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vaporvipermedia · 2 years

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“I shall reveal the ones who threaten you.”

I am so excited to finally add my special little Kei to @deiformlover TWST YOKAI AU!!!!!! It is safe to say that I am truly proud of this result! Hopefully you’ll feel the same way too!

Ungaikyo!Kei the Watcher of NRC

Description:

Kei in this universe is an Ungaikyo, a haunted mirror that has transformed into a conscious being. She resides inside the NRC mirrors, keeping an eye on the students and the Yokai that appear all over campus. Students are intimidated by Kei because of the way she presents herself, as if she were some noble. But, to their delight, she is a talkative spirit who enjoys company, so much so that she ended up forming bonds with the students with whom she interacted. Whether it was jokes, riddles, or stories, those were always the highlights of Kei's life. However, as the saying goes, "all good things must come to an end."

Kei had noticed that his usual friends were nowhere to be found around the school for several months. He didn't worry at first, reasoning that they could have been sick or simply not in the vicinity of his mirrors. But his relief quickly turned to panic when he noticed missing posters of students...no...his loved ones hanging on the walls of this silent college. Kei discovered the culprit while making his nightly rounds, a large Kitsune feasting on the heart of a student he recognized all too well. Kei was furious and distraught at the sight of that demon chewing and relishing every single bite of that mutilated heart.

Kei was furious at the demon, but she couldn't help but be frustrated with herself. If only she had noticed sooner! If she could only have saved them on time! Maybe they'd still be alive then. As a punishment for her actions and naivety, she decided to hide herself in the attic of the abandoned Ramshackle dorm. After all, what good is she if she can't protect those she cares about? So Kei isolated herself and never wandered the mirrors of NRC; she would be forever enclosed within her pocket dimension, hoping that the students would remember her as the "failure" of NRC students.

How Kei met MC:

MC decided to start cleaning up the shambling dorm since they’re basically living there at this point. When sweeping the creaky floorboards, MC heard muttering of their head. “Was someone in the attic? And if so, when did they get in?” MC didn’t want to deal with any possible intruders but at the same time they didn’t want some random person roaming throughout their “home.” So, MC took the plunge and opened the attic door.

When MC entered, they could clearly hear the muffled noises. Deep within the crowded and dusty attic, something or someone was muttering under their breath. The voice grew louder as they went deeper in, "were they...holding back tears?" Afraid MC quickens their pace and then asks the disembodied voice for assistance. But as MC approached the source of the voice, they realized it was a whimpering mirror, not a person. "A Yokai," MC mused aloud. Curious, the young Ramshackle resident decided to touch the mirror, but as soon as they did, a surprised Kei popped out of his mirror, puzzled as to who could possibly be bothering him at a time like this.

After gradually introducing themselves, Kei began to enjoy talking with MC and even began to exchange personal stories. Kei was terrified when MC mentioned that they didn't have any magic. Knowing full well that if that vile Kitsune got his hands on MC...things would get really gruesome. So Kei took it upon herself to become MC's guide, telling them about NRC's secrets and attempting to warn them about the dangers lurking in the college. Kei, who has finally gained the courage to roam the campus halls again, is now determined to keep MC safe at any cost.

Her Abilities:

Travel through mirrors throughout the entirety of NRC, if there’s a mirror you can bet that she’ll be there

She can manipulate reflections in the mirror she is residing in and those who gaze at the Ungaikyo will see a transformed or monsterous version of themselves. She often does this to scare away Yokai who threaten the MC.

Adding on he can also expose the true forms of Yokai masquerading as humans when reflected in his mirror

While this isn’t an actual ability of hers, Kei has a pocket dimension that houses her and lets her roam around a bit while the MC is away. It is home to a bathhouse, shrine & has moving sleeping quarters. In simple terms, it’s a very complicated but enjoyable living space.

TRIVIA:

Nevertheless, Ungaikyo! Kei is gentle, and she always asks for respect from those she approaches. So, when speaking with her, it is best to address her as Mr. or Ms. Yoshihiko; either way, you can expect to be in her good graces.

Whenever the MC feels stressed out or concerned Ungaikyo!Kei always pops out of his mirror to give them some green tea to help ease their mind.

Ungaikyo!Kei often gets worried when the MC is away so she is often pacing around her dimension waiting for a sign that the MC is ok and well.

Ungaikyo!Kei has acquaintances and even a “servant” that roams the halls of her pocket dimension. Even if you can’t see them you can definitely hear them walking around. Whether that be the sound of large footsteps, the clinking of a gold coin being flipped or the sloshing of water, trust me when I say they’re there & they’re listening.

