Let’s return to Brackroot Academy after a summer vacation. If you haven’t yet read my playthrough of Year 1, you can do so here. Highly recommend so that you know who the characters are and what has happened so far.
Be sure to also go grab the game Tangled Blessings by Cassi Mothwin so that you (or you and a partner) can also experience the horror of dark academia.
Disclaimers and Content Warnings
Tangled Blessing is a dark academia horror journaling game. Themes in this playthrough include arson/fire, death, the supernatural, cults, drug use, violence, and more.
I also include the cult/secret society The Yellow Robe in this game. While Tangled Blessings prompts hint at a group that is causing issues, it leaves the name and nature of that group up to the player. I chose The Yellow Robe as a hint at a Lovecraftian cult inspired by The King in Yellow is at play.
Autumn
I tried my first solo ritual. After 12 hours of chanting by candlelight without stopping, the ritual worked.
Speak with the Dead is hardly the most unique ritual to cast alone but it was one that I was keen to learn. I gathered the plants for the anointing oil and incense the weeks prior, taking care to perform the cleansing and protection prep with meticulous detail that I think even Prof. Berezin would be proud of if he was with us this year.
I reached out to make contact with my mother. Dosia Acheson died when I was very young, leaving me only with some pictures and a few mementos that Dad and I cherish.
In the ritual, her presence was very thin and difficult to reach.
Mom said something about family gifts and family curses. About magic and Brackenroot’s roots that go deeper than any mortal had rights to touch. Her voice began to fade then..muffled…as if something was between us, blocking her out.
In my urgency and idiocy, I crossed the circle of protection to try and reach out to her better.
Touching the darkness, the void of the beyond where death reigns…was foolish. My fingers turned black and only Exis’ power kept me from falling to my death entirely.
After cleansing the ritual room and myself, I found the black on my hands wouldn’t come off. Exis tested the skin there and confirmed my suspicions. This blackness wasn’t going anywhere…likely not even another skin shedding ritual would rid me of it. Thankfully, so far, it hasn’t shown any sign of effecting my powers and I was able to cast a few simple charms and even open a portal without issue. Only time will tell what the extent of death’s mark will be.
After, I ran into Dae-Seong in the hall. They were pale and looked shaken by something. I asked if they were alright. He said he hadn’t been sleeping well. “Nightmares,” he said with a laugh as if the concept was funny.
It was the first time alone with them since returning to school but hardly the time to catch up.
Before I could suggest talking to Kaldera for a sleeping remedy, he asked what I’d been up to. I told him I was doing my summoning project. In doing so, they saw my hands and I figured there was no point hiding the mark – it was bound to come out soon. He grimaced but nodded. Then said something that felt more ominous than the words spoken. “This school is full of spirits. Did yours tell you anything worth listening to?”
I wasn’t sure how much to tell them and shrugged “Family history.”
He laughed a little at that but it was a dry, harsh sound with no humor. “Plenty of history. Do you know Brackenroot’s history?”
I told them I didn’t and began to feel very strange. It wasn’t just my mother’s words that lingered in my mind or the mark on my hands. There was something about Dae-Seong’s eyes. One was darker and seemed to grow darker the more they spoke. He rambled about founding witches and the summoning and binding of ancient power. Something about ley lines and vortices. At this point he began walking towards me and I backed up into the wall. I almost considered pulling energy for a protective shield but I hesitated. On one hand, I worried shielding would give them reason to attack and on the other…I didn’t want to hurt them.
Then, just as they were getting nearly feverish in their rambling, they shook their head, spoke a word I think was in Aramaic, and stepped back. Their eyes were clear and the same when they looked up at me again. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, and left.
I have a feeling I wasn’t the only one risking contact with something strange that night.
Winter
I found what looked like an old grimoire in the common room. Curious, I thumbed through and realized certain highlighted passages linked together form a phrase:
A king is waiting for his constellation at the stroke of midnight. Find him in the river.
Is it a prank or a mark of a secret society? I know that there are private and secret clubs on campus. The Order of the Green Star is a well known one that supposedly helps their members obtain high positions in government after graduation. The Yellow Robe is one that is whispered to have dealings with illicit inter dimensional conjuration. There are others and none I’ve really bothered to have interest in. Shari and Jayden enjoyed gossiping about them last year and I’m sure Jayden still talks about the various rumors with their other friends. I’m probably not the best for that though now I am realizing the rumor mill might have its merit if it means keeping up on the goings on and possible history of things…Thinking of and mentioning history brought my thoughts momentarily to Dae-Seong and their cryptic words about Brackenroot’s history.
I had to force thoughts of them out of my head before I got distracted by his peculiarities.
Who left the book? If Jayden were with me, I would have asked them but they were out with other friends…I didn’t ask where to or to do what. My lack of nosiness is probably not a virtue, I realize.
There is a stream that breaks the campus in two. Could it be involved? I think I’ll check it out tomorrow.
I must have dozed, studying the book. When I woke, the Dahlia common room was filled with the smell of smoke and the murmur of concern turning quickly into panic.
Then the news. Fire in the greenhouse. I grabbed my bag, thankfully with my journal, and my sweater and headed out with the rest of the evacuation.
Outside, we saw the worst of it. The south side of the greenhouse was in flames.
I learned later that, when the campus greenhouse caught fire, Dae-Seong was one of the first on the scene. They, along with faculty and a few other advanced student were able to control the flames through various means of earth and water magic and even some vacuum spells to suck the oxygen from small spaces.
The next day, rumors were that it was an intentional act that destroyed the school’s plot of restorative herbs. Without those plots magical sickness, illness, and injury could lead to death. Still no word on the arsonist and something in my gut tells me that the book I was studying might be connected…
I wavered on whether or not to bring the book to the attention of faculty. It was just a hunch, after all. Then it occured to me that someone with stronger psychic abilities could perhaps glean from it and tell me if my hunch was correct or simply self-important imaginings. Exis told me to quit worrying so much when I consulted them.
I was headed towards Professor Okoye’s office when I passed the healing wing and overheard Kaldera and Dr. Elvas discussing the grave matter of being unable to properly treat those injured by the fire. Alumni and other providers had sent healing potions and ointments as well as other aid. The attempts to order in ingredients and spell tools that were destroyed by the fire have been delayed. Kaldera assured Elvas that they could treat those injured by the fire but it would take all of the ingredients and tools we have, leaving us with nothing until the shipments could arrive…whenever that could be. Elvas ordered the injured students to be sent out to other facilities. It would mean that anyone injured in the school would either have to make do or be sent out…hopefully no one was seriously injured because there would be very little the school could do for them. This sent a chill through me.
I don’t know why, even now after my problems last year, I still feel like Brackenroot and magic in general is so infallible. Still, every time something like this happens – limits, scarcity – I am shocked. We are powerful magic users! How is it our hands are tied by such things?
Did the person who set fire to the greenhouse know this would happen? What could possibly be the reason for it?
I also noted that some fliers have gone out for extra curricular energy healing classes.
I didn’t make it to Professor Okoye’s office. Dae-Seong stood at the top of the stairs as if waiting for me. Anxious about my decision, I asked them if they would take a look at the book. I showed them the passage and explained about my gut feeling. They looked it over and nodded, promising to do a ritual casting to see if they could find anything from it regarding who had it before me and if it was connected to the research the psychic students and faculty were doing to investigate the fire.
I thanked them, explaining that I was worried that it was nothing and would distract from the real issue.
Dae-Seong shook his head. “Don’t ever ignore your instincts.”
We parted after that but their words stayed with me.
Winter Break
I was chatting with Jayden about Winter Break plans in the hall outside of the alchemy labs. I was going home to Dad who was thrilled to have me considering last year I missed out on the holidays with him. His enthusiasm and plans for making it a good time for me made me feel a little guilty about missing last year even though he understood.
Dae-Seong interrupted and asked if they could speak with me in private. Jayden waggled their eyebrows at me and left. Dae-Seong watched them leave with a dark expression and before I could ask what was up, told me to be careful who I trust.
