#Royal Sword Academy students

[mistydreamfractals333]

~| Land of Shards AU Preview! |~

In this post, I’ll be going through all of the student characters and providing material for viewers of this AU to get excited about. Unfortunately, I don’t currently have much history/plot for the NRC or RSA staff just yet, nor do I have anything for the dwarves or Prince Rielle, but I’m working on it still.

This AU is still a work in progress. As a refresher for those who saw my previous post about it, and a bit of information for those who didn’t, this AU is set in a dark fantasy version of Twisted Wonderland. There are very few humans, very few beastkins other than werewolves, and technology is very limited.

This AU is the combined efforts of myself and my friend RinRin, but was inspired by a oneshot piece I read a few months ago involving the Pomefiore trio as the heads of a vampire clan. More information will be provided when I release the final draft. But for now, I hope this is enough.

As a headnote, this list of character pieces is not strictly for simps or kinnies. It is for all who are interested in this AU. If you don’t simp for or kin any of these characters, then the neutrality of each blip of information should still be entertaining for you. If anybody has any questions, please, feel free to ask me about them, and I’ll do my best to answer without giving too much away.

With that out of the way, let’s begin!

~~~

Riddle: Has one too many screws loose and kicked the asses of his abusers. Lives on the coast and has a deep hatred of Azul. Keeps his palace looking very pretty.

Trey: Is the voice of reason, but still manages to be oddly off putting. Royal baker, but also Riddle’s most trusted advisor. Does not have his glasses.

Cater: Enjoys taking on the shapes of other people and creatures, and sometimes even objects, as a means of winning hide and seek bets.

Ace: Knows how to paint and regularly redoes the paint jobs on Riddle’s fine china.

Deuce: Actually fights with a spade and tends to take on the form of a crow or raven in the warmer months and a snowy owl in the colder ones.

Leona: Finally got his wish to be king, but rules over nothing but a crumbling wasteland.

Ruggie: Gets a serious kick out of terrifying visitors from other nations and clans. Chenya taught him that.

Chenya: Is actually aligned with Leona and Ruggie and is, as far as we know, the last housecat beastman in the entire world. Close friends with Ruggie.

Azul: Owns a seedy underwater nightclub, or the fantasy equivalent to it. More often than not gets his contracts and henchmen through use of a siren’s song. Like Trey, does not have his glasses

Jade: As close to normality as there is in the ocean. Azul’s right hand.

Floyd: Handles the allure of the nightclub to draw people in. Acts as a bouncer when working, more out of enjoyment than anything.

Kalim: Still just as soft and kind as ever. Doesn’t recall any of his history beyond a desert and a lot of fire.

Jamil: One of the lower ranks in the werewolf pack, but very feisty. Can still cook and has a love of wild berries.

Jack: Alpha of the pack, and that’s the biologically accurate Alpha. As in, just a really good mom. Cares for the pack and would die for them.

Najima + Jacks little siblings: Also members of the pack. Najima still gets a kick out of messing with Jamil and Jack’s little brother and sister, Julian and Jill, intensely admire their older brother and want to be just like him, even if he’s a hardass sometimes.

Vil: Pureblood vampire king. Has large, batlike wings and owns a hand mirror attached to a chain that allows him to see anybody he knows without them seeing him.

Rook: Was once a vampire hunter. Is still in contact with his family in order to find and slaughter corrupted vampires.

Epel: Still as feisty as ever. Possesses the ability to drain somebody of their energy through dancing with them.

Neige: Is far smarter than he appears. Wishes to bring monsters and the few remaining humans together through the arts and has domain over half of Sage Island.

Idia: Is a duke living near an opening to the Underworld. Married and bound to his wife for eternity, but does not love her and only married her for the sake of his brother. Nicknamed, “The Shut-In King.”

Ortho: Is a mechanical robot powered by steam, clocks and a bit of magic. His flaming heart can be seen inside a crystal orb in a bronze cage inside his chest. Enjoys playing with the forest animals near the estate. Nicknamed, “The Prince of Angels.”

Malleus: King of his homeland and rules with an iron fist. Has a tattoo of his family crest on his back and wears a circlet made of tungsten and snowflake obsidian. Has a slightly unnerving neutral smile.

Lilia: Acts as the guardian and trainer of Malleus, Sebek and Silver. Knows his way around all types of weapons and is not above violent interrogation methods.

Sebek: Malleus’ most trusted knight and possibly his ward. Has a one sided rivalry with the king that he refuses to speak about.

Silver: Officially has, ‘Vanrouge,’ as his surname. One of the few humans left. Senses are so sharp that even the slightest sound will wake him and he’ll already have his dagger drawn before you can blink.

Grim: Likes to consider himself the pirate king, but really wouldn’t have gotten this far without his first and second mates. Is still extremely angry and adorable.

Yuu: Grim’s first mate and is often left to clean up his messes by themself. Has extremely tired eyes and a bored sounding voice. Female presenting, but is nonbinary.

Yuuken: Is a different person from Yuu. Grim’s declared second mate and often handles piloting the ship. Close friends with Yuu. Male presenting, but is also nonbinary.

~~~

I hope this was worth the wait from when I said I’d post it. I know it isn’t much, but I’m partway done with the draft and am working to make it as pretty and aesthetically pleasing as I can, which isn’t easy given my blindness.

Once the AU is posted is when I’ll get to work on writing the X Readers I promised. Until then, I really do hope this feeds your curiosity. Thank you for reading <3

[ryllen]

dynamic that makes any RSA student that falls for Yuu seems like a hypocrite kinky bastard whose biggest desire is to be stepped on, H A R D .

[lisaas2418]

You know a trend noticed: gay men will just be absolute besties with women, but hate the shit out of straight cis men.

Ya know what's even funnier? If the TWST boys are just nice/polite/very respectful to the disney princesses but the second an RSA counterpart gets within a two mile radius there's a fucking manhunt.

Also my theory is that all the gays end up at NRC while all the straights or stuck in the closet go to RSA.

It's just like this:

NRC with princesses: oh dear oh dear gorgeous

NRC with male counterparts: you fucking donkey!

Well who is gay or not is up to the viewers eyes (although I do think Cater and Trey are great together)

Also do I sense a Gorden Ramsey reference 🤔

So when it comes to the princesses they try to be polite to them considerung they are royalty and they dont wanna be rude to people who are historical figures.

I think about every Disney Character is a historical figure in TWST, but that is just my opinion

But when it comes to RSA.....yeah they are not so friendly or atleast more passive aggressive, due to losing against them at every event

The RSA boys are almost completely oblivious to it

Yuu is pretty much neutral about it. They are nice to the princesses and nice to the RSA boys, because honestly they dont care for their rivaly.