Whenever MC is in need in help of getting away from dangerous Yokai, MC yells out “Mr./Ms.Yoshihiko!” At a nearby mirror just for a panicked Ungaikyo!Kei to come out and snatch them into the pocket dimension.

Ungaikyo!Kei also goes by He/She in this universe

Reblog are very much appreciated!

#ungaikyo!kei #twisted wonderland #twst oc #oc #twisted oc #my artwork #twst yuu #kei yoshihiko #twisted wonderland oc #twst yokai au #yokai au #yokai au twst #The Watcher of NRC

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evilcokito · 2 years

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Yokai-AU Sam

Finally, the design.

#twst #twsited wonderland #twst Sam #twst yokai au #cocoart #fanservice fairy

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oseathepebble · 1 year

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"I was warm once. . . Now I live in an eternal winter. . ."

I finally finished Tsukiko in @deiformlover 's Yokai AU! Tsukiko is a Yuki Onna yokai! A snow woman who feasts on the life energy of those lost in a snowstorm

More Info Below

Description & Background

Tsukiko is a Yuki Onna yokai who roams NRC campus at night, trying to catch any student out past curfew. Those unfortunate enough to be caught by them are frozen in place until the morning when school staff find and unfreeze them before punishing them for breaking the rules. Tsukiko's duties also extend to catching any students that may have been skipping class or finding any lost in the forest near campus. But it's not always guaranteed that these students make it out of the forest

Only a few people have been able to escape Tsukiko's icy wrath. Tsukiko will never admit it but, the reason why these students have gotten away is because they find them attractive. Their youth and beauty are something they believe they cannot harm

They reside in Ramshackle dorm and are attached to its inhabitants. They often turn a blind eye to any rule-breaking from the dorm's members

People can tell when they enter the area due to the temperature dropping. They carry a cold aura around them, making the area around them very cold

Tsukiko wasn't always a yokai or from that world. On the fateful night they were transported to Twisted Wonderland, they realized their family could care less for them. Heartbroken, they ran away into the cold winter night. They ran and ran, not paying attention to their surroundings. When they finally slowed down, they failed to see the moving vehicle coming straight for them until it was inches away. Unable to get away, they closed their eyes and accepted their fate

Upon opening them, they felt the texture of freshly fallen snow beneath them. They can't remember much from that moment, only that they saw snow, lots and lots of snow, and what seemed to be a large house with a castle further in the distance. They tried to make it to the house only to die from being severely undressed for the cold, cold weather

It turns out they had landed themself in the forest behind NRC campus. and the house they saw was Ramshackle. They eventually came back as a Yuki Onna yokai and became the nightwatchman for NRC

How Tsukiko Met MC

After returning from their night duties one night, Tsukiko went to one of the many empty rooms of Ramshackle dorm. When the MC woke up, they found that the dorm was colder than usual. Upon investigating the cause of the sudden temperature drop, they burst into the room Tsukiko was residing in. Alarmed, Tsukiko was prepared to freeze them, but stopped themself

The MC questioned Tsukiko and asked who they were. Upon introducing themself, Tsukiko asked the MC the same question. They learned bits and pieces of the MC's situation. The MC asked Tsukiko if there was anything they could do about the cold, to which they told them that it wasn't something they can just turn but offered to leave for the time being. Upon promising to return, Tsukiko left the dorm

As the day goes on, the MC runs into Tsukiko a bit more and the two get to know each other a little bit better. Tsukiko offers to protect the MC from afar. But to avoid making them cold all the time, they'll protect from afar and step in as needed

Abilities

Tsukiko is able to freeze solid with their icy breath. The fatality of this varies. Tsukiko tends to do this in a nonfatal way when it comes to stopping those who break curfew. But if they so wanted, they could possibly freeze a student to death. There has been no such incident, one that has been reported that is

They're able to bring down the temperature in a room. The longer they're in one place, the colder it will get. The lowest the temperature has dropped in a room Tuskiko was in was 32°F/0°C, which is the freezing point

A skill that carried over from back when they were human is the ability to fight in hand-to-hand combat or with a kendo sword

A mere touch from Tsukiko can send deep chills through a person

Trivia

Tsukiko's memories of their life before becoming a yokai are very fuzzy. They can remember feelings and shapes of people, but never faces. When asked about their life before, all they say is "I was warm once. . ." Before staring off into space

Tsukiko spends a lot of time outside at night so they've come to love looking up at the stars

No one has ever seen Tsukiko sleep, so it begs the question, do they need sleep? The answer is unknown

During the winter season, as soon as the first snow falls, Tsukiko is seen roaming the campus more. Sometimes you can find random snow families made around the school made by Tsukiko

