Chapter Text
His ears twitched in irritation, not because he heard something, but rather because he didn't. In all Grim's life, however long it was, he had never met such adversaries; nobody ever told the monster that ghosts could be such heist-busters! It was hard enough to enter the school sneaking under the carriages, but to hide from someone you can't hear approaching? It was already hard as it was!
But I'll be worth it!
This is nothing but a setback to a powerful mage like him! He sneaking in is one of the many reasons he should have come here with an invitation from the school itself. He's basically proving himself to be more cunning then all of the school's magical faculty, and, even so, they're underestimating his capabilities by not paying attention to him and not offering his well deserve position among the other students. So, if they didn't want to give him a seat in one of their classrooms, he would take one.
The Gates needed to be there; many stairs have been climbed, and many obstacles avoided, so Grim, tired out of his mind, was pretty much hopeful they were near. He peeked his head behind a corner, making sure to cover his ears for less visibility, but nobody was seen. By the looks of it, and unlike the previous floors, this one was pretty empty. He jumps over the railing of an open window, looking down at the gardens and some towers below. He has manage to climb to the top of NRC (A sentence he wishes was more than just literally). He can see some ghosts trought the glass of the windows below him and some around the yard. Maybe they thought that any trespassers would be stopped on the downstairs levels and didn't need any security for the upstairs ones? Whatever reason it was..
Better for him!
He jumps down from the railing. The corridor he was currently exploring was as normal as the one's floors downward, just big bases with plants and polished windows above a violet carpet. He walks throught it, close to the wall just in case. He peeks his head around the corner and... this corridor on the other hand.
The little beast paw's clicked above the stone path that wasn't covered with a rug on the floor. There was a big double-door in the middle of the hall with a detailed patterned front and fancy golden door handles. A silver plaque was put on its right.
“Home of the school's greatest treasure and the starting point of some of the greatest Mages of their times. ‘The Mirror Chamber’ also known to guard the student's gates-”
Bingo!
After double-checking both corners of the hall Grim pushes the heavy door “I better hurry up and find that uniform before someone spots me…” He whispers to himself.
He finally entered the room. It was large, and there were rows of empty chairs prepared for the upcoming ceremony. The walls were purple, filled with columns that connected with each other to form arcs around the dozens of windows evenly spaced inside the chamber. Above him was an enormous but elegant chandelier that had arrangements of pearls coming out of it. The whole place was illuminated by the dim light of green lamps. It was an impressive sight on its own, but it was only the presentation for the main attraction. All on the way back, the Dark Mirror shone in all its splendor; said to able to read your very own soul, the judge of his future was peacefully floating just a few meters away.
That thought made an excited shiver run through his fur.
Alright. The plan was simple: steal a ceremonial robe from one of the student's coffins, pass himself as a student who ‘just woke up sooner than the rest’, and get accepted into the academy. Easy as pie! He only had to choose the poor soul he'll use as sacrifice for a way greater good than theirs.
He happily trotted to his chosen coffin, one near the middle of the room. It was tiny, which meant a tiny robe that suits him and makes it easier to put more credibility in his story. Finding the gaps of the lid of the gate, he puts his paws on the edge and buries his claws on the wood. Then he just pulls.
And pulls…
And…
“Urgggh…” It was shut tight. No matter how much force he put in it wasn't moving. He pulls a little bit more and… the lid cracks, freeing itself from Grim's claws, resulting in the poor cat falling on its own butt. A yelp echoes on the chamber's walls. “This lid weighs a ton!” He whined rubbing his tail.
He needs to open it somehow. Who knows how much time he has until the staff gets here to start the ceremony, so he decides to go along with the first idea that pops to mind.
If you can't force it the first time, use more force.
“Try this on for size! Mya-ha!” As if getting his revenge on the coffin, he summons his special move. The magic runs from his stomach through his mouth, a fire that grows bigger and bigger till it shapes into a huge fireball. One which he directly throws at the big piece of wood, breaking its door out of its hinges.
“Nya-Ha!” Success! “Now to grab the goods…”
Now, for a student to wake up from his magic induced slumber he needs, as Night Raven’s tradition goes, to be directly awakened by either the principal or one of the college staff using a spell, finishing with that the pseudo-transportation to a new life by the hand of one of the people who will be taking care of them from now on. A symbolic ritual of sorts that was one of the school's most known characteristics. So when a body dropped from inside squealing as it hits the floor, Grim's rightfully surprised.
