A/N: Alright guys! Another quick question: Which is the best greeting: handshake, fist bump, or hug? (11/7/23)
Also, thinking about getting the fashion dreamer game for the switch to help out with outfits. Anyone can tell me if it's good?
Jamil and Angel slowly open their eyes, seeing the familiar carpet in front of them. "Ngh..." Jamil groans as he sits up and Angel slowly follow suit. "Where am I?" He asks, seeing that the five were looking at them.
"Oh, good. You've regained your senses," Azul says to Jamil, making him confused as he stands up.
"Mrah..." Grim sys as he heads over to Angel. "That monster's gonna be hauntin' me in my dreams," he shivers.
"J...Jahbeel..." Kalim says as he runs over and hugs Jamil. "WAAAAAAAAH!" He cries, shocking Jamil.
Jade and Floyd help Angel up, looking at the scene. "Somebody get Sea Otter a tissue already," Floyd says. "Guy's equal parts snot and regret."
"I suspect all that talk about punching him as gone out the window as well," Jade says, a bit disappointed.
"I-I'm so glad you're alive..." Kalim says as he cries. "Sho glad..."
"Must you always be so dramatic?" Jamil sighs.
"I...I never knew how miserable you were all this time," Kalim states. "A-all this time..." he sniffles. "I never knew...just how much I put you through..."
"Which led to this spectacular betrayal," Azul comments.
"Yuuuup. Sea Snake's been mocking Sea Otter beneath his breath for pretty much their whole lives!" Floyd states.
Angel and Grim sweat drop at the comments. "Geez, and you guys say I'M blunt," Grim mumbles.
"Y-yes, you're...kind of a jerk," Kalim says as he looks at Jamil. "But you're still the guy who's helped me all my life."
"Kalim..." Jamil says. He looks to Angel, seeing that she had a small smile on her face.
"So let's just stop," Kalim says. "We can stop holding back on account of our social status."
Jamil took a moment to process his words. "...Uh, what?"
"Starting today, we can be rivals that compete in earnest for the spot of number one," Kalim announces. "I want us to be equals, and I want us to be friends, Jamil," he smiles.
Jamil thinks about the proposition, reminding him what Angel said. "Equals? And friends?" He chuckles, seeing that what she said about him was true. "Heh...Why am I not surprised that's what you got out of this, Kalim? Then let me say this as one equal to another..." He says as he looks at him. "NOT! ON! YOUR! LIFE!"
The statement shocks everyone but Angel. "Uh?" Kalim asks.
"The heck?!" Grim exclaims.
"You thoughtless, sloppy, idiotic, clumsy, ludicrously oblivious, arrogant, indelicate, pampered little rich boy!" Jamil lists and Angel just sweat dropped at him. "Who in their right mind would ever voluntarily be your friend?! What's in it for me now?! Nothing! And that's what I want- nothing to do with you!" Jamil finishes.
The statement leaves Kalim speechless. "Wh.... Whaaaaat?!" He exclaims. "How can you say that?!"
"Yeesh," Grim states as they watch Kalim trying to plead with Jamil. "He must be feelin' better, 'cause he sure ain't pullin' any punches."
Angel just laughs at the duo, leaving everyone confused. "It's his real personality! He really is a wolf in sheep's clothing!" She says as he laughs at them.
"And what's wrong with that?" Azul asks. "I like the authentic Jamil much more, as a matter of fact," he says with a smile.
"Ugh," Jamil says in disgust as he looks at Azul. "Your ingratiating smile is grossing me out."
"I'll admit, I've been curious about you ever since we were freshmen," Azul admits.
"You don't say..." Jamil says in disgust, with slight suspicion in his voice.
"You did a bit too good of a job avoiding the spotlight. It backfired and piqued my interest," Azul says. "See, you never got any outstanding marks, whether in the classroom or in practical studies. But at the same time, you never got a negative mark in any class. Ever. It came across like you were maintaining a consistent five out of ten across the board. There was no way it could be unintentional. I've always had an inkling there was more to it, and it finally clicked for me when I heard Angel and Grim's story."
"That makes sense," Jade says. "Azul is close to the top of his whole class year in Potionology, but you'd find his marks in Flight class to the bottom of the charts," he says with a smile.
"That's kinda extreme in its own way, y'know," Grim states.
"My suspicions were confirmed when I joined you for that Mancala game the other night," Azul says, ignoring the comment. "You maintained a perfectly balanced win/loss ratio to keep from throwing Floyd into a rage."
"Whoa, for real?" Floyd says in surprise. "You can do that?"
