Into the World of Twisted Wonderland Pt 2

🐍 Schemer of the Scalding Sands: Chapter 18 🐍

"That...is the one solution that is utterly out of the question," Jamil sternly says. The statement shocks the duo.

"Seriously?" Grim says in disbelief. "Why even ask for advice if you're gonna immediately reject it?! What's your issue with my suggestion, anyway?" He asks.

"The Viper family has assisted the Asim family for generations. How could I betray out history like that? It would be beyond the pale," Jamil explains. "Not to mention the lecture I would get from my parents..." He mumbles then shakes his head. "I'm sorry, but it just wouldn't be right."

Angel thinks for a moment. Following rules that was ingrained from you as a child isn't an uncommon practice, just like Riddle did, but with Jamil's situation, a family that serves basically one of the most important families in the world for generations, is probably an honor for him, it'll be hard to just break down the tradition just because of a duel that might lower Kalim's status. "I guess you make a good point," she says quietly, a bit sad at Jamil's situation.

He sighs. "It is what it is." ...But is it?

"Okay, I get why you can't challenge Kalim to a duel," Grim starts, "But if the housewarden keeps actin' like this, he's gonna make life totally miserable for everybody in the dorm. Riddle was bad enough, but this hot and cold thing Kalim's doin' is making it way worse."

"Yeah," a student says. "He's not acting like a housewarden at all!"

"He's not even meeting the job requirements. This goes against our Scarabian spirit!" A student cries out.

"What requirements?" Angel asks. "And what do you mean by 'Scarabian spirit'?"

"To be housewardens of one of Night Raven College's seven dorm, you must be the most befitting of the dorm's spirit," Jamil explains. "Anything less, and you're unqualified to be housewarden. Dueling is essentially an easy way to determine this. The seven dorms each have their own different spirits, and their own ways of determining who befits it. For example, tradition in Pomefiore states that the housewarden is whoever can make the most potent poison."

The two shudder at the thought. "Gah, that's nightmare fuel!" Grim states and Angel nods. Why would anyone want to make that in the first place?! Isn't this school supposed to be safe? "So how'd Kalim get picked to be the head honcho of Scarabia?"

"He was nominated by the previous housewarden," Jamil answers. "Through his prior work and virtues, he cultivated a reputation as the most befitting of the dorm. I'll never forget how proud I was at his nomination," he says with a smile.

"But he wouldn't have half that record is you hadn't been helping him!" A student says to him. "Everybody in the dorm knows it." Students started to mumble, agreeing with his statement.

"Why didn't the last housewarden choose you instead?!" Another student complains.

Jamil look at the students with a glare. "Don't blame him," he sternly says, making everyone quiet. "For a relative of the Asim family to choose me over the main house's heir would be..." Jamil stops. "Ah!" He exclaims, seeing that everyone was looking at him, eyes wide in surprise.

"Seriously?" Grim asks. "AGAIN with this Asim family stuff?"

"No way..." Angel mumbles, surprised at the news.

"So that's what was going on," a student says with slight anger. "I had no idea. That sounds like blatant nepotism!"

"Man, the Asim family plays way too dirty!" Another student says with his fists clenched.

"Please, I implore you," Jamil quickly says. "Forget what you just heard."

"Night Raven College is known as a big-name university precisely because it's a meritocracy," a student explains. "Getting special privileges because of your parents is something that shouldn't fly here!"