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If you thought back as far as you possibly could, your affinity for all things anomalous started as a passing curiosity.
Wide-eyed and amazed at all of the anomalous things that kept campus running, you had looked forward to learning more, or rather, learning as much as you possibly could.
Even as a general student, you’d be able to interact with or maybe even research all of the oddities Darkwick specialized in!
At least, that was what you had naively thought. Then, you were sorted into Sinostra.
Frostheim, with their prestige, gets their pick of missions and anomalies. Vagastrom, with their specialized skills, maintains all manner of anomalous vehicles. Jabberwock’s unique environment made it the perfect place to house all sorts of animals the world could only imagine. Hotarubi, with their extensive history, dealt with all sorts of curses and any anomalies recorded in mythos. Mortkranken was a powerhouse of anomalous research…
But Sinostra? Sinostra was under probation and kept beneath a watchful eye. Both the Vice Captain and their advisor rarely let them interact with anomalies.
If even the house’s ghouls couldn’t go on missions, the general students were even more restricted in what they could do.
“Taiga is basically an anomaly…” you had thought at one point. However, interacting with him— in fact, interacting with any of the ghouls in your own house seemed unwise, lest you become the unwilling subject of Fico’s blazing ire.
Perhaps, that was why you became fixated on Obscuary.
Like Jabberwock, Obscuary disallowed general students. Specific criteria had to be met— become inflicted with a life-altering curse or be non-human. Obscuary, unlike Jabberwock, had never allowed for the admission of general students for that reason.
If you had asked anyone else, they’d tell you Obscuary housed the most dangerous ghouls.
In your eyes, they just seemed to be the misfit of misfits.
Thus, while working Sinostra’s halls, when you heard the announcement that a new student joining Obscuary’s ranks, you became especially attuned to the rumor mill that began.
“Lyca Colt? Must be dangerous…”
“Aren’t the other two in that house suspects for murder?”
“You don’t think that means this new kid is also…”
“None of those things are human. I wouldn’t put it past any of them.”
While everyone else tensed, hackled up at the mere mention of a new student, you responded with curiosity instead.
In the past, you’d noticed one of the ghouls from Obscuary— though only in passing. Rui Mizuki practically made himself invisible, a shadow in the brightest day, all so he would not inflict his fatal curse upon everyone.
You hardly were able to catch a glimpse, but in the mere moments you had, you saw concern and sadness in those eyes.
To you, it was hard to believe that Obscuary was as dangerous as everyone seemed adamant to claim. When someone as careful and considerate as Rui was the Vice Captain, was it fair to label them all monsters and be done with it?
“Seems prejudiced to me,” you concluded.
Thus, you became determined to learn the truth— your own truth, one witnessed with your very eyes.
Naturally, it wasn’t an easy task by any means. Fico, having caught wind of your curiosity, had warned you against any sort of observation or interrogation.
“Don’t cause me unnecessary trouble!” he’d insisted.
Then again, in the hustle and bustle of the Casino… it was easy to slip away when you weren’t working. Besides, you’d carefully figured out the best methods to avoid the man’s EITS after tireless extra hours clocked into work.
Worth it! you’d cheered inwardly when you slipped out of Sinostra undetected. You lingered nearby for a few more minutes, ensuring your phone wouldn’t buzz with incessant complaints of your absence, before finally making your way toward Obscuary.
As you made your way to Obscuary, you swore to yourself you’d only take a peek! You wouldn’t overstay your welcome, and you’d just quickly confirm for yourself that the Obscuary students weren’t daunting monsters, that’s it!
“In and out! I’ll be in and out!” you insisted to yourself.
After all, garnering too much attention was sure to find its way back to Fico, so being safe rather than sorry was the best course of action.
Somehow, you’d managed to arrive at Obscuary with no issues. The emvironmemt itself was blanketed in a dreary gray, and you could hear the calls of crows in the distance.
Draping branches accented the winding path you walked down, and you swore if you lingered too long, even the plants began to move.
“Better hurry along…” you thought, shivering at the thought of ending up as plant food if you happened to stray off the path.
Despite the dark atmosphere, you found a strange solitude in the eternal night of the dorm. Staring up at the moon, you found yourself frozen in place for a moment.
You supposed “creatures of the night” was an accurate description of the dorm and its students. However, based on what you saw so far…
“It’s beautiful…” you whispered to yourself.
Suddenly, a tree nearby rustled in the wind, and you jumped, startled, as a ruby-eyed bat flew too close to you for comfort, piercing you with its gaze before flying in the direction of the dorm’s manor.
You shivered, grimacing as you watched the bat leave.
“I swear it was staring at me…” you mumbled, shaking off the feeling.
You trudged onward, refusing to let yourself be shaken by the temporary obstacle. You wanted to get close enough to catch a glimpse… then you’d leave! You wouldn’t venture too far within.
