*kicks down door* WATASHI GA KITA! I have the whole summer now to focus on this fic. I missed writing fanfics so much TT
...
The air is stagnant with foul magical energy.
Jafar stepped on Genie's face as he and Iago, faithfully perched on his shoulder, sneered at him, magic lamp in possession.
"Genie! No!" Aladdin protested.
"Sorry, kid. I've got a new master now." A humongous Genie loomed over the palace.
"A round of applause for the greatest sorcerer in the world and a taste of humiliation for you!" Jafar stood before the prostrated Jasmine and the Sultan stripped literally from his royal status.
Jafar splits Aladdin and Jasmine apart, revealing Aladdin's identity. "His lies were too good to last. Say hello to your precious Prince Ali..."
"The venue chosen, to the ends of the earth." With a swing of his staff, Jafar shoots a palace tower containing Aladdin into the murky sky. "So long! Ex-Prince Ali!"
I found myself transported to a tall golden door adorned in ruby gems and a cobra design standing before me.
Bright blue eyes bored into the face of lust until they were tinted red. A beguiling voice tempts me.
[Open the door...]
I placed my hands on the cold barred handles.
[You seek the answer to your questions. You have the power... Use it.]
I have...the power...
Ruby red eyes reflect on gold. My conscience is floating in a sea of red mist. Is my body moving on its own? I don't know... I can't think...
The grip tightens.
A black hand ghosts over mine.
From the reflection, a silhouette shrouded in anonymity looms behind my shoulder.
SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH
Everything turned black.
...
"Strix, Grim. Time to wake up."
I stirred from my dream sequence. That soothing, mild-mannered voice belonged to Jade...
"Fnya... March to the oasis?" Grim muttered, half asleep.
"We're up this early precisely to avoid that. It's time to go." Azul ushered.
Once I sat up, Jade offered me a mug prepared with black coffee beforehand. However, I was still in my own world as I rubbed my eyes. I dreamt of Aladdin and Jafar again, but I could have sworn there was more after that. There was only black, though.
"Strix? Are you feeling unwell?"
I glanced from the corner of my eye to the coffee mug in Jade's hands. Black like this coffee...
Despite the rich scent of grounded beans, a taste I only consume to counter my morning sleepiness, I politely refused. I couldn't explain the unnerving feeling in my gut persuading me to avoid it. Just looking at the color makes me queasy.
Jade and Azul noted my peculiar reaction before shrugging it off without a comment.
While Azul, Jade, and Grim head to Kalim's room, I join Floyd in the kitchen to help prepare for breakfast.
The residents were at first intimidated to have Floyd overseeing the preparations but soon went to work. I assigned myself to preparing the silverware and plates since the aroma coming from the kitchen will only stimulate my hunger.
"Aah, lil' fry. I haven't put the final touches on that so don't carry it off." Floyd told a resident who was about to bring the dish to the table.
"M-My apologies!"
Another resident spoke, "The vegetables are out of the oven."
"Those are already seasoned so just throw them on the table."
Upon arriving, Jamil gaped at the sight. "Breakfast is already well under way...?! Did you make all this, Floyd?"
"Morning, Sea Snake. Yup, me and the Scarabia fries made all this. Since Azul said he wanted to help you out soooo baaaad." Floyd drawled out.
"This... I can't let guests work like this." Jamil protested.
Floyd tilted his head. "But we're not really guests? Aren't we training camp partners?"
"Kalim doesn't eat anything I didn't make, we're worried about poison..." Jamil frets.
"Huh? The hell. Even my diet is more balanced than that. Besides, I don't put poison in my food." Floyd muttered before speaking up, "Then you do the poison tasting, Sea Otter will eat if it's got your stamp of approval."
"That...would probably be fine..." Jamil trailed off.
"Vice dorm head, please try the grilled vegetables we made!" A resident said.
"I think this soup turned out pretty well but... What do you think?" Another asked.
"Fine, I'll test them all. By the way, did you get ready for the march?" Jamil asked. "Usually we eat when we get back..."
"I, as the dorm leader of Octavinelle, have discussed an idea concerning the matter of Scarabia's improvement with Kalim, the dorm leader of Scarabia." Azul announced.
Jamil jolted and swerved to see the male standing behind him. "Where'd you come from!"
"Rather than aerobic exercise involving long distance marching..." Azul tipped his glasses upwards, "Moderate weight training will have a greater impact on improving one's stamina and strength. More importantly, the desert is extremely hot which means we'd be at high risk of heat sickness."
"You've also got that giant fountain out front. Swimming is a good way to work out, and it's fun." Floyd chimed.
"Yes, I agree. From my experience, you can expect swimming to burn fat better than walking." Azul attested.
"So you're saying...we don't have to do that March again...?" A resident breathed, relief laced in his tone.
"Isn't that great, vice dorm head!" A resident excitedly said.
"Breakfast is also the most important meal of the day to help you maintain energy and focus throughout the day. Be careful not to eat too much though." Azul advised.
"G'morning. Oh, is food ready?" Kalim appears and notices the array of dishes prepared.
Grim hollered, "Whoa! Looks good, y'know!"
"It seems that Floyd is feeling well today. If he's not in the mood, the food will taste utterly vile..." Jade mused.
"Are we sure that's not a split personality than a mood swing?" I muttered. Just how fickle is he?
"Sea Snake already took care of your poison tasting, Sea Otter~ Go ahead and dig in~" Floyd purred.
Everyone eagerly sat down and prepared to eat. "Thanks for the food!"
"Oh, this soup is tasty!" Kalim praised.
Floyd grinned. "I know, right. It's a seafood soup from the Coral Sea."
I ate quietly with small portions in comparison to Grim who was wolfing everything down as part of background noise.
Meanwhile among the hearty dining of students, Jamil held his tongue as he silently ate.
After breakfast comes study period.
"First we will work on memorizing the most important words used in ancient incantations." Azul began.
"I'm no good at memorizing stuff. It puts me to sleep." Kalim admits.
Azul smiled. "Then I have the perfect study method for you. Try walking laps around the room while reading the words out loud."
"We recommend this method for those who have trouble concentrating for long periods of time." Jade said.
"Even I can manage that, y'know!" Grim chirped.
"You guys should try it too." Kalim said to the residents.
"All right!"
I yawned. I can do that in my sleep. Literally.
Some time later...
"Yeah! I really feel like these incantations are really sticking more than usual!" Kalim said confidently.
Everyone went to the courtyard in their PE uniforms. I was fine wearing my casual clothes since I'm not the one who's going to unleash magic.
"Working your body can also help your mind process everything you learned but pushing yourself to the brink will have the opposite effect." Azul said.
"Scrimmage matches are good exercise and also help you relieve stress." Jade added.
"Aha, I wanna go wild too! Someone come fight me." Floyd gleefully cried.
"Then let's split into teams of five and get started!" Kalim announced.
I yawned again from underneath my parka hoodie.
After the magic training...
"Ahahaha! That was a blast! And we got to see how our training is paying off." A pleased grin stretched Kalim's lips.
"Yes, dorm head!"
Jamil sighs.
We then return to NRC's main building in the cafeteria.
"As we are still growing, the most important part of our day is... That's right, meal time!" Azul began, "You have to make sure to get a good balance of nutrients while holding back from overstuffing yourself if you want to maintain your performance in the afternoon."
"It is essential to prepare your own food so you know not only what you're eating but also to help support a proper diet." Said Jade.
"I wonder if I should cook every now and then?" Kalim pondered aloud. "Making my own food means I wouldn't have to worry about poison..."
"Give it up, you'll get hurt again." Jamil was quick to refute.
"Then you're in charge of stirring the pot, Sea Otter." Floyd told Kalim.
"Keep a good eye on it so the soup doesn't burn, all right." Jade advised.
"Yeah, gotcha. Leave it to me!"
Jade smiled. "Okay everyone, let's make something delicious for lunch."
"Yessir!"
While the boys cook in the kitchen, I checked on the fireplace after realizing we had abandoned the task unexpectedly. I had noticed the school isn't freezing cold like I had feared, but I checked on the fire fairies just in case.
