I'll be starting college by the time I post this so I might not have enough time to post chapters as often. At least I'll have online classes(?). Wish me luck!

(I'll likely still try to be up to date writing for recent events like the upcoming Wish Upon a Star event. So it won't be missed by me.)

...

The world is pitch black.

"Come in my sweet princess." Ursula's voice purred, luring Ariel into her domain of darkness and withered, sentient anemones. "I came here because I just love people so much."

"Here's the deal. I'll make you a potion that will turn you into a human for three days. You have to make that prince fall in love with you in that time. And one more thing. We haven't discussed the subject of payment. What I want from you is, your voice! Go ahead and sign the scroll!"

Ariel blindly scribbled her signature on the gold sparkling contract.

"I'll help you, you poor unfortunate soul!"

Bright smoke explodes from the mouth of the cauldron, obscuring Ursula and her two eel minions from view. Thus came the end to the dream sequence.

Another deal in my dream...

Replacing the sequence before me is a giant slab of stone blocking what must be a secret cavern. Like Ariel's where she hid her treasures of the human world from King Triton...

I tried moving it but it wouldn't budge. I then realized there's a keyhole inside a seashell motif engraved on the side...

I trace the keyhole with a finger. Something oozes from it. My breath hitched and I stepped back.

Is that...ink? Or is it blot?

The liquid seeps from behind the stone. My vision was clouded with jet black. Before I knew it, my body fell backwards and plunges headfirst into the abyss of darkness, darkness, and more darkness. I couldn't hear, feel, nor see anything.

A world that somehow feels familiar.

~~~~~~~

Struggles, Not Snuggles

~~~~~~~

You ever have that moment when you're given the opportunity to narrate your life: "The stars were not aligned for this day"? At least one chapter in your book? One episode?

There was something humorous behind that line. Perhaps because some have superstitions that the stars are the spirits of the deceased watching over you. That would mean the position of the stars may be plotting my demise for their own amusement.

Wide blue eyes bored into the toned pectorals peeking behind the slit of the shirt.

Why in the ever fresh living hell is Leona Kingscholar sleeping in bed with me?!

Ten minutes prior to this, I had awoken from my dream sequence. I was about to fall back to sleep 'cause waking up at 5 in the morning is unholy hours for someone such as yours truly until I later realized I was snuggling into a warm, broad pillow with clothes. It wasn't a pillow. It was a grown man.

Thus entered the chapter of a cheesy romcom in the life of Strix Noctowl.

The stars were not aligned for this day.

It was too late to free myself. I was ensnared in his muscular arms by the time I opened my eyes. To be held like a human body pillow makes my skin flushed. Only because I had an embarrassing thought that this one-sided cuddling session...actually feels nice.

His warmth on top of me, strong, reassuring arms wrapped around my small frame...

It's like sleeping with an actual lion. I had tried it once with Aura Lion and it was nice to just relax with nature around me. You may see some people in a similar manner from documentaries and wonder how nice would it be to be in their shoes. I can tell you without a doubt they make good cuddle buddies.

But with Leona it's a whole other story. I get anxiety more so than snuggles and much prefer my Dream Eater any day.

Leona buries his face into my head, breathing in my scent and snoring obliviously to my struggles. His hand cradled the back of my head and weaving my hair with his fingers. My face was further pressed into his chest where I can't see anything but his broad body.

Oh Great Seven. My lips are this close to grazing his pecs. My sense of smell is overwhelmed by his scent. I couldn't breath from this proximity. Stupid hormones are driving me in a frenzy and making everything dramatic!

Biting through a blush, I closed my eyes and take a moment to rationalize the situation.

Should I even resist? He has a steel grip on me like prey he won't let slip away from his claws. But I'd hate for him to wake up and tease the hell out of me for the intimate position. There's no doubt he's the type who gets off on flustering people. Plus, he threatened to "eat" me if I woke him up. They say to never wake a sleeping lion, after all. I sort of learned that the hard way.

I also don't want to risk getting caught seen with him if anyone like Ruggie happens to come in. How embarrassing would that be? Resist I shall.

I slowly but carefully pry his arm off me. Having let his pillow slip away, he subconsciously pulls me back in his arms, much to my dismay. That method failed.

Instead of unwrapping them, I try wriggling under his cage of biceps. Once my head was completely ducked I quickly roll out of arm's reach and relish in fresh air. Not before I nearly caught myself from falling off the edge of the bed. I needed to breathe like I just scaled 60 flights of stairs without a much needed break.

