Chapter Text
𝘐𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵...
"𝘔𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘥."
"𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘺."
𝘔𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯.
~*~
It was a dark and stormy night... or rather, it felt like it.
It was actually a quite average night. The sound of crickets filled the air as they did every night. The air was slightly cold, leaving goosebumps to anyone who fell victim to its breeze. The moon shone bright, only a day's time until a full moon.
And yet despite the average night, a girl walked through the hallways of Night Raven College. All the sophomores and juniors were asleep in their dorms, and she wished she was one of them... asleep.
Glancing upward at the clock above the staff washroom, the girl let out a long sigh, her shoulders drooping. She then fixed the wrinkles on her Ceremonial Robes, knowing her partner would never accept them as proper before rushing down the hallway. The orientation was about to continue, and she couldn't afford to be late and leave a bad first impression of her dorm to her new students.
This night was special. Why? Well, it was the night the freshmen would arrive and be assigned to their dorms. It was a VERY lengthy process, which is why they had a break halfway through, giving her time to rush to the restroom. It was astonishing, really. They were only through half the freshmen and it was already MIDNIGHT .
Never mind that— With her long, purple-grey coloured hair tied up into a ponytail above her left ear that reached her butt flowing through the air, she hastily made her way back to the Mirror Chamber, her tall heels clacking against the stone flooring. She must hurry. After all, the ceremony would resume in two minutes.
With one minute left on the clock, the girl's amethyst eyes widened in shock when they were met with a pair of eyes that shone like emeralds locking with hers. There stood another girl by the entrance to the chamber; she was very short, yet the tall purple-grey haired girl still felt intimidated by her presence... even though the tiny girl was smiling in utter relief.
"You made it!" The short girl cheered, a large grin on her face. The taller girl let out a massive sigh of relief through her rosy lips, "Yeah..."
The short girl quickly turned on her heel and opened the entrance door, her jet black hair cut down to the middle of her neck whipping through the air at lightning speed. The taller girl smiled softly as she followed her in.
The two made their way past the massive lines and to the front, where the Dark Mirror stood. The girls split their separate ways, taking their spots next to their respective men.
"You are just on time." Riddle Rosehearts, Housewarden of Heartslabyul, told the purple-grey haired girl, his eyes never leaving the multiple lines before them. His betrothed, Regan Gray, smirked, glad that she was on time... this time.
"The lines are nowhere close to done..." Vanessa Crowley heavily sighed, her emerald eyes tiredly glaring up at the short boy next to her. Despite him being short, he was still taller than her. Lilia Vanrouge, Vice Housewarden of Diasomnia, chuckled with a smirk. "I know, my dear Nessa. I could be getting my beauty sleep right about now..."
~*~*~*~
After another two hours of the same thing over and over again, dorm assignments were FINALLY done.
"We're done with orientation and dorm assignments?" Riddle rhetorically asked, and Vanessa nodded with a hum, although he never saw it. "All right, new students— Let me be clear. At Heartslabyul House, I am the law. Break the rules, and it's off with your head!" the red headed boy declared sternly, a terrifying glare in his bluish-grey eyes. It made Regan squirm— She liked when he was stern.
" *Yaaaawn* Well, that ceremony was as boring as ever." Leona Kingscholar, Housewarden of Savanaclaw, let out a long yawn. "I'm going back to the dorm. If you're in Savanaclaw, follow me."
"New students! Allow me to be the first to congratulate you on your achievement." Azul Ashengrotto announced with a pure yet sadistic tone, placing his hands on his hips. "As dorm leader of Octavinelle House, I am honoured to have the opportunity to support you in what I hope will be a fulfilling campus experience."
"Hey, does anyone know where the Headmage went? He disappeared midway through the second half of the ceremony..." Housewarden of Pomefiore, Vil Schoenheit, spoke up, his amethyst eyes darting toward the Headmage's daughter. "I wish I could tell you, Vil." Vanessa sulked, her shoulders falling in defeat. Her father was an odd one...
"Some Headmage he is." Idia Shroud, Housewarden of Ignihyde, grumbled from the speaker on his tablet, which is what was present in the room instead of him. Instead of appearing in person, he attended meetings through a voice call on his tablet.
"Maybe he had a tummy ache?" Kalim Al-Asim, Housewarden of Scarabia, suggested with a pure look in his scarlet eyes when suddenly--
"I most certainly did not!" Dire Crowley burst through the entrance doors, his voice booming through the Chamber.
"Ah, speak of the devil..." Riddle mumbled for only himself and Regan to hear, and she giggled softly.
