Fleur City
The group ran over to Grim.
"Now see here, Grim! It is unacceptable for you to make trouble for my liege!" Sebek scolded sternly
However, Grim ignored him completely, eyes glued to something ahead, frozen in place.
(y/n) tilted her head in slight confusion. Walking over, she knelt down beside him. "What are you looking at, Grim?"
"Red, white, red, white, red, white, red, white..." He muttered in a daze
Jamil furrowed his brow, noting Grim's behavior. "He's not even blinking... What's he muttering?"
"Red, white, red, white, red, white, red white red white red white red white re-whi-re-whi-reh... MRAAAH!" Grim suddenly shrieked, startling (y/n) and the rest.
"I can't stop watchin' this spinny thing... It's makin' me dizzy!"
Everyone turned toward what Grim was referring to. A single red-and-white striped post stood in front of the building.
"Are you referring to this post right here?" Riddle asked for confirmation
"That's a barber pole. They typically indicate a barber shop" Trein explained
Jamil peered through the nearby window. "I can see the staff in white uniforms standing next to old, fancy red chairs inside. With all that on top of using a barber's pole in this day and age, it must be pretty old fashioned operation"
"You think so?" Sebek chimed in.. "Barber shops in Briar Valley all look similar to this one. Seeing it rather takes me back... I wonder if my old barber is still fairing well. I used to go in twice a month"
"Twice a month?" Jamil raised an eyebrow in surprise. "That's a lot of barber visits. My sister only goes once a month for a trim"
Sebek puffed out his chest with pride, "A proper guard of Malleus-sama must always be properly groomed!"
Trein nodded approvingly, "I approve of how immaculate your hair always is, Zigvolt. Many of our students could learn from your example"
Sebek stood straighter, clearly pleased. "It's the least I could do in service to such a noble figure! How often did you get your haircut back home, Jamil-senpai?"
"I've been growing my hair out since middle school," Jamil replied. "So I didn't visit the barber too often. I'd get the ends evened out once every few months at most. It's more work to take care of my hair, though"
"Even so, you really take good care of it. Your hair is beautiful" (y/n) said with a warm smile
Jamil flushed slightly, his expression softening. "Thank you, (y/n)."
Then, with a teasing smirk, he turned to Riddle. "If anyone here is stringent about their appearance, it's Riddle. What would you do about your hair in the Queendom of Roses?" He turned to Riddle.
"I would go to the barber's once a month. My mother scheduled my appointments for me. It was always at the same time, with the same person, and the same cut and style. It's important for everything to look neat and trim. That's why I keep my hair short. Riddle explained. "I cut it myself when I first came to our school"
"Truly?" Sebek asked, surprised. "Do you still do so?"
Riddle shook his head. "Cater didn't want me doing it for some reason... So now I go to a barber in town, just like everyone else"
"You should probably thank Cater for that." Jamil remarked before turning to Malleus. "What about you, Malleus-senpai?"
"I would summon my personal hair dresser to the castle" Malleus replied casually
"Goodness. That's royalty for you..." Riddle muttered under his breath
"But I grew tired of how much of a production it was each time. Sometimes I'd ask Lilia to cut my hair while he was doing Silver's..." Malleus added with a faint smile. Then, he turned his gaze. "And you, Child of Man?".
(y/n) looked thoughtful. "Back in my world, the higher-ups kept a close eye on me—even with something as simple as a haircut. One of the elderly women would usually handle it. These days, either Papa or Vil-senpai arranges for a professional stylist to cut my hair"
"Crewel-sensei I can understand... but Vil-senpai?" Riddle blinked, tilting his head.
(y/n) nodded. "When Papa's too busy, he trusts Vil-senpai to take care of it."
The boys clenched their fists, silently bristling.
'Why not me?'
Jamil coughed, "What about you Satoru?"
"Huh? I don't really care about my hair." Satoru replied casually, stretching his arms behind his head. "I just go to a barber too—but only when Suguru and (n/n) are busy."
"Maaan, they're really into haircuts" Grim said, folding his arms in mild disbelief. "I should totally...hm?" He paused, squinting at the shop window. "The shop's got a poster. What's it say...? "Elevate your trip by trying a traditional Fleur City hairstyle!"
"Ah," Jamil said, glancing at the sign. "So this shop offers traditional hair styling for tourists to try. I've seen businesses like that in the Scalding Sands"
"Ooo, really?" Grim's eyes sparkled. "Can I try one?!"
Without a word, Jamil smirked and strolled into the shop.
(y/n) blinked, tilting her head slightly. "Something tells me that senpai's up to something" she murmured to herself.
Satoru chuckled beside her, eyes glittering with amusement. "Heh, let's see what he's got up his sleeve."