In any other season, Tsukiko is more confined to a certain routine during the day, attending classes, roaming the forest for any lost students, doing their nightwatch duties, and returning to Ramshackle

Water that comes within a certain radius of Tsukiko starts to turn into ice and with enough time, Tsukiko can completely turn that water into ice by just being near it

Sometimes students that are last seen entering a forest never seem to reappear if Tsukiko enters the forest after them. It really is a shame that those lost students never found their way back to campus

Tsukiko still uses any pronouns in this AU

#yuki onna!tsukiko #tsukiko kawashima #twisted wonderland #twst #twst oc #twst mc #twst yokai au #TSUKIKO #TSUKIKO NO PUT YOUR DOGS AWAY #IT'S NOT SAFE FOR YOU HERE

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starry-night-rose · 1 year

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“Oh would you look at that! That firework looks like a heart! How romantic...”

A Hone Onna! Ellis to wrap up the end of the year! I really missed drawing hone onna! Ellis for @deiformlover ‘ Yokai au! It was (and still is) really fun! I’d like to think that Ellis took MC to see the fireworks for New Years! She used to love going to them when she was alive!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE :D

#ellis clawthorne #my art!#twst yokai au #twisted wonderland yokai au #yuusona #twisted wonderland #twst #yuu

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comingyourlugubriousness · 1 year

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*reading through their file*

...must protecc...

they must be protected!!

AHHHHHHH FAN ART FOR MY BOY THANK YOU SO MUCH I LOVE IT!!! YOU ART STYLE IS SO CUTE!!!

(Don't worry they got a nice moon spirit looking after them. Ah I've said to much, no spoilers~)

#THANK YOU SO MUCH #yume ume #fanart #yume fanart #!!!#twst oc #yuusona #yokai au #kudan yume #twisted wonderland #disney twisted wonderland #twst yokai au

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citrus-cinnamon · 4 months

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#twst yokai au

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altshin · 1 year

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*click for better quality!

Thought the Yokai Au by @deiformlover looked fun so I made my boy into an enenra. It's a type of yokai that is kinda like the personification of smoke.

I'll probably make a proper drawing of him when I'm not too busy.

more details below!

Quick Background:

Sage was an NRC student that died in a house fire that he accidentally caused, as a last resort his mother used all of her magic to transform him into an enenra before dying as well.

Unfortunately, when he transformed he lost most of his memories, he had no idea where he was and what he was doing. So he starts wandering aimlessly with no destination.

Until he arrives in NRC where he sees Vil, For some reason Sage felt like he saw an old friend again despite not knowing who Vil is. Feeling comforted by this feeling he decided to stay

Trivia:

Is a peaceful yokai, the most harm he can do is accidentally scare someone

Pretty weak, he can't stay in his human form for too long since it really tires him out

Can phase through walls in his enenra form.

Coughs a lot, the smoke from the house fire really fucked up his lungs.

His mood goes really down whenever someone brings up mothers.

Sage and Vil were childhood friends before he died.

Very social and loves chatting with the students and the other yokai (if they're friendly)

About MC:

Sage met MC pretty early on, he knew most of the students in NRC so when he heard there was a new person he immediately introduced himself.

He's not really that close to MC but he likes chatting with them whenever they run into each other. Wants to know more about them though.

More detailed reference:

#Enenra!Sage #Yokai AU #twst Yokai AU #twst sage #twisted wonderland oc #sage lavergne #he's more depressed than violent tbh /j

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twisted-wonderland-memories · 8 months

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Minecraft shenanigans with @justalurker-blog

Yokai Ace - @twstedforyou

Riddle - Disney

#riddle rosehearts #ace trappola #twisted wonderland #twst #twst riddle #twst Ace #yokai au #twst minecraft au

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u-makemeunpocoloco · 10 days

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>:3

Look at the yokai chibi Ace I drew on my phone :3

It's fucking midnight right now, but I'm drawing them like idiots. ahahaha At least vacation tomorrow.

Whatever, hmmmm I want to draw more yokai chibi but… which characters do you think I should draw the Yokai Chibi? do you have any suggestions?

#ace trappola #art #drawing #Chibi ace #Chibi art #Chibi ace trappola #twst wonderland #digital art #twst fanart #disney twisted wonderland #disney twst #twst ace #yokai au #Yokai ace #kitsune #Kitsune ace #twisted wonderland #my art

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vaporvipermedia · 1 year

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A HAPPY YOKAI NEW YEAR!!!