I held my breath when I heard Leona shift. I look to watch the man turn on his side facing his back to me, tail lazily thumping on the bed once. This is the same guy who pounced on me when I tried to remove a little leaf off his head?

I heaved my shoulders and internally groan.

Now that Leona kicked me out of his bed (what was the point of the chess match when he was going to return to his bed in the end), I'll have to slip into the futon. Seriously, did he somehow sleepwalked into his bed from a bathroom break? To be honest that happens to me a few times...

I carefully pick up the snoring Grim from Leona's bed and settled him atop my lap as I then slide underneath the sheets. I will pretend nothing happened and that I had slept on the futon all night instead. Yes, that's a good idea. I'm sticking with it.

I close my eyes and exhaled softly.

Ruggie comes in, "Hey! G'morning! Leona, time to get up. You two should get up and wash your faces, too."

My brow impulsively twitched. I hear the clink of a porcelain mug rest on the table. The sound of the blinds folding up released the harsh glare of sunlight into the bedroom. I hissed and buried my face in the pillow.

Grim rubs his eyes. "Morning already?" He glanced to the clock. "It's still only six o'clock!"

"We have morning Magift practice in Savanaclaw. As long as you're staying here you're gonna join in." The hyena told us.

"Wha... Morning practice?" Grim blinked. I peek my head up from the pillow inquisitively but also dreadfully at the thought of doing something physical so early.

"We've been doing it since the Magift tournament." Ruggie replied.

Leona grumbles from his sleep, "Shuddup..." and groans, sinking further into his pillows.

"Leona! Don't fall back to sleep!" Ruggie stomps over and tugged the dorm leader's lower limb casually off the bed, blanket dragging with the body.

"Ruggie is supposed to be the underling but he just yanked Leona outta bed by his leg." Grim said breathlessly.

I deadpanned. "Even after all that he's still not awake. He's a sleeping master, probably more so than me." I feel like my character is being sabotaged.

A yawn escapes me. I comb my bed hair down flat. I tend to have those days where it looks like I have anime ahoge hair.

Ruggie looks to me, ears flattening with his deadpan. "Not you, too."

"Give me coffee, or give me death!" I said half-drowsily and waved a hand in the air theatrically for emphasis, not once lifting my head to face Ruggie. From his perspective he probably could only see my arm.

"Ah, you always say you're a night owl." He mumbled.

"It's literally my last name. Give me a cup and I'll be wide awake for practice..."

"I thought so, so I already brought one up for you."

I slowly sat up. My bleary eyes zeroed in on the mug of steaming coffee with a few packs of sugar and milk on the side for my preference. "How'd you know?"

"Jack brought it up this morning before he went ahead for practice. Knowing you, you need it."

Ruggie is so prepared, I noted to myself. He's like the butler of Savanaclaw. Well, more specifically Leona.

"Thanks." I sauntered to the table and stand before the mug. Without batting an eye I downed the black coffee in the span of six seconds. Now my eyes are wide open and awake.

Ruggie stared at me, baffled. I did practically inhale the bitter drink without pausing between intervals. "Whatever floats your boat..." He trailed off.

His nose twitched when he sniffed the air. I was met with scrunched brows. What's up with him? Does he dislike bitter things? Or is he not a coffee person?

Stormy gray eyes stared. After a few seconds of contemplating whatever it was, he said, "I'm counting on ya to take care of Leona's morning hair routine. He's a spoiled prince who has servants dress him as a kid, after all. Later."

He leaves with an empty mug and untouched sweeteners and milk in hand.

I assumed I only have to do his hair since he specifically said "morning hair routine". That's not so bad.

Grim went ahead with Ruggie and said he'll wait for me, leaving only Leona and I in the room now. I was internally trying not to flash back to the cuddling incident only I know as I pulled out my PE uniform and shoes from my luggage.

I snuck a glance to the brunet over my shoulder. He was scratching his stomach and reaching for his change of clothes in his wardrobe.

My expression falls flat. Does he really not know? I hope he doesn't, for my sake.

In Leona's bathroom I changed into my PE uniform and slipped on my neon purple sneakers. I pull my hair into my usual high ponytail with a purple scrunchie. Pocketing my heart lock pendant inside my breast pocket as I have always did, I stepped out of the bathroom once I heard the okay from Leona.

