away, summoning a second rapier into her left hand as she twisted around to behead the creature sneaking up on her.

Her rapiers became an extension of her body as she deftly swerved around the Witch’s projectiles—a vile mixture of the puss and vomit she was coated in—and the familiar’s claws. The Witch screamed again as another of her creature’s were slain, its body falling to the floor and evaporating into a shadowy heap. The Witch’s tune grew louder and more distorted as her rage grew.

Yuu grunted, the Witch’s racket ripping into her eardrums and—

POP!

Yuu screamed; or, she thought she did, but she couldn’t hear much of anything as her eardrums ruptured, only a sharp ringing that echoed throughout her skull and blinded her with agony. She couldn’t see anything clearly, eyes blurred and watering. Her ears leaked something, something that made her neck and shoulders become damp, but she couldn’t…

She couldn’t—

The familiars did not care that their opponent stopped fighting, and they rushed at Yuu.

Howling in pain, Yuu crumpled to the ground, her arms gouged and flesh torn as the familiars descended on top of her. Her rapiers disappeared in a flash of purple light.

Despite the pain, and the numerous wounds that littered her body, Yuu remained conscious. She trembled and tried to push away the familiars as they hacked away at her, but they didn’t budge. Yuu couldn’t tell if she was screaming, but her throat ached and her body twinged with each movement, and she realized that she was alive. Why am I not dead?

“Yuu! Hurry! Use your magic and fight them off!” Kyubey shouted.

Her soul gem acted before she could, and swelled with magic. It surged within her chest, forming a giant amalgamation of magic atop her; it hovered over her as it drained the energy from her gem, acting as a shield for the moment. The familiars stopped, but couldn’t get out of the way before it slammed down, solidifying into a rapier rivaling the size of the Witch just before it hit her.

Yuu yelped as the giant rapier fell through her, not hurting her but leaving her breathless. The impact bellowed out around her, decimating the familiars and carving a path directly toward the Witch. Standing, she resummoned her rapiers, focusing on the fight instead of the burning itch from her wounds as they took their time closing. Her ears rang quietly, and then sound. It flooded her eardrums, the once distant shrieking of the Witch now piercing in its intensity.

The colossal-sized rapier acted on its own, keeping the familiars away from her as she sprinted toward the Witch, whose song had since stopped. Yuu jumped up, directing her magic into her blades as her rage and pain took over, and swung both of them down. Stardust erupted from the tips of her weapons, blasting through the Witch and hitting her core. The Witch’s form flickered violently, and she hollered as Yuu’s rapiers dove through her body.

Yuu drew back, her chest heaving. Sweat poured down her neck and drenched her back. Is it over?

The Witch held still, the top half of her body hanging over the lower. The hands protruding from its face clawed at the Witch’s hood, small whimpers of pain echoing in the air. It looked like it was cowering.

Why isn’t it disappear—

Yuu gasped, her hand clawing at her side. Her fingers found the Witch’s wrist, and she dug her nails into her skin, eyes darting from the dagger in her side to the Witch’s face, who watched her with dark, soulless eyes. It tore the dagger free from Yuu’s body, but she felt no pain.

It felt… natural. Numb. A faint echo of what it should have been.

The Witch beckoned her forward, a soft melody, so different from the distorted screeching she’d heard before, flowing into her ears. Yuu frowned, watching as the Witch continued to beckon her towards her.

She summoned her rapiers, and the Witch finally stopped her song, the slow humming turning into a bellowing scream of pure rage.

“I’m not that easy,” Yuu quipped, scowling. She threw herself into the battle, the strange numbness spreading throughout her body. All of her injuries grew quiet, no longer screaming at her. Whatever the Witch did, it sure seemed to be in Yuu’s favor.

Stardust swelled at the tips of her blades once more, and fired off with pin-point accuracy. Before the first could hit her, the Witch batted it away with one of her many hands, but the second crashed into her core with little fanfare.

She clawed at her bodice, ripping and tearing the material from her body, revealing skin covered in boils and leaking puss—the skin was weathered and scarred, more pale than she’d ever seen before. There was no blood inside of the Witch’s body, and it was pure white as a result.

Yuu gagged at the sight.

The Witch writhed from the affects of the stardust, clawing into her chest and parting the folds of skin to reveal the broken rib-cage previously underneath her flesh. Yuu took advantage of the Witch’s pain and flew forwards, her magic once again swelling inside of her chest and forming the colossal-sized rapier. It shadowed the rapier in her hand, and when she thrust her hand forward, a determined snarl marring her face, it followed.

The blade pierced the Witch’s body, coated in an otherworldly light. It squirmed, the Witch’s once solid figure spasming as it lost more of its form. Stardust coated her in her entirety, sucking out the Witch’s vitality and forcing her to her knees.

The shadows cowering at the edges of the Witch’s tattered gown faded, leaving behind specks of black matter that coated the ground. The shadows under her dress clawed at the fabric, desperate to get out and protect their leader, but were trapped beneath her as she clawed at her own body.

As the shadows continued dispersing, the hands underneath her lowering in number, the Witch's core shuddered and convulsed, its once-powerful form faltering as it fought to maintain its existence.

Yuu’s legs shook as she watched the Witch fade, vaguely registering Kyubey coming over to stand by her feet. The hospital gradually returned to normal, the oppressive atmosphere lifting, but it did nothing to alleviate her mood—on the contrary, it worsened it. Adrenaline still pumped through her veins, leaving her with a heightened sense of anxiety, and made her want to move.

The malicious darkness that plagued the corners of the hospital left, drifting away with the wind and letting the natural shadows take their places. The moon shown through the skylight, highlighting the disastrous remains of the storage room. While no longer drenched in the disgusting excretions from the Witch, the room was absolutely destroyed.

The pillar she’d hid behind had completely collapsed, and the floor had crumbled in some places, and there was—

“Oh, wow, that’s a lot of blood.” Her blood drenched the floor, seeping into the cracks and most likely staining it forever. “Kyubey, how do I… get rid of that?”

They’re going to track me down and find me, like in those detective movies, and I’ll be done for.

Kyubey pointed toward the corner, where a door—miraculously untouched—rested. “They might have some cleaning supplies in there.”

Yuu sighed. She dispersed her rapier, letting the excess energy flow through her in order to attempt to calm herself. “I can’t believe this,” she muttered. “After all that, I have to clean up blood!”

Wait, what is that? Yuu stopped her stretching, her eyes catching the glint of a—

“A… soul gem?” she asked, disbelieving. It floated in front of her, its dazzling light, brilliant and almost blinding out of place in the destroyed hospital room. A glimmer of hope amidst despair. Yuu reached out, her hand gently cupping the gem in her palms. Warmth radiated from its small form, and with it the lingering fatigue faded from her body and mind. It feels… familiar. How is that possible?

Yuu sighed, shaking her head. It was probably just because the Witch was once a Magical Girl, like her, nothing more. It’d be best not to worry about it—as it stood, she had much more important things to worry about.

She’d worry about it later.

Yuu's eyes widened as she touched the half-blackened gem. The once vibrant purple stone now appeared partially corrupted, its surface marbled with dark streaks. The sight sent a wave of unease through her. Yuu glanced down at the seed tucked away in her pocket, a flicker of curiosity crossing her face. However, her thoughts were quickly interrupted as Kyubey approached, its small form casting a shadow over the seed. "Ah, you've noticed the gem's state," Kyubey remarked, its eyes fixed on the blackened gem.

Her own soul gem pulsed curiously, a subtle pounding that originated from her ears and spread to her chest. Yuu pulled it out, peering at it worriedly, a frown pulling at her lips. The once vibrant purple gem now appeared partially corrupted, its surface marbled with dark streaks.

Anxiety wormed its way through her gut, and a cold sweat beaded at her temples.

“You’ve noticed your gem’s state, then,” Kyubey said.

Irritation sparked in her chest. No, I haven’t, I must have just gotten mud on it, or something!

Yuu nodded. “Of course, I have,” she said, her fingers curling protectively around the gem. “It wasn’t like that before, it’d be weird not to notice.”

Kyubey tilted its head. “You’d be surprised.”

Yuu’s brows furrowed. “What—”

Kyubey cut her off. “Your gem has been partially darkened by your encounter with the Witch,” it explained. Yuu shut her mouth. Indignant though she may be, she needed information more. “It’s the same for every Magical Girl. As you expend your energy fighting Witches, your gem gradually loses its radiance.”

Yuu looked at the other gem, her eyes widening with realization. “And I just… use this to fix mine?”

Kyubey nodded. “These seeds, commonly known as Grief Seeds, have the ability to cleanse your gem and restore its power. They absorb the excess darkness and impurities that accumulate during battle, which in turn revitalizes your magical abilities.”

"Grief seeds," Yuu repeated, her eyes falling back to the seed—not a gem anymore, apparently—nestled in her pocket. "They're crucial for keeping me in fighting shape and preventing me from turning into a Witch?"

They could’ve saved… her?

“Exactly!” Kyubey nodded. It jumped onto her shoulder, heedless of her growing discomfort—it actually seemed to relish in her tenseness, going out of its way to bother her at every turn. Maybe she was reading into it too far, but she wasn’t sure.

“Grief seeds serve as a vital tool to maintain the balance of your soul gem. To use it, simply touch it with your corrupted gem. It will do the trick, don’t worry,” it added. “Once the seed absorbs a significant amount of corruption, it will turn black, signifying that it’s been depleted and is no longer able to absorb anything else.”

Yuu nodded, absorbing the information. "So grief seeds are like rechargeable batteries for my magical abilities," she summarized. "Touch it with my gem, corruption goes away, gem goes back to normal." Yuu reached for the seed, her fingers gently pressing it against her corrupted gem. As the seed made contact, it glowed faintly, a soft pulse of energy flowing between the gem and the seed. The darkness within the gem swirled and spiraled, drawn towards the seed like iron to a magnet, steadily transferring the corrupt energy into the seed.

Yuu’s eyes glimmered with fascination as the blackened gem gradually regained its brilliant hue, the corruption bleeding into the grief seed. The purple gem pulsed with renewed vigor, its glow matching the radiant energy it held within.

Removing the seed from her gem, she examined it closely. The black surface now displayed a faint purple iridescence. “Wow, that’s…” she stumbled over her words. “—Remarkable.”

"Remember," Kyubey said, "each time you use a grief seed, it will eventually become exhausted. Once that happens, you cannot use it anymore. It could be in your interest to have several grief seeds at your disposal at all times. Many Magical Girls have done it before, and since you will be the sole Magical Girl at that school, you won’t have to worry about sharing.”

Yuu nodded, determined, her eyes filling with a newfound resolve. "We should find another one.” She looked up at the sky. “It’s still dark out, so we’ll have plenty of time.”

“After you clean up the blood?”

Yuu’s shoulders slumped. “After I clean up the blood.”


_____________________



As Yuu and Kyubey continued their search, they encountered several more Witches. None were as difficult as the first, and by the fifth Witch of the night (including the first), Yuu grew much more confident in her abilities.

Kyubey observed it all silently, like it always did.

Yuu grumbled as the last Witch crumpled into nothingness. "I still don’t understand how I am able to use stardust." Or what it does exactly.

"It's possible that your wish granted you powers beyond your original expectations," Kyubey explained. "Your innate affinity for magic combined with your desire for a significant power increase might have granted you access to additional abilities."

"But stardust… Isn’t that way too powerful?" Not that I mind, but what if there’s a cost?

Kyubey tilted its head, contemplating Yuu's question. "Each wish is unique and its outcome is influenced by the wielder's intentions and emotional state," it said. "Your desire for immense power might have caused stardust’s abilities to manifest as they did. It's difficult to say why specifically stardust appeared, but it's possible that your wish created a catalyst for your magic to evolve and adapt to your needs and desires."

Yuu nodded. That makes sense. It was a bit unsettling, but since it was so powerful and useful, she had no complaints.

Don’t do it, Yuu—

Sighing, Yuu tucked the grief seeds safely into her pocket. Five tonight, one completely used up, and more to come in the future. It seemed like enough for now, and despite her faster regenerative abilities, her body ached more fiercely than before, weighed down with exhaustion.

She yearned for her bed. “That’s enough for now,” she said. “I should get going. Besides, the sun is almost out.” And it was brilliant, the sky colored a gradient of pinks and oranges, but it only reminded her of how little sleep she was going to get.

"That would be wise," Kyubey agreed. "Take the time to rest and regenerate your energy.”

Yuu eyed the creature, but it didn’t make any moves to follow her. “Bye,” she said lamely.

Once back at her dorm room, Yuu collapsed onto the bed, her body weary but her mind restless. The events of the night replayed in her mind, the echoes of her battles still fresh in her memory. She closed her eyes. It was useless to worry about anything right now, though it was hard not to, and she couldn’t help the feeling of unease that circulated throughout her mind. It infected everything it touched until she fell into a fitful slumber, plagued by nightmares of shadowy figures and shimmering stardust.

I’m sorry I can’t protect you.

Chapter Text

Yuu groaned as she woke up, her eyelids heavy and uncooperative. She patted the bed beside her, trying to find her ‘familiar’ (according to the headmage). “Grim… wake up.”

The sheets rustled before Grim sprung up, his eyes narrowed and his ears flicking in annoyance. “What was that for, henchman?”

Henchman…?

Yuu shrugged. She was too tired to care what he called her. “Unfortunately, we have to get going.” It was part of the deal she’d made, and that Grim agreed to. If they didn’t pull their weight, they’d be done for. Probably.

Right on cue, one of the ghosts popped up, the tall one, and laughed. “Hee hee hee… Aren’t the two of you supposed to be off cleaning the school today?”

Yuu jolted, her hand flying to her ring, body tensing. She used the ghost’s momentary surprise and transitioned from sitting to a crouch, her feet balancing on the lumpy mattress. Grim hid behind her, watching the ghost warily.

“Woah now, missy—”

“Didn’t I tell you to leave us alone?” she growled. Last night had taken a toll on her, and despite the fact that she’d used the grief seeds to replenish her soul gem, her body still ached in all sorts of places—maybe she slept wrong? Either way, she wasn’t in the mood for the ghost’s mischief.

The ghost drooped before tipping his hat. It seemed as though—funnily enough—the life drained out of it. “Very well, then, missy. I’ll be off.”

Grim hopped off the bed once the ghost disappeared, puffing out his chest. Yuu ignored his gloating, eyeing the room for any more unwanted apparitions. All that remained in view was the dusty and dilapidated remains of the housewarden’s bedroom.

Including leftover clothes. Yuu looked down at herself, sliding off the bed and onto the rotted wood beneath her. It creaked warningly, but held firm despite it all. Magic, she guessed. But more pressingly, she had no clothes of her own, and she really didn’t want to wear dead people’s clothes.

Turns out, she didn’t have any other option.

Well… I’ll make do.

____________________

Yuu and Grim stood outside of Ramshackle, watching with dreary eyes as the headmage prattled on and on about something. Yuu wasn’t paying much attention, to be honest.

The man paused, taking a breath, before beaming at the two of them. His smile was almost as bright as the sun, bright and painful and annoying. It was safe to say that she was more annoyed than expected. “Good morning, did you sleep well?”

Grim shot Crowley a dirty look. “Not at all! When I got into bed, the mattress fell right through the frame! Exactly how Ramshackle is this dorm?! And worse yet, we got woken up by ghosts!”

Yuu kept silent. The less said about her night, the better.

Crowley continued on as if he hadn’t heard Grim, “I am delighted to hear that you’ve adjusted so well despite your... circumstances!”

Yuu’s eye twitched. Did he just hallucinate me saying something?

Grim frowned, mirroring Yuu’s exasperated expression. “I hate this guy,” he muttered.

“Agreed.”

The headmage clapped his hands, gaining the two’s attention. “Your job today is to clean the campus. That said, the campus is vast, and without magic, it'd be quite the herculean task to clean it all. Thus, today I'll have you focus on the area spanning from the front gates to the library. Now, Yuu, I do expect that you'll keep a close eye on Grim, lest he cause another incident like yesterday.”

Yuu nodded, rolling up her sleeves. They settled into the crease of her inner elbows comfortably—she was glad the clothes fit her. The difference in size between men and women's clothing was shocking. After trying on so many different clothes, Yuu almost gave up and went in the robes from the ceremony. That's when she found this outfit, and thank goodness she did.

“Consider it done, headmage.”

Grim huffed, irked. "Hrmph. I should be cleanin' nothin'! I'm here to study magic so I can be blastin' off spells left and right! Like BAM! POW! FWOOM!”

“Spare me your ego, Grim. Let’s just get this done and over with.”

Grim, undeterred by Yuu's tone, puffed out his chest. "It's not ego, it's confidence!" he exclaimed. "I know my worth, and when I become the most powerful mage of all time, people will beg for the chance to bask in my awesome power!"

A headache formed behind her eyes. This is going to be a long day.

“Let’s get going,” she said, brushing past the headmage. Grim trotted along beside her, visually unhappy but unwilling to disobey. Cats were petty creatures, but they were also smart—some, anyway—and survivalists at heart.

Maybe it won’t be, if he keeps this up.

_____________________

They arrived at Main Street with no issues, the quiet spurred on by Grim's bruised ego soothing Yuu's pounding headache. It was a welcome reprieve, and breathing fresh, undusted air was a blessing she’d never take granted again.

“So this is Main Street, huh?” Grim said, looking up at the statues as they walked. Each one was perfectly symmetrical to the other, a certain distance between them. The person who’d placed them had an eye for such details, but the statues themselves were… a bit distracting. Which Yuu guessed was the point, but they were becoming an eyesore.

Grim stared at the Queen of Heart's statue. “This lady here looks like she’s got some real anger management issues.” Yuu recognized her, having read the Alice in Wonderland book when she was younger. It was thrown away before she could finish it, however. The woman was striking in an odd, unsettling way. She reminded Yuu more of a Witch, but smaller.

“Makes sense,” Yuu agreed. The Queen did have quite an enraged look on her face, and was more than a bit crazy.

“You guys don’t know the Queen of Hearts?”

The duo turned around. A student—a boy, obviously, with ginger hair and an outfit more unsightly than Yuu’s own—sauntered up to them. He stopped a good distance away from them, but she could see his lips twitch with subtle mirth.

Her eye twitched. Do people not know how to mind their own business? They didn't have time for all this, yet here they are, wasting time. She took a deep breath and calmed herself.

You're fine, Yuu.

Grim tilted his head, his tail lollygagging behind him. “‘Queen of Hearts’? Is she someone important?”

Yuu’s eyes narrowed as a quiet, silent to anyone but her chuckle left the boy’s mouth. She worried about the state of her shoulders with how tense they were. If everyone were as condescending as this guy, she wouldn't get a moment of peace.

"She was a queen who lived in a maze-like garden of roses long, long ago. She was a strict woman who prized order above all. She wouldn't tolerate a rose being off-color, or her playing-card soldiers being out of step. She ruled over a kingdom of madness, but not one of her subjects dared to defy her. You wanna know why? Because the punishment for breaking a rule was immediate decapitation!”

The boy kept talking, but Yuu looked around, peering at the eye-straining statues. Her ears perked at the sound of the boy’s name—Ace Trappola, he introduced himself. Yuu gave him a polite nod before turning back to the marbled and stone figures. Each one was different from the next, with different clothes, stances, weapons, you name it. They signified unity because they were grouped together, but betrayed the notion due to the purposeful lack of uniformity. Each outfit was completely different, the style, cut, and length and everything. It was odd.

“Ooh! A dragon!” Grim cried out, his eyes wide with awe. “That’s what all monsters yearn to become…” he trailed off, dreamily eyeing the statue.

Ace looked about ready to burst a blood vessel trying to hold in his laughter. Yuu frowned at him, but he didn’t see it, too focused on making ‘funny’ faces behind Grim’s back.

“Pretty cool, huh? Not like some piddling weasel,” Ace chuckled.

Yuu’s back straightened. Why couldn’t you have kept your mouth shut? … This won’t end well, will it?

Grim shot a venomous glare at Ace, his eyes glinting with murderous intent. "Myah?!”

“Pfft! I can’t hold it back anymore!” Ace burst into loud, boisterous laughter, his chest heaving as the air was stolen from his lungs. “Hahaha! Come on, you’re the ones who turned orientation into such a fiasco, right? The one summoned by the Dark Mirror who can’t even use magic, and the monster no one summoned at all!”

He wiped a tear from his eye, chuckling. “It took everything I had not to burst into laughter in the middle of the ceremony!”

Despite the raging anger burning through her, Yuu’s voice was cold when she addressed him, “Leave us alone.” She had no love, or tolerance for bullies, and he was a textbook example of one. Even if Grim wasn’t exactly high up on her list of favored people, he didn’t deserve to be bullied by some random boy for asking innocent questions.

She was ignored.

The boy continued his barrage of taunts, eyes locked onto Grim. The monster bristled. “So in the end, neither of you got admitted, and now you’re janitors? Hahaha! So lame!”

Yuu's hands itched to wrap around his neck, to carve a path into the insides of his trachea and see what his insides would look like painted over the Queen's statue. Her rage turned to horror as she snapped herself out of her daydream. That's—

Too far? Not okay? Something she wouldn’t do?

Her mind conjured up images of the Witches from last night. She could vividly remember their dying screams, wails, and whispers. They were people, too, and she—

It’s different, she assured herself. She took a calming breath and steadied her resolve. "Excuse me,” she started, “how old are you?”

His face turned incredulous. “Huh?”

Yuu’s face, placid and void of anything, sharpened with glee at his confusion. She barreled forward with her verbal lashing, emboldened by pride as the boy’s face fell with each word that passed through her lips. “You remind me of a seven year old—a child. Didn’t your mommy and daddy teach you right from wrong? Or were you too stupid to understand, and now take it out on innocent bystanders in order to feel superior?”

She laughed mockingly. “You’re trash,” she said, her misplaced mirth settling into stone-cold resentment. The boy shivered, his eyes widening. “You abuse others for the sake of your ego and you laugh about it.”

Everything went silent, and Yuu waited. Waited for the inevitable denial, and the desperate attempts to steal back the control of the situation. She waited, and her patience was rewarded.

“You’re calling me a kid?!” he growled. “And I’m not selfish, I was just having some fu—”

“A child,” Yuu repeated. “A tall child, more aware than others, but a child nonetheless.”

His expression soured even further, and he shot back with a snarl, “Ha! So now I’m being insulted by someone who can’t even use magic? How laughable. And you’re both so clueless that you don’t even know who the Great Seven are!”

Of course, I don’t, you idiot. Yuu dusted her sleeves idly, watching his rant with a dispassionate expression.

“Not a one of them!” The boy kept going. “Maybe before you try getting into the academy again, you ought to take a second crack at kindergarten?”

Yuu’s fists dug into her legs, her hands aching from the strain of holding herself back. Taking a deep breath, she called out to Grim, “Let’s just go!”

Before she could turn around, Grim launched himself at the boy, letting loose a ball of blue fame, headed directly for the bully himself. Yuu was almost tempted to say nothing, let it hit him and hide his body, but she wasn’t that heartless.

“Watch out!”

Grim’s yell overshadowed her own, his rage bubbling out of him, and he shouted, “You ain’t walkin’ away from me!”

Yuu’s face slackened with shock. Oh, no. We’re done for—

“Grim! Don’t you dare!”

Grim ignored Yuu’s warning, at odds with his usual cowardice. His pent-up anger and frustration boiled over. With a loud howl, he parted his jaws, a surge of blue flame clawing its way free—its target? Trappola.

“Woah!” Trappola shouted, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead as he dove out of the way. The flame sailed past him, sizzling out into nothing. The air trembled in its wake, and Yuu was struck with the thought that it could’ve disfigured the boy. Then, said boy opened his damnable mouth, and all sympathy left her in a flash, “Is that supposed to scare me? Nice try!”

Yuu grit her teeth. “Stop!”

Grim, determined to land a hit on his taunter, simply launched two more fireballs. They streaked across the courtyard, flying so fast that Yuu had to actively track them with her eyes. Thankfully they were thwarted before Trappola could get hit, but his cocky smirk was making things much much worse.

Grim’s body twitched. “H-Hey! His magic winds are blowin' my fireballs off course! No fair!”

“What’s the matter? Can’t handle a little challenge?”

Yuu stepped forward, wincing as the surrounding heat nearly scorched her skin. It was hot—no, it was cold. So cold that it burned. Eyes watering, Yuu bellowed, “Grim! Stop!”

Yuu’s words didn’t reach him. Frustration mounted in Grim’s eyes, leaking into his posture and the intensity of which he slew his magic at his opponent. His ears peeled back, flattening against his head. “You can run all you like, but you ain't escapin' me!” Grim shouted.

Then, fire.

It billowed out from Grim’s body, and Yuu screamed as it torched her robes, the delicate flesh of her hands withering under the flame’s might. She jumped back. Her head ducked, her face saved from disfigurement by a small, instinctive movement, but her hands were another matter. Fire engulfed them in a fiery mass, wrenching an aborted shriek from her lips. The sound fizzled into nothing, not daring to breach the air.

Breath stagnating in her chest, silencing her screams of agony before they could form, Yuu batted her flaming hands against her robes. She was blind with the searing agony as it scorched its way inside her.

My ring—

“Pfft. All it takes is a little gust to—Hah! Oh, sh—! Now the Queen of Hearts's statue looks like it's been flame-broiled!” Trappola yelled indignantly.

Yuu’s breathing picked up, dizziness trying its damndest to send her to her knees. In a single moment, her vision narrowed. It felt like looking through a window caked in mildew. Despite the terror clogging her throat, Yuu dragged her shaky eyes to her hands.

She gagged.

Her skin was blackened and flakey, with blood pooling around her knuckles and down to her palms. Her entire hands were smothered in red, looking more like a burnt steak than a piece of her body. Strips of skin akin to jerky fell to the floor with little effort, the flesh completely separated from her bones.

Her ring was— “Oh, no,” she wept. A sharp crack nearly separated her ring into two, only holding on because of Yuu’s quick reaction to Grim’s attack. If she’d been one second too late, she’d…

Her back hunched as she tried to make herself smaller, her legs feeling weak.

Yuu’s breath left her. Cotton wormed its way inside her ears, and she became deaf to everything but her own panicked breathing, rapid and desperate. The pain, excruciating in its might and intensity, faded, leaving Yuu empty and withered, an unsettling numbness occupying her nerves.

Time seemed to stand still.

Yuu’s eyes filled with tears. She held herself still, watching as Grim continued his fiery assault. Trappola wasn’t fighting back as much anymore, his shoulders tense. He shot a look at the charred Queen of Hearts statue, and his lip curled. He looked scared. None of them spared her a second glance.

Yuu took a shaky breath. The sweat on her skin cooled, leaving her feeling frozen still. I’m—

Then, all at once, time resumed. “What is going on here? Cease this at once!”

Grim froze, his flames extinguishing immediately. He turned to see the headmage, and a whimper left his throat. His tail stood straight up.

Other students gasped, and they tripped over themselves trying to get away. Yuu hadn’t noticed them watching at all, absorbed in her own mind.

“Oh no! The headmage!”

“Not more lashings of love! We gotta get outta here!”

“OW! Don’t run into me, you idiot!”

Crowley’s expression was stern, but he wasn’t looking at her. Grim shrunk back at the look in the head mage's eyes, a primal fear that even he, a monster, could not escape.

“As if the likes of you could ever flee from me!” Crowley hissed. . Ace and Grim, who only took a few steps before getting caught, looked like headless chickens in the face of the man’s fury.

Yuu didn't pay much attention to them. Despite the headmage's demeanor earlier, everyone seemed deathly afraid of him. He would bring them in line. Instead, her attention diverted to her hands. The feeling in them was gone, and no matter how hard she tried to flex her fingers, they remained still.

… This couldn’t be forever, right? A chill ran down her spine as she swallowed hard, her throat dry.

She remembered last night, all the cuts and scrapes and bruises she had. Now, there's nothing; they disappeared from her body without a trace. This would be the same, too, she had to give it time. With numbness having settled inside her, Yuu could pretend she was normal at this moment, and so she did.

Yuu hid her hands inside the robe’s pockets, closing her eyes as she took as many calming breaths as she could. Panicking would do her no good, and she didn’t want anyone asking questions.

Crowley continued scolding the two in front of her, his face growing increasingly irate.

The headmage turned toward Yuu. The full-force of his anger blasted her in the face, and she cringed, averting her eyes. Tears still clumped together on her lashes, brandishing her pain for all to see. She hoped he was too angry to acknowledge it. “And you, Yuu! You were specifically told to keep Grim under control!”

Yuu’s throat felt too small, like something was jammed inside and was struggling to find its way out. Despite her best efforts to speak, her body denied her and laughed at her efforts. She could feel her body shaking, but it was all distant, as though she were underwater and bereft of feeling. It wasn’t an uncommon sensation, but it was still just as infuriating.

The loss of self, the loss of autonomy—it frightened her.

Yuu bowed her head. It wasn’t an act of submission, far from it, but if she had to look Crowley in the eyes while he ranted to her about her, she’d do something she was sure to regret.

The shock eventually faded, just enough, from her body, and her vocal cords were free once more. She wasn’t sure that was a good thing in this scenario, not with the fury bubbling inside her. To stay in this world and not die of starvation, or some disease, she needed a safe place to live. And that, unfortunately, was Ramshackle Dorm, owned by one headmage Crowley.

Yuu’s hair fell in front of her face, aided by her bowed head, hiding the frustrated quirk of her mouth—a deep, jagged grimace that stretched from one ear to the next. “I’m sorry, headmage,” she said, trying her best to sound sincere. This wasn’t my fault, she argued with no one, why do I have to apologize?!

Crowley's expression softened slightly at her apology, but he still looked stern. "This will not do… And you!” He turned towards Ace. “State your name and grade!”

Yuu straightened (don’t look at her like that, get away—), her hands primly held together just below her navel and encased within the coarse pockets of the burnt robe, the picture-perfect image of innocence; it was not false, however, because Yuu hadn’t participated. She’d tried to stop it, actually.

Ace looked slightly bewildered at the headmage’s command but answered nonetheless. "Ace Trappola, freshman."

“Then listen well, Trappola. You, Grim and Yuu, as punishment for today's infractions, you are hereby ordered to wash a hundred windows!”

The trio’s eyes widened. Washing a hundred windows was going to take a long time, and they had to do it with—

“With him?” Yuu muttered darkly, frowning. She looked between him and Grim, and froze. Stiffy, she turned away. Flashes of fire wound its way up to her eyes, so she clenched them shut.

One, two, three… Her breathing evened out. I’m a magical girl, Yuu reminded herself. Not some fragile human. Not anymore. I will heal. I have to.

But how am I going to wash a hundred windows with… Her hands were not functional, and she didn’t know when (not if, she needed them, they couldn’t take them from her—) they’d regain feeling, but Yuu knew she needed a plan.

Before she could get to doing so, the headmage leveled the trio with a pointed glare, effectively shushing and queling Yuu’s spiteful hope; she sealed her mouth shut. "You're all equally accountable for this incident. And don't think you can finish quickly with magic spells.” Crowley’s lips curled, satisfaction oozing from his every poor. “Manual labor from top to bottom until the job is done!”

Phantom pain in the form of fire dancing atop her knuckles, writhing between the dips and divots of her palms. Yuu’s voice quivered with frustration, her words muffled as she desperately clenched her eyes shut, and muttered tearfully, “Why me?”

Her body, a traitor with good intentions, suffocated her as she dragged unsteady breaths in and released them; they sped up, her chest constricting and loosening faster and faster and why couldn’t she breathe—

All at once, it ceased. Pull yourself together, Yuu, she thought to herself, biting her lip furiously. I can just threaten Grim to do it all, and he’d be too scared to not listen.

Hopefully.

Grim glanced over at her. "Tell me about it. If this keeps up, my fur's gonna fall out before I even graduate. Ugh, I need a nap."

Something snapped inside her, and the projected calm she’d just managed all disintegrated. Yuu rounded on the creature, her face twisted in a snarl. “You think you’ve got it rough?! You try being the only person with a sound mind in this place!” She laughed, but even to her ears it sounded more like she was crying—hysterical, her father would have called her.

Grim backed away, looking taken aback. “Whoa! Calm down, henchman!” His tail flicked anxiously back and forth behind him, picking up the ash from the statue with each movement.

“Shut up already! The last thing I need is you whining about the consequences of your own actions, especially when you’ve roped me into it!” Yuu screamed. Her face felt hot, her cheeks on fire with rage. She was tired, the stress sagging her shoulders and ripping open her eyes so her tears could spill forth, forming a waterfall of anger that ran down her face.

Both Trappola and Grim stood still for a moment, their faces shocked blank. “Alright, alright,” Grim said eventually, “No need to bite my head off. Let’s just get this over and done with, okay? Besides, it’s all that guy’s fault any—”

“Not helping,” Trappola butted in, eyeing the twitch of Yuu’s right eye.

Grim shot him a glare, but stopped. Yuu was grateful. “Fine,” the creature grumbled.

Trappola, sensing the oncoming awkwardness (as if it wasn’t already awkward, what with her breaking into tears—Yuu would never live this down, she was sure of it!), bolted. His goodbye was hardly heard, much less acknowledged.

It was right then that Yuu decided she needed to stay the hell away from that guy.

She didn’t think of Grim. She…

Fire, fire, fire.

___________________

The day went on without much of a problem, Yuu’s threats toward Grim allowing her to rest and pray for her hands to recover. So far, no luck, but with such an extensive injury, it’s bound to take a while to heal. She has hope; plus, with bandages covering up the mess that makes up what’s left of her hands, she doesn’t have to look at them and fight the urge to vomit.

Her soul gem was… still cracked, but it still held its vibrant hue despite the damage. She would have to ask Kyubey if grief seeds were able to heal it. If not, she didn’t want to waste one and get absolutely nothing out of it. She just… needed to wait for them to show up.

Fatigue was biting at her, though it cradled her close, and was by far her biggest enemy at the moment. One she couldn’t fight without a bed and sleep. Yuu was basically dead on her feet, but in a more mental sense than anything. Her legs held her fine, and her lungs were strong and ready, but something sagged her shoulders and forced her to hunch over as she walked if she lingered for too long.

“I’m tired,” Grim complained. Sighing, Yuu looked him over, and quickly decided that he only needed a bit of food in him. He’s young, isn’t he? Her teacher always went on and on about the young needing to help the elderly—in this case, Yuu is his elder, and he has to help her.

Or, from Grim’s perspective, he has to do everything she says otherwise Yuu will not only maim him, but will desecrate his corpse. How, he doesn’t know, but he doesn’t want to find out.

Of course Yuu wouldn’t ever do that, but what Grim doesn’t know won’t hurt him. “You’re fine,” she says. “I’ll grab some food for you, and you’ll be just fine.”

Rage. Anger. I’m scared. Burning. Heat. Why won’t they heal?

His eyes light up. “Tuna?! I want tuna! Or cake… or maybe a steak?”

Yuu stood up from the cafeteria’s many benches, carefully concealing her burnt hands. There was no feeling beyond minor aches centered around her wrists, but somehow the lack was more concerning than any sharp flare of agony she’d experienced before. Yuu pushed the fear back, buried it behind a few dozen walls, and tried her best to forget about it. “I’ll see what I can find.”

As she wandered off to the back of the kitchen, accessible only due to the head chef’s kindness (who was a ghost, funny that), Grim finally realized something—

“That ginger guy isn’t here yet! How can he be so late?!”

“I know!” she called back. “But did you seriously think he was going to work with us?!” One of the ghosts handed her a packet of tuna with a small smile. She noted that it was the lady staring at Grim as though he were a god.

Cat ladies, Yuu thought mildly, are weird.

“I can’t believe he bailed on us!” Grim yowled. “Ditchin’ us after all that trouble he caused…! Ain't no way am I doin' his punishment for him! C'mon, henchman, I don't care if we gotta drag him kickin' and screamin', he's washin' those windows!”

Yuu sighed, tucking away the packet in her newfound bag (she didn’t know whose it was, but it was hers now) and running out into the cafeteria. Already, Grim was gone.

Shit.

___________________

“Hey! Ace! Get over here! Trying to hide from me?!”

Yuu followed Grim’s yelling, smiling apologetically at the occasional disgruntled student as she stormed past, and eventually caught up to him. She wasn’t even out of breath, and the sweat she expected to be on her brow was suspiciously absent.

Her body, reborn and remade, was a marvel. Yuu didn’t even feel narcissistic saying that, because it was true. The price, though, was far too high. She grit her teeth. Better be high enough that these hands heal up nice and easy, she thought, or else I’ll be having a word with Kyubey. Multiple, long, and loud words.

Grim sniffed the ground for a few moments, his head tilting slightly as he processed whatever he was smelling. For his sake, Yuu hoped it didn’t smell like a typical hallway that was frequented by teenage boys, but from his expression, it smelled worse.

She decided not to acknowledge it. “Let’s uh, go,” she muttered, walking into a classroom. To their surprise, it was empty. No Trappola in sight.

“Huh?” Grim frowned. “But, I can smell him here… Is there really no one here?”

He was probably just here earlier, Yuu thought. Exasperation settled into her, turning her body into its newfound home. Before she could say anything, though, someone started talking.

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. I’m here.”

Yuu stared.

Grim jumped back. “Bwah! That painting just talked!”

The portrait laughed at Grim's surprise. "Yes, and...? Is a talking painting really such an oddity at this school?”

Yuu thought that was more than fair.

It continued, “The lady in the portrait on that wall talks too. As does the gentleman in the portrait on this one. As long as a painting has a mouth, why wouldn't it be able to talk? Is that really so strange?”

Grim spluttered.

Yuu sighed, looking around the classroom one more time before eyeing the portrait. Maybe he’s seen Trappola… “Sir,” she started, waiting until he stopped talking to Grim, who pouted at the interruption, then continued, “have you seen a student with red hair and a red heart on his cheek? He’s skipping his punishment and we’re looking for him.”

The portrait—somehow—nodded, recognition sparking in his fabricated eyes. "Ah, I know the one. A freshman, I believe? Today was his first day at school. I think he went back to his dorm a while ago.”

Grim growled with frustration. "What?! That rotten good-for-nothin'! We've been waitin' for that bonehead while he's just kickin' back in his dorm?!"

“You really shouldn’t have expected any better of him.” Yuu rolled her eyes, then thanked the portrait. “Oh, but one last thing, do you know where his dorm is? We’re… new, too.”

“It’s in the eastern building,” he said.

Yuu thanked the portrait again before following a seething Grim, her feet barely touching the floor as she practically flew after the cat.

A headache pounded against her temples.

You’re an idiot for running around after that freak. He hurt you, didn’t he? Leave him and go on your own. It’s better that way.

Shut up.

_______________________

“Yeah, right, like I’m gonna wash a hundred windows. I’m just gonna head back and—”

Grim rounded a corner, forcing Yuu to abruptly spin on her heels. She spotted Trappola immediately, looking no worse for wear and obviously about to scram. She frowned.

"You ain't goin' anywhere, not until you finish your punishment, ya no good slacker!” Grim shouted, hounding on Trappola, who froze, horror replacing his smug contentment as he recognized the two of them.

“Oh oh, they saw me,” he whispered.

Yuu rolled her eyes, slowing to a stop a few feet away from him. “We can hear you, too,” she muttered. And if you don’t do your part, I’ll— She shook her head. “C’mon, Trappola, let’s just get this done with—”

Instead of listening to her, or acknowledging her presence, Trappola took off like a startled rabbit, running as fast as he could in the opposite direction. "Catch me if you can!" he called out, but Grim was already running after him, forcing Yuu to sprint after the two.

Why is it always these two?!

Yuu sped off after them, her movements awkward with her hands buried in her robes. Screw it. Ripping her bandaged hands out of her pockets, she barreled forward, almost clocking a student at full-speed if he hadn’t jumped out of the way.

