Chapter Text
~ 1943, Blackmore Academy's Orientation ~
"With a rounding applause from staff, faculty, and parents alike: Welcome to Blackmore Academy young leaners!" The Principle of Blackmore Academy shouts throughout the fancy and rich auditorium. The sound of it all is deafening enough from the echoes her voice produces thanks to how much space is around. But it only gets worse by the rounding cheers and hands clapping together by future classmate and their obnoxious parents.
Well, you'd call it the worst if your name was Darcy Graves. Daughter of two big-time defense attorneys, the odd one out in the family, and a future necromancer. At least, that's what she told people she'd become if they didn't stop bullying her (Quick news flash...they never did. Shocking). As the crowd's excitement died down though, her body became less tense and more focused on her surroundings a bit more. What she saw around her were a variety of students from different backgrounds, all of which still on the wealthier side but their (parents') statuses said it all.
One kid was proclaiming to know ever organ in the body by memory, all 50 of them...Graves gave it her all to try and not hold in her laugh when eavesdropping that. Another was showing off their flashy dresses and necklaces. Wonderful, it all goes so well in making you a future victim of a midnight theft. You pull it off so well. She didn't outright say it to that girl's face, but she wouldn't bottle it up either. Got to make a outstanding first impression her parents told her, but every time she tried, the other kids would be spooked. So, why even bother? Graves decided she tried her best once trying, and failing, to get close to a group of nerdy girls. But as soon as she tried to socialize to them about anything, one fainted from her spooking them, another enthusiastically tried to quiz her a subject she didn't even know, and the other furrowed her brows and yelled "WITCH!"
'Outstanding enough for you two?' Graves thought to herself, wanting to curse her parents more than she already does. She began walking away in a quickened haste and scoured the large room before her eyes spotted the exit. A early leave out of this hell-hole is what she needed. And while did so, she couldn't but gawk at a large crowd forming right besides it, with two peculiar looking individuals at the center of it all. One was tall and broad, horns and a tail connected to their body, and their skin was a very dark crimson, maroon type of skin tone. The other one was much, MUCH, smaller than the former, having the same features but his skin was more that of a apple or cherry. Ixians. Graves remember learning about them from her sister once so she wasn't fully in awe about their whole race, she just never got the chance to meet one in person before. Still, that would be enough sight-seeing for one day, as Graves turned heel to leave though, in the corner of her eye she saw the Ixian boy look back at her. And that one gaze of pure...whatever the hell it was made her stop and look back.
She didn't know what to really do from there, but she did see the Ixian boy look up, seeing the other Ixian talking with some people before breaking away from the crowd as swift as he could. Not a bump, nor a misstep of any kind to alert them he was gone, and he was walking towards her. After a few moments of portraying what she'd be like but as a statue, Graves finally made a move...opposite of where she wanted to go. She was moving TOWARDS HIM. Her internal self wanted out of this building already, but her body wanted to see where this lead to As they both spotted mere feet away from each other. The boy looked at her appearance from a closer angle now; white hair, pale features, eyes glowing, academy clothing but muddied up on the bottom and with leather boots. Graves did the same for him, he was sporting the male academy outfit to a T, but with the added addition of kneepads and shoulder pads strapped tightly onto him. She didn't know as to why, but it seems as though she'd get a chance to know.
Why?
Because low and behold, the Ixian isn't a mute. That's freaking why.
"You look very disheveled." The Ixian boy said towards Graves. "Are you unwell? If so, I'll take you to the nurse. I'm sure she has her office open just in case of something happening."
"No, I'm not sick or broken. This is just how I look." Graves stated, a bit abruptly actually. "Its like if I said you look weird to me."
"Well you possibly never met an Ixian before, have you? I saw your staring from over there, hence why I am now in your presence." The Ixian boy stated, giving her a light bow. Graves found his wording to be...interesting to say the least. But she had a sly smirk plastered on her face for such a comeback already.
"Ah right, and who am I thanking for letting me be in their presence again?" Graves asked the boy, who lifted his head up as well as his body while giving Graves a confused stare. "What? Can't I get to know the name of the only person who hasn't called me a monster or a witch today?"
"I- no. You definitely can. It's just, I've never been not-recognized before." The Ixian boy said, the other part akin to a mutter. Graves just gave him a slight shrug which had him cough his voice to become more clear and smile brightly at her. "But if you really don't know. you're in the presence of North Ixia's future leader, Apollo." Now knowing the name of this very pompous person, Graves decided it was time to leave.
"Well nice to meet you Apollo. I'm Graves. And now I am on the track to leaving this place. Good talk, good bye." Graves went to turn heel like she planned for over 5 to 10 minutes ago, but was soon stopped by a grasp at her wrist. Looking slowly back towards Apollo, giving him a menacing glare he quicky retracted his hand and held it and the other up in defense. "Don't. Don't ever touch me like that again, do you hear me?"
"Right...sorry. I apologize for that approach. Just wanted to know why you're leaving so early." Apollo asked her, only for Graves to be walking away as she gave him an answer. He followed after her, but not before looking back to see if anyone else was seeing them both vacate the building.
