Ssstart of Sssomething Ssseriousss

After the first week, everyone knows more or less where they are meant to be—clubs, classes, shared routines. Strixhaven feels busier now, full of lectures and study. The morning begins with basic magical auras again, followed later by a trip to the Witherbloom campus for magical physiologies.

The morning passes quickly. The familiar lesson on magical auras this time, is especially about detecting magic and illusion—about sensing it through observation rather than vague feeling. In the afternoon, they board the shuttle to Witherbloom campus. For Kroak and Lana, the ride is already familiar. As the shuttle carries them away from the orderly central campus, the landscape shifts. Stone paths grow worn and moss-covered, curves replacing straight lines. Trees thicken, roots knot together, and the air itself feels heavier. A damp, earthy smell fills their noses—rotting leaves, crushed underfoot, with a faint medicinal bitterness lingering at the back of the throat.

They cross what feels like a threshold. The forest deepens. Moss creeps over everything. Ruins sit half-swallowed by nature, trees growing straight through old stone. Light dims under the canopy, even at midday, and faint greenish lantern-like glows bob in darker patches of the woods. Eventually, the path brings them to the edge of a massive hollow—a river or swamp pooled below—alive with motion and sound.

As Daiki takes it in, tasting the air, he blurts out, “Oh, it tastes like necromancy magic. I don’t know why. I think maybe Professor Vantrax is exploring necromancy here. What do you think?”

Lana frowns thoughtfully. She points out that necromancy isn’t something you taste—it’s supposed to feel heavy, draining. She turns to Ruben for his opinion. Ruben considers the forest carefully and says he doesn’t think a forest is good or evil on its own; it depends on how it’s used. The light here doesn’t feel necrotic to him. Lana admits she doesn’t feel anything draining, but she smiles at Daiki. “It’s exciting you can taste it.”

Ruben warns Daiki to be careful—tasting everything might cost him his tongue someday. Daiki barely hears him, already distracted, fluttering toward the floating blue lights with unrestrained curiosity.

Lana watches him go and mutters, “He will kill himself someday, you know.”

The place itself is beautiful. Arches of living wood frame the area, natural light filtering through gaps in the canopy. Students gather and talk, and the entire space feels vibrant, bustling with life. Kroak peers into the water, curious about what lives there. The swamp teems with creatures—fish, insects, birds, crocodile-like beasts—and the sounds of writhing worms and buzzing life fill the air. Decay and life exist here in perfect balance.

Kroak, delighted, decides to feed potatoes to the alligators. They step close to the water’s edge and toss one. A massive jaw snaps shut, pulverizing the potato into a spray of mash. Kroak laughs softly. “I like swamp cats.” Another potato flies, fed like ducks at a pond.

They have time before class, time to wander. Daiki, hearing Lana marvel at the greenery, lights up and tells her she should visit his home someday—far more purple and colorful, but similar in spirit. He darts from flower to flower, circling back mid-sentence, restless and joyful.

Ruben, meanwhile, keeps an eye on the clock. He doesn’t know this part of campus well and wants to find the classroom early—very early, ideally first row. Kroak reassures him, pointing vaguely. “It’s right over there. Lana and I were here yesterday. Don’t worry.”

Even so, the paths seem subtly different than before. Water curves where it didn’t yesterday. Crossings shift. Kroak offers to show them a beautiful clearing they found while gathering herbs. There’s about an hour before the lecture, so Ruben agrees.

They wander, slightly aimless at first. Kroak walks with confidence that doesn’t quite match reality, distracted by flowers and roots. Lana notices the differences but doesn’t press them. Eventually, they reach the clearing—a quiet, lovely place where herbs once grew heavy with dew. They look again, but most plants are too young, their magic not yet potent. Kroak shows Daiki sketches in a book, explaining what to look for, and they spend a peaceful stretch of time searching together.

Ruben finally asks why Kroak brought them here at all. Kroak answers honestly: it’s beautiful, calm, away from the crowds. Ruben nods. “Yeah. It’s nice.”