“Sorry!” she yelled. “I’m in a hurry!”

“What’s happening?!” the boy shouted. He caught up to her, matching her pace. He looked only slightly winded, his cheeks flushed a light pink. “Are you in trouble?!”

They ducked underneath some floating books, the poor student levitating them dropping the enchantment just after they passed; Yuu cringed when the books hit the floor. The sound was loud enough to wake the dead.

“That guy—” Yuu jabbed her finger at Trappola, mentally whispering a small sorry to the poor guy behind them. “Is trying to run away from his punishment!”

The blue-haired boy tilted his head, his eyes filled with a calculating glint as he looked towards Trappola’s fleeting form. What Trappola didn’t have in physical prowess—at least compared to Yuu—he had in distance and his head-start, making it harder for them to catch up. "You want me to cast a spell to stop him?”

Grim panted, attempting to catch his breath before answering, "Yeah, do something! Anything! Just stop that punk from runnin'!”

“Yes, please!” she shouted.

“But how to stop him?” the boy whispered to himself. “Like, freeze his legs? Bind them with rope? Or maybe I could… Hmm… No…”

Grim twitched with irritation. “No need for all that thinkin’! Just stop him already! Do something!”

For once, Yuu agreed.

The boy’s eyes sparked with realization. “Aha! I got it! I summon thee… something heavy!”

A large cauldron materialized out of thin air, crashing down towards Trappola with dizzying speed. He didn’t have a chance to dodge before it flattened him, putting his escape to a complete stop. Yuu couldn’t stop herself from cringing as it collided with him, his muffled yelp echoing in the hall.

She hid her hands before walking closer to the crash-site. The other two followed.

“What the fuck, man?! What even is this?”

Grim laughed uproariously. “Look, Yuu! The cauldron squashed him flat! Haha! That’s what you get!”

Yuu hung back as their helper went to lift the cauldron off of Trapola, but secretly agreed with Grim. If Trappola had minded his own business, Yuu wouldn’t be anywhere near this situation. If Grim hadn’t been so quick to anger, she wouldn’t be here. If—

If, if, if. Get a grip, Yuu.

As soon as the cauldron was moved, Trappola dragged himself upwards, struggling to catch his breath. He shot the three of them a nasty glare. “What’s the big idea?! That really fuc—” Aggravated, he sighed, dragging his hand down his face. “Couldn’t you have done it with something smaller? I’m not made of stone, y’know—”

Grim snickered. “That’s wha you get for shirkin’ your duties, you lazy bum! I say it serves ya right!”

Yuu stepped forward. Her vision blinked out for a moment, replaced with nothing but darkness, before swiftly returning. She blinked before shaking her head and looking forward. The movement felt a bit stilted, but her attention was stolen by the argument in front of her before she could analyze it further.

Trappola’s face soured, but his attention was dragged away by the sight of the boy standing in front of Yuu. He pointed at his accusingly. “This is your fault, you threw that thing without any care in the world!”

Blue-haired boy shrugged. “I couldn’t just let you run away. Fulfill your responsibilities, if you don’t mind. The sooner the merrier.”

“The headmage ordered it,” Yuu added, taking a sick pleasure in how Trappola’s eyes narrowed. He looked downright pissed.

Somewhere, she thought to stop antagonizing him—it didn’t go so well last time, Grim proved it—but doing so felt like a balm on broken skin, rejuvenating her and healing what was broken.

Trappola grumbled. Unfortunately for him, however, he wasn’t left with much of a choice. “Fine! I’ll help you with your stupid chores—” Yuu snorted. “But mark my words, this isn’t over!”

The blue-haired boy raised an eyebrow, bewildered. “You have to wash a hundred windows as punishment? What the heck did you do?!”

Trappola rolled his eyes, looking like the picture-perfect image of an irate teenage boy. “I was just screwing around with that furball a little.”

Everyone remained silent. The boy, even though he hadn’t been there, seemed to know that wasn’t half of it. Trappola conceded after an awkward second, coughing to clear his throat. “Okay, whatever, the Queen of Hearts’ statue got a bit charred. Sue me.”

The student’s eyes widened. Yuu guessed the statues were important earlier, even before the accident, but seeing just how astonished he was painted a vivid picture of just how highly those people (and animals) were regarded. “The statue… of the Queen of Hearts…” he mumbled. He stared into Trappola’s eyes as though he were begging him to say sike, but nothing happened. His face hardened. “How did you manage to char the statue? Do you know how important that statue is to the school?!”

Grim rolled his eyes at the on-going lecture, but he looked more pleased that Trappola was getting scolded than annoyed—he was impatient, but he was petty. Yuu could tell.

“After you managed to get into this school, how could you get into trouble on the very first day?!”

Trappola grimaced and tried to redirect the conversation (i.e., major scolding by a stranger) “Ugh, shut up already! Who are you, anyways?”

“My name is Deuce. Deuce Spade,” he introduced himself. He frowned. “You don’t even remember your own classmate? Uh…” Deuce floundered for a second, his lips forming names that didn’t quite fit.

Yuu rolled her eyes so hard they practically flew to the back of her head. Of course she meets every single idiot on the first day of a school she’s not even attending!

“You don’t remember my name either, huh?”

Deuce snapped his fingers. “Ace Trappola, right?” He looked triumphant. “I remember you now. We’re in the same class. But really, how could you already get into trouble on your first day? And to makes things more serious—”

Yuu tuned him out, the boy’s bickering quieting to mere background noise.

Her wrists ached. It felt like she had phantom pains, but she knew her hands were still attached. She knew, logically, that she hadn’t lost them—not yet—but the what-ifs were overwhelming. What if I can’t use them again? What if they don’t heal? What if…

And her head. She’s never felt so much pain at once before, and it drove tears to her eyes. She just wanted it to stop. Her head pulsed with agony, her ring throbbing alongside it, and she wanted everything to stop.

“—Where’d that furball run off to!?”

Yuu jolted forward, her breathing running her lungs ragged. Trappola scowled at the empty hallway, but Deuce was looking at her with concerned eyes, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Before she could say anything, Trappola tugged Deuce toward him with a rough hand on his classmate’s shoulder. “This is partially your fault, so you gotta help me catch that furball!”

“How is this my responsibility?!”

Trappola, determined to catch Grim, was growing increasingly impatient. “Grim's useless janitor friend can't use magic. That means this is up to you and me!”

Yuu’s cheeks heated up. Useless?! “I’ve fought—” Witches bigger than this hallway, was what she was going to say, but held her tongue. She took a deep breath, struggling for air, for patience.

She took off down the hall. The pulsating

Deuce and Trappola jumped back as she rushed forward, startled yells fighting to meet her ears. Their footsteps sounded out a moment later, hurried.

Yuu’s feet carried her, heavy with fatigue and dizziness, toward Grim’s figure; it multiplied, forming multiple of him, but the magical haze surrounding the Grim on the right told her no lie, and so she followed him with unnering accuracy.

Grim looked back at her, his paws making nothing but a soft, almost silent noise. A fang poked out from behind his lip, his ears perked and alert. He was enjoying this. “You can’t catch me, henchman! I’m too slick to be caught!”

Despite his taunting, nothing could mistake him quickening his pace for anything but fear. He masked it well, but the smell of it was loud, suffocating. Yuu was achingly familiar with it.

Deuce and Trappola rounded the corner, not far behind, and both were determined to capture Grim as well. “OI! Grim! Get our fuzzy butt back here!” Trappola yelled.

The cat turned around and stuck his tongue out, letting out a laugh. “You’re gonna have to try harder than that!”

______________________

Grim, now perched high upon a chandelier, looked down at them with a mocking smile. To Yuu, it seemed more akin to a demented grin than anything. “You’ll never get me up here!” he gloated.

Deuce’s eyes narrowed and he grasped his pen tighter. “No fair climbing up onto the chandelier, you coward!”

Trappola and Yuu shot him twin incredulous looks. Does Grim seem like the type to ‘play fair’? Yuu thought bitterly. She ached to massage her temples, the headache that formed festering and spreading. Her ring had stopped thudding in time with her head as they chased Grim, but the dull sheen of the gem was worrying.

Kyubey, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I really wish you were here right now.

Deuce’s eyes sparkled, his concentrated frown morphing into a dazzling grin. “I have an idea!”

“What?” Trappola frowned. Then, his face drew tight with fear and he jumped back. Deuce’s pen was pointed directly at him. “What’s the big idea?! Why’re pointing that at me?”

“I’m going to launch you,” Deuce said, raising his hand to illustrate his idea.

Despite his confidence, Yuu only felt dread. The only magic she’d seen so far had been catastrophically dangerous. If she’s right—and she probably is—this was going to end in complete disaster. She didn’t think she could handle any more accidents today.

Trappola seemed to agree, as he shuffled backwards even further. He shook his head fervently, his hands raising to form an ‘X’ across his chest. “No way, dude. Are you nuts?!”

Trappola’s protests were cut cut as Deuce flicked his pen, an odd chant resonating in the air. Suddenly, Trappola was propelled up and up, towards the chandelier where Grim had taken refuge.

Yuu gaped. “Oh, no,” she mumbled. Her eyes were trained on the wobbling chandelier, which was already delicately balanced. With Trappola’s added weight, it was most definitely going to fall. And badly, at that. “Get down!” she yelled. “It’s going to fa—”

Grim and Trappola screamed as they slid off the nose diving chandelier. They both grunted as their backs hit the floor with a sharp crack. Yuu and Deuce grimaced at the sound before rushing forward.

“You’re such… a fucking idiot…” Trappola panted, glaring at Deuce. Pain summoned a sheen of tears in his eyes, but he blinked it away. “You could’ve killed us! And the—chandelier…”

Yuu felt a bit vindicated, looking at the two of them. Grim, who had burned her, and Trappola, who had mocked her, on their knees with pain gritting their teeth and lungs aching as they struggled to take in deep breaths.

The only thing missing was Crowley, who would show up and relentlessly scold the two for being out-of-touch idiots, rude children who needed discipline, amongst other things.

Deuce, on the other hand, wore guilt like he was born to. “I’m sorry,” he apologized. He rubbed the back of his neck with his arm. “I should’ve done something to soften your fall after you caught him…”

Trappola, still on the ground, rolled his eyes. “You’re a complete and total moron! We got Grim, but we broke the chandelier! If the headmage finds out about this—“

Maybe I jinxed it a little, but Trappola made it a definite possibility that he’d show—

“If I find out about... what, dear Ace?"

Yuu almost snorted. I didn’t even get to finish the thought, and here he is. ‘Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.’

Trappola and Deuce froze at the sound of the headmage's voice, both of their throats bobbing as they gulped. Yuu took a subtle step back, distancing herself from the disaster trio.

“Ah, Headmaster Crowley! We... uh... we were just...”

Crowley’s hands shook as he looked at the destruction. The chandelier crumbled into itself even more, as though saying, ‘yes, I am completely destroyed, and it’s their fault’. Yuu watched him close his eyes for a moment before he looked at the trio, his eyes blazing. His not-so-thinly-veiled anger exploded when he opened his mouth, yelling, “You! Three! Again! What have you done this time?!”

Ace couldn't help but look around nervously, sensing the impending trouble.

Trappola tenderly stood, his body shaking with what must be a combination of soreness and anxiety. Grim remained on the floor, holding himself impossibly still.

Crowley snarled, his hand clenching so tightly around his staff that Yuu was sure it was going to break. It didn’t, but the headmage seemed like he needed some destruction-based stress-relief. “Burning a statue wasn't enough for you? Now you've destroyed a chandelier?! Enough. All of you are expelled!”

Trappola and Deuce’s eyes widened with horror. Even Yuu, who wasn’t enrolled, recoiled in shock.

Deuce shot forward, stumbling over himself as he pleaded with the headmage. “headmage, please give me a second chance! I can’t get expelled from this school, I need to be here!”

Crowley shook his head, brooking them no sympathy. “Your actions have consequences, and breaking school property is a serious offense. Blame yourself for your own foolish behavior!”

“I’ll pay for the damages! However much it costs!”

Crowley scoffed. “That chandelier is no mere light fixture. It is a magical chandelier. Its candles are powered by a magical energy source, enchanted so that they will burn for eternity. It was created for us by a legendary artificer, possibly their finest creation. It has been here since the school was established, and—” He took a deep breath. “—I imagined it would be here forevermore. Considering its historical value, I would estimate its worth to be no less than a billion thaumarks. And you intend to repay that sum?”

the poor guy was left speechless, realization sinking in. A billion thaumarks?! That was a ludicrous amount. They couldn't pay it back even if they dedicated their entire lives to working.

Ace looked at crowley, “B-But I'm sure with your magical talent, sir, you could snap your fingers and fix it right up!”

Crowley took a step forward, a menacing glint in his eyes. “Are you implying that I'm some sort of miracle worker? Do you think I can just snap my fingers and make the chandelier magically appear back to its former glory as it was? Even magic has its limits. Furthermore, its magestone - the figurative heart of any magical artifact - is cracked. A magestone cannot easily be replaced. I fear the candles of this majestic chandelier will never burn again.”

Yuu sucked in her lip, awkwardly watching as the scene unfolded.

A billion… Yuu wasn’t sure about this world’s currency, but a billion of anything is sure to be a lot. Deuce wouldn’t be able to pay a fraction of that, and from the look on Crowley’s face, he knew it.

Crowley was still speaking, “—Even magic has its limits. Furthermore, its magestone, the figurative heart of any magical artifact, is cracked. A magestone cannot easily be replaced. I fear the candles of this majestic chandelier will never burn again.”

Unbidden, she remembered her own precious stone, her soul gem, and was struck with horror. It can’t be fixed? I’ll stay like this… forever?

The weight of their situations settled across each of their shoulders, and for once, it was completely silent. No one dared to say anything, and as Yuu wallowed in doubt and self-pity, Deuce spoke up, his voice barely anything but a whisper.

“You said… something about a magestone?”

Crowley frowned at the boy, but replied anyway, his voice stilted. “Yes, as I mentioned before, the chandelier's magestone is cracked. Replacing a magestone is an extensive process. It's not a simple task…”

I need to find Kyubey. I need to find them. I NEED TO—

Her knees felt weak, not unlike how they were the night of her first witch-hunt, but a more primal fear encapsulated her very being. Her soul gem, still shining with its meager light, still intact, was going to break. And you can’t… You can’t replace soul gems like you can a magestone. It’s—not possible. Right?

“Hey, henchman!”

Yuu came back to herself. Her arms slowly unwrapped themselves from around her waist, and she blinked at Grim slowly, who watched her with narrowed eyes. “... You alright?”

Your fault, your fault, I hate you!

“Fine, sorry.” After the haze disappeared from her eyes, she looked around. The headmage was gone, and Deuce was arguing with Trappola a few feet away from them. “Where’d the headmage go?”

“He left a few minutes ago,” Deuce said, roughly pulling away from Trappola, who grumbled under his breath. “We’re going to go find the magestone, so let’s get going.”

We? “Uh—”

Trappola glared. “Just c’mon. The cat you’re in charge of helped make this mess, the least you could do is come with. Anyway, as useless as you two are, the headmage said you had to come.”

Grim growled. “Don’t act like I didn’t smoke ya when we fought before! If you hadn’t burnt the statue, I’d have hit ya head on!”

“You say that as if that’d be a better outcome!”

“For me, it would’ve been,” Yuu mumbled. Deuce glanced at her curiously, but she shook her head. Oops, hadn’t meant for anyone to hear me. Good thing (for Yuu) that Deuce was more worried about the magestone and didn’t question her.

“Let’s go already!”

Deuce, for once agreeing with the red-head, nodded. He clenched his fist in front of his chest, taking a deep breath. “I can do this!”

“‘We’, you idiot, or did you forget we were here, or somethin’—”

“Shut up, Ace!”

________________________

Yuu stepped through the mirror.

It felt… ridiculously easy, like she was being ferried along by something instead of ‘swimming in molasses’ (per Trappola’s words on mirror travel), as if she were out of her body and flowing through a stream of gentle water.

Luckily for her, though, she did not go through water, and came out the mirror dry and only minorly dizzy.

“So this is the Dwarfs' Mine... Long ago, this mine was flush with magestones.” Deuce spoke. He came out of the mirror bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, looking around the area with a mixture of awe and apprehension. It showed in his furrowed brow and his tense shoulders, but his eyes didn’t lie, either. They sparkled with curiosity.

“It’s a lot darker than I imagined,” Yuu commented. If not for light of the moon, she doubted they’d be able to see at all.

“The mines have been abandoned for a long time,” Deuce said. “There’s not exactly any traffic here, so there’s no lights, either.”

Trappola snorted. “We’re mages, dingus, just use your pen.”

“That’s—I didn’t say we couldn’t do that, I was just explaining…!” Deuce gave up with a harsh eye roll. Yuu patted his back in sympathy, a tender motion borne from caution rather than care. Her bandages were still a crisp white, the magic preserving them (or so the kitchen ghost’s said) keeping them from fraying and she wanted them to stay that way.

One thing was for certain, though: Trappola had a way of just getting under people’s nerves without even trying.

“There!” Grim called, pointed at a lone house in the distance. “Let’s go check it out.”

“Who appointed you leader?” Yuu snarked. “But yeah, if we can find something to mine up the stone, if we find the stone… That’d be helpful. Unless you guys can do it with magic?”

Deuce shook his head. “We’re new to more advanced magic, and when we find the magestone, we have to be careful with it. We haven’t learned much of anything yet, so it’d be best to go the pickaxe route.”

Yuu looked at Trappola. He shrugged, nodding. “He’s not wrong,” he said, “I know more magic than him, obviously, but not anything like that. I’d probably just scratch the thing and then we’d be screwed.”

Deuce ignored the insult while Yuu sighed, but despite the tense atmosphere, they headed toward the house. Grim was already a few feet in front of them, his eager pace betraying his excitement. Somehow, she expected him to be afraid of the dark.

With his fire, he probably never has, now that she thinks about it. He wielded it without fear, anyway, and wouldn’t she know about that?

They reached the house quickly, but it was eerily silent, no sound coming from within. Truly and completely abandoned, as Deuce said. “Hello?!” Deuce called. “Anybody there?”

“Didn’t you just say that this place was abandoned?” Trappola said, idly fiddling with his mage-pen. He looked bored, but Yuu could see the underlying nerves underneath the facade.

“The mines,” Deuce corrected. “But I guess everything got abandoned, huh?”

The cobwebs, broken floorboards, and rusted metal were more than enough to paint a picture. The items strewn across the lawn were messy and displaced, as though thrown to the ground in a hurry. Yuu didn’t have a good feeling about any of this, but something about this place set off her ‘something bad is going to happen’ alarm.

Deuce maneuvered up the stairs, cracked and dilapidated as they were, and pushed the door open. It struggled against him, but eventually opened with a long and loud creak.

The back of her neck tingled. Yuu’s head whipped around, her heart echoing in her ears.

“Wow, everything’s so… tiny.”

Nothing was there. Yuu’s shoulders slumped. “Hurry up, guys!” she called. “We need to get out of here and get the stone, remember? Stop…” She paused to actually see what they were doing. “Gaping at tiny furniture? Seriously, what are you two doing? And—where’s Grim?”

The two stopped. “Uh,” Deuce started, “he was right t—”

Grim’s muffled voice echoed throughout the clearing. “Henchman, look what I found!” He barreled out of the front door, a book clenched between his jaws.

Trappola ignored him, rolling his eyes. “Right, well, I found a pickaxe, so let’s just get on with this shitshow, okay?” He walked further into the house and came back out with said pickaxe resting on his shoulder.

Deuce nodded, summoning a light with his pen. “Yeah, we only have until morning. We have to make every second count!”

Until morning? “Why do I feel like I’m missing crucial information here?”

“Henchman! C’mon!”

Yuu turned. The book Grim held was laying on the floor. Grim looked at her, expectant. “Fine. What even is this…?” Gently, she scooped the book up with her hands. Her fingers were stiff, but they gave just enough so she could flip the cover open.

It looked and read like a diary, its pages filled with hand-written notes and multiple spelling mistakes. “‘Started collecting the stones we mined yesterday, delivering them to Doc…’ Huh, it’s a diary explaining how they work at the mine.”

“Hey, you two!” Grim yelled. His voice was ear-piercing against the silence, no sound to help muffle him. Yuu flinched despite herself. “Come look at this!”

“What even is it? A book?” Trappola snorted. “What, finally decided to read up?”

Deuce elbowed him. “Shut up,” he hissed.

“Whatever. It was just a joke, anyway.”

Yuu turned the book around so Deuce could read the pages as well, intentionally blocking Trappola’s view. Petty, yes, but well-deserved. “It’s about the mining process,” she explained. “The stones were found deep in the mine and they would collect the stones to bring them to Doc, whoever that is, who would check the stones and see if they’re up to snuff, basically. This place is abandoned, so there’s probably no fresh magestones, but, if we’re lucky, the stones not good enough were thrown back into the mine. And…”

Deuce’s eyes lit up. “We can grab one of them!”

Yuu nodded, smiling at him. “Exactly. That’s if my theory is correct, though. I could be wrong.”

“Let’s hope not,” Trappola said, dropping the pickaxe. It landed on the ground once, bounced dangerously close to his toes before landing again, stilling against the grass.

“Oh, also, Yuu—” Deuce paused, his eyes glued to the book. “What happened to your hands?”

He looked up from the bo—her hands and frowned. “Did you get hurt or something?”

“He didn’t have them earlier,” Trappola added, eyeing the bandages. “Maybe he got hurt cleaning? What happened, you tripped and fell?” He snorted. “That’s so lame.”

Don’t do anything rash. Don’t, Yuu, it’s not worth it.

“It’s nothing,” she said blankly. “Just… scraped my palms. That’s all.”

Deuce nodded, worry vanishing in an instant. Trappola didn’t say anything, but he knew she wasn’t saying everything. She could tell by his eyes. “Let’s go,” she mumbled hurriedly, dropping the book and darting forward. “We… only have until morning, so every moment counts.”

____________________

"Well..that’s uh..quite the sight.”

The entrance of the mine loomed before them, its gaping black maw seeming to swallow the remaining daylight. Dark shadows filled the depths within, creating an ominous atmosphere that seemed to hint at the danger waiting within.

Grim shivered, his tail slightly puffed up as he stared up at the mine. “Myah..that place looks dark and scary..”

The entrance of the mine loomed over them, a gaping maw of nothingness that sucked up and devoured all light. Shadows filled the depths within, spilling out and dimming the surroundings with darkness.

Yuu shivered. This place was wrong. It almost felt like a Witch’s labyrinth, but it couldn’t possibly be one, could it?

Grim’s tail puffed up, no doubt just as anxious as she was. “Myah… It looks dark and scary…”

Trappola rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re scared of a little cave, man.”

Bristling, Grim glared at the boy. “Scared? Me? Pfft, as if! I’m not scared of some stupid cave!”

You should be, Yuu thought wildly. She would be able to detect if a Witch were here, wouldn’t she? That’s what Kyubey said. Right? Her mind was jumbled, and that night seemed like so long ago, making her memories almost hazy, and she couldn’t truly remember what it said. Her teeth grit grimly. I guess I’ll find out.

“Let’s go,” she said, her voice barely louder than a whisper. Without a second thought for hesitation, Yuu took the plunge and entered the cave.

.

.

Nothing happened.

The others let out a sigh of relief, but Yuu kept her guard up. It was an easy thing to do with the cold scent of poison in the air—if she was cold before, she was freezing now—and the only thing missing was her rapier, barred from her hand due to injury.

With her hands the way they are, she won’t be able to fight like she did before, making an advantage crucial. If there wasn’t a Witch yet, there could still be familiars around, and she wasn’t too keen on getting ambushed.

Ears straining, she tried to listen for any abnormal sounds. Giggles, heaving breaths, swishing of cloth, anything. But she could only hear their footsteps, nothing more. She squinted her eyes as they adjusted to the darkness.

A flash of glimmering white nearly blinded her. “Are those… ghosts?”

“I think so,” Deuce whispered from beside her. “What should we do about them? Would spells even work on them?”

“They should,” Trappola answered. “Just gotta aim and we should be fine. They don’t look too strong anyways.”

Yuu’s eyes adjusted, revealing the ghost’s shimmering forms, ethereal as they shifted and glided through the air as though they were dancers. They looked completely natural despite the abnormality that was their existence.

“We should sneak past them,” Yuu decided. “There’s no need to get into a fight and you’re both students and my h—I’m magicless, so… It’d be smarter to avoid them entirely.”

Grim nodded, looking freaked out. He hadn’t said a single word since they’d entered the mine. Yuu was thankful for it.

Trappola and Deuce shifted to the side to let her lead the way forward, carefully matching her step for step as she inched closer to the singular pathway, only a few feet away from the ghosts. She could hear their hearts pounding in their chests, the way their breathing stuttered in their throats as they tried to stifle any stray noises.

Yuu, in comparison, moved swiftly and silently despite her handicap. Like a cat with all nine lives left, confidence aided her movement. She stifled the urge to sweep away stray pebbles and rocks, knowing it would make unnecessary noise, and shifted her feet to avoid them.

However, Deuce wasn’t so deft.

With a startled yelp, his foot slid out from under him, the rock responsible nearly nailing him in the face as it ricocheted off the wall and back toward him.

“Shit!” Trappola cursed, darting forward just as the ghosts turned around. He hauled Deuce up and ran toward Yuu, Grim following hot on their heels. Grimacing, Yuu backed away, internally begging for the ghosts to be kind and forgiving, and—

No deal.

“Hehehe! Visitors! The first in ten years!”

The ghosts glided closer to the group, their smiles mad and wide, their teeth sharp and dripping with saliva. Their faces were devoid of human features, the sockets that would have held their eyes laid empty and the cartilage that previously made up their noses was gone; it took everything Yuu had to not gag.

“Do make yourselves at home,” one said, giggling.

“You can stay with us forever!”

Trappola whipped out his pen and sent a strong gust of wind, magical in nature, at the ghosts. It sent them careening backward, their flickering forms bending backward so far that if they were alive, they wouldn’t be for long. Yuu itches to summon her rapier, her safety given physical form, but dares not to try. If she finds that it’s broken, she will break, and then she’ll—

“Let’s go!” Trappola yelled. He gripped Yuu by her elbow and sprinted deeper into the mine, not once looking back to make sure the others followed. It’s only because of her enhanced body that Yuu does not trip and wreck her face with how fast they are running, and the motions of her accelerating heart drag her from her mind, a blessing in and of itself.

They slow to a stop. Grim crashed into Trappola’s legs and stumbled away with shaky paws, looking dazed. Trappola panted like a wild animal, his knees shaking and his face pale. Yuu nearly slammed her hands against the cave wall to stop herself from crashing into it before she willed her body to move and ended up slamming her back against it instead. Only Deuce stood unharmed, his body tensed as he carefully maneuvered his way to a steady stop.

“This is not worth it,” Yuu groaned. “I feel like I got run over.”

“Of course it’s worth it!” Deuce argued. “I can’t be expelled, or my mom…” He clenched his fists. “You might not be getting expelled, but we are! I can’t do that to her…” he whispered, briefly closing his eyes. Then, they sparked open, determination shining vibrantly within his pupils.

Yuu had to give it to him, he was stubborn.

“We’re so close, we can’t give up now!”

Trappola, finally having caught his breath, glared. “We’re only in this position because of you, just as a reminder.”

Deuce bristled at the accusation, his eyes narrowing at Trappola. "Oh? I'm pretty sure this all started because you tried to shirk your window-cleaning punishment!”

Can they not?

Trappola waved his hand dismissively. “So, we're bringing up ancient history now? Then if you wanna get down to brass tacks, this all started when furball torched that statue!”

Grim snarled at him. “Myah?! Maybe you shouldn'ta made fun of me, then!”

Yuu tensed, her body going cold. Sweat beaded lightly across the back of her neck as she turned around, her ears straining. What was that? Whatever noise that was was close. It haunted her like an echo, and she struggled to listen for it again as she juggled her nerves in her metaphorical hands.

The arguing continued. Yuu’s brows knit anxiously as she waited to hear the noise, a growl she was certain, again. “Quiet,” she hissed. The trio went silent.

“I smell something weird.” Grim frowned, her ears twitching and swiveling on his head as he sniffed the air.

This time, everyone could hear it. A deep, wrathful grumble, sounding more like a knife dragging itself over a piece of glass than anything a human could make. Without a second thought, Yuu mindlessly summoned her rapier to hand, her grip flimsy and weak but desperate.

Trappola cursed, jumping away from the blade as it nicked him in the thigh, drawing a few drops of blood that struggled to drip from the initial wound. “What—” he started, but the growl reverberated against the walls, closer still, silencing everyone as they backed away, their breaths stolen from their chests.

“We need to leave,” Yuu whispered urgently. She could handle a few ghosts, but whatever that was? In her state? She’d be dead in minutes!

Deuce stubbornly shook his head. “We need the magestone,” he said. His face was as pale as the moon, but his stubbornness won out. “I’m not leaving until we—I—get it!”

“You’re going to die!” Trappola whisper-shouted. “Are you an idiot?!”

They reached the end of the wall, their backs flush against the moss and rock as though they were trying to fuse into it. Yuu felt it when the thing stepped this time, the walls shaking as it moaned and groaned, loud enough for the heavens to hear.

Biting back a whimper, Yuu pushed down the urge to run.

The monster rounded the corner, gigantic and drenched in ink, its form an amalgamation of it and shadows, married together in unholy matrimony. The mixture sloshed around in the jar that made up its head as it stepped closer. It reminded Yuu of the waves that made up the ocean, wracked with rage and the power of nature. She hadn’t been scared then, but she was terrified now.

“Stoooonesss… aaare miiiiiine!” It screeched.

It’s not a Witch, but what could it be?!

Yuu clenched her hand around her rapier, ignoring the sudden smarting of her fingertips, and ran straight at the demon. Her blade ignited with light, dimmed and weak, but alive, and she thrust it forward, vision whiting out as a fiery path traveled its way through her veins and suffocated her wrists. Her hands, once dulled without feeling, erupted with agony, and she bit back a choked scream. Her mouth fills with blood, teeth embedded in her tongue, but she struggles on.

Trappola is quick to assist, winding up spell after spell without fail, and it prompts Deuce and Grim to follow, the former winding an arm around Yuu’s waist to pull her back just as she’s about to be decapitated by the monster’s pickaxe.

“Thanks,” she pants, blinking away tears. She looks down briefly and gags. “Shit.”

Grim’s fire fills the cave, heat barreling across the walls. It tastes like blood and burnt meat and suffering. Yuu’s head spins with it all, but her rapier never leaves her hand. Safety, made physical.

Despite their relentless attempts, their attacks are ultimately futile, each strike doing little to no damage to the menacing ink creature. Its form appeared to swallow up the attacks, the ink reforming instantly.

Undeterred, the three of them continue without pause, but Yuu’s lungs ached and her ring grew dimmer with each passing moment and she’s…

She’s—

“Hey, look!” Trappola yelled, pointing at something further into the cave. Yuu was too blind to see it, but she squinted anyway. “There’s something back there!”

“A magestone!” Deuce gasped. He flicked his pen again, raining down a small group of cauldrons onto the monster’s head. The glass cracked slightly, but remained intact. Deuce didn’t notice, his eyes darting back and forth between the monster and the magestone.

The creature stumbled closer to Deuce, letting out a guttural bellow. Yuu ground her teeth, her ears throbbing.

“Stonessss aare mineeee!”

It took another step closer, and with it they were officially out of space. Yuu looked back, eyeing the passageway to her right—the one they came in from, if memory serves. “Run!” she shouted, shuffling toward the opening. Her knees quaked with each step, her breathing stuttering in her chest, and just as she was about to make it, she fell, crashing down onto her right leg with a sickening crunch.

“Fuck!” she screamed. Her rapier disappeared before it could clatter to the floor, no butterflies or bright lights in sight. She wept softly, cradling the limb as though it were a babe.

Grim threw one last ball of fire and sprinted after her, Deuce and Trappola following close behind, throwing spells behind them rapidly. Trappola hauled her up and with Deuce’s help, they tugged her into the tunnel, Yuu forcing her legs to move despite the pain.

“Here!” Deuce quickly tugged Yuu from Trappola, pocketing his pen, and swept her up into his arms, cringing as Yuu cried out. Her hands, bandages sopping wet with blood, scrambled to grasp his collar, an anchor as she clenched her eyes shut. Each step was another bout of white-hot torment, a terrible throbbing that racked her core, but she would endure. She had to.

Another crash echoed from behind them, rocks falling from the ceiling and walls. Trappola grunted as one slammed onto his head, his pen faltering for a moment before he returned with a vengeance, wind picking up the sprawled rocks and gathering them to form a gigantic ball. He launched it backwards, blind; Yuu hoped it would hit, if only to give them more time.

The ink-monster screamed in rage, its footsteps slamming to a stop. They reached the end, the moon bearing down on them intensely. The sight of it nearly caused Yuu to cry again, her head resting listlessly against Deuce’s chest. Her entire body felt heavy.

“What the hell,” Trappola panted. He sagged onto the grass, his hand gripping white-knuckled onto his mage-pen. Grim collapsed onto the ground, his body seemingly convulsing as he struggled to breathe. Deuce echoed Trappola’s sentiment, his grip on Yuu tightening as he looked back at the cave. He bit his bloody lip, gnawing on it anxiously.

“Are you alright?” Deuce asked her, blue eyes shining with worry. Yuu didn’t answer, couldn’t, and all at once, she seemed to fall apart. She trembled under the pressure, her body locking up and refusing to move.

Her ring was devoid of color.

Kyubey… where are you?

“Oh, shit, she’s—that’s a lot of blood, what…” Trappola fumbled with his pen, pointing it at her before thinking better of it. “Do you know any healing spells? I…”

“No, I don’t—”

“Yuu.”

She blinked her eyes open, staring vacantly into the sky. It was beautiful in a detached sort of way, as though the moon and stars were mere spectators to a grand show for their amusement. Their noble figures were unbearable, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away.

The voice sighed. “You need to use your grief seeds,” it said. “Really, why didn’t you think of that? You could have easily defeated that creature.”

She heard more than felt the sound of them digging in her pocket, pulling out her grief seeds. Yuu thought to grab them back—they’re mine, THEY DON’T BELONG TO YOU—but she didn’t move an inch.

Then, all at once, feeling returned to her. She gaped, choking on the influx of air flooding her lungs, and turned onto her side, rasping and spitting up bile as it struggled its way up her throat.

“Better?”

Yuu turned. “W-what…?”

Kyubey sat beside her, eyeing the stained grass blankly before locking eyes with her. “You will need to gather more grief seeds to completely heal, but you will be fine for a little while longer,” it explained.

She blinked. “What?”

Kyubey gestured to her ring, her soul gem. The crack, which had spanned the entire gem and nearly went all the way through, was less than half its original size. The gutting ache she’d been nursing all day was reduced to a mere sensitivity of her skin, and her sight was clear, untouched by pain.

Silently, she mourned the loss of her hard-earned bounty, her grief seeds. Her pocket was empty now, all four taken and used to heal her soul gem. Even with them, however, it remained damaged. Yuu was torn between rage and gratefulness. She was angry because Kyubey used them, angry because she’d worked so hard for them and they got used up so quickly because of some petty school-yard argument. She was grateful because without Kyubey, she’d be dead. In her chest, she could feel it, the cold and blistering numbness that accompanied death.

She’d been on the brink, just then, and her soul gem had echoed each and every sign.

Her blade, shrouded in a meager, flickering light.

Her beloved butterflies, previously unfettered, now shackled to the cage of her gem, her magic dwindling to nothing.

Her gem itself, bereft of light, of life, sitting dead within its cage—her ring—and her soul, floundering without purpose as it clawed its way to the heavenly light.

Then, she was saved.

Deuce’s hand clung to her shoulder as he shook her, patting her cheek and urgently calling her name. “Yuu? Yuu?”

Her lips trembled as they lifted to form a smile, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. “I’m alright,” she reassured him. Yuu was only partly lying. Her body was rejuvenated, eased of suffering for a few more moments, but her mind was in tatters. She hadn’t lasted long, being a magical girl, and while she was still here, she’d already succumbed to her injuries.

Without… Kyubey, she’d be dead. The reality of the situation sat like poison on her tongue. Bitterness scrambled to enshrine her heart, but warmth dragged her back.

Soft, silk-like fur shuddered beneath her hand.

They’d removed her bandages without her noticing, her scars bared to the world without fear. She was the opposite, stricken with it so forcefully that it was as if she’d tried swallowing glass as she tried to speak.

Blood, lodged within her throat, freed itself, and she coughed it up, nose curling as she spat it onto the dew-covered grass below. Grim shuffled away, nervously looking up at her. It was so out of character that it took a moment for Yuu to recognize him.

“You don’t look alright,” Trappola grumbled.

“Well, you’re not me, are you?” Yuu struggled to her feet, ignoring Kyubey hopping onto her shoulder, and crossed her arms. “Deuce, thank you again,” she said. “But, we need a plan—”

Trappola nodded. “I say we get the hell out of here. No way is school worth risking our lives over. And don’t even shake your head, Juice, you saw him! He basically got pulverized by that thing, is it really worth it?!”

Deuce looked away.

“I was hurt earlier.” Yuu rolled her eyes. “I’m fine now. I uh, healed up, I guess. We need a plan to get in, grab the magestone, and get out as fast as possible. Preferably soon, so you two don’t get expelled and I can go to bed.”

“Why are you helping me, anyway?” Deuce asked. “Not that I’m ungrateful! It’s just… you were hurt earlier, so it’d be smarter to lay low, wouldn’t it?”

Yuu sighed. “I didn’t even know what was happening. I kind of figured I was in trouble, too, so I came along. It’s whatever. I’m here now, and I’m pissed off, and I want to fight that thing. So, I’m staying.”

“... Right,” the duo said.

Trappola crossed his arms. “So, when did you get that sword-thing, anyway? And suddenly getting healed up despite us doing nothing. You’re not really magicless, are you?”

“Should I tell them? I don’t think they’re going to cooperate if I hide this…”

“It’s up to you, Yuu. Though, I do ask to be kept out of your conversation. Normal people without potential to become magical girls cannot see me, and for good reason. They’re not… ready.”

That wasn’t ominous at all. “I’ll keep it barebones, then.”

Yuu shifted, averting her eyes to the tree just between Deuce and Trappola. “I’m what’s called a magical girl. Basically, I fight monsters before they can harm people and collect what’s called grief seeds. They help me regenerate my magic.” She stopped.

“Oh. That’s it?”

“Yeah, basically. It’s not a very fun job, to be honest.” Not that she had much experience, but it was pretty evident that her life had taken a turn for the worst when she became a magical girl, though.

Trappola uncrossed his arms, looking vaguely disappointed. Deuce, unbeknownst to him, mirrored his expression. A match made in hell, those two. … Deuce was alright. “Just regular magic, then. I don’t know why I was expecting anything different…”

Grim licked his paw, eyeing her with a glint in his eye.

Aggravated, Yuu waved in Grim’s general direction. She was tired of talking, she wanted to go out and kill that thing already. “What, Grim?”

“Are you gonna rough him up like you did the ghosts?!” he burst out. “Listen, you two, he was so sca—cool. My henchman could easily beat that monster now that he’s all rested up. He’d do a much better job than you, that’s for sure.”

Trappola scowled. “Listen, dude, you did nothi—”

“Enough!” Yuu yelled. “Listen up, everyone,”—she glared at Grim, who looked momentarily appeased that Trappola got cut off; now, he pouted petulantly—”the monster is made up of some type of ink and shadows, darkness. Whatever. It’s resistant to physical attacks, and your solo magic attacks weren’t strong enough to damage it.”

