Chapter Text
Umbrella-Parasol combat was Evabelle and her sister’s specialty. Her sister would use her magic to transform her umbrella into a polearm, while Evabelle’s parasol was akin to a wand. They were like that - different but symbiotic. They filled in for each other's weaknesses. Though it was Evabelle who created this type of combat, she wondered how soon it would be before the student outwitted the master.
They fought as always out in the forest behind their home. Her sister would try to get close with her umbrella, but Evabelle always teleported out of the way. Typical. She wasn’t a fighter, instead opting to evade the blows headed her way. Evabelle then pointed her parasol at her sister, a magic ball forming at the tip as she did her next spell. A bird mimic the breed of Evabelle’s familiar swooped in, headed straight for her sister.
Just as the mimic reached her sister, her sister had already dismantled the illusion with the slice of her umbrella. Her sister lunged toward Evabelle yet again, but this time Evabelle didn’t teleport away. Instead she created a shield from the canopy of her now opened parasol. Her sister kept attacking her shield, trying to disarm the magically enhanced canopy, but Evabelle was focusing her magic into it, making it difficult to pierce through.
As her sister gave up on destroying the shield, she took a different approach. Her sister focused her energy on her umbrella before striking the ground, causing the ground below them to rumble. Evabelle was caught off balance, falling to the ground. Before she could defend herself, Evabelle was caught off guard by the tip of her sister’s umbrella pointed at her neck.
“I win this round,” Evabelle’s sister smirked. Evabelle’s usually unmoved face had turned into a small smile. The two of them laughed.
“Cheap tricks! I wanted a fair fight,” Evabelle said lightheartedly, not actually offended by the maneuver her sister pulled to win the fight.
“Fair fight? If I’d waited any longer, then you’d use that move on me. I’m just faster than you, admit it.”
“Yeah, right,” Evabelle scoffed at her sister, but in a sense, it was true. Evabelle had always had a weak constitution, and her health wasn’t getting any better. It was a curse put on her at a young age, something that she could never remedy or fix. Just deal with it, is what the healers said to her. Her sister helped her up from the ground, Evabelle’s legs still shaking. ‘Don’t hold back on me. Ever,’ is what Evabelle told her sister. Even still, there were times where Evabelle needed serious attention.
Night fell and Evabelle was getting ready for bed. Well, she was supposed to get ready for bed, but she had stayed up late in her grandmother’s library. A tree grew in the center of the room. It was a part of the base of the house, the figurative rock that this place was built upon. The bookshelves were almost as tall as the ceiling. If certain books needed to be checked out, you’d have to fly or magic your way to get them.
Evabelle felt a sudden weight on her head. Peary, her familiar, had made a soft landing on her white hair, as if trying to nest. Evabelle scritched his chin, and a soft cooing could be heard from the bird. He was a partridge, and an important figure in Evabelle’s life. He’d been with her before she was adopted into her current family.
Peary could sense some vibrations closeby. Evabelle could tell by the way he ruffled his feathers. She didn’t pay it much mind until Peary kept continuously doing it. Evabelle tried to remove Peary from her head, but he stayed on, almost scratching her scalp. She had to shake him off to finally get him off her head.
“What’s gotten into you?” Evabelle muttered to herself. She resumed the book she was on, but then she heard a soft coo. And then another. And another. Evabelle finally stood up and walked over to where Peary was. He was looking outside the window Evabelle had opened earlier to get a fresh breeze.
All of a sudden, Peary flew out the window. Evabelle went after him, climbing out the window despite never being that agile. Her parasol was with her, attached to her phone in its condensed miniature form as a phone charm. She detached the parasol charm, returning the parasol back into its original size.
“Peary! Where have you gone?!” Evabelle ran into the forest after Peary. She wasn’t worried about getting lost as her sister and her often explored the forest in their youth. As she got into a clearing, she finally realized that she had lost track of Peary. Calm breaths. She didn’t have to get worked up over this. They had a bond, and even if Peary was acting weird, he always found his way back to her.
Right?
Evabelle heard something in the distance. It was a strange sound, like… hooves click-clacking against the ground. She turned her head. Her usual unaffected expression was replaced by a bewildered expression. A dark carriage pulled by two black horses burst through the clearing in the woods.
And then there was darkness.