The monster instinctively jumps away. This was a miscalculation he never thought would happen. “What?! You ain't supposed to be -” and it happens..
Not one… (*Thud* “Ow.”)
Not two. (*Thud* “OW.”)
Not even three. (*Thud* “OW!”)
But four more times.
The poor guy that fell first was unable to breathe another lament from being squashed by a group of four people way bigger than him. Grim doesn't usually care about the misfortune of others, but he really starts to pity the groaning man under the pile of bodies.
….
Hold on… he doesn't have the time to pity strangers.
What the heck were five people doing in one small coffin?!
~~~
Laios didn't want to open his eyes.
More like couldn't.
And even if he wanted to, the only thing that would greet him were dark spots on a sea of green light.
So, no. It's time for a nap. It's nap time.
“Hey! Can any of you speak right or all you do is moan in misery? I'm on a tight schedule here and someone needs to give me their uniform! C'mon, wake up!”
He seriously needs that nap.
Alright, he's the king. He needs to make an effort to listen to whatever his people are troubled with.
Groaning, he tries to, at least, raise his head to better talk to the person in front of him. After months of hard work, Kabru has managed to make Laios enter a state of mind where he gets serious when dealing with the affairs of the kingdom. Countless hours and lessons have been used in finding a way to make him understand when to shut up and to only say what he needs to, adding a small section in manners and way of speaking. All the whole non-lucid part of his brain works to remember such classes “Pardon me Sir, I'm not in my best state of mind right now. Could you please repeat your request?” He was glad he could at least speak.
“Geez, one can't have a decent conversation with anyone anymore!”
Wasn't that the right thing to say? Gosh, no, this will only earn him more lessons. Well Kabru said that one can communicate not only with their mouth but also their body. Looking at someone on the face or staying at the same eye-level says that your paying attention to what the other had to say. So, c'mon Laios, open up your eyes.
“I will say it one more time and won't repeat myself again. Got it?”
You can do this. Open up your - Oh, yeah, there's definitely spots.
“My name is Grim, sorcerer extraordinaire!”
Just blink them away. Be grateful you're feeling less dizzy than before.
“And I reeeeeeally need you to give me your uniform QUI!-CKLY! And if you don't, poor you,”
The, now he clearly sees, is not another dark spot but a creature, spits blue fire around itself and Laios to form a blazing wall. “there's gonna be consequences.”
He blinks.
He blinks again.
And again.
And a little bit more just to be sure.
This creature… is clearly a monster.
It's funny to see how hours, days, weeks and months of discipline can get just... Thrown out the window.
He stands up abruptly; startling the monster and, again, getting light-headed; walks over to it, almost tripping on something that makes a displeased noise but doesn't pay attention to; to finally kneel down in front of the monster, hands pressed firmly on the floor.
An actual monster that isn't running away because of his curse.
It resembled a cat; covered in black fur everywhere but its chest. It's most biggest characteristics — That helped it differentiate itself from a common animal — were the trident-like tail, turning more solid the closer to the end, and the blue fire coming out of its ears. As for the most important ones, It was wearing a striped bow around its neck and had the ability to speak and form sentences; so apart from its more animalistic looks, it has the same cognitive and social thinking as a human.
It was a very unique creature.
And one he has never seen before.
(The looks in his eyes made Grim step back frightened.)
The speaking part allows the possibility of it being a demi-human, sorta like a Kobold or a Beastkin like Izutsumi. While it's not uncommon to hear about monsters being able to talk, they do it by coping the sounds (like how parrots do) or simulate it by using a person's memories (like succubi and some shape shifters). But it's appearance seems to stir away from anything human-like. The trident in its tail is obviously used for defense, along with the claws and the fangs, but looks as though it has another major use. Speaking of, the capability of using fire for attack doesn't extend to the flames on its ears. Are they for the expulsion of magical residue? Is there too much gas on its body that works as a natural fireplace and the ears took the role of chimneys? Now that he's better examining the monster, his paws sound like rocks touching ceramic every time it moves, so its skin must be actually pretty rough and quite possible made with the intention of it being fireproof. A cousin-species of dragons? That could make sense of its biology.
