Chapter 35
Roxana watched the snow fall from the sky.
Ah~ white…a perfect color for bloodshed. Roxana smiled.
Grim shivered. “You know…I can tell when you think about murder”
“Hmm ?” She gave him a smirk.
“Yeah” Grim gave her a blank look. “Call it intuition”
“Tomorrow's the first day of the winter holiday. Have you two decided what you'll be doing?” One of the ghosts asked.
“Huh? What's a win-ter holly-day?” Grim asked.
“It's when school lets out for the season. Most students go home to celebrate the new year with their family. They have fancy dinners, too.” Ghost B said.
Grim eyes widened at the mention of food. “Wait, there's FOOD?!”
“And plenty of it. Roast turkey, pie, a ham as big as your head, you name it... Not that us ghosts can eat, of course.” The ghost said.
“Some ghosts head home to the netherworld to spend holidays with the family too, y'know.” Ghost A said.
Ghost C smiled. “Yeah, and some of 'em never come back! Heheheh!”
“Spending' time with the family while getting' your grub on sounds nice...” Grim said an unknown emotion in his voice.
Roxana looked at him. “Well, I am your family, we can spend the holiday together along with Riddle”
“Myah haha! If there's good food to be had, consider me ready for some holiday cheer!” Grim grinned.
*Classroom*
“Listen up, pups !” Crewel said. “Your holiday vacation starts tomorrow. I'm sure all of you are foaming at the mouth to get back home. But every year, there's always some foolish pup who forgets about his homework and spends the whole break goofing off. Just remember that I have a severe punishment in store for any such slackers out there. Are we clear? You have permission to use the Dark Mirror to return home for the holidays. Report to your dorm mirror once you've packed your things!”
Everyone nodded. “Yes, Professor!”
Everyone then turned around and started to talk with each other.
“Ugh, finally! A break from this cramped dorm life!” Ace stretched.
“Good grief. Night Raven College doesn't kid around with holiday homework. Look at all this.” Deuce said while looking at the list of homework they have to do.
“Finish it in the first days of the holiday so then you can do what you want” Roxana said. “You will regret leaving it for later trust me”
Ace turned to Roxana. “Where are you going to stay Roxana ?”
“Will you two be spending the holidays in your dorm?” Deuce asked.
“Yup. We've made plans to have ourselves a feast with the ghosts!” Grim said.
“Oh, right. There're plenty of ghosts on campus to keep you company, so it won't be just the two of you.” Ace said.
“But when school lets out, don't the cafeteria and school store shut down too?” Deuce asked.
“Mrow ! Who do you take us for ???? Our kitchen is bigger and there’s a lot of food ! We don’t need the school cafeteria !” Grim said.
“Where is that kitchen of yours anyways ?” Ace asked. “That painting doesn’t move !”
“Oh” Roxana smiled. “To access the kitchen you need a password”
Ace looked exasperated. “Whaaaa…”
***
*Mirror Chamber*
“Wow, it's already packed with students going home.” Deuce said while looking at all the students in the chamber.
“Hah, they all look so antsy.” Ace said. “Now then, where's that headmage?”
Crowley appeared in full summer vacation outfit. “All right, everyone. Announce your destination to the Dark Mirror and keep a tight hold on your belongings. If you let go for any reason while in transit, your luggage will get spirited away elsewhere. If you have any possessions you absolutely cannot afford to risk losing, send them by post from the school store.”
“He's in total party mode!” All the students said at the same time.
“Wearing an aloha shirt in the middle of winter?! He's obviously ready to go on a tropical vacation!” Ace said while pointing at the headmaster.
Deuce was looking at he crow in disbelief. “He's not even trying to hide it.”
Roxana rolled her eyes; she wasn’t going to waste her time and talk with the headmaster.
“Hey, guys! You can stop standing in the middle of the hall and blocking traffic now!” Ruggie said while dragging heavy luggage with him.
“Ruggie? Wait, what's with all that luggage?!” Deuce said while looking at the luggage. “A backpack, three duffel bags, and a giant cooler...”
Ruggie looked at the luggage. “Oh, this? Shyeheehee. I took all the food that was about to hit its sell-by date at the cafeteria and the school store. Since we're about to go on break, they gave 'em to me basically for free.”
“It must be heavy here let me help you” Roxana said as she casted a feather-light charm on the luggage.
“Thanks !” Ruggie smiled. “Now the luggage isn’t heavy anymore I can walk without problem !”
“There's no way you can eat all that.” Ace said.
“You'd be surprised. The neighborhood kids devour this stuff like, well...a pack of hyenas.” Ruggie said. “Besides, gotta make sure my grandma eats well over the holidays. Speaking' of which, this frozen food ain't staying' frozen for long. Gotta run! Smell ya next year!”
