Elsewhere at Avalon, Merlin is watching Glory, Grim, and Cassandra strolling through the halls with his the crystal ball with a grin.
"Seems like Sundrop and her companions are on the move. It's a good thing that Vivien is there for her. She's going to need those conceal lenses that she's holding for her next adversary." Merlin mutters. He then puts his crystal ball away and heads straight to his destination.
Be strong, sundrop and her comrades. Be sure to bring Jamil back to the light.
Merlin thought while floating his way to the graveyard wishing his hopes for his student, close friend, and Rapunzel and her companions from another dimension.
~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile at the halls in Night Raven College, Glory, Grim, and Cassandra are sauntering through the halls where they chat about random things until....
"So tell me Glo, how are things with Malleus last night?" Cassandra ask curiously.
"You've what!?" Grim shrieks and Glory giggles.
"Yeah I hung out with Mal at the abandoned castle last night, but it was pretty great. We had a wonderful stroll to the abandoned castle and it looked gorgeous! Here, I have pics of it that I took last night." Glory chirps as she pulls out her phone and shows her pictures of the abandoned castle that Malleus took her last night.
"Eek! Spooky!" Grim shrieks but Cassandra giggles.
"Cool." Cassandra compliments.
"I know right? Hell, they even have a beautiful meadow as a backyard." Glory reassures. Cassandra chuckles and grins softly at her.
"Sounds like you two had fun out there." She compliments.
"We did! It was so fun! Mal is such a sweet guy. We even took a selfie together." Glory informs.
"This Malleus guy is quite the odd one isn't he?" Grim ask curiously and Cassandra shrugs her shoulders with a grin.
"Eeh he's not that odd. He seems to be a pretty cool guy to hang out with. Plus, I like the horns." Cassandra compliments.
"Duh! He's a faery, of course he looks cool with horns!" Glory chirps with a bright smile making Cassandra chortle.
"Of course indeed." Cassandra agrees. Grim shook his head at the two.
"You guys are weird...." He mumbles, but neither of them give a f#*k and roll their eyes at him.
"Whatever Grim." They casually replied in unison.
"Hey, here's the cafeteria." Cassandra said pointing her finger at the cafeteria and Glory grins.
"Bingo." Glory chirps.
"Let's get going." Glory insists as she, Grim, and Cassandra head straight to the cafeteria where the cold air hits their skins.
"Phew Jesus!" Glory gasps.
"Sheesh! I'd endured cold weathers before back in Corona, but this takes a whole new level of cold." Cassandra states.
"It's freezing out there. I thought my paws were gonna turn to ice!" Grim shrieks.
"Well then let's get that wood and thrown them into the fireplace!" Glory suggests.
"Right!" Grim and Cassandra nod firmly as the trio scrambled to left to grab some wood and scurried to fire faerie where they place it next to the flaming fae. As soon as they placed the wood to the fire faerie, cracks and pop noises came from the wood as the fire faerie happily ignites his flame burning the wood where the trio sighed in relief.
"So these guys are the fire faes that you'd talked about huh?" Cassandra ask and Glory nods.
"Yeah...and no pun intended but these faeries definitely know how to heat the place." Glory jokes making Cassandra chortle and grin.
"They sure do..." Cassandra agrees as she lets out a sigh.
"You know...this feels nice." Cassandra admits.
"Hm?" Glory hums in confusion.
"I've never done something ever with my mom since I was a kid...and I know you're not my mom, but..." Cassandra then turns to Glory with a warm smile.
"Just standing with you, makes me happy. It's like...I finally found maternal love that I yearned from my past; except she's a better version of my mom." Cassandra expresses with a genuine sweet smile. Knowing what it's like to be abandoned by a parent thanks to Tangled the series, Glory smiles gently at the swordswoman and lays her hand on her arm.
"I'm always here for you, Cass." Glory reassures with Cassandra bobbing her head with a small grin.
