Chapter Text
Darkness.
Everywhere Heather looked, he could see nothing but darkness. Not that he minded as he always found the darkness comforting. Eventually the darkness began to part, and a clear image began to form.
Right in front of him were two graves. On the left was a gravestone bearing the name of David Forrester. On the right was a gravestone with the name Miranda Forrester engraved on it. Heather closed his eyes and let out a resigned sigh.
It was shortly before his sophomore year of high school was supposed to begin. His parents were already quite old when they took him in as a baby so he knew it would happen eventually. He just didn’t think it would happen quite so soon. And since he had no other living relatives, it was likely he would either be put into foster care until adulthood or have to fend for himself. Heather couldn’t decide which fate was worse.
As absorbed in his thoughts as Heather was, a sudden noise and equally sudden movement brought him out of his dream. It felt like the ground underneath him suddenly moved, while his mind and heart were abruptly flooded with a sense of irritation and determination that he knew wasn’t his.
What was that noise? Is someone there?
“I better hurry up and find that uniform before someone spots me...” a strange voice said, stirring Heather awake further.
“Urgggh... This lid weighs a ton!” The voice said again. Heather began looking around frantically, wondering where the voice was coming from. All he could see, however, was darkness.
“Try this on for size!” the voice said determinedly, before making a noise that indicated that its owner was exerting great effort. All of a sudden, whatever it was Heather was trapped in was set ablaze with blue flames. Heather couldn’t help the startled scream that escaped his throat.
Heather found himself in a large, round room with dark grayish-blue columns, which were adorned with bright, glowing crystals. In between the columns were curtains made of a dark-colored material that Heather couldn’t identify. In the center of the room was what appeared to be a large mirror and surrounding the mirror were large, black, floating coffins with lids lined with gold trim and a green circle where the person’s head would presumably be behind.
“Now to grab the goods…What?! You ain't supposed to be awake!” The source of the voice and the irritation and determination he felt finally made itself known to Heather.
“A talking…weasel?!” Heather asked out loud, rubbing his eyes in an effort to get a better view of his surroundings. Once the sleep had cleared, Heather found that the creature in front of him looked less like a weasel and more like a gray cat with blue flames coming out of its ears, jagged shark-like teeth and a tail that ended in the head of a pitchfork. The creature was also wearing a bow made from a ratty white ribbon with thin, black stripes running its length on its back.
“How... How dare you! I am no weasel! I'm Grim, sorcerer extraordinaire!” the cat creature, Grim, bellowed, clearly enraged by Heather’s comment. Though its angry frown quickly turned into a determined smirk.
“Tch. Whatever. You...human! Just gim me your uniform and be quick about it! Cause if you don't...you're gonna regret it!” The creature started breathing the same blue flames that had previously engulfed the coffin that Heather found he was previously in. Heather briefly raised his eyebrows at the creature’s comment about a uniform before looking down. He found he was wearing what looked like a black robe with purple lining with gold patterns and elaborate golden patterns lining the sleeves and hems. The robe itself was tied off with a purple belt with a gold buckle.
“S-somebody help!” Heather called out as the panic finally took root in his mind, realizing he was now in a strange new place and had no means of defending himself from this creature.
“Hey, come on! I'm on a tight schedule here!” Grim shouted, irritated by Heather’s refusal to cooperate with him. He began spitting blue flames again, which prompted Heather to start running. He quickly bolted out the door and ran down some castle-like hallways and through a large courtyard filled with trees and other plants, before finding himself in a library.
“Where the hell am I?” Heather asked out loud, looking around in a panic as the creature steadily caught up to him. All of a sudden, blue flames flew right towards Heather’s feet, stopping him in his tracks.
“Foolish human! Did you really think you could slip away from me?” Grim said as he finally caught up with Heather, smirking evilly. “Now, unless you wanna get burned to a crisp, take off that—” Before Grim could finish, a whip hit him across his back, “Me-yeow! That hurt! What gives?”
