Chapter Text
Grey skies rolled in with clouds hanging overhead, covering the vibrant sunlight from reaching the ground.
Quiet streets with trees silently swaying to the side from neighboring houses.
A large school welcoming its students with its gates wide open.
Buildings, made from glass and steel, stretches to the heavens with impossible feats.
A small urban abode with its white walls and green roof welcoming back someone long forgotten.
"All of these sights..."
"All of these sights... I've seen them before..."
"I could've sworn I've seen them before. Yet,... I can't remember. Deep within my memories, I know no matter what distance it is, I'll never forget it no matter what."
"So nostalgic, yet so vague. Where... have I seen it before?"
Black rain fell from the sky, drowning the city in black. Faces emerge all seem to be familiar and unfamiliar. All of them were covered with black ink.
"Something feels wrong, but... those faces... those faces I know of... that I recognized... Friendly ones... Familiar ones... Yet, I can't remember. But. I wonder if this is just a dream or an illusion."
"Yet all I want to ask is..."
What is this place?
Where am I?
Who are all these people?
What's my name?
Who
am
I?
The bell rings, indicating that class was officially over. Students of the prestigious Night Raven College began to vacate the classroom leaving behind one particular student and a black cat.
"Fuyaaa~! I can't believe that teacher more homework!" Grim, the Direbeast of Ramshackle, whined as he jumped off from the desk. "Why do I have to do it?!"
"If you haven't slept in class again, Professor Trein and Lucius won't have done it at all." A student with black short hair and blue crystal eyes scolded the Direbeast. They shifted their black school uniform and grabbed their underneath the seat and make their way towards the door.
This is Yuu, the Magicless student of Ramshackle and its Prefect. They had been here for almost a year ever since they had arrived to Twisted Wonderland through the black carriage that stole them from their world and dropped them here. Through their time in this strange world, they made many friends, adventures, and faced challenges that the irritable headmage, Dire Crowley, decided to dump on them. All they ever desire was a way to go home. Back to their home world.
"You should be grateful that Professor Trein hasn't snapped yet." Yuu sighed. "Honestly, it's a miracle that you're still in class."
"Only because we're two-in-one student, henchman." Grim retorted. "You're the one who helps me show off my greatness."
"Yeah right, and you couldn't help but sleep during the lecture at all." A mocking tone reached Grim's flaming ears.
"Hey!"
Grim angrily turned around with Yuu giving off a tired sigh. Right beside them by the door was Ace with Deuce tagging along besides him. They were the first two friends Yuu made when he first arrived as well as partners-in-crime. Ace was more of a troublemaker as he has the tenacity to run his mouth at worst possible times and taunts Grim whenever he feels like it. Deuce, on the other hand, is more kinder but he tends act first than think later and it often lands him into trouble together with Ace.
"Oh, hey you two!" Yuu greeted them.
"We were just waiting for you!" Deuce greeted back with a smile. "Are you ready for Coach Vargas' class next?"
"Ugh, I can already feel my arms and legs falling off just thinking about it..." Ace groaned, dreading of the training regimes that their PE coach has in store.
"I can feel my paws aching." Grim muttered.
"You need exercise you know." Yuu said, leaning down and poking the Direbeast's stomach. "You're getting more rounder than usual lately."
"Hey, I can't help it if the cafeteria's food is so tasty!"
"And you eaten five cans of tuna afterwards if I recalled!"
"Come on you guys!" Deuce called out as he grabbed Ace's shirt. "We have to go!"
"H-Hey! Watch where you're pulling!" Ace stumbled at his classmate's hard grip.
Soon, the quartet made their way towards the locker room and began to change their clothes. Most of the boys, along with Ace, Deuce, and Grim had already changed and left. Yuu stayed behind when they stopped to look at themself in the mirror. They traced their body of the scars they had gotten from the seven Overblots. Sharp marks in the shape of thorns from Riddle on their lower rib , cracked skin from Leona on their left shoulder, suction cups around their neck by Azul, serpent bite marks on their feet by Jamil, purple-black bruise on their abdomen by Vil, scorched skin on their back by Idia and Ortho, and bags under their eyes from the dream spell casted by Malleus.
They looked down at their hands that held traces of the wounds that were inflicted when they were clearing the thorns from Malleus' overblot. They could still feel the stinging sensation when they grasped it to make a path.
"How would mom... or dad react seeing me... like this?" Yuu mumbled, thinking of their parents. Their reaction to seeing their child coming home, all scarred and nearly-broken.
They looked down at their hands again, only to see it holding blot, a dangerous byproduct of magic a mages use when they cast their spell.
Yuu blinked again to see if their eyes were playing tricks on them. They opened them and saw their hands were normal. They could have sworn they was holding it but-
"Hey Prefect!" Ace's voice shouted from the changing room entrance. "Vargas' about to make roll-call!"
"R-Right! Coming!" Yuu shouted. They would have to put it in the backburner for now. They immediately changed and rushed out of the room. They ran to the field where Ace and Grim were impatiently waiting for them.
