We finally managed to make it back to the Mirror Chamber, and the first thing we see: Crowley. He looked surprised to say the least.

"Eh? You really went to the Dwarf's mine to find a magic Crystal? I really didn't think...."

He thought we wouldn't take it seriously?! Well too bad, Crow guy! We did!

"You'd not only go but then return with a crystal in hand! I silently completed the paperwork for your expulsion."

My teeth grind in anger.

"Y-You...y-y-y-you...." I grit my teeth and scream, "You Figlio di puttana!"

"The nerve of this guy! We risked our necks tryna fight off a crazy beast!" Grim followed, equally as mad.

"Beast?"

"There was a monster at the Mine!" Ace explained, not trying to suppress his frustration. "It was super ugly and crazy strong! It was awful!"

"Could you explain in more detail?" Crowley offered.

Jesus, this was gonna be a while.

————————————

In the headmaster's office, we relayed what went down, minus my visions and the unexplained source of power that I "used" to destroy the monster.

Crowley hummed in thought as we finished. "A mysterious monster living in the coal mine. The four of you worked together to defeat it and bring back the crystal?"

Ace looked away. "We didn't really "work together"..." he mumbled.

"It was more like our goals were aligned." Deuce reiterated.

Awkward silence.....

And then, the craziest thing happened: Crowley started crying!!!

Admittedly, this was something to behold. Yet be freaked out about at the same time.

"What's with this guy? Why's an adult bursting into tears?!" Grim asked, weirded out as much.

Between tears, Crowley managed to say, "In all my years that I've been Headmaster...for the day to come that students of Night Raven College work hand in hand to face and beat their enemy!"

"Huh?! I did NOT hold this guy's hand!" Deuce claimed as he scooted say from Ace.

I smile, shaking my head. Oh, Deuce, you take things too literally...

"I'd never do that either!" Ace vomited our. "Gross! But Sensei, how old are you?"

"I'm so overwhelmed with emotion! This incident confirms it!" He looks at me, tears dried and gone.

"Charlotte. Without a doubt, you have the talent as a beast tamer!" He smiled.

"Quale?! A-A Beast tamer?" I stuttered.

"Students at Night Raven College are budding wizards called here by the Dark Mirror. However, they're of a superior class that makes them prideful and egotistical people that haven't even the slightest inkling to work with others, making many of them selfish and self-centered."

"You're really not saying anything good." Grim commented.

"While you may not use magic-"

'Not yet at least....' I thought to myself.

"But, maybe, precisely because you can't use magic means that you could give instructions to wizards and get them to cooperate. Perhaps that mediocrity is exactly what this school needs right now!"

"Well, I DO have pretty good leadership skills, not to brag or anything~!" I chuckle.

"What exactly is he saying, and is it anything nice?!" Ace said confused.

"Shut up, Ace. Let the man speak!" I slap him on the shoulder, not looking away once.

"I've no doubt that your presence is vital to the future of this academy! Or so my educator-senses claim! Trappola, Spade!" He commands the two next to me to pay attention. "Along with rescinding your expulsion, I shall also...

Give you, Charlotte, the qualifications to attend Night Raven College as a student!"

"Nani?!" The three shout out, taken off guard.

My mouth dropped open. "R-Really?! Veramente?! As a student even if I can't (sorta can) use magic?!" I smiled with glee.

"Of course! For I'm that exceedingly gracious!"

No freakin way! I was too excited I didn't even care that he said that stupid saying! I was so thrilled I wanted to-

"But there's one condition!"

Motherfuck, why's there always a catch?

"You can't use magic. Becoming a wizard is out of the question. You probably will not be able to complete all your lessons."

'Again, not yet! Kinda but I still need answers! Then I'll tell you the truth!'

"That's why, Grim, you've proven to me that you possess enough talent to become a wizard. Therefore, I shall allow the two of you to enroll together, as one student.

