Chapter Text
The sound of gentle taps echoed throughout the room. Their rhythmic macabre was pleasing and gentle enough on the man's ears. Though, he paid no mind to the insignificant background noise. His slender fingers ceased their ministrations. He took a pause, lifting his other hand up. The figure leaned the side of his face against his knuckles, remaining bored as ever in his own domain.
Day after day, all he could do was watch. He remained endlessly still within the fabrics of time. For he knew, even the slightest of brushes could cause a rip in one's fate. None of these students were anything worth looking at, anyway.
No matter how unique, not a single star had managed to catch his eye. No beastman, human, merfolk nor fae. Their memories from the past didn't pique his interest either. That wasn't what he was seeking. Until, he finally spotted them. The very two people that shouldn't be attending the school in the first place.
Simply from the images he was able to witness, they seemed to share a close bond. One that could even rival family ties. Yet, their hearts were woven with such detrimental difference. "Both of those qualities would prove very useful to two differing kinds of individuals." He hummed to himself, the barest hints of a smile beginning to form on his face.
"Logic and emotion, hm?" The jay chuckled softly. Those qualities were rooted into the essence of their beings, an occurrence he hadn't witnessed up until this point in time. People were complex beings. Some lead their life with their hearts, overcome with personal belief. Whilst others went with their heads, taking on a steadfast and logical route.
Each mentality had it's fair share of ups and downs.
"I've always been a fan of thinking logically myself." He spoke calmly, mindlessly fiddling with the soft ends of his jet black hair. "I wonder if those two will both remain on their paths."
Amusement began to spread across as his features as he looked through a pair of familiar unfeeling eyes. Through his gaze, he felt the strong bursts of panic and momentary fear as realisation hit the principal. As his attention was focused on the two girls, the jay took notice of the interaction in a millisecond.
"Why exactly are these feelings of nostalgia and worry spreading from within you?" He lulled, a sarcastic bite to his soft voice.
"Worried that history is repeating itself, Headmage?"
___
Good god.
Sofia enjoyed the few moments she had to herself, ones where she could take the time for a simple leisurely walk through the neighbourhood. Especially so when the sun was out, light layers of golden warmth on her skin, with the cool breeze lifting the curls off of her back. As per usual, she had now about finished her walk with a disappointed sigh. Stationed on the sidewalk next to the road, she patiently waited for the ongoing cars to pass, awaiting a clear opening from both directions.
Slightly self conscious, she did suppose she looked the slightest bit unruly. There was no rightful reason for her to feel the prickling sensation of somebody watching. It was somewhat explainable in school, but by the side of the road? That was simple paranoia. Or schizophrenia. Too quick to get the feeling off of her back, she hastily took a step forward. After all, the road was never all too busy.
"What were the chances of getting hit?" She asked herself.
Never zero, apparently. Like a fool, she had forgotten how packed the main paths leading from the highway could get in summer. She felt nothing but dread when she turned her head, hearing that echoing sound ringing through her head. Though, she certainly hadn't expected to see a horse carriage instead of a car or truck.
If only she knew what a strange turn of events her own 'death' would bring her.
__
It felt as though it had been barely a second before she regained her consciousness. All it took was a blink. Now, she had no clue where she was. The girl slowly regained her senses, the effects of what was probably closest to a physical lobotomy leaving her blank head.
Was she in the afterlife? That couldn't be possible, could it? The girl could sense her own body heat, her short breaths remaining around her. The dead didn't breathe. They remained cold and still, remaining in the earth as memorials for their loved ones.
Maybe this was simply her spirit then?
Sofia curled her fist into a ball, flicking her wrist against her side. As expected, her knuckles stung ever so slightly from the hard surface she'd knocked against. Alright, so she wasn't a spirit then. The sharp cracks that had echoed from her hands pleased the girl more than they should have. Trying to stretch her arms out sideways proved futile, the cramped space preventing her from so much as shifting.
Though, she was partially able to move her arms diagonally. She breathed a sigh of relief through her nose, before tentatively touching the surface that lay Infront. Tentatively reaching a hand out, smooth material to the touch left your fingers tingling.
"This is some good material." She muttered to herself. What a shame that she'd soon be damaging it.
With a deep inhale, and an experimental push beforehand, she took a leap of faith as she barrelled her shoulder into the hard surface. Signalled by a loud bang, she broke out of her confinement. Though, it didn't go as planned. The girl found herself falling for a split second, hitting the ground with the very shoulder she'd just used moments prior. Talk about double the pain.
