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MAIN STREET

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Grim: "Wow, so this is Main Street, huh? This is incredible!"

He ran ahead on stubby legs, tail flicking as he zigzagged between the statues.

Grim (tilting his head): "I didn't get to see it much yesterday. What's the deal with these seven statues? All their faces look pretty scary.Like, this lady here looks like she's got some reeeal anger management issues."

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???: "You don't know the Queen of Hearts?"

A voice piped up playfully from behind.

Grim turned to find a cocky redhead leaning against a lamppost, one hand in his pocket.

Grim (eyeing him): "Queen of Hearts? Is she some kinda big deal?"

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Ace: "She was a queen who lived in a maze full of roses, like, forever ago. Super strict. Everything had to be in order.If you so much as painted a rose the wrong color? BAM. Off with your head."

Grim (sputtering): "Wah! That is seriously messed up!"

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Ace (grinning): "Pretty cool, right? I'm a big fan.Like, who's gonna follow some soft, lovey-dovey ruler all the time? A little fear keeps people in line."

Grim (nodding): "Yeah, true. A leader needs to be strong.But puttin' that aside... Who're you, now?"

Ace: "Name's Ace. I'm a first year here as of, uh... today! Pleased to meetcha!"

Grim (puffing up): "I'm Grim! A future legend of magic! That there's my hench-human—Yuu."

Yuu (mildly offended): "Not your hench-anything."

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At that moment, a soft bleat interrupted them.

(Name): "Oh! Grim, you shouldn't run off like that..."

(Name) jogged over, sheep ears bouncing gently with each step, his pet pigeon Sweetpea fluttering in slow loops above them. He wore his soft woolen shawl over his Promeire uniform, cheeks faintly pink from the breeze.

Ace (blinking): "Whoa... Is that... Bellwool?"

Grim: "This is (Name)! He's the prettiest, sweetest guy in the whole school. He's been helping me and Yuu since yesterday."

Ace (whispering to Yuu): "Wait, the (Name) Bellwool? That's the guy everyone talks about? He looks like a snack—"

Yuu (glaring): "Finish that sentence and I'll throttle you with your own tie."

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Grim (pointing at the statues): "So tell me, Ace. Is that lion with the scar in his eye a famous ruler too?"

Ace (smirking): "Of course! That's the King of Beasts. He wasn't born into the throne—had to claw his way to the top with smarts and strategy.Once he became king, he made everyone equal. Even the hyenas."

(Name) (softly): "That's... really noble. Even someone like him wanted peace for everyone."

Ace (eyes flicking to Name): "Yeah. Real noble guy."

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Grim: "Who's the lady with the octopus legs?"

Ace: "Sea Witch. She helped merfolk for a price. Change your looks, chase love, whatever you wanted—if you could afford it.She didn't sugarcoat anything. If you wanted a miracle, you paid the toll."

(Name): "But what if someone couldn't afford it? That seems unfair..."

Ace (grinning): "Life's unfair, sweetheart. Magic's expensive."

Yuu (low growl): "Don't call him sweetheart."

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Grim (pointing): "Do the dude with the big hat next!"

Ace: "That's the Sorcerer of the Sands. Started as an advisor, exposed a faker prince, got a magic lamp, became the best sorcerer,and then—boom—took over the sultan's job. Total upgrade."

Grim: "Dang. That's smart. Gotta play your cards right."

Ace: "Exactly. Gotta respect a guy who knows how to climb."

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Grim: "And what about this beauty over here?"

Ace: "That's the Fairest Queen. Gorgeous. Ruthless. She used a magic mirror to rank herself daily—when someone got close to her spot at the top,she took 'em out. Also? Poison master."

(Name) (visibly disturbed): "That's awful..."

Ace (with a wink): "But dedicated. Pretty admirable in its own way, right?"

Yuu: "Admire her from a distance, please."

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Grim (pointing again): "That scary guy with the fire hair?"

Ace: "King of the Underworld. Ran the land of the dead all on his own. Spirits, monsters, Titans—you name it.He didn't ask for the job, but he did it anyway."

Grim (awed): "Whoa... so he's, like, a total powerhouse."

(Name): "But still lonely..."

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Grim (last statue): "And this one with the horns?"

