Book 4 - Schemer of the Scalding Sands: Chapter 10; A Late Night Surprise

The screen turns on as the chapter title plays "Chapter - 10; A Late Night Surprise".

Kalim, Yuu, and Grim were in the Scarabia dorm hallway walking out of the storage or rather treasure room having just finished their carpet ride.

Grim is cheerful and pumped as he exclaims "Man, that was a BLAST!" Kalim smiles as he tells Grim "I'm glad you enjoyed it." Before noticing the position of the sun and commenting "Goodness, though – it's already dinnertime."

Just then Jamil walked up to their mini group as he rather strictly told Kalim "Kalim! You're finally back. I'd like to review something before dinner. Could you join me for a moment?" Kalim nodded as he told Jamil "Sure thing!"

Before turning to the Ramshackle duo and telling them "Yuu and Grim can just make yourselves comfortable in the lounge." Yuu nodded and the two went their separate ways, although Yuu had a bad gut feeling that something was off.

There was then a small time-skip to later when all of the Scarabia dorm students were in the lounge for dinner along with Yuu and Grim.

A tan haired student stated "I'm famished. What's for dinner tonight?" Another student asks "Our special training today was rough, huh?"

Meanwhile Grim seems to be on cloud nine as he says "Ramshackle Dorm gets a cold breeze blowin' in through the cracks in the walls. Compared to that, this place is paradise. And Kalim's a real pal. I oughta join Scarabia!"

Just then Kalim and Jamil walk into the lounge, although Kalim's pupils are red again even if no one else notices.

Jamil asks "Is everyone present?" Which receives some noises of affirmation. This then allows Jamil to announce "The housewarden has an announcement for you before we eat."

The tan haired student questions "He does?" Grim nods as he mumbles "Oh yeah, Kalim was talkin' about that. He's callin' off the special training and lettin' Scarabia have their winter break. I bet the students will be overjoyed. Too bad I can't keep feasting here over the holidays, though!"

Kalim is silent for a couple of students as he seems to wait for the whispers to stop.

Kalim states "I decreed that the students of Scarabia would stay in the dorm over winter break for a voluntary six hours of daily studying, if you recall. But I've realized something."

That pit in Yuu's stomach is now a lot bigger, although she can't figure out why. But the reason is quickly provided…

As Kalim shouts at everyone "That's nowhere NEAR enough!" This makes everyone shout "Huh?!"

Jamil seems to want to play the hero as he says loudly and purposefully "Kalim? I thought you were going to send the students home!" Grim unintentionally helps to prove Jamil's claims as he shouts "That's practically the complete opposite of what you said before!"

Kalim looks angry as he states "A mere six hours a day won't be anywhere near enough to close the gap between our dorm and the others. We must work twice –no, FIVE times as hard as the others to drag ourselves out from dead last in grades! Starting tomorrow, I'm tasking all of you with five hours of study time and four hours of practical training each day."

Grim seems to get offended by this as well, as he shouts "You're giving 'em NINE HOURS of training a day?!"

Kalim then shouts at the students "There will be a defense magic training drill after dinner. Eat up and ready yourselves!" The students stutter out "Y-yes, sir!"

Kalim then turns his attention to the Ramshackle duo as he shouts at them "Yuu, Grim – Since you two are visiting, your participation is mandatory! Is that clear?!"

Grim is even more offended as he exclaims "Whaaa?! Why do we hafta join in?" Yuu's eyes narrow as she states "Okay, this is getting weird. What's gotten into him?"

Jamil is silent at this but hidden in his eyes is a large amount of pride.

Yuu's eyes then widen as she's taken to another different flat shadowy background, although this one is more of a blood orange color and doesn't have a stain on it yet. But of course just then two drops fall and start the stain or puddle.

Yuu is taken back as she bites her lip.

The screen then fades to black as "To be continued" plays before it fully turns off.