They grabbed my hand and brought me down to the underbelly of the school, the black doors under the library that we discovered the year before. The silver padlock was gone now. Dae-Seong stopped there though and didn’t open them. I’m not sure if I’m glad or disappointed.
The book was indeed connected to the fire but the psychic faculty and students have been unable to pin down the perpetrators. I confirmed he meant there was more than one. This sent a chill through me. It was one thing if some rando student decided to set fire to something – maybe they were an uncontrolled pyrokinetic or just a perv that liked to set fires. But a group meant there was a level of intention that suggested more problems to come.
Dae-Seong asked if I was leaving school for break. I told them of my plans and they nodded. “That’s good.”
I asked by but they only shook their heads. “The less people here this winter the better.”
They said they would be staying when I asked, which made me almost want to cancel my plans to leave. What were they up to? Did their winter break plans have to do with the fire? They wouldn’t confirm or deny my suppositions, leaving me frustrated.
Sensing my annoyance, Dae-Seong smirked and brushed a hand over my hair. “Its growing back out.” It was an out-of-character action that was a little startling.
I frowned more at my own body’s response to their touch than the touch itself. Exis coiled around my throat a little more, making me feel very aware of my skin which was still soft from the ritual.
In the end, all I could say was “be careful.” This brought the serious expression back to Dae-Seong’s face. “You too. There are people in this school who are not what they seem.”
My previous enthusiasm about leaving for break was strongly squashed by the interaction. Was there some larger scheme at work in the school? If so, to what end. Was Dae-Seong in danger? Was I? But even then…seeing Dae-Seong smirk like that…was nice.
(The winter break expansion for Tangled Blessings just came out! I wasn’t able to play with it before drafting this playthrough but I hope to share it in the near future.)
Spring
Most of the woods surrounding the academy are mostly off limits due to dangerous mystical beasts attracted to the Speaking Gem within the school – the gem that assigned us to our houses and also finds students all over the world with magical talent…among other things.
I have never given the woods much thought beyond our day time excursions with Kaldera and the other green-magic faculty to gather certain materials that grow better here than in the green house…especially since the green house is still not back to its former use.
Jayden and their friends have been talking about sneaking into it ever since returning from break. Supposedly there is a rare mushroom within the woods that makes one trip balls and their enchantment and charms powers really strong during its use. Research on the mushroom confirmed its magical effects as well as why it was so hard to grow outside of certain natural environs.
Jayden pestered me about joining them but I declined. The last thing I needed was to get caught up in their nonsense when Year 2 finals are just around the corner. Jayden pouted but left me alone about it for the most part – bringing it up only when I came back from woods trips with the faculty or saw anything vaguely mushroom related in my alchemy and green-magic studies. I pointed out that obsessiveness was a fault of Dahlia students like me and weren’t Celestials like them supposed to be indifferent. Jayden pointed out that Celestials were also known for their passion.
In the end it was Dae-Seong that made me change my mind. I ran into them at the library and asked how the winter break research went. They walked me down to the snake doors again, apparently this is a safe place where we are unlikely to be overheard. Still no long on the door but we didn’t enter. “What do you know about Fynes?” I was confused why he wanted to know about Jayden or if it was about someone else who share their surname. He confirmed that Jayden was who we were talking about.
I told them Jayden was my friend, had been since first year orientation.
“You know they’re part of the Yellow Robe, right?”
This was news to me, but then I didn’t know about about the secret society other than rumors. It seemed very unlikely that Jayden, who was still struggling with portal magic, was part of some dimension tearing cult and I said as much.
Dae-Seong didn’t seem convinced. When I shared I wasn’t taking such things seriously, he grabbed my hand. “You should. Jayden is the one who left the book you found.”
This stunned me. “And you think the Yellow Robe set fire to the green house?”
