Chapter Text
You’ve got to be kidding me. You have GOT to be kidding me.
“You know, as much as I hate that you skip your classes and leave Trein to yowl at ME,” Ruggie sighed from behind me, “I’d prefer that you go and nap this one out, Leona. You could use a snooze.”
“You think I can nap after that kind of news?”
I just tried to keep my eyes on the hallway. Just when you think that old squawker can be any less tolerable, he marches in with that cheeky grin and whatever apocalyptic plotline he mistook for a band-aid to his problems.
“Man, the Headmage surely hadn’t read his dusty books on how the ladies are supposed to be treated in our spot of the world, hah? Syeheheh,” I look over and he’s next to me now in heading to the gardens, hands in his blazer pockets. Not the main point, but I did call him out for that earlier, now didn’t I?
“…well, he’s got some gut,” I grunt.
“Yeah, you oughta give him a lesson next Housewarden meeting-”
“I gotta give where credits’ due.”
…
“...hah? Credit?? Ah-”
“You don’t get it, don’t you, Ruggie? That squawker’s managed to do something even I couldn’t.” I look back at him after he nearly stumbled on the carpeting. After seeing that he’s just fine, I just rubbed my paw down my face and kept walking.
“Wha- whadd’ya mean?- Oi!”
Eight years since I last had her on my tail… why didn’t I think of that, asking in the first place?
To think that I could’ve just gotten myself a moment to talk to the Dark Mirror myself and ask about where she was this whole time… then I could’ve lessened the years, not…let DIRE CROWLEY drag her in, of all herbivores, and in HERE.
I just pushed the doors open to the Botanical Gardens and headed to my grassy spot, ignoring Ruggie’s continuous yipping. She should still be packing up, right about now.
“Oi, Leona, do me a favor and stop being a cheapskate with your words, it’s not like you charge to talk!” My ears flattened when he raised his voice at me and stood right above me as I plopped onto the grass, right under the giant monstera leaves. “You’re going to credit him for steppin’ tails? What happened to not-”
“That bird caught her.”
Even with my eyes still open, I still see the sight of him dragging her by the arm. It took me seconds of walking into the cafeteria before I recognized the smell of magic on the constant edge. Smoke and dusty sandstone. Walk a little closer, and it’s those blood red eyes that seemed like amber under sunlight and that tan mess of a mane.
“...Miah.” The name felt like ash on my tongue, now that I say it again.
“Miah? Oh, that’s her name, wasn’t it?! And you two seem familiar, too!” He sighed with a taunting smile. “That makes it even worse for Crowley-”
“Dragging her in the first place SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE. That’s the point of why he’s one gutsy man, because she died.”
A pause. My tail was lashing and now slightly itching from the grass.
“Eh?! You’re not making a joke of me, are you?!” he immediately straightened out with an accusing look.
“I’m not. She’s really supposed to be dead, Ruggie.” I sighed, closing my eyes. “...Miah was a stray lioness cub that wandered her way into the palace when I was ten years old. She managed to stay with me long enough until she got killed.
It was the morning after my twelfth birthday when they told me she had been bagged up and buried. Dead silence after that.”
I forced my eyes shut and kept my focus on trying to get sleepy, because I really don’t want to remember those days.
“Killed… As in someone would kill a cub in the palace?!”
“Strays are a no-tolerance in traditional and old-fashioned lion prides in the savanna. Especially the older men, they’d bash the kids while they’re young, to prevent unknown blood from poisoning the lineages.” I flatly explain.
“Man, then she must’ve been sneaky enough, if she lasted in the royal palace for two years…” he smiled nervously. “Then that means you two were best of buddies, then? Considering she must be your age and stuck around…”
“...”
“...right, looks like I should leave you alone for a nap. There’s still vacant time, so I might as well grab us a snack before class starts again.”
I listen to his footsteps as they grind against the pathway stones and go further away, until the gate hinges creak. I didn’t even realize my jaw was tight until then, and that I hadn’t even bothered to answer.
…bah, how was I even going to describe what we were, anyway? If we are honest, there was no way that it was just being best of buddies with her. Not when…
…
…but then again, it’s been eight years since. Does it even matter, all that was said? Does it all finally matter again now? How the heck is she alive?
…What kind of sham is being played on me this time… how is she…
…she’s alive.
…
…finally, sleep’s kicking in. I’d rather not worry about such ordeals...
…Miah’s alive, all this time.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…OW-
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“You better be prepared…” I sneer and look back at that new magic-less herbivore and his monster rat…such a bother. Just when I was finally getting some sleep, he walks in and stomps on my tail.
“Just shut up and keep marching…” Ruggie kept shoving me forward, both hands still pushing until we’re back outside the garden and into the open air. “We still have class, you big oaf.”
“Has it already been that long since I conked out? Could’ve sworn I just started…”
“You’ve already been out for thirty minutes… and the cafeteria’s already out of snackies.”
I just grunt as a response and started walking on my own, not minding whatever Ruggie’s saying about Trein and being late for class without any tasty food in his stomach. By the time we reached the main entrance door of the castle, there she was again, carrying a bunch of baggage.
“Oh, there you are, Miss Miah… looks like you’re all ready to move in~” Ruggie sounds mildly caught off guard and adds a bit of politeness to his tone at the sight of her. I couldn’t bring myself to step closer the moment she looked over with her ears straightening forward.
She looks up at me once before opting to focus on him instead. Why did that feel unnerving?
“Crowley said to let you lead the way,” Miah spoke up, her voice flat, “supposing there’s still room. Then I have to get in touch with this list of people to get a rundown on the stuff to do.”
Ruggie snickered. “Looks like you’re busy from your first day~ But too bad, we still have classes…I suggest you wander around for a bit-”
What.
“You go to class, Ruggie. I’ll take her to the dorm.” I cut him off, causing both of them to look at me.
“Eh?! No way you’re skipping class again-”
“And leave her to wander around and get lost? Nah. It’s just another missed class; just tell Trein I’m doing my job.
Miah, come on. Hall of Mirrors’ this way.”
I gave them no room to complain as I stepped forward and grabbed all her bags except her backpack and walked off toward the Hall of Mirrors. Ruggie went on to yip a few times more, but eventually just groaned in defeat and headed to class.
“You really shouldn’t be skipping your classes, you know.”
I looked over and Miah was already next to me, ears slightly flattened as she looked straight ahead. She looks so small, now that I realize how much of her head I’m seeing rather than her face. It’s like she only grew a foot tall since then. “I attend the exam days, I’ll be fine.”
“That’s your exact shenanigan that got me dragged in here, smartpaws.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at that sass she’s trying to show.
“You do remember I’ve had tutored classes as soon as I could talk, right? You would know, since you sat uninvited at half of them.”
I watch her tail flick as her eyes narrowed a little. She looked up at me with that same mild glare that used to get me so smug before it ended in a childish brawl.
“Ease up, mouse… It’s not like I’ll bury you in chores.” I hummed. I was genuinely just trying to lighten up the mood and tease her, but her glare snapped to shock, and she quickly looked back ahead. A shiver came late down my own tail, and it felt pathetic that it slowly wagged from left to right with each step.
…I never realized how much I missed calling her a mouse, and with her being there to hear it.
“So I just got to be your Vice Housewarden, right?” She redirected the subject.
“Since the Mirror said so, then that looks like it. You’re in charge of the dorm and the pack on my behalf, and you’ll be attending Housewarden meetings in times when I can’t.”
“Why do I have a feeling that you’ll slack off even in those meetings now that I’m here…”
I laugh at her jab. “I mean, I COULD.”
“You better not.”