#crowl

Heels clacking on the floor and papers rustling echo through the mildly empty hall; no one usually wants to socialize around here, which would be a good spot for some peace away from the traffic of hungry students. Riddle brings the papers up close to his face, eye furrow in concentration as he is too focused on his work that he doesn’t notice a quartet suspiciously lurking behind a pillar close to the Head mage's office.

Only then does he snap into focus when he is yanked back behind said pillar and shushed before he could speak, in which he responds with a frown. “Kalim, I demand to know what your purpose was snatching me behind this pillar.” Riddle lowered his tone to a whisper. “Remember that person that came to our last meeting a few days back?” Kalim beamed with his usual enthusiasm. “Yes?…I don’t see why they matter—“ “We—Excuse me, a little “seagull” gave us some useful information about that said person and revealed they are the spouse of the headmaster” Azul grinned, his glasses shining as he pushed them up the bridge of his nose. 

However, Riddle gave them a blank expression, which soon turned into irritation, wondering if they had lost their heads. “I still do not understand how any of that is mine or anyone else’s business! This is a complete invasion of both the headmaster and his spouse’s privacy.” Kalim shows a little pout giving Riddle’s words some thought. “Awh come on! Aren’t ya a little curious about them? I mean If they were really together don't cha think Crowley would be braggin’ about them constantly?” Grim spoke with a smug face; his paw pumped up in the air trying to convince him to join their little ploy. Riddle did not like that one bit. “Regardless of the matter, we should not blah blah blah blah” Riddle continued to lecture them on how wrong it was to eavesdrop/spy on someone’s personal matters. 

“Instead of sitting here like prey, you could have asked for the answers you seek.” You appeared behind them, crouching to their level with a sly smirk. (more like walking behind them while they were dreading their existence as they listened to Riddle). They all jumped at the sound of your voice except for Kalim, who was more excited to see you. “Hey! We were just talking about— “, Azul’s hand slam against Kalim’s mouth. “Heh…ahem! we don’t mean to intrude; we were simply curious about who you were since we haven’t seen you on campus before.” Azul matches your expression with more charisma and slight fear. “Oh? And here I was prepared to share a tale about me and my beloved…” You let out a deep sigh with feigned disappointment. Riddle stood up slowly from the ground with a straight posture, wiping off invisible dust on his uniform then crossed his arms in front of his chest. “No need. we were about to leave for class in a few minutes, also you don’t need to disclose any personal information if you don't- “

“Oh, but I do.” You smile with a slight tilt of your head. “Although I prepared this story for my future children, I certainly do not mind telling it to you four. You have a few minutes to spare, no?” you yanked Riddle back down next to you, Kalim scoots closer in excitement “yeah Riddle, there’s nothing wrong with a little story, right?” Riddle sighed, pulling his knees up to his chest. “Okay but make this short I’d hate to be late to class. In a few seconds, the students and you formed a little circle as most of the students leaned closer toward you in curiosity. Putting a small smile on your face, you cleared your throat.

Wings flap cautiously in the wind, weaving through the thorns with practiced ease. Contrast to its environment an owl, white as snow adorned with small dark specks, flies low in the forest; the owl’s eyes never wavered, only looking ahead with sharp eyes locked onto its target. A long journey through Brair Valley to the Isle of Sages where it’s inhabited by magical folk from across Twisted Wonderland. A selected few are invited to hone their magic and to become powerful wizards in the future on this island. Or so you’ve heard…humans with their flamboyant and overconfident attitudes; you must admit humans have ambition like no other species despite their short lifespan, perhaps that’s what drew you here. To observe human nature and learn how to blend into society, years after they slain your princess, it was unforgivable yes. Yet ever evolving and improving human society pushes you to reconcile your worries and re-connect with the outside world. 

You land on a lamp post watching students walk by the entrance of main street, some stop by to admire the statues, some loiter by the gate, and one even hides behind bushes to smoke. You still don’t know why humans continue to take their lives for granted, but that is none of your concern. Ruffling your feathers, you stay seated atop the lamp post watching students, observing…until a few crows decide to pick on you, sevens forbid you want to observe human behavior in peace; You quickly turn your head to the sound of mocking crows slowly enclosing in on you, never turning your back towards them, your wings expand on instinct to try and scare them away which obviously it takes more than that to ward away mischievous birds.

Having enough of the teasing you flew off of the post and try to make your escape, keyword: try, being too worried about what the crows were planning to do you were not paying attention to where you were flying towards and slam against a wall who put that there!? your feathers puff out on impact. You slid down the wall; fortunately, and unfortunately, a tree managed to break your fall while also scraping your wings on the way down. 

The seven were not on your side when your wing was trapped between a branch, making you screech in pain. Luckily, the student you were shaming for wasting his lifespan away witnessed it all with amusement, how dare he think your misfortune was his entertainment!