"Thanks, Glory." She thanked her. Soon they turned their heads back to the fire fae where its burning the wood for them.
"Aaaahh...Just being next to you warms me to the core, y'know." Grim marvels while the faerie burns the woods. Suddenly, the trio heard faint chop noises nearby.
"What's that?" Cassandra ask.
"Seems like someone's cooking over there." Glory assumes.
"Yeah. I heard a sound like a knife on a cutting board and juicy frying meat mixed in with the crackle of the fire!?!? Then there's the smell of spices from a far off land adding that 'certain something!'" Grim marvels with his mouth watering from describing the aroma.
"Welp you're definitely not wrong about that. I can smell the spice from over here too." Cassandra points out.
"Same, but let's check out the kitchen." Glory suggests.
"Roger." Cassandra complies with a thumbs up and Grim pumps his paw up.
"Hell yeah! Let's check it out!" Grim cheers as the trio waltz up to the kitchen. Once they arrived, the trio find themselves in a kitchen full of students in hooded clothing.
"Whoa! Looks like we have chefs in the kitchen during the winter holiday!!" Cassandra gasps.
"I'll say...." Glory mutters and soon her eyes caught the attention of the same guy from the basketball team.
Iman warned me about him. Hmm...No biggie. Since I have my conceal lenses that made me immune to his hypnotism, I should definitely play along so I would know what's up with his dorm.
Glory thought as she forms a bold grin letting firm nod finally sort out her plan while she and her two friends watched Scarabia's vice dorm discussing with the two Scarabia students.
"After the vegetables have finished cooking add in the meat from the fridge and bring it to a boil. Don't forget to add the nuts once the oil has heated up." The vice dorm instructs.
"Got it!" The Scarabia resident firmly complies.
"Vice dorm head, about the amount of spice, is one tablespoon enough?" The second Scarabia student ask curiously.
"The dorm head prefers something with a bit more heat. Another teaspoon should be fine." Jamil informs.
"What the-? Why are there so many students here even though its winter vacation?" Grim stammers. Soon the vice dorm turns his head and notice Glory, Cassandra, and Grim.
"Hm? You must be..." Jamil utters and all of the Scarabia students froze when they notice Glory.
"Eek! It's Gothel!!" The Scarabia student shrieks.
"Ack! She's gonna lock us up!!" The second student yelps.
"I don't wanna spend the rest of my break lock in a tower!!" The third Scarabia student trembles causing Glory and Grim to go deadpan by their reactions with Cassandra curling her brows.
"Gothel? You're not like her though." Cassandra said.
"That's the whole point. Yeesh, these guys are still going at it." Grim grumbles.
Why does everyone think that I live in a tower?
Glory thought with a blank look. Jamil glance at the Scarabia residents with a frown.
"All of you knock it off. Don't be rude." Jamil scolds them making them flinch and nod.
"R-Right! We're sorry!!" They apologized. Jamil sighs and turns back to the group.
"Back to what I was about say, who are you guys? I feel like we've met before..." Jamil mutters.
"Oh um...well-." Cassandra was about to explain, but Glory raises a hand to Cassandra and approaches the vice dorm with a grin acting subtly innocent and modest to him.
"We've met before at the cafeteria before the Magift Tournament, and we've also met again yesterday at the gym." Glory reminds him and he quickly understood.
"That's right, you came to talk to me when I was injured before the Magift tournament. And you came by to the gym during our basketball practice. You were...the Prefect known as Gloriane Corbett, the only girl in our campus who is the reincarnation of Mother Gothel and Grim from Ramshackle dorm?" Jamil guesses.
"You've got a good memory! Your name is...umm..." Grim hums.
"Jamil Viper is his name, and he's the vice dorm leader of Scarabia." Glory reminds him with a grin. Jamil smiles at her wisdom.
"Correct you are, Glo-san. I've always been good with names and faces, but your entrance ceremony left an impression. I also apologized for my dorm members' rudeness a minute ago and who is this woman next to you? I don't believe we've met." Jamil ask curiously gazing at Cassandra.