As I had suspected, the fireplace is fueled with wood. Was there someone else who came and did the deed for Grim and I? I could ask the fairies but we don't speak the same language, unfortunately.
Strange. But I'm glad the school isn't freezing icicles. If I ever find out who took care of the fireplace I'll thank them personally.
After cooking...
"It's done! Would you look at that, even I can make soup. Ahaha!" A proud Kalim stood tall.
"All you did was stir the pot you know..." Jamil huffed.
We return to the Scarabia dorm.
"Aaah, that was good." Said a content Kalim patting his full belly.
"Now that you've eaten and rested, might I suggest a casual stroll? It will get the wheels of your mind turning which will help you tackle your afternoon studies." Azul suggested.
"Azul, you really know everything. You're amazing. I've just been recklessly plowing ahead... And pushing my residents way too far. We're both sophomores but I'm really a novice at this." Kalim admits with shame.
"Everyone makes mistakes. The vacation is only half over. You still have time to make up for what was lacking." Azul assured.
"If it's going to be like this then I don't mind spending vacation at school." A resident spoke up.
"Yeah, we can only spend time like this while we're in school..."
"That march feels like a bad dream..." Another was close to tearing up.
Jamil seethes under his hoodie.
"There are many students skilled in astrology and ancient incantations in Scarabia." Azul acknowledged.
"The Sorceror of the Sand was really good at reading into the future so it's easy for students with that quality to get into Scarabia. I'm not really good at either though." Kalim then laughed sheepishly.
"I heard that the Sorcerer of Sand was able to develop a machine that used natural energy to perform fortune telling. The reason astrology was established faster than other magics was...due in large part to his forward thinking, correct?" Asked Azul.
Kalim's eyes held the galaxy within. "Whoaa. The Great Seven really earned that title!"
Jamil silently watches.
My eyes languidly rest on him and said nothing. My mouth shapes into an oval as I released a yawn behind my hand.
Azul glanced to the wall clock. "...Oh my, it's almost 3 o'clock. Let's study a bit more then take a break."
"Would you like me to get some tea ready?" Jade offered.
"No, I'll take care of it since I've made the most progress so far." Azul politely declined.
"I'll lend a hand." Jamil volunteered, already up on his feet as a habit from being a servant throughout his life.
Azul smiled. "That would be wonderful. Let's get going, Jamil."
The pair leaves the lounge.
Once they were out of earshot, the rest of us gathered all of the residents' attention inside the lounge room and prepared our big reveal to catch the snake hiding in the sand.
...
["I'll get Kalim thrown out of school and become the dorm head!"]
After Azul was hypnotized by Jamil's unique magic "Snake Whisper", Jamil revealed he was plotting a coup d'état right under everyone's noses.
I was not surprised it would come to this. I had always been suspicious from the beginning, and I was right to not let my guard down.
"Thank you for telling us everything." Jade said upon making his appearance.
Jamil swerved to the vice dorm leader of Octavinelle and sees all of us in on this scheme.
"You finally revealed your true self! You sure pulled one over on us!" Grim frowned.
Jamil stared like a deer on headlights. "When did you start...?!"
"Since the very beginning." Jade answered. "From the moment you two left the lounge... Azul has been broadcasting your little conversation from his smartphone."
"...Huh?"
"The current number of viewers watching Azul's Magicam live is over 5000. They're all going wild over the 'dark events unfolding at a certain school for magic'. Of course the residents are all gathered in the lounge, eyes glued to their screens to see your moment in the spotlight." Jade explains with his perpetual calm smile.
Speaking of, there they come in a dash.
"Vice head Jamil, is what we saw the truth?" One asked.
"You were really playing all of us for fools...?!"
"How dare you play the innocent victim! You damn liar!" Grim accused.
Jamil grits his teeth. "Yo-You're...wrong, I only..."
"No talking your way out of this. The magic you used to brainwash Azul is undeniable evidence." Jade's mismatched eyes sharpened. "Jamil... You are the villain that used his unique magic to manipulate Kalim and invited chaos into Scarabia!"
Jamil was cornered. He realized that. "I didn't intend for things to go this far but... There's no going back now. Azul! I order you! Go after them and restrain them."
"...Yes, my master." The manipulated Azul mumbled.
Jade clenched his jaw. "Azul! This won't do. Come back to your senses."
"Calling out to him won't make a difference!" Said Jamil.
"Yes, I am Jamil's faithful servant..." The soulless eyes once controlled easily slip back to their former light. A frown settled Azul's lips. "There's no way in hell that's true."
Dark almond eyes dilated. "...What?!"
"I'm going to throw that comment you made earlier right back at you. Did you let your guard down in front of this 'arrogant wizard'?" A sneering smirk. "Really not a good look for the thoughtful vice dorm head of Scarabia, you know."
"How is this happening?! I should have brainwashed you when you looked into my eyes...!"
"I'm a reliable wizard who plans for every contingency before I make a move." Azul glanced behind him. "Right, Floyd?"
"Weren't you too quick to let your guard down, Sea Snake?" Came a deep voice.
Grim and I jolted, the former exclaiming, "The hell's with your voice?!"
He grinned at our reactions. "I made a contract with Azul to get this deep voice. What'cha think? Isn't it nice and gruff? In exchange, I gave my unique magic, 'Bind the Heart', to Azul."
"His 'Bind the Heart'..." Azul began, "Obstructs the opponent's magic and alters its trajectory."
"He used 'Bind the Heart' to throw off the brainwashing!" I said.
"An excellent deduction, Strix." Azul praised before continuing, "I ripped off Floyd for his unique magic... Essentially, I got 'Bind the Heart' as collateral and used it to avoid being brainwashed. Then put on a show like I had in order to get you to spill the beans... It was a good plan."
"I'm not surprised at all! Azul, your personality is terrible, y'know!" Grim remarked.
"Couldn't you just call me intelligent? Well, the only person I can imagine being strong enough to affect the efficacy of Jade's unique magic on Kalim is Jamil... Precisely because of that assumption we put together this plan."
"Ja...mil?" A voice trembled, followed by slow footsteps taken forward. "What is...going on here?"
Jamil slowly makes eye contact. "Ka-Kalim..."
Ruby red eyes never leave the vice dorm leader. "They're lying right... You'd never try to control me. Lately there've been times I feel like I'm having an out of body experience and losing track of time but..."
"That's just 'cause I'm dozing off, or, like, anemia right? I can pass right out anywhere. You're always getting after me about it. Right? I've just been dozing off, yeah?" His smile was trying hard to be uplifting, yet his eyes were quivering with pain.
Jamil was silent.
"Manipulating me, or trying to throw me out. You'd never do that, right? Jamil, you're the only one... You're the only one who'd never betray me, right? Because we're best friends, aren't we?!"
Jamil's shoulder shook. Wry laughter fills the hallway.
Kalim was taken aback. "H-Hey, what's wrong?"
"...That's exactly it."
"Eh...?"
Jamil sucks in his breath. "For as long as I can remember... Your idiotic, carefree, friendly attitude... I'VE HAAAAATED IT!!!" His screech caused Kalim and our group to jolt. We've never heard such anguish tearing his voice apart until now. He was always quiet and composed like the modest student he was supposed to be. Until now.
"You flit about without a care for the crap you put me through!! Your smile is utterly repulsive. I've had enough!!"
His shoulders fall limp. "It's no use trying to sugarcoat things. I've wished, every single day, for you to just disappear. But that ends today! Me, my family... I don't give a shit what happens to any of it!!"
Kalim protests fearfully, "S-Stop! Jamil!"
"'The one you see before you is your master. Answer when spoken to, lower your head when ordered. Snake Whisper!'"
Scarabia's residents clutch their heads and moan in agony.
"Guhh... My head..."
Azul's eyes dilated. "Wha...! Is he trying to brainwash the entire dorm?!"
"Now, take Kalim and Octavinelle and kick them to the curb!"
The residents stood without will in their bones, eyes blurred a glowing scarlet red. "Yes, my master..."
Kalim gasped. "Jamil!"