Leona was still dozing off on the ledge of his bed. At least he bothered to change into his uniform by himself.

"Where's your brush?" I asked.

A yawn. "First right drawer..."

I take the brush from his desk drawer and crawl on the bed, kneeling behind him to work through his long thick mane of tangled knots. My hands gather the strands from the front, fingertips grazing his neck as they did. His shoulders stood rigid under his shirt, but I was too focused on undoing the knots first to have noticed. Leona expresses confusion why I didn't just directly brush from top to bottom.

"It'll be smoother brushing when you do it," I explained. I start from the top and trail down to the ends in one clean streak. "See? Less painful on the scalp, too."

Leona didn't say another word after that, letting me groom his hair without grumbling almost every three seconds.

Since we're not morning people, we don't feel obligated to start idle chatter to fill in the peaceful silence between us. It was fine not talking our mouths off constantly.

I was careful to not accidentally prick his sensitive ears with the brush, though I had to inevitably brush my fingers pass them a few times in the process. They would twitch from the contact and shrug it off, which I find it so cute that I had to refrain from squealing. I still can't get over how the kitty ears really look small on a grown man. Such is the appeal of animal ears.

My fingers weave through his thick locks and absentmindedly massage his scalp. His tail, which had been swinging side to side lazily while I brushed his hair, now lifts off the bed vertically. His head leans back into my hand slightly, eyes closed and relaxed in contentment. Has he been sleeping this whole time?

An amused grin lifts my lips. He totally likes that.

When my hand leaves him, Leona returned to reality and yawned, flashing his white fangs. His tail flops back to bed with a thud that read disappointment.

I take two elastic rubber bands and sit beside him this time. "I'll braid your hair for you, so keep still. And look the other way, or close your eyes. Whichever works."

Leona complied and stared his half-lidded eyes at the table over my shoulder.

As I worked on the strands, I noticed something peculiar. His hair has orange tips in contrast to his dark brown pigments. I glanced up to his bangs. They also have them.

I remember Cheka having yellow tinted hair at the ends as well. Do lions have that sort of trait with their hair? Or is that a Kingscholar genetic expression? Somehow I find this detail enlightening.

I quickly diverted my gaze before he would make eye contact with me and resumed moving my hands with his braid. I didn't dare to look up again to meet his cat-like pupils that could pierce my soul. Especially after what just happened this morning.

When I was done, I was about to get off and leave to join Ruggie at the Magift stadium when I was stopped in my tracks.

"Oi, herbivore."

I look back to see Leona holding a red hair tie on his open palm for me. I rolled my eyes. "Really, I have to do your ponytail, too? All right..."

The mattress dipped gently from my weight one more time when I settled behind him. My fingers once again graze his neck as I pulled his hair back into his low ponytail. I move back to admire my handiwork. Leona looks good in a ponytail. It's refreshing from his loose, flowing hairstyle.

"All done. Leona?" I tilt my head to look at him.

The lion prince seemed to perk up attentively now that I was done. He lifts himself off the bed and stretched his back, making his way to the door. "C'mon, enough dawdling. Let's go."

I stare at his back and trail behind him. I feel like Leona's acting weird since last night. Am I really a disturbance? I guess, since I barged in...

Grim tagged along when we appeared into view and together we join Savanaclaw at the Magift stadium.

Jack spots us. "Ohh. You guys joining morning practice?"

"We wanted to keep sleeping but Ruggie dragged us here." Grim told him. I nodded along, still rubbing my eyes to keep my eyes peeled as possible.

"You might as well, since we're gonna have a scrimmage match. Gotta coach the fresh-babies, too." Ruggie said, Fantasia broom in hand.

Leona yawns. "I'm gonna fall asleep standing here. Let's get started."

Leona and Ruggie will be our opposing team. We were given the disk to start off first, courtesy of our oh so kind upperclassmen.

When I was about to move to a spot, Jack had sniffed the air and scrunched his brows. He was staring at me peculiarly and glancing to the other side. However, he said nothing as I've yet to noticed this and yawned for the nth time.

I raised my hand. "No one will get mad if I have one of my familiars help me out, right? I'm clearly at a disadvantage." Both magic and physical-wise.

Ruggie shrugged. "One more won't scare us."

A confident grin grew on Grim's lips, magic levitating the disk atop his head. He was watching Leona. "That guy's still yawning, this'll be a cinch!"

"Hah. I could take you all on in my sleep." Leona smirks haughtily.

"Let's begin!"