The student, who was having a smoke break because sevens forbid this school, slowly approached the hostile owl looking up and observing it from below before taking out a pen. Magic emanating from said pen, the owl suddenly feels itself becoming weightless as it was carefully brought away from the branches then slowly floats to the ground right Infront of the student. The frightened owl flaps its wings wanting to escape, but its damaged wing prevents them from doing so. The student sighs deeply before dropping the cigarette to the floor, stepping on it as he carefully, slowly walks up to the Owl with his hands up trying to seem harmless.

“Hey, there there...I'm not going to hurt you” the human crouches down a couple of feet away from you, not letting your guard down but unable to escape. You could only hope the human stops by scaring him off with a piercing screech. The human covered his ears in response, flinching. “Shh, shh, you’re going to make it look like I’m torturing you!”, Panicked, the human hesitantly picked you up from the floor, putting you on your non- damaged wing side. Emerging from the bushes, holding you almost like a baby, the human walks you around the campus with a couple of stops by curious students. By now you quieted down and stopped putting up a fight once assured that he wouldn’t hurt you, however once you both stepped inside a building, another human approached; a human much older, or taller, than the one holding you. “My..what do we have here?” The other humans, who had half a mask covering their face and yellow glowing dots for eyes, bend down to take a closer look at you.

“Head mage, I found this Owl near Mainstreet. I was on my way— ““a white owl? Ending up here when our terrain is different from its habitat…perhaps a student’s familiar? Is this yours, Mr. Crewel?” The alleged, head mage questioned your carrier, “Crewel”. Was this a pitiful attempt at a joke? Did it look like you were someone, much less a human pet? You cooed as your attention switched from the Head mage and Crewel. “N..no, Head mage, I just so happened to be near when this owl got injured. It got caught in a tree by Mainstreet” Crewel calmly explained. “Is that so? Hmm…” the Head mage tapped his clawed finger on his chin in thought. “Very well, I should take them off your hands then!” He declared and smiled enthusiastically, which made Crewel taken aback slightly. “…what? No, you don't have to, Head mage” “ah-but I must insist, if you get injured from recklessly handling a wild animal, I—we could get in trouble, so for you safety allow me to take this owl off your hands” “but—“ the Head mage held his hands out, prodding you away from Crewel’s hold, much to your(and his) dismay, you didn't cause a scene or try to claw at him. 

“Off to class now or must you prefer detention in Professor Trein’s class?” the mention of Trein’s name made Crewel scowl in annoyance. “No…” The Head mage, satisfied, lifted his head up high with you in his arms turning on his heel and walked away from Crewel. You were silent the whole stroll across the campus aside from the few times you snapped your beak when your carrier made quick pit-stops in classrooms, you start to wonder if you should change into your human form and escape however your wing was still injured and you would not know if that injury will transfer to your other form so you sit still until you were, hopefully, healed. 

Eventually you both reached a certainly unique door. Crowley pushed the door open to reveal a large room that is covered with purple and gold adornments, nothing particularly special about this room. It was rather empty beside a desk and floating portraits of the Seven. You take your eyes off the human? for a split second to grasp your surroundings before staring right back up at him. Suspicious. You cooed, that made the man look down at you curiously, “ah! I almost forgot to hand you to the infirmary”, you blinked at him did he seriously carry you around like some trophy?? Looks like your only way out is to— your thoughts were interrupted by a cough. “Worry not, my fellow bird, for I will nurse you back to health in no time!” 

He took long strides across the room toward the desk and placed you carefully on it. As he hoisted up his cane from floor, he mumbled a phrase which you’d assume was a spell, but you still couldn’t help puffing your feathers out feeling stressed from an exciting day. You felt a sudden firm yet gentle grip around your injured wing. Looking over there was a bandage wrapped around the main area of your wounds. You stared at it. “All better now, Hm? You should be able to fly high in no time…that also means you need a place to recover. Troubling indeed…” He placed a finger on his chin with his glowing eyes shrinking in deep thought, “I suppose with my never-ending grace, I shall give you temporary residence somewhere on campus until you are able to go back to your habitat.” 

“Thank you...” you muttered, sitting on top of the desk.

“You are very welcome, dear! —ah...” Crowley blinked repeatedly, taking in your new form. He jumps back with a high-pitched yelp which made you freeze your advances at approaching him. “I—ahem, you’re a beastman? Hmm, I haven’t seen an owl beastman in years…” You tilt your head with furrowed eyebrows, “My apologies for startling you; however, I am a faery, not beast man. I wanted to formally thank you for your hospitality.” you slowly climb off the desk opposite him, “you did? Well, of course! My kindness shows no bounds. Except..” Crowley straightens up, tending to his suit; you looked at him with clear suspicion. “Except?” He looked up at you with slight disappointment. “I can’t exactly let you freeload now that I know you are not fully disabled” you glared at him with your arms crossed. “So much for your boundless kindness, get to the point.”