We ward the mind-possessed residents away with magic and physical shoves.
"I can't believe this. He's controlling this many people at the same time, and giving them individual commands! There's nothing mediocre about him. He's in the top class of the entire school, not just Scarabia!" Azul exclaimed.
Floyd flips a student to the floor when one got too close to their circle. "These guys keep getting back up no matter how much I squeeze them. Damn zombies!"
Kalim cried, "Jamil! Stop already, I get it. You can be dorm head and I'll go home..."
Jamil wryly scowled. "Huh? Come again. The spell that binds me can't be released just like that... As long as you exist in this world, Kalim!"
"Jamil, you mustn't." Jade spoke urgently, "If you continue using your unique magic like this, you're going to exceed safe levels of blot...!"
"Shut up! Don't order me around. I won't listen to anyone's orders ever again!! I'm going to be free!!"
The dreadful sound of ink splatters and accumulates.
Yellow sparks danced in the maroon red atmosphere swarming with stagnant mana.
Standing afloat is Jamil in a red and black snake-like dress with golden strings of beads dangling over his chest, arms, and from the belt. Dripping underneath the tattered hem of the dress were black fishnet shoes accented with ruby rhombus. A black turban with a red feather and a ruby gem in the center wraps his head, whose hair was now free of braids and roaming as sentient black snakes of beady red eyes and mouths.
A cold sweat runs down my temple. The humongous tattered shadow in red had its arms crossed, gold cuffs glinting under the sinister lighting. It was Genie Jafar.
"What the?! What's happened to Jamil?!" A mortified Kalim exclaimed.
Jade examined our surroundings. "The very air around us has been warped. This is the same as what happened to Azul...!"
Azul cursed under his breath. "Overblot! We can't hope for reinforcements during winter vacation, this is really not good."
I gritted my teeth behind pursed lips. If only I could summon my Dream Eaters...!
Grim jolted when a stray lightning bolt wandered too close for his liking. He clings to my leg. "That guy's gone full 'evil berserker mode'?!"
"He's overflowing with blot and negative energy... Everyone, here he comes!" Azul warns.
Overblot Jamil chuckles one of distortion, flexing his jet black fingers. "Well, let's settle this... I'm done living like this."
Sky blue eyes narrowed. "We have to bring him back to his senses... The moment he runs out of magic, he's done for."
Grim shrieked in terror. "That monster's huge and scary, y'know!"
"Jamil! Please. Come back to yourself!!" Kalim pleaded.
"Incompetent kings, con artists... I have no use for any of you! To the ends of the earth with you! And never return! Whoopee!"
The faceless Genie Jafar swings his arm back.
The next I saw, blurs plunged into the now maroon red sky. Grim, Kalim, and the Octavinelle boys were gone.
"Nice shoooot!! Hahahahaha! Farewell, Kalim!!" Jamil roars with maniacal laughter.
I gasped.
"Guys, no!" I have to bring them back...! They might never be heard from again!
However, I realized I was all alone.
I swerved to Jamil.
The incarnation of Genie Jafar snatches me out of my breath. The whiplash numbs my head. I couldn't break my arms free. I groan in agony. The burn on my arm is searing hot from the pressure.
A low chuckle. I was brought close to the host. "Now that the pests are exterminated, it's just you and me..."
I dipped my chin to my chest and shut my eyes. "What do you want with me?"
Irony laced in his voice. "I want plenty of things. Being deprived of luxury that comes with freedom for so long naturally fuels me with desire. You are worthy of sharing the privilege...as my queen."
The chilling touch of blot gripped my chin. I suppressed a shudder. Despite the rug burn flaring throughout my left arm, I clung to my senses and sealed my eyelids shut with all my might. He tips my chin up.
"Don't you know it's rude to not look at someone when they're talking to you?" The voice purred in my ear.
I refrained another shudder. Despite the crackling thunder in the air causing the hair on my neck to stand, I shot back, "Don't you know it's inconsiderate to invade personal space?"
I wasn't as intimidating as I wanted because I wasn't looking at him in the eye, though of course with Jamil that's the last thing you'd want to do.
Jamil chuckled. "A feisty woman you are. All the more to have you beside me. After all, I don't intend to let your potential as a diamond go unpolished."
The sentient snake hair peppered kisses starting from the neck, tracing slowly upwards to my jawline and then swarmed around my eyelids in temptation to open. Each of their kisses sent jolts of electricity on my skin, possibly more effective than the bolts buzzing in the air. I impulsively twitched from where my pulse raced.
I squirmed violently as much as I could manage to ward the snakes away. No! I won't fall for his magic again! I can't afford to!
Lightning roars in the background.
I ducked my head, wanting to block the jarring noise. I hated thunderstorms since I was a kid. I had no one to seek solace in back when living with my estranged household. All I could do was bury my cowering form under my blankets and hope it would muffle the suddenness of lightning crashing down. I kept praying for it to go away.
Traumatic memories of my childhood are flooding back into me as clear as day. I wanted to completely forget my life back in that house, but I was never able to to this day.
Because the shadows never left even after I moved in to start a new life with the Sidney.
["Surrender..."] A man's voice coos mockingly, breath layered in frost biting the tip of my ear.
My heart pounds dully. He's been lurking in my shadow even in this world until he has revealed himself to taunt me at my most vulnerable state.
["Surrender your mind and forget everything... You will never be Strix Noctowl. You are..."]
"Shut up!" I spat. I don't want that man to utter that woman's name. I am not nor will I ever be like her!
Jamil stared silently after my abrupt outburst. He must have sensed something internal stirring within me... and is willing to take advantage of that.
"Let me go..." I breathed out, fear slowly crawling to clutch my heart. I was in his mercy, after all. "Let me go!"
It was pathetic of me. Now that I was separated from the others and without my Dream Eater allies to come to my aid, I was literally powerless. I was only delaying the inevitable with my stubbornness.
I've only realized now just how weak I truly am in this world. All this time, I've been fortunate with the companionship of those with magic to support me. Part of survival relies on luck, and perhaps now was when I was running low on my lucky stars.
I wouldn't suddenly manifest a superpower in the critical moment of my life such as this moment as I was being robbed of my strength. That was the reality for a magic-less human who should not be in a school of magicians.
I just wanted to go home. Away from this nightmare upon nightmare of what could be a fever dream.
Caelum... Sidney... What should I do?
A thumb brushed against my bottom lip slowly, almost sensually. Hot breath fanned my lips apart. I gasped in fright, eyes instinctively swept open.
Triumphant glee maliciously curved a pair of eyes into crescent moons.
"Snake Whisper."
Red waves rippled in my vision. Because his magic was bleeding with blot, the hypnotism quickly wormed its way to seize my mind in mere seconds. I squirmed in Genie Jafar's grasp, writhing and screaming in agony as the walls of my mind crumbles to pieces.
Everything is turning red... Red... Red... Red...
My lips fall silent, eyes slowly drooping halfway.
Red bleeds until I drown and swallow my conscience from surfacing.
...
Kalim, Grim, and the Octavinelle trio were flung to the ends of Scarabia, the desert now basked in nighttime chill.
Grim was frantically fretting over the absence of his henchman. Strix is left alone at Scarabia under Jamil's reign as they speak.
"Strix ain't here! We gotta get back quick!" Grim flailed, restless. Usually they're a packaged deal, so to be alone without the human girl is unnerving him to no end.
"All the more reason to return as soon as possible," Replied a calm Azul. Unlike his plan with Floyd's Bind the Heart, Strix has nothing to provide immunity from Jamil's unique magic, much less defend herself. On top of that, her Dream Eaters were MIA ever since she entered Scarabia, according to the girl's account. There was no doubt Jamil has already intended to control her at some point in his plans.
Meanwhile Kalim was weeping over Jamil's betrayal. He blamed himself for driving Jamil to a corner and believes the vice dorm leader he trusted so fervently as a close friend wouldn't do something criminal as a coup d'état.
"If Strix was here, I bet on my tuna cans she'd tell you in a heartbeat to square up and admit Jamil backstabbed ya, y'know." Grim said.
