Chapter Text
“Never, in all my years presiding over our prestigious institution, have I ever—” Crowley’s tirade was interrupted by gentle knocking on the door to his office. Ace and Grim exchanged relieved looks.
“Headmage Crowley?” The quiet voice of the Ramshackle Prefect was barely audible through the ornate cedar door. Ace internally cheered. We’re saved!
“Yes, come in, dear,” Crowley sighed. As Yuu poked a head in before timidly entering the room, the headmage peered behind them and asked, “Were you able to bring Mr. Rosehearts?”
…What?
“Yes, Headmage. I’m here.” Storming in on the heels of Yuu was Heartslabyul’s fiery housewarden, wearing the fancy getup Ace was used to only seeing inside the dorm. Cool gray eyes gave Ace a scathing look. He paled and looked over at Grim, aghast. We’re doomed!
“Ah, excellent. Now, as you may have heard, these two delinquents set Night Raven College’s prized Botanical Garden ablaze!” Crowley dropped his head into his clawed hands, beginning to wail despondently. Ace rolled his eyes. Then he yelped as his housewarden’s staff came down on his foot, hard.
“You guys, really…” Yuu gave them an exhausted glare. “I’ve told you to stop fighting so much! Isn’t this how we almost got expelled on the first day of school?!”
Ace squirmed a bit. “Grim started it—”
“My gardens!” Crowley continued, bawling. “You even destroyed our Sundrop Flower! Do you know how much those cost to procure?! Not to mention the 200-year-old fig tree! I hope you two are prepared to pay—”
“Enough.” Riddle’s sharp voice cut through the room. “Headmage, I sincerely apologize for the actions of my housemember. Rest assured that he will be suitably punished. Additionally, I am willing to enforce any further punitive measures you deem fit.” A chill ran down Ace’s spine. “However, monetary compensation is out of the question. Under Article IX, subsection G, from the Night Raven College contract of enrollment, regarding students receiving need-based assistance—such as Trappola—in order to attend, ‘Damages exceeding the amount of XXX,XXX thaumarks may be settled at the discretion of the headmage through a non-monetary repayment scheme, but may not be assigned as pecuniary debt to the liable party.’ In fact, I believe you referenced a similar clause when absolving the debt of the ‘Valse aussi vieille que le temps’ chandelier.”
Ace blinked. “Housewarden, maybe you’re not so bad!”
“Silence!” Riddle snapped. “Frankly, given the enormity of the damage you’ve caused, the headmage would be well within his rights to expel you!”
Grim suddenly spoke up, looking worried. “Eh? What about me? The Great and Powerful Grim left his wallet at home.” Ace snorted. Just say you’re broke, kitty.
Yuu shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m pretty sure we never signed a contract to attend.” They gave Crowley a deadpan look. “I’m homeless, penniless, and technically an orphan right now. Don’t think you’ll get anything by suing me. The only thing of value I own is your camera.”
Riddle gave the Prefect a concerned glance before turning his stormy expression back on the headmage, who flinched as if struck.
“Given the deplorable conditions of Yuu’s residence and the staggering amount of mortal danger you’ve dropped them into in the mere months they’ve attended our school, they would be well within their rights to sue you.” The housewarden took a deep, enraged breath, his countenance predictably flushed. “Your insistence on treating Yuu and Grim as one student is an affront to the sanctity of the education system. Does the school truly lack the resources to provide adequate accommodations for a single magicless person to attend without being bound by another’s actions? How intolerant. We can discuss the terms of the Ramshackle dorm’s enrollment at a later date, but suffice it to say that I will not accept any of your typical arm-twisting regarding the fate of my friend.” Ace nearly laughed aloud at Yuu’s gobsmacked expression. Yuu, your lack of faith might offend the housewarden. He’s actually pretty dependable. “As the leader of their dorm, Yuu has the same responsibilities I do regarding enforcing any punishments you see fit to impose, and that’s the extent to which I’ll accept you imposing upon them.”
“Mr. Rosehearts…” Crowley gave Riddle a wounded look that was offset by the undertone of glee in his voice. “Very well! As compensation for the XXX,XXX,XXX thaumarks in damages, you two fiends must retrieve at least a dozen magestones from the Dwarfs’ Mines before the end of the term.” Ace nearly fell off his seat in shock.
“The mines?!” Yuu exclaimed. “Headmage, that’s unsafe!”
Crowley waved his hand dismissively. “We’ve recently reopened them because of your discovery last September, and I and the rest of our illustrious staff have cleared all the Overblot monsters out. The cave system is completely safe, if a bit dreary. Don’t expect to find anything laying around like last time, though; you’ll need to bring pickaxes and dig around.”
Grim groaned. “That sounds like a total—”
Yuu slammed a hand down over his mouth. “Like a totally fair and reasonable punishment. Anything else?”
Ace dropped his head into his hands. Even the housewarden gave them a chastising look. That’s the last thing to ask when being doled out a sentence. Honestly, that someone like them could be enrolled at NRC…
“Why, yes, my dear Prefect!” the headmage crooned. “In addition, you will both assist the construction crew I’ve called in to repair the Garden. On school days, this will be for an hour before classes and three hours after. On weekends, it’ll be from noon to sunset. Every day, starting today, until they are completely restored. After that, you may begin your mining. Oh, I’m so benevolent and magnanimous, sometimes I can hardly stand it!”
Ace’s jaw dropped. “What?! That’s way too much! Also, I’m supposed to compete in the VDC in two weeks! If I have to follow this crazy schedule, there’s no way I’ll be able to attend rehearsals; I’ll have to drop out of the competition, and Vil will kill me!”
“Then you should’ve thought about that before destroying school property, Trappola,” Riddle seethed. “I suggest you graciously accept the terms our headmage has offered you and make haste to the Botanical Garden to begin working—after all, it’s nearly noon. And don’t think I’ll be lenient on your sentence within Heartslabyul just because you’ve received prior discipline from the headmage.”
“Wha—” Ace cast a desperate look toward the Prefect, but they were preoccupied with giving Grim his own scolding. When he finally caught their eye, they gave him an apologetic shrug.
“Just go to the Garden now, and take Grim with you. I’ll tell Vil what happened. If he’s really mad, I’ll have Deuce text you a warning.”
Resigned to an upcoming death by Vil’s stiletto, Ace hung his head, grabbed a shrieking, thrashing Grim, and trudged over to the Garden.