However, after a few minutes, you paused, glancing around.
“I swear I was going the right way…” You tugged your phone out of your pocket, tabbing into WickHive’s thread for the map of Obscuary a different student had posted. You had planned to navigate the lost forest, stopping at the gates around the garden.
“Left… right… another right at the tree with a face…” You tilted your head. “Wait, did I take a right there? Guess it’s called the lost forest for a good reason…”
Puzzling over the map meant you were woefully unprepared when within seconds, a bush rustled nearby and a tall man was suddenly in your personal space.
Catching the presence from your peripherals, you yelped, jumping as you looked up at the other, heart pounding.
“Hey! You’re not s’posed to be here!” a sharp voice snapped. Your eyes met an amber gaze and you stilled, unsure of how to act.
“I know I said I’d explore, but coming face to face with one of them…!” Your heartbeat quickened.
The student, who you now noticed had wolf ears atop his head, paused. His ears twitched, and he took a step back, still letting out a low growl.
“Damn it… I didn’t mean to…” he grumbled below his breath before averting his gaze. “Oi! The rules said you can’t be here. Why are you here?”
You swallowed thickly. “I-I just wanted to… uh…” you trailed off. You couldn’t help but bite your tongue.
It felt a lot more embarrassing to admit to someone to their face that you were curious about their dorm and its students! There was no casual way to say that without sounding completely insane!
The wolven boy before you grew increasingly patient, and soon enough, he seized you by the arm and began walking off.
“The Moth-eaten Casanova and the blond gigolo can deal with you!” he insisted. You panicked, scrambling against his grip.
“Wait! Wait— I can just go!” you said.
“No way. You’re acting really susp… shushpici…” the boy frowned, brows pinched in frustration, glaring back at you. “You’re acting weird!”
The other continued dragging you along, his grip tightening in a way that made you wince, letting out a small hiss in pain.
However, the boy seemed particularly attuned to your reactions. He recoiled, pulling his hand away as if he’d been burned.
“I didn’t mean to—!” he cut himself off, ears flattening against his head as he looked away.
“It’s fine! I was more startled if anything— I’m not hurt,” you promised, feeling as if the other would bolt if you made the wrong move.
“Wait… shouldn’t I let him run off? I’m trying to escape here!”
However, something about the other’s gaze… you couldn’t let him misunderstand, even if it benefited you. Not when he’d looked so alarmed at the mere prospect that he’d caused you pain.
He scanned over you carefully before huffing, instead carefully grabbing your sleeve as an alternative. He tugged gently, his movements more careful.
“Hurry up.”
You sighed, having accepted that you weren’t getting out of this regardless of what you said or did. Perhaps you should stay silent, save yourself the trouble, and prevent yourself from digging yourself into an even deeper hole.
But your curiosity won out in the end.
“What’s your name?” you asked. The other glanced back at you, pensive.
“Is this one of those greetings…? The blond gigolo said it’s good so-shul skills to give a greeting…” he mumbled to himself before briefly meeting your eyes once more.
“Lyca,” he stated simply. You waited for further elaboration or perhaps a question in return… but none came.
You offered your own name anyway, and Lyca simply nodded, focused on dragging you down winding paths, approaching the large, stately manor that felt much too big for three students.
Lyca seemed entirely uninterested in conversation, and you didn’t push it.
The moment you stepped into Obscuary’s manor, you were in awe at the sight of the intricate decor and storied halls. Had you had more time, you would’ve loved to explore, but Lyca was dragging you into a room before you could protest, a small bell reminiscent of a shop ringing as you entered.
You’d been dragged into a rather cozy bar— one that felt rather lived-in. You were given only a few moments to admire the new environment before a voice dragged you out of your thoughts.
“Oi! Moth-eaten Casanova!” Lyca called out, a man with black hair raising his head to look over.
“I found them wandering. Like you said. So I brought them here,” Lyca stated matter-of-factly, gently releasing your sleeve.
The blond man behind the bar, whom you recognized as campus shadow Rui Mizuki, gaped at the sight of you.
“Lyca… I meant for you to scare them off, not drag them here,” the vampiric man spoke.
“Oi— Ed! Scaring them isn’t any better!” Rui insisted before turning to Lyca. “And Lyca! Just because you can handle navigating the forest and the garden doesn’t mean you should drag people along! There’s still dangerous things out there that could hurt them! You should’ve escorted them out of the dorm!”
Lyca frowned. “But they were acting weird!” he countered. “They were just… standing around in the forest!”
“Rui. It’s like you said. This one is just a general student. It would be troublesome if they kept coming back. The miasma here could affect them,” the vampire you were now able to identify as Edward Hart responded.
“Scaring them is still rude, Ed.” Rui huffed. “Besides… you were out not too long ago! You could’ve done it yourself if you were so concerned about it, you know?”
