The sky was cloudy, stagnant as time itself.
Jafar held the lamp in his hands. The Genie became a giant, his hands materialized over the palace.
"Genie, no!" Aladdin screamed.
"Sorry, Kid. I got a new master." Was all he said forlorn.
"I am now sultan of Agrabah! And the most powerful sorcerer of all time!" Jafar stood above Jasmine and the Sultan. "A taste of humiliation!" With a zap from his staff, the two were forced to their knees, bowing against their will.
Aladdin's identity was revealed before Jasmine. "Say hello To your precious prince Ali!"
With a shove, Aladdin was locked in one of the towers, and sent far off to the ends of the earth.
"So long, ex-prince Ali!"
I already had a bad feeling about this....
————————
"Charlotte, Grim, it's time to awaken."
I heard Jade's voice call out. I sat up in my bed, seeing the three standing by the door.
"Ngh....another March to the oasis..?" Grim said groggily.
"We woke you up this early to avoid that. It's time." Azul stepped forward.
I nodded. It's time to begin.
—————————
I stood to the side Kalim's room patiently, as the others decided to awake him.
As much as I had to help the others, that riddle needed to be looked at. I avoided it for a while and I need to know what's up.
So I didn't wear my Octavinelle outfit, and stuck with the red blouse, Jean shorts and sneakers when I first arrived.
"Good morning, Kalim." I heard.
Kalim stirred from the covers and opened his eyes. "Hm...? Jamil? Morning..."
"Actually, it's jade. But our names do have a certain familiarity." He humored.
"Huh?" Now he was wide awake. "What are you guys doing here?"
"We've taken the opportunity to prepare tea and a new set of clothes for the day."
"H-huh?!"
"We're more than capable of handling this." Azul reassured.
Two knocks were heard and the door opened. "Kalim, its time to-" Jamil halted as soon as he saw us. "Azul? Jade? Why are you here? And with Charlotte and Grim?"
"Morning, Jamil." Azul Smirks. "We'll take up the workload so you don't have to stress about it. Well watch over Kalim for you every day till the break is over."
"What?!"
"After our talk last night, it made me realize: out of everyone here, you're always breaking your back 24/7."
"And since were staying free of charge, we'll be repaying the favor."
"Just call us your support team!!" Grim grins.
"You know that isn't necessary." He tried to brush off.
"Oh! That's a great idea!" Kalim threw off the covers and ran forward excitedly. "I've been meaning to find a way to lessen your workload!"
"You are his persona? If only you could follow his lead, Azul~."
"Jade, you don't know when to keep that mouth of yours in check, do you?" He teased back. "With that, leave it all to us."
"Yea, let them! It'll be fine!" Kalim smiles.
"It's all right." And with that, the door was shut on him.
"What just happened...?" He looked at the ground. "Well...I can't stand still. I need breakfast up and running." Jamil runs towards the lounge.
———————-
Everything was completely insane in the lounge.
"I didn't put the finishing touches. Don't carry that off just yet." Floyd stopped.
"Oh! Sorry!"
"Vegetables are done!" Someone yelled.
"And they're already seasoned. Go ahead and take them out." Floyd nods.
As soon as the vice walked in, he was even more confused. "What the-?! Floyd, is this you're doing?"
"That's right, Sea Snake! I've got this covered." The other Leech reassured. "And Azul said we should at least return the favor."
"I-I can't let you do this! You're guests."
"Technically, we aren't guests...we're training camp partners..." Floyd corrects.
"He won't eat anything unless I prepare. We're just that worried over poison..."
"Huh? You're saying you don't trust me? I'd never do something like that...you can test to see if you're sure! If it's got your approval, Otter-Chan will be sure."
"....I....guess you're right."
"Are the grilled vegetables okay?!"
"The soup turned out well...what say you?"
"Hang on, give me a second. Also...don't we usually march at this time? We eat once we return..."
"I've found a solution that solves the problem!" All heads turned at Azul. "Kalim and I discussed it just a minute ago! Instead of a long treacherous walk, moderate exercise is better at improving stamina and strength. The desert has extreme weather conditions, which equals high risk of a heat stroke."