"Got fed up with it all, I need me some quiet from all that shouting and cheering." Graves said, not questioning why Apollo followed her out but looking over him with a squint in her eyes. "You, literally would never get it."
"Why would I ever want to be isolated in the first place? My father said to always make an impression. And where to make it the most than in a crowd?" Apollo replied back, giving Graves a snarky grin back as he said it. "And it like you said; you wouldn't get it yourself."
"Like I'd ever want to." Graves immediately shot back.
"Of you wouldn't you're not nearly as important as me." Apollo said back to her.
"Oooh, you're royalty. Big whoop, only being likable because of your status."
"Well last time I checked, I was on the verge of making tons of lovely friends. And when I saw you walking out, you had not a single person following you."
"Oh yeah, like I'd want to be friends with either back-stabbing bitches, or egotistical mega-minds that'd call me incompetent for not knowing the different of a single missing atom in a formula."
"Maybe you're just fit to be a loner!"
"And maybe you're fit to be a nepo-baby!"
"Loner!"
"Whiner!"
"NOBODY!"
"BARGAINING CHIP!"
The two would begin getting into a heated shouting match for a short time, only stopping once their breath grew heavy and the still realized most of the school was still inside the building. Both eyes stared daggers into the other, with Apollo breaking contact by closing his and breathing in deep to get air back into his eyes and compose himself. "Waste of time. I'll try not to get in your hair any further, Graves." Apollo said before making his trek back inside the auditorium. "A shame we can't connect. You honestly surprised me a bit."
"Oh yeah?" Graves said, crossing her arms and stepping forward a bit more. "Why's that?!"
"You look and act unique." Apollo said with a genuine hurt expression on his face. "Like you're the first person to ever tell me the truth for once." Before Graves could ask on further, he was already inside with the door shutting behind him.
Now looking back at the spot where he said those words, Graves nearly went walking back into the building before stopping. What was she doing? Was she becoming weak over all that already? A glimmering light formed by delusions of finally finding someone she could connect with? Yeah right, he probably wanted to play 'Mr. Hero' and befriend the loner. Make her seem dependent only on him and reputation alone, before others came along and he'd eventually drop her. Graves shook her head and turned back around, headed towards the wide opens gates to the outside city, her mind still gazing on what he said.
'...shame we can't connect....first person to tell me the truth...'
"Just lies. He just wants to use me."
~ 1943 Blackmore Academy, Headmaster's Office ~
it was the middle of their first year and everything went off well at first. Graves only heard of Apollo's name being spread around the campus from others. Apparently he not only joined the fencing team, but was dubbed the captain of it due to his skillful swordsmanship. Graves herself never saw it in person, but from she heard from others? It seems the prince isn't just all talk. But that's not at all the only surprising thing to do with him, as in just a few months. He and someone else managed to get the highest scores in a hard-hitting test of the semester. So much so, it sparked a debate on who was smarter: Golden boy Apollo as she liked to nickname him, or...herself. Yep. Graves was actually smart as all hell, when she feels like she needs to be.
And when she saw her score on that board with her classmates, that was the second time she saw his face of genuine astonishment. He was looking up at the paper when she gazed as him, his ember colored eyes fixated on the dead tree skin that told of their scores. his was a 99%. Hers was the exact same. But just as quick as she stole a glance, she'd quickly fixed her gaze towards the paper once his head made the slightest movement towards facing her. After a bit she decided to flee the now crowded area, in the corner of her eye seeing Apollo hesitate to try and make contact with her, before deciding not to. And apart of her felt some more of prick from that notion, but ignored it.
They remained distant and avoiding one another for a good couple of weeks right after that meet-up, but this peace wouldn't last forever when the Headmaster of the academy called Graves up to her office. Now Graves thought it'd be for a number of things, falling asleep in her classes, picking verbal fights with other students (and winning them), or possibly the fact a rumor started with her having a lich's hand in her backpack that she speaks to...which is true but she wants to stay as a rumor. Helps keep people away from her, might not work well with faculty if she threatens to leech their lifeforce away. Back to the topic at hand though, she was right outside the door of the Headmaster's office, and she was very much not ready for whatever she had in store for her, but she could always assume the worst possible outcome. Twisting the knob of the door she walked inside and began to introduce herself.
"Sorry I'm late, but you called for a Darcy...Graves...."
You know what? Graves has to admit she was wrong here, so very wrong. She was prepared for threats of expulsion, suspension, summer schooling, anything to do with her attitude, literally anything at all besides seeing HIM again. As their eyes met, she looked at her with shock before it turned to annoyance, turning his head away and back towards the Headmaster. Graves didn't really pay him no mind and walked right up towards the desk where the Headmaster was sitting at, looking between both students with a skeptical look.
"Well...since you both are here, one unfortunately later than the former I might add," The headmaster said to which Graves her Apollo snicker under his breath. "we can get this meeting over and done with now!"
"Pardon me for asking but, what meeting exactly?" Apollo asked, with both him and Graves sharing a confused look this time around. "I wasn't aware of this happening, nor know why she has to be here too."
