Die Young

student?

"Thank you.. FOR LOVING ME!"

That was the last thing I remember, hugging Luffy, thanking everyone...

I remember the pain and losing all feeling in my body. I was so sure that I was dead..

So why am I here? I can't see anything but I feel something flat in front of my face. It's like a wall or I guess a door? I tried to recall how I got into this position but I can't. All I remember is everything going dark and then waking up here.

"Okay..let's try this," just as I went to raise my fist to punch the door open, it opened itself. I blinked in confusion before stepping out to find the one who had opened the door to the- is that a coffin?

"There's one, now to find the other," the man who opened my coffin mumbled under his breath while looking around the room we were currently in. I also took a look around, noting the burnt floor along with a charred coffin door, before turning back to the man. He was almost my height with dark hair and a bird mask covering his upper face.

"Uh, excuse me," I tried to catch the males attention. Unfortunately for me, he seemed distracted by something and started to leave the room before turning to me.

"Come, come, we must find for fellow freshman," he stated before walking off. He's the only one here and therefore the only one who can explain where I am. I quickly make my way to his side. He mumbles to himself as we walk to what seem to be a library. There we see someone dressed in dark robes covering their face with... is that a cat? Before questioning anything I take a look at myself to see that I am also wearing the same dark robes as that person. I quickly pull the front of the robe forward a bit and sigh in releaf. I'm still wearing my usual outfit underneath.

"Consider it tough love. Ah, I've found you at last. Splendid. I trust you're one of this year's new students? My, were you ever eager to make your debut. And bringing a poorly trained familiar with you? That is a clear violation of the school's rules." I hear from the man in the bird mask. I release my robe and take in the sight in front of me. The cat, who I can now see is on fire, is wrapped up in the whip that bird man is holding. The robe dressed person is on the ground, I make my way over to them and offer my hand. They take it and I pull them to their feet.

"Woah, your really light," I say once their stable. They flinch at the sound of my voice.

"And you're really warm, like, inhumanly warm," they say, letting go of my hand. I put my hand on my hip with a slight smirk.

"Yes well, that is probably because-," before I can finish, I'm cut off by the bird man.

"Dear me. Of all the students I've dealt with, you're the first with temerity enough to open their own gate and step out of it. Does the very notion of patience elude you? No matter. Your orientation has already begun. Let us return to the Mirror Chamber," he says, ushering us to follow him.

"Students..?," we question in sync.

"You both awakened in a room full of gates, did you not? All of the students here at the campus arrived by passing through such gates. Although typically the students have restraint enough to wait until I open them before waking up. Like this young man here," he points at me as we walk.

"Young man?" I raise an eyebrow, not that he can see through the hood of my robe.

"I think something blew the lid off mine..." they said not so subtly jabbing at the cat squirming in the bird man's hold.

"The culprit appears to be that familiar of yours. You're the one who insisted on bringing it, so curtailing its behavior is your responsibility!" The bird man responds to my fellow hooded person. "But now is not the time for such prattle.
You've a student orientation to attend!
Go on, now. Make haste."

"Wait, one moment, could you please explain who you and and where we are?" I ask, my hooded friend nods in agreement with my question.

"Hm? Have you not fully regained consciousness? The timespace teleportation must have addled your memories... Well, these things happen, I suppose. I shall explain it to you while we walk. Truly, my magnanimity is boundless," the bird man says smuggly. He clears his throat before starting to explain, "This is Night Raven College. It is an institution for students the world over who demonstrate a rare aptitude for magic. It is the most prestigious academy of its sort in all of Twisted Wonderland. And I am Dire Crowley. Having been entrusted with its care by the chairman, I serve as headmage."

And with that, my head hurts, "magic?" I question with the other person, although mine comes out a lot more confused, whereas the other person's comes out more as a scream.

"Only those who the Dark Mirror perceives as having a talent for magic are admitted to the college. Those who are selected are summoned to the campus through those "gates," which can appear anywhere," he explains. I am throughly confused by Crowley's words. "A black carriage bearing one such gate should have come to meet you."

"I definitely don't remember that," I say quietly.

"I do kinda remember a horse with a scary face...," they say as we approach another building.

"That black carriage serves to receive a student chosen by the Dark Mirror.
It too bears a gate that connects to this campus. And as you know, sending a carriage to meet someone on a special day is a time-honored tradition." He finishes his speech and I think I understand most of it, but I still don't know how I got here. The cat starts to squirm more to try and free itself while my fellow student(?) Continues to question the headmage. "Now, let us attend to your orientation," he states opening the doors to a building.