Heartwarming / Wizarding School Mysteries

Per wiki policy, Spoilers Off applies here and all spoilers are unmarked. You Have Been Warned.

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It's a series of books about a bunch of would-be wizards becoming True Companions over the course of their adventures. Of course, it'd be a sweet affair, especially from the guy who made tons of lovable kaiju.

The Meddlesome Youths

• When James first meets Ivan and Gretchen, the friendship between them is almost instantaneous. It's a good sign that he's well on the path to happiness, if Helseng's predictions are correct (which they often are).
  • During their rest on the Treadscar Path, James comes clean about his status as a trans boy, and how he never felt comfortable being a girl. Ivan and Gretchen are quick to reassure him and even congratulate him for solving his problem via his Highly Refined Transformation Spell. Gretchen even asks for something similar.
  • When Ivan talks about his anxieties regarding his education, James and Gretchen reassure him that they'll help him be the greatest town wizard ever, and perhaps more. Ivan tearfully tells them that they're the best friends he's ever had, upon which the other two internally realize they they are each other's first real friends too. It was at this moment when the foundation of the Meddlesome Youths was laid.
• The very sweet way Childe treats all of the students in the feast hall. It's abundantly clear she loves her job and the kids who eat (and absolutely love) her food.
  • Much later into the story, her passion for the students is shown to be so great, she'll take on an entire army of elves to help them.
• Although he's a crazy Pointy-Haired Boss for most of the book, Dermberder has a very specific reason for putting James in the Phlegmatic dorm. Although the boy was chosen by all four elemental spirits, he feels that if he's going to master them all, he should start with the one based on compassion and, in his words, healing the world. An oddly sentimental act from an otherwise callous dean. And he says this to a fellow faculty member without a hint of irony, too.
• After a somewhat awkward and shaky start, James begins to like Rodrigo as a roommate, particularly when the latter states that he wants James to feel at home in their dorm as much as he does.
• Everything about Professor Oomlowt Schwaa. He's informative, he's fair, and is perhaps the only teacher who seems to actually care about the well-being AND education of his students. James and his friends agree that out of all of the classes they have, he makes Fair Folk Studies the best out of the lot.
  • He's also the only teacher who actually listens to James when there is trouble in the school. While he cannot do too much thanks to his deal with Dermberder, he actively finds loopholes to do so. This ends up becoming incremental later on.
• The moment Ivan meets Rodrigo at his doorstep, it's Love at First Sight. His nervous first interaction and subsequent desire to impress him is more than adorable.
• Similar to the above, James finds himself rather enamored by Margot when she rescues him from the goblins. As for her, she mostly did it as thanks for him standing up for her earlier.
• Margot's backstory. An orphan of the last Goblin War, she was taken in by a kindly blacksmith, who taught her in his ways and raised her. Afer some time, they both made her special Restraining Bolt gauntlet. According to her, the blacksmith had been saving his supply of thunderbolt iron for something special, but he made a gauntlet (which was her idea) just for her instead to help channel her powerful fire magic. Though in a way, perhaps that WAS the special thing he was looking for. Needless to say, she's Happily Adopted.
  • She relays all of this to Gretchen. Despite being one of the most anti-social of James' friends, she's quick to offer her own story as comfort. They get along swimmingly because of it.
• Fafgander saving James and Ivan from falling off the flying carpet. Although he tries to shrug it off, later events make it clear that he cares more about the students than he's willing to admit.
• Gretchen admitting to herself that it's much harder to come up with legitimate reasons to hate her roommate Serena than it is to like her. It's only the start of their Ship Tease.
• Rodrigo volunteering to help James with getting into the Samhain festival by making them high-class clothes. He is absolutely excited to get started.
• James leaving Professor Evelina's classroom in solidarity with Margot after she puts on a fantastic display. Polybeus ends up leading a walk-out with the other students immediately afterwards.
  • Much later, one student tells James that while most of them saw the walk-out as a means of escaping class time, they eventually realized that they wanted to support Margot too. Polybeus even tells James that he did it because standing up for people like Margot is what heroes do. It's the first time he's actually done anything remotely heroic in the story, but it's a good sign of his Hidden Heart of Gold.
• After Margot's display, James immediately finds her so that he can offer her comfort. She appreciates it immensely.
• Despite being an insanely dangerous and powerful Plague Master, Mr. Mackers the nuckelavee is nothing but cordial and patient with Oomlowt's students. He's also capable of putting a positive spin on disease, seeing it as just another form of life.
• The moment Oomlowt hears from James about Evelina's abuse of Margot, he's horrified and determined to set things right. She isn't even a student of his, and he still goes out of his way to help her.