“Small ya next year ?” Roxana raised her eyebrow, she always smell nice, she sniffed at Ace before she recoiled in disgust. “Yes…you need a bath”
“Hey !” Ace was offended.
“Hehe, smelly Ace” Grim snickered.
“What was that about "neighborhood kids," though?” Deuce asked.
“Ruggie comes from a place where food is a bit scarce.” Jack explained. “So whenever school lets out for a long break, he stocks up on all the food he can get and shares it with the local kids.”
“What about you, Jack? What's with that planter you're hauling? You taking up gardening or something?” Ace grinned.
Jack rolled his eyes. “It's a cactus I've been growing' in my free time. It'd wither up if I didn't keep it watered over break. A-anyway, enough about me!”
“Ruggie's sharing' his food with a bunch of kids who ain't even family, huh? Never knew he had it in him.” Grim said.
“Hyenas believe in sharing spoils equally. I'm sure that's how Ruggie was raised.” Jack said.
“Hmph. The mere thought of a feeding frenzy like that gives me the willies.” Leona yawned. “I can barely stand the noise one kid makes as it is.”
“Does that mean you're skipping out on visiting your family, Leona?” Jack asked.
“Man, I wish. Nah, they'd give me no end of grief if I did. I'm going'.” Leona groaned. “Ugh, talk about a holiday chore.”
“May the lord never give you kids till you fix that attitude of yours” Roxana sighed.
Leona just gave her a look and didn’t say anything but the ‘I don’t want kids’ message was clear, Roxana shrugged, his life.
“But you're not bringing anything?” Jack asked seeing Leona without any luggage.
“So? I got my wallet and smartphone. What else do I need? I've got clothes at home anyway.” Leona said.
“This's a whole different kind of extreme.” Grim said. “But completely understood, Roxana’s wardrobe is bigger than her ego”
Roxana slapped him for that one.
“You're not even bringing your homework, are you?” Ace asked.
“Homework can wait until after break. Holidays are for resting. Later, herbivores.” Leona said as he walked through the mirror.
“He's good enough to do anything when he applies himself, so why doesn't he?” Jack sighed. “Well, I know I'll be getting mine done. You guys had better do the same. Later.”
“Every day is a holiday for Leona” Roxana said. “Don’t question his logic”
Jack just shook his head, agreeing to that statement but never voicing it out loud.
“Leona's commitment to his principles is actually impressive.” Deuce said.
Cater appeared behind them. “Okay, freshies ! Don't let those bad boy upperclassmen give you any bad ideas, you hear?”
“In our dorm, if you don't turn in your homework, Riddle makes sure it's off with your head.” Trey smiled.
“Hey, Trey. Hey, Cater.” Ace said to the two.
“Ugh. Going home is kind of a drag for me, too.” Cater said. “I just know my sisters are both coming home. They don't care if it's the holidays—they'll run me ragged anyway. I wish I could stay over at your house instead, Trey!”
Roxana frowned. Please don’t tell me he’s the Cinderella of the household….
“You'd be welcome to, but we'd be running you just as ragged. Winter is the patisserie's busiest time of the year.” Trey said with an apologetic smile.
Cater looked disappointed a bit. “Oh yeah, your family runs one of those, huh? So much for any escape.”
“......” Riddle stayed silent as he watched the conversation.
Deuce jumped from fright when he turned around. “Erk! Housewarden Rosehearts! Sorry for blocking the way!”
“Hmm ?” Riddle looked at him. “It’s alright, I am not going home anyways”
“Huh ?” Deuce looked at him. “Why ? Aren’t you going to visit your family ?”
“The only reason why I would have returned would be because mother would be waiting but now that’s she…” Riddle shook his head. “Forget it, I am spending the holiday in Slytherin with Roxana and Grim”
“Good” Ace nodded. “That way you won’t spend the holiday alone”
“Oh ! I prepared a lot of games !” Roxana smiled. “I can’t wait for us to go back to Slytherin and start !” She hugged the small boy.
Riddle blushed a bit and nodded, but his mood quickly soured when Floyd appeared.
“Heeeh ? Goldfishie? Aren’t you going home?” Floyd grinned. “Then here's an idea: don't. We're not. C'mon, you can join us in the stay-at-school club. Heheh!”
“Where did you come from, Floyd?” Riddle glared. “And would you kindly refrain from sticking your nose in business you know nothing about? It's quite irksome.”
“He's right, you know. It's never a good idea to blindly pry into others' family affairs.” Jade said beside Floyd.
“Aw, c'mon, Jade. It's boring spending every new year with the same old suspects.” Floyd pouted. “Besides, Goldfishie's so teeny, I'm sure Azul would love to keep him as a pet!”