Its their fault if they cant change their strategy and work together to win 🙄

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

With us being a couple of weeks away from ch7, of there's a hope I have for the chapter, I hope we may get a reveal for more RSA boys. Like if its set around the time the interschool spelldrive tournament it'd be fun to see them all revealed for the first time

While I do think we'll see the interschool magift/spelldrive tournament previously mentioned become relevant again in episode 7, I don't think we'll see "all" of the RSA boys revealed at it. The previous two big RSA boys introduced to us were done so because their presence helped to propel the main story forward (Chenya pointed Yuu and co. in the direction of Trey for help, and Neige and his dwarf entourage served as Vil's rivals). It doesn't make narrative sense to throw in a ton of new RSA characters that won't serve big roles in the events of episode 7. I realize that there are a lot of popular fan theories that a second arc of the main story will focus on RSA, so episode 7 may foreshadow that with new characters, but to me it's still super preemptive to do this, especially when 7 is already bloated with so many other things to focus on; this includes, but is not limited to, Yuu finding a way home, Grim's OB (?), Ace finding his unique magic, and, of course, the whole conflict with Diasomnia that will probably lead to Malleus's OB. I think, at best, we'd get brief appearances from Neige and Chenya, and maybe one new character (if at all). I'm guessing that most of the RSA students we will see in episode 7 will be RSA mobs, not actually prominent new characters with their own names and designs.

[adrianasunderworld]

The White Ash Institute

Essentially expanding off this post I made a while ago. About the possibility of an all girls equivalent to NRC and RSA. So this is my take on what that may look like. (Edit: I added a couple small edits, like who they're twisted/based on and gave Lily a last name)

A well respected and prestigious magic academy. An all girls school that takes young ladies from all walks of life, from scullery maids to princesses, human, fae, and beast alike all students are equals at White Ash Institute. All to prepare the next generation of great mages.

Staff:

Clara Cristalería

Twisted from The Fairy Godmother

The Headmage of White Ash Institute. A kind woman of fae origins, her grandmother had founded the school centuries ago and passed the torch to her, she has been in charge for almost as long as her predecessor. She has treated every student that comes into her institute with utmost care and respect. She always says at every entrance and graduation ceremony that every one of her students is like her own child while they are in her care, and means every word of it. Her utmost priority is to provide a safe environment for her students, which is why she was disappointed in Phillipa and Juno for not bringing the bullying to her attention sooner so she may deal with it. (She enforces a very strict no bullying policy and treats every case with utmost severity) 

At inter school events, she gets along fine with Ambrose. Though she’s civil with Crowely, she can’t say she approves of his methods, especially his new young ward. (If Yuu is a girl she would offer to take them to White Ash with no hesitation.) She is also an old friend of Lilia. Being updated on NRC drama is a small guilty pleasure of hers, and she tells him whatever is going on at WAI. She also asks him how Yuu is doing sometimes, because she is genuinely worried how that child is alive. 

Reyna Adeleide

Twisted from Duchess

The history professor. She also teaches animal speech and etiquette. Along with being head of the music club. A refined woman from an upper class background. A mother of triplets, her daughter is a first year of White Ash Institute. While her two sons currently attend Night Raven College. It was previously tradition that the men of her family attend Royal Sword Academy, but the boys wanted to follow their fathers footsteps and attend his alma mater instead. To which they had the families full support. Reyna is an alumni of the school.

Students:

Phillipa Claret

Twistedfrom Prince Phillip

The daughter of a wealthy family that can trace their roots to nobility that lives just outside of Briar Valley. It’s been her and her father on the family estate most of her life. Phillipa is an incredibly curious and impulsive girl. She has a tendency to ride off into the forest that surrounds their manor whenever the mood hits her. Or when she was child, watching their guards practice and immediately running up to them and demanding to be taught. Despite how much Phillipa loves her father, she has a tendency to not listen. More often than not telling him she is doing something rather than asking. She’s found it’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission, and as her fathers only child, Phillipa often gets it. Mr. Claret had hoped some time at a refined and well respected school like White Ash would make his daughter calm down a bit. How very wrong he was, if anything it gave Phillipa more playmates to get into trouble with. Despite these habits, however, you can never say Phillipa is nothing if not loyal. In her first year, she had gotten in a huge fist fight with a girl that had bullied one of her friends. If asked, Phillipa will always proudly say how she broke the other girl's nose and gave her a black eye, while she made it out with barely a scratch. A childhood playing with guards left her knowing a few ways to break something. 

If there is one thing her friends like to tease her for, it’s her crush on a certain silver haired boy from Night Raven College. Phillipa met him at an interschool equestrian tournament, and has been smitten ever since. Every time there is an event that involves both their schools, Phillipa always keeps an eye out for him so they can chat. Her friends love to tease and call her the future Mrs.Silver the moment he comes up in conversation, though they always glady look for him at events to see if Phillipa will finally break and ask him out. One time her friend Marina couldn’t take it anymore, and at the last Spelldrive tournament, pulled aside one of Silver's friends, a guy named Lilia, and asked if Silver had a girlfriend or wanted one, because her friend really liked him. Lilia seemed amused by this, and said no, Silver did not have a girlfriend, and that he would put in a good word for her before disappearing. Phillipa wanted to ring Marina's neck, she was so embarrassed. 

Juno Aureum

Twisted from Hercules

It’s rumored her family has ties to the Shrouds, though no one is quite sure how they are related, and Juno says it’s a touchy subject within her family,and she is not allowed to talk about it. On all other matters, she is an open book. Juno is a very sweet and athletic girl, though admittedly very awkward at times. She tends to avoid confrontation and tries to please everyone more often than not. This has led some people to take advantage of and pick on her, which led to Phillipa at one point breaking a girls nose for mocking Junos' then very lanky frame. After this, her friends told her she needed to learn to stand up for herself more. Juno had always loved sports, and had a lot of interest in weight lifting. With the support of her friends, Juno put more effort into athletics and weight lifting. By the time second year rolled around, everyone was in shock of how she bulked up. Though students were scared of messing with her now, Junos sweet nature was very much still intact and she always tries to help others. Her signature spell is called “Zero to Hero”, and it essentially gives her a burst of superhuman strength, making her able to lift three times more than she normally can. It’s become very useful, Juno is always asked to move things when the desire to rearrange dorm furniture hits someone.

Lily Cub

Twisted from Mowgli

A girl found in the wilds of the Sunset Savannah. No one at WAI knows much about how Lily came into Headmage Cristalerías care. All they know is that she was found in the wild, she was supposedly raised by animals, and she is still learning about living with other people. Despite the situation she is in, Lily is incredibly curious and asks and explores everything. Lily learns very quickly, while she often struggles to find the correct words for things, she usually gets her point across as clearly as possible. Before being formally enrolled in school, she had lived on the grounds with the headmage for a few months until she got the basics needed for school down. So she's more familiar with the grounds and rules than her fellow first years.

After getting to know her friends, she was comfortable enough to tell them how she got there. A lioness found her as a baby by the riverbank, and took Lily in as her own, despite her mates very vocal refusal to have anything to do with her. Her mother, however, knew one day Lily may be better off with other humans. So when she thought she was old enough, her mother showed her the human village that was nearby. She explained it was full of others like her, and she had her mothers permission to go whenever she liked. For the next few months, Lily watched the village, observed how they walked and talked until she was comfortable enough to go in. The people were kind to her, and it's there she met and befriended a woman who was the village mage, who eventually gave Lily her first magic lessons. Lily still doesn’t know what she did that impressed the woman, but she said she had great potential and was better off going to a school for magic. She agreed to at least meet the headmage. Cristalería came to assess her, and agreed to take Lily as a student if she was willing. Lily told her mother all about it, and asked if she should go, though she was curious about life away from the Sunset Savannah, she didn’t want to leave the pride behind. Her mother insisted she go and try. Lily promised she would still return. She had been under the guardianship of the headmage and living on campus ever since. While her friends expressed their sympathy for Lily not seeing her mother, she assured them that the village sorceress, who is apparently fluent in animal speech, often sends letters about her mother from home so they can update each other. She also intends to go back to the village on break. It doesn’t fully make the home sickness go away, but it certainly helps.

Marina Adelaide

Twisted from Marie

The daughter of Professor Adelaide. Marinas upper class upbringing made her know all the rules of etiquette, she likes to believe she is as regal as her mother. However she more often than not acts in a way that is rather unladylike. She never starts anything, but she most certainly has no problems joining in the trouble once it begins. Is always the first to back Phillipa up if someone wants to pick a fight. Much to her mothers dismay. Being the daughter of a staff member, she never gets away with anything for long. However the real trouble starts when she is with her brothers. They always find a way to get into mischief. 

Marina is very girly, and often opts for pink and bows wherever possible. She’s also a bit of a romantic. Always idolizing her parents' marriage as the golden standard. Her father is her mothers second husband, and he adores her fully and raised Marina and her brothers as his own until they asked him to formally adopt them a few years ago. So far no boy has ever met the standard her father has set. She copes with all sorts of cheesy romance novels. Out of the three siblings, Marina is the closest to their grandmother, mostly because they share many common interests.

[thelof9]

So I made stickers for every student in twst✨

[twisted-in-underland]

Yall Professor Pecullian from Disney’s Sofia the First would be such a fun RSA teacher! Y’all just have to believe me on this one.

[nighty-l]

I had an idea, exchange student! Silver at RSA

More under⬇️

Silver still doesn't remember how he got in the exchange program. And after finding out about this, his first reaction was shock, if he is going to RSA that means he would couldn't protect Malleus. And after much more thinking he decided to go “It's a 6-12 months stay at the academy,I don't think during that time Malleus could get hurt”

After a few days, ready prepared for a new adventure, Silver said goodbye to his father, Malleus and Sebek and went.

Meanwhile there the RSA students are happy to greet the young knight

[knights-escort]

New OC: William Chessheart

[cybererotic]

tournament will come after the best housewarden poll is finished. my autism brain needs time to set up the bracket but trust that it will come

[bluejaybird12]

When you wanna commission designs for Fairy Gala event and also make a similar event for RSA ocs, but you a broke bish

[boopshoops]

KJNGDSKJGNSDKJGNSDKJ ITS FINALLY FINISHED!! ITS DONE!! AFTER 57 HOURS OF WORK!!!!

I am so so so so so happy with how this turned out. This is the official teaser comic for my fanfic, The Creation of a Villain, available to read on my AO3.

I have so much planned, and I'm gradually restoring a healthy relationship with my writing, and I'm very excited to share it.

For those who are interested, I've got a few more teasers on what I have planned in store. (Marked with * if it contains mild spoilers for TCOAV)

-Adding onto the established magic system.

-Adding onto established classes/lessons.

-*MC happens to be just as horrible of a person as most of the students here, resulting in some gradual changes to the canon that become more and more noticeable as time passes.

-It's an aged up AU where NRC is an actual college, so characters get mild additions to backstories (as well as some height changes).

-*Lots of possible headcanons for Royal Sword Academy, including a B/side plot with another MC that is a student there.

-Inclusion of canon events, as well as some I create on my own.

-I love exploring character development, so there's gonna be more of that :>

-*She does, indeed, get attached.

-A lot more!!!

Thank you so so so so so so SO much for reading. It means a lot to me. If you have the time, I would REALLY appreciate a reblog given this took so much time to make. If not, that's alright too. I appreciate y'all either way <3

Expect more of this Yuu in the future! An official introduction post for her is planned and will soon be in the works.

[harunayuuka2060]

Neige: I wonder what you would be doing if you were a student of Royal Sword Academy.

MC: Maybe I would be knocking some sense into you people.

Vil: *pinches them on the side*

MC: Ow!

Vil: Potato, we're in public.

MC: ...

MC: Okay. Let's find a safe space where you can laugh.

[yaoyaobae]

Its been awhile and i have another OC to share LOL gotta draw brain rots instead of keeping them in your head forever ☺️💖

Name: Aurore Dormir

School: Royal Sword Academy

Pastime: Escaping school to wander in the nearby forest, spending time alone

Hobbies: Sightseeing, Gardening, Fencing.

Family: Father, Mother , *Brother ( silver, please refer to the last note regarding my own theory)

Aurore is a third year student at RSA, currently house warden of the sleeping beauty inspired dorm.

Aurore is also the next king of the Kingdom of Heroes, which naturally made him the center of attention in RSA.

Unlike Malleus whose powerful aura pushes people away from him, Aurore draws people towards him as they feel a sense of security around him.

He was only recently enrolled into school during his second year as his family brought him back from isolation for training, far away from the world’s eyes.

At first glance, Aurore may seem like the ideal dream prince: Kind, Polite, Courageous, Strong and Smart as he is consistent in securing top grades across his cohort. But deep down, he isn’t exactly the perfect prince most of his peers think he is.

Aurore is actually afraid of strangers and overwhelming attention ( he was raised in isolation so meeting humans are.. yeah) He is skilled at hiding his weakness but starts blanking out if there are too many people crowding around him.

As a result, he finds happiness in spending time alone in places where no one recognises him. He usually takes a short stroll around Sage Island’s various forests when his caretakers aren’t looking.

Strangely, Aurore mentions that his enjoyment from lonely strolls only existed because he would suddenly find himself in unknown places as a child…as if something or someone was calling him. But he became mentally stronger as he got older and knows how to guard himself during his impromptu walks.

Bonus personal theory/lore:

Hi! So if you have been following me since i started creating twst ocs, you would be familiar with a certain comic i drew for an Aurora Oc ( its not exactly Aurore because i didn’t flesh him out) . But to sum up my theory for that comic:

There was once a powerful kingdom that clashed with briar valley, humans and fae did not get along as well back then.

Somewhere in between the war, both of the queen’s sons were cursed by a powerful magician and separated at birth. The queen initially wanted to send her two sons far away from the castle, but only managed to send one tucked away in a casket that drifted on a hidden river which led to a forest.

