"I'm really sorry to interrupt your night routine, Kalim," Jade said in the most apologetic tone he could measure, "I should've waited until tomorrow. How selfish I am."

Kalim turned toward him, grinning. "Don't worry about it! I can stay late for a bit longer."

Jade let out a sigh of relief. "Ah~ Thank you very much. I'm so curious about the tapestry and carpets deep inside the room."

"Oh! I have tons of those in here." Kalim grinned again and opened the door to the treasure vault. Flicking the light switch, the room was once again lit up, jewels and gold sparkling and luring them in.

"I think I've seen a carpet that would look great for your dorm," Kalim said as he led Jade to the pile where most beautifully woven rugs were rolled up, "if only I can find it... Hold up."

Jade stayed outside of the area while Kalim dove in, pushing and scanning through the rug collection. "Where is it?" he mumbled, looking like he was a kid who was missing his favorite toy, "maybe Jamil would know..."

Jade's eyes widened slightly. This is his keyword. "Ah... Jamil is such a capable aide, isn't he?"

"Yeah! He's really amazing!" Kalim laughed. "He teaches me magic and how to study way better than my tutors. He's a great dancer too, but he's too shy to do it in front of a lot of people."

"You speak about him in such high regards," Jade said, "makes me wonder why he never mentions anything to you."

Kalim paused. He turned to Jade, a confused look on his face. "Huh?"

Jade took this opportunity to step forward. "It is a long vacation and yet the students in the dorm are being made to train severely every day." He frowned in a concerted manner. "It is something I simply cannot think you will do."

Kalim's lips pressed into a thin line, brow furrowed in frustration. "That's It's because..." he mumbled, tone going up and down as if trying to taste what was the most correct answer, "we need more training...I think?"

Jade tilted his head to the side. "You don't sound so sure."

"Yeah... I just..." he said, letting out a defeated sigh. He sat down on one of the rolled carpets, pulling his knees close to his chest. Jade sat beside him, eyes never left the confused prefect. "I'm not so sure myself. I think I've been spacing out. Jamil said that it's because I'm just getting tired because of my duties and all that... I've had a bad habit of falling asleep when I'm facing something difficult. My tutors and Jamil lecture me a lot when that happens..."

"And what difficult things do you mean, to be exact?"

"Things like the Magishift Tournament, the exams, and Scarabia being in the low ranking in tests. There's so much to think about that I just drifted off." He let out a weak chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm so hopeless, huh..."

"What about this training camp? Isn't this your idea?"

"Yeah, it was...I think..."

Another indecisive response. Jade didn't doubt that Kalim didn't know the true source of the problem, but this is going nowhere. Kalim left him with no other choice. It may be risky, but it worth trying.

"Ow!" Jade hissed, a hand reached covered his eyes.

Kalim turned to him, a bit startled. "What happened?

"I am sorry, it seems like something got in my eye," Jade said. He slowly turned to Kalim with still-covered eyes.

"Wait. I can blow the dust away." Kalim reached for Jade's face, one hand holding his chin. "Which eye?"

"My left eye," Jade said. Kalim nodded. His other hand reached for Jade's hand and slowly peeled it off from the eyes. The right eye first with Jade slowly opening it, then Kalim kept pulling until the left eye was uncovered even if it was still closed.

"Does it hurt if you open it?" Kalim asked.

"A little bit," Jade said, "but I can handle."

Kalim nodded again. "Okay then." Kalim used both of his thumbs to slowly opened Jade's left eye, completely fixated by it.

Thus the chanting began.

"[There is no need to be afraid; I want to be of help to you.]" It was too late for Kalim if he ever wanted to pull back for a magic circle had appeared in Jade's eye. "[Shock the Heart.]"

"Eh?" Kalim's hands dropped to his side as magic circles appeared in his eyes.

"You must swear to answer the truth and only the truth to my questions," Jade said, a hand reached to Kalim's chin, lifting his head so that they are seeing eyes to eyes. "Do you know any student who uses hypnotic magic?"

-----

Azul didn't like this. He didn't like this at all. This walk didn't help to soothe the anxiety bubbling in his chest. Jonah didn't say anything during the walk which made it even worse because Azul didn't know what was expected to come out from his mouth. The captain was walking ahead of him. Normally Azul wouldn't like it, but for once he felt wrong if he even walks beside him. Just a strange, disturbing feeling that Azul doesn't like.

"So." When Jonah did finally spoke up, Azul nearly stumbled on his track. "Grim managed to get a hold of you."

He quickly recovered though. "He came crashing down the roof."

"You have a hole now?"

"We can fix it."

"How much for the repair?"

"It's free."

"Does he have to sign a contract?"

Azul stopped his track. Jonah also stopped a few feet ahead of him. He turned around, face neutral. For some reason, it pissed off Azul. "Can you just get straight to the point? If you want to say something, just say it."

"What?" Jonah tilted his head to the side. "You don't enjoy my company?"

"No. I don't like it when we have to spin around seventy times before we even reach the conclusion."

"That's strange. Doesn't a salesman always do that to convince the buyer?"

"We're not making a deal right now."

"Are we even sure? We can change this into a bargain." There was no teasing tone in Jonah's words. It sounded like he was serious. But really? Is this really a good time for this deal-making talk? "Isn't this an opportunity? I'm in a tight spot after all. I would do anything to get out of this problem."

