((Name), along with her companions, returned to their beloved dorm. Yet, Carla couldn't erase the fact that she forgot to ask for the Headmaster to remove the magic cuffs of (Name), much to her dismay. Not to mention the clairvoyance she had...
"It's cold, Princess, you should wear your sweater," Virgo told her Mistress. Yep, Carla forgot to ask for the Headmaster to remove (Name)'s magic handcuffs. "Here." She took a sweater and placed it on (Name).
"You should've minded, Virgo," (Name) nervously told Virgo.
"I must keep you safe, that's what we promised to your grandmother," the celestial spirit uttered.
"(Name)! (Name)! Look!" Happy happily tugged (Name)'s socks. "Look at how the snow is piled up!"
Pantherlily sneezed, "I'm getting worried about the fireplace..." He mumbled.
"The fire spirits must be shivering, too!" Grim exclaimed. "Let's go bring some firewood for them~! And let's see if there's something to eat in the kitchen, too~!"
"Aye~!"
"That's what Frosh thinks too!"
"They sound like they're like people in the streets," Carla scrunched her face.
Frosh, Lector, Happy, and Pantherlily are alone in Ramshackle Dorm, also organizing the fireplace inside their dorm, which leaves Grim and Carla with (Name). Arriving at the cafeteria with the gathered firewood, they didn't notice the other presence inside the kitchen...
"Brr~! That was cold~!" Grim trembled, giving (Name) the firewoods as she placed them inside the chimney. "Uwah~! Is this what they call a fire fairy?! Just sitting next to you makes my fur warm~..."
"That's all, right?" (Name) asked Carla, placing the last firewood. Then a fire fairy get near (Name), it was like observing her face. "Hm? Oh, hi there, little fairy."
"What is the fairy doing?" Carla whispered.
"I don't know, too, Carla. The fairy must've mistaken me for someone, though," (Name) responded. The fire fairy continued observing her face.
The fairy knew that keys on (Name)'s belt and as well the Fleuve de'toiles. She couldn't remember the name, but she had cocoa eyes, but (Name)'s eyes are (eye color), so it's impossible it's her. Even the hair, but (Name) and the girl she had met had the very same aura with some pretty spots...
"Do you hear it, (Name)? They're like chopping some kind of spices and frying some delicious meat~!" Grim called. He suddenly sniffed the air, "My nose is picking up some sort of spicy aroma from a foreign kingdom, yanno?! It's coming from the kitchen!"
"Let's go then." Carla nodded.
With that, they entered the kitchen. It was full of students from the dorm grounded by the Sorcerer of Sands, Scarabia. That's when (Name) caught the sight of the vice dorm leader of Scarabia, Jamil Viper...
"Start defrosting the meat once the vegetables are charred," Jamil ordered. "Don't forget the nuts once the oil is hot enough."
"Yes!"
"Vice Dorm Leader, about the spices... Will one teaspoon do the trick?" One of the students asked.
"The Dorm Leader prefers it a little spicy, so make it two teaspoons instead," Jamil replied as the student bowed before doing his job.
"Oh?! They're still a lot of students even though it's winter break?!" Grim exclaimed, which made Carla and (Name) facepalmed at how loud he was.
The students both looked at Grim and the girls. Jamil broke the awkward silence, "Hm... You are—"
"Oh, aren't you the one from the Magift Tournament incident..." Carla acknowledged.
"Ah, we talked a little when I got injured during the Magift Tournament Season," Jamil nodded as he smiled at them. "If I remember correctly, you're Carla, the Vice Dorm Leader of Ramshackle, Grim, and (Name) Heartfilia, the Dorm Leader of Ramshackle."
"Pretty good memory ya got there!" Grim winked. "And, your name is... Uh... What is it again?"
"I'm Jamil, Jamil Viper. The Vice Dorm Leader of Scarabia," Jamil answered for Grim. "I've always been good at remembering names and faces. Plus, you (Name)-san and Grim stood out from the very first day of school. I don't think anyone who doesn't even know you in Night Raven College."
Grim smirked, "Oh~? Izzat so~?" He asked again, earning a nod from the other students. "Nyahahahaha~! We're pretty famous, (Name)!"
"It's because you almost charred the whole Mirror Chamber," (Name) explained to Grim. "And I have to forcefully stop you using Libra, remember?"
"Eh? You did?"
"You're destroying my patience limit, Grim."
"By the way," Jamil called. "Why are you guys still here despite the winter break?"
"It's that we—"
Carla covered his mouth as (Name) replied, "It's that Grim has no hometown to return and me, along with the other cats, hometown's freezing in the winter season. We need to wait for the season to end, so we can go back. Plus, the Headmaster entrusted us to keep the fireplace lit, so the fire spirits won't leave the chimney."
"Heh~..." Jamil hid his smirk, still looking at (Name). "Is that so? The Headmaster, huh..." He chuckled deeply. "I may be able to use this woman... Since she had a copycat spirit and a lot of strong magics..."
"Hm? Did you say something, Jamil-san?"
"I was just murmuring at how trustworthy and responsible you guys are, so the Headmaster decided to give you the responsibility of being the caretaker of this school for winter break," Jamil praised.
Carla's ears twitched in danger, she could barely sense it from how close it was. She looked at Jamil and the other students, who are the threat among them?
