Grim was in the hallway when it heard Kayra's high-pitched scream. It crouched by the staircase, too afraid to got to her aid.

Kayra was struggling to push off the figure on top of her. It grabbed her wrists in one hand and covered her mouth with the other. But the muffled noises continued. Frustrated, the figure tightened it's grip on her jaw, and rammed her head into the floor. The resulting daze causing her to stop screaming. Kayra was about to pass out from pain and fatigue, but the stranger pulled her to her feet and shook her shoulders.

"What's your name?"

"...Huh...?" Disoriented, she couldn't process the question.

"Your Name."

Kayra could finally think and see without feeling pain. She took a moment to answer.

"Why would I tell you that...!"

She could make out a human silhouette, however she didn't assume it was human. She had seen a few things tonight that were definitely not human.

It grunted in dissatisfaction. "Then... the country you're from?"

"The... U... K..." Kayra said as her eyes adjusted on the person in front of her.

The moonlight shown on a girl, East Asian, roughly her age. She had light green eyes, and black hair in a pixie cut. She wore a white skinny over a grey crop sweater, with grey pants, a black belt and black converse.

"Thanks for alerting everything within four miles." Sarcasm dripped from her voice. "First the monster, then the ghosts, now probably both."

"...ait, are you from Earth...?!"

"Japan, to be exact. I was hoping to talk to you in peace, but that'll have to wait."

"Why?"

At that moment, a disembodied was heard, "Yee hee hee... Bwa ha ha ha ha ha. We haven't had visitors in ages!"

"That's why."

"Oh, I'm just itchin' for new friends! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Another laughed.

"Why don't you handle them this time? You know, as payback for screaming."

"Handle what?!"

Three ghosts appeared. Kuroko slammed the study doors shut. Kayra was too terrified to scream. Cold sweat ran down her neck. Eyes locked on the paranormal, she stepped backwards to the stairs. She and Grim met at the top of the staircase.

"Hey, wha-AAAAAH! GHOSTS! GHOOOOOSTS!" It flung itself at Kayra in hopes of protection

"No! wai-" And sent them both tumbling down the stairs. The landing was not pretty.

The beings floated towards them.

"All the people who used ta live here got scared of us and ran away."

"We just want a new ghost to play with! What do you say, buddy?"

She groaned and supported herself of her elbows. Did you die from head injuries?! As if I'd let you kill me!

Grim shivered on her stomach, then remembered that it couldn't show fear. "I'm a master sorcerer! I ain't afraid of any dumb ghosts!"

Without warning it blew fire at them, but missed.

Ghost A taunted him. "Nuh-uh. Not even close."

"Over here! Over here! Ah ha ha ha!" Ghost C called out.

It groaned in frustration. "They keep disappearing and reappearing!"

Yeah, that's how they work.

But there was a more pressing concern;

"You're gonna set the whole dorm ablaze!" Kayra croaked.

"Shaddup! I don't need any lip from you, human!"

That's when she recalled; "Beat 'em and I've got a can of tuna with your name on it!"

It exclaimed in surprise. "Hmph... I'm Grim, Master Sorcerer! How come I can't even hit one of these little-"

"Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha!" The ghosts cut him off with overpowering laughter.

"Hrmph! Ganging up on us... Yer a buncha cowards!"

But Kayra knew what they were up to. "Did I say one can of tuna? I meant two."

Now pumped up, it said, "You, human! You tell me which way the ghosts are!"

There was no breathing room. Her eyes flicked to the side. "To your left!"

They managed to land a hit. Ghost A screamed.

Now more confident, the duo continued to roast some ghosts. Although not perfect. The Japanese girl had come out to see the chaos for herself. Hidden behind the walls, she watched. Kayra was having better luck with the ghosts than she, herself did.

Kayra was on the floor, on guard and bent over. The mocking didn't stop since Grim fell for it easily.

"Missed by a country mile. Heh heh heh!" Then disappeared into thin air.

"Hey, human! You gotta be more clear with your directions! I can't hear you!" Grim whispered, frustrated.

"OoOOoh, secret talk? I want in, c'mooon!"

"MYAAAH!" A started grim attacked instantly. "NO! You stay way, WAY back!"

The Kayra and Grim began to bicker. The Japanese girl's grip on the wall tightened. Kayra was in pain from falling down the stairs, and that thing was uncooperative. The miscommunication was expected with all the thunder in the background. Then she noticed the ghost sneaking up on them.

"Behind you!" She yelled.