Crowley puts his hands up in surrender, “I am not asking for much. It would be wrong to take advantage of the weak—” “the. point.” “Perhaps you can help and teach my students something about history.” He smiles enthusiastically, that smile you later grown to love. “You want me to teach children about history? Isn’t this a “prestigious” school, why would you need my help?” Crowley walks around the desk and approaches close to you with interest. “Nothing is better than getting information from a primary source, assuming you are a few hundred years old, correct?” You chuckled. “Correct, but it is rude to ask someone their age” Crowley pats his hands on your shoulders in encouragement. “I jest, that said, you can become an assistant for one of our professors until you are healed.”

Truthfully, I could have gone back home just fine without my wings, and I am sure he is aware too, and yet I can’t help being tempted by his offer. This can be a perfect opportunity to connect with the current society. You didn’t say anything, only staring into his eyes, or dots for eyes; his smile faltered, becoming more uncomfortable as the seconds passed, making him back away and clearing his throat. “Ahem, how rude of me. I have realized we’ve been talking without introducing ourselves. I am Dire Crowley, as you can guess, the Headmage of Night Raven College. And you are?” You gave a slight smile “my name is— “

“So, you used to be a teacher here? I bet you were a really good one!!” Kalim smiled brightly. “Yeah, I worked here for a few years actually” Azul cleared his throat to catch your attention. “And what made you quit—“However he got interrupted by Riddle insisting not to pry into any more business than already given. “Please, Azul. You do not need to be informed about every little detail about someone’s life, they had their reasons which can be personal.” Riddle frowned at Azul, who was increasingly getting annoyed by Riddle’s info-blocking. “You are right…my apologies Mx…” Riddle stood up once more and turned to you a more relaxed expression. “Thank you Mx for sharing your story with the Headmage, I am happy that you two found each other. Unfortunately, we must be on our way to class” Kalim and Grim groaned dramatically as the rest of them reluctantly stood up after Riddle which made you chuckle “Awh man! we didnt even get to the main course, you’re no fun Riddle.” Grim whines then straightens up when Riddle glared at him. “Excuse me?” “Eep! Nothing..umm, how about we go to class, Yuu?” the Direbeast jumped on, who you would assume is, Yuu’s shoulder in fear. Yuu just shook their head and sighed before waving goodbye then walking away. 

The sound of a door opening echoed through the hall capturing yours and the remaining student’s attention. Crowley steps out of his office and approaches you in slight relief “ah my dear, i was wondering when you’ll see the papers I left. I was worried you didnt see them” Admittedly, you almost forgot the whole purpose of popping up at the school as you clutched the papers in your arms with an annoyed yet smug expression “so you’ve been leaving your paperwork behind on purpose?” Crowley cowered and tried to change his words. “N-no! What Headmaster would I be if I did something irresponsible like that?” You didn’t respond, only turning back towards the students “Kids go to class. Me and your headmaster have matters to discuss.” you said with a (dangerous) smile making the students to slowly walk away. Kalim nodded with a nervous smile, Azul pushing his glasses up nervously and copying Kalim; Riddle was already gone by the time the duo decided to finally leave.

Your head sharply turned back towards Crowley in which he yelps and back away in fear; you gripped the front of his shirt dragging back to his office. “We have much to discuss dear.” the slam of a door and Crowley mumbling prayers was the last thing anyone in that hallway heard. 

THE END 

Post Credits: 

Song that helped with this part: Love me- Elvis. P

Crowley used to always take you on “business” trips and “meetings” to discuss your experience and student’s education in school when you still worked there. However, this time was different. He had taken you to a restaurant you two frequently visited in Shaftlands, it wasn’t extravagant or poor quality which you preferred since it seems expensive restaurants always think you’re gullible to think their food is indefinitely better than most because of their underwhelming “graceful” performative dishes. Though, it did not seem to bother Crowley whenever he suggested such places, color yourself shocked. You were currently downing your usual, favorite dish (which you can decide even if it is chicken stripes and fries ＾＾)  

“So…how is your experience with the college now? Any students causing trouble?” Crowley rested his head on his palm, gazing at your appearance. You shook your head “same as before and before that…just kids being kids, nothing I haven’t handled before.” Taking another bite of your food, you finally look up at Crowley. “Did…I do something wrong? Is this like a last meal??” You tilted your head and looked over your shoulder to make sure his eyes were on you. He only gives a soft smile then reaches his arm across the table, placing his hand on yours. “No..nothing of that sort, dear” He paused before calling your name softly, making you give him your undivided attention.