~~~~~~~

Paradise Prison

~~~~~~~

Beyond the mirror etched with a cobra snake, we entered a world of bright blue sunny skies and golden sand.

Grim and I let our eyes wander our surroundings. "So this is Scarabia? This heat is like a wall, just like the middle of summer, y'know!"

"Good for shaking off the cold, right? This way." Jamil guides us to the lounge room. Instead of tables and chairs, intricate carpets and pillows were spread out across the expansive floor.

"Wow..." It's so authentic I feel like I'm actually in the Agrabah palace from the Aladdin movie!

We were led to a vacant carpet and sat down.

Jamil's claps resound across the lounge. "The guests have arrived! Welcome them with music!"

"M-Music?" I stuttered out, wondering if I misheard that part. It's one thing to offer food on the table, but BGM, too?

Arabic music plays in the background. As I watched with astonishment, a few of Scarabia's residents went immediately to work and set meals before Grim and I. I dumbly utter out a "thank you" by the time they had already dispersed. Are these students trained to be like servants for royalty?

A pleased grin lifts Grim's lips. "Nyahaha! We've gotten famous enough for a whole welcome party?"

"Scarabia's hospitality goes an extra mile..." I mutter. After this I feel like my hospitality at Ramshackle won't mean anything compared to Scarabia. Or specifically the culture revolving around the dorm's foundation of Jafar's resourcefulness.

"Eat your fill before it gets cold." Jamil offered.

"Thanks for the food!" Grim feasts on his meal. "D-Delicious! All the flavors envelope the palette... Then followed by a kick of spice... The crunchy nuts make a great pair with the veggies, and this steamed park bun thing is awesome! So good!"

"We also have the meat and soup to try. There's plenty so don't hesitate to take more."

Grim munches his food heartedly. "If you can eat like this all the time, then this really is a paradise!"

Compared to Grim, I was eating the delicious food pensively, savoring the flavors while it was too good to last forever. "If you say it like that I can't believe this is real..."

We were oblivious to someone present in the scene until they spoke, "...What is all the fuss about?"

The residents ceased playing music and dining upon hearing the voice all too familiar.

"D-Dorm head...!"

I abruptly paused eating as though I was a child caught stealing the cookie jar in the middle of the night. How could I eat when the awkward tension is filling everyone with unease at even the slightest sound of a pin falling to the floor?

Jamil looks to the boy. "Kalim..."

"What's the meaning of this, Jamil? I didn't hear anything guests being invited!" Kalim approaches the vice dorm leader.

"Kalim, there's a good reason..."

From next to me, Grim whispered, "W-What's with this guy..."

"I told you to always let me know in advance if we're having guests! Then..." The stern frown furrowing Kalim's brows loosened considerably once he then moaned, "We could have put together an even better feast with a concert to go with it!"

We stared. "Eh?"

The residents heaved a unified sigh of relief under their breaths before resuming what they were doing.

Kalim beams a welcoming smile. "Hey, you two. Thanks for coming! Sorry about not having a parade to welcome you!"

A parade?!

"No, it's all right," I waved my hand, "We're enjoying our visit already enough."

He laughs, particularly at my modesty. "I'm happy to hear that. I'm the dorm leader of Scarabia, Kalim Al-Asim. It's nice to meet you, right?"

"No, you've met them before." Jamil corrected, "Grim set your butt on fire during the entrance ceremony, and you spoke with them before the Magift Tournament."

"Oh? Really?" Kalim laughed sheepishly. "My bad, my bad. I'm not very good with names and faces. I don't mean any offense. Well then, it's nice to see you guys again!"

I noted how totally different he seems from all the dorm leaders I've met so far. I've never had a friendly meeting right off the bat, and one that doesn't have ulterior motives.

"Wow, everything looks super tasty. Jamil, how'd it all turned out?" Kalim asked.

"As well as always. There isn't anything dangerous mixed in so you can eat without worry. The poison testers have already done their job." Jamil slightly tilted his head to our direction.

Grim chokes on his food. I inwardly flinched from the dreadful words and lowered my spoon, suddenly losing appetite. We look to him in unison and uttered, "Poison tester?"

"Kalim is the heir to an extremely wealthy family from the Land of Hot Sands, so there are those who may come after his life. Which makes poison testing necessary." Jamil explained.