Yuu took a deep breath. Kyubey’s watchful gaze continued to stare directly at her; it was unnerving but served as a wakeup call. It wasn’t quite adrenaline, but something coursed through her veins so fast that it made her feel awake, alive. Expectation.

She continued, “The glass-shaped head seems to be our weak point. Deuce already cracked it a bit earlier, so that’s where we’ll aim. We’ll have to do it from afar, though. It’s too strong and could snap us all in half before we could say ‘I’m sorry, don’t kill me’.”

“Right, that makes sense.” Deuce nodded. “But how are we going to weaken it from a distance? My cauldrons don’t do much, even after I hit it with the biggest one I could summon…”

It was his only ranged—possibly only in general—spell he knew, and if he couldn’t use that, he didn’t have much to contribute besides running around playing bait. Yuu figured, if anything, she could be bait, and—

“I have an idea!” she gasped. Pointing at Trappola, then Grim, she nodded resolutely. “Okay, you two, you guys need to broker a momentary peace because you need to team-up.”

“Brok—what are ya talkin’ about, henchman?”

Ignoring him, Yuu continued her explanation. “Trappola and Grim can disrupt its senses with their magic. Grim uses his fire, and Trappola enhances it with his wind magic, making an explosion that’ll both deafen and damage the monster. Deuce and I will close in on it while it's recovering and try to widen the crack, hopefully shattering it within a few hits or so.”

“If we can’t, though, we’ll have to back away and do it all over again.” She grasped Deuce’s forearm, staring into his eyes. He gulped. “Do you trust me?”

“... Yes?”

“Good.” She nodded. “You can stay a bit farther back, just in case, but with my rapier, I’ll have to be much closer than the rest of you.” She swept her hand toward the cave’s entrance, stifling the building anxiety in her chest. “If we can sneak up on it, we’ll have a chance to wind up more powerful spells before it notices us. Once it does, you’ll have to be quick on your feet. Prioritize survival before anything else. We’ll need to work together on this, so I’ll be counting on y—”

Trappola cut her off, snorting. “‘Together’? I already said this was a waste of time. I’m not going to get killed just because some mama’s boy doesn’t know when to quit and run away.”

Yuu frowned. Without him, Grim’s fire wouldn’t be strong enough to cause an explosion on its own. The monster was no human, and its flesh—if it ever had any—had all but rotted away. Now it was just a hunk of shadows and ink, a monster made real.

Deuce gaped at him, betrayal etched into his skin. “What?! Nuh-uh, not happenin'! I'd rather die than get expelled from Night Raven! How can you give up when the stone is right there?”

Trappola rolled his eyes. “Pfft. Big talk from someone who's not even half the mage I am. You want that stone so bad, go get it yourself. I'm out.”

Yuu couldn’t use her magic. Or, well, she could, but until her soul gem was completely healed, she figured it would be more taxing than usual. Something she wasn’t sure she could endure right now; she had no grief seeds, and she had to fight Witches to get them. Fighting some monster out in the middle of nowhere wasn’t part of her plan, not full-force in any case, and to make that plan a reality, she needed Trappola’s cooperation.

“Oh, yeah?! Fine, go back to your coop, you big chicken!” Deuce shouted. The vein in his forehead bulged as he regarded Trappola with an indignant glare, his shoulders shaking with the effort of holding back.

Punch him, punch him, punch him!

“Whaaaat? Just who are you callin’ a chicken?!”

Grim, having been sitting beside Yuu’s feet for the past few minutes, snickered. "Is it just me, or did Deuce, like, turn into a totally different person just now?”

He did, actually. Yuu was more than happy about it, though, as long as he sucker-punched Trappola and convinced him to stay and help out.

“Ah,” Deuce coughed, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “Sorry about that, lost my cool for a sec.”

“Alright, for the final time, that’s enough. We’re doing this together. If we want to succeed, we need to actually cooperate. No more petty arguments, it’s annoying.”

Kyubey hummed beside her. No one had spared it a single glance since it’d gotten here, and even Yuu had forgotten it was here, and it was perched on her shoulder! “Kyubey?” she asked hesitantly.

“Hmm? I was just thinking about how emotional you humans are. It certainly works in our favor overall, but it hardly seems efficient.”

“Not everything is supposed to be ‘efficient’,” she retorted.

The trio paused, looking at her with mirrored expressions of confusion. “Huh? Henchman, stop talking to yourself and being weird!” Grim ordered.

Yuu paused.

“They can’t see or hear me,” Kyubey answered her unspoken question. “It would be inconvenient otherwise.”

Useful, she thought idly. She didn’t say anything more, weary of the eyes on her.

“Sorry, I was just thinking.” Yuu nodded at Deuce, deciding to quell the oncoming protest before it could leave his lips. She frowned. “You understand, don’t you, Deuce? In order to not be expelled, working together is the better choice. Beyond expulsion, though—you want to live, don’t you?”

“What would happen if your mom got a call and her son was dead because he was too stubborn to work as a team?”

His face froze. Trappola glared at her. “What the fuck, man? That’s too far and you know it.”

She shrugged, crossing her arms. “I’m sorry, Deuce, but I’m not wrong. And you, Trappola—expelled, your bright future dimmed because you’re too much of a coward to, guess what, work as a team! We can easily kill that thing, it’d be a four versus one, it’s basically a free win! You just have to stay back and throw magic at it, I’ll be the one getting sliced at!”

She threw her arms up in the air. “It’s such a simple plan! I don’t get you at all!”

“Simple plan, sure,” Trappola agreed, “but our ‘teamwork’ is about as effective as a dead battery, if you hadn’t noticed. You know, the chandelier?”

“There’s a difference between then and now, and you know it,” she argued, her face twisted into a snarl. “But whatever, fine, you two get expelled and I become homeless. Perfect outcome, right?!”

Deuce opened his mouth, brows pinched in anger. “Don’t bring my—”

“I get injured because of you, I’ll become homeless because of you, and you have the audacity to try and worm your way out of this?!”

The group fell silent, surprised by Yuu's outburst. Even Grim was taken aback, his eyes wide and frightened. They all took a step away from her.

Yuu resisted the urge to smack some sense into the boys, resisted the urge to gnash her teeth and scream to the heavens—it wouldn’t do her any good; it was driving her crazy, actually, her insides queasy with restrained rage and her head tight with a growing headache. "I’ve had enough of all of you!”

The weight of her frustration settled on their shoulders and splintered the silent air. Yuu’s shoulders sagged, and she laughed. Laughed so she wouldn’t cry. She’d had enough of that for a lifetime, it felt like. “We have to be a team,” she said finally, her eyes closed and her voice monotone.

Repress it, she thought, ignore it.

“We have the ability to work together, and we will. We have a plan, we have the power to see it done, and we will work together or so help me, I will strangle all of you to death.” Her eyes popped open, and she smiled. It was not a kind one. “Got it?”

All three shivered. “Understood,” they answered in unison.

“Great. Let’s go.”

______________________

The trip to the cave wasn’t a long one. With Yuu back in good health for the time being, she was able to carry her own weight this time around, and that made a world of difference.

The plan was simple: sneak up on the monster, bombard it with enough spells (as a result of those spells an explosion occurs) to knock it down in order for Yuu to pepper the thing with enough strikes to down an entire army, and finally, Deuce uses blunt force to force the crack open from range (after Yuu had backed away). Rinse and repeat as needed.

“You ready?” she whispered to Trappola and Grim. They nodded, faces pale but hardened with determination. Trappola gripped his pen with a white-knuckled grip, his lips pursed with focus.

“If this fails, I’m going to haunt you forever,” Trappola whispers back.

Yeah, you probably would. “I’ll be counting on you.”

“Leave it to us, henchman!”

Yuu nodded at Deuce, who let out a heavy breath. The monster was at the other end of the cave, unaware of their presence. It muttered to itself in a language unintelligible to all of them, gurgles and splutters sounding natural and unnatural simultaneously. A language for monsters, maybe, one that humans couldn’t understand even if they tried.

All at once, the silence exploded.

Fire raced toward the monster without hesitation, Grim’s mouth opened wide as he spewed even more flames at the creature. Trappola followed up immediately, summoning up a storm that sucked up rocks and debris as it bolted after Grim’s flame.

Yuu closed her eyes as the two magics collided, a loud bang erupting in her ears and deafening her for a brief moment. Her ears rang as the dust settled.

The monster didn’t even have enough time to scream. It sat, hunched over and moaning with agony as it cradled its body close. Yuu raced forward, summoning her rapier and jumping up, the tip of her blade pointed downward and poised to pierce the crack within the glass-head.

With the monster incapacitated, it could do nothing to swat her away as she assaulted its head, blade swift and sure as it attempted to wrench the fissure open. She managed one last swing before its legs started to tremble, forcing her into an early retreat as it gained back its bearings.

“Deuce!” she called.

“On it!”

On time, cauldrons of various sizes rained down on the creature.

As fast as it began, it stopped, and Grim followed with only a moment’s hesitation, Trappola’s magic enhancing his own and bombarding the creature with another explosion.

“Shit,” she muttered. “Again!”

It didn’t fall, but its legs were trembling, and that was enough for Trappola and Grim. They let loose another stream of magic. Yuu watched anxiously as the monster turned toward Deuce, but before it could charge, another explosion pelted it, disrupting its movements.

She ran forward.

Time slowed.

CRACK!

Her breath left her, and she could only gasp, her scream swallowed up by her aching lungs. Cradling her left arm, Yuu sat up slowly, inching her way back and away from the monster.

It stood quickly, much faster than it had the first time, and Yuu’s heart sank.

It fucking out-played me?!

“Yuu!” Trappola yelled. “What do we do?!”

“Keep hitting it!” she screamed, ducking out of the way. Its arm, pickaxe forgotten, swung down where she was just sitting, a boulder-sized hole marking its home in the rock.

More fire attacked the monster and its head, with Deuce joining to infuse one of his cauldrons with explosive heat. Yuu ducked and swerved out of the way, her arm slowly but surely regenerating as she avoided further injury.

She didn’t have enough time to set it, so—

Another time, Yuu. Focus on not dying.

“Deuce, go get the stone!” Yuu yelled. She panted as she jumped back, avoiding a spray of ink. It budded up against her shoes, melting away some of the material and exposing the tips of her toes. It burned her where it touched, her skin sizzling and boiling.

She almost gagged.

The pain was almost inconsequential compared to Grim’s fire. She was able to forget it but not her body. Yuu collapsed, her foot sinking beneath her, but before she could completely fall, she caught herself with her hands and pushed herself under the monster's body. The monster screamed and pelted the ground around it with swipes of its fists, rage growing as each hit failed to reach her. The ground rumbled with every movement, rock breaking away and chipping against both her and the creature’s skin.

To the right— Yuu inched closer to Trappola.

His eyes widened. “No, don’t—”

The shadow covering her moved, shrouding her head.

Fuck, fuck, fuck— Yuu scrambled back, lurching to the side.

Crash! CRASH! It stomped once, then twice, the floor crumbling beneath the monster’s weight; it splintered and shrapnel went flying, nicking Yuu’s cheek. The creature wobbled backward, a low hum piercing the air as it regarded them all. The floor ripped apart a moment later, the opening growing into a chasm. Before she could fall, Yuu rolled back, her arms shaking with adrenaline.

Blood poured down her cheek.

As it reared its hand back, leg raising with the motion, she ducked to the right and put some distance between them. It blasted forward but missed, just shy of reaching her. She gripped her rapier tighter, settling into a crouch.

She needed to end its rampage before it wrecked the entire cave. One, two—

The monster roared, scrambling to grab hold of its pickaxe. A haze surrounded it, the glass of its head fogged up with heat. Pickaxe in hand, the thing lunged toward Deuce, who had just managed to slip behind it, but he was too slow—

“Deuce!” Trappola yelled, sending off a strong gust of wind magic at the creature. It bounced off it harmlessly. “Fucking—move, you idiot!”

Deuce reached out his hand, fingers grazing the magestone. He’s not going to turn in time. His head turned, his eyes widening with terror.

Yuu flew.

Splat.

She whimpered. The monster tore the pickaxe back, ripping it from her stomach and showering its front in her blood and guts. She staggered backwards, gasping soundlessly. Oh no, she thought, staring blankly at her shredded stomach. Her hands went to cover the mess, but they wouldn’t move.

“Oh, god,” Yuu whispered. Deuce yelled from behind her, her voice shrill. Hands scrambled against her back before losing purchase. The scent of blood was overwhelming.

The monster bellowed in triumph, raising its pickaxe once again. Move, she pleaded with her body, move!

By divine grace, she moved back. A small stumble, but movement all the same. The pickaxe, saturated with everything that made up Yuu, red and beautiful and deadly, embedded itself in the stone where she’d stood just moments ago.

Deuce, cradling the magestone with one hand, ripped her back as Trappola and Grim sent off spell after spell, their fury and horror and fear combining with enough force to total the entire cave system.

And it did.

Dust rained down on them all, the walls shaking with the force as the cavern started to collapse in on itself. Deuce flicked his pen, his panting loud and piercing in her ears, and summoned cauldrons the size of cars to crush the creature. It fell to the ground with a scream of rage, hands stuck and glued to the cauldrons as the cauldrons were infused with pure flame.

A sharp crack filled the air, and the scent of ink grew stronger. Yuu shuddered.

“Go! Oh—Go!” Trappola screamed, picked Grim up by the scruff of his neck and ran just as the ceiling collapsed. Deuce scrambled, his eyes darting to her face to her stomach and back again before gritting his teeth and picking her up.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. She didn’t have the strength to scream this time.

Heal already, you stupid body. Aren’t you supposed to be a magical girl?

As if on command, her stomach started stitching itself closed, the skin pulling taut as her organs were regenerated, filling the holes and gaps left behind by the near-bisection of her torso.

“Hey,” she muttered, gritting her teeth as her intestines connected to the lower part of her stomach. What an uncomfortable feeling. Deuce looked at her briefly, his eyes wet. “At least I make pretty good bait, huh…?”

“Shut up,” he hissed. “You’re not going to die. You’re going to heal like you did last time—”

She laughed softly, closing her eyes as the moon’s delicate light poured over them. “A bit ahead of you there,” she said, pointing to her stomach. It was already healed, good as new. “I’m just really fucking tired.”

He nearly dropped her when his shoulders sagged with relief. “Thank the Seven,” he whispered, panting. A tear streaked down his cheek and onto her forehead. “I don’t want you to die.”

She could hear the unspoken words he couldn’t say—I don’t want to watch someone else die ever again.

Me, too, Deuce.

“I’m okay,” she reassured him, smiling. It turned into a grimace as the motion pulled on the cut skin of her cheek. They caught up to Trappola and Grim quickly, the other two rushing up to them as soon as they passed the clearing. They were by the abandoned house from earlier, now, close to the mirror.

Trappola stared at her stomach in shock. It turned to relief swiftly after. “What the fuck.”

“Do you not know any other phrase, holy shit.” Yuu shook her head in exasperation.

“I think it fits this night perfectly, actually!” he retorted. “You basically died twice, and we don’t even know if that monster died or not!”

“Let’s go back and check, then,” she suggested, thanking Deuce as he gently set her onto the ground. Her feet were steady thankfully, and she started walking back toward the mine when Grim latched onto her ankle.

It throbbed painfully. Yuu snarled at Grim, eyes wild. “OW! What’s the big idea?!”

“Let us go back,” he argued. “You’re—”

“Completely healed.” Almost, but close enough. I can walk, and that’s good enough for now.

Trappola shook his head. “She’s got you there,” he said. Grim growled lowly, his ears flat against his head.

“Honestly, after you basically cremated my hands, I’d have thought you’d be less…” Her eyes narrowed. “Protective.”

Grim shrunk back at her tone. “... What do ya mean, henchman?”

“I mean, after you torched me during your fight with Trappola earlier, I’d have thought you didn’t care about me.”

They all gaped at her hands, Deuce and Trappola turning to Grim with wide eyes. The cat jumped up, tail held still as he inspected each hand. They weren’t a pretty sight—they were caked in dried blood, with ruined, dead skin, and dried pus-pots that left craters in what should have been delicate, uncalloused skin.

“I did this?” he asked.

And, oh, she didn’t like that tone. Guilty, soft, pitiful.

I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for this to happen. I’m sorry.

Yuu softened slightly. “It’s whatever,” she said eventually. She turned her head away as her eyes burned. “I can use them again, thanks to my healing, so I don’t care as much. It’s fine, just… be more careful, would you?”

Grim’s whiskers trembled. He nodded.

“Then we’re even, I guess.”

Deuce’s hand came to rest on her shoulder. “Let’s go back to the mine,” he said. “We’ll see if that thing is still there and if it is…” he bumped his fists together, a smirk crawling onto his lips. “We’ll finish him off easy—he’ll be done and dusted before he can even yell!”

Trappola rolled his eyes, but his smile betrayed him. Only Grim remained silent.

… Despite her words, she didn’t feel like anything was ‘even’.

____________________

After setting her arm, including a disastrous break (she’d never done it before, and she’ll hopefully never have to do it again—that was horrible), and letting her body heal, they headed off toward the mine. Yuu didn’t summon her rapier, not yet, but Deuce and Trappola’s pens were out, clenched in stiff hands.

She applauded them for it. If the monster was still there, they couldn’t let it get the upper hand on them.

“This way,” she whispered. They passed a fallen tree, which had stood upright earlier, and everyone grew more tense. If the monster got out and caused all this…

Yuu’s eyes sharpened. That could mean it wasn’t in the mine anymore. It could have returned after not finding them, but somehow, it seemed much less likely. It was determined to kill them for taking ‘its’ stone—distance wouldn’t stop it from hunting them down.

Trappola seemed to come to the same conclusion, smothering the flame from his pen. He eyed her, waiting for instruction. He was out of his element here, and to be honest, so was Yuu, but she had a bit more experience in things like this. (If one night of Witch hunting counted, anyway).

“Let’s look, and then head out if it's not there,” she said. Their main priority was taken care of—the magestone—but there was no way they were leaving without making sure this thing was dead. Yuu would stay behind and deal with it herself if she had to.

Something about it felt… off. Dirty, tainted. It was all because of that ink, but she didn’t know what it originated from, if that was the reason this place was abandoned, or the monster had wandered here after it’d been abandoned.

They reached the mine. Yuu led the way, her vision clear and crisp despite the darkness. They eased their way deeper, slipping into what remained of the mine using a few cracks in the wall and slim openings that had the two boys so nervous they looked about ready to vomit.

Grim was the quickest out of all of them, slipping in and out of spaces without so much as a twitch from the remaining rocks.

Then, Grim shouted.

“Grim!” she hissed. “Keep it down!”

He jumped in excitement, ignoring her. “Look, henchman!”

Gritting her teeth, Yuu climbed over the pile of rocks, cursing as a stray edge caught her in the knee. It healed within the moment, and she carried on, glaring at the cat. Whatever it is, it better be worth their lives. If the monster heard th—

Her eyes widened. “Oh.”

…

Thankfully, the monster had been killed in the fall. Shattered glass was scattered everywhere, shown from under the rock and barely on the grass outside—it had almost made it out, but one last boulder—their savior, if you could believe it—did it in.

The smell of the ink, free of its glass container, was atrocious. It was decay mixed with an odd, feces-like smell, and she really didn’t want to remember more about it than she had to. Her nose was doing enough of that already.

Grim lingered at the edge of the group, his pace slow and faltering. After his excited announcement earlier, he’d quickly reverted to his sulking, gazing at them with wide, wet eyes.

Yuu’s heart twinged. She averted her eyes.

Whatever, he needs to learn a lesson, anyway. He burned me, and the only thing being done to him is self-imposed ‘isolation’. Big deal, like c’mon—he’s fine. She shrugged off the guilt and carried on. The last thing she needed right now was the cat making her feel bad about him hurting her.

“Anyway, good job, everyone,” she started, grinning up at the sky. “Was it really so hard to work together? Shared adversity and friendship and all that.”

“I’m never doing it again,” Trappola muttered. “Look where you ended up, at the end there. If that’s going to happen to me because I ‘teamed up’ with someone, I’ll pass.”

“If what happened to me happened to you, you’d be dead, dumbass,” she retorted.

He threw his hands up in the air. “Whatever! My point still stands.”

Deuce nodded, agreed with Trappola, looking embarrassed and stern at the same time. “There was no ‘shared adversity’ or anything.”

Trappola echoed Deuce’s sentiment and rolled his eyes at her. Tsunderes, the both of them. "Yeah, yeah, cut the sappy stuff, will ya?“

Trappola waited for a moment before looking at her, his brow raised. He looked oddly excited, waiting for her to say something—his eyes said it all, harboring a silent challenge in them. “Well?” he prompted her. “Something something ‘magical girl’.”

What…

Oh!

“I can explain!” she said quickly. “It’s not what you think at all.” Yuu was honestly surprised he’d brought it up at all—she sort of forgot she’d mentioned it earlier, the ‘girl’ part. (So much for hiding her gender.) Now that their job was finished for the most part, he probably felt more inclined to ask. Deuce looked shocked—he hadn’t caught onto her use of ‘girl’ earlier, it seemed.

The air was thick with tension, so thick she’d be able to cut it with her rapier. Awkwardly laughing it off, Yuu shrugged slightly. “I didn’t sneak in, or anything,” she said, defensive. His judgemental gaze was annoying, considering everything he’s done—if anything, she should be looking at him like that! “I’m not from this world, and was brought here, er, against my will.”

Correct, so far. “Your mirror brought me here, and I can’t go back. That’s why I’m staying here, because I’m technically under the head mage's purview until he’s able to find a way for me to go home.” … Sort of correct, but also not. Depends on who you asked: Crowley, or Kyubey.

A beat of silence passed before Trappola finally spoke up, his voice steaming with curiosity, "Wait, so you're saying you got snatched up by the Dark Mirror by accident? How does that even happen?"

"I have no idea, to be honest. The Mirror was wrong, obviously, so maybe something’s wrong with it? Either way, nobody can know I’m actually a girl, for obvious reasons. So, please don’t tell anyone…"

Ace interjected with a question, "Okay, so now let me get this straight. If you're really a girl who got isekai’d or whatever, that still doesn’t explain your…uh…magic thing.”

Yuu pinched the bridge of her nose. “Alright, so—I already told you a bit earlier, if you remember.” They nodded. “Right, so, I’m a magical girl, I fight Witches. They’re not like story-witches, either, they’re much more complex, trust me. They exist in a labyrinth of their own creation, and it takes a lot of effort to actually kill them.”

Sensing the oncoming questions, she raised her hand to halt them. “Before you question that, as a magical girl, defeating Witches is not just about eliminating a threat, though that is a decent bit of it, but also about survival. Each Witch we defeat grants us a grief seed, which we use to cleanse our soul gem.”

“Soul gem? Grief seed?” Deuce asked, confused. “Are they what grant you your magic, like those old TV shows?” He looked oddly excited at the prospect.

Trappola wrinkled his nose. “Don’t tell me you actually watched that stuff, man. That’s so lame.”

Deuce’s eyes narrowed. “So what?! I could beat you in a fight any day of the week!”

Yuu’s eyes drifted to her soul gem as they continued bickering, not paying attention as the noise slowly came to a halt. The once vibrant gem had dulled more than usual, a testament to the damage her soul gem had suffered today. She pursed her lips. She needed to find a Witch, and quickly. A weak one, if at all possible.

Trappola, Deuce, and even Grim (who finally stopped nibbling at the grass behind them; an odd black texture coated the white of his chest, a stain that hadn’t been there moments before—odd), fixed their gazes upon her diminishing soul gem. A part of her wanted to hide it again, but she knew she was being ridiculous. It was her gem, yes, but it wasn’t a part of her. (That didn’t take away the fact that she felt bare with it out in the open, exposed and afraid.) The gem, a reflection of Yuu’s depleting magic, was halfway black. By tomorrow, it’d be even more corrupt, but not by much if she refrained from any magic usage.

The repairs on her soul gem took all of her remaining soul gems, and yet it was already half-way corrupted… Despair threatened her mind, but the thought of seeing her the effects of her wish kept her from the brink. I can do this.

"Is that bad?" Grim’s voice broke the silence, his words laced with a hint of genuine concern.

“Yeah,” she admitted. “Pretty bad. Each time I use my magic, my soul gem gets more corrupt. If it gets too corrupted, it’s game over for me.”

“Hold on!” Deuce shouted, his face ashen. He looked ill. “What does that mean, ‘game over for you’?”

"It's because something terrible will happen," Yuu stated matter-of-factly. Deuce was thinking of death, she was sure, and if that was the case, it wouldn’t be so bad—she’d take death over becoming a Witch any day. "Soul gems absorb the dark energy emitted by Witches. The more energy they absorb, the more magic I use, the darker they become. If a soul gem becomes black, it means it's completely filled with negative energy, and the magical girl will turn into a Witch herself."

It was death, but it was painful. Eternally painful. There was no rest, no light at the end of the tunnel. Just pure, unadulterated darkness that smothered any and all hope. Death itself, without the chains of despair, was kind in a lot of ways. Impartial, always, but for many it was kind. Magical girls could only dream of such an ending, if they even knew about the… change.

A collective gasp filled the air as the gravity of Yuu's words sank in. Deuce's eyes widened, shock evident on his face. "Wait, so if your soul gem goes fully black, you'll become a Witch like the ones you fight? That's messed up!"

“Do you have any, uh, grief seeds now?” Deuce asked hesitantly.

Yuu frowned. “Not anymore,” she said. “I had to use them to repair my soul gem earlier, when we first left the cave. It took every single one of them.”

Everyone went silent.

Trappola fidgeted, his fingers lacing together as though he were playing with a deck of cards. Nervousness ate away at him, Yuu could tell. Was the thought of her turning into a Witch that unsettling to him? Well, it was pretty morbid to think about, especially when that someone is a person who you’ve survived death with... Then, he perked up, awkwardness fading, and he asked, "So, how did you end up as a magical girl, anyway? Did some fairy godmother wave her wand and poof, you became a fighting machine?"

Yuu looked down at the ground sheepishly, her expression momentarily darkening as memories of her past flooded her mind. “We make a wish...”

Grim, sensing Yuu’s subdued response, chimed in with his own question. "So, wait, what did you ask for? I mean, if you had the power to get anything you want, what was it?"

Yuu hesitated for a moment. That’s… No, it will be fine. Everything will turn out according to plan—it has to. Finally, she spoke up, her voice stone. "It's not that important, I don't think it's necessary to share it."

Grim tilted his head in confusion. Deuce’s mouth parted, forming an ‘O’ shape. They settled quickly, but their surprise and confusion were evident. Trappola, however, furrowed his brow as he analyzed her answer.

Yuu’s hackles raised. He has no right meddling in what’s already been done. She cleared her throat. “Anyway, we have the magestone, and—Grim! What are you doing?!”

Grim scratched furiously at his chest, claws burrowing into his fur as he dug into his skin. “It won’t come off!” he complained.

Yuu looked closer. His coat, the white part of his chest, was covered in a black, tar-like substance, and no matter how hard Grim clawed at it, it didn’t scrape off. Her eyes narrowed. “You had that earlier, too… Grim, what did you do?”

“Why do you assume I did something?!” he yowled. “I was eating some super yummy, and it spilled, and—”

Trappola frowned. “Right, what did you even eat? Coal? There’s like, nothing here that would cause that.” He pointed at the black-spot.

“Doesn’t it look like…” Deuce hesitated. Yuu urged him on with a nod. “Like that ink, from the monster?”

Their eyes widened at the revelation. Grim shied away.

“Grim, tell me you didn’t eat part of the monster,” Yuu hissed.

He looked guilty.

Trappola snorted. “Of course he did.”

Deuce looked at Grim miserably. “Let’s just hope you don’t turn into one of those,” he said.

Grim shuddered. “No way! It was fine and super tasty! The Great Grim wouldn’t turn into one of those things! Stop underestimating me, or I’ll make ya regret it!”

Oh, dear god. The night was bad, but dealing with Grim’s idiocy right now was not part of her plan. Yuu nursed her headache and prayed the night would just end.

_________________

Predictably, it got worse. As everything does when dealing with the headmage.

“Pardon?! You're telling me you actually went to the Dwarfs' Mine in search of a magestone?”

All of them nodded, confused. “Well… yeah?” ‘Wasn’t that what you said to do’ went unspoken.

“I didn't expect that you'd seriously do it. And never in my wildest imaginings did I think you would actually return with a magestone! Here I spent all evening preparing your expulsion documents.”

Grim scowled at the man. “Are you serious?! While we were fightin’ some crazy monster, you were expelling us?!”

Crowley frowned, his shock fading to seriousness as Grim’s words washed over him. “Monster?” he prompted the cat. He looked oddly concerned.

Maybe, for all that he’s useless, he does care that there are literal monsters surrounding his school. Better than nothing, I guess.

Trappola was unimpressed.  "Yeah. There was a monster, all right. A big, nasty one. It nearly killed us!”

Crowley sat up straight. "Would you kindly relate this story in full?”

________________

Crowley hummed. “So, a mysterious monster was living in the mines and the four of you worked together to destroy it, and then brought its magestone back to me?” He seemed off, as if he was lost in his own little world.

Yuu exchanged a weirded out look with Deuce, who shrugged. What a weird guy, Crowley.

Trappola nodded. “Yup.” He frowned. “What’s with the ‘working together’ thing, though?”

Deuce added, “It was more like we just happened to share the same goal.”

Crowley leaned back in his chair, eyes wet. Then he started sobbing.

Yuu cringed. “What are you doing?” she asked, disgusted.

"What is this guy's deal?! Burstin' into tears in public? At this age?!"

He took a deep breath, wiping his tears with a handkerchief he pulled out of… nowhere? His voice shook with emotion as he spoke, “In all the decades I've worked at this school...The day has finally come when the students of Night Raven College have joined hands together to defeat a common foe!”

They exchanged disbelieving glances. The headmage’s behavior was bewildering. A man-child, Yuu sighed. She’d already had him pegged as an immature man, but to see this… Yuu shuddered. Never again.

“Whoa! No! No way would I join hands with that guy!”

“Okay, one, there was no joining of hands. Gross. And two, exactly HOW old are you, headmage?”

Crowley composed himself, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “At this moment, I am moved beyond words. This incident has proven my hopes were justified. Yuu, my doubts are allayed! For you possess the talents of a beastmaster!”

She arched her brow. That didn’t ring a bell at all. “Pardon?”

“My students have all been selected by the Dark Mirror for their exceptional talent and potential. But great talent begets great pride and big egos. Most are so self-reliant and self-centered that they never even consider cooperating with others.”

“You make it sound like that’s a bad thing,” Grim grumbled.

It is, Yuu didn’t say. She’d be a hypocrite if she did.

Crowley continued, “But you, Yuu, possess no magic.”

Trappola snorted.

“Yet, in spite of that—or perhaps because of it—you were able to convince those who can use magic to work together for a common goal! The everyday, humdrum mundanity you possess may be exactly what Night Raven College needs!”

Yuu sweatdropped. He didn’t have an accurate read on her or her situation at all. ‘Mundanity’—I wish.

"I am convinced that people like you are necessary for the future of this school. My educator's intuition tells me so. Trappola, Spade, I hereby revoke your pending expulsions! Furthermore, Yuu, I am granting you the qualifications necessary to attend Night Raven College!”

Yuu’s heart dropped.

“WHAT?!”

Crowley smiled, amused. “What’s with those faces? I’m merely recognizing Yuu’s incredible potential to bring people together.” Yuu gaped at the man. “I firmly believe that with Yuu attending school here, something remarkable will happen.”

They all stared at him.

What kind of reasoning is that?! As a student, Yuu will have a lot less free time for Witch hunting, said precious time will be spent learning about a world of which she hopefully won’t be in for long. She hid the furious grimace on her face, pushing her feelings down. At night I can go, she told herself. Like Kyubey said—it’s the best time, anyway.

Trappola side-eyed her. He looked back at Crowley. “You know she doesn’t have magic, right?”

Yuu’s composure nearly shattered, a subtle twitch of her mouth the only hint to her feelings. Trappola was covering for her?!

This day couldn’t get any weirder.

“Of course,” Crowley said. “This is extraordinarily kind of me. However, there is one condition. Your inability to use magic is, for a mage, unacceptable. You would not be able to adequately pursue the school’s curriculum!” He turned to Grim. “As for you, Grim, your actions today have made it clear that you possess sufficient talent to become a mage.”

Grim’s miserable face lit up with a soft hope.

“In light of the total sum of your respective circumstances, you both will share a single enrollment at Night Raven College.”

Yuu pursed her lips as Grim cheered, staring at him. She couldn’t even be angry anymore, the exhaustion resting on her bones weighing her down. She wanted to go home, wherever that was now, and sleep. She wanted to fight something, too, her feet and arms restless.

Push it down.

Ignore it.

Forget about it.

It’s fine.

Yuu smiled. “I’m happy for you, Grim. Let’s work together from now on, okay?”

“Myah! I really get to go to this school? As an actual student…? Not a janitor?!”

"Correct. However! There must be no further incidents like the one that occurred today. Are we clear?”

Grim’s excitement bubbled over, his face painted with ecstasy as he jumped around. “Yessir! As clear as the night sky! You won’t regret it!”

Trappola and Deuce exchanged glances, probably still processing what just happened. Yuu was, too, to some extent, but she figured her life was already a joke and tried her best to roll with the punches.

At least the two weren’t going to be expelled anymore. That was a good thing, even if Yuu wasn’t exactly happy with how the day went. At all.

Maybe she should have let Trappola get expelled.

She averted her eyes to the floor. Guilt swelled up inside her.

It was an accident, they didn’t intentionally hurt you.

But they did, anyway.

She’d deal with it later.

The conversation went on a lot longer, though it was more of Crowley talking at them than anything. Yuu was the so-called ‘magic-less prefect’ now, Grim had a cat-equivalent to a mage-pen, ghost-cameras were a thing and she now had one, and everyone wanted Crowley to shut up.

Yuu had a feeling they’d be experiencing that feeling a lot in the future.

____________________

They left the room quickly, letting out sighs of relief once the door closed behind them. Deuce in particular let out a huge sigh, his shoulders sagging as the tension flew out of him. He breathed out, then took a deep breath.

“Are you okay?” Yuu asked. He’d been a metaphorical rock for her today, and she wanted to do whatever she could to return the favor.

“I’m just so relieved.” He sounded close to tears. “We managed to avoid expulsion and…” his words went unsaid, but everyone, including Grim, understood what he was trying to say.

And we made it back, as safe as we could be.

“Mh, yeah,” Yuu said, smiling. Her voice felt too soft, too comfortable, but at that moment, she didn’t really care—her mask was infallible. “We did good.”

“No kidding,” Trappola said, smirking. He leaned up against the door in front of them, waiting for her and Deuce to catch up.

She held Deuce’s wrist and walked toward… She sighed. Ace.

Grim, filled with exuberance, couldn't contain his happiness and began dancing around the hall, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "La la la la la! I'm a student at Night Raven College! La la la! I'm gonna be the top mage on campus in no time. Enjoy eating my dust, boys!”

Ace openly laughed at the display. “Big words for a sentient pile of lint who’s literally only half a student. Still… Good for you.”

“Don’t bully him, Ace,” Yuu warned. Despite her… complicated feelings towards Grim, no one deserved to be bullied. Besides that, that’s how she ended up in the mess in the first place. What’s next to be burnt, her face?

“Alright, alright…” Ace shrugged his shoulders sheepishly. “I’ll tone it down a bit. Don’t get your magical panties in a twist.”

His brow furrowed. “Speaking of ‘magical’, I’m still wondering about your magic, Yuu. It’s not hard to understand—make a wish, get powers, fight Witches. It’s straight-forward for sure…”

Deuce chimed in, looking like a kid in a candy shop. “That’s pretty lucky. In our world, students have to learn magic through years of practice and study.” He drooped a bit. He didn’t seem like he did much studying, considering he only used two spells since they met. Him and Grim could buddy up in that case—Grim needed all the help he could get and Deuce did, too.

“As far as I know, the magical creature that offers and grants Wishes doesn’t show up to just anyone. They have to have ‘potential.’” Yuu explained.

“So, not everyone has the opportunity…” Ace looked vaguely disappointed, but it melted away quickly. “That makes your situation pretty unique, then.”

Yuu wasn’t sure why Kyubey locked onto her. She was friends w—but she was completely lackluster. There was nothing to her that spelled ‘magical girl material’. “I’m not sure why I was chosen. Maybe it was desperate?”

It hadn’t looked desperate, eyes calm and dead as they stared into her soul and dissected everything she was and ever will be—

Yuu shivered. Kyubey saved her life, but that was borne out of practicality, not empathy. It was helping her out of practicality—as soon as she was useless, she would be discarded. Yuu needed to remember that.

Ace shrugged again, looking a bit lost. Kyubey’s whims—plans—were incomprehensible to her, and completely unintelligible to Ace and Deuce, who hadn’t even met it. "Who knows why it chose you? Maybe there's something special about you that resonated with it. Don’t worry about it too much, it’s probably just one of life's mysteries.”

Yuu could only sigh. She wondered how the other magical girls handled Kyubey, if they managed or just ignored him entirely, relying only on themselves. If she was in her original world, things would be different. But she’s not, and she needs all the help she can get. "Sure… Anyways, it's getting late."

Deuce nodded, checking the time. "Yeah, we should get some rest. Tomorrow's the start of classes, after all."

“Thank you both, by the way.”

The two looked at her in confusion. “For not treating me any different,” she clarified, wrapping her arms around herself. They were always similar in build, her and… It felt like a mimic of the real thing sometimes, when they were apart.

Now eternally gone, Yuu only had herself to remind her of her.

“Eh, it’s no big deal. Who cares if you’re a girl? You still kicked that monster’s ass.”

Deuce grinned. “Ace’s right! Doesn’t matter what we are, we’re all students here. We have your back, Yuu!”

She allowed herself to feel fond before smothering it, pouring a bucket of water upon the kindling. A pile of ash would remain, but there would be no smoldering fire. Not in this world, where she would not stay long, where she had gone out of force, not willingness.

Yuu nodded. “Let’s do our best this year, then.”

“Don’t be such a sap,” Ace snarked, sarcastic down to his very bones. He was the type to make jokes and screw around, but come around when you needed him. Reliable, but hidden under wraps.

She rolled her eyes, lips quirked up. “Very funny. Ha. Ha. Ha.”

Yuu stopped walking. “Deuce,” she called.

He tilted his head. “What’s up, Yuu?”

She pursed her lips. Earlier, when she brought up Deuce’s mom…

Guilt speared her through, almost as painful as the pickaxe earlier. Deuce was kind, and he saved her tonight multiple times. He was gentle, too, even with his rough edges. “I’m sorry, for… for the comment earlier. About your mom.”

His eyes went wide. “Oh. Uhm.”

She waved her hands around sheepishly. “You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted to let you know… I was rude, and out of line. So, I’m sorry…”

He softened. “It’s okay. You’re right, anyway. My mom deserves a good son, and I can’t be that if I’m dead, huh?” He laughed, a bit strangled. “She’s always told me that I’m too reckless for my own good—proved that tonight, didn’t I?”

Ace nodded. “Yup, but we’re all alive so just drop the self-pity, ‘kay?”

You can always count on Ace to break the ice. She had a feeling he’d be doing a lot of that in the future.

They reached the cut-off point, the path diverting into two, saying goodbyes and goodnights before heading back ‘home’. Grim trotted forward, happily swaying and mumbling to himself about ‘being the greatest sorcerer ever’, to which Yuu rolled her eyes.

They finally reached the end of their shared road, the path diverting into two. Grim trotted forward without saying anything, mumbling under his breath about ‘being the greatest sorcerer ever’, to which Yuu rolled her eyes while the rest of them said goodnight.