‘Is this the afterlife? It’s so… peaceful and relaxing. Maybe not relaxing. I’m starting to get a cramp in my back.’ Evabelle thought to herself. She tried to stretch her arms, but she was met with walls. That’s strange. Where was she? With minimal effort, Evabelle was able to push in front of her. A crack of light shone through. With a little more effort, Evabelle continued to push, making the gap grow wider. Eventually, she was able to see more and more outside of her confines.
A room full of floating coffins, and she just so happened to be in one of them. Just what is this place? There were no people so far, yet it looked like the room was being prepared for a ceremony. As Evabelle used the last of her effort, she was finally able to exit the coffin. She didn’t realize that something else exited the coffin with her.
Against her better judgment, Evabelle explored the room. Were there other people in the coffins? And why were there so many chairs? It’s almost like there were enough for a school.
“Fnyah! Are you even listening to me, human!?” Evabelle stopped as she heard an annoying voice. She turned around to see nothing. Then she lowered her gaze to see a cat with fiery blue fluff in its ears and a three pointed tail. It also had chest fluff. It was kinda cute, in its own way. Evabelle kneeled down to meet it at eye level.
“Aren’t you a strange little thing? Are you somebody’s familiar?”
“Familiar?! What do you take me for, a pet? I’m way greater than that!” The feline looked offended at Evabelle’s suggestion. It put its little paws on its waist and smiled arrogantly as it continued its rant. “I’m Grim, the greatest mage in existence! You should remember the name.” Evabelle had dealt with familiars before, but there was a difference between this Grim and her Peary. Peary was kind and understanding, if not a bit cheeky. Grim, on the other hand, seemed to be rude, obnoxious, and arrogant.
“Alright Grim. What did you want to talk about?” Evabelle asked calmly, trying not to escalate the situation.
“What did I want to talk about? WHAT did I want to talk about?!”
“Yeah, that’s why I asked.”
“Hmph, stupid human. Gimme your robes!”
“My… robes?” Evabelle asked before finally realizing what she was wearing. She had some sort of black ceremonial robes, matching with the ceremonial theming of the room she and Grim were in. “Alright then.”
“-and I won’t take no for an answer. Wait. Did you just say yes?” Grim was confused before turning arrogant again. “I mean, of course you said yes, puny human! Nyaha! That was too easy- Fnyah!” Grim was interrupted by the robes Evabelle took off being thrown to him. “Watch where you’re throwing your things!” Grim yelled as Evabelle was walking off, ignoring him yet again.
Now that she was no longer in her robe, she looked even more out of place than usual, as she was still dressed in her frilly shirt and jumper skirt with her usual gloves and Mary Jane shoes. Evabelle eventually learned more about where she was from the environment. This was a school - a magic school not unlike the Barry Otter books she had read when she was younger.
What else did she know? Nothing really. The campus was pretty nice, but other than that? Nothing much. It did fill Evabelle’s usually unfeeling heart with some semblance of goodwill that she helped that fuzzy animal earlier. Maybe her heart wasn’t so unfeeling afterall. Not that you could tell by her face.
Now where was that exit? The school felt like a maze at this point. It was starting to get late and Evabelle still had no idea where she was. Was she even in the same country? Sure, she had a fine enough time speaking to Grim, who was speaking in English for some reason, but she’d prefer speaking in her native tongue of French. Speaking of English, Evabelle could hear two boys talking in the courtyard.
“Is it just me, or am I the only one talking? You bored or something?” said the redhead with a black heart on the side of his face.
“Not really…” the feminine lilac-haired boy said, though it looked like he was being reluctant to speak at all. Evabelle decided to walk up to them, yet as she approached them, they both yelped as if they’d seen a ghost.
“Greetings- please stop yelling- greetings, I am Evabelle Silvia Dumont.” Evabelle introduced herself. Eventually, the boys looked at each other and back at Evabelle, bewildered. However, the redhead laughed it off, turning back to the lilac-haired boy.
“Now that is an introduction. You should take a couple pointers from her,” the redhead said. “Are you looking for your brother or something? Didn’t you know this is an all-boys school?” he lightly taunted Evabelle. However, Evabelle didn’t take it to heart, brushing him off.
“Yes, I am lost, but you’re wearing the same robes I was wearing,” Evabelle replied.
“The same robes? Does that mean-” the lilac-haired boy asked, curious and slightly annoyed.
“If you say this is an all-boys school, I believe you, but that doesn’t explain how I got here or where I am,” Evabelle said.