The Octavinelle trio attested to this. They bluntly told Kalim about how the consequences of his "annoying" and "creepy" (as said by Floyd and Jade) unwavering faith in others and selfless kindness "rub people like Jamil the wrong way" (as per Azul's word). Though not inherently a bad person, Kalim's natural naivety has made him unknowingly arrogant.
Finally convinced, Kalim resolved to punch Jamil and call him a traitor, though Grim finds the punishment of sending Jamil on an oasis march in and out ten times more rewarding.
To get back besides the long and tedious mode of traversing on foot, Jade suggested a river to swim through, though they were long dried up.
Kalim casually said he can do it using his unique magic, Oasis Maker, much to Azul's astonishment. Before he could run on a tangent on capitalizing Kalim's water magic (he wasn't being subtle about it it either), Jade prompted Scarabia's dorm leader to create a river.
Jade and Floyd transformed into their merman forms and swam back to Scarabia with Grim, Azul, and Kalim on their back.
While they were away, Jamil was being lavished by the manipulated residents of Scarabia praising him and bringing him food and drinks at his beck and call. What he didn't realize was that among those compliments, some came from the very individuals he had sent to the ends of the world. They had returned in such a short time, too, thanks to Jade and Floyd.
Grim's eyes were roaming across the lounge room for a certain someone. He muttered to himself with increasing anxiety, "Where's Strix?"
"I challenge you for the seat of dorm head you stole... I plan to take it back." Kalim declared after deeming Jamil a cowardly traitor.
"I stole it? Hmph... Big talk! Even though you're the one who stole everything from me!" Jamil sneered before smirking with thin eyes. "Though, there is one thing you failed to claim first..."
Before Kalim or anyone else would inquire, Jamil clapped his hands. "Come out, my noble dancer!"
A shadow lurking from behind emerges into the red light.
A pair of black leather-bounded feet placed their naked ruby red toes and heel on the carpet, golden coins chiming delicately.
Strings of beads jingled and swayed, announcing their presence with every movement. Under the gold collar embedded with a ruby gem rests a familiar heart lock.
A red transparent face veil hung over thin lips accompanied by half-lidded hazy red irises.
The boys gasped.
"Strix!"
She wore a snake-like dancer's dress where the chest and sides of her torso are covered in leather akin to snake scales, though the split in the transparent red cloth over it could not modestly hide the exposed midriff.
Black and red-interior tattered cloth wrapped around her short black spandex shorts flutters behind legs wrapped in black leather and underneath a layer of transparent red puffy pants revealing the skin of her thighs.
A matching veil hides her ponytail while a thin, long asymmetrical strand of hair delicately rests on the left side. Attached to the ruby embedded on the side of the golden headband of the veil is a red and a black feather.
Her arms are bounded a similar manner as her legs, wrists branding a pair of golden bands attached with a long strip of tattered red cloth dangling from behind her until the excess fell beyond her ruby fingertips.
Strix does not acknowledge their cries. By her master's beck and call, she walks behind his throne to drape herself over his shoulders.
Jamil slipped his hand under her face veil to caress her jaw as if showing off his esteemed possession. His eyes smirked cruelly towards Kalim's agape expression, relishing the complete difference in power between them. "A diamond in the rough deserves a worthy role. Strix would make a lovely sultana, no?"
He entertained the notion to Strix who remained silent. Her dull red eyes brimming with darkness bored into the distance.
A dangerous shadow darkened across the Octavinelle trio's eyes.
"How unsightly. You've sunken lower than the depths of the seas to claim Strix as yours." Azul sneered.
"I'll squeeze you," Floyd uttered lowly.
"We'll have you release Strix this instant." Jade said, though the edge honed in his voice was bleeding with hostile intent.
Grim squeaked fearfully. "Th-They're pissed...!"
Kalim bit the inside of his cheek. "Jamil... Strix..."
Jamil's haughty scoff went undeterred by their hostility. "Oh really? Let's see you try. I'll show you how I, the rightful master, am the only one to bring out the best in my diamond!"
By the raise of his arm, Strix slowly walks over to face the enemies.
She lifts her hand above her head. Blot danced around her palm. Manifested inside is a black scimitar of red and black striped handle and golden hilt.
A yellow and blue lizard-snake hybrid bounces to life, landing on its two shoes and baring sharp pointy teeth at them. Hebby Repp hisses menacingly, spiked tail lashing behind testily.
Summoned loyally to its master's side is a bright yellow tiger possessing bright pale blue claws and sickles. Keeba Tiger growls lowly at the five boys while standing in front of her protectively.
They prowl towards their enemy alongside its master as they slowly split up to attack from either side.
The Octavinelle boys and Kalim pressed their backs to each other while Grim backed up close by their feet.
Strix and her Spirits swiftly attack.
Hebby Repp shoots fireballs from its mouth at Scarabia's dorm leader. Kalim casted a wide range water spell to negate the attack. Right after attacking, the spirit rolled across the carpet and swiftly shoots at his vulnerable back.
However, Jade was quick to pull Kalim away.
"Jade!" Azul cried urgently.
"Understood!" Without orders spoken, Jade remains close to Kalim who has the largest target on his back out of all of them.
Keeba Tiger pounces for the prey in its line of sight. Floyd casts a fireball spell right at its face. The tiger spirit swipes with its light sickle in retaliation, negating the spell with its fire attack. Floyd leapt away to the side before it lunged for his neck.
Grim had somehow wounded up by Floyd's side facing off a strong-looking spirit. "I-I'm not scared of you!"
Keeba Tiger prowls low before its prey.
Strix swings the scimitar at Azul who blocks with his magic cane. He holds his ground as she pressed the weight of her blade deeper.
Hazy ruby red eyes bored unblinkingly into wavering sky blue. Azul internally cursed. Her affinity with her familiars is remarkable; in the first strike they split up their forces. As expected of the beast tamer, even when under hypnosis.
Strix swings her leg for his side. He deflects with his arm just as he broke away.
She immediately bends low to swing for an upward strike. Azul had barely lowered his cane before the sudden clash of black steel bounced him back. He nearly lost a finger from how close her sword was.
Not to mention how fast! She hadn't wasted a heartbeat in her next move.
From his throne, Jamil cackles gleefully. "Dance, dance, dance!"
Strix relentlessly swings her blade upon the dorm leader with graceful arcs and fluid motion, becoming a red and black blur. She continues to bombard him with her attacks and push him back while keeping the distance between them close.
Azul gritted his teeth. How could she move like a completely different entity? She should be easy to read and to take down, yet...
It was as though he was battling with a soldier.
Before Azul would bump into a pillar, he changed directions.
Suddenly Strix chucked her weapon for his head.
Silver strands were grazed as Azul dodged just a hair-length away from his skin being sliced open. However, he lost his footing as a result during his turn and loses his magic cane in the process.
Strix pins him to the carpet with her weight spread all over his limbs: a foot on his wrist, a hand on his other, and one leg across his knees. Obsidian steel reflects his pale face dyed red underneath the ruby light.
He was stronger than her despite his slim frame, but her level of strength right now may have come from her clothes infused with blot. Strengthening armor, you may call it. She was on par with Azul now.
Strix applies pressure to his joints without regard for his resistance. A grunt rumbles from his throat. He was completely rendered immobile like an octopus with all tentacles pinned down.
Strix brings the tip of the scimitar to his throat.
A stray fireball deflected by Floyd's unique magic has its sights on Strix. Her head snapped up to set a target on her face where the fire will directly hit her. Before it makes contact, Keeba Tiger had sensed the danger and immediately swoops in to pull her away on its back. Azul avoided the spell without moving as he was pressed to the floor and below its range.
Strix recovers to her feet with the tiger spirit beside her. Her knees bend slightly while she pants under her breath. The adrenaline rush is catching up to her sooner than expected, though that was just like her to expend energy beyond what her body can carry.
She pulls her right foot back and wields her blade above her head, assuming an attack stance. With the aid of Keeba Tiger, it casts an ominous red glow channeling throughout her body.
Azul had risen to his feet at this point. "She's charging for a powerful attack?!"