The war ended a few days later, with both fae and humans forming a truce. The queen fell into depression after realising that her second son probably did not make it and blamed herself for not keeping him a little longer had she known he would have been safe and alive in her arms.

Time heals wounds, and with some reassurance from the King the Queen got back up on her feet stronger for the sake of her people. Of course, sometimes the servants would catch a glimpse of the lonely Queen staring into the far forests wondering if she will ever see those small pair of Aurora coloured eyes again.

Because the Queen conceived her two sons alone away from the servants, only she and the King were aware of their other missing son. The three fairy advisors who had protected them from the very start told the Queen that if word of two cursed princes were to spread, the kingdom would be doomed to fall . The Queen had no choice but to accept this decision, and so they entrusted their only son to the three fairies in case the curse within him acts up. Hence Aurore was raised in isolation away from the world’s attention and only enrolled in his second year to prevent the curse from possibly manifesting.

In this story I created Silver is the missing prince in question who drifted far into the forest and eventually picked up by Lilia. His only proof of his royal status is a ring with an aurora coloured gem (Book 7 mention).

Regarding the curse: Silver was cursed to feel drowsy all the time while Aurore was cursed to follow a voice in his head which leads him to sleepwalk into dangerous places alone. Silver’s hair colour reminds me of the spindle/needle, so in a way he contains the sleeping curse. Like Aurora, Aurore is drawn into strange places by a voice and eventually to the spindle. Hence these two will always feel an unfamiliar sense of closeness to each other.

“Yao why do you think Silver would have a brother? Much less the RSA guy inspired by Aurora? Doesn’t Silver already have Aurora’s traits?”

In general this is just my own fun theory to think about, but my reasons are because i think it would be interesting if Silver canonically had living family member(s) from a royal family( that ring kinda tells all). It would also put him in place wondering if he should return to his biological human family or stay with his Briar Valley family as he feels a stronger bond with them. With the way TWST tackles issues about fae/human like Sebek from example, i would love to see Silver’s resolve for his found family.

In my old comic, the Aurora OC actually dislikes Fae because of the war. He especially hates Lilia because he believed the war criminal took his own brother away and is promoting peace despite his past.

I feel Aurore would dislike Lilia but eventually learns to see the war from both sides as humans aren’t all that great either, he is still a naive prince with much to learn about the world. So while Silver does have Aurora’s trait, Aurore may have some of King Stefan’s from Maleficent/OG film. TWST tends to combine diff character traits anyways🌝👍

Anyways I adore these two so much and am looking forward to Silver’s past in the future updates! Thank you for reading about Aurore, till next time 💖

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

the elitism in magic education

HELLO 🤡 I have come to you today with an analysis of Fellow Honest's motives and what they imply about the mages and non-mages in the world of Twisted Wonderland, as well as the state of magic education as it relates to one's social status. It's a doozy, so let's get right into it! ***WARNING: Spoilers for Stage in Playful Land!!***

Fellow's resentment of the elite harkens back to something I've always suspected but also something that Twisted Wonderland has seldom gone out of its way to shine a harsh spotlight on. That "something" is the discrepancy between the "haves" and the "have-nots" in terms of magic. With the main setting of TWST being a private magic school, of course the lens through which we view many events will be from this perspective as well... and that limits what we see and hear. Most of the NPCs we encounter (even the annoying ones, such as the Magicam Monsters from the first Halloween event) endlessly praise the NRC students just for attending a famous magic school. If we look closely though, we’ll start to see cracks in the shiny rose-colored lenses (which, coincidentally, is how Fellow’s UM name is written).

To begin with, we are told that only 10% of the human population (for the sake of argument, let's assume that most other races also have low magic rates) is even capable of magic to begin with. Of this 10%, the majority of people with the aptitude for magic only have enough to barely be able to lift a cup. In order to qualify for a prestigious magic school like Night Raven College or Royal Sword Academy, you'd literally have to be the cream of the crop and get lucky in terms of genetics. Magic cannot be learned by someone that was not born with the innate ability for it, and not everyone who is the child of a mage will be capable of magic themselves. This is already one HUGE barrier for entry. We now have more to consider.

Night Raven College is notably a private boarding school. This potentially means that students may need to pay a tuition fee for classes, room, and board. Perhaps this tuition doesn't exist, since NRC doesn't take applications but rather hand-selects its students. Additionally, NRC is based on a British school, and most European schools cost little to nothing to attend. However, it's hard to believe a school as fancy as NRC is a private institution that runs solely on the charity and goodwill of donors (though we do see Crowley happily accepting donations as well, specifically from the local town and from Kalim’s family). Realistically speaking, Stuff Costs Money, and if you Want Stuff, you also Need Money. NRC is not raising these mages of the future out of the goodness of their hearts, NRC is raising these mages because there is profit and prestige to be gained from the endeavor. What if there are students who are picked to go but end up having to leave because they can’t afford it?? This point is just speculative though; I won’t count it as actual evidence since there is no in-game lore which confirms tuition. We do know, however, that students do at least have to pay for their dorm uniforms, as Ruggie has mentioned he could not afford one—hence why he wears a hand/me-down from Leona. We also know students are on their own when it comes to paying for their food, as both Ruggie and Deuce mention being low on cash in reference to buying meals/snacks. Buuuuut even if we discount that money is a factor that gatekeeps some selected students from attending or having the cash to just get by on a daily basis, what we cannot ignore is that money inherently puts some people ahead of others before magic schools even recruit them.

Because the majority of those in Twisted Wonderland are incapable of using magic, magic is not typically included in general education. This means that if your kid manifests magic and you want them to be "ahead of the curve", you'd need to seek out resources for magic training and education. Now, this could mean reading materials, private tutoring, or reaching out to mages you know of. The problem with all of these things is that they tend to require money and/or connections, which are things not everyone has access to. Idia even says in book 6 that Riddle has an “artificially large” pool of magic due to how young Riddle started his magic training, meaning that the wealthy has the resources to just produce “better” mages. The rich also have more money to throw into items to help with magical training, such as bigger and better magestones (which must sell for substantial amount in the first place since Ruggie tries to save some to pawn off later in Vargas Camp) to keep mages healthier for longer (since magestones help absorb blot). This keeps power concentrated in an already elevated class. (Note: research has shown that money opens up and expands one's connections, which still puts the rich in an advantageous position compared to the less fortunate. There are also studies that show impoverished people who happen to have rich friends have a better chance of raising their own social standing just because of the doors and connections that rich friend can open for them.) Look at who in the main cast remarks on having formal magic training: literal royalty like Leona and the upper middle class like Riddle. Again, one could say that because schools like NRC appear to hand-pick students regardless of how much formal magic training they had prior to enrollment. However, the fact remains that it simply looks better to potential recruiters (using this blanket term because we don't know how magic schools besides NRC gets its students) and better prepares the child for magic school curriculum to get an early start on it.

