Chapter 7: The Angel becomes a Student
At the mirror chamber, Crowley stares at the first years in shock
"Pardon?! You're telling me you actually went to the Dwarfs' Mine in search of a magestone?"
The first years stares at him "Uh...? Yes?
" I didn't expect that you'd seriously do it. And never in my wildest imaginings did I think you would actually return with a magestone!
And here I spent all evening preparing your expulsion documents."
Deuce, Ace and Grim glared at him
" Are you serious?! While we were fightin' some crazy monster for you, you were expelling us?!"
" Yeah. There was a monster, all right.
A big, nasty one. It nearly killed us!"
Ace said as he tapped his foot impatiently
Crowley then turned serious "Would you kindly relate this story in full? "
" Hmmm. So a mysterious monster was living in the mines. And the four of you worked together to destroy it, and then brought its magestone back to me?"
" I don't know that I'd call it 'working together.' " Ace said and was met with a jab at his side by [Name], who was staring at him with calm threatening eyes
" It was more like we just happened to share the same goal at the same time..." Deuce added,
Crowley, wide eyed, started tearing up " Oh, gracious... Ohhh... Ohhhhhhhh!"
He then sobbed as Grim stared at him, weirded out "What is this guy's deal?! Burstin' into tears in public? At this age?!"
" In all the decades I've worked at this school... The day has finally come when the students of Night Raven College have joined hands together to defeat a common foe!"
[Name] sweat dropped at this " Just how old are you exactly Headmage..? "
"Whoa! No! No way would I join hands with that guy!" Deuce says as he crossed his arms
Ace then cringed " Okay, one, there was no joining of hands. Gross. And two, just as [Name] said, exactly HOW old are you, headmage?"
"At this moment, I am moved beyond words. This incident has proven my hopes were justified." He then turned to [Name] clasping his hands around hers " [Name], my doubts are allayed! For you... You possess the talents of a beastmaster!"
" A what now?—No what exactly is the talent here..?"
" My students have all been selected by the Dark Mirror for their exceptional talent and potential—But great talent begets great pride and big egos!—Most are so self-reliant and self-centered that they never even consider cooperating with others."
Grim then shrugged " You make it sound like that's a bad thing."
Crowley ignored him and continued to speak " But you, [Name], possess no magic. Yet in spite of that - or perhaps because of it - you were able to convince those who CAN use magic to work together for a common goal.
The everyday, humdrum mundanity you possess may be exactly what Night Raven College needs!"
" That sounds more exhausting than cleaning.. " she muttered as she sweatdrops,
" But... none of those words are good things?" Ace asked but got no answer f
Crowley's hand even got tighter hold on [Name]'s " [Name]...I am convinced that people like you are necessary for the future of this school. My educator's intuition tells me so.
Trappola, Spade - I hereby revoke your pending expulsions!" The two freshman smiled in relief
" Furthermore, [Name]...I am granting you the qualifications necessary to attend at Night Raven College!"
The other three shouted " WHAT?!"
" Headmage, as much as I am err.. grateful that I have been accepted, I don't think I'm that qualified seeing that I don't even have magic..Why not have Grim as your student instead..?" she says trying to get out of the Headmage's grip
" Of course. This is extraordinarily kind of me. However, there is one condition. Your inability to use magic is, for a mage, unacceptable. You would not be able to adequately pursue the school's curriculum!"
Your actions today have made it clear that you possess sufficient talent to become a mage.
In light of the total sum of your respective circumstances, you and [Name] will share a single enrollment at Night Raven College."
" Myah! I... I'll get to go to this school...? As an actual student? Not a janitor?!" Grim said with joy, The headmage nodded at him "Correct. However! There must be no further incidents like the one that occurred today. Are we clear?" He says, finally letting go of [Name]'s hand, Grim ran to [Name], teary-eyed
" Myah... Myah... [Name], I... I finally..."
She then chuckled softly " I suppose your dream of becoming the strongest mage in the world has begun it's turn" she says as she vent down to hug him and Grim ran straight to her arms,
" MYAAAAAH! I FINALLY DID IT!"
" Accordingly, I will now present to Grim the magestone that is issued to every student here."
A collared magistone appeared " It is typically attached to the "magic pen" that each student uses. But I suspect your paws cannot handle implements.
Therefore, I have a custom solution for you. Is it possible that I am, in fact, too kind?"
" Ah yes, so kind indeed headmage" [Name] said sarcastically
" Ah, sweet! I look awesome! A magestone collar, to be worn only by the legendary archmage, Grim!"
"You're not listening to anything I say, are you? [Name]. As you can plainly see, Grim remains oblivious to the customs of human society.