I summon a ram Dream Eater of cobalt blue horns resembling the instrument and teal ombré fur coat with spiral designs on its white hide.

Yoggy Ram bleats before dragging its blue hooves back, revving itself up.

With Jack's long and powerful legs, he was quicker to reach the other side while defending and shooting magic at the enemy team.

Grim fires the disk. Ruggie catches it and swiftly throws it at his fellow teammate waiting from our side.

Before the guy would catch it, Yoggy Ram snatches it with its mighty leaping powers. It had reached the other side of the field with a single jump and chucks it to the goal, successfully scoring a point.

"Nice job, Yoggy Ram!" I praised, much to its delight.

Both teams return to their positions for the second round.

"Jack, you're flying all over the place this morning like usual." Ruggie commented.

"I don't hold back, no matter the competition. Please give me everything you've got!" Said the ever earnest Jack.

"Uughh, you're really something..."

"You're not bad..." Leona simply said before yawning again for the nth time this morning.

I look to the ram Dream Eater. "Keep at it, Yoggy Ram."

Grim and Jack ran along the side from the crowding team who intend to stop them in their tracks.

As they were deterring them, I gave the command, "Fire Windmill."

The ram spirit acts as a fire wall while ramming straight ahead in the field. The enemy team dispersed to avoid being tackled and try to stop it using water magic.

I inwardly winced when Yoggy Ram took damage from its elemental weakness. It ceased ramming and shakes the droplets off its hide furiously.

Meanwhile Grim and Jack continued to reach the other side and launched the magic disk for the goal. Leona anticipated it and landed an intense fire magic spell that sent them almost flying if it wasn't for Jack to prepare himself just before getting hit.

They lose the disk in the hands of the opposing team. A teammate passes the disk to Leona. He then flaunts his long shot prowess when it zipped over everyone's heads and through the goal.

I didn't miss the cocky smirk tossed at me from the other side of the field. I had to hold Yoggy Ram back before it would ram into Leona on my behalf and cause serious rioting.

Leona stared as I did. "For the vast arsenal of familiars you have, they're rather simple to read."

I bit my tongue from spitting a retort. He's not wrong, though, and Leona knew my silence is interpreted as such.

"Maybe that says something about their master," I heard the man remark, though there wasn't particularly any antagonizing intent behind it. Is he implying I'm easy to see through like an open book? I'd think I keep my poker face well when I want to... Though I find myself more upfront compared to myself from my home world.

I didn't meet his smug knowing smirk as I looked the other way, feeling my cheeks warm from both embarrassment and the memory of this morning. I couldn't really look at him without thinking back to the scene.

"Well, your familiars never cease to make things interesting..." I hear him mutter.

My brows scrunched up slightly before I released a yawn behind my hand. This is too early for me to put so much energy into this training. I held my spirit's head to bore into its yellow pupils.

"Yoggy Ram, show them nobody rams like a ram does."

It nods.

This time Leona's side has the disk in possession. When another match began, I immediately ordered, "Whirling Bronco."

Yoggy Ram charges into the field in a heartbeat, a trail of fire left behind in its tracks as it blazed through the formation into a V.

An enemy player barely avoids getting caught by the trailblazer and flings the disk to a teammate. Our team took this opportunity to distract the recipient. However the flying team foresees this and fired magic spells at our feet.

The recipient managed to catch it and runs for a several meters before launched the disk for the goal.

Unfortunately for them, the disk missed.

Jack nods. "All right, let's keep it up."

Many games later...

"All right! Time for my killer-explosive shot!!" Grim was about to unleash his attack when he noticed us meeting up in the middle. "...Huh? What?"

"I finally shook off some grogginess." Leona rolls his shoulders back.

Ruggie waved his arm and announced, "That's it for morning practice today." It was a tough game, but Leona's team won by two points. I think that's good, personally.

"I learned a lot from it!" Jack puffed his chest.

"What?! I wanna keep playing!" Grim whined.

I stroked Yoggy Ram's ombré teal coat before dismissing it. I heaved a tired groan, wiping my sweat with the back of my hand. "I don't think I'm ever made to be an athlete..."

We sit by the audience seats to relax before we clean up.

Grim plopped on a spot and sighed one of satisfaction. "Working out first thing in the morning feels better than I thought."

"Right? I woke up an hour earlier to go jogging." Jack said, wiping his sweat with a hand towel.

