Into the World of Twisted Wonderland Pt 2

🐍 Schemer of the Scalding Sands: Chapter 7 🐍

"What's going on, Jamil?" Kalim asks sternly. "Nobody told me to expect company!" He shouts.

"Kalim, there's a good reason for this, I assure you," Jamil states, trying to appease him.

The two could feel the tense air surround the air. "Uh, this guy seems like bad news..." Grim whispers as Angel just nods.

"How many times must I tell you to always inform me ahead of time when inviting guests?!" Kalim asks. "If you had..." Everyone only awaits the next words. "...I would have arranged for an even finer banquet, and a whole band!" He exclaims with a sigh, shocking the duo.

"...Huh?" Angel and Grim exclaim as they processed his words.

Kalim walks over to the two with a smile. "Hiya! Welcome to our dorm," he greets, leaving the two baffled at the attitude change. "Sorry for not throwing you a welcoming parade! I'm Kalim Al-Asim, housewarden of Scarabia. This is the first time we've met, right?"

"It's not, actually," Jamil speaks up. "Grim burned your posterior at orientation, and Angel helped put it out, and you spoke with them before the Spelldrive tournament as well."

"Oh, really? Aha ha, sorry!" Kalim laughs. "I've always been terrible with faces. I hope you won't take any offense. Regardless, it's nice to meet you all over again!" He says with a smile.

Angel just looks at Kalim in shock. He's way different than the other housewardens we've met! She remembers about meeting Riddle, Leona, and Azul, each of them being stern in their own way, but looking at Kalim was a breath of fresh air. She smiles, happy at the fact that she didn't need to keep her guard up. "Yes, it's nice to meet you again too!" She says as she holds her hand out, with Kalim taking and shaking it in return. He takes a seat next to her and look at the table in front of them.

"All the food looks incredible, as always. How did everything turn out, Jamil?" Kalim asks as he looks at the food.

"Splendidly as ever," He responds with a smile. "There are no dangerous substances in any of these dishes, so eat whatever you like. They've also been poison-tested already." Kalim only smiles as he gathers food.

The statement makes Grim choke on his food. "Wh-why is THAT relevant?!" He exclaims, while Angel only keeps eating, although a little more carefully.

"Kalim is the heir to a very wealthy family," Jamil explains. "The unfortunate dangers related to that mean that everything he eats must be vetted."

"You just love blowing these things out of proportion, Jamil," Kalim sighs. "Really, who would do that? Nobody's tried poisoning me since that time four years ago when I went comatose for two weeks. It's a thing of the past now," he says with a smile.

Jamil only dead pans at him. "Yes, because you've had someone to specifically prevent that from happening for the past year years." He states. "I ensure that anything hazardous is identified and disposed of before it crosses your palate."

"Wait a minute!" Grim exclaims. "When you were feedin' me all those different dishes, was that to test 'em for poison?!" he asks Jamil, remembering how Jamil asked him to taste the dishes.

"Aha ha ha!" Kalim laughs. "There's no real danger for you, don't worry. All the food Jamil makes is safe," Kalim reassures Grim. "Jamil would never poison my food."

Jamil chuckles. "Heh. Must you state the obvious?"

"Y'know," Grim shudders. "I'm startin' to think these guys were only pretendin' to be nice," Grim says as he carefully looks at the food.

"But it is a better welcome than the others, right?" Angel awkwardly chuckles, trying to ease Grim's nerves.

"Ooh, Grim!" Kalim calls. "Have you tried to goat's milk blue cheese yet?" He asks as he spread cheese on a cracker. "Nothing beats a smear of it on a cracker!"