Summoning a black fireball in front, Keeba Tiger swipes it towards Azul.
Azul swiftly twirled his magic cane in one hand and snuffed out the dark fireball spell. Black traces of ember licked the pole.
After the tiger had launched the spell, it runs alongside Strix who had crouched low and glided across the floor to swing her weapon for his head within that timeframe. The tiger leaps for a powerful fire lunge attack.
A body stands between them and their target.
"Bind the Heart!"
The scimitar in her hand slips. It was sent flying past Azul and Floyd. Their eyes dilated.
Strix had deliberately released the sword. It was a feint?!
Strix's foot plants firmly on the floor before she revolves on the sole to deliver a kick to Floyd's torso instead. He and Azul are sent falling backwards together and landed unceremoniously.
Sweat rolls off Azul's jaw. Instead of striking with magic, she used physical combat to break through. It's known that Floyd's unique magic deflects attacks so that they end up missing.
But what was not openly stated was that those attacks must be magic or some manifestation brought forth by magic. No one would usually resort to their fists and feet against Floyd because he was intimidating in that field.
Could Strix have suspected Floyd's weak point in Bind the Heart would be through physical contact? Was that during this fight? Or had she entertained with the thought prior?
Nevertheless, they're no longer dealing with a human magic-less girl. She's not a potential beast tamer rumors have made her out to be.
This is a beast who lords over all other beasts.
Meanwhile, Keeba Tiger had twisted its body to cancel its powerful lunge attack before Floyd had intervened. It leapt past them to smack the butt of the scimitar hilt to the marble floor with its armored tail before it would wander beyond its master's reach.
The obsidian steel embedded into the marble like butter until it was pulled from its place by Strix who doesn't stop in her tracks toward her new target. She drags the sword behind, leaving sparks in its wake.
Grim was warding Hebby Repp's fire spells with his own when he spotted a sprinting Strix from the corner of his eye. A shrill shriek leaves him. "Eek! Strix is coming straight for us!"
Kalim counters Hebby Repp's Fire Windmill attack with a powerful gust attack to push it away. "This is bad!"
Jade came to the conclusion he himself would have to defend against her attack out of the three. Strix's main target is Kalim. If they make contact, victory will be in Jamil's hands. Only he is powerful enough to confront her blade right now, this very moment.
The vice dorm leader of Octavinelle bit the inside of his cheek and glanced to the side. "Azul!"
Without a word, Azul tossed his magic cane. Jade uses magic to gravitate the cane towards him as fast as he could. Please make it in time!
While Jade focused his magic elsewhere, Strix uses the same charge attack once used as a feint, but this time she is intent on unleashing her might. A grand arc leaves faint glowing red upon leaping from the soles of her feet.
'Sacrifice.'
A black pole blocks her scimitar. Sparks bloom from the contact.
Jade gritted his teeth. The shock rippling throughout his arms had numbed his grip a little, but this is the perfect time to end this, he knew. The pole grinds upwards along with the curved blade until a push caused the weapon to bounce back.
The sword is sent flying out of her grasp. Within the timeframe of vulnerability, Jade lunged for her and successfully pins her to the carpet. He apologizes for the rough manhandling and flips her on her stomach to lock her wrists behind her back.
Strix groans as her rug burn numbs her left arm. Jade raised his flat hand and swings for her neck to knock her unconscious.
"Jade, look out!" Cried Floyd.
However, Jade was tackled to to the side and off Strix. Keeba Tiger had pounced for Jade to rescue its master and pinned the boy on the carpet.
Jade's quick thinking fortunately saved him from instant death as he resists the tiger's long pair of saber tooth fangs. Sweat rolls off his temples as he keeps the gradient yellow and teal blades at arm length using Azul's magic cane.
Strix rises to her feet but kneels instead, hand gingerly nursing her left elbow. Her charged Sacrifice attack had exhausted most of her health and energy.
Jamil taps his dyed finger on the armrest, eyes boring the back of her head. "Isn't it about time you start making progress?"
Strix stilled.
"I've had enough fun watching you toy with them. Now start getting rid of the pests for real." He outstretched his arm towards her.
Strix clutched her head as Jamil's mind manipulation effect strengthens its hold on her conscience, groaning in agony.
"Stop it!" Cried Kalim. He casts light magic at Jamil.
Strix slowly rises. A pair of scimitars manifest in her hands. Her grip on the sword hilts tighten before she ran and leapt for the orb of light. With one vertical slash, the orb is cut in half.
"She sliced it...?!" Azul muttered breathlessly in astonishment. Such fearsome valor exhibited from a mind-possessed human girl is bizarre to witness, especially when it's Strix.
Strix crossed both blades in an X and swoops in for the startled Kalim.
Kalim blocks with his magic staff and was pushed back on the soles of his feet to stand ground from the contact.
"Strix! Please, snap out of it!" Kalim begged, sweat running the side of his temple and wetting his ruby eyes.
The passive blank gaze of a puppet bored into him.
Jamil smirked. "Finish him."
Strix kicks him in the midriff, causing the boy to topple to the floor and hunch over his stomach. Before he could recover, Strix drew her arm behind her, blade glistening.
Jade is still struggling to resist Keeba Tiger who growls despite the cane shoved against its jaws. Floyd is left defending the unarmed Azul from Hebby Repp's constant rapid fire with his Bind the Heart. Though with putting up his unique magic at all times, he too will soon consume too much magic and accumulate blot at this rate. The snake-lizard hybrid Spirit shows no signs of ceasing its onslaught.
Grim watched in horror as she was about to swiftly deliver a cleave for his head. "Striiiiix!!!"
Crimson red spills.
The Dream Eaters paused from attacking.
Slowly diverting their attention, everyone was speechless at the sight.
Pale lips spit iron behind red transparent veil, blotting it dark.
A stunned Kalim stares up at the girl hovering above him.
The scimitar once suspended above now drops to the floor along with the other half with a clatter. Her face was rendered unreadable behind her fringes. She staggers back until she took a knee.
After the numbing subsided, she lifts her chin. Eyes as clear as the full blue moon's reflection on crystal water smiled albeit weakly at the boy.
Tears flood Grim's eyes. He runs up to leap into her arms, wailing loudly, "Striiiiiix~! You came back! You really came back!"
Her initial shock from his reaction dissipates as Strix embraced him with one arm. His forked tail latched around her arm. She gingerly brushed a tear from the corner of his eye.
Like a deer caught in headlights, Grim hastily wiped the wet stains away before hiding his face while still clinging to her tightly. "I-I wasn't crying! The air is suffocating like the desert, it's stinging my eyes, yanno!"
Strix stroked his trembling back, a knowing smile resting on her features. He's right about that.
Keeba Tiger and Hebby Repp glanced to each other. The tiger removes its jaw and backs up from Jade. The reptilian Spirit waddles away.
Though in a stupor from the ceasefire, the Octavinelle trio joined their circle. Kalim rises to his feet. "Welcome back, Strix!"
Strix faintly smiled. It was evident she was forcing one to relieve them of their concern now replacing the boys' joy. Why hasn't she said anything?
Meanwhile Jamil was watching flabbergasted at the sudden turn of events.
"How... How could this be?! I used Snake Whisper on you at point blank. You should not have recovered under any circumstances!" Jamil screeched, standing up from his comfortable throne for the first time.
Strix looks over her shoulder and sets Grim down. She stripped her tattered face veil aside before coughing into her arm. She wiped the corner of her mouth by the back of her hand. A red streak smeared her skin.
Tear glands wet her weakly opened eyes. Nonetheless, her malicious smirk betrayed her joy upon seeing Jamil's dumbstruck face. Her tongue rolls from her mouth mockingly like a snake, a thin trail of blood dripping from the sides.
Jamil stared in astonishment. "You... You bit your tongue to break free from Snake Whisper since the beginning...?!"
Grim gasped. "Then... Were you sleepwalking the whole time?!"