Looking back at the 22 boys that make up the main cast, close to three-quarters or ~75% of them come from at least upper middle-class backgrounds and quite a few could classify as wealthy:

Riddle's parents are both doctors, with Riddle's mom in particular being well-known and well-regarded in their home community.

Cater's dad is a banker; his position is high enough up that he needs to relocate every so often (presumably to service their largest or most important firms).

Leona is a literal prince. Even if he isn't destined to be king, he still has access to the resources and wealth avaliable to a royal.

Azul's mom owns the most popular restaurant in the entire Coral Sea (have you seen how large the Coral Sea is on the world map???), and his stepdad is a lawyer.

The twins' family is said to be well-off; they are able to afford luxuries like fancy clothes and Mr. Leech stresses the importance of manners and presentation. He is implied to have business associates who are also well-off and would like to get in his good graces. (Popular fan speculation is that the Leeches are a crime family.)

Kalim is the heir to a massive family fortune and trading business. He also has relatives who are royals.

Jamil, as Kalim's attendant, is also from a reasonably well-off family; they are compensated handsomely for handling the Asims.

Vil's father is an A-list celebrity, and Vil is also one himself.

We don't know the specifics of what Rook's family does, but it must be well-paying, as we learn in book 5 that the Hunts have villas all over Twisted Wonderland, as well as permissions for international travel via warp pads.

Idia and Ortho's family run a secret organization that researches blot. S.T.Y.X. is so secretive that basically only those in super high positions like Crowley and Leona would know about them. Let's also not forget that the Shrouds have ties to the Jupiter Conglomerate and the Olympus Corp, which is a tech giant in the world of TWST.

Malleus is prince AND the heir to his kingdom’s throne. He is also one of the top 5 most powerful mages in the entire WORLD.

Lilia is a renown war general and a close friend of royalty. He raised a young Malleus as well.

Silver is Lilia's adopted son and is actually a prince himself.

Sebek's parents are dentists. They must make mad money. His grandfather is also a respected knight that served alongside Lilia.

Notice how all the dorm leaders are upper middle class or higher; the vice dorm leaders have ONE normal person (Trey); in Playful Land, Trey confesses to living a comfortable life so we know he must be at least middle class.

We can try to argue all we like that NRC doesn't discriminate based on social status for their selections, but if that's the case then why are so few of the main cast from impoverished or low-income families? Only Ace, Trey, and Jack count as squarely middle class. Ruggie is the only example we have of someone from a very low socioeconomic status rising up to be among "elites". The other example is Deuce, who comes from a single parent household and has implied they don't have a lot of money (for example: how the VDC/SDC earnings will help out his family). (Epel is kind of a ??? case because depending on where in the story you are, his family could be in financial trouble or not; in book 5, they imply his entire village is having difficulties selling product until Vil promotes Harveston apples on his Magicam.) Maybe it's unfair to say that 22 students out of 800ish is representative of the makeup of the entire NRC student population (or represents the composition of all magic schools), but Ruggie confirms in his Birthday Boy vignettes that a majority of the students at NRC are decently well-off. This single digit representation of low-income students is also true of real-life elite schools. They are private schools for a reason; it naturally gatekeeps who is and isn't "allowed" to attend, leading to the majority of its students being members of the elite.

Another thing to consider is legacy students. This term refers to the increased likelihood of people being accepted into a school if they had a relative that also attended that school. We know of two instances of this happening: Ace's brother and Sebek's brother also went to and graduated from Night Raven College. Ace even makes a remark during his sorting ceremony that he ended up in the same dorm as his older brother "as expected". If magic aptitude is genetic, then perhaps it makes sense to recruit from the same families--but again, this is inherently restrictive, as you would continuously be culling from the same pools generation after generation.

Back on the topic of bloodlines and family, what about Kalim, who has an extensive family? There will be no shortage of Asim mages going to NRC just because of legacy (Jamil even alludes to the fact that the previous Scarabia dorm leader was an Asim relative, and his recommendation is what got Kalim the dorm leader seat). And speaking of Kalim, consider instances where rich families are able to bribe faculty (lookin' at YOU, Crowley) or donate a large sum to get their kid ahead or to be given priority over others that may be more qualified than them (RIP Jamil). To continue off that point, NRC itself is structured as a "dog eat dog" world. Those with inherently more magical ability have the right to trump over others. You can duel and lose your dorm seat to a more powerful mage, even if you trump them in terms of merit or leadership qualities. Students feel a sense of duty to obey those who have bested them in battle (ie Epel's servitude to Vil). Everyone fears Malleus. Your magical power is respected above all else.

Attitudes surrounding magic have notably shifted from fear of it several hundreds of years ago (around the human-fae war, back when “witch” and “wizard” were used in a derogatory sense) to recognizing it for its strengths and actively seeking it or granting some favoritism to those who have it. There is, in fact, now class discrimination in based on whether or not you can use magic. We got an early instance of this as early as book 1 of the main story, when Riddle insults Yuu for their upbringing, lack of education, and their inability to use magic. It’s something that clearly rubs Ace, who has a magicless father, the wrong way, and he stands up for Yuu. There are other subtle hints about this divide sprinkled throughout the lore. For example, Ruggie has a voice line which he indicates that the slums where he comes from doesn’t produce many magic users. Again, recall that magic runs in bloodlines. This could potentially allude to a past where those without magic were forced into lower income neighborhoods, which results in pockets like Ruggie’s hometown with a high population of magicless individuals living in poverty. This doesn’t appear to be a large scale issue (perhaps its only an isolated case?), but this is worth paying attention to.

This could all translate into the professional world too. Some jobs are entirely locked behind magic (ie you just cannot do them or pursue them if you don't have the magical ability for it). Some jobs DO require magic (ie medical mages like Riddle's parents, magic police force officers, technomantic inventors, etc) and probably additional training that goes with it. As a result, I'd imagine that these magic-intensive jobs pay quite a bit more. There may also be overall more job opportunities for those capable of magic, since magic is so much more efficient than doing things by hand. It means more retention of wealth and/or more upward mobility for the few impoverished that are able to enter magic schools. (This is, of course, not including the few and far between cases of regular people who get rich in select industries, such as Kalim’s father.) Recall too that NRC requires its students to take internships during their 4th years, many placements being with very prestigious groups and organizations such as pro-sports teams, labs, tech giants, etc. Being able to attend a prestigious school with connections grants those elite students even more opportunities than the average person.

Then think about what this means for people who fall short of these standards that these magic schools set. We actually have examples of them in book 5 of the main story: when Deuce and Epel are reconciling on the beach, a bunch of delinquents from another school come along and start checking out Deuce’s borrowed magical wheel. Through the NPCs’ exchange, we learn that one of them has enough magic to power a magical wheel, but not enough to do much else. This NPC also couldn’t keep up in class and dropped out of a magic school. He then becomes insulted when Deuce implies he is “a beginner”, so this is obviously a very sore spot for him. Riddle also has dialogue that implies students dropped out of NRC prior to his reign (and since then, no Heartslabyul students have left). Additionally, consider how magic can be used to oppress and lord power over others. Deuce himself is guilty for summoning cauldrons to crush rival delinquents in fights back in Clock Town—even if those delinquents lacked magic themselves. Similarly, Epel is implied to use magic to gain an upper hand against those that bullied him back home. This all implies a social divide between those with magic and those without, and begs of bigger questions.