“See ya later, Yuu!” Deuce waved, ripping Ace’s hand up to do the same when the other didn’t move. She snorted and waved back.

“See ya!”

Ace and Deuce jogged down their path, muttering to each other about this and that—they were more quiet than she was used to them being. Without straining, she couldn’t hear them.

It felt like she forgot something…

Yuu’s eyes widened. “Wait!” she called, reaching her hand out as if to grasp the backs of their shirts.

Deuce and Ace jolted, whipping around. Ace looked at her like she killed his cat. “Whaaaat?” he whined. His stomach growled loudly, echoing across the clearing.

She and Deuce exchanged bewildered glances. Wow, that was really loud.

“Er, sorry about that—just, uhm, keep this whole thing a secret, won’t you?”

She needed to keep up the act for now, and while four people already knew—five, actually, with the nurse from earlier—the rest of the student body (plus the faculty) didn’t, and that was crucial to staying as the unnoticeable, unremarkable loner.

Ace lifted a brow. “Obviously. It’s kind of a no-brainer, right? There’s weirdos in this place.”

Deuce looked vaguely ill at the thought. “Really? I haven’t met anyone like that…”

“Be lucky you haven’t, then,” Ace said simply. “They’re really gross.”

“Right…” Yuu smiled stiffly. “That’s comforting.”

Ace waved his hand left to right, a so-so gesture. “If it helps at all, they’re all older, so we won’t be in any classes with ‘em. I just noticed them in the cafeteria earlier. Keep close to us, I guess. Or avoid them entirely.”

Deuce frowned. “Sorry, Yuu—”

“It’s not your fault there are creeps at school, Deuce,” she said, shaking her head. “Don’t worry about it, I’ll keep my distance. If all else fails, I’ll just—” She mimicked summoning her rapier. “You know.”

Ace nodded approvingly. “I’ve had a girlfriend before—it didn’t work out, though—but the way they talked about those girls…” He grimaced. “Even I’m not that mean, y’know?”

Yuu smirked. Rough on the edges, but kind on the inside, it seemed. “In any case, thanks for agreeing. I’ll see you all tomorrow, have a good night!”

“Goodnight, Yuu!”

“Night, prefect.”

The night air was cool and refreshing, tempering her anxiety and coaxing her into a gentle haze. She shuffled after Grim, toward Ramshackle, and had no thoughts of her dread, all-encompassing, about Witches and grief seeds and soul gems.

As soon as she hit the mattress, she was out like a light.

Chapter Text

Yuu woke to a persistent tap, tap , tap on her temple, grumbling and attempting to swat whatever it was away from her face. She wanted to sleep. Was that so hard of an ask?

“I’ve been waiting, Yuu.”

She bolted upright, her eyes narrowing at the creature, its visage nearly consumed by the night. Her eyes adjusted quickly, her nerves alight with warning.

“Kyubey?”

Grim’s head burrowed deeper into the blankets, body stretching, his small form visible from the bed—the corner he’d sequestered himself into, away from Yuu, was blanketed in pillows (moth-ridden and not at all comfortable to her) and well, blankets.  

Kyubey spared the cat a glance before looking away, dismissive. She was the only one who had to worry about waking him, after all. It sat primly at the end of her bed, beady-red eyes unmoving as they took in her disgruntled appearance.

“Greetings, Yuu,” it said. “I merely want to observe your progress and provide any assistance if needed.” It glanced pointedly at her soul gem, still embedded in her ring.

She pursed her lips. After tonight's… adventure , she wasn’t sure she was up to Witch hunting. Her ankle was mottled with bruises, making it evident that her body was still healing. “Soon,” she promised. Swore. 

She needed grief seeds, after all, but she wasn’t going to go into a fight with a Witch not recovered. Or as recovered as she could be.

Kyubey was unfazed by Yuu’s response, its eyes maintaining that unwavering gaze. “While grief seeds are a primary concern for magical girls, your responsibility as a magical girl does not end there. The world is filled with forces that require your attention.”

What could it possibly be asking of her? She defeated Witches, not some force that it didn’t even elaborate on. “And why do you care about said ‘forces’? You only want to collect energy, don’t you? That’s Witch-related. Unless…” Yuu glared. “Unless you lied to me again.”

Kyubey’s tail flicked back and forth. “Collecting energy is crucial to our mission, yes, but that doesn’t mean we cannot provide guidance and support for magical girls.”

She almost snorted. Right. If past experience taught her anything, it was to be suspicious—especially of Kyubey. Its true motives, if there were any, were not as simple as wanting to help her because she was a magical girl. 

Collecting energy from Witches—magical girls—is unforgivable on its own, yet Kyubey doesn’t seem like it would stop at that. 

Her face felt hot, flush with anger. She tensed, her arms coming to rest across her chest. “I don’t trust you,” she said. “You’re—” she fumbled her words, grappling for stability, for safety and finding none. “ How am I supposed to know if you’re not just avoiding the truth? It feels like you’re not telling me everything, and how can you expect me to—to— trust you ?!”

She panted, fists clenching and relaxing against her ribs, arms tensed across her chest. 

Grim snored quietly, the brief sound disrupting her daze. 

Yuu straightened, ironing out the wrinkles that put a wrench in her poise. She was tired of being angry, even if it was well deserved. (This wouldn’t stop her next outrage, of course, but she had enough willpower now to stop herself, even if only temporarily.)

“Trust, like many things, is a complex aspect of human nature,” Kyubey said finally. Its face was blank and Yuu was abruptly reminded of how this creature was not capable of empathy. “It is understandable that you may harbor doubts and suspicions, but it is important to consider the bigger picture.”

“Your role as a magical girl is not solely defined by trust, whether it be your trust in me or others, but by fulfilling your duties. That includes protecting this world from those ‘forces’.” 

She frowned at the slight mockery, taking a deep breath to calm herself.

Kyubey was enigmatic in every way, half-truths and fake-outs pouring from its lips, responses cryptic and hard to decipher. Pressing the matter wouldn’t get her anywhere, but oh it was infuriating. 

"Fine. Let's focus on the matter at hand—I’m not going anywhere right now.” She would end up doing something bad if she had to go and hunt Witches with Kyubey right now, her mood officially ruined. Or worse, she’d end up biting off more than she could chew in her rage. 

Kyubey nodded in acknowledgement. "As you wish. In that case, I shall depart for now. Remember, your responsibilities as a magical girl extend beyond the collection of grief seeds. Be vigilant and stay prepared for the challenges that lie ahead."

Yuu shooed it away, baring her teeth at its back. It was a petty rebellion, if it could even be called so, but gave her immense satisfaction.

She lied back with a sigh, fumbling with her lumpy pillow before giving up and squishing her face into the uncomfortable cotton. If she didn’t fall asleep naturally, the lack of oxygen would make her pass out.

Win-win.

________________

She blinks, her surroundings slowly materializing into focus. She finds herself in a lush green maze, the walls formed by towering greenery towering above her. A single card soldier stands in the center, diligently painting a rose red. Familiarity sparked throughout the air, pressing up against her and caressing her cheeks.

“Hurry and paint the roses red!”  

As she watches, a second card soldier appears out of the greenery, its expression fixed and unchanging. 

It approaches the other soldier and speaks in an eerie unison, “Hurry before the flowers wither.”  

Her hair stands on end as more card soldiers appear, marching in from the maze, each one chanting, forming a cacophony of noise. She could barely make out what they were saying. 

“Hurry, hurry, we have to paint them all red.”

The air is charged, not with electricity but with anticipation. Everyone waits with baited breath.  

At this moment, as if materializing from thin air, a young girl clad in a cerulean blue dress appears. Her eyes widen with curiosity and confusion as she observes the card soldiers. 

“Why are you painting the roses red?” she asks the nearest card soldier.

The card soldier turned its gaze towards the girl. "We made a mistake and grew white flowers, but the queen loves red flowers. If she sees this, she’ll have our heads!”

“Really..?”

The soldier nodded. “Yes, therefore we are painting the flowers red ."

________________

As abruptly as the dream began, it ended.

Yuu’s eyes fluttered open, pure darkness greeting her.

Not wanting to rid herself of the meager warmth her blanket provided her, she clutched it close, wrapping it around her back and holding it together in the front. Her shoulders tensed as her ears prickled. 

What was that sound…?

She wanted to ignore it, desperately , but something told her she needed to get up. She did so reluctantly, wiping at her eyes, crusted with sleep, and landing unsteadily on the creaking floorboards below.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Somehow, Grim was still asleep. He snored away, clueless to Yuu’s plight. 

It irked her. Why did he get to sleep soundly and she constantly gets woken up in the middle of sleep? Didn’t she deserve her rest, too?

Whatever. 

Yuu reaches the front door quickly, nearly flying through the dorm in order to open the door.

She can’t say she’s surprised by what—or rather, who —she finds on the other end.

“Of course it’s you.” She sighs, holding back hysterical laughter.

Ace grimaces. “It’s nice to see you, too,” he snarks.

“Yeah, yeah, what do you want?”

“I’m joining your dorm—there’s no way I’m going back to Heartslabyul. Joining for good, by the way,” he clarifies, as though he had any choice in the matter.

“Right…” Yuu said slowly. Everything he just said was too much for her to understand, much less care about. “So, that’s a no. Goodnight.” She closed the door.

“Wait, Yuu! C’mon, help a guy out, won’t ya? Just let me explai—”

“Oh my god, just shut up,” she snaps, wrenching the door open. “You’re going to wake the dead, probably literally, if you keep screaming—”

“Well then don’t shut the door on my face next time!”

“You’d be lucky if I opened the door next time!”

They both paused, staring at each other. Ace cracked first, snorting. 

“You’re so annoying, you know that?” Yuu sighed, half-heartedly stifling her snickering. “You better have a good reason for interrupting my sleep. I was actually sleeping for once, I’ll have you know. And I could tell it was going to be a good night, too—there was this weird dream and everything.” 

Ace frowned. “Yeah, how about you don’t elaborate on that.”

“It wasn’t like that. Weirdo.”

He raised his hands up in mock defense. “You’re the one who worded it like that!”

…

“So,” Ace started, fiddling with his hands—he sat awkwardly on the sofa (what’s left of it), having greedily drank the remains of her water, and avoided her gaze, “I ate a tart.”

She raised a brow. 

“And that’s why I got kicked out,” he elaborated.

“Yeah, that doesn’t make any sense. You got kicked out of your, let me check, home for the next year because you ate a tart ? You gotta have a better excuse than that.” 

Yuu felt like she desperately needed some alone time. She’d meditate, eat some ice cream (she wasn’t sure on the flavor, but she heard chocolate-vanilla swirl was good, so she’d try that), and ignore every single person who attempted to contact her.

It sounded like paradise. She’d have unlimited grief seeds there, too, not taken from Witches but just spawned from the void for her to use. 

Then, Ace explained what exactly happened, and the desperate need for a swift punch to the head was increasing tenfold. Forget suffocation to help her sleep, she needed to be put into a coma.

Yuu held her head in her hands. “Let me get this straight,” she said, voice muffled by her palms, “you stole food that wasn’t yours, ate some of it, and got kicked out by your housewarden.”

Ace huffed, sagging further into the couch.“Yes,” he ground out.

She laughed, staring up at the ceiling. It was riddled with holes and water still leaked onto the floor below; if it got fixed, she’d be highly surprised. “You’re an idiot.” She wasn’t even surprised by the punishment, to be honest. If there was one thing she’d learnt about this place, it was that everything was odd.  

Ace sat up, glaring at her. "You don't think that it's insane for my magic to get sealed away for eating one slice of tart?! For a mage, that's like having your arms and legs bound and shackled! And there were three whole tarts! Three ! It's not like he could eat 'em all himself! C'mon, Yuu! You KNOW this is messed up!”

He had a point. “True.”

“Ha!” Ace pumped his fist in the air. “I knew you’d understand. Better than Juice, anyway—”

“Deuce.”

He waved her off. “Yeah, yeah. Anyway…”

Yuu cut him off. “They were probably for a party, y’know. One your housewarden spent a long time planning and preparing for. I would be pissed if someone ruined my preparations, too.” She didn’t agree with the punishment, but agreeing with Ace on too many things didn’t exactly sit right with her.

It was like a slight against her entire being.

Ace scoffed. “So what? Does that mean the tart is off limits—”

Yuu resigned herself to listening to another of his rants.

…It was going to be another long night.

________________

“Mama, do rabbits always die because of wolves?”

The woman chuckles. “No, my dear. While wolves are predators and hunt rabbits, they are not the only danger rabbits face. Accidents or natural causes can also lead to a rabbit's demise.” She reaches down to run her fingers through the girl’s hair, a blank look on her face. “But… There are also rabbits who survive and live happy lives, without encountering any wolves.”

The girl tilts her head. “What will happen to you, mama? Will you die like them, too?”

_____________

"Move it! Outta the way! Night Raven College student comin' through! Oh? Did my collar catch your eye? It’s way better than the one Ace is stuck with! You know, the one that makes it so you can't use magic? But hey, the school could always use another janitor! Bwahahaha!” 

Yuu’s eye twitched. Grim woke up in an amazing mood, the complete opposite of Ace and Yuu, and had taken to flaunting his newfound status as a student at every chance he got. Even to her, who also became a student (unfortunately).

He was an animal, so she’s not surprised he bounced back from his funk, but to do it so quickly? She had been enjoying his silence, even if it was borne out of guilt.

Ace, his face flushed with irritation, snaps at Grim, "Shut up, furball! I'm only wearing this stupid collar because I broke some dumb rule. It'll be off soon enough! And when I get my magic back, your hide is first up on the chopping block!” 

Deuce, predictably, tried to deescalate the situation. 

They continued walking. Yuu, engrossed in observing the seven statues, was oblivious to Ace and Grim's bickering, having blocked them out just moments before. Ace described the statues accurately enough—or, well, she thought he did—yesterday, but still, once she saw them, she couldn’t stop thinking that something was missing…

Ace yawned, slapping his hand down on Yuu’s shoulder. “What’s up with you? You look like you’re in a trance or something.”

Yuu jumped. Her mind stopped wandering, settling into the present moment. “Sorry,” she apologized instinctively, “I was just thinking about the statues. You told us about them yesterday, but it feels like something’s missing…” She shook her head. “Don’t worry about it, I’m just curious, that’s all.”

Deuce piped up, saying, “You could check the library! … I think they’d have books on The Seven, right?” He looked at Ace for confirmation.

“Wouldn’t make sense if they didn’t.”

Yuu nodded. She’d go to the library later, but for now they had to get to Heartslabyul. Ace had to apologize, and Yuu was unfortunately stuck for the ride. 

“So… How do we get to your dorm, anyway?”

_________________


“Do you use mirrors to travel everywhere?” Yuu asked, stepping forward and out of the mirror’s rippling reflection. The feeling was the exact same as last night, and only minorly uncomfortable. It was… fine. 

“Depends,” Deuce answered. “Night Raven does, considering the Dark Mirror is a big symbol here, but the rest of the world?” He scratched the back of his head, thinking. “We didn’t use them much when I was younger… So, not really. Mirror-travel isn’t exclusive to Night Raven, but it’s not very common outside of it. At least not from what I’ve seen.”

Deuce stopped in front of a grand mirror adorned with intricate patterns, its surface shimmering with a slight reddish hue. "This is the Heartslabyul mirror. It leads directly to our dorm.”

Yuu had to admit, this entire situation was fascinating. She felt like she was in a modern fairytale. Her younger self would have been overjoyed at the thought of escape, of freedom, but wouldn’t see the ‘fairytale’ for what it really was—a temporary prison. Much like home.

They step through the mirror and enter Heartslabyul. Upon arrival, the stark difference between this dormitory and the rest of the campus hits her like a brick wall. Every detail, every plant, every structure exudes a sense of extravagance and royalty. Compared to Ramshackle, Heartslabyul was the kingdom over yonder, out of reach and without entry for the common folk.

"Dang, this place is swank! This is nothing like our dumpster of a dorm!”

Ace snorted. “Too bad the people aren’t as great—”

“Shhh!” Deuce slapped a hand over Ace’s mouth. “Don’t… he could hear you!”

Right… Yuu wondered just how far the dorm head’s influence reached. Would the few people around them snitch on Ace for saying something so vague? If they were anything like the kids in my orphanage, they probably would. 

__________________

As they continued deeper into the dorm’s territory, the group came across a ginger-haired student, who was…

“Painting flowers?” Yuu muttered. Her eyes widened, the sense of deja vu hitting her like a brick. Her dream had the card soldiers painting the roses, didn’t it? Creepy. Coincidence?

… Probably not.

The student turned around, having heard her, his expression lighting up with a welcoming smile. “You guys need something?” he asked, his phone dangling precariously from his hand. The other held his pen, no doubt his painting tool for the time being.

“What’re you doin’ here?” Ace asked. He looked at the roses curiously, his nose wrinkling as the overwhelming scent of paint entered his nostrils. It was rather strong.

“Painting the roses, obviously,” he said, shrugging carelessly. His smile didn’t dim, but his eyes… They looked at the four of them calculatingly, as if trying to figure out how they ticked, what made them work.

His face lit up. “Wait, I know you! You're the ones who broke a billion-thaumark chandelier and nearly got expelled for it, yeah?” He looked at Ace, his eyes widening with further recognition. “And you! You're the one who ate the housewarden's tart that same night! You guys are THE hot topic around campus! I've gotta get in on this fleeting fame. I'm just gonna grab a selfie real quick… It's cool if I post this on Magicam, right? Gimme your names so I can tag you!"

Ace grumbled. He wasn’t the only one irked by the boy’s overbearing enthusiasm, but he was the only one who made it obvious. “This guy takes the term ‘attention seeker’ to a whole new level…”

Deuce, his shoulders stiff and smile forced, told him his name. 

The ginger-haired boy grinned, tapped away on his phone. “Deuce Spade it is! Now, who might the rest of you be?”

Grim puffed up his chest. “The name’s Grim! I’m a magical prodigy with a future as bright as a supernova! And that’s my he—”

Yuu shot him a look. Grim stopped talking. “I’m Yuu,” she introduced herself, smiling politely at the boy. “It’s nice to meet you!”

His grin widened and he winked at her. “Nice to meetcha, Yuu-kun! I'm Cater Diamond, by the way, a junior here at Heartslabyul. But Cater is fine. Or Cay-Cay if you wanna get along!” 

“Okay, everyone, as much as I’d love to stay and chat—” Ace tugged on Yuu’s arm, just above the tops of her bandages. She’d have to get those changed soon—the wounds were closed, but it would get warm and moist and leaving it that way was just asking for a fungus problem. “We have something important to do!”

Diamond’s eyes widened, glancing at his wrist. 

Yuu frowned, tugging her arm free from Ace’s grip. He didn’t even have a watch, so why…

“I don’t have time to chat!” Diamond said, turning back to the rose bushes. He looked jittery, nervous. “The party’s tomorrow… If we’re not ready, it’s Off With My Head for real. Hey, you guys, wanna help me paint some roses?”

Oh, no way—

“Sure, I’ll help!” Deuce agreed.

Ace ran a hand down his face, looking as irritated as Yuu felt, groaning. “Did we just forget why we’re here? Like, what am I? Chopped liver? Seriously? Why are you even doing that ?” he asked Diamond, thrusting his hand toward the flowers.

Diamond beamed. It didn’t look real, his eyes as dull as a dead fish’s, but Yuu gave him kudos for trying. "Because red roses are so much more photogenic! Or, uh, something. And after that, I've gotta start getting things ready for the big croquet tournament. And that means coloring all the flamingos…” His shoulders sagged.

Yuu shook her head. “Sorry, guys, but I gotta go. See you later.” She turned around. Not wanting to get stuck working for a stranger (she already had to do that with Crowley, what with being a student now), she high-tailed it out of there.

Ace and Deuce and Grim, shocked but all-together not very surprised, watched her go. Their gazes were heavy on her back, but Yuu shrugged them off.

The other three could get coerced, or forced, into doing menial tasks, but Yuu had places to be and things to do. Namely, get to the infirmary. 

Her skin itched from under her bandages. Sighing, she resisted the urge to scratch at the skin, something she ought to get a medal for, considering it felt like she’d gotten bit by a hundred mosquitos. 

The halls were loud as she made her way to the infirmary, students flocking to classrooms or lockers from their dorm’s respective mirrors. Still, she got there uninterrupted. 

“Hello?” She peeked her head into the room. “Mr. Knox?"

Papers rustled for a moment, before the man’s head peeked out from behind a curtain, his hair in disarray. He must have had an unruly student in here, or something.

“Miss Yuu?” he called, surprised. “Are you alright?”

She nodded, then frowned. How would she even explain the burn marks? “I need some bandages, please,” she asked, deciding to ignore that thought for now. She didn’t have to show him, and maybe he wouldn’t ask…

“Whatever for? Are you hurt?” 

Well, there goes that plan.

“It’s healed now,” she started slowly, gauging his reaction. 

He stared at her blankly. 

Good poker face. Of course.

“I just need something to cover it up, since it’s my hands, and it looks… Gross. That’s all.”

He sighed. “Let me have a look, please, Miss Yuu. I’ll make sure everything’s in working order and get you some new bandages.”

She didn’t like adults. She didn’t like trusting them. She didn’t like showing them anything, especially something like this. 

With his back turned, Yuu allowed herself a deep breath, an attempt to calm the raging storm inside her. He’s just a nurse, she argued with herself, he’ll make sure it’s all healed and get me new bandages. He wouldn’t… 

Her shoulders straightened. She could do this. 

“Oh, dear,” he muttered when he laid his eyes on her hands. “And you said it’s already healed…? They weren’t here that night.” He uncrossed his legs, leaning closer to her for a better look at the disfigured skin. He reached for her hand before hesitating, glancing up at her. 

She didn’t want to. 

Yuu nodded.

He took her hand, going silent as he inspected it, his touch as light as a feather. Whether it was born from knowledge of her fear or fear of hurting her, she didn’t know, but she appreciated it.

“Well,” Nox said lightly, “it’s definitely not an open wound anymore, thankfully. However,” he added, noticing her victorious smirk, “you’ll need creams and lotions to manage the dry skin. I’m sure it itches.”

He nodded, smug, when he looked at her face.

Well… she hadn’t tried to hide her displeasure. It did itch. 

He stepped away, waving his hand in the air. Abruptly, a jar flew into his palm. He smiled at her wide-eyed look, shaking the jar heartily for a moment before donning gloves. “Pramoxine,” he said, gesturing to the jar. “It’s for itching and discomfort, and should help. I’ll give you this once you leave, so you can apply it whenever you need.”

He took her hand again and applied the moisturizer. It was cool, but left a scorching feeling behind once it was done, what was left of her nerve-endings overwhelmed and fighting the sensation. She grimaced. 

“It’ll do that.” Of course he noticed. “But it will go away with more use, I promise.”

He looked her in the eyes. 

Yuu leaned back, unable to look away. She felt trapped. 

“Tell me, please, Miss Yuu—is someone hurting you? A student, or a teacher? This burn isn’t something capable from a stove, or an open fire, but magic.” His face softened as she drew further back, and eased up, backing away to give her space.

She was grateful, because it felt like she couldn’t breathe with him so close. 

“I only ask because I don’t want you to get hurt again,” Nox said gently. “If there is someone responsible for this, and they did this maliciously, I need to know. Not only for your sake, but another person’s.”

Yuu looked away, shaking her head. “It was an accident,” she explained. “He didn’t mean to. It wasn’t even aimed at anyone, just… He was angry, and his magic, you know, responded. It’s fine. I have it handled.”

Nox hesitated. It was only for a moment, but it was enough—he didn’t believe her, but he didn’t want to out-right say it. “... I’ll take your word for it, Miss Yuu, but if this happens again, please come find me as soon as possible.” He sighed, waving his pen. Fresh bandages spun themselves into existence, darting toward her hands and wrapping themselves snuggly against her skin. Nox handed her the jar, waving her off with a small smile. 

“I hope it will be a long time till I see you here again,” he said, weirdly sincere. 

He was kind, but his words weren’t all that comforting. Yuu felt something crawl up her spine, something akin to before, and she needed to leave . 

“Thanks,” she muttered, bowing her head and darting out of the room. Her breathing was shaky, so loud in the quiet of the halls. 

Class had started. 

_________________

Yuu made it just in time. The teacher gave her the stink eye, but since the bell only rang after she’d sat down, he couldn’t yell at her for her tardiness, or worse, make her stay back and write lines. 

She tidied her workspace immediately, setting out her things (only a notebook and a pen, but it was better than nothing), ignoring the laziness of her motions. 

“You must be my new homeroom students. Hm .” He eyed a boy to Yuu’s right, his eyebrow raised. “That’s quite the unusual coat of fur. Do make sure that you arrive properly groomed—” 

Yuu shared an uncomfortable look with Deuce. 

“My name is Divus Crewel. You may call me Master Crewel.”

Just what is up with everyone in this world being so… extra? She’d settle for ‘Mr. Crewel.’

Grim bristled beside her. Yuu looked up to catch the fading sneer on Crewel’s face. Well, pets were never allowed in science class (or school at all, actually) in my world; it makes sense he’s a bit… displeased by Grim being here.

“Now, take your seats. Class is about to begin. We're going to start with the basics. And by that, I mean beating the names and distinguishing characteristics of one hundred herbs and poisons into your tiny brains.” As Crewel began droning on about the herbs and poisons, Yuu wondered if there was a world out there that made school even remotely entertaining.

She felt like she would bash her head in if she had to stay here a moment longer. 

… Scratch that, she felt like her head had already been bashed in.

Deuce's voice broke through Yuu's violent daydream, jolting her back to reality. She looked up to see him staring at her with a questioning expression. “Huh?” 

He frowned, then whispered, “Do you guys know what a mycelia is?”

I’ll let Ace handle this one.

Deuce turned to Ace pleadingly.

“No clue.” And, like a bucket of water being poured over a campfire, Deuce’s hopes were crushed in an instant. “Sounds like something you’d find on a fungus. What about it?”

“The only thing I care about is how to tell the yummy plants from the yucky ones,” Grim, who perked up from his nap, snarked. 

Ace rolled his eyes. “Of course you’re focusing on the taste test, you glutton.”

Deuce leaned in, his eyes determined. His voice strayed above a whisper, but quieted down when Yuu shot him a panicked look and gestured to the still lecturing Crewel, his tone turning sheepish. “C’mon, guys, we need to focus!”

“Hey Deuce, why don’t you take notes for us? You seem like you’d be good at that.” 

Yuu had to give it to Ace, he was really good at giving back-handed compliments. 

Deuce shook his head. “No way. We need to pay attention to this stuff. It could save our lives!”

“It’ll also be on the test,” Yuu reminded him. 

He froze, having forgotten—or not known—that fact. “... That, too.”

Looking at his face, Yuu couldn’t help but sigh in exasperation tinged with fondness. She’d throw him a bone. “Also, a mycelia, or mycelium, is like the roots of a fungus. It helps the mushroom spread and absorb nutrients from its surroundings.”

“How do you know all that?” Ace asked, leaning back. What, did she not seem smart to him or something? “You weren’t even listening to the lecture! Maybe you should be the one taking notes!"

“That’s Deuce’s job, not mine."

_________________

“I am your History of Magic teacher, Mozus Trein. This is my familiar, Lucius. You are here to learn the rich history of magic, and how it has sculpted the world which you now so easily take for granted.” Trein’s voice boomed throughout the classroom. Lucius, his feline familiar, was perched atop one of the many bookshelves in the classroom, its piercing eyes betraying its cute appearance.

Yuu’s eyes wandered to the window beside her. History would never hold her interest, especially with a teacher as dry as Trein. 

She cursed Crowley again for putting her through this.

_________________

“I'm Coach Vargas, and physically educating your feeble little bodies is my responsibility. Great sorcery begins with a great physique! Behold the muscles you can build with a diet of raw eggs!”

The idea of eating a raw egg made her physically recoil. 

“A great mage needs a great physical constitution! So gimme twenty laps, and a hundred push-ups!”

Ace and Grim groaned in unison. Yuu hid her displeasure behind her hand, but nothing could stop her eyes from rolling. 

“Greaaaat, more running? I thought this was a magic school, not boot camp,” Grim muttered.

“Running around a track, huffing and puffing like a locomotive? What’s that gonna do for learning magic?” He threw a dirty glance at the teacher’s back. “Seems more like pointless torture to me.”

She had to agree.

Meanwhile, Deuce seemed undaunted and unbothered by Vargas’ boisterous attitude. His eyes lit up as he stretched, a smile pulling at his lips. His cheeks were pink from the sun. “Finally! A subject that I’m good at!” he cheered.

Ace looked over at Yuu, a malicious smile on his lips. “You know, Yuu, you’re not exactly what one would call the picture of athleticism. We’ll have a show, in any case,” he said, laughing.

Yuu rolled her eyes. They were going to stay rooted in the back of her skull at this rate. “You’ll see,” she said, dismissive. “Looks aren’t everything, you know.”

“So you’re saying you aren’t a complete couch potato? Good to know.”

Boys, Yuu thought tiredly, lifting herself up from her stretching position, are the worst.

Yuu took off after Deuce, leaving behind a gaping Ace, who raced to catch up. He squawked behind her, nearly tripping over a pissed off Grim, who slowed down to chomp onto his ankle.

She laughed at his abrupt scream. “Who isn’t the ‘picture of athleticism’ now, huh?” she yelled back.

“Good one !" he snarked back. “What a completely original comeback!”

_________________

“This so-called magic academy feels a lot like a lame, ordinary school. It's not exactly what I expected, but at least this collar won't be much of a problem after all. You with me on that, Grim? ...Hm?” 

Ace's annoyance was quickly replaced by confusion as he noticed that Grim was nowhere to be seen. "Grim? Where’d he go?” 

Yuu frowned. “I have no idea…” She couldn’t see him anywhere nearby. “I hope he hasn’t started any trouble.” 

He’s definitely started trouble.

Deuce, who was leaning up against one of the windows, suddenly darted upright. “Look! It’s Grim!”

Yuu and Ace rushed over, following Deuce’s finger with their eyes. 

Lo and behold, it was Grim; his shadowy figure rushed through the bushes and across the walkway, disrupting students as they rushed to their next class.

Yuu’s eye twitched. This cat…!

Just as Yuu prepared to dash after Grim, a firm grip on her shoulder held her back. “What’re you doing?! He’s right there—” 

Ace's grip tightened. “You can't jump out of a window like a monkey!” 

Yuu shrugged off Ace's grip. "Grim's gone, and we need to find him before he causes any more trouble. I'll be fine." With that, she quickly climbed onto the windowsill, leaping out and landing steadily on the ground below. She rushed after Grim.

Deuce gasped.

"Gah ! C’mon, Juice, let’s go after them— through the door, idiot !”

“... Right!”

Yuu caught up to Grim quickly, irritation fueling her moments and propelling her forward. He squirmed as she snatched him up, bandages rubbing against his smooth fur.

Yowling, he demanded she let him go.

Thankfully, she caught him quickly, and he hadn’t disturbed too many people, but the students behind her—their glares are fierce—were winded, probably from trying to catch the many papers flying around.

“What were you even thinking?” she asked, fixing Grim’s head so that he has to look at her. He flinched back. “Or were you just going to skip and prance about like a wild beast?”

He huffs. “No way am I puttin' up with this boring routine day in and day out. I'm Grim, Sorcerer Prodigy, and I don't need no one to teach me how to blow stuff up!”

Her eyes narrowed. “Then what happened to becoming the ‘greatest mage’? You already gave up? You put so much effort into getting here, and you’re going to throw it all away because what, you don’t want to go to class?”

Grim's fur stood on end, and he hissed in a mixture of annoyance and embarrassment. “Hey, don’t you dare twist my words! It was just a little side trip, that’s all! Besides, I needed some air. Those cramped classrooms were suffocating me.” 

“Whatever,” she snapped, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. “Let’s just go, it’s lunch anyway. Something you would have known if you didn’t waste so much of it running around and disrupting class.” Ignoring Grim’s faltering expression, she marches toward the doors leading back inside. 

Ace and Deuce come running up to her. 

They skid to a stop. “Oh,” Ace said, panting slightly, “you already got him. Don’t know why I didn’t expect that.”

Deuce looks her over, probably scanning for more injuries, if she had to guess, before turning to Grim with a glare. He doesn’t say anything, but someone that’s more terrifying for Grim, who shrinks back even further, pushing against her hand fiercely.

Yuu shook her head. “Lunch time,” she says tiredly. Food made everything better, didn’t it?

As they made their way towards the cafeteria, they passed a few students who gave them wary glances, unsure of what to make of the cat-like creature they found themselves sharing a school with. Yuu was torn between agreeing with them and snapping at them to look away—a result of less than adequate sleep and deep-rooted irritation, she was sure.

"Look at all that delicious food!" Grim's tail swished back and forth with anticipation. ”I wonder if there's tuna!”

Ace and Deuce shared a disbelieving look. Yuu’s shoulders sagged. 

Grim didn’t learn anything from earlier, did he ? 

Apparently, animals had the capability to bounce back suspiciously fast. Yuu suspected Grim did it to spite her, because that was just her luck.

The thought of food filled her with delight. She’d eaten breakfast earlier, of course, but the lethargy slowing her down would be temporarily alleviated with food, no? She hoped it would, in any case.

“Henchman! Grab me the grilled chicken! There’s only one left…!” He jumped up, salivating. “And an omelet, too. Ooh, the jelly-filled bread looks yummy… Ow !”

Distracted as he was with his obsession with food, Grim stumbled into a student. He looked down at Grim, glaring. “Watch where you’re goin’!” The yolk of his egg ran down his hand. “W-what—my carbonara! You broke the yolk!”

Another student poked his head out from around the guy’s back. “Whoa, that’s messed up!” His face was devious, eyes filled with mischief; Yuu wasn’t the only one who tensed up, Deuce and Ace did, too. “Pokin’ the yolk’s the best part! You better make this right, pal!”

“I'm gonna need that grilled chicken of yours as compensation,” the first student said, wiping away the mess on his hand with a towel, face twisted in a scowl. His friend nodded, mockingly seriously. 

Grim growled in protest. ”Forget it! I'm not giving away my food. These creeps won't get my hard-earned grub.” 

The student’s expressions darkened. “That's no way to speak to an upperclassman, freshie. Are you nuts? You better hand over that chicken right now, before things get messy.” 

Deuce stepped forward, putting himself between her, Grim, and the two upperclassmen. “Um, excuse me, sir, but it said in the handbook that fighting with magic was prohibited...”

The upperclassman let out a scoff and sneered at Deuce, “Fighting? You got it all wrong. This is just me helpin' an ignorant freshman know his place.” 

Yuu frowned. This whole situation was ridiculous. “Just take my food, it’s whatever.”

The students stared at her for a moment, faces blank, before the first one eyed the food on her plate. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Huh, so you’re the one offering compensation?” She didn’t like the way he said that; it felt… slimy. “Alright, I’ll take it. Make sure to keep that furball in check next time.”

Yuu nodded, more than eager to get rid of the pair. “Understood.” 

Ace laughed as the two walked away. “Looks like we’ve got a true leader in our midst,” he murmured under his breath, exchanging a glance with Deuce, who nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Grim grumbled. Why he was so upset about her giving away her own food was a mystery, one she didn’t really care to unravel. “Why’d you have to give those jerks anything? They’re just a bunch of goons!”

Yuu rolled her eyes. “I can get more later, and besides, the food wasn’t worth all the trouble they’d bring. It’s called thinking ahead, Grim.”

Grim let out a huff but couldn’t argue with Yuu’s practical decision. “If they mess with us again, I’m gonna roast ‘em!” Yuu directed them back to their table, picked out when they walked into the cafeteria.

"Not if I roast you first." Ace chimed in slyly. “Careful now, Grim. You don’t want Yuu getting even more mad at ya, or you might wake up as a nice, juicy stew one day…” he trailed off ominously, hiding the obvious smirk from the cat.

Grim’s eyes widened. He looked at her before dashing behind Deuce’s legs. 

“Hey guys, let’s not joke about cooking Grim, alright?” Deuce, ever the peacemaker, said. His nose curled. “It sounds way too gross, anyway.”

“Oh, come on, Deuce! Lighten up a bit. I’m just having a little fun. And who knows? Maybe someday you’ll end up in a stew too!”

They all stared at him. Ace froze before rolling his eyes. “How is that too far? Seriously, it’s like making a joke around my mom. Lame.”

Yuu decided it was time to step in before things got out of hand. “Alright, alright, that’s enough. Can we focus on finishing lunch?” Er, starting it.

They dug in. Yuu idly looked around while they did so, catching a pair of red-eyes, twinkling with mischief, before she quickly looked away—she didn’t need any trouble. Grim belched, the noise drawing the tables’ attention; the boys grimaced while Yuu rolled her eyes. He patted his stomach, which bulged outwards a bit. Looking at his plate, she immediately knew why. 

Across the table, Ace jumped. “Woah!” 

Diamond waved at them, a teasing smile lighting up his face. He rose from his slouched position behind Ace, he’d crept up on the other boy to scare him, it seems, and sent her a wink.

It looked… weird. Yuu shrugged it off, nodding in acknowledgement towards the older student. 

“Looks like you’re all having fun,” Diamond said, waving his phone around. The charms on it jingled together, the light reflecting off the metal. “Mind if I join in?”

Grim growled. “After you tricked us into paintin’ those dumb roses?!” 

Diamond waved his hands placatingly. “‘Tricked’ is such an ugly word! C’mon, give me a break here… Do you think I wanted to spend my morning painting roses? It’s dorm policy! I was just following orders.”

Deuce raised an eyebrow. “And grinning like a fiend all the while,” he added.

“Now, now, Deucy. Outside the dorm, I don’t care what rules you follow! Here, I’m just a friendly mentor figure! Promise!”

“‘Deucy’,” Ace snickered. “That’s a new one, eh?”

Deuce flushed faintly, his irritation momentarily replaced by slight embarrassment. ”Please. Do not call me Deucey.” 

The group was interrupted by the sound of laughter. Yuu turned to find a tall, green-haired guy standing there, his body trembling with suppressed laughter. “That's how Cater shows he cares.”

Ace looked at the green-haired guy, unsure of who he was. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Who's this guy?”

The green-haired guy looked at him, then at the rest of the table, his eyes finally landing on her. She resisted the urge to shiver; what was up with all these students? They all felt so… unnatural. It was beyond creepy. “Ah, I should introduce myself. The name's Trey. Trey Clover. I'm a junior at Heartslabyul, like Cater here.”

Yuu felt her lips stretch into a smile, a practiced feeling. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said. “I’m Yuu, a freshman. From… hm.” She frowned. “From Ramshackle, I suppose.”

His face lit up with recognition. “The prefect from that dump of a—uh, the rustic dorm.”

Before he could embarrass himself further, Yuu waved him off. “It really is a dump, no need to sugarcoat it. You’re not going to hurt my feelings any.”

He chuckled, scratching at the back of his neck. “Well, in any case… I heard the whole story from Cater already, so thanks for looking out for our boys yesterday.”

Yuu nodded, falling silent. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest all of a sudden, her head spelled with dizziness. 

Everyone’s voices faded around her as she took a deep breath, willing the oncoming panic to subside. Her stomach curled, wrapping her intestines into knots. 

Oh, no, not now—

Then, it was gone. 

As if forced awake from a dream, she gasped, her eyes flying open. 

The group startled, but she raised a hand immediately. “I’m fine, just stubbed my toe.” She curled her nose theatrically, reaching her hand down to ‘massage’ her foot. 

Deuce’s shoulders slumped in relief. “Thankfully it wasn’t anything serious…”

Ace, looking increasingly more irritated by the moment, gave Diamond a puzzled glance; she one-hundred percent missed what the older boy said, but apparently Ace wasn’t too happy about whatever it was he said. “Why are you guys here, anyway? We didn't invite you to our table.”

