The other side of a glass tank - Octavinelle (& Twisted Wonderland) X Reader

Chapter 18 - Here to stay

"Oh Dark Mirror! Return this soul to where it belongs!"

Yuu was currently inside one of the coffin-shaped gates. They were asked to visualize clearly their home in their mind, so to let the Dark Mirror connect to it and send them back.

After a few seconds of apparently nothing happening, Crowley awkwardly cleared his throat and spoke again.

"Ahem... L-let us, er...try this again.. Oh Dark Mirror! Return this soul-" He tried again, only to get cut off by the mirror.

"There's no such place."
It said plainly.

"There's no place in this world where this soul belongs. None."
It repeated.

While the voice stating that sounded utterly devoid of emotions, the person receiving the news widened his yellow, glowing eyes in stupor. "How can that be? My, but today is a veritable cavalcade of impossible phenomena!" The headmage exclaimed.

Right when he did, you heard a small thud from the coffin-gate. Turning toward it, you saw Yuu stepping out of it with a distraught expression. They pressed their lips together as their hands wrinkled up the sleeves by how tightly they were squeezing the fabric.

You felt your heart sink and stepped closer to Yuu, softly holding their shoulder. But their eyes went past you as they stared at the masked man.

"I thought you said you could send me home." The magicless human almost accused and, by their quivering voice, it was clear just how much they were trying to hold back their feelings.

"Well, this has never happened throughout my long tenure. I must confess that I am at something of a loss." Crowley briefly defended before changing tone.

"Tell me: From what land do you even hail?" He asked and Yuu let out a trembling sigh before answering.

"I currently live in..." You furrowed your brows at that. Not once had you heard that name for a state and, judging by his reaction, neither had Crowley.

"I'm afraid I am not familiar with such a place." He pondered and Yuu widened their eyes in horror.

"I am intimately acquainted with the origins of every student who has ever come here, and yet... This mysterious homeland of yours eludes me." The man continued.

"How... how is it even possible to not-" The youngest's words were filled with disbelief, but they soon came to a stop when they seemed to realize something, eyes getting even wider.

"Magic... mages... another world...? Is it even possible to...?" They mumbled.

"Let us go to the library and look it up, then- ah-! Esteemed guest, about you wishing to go home-" The headmage turned to you but you stopped him.

"We can discuss that later. Let us find a way home for this fellow first... May I accompany you to the library?" You firmly asked and Yuu seemed to get out of their trance, looking at you confusedly.

"Going home? Did they get transported here by mistake too? But even so, why..." Yuu furrowed their eyebrows in a pensive manner and you softly plopped a hand on their head.

"Are you okay? For what this situation permits at least. Did the fire get to you?" You asked and they hesitantly shook their head. Quickly scanning for burn marks, when seeing none, you placed your palm on their back and just barely pushed on it.