  Oomlowt: You've seen this school at its worst. Let me show you its best.
  • When Margot panics about bringing Evelina over, James and Oomlowt promise to stand by her.
  • Oomlowt's impassioned speech about the AAAM being a place of acceptance for all walks of life before Dermberder.
  • And when the penalty on Evelina doesn't feel like enough, he allows Margot to have private tutoring sessions with him. He's just that dedicated to every students' well-being.
  • Margot thanks James for doing all of this for her, only stating that she would have liked to have done it herself. At that point, you can just tell these two were made for each other.
• Serena excitedly accepting Gretchen's (begrudging) offer to be her fake date at the Samhain ball.
• Despite being insulted and ignored by a despairing Polybeus, Ivan still feels compelled to help him get through his Snipe Hunt somehow.
• After freaking out about deviations to water magic earlier, Professor Mewcosa Glycocet is suddenly intrigued by James' proposition about using it to ward off diseases. Instead of rejecting new ideas this time, she puts it into consideration and congratulates the youth. As Rodrigo states, teachers can indeed still be taught.
• Before the night of the Samhain festival, the gang decides to just take a relaxing walk through the courtyard to get their minds off of things and enjoy the beauty of the place together.
• Upon hearing that James feels that he doesn't really belong in a fancy suit for the ball, Rodrigo tells him that he is no less deserving of it than any prince or lord, and that the only thing that separates people like him from people like them is the difference in money.
• James being utterly floored by the beauty of Margot's look for the Samhain ball, which she mostly made by herself. Later, she admits that she liked James' old clothes because they give him character.
• Rodrigo revealing that he and Serena know one another, and he considers her to be one of the most talented conjurors he knows. Later events prove him to be quite right.
• Serena telling the fairies that Gretchen can be a bit rough around the edges, but she's extremely clever and, in her eyes, destined to become one of the greatest conjurors around. Gretchen is absolutely floored by this, and is at a loss for words when she describes Serena. All she can say is that she's perceptive, kind, and pretty. It's clear she's starting to cast her initial feelings of revulsion to her to the wayside.
• James offering Charlotte an opportunity to see how humans spend their time, bringing her great joy.
• After Margot crafts her a horseshoe, the Autumn Prince rewards her with a beautiful necklace, hoping that she will one day craft it into something beautiful...like a ring.
• Everyone dancing at the ball, in particular James and Margot waltzing together.
• After saving the youths from the elves and kelpies, Fafgander offers for them to rest at his lair upon seeing the danger they are in. He may be a giant ferocious dragon, but he's ultimately a good Gentle Giant more than willing to provide food and shelter for whoever needs it.
  • His horde mainly consists of strange metal crafts that the students have made for him over the years. He loves them all, seeing every imperfection as a sign of the artist's learning and uniqueness.
  • When the youths leave, James tells the dragon to stay behind, not wanting him to get hurt in the oncoming crossfire.
• Rodrigo calling Ivan magnificent when he summons the army of flying carpets.
• The hobgoblin allowing James to get to the Summer Prince's throne room due to both the guy being such a Bad Boss and because James always gave her mercy despite her actions.
• James nearly letting out Tears of Joy after he tricks the Summer Prince into taking away his former name and identity as Elizabeth Marlowe. That identity represented the worst years of his life, and now it's finally behind him.
• Charlotte forgiving Zebul Blaa for being The Mole, knowing that he just wanted what she wants: to be made neutral.
• A somewhat minor example, but Polybeus was inspired by Margot to embue his sword with lightning properties (even if he says that swords are more heroic than gauntlets).
• The orcs sparing Margot after she calms her rampaging fire magic down. Their leader's first instinct is to ask if she's okay, then declare that they'll make sure she's safe, as her fighting her own magic makes her a Worthy Opponent and deserving of respect. They then are inspired to stand up for themselves and abandon their cruel master.
• When James explains to the others how he made everyone forget his old identity, everyone hugs him, and Gretchen tells him that they'll never forget who he really is.
• Oomlowt congratulating the youths for saving the students, declaring them as heroes and the best the school has to offer.
• Helseng assuring James that his adventures are just beginning, and that he has a lot of good things ahead of him so long as he keeps his friends close.
• Everyone ultimatlely deciding to stay at the AAAM with James until the next semester. Why? Because the AAAM is the closest thing he has to a home, and they're not just going to leave him alone.
  It was far from perfect, and indeed a great deal more perilous than it needed to be, but here, at the Academy of Applied Arcana and Magic, with his seven friends at his side, James had finally found his home.