You are to keep a tight rein on Grim, and ensure there are no further incidents!"
Ace then smiled at the scene " Wow, that's quite the promotion. From janitor to student to prefect, all in the span of a day."
" Oh, I see. So if your dorm is just you two...
And the headmage himself is putting you in charge of Grim, that makes you... the dorm prefect."
" Well, that's gotta be a Night Raven first! A magic-less prefect?
But sure, why not? Whatever works!"
" I'll be doing my best then"
" Haha! That's the spirit prefect! "
" Ah, Yes. I suppose that does make you a prefect. I just so happen to have a job for you, and that title will make it all the easier to foist... er, I mean, congratulations! Now, I have something for you.
This is called a ghost camera."
" Ooh, my grandma's told me about those. Those are, like, super old magic items, right?" Ace said as he tilted his head
The headmage then coughed awkwardly " I would hardly consider them "super old"... ahem. But it may indeed have been invented when your great or great-great grandmother was a child."
" It's a camera enchanted with a special kind of magic.
It enables the user to photograph not just the subject's physical form, but parts of their soul itself."
" Wait, that sounds... sketchy." Deuce says
" They're called Memories.
Here's the thing: when the soulbond between photographer and subject deepens... The Memories captured in this magic camera's photos come jumping out!"
"When the photographer and subject grow closer, their photographs grow animated like videos...
And sometimes the photographs take on corporeal form and slip out. Is that not what you youths would call "wicked keen"?"
Deuce sweatdropped at this " That almost sounds like ghost photography!"
The headmage nodded " Very astute. Hence the name "ghost camera".
I understand it was developed as a more vivid way to capture moments in time, in an age before video."
" As Spade observed, in days of yore, when people saw Memories jumping out of photos, they would get spooked and yell, "Ghost!"
I've heard many a tale of people who were deathly scared of being photographed by such cameras."
" This tech sounds like way more trouble than it's worth." Ace shrugged
" [Name]. I would like you to photograph Grim and the other students with this camera, and make a record of your campus life."
Grim then chuckled smugly " Myah ha haaa! Sounds like the perfect way to immortalize all my finest moments!"
" Ahem... Make especially certain to capture the mischief caused by certain students who struggle with impulse control. Keeping a photographic journal sounds far less tedious than writing me lengthy reports, wouldn't you agree?"
" As a prefect, consider it your duty to maintain a sharp eye on your surroundings and record them."
Crowley then smiled proudly, no, smugly " Note how generous I'm being in providing a rare magical item that even someone like yourself can use.
Is my kindness not beyond all reckoning?
"I'll be giving my all then Headmage"
"The hour has grown late, so further details shall have to wait till the morrow.
You are all dismissed. Return to your dorms."
Deuce then nodded " Good night, sir!"
"Phew... We managed to avoid expulsion. That was a close one!" Deuce says as he finally let out a sigh of relief
"Yeah, no kidding!" Ace responded
I'm a student at Night Raven College! La la la!
I'm gonna be the top mage on campus in no time. Enjoy eating my dust, boys!"
"Alright now Grim they might get scared" [Name] says with a small smile
"Big words for a sentient pile of lint who's literally only half a student.
Still... Good for you." Ace says, ignoring what she said
"I guess we're schoolmates now. Grim, [Name] — welcome to Night Raven."
"How sweet of you Deuce, careful now, I might fall for ya" she teased as he immediately flushed,
" Lucky asshat" ace muttered as he looks to the side,
"Okay, seriously, can we quit it with that stuff?" Ace says, annoyed
" Heh. We'll be seeing each other all the time now. We'll see what a pleasure that turns out to be." Deuce says as he gets out of his flushed state, and then turning to ace
" Especially you, Ace, since we're in the same dorm."
" Yeaaah, can't say I'm jazzed to see your smug, self-important scowl every day." Ace joked,
" Better than your lazy, dopey grin." Deuce responded
Ace then sarcastically laughed " Keep bawling, crybaby. I haven't forgotten how you almost wept when he said you were expelled. Catch ya later, Angel!" He says to [Name] as the two went to a different direction
"Cutie..? Seriously? That's some flirting techniques you got there Ace" Deuce muttered
"Those two seem like they're made for each other." [Name] said as she chuckled
"C'mon Minion! let's get back to the dorm!"
" Tomorrow when we wake, it won't be as janitors. Finally, finally...
My glorious education as a proper Night Raven College student is about to begin!"
" I'll be supporting you then, as your minion right? "
" Right! " Grim responded as he purred at her nuzzles
Finally... Done... With.. the.. prologue...*dies* (don't worry I'll get revived)