"You're always blowing things out proportion, Jamil. The last time there was an attempted poisoning was...four years ago when I was stuck in a coma for two weeks. Since then there's been no issues." Kalim said.

"Because you've had a poison tester with you the past four years. Any food that has been mixed with poison has been dealt with before it got to you." Jamil stated.

"Wait, so that's why you were trying to get me to eat a bunch of stuff?!" Grim exclaimed, betrayal written all over. No wonder Jamil was imploring us to eat everything.

"I knew it was too good to be true..." I sighed. I've long since forgotten to accept things that seemed nice without paying the price in some shape or form. Glad to know this is a reminder that I'm in NRC.

Kalim laughs. "You've got nothing to worry about since Jamil made the food. Jamil would never try to poison me."

"Hmph, no need to state the obvious."

I looked at Kalim as though he grew another head. The last part just raised too many red flags for me to trust his words. However, I remained silent and glanced to my little companion.

"I thought these guys might be better than all the others but they're on the same level, if not worse, y'know." Grim stared at his food left untouched since the poison testing came to light.

I could only sheepishly chuckle in response.

"Oh yeah, Grim. Did you try the sheep's milk blue cheese yet? It goes great on crackers!"

"Huh? I'm not gonna eat mold..." Grim's mouth was stuffed with a cracker and cheese, courtesy of Kalim. "Don't just shove it in my mouth-!"

I watched the scene unfold blankly. This reminds me of something but I can't remember off the top of my head...

"Is it good? It is, right! Eat all you want." Despite Grim's apparent squirming of being suffocated to death by crackers and cheese, Kalim laughs cheerfully.

I was munching on my own serving minding my own business. Though I could have imagined Grim calling out to me for help, I was too engrossed with the flavor of blue cheese melting in my mouth with cracker for the first time. This might become a new addiction for me...

Kalim speaks, "Keep the food and drink coming, and make sure the music is upbeat and never ending! Today we party!"

...

"I can't eat another bite..." A bloated Grim moaned before burping. "My stomach's gonna burst. Kalim kept making me eat those crackers with blue cheese. My policy is to never waste a single bite but that's just too much..."

I hand him a cup of water. He accepts it gratefully and quenches his thirst.

Kalim comes up to us. "Hey, you two. Need something sweet? We've got some ice cream. Or would you like some fruit instead? We've even got pistachios and almonds. I can have Jamil bring them."

Grim squeaked. "No thanks. I really can't eat anymore!"

"I've had my fill for the time being, thank you." I told him.

"I see, it's all really good so I wanted you guys to try them, too. We'll be here all of winter vacation so you can come over for food whenever you want. Right, Jamil!"

The boy nodded from beside Kalim. "Yeah. Anytime."

"Why aren't you going home?" I asked.

"Hm? Oh... So you remember the inter-dorm Magift Tournament and the final exams, right? Our dorm was at the very bottom for both. So we put together a special crunch time training program to try to boost our standing." Kalim explained.

"Ramshackle Dorm couldn't even stand at the start line so I gotta say, I'm jealous." Grim admitted.

The dorm leader crestfallen slightly. "I see. That's too bad."

"Over winter vacation... We'll be studying and practicing magic for six hours everyday." Jamil said.

"Six hours a day? That's no different from class time at school, y'know. Holidays are for resting. You can do your homework right when vacation ends, y'know... According to Leona, anyway." Grim quoted.

"That guy never changes..."

Kalim crossed his arms and hummed thoughtfully. "Though, he might be onto something there. My dad is always saying, 'Study when it's time to study, and play when it's time to play'... It's probably important to have time to cut loose, too."

He nods once. "All right! Jamil, I've made up my mind. We have to let everyone have some time off. Let's send them home tomorrow."

Jamil's eyes widen. "Eh?!"

"I'll tell everyone tonight at dinner. Jamil, you make sure that everyone is there."

"Ah, all right... Understood."

"And I'm going to show you around Scarabia. There are some cool things I wanna show you." Kalim said to Grim and I.

However, Jamil holds him back. "Oi, Kalim! You're going to go off and screw around while all the residents are busy studying?"

"They came all the way here." Kalim said, looking to the taller male. "Let it slide, just this once."

Jamil frowns. "...Kalim."

Kalim reels back slightly. "Ugh. Fine, I got it. Don't get mad. Anyway, let's get our defensive magic training done. It'll be good for working off our lunch. Heeey, anyone wanna be my partner?"