Strix made a so-so gesture. She couldn't fully shake the brainwashing off. Something was wrestling for control in the back of her mind during the times she went on and off but she had let some of that "something" take the wheel to make the dancer charade believable for Jamil to not suspect anything. At the time, she was stuck in the shadow's grasp, after all. Even if she proved to overcome Snake Whisper in front of Jamil, it would have been better to have him lower his guard while not being suffocated to death.
Though the return of her Dream Eaters did surprise her. She had then presumed something not necessarily relevant to Jamil's Overblot was intervening the Spirits from appearing at her beck and call. She doesn't have any definitive answers clarified from the Spirits yet (nor does she have the leisure to draw theories because her numb-as-hell tongue is aggravatingly painful to bear), but whatever it was, they were finally back in their vibrant rainbow glory.
It took her a while to fully come back to reality, but she thinks the risk went well in her favor in the end.
Meanwhile the Octavinelle trio quickly connected the dots and came to a morbid realization.
"Jamil's Snake Whisper is amplified far more than twice the level because of blot. A little jolt would not suffice..." Jade trails off.
"An infliction so great to override hypnosis magic...is what you're saying?" Azul's voice then raised in outcry, "How reckless! You would have died from the shock of biting off your whole tongue before succumbing to hypnosis!"
A solemn frown followed by a nod. The light in her eyes knew. The boys including Jamil were rendered speechless.
"Uwah, Shrimpy's extreme..." Floyd acknowledged albeit astounded and concerned. Compared to bargaining her dorm and her life as Azul's slave- er, employee, for all 225 contracts, this one takes the cake.
Kalim was near reduced to tears, if not already, just imagining the burden she had to endure in hopes of waiting for their return. Being alone without help must have been agonizing and terrifying. What would she have done if they never came back? "Why... Why would you go so far to do that to yourself?"
Strix could not reply, for her tongue was still numb and raw with the taste of iron pooling in her mouth. Despite the sorrowful tears of Kalim, she still remained looking ahead. Right now they were still in the midst of facing against Jamil, after all.
"Unbelievable..." Jamil breathed incredulously, "You'd rather drink your own blood than become subservient to my will?"
Her unwavering gaze said as such.
Jamil bends forward and clutched his head as he bursted into wry laughter. "You truly are a diamond in the rough. If only I had such foolish bravery to be set free... But even after you came back, you can't stop me!"
His smirk flashed wider. "Your time is up."
Blot danced around Strix's feet. An hourglass is erected, encaging the girl in the process.
"Strix!"
The hourglass floats to Jamil's side. Strix staggered to the floor. She shields her head from the black sand trickling above. At this rate, she'll be drowned in a minute!
Strix ran up to the glass and pounded her fist. The sturdy glass did not budge from her soft flesh. She then decided to ram into it to topple it sideways. Her shoulder hurts. The hourglass stand is too heavy.
Jamil sneered. "Once the sand consumes you whole, you won't wake up from your dreams. Ever. Not even your precious Dream Eaters will come to save you."
Keeba Tiger leaps and was about to strike the glass with its sickles when Jamil launched a black thunderbolt and successfully stunned the Spirit in midair. Keeba Tiger collapsed unceremoniously to the ground with smoke rising from its body. It laid limp on the carpet, but it was still alive. Strix can feel the connection linger.
Strix silently cried out for the tiger and clenched her jaw with gritted teeth. She doesn't want to see a Dream Eater lose its life right in front of her eyes. They can die and never come back the same, she realized.
Black sand rises to her knees.
"This is bad. We have to get her out quickly!" Grim frantically cried.
Hebby Repp ran up to Keeba Tiger's side and nudged its partner with its head, eliciting no response. The feline was breathing slowly and faintly.
It looks to Strix who silently nodded. The snake-lizard stays by the saber tooth tiger with determination in its yellow pupils. By its master's wish, it would protect the nearly conscious Keeba Tiger from death while attacking from a distance.
Floyd pants heavily under his breath, sweat rolling down his jaw. He was bent on his knees struggling to stand straight.
Jade glanced to their magic gems and grimaced. The silver white color was murky. Their fatigue is catching up, especially when they swam a far distance.
Realizing this, Azul swerved to Scarabia's dorm leader. "Kalim, this is the final stretch. We must make haste. I'll back you up, so save Strix!"
Kalim nodded. "Got it!"
He sprints into the rescue. Azul musters a powerful blizzard spell and launched it directly for Jamil.
Jamil counters with black lightning magic before his shadow immediately lunged his red hand for Kalim. "How foolish!"
Azul grits his teeth and flung another blizzard spell at the hand. It freezes in a block of ice.
Jamil barely misses Kalim who continued running. "Why you...!"
The stagnant air buzzes with electricity. Hebby Repp hissed at the bolts near them and spat fireballs when some came too close.
Even from inside, Strix could feel the tremors each little bolt created and shuddered. Jamil's magic is going to be completely exhausted at this rate!
Azul glanced around. "This surge of mana is...!"
A stray lightning bolt pierced Azul from behind. An agonizing scream leaves his lips.
"Azul!" The Leech twins and Kalim cried. Grim gasped.
Azul collapses to the floor. His body twitched. He was still alive. But he can't muster the strength to get up. Not in time to support Kalim.
The twin brothers arrive to his side as the dorm leader cursed under his breath. Let Kalim make it in time...!
The black sand had reached the base of Strix's neck.
Jamil maniacally laughed as his shadow crushed the ice and outstretched for Kalim again. "You're finished!"
In the spur of the moment, Kalim waves his staff and summoned a huge ball of light warding the hand from reach. The faceless genie monster recoils from the intensity and pulled his hand away to nurse it. Jamil cursed at the brightness blinding him momentarily after he was caught by off guard by Kalim's counterattack.
Meanwhile the girl was drowning in the sand just as the light had flashed. Her hand was disappearing.
"Strix!"
Kalim swiped a scimitar from the carpet and strikes the glass. Jagged shards littered the floor in front. He immediately pulls the girl out of the hourglass by her arm. "You all right?"
Strix tumbled out of the cracks and opened her eyes. For a second there she had lost consciousness from the control of the black sand swallowing her whole. She vaguely nodded with a deep frown settling her lips.
Kalim watched in confusion as she wordlessly takes the scimitar abandoned on the floor and zeroed her sights on her blinded target. She's had enough "dancing" for this night.
Her arm pulls back. Before Kalim could ask, onyx black steel knifes the stagnant air. A severed piece of a crimson red feather delicately flutters to the carpet.
Jamil slowly glanced up. The scimitar had sliced the space above his head where his red feather is now crudely cut in half. His hand suddenly flew to press against his abdomen and doubled over, grunting.
The Genie Jafar incarnation had clutched his abdomen where the blade had lodged inside and pulls it out. Darkness bleeds from the open wound. Though no external injury was inflicted on Jamil, he shares the same pain with his faceless shadow and vice versa.
Strix stalked over despite Kalim's protests of warning her to stay away.
Jamil peeked one eye open to find the girl standing before his crippling form.
She grabbed all of his snake hair in one swoop and pulled until her fist was below their wriggling heads from wandering fangs. Her other free hand pressed his shoulder from coming close.
Jamil grunts from the tug and pull of his hair and was forced to meet her eyes.
A sadistic smirk accompanied by glacier blue reflecting his fearful face.
"Owls...prey...on snakes."
Strix pulls her head back.
With one swift headbutt, Jamil tumbled backwards. Defeat has never worn a face so perfectly as Jamil's as he must accept his loss again.
"Number one... I thought I could finally... be free..."
Hebby Repp ran up to hand Strix the ghost camera with its straps slung on its tail.
Wordlessly, Strix lets the ghost camera's magic do its thing for the fourth damn time.
~~~~~~~
Pressure Makes Diamonds
~~~~~~~
"Jamil! Let's go hang out! Today's the day I beat you at this board game." A boy's black silhouette bounced forward with confidence.
"Again? Seriously, Kalim, I'm gonna own you every time. I'd wanna play something else..."
"Hey, Jamil! Watch how you talk to Master Kalim!" A woman, presumably Jamil's mother, hissed and promptly smacked her son upside in the head.
"Ow!"
