Twisted Wonderland Book 4: Schemer of the Scalding Sands

Chapter 36: Feelings Long Held

Like the other three Overblot incidents, Briar finds herself in some dark abyss. Now she is somewhere deep in Jamil's mind. Briar looks around and sees the memories appearing before her eyes. Soon, Briar finds herself in what seems to be an Arabian palace. And then, four figures appear before her. She recognizes two of them to be Jamil and Kalim as children. The other two are grown adults that she doesn't recognize.

Little Kalim happily rushes to Jamil and says, "Hey, Jamil! Let's play! I'm gonna beat you!"

"This again, Kalim?" Young Jamil asks, sounding uninterested, "You know I'm just going to keep winning. Can we play something else instead?"

Suddenly, the grown woman, who is really Jamil's mother, scolds Jamil, "Jamil! Don't you take that tone with Master Kalim!"

And hits him on the head.

Jamil yelps, "Ow!"

Then the grown man, Jamil's father, quickly says, "Master Kalim, thank you for playing with our foolish son."

"You're kind enough to share your company. Truly, you've been brought up well," Jamil's mother says.

Soon, the memory disappears. Briar begins to walk through the darkness and begins to hear Jamil's voice.

Jamil says, "My very first memory as a child was seeing my family bow before Kalim and his parents. I couldn't stand the sight of it."

Continues to walk forward and is starting to understand a bit of Jamil's living situation.

Just then, the scenery changes, and they find themselves in the hallway of the same palace. There, Jamil is with his father and mother.

Jamil's father says to him, "Listen, Jamil. You must always win twice and lose thrice when competing with Kalim. You must never outdo him at anything."

Then Jamil's mother says, "I know you're a smart boy. Surely you understand the position we're in?"

"...Fine," Jamil answers, sounding a bit reluctant.

Then the memories disappeared.

Briar continues as she hears Jamil's voice, "Kalim's parents were far more important than mine. Therefore... Kalim was more important than me. Which meant... Whether in studies, or exercise, or games... I could never do better than Kalim. I had to keep myself beneath him. I had to pretend I was incapable."

Then a memory changes to the home hallways.

A little older Kalim happily says, "Jamil, look! I won first prize at the festival dancing contest!"

Another scene, Kalim happily says, "Aha ha! I did it! I won, three to two!"

Then when they are admitted into the school, Kalim and Jamil are together.

Kalim says, "I scored a 75 on the magic history test you helped me study for, Jamil!"

Then looks at Jamil's paper and says, "What? You got a 70?"

Then happily says, "Hey, it's okay. Cheer up!"

Then the memories disappeared again.

Jamil continues, "You're not beating me. I'm just letting you win. Look at you, smiling obliviously. Get a clue, you dunderhead!"

Then the scenery of the Scarabia Dorm Lounge appears.

Kalim asks in surprise, "Me? Housewarden of Scarabia? I don't know what that entails, but sure! You can count on me." Then turns to Jamil, "Right, Jamil?"

Just then, the memories also change, Briar soon finds herself in the Headmage's office. And then, Jamil and Dire Crolwey in the scene.

Then Jamil asks, "Headmage, why are you making Kalim housewarden? He's a poor magician, and more to the point, he's just a sophomore. We've got my hands full cleaning up after him as it is."