The Fallen Empath - Welcome to the Villain's World

Chapter One: Stranger Waking

"To me. To them. To yourself. The hour grows long, and time is scarce. Keep steady your grip, no matter what may come..."

I'm slowly woken by a rattling sound echoing around me. I go to move my hands to rub the tiredness from my eyes only for them to graze a wall in front of me. I move my hands around and realize I'm in a confined space. "Huh? Wha- Where am I? Ah, my head." I move my hand to my pounding head as I try to think of where I am and how I got here. The more I try to remember, the more my head hurts.

"I better hurry and find that uniform before someone spots me." A hurried and squeaky voice from outside grunts. "Urgggh... This lid weighs a ton! Try this on for size! Mya-ha!"

"AHHHH!" I scream as the lid is thrown off from a burst of blue fire. My arms go shooting up to protect my face.

"Now to grab the goods... What?! You ain't supposed to be awake!" The voice rises in shock.

I take a peek from behind my arms to see a...cat...weasel...thing? It was kind of long like a weasel but had the face of a cat and was standing on its two hind legs. What's even weirder was the blue fire coming from its ears and its pitchforked tail. "A talking...weasel?" My arms slightly relax as I tilt my head in confusion.

"How... How DARE YOU!" The creature shouted, making me raise my arms again. "I am no weasel! I'm Grim, sorcerer extraordinaire!" He lets out a tsk noise as his voice lowers back to its original volume, though that is still relatively loud. "Whatever. You...Human! Just gimme your uniform, and be quick about it!"

I look down at and sure enough, it isn't anything I would wear. It was a mainly black outfit with purple and gold accents. The bell sleeves of the coat are pointed on the outside and have markings that form into something that looks like a mirror. The sleeves of the robes under the coat connect to my middle fingers and the pants stop a few inches above my ankles, covering most of the one-inch heeled boots.

"Cause if you don't...you're going to regret it." The creature swings its paws out and blue fire flashes around him.

I huddle myself to the back of whatever I'm in as much as I can. "S-somebody, help." My voice wavers.

"Hey, come on! I'm on a tight schedule here!" The creature takes a step towards me.

I push myself out of the confined space and run out of the room as fast as I can. Scenery flashes past me and I eventually stumble into what looks like a library, it's hard to breathe as I look around.

Floating books, narrow hallways, and despite the tall ceilings it feels as if everything is caving in around me.

I shut my eyes tight and cover my head. "If this is a dream, I'm ready to wake up now!" My voice wavers more and my eyes start to burn with tears.

"Foolish human! Did you really think you could slip away from ME? Now unless you wanna get burned to a crisp, take off that—Me-YEOW!" A yelp escapes the creature as a snap rings around the room.

I crack my eyes open to see the creature tangled up in a whip.

"That hurt! What gives?"

At the other end of the whip stood a tall, pale man with a raven's mask, one hand on his hip and the other holding the handle. "Consider it tough love." His golden pinprick eyes glare at the creature, then at me. "Ah, I've found you at last. Splendid. I trust you are one of this year's new students. My, were you eager to make your debut."

My arms slowly come down from my head, moving to hold my forearm in front of me. My head is tilted down as my eyes look up at him through my rusted brown hair and hood.

I take in more of the mystery man's appearance. A black top hat covers most of his short, wavy dark hair. A feathered great coat sits on his shoulders like a cape and what looks like three mirrors hang from his hip. Another mirror decorates his top hat, connected to a blue ribbon and black feather. His hands are covered by black gloves and golden claw rings.

"And bringing a poorly trained familiar with you? That is a clear violation of the school's rules." He crosses his arms, slightly dragging the weasel-cat creature closer to him.

"As if I'd serve some lowly human! Now lemme go!" The creature struggles against his restraints.

"Yes, yes. Rebellious familiars always say that. Do be quiet for a bit, won't you?" The raven man wraps more of the whip around the creature, covering his mouth.

The creature still tries to talk but all his words are muffled.

The man puts his free hand to his forehead. "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?"

"Sorry." I mumble out as I rub my eyes.

"No matter. Your orientation has already begun. Let us return to the Mirror Chamber." He turns to walk out.

"I'm sorry to slow you down, but what do you mean by 'student' and 'gate'?" I ask meekly.

He stops and turns around to look at me with a questioning tilt of his head. "You awakened in a room full of gates, did you not? All the students here at the campus arrived by passing through such gates. Although typically the students have enough restraint to wait until I open them before waking up."

"Sorry." I repeat. I remember seeing floating coffins in the room I woke up in. "Do-do you mean those coffins? Are those the...gateways?"

The man nods his head. "The design is intended to symbolize a parting with your former world and a rebirth into a new one."

Something about that sends a chill down my spine.

"But now is not the time for such prattle. You have got a student orientation to attend! Go on now. Make haste." He puts a hand on my back.

"W-wait, sorry, but can you please tell me where I am?" I look up at him with my hands clasped over my chest.

"Hm? Have you not fully regained consciousness? The time-space teleportation must have addled your memories... Well, these things happen, I suppose." He shrugs it off. "I shall explain it to you while we walk. Truly, my magnanimity is boundless." He chuckles the last few words as pushes me forward.

~ ~ ~

We enter the courtyard where a small well sits in the center. Shrubbery surrounds it and four paths jet out from the well. An apple tree stands on the side of one path and shades a bench underneath it.

The masked man clears his throat before speaking. "This is Night Raven College. It is an institution for students all over the world 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. I have been entrusted with its care by the chairman, I serve as the headmage." Mr. Crowley puts his hand on his chest proudly.

"A magic academy?" I look up at him in awe. I've always liked magic and fairy tales, ever since I was a kid. I'd even imagine being a part of magical adventures.

He smiles proudly. "Only those whom the Dark Mirror perceived 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. A black carriage bearing one such gate should have come to meet you." Mr. Crowley gestures towards me.

I try to think back, but I can't remember anything before waking up in one of those gates.

"That black carriage serves to receive a student chosen by the Dark Mirror. It too, beares a gate connected to this campus, and as you know, sending a carriage to meet someone on a special day is a time-honored tradition." Mr. Crowley says matter-of-factly.

So this carriage is the thing that brought me here.

I hear angered muffling behind us and I turn my head to see the creature still trying to struggle out of his restraints.

"Now let us attend your orientation." Mr. Crowley doesn't bat an eye as he continues to walk, dragging the creature behind him.