Grim spun on it's heel and got the ghost. Because Kayra had opened her mouth at that exact moment, Grim didn't notice anything. Kayra on the other hand, turned and gestured for the girl to get back in the library. Instead of doing so, she hid herself more.

"O-o-okay, that one was pretty good!" Grim felt confident.

The girl wanted to help, but there was little she could do without making things worse. Rain slammed against the windows. Lightning flashed, framing the two downstairs. Adding to the dangerous atmosphere. The girl felt like some god was pissed. Little did she know that a certain dragon was upset at missing orientation. The girls' patience was rewarded with the ghosts' eventual retreat.

Kayra laid down, no longer consious of the dirty dorm. "Thanks for you help."

"Aw, geeze, I was scared outta my- I mean, they didn't faze me one bit! Just a walk in the park for a mage of my caliber! Whaddaya got to say now, ghosties? That's right!"

Yeah, sure buddy. Whatever.

Just then the door opened.

"Good evening. In another gesture of my immense kindness, I have brought you dinner."

They both turned to face Crowley. The Japanese girl could not hide further back.

"Wait! That's the creature we ejected for causing trouble at orientation! What is it doing here?!"

Kayra, whose mind was only on the food, was afraid he would drop the tray in his shock. But when he let go, it simply stood airborne.

"Takin' care of yer ghost problem, that's what. You're welcome, by the way!" Grim crept onto Kayra's lap, wary of the headmage.

"What is the meaning of this, Kaye?"

With a sigh, she proceeded to explain- omitting the one hiding upstairs. As she did, Crowley took in the surroundings. The curtains had been notably avoided and there was less destruction compared to orientation. At her words, Crowley explained how the dorm was abandoned because of the ghosts.

"And you're saying that you two joined forces to drive them away?"

"'Joined forces' ain't exactly how I'd describe it." Grim injected. "More like I drove 'em away, and the human watched. And I only did it 'cause I wanted some tuna."

The Japanese girl scowled.

"Hey, ...Wait a minute!" Grim turned to face Kayra. "I never got those tuna cans ya promised!"

As if there was any time to get them! This thing was already annoying the other girl, and Kayra had known it longer.

"Would you two be so kind as to demonstrate your ghost eradication methods for me?"

"No." Kayra pulled the hood over her head and curled up in a ball.

"One, no, 'cause I already wiped 'em all out. And two, no, 'cause where's my tuna?!"

He aimed the last bit at Kayra- who was already half asleep -clawing at the robes.

"I will play the part of the ghosts. As for the tuna, you'll receive it when you defeat me. Oh, what generosity, Crowley..."

Kayra inwardly groaned. None of it mattered anymore. There was already a tray of food, and she was done for the day. Period. Grim could work out the tuna part on his own. Unfortunately, Crowley didn't wait for them. He chugged a potion and transformed in a shimmer of light, which made Kayra abruptly get up and send Grim rolling backwards- again. Where the headmage stood was now a ghost in a top hat and a mask.

"Ah, you gotta be kiddin' me..." Grim whined.

For once Kayra, Grim, and the girl felt the same way. Kayra needed to get Crowley out of here so that she could speak to her new isekai-mate. And for that, this demonstration needed to go faster. She decided to change tactics.

"This could be your chance to enroll." She sat up cross-legged.

It pouted. "All right, but this is the last time. And I better be up to my jowls in tuna afterwards!"

• • •

"Incredible..." Crowley looked at Kayra with something close to awe. He was human again.

"I've never seen anyone bend a monster to their will quite the way you have. I must confess, my educator's intuition did sense something about you after that brouhaha at orientation, Kaye. I could tell you had a certain animal trainer-y, beast master-ish quality to you. Oh, yes."

The girl blinked. 'Animal trainer-y'? 'beast master-ish'? Where did the fancy language go?

Kayra was nodding off.

"That said, I..." He started mumbling to himself.

Eyes closed, Kayra spoke, "Would it be possible for Grim to stay with me?"

She had been through more danger in the past four hours, than she had ever been in her entire life. Them girls needed protection. Grim was a piece of work, but an easily manipulatable one.

"WHAT? A monster, stay HERE?"

It's eyes gaped at her words. "Whoa, did you just...?"

"What if there are more ghosts?" There was that too.

"Hmmm... I suppose I cannot deny your plea. Very well."

"Myah?! Really?" Grim smiled with genuine happiness. But it was a very short livid feeling.

"Let me be clear! Under no circumstances would I admit anyone to Night Raven College who has not been selected by the Dark Mirror- especially not a monster! Nor do I intend to let you, Kaye, to freeload until you're able to return home."