“Consider it tough love.” The whip’s owner spoke up. Standing behind Grim was a pale man, slightly shorter than Heather, wearing a top hat with a blue band and a mirror-like accessory leaning against it, a suit with a white dress shirt, a plain black tie, a black vest with sparkles that reminded Heather of the night sky, and an iridescent black coat over his shoulders with black feathers coming out of the collar. Covering his face was a black bird-like mask with small glowing golden balls in the eyeholes instead of actual eyes, though Heather could still make out his black hair and what he could swear were pointed ears. Heather couldn’t help but bring a hand up to one of his ears to feel its rounded edge, wondering to himself why he didn’t have pointed ears like the man in front of him did. Though Heather couldn’t help but feel put off by the fact that he was unable to pick up on any strong feelings of any kind from the man.
“Ah, I've found you at last. Splendid. I trust you're one of this year's new students?” The man turned his attention to Heather with his hands on his hips.
“I…suppose so?” Heather responded, confused. So I ended up at some sort of school…
“My, were you ever eager to make your debut.” The man’s tone and expression turned stern and disappointed.
“And bringing a poorly trained familiar with you? That is a clear violation of the school's rules,” The man picked Grim up by his scruff and looked at him more closely.
“Familiar?! I’ve never seen this monster cat before in my life!” Heather protested.
“As if I'd serve some lowly human! Now lemme go!” Grim demanded, fruitlessly waving his arms and legs back and forth in an effort to break free from the man’s grip.
“Yes, yes. Rebellious familiars always say that. Do be quiet for a bit, won't you?” The man then pulled a gag out of his coat pocket and fixed it over Grim’s mouth. Grim then tried to speak, but all that came out was muffled noises.
“Dear me. Of all the students I've dealt with, you're the first with temerity enough to open their own gate and step out of it. Does the very notion of patience elude you?” The man asked, exasperated.
“I didn’t exactly have a choice in that matter, as the cat monster here can attest,” Heather snarked, glaring at Grim, who glared back and tried to say something but all that came out were muffled noises.
“No matter. Your orientation has already begun. Let us return to the Mirror Chamber,” The man turned his back and prepared to lead Heather out of the library, which brought the boy back to his senses.
“Gate? You mean those coffins in that other room? Err, the Mirror Chamber, I guess,” Heather asked, cautiously approaching the man.
“You awakened in a room full of gates, did you not? All of the students here at the campus arrived by passing through such gates. Although typically the students have restraint enough to wait until I open them before waking up,” The man trailed off, walking towards the library’s door, Heather following close behind.
“So those coffins are like...gateways?” Heather asked, taking in his surroundings as he followed.
“The design is intended to symbolize a parting with your former world, and a rebirth into a new one,” the man answered.
“Though I think something blew the lid off mine...” Heather noted, looking to the side.
“The culprit appears to be that familiar of yours. You're the one who insisted on bringing it, so curtailing its behavior is your responsibility!”
“But I told you, that cat monster isn’t mine! I’ve never seen it before today!’ Heather protested, ignoring Grim’s angry look and flailing. Is this guy even listening to me?!
“But now is not the time for such prattle. You've a student orientation to attend!” the man finally approached the library’s door and held his free arm out into the hallway, “Go on, now. Make haste.”
“First, just tell me something. Who are you? And where am I?” Heather asked after walking out the door and watching as the man shut it behind him.
“Hm? Have you not fully regained consciousness? The timespace teleportation must have addled your memories...” the man wondered aloud, tilting his head in contemplation.
“No, I really have no idea where I am,” Heather explained, though he doubted this man would actually listen, given his current pattern of behavior.
“Well, these things happen, I suppose. I shall explain it to you while we walk. Truly, my magnanimity is boundless,” The man shrugged and lead Heather onwards.
“Must be immensely boundless if you feel the need to brag about it,” Heather muttered to himself as he followed the strange man into the courtyard from before. Now that Heather wasn’t afraid for his life, he could take a good look around. In the center of the courtyard was a well sitting at the crossroads of a stone pathway. Surrounding the well were tall shrubs and all over the courtyard were apple trees which were currently bearing fruit and several benches.
At least I ended up somewhere beautiful, Heather thought as he took a look around, before coming back to his senses as the man cleared his throat.