Riddle scanned the event poster. "It does say anyone is welcome. So it's possible according to the sign, at least. What would constitute a traditional Fleur City hairstyle, though?"
"Hm. Weren't tall wigs popular in the Shaftlands years ago?" Malleus mused aloud.
"Yes," Trein nodded. "They were fashionable among the aristocracy, along with faux moles on your face. I believe the townspeople admired the styles and all donned similar wigs on festival days"
"I don't think that fashion was unique to Fleur City." Malleus added thoughtfully. "It was popular in many countries"
Just then, Jamil stepped out of the shop, holding something in his hand. "Okay, Grim, I talked to the staff. They told me this hairstyle was especially popular in Fleur City back in the day"
He offered the item to Grim, who peered at it suspiciously. "...What's that?"
"Wood shavings" Jamil replied flatly. "In the old days, they would shape these to look like hair and affix them to people's head. Want to try it?"
Grim's ears twitched and his fur bristled. "Yeah, right! I ain't dumb. I know nobody would put wood shavings on their head!"
Sebek barked out a laugh. "HAHAHA! What better decoration could there be for someone who thinks of naught but eating, sleeping, and frolicking?"
"Oh YEAH?!" Grim whirled toward him, fuming.
Behind them, (y/n) raised a hand to stifle her laugh, though a soft chuckle still escaped. Grim caught the sound and spun toward her, shocked.
"MYAH! (y/n), Satoru! You're supposed to be backing me up!"
"Ahaha... I-I'm s-sorry Grim, but.. ahaha!" She tried to compose herself, but the image of Grim with a wig made of wood was too much. Her laughter sparkled through the air.
Her laughter sparkled gently through the air—light, sincere, and utterly contagious.
"THAT was gold! Just imagining it's killing me!" Satoru snorted with no attempt to hold back, leaning forward with a hand on his stomach.
Jamil allowed himself a smug grin, looking between the twins with a quiet air of victory. Satoru found him funny.
A point to Jamil
Sebek, Riddle, and Malleus all noticed his smugness—and clearly didn't approve. They narrowed their eyes at him in silent, coordinated judgment.
"Stop laughing!" Grim huffed, tail flicking. "You should back me up here! Not laughing at me!"
Their playful bickering didn't go unnoticed. Sebek, Jamil, Riddle, and Malleus stood back and watched, their gazes subtly drawn to (y/n). Even Professor Trein couldn't suppress a small chuckle at the scene, clearly entertained by the twins' dynamic with the direbeast.
Finally, Riddle cleared his throat, his expression returning to stern authority. "Come now, it's rude to cause such a commotion in public! If you don't rein yourself in, it'll be off with your head!" he warned Grim.
Jamil's voice then softened as he leaned in slightly, "Pardon the segue, but speaking of commotions... For all the people here, no one seems to realize that THE Malleus Draconia is with us" He gestured subtly toeard the passing crowd, where locals and tourists strolled by without a second glance. "I wonder if that's due to his hat camouflaging his horns?"
Riddle glanced around, noting the vibrant costumes around them. "Plenty of people are dressed in much flashier ensembles. Maybe they think the horns are part of his costume. It's good that they don't recognize him, though. I was worried we might draw too many crowds, and then we'd have trouble walking around."
Jamil nodded, arms folded "Agreed. After all, we can hardly use wood shavings to conceal his horns..."
"Were you just discussing my horns?" Malleus asked, tilting his head slightly, his ton calm but curious.
"NO! NEVER!" Jamil replied instantly, stiffening in alarm
Trein exhaled through his nose, clearly used to such antics. "Grim's pitching a fit." he observedGrim stood with arms crossed and cheeks puffed out—clearly displeased—while (y/n) gently rubbed his head, a soft chuckle escaping her lips.
Satoru chuckled behind her, flashing a teasing grin. "What's the matter, Furball? Jealous we're getting all the attention?"
"Tch! I ain't jealous!" Grim snapped, swatting Satoru's leg with a paw.
"I think that's our cue to move on." Trein continued. "We should check on the other groups anyway. What will your group be doing next?"
Malleus paused, thoughtful. "I was thinking of walking around and learning a bit more about the local culture. Would that be acceptable to everyone?"
"ABSOLUTELY!" Sebek replied with booming enthusiasm, startling a few passerby. Jamil and Riddle nodded in agreement, more composed.
Trein gave a small smile. "What eager students you all are. I'm truly proud. I'm sure I don't need to worry about any of you, but do be careful exploring"
"Yes, sensei! Thank you for joining us" Riddle said with a respectful bow of his head.
"Our time together was most enjoyable. And (y/n), Satoru, Grim, I'll see you three later." Malleus added with a faint smile.