Grim pouted again. "Never shoulda got my hopes up..."

"But, it was the Dark Mirror that transported you here. Therefore this school does bear some responsibility for your wellbeing. So I will allow you to remain in this dorm, free of charge. However, you will need to pay for your own food, clothing and incidentals. As for how you will do so, penniless as you are... Ah. Ah ha. Yes, a fine plan."

Kayra's eyes snapped wide open at 'plan'.

"You needn't be so alarmed. I'm simply going ask you to do a few odd jobs around campus. From what you've done here, Kaye, I can tell you know your way around a broom. So what do you say to you two working together as a janitorial team? If you agree, I will make a special exception and allow you to remain on campus. I'll also allow use of the library, so that you may study, and research ways to return home. How boundlessly charitable I am. Ah, but only when your work is over, of course!"

But Grim was tired of all the charity. "Whaaat? What kinda deal is that?! I wanna put on one of those sweet uniforms and be a student, not sweep up people's junk!"

"If you're not satisfied with my offer, I can arrange to have you thrown out again."

Each girl was lost in their own thoughts. However they came to the same conclusion of this being the best deal they could get. The other girl was also thankful she had stayed hidden. Or it would have been double the price. Literally.

Grim exclaimed. "...All right, fine! Let's do it."

Kayra released a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Fair enough."

The other girl sank to her knees. Even with two of them, Grim was going to be a headache.

"Wonderful. Then I beseech you both... to work hard as the newest members of Night Raven College's janitorial staff!" Then he saw the floating tray. "Ah, yes. Dinner."

He thrust the tray at Kayra forcing her to get up, then waved his walking stick and summoned three cans of tuna. When he turned to leave, Kayra yelled;

"OH, NO YOU DON'T!"

The others all flinched.

"At least clean one of the rooms before you go!"

A few minutes later, Crowley left.

The girl came out of hiding. "Some guy, isn't he?"

Grim screamed it's lungs off, and the girls flinched.

"I'm Kayra Lewis, by the way."

"Kuroko Igarashi."

They shook hands.

"Before anything else, tell me exactly how you got here."

Kayra set the tray on the bed and sat on one side. There were sandwiches, a packet of biscuits and a glass of water. Kuroko sat on the other side. She opened a can of tuna for Grim. Greetings and explanations were exchanged between the three. Kuroko revealed how a black European carriage had approached her on her way back from her martial arts class. She had fainted when the carriage stopped before her, and woken up to find herself in confinement. Then, 'something' had attacked the gate whilst it was in the carriage and burnt it quite a bit.

They both turned to look at Grim whose face was buried in the tuna.

"The box fell off, and the burnt wood broke from the force. I made the hole it bigger and crawled out."

"In the very least, our cases overlap." Kayra was as voracious as Grim. "Now, it's a matter of getting back to earth."

"How did it happen for you?" Kuroko fell backwards. After hearing the story, she couldn't help snorting at 'demonic sacrifice'.

"Wouldn't you think the same thing if you thought you were gonna die?!"

"Not really."

Grim finished his second can. "You two expect me to believe that y'all 're from another world?"

"It's the headmage who said so." Kayra countered.

"Theoretically, it should be possible since there's magic here."

Kayra swallowed another bite. "We need to speak to the mirror. If it brought us here it should be able to send us back."

"Maybe we have to go together? It might be why you couldn't go before."

"...Possible. But I'm convinced- that mirror knows more than it's letting on!"

"Well, good luck with that." Grim yanked the last can from Kuroko. "We can't leave the dorm unless it's for chores, 'member?"

"I guess we'll have to wait till tomorrow evening." Kuroko sighed.

A moment of silence passed.

"By the way, Kuro, how are you so fluent in English? I thought Japanese English was..."

She smiled at the thought of the Japanese 'accent'. "I have a foreign aunt."

"Oh... Now how do we share this...?"

The three stared at the single glass of water. Two humans might manage, but two humans and a magic cat?

"You drink it." Kuroko decided. She got up "Grim and I will drink from the kitchen tap."

"Is that clean?" Kayra asked.

"It's better than no water at all. Besides, I've drunk out of taps before."

"That's 'cause Japan's environmentally friendly..." she muttered. They'd all be drinking out of the tap, eventually.

Kuroko took everything to the kitchen and Kayra removed the robe in the meantime. Soon all three of them were sleeping like the corpses of the ghosts in the dorm.

÷

Look forward to the next chapter.