And I came to the conclusion that I want to quit drawing. I have a terrible job and I don't have time to draw, and when I do have time, I don't see the point in drawing. Like, I can just imagine a picture in my head and calm down. Because I understand that even if I draw something, in the process I'll come to the conclusion that "nobody really needs it". Because my last works didn't get any response at all. (Yes, the situation is better on Tumblr, but still...)
Maybe the decision to quit drawing is temporary, I don't know... I'm just tired.
Sorry if you follow this blog for the art, maybe there won't be any more here.
(And once again, sorry for any mistakes - English not my native language)
What the Headmages say in the background in Episode 8-39
I'm sure many of you could hear Crowley and Ambrose continuing to announce the other students in the background after we get the little in-game PV of the main characters taking part in the first event of Book 8! I decided to try to decipher it for fun.
Since this is all to do with listening, and I may not know nuances outside of my personal languages, I cannot guarantee these are 100% correct, but I hope they bring a bit of joy to those who like to have a bit more worldbuilding. If you've come up with your own conclusions as to how you'd spell/pronounce/reference the name, feel free to comment!
NRC Students
From Pomefiore: クレール・フォンテーヌ
Clair(e) Fontaine. This one was fairly straight forward. My first thought was to go masculine with "Clair," but since "Fontaine" seems to be feminine (and some of the boys have "traditionally femme" names anyway), added "Claire."
From Scarabia: ルシアン・ベノア
Lucien Benoit. Also fairly straight forward. At first, I had chosen "Lucian" but after a bit of research, since the last name seemed to have French origins, I decided to go with the "Lucien" spelling.
From Ignihyde: タリス・フェリス
Thales Ferris. This was the first one to give me a bit of a headache. At first, I misheard and thought it said "Charis" which would have been cool, as either a reference to the Charities, or Charon. Once I plugged headphones in and listened to Crowley on loudspeaker ASMR, I could hear the "ta" sound better. While phonetically, he is saying "talis/taris," I couldn't find anything that I thought would suit Ignihyde. I quickly came across Thales (ta-re-su, instead of ta-ri-su), who was a philosopher, mathematician, astronomer, and engineer. Since we have a few other names that aren't a one-for-one of Japanese to English ("Dia" being spelled out as Dire, or "Cate" being spelled out as Cater, as examples) I thought this small difference could be forgiven.
RSA Students
Quick disclaimer: I will be "naming" the RSA dorms here, but they may not be accurate. Please take those names with a grain of salt until they are revealed in-game.
From Privalor: ティム・カンバァ
Tim Kambaa. Fairly straight forward. Feels like a very obvious reference to Timon and Pumbaa.
From Rosa Auroria: オリバー・マーチフィルド
Oliver Marchfield. Another straight forward one. With "olive" -> "green", "march" -> "spring", and "field" -> "grassy", I'm leaning towards this referencing Fauna of the Three Fairies.
From Rosa Auroria: ウィンター・ブレスヴェル
Winter Blesswell. This one was another headscratcher for me. But in the end, I feel like this may be a reference to Merryweather, since she was the blue fairy (maybe "winter" -> "blue?") and also it was her blessing that altered Aurora's curse, so she "Blessed Well."
From Psykheros: シルビー・コンスティン
Sylvie Constin. This feels straight forward, as well. The first thought I had towards this was either "Constantine" or "constellation." The latter may be more likely, but I have no comment on who it could be referencing. I've seen people say Phil, perhaps, because "Look, that's Phil's boy."
From Psykheros: ヴェガ・アレンビー
Vega Allenby. I know this isn't their intention, but after typing out that last name, I found a Gundam character with that as her first name, so Allenby it became. When I first heard the name, I thought I heard "Mega" instead of "Vega" and I almost gaslit myself into worrying that our silhouette wasn't going to be Megara. Popping headphones in really does help.
The Throne of Vengeance and Sorrow, the Savanaclaw Halloween zine, has been released on itch.io! Please note that while the page may have a quarantine warning, the download is absolutely safe.
A big thanks to @aivy-saur for her cover page!
Still Infallible, Until Tangible - Leona Kingscholar Full Song Lyrics
Just past the closing door,
I can hear a cheerful tune.
The wavering voices are so far away,
That even the shadows have scattered.
Beyond these repeating nights,
After constant insatiable longing,
Even arrogance becomes my shield.
A dying light, an unchanging world,
It's all still infallible.