(y/n) returned his smile with a composed nod. "We'll see you later. Tsu-senpai, Jamil-senpai, Riddle-senpai, Sebek—please stay safe and enjoy yourselves."
The boys each offered their own gesture of farewell, and (y/n) gave them a final wave before turning away, walking beside Satoru, Trein and the still-pouting Grim.
=====
As the four walked through the lively streets of Fleur City, Trein glanced over at (y/n) and Satoru.
"If there's anything you'd like to see, don't hesitate to tell me. And should any shop catch your eye, feel free to stop and take a look" he offered.
(y/n) nodded politely, "Yes, sensei."
"'kayyy" Satoru drawled out his response.
Her gaze wondered, taking in the scenery, noticing how there are goats in the city—until a sound caught her attention.
"Baaah!"
She halted as a gentle tug at her dress made her glance down. A baby goat had nibbled the hem of her gown.
"Huh?"
Grim squinted. "Where did this goat come from? Is it a wild one? If so... maybe we can eat it!"
A sharp hit landed on Grim's head "Ow!"
Trein sighed, already rubbing his temples. "These goats do not belong to anyone. They're considered part of the city"
"So they're raised communally by the locals?" (y/n) asked, her tone genuinely curious.
"That is correct, Miss (y/n)" came a voice from behind.
Turning, (y/n)'s eyes lit up with a warm smile. "Hello, Rollo-san"
Rollo returned the greeting with a nod. "In Fleur City, goats are considered as bringers of good luck. We treat them with care."
"Bah! Bah!" The kid bleated again, nudging affectionately against (y/n)'s dress.
(y/n) let out a small giggle and knelt to gently stroke its head. "Aren't you a friendly one?"
Rollo watched her with quiet amusement. "It is said that if you're kind to one, it will come running to your aid when you're in trouble."
Trein raised an eyebrow, noticing how especially affectionate the little goat was. "This one seems to be particularly drawn to you"
"Must be because of Miss (y/n)'s outfit" Rollo replied
"My outfit?" (y/n) tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing in puzzled curiosity
"Yes, it's inspired by the Righteous Judge's star-crossed lover—Esméria." Rollo explained. "As is Mister Satoru's. Considering that you and your brother are twins, we thought it fitting."
"Thank you for being so generous." Satrou said with a hint of sarcasm, resting a hand on his hip. "I'm just eternally grateful you didn't put me in a matching outfit with any of those other dumb boys"
Trein raised a brow, intrigued. "Esméria? Interesting... That's not a tale I'm familiar with—not even in my years of study"
"Understandable. It's a lore well known only in Fleur City" Rollo replied, folding his hands neatly behind his back. "It is said that Esméria had a goat as a loyal familiar and friend. When she was accused of sorcery—not magic, but socery—for giving hope to many, things spiraled. Scoundrels misused her kindness. She gave the laypeople hope... hope that life could be meaningful even without magic."
"Laypeople?" (y/n) asked gently.
"People without magic" Trein clarified for her. "We refer to them as laypeople"
(y/n) nodded in understanding, "I see..."
"At the time" Rollo continued, "many laypeople were mistreated solely because they had no magic. Although Esméria herself was a magic user, she rarely used it unless necessary. Some were moved by her compassion. Others... abused it. Their actions led to chaos. That abuse led to unrest—and ultimately, to her sentencing."
He paused for a moment. "On the day of her execution, her familiar—the goat—ran to fetch the Righteous Judge in a desperate attempt to save her. But by the time he arrived... it was already too late. Esméria had been set aflame before the public. All the Righteous Judge could do was weep—for the woman he loved, for the justice he could not deliver."
(y/n)'s gazed dropped. "That's... awful" her voice was soft, laced with quiet sorrow.
Trein nodded solemnly, "A tragic end indeed. Thank you for sharing this, Flamme"
"So just another Romeo and Juliet knockoff" Satoru muttered with a dramatic roll of his eyes.
(y/n) nudged him firmly with her elbow. "Onii-san! Don't be rude"
Trein sighed, clearly unamused. "Satoru"
The sorcerer gave a half-scoff, half-smirk in return.
"You're very welcome." Rollo replied, unfazed. "Many young ladies wear garments of purple to honor Esméria... and couples often wear matching ensembles to pay tribute to their love."
(y/n) gently stroked the baby goat's head with a fond touch.
"May I ask, where you are going?" Rollo asked Trein
"We just finished checking on Draconia, Rosehearts, Viper and Zigvolt. We're on the way to check on the other two groups next." Trein replied.
Rollo gave a small nod of understanding. "I see. Then I shall also take my leave for now—but I'll be seeing you all again very soon"
(y/n) offered him a gentle smile. "Thank you, Rollo-san, for taking the time to tell me more about the goats and Esméria's lore"
Rollo returned the gesture with a polite bow of his head. "It was no trouble at all, Miss (y/n). Please, do enjoy the rest of the festival. I look forward to seeing you again."
