Twisted Wonderland

Accident Suspicion

"Man..." Grim sighs.

The cat lays down on his back on the coffee table, looking to the ceiling in dismay. "If I can't be in the Spelldrive tournament, then what's even the point anymore?"

You shake your head, looking through the various polaroids you've taken with the ghost camera. "Being melodramatic much?"

A ghost materialized next to Grim, floating a little above him. "What's wrong, Grimmy? Something got ya down?"

The tubby ghosts floats over to the table. "He's sulking because he can't play in the Spelldrive tournament."

"If you wanna play Spelldrive that badly, why, we can play with ya!" The lanky ghosts suggests. "I was the team captain ninety years ago, y'know. The girls in the stands couldn't get enough of me!"

Grim sits up, looking at the ghosts quizzically. "Yeah, but wouldn't we need seven people?"

"It's not a real match, so who cares? Let's just play!"

The ghosts rush out the door, going through the wood. Grim excitedly runs after them. You laugh and follow after them.

After playing a few rounds, the game makes a lot more sense. You essentially toss a frisbee-like disk and try to get through the other teams goal. So basically it's soccer but with a frisbee instead of a ball.

"Good day."

Turning, you see Crowley walk to the gates leading to your dorm.

"Playing some Spelldrive?"

"Aaand here comes the Fun Police." Grim glowers at the Headmage. "There goes my good mood, right down the drain."

"I'm pleased to see you're all getting along. Quite pleased indeed." Crowley smiles at you and Grim playing with the ghosts.

Grim rolls his eyes. "Yeah, they just keep comin' back anyway. Might as well get along, I guess. Did you want something, or..."

"I have a request to make of you both. Why don't we take this inside?"

You and Grim share a look, both not liking this surprise visit already.

Once inside, Grim flops onto the couch with folded arms. "Seriously? MORE requests? I ain't a part of your janitorial staff anymore, y'know!"

Crowley tilts his head. "Oh? You DO recall that I never promised to cover the living expenses you've been racking up, yes? Hard work can be a beautiful thing, Grim. I'm sure you agree, Y/N?"

You sigh and sit next to Grim. "I guess I have no choice but to agree."

The Headmage clears his throat. "I'll get straight to the point. There has been a rash of students being hurt in suspicious incidents on campus lately. I'm here to ask you to investigate the matter."

Grim tilts his head. "Suspicious incidents?"

Crowley nods. "Yes. Students falling down stairs, getting burns from boiling water, and so forth. The specifics of the incidents differ, but the nurse's office has had a clear spike in patients over the last few days."

Crowley puts a hand to his forehead. "With yesterday's incident on the stairs, we now have ten wounded students. We're just fortunate that none of the injuries have been life-threatening... yet."

"Ya sure it ain't just kids bein' clumsy?" Grim asks.

"I'm sure many of our students are too distracted by the upcoming tournament to focus properly." The Headmage agrees. "But this is far more accidents than we've had in the past years. Furthermore, all of the wounded students were considered contenders to make their dorms' teams.

Grim perks up, now interested. "Oooh, NOW this is gettin' interesting."

You put a hand to your chin. "So you don't think they were accidents, then?"

Crowley smiles and nods. "An excellent deduction, Y/N. However, we have no evidence of foul play. All of the accidents happened in public spaces, and all of the witnesses said the same thing: it looked like he was just being careless."

"Sounds like they were just bein' careless, then." Grim wipes his paws, acting like he helped. "Case closed! Glad we could sort that out. Bye!"

"Not the most thorough of investigations, Grim." Crowley shakes his head.

"But this has got nothin' to do with me! I can't even participate in your dumb tournament!" Grim folds his arms again. "So what do I care what happens?"

"I'm sorry to hear that, especially after I'd prepared such a magnificent reward for you..."

You look to Grim who only smirks. "Ha! I ain't fallin' for that line again! I wouldn't do it even for a hundred cans of tuna!"

Crowley tilts his head, examining the claws on his hands. "But what if I allowed you to participate in the Spelldrive tournament?"

"Oh boy, there it is." You roll your eyes.

Grim stood up on the couch, eyes wide. "PARDONNE MOI?"

"Should you solve the case, I'll generously permit your dorm to enter the Spelldrive tournament."

Crowley glances to Grim, knowing he already got the cat hooked. "What do you say to that? Surely you're dazzled by my altruism?"

"Myah... Myahaha!"

You bring a hand to your head. "Man you make this too easy for everyone."

"As a participant, the whole world will lay eyes upon your majesty." The Headmage continues. "Just imagine the cheers echoing from the sold-out stadium seats! 'This year's most promising rookie, the mighty Grim, has taken the field! Hurrah!' And so on."

Grim closes his eyes, imagining the stands cheering his name. "Oh, man. It's like I can already taste it..."

Crowley shakes his head sadly. "Ah, but of course, you have refused my offer. How unfortunate. Let's forget this ever happened."

Crowley starts walking towards the door but Grim bolts in front of him. "No, wait! WAIT! I'm in! I'll do it!"

Crowley tilts his head, quirking an eye. "What's that? You'll do it, you say?"

"If you'll let me into the tournament, you bet!" Grim turns to you. "Right, Y/N?"

You roll your eyes. "Fine. But don't we need seven players for a team?"

"As school headmage, I will simply perform a magical miracle to fill out your team somehow." Crowley informs.

Grim excitedly rushes over to you, hoping onto your lap. "We can work out the details later! C'mon Y/N, we got a crime to solve!"