"Thank you for deeming our foolish son worthy of so much of your time, Master Kalim." Jamil's father bowed deeply.
"To treat your servants with nothing but kindness without discrimination... This is surely the fruits of the master's superb upbringing." Jamil's mother praised.
I sat calmly with my back resting on my seat with crossed arms, silently watching with a thin line pursing my lips revealing nothing in particular.
["My earliest memory is that of watching my parents bow their head in submission to Kalim and his parents. I loathed seeing them like that."]
Jamil's father whispered, "...Listen well, Jamil. Always make sure to keep a three to two losing streak. Don't just keep beating Master Kalim."
"You're a very smart boy. So I'm sure you can imagine the position we're in... Can't you?" Jamil's mother let her words sink in for the boy.
A long pause on Jamil's end. "...I understand."
["Kalim's family is way above my own. So... That means he's above me. Therefore, whether it's grades, athletics, or games... I can never surpass Kalim. To keep pace with Kalim, I pretend to be incapable of anything."]
"Jamil! Look at this. I got the top rank in that dance competition!"
Kalim laughs. "I did it. I won three to two in mancala which makes me the victor!"
Fast forward to Scarabia's lounge room, the recent time. "Since you helped me study for the magic history test I scored a 75! Eh? You got a 70?" Pity enters. "I see. Cheer up."
["You haven't beaten me. I've been letting you win this whole time. With that damn airheaded look. Pay attention, Mr. Oblivious!"]
"I'm gonna be the Scarabia dorm head...? I don't really follow... But leave it to me! Right, Jamil!"
The scenery shifted to Crowley's office. I can see where this is going from a mile away.
Jamil asked, "Headmaster, why'd you make Kalim dorm head? He's not an especially skilled wizard and he's still a sophomore. We've all got our hands full trying to cover for his mistakes."
"At Night Raven College, it's not unheard of for dorm heads to still be in their sophomore year." Crowley said.
"But..."
"Mr. Viper." Crowley interupts, "In order to fulfill the requirements of education, a certain 'something' is necessary. Mr. Asim's family was gracious enough to make a large donation... Therefore, in my position, my hands are tied. You're clever enough to know what that means... I'm sure you can understand."
["Adults always say the same thing. 'I'm sure you understand'?"
Jamil's voice trembled, ["Then who's going to try to understand me?"]
My hands clenched into fists. That hits too close to home, Jamil.
"We've gotta keep helping each other out, right, Jamil!"
["Enough."]
"Jamil is the only one who'd never betray me."
["That's enough!! Kalim, as long as you're there, I... I'll have to live my life handing everything over to you! I... Even I... want to be number one."]
Silence.
An unreadable expression grips hold of my visage. I rested my hand against it.
Damn it... This sucks. I hate how I'm being reminded of my blood despite all this time I've wanted to bury the faces from my memory. My father, my grandparents... They keep resurfacing as dark shadows that haunt my own.
Freaking adults...
The cinema turns to sand. I was drowning in a pit and soon swallowed up to dive through the maroon red passage of the Dream Drop Dive.
I landed on a velvet red carpet.
Sitting at his golden throne, Overblot Jamil scowls in contempt as though I was a rodent.
I frowned. "It's already over, Jamil."
A scoff. "Over? Spare me the noble speeches. So you've trapped me in my magic lamp... But tell me this... Why are we here right now if that's the case?"
I open my mouth. Nothing comes out.
Why...? Why am I doing this? Just what am I accomplishing by confronting their Overblot selves after already defeating them? If I were to be defeated, say if I was beheaded by Overblot Riddle for example, in this dream realm, what would happen? I never thought about the consequences until now, but because I've never suffered any. Or at least I wanted to believe that was the case.
Jamil spoke with an air of incredulity, "Don't tell me... You believed this experience you call 'Dream Drop Dive' is without payoff? You were enabled by those Dream Eaters to dive into the heart of those you wish to save. This would never be made possible without your Dream Eaters asking for a price in return."
I could only remain standing still in my rooted spot. "A price...? I... I was never told of this!"
He cocked a brow. "Oh? Even though they serve you so adoringly and loyally as their master? Their 'liege'?"
I lowered my eyes.
Even during the most roughest times while imprisoned in Scarabia, they haven't responded to my summons. When I wanted to lean on Meow Wow for comfort, they never came even with the promise of sweet treats. My dreams were borderline nightmares as I've relived my trauma from childhood.
I didn't want to believe they betrayed me when I was most vulnerable, yet I have no one to blame but myself for not pondering much about them. Or perhaps I chose to let ignorance be my bliss. Regardless, the fault lies in me.
A knowing sinister smile darkens his eyes. "No magic is without its price. You're blinded by a gentle blindfold so transparent that you are blissfully ignorant to the world. Only wonders and miracles can fulfill that sweet promise of dreams."
My wide-eyed gaze bored into the young man. "What...are you talking about?"
"Have you ever thought of where they came from? Why they lend you their services? Why you of all people were chosen?" Jamil egged me on again.
I pursed my lips tightly. "You're just...!"
Suddenly something clicked in my train of thought. The intent behind this discussion... The omniscient attitude that hasn't faltered when rambling about the Dream Eaters...
My fists clenched. I tilt my chin up and willed myself to retain composure as I meet his slim gaze.
"You... You're not Jamil, are you."
A pause lingers in the atmosphere.
I open my mouth. "Are you actually-?!"
Black and red scales constrict my body from shoulder to toe. A cobra snake flashed its white fangs and forked tongue, ruby red eyes masked in blot tattoo gleaming.
"Watch your tongue," Overblot Snake Jamil(?) hissed, shadow looming over me easily. His head was wide and humongous that it was all I see. "Ssssome namessss are best unsssspoken."
I gasp for breath. I can't breathe.
"'Plan with deep anticipation', they ssssay... Of coursssse, coming into contact with you issss one of them. Victory was jusssst within my reach until you broke free at the lasssst minute! But not for long, right here in this very moment!" He sways his head as his ruby eyes glowed brightly.
"Ssssubmit your conscience and offer your vessssel to me!"
I couldn't resist his vice grip. I grit my teeth. Whimpers escape me.
Until the corner of my lips twitched. Tucking my chin to my chest, my shoulders shook before I threw my head back.
Laughter roars in the vacant dream realm. It was twisted, uncharacteristically evil. I didn't think my laughter would sound like a completely different person's. Perhaps someone even possessed me. Yet my conscience was still intact.
Snake Jamil(?) stared, smirk vanishing now that my reaction was not anticipated. Even when he has me in the palm of his hand, I still had the nerve to laugh in his face.
My laughter subsides. "What a coincidence."
I shot a haughty smirk. "I've been anticipating this reveal as well, 'Jamil'."
The snake jolted. Could his eyes be playing tricks on him?
"I've had my eyes on you -or Jamil, particularly- ever since we met in the kitchen. I've suspected how close the similarities you and Jamil share. Looks, magic, and other little details."
My eyes narrowed. "But for Jamil to make me his 'sultana'... That wasn't him. That was you. Jamil wouldn't suddenly see me as a sexual person of interest from the few times we've interacted. Get real. That was you projecting your lust on me."
I wasn't upset nor disgusted. I was simply calculative of the behavioral differences setting Jamil and his alter ego apart as though comparing different species from the other. It's not a jarring revelation because I already knew about it.
Snake Jamil(?) narrowed his eyes guardedly.
I continued arrogantly, "After that encounter, I simply gave you benefit of the doubt. Why do you think I haven't said anything sooner? That's right, I purposely let all of this happen," I spat with the smile still twisted on my lips. It was not towards him but to myself.
"I don't care if anyone thinks I'm an asshole who let everyone suffer despite my knowledge and capacity to stop it all. I wasn't being a coward for staying silent. I knew Overblot was inevitable. I wasn't there in Jamil's life to prevent that. Neither for anyone else who gave in to despair."
It's just simply not possible. Frustrating as it may be, mulling over it won't change the past.
I wryly laugh. "I'm not so soft-hearted enough to claim I'll 'save you from the darkness and return to light'. We can't truly be free from the evils. I'm not one to talk anyway."
