#Nri

[kemetic-dreams]

CULTURE SUMMARY: IGBO

By IFI AMADIUME

ETHNONYMS

Ala Igbo, Ani Igbo, Ibo, Ndi Igbo.

IDENTIFICATION AND LOCATION

Igbo is the language spoken in Ala Igbo or Ani Igbo (Igboland) by the people who are collectively referred to as “Ndi Igbo”; their community is known as “Olu no Igbo” (“those in the lowlands and uplands”). Before European colonialism, the Igbo-speaking peoples, who shared similarities in culture, lived in localized communities and were not unified under a single cultural identity or political framework, although unifying processes were present via expansion, ritual subordination, intermarriage, trade, cultural exchange, migration, war, and conquest. Villages and village groups were generally identified by distinct names of their ancestral founders or by specific names such as Umuleri, Nri, Ogidi, Nnobi, Orlu, Ngwa, Ezza, and Ohaffia.

There are several theories concerning the etymology of the word “Igbo” (wrongly spelled “Ibo” by British colonialists). Eighteenth-century texts had the word as “Heebo” or “Eboe,” which was thought to be a corruption of “Hebrew.” “Igbo” is commonly presumed to mean “the people.” The root - bo is judged to be of Sudanic origin; some scholars think that the word is derived from the verb gboo and therefore has connotations of “to protect,” “to shelter,” or “to prevent”—hence the notion of a protected people or a community of peace. According to other theorists, it may also be traced to the Igala, among whom onigbo is the word for “slave,” oni meaning “people.”

Igbo-speaking peoples can be divided into five geographically based subcultures: northern Igbo, southern Igbo, western Igbo, eastern Igbo, and northeastern Igbo. Each of these five can be further divided into subgroups based on specific locations and names. The northern or Onitsha Igbo are divided into the Nri-Awka of Onitsha and Awka; the Enugu of Nsukka, Udi, Awgu, and Okigwe; and those of the Onitsha town. The southern or Owerri Igbo are divided into the Isu-Ama of Okigwe, Orlu, and Owerri; the Oratta-Ikwerri of Owerri and Ahoada; the Ohuhu-Ngwa of Aba and Bende; and the Isu-Item of Bende and Okigwe. The western Igbo (Ndi Anioma, as they like to call themselves) are divided into the northern Ika of Ogwashi Uku and Agbor; the southern Ika or Kwale of Kwale; and the Riverrain of Ogwashi Uku, Onitsha, Owerri, and Ahoada. The eastern or Cross River Igbo are divided into the Ada (or Edda) of Afikpo, the Abam-Ohaffia of Bende and Okigwe, and the Aro of Aro. The northeastern Igbo include the Ogu Uku of Abakaliki and Afikpo.

Today Igbo-speaking individuals live all over Nigeria and in diverse countries of the world. As a people, however, the Igbo are located on both sides of the River Niger and occupy most of southeastern Nigeria. The area, measuring over 41,000 square kilometers, includes the old provinces of Onitsha, Owerri, East Rivers, Southeast Benin, West Ogoja, and Northeast Warri. In contemporary Nigerian history, the Igbo have claimed all these areas as the protectorate of the “Niger Districts.” Thus began the process of wider unification and incorporation into wider political and administrative units. Presently, they constitute the entire Enugu State, Anambra State, Abia State, Imo State, and the Ahoada area of Rivers State; Igbo-speaking people west of the Niger are inhabitants of the Asaba, Ika, and Agbo areas of Delta State.

[desiqueens]

She's so thirsty 💧

[ask-gypt]

Day 2: You Should See Me In a Crown/ coronation | celebration | chosen one Optimistically I will be able to get the blurry antics fixed next submission. We arrive on the day of the former Jack of Spades' coronation. He is now King of Spades, and the desire of destiny now dims its glow in satisfaction. Who will become Jack of Spades? A chosen one, but not chosen yet. However, someone was chosen to be the target of someone's trickery! More on the incident at eleven. Bonus my boys internal panic

[beeprich]

“Richie had about a dozen different Voices. His ambition, he had told Eddie one rainy afternoon when they were in the little raftered room over the Kaspbrak garage reading Little Lulu comic books, was to become the world’s greatest ventriloquist.”

- Stephen King, IT, p.303

[allari-ammayi]

hello my dear nri telugite !

HIII MY BEAUTIFUL TELUGUITE!!! <3333

Idk if you're also an nri, but hiii, how are you, what's up????

[matrimonialsindiareview]

Memes : WHEN THEY ANNOUNCE THE 🍛BUFFET IS OPEN! . . .

[matrimonials-india]

Discover the beauty of imperfectly perfect love on 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚.

Join us to find your perfect match today!

[windlassrivervalley]

Windlass River Valley Dehradun

[ashapurna-buildcon-limited]

Which Real Estate Investing Mistakes Should You Avoid?

There are many benefits to investing in Jodhpur real estate, including the fact that it is a safe and reliable investment. The constant demand for suitable housing in cities ensures that real estate investments yield a good return on investment. These mistakes can lead to financial losses if not avoided.

Following are the 5 common real estate investing mistakes you should avoid:-

Researching in the Wrong Way

Financially Underestimating Your Capabilities

Neglecting The Builder’s Reputation

Selecting the Wrong Property type

Taking No Advice From Experts

You now know what mistakes to avoid when investing in real estate and how to make intelligent investments. Now it's your turn to explore the opportunities and get to know jodhpur real estate companies which are Ashapurna Buildcon Limited. We built their residential and commercial projects in Jodhpur.

[kemetic-dreams]

Ichi was a form of facial ritual scarification worn by mainly men of the Igbo people of Nigeria. The scarification indicated that the wearer had passed through initial initiation into the aristocratic Nze na Ozo society, thus marking the wearer as nobility. Echoes of this tradition are found in the contemporary derivative word Ichie, which denotes a member of a class of titled chieftains amongst the Igbo.

The scarification was found among men in the Awka-Nri areas and among a few women in the Awgwu and Nkanu areas. Its wearers were authorized to perform ritual cleansing of abominations and to confer titles on people. People with facial marks were regarded as Nri men and were less likely to be taken as slaves. Other parts of Igbo land may have started wearing Ichi as a result of this. There are two styles; the Nri style worn in the Awka-Nri areas, and the Agbaja style worn in the Awgwu and Nkanu areas. In the Nri style, the carved line ran from the center of the forehead down to the chin. A second line ran across the face, from the right cheek to the left. This was repeated to obtain a pattern meant to imitate the rays of the sun. In the Agbaja style, circles and semicircular patterns are added to the initial incisions to represent the moon. These scarifications were given to the representatives of the eze Nri; the mbùríchi. The scarifications were the Nris' way of honoring the sun that they worshipped and was a form of ritual purification.

[globaltalentexchange]

SURVIVING LAYOFF SEASON

The tech industry is known for its fast-paced and constantly evolving nature, and layoffs are a common occurrence as companies adapt to changing market conditions and shifts in technology. In recent years, tech has faced many challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a significant impact on almost every industry in the world.

The impact of layoff seasons on employees can be significant. Layoffs can lead to a loss of income and benefits, causing financial stress. They can also be emotionally difficult, as employees may experience feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, and loss. It is important for companies to approach layoffs responsibly and compassionately, providing support and resources for affected employees.

Employees can also take steps to protect themselves and increase their chances of surviving layoff seasons. By taking proactive measures, professionals can better navigate the challenges. Read on!

Impending Layoff?