"Oh right, This is Cassandra. She and the other two companions came to our campus yesterday so they're staying at my dorm for awhile." Glory told him.
"Cassandra?...Isn't that the name of the woman that was abandoned by the infamous witch?..." Jamil guesses making Cassandra awkwardly chuckles while smiling sheepishly.
"Yeah, that's me alright..." She awkwardly replies.
Jeez, I didn't know me and the others are that well known...especially my mom....
Cassandra thought while feeling awkward about the subject of her mother was brought up and Jamil immediately pick up her distress.
"Aah my apologies for my ignorance. I have no intention of making you uncomfortable, ma'am." Jamil apologies, but Cassandra shook her head and waves her hand at the vice dorm leader.
"No, no. You're good. You were just curious that's all." Cassandra reassures and Jamil nods firmly.
"Very well. Though, I don't think here is anyone who doesn't know your names at this point." Jamil stated amazing the gremlin.
"Huh, really? Nyahaha! We've made a big name for ourselves!!" Grim chirps.
"By the way...Why are you all here during vacation?" Jamil ask curiously.
"Cuz we don't have a place to go home to." Grim told him.
"Yeah. We're staying in our dorm with Rapunzel and her companions for the winter holiday." Glory told him deeply astonishing the vice dorm leader.
"The current queen of Corona is here too?" Jamil ask curiously with a surprised look.
"Along with her husband, Eugene. Yes." Glory informs.
"Yup. That and the headmaster left the crucial task of taking care of the fires here at school, y'know. Thanks to how serious and reliable we are it makes total sense that the headmaster would rely on us for such an important task!" Grim explains more.
"Oh...Is that so? The headmaster did..." Jamil mutters and soon he whips his head laying his hand under his chin.
Since the headmaster is gone and Merlin might be out somewhere, this is my chance to break out of these chains that I've been stuck with for my entire life. Though I wonder how Rapunzel and her group got here...hmph. No matter, I'll do some research on them later. With that power that she has, she'll be a great asset to be my sultana once I've overthrown that nuisance.
He ponders as Jamil forms a small smile.
"...These guys might be useful." He mumbled with an awfully calming grin that rubs Glory and Cassandra the wrong way. Knowing how off Jamil is acting, Cassandra leans to Glory's ear.
"Psst, Glo. You thinking what I'm thinking?" She whispers.
"Yeah, but don't worry. I got a plan." Glory reassures.
"Hm? You say something?" Grim ask curiously.
"Just that you guys must be pretty great for the headmaster to recognize you." Jamil compliments. Suddenly, Iman came from the back room and approach Jamil.
"Pardon the interruption, vice dorm head, but-."
As soon as he approaches the vice dorm leader, his eyes met with Glory's grey eyes.
She's here....
Iman thought as Glory flashes him with a gentle smile, but soon Jamil's voice snaps his thoughts.
"Is there something you want to say, Iman?" He ask curiously causing Iman to snap out of his thoughts.
"Erm...well, I just came to inform that we've finished preparing the vegetables." He told him and Jamil smiled softly at him.
"I'll be right there." Jamil complies and Iman nods as he spun away onto for him to look back at the ravenette with hope filled in his eyes. After he left, Glory and the others look around the kitchen where Scarabia residents have scattered with ingredients and manhandling tasks at hands. Soon the trio noticed the soup on the stove.
"Huh, now that's new." Cassandra remarks.
"This soup looks super tasty but the smell is a new one for me." Grim compliments.
"It does look delicious, what kind of soup is this?" Glory ask curiously.
"That's a pretty traditional dish from the Land of Hot Sands...Oh, I know. It must have been fate that brought you here. Would you like to try some?" Jamil ask curiously much to the elation of Grim and the surprise of Cassandra and Glory.
"What!? Really!?" Grim beams.
"For real?" Cassandra ask in disbelief.