You couldn’t help but watch the banter between the trio. Your eyes lingered on the distinct non-human aspects you could spot. Fangs, wolf ears, a scythe propped against the wall—
And yet, they all acted completely… normal. Of course, you weren’t expecting anything from fiction or myths, but you hadn’t expected the atmosphere to feel so… warm.
You hadn’t expected them all to be so close.
Edward seemed to notice you staring, as he made eye contact with you, a lazy smile tugging at his lips. His familiar ruby eyes made you pause, thinking back to that bat that had flown overhead while you were in the forest.
“My, what’s caught your attention?” Ed asked with a knowing expression. You jumped and laughed nervously.
“Sorry! Sorry… I know it’s rude to stare, I just…” you trailed off. “You’re all so… concerned. You’re so nice. All of the negative rumors about you guys are vicious, and yet, I sense none of that from you three.”
The room fell silent at your observation. Perhaps some would call you too trusting, but you wanted to believe the scene you saw before you as opposed to the rumors that originated from who knows where.
“Ah, those rumors?” Ed leaned his head against his hand. “It has a simple explanation. No one would offer us the chance before choosing to run. When humans perceive a predator…” Ed averted his gaze to Lyca, who’d remained at your side.
“Do they stop to ask it how it feels?” the vampire finished. You paused, opening your mouth to respond, but couldn’t think of anything.
There simply wasn’t a counterargument you could make. Even those who weren’t as wary around anomalies still exercised caution around Obscuary.
In this way… you were the anomaly amongst your peers for not being afraid in the slightest.
Rui cleared his throat, dispersing the tense silence. “Ed, don’t make it sound so depressing!” he insisted, offering you a smile.
“You don’t have to listen to him! He’s—” you cut Rui off, offering him a quick, apologetic smile before looking back at Edward, then at Lyca.
“That’s unfair… especially for Lyca,” you responded. “He just started off as a student. He hasn’t done a thing to warrant the labels he’s getting. For people to just decide that on their own is…” You couldn’t help but frown. You knew you were powerless to change it, regardless of how you felt.
However, Edward had a knowing look in his eyes— noticing something in you that was distinctly lacking in other humans.
The willingness and determination to form your own opinions.
That was something commendable, at least to him. Choosing to carve your own path instead of following the status quo…
Seeing you side-by-side alongside Lyca, it gave him an idea.
“Perhaps you should spend more time with this human, Lyca,” Edward suggested. Lyca bristled at the suggestion, glaring at the vampire with a frown.
“Why?!” he asked. “I don’t wanna!”
Rui let out a long sigh, but Edward simply chuckled.
“Lyca. They’re a general student. You’ll learn a lot about being a human from someone who isn’t a ghoul or cursed,” Ed said.
Lyca paused, glancing at you. He seemed to be weighing his options, soon crossing his arms.
“Fine. I guess that makes sense,” he replied.
Edward hummed.
“Then, I leave him in your care, general student.”
Truth be told, you weren’t sure what to expect from “mandated time” alongside Lyca Colt.
Honestly, you half expected Lyca to run off and do his own thing the second you were out of Obscuary’s bounds, but he remained rather diligent in spending time with you whenever he possibly could.
You’d walk each other to class, spend passing periods together, and even spend time in the library side by side.
Lyca even started joining you for lunch, and you’d help him order off of menus he couldn’t read, doing your best to explain every dish to him that caught his eye.
You couldn’t help the way you grew closer— couldn’t help how attached you started becoming. Lyca was kind and considerate, far more so than many of Darkwick’s populace.
Whenever you walked with him, he slowed his pace to match yours, and Lyca always positioned himself in a way that made it obvious he was shielding you, protecting you.
When he thought you weren’t looking, he’d even begun to write down things about you in a notebook, careful to make the letter legible so he could refer to them later. It was obvious he tried his best to get to know you, considering his rather awkward conversation transitions into things you were interested in, and the many times he’d met up with you with your favorite drink or snack in hand.
However, spending so much time with Lyca also made you realize what it is he was trying to shield you from. Unfortunately, though, the unsavory was far too difficult to ignore, no matter how much he tried.
To Lyca’s credit, he tried. Hard. The second you overheard an unpleasant conversation from a group nearby, he dragged you off, his grip gentle even if his pace was hurried. Any time someone glared or threw a foul look in your direction, he’d frown and try his best to shield you from view.
But you noticed, anyway. Rather than give you a negative look on Lyca's character, it simply made you realize how lonely it must be to be non-human or a ghoul. The way people scattered if Lyca so much as breathed wrong, paired with how on edge people acted in his mere vicinity… it made your heart hurt.
Beforehand, you’d probably call it sympathy and an injustice. Now… now it felt personal.
Lyca held a special place in your heart. Why couldn’t people see the kindness and warmth that was so easily apparent to you?
