Twisted-Wonderland: Our Precious Treasure (Part 2)

(151) PoD: Grim Grinning Ghosts Come Out to Socialize

"Hey, Azul," Kalim leaned to his side, tapping onto Azul's shoulder until the silvernette looked at him. When he did, Kalim pushed the book he was once reading in front of him. "Can you help me with this?"

Azul nodded and looked at the book, giving it a brief read before his eyebrow quirked. "Potestas destruam?" Azul turned to Kalim. "That's a light-magic-specific spell breaker."

"Yeah," Kalim sheepishly grinned. "I'm thinking of learning more about light magic. Since healing magic is important, you know."

Azul lightly chuckled. "It's true. With your light-magic, you have more advantages in support rather than offensive attack, unlike us dark-magic users. After all, you don't always have potions in your inventory."

This time Kalim was more energic when he nodded. "I know, right?!" But as if realizing that, he pulled back and cleared his throat. While still smiling, he was less hyper. "I may not be the best healer one day, but a decent healer is better than nothing."

Azul chuckled again. "Quite the spirit you have there, Kalim." He stared at him with an elbow on the table and cheek in his palm. "You've changed."

Kalim blinked at first, confused about what Azul could mean. He didn't feel different at least physically. But maybe he was...calmer, perhaps? He had been trying not to be too jumpy at others. Personal space and all...

Huh...

Maybe he had changed.

Even if it's just a few days ago that he ran away from Royal Sword Academy, it felt like a lifetime ago. Headmaster Crowley was kind enough to handle all the administration with Headmaster Ambrose and join him to talk with his father. Though he claimed that they had talked even before Kalim had said anything to his father. Of course, Jamil gave up his position as dorm leader to him, making Kalim the leader again despite Kalim not wanting it. But he said that he will try to beat Kalim fair and square this time, a magician oath, no hypnotism included.

A new rule was placed as well: The students within this Night Raven College, while they are enrolled, do not belong to any country, organization, or group. Would that change anything? Perhaps. Maybe for someone like Leona and Malleus, students would treat them the same. But for Kalim and Jamil, this would mean their bond of master and servant is broken, and now they were equal as fellow students. Sure, Kalim's family would still give donations, but they could no longer meddle with the whole 'a servant must hold back for their master thing'. Kalim remembered how Jamil's eyes widened, whether it was from awed or disbelieved. But the sigh he let out, a sigh of relief like the noose around his neck had been released was a beautiful sound.

The school changed because of the two of them, adding another pile to the turning points.

"Hehe." Kalim smiled, feeling older despite only being seventeen. "Didn't we all?"

Azul smiled an almost nostalgic smile. "You can say that."

Someone cleared their throat, making Kalim and Azul turned toward them. Riddle was frowning ever so slightly, less toward Kalim but more so at Azul, which was something he had been doing since early on. Azul sighed and went back to his book, either right the hand movement for the new spell or just pretending to. Kalim might regret a bit about asking both of them to teach him, but they were the two smartest students he knew (well, other than Jamil, but there was no way he would ask him to help him study again). After a nearly week of disappearing, he already had so much to catch on to, so getting some tutors might be a good idea.

But the tension between them? Eh... It was pretty heavy and Kalim had no clear idea what caused it or how to solve it.

With Azul's attention no longer on Kalim, Riddle stepped forward with a very neat timetable. "So, I look at your studies and I planned a study schedule for you." Kalim was quite impressed with it actually. It was colorful, easy to read, and incredibly detailed. "Economy, social, and math have been your best subject, so you need a stable grade for this. Care for magical creatures, however, we have to have an intense study lesson." Using his pen, Riddle pointed at some sections on the timetable. "I'm purposing, that if you don't have a light magic club meeting, we can do it on Friday. In addition, I slipped advanced alchemy and magical pharmacy to prepare for your third year if you want to focus on your potion making in the future."