A rush of Scarabia students arrive. "Yes, dorm head!"

From the sidelines, Grim and I watch them duke it out in the middle of the dorm. Though I dozed off a minute in to tune out the world and ponder about some things.

Light magic, huh... I'm not surprised someone of Kalim's caliber would summon light spells. Come to think of it, this is the first time I've seen light magic. You'd think a villain school wouldn't have a student capable of conjuring light, but Kalim happens to be an exception.

While on this train of thought, I was surprised Kalim is the dorm leader. Unlike the previous dorm leaders I've met who possess striking resemblances to their respective Great Seven figures, he is nothing like Jafar.

In fact, I'd say Jamil is most closely similar to Jafar. Something about his dark features and capabilities as a vice dorm leader shares some similarities with Jafar as a vizier.

Would that make Kalim the Sultan from Aladdin? His carefreeness and amicable personality is like him.

How peculiar.

...

"All right, we're done with training! Let's go!" Kalim runs off, ushering Grim and I to follow him.

"Wait, we still have stuff..." Having been out of Kalim's earshot, Jamil sighs.

With Kalim as our guide, we walk through the lavish hallway marveling at the architecture. Velvet red carpet flooring and intricate gold latticework with marble white pillars sparkle from the rays of sunlight.

"Whoa~ Everywhere you look has a golden sparkle to it... Completely opposite from Ramshackle Dorm, y'know." Grim added.

I dully tossed a deadpan at Grim. "Did you have to remind me that?"

Kalim quirked a light brow. "Is it that surprising? My dad did give a small donation to remodel the dorm when I got accepted but..."

"Just how rich are you?! Are you some kind of prince like Leona?!" Grim exclaimed. He's so casual about his wealth that he must be a rich kid, if you haven't figured it out by this point.

"The Asim family isn't royalty so I'm not a prince, but some of my family is related to the royal family." Kalim elaborated.

Grim cocked his head. "Asim...? Wasn't your name Al-Asim?"

" 'Al' is an old word from the Land of Hot Sands that means 'son'. Family names are passed down by one's ancestors so... They said that all boys born into the family will be called 'son of...' My ancestor was 'Asim' and since I'm a boy I get 'Al' and... Since my name is Kalim Al-Asim, it means 'Kalim, son of the Asim family'."

"Whoa... I've never even thought about the origins behind names before." Grim remarked.

"Is it hard when you're not familiar with it? You can just call me Kalim!"

I mused how you really learn something new everyday. Especially with diversity in the students who come from all over Twisted Wonderland to this prestigious academy.

"You should come visit me in the Land of Hot Sands sometime! We'll take good care of you." Kalim beamed.

"I bet your house is as big as a castle." Grim said.

"Not really. We only have about 100 servants." Said the boy nonchalantly.

"100 is way more than enough! I've only got my one minion." I heard Grim mutter in the end, to which I only silently shot a look.

"It's because I've got more than 30 younger siblings. There's no way we could take care of them all without that many servants." Kalim said.

"Th-Thirty?!" We exclaimed.

"Uhhh, it might be forty. I stopped counting once it got over thirty! I've got all their names and faces down though!" The dorm leader laughs.

"That's in a whole other league from us normal people..." Said Grim.

"Jamil's mother and father are part of our servants. So Jamil has been taking care of me since we were little. Jamil is amazing. He's smart, observant, and more than that a great cook!"

"You're right, everything we ate was awesome." Grim said. I nodded in agreement within a heartbeat. Absolutely yes to that last statement.

Kalim grinned. "Right? You guys should stick around for dinner too! 'Kay!"

Grim bobbed his head. "S-Sure..." As Kalim continued walking, he whispered to me, "I get lost in the moment talking with this guy."

I whispered back, "To think there's actually good people at this school is unbelievable..."

"Hey guys, don't be whispering way back there! Come over here."

We catch up to Kalim and peered inside a pitch black room until he flicked the light switch on. Now we're blinded by loads of pure glittering gold piled to the top with other treasury sprawled across the place.

Grim shrieked. "What is this place?! It's floor to ceiling treasure!"

"My dad had me take all of this when I left home. It couldn't all fit in my room so I turned this room into a storeroom for it." Said Kalim.