If you are concerned about job security in the tech industry, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and increase your chances of surviving the layoff season.

Keep your Skills Updated

Staying current in your field is crucial in the tech industry, where new technologies and trends are constantly emerging. Make an effort to continuously learn and improve your skills, whether through online courses, attending industry events, or working on personal projects. This will make you more valuable to your current employer and more competitive in the job market.

Build and Maintain a Strong Professional Network

Networking is key in the tech industry, and having strong connections can be a valuable resource in times of uncertainty. Make an effort to build and maintain a strong professional network through industry events, professional associations, and social media platforms such as LinkedIn.

Manage your finances

Layoffs can be financially stressful, so it's important to manage your finances and have a financial plan in place. This may include creating a budget, building an emergency savings fund, and reducing debt.

Remain Positive and Proactive

It is natural to feel anxious and uncertain in times of change, but try to stay positive and proactive. This may involve updating your resume, networking, and staying in touch with the market to understand any new career opportunities even if you are not actively seeking a new job.

Upskilling and Reskilling

Continuous skill development is crucial for techies looking to stay competitive in the industry. Here are a few ways professionals can continue, to not only survive the tech layoff season but also get better opportunities going forward:

Take online courses or earn a degree

Online courses and degree programs offer a convenient way to learn new skills or deepen your knowledge in a particular area. There are many online courses and degree programs available in a variety of tech-related fields, such as programming, data analysis, and cybersecurity.

Attend Industry Events and Conferences

Industry events and conferences are a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies in the tech industry. These events often feature presentations and workshops from industry experts and offer opportunities to network with other professionals.

Work on Personal Projects

Personal projects enable you to learn new skills and apply what you have learned in a practical setting. Working on a personal project can also help you stand out in the job market and showcase your skills to potential employers.

Participate in Hackathons

Hackathons are events where developers come together to work on a specific project or challenge over a short period, usually a few days. Participating in hackathons can help you learn new skills, network with other professionals, and demonstrate your skills to potential employers.

Join Relevant Professional Organizations

Professional organizations offer a range of resources and opportunities for learning and skill development, including events, workshops, and online courses. Many professional organizations also offer opportunities for networking and career development.

Critical to Success Tech Skills – Add Them to your Portfolio

The tech industry is constantly evolving, and it's important to stay current to remain competitive in the job market. Here are some ‘critical to success’ tech skills to consider adding to your portfolio:

Programming Languages

Proficiency in one or more programming languages is essential for many tech careers. Some of the most in-demand programming languages include Java, Python, Go, and JavaScript.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a rapidly growing field, and knowledge of cloud technologies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform can be highly valuable.

Data Analysis and Visualization

The ability to analyze and interpret data is crucial in many tech roles. Skills in data analysis and visualization tools such as Excel, SQL, and Tableau can be highly valuable.

Machine Learning

Machine learning is a rapidly growing field that involves using algorithms and statistical models to enable computers to learn and improve their performance without explicit programming. Adding ML skills to your portfolio can make you highly competitive in the tech job market.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is a critical issue in the tech industry, and knowledge of cybersecurity principles and technologies can be highly valuable. Skills in areas such as deepfakes, crypto-jacking, network, and cloud security, ransomware attacks, encryption, risk management, and many more are particularly in-demand.

Project Management

Tech projects often involve coordinating and managing multiple tasks and resources, and strong project management skills can be highly valuable. Skills in tools such as Agile, Scrum, and Jira can be particularly useful.

Communication and Collaboration

The ability to communicate and collaborate effectively is crucial in the tech industry, where teamwork and cross-functional collaboration are common. Adding skills in areas such as presentation, writing, and teamwork can be highly valuable.

It would be useful to gain/upgrade these skills even if you are not facing a layoff threat.

Exploring Global Opportunities

The tech industry is a global one. The United States, Canada, China, Germany, and Israel are all regions with strong and growing tech sectors, offering numerous opportunities for tech professionals. These regions are known for their focus on innovation and skill and are always in search of talented individuals to join their thriving industries. India, in particular, is facing a significant shortage of talent, making it a great place for professionals to explore job opportunities. The country has a lot to offer to the world as it is a young nation with an innovative spirit and unrelenting grit. What it lacks is experienced tech talent- people who have the skills, exposure, and motivation to help drive the efforts forward.

Read: The Upward Spiral Of Technology In India

These roles are in special demand in these regions:

Software Developers

Data Scientists

Cybersecurity Experts

DevOps Engineers

Systems Engineers

Project Managers

Technical Support Specialists

Technical Writers

Other considerations

Type of visa Different types of visas may be required depending on your employment status. Check whether the company you would be working with would assist you with gaining a work visa. Eligibility To be eligible for a work visa, you may need to meet certain criteria and have a proper job offer. Length of stay Some visas may allow you to stay in the country for a limited period of time, while others may allow you to stay indefinitely, depending on the company. Check with your prospective new employer. Some visas may need to be renewed after a certain period of time, while others may not. It is also important to research the employment laws in the countries you are considering working in, as these can vary significantly from one country to another. Minimum wage Different countries may have different minimum wage laws, which can affect your salary. Working hours Each region has different laws regarding working hours, such as the maximum number of hours you can work per week or the number of breaks you are entitled. Benefits Different countries may have different laws regarding benefits such as vacation time, sick leave, and maternity/paternity leave. Termination Different countries may have different laws regarding the termination of employment, such as the notice period required or the circumstances under which an employee can be terminated. Download: The NRI Guide For A Seamless Return To India [Free eBook] It is imperative to be proactive in seeking out resources and support networks, as these can help you navigate the challenges of living and working abroad and make the experience more rewarding.

Surviving the tech layoff season can be challenging, but with the right strategies and mindset, you can increase your chances of coming out on top and having sustainable success. Most importantly, it’s crucial to be connected with a suitable platform that can connect you with a wide network of highly-reputed companies that will best celebrate your knowledge and expertise. A platform like Global Talent Exchange.

GTX was built with the mission of mobilizing talent from skill-rich regions of the world to regions with talent shortages. We’re a next-gen tech recruitment platform, that goes above and beyond just connecting candidates with companies- we’re active enablers of the global brain circulation phenomenon. 

Read: Global Brain Circulation: The Opportunity Of A Mobile Tech Talent Pool

From personalizing the right opportunity to ensuring a cultural fit with the organization, we make sure your move is seamless and aligned with your personal and professional vision.

Begin your journey - Register with us

[ask-gypt]

Day 5: You Are the Peak and Art of My Universe/ true love | hidden talents | "We can't always get what we want." (Yeahh I am still working on that blurry thing) Eh hem! The king of Clubs, practicing his Club talents, weaves an artistic wonder that reflects what Clubs is currently capable of doing and by extension the three other lands and their current being. King of Clubs does not care to spy, yet sometimes the lives of others reveal themselves, the queen of Spades makes a diary for all of her companions, and Diamonds bickers like knitting grannies as they create jewelry for an event not yet announced... because there is not an occasion. The 'aro and ace of spade who are contracted under Hearts' contest by swapping weapons. It is all….true love? But not all is true, or rather honest. A secret has been revealed of mysterious 'business negotiations' occurring. All benefiting clubs but making other kingdoms secretly offended distraught. Who is causing it? No one will say. It has the name of Joker involved, but how long can that go on?

[vijayasuresh]

1*💎 Bhuvanagiri Town

💎 HMDA With RERA Approved projects

💎* Venus Grand city*(Venture name)

💎50 Acres Venture

💎Plot sizes min 150 sq.yds & above.