What happens to the ones that don’t make it? The ones that get left behind? The ones without the magic to make it “big”? This is the root of Fellow’s anger; he’s mad at a system that cast people like him (someone with very little magic) and Gidel (a non-mage) aside. They don’t get the opportunity to make better futures for themselves. They’re looked down on by high-up institutions that basically tell them they’re not good enough.

Knowing all of this, the deck appears to be stacked against the poor and non-mages. It’s no wonder why Fellow is so mad.

THIS ACTUALLY RELATES BACK TO WHAT ROLLO SAID IN 5-2 OF GLORIOUS MASQUERADE… "When you have too little [magic], you're resentful. And when you have plenty [of magic], you're arrogant. You can never content yourselves." The NRC boys are arrogant (this is the side of the story we’ve always known due to seeing the world mainly from their perspective). They are the “haves”, and we see them constantly misusing their power by fighting each other over very petty things (even if it’s against the rules to do so). But everyone else??? They’re scrounging for the scraps. Fellow falls into that former category; he IS the guy that’s resentful because of his lack of magic and how something he cannot control has already determined where he and Gidel will stand in life no matter how hard they work. They can never hope to rise out of poverty, and there’s nothing they can do about it. That must be soul-crushing.

When Fellow praises the NRC boys in that overly exaggerated way, he’s obviously being shady and facetious—however, there is also a kernel of truth behind this behavior. Most other NPCs we’ve met have spoken about the NRC boys favorably just because of their affiliation with a prestigious school. It’s the same way people might be impressed if you walked around in an Ivy League branded hoodie or something. People automatically associate you with the school’s shiny and exclusive reputation, and thus assume you are also intelligent, talented, etc. Then, in the same way being constantly put on a pedestal like this might result in the students getting swelled heads, this only further feeds into the NRC kids’ egos. They so privileged they don’t even recognize it. And that makes Fellow fucking FUME.

Look back at Fellow's dialogue. He is constantly mentioning the prestige of the school the boys go to, or adding on extra compliments about their status and skills. He's ass-kissing to his boss, who is also wealthy or part of the upper class, then insults the boss once he hangs up. Fellow is always in a position where he HAS to be subservient to the upper class in order to make his money and get by, and he finds that entirely unfair. Imagine having to simper and placate people you absolutely despise and blame for your problems every day, people who are gorging themselves on luxuries, coasting by in life, taking everything they have for granted while you get by on pennies—that has to get frustrating.

I want to briefly mention here that, in addition to praising the NRC students to high heaven, Fellow also talks down his own skills. He cheerfully calls himself a loser and says that no matter how much he trains, he could never reach their caliber of magic. Yes, Fellow is exaggerating to get the kids to think they’ve won, but I also have to wonder if he’s parroting the same phrases he was told long ago, from people who doubted him and never thought he’d make it. If that’s the case, then I get the sense that Fellow is in a way “reclaiming” his autonomy and power by adopting those same cruel words and using them as a strength. He admits to being “weak” but is also proud of the fact that he can utilize his magic along with his natural charisma to get a leg up over others. It further fuels his new belief that going to an elite school doesn’t matter, it’s practical skills that will serve you well.

Okay, back to talking about his shitty work situation! Fellow’s employer clearly doesn’t treat him with decency. They berate him, make unreasonable demands, act impatient, etc. They are a typical depiction of a toxic workplace and boss. This can also be read as shorthand for the relation between the rich and the poor, and how that may have shaped (or worsened) Fellow’s views on others of the privileged class. He makes many assumptions about the NRC students without really getting to know them, calling them entitled brats. Why? Because these descriptors likely apply to the higher-ups Fellow has always slaved away for. This, in combination with his own experiences in being rejected from magic academia, has created a person who feels trodden on by society and by the upper echelons who run it and benefit off the system.

Fellow himself is the perfect example of someone who was failed by said system. He has dialogue stating that he was never given the chance to learn because his magic was not considered strong enough. Still, he tried to make an effort to earn that chance among to elites and to study among them. Fellow was rejected, ridiculed, and told he had “forgotten his place”, what he had been born into. There were expectations he couldn’t meet, and so Fellow was thrown away like a broken toy. He has failed not because he didn’t try, but because he was denied the opportunity to begin with. This is where is rage stems from. Fellow despises the students of those same kinds of institutions who kicked him down, students who don’t realize how fortunate they are for their educations and will likely continue to perpetuate the system.

What, then, does that means for his signature spell, which is closely tied to one’s identity? Let’s take a magnifying glass to it. As previously mentioned, the name for Fellow’s spell is written as “Rose-Tinted Dream”, but it is said out loud as “Life is Fun”. The chant for it is, “Come on to the theater” (notably said in English rather than in Japanese). Both the spell and the incantation are references to the song Honest John sings in Pinocchio, Hi- Diddle-Dee-Dee. And… well, the whole UM in of itself is one big cruel joke given his circumstances now.

I think this spell is representative of a young Fellow still full of hopes and dreams, looking forward to studying at a magic school. But then those dreams are shattered and he has to commit terrible crimes to survive day-to-day, and he seems to have given up on his dreams. He even goes so far as to protect Gidel from having the same hopes he once did, telling Yuu to not put silly ideas in his head when Gidel expressed curiosity about school. At the same time, he delights in crushing the hopes of those he deems his enemies (stating that he wanted to betray Kalim to “teach him a lesson” about how cruel the world is). Fellow knows the truth: that life isn’t fun, that it will disappoint you and will put you down. His actions are very cowardly as well—he uses tricks and deception, he runs away from his problems instead of properly addressing them, the NRC students remark on his lack of pride. Fellow has had to throw away so much to scrape by. Yet his UM symbolizes someone brimming with hope—so perhaps it’s a UM he manifested when Fellow still thought he had a chance?? And then people made fun of him for it being so weak?? Alternatively, maybe he didn’t get his UM until after his dreams were crushed so he’s looking back on those nostalgic days of blissful ignorance with rose-colored lenses (which is, again, maybe why his UM magic name is written as “Rose Tinted Dream”). A UM that is a reflection of one’s true self, yet that same identity is one that has been forced to be discarded. That’s the reason why, despite all the swindling and scamming, I don’t think Fellow’s enthusiasm for fun is a lie. That’s the one “real” part of him, but even that’s been repurposed to help him live on scraps, something innocent twisted 😭 and that’s really sad to think about…

But also??? You could argue that Fellow still has a little bit of that lost inner child and hope left in him. He tries to defend Gidel’s understanding of the world and has goals of starting his own school despite how poorly he originally spoke about these institutions. (So Fellow does appear to care about children and their futures.) He also has a childish streak despite being an adult, demonstrated by his use of cowardly tactics, taunting kids, and abruptly quitting his job to then destroy his workplace. Fellow himself states that he “just tries to live a free and fun life”, thus his pursuit of money and pleasure. This could all play into being what defines Fellow and thus his UM. It embodies a spirit of playfulness even when he has been crushed under the weight of an unglamorous life.

