Twisted Wonderland Book 4: Schemer of the Scalding Sands

Chapter 34: Aquatic Support

What Jasper says has caught everyone off guard.

Grim says in surprise, "Hoo boy. Jasper, you're really going for the jugular. You start to sound like how Briar would say it."

"Well, someone has to since she's not here," Jasper says.

Then Floyd says, "I'm with Little Catfish on this one."

Then says to Kalim, "Sea Otter, you're, like...TOO nice. It's kinda grating."

"Huh? Is it?" Kalim asks, confused.

"Yes," Jade answers.

Then explains, "If I were betrayed by someone the way you were... I'd lash out with a torrent of unmitigated verbal abuse to break them down mentally, then bind them and drag them beneath the waves. The way you blame yourself and try to excuse his behavior is, quite frankly, a tad galling."

"Galling? Really?" Kalim asks, shocked.

Then continues to deny it, "But, I mean... Jamil would never betray me, ever."

"Uh, news flash: he did," Floyd points out, "In fact, he was gonna make you out to be the bad guy and get you expelled. He's an enormous dirtbag!"

Then Jade says, "When it comes to underhanded ploys, Azul at his worst still couldn't hold a candle to that. That's quite a feat, you know. It's okay to hold your head high and denounce him for the traitor that he is.

"That's...not much of a compliment," Tanzanite says, adjusting his glasses.

Then Azul says, "You carry yourself like a goody-two-shoes, laughing off conflict with a flippant word or two. To twisted individuals like myself and Jamil... Ah, I mean, to calculating individuals, those remarks are like barbs digging under our skin. I'd say you've been pushing Jamil ever since your formative years. It's not your fault in the least, of course. You were born into a very high social class. As showered as you were with affection from your family and everyone around you, you grew up with honesty and integrity. An upbringing like that would make anyone take certain things for granted."

"I would argue that in Kalim's case, it might simply be a case of a naturally innocent disposition," Jade replies.

"Oh... So Jamil is...bad?" Kalim asks, still stunned and taking in to what Azul and the Leech Twins say.

"Extremely. It's about time you get it through your head," Jasper says.

Tanzanite turns to his brother, "Jasper."

"Well, it's true," Jasper says.

"I don't think Jamil is all bad, and I'm sure Briar doesn't either. But still, it doesn't change the bad things he decides to do now," Sereia says.

Trinket nods her head.

"Maybe, but yeah, it still doesn't really change what he did to us," Jasper says.

"And he got us caught in the mess he wants to make," Grim says.

Then Kalim says, sounding determined, "In that case, I'd better get back fast! I must punch him and yell, 'Traitor!' I owe him that much."

But Grim says, "One punch ain't enough! You oughta also make him march to the oasis and back ten times!"

"That, and we need to bring him to his senses fast. If we don't, his life will be in danger. We have to get back before his magic reserves run dry," Azul says.

But Floyd says, "That puts us right back where this conversation started. How do we get back? Walkin' really fast?"

"No. The desert looks too far for us to get back by walking or running," Tanzanite says.

"My nose is gonna freeze over if we stay out here much longer!" Grim says.

Then Jade says, "If there was a river, we could swim back. Sadly, the rivers around here are all dried out."

"So a lack of water is the problem?" Kalim asks.

"Yes," Azul answers, "Floyd and Jade can easily outpace brooms when they're in their true forms. As from what Jade and Floyd explained to me, Sereia can also transform into a mermaid at will. But we can't exactly restore a dry river..."

Just then, Kalim says, "Maybe you can't, but I can."

"Huh?!" Azul and the Leech Twins reply, confused.

Soon, Sereia realizes, "That's right! Your signature spell!"

"Oh yeah!" Jasper says.

"I remember. You did it at the Eastern Oasis after the march," Tanzanite says.

Trinket nods her head in reply.

"That's right. My signature spell, Oasis Maker, can produce an enormous volume of water with just a smidgen of magical power. If I make you a river, you can get us back to the dorm, right?" Kalim explains.

"Y-you mean to tell me THAT'S your signature spell?! That's insane!" Azul asks, shocked.

Kalim laughs, "Aha ha! It's pretty useless when we've already got running water."

But Azul says, "Don't 'aha ha' me! Some countries don't HAVE that sort of infrastructure. Your power would make you nothing short of a hero to those people! That's... That's...ABSURDLY marketable!"

Grim and the rest of the Ramshackle group are practically sweat drops to hear that.

Jade interferes, "I think we can leave Azul to his get-rich-quick fantasies for a bit. Kalim, if you would oblige us?"

"You just need a river, right? Okay! I'm on it," Kalim says as he brings out his magepen.

With that, Kalim cast his magic as he shouts, "Oasis Maker!"

And just like that, water begins to fall out of the sky and into the river, starting to fill up. Everyone is amazed to see the river is filling up fast.

Grim is very surprised, "Holy mackerel... The river's fillin' up with water right before our eyes!"

"Alright then, Floyd. Sereia. I believe it's time for us to take a swim," Jade says.

"Okay," Sereia says.

Floyd smiles, "Alright. Let's take a dive."

With that, Floyd, Jade, and Sereia dive under the water. Everyone waits for the three to come out. Soon, all three come out to the surface. Floyd and Jade transform into their eel form, and Sereia has become a mermaid.

"Let's get moving before the water freezes over, Floyd. Now, Azul and Grim, grab hold of my back," Jade says.

"The Feline catfish and Sea Otter, you're with me!" Floyd says.

" Trinket and Tanzanite, you both can go with me," Sereia says.

But Grim quickly says, "Wait, but I thought Azul was a merman. Can't he swim himself?"

"Azul isn't a fast swimmer, even in his mer form," Jade says.

A little embarrassed and annoyed, Azul says, "Yes, well, not all of us have tailfins like yours."

Soon, everyone dives into the water and each of them takes a merfolk as their partner.

Then Azul says, "Now, off we go to Scarabia!"

Jade, Floyd, and Sereia begin to swim to the shore, each taking two of their classmates in tow. They are determined to stop Jamil and rescue him from his overblot, and rescue Briar who is now being held prisoner. They hope that they can make it there in time.