“This is Night Raven College. It is an institution for students the world over who demonstrate a rare aptitude for magic. It is the most prestigious academy of its sort in all of Twisted Wonderland,” the man then turned to face Heather and gave him a showman’s bow, “And I am Dire Crowley. Having been entrusted with its care by the chairman, I serve as headmage.”
“Wait, magic?!” Heather’s eyes went wide. Does this mean I can use magic then?
“Only those who the Dark Mirror perceives as having a talent for magic are admitted to the college,” the man, Crowley said before turning around to lead Heather back to the mirror chamber, “Those who are selected are summoned to the campus through those ‘gates,’ which can appear anywhere.”
“Then how did I end up in one of those coffin-gate things?” Heather wondered out loud.
“A black carriage bearing one such gate should have come to meet you,” Crowley explained. At the mention of a black carriage, memories came flooding back to Heather.
Earlier that day, he had gone to visit his parents’ graves and was walking alone by himself in some nearby woods. As he was lost in his thoughts, he was approached by a mysterious carriage being drawn by a black horse wearing three large plumes on its head and being driven by a person dressed in black robes with their face completely hidden. The carriage itself had a black wooden frame and wheels, with the walls being made of glass. Inside the carriage was a large black coffin, one of the gates from the mirror chamber, with the lid open. When the carriage stopped, the back door opened. The driver said nothing but made a gesture inviting Heather to climb inside. For some reason, Heather felt as though he could trust this mystery person, despite being unable to pick up on their feelings, and climbed inside the carriage and into the coffin, closing the lid overtop him before falling into a deep sleep. When he woke up, Grim jostled and opened his coffin in an effort to steal the robes he was now wearing.
“I do kinda remember crossing a dark forest...” Heather noted with a thoughtful expression. I don’t need to bore Crowley with the details.
“That black carriage serves to receive a student chosen by the Dark Mirror. It too bears a gate that connects to this campus. And as you know, sending a carriage to meet someone on a special day is a time-honored tradition,” Crowley explained with a proud smile.
“Uh, a time-honored tradition where?” Heather wondered. Grim tried to speak up, but thanks to the gag, no one could understand him, so Heather and Crowley paid him no mind as they arrived back at the Mirror Chamber.
“Now, let us attend to your orientation.” Crowley said as he opened the door and led Heather inside.
While Crowley had left to find Heather, orientation had just about wrapped up. All the students were wearing the same robes Heather had been with the only real difference between the students being the presence of a chain belt hanging from the purple one. Hanging on the belt itself was a pen topped with a crystal that was one of seven different colors.
“We're done with orientation and dorm assignments? All right, new students—let me be clear. At Heartslabyul Dorm, I am the law. Break the rules, and it's off with your head!” A short red-headed boy with gray eyes with a pen topped with a rose-red crystal said to a bunch of other students with matching pens.
“Well, that ceremony was as boring as ever. I'm going back to the dorm. If you're in Savanaclaw Dorm, follow me,” A young dark-skinned man with green eyes, lion ears and a lion tail, the pen at his side having a golden yellow crystal, said with a yawn to the students with the same-colored pens.
“New students! Allow me to be the first to congratulate you on your achievement. As housewarden of Octavinelle Dorm, I am honored to have the opportunity to support you in what I hope will be a fulfilling campus experience,” A white-haired boy wearing glasses, a pale gray crystal atop his pen, said to those students with similar pens.
“Hey, does anyone know where the headmage went? He disappeared midway through the ceremony...” said a very lovely young man with shoulder-length blonde hair and violet eyes, his pen topped with a royal blue crystal.
“Some headmage he is,” came a voice from a tablet being held by a student with a pen topped by a neon blue crystal.
“Maybe he had a tummy-ache?” suggested a boy with red eyes and white hair, wearing a purple headband with golden patterns, just like the lining of the robes, and golden earrings with a pen topped by a burgundy red crystal. At that moment the doors to the Mirror Chamber opened.
“I most certainly did not!” Crowley spoke up, irritated at the very suggestion, as he entered the room, still holding the gagged Grim with Heather right behind him. This got the attention of everyone in the room.