“Where you are? Are you joking? You don’t know where you are?” the redhead asked incredulously.
“You’re joking…” the lilac-haired boy joined in.
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Evabelle deadpanned at the two boys. The redhead sighed and shook his head.
“You must’ve hit your head real bad if you don’t know where you are. We’re at Night Raven College.”
“Never heard of it.”
“Okay, wow. I don’t even know where to begin. Where are you even from?”
“Sequan, France. It’s in the countryside.”
“I’ve never heard of those places before. Is that in the Shaftlands?”
“...Shaftlands?”
“And I’m guessing you haven’t heard of that place either,” the redhead sighed, “Yeah, you definitely hit your head or are going crazy.” Evabelle sighed and rolled her eyes at his suggestion at her being crazy.
“Can you help me or not? If not, then I’ll be on my way.”
“Hm? I thought I heard someone?” a new boy got added into the mix. This time it was another redhead, but this time his hair was red like velvet. Just as Evabelle was going to look back at the other redhead and the lilac-haired boy, it seemed they were in hiding. Evabelle was about to reverse her phone charm into its original shape, she was spotted by the velvet red-haired boy.
“Stop right there! You’re trespassing on campus grounds!” Without giving Evabelle time to explain, he dragged her by the arm. Evabelle recognized some of the rooms as they returned back to the ceremony room. This time, the room was full of people in the robes that Evabelle was wearing before. Whispers could be heard as the all male student body saw Evabelle. Not only was she not in the robes, but she also looked like a girl.
“Headmage Crowley, I found a trespasser,” the velvet red-haired boy said to the man in a crow mask. Most people would cower in shame due to all the whispers about them surrounding the whole room, but Evabelle stood firm. She knew she didn’t belong here, but she was confident she could explain her way out of any trouble.
“A trespasser, hm? Young Lady, do you know you are on school premises?” the man in the crowd mask, apparently the headmaster of this place, asked.
“I can explain,” Evabelle started before she was interrupted again.
“Can you now? That’s what they all say,” the headmaster replied.
“This has happened before?”
“Well, no. I’ve just always wanted to say that.” Evabelle glared at the supposed authority figure as he spoke. “As the headmaster of this institution, I’m surprised that someone was able to make it through the security measures.”
“Even through the coffins?” Evabelle asked rhetorically to Crowley.
“Yes, even through the- Wait, no. What do you mean by “through the coffins?””
“I got in here through the coffins.” Evabelle stated bluntly without further explanation. Crowley started to think hard.
“Strange. Through that method? I suppose that’s one way to infiltrate the school. I’d like to thank you, young lady” Crowley said, causing the velvet red-haired boy to scoff.
“Thank her?!”
“Thank me?” Evabelle echoed his sentiment, though she replied simply, “You’re welcome.”
“Why, of course. You’ve found a vulnerability in the security system at Night Raven College. That takes some skill.”
“I really did nothing,” Evabelle replied.
“Don’t be humble. You should be really proud of yourself. This will make headlines! Should justice see fit, I hope to see you in ten years time as security personnel at this fine establishment so that you can expose more security weaknesses of this school. That is, after you get out of prison, of course.”
“Yeah… no.” Evabelle replied.
“What?”
“I’m not going to prison. Goodbye.” Evabelle curtsied as she bid Crowley and everyone farewell. She took out her parasol phone charm, transforming it back into its original form. Right before anyone could apprehend her, she teleported just out of sight.
Ensue chase scene.
“Off with your head!” Evabelle heard the velvet red-haired boy say as he and the headmaster chased her throughout the building. Throughout the chase, it was almost fun. Exhilarating, testing her magic to see how far away she could get. She could only teleport to anywhere she could visibly see, meaning that she had to pay attention to where she was teleporting while also being quick enough not to be caught. However, just as she did earlier, Evabelle eventually got lost. Her lack of a sense of direction ended up being her downfall as she ended up teleporting to a path with a dead end.
“Off with your head!!!” was the last thing Evabelle heard before she felt her parasol get heavier. She was finally cornered by the velvet red-haired boy and the headmaster. Evabelle thought of teleporting back through where she came to continue to chase, but with the parasol’s added weight, it seemed like Evabelle wasn’t going anywhere.
“Why isn’t this working?” Evabelle asked herself before she saw what happened to her parasol. The canopy was closed shut with a bow with a heart shaped insignia on its center. Evabelle waved the parasol around, attempting to get it open. Just what was this madness. It was almost as if-
Her magic was sealed.
