A side story while I work on the next chapter.
He grabbed his pen off the night stand, the dark red glow of the gem almost eerie compared to the warm sunlight filtering through the window.
"Time to wake up Kalim," Jamil remarked.
Jamil sighed he was already so tired.
So he naturally thought he was seeing things when he saw Malleus Draconia with more humanoid features.
"You're a human!" Kalim said. "Lilia sama, is he under some sort of spell?" Kalim asked. Jamil just cringed.
"No it's more like--" Lilia laughed.
"What's going on?" Malleus appeared and Kalim blinked.
"Two of--" he started pointing at them in disbelief.
"I'm not the 'Malleus Draconia' of this universe," Malleus alter stated his mouth curving into a smile.
"So you're like a human version of Malleus? Do you share the same hobbies? Are you able to do the things he can?? Do you think you have different backgrounds because he's Fae?" Kalim asked. Firing questions like a machine gun.
"Yes? Probably? That's a bit private. I haven't thought much about that one?" Malleus alter replied. Malleus just faded to the background. Watching in interest.
A figure stepped through the Octavinelle mirror.
It was the doppelganger for Malleus Draconia. The one everyone called Malleus alter.
He held a light tan drink with multiple java chips and cararmel streaks going down the sides in a slight tilt. It is topped with whipped cream, Caramel and Mocha drizzle, chestnuts, and macadamia nuts.
"I see you just came from the Mostro Lounge," Jamil commented recognizing the logo on the cup as he saw Malleus approach.
"Azul said--" Malleus alter started then paused as if rethinking something.
"He said he wanted to repay a favor. But was really surprised when I said I wanted to try a drink he introduced me too," he finished.
Jamil looked at him mildly surprised but it didn't show on his face. "I take the favor was from catching him in flight class the other day." He remarked.
"You know about that?" Malleus asked taking a sip of his drink.
"Azul and I share a few classes" Jamil shrugged off.
"Where are you on your way to?" Malleus alter asked.
"I'm on my way to Scarabia from basketball practice," Jamil explained.
"Oh?" Malleus took a step forward.
"I suppose you want to come..?" Jamil asked.
"If you don't mind taking me! I would like to see what the Scarabia dorm looks like," Malleus remarked. Jamil had a really weird sense of deja vu for some reason.
As he stepped through the mirror Malleus alter was immediately taken by the scenery "My it's beautiful here!" Malleus alter exclaimed. "But such warm climate! I'm gonna need to bring iced tea next time!" He said forgetting Jamil was there. Jamil flinched.
"So bright out wish I'd got my sunglasses" Malleus remarked after some silence which Jamil took as Malleus choosing to enjoy his drink first.
"if had known I'd need them I would have had them on me..." He remarked dismally.
"There-- I'm sure you can borrow some from a student inside," Jamil said quickly. Despite his best efforts couldn't relax or act natural around Malleus alter.
Malleus had discovered the ice cream freezer. He was eyeing all the containers of ice cream with interest. Jamil had told him they were really meant for birthdays and events but he still admired the pretty containers like they were rubies.
Meanwhile Kalim had made some mess again. And Jamil had to clean it. But the time required to get all the broken glass up... It might run into dinner time...
"I know! I'll cook dinner since I'm here!" Malleus alter offered.
"We don't want to take away from your time at Diasomnia..!" A random student said nervously.
Malleus alter blinked its fine. "I'm kinda bored there. If my... Friends were here i'd be able to handle it but..." He trailed off.
"Believe me! i can cook! I'm not Clover-san or Viper-san here but I can still make basic foods," he changed topics.
"You know how to cook?" Jamil raised an eyebrow.
"Yes give me a apron and I'll show you!" He said enthusiastically.
Kalim practically lit up "can I assist?" "Sure," Malleus alter said heading toward the kitchens to wash his hands.
"I'm getting lessons." Malleus alter smiled stirring the curry.
Kalim was counting all the slices of carrots.
Jamil narrowed his eyes. "Lessons from who?" He questioned.
"N-Not from Lilia!" He yelped putting a silver tray in front of his face like a shield. Jamil relaxed.
"I just learned from watching Clover-san and Jamil-san." He said chopping some ginger he found after Jamil told him where it was.
"I miss my friends," he commented quietly.
There it was that somber tone again.
"Oh we should have a Welcoming party! Everyone should get to meet Malleus alter then! You can make more friends" Kalim said excitedly. Malleus alter looked briefly hopeful. Then he squashed it "Now that's not needed--" Malleus alter said picking up the carrots and ginger from Kalim.
"Curry's READY!" Malleus alter said happily.
Kalim grinned "I helped too!"
A few wary glances were cast. Everyone knew of Kalim's lack of experience in the kitchen.
"Don't worry he was just in charge of adding the peppers. I was the one who cut and measured them" Malleus alter reassured.
Jamil deadpanned. "I sense something foreboding has occurred" he muttered taking a seat first.
Everyone took a spoonful of curry with some rice. Seemingly at the same time. Immediately their taste buds were greeted with overwhelming heat from how hot and spicy the curry was.
"HOOOOTT!!" nearly half the students yelled.
"You know what would make this better!?" Malleus alter asked.
"What?" Kalim asked happily.
"Ice cream!!" Malleus alter exclaimed and raced off to the kitchen.
"..Wait A damn minute," Jamil said. But Malleus alter had already left.
Moments later everyone was eating a bowl full of a ice cream of their choice.
"You orchestrated this so you could eat ice cream didnt you?" Jamil asked a odd sense that this had happened before nagging at him.
Malleus alter shoved a spoonful of ice cream in his mouth to muffle his next words "so what if I did?" Which sounded more like "fo wha if I fid?" The childish behavior coming from Malleus was a little odd. But since he was from a alternate universe it may have been fine.
"You planned to have curry from the moment you saw the ice cream didn't you," Jamil asked watching Malleus alter enjoy the cool air. He too could feel the breeze given his dorm uniform but he was used to it.
"Perhaps," Malleus alter smiled the wind blowing his hair. But he kept staring at the moon.
"You didn't stop me. Wanted to see if I could own up on my claim of bring able to cook?" Malleus alter asked playfully.
"..maybe," Jamil had a half smile on his face.
'Maybe Malleus alter was okay... At least a little'.