"If you must know, I was searching for the new student who'd failed to show for orientation." Crowley turned to the boy he brought in with him, motioning him to the Mirror. "You are the only one who has yet to be assigned a dorm. Step up to the Dark Mirror, and be quick about it. I'll watch your weasel." The Headmage grabbed the strange cat by the neck, almost suffocating it.
The Dark Mirror ordered him to state his name, to which he answered, "Yuu." It repeated his name, before beginning the procedure he had repeated millions of times. "The nature of your soul is.............. unclear to me."
"What did you just say??" Crowley gasped, completely caught off guard. "I sense no magical power from this one. Soundless. Colourless. Shapeless. Utterly vacant. Therefore, no dorm would be appropriate."
Hushed mumbles filled the room, the rest of the freshmen shocked by the fact that a magicless freshman was invited to become a student. But Crowley's voice soon shushed them. "Are you suggesting that the black carriage went to receive a person who cannot even use magic? But that is absurd! The student selection process has not erred once in its century of existence! How could this have happened?"
Suddenly, the grey cat named Grim managed to wiggle his way out of Crowley's grasp and leap down to the ground, raising its paw. "ME! Let ME have this student's seat!" "Not so fast, you hyperactive weasel!" Crowley shouted, trying to catch Grim again who dodged him every time. "Unlike that human, I can actually use magic! So let me be a student here! Look, I'll show you! My spells're the cat's meow!"
"Everyone, get down! Regan, behind me!" Riddle yelled as he pushed his fiancée behind him, his shorter body covering hers. Meanwhile, Lilia stepped in front of Vanessa, his hand outstretched as a way to tell her to stay behind him.
With a scream, the cat spread blue flames across the chamber. "AHHHHH!! HELP!! I'm on fire over here!" Kalim frantically yelled. Vanessa tried to rush to Kalim, wanting to help her friend, but Lilia kept her behind him. If anything had happened to Vanessa, the prince of Briar Valley would surely have him dead.
"Someone catch that blasted animal before it sets the entire school ablaze!" Crowley declared, a stern glare on his masked face and his hands on his hips.
"Ugh. Can I go now, or...?" Leona growled, placing a hand on his hip. "Oh? I thought you fancied yourself a hunter." Vil played with his fellow Housewarden, enjoying this immensely as a sadistic grin filled his shining lips. "Go and help yourself to that plump little morsel!" "Too much effort. Do it yourself." Leona lazily fired back.
"Allow me to handle this, Headmage Crowley." Azul happily said with a bright smile, sending Vanessa a wink before turning to face the rest of the Housewardens. "If none of you are up to the task of catching a small animal, I will accept the responsibility."
"WTG Azul. Rackin' up those participation rewards." Idia grumbled from beyond the tablet. "Hey, um, my butt's still on fire— Could someone maybe put this out?!" Kalim frantically yelled for help, desperately in need of his Vice Housewarden.
"I'm sorry, were my instructions unclear?!" Crowley yelled, starting to get angry. Leona sighed, crossing his arms, "Preeeetty sure you can handle catching one mangy weasel all on your lonesome there, Headmage." This, of course, made Grim complain that he wasn't a weasel.
"Aren't you a spunky little fellow. Riddle, would you be so kind...?" Azul walked up to stand next to the Heartslabuyl leader, who nodded with his eyes. "Furry miscreant. I will abide no rule-breaking. You will be judged by my hand."
As the two drew their magic pens, Riddle told Regan as he walked toward the cat, "Stay back."
~*~*~*~
A few minutes had passed, and Grim was finally stopped when Riddle yelled his signature spell, "Off With Your Head!!" and a heart lock made itself home around the cat's neck.
"MYAH?! What are you doing?!" Grim frantically screamed. "The Queen of Heart's Rule 23: "One must never bring a cat to a formal affair." Your very presence here is a violation of order. You will vacate these premises immediately." Riddle ordered, but the cat really wasn't having any of it. "But I ain't a cat either! Don't you try'n collar me! I'll burn it right off!"
And so he tried to burn it right off... See, that's where he went wrong.
"Huh...? Wh-What gives? My fire ain't workin'!" Riddle crazily smirked, a sadistic look in his eyes, "Until I deign to remove that collar, you won't be using any magic. You're naught but a pet cat now." "WHAT?! I ain't nobody's pet-NOTHING!" "Oh, you've nothing to worry about there. I certainly have no interest in having you as a pet. The collar will disappear once you're removed from campus." Riddle informed him, still wearing that same crazed smirk.
Azul chuckled with a bright smile, "Ha ha! Good show as always, Riddle. Your signature spell locks down any magic. It's quite handy. I've just got to have it— Ah, I mean, I've just got to have respect for it." He quickly corrected himself with an innocent smile. It was fortunate that he had mumbled that specific part.
