The Winged Child

Prologue - Chapter 19: A Lesson Learned

***Mirror Chamber***

C.C. POV:

"Pardon?! You're telling me you actually went to the Dwarfs' Mine in search of a magestone?" Crowley asks in surprise after we enter. "Uh...? Yes?" the trio reply questionably. "I didn't expect that you'd seriously do it. And never in my wildest imaginings did I think you would actually return with a magestone! And here I spent all evening preparing your expulsion documents." Crowley says. "Are you serious?! While we were fightin' some crazy monster for you, you were expelling us?!" Grim exclaims in anger. "Monster...?" Crowley questions. "Yeah. There was a monster, all right. A big, nasty one. It nearly killed us!" Ace exclaims. "Would you kindly relate this story in full?" Crowley asks.

***Headmage's Office***

"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?" Crowley asks after we retell the events. "I don't know that I'd call it working together." Ace says. "It was more like we just happened to share the same goal at the same time..." Deuce mutters. "Oh, gracious... Ohhh... Ohhhhhhhh!" Crowley exclaims before sobbing. "What is this guy's deal?! Burstin' into tears in public? At this age?!" Grim exclaims while I go over to hug Crowley.

"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!" Crowley exclaims while holding me and drying his tears. "Whoa! No! No way would I join hands with that guy!" Deuce exclaims in defiance. "Okay, one, there was no joining of hands. Gross. And two, exactly HOW old are you, headmage?" Ace asks. "At this moment, I am moved beyond words. This incident has proven my hopes were justified. Yuu, my doubts are allayed! For you... You possess the talents of a beastmaster!" Crowley exclaims.

"What talents are those, exactly?" Bubba asks. "My students have all been selected by the Dark Mirror for their exceptional talent and potential. But great talent begets great pride and big egos. Most are so self-reliant and self-centered that they never even consider cooperating with others." Crowley explains. "You make it sound like that's a bad thing." Grim states, just to be ignored by Crowley. "But you, Yuu, 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!" Crowley exclaims.

"But... none of those words are good things?" Ace says questionably. "Yuu...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, Yuu...I am granting you the qualifications necessary to attend at Night Raven College!" Crowley exclaims. "WHAT?!" everyone exclaims in shock. "You remember that I can't use magic, right?" Bubba asks.

"Of course. This is extraordinarily kind of me. However, there is one condition. Your inability to use magic is, for a mage, unacceptable. You would not be able to adequately pursue the school's curriculum! As for you, Grim...Your actions today have made it clear that you possess sufficient talent to become a mage. In light of the total sum of your respective circumstances, you and Yuu will share a single enrollment at Night Raven College." Crowley states. "Myah! I... I'll get to go to this school...? As an actual student? Not a janitor?!" Grim asks in surprise. "Correct. However! There must be no further incidents like the one that occurred today. Are we clear?" Crowley asks, only to be somewhat ignored.

"Myah... Myah... Yuu, I... I finally..." Grim mutters in amazement. "I'm so happy for you!" Bubba exclaims. "MYAAAAAH! I FINALLY DID IT!" Grim yells in happiness. "Accordingly, I will now present to Grim the magestone that is issued to every student here." Crowley states. "Heh! A magestone, eh?!" Grim says. "It is typically attached to the "magic pen" that each student uses. But I suspect your paws cannot handle implements. Therefore, I have a custom solution for you. Is it possible that I am, in fact, too kind?" Crowley asks while putting the collar on Grim.

"Ah, sweet! I look awesome! A magestone collar, to be worn only by the legendary archmage, Grim!" Grim exclaims. "You're not listening to anything I say, are you? Yuu. As you can plainly see, Grim remains oblivious to the customs of human society. You are to keep a tight rein on Grim, and ensure there are no further incidents!" Crowley exclaims. "Wow, that's quite the promotion. From janitor to student to prefect, all in the span of a day." Ace states. "Oh, I see. So if your dorm is just you two...And the headmage himself is putting you in charge of Grim, that makes you... the dorm prefect." Deuce deducts.

"Well, that's gotta be a Night Raven first! A magic-less prefect? But sure, why not? Whatever works!" Ace exclaims. "I'll do my best!" Bubba exclaims. "Heh heh heh. Good luck to you, Magic-less Prefect!" Ace exclaims. "Ah, Yes. I suppose that does make you a prefect. I just so happen to have a job for you, and that title will make it all the easier to foist... er, I mean, congratulations! Now, I have something for you. This is called a ghost camera." Crowley says. "Ghost?" Bubba asks while I observe the camera.

"Ooh, my grandma's told me about those. Those are, like, super old magic items, right?" Ace asks, making me silently debate on if he's calling Crowley old. "I would hardly consider them "super old"... ahem. But it may indeed have been invented when your great or great-great grandmother was a child. It's a camera enchanted with a special kind of magic. It enables the user to photograph not just the subject's physical form, but parts of their soul itself." Crowley explains. "Wait, that sounds... sketchy." Deuce says skeptically. "They're called Memories. Here's the thing: when the soulbond between photographer and subject deepens...The Memories captured in this magic camera's photos come jumping out!" Crowley exclaims.

"Jumping out?" Bubba asks. "When the photographer and subject grow closer, their photographs grow animated like videos...And sometimes the photographs take on corporeal form and slip out. Is that not what you youths would call "wicked keen"?" Crowley asks. "That almost sounds like ghost photography!" Deuce exclaims. "Very astute. Hence the name "ghost camera". I understand it was developed as a more vivid way to capture moments in time, in an age before video. As Spade observed, in days of yore, when people saw Memories jumping out of photos, they would get spooked and yell, "Ghost!" I've heard many a tale of people who were deathly scared of being photographed by such cameras." Crowley explains.

"This tech sounds like way more trouble than it's worth." Ace states. "Yuu. I would like you to photograph Grim and the other students with this camera, and make a record of your campus life." Crowley states. "Myah ha haaa! Sounds like the perfect way to immortalize all my finest moments!" Grim exclaims.

"Ahem... Make especially certain to capture the mischief caused by certain students who struggle with impulse control. Keeping a photographic journal sounds far less tedious than writing me lengthy reports, wouldn't you agree? As a prefect, consider it your duty to maintain a sharp eye on your surroundings and record them. Note how generous I'm being in providing a rare magical item that even someone like yourself can use. Is my kindness not beyond all reckoning?" Crowley asks.

"Thank you, sir." Bubba says. "The hour has grown late, so further details shall have to wait till the morrow. You are all dismissed. Return to your dorms." Crowley states before tending to my wounds that I got. "Good night, sir!" Deuce exclaims before they leave. I stayed behind a bit because Crowley decided to act like a worried mother and tend to my wounds before sending me out.

***Interesting Facts***

-C.C. somewhat took offense to Ace's "very old comment" since he's technically older

-C.C. doesn't see a point in having his wounds wrapped, but lets them do it anyways so they feel better

-C.C. got scared when Crowley broke down