💎50% Bank loan available.

💎Spot registration.

💎Clear title.

💎 ISO certified company.

💎 Rachakonda commissionerate.

💎 Bachpan school backside.

💎Very near to Basavapur Reservoir.

💎Very near to Aiims.

💎 Municipal head quarters.

2*💎 Bhuvanagiri Anamtharam Village.

💎 HMDA With RERA Approved project.

💎* Highway Imperial (Venture name)

💎15 Acres project

💎Beside Sri Vasthalya Engineering college.

💎 Nearby 5 famous colleges.

💎 Nearby Renuka yellamma temple.

💎 Service road facing Venture.

💎Plot sizes min 167 sq.yds & above.

💎With 50% bank loan fecility.

💎Very near to Aiims.

3*💎 Gajwel Highway Rusthpur Village.

💎 DTCP with RERA Approved project.

💎5 Acres project.

💎*Silver Oak*( Venture name)

💎Very near to Basavapur Reservoir.

💎 National Highway 161AA.

💎 Minimum plot sizes from 150 sq yds.

💎 HMDA border.

💎150ft road facing Venture.

4*💎 Bibinagar Brahmanapalli Village road.

💎11Acres project.

💎 HMDA With RERA Approved project.

💎*Royal Avenue ( Venture name)

💎Ready to construction.

💎Plot sizes min 167 sq.yds & above.

💎Hindware company backside.

💎100ft road facing Venture.

💎 Valigonda to Chityaala connectivity road.

💎Very near to Aiims.

💎 Very near to Bibinagar railway station.

5*💎Keesara Bhogaram.

💎Villa project.

💎10 Acres project .

💎Plot sizes min 180 sq.yds & 200 sq.yds.

💎From keesara to 2km

ఇలాంటి మరిన్ని పోస్ట్‌లను చూడటానికి మరియు తెలంగాణ రియల్ ఎస్టేట్ ఏజెంట్స్ సంక్షేమ సంఘం ( TREASS ) చేరడానికి, ఇక్కడ క్లిక్ చేయండి

[beeprich]

“Now, he had to go back to being himself, and that was hard — it got harder to do that every year. It was easier to be brave when you were someone else.”

- Stephen King, IT, page 62

[love2share4all]

Beautiful NRI Babe 😍😍😍

[little-writing-corner]

Night Raven Island, Episode 1

Reposted from AO3

Inspired by Night Raven Island by Ashdownbby.

Hello everyone! Thanks again for @ashdownunderscorebeloved for letting me dramatize their first season of Night Raven Island, and I hope fans of Twisted Wonderland and Total Drama Island alike enjoy this remix! (And if enough people like it then I'll consider making a rendition of TDA too since the OP is in the second season).

Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ashdownbby

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/nightravenaction

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nr_island

Total Drama is property of Fresh TV, and Twisted Wonderland is property of Disney and Aniplex. Please support the official releases.

Not-so-Happy Night Raven Campers, Pt. 1

"Yo! We're coming at you live from Camp Wawanakwa, relocated somewhere in Twisted Wonderland! I'm your host, Chris McLain. We're dropping season one of the hottest new reality TV show sponsored by the prestigious magic school: Night Raven College. Starting, right now!

Here's the deal: for the next 8 weeks, 22 students from Night Raven College signed up to stay right here at this crummy old summer camp without the use of magic. The campers will be split into teams and every three days, they'll compete in challenges for a reward. The losing team will then face the judgement of their fellow campers at the dramatic campfire ceremony, where one of them is selected to walk the Dock of Shame, catch the Loser Boat, and leave the island for good.

In the end, only one will be left standing and will be rewarded cheesy tabloid fame and a small fortune which (let's face it) they'll probably blow in a week.

To survive, they'll have to battle nature, normalcy, and each other. Every moment will also be recorded with the invisible cameras scattered throughout the island.

Who will crumble under the pressure? Find out right here! Right now! On.

Night!

Raven!

Island!"

---

No prior knowledge of Twisted Wonderland or Total Drama Island is needed to enjoy this dramatization.

Camp Wawanakwa has been a place where many changes have happened, and plenty of pollution to boot. Though the skies appear clear, there is much trash on the beaches, and the outdoor wallpaper seems to be stained by time. Still presentable, though. Nothing like a good day for a reality show. Especially since the boats are going to bring a bunch of hormone-driven teenagers that all came from the same magic school.

Plus, he handled multiple seasons with unhinged teens, what could go wrong with this batch?

"Alright, it's time to introduce our newest campers!" he says to the sky, containing a well-trained video camera to the audience.

"We told them that they would be staying at a 5-star resort, so if they seem a little out of it, that's why," he whispers. He gives a quiet chuckle but composes himself once the first boat arrives. And out comes a hyena boy.

"Ruggie! How's it going?" Chris asks.

"Going good, Chris!" Ruggie picks up his bag and looks around. "Ready to kick some butts and win the prize!" He looks at Chris, getting a better view of him. He then starts wearing a cocky grin.

"Uhh, something wrong?" Chris asks.

Ruggie looks to Chris, who is slightly shorter than him. "You're a lot shorter in real life than in TV, shishishi."

"...Right." This is starting to feel like deja vu of a previous season.

The second boat arrives with a dark-skinned wolf boy.

"Jack, my man," Chris introduces with a smile.

"Hey," Jack grins. "Nice to meet ya."

The two exchange a high five when Jack starts sniffing the area and growls a bit.

"Whoa, down, boy," Chris says. "What's up?"

Jack grimaces. "Smells like trash." He scowls a bit. “And don’t look down on me.”

Chris raises an eyebrow and smiles. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Jack picks up his stuff and looks at the place. Ruggie and Jack exchange some high fives. Then he ducks down to Ruggie’s height.

"Is it just me or is this place more…shoddy than I thought?” he asks Ruggie.

Ruggie nods. “Definitely looked more expensive in the application.”

The next boat arrives with a petite boy with lavender hair. With his cute looks, one could mistake him for a girl. Or perhaps a tomboy with cute facial features.

“Hey, Epel,” Chris says, but not before quirking an eyebrow up. “You clean up well.”

Epel grows a bit mad. “What’s that ‘spposed ta–!'' He catches what he’s saying and clears his throat. “I mean…what do you mean by that?”

Chris then chuckles. “There’s that accent. For a moment I thought you had a city twin.”

Epel then looks around. “We’re staying here?” he asks. Chris simply gives a smile and nods. Epel’s frown only grows deeper. “I ain’t–” He then stops and simply groans as he goes to the other side.

“Ta’ outhouses in my village are better than these…” he mutters.

In the distance, pop music starts playing and someone screams, “Wooooo!”

The three students look up to see a spiky-haired redhead dancing to pop music. He goes down with a more relaxed gait and waves to the boat. “Thanks for the ride, dude, your music taste is awesome!” he says as the boat happily honks back.

“Ace, welcome!” Chris says as the two high five them.

“Dude, I heard so much about your shows, and it’s like, a big honor,” Ace says.

“Thanks, dude!” Chris says as he smiles. “And now you get to take a shot at it!”

“Yeah, dude!” He then shouts out from the dock. “You see that, bro?! I made it to reality TV!”

Ruggie, Jack, and Epel look at Ace with blank looks.

‘Loud as always…’ Epel thinks.

‘So annoying…’ the beastmen thinks.