Azul crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I'm not making a deal with you."

Jonah sighed. "That's a shame. I would like to."

Azul's fingers around his upper arms clenched tighter. "Even after everything that had happened?"

Jonah shrugged. "Why not?"

Azul sighed through his nose in an almost annoyed fashion. "Sometimes I just don't understand you."

"Then why don't you just read my mind?"

This time, Azul did scream, already at his limit. "I can't read minds!"

"Correction." Jonah raised a finger like a teacher scolding his student. "You used to be able to read minds.

Azul was on the edge of tearing his hair off. His hands were already on his head, gripping his fedora like he intended to rip it in half here and now. "Captain, please," he said through his gritted teeth. "If you just want to mock me, then let it all out."

Jonah was calm through all of this. "Why would you think I would do that?

"Because isn't that what everybody does? Don't they like to make fun of people who are just slightly different from them?" Azul's voice was becoming louder and louder, but at the same time, it cracked. "Only because they look like an easy punching bag, people decided just straight up ganged upon him."

"Well, what do you expect them to do?"

"I don't know!" Azul threw his hands to the side. "How should I know?!"

Jonah raised an eyebrow at him. "You don't know? Aren't you supposed to be smart?"

"Only because I have more brain cells than you that doesn't mean I have that bleeding heart of yours!" Azul gritted his teeth, his hand reached of his chest, clutching the fabric tight. "Do you think it's easy to be in my shoes? Every day dreading whether or not I will wake up alone with the twins finally decided that I'm too boring for their taste." He let out a humorless chuckle. He didn't even realize his eyes started to tear up. "It was easy, really, to put on a show for all of you. I've been building my charm since I was little and it hadn't cracked."

Jonah bit his lip. "Until now."

Azul chuckled again. "Yes." He covered his face with one hand and tilted his head back. "I admit. I don't know how you do it. How can you, a stupid, magicless child bring me to the breaking point?"

Jonah was silent for a moment, watching the once-proud Octavinelle Prefect now looked like a tired wreck. All the emotional burden had come crashing down and on the edge of crying.

He took a deep breath before letting it out. "It's simple really." He slowly stepped forward toward him. Azul didn't make a move but he did flinch when he heard the footsteps. When Jonah stopped in front of him, he ever so gently reached for Azul's hand, pulling it away from his face. He could see the tiredness in those blue eyes. All of the stress, anxiety, and plain loneliness. His hand traveled up Azul's to his shoulder and neck until it rested on his cheek. Using his thumb, he wiped the tear that came dripping down.

"Do you know what I see?" he said with a gentle smile on his face, "I don't see a dumb, helpless, little octopus. I see a hardworking young man who wants to prove that he too can do something more."

Azul could only breathe. There was just no way he was describing him. "I just want to get revenge on people who made fun of me," Azul whispered.

Jonah gave him a small nod. "Perhaps." But then he turned serious again. "But, listen here, dear Azul Ashengrotto." He brushed some strands of hair from Azul's in a gentle manner. "You got the makings of greatness in you. I've seen it. I know you can sail through the rough sea. I wish I can see more from you, catching some of the light coming off you."

The smile never left his face and Azul just couldn't believe it. How could he say all of this, without any hint of mockery? "Why are you doing this?" Azul whispered, eyes once again teared up. "Is it because of pity?"

Jonah shook his head. "No. Because I know you are more than this. This is just a hiccup in a way. You can fix this. Everyone deserves a second chance after all."

"How can you be sure that I won't repeat the same mistake?"

"Then I'll give you the third chance. If you still haven't changed, I'll give you the fourth. Over and over again."

Azul sighed. "That's ridiculous."

Jonah chuckled lightly. "Well, I'm not like other villains after all."

Azul couldn't but chuckle as well. "I can't understand your mindset, captain."

Jonah smiled. "We have time to learn more. So, I'll be waiting for you to unfurl your sail, 'kay?"

How could this boy never fail to surprise him? How could he, after everything Azul had done to him, can still say those kind words? "Okay." Azul sniffed, his lips slowly pulled the first smile of the night from him. "And... I'm..." He glanced to the side, embarrassment filled his chest. "I'm sorry... For everything."

Jonah just smiled and caressed his cheek, bringing Azul's attention to him again. "Me too," he whispered back, gently pulling him closer so that their foreheads could touch each other.

Once again, like in a movie, it felt like they were being transported into another world. Azul could no longer see the Scarabia Dorm's hallway, but underwater. It felt like they had been there before. Inside a grotto with the only source of light was coming from the hole in the ceiling above. It felt so familiar. Like a dream from long ago. Jonah was smiling too at that time and their foreheads touched as well.

Tears streamed down heavily from Azul's eyes. He couldn't take it anymore. He didn't want this uncomfortable feeling in him. Listening to Jonah soothed him. He wanted to listen to him more. He wanted to be with him. He didn't want to feel lonely or terrified of being abandoned. Without any warning, Azul pulled Jonah into a tight hug. His fedora fell off his head, but he didn't care. The captain let out a squeak of a surprise but soon relaxed in his arm. "Please..." Azul sobbed. "I don't... I don't want to lose you too... I can't... I don't think I can... I don't want to be alone... Please... Don't leave me..."

He felt Jonah ran his hand down his hair, nuzzling into the side of his neck. "I'll be there," he whispered. "My door is always open to welcome you."