Ace: "Thorn Fairy. Super elegant, super deadly.She cast storms, cursed kingdoms, turned into a dragon like it was no big deal.Out of all seven? She's probably the strongest."

Grim (tail wagging): "So coooool! Dragon goals!!"

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Ace (grinning): "Pretty cool, huh?"

Grim: "Way cooler than some piddly weasel!"

Ace (eyeing Yuu and Name): "So... you two sticking together?"

Yuu: "Obviously."

(Name) (blinking): "Yuu's been really kind... I'd be lost without him."

Ace (smirking): "Interesting..."

Ace stuck his hands in his pockets and followed behind them with a knowing grin.

And just like that, the future chaos of Night Raven College took its first bite.꒷︶꒷꒥꒷‧₊˚૮꒰˵•ᵜ•˵꒱ა‧₊˚꒷︶꒷꒥꒷Ace: "Pretty cool, huh?Not like some piddling weasel."

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Grim: "Myah?!"

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Ace (cackling): "Pfft... Ah ha ha! I can't hold it back anymore!Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! You two are the real orientation entertainment, you know that? The kid with no magic, and a raccoon that gate-crashed!"

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Grim (offended): "H-hey! You don't gotta be a jerk about it!"

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Ace: "So in the end, neither of you got admitted, and now you're stuck playing janitor? SO lame!"

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Grim: "What did you just call me?!"

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Ace: "And you're both so clueless you don't even know who the Great Seven are! Not a single one of 'em!Maybe before you try getting into the academy again, you oughta retake kindergarten!"

Grim (growling): "GRRRRRRRRRRRRR..."

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Before Grim could charge, a soft voice spoke up.

(Name): "Ace, that's enough."

The tension snapped like a string. Even the wind settled as the crowd stilled.

(Name) stood nearby, arms folded gently across his chest, fluffy sheep ears twitching with disapproval. His sky blue eyes with that soft blush of pink shimmered—not with anger, but disappointment. Sweetpea the pigeon cooed and flapped onto his shoulder, fluffing her feathers like she sensed the drama.

Ace (freezing): "Ah, shoot..."

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Yuu (low): "...You're in trouble now."

(Name): "It's their first day, Ace. They don't need to be laughed at—they need support.You were new once, too. Or did you forget that you nearly tripped down the dorm stairs during your own orientation?"

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Grim (snickering): "Pfft—he did what now?"

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Ace (blushing furiously): "Okay, okay, okay! That was one time—"

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(Name): "One time is still one too many if we're keeping score. Now apologize."

The crowd had gone dead silent. Even the students who'd been cheering for the fight were now gawking at the legendary Bellwool delivering his signature gentle scolding.

Ace, still pink in the face, scratched the back of his neck.

Ace: "Tch... Sorry, alright? I was just messin' around."

Grim (puffing up): "You better be! Next time, I'm aiming for real! Fireball to the FACE!"

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Ace: "Yeah yeah, chill out, Charbroil. I said sorry."

He turned to leave, but not before flashing a wink at (Name).

Ace (teasing): "You know, you're cute when you're bossy."

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(Name): "And you're cute when you're quiet."

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Grim (cackling): "OOOOH, BURN!"

Yuu (smirking): "You walked straight into that one."

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Student A: "Did Bellwool just roast him with a smile on his face?"

Student B: "He could literally say 'boo' and I'd start apologizing."

Student C (sighing dreamily): "He's like if a warm cookie could talk..."

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Ace slinked away to class, flustered but grinning despite himself.

As for (Name), he turned to Yuu and Grim, expression soft again.

(Name): "Are you two alright?"

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Grim (dramatic): "I almost died of secondhand embarrassment, but yeah. Thanks to you, fluff-boy."

Yuu (chuckling): "I appreciate you stepping in. That could've gotten bad."

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(Name): "Of course. I promised I'd look after you both, didn't I?"

He smiled, head tilting sweetly as his tail swayed behind him, oblivious to the many lovestruck stares aimed his way.

Grim (whispering to Yuu): "...He really doesn't know, does he?"

Yuu (quietly): "Not a clue."

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Grim (grinning): "We better keep up, or some other fool's gonna try to steal our sheep."

Yuu (deadpan): "Not happening.":♡.•♬✧⁽⁽ଘ( ˊᵕˋ )ଓ⁾⁾*+:•*∴