"Eh? Azul? Jonah?"

After the emotional moments, Jonah and Azul were silent. Unlike the awkward or downright murderous silence they had usually, it was a peaceful silence. Jonah sat on the stone railing of the open hallway with Azul standing and leaning next to him, as the gentle night breeze blew between them. Looking up, they saw Kalim and Jade walking toward them.

"Hey there, Senior Kalim," Jonah greeted, waving his hand.

Kalim looked between them, noticing the lack of tension between them. "Oh. You two make up already."

Azul and Jonah exchanged a glance, their lips pulled a small smile. "You can say that," Azul said, pushing his glasses up.

Jade looked between them. It was one thing if Jonah was the one saying that, but when it was Azul, Jade had a small certainty that they might have at least on an equal term again. Plus the fact, Azul's smile seemed sincere was really telling. "I'm happy for you," he said, feeling a small weight being lifted from his shoulders.

"What the- Kalim?!" They turned to the other hallway where Jamil strode toward the prefect, with Floyd and Grim following behind him. "I thought you're asleep already." He stopped a few inches in front of him. "You can't just wander alone at night. What if you get kidnapped again?"

Kalim let out a sheepish chuckle as he scratched the back of his head. "Don't worry. I'll be fine as long we're in the dorm, right? Besides, I have Jade with me."

"Jade?" Jamil glanced at the other eel twin who gave him a smile that could send a shiver down your spine.

"Correct. I was with him all the time."

Jamil glared at him. "What did you do to him?"

Jade had his fingers on his chin. "What do you mean? We were just having a fun little chitchat, weren't we, Kalim?"

Kalim nodded, glancing at Jade for a second. "Yup." He turned to Jamil again. "By the way, Jamil. Do you know where the blue and silver carpet is? I can't find it in the vault-"

Jamil suddenly grabbed his wrist. "Let's go back, Kalim."

"Eh? Why now all of a sudden?"

"No questions. Come on, let's go." Jamil pulled Kalim away in an almost forceful manner.

"Wha–!? I'm going!" Kalim stumbled in his steps but quickly recovered. He quickly waved at Jade. "Sorry, Jade. I'll show the carpet to you next time!"

"Yes. Until next time."Jade waved back as they watched Kalim and Jamil disappeared at the corner. He turned to the rest of the gang, sending a quick nod at Azul who nodded back. He stepped forward, glancing at each person in the circle.

He pushed his glasses up. "Well, then. Let's return to our room for further discussion."

-----

All of them gathered back to the Ramshackle Duo's room. Since Jonah didn't sleep here, the Octavinelle Trio used the room. There were two rolled-up mattresses in the corner of the room, along with two pillows on top of it. But the resident of the room didn't feel tired. At least, not until they could conclude their brief investigation. Azul locked the door behind him. Looking around the room, Jonah was sitting on the bed with Grim on his lap. Jade was standing in front of the window, the light shining down at him like a spotlight. On the other side of the room, Floyd stood with his back leaning against the wall with hands folded behind his head.

Azul stepped forward, pushing his glasses that glint with a serious light. "So, what do you learn from your talk with Kalim?"

Jade nodded. "A few things. But before this, I would like to ask a few questions with Mister Argentum here." He turned to Jonah who straighten up his back. Grim became tense, growling a bit as a warning. Jade stayed in his place but continued. "When we arrived here for the first time, do you remember what we're talking about?"

Jonah looked at the Octavinelle Trio one by one. "Uh..." He ducked his head. "Um... Actually, I only realized that you guys are here when..." He stole a glance at Azul, but it was enough for implication. "You know..."

Jade hummed, fingers on his chin. "What about before it? What about your talk with Grim? Do you remember what you said?"

Grim squinted at him. "How do you know? Were you eavesdropping on us?"

Jonah put a hand on top of Grim's head, patting him. Though he was frowning. "I...I don't think I can."

Grim turned to him, now it was his turn who looked confused. "What do you mean you can't? You said you collapsed when you thought you figure out who caused Kalim's mood swing."

Jonah blinked slowly at him. "I...did?"

"Hmm. Just as I suspected." Everyone's focus returned to Jade. "Our suspicions were confirmed: both of you got hypnotized." Jonah's eye widened at this. "Both of you suffered the same symptom of short-term memories lost during the time you were hypnotized. For Jonah, it was around the time of Grim's escape and that panic attack in the hallway. For Kalim, this might be his usual habit of falling asleep because of stress, but it wouldn't make much sense if Jonah also drifts off since he never has any history of that."

