We scanned every row of books from the first shelf in the library, searching if any of them contains a mass of information about my hometown. I look back at the clock on the wall the sixth time, easily agitated and my patience is slowly fading by the inch.

Dire Crowley took a last book from the shelf and opened it, carefully reading through the page before turning to the next one. "I'm sorry." He said while putting the book down on the table. "There really isn't anything. Not only the map, but the name of your home isn't written in any history." He leans forward with suspicion in his eyes.

"Are you truly from where you say? You aren't lying to me by any chance?"

"What!?" I was shocked by his unexpected question. "I'm not lying! I just wanna go home and be with my mother. I never wanted to be here in the first place!"

I shouted at him as he seemed to be unfazed by my sudden burst. Dire Crowley turns around putting his left arm on the elbow and holding his chin with his right hand. "Hmm, looking at this, you may have somehow been brought here from another planet. There's also the possibility you've from another world."

"So you're saying I'm an alien from a totally different world?" I said with an anime sweat drop.

"Well, no." He answered, turning around to face me. "What did you have on you, when you came here? Do you have any identification like, a license for a magic car, name on a shoe perhaps?..." He trailed off again, not seeing a single item on me, except the robe that I'm wearing. "You appear to be empty handed."

"Now that you mentioned it, I did have a phone with a pair of green headphones but..." I sighed, realizing my phone isn't with me and not having the slightest clue where it is. "I don't have it with me..."

"This is concerning. I can't just let someone who can't use magic to stay at the school. However, as an educator, I can't just toss a penniless teenage girl out on the streets with no form of communication. For I am gracious."

"Then where am I supposed to stay?" I asked. "I can just build a tent on campus."

"Absolutely not!" He shouts at me, and stops to clear his throat before speaking again. "Hmmmm...That's right! There is an unused building on campus. It was once used as a dormitory in the past, so if you clean it up you should be able to sleep there. For the time being, I shall allow you to stay there. Then I will look for a way for you to return home."

I felt my whole body relaxed after hearing the good news, losing its stiff posture and letting out a shaky laugh. "Haha...Thank you." I was grateful that he's helping me.

"Don't thank me just yet." Dire Crowley said, leaving to the door with me walking behind him, trying to keep up with his long strides. "We better be on our way. Let's head to the dormitory, it may be a bit cold but there is a certain charm to it."

"Alright." I nodded as we now left the library, leaving the school grounds to the abandoned dormitory. We continued to walk in silence, until Dire Crowley stirred up a conversation while we walked underneath the moonlight.

"Blair, how's life treating you?" He asked, while keeping his eyes ahead on the stone path we followed. "You're so determined to go back home, are you well close to your mother?"

"Life hasn't been the nicest so far, and I honestly don't care what it throws at me. What really matters is that I still have mom by my side. She and I are really close, you see. She owns the coolest flower store in Raybaw, and I help her a lot too."  I smiled, remembering those good times working at the store with mom.

"How gracious! Normally the students here don't have the guts to talk about their parents like you. Your mother is well blessed with a unique child, and the father?" The joyful smile on my freckled face faded when Dire Crowley asked about my father.

I remained quiet for a brief moment before answering. "I don't have a father. I was adopted by my mom who isn't really related to me. She couldn't have children and so she took me in as her own."

"I see. I apologize for asking you further questions." Dire Crowley said, I just shook my head letting him know it's fine.

"It's alright, you didn't cause me no harm." We soon stopped in front of an old, abandoned dormitory. It looked poorly drained and unpleasant to look at, along with its scenery. "So...this is what you meant by charm? Well, that's too much charm."

"Right, right. Please come inside." He said, approaching the front door, then opens it and allows me in first. "Watch your step, it's quite old."

"Wow." I murmured studying its surroundings, what's left of it were a few pieces of furniture covered in dust and cobwebs. I took a step away from Dire Crowley, dusted off the red sofa and sat on it.

"Staying here will at least keep you out of the rain." He said, still standing by the door. "Well then, I'm going back to do more research. Please, make yourself at home and don't go wandering around the school or try setting up tents! Goodbye!"

After Dire Crowley left, I returned my gaze back to the horrified mess. I sighed, knowing that I have a lot of cleaning to do. I rose up from the sofa and went to go find the broom. "Well, at least I have something to do...The dust kinda looks like snow." I wondered, looking up to see a classic chandelier with crystals hanging.

Once I found the broom, the rain started to pour heavily outside. The ceiling began to leak unsightly through old paint, and cracks. I shook my head and grumbled. "Great. It's raining..." I started sweeping the floor.

"Hyiii! It's really coming down!"

I stopped cleaning once I recognized its voice. I rolled my eyes while turning to see Grim cleaning his fur. "What do you want, Grim."

He started laughing after he finished cleaning his fur. "Gyahaha! You've got this stupid look on your face, like a spider being attack with a water gun!"

"Oh really? Gosh, I wish I had a water gun right now, so I can shoot that stupid smile off your face." I said, leaning against the broom. Grim didn't say anything but gave me a slight frown, but smirks.

"Whatever. I'll have no trouble sneaking back into the school. Come on, come on. If you think getting thrown out is gonna make me give up on getting in? Heh! You've got another thing coming freckles!"

"Uh, okay?..." I blinked. "Tell me, why do you want to get into this school?"

"That's simple! I'm a genius who is destined to be a great magician! I've been waiting for the Ebony carriage to come pick me up But..But.." Grim voice trailed off, with his ears sadly lowered, but they rose up again and grumbled. "Hmph! The Dark Mirror just doesn't have an eye for this. So that's why I came here on my own!"

"Yeah." I smirked and resumed sweeping the floor. "I wonder why."

"Hey! Not letting me in would be a loss for the world, humans just don't get it." I just rolled my eyes while dumping the dirt out the window with the dustpan I've found with the broom.

"Nyaa! So cold! The roof is leaking!" Grim yelped, as the leak touched his head. Missing his ears by the inch. "Gyaa!! It keeps coming! My adorable ear fire is gonna go out at this rate!" He shielded his ears.

"Guess we need to find a bucket then." I said, putting the broom down by the sofa, and went to go look for a bucket as Grim followed. "Magic should fix this leak up real quick, wait I forgot you can't use magic and you're a girl! Pfft! You're useless."

I stopped in my tracks to look back at Grim. "You know what, I can just throw your little butt out the door if you wanna be a jerk. Or be useful and help me!"

"Huh? Help you? No waaay! I'm just a regular monster staying in a rainy place! If you want my help, you better get a can of tuna ready before I do any work." He smirked.

"Grr...why you..Okay! Whatever, fine! Let's just go before the leaks get any worse." I shouted, marching down the ramshackle hallway with Grim with me as the floor creaked.

"Huh?" I stopped, once I heard it. "Did you hear something?" Then three ghosts suddenly appeared in front of me. They wore the same hat and cape but had different size shapes.

"We haven't had a guest in so long..." One said

"I'm itching for some action." The three of them started laughing.

"GYAAAAAA!!!!!!" I screamed running off down the hallway leaving Grim.

"Huh? What are you freaking out-" Grim felt his furry spiked up as he saw the three ghosts and screamed. "Gyaaaaaa!!! G-Ghost!!"

"Hey! That's rude. The people living here got scared and left, just like your friend." The small ghost said, pointing at me to where I was hiding. Then the fat ghost reappeared behind me and smiled. "Hey, we've been looking for more ghost pals. How about you guys?"

"Gyaa!? Get away from me!!" I jumped from my spot and ran back to Grim. He shook off his fear and mighty puff out his white chest.

"Grim the great magician isn't afraid of some ghosts!" He spat out his blue fire at one of the ghosts and missed. The tall skinny ghost just laughed at his lack of aim. "Where were you aiming?"

"Over here, over here! Heeheehee!" The fat one laughed making Grim frustrated.

"Grr...Shoot! Stop disappearing!" He hissed and fired at them again.

"Hey watch it! You'll just end up burning us and the place down!" I shouted at him.

"Shut up freckles! Don't try to give me orders!"

I let out an annoyed groan at the stubborn feline. "Look! I'll give you a can of tuna, if you can beat those guys!" A gleam of light lit up from his huge eyes and can see a drool slipping away from the corner of his mouth. "Wha...!? Mmmgmm...I'm a genius. I won't let one.."