"This isn't a storeroom, it's a treasure vault!" Grim cried.

"Ooh. That's a good word for it. Very nice! My favorite thing in this mountain of treasure is..." Kalim then raised a brow and looked around.

"Huh? Where is it? It like to go all over the place by itself sometimes. Heeey, where'd you go?" He wanders further inside the storeroom while we remained by the entrance.

This room reminds me of the dream I had in the Cave of Wonders. At least it's not a dungeon with death and lava crawling at every corner.

"Whoooaa... Gems as bigs as my eyes and shiny, gold cups. With all this I'm sure he'd never notice if one went missing..." Grim snickers as he approached a pile.

Meanwhile I was wondering the thing Kalim was referring to could be... That would actually have me delighted to no end.

"Will you just leave me..." I heard Grim grumble before the next second followed a shrill shriek. "That carpet is moving on its own! Is it some kind of possessed carpet?!

I look behind my shoulder and gasped. "A magic carpet!"

Said carpet perks up at my voice and hovers to where I stood, circling around me curiously. It has a black, red, and gold color scheme befitting of Scarabia.

I smile widely, youthful giddiness brightening my face. "What a handsome carpet we have here. Nice to meet you, I'm Strix. The one you just scared is Grim."

Upon hearing my flattery, Carpet folds its golden tassels to the middle as though bashfully blushing. It then bowed like a gentleman to me in greeting. I let out a giggle in response.

Meanwhile Grim was clutching my leg, trembling. After seeing my unfazed reaction at a sentient floating rug with a personality, he ghostly muttered, "Maybe we did eat something funny back then... Am I going crazy?"

Kalim returns upon hearing the commotion. "Oh, so that's where you were. Why do you never stay rolled up where you're supposed to?"

Carpet floats to Kalim and playfully wiggles as though sticking a tongue out and wink like a "teehee" manner.

After climbing atop my shoulder, Grim points a paw at the sentient carpet. "What the hell is that thing?!"

"This is a legendary treasure from the Land of Hot Sands, the magic carpet." Kalim introduced.

The carpet strikes a pose boasting its beautiful textile art.

"This guy is a replica of the flying carpet once used by the sultan that the sorcerer of the sand served. It's been in my family for generations." Kalim explained, Carpet nodding along.

"Flying... So can you ride this like a broom?" Grim asked.

"Yup. You'll get it faster if we go for a ride. The sun is almost down so we can enjoy the sights under the night sky! So hurry, get on get on!" Kalim offers as he climbed atop the magic carpet.

However, Grim was skeptical. "Eeh? We're not gonna fall?"

"You'll be fine. Trust me."

He outstretched his hand to me, smile assuring. The unwavering confidence exuding from his ruby red eyes compelled me to believe in his flying skills. I could almost laugh at how this scene is playing like like the one in the movie.

I casted a dubious glance at the hand before I slowly accepted it.

"And we're off!"

Closing my eyes, I clutched the rim of the carpet and kept my body hunched close to the only platform supporting my weight from being pulled by gravity. A rush of the cool wind whistles against my ears. I could feel the difference in altitude growing larger and larger.

When we gradually came to a calm drift, I slowly opened my eyes and been robbed speechless. A pale full moon hung over a blanket of puffy clouds and glittering stars dotting the night sky canvas.

"Whooooaaa!! We're really flying! I really shouldn't look down!" Yet Grim dares to peek. "The dorm is already tiny!"

Kalim sits back, relaxed. "Above the clouds is a different world, right?"

A grin lifts my lips as I basked in the scenery. I never would've thought I'd see the starry night sky up so close, much less gaze upon one in my world. Sidney had lamented the loss of seeing the stars ever since light pollution and other influences were prominent. He had told me how much he loved to study astrology in his youth as a hobby of interest.

If only he was here to see this, too.

I hold a strand of my hair back from whipping into my vision, wishing to engrave this sight into my memory. "It's like a whole new world."

"..."

I glanced to Kalim. I thought from the corner of my eye I saw him staring at me but it must've been my imagination, for he was looking at the moon instead.

Upon eye contact, his smile grew wider. "Flying free in the sky is wonderful, isn't it? All your worries just seem to drift away. Jamil is always telling me I don't care enough, though."

A distant gaze into the sky swirls in his gaze. "I wish he could live a little more freely..."