“Ah, speak of the devil,” the red-headed boy noted.
“If you must know, I was searching for the new student who'd failed to show for orientation,” Crowley said as he and Heather quickly approached the mirror in the center of the room, “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.”
“For the last time, he’s not mine!” Heather snapped as he pulled his hood up over his very long bright red hair and approached the mirror, Grim growling in irritation as he did.
As he made his way to the center of the chamber, towards the large mirror in the center, Heather was able to get a better look at the chamber. The curtains were partially pulled back, revealing windows with elaborate black frames. Hanging from the ceiling were white bead garlands and black statuettes.
The mirror itself had a golden frame, topped with a crown with a braided pattern on the top half with a fully plain bottom half and within the mirror itself was a pure white face that reminded Heather of a classic theatre mask, with fancy, lace-like markings surrounding the eyeholes. Heather couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated as he approached the mirror, despite being in a room surrounded by people that were surprised and confused by his sudden arrival.
“State your name,” the mask in the mirror said.
“I’m Heather Forrester,” Heather said after taking a deep breath. He could feel his heartrate rising as he awaited the mirror’s judgement.
“Heather Forrester…” the mirror repeated Heather’s name as it seemed to process the information, as if it were an old computer program trying to process a user’s input. After an uncomfortably long silence, the mirror spoke again.
“The nature of your soul is…unclear to me.”
“What?!” Heather’s eyes had gone wide. The feelings of confusion and surprise coming from everyone only intensified after the mirror passed its judgement.
“What did you just say?” Crowley asked.
“I cannot tell if I can sense magical power from this one or not. Conflicting sounds. Mixed colors. Unidentifiable shapes. Utter confusion. Therefore, no dorm would be appropriate,” the mirror elaborated.
“But… how can that be?” Heather asked, looking down at his hands in confusion. The other students in the room began whispering among themselves.
“Are you suggesting that the black carriage went to receive a person who cannot even use magic as far as anyone can tell? But that is absurd! The student selection process has not erred once in its century of existence! How could this have happened?” Crowley demanded, dropping Grim in the process. His newfound freedom allowed him to tear the gag off his face.
“Me! Let me have this student's seat!” Grim demanded as he stepped up to the mirror.
“Not so fast, you hyperactive weasel!” Crowley shouted, trying to reach Grim.
“Unlike that human, I can actually use magic for sure! So let me be a student here! Look, I'll show you! My spells're the cat's meow!” Grim declared with a smirk before he began breathing out blue flames again.
“Everyone, get down!” the short red-haired boy shouted. Most everyone in the room promptly obeyed while others started putting up magical shields and barriers, not wanting to get singed by the flying blue flames. Unfortunately, not everyone was able to defend themselves in time.
“HELP! I'm on fire over here!” the white-haired, red-eyed boy cried out, as several other nearby students worked to douse the flames.
“Someone catch that blasted animal before it sets the entire school ablaze!” Crowley commanded.
You’re the adult here! Why don’t you do it! Heather thought but felt he wasn’t in any position to be making demands like that. Especially not as everyone’s panic was overtaking him.
“Ugh. Can I go now, or...?” the lion-boy asked, lowering his magical barrier with a bored expression.
“Oh? I thought you fancied yourself a hunter. Go and help yourself to that plump little morsel!” said the pretty blonde snidely to the lion-boy.
“Too much effort. Do it yourself,” he responded. At that moment, the glasses-wearing boy stepped up, pen in hand.
“Allow me to handle this, Headmage Crowley. If none of you are up to the task of catching a small animal, I will accept the responsibility,” he said with a determined smile.
“WTG Azul. Rackin' up those participation credits,” the voice from the tablet spoke up.
“I'm sorry, were my instructions unclear?!” Crowley said, his irritation growing.
“Preeetty sure you can handle catching one mangy weasel all on your lonesome there, headmage,” the lion-boy said with a put-upon sigh.
Glad I’m not alone in thinking that, Heather thought to himself, just waiting for the insanity to end.
“How many times do I gotta say it? I'm Grim, spellcaster extraordinaire! I am not a weasel!” Grim shouted, continuing to spew his blue flames.