Evabelle had never faced this sort of magic before, yet she had seen it while studying. Yes, that must be it. Yet, the velvet red-haired boy seemed surprised when he saw Evabelle with her parasol. He looked at his wand and back at Evabelle a few times.
“You-! How did you-?”
“I’d ask you the same thing,” Evabelle told the velvet red-haired boy with a new expression on her face. Was it… anger? Although Evabelle didn’t emote much, she was somewhat capable of emotions. “Undo it, now.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re excused.”
“Are you really talking to me like that?! Not only do you break the rules, you have the audacity to block my magic- Somehow! How did you even do that?”
“Block? I didn’t block anything. If you were intending to seal my magic, you did a good job, but if you intended something else, then… Maybe you’re just a bad magician” Evabelle replied, making the velvet red-haired boy seethe. However, the two of them were interrupted by the headmaster.
“Well done, Riddle. I’ll take it from here,” Crowley said, taking charge over the situation now. “You are in big trouble, young lady. Not only did you break into this school, but you tried to escape apprehension.”
“Can you let me explain myself? I didn’t mean for any of this to happen… except the escaping bit. I take full responsibility for that,” Evabelle sighed, a little exasperated at this point.
“Fine, you may explain yourself. But if I find any weaknesses in your alibi then I’ll be calling the authorities right away,” Crowley said, making Evabelle sigh in relief.
“It all started with the dark carriage. I encountered it in the woods, and all of sudden, I’m waking up in a coffin. Then there’s some cat thing who wanted the robes I was wearing. Of course I gave the robe to him. I got lost trying to find my way out of the school, when I was caught by Riddle over here,” Evabelle gave her explanation to Crowley, though she decided not to mention the two boys she met earlier. She wasn’t a snitch. Crowley thought for a while, while Riddle was still in the background, unhappy about the situation.
“You have displayed magical ability… perhaps one of the sister schools will know what to do with you,” Crowley said, making Riddle surprised.
“You’re not going to punish her?!”
“Relax, Rosehearts. The young lady here isn’t going completely scot-free. She still has to pay for the wild goose chase.” Crowley reassured Riddle. “This seems like a matter for the Dark Mirror.” Crowley and Riddle led Evabelle back to the ceremony room, Riddle still upset and Evabelle looking mostly unaffected yet again, though she was still hostile to Riddle.
Soon, Evabelle and Crowley were facing the Dark Mirror. However, just as Crowley was to send Evabelle off, the mirror interjected.
“I cannot send this person back,” it said, “the place where she belongs does not exist.”
“Aren’t you a magic mirror? I thought you’d be able to - I don’t know - magic me back home,” Evabelle said, making the mirror furrow its brows.
“Excuse her, Oh Mirror of Darkness. But what do you mean the place doesn’t exist? Surely one of the sister schools should be able to take this young lady,” Crowley said, a little weary.
“I mean she doesn’t come from this world.” Gasps could be heard throughout the room, “She doesn’t belong in this world to begin with.”
“Well, that’s enough for today. I’ll be taking my leave again,” Evabelle said again, but Crowley stopped her from leaving this time.
“I think we’ve finished our ceremony today. Housewardens, direct your new students back to your dorms,” Crowley announced to everyone before being interrupted again.
“Fnyah! You forgot about me!” said Grim, who finally appeared again after about 1800 words. He was in Evabelle’s robes, his face barely peeking out from under the robe.
“We don’t accept monsters either,” Crowley said bluntly. “Is this someone’s familiar?” Crowley said, picking up Grim by the scruff. “You did say something about a cat thing taking your robes, right?” Crowley directed a question toward Evabelle.
“Yes, actually.”
“Here, take him with you. Girls do like fluffy animals, don't they? For I am so kind, you can take the responsibility for this animal - I mean, you can… No, actually, I meant it. Here take him,” Crowley gave Grim, who was still squirming, to Evabelle. Evabelle just blankly stared at Crowley. As everyone was leaving, Evabelle held onto Grim tightly so that he wouldn’t escape or give anyone trouble.
With her sealed parasol in her right hand and Grim held by her left arm, Evabelle followed Crowley as he was deciding what to do with the two of them. Eventually, Evabelle and Grim would find themselves in front of a place that looked like it was shambles, fittingly named the Ramshackle dorm.