"Plus, you've got a fountain up front, right? Swimming's also a great option~!" Floyd added.
"I agree. It's better than walking, in my experience."
"So...we don't have to march again?"
"That's awesome!" A few students cheered.
"Morning everyone! Ah! The food's done?" Kalim asked.
"Lookin' good!" Grim smiles.
"It's all tested from poison. G'head!" Floyd nods.
"Itadakimasu!" And the feast began.
———————-
"First, let's work on memorization of ancient incantations." Azul offered.
"It may not help me...I'll likely pass out." Kalim admitted.
"Not to worry. I've the best method for studying: try and walk around while reading the words.
"It's a better method for anyone who can't concentrate for a long time period." Jade adds.
"Yea, even I can do that!" Grim brags.
"Okay...lets go!"
———————
During the study session, Charlie had snuck off, and started wandering the halls. Leaving her bag in her room was the best option, and concealed it with her jacket for extra measure. Having grabbed a sheet of scratch paper and scribbled the Riddle messily, she tried her best to figure it out.
"Like a burning comet in the sky, the sun with the wind is where you must fly...
Tricks of the eye, what wrong and what's right, can make you question your senses and sight.
The sands of time are slipping fast, but think before you start to act:
The Desert Moon can implicate me, a shadow of nightmares....no one can see..."
With her pen in hand, she started note taking.
"The burning comet.....sun with the wind...to fly....." she looks up and nods. "It's gotta be the sun." She noted. "Tricks of the eye...." She noted down her thoughts as well next to the lines. " 'Think before you start to act'... 'Shadow of nightmares...no one can see...' that's the part that confuses me....I get the rest, but those last two lines....what do they mean exactly....?" She pondered.
She'll have to figure it out later. She'll be needed for something eventually.
"Astraea...."
She stopped. That voice was back.
"That's it. Enough is enough!" She growled and stomped off in the direction of the voice.
---------------------
"I feel like I memorized a lot more than ever!" Kalim smiles.
———
"A few minutes of exercise helps you concentrate better. But exerting yourself can turn negative quite fast."
"Stimulation battles are best to relieve that stress."
"Yea! Someone fight me~! But not Koebi-Chan! She's too aggressive!"
"Okay! Teams of five! Let's move!"
———
"Great work! It's already paying off!"
———
After heading to the cafeteria, the others head back.
"Azul, you really know what you're doing...all I've done was push my residents to the their limits....we may be second years...but I'm still a novice at this..."
"Everyone's not perfect. Yet we're halfway through the break. You have time to redeem for what's lacking."
"If vacation's like this, I don't mind spending the rest in school!"
"Yea! If only it was like this while classes were in session..."
"That March felt like a bad dream..."
"You know, there's many people here great at reading incantations and can study astrology..."
"Cause much like the Sand Sorcerer, many can read the future and it's easy for students who harbor that quality to be placed in here. Even if I don't have it..."
"I heard he was able to invent a device that used energy to see into the future...that's why astrology was established faster than other kinds of magic because of his forward thinking..."
Azul looked at the clock. "It's nearly three. Study for a while and then stop. I'll handle the tea since I've made more progress."
"Let me lend you a hand." Jamil offered.
——————
"The students have really made an improvement since Yesterday. Impressive. I heard from Lotte that Kalim has been emotionally unstable as of late, but now he's more tame after we arrived. It's wonderful to know that he's getting the resident's trust back." Azul commented.
"....But that's bad."
"Hm?" Azul looked at Jamil, only to see his eyes cold as stone, much like a doll's.
"Sorry, but I can't allow you to stay here anymore. It's time you head back to the bottom of the sea."
—————
"I know you're here...I'm not giving up until you've stopped!" Charlie muttered, scampering down the halls.
She focused on her hearing at This point in order to find where the voice was coming from.
But then, her heartbeat sounded louder in her ears.
