Opening his eyes, he was greeted with the black sky and stars hanging above, followed by the cold howling wind. The ground underneath him was rough. Sands, so it seemed.

Jonah slowly got up into a sitting position. His hand reached for his chest slightly tapping it. It didn't hurt even though he was sure something cracked inside of him. So, that means this can't be Scarabia, right?

His suspicion was confirmed when he heard a low grumble. Looking up, slightly feeling stupid for not realizing this first, Jonah saw the giant tiger head made of sand, strikingly similar to the one of his vision. He's back...in wherever this is. He really needs to think of a name or maybe try to find the official name for this place.

Though what wasn't there in the first orb-vision was the sound of a kid yelling.

"Jamil~"

Was that Senior Kalim? Only Kalim would call Senior Viper with that cheerful, slightly high-pitched, but filled with love tone. What is he doing here as well?

Wait. No. This voice sounded more high-pitched than Kalim's usual voice. But the intonation was Kalim's.

Curiosity won again and Jonah stepped closer to the tiger cave - Cave of Wonder, was it? Testing just in case it won't swallow him fully, Jonah climbed to the lip of the tiger. It only let out a low snore. It's safe. There's no way a memory lane would kill him, right.

Cautiously climbing down the stairs, Jonah looked around. The descending stairs were made of solid white blocks unlike sand as he expected. The cave was dark, but there was a light at the end of the stairway. Stalactite and stalagmite were pointy, though he acutely noticed how they kept growing.

Some becoming thicker and joining with others directly below them. It seemed like they were creating pillars. The stairs turning into a floor with a red carpet rolled underneath his feet. The dim-lited cave become brighter and Jonah realized he had been transported in a fancy hallway, gold decorated the walls and ceiling. Jonah stopped his track. It kinda reminded him of Scarabia Dorm.

"Jamil~!"

A white-haired child ran past him toward another child who was walking with two adults by his sides. Compare to the adults who looked startled but immediately bowed their heads, the black-haired child stared at the other with slight annoyance.

"Jamil, let's play!" The first child, who Jonah was sure was little Senior Kalim, laughed, "Today's the day I beat you at board game."

"Again?" The other boy, a young Senior Viper, rolled his eyes and pushed himself out of Kalim's hug. "I'm gonna own you every time." He turned to face him, arms crossed in front of his chest and pouting. "I wanna play something else, too..."

The woman who was with Viper gasped. "Jamil!" She pulled Viper back and flicked his forehead, earning an "ow!" from her son. "How dare you talk to Master Kalim like that!"

The man, who Jonah assumed was Viper's father, bowed his head deeply. "Master Kalim, please forgive my son."

The young master grinned widely. "That's alright, Mister Harun. We can always have a sparring match if Jamil wants that."

The man let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you Master Kalim for always inviting my foolish son to play with you."

Viper's mother also bowed her head with a hand on Viper's head. "We are truly blessed to have such a kind-hearted master."

Viper was still pouting but Kalim didn't seem to bother. The desert wind blew the four figures and the sky behind the big window turned dark.

A creaking sound was heard and a door beside Jonah was opened. It was a vast room, carpeted, and had pillow cushions on some side of the wall. There were only two people in that room though. Viper sat staring at the glowing candle in front of him while his mother sat behind him, gentle braiding his hair right above his ears.

"It's not fair," he said., huffing. "I know I'm better than Kalim!"

The mother sighed. "Jamil..." She reached for the braid on the other side of his head and tied them together as she spoke. "I know you're a smart kid. But, I need you to understand our position." She pulled Viper back until he was pressed against her chest, hugging him in hope of comforting him. "For a servant to be above their masters is an act of disrespect. And there will be consequences. You can't try to one-up Master Kalim. Do you understand, my son?"

Viper sighed, brow furrowed, certainly not satisfied with the answer. "Yes, Mother..." he answered bitterly, but still leaned on his mother's touch.