"I think that might be going overboard for us." I sweatdropped along with the gray cat. Damn jocks and their brawn.

Grim spoke, "So this means Savanaclaw is already getting ready for next year's Inter Dorm Magift Tournament? You're gonna make for great rivals."

"Ahh, that's right. Y'all don't know about that, do you. There's a tournament that's even bigger every year in May." Ruggie told us after taking a swig of his water.

Grim's eyes widen. "Ffgna?! There are tournaments bigger than the inter dorm?"

"The inter high tournament." Leona mentioned.

"Oh that's right, there're other magic academies..." I mumbled. Like Royal Sword Academy where Che'nya attends. I've been cooped up in NRC that I almost forgot there's more to the world than within the campus gates.

"Like the name says, it's a Magift tournament between different schools." Ruggie began.

"Our school is pitted against Royal Sword Academy every year." Leona said.

Grim perked up. "Hoohh, we've heard that name before!"

"There are a bunch of different schools dedicated to magic in Twisted Wonderland but Night Raven College and Royal Sword Academy are called 'the two great schools of magic'. They're that prestigious." Ruggie explained.

"What kind of school is Royal Sword Academy?" I asked, intrigued.

"A school filled with only pompous flower boys." Leona told me with a sneer towards the rival academy. Ehh.

Ruggie snickers, "Shishishi! Yeah yeah. From the buildings to the uniforms it's all grossly shiny. A white uniform is going to show the smallest stain, y'know. I don't care prestigious it is, I wouldn't go even if they asked."

I visualize a general depiction of the school: A picturesque fairytale-like castle of pristine architecture and sparkling fountains compared to NRC's vintage aesthetic leaning to a gothic style with keys and mirrors. The only "fountain" we have is a single well based on the one from Snow White.

I made a face. RSA sounds like something from a shoujo manga. Am I going to walk in to see roses and sparkles with a fancy golden border in the background? I might go blind from just seeing the building.

"But hasn't Night Raven College lost to them in the Inter High Tournament for the past 100 years?" Jack inquired.

Ruggie flinched. "Th-That's...! It's only been 99 losses! This year makes 100 and we're definitely going to crush them."

I sweatdropped. That's some optimistic thinking. You go for broke on that one.

Jack recalls, "The feeling I got from watching them play on TV was... The individual plays from the Royal Sword Academy players were great but more than that... Their team plays were especially impressive."

"They sound strong..." I commented. Teamwork is essential in a sport such as Magift. And pretty much every activity that requires more than a one-person team.

Grim cocked his flaming ear. "Hm? Hold on. An inter high means... Other dorms can play against Royal Sword Academy, not just Savanaclaw?"

"That's right. Tryouts are held and the team is made from students from any dorm." Leona affirmed.

"I bet everyone just butts heads..." I spoke up, already predicting where this is going.

The brunet regrettably recalls, "Last year, everyone fought over which position they wanted and it caused a huge scene." I can already imagine that as clear as day. This egotistical school and uncooperative student body couldn't learn from their rivals, huh.

Grim piped up, "That's what I like to hear! You gotta steal the position you want with power! I'm totally gonna get picked to be on the school team!"

"That means you have to train daily to become a starting player and show off your skill." Jack said.

"Your chances of being on TV are much higher than the inter dorm so it's a great time to show off your abilities!" Ruggie grinned.

"How to weed out the competition and get my seat as a starting player? I'll have to start mulling it over now." Leona smirked. Everyone sure is pumped to participate and compete against their long-standing rivals.

I stared into the sky thoughtfully. "Royal Sword Academy..."

'It sounds like a place Caelum would attend...'

...

After taking a shower and changing into our school uniforms, we visit the school cafeteria in time for a hearty breakfast.

"Breakfast after a good workout is amazing, y'know! I crave meat more than usual." Grim noms on his meal ravenously.

"Oh yeah, that's right... So why did y'all decide to do something as dumb as making a deal with that octo-punk?" Leona asked, eyes narrowing in irritation. "Thanks to that my room shrank."

I explain to him about the whole anemone situation.

"Hah! You made a deal to free all those idiots that entered contracts for the final exams?!" Leona roars with laughter, much to my chagrin. "This is rich. Sends a chill down my spine."

My cheeks puffed. "I'm being held against my will by the headmaster, I'll have you know..."

"There was that rumor about how amazing Azul's test notebooks were. I can totally understand why someone would want it." Ruggie said.