I was silent. Considering Jamil's status as a servant of the Asim family, it wouldn't be so easy to free his shackles tied by history and tradition.

My brows scrunched together. Jamil...

Grim peers down. "Fgna! There's a bird I've never seen flying over that river!"

Kalim follows. "Oh, you're right! Let's go check it out!"

"Wait, really-?!"

My heart nearly leapt out of my throat once we dove down, my shriek drowned out by the howling wind.

...

After exploring around on the magic carpet ride, we have returned to Scarabia.

Grim released a breath of adrenaline. "That was a blast!"

"Y-Yeah... Even though a few years of my lifespan was shaved off..." I muttered under my breath, wobbling a little and clutching my gradually steadying pulse calming down. I think that was a bit too much excitement for me to take.

"I'm glad you had fun. And it looks like it's already dinner time."

It was then Jamil appeared. "Kalim! You're finally back. Could you come with me, there's something I want you to check before dinner."

"Yeah, sure. You guys can head to the lounge." Kalim said to us before walking off with Jamil.

When we arrived, everyone from Scarabia was waiting for their meals to arrive.

"I'm starving. I wonder what's for dinner today." One student said.

"Training sure kicked my ass." Another groaned.

Grim settles comfortably on a pillow. "This place is heaven compared to Ramshackle Dorm with all its holes. Kalim's pretty great, too. I wanna live here."

I firmly frowned, unsurprised yet understandable at the same time as I half-heartedly retorted, "Hey."

Jamil and Kalim have returned, the former speaking, "Is everyone here? Before we eat, our dorm head would like to make an announcement."

Curiosity diverts the residents' thoughts from food and training. "An...announcement?"

"Oh yeah, earlier he mentioned...ending the training and letting everyone go home for the break. I'm sure Scarabia will be happy but I'm sure gonna miss being able to eat like this everyday." Grim crestfallen.

I was quietly waiting for Kalim to make his announcement, holding my tongue.

Kalim steps forward. "Originally I had decided that we of Scarabia would spend our winter vacation studying for six hours a day but... I've realized... That is nowhere near enough!!"

"What?!"

Jamil shot the dorm leader a baffled look. "Kalim, didn't you say you wanted to let everyone go home?!"

"That's not at all what he said earlier!"Said a shocked Grim.

"There's no way we can catch up to the other dorms with only six hours a day. We can't clear our sullied name without twice, no, five times the effort! Starting tomorrow, all of us will study for five hours followed by four hours of practical training!"

Grim's expression flatten. "Whaaat? That means they'll be working for nine hours a day?!"

"After dinner we'll practice defensive spells! Don't drag your feet."

"Y-Yessir!"

Kalim looks to us. "Since you've been enjoying our hospitality you will take part as well! Understood?"

"Whaaat? Why us?!" Grim exclaimed.

I frowned. This is getting out of hand now that we're roped into this.

From behind him, Jamil silently watched.

For a second, a ripple pulses my head. I nursed my head from the sudden bout of a headache. Did I hear something...splatter?

Grim looks up, concern shaping his eyes. "Strix?"

I closed my eyes to let the headache fade before smiling reassuringly. "I'm fine. It's nothing to worry about."

After dinner, Kalim proceeds to mercilessly push the residents plus Grim (who was begrudgingly forced into working his tail off) to hell until they only had the strength to breath.

"That's all for today! Tomorrow afternoon we will march to the East Oasis. I won't go easy on slackers so be prepared!" Having finished training, Kalim leaves the collapsed residents on the floor, robbed of the strength they had regained from dinner.

"My arms and legs are throbbing..." One resident panted out.

Another croaked weakly, "Water... Someone, water..."

"And we have to march through the desert tomorrow..." A resident moaned.

"What's gotten into the dorm head? He wasn't like this before..."

I took pity on them. I could not see myself surviving in this dorm from the desert environment alone. Imagine having to haul your ass for the effort.

Grim was wheezing when he weakly spoke up in the silence, "...Is it over? That guy was all laughs and smiles before, what the hell made him flip his switch so fast?"

"He's probably worried about Scarabia's standing in the Magift Tournament and final exams... Lately, he's been emotionally unstable." Jamil said as he approached..

"That wasn't just some emotions going haywire, he was like a different person." Grim said.

"I've known him for a long time and Kalim is distressed over how to handle this. What he says is all over the place and he sometimes get iron-fisted... We can't keep up."