Sands fell from the ceiling as the scene disappeared in front of him. Leaving him at the bottom of the stairways and an arc in front of him, light shining down the hallway. His stomach clenched, feeling the sudden guilt. He knew about Senior Kalim and Viper's master-servant relationship, but looking it from one side might be clouding his judgment. Stupid captain. Unconsciously, he had been siding with Kalim, probably because of the bright and gentle captivating aura he had compare to Jamil's cold and rather isolated way he talks. After dealing with these three times he would've learned that not every villain is completely on the wrong? He should've expected this and yet he didn't try enough to stop it.

But...just how far and long this had occurred?

Looking up, Jonah took steady steps down the hallway until he went through another arc. Entering the room, it was littered with gold, similar to the treasure vault at Scarabia Dorm. Though he also noticed several mirrors sticking out the piles for coins, each of them showing a mini-movie of Kalim and Viper growing up on several occasions.

One mirror had Kalim, with a thin puppet-like horse with a strap over his shoulder and in traditional clothes, standing in a center of a crowd where everyone was clapping at him. With an exception of Viper who stood the furthest from the crowds in a similar get-up as Kalim, listening to some spectators.

"Kalim is so good at dancing."

"Eh, he's mediocre. But Jamil though..."

"I feel kinda bad for him, twisting his ankle in an important competition like this. It's a shame."

Another mirror had Kalim and Viper playing mancala. He saw Viper was about to pick a hole but then paused. His eyes went to every hole on the board before looking up at Kalim. The young master was sweating fingers twitching nervously. He had no idea what to do next. Viper sighed through his nose. His hand reached out again, but this time it was a different hole.

"Your turn," Viper sighed after spreading the hole's seed. He held back a pout when Kalim's face brightened and picked the hole Viper was originally gonna pick. A few turns later and Kalim ended up being the victor.

"Ahaha! I did it~" He cheered pumping his fist into the air. "Three wins, two losses! It's my victory!"

Viper's fist clenched his pants as he forced a smile at his master.

Another mirror had Kalim and Viper in their high school, walking down the hall of Night Raven College.

"Jamil!" Kalim slung his arm around Viper's shoulder and shoved his alchemy test. "Look! I passed with 75!"

Viper let out a laugh. "That's great, Kalim."

The white-haired boy grinned, a light blush dusted his cheeks. "It's all thanks to your tutoring! What about you?"

Viper sighed. He took out a paper from his backpack with a '70' marked at the corner of the paper. "Not that great."

Kalim bit his lips, feeling a bit bad for his friend. But it quickly turned into a smile. "Don't worry! We can study together again!"

He missed the way Viper nearly ruined his test paper with his fist.

Years... Jonah realized as he walked slowly out of the treasure room. He had this feeling for years. Growing up unable to show his true potential. Forever forced to stand behind his master when he knows fully that he can surpass him in just a flick of his wand. He had struggled to hold back...until he finally snapped and rebelled.

Jonah hugged himself. Again. Why is this happening to all of them? What did they do to deserve these treatments?

The sound of water dripping from the stalactite above and the scenery of the cold cave rippled. He found himself back at the entrance of Scarabia's dorm lounge. Viper stood with his arms crossed in front of his chest, leaning against the wall, silently listening to two people in the lounge. Kalim stood in front of some older - a senior, perhaps? - wearing what Kalim usually dressed in. He might be the previous prefect. Kalim himself was wearing the common Scarabia dorm uniform, lacking the jewelry.

Kalim's red eyes widened at the prefect. "You..." He let out a small laugh. "You want me to be the prefect?"

The older prefect laughed. "Yes!" He put hands on his shoulders. "And I know that you will be a great prefect. There's no way anyone will be able to resist that bright smile." He pulled Kalim's cheek playfully, earning a laugh from the younger boy.

Kalim grinned so wide. "I still don't get why, but I'll do my best."

Viper didn't listen to the rest of the conversation. Jonah could see the way he gritted his teeth and fists clenched beside him as he stomped his way.

A curtain fluttered in front of him and the scene changed to the headmaster's office. Crowley sat behind his desk, fingers intertwining, hiding his thin line lips. Viper stood across Crowley, hands on the desk.

"Headmaster, why did you choose Kalim to be Prefect?" he asked, trying to hold back his anger. