An Earl in Night Raven College (Book three)

The Merchant of the Deep Sea: Part 34

*Ciel's POV*

I slowly opened my eyes and began to look around as I was in an unknown place again as there was the sound of water. As I got up after my eyes adjusted, I noticed that I was a mermaid once more as I saw that I was in a room. It was a classroom underwater as the desk were made from stone rocks. There were also sea plants near the front of the classroom right besides the board that had a shell at the top. There was a small platform with a stand made from coral with a board on top.

Then I heard a noise that caused me to turn around  to see that it was none other than Azul himself. He stood there, not showing any emotions as if there was no need to do so since it would be pointless. But when I looked into his eyes I can see there was a deep sadness within them.

"Azul...?" I questioned as he began to speak.

"The only place I ever belonged was inside an octopus pot."

I then saw a young Azul hiding in what seems to be a pot, he had an scared look on his face as tears began to well. I was confused at first before I noticed that two young mermaids were mocking him and bullying him.

"Hey, Frazzled Azul, ink-spewer!"

"Aw, you gonna cry? Why don't you use one of your eight legs to wipe those tears away?"

"C-cut it out... Why are you being so mean to me?" Azul cries out

"That's just how bullies are, they'll target those weaker than them just to feel strong or for their own pleasure..." I stated in a sad tone as the two mermaids swam away.

"Run for it, quick! He's gonna ink us!"

"Aha ha ha! He couldn't keep up with us if he tried."

"*Sniff* *sob*

I looked at the child as he began to cry all by himself as ink was now surrounding him like a black blanket. I watched with a sadden look as I placed my hand on his head and rubbed it in an attempt to calm him down. Then the scene fades away as Azul stood beside me, his face was filled with sorrow and annoyance. He too was looking at the child that was crying, not wanting to see the sight. I looked at him as he proceeded to speak about why he was torment so much by the other children.

"Unlike other merfolk, I have lots of feet with suction cups. I'm an introvert, and I never assert myself. I'm hopeless in both studies and athletics. I'm always alone. A silly little octo-twerp."

"But is that enough reason to be bullied? Because you were different?" I question as another scene plays out of two children talking to one another.

"The water gets all cloudy when he's around. He spews ink every time he cries!"

"He's always the first to get caught when we play tag. Playing with him is just boring."

'Please, just leave Azul alone... He didn't do anything to deserve this...' I pleaded in my mind

"Ah, is that a fact? In that case, leave me alone. Keep running around in your little circles. Enjoy your utterly unproductive games! I have no tailfin to let me swim quickly. What I DO have are ten limbs I can freely control." Azul explains with a small glare as he spoke once more.

"I'll just transcribe five times as many grimoires as people with merely two arms. I can generate my own ink for inscribing magic circles. Just you wait. One of these days... I'll show every last one of you airheaded merfolk!"

"Given from what I saw, I can't blame you but..." I trailed off.

I watch as the surroundings shift to back to the classroom as I saw the same pot from before but this time there were no students bothering the child inside. I swam next to it as I watched the boy working on something. But then, I noticed that there were two morays twins peeking inside in curiosity. I easily recognized them as the twins back when they were children, it was hard to believe that they were pretty small. I watch with a small smile as Floyd reached inside and poked Azul, who jumped a bit.

"Heya, Octy. Whatcha doin' all crammed in that teeny little octopus pot?"

'So even Azul had a nickname... Wonder why he isn't called that anymore.' I thought to myself.

"Shut up. Just leave me alone." Azul mutters as I sweatdrop at the sight.

"I don't think they'll listen."
"Wow. There are spells and magic circles drawn all over every shell here. A spell to change species, a spell to steal someone's voice... Have you been doing grimoire research with all eight of your tentacles this whole time?" Jade asks as he looked through Azul's things.

"Don't touch any of it! You're asking for an inking! I'm gonna study harder, and become as powerful as the Sea Witch herself! So go away and stop bothering me!" Azul exclaims in anger

"Octy here's pretty funny, Jade." Floyd tells his brother.

"I agree, Floyd. He's quite fascinating." Jade agrees as I smiled at the scene as it fades away while Azul stood beside me.

"Then, after spending years studying everything I could get my hands on..." Azul explains with no expression.

'I feel like this is leading to something bad...' I thought to myself.

Then the scene of the classroom played out as Azul was now halfway out of the pot now with an bored expression on his face. He was seen looking through a book of some sorts, not looking at the individuals in front of him. The twins began to tell him about the rumors that they heard from others. Despite Azul not looking at them, they were able to tell that he was paying attention to what they were saying. 