"If you throw too much, it becomes obvious. And if you win by too much, it sours the opponent's mood," Azul explains. "There's an art to feigning defeat. You have to tune it just right. It requires considerable skill and mental fortitude to pull off."
"Meanwhile, you wiped the floor with me and didn't even try to go easy, Azul!" Grim comments to him, giving him a glare.
"Heh. I knew I had you sussed, Jamil. Your true capabilities are nothing short of astounding!"
"I know, right?!" Kalim happily agrees. "Jamil really is something special!"
"You know, I think you'd get along far better with someone like me than with Kalim," Azul says with a smile. "How about it? Care to transfer to Octavinelle? You could join forces with me and make a name for yourself."
"Not on your life," Jamil sternly says. "And where do you get off, monologuing at me out of nowhere? You couldn't sound shadier if you tried! I will be perfectly content never being friends with you, Azul."
"Goodness," Jade says. "That's a rather stinging rebuke."
"Heh heh heh," Azul chuckles. "I don't mind. I've added a new truth to my secret collection today, so I'll call it even."
"Your secret collection of other people's weaknesses, you mean," Floyd adds.
"Hmph. You can't call it a weakness when it's already been aired to the whole world," Jamil states. "...There will be no more holding back for me. Not against Kalim, or the rest of you, or anyone. I'm never throwing another competition again."
"Good!" Kalim happily says. "But I won't lose, either!" He looks to Angel. "Thank you, Angel, for bringing Jamil back! I knew you could do it!"
"Y'know...something's been bothering me," Floyd says. "How'd Sea Otter and Sea Snake know about L'il Jellyfishy here? I thought you didn't tell anyone, Jellyfishy."
"Yes, that's been on my mind as well," Azul adds. "From what you said, I had a feeling they might have known from what Angel told us, but you didn't tell them, did you?" He asks.
"I didn't," Angel said, confused about the situation. "So...how did you guys find out?"
"Oh, that's easy," Kalim says while Jamil sighs. "People in the Scalding Sands respect Purifiers and we can tell based on your eyes," he happily explains, shocking the five. "One of the princesses of the Scalding Sands was a Purifier and everyone respected her, actually revered her as a goddess for her kindness and powers. She died young but after her efforts and kindness, we've held them in high regards."
"Wait, that's it?!" Grim asks.
"It's true," Jamil states. "It's stated that even the Asim family hold them in the highest regard, willing to do their bidding. However, that doesn't mean you expect me to serve you after you saved my life," he says to her.
"I don't really expect anything from you guys, to be honest," Angel states with a yawn, exhaustion starting to set it.
"Let's not be hasty here," Azul quickly says. "How about we rest and think about that. Partner to partner," he says as he looks at Angel and she sweat drops at his quick change of behavior.
"Good idea!" Kalim says with a smile. "Let's all head to sleep! You guys can stay here for the night," he says to the five, at least happy they didn't have to go far. "We can celebrate in the morning!"
"A party so soon? I swear..." Jamil sighs as everyone leave the lounge, getting ready to sleep for the night.
"Hm?" Jade hums as he looks at Angel, seeing a mark on her neck. "Angel, are you hurt?" He asks, making her confused. "You have a mark around your neck."
"Now that I see it, you do," Kalim says as he looks at her, seeing that there was a ring around her neck. "Let's get you patched up!"
"Huh?" She hums, putting her hand on her neck, a sharp pain occurring as she touches it. She thinks back, and remembered about what happened. It showed up...? She thinks as Kalim take her to get patched up, happy that he volunteered to help instead of Jamil while Jade follows, a bit worried about Kalim's first aid skills. Her mind wandered as they attended to her, thinking about the words the man said while she was trying to help Jamil. Questions needed to be answered, but she was too tired to think at the moment. Maybe she might get answers the next time she meets with him.
Later that night, Grim wakes up, from the bed, seeing that everyone was asleep. He carefully slipped out of bed, careful not to wake up Angel and the others and slowly opened the door, closing his behind him as he steps into the hall. He sniffed the air, following its scent as it takes him through the halls, quietly walking so he wouldn't alarm any students and stopped at the door of the lounge. He entered the lounge, the scent getting stronger as he sniffs the room, trying to located his target. "Black stone...I smell a black stone in this room..." He says as he sniffs around the room. He follows the scent, spotting a familiar black stone and smiles. "There it is...There it is!" He heads over to the stone and hold it in his paws. "Heh heh heh..." he chuckles. "Hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee!" He puts it in his mouth and starts to eat it. "Ooh...Spicy, but with a mellow, rich flavor." He looks at his paws, seeing that the stone wasn't there. "Maaaan...I scarfed that down way too fast," he says in disappointment. "I'm still hungry...I want more black stones...Hee hee..."