The following interlude contains spoilers for the first two Twisted Wonderland missions. Reading those missions first is advised.
Cassia Kupferbäcker's second year at Night Raven College started off with a blast.
When he donned his dorm's prided garb of purple robes lined with red and closed by a black sash for the first time that year, he was scolded by his dorm leader in the middle of the lounge, in front of a handful of their dormmates. "I'm only saying this once, so do me a favour and never dress in such an embarrassing manner again," Vil said, hands now working at Cassia's sash. "The most important component of Pomefiore dorm dress is the sash's knot; you simply do not let your hair drape all over it. With hair this long, you either have it done up or don't tie the sash in the back. Have I made myself clear?"
Vil then stepped back and marvelled at his handiwork: the bow knot of Cassia's sash was now in the front, off to his left side. Vil then took the time to look the sophomore up and down, much to the latter's confusion.
"I must admit, you really do have astonishingly beautiful hair," he finally said. "Long hair does look better on you than the bob you had last year. How come you keep your hair in excellent condition, yet don't know how to coordinate your outfit with it?"
"I style my new hair this way on Maury's advice," Cassia replied. "He tells me my hair is best left loose when I wear dorm dress, that it looks good on its own without complicated styling or ornamentation. That I didn't take the sash into account was an oversight, for which I apologize."
"Of course, it's your butler again. Hardly surprising. Though it seems Morgan does have some semblance of taste," Vil said. "By the way, do warn him to show up unprompted in this dorm a bit less this year."
Morgan Platinfersken arrived at the main campus, a small jar of gel in hand. It took him a great deal of time and effort to obtain the substance; as always, his dorm leader was a tad difficult when it came to handing over materials that only he had. You have to understand, you have no idea how hard it is to secure even a teaspoon of this extract, let alone a jar, Azul told him. What I'm asking from you in return is much smaller in comparison. You can ask him to write new copies of menus for Mostro Lounge, or you can work overtime for two weeks – including weekends.
It was frustrating, but Morgan accomplished his purpose: find some rare sea berry extract that his master Cassia requested for a sealing wax recipe.
Cassia was a calligrapher; his adeptness with the pen and his talent for making sealing wax weren't exactly a secret on campus. It was thus inevitable that Vil requested a few sticks of wax from him, with detailed specifications that lead Cassia to call for an ingredient that only Azul had. Now with the ingredient in hand, Morgan pushed open the door to the alchemy workshop, where his master awaited. "Mister Cassia, I'm sorry I made you wait."
"Maury, you're just in time," Cassia replied, not forgetting a smile that sent Morgan's heart racing. Clad in lab uniform and having his long hair gathered in a hair net, he was surrounded by beads of wax and sprigs of herb here, bags of powders and vials of potions there. In the middle of the worktable, a beaker was set over a flame; inside the vessel, a thick purple concoction the consistency of melted chocolate was being heated. "The extract will give the wax just the scent and colour I need."
Cassia unlidded the jar his butler handed to him, and added a tiny pinch of the gel into the wax. Instantly the room was filled with tendrils of smoke the colour of mother-of-pearl, as though winding around and choking the beholder with its bewitching scent.
Once the smoke dissipated, Cassia wasted no time pouring part of the concoction onto a piece of paper, then pressed on it the sealing stamp. When the stamp was removed and the wax cooled, he held the seal up to the light, angling several times, examining its details.
"Plum's skin purple with just a hint of silver starlight, a faint pearl sheen but not glossy, scented alluring and elegant, yet dangerous and terror-inducing. From look to touch to smell, the wax itself should invoke the very image of Pomefiore before the stamp is pressed on it. This is perfect," he said. "I knew that extract is just the thing I need. Maury, you've been a great help."
At this, Morgan knew he had no choice but to break to his master the news. "Azul has something he wants you to do in return for the extract. He wants you to…"
"Handwrite new copies of Mostro Lounge's menu," Cassia finished for him, then chuckled. "I can't wait to put my new magic-crystal-tipped pen to use, so why not?"