The Fallen Empath - Welcome to the Villain's World

Chapter Nineteen: A Lesson Learned

As soon as we step out of the Dark Mirror we find Mr. Crowley there. "Pardon?! You're telling me you actually went to the Dwarfs' Mine in search of a magestone?"

We all look at him in confusion. "Uh...? Yes?"

"I didn't expect you'd seriously do it. And never in my wildest imaginings did I think you would actually return with a magestone! Here I spent all evening preparing your expulsion documents." Mr. Crowley puts a finger to his chin.

"Are you serious?! While we were fightin' some crazy monster for you, you were expelling us?!" Grim glares at Mr. Crowley from my shoulder.

"Monster...?" Mr. Crowley tilts his head.

"Yeah. There was a monster, all right. A big, nasty one. It nearly killed us!" Ace glares as well.

"Would you kindly relate this story in full?"

~ ~ ~

"Hmmm. So a mysterious monster was living in the mines. And the four of you worked together to destroy it, and then brought its magestone back to me?" Mr. Crowley sums up our retelling from the chair behind his desk.

Crowleys office is pretty empty, only his desk and pictures of the seven floating behind him.

"I don't know that I'd call it 'working together.'" Ace objects.

"It was more like we just happened to share the same goal at the same time..." Deuce agrees.

"Oh, gracious... Ohhh. Ohhhhhhhhhh!" Mr. Crowley starts crying.

"Mr. Crowley! What's wrong?!" I put my hands up in front of me.

"What is this guy's deal?! Burstin' into tears in public? At his age?!" Grim says, shocked.

"In all the decades I've worked at this school... The day has finally come when the students of Night Raven College have joined hands together to defeat a common foe!" Mr. Crowley whails.

So...they are happy tears?

"Whoa! No! No way would I have joined hands with that guy!" Deuce points his thumb to Ace, glaring.

"Okay, one, there was no joining of hands. Gross. And two, exactly HOW old are you, Headmage?" Ace asks.

Mr. Crowley ignores their words. "At this moment, I am moved beyond words. This incident has proven my hopes were justified. Solace, my doubts are allayed! For you... You possess the talents of a beastmaster!"

"A...beastmaster?! But they're not beasts." I say flabbergasted.

"My students have all been selected by the Dark Mirror for their exceptional talent and potential. But great talents beget pride and big egos."

I hear a chorus of 'Hey!'s behind me.

"Most are so self-reliant and self-centered that they never even consider cooperating with others. But you, Yuna Solace, possess no magic. Yet in spite of that—or perhaps because of it—you were able to convince those who CAN use magic to work together for a common goal! The everyday, humdrum mundanity you possess may be exactly what Night Raven College needs!"

I don't know if I should feel complimented or offended.

"But...none of those words are good things!" Ace interrupts.

"Solace... I am convinced that people like you are necessary for the future of this school. My educator's intuition tells me so. Trappola, Spade—I hereby revoke your pending expulsions! Furthermore, Solace... I am granting you the qualifications necessary to attend school at Night Raven College!" Mr. Crowley beams.