She gasped, clutching her chest in pain. Slowly, she sank to her knees. The pain started to course her veins and bounce around in her head....
"You have the soul of a survivor...You'll never give up..."
Her eyes flashed white light....
——————
I launched myself forwards, sword held in the air above my head, and slashed down. Only to be met with another blade of steel.
The sword beneath mine clashed, sending sparks shooting in different directions. Until it moved up, knocking the sword from my grasp.
I felt the bottom of a boot kick my stomach, and I fell back onto the ground. I lifted my head only to be met with the sword tip at my throat. I gasped to choke back a scream.
"Know what is hidden." I followed the edge of the blade up until I was met with eyes, as bright yet stern like mine. "Always ask: what is it that you are not seeing?"
With her sword, she used the tip to tilt my chin towards the crystal globe floating above us. The glass shimmered until it cast a reflection of a figure shrouded in a black cloak, concealing his face and body. But if someone squints hard enough, they could see a white-toothed smile, deadly as a shark's. Eyes filled with insanity and power, strong enough to shake even the strongest of barbarians to their cores.
The Dark Lord....
"Acheron...." I whispered faintly.
"He is the dragon who must be slain." My teacher told me. The image wavered and left with the wind.
She leaned forward and held out a hand for me to take. I clutched it in hers. "Again!" She claims, pulling me back to my feet.
—————————
When she opened her eyes, she was no longer in the hallway, on the floor, struggling to breathe. But rather, someone was carrying her. Their arms locked around her, and he was running like his life depended on it.
"....ebi-Chan......all right! Hang in...."
"F....Floyd...." she whispered before darkness engulfed her vision.
——————————
Azul was taken aback by the sudden comment. "Jamil? Is something wrong? Was it something I said?"
"You're that oblivious? Even after seeing how crushed I am?" He frowned. But that frown was transformed into a smirk. "You fool. You looked into my eyes."
The one you see before is now your master.
Answer if spoken to, and never disrespect.
Snake Whisper.
Suddenly, Azul felt his mind growing numb. "Huh?! Agh! My head!..." he clutched it as a response.
"The more you resist, the more it takes ahold of you. You can't fight it. Just surrender!" Jamil taunted.
Azul grimaced, fighting it off. But the spell worked like poison and quickly made use of him as his eyes shut.
"Now, then, who is your master?"
"It's....its....you." Grey eyes became dull red, exactly like Kalim's.
Jamil smiles as he chuckled darkly. "You really thought letting your guard down against a 'mediocre' wizard like me was your best option? Not so smart now, are we? But for real...." he scowled. "The plan I had been forging towards all along is just thrown out the window because of you. And those two from the Ramshackle Dorm were almost close in helping me get the others to rebel and overthrow Kalim. To take away his title as the Dorm leader while getting off scot free, I had to pull so many strings for this to work..." he starts muttering to himself. "Maybe I'll just let Azul force the twins back to the Coral Sea....or, rather..." he stares at his slave. "Azul," he called. "Were all the abilities you've sealed in the contracts returned to whom they belong to?"
"That is true." He answered.
Jamil clicked his tongue in defeat. "Guess that means I can't use him like a proper genie of the lamp. His ability may be strong, but keeping him under control for a long time will be damaging..."
"But I do remember everything the contracts obtained." At this, Jamil was now interested. "All those who had signed, all their darkest flaws...it's sealed into my memory."
"Then I guess it was good on my part not to be allies with you. However, from that list, you've anything about Dire Crowley? The Headmaster? Or even...Charlotte Luchessi herself?"
"Yes. I've secrets that he'd never want known. And Charlotte...she hides something herself...something that not even the girl herself is aware..."
"Yes...yes! That's exactly what's needed! It's all falling into place! Looks like he really is a genie of the lamp."
"Master, do you want to know what the headmaster and Charlotte are hiding?" Azul asked.
"Yes....if I play my cards right, I'll finally get what's deserved! Kalim will be gone and I'll be the one on top! And with Charlotte in my trap...HE will be satisfied!"