"Does that mean you two didn't make a deal with Azul for the tests? Leona-senpai seems like the one who'd wanna take it easy the most..." Jack realized his wording sounds offensive and bit his tongue. "Ah, no, never mind."

"Idiot. Who in their right mind would make a deal with that cheating bastard because they want to? I have made a deal before because the situation called for it but... The conditions weren't anything crazy." Leona said, shrugging.

"Yeah, he's not the kind of guy you wanna rely on casually. But he is a skilled wizard that can make even the most outlandish wishes come true." Ruggie acknowledged.

Leona says, "When making a deal, the one who wants something has the disadvantage. There's any number of ways to dupe herbivores that can't think on their feet and will sign a contract without considering it carefully."

"When you put it that way, I'm starting to doubt myself now..." I trailed uneasily.

"Tell me about it. What kind of condition did he give you?" Leona asked.

After I filled them in, his eyes narrowed as he restated, "By the time the sun sets on the third day..."

"Sneak into the Atlantica Memorial Museum and take a certain picture..."

They fell silent.

Ruggie tipped his chin down. "You have...my condolences."

"What else is new." I dryly quipped, rolling my eyes to the ceiling.

"You shouldn't say stuff like that when the game has just begun, y'know!" Grim retorted.

"To begin with, isn't the Atlantica Memorial Museum underwater? How exactly do you plan to get there?"

"Azul gave us a potion that'll let us breathe underwater." Grim told Ruggie.

"We don't know how well it'll work, though." Jack said dubiously.

"It'll work just fine if it's from Azul." Ruggie assured. "I don't think his pride would let him make a subpar potion."

I nodded. "I'd think so, too." At least that part of him is honest in a deal.

Leona stared before humming. "Then shouldn't you hurry up and get a move on? Time is money, they say."

"Ffna! Oh yeah. We should get to the Atlantica Memorial Museum ASAP!"

"You're right. We've only got three days. There's no time to drag our feet." Jack said.

"We'll meet up with Ace and Deuce on the way. We're off!"

We excused ourselves from the cafeteria.

When we were gone, Ruggie drawled out a sigh. "Ahh, there they go. Leona, you're so mean."

"...Hah, I don't know what you mean."

Ruggie bores his gray eyes into him, knowing smile fading into a contemplating one.

"So, care to explain how Strix had your scent all over?"

Leona bites on his meat. "Had her take over my bed for the night. But the herbivore kept tossing around and pestering me to reclaim my bed 'cause she wasn't comfortable."

"Huh..." Ruggie has a vague feeling that wasn't the whole story but didn't persist.

The sweet aroma still lingering from the dorm leader would soon fade throughout the day.

...

Everyone has gathered in the mirror chamber of floating coffins and levitating Mirror of Darkness. Before we would teleport to our destination...

"This potion we got from Azul, is it really going to allow us to breathe underwater?" Deuce voices aloud, eyeing the fluorescent green contents we each have tentatively.

"Wondering won't do us any good. We have to just drink it." Jack prompted.

"Well then, do this on 'go'. Ready, go!"

On Ace's cue, we drunk the potion.

"Ugh... Thi-This is..."

We made faces at the taste registering in our tastebuds.

Grim gagged. "It tastes like dried frog mixed with rotten mushrooms, y'know!"

"What kind of example is that? What the hell are you eating?" Jack then choked, "This flavor is a punch in the face..."

"They say the most powerful medicine are the most bitter..." My face scrunched up from the taste. "Why couldn't they just taste like bubblegum and call it a day..."

"The way potions taste is a serious problem if you ask me. How the hell do adults put up with this?" Ace shook his head and proceeded to gag as well.

"Effectiveness is more important than taste." Deuce tells him before he paused. His visage contorts into discomfort and reached for his throat. "Hm... What? It's getting harder to breathe...?!"

Jack's eyes widen. "Are our lungs starting to adjust for underwater breathing?"

My throat gradually becomes as arid as the desert. Need water... quick...

Ace breathes heavily and cursed, "Shit, this is really hard. Let's just get to the ocean!"

"Mirror, mirror on the wall! Lead us to the Coral Sea!"

A white light sucked us in and warped us to the depths of the sea.

The sound of bubbles float in my ears. I feel my hair and clothes lift the slightest from the gentle current of the sea.

I hear Grim speak through his gurgling, "We're underwater all of the sudden! We're gonna drown!"

"...Ugh, what? It doesn't hurt." Deuce spoke.