This New Year I had an idea that I shared to Cupid (@deiformlover) about drawing our Yokai Characters celebrating the New Year in absolute pretty clothing! So you know I had to put Ungaikyo!Kei in the most pretty outfit because it’s what he deserves.😌

I’m so happy to have joined this community this year!!! I also can’t wait to continue with various projects I have in mind. So thank you all for following me and being one of my beloved mutuals!

LETS GET READY FOR 2023! (That sound so scary ngl💀)

Bonus:

You know what’s pretty sad when I now look at it? This is the first time in a century that she ever had a candy apple ever since she banished herself to her mirror. Thinking that she shouldn’t have any sweets or anything gratifying, because he wasn’t able to save his beloved friends from a grizzly death on time. But now, she’s finally more comfortable enjoying nicer foods and deserts ever since she was able to keep MC safe. Ya know, just some angsty food for thought.

ANYWAYS HAVE TRANSPARENT VER OR WHATEVER-

Kei’s pronouns in this universe is also He/She

#twst yokai au #yokai au #yokai au twst #twisted wonderland #twst oc #oc #twisted oc #my artwork #twst #twst yuu #kei yoshihiko #ungaikyo!kei #yokai new year #twst mc #twst yokai au mc

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britishassistant · 1 year

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People Die When They Are Killed (So Let’s Keep You Breathing)

“Kalim!” His footsteps pound as he races through the hallways of the school, breath coming in harsh pants. “Kalim!!”

Not here. He’s not at the front desk, not in the classroom, not in the Light Music Club room, so where—?!

Jamil’s eye catches the full moon rising outside the window.

He grimaces and throws open the next door.

He’s got to find him. The punishment for returning to the Asim compound without Kalim doesn’t bear thinking about. And that’s even if his stupid master has just done something totally innocuous in the name of having a “proper Japanese high school experience”, like go over to one of his many, many friends’ places for a “jam session”.

On the night of the start of the Fifth Holy Grail War.

The back of Jamil’s hand itches.

He grits his teeth. It’s a rash, just a rash, nothing more. He’s Kalim’s aide, a servant, maybe one with the potential for magecraft, but nothing compared to the Asim heir, one of the seven participants in this new Grail War.

He’s the one to do the dirty work, take care of the practicalities of technology and slit throats in back alleys. If they ever thought differently…

Why did he humor Floyd’s mood in basketball club this evening?! If he hadn’t, he and Kalim would be safe in the compound, preparing for the summoning. Instead he’s running through a dark school, searching for—!

“Jamil?”

He whips around on his heel to see Kalim emerge from a storage closet.

“Ah! Jamil!” The stupid, asinine, self-absorbed, obsequious, pusillanimous blockhead cheers as he waves. “Did’ja come here looking for me? Sorry I’m so late! Lilia asked me and Cater to put all the stuff back after club this evening, but Cater had a date to get to, so I told him to go ahead so I’d do it! But then the guitar amp got jammed, and it scraped the wall, so I was looking for some paint to—”

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve been looking for you?!” Jamil hisses, marching over. “We need to get back to the compound right now!”

“Huh? Why?” Kalim tilts his head to the side.

Jamil fights the urge to pull his hood over his face and scream.

“It is,” The very edges of his tone are teetering with enforced politeness. “The first night of the Holy Grail War. The one that you are summoning a servant for, and participating in. It’s not safe to be outside right now.”

Kalim frowns even as Jamil begins frogmarching him away from the closet and towards the stairs, bucket of paint still in hand. “Well, yeah, but Uncle said that they wanna wait until like, really late to try it, right? And it’s just the first night, everyone else will still be summoning themselves.”

It takes everything Jamil has not to facepalm.

“Except,” He grits out. “There are certain times that are more ideal for summoning certain servants. You’re aiming for Caster at 2AM, but some servants will be summoned later than that, and most will be summoned earlier. And it’ll be a win for the master of the Shroud family or the Kingscholar family if they manage to take their opponents out right away rather than wait until everyone’s summoned and ready. Honestly, do you pay any atten—?”

He doesn’t even see anything coming.

One moment, he’s pulling Kalim along, intent on getting back to the Asim compound—

The next, he’s hitting the ground, instinctually throwing his master under him as the windows next to them explode.

It almost sounds like the very wind itself is trying to kill them, the whines and shrieks of gusts as wave upon wave upon wave of arrows pierce the walls and doors on the other side of the corridor.

Kalim is screaming, crying, and it’s all Jamil can do to try and push him to crawl towards the stairwell.

