Magic.
Wizards. Witches.
Hogwarts.
Gryffindor. Ravenclaw. Hufflepuff. Slytherin.
A bunch of names that had nothing to do with me. A bunch of useless jargon that I would've dismissed as fantasy. Until it wasn't.
It was a very real part of this world, and now a very real concern I had to familiarise myself with.
Money.
That was another word that held some interest... or rather it was a word that held me by the back of my head, forcing my nose into the ground like a grindstone.
Specifically the lack of it.
Have-nots...
Have you heard of the idea of a person lacking something? This world was littered with them. To 'have' means someone else is deprived, that's the nature of this world. Have-nots are thought of as the dregs, those that have nothing, they aren't deprived of one single thing, they have nothing of meaning or significance.
That's what they are labelled as.
I didn't ask for magic, I didn't ask to be sent here.
If I was a have-not, the thing I lacked immutably was... my own agency.
And the only thing that was screaming in my mind constantly ever since arriving here...
I want to have it.
Everything.
And I will do anything to that effect. No matter how many snakes I have to trample in the tall grass.
I spat a mouthful of blood onto the wet tiles of the bathroom.
Sneering as the people that brought me here, crawled on the ground. Like a crippled centipede. Like a slug.
How unsightly.
You weren't some powerful predator, just another garden variety pest.
It was your fault for crossing me in the first place. You bared your fangs first, hissed as I entered your territory and told me to get lost regardless of my wishes. So, who can blame me if I decide to trample on you? If I decide to defang you and turn you into a pair of boots, in which your entire next life involves me walking all over you?
You asked for this.
You made me conquer you.
Simply by existing.
"Kukuku... Ah, that hurts a bit more than I thought it would..." I licked around the edge of my mouth, a single tooth on the edge was teetering with the briefest flicker of my tongue. Looks like a couple hits was enough to rattle it. I pulled with reckless abandon, the tooth coming loose with a plop, spitting a small amount of blood alongside it.
I imagine this should be easy enough to heal, magic exists, right?
...So then why would I stop here?
"A few hits is all it takes to break one, huh? Hey, tubby on the floor. I hit you a few times, should I check if there's any loose? Don't worry. I'll be gentle. Kukuku."
"Ah! Get away from me!"
"Haah?" I kicked the lardass whilst he was on all-fours. He tumbled exaggeratedly towards the others. I was reminded of humpty dumpty for a moment and could barely stifle a snicker. "Don't be like that. You guys started this. Don't worry. You're all wizards aren't you. I'm so relieved..."
"Wha-?"
"Because no matter how much I mess you up. You'll be back to normal tomorrow. Isn't that amazing?" They were like the perfect punching bags. If he's humpty-dumpty, then perhaps all the king's horses and men might manage to put him back together again. Or the egg would be discarded, I didn't care which.
In fact, I had stopped caring about a lot of things.
My life was changed immediately, with little regard for my feelings. I... Just didn't care about the damage I was doing.
There was something cathartic about hitting and being hit until there's only one left standing.
Self-aggrandisement?
Try self-destruction.
Immolating yourself and the bastard that annoyed you at the same time and seeing whichever one got consumed by the fire first... it was liberating beyond all belief. All I had was my hands and an enemy, and yet it felt like I held the entire world at the end of a leash. All I had to do was clench my fist to make others heel.
A freedom I had never experienced before... not even fucking close!
"..." This feeling permeated through me like new blood filling my veins, pumping through my heart around the body and granting new vigour.
"It's so amazing, I almost want to see just how far I can push the boundaries. Hey, if I remove all your teeth and fingernails do you think they can grow them back? If I break your arms and legs, do you think they can recover by the time I drag you three in here next week? How many times do you think I can break your bones before magic stops fixing you? I have so many questions. You don't mind helping me find out, do you?"
"H-Help! HELP!" He screamed like a banshee.
Fools. You spent all this time attempting this against me. Trying to measure the perfect time to take your dues against a lower class. Didn't you already check if anyone would come, didn't you already have several plans in place?
The only thing you should curse is your own weakness in following up on your plan. You're weak.
That's the reason you lost. No matter the schemes or plans in place. You exist to be stepped on because you can't defend yourself. So I'm going to play my part and step on you to raise myself up. The same dirty blood that you look down on.
My hand reached to the floor and gripped the boy's leg as he attempted to crawl away. "Oh, that's no good. You proud wizards... Are you really fleeing from a human?"
"You- you're no human-! You're a monster!"
"That's a coincidence. I heard monsters often eat children. Just fairy tales, but what do I know? I've only just learnt about the magical world. If I eat you, will I turn into a monster?" You could get several meals from you anyway, perhaps that was why he was so worried? Not that I'd ever stick something so disgusting as these worms in my mouth.