"I'm so sorry for bothering, Vice Dorm Leader, but the vegetables are ready," another student said.
Jamil nodded, "Thanks, I'll look into it."
Grim jumped on the counter, peeking on a dish nearby, "I've never seen this kind of dish, but it looks delicious! I have never smell such as this, yanno?"
"Grim, bad manners!" (Name) smacked his nose.
"That's a traditional dish from the Land of the Hot Sands..." Jamil explained. "Oh, I have an idea. Us meeting here must be some kind of fate. Would you like to have some with us?"
"Really?! Can we?!" Grim asked, excitedly.
"Yes, of course," Jamil replied. "Just give us a moment before the cooking is finished. Or do you want to help us finish?"
Carla and (Name) watched as Grim help the students Scarabia cook the dishes. Carla couldn't help, but wonder, why does she feel that one of them feels so plastic? Like, they're the reason why (Name) will be in danger? She glanced at (Name), who was clapping her hands as Grim finished. She is very worried about what will happen for the next few days...
"That should do it," Jamil announced. "Please take the food to the dorm."
"Yes!"
"By the way, Jamil-san," (Name) tugged on Jamil's jacket. "Why are you guys still here in school? You mentioned that you're from the Land of the Hot Sands, right? Then, why didn't you come home?"
Jamil widened his eyes, "... That's..."
"... Hm..." The other students stayed silent.
"It will be quite a long story," Jamil smiled bitterly at her.
"Hey, you two," Carla placed her palm on the other student's shoulder. "Why didn't you go back to your home?"
"Well, everyone is Scarabia is..." One of the students quietly replied to Carla. "... well, it's the Dorm Leader's orders, so..."
"We can't go home even we wanted to..."
"Sh! Enough both of you," the Vice Dorm Leader of Scarabia lightly scolded the students. "It is our fault in the first place. Come now, the food's gonna get cold. Let's go to the Scarabia Dorm."
"What kind of dorm is Scarabia?" (Name) asked once again.
"Scarabia is always warm despite the season. I think it will be like the atmosphere of the Southern island," Jamil responded.
"Yahoo~! That's paradise~!" Grim exclaimed. "Let's go, (Name) and Carla!"
"Wait for a second, Grim!" (Name) refrained, trying to stop Grim, but the cat already dashed as fast as he can to the dorm.
"The Dorm Leader will be happy to see you three at Scarabia," Jamil gave a smile, but this time, his eyes are making eye contact with both of (Name) and Carla. "You will come, won't you?"
"Yes, of course," Carla replied. (Name) was gonna deny again, but, "(Name)! How dare you deny a special offer just like that!" She chided, slapping (Name)'s face.
"Carla, what's wrong with you?" She asked, looking at Carla with wide eyes.
Something's off. Carla's eyes had red dots on them. This isn't Carla or this is Carla, but someone is manipulating her. She didn't even call (Name) a dummy and she doesn't even scold (Name) like that way, she always scolds her with a smack on her head...
"I'll be happy to introduce you to him, (Name)-san and Carla-san," Jamil declared. "Alright, let's head off to Scarabia."
"C-Carla! Wait!" (Name) tried to wriggle free from her guardian's tight grip.
Jamil, on the other hand, was bewildered. Why was Carla the only one he was able to manipulate? Why not (Name)? Rumors are said to be that Jade's magic didn't work on (Name): he doesn't even know what Jade's magic is, so what was the reason why he wasn't able to manipulate her?
"So, this is what Scarabia looks like! Man, it's hot like you said it'd be!" Grim exclaimed, playing with the sand nearby him.
"It warms you up, doesn't it?" Tamil chuckled. "Come this way, then."
Carla was still under the control of Jamil, still tightly holding (Name)'s arm. (Name) wanted to know who the hell controls Carla. They walked to a very luxurious lounge, the lounge of Scarabia. Carla sat on the opposite side where Grim is, pulling (Name) harshly to sit beside her...
Jamil clapped his hands, "We have a visitor! Everyone, please play some music to welcome them." He ordered.
Carla shakes her head, she was already free under Jamil's spell. She heard (Name) wince in pain, which made her look at how she handled (Name). She was surprised that she was tightly gripping the Princess's arm...
"Carla, your grip... It's too harsh..." (Name) whispered, she was already on the verge of tears.
"So-Sorry, (Name)!" Carla apologized. "What happened to your cheek?"
"It-Its nothing..." She replied. 'She didn't remember that she just slapped me?'
"Nyahahahahaha! So, a famous guy like me gets this kind of treatment, huh!" Grim boasted, drooling over the food in front of him.
"Alright, please enjoy the meal as much as you want," Jamil permitted the guests to eat.
"I'm diggin' in!" Grim exclaimed, eating the very near food in front of him. "This is delicious! The aroma of spices after a bite, the spicy after-taste, the nuts, and the vegetables are all so good, and this one looks like a dumpling! Delicious!"
"You're not eating, (Name)?" Carla questioned, making (Name) tilt her head to the side. "No?" The Princess only responded with a shaking head motion.
"We have some meat and soup, too," Jamil pushed some dishes to Grim's side. "There are lots to go around, so have more."
Grim chewed the meat near him, "Eating as much as I can... I'm really in paradise, yanno!"
"What's with all the ruckus, all of you?"
"DORM LEADER?!"
"Kalim..."
"Kalim-senpai?"
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深海の商人