Chapter Text
Prologue: Welcome to the Villains’ World PART 4
Hiccup and Erland woke up with a similar sense of unease that morning on Berk.
Saddling Embla, Erland flew straight to the Haddock House. Hiccup and Toothless were already outside, preparing to go on a morning flight. They greeted each other as usual, waved goodbye to Stoick as he left to do his chiefing, and went to Zenna’s house to meet up with her and Stryka.
No sooner had they arrived than the unease that had lingered in their minds collectively settled in their guts.
“Oh, good morning, dears. Already done with your flight?” Henna came out of the house, flour dusting her hands.
“We were going to see if Zenna and Stryka were up, Mrs. Fiersome…” Hiccup mumbled, glancing at Toothless, who was looking at the doorway, expecting Stryka to come bounding out.
Henna blinked. “They were already gone by the time Edgar and I woke up. Zenna left a note. Didn’t she and Stryka meet you?” she asked.
“I guess they must be waiting for us at the Cove,” Erland said and gently nudged Hiccup to get back on the saddle, respectfully bowing to Henna. They flew to the Cove as fast as they could, half-expecting to see Zenna waiting for them, maybe even remarking, “You’re late,” with a teasing smile.
She wasn’t there. And neither was Stryka.
Dread turned to worry. The boys spent half an hour waiting and helping Toothless and Embla check every inch of the Cove. Toothless sniffed a patch of grass and rumbled, eyes narrowed.
“Her scent is here, but it’s yesterday’s scent… I don’t think she and Zenna have been here today. Where are they…?” he wondered out loud, ears drooping.
When Erland translated Toothless’s rumbles, Hiccup frowned. “M-maybe they’re somewhere else on the island,” he said, picking at the fur on his vest.
“Only one way to find out,” Erland told him as Embla helped him onto her back.
They split up to cover more ground. They checked Zenna and Stryka’s favorite spots, flew over the village, and both of them ended up at Gothi’s hut. The old healer was perplexed to see Erland back early.
“Zenna? I thought you were going out on a flight together,” she told the two boys.
Hiccup and Erland both went pale. They flew back to the village, getting off their dragons, and asked around. They asked Gobber, Spitelout, Bucket, Mulch, Mrs. Ack, Mrs. Larson, and anyone they bumped into if they’d seen Zenna and Stryka. When nobody could say that they’d seen either the one-eyed Fiersome or her one-eyed Night Fury, they returned to the Fiersome home.
Edgar and Henna abandoned their breakfast as soon as Hiccup and Erland turned up, panicked and reporting that they hadn’t seen their girls.
“Let’s not lose our heads. There’s a good chance Zenna and Stryka went on a little excursion a bit away from the island,” Edgar tried to reassure his wife and his daughter’s two best human friends. They took Serpent and Serpentine to the skies to join the boys in their second search.
When that search yielded no results, Stoick had been alerted. Soon, everyone was looking for Zenna and Stryka.
“Any sign of them?” Hiccup asked Astrid when he and Toothless met her and Stormfly at Thor’s Beach.
“No. The others didn’t find them either…” Astrid told him, looking worried.
“This isn’t like Zen. She and Stryka always join me and Toothless on a night flight. They should be here by now…” Hiccup sighed, looking at the sky. Sundown was coming soon, and there was still no sign of the two missing members of the Fiersome family.
‘Zen, where are you and Stryka…?’ he thought before he had an idea.
“I’m going to Outcast Island. Maybe they went there,” Hiccup decided.
“Hiccup, I know we’re allies with them now, but I don’t think Zenna would just go to Outcast Island on a whim,” Astrid pointed out.
“Just in case,” Hiccup said before having Toothless turn around. They soared out of Berk’s territory and set their course for Outcast Island. Maybe Zenna stopped by to say hello to Alvin. The man may have been an enemy in the past, but he’d grown more friendly after he and Stoick had made amends.
Zenna probably wanted to say hi, and maybe she and Stryka stopped to help him out with some things.
At least, that’s what Hiccup hoped for.
Zenna woke up to clammy fingers tugging at her blankets. Grumbling, she pulled the blankets over her head, muttering, “Still sleepy… Wake me up later…”
“Hee, hee, hee… Aren’t you supposed to be meeting the Headmage today?”
Zenna bolted upright, Grim clutched to her chest. The fire cat’s nose twitched, and he let out a small yawn, blinking his beady blue eyes open. The skinny ghost grinned at the two of them and raised a phantom hand in greeting.
“Morning, sleepyheads!” said the skinny ghost. Beside him, the short ghost and the pudgy ghost materialized.
“Myah?! The ghosts are back!” Grim yowled, squirming in Zenna’s arms.
“Don’t try to sleep the day away, otherwise you might not eeever hafta wake up again,” the short ghost teased them.
“Just like us! Ah hahahahaha!” the pudgy ghost chortled.
“Huh… You three are even less frightening to look at in the daytime,” Zenna remarked and let go of Grim.
The three ghosts stared at her, jaws dropping, while Grim giggled.