"We'll- We'll tell the headmaster about this-!"
"Yes. Yeah- and my father! He'll crush your entire family into the dirt. You don't have any idea who you're messing with-!" The ringleader with his slicked-back white hair sneered and almost looked down on me from below... Those eyes annoyed me.
Who the hell are you to look down on me whilst bathing in the same water students use to relieve themselves?
"Do it." I provoked him. Half because I knew it was hot air, the other half because I truly didn't feel anything for my family.
I wouldn't stick my neck out for people that threw me aside so quickly. There was only one regret I had with that thought...
"...Huh?!
"Believe me. No one wants to see my family fall apart more than me. So, go ahead. I might even thank you afterwards. But you should know... that isn't going to stop me now." Just the reminder alone was enough to let my blood boil over a second time.
"But-"
"Unfortunately, I'm in a terrible mood. Have you never heard of letting sleeping dogs lie? I feel like a dog that's been woke up from a particularly splendid nap. You can't blame me if I bite back at the people responsible."
"What- what do you want? I promise we won't bother you again." The head of their group responded, the other two boys curling up at his side.
"Nothing. I just want the people that bothered me to crawl on the floor with their bellies in the air."
"Who the hell would-!"
"Crawl, bark, roll over and then die. If you can follow those orders, I might think about forgiving you."
"-Do, do you really think you'll get away with this?!"
I gripped him by the hair, dragging him up to my face. Ensuring he could hear every last word.
"You said it yourself. You're wizards. Do you think anyone will believe that I took the three of you out by myself, without magic? Better yet. What does that say about you? Three pure blooded wizards touting their superiority, were completely defeated and humiliated by a single what was it... dirty-blood? Without even casting a spell. Your families will dispose of you to protect their own reputations, you will be relegated to the lowest rung of the social ladder in the wizarding world. And at the end of it all, you will still have to roll over like good little dogs before me in front of everyone. Because no one cares about the weak... that's the truth." I learnt that early enough. I didn't even have to spend a week in magical society before learning that lesson. To them muggles are interesting but inferior creatures. As a human; wouldn't you feel utter embarrassment at your own existence if an ant suddenly pulled the rug out from under you and made you lick their boot in submission?
That was how wizards felt. Even if they were children, even if they couldn't use magic with any poise. Nature propped them up on a pedestal, I just kicked it out from underneath their feet. That's all.
"..."
"Your lives are over. Enjoy it."
"...N-No my father wouldn't..."
"Oh, he would. You know it as well. That look in your eye tells me as much. From this moment on you might as well live as if he's already denounced you." The same look...
"...That's... impossible..."
"Of course, there is one way to spare yourselves..." This wasn't pity. It was survival.
"...What?"
"Pledge your loyalty to me. Serve me."
"Why would I ever serve you? Do you know who you speak down to? I am the proud scion of the Malfoy family! My father can speak your entire family out of existence-!"
Smack!
He held his cheek in shock.
"Is that all you can stand on? Your father's and forebearers' achievements? Nothing of that is yours. You are a have-not. You hold nothing in your hands. You have to be given everything that you have ever held in your hands. You are incomparably more incompetent than the same muggles that you despise." I smacked his face with every sentence, hoping to drive in the immutable truth. His face now a stinging red, the flesh slightly swelling from the repeated beatings they took.
"Wh- Who do you think you're muddying the face of? Don't touch me with your dirty little hands, you muggle ingrate. Damn, mudblood! You shouldn't even be in this house!" He cried out, tears falling from his face shamefully.
"Is that all?"
"No." He sniffled and wiped his face. A victorious smirk covering his features in an instant. "Hehe... get him, Naga!"
A snake slithered and pounced, his fangs quickly sinking into my hand. A sharp pain climbed up my arm originating from my hand...
You seriously think this is enough to stop me?
What an idiot.
I slowly pried the snake from my hand gripping its neck fully. Pain, that's all it was. A stimulation that just proved you were alive, why would I ever fear it?
No. Why would I ever fear anything?
I was dropped into this world and told to fend for myself.
I already started with nothing. What could possibly be lower than that?
"So disappointing."
"What?"
"Do you know what's funny? For all your bravado, you fall short when it comes to executing true violence." I continued talking to the fell snakes whilst walking towards the sink.
"Stop-!"
"It's a snake. You can't have violent or dangerous species on Hogwarts campus, the rules are clear enough. Meaning there's no need to fear these fangs. No poison or venom, just a simple injury. Secondly, what do you think will happen when it's revealed this creature attacked me? They'll put it down like a bad dog."
