Twisted Wonderland Book 2: The Usurper from the Wilds

Chapter 15: Sparks Flying

Stepping into the room who has been listening to Leona and Ruggie is Jack Howl. He then approaches inside and stares at them. Leona does the same.

Leona approaches Jack and asks, "And what are YOU doin' up so late? Need someone to sing you a lullaby?"

"Maybe I'll give it a shot! Shyeheehee!" Ruggie suggests with a snicker.

But then Jack asks with a frown, "I want to know why. Why are you two doing this?"

"Huh. So it's a bedtime story you're after. All right, I got one for you," Leona says.

And confesses, "We went up against Malleus's Diasomnia team in round one of the tournament two years running. We were eliminated both times. We got a wall fulla championship trophies, but they ran circles around us like we were still in diapers. And that disgrace was broadcast to the entire world. I looked like an incompetent moron. And now the pro league recruiters, well, they pass right by Savanaclaw."

"But that's because we weren't good enough!" Jack says.

"You're right about that," Leona says, "Last year, you could certainly say that we didn't give the tournament our all. Only a total moron would have thought we could win. But that's how naïve we were. We never even came up with a plan or nothin'. And we've got the nerve to claim Savanaclaw honors the tenacity of the King of Beasts! What a joke."

However, Jack says, "But that's exactly why acting like cowards and cutting down our opponents is so wrong!" and clearly upset with Leona's method.

"'Wrong,' you say?" Leona questions.

Then says, "Jack, who do you think I'm doing this for? I'm thinkin' about you and your dormmates here! This is about crushing Malleus and restoring Savanaclaw's reputation! The headmage said if we don't win this year, Malleus is getting inducted into the hall of fame. That means this is our last chance to beat him. And you're gonna throw it away over...what? Some moral superiority complex?

"But... I..." Jack begins to speak up.

But Leona interrupts him, "Using your wits to corner your prey is part of the hunt. There's nothing cowardly about it."

Ruggie snickers, "Shyeheehee! Night Raven operates on the survival of the fittest. Nice guys don't last long here."

Then Jack says, "But Housewarden, if you got serious about playing, we could actually be a threat to Diasomnia! I saw the way you played three years ago! I'll never forget it!

"What do YOU know about ANYTHING, frosh?!" Leona says, angrily. "You want me to 'get serious about playing'? Hah! Now you're the one who's naive. It wouldn't change a thing.

Get outta my sight."

Jack doesn't say another word and decides to leave. Leona and Ruggie watch until Jack is no longer in their sight.

Once gone, Ruggie turns to Jack, "That boy could be a problem. You want me to take care of him?"

"No. Don't," Leona answers, "Even if he goes and blabs it all to Crowley, he ain't got a shred of proof. And besides, that'd be a terrible waste of talent. Just make sure you keep an eye on him. And I think you should do the same with those Ramshackle misfits. We surely don't want them snooping around."

"Understood," Ruggie says.

And walks away.

Once Ruggie is gone, Leona mutters in thought, "Tch. Stupid frosh... Talkin' like he's better than me."

Unknown to Leona, his magepen begins seeping out black oozing ink, and they drop to the floor and a small amount of black and yellow aura begins to slowly be exposed from his body.