Grim and I sat in the lounge of the Ramshackle dorm. I kept petting Grim while he kept complaining about not joining the Magift tournament.

"I just don't feel like doing anything...nothing brings me joy if I can't play Magift...." he lies down next to me.

"Still going on about it....he must really be wanting it..." I murmured.

The three ghost appeared before us. "What's wrong, Grim-y boy? What's got your fur in a bunch?" One asked.

"He's frowning because they won't let him play in the magical shift tournament." The second laughed.

"If you want to play that badly, we'll play against you." The third offered. I looked at them. "We were players that drove the crowds wild 90 years ago!"

"Wow. Then you must have a lot of tips and tricks to spill." I joked.

"But we need a team of seven..."

"It doesn't matter since it's not official! Lets go!"

"Cmon, Grim. It's better than nothing~" I coo. He nods glumly in the end.

We made it outside, and started to practice. After living with the ghosts, I didn't mind they inhabited the house. And for some reason, they knew about my powers. I guess with this, it's like they're helping me grow stronger, and keeping it a secret from Crowley. Which I was fine with. As long as I got in some extra training to amp up my magic strength.

We didn't need to worry about the rules. Just aiming for the goal was our top priority. Grim tried a few times, and so did I. I had a bit of difficulty at first, but with the ghost's help and remembering Ophelia's lessons, I could levitate that thing like child's play! Although, I did have to be wary of the ghosts becoming obstacles as part of the game. My reflexes did some help at least. But not a lot.

In the end, with some struggle along the way, we did well for first timers. And I felt like my power was getting stronger. Slowly, but surely!

I decided to sit out and write down the techniques I was taught while Grim practiced a bit more. As soon as I finished, I heard footsteps. I looked up and there was Crowley.

"Afternoon. I see your playing Magical shift?" He asked.

"Yes, Sir." I answer.

"Tch, it's the guy that always becomes the killjoy of the House." Grim scoffs.

"I see your getting along well with the dorm ghosts. Splendid!"

"We're not 'getting along'! And what d'ya want?" Grim snapped.

"I've a request to make of you. It's not simple chit-chat, so let's go inside." I grab my notebook and pens and jog up to the house. Lets see what's in store this time.

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"What's the request about? We aren't handymen anymore, y'know!" Grim claimed.

"Grim, stop it!" I hissed firmly.

"Is that so? I don't remember saying anything about your room and board being free of charge?" Crowley piqued. "Labor is a beautiful thing, right Grim, Miss Luchessi?"

My nostrils flared. That little-

"We don't have the option to turn his requests away..." I scold Grim.

"I'll get straight to the point." Crowley motions. "Recently, there has been an increasing number of students injured in suspicious accidents. I'd like to have you investigate them."

"Injuries?" Grim questioned if he heard that right.

"Yes: falling down the stairs, burned by boiling water...all the causes vary but in the past several days, the number of patients in the infirmary have dramatically increased. Including the person who tripped on the stairs yesterday, that totals to ten people. It's great that none of the accidents were too severe yet..."

"They're probably just clumsy." Grim waves off.

"The entire school is rambunctious for the approaching magical shift tournament, of course. But even still, there's too many people getting hurt if you look at past years. Not to mention, those injured in the accidents were all in the running to be starting members for their dorm's teams."

"This definitely may be foul play...." I whispered to myself. Standing, I asked the headmaster, "So you believe that these aren't normal accidents?"

"Nice Deduction, Miss Luchessi. However, I've no evidence to prove it may be foul play. All the victims were injured in places with plenty of witnesses around them. And all bystanders had one thing to say: 'They looked like they're weren't paying attention'."

"Maybe they all just screwed up. There! The problem's solved!"

"Grim, you know that very irresponsible of you."

"It's got nothing to do with me! I still can't join magift!" He scowled. "Doesn't matter to me what happens with the tournament."

"Is that so? I'd thought to give you a tremendous reward for your help...."

"Hmph! That ain't gonna work this time! You'd need at least 100 cans of tuna to get ME to help!"

"Then how's this sound: I'll allow you to join the magical shift tournament as a player...."

Grim leaps to his feet.

"...IF you can shed light on this series of events. Then I'll prepare a way for your dorm to participate as competitors! How does that sound? Aren't I just the most gracious ever?"

Well, that's one way to bribe this mangy raccoon...cat...thing.

"Your gallant figure will be broadcasted world wide. And you shall bask in the applause of the coliseum filled to the brim!"

After a while, Grim starts to smile with joy. "I can already see it before me!"

"But you did say you wouldn't help solve the matter. That's too bad. Forget anything I said." Crowley waves.

"Hold it right there! Well do it! Well take on your task!" Grim answered for us both.

"So you agree then?"

"If it means getting into the games, then yes!"

"We'll find out all we can, Sir." I confirm the job as well. "Find whodunnit and play in the games!" But then I stop. "But...don't we need seven players? Where will we find them?"