As they talk, Daiki suddenly asks Kroak why everyone else gets potatoes and he doesn’t. “Don’t you like me?”
Kroak blinks, surprised, then offers him one. “Do you want a potato?”

Daiki laughs as it’s handed over. Ruben watches closely, inspecting it. There’s nothing special at first glance—until both he and Daiki notice a bite already taken out of it, a neat chunk missing.

Daiki beams. “It’s a special potato with a special shape. Thank you, Kroak.”

Ruben offers to hold onto it for him, promising to return a proper one later. Daiki hesitates but agrees, trusting him with the oddly shaped treasure.

Time presses in again. Ruben insists they head back. Kroak gets distracted by another promising shrub, digging up a root before finally refocusing. Daiki suggests flying straight to the building—they can see it from here—but Kroak insists the paths matter. Lana gently reassures Ruben that he doesn’t need to stay if he wants to hurry.

In the end, Ruben and Daiki take off together, flying toward the lecture hall. Lana and Kroak continue on foot, chatting in Giant along the way. Lana talks about the frost giant attacks on Bryn Shander when she was twelve, and how her mentor taught her the language because sometimes talking can save your life. Kroak shares, casually, that their first lover was a giant. Lana laughs, curiosity overtaking her, and the two continue their conversation as they walk.

Ruben navigates the confusing, organic interior of Widdershins Hall, looping through twisting passages before finally spotting the lecture hall. When Lana and Kroak arrive later, he knows exactly where to go.

Inside, the classroom feels grown rather than built—low ceilings, hollowed tree chambers, benches set among living wood. At the front, the professor is already there.

Lana murmurs, “Whoa.”

Ruben steps forward politely. “Hello, Professor Lang. Nice to meet you. I’m Ruben.”

The professor smiles and gestures them in. “Welcome, students. Take a seat. Take a seat.”

Ruben immediately heads for the first row, assuming most students will linger in the back. Daiki follows him without hesitation, and Kroak joins as well, sliding into the remaining space. The first row is just full enough, with one unfamiliar student already seated beside them.

Daiki notices the stranger and laughs. Someone they have not met before turns toward them, clearly eager to engage. Lana greets them with a simple, “Hello.”

“Hello, I’m Daiki,” Daiki says.

“My name is Croak,” Kroak adds.

“I’m Lana—” she starts.

The stranger turns to Kroak. “Nice to meet you. And you?”

“What is your name?” Kroak asks.

“My name is Sszethik.”

“Testic,” Kroak repeats confidently.

Ruben jumps in, cheerful. “Hi Estic, I’m Ruben.”

“No, no, no,” the student corrects, shaking their head. “You have to pronounce the double S. Sszethik.”

“Testic,” Kroak tries again.

Sszethik concedes at last, smiling. “Nice to meet you.”

Daiki gestures animatedly. “You’ve got the same scales like I do. You’ve got some good—look, I’ve got purple ones.”

“Yesss, yesss,” Sszethik replies. “But yoursss are different.”

“Yeah,” Daiki agrees happily.

Sszethik admits they tried to visit their dorm the day before but found no one there.

“You tried to visit our dorm?” Kroak asks.

“Yesss. Are you the owner of Potionsss and Propheciesss?”

“Yes. Yes, I am,” Kroak replies brightly. “Do you require a potion or a prophecy?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“I wasss jussst curiousss,” Sszethik explains.

Kroak smiles. “You’re more than welcome to come over anytime.”

“I wasss looking to meet you,” Sszethik says. “It’sss interesssting, no? The article?”

Daiki frowns slightly. “Do you have something about the mimic? Do you know something?”

“No, but it’s an interesssting ssstory. I thought maybe I could help.”

“Help with what?” Kroak asks.

“Arcano-botany,” Sszethik replies. “Alchemy interestsss me. Potionsss are fascinating.”

Daiki squints. “I’m sssorry, I have trouble understanding you. What is your ssspecialty?”

“He has concentration issues,” Kroak explains.

---

Kroak asks Ruben to switch seats so they can show Sszethik the balm. Ruben agrees, moving with the intention of focusing more on the teacher. Kroak pulls out the paper holding the substance and quietly explains how it resembles the balm but differs in key ways they cannot quite identify.