"Where were you?" Ace asked.
"Sorry, I was trying to find my shirt." Yuu lied. He didn't like it but it was the only excuse he could have.
"Just be glad, Vargas doesn't catch you being late..." Ace sighed. "I'm not ready to run another marathon."
Unfortunately for Ace, the said coach had heard him. Yuu and Grim stood silent, staring at their teacher who was now standing behind Ace. The ginger who noticed their silence and their attention off from him could only deduct one thing.
"He's standing right behind me, isn't he?" Ace winced, turning around to see Vargas's smile and his bulging muscles.
"So, you say you're not ready to run a marathon, eh?" The coach smiled, causing a shiver to run down the Heartslaybul student's spine. "Well then, I guess I'll have to ante it a bit." He blew into his whistle, signaling everyone in the field. "All right everyone, do me fifty laps and do a hundred squats!"
Everyone, Yuu, Deuce, and Grim, slowly turned their heads and glared at Ace.
"Good going..." Grim spoke in a monotone voice.
"We can all die together." Yuu said.
"You reap what you sow." Deuce shook his head.
"Shut up!" Ace shouted.
Everyone soon began their fifty lap torture and their hundred squats. Ashton Vargas began to supervise them to see if anyone decided to deliberately slow down or jump up their numbers during their squats. He walked, inspecting each of the students before eying the specific students: Ace, Deuce, Grim, and Yuu.
For Ace, Vargas would have to admit the boy was a troublemaker and would often run his mouth at worst. With Deuce, he sense great potential in him as he can athletically compete in the track-and-field team with Jack. Grim on the other hand would need improvement. Vargas can see the belly the Direbeast had and could tell that Grim was slacking off once again. He would have to make the monster exercise harder to burn off that fat.
Then he looked towards Yuu, who was currently on their fifty-seventh squat. Vargas gave a look of pity seeing their skin losing pigment but also when he caught the glimpse of their scars on their neck and hands. The magicless student, who was only sixteen, had to face seven Overblots that could have been easily avoided. Unfortunately, Night Raven College is run by Dire Crowley who makes the word 'help' nonexistent with students who are full of themselves and are in desperate need of consoling. And to add insult to injury into a literal sense, it has been a year that the Headmage vowed to find a way to get Yuu home and the former did not even started the process at all. Divus Crewel, Mozus Trein, and Sam could agree with him that Yuu deserves much more than they actually have after everything they done for the school and the students.
Unaware of Vargas' stare, Yuu panted as they made it to their ninetieth squat. They closed their eyes and went to catch their breath. However, for some reason, breathing was getting harder as Yuu placed their hand towards their throat and began coughing. They brought their other hand to their mouth, trying to cover up something that was coming up. Soon, the coughing died down and the lump in their throat was gone. They took a few deep breathes and opened their eyes, only to find a worried Ace, Deuce, Grim, and Vargas with few witnesses in the background looking at them with murmurs.
"Yuu!" Deuce gazed down worryingly. "Are you all right?"
"You were coughing mad!" Grim exaggerated, but it was not false.
"I-I'm fine," Yuu replied to ease them. "I was trying to catch my breath, that's all."
"Like hell that doesn't seem like catching your breath, you literally look like you were chocking!" Ace argued.
"I said I'm fine, Ace!" Yuu snapped back but jolted when they felt a firm hand on their shoulder. They looked to see the owner of the hand, Coach Vargas, frowning at them. Not his usual frown when students tried to cheat in their exercise but rather one that expressed genuine concern.
"You should listen to your friends, young man. They're only looking out for you." Vargas said with his signature stern tone. "Your muscles and your body are strong but you should not overexert yourself."
"Tell that to the torture you just put us through..." Ace muttered, only to be elbowed by Deuce.
"Not the time!" Deuce scolded.
"Yuu," Vargas spoke to them again. "You should go to the infirmary and see Professor Crewel about it." He offered his hand and helped Yuu get up. "Go get changed and see him."
Yuu sighed, knowing that disagreeing would be a lost cause. "Okay." They soon began to walk back to the changing room, but stopped near Ace, Deuce, and Grim. "Don't worry about me, I'll be back."
As the Prefect of Ramshackle leave, Coach Vargas immediately blew his whistle, catching everyone's attention. "I see how you all still have some energy. Give me thirty more laps!"
Everyone groaned, knowing this would be the death of all of them.
Yuu entered the changing room and reached for their locker, they slowly began to change their clothes but stopped when they looked back at their scars again. They could feel the phantom pain of each scar they could trace with their hands. Their eyes gazed back at the mirror hanging by their locker observing their face.
"You're looking worst for wear, huh?" Yuu laughed dryly at their humor, watching the mirror reflect their tired expression. They gently place their fingers under their eyes, motioning the bags underneath them. Ever since Malleus' Overblot, sleep had been a struggle for them. Sometimes, they were unable to sleep at all and other times, they would receive nightmares that forced them to wake up instead.