“Dang, Zenna! That was cold!” Grim laughed.
Zenna shrugged and got out of bed. Arms folded against her chest, she regarded the ghosts with fascination. “So, what’s your story? Is there a reason why you three still linger in this dorm? Unfinished business, perhaps?” she inquired.
The ghosts snapped out of their surprise and looked at themselves.
“Oh, no unfinished business,” said the pudgy ghost.
“We just like hanging out here. It’s cozy and just the right amount of abandoned,” the skinny ghost piped up.
“Besides, we can go to the spirit world anytime we want.” The short ghost floated over to Zenna, tilting his head to the side. “You sure you’re not scared of us?” he asked her.
“No. I’ve learned that the living are scarier than the dead,” Zenna replied. The ghosts hummed, then huddled together. Grim’s brow furrowed, and he padded over to the huddle, ears twitching.
“That girl’s a little weird… I’ve never met a human who wasn’t scared of us,” whispered the pudgy ghost.
“Yeah, but you gotta admit that she’s pretty cool. It’d be nice to have someone other than you two to talk to…” admitted the skinny ghost.
“And at least we can still prank her cat. Little guy’s way easier to scare, heheheh!” snickered the short ghost.
“Hey! I ain’t easy to scare!” Grim protested and took a deep breath.
“Hold it.” Zenna knelt beside Grim and gently pinched his mouth shut. Grim let out a muffled yelp, swallowing down his fire. “Okay, ground rules, everyone. One: no ghost pranks in the morning. Two: no fire-breathing inside the dorm. And three: if anyone wants to fight, take it outside. Got it?” she leveled a stern look at Grim and the ghosts.
“Yes, ma’am!” Grim squeaked, not wanting to see Zenna glare at him again, while the ghosts nodded.
“Great!” Zenna perked up with a smile. “I think proper introductions are in order. I’m Zenna Fiersome, but you can call me Zen. This is Grim, or Grim the Great, as he likes to be called. What about you three?”
“Call me Bartholemew. Barty for short!” the pudgy ghost greeted them.
“And I’m Zachariah, or Zach if you prefer.” The skinny ghost took off his hat and bowed.
“My name’s Leonard, but my friends call me Leo,” the short ghost introduced himself.
“Nice to meet you, guys,” Zenna replied with a curtsy. “Until the Headmage finds a way home, I guess we’ll be living together. I do hope we can all get along,” she said.
“Hmmm, if you’re staying here at Night Raven College, I guess we should warn you about the students,” Bartholemew told her, his cheery look vanishing.
“We’ve been here for years, and we’ve seen a lot of students come and go. And what we’ve all agreed on…” Zachariah sighed.
“…is that these boys are nothin’ but trouble! The most prideful and selfish bunch of mages-in-training we’ve ever seen!” Leonard huffed and went closer to Zenna. “You gotta keep your guard up, Zen. These students are the type to hide their wickedness behind smiles. If any of ‘em try to make trouble for you, just give me and my buddies the word. We’ll haunt ‘em good,” he whispered.
“Thanks, Leo. I’ll keep that in mind,” Zenna said, her expression completely calm. ‘I’ve dealt with Snotlout and the Twins for years, along with other jerks. I think I can handle some arrogant student mages…’ she thought to herself before hearing a knock outside.
“Good morning! Zenna? Grim? Are you two awake?” Crowley called out.
“Oh, looks like you’d better get ready, Zen!” Bartholemew said before he, Zachariah, and Leonard started floating over to the door. Then they looked at Grim, who looked up at Zenna, the latter motioning to the door with her chin.
“Ahem! That’s your cue to leave the room, kitty cat,” Leonard told him.
“Why?” Grim raised his brow.
“I have to get dressed, Grim,” Zenna pointed out.
“And you can’t hang around a lady while she’s getting dressed,” Zachariah said, then scooped up Grim while Bartholemew opened the door a crack. The three ghosts floated out of the room, Grim complaining over how cold they were as they carried him out.
Once the door closed, Zenna took the school uniform out of the package Crowley gave her last night. The school uniform consisted of a dark gray jacket and pants, a white shirt, and a light blue vest. Zenna admired the fabric quality before getting dressed. She was puzzled to find that there weren’t any brooches or pins to close the white shirt, but discovered hard little circles sewn onto one side that went into the holes cut out on the other side. Layering the vest on top of the shirt, Zenna slipped the jacket on and put on the pants, carefully sliding the zipper closed.
She found a black-and-white striped ribbon and figured it was for tying her hair. There was another strip of fabric, but she wasn’t sure what it was for, so she rolled it up and placed it in the chest pocket of her jacket. She folded her bedclothes and placed them on top of the bed. Examining the clothes she’d arrived in, Zenna frowned as she noticed the smoky aroma clinging to her tunic and fur vest. She was going to have to find a place to wash them later.
Leaving the room, she was greeted by Crowley, who was now holding Grim and gently petting his flame-tipped ears.