More students file in. Sszethik looks surprised at how little material there is, clearly hoping for more to analyze. As they prepare to inspect it, the professor calls the class to order.

“All right, class. Let’s commence with the lesson. Welcome, everyone.”

Sszethik pulls back, still interested but attentive, straightening their notes and focusing as the professor speaks.

“Maybe after class,” Kroak murmurs, putting the sample away.

The professor welcomes them to Witherbloom, asking who has been here before, praising exploration beyond the curriculum. She asks if anyone knows the subject of today’s class.

Ruben has read chapter one but hesitates, looking around first. Before he can raise his hand, another student eagerly does so, introducing himself and stating the curriculum: slaadi. Ruben mouths the same, silently.

“Slaadi,” the professor repeats. “Indeed. The first organism.”

The professor explains that some people mistakenly call them “salads,” which only makes Daiki laugh. She assures them it is indeed slaadi.

Ruben stares ahead, incredulous, wondering why he even got out of bed.

The professor outlines the course: monstrosities, oozes, anatomy, abilities, dispositions, all relevant to the exam. Daiki asks if they will study dragons.

“Later this year,” the professor says warmly.

Kroak asks about mimics. They will also be covered, but later, and questions should be saved for outside the core lecture.

The first exam will be in three tendays, covering aberrations, monstrosities, and oozes, including facts and diffusing confrontations. She warns them about dangerous areas of Witherbloom, urging them not to explore yet.

“I cannot teach a corpse,” she says bluntly. “That would be a sad ending to your life.”

Ruben looks pointedly at Kroak to make sure the warning sinks in.

---

The lesson begins in earnest. The professor unwraps a large green bundle on the table. It lands with a wet squish. As the leaves peel away, a gray, oozing mass is revealed, smelling foul.

The stench hits instantly. Daiki and Lana gag and vomit, joined by other students, while the professor laughs lightly.

“This happens,” she says. “Everything here is natural. Nothing is dirty or disgusting.”

Daiki, pale, conjures wisteria blossoms in front of his face, trying to filter the smell, thinking of home. It barely helps.

The professor begins discussing death slaad, correcting misinformation. Ruben answers questions from the text, describing their nature and reputation. The professor refines his answer, explaining that the danger is not the stench but a spell-like effect akin to Cloudkill.

Ruben is fascinated, his Strixhaven pendant flickering faintly with Witherbloom energy, what used to be only Lorehold. The lecture continues, growing fuzzier as the professor dives deep into reproduction, colors, and hierarchy, occasionally mixing details. She asks questions, and Sszethik sometimes answers faster.

Daiki asks about the Plane of Limbo and why studying unpredictable creatures matters. The professor compares them to tigers and crocodiles, emphasizing understanding territory and context.

“They are aberrations,” she explains, describing their regenerative abilities and parasitic reproduction in unsettling detail. Daiki admits this will give him nightmares.

Questions continue until time slips by. Finally, the professor asks them to gather and discuss what they’ve learned.

Ruben turns to Sszethik, comparing notes about red and blue slaadi reproduction. Kroak joins in, repeating points from the lecture with surprising accuracy. They pore over pages, debating inconsistencies in the professor’s stories.

Lana listens but disengages mentally, deciding she will do the bare minimum to pass this mandatory course. Daiki watches the discussion, then muses aloud that nature always finds a way. “Maybe we’ll discover purple or rainbow slaadi… salads. Whatever.”

When Daiki asks about dissecting as an educational method, Ruben explains enthusiastically. Lana jokes about finesse, comparing it to playing violin rather than wielding her longsword. Daiki shivers, conflicted, while Lana reassures him that the specimen will already be dead. 

At last, the professor dismisses the class, assigning chapter one as homework and wishing them a good day.

As students stand, Ruben tugs on Kroak’s cloak, intent on approaching the professor with the black ooze. Lana has the same idea, already heading toward the teacher to introduce herself and ask if they can stay a little longer—because her friends have found something that needs investigating.

The professor allows it, still tidying the front of the classroom, carefully wrapping and covering the strange, oozing substance she showed so its scent becomes more manageable. Most of the other students file out. Sszethik, who had been sitting nearby, suggests studying together sometime, then joins Lana and the others as they move toward the front, standing to the professor’s right.

Daiki, meanwhile, quietly panics about tomorrow’s class and homework. He debates leaving to read but ultimately stays put, lowering a wisteria flower to his nose and burying himself in the first chapter of his book while everything unfolds nearby.

Lana steps forward. “Hello, Miss Professor Lang. I am Lana Rimov of dorm 7-2A. These are my dorm mates. We have a question for you, if that’s okay.”

She then explains that a few days earlier there was a LARP performance that went horribly wrong. A mimic, hidden as a prop, attacked a student and refused to let go. Lana had instructed everyone to get help. In the end, the mimic was defeated—mainly by Kroak and Daiki—and it exploded.

“That is unexpected,” the professor says, clearly intrigued. “The mimic… exploded?”

Lana apologizes for skipping details and explains that after the explosion they found something that looked like a bomb—licorice-like, dark, and dripping. She asks Kroak and Ruben to step forward and show it.

Ruben apologizes for the long introduction and explains that they believe it is some version of eldritch balm, but it looks different than expected. The professor listens carefully, puzzled. Mimics are territorial creatures; they do not leave their territory willingly, which implies the creature must have been moved. That alone is unnatural.

Lana asks what kind of substance it really is. The professor examines the wrapped material, then opens her bag, revealing an impressive collection of ingredients. She pulls out a small vial of ordinary eldritch balm, uncorks it, and offers it for comparison. The scent matches.

“To an unfamiliar nose,” the professor explains, “it would seem strange. But this is ordinary eldritch balm. We make it on campus.”

She explains that it is a tightly controlled product of Witherbloom, used to reinforce storage chests, straps, equipment—anything that needs resilience. It is difficult to make and part of what students learn in Arcanobotany, including excursions to Sedgemore where the water is sourced.

Still, she returns to the central mystery. “What is most peculiar,” she says, “is something you have already told me.”

The group slowly works through it. Mimics are territorial. If a biological body explodes, there should be blood and viscera. But there wasn’t. There was only wood—and the balm itself.

“There was no mimic,” the professor concludes. “A mimic would leave biological remnants.”

Lana recalls standing right next to it when it exploded. Wood flew everywhere. No blood. No flesh. She shares this realization with the others. Ruben points out that the object still left bite marks and behaved exactly like a mimic, tongue and all. How could an animated object do that?

“Magic can morph and alter objects greatly,” the professor explains. “With enough power, any object can take on the properties of a living being. This feels like cursed magic—perhaps transmutation, perhaps illusion made real, or a combination.”

Kroak asks whether using eldritch balm on a living being could make it more durable. The professor admits it is ill-advised and that the balm loses potency over time, which might explain why it is now difficult to detect.

Throughout the conversation, Daiki listens from behind his book. At one point he looks up and suggests that perhaps the bomb was altered to create the mimic in the moment. The professor allows that it’s possible but notes that any organic matter tends to diverge toward chaos, and by the time they examined it, it may have been too late to learn more.

The professor suggests that if it happens again, they should analyze the magic immediately. She also recommends speaking with Professor Vantrax, who specializes in magical auras and may be able to help if they describe the event in full detail.

Daiki adds that maybe they should speak to Rosie, someone familiar with the balm’s usual applications, and inspect the standard versions used elsewhere. Lana mentions wanting to research Strixhaven’s regulations around props and violence, insisting she is not accusing the balm itself—just trying to understand the rules of a place she is new to.

Kroak asks who oversees the production of eldritch balm. The professor explains that while it is mostly automatic, responsibility ultimately lies with the Dean of the Vein of Witherbloom college, Valentin. The system has functioned without issue for a long time, which makes this incident all the more concerning.

Eventually, Lana thanks the professor for her time and asks whether they may return with more questions. The answer is an enthusiastic yes—during office hours, anytime.

As the group prepares to leave, Sszethik suggests they study together sometime, offering his dorm as a meeting place. Kroak notes that they live very close to each other. The conversation drifts to music, dorm life, and studying in the Biblioplex.

Daiki, lingering behind, closes his book and quietly approaches the professor. In a hushed voice he asks if the strange slaadi creature they saw earlier is really dead, and whether it might haunt him at night.

She reassures him. “No worries. This one won’t hurt you. It doesn’t contain eggs. Just don’t get scratched by one—you’ll learn why in this chapter.”

Daiki pales, mutters his thanks, and immediately flies off faster than the others, determined to go home.

Ruben talks frantically as they head back toward the shuttle, but starts studying chapter two of the Magical Physiology book as soon as they enter it.

---

By now it’s dinner time, and if they head back, they will be on Central Campus.

Lana brings up her evening plans, mentioning that she has her orchestra ensemble later. Kroak shifts the conversation back to practical matters. They ask if they have the class again tomorrow and if there’s homework. It’s confirmed that there’s homework for this class and the other one as well. That makes Kroak hesitate, because they’re thinking about the entrepreneurs’ meeting—something they thought happened every evening. It’s clarified that it isn’t every evening, though one of the meetings does happen tonight.

Daiki points out, “But yours is tonight though.”

Kroak blinks. “Is it?”

That’s when Kroak decides to ask Ruben for advice. They explain that there’s a meeting of the entrepreneurs of Strixhaven tonight, but there’s also a lot of homework, and they feel torn about whether they should go or not. “What do you think?”

Ruben asks what Kroak thinks they can get out of the gathering if they meet up. Kroak admits they don’t really know—they’ve never been to one of these meetings before and only know one of the people attending.

Ruben points out that if Kroak misses the first session, they might miss a lot of introductions. He also reminds them that they’ll have some travel time tomorrow to the Witherbloom campus and reassures them that he can fill Kroak in on chapter one. “It’s okay.”

Kroak hesitates, then nods. “Yeah. Maybe. I don’t think that would be amazing… Would you do that for me?”

“Of course,” Ruben says.

Kroak thanks him sincerely and promises to make notes and tell Ruben what gets discussed at the meeting. Ruben agrees and adds that maybe they should talk about Potions and Prophecies, because he’s not really sure what his role is anymore. He says he’s contributed, but he hasn’t been mentioned in any of Kroak’s stories.

“Stories?” Kroak repeats, confused.

Ruben explains that whenever Kroak talks about Potions and Prophecies, it’s always about Kroak alone, never including him. Kroak pauses and admits they should talk about that. They ask how Ruben wants to be involved.

Ruben reminds them that when they first met, they said they would do this together. Kroak agrees but explains that they also need to talk about roles and balance. Kroak points out that they’ve been out every evening tracking down ingredients, doing marketing, trying to attract people, and selling potions. They admit they’re starting to feel a bit of a disbalance in how much time they’re each putting in.

Ruben responds that some of his actions might not be visible to Kroak, but maybe it’s better if Kroak focuses on the Potions and Prophecies for now while Ruben focuses on other things. He suggests that maybe later it will change.

Kroak frowns. “You’re saying you don’t want to be part of it anymore?”

“I don’t know,” Ruben says. “I think you can handle it.”

Kroak asks if they can still come to him for advice sometimes. Ruben says that since Kroak will be cooking potions in their room anyway, he’ll obviously comment, but the rules should be clear. Kroak hopes it won’t be like this for too much longer and thanks Ruben for the conversation. Ruben agrees that it clears up a lot.

---

As they continue walking back to campus, the group talks more. Ruben considers inviting Sszethik over for dinner and asks Lana what she thinks. Lana is immediately enthusiastic. She says Sszethik was a nice student and that it would be fun—more people is better, just like in her parents’ inn.

Ruben agrees and invites Sszethik to come over for dinner, mentioning that Sszethik wanted to see the dorm anyway and joking that he could get a private tour from Kroak, the “founding father member CEO CFO CSO of Potions and Prophecies.” Sszethik happily accepts and says it would be his pleasure. Ruben suggests studying afterwards in Sszethik’s dorm.