"I think we've heard all we need to know." Jamil halted and looked from around the wall. It was Jade.
———————
Water splashed onto her face.
Charlie woke up with a gasp.
"What the-!" But she was shushed by a hand on her mouth. Her eyes turned up to see Floyd, a finger against his lips, signaling her to keep quiet.
She gave him a confused look and he mouthed, 'We caught him! Stay quiet!'
She nods and gets up carefully, staying behind Floyd as a precaution.
"You finally revealed your true self! You played us like a harp!" Grim sneers.
"When were you-?!"
"Since the start of this whole thing. Ever since you stepped foot out of the lounge. Azul was live streaming your entire conversation this whole time on his phone. Over 5000 people are watching this as we speak. It seems that 'mysterious events happening at a magic school' is rising in popularity. And your residents are watching this as well, seeing you make a fool out of yourself." Jade explained.
"Jamil, is all this true?"
"You we're pulling the strings this whole time?"
"And you thought you'd get off Scot-free! Fucking liar!" Grim cursed.
"Th-that's a lie! I'd never-" Jamil tried recovering.
"Shut the hell up." Charlie cut him off. She had regained her strength back and after hearing it all, being used by him, she had every right to be livid at him. "What you did to Azul just now only adds to your guilt! And NO ONE uses me and gets away with it!"
"She's right." Jade stood beside her. "You were the one who controlled Kalim all this time, forced Charlotte here against her will, and tried to start an uproar in Scarabia."
Jamil pursed his lips onto a thin line. He was trapped in a corner. "I didn't want to have to do this...but you leave me no choice." He snapped his head to Azul. "Azul, kick them out of here!"
"Yes, master." Azul said in an empty tone.
"No, Azul! Fight back! Break his control!" Jade persuaded.
"It's useless! He's under my spell as of now." Jamil taunts.
"It's true....'Jamil is my master'...." but then Azul's eyes went back to their usual grey. "As if I'd even say something like that." He spat.
"The hell?!" Jamil shrieked.
"To quote something you said to me earlier, 'You really thought letting your guard down against a 'mediocre' wizard like me was your best option? Not so smart now, are we'." Azul strode over till he stood by Charlotte and Jade.
"No....that's impossible! You looked into my eyes!"
"Unfortunately for you, I'm someone who's always a step ahead of their game. Right, Floyd?"
"Too quick to lose your shield, huh, Sea Snake?" Floyd spoke, but not in a way that was like his usual childish tone.
"Fgnna?! What's with your voice?! It's so weird!"
"I signed a deal with Azul to get it. Whatcha think?"
"It sounds like he sucked on something that's the opposite of helium...." Charlie grimaced.
"In exchange, I lent him my magic." Floyd shrugged.
"His 'Bind the Heart' repels opponent's magic and throws it off course." Azul reminded.
"It's the same thing he used back in the Coral Sea." Charlie remembered. "Jack was the only one who managed to catch wind of it when we were fighting them. And I assume you used it this one time just to throw off the mind control?"
"Smart analysis, Lotte." Azul tapped his nose. "I only used it this once as collateral to avoid being his slave. Then feigned ignorance in order for you to spill your lies....and it worked like a charm."
"Damn, Azul, you're a wicked guy!" Grim shook.
"I prefer the term 'resourceful' thank you. Yet the only person I can deduce that's powerful enough to affect the efficiency of Jade's power on Kalim was the guilty party. As due to that theory, we concocted a plan."
"Jamil?" A voice spoke up. The others looked behind to reveal Kalim, with a distraught look in his eyes. "What...what is this?"
"Kalim-"
"Please say this isn't true...you'd never do something like this..." Kalim's voice started to shake, like he was on the verge of crying. "I thought at those times, it was just me feeling out of it...losing track of time...was it because of my sleep paralysis? I'd just fall asleep anywhere, and you'd just lecture me after...." He tried to deny that his only companion turned against him. "Please...that's the truth??"
Jamil was only silent as a response.