"Fuck!" She hissed, cursing her own stupidity. Sofia turned her head, self-annoyance remaining as she saw what had been her temporary prison. Eyebrows furrowed in confusion, she deadpanned as she stared at what appeared to be a floating coffin. "There's no way I was in there." She chuckled dryly. How absurd was this whole situation going to get? By this point, she wouldn't be surprised if this was a strangely hyper-realistic dream of sorts.
Before she could take the time to pity herself, her ever present curious nature got the best of her. Taking a good look at her surroundings, it seemed to be a vast expanse of grey hues. If not already strange enough, there was a vast multitude of other coffins around her. Oddest of all, a giant mirror stood a distance away. Even from up far, the girl could simply sense how grandiose it was. After only a few moments did Sofia notice the lack of sound in the area. Complete silence surrounded her, filling up her ears like water.
And then, a loud crash.
Eyes widening, she whipped her head to the source of the sound, scrambling to her feet. Seemed in a situation of fight or flight, she chose to remain still.
Yet, all alarms faded away when she noticed just who had stumbled out of their own coffin. Even after a few months of not seeing her in person, she remained the same as she had in memory. Though, not without some slight changes. Her black hair had grown even longer in the time she'd been away, her form perhaps being maybe slightly taller too. At the sight of the girl she knew she could trust more than anyone else, her common sense disappeared.
Sofia jogged towards her, waving a hand excitedly. "Hey, Kya!" She yelled in greeting, brown eyes alight with relief. Tense situations were always better when you weren't alone. Especially if the other party was a close confidante. "Am I hallucinating right now?" She asked in amusement.
As expected, Kya looked nothing short of confused. Yet, the hint of elation on her face didn't go unnoticed. "If you're hallucinating, then I'm hallucinating too. I sincerely doubt that." She sighed.
"Then I think this is a good time to discuss what the fuck is going on." Sofia hummed to herself. "Did you get hit by a horse carriage too, or was that just me?" She asked sarcastically.
Though to her own surprise, the other nodded to her statement. "I did!" Kya confirmed. "I was on my way home when the exact same thing you mentioned happened." She explained.
The brunette remained silent for a few moments, thinking to herself before she spoke once more. "This place is definitely not where I expected we'd be meeting again." She noted. "And I have to admit, this place is...unsettling." With its melancholic layout, and the set of coffins, the environment was nothing short of what the girl had described it to be.
Kya took a small scan of her surroundings, humming affirmatively in agreement before her curious gaze landed on the large mirror just a short distance away.
Sofia followed suit, face blank as she turned towards her friend. "Wanna go check it out?"
____
From afar, it definitely didn't seem too upscaled. But up close, the mirror stood at a height that was a significant few heads higher than the both of them. That wasn't what managed to keep their interest, however. It seemed to be a mirror - one adorned with gold at that. But its surface seemed almost fluid, miniscule pools rippling all over what should have been solid.
Before Kya could blink, a finger speedily poked the mirror.
A deadpan expression adorned Sofia's face as she experimentally poked a few more times. Instead of her finger meeting a solid surface, it seemed to go straight through. As though it was some strange form of gravity-defying liquid. Her lips then contorted into an amused smile as she retracted her limb. "Did you see?" She grinned. "It's not solid."
Deciding to touch it again, she stuck her whole hand in. Contrary to belief, whatever she'd put her arm through was definitely not fluid. It felt more like nothing at all, actually. A hollow space. Suddenly, an impending force appeared from the other side. Sofia didn't have the time to react before she was sucked in, brought along by the unexplainable magnetic tug. Seeing her friend quite literally be pulled into an other worldly portal against her will, a burst of panic erupted in Kya's chest.
"Seriously?" She questioned herself, hesitating for only a brief while. What more could she do than follow after?
___
Awakening from her short moment of recluse, Kya dusted herself off before getting up.
At the very least, what lay beyond the mirror had certainly exceeded her expectations. Actually, she didn't know what she was expecting when she'd jumped in. The large hall she found herself in was nothing short of elegant. Large, magnificent details decorated every inch of the room. Pillars that seemed straight out of a museum met to form scaped arches. An abundant amount of intricate dark wood benches lay neatly through most of the room. A few steps led up to the platform she was currently on. The chandelier above them certainly brought light to most of the gothic space. Though, the stained glass windows were definitely a sight to look at. A few seats were placed in a set corner, and right behind her was the same floating mirror shed fallen out of.
"You still haven't given me a conclusive answer." A curt voice sounded out. "Where am I?"
Turning her head, she spotted Sofia just a short distance away. With her arms folded, that was enough to tell of the girl's annoyance. The man she was talking to seemed to remain calm and unfazed despite the girl's obvious irritation. The crow mask that covered his face was reminiscent of the kind doctors used in the past to protect themselves from the plague. Though, considering his stylistic choices, it seemed to be more of a fashion statement than for safety reasons. He almost seemed like a magician, with his large cloak and hat atop his head. Then again, dark feathers had been intricately placed on the collars by his shoulders. Those details alongside his nail guards reminded Kya a whole lot of a bird. The ones that always seemed to linger around her house. Like a crow.
"I've already explained to you, Miss." The man hummed. He then turned his head towards her, a smile present on the lower half of his face. "Though perhaps I should give another short debrief for the young lady over there."
Sofia's eyes widened in recognition, not surprise. In all honesty, she had 100% expected for Kya to have followed after her. "You're here." She regarded.
"Where exactly is here?" Kya asked, moving to join her.
"Well, that is what I'm about to tell you." The man chuckled lightly. "This, is Night Raven College."
______
Apparently, they'd both landed themselves in a prestigious school for those with a talent for magic. That's right, magic. The crow faced figure continued to ramble on, unaware of the deadpans growing on their faces. "You have both been chosen by the dark mirror, just like all the other students." He said in a pleased tone. "It seems there might have been a slight mix up with Delta Rose, but since they've confirmed there aren't any vacancies open, our school will welcome you with open arms." He sighed wistfully.
Sofia stared at the man incredulously, eyes narrowed. "You're kidding, right? Magic doesn't exist." She scoffed.
"Oh, dear child." The man cooed. "It does. How exactly do you think this mirror and the coffins are floating, then?" He asked calmly.
"String." She said bluntly.
"Yes, I'm quite sure that small pieces of string would be able to hold up such heavy pieces of furniture." He tutted, gently pushing her towards the mirror. "Now, the entrance ceremony has already passed. So let us get you sorted into your dorm, alright?"
"Huh?-" She questioned, before being met face to face once more with the same mirror. Unlike their previous encounter, a masquerade mask stared back at her.
"State thy name." It bellowed.
Sofia truly just wanted to get this over and done with, biting back a snarky reply as she responded with her name.
"Full name." The mirror emphasised.
Yet, when she opened her mouth to respond, the girl found her mind completely blank. "I.. I can't remember." She muttered, putting a hand against her head in confusion. Sofia turned her head towards Kya briefly, wondering if perhaps she wasn't alone. "Do you remember your last name?"
Now that she mentioned it, Kya realised that in fact she couldn't either. She harrowed into the depths of her memory, trying to grasp why she couldn't recall something as simple as that. "I can't either." She replied, shaking her head.
"Surely, you both jest." The man laughed, patting them both on the shoulders. "Come now, it is but a simple request!-"
"Dire Crowley." The sharp voice from the mirror spoke once more, redeeming silence from all three who remained in the hall. "They speak of truth." It bellowed. "Thee names would not be of much use either way. Though I can sense their aptitude for magic, they do not belong to this world."
With that statement, they'd been forced to explain in full to the man they'd come to realise was the principal of the school. Or in the strange world's terms, Headmage. No matter which data bank, record or book he looked through, Crowley could not find so much as a single mention of 'Earth'. Despite their absurd claims, it was as plain as day that not a single lie had been told.
What more could he do than enroll them in the school? Sending them off to each of their respective dorms, he could only hope that the two girls would be of use to him.
Only time would tell.
____
As gentle light began to filter through into her room, Sofia found herself waking up far earlier than usual. Stretching every inch of her body, she couldn't help but recall the strange yet immensely detailed dream she'd had the night before.
Another world with magic in it? It sounded straight out of a fantasy story of sorts.
Blinking her sleepy daze away, the girls began to truly focus on the space she was in. This was not her room. Shit, so it really hadn't been a dream after all? Giving her arm a small pinch for good measure, Sofia winced as she confirmed that this was in fact, reality.
After being shown to her newfound dorm the night before, she'd been happily expecting to knock herself out in her room. Only to be dragged back to the depths of socialising hell.
A man more beautiful than she could truly describe had snapped her out of her wistful delusions. Not a single strand of hair had been out of place, intricately styled down with two braids connecting at the back. Sharp purple eyes and defined features, he certainly had the face of a model. Not to mention the fact he could attain the attention of a whole room by simply breathing. Sofia had seen it for herself. It had certainly been uncanny, but well deserved and understandable. He was the very definition of grace,after all. Poised and composed.
The rest of the students had referred to him as 'Housewarden', a word that was unfamiliar to her. She assumed it meant something akin to being a prefect of sorts. Though, perhaps they held more power and respect.