Dae-Seong leaned in, their mouth so close to my ear I could feel his lips on my skin when he whispered. “Worse than the greenhouse fire. The Yellow Robe is an enemy to any sane person. We can’t prove anything yet but…keep an eye on your friend. If Fynes is as innocent as you claim, they could be in trouble. The Yellow Robe is not a group to tangle with.” After that Dae-Seong would say no more.
When Jayden asked me again about going in the woods, I relented, keeping Dae-Seong’s warning in mind.
Jayden was practically screaming with glee- irritating the librarian across from where we sat. They assured me that the third years that had info on the mushroom said the excursion would be safe and the trip was planned for the new moon.
The third years were wrong.
We found the mushrooms. Jayden took one right away, making out with a third year names Celeste. I opted to save mine in a jar I brought with me – yes I am the nerd that brought gloves, harvesting knife, and a jar in my bag. The rest were happy to raw dog nature, which I’m not sure if I envy or not.
An hour in, we decided to head back, even the most exhibitionist among us were tired of the cold, damp, and mosquitos.
That was when we encountered the spectre. I’ve read about such creatures – rage filled humanoids that no longer have a grasp on who or what they once were. Usually the spirits of dead magic users. Some philosophical magic texts discuss if they are indeed spirits or simply mindless echoes of humans made of residual curse magic. I wasn’t exactly in a good position to ask the entity as it attacked us in attempt to drain us of power and energy. It is likely our shenanigans and the high energy including the various members of our excursion who emanated sexual energy, are what lured it to us as they smell that for miles and crave it.
A few of us cast wards but the entity fed off of them and grew stronger. I watched the entity latch on to an owl familiar of a peer and encouraged Exis to slide into my bra and hide. In the end it was some basic talismans and prayers that allowed us to survive until we reached the campus wards.
We had to rush a few of us to the infirmary. Kaldera and Elvas gave us an ear full, relinquishing us of various off campus privileges including my ability to go with Kaldera during chaperoned day time harvests. We also are all taking an extra class on various magic-devouring entities and have essays due on them on top of our finals studies.
It sucks but we got off lightly.
Scandals in school move on quickly. Our excursion into the woods and the attack was quickly old news when Professor Okoye was fired. This was a shock to everyone as it was well known that Okoye was in line to become the next Headmistress of Brackenroot should Elvas step down. The psychic studies and enchantments departments were particularly hit as she was a strong professor in both fields.
Even more suprising is the rumored reason why. Supposedly, Okoye was using magic to gain power of teh school and specifically to control and manipulate the Speaking Gem.
I met Dae-Seong beneath the school near the serpent doors. I don’t know how I knew I’d find them there but there they were, standing, staring at the doors. What surprised me was how angry they looked.
“Its a lie,” he hissed when I approached. “Okoye was no enemy of the school.”
I put a hand on his shoulder, fully expecting him to brush it off. Instead they turned and wrapped their arms around me. In the embrace, he whispered. “Okoye gave me something…something to help. I…don’t know if I can do this alone…after what I’ve seen.”
I wasn’t sure how to take this. Was Dae-Seong telling the truth and Okoye removed on false premises? Did this have anything to do with The Yellow Robe? Did Okoye and the psychic department learn something about the Yellow Robe and the school that caused her to be removed? Or was Dae-Seong a pawn Okoye was manipulating?
In that moment, I chose to believe him. “You are not alone.”
He nodded then stepped back and from his pocket produced a small box. A tiny chest the size of the palm of his hand. “I can’t get it open but I will.”
I touched it gingerly, my black fingers all the darker against its pale wood. There, on the front, so tiny it was almost imperceptible unless one was looking close, was a symbol I recognized.
“Acheson,” I whispered my mother’s maiden name as I outlined the rooster with my fingertip. The chest opened.
Dae-Seong asked me how I did it and I told him that Acheson was my mother’s family’s name and that the rooster symbol on the chest was the same as on her family crest. I didn’t expect saying it or touching it would open. There was some speculation as to if saying the word and touching the crest would work for anyone or just someone of the family bloodline. I pointed out if that was the case, why give it to Dae-Seong who, as far as either of us know, wasn’t related to the Achesons.
