Book 4 - Schemer of the Scalding Sands: Chapter 11; A Short Negotiation

The screen turns on as the chapter title plays "Chapter - 11; A Short Negotiation".

All of the Scarabia students were in the outside part of the dorm as they had just finished the required defensive magic training as Kalim, still with red pupils, stated "That will be all for today. Tomorrow morning, we march to the eastern oasis, where I will put you through your paces."

He then walked away leaving the student group alone there and exhausted.

A random student was panting before saying "My arms and legs feel like noodles…" Another clutched onto his throat as he said "Water… Need water…" before walking away to get said water. Then another held his head as he complained "And we have another day of melting in the desert heat ahead of us tomorrow. Uuugh."

The first student looked down as he muttered the question "What's come over the housewarden? He never used to be like this."

Jamil looks to be distraught and thoughtful about the situation although hidden in his eyes there is a certain glimmer that makes it all seem fake.

Even Grim is panting as he complains "Finally, it's over. He was all smiles and sunshine before. What's the deal with the sudden one-eighty?"

Jamil tried to explain "I imagine when we placed last in the Spelldrive interdorm, and then Scarabia collectively scored at the bottom of exams… He must have felt personally responsible. He's had terrible mood swings ever since." Although there was something in the difference of tone and pitch of that last sentence that just made it not seem correct or right, almost mocking in a way.

Grim is still just upset and doesn't seem to notice that though as he continues to complain "That ain't a mood swing. It's like he's a totally different person!"

Jamil looks pensive as he closes his eyes and shakes his head while saying "I've known him a long time, but that volatile temper has left me stumped as to how to approach him. He'll say one thing, then do something else the next minute. The way he goes on these power trips without warning is out of control. The whole dorm used to look up to our housewarden, but this odd behavior has us all scratching our heads. He's been making unreasonable demands, as you just saw… I fear it's only a matter of time before the students reach the end of their rope. I've done what I can to smooth things over, but this has gone beyond my ability to handle alone."

Yuu felt there was something off with how he had spoken extra loud for the other students to listen in towards the end and just the way he was talking in general… there was just something so very off about it all.

But Grim once again doesn't seem to notice as he plays right into Jamil's hands saying "Yeesh. Between you and Trey over in Heartslabyul, you vice-housewardens have it rough."

Jamil then fakes an "Ah!" noise of realization before exclaiming "Of course! You two are diamonds in the rough!" This confused both of the Ramshackle duo as Grim asks for the both of them, properly for once, "Huh? What're you talkin' about?"

Jamil then explains "Heartslabyul, Savanaclaw, and even Octavinelle… Rumor has it that you two are outstanding students who have solved problems with multiple other dorms."

Grim gets cheerful from the slight praise, chuckling before saying "We sure have. Be grateful, peons, for the omnipotent sorcerer Grim walks among you!" While Yuu's eyes narrow before rolling as she mentally adds on 'Yeah, typically at the cost of an overblot something I think none of the dorms actually wanted nor any remaining dorms do want. So yeah, I don't exactly think you want us in your camp as we seem to be walking overblot magnets.'

Jamil then does an overly exaggerated bow as he asks them "I bow before you, sir. Please, I must ask: could you find it in your heart to help Scarabia as well?"

Even Grim is off-put by this as he makes an "Uhhh…" noise.

Jamil clasps his hands before him as he once again fakes begging "Our chance encounter in the cafeteria must have been guided by the hand of fate. Surely you two can find us a solution using your sparkling intellect!"

Once again purposefully being louder and more dramatic to catch the other student's attention, and in this case it just might make them look like the true villains if they refused, or at least that's what Jamil's plan is with the fake extremely bright smile on his face.

Grim puts his paws up and backs away towards Yuu as he says "Yeaaah, I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you. Sure I'm a big deal, but that ain't got nothin' to do with what we're talkin' about!"

Now close enough Grim whispers to her "Hey, Yuu. Let's pass on this and keep our noses outta other dorms' business. I've still got a headache from the LAST time we meddled." Yuu rolled her eyes as she thought 'And what's the reason we got involved in the first place? HMM — GRIM???'

But as she turned her head to the side away from Grim she locks eyes with Jamil again as he further asks her "Yuu… will aid us, won't you?" with that magic purple hypnosis thing appearing in front of him as he secretly used magic. Yuu's pupils also turn red as she answers in a once again mechanical voice "I will."

This makes Grim shout at her "MYAH! Are you serious?! You're agreein', just like that?!"

As soon as he had answered her pupils had turned back to normal as Jamil then said in a relieved tone "You will? Oh, thank you, Yuu."

Jamil then moves the topic on as he asks the duo "With that matter settled, why don't you stay in Scarabia as our guests of honor?"

Two claps are then heard as some students come running up asking "You called, Vice-Housewarden?"

He tells the Scarabia students without waiting for the Ramshackle duo's approval "Show our guests to their quarters." The students shouted "Yes, sir!" in response before essentially dragging them away to a vacant dorm room.

The room can't be seen very well due to it being night.

A student tells them "Have a pleasant evening." before slamming the door behind him.

Now that the duo are alone Grim shouts his complaints at Yuu "Maaaaan, I TOLD you not to fall for Jamil's ploy! You know this is gonna be a whole debacle, Yuu. Why'd you have to sign us both up for it?! This is Scarbia's problem. They can take care of their own business." Yuu seems genuinely annoyed and upset with the turn of events as well, as she tells Grim quite rudely due to what he had just said "I meant to say no, actually…!"

Grim complains "Sheesh. You can't say no to anything! You're a real sap sometimes, you know that?" Yuu shot a glare at Grim with that, that spoke 'I can and will be selling all of your tuna for our living expenses once we get back!' Grim then looked to the side as he added on "Then again, when you bare your teeth it's no joke…"

Yuu continues to glare at him so Grim tries to remove the tension and move on as he said "Anyway, I've had enough of gettin' dragged into shenanigans. Let's give 'em the slip while we can and head back to Ramshackle Dorm!"

Yuu nodded at what she thought was a surprisingly good idea coming from Grim. Grim poked his head out the door carefully first then looked around just in case. Grim whispered "Okay, first we gotta get to the mirror connected to the school…"

But just as the two take a step outside a loud whistle type noise is sounded.

Grim panics as he shouts "Wh-wha?! What's that noise?!"

Just then a whole bunch of Scarabia students that were set to patrol the hallways at night ran up.

A student shouted at them "Hey! You think you can just leave the dorm?!" Another states "For the duration of winter break, nobody leaves the dorm for any reason unless they've got the housewarden's permission. Period." The first student then shouts at the others "Seize them!" A bunch of students shout things such as "After them!" and "Hold it right there!"

Grim screams "Oh, for cryin' out loud!" as they start to run away from the group of students.

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