I solemnly frown. "Convincing Jamil to stop with pretty words won't save him. It wouldn't change Jamil's lifetime of resentment overnight. Sooner or later his emotions would have gotten the better of him. Isn't it a relief to finally let it all out and restart from zero with a clear conscience?"
Back in my mind, I was aware how dangerous my reasoning can wander. There was some apathy behind it, though it was always an emotion I've possessed. It was still in the morally gray area, but that was fine. I don't intend to be all lawfully good in the first place. That's not who I am nor who I want to be.
I didn't wait for a response. I wasn't expecting one, nor did I want one. "That's why I'll just focus on what comes after Overblot. I'll listen to your curses, embrace your ugliness, and then beat you senseless because I can and will. Can't have my neighbors cause grief for me while I'm around."
As though a switch flipped inside me, an unreadable shadow crossed my eyes. "Ah, that's right... Speaking of grief..."
Behind the velvet blue curtains of my bangs, a pair of black holes swirl dangerously within glowing azure. The uncharacteristically lowered octave of my voice distorted in his ears.
"I'm fucking tired of this bullshit."
Snake Jamil(?)'s body quaked with every fiber of his being. Instincts compelled him to immediately release me from his vice and retreat a safe distance.
'This aura... No ordinary human girl contains such monstrosity of bloodlust!'
A sharp jolt of pain nicks his tail. Embedded on the space was a black scimitar that had grazed him.
Snake Jamil(?) swerved his gaze to where the direction of the sword had come from, only to gape at the teem of scimitars pointing their blades at him from above. "What?!"
Expressionless eyes looked on unamused, boredom even. I raised my hand. With fingers curled, I slam my palm down.
Blades rain upon him before he had the chance to escape. The unscathed Jamil(?) is now pinned to the floor in his human form. He tries to resist to no avail.
"How...? You shouldn't have the power to control the laws of this realm!" Jamil(?) yowled, having just barely enough room to raise his head and tuck his chin to his chest to glare daggers at me.
I wasn't listening. My hands impulsively twitch in temptation to grab something that will hold pieces of my ego together. I had wanted to do something with these hands, but what?
My dry eyes slowly rest on a scimitar lying innocently on the floor. The world flickers between red and monochrome. That's right. A handle will do.
Grasping the weapon by my feet (how fulfilling the power was), I stalked over to him.
"I remembered so many awful memories I wanted to bury thanks to you."
These ugly, rotten emotions crawling its countless legs from a canister of filth are resurfacing. Now they're about to bleed and manifest into something I can't suppress once unleashed into the world. The "me" that everyone knows will vanish in their eyes. I can't have that happen. I must contain it before that becomes reality.
Jamil(?)'s form cowers from the bloodlust oozing from me. Was it simply pure bloodlust? Or was there something more fueling my aggression? I could taste that bitter "something" from the roof of my mouth, but what is it? No matter. That's the least of my worries. Right now...
Darkness scratching the dull blue surface of wide unblinking eyes bored into his very being.
"I have to hide them before everyone comes to hate me."
Jamil(?)'s eyes dilated with terror. From within, he perceived a dark silhouette completely different yet vaguely familiar all the same.
Sweat rolls down his muted skin. He scarcely breathed, "Your soul... Could you be...?!"
I didn't acknowledge his last words. I lift the scimitar above my head. Black shadows extend the blade to form into a long shape.
A command slowly worms into my conscience.
[You have the power... Use it.]
However, before it could fully manifest, a field of black instantly blanketed the domain. Overblot Jamil was no longer present.
With the scimitar vanished from my hand, my fingers twitched before letting my arm fall limp. The Dream Drop Dive...is forced close? This isn't the dream realm. What is this place?
I sensed an unsettling presence disturb the domain and glanced behind me.
A figure in a black robe and layers of royal purple frilly skirts stood at a distance away. Their midriff was closed by a corset with a mirror motif, a gold pen holder dangling on the side with a black gem. Resting on their right hip is a leather brown book case with a gold coffin motif, the flap sealed by a gold lock clip. A violet cord is wrapped around the waist and tied into a bow on the other hip. Underneath the skirt were black puffy pants and knee high boots accented in gold armor, violet cords, and black leather.
What was unusual was that they had a leather violet mantle fading to black that splits into two tails shaped like glowing purple hands branding black talon rings.
Beneath the sagging hood lined in a golden diamond crown pattern were a pair of beady yellow eyes within pitch black darkness that bored unblinkingly into mine.
My eyes dilated. The royal purple and vintage gold intricate designs... They look similar to the ceremonial robes of Night Raven College. And this foreboding aura signaling their arrival...
It was as though they donned the clothes of a harbinger.
I face them. Whoever this is, they had to intervene at the most horrid timing. I haven't even smite Jamil(?) with a weapon using my own hands. Someone has to pay. I'll take anyone at this point. Someone has to pay. They must suffer. Someone has to pay pay pay paypaypaypay...
My lips coldly muttered, "Who are you."
The harbinger of darkness said nothing. Instead, they open the purple palm of their black glove from underneath the sleeve of matching frilly layers.
A tome whose cover is dyed jet black is summoned above, floating ominously.
Sepia brown pages flipped to life. A black pen hovers in the mantle's hand.
My body jolted. "What are you-?!"
The tip of the pen bleeds ink onto a page.
A sharp ringing noise pierced my ears. I clutched my head with both hands. The scribbling scratches of a fountain pen becomes white noise filtering into my ears nonstop like a waterfall. Everything is becoming scratched out in pitch black. It's too dark. Too noisy.
Memories come flooding back to me subconsciously.
[A little girl was kneeled on the floor, hunched over and cradling her backpack in the darkness of the corridor.]
SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH
[The photo of a woman with soft chest-length dark hair beaming a close-eyed smile stared back on the altar hidden behind the cabinet.]
SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH
[In the darkness, the child stares into the reflection of her bathroom mirror with unreadable eyes. There she saw...]
SCRATCHSCRATCHSCRATCHSCRATCHSCRATCHSCRATCHSCRATCHSCATCHSCRATCHSCRATCH-
The world abruptly fell silent. The fire I never realized burning in my blood until now quells immediately that I staggered feeling lightheaded as though I had suddenly shot up to my feet.
The black hole spiraling within my eyes shrinks to its normal beady shape, surrounded by a calm blue surface. I blinked once.
I... What was I doing...? I don't remember.
An image of a familiar warm face appears when the vacant hole in my chest sought for solace.
Ah. Sidney. Home. I wanted to go home. That's why I...
Confusion clouds my thoughts. Though I suddenly feel light, I was stranded in the vast open world with no path. What should I do? Where do I start?
[There is no need to rush.]
A voice...?
Though no audible sounds came, I could register their words at the same time. As though I'm reading words to automatically fill in the voice in my head. I could not determine whether it belonged to a male or female, young or old. Just that a voice is speaking to me. Somehow this one is comforting unlike the recent whispers from the shadows haunting me.
[You have all the time in the world.]
I let my hands fall limp. Upon lifting my chin slowly, I meet round yellow glowing eyes hovering above me.
[This world will be kind to you.]
My hazy eyes droop. That's right. My life here has been so much fun compared to my home world. I wanted to stay here a little longer, despite my goal of finding a way back being prominent in my daily life.
I should just have fun in Twisted Wonderland... as much as I can before Sidney... wakes me... up...
Suddenly my mind was light as a cloud. My body falls backwards. Time seemed to slow as I stare up at the pitch black void. Beyond my weakly lifted eyelids, a hooded head hovers.
As they stood staring down at me, I recognized something.
Those eyes... They were like...
Before I could make the conclusion, my mind is forcibly shut down, drowning in a black pool overriding my senses. Was I falling...?
My body submerges in the cold empty void of darkness once again.
~~~~~~~
To everyone already theorizing, all I can say is that some things are purely unique to my ideas and doesn't necessarily tie into an established character/concept. I wrote in a way that more than one particular person/thing can be applied to the "who" and "what".
Phew, this is one hell of a way to make a comeback...