Jamil glanced over to the field of sprawled, barely-conscious residents of Scarabia. Some begin to slowly rise to their feet and drag themselves off to their rooms. It was a miserable sight to behold. "The other residents had no problem following his instructions before but recently we're all at a loss with his mood swings..."

"Orders like the one we just got are becoming more frequent... It's only a matter of time before the residents' emotions come to an end and erupt. I've somehow managed to follow him so far but... Even I'm starting to reach my limit." Jamil admitted.

"You and Trey from Heartslabyul sure have it rough." Grim remarked, to which I nodded in agreement. The vice dorm leaders really carry most of the brunt in comparison to the dorm leaders themselves. Not to say some like Riddle are incompetent but more that a vice head should really deserve more.

Jamil suddenly realizes something. "Ah! That's right... You must be the 'diamond in the rough'!"

Grim and I raised our brows, the former speaking, "Huh? Come again?"

"I've heard the rumors... You are the extraordinary students that can solve any problem. You've already done it for Heartslabyul, Savanaclaw, and even Octavinelle."

Grim tipped his chin up. "You're right about that. They owe us big time for all our help!"

I knelt behind him to his level and whisper closely, "Anemones..."

Grim flinched.

"Contracts..."

He cowers.

"Finals..."

He shrieks. "I said I'm sorry, didn't I?!"

I remained giving him the "my disappointment is immeasurable" deadpan.

Grim wilts. "You're really never gonna let that down, will ya."

"Nope. I don't look like it but I hold grudges hard." I said as a matter-of-fact. Which is true.

"I ask of you," Jamil began, interrupting our little exchange, "please help Scarabia through this as well."

"Huh?"

"I'm sure it was the workings of fate that brought us together in the cafeteria. If it's you two on the case, you'll come up with a solution that's polished like a diamond!"

"Don't go getting your hopes up just yet. I am amazing but this and that are completely different things!" Grim told the boy.

He whispers for my ears only, "...Hey, let's not get mixed up in yet another dorm's problems. I'm tired of having to clean up after others."

"That's what I was trying to do before we came here, but we went with the flow anyways." I whispered back. I knew we should've stopped while we were ahead, but we were baited with enticing food.

Having decided, I rise to my full height. "I..."

Jamil peers into my eyes. "I'm sure...you'll help us, right?"

I was still. A ripple numbs my brain into a daze.

"Understood."

Grim gaped at me. "Fgna?! Why did you agree without a second thought?"

I blinked twice. Seeing Grim look really upset, especially when directed at me, is new. "Huh?"

"Aah! You'll help us? I'm so glad. Then I'd love for you to stay here in Scarabia as our honored guests." Jamil claps twice.

A few residents come at his call. "You called, vice dorm head."

"Please show them to the guest room."

"Yessir!"

When we were led inside an empty private room, one of the residents said, "Then, please enjoy your stay." before closing the door.

Grim groans loudly, stomping his foot. "I told you to walk away! Why do you love getting involved in crap like this?! Scarabia needs to solve their own problems on their own."

I bit my lower lip, ashamed. Now I was the one getting scolded by Grim. "I wanted to turn him down but by the time I noticed, I'd agreed..."

Grim sighed. "You're the type of soft-hearted sucker that gets caught up in the moment. Though you can be scary at times too..." he muttered lowly to himself before speaking up, "Anyway, I'm not getting wrapped up in another dorm's problems again. Let's sneak outta here and get back to Ramshackle Dorm!"

Surprisingly it was easy to leave the room when it wasn't even locked. We peeked out of the door for any nearby residents before slowly slipping out. As we did, Grim says, "Okay, first let's get back to the mirror so we can get back to school..."

The sharp trill of a whistle pierced the once silent atmosphere.

We stood alert and look around for the source. I mutter, "A whistle?"

A stampede of footsteps rush towards us.

From the other side of the hallway, some residents have appeared. "You two! What is the meaning of this?!"

"During winter vacation, it doesn't matter who you are, nobody is allowed to leave without the dorm head's permission!"

"He knows how to give permission?" Was my witty comeback. Considering how Kalim's spartan personality side is, I would think such simple courtesy doesn't exist in his book.

Maybe they didn't hear me because they continued to order, "Seize them!"

"After them! Stop right there!"