"I will. Please take care of yourself too," she replied softly, her tone earnest.
With a final smile, Rollo turned and walked off into the crowd.
The four watched his retreating figure in silence for a moment.
"Myah... That was such a boring talk," Grim muttered with a yawn, breaking the quiet.
(y/n) sighed with a calm but knowing look. "It wasn't boring. But let's keep moving before you start dozing off, right, Sensei?"
Trein gave a quiet chuckle and a nod. "Yes, let's go."
=====
~Twisted Scrolls~
Savanaclaw
"Phew... although it took a while, with Houswarden Leona and Jack's help, our Halloween event is going to run smoothly" A Savanaclaw student said, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Yeah, thanks, Jack" Another added, turning to him with a nod of appreciation.
"Not a problem." Jack replied, crossing his arms with his usual quiet confidence.
Then a shot broke their calm.
"Whoa! Check it out! (y/n) looks real pretty in that dress!"
Jack's ears twitched, and his gaze snapped to his dormmates, who were huddled over a phone.
"What do you mean by that? (y/n)'s always pretty," the other grinned, nudging his friend.
Curious despite himself, Jack pulled out his phone and opened Magicam. His eyes landed on a newly posted selfie—Ruggie grinning beside (y/n). Her warm, effortless smile had an almost calming presence, but there was a quiet strength in her eyes that Jack always found striking.
His hand tightened around his phone.
"She... does look beautiful," he murmured. "She's shining even brighter than usual."
Nearby, Leona lounged lazily on a bench, tail flicking with mild irritation as he overheard them. He flicked his eyes to his own screen—briefly—before letting out a sharp click of his tongue.
"Tch. It's just a dress. You herbivores act like you've never seen her before."
He shifted his position with a scowl, propping one arm behind his head, eyes half-lidded in feigned indifference.
One student snickered. "What, Housewarden Leona? Jealous?"
Leona's gaze snapped to him, golden eyes narrowed into a withering glare sharp enough to silence the entire group.
"Hmph. Don't be stupid," he scoffed. "If she looked that good, it's probably 'cause she's not standing next to your sorry faces for once."
Still, his ear gave the slightest twitch.
~~~
Octavinelle
"I-I'm sorry, the Mostro Lounge is closed for the day," an Octavinelle student said nervously to the small group gathered at the door.
"Seriously? Aw man, I wanted to grab a drink," groaned a student from Scarabia.
"You guys must be swamped with Halloween Week prep, huh?" a Heartslabyul student asked, tilting their head.
The Octavinelle student laughed awkwardly. "Aha ha... I guess..." he replied, eyes darting away.
The group exchanged confused glances.
CRASH!
The sudden, thunderous noise from inside made everyone jump.
"Oh no..." the Octavinelle student muttered under his breath. Straightening quickly, he bowed stiffly. "Ahem! Our sincerest apologies—please do visit another time!"
He dashed off in a panic, leaving the students to murmur amongst themselves, wondering what chaos had just unfolded beyond the doors.
~~~
Inside, the lounge was in shambles.
Floyd stood amid the wreckage, chest heaving with frustration. Shattered glass crunched beneath his shoes; overturned chairs lay like casualties of his rage. Octavinelle students huddled along the walls, knowing better than to interfere.
Jade, calm as ever, sat elegantly on a single intact stool—unscathed by the storm. In one hand, he held his phone, eyes focused on a Magicam post: a newly uploaded selfie of Azul and (y/n).
"...So this is what he's been up to," Jade murmured, his voice smooth, quiet, and laced with something unreadable. "Getting rather bold with his affections."
Floyd snarled, kicking a chair so hard it crashed into the far wall with a crack. "Bold?! He's hogging Moon Jelly all to himself!"
A nearby student gasped before clapping a hand over their mouth too late.
Floyd's eyes snapped toward him—narrowed and feral. "You like the picture too, huh?"
"N-No! Not at all!" the poor student stammered, stumbling backward into the shadows.
Jade finally looked up from his screen, slipping the device into his pocket with deliberate care. "Floyd, calm down. If you wreck too much, we won't be able to host tonight's VIPs."
"I don't care about VIPs," Floyd hissed, sulking as he dropped onto a ruined couch.
"What VIPs? We can't even operate today!" the remaining students thought, collectively sweating.
Jade's polite smile turned razor-sharp, a glint of mischief flashing behind his eyes. "No need to worry. There are plenty of ways to make Azul regret rubbing it in our faces."
=====
Forgot to mention: the lore is made up for fanfic purposes. Don't take it too seriously. But other than that hope you all enjoyed this chapter ~