The girl’s friends exchanged a series of awkward glances.

“Priscilla,” one said slowly, “is everything okay?”

“No," the girl, Priscilla, snapped. “This so-called ‘student’ is actually a horrible toad carrying deviant who was forcefully removed from the entrance exam.”

“Okaaaaay,” another girl replied, rolling her eyes.

“Okay? Just okay? Violet, this is a serious issue!” Priscilla exclaimed, still pointing at Wheeler who remained frozen over the cake tray. “We can’t just let him get away with this. We need to report him.”

“Well, you can go and do that I guess,” Violet said, crossing her arms. “But we’re going back to play the welcome games. That super cute boy I saw during the exam is there.” The other girls nodded in agreement.

“There’s more important things to think of than boys right now,” Priscilla protested, placing her hands on her hips.

“No, no there really isn’t,” Violet retorted. “Bye Priscilla, have fun with your ‘toad deviant’ or whatever.” And with that the pack of girls turned and left.

“Now look what you did,” Priscilla muttered. “Do you have any idea how hard I worked to get them to hang out with me? Now they’re going to think I’m some kind of lunatic!” Her eyes narrowed. “But don’t think I plan on giving up. I’m going to make sure you get dragged out of here once and for all.”

Wheeler anxiously grabbed a pastry and shoved it into his mouth, stress eating the gooey baked good as he attempted to formulate an excuse.

“Lishen, how can you proof anyfin,” he mumbled, his words distorted from the amount of dessert currently stuffed into his mouth.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full. It’s very rude,” Priscilla said sharply.

Wheeler swallowed hard.

“Sorry,” he stammered. “Um...but how can you prove anything? You don’t even know for sure I’m the ‘toad deviant’ you’re looking for.”

“Isn’t it evidence enough that you have the same ugly toad.”

“Hey, Mister Pumpernickel isn’t ugly,” Wheeler blurted, “he’s considered very handsome by toad beauty standards--”

“AHA!”

Wheeler gasped, his hand immediately flying to cover his mouth.

“That’s exactly what you said during the entrance exam,” Priscilla said with a triumphant grin. “Oh you are sooooo totally screwed. Just you wait till I get my hands on proof!" She let out a low, almost maniacal sounding laugh. “You’re doomed, toad boy--” And that’s when she suddenly froze, her eyes going wide as her cheeks flushed a bright shade of scarlet. Without so much as a warning Priscilla immediately dived under the dessert table, her little Mary Jane shoes only half visible beneath the silk table cloth.

“What are you doing?” Wheeler stammered, nervously glancing around. “Is something going on?”

“Shhhh,” Priscilla hissed. “Whatever you do, don’t let her know I’m here!”

“What? Who?”

That’s when Wheeler saw the tall female guard making her way towards the academy doors. The moment she slipped inside Priscilla finally crawled out from beneath the table, her cheeks still flushed.

“Um, everything okay?” Wheeler asked awkwardly.

“Yeah,” Priscilla mumbled, smoothing down her skirt. “I just err...I suppose I just panicked a little.”

Wheeler blinked. “Why?”

“None of your business, toad boy.”

“I mean…” Wheeler said slowly. “It’s not like I would ever tell anyone.” He chuckled, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t have any friends.”

Priscilla hesitated a moment before letting out a low breath. “Yeah I guess you’re right.” She swallowed hard, her gaze falling to her hands. “That guard....um...her name is Frances.” Despite her reluctance Priscilla seemed slightly relieved to explain her troubles. “She was my brother’s best friend growing up so she was always around our estate until she left to become an imperial knight. I haven’t seen her in years so running into her now was um...a bit of a shock. I had no idea she was doing her training apprenticeship at the academy.”

Wheeler furrowed his brow. “Wait...but if you grew up together why’d you hide from her?”

The color in Priscilla’s cheeks grew even redder and it suddenly clicked.

“Oh! You have a crush on her mmph--” Wheeler gasped, his voice muffled as Priscilla threw a hand over his mouth.

“Shhhhhhhhh, not so loud,” she hissed, anxiously glancing around.

“Sorry,” Wheeler stammered as she finally removed her hand.

“I feel so stupid. Why the hell did I hide under a table?” Priscilla muttered, grabbing for a napkin to wipe the hand she’d covered Wheeler’s mouth with.

“Um...cause you got shy?”

“But I’m not a shy person!”

Wheeler shrugged. “I don’t know. Crushes make people do all kinds of weird things. Once, Mister Pumpernickel saw a beautiful south Vetarian tree frog and croaked to her all night--”

“Hearing about the romantic endeavors of your toad isn’t making this better,” Priscilla snapped, burying her face in her hands. “God, I’m such an idiot. I doubt she even recognized me.”

“Really?” Wheeler gaped. “But didn’t you say you grew up together?”

“Yeah,” Priscilla mumbled from behind her hands. “But she never acknowledged my existence past being Peter’s little sister.”

And that’s when something very rare happened.

Wheeler actually got an idea.

“Wait,” he exclaimed, “what if we made a deal. I’ll get Frances to notice you and in return you don’t tell anyone I’m a fake.”

Priscilla let out a huff, crossing her arms. “And how the hell would you manage that impossible feat?”

Wheeler froze.

Crap, he hadn’t actually thought that far ahead.

“What the hell did you do now?” a voice called as a small white cat suddenly appeared beside him. Wheeler figured using this form was the only way Mulock could sneak himself into the academy.

“A talking cat?” Priscilla gasped.

“It’s a magic school kid, you’re going to see magical things. Calm the hell down,” Mulock answered dryly.

“Um, yeah...this cat is my uh…” well he couldn’t exactly say he was a demon who he owed his eternal soul to, could he? “Err...he’s my familiar.”

Priscilla’s eyes narrowed. “I thought your familiar was that stupid toad.”

Wheeler shook his head. “Oh no. Mister Pumpernickel isn’t my familiar, he’s my best friend!”

“What?” Mulock snapped. “You’re ranking me lower than a freaking toad?”

Wheeler shrugged. “I’ve known him longer.”

“But he’s a toad,” Mulock bristled.

“And you’re a cat.”

“Who can talk! Can your toad talk?!?”

“No, but he’s a great listener.”

Mister Pumpernickel croaked in agreement.

“This is ridiculous,” Mulock muttered, “I’m being outranked by a toad named Mister Pumpernickel. My life has officially hit rock bottom.”

Wheeler gestured to the girl in front of them. “This is Priscilla,” he said cheerfully. “Priscilla, this is Mulock, but you can call him Mully if you want.”

“No you can’t.”

Wheeler grinned at Priscilla. “I just realized I never actually introduced myself. My name is Wheeler. Now you can finally stop calling me toad boy!”

“No, I'm still calling you toad boy,” Priscilla stated firmly.

“Oh...okay.” Wheeler looked at the demon now. “We’re going to get Priscilla’s crush to notice her, and in exchange she’s not going to tell anyone our secret--”

“Not so fast,” Priscilla cut in. “I’m not agreeing to anything. Someone like you couldn’t possibly know the first thing about wooing a girl.”

“Yeah, he definitely has no clue,” Mulock stated blankly.

“Wha...hey!”

“See,” Priscilla said, “even your cat agrees.”

“But,” the demon cut in with a smirk, “that doesn’t mean I don’t.”