It’s a servant, he thinks as he tries to ignore the way his heart is pounding, the terror trying to get him to lose focus. The servant of a rival master, taking the opportunity presented to murder the heir to the Asim and any witnesses. Probably Archer, if the arrows are any indication, though Caster or Berserker aren’t totally out of the realm of possibility—

Kalim shrieks again as the windows on the floor below are shattered, the brightly colored fletches quivering where they’ve embedded themselves in the floor.

Right. Enemy servant. They need to either get out of the building (bad idea, open space with nowhere to hide from the threat, death sentence) or else find somewhere to hide and call for help.

Somewhere the servant can’t easily pick them off from the outside—!

“The coach’s office,” He gasps, “Behind the locker rooms, go Kalim, go!!”

Kalim’s eyes are wet and scared, but at least he responds to Jamil’s order, nodding and darting down the stairs as fast as he can, running bent double with Jamil hot on his heels.

The locker rooms are on the ground floor, right by the stairs. While they had thin slits of windows near the ceiling, to provide some natural light for the occupants, Coach Vargas’ office, piled high with dusty paperwork and sparkling trophies, does not have the same luxury. Small, contained, with no easy access from the exterior—it’s the only truly secure room in the building that they can easily reach.

Kalim raced through the door and Jamil pushes it shut behind them, frantically straining to drag the coach’s desk in front of it and fumbling around in the dark to find the fire extinguisher and loop it’s cord around the handle, just to be sure.

There’s a moment where he and Kalim are panting in the dark, ears straining to hear anything.

A distant crash.

His phone is in his hand before he even knows what he’s doing, jabbing in the number for Jakuzure-san, the senior steward of the Asim compound in this country.

“Viper-san?” Comes Jakuzure-san’s indistinct, shaky voice. “Where are you and Kalim-sama? The masters expected you both back—”

“We’re at Night Raven College.” Jamil says, barely able to keep the panic out of his tone. “Kalim and I, we were—there’s a servant outside. They’re using arrows, they’re trying to kill us, I, I don’t know if the master is nearby or not. We’re in the coach’s office, hiding for now, but it won’t last long. We need help, backup, now.”

“A-ah! Right!” Jakuzure-san’s voice gets even more tremulous, if possible. “I shall inform the masters, and they shall have our contingent of mages—!”

“Jakuzure? Who’s that?” Are the muffled words that Jamil can barely make out.

“Namir-sama! It is Kalim-sama’s aide, Viper-san. They are trapped at Night Raven College by a rival servant!” Jakuzure-san wails.

“What?!” Jamil can hear Namir Al-Asim’s voice much more clearly as he raises his voice and gets closer. “That little fool is…wait. Stop. Don’t you dare—! Give me that you doddering old fool—!”

“But Na—!”

There’s nothing but a dial tone.

Jamil stares at the phone in disbelief. He hits redial, and again, and again, and again—!

“Ja-Jamil?” He looks up to see Kalim’s quivering form in the corner, barely able to make out his features in the dark. “Th-they’re coming, right? W-when are they getting here?”

He wants to tell the truth for once, just once. No one’s coming, Kalim. They’ve left us for dead, so that Jawad or Namir can take your place as heir. We’re going to die. We’re both going to die here, in Coach Vargas’ office, and it is all. Your. Fault.

His throat tightens.

“They’re held up. Some other master is trying to get into the compound.” He lies. “We. We need to get ourselves out of this.”

The distant crashes are getting closer.

“Oi~~! Young masters~~! Come out, come out wherever you are~!” The voice calling out is light, boyish, like it could be one of their underclassmen. “It’s seriously lame for super powerful mages like you to go playing hide and seek like little kids! Won’t you come give me a challenge~?”

Kalim’s whimper is like a gunshot. Honestly, does he want this servant to catch—!

Wait.

“Kalim,” Jamil’s whisper feels too loud, far too loud, but this may be the only way they survive this. “Do you remember how to draw the summoning seal?”

“What?” It takes a moment, but he sees the metaphorical lightbulb go off. “Oh! Oh, so if we summon my servant in here, we can deal with the guy outside and go save everyone at the compound!”

“Yeah,” And, Jamil adds in his head, if you have a summoned servant already, then Namir’s plans to usurp Kalim’s place as the Asim representative and heir will come to a screeching halt. “You didn’t drop that can of paint?”

“Nope!” There’s a sloshing sound. “Ah! I think I spilled some.”

It’s hard, trying to ensure the lines and characters are correct when daubing white paint onto the carpet with their fingers by the dim light of Jamil’s phone screen.

Kalim shifts as Jamil places the finishing touches. “Wh-what about the catalyst? It’s back at the compound.”

“We’ll have to do without.” Jamil replies brusquely. “It’ll be harder, but not impossible. Just means we won’t know which servant will come.”

He hears Kalim’s intake of breath as he prepares to ask another question.

The next crash is right outside the office.

“Huh,” The servant’s voice is bright, slightly exasperated. “Are you hiding around here, little princelings? I’ve torn most of the building to shreds, so this is the last place left to look~! Jeez, you brats really love to make a guy work for it, ya know?”

Jamil tries to stifle the terror in his gut as he finishes the last sigil. “There! Kalim, do it now!”

“R-right!” Kalim’s whisper is filled with resolve.

He rubs his hands together, and Jamil feels the small room begin to fill with the cool feeling of Kalim’s magic, like standing by one of the canals or in the spray of a fountain on a scorching day. The incantation rises and falls, like steps to a song almost forgotten.

There’s a muffled thump.

Nothing happens.

“Kalim?” He whispers. “What—?”

Three arrows pierce through the thick, reinforced wood of the fire door to Coach Vargas’ office with sharp, staccato thuds.

“Found you~” The servant sing-songs.

“Kalim,” Jamil starts, volume rising with the number of arrows destroying the door. “Any day now would be great!”

“I-I can’t!”

“What do you mean, you can’t?!” Jamil snaps, stress making his voice crack. “Either you do this Kalim, or we die!”

“I’m trying, I am, but I, I, just—!” And there’s the wobble in his voice that Jamil has hated ever since they were kids, the one always heralded a crying fit, that lead to his parents taking him aside and saying be nice and let Kalim do better than you this time, you need to let him win, he is an Asim after all. “I can’t, Jamil!”

The noise that emerges from his throat is inarticulate and nearly bestial with frustration.

“Get out of the way then!”

“Wha-Jamil!!”

It may be fine for Kalim, who can mess up and mess up and mess up and still be fine because he’s the heir of the Asim, doted on and praised and adored.

But Jamil is a Viper, is the one who always has to clean up these messes, who has to cover for these mistakes, and he has never ever had the luxury of being anything less than perfectly vigilant. Not when it was the life of his master and his own head on the line.

Please, he thinks as he opens the magic circuits he’s avoided using, that he’s been taught to pretend aren’t there, as he recites the incantation he’s not meant to know, somebody, anybody, come here and help me fix this. Don’t let me and my stupid master die like this!

He pushes—!

It burns, like sand scraping the nerves of his arms raw.

There’s a blast of bright light that fills the tiny office and whites out his vision.

The first thing he feels is the cool night breeze on his face.

The next is Kalim, quivering behind him. His hands are fisted tight in his hoodie.

When he finally blinks his eyes open, he finds his master unharmed, if ruining his favorite hoodie with the white paint coating his fingers. Instead Kalim seems to be staring at something…behind…him…

Jamil Viper turns to look.

The figure standing silhouetted in the moonlight is a monstrous one.

Towering horns protruding from its head, its eyes bulging and yellow, the stark white of its face contorted into a fearsome grimace which bare the tusks erupting from its maw. It looks like it walked out of the museums Kalim dragged him to when they first came to this country, thick leather and tarnished steel buckled over flowing, bloodstained silks. It clutches a polearm, the long, thin blade at the top gleaming viciously under the moon.

Behind the figure stands a grotesque beast that can neither be cat nor weasel for all that its features bear some resemblance to those animals. It’s head is maned with what could be an octopus’ tentacles, and its tail and hindquarters are scaled, with a hood cobra head swaying at the end of its tail, tasting the air. The grasping hands which serve as its forepaws clench and uncurl, the black skin of them cracking as the main head swings around to take them in, phosphoric blue flames leaking from its eyes, it’s ears, seeping out from between its bared teeth.

Jamil stares, mouth dry. There’s a throbbing in his right hand.

“I ask of you,” You say. “Which of you is my master?”

The boy with short white hair lets out a whimper and shifts closer to the one with long dark hair. “Ja-Jamil…!”

That one hasn’t stopped staring at you with a mixture of shock and awe since you materialized. Maybe not the most conventional summoning, especially since you can’t really feel much mana flow from him to you, but hey, you’re here, aren’t you?

In a physical body and breathing again since you died, what? Two hundred, three hundred years ago?

You shift your mask to the side of your head to get a better look at the boy you’ll be calling Master for the rest of this Grail War.

Hm. Skinny, but not underweight, some muscle on him from the way he’s crouched in front of his friend (who, white-haired, better fed, less muscular, better quality clothing, adorned with jewels, hiding—silver spoon heir or you’ll eat your mask). Wary line of the mouth, so not some idealistic brat you’ll have to babysit and cater to the whims of. Maybe a bit untrained in the magic department, but there’s potential there, you can feel it. Lovely hair, silky and well cared for, worn long as a samurai’s should be.