“Aren't you a spunky little fellow?” the boy with glasses, Azul, said condescendingly before turning to the short red-haired boy, “Riddle, would you be so kind...?”
“Furry miscreant. I will abide no rule-breaking. You will be judged by my hand,” the red-head, Riddle, declared, holding his pen high before both boys gave chase.
“Check it! See how strong I am?!” As if wanting to prove that claim, Grim spewed yet more blue fire, though this stream was interrupted by Riddle throwing an energy blast at him with his pen.
“How very brazen of you to go on breaking the rules in my presence,” Riddle said as he approached Grim who was still in the center of the room. Heather had since ducked behind the mirror in an effort to shield himself from the fire but still giving him a good view of the action.
“Is that a pen he’s casting spells with?!” Heather asked himself while tilting his head in confusion. As he wondered this, Riddle was quickly joined by Azul. While Heather had picked up on strong feelings of anger from Riddle, Azul was instead radiating feelings of determined satisfaction. Additionally, in contrast to the unwarranted confidence from before, Heather found he was now picking up on feelings of fear from Grim.
“Shall we make this quick, then? I'm afraid we don't have much time to spare,” Azul said, pushing his glasses a little further up on his face.
Grim stopped spewing flames and started running. He tried to go for the door, but by the time he got there, Riddle and Azul not far behind, some other students had shut it tight, trapping him and everyone else inside. Grim quickly looked around to find another way to escape when he noticed Azul raising his pen as if to cast a spell himself. Grim cowered but no spell came flying at him.
“Must you relish playing with your quarry, Azul?” Riddle asked exasperatedly, putting his hands on his hips.
“Heh. And here I thought we were both the sort to enjoy this,” Azul, said smugly, grinning at Riddle.
“Please. I'm not like you, so spare me your drivel,” Riddle scoffed, before turning his attention to Grim and firing another spell at him. The cat monster took this as his cue to find another escape route. Unfortunately for him, despite running both Riddle and Azul all over the Mirror Chamber, Grim quickly found himself cornered.
“It's a dead end!” Grim wailed in despair, both Riddle and Azul quickly closing in behind him.
“Poor unfortunate soul. Ran yourself straight into a corner, did you?” Azul chided with a grin, raising his pen once again.
“I suggest you surrender. Otherwise...” Riddle raised his pen as well, wearing a determined scowl.
“NO! I'm gettin' into this school, and that's final!” Grim retorted, frantically looking for another way out.
“Stand aside, Azul!” Riddle said, magic gathering in the crystal on his pen. “OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!”
After Riddle made his declaration, magic suddenly swirled around Grim’s neck and quickly solidified into the form of a heart-shaped collar with a tag resting on Grim’s chest. The lock itself was red on the left side and black on the other with a golden frame, while the tag had black and yellow diagonal stripes and another heart, this one with black on the left side and red on the right.
“Myah?! What are you doing?!” Grim asked just after the collar had finished manifesting.
“The Queen of Heart's Rule 23: ‘One must never bring a cat to a formal affair,’” Riddle said, “Your very presence here is a violation of order. You will vacate these premises immediately.”
But that didn’t answer Grim’s question… Heather mused, deciding not to press his luck by thinking out loud, given the copious amounts of irritation coming from Riddle.
“But I ain't a cat either! Don't try to collar me! I'll burn it right off! Huh...?” Grim tried to summon his flames but nothing happened when he did, “Wh-what gives? My fire ain't workin'!”
“Until I deign to remove that collar, you won't be using any magic. You're naught but a pet cat now,” Riddle explained with a self-satisfied grin.
Sucks to be you, Grim, Heather thought, fighting the urge to smile like Riddle currently was.
“M-meoWHAT?! I ain't nobody's pet-nothing!” Grim protested, trying in vain to tear the collar off.
“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 responded as he put his pen back in its holder.
“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,” Azul spoke up. Heather couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at Azul’s slip-up.
“Forrester! Was I not clear that you are expected to take responsibility for your familiar?” Crowley asked with a scowl, “Now discipline your—”
“How many times do I have to say it?! That beast isn’t mine!” Heather shouted, startling everyone in the room.