Diamond grinned and waved his hand dismissively. “Aww, come on, Ace. Can't I hang out with my favorite first years? Besides, isn't it better to have some upperclassmen to keep you out of trouble? Let's try to get along. Here, gimme your digits."

Yuu, not having a phone, simply stared at Diamond’s outstretched hand, not quite sure how to respond. She gave a small shrug, straightening her back from her slouch. “I uh… don't have a phone.” 

He blinked. “For real?”

“For real,” Yuu affirmed. 

“How do you survive in this day and age?” He looked aghast.

Yuu shrugged again. “Never had a need for one.”

Deuce and Ace exchanged baffled glances. 

Diamond, looking utterly bewildered, shook his head in disbelief. “Wow, talk about old-fashioned. I know a place that sells the latest models cheap. How about you and I go on a phone-shopping date?” 

The thought of going on a "phone-shopping date" with him sounded more like a nightmare than a fun outing. She stared at him blankly, silently hoping he was just joking.

Seeing Yuu's uneasy expression, Clover intervened. “Cater. You're freaking out the freshmen. Maybe take it down a notch?” 

“I would love to,” Yuu interjected hastily, trying to save face. “But I don’t have any money. Maybe when I get a job—”

Diamond shook his head, clapping his hands together. “No biggie! I can take care of it, and you can pay me back later. I did say it was the cheap stuff, y’know!”

He smiled, seemingly enjoying watching her gape like a fish. She snapped her jaw closed, wincing as she scraped her lip with her teeth. “It’s a date!”

Clover let out a weary sigh from beside her, sending her an apologetic smile.

Diamond continued, “Oh, right, about the dorms and the Great Seven…”

________________

Yuu, her exhaustion evident, rubbed her temples as she processed the influx of information about the seven dorms. 

“That’s a lot to take in.” Grim grumbled, “Ugh, I feel like my brain's gonna explode. Too much info!”

Diamond laughed. “Ah, the perils of being a freshman. So much to learn, so little time, huh?” .

Clover nodded in agreement with his fellow junior. “At orientation, the Dark Mirror picks a dorm for you based on the essence of your being. As a result, each dorm ends up with a distinct sort of... flavor, we'll call it.”

Deuce, taking Clover’s words to heart, repeated, “Flavor huh..?” 

Cater chimed in, “Think of a dorm as an elite prep school. We each have our own unique style, so you’re gonna find different personalities in each dorm.” 

Clover looked in the direction of a towering, dog-eared student sitting at a nearby table, pointing at the boy discreetly. “Take that guy over there, for instance. He's from Savanaclaw. They focus more on strength and physical endurance. You'll find a lot of athletes and thrill-seekers in their dorm.” 

Yuu’s eyes followed Clover’s finger, noting the student’s imposing demeanor. Compared to Ace and Deuce, he looks a lot more menacing. I guess each dorm’s particular… ‘flavor’ really is different.

She looked around, noting the differences among the students readily. Back home, she was surrounded by people who looked like her, so seeing so many different people, including animal people , was surreal.

Soft purple, lilac, caught her attention. 

Long eyelashes, purple hair, wide eyes… Yuu’s brow lifted. Another girl…? As soon as she had the thought, she threw it out. Night Raven was a boy’s school, and she was an anomaly due to her Wish. The chances of that student being a girl was close to zero. Unfortunately.

Grim spotted him, too, his eyes widening. “Woah… The girl with the potions book, I really like her!”

Deuce’s head shot up. “What’s she doing at a boy’s school—” His eyes flickered in her direction for a moment before darting back to the lilac-haired boy. “Uh…”

"You two are such morons. There aren't any girls officially enrolled here." As Ace spoke, his gaze shifted to Yuu with a slight, somewhat mocking smile on his face.

"I'll poke your eyes out."

He snorted. "I'd like to see you try."

She raised an eyebrow, and he backed off, holding out his hands in a ‘I surrender’ pose. Evidently, he remembered that night very well. Yuu snickered.

"Speaking of girls, there's a portrait in the west hall who's a real beauty. Name's Rosaria. If you'd like to meet her, I'd be happy to introduce you. Maybe we can set something up?” 

Ace rolled his eyes dramatically, “Hard pass! I don't care how cute she is if she's two-dimensional!” 

Diamond laughed at Ace's response. “Ah, but beauty knows no bounds, my dear friend. Two-dimensional or not, her grace is undeniable.”

Diamond quickly redirected the conversation, setting his phone down in front of him. “Now, where were we? They take vanity pretty seriously at Pomefiore. It's basically a dorm full of models. Their housewarden has five million followers on Magicam!” Yuu couldn’t help but feel a mix of confusion and irritation as he went on. Who cared about all that? 

Clover stepped in. “Hey now, they're not all just pretty faces. The students at Pomefiore are among the best at potions and casting curses.” 

Diamond glanced at her. “Actually, I think you’d fit right in with Pomefiore, Yuu. If you had magic you’d one-hundred percent be in Pomefiore!”

“Ah… Thank you?” That was a compliment, right? “Why?”

"Because of your good looks! You could totally pull off their aesthetic with a bit of makeup and a fashionable outfit! I even mistakenly thought you were a girl!”

She hid a grimace behind her hand, disguising it with a wet-sounding cough. Close, close, way too close! 

Clover quickly intervened. “That's enough now, Cater. We don't want to overwhelm them on their first day.” 

“Oh, sorry, Yuu. Didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” Diamond responded sheepishly as she pulled her hand away from her face.

Blood decorated the skin of her palm. Distracted, Yuu nodded absentmindedly at Diamond, her face fixed in neutrality. She needed grief seeds, and quickly. She didn’t have time for all this—!

Unaware of her thoughts, Diamond continued explaining the rest of the houses, ending on…

“And now... Diahonyalara, was it?”

Diamond nodded. "It's Diasomnia . Ah, look over there. Those guys in the special seating area. You can tell from the neon green and black armbands. They're basically campus celebrities. The vibe they give off makes it real hard for regular schmucks like us to even approach them. And their housewarden is that times a thousand.” 

Yuu took a deep breath. Nighttime. She just had to wait a bit longer, and she’d be on the road to recovery. Panicking won’t solve anything. 

It felt like she was always saying that now. 

“There’s a little kid in that group,” Ace said, none too quietly. Yuu followed his gaze, abruptly meeting the familiar magenta-eyed stare from earlier. She jumped, cursing quietly under her breath. 

Holy shit.

“That guy is no kid,” Clover interrupted him. “He’s a junior like us. Name’s—”

“Lilia. Lilia Vanrouge,” a deep voice continued, the cadence smooth, from behind her. 

Yuu jumped again, but this time into action. Without any time to think, she lashed out, her fist crashing into the other’s face.

Crack!

The student grunted, bringing a hand up to his face wearily. 

Yuu’s eyes widened. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” she said, getting up and out of her seat. Her hands hovered awkwardly around him, not daring to touch. “I didn’t even think—”

Ridding himself of the remaining pain, Vanrouge smiled. It looked wild, almost feral. He seemed… pleased. “It’s been a long time since someone’s gotten the better of me,” he said, pinching the bridge of his nose. It cracked into place, making everyone wince. 

“I’m sorry,” Yuu said meekly. She didn’t even know this guy and she’d already hurt him. 

“No need,” Vanrouge said calmly. “All better, see?” He gestured to his face. The immediate swelling from the blow was already gone, and… This guy isn’t human. He hummed. “It’s better to defend yourself against the unknown than to simply let it take you, no? Good reflexes, dear.”

He practically pushed her into her seat, and seeing as she had no choice (he didn’t look like someone she wanted to mess with), Yuu fell back onto the bench. Despite his healing, she still felt guilty. 

He hadn’t done anything to her, and yet… 

“I understand my apparent age interests you all?” Ace did call him a child, which explained the amused look decorating Vanrouge’s face. He seemed old, which was weird considering his youthful looks. That she hit and bruised. Ugh, I hate feeling this way. 

The Diasomnia student continued, his lips twitching up into a smile, “As this bespectacled fellow accurately noted, despite my fresh-faced, boyish good looks, it would be inaccurate to call me a child.”

Settling into his temporary seat beside Yuu, who sat stiffly, guilt still making her nervous, he gestured back to his table. “You need not gawk at us from afar. You may feel free to speak with us directly. We are schoolmates, are we not? All of us at House Diasomnia welcome you without reservation.”

Contrary to his words, the looks on the other student’s faces were anything but. A chill went down Yuu’s spine. The Heartslabyul students shared an uneasy look. 

Clover, seeming more and more like the mature one of the group, spoke up politely, “Thank you for the invitation. We, uh, appreciate the hospitality.”

Lilia, with a mysterious chuckle, vanished as quickly as he had appeared, leaving the Heartslabyul students bewildered. Yuu could feel his energy dissipating in the air now that she was looking out for it. He’d returned to his table and was chatting with the silver-haired boy she saw earlier. He looked enthusiastic, while the other looked about ready to fall asleep. 

Huh.

Ace, dumbfounded by the entire encounter, voiced his disbelief. "Wait a minute! How did he hear us talking? The distance between us and the Diasomnia table was definitely more than shouting range!"

Clover rubbed his chin. He looked tired. "Well... Diasomnia does have a bit of a reputation for having lots of special students. Some of them are extremely talented at magic. Their housewarden, Malleus Draconia, is considered to be one of the five best mages in the world.”

Grim perked up. "Heh, five best mages, huh? Well, once I'm at full power, I bet I could beat any of them in a fight!"

“I wouldn't get too full of myself if I were you, Grim. Those guys are no joke, especially Malleus Dracoania. They say he can do magic so powerful it can change the weather!" 

Change the weather… Deuce’s words reminded her that she was in an entirely other world. With everything going on, the mine, the grief seeds, the uneasy normalcy of school, she’d forgotten. Which was a bit hard to understand, even for her, but it was probably just the stress of the situation getting to her. Still… to change the weather… 

A childish part of her cheered, and the other, more grown up part wondered what the consequences would be, if there were any at all. That would take a lot of magic, wouldn’t it?

She voiced her thoughts aloud. 

“Good question,” Clover said, nodding. “It would, yeah. I doubt any human mage could do it, or at least, not as efficiently as Draconia probably can. Messing with nature is no easy feat, even for a mage.” 

Diamond, sensing an opportunity to gossip, swiftly chimed in upon hearing the name of Malleus Draconia. "Malleus is reeeeeal bad news. Though… I suppose the same could be said of our own dear housewarden.” 

Ace snorted. “No kidding! He collared me for eating one slice of tart! All his rule obsession is outta control!” He continued his passionate rant, clueless to the student behind him rapidly approaching.

Rose-red hair, intense gray eyes, and with a glower that could kill, he was undoubtedly the infamous Riddle Rosehearts, whom Ace had pissed off so badly that the idiot was still wearing the housewarden’s bizarre collar.

She sent Ace a look, making a subtle gesture with her hand for him to zip it, but he continued. 

”My 'rule obsession' is out of control, is it?”

For god's sake!  

Ace's mouth worked faster than his brain, and blurted out, “You bet it is. Riddle's just a petty tyrant who leans into the whole rules schtick as a pretext to keep everyone under his puny thumb!” 

Yuu buried her face in her hands. 

Ace, finally sensing the gravity of the situation, turned slowly around and came face-to-face with Riddle, his wrath showing plainly on his fair face. He gulped nervously.

Diamond smiled, acting like he’d just noticed Riddle show up. “Hey, Riddle! What’s shakin’, pal? You’re lookin’ adorbs, as always!” 

At once, Yuu knew that Diamond’s valiant attempt to diffuse the growing tension was the wrong thing to do. 

He raised an eyebrow, unamused. “Cater, keep running your mouth and you’ll lose it, along with the rest of your head.”

“Ah! Sorry, sorry—my bad.”

Grim's eyes widened in realization, his tail standing straight up. "Myah?! You're the guy who put that stupid collar on me at the orientation ceremony!” 

Roseheart’s eyes locked onto Grim, then her. "And you're the new students who were nearly expelled yesterday. I'll ask that you not refer to my signature spell as a ‘stupid collar’.”

Yuu decided to step in and try to smooth things over, grabbing Grim’s neck firmly. He slumped over almost immediately, but didn’t look happy about it. "I apologize about Grim, he doesn't know when to stop talking." 

Rosehearts accepted her apology with a firm nod, but his gaze didn’t soften. “Apology accepted. You would be wise to keep an eye on him. He seems to find himself in trouble quite often.”

“So, uh…” Ace stumbled over his words, trying and failing to smoothly enter the conversation. “Listen, housewarden, sir… Any chance I could get you to remove this collar?”

Yuu looked to the side. Maybe if you hadn’t insulted him, multiple times, technically to his face.

Unimpressed, Rosehearts shook his head. “I had intended to remove it once you had taken an opportunity to reflect upon your crimes, but I’ve not detected so much as a hint of remorse in the foolishness you have spouted today. So, I think I’ll let you keep that for a while.” The collar encasing Ace’s neck sparkled, looking immaculately well-kept, in direct contrast to Ace’s downtrodden expression. 

The housewarden smiled, but it wasn’t kind. “Don’t worry, though, the freshman curriculum is more focused on magical theory than practice, so there won’t be any hindrances for you.”

Ace groaned. “Ugh! Come on! This thing is a total pain…”

“You had it coming,” Yuu whispered, now that Roseheart’s attention was elsewhere. She glared at him. “Like, seriously? You were so loud, I swear the dead could hear you!”

Ace sulked, muttering under his breath, “Yeah, yeah… No need to rub it in…”

"Now, if you've finished your meal, you should quit gossiping and prepare for your next class. Rule two-hundred and seventy-one is quite clear: 'One must leave the table within fifteen minutes of completing their lunch.' You do understand what happens to rulebreakers, I trust?” 

Ace let out a resigned sigh. "More rules… It’s like a never-ending nightmare,” he muttered under his breath. 

Rosehearts shot him a sharp glance. "I believe you mean to say, 'Yes, Housewarden'!"

Ace clenched his fists. "Yes, Housewarden!” 

Something is wrong with him… But it wasn’t her problem. She knew that, and she was going to separate herself from the housewarden as quickly as possible. She was not some side-character in a horror film, following the plot blindly. She had way more important things to do, as early as tonight!

Clover welcomed Rosehearts with a warm smile. "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on them.” 

Riddle nodded in acknowledgment. "Hmm. As vice housewarden, I trust you'll avoid any further indiscreet conversation. Now, as per rule three-hundred and thirty-nine… 'The post-meal beverage is lemon tea with two sugar cubes.' Thus, I must go to acquire my sugar cubes. Farewell.” 

As he walked away, his pace brisk, his voice carried over to them, “Don't even get me started on their violation of running out of sugar cubes...!"

Yuu blinked, turning her gaze from Roseheart’s back to Clover and Diamond. “Is he always like that?”  

“He’s completely bonkers!” Ace whispered furiously. Deuce furrowed his brow.

Before either upperclassmen could answer, noise.

Deuce jumped, looking around. 

… They hadn’t even noticed how most of the tables had gone quiet. 

“Wow,” she whispered. Was everyone that afraid of Rosehearts? 

“Whew, glad he’s gone,” one student muttered, stretching his neck. 

Another one slumped over in relief. “I totally just broke rule one-hundred and eighty-six, ‘never eat a hamburger on Tuesday.’ Talk about a close one…” 

Yuu, however, was caught up on the number. One-hundred and eighty-six?! Just how many were there?

How do people live like this? The whole system seemed designed to keep people constantly on edge, afraid of making even the slightest misstep. If everyone keeps focusing so much on avoiding transgressions, how could they focus on school, on themselves? The entire thing is just so—

Yuu felt a sense of déjà vu. Suddenly, it hit her. This school, and the relentless system of rules it enforced, mirrored the very problems she had fought so hard against. This was just one more example of a world in disarray, where conformity and obedience took precedence over individuality and freedom. As Yuu pondered, she reached a startling realization—the heart of the issue was not just about the rules, but the very foundation of this school.

Everything here is completely twisted. Making an entire school to appreciate the terrible way in which those seven ruled was ridiculous. With that being said, is it really a surprise that Rosehearts is trying to emulate the Queen of Hearts?

Grim broke the silence with his typical bluntness. "Earth to Yuu! Why are you thinking so hard? Is that brain of yours overheating?" 

Yuu snapped back to reality. "Just thinking. The rules seem ridiculous, don’t you think? Maybe I should talk to him.” She remembered her earlier promise. “Or, maybe not. It’s really none of my business…” 

Grim let out a dry laugh. "Hah! I don't blame you. All these rules are a pain in the fur. But good luck trying to reason with that uptight housewarden. I’d say you’re better off just leaving him alone.”

Yuu turned her attention to Diamond, curious. "Diamond-senpai, can you explain how the housewarden’s magic works? It's all so confusing.”

“Hm? Oh, sure—basically, Riddle’s unique magic comes from his signature spell, ‘Off With Your Head’. It allows him to seal away someone’s magic for however long it’s on.”

Grim snorted. “‘Off With Your Head’? Sounds pretty extreme, doesn’t it? He’s one of those pretentious weirdos, isn’t he—”

“Grim!”

“What? Am I wrong? C’mon, Yuu, he’s so dramatic, too, you can just tell!”

She frowned. “There’s no need to be rude.”

Diamond laughed. "Wellll, it might sound like overkill, but it sure gets the job done. Besides, Riddle’s just as strict about his magic as he is about all those rules. Nobody can undo that spell except for him."

Ace grumbled. "Ugh, I get it, but I'm fed up with dealing with this stupid thing. Is there really no way to remove it besides going on a wild goose chase for this stupid tart?” 

Diamond shrugged. "Sorry, buddy, but that's the deal. You gotta find that tart if you want to get rid of the collar.” 

"A whole tart has gotta be pretty expensive,” Deuce said. “Maybe forty—”

Ace squawked. "Seriously? I don't have that much money!”

"Well, if the price is the issue, you could try asking Trey. Trey made those three tarts by hand, after all.” 

Clover scratched at his temple, an embarrassed smile worming onto his face. “Cater…”

“Oh, look, there’s tarts over there!” Yuu pointed at the pastry display, manned by a few ghosts who smiled and waved at her. “I wonder if they’d let you take one, or help you bake one?”

She never had many sweets growing up, so maybe…

“They’re not just for decoration, you know,” Clover interjected, looking at her with an amused expression. “Would you like to try one?”

Embarrassed, Yuu instinctively shook her head. “I don’t… have any money.”

“That’s no problem. They’re free. I’ll go cut you a slice—the bakers will be happy that you wanted one, anyway.”

“Oh. Uhm, thank you,” she said shyly. 

Ace shot her a disbelieving look. “How come you’re so shy all of a sudden? You’re always like, ‘stop irritating me, or I’ll slice you in half!’ What gives?”

Yuu glowered at him. “None of your business, idiot.”

Deuce snickered. “Cold.”

Clover returned with a few slices, just enough for the four freshmen to grab one. Yuu looked at the empty plate with a guilty look. “... Was there not enough?” she asked hesitantly. “I don’t need it, if you want it, Clover-senpai—”

He shook his head. “I make them a lot, so it’s no big deal. Cater and I are a bit burnt out on them anyway. Go on and enjoy it, they’re good!”

She lowered her head a bit in respect, delicately picking up her fork. “Thank you, senpai.”

It’s so good. 

“Oh!” Deuce gaped. “Wow, it’s better than the ones at home.” He cringed a bit. “ Sorry, mom ,” he muttered under his breath. 

Ace frowned. “C’mon, it’s not that great.”

Yuu leaned over and flicked him on the forehead. “Stop being a sore loser. Might as well enjoy this now, considering you’re going to probably hate tarts after you attempt to make your own.”

Grim didn’t say anything. 

He was… 

Yuu grimaced. 

“Well, he has his priorities straight, at the very least,” Diamond said dryly, looking away from the mess Grim was making. She hoped they knew magic to clean that up because otherwise, she’d have to bathe him. 

No thank you.

“Can we focus on my tart issue, now?” Ace whined. “I have no idea how to actually make one!”

“I can help,” Clover offered, then interrupted Ace’s abrupt celebration, “ but, I’ll need something for you in return.”

Ace deflated. “Of course you do.”

Deuce punched his shoulder. “It’s only fair! Act like a man, dude.”

“‘Act like a man, dude’,” Ace mocked him. “Stop acting like a gangster, it’s weird.” He took a deep breath. “But whatever, you’re right. Senpai, I don’t have any money, so—”

“Actually,” Clover interrupted him again, smirking, “I won’t accept any payment for the tart. Instead, I have a… simple request.” 

She didn’t like the sound of that. 

“We need some chestnuts for the tart, and I would greatly appreciate it if you could gather them.”

Ace raised an eyebrow. “That’s it? How many do you need?”

Trey took a moment to think. “Well, it’s for the Unbirthday party—” Yuu choked on a piece of tart; what kind of party?! “Hmm… probably two or three-hundred?”

She swallowed the bite, and gaped. “Pardon?”

“I know it sounds like a lot, but don’t worry! There’s a whole bunch of chestnut trees in the woods behind the campus’ botanical garden.”

Nope. No way. “Sorry, you’re on your own, Ace.”

Grim nodded hurriedly. “I’m out, too! That’s way too much work!”

Deuce looked at Ace and then at them. “Uhm. Right. I’ll pass, too.”

“Traitors!” Ace yelled. “What the hell!”

Diamond smiled at them, attempting to make it look sweet. To Yuu, he looked more constipated than anything. "Hold up! Haven't you ever heard that food tastes better if you make it with your friends? This'll be a memory to treasure! It could even be your chance to make a splash as a cooking blogger!” 

Yuu sat there, looking at Diamond blankly. "You were quick to pass on the hard work, but now that it comes to the benefits, suddenly you're all on board. How interesting.” 

He pouted, trying to defend himself. “Hey now, it's not just about the rewards. We're all learning valuable life skills here. Plus, it beats dealing with Riddle and getting our magic taken away, right?”

Yuu crossed her arms and let out a sigh. "Fine, I’ll help out for a bit. But,” she added, noticing Ace’s hopeful gaze, “Not for long. I have things I need to do.” 

Deuce reluctantly agreed to help. Grim, seeing everyone participating, grumpily joined in too.

“Cool. Plans made. Let's meet at the botanical garden after last period.”

Chapter Text

Their final class for the day came much quicker than Yuu was expecting, the time flowing by like an aggressive river. From the looks on everyone’s faces, they weren’t excited for what was to come one bit. Yuu included. 

...Except Grim, of course, because food was involved.

“Woah, look at all these chestnuts! It’s a chestnut extravaganza out here! I’m gonna be livin’ large on chestnut tarts! Mhh! Let’s get grabbin’—ouch! Myah…” 

“Grim? What happened?” Yuu asked, looking away from the trees and towards the cat. He licked at his paw, biting and prodding at it uselessly. “Oh,” she muttered, understanding dawning on her. 

Yuu knelt down beside him, careful to avoid any other stray chestnut spines. “Here, let me help,” she said calmly, gently taking his paw in her hand in order to not stretch his arm too far. 

The chestnut spine was embedded in his paw. “Ouch.” Yuu grimaced, plucking the sharp piece from in between his paw pads. Blood oozed from the small wound. She worried her lip. “We should go to the nurse—”

“I got it!” Deuce spoke up, taking out his pen. “I know a lot of the smaller healing spells, so…” He whispered something under his breath, moving his pen with stilted movements. 

… She thought she would get used to magic, but in reality, it was very fascinating. 

“Good as new!” Grim cheered, flexing his paw and beaming. 

Despite her reservations, Yuu’s lips quirked up at his excitement. “Thanks, Deuce.”

He gave them a thumbs up. “No problem! It’s not a very strong one, so it’s pretty easy. You should be more careful, Grim. Especially out here.”

“Right,” Yuu agreed. “I wonder if there’s shoes we can get you? But for cats.” She sighed. “But even if there were, we wouldn’t be able to get them now, anyway. Sorry, Grim.”

Ace walked up to them, fiddling with his collar uncomfortably. It sat heavy on his neck. Hopefully not for too much longer, for his sake. “We’ll need gloves or something, and a basket. I don’t know how Grim’ll use them, but I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

Yuu perked up, an idea occurring to her. “Maybe bandages? We can wrap them around Grim’s paws!”

Grim frowned. “Sounds annoying.”

“Better than getting repeatedly stabbed by chestnuts, though.”

Ace shrugged. “She makes a point. Here, I’ll do it.” With a small motion of his pen, bandages wrapped themselves around Grim’s paws, encasing them and hopefully protecting the sensitive skin. 

Grim jumped, instinctively going to rip the material off. “Grim! C’mon, you know why he did it,” Yuu said, grabbing him and holding him close to her chest. He grumbled but stopped.

“It feels weird!”

“Well, yeah, you’re not used to it. Duh.”

“Not helping, Ace,” Deuce sighed. “Let’s go get the gloves and stuff, before it gets late.”

Yuu nodded. “Maybe there’s some in the greenhouse?”

They made their way over. Ace looked around, eyes roaming over the expanse of the place. Flowers were in bloom, vines cascading down from the roof and curling close on the floor. The sun peaked in from between vibrant, green leaves, and shone brightly in their eyes. 

“It’s huge,” Deuce muttered. “And there’s a lot of plants.”

“It’s nice,” Yuu said. She sniffed the air. “Smells fresh, too. I like it.”

“There’s gotta be someone to help, this place is huge! Are there groundskeepers here?” Ace asked, walking along the aisles. “Maybe we should split up and look for one.”

“Good idea,” Deuce agreed. 

The group split up, each wandering through the sprawling gardens of the botanical garden. Yuu and Grim explored the verdant expanse together, their steps guided by the path that led from the entrance. As they walked, they took in the picturesque scenery—trees of different species stood like an arboreal symphony, their canopies forming a large, singular canopy of varying hues.

Yuu trudged along, wiping sweat off her brow. She stumbled, her foot finding uneven ground, and yelped, falling forward and catching herself on the planters beside her. “Shit, what…” Looking down, she saw what tripped her up.

Her brow furrowed in confusion. A tail?

Grim snickered, opening his mouth to say something—

“Hey! You got some nerve steppin' on my tail." Yuu and Grim whipped their heads towards the source, startled by the sudden yell. 

Muscular build, darker, sun-kissed skin, and more importantly, animal ears atop his head… Yuu gulped. It was the man from the entrance ceremony. The nonchalant one with the fangs.

"Are you the groundskeeper? Not sure you oughta be talkin' to students that way, pal.” 

Yuu slapped a hand over Grim’s mouth, eyes wide. “Sorry about that, and him. Uhm. Do you know where the groundskeeper is, by any chance?”

He ignored her. “Ain't nothin' worse than bein' in the middle of a good nap and havin' some jerk step on your tail.”

Grim ripped himself out of her grip, glaring at the man. "Then maybe don't leave your tail on the path!"

“Why yo—“

He froze mid-sentence, his expression shifting to one of confusion. His nose twitched, seemingly catching a whiff of something that made him furrow his brow. 

“Uh,” Yuu started, reaching over to clutch at her elbow. The atmosphere was weird all of a sudden, and she was more than uncomfortable. “What’s wrong?”

Yuu watched with a puzzled expression as the guy’s demeanor shifted from annoyance to dread. “Are you alright?” she asked hesitantly. “I can leave…” 

Internally, she was panicking a bit. 

“You’re that herbivore from orientation, the one incapable of wielding magic," he declared, his face intense. He didn’t look confused anymore, more alert and—

With a sudden movement, he encroached upon her personal space, his attention fixed solely on her as he inhaled deeply. She reared back, her face twisting in disgust. “What the hell are you doing?!”

Is he sniffing me?!

One tense moment later, he took a step back. “Huh. No magic, obviously, yet something else is there…” He looked at her, raising an eyebrow. “Well, whatever, what’s a lady doing at this school?”

Oh.

“What?” she asked, trying to buy time. “I have no idea—”

He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, my nose ain’t stupid. Why’re you at Night Raven?”

Yuu wavered, then took a deep breath. She didn’t want to test anything right now, much less his patience. “It’s a long story, and not particularly believable. In any case, I can’t go home, so I’m stuck here.” Everything was true, she just wasn’t going to elaborate. Hopefully he got the hint.

He sighed, exasperated. “Whatever. Just be careful. All these guys…” His nose curled. “They’re not very gentlemanly.” He shooed her away, but before she could take a step away, another student arrived, with similar ears on his head.

“Leona! I knew I’d find you here! There’s still after-school classes to go to.”

Leona yawned, his ears twitching from atop his head. Yuu watched, mouth agape, until he sent her a sharp glare. Her mouth snapped shut instantly. “And to think that on top of everything, I have to deal with this guy…” he grumbled. 

The newcomer was smaller than Leona, but Yuu got the impression that he was just as scary, just in a different way. It was like comparing a king to a pickpocket; both were dangerous in their own right.

“Leona, you’ve already had to repeat a year. This happens again, and we’re gonna be in the same year!”

“As if I needed a reminder.” Leona rolled his eyes, turning on his heel and leaving just as abruptly as he’d… popped up. 

The shorter guy, with the different ears, peered at her curiously before deeming her either unimportant or way above his paygrade, and hurried after Leona. 

The duo blinked at each other. 

“Yuu, Grim! We found a bucket—” Ace paused. “What happened to you two?”

Yuu snorted and waved her hand. She was just as confused as they were. “Nothing, let’s just continue.”

Grim puffed his chest out. “I’m gonna get the most chestnuts out of everyone here!” He turned to her with a glint in his eye. “And I want tuna when I beat all you!”

“Ask Ace about that,” she said. “Isn’t he the ‘employer’ in this scenario?”

“Good point,” Deuce agreed. “What’re you gonna give me if I get the most chestnuts? Oh, I know! The cards you stole from— ”

Ace laughed loudly, patting Deuce’s shoulder. “Right,” he said, clapping his hands together. The bucket dangled from his wrist. “Let’s get started already!”

Deuce grumbled but reluctantly followed Ace as he sped out of the greenhouse, looking like a put-out puppy. Yuu and Grim shared a look. “There’s something going on there,” she commented. It felt unnecessary, considering just how obvious the two were, but…

“They’re weird,” Grim said simply. “And wonder-boy is stupid if he thinks he’s gonna beat me.”

Of course that’s what he gets out of that.

“Whatever you say.” It was easier to just agree.

"Are you going to help gather chestnuts or just stand there? We're kind of in a hurry here!” Ace poked his head back inside the greenhouse, looking vaguely nervous. The idiot did steal Deuce’s cards, didn’t he?

“Remember,” Yuu started, feeling like a broken record, “this is a favor .”

“... Right.”

_________________

“He…” Ace’s nose wrinkled. “ Sniffed you? What the hell?”

Deuce frowned. “Do you think other people can smell you? Uh, I mean, your—” he gestured vaguely at her, but she got the hint, heart sinking.

“That’s a problem,” she said, feeling a headache forming behind her eyes. “Are there like… scent blockers, or something? A perfume, maybe? Potions? ”

“Hey, it’s gonna be alright,” Deuce said softly. “We’ll help you!” 

When Ace remained silent, Deuce drove his elbow into his gut. 

“Ow—”

Very subtle, Deuce. Yuu laughed, the knot in her chest loosening just a pinch. “Thanks, but I think I know someone who can help me already.” 

As much as she didn’t want to return, the nurse had helped her before. So. “I’ll be fine,” she said at their dubious looks. “I’m literally just going to the nurse.”

She shook her head. “I’m going to head there, you guys can finish up here.”

Grim grumbled. “I better get my tuna,” he threatened. 

Ace rolled his eyes. “I am not buying you tuna. Go find a river or something and do cat stuff. You know, like hunting ?”

_________________

Yuu’s heart pounded in her chest. 

After all the excitement from the past few days, she was astounded it hadn’t just given out on her, passive healing or not. She felt like she was going to pass out, the anxiety coiling around inside her gut overwhelming. There was so much for her to do, otherwise she’d die or get harrassed, and obviously the first one was a lot more important, but—

The day couldn’t be over soon enough.

_________________

Deuce shook his hair out of his eyes, his quick stride making him practically fly across the sidewalk. He looked at the note Trey gave him, quickly reading over the contents. 

“Eggs, flour—”

“Deuce?”

His head flew up. “Yuu? You’re…”

Yuu smiled sheepishly. Her face looked comically stiff, like she wasn’t used to the motion. It reminded him of a girl in his middle school class, when she’d smile and say—

“I’m fine.” (Despite the bruises littering her arms and the fragile set of her jaw.)

Just like that, he thought bitterly. 

He frowned, but let it go. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. “Take it easy,” he said instead. Then, as an afterthought, “Uhm, if you can, could you help me with Trey’s list? He needs some more ingredients for the tarts.”

“Oh, sure,” she replied easily. “May I?” She joined him on the sidewalk, her eyes skimming over the list after he handed it to her. “Nothing is ever cut and dry, I guess.”

He snickered. The list was long. It was almost as long as his mom’s during the holidays.

________________

“Quite the place,” Yuu mumbled as she and Deuce stepped into the store. Mr. S's Mystery Shop, if the name on the sign was to be believed. 

The duo’s eyes were drawn to every corner, each nook and cranny, dancing between objects like they were kids in a toy store. Rows of shelves filled with various items stretched out before them, each filled to the brim with goods. Yuu wouldn’t be surprised to find all kinds of magical doodads in here, probably ranging from ‘potentially dangerous’ to ‘definitely dangerous’.

“This place is huge!”

Yuu nodded in agreement, toying with a rather fetching scarf. It wiggled around in her grip, almost like it was alive. Magic was so cool. She almost wished she’d been born into this world, with these powers. 

(Don’t wish for things you don’t understand.)

”Greetings, my stray imps. How do you fare today?” A man, presumably the owner of the shop, jumped out of literally nowhere to greet them. He ignored their startled shrieks with a smirk. “Welcome to Mr. Sam's Mystery Shop! What among my humble selection interests you? A charm from a secluded land? The mummified remains of an ancient king? A cursed tarot card?”

Yuu exchanged a perplexed look with Deuce. 

Deuce took the lead. "Um, we wanted to buy all the items on this list...” 

The store clerk nodded, a slightly sinister smile playing at his lips. "Ah, supplies for your culinary creations, I presume. Allow me to gather the items you seek." 

Wow, he didn’t even look at the list. I wonder just how much stuff he has to be completely unconcerned like that…  

Then, I wonder if he has any guns here.

Sam reappeared, a satisfied look on his face. He held a number of items in his hands. “Here we are. I procured the items you requested. I believe this should suffice for your culinary endeavors, It's pretty heavy, though. Are you sure you can carry this? Luckily for you, our one hundredth size flying saucers are thirty percent off today. Perfect for carrying groceries!” 

Deuce cut in before Yuu could open her mouth to deny his offer. “We’ll be fine, but thank you.”

_________________

Yuu and Deuce, their hands and arms laden with bags of supplies, made their way down the bustling main street. Despite her healing taking forever, the bags weren’t all that heavy and thus didn’t irritate her much. It was a relief.

She couldn’t help but feel irritated, however. Deuce, ever since they’d left the store, kept glancing at her like a lost and confused puppy. She liked him well enough, but if he didn’t stop his wide-eyed act, she was going to burst a blood vessel. Again.

His mouth twitched, and it took a valiant effort to contain the rolling of her eyes. “What.”

Deuce jumped. “Uhm!” Stumbling over his words, nothing but various iterations of ‘ Yuu’, ‘help’, and ‘bag’, stumbled out of his mouth for a solid thirty seconds. 

She waited him out.

“CanIhelpyouwithyourbagsplease!”

Yuu raised an eyebrow at him. “It’s fine, I got it.”

His shoulders slumped, and irritatingly, he looked like a kicked puppy again, all sad, big eyes, and a pouting mouth. 

“... This one’s a bit heavy, though,” she added, gesturing to one of the lighter bags. She hid a smile as he brightened, quickly wrangling the bag she indicated with surprisingly dexterous hands.

He looked ridiculously proud of himself. “My mom used to stock up at sales, so I developed this trick so I could carry all the bags at once,” he said, eyes glowing. “I’m the only man in the house, so I got to do all the heavy lifting, and—oh! Sorry, I didn't mean to monopolize the conversation.”

“It’s fine, I didn’t mind.” She forced a smile as a heavy feeling sat itself in her stomach. Her mother’s face echoed in her head, her features nearly forgotten yet so vibrantly horrifying. She didn’t want to remember.

“It’s nice that you helped her out,” Yuu says, wrenching her brain into the present. 

Deuce’s eyes widened, the tips of his ears flushing a bright red. “It wasn’t like—agh!”

The collision sent bags toppling and supplies spilling onto the ground. The duo looked up, startled, to see the same weirdos they encountered in the cafeteria. Grim immediately shot up and began to shout in frustration. “Hey, watch it! You broke our eggs!"

Deuce looked at the broken eggs in disbelief, his eyes widening with panic. "Oh no! the carton of eggs is totally smashed! And now the bag's dripping egg good everywhere.”

Of course, something wrong had to happen.

The sudden collision sent bags toppling and forced the supplies to spill out and onto the ground. Yuu and Deuce reared back, looking up only to find the same weirdos they encountered in the cafeteria. 

“The eggs,” Yuu murmured mournfully, cringing as the yolk spread across the stone. 

The first weirdo, who had bumped into them, spoke up, his face pinched. His cheeks were a worrying shade of crimson. "Why don't you watch where you're— Hey! You're the jerks who broke the egg yolk on my carbonara!” 

The second weirdo joined in, his voice pitched low. Yuu frowned, setting aside her bags as she readied herself for a fight. "I've had about enough of you punks. You need to learn your place!”

Yuu, her eyes narrowing with determination, responded in a firm and fearless voice. "And where exactly is our place, pray tell?" 

The weirdo's eyes widened in recognition. "Wait a second, I recognise you! You're that goody two-shoes guy who gave me your lunch for ruining my carbonara!"

I could kill you so fast, you wouldn’t be able to blink before your head was severed from the rest of your body. The thought was so abrupt, so out-of-character, that Yuu completely froze. 

What did she just—

Crack!

She flinched, dodging backwards a second after the guy’s fist connected with Deuce’s crossed arms. He’d moved in front of her while she was lost in thought.

The weirdo groaned, cradling his bruising fist while glaring at Deuce like he was dirt under his shoe. 

Deuce snarled. “Don’t you dare touch he—him again, got it?!”

The three of them blinked in surprise, staring at Deuce with wide eyes. Yuu straightened immediately, her body so tense that not even a good punch to the jaw would sway her.

“While you’re at it, reimburse us for those eggs! And apologize to those chickens!”

The weirdo's smirk widened, his mocking tone growing even more condescending. "Ooh, look who's got his big boy pants on. You sure are makin' a big deal outta some stupid eggs.” 

Deuce's fury reached its boiling point, and he snapped. "Excuse me?” 

His smirk turned into a smug grin. "You heard me. I said you're making a fuss over some goddamn eggs. What, do you think you're some kind of chicken savior or something?” 

The second one, sensing an opportunity to provoke Deuce further, laughed uproariously. "You should thank us for savin' ya the trouble of crackin' 'em!”

Deuce almost steamed from the rage bubbling beneath his skin; to Yuu, the tension in his body was so prevalent that even the air seemed to succumb to it. "You think you’re funny?” Deuce asked, his fists clenching.

The two laughed, not hearing a word he said. “Look at him mumbling to himself now!” the first one choked out between bouts of laughter. It was like a scene from some bizarre book.

“I said, YOU THINK YOU’RE FUNNY ?”

