Memento Mori (for all good things must end)

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Memento Mori (for all good things must end)

Chương 1: Prologue: Mozus Trein Assigns an Essay

After a long week dealing with an over-blotted diva, said diva overtaking their dorm for a few weeks, a fanboy, and inferiority issues galore, Yuu was ready to just deal with classes and their idiot slacker friends for a little while before Crowley overtook their life again. Plus, a giant school festival just happened, so the teachers will be nice and lessen the workload, right? Well, at least in Trein's class, mercy was not a word known and Yuu found out the hard way. Specifically, because a giant school festival just happened, Trein thought it was the best time for students to catch up in his class with essays and the dreaded group projects. It got assigned right when Yuu situated themselves for a classtime nap too. Best teacher ever.

"And you, since you seem to think my class is so easy, will receive the topic of Ramshackle for your essay." Trein dropped a pile of textbooks right next to Yuu's head. Beside them, Ace snickered. "I expect everyone's essays on the history of the school due back to me by the end of the week." Yuu groaned and stared into space as they thought about how exactly they were going to go about this project.

After a long and draining day, Yuu made their way back to their home away from home, the Ramshackle dorm. During their lunch break they went to the library to find something, anything on Ramshackle but there were only footnotes written by the occasional historian on recent school history. Crowley wasn't much help either, just patting them on their head and sending them on their way with a laugh.

"An essay on the history of Ramshackle, huh?" Yuu looked up at the rundown building with fondness. Now that they think about it, it was quite a structurally sound building to have stayed up this long without being inhabited by living beings. Perhaps the ghosts were able to keep up the maintenance but that was unlikely. Maybe the ghosts could be useful in finding out the history, though.

"Myahaha, you look a little tired, henchman! Not able to nap during class?" Grimm sat on the doorstep, waiting for Yuu to open the door for him.

"Shut up, weasel." Yuu picked Grimm up. "I may not have energy but you look like a mighty fine rug right now."

"You wouldn't, you're too nice~" He stuck his tongue out. Yuu sighed for what seemed like the thousandth time that day and threw Grimm inside. "Myow! Watch it!"

Yuu ignored and stepped over the magical cat creature, they only hoped the ghosts won't be obnoxious as well. Speaking of...

"Welcome back!" The ever present trio of ghosts that always hung around popped up. "Have a good day?"

"Yeah, the absolute best." Yuu rolled their eyes and tossed their school bag. "Say, you three don't happen to know the history of this building, do you?"

The trio looked at each other, deep in thought. "I don't remember much but I do know a way to contact some spirits who might. It's been a long time and there's bound to be some knowledge between us 999 happy haunts." The tall one spoke up.

"W-wait, there's 999 of you!" Grimm said, hiding behind Yuu's legs.

"If I remember correctly, there might actually be a Centimori student spectre here..." The small ghost said. "He usually spends time in the former seance room."

Seance room? Centimori? This little tidbit Yuu gained just gave them more questions that needed to be answered.

"Oh, that's right! What was his name again... Leotie, Leona? No, Leona is that lion boy from Savannahclaw." The middle ghost wracked his brain. "Anyway, the seance room is at the end of the hall on the second floor. Make sure to knock, Leonie doesn't like to be rudely interrupted during his seances."

Yuu gulped and nervously knocked on the large ornately decorated door. They've never explored this area of the house before, only briefly passing through to clean, finding it vaguely threatening from the lack of natural light that seemed to avoid the end of the hallway. The door swung open slowly, creaking loudly from hinges that have not been used in years. A raspy voice called out.

"I've been expecting you... Yuu."

Yuu shrieked as the voice coughed and hacked. "Many apologies, I haven't spoken louder than a mumble for... honestly I don't know how long. Please do come in." A force pulled Yuu in and slammed the door shut. Adjusting to the darkness of the room, Yuu looked around to come face to face with a floating green head. That just made Yuu shriek even harder. "Wow, so rude. First you and your friends interrupt my seances with your noise for the past few weeks and now you don't even have the basic manners to introduce yourself. Has your generation not been taught proper conduct at all? You act like you've never seen a floating head before."

"I haven't." Yuu squeaked out. "Its very nice to meet you Mister, uhhh, Mister Leoby?" The head just got angrier.

"Leo! Just Leo Nehemiah for your information, what did those three dolts even tell you?! I'll have you know I was the vice housewarden of the illustrious Centimori before I died." Leo huffed and turned away, grumbling about "stupid grim grinning ghosts" and what not.

"I heard that name before... Centimori. Was that a dorm here?" Yuu quietly spoke up.

"Well, at least your generation has brains to connect the dots. Tell me, Yuu, why are you here today?" Leo took his spot above the seance table. "Please make it quick, the regions beyond are on hold for this."

"Can you tell me about the history of Ramshackle house? Professor Trein assigned me to write an essay on it and-"

"Of course, but be warned it is a long, and storied, past, especially when we get to my era... the last era. Please, take a seat, the regions beyond can wait a little longer."