"..."
"But I think I'll save them the effort."
Smash!
My clenched fist crashed into the mirror, shattering the glass. I grabbed one of the larger shards, a natural knife.
"Snakes are reptiles... Do you wizards classify animals in the same way we do? I guess it doesn't really matter. Did you know lizards are reptiles too?"
"Stop, don't touch Naga!"
"I guess what I'm really asking is... do you think it will grow back after I cut it off?"
"We could make a fun experiment out of it! Snake's look like big worms, don't they? I wonder how far I have to sever along it to count as removing the head? Halfway? A quarter? Or perhaps a snake can even survive as just the head?"
"..." His eyes looked slightly hollower, the usual pride that shone in them becoming a shade darker.
"C'mon, participate. It's a class experiment. Clean up should be easy enough in the bathroom. That was probably why you brought me here in the first place, right? So you could even say... this is your fault." I smiled at him.
"Stop. Stop... I understand... Anything you want, we'll do it. Just let Naga go. Please."
"Swear loyalty to me and me alone. From this moment you aren't your own people, you are merely extensions of me. You are slaves. You exist to serve me."
He bowed his head, the slicked back hair drenched in what could only be water from one of the overflown toilets or sinks still spitting a torrent of fluid.
"Crabbe. Goyle. Do the same." The proud heir of the Malfoy house uttered, his head still wet from the murk.
"I won't lower my head to some sewer trash muggle..." The boys by his side muttered.
"It takes one letter. I'll have my father displace yours from his position. What do you think will happen when your family falls apart at your own hand...? Lower your head." Good, Malfoy understood his place. This was the correct method for a subordinate. Each of them spat orders down the chain of command. I didn't need them believing they were on the same level, that they were equals, they should be used to this method anyway. It isn't like Malfoy ever seen them as anything less than accompanying puppets. As such I could look past his behaviour...
However, they didn't really think this was it, did they?
"I swear to follow your orders. Ryuuen. Please, give Naga back, that's all I ask."
"Having you prostrating before me feels pretty good. But it isn't enough..."
"You said-!" I rested my right foot onto his head, pushing it into the floor. I didn't appreciate being cut off.
I could feel his body quiver with anger. To be standing on the top of the world and then be brought into a bathroom, sinking to the floor, head pressed into the dirty tiles by a lesser being. An Icarus like story if I've ever seen one.
I couldn't relate.
I might've been dropped into this world with no crutches, but the same could be said in the old world too. I only have myself to rely on.
"Quiet. I already have something better in mind. What if you betray me or disregard my orders? I thought of that for a bit. But I came over something interesting in the library, I was spurred on by Sakagami, when we were told of the ledgers."
"You can't mean-?!"
"All of you will pledge yourselves to me. An unbreakable vow. For my benefit. This is not a negotiation. You have effectively died here. Make your choice. Be abandoned by family due to your incompetence, or follow me by my side, the one person that sees your potential even in your uselessness."
I smiled brightly. So this was how it felt to stand on others. To steal someone's agency, to take the very ability they had to make choices...
It felt... so good.
So freeing.
Liberating.
Felt like I was pissing off of the edge of the world, without a care.
To have freedom, that meant I had to take the ability for someone else to have their freedom. That was the nature of this world.
So if I steal the freedoms of even more people, won't I be the freest?
Then I'll return to that place and decide how I want to live my life, with who I choose...
"Y-You expect us to form an unbreakable vow with you? Some dirty, jap, mudblood! I'd sooner drink toilet water!"
"Shut up, Crabbe! Give us Naga and we'll prepare the ceremony, but we need things before it can be done."
"Nice try." I threw a book down onto the floor, the bathroom water immediately wetting the pages. Not that it mattered, I had already familiarised myself with the steps.
"I already prepared everything we need."
"B-But... we still need an uninvolved witness! We can't fulfil the ceremony without that!" So obvious. He wanted to find even a moment to postpone this decision, then he could run and gather as much support as he needed. Effective, but boring.
"We already have a witness."
"We- we can't use a snake for that!"
"Who said anything about using this damn thing. Come on out."
"..."
"Y-You can't be serious!"
"They never said anything about the witness being alive. Kukuku!"
A ghastly apparition of a shabby girl in Hogwarts uniform phased through one of the non-destroyed bathroom stalls. Her milk bottle glasses directed attention to the greasy, unkempt face of a familiar ghost. I guess if we had Hanako-san then they had Moaning Myrtle.
"I-I won't! I won't do it, no matter what you say!"
Crash!
My kick broke the already half-destroyed bathroom stall door off its last hinge, the frail implement falling to the ground.
