Twisted Wonderland: Glorious Masquerade - Let the Bell of Solace Ring

Chapter 5-5: We Have an Agreement

"I'm impressed, Malleus. It took but a glance for you to break down the spell's structure. But it's not my signature spell. I borrowed it from Deuce," Azul says.

"From Spade...?" Malleus questions.

Then Briar says, "I thought that spell looked familiar."

Flashback:

Back in the lecture hall...

"I can't work out tough problems or use complicated spells like you guys. But I want to do what my housewarden said—find a place where I can shine and show those flowers what for. I won't embarrass you guys by just letting them suck my magic dry. I'll fight to the bitter end!" Deuce explains.

"You truly do have tunnel vision. All right, normally I'd hold off on doing this, but since we're not on campus..." Azul says, "...I suppose it'll be okay. Deuce, would you mind lending me a bit of help? I'd like to borrow your signature spell."

"Huh? You want my magic?" Deuce responds confused.

"Your signature spell lets you hit a foe with the same damage they inflict on you, "Azul says, "It's highly risky... But it's a perfect ace in the hole against a fool like Rollo who truly thinks he's superior. I'd have preferred to keep your piece on the board until the endgame, but your injury has scuppered that idea. Would you let me use my own signature spell, It's a Deal, to take yours for a while?"

Soon, Deuce understands, "Ohhh, I get it. Your spell lets you take my signature spell in exchange for something else!"

"Precisely," Azul says, "I'm sure you have misgivings about surrendering your most prized magical possession, but—"

But Deuce says, "Okay, I'm down."

"Huh?" Azul responds, a bit surprised, "That was alarmingly quick. Did you even consider I might be scamming you?!"

"If I give you your contract, it means Rollo gets it, yeah? If my signature spell can hit that jerk where it hurts, then that's all I could ask for! Besides, I'm sure you'll come up with some clever way to use it that I wouldn't have thought of," Deuce explains.

"Not only too honest, but dangerously credulous as well. If everyone in the world was like you, I'd become a billionaire overnight," Azul says.

Then says to Deuce, "Very well, so be it. I'll ensure your signature spell gets put to good use."

"Yessir. My fist is in your hands!" Deuce says.

"Then we have an agreement," Azul says and begins to cast his magic, "The song ceases, the sun sets. I extend my benevolent hand to you poor, unfortunate souls. Now, to business! It's a Deal!"

Flashback Ends:

"So you mean, Deuce made a deal with you to let you use his signature spell," Briar asks, shocked.

"So that's what you were discussing on the other side of the fallen chandelier," Malleus says.

"The biggest hurdle was finding just the right time to use it, given what a game changer it could be. While we only spent a scant few hours with Rollo, it was enough for me to discern he was quite serious...and high-strung. I presumed—rightly—that he would crack under an onslaught of professional-grade trolling from Idia and fly into a frenzy," Azul explains.

"If you need trolling, I'm your guy! Though in this case, it wasn't intentional. That was real talk," Idia says.

"I have to hand it to you. Or...do I...?" Malleus says, "Regardless, let us ring the bell before Flamme wakes up—"

Suddenly, Rollo regains consciousness and he is not pleased, "Rgh! Augh..."

The group reacts and turns to see Rollo is starting to stand up and is furious.