Chapter Text
I had decided to take a nap aboard Mephistopheles between our desitnations.
It was almost midnight anyhow, and most of the other sinners were pretty beat after that last fight.
While I slept, I recall hearing the clatter of wooden wheels on a stone road.
And... a galloping horse?
Waking up, I found myself to be met with... nothing.
Dante
<...>
I seemed to be trapped within a tight box.
Dante
<Hello?>
Of course, no one would respond to a muffled ticking. So I began attempting to break myself free from this box.
In an attempt to escape, I hit the wall in front of me with as much force as I could muster, but without the space to move it proved to be ineffective.
Outside, I heard some muffled voices.
???
Peculiar. This coffin is indeed out of place.
Why, the opening ceremony has long since passed, so there is no reason for the Dark Mirror to bring new students here at this time.
I had no idea what the person outside was talking about, but at least I could try get their attention.
Dante
<Hey! Can you hear me?>
???
Guys... Did the coffin just make ticking noises?
They could hear me. I continued to make "ticking noises".
Whoever were outside certainly weren't the sinners given their inability to understand me, so I just talked some gibberish.
Dante
<Company, bus, tree, bough, gold, apple.>
???
Maybe there's some sort of device stuck inside.
Dante
<Cockroach, poker, uh, prosthetics.>
???
I think we should just open it up.
Finally, a crack of light shone through the front of the box.
???
As the box opened, I could see the strange room I was in, as well as peculiar faces looking at me.
???
As I said, some sort of machinery was inside.
???
It kinda looks like a person, don'tcha think?
???
Is it a robot?
Dante
<I don't think I am.>
???
Kind of a bum bot, tbh. Doesn't even seem to have a proper voice mechanism installed.
Dante
<...>
Looking around, the most notable thing in the room was the giant floating mirror in the center.
Was this the "Dark Mirror" that one of them mentioned earlier?
???
Greetings, dear... robot?
Dante
<I'm not a robot.>
I shook my head with that statement to try and communicate that with these people.
???
Ah, you are not a robot? Interesting, it seems to have cognitive abilities.
I nodded.
???
It seems that you can understand us. Now, how shall we communicate?
Ah! I have a magnificient idea! Someone bring over Idia's tablet.
Idia's Tablet?
HUH???
???
Here it is, sir.
Idia's Tablet?
NOOO!! Wh-why are we using MY tablet!???? Can't we just use something else???
???
Here you are. Er, I'm not sure how to use this myself, but I'm sure you'll manage.
This tablet here happens to have a text to speech function, if memory serves. Ah, what a brilliant mind I have.
The masked man hands me the tablet, while it cries it protest.
Idia's Tablet?
HEY! WAIT! STOP!
Ghkk... It's like they don't even hear me...
Was this a fullbody prosthetic? If so, it was the most compact one I've ever seen.
It felt a bit invasive, but it was the only chance I had at communicating right now, so I navigated the screen to find the aforementioned text to speech app.
Dante
<Hello?>
It looked like that worked.
???
Ah, there we go.
It appears Idia disconnected when you switched apps... but no matter. May we have your name?
Dante
<Dante.>
???
Well then, greetings, Dante. Are you from around here?
Dante
<I'm not sure where "here" is. But I'm from The City.>
???
Hm? Which city might that be?
Dante
<Uh, it's just called "The City".>
???
I don't believe there is a place called "The City" in Twisted Wonderland.
Perhaps this is a similar incident to the opening ceremony.
???
Yes, this does seem quite similar to the prefect's situation.
...Twisted Wonderland? Prefect?
???
Well, if that is the case, this will surely be simple to work out. We've done it before, haven't we?
???
That incident hasn't been properly resolved yet, though.
The masked man turns to me.
Crowley
Ahem. Greetings, Dante. My name is Dire Crowley, I am the Headmage at this prestigious arcane academy, Night Raven College.
We believe you have somehow been transported from your own world to this one, Twisted Wonderland.
An incident such as this has, somehow, occured once before. At that time, due to my magnanimous nature no doubt, I had offered them accomodation here.
Similarly, I shall give this same, generous offer to you, seeing as you have nowhere else to go.
Ah, aren't I a kind headmage?
???
Are they staying at Ramshackle, too?
Crowley
Indeed, Mr. Al-Asim. It seems I'll have to leave this Housewarden meeting early to guide Dante to his new abode. Please excuse me.
Now, Dante. Would you be so kind as to follow me?
I nodded and began to follow Dire Crowley out of the room.
∗∗∗
Ramshackle Dorm - Lounge
Dante
<...And that's how I got here.>
<You know, I'm really glad someone here can understand me. Using that tablet was getting really tedious.>
<I'm going to have to return this at some point, though...>
Prefect
Hold up, did you say you're from Limbus Company—?