And what does everything had to do with it being unaffected by the curse?
The tiny cat-monster is slowly backtracking.
The fear on poor Grim's eyes snap him back to reality. Good questions, all of them, but he's been staring immobile for ten minutes and is scaring him away. He's forgotten his 'King-mode' and created an awkward situation for himself again. And in front of a new, communicationally-able species of monster!
He can fix this. What should he do? Should he start with presentations now? He’ll try that first.
“H-Hello, my name is Laios Touden. It's a pleasure to meet you!” The excitement's shaken his voice. He's hopeful this can mend what's left of first impressions.
The creature jolts at his sudden words but it after clears his throat and tries to regain its posture “Y-Yeah! I know it's a pleasure to meet me," looks as if everything is not over for him “Now, I told you to do something for me.” He says impatiently.
“Oh, right!” He asked for his uniform.
Wait, what uniform?
Looking down, he's surprised to find himself not wearing a sleeping gown but some type of robe. It was purple with golden accents, accessories he didn't know their use for, and a cloak to complete the outfit. The fabric was soft and comfy, it felt good to move in so he didn't even notice he was wearing something he doesn't remember ever putting on. “What is this?”
The monster clears his throat.
Oh! This was the uniform. As much as he wanted to give the monster what it wanted, he didn't want to walk around naked. “If I only offer you the cloak, will it be alright to you?”
The creature seems to think about it. “Hmm… maybe if I pass it out as that being the only thing that fits me, I can demand them to make an actual one… Alright! It's a deal!” The beast whispered to himself until he finally decided. Laios takes the cloak off him and gives it to Grim. The monster quickly dresses, the cloak so big it looks like he's wearing a huge poncho. “Nya-ha! I'm all set!”
Seeing Grim's smile fills Laios heart with joy. After one year of torture, thinking he will never see another monster ever again, this was a reward. Whoever deity granted him this opportunity, he would thank them by creating a shrine in their honor. He can now study this creature up close and maybe, maybe, even befriend them.
“Laios… please help me… Senshi’s bad for my column.”
For the first time since he got there, Laios deigns himself to look where or in what he landed, surprised to find it was a big pile of none other than his, very, squashed friends.
“Saw a tiny guy land there first. You should help 'im with that.” Grim’s voice sounded very nonchalant about it.
“Chilchuck!” Finally lending a hand to help his fallen comrades, he starts by rolling out of Marcille a very dazzled Senshi, helping him to sit on the floor. At least two of the three people that were under him released a grateful sigh. Laios offered an arm to Marcille, she took it raising herself out of the pile to also sit on the floor, too tired to stand. Izutsumi helps herself by rolling out on the cold tiles and laying there. And Chilchuck was… breathing, luckily. A point of interest, everyone was wearing the same ‘uniform’ as him.
A pained hiss left the Half-elf's mouth, “Where are we?” she said, opening her eyes.
The Tall-Man was about to respond but, right, he got so engrossed in the fact of a monster being near him that he didn't pay attention to his surroundings. One look behind him and he was surprised to find a massive, but elegant, ceremonial type of room. He wasn't sure how could he miss such place (Anyone that knows him can figure it out why).
“You've been chosen as students here and don't even know where you are? Geez, if the ones that can enter here are this stupid is a wonder they haven't chosen me yet!” The monster doesn't seem to realize the self-aware comment and keeps talking. ”This is Night Raven College you dimwits! The best magical school one can dream of.”
Marcille shifts her gaze to the new voice, and when her vision clears, his appearance clearly startles her “WHO- A TINY CAT-MONSTER?!”
This comment didn't sit well with Grim “How... How DARE YOU! I am no CAT! I'm Grim, sorcerer extraordinaire!”
Her eyes goes from Laios to the beast, the sounds coming from her mouth having no meaning nor sense. Her shock what understandable to the Tall-Man.
“I think he's a cat-type of Kobold.” Laios whispered to her the best theory he could think of, smiling ear to ear.
The blonde girl side-eyes her friend of many years, “Yes, sure, whatever you say.” Her head is positioned on her hands again as a new headache forms alongside the others created by head trauma.
“But a magical school.” Laios repeats what Grim told them. “Marcille, did you registrate for another school and didn't tell us?”