And your command seals on the back of his hand.

Not bad. No, not bad at all.

You kneel before the boy—this “Jamil”— and bow your head respectfully before your liege lord. Behind you, you can feel Grim mimic you, as best he’s able.

“Well met, Master. I am servant Rider. I and my allies will be in your care from now on.”

Your Master swallows, licks his lips. Is he nervous?

That’s kind of cute.

Which is, naturally, when you hear a bow being loosed.

Your naginata snaps out, slicing the arrows in half before they can touch your new master.

“Excuse me,” You lift your hannya mask back over your face, turning to confront the interloper. “We are trying to have a civil conversation here.”

The red-headed Archer gasps. “Oh no! I’m so sorry mister, I’ll just put killing you on hold…not. You’re in the Grail War now, newbie! Ya snooze, ya lose.”

“What was that, ya punk?!” Grim snarls, tail lashing and hissing. “Minion! This guy is challenging the authority of the Great Grim Sama! The strongest yōkai and the finest hero who ever lived!”

“And I’ve never heard of you!” The Archer says cheerfully.

Grim lets out an inarticulate shriek of rage.

You sigh as you study the Archer.

That garb…definitely old Europe, pre-1600s at the very least. Noble bearing, but someone who’s got used to roughing it. Plus that red hair and those arrows that strike as fast and true as the wind…

“You know, I always thought you’d be a bit nicer.” You say conversationally, “With the whole tragically dispossessed noble, steal from the rich and corrupt shit. Right, Ace Trappola?”

Ace Trappola, servant Archer, actually begins choking on his own spit.

You guess this is why people say never meet your heroes.

“Wh-how the hell does some freaky-ass masked weirdo know who I am?!” He demands.

“I was born in 1853,” You deadpan. “Even we’d heard of legends like you by then.”

The guy actually scuffs the floor with his boot, lets out a borderline embarrassed laugh as he scruffs a hand through his hair. “W-well, of course you have! You’d hafta be from some backwater to not have heard of—!”

Your naginata swipes across where his throat would have been had he not sprung backwards.

“Yes.” Your sweet smile under the mask is apparent in your voice. “I also heard how you unfortunately died to some monk bleeding you like a stuck pig. I may not have the same level of finesse as he did, but please forgive me if I get too rough, okay?”

Ace Trappola lands in the center of some kind of dusty field, teeth bared in a fierce grin. “That wasn’t cute at all, you know! Ah man, just my luck that I’d be stuck educating a crazy upstart of a junior.”

“First lesson,” The arrow in his bow quivers, appears to split into hundreds and thousands of itself even before being loosed. “Don’t get so cocky, brat.”

The arrow screams as it is fired, blotting out the moon and the stars with how many of them are covering the night sky and converging on you and your master.

“Grim!” You bark.

“On it, fgnah!”

Grim inhales to the point where he’s swollen to almost twice his usual size, the flames around his head sputtering and almost going out.

When he exhales, the night is lit with a torrent of his blue fire.

You knock away a few errant arrows from your master and his friend that managed to escape being melted in the inferno.

“W-wait!” The friend cries. “You, you can’t fight him!”

You blink at the inherent ridiculousness of this statement. “Yes I can. That’s what we’re doing right now. Fighting him.”

“N-no! I mean,” The friend wrings his hands, flaking white stuff. Is that…is that paint? “I mean we don’t have time for you to fight him! There’s, there’s a master attacking the compound, we gotta get there and help them out right away! Right, Jamil?”

Your master says nothing, still staring at you.

“Jamil?!”

“Huh? Oh, ah,” He coughs, suddenly looking anywhere but you. “Yes, Rider, it. It would be best if we made a strategic retreat for now. We need to return to the Asim compound, as we don’t know what Archer’s master is planning.”

You could take him. You and Grim could make mincemeat of Ace Trappola, given enough time and property damage. But if your master says otherwise…

“Alright.” You nudge Grim’s flank. “If that is what my master desires, your wish is my command. Would you be able to direct me and Grim if you rode in front?”

Your master and his friend nod.

“Heh! Be grateful, humans!” Grim boasts as he kneels down and you hoist yourself onto his back. “Thanks to my minion’s begging, I, the Great Grim Sama, shall allow you to ride me!”

The friend scrambles up with all the eagerness of a child mounting their first pony. Your master looks a little more wary as he approaches and grips Grim’s fur to get a good handhold to swing himself up and over.

“Don’t worry,” He stiffens up as you murmur to him. “I won’t let you fall.”

