"Myah! It's a dead end!" Grim shrieked in horror upon seeing the corner of the room up ahead!
"Poor soul. Ran yourself straight into a corner, did you?" Azul smirked, feigning a pitiful look as the chase neared its end.
"I suggest you surrender. Otherwise…" Riddle pointed his jewel pen at the cat with a scowl.
"NO!" Grim shrieked and leapt between the students' feet, making a break for it. "I'm gettin' into this school, and that's FINAL!"
Grim dashed across the room, spotting a dark corner and charging straight for it—
Only to be intercepted.
Hoshi jumped out, catching the cat mid-sprint with a curtain that wrapped tightly around the squirming ball of fur.
Success. Finally.
With Grim caught, Riddle summoned a collar with a snap, glaring down. "The Queen of Hearts' Rule 23: One must never bring a cat to a formal affair. Your presence is in violation of order. You will vacate the premises immediately."
"But I ain't a cat either!" Grim hissed, struggling against the collar. "Don't try to collar me! I'll burn it right off! Huh…? Wh-what gives? My fire ain't workin'!"
He was right—his magic was completely suppressed. Grim tried again and again, but no flames came.
Hoshi blinked, glancing at the collar in confusion. Was that what blocked his magic?
"Until I remove that collar, you won't be using any magic," Riddle stated, cold and final. "You're naught but a pet cat now."
"M-meoWHAT?! I ain't nobody's pet—" Grim tried again to blast fire but failed, "—NOTHING!"
"Oh, you've nothing to worry about there. I have no interest in keeping you as one." Riddle sniffed, victorious. "The collar will vanish once you're removed from campus."
"Ha-HA! Good show as always, Riddle. Your signature spell locks down any magic. It's quite handy," Azul said, clapping lightly. "I've just GOT to have it—ah, I mean, I've just got to admire it."
Crowley arrived in a flurry, scolding immediately, "Hoshi! Was I not clear that you are expected to take responsibility for your familiar? Now discipline your—!"
"He's not my familiar," Hoshi responded firmly.
"What's that? Not yours?" Crowley blinked, startled to actually hear a response this time.
"I've told you already. He's not mine," Hoshi frowned, clearly annoyed.
"Oh… Is that so?" Crowley cleared his throat, adjusting his hat. "Then I shall have him expelled from campus. I shall even spare him from being served as dinner. My, but I am kind… Someone take this away, please."
At his order, a pair of ghosts appeared and dragged Grim out the window, curtain and all.
"Nooooo! Let me gooooo!" Grim yowled, "You fools better remember my name! 'Cause I'm gonna go down in the annals of magic history! Just you wait!"
"I feel kind of sorry for him," Hoshi murmured, frowning faintly. "But… why was he so desperate to stay here?"
"Well, that was quite the unexpected fracas. I hereby declare orientation concluded. Housewardens, please escort your students back to the dorms," Crowley announced. He paused as he counted: five students, and one tablet. "…Hm? Come to think of it, I don't see Housewarden Draconia of Diasomnia anywhere."
The lazy boy with the lion tail scoffed, "And that surprises you? Dude's a total recluse."
"Wait a sec… Did anyone even invite him?" the silver-haired boy asked.
"If you're so worried, maybe you should've told him yourself," the tall one muttered.
Silver shook his head. "Maybe… but I don't really know him that well, either…"
A ripple of hushed whispers echoed in the room. Hoshi picked out a few:
"Draconia… Like Malleus Draconia? THAT Draconia?"
"So it's true? He really does go here?"
"Yikes…"
Then, with a shimmer of light, a short figure materialized with glowing red eyes under his hood. He glanced around with an unimpressed sigh.
"Ah. Just as I expected. I figured I'd check if Malleus made an appearance. But, once again, it seems no one thought to tell him he was needed."
"You have my sincerest apologies. I assure you, this was not meant as a slight," Azul said with polite regret.
"I mean, you must admit, he's not exactly easy to approach," Riddle added.
The newcomer shook his head. "No matter. Diasomnia students, with me. I just hope he doesn't sulk about this."
Crowley cleared his throat and turned to Hoshi. "Well, Hoshi, this is… unfortunate. I'm afraid you will not be attending Night Raven College after all. Surely you understand I cannot admit a girl into an all-boys school."
"Hoshi?" the newcomer glanced at them in surprise.
Crowley blinked. "Ah, that's right, you only just arrived." He quickly filled the newcomer in.
"Do you perhaps know them?" Crowley asked, hopeful.
The boy frowned. "No, the name just sounded familiar. But I don't recall anyone like them. I'm sorry, Headmage."
Crowley sighed. "It's quite all right. But this is troubling. This child has no memories. Without a past, we have no choice but to turn them over to the magic authorities."
"I see…" The newcomer looked at Hoshi thoughtfully. "Perhaps they've heard of me? Does the name Lilia Vanrouge mean anything?"
A sudden twinge. Hoshi winced, rubbing at their temple. "…Sorry. It… My head feels blank."
Then—
"I do remember a few words, though…"
Crowley leaned in. "Oh? What do you remember?"
"Light. Judge. Villains. Keyblade. Mother. Ball. And… Mel and Le—Revan?"
Lilia's eyes lit up. "Is that all?"
Hoshi nodded. "Y-Yes…"
After a pause, Lilia turned to Crowley. "Headmage, if I may… I'd like to bring them to Briar Valley. Perhaps someone there can help. We'll need time to arrange a visit, so they'll have to stay elsewhere first."
"Very well. I'll take them to the staff quarters for now. We'll meet in the library after the students settle in."
"Thank you," Lilia bowed.
"Briar… Valley?" Hoshi repeated quietly.
"Just hang tight for a bit," Lilia replied gently. "We'll figure something out."
"…Okay."
"Who is that guy?" students whispered.
"I don't know… Maybe our vice dorm leader? I heard Malleus Draconia's the actual dorm leader."
"With the way he just popped in, he must be strong."
A loud laugh erupted. "Of course! Sir Lilia as vice leader, and my liege as the dorm head—it's only natural!"
Hoshi turned at the voice, surprised. The speaker had sharp green eyes and slit pupils. Their gazes met, and he paused—struck by a strange, nostalgic feeling. Though he didn't recognize the face, it stirred something deep inside.
"Where did that kid even come from?"
"Seriously. No magic? No records?"
"Are they even from this world?"
"What's the Headmage thinking letting someone like that stay?"
"Whatever. As long as they don't bother me."
"Still… something about them gives me chills."
"Enough!" A whip cracked, silencing them all. A tall man in a fur-lined tuxedo glared.
Another teacher with a black cat muttered, "School hasn't even started and already there's nonsense."
A third staff member chuckled, his black-and-white hair gleaming. "We'll whip them into shape. I'll train these pups with treats and punishments."
The tall, handsome boy beside him sighed. "Day one and they're already getting in trouble. Just get them to the dorms before they embarrass themselves further."
Students flinched at the tone and quickly dispersed as Crowley waved them off. He turned back to Hoshi, expecting fear or at least concern. But the child only watched with eerie calm. No anger. No fear.
It unsettled him.
Despite everything, she—no, they—remained composed. And that made Crowley even more unsure of how to handle this.
A girl in an all-boys school. A mystery with no past. And no idea how the Board of Magic Education would react. If he turned the child away, would they accuse him of abandonment?!
What was he supposed to do?!