You couldn’t help but wonder how Lyca felt. Was he as troubled? Was he able to brush it off?
In his mission to become more human, how did that not discourage him?
Currently, you were sitting beneath a tree by Lyca’s side, enjoying a serene moment outside after classes. It had become something of a ritual— a way to spend as much time together as you both could before you were called back to Sinostra, and Lyca back to Obscuary.
You observed Lyca’s profile for a moment. His tongue was sticking out a bit, focused on the sketchbook in his lap as he drew. You didn’t want to disturb him— but you had to ask.
You had to know.
“Lyca,” you started. “Does it not… bother you? The way people act around you, I mean. They’re so quick to give in to their preconceived notions…” you paused. Simpler language would probably be better.
“I mean, they’re so quick to believe all the bad rumors, so they always act like you’re dangerous,” you said. “Doesn’t that make you sad?”
Lyca raised his head and met your gaze. He thought for a few moments before shrugging.
“At first it did. ‘Cause I wanna make Neros proud and live with humans. But we do all kinds of human things together. Going to class, studying, eating together,” Lyca nodded. “You don’t run away like they do. Makes me feel human. So I don’t notice as much anymore.”
Your eyes went wide at his casual yet surprisingly considerate response. Did he really find humanity in doing such mundane things with you? The notion made you laugh— not in a mocking manner, but rather… fond.
“I guess I took all of that… normal human stuff for granted.” You shut your eyes, recalling all of the moments you’d shared thus far. Your world has been colored in curiosity and intrigue since Lyca started accompanying you. Even doing the most normal things became more fun, somehow.
“In that case, I’m glad I could share it with you, Lyca,” you said.
“Mm. Feels like I’m learning a lot. You’re very… human?” Lyca frowned at his own awkward working, clearly at a loss for words, trying to explain something he didn’t have the vocabulary for.
You smiled, staring up at the tree’s canopy. Before you could even think about what you were saying, the words slipped from your mouth.
“Am I too human for you?” you mindlessly asked.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Lyca responded. “Am I not human enough for you?” he retorted.
You felt heat rise to your face. You saw a Like Dove flutter out of the tree, flying past where you were sitting with the lycanthrope. In that moment, you leaned against Lyca, feeling his warmth against your side.
Usually, Lyca would protest— insist that you were getting your scent all over his clothes— then push you off gently. However, instead, you heard his heartbeat quicken in the close proximity.
“Oi… don’t lean on me. It makes my chest feel squeezey and makes me feel weird,” he insisted with a troubled frown. “But I don’t want you to leave either… huh?”
Lyca’s confusion in the face of his own emotions made you laugh, your own emotions settling into something far more comfortable as the realization of exactly what it was Lyca was struggling to word became obvious.
“To answer your question, Lyca. You’re plenty human already,” you said softly.
“Huh? How do you know?” he asked.
“Love is as human of an emotion as you can have,” you responded. “Your love for Neros, for your friends… for…” You flushed red, unable to finish that thought. You did not want to falsely assume Lyca loved you, even if the signs pointed to it.
“It’s all different types of love, but love all the same,” you concluded. Lyca looked at you before looking off into the distance.
“Love…” he murmured, testing the word on his lips a few times. It seemed less like he was unfamiliar with the concept, and more like many pieces were finally converging and clicking into place for him.
Finally, he smiled, soft yet genuine. He looked relieved, and you couldn’t help but admire that expression.
Then, you felt something warm and fluffy coil around your waist. Lyca leaned his head against yours, getting comfortable. His hand reached up, placed over his own heart.
“So that’s what this is. That’s what blond gigolo was talking about,” Lyca murmured. You hummed.
“What do you mean?” you asked.
“Told him that my chest started feeling weird when you were around. That your scent made me feel weird but also comfy. And that I didn’t want you to hear all the bad things people say. Thinking about you leaving ‘cause of it… I don’t like it,” he explained. “He just smiled weird and said I was becoming human.”
Lyca looked at you. “Guess he was talking about love. Said it wasn’t something I’d get until I felt it,” he said. “That means I love you then,” Lyca concluded.
The simplicity of it all made your heart skip a beat. Lyca was confident in his confession— as if it truly were as simple as deciding that was how he felt, and thus it became fact.
And yet… it made you happy. You smiled and nodded.
“I love you too. Having you by my side makes me very happy, Lyca,” you confessed, cuddling against his side.
Just as easily as he accepted his own feelings, he accepted yours as well, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
At that moment, you were glad that the rumors started.
Without them, you wouldn’t have felt compelled to make your own observations and form your own opinions.
And while you detested them still, and detested those who spread them, determined to spread proof that Obscuary was not made of monsters like they claimed…
You saw the silver lining in the way those very rumors led you to Lyca Colt’s side.