Ace then laughs and goes to the others. “Hey guys, nice to see you again this summer!” Ace says with a smile.

No comment from the peanut gallery.

“Alright, we got some pairings in this show, so now we’ll introduce you to one of them!” Chris says. “Without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, here’s the Leech twins, Jade and Floyd!”

The atmosphere chills as the camera pans up to the twins’ faces. Teal-colored hair with a dark-blue streak, and both of them have an alternating eye color pattern of gray and yellow. One seems to wear a carefree smile, while the other stands in a perfect position like a butler.

“Okay…” Chris says, blinking at the Leech twins. He then turns to the other contestants. “Are they naturally this intimidating?” Chris whispers to them.

The others look up to see the twins give them smiles and waves.

“This is their normal mode,” Jack says.

Chris notes this with a nod and approaches the Leech twins.

“Alright, Jade and Floyd. Who’s who and which one is the evil one?” Chris asks.

“I’m Jade, the one with the left yellow eye; and my brother Floyd has his right eye yellow,” Jade explains as Floyd groans.

“Okay, this is boring now,” Floyd says. “I wanna go home.”

“Well, unless you know how to swim back, you’re stuck here,” Chris says as the boat is leaving the dock.

“Okay,” Floyd asks as he starts to sit by the dock's edge.

“Wait, wait!” Chris calls out. “You’re actually going to swim back home?”

Floyd sticks his head up. “Yeah.”

Jade places a hand to his face and walks over to Floyd.

“Apologies for my brother, he has a tendency to have mood swings,” he says. He picks him up by the collar.

"Floyd, the last thing I want is to use our limited supply of shape shifting potions just to maintain our human forms," he says.

"But why are we here again?" Floyd whines.

"Well..." Jade and Floyd whisper to each other, then the two smile, slightly revealing their pointed teeth.

The twins go over to the others, to which the rest split apart from them out of slight apprehension.

Rock music appears this time as a long-haired beastman gives a glare to the people below him and jumps to the dock, while the floorboards creak under his pressure. The luggage is also rather plentiful, making everyone else’s luggage look measly in comparison.

“Leona,” Chris says. If the Leeches made him feel like he was in a horror movie a few seconds ago, Leona makes him feel like he got transported to the savannah again. It's almost like...a lion.

Leona looks to the island and gives a piercing gaze to Chris. “You said that this was going to be a 5-star resort. Definitely doesn’t look like that.” He then points his finger to Chris’s shirt. “And I don’t like surprises.”

“So I’m aware,” Chris says with that same smile. “Your family also told me to give them a holler to have you go back to your place if you don’t want to join in challenges.”

Leona stares at him for a bit, then sighs and brushes his hair away from his face. His smile doesn’t meet his eyes, but there is a glint in his eye that seems to promise some things that would otherwise unnerve a person that isn’t Chris. “Fine. Glad that’s settled, then.”

He walks over to the dock and places some of the suitcases down to Ruggie’s hands.

"Hey Leona, what gives?" Ruggie asks. He tries to pick them up, but he’s barely managing to carry all of them. “And why are these so heavy?!”

"If you’re going to be here, you might as well make yourself useful." He places a hand to his head. “And this is just a light load, you know.”

Jack growls. “He’s not your servant, Leona. And that’s not a light load.”

Meanwhile, the host is just looking at this commotion. If there is this much drama already with the current cast, this show is going to be so chaotic.

“Alright, campers,” Chris redirects as the next boat arrives. In the back, a young black-haired appears to be waterskiing in the back, about the same looking age as Ace.

“Next up is the self-proclaimed honors student with a bad boy streak, here’s Deuce!”

Deuce gives a wave to everyone as he does a perfect landing to the dock…

“Hey Chri—whoa!!”

…But his momentum was so much that it crashed into Ruggie and Leona’s luggage, causing one of them to fall into the water and soaking Leona in the process.

“...My shirts!” Leona roars as he slowly goes to Deuce. “I’d let you know that those were my nice shirts. ”

Ace starts laughing as Epel tries to hold in a snicker. “Let us know how it feels to be Leona’s gopher, Deucey!” Ace says.

“Not unless I get to you, first!” Deuce says as he starts approaching Ace and dodging Leona’s attacks.

“Now, now,” Jade says as he calmly enters the fray. “We wouldn’t want to look like fools in front of TV, right?” he reminds them with a smile.

Floyd chuckles. “Or you could also just fight each other and be too tired for later. Might as well make the challenge easy for us.”

The others look at the Leech twins with their smiles and then they all split up. Leona is still pissed as he shakes himself dry, soaking those around him.

“Okay, this is…” Chris says as he raises a brow. He then hears a guy behind him clear his throat.

“Oh!' He returns his smile. "You’re Rook, right?” Chris asks.

“Indeed I am!” a blond-haired hunter says. “I am ready to peruse the dining and the accommodations–” he then stops to see the environment. “Pardonnez-moi, but is this the correct place?"

"...Yep, no other than Camp Wawanakwa."

Rook's smile spreads farther than Chris at the words. "My, this will be a wondrous opportunity to encounter beauty in nature." He carries his hunting gear as he goes with his suitcase. "And that would very much allow me to go hunting as I please."

Chris shudders. It honestly took him so many attempts to get him to not use the bow and they only managed to agree on 'no magic projectiles or enchanted arrows, and they can only be used for hunting non-human creatures excluding invisible camera drones'.

…Seriously, why are most of these guys taller than him? And why are these teenagers ten times scarier than all of the seasons combined?

The next boat arrives at the area and Chris's smile seems to not reach his eyes when he sees the next arrival: a dashing-looking teen with purple-silver hair. Fixing his glasses, he gives a smile to Chris.

"Azul, how are you?" he says as he offers a handshake.

"Wonderful, and it's also wonderful to finally meet you in-person." He accepts the handshake. “You have quite the track record with the dancing competition you were at and all the other shows you've been featured in," he says.

Chris laughs. "Aw shucks."

Deuce narrows his eyes. "He's done other shows before?"

"Duh!" Ace replies behind him. "There's gotta be a reason why this show got accepted for airing. Apparently, he and his partner fell offstage during a dance number, but they were safe for the week."

Epel hums. "That sounds…very sketchy."

A dark-green hair boy appears next to the dock, giving off a very unassuming look in comparison to the other contestants so far. Honestly, he would look like the nice kid who would visit their grandparents every two weeks just because.

“Trey, how’s it going?” Chris asks, exchanging a high-five to the guy.

“Going pretty good, it looks like it’ll be exciting,” Trey says. “I haven’t been to summer camp before, so this would be a fun vacation.” He looks over to the other guys. Leona is wringing the water out of his hair while an eel-looking person is laughing in the water while playing with a suitcase. It appears to have Floyd’s facial features as Jade is just looking solemnly at the eel. The others seem to either be pissed off with Leona splashing them or trying to size up their competition.

“...This’ll be great,” Trey mutters, trying to save his smile.

Trey goes over to the dock as Deuce starts hiding behind Trey while Ace tries to chase him down.

The next person is a silver-haired boy who seems to be looking around in a slight daze.

“Silver, what’s up?”  Chris says. “I’m surprised that your hair is actually silver.”

Silver looks up at the sky, then back to Chris. “There’s nothing much different in comparison to how it was this morning…” He looks around. “Has any of the Diasomnia students arrived yet?”

“Nope, you’re the first!” Chris then approaches Silver. “Look, I know you are a bit of a space cadet, but try not to get eliminated over something dumb, okay?” Chris asks.