"I hear one merman in the class next door suddenly got a girlfriend!" Floyd exclaims

"Yes, and I hear that in return, his fine tenor voice now sounds more like a honking seal." Jade states.

"Is that right?" Azul inquires

"I've also heard that someone got the silky-smooth, gorgeous locks they've always wanted." Jade states as Floyd spoke up.

"But the tradeoff was that they lost the big tailfin they used to dart through the water."

"Uh-huh. I see." Azul says with no expression

"It's as if he doesn't even care at this point..." I said to myself with a frown.

"Fascinating work, Azul. Assuming that WAS your doing, I mean." Jade states

"And why would you say that?" Azul questions as I rolled my eye.

"It hard not to put two and two together."

"These foolish minnows couldn't hope to use such powerful magic." Jade smirks

"But you've been brushin' up since you were knee-high to a guppy, Octy!" Floyd exclaims.

"...Heh. Heh heh... Heh heh heh! HA HA HA! Yes, I see. I wasn't expecting the jig to be up quite so soon." Azul laughs

"So, is this what we think it is?" Floyd questions with a grin.
"Yes, that's right. I've finally perfected it. See this magic-infused contract scroll? I can take any power from someone, so long as they sign it. I call it, 'It's a Deal'! This is a spell I'll use to show them all who's boss! Your fortes will all belong to me! Aha ha ha... AAAH HA HA HA!" Azul spoke while laughing.

"So that's where he got his idea for revenge... But will revenge really make you any better than the people who wronged you?" I stated as another memory flashes in my mind, one I was not expecting.

I was trapped within an cage with some bruising on my body as my clothes were dirty and in terrible conditions. I looked around to noticed masked individuals cowering in fear along with the rest of the children that was also in cages. I then look forward to see a shadowy figure reaching towards me with a grin. While I did the same as I felt my expression was a pained angered look. But just before I could grabbed the figures hand, it as it fades from my mind as it left me shaken.

I looked towards Azul as he stood in front of me with a pained look on his face as the memory fades away. We were now surrounded by darkness as light appeared behind me as I continued to look at him. Despite his efforts, I watch as he shed some tears with a crazy grin. His body was shaking as he raised one of his hands upwards, trying to show what little power he has left. Though, all I can do was look at him with a sadden look as he began to speak.

"I never forgot for a second. The sight of those who mocked me. Those who bullied me. I've observed them for many moons. Now I have their weaknesses, their insecurities... I have it all! Once I know what foils him, I can take the tailfin of a fast swimmer." Azul states as tears began to stream from his face while he continued.


"Once I know what troubles him, I can even take the voice of an adept singer. As long as I have this contract scroll, I am invincible! I'm not the same silly, lonely little octopus I used to be. With this power, I will rule over all. I'll make everyone who ever mocked me quaver and beg for mercy."

I proceed to swim towards him as he was breaking down while making sure I knew what to say when I confront him. I knew I have to be careful with what I say to him to avoid making things worse. I can't let that happen, not when he's already been through so much like Riddle and Leona have. I continue to swim towards him after I came up with what I was gonna tell him as well as partially revealing my amnesia. But in order to save Azul from himself then I have no choice, I thought that as I stood in front of him as I grabbed his arm.

"Azul, that's enough." I stated as he looks down

"I didn't say anything about this as I can't remember much, but I know what it's like to want revenge on those who wronged me. I was hurt by those who had more power than me, who were stronger than me. Because of it, I made a decision that would possibly ruin what was left of my life, but I didn't care. For I was blinded by grief and rage to care about the consequences of that choice and it will forever hunt me...." I had Azul kneel down as I wipe his tears away, just like I did with Leona.

"Thanks to my memory loss, it helped me realized that would getting revenge really make me feel better? Would make me any better than the people who wronged me? Is revenge enough to ruin my life even more? These are the questions that plagued my mind along with many more, which is why I don't want you to continue seeking revenge." I told him before smiling.

"Azul, despite everything you did I heard about all of the hard work you did on your own without needing to use others powers. You shown that you don't need powers to prove to others that you aren't weak. I want to see what Azul can do without cheating or using the easy way out to get what he wants. That is the Azul I would want to go to for help whenever I'm in trouble. Will you show me what you can do, because I want you to show everyone that even the weakest can raise up against the odds on our own!" I inquired

I then swam backwards from him a bit before holding out my hand to him, I smiled at him as I gave him the choice of what he should do. Azul pondered for a bit before he gives me a genuine smile and his hand grabbed mine as he stops kneeling. I smiled back, I was very glad that he chose to a different path from revenge. I didn't want him to continue to torment himself for revenge. We then proceeded to go through the light as I was leading before our vision goes black.