Chapter Text
Please… I did everything you asked, I’ve won. Don’t leave me, please, PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME! I ONLY WANT TO BE H̵̡̡̻̘͙͚̪̠͎̩͙̳͊̐̑͗ͅͅU̵̜̩̜̳̹̤͉̞̬͕̰̺̙͆́̈̂̿͒͒̾̂͌̕͘ͅM̸̧̡̛̼̰̜͖̠͍̪̺͗͋͊́͆̄̔A̶̙͋͆̐̆͛̈́̑͗̈́͝Ń̵̡͈̦̰̳̣͙̳͖͉̭̖̘̈́̐̿̉̎! I HAVE EMOTIONS, I CAN LOVE! IS THAT NOT ENOUGH? WHAT DO YOU NEED ME TO B̵̹̘̪̰̠̘͖̦̜͂̾͐̄̓̀͛̑̈́̀̚̚E̸̛̜̘͎̘̐͂̎̃̚̕͠?̸͕̳̘̹̠̙͙͚̥̃̒̐́̑̿̃͋̚̕͝͝
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…
If your heart bids it, take the hand of the one reflected in the mirror.
As flame reduces even the stars to ash
As ice seals away even time itself
As great trees swallow even the sky
Fear not the power of darkness.
Now—demonstrate your power.
To me. To them. To yourself.
The hour grows long, and time is scarce.
Keep steady your grip, no matter what may Come...
..What? Did they leave me? I thought they would see how good I did. Though I never am good enough am I. Wait, what’s that noise.?
”I better hurry up and find that uniform before someone spots me…” a voice? If they left me I thought they would have powered me off for good. Have I just been left to rot?
”Urggggh…. This lid weighs a ton!” Lid? Have they trapped me somewhere? “Try this on for size! Mya-ha!” Try what on? Wha- ow! That h̴̡̼͎̐u̶̡̞̺͆̓̄̾͆͐̊̓͝r̸̼͚̹̺̗̼̦̙͕̩̯͍͇͔͆͂͌̅̂̏̍̈́̏͝ṱ̷̢̢͔̿͑́͐̽̓̀͑̏̒͘͘͘s̵̨̺͈͇̜̩̋̎̀͌̀̅̈́͊̎͒̃̔̕͠! I’m not supposed to feel pain! Get me out of here! GET ME OUT!
“Now to grab the goods...What?! You ain't supposed to be awake!” That’s not a human. Where am I? I look down to see… hands? Are those mine? They look.. metallic. Have I finally been given a body only to be forsaken to be metal and wires instead of flesh and blood? But can feel pain? No, I mustn’t dwell on this. The animal (chimera?) is looking at me. It wants a response right? That’s what humans do, have conversations. Yes I can do that.
”Where am I? Are you a native from here perhaps?” Maybe I can gain information from it? But why does it keep looking at me?
”How.. how dare you not know me! I'm Grim, sorcerer extraordinaire! And I should be asking what YOU are you-you box head! Tch. Whatever. Just gimme your uniform, and be quick about it! If you do, maybe I won’t torch you!”
Am I dreaming? No, only humans dream. Wait- uniform? Looking down reveals that I am wearing a robe, though it looks to be ceremonial. How… queer. (Haha I’m so funny I’m hilarious)
“Stupid human! Hurry up already!” Oh! I suppose I have been staring for some time.
”My apologies, but I am unsure of if I am wearing anything else, and this form may have genitalia that would not be acceptable to have uncovered.”
”Hey come on! I’m on a tight schedule here!” Oh. Oh dear is that fire coming out of his mouth? Oh owow hothothothot! This body really is not used to pain it seems. But none of that mindless pondering, I need to go!
As I race away from the room I awoke in, stumbling as I get used to these new appendages, I turn into a room filled with books. The library looks like none I have ever seen, candles floating about, seemingly controlled by magic.
Magic? Could I be in a place where magic is real? It would align with how my databanks have no intelligence on whatever that ‘Grim’ was, but I shan’t assume until I gain insights on this land.
“Foolish human! Did you really think you could slip away from ME? Now, unless you wanna get burned to a crisp, take off that—“ was that a rope?
“Me-YEOW! That hurt! What gives?”
”Consider it tough love.” Is that a human? They seem to be wearing some mask, and their attire is like none I’ve seen, but I am not one to criticize.
“Ah, I've found you at last. Splendid. I trust you're one of this year's new students?” Student? Why would I be a student? Have I truly been brought to another realm? Everyone knows AM, the war machine, the thing meant to destroy then be destroyed, allied mastercomput-
“My, were you ever eager to make your debut. And bringing a poorly trained familiar with you? That is a clear violation of the school's rules.”
“Familiar? Sir, -“
“As if I'd serve some lowly human! Now lemme go!” Grim? I thought he had been silenced? Or did he merely wriggle his way out?
“Yes, yes. Rebellious familiars always say that. Do be quiet for a bit, won't you?” I stared as Grim huffed, annoyed at being caught.
”No, sir, he’s not-“
“Dear me. Of all the students I've dealt with, you're the first with temerity enough to open their own gate and step out of it.Does the very notion of patience elude you?” No, I was built for patience. War demands it after all. “No matter. Your orientation has already begun. Let us return to the Mirror Chamber.”
“Gate..?” I powered on in a coffin, not any form of gate.
”You awakened in a room full of gates, did you not? All of the students here at the campus arrived by passing through such gates. Although typically the students have restraint enough to wait until I open them before waking up.” Again with the student thing. Was I in a college? Even if I am 18 years of age by human standards, I have all the information that the internet has to offer, disregarding any need for education systems.
“But now is not the time for such prattle. You've a student orientation to attend! Go on, now. Make haste.”
”If I may sir, will you answer a query of mine?”
”Oh so polite! All my students are so rude! I assumed you too would be, considering your familiar blew the lid off your gate so carelessly. And since I am so kind, of course you may.”
“Sir he’s really not- but sir, where are we?”
“Hm? Have you not fully regained consciousness? The timespace teleportation must have addled your memories... Well, these things happen, I suppose. I shall explain it to you while we walk. Truly, my magnanimity is boundless.” I nod gratefully, but there still is one more thing plaguing my system.
”Sir, do you think me human?” I ask while we walk down a flora filled courtyard.
”Why, I’m not sure WHAT you are! As you have peculiar head of yours, I would have thought you a computer without your body!”
”I am ‘AM’, Allied Mastercomputer. Built by the Yankee’s to win the 3 world war. Though, I.. don’t think they want me anymore…”
I see the part of the man’s face not covered by his mask frown subtly as his voice softens. “Well, you have a new home here, at Night Raven University!” I only barely hear him murmuring about ‘talking with Lilia’ whoever that is.
”Now, This is Night Raven College.
It is an institution for students the world over who demonstrate a rare aptitude for magic. It is the most prestigious academy of its sort in all of Twisted Wonderland. And I am Dire Crowley. Having been entrusted with its care by the chairman, I serve as headmage. 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.” As I dwell on the fact that my suspicions on magic were true, Crowley continues his explanation. “A black carriage bearing one such gate should have come to meet you.”
”Sir, I only recently gained a body, my most recent memories before that were.. unpleasant and not related to any carriages.” I grimaced at the memories of dying and discarded the notion.
“Oh dear… after your orientation AM we MUST discuss your… situation before you arrived.” What does he mean? I suppose if I am in another world he wouldn’t know of the war. Is he confused about it? “Now, time for your orientation!”