“What's that? It isn't yours?” Crowley asked, genuinely confused.
“I've told you repeatedly that it isn't mine!” Heather answered angrily.
“Oh...Is that so?” Crowley wondered aloud, as if the fact was just now sinking in. After clearing his throat he went on, “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.”
With that, a couple of school staff took a hold of the still-collared Grim and took him away.
“Nooooo! Let me gooooo! You fools better remember my name! Cause I'm gonna go down in the annals of magic history! Just you wait!” Grim shouted in vain as he disappeared out of the main door in the grip of his faculty guards.
“Good riddance,” Heather thought out loud, “Still, I wonder why he’s so desperate to stay here?”
“Well, that was quite the unexpected fracas. I hereby declare that orientation has concluded. Housewardens, please escort your students back to the dorms,” Crowley said as he dusted off his suit. He then took another look around the room, “...Hm? Come to think of it, I don't see Housewarden Draconia of Diasomnia Dorm anywhere.”
“And that surprises you? Dude's a total recluse,” the lion-boy answered grumpily.
“Wait a sec... Did anyone even invite him?” the white-haired boy wondered aloud.
“If you're that worried about him missing out, maybe you should have told him yourself,” the pretty blonde suggested to the white-haired boy.
“Maybe, but I don't know him too well either...” the white-haired boy trailed off, Heather picking up on strong feelings of uncertainty from him. At that moment, several other students around the room began talking amongst themselves again.
“Draconia... Like, Malleus Draconia? That Draconia?”
“So it's true? He really does go to school here?”
“Yikes.”
What could possibly be so bad about this Malleus guy that it’s got everyone so worked up? Heather wondered to himself, sensing a great deal of fearful reverence and just straight up fear from most people in the room. It was at that moment that a very short boy with bright red eyes and black hair with pink streaks spoke up. At his hip was a pen topped with a lime green crystal.
“Ah. Just as I'd expected. I figured I'd come down and see for myself whether Malleus had made an appearance. But once again, he was evidently not informed that his presence was required at an official ceremony,” the boy spoke up.
What the hell? This guy looks like he’s half my age but sounds like an old man! Heather thought as his eyes became wide as saucers.
“You have my sincerest apologies. I assure you, this oversight was in no way intended as a snub,” Azul said remorsefully, though Heather secretly doubted the sincerity of his claim.
“I mean, you must admit, he's not exactly the easiest person to strike up a conversation with,” Riddle said.
“No matter. All who were assigned to Diasomnia Dorm, follow me. I just hope he doesn't sulk about this,” the deep-voiced boy turned to face a group of students who presumably received such a house assignment. The group gathered around him and followed him out of the room. One by one, other groups of students gradually left the Mirror Chamber until only Heather and Crowley remained.
“Well, Forrester. This is a most unfortunate turn of events. I'm afraid that you will not be attending Night Raven Collage after all. Surely you realize that I cannot very well admit a student with no magical ability to my academy,” Crowley spoke up after the doors had shut.
“Something doesn’t sit right with me about the mirror’s assessment though… I feel like if I really didn’t have magic, it would have said so. So, what’s this deal about it being unable to tell if I have it or not? I feel like something like that should be pretty cut and dry” Heather asked.
“But worry not. The Dark Mirror will see you safely home,” Crowley approached one of the gates and opened the lid, gesturing for Heather to step inside, “Now, step into the gate, and visualize the place you whence you came.”
“So much for an answer,” Heather grumbled as he got inside the gate, wondering if he would get the time to get to the bottom of this mystery. Once Heather stepped completely inside, Crowley shut the door behind him.
“O Dark Mirror! Return this soul to where it belongs!” Crowley declared. As he said this, Heather closed his eyes and focused on his parents’ house. Despite how hard he focused though, it felt as though nothing was happening.
Are you sure this thing works? Heather wondered as a long silence passed.
“L-let us, er...try this again,” Crowley finally said after clearing his throat, finally breaking the silence, “O Dark Mirror! Return this soul—”
“There is no such place,” the Mirror finally spoke up. Heather opened eyes in shock.