No matter how many times I reach out my hand,
Each time I grasp only nothing.
If that's the case, it should just turn to sand.
Even these fantasies that cling to me,
Are too blinding and unbearable.
If everything could just stay insincere,
That'd be just fine, I'd deride.
An elusive light, a twisted gaze,
That infallibility of theirs.
They lay out all the reasons to blame others,
So, each time a back was turned on me, I gripped my fists,
Thinking everything should just turn to sand.
I for one am Leona’s self appointed wife and I would love to see you do a breakdown!
Leona Kingscholar: A Deeper Look into Depression
Disclaimer: Although this post is written by a professional psychologist, it is not intended to serve as a formal diagnosis. Rather, it is a character analysis of Leona Kingscholar, created out of personal interest and passion for world-building. In psychological practice, accurate assessment should never be based solely on external observation.
Leona Kingscholar is the housewarden of Savanaclaw Dorm. As second prince of the Sunset Savanna (a prosperous kingdom). Leona himself often appears lazy and apathetic. According to lore, Leona was raised in the royal family alongside an older brother, Falena. From childhood he was “constantly compared to and upstaged” and treated as inferior simply for being born second - and these dynamics fostered deep resentment. At home, Leona perceives that “no matter what he does, he would never become the best nor have the opportunity to become king”. At first, he refused to enroll at Night Raven College (NRC) since he already learnt everything from royal tutors during his childhood, however, after Cheka’s birth he accepted the invitation because he was feeling suffocated. Within the narrative, Leona initially serves as a proud antagonist, being portrayed as talented and perceptive, but he frequently shirks effort. Symbolically, Leona represents the lion’s prideful and dominant traits twisted by frustration and sloth: outwardly grandiose and competitive, yet inwardly demoralized by his past.
Personality and Trauma
Leona’s outward demeanor is arrogant, domineering, and prideful. Character summaries note that he tends not to waste his energy on those he deems inferior and puts little to no effort into activities that don’t interest him, especially his studies. He is smart and magically powerful, but also notoriously lazy - even repeating a school year due to low attendance. Psychologically, this combination suggests a grandiose façade masking deeper issues. When challenged or when his pride is at stake, Leona becomes fiercely competitive and ruthless; he strives to achieve victory through any means necessary, even resorting to underhanded tactics to prove himself a worthy leader. This behavior reveals a fragile ego: he boasts and belittles others to compensate for inner insecurity.
Behind his arrogance lies a history of personal trauma. Growing up as the second prince in a powerful family, Leona was continually compared unfavorably to his elder brother. He describes Falena as “carefree” and remembers being treated as inferior simply for birth order. This chronic dethronement instilled in him a sense of learned helplessness: he eventually felt that no matter what he did, he would never become the best nor have the opportunity to become king. In his own words, Leona admits that once this belief took hold, “he now sees no reason to work hard” since his status “will stay the same no matter what”. Such statements indicate enduring feelings of futility and defeat. His royal lineage should have granted him confidence, but instead seems to have created a persistent sense of inadequacy. Even as a dorm student, he remains emotionally tied to his identity as a “prince” denied a throne, seeking in NRC the respect and power he lacked at home.
Leona’s family and social experiences have thus shaped a complex personality. His boasting about his power and disdain masks envy and unprocessed hurt. For example, in a birthday vignette he vented about his brother’s patronizing gifts - “It’s the same with my brother… he’s gotta be the caring big brother… he’s gonna run our kingdom into the ground” - exposing bitterness and frustration. In the dorm, Leona often withdraws when stressed (hiding in the gardens to nap undisturbed) but can explode in anger if pushed. Overall, Leona oscillates between grandiosity and resentment, a dynamic that foreshadows deeper psychological distress.
What Is Depression?
Clinical depression is a mood disorder defined by pervasive low mood and loss of interest or pleasure, accompanied by other cognitive and physical symptoms. According to the DSM-5, a major depressive episode requires at least two weeks during which the person experiences a depressed mood or markedly diminished interest nearly every day, plus at least four additional symptoms. These symptoms include significant changes in appetite or weight, sleep disturbance (insomnia or hypersomnia), psychomotor agitation or retardation, fatigue or loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, diminished ability to think or concentrate, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. Clinicians must also verify that symptoms cause significant distress or impairment and are not better explained by another condition. DSM-5 recognizes subtypes (e.g. melancholic depression).