"Manipulation...tying to get me suspended...you'd never stoop that low! You said...y-you said it yourself...you'd never backstab me! That's cause we're friends?!" Kalim's voice broke, tears starting to form in his eyes.
Jamil was silent for a moment, staring at his master's crestfallen face. He looked so betrayed, so....discouraged....
And he started to chuckle, then laugh, and let out a roaring cackle.
"W-what..?"
"That's what I mean..." Jamil spat.
"What are you talking about?" Kalim said, confused.
"As long as time forced me to remember...that carefree, friendly, and dense attitude of yours....I'VE ALWAYS LOATHED IT!!" He snarled. "Running around with no worries, after all the crap you put me through!! That smile of yours makes me sick! Enough is enough! I'm done playing nice...all this time, every waking moment, I wanted you to get out of my life! But this ends now! I don't care what happens to me or my family....i'll end this now!!!"
They came too quickly before her eyes:
Students with dull red eyes.
Jamil forces Kalim back with his powers.
And his aura had changed....into something familiar yet deadly...
Charlie was speechless, and scared.
"Jamil, No!" Kalim cried, realizing what he's going to do. But his words were pushed out of the way as Jamil recited his spell.
The One you see before is now your master,
Answer if spoken to, and never disrespect!
Snake Whisper!!
The students felt themselves get dizzy, moaning in pain, and putting their hands to their heads in confusion and suffering.
"No...he's controlling the entire dorm!" Azul froze.
"Now, my slaves....Throw Kalim's and these Octo bastards out!" Jamil ordered. "And bring me Charlotte Luchessi!"
"Yes...master..." they all said.
"JAMIL!!" Kalim screamed.
"Stay back, Charlotte. We'll deal with them!" Jade pushed her to a safe zone.
"But I have to help you guys!" She defied.
"You'll only be in danger if you put yourself on the front lines!" Azul denied. "You must stay back! Please!"
"No way!! I'm fighting whether you like it or not!" She screamed stubbornly, and running out of Jade's hold, she pressed forward. She threw herself into a high jump and landed in a squat on both her feet, sending a shockwave of light into the ground. The ground trembled like an earthquake under the students, and the sudden bursting force from the light underneath sent them either stumbling towards the ground or thrown back several inches.
She turned back to look at the two. "You'll need me, regardless!" She told them.
Azul tried to persuade her back, but knowing that she'll keep the stubborn act, reluctantly let her.
Several spells were thrown at the army of mind controlled students. Wind, or Water, even Fire, or Earth...nothing seemed to work at pushing them back.
"Unbelievable....he can control so many people at once, and gives them commands solo...he's not just a mediocre, he may be top class in the school! Not just his own dorm!" Azul's was flabbergasted.
Floyd punched a student back. "They keep getting back up no matter how much we fight em! What are they, zombies?!"
"Jamil! Stop this, please! I understand....I'll leave if you wish to take my spot..." Kalim begs.
"Oh really? Need I remind you the 'spell' that binds me isn't just going to be destroyed like that. Not as long as you're alive!!" Jamil pushes his magic more as a response.
Charlie pushes Kalim behind her and uses her Orion Shield to repel the attack. But it didn't last long as soon as she saw something that nearly made her scream...
"Stop this at once! You're pushing yourself too hard! You'll end up going into a dangerous blot mode!" Jade shouted.
"SILENCE! You can't tell me what to do! Never again will be chained like a dog...following orders with a smile...I'll be free! NO MATTER WHAT!!" He screamed.
Charlie felt her vision blacken.....
The sky became filled with red light, drowning everything in a sea of blood red filter.
His skin became a deathly pale gray, eyes full of insanity...a red cold shoulder robe, with several articles of gold accents and jewelry, with a black turban and a jeweled red feather as the centerpiece. Hands drenched in sticky black ink, and a cape of red and black billowed in the rushing wind. His left eye ablaze in red, a collar of black leather in a T-shaped cross wrapped around his neck. But what was terrifying itself was his hair: the ends in the shapes of snakes' heads, their eyes and tongues flickering dangerously red.