Deuce panted as he continued, “You think you can toy with us, huh? Break our eggs, laugh in our faces?! You don't get to call our eggs stupid. You don't get to call ANY eggs stupid! Those eggs may not have gotten to be chicks, but they were gonna make some amazing tarts! Do you get it yet? DO YOU?!”

Yuu understood, then. She almost closed her eyes in defeat. Of course…

The two idiots looked at each other, then back at Deuce. “What is with this guy all of a sudden?!”

“You owe me six eggs. If ya ain't gonna pay me for 'em, then you're gettin' a bruise for each one!”

"He's acting like those eggs were his chicks or something!"

Deuce didn’t hold back. With a swift punch, he lunged at the first weirdo, landing a solid blow to the guy’s face. The impact sent him stumbling backwards as he yelled out in pain and shock. 

Holy—

The guy that had been hit staggered, his friend rushing over to help stabilize him. He lowered the guy onto the ground carefully, then looked up. The uninjured student fumed, eyes darting back and forth between the two of them before rushing Deuce with a snarl curling his lips into a hideous expression. Yuu caught his arm inches from Deuce’s unprotected stomach, and twisted it just far enough to hear a clean snap, before letting go. He screamed and fell onto his knees.

(She wouldn’t admit it, but it felt kind of nice.)

After the confrontation had come to an end, Deuce stood there, panting slightly from the adrenaline rush of the fight. He looked at the two weirdos with a steely gaze, his fists still clenched at his sides. "And next time you're eating an egg," he declared with conviction, “you better apologize to it! not once but hundreds of times!” 

The first weirdo, still recovering from the impact of Deuce's punch, stared at him wide-eyed, his fear evident in his trembling form. He nodded quickly, his lips quivering as he muttered a shaky apology. The second stared at her in terrified silence, clinging onto his friend’s arm like he would be able to protect him.

She glared, watching with satisfaction as he lowered his head.

“S-sorry to all the broken eggs!”

They rushed off.

Yuu turned to Deuce, her tone laced with sarcasm. "It seems you're particularly protective of those eggs. Next thing you know, you'll be tucking them into bed reading them bedtime stories.” 

He let out a deep sigh, his shoulders slumping. He ran a hand through his hair. “I did it again, didn't I...?” He groaned. “I was dead-set on becoming an honor student this time, too!”

An honor student? Yuu tilted her head curiously. 

Deuce's shoulders sagged as he tried to regain his composure. "When I was in middle school, I was pretty wild. I cut school all the time and got in fights. I called my teachers names, hung out with bullies, and bleached my hair."

Yuu blinked. She wouldn’t have expected all that from Deuce. She knew she had something of a past, at least a tiny inkling, but…

Deuce continued, "I blasted around tight curves on my Magic Wheel… I'd show off my magic to kids who couldn't use it yet... I was a total punk.” 

—she hadn’t expected him to be a complete delinquent!

“Well. I can’t say I’m completely surprised,” she said. “You kind of slip a lot, at least around Ace and I. You have this, I don’t know, ‘delinquent persona’? That sometimes comes out.”

He frowned. “Yeah… Back then, I didn’t really care about rules or consequences. But one night, I saw my mom talking on the phone to my grandma. She was trying to hide from me, but I saw her, and I could tell she was in tears.” He averted his eyes, as if he was blinking away his own tears. “She was saying how she must have been a horrible mom, and that maybe she never should have tried to raise me by herself.”

Deuce shook his head sharply, his lip trembling. “That had nothin’ to do with it! She hadn’t done anything wrong. It was all me. ”

Yuu reached out and put a hand on his shoulder, awkwardly rubbing his shoulder before letting her arm drop back down to her side. 

Deuce sighed. “That’s when I realized that I had to change,” he continued softly. Despite the near-whisper quality, his voice was brimming with conviction. “When the carriage came to take me to Night Raven, she was so happy for me. I decided then that this time, I wouldn’t do anything to make her cry. This time, I’d become an honor student, someone she could be proud of!”

“... I already messed it up,” he muttered. 

Yuu’s strengths didn’t lie in comforting people. Heck, she could hardly talk with people. But something compelled her to try. “Look, beating up students isn’t what’s considered ‘traditionally honor student-like’, but you gotta defend yourself. And besides, you defended me. I would’ve gotten a nasty bruise if you hadn’t stepped in. So, thanks."

“But anyway… my mom, she always struggled with happiness at home. She was miserable. I couldn’t really do anything besides give her gifts, and they were crappy and child-like at best. But… deep down, even if my mom couldn’t say it, her smile was enough to—to tell me that she appreciated my effort to make her days a bit brighter.”

Yuu took a deep breath. “That’s like you and your mom, I think. I don’t think she’d care if you became an honor student, as long as you put in the effort to become a better version of yourself, to be happy. She would be proud, seeing you now, even after you just punched an idiot in the face, because let’s face it, he and his buddy deserved it.”

Deuce laughed, his voice choked up. 

She smiled at him tentatively. “Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t end up mastering self-discipline right away. I mean, look at me. I’m the epitome of recklessness, and yet I can tell… my mom is proud of me. Surviving, trying to live my life as best as I can. Sometimes, that’s all we can do, y’know?”

Deuce stood there, silent. 

I didn’t break him, did I?

“I-I…” His voice cracked. Flushing, Deuce slapped a hand over his mouth before clearing his throat and continuing, “I. Uhm. Thanks. Thank you.” He fumbled with his hands for a moment. “Those words mean more than you can imagine. You… you really get it.”

“Just take it day by day,” she advised him. “Don’t rush your self-growth. Your mom will always love you, and if you need help, you can always ask her or—or me. You’re not alone, Deuce. Remember that.”

Deuce's eyes went wide as he stared at Yuu. He sniffled quietly, shoulders hunching as embarrassment mixed with gratefulness radiated from him. "Honestly, how are you so good at this? How do you know just the right things to say ?! That's not so NRC!” 

Yuu’s stare went far away. “Learned from the best,” she said wistfully. A non-answer to anyone but her, but she couldn’t say their name. Not now.

Deuce nodded, sensing the unspoken don’t go there , shifting the topic back to the broken eggs. "I know the situation might have seemed stupid to some, but those eggs were gonna be hatched or used for making tarts. I can’t help but feel heartbroken for the chicks that had potential. I just hope those chicks can rest in peace.”

Yuu broke out into startled laughter.

She hoped Deuce would handle the news she was about to share with him with some grace. 

“There’s something I have to tell you…”

________________

Yuu and Deuce made it to their destination, Deuce having gone silent after the devastating news. It was a comfortable silence, in any case, and Yuu relished it. She was tired in general, her entire body aching, and talking made it worse. Introverted to the core, her mom used to say.

“Henchman!”

Yuu pasted on a smile. “Grim.”

“You took so long, we thought you were dead in a ditch somewhere!”

She raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t go out that easy,” she said, definitely not pouting. Ace’s snickering did nothing to help her (not!) sulking.

“We have tarts for ya!” Grim yelled.

“A single tart, actually,” Clover corrected. “It’s one of the left-overs. The rest are still baking and…” He pointedly glanced over at Ace, and the mess he’d made of the cutting board. 

“Ah,” she replied smartly. 

Clover smiled at her from behind the counter, the left-over tart sitting on a plate and somehow looking freshly-baked. Magic, probably. Despite how good it looked, nausea made her wrinkle her nose. 

Clover’s smile had faded into a stilted line. Oh, I offended him. She rushed for an excuse. “The medication I got from the nurse made me feel kinda sick, so like, food in general just doesn’t sound appetizing, y’know? Sorry…”

“Ah, that’s understandable. We can put in a bag so you can have it later?” Clover asked, already sealing one inside the bag.

“Uh, yes! Thank you.” She accepted the bagged tart with a smile. “I need to head out, though. There’s something important I have to do.”

Clover’s brow furrowed. “Anything we can help with?” he asked nonchalantly. 

Ace rolled his eyes. “You’re just trying to make a hasty escape, aren’t you?”

Yuu sneered. “Excuse you? If my intention was to run, I’d—”

Unsurprised by Yuu's response, Ace snickered into his palm. "Typical Yuu, huh?" He smirked, leaning back against the wall. "You always have to make a dramatic exit, don't you?"

Clover raised his palms into the air, a placating gesture if she ever saw one. “Let’s all take a breather. Yuu said he had something important to do, so let’s not interfere. Besides,” he side-eyed Ace, “you still have more baking to do.”

Grim snorted. “He’s eaten more than he’s made, trust me!”

“As if you’re one to talk, cat!”

“Who’re you callin’ a cat, you hot-headed dumpster fire?!” 

Yuu’s shoulders slumped. Yeah, no. Waving goodbye, she made her hasty exit. 

Rosehearts… if I were him, where would I be?

Stepping into the open air, Yuu's gaze immediately fixated on Diamond, who stood a distance away from the kitchen, engrossed in his phone. Oblivious to her presence, he seemed captivated by whatever content graced his screen.

Yuu padded towards Diamond. She waited a moment for him to notice her, but his stare didn’t leave his screen. She cleared her throat.

He jumped slightly. “Ah, hey, Yuu,” he greeted her. He looked… more worn-out than usual. His smile was lackluster and more bemused than anything. “Need anything?”

“Sorry to interrupt. I was wondering if you’d seen Rosehearts anywhere?”

He pondered for a moment, his fingers idly toying with his phone. “Riddle, huh? He’s probably in the library right now, but what about it? Are you planning to ask him to remove the collar from Ace-kun?”

Yuu shook her head. She wasn’t stupid. After Ace’s fumble at lunch, there was no way Rosehearts was in the mood to even entertain the idea, much less actually remove the collar. “I just want to talk with him, to try and understand his…” her eyes narrowed, “unique perspective.”

Diamond searched her eyes for a moment before a small smile dimpled his cheek. “I get it. Riddle does have his quirks, but he’s not bad deep down.” He looked exhausted. Her own head ached in sympathy, wondering just how many hours of REM sleep he actually got per night. “I bet he’s in the library, so you can try there. Be careful, though, okay? He’s a stickler for rules—” Don’t I know it, she thought bitterly, “—so it’s best not to get on his bad side.”

Yuu nodded and thanked him. She made her way towards the library, her footsteps quickening as she got closer to the door. 

She could feel that something was off with the dorm head. Her dreams were merely cherries on top, affirming something she already knew: something bad was going to happen if Rosehearts didn’t stop.

He felt not unlike the many witches she’d faced. Not exactly the same, but not unfamiliar. It was beyond worrying. Is it possible for him to become a Witch without a Soul Gem? 

As she opened the door, the library opened itself up to her, a feast for the eyes, and she found herself rushing inside. It was magnificent. Books floated in the air and danced around one another, floating candles joining in and adding to the harmony. But, what caught her attention the most was the sheer amount of books the library held. 

She ventured deeper into the maze-like space, her hand brushing against the shelves. Soft, almost silent music came from the walls, piano and cello and violin mixing together. It reminded her of simpler times, of moments that didn’t weigh so heavy on her shoulders. 

Yuu paused for a brief moment, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. As much as she enjoyed the library, she had something to do—someone to find.

Rosehearts. 

Contrary to her regular luck, which demanded she spend at least an hour looking for the dorm head, it took less than thirty seconds; she turned the corner, and there he was, crimson hair, books stacked higher than his own head, and with hands that flew faster than a witch on a broom.

With a heart full of courage she wasn’t sure she entirely felt, Yuu approached him quietly, mindful of the serene setting of the library as she moved.

Rosehearts noticed her immediately. His head darted up the second she approached the table, his eyes narrowed. “It’s you,” he said, setting down his pen. His shoulders pushed back, and suddenly he felt taller than he was.

“That’s my name,” she said dumbly, the old joke slipping out of her mouth without a second thought. Internally, she cringed at her lackluster attempt at humor. What was she, eight? God. “Uh—mind if I join you?” 

Rosehearts paused, glanced at his papers, then nodded. “Be my guest.”

Yuu nodded and settled into the vacant seat, her gaze flickering across the spines of the tomes laid out on the table. Her voice tinged with friendly curiosity as she remarked, "You appear quite immersed in your studies." She then posed a question, her tone open and inquisitive. "What are you currently working on?"

Riddle glanced at the books spread out in front of him, his expression becoming a bit more animated as he spoke. "These are some advanced magic textbooks. I'm trying to improve my spell casting." He picked up one of the books, showing Yuu the complex diagrams and incantations scribed onto the pages.

Yuu sat down with a nod, eyeing the tomes surrounding them curiously. “Sorry to intrude… You seem quite busy.” How is talking so hard?! She cleared her throat. “What are you working on now? If you don’t mind my asking.”

He waved a dismissive hand. “It’s no issue. These are textbooks focusing on spell casting. I’m looking into expanding my repertoire, and these were the books recommended to me. It’s all quite fascinating—blot accumulation can be minimized by more efficient techniques, of course, which in turn allow for more magic to be used—Mother said…” 

His face turned red. “I apologize for rambling,” he said, coughing into his fist. 

Yuu grinned. “It sounds pretty advanced,” she mused, gesturing at his papers. I have no idea what he’s talking about. “You’re pretty dedicated to your studies, huh? It’s impressive.” Casually, she picked up a book further away from him, observing his reaction from the corner of her eye.

Rosehearts’ expression relaxed, pride replacing the stern facade. “Dedication and discipline are key to mastering magic,” he replied. “I have high standards for myself, and I won't let anything stand in the way of my goals.” He set the book down and looked at Yuu, studying her. 

She felt like a sample under a microscope. Honestly, she wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up turning into some evil scientist or something. Though, she hoped he didn’t; it sounded like a hassle to deal with. “What about you? What brings you to the library?” he continued. 

Yuu considered her words carefully. She definitely didn’t want him to know she was here for him specifically—this wasn’t some romance book where he was secretly pining for her attention (thankfully), and he had already proved himself pretty hot-headed. So, she went for the safer option: lying. “I was just looking for a change of scenery. Ramshackle, well, is pretty ramshackle, and it’s stuffy enough that I feel like I have a cold every time I step inside. So, here I am.” She shrugged sheepishly. “And the books are a plus, obviously.”

Riddle nodded, his expression softening a bit more. "Ah, I understand that sentiment," he admitted, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He looked younger when he smiled, she noticed. "This library does provide quite the peaceful environment for studying." He shifted in his seat, his eyes returning to the open book on the table.

“We all need a place to relax," Yuu added pointedly. “Seems like this is your place to… let go?”

Rosehearts looked up, his eyes meeting her own, a flicker of surprise reflecting in the grey of them. “I suppose,” he agreed. “I can solely focus on my studies here, with minimal interruption by my dorm. It’s… more peaceful here.”

He’s pushing himself too far, Yuu thought. Her heart twinged. “... You’re too tough on yourself,” she said after a moment. Before he could respond, she continued, leaning backwards in order to give him space, “I understand that you have responsibilities, and I’m not trying to belittle that or anything… but don’t you think that you’re doing too much ? There’s no such thing as ‘perfection’. Do you have to be this flawless person? Can’t you just be yourself?”

Riddle eyed her suspiciously, his expression hardening once again. “So that’s why you’re here,” he said. What few walls she managed to knock down were already standing tall. Wow, he was fast . “You want to talk about the dorm rules, is that it? What, do you think they’re too strict or unfair?”

She smiled at him. “You’re quick on the uptick,” she mused. “I’ll grant you this: your rules are pretty interesting. I mean, there’s what, seven-hundred of them? But that’s not the only reason I’m here.”

“And pray tell, what might that be?” 

Perfect.

Yuu's expression grew serious, and she leaned in closer to make sure her words carried weight. "Listen, Riddle," she began, her voice steady but tinged with concern. His first name left a heavy weight on her tongue. "I’m not here to judge the dorm rules, though they do seem rather strict. But there's something else, something I feel you need to be aware of.”

Her eyes didn’t leave Rosehearts’. “Magic has its limits. When it’s pushed past its limits, it can become unstable and turn against its user. There’s a delicate balance to maintaining control.” To them, turning into a ‘Witch’ or… what did Crowley—’overblotting’ is seen as a thing practically impossible to them. They know about it, of course, but they don’t understand just how bad it could be, do they?

“If the balance is disrupted…” Yuu pursed her lips. “Dangerous things can and will follow.”

Rosehearts’ expression darkened as he considered her words. “I understand the importance of maintaining control, but to imply that magic could turn against a user is taking it a bit far, don’t you think?”

Yuu shook her head quickly. “I don’t mean any harm of judgement,” she repeated. “But I know something doesn’t feel right. It’s hard to explain, but I wanted to let you know because despite your strictness, you don’t deserve to be hurt.” He raised a brow. “This feeling mainly comes around when I’m around you,” she added, “and that’s why I felt it necessary to inform you as soon as possible.”

“Are you certain about this feeling?” he asked softly. 

Yuu nodded with conviction. "I am," she confirmed, her voice steady. "You can take my words however you want, obviously. But… just take it easy, okay?"

Riddle muttered under his breath, "You have no magic to your name," he huffed, his voice tinged with a hint of disdain. His brow furrowed slightly as he contemplated her words, a flicker of doubt crossing his features. "And yet, here you are, a non-magical individual, meddling in magical affairs?" he questioned, his voice laced with skepticism. "What could you possibly know about the intricacies and complexities of the magical world?"

"Well, just because I don't possess magical abilities like yours doesn't mean I can't understand or observe," Yuu replied, more defensive than she wanted. She crossed her arms. “Maybe it’s the fact that I have an outside perspective that allows me to ‘see’ when things are off.”

Rosehearts scrutinized her expression for a moment, his eyes searching hers for any signs of deceit or malice. Of course, he found none, because while Yuu could be rude and unforgiving and honestly pretty selfish, she always tried to help others when she could. “Very well,” he said, his voice quieter than usual.

One thing she noted was that, despite his visual tiredness, he never whispered. He never mumbled. His voice was always crystal clear. It was… odd.

“—I shall take your words to heart,” he continued, and she was abruptly returned to the present, “however, I assure you that matters are firmly under my control.”

That might be part of the problem, she thought tiredly. “If you need help, you can ask for it,” she offered, knowing three people off the bat that would help him if he just asked (Clover, Diamond, and herself). “It’s okay to take it easy.”

He stiffened. “Certainly,” he said firmly. “As the dorm leader, I shoulder numerous responsibilities and prioritize them diligently. Rest assured, there is no need for you to concern yourself with matters outside your own dormitory. I have everything under control.”

That phrase again. ‘Control,’ ‘control’, ‘control’. 

Yuu stood up from her seat, her eyes unwavering in their focus on the other. "If you’re sure, then I have no reason to doubt you.” Skepticism betrayed her words. “But please remember what I told you.”

Rosehearts nodded curtly, his expression remaining guarded. "I will keep your words in mind," he assured her. "But as I've stated, there's no cause for concern. Thank you for the warning, but I suggest you focus on your own dorm matters."

Yuu nodded, sensing the clear dismissal in his tone. 

"Alright. Take care of yourself, Rosehearts-senpai." With a final glance, she turned and walked out of the library, leaving him to his studies.

Walking out the library provided a relief she felt deep in her bones. Her stomach curled like she’d just drank spoiled milk. Her body was telling her so many things at once, and it was so hard to keep up. First, she was dying, second, the magical pain-killers the nurse gave her were already wearing off, and third, whatever aura that surrounded Rosehearts made her symptoms worse.

The only thing that settled her anxiety was the fact that Rosehearts was still human. He hadn’t given in yet, and neither would she. 

Yuu had plenty of things to do in the time that remained of her life. Dying in the next few days would severely hamper those plans. She couldn’t die. She wouldn’t.

Hope. Hope. Hope. Hope.

Certainty?

Her feet took her back to Heartslabyul’s kitchen. 

When she opened the door, she was greeted with a flurry of activity. Deuce was focused completely, eyes darting back and forth between the recipe and whatever he had in his hands. Ace was grumpily splitting the chestnuts and whining about it, while Grim snuck three bites from a tart in the short time she’d opened the door.

"Hey Yuu!" Ace greeted her with a grin. "Perfect timing! We're almost done here."

Trey glanced up at her approach and smiled, adjusting his glasses that slipped a tad too far down his nose. "You're just in time! We're almost done.“

“It smells amazing.” Yuu breathed in deeply. “Reminds me of a bakery.”

Clover laughed. “I bet.”

Ace strolled up next to Yuu, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Hey, Yuu," he whispered with a grin. "You notice Deuce over there? He's been so tense ever since you both came back from the school’s shop.”

Yuu turned to look at Deuce, noting his furrowed brow—oh.

“Well, better let him work this one through himself,” Yuu decided. She wondered how Deuce’s mom let him think that he was actively murdering chicks every time he cooked and ate eggs, but decided (hours ago) to leave that question rotting in the back of her brain.

“Oh, c’mon,” Ace needled her, “you can’t just say that and not tell me. Yuu .”

"Ask him yourself later."

"Don’t leave me hanging like that!" Ace whined, his expression morphing into a pout.

“Patience, Ace. Unless you want him to beat you up, or something. In which case, go ahead and ask. I’m sure you’ll be just fine.”

He groaned, crossing his arms. “You’re a buzzkill, y’know that? Fine, keep your secrets.” He frowned. “And there’s no way he’d beat me. I’d wipe the floor with him.”

She snorted. Loudly. “Pfffft, okay—ohmygod, that’s hilarious to imagine. Haha …!”

Ace’s face twisted. “Take that back—”

Diamond’s voice suddenly broke the brief moment, causing everyone to turn their attention towards him, though Ace flipped her off before she could completely turn away. Brat. "Hey fam! You look wrecked. Are the tarts done? Ooh, those look sooo cute! Lemme snap a quick pic for Magicam!"

Ace groaned, shooting their senpai a sidelong glance. Yuu was with him on this one, though she’d already told the others she had plans, so. No remorse. "So you decided to show up now?” 

“I just came to see how hard my little newbs were working.” Diamond replied, pulling out his phone and positioning the tarts for the perfect shot. "Can't let these tarts go unphotographed! They're too adorable!”

If ‘too-edible’ was a thing, these tarts would be it, Yuu decided, agreeing.

Clover glanced up from his work, his expression serious as he surveyed the tarts laid out before him. "It's tough work if you're not used to it. But there's no better cure for the ails of fatigue than something sweet from the oven!”

Yuu scanned the counter, her eyes settling on the row of tarts lined up perfectly. She frowned. Ace distracted her long enough for them to finish baking?! Wow, talk about passing the time.

“Help yourself to some of this tart, everyone!” Clover grabbed plates and utensils and set them down for easy access.

“Is it possible to bag this one, too?” Her nausea hadn’t abated yet, and even water sounded disgusting. She didn’t think puking up the efforts of their hard-work would endear her to anyone. 

“Oh, yeah, let me grab a bag…”

“Thanks, Clover-senpai.”

Ace, like the shit-talker he was, couldn’t keep his mouth closed for long and turned to Diamond. "So you deign to grace us with your presence when the tarts are all ready to eat! How convenient."

"Now, now, no need for the sarcasm," Diamond retorted, grinning. "I arrived just in time to savor these delectable treats with you all, didn't I?"

Ace grumbled, rolling his eyes. "More like you waited until we did all the hard work and then swooped in to reap the rewards." He smartly didn’t mention Yuu, who was glaring at him with daggers in her eyes. 

Diamond shifted his attention to Clover, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Ah, speaking of delicious, Trey, You gotta do the thing.”

Clover arched an eyebrow. "Ah, you mean the thing, huh? What's everyone's favorite food?”

Ace's eyes lit up, a hint of excitement in his voice. "Oh man, favorite food? That's easy. Cherry pies!”

Deuce rubbed his chin thoughtfully before responding, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "If I had to pick, I guess I'd say... omelet rice?”

Grim perked up at the mention of favorite food, his tail swishing with excitement. "Ooooh, favorite food! Well, that's a no-brainer. Tuna is on top! … Maybe a cheese omelette. Or pudding?”

“You’re like, the embodiment of gluttony,” Ace laughed. 

“I have diverse tastes! It’s called having an appreciation for a variety of flavors!” Grim yelled, tail twitching with irritation.

Clover grabbed a spare tart and nodded at Yuu. “And your favorite food? I can do the thing , and you can save it to try later.”

“I guess I haven’t thought about it before, but… carrots? Carrot cake?” Yuu flashed him a thumbs up, her mind made up. “Anything like that!”

Ace’s face crumbled. “Why did I expect anything normal."

Yuu shrugged nonchalantly. "What's wrong with carrots? They're healthy and good for you. Plus, carrot cake is pretty delicious.”

Ace shook his head. "To each their own, I guess. Just don't expect me to join you for a carrot cake party anytime soon. I'll stick with my cherry pies."

Clover nodded slightly, a small smile on his face as he took note of everyone's favorite foods. "All right, you've got it... Let's ‘ Paint the Roses ’!”

Yuu blinked. Nothing happened. 

Ace's brow furrowed. "What the heck does “Paint the Roses” mean?"

Clover gestured towards the tarts, a warm smile on his face. "Now, take another bite.”

Ace looked a bit puzzled at first, but couldn’t resist the temptation. He reached for another tart, taking a generous bite, his eyes widening in delight. "Man, I swear we made a chestnut tart, why does it taste like cherry pie!”

Grim quickly followed suit, his mouth watering in anticipation. As he took a bite, a look of pure bliss spread across his face. "Mmm, It's just like canned tuna! Now it tastes like a cheese omelet! And grilled meat! And pudding!”

Diamond chuckled softly, his voice tinged with amusement. "Looks like Trey's 'Paint the Roses' magic is working its charm, huh? That's gotta be a hit when Trey's having tea with the ladies.”

Deuce looked from Clover to the tart on his plate, his eyes widening. "That's impressive! How do you do that? Does your signature spell change the taste of the food?”

Clover shook his head. "Technically, it's ‘overwriting characteristics.’ I can change taste, color, smell, whatever. It only lasts for a little while. But it is kinda like covering up the real thing hence, ‘painting’.”

Only for a little while… I might not get to try it, after all. She did her best not to let her disappointment show. It wasn’t Clover’s fault, after all. 

Grim gasped, his paws coming up to rest on Clover’s pen. "Whoa! You're saying you can make anything taste like anything ya want? That's unbelievable! If I had magic like that, I could be eatin' canned tuna every meal of every day! That's way better than Riddle's stupid collar magic!” He looked one day without tuna away from snatching Clover’s pen, as if it would grant him their senpai’s signature spell. 

Yuu couldn't help but shoot Grim a disapproving look. "Grim.”

"What? I just told the truth!”

Clover snorted and crossed his arms into an ‘x’. "That's in a whole other league. His signature spell is a weapon. Mine's just childish prestidigitation.”

Ace raised an eyebrow. He looked like a mischievous gremlin, in Yuu’s eyes. Always up to no good. "Childish, huh? Don't underestimate the power of illusion! Imagine tricking someone into thinking they're eating the most savory dish, only to find out it’s just boiled veggies! That's the real magic!”

"Well, I did say it's a bit childish in comparison to others. Riddle's signature spell is something else. Anyways, speaking of Riddle, it's too late to give him these now. Let's call it a day and do it tomorrow. Don't forget that tomorrow's the unbirthday party. You don't want to be late.”

Ace turned towards Yuu, a gleam of determination in his eyes. "Hey, Yuu, I’m gonna crash at your place tonight, too. I don't think I'll be allowed in my own dorm today either.”

Deuce shot a disapproving glare at Ace. "Ace! What's wrong with you? You can't just invite yourself over like that! Have you no shame?”

Grim snorted in agreement, shaking his head disapprovingly at Ace. "Yeah, what Deuce said. You can't just expect to crash at someone's place without asking first. Not cool, man!”

Trey spoke up, "Why don't you go and stay at the prefect’s dorm too, Deuce, so you can keep an eye on him? As vice housewarden, I can issue you a sleepover pass. Ah, if Yuu agrees, anyway.”

Yuu sighed. “It’s fine.”

Diamond’s eyes shifted between their group and Clover, a small, indiscernible frown tugging at his lips. It got swallowed by a grin almost as soon as it appeared. "That's our Trey, always spoiling the newbs. What fun for you. Ooh, maybe I'll come too!”

Clover shook his head. It was fond, though. Yuu could tell they’re good friends—must be the whole ‘dealing with Rosehearts’ situation they had going on. “Not a chance, Cater. You might want to look up the definition of 'sleepover.' It implies sleeping. And you're too wild for that.”

Diamond feigned shock, placing a hand over his heart dramatically. "Whoa, Trey, way to break my heart. Can't a guy dream of a sleepover adventure once in a while? I mean, who needs sleep when you can have fun, right?”

Clover sighed then glanced at Yuu and offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry to dump them all on you. At least it's just for tonight."

Yuu returned the smile with a tense one of her own, attempting to reassure him with a shrug. "Don't worry about it. It's no big deal. It's better than letting them both stir up trouble somewhere else.”

"Thanks, Yuu. I owe you one. Just be sure to keep an eye on them, alright?”

Ah… I won’t be able to do that. Instead of agreeing, Yuu lowered her voice and waited until the others were distracted before opening her mouth. “Clover-senpai, could I talk to you for a moment? Alone?”

He frowned, looking hesitant. He gave in when she started to pull away, his shoulders slumping. “Sure, let’s step outside for a bit,” he murmured, grabbing her hand and guiding her outside. 

They excused themselves and shut the door behind them. Clover turned to her, his face a complete one-eighty compared to the easy smile he wore in the kitchen. “What’s on your mind, Yuu?”

Yuu took a deep breath. She talked more today than she had in the past month, it felt like. “I can tell you’re a chill person. Understanding, and whatever.”

Clover listened carefully. "I appreciate the compliment, Yuu. But what are you getting at?”

Yuu paused for a moment, sorting through her thoughts. “... Do you agree with the way Rosehearts-senpai handles things?”

He furrowed his brows. His fist clenched and unclenched by his side unsteadily. "Hmm... Well, that’s a toughie. I do believe that Riddle means well, and he does value fairness and order. But sometimes his methods can be a bit… extreme, to say the least.”

"Have you ever confronted him?"

Clover seemed taken aback by the sudden change in the conversation, but he responded calmly. "You mean confronting Riddle about his methods? Well, I don’t agree with most of his methods, of course. But ultimately, he is a housewarden, and his word is final."

Yuu frowned. And that’s why Rosehearts thinks this is okay, she realized. No one tells him otherwise, except for the ones disobeying the rules. Thus, they’re simply ‘guilty’ and ‘want out of their punishment’, according to Rosehearts... "But if you don't agree with the way he does things, why not speak up? I respect you and believe you have the courage to do that, right?”

Clover let out a sigh, his gaze dropping to the ground. "It's not as easy as it sounds, Yuu. As vice housewarden and a member of the dorm, my duty is to support Riddle, not question him. And let’s face it, Riddle isn’t one to easily back down considering his history.”

His history?

Yuu met Clover’s gaze firmly. "But isn’t that exactly why someone needs to confront him? You said he has history… so I can only guess that he grew up with strict rules, and now…” she trailed off, images of collars and yelling easily replacing whatever words she could have scrounged up. “He thinks this is okay ,” Yuu added after a moment. “He doesn’t know any better, senpai. I…” She averted her eyes, thinking back to how passionate Rosehearts looked while talking about his studies. He was vibrant. 

She hadn’t once seen that before, not even at the entrance ceremony. She steeled herself for any inevitable backlash. “He needs help,” she said resolutely, “and you’re his friend, aren’t you?”

His head ducked. "You're… you're right. Riddle does have a history of strictness and unyielding rules, and it has had an impact on his personality and methods as a housewarden."

Clover sighed, his voice tinged with a sense of resignation as he replied, "I suppose you could say his upbringing has molded him into the person he is now." He hesitated for a moment, and then added with a hint of reluctance, "It wouldn't be fair to use that against him, would it?"

Yuu's expression softened as she heard the hint of hesitation in Clover’s voice. She understood that he was in a difficult position, but she couldn't shake the feeling that staying silent wasn't the right approach either.

Yuu's voice turned serious as she met Clover’s gaze again. “Senpai, have you considered that if things continue the way they are, Riddle might be heading towards a dangerous path? If he isn't stopped, his strictness could lead to harmful extremes, putting both himself and the entire dorm in jeopardy.”

Clover straightened, his face twisted with concern. He cared about the dorm and its members, no doubt. “What do you mean?”

Yuu sighed, frustrated. If her soul gem were more intact, she was sure she’d be able to fully discern what the feeling was, but she can’t. “I can’t fully explain it, but I have this nagging feeling that he’s heading towards trouble. Maybe it’s just me overthinking, but I think it’s more than that. I just know something is off, and it worries me."

Yuu looked at him in the eyes, telling the part of her trying to shy away to shut up. "Sorry if this seems too silly, but I'm just worried about Rosehearts-senpai. He's your friend, and sometimes friends need someone to shake them awake before they go down a dark path, you seem like the only person who can do that.”

He had to understand. He was Rosehearts’ only friend, wasn’t he? Surely…

“I appreciate the concern, Yuu. I’ll… keep an eye on him and try to talk to him when the time is right.”

When the time is right?!—

"Oi, what're ya guys whispering about over here? It's been ten minutes!”

Clover pasted on a smile, letting out a laugh that fell just short of believable, trying to lighten the mood, and shook his head. "Nothing much, Grim. Just discussing some things, we’ve already finished, so everyone can head out now.”

Grim rolled his eyes but didn't press the issue further. "Fine, keep your secrets. Come on henchman! I wanna sleep already!”

Yuu frowned slightly. She wouldn’t be getting much sleep tonight, and… Right. “Ace and Deuce,” she mumbled tiredly. “Troublesome.”

“What was that, henchman?”

“Nothing, nothing. Let’s head back. Where are Ace and Deuce?”

Grim huffed impatiently. He gestured toward their other companions with a dismissive flick of his tail. "Those two are over there arguing about something. Can we please go now?“

Yuu looked over at the duo. Sure enough, Ace and Deuce were engaged in a heated discussion not far away. She scooped up Grim and marched over to the arguing couple (what, they practically were one!). "It's already late for a headache, let’s get going already.”

Ace scoffed, crossing his arms defiantly. "Well, it’s all Deuce’s fault anyway." 

Deuce shot him a glare. "How is it my fault?! You’re the one who started it!”

"Started what?" Immediately, Yuu regretted asking.

Deuce replied, his voice tinged with aggravation, "Ace started it! I mentioned our conversation earlier, about eggs being fertilized, and how I didn't know that. Ace burst out laughing when I said that, and it got out of hand from there."

Oh.

Ace smirked. "What? It's hilarious that you didn't know eggs were fertilized! It's basic science, Deuce!"

Yuu shook her head, exhaling out her nose, "You two are unbelievable," she muttered, "Just when I think you've reached the pinnacle of stupid discussions, you find a new topic to bicker about."

"Alright, that's enough. It's time to head back now. We've got things to do, and bickering over fertilized eggs isn't going to get us anywhere."

With a huff, they stopped arguing. 

That was going to be a long night.

Chapter Text

After the arrival at Ramshackle, Yuu took a look around, her eyes moving over the shambolic furnishings and the peeling wallpaper. The dorm was in desperate need of renovation but could, for now, be called home.

Ace and Deuce stood at the rear, their faces blending fatigue and irritation. "Finally, back at the dumb," Ace murmured. "How do you guys live here without going totally nutso from the this moldy old place?"

With an air of disapproval, Yuu looked at Ace, who was bemoaning a return to the "moldy old place." With a hint of dryness, she shot back, "Well, remind me again who was the one blissfully asleep in that 'dumb,' as you so charmingly put it, just yesterday?"

"Yeah, well, let's not go there,"

"Hey, at the very least, we have a roof over our heads, right? We could have been sleeping in a swamp or some other equally disgusting place," Deuce said, smiling as if he meant it.

That is the most inadequate attempt to give reassurance.

With a sigh, Yuu returns her gaze to Ace. "You really must want it bad, then. The only clean place in this whole dorm is my room."

Yuu made her way up the rickety stairs, Grim perched lazily on her shoulder. She didn’t bother waiting for Ace and Deuce. If they wanted a sleepover, they could figure it out themselves.

As they reached Yuu's room, Ace and Deuce couldn't help but be taken aback by its modest yet surprisingly comfortable simplicity. while not exactly luxury, the room felt cozy and inviting.

The mention of 'old maid' confirmed a familiarity she hadn't expected within this unfamiliar world. So, in this world, the card games remain largely the same, she thought to herself, What other commonalities might this world share with my own? 

Ace snorted with laughter, his voice dripping with sarcastic disbelief. “Old maid? That's the extent of your card repertoire? Talk about low stakes! Hah! All that bravado, and you can only handle playing old maid. How pathetic!”

Yuu nodded, appreciating Masuyo's calming presence. Perhaps she was just exhausted. She would try to relax and see if her mind cleared up.

"You're right," she said quietly. "Let's go back inside."

Masuyo gave her a warm smile. "You don't have to carry the burden alone," she said. "We're in this together, remember? We'll all get stronger together, and we'll look out for each other. You're not in this alone, Yuu! it’s us against the world!”

In her astonishment, Yuu's thoughts raced. Pieces of the puzzle began falling into place. “No way..” she murmured, her mind reeling at the revelation. “So that's where the stardust came from...”

The realization hit her like a tidal wave, leaving her body stiff and rigid with shock and disbelief. Stardust, the key to her power, had been her own blood...?!

As the realization sank in, Yuu's grip on her rapier tightened. The pain from her chest wound seemed to subside, the adrenaline pumping through her veins overpowering the physical discomfort. Her heart was pounding, a steady rhythm that echoed the determination surging through her.

"This power..." she whispered to herself, her voice tinged with a newfound resolve. "I can use it...to get out of here."

Yuu's eyes glinted with newfound determination as she analyzed the situation. “So that's how it works, huh?” she muttered to herself, her mind racing as she considered her options. She fixed her gaze on the witch, her expression hardened by anger.

"You're not lucky," she spat, taking a step forward. "Because I'm very, VERY furious now!" With a single bound, she launched herself at the witch, dodging the incoming wave of power with a well-timed jump.

Yuu's grip on her rapier loosened, her gaze dropping to the ground. With a voice filled with resignation, she said softly, "It's my fault... I shouldn't have trusted you. What was i thinking?" Her voice cracked, betraying the pain she tried to conceal.

Yuu slowly sank to the ground, her legs giving way. She sat there, defeated and emotionally drained. Tears now streamed silently down her face, a mixture of regret, pain, and confusion overwhelming her.

Chapter Text

With one final stroke of her rapier, the witch met its fate, transforming into mist as it vanished from existence. As the swirling vapors dispersed, the surrounding area regained its peaceful normalcy, the darkness that had consumed it receding. Yuu stood there, her breath heavy and her body weary, but a sense of bittersweet accomplishment washed over her as she surveyed the transformed landscape.

Yuu took a moment to catch her breath, her body heavy with exhaustion. As her gaze drifted to the numerous scars that adorned her skin, traces left behind from the previous battles she had fought, she couldn't help but acknowledge her own vulnerability.

"If it weren't for my invincibility..." she muttered, her voice tinged with a hint of bittersweet realization. "I'd be losing lots of blood...hah- it might be time to slow down. Even if I can't die, this body is starting to wear out." With a heavy sigh, Yuu sank to the ground, leaning against the nearest wall for support. Her body ached with a dull, throbbing pain, a testament to the toll the countless battles had taken on her.

Yuu's mind went blank as she sat there, her gaze fixed upward, staring at the endless expanse of the sky. The relentless barrage of thoughts that had accompanied her throughout the night faded away, replaced by a profound state of serenity. All the pain, the fights, the struggles, and the despair seemed momentarily forgotten as she allowed herself the rare moment of reprieve.