They got quiet and then said that he’d spoken to Okoye about me. That I was in a vision they’d had at the beginning of first year. A vision about the destruction of the school. I could tell there was more to it but he wouldn’t say anything else about it.
The chest was empty, making its gift to Dae-Seong even more confusing.
End of the Year
The last week of school.
All that is left is a few final papers and loose strings. Some of the students have already left and the school grounds are filled with the signs of relief and release of tension. (Unless you are a fourth year, prepping for testing. I try not to stare at them as they roam the halls looking haunted by the future or testing spells on the grounds.)
Its like no one remembers that the green house was burning only months ago. Even Okoye’s firing seemed to only cause some minor issues…It feels strange but perhaps its all relative. When you can bend time and space, summon demons, and change your skin…perhaps it is all just small potatoes.
Even I momentarily put it all from my mind when I was stressing over alchemical lab reports and final grades.
Jayden and I haven’t talked much since the incident with the spectre, about mushrooms or the Yellow Robe or anything else for that matter. They’ve been dating Celest and the two seem to have eyes only for each other. I kind of envy them that but cannot imagine it for myself while still focused on my studies. I’m sure that the relationship has effected Jayden’s grades and I wonder if Celest, going into her 4th year next year, will have time for dating while preparing for graduation exams. Perhaps I am a cynic. Perhaps I don’t have my priorities straight. I wish them the best.
The dream started a few weeks prior. I figured it was finals stress. Snippets of being lost in the school, of the Speaking Gem calling to me. But then the dream hit hard. Callign to me so loud it woke me.
Unable to brush it off any longer, I pulled on my clothes and went searching. It was after midnight and with finals wrapping up there were few in the halls or about, burning the midnight oil to get some last minute prep work done.
I followed the images in my dream. Down the back stairwell to the serpent doors. They were ajar so I slipped in, trying my best not to open them any further.
I don’t know what I expected beyond those doors but what I found was a long dark hallway. I cast a minor light spell, hoping that it wouldn’t be what got me in trouble. The floor was marble and very clean. No dust lingered in here despite what I assume was long disuse.
Following the hall, I found the simple wooden door near the end.
Dae-Seong arrived at the same time I did.
There in the center of the room was the Speaking Gem, glowing its ethereal violet just as it had been in the main hall during orientation last year. I wondered why it wasn’t magically protected…just some long corridor and back stair well between it and whatever wanted to find it. Before I could ask, Dae-Seong raised a finger to their lips and then waved a hand. Magical symbols appeared in silvery array around us. There were safety spells everywhere, many of them triggered by sound, others by touch, and others by breath. Also revealed was a pale violet light like an aura around us both. Attached to this aura was a violet thread…leading straight to the stone. The aura seemed to be creating a buffer between us and the protection spells. This was why we were able to get here without magical defenses attacking us until we were dust or worse. The Speaking Gem was, somehow, protecting us.
We both touched the speaking gem simultaneously and it said ‘What you seek is hidden in the grand rotunda.”
The grand rotunda rests on a natural platform near the south end of campus.
We went out to it. Thankfully students roaming the grounds at night isn’t much to bat an eye at, especially couples, especially letting off finals steam. It still felt like we needed to be as stealthy as possible. We pulled our cloaks tight around us and when we almost ran into a couple fucking in the hedges, Dae-Seong pulled me close and veered us another way.
We reached the rotunda without running into anyone.
However…there was nothing remarkable around it. I’d been here plenty of times before. What were we looking for?
We spent the rest of the night and early morning casting detection spells and investigating every nook adn cranny. Nothing.
Why would the Speaking Gem send us on a wild goose chase?
As I was getting ready to leave for the summer, Dae-Seong pulled me aside. This earned a pointed look from Jayden and Celest but I tried to ignore them. I’ll keep researching. See if you can find anything out about your mom and the school.
I agreed and before we parted, I pulled them close, almost a hug but more to get them to look me in the eye. “Be safe.”
Something felt ominous, a shadow over us both. I worried what the next year would have in store.