Huh?! Jamil...what's happened?!"
"This is just as the same as what happened with Azul..." Jade grimaced.
"Overblot..." Azul spat. "We don't have the necessary reinforcements since were on our own..."
"Shit....another one's fallen...!" Grim was shaking behind Charlie.
"Be ready! He's not stopping!" Azul instructed.
"I'll end this now...no more being a slave!" Jamil roars.
"Get him back to himself! Once he's run out of power, it's game over!" Azul readied.
"That shadow incarnation....too scary!!" Grim ducked.
"Jamil! Get a hold of yourself!" Kalim begged.
But Jamil's eyes weren't focused on them. Instead, they were focused on one being...
"And I'll start by taking what truly belongs to him!"
Jamil thrust his hand forward.
Charlie was paralyzed as a ring of red smoke coiled and engulfed her body. It poofed away and she wasn't there. Now she was in Jamil's grasp. He had a hand on her neck, and his arm constricted at her waist. She choked back tears of pain, grabbing the hand on her neck.
"Charlie!" Kalim shouted.
"Let her go!" Azul commanded.
"Not a chance, she's mine!" Jamil smirked. "And she will stay mine once the Ultimate Power goes to him!"
She screamed in pain, as his hands were glowing red and black.
The others turned away from the light circling her. Only to fall to the ground at the tremor of power unleashed.
"Koebi-Chan!"
"Charlotte!"
Jamil started laughing madly, as Charlotte thrashed in pain. This was more painful than the binds Azul tried to twist her limbs with back at the Mostro Lounge.
"My power!!" She screamed. "No! He's draining all my power!!" She struggled to rip away, but the more she struggled, the tighter he made his grip on her.
"Yes...the power...I can feel it! It's-Wait...no!"
Suddenly, her body started glowing in a bright yellow light as she let out a scream of pain-filled rage. This brought back memories of her and the others fighting off the monster from the mines, and how she destroyed it with that shooting star unconsciously released. But like that time, the light wasn't controlled by her; It was acting on its own...
The light grew brighter and like before, exploded in a ring of light. It forced Jamil to lose his grip on her, hurling back to the floor with a scream of pain at the power burst. In fact, they all did.
The octo boys, Grim, and all the students they were fighting, all fell like rows of dominoes. The light washed over the dorm and across the sandy lands, a wave of energy exploding in pure light.
The light had vanished, revealing Charlie, fallen to her side, out of strength. Barely, she lifted herself up, her arms wobbling.
"Charlotte!" Jade sensed her getting up and rushed to help. Floyd followed and they both helped her to her feet.
Charlie groaned in pain, clutching her throbbing head. "Ngh...."
"Charlie? Are you okay?" Kalim worried, running to her.
"I...don't know...." she nodded lightly. But her gaze moved down towards her hands in confusion.
"He...he tried to take my powers....but it didn't work....why?"
"Did your power...reject him?" Grim looked at her in confusion.
A moan was heard behind them, and they turned to see Jamil in a slump on the floor. He staggered to his feet, stumbling in the process. His eyes held a look of insanity and confusion. He stared at his hands. He should've felt the power coursing through his veins, but he felt....nothing. Not a single ounce of power.
"No....the power...it's mine! It's supposed to be mine! How could you still have it?!" He demands.
"Either way, she or her powers, for whatever reason, neither belongs to you!" Azul steps before them, eyes as dead as stone.
Charlie felt something was off....she looked at Jamil, in all of his overblot insanity, and couldn't help but feel that there was something...different about this one...
"Enversio Cinosmab." She whispered faintly. Her eyes turned bright yellow as her vision adjusted to the darkness. One look towards Jamil, and she felt her blood run cold.
Looming above the blot incarnation, was a shadowy figure, it's body large and swirling like misty clouds in the sky. It's skin was blacker than the blackest black seen. But what stuck out the most was a cruel Smile laced onto its face, eyes as soulless and sadistic as a serial killer's. Black strings attached to its fingertips, swinging down and connected to Jamil's shoulders and arms like a puppet being controlled by the puppet master.