I’ve heard people saying that while Rollo is Idia’s dark mirror and Fellow is Ruggie’s. They have similar backstories but ultimately their fates are different and left the former two down far more sinister paths. Just as Rollo is an Idia that turned his anger outward instead of inward, Fellow is Ruggie had he not been given a chance to receive an education to elevate his social status and job prospects. Fellow and Ruggie both cling to rich, powerful benefactors/bosses and do their dirty work to get on by—a big difference is that Leona, while he does also work Ruggie to the bone, also has some conscience. Something else to consider is that while Ruggie prioritizes making a life for himself by studying and securing a stable, well-paying job, Fellow is focused moreso on the accumulation of wealth itself (as he suggests to Kalim he’ll take a bribe to let him go free and quits when there is no longer money to be gained from his boss). Both don’t really care how they get their money (even if it is by dirty means), but ultimately Ruggie’s way of making cash is more sustainable in the long run. Yet Fellow ultimately realizes the importance of school deep down despite constantly denying it when the NRC students tell him of it. Fellow is in denial because that’s the only way he can cope and justify his lifestyle. He’s confused when finally confronted with students who are his ideal of “happy and free”, even when they’re in an educational system that he views as shackling people into strict roles. The way he laments about not being able to go to school is also very reminiscent of an adult mourning a lost or unfulfilling childhood, which is quite a depressing scenario…

Fellow is the one that got the short end of the stick in life. Ruggie met Leona, and Leona technically uplifted him in his endeavors, tutored him into getting decent grades and giving him hand-me-downs and money in exchange for his services. Fellow never had that kind of support system, he was just insulted and bullied into giving up and had to find an alternative way to keep himself going 😔

Personally, I think Fellow could also be a dark mirror to Kalim, no?? They exist on opposite ends of a social spectrum. Kalim has everything and Fellow had nothing. What’s more, Kalim is still wide-eyed and trusting. He is the only one willing to try words instead of fighting him and instantly labeling him as the enemy. Meanwhile, Fellow has become bitter because of how the world has betrayed him. He wants to take that trust Kalim has and show him how cruel everything truly is. Why is he fixated on that? Why even offer in the first place if he never intended on going through with it? Why does he want to rub it in Kalim’s face in particular? Maybe it’s because Kalim seems rich and dumb, as Fellow claims, but maybe it’s because there is envy there. Sure, Fellow is upset about Kalim being a sheltered brat that faces no challenges in life, but I also feel like he’s jealous that Kalim can still afford to think this way. That he can still afford to be cheerful, that he can still be a dreamer. Fellow was alluded to be like that once—but he can’t be like that anymore, not when he has to look out for himself and Gidel.

Side note, another comparison! Recall that Kalim’s Oasis Maker is also a UM that uses a little bit of magic. However, Kalim does not know of many creative ways to use his spell, as there is no real reason to since his home country has lots of canals and irrigation. He therefore deems his UM as pretty useless. Fellow meanwhile has what most consider a weak UM but he fully utilizes it to his advantage and pairs it well with his natural charm to maximize its effects. He had to develop these skills because he was in pressing circumstances in which they would benefit him. This contributes to the “mirror” theme between the two.

Fellow and Kalim have a notable similarity as well, and this is where I feel they can connect. They are both older brothers to a child or children who are magicless. Fellow only has one, and Kalim has many—but the number here isn’t what is important. What is important is that Fellow and Kalim think the world of their siblings and want to support them. To that end, Fellow is willing to be cruel and step on others, and Kalim is all sunshine to keep their spirits up. Fellow has suffered through great poverty and insults and Kalim has survived so many attempts on his life, yet they’ve developed distinctly different approaches to the worlds that have embraced them. Kalim’s wealth could afford him protection and luxuries, so he’s able to live carefree with others tending to his needs. The same isn’t true for Fellow, and so he came out far more spiteful and resentful.

Thinking about it, it’s ultimately Kalim’s words that convince Fellow to turn on his employer. (The other boys certainly wore Fellow down and planted the seeds of doubt, but it’s Kalim that I believe fully resonates with Fellow.) He can so happily talk about why he loves school, even though he doesn’t do well at it (something I presume is also true of Fellow, since he is lacking in tons of magic). It’s not said in a particularly articulate manner, but it’s so candid in its presentation. Kalim is relating to him based on similar skillset (or lack thereof) and sharing fond memories of his time at school, reviving the hopeful “lost child” in Fellow. Kalim is probably the first wealthy person in a long time that was friendly, kind, and supportive to him. And here he is, reassuring Fellow his dreams are still possible, to not give up. That’s the final nail that allows Fellow to be “honest” with himself and his inner child. It’s what leads to that slew of irresponsible actions at the end of the event (letting people free, blasting the amusement park, driving a sinking ship, etc.).

At the end of Stage in Playful Land, we see that Fellow never really let that childlike side of him fully die. (It seems to have been concealed under a desire for money and appeasing his boss.) He shares his dream of creating his own great school to give educational opportunities to non-mages and mages with low magical reserves like Gidel and himself, a school that teaches practical life lessons. He wants to promote his own ideals and to change the system he hates from the inside out. This was never communicated to us before most likely because Fellow had renounced those ideas in favor of blind hatred and a lack of faith in the world and those that dominate it.

Fellow also acknowledges that life may be even more difficult for him and Gidel going forward, as now they lack the money for even food and no longer have jobs. Furthermore, they need to worry about their ex-employers coming after them for what they’ve done. Even so, Fellow faces it all with a smile and reassures everyone that they can transfer or visit to play… “on this shining stage called life”. He and Gidel are able to walk away with their whimsy preserved, and can still be that which they’ve always wanted to be: dreamers.

All of this is to say that Rollo was right all along about magic, he never misses—

[zephyrspace]

queen of thine heart

riddle rosehearts / gn!reader

synopsis : they say the queen of hearts always had her loving husband rule alongside her. unfortunately for heartslabyul, their queen's king attends a different academy. but you know what they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder.

or ; in hearing your lover's recent overblot, you disregard the rules and infiltrate nrc to make sure your queen is alright, much to the surprise of the cards.

content : established relationship, implied childhood friends, rsa!reader, fluff, sprinkle of angst, crack, no use of yn, reader is not the prefect, reader is referred to as 'king' in a gender neutral way (like how riddle as queen), fic is more focused on the dynamic of their relationship rather than of the relationship itself (but perhaps another fic is in order...), riddle's pov kinda?, just a very short oneshot.

word count : 1.5k

The door opens but nobody that's already in the room thinks too much of it, until someone unfamiliar speaks.

