Twisted Wonderland Book 4: Schemer of the Scalding Sands

Chapter 17: Getting Together Late

Time has passed, and once again, they reach the Eastern Oasis, and like before, the place looks dried up.

Panting and wheezing, Grim says, "I think I've got a whole desert's worth of sand in my throat. Kalim, gimme some water!"

"How DARE you take that tone with me," Kalim says, harshly.

"Eep!" Grim yelps, and hides behind Briar.

Kalim continues, "I am not your faucet. If you want water, draw it from the oasis yourselves."

"You mean the one that's bone dry? How?" The first Scarabia student asks, stunned.

A second student says, "This is going beyond tyranny..."

Seriously, what's wrong with the housewarden?" The third Scarabia student asks.

Jamil then says, "Don't worry, I came prepared for this. We've got camels loaded with water. Offload it and share it amongst yourselves."

"Thank you. If only you were housewarden, Jamil," The first student says, relieved.

"Perish the thought. And don't vocalize it. What if Kalim heard you?" Jamil says.

Then the first Scarabia student says, "But it's true!"

"Even before Housewarden Kalim started acting like this, you were the one doing most of his duties, Jamil," The second Scarabia student says.

Jamil shushes them, "Shhh. It's fine. It's my family's honor - actually no, it's MY honor to serve the Asims. Drink your water and rest up. It's getting hotter now that the sun's high in the sky. The march back will only be worse."

"Jamil..." The first student says, showing concern.

Soon, the students begin to take a water break.

Just then, Kalim announces, "All students, assemble! Break time is now over. Form ranks, and no lollygagging!"

Hearing that, a lot of the students have already reached their limits.

One of the students says, "Jamil, I... I can't take another day like this."

"I'm done following the housewarden, too!" A second student days.

The third student asks, "Why are you still obeying him, Jamil?!"

"It's because... He's Kalim Al-Asim," Jamil says.

Briar asks, "Is it because you have served him for so long or is it because you like him as a person?"

"It's...hard to say," Jamil answers. Let's have a talk tonight. I'll arrange things so Kalim doesn't catch us. Briar, could you spare some time for this as well?"

"Okay," Briar answers with a nod.

Later in the night after the rough day, Jamil and the other students, including Briar and the Ramshackle group are sitting in the lounge.

Jamil asks, "Is everybody here?

"Yes, sir," One of the students answers, Then asks, "Where's Housewarden Kalim?"

"Sleeping. I brewed him a soporific herbal tea. He should be in a deeper sleep than usual," Jamil answers.

Then Grim asks, "So, what's the deal, and where do we come in? I'm exhausted, so make it quick. I wanna get back and pass out."

"It's no different for the rest of us. Quiet down," Another student replies.

And Jamil says, "I understand that you are all unhappy with how Kalim is running things. Being locked in your dorms over winter break and forced to undergo harsh training day in and day out... Who wouldn't resent such harsh treatment? I agree that what Kalim's doing is not for the best."

"Then why won't you stop him?!" One of the students asks.

"I have, many times. But he's stopped listening to me," Jamil answers.

Then Grim says, "If you guys have that much of a problem with it, how about sayin' it to Kalim's face instead of whining to Jamil?"

"Well... Um..." A student replies.

Everyone remains silent hearing the question.

"What, so you can say it to this guy, but not to the one actually causin' problems?" Grim questions. "What a bunch of gutless wimps."

"Don't be mean Grim," Sereia says.

Then one of the students says, "Th-that's not true. We HAVE tried to talk to him. Over and over, actually!"

Then another student says, "When he's not acting strange, the housewarden really is a broadminded, kindhearted soul..."

A third student says, "Everybody in the dorm used to look up to him before this started happening. We thought we had the finest housewarden in all of Night Raven College.

The first student explains, "When I first enrolled, I had trouble adjusting to dorm life. He lent me a shoulder and let me air it all out."

Then the second student says, "When I was struggling to keep up in school and ready to drop out, he joined me for late-night cram sessions to catch up."

And a third student says, "Sometimes he's a little cavalier and not totally on top of things, but we all loved our housewarden. It was fun being a Scarabia student. And yet..."

"Yes. Kalim is a truly fine housewarden. He treats everyone equally and never puts himself above anyone else," Jamil replies.

He then sighs and says, "However did it come to this?"

"So you can't blame him because he's super nice?" Briar asks.

The students nod their heads.

Then Grim says, "Y'know, it might be a good idea to get Kalim checked out by a doctor.

He keeps sayin' one thing, then changing his mind the next minute. Even his personality shifts. That's kinda weird, don'tcha think? What if he ate some bad food or something?"

"Do you think it could have been a kind of poison?" Tanzanite wonders.

"Doubtful. If poison was causing this, then as his poison tester, I would be equally affected," Jamil says.

"Then maybe he's sick," Jasper says.

"It's hard to rule out," Jamil replies.

Then says, A doctor, though? If we go back to the Land of Scalding Sands, the Asim household has a doctor in their employ... But as things stand, simply getting him home would be an ordeal in and of itself."

"Darn it," The second student says, frustrated.

Then the first one says, "This is getting us nowhere fast."

"The problem facing Scarabia now is similar to a problem that Heartslabyul recently had to address. There, the students were also forced to live under their housewarden's tyranny, as I understand it. They were all afraid of Riddle's signature spell, and no one could stand against him. Hence, I would like input from you two, since you were central in solving Heartslabyul's problem," Jamil says.

He turns to the Ramshackle group and asks, "What do all of you think we should do?"

Then Grim suggests, "What if you challenged Kalim to a duel and became housewarden yourself, Jamil? When everything went down with Riddle, Ace and Deuce challenged him after the headmage floated the idea. Of course, they were a couple of knuckleheads and Riddle wiped the floor with 'em, but hey. Kalim's signature spell ain't nowhere near as threatening as Riddle's. You could probably whoop him with one hand tied behind your back!"

However, Jamil is quick to say, "That...is the one solution that is utterly out of the question."