Yuu's thoughts lingered on the notion of laying down and simply staring at the sky for the rest of eternity. The tranquility and timelessness of the infinite blue sky held a certain allure that beckoned her soul. She longed for a moment free of worry. The idea of eternal peace and a chance to simply exist, unburdened by the weight of her responsibilities, tugged at her weary heart. As Yuu envisioned the prospect of eternal peace and the chance to exist without the weight of her duties, a glimmer of bittersweet sadness crept into her heart.

The thought of spending eternity under the vast sky was tempting, but it was the thought of doing so with her by her side that truly stirred her soul. 

After what felt like forever, Yuu slowly got up, the realization dawning on her that her chest wound had reopened. A trickle of blood stained the front of her clothes, and a pang of irritation passed through her. "Ugh I totally forgot..." she murmured through gritted teeth, a hint of irritation in her voice. "I hate pain, and this damn wound is painful as hell."

Yuu contemplated aloud, her question directed at the empty air around her. "How does one even treat a bleeding heart?" she mused, her thoughts reflecting Kyubey's earlier remark about magical girls' natural healing abilities. "I know we're supposed to heal, but how is healing this kind of injury possible?!”

"Are you inquiring about the healing process?"

Yuu's expression hardened in an instant, her rapier materializing in her hand as she lunged forward, the tip of the blade mere inches from Kyubey's tiny face. "I thought I made this crystal clear," she hissed, her voice laced with a mix of anger and warning. "Your presence before me is nothing short of a death wish."

Kyubey's eyes flickered with a mix of surprise and caution as he found himself face to face with Yuu's rapier, its point aimed directly at his face. "I see," he managed to reply. "I take it you're still angry with me?"

"Oh, what an astute observation," she quipped, her annoyance evident in her tone. "Of course I'm still furious with you. What gave it away, the fact that there's a blade millimeters from your eye?"

 "I see you're still quite cross with me," he remarked, his small form unflinching in the face of the danger. "Rest assured, I'm here to answer your question."

...

Yuu reluctantly lowered her rapier, her expression still somewhat hostile, but the immediate threat lessened. "Fine," she said through gritted teeth, her eyes locked on Kyubey's small form. "You have that information that I need. Just answer my question and then kindly get lost."

Kyubey took a moment to ensure the immediate danger had passed before continuing. "You inquired about the healing process," Kyubey repeated, shifting his focus back to Yuu's question. "Indeed, magical girls possess extraordinary healing abilities as a result of the contract."

Yuu's query hung in the air, her voice tinged with both intrigue and skepticism. "What about inner wounds, though?" she asked, her eyes narrowing. "A wounded heart, bleeding out. Is such a thing something that can be magically mended?"

"Your human body is inherently weak," he stated. "However, the human body does hold the capacity to heal certain internal injuries independently. In your case, the extent of the recovery doesn't matter as long as your soul gem is intact. You may heal faster or slower, but ultimately your life depends on the preservation of your soul gem."

Yuu spoke in frustration, her voice carrying a hint of desperation. "I don't care if I'll survive or not. Pain is still pain, and I hate it. Even if it won't kill me, the pain's still there.”

Kyubey's gaze met Yuu's, confusion evident in his face. "Pain?" He remarked, a hint of disbelief lacing his voice, "You've got a sword impaling straight through your heart, its blade protruding all the way through your back, yet you're merely wincing at it. Being a magical girl significantly decreases your pain threshold, masking the agony that should be making you scream in torment right now."

Before Yuu could respond, Kyubey's request cut through the air, his demand simple yet chilling. "Show me your soul gem," Yuu paused, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes, but ultimately conceded. With a touch of her ring, her soul gem materialized before them.

Yuu held her soul gem up for Kyubey's inspection, her irritation growing. "Here," she said, her voice a mix of annoyance and resignation. "Are you going to drop another shocker?"

With that, Kyubey's small hand made contact with Yuu's soul gem and a sudden and intense wave of pain shot through her entire body.

It was as if an invisible dagger had been plunged into every fiber of her being, but the torment in her heart was unlike anything she had ever experienced before. Yuu's body spasmed uncontrollably, and she dropped to the ground, her hands desperately clutching her chest in a vain attempt to find some relief from the horrifying agony. Her voice, barely audible over the roar of pain, managed to gasped out "W-what...are y-you doing?..."

"This is how you'd truly feel if you were in your frail human body," he explained. "The pain you've felt up until now was a mere fraction of what normal humans would experience. Your current condition is weak, a reflection of human fragility in the face of pain."

Stop stop stop stop!

Yuu's thoughts fragmented, her mind consumed by an overwhelming wave of pain that seemed to consume every aspect of her being. The suffering was so intense that she wished for death itself, a desperate escape from the torment that left her tears streaming down her cheeks. Her body convulsed involuntarily, her hands clenching at her chest in a desperate attempt to make it stop, but all she could do was endure.

Kyubey finally pulled his hand away from the soul gem, the touch abruptly ending the torrent of pain that had engulfed Yuu's entire being. She lay on the ground, gasping for air, her body trembling with residual shock.

Yuu slowly managed to pull herself up into a sitting position, her movements sluggish and labored. The pain had diminished, but its memory lingered like an ugly shadow, leaving her body sore and her thoughts scattered.

Kyubey, his hand retreated, observed her silently as she struggled back into a sitting position. "So, you now see the difference," he stated, his voice devoid of any pity or sympathy.

Yuu managed to look up at Kyubey, her face a mix of anger and exhaustion. "You could have just said it," she hissed, her voice strained but firm. "You didn’t have to put me through that to make a point."

Kyubey tilted hid small head slightly, a hint of amusement crossing hid featureless face. "I suppose I could have," he admitted. "But I wanted you to feel firsthand the difference for yourself. Human bodies are so weak, their pain so overwhelming. You should be thankful for your current condition."

Yuu shot Kyubey a glare, her anger reigniting momentarily. "I don't need to be grateful for this," she snapped, her voice filled with frustration. "The constant pain of this reality already feels like a curse. I don't need any more reminders of human weakness and how i lost my humanity too!"

"Ah, but it's precisely that weakness that makes humans interesting, don't you think?" He mused. "Your pain, your fragility, your mortal limitations. They're what define you as a species. And they're also what makes you such valuable tools."

Without a moment's hesitation, Yuu swiftly lunged forward, her blade slashing through the air with a deadly precision. In an instant, Kyubey's small form was split in two, his small body toppling backward as the blade continued its arc through the air. Yuu stood for a moment, staring at the lifeless form of the creature, her hand still gripping the handle of her weapon.

After a moment of silence, Yuu spoke, her voice filled with a cold hatred. "You're nothing but a curse," she spat, her eyes fixed on the body of Kyubey lying on the ground. "A parasite,Your very existence is a mockery of life, and I will destroy every last one of your kind until not a single trace of your influence remains.”

Yuu turned away from Kyubey's lifeless form, her mind filled with a mix of anger and determination. She cast one final glance over her shoulder, her eyes filled with hatred, before starting on the path back to NRC.

_____________________

Yuu carefully made her way through the corridors of NRC, taking a circuitous route to avoid being seen by any person. Once she reached the infirmary, Yuu quickly shut the door behind her, the familiar sight of the infirmary calming her slightly. She leaned against the wall as her thoughts swirled inside her head. I look like a mess, she thought, glancing down at her bloodied janitor clothes. I need to stop the bleeding fast.

She pushed off the wall, approaching the table where the knitting supplies were laid out. Yuu's mind raced, her survival instincts kicking in as she assessed her injuries."Okay, first things first," she told herself, her voice a low whisper. "Patch up the bleeding. Then I can deal with the rest."

With a wince, Yuu touched her shirt, wincing as the fabric tugged at her injured chest. The cut was deep, and the raw pain seared through her every motion. "Damn it," she cursed under her breath, reaching for some antiseptic from the supplies to her side. "This is going to hurt like hell."

In that moment, Yuu heard a noise coming from the other room, causing her heart to skip a beat. Her thoughts raced as she muttered to herself, "Damn it, I forgot about Mr. Knox!" She quickly panicked, desperately trying to figure out what to do to ensure he didn’t walk in and see her in this state.

Yuu quickly scanned the room for a place to hide. Her eyes flickered around frantically, searching for any potential spot that could offer enough concealment. Whether it was a dark corner, a closet, or even a piece of furniture, she needed somewhere hidden, away from Mr. Knox's line of sight.

"Yuu...?"

Yuu's heart lurched in her chest at the sound of her name. She snapped her head towards the source of the voice, her eyes widening with a mix of surprise and panic. Standing in the doorway was Mr.Knox, his figure casting a long shadow into the room.

Mr.Knox's gaze flicked from Yuu's face to her shirt clutched in her trembling hands. His expression grew stern as he took another step into the room, his eyes fixed on her.

“Yuu…what’s going on?” 

How can someone even come up with a good excuse to this!?

Yuu was so consumed by her inner turmoil and her thoughts of deceit, she hardly noticed that Mr.Knox had moved closer to her. She was too lost in her own mind to register his proximity until he spoke again, his voice filled with a mix of concern and authority.

"Yuu," he said, his voice firm but gentle, "Please, tell me what happened."

Before Yuu could utter a word, Mr. Knox gently guided her to sit on the bed. His hands firmly on her shoulders, he gently pushed her down and turned back towards the knitting kit, leaving her no choice but to remain seated.

Mr. Knox spoke calmly as he gathered the necessary supplies from the knitting kit. His tone was gentle yet firm, his attention now focused on preparing medical supplies.

"Take your time in explaining," he said, "But we can't delay treating your wounds."

Yuu swallowed hard, the weight of her guilt increasing with each second. She knew she would have to come up with an explanation, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to find the right words.

"Well," she began, her voice unsteady, "It's...it's kind of embarrassing, really."

Yuu took a deep breath, fabricating her story. "I've been awake for a while," she began, her voice faltering slightly. "I was just...wandering around Ramshackle, you know?" She paused for a moment, her mind racing to find believable details, "And, uh, I kind of...got a little reckless, I guess. I went a little too far and... encountered some wolves."

She fidgeted with the fabric of her shirt, avoiding Mr. Knox's gaze, continuing the lie, "I didn’t think much of it at first, but then, uh, the wolves attacked and well...” She gestured vaguely towards her injured hands, hoping he would buy her story.

Mr.Knox's hands froze as he was carefully preparing the supplies, his attention now fully on Yuu. He looked up, his gaze fixed on her face, scrutinizing her words.

"Wolves?" he repeated, his eyebrows furrowing in concern, "Are you saying you encountered wolves, and they attacked you?! wild animals wander around your dorm?!”

Yuu nodded meekly, keeping up the charade, "Yeah, I don’t know how they got there. It was a group of them. I tried my best to fight them off, but they were too many." She winced slightly, a pang of guilt stabbing at her heart as she continued to deceive Mr. Knox.

Mr. Knox's expression hardened, a mix of worry and anger evident on his face. "Yuu, you should have been more careful," he scolded gently, his voice both stern and filled with concern. "What were you thinking wandering around at night? And engaging with wild animals? It's incredibly dangerous, not to mention reckless! look at you!” 

Yuu hung her head low, feigning a mixture of shame and guilt. "I know, I know," she mumbled, her voice soft. "It was stupid, I wasn't thinking clearly. I just... I just wanted a little bit of fresh air, and I didn't think something like that could happen."

Mr. Knox let out a weary sigh, his demeanor a mix of concern and disappointment. He turned back to the supplies, resuming his preparations to tend to Yuu's wounds.

“You’re fortunate to be alive.”

Mr. Knox glanced up at her, his expression serious."Given the number of wounds you sustained, it would be rather dangerous to inject anesthetic into every open wound," he explained, his voice calm yet firm. "Can you handle some pain? I'll do my best to be as gentle as possible, but it will likely still hurt, I won't lie to you."

Yuu took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for the inevitable pain- it can't be worse than opening them... not to mention how I handled the one on my chest. She met Mr. Knox's gaze, her voice steady as she nodded. "I understand," she said, her voice unwavering. "I can handle the pain, do what you need to do."

Mr.knox nodded, a flicker of respect in his eyes. He appreciated her courage in accepting the pain ahead.  "Alright," he said, his voice firm but compassionate, "Just remember to stay as still as you can. And if it gets too intense, let me know."  He focused his attention on the task at hand, carefully preparing a needle and thread to suture the first wound.

_________________

As Mr. Knox diligently worked on suturing the open wounds on Yuu's arms, the silence in the room was broken only by the steady sound of the needle and thread. Each stitch was precise and meticulous, as Mr. Knox concentrated on mending the damage. Once he finished with her arms, he moved stared at the blood on her shirt.

Mr. Knox continued tending to Yuu's wounds, his hands pausing momentarily as he noticed the blood staining her shirt. He turned his gaze towards her, his expression gentle but concerned.

"Yuu," he said softly, "Where exactly is the wound under your shirt?"

Yuu quickly attempted to deflect Mr. Knox's question, her mind racing to come up with a plausible explanation. "Oh, that?" she said nonchalantly, gesturing to the blood on her shirt. "It's just from my hands. I accidentally smeared it on my shirt when I was trying to stop the bleeding." She forced a half-hearted chuckle, trying to play down the reality of the situation.

Mr. Knox's eyes narrowed as he observed her dismissive demeanor and her attempt to downplay the situation. He was perceptive and knew there was more to the story.

"Yuu," he said firmly, his voice tinged with concern and disappointment, "Please be honest with me. It seems like a fair amount of blood for just smearing it on your shirt.”

Yuu's mind raced as she grappled with her inner thoughts. She was acutely aware that Mr. Knox's concern and perceptiveness could potentially uncover the truth. If he found out the full extent of her injury, a literal stab to the heart, it could be catastrophic. And casually explaining the magical girl situation to yet another person was not an option.

Yuu fidgeted nervously under Mr. Knox's scrutinizing gaze. She was acutely aware that her deception would be challenging to maintain.

"It’s…" she began, hesitating for a brief moment before continuing, "It’s just a small cut near my collarbone. One of the wolf's claws must have grazed me when I was defending myself. It’s bleeding, but it doesn’t look deep enough to require stitches."

Mr. Knox persisted in questioning Yuu, his astute mind dissecting her explanation. "The hand injuries make sense," he noted, "considering your shirt is short-sleeved. But I’m puzzled by your chest wound. How is it possible for the shirt to remain unscathed while you supposedly have a wound there?" He looked at her doubtfully, challenging the story she had crafted, his gaze demanding the truth.

Think Yuu, think!

Yuu quickly formulated an excuse in her mind, attempting to explain the lack of cuts on her shirt. “I changed my shirt,” she lied hastily, “because the one I was wearing was torn. When I changed, I realized my injuries were more serious than I initially thought, which is why I came to the infirmary. That's why the shirt appears unscathed." Yuu held her breath, waiting anxiously for Mr.Knox's response.

Mr. Knox studied Yuu’s face intently, his eyes narrowed in contemplation as he weighed her explanation. He was a perceptive individual, with years of experience dealing with students, and Yuu’s hastily crafted excuse did not quite ring true.

However, after a moment, he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, appearing to accept her story for now.“Very well,” he relented, his tone revealing a hint of disappointment and resignation. “I’ll trust your word for now. But please, be more careful in the future.”

Yuu breathed a sigh of relief as Mr. Knox finally accepted her fabricated story. She knew it was a temporary reprieve, as his skepticism remained evident. However, for the moment, she had narrowly escaped the full scrutiny of his perceptive nature.

As Mr. Knox stepped away to gather the necessary supplies, he turned back towards Yuu, his expression a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

“You must have some experience in treating your own wounds, right?” he asked, his voice mildly stern, “Since you came here planning to take care of everything on your own?”

Yuu responded to Mr. Knox's question with a firm nod."Yes," she affirmed, her voice steady despite the tension in the room. "I have experience in tending to injuries. I can take care of myself."

Mr. Knox handed Yuu the supplies, his eyes fixated on her face."Here," he said firmly, "Since you're being stubborn about showing me your chest wound, I have to trust you to take care of it yourself," he stated bluntly. "I'm putting a lot of trust in you here, so don’t disappoint me."

Phew..

"Thank you," she said quietly, her gaze flicking down towards the items in her hands.

Mr.Knox was about to leave the infirmary, his hand on the doorknob, but he paused and turned back towards Yuu. "Yuu," he said, his voice grave with seriousness.

"I'm turning a blind eye to the situation this time," he said firmly. "I believe you may be hesitant due to a lack of trust, or perhaps shyness. The reason doesn't matter. You're young, and I understand the complexities of your situation." He paused for a moment, his eyes studying her intently."Take your time to trust me, there's no rush," he continued. "However, if such an incident happens again, you'll find yourself staying until I extract the truth, Miss Yuu."

Yuu listened intently to Mr. Knox’s words. She understood the underlying message - he knew there was more to the story, but he was giving her a chance to come clean on her own terms.

“And one more thing,” Mr.Knox continued, his tone firm and final. “You’ll have to stay here tonight.”

Yuu hesitated, She knew that accepting this proposition would mean not being able to check on Ace and Deuce, who would definitely worry if they woke up and found her missing.

“Um, about that,”Yuu shifted awkwardly, her expression a mix of conflict and uncertainty. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not sure if I can stay here tonight. I have some friends who might worry if they wake up and find me gone…” she protested.

Mr. Knox raised an eyebrow, his expression softening slightly. "I see," he said, his tone a little gentler. "So, you're concerned about your friends?"

"Yeah, they might get worried if they find me gone when they wake up,"

Mr.Knox observed Yuu quietly for a moment, his expression shifting into a softer, more understanding look. 

"You're a good child," he said sincerely, his voice holding a hint of admiration. "It's a breath of fresh air to see someone like you, especially in a school like this."

Yuu felt a warm sensation of gratitude wash over her as Mr.Knox spoke those words. Although she was hiding the truth of her situation, his praise and acknowledgment touched her heart-

Mr. Knox gave a small sigh and continued, “Perhaps I was a little stern earlier, but I can’t help but worry," he said softly. "It's not just about how troublesome the kids in this school can be. You being a girl adds an extra layer of concern...”

?? 

Yuu bristled a little at his words, feeling a pang of defensiveness. "I can take care of myself," she asserted, her voice betraying a hint of irritation. "I don't need anyone to worry about me just because I'm a girl. I can handle myself perfectly well, believe me."

Mr. Knox chuckled at her reply, his expression a mix of amusement and slight disbelief. "Ah, I see," he said, his voice holding a hint of humor. "You're a tough one, aren't you? Quite the independent young lady."

Yuu took a deep breath and composed herself, meeting Mr. Knox’s gaze directly. "You don’t need to worry too much," she asserted firmly. "After all, no one knows I’m a girl, and I’m still undercover, so whatever concerns you have can be put to rest."

Mr. Knox’s expression softened as he observed Yuu’s resolute demeanor. The determination in her eyes reassured him a little, but a trace of worry still lingered in his gaze.

Yuu noticed the look on Mr. Knox’s face and couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt for her earlier defensive tone. She quickly shifted her stance, straightening up and meeting his gaze with newfound composure.

"I’m sorry for my attitude earlier," she said sincerely. "I’m grateful for your concern, but please, stop looking at me like that. I’ll be okay, really."

Mr.Knox nodded, his smile lingering on his face. "Alright, then," he replied, his tone holding a hint of resignation. "I’ll leave you to it." With that, he turned and walked out of the infirmary, leaving Yuu alone to her thoughts.

Yuu let out a long, pent-up sigh, she gently placed her hand on her chest, pressing lightly against the area where the injury was. The wound stung as her fingers brushed against the sensitive skin. Yuu took a deep breath, her hand still gently resting on her wounded chest.

"I opened it, so I can close it," she murmured, a resolute determination in her tone.

Her gaze drifted towards the table where Mr.Knox had left the knitting supplies, the sight of them bringing a sense of relief to her. She knew she still had to tend to her wounds, and the supplies laid out before her seemed like a small yet comforting source of help in her time of need.

As Yuu cautiously unbuttoned her shirt, she grimaced as she exposed her wound. The sight of the injury on her chest was not pleasant, the angry red edges of the cut standing in stark contrast to her pale skin. "This looks... ugly," she muttered to herself, a mixture of pain and discomfort etched across her face.

Yuu’s fingers moved with practiced ease as she prepared the knitting tools. Despite her initial nervousness, she was an expert in this craft. As she picked up the needle and thread, her mind calmed and focused on the familiar motions.

She took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. “I’ve done this countless times before,” she reassured herself, “There’s no need to worry. I can do this.”

__________________

After what felt like an eternity, Yuu finally finished closing the last string on her chest. The wound was now carefully stitched together, the edges pulling together to create a neat line of thread that held the injury together.

She took a deep breath, a wave of relief washing over her. The pain from the injury was still there, but the realization that she had successfully managed to close the wound brought a sense of accomplishment.

Yuu smiled slightly, her voice tinged with a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction as she spoke to herself."I did it," she whispered, gently touching the thread on her chest. "That wasn’t as terrible as I thought it would be."

Yuu gingerly got up, careful not to strain her injury. As she stood, she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, and she leaned against the table for a moment to steady herself. The fatigue was settling in, and the adrenaline that had fueled her earlier was now fading.

As she stood there, bracing herself against the table, Yuu’s thoughts drifted back to Kyubey’s words, 'Human bodies are so weak, their pain so overwhelming. You should be thankful for your current condition.'

She understood what Kyubey meant - her current magical girl form limited the physical pain she would normally experience from such a severe injury.

But...

She knew the truth all too well. She was no longer human, an anomaly in a world where she no longer belonged. The pain of her situation was not limited to the physical pain she had just endured.

The loss of her humanity, her sense of identity - all of it hurt far more than any physical wound she could ever suffer.

I can't mourn over this fact forever..

Yuu opened the door and left the infirmary, her movements a little shaky as she buttoned her shirt to cover the wound on her chest. She made her way towards Ramshackle, longing for a moment of peace.

"Almost there," she murmured "Just a little more, and I'll be able to rest…"

Yuu finally reached the familiar sight of Ramshackle, the old, decaying building looking even more forlorn than usual under the moonlit sky. Exhaustion had settled into her bones, the walk back from the infirmary feeling like a marathon rather than a simple stroll.

Yuu pushed the door open, entering the silent building with quiet steps. The climb up the rickety stairs felt much longer than usual with her weary legs. 

How does this hurt more than fighting?!

Yuu entered the bathroom with weary steps and changed out of her bloodied shirt into her pajamas. The cool fabric against her skin provided a small moment of comfort and relief.Glancing at her reflection in the mirror, Yuu could see the exhaustion etched on her face more clearly now. Yuu stared at her reflection, her eyes dull and lifeless. She looked almost...dead...

She shook her head, attempting to dispel the unsettling thought. "I just need to rest...that's all," she murmured softly to herself, her voice hoarse and strained.

The realization that her paleness was probably due to the blood loss from her injury sunk in, and she felt a shiver run down her spine- she was the main reason to why she looks like this.

She turned the faucet on and splashed cold water on her face, hoping to bring some color back into her cheeks. The icy cold water stung her skin, but it did little to chase away the deathly pallor. She stared back at her reflection, her eyes studying the ghostly visage looking back at her.

I look even worse with the lights on...

Yuu tried to brush off her worry, telling herself that she could fix it with concealer later on. She left the bathroom, forcing herself to focus on taking a rest.

Yuu entered her room, her tired gaze sweeping over the familiar surroundings. There, in the corner, sat Ace and Deuce, sprawled in their makeshift beds on the floor, fast asleep. Grim too, was sound asleep on the bed, his little form curled up in a tight ball.

The soft thump of Yuu's footsteps seemed to rouse Ace from his slumber. He sat up in his makeshift bed, one eye still barely open as he shot her a sleepy look.

"Finally showed up,” he muttered, his tired voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. “Had fun out there?"

Yuu paused near the bed, her tired eyes meeting Ace's half-lidded gaze. "Why are you awake?" she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

Ace rolled his eyes, grumbling softly as he rolled onto his back. "Well, I was trying to sleep, but someone decided to wake me up with their late-night entrance." He shot her a sidelong look, his expression still groggy. "What's your excuse?"

...

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Yuu said, a hint of apology in her voice. She stifled a yawn, her own exhaustion suddenly feeling even heavier. "I was... dealing with some stuff. Didn't mean to disturb your beauty sleep."

Ace huffed at her sarcastic comment, a small smirk playing on his face. "Oh, please. My beauty is natural, doesn't take much to maintain." He pushed himself up, stretching his arms above his head. "Anyway, you look like crap."

Yuu couldn't help but roll her eyes as Ace made his remark about her appearance. "Gee, thanks. I hadn't noticed." She climbed into bed, wincing slightly as she settled into a comfortable position. 

"Seriously, what happened to you? You look like you've been through a war."

Yuu winced as her hand grazed her stitched chest. “You could say that,” she muttered, exhaustion seeping into her voice. She wavered for a moment, contemplating whether to tell him the truth. But the exhaustion won out, her body aching for sleep.

Ugh... too tired... sleep first,

Ace watched her silently, the concern in his eyes growing with every passing moment. "You're not gonna tell me what happened, are you?" he asked, his tone softer than before.

Yuu simply shook her head, her weary eyes avoiding his gaze. "Too tired," she mumbled, already sinking deeper into the pillows. "Sleep first, talk later."

Ace let out a frustrated sigh, his expression unreadable in the shadows. "You're impossible, you know that?" he said, his voice tinged with irritation. He lay back down, turning his back towards her. "Fine, sleep first. But you bet your ass I'll be demanding some answers later."

Yuu closed her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips at Ace's demand. "Yeah, yeah," she mumbled, her voice already starting to slur with exhaustion. "Later... answers later." With that, she surrendered to her exhaustion, letting the darkness of sleep claim her.

__________________

Ace, his curiosity barely contained, tried to hide his disappointment. "Fine, keep your secrets. But just so you remember, that’s the second time you did that.”

"Did what?"

Ace rolled his eyes, trying to maintain a nonchalant demeanor. "Exactly. I mean, who wants to deal with that kind of headache?"

"Don't listen to him. We were a little worried about you, that's all."

Still the same unsettling aura around him...

She quickly steeled herself, trying not to let that affect her. Whatever that was, it's none of her business.

Deuce began to speak, his voice attempting to reason with Riddle. "Housewarden, listen..."

Riddle interrupted Deuce, his voice firm and resolute."It's not about what I want. It's about upholding the rules. Rules must never, under any circumstances, be broken. That is why consequences, as severe as they may be, are necessary to emphasize their importance." Riddle's voice rose, a threat laced in his words."If you refuse to abide by my authority, then be prepared to face the consequences! I will have all your heads!"

Riddle's voice rose, anger evident in his words."What did you just call me?" he repeated, his expression hardening further. 

"He called you a tyrant for wanting to destroy perfectly good food just because you're throwing a tantrum!"

Riddle turned to Trey and Cater, his voice authoritative."Trey, Cater! Eject these troublemakers from the premises!"

Trey and Cater exchanged a glance before nodding obediently."Yes, Housewarden," they echoed in unison, their voices lacking any enthusiasm.

Chapter Text

"That damn self-centered prick," Ace muttered, his voice dripping with annoyance. "Does he really think he's the reincarnation of the Queen of hearts of something? Pfft, what a joke."

Deuce let out a despondent sigh, his expression downcast as he moped in disappointment. “To be kicked out of my own dorm by the Housewarden himself…” he lamented, his voice filled with despair. “My dreams of becoming an honor student are slowly fading away, becoming more and more of a pipe dream every passing day…”

Yuu's thoughts raced through her mind as she pondered the situation. She couldn't believe that such behavior was tolerated by the students, let alone allowed by the headmaster.  Is this even legal?  She thought to herself . If magic is such an integral part of this school, shouldn't it be illegal to seal it away from someone who depends on it?  Yuu couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly amiss in this school. 

Yuu let out a sigh, her voice laced with both disappointment and frustration. “I can’t believe it,” she muttered. “Every single person attending that party is a complete embarrassment to society.”

The talking head's voice cut through the air, its tone unperturbed. "Ah dear," it said, as suddenly a body appeared, revealing a humanoid figure standing before them. Everyone gaped at the sight before them, unsure of what to make of this peculiar character. He seemed more or less normal, but still, there was something distinctly odd about him.

honestly there's something odd about everyone in the scene but we don't talk about that!

Yuu silently contemplated to herself as they walked, her thoughts filled with a sense of resignation. She had tried reasoning with Riddle before, but it had been in vain. 

Now, she felt ostracized and misunderstood, her words falling on deaf ears. Despite her conviction in her beliefs, she knew that to Riddle, she was nothing but a threat to his twisted sense of reality and order.

"Exactly!" Ace agreed, his words echoing a sense of injustice. "Now Riddle's committing the same blunders his parents did. You're letting him off the hook because he had a tough childhood?" Ace continued, his tone tinged with disbelief. "Don't you, of all people, see where this is headed? You're letting him cast himself as an outcast!"

"Me three!"

“What do you mean?” Deuce asked, his brows furrowing as he tried to grasp Yuu’s words.

Yuu took a deep breath, her gaze flickering between the three. “I mean… what’s your plan, exactly?” she asked, her tone hesitant. “Considering you’re fighting against someone who can just… seal your magic. How do you plan on winning?”

Trey stepped up next to Yuu, his question causing the trio to look up at him. 

“You’ve only been here for two days,” he began, his brow furrowed in concern. “Not to mention you’re both first years. Do either of you have any background in defensive magic?” The question hung in the air as both Ace and Deuce remained silent, their expressions uncertain. They had been so caught up in their excitement of the match that they hadn’t even considered their own lack of defensive magical skills.

Deuce nodded in agreement, his expression determined.  "That makes sense," he said. "We can't afford to just go into this without preparing ourselves as best as we can."

Grim looked up at Yuu, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Myahh…henchman," he mused, nudging her legs. "How do you… do this?"

"It's a pretty in-depth guide that covers the basics and advanced techniques of defensive magic," he continued, his expression taking on a thoughtful look. "It'll give you a good grounding in the theory as well as some practical advice for dealing with different types of attacks."

I am my own housewarden she thought to herself, If anyone is going to lecture me for skipping class it would probably be either the headmage or one of the teachers, and i can easily give out any excuse that would shut them up. 

As the three of them made their way to the library door,Yuu suddenly halted, causing everyone to stop as well.

"Heyy, no fair!" Grim protested. "Why do you get to skip and I’m stuck with them?"

Yuu shrugged slightly, her thoughts briefly reminded of the collar around her neck. “Ah, well, there’s not much I can do about it anyway,” she confessed. She shifted her gaze back to the book in front of her and then looked up at Lilia, her tone casual. “I’m simply trying to learn the basics of defense magic so that I can share a quick summary with my friends. They have a match against Riddle tomorrow.”

Lilia's eyes widened slightly with genuine surprise upon hearing Yuu's explanation. "Tomorrow’s match against Riddle, you say?" He pondered for a moment before continuing. "You know, Riddle is quite the strong and talented mage. It's a tough opponent to face for any first year, are your friends confident about their upcoming match against him?" 

Chapter Text

 "LIAR!! Henchmen aren’t allowed to lie to their masters!” Grim shouted, swatting at her legs with his tiny paws.

Yuu winced, not from the taps but from the weight of the accusation. As expected, her lies had caught up to her—and in the most Grim way possible.

Before Yuu could defend herself against Grim’s outrage, Ace leaned in and delivered a swift flick to her forehead. “Ow!” she yelped, immediately rubbing the sore spot. “What was that for?!”

“For lying, obviously,” Ace said, smirking as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Grim’s just the warm-up act—I’m here for the encore.”

She glared at him, half-annoyed, half-amused. “I wasn’t aware I signed up for a two-act comedy.”

“Comedy?” Ace grinned wider. “Nah, this is a tragedy. You’re the villain."

“Keep it up, Trappola,” she shot back, “and you’ll be the victim.”

Deuce jumped in, his face flushed with concern. “Knock it off, Ace! Seriously, cut it out!”

He turned to Grim, who was still enthusiastically attacking Yuu’s legs like they were the last snack on Earth. “And you, Grim,” Deuce sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose, “stop punching the prefect’s legs!”

Grim growled, his tiny paws landing another ‘hit.’ “I’m just making sure lessons are learned!”

“You’re both impossible!”

Yuu looked between them, rolling her eyes. “It’s fine, Deuce. At least Grim’s making sure I don’t skip leg day."

Deuce let out a deep sigh and turned to Yuu, his tone serious. “But seriously, Yuu, you shouldn’t skip class on your second day! That’s far from what an honorable student would do!”

Yuu raised an eyebrow, not even a hint of guilt in her expression. “Yeah… uh, I never really signed up for that whole ‘honorable student’ thing.”

Deuce groaned, rubbing his temples. “I didn’t expect that from you, Yuu”

Yuu shrugged nonchalantly. “Guess I’m just full of surprises.”

Yuu glanced between Ace and Grim, both of them clearly waiting for an explanation. She took her time, stretching the moment out a little before speaking.

“And about that…” she said casually. “I was reading that defense magic book Trey recommended. Thought I might actually learn something useful, since I’ve got zero faith in either of you.”

Ace’s eyes went wide. “Zero faith?! Seriously?”

Deuce, however, simply sighed and nodded. “I get it. Tomorrow’s match is going to be tough. It’s not like we’ve had much time to practice.” He wasn’t defensive—he knew the challenge they were up against. “But hey, we’ll get through it together.”

Yuu shot him a knowing glance. “That’s what you think. But I’m not one to rely on maybe.”

Ace groaned, “Geez, you’re so dramatic.”

 “Hey, I prefer to be prepared. I’m not exactly counting on your stellar performances tomorrow.”

Ace threw his hands up in the air, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Okay, now what, oh wise one? Did you learn anything useful to share with the lowly people like us?!”

Yuu’s eyes glinted as she reached into her bag and pulled out a stack of neatly organized papers. She held them up with a proud look. “Don’t underestimate me, Ace. It was a heated battle, but I came out victorious.” She paused, savoring the moment, before continuing in an overly dramatic tone. “That book thought it had the upper hand, but I—I—managed to extract all the useful information and important notes from its pages. A true victory for my intellect!”

She tossed her hair back with flair, clearly enjoying the moment. 

Ace stared, blinking in disbelief.

Deuce chuckled softly, trying to hide his smile. “Guess you really did take it seriously, huh?”

Yuu nodded solemnly, as if her “victory” was something of epic proportions. “Of course. I don’t leave things to chance.”

Ace crossed his arms, eyeing the stack of papers like it might bite him. “Alright, genius. What’s the master plan, then? Are we just supposed to memorize all that tonight?”

Yuu shook her head, flipping through the pages. “Oh, no. I wouldn’t expect you two to do something so complicated. I’ve already simplified everything into bite-sized chunks.” She waved a smaller booklet she had stapled together, labeled ‘Battle Prep for idiots’ in bold handwriting.

Ace snatched it from her hand, glaring at the title. “Seriously?”

“Seemed fitting,” Yuu replied casually. “You should be thanking me. I worked hard on this.”

Deuce leaned over Ace’s shoulder, scanning the contents. His eyes lit up. “Hey, this actually makes sense! Look—defensive shields, spell timing…This is really good!”

Yuu gave him a mock bow. “Glad someone appreciates my work.”

Ace groaned, flipping through the booklet like he was being forced to eat vegetables. “Yeah, yeah, you’re a genius. But how exactly are we supposed to pull this off in one night? We’re still, you know, us.”

“Speak for yourself,” Yuu said, tossing a pen at his head. “I have faith in Deuce, at least.”

Deuce straightened up, pride flashing in his eyes. “Really?”

“Of course,” Yuu replied. “You’re hardworking and determined. It’s just Ace I’m worried about.”

“Hey!” Ace protested. “I’m hardworking too! And determined to prove you wrong!”

“Good. Then prove me wrong tomorrow.” Yuu gave him a look. “I’m just here to make sure you two don’t completely embarrass yourselves.”

Grim, who had been lounging lazily on the table, piped up. “You’re gonna help them win, right? If they lose, I’ll be the one to say ‘I told you so’!”

Yuu rolled her eyes, not missing a beat. “Grim, they’re the ones who’ll be in the match. I’m just here to make sure they’re ready. You can’t blame me if they don’t win.”

Grim huffed, crossing his arms. “I’m just saying, I’d do a better job of it than them. I’m a pro at winning!”

“Sure, Grim. You’ll be the best at cheering everyone on.”

Deuce chuckled and patted Grim’s head. “We’ll need you for moral support, that’s for sure.”

“Moral support?!” Grim yelped. “I’ll be more than that! I’m basically the team’s secret weapon!”

 “That’s the spirit, Grim. Keep hyping yourself up. Maybe it’ll help them feel more confident.”

Ace groaned. “I swear, the two of you are weird!" 

“Alright, enough chatter. Let’s head back to Ramshackle so we can get to work. I’ve got all the materials we need to go over strategies and help you both brush up on your weaknesses.”

Ace stretched dramatically. “And when we totally crush Riddle tomorrow, we’ll all owe it to you, huh?”

Yuu’s smile was sly. “If you win, maybe. But that’ll be all on you two. I’m just the one who told you where to start.”

Grim gave a loud huff, following them towards Ramshackle with exaggerated steps. “Don’t forget to thank me when you win! I’m practically the team mascot!”

_____________

As they made their way into Ramshackle, the mood was tense. Yuu wasted no time setting things up. She cleared a space on the floor, her gaze unwavering as she prepared to begin their intense training.

But Ace, always the skeptic, furrowed his brows as he looked down at the collars around their necks. “So, uh, how exactly are we supposed to practice defense magic when we can’t even use our own magic?” he asked, giving his collar a frustrated tug. “These things are pretty much blocking everything. I don’t even feel like I can summon a spark.”

Yuu, already positioning herself for the next step, didn’t answer right away. Instead, she turned and narrowed her eyes, focusing on the collars they all wore.

Riddle’s magic had sealed their power, but was it possible there was a way around it? Her mind raced back to Grim’s words earlier, when he’d casually mentioned that perhaps Yuu’s magic wasn’t affected by the collar.

It was worth testing.

Without a word, Yuu raised her hand and touched the ring on her finger. The moment she did, her body shimmered as her transformation took over—her usual clothes were replaced with the familiar magical girl outfit, a wave of energy cascading through her. Her presence seemed to grow as her magic flooded back, confirming that her own power was untouched by the collar.

 “The hell?! So you can still actually use your magic?!”

Yuu stood still for a moment, letting the effects of her transformation settle in. “Seems like Grim was right. The collar doesn’t affect my magic. It’s not tied to this thing.”

Grim, who had been lounging in the corner, jumped to his feet, clearly satisfied with himself. “Heh, I knew it! Told ya so!”

Yuu glanced at him for a brief moment before turning her attention back to the others. There was no time for celebration. There was work to do.

“What if I…” she paused, her voice focused. She summoned her sword with a simple flick of her wrist, the blade materializing in her hand with a flash of light. 

“Wait, Yuu,” Deuce started, his voice tinged with confusion. “Are you seriously going to break—”

Before he could finish, Yuu drew the sword quickly across her palm, a sharp flash as the blade cut through her skin. She hissed as blood began to spill from the wound. The blood pooled in her hand for a brief moment before dripping down onto the ground.

The others gasped in shock, but Yuu didn’t flinch.

“Yuu!” Ace exclaimed, stepping forward, his voice filled with alarm. “What the fuck?! You just cut yourself—why would you—”

Yuu ignored him and pressed her bloody hand to the collar, and in seconds, the metal began to glow faintly before melting into nothing. The collar crumpled and dissolved as if it had been eaten away, leaving only a faint trace of sparkling in the air.

The three of them were frozen in shock, eyes wide as they stared at the now-dissolved collar.

“H-Henchman…?”

"Are you insane?!" Ace shouted, his face scrunched in disbelief. "What kind of test was THAT?!"

Yuu remained stoic, looking down at her hand. “I needed to see if my magic would still work with the collar. And it did.”

