Chapter Text
I found myself in that cloudy gray void once again.
As I followed the mysterious blue butterfly that I had seen plenty of times before, the void suddenly cleared and materialized into a vast desert, late at night.
Just off in the distance was the Sorcerer of the Sands, who glared down at a short man with scruffy hair from atop his horse. The sorcerer chides him for his tardiness to their apparent meeting, to which the shorter man replied, “A thousand apologies…but I found it.” He pulls out half of a golden scarab, which the Sorcerer’s parrot retrieved for his master.
I watched as the Sorcerer carefully assembled the two halves of the scarab, which then came to life and started glowing, flying off and leaving behind a golden trail of dust.
“Quickly! Follow the trail!” said the Sorcerer as he and the other man, a greedy thief, went after the scarab on their horses.
I ran after them, following them to a large mountain of sand, where the scarab split in half and buried itself. The ground started to rumble, and a large cave resembling the head of a tiger emerged from the ground.
The Sorcerer nudges the thief to approach the entrance of the cave, telling him to bring him a golden lamp that lay within the cave. Nervously, the thief approached the sand tiger’s mouth. But before he could enter, the cave said in a deep, growling voice,
“ Who disturbs my slumber? ”
I was curious about how the rest of this new dream went, but suddenly I heard the voice of the butterfly say, “Wake up, Elias.”
*
I rubbed my eyes and stretched in my bed, then looked down at Grim slumbering away next to me.
I slowly sat up, trying to process the dream I’d just had. Another dream about one of the Seven…I can’t help but feel like this is a common occurrence since I came to this world.
Not only that…every time I’ve had such a dream, it’s led to…
I shook my head as I got out of bed and started to get dressed. No. Now’s not the time to think about that. It’s the last day of school for the year! Everyone’s going home!
Well…almost everyone…
Once I was ready for the day, I scooped up Grim from the bed and trodded downstairs.
Tori and the ghosts were waiting downstairs. The golden-haired tinker fae was preparing some breakfast and tea before classes. As he saw me entering the lounge, he set down the tray of food and tea and cheerfully greeted, “Good morning, Eli! Morning, Master Grim!”
“Morning…” I said as I grabbed some slightly burnt toast from the tray. Grim grabbed a plate and started piling food onto it. “Thanks for the grub, Number Two!” said the little monster.
“You’re welcome,” Tori replied. “Sorry it doesn’t look perfect…I tried to make it look good, but I’m no cooking-talent fairy…”
“That’s okay,” I said sleepily.
It was then that Maurice noticed my half-awake state. “Hey, Elias…did you sleep well last night?” he asked, slightly concerned.
“You look like you just got a peek at the Spectral Realm!” Phillip said.
“I’m fine,” I said as I continued to eat my breakfast. “I just had a weird dream, that’s all.”
“Well, don’t nod off too much!” Gus said. “Today’s the last day of the fall semester. Wouldn’t do you kids any good to fall behind!”
“Oh, yeah!” Maurice said. “Winter holiday starts tomorrow…do any of you have any plans?”
“I’m going home to spend it with my grandfather and my brother,” Tori said. “Christmas time is the one time of year Peri can visit us without his flurry cloud. I’m gonna make the most of my time with him!”
I sighed. “I don’t have any plans…”
“What exactly is ‘winter holiday’, anyway?” Grim asked.
“It’s winter break,” Maurice explained. “During this time many students go home to celebrate with their families for two weeks leading up to the new year. There’s lots of feasts and exchanging gifts…”
“Wait, did you say ‘feasts’?” Grim perked up upon hearing this. “With lots of tasty food?”
“Yep!” Gus replied. “There’s roast turkey and cake and gingerbread houses…none of us can eat that, though.”
“Us ghosts usually go back to the other side to see our families, too,” Maurice said.
Tori and I were surprised to hear this. “Ghosts have families?” Tori asked curiously.
“That’s right,” Phillip said. “Some ghosts never return to the living world, though!” He laughed as he said this.
Grim flopped down on the couch, a happily dazed look on his face. “Eating delicious food and being with family…” he murmured.
I let out a sad sigh once again. “If only I didn’t have to spend the holidays alone again…” I quietly said as I stirred some honey into my tea.
“Eli…you’ve spent Christmas alone? Back in your own world?” Tori asked, concerned.
“Technically, yes,” I said. “I’d rather not talk about it right now.” I looked down at the little monster. “What about you, Grim? Do you have any family?”
Grim sat up in his seat. “My…family? Hmm…” He thought for a moment, trying to find any memories he had. “Actually…I don’t remember much about ‘em. Last thing I recall, I woke up…and I was alone and starving. It was cold, and I remember waiting for someone…I can’t remember what happened after that.” Grim’s face was somber, and his feline ears dropped down.
The rest of us were shocked at how much Grim had struggled. “Poor Master Grim…” Tori could only say.
“No need to feel bad, henchmen!” Grim said, suddenly perking back up. “It’s all in the past now, yanno? The future’s what matters most, and I’m gonna be a great mage one day! Myah-hah!! ”
Tori and the ghosts looked at Grim and I with sympathy. “I see you’ve had your fair share of hard times as well,” Maurice said.
“Why don’t you boys spend the holiday around the fireplace with us?” Gus suggested. “That way, you won’t be all on your lonesome during the most wonderful time of the year.”
“A fancy holiday and a glorious feast…I’m looking forward to it!” Grim said, jumping around happily.
Once we’d finished breakfast, we got ready to head to our classes. “I’m sorry you can’t go home during this time,” Tori said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I put on a smile for my dormmate. “It’s fine. It’s probably better for me to stay here, anyway.”
*
“All right, pups! Listen up!” Professor Crewel announced, immediately causing the chatter in the classroom to die down. “I’m sure all of you are looking forward to going home for winter break. However, every year there are a few carefree puppies that forget about their homework during that time! Anyone who neglects their assignments will be disciplined upon returning.” He tapped his pointer in his hand a few times as he said this. “You have all been granted permission to travel home via the Mirror Chamber.
With that being said, class is dismissed. Grab your things and report to the proper mirror when you’re ready.”
“Yes, sir!” the other students replied in unison.
We left our seats and headed towards the Mirror Chamber. “Phew, finally… ” Ace said as he slung his red backpack over his shoulder. “Finally free from the confines of school life!”
“As expected of Night Raven College…” Deuce said. “We’ve got a lot of homework to do over break.”
“But at least you guys get to go home and see your families…” I said.
Ace looked over to me upon hearing this. “That’s right! You haven’t found a way back home yet, have you?”
I shook my head. “That must mean you’re spending the holidays in your dorm, then…” Deuce said.
“Yep! We’re gonna spend time with the ghosts and have a delicious feast!” Grim said excitedly.
“I see…” Ace said. “At least you two won’t be alone, then.”
That’s when Deuce realized something. “Wait…if school’s closed for winter break, wouldn’t that mean that the cafeteria and the Mystery Shop will be closed as well?”
Grim and I looked at each other, then simultaneously slapped our foreheads. “Damnit, you’re right! ” Grim said. “How are we supposed to have our feast now?! ”
I groaned in response. “And I didn’t even think to stock up on food before this time…I don’t want us to go hungry over break! I’d like to think that Crowley has planned for this, but…”
“Well, then, we should probably go talk to him about it,” Deuce suggested.
“He’s probably in the Mirror Chamber right now,” Ace said. “We need his permission to use the Dark Mirror, after all!”