Silver blinks a bit as he jerks his head up. “Ah, sorry, what did you say?” Silver asks. “I don’t think I caught that.”

The other contestants start snickering.

“Right…” Chris says, motioning Silver over. Aside from Trey, they all have really weird quirks.

A new boat arrives as some pop music plays from the boat.

"What's up, everyone!" An orange-haired guy waves. "Cater Diamond's in the house!"

He goes down with his luggage as he gives a high-five to Chris.

"Hey Cater," Chris says. "Gonna take a sweet pic for the Magicam?"

"You betcha!" The two of them get together for a selfie.

“#NightRavenIsland, #twstTV, #FreshOffTheBoat, #ChrisMcLainInTheFlesh…” he mutters. Then a chime sounds from the phone. “And sent! Let me know of your handle so I can properly tag you later, McLain!”

“Totes, dude, totes.” They then both exchange finger guns. The boat starts to sail away.

"If they are going to take another photo, I'm goin' to take his phone and break it myself," Leona growls.

Cater high fives Chris once more and goes to the others. “Wassup, everyone! I hope you’re ready to get back to NRC because Cay-Cay’s here to stay-stay!”

“Rhyming doesn’t make it sound any better…” Jack mumble.

“I believe it gives a beautiful charm that only Roi de Magicam can give!” Rook says. “Do you agree, Monsieur Pommette?”

“I’m not sure if I understand it, either,” Epel mutters.

“And look at Trey, with that get-up!” Cater says as he looks at Trey's summer-like outfit. “Matches you to a tee!”

“Haha, glad you like it, Cater,” Trey replies.

“Alright, time to introduce the next two pairs for Night Raven Island,” Chris says. “We’ll be starting up with the Asim family heir with the heir’s servant!”

Two bronze-skinned boys appear as one of them starts racing towards Chris and gives him a hug. “It’s so nice to meet you in person, Chris!” the chipper one says. “I’ve been wanting to go on a reality TV show for so long, this is like a dream come true!”

Chris grimaces a little as he is being squeezed by this kid who is just slightly shorter than him.

“Okay, let go, let go,” he asks.

“Oh, sorry,” the chipper one says. The guy behind him groans.

“Kalim, it’s barely been a minute since we arrived, try to show some restraint,” he says.

“But aren’t you excited, Jamil?!” Kalim says. “We’re going to be spending summer together in this…” he looks around the area, his expression dropping just the slightest bit when he sees the crummy summer camp. “Place… Why does it look so broken?”

Jamil shakes his head. “Do you still have the agreements in place?” he asks Chris. “I’m sure you know what will happen to you if you place him in danger,” he says as he points to Kalim, who is now currently saying hi to the other contestants.

“Right…” Chris says with an indifferent frown. “Still, welcome to the team, Kalim and Jamil!” he says. And while Jamil himself is carrying a small bag on his back, he also hauls over three large chests with the help of a cart that was in the ship. It almost rivals Leona’s luggage in terms of luxury, showing a lot of gold embroidery.

Kalim beams at Chris’s half-hearted attempt to welcome the duo. “Thanks, Chris! I’m sure that it’ll be fun regardless of the place!”

“Kalim, don’t forget your stuff,” Jamil says, pulling the cart over.

The next boat arrives with two blue-haired boys, their hair giving off a flickering like a fire. And while one looks like a hunched teen (something to be expected), the other looks like a kid in a robot suit (something not as expected). Also, if Leona and Kalim’s luggage were bigshot, their luggage seems to be some sort of ultra-tech engineer with drones to carry all of their luggage using levitation technology.

“Shroud brothers, how’s it–” Chris stops as the older one starts placing a helmet to cover their face and hiding behind his younger brother. “Uhh, is he okay?”

“Yeah!” the younger one says. “Idia doesn’t do well with people, but I think this could be good for him!” He starts turning to Idia. “C’mon, big bro, say hi to everyone!”

He takes a tablet and starts typing. Afterwards, he shows it to the others.

“Uhh…Hi.” The tablet says, using text-to-speech that travels extremely fluently. “I’m not comfortable talking to people, so I’m just going to talk through this tablet. Or just ask Ortho. Just not me.”

Ortho raises his hand. “I’ll be sure to answer any questions possible!”

“Right,” Chris says, then he starts whispering to Idia. “Look, I know you’re this super important person who doesn’t get out much, but you’re going to need to show yourself to challenges eventually.”

Idia shakes off Chris. “I know, just let me pick my own battles and I’ll show up,” he mutters.

The two start moving to the dock and Chris starts to see the kids in the section, and then a small “debate” of whether they should let the brothers move close to them or not. Whether this is part of their script or just their regular personality, he can see the ratings definitely getting a change.

A chuckle comes from behind Chris as he suddenly turns around. "Who is–" he starts, but then looks down to a shorter-sized person with short black hair and magenta highlights. His ears are pointed in comparison to the other humans in the area: a trait of fey ancestry, Chris deduces.

“It’s nice to see the young’uns playing around like that,” he says. “It might do some good for the boys to be here, too.”

"Lilia, right?" Chris says as he gives a small bow. "Nice to meet 'cha."

Lilia then slowly stands up properly. "Come now, Chris, no need to be formal,” he says with a smile. “I’m happy to be here, too.” He starts wandering to the crowd.

“So this is a reality television show,” Lilia murmurs. “It’s definitely more…rustic than I thought it would be.” He then starts thinking for a bit. “Why does it feel like I’m forgetting something?”

“Fa- I mean, Lilia,” Silver softly calls. “Would you like to stay beside me?”

“If you insist,” Lilia smiles, and then goes to his side.

Chris quirks an eyebrow. Why would this kid talk like his grandpa? Not that it matters, he thinks.

Chris clears his throat “Next up is–”, but before he could finish, a yell is heard in the distance.

“hhheeeEEEEYYY!!” A neon green-haired yells as he brings down a singular backpack.

“Master, I’m here!” the boy barks to the dock and jumps down. He looks around and much to his disappointment. He turns to Chris. “Human! Has a fey with horns arrived at this dock yet?”

Chris starts to twist his ear. “No, none from what I know. Also, it's Chris. Anyways, you’re Sebek, right?”

“Impossible!” the man says. Chris covers his ears at the sudden screaming, but the guy calms down afterwards. Instead, he wears a proud smile. “Yes, my name is Sebek Zigvolt, retainer to the Heir Apparent of Briar Valley!”

Silver holds his head with a scrunched face. “Not too loud, Sebek, you’re on national TV.”

Lilia giggles. “I think a little excitement is what we needed in this place, personally,” he comments. “Come here, Sebek, you are here as a representative, after all.”

“Yes, Lilia!” he says as he walks to their side. Chris removes his hands from his ears and LIlia gives a thumbs up. The other guys seem to follow, with some nods and thumbs-up here and there alongside groans.

“Okay, destroyed eardrums aside,” Chris says as he presses his eardrums. “Our next camper is coming up! Everyone, please welcome Riddle!”

“What?!” Ace and Deuce yell. Chris covers his ears again.

“What did I say about not bursting more eardrums?” he seethes. However, he quickly regains his composure as a short, red-haired boy waves from the approaching boat. Carrying a surprisingly calm expression, Chris holds out his hand as Riddle steps down from the boat.

“Thank you for the accommodations, Chris,” Riddle says politely. He then goes to the others.

“So it seems like I’ll be competing against you guys,” he says. “I look forward to a noble battle for the prize.”