But what really caught her eye was around Jamil's neck, attached to the T crossed collar, at its intersection point: a stone that glistened orange and yellow with hints of green and blue.
"No matter...con artists, Imcompetent rulers....I don't need any of them...TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH WITH YOU!" Jamil screeched.
One blast of lightning, and the group Was flung high into the air, their screams echoing out into The sky
"Nice shot! Goodbye forever, Kalim!" Jamil laughed maniacally.
"You idiot! I told you to keep The girl! Not send her away with the other buffoons! You've ruined everything!!!" A voice raged in his mind as a strange insignia appeared on the back of his hand.
"Who are you to speak to me like that?! Now that Kalim is gone, I've no use for a pathetic shadow creature like you! Our deal is off!"
"WHAT?! YOU CANT DO THAT! WE AGREED SPECIFICALLY: I'd help You rid that boy out of your life and in return, you give me the girl's powers! YOU TRAITOR!"
"Yea, Yea, now begone with you!" The shadow above Jamil was paralyzed and then in a tornado, he spun onto a dark cyclone, screaming in protest, and sucked up into the void, never seen again......
For now.....
——————————
The group went airborne far into the blue cloud sky, screams of shock going into the open.
CRASH!
They landed on the flat earth in a huge pile atop one another.
Surrounding them was a dark sky and the land to match, a bitter wind bustled in, send chills.
"Ugh....again with the throwing...why us?" Grim sat up in a daze....
Charlie wasn't doing better, nearly hitting her head on the floor, had it not been for The Leech bro's cushioning her fall. "That was some flight..." she whispered.
"He has sent us at quite the distance..." azul stood slowly.
Floyd wrapped his arms around himself as he shivered. "Holy crap...it's cold...like living under the ice!"
"Kalim, Kalim! Stay with us!" Jade tapped his cheek as a light slap to get the other second year up. And somehow, it worked.
"Ngh...huh...what happened...?" He opened his eyes and sat up, wincing.
"Thank god you're okay. It seems that we've been thrown to the edge of Scarabia..." jade told him.
Charlie squatted when she felt chills rack her body, and tried to keep herself warm in her own way.
"Yet while Grim has his fur to stay warm, and we merfolk can withstand frigid temperatures, Kalim and Lotte are at risk if we stay here too long." Azul clicked his tongue as he draped his coat over Charlotte's freezing body.
"And flying isn't an option: no brooms or a carpet."
"Can't we just walk?" Floyd asked.
"We flew for a long distance before landing here, walking back will take too long..." Azul shot down. "Also, you're voice still creeps me out. I'm ending the contract so you're going back to normal."
"Huh? But I kinda like it..."
With a flick of his wrist, Azul diminished what he had.
"A....A...okay, yep. It's back!" Floyd smiled.
"I'm Actually surprised. Never thought you'd strike a bargain with the likes of Azul. I thought he'd make a lame excuse to keep it longer. And that meant no for me if I'd try the same." Jade approached.
"Eh, it's nothin." Floyd shrugs. "I'd be pissed if I didn't get it back, regardless."
"I can hear you two..." azul muttered.
Charlie tried to stifle her laugh, wrapping herself further into The coat. It smelled a bit like Azul: sea salt water and old parchment paper.
She couldn't help but smile.
"Jamil...." Kalim sniffed. "I trusted you..."
"Oh, Otter-Chan's crying now..."
"It's...it's all my fault..." Kalim sighed. "I drove him into insanity without realizing it...he'd never do something like this to me...I had always relied on him! He's helped me every step Of the way!
"But that's the reason why he snapped." Kalim looked up to Charlie kneeling in front of him. "All those years of you just running around with no worries or responsibilities, and leaving him To clean up the messes you've made...it's no wonder he was like that. And being so reckless constantly with that dense-like persona...you need to realize: you need to have a backbone, and take up That responsibility, but not to the point of being a monarch: because, some people need to have compassion and a generous heart to Understand, which is what you already have. You see what I'm getting at?"
