Twas the time of the cockcrow; fire it did draw; final phantoms fade away. With the paint peeling, the metal had rusted at last. Eating away the nightmare as it had done, he stood before it, with cold pain from loss. His time had at last ended; nothing more to give, much less gain. He did stand before the wreckage, watching the world at last claim its bounty. His breath was heavy, his muscles throbbed, and his bones continued to shake; his scowl plastered on his face as he turned toward the exit. Towards those garish gates, forged from fools' gold, they had parted with a mighty kick. He turned to face the damned place one last time as they rose again. They rose and ran past him; the breeze through his hair, and the delightful laughter swung past his ear. The anger had at last been released, and though small, his elation had at last been felt.
With one last breath he gave, "Purgatory points the way, may the chains dissolve, borders fall, and find your place."
Then, with a strange, shaky shift in his face, the man had at last smiled, tasting for the first time that forgotten feeling of release—the sweet relief of letting everything go after clutching for so long.
Rafe awoke in his wretched bed, knowing he didn't want or need to move; still, he rose and prepared himself for the day's affairs. He went through his old clothes and got ready, then, in the blink of an eye, a letter appeared before him. It gave new instructions from the ladies, telling him about his reassignment. His heart skipped a beat as he got himself together, then sprinted out the door to work. Students filled the Institute of Trinity; most felt a strange gust of wind, and others were confused when they saw a fast-moving, stick-like man pass them. Some boys were seemingly blown to the ground, while girls struggled to hold their belongings and keep their skirts from rising. Rafe, with unusual commitment, jumped past students and bent and seemingly contorted past people with ease. In a single breath, Rafe stopped before the door of the Three Ladies. It was gaudy, several feet tall and a few feet wide; it bore a row of soldiers with some monarchs in the faded background. To Rafe's right stood a row of statues with similar features, with minor differences. To his left was Muriel, showing vicious warriors with warlords in the back.
Before he could take a step forward, a spear swiftly flew past the left side of his head, pinning into the wall behind him. The stone floor split like an axe through wood, and the statues all turned their attention toward him. Rafe understood the situation; then, in the blink of an eye, a single statue stood over him and held up a hand. As the sigil glowed and a message read, "The original contracts and restrictions have now faded and weakened, and the majority of legitimacy has faded. All teachers are to be reassigned and/or compound new lesson plans for oncoming students.- Special caveat: All teachers who have been in service, as adventurers, mercenaries, royal armies, or with any combat experience, are required to teach/train new students. Brand, your true self can only remain buried if you choose. But if there is only the self, which detail will make the choice?
Rafe slouched, shoulders and head, in disbelief. "What am I supposed to do? Tell silly stories? No one's going to be eager for any lessons from me," he complained as he held his reassignment paper assigning him to a class for the Neo Unity course. Rafe could only turn around, walk away, and find his way to his new station. Through twists and turns, Rafe found himself in his brand-new homeroom. Deep in the basement of the school, Rafe entered, seeing a dusty, vacant place, seemingly forgotten but also ready for the first echo of steps. Rafe entered, sensing only dust and silence, eventually walked into the middle of the room, and took a long look at what he was about to get into. Finally, he looked at the large desk at the far wall, knowing it was his place. With a simple wooden chair behind it, Rafe sighed, walked over, sat down, and said aloud, "This will do."
"I'm glad to hear it, sir," a woman said as she suddenly appeared beside him. Rafe quickly looked up to his right, his large eyes wide. He saw a beautiful woman in perfectly tailored clothing: a tucked shirt, a taut skirt, fully combed hair, and flat black dress shoes. Then her eyes turned blue, more catlike. Her skin seemed copper-like, and her face was emotionless porcelain. Rafe looked at her, confused, trying to make sense of the awkward situation. "Are you this room, or is this room you?"
"No, sir, you are this room. Those who are affected by the strings and gears will always find this room," the woman responded in a flat, matter-of-fact tone. Rafe only leaned back, somewhat comprehending the situation. He realized the sisters must have put him in the classroom with a sentient consciousness. It was often caused either by the collective unconscious of all those who came before, a bloody death, or some greater contract that bound some higher creature to one location. Rafe thought for what felt like a long moment, considering the possibilities.
Then, with a sigh, " What do I refer to you as?"
The woman said, "You may call me your secretary."
"Preferred name?" asked Rafe.
"Ms. Dinger, if you like," she responded. Rafe rolled his eyes as he leaned back in his chair. Slowly falling into his deepest thoughts, Ms. Dinger stood watching as she felt his thoughts and feelings, adjusting to her new inhabitant.
"Don't try accessing my memories; I have too many things I fail to forget," commented Rafe.
"I can only do that if you permit me. I can't seem to access your abilities, so I can't adjust to your will properly." Ms. Dinger responded with a matter-of-fact tone.
"Better for me if you didn't," Rafe said.
"I must, sir, for this room is to be your new residence."
"What!?" Rafe sprang up out of his chair. "Why!?"
"In lieu of the new mandate on the old ties fading or breaking, it is considered necessary for faculty with combat experience to remain close by to the school and protect the student body." Rafe saw things landing into place.
"So did someone go to my home and take up all my stuff?" Rafe asked, raising his hands, perturbed that someone had violated his space.
"No. Your home is being directly linked to the school as we speak." Rafe walked around his desk and looked Ms. Ding in the eyes as he unconsciously grabbed her arms. His irritation grew more apparent on his face.
"Why wasn't I notified before this?" Rafe asked in a low growl.
"Mostly because your home is located on what is considered an uninhabitable and largely unmonitored part of the school; the link has proven to be necessary. Though, to my understanding, you had left your residency before that notification had arrived." She answered with the same tone, looking down at him.
"What kind of students are coming to me that require this level of nonsense?" Rafe asked, his voice starting to crack.
"I don't know that exact amount, but I do sense that this room shall become livelier than it has been in a rather long time. Ultimately, you will be the one doing the daring deeds for these students, and it will be an interesting sight to behold." Ms. Ding answered unbothered.
"What exactly are, and don't give me a vague answer." Said Rafe with an unamused look.
"I cannot, until you take responsibility. Though, I will say you are already interesting given how I'm a full foot off the ground. You're not struggling to hold me up, and you don't seem to have a drop of magic." Ms. Ding answered with a slightly unusual mischievous grin.
Rafe let go of Ms. Ding as she slowly floated back to the ground. He breathed slowly, feeling his frustration drop gradually. Feeling his old shadow and pain in the back of his mind, he tried so hard to believe that his time was finally over. Rafe had often prayed to any entity to let him run out the clock. He backed to his desk, leaning on it, his hands propping himself up. Ms. Ding still smiled as she slowly approached Rafe and stood before him, looking down at him. Rafe looked to the floor with a glazed look, brows knotted with a feeling he can't fully identify, only recognize.
"What will you do, Professor Rafe?" asked Ms. Ding
Rafe looked up at Mr. Ding and said, "Follow the course." Ms. Ding nodded, with that smile growing. With a wave of her hand, light blared between the two as it engulfed the room