"Eh? Oh, you're right." Grim stops flailing and calms down now that we can speak.

I slowly opened my eyes and lowered my hands from my face. I can breathe through my nose and mouth without drowning to death.

"We're really breathing right now." Jack breathed.

Ace looks around. "Wow, look at that coral reef, it's an amazing view! If Cater-senpai saw this he'd be all 'so grammable~' and be snapping photos left and right."

"It's so beautiful." My eyes were wide with awe as I admire our surroundings like a kid at an aquarium. Colorful reefs and sapphire blue sea extending as far the eye can take, and adorable fish swimming by...

I wish Sidney and Caelum were here to see this.

The memory of Caelum submerged in the sea from my dream flickered in my mind. I feel a bit of a pang numbing my head the more I look up at the reflective blue ocean and lowered my head to close my eyes for relief. My eyes can be a bit sensitive if staring directly or too long into the light, so that must be why.

"We don't have time to see the sights. Let's get to the target while we've still got time." Jack told us.

We snapped out of our immersion of the ocean and make a beeline to the museum.

Grim struggles to walk through the water with his lighter weight. He flails a few inches off the ground without making progress. "I can't move forward at all."

I look back. "You'll have to swim your way around here, Grim. C'mon."

It's a little hard to move around underwater, though. The water pressure makes me exert my muscles a little more than I would in land. I feel like I'm walking in slow motion.

From the corner of my eye, an orange seahorse flutters into view. It was looking at me curiously.

I smile at the little sea creature. It's so quaint I'm afraid I might hurt it with a harmless poke. I greeted it with a little dainty wave as I continued passing by.

I came to a stop when a manta ray suddenly glides before me. It slowly drifted in its position and waited expectantly. Unsure of what to do, I went with my intuition and carefully placed my hand on its skin and caressed it once. It's slimy, but smooth and nice!

The manta ray wiggles by as I gently ran my hand across its sleek body as though charmed by my touch. I giggled. That's cute.

'I should really get going, though.'

I yelped when a field of silver and blue swarms me.

The boys have been walking ahead until they heard my small shriek and turned back alerted.

"Ah, Strix got bombarded with fish!" I heard Grim cry.

A giggle was elicited from me. The gentle current stirred up by the school of fish grazed my skin. "That tickles!" I shoo them off before I would be stuck in a pillar of fish. Though not caging me on the spot, they were still surrounding me. I might be imagining the heart eyes from them.

Jack approached and growled loud enough for them to get the message. They quickly swam away from sight I could have mistaken them for bubbles that popped.

"You okay?" He asked me.

I released my breath in relief and sheepishly smiled. "Yeah. I guess having the makings of a beast tamer comes with natural affinity with sea creatures as well."

"Maybe so..." Jack trailed off, though he seemed to have something more to say as he stared at me peculiarly.

From the front, Ace ushered, "C'mon, let's go to the museum already."

"Oh... I think I see something." Deuce perked up at the sight before us.

"Isn't that the Atlantica Memorial Museum?" Ace pointed.

Beyond the reefs we finally spot architecture standing tall that boasts a site for attractions.

The museum is a tall light purple building reminiscent to Atlantica from the movie with long railings and slender pillars supporting it.

Upon lowering his blue eyes, Grim gasped. "There's a bunch of dudes whose legs look like fish."

Guarding the entrance are mermen with blue tail fins dressed in their armored uniform of wrist guards and pale blue capes held by a shoulder plate and belt across their chest. It resembles King Triton's design...

"Are they...merfolk? I can't believe there's actually people living down here." Jack commented. They look rather small with their tail fins, just like "The Little Mermaid".

"Whoa, this is my first time seeing mermaids in action! Let's go, let's go!" I said excitedly, stars sparkling in my round doe eyes as I skipped ahead (as much as I could underwater).

"Did she forget why we came here in the first place?" Jack and the others sweatdropped. It's like watching a kid run around in an aquarium.

A pair of long dark shadows wiggles by.

"Aaahhh~ They're here, Little Shrimp and crew."

"Greetings, everyone. How do you like it? The world at the bottom of the sea."

Before we could even get near the museum, I reeled to a stop. My glee was immediately replaced with dread. I genuinely almost forgot why we came here until their daunting voices registered.

"These voices are... the identical twins!"

"That's right." Floyd sang, swimming into view with his brother.

