Into the World of Twisted Wonderland Pt 2

🐍 Schemer of the Scalding Sands: Chapter 22 🐍

Back at Scarabia Dorm, dawn approaches and the students tread back to the dorm, fear rising as they try to figure out a way to make sense of the situation and solve it before their housewarden hears. "I still can't believe the Ramshackle pair fled to Octavinelle," a student says in disbelief.

"And they stole the magic carpet," another student states. "If the housewarden were to find out about this..." They shiver. "Rrgh, what do we do?" They ask the group.

"I think we'd better take this to Vice Housewarden Jamil to start with," the student says, and everyone sighs, at least happy at the fact that Jamil might have a solution to the whole ordeal.

Suddenly, the group hear sets of footsteps behind them and turned around, shocked at the fact that the trio has appeared. "Hello gentlemen," Azul greets with a smile, with Jade and Floyd beside him and the duo behind them. "Mind if we pop by?"

"Good GRAVY, it's hot here," Floyd says with a groan, waving his hand to try to cool off. "Feels like the middle of summer."

The students looked at the trio in disbelief. "You're the Octavinelle guys who gave us a thrashing last night!" A student exclaims, remembering their skirmish with the twins.

"What do you want with Scarabia?" A student threatens, eyeing them suspiciously.

Azul notices. "Please, no need to get angry. Permit me to apologize for what transpired last evening," he says apologetically. "It looked as though you were bullying defenseless animals, which is a perfect way to describe them. I stood up for them on the spot, out of the goodness of my heart. But after I heard their story...It became clear to me that the two Ramshackle residents were thieves who had made off with Scarabia's magic carpet, Once I realize my mistake, I took personal responsibility for the matter. I apprehended the criminals, and I came here to return the magic carpet to its rightful owner."

The twins step aside, showing the 'culprits' as they call them, tied up by the wrists and the carpet only floats with them, curious about situation. "Rgh..." Grim groans, looking at the group of students. "It ain't fair, I tell ya..." He mumbles, and the carpet 'nods', shaking itself.

"Unfortunately, it's the only way," Angel says as she looks at the twins giving them a smile and sighs. This better work.

The students look at the scene in shock. "W-well, uh..." A student hesitates.

"Thank you for the...help?" Another says in confusion. The students look at each other, confused with the events and the trio smile at the students.

A pair of footsteps approach the group. "Guys," Jamil calls out. "It's about time for morning training. If you're late, Kalim will-" He looks in front of him, seeing the trio, eyes wide in shock. "Gh?!" He exclaims in shock.

"Why, Jamil!" Azul says with a smile. "Hello there. How are you?"

Jamil looks at the group in suspicion. "Azul Ashengrotto..." He looks to the twins. "And the Leech brothers as well? What are you doing here?" He asks, surprised at the fact that the three were still in school.

"Our home isn't the most hospitable place in the wintertime," Jade answers.

"So we spend our holidays in the dorm! Aha ha!" Floyd finishes.

"Wh...What?" Jamil skeptically asks.

"By the way," Azul speaks. "Where might Kalim be? I'm here to return his magic carpet to him." The carpet leans over to Jamil's sight, waving one of its tassels as if trying to prove its presence to Jamil.

Jamil looks in thought. "Er, ah..." He smiles. "If you need to deliver something, I'll take it to him."

"Oh, but I insist!" Azul interjects. "This magic carpet is a legendary artifact on par with national treasures. If it were discovered to be damaged later, Octavinelle would be held liable. We can't have that, now, can we? I would prefer to hand it to Kalim in person and have him assess its condition firsthand."

"Kalim wouldn't care even if it was damaged," Jamil quickly says. "Let me take it off your hands, okay?" He heads towards the carpet, only for Azul to step in the way.

"Worry not," Azul says with a smile. "I won't even ask for my standard twenty percent finder's fee."

"Consider that our way of apologizing for our uncouth behavior towards Scarabia last night," Jade says with a bow.

"We also brought a seafood pizza as a little present," Floyd says as he hold a box in his hands, opening it up for the students to see. "You wouldn't want it to get cold, wouldja?"

"The point is, I would MUCH prefer to deliver it in person," Azul emphasizes. "He's awake by now, I trust?"

"No, really, he's not feeling up for any-" Jamil quickly says, only for Azul to walk pass him and head to the dorm, looking at him with eyes wide. "Hey! You can't just barge in, Azul!" Jamil says in a panic, chasing after him.

The four watches the two, seeing that Jamil's protestations fall on deft ears as Azul enters the dorm. "Well then," Jade says as he look at Angel. "Shall we, Angel?"

"You'd better keep up," Floyd playfully says as they start heading inside the dorm.

"This is so much nicer when I'm not on the receiving end of it," she says as she and Grim simply follow them, knowing that if they are close to the twins, Azul's 'benevolence' would be effective.

"Yeesh, these Octavinelle guys are so pushy when they wanna be..." Grim mumbles as they continue to walk with the twins.

A/N: forgot to post this but I'm thinking about writing the Glorious Masquerade event story but if I do write it it won't be posted until all of book 4 is done