“Ah, I see my estimates were correct. You clean up quite smartly, Zenna. Though I do see you’re missing the tie and have used the ribbon meant to be tied around your left arm for your hair,” he mused.
“Oh, sorry…” Zenna pulled the tie out from her jacket pocket. “I’ve never worn anything like this before…” she admitted, reaching up to undo her ponytail.
“No fret. You’ll get used to things around here.” Crowley tied the ribbon around her left arm, explaining, “Normally, the colors would vary depending on which dorm you were assigned to, but I opted for the academy’s standard colors since you haven’t been officially assigned to one,” then helped Zenna with her tie.
“Now then, regarding your situation, we shall head to my office and meet with the teachers and the rest of the staff. They need to be informed of your presence as well as… other matters,” Crowley lowered his voice at the last part, glancing at the ghosts. Zenna’s one violet eye widened slightly as she realized what the latter was talking about, but she kept quiet.
“As for this mischievous little one,” Crowley’s eyes glittered behind his mask as he petted Grim, who let out a contented purr. “We shall see if he’s up to snuff with Night Raven College’s standards. Come along now,” he said and led Zenna out of the dorm.
Zenna blinked as she stepped out into the sunlight. Everything looked so different in the daytime now. The buildings’ colors were more vibrant with their stone facades sparkling in the sunlight. Even the derelict dorm she and Grim were staying in looked charming. With a few repairs, it might even look magnificent.
The school was filled with lush greenery—tall trees, emerald green grass, and flowers in full bloom. But, to Zenna, things looked a touch too polished. The grass was cut short, the hedges trimmed without a single branch or leaf out of place, and the trees surrounded by stone walls or planted in pots. Nothing like the wild heather that grew on Berk’s hills or the imperfect gardens Berkian mothers planted behind their houses that gave room for wildflowers to sprout amongst the vegetables.
The very road Zenna walked on was paved and smooth. It felt odd not to take caution while walking here. Still, Zenna kept her thoughts to herself as she followed Crowley. They crossed a stone bridge that led them inside Night Raven College, and the Headmage’s steps quickened to the point Zenna had to jog to keep up with him. They passed through what felt like a hundred corridors, climbed about three staircases, and passed by dozens of students rushing to get to class.
Zenna breathed an audible sigh of relief when they finally reached an ornate carved wooden door with a large keyhole. Inserting the tip of his cane, Crowley swung the door open to reveal his office.
“Have a seat, you two. The rest of the staff will be here shortly,” he said, setting Grim down on a cushioned velvet chair. Zenna sank into the plush velvet and looked around Crowley’s office. Apart from a large desk piled with papers, books, and what looked like a dozen ink pots and quills, the room was draped in deep purple curtains decorated with stars and crescent moons. But what really caught Zenna’s attention were the seven portraits floating above the Headmage’s desk.
‘Who are they?’ Zenna wondered, her gaze jumping from one portrait to another. A soft tinkle made her shift her attention to Crowley, who used magic to float a platter of sandwiches and biscuits onto his desk, followed by two cups of tea.
“Mrah! Breakfast!” Grim whooped and pounced on the nearest sandwich he could reach. “Woohoo! Tuna!”
Zenna politely took a brown bread sandwich filled with smoked salmon and creamy cheese. The tea smelled floral, and she hummed in approval as she sipped.
“Considering that this is your breakfast, I’d like to know if your dragon has specific requirements for her meals. After meeting with the staff, I believe it’s best we let them in on our little secret,” Crowley suggested.
“Well, Stryka mainly eats fish. Since you mentioned that this school is on an island, it won’t be hard for her to get food.” Zenna narrowed her eye at Crowley.
“These students are the types to hide their wickedness behind smiles,” Leonard had warned her.
What if the teachers acted the same way?
“As for the second part of what you just said, Headmage, I thought we agreed last night that Stryka’s existence would be kept a secret between just the three of us,” Zenna pointed out, gesturing to herself and Grim. The latter looked up from his third sandwich, confused.
“Mryah? Who said I’d keep a secret?” Grim asked.
“Stryka. Because if you let a single student know about her, she’ll know that you ratted her out and she will eat you. She’s a smart dragon,” Zenna told him, smirking when Grim squeaked, his tail standing straight up.
That’s when the doors swung open.
“Alright, Divus, who’s the lost pup, hm?”
Zenna first saw a man wearing a large fur coat that matched the neatly parted black-and-white hair on his head. Behind him was an old man with a large cat nestled in his arms. And bringing up the rear was a guy with muscles to make Snotlout weep with jealousy, dressed in red and gold, followed by a dark-skinned man in a purple coat with a tall black hat.
‘No female staff. Damn, Stryka and I really are the only women here,’ Zenna thought.
“Gentlemen, this is Zenna Fiersome and Grim. One a direbeast, another a young lady from another world.” Crowley smiled and gestured to the staff with a flourish. “I believe it is best that we pool together whatever resources we have available to assist Ms. Fiersome in finding her way home as well as ensure her safety while she stays with us on campus,” he declared.
