Chapter Text
Shattered Glass
Chapter 1: The Missing Shroud Brother
The Mirror Chamber had never been known for its warmth.
Tall stained glass windows filtered in fractured light, scattering jeweled colors across the marble floor. It was meant to be a place of order. Ceremony. Structure.
Which was precisely why the absence felt so loud.
A meeting had been called for all Housewardens in preparation for the upcoming Entrance Ceremony. Attendance was mandatory.
Of course, Housewarden Shroud was missing.
An unfortunate Ignihyde student had already been dispatched to retrieve him. The instruction had been clear: no tablet, no holograms, physically present. This meeting mattered.
At the center of the chamber, the Housewardens stood in a loose formation.
“It’s been ten seconds,” Riddle Rosehearts snapped, checking his pocket watch with sharp irritation. “Now eleven. Where are they?”
Vil Schoenheit did not look up at first. He was inspecting his reflection in a compact mirror, adjusting a stray lock of hair with precise elegance.
“Riddle, dear, calm down,” Vil said smoothly. “That much anger is going to cause wrinkles.”
His violet eyes flicked upward, annoyance slipping through his polished composure.
“Besides, of course he would be late. That boy practically lives in exile. He just left.”
The last word carried more bite than usual.
From the far corner, Kalim Al-Asim perked up, hands clasped together in sudden inspiration.
“Oh! Maybe I should go help out!”
Before anyone could object, he darted out of the chamber, practically glowing with enthusiasm.
Leona Kingscholar let out a low chuckle from where he leaned against a pillar.
“Well, well. The energetic bird’s flown the nest,” he drawled, golden eyes half-lidded with amusement.
These meetings always interrupted his naps. It was mildly entertaining when chaos made them run late.
Or when certain people simply failed to show up.
Riddle’s foot tapped sharply against the marble.
“This is unacceptable.”
The stained glass light shifted again, casting fractured shadows across their faces.
Somewhere in the depths of Ignihyde, something felt… off.
And Housewarden Shroud was nowhere to be found. Azul Ashengrotto smiled that sly smile he always has when something spikes his interest he simply looked up "my it seems shroud has gone missing again" malleus draconia looked over he simply thought the son of the shroud family missing? that sounds like my future husband went no malleus play it cool this is an arranged marragie nothing more.
FEW HOURS LATER
MEANWHILE WITH KALIM
he was walking he had gotten lost because he chased after a cat he found and now he is here a dark hallway and it was cold he eventually saw light so he ran until he passed a door he smelled it rotting it was disgusting like when you leave a cow to rot away it smelled like burnt oil and metal kalim covered his noise it bled a little kalim's sensitive nose was caused because people liked too posion his food when he was younger.
he looked at the door and opened it and he nearly passed out from the smell and he looked down to see blood.