Modern theories highlight cognitive and learning factors in depression. Aaron Beck’s cognitive model describes a negative cognitive triad: depressed individuals hold persistent negative beliefs about themselves, their world, and their future. They may think “I’m worthless,” “the world is hostile,” and “the future is hopeless,” often accompanied by cognitive distortions such as all-or-nothing thinking and catastrophizing. Learned helplessness theory (Martin Seligman) similarly proposes that depression can arise when people perceive a lack of control over outcomes. If a person repeatedly experiences uncontrollable stressors, they may begin to believe that efforts are futile, leading to helplessness and hopelessness. In clinical terms, depression is thus both a syndrome of affective symptoms and a style of thinking that includes feelings of helplessness and pessimism.
For example, cognitive theory predicts that someone who feels “unlovable, helpless, and doomed” will become withdrawn and demoralized. Learned helplessness theory specifically notes that clinical depression may result from a real or perceived absence of control over the outcome of a situation. Both perspectives emphasize how persistent negative interpretations (about self and environment) and perceived failure to influence one’s destiny contribute to depressive states. Additional frameworks (such as hopelessness theory) build on these ideas, but fundamentally depression involves enduring maladaptive beliefs and emotions about the self and life circumstances.
Leona’s Depression
Leona’s behavior and spoken words strongly suggest the presence of clinical depression, as understood by DSM criteria and cognitive theories. In Book 2 of Twisted-Wonderland, Leona explicitly expresses hopelessness and worthlessness. When taunted that he could never rule like Malleus, Leona responds with manic laughter and despair: “You’re EXACTLY right… I will never become king. No matter how hard I try!”. Moments later, he screams that he’s been “loathed since the day I was born,” has “never had a place, never had a future,” and that “none of his hard work is ever rewarded!” (quotes directly taken from Book 2). These proclamations reveal classic cognitive symptoms of depression: a negative view of the self (“loathed since birth”); a belief in a bleak, unalterable future (“will never become king”); and a sense that the world is unfairly punishing him (“hard work never rewarded”). In Beckian terms, Leona’s statements exemplify the negative triad - he sees himself as unworthy, the world as hostile or dismissive, and the future as hopeless. Furthermore, his assertion that “no matter how hard I try, I will never… king” is characteristic of learned helplessness: he perceives total lack of control over his destiny.
Behaviorally, Leona also exhibits symptoms aligning with depression. He is persistently fatigued and unmotivated: he skips classes and naps in secluded spots (e.g. botanical gardens) rather than engage with others. He puts minimal effort into schoolwork unless his pride is challenged, implying anhedonia (loss of interest) in most activities. His irritability and outbursts (as in the overblot scene) can be seen as expressions of underlying agitation or emotional dysregulation common in depression. While the game does not detail his sleep or appetite patterns (with exception of his naps, which could be a symptom of hypersomnia), he clearly meets several affective criteria: pervasive dysphoria, low energy, and feelings of worthlessness, persisting over time. It is plausible that Leona’s mood disturbance would qualify as at least a Major Depressive Episode under DSM-5, given the severity and thematic centrality of these symptoms. If not full-criteria MDD, he may fit a chronic depressive condition (such as persistent depressive disorder), since his hopeless outlook appears long-standing.
In terms of psychological theory, Leona’s profile fits both Beck’s and Seligman’s models of depression. He exhibits Beck’s negative cognitive triad: for example, he believes he is unworthy and unchangeable and he regards the world as incapable of understanding or helping him. Such rigid, pessimistic beliefs about himself and the future likely reinforce his despair. He also epitomizes learned helplessness. Repeated early experiences of uncontrollable failure (being beaten by his brother despite trying) have led him to a stable attributional style: he expects defeat as inevitable, so he sees no reason to work hard - and exactly because of this he cheats in Book 2, hurting his opponents and even raiding the stadium.Leona’s coping strategies are largely avoidant or compensatory. He copes by distraction and avoidance: he physically removes himself from stress (hiding from chores or skipping class) and by sarcastically deflecting emotional questions. He also asserts control through dominance: insisting on becoming housewarden so he need not “answer to small fry”. However, these strategies are ultimately maladaptive: avoidance lets his core issues fester, and domineering behavior alienates potential support. Notably, when his isolation is broken (for example by Riddle’s intervention), he unleashes his signature spell (The King’s Roar) that nearly puts his classmates in danger. This disastrous outburst reflects an inability to regulate overwhelming negative emotion - a hallmark of depression-exacerbated behavior.