"I already told you. This isn't a negotiation. I hold all the cards. Your weakness, the life of your pet, your reputation. Run now and I'll use every last one of them. Your comfortable lives in this school will be over. So much for the indomitable house of Slytherin, all you'll be seen as is a bunch of birdfeed to the other students." Not only would no fear be associated with you, the upper years of the Slytherin house would also be effected by this loss of reputation. As for me, I don't care. Power can come from reputation and affiliation, but I preferred to hold it all for myself. Regardless of where I will come from or go, I will be strong. That was undeniable.
However, if they join me, they can forget this incident. Other students outside of the house will still fear and respect their bloodlines and reputations.
That was the reason I had decided on an unbreakable vow rather than the blood oaths that Sakagami had mentioned. There were plenty of loopholes used in unbreakable vows which couldn't be afforded to me with a blood oath. The amount of reading I had to do to even get this far was annoying. Say what you will about magic being convenient, that hasn't been the overwhelming experience I've had. Instead, the magical world failed in terms of logistics. Finding relevant texts or just information you need in general is ridiculously time consuming. So much so that my learning in other avenues has diminished just to execute this plan.
"So? How about it?"
"...You'll keep your part of the deal?" He asked warily.
"You can have it in writing if you want. I solemnly swear; I won't mention your utter incompetence and pathetic defeats at my hand on this day. In return; all three of you will serve under my orders as long as we attend Hogwarts." I pointed my wand towards the three students still kneeling in the sewer water. "Do you accept?"
"I'll only accept under these terms. You promise not to harm Naga and return him to me. Or any of us in the future. You never speak a word about our... defeat on this day, to anyone. Regardless of the consequences. And... your orders won't be life-threatening." Suppose I should've expected the heir to a prominent wizarding family to have some understanding of these vows. A single day in the Slytherin common room was all the time I needed to understand the influence Malfoy's family had on the wizarding world government, in Britain anyway. I didn't know if it extended any further, but I didn't care either.
"Haah... Fair enough. Agreed." Repeating his words back to him, I extended my wand out to my housemates again.
I didn't need to hurt them again. These vows worked under the premise that it could be fatal if you ever went against your precise words. In which case, so long as they follow the orders I provide and I have no idea that the orders I set will be life-threatening to them, it's all fine.
Still... How careless.
"I solemnly swear to follow your orders so long as you fulfil your end of the deal." Malfoy spoke first, agreeing to the deal. Meaning the other two would shortly follow.
They struggled to utter similar words, trying to match Malfoy's perfectly. Clearly, they didn't have a good understanding of the magic at work.
Good. I didn't need smart pawns.
"Now that that's taken care of..." I glanced around at the destruction we had wrought. It was convenient they had chosen the bathroom close to the common rooms. We could get away with the destruction, not so long ago a troll had a little party in here. The damage was still present. "I'll leave you guys to figure out whatever excuse you want for this mess, not my problem anymore."
"..."
I turned and regarded the witness to this deal, the pale-blue hue of ghostly essence quivering slightly as I regarded her. "Oh, and Myrtle... Not a word to anyone else. You might be a ghost, but I'll make you pay if you do." You might be past the effects of physical violence, but there were plenty more ways to break the spirit. I knew that far too well. I wondered if they were just far more effective on other people.
Throughout the fight, those headless snakes on the floor, they seemed to have forgotten. I had been beaten much more than I had hurt them. There were three of them, after all. It wasn't physicality, or even magic that stood above.
It wasn't their bodies that broke before mine, it was their spirit, their will.
So long as I held that indomitable will in my hands, as long as the embers of my life held strong, I could burn up anything else.
That was the truth.
Those that have nothing. Have nothing to lose.
So why not burn up everything in my sight?
"..."
"I'll find you when I need something." I left them with those parting words.
---
Word count: 3812
Ryuuen chapter, here we go!
This is a slightly different take on Ryuuen simply because I think it fit the ages and also the timeline. Technically, seeing as Ryuuen's reliance on violence first sparked in junior high this means around the age of 10 or 11 could fit the bill.
As such this is actually the first time Ryuuen beats someone. His snake-beating moment if you will. I thought I made that somewhat clear with the subtext, but I could've fumbled honestly, let me know.
You might think Ryuuen's going a bit far... but... I mean, yeah. That's kinda what Ryuuen is. Unbelievably extra, for no reason.
But I'll delve more into Ryuuen's character and his motives in the future. I imagine some already have decent ideas as to why he is the way he is from some of his thoughts, dunno whether it'll be divisive, but it's what I'm going with. I'll just try my best to bring an interesting character to life.
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Hopefully you all enjoyed the chapter. Let me know in the comments.
Until next time.