We sweated nervously at the team of night watchers chasing after us. "What the hell-?!"

Before we could run far, we were overwhelmed by them and got caught on the spot immediately.

"Get tied by the rope like a good, gray little mouse!" A resident said to Grim while another quickly wrapped a rope around his body.

"I might be gray but I'm no mouse! Let go!" Grim squirms.

"Stop struggling and just get back in the room!"

My arms were pulled behind my back, restricting my upper body movement. I was forced to move forward. I didn't try to resist with the sheer number of residents surrounding us. About six of them were keeping watch. I'd wager they won't hesitate to use magic to keep us under control. So I barely roused trouble unlike Grim who had nearly bit someone's hand off had they not make quick handiwork with the rope.

They push us back inside.

"Get in there! Jeez, these guys are a handful."

Grim howled, "Owowowow! Don't just grab me by the scruff and drag me around, y'know!"

"I guess the guy that's supposed to be watching them forgot to lock their door." A resident mused aloud.

"For crying out... Make sure it's actually locked this time! Do you have any idea what would happen to us if the dorm head found out?" The other resident said to his dormmate.

"You're right..."

"We won't let you off easy if you pull a stunt like that again!"

They slammed the door shut and locked it this time, the loud click an evident reminder to never try to break out.

"Let us out!" Grim pounds on the door. I try twisting the doorknob open but couldn't. "The door isn't budging. They really did lock us in."

"Our paradise has become a prison..." I frowned.

"Is this how you treat guests? This is no different from being prisoners. I'm giving Jamil an earful when we see him tomorrow!" Grim scowled.

He perks up. "Oh, that's right. Didn't the headmaster give you that useful thing? What was it, a 'smartphone'? Have him come take care of Scarabia."

I dubiously pull out the smartphone and speed dial Crowley's number, setting the call on speaker.

["This is Crowley."]

"Oi, headmaster! Things are a mess since you've been gone!" Grim spoke into the speaker.

["I'm currently down south for vaca... Ahem! Some very important work and have my phone turned off. If you have business please leave a message after the beep. Depending on how I feel I'll get back to you. For I am gracious."]

"Screw you!! Didn't he just say vacation?! What's even the point if we can't ahold of you at times like this?!" Grim hissed.

My very first thought was to chuck the phone at the bed to vent my frustration. However, since this is a hand-me-down, sensitive technology, I had self-restraint. I place the smartphone on top of the counter and slam my fist on the space next to it.

Crowley's name on the contact list stares back at me mockingly. I can just hear him laughing and enjoying himself at the southern island without a care in the world. Though he should seriously consider giving a lot, lest he'll be reduced to a quill pen whose name will be written in his blood.

Compared to my dark thoughts. I mutter lowly, "I hope that damn incompetent old bird man chokes on an apple."

"Shit! This guy is the personification of irresponsibility!" Grim cursed. I cancelled the call, since leaving a voice message will not suffice to express our aggravation among other things.

"Let's try Ace and Deuce for now, y'know. Not that I think they'll be of any help..." Grim said dubiously.

I pursed my lips tightly.

"Strix?"

I spoke, "I... I don't think we should."

I don't want to drag the boys back to NRC because we caused trouble again. They have families to spend the holidays with. To pull them away from bonding time after staying away from their homes is the last thing I want to do.

["You robbed everyone of their happiness by existing and bringing misfortune. What right do you have to be happy?"]

It sickens my stomach to no end to drag others into what is clearly my responsibility to bear alone.

We have to deal with the problem ourselves. I'm magic-less, and Grim can only do so much as a monster cat.

And what makes it even more frustrating...

"If you really don't wanna ask for help then have your Dream Eaters bust us outta here!" Grim spoke up.

A solemn frown pulled my lips. "That's the thing. I don't hear them. I tried calling out to them but no reply. I don't know why."

"Seriously?! Then we're really stuck here?"

Stuck...in this place?

I sink to the floor.

Surprised by this, Grim called out hesitantly, "H-Hey, Strix...?"

I wrapped my arms around me and shivered, breathing ragged and heart pounding against my rib cage achingly so.

This dark vacant room, the cold tile floor... Everything reminds me of that house. That awful, cold house that confined me from freedom; my prison.

I was the inmate; my father and grandparents were the wardens that spat at me and condemned my crime everyday. They feed me food that ran stale on my tongue and flavorless on my tastebuds. They gave me only the bare minimum of bedding confined to a secluded room that may as well be the size of a closet.