"Excuse me?!" The question offends her, “I have a stable job and enough knowledge of magic to graduate in any school I want in just a day, and why wouldn't I tell you and also bring you here? It's foolish of you to think that.” She didn't want to get so cranky when she just woke up, but a big dose of Laios stupidity in the morning (or night if she's seeing the windows clearly) is a thing only the guy's sister can handle.
“Wait… Why are we in a school for mages?” Clarity finally hit her and alongside it came panic “And HOW did we get here?!”
“By… mistake?” He couldn't count that as a question but more as a hope. Because at the same time Marcille asked about it, Laios growed worried the more he thought about their predicament. Kabru and Yaad’s warnings of ‘Not everyone is gonna be happy you became king, Laios…’ or ’There’s people who will try to assassinate you, and that's why you need someone to prove your food for you.’ or ‘It doesn't matter you don't think someone might try something today! If you go out somewhere, you, need, bodyguards!!’ were constantly running circles around his mind. Sure, this might have some signs this could be a kidnapping but… the monster? The scenery? The place? It didn't make any sense at all.
Feeling less wobbly than before, Marcille manages to stand up to be at a better level to talk to her friend.
“That is more than clear. But how?” She asked again.
*Pfft*
Like a confirmation, the sound of a Dwarf’s gastric problems when it comes to dealing with big amounts of magic being used near or on him, interrupt their conversation. Marcille looks at him with absolute disgust.
“So teleportation or magic window. Great.” Her thumb and index fingers pinch the skin between her brows.
“ … Sorry.” Is the only thing that comes out of the Dwarf's mouth.
“Senshi!” Says Laios, trotting to his side to help his friend to stand up. “How are you feeling?”
He grunts as he pulls himself up with the help of his pal's hand. “Not the worst. I'll be fine.” His eyes inspect the site while getting the dust off him. “This’s quite the place.” He stops, landing on a creature he has never seen before, one that is currently trying to close the door of a floating coffin. “And that's quite the monster.”
“Huh?” Grim, who seems to be struggling to put the broken lid back on the gate, looks at them at his mention. “The name’s Grim, Grim the Great. Don't forget it. Now with this thinnnngg-...” After giving his dose of narcissism at the first meeting, he goes back to his pretty much impossible task.
“What are you doing that for?” Confused, Laios asked. The monster's antics grabbing everyone's attention.
“Gotta pretend a little, you know? If I want the Headmage to believe I'm a student, I have to come out from the one of the gates.” He pauses and thinks, “I'm not sharing this one with any of you, understand?”
“The Headmage.” Marcille flares up in anger. “The school's Headmage!! He's the one to blame for all this!!” she crouched down to the little beast's eye level. “Where is he?!”
“Coming any moment now.” He responds. The lid too heavy, he just lies it down with a thud. “Oh, to HECK with this thing! It was like this when I got here!” Grim sits on the bottom of the gate, defeated.
“Then we'll wait for him RIGHT here.” The Half-Elf also grumpily sits down, accidently copying the monster.
Laios, not wanting to cause much trouble starts saying “Marcille… you don't need to-”
Just then, accompanying the sound of doors opening, a voice is heard. Full of arrogance and giving instructions to someone in the hall.
“- bring the student body after I tell you and make them enter by order of dormitory. The new students will wait in the front row after the Dorm Leaders. Everyone else on the back.” The new voice, a tall man (not quite the race for the look of his ears) with a crow mask and elegant outfit, closes the door behind him. “Oh, great seven. How many things need to be done on the first day of school.” he laments to the ceiling. His mood changes the moment he looks behind him.
A broken gate, a firing hazard inside it and a group of people surrounding the scene of the crime.
“What is the meaning of this?!”
“Are you the Headmage?” Not a moment to breathe, Marcille is the first one to question him.
“Er, well, yes.” The man is taken aback by the seriousness of the girl.
“You and I need to have a SEVERE talk right now!” She sits up and walks towards him, stomping her feet all the way.
Laios followed her quickly, trying to calm her down.
“...” Senshi, at loss of everything happening, stays there, noticing the monster trying to hide from their new guest. He releases what definitely is not the last sigh of the night. “This is troubling."
Izutsumi, who watched everything from the floor while playing with the sleeves of her robe, nudged a half-dead-looking Chilchuck. “Hey, man. You alive?”
The man only groans.