“If it’s resources the little imp needs, she’s welcome at my shop,” the dark-skinned man said and extended his hand out to Zenna with a grin. “Call me Sam, young miss. Proud owner of Mr. S’s Mystery Shop. Anything you need, I can guarantee they’ll be in stock now!” he greeted her.
Zenna raised an eyebrow at him as they shook hands. “Do you happen to have a few pounds of fresh salmon, enough to fill a large basket?” she inquired.
“Come by my shop after this, and I’ll give you 30% off!” Sam winked.
“Before we let Ms. Fiersome do her shopping,” said the older man with a cat, holding up a hand. “Crowley, you speak of ensuring her safety, but you allowed her to set up residence in the abandoned dorm near the main building. I’d hardly call that place safe.” He narrowed his eyes at Crowley, the latter’s confident posture deflating.
“W-well, it’s one of the reasons why I called you all here. I figured that, while I’m having the building repaired and renovated, perhaps… one of you would allow Zenna to stay at your home?” he mumbled.
“Hey! If Zen’s gotta move, where am I stayin’?” Grim held up a paw.
“You’ll stay with me, Grim. But remember to behave,” Zenna told him, then looked to the teachers. “If it’s too much trouble, sirs, we won’t intrude on your homes. Grim and I can manage in the old dorm.”
“Out of the question, young lady. You may stay at my residence until the Headmage finishes the repairs.” The older man with the cat stood behind Zenna’s chair. “Mozus Trein. I teach History of Magic here,” he told her.
“Can Grim stay too?” Zenna picked up Grim and held him up to Trein’s cat, the latter opening one yellow eye as it yawned. Grim whimpered and looked up at Trein hopefully.
“As long as he behaves himself. If he doesn’t, I’m certain Lucius can teach him some manners,” Trein said and petted his cat. Lucius meowed, and his bushy tail wagged as Zenna reached out to pet him.
“Thank you very much, Mr. Trein. And to you as well, Lucius,” Zenna said. Grim pouted as Lucius let out a soft meow and nuzzled into Zenna’s pets.
“And I’ll make sure none of the boys try anything funny around you in my class, little lady!” The buff man flexed his biceps, grinning. “Ashton Vargas, at your service! I’m in charge of the athletics curriculum here,” he told Zenna.
“And I am Divus Crewel, Professor of Potionology,” said the man wearing the large fur coat. He appraised Zenna from top to toe and hummed. “I highly doubt Mozus’s daughters’ hand-me-downs will suit you. I’ll take you shopping this week for your basic clothing,” he decided.
“I’m certain some of Ana and Zella’s old clothes will be appropriate for her, though I suppose I’ll leave you to taking her measurements, Divus,” Trein said to Crewel. At Zenna’s confused expression, his expression softened. “My daughters. They’re already full-grown and have moved out. You may stay in either of their rooms,” he reassured her.
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.” Zenna nodded. She bit her lip, hands playing with Grim’s ears, and thought about Stryka. The teachers and Sam were proving to be nice enough, but what would Stryka feel about them?
“Um, sirs, about my living arrangements, I do have one request…” She began, hesitated, then said, “I’d like to be allowed to head out to take walks early in the morning and in the evening.”
It was a reasonable enough request. She could go see Stryka and feed her breakfast and dinner, then go for morning and evening flights, without anyone being the wiser.
For now, only Crowley could know about Stryka’s existence. She’d observe the school’s staff, then decide if it was safe for them to be introduced to Stryka.
“I’ll allow it. Now, as for the matter of getting you home…” Crowley pulled out a notebook identical to Zenna’s and opened it. “I have here a copy of your notebook, Ms. Fiersome. I did some research and, surprisingly, I found that your world’s writing system of runes closely matched those of some of the library’s oldest books,” he remarked and waved his hand. An ancient tome bound in beaten brown leather floated onto his desk. It flipped open, filling the air with the smell of old parchment and dust.
“Huh…” Zenna pored over the pages presented to her and the rest of the staff. “Yeah, those look like runes. Eh, the spelling of some words looks way different from what I’m used to… Some of the ø’s are missing their marks…” she murmured. She looked at Trein and noticed him staring at her, his stern mask gone and his eyebrows raised in surprise.
“How are you able to read such an ancient language? This book was written almost 1000 years ago!” Trein exclaimed.
“Really?” Zenna looked back at the book, a finger hovering gingerly above one of the pages.
“Only a few well-learned scholars and some of the high fae of Briar Valley are capable of understanding this language. How is it that you’re able to read it…?” Crowley murmured, yellow eyes glittering with interest.
“I-I’ve been taught to read and write runes by the elders of my village. This is how most of our writing looks. You’re telling me it’s ancient writing in this world?” Zenna questioned, her pulse speeding up.
“Do you recall what year it was in your world?” Professor Trein gripped the folds of his robes, his gray eyes searching Zenna’s face.
Zenna’s eyebrows knit together as she thought about it. What year had it been back home…? Apart from tracking the seasons, nobody on Berk really kept track of time, following the movements of the sun and moon to dictate their days and nights. But putting a number to a year sounded familiar…
“Around 1073, I think. Maybe 1074? I’m not sure. The trader who visited my home island mentioned that the year was almost ending during his last visit,” Zenna replied with a shrug.
Crowley and Trein’s jaws dropped while Crewel, Vargas, and Sam looked at each other, faces pale. Zenna’s heart pounded in her chest, and Grim whimpered as her hands kneaded at his fur.
“Henchwoman…?” he mumbled.
“What year is it in this world?” Zenna whispered, a bead of sweat trickling down her brow.
“Ms. Fiersome… It’s the year…”
When Crewel gave her the number, Zenna felt like a pit had opened up in her stomach.
“Oh… Oh, that’s-that’s a whole thousand years and so ahead…” she mumbled, grateful that she was sitting down.
‘What do you mean it’s the year 2020 something?! Holy Shields, is this one of those time-travelling stories Loki told me about that are from the future?! Am I going to change history by just being here?!’ she thought, taking another swallow of tea with shaking hands.
Trein and the rest of the staff were now looking at Crowley, glaring and eyebrows raised.
“Dire, you foolish crow. Were you really going to let someone from another world, another time period entirely, go around campus without any guidance whatsoever?” Trein questioned the Headmage.
“W-well, I had no idea that Zenna was a time traveler! I-I assumed that she was, at the very least, familiar with some modern terms and ideas!” Crowley stuttered.
“Define ‘modern’ in your world’s standards,” Zenna requested, putting air quotes around “modern” as she said it.
Crowley blinked and tapped his left fist into his right palm. “Ah, so that’s why you gave me such a blank stare when I asked for a license or a smartphone to help identify you. Such things wouldn’t exist in your time period,” he realized.
“Are they essential?” Zenna tilted her head lightly to the side.
“A license would be essential to allow you to travel to different countries. A smartphone is a necessary evil these days,” Trein sighed and gently placed a gloved hand on Zenna’s shoulder. “The staff and I will make sure to bring you up to speed on most modern developments throughout the centuries. I do propose that we also tutor you in how to read and write in our Common language,” he suggested.
“But I’m already literate, sir. And not just in runes,” Zenna replied, bristling slightly at the idea of being taught to read and write as if she were a child. She could already read and write. She’d even studied books written in English and Greek, and her brothers were teaching her Latin and French.
“We’re not saying you’re not, pup. But there’s bound to have been some big changes in the way words are spelled in this time that would make your time and your world’s language look out of place in ours. You’ll need to adapt,” Crewel pointed out. Zenna bit her lip, weighing his words, before giving him a small nod.
“Then it’s settled!” Crowley clapped his hands. “We’ll give you today to get acquainted with the campus and have you and Monster Grim get settled into Professor Trein’s abode. Then you two are free to return to the on-campus dormitory once I’ve had it repaired,” he decided.
“Thank you.” It was all Zenna could get out as her mind was still reeling. But looking at Professor Trein, Professor Crewel, Mr. Vargas, and Mr. Sam, she felt a small bit of comfort knowing that the staff were looking out for her.
The teachers must have sensed her unease after realizing how far she was from home, so they made sure to give her simple explanations of the different facilities around campus. Seeing so many new areas distracted Zenna momentarily from her confusion over her whole situation. And, true to his word, Sam gave her a cooler full of raw salmon when they toured his shop. Professor Trein generously paid for it and, thankfully, didn’t ask any questions about the purchase. But pretty soon, the bell rang, which meant the teachers had to leave her and Grim on their own for the meantime.
Once Trein left, after giving Zenna instructions to meet him in the staff room at lunch and a small pouch of coins, Zenna waited a bit in the hallway. Once the coast was clear, she and Grim headed straight for the woods behind the main campus building.
“C-can I stay on your shoulders when we see Stryka?” Grim whimpered as he clung to Zenna’s coat.
“Sure, Grim. Good job keeping her a secret from the staff earlier, by the way.” Zenna jangled the pouch and peered inside it. “If there’s enough in here, I might be able to get you that can of tuna from Sam’s shop later,” she promised.
That perked up Grim immensely to the point he didn’t startle when Stryka peeked out from the foliage once they were deep in the woods.
“Holy Shields, Stryka, you might not believe what I’m about to say,” Zenna began before launching into a recounting of all that had transpired. Stryka listened, ears perked, and warbled at some parts.
“We must be the first dragon and Laplander-Viking to have ever time-traveled and world-traveled. Hiccup and Loki would be amazed…” Zenna said and looked up. “I wonder if they’re okay…”
“Hiccup? Loki? What kind of names are those?” Grim snickered. Stryka snorted, which made Grim yelp and hide behind Zenna.
“Most Vikings believe that a hideous name will frighten away gnomes and trolls. And Hiccup is a name Vikings use to name the runt of the litter. Though I wouldn’t look down on Hiccup, Grim. He’s going to be the future Chief of my tribe. As for Loki, um, it’s more of a nickname that Hiccup and I give to Erland. We call him Loki because he’s as mischievous as the god who’s named that,” Zenna explained.
“Dang, you’re friends with big shots like that?” Grim asked with wonder.
“Hiccup and Erland are my brothers. Not by blood but by bond.” Zenna smiled and hugged Stryka. “And Stryka here is my best dragon friend, my dragon sister, and the best dragon a girl can ever ask for,” she cooed.
“And YOU’RE the best human sister a dragon can ever ask for, Zen!” Stryka warbled, nuzzling the one-eyed Fiersome girl.
Grim watched the two interact and felt a warm, fuzzy feeling deep inside his chest. Then he looked at the two again and asked, “Why do you two only have one eye each?”
Stryka glanced at Zenna, who merely shrugged and said, “Flying accident.”
“Mryah? You two fly together? That’s so cool! So that’s what that saddle’s for!” Grim jumped off Zenna’s shoulders and padded over to Stryka. “Hey, Stryka! Gimme a ride! Grim the Great ought to show himself off to all the students in this school, and what better way than to arrive on a dragon?” he insisted.
Stryka merely turned up her nose and pushed Grim away with a swish of her tail.
“Sorry, Grim. But keeping Stryka a secret means I can’t go around flying for all the school to see.” Zenna noticed Stryka’s sad face and gently patted her dragon on her side. “But we can still have our night flights, girl. We just need to figure out the best time in the evening when nobody’s around,” she reassured her.
Stryka smiled her gummy smile and led Zenna and Grim to a small cave she’d found in the woods. She torched a patch of the sandy earth and lay down, purring.
“Looks like you’ve got your lodgings figured out, girl. Maybe soon, I’ll let you meet the teachers here. They’ll be looking after me, so don’t worry, okay?” Zenna reassured her, then opened the cooler, dumping the salmon out into a pile.
Stryka let out a little roar of joy and feasted on the salmon, making sure to regurgitate a little bit to share with Grim. The latter hid his disgust behind a wide, toothy grin and said, “I already ate…”
Zenna giggled and gave Stryka many cuddles before leaving, promising to be back as soon as she got the chance.
“Yeuch! I get hungry all the time, but I’d never eat something that a dragon’s thrown up!” Grim gagged as soon as they were out of the woods and out of earshot of Stryka.
“Give Stryka some credit. She’s starting to warm up to you,” Zenna told him before stopping by the paved road that the staff had called Main Street. Slowing down, Zenna walked up and down the street, looking at the seven statues displayed on both sides of the road.
“The teachers called these the Great Seven. They must be historical figures in this world,” Zenna murmured. Now that she thought about it, the statues looked just like the portraits floating above the Headmage’s desk.
“Check out that lady with the scepter. She’s got that scary look on her. Looks like she’s got some real anger management issues,” Grim pointed out a statue depicting a queen who was, in Zenna’s opinion, quite plump.
“What? You don’t know the Queen of Hearts?”
A ginger-haired boy with a mischievous grin and a red heart printed over his left eye stepped out from behind the plump queen’s statue. He wore the same uniform as Zenna, but with a red armband around his left arm, and looked at her and Grim.
“Queen of Hearts? Is she some kinda big deal?” Grim asked him.
The boy nodded and said, “She was a queen who lived in a maze-like garden of roses long, long ago. And she was a strict woman who prized order above all else. She wouldn’t tolerate a rose being off-color, or her playing-card soldiers being out of step. She basically ruled over a kingdom of madness, but not one of her subjects dared to defy her.”
He then leaned forward, grinning.
“You wanna know why? Because the punishment for breaking a rule was immediate decapitation!” The boy held up his right hand to his throat and made a slicing motion, snickering.
“Wah! That is seriously messed up!” Grim winced, paws clutching at his own tiny throat.
“Pretty cool, right? I’m a big fan,” the boy remarked.
“Of a tyrant?” Zenna raised an eyebrow at him. That made the boy’s grin falter, but he shrugged and said, “I mean, who would bother to obey a queen that was kind all the time?”
“Kindness does need to be tempered with justice. But beheading people for even the smallest slights will gain you enemies.” Zenna gave the Queen of Hearts’ statue a critical look. “It sounds like she’d have been the type of tyrant the people would overthrow during a revolution,” she observed.
“Mmm, yeah… True. A leader needs to be strong, but if they act all high and mighty like that, everyone will hate their guts,” Grim mumbled, then tilted his head at the stranger. “But puttin’ that aside… Who’re you, now?”
“Name’s Ace.” The ginger boy smiled. “I’m a first-year student here, as of today! Pleased to meetcha!” he greeted them.
“I’m Grim! I’m a prodigy who’s plannin’ to be, like, the greatest mage who ever lived.” Grim puffed his chest up and then waved a paw at Zenna. “That there’s Zenna, my pretty cool henchwoman!” he announced.
“Not your henchwoman. I’m just someone passing through,” Zenna reminded Grim, playfully tickling one of his ears, making the feisty fire cat giggle and topple off her shoulder and into her arms.
“Zenna?” Ace emphasized the ‘Z’ as he said it. “Huh, name’s got an odd ring to it.”
“Yeah, I’m not from around here,” admitted Zenna while Grim climbed back onto her shoulder.
“So tell us, Ace.” Grim pointed a paw at another statue depicting a large cat-like animal with a scarred eye. “Is that lion with a scar in the eye a famous ruler too?” he asked.
“Of course.” Putting his hands on his hips, Ace looked at the statue. “That’s the King of Beasts who ruled the savanna. But he wasn’t born into the throne. He had to earn it through hard work and elaborate schemes. When he became king, he decreed that the hyenas would be pariahs no more and should live among his subjects as equals,” he explained.
While Zenna didn’t know what sort of animal a hyena was, she was now curious about this so-called King of Beasts. If this king hadn’t been born into the throne, he must have been an ordinary lion… or perhaps the younger brother of the Crown Prince of Beasts.
“Sounds like a great guy! Not everyone’s able to look past social status like that,” Grim remarked.
Ace’s smile stretched a little, catching Zenna’s eye. ‘Something tells me this guy’s not showing us around Main Street to be friendly,’ she thought while Grim asked about the statue depicting a voluptuous woman with tentacles instead of legs.
“Ah, that’s the Sea Witch who lived in an underwater grotto. She basically devoted her life to helping troubled merfolk. If they were willing to pay the price, she’d help them change their appearance, find love, whatever! They say she was so good, there was no wish she couldn’t grant. They also say the price was a tad steep, though. But she was granting wishes! Of course it was!” Ace told them.
“Would you be willing to pay the price to get anything you wished for?” Zenna questioned him.
“Uh, yeah, probably! If it’s anything I really want, I’d go for it. How about you?” Ace grinned at her.
“Probably not. I’d rather make my wishes come true by doing the work needed.” Zenna shrugged and glanced at the Sea Witch’s statue. ‘And I feel like this witch must have swindled a lot of merfolk. Not every wish can be granted…’
“Myaha! So you’re sayin’ that once I’m a great mage, gettin’ rich off folks will be a total cinch?! Oh, oh! Do the dude with the big hat next!” Grim jumped up and down.
“Ow, Grim, watch it!” Zenna hissed as her shoulder protested. She put Grim down and focused her gaze on a statue of a tall, thin man dressed in long robes and a tall turban. The statue’s right hand clutched a tall staff with a cobra’s head that made a slight shiver run up her arms.
“That’s the Sorcerer of the Sands. He was an advisor to a total dolt of a sultan. He was a smart guy. Really capable sort. He exposed this swindler once, some guy pretending to be a prince in order to trick the princess! After that, he got this magic lamp and became the greatest sorcerer in the world. Then, they say he used that power to become sultan himself!” Ace proclaimed.
The romantic part of Zenna wondered that maybe the guy the Sorcerer of the Sands had exposed truly did love the princess, and that the two of them, hopefully, got together in the end.
“Wow!” Grim’s eyes sparkled with awe. “Guess it’s true that a mage needs to be an excellent judge of character, huh?” He then saw the statue of a lovely woman wearing a crown. “And what about this beauty over here?” he trotted over to the statue.
“She’s a queen who was said to be the fairest in all the land. In fact, she used her magic mirror to check how she ranked on a daily basis! When it looked like her position was threatened, they say she’d do whatever it took to keep it,” Ace said.
Zenna scoffed at that. “All to see if she was the most beautiful? Sounds like she didn’t get her priorities right,” she remarked.
“Hey, come on! Can you even imagine the level of dedication it would require to keep a record like that?” Ace countered.
“I could. But I’d respect her more if I knew that she dedicated an equal amount of effort to being a good ruler who cared for her subjects’ needs. Was there anything else she was known for?” Zenna asked.
“They say she was a master of making poisons,” Ace replied with a smirk.
“Geez… She’s pretty, but that sounds kinda scary,” Grim mumbled.
“You think so? I gotta respect the hustle!” Ace snickered.
‘Great… one of the deities these mages worship is a vain queen who poisons her rivals…’ Zenna thought, feeling less impressed.
“F-for sure… Sounds like she fought hard for what she believed in, and never gave up!” Grim puffed up his chest and then looked at another statue. “And the one there, with the flaming head? Now that guy looks scary!” he exclaimed.
Zenna had to admit that the next statue looked almost intimidating, if not for the man’s grotesque smirk. Still, the fact that he had flames for hair made her wonder if he was a god.
“That’s the King of the Underworld! Single-handedly ruling a kingdom packed with rambunctious spirits. That takes competence! He may look scary, but he was a straight shooter who worked tirelessly at a tough job he never even asked for. I mean, this is the guy who was ordering Cerberus, the Hydra, and the Titans into battle for him,” Ace revealed.
‘Cerberus? The Hydra? Titans? Those are creatures from Greek myths! So that could mean… Holy Shields, this must be Hades!’ Zenna’s eye widened as she looked up at the statue. She hadn’t expected the God of the Underworld to look, well, like that.