“Please don’t tell me that you’re going to impose the Queen of Hearts rules here…” Ace grumbles.

Riddle’s eyes narrow slightly. “Well, if you are going to be a rule-breaker, maybe I will.”

Deuce then quickly bows to Riddle. “No, Housewarden! We’ll behave!”

Riddle sighs. “No need to be so stern here, Deuce,” Riddle says. “I’m also a contestant, after all.” He then turns to the dock. “Besides, I’ll show–” but he then stops as Riddle looks to the next upcoming ship. “Oh, great.”

A blond-haired man arrives on the ship, while the violet tips complement his perplexion, giving off a regal look. With the presence he carries and one of his iconic songs playing in the radio, he shines like a superstar. And most of the campers there are either stunned, confused, horrified or silently squealing at the arrival of the newcomer.

“Vil Schonheit, glad to have you for the summer,” Chris says as he shakes his hand.

“But of course, the pleasure is mine,” Vil says, his voice sounding clear as a bell.

“Okay, what sort of bet did you lose to get here?” Leona says with a smirk.

Vil looks over to the beastman and gives a smirk. “I did not expect you of all people to be here, either, Leona,” he says with a slightly venomous tone. “I came here for an opportunity that was offered to me. I wonder what caused you to be so bored you had to go to a summer camp that is clearly beneath you.”

“Ooooooh, he went there,” Floyd says.

“Can’t say Vil’s any better, shishishi,” Ruggie snickers, trying hard not to smile.

“Well, I hope we can all have some healthy competition between each other as classmates,” Vil says with a shining smile. “But I’ll be the one who will be on top.”

“All right, I think that’s all of them,” Chris says as he is counting all of them. Sebek looks like he’s ready to burst again (whether in rage or tears is up for debate), but then Chris stops and recounts. “We’re missing one more,” he says.

Vil gets confused. “I was supposed to be the last one, correct?”

“Yeah, but there’s only 21 of you and there were 22 registered…” Chris gets the walkie-talkie. “Chef, you’re sure that there’s no one else?” he asks. “Over?”

“Lemme check,” Chef says in the receiver. A strong wind is heard from the static. “Wait, Chris, he’s already coming your way!” Chef yells. “Over!”

“Wait, what do you mean–” he starts until a whoosh of water appears, the waters bringing the presence of a horned man. He steps into the dock with the poise of a prince and his emerald eyes pierce the air like a knife. And what Chris notices is, by his guess, that he could be taller than Chef Hatchet himself!

“Ah, you’re the last one,” Chris says with an indifferent expression. “Malleus Draconia, right?”

“Yes, there were no boats remaining, so I chose to arrive here on my own.” Malleus says.

The rest of the cast went into chaos.

Plus some others. Then Lilia snaps his fingers in realization. "I knew I forgot something. Malleus was supposed to arrive before me in the boat order..."

“MALLEUS?!”

“I’m screwed if he’s not on my team…”

“This is awesome!!”

“I wonder what will get him to enter into an alliance with me…”

“Why is the heir prince of Briar Valley here?!”

“I’m so proud of you, Malleus.”

"AAAAH, Master Malleus has arrived!"

In the meantime, Vil is seething.

"I want to contact my agency," Vil says. "We did not agree to this!"

"They did." Chris says as he pulls out the heavy packets from his shirt. "I got the contracts, which also includes all the addendums from all of your third parties in order to make sure you can all participate. In your case specifically, Vil, Malleus came here on his own accord and we didn’t plan for him to come after you, so I haven’t broken any agreements.”

Vil is speechless as Chris places the contracts away in his pants.

"In your defense, Vil, the contracts were filled with double meanings and wordplay that borders on fey contracts," Azul says, going to Vil. "Honestly, I could not blame your agency for falling to see every detail."

"If that is the case, why did you decide to enter here in the first place?” Vil asks.

"I have my reasons." Azul shrugs in a nonchalant fashion. “I reread it seven times and requested a copy for myself, so if there is something I missed, then shame on me.”

Meanwhile, there were the royals and rule-sticklers.

Leona is growling, Riddle is trying to see if he is going to be able to follow all of the Queen of Heart's rules in this place, Kalim is trying to see over the water and Jamil is glaring at Chris as if he is ready to make all the lawsuits imaginable if Kalim so much gets a flesh wound (all the while he’s holding Kalim to make sure he doesn’t fall over the dock).

There are so many other reactions, but at the moment some of them start pulling out a gem-adorned pen, Chris whistles to get their attention. "Hey!"

The others look at the host with piercing eyes. "What?!"

"No magic in the island grounds!" he yells. "This is an island reserve!"

"And yet we are using this reserve as a playground for human excursion events," Malleus says sourly. "I wonder how much of this nature is truly nature or simply illusionary spells that gained sentience over the ages.”

"Enough!" Chris says as he takes out the foghorn, causing them to go silent. "As a magicless person who is broadcasting this to the entirety of Twisted Wonderland, we are going to do this without magic unless you had explicit clearance for very specific uses from our negotiations." He takes out the contract and flips to the last page. "And in the fine print, I have the right to report your headmaster and respective 3rd parties for your immediate dismissal at any time if you do not comply." He places the contracts away again. "That said, all of you are playing for personal reasons rather than your dorm's best interests." He smiles deviously. "And I know what all of you want."

"As Malleus says!" Sebek yells.

"There are troublemakers!"

"I need to update my software!"

"What about flying?!"

"Regardless, if you don't want to join, you can just wait until the boats come back," Chris says offhandedly. "Otherwise, go to the end of the dock, place your magic pen crystals in the box provided at the end of the dock, and take a picture for the promo.”

Money.

Fame.

Friends.

Maybe all of the above, maybe something else, or maybe nothing at all.

The students start to emanate a dark aura at the mention that Chris is going to take away their pens. The drama they all have with each other, yet the alarming herd mentality they all get into when there is a common threat. There is so much potential for this to completely crash and burn, and with a few of them looking close to the height of Chef Hatchet, there might be the possibility that some of them might give him a match.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get your magic pens after we finish with this photo,” he says.

The students went back to their neutral expressions, if a bit bored. They all then go to the other side of the dock, leave their pens by the box, and they all start posing for the picture…but not without some arguing and grumbling.

“Alright, campers. Say ‘Wawanakwa’!"

This season, Chris thinks…

…is going to be awesome.

They all took that cheesy promo photo.

---

“First episode in and they’re already at each other’s throats,” Grim says as he carries his popcorn bucket. Flaming ears lighting up, he lets out a small fireball to pop more kernels. “I bet a whole tuna feast that someone is going to have a meltdown on camera!”

Yuu contemplates as he stretches for a kernel. “Well, I can’t really bet against that,” he says. “But I think they’ll be fine overall.” He gives a sigh while the commercials play, then glances over to the gray weasel-raccoon-cat creature who he lives with. “Grim, don’t eat all the popcorn during the commercials,” he reminds him.

Grim pouts and gives a glare at his human henchman. Though Yuu’s the only reason Grim is able to be in this school (since Yuu can’t do magic), he’s still very annoyed with the living arrangement.

“Why wasn’t I selected for the show?!” he demands. “I would’ve won the grand prize on the first episode!”

Yuu shrugs. “Maybe since we’re a package deal, we didn’t make the cut.” Regardless, he gives a smile. “Still, we can cheer them on or laugh at their failures, if nothing else.”

Grim laughs. “True! I bet five cans of tuna that Ace and Deuce are out of the game in five episodes!”

