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| Chapter 18 | Prologue • Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 |
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Mirror Chamber
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Pardon?! You're telling me you actually went to the Dwarfs' Mine in search of a magestone? |
| Uh...? Yes? |
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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. |
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Are you serious?! While we were fightin' some crazy monster for you, you were expelling us?! |
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"Monster"...? |
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Yeah. There was a monster, all right. A big, nasty one. It nearly killed us! |
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Would you kindly relate this story in full? |
Headmage's Office
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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? |
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I don't know that I'd call it "working together." |
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It was more like we just happened to share the same goal at the same time... |
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Oh, gracious... Ohhh... Ohhhhhhhh! *Sobbing* |
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What is this guy's deal?! Burstin' into tears in public? At this age?! |
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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! |
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Whoa! No! No way would I join hands with that guy! |
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Okay, one, there was no joining of hands. Gross. And two, exactly HOW old are you, headmage? |
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At this moment, I am moved beyond words. This incident has proven my hopes were justified. [MC], my doubts are allayed! For you... You possess the talents of a beastmaster! |
| A... A beastmaster? | What talents are those, exactly? |
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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. |
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You make it sound like that's a bad thing. |
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But you, [MC], 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! |
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But... none of those words are good things? |
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[MC]... 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, [MC]... I am granting you the qualifications necessary to attend at Night Raven College! |
| WHAT?! |
| As an actual student?! | You remember that I can't use magic, right? |
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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 [MC] will share a single enrollment at Night Raven College. |
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Myah! I... I'll get to go to this school...? As an actual student? Not a janitor?! |
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Correct. However! There must be no further incidents like the one that occurred today. Are we clear? |
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Myah... Myah... [MC], I... I finally... |
| I'm so happy for you! | It'll be a pleasure working with you. |
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MYAAAAAH! I FINALLY DID IT! |
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Accordingly, I will now present to Grim the magestone that is issued to every student here. |
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Heh! A magestone, eh?! |
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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? |
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Ah, sweet! I look awesome! A magestone collar, to be worn only by the legendary archmage, Grim! |
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You're not listening to anything I say, are you? [MC]. 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! |
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Wow, that's quite the promotion. From janitor to student to prefect, all in the span of a day. |
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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. |
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Well, that's gotta be a Night Raven first! A magic-less prefect? But sure, why not? Whatever works! |
| I'll do my best! | I'm not sure I'm cut out for this... |
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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. |
| Ghost? | Camera? |
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Ooh, my grandma's told me about those. Those are, like, super old magic items, right? |
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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. |
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Wait, that sounds... sketchy. |
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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! |
| Soulbond? | Jumping out? |
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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"? |
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That almost sounds like ghost photography! |
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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. |
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This tech sounds like way more trouble than it's worth. |
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[MC]. I would like you to photograph Grim and the other students with this camera, and make a record of your campus life. |
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Myah ha haaa! Sounds like the perfect way to immortalize all my finest moments! |
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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? |
| Thank you, sir. | I'll give this my all. |
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The hour has grown late, so further details shall have to wait till the morrow. You are all dismissed. Return to your dorms. |
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Good night, sir! |
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| Chapter 18 | Prologue • Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 |
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