Kalim tried to listen to what she was saying, but he had a bit of trouble following.
"Hoo, man....she's taking charge again..." Grim was nervous.
"I agree with what Koebi-Chan is saying, though." Floyd joined her side. "Rakko-Chan, you're too much of a goody-goody. And to be honest...it's irritating.."
"H-Huh?!"
"It's true. If anyone ever backstabbed me, I'd use every dictionary-approved word to berate them to no extent, bind them up and throw them overboard." Jade said with the most innocent smile EVER. "Pinning the blame on yourself just passes the line of a good person and falls into disturbing."
"Disturb...no, but really! He'd never do something like this!" Kalim denied.
"Not to rain on your parade, but he kinda did, bro..." Charlie nodded slowly.
"Yea, what she said." Floyd gave a one-shoulder nudge. "Also tried framing you and getting you thrown out...he's a monster."
"Comparing this to Azul's not long ago makes the latter seem saintly. It'd be best if you give him a thorough yelling, maybe call him a traitor while at it." Jade suggested.
"How the fuck is that going to help!?" Charlie looked at him with a look that said, 'Really, bruh?' But all he did was pat her head, still not minding that shit-eating Grin.
"The things you say with no faith wavering in others can send off the wrong signals. Rather, those who live their lives on a medium would sound like sarcasm in this case." Azul stepped in. "I'd like to add on to what she is saying: You've been throwing him into situations from a young age, with that attitude. Yet...you've never done anything wrong. You were born into a family that is higher than others. Raised by the praise given from parents and the people you've met and became the person you are today. In turn, it made you arrogant."
"He's already naive, to begin with."
"I see...he's the monster behind the madness..." Kalim sighed.
"Well, obviously." That's what Charlie said on the outside. The inside...
'OMFG HE'S REALIZING IT NOW?! DAMN, I KNEW HE WAS DENSE BUT THIS DENSE?! LORD HELP ME!!!'
"Then let us return! I'll tell him what he really is now in my eyes!" Kalim's eyes grew determined.
"Let's make him march to The Oasis and back twice as long as he made us!!" Grim shouts up.
"And if we can't bring him back to normal, he'll die as a result." Azul reminded. "Let's go or we'll be too late."
"Yea, but that's the thing: how're we getting back?" Floyd brought up.
"Well, we ain't walking! That's too much work!" Grim complains.
"If there was a river, we'd be able to swim...but it's completely dried no matter where we search..."
At Jade's sentence, Kalim raised his eyes. "A river? So you need water?"
"Yes. If the two of them were to shapeshifter into their other forms, they'll be fast as lightning." Azul adds. "But summoning any source of water is far beyond our abilities."
"I can do it." Kalim shrugged.
Now the three were freaking out. "EH?!"
"He's right. That time at the Oasis and it rained...it's his power! Get with the program, you three!" Charlie teased.
"With a tiny use of power, the Oasis Maker spell summons water! If I do that, I'll provide you with the river needed!"
"Is that your power?! Splendid!"
"Yea, but since we've got plumbing it's never really had a chance to be of use..." Kalim laughs.
"This isn't a laughing matter!! That magic is a gift from above for countries that don't have the clean water they need! That's nearly like...striking gold!!"
"Okay, let's just ignore that outburst. Kalim, if you will?"
"One river coming up! I've got this!" He cracked his knuckles and started to chant. And then...
"Wow...he meant it! The rivers being created!" Grim leaned forward in amazement. The water filled the drought before the group fast.
"Floyd, hurry or it'll freeze over." The two were already in their counter forms as they leapt into the river. Popping back up like boats.
"Grim, Azul, hang on."
"Koebi-Chan, Rakko-Chan, you too~!"
"Wait...ain't Azul a merman as well? Why can't he swim solo?"
"He's not a fast swimmer, even in his other form." Jade sent his boss a look, as the latter turned away, embarrassed.
"It's j-just that my fins work differently." He stuttered. "Now hurry up! There's no time to waste!!"