"Do not worry. As headmaster, I'll pull a few strings and supply you with five more people!"

"Yes! You've got a deal! Lets catch that culprit!"

"We won't let you down, Headmaster."

"I'm counting on you both."

Time to start the interrogation!

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The following day, clad in my school uniform, bag in hand and notebook out, Grim and I walked the Halls of Night Raven, ready to question any students who've recently suffered.

We first started off at the infirmary.

"The guy who hurt his leg should be in here somewhere." Grim muttered. We spotted them and walked right towards them. They noticed us immediately.

"Good day gentlemen." I nod as greeting.

"What's with you guys?" The one who had been injured had his leg in a cast and was resting on one of the beds with his friend sitting beside him.

"Wait, aren't you the two from the unbirthday party a couple days ago? From the ramshackle dorm?" The one in the chair questioned. I nodded to answer.

"Would you look at that: we're already famous!" Grim grins.

"Can you please relay how you got injured exactly?" I asked, prepping my pen.

"I don't really get it." The first answered. He and I were just talking... and before I knew it, I had fallen down the stairs!"

"It wasn't like he stumbled or slipped or anything." The second clarifies.

"It's like my body just kind of leaned forward....ugh, it's hard to put into words..." I nodded and wrote down in short notes what happened.

"Thanks, you two." I thanked and with my goodbye, I turned heel and left to find another victim.

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We spotted another student in one classroom.

"You,as well, got hurt not too long ago, right? Spill it!"

The two Pomefiore students eyed us warily.

"Who are you exactly?" The injured one rubbed his scarred hands gently.

"He's just upset that he can't participate in top condition as of now." His friend answered.

"How can you be so tactless, throwing salt on the wound like that? Let's fight!" But I stop him.

"Okay, listen. I don't want any trouble, and frankly neither do you. Not in your condition anyways. Now you can either just shut the hell up and answer my question, or I swear to god, I can turn your hands even worse than they already are now! Understood!?" I growled icily. He shivered at my voice being raised.

"....Fine. I'll tell you about that day." He gave in. I nod, satisfied that this didn't have to turn to violence.

"We were in the lab, when out of nowhere he grabbed the pot of boiling potion with his bare hands and the whole class just went into a frenzy!" His companion recalled. "Then he went and knocked over the pot all over the counter! It was surprising!"

"Are you seriously going to tell them everything?!"

I finished the last bullet note and nod with a quick "Thank you!" And scurried off.

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An hour later, we got back to the dorm. Grim and I were whispering to ourselves in the foyer.

"I don't see anyone we talked to as anything other than clumsy." Was all he had to say. "But do you still think these were still accidents?" I didn't get a chance to answer as the doorbell rang.

"Who's that?"

"Yo, guys! Hey, Grim! You're feeling a lot better!" Ace waves as he enters. Grim's ears flatten at the sight of the redhead.

"Ugh, you again. Listen we're busy right now and don't have time to hang out."

"Busy? So you're not gonna finish the homework?"

"Um, Ace? You might want to hear about this..." I usher him to the lounge.

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"Ah, people getting suspiciously injured." Ace nods.

"But while we were listening to them, it mainly sounded like they were being clumsy or we're just caught up in the excitement of the tournament." Grim puts in. Fast footsteps came running in soon after.

"Ace! We got trouble!" Deuce fretted.

"Hm? What's got you all worked up?"

"Trey got injured falling down the stairs!"

That news suddenly set off warning bells in my head.

"You're not talking about the unflappable Trey, right?"

"That doesn't make sense: I can't see him being clumsy..." I murmured.

"You're right: Trey's not the kind of guy to just trip over nothing." Ace agreed.

"Let's go ask him what happened!"

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"Hey, Sorry for the intrusion." Deuce apologized as we filed in. "You feeling alright, Trey?"

"Yo, Glasses! We heard you were down in the dumps and came by to pay respects!" Grim says.

"Ah! The A-Deuce duo is here! With Grim and Charlie as well!" Cater smiles.

"Uh, Cater? What's with the A-Deuce thing just now?" Ace asks.

"Oh! It's cause both your names end with 'ce' so I put em together!" The ginger answered.

"Can you not do that?!" Deuce demands.

"Besides that, hows Trey's injury?" Ace walks up to the man in question. I stood beside him, and analyzed his leg, from the knee down he sported a cast.

"I misstepped heading down the stairs." Trey answered. "I did my best to save myself but it seems my right foot is toast. I'll be on crutches for a while."

"It seems pretty bad..."

"I'm probably completely out of this year's game." Trey claims glumly.

"Y'know, I said I wouldn't do this I'd it wasn't that big a deal...but here! A get-well can of tuna!" Grim puts the can by Trey's leg. "Keep ya chin up!"

Trey laughs at the gesture with a "thank you."

"Ugh, cut me some slack! With our star player out, this changes everything and will have to hold tryouts again." Cater sighs.