Grim shot up at the sound of that. "I...can go to this academy too?! Not as a handyman but as a student?!"

Finally! No more scrubbing windows and cleaning streets!

"Yes! Provided that you don't ever let an incident like yesterday occur again! Is that clear?"

Grim was in tears at the thought is his dreams finally coming true.

I smile and answer for the both of us, "Crystal, sir! You have our word."

"Yes!!! I did it!"

"Very well! And speaking of crystal, I shall give you the symbol of your status as a student of Night Raven College, a magic crystal, to Grim!"

With a wave of his finger, a deep purple gem was attached to Grim's bow collar like a pendant, resting on his chest.

"Oh! A magic crystal?" Grim stared at it.

"It's the norm for students to have their crystals in the form of a magic pen, but you wouldn't be able to grip it with your paws, correct? It's a special custom! I pay attention to the smallest of details!"

"I did it! I'm so awesome! Yours truly got my own special magic crystal collar~~!" Grim dances on the desk.

"He isn't listening at all..." Crowley sweatdrops. He looks at me, "Do you understand? As you can see, Grim isn't accustomed to human society, so it's up to you to take the reins and supervise him to prevent from causing any more damage!"

"Aha! Look at you! School's just starting and you're already a supervisor?" Ace grins.

"I see." Deuce joined. "There's only the two of you on your dorm....So if you've been entrusted with supervising Grim, that makes you a supervisor."

Ace laughs, "Isn't that unheard of? For there to be a supervisor student who's 'unable' to 'use magic'!" He sent a small knowing wink my way. "But now, it's cool! You're the prefect of the school!"

I blush lightly. "I aim to strive for hard work, and I'll be sure to get my best done!" I promise.

Ace laughed, "Good luck, Prefect Charlie!"

"I see. A prefect/supervisor. I have one work request. And having that title makes it convenient! This is splendid!" Crowley stands. Then, in a flash, he hands me....

A Polaroid camera?

"I shall entrust you with this!" He holds it out for us to see. "This is called the 'Ghost Camera'.

I take it from him and inspect it.

"Why's it called that, Sir?" I asked. I've a general idea on using these kinds of cameras.

Ace stood next to me, looking as well. "I think my grandmother told me about this. It's a super old magic tool?"

"It's not 'super old'...it's true that this may have been invented during your great grandmother's or great-great grandmother's time. This has a very special spell cast on it. It not only captures the subject's form but also a part of their soul." Crowley explains.

"A part of their soul...?" Deuce repeats.

"We call this 'Memory: a Fragment of Remembrance'. Furthermore, the most interesting part of this magic camera is that the souls of the photographer and the one being photographed become deeply connected and the Memory in the photo comes to life!"

So if I take a picture of anyone at any time, I can see into their memory and see what their past is like! Kinda weird, but it's interesting!

" 'Souls are connected'? 'Comes to life' you say?" I repeat his words, turning the camera in my hands carefully.

"Depending on how close the subject and the photographer are, the picture could move like a video, or bring to life the situation in the photo. Fascinating, right?"

Okay, so let's say I wanted to take a photo of someone who's deeply depressed at something someone said to them that made them go into an 'emo mode'. Like: That science project of yours is totally shitty, and you get a failing grade. If I can snap a pic at them while they're like that, then I can see WHY and HOW they became like this from their past? Say, something like this had happened before, and they became so self-doubting that they studied harder on that subject and creating projects that are better than the ones they had created before so that they'd never feel that dejection again?

Okay....I'm getting ahead of myself here....maybe I'll just have to see eventually how this things works in action....

"Bring the photo to life? It's like a ghost photograph!"

"Indeed. That's why it's called to 'Ghosts Camera'. They say it was made before the time of videos for when people wanted to leave behind vivid memories. Spade was correct: in the past, people would scream 'ghost!' in shock when the memory came jumping out. They were paralyzed with fear at the thought of having a photo taken with this camera."