“I'm sorry? Would you like to say that again?” Riddle’s eye twitched. “You're awfully brazen to take that tone with the head of Heartslabyul. And speaking of heads, I'll have yours for this!”
Cater put a hand on Riddle’s shoulder. “R-Riddle, no! This is NOT the place, my guy!”
“Settle down, Riddle. You're letting him goad you again.” Trey said trying to calm him down.
“Yeeaargh...!” Riddle turned red from anger.
“Aww, you’re so cute” Roxana said as she hugged Riddle again.
This time the boy turned red from embarrassment.
“Ehehe Erebuhebi is hugging you like a mother” Floyd said as he poked Riddle’s cheek.
Riddle retaliated by slapping his hand away.
“Sooo” Cater started ignoring Roxana mothering Riddle. “ Floyd and Jade! Your family's in the Coral Sea, right? Why aren't you visiting them?”
“We and Azul live in the far northern reaches of the Coral Sea.” Jade said. “At this time of year, the whole surface is covered in ice floes.”
“What he said! It's hard getting' home with all the freezy-freeze, and it's boring there anyway.” Floyd said waving his hand dismissively. “So the three of us prefer to go home on spring break instead, when the ice has melted.”
“Wow. Living under the sea has all kinds of challenges, huh?” Trey said while imagining the cold of the sea.
“Hmph! The last thing I need is to spend the new year with you Octavinelle boys.” Riddle said. “I'll be going now. I bid you all a pleasant holiday.” He said as he towards the Hall of Mirrors to go to Slytherin.
“As for you guys” Trey said as he turned to look at Ace and Deuce. “Don't cut TOO loose over the holidays, okay? See you around.”
“I should be getting home, too... Ah, but first, a commemorative photo!” Cater took out his phone.
*snap*
“Hashtag #FallSemesterLastDay #WithTheFroshes #HappyNewYear #JumpingTheGunLOL” Cater smiled as he posted the picture. “Okay, bye now! Happy holidays, folks!”
Roxana took out her phone and pondered a bit before she herself took a picture and posted it.
The first one to like it was Cater, Roxana liked his pictures back.
Not bad. Roxana though while looking at the picture she posted. Should I make content ? The last time I did that was when TikTok was at its peak…Maybe I should relax more.
“So, Erebuhebi, are you and the Seal staying' on campus?” Floyd asked. “You can always drop by Octavinelle, y'know. We'd be happy to keep you company.”
“A fine idea, brother. Ah, what a delightful holiday this is shaping up to be. You're welcome anytime. Now then if you'll excuse us...” Jade smiled.
Jade and Floyd laughed as they walked away.
Grim shivered. “Erk... Just looking' at their faces makes me think back about the Overblot”
“And how they worked us like dogs.” Deuce shivered. “That was brutal stuff.”
Ace groaned. “Don't remind me.”
“Well, the crowds are thinning out. We should probably head out, ourselves.” Deuce said.
“Good call. Oh yeah, Roxana, call us if you need anything” Ace said.
“Same here !” Deuce said.
“Roxana, Grim, see you next year!” Ace said as he walked through the mirror after Deuce.
“I've always thought of those guys as a couple of loudmouths, but now that they're gone...” Grim snorted. “It's clear as crystal just HOW loud they've been! Buncha meddling so-and-sos... *grumble*”
“You’re the same Grim”
[Side Story : Octavinelle After the Epilogue]
[Thunder bolts and Lightning !]
“I didn’t know you were buddy, buddy with some Diasomnia students” Ace whispered to Roxana.
They were all in the Slytherin garden playing crocket.
Lilia was enjoying the mood as always, Sebek was quiet after an earful he got from Lilia about screaming, Silver was sleeping on a floating cloud like thing that Roxana conjured for him.
Ace and Deuce were awkwardly playing with Roxana and Lilia.
Malleus unfortunately couldn’t come because he was busy, something about the royal duties, Roxana did not ask because it was not her business.
“Ugh, can’t believe that I am playing crocket, I never liked the game” Ace pouted.
“What about chess ?” Roxana asked.
“If I were to choose between playing crocket or playing chess, I would prefer to be struck by lightning” Ace said with a deadpan expression.
Roxana gave him a blank look. “Huh, I see”
*RUMBLE**CRACK**BOOM*
Ace fell on the floor after being struck by red lightning.
Grim, Deuce, Sebek, Lilia, and Silver (who woke up the moment he head the rumble) looked at Roxana.
Roxana looked at them with a smile.
“He did ask for it”
Grim shrugged. “Nothing a healing potion can’t fix”
“So scary….” Deuce shivered.
"She's the one" Lilia grinned.