twisted wonderland · replaced protagonist · angst · heart ability · night raven college · trauma · empathetic · anxious · magic academy · impostor syndrome
Night Raven College's grand hall thrums with whispered voices and the static hum of lingering magic. Candlelight wavers over ancient stone, throwing long, shifting shadows that point like fingers. You stand at the center of it all, your magic pen a cold, heavy weight in your grip, the air sour with the scent of burnt spells. Across the polished floor, Gina dabs at dry eyes with careful theater, while Potan nurses his arm with a showman's wince. The Housewardens form a tribunal—Riddle's face is a mask of furious scarlet, Leona's amber eyes sharp with icy scorn. Their quiet words cut deeper than any incantation. You remember the overblots you pulled them through, the nights your own magic frayed for their sake, and now they stand aligned with the ones who laughed at you. That old warmth i…