"A camera for freaking people out..." Ace shook his head.

"Charlotte, please take photos of Grim and the other students to leave behind many memories of your lives at this academy." I nodded as Grim kept singing about me taking lots of cool photos of him. "Especially, always make sure to get 'Memories' when someone steps out of line." His face grew serious as he emphasizes that last part after 'memories' as a clear order. Then switching back to happy as if it didn't happen, "It's a suitable and perfect way to report back to me, okay? Keep an eye on your surroundings and take memories as the supervisor. To generously give you a rare item that can be used by non-wizards. Does my graciousness know no bounds?"

"You can count on me sir!" I nod. I finger the necklace around my neck out of habit.

"Miss Charlotte? What is that around your neck?" He asks, noticing.

"Oh...it's my necklace. A pendant given to me..." I answer.

"May I see it?" He asks, holding out his hand.

Obeying, I reach around my neck and unclasp the chain carefully. I place it his hand. He first inspects it in his hand and then lifts it by the chain, staring at the golden charm with careful detail.

"Where did you get such a beautiful thing?" He asked, staring at me out of the corner of his eye.

"It was something from my aunt, Sir. It was the last thing I got from her before....you know..." I trailed off. He nods slowly. He doesn't say anything for a while.

"You best keep this safe, if it's a family heirloom, my dear. And as long as you're wearing that, if people see on you, they'll know of your position around this school. It'll mark your importance. Keep that on you at ALL times, you hear?" He instructs, handing it back to me. I fasten it back around my neck, and looking him in the eye, nodding.

"Yes, Sir." I look out the window to see it's still dark out. I don't even know what time it is...

"It's already late. Let's save the detailed conversations for tomorrow. Return to your dorms, now." He waves us off. Grim climbs on my shoulder as I cradle the camera in my arms, walking out.

"Pardon our intrusion, Sir." Deuce nods as he and Ace are the last to leave.

———————————

Out in the hallway, our group starts making their way back to their respective places.

Deuce sighs in relief. "Expulsion rescinded. I'm beat..."

"Damn...it.."Ace yawns.

Grim was happily skipping down the hall, singing in glee. "I start as a student of Night Raven College tomorrow! I'm gonna leave you all in the dust and take the top spot!" He teased Trappola and Spade.

"Y'know, you talk big for someone who's only a half-student....but anyways, it's fine." Ace smiles.

"Starting tomorrow, we'll be classmates, Supervisor Charlie, Grim." Deuce says.

"Well, let's see what's in store for me!" Charlie smiles wearily, fatigue taking over slowly. "But it's been really fun meeting you guys."

"Again, saying that's totally embarrassing! Will you stop?" Ace shakes his head. Charlie laughs.

"But it's true. Even if we don't want to, we're going to see each other everyday." Deuce commented. "And I'm in Heartslabyul with this jerk." He groans.

"Thinking about seeing your serious mug everyday? No thanks." Ace teased back.

"I believe that's my line, Truant Ace." Deuce furrows his brows.

"Yea, sure. Almost-expelled-crybaby Deuce. Anyways, see ya tomorrow, Supervisor Charlie!" He winks and the two leave together.

Charlie watches them walk off, smiling and shaking her head at their antics.

"Those guys..." she giggles.

"Those guys might make a good combo!" Grim stands by her, watching them leave. "They're like the 'fight because they're so close' type." He hops up on her shoulder. "Now we better get back to our dorm. Tomorrow, we're no longer handymen! At last...finally: Our bright and shiny academy life at Night Raven College begins!" He cheers!

Charlie smiles as she races for the ramshackle dorm. The cold night air nips at her face as she runs, but she felt warmth. Freedom, feeling like a giant weight was lifted off her shoulders. Despite the weariness, she felt awake and alive! And take on whatever comes her way! As she kept running for her sanctuary, one thought kept filling her mind:

A new Dawn approaches the start of a new life! And she was ready for anything!