Yuu gives a disappointed look, but there's no denying that there's a chuckle or two. “Come on, give the guys some credit.” The TV plays the show chime. “Okay, show’s about to start, pass me the popcorn.”

---

Chris and the cast are in the bonfire gallery, where all of the campers are sitting in their logs. Some are looking intent, others bored, and one is almost hiding behind their younger brother.

"Idia, you're not going to be mauled by a bear," Azul says. "There's no need to be alarmed right now, so let Ortho have his space."

"Yeah, like it's going to not be uncomfortable when the entirety of Twisted Wonderland is seeing you on TV," Idia's tablet says.

Chris taps the pedestal at attention. "Anyways, this is Camp Wawanakwa, your home for the next eight weeks. All you campers here know one another and some of them will become your cabin mates, your competition, and maybe even your friends," Chris says with a bit of a drawn-out tone. "You dig?"

The wave of cringe that fills the area makes it seems like either the campers were weirded out by the slang or the idea of having ‘friends’.

"The camper who manages to stay on Night Raven Island the longest without getting voted off will win $100,000!" Chris says.

Cringe has turned into confusion.

“Oh right, different country.” Chris clears his throat. “The winner will be getting 100,000 tharumarks!”

Now the interest perks up. Discussions about not being poor anymore, new upgrades to equipment and quality of life, and overall excitement fills the air. And then come the questions.

"What are the sleeping arrangements, because I need to be in a place where I can see the moon and have tea while singing at the same time," Riddle says. "And to make sure some people follow the rules." He stares at Ace and Deuce for this one.

"Hey, we're not in Heartslabyul, so keep your rules to yourself!" Ace says.

"How dare you?!" Riddle says. "Off with your-"

"Ahem," Chris tuts, his glare fixating on Riddle. “I believe we said no magic. You’re following camp rules, not whatever rules you followed in your school dorms.”

Riddle freezes, then sits down with a small sulk. Ace and Deuce exchange smiles.

"You'll get your cabins according to which team you're on," Chris says. "We got some special requests from some of the contractors for special arrangements, so they would be sleeping on the other side.” He gives a knowing smile to the campers. “I’m sure they’ll let you know.”

"This cannot be happenin'," Epel mutters.

"It would be great to become friends with each other, wouldn't it?" Kalim says as he hugs Jamil and Epel. "It'll be like a big sleepover!"

"Kalim, not now," Jamil says as he gently breaks him out of the hug, letting Epel escape.

"...Friends," Idia and Leona groan.

"Speaking of, time to split into teams," Chris says. "If I call your name, stand over on the left side: Azul, Floyd, Idia, Jade, Jamil, Kalim, Leona, Lilia, Riddle, Ruggie, and Sebek."

Idia looks over to the group, then to Ortho, who then gives him a big hug. "It's okay, brother!" Ortho says. "We can still meet up later!"

…He doesn’t like this. But Ortho’s right. They can meet up later. He’ll still be terrified, though. Regardless, he goes over to the others.

"From now on," Chris announces, "You are officially known as the Screaming Gophers!"

Leona looks at the banner. "Why does the gopher look weird? Also, this is awful fabric."

“Hey, don’t underestimate gophers, those guys can be threatening as hell,” Ruggie interjects.

"And for the rest of you: Ace, Cater, Deuce, Epel, Jack, Malleus, Ortho, Rook, Silver, Trey, and Silver," Chris announces. "You are now the Killer Bass!"

"Oh em gee, now that’s hashtag worthy!" Cater says. He takes a pic of all the campers in the Killer Bass and starts typing #NightRavenIsland, #KillerBass, and #GophersAreGoinDown, but when the taps the screen to send, he looks distraught. "There’s no internet connection here…” That said, he starts perking up again. “Well, I guess I could just save the pics until after the show or when I get to the docks.”

Once Cater finishes with his pity party, Chris then leads the campers to their cabins. “Gophers take the west cabin and Bass take the east. These will be your sleeping quarters throughout your time in the show.” He gives a passing glance to Sebek, who looks about ready to cry. He continues to smile. “And speaking of the show, a reminder that all public areas are recorded throughout the competition.”

//TAPE CONFESSIONAL ON//

Chris: "You would also be able to share your innermost feelings on tape with video diaries any time you want. Let the audience know what you're really thinking. *(wink)* Or just get something off your chest."

//TAPE STATIC//

Floyd: “I know I told Jade that I would give this place a chance, but… This place sucks.”

//TAPE STATIC//

Jamil: “I would like to extend my apologies for Kalim’s *(shoos a fly)* display in the campgrounds. As his *(swats another fly)* servant, I’ll be sure to serve him to the best of my abilities, so be sure to cheer him on–" *(stops as he feels a fly settle on his hair)*

//TAPE STATIC//

//TAPE STATIC//

*(Jamil starts spraying the entire confessional with bug spray with a concentrated expression.)*

Kalim: (Outside) "Jamil, are you okay in there?"

Jamil: (Spats) "I'm fine!" *(Sprays another fly)*

*(A duck is placing lip gloss but stops as Sebek’s voice wails in the background. In a muffled voice, he says, “Woe is me!!! Why can I never be on the same side as Malleus?!” The duck rolls its eyes.)*

//TAPE STATIC//

*(The confessional is almost near spotless now)*

Kalim: “Hey everyone! I'm so happy to be able to go on this journey with everyone in Night Raven College. Honestly, I'm here to have fun rather than win the prize, but maybe this place can teach me how the average person lives.” *(laughs)* "Be sure to cheer for Jamil, okay? He can be rather reserved."

//TAPE CONFESSIONAL END//

“Any questions?” No response. “Cool.”

He starts motioning towards the cabins. “For the people who have special accommodations, you’ll be taking the right side of your respective cabins,” Chris explains.

At that moment, Idia yelps and sprints towards the right side of the Gopher cabin and the sounds of electronic locks can be heard. The others start walking to the cabins.

Leona approaches the door and gives a sarcastic polite knock. “Oh, Idia, would you be so kind as to open the door?”

Idia screams. “Don’t come–!” he stops midway and and after typing, he peeks out. “Okay, I know this is supposed to be a crummy summer camp, but where’s the power outlet? There has to be an outlet to charge my tech,” the tablet says.

“There are some in the communal baths. Right over there.”

The communal bathrooms are filled with flies.

“Jade, what’s a communal bath?” Floyd asks.

“And you’re expecting us to go there?” Leona growls.

"I can't believe I'm agreeing with Savanaclaw's housewarden, but do you know how expensive these things are?!"

"And the last thing I want is to share it with a coward." He hardly gives a glance to Idia. "What a pathetic excuse for a housewarden..."

Azul peeks out. “Why would the bathing areas have ritual items to communicate with ghosts?”

“It’s ‘communal’, Azul,” Jade clarifies. “Not ‘communing’.”

Lilia pitches in. “It’s like our dorms back in NRC. We share the same showers.”

Leona goes cross. “Maybe for you, I can barely handle sharing rooms, but we can’t even bathe in peace?!”

Jamil looks up at Leona while Azul, Jade, and Floyd go inside the other cabin. Trying not to sound irritated, Jamil says, “Leona, we would really appreciate it if you could move so we can enter…” Leona looks over and sees Kalim also not being very happy about his outburst, either. That doesn't last for long though as he forces a smile.

“It’ll be fine, Leona!” Kalim says. “It might seem a little downtrodden, but we’ll learn how it would be to live in the same dorm for a long time. It’ll be fun!”

