Twisted Wonderland Book 5: A Beauitful Tyrant

Chapter 41: Release of Emotion

"Briar and I are the only ones here. Why don't you give it a try? Let it all out at the top of your lungs. It'll make you feel way better!" Deuce says.

"Are you sure? Will Briar be okay with it?" Epel asks.

"I'll be okay. I hear that sometimes people scream when no one is around to relieve stress. I never do it myself, but everyone has their own way to release some stress," Briar says.

"Well... All right," Epel agrees, reluctantly.

He then inhales deeply.

And then Epel screams, "You think Ah kin turn all darlin' overnight? Are you outta yer apple-pickin' mind?!"

Deuce and Briar are a little surprised to hear Epel scream. More than that, they notice that Epel's way of speaking and accent are different than how he usually talk.

Epel continues to scream, "Ah'm a farm boy from the sticks! We got more heifers'n we do people out in our part of the country! It's all Ah kin do ta talk without slippin' inta mah accent! Ah ain't never danced afore, other'n hoedowns an' field day games! How'm Ah s'posed ta know the first thing about dressin' all trendy or actin' all classy?! Ah ain't never wanted ta be no darlin' anyhow! If Ah had mah druthers, Ah'd be a big an' tough an' strong man! YER A BIG OL' IDJIT, Y'HEAR?!"

Epel finishes screaming and takes deep breaths.

Finally, he feels a lot better, "Ahhh! That felt mighty good!"

"I barely understood like...half of that. What language was that?" Deuce asks, shocked.

Curious, Briar asks, "Epel, is that how you naturally sound? I didn't know you have that kind of accent."

Then Deuce asks, "Epel, where are you from?"

"Oh, Ah'm from Harveston," Epel answers, "It's way off in the mountains in the north part of the Shaftlands. Vil says not to talk much around people on account o' mah accent bein' hard ta understand. Every time Ah open mah mouth, Vil gets on mah case. 'Don't speak with an accent. Address people by name. Mind your volume.' Drives me nuts, Ah tell you what!

"I always had you pegged as a quiet, timid guy since the day we met... But boy, was I ever wrong," Deuce says and begins to laugh, "Hah hah."

"Ah had to be careful when Ah spoke. Never knew when Vil was gonna be there to call mah accent out. An' those frilly uniform shirts Ah wear? Those ain't mah first choice, that's fer sure. Housewarden's orders," Epel adds.

"Wait, housewarden's orders? Really? Your dorm doesn't have some crazy set of rules like Heartslabyul. Why is this a thing?" Deuce asks, shocked.

"Well, lemme tell you 'bout mah orientation back in September..." Epel says.

Then turns to Briar, "That was before Crowley brought you to orientation and the incident with Grim."

Flashback: Mirror Chamber

On the day of orientation, all the starting students are being placed into their dorms by the Dark Mirror. Epel is among them waiting for his turn.

Epel says in his thoughts, " (Everywhere Ah look, it's all the same—buncha highfalutin' rich boys too big fer their britches.) (Ah know how Ah look. Ah'm used ta gettin' treated like Ah'm some kinda wuss back home.) ('Course, back home Ah gave a whoopin' ta anyone who said it ta mah face.) (Gotta make sure Ah don't take any guff here, too.)"

Suddenly, Vil walks over to him, "You there. The new enrollee."

"Huh? Y'want somethin'?" Epel questions.

"Are you trying to make a mockery of the ceremonial orientation robes? Button up your collar at once," Vil sternly says.

In his thoughts, Epel says, "(Is this the Pomefiore housewarden?) (Ah sure don't want no part of a dorm run by a prim 'n proper gent like this.) (This beanpole ain't nothin' compared ta the Savanaclaw housewarden.)"

Vil then says to him, "Hm. I wasn't sure how to appraise you at a distance... But upon closer inspection, I must say, you've quite the winsome facade."

"Win-what? You callin' me a wuss?" Epel questions, feeling offended, "Well, if Ah'm a pot, yer a kettle!"

"Oh, dear. Dear oh dear. You are utterly unpresentable," Vil replies.

"Scuse me?" Epel questions.

Vil observes Epel and says, "The way you dress, the way you act... Even the way you think is utterly devoid of any sensibility."

"Oh yeah?! Yer gonna regret sayin' that in a few seconds! Let's take this outside!" Epel angrily says, ready to pick a fight.

Vil sighs and says, "Why must every student selected for this school be so quick to resort to violence? It's fine, I suppose. After all, it's my duty to give my underclassmen a proper Night Raven College welcome."

Soon enough, in the interior hallway, Epel and Vil begin to fight, however, it's ended in like a few seconds, with Epel being beaten by Vil

Epel soon finds himself on the ground, "Gah...! Tarnation! He ain't even usin' magic, and he wiped the floor with me..."

"Here's a lesson for you, little spudling: in this school, the rule is that the weak obey the strong. From what I can tell, you haven't been assigned to a dorm yet. Regardless, since you lost, you will do as I say," Vil sternly says.

"C-consarnit..." Epel mutters to himself.

Then says in thought, "(What's he gonna do ta me?! Take all mah money? Make me his errand boy?)"

Then Vil says, "Your first order of business is to button up every loose button on your robes.

"...Huh?" Epel, replies confused.

"NOW," Vil says, assertively.

Epel stands up and ends up doing just that.

Then says, "Next, your belt. You have no business letting it hang low and loose from your waist, especially considering your diminutive stature. Such disgraceful form is utterly unacceptable!"

Vil then tightens Epel's belt.

Epel yelps, "Agh! A-ah kin barely breathe in this now!"

"And your hair! Have you even considered combing that rat's nest out?" Vil adds.

"It ain't like Ah carry a comb wherever Ah go!" Epel shouts.

And then Vil says, "Lastly, your elocution! Speak properly."

This shocked Epel, "Whuh?! Are you sayin' mah accent ain't as good as how city folk talk?!"

"Stop misinterpreting my instructions," Vil sternly says, "I have nothing against your home or its dialect. What I object to is your attitude. Being proud of your home is all well and good, but there is a time and a place for that. The way you address your superiors is entirely unacceptable."

"Grrr..." Epel growls under breath in frustration.

Vil continues, "In this school, losers have no right to whine or complain. If you want to voice a grievance, you'll have to beat me in a fight first. Now, what is the correct response?"

"Gh... Yes, sir," Epel says in defeat.

Vil scoffs and says, "Hmph. Only the Dark Mirror itself knows which dorm you'll be assigned to. But pray that you don't get assigned to Pomefiore. For I am Vil Schoenheit, its housewarden. If you come under my domain... I will tolerate none of the behavior you exhibited today. Remember that. Now fix up your clothes as I instructed and get back to orientation."

Then Vil walks back into the Mirror Chamber to continue the orientation.

"D-dagnabbit..." Epel mutters in frustration.

Flashback Ends: