Prologue - Welcome to the Villain's World: Chapter 19; A Lesson Learned

The screen turns on as the chapter title plays "Chapter - 19; A Lesson Learned".

It opens with them being back in the Mirror Chamber, having already returned to the school between the chapters.

Crowley's there and was just informed by them that they actually went as he asked them "Pardon?! You're telling me you actually went to the Dwarfs' Mine in search of a magestone?"

They're surprised as they confusedly say "Uh…? Yes?" Crowley puts a hand to his chin as he says "I didn't expect that you'd seriously do it. And never in my wildest imaginings did I think you would actually return with a magestone!" He pauses and puts down his hand as he continues with "And here I spent all evening preparing your expulsion documents."

This causes all of them to get either annoyed or mad at what he just said as Grim shouts at him "Are you serious?! While we were fightin' some crazy monster for you, you were expelling us?!"

Crowley is now confused as he asks "'Monster'...?"

Ace continues Grim saying "Yeah. There was a monster, all right. A big, nasty one. It nearly killed us!"

The headmage is now invested, curious, and slightly worried as he asks them "Would you kindly relate this story in full?"

It then switches to the Headmage's office. It's rather simple, everything is almost tinted purple or is purple except for his desk and the floating portraits of the Great Seven. At the end it's almost circular, with three windows one on each of the sides and one in the middle right behind the desk. There are also some interesting large curtains, they're purple but have green stars and moons as a design. A rug that is two colors of purple goes all the way from the door to the end.

The group had just finished telling the full story as the Headmage said "Hmmm. So a mysterious monster was living in the mines. And the four of you worked together to destroy it, and then brought its magestone back to me?"

Ace is still embarrassed by the whole working together thing so he says "I don't know that I'd call it 'working together.'" Deuce, who shared the sentiment continued Ace's statement with "It was more we just happened to share the same goal at the same time…"

Crowley then says "Oh, gracious… Ohhh… Ohhhhhhh!" Before he started to cry uncontrollably.

It made all of them uncomfortable as Grim leans into the group as he whisper-shouts and asks them "What is this guy's deal?! Burstin' into tears in public? At his age?!"

Still with tears rolling down his face he says "In all the decades I've worked at this school…The day has finally come when the students of Night Raven College have joined hands together to defeat a common foe!"

Now highly unsettled Deuce points to Ace as he yells "Whoa! No! No way would I join hands with that guy!" Ace continues what Deuce was saying "Okay, one, there was no joining of hands. Gross." Pausing before asking the headmage "And two, exactly HOW old are you, headmage?"

Ignoring their protests Crowley, who's no longer crying at all, continues "At this moment, I am moved beyond words. This incident has proven my hopes were justified. Yuu, my doubts are allayed! For you…" He then pauses for dramatic effect before continuing "You possess the talents of a beastmaster!"

Skeptically, she asks "What talents are those, exactly?" with an eyebrow raise.

The headmage slightly avoids her question and instead explains "My students have all been selected by the Dark Mirror for their exceptional talent and potential. But great talent begets great pride and big egos. Most are so self-reliant and self-centered that they never even consider cooperating with others."

Grim rolls his eyes as he quietly says "You make it sound like that's a bad thing." which earns him an elbow to the head by Yuu.

The Headmage ignores Grim as he continues explaining "But you, Yuu, possess no magic. Yet in spite of that – or perhaps because of it – you were able to convince those who CAN use magic to work together for a common goal. The everyday, humdrum mundanity you possess may be exactly what Night Raven College needs!"

Ace is confused and in a way worried as he asks the Headmage "But…none of those words are good things?"

Once again Crowley ignores the other students as he puts his hands on Yuu's shoulders and tells her "Yuu…I am convinced that people like you are necessary for the future of this school. My educator's intuition tells me so."

She was originally thinking that perhaps what he was saying could be true but then that last sentence made all of her belief crumble.

The Headmage then takes his hands off her shoulders as he walks over to the other three as he says "Trappola, Spade – I hereby revoke your pending expulsions!"

This causes them to fist-pump the air in celebration.

The Headmage then turns back to Yuu as he states "Furthermore, Yuu… I am granting you the qualification necessary to attend school at Night Raven College!"

This makes all of them shout "WHAT?!"

Yuu puts her hands to her head for a second in the shock and confusion about what he just said as she thinks 'As an actual student?!' She then recollects herself before she asks him "You remember that I can't use magic, right?" Crowley claps his hands as he says "Of course. This is extraordinarily kind of me. However, there is one condition. Your inability to use magic is, for a mage, unacceptable. You would not be able to adequately pursue the school's curriculum!"

He then pauses as he turns to Grim as he continues "As for you, Grim… Your actions today have made it clear that you possess sufficient talent to become a mage."

He then faces both of them as he continues with "In light of the total sum of your respective circumstance, you and Yuu will share a single enrollment at Night Raven College."

Grim is in a happy shock as he shouts "Myah!" Before starting to actually tear up and asks "I…I'll get to go to this school…? As an actual student? Not a janitor?!" The Headmage answers "Correct. However! There must be no further incidents like the one that occurred today. Are we clear?"

Grim then starts to actually cry as he goes over to Yuu, who's softly smiling and opens her arms for a hug, which Grim accepts as he cries out "Myah… Myah… Yuu, I…I finally…" She says " It'll be a pleasure working with you." He finishes the hug by burying his face in her chest before bursting out shouting "MYAAAAAH! I FINALLY DID IT!"

Crowley smiles at how happy Grim was, as it brought him happiness that his students were excited to be in his school.

He then starts to go around to the back of his desk then looks through a drawer and says "Accordingly, I will now present to Grim the magestone that is issued to every student here."

He then pulls out a silver metal chain and attaches a small purple magestone on it and puts it around Grim's neck.

Grim, once it's on shouts out "Heh! A magestone, eh?!" The Headmage explains the magic pens saying "It is typically attached to the 'magic pen' that each student uses. But I suspect your paws cannot handle implements. Therefore, I have a custom solution for you."

He then boasts himself again "Is it possible that I am, in fact, too kind?"

But everyone ignores that as Grim excitedly boasts himself "Ah, sweet! I look awesome! A magestone collar, to be worn only by the legendary archmage, Grim!"

Crowley gets disappointed that his own boasting was ignored as he says "You're not listening to anything I say, are you?"

He then turns to Yuu and continues with "Yuu. As you can plainly see, Grim remains oblivious to the customs of human society. You are to keep a tight rein on Grim, and ensure there are no further incidents!"

Although the two boys would never verbally admit it, they had all become friends. So Ace congratulates Yuu by saying "Wow, that's quite the promotion. From janitor to student to perfect, all in the span of a day." Deuce then realizes as well and says "Oh, I see. So if your dorm is just you two… And the headmage is putting you in charge of Grim, that makes you…the dorm perfect." Ace laughs as he lightly elbows her and jokes "Well, that's gotta be a Night Raven first! A magic-less perfect? But sure, why not? Whatever works!" Yuu smiles as she says "I'll be doing my best!" Ace laughs again as he slaps her on the back and says "Good luck to you, Magic-less Perfect!"

The Headmage is also made aware of this by the joking and says "Ah. yes. I suppose that does make you a prefect. I just so happen to have a job for you, and that title will make it all the easier to foist…er, I mean, congratulations!"

Yuu raises an eyebrow but doesn't question it as Crowley continues as he brings out an old fashioned camera "Now, I have something for you. This is called a ghost camera." Yuu asks "Ghosts?"

Ace wags his finger as he recounts "Ooh, my grandma told me about those. Those are, like, super old magic items, right?" The Headmage frowns as he says "I would hardly consider them 'super old…'" before clearing his throat and continuing with "But it may indeed have been invented when your great or great-great-grandmother was a child."

He then explains "It's a camera enchanted with a special kind of magic. It enables the user to photograph not just the subject's physical form, but parts of their soul itself."

Deuce then cautiously comments "Wait, that sounds…sketchy."

But Crowley ignores that as he continues explaining "They're called Memories. Here's the thing: when the soulbond between photographer and the subject deepens…The Memories captured in this magic camera's photos come jumping out!"

Yuu then asks him "Soulbond?" hoping to get more information on this, and Crowley answers "When the photographer and subject grow closer, their photographs grow animated like videos… And sometimes the photographs take on corporeal form and slip out. Is that not what you youths would call 'wicked keen'?"

But this more freaks them out as Deuce shouts "That almost sounds like ghost photography!"

But the Headmage just nods as he says "Very astute. Hence the name 'ghost camera'. I understand it was developed as a more vivid way to capture moments in time, in an age before video. As Spade observed, in days of yore, when people saw Memories jumping out of photos, they would get spooked and yell, 'Ghost!' I've heard many a tales of people who were deathly scared of being photographed by such cameras."

Ace shakes his head as he says "This tech sounds like way more trouble than it's worth."

But Crowley ignores Ace's comment as he says "Yuu. I would like you to photograph Grim and the other students with this camera, and make a record of your campus life."

Grim is still ecstatic as he says "Myah ha haa! Sounds like the perfect way to immortalize all my finest moments!"

The Headmage notices an opportunity as he clears his throat again as he says "Make especially certain to capture the mischief caused by certain students who struggle with impulse control. Keeping a photographic journal sounds far less tedious than writing me lengthy reports, wouldn't you agree?" He pauses for an answer as she nods before he continues "As a prefect, consider it your duty to maintain a sharp eye on your surroundings and record them. Not how generous I'm being in providing you a rare magical item that even someone like yourself can use. Is my kindness not beyond all reckoning?"

She decides to let him have this as she says "Thank you, sir. You are very kind." He smiles as he looks at a clock before continuing with "The hour has grown late, so further details shall have to wait till the morning. You are all dismissed. You may return to your dorms now." Deuce wishes the Headmage a goodnight by saying "Good night, sir!"

They then leave to go off to their respective dorms as the screen fades to black as "To be continued" plays before turning fully off.