"Good evening, Card Soldiers."

The mild bickering ceased to exist entirely. The door clicks shut.

The first years couldn't tell if it was an illusion or not, but they swear they saw the Housewarden of Heartslabyul tense at the sound of the person's voice and averted his gaze. Shoes tap against the floor tiles until they stop at the foot of Riddle's designated recovery bed.

The newcomer wore the eyesore that was the Royal Sword Academy uniform, but the things that caught the attention of specifically the Prefect would be the scarily regal presence that the person exudes, and the badge pinned against the left lapel of the stranger's blazer, an exact replica of the crown Riddle adorns on his school tie.

They brandish a polite smile, "you are dismissed."

It was clear to everyone that this person will not accept any other answer than compliance - "RSA? Who're you to tell us what to do? And what are you even doing here?" - well, except for one.

Ace raises a brow, lacking any form of decorum or respect, as per usual. The temperature of the room seemingly dropped, and yet, the stranger was still smiling.

Before Ace gets an answer, he feels a sharp jab at his side and a hand resting between his shoulder blades. Trey is quickly ushering all of them out of the infirmary. The heart soldier watches the academy student and the Vice exchange a look and a nod.

The door clicks shut once again.

With everyone now gone, you walk over to Riddle's left of the bed. Right hand against your heart, you bow your head, a custom.

"I greet the sovereign of Heartslabyul, the everlasting law, the Queen of my own heart," you cannot hide the smile in your voice and Riddle hates it in an affectionate sort of way.

"Must you always greet me incorrectly?"

"I am but a mere servant to your rule," you give him a cheeky grin, and with a touch as light as a feather, you take his right hand to press a quick kiss to the knuckles. Riddle sports a pout as he retracts his arm, but you never take him seriously when he's beet red, always a sucker to your flowery words.

Despite this, he has not once looked you in the eyes since you arrived.

Silence and tranquillity floods the atmosphere but anybody can feel the underlying tension beneath the layers. You shatter the quiet.

"I came as soon as I could." You sit down on the edge of the bed and he shuffles to the opposite side so that you do not fall off.

"I know." Riddle's sight is focused on the bed sheets where his hands rested. He watches your hands clasp over his, your touch is warm and just slightly sweaty, but he would never care for something so little.

Besides, he can tell by the sound of your breathing that you're still recovering from the journey. Upperclassmen say that it takes almost two or three hours to walk from one end of Sage's Island to the other, and this is without factoring the mountain you'd have to climb to get to NRC.

"I really thought I lost you when I was notified by one of the cards." Riddle can feel your stare and the sorrow in your words. You probably dropped everything to get here.

"I know." He takes a quick glance at the clock on the wall. How did you even manage to get to the college in just a little over an hour since he was admitted into the infirmary?

"You need to make me lots of crosswords to make up for it." The Housewarden clenches his jaw and thinks you are too forgiving compared to how much inconvenience and worry he's caused you.

Why are you not reprimanding his recklessness? Why would you risk a dorm-arrest to visit him with no prior permission? He reckons that your sentence would last at least a week if the professors find out of your absence, two weeks if you used a broom without authorisation. After this, would you think of him as a nuisance or embarrassment and leave him-

Sensing all of his inner turmoil, you reach out to carefully fix his dishevelled hair back into place and cup his cheek, coaxing his head in your direction so that he finally, finally looks at you.

Riddle's eyes are glassy with unshed tears, but the steadying pulse under the palm of your hand is soothing, your gaze is soft and full of something that is unconditional. Riddle knows that he can stay looking at you until forever falls apart.

Thumbing the flesh gently, you are watchful not to touch any gauze or smudge remnants of ointment. "Crosswords aside, I implore that you tell me, my Queen: What ails you so? Have I done something to be undeserving of your gaze?" Though, that last part was supposed to sound more like a joke.

"No!" He belts out before he could process your teasing lilt. "I mean- I- That's not- Ugh!"

Riddle gives up at the sight of your smug face and relaxes into your hold for just a few more moments, not caring for his burning cheeks or the delicacy that his lover offers him, only wanting to feel them wholly and fully.

He expels out a shaky breath, sits up straight, and lets everything go. Riddle tells you everything. The collars, the unbirthday, the tart, the duel. Riddle expresses his revelation about his mother and her rules. He confesses that you were right this entire time, and that he hopes you can forgive him for the times he denied it and admonished you.

Riddle's story ends and your brows furrow with guilt, "I knew I should have transferred to Night Raven. Maybe it would have prevented-"

He is quick to lace your fingers together with his own and silences you right away. "Perish the thought. You are not to blame. Not you. Never you."

Deciding to reward his efforts of attempting to distract you from your own thoughts, you sigh and lean in so that your foreheads touch, and Riddle does not oppose the connection. Closing your eyes, you breathe out lightly, quietly, as if only the two of you existed.

"You have tormented yourself in such a matter for far too long, my loveliest rose."

At that moment, Riddle swears up and down to The Seven that he has never been so in love. He looks down at your joined hands and smiles for the first time that day.

"I promise not to do it again, my Liege."

[ Extra ]

"What the hell was that for!?" Ace rubs his side tenderly after Cater elbowed him earlier. He earns disapproving glances from his seniors and unsurprising stares from Deuce, Prefect and Grim.

"Be more careful, Ace-y. They're the Housewarden slash Ruler of their own dorm back in RSA, but is also the Honorary King of Heartslabyul because they're Riddle's partner," Cater pulls up pictures of you from the academy's official magicam and shows the first years. "So that means they're in the same position of power as him in 'labyul, so you need'ta treat them like it."

Ace snatches the phone from his grasp and scrolls through the content, in denial. The other first years crowd around him. "Partners? With that Tyrant?? There is no way Housewarden was able to pull before me."

They all stare at the photos of you doing a plethora of activities, presumably around the rival school. Gardening, directing students, baking, tea parties, generally doing nice things. Yuck.

Ace tries to find your personal magicam but Cater yanks his phone back, exasperated, "I think they've been together for almost two years now, so it's not like it's new news."

"Myah, I don't know about you guys, but this 'King' of yours looks like a weak-ass, lovesick simp. Simp in capital letters, bold font and red text," Grim had lifted himself up and peaked through the window in the door to the infirmary, watching the royalties speak softly to each other.

The two third years give each other a look and both can vividly imagine the sound of your laughter and you saying that you wholeheartedly agree with Grim.

"I still don't get why you just followed their orders without question. I should show them the mighty power of The Great Grim, and then we'll see who's the real king! Nyahaha- Yowch!" Deuce had smacked the monster in the head.

Trey leans against the wall beside the closed entrance, crosses his arms and chuckles at the statement. He looks over his shoulder and also observes the duo inside.

"I've known them since we were kids, and trust me, Grim, they aren't someone you can mess with and get away with it unscathed."

He chooses not to mention how Grim fails to see the pure concentration of magic emanating from your figure.