Twisted-Wonderland: Our Precious Treasure (Part 1)

(5) WttVW: Bewildering Amnesia

Jonah looked down at the half-filled mug in his hand. The headmaster said it was chocolate. It was warm and sweet, slightly bitter, but Jonah liked it. After the reveal in the Mirror Chamber, the headmaster decided to take him somewhere else. The original plan was the library again, but after seeing his probably panic face, the headmaster ended up taking him to the cafeteria, asking the cafeteria ghost chef to make them some warm drinks.

"Nothing?" The headmaster asked, causing Jonah to clutch his mug tighter. "Nothing at all?"

He shook his head. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

It was true. He tried his best to rake his brain, looking for clues. He remembered the sound of galloping horses, he remembered taking the hand through the mirror. But before that? Everything was blurry. He couldn't see any landmarks or interesting features. There were sounds, voices, but those were muffled. He couldn't recognize any of them. He was sure it wasn't Senior Ashengrotto, Senior Rosehearts, the headmaster, that raccoon, or any voices he had heard this day. He couldn't pick up an accent or distinguish whether those were females or males.

None of this makes any sense.

"Did you have anything on you when you first came here?" The headmaster asked again. "Any kind of identification? A magic drivers' license, or a slipper?"

Jonah shook his head again. "I don't think so. I'm the only one in the coffin."

What is he going to do? He didn't know where he came from. He didn't know why he is here. Why can't he remember anything?!

"Are you..." Jonah spoke with a small voice, "are you going to throw me out?"

Crowley let out a hum, thinking hard. "This is quite a dilemma. I can't keep someone unable to use magic at this school."

Jonah sighed and nodded. He was already expecting the worst. Though of what was he supposed to do after this still became the question.

"However!" Crowley suddenly declared, standing up, and Jonah flinched at the loud voice. "As an educator, throwing out a penniless youth who has no contact with their guardians would just break my heart. Since I am so very kind!"

Jonah looked up to him and mouthed, "What?"

Crowley looked down. He probably noticed how surprised the boy was because he cleared his throat in embarrassment before sitting down again. He put a hand on Jonah's shoulder, talking to him with a calmer and softer voice than before. "I will allow you to stay there for the time being," he said, his lips pulled up a reassuring smile, "in the meantime, I will search for anything related to your name. There couldn't be more than one or two children named 'Jonah Argentum' in this world."

Jonah's eye widened. "R-Really? I...I can stay here?"

Crowley's smile widened. "Of course!" he said, voice rising but it didn't frighten or bother Jonah. "Ahh, how kind I am~! Aren't I such an exemplary educator~?"

Jonah took the hand on his shoulder and shook them hard with his two hands. He looked brighter than before. His eye twinkling with gratefulness and a big smile formed on his face. "Thank you! Thank you so much for your help!"

Crowley laughed. "Of course! Of course." He patted Jonah's head. "Now, finish your chocolate. I know a place where you can stay. It's a little old, but a tasteful building."

Jonah nodded. His smile never left his face.

Maybe things can go well for a bit.