I hated that place. I feared it. I never wanted to return to that house nor see those people ever again. Never once was there a happy memory.

The warm house Sidney lived in was far more comforting than any other place. I was free to become my own person than I could ever be than anywhere else. No more was there neglecting of my existence, my identity, and my feelings. No more would I be compared to that woman whose name and face continues to be the bane of my existence even in the afterlife. It's not even an exaggeration to think of it like that.

Unlike those people, there was Sidney who, though he too loved his granddaughter that was my mother, never placed the light on a pedestal solely to rub it on my face. The light that everyone in my family cherished so dearly blinded all but the elder. He saw me for me.

And for the first time, I have truly opened my heart little by little.

As a child I'd wrap myself up in a blanket with him close by the fireplace drinking hot cocoa. The tightness of the warmth always swelled my chest with giddiness. I had never failed to relish in the joy of gentle company Sidney gave, despite his small stature and frail body that wished to be stronger just to make me feel safe and loved. That only made me appreciate his presence even more as I clung to him and basked in his scent and touch of wrinkly skin.

Though in the recent years I haven't been so intimate because I've been content with just sitting next to him. I grew out of the phase with age and no one else to share intimacy with. A part of me deep in the depths of my heart wished to do more. Like to cuddle and hold hands. But with a frail soul like Sidney, I was always taking utmost care to not break him.

["I'm sorry," Sidney had once spoke during one winter evening. "that this old man is the company you have. Someone younger should have been in my place."]

[I was 15 years old at the time. Unlike the me today, I had long flowing hair that reached my waist. I once cared for it until a certain incident caused me to cut most of it off.]

[I couldn't hold back a sad crease in my eyes as I settled on the space of the couch next to him and embraced him with a gentle squeeze. "You don't have to keep apologizing, Sidney. I told you that I always love being with you, no matter what others think."]

["I am but skin and bones, my dear owlet. It's not charming of me to be the target of your affections."]

[Though I recognized the subtle tease in his words, I took them sincerely to heart. "I would never leave you just because you're old. You mean so much to me."]

[He breathed in slowly and drew a long exhale that would have nearly been inaudible if I were not embracing him. He was always so loving towards me that love itself was hurting him in the process.]

[It was because of his boundless love, however, that he would bear the burdening pain for someone like me again and again. That he would do what he can to see that I achieve happiness on my own after he departs.]

["You are young. You must spread your wings and leave the nest in the near future." Was all he could muster before drifting to sleep, having lost the strength to remain awake for the evening.]

[A sorrowful expression tightened my visage. I knew. But the selfish part of me that finally opened up after leaving my former home has grown too attached to acknowledge.]

[I carefully pull from the embrace to tuck the fuzzy blanket over his body. He continues to sleep soundly.]

[My fists trembled on my lap. I slip his shriveled hand from under the blanket and pressed his bony knuckles to my forehead. I closed my eyes. Long pale fingers were smooth against callous skin.]

[To reassure the elderly man from his lingering doubts and worry, and to convince myself of the reality that must come, I softly uttered against the dull pang of my heart.]

["I know."]

The warm memories of home -of Sidney himself- flood back to my mind mercilessly. After I've been suppressing what I've missed back in my world for the four months I've been here, they come back to serve a painful reminder that I may not be able to go back home while stuck in this world whose wonders I fear will one day be my demise.

Grim could only silently watch me in my trembling fetal position. This is the first he's seen me bury my head hiding such vulnerability. The Strix that he knew would have had her head up and eyes look forward to the future, devising a plan relying on her wits and intelligence in a world that is integrated with magic. She was no doormat in a school of egotistic elite magicians; she was an independent leader who would resolve the problems however begrudgingly the circumstances may be.

But the Strix he has known up to now has been a mask. What he sees right now is a little girl who yearns to return to her solace living in a world completely apart from Twisted Wonderland. Who couldn't bear to be lonely by the two people she loved more than herself, who craves for affectionate touch and wants nothing but unconditional love in return.

The worn-out wristwatch gifted by my great grandfather radiates a vague warmth on the skin of my wrist. I only bit back the swelling of my tears as a result, teeth digging into the flesh of my lower lip.

"Sidney..."

I want to go back home.