Deuce’s expression turned from shock to concern. “But that looks painful—”

Yuu cut him off with a casual glance. “It’s no big deal. I didn’t open it wide enough for it to matter.”

Yes… it’s no big deal. 

The thought echoed in her mind, like an unwanted echo of something she couldn’t undo. The weight of losing her humanity was still there, always present—but it wasn’t something she could change anyway.

It doesn’t matter, she reminded herself firmly. It’s easier this way. I don’t have time to feel human pain anymore. If I can heal faster, then I’ll just keep going.

She didn’t allow herself to linger on the thought more than that. She quickly turned her attention back to the trio. Without saying another word, Yuu used the same bloody hand to press against their collars. The same glowing effect happened, and the collars disintegrated.

“There,” she said, her tone flat. “Now we can actually train properly.”

Deuce blinked at the empty space where his collar had been. “That was…”

“Thanks, I guess?” Ace said, his voice trailing off, still processing what had just happened.

Yuu’s hand had already begun to heal, the skin knitting together at an almost unnervingly quick rate. “It’s no big deal,” she said, a faint shrug in her shoulders. “Like I said, being a magical girl has its perks.”

Grim tilted his head, still trying to process it all. “But your blood… It’s like super-powered or something? That’s amazing!” 

Yuu remained silent for a moment, letting the question hang in the air. She gave them a brief look before refocusing on the task at hand. “Anyways—we don’t have time for hesitation. Tomorrow’s match is still coming, and you two need to start right away.”

Deuce and Ace exchanged a look, both clearly a little thrown off by what they’d just witnessed. Deuce scratched the back of his head.

“Are you… just leaving that unpatched?” he asked, pointing to the open wound on Yuu’s hand.

Yuu gave him a deadpan look. “How many times are you going to make me repeat myself? It’ll heal on its own.”

Ace sighed, still not convinced. “You could at least patch it up. That’s kind of…disturbing?”

Yuu just shrugged. “It'll heal on its own. Now, unless you have any more questions about my immortal blood, let’s get back to work.”

Ace rubbed his forehead. “Yeah, yeah. Just… don’t do that again, alright?”

Yuu turned to the pile of training notes, her focus already shifting. “Defense magic. Time to get serious.”

Ace and Deuce glanced at each other and nodded.
“Right,” Deuce said. “Let’s do this.”
________________

The clock chimed close to midnight when the group finally called it quits on their training. Ramshackle Dorm’s dimly lit living room felt quieter than usual as they gathered around, utterly drained from hours of practicing defense techniques.

Yuu flopped onto the couch with a heavy sigh, her arms draped across the backrest. “Well, I’d say that was productive.”

“Productive?” Ace groaned, collapsing into a nearby chair. “I’d say it was torture. Who knew you’d be worse than Vargas, Prefect?”

“Worse?” Yuu raised an eyebrow. “I thought I was being generous. You got a whole two water breaks.”

“That wasn’t generous; that was a human rights violation,” Ace shot back, massaging his sore shoulder. “If Riddle doesn’t ‘Off With My Head’ tomorrow, your drills will.”

Deuce, seated on the floor and leaning against the coffee table, gave a tired but determined nod. “We needed it. If we can block half of what we practiced, we’ll stand a chance tomorrow.”

Grim, perched smugly on the arm of the couch, puffed out his chest. “Obviously! You two should be honored I let you train in my dorm!”

Ace rolled his eyes. “Yeah, real generous of you, Furball. You didn’t even help. You just sat there and ‘supervised.’”

“Supervising’s hard work!” Grim snapped back, his tail flicking. “I’m like the brains of this operation.”

“Then we’re doomed,” Ace muttered.

Yuu hid a smirk as she watched the banter unfold, her mind drifting. She hadn’t used her magic at all during the session—there was no need. This wasn’t her fight, but she’d done everything she could to make sure her two unlikely allies were ready for tomorrow.

Deuce stretched his arms over his head, breaking her thoughts. “Think we’ve got it?” he asked, looking to her for reassurance.

“You’ve got it,” Yuu replied confidently. “Just keep your heads in the game. Literally.”

Ace groaned. “Great. Motivational speeches from the drill sergeant.” He pushed himself out of the chair, wincing as he stretched. “I don’t know about you, Deuce, but I’m gonna need a week to recover from this kind of motivation.”

“Quit whining,” Yuu said with a grin. “If you’re sore, it just means you worked hard.”

“Or it means you’re a tyrant,” Ace quipped.

Deuce got to his feet, his exhaustion clear in the way he dragged his steps. “I think we’ve done all we can for tonight. Let’s just focus on getting some sleep and making it count tomorrow.”

Grim hopped down from the couch, his tail swishing behind him. “Finally! I was starting to think you two would never stop whining. Now, hurry up and win that match tomorrow so I can get my victory tuna!”

_______________

As the night grew quieter, Yuu stretched out on her bed, Grim already curled up beside her, his tiny body a warm lump against her side. The two of them had claimed the bed, as always—Grim had no concept of personal space, and Yuu, well, had given up on arguing about it long ago.

Ace and Deuce, on the other hand, were stuck with the makeshift bedding on the floor. A few old blankets and pillows that Yuu had thrown together in the corner of the room were all they had to work with.

Ace, however, didn’t seem too bothered by it. “I’m telling you, Deuce, this is an experience,” he said with a dramatic sigh, lying flat on his back on the floor. “A true test of character.”

Deuce grumbled as he adjusted his position, trying to get comfortable. “Right, well, I’ve tested enough character for one day. I’m just trying to sleep.”

“Me too,” Ace replied, though it was clear he wasn’t ready to settle down yet. “You know, I never thought I’d be sleeping on a floor in a haunted dorm. But here we are doing it for the second time.”

“You’re not even on the floor correctly,” Deuce muttered. “You’re taking up half the space on the rug.”

Ace rolled over dramatically, barely avoiding kicking Deuce in the process. “I’m an innovator, Deuce. I’m maximizing my space.”

Yuu snorted from her bed, her eyes still closed as Grim nestled further into her side. “You two are hopeless,” she muttered, half-amused.

Grim stirred, raising his head and yawning loudly. “Hmph! This isn’t exactly five-star luxury, but it’ll do for now. At least I get the prime spot on the bed. Don’t even think about stealing it, henchman!”

Yuu groaned as Grim pressed even closer to her, a silent but firm reminder that her bed was his territory. “Yeah, yeah. Enjoy it while you can,” she said with a tired smile, letting her eyes flutter shut.

Ace, now on his stomach, grinned mischievously. “I’m gonna get you back for all this, Yuu. You know that, right? I’ll have my revenge by morning.”

“Whatever, Trappola,” she said, her voice already heavy with sleep. “Just let me sleep, will you?”

Deuce mumbled something about the impending match and the need for rest, but Yuu wasn’t really paying attention anymore.

Would Ace and Deuce be able to hold their ground against someone like Riddle? Could they really pull this off? 

She shifted slightly, trying to find a more comfortable spot in the bed as Grim snored softly beside her. The room was silent except for the soft sounds of breathing.

But then again, did it matter if they won? She wasn’t so sure. She wasn’t a fan of relying on luck, and the idea of depending on something as unpredictable as “chance” bothered her. But she knew deep down, the effort mattered more than the outcome.

They had trained. They had tried. And honestly, that was enough for her.

If they lost, it wouldn’t be because they didn’t give it their all. They’d tried their hardest, and that was something she could respect.

“Yeah,” she whispered softly to herself, eyes fluttering shut. “As long as they give it everything they’ve got…”
The doubt lingered, but Yuu let it go, replacing it with the quiet comfort of knowing she had done all she could to help them.

Tomorrow, they’d face whatever came their way. And for now, that was enough.
__________________

Yuu opened her eyes, finding herself in that familiar dream once again.

“This again…?” she muttered, glancing around.
The hazy, distorted landscape resembled an elaborate courtroom, its colors vibrant yet off-putting, like a fever dream. And there, at the center of it all, stood the little girl in a blue dress, glaring defiantly at a towering figure sitting on a throne—an unnaturally large woman with an exaggerated crown.

“You’re no queen,” the girl declared boldly, her voice ringing through the space. “You’re just a pompous, bad-tempered tyrant!"

The so-called queen’s face twisted in fury. “Fu-fu-fu. What did you say?”

Before the girl could answer, a mischievous voice chimed in from above. A grinning Cheshire Cat materialized, lounging lazily on the queen’s head.
“She’s saying you’re a pompous, bad-tempered tyrant! ” the cat echoed gleefully.

The queen roared, slamming her scepter against the ground. “OFF WITH HER HEAD!"

Yuu stood frozen, watching as the cards—living, sentient soldiers clad in red—began to close in on the girl, their movements stiff but threatening.
“You heard her Majesty’s words!” one of the cards bellowed. “Off with her head!”

Yuu felt a strange sense of déjà vu, like she’d seen this before, like she knew this scene even though she couldn’t remember where or when.

“What… is this?” she whispered. “Why does this feel so familiar?”

The dream distorted further as the card soldiers marched closer to the girl. Their jagged forms cast long, warped shadows across the checkerboard floor. The tension in the air was suffocating.

“This…” Yuu whispered, clenching her fists as unease washed over her. “This feels so wrong.”

The girl in the blue dress glanced briefly in Yuu’s direction, her expression unreadable. For a split second, Yuu thought she might be looking directly at her.
But before Yuu could take a step forward, before she could even process what was happening, the dream dissolved into chaos. The world swirled around her, the vibrant colors bleeding into one another until everything went black.

_______________

Yuu’s eyes shot open, her heart pounding as though it were trying to escape her chest.

She sat up quickly, her breaths shallow and uneven, beads of sweat trailing down her temple. Her mind was blank—she couldn’t remember the dream that had jolted her awake—but the unease it left behind was overwhelming.

Quietly, she slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb Grim, who was curled up and snoring softly beside her. Ace and Deuce sprawled across their makeshift bedding on the floor, oblivious.

Yuu padded down the creaky hall to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. She flicked on the light, squinting at the harsh brightness as she leaned against the sink. Her reflection stared back at her, pale and exhausted, shadows etched beneath her eyes.
Her hand drifted to her chest, her fingers brushing the fabric of her shirt where she knew the wound lay beneath.

“I guess it’s as good a time as any,” she murmured.
Without hesitation, she pulled her shirt over her head, revealing her torso. Her eyes immediately dropped to the faint scar over her heart. Though healed enough not to bleed, it still hadn’t faded entirely. The memory of the act itself—the cold, sharp plunge, and the way her body screamed at her even as her soul shifted into something unrecognizable—rushed back in a wave.

“Of course,” she muttered, a faint, humorless smirk tugging at her lips. “Nothing new.”

Lowering her gaze, she turned her hand over, where earlier she had opened a small cut to test her blood against the collars. The skin was flawless now, as if the injury had never existed. 

She turned her attention back to the scar over her heart, her fingers tracing its edges. It didn’t bother her anymore—not physically, anyway. The first time she’d seen it, she had been horrified. Now, it was just a part of her, like the truth of what she’d become.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as her thoughts drifted to that night—Kyubey’s calm voice, the overwhelming revelations, the sense of losing something she hadn’t even realized was hers to lose.

Her humanity.

“Masoyu,” she whispered, the name slipping from her lips unbidden.

The memory was sharp, vivid. The illusion of the witch’s labyrinth, the distorted reality, the suffocating despair. She remembered being overwhelmed, the sheer weight of it crushing her from all sides. Any physical pain she’d felt had been drowned out by the labyrinth’s oppressive presence, leaving only a hollow ache in her chest.

Yuu wondered, “This is how much pain you were in… in order to save me?”

The words left her lips softly, almost trembling, as if saying them aloud made the memory more real. 
Masoyu’s pain wasn’t just physical—it was everything, Yuu thought, her chest tightening. Her despair, her regret, her hope… she carried all of it. And she still chose to save me.

She closed her eyes, the quiet hum of the bathroom light the only sound. A small, bitter smile tugged at her lips. “And here I am,” she muttered under her breath, “still wondering if it was worth it.”

Yuu squeezed her eyes shut, pressing her fingers harder against her chest as if she could physically force the thought away. No.

She exhaled sharply, feeling the old ache in her chest flare up again. This was what she had to live with now. A memory of something lost forever. But what was worse—the memories, or the unbearable weight of knowing that it had all been in vain?

She clenched her jaw. Stop.

Her own voice in her head was the only thing that could bring her back from that precipice. She straightened up, glancing away from her reflection. There was no use in going back. No use in wondering how it could have been different.

Yuu’s hand instinctively moved to the ring on her finger. She touched it lightly, feeling the familiar pulse of energy as her soul gem appeared, glowing faintly in the dim light of the bathroom.

Her gaze sharpened as she saw it—her gem wasn’t as vibrant as it should have been. It had a slight tinge of black creeping along the edges, even though she hadn’t fought a single witch today.

This is bad, Yuu thought, a sinking feeling spreading through her chest. Even when she didn’t fight, it still slowly eroded.

She sighed, rubbing a finger over the edges of the darkened gem. But I’m in no mood to fight any witch tonight…

She quickly averted her gaze, glancing over at the small pouch where she kept her remaining grief seeds. The two seeds inside it seemed to mock her,

She didn’t need to think too hard about it. Two grief seeds, she mused, tapping her fingers against the pouch. This is enough to get me through tomorrow. I can’t afford to waste them just yet.

Yuu sighed, her gaze lingering on her reflection for a moment longer before she turned toward the tub. She reached out to turn the faucet, letting warm water rush in to fill the quiet space. As the steam began to rise, she started to undress, the cool air brushing against her skin.
Her ring remained firmly on her finger. It was a part of her now—taking it off felt unthinkable, almost like losing a piece of herself.

Yuu settled into the bath, the warm water lapping against her skin as she let out a slow breath. Her eyes drifted to her ring, still firmly on her finger, and the memory of her soul gem’s faint black tinge flickered in her mind.

I’m tired. She thought, her expression unreadable.
But she didn’t linger on the thought. Instead, she closed her eyes, letting her mind drift to something softer, something brighter—butterflies.

She pictured them, delicate and weightless, their colorful wings fluttering in an endless dance. Monarchs, blues, yellows—all of them flitting freely in a sunlit meadow far removed from the world she lived in now. The thought was grounding, almost comforting, as if she could borrow their lightness for just a moment.

The tension in her shoulders eased as she let the image fill her mind. No battles, no scars, no soul gems—just the simple, fleeting beauty of butterflies.
The water rippled softly as she adjusted her position, her breathing slowing to a steady rhythm. She didn’t think about anything else.

________________

The morning sunlight crept into the room, casting long beams of light across the old wooden floor. Yuu blinked herself awake, the distant sounds of Ace and Deuce mumbling breaking the morning silence.

She groaned quietly, rubbing her face as the events of the past few days settled in her mind. Grim was still curled up beside her pillow, his tiny snores filling the otherwise still air.

“Can you not stretch so close to me?” Ace’s voice carried over, followed by the sound of shifting fabric.

“Then move over,” Deuce replied, his tone just shy of snapping.

Yuu swung her legs off the bed, glancing over at the two of them. Ace was sprawled out in a half-sitting position on his makeshift bedding, while Deuce was still neatly tucked into his corner of the room, visibly irritated.

“Will you two ever stop?” she muttered, pushing herself up to stand.

The sound caught their attention, and they turned to look at her, blinking as if surprised to see her awake.
“Morning, Prefect!” Deuce said quickly, his voice bright and overly polite.

“Morning,” she replied, voice flat. She stretched her arms out, trying to shake off the stiffness.

Ace groaned, rubbing his face. “Do mornings always feel this terrible in this place, or is it just this dorm?”

“It’s just you,” she said, walking toward the door. “Now, get out.”

The two boys exchanged a confused look. “What?”

“Out,” Yuu said again, pointing firmly at the door.

Ace grumbled something under his breath, but he was on his feet first, dragging Deuce with him. “Fine, fine, we’re going!”

“Some warning next time would be nice,” Deuce added, already halfway out the door.

Grim cracked an eye open from where he was sprawled on the pillow. “Tell ‘em, henchman,” he muttered sleepily before rolling over and falling back asleep.

Yuu waited until the door clicked shut before letting out a breath and grabbing her clothes.

As she finished, she opened the door to find Ace and Deuce leaning against the wall—why are they still outside my room?

“Took you long enough,” Ace said, pushing off the wall with a stretch.

“You were out here for less than ten minutes,” she shot back, stepping past them and down the hallway while Grim followed her.

“Still felt like forever,” he muttered, falling into step beside her.

Deuce adjusted his uniform as he followed. “We should eat quickly and get started. The match is starting soon.”

Yuu didn’t reply, her mind already running over what needed to be done. She wasn’t sure what the day would bring, but if their training was anything to go by, they’d need every ounce of focus they could muster.

As they entered the living room, Grim was already at the table, helping himself to the leftover snacks from the night before. “Myahh—” he meowed between bites. “This tastes amazing!”

“Glutton.” Ace muttered, rolling his eyes as he grabbed a piece of toast.

Deuce sat down, his movements careful but purposeful. “Are we going over any last-minute strategies, Yuu? Or… are we just winging it now?”

Yuu glanced at him as she poured herself a cup of water. “We went over everything last night. There’s nothing left to discuss.”

Ace leaned back in his chair, smirking. “Sounds like she’s saying we’re as ready as we’ll ever be.”

She gave him a flat look. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

Grim perked up, his tail swishing. “Don’t worry! If you two mess up, I’ll step in and save the day!”

“That’s not exactly reassuring,” Ace said, but there was no real bite to his words.

Deuce frowned, his face set in quiet determination. “We’ll do our best.”

Yuu sipped her water, letting their chatter fade into the background. The truth was, she didn’t know what the outcome would be. She doubted their odds but had decided it didn’t matter. As long as they tried, that was enough.

“Let’s finish eating,” she said after a moment. “The last thing you want is to fight Riddle on an empty stomach.”
As they sat eating, Yuu stared into her cup of water, swirling it absentmindedly.

The chatter between Ace, Deuce, and Grim felt distant, like a faint hum in the background. Despite their bickering, the room carried an undercurrent of nervous energy. The match with Riddle loomed over them like a shadow, and Yuu couldn’t shake the weight pressing down on her.

A bad feeling had nestled itself deep in her gut since the moment she’d woken up. It wasn’t the kind of nervousness she’d had before fights in her old world. This was different. Heavier.

She pressed her thumb against her ring, a small, grounding action. Why does it feel like something is going to go wrong?

Her eyes drifted toward Ace and Deuce, who were discussing strategies between bites of toast. Deuce looked determined, his brows furrowed in concentration, while Ace maintained his usual air of forced confidence, masking his nervousness behind humor.

They’re trying their best, she thought. And yet…

Her chest tightened. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust them. They had worked hard yesterday, and despite their quirks, she knew they were capable in their own ways. But there was a nagging voice in the back of her mind, whispering doubts she couldn’t ignore.

What if it’s not enough? 

The thought hit her like a cold wave, making her fingers tighten around her cup. For a fleeting moment, a memory surfaced in her mind—unbidden and sharp.

A figure loomed over her, their face obscured by shadows, but their voice rang clear in her ears. “You’ll never be strong enough like this,” 

Yuu’s stomach churned, the weight of those words sinking into her chest like a stone. She could still remember the suffocating pressure, the endless days of pushing herself to exhaustion, only for the caretaker to shake their head in disappointment.

“You’ll fail. And when you do, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.” 

The memory stung, its edges sharp and cruel.
No, Yuu thought, her grip on the cup loosening. They’ve done well. They’ve worked hard. They’re not like I was back then.

“They’re not me,” she muttered under her breath, barely loud enough to hear.

“What was that?” Grim piped up, glancing at her with curiosity.

“Nothing,” Yuu said quickly, forcing her voice to sound casual. “Just thinking about how you’ve all been doing.”

Ace raised an eyebrow. “Thinking good things, I hope.”
“Depends on the minute,” she replied dryly, earning a laugh from Grim and a groan from Ace.

Deuce, however, met her gaze, his own steady. “We’re ready,” he said firmly, as if sensing the weight of her thoughts.

Yuu looked at him for a moment before nodding. “Yeah. You are.”

The words weren’t just for him—they were for herself, too.

_______________

The four of them strolled through Heartslabyul’s courtyard, drawing curious looks from passing students. Conversations hummed around them, snippets of gossip reaching Yuu’s ears as they walked.

“I can’t believe they’re really going through with it,” one student whispered.

“They don’t stand a chance against Riddle,” another muttered.

Yuu sighed, shoving her hands into her pockets. “They’re already taking bets,” she said flatly.

“Let ’em,” Ace said with a cocky grin. “That just means they think we’re important enough to talk about.”

Deuce shot him a glare. “This isn’t a popularity contest, Ace! This is serious.”

“Relax, I know that,” Ace said, rolling his eyes. “But if everyone’s so sure we’re gonna lose, that just means we’ve got the element of surprise.” 

Grim piped up, puffing out his chest. "I'm just here to watch these two mess up and say 'told ya so!'"

"Grim," Deuce said sharply, his face flushing with embarrassment. "That's not helping!"

“It’s called managing expectations, Henchman Number Two,” Grim said smugly.

Yuu pinched the bridge of her nose, already feeling a headache coming on. “Focus, you guys. You spent four hours yesterday training for this. Don’t tell me you’re already falling apart before the match even starts.”

Ace waved a hand dismissively. “We’re fine. It’s not like Riddle’s gonna throw anything at us we haven’t prepared for.”

“That’s not the point,” Yuu said, her tone sharp enough to make him falter. “You’ve got one shot at this, and if you’re not serious, you’ll lose.”

Ace’s grin faded, and Deuce nodded solemnly beside him.

“Yuu’s right,” Deuce said firmly. “We’ve trained for this. We just have to trust what we’ve learned.”

Grim gave a loud yawn, hopping up to perch on Yuu’s shoulder. “Yeah, yeah, teamwork and all that. Can we go now? This pep talk’s getting boring.”

Yuu glanced at Ace and Deuce, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. “You two ready?”

Ace exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders. “Born ready.”

Deuce clenched his fists, his expression set. “Let’s do this.”

They moved toward the courtyard where the duel would take place, the buzz of anticipation growing louder with every step. Yuu trailed slightly behind, her eyes narrowing as she glanced toward the Heartslabyul dorm. A bad feeling twisted in her gut, but she shoved it aside.
As they stepped into the courtyard, a hush fell over the gathered students.

The tension in the air was palpable, the crowd parting to reveal Riddle standing tall, his expression as composed as ever—until his eyes landed on Ace and Deuce.

His gaze flickered down to their bare necks, and for the briefest moment, surprise crossed his face. “How did you manage to take the collars off?”

Ace stiffened, and Deuce glanced nervously at Yuu and Grim, standing a few paces behind them. The silence stretched awkwardly between them as they scrambled for an answer.

“We… uh—” Deuce began, but Ace elbowed him lightly, cutting him off.

“Does it matter?” Ace said, forcing a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “All that matters is we’re here now, right?”

Riddle’s lips curled into a humorless smile. “Keeping secrets now, are we? Very well. Keep them, if you must.” He lifted his chin, his crimson eyes glinting with cold amusement. “The collar will decorate your necks again in no time.”

Yuu, watching from behind, clenched her fists at his words. Her thoughts churned, but she kept her face neutral. She couldn’t get directly involved—this was their battle. Even so, she couldn’t shake the unease twisting in her stomach.

Riddle turned, stepping forward as the gathered crowd parted even further. “Let us proceed with this farce, then. You’ve challenged me, and as housewarden, it is my duty to accept.”

Ace and Deuce exchanged a quick glance, determination flickering in their eyes. Whatever doubts they had, they weren’t about to back down now.

Yuu caught Ace’s faint smirk as he turned to Deuce. “Guess we’re really doing this, huh?”

Deuce exhaled deeply, squaring his shoulders. “Yeah. Let’s show him what we’ve got.”

From her spot on the sidelines, Yuu crossed her arms. “You better not make yesterday’s training a waste,” she muttered, just loud enough for Grim to hear.

The little creature grinned wickedly. “Oh, this is gonna be good.”

With a dramatic flair, the headmage stood between the two figures, his figure silhouetted against the dim light. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation, and he lifted a mirror high into the air. His voice echoed ominously as he declared, "When this mirror that I'm about to shatter hits the ground, that will be your cue to start. Get ready... Begin!"

Riddle wasted no time. The moment the duel began, he raised his scepter, his voice ringing out with the authority of a monarch.

“Off with your head!”

A brilliant red light erupted from his scepter, shooting toward Ace and Deuce with blinding speed. Gasps rippled through the gathered students, the spell’s force a clear reminder of why no one had dared to challenge him before.

But Ace and Deuce didn’t freeze. Instead, they moved in sync, their training kicking in.
“Fortress Ward!” they shouted in unison, their voices clear and steady.

A shimmering golden barrier materialized in front of them, crackling with energy as it intercepted Riddle’s spell. The impact was like a thunderclap, the collision sending shockwaves through the courtyard. The barrier held firm, deflecting the red light and dissipating it into harmless sparks.

The crowd erupted into startled murmurs.

“They blocked it?!”

“No way! That was Riddle’s unique magic!”

Even Riddle paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the barrier. His lips curved into an amused smirk. “Interesting. It seems you’ve done your homework.”

Ace grinned, though sweat was already forming on his brow. “What, you thought we’d just roll over and lose? Hate to break it to you, Housewarden, but we came prepared.”

Deuce’s gaze remained steady, his fists clenched as he focused. “We’re not backing down. Not this time.”

Riddle chuckled, his voice dripping with condescension. “Prepared, you say? Very well. Let’s see just how far that so-called preparation will take you.”

He raised his scepter again, the air around him shimmering with power as his magic surged.

Grim perched on her shoulder, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “Hah! Look at those two go! Maybe they won’t embarrass us after all!”

Yuu didn’t respond, her focus entirely on the duel.
Riddle unleashed another volley of spells, each one more intense than the last. Fireballs streaked through the air, and the oppressive aura of his magic grew heavier with every passing second.

Ace and Deuce kept their formation, relying on their hastily learned defense spells to keep themselves in the fight.

The golden barrier flared up again and again, absorbing the brunt of Riddle’s onslaught. But the strain was visible—Ace’s cocky grin had faded, replaced by a determined grimace, and Deuce’s knuckles were white as he poured everything he had into maintaining their defenses.

Still, they didn’t waver.

The crowd watched in stunned silence, the gravity of the duel sinking in. For the first time, someone was challenging the seemingly invincible housewarden and holding their ground.

Riddle tilted his head, his amusement giving way to something sharper. “Not bad,” he said, his tone still calm but with an edge of irritation. “But defense alone won’t win you this duel.”

Right...

Riddle wasn’t stupid, and neither was his strategy. Yuu could see it clear as day as she watched the duel unfold. His attacks were relentless, but there was a calculated precision behind them. Every spell he cast wasn’t just to test Ace and Deuce—it was wearing them down.

He’s baiting them, Yuu thought, narrowing her eyes. He knows their defenses won’t last forever. The moment they’re too tired to cast another spell… that’s when he’ll strike with his unique magic.

Ace and Deuce were holding their ground, but Yuu could see the strain in their movements. They cast Guardian Prism, a shimmering wall of layered light that absorbed Riddle’s latest blast.

The crowd gasped, murmuring in awe at the defense spell—one they’d clearly practiced the night before. Even Riddle paused, his smirk flickering with a hint of amusement.

“Impressive,” Riddle said, his tone mocking. "But how long can you keep it up?”

Ace grinned, his confidence unwavering despite the sweat dripping down his face. “Long enough to knock that smug look off your face!”

Deuce shot him a quick glare. “Don’t provoke him!”

The crowd erupted in cheers, and even Grim, perched on Yuu’s shoulder, let out an excited laugh. “Ha! They got him good!”

But Yuu didn’t celebrate. Her sharp gaze stayed fixed on Riddle, who was still calm, still smirking.

“He’s not surprised,” Yuu muttered under her breath.

Grim tilted his head. “Huh? What’s that mean?”

“It means he’s in control,” Yuu replied, her voice tense. “He’s waiting. He knows their defenses are limited.”

Grim growled, his tail twitching. “What’re you sayin’? That he’s just gonna sit there until they’re toast?”

“Exactly,” Yuu murmured. Her fists clenched at her sides. If  they don’t figure it out soon, this duel will be over before they even realize what hit them.

She couldn’t intervene—not directly—but she knew one thing for sure. Riddle wasn’t just a tyrant with a quick temper. He was a tactician. And Ace and Deuce were running out of time.

As the duel wore on, it became painfully clear that Riddle’s strategy was working. Ace and Deuce were giving it their all, each spell they cast met with a counter that forced them to defend again and again. Their stamina was dwindling, and Yuu could see it in the way their movements slowed, the way their breathing grew heavier.

Riddle, however, remained unshaken, his every move deliberate and precise. His smirk widened as Ace’s latest attempt at a spell fizzled out before it even formed.

“Getting tired already?” Riddle taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. “Pathetic. You dare challenge me, and this is the best you can muster?”

Deuce gritted his teeth, his hands trembling as he tried to summon another Pulseguard. “We’re not giving up!”

Ace panted, glancing at Deuce with a mixture of determination and desperation. “Come on, we’ve got this. One more… we just need one more!”

But Yuu could see the truth, even if they refused to admit it. Their magic reserves were nearly gone, and Riddle knew it. He raised his scepter high, the red gemstone gleaming ominously.

“Enough of this farce,” he said coldly. “Off With Your Head!”

The audience held their breath as the wave of crimson magic surged toward Ace and Deuce. They tried to cast one last defense spell, but their hands faltered, the spell dissipating before it could fully form.

The collars materialized around their necks in an instant, locking into place with an audible snap. The crowd erupted in murmurs, some shocked, others triumphant.
Ace and Deuce fell to their knees, their magic sealed away, their defeat undeniable.

Riddle lowered his scepter, his smirk triumphant. “As I said, your rebellion was nothing more than a child’s tantrum. A waste of time.”

Yuu’s fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. She stepped forward, catching the faint groan of Ace as he tried to stand.

“Ah, visualization is the cornerstone of spellcasting,” Crowley announced, his arms spread wide in a theatrical display. “The clearer one’s image of the magic’s intended effects, the stronger and more precise it becomes. And, my, my, it would appear that Mr. Rosehearts has honed his magic to an enviable degree.”

Riddle stood tall, his crimson scepter gleaming as he looked down at Ace and Deuce, who were both panting, their defenses long worn thin. A smirk tugged at his lips as he observed the two boys, utterly defeated.

“Hmph. You didn’t even last more than ten minutes,” Riddle sneered, his voice dripping with superiority. “That was all you had, and still, you thought to challenge me? You must be utterly humiliated.”

He paused, straightening his posture as if savoring the moment of victory. “I guess my mother was right. A man who cannot follow rules is a man who cannot achieve anything.”

Deuce gritted his teeth, his hands shaking as he struggled to remain standing. “Tch… We agree that rules should be followed,” he spat, glaring up at Riddle with a fire in his eyes, despite his exhaustion. “But forcing others to follow nonsensical rules like the ones you’ve enacted? That’s tyranny!”

Riddle’s eyes narrowed, his expression hardening as his gaze flicked to Deuce. “Then you agree that breaking rules is wrong.” He raised his scepter slightly, his tone taking on an almost chilling finality. “And in this dorm, I am the rules.”

The crowd held its breath as Riddle’s words hung in the air. “Therefore,” he continued, his smirk growing, “those who cannot abide by my decisions deserve not the heads they use to complain!”

“That’s not right, actually,” Yuu spoke, stepping forward with a composed expression.

Riddle’s smirk faltered for a split second, his gaze shifting to her. “You again? what would you know, prefect? Do you think you can lecture me on what’s right?”

Yuu met his gaze unwaveringly, crossing her arms as she continued. “You say that rules are important, but rules that only benefit one person and suppress the others aren’t rules—they’re just tools of control.”

Riddle’s voice rang out, sharp and filled with disdain. “I am the one who decides what is wrong and right! What sort of pitiful education have you received, that you cannot follow such simple rules?”

Yuu didn’t flinch. She met his glare with calm resolve, unwavering. “Rules are only effective when they are just,” she said, her voice steady. “Just because you have the power to make decisions doesn’t mean you have the wisdom to choose what’s right.”

“Wisdom?” Riddle’s lips curled into a sneer, “You think I don’t have the wisdom to lead? I am the Housewarden of Heatslabyul. The rules of the queen are for the benefit of this school. To make everyone better, to shape them into something that fits in this place.”

Yuu scoffed lightly. “That’s the problem, Riddle. You’re not shaping them to be better—you’re shaping them to be just like you. You’re demanding conformity, not growth. True leadership comes from helping others reach their full potential, not forcing them into a mold that fits your vision.”

He gritted his teeth, eyes narrowing. “And who do you think you are?” Riddle’s voice rang out, sharp and filled with disdain. “Clearly, you were born to parents with no great magical capability nor a good education, and as a result… You lack even the basic education necessary to attend a school such as this. It’s quite sad, them sending you to a place unfit.”

Yuu’s breath caught in her throat at Riddle’s words, her expression faltering for just a second. It was as if the room had gone silent, and all she could hear was the heavy, hollow thudding of her own heartbeat in her ears. Her fingers tightened at her sides, her knuckles white, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

How could he say that? 

Yuu’s thoughts were a tangle of hurt and confusion. She hadn’t expected this—hadn’t expected someone like Riddle, so sure of his place, to strike at something so personal, so raw. Her parents—her only memory of them was of her mother, a kind woman who had tried her best, and her father, who…

Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it. 

The words she had forced herself to forget surged to the forefront of her mind, but she pushed them down again, swallowing the bile rising in her throat.

Yuu opened her mouth to retort, to explain further, but before she could say another word, Ace surged forward. “You shut your spoiled little mouth!” he shouted, his fist swinging through the air with all the frustration and anger that had been building up for what felt like hours.
The punch landed squarely on Riddle’s face with a sickening thud.

Riddle stumbled back in shock, eyes wide as he tried to process what had just happened. “Wh-what?!” he gasped, hands instinctively going to his face.

The Heartslabyul students, who had been watching the confrontation, gasped in unison. “Whoa! He just punched the housewarden…!”

Cater and Trey looked on in utter disbelief. “Riddle?!” Cater called, his voice filled with shock.

Crowley, ever the figure of authority, had been standing at the side, but now his voice rose in a panic. “Mr. Rosehearts?!”

Grim, on the other hand, practically jumped out of his skin in excitement. “Bam! Right cross to the face!” he cheered, barely able to contain his amusement.

Deuce blinked rapidly in shock, his mouth hanging open. “A-Ace?!”

Ace stood there, chest heaving with the intensity of his actions, the look on his face a mix of defiance and exhaustion. “That’s all I can take. Forget Riddle. Forget the duel. I’m done.” His words rang out, heavy and final, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Yuu stood there, stunned into silence once again. She hadn’t expected this. Of all the things that could’ve happened, this was the last thing she imagined. Ace, the usually carefree guy, had just punched Riddle Rosehearts, the proud and untouchable Housewarden of Heartslabyul, right in front of everyone.

Her mind was whirling, trying to make sense of the chaotic moment. She couldn’t quite believe what she’d just witnessed. The raw emotion that had fueled Ace’s punch—was it something that had been building up all this time? Or was it just the final straw?

She glanced at Riddle, who was still standing there in shock, rubbing his cheek where Ace’s fist had connected. The smug arrogance he usually wore was gone, replaced by something she couldn’t quite place—was it humiliation? Disbelief?

“That hurt! You… p-punched me?!” He stammered, struggling to keep his voice steady.

Ace, standing tall and still breathing heavily from the rush of emotions, shot back, “Kids aren’t trophies for their parents to flaunt. And the accomplishments of a child aren’t determined by the worth of their parents. It’s not your parents’ fault you became a tyrant—or anyone else’s.”

Ace’s gaze hardened as he continued, his words cutting sharper with each syllable. “You’ve been here a year and haven’t even made a friend who will tell you you’re outta line. And that’s on you.”

Riddle’s face contorted in confusion and anger. “What are you even talking about?” he spat, his voice rising.

Ace didn’t flinch. “Yeah, maybe you had some rigid upbringing from a relentless helicopter-mom. Is that all you are? An extension of her? Can’t you think for yourself?” He stepped forward, not backing down. “You call yourself the ‘red sovereign’? You’re just a baby who’s good at magic.”

Riddle’s eyes widened, his fists tightening at his sides. “Baby…? Did you just call me a ‘baby’?!” His voice cracked with indignation, as if the very idea of it insulted every ounce of his pride. “You don’t know anything about me! You don’t know anything about anything!”

Ace stood there, arms crossed, his stance unyielding. “Nope, sure don’t. And I don’t need to. Your attitude tells me all I need to know—that you’re nothing but a spoiled brat.”

“Shut up, shut up, shut UP!” His face was flushed with anger, and his fists trembled at his sides. “My mother was right! And that means I’m right too!” He spat the words out like venom, his usual control slipping completely.

Trey stepped forward, his tone more pleading than commanding. “Riddle, calm down. The duel is already over. There’s no need to escalate this any further.”

Crowley, never one to let an opportunity for authority pass, chimed in with his usual air of finality. “Mr. Clover is correct. The challenger has been disqualified due to physical violence. If you do not cease your conflict now, I’ll have you written up for breaking school rules!” His sharp gaze darted between the two, clearly expecting the matter to be resolved.

But Yuu wasn’t paying attention any of this. Her chest tightened, her instincts screaming at her. Something felt… wrong. No, not just wrong—familiar. It was the same feeling she always got when a witch was near, that odd, oppressive weight that settled over her as if something was watching, waiting. 

She glanced around the room, looking for the source of the unease, but there was nothing outwardly strange.

As Riddle’s fury boiled over, a Heartslabyul student, still reeling from the tension, shouted in frustration, “Ace is right, though! I’ve had enough of Riddle!”

Riddle’s eyes snapped to the crowd, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face. “Huh?!” he barked. “What...?!"

Trey, ever the calming force, muttered in confusion, “An egg?”

Riddle’s eyes narrowed sharply, his voice laced with pure venom. “Who did that? Who threw that egg?!”

The crowd fell silent. No one answered. The egg had come from nowhere, and the culprit, clearly hesitant, had yet to own up.

Riddle’s lips curled into a twisted smirk. “Heh heh… Ah ha ha ha!” His laughter was manic, filled with a bubbling sense of cruel satisfaction. “You say YOU’RE fed up?! I’M the one who’s fed up with all of YOU!”

This has to stop, she thought, her gaze flickering toward Ace and Deuce, who were still standing, tense and uncertain. They too knew it wasn’t just the duel anymore. It was Riddle, in that moment, slowly unraveling, losing himself to the power he’d held so tightly.

Riddle’s laughter echoed like a haunting, warped melody. “Off with your heads!” he screamed again, and Yuu’s chest tightened. She could hear the desperation beneath his words, the tremor of someone trying to hold onto control while everything around him began to fall apart.

Yuu’s voice barely broke the air, but it was enough. “Riddle…” Her tone was calm, too calm for the situation. She wasn’t sure if it was the right time to intervene, but she knew if this went on any longer, someone—someone—was going to get hurt.

Yuu’s heart pounded as she stepped forward, her voice steady but filled with urgency. “Please stop, Riddle! Something very wrong will happen if you don’t stop!” Her words cut through the chaos, but Riddle didn’t even seem to hear her, his eyes wild and full of madness.

He threw his head back with a manic laugh. “Ah ha ha ha! How do you like that, hm? Now no one can do a thing to me! Do you see now? My strict adherence to the rules was clearly the correct path!”

The others watched helplessly, but Yuu’s warning had been swallowed up in the madness. Riddle was too far gone in his rage, his power too intoxicating.