The Fallen Empath - Welcome to the Villain's World

Chapter Eight: First Day at School

 "Hee hee hee... Aren't the two of you supposed to be off cleaning the school today?" I hear a high-pitched voice above me. I'm too tired to get up as I pull deeper into the moth-eaten blanket.

"Mmmmm...nngh... Five more minutes, Ma..." Grim groans as he shuffles in my arms slightly.

"Go ahead, sleep the day away. You might not eeever have 'ta wake up again." A deeper voice says.

Wait, I know those voices.

"Just like us! Ah ha ha ha ha ha!" A laugh scratches my ears.

My eyes shoot open to see the three ghosts from yesterday.

"Myah?! The ghosts are back! Hey, Yuna, up and at 'em!" Grim jumps out of my arms and glares at the ghosts.

I slowly sit up and rub my eyes. "I'm up."

"So I hear you'll be living here from now on? Hope you like pranks as much as we do! Hya ha ha!" The tallest ghost laughs, sounding slightly excited.

I'm not sure if it's because there are new people or if he's thinking of all the pranks he can pull.

"We gotta get rid of those things for good!" Grim growls.

"Something tells me that's not going to happen anytime soon." I smile weakly. "So, what are your names?"

Grim looks at me, shocked. "Why would you want to know their names?!"

"Well, we are going to be living with them, so we should probably get to know each other." I reason.

Grim crosses his paws and grumbles but he doesn't argue further.

The tallest of the three points to himself. "I'm Ezra."

"You can call me Gus." The shortest one tips his top hat.

"And I'm Phineas." The biggest waves.

I nod my head and smile. "I'm Yuna Solace, and this is Grim." I gesture to the huffy cat monster.

Grim puts his paws on his hips and glares at the ghosts. "Grim the Great, you ghosts better not try anything funny again or I'll burn you all until there is nothin' left."

"Oooo, I'm so scared." Phineas taunts.

"You better be." Grim squares up with the ghost.

Before this can escalate any further, I hear the clacking of shoes approaching our room. I turn to see Mr. Crowley open the door.

"Good morning, Solace. Did you sleep well?"

"Myah?!" Grim jumps slightly. "Can't you knock?! And I didn't sleep well at all! When I sprawled out on the bed, the mattress fell right through the frame! Exactly how ramshackle IS this dorm? Worse yet, we got woken up by ghosts!"

"I slept okay." I say, trying not to upset Mr. Crowley.

"I am delighted to hear that you've adjusted so well, despite being sent to another world!" He smiles. "Now, speaking of moving on,"

My chest tightens.

"Let us discuss your assignment for today. Do get dressed and meet me downstairs." Mr. Crowley leaves the room.

I get out of bed and look around for any clothes, other than the robes I'm currently in. "I guess I'm dressed?"

"Ain't those the ceremonial robes? Did you wear those to bed?" Gus tilts his head.

"Yeah, but this is kinda all I have." I open my arms slightly.

"Talk about being unprepared!" Phineas laughs.

I shrug and rub the back of my neck. "I didn't really expect to be transported to another world."

"Hmm, I think I saw something in another room. One second." Erza flies out of the room and a few moments later comes back in with an old, tattered uniform. "Found it! Here you can use this."

It has definitely seen better days. It's a black uniform with gold accents on the lapel and sides of the pants. The buttons are gold too, though they are dulled due to neglect. The button-up shirt is definitely supposed to be white but it's more tan now. The black dress shoes are scuffed and the soles are worn out from use. The whole outfit is covered in holes, but it's not unwearable.

"Couldn't you have found one less beaten up?" Grim's ears flatten as he crosses his paws.

I take the uniform out of Erza's ghostly hands. "Erza, thank you. This is more than enough." I smile up at him with, possibly, the most genuine smile I've had since coming here.

"He he he, It's no big deal." Erza scratches his cheek bashfully. "Well, we'll let you go now!" Erza fades away.

"Have fun on your first day!" Phineas waves as, he too, fades.

"Don't get into too much trouble." Gus laughs as he follows the other two.

I sigh and look down at Grim. "Why don't you go downstairs while I get dressed."

Grim nods and runs out of the room on all fours.

~ ~ ~

"Your job today is to clean the campus. That being said, the campus is vast, and without any magic, it'd be quite a Herculean task to clean it. Therefore, today I'll have you focus on the area spanning from the front gates to the library. Now, Solace...I do expect that you'll keep a close eye on Grim, lest he cause another incident like yesterday." Mr. Crowley puts his hands on his hips as he glares slightly.

"Yes, sir..." I bow my head.

Mr. Crowley nods. "Good. Now before I go I have decided to provide breakfast for you two. I can not have a student pass out due to exhaustion. My, I am the peak of generosity." He smiles brightly as he hands us egg and ham English muffins. "Do not fail me. You may take your lunch in the cafeteria. I eagerly await the fruits of your labor." Mr. Crowley walks out of the dorm, humming.

"Hrmph, I ain't cleanin' nothin'! I'm here to study magic so I can be blastin' off spells left and right! Like BAM! POW! FWOOM!" Grim waves his muffin around.

"As soon as we finish, we can go to the library and study, okay?" I reason with Grim.

He huffs as he takes a bite of his breakfast.