“What?” Crowley asked, stunned as Heather was.
“There is no place in this world where this soul belongs. None,” the Mirror responded.
“No point in staying in there then…” Heather trailed off as he stepped out of the gate.
“How can that be? My, but today is a veritable cavalcade of impossible phenomena!” Crowley wailed, though the Mirror had no response for him.
“This has never happened throughout my long tenure. I must confess that I am at something of a loss,” Crowley admitted after regaining his composure and turning to face Heather, “Tell me: From what land do you hail?”
“Oh sure, I’m from the United States,” Heather answered. Though I don’t think I’m on Earth anymore…what did they call this world? Twisted Wonderland? Though Crowley seemed just as confused as Heather was at that moment.
“I'm afraid I am not familiar with such a place. I am intimately acquainted with the origins of every student who has ever come here, and yet...” Crowley trailed off, lost in thought, “This mysterious homeland of yours eludes me. Let us go to the library and look it up, shall we?”
With that Crowley turned to leave the Mirror Chamber and Heather followed closely behind, the two making their way back to the library.
Once in the library, Heather decided to wait while Crowley, who was far more familiar with the library and its contents than Heather was, poured over book after book after book, trying to find any information on Heather’s home.
“Just as I'd suspected. Nothing. Not only is your homeland not listed on any map from any point in history, but there’s also no other record of it at all,” Crowley said, putting the book he was reading through down in a massive pile that had quickly built up during the search. Heather sighed in disappointment.
“Wish I could say I’m surprised…” Heather thought out loud.
“Now, are you quite sure that you come from such a place? That wasn't some sort of lie, or jape?” Crowley asked sternly, having crossed his arms.
“Did it sound like I was making it up to you?” Heather retorted irritably.
“Because if so, the only explanation is that you've come from another planet. Or perhaps you were summoned here from another dimension?” Crowley suggested.
“To be perfectly honest, I had a feeling that was the case. You called this world Twisted Wonderland instead of Earth, after all,” Heather pointed out, feeling some sense of relief that the two of them were on the same page to an extent.
“Show me everything that you brought here with you. Do you have some form of identification, a driver's license perhaps?” Crowley asked. At that, Heather began rifling through his pockets in a desperate attempt to find his wallet and smartphone. Despite his thorough search, he came up empty.
“You seem a tad bit...empty-handed,” Crowley pointed out.
“I swear I had my wallet and smartphone in my pockets when I left my house this morning. But now they’re gone,” Heather said, sighing heavily in disappointment.
“Well, this is quite the predicament,” Crowley said contemplatively, crossing his arms and resting his chin on the back of his index finger.
“You don’t say,” Heather grumbled, crossing his arms in frustration.
“I cannot have someone with no aptitude for magic bumbling about my magic academy. And yet, as an educator, I am loath to expel a young person without a cent to their name, or any ability to contact their guardian.... Truly, my grace is boundless," Crowley mused out loud.
“Not that the ability to contact my parents would do me any good, seeing as they’re dead,” Heather muttered to himself. At this point I would just like a place where I can sleep in relative peace. I'm exhausted. At that moment though, an idea seemed to strike Crowley.
“There is a vacant building on this campus. It was, in fact, used as a dorm a long time ago. With a proper cleaning, it should be habitable enough. Out of the profound kindness of my heart, I will allow you to live there for the time being,” Crowley said, proud of himself.
“It’s better than nothing, I suppose,” Heather said, as he and Crowley turned to leave the library.
“In the meantime, we will investigate other ways to send you home. Dear me, but I am a gracious man indeed! A model educator, one might say,” Crowley beamed as he led Heather out of the library and towards the place he had in mind.
“A truly gracious and kind person doesn’t need to constantly announce it,” Heather snarked, but once again, his complaints fell on deaf ears.
“Well then, I shall take you to your dorm straight away. It is an older building, but it has plenty of...character, one might say,” Crowley said, still beaming as if he were the pinnacle of kindness and decency. Heather paused for a moment, as Crowley’s words hit him.
What the hell does he mean by that?