"But of course. The food will be done soon, you guys can help." Jamil reassures.
"Welp, I'm down for that." Cassandra chirps as she pulls up her sleeves.
"Same with me. I'd worked in the kitchen before at Heartslabyul and I don't mind helping out. May not be the best at cooking, but I'm really good at organizing things in the kitchen, so hit me up." Glory assures and Jamil nods.
"Then why won't I put you in chopping vegetables while Cassandra can work on pot?" He suggests.
"That could work." Cassandra said.
"Yeah, I can work with that." Glory chirps.
"Alright then follow me then." He insists
Jamil then drags them to the kitchen where he instructs the task given to them.
"All of these spices smell amazing~." Grim sighs.
"They're all from the Land of Hot Sands. You mix them together to create a blend for each dish. I'll show you how so just follow my lead." Jamil advises.
"Gotcha." Cassandra complies folding her arms.
"Right." Glory nods firmly as she takes off her coat and hangs it up to the rack and pulls up her sleeves.
"Alright, we got this!" Grim declares and he smiles at them.
"Then I'm counting on you." Jamil encourages. Soon Cassandra and Grim are in charge of the soup while Glory is cutting the vegetables. So far, Glory has cut pieces of vegetables and Jamil crept up to her to see her progress.
"My, you've cut those vegetables real quickly." Jamil compliments with a grin and Glory grins back.
"Thanks. My mom is a hardworking woman. Whenever she comes back from work at the flower shop, I'd helped her pick out some vegetables from our garden. While she's doing the cooking, I do the cutting and washing vegetables, sorting out ingredients, and washing dishes. I even helped her do the laundry." Glory told him and Jamil nods with a grin.
"Your mother raised you well." Jamil compliments.
"Thanks. She's one of my role models along with my dad, whom I'd looked to him since my entire life. He taught how to box so I could defend myself from harm and I always do Saturday workouts with him. My mom even told me not to let everyone talk down to me and encourages me to be strong." Glory explains and this brought a smile on his face.
"Sounds like you have strong and powerful parents." Jamil praises and Glory giggles.
"Thank you." She replies with a grin, but soon thought about Jamil.
Jamil acts collected and calm as well as well-mannered yet something about tells me he's more than just polite...
Glory thought.
"Is it time to add this brown powder?" Grim ask curiously as both of them turn to the gremlin while Cassandra is stirring the pot.
"Not yet. Garam masala goes in right before you take it off the heat or it ruins the flavor." Jamil advises.
"Heh. You sure definitely know your stuff." Cassandra compliments while stirring the soup as Jamil grins softly.
"I'd been better since I cook everyday. We're almost done so don't lose focus just yet." He instructs and Cassandra puts a thumbs up.
"Roger that." Cassandra complies.
"Aye aye!" Grim chimes. Jamil then turns to Glory.
"Shall we take these vegetables to the soup?" Jamil advises and she nods.
"Definitely." Glory complies. An hour later, the soup has finished with the soup sending a savory aroma in the kitchen.
"Wahoo! We did it!" Grim cheers.
"Heck yes. The spices really add the depth to the flavor." Cassandra compliments.
"Yeah! I'm already drooling!" Grim chirps. Jamil took a closer look at the pot.
"Let's see...you guys did pretty well. You've been a great help, thanks. We'll eat back at the dorm so you should come with." Jamil suggests and cue the the glances from Glory and Cassandra.
Now's our chance!
Cassandra thought while glancing at Glory.
Damn straight! We're going to get to the bottom of this!
Glory ponders as both women nod and turn their heads to Jamil.
"That would be definitely be amazing, Jamil." Glory said with a grin.
"Yeah, I don't mind going there." Cassandra chimes in playing along and Grim pumps up.
"Oh hell yeah! We're so going, I'm starving!" Grim chirps where both Cassandra and Glory exchange wise glances to each other with slight smirks and glance back at Jamil and Grim where their plan is just the beginning.