"Heeheehee!" The three ghosts laugh loudly as they startle Grim from his thoughts. "Bunch of cowards ganging up on us!" He hissed.

"We're gonna be ghosts if you don't defeat them! I promise, for a limited time, I'll give you one more can of tuna!" I bribe him, hoping that will seal it. Grim growled with hesitation but immediately accepted my offer. "Grr...Fine! Tell me where the ghosts are!"

"On your left!" I shouted to where the ghost was. Grim then releases his blue fire and hits one. "Hot!!" The tall ghost screamed in agony.

"Huh? I hit it! Alright, let's chase them outta here!" Grim cheered and was ready to go all out. I cracked a smile at him, and nodded.

"On your right!" I shouted, Grim then shoots to his right and hits the three ghosts. "Ouch!! Hot, hot, hot!!" They screamed.

"Again on your left!" I shouted again, as he turned to shoot his left releasing a massive waves of fire at them "Fugnaaaa!!"

"Hee, heeeeeee! We're goners! Run away!!!" The three ghosts fled and disappeared. "Eh? We won?" Grim opened his eyes.

"Yes! You did it Grim, you were amazing!" I said, kneeling down to his level and smiled.

"Ha, hee...That was sc- No! I wasn't scared at all!" Grim shouted, puffing out his chest."This is nothing for the great Grim! How 'bout that, ghosts? You done?" I stopped as I heard footsteps approaching our way, I got up and saw Dire Crowley holding a tray of food.

"Good evening Blair! I have graciously brought you supper!" There was a pause, when Dire Crowley saw Grim standing next to me. His smile immediately dropped. "Huh!? You're the monster that ran amuck during the entrance ceremony! I threw you out of the school, why are you still doing here!?"

"Hmph! I exterminated the ghost problem! Be grateful!" Grim hissed.

"Eh?" He looks at him confused. "What do mean by that?"

I approached Dire Crowley to explain what happened. "Grim here protected us from those ghosts that tried to murder us! We battled and chased them out."

"Huh!? You didn't fight them, I did! You just ran off screaming like a girl!" Grim hisses at me, I frowned, shouting at him.

"Um excuse me, I am a girl! I instructed you where to hit them! If it weren't for me, this whole place could've been on fire by now!!"

"Says the one who can't use magic!" Grim points at me, I gasped.

"Says the raccoon who can't be a student!"

Dire Crowley held the tray of food with his free hand, and digged for the whip from his coat. Ending our argument by whipping his cord between us, making Grim and I depart from each other's faces. "GYAA!?" We both screamed in unison.

"Stop this instant!" He shouted at the both of us, putting the whip back into his coat pocket. "That's better, back to the topic. Now that you mentioned it, there were some prankster ghosts living here so students keep away from this dormitory. That's why it's now empty, I'd forgotten that. However, huummm..."

"However what?..." I've asked, waiting for him to say something.

"For you two to work together to get rid of them." Grim frowned crossing his arms, disliking the whole idea that Dire Crowley said.

"I'm not gonna overlook that 'together' comment. She just stood there watching me! I only did this for a can of tuna. Ah! I haven't gotten that tuna yet! Where's my tuna!?" Grim looks at me with a slight frown.

"I dunno Grim, not after what you've said." I said with a shrug.

Before Grim could hiss at me, Dire Crowley interrupted. "I'd like the two of you to show me how you exterminated those ghosts."

"But we already got rid of all the ghosts! Before that: Give. Me. Tuna!" Grim demanded.

"I shall be the ghosts. If you beat me, I'll give you tuna cans. For that I am gracious." He said with a smile and digs for a small jar from his pocket and gulps it whole. "Transformation potion!" Dire Crowley's body formed into a ghost, resembled the ones from earlier we fought.

"Eeeeeh. I don't wanna." Grim pouted. "This is a pain and I have to team up with her again."

"Think about it Grim." I said, coming to stand next to him. "This might be a chance to get into the school!"

He growled with frustration, easily giving in and accepts the challenge. "Grrnuu...This is the last time! You absolutely, absolutely have to give me tuna!