Book 4 - Schemer of the Scalding Sands: Chapter 27; Thwarted by Heart

The screen turns on as the next chapter title plays "Chapter 27; Thwarted by Heart".

The visiting group had all returned back to their room shortly after Kalim and Jamil had left.

Once there and behind closed doors, Azul asks "Good work, Jade. Did you have your 'talk' with Kalim?" Jade nods and answers "Yes, sir. It was just what you expected. It's likely that Kalim is being magically mind-controlled by someone who is making him do these things."

Grim exclaims "Mind control?!" at that.

Yuu remembers both Ruggie and those times when she had been forced to answer in a way that she didn't want to, typically being the opposite of what she actually wanted to say. So she mumbles out grumpily "This rings a bell for me…!"

But no one seems to actually hear her or they just don't take her opinion into account.

Grim then asks "Is that even possible?"

Jade explains "You know how Ruggie has magic that manipulates the body? There's also hypnosis magic that takes control of a target's mind. But it requires a far higher degree of skill and magical power than its bodily counterpart. Which means very few magicians are capable of using it." Floyd adds on "You gotta have skills and power on par with Azul for that!~" But even Azul shrugs and admits "Even I would be hard-pressed to control living creatures with their own egos like humans."

Grim then points out "But I don't think anybody in Scarabia is half as good as you, Azul. Even their own housewarden Kalim's big signature spell/unique magic is just a glorified waterspout! And their vice housewarden Jamil was sayin' he got fives across the board outta the ten-level grading scale!"

Azul pushes up his glasses as he says "I wouldn't be so sure. You know what they say– a clever hawk hides its talons."

Floyd seems to be getting bored of the conversation as he just asks "So who's mind-controllin' Sea Otter, and why?"

But Jade only shakes his head and admits "I'm afraid I couldn't get any answers there." Floyd crosses his arms and seems kinda amused at that as he asks "You couldn't figure it out?~ Even with your signature spell?"

Grim then says "Wait wait wait! Come to think of it, we've never seen Jade's signature spell. What's it do?"

Jade frowns and scolds Floyd "Floyd, what have I told you about blurting out the details about my signature spell/unique magic in the presence of others?"

Azul then says "I don't see the harm in disclosing this to Yuu and Grim, actually. Knowing a signature spell's/unique magic's function wouldn't make a magic-bereft human any more susceptible to it then they already are."

This makes both Yuu and Grim frown as he says "So it's harmless 'cause WE'RE harmless. Great. That makes me feel waaay better! Tch…"

Jade then sighs before saying "Well, if I must." Before he explains it "My unique power is one that would make most people guarded around me if they know what it did. So I'm not a fan of revealing it, but… My signature spell/unique magic is called 'Shock the Heart'. It can be used once, and only once, on a target to make them tell the truth."

Grim then shouts in surprise "Myah?! So they wouldn't be able to lie?!"

Jade crosses his arms as he restates "Mind you, it can only be used once against a given target. Once I use it on someone, I can never use it on them again. And it often doesn't work at all on people highly resistant to magic, or wary types like Azul. It's only effective on those with loosely guarded minds, or people in a moment of mental vulnerability. Hence, my signature spell/unique magic is very limited in scope."

Floyd then adds with a sinister smile "It works great on guys who're cowerin' in fear or bawling' like babies, though!~" Jade then shares his twin's sinister smile as he chuckles and says "So it does."

Grim then backs into Yuu and says "The way they smile scares the daylights outta me!"

Jade then crosses his arms as he moves on telling them all "Anyway, Kalim has always been the type to open up to others. Thus, my spell worked on him flawlessly. Yet even so…"

It then fades into a flashback, when Jade and Kalim were in the treasure room.

Jade says "That's it, look in my left eye… Don't be afraid. I want to help you. Shock the Heart."

Kalim stumbles back slightly in surprise, making "Huh?" sound.

Kalim is caught by Jade from falling before he asks "I'm going to ask you some questions, and you will answer them honestly."

He then asks "Do you know the name of the student using hypnosis magic on you?" Kalim answers "I do."

Jade smiles and crosses his arms before asking "And what is his name?"

Kalim starts to answer "I…" but pauses before saying "I can't say."

This shocks Jade as his eyes widen and he asks "…What?"

Kalim states "I must never tell anyone. I made a promise long ago. So I can't say."

Jade was disappointed and said "Hm… I see. All right."

He then broke Kalim free from his unique magic/signature spell. Kalim blinks once as he fully gets out of it before asking "Huh? Wha? What was I just–"

Jade stops him though, by telling him "Thank you, Kalim. You've helped clear the air a great deal."

Kalim was confused and asked "I-I have? I don't know what you're talking about, but, uh, I'm glad you're satisfied!" Jade smiles and tells him "Indeed I am, my friend."

It then cuts back to present time as Jade finishes telling them what happened "...And that's the story."

Azul laughs a little at that saying "Hilarious! Your signature spell/unique magic was thwarted by Kalim's strength of character!" clearly poking fun a little. Jade plays along though and simply states "As much as I hate to admit it, that is an accurate assessment."

Floyd puts a hand to the back of his head as he says "And here I thought Sea Otter would sing like a canary! Just when you think you know a guy!"

Jade states "It must have been a promise he keeps close to his heart."

Azul chuckles as he pushes his glasses up before saying "Yet that same unwavering conviction has laid bare the truth behind the unrest in Scarabia. All that's left now are the finishing touches. It's time to catch this culprit by the tail and pull him out of the sand where he's been lurking. I have a plan. First…"

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