Riddle looks towards the royals and retainers. “And I think the people with ‘special accommodations’ need to accommodate their voices,” he cuts in.

Kalim and Leona cry out in surprise while the other side of the cabin claps and Riddle goes inside. Jamil gives a small smile out of amusement, though it quickly goes away.

Chris is also smiling at the spectacle as he hears someone from the other team call his name.

“Excuse me, Chris!” Ace calls. “Is there any sort of chaperone here?”

“You’re all high-schoolers,” Chris says matter-of-factly. “You can usually apply to be a counselor-in-training for a summer camp at this point." He resumes his smile. "So aside from me, you're unsupervised." He looks at his watch. "You got half an hour to unpack your stuff and meet me in the mess hall. Starting…now!"

Ace waves. "Thanks for the tip!" Once he leaves, though, Ace does a little "yiss!" and does a fist bump.

That victory is short-lived as a screech is heard in the other cabin.

"That sounds like Riddle!" Trey says as he runs to the other cabin. Ace, Deuce, and Cater quickly follow suit.

"Now what's going on?!" Trey asks.

Riddle is standing on a stool and Azul is on a top bunk, terrified.

"Someone kill it!" Riddle cries.

"Floyd, Jade, do something!" Azul orders.

"I dunno, the little guy's pretty cute," Floyd says as he gets a cup.

"Likewise," Jade replies as he starts to use a magnifying glass to lure the thing to them.

It was a cockroach.

The symphony of Heartslabyul kids commences with screaming and stomping. Deuce jumps onto Trey, while Ace is trying hard to stomp it out.

"Someone kill it already!"

"Why are there bugs here?!"

"I'm gonna pee!"

Add laughing eels to the equation.

And then Silver rushes over with a rusty axe, and someone could think the cockroach could've said 'Help me' if it talked as it was perfectly chopped in half.

"Quiet," Silver says. "You're disturbing the peace."

Everyone gets quiet as Deuce realizes he's on Trey's arms, which leads him quickly jumping down.

–Main Lounge--

"S-sorry, Trey," Deuce says, to which Trey sighs.

"As long as you don't do that again."

"Alright, listen up!" Chef shouts to the campers in the mess tent. "I serve it three times a day and you'll eat it three times a day!" He gets a bowl of…questionable porridge on the counter. "So grab your tray, get your food, and sit your butts down NOW!"

"SIR, YES SIR, THANK YOU, SIR!" Sebek yells from the back line.

"Come now, Sebek, we're not at war," Lilia says. "No need to be uptight."

Vil stays silent as he goes to the table. True, it may not look appetizing, but at least it looks like it has the major food groups. Though, the quality can't be said for everyone here. For some of them, it's flavorless gruel and some chicken with barely cooked mushrooms.

"Are we going to getting all the major food groups?" Jack mutters as he walks away.

"I have to agree, it will not do well for my skin if my nutritional diet is compromised," Vil says.

"How about," Chef starts, "You SIT YOUR BUTT DOWN?!"

"The chef really needs to up his game," Ace snickers with Epel.

"What'd ya say?!" Chef yells.

"Huh?!" Ace and Epel step back.

"C'mon closer, redhead! I didn't hear you."

"Uhh, nothing!" Ace says. "Nothing important! You look great, by the way."

"That's what I thought," Chef says. He then looks to Epel.

"You, scrawny kid," Chef says to Epel.

"...Who are ya-" he clears his throat. "Um...what is it?"

"Gimme your plate," he says as he places another scoop of gruel in his.

Epel looks at chef, and though he looks skeptic, he mutters a 'thanks' before leaving.

Vil sighs and looks away. Being the housewarden of Pomefiore, he should monitor his underclassmen's eating habits, especially now; but considering that their food is scarce to begin with, perhaps a little bit of leniency is in order so his poison apple can perform better?

...Yeah, he's going to talk to Chef afterwards because that simply will not do. How dare he messes up his diet! But Vil eating slop? Never in a million years.

The campers start collecting their food and they're trying very hard to not be picky.

Lilia looks to the plate of gruel. "Hmm, this is decent, but it could be made better with some eggs…"

The Gophers look at Lilia. "You mean, actual eggs in the gruel?"

"Of course, for the omega 3s and protein, which is what this dish is mostly missing for a balanced meal."

Sebek’s face grows pale.

//TAPE CONFESSIONAL ON//

Sebek: “Great Seven, forgive me for what I'm about to say, but I think even the chef cooks better than Master Lilia…”

//TAPE STATIC//

Silver: “...The food’s better than what fa– I mean, Lilia would make. He’s…not known for his cooking.”

//TAPE CONFESSIONAL END//

"And you two, get your food already!" Chef says as Jamil and Kalim are in the line. Their trays seem to have a similar treatment to Vil’s cooking, but a little bit of mystery gruel on the side.

"I told you before, our agreement is that I can either use the kitchen or I examine all your meals beforehand," Jamil says.

"Honestly, you rich people..." Chef mutters.

"Sorry for making you do this, Mr. Chef," Kalim says. "I remember eating food one time and I passed out for a few days, but if it makes your job easier, Jamil and I could start cooking our own food!"

Chef raises his hands in understanding, then lowers his voice for Jamil. "Look. Food's disgustin', but on my honor as a soldier and chef, nothin' I cook'll kill 'im."

Chef stops and turns in surprise. "Wait, what-"

But Jamil stops him before he could finish that sentence.

Jamil looks up and nods. "In that case, I'll just taste test his dishes if that's fine."

Jamil and Chef shake on that.

Chris enters in the excitement with his same smile. "Campers, welcome to the main lounge!"

Cater turns around. "Chris, could we like, order a pizza or something?"

Cue Kalim and Jamil ducking as Chef swings a cleaver right past Cater and gets ledged into the wall. His glare looks ready to throw another at the next offense.

"N-Nevermind!" Cater says. "We're all good here, right, everyone?"

A few tried to laugh and nod it off, and a few others ducked beneath the tables, but most of them simply give cold stares and smiles to Chef before returning to regular conversation and eating, as if none were phased that a cleaver was slung in the air.

"Just wanted to let you know that the first challenge starts in one hour," Chris says. The students respond accordingly and start going.

Chef turns to Kalim and Jamil, who slowly stand up.

"Damn, are all y'all fighters or somethin'?"

Jamil simply shrugs. "That's a piece of our world that you'll need to learn," he says as he goes away with Kalim.

"I wonder what they'll do for the first challenge!" Kalim asks.

"It's the first challenge," Jamil says. "I don't think it'll be that difficult."

One hour later...

Jamil and Kalim are in swimsuits, looking down on a cliff with the other campers in similar garb. For purposes of keeping this PG-13, the reaction of one of the contestants had been censored as the camera pans out to show a mountain of a cliff.

[I am Dire Crowley, the headmaster of Night Raven College, an arcane art institute where the best and brightest come to master their craft!]

[Sideshow– NRC Itinerary!! Featuring: Dire Crowley]

[Hello Twisted Wonderland viewers! We hope you are enjoying the feature show of Night Raven Island, with a cast of Night Raven College students!]

[And to encourage friendly competition between the students, they are separated into seven dorms with the theme of the Great Seven!]

[May my generosity inspire you to continue watching!]

Fine print: [Night Raven College does not encourage or condone any dangerous stunts or feuds in this show and all actions done in Night Raven Island are unaffiliated with the principles of Night Raven College.]