We almost jumped out of our skin at the sight. Teal slimy tail fins marked with darker stripes, pale white skin, webbed membranes on their hands, fins for ears and attached to their forearms... The twins don't look nearly as human! It's both freaky but cool at the same time, though knowing them I'm more compelled with fear right now.

"Wh-What's with your appearance?!" Jack asked incredulously.

Floyd tilted his head. "What? This is our 'normal appearance'? We are merfolk, y'know."

He swims up to me with an innocent grin and towers me even more than his human form. I leaned back from the close proximity and had to step back before my neck would snap in half from the height difference. I can see the flecks of his scales dotting the edges of his face.

Floyd peers into my wide eyes. His smile widens. "Haha, Shrimpy you're so blue you could blend with the ocean. Maybe you'd win at hide and seek!"

My eye impulsively twitched when he poked my corresponding cheek with a sharp black fingernail as though the mirage of myself would instantly turn to sea foam. I feel like I'm about to be pounced by a snake and be coiled to death instantly...

Jade swims around the boys and explained, "While on land, we use a potion to shape shift. We can't walk with our tail fins."

"You're really freaking long! How tall... ah no, just how many meters are you?!" Ace gaped at the length of his tail that continued to move past him almost endlessly, making him sweat anxiously.

"Are you sea snakes or something?!" Deuce blurted out.

"Nope, moray eels." Floyd corrected in a heartbeat to the point I wondered if many had mistaken them as such.

I eagerly stepped ten paces back to my group when Jade returns to his side. Not only one, but two eels that are at least two to three meters long are capable of killing you in cold blood. Actually, eels are cold-blooded...

"But why the hell did you come all the way out here?" Grim demanded.

"Ahaha, we obviously came here to get in your way." Floyd laughed gleefully.

"Yeah, I thought so." Ace quipped dryly.

"We simply can't let you clear the condition so easily." Jade firmly said.

"Come forth, ice!" Deuce shoots a block of ice at Floyd but it missed.

"That magic's never gonna hit me." The eel man sneered.

"You have no control! Hit them at least once! Take that!" Ace's wind magic hits the space next to Jade.

"Fufufu. Just where are you aiming?"

"You have no room to talk!" Deuce retorted at his dorm mate.

"You're kidding. How could I miss like that..." Ace wallows in shame.

"Tch, outta the way. I'll do it." With a battle cry, Jack launched his magic at the twins only for it to bounce off. "What?! Right before it hits them, it suddenly changes direction?! This is..."

My eyes narrowed.

"Eeehh, you're really paying attention, Urchin."

"Animals from land have truly great eyesight." Jade mused.

"I'll tell you why your spells won't land at all." Floyd began, "My unique magic, 'Bind the Heart'...is magic that gets in the way of your spells and makes them fail. Isn't it fun."

"Not in the slightest! That's just foul play!" Grim hissed. That kind of magic is a serious obstacle.

Jade sighed disapprovingly at his brother. "Floyd. Divulging everything about your unique magic is not something I can get behind."

"It's fine. They still can't stop it even if they know about it." Floyd pouted. Jade was mumbling something about Floyd's mood playing in their favor.

He then cried gleefully to us, "Hurry, hurry, you better run away. If I catch you then I'll wrap you up in my tail fin. Who should I squeeze first?"

Jack gritted his teeth. "Those guys are enjoying the hunt...! It's just a one-sided fight like this!"

I cursed under my breath. "Let's retreat for now!"

"Ahaha, it'll be the same no matter how many times you try! There's no way your spindly little legs can beat us in the water."

"We are patiently waiting for your next visit."

"Crap! I'll remember this!" Grim swore before we fled back to Night Raven College.

Back in the mirror chamber, our ability to breathe on land returned. Deuce puffed for breath. "Are you guys all right?"

Ace's shoulders slumped. "Somehow..."

"I can't believe those guys were merfolk..." Jack muttered.

"It was like being chased by a shark, y'know! Swimming that fast is a coward's move!" Grim frowned.

"No way we're beating merfolk in the water." Ace groaned.

"But if we don't get our hands on that photo soon the Ramshackle Dorm is gonna be taken away..." Grim crestfallen.

"Anyway, we need to come up with a new plan." Deuce spoke up.

"Yeah. We should also talk to the self-proclaimed informant, Cater-senpai."

"Let's also discuss it with Ruggie and the others when we get back to Savanaclaw." Jack said.

After a failed attempt to even visit the museum at its doorstep, we part ways.