Oh, you think as he clutches at his ear and twists around to stare at you, wide-eyed. You like this one.

“Running away so soon?” Ace Trappola jeers, nocking another one of those multiplying arrows. “As if I’d let you!”

You lean over your master as Grim begins to run, your body weight pressing him and his friend down below the protective mantle of Grim’s manes. You’re not exactly eager to find out what those arrows will do to you if they lodge into you, but better you get turned into a pincushion than your master.

And if this Archer thinks that wielding your naginata one-handed will make you any less precise, then he’s about to pay dearly for it.

You see his arm prepare to let the arrow(s) fly—!

Something large and black comes hurtling through the air and hits Ace Trappola in the face.

You stare as Archer topples over under the weight of…

“Is. Is that a pot?” Your master asks, squinting.

“It’s a cauldron. I think.” You tilt your head.

“Nyaha! Nice one, minion!” Grim cheers, “That’s what you get for messing with the Mighty Yōkai Grim!”

“But that wasn’t—”

“WHAT THE HELL?!” Ace Trappola screeches, flailing under the huge mass of cast iron. “WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?! DID YOU SERIOUSLY THROW A FUCKING CAULDRON AT ME?!”

“It’s dishonorable to attack an enemy’s back.” A serious voice calls. “As heroes, we should obey the laws of chivalry when engaging in our battles.”

The servant who has entered the field is the very picture of a knight in shining armor at first glance. His plate and chainmail gleam under the moonlight, his spear polished to an unearthly sheen.

But his face is decorated with a blue warpaint that makes you suspect his legend is much older and less clean-cut than he initially appears.

“Oh yeah, and it’s real fucking CHIVALROUS to throw COOKWARE at someone fighting a battle that YOU AREN’T INVOLVED IN, DUMBASS!!” Ace Trappola finally unearths himself, looking worse for wear. “What, did your mom drop you on your head ten times over or something?!”

The new servant’s expression darkens.

His posture shifts until he resembles a rowdy brigand more than a noble warrior, the new shadows blotting out some of the gleam from his armor, making it appear rougher and used.

“Hah?!” The blue warpaint turns his face into a mask almost as terrifying as your own. “Ya got somethin’ t’ say about ma lady mother you snot-nosed little fuck?!”

And there it is.

“A lady?” Ace Trappola smirks, bow now aimed at a new target. “That wasn’t what she sounded like last night~”

Wow. You didn’t know someone could turn that color from rage.

The servant—probably a Lancer—launches himself towards the Archer with a war cry.

“As fascinating as this is,” Your master mutters in front of you. “Maybe we should use this opportunity to make our escape?”

“Seems like it could be fun to watch,” You gently nudge Grim’s flanks. “But that probably would be best. Now, we’ll just make our escape qui—”

“FGNAH! SO LONG, SUCKERS!” Grim proclaims at the top of his lungs, heedless of your and your master’s attempts to get him to shut the fuck up. “YOU MAY LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER DAY THIS TIME, BUT THE GREAT GRIM SAMA WILL RETURN TO CONSUME YOUR MEASLY SOULS!!”

With a single bound, Grim leaps from the ground to the roof of the ruined building your master was taking shelter in. He takes a running start, and vaults over the flimsy fence at the top into the air.

Your master and his friend scream.

You grin.

The flames that form beneath Grim’s legs aren’t like wings, you don’t think they serve any practical purpose to help him fly. But it makes for an astonishing sight nonetheless—looking down and seeing blue fire between you and the sprawling city below.

“Fl-flying!” Your master’s friend gasps. “We’re—we’re actually flying!! Look, look Jamil! It’s like we’re on a magic carpet, for real!! We’re flying!!”

“Kalim, be careful!” Your master scolds as he yanks him back from where he was leaning over the side to get a better look. “You are not going to break your neck after everything we’ve gone through to get out of this!”

“It’s not like it’s a big deal.” Grim rumbles beneath you dismissively. “Even if he fell, the Great Grim Sama would catch him, ya know?”

“That’s not the point,” Your master groans.

There’s a faint crash behind you.

You twist around to see Ace Trappola pull himself out of the roof of the ruined building and begin yelling at the Lancer back on the ground.

Did. Did that Lancer try to stop you all from escaping. By throwing another servant?? At you???

You shift back around. “What kind of troublesome war have you gone and got us involved in, Master?”

Your master groans, burying his face in his hand. “Don’t blame me for his incompetence.”

You can’t help the huff of laughter that escapes you with that sentiment. How many times in life have you thought the same thing?

You think this is the start of a beautiful partnership.

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