Chapter Text
Crowley stared at the missing student in perplexion.
The strange beastman, for he was clearly a beastman, wore the ceremonial robes but underneath donned an outfit most peculiar. Instead of the under robes all students summoned by the dark mirror were magiced with, he wore a slightly oversized grey green colored over shirt with a deep v-neck, a cream-colored shirt with a mandarin collar and flowing sleeves under, with dark brown pants, and a belt with a simple leather bag attached to accessorate his outfit.
And furthermore, while he was clearly a beastman, the kind was one Crowley had never seen before. His white hair was fluffy and short, with his ears hidden within it. His tail was long and as fluffy as his hair, curling up behind him like that of a squirrel, nearly reaching the top of his head. And his hands were stained pitch black, standing out against the milky white of his skin.
Most confusingly, however, was the response given when Crowley asked who, and what, he was.
“I’m a brushbuddy, sir” the teen said, the words ringing true.
“A… what?” he asked, quietly adjusting the students familiar in his grasp.
“A brushbuddy,” he explained, looking at him like he was stupid “a type of animal that consumes magic ink” THEY CONSUME WHA— "typically close companions to witches. Are… you ok sir?”
Crowley finally stopped coughing long enough to respond “I… yes, I am fine, just surprised is all” oh dear, this will definitely be something he will have to notify the elder Shroud about. And what was this about being an animal? Oh dear, if that meant what he thought it meant…
“... ” the young man hesitated, before uttering “... Yew. ”
“I beg your pardon?” Crowley turned back to the boy
“You asked for my name, right?” he asked, playing with his tail “The witches called me Yew after the tree I was found in. "And wasn't that a concerning tale?
The brushbuddy, who supposed it now went by Yew, had been having the strangest day. First, when it woke up, it had found that it had suddenly become a witch, at least in part. Then, the soft dark place they had found itself in had set itself on fire! Finally, after a lengthy chase by a fire-cat, it had been told it was a student(????) at a magical college(???) by a strange crow man!
And now, as the crow-man led it towards a pair of double doors, it could hear a cacophony of voices echoing out.
“Are we done with orientation and dorm assignments?” said a voice that reminded Yew of the witches in red from the underwater place “All right, new students — let me be clear. At Heartslaybul House, I am the law. Break the rules, and it’s off with your head!” … in more ways than one.
“*Yawn* Well, that ceremony was as boring as ever” said a lazy voice "I'm gonna head back to the dorm. If you're Savanaclaw, follow me. ”
“New students!” an elegant voice announced “Allow me to be the first to congratulate you on your achievement. As dorm leader of Octavinelle House, I am honored to have the opportunity to support you in what I hope will be a fulfilling campus experience. ”
“Say… does anyone know where the headmage ran off to? He disappeared halfway through the ceremony…” an androgynous voice asked
“Some headmage he is. ” said a strange voice. It almost sounded pre-recorded
“Hmmm…” a jovial voice pondered “Maybe he had a tummyache?”
“I MOST CERTAINLY DID NOT!!” the crow man, a headmage apparently, slammed open the door “If you must know, I was receiving the student who’d missed orientation. And, that reminds me, Shroud, stay after this is over, we have much to discuss. And send over your brother for the discussion”
The strange, floating rectangle(???) squeeked, before responding “o-of course headmage! Payne, you're in charge of showing the noobs around” a short, purple-red haired boy with several bandages perked up “pls keep damage to YOUR hp bar” the boy deflated, muttering something about it not being on purpose.
It was at this Yew took in the other people around it. To its left, stood a boy with bright red hair, next to him was a tan man with ears, then a silver-haired boy with glasses, a white-haired boy with red eyes, a pretty person and finally, the blue floating rectangle.
“Now,” said the crow man, flattening his suit “you are the only student who has yet to be assigned a dorm. ” he gestured towards the green mirror behind him “Step up to the Dark Mirror, and be quick about it. I'll watch your weasel. ”
“He’s not my–-”
“Hurry along now!” the crow man urged, pushing it forward
As Yew stumbled towards the mirror, a strange mask revealed itself. What kind of strange magic was used here?!?
“State your name. ” the mirror said
Yew squeaked. It hadn't expected it to talk!
“U-uh I’m Yew…” witches usually had family names as well right? “Yew Fudemushi”
“Yew…” the mirror muttered “The nature of your soul is…
…
…
...
Interesting…” it smirked. Ohh no. That's not good, that's never good! That's the face Yew’s witch would make before something explodes. It could feel its tail bristling.
Crowley took a step forward “what do you mean, interesting?”
“Many a millennia it has been, since I last saw a soul like this…”
A short boy with black and pink hair stiffened
“A soul so full of light, it itself consumes the darkness”
Elsewhere, Idia Shroud twitched, his brother making a sound of concern as he left.
“However…” the mirror paused "I sense not a drop of magical power within it, yet the potential to cast spells all the same. Therefore, no available dorm would be appropriate. ”
The crowd stood, shellshocked. Someone who not only had no magic, but could cast spells??? What was next, he was from another universe???
“... Are you suggesting,” Crowley said, trying to keep his tone measured “that the black carriage received a person who possesses no magic, and consumes darkness??”
He threw his hands up, accidentally loosening his grip on the direbeast “That is absurd! The student selection process has not erred once in its century of existence!” he put his face in his hand “How could this have happened?”
Just then, out of the corner of Yew’s eye, it saw the fire-cat begin to wriggle free of the headmage’s grasp.
“Mmmph! Nnnrgggh…” it struggled, before breaking free, gasping for air “ME! Let ME take this student's place!”
Oh no… Yew knew nothing good was going to come of this. In anticipation, it began to back away into the mirror, screwing its eyes shut and blocking out the noise from the outside world.
“Please, I just want to be home” it muttered
The mirror, which hadn't faded out yet, sighed “Appologies Mx. Yew, the only dorm you would be fit to belong to has fallen into disrepair”
Yew shook its head "I don't care” it whispered "I just want a home. ”
The mirror smiled softly “of course…”
Unseen by anyone else, underneath Yew’s ceremonial robes, a small metal coat of arms depicting two stars pinned a thin orange and purple ribbon to the breast of Yews overshirt.
Suddenly, someone ran into Yew, shocking it back into reality. It was the white-haired boy with red eyes! Although… now his butt seemed to be on fire.
“Sorry!” he apologizes “My butts on fire!! Someone please help put this out!”
Yew stared in confusion. Weren't these people witches? Most witches know at least some kind of water spell, according to the master.
“... do you know any water spells?” it asked quietly.
The idea clearly hadn't crossed the boy's mind, since right after he smacked his head before whipping out a strange looking ink wand with a gem at the end of it.
“Respite in the scalding sands,” he recited, the gem glowing “a neverending party. Dance! Sing! Oasis Maker!”
Instantly, water began to appear around him, putting out the fires the cat had caused. However, none of this particularly mattered to Yew. What mattered more was the wonderful scent coming from the gem. It reminded it of the ink the professor used to cast spells, in all its delicious glory. It was faint, almost non-existent, but with the lack of everything else, it was hypnotic to the brushbuddy.
In the background, the red haired boy and the glasses boy began to chase the cat.
“Oh, um you good?” the boy asked, as Yew approached him
“. . that gem” Yew said, remembering what its witch had told them about asking “may I have it for a moment?”
“Huh? Sure! Just give it back ok?” the boy said, handing over the ink wand
“... of course. ” Yew muttered, before diving into the gem.
…
“ [... ] While some may not know this, brushbuddies possess fangs. Very strong, very small fangs. For over two centuries, those who studied them were perplexed at how strong they could be. There have been many reports of brushbuddies biting into a rock covered in conjuring ink, and sucking the ink up, all without breaking their fangs. [... ]” - the care and keeping of brushbuddies for witches chapter 2: feeding habits
Now all of that to say, as Yew bit into the gem, it let its fangs out, before piercing the gem, and sucking up as much of the good-delisious-food ink. Afterwards, it released the gem, and watched, fascinated, as the gem healed itself. Yew felt a little disappointed, after all, there had barely been any ink in it! But still, food was food, and a brushbuddy never said no to food.
“Woah!” the boy exclaimed “what was that?”
“... nothing. ” Yew said, suddenly very self conscious about how it had eaten “please don't talk about it”
“Ok!” the boy said “My name’s Kalim Al-Asim! You’re… Yew right?” Yew nodded “Hopefully this can get sorted out so you can attend the school!”
“Kalim,” said a smooth voice belonging to a tan boy with long dark hair, partially done up in intricate braids “are you alright?”
“Jamil!” Kalim exclaimed, ecstatic to see him “Yeah! Yew here reminded me about my signature spell!”
“... I see, either way its best if we-”
“OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!”