“Hmmm, that is something. T’think he could have that much power and not let it go to his head!” Grim put a paw to his chin. “And that last one there, with the horns?”
Zenna moved to the last statue and found herself gazing in awe at a regal, cloaked figure. The woman had two large horns and an ethereally beautiful face, and she wielded a scepter with an orb at its tip. Compared to the Fairest Queen, the woman’s face showed both pride and grace.
“That’s the Thorn Fairy who lived on a mystical mountain. She was noble and elegant, and a master of magic and curses. Her skill was even greater by the standards of these seven! She commanded storms, covered the kingdom with thorns… She could use magic on a massive scale! She could even turn herself into a giant dragon!” Ace remarked.
“Ooh, a dragon! What all monsters yearn to be!” Grim said in awe.
‘A master sorceress and a shapeshifter. I bet Loki would like her,’ Zenna mused. Then she glanced at Ace and tensed up.
“Pretty cool, huh?” Ace’s friendly smile sharpened before he snickered, “Not like some piddling weasel!”
‘Aaaannnnddd there’s the asshole attitude the ghost trio warned me about,’ Zenna mentally sighed.
“Myah?!” Grim screeched, glaring daggers at Ace, who was doubled over, laughing.
“Pfft... Ahhaha! I can't hold it back anymore! Ah hahahahahahaha! Come on, you're the ones who turned orientation into such a fiasco, right? The one summoned by the Dark Mirror, who can't even use magic, and the monster no one summoned at all! It took everything I had not to burst into laughter right in the middle of the ceremony!” Ace guffawed.
“Grrr… You don’t gotta be a jerk about it!” Grim muttered.
Zenna stared blankly at Ace. She’d dealt with Snotlout before. This was nothing new.
“Are you done?” Zenna deadpanned, cutting off Ace’s raucous laughter, before picking up Grim. “If you’re done stroking your ego, you’d better get to class before you’re late,” she reminded Ace and walked past him.
“H-hey! That’s it?! You’re practically nobodies in this school, you know?!” Ace yelled after her.
“Okay, but Grim can breathe fire. Can you?” Zenna turned around and smirked. When Ace couldn’t answer, she followed up with, “The next time you think so highly of yourself, just remember that said ‘piddling weasel’ could already breathe flames hot enough to set an entire room ablaze before you came here.”
“Y-yeah! She’s right! You’re nothin’ compared to me! Grim the Great!” Grim puffed out his chest as he rested his head on top of Zenna’s.
“I’ll show you nothin’!”
Zenna saw Ace whip out a small black instrument similar to the one Riddle had used at orientation and staggered backwards as a blast of wind knocked Grim off of her. Grim yowled as his head struck concrete.
“Hey! Rude much!” Zenna shouted as she helped Grim sit up, fretting over the lump on his head.
“Grrrrr!” Grim glared at Ace and got on all fours. “No one makes fun of Grim, Master of Fire! I’m gonna make that explodey-head of yours explode all over again!” he hissed.
“Explodey-head?!” A vein popped in Ace’s head. “You wanna throw down with me, shorty?! You got some guts! I’m gonna shave you like a toy poodle!” He yelled.
“Guys, stop! Grim, don’t take his bait!” Zenna tried to pull Grim away, but the direbeast darted out of her grasp and started shooting fireballs. Ace countered them with wind magic and, pretty soon, other students had gotten attracted to the sounds of a scuffle and were now watching.
“Boys…” Zenna sighed, shaking her head, making sure to steer clear of the fight as she readied her battle sticks.
But just as she was about to head on over to Ace and Grim to give them both a bonk on the head, Grim shot out a fireball, which Ace deflected right towards The Queen of Hearts’ statue.
‘Note to self: NEVER let Ruffnut and Tuffnut meet Grim.’ Zenna gazed at the brilliant blue flames consuming The Queen of Hearts’ statue. Then, with an annoyed grumble, she stopped Ace and Grim right in their tracks by holding the two apart with her sticks.
“You two are complete muttonheads! Look at what you guys did!” She pointed at the burning statue.
“Oh no… It looks like it’s been flame-broiled!” Ace looked at the statue in horror as the flames died down, leaving the once white marble charred.
“That’s your fault for tryin’ to divert it! You shoulda just let my fire burn you to a crisp!” Grim retorted before yipping in terror when Zenna aimed her glare at him.
“Who in their right mind would ever do that?!” Ace exclaimed.
“Hey, you’re the one who started it!” Zenna glared at Ace next, and the freshman felt a wave of terror crash over him as Zenna’s one violet eye seemed to drill into his very soul.
“What’s going on here?!”
“Gyah! The Headmage!” Ace yelped, seeing Crowley’s figure striding towards the scene.
“Not more tough love!” Grim screeched and made a break for it.
Crowley arrived and took one look at the burnt statue.
“AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!”
Once he’d gotten that out, Crowley turned to look at the crowd of students that was beginning to disperse, yellow eyes flashing.
“Who is responsible for this?!” he spat out, trembling with rage.
Zenna wordlessly pointed a finger at Ace.