His name, however, she'd only come to learn later. Vil schoen-something. Schoenfright? She couldn't exactly remember. All she could decipher was that he was certainly well known. An apparent model and celebrity, and the second most followed person on some app called Magicam.
How was she suddenly so well versed and informed? Well, when Vil had personally approached her, he had questioned why she hadn't been 'in uniform' like the rest of them.
By uniform, he meant goddamn purple robes.
Not wishing to get on an influential figures bad side so early into her (questionable) new life, she did as instructed. Then, she'd come to find out that on each first night of the school year, every dorm held a 'welcoming party' of sorts for the new first years. She'd sat in a plush chair by a large, fancy dining table for a good duration of an hour. That plus the rich, prissy and snobby people she'd been forced to be in close proximity with certainly hadn't helped.
Worst of all, she was the only girl.
The Headmage had only mentioned at the very last moment that Night Raven was an all boy's school, for whatever reason. Meaning she and Kya would be the only ones with XX chromosomes amongst a student population of two thousand. She'd bit down on her tongue to prevent an influx of profanities spilling out.
Though, she had been pretty surprised when nobody had questioned her. Well, maybe not too surprising. She noticed a decent amount of the guys wearing simple makeup after all. Blush, lip tints, mascara, some even went with eyeshadow. Hell, their official dorm uniform had heels as a mandatory accessory to the outfit.
Not to mention the boy who had been sitting next to her had certainly seemed like a girl. His soft lilac locks had barely grazed above his shoulders. That short stature of his coupled with large blue eyes had certainly made for a doe faced appearance. He almost appeared more feminine than she was.
Perhaps it was a good thing that she'd been placed into Pomefiore. From her brief first few interactions with the rest, everyone seemed to embrace themselves openly nor without qualms.
Interestingly enough, the dorm was apparently based on the tenacity of the 'Fairest Queen' - whoever that was.
Sofia hummed to herself as she got ready for the day, picking out the standard uniform that each student typically wore. The girl had to admit, it was certainly far more stylish than she'd been expecting. You could never go wrong with a simple form fitting blazer and white blouse combo. She attempted to put on the school's branded tie, struggling for a good few minutes before throwing the piece of fabric against a random wall in frustration.
What a great way to start the day.
As the girl passed by school grounds, her chin was perpetually tilted at an angle. She simply couldn't get enough of the architecture surrounding her. Thankfully, she reached her class without any qualms. 1A, how typical. The principal had informed her the night before of how he'd hastily had to place her and Kya into a class at random. Thankfully they were together. It would've been an absolute nightmare if she had to endure being in a classroom full of teenage boys all on her own.
As soon as Sofia noticed that familiar face streaming in alongside the rest of the students, she quickly waved her over. After all, there was an empty seat right next to her. With how quickly the room was filling up, she only hoped her friend would move fast.
Imagine the look on her face when the seat did in fact get taken up. By a ginger at that. She let out a small huff of air through her nose, giving Kya a sympathetic shrug. At least they'd be able to talk afterwards.
As the class went on, the boy on her right muttered under his breath. "Man, this class is so boring." She couldn't help but just slightly agree. No matter how fashionable their teacher was, he seemed pretty strict. His teaching methods were about to make her fall asleep.
She thought she might be learning about something interesting. But no, this was just an introduction into the classes to come.
"Honestly." She murmured, perhaps louder than she should have- considering the boy heard her.
With a turn, his face morphed into a small grin. His red-eyes seemed alight with a playful charm to them, and she couldn't help but notice that he too was wearing makeup. A red heart was marked by one side of his face, contrasting with the ruby shade of his pupils. "At least somebody else here thinks so." He huffed. "Unlike perfect student 'Juice' over here." The boy scoffed, looking at whoever was sitting beside him.
The other, who was maybe the polar opposite of him, couldn't help the annoyed look on his face. With dark blue - almost black hair, and irises of teal green. Again, some sort of eye makeup. Except this time, it seemed to be in the shape of a spade. Marked with black instead of red. "For the last time Ace." He muttered through grit teeth. "My name is Deuce. D-e-u-c-e."
The boy named Ace let out a simple scoff, shaking his head before turning himself around to face her. "Say, since when did they allow girls to attend this school?-" He asked curiously, before the sound of his voice was cut off.
A loud thwack against the chalkboard was heard. There the professor stood, his pointing stick being tapped against his palm. Though they were both sat a decent distance away, it was clear as day that their teacher was not pleased by the conversation. "Trappola, pup. Pay attention." Crewel warned sternly, giving the boy one last glare before turning himself around.
Well that was fun.
Off to a great start, once again.
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