Tournament of Death

• The very first thing the youths do before the semester starts, on James' request, is go and find Fafgander and provide him with both some tithes and a hearty breakfast as thanks for helping them during the last adventure. Needless to say, the dragon is immensely grateful, and gives them a ride back to the AAAM in return.
• James' joy at the opportunity to learn evocation.
• While in Calampen, Serena whisks James away (much to Margot and Gretchen's mutual amusing bewilderment). Her reasoning is that she's worried that they're only friends by association, and wants to change that.
• James going into full Tranquil Fury mode against Polybeus after he insults Ivan for losing so quickly to Miguel. He points out that not only is Ivan a founding member of the Meddlesome Youths, but he's a good person, and one of the only reasons Polybeus is even a part of the group. It certainly gives the big guy a lot to think about.
  • To prove this, he works up the effort to reassure Ivan instead of bring him down like he always does when the boy exits the arena. It's a start.
• Shere thanking Margot for helping rescue her friend Mugre from the Summer Prince before their fight.
  • Really, every opponent Margot faces treats her with respect and admiration.
• James actually offers for Lord Dhenregirr to fight him after the lich is found out, if only to see what he's really capable of after the easy victories over him earlier.
  • Afterwards, and after he's roughed James up a bit, Dhenregirr is revealed to be a very Benevolent Boss to his skeleton army, teleporting them away to safety when they get hurt and fretting over them like a concerned parent. He ultimately surrenders because he doesn't want any more harm to come to them. James thanks him for the good fight, quite possibly being the first positive feedback the dark wizard has been given in a long time. He still swears to destroy the school, but he's recognized James as a Worthy Opponent.
• Juno being very supportive of Ivan despite his humiliating defeat by Miguel, encouraging him to present his abilities in front of the class and showing him where his talents could lie. It puts him on the road to recovery rather quickly.
• Geoffrey Travers helping James and Rodrigo gain the ability to make their place Bigger on the Inside out of the goodness in his heart. The moon abides, indeed.
• Rodrigo's child-like fascination with Ivan's sillylusions, which are basically living cartoons. He immediately teams up with his friend so that they can make more together, much to Ivan's delight. It's a surefire sign that they're getting closer than ever as James happily watches them walk away while brainstorming more ideas.
• Everything about James and Margot's burgeoning feelings for each other. Throughout the story, it becomes harder and harder for them to ignore that there's a major spark between them.
• Margot's absolute love for ballads is endearing in every way, especially when she gets the notion that Ivan and Rodrigo could adapt them.
• Upon meeting Zebul Blaa again, Charlotte notices how he's completely alone in the audience, no doubt thanks to his role as The Mole in the kidnapping scheme. She and her friends give him company, giving him a much needed reprieve from the horrible reputation he currently has.
• During their fight, Gabriev stops attacking Polybeus when he sees how distraught he is over falling in the mud in front of the laughing audience. He then asks his opponent why he actually wants to be a hero, and encourages him to make it about not just the glory, but helping others and fighting for the common folk. It actually manages to reach Polybeus, and he forgets all about his shame...right before Gabriev is unceremoniously killed by the saboteur.
  • Even after that, Garbriev uses his last words to tell Polybeus that he's a good person as he succumbs to his wounds.
• Maxeral, the head of the security gargoyles, tells James in private that he admires him and his friends for rising to the occasion in spite of the rules he himself is forever bound to, and swears to do as much as he can to support the boy while he tries and solves the mystery. It's safe to say the gargoyle earns his spot on the Justice tarot card.
• Ivan finds Polybeus despairing over the death of Gabriev, unwilling to let anyone see him cry. The Ruslovakian boy tells him that the Heroes of Antiquity he so idolizes were allowed to feel grief, like when Achilles mourned Patroclus and such. Upon hearing Ivan's words, he hugs his roommate and takes back every bad thing he ever said about him, calling him a brother in arms.
• Throughout the story, everyone in the school praises Margot (except Alys of course) wherever she goes, pretty much rendering all of her anxieties regarding her appearance moot, even if all of the attention is a bit much.
• Before the grudge match between Margot and Alys, the other teachers discuss who to root for. While some like Heka Tlancheb and Kovut Nyftek have their reasons for being supportive, it's Juno and, of course, Oomlowt who really want the student to succeed. They even summon banners cheering her on.
• After Margot scores her well-deserved victory over Alys, three professors are practically tripping over themselves to have her in their advanced classes. Them being Simmeon Helmshmied of Enchantment studies, Heka Tlancheb of Combat Casting, and Sulfurous Bladgal of Choleric Studies. Keep in mind that not a few pages earlier it was established that Bladgal resented being a teacher, only for him to regard Margot with nothing but excitement and wonder. He even tries to summon his own Doomstar, and laughs off the failed attempt, amused at the thought of learning from a student. Margot decides to have all three, moved to tears by their support.