He glanced at Jonah again, almost challenging him. "Since you have your own suspicion of who might be doing this, perhaps you can tell us who is it."

Jonah bit his lip, glaring at him. But he glanced to the side, head down, and sighed. "Sorry. I can't."

Azul frowned. "Jonah-"

"I'm helping you too," the captain quickly said, "there's a reason why the three of you haven't seen Kalim's in his tyrant mode. I sort of made a promise to keep my mouth shut for this."

Azul took a deep breath before letting it out from his nose. He knew not to push further. Not yet at least. They might be on better terms, but their ground was still fragile. "Alright then." He turned to Jade. "What about Kalim? Did he mention anything?"

Jade stole a glance at Jonah but decided to set his opinion aside, but focusing on Azul's question. "Forgive me. But it seemed I was not able to extract that information."

"You couldn't figure it out even with your unique magic?" Floyd asked.

Grim looked up to Jonah, paws covering his mouth as he whispered. "What's his unique magic again?"

Jade turned to his twin, sending him a disapproving look. "Floyd... I always tell you to be careful about revealing our unique magic to others, do I not?" Floyd stuck out his tongue at him.

"It's okay to reveal it to them," Azul said, "I'm sure they can keep a secret." Jonah nodded at this.

Jade sighed. "Very well, then." He pulled his fedora down. "My unique magic is called 'Shock the Heart'. It is magic that allows someone to tell me only the absolute truth.

"Wha–!?" Grim squeaked, "Does that mean they can't lie to you!?"

Jade nodded. "This is why I never mention anything about my unique magic. People would become cautious around me. I can only use it against a person once. Once I have used it, I cannot use it on the same person again. Moreover, it is not guaranteed to work on strong magicians or someone as overly cautious as Azul. It will only work perfectly against those who are gullible and those who are doubting their own hearts. It is a unique magic that is quite limited, I'm afraid."

"It works so much better against cowards and crybabies though~" Floyd grinned.

Jade chuckled almost mischievously. "Indeed."

"That's a pretty twisted smile..." Grim whispered back to Jonah who shrugged at him.

"In any case, Kalim is the overly friendly type, so he easily fell for my magic." Jade paused. He was frowning which usually wasn't a good thing. "However..."

"[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?"

"I do," Kalim answered in a monotone voice.

"Then, what is his name?"

"That's..." he paused for a second before continuing, "I can't say."

A small gasp escaped from Jade's lips. "Eh?"

"It's something I absolutely can't tell anyone," Kalim said, "I promised them long ago. That's why I won't say it."

"Is that so...?" Jade said. He really didn't anticipate this. He couldn't try again for this is once in a lifetime chance. "I understand."

He let go of Kalim's chin and closed his eyes. The magic circle on Kalim's eyes disappeared and the white-haired boy gasped like he just broke the surface of the water after diving. "Wha... What was I doing just now...?" he mumbled.

Jade smiled at him. "There's no need to worry, Kalim. In fact, I should thank you. I have cleared what I was tasked to do."

"R-Really?" Kalim sheepishly chuckled obviously confused. "I don't really get it, but it's good that you're feeling better!"

Jade nodded at him. "Indeed."

"That's how it went."

Azul let out a bark. He seriously didn't whether he should laugh or scream at the outcome. "I'm not even surprised! Kalim's kindness completely won against your unique magic."

Jade crossed his arms in front of his chest. He looked like he was pouting but still wanted to stay professional. "It is very frustrating to admit, but that is what happened."

"I always thought he'd be loose-lipped, so that's unexpected~" Floyd giggled. "That promise must've meant so much to him, huh?"

"Not only that, that dedication has practically revealed the cause of strife within their dorm."

Azul's lips curled up into a confident smirk. He tipped his fedora, glasses gleamed with determination and cunningness. Something about his smile made Jade and Floyd smirk back. While Grim was still suspicious of him, but he was willing to trust for just this time. Azul glanced at Jonah who nodded at him, handing the leadership to him.

Azul nodded back and looked at everyone in the room once again. "Well, gentlemen, captain. Shall we catch the one responsible red-handed?"