"TRYOUTS?!" The A-Deuce team scream. A knock sounds at the door and Riddle enters.

"What's going on in here? Bombarding an injured person's room..."

"Ah! It's that hothead Riddle!" Grim cries.

" 'Hothead'?" Riddle closes his eyes. "I won't get angry if all of you don't break any rules." He turns to Trey. "Trey, are you feeling well? Anything to drink or eat?"

"Riddle, I told you, you don't have to fret over me so much." Trey calms his Dorm leader. Riddle sighs, looking away.

"But it's my fault you got hurt..."

"What are you talking about?" Ace requests.

"I had something to take care of so i went to the third year classrooms during the lunch hour. But then..."

Riddle and Trey walked together down the stairs, talking between each other.

"I'm going to be a bit late so start magift practice without me." He tells Trey.

"Sure." He nods.

"Until then, I'll-whoa!!!" Suddenly, without warning, Riddle started plummeting forward down the stairs.

"Riddle, look out!" But with fast reflexes, Trey pulled him away safely as he instead fell down the steps.

"He went out of his way to keep me from falling down the stairs and got injured instead..." Riddle finished.

"I think you'll be good with falling in flight class." Trey lightened. "It's just a sprained ankle, nothing big." But Riddle was still in doubt.

"Hey. Charlie. What say you?" Ace whispered in my ear.

"Something fishy's going on, and I'm not taking about the tuna Grim brought with him. This is definitely not clumsiness...." I whispered back. Whoever was causing the injuries had obviously targeted Riddle, but Trey took the fall instead. Something definitely wasn't right....

"Now now, Riddle! No need to get all gloomy!" Cater peps. "Yes, it's sad what happened to Trey, but we'll just have to find someone to replace him with the time being."

"Right." The second year nods.

"And with that I think it's time that we let our friend rest. Please move everyone!" Cater waves us out.

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After moving to the lounge, we all huddled in a circle.

"Okay, Cater. Is there something you don't want to talk about in front of Trey?" Riddle asked.

"You catch on fast, Riddle!" Cater winks. But turns serious after. "Charlie, you have any idea about how Trey may have gotten hurt?" He turns to me.

I nod. "And I think he gave me a pretty good clue..." I catch up the two upperclassman with what went down so far.

"So that's what the headmaster believes..." Riddle mumbles.

"I thought so. You guys just didn't come to wish Trey well." Cater pointed.

"To be honest, I thought something strange was going on, so I had Cater start scavenging for information." Riddle told me.

"It was obvious that all these people getting hurt were starting candidates for their main teams, much like Trey and Riddle." Cater adds.

"For a moment, I didn't trip over anything or feel someone push me from behind. And yet.... how to explain it, it felt like my body was moving on its own..."

"Everyone else kept saying something along the lines of that!" Grim hops in.

"I think it's safe to deduce that someone is intentionally targeting magift candidates." Riddle's eyes darken.

"I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought the same thing." I agreed.

"They're targeting their rivals to up their chances in winning the tournament?" Ace overhears.

"The whole world will be watching. One's performance in the challenge can lead to a chance that a bright future. It isn't strange that someone will do whatever it takes."

"But it's still weird!" Cater counters. "You sure you didn't feel any wind spells from behind you?"

"I never felt a single attack."

"There were also some who were injured during class. Now I really want to know what's going on."

"Then will just have to have the culprit spill everything once we have them cornered. And to that end, Charlotte, I shall assist you with this search!" Riddle clasps my hand in his.

"Really?" I asked, happy to have a team.

"You're helping us? What are you getting at?! Confess! You too, Cater!" Grim defends.

"Uh, rude much? This is what you do when your friends are targeted." Cater smirks.

"If that's it, then count us in as well!" Ace and Deuce step up beside me.

"Whoever did this will pay for what they did to Trey!" Deuce smirks.

"Well, you both seem excited." Riddle remarks.

"Oh, I see! You just want those open spots on the team, don't you?" Cater accused with a smile.

"Well ya caught me." Ace admits sheepishly.

"Not me! We just have to look out for each other!" Deuce denies, looking at anything but us.

"Jeez...I'll consider letting you both join for the team depending on your efforts in finding the culprit." Riddle proposes.

"You got it!" They claim.

"But back to the topic at hand, if you're going to find them, we'll have to predict their next move." Riddle continues.

"Anticipate how exactly?" Grim asks.

"Let's say: put a bodyguard on the students that seem most likely to be struck next. Should something happen, we'll get the student safety fast. Then we'll track down the culprit in that certain area."

"A Steakout strategy..." I think.

"That's just it exactly, Charlie-chan!" Cater grins. "I'll conduct a private group chat so we can IM each other. Take a look at the group album!"

I heard my phone vibrate, and opening it was hit with a wave of texts.

"Uh, Cater, this is a lot of info." I feel Deuce look over my shoulder.

"Of course! Now let's go spot our next target!" He claims.

"Andiamo, ragazzi!" I cheer.

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