  • Later, her friends arrive to praise her, as do Juno and Oomlowt, who are proud to have her as a student. Broomhilda Siegfried even tells her that she did the impossible by making her root for a sorcerer.
• Gretchen praising Serena's ability and wishing she got better opponents before comically backtracking, not wanting the saboteur to get her. Serena takes it in stride, and decides to organize a night out for everyone. While no one can see it, Gretch has a beautiful smile beneath her scarf.
• Up to the beginning of their night out, Polybeus had no idea that James was formerly a girl. Upon realizing it, he compares James to the oracle Tiresias, and how he shares his wisdom. He then declares that the night out will be dedicated to showing James the ropes of manhood.
  • Then he learns that Rodrigo is more into men, just like Achilles. He also expresses disgust at how author Forr Kydd mistranslated the hero and his lover Patroclus as cousins instead. Bottom line, Polybeus says LGBTQ+ rights!
• James and Margot encountering each other on the dance floor, and deciding to forget the stupid competition by dancing together.
• Rodrigo just enjoying hearing Ivan rattle off about his sillylusions. At that point, it's just impossible for him to ignore that he's got some really big feelings for the adorable Ruslovakian. So when the discussion comes to a part about playing as lovers together, he makes his move, and what follows is a Big Damn Kiss that gets everyone's attention and praise.
• Polybeus and Serena burying the hatchet after they realize how much they've exhausted themselves trying to outdo one another on the dance floor.
• Chungo Maximo, a disturbing half-ogre, finds comfort in facing Margot, who's quite sympathetic to his plight as a mishapen creature. When the girl's magic goes out of control thanks to the saboteur's magic, he tells her that she's not alone, and that she can overcome it. She does, telling Chungo that he's a true gentleman.
• Geoffrey volunteering to watch over Polybeus when he's been hospitalized.
  • Later, after everyone refuses James attempt at giving up, Polybeus wakes up, and is actually surprised that everyone there considers him to be a friend. Either way, he's immensely grateful.
• While the Youths plan on getting Polybeus caught up for the classes he'll miss while hospitalized, Juno offers the means for him to do so much more easily, solidifying her status as a valuable and compassionate ally.
• Noticing how down everyone is from everything that's happened, Rodrigo decides to take matters into his own hands, first by encouraging Ivan to show everyone in Juno's class one of his sillylusions. Seeing his beautiful friend-turned-lover support him causes Ivan to discover a feeling he had not known before: confidence. So he shows the sillylusion (itself a touching tale of a dragon being soothed by a maiden's song known as The Dragon and the Songbird, to Margot's delight), and everyone loves it, with Ivan tearfully declaring that he's actually good at something.
  • Rodrigo then has Godfrey and Columbina take James to go prank the dean. Not only does this excursion give James a vital clue about the saboteur, but it also gives him the right amount of lift he needs.
• James coming early to the feast hall with Margot to try out crepes. It's quite obvious that the both of them are hoping that one will come on to the other.
• Charlotte, thanks to the threads of fate, finds Polybeus talking with Gabriev's mom. As he tells her how he didn't deserve to die and that it should have been him, she hugs him like any mother would a distressed child, and reassures him that this is all the fault of the school, not him. She then gives him Gabriev's helmet, telling Polybeus that it is his now, and that he's proof that her son was loved before leaving. The young man declares that he'll wear it with honor.
  • Charlotte then shows up after Mrs. Zelgad leaves, and tells Polybeus that those that die are never truly gone so long as we remember what they taught us. Both assure each other that they're very kind before the saboteurs show up.
• Everyone celebrating Margot's victory as the new champion of the UWB tournament. Then James gives her the thunderbolt iron helmet she wanted that inspired her to participate. It causes her to embrace him like never before, and after a brief moment of humor with them not knowing what to do with the moment, Margot salvages it by leading the Big Damn Kiss between them. Everyone cheers them on, with Charlotte noting that there was always a red string pulling them together.
• After all is said and done, the Youths all decide to head back home and see their families for the summer (and in Gretchen's case, take up an apprenticeship with a witch coven). Seeing how James doesn't have a home to go back to, Margot offers for him to come with her to Francane to live with her caretaker. And if anyone raises a fuss about him being Bretonch, she'll gladly kick their asses.
  • Right before the story ends, Serena offers them something she and Charlotte have been working on: crystal balls that function like phones for the Youths to communicate over long distances with one another. With that, the Meddlesome Youths are more confident than ever that they'll always be together, no matter what the world throws at them.