"Yuu! Was I not clear that you are expected to take responsibility for your familiar?" Crowley began to scold the magicless teen, but he said that Grim wasn't his just as the Headmage was getting started. "Now discipline your— What's that?! It isn't yours?"
"I've never seen that creature before in my life!" Yuu frantically declared, which spiked Crowley's curiosity. A hand moved up to his chin, "Oh... Is that so? *Ahem*— Then I shall have it expelled from campus. I shall even spare it from being served as dinner. My, but I AM kind. ... Someone take this away, please."
"Nooooo! Let me gooooo!" Grim wailed as he was taken out by the staff. "You fools better remember my name! Cause I'm gonna go down in the annals of magic history! Just you wait!" Then the door dramatically shut. Everyone could finally breathe.
"Well, that was quite the unexpected fracas. I hereby declare that orientation has concluded. Housewardens, please escort your students back to the dorms..." Crowley had begun his announcement but found himself in shock when he noticed that one of the Housewardens was missing.
"... Hm? Come to think of it, I don't see Housewarden Draconia of House Diasomnia anywhere." "And that surprises you? Dude's a total recluse." Leona decided to say on his own stupid violation, which irked Vanessa.
"Do you know, my lovely Vanessa?" Crowley turned to his daughter, who was now standing next to Lilia once again. She sighed, placing her hands on her hips, "I don't think he even knew . I was pretty sure he did, so I was surprised to arrive at the ceremony and not find him."
"Wait a sec... Did anyone even invite him?" Kalim suddenly spoke up, utter shock and panic filling his friendly voice. "If you're that worried about him missing out, maybe you should have told him yourself." Vil 'suggested' to Kalim, who let out a big sigh. "Maybe, but I don't know him too well either..."
Meanwhile, the crowd was full of murmurs.
"Draconia... Like, Malleus Draconia? THAT Draconia??"
"So it's true? He really does go to school here?"
"Yikes."
The gossip made Vanessa furious. They were saying such things about her Malleus and it infuriated her.
"Ah, just as I expected." Lilia now spoke up as he placed a cold hand on his Lady's back, noticing she was getting more mad by the second. "I figured I'd come down and see for myself whether Malleus had made an appearance. But instead I was met with only his Lady. Once again, he was evidently not informed that his presence was required at an official ceremony."
"You have my sincerest apologies." Azul spoke up with a frown, "I assure you, this oversight was in no way intended as a snub. I was the one who escorted Lady Vanessa, yet I was unaware that Malleus would not show."
"I mean, you must admit, he's not exactly the easiest person to strike up a conversation with." Riddle added, and Regan nodded in agreement next to him.
"No matter." Lilia continued, elegantly placing a hand on his hip, "All who were assigned to House Diasomnia, follow me and your Lady Vanessa. I just hope he doesn't sulk about this..." he had mumbled the last part to Vanessa, which made her giggle.
And so, all the Housewardens lead their new students out of the Mirror Chamber, through the hallways out of the school, and down the many roads to the Hall of Mirrors. The students now separated in many lines, disappearing into the mirrors that lead to the realms of the individual dorms.
With a wave goodnight to her best friend, Vanessa was the first to enter the Diasomnia mirror alongside Vice Housewarden Lilia.
Magic swirling around her, she now stood in front of a giant stone bridge leading to a stone arch with mini towers. Between the middle of the arch laid the Diasomnia symbol engraved in stone.
As she walked underneath the arch alongside Lilia, a trail of freshmen following them, she was met with the castle. The bridge and castle surrounded by thorns, the black castle with sharp towers and beautiful architecture shone green through the night. It looked so similar to the castle in Briar Valley.
So similar to... home.
Upon entering the building, Vanessa let out a yawn, which she tried her best to hide... although she failed. Badly.
"You head to bed, Nessa. I'll take care of the freshmen." Lilia smiled softly at the tired Lady, whose sleepy eyes widened. "A-Are you sure?" she hesitantly asked. Usually she would absolutely refuse, but she was exhausted.
"I'm sure." Lilia winked, which made her softly giggle. "Thank you, Lils..." she tiredly thanked him as she gave him a hug. "Rest well, my Lady." he embraced her back, before releasing the hug and turning to the freshmen who were eagerly waiting to know where their new rooms were.
Making her way up the main flights of stairs, the jet black haired Lady finally reached the top floor. Taking her keys out of her pocket, she opened the door—
"Hello."
"AH!"
Vanessa shrieked when she was met with Malleus Draconia standing right in front the doorway, his lime green eyes staring down at her. "I heard footsteps and then the keys in the lock. So I came to the door to greet you."