"I just wish... I can go home..." Yuu muttered, wondering how his family was doing. He closed his eyes, trying to remember their faces.
A static memory, or a dream, formed in their mind of a mother and small boy welcoming Yuu back home from school.
Smiles filled their faces, lifeless eyes (scratched out) staring down at his soul, black ink spilling from their mouths.
Yuu's eyes snapped open and found themselves back in the changing room. They panted heavily as they placed their hand on top of their head when they began to feel immense pain.
"W-What's going on..." Yuu grunted, clutching their head. "Why- Why can't I..."
They tried to recall that certain scene but the pain intensified.
"Why can't I... remember..." Yuu gritted their teeth before they coughed harshly again. "Damn it... I need to see Crewel..."
Yuu began to walk but stumbled onto a wall. They winced as their body made direct contact. They coughed again, covering their mouth with their hand. They hastily left the changing room unaware the evidence they left behind.
A single drop of red and black.
The class for the seniors was already over and students were now flocking out from the room. Cater and Trey were in the halls discussing about their next plans.
"Yo, Trey!" Cater shouted to his friend and dormmate, showing his phone to him. "I just found this store in Port Town that's selling all kinds of cooking utensils. Think about taking a peek?"
"Perhaps," Trey smiled, liking the offer. "-but I do have my own tools still in top shape back in the dorm. I'll see if I could use something new or need replacing when I have the chance."
Suddenly, they were interrupted by panting noises. The two Heartslaybul seniors turned towards the source of the sound to see Yuu, planting their hand by the column for support. Noticing something was wrong, Trey and Cater immediately went to the Prefect's side and helped them.
"Hey Yuu!" Cater said offering them a hand to get them straighten up. "What happened to you?"
"It's not normal seeing you out of class," Trey saw Yuu's drenched face, full of sweat. He knew that they had Vargas' class along with Ace, Deuce, and Grim and the teacher does not tolerate anyone who skips out on leg day. "Did something happened?"
"I'm... just dizzy, that's all." Yuu reassured them by forcing a smile. Cater, however, caught on what they were trying to do.
"Yuu-Yuu don't try to hide it, it's obvs that you look terrible." Cater said. "Come on, I'll take you to the infirmary." He then hoisted Yuu's arm around his neck.
"I'll come along as well, just to be sure that you arrived their safely." Trey joined.
They began to escort Yuu down the halls in a slow, steady pace, making sure they don't lose their grip. The infirmary was on the second floor and the stairs were a couple steps and turns away.
"Say, Prefect," Cater decided to ask Yuu a question. "What do you usually do before you came here?"
"Huh?" Yuu was confused by Cater's question. Did he meant before class or before the start of the day? "You mean before class or-"
"I mean before you came to Twisted Wonderland." Cater clarified. "You must have some hobbies that you still do right?"
Yuu silently stared at their upperclassmen, bewildered. Cater, well more importantly, everyone in Night Raven College knew that Yuu is not from Twisted Wonderland. Normally, many of them would never question about Yuu's origins or their world at all.
"I... don't recall..." They muttered, trying to remember what they used to do.
They sat down on their own desk in class, sketchbook out with a pencil twirling in their fingers. They gaze out to an open window seeing the birds fly under the grey sky. They looked down at their sketchbook with a splash of black ink coving most of the page they were writing on.
"Hey, ----------!" A voice called out to them.
They turned around to see _____________________ waiting for them at the door. The identifier of the voice was female as she wore a black school uniform, a brown shirt reaching to their knees, and black stockings that were suited for the feminine gender. Her brown hair was reached down to her shoulders but her face was scribbled out with black markings of a pen.
"We're planning to watch a movie, wanna join?" _______________ spoke again, offering them her ha-
Yuu clutched their head in pain, frightening Cater and Trey.
"H-Hey, Yuu! Yuu!" Trey nearly watched them fall towards the ground but quickly caught them and have their body lean towards a nearby wall.
"Deep breaths, Yuu! Deep breaths!" Cater quickly urged them.
Yuu quickly did what Cater told but the pain in their head was intensifying. Soon, their was something in their throat, causing them to cough violently. Yuu covered their hand to block out what was coming to their mouth. However, they couldn't kept it long enough as they spat it out.
Cater and Trey looked down at the source of the splattering sound that suddenly made them unease. Their eyes widened, registering what Yuu spat out, horrified. Onlookers who were observing, took a step back, also horrified what was coming out from the Prefect's mouth.
Blood and Blot.
"Cater!" Trey yelled, kneeling down to help Yuu stay awake. "Go get Master Crewel!"
Their ears were now ringing and their consciousness was starting to fade. Their eyes were coming blurry, losing the form of Cater who left in panic and Trey who desperately urging them to stay awake.
"Yuu! Stay awake!" Trey shouted.
"Y__!!"
"___!!!"
And then, Yuu collapsed.