Lana interrupts apologetically, explaining that Ruben can study in the dorm because she has ensemble tonight and won’t be there to disturb them with her violin. When Sszethik asks about her ensemble, Lana explains that she’s part of the Arcanium Ensemble. 

As they walk, Daiki wonders aloud if there are more people around their dorm than usual, especially since people seem to know about Potions and Prophecies now. Ruben and Sszethik talk enthusiastically about studying, slaadi, and their reproductive methods, clearly matching each other’s vibe.

When they finally reach the dorm, they immediately notice a commotion. People are walking in and out, and it’s far busier than usual. Lana steps forward and starts politely asking people what they’re doing in their dorm.

One student explains that they heard you could get great potions here, but apparently nobody was there. Kroak quickly switches the sign, flipping it to show that “Potions and Prophecies” is now open.

Inside the dorm, they find Seraphine and Pell sitting there, clearly angry. They complain about how people have been knocking all day, making it impossible to study. Pell snaps that every time they read a page, someone asks where Potions and Prophecies is, they turn them away, and then those people come back again. Neither of them is amused.

Lana whispers to Kroak that maybe it’s a good idea for them to go to the entrepreneur meeting, just to learn how to deal with stakeholders who live in the same dorm. Kroak asks the others for help, since there are so many people. Lana immediately agrees and goes over to Pell and Seraphine, trying to diffuse the situation and soothe their feelings.

Kroak thanks her and asks if she can take everyone’s order because she’s really good at that. Daiki, meanwhile, needs to eat quickly because he has a shift later. Kroak asks him to help as well, but Daiki is distracted—he just wants his potato back before heading to the Firejolt Café.

Ruben hands Daiki the potato, explaining it’s the normal one without a bite. Daiki protests immediately. “No, no, no, this is the wrong one. This is not the special one. Give me the special one.”

Ruben argues that the other one is semi-eaten and that this is a fair potato for a fair person. Kroak steps in, asking to see the bitten potato and trying to figure out why there’s a bite in it.The potato is examined closely; it’s clearly been partially eaten, though it doesn’t look like Ruben took the bite.

It turns out that about a quarter of the potato is gone. Ruben examines it too but doesn’t find anything unusual. Kroak asks Daiki again if he’s sure he wants that one. Daiki nods. “ Yeah. It’s a special potato. Thank you.”

With that settled, Kroak starts organizing the crowd, telling people to form a line and that they’ll go in order. Lana announces that she’s going to talk to Seraphine and Pell, eat, and then head off to her ensemble. She wishes everyone a great evening and good luck. Kroak wishes her luck in return, and she tells him good luck as well, wishing Ruben fun studying with Sszethik.

Kroak gets to work, handling a steady stream of customers. People whisper about mimics and rumors, and Kroak leans into it, selling potions and telling a dramatic story about a potion that turned out to be a mimic and ate the person who drank it.

People eagerly buy potions and ask for prophecies. Time starts to press. Ruben and Sszethik have a relaxed dinner together, Lana prepares for her ensemble, and Daiki heads off to the Firejolt Café. Ruben brings Kroak a plate of food as well.

Even so, there are more people than Kroak can handle quickly. It becomes clear that if Kroak keeps serving everyone, they’ll be more than an hour late to the entrepreneur meeting. Kroak accepts it with a shrug—business is business, and it’s done when it’s done. “Got to make some whatevers,” they joke, reminding people that potions and prophecies are pay-what-you-want.

Throughout the night, people pay different amounts, and Kroak supplies accordingly, hinting that potion recipes or rare ingredients are even more valuable than money. Most people pay with gold. By the time things finally slow down, Kroak has made a total of twenty-seven gold pieces. They’re pleased, having recouped what they lost earlier.

Afterward, Kroak still heads to the entrepreneur meeting, even if it means arriving late. The meeting is held in a hall by a fireplace, not in a dorm. Kroak is greeted warmly by Grayson, who smiles and congratulates them, mentioning the article and how good this must be for Kroak’s bottom line. Grayson expresses curiosity about Kroak’s strategy as the others sit around listening.