"Oh, my apologies. I never mentioned this in orientation but to answer your question Mr. Apollo, I'd like you have you two buddied up!" The headmaster answered him, causing shock to fill both of their faces. "I sense tension here, are you two alright?"
"No, far from it!" Graves stated. "Why do I got to be paired up with Mr. Silver spoon?"
"Oh like I'd ever want to be a learning bud for the necromancer weirdo!" Apollo said back, with Graves sticking her tongue out at him. "Heh, such childish tactics."
"Oh stuff it strawberry."
"Wha-what did you just say to me?"
"Strawberry. Because you're as red as one."
"You insignificant-"
"ENOUGH!" The headmaster's voice boomed in the office, causing both students to stop their bickering. "Both of you are the smartest in the school as of this year. While both of your methods and track records are VASTLY varied, you still somehow make the grades possible for both of you to go to very lovely colleges. And I as headmaster wish for you both to work as one to have that goal be set right." The headmaster explained to them both, with both Graves and Apollo still not being on board.
"So are we the only ones singled out?" Graves asked.
"No, we did this with everyone. Some protested though, many actually. It seems Apollo hear already has fans who await us to make a 'decision' on who gets to be his lab partner, study buddy, you get the idea."
"Of course, what else is new?" Apollo said with a smug look on his face.
"You gaining some humbleness?" Graves said under her breath.
"Any-whom, now that I explained that to you both; I expect you two to work as well as I anticipate you will. You'll be working on group assignments together and earning the grade on them together. And it goes without saying that I encourage whatever hostility you have towards the other, please drop it as of today. Am I clear?"
The headmaster looked at them both with a stern cold stare in her eyes, to which both Apollo and Graves felt a sense of dread wash over them once they felt it metaphorically pierce them straight through. And as the first collective thought they both had, as lab partners, they both shook their head simultaneously. this brought a smile on the headmaster, who looked at them both with that same cheerful smile. To how someone could switch their expressions from happy and friendly to, 'I will end your life' in a matter of seconds, is beyond them both.
"Then I think we're done here! Lovely chatting with you both, you're free to go." The headmaster said, gesturing for them to leave.
Graves took the notion and sped-walked out of the place, panting and hunched over from the breath she held in. While she did so, the door behind her opened and closed again, with a pair of lanky legs stopping in front of her. She didn't need his sass right now..."I-I hate this so much."
"Feelings mutual. But, she is right." Apollo said, causing Graves to slightly look up at him. "We were almost at each other's throats back there. And if what she said has a bit of truth towards it, we may be hurting our chances of the education we could be worthy of once we're done here."
"That...that's actually smart to think on. Goddamn it, I hate agreeing with you." Graves said, choosing to lay her back on a wall behind her. "So what? We just become buddies now?"
"Not at the moment, but...I guess second chances are made for a reason, right?" Apollo said, holding out his hand to her. "Hello, I'm Apollo. And you are?"
Graves looked down at his hand and back at him. His hand was barely sweaty, but his facial expression was, for a better description, crooked. He looked unsure about it all, and she couldn't blame him. The last time they talked, really talk, was at the literal start of their year. And now we're just supposed to bury the hatchet and call it a day? Graves almost had half of her sanity left to just laugh in his face and try to do this solo. But doing so would incur the wrath of, that thing. She decided to grip Apollo's hand as firm as she could while staring back at him. If he was on board with it, just to make his grades better, then why not help make that wish come true?
"Darcy Graves. It's...nice to meet you Apollo."
"Nice to meet you too, Darcy."
"Hm...sorry." Graves said out of no where, confusing Apollo for a bit.
"Come again? Sorry for what exactly?" Apollo asked her.
"Sorry for not showing up for your fencing game. but from what I've heard, you did g-...alright."
"Oh, well...thank you." Apollo said, trying to process the compliment given to her. "If we're all apologizing then...I'm sorry for the harmful words I said back then. I now realize you're just as capable as being her than anyone else. And to that I am...at fault here."
Apollo looked down at the ground in defeat, assuming Graves would be laughing at his sentimental words but was surprised to feel her pat his back softly, and then give him a smile right after.
"Oh calm it down, all those words never bothered me before. I was actually amused at you not being over petty arguments."
"Well...some arguments require a approach that'd eradicate it, and some people who can't get your side just need to be...vroom vroom." Was all Graves said gaining a chuckle from Apollo. "See what I mean?"
"Y-yes...very. O-Oh-ho-hoh-hoh...my sides feel like I've been jabbed. Oh, it's gone now." Apollo said, hunching over and holding one hand on his stomach. "But that was a good one, honestly, starting a new leaf, right?"
Graves shrugged. "I guess so. Just try not to be annoying and we can get through this, yea?"
"I could say the same to you." Apollo said back with a cocky grin, causing Graves to just roll her eyes and smile softly at the retort. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yea. I'll see you tomorrow too."
"See you soon, Golden boy."
"Likewise, witch."
"NECROMANCER!"
"In training."
"I'll summon skulls to bite you. Then eat you."
"...You're such a prick."
"Learned from the best."