"And that was scary , hun." Vanessa let out the breath she was holding in as she entered the room. Malleus shut the door behind her. " Please don't do that ever again." "My apologies..." Malleus mumbled as she walked past him to her closet, feeling bad.
Despite popular belief... The daughter of Night Raven College's Headmage and the fabled prince of Briar Valley were not actually in a romantic relationship yet. They felt romantic feelings for one another, and had told each other of these feelings before entering school. Yet, due to discovering the boy she had feelings for for over a decade was the prince of her homeland, she wanted to get to know the full Malleus before becoming romantically involved. So, they continued to be friends until she decided she was ready, not only for a relationship but also to be the queen of Briar Valley.
"Where were you so late in the night? You weren't alone, were you. Silver is asleep—" Malleus sternly asked, his much taller figure creeping up behind her much shorter figure.
Malleus had ordered Lilia’s adopted son, Silver, to be her bodyguard, and Vanessa was never to travel by herself; She is able to travel with anyone Malleus approves of, but mainly Silver escorts her. She is not only the daughter of the Headmage, but also most likely to be the future queen of Briar Valley. She had two reasons to be a target, and Malleus was afraid that she could be taken to be held as a threat toward him or his country.
"Don't freak out— Lilia and I just arrived back with the new freshmen from orientation." she replied as she took out her pajamas, the soft fabric melting to the touch in her palms.
Malleus' eyes drastically widened, complete shock filling them.
"That was today?"
There it is.
The prince sighed, "I'm afraid I wasn't invited."
There it is again.
"Hehe— I had a feeling." Vanessa couldn't hold in a giggle as she slipped behind the room divider to change. Malleus sighed again, sitting back down on his bed.
Now that she was changed, Vanessa hopped into bed with a long sigh, "Ah— I'm so exhausted." "I am sorry I didn't attend." Malleus spoke up with a sad tone, his eyes locked with hers as they laid across from one another.
Vanessa couldn't hold in a soft giggle, which made Malleus' cheeks tint pink. "It's quite alright, Mal. I don't blame you."
"You don't?" he asked, both shocked and confused as to why she didn't. This made her giggle cutely, "Of course not. They didn't invite you ."
"Hmm..." Malleus thought out loud, his eyebrows squinted in thought, "I suppose so."
Suddenly, a soft yawn escaped Vanessa's lips. It was so cute that Malleus could've sworn he just died five times.
"I'm going to sleep— goodnight Mal ..." her emerald eyes closed, and her lips let soft breaths escape. Malleus was bewildered— She had never fallen asleep this fast before. It usually took her half an hour at least to fall asleep.
A warm smile filled his lips. He shuffled towards her, but at the same time careful not to wake her. His thumb stroked her button nose, and he felt himself at peace.
"You are so beautiful..."
Closing his eyes, he was able to fall asleep with ease for the first time in a while.
~*~*~*~
With a wave goodnight to her best friend, Regan was the first to enter the Heartslabyul mirror alongside Housewarden Riddle.
Magic tickled her fair skin, and soon her eyes were met with the starry sky above the Heartslabyul dorm. The garden was lit by the bright electric lights, and the heart windows on the castle-like dorm glowed a honey yellow.
Walking alongside Riddle, their heels clicked and clacked against the stone pathway. And when she had entered the dorm was when tiredness finally overcame her.
Riddle noticed this. Immediately .
As the freshmen were taking in their new home, he leaned over to his fiancée and pressed his lips to her ear, hushing ever-so softly, "Head to sleep, my rose."
"But don't you need help?" Regan whispered back, wondering if Riddle would be okay. Her betrothed just nodded with a warm smile, "I will be just fine on my own."
Not wanting to argue with her fiancé, Regan nodded with a tired hum and headed to her and Riddle's shared room.
It took many twists and turns down many hallways, but it was a route she was all-too-well familiar with. Taking her keys out of her pocket, she unlocked the door and with a click! the door opened. Shutting it behind her, and forgetting to lock it, she crashed onto her bed.
She moaned at the warm embrace of her bed, not bothering to pull the covers over herself nor get changed. And it didn't even take her more than a minute to fall asleep.
About an hour later, the keys twisted the lock right despite the door being unlocked. Riddle opened the door and his eyes widened when he found his fiancée snoring face-down on the bed, not under the covers and not even changed.
He let out a sigh. Closing the door ever-so softly and locking it, he walked over to his bed and looked down at his snoring lover. Her face was full of inner peace, and it made him smile softly.
He gently pulled the covers over her shivering form and as soon as he did, she snuggled into the cover's warmth. His smile only grew.
Deciding to do something he never did before, Riddle got into bed without changing into his night-wear. He got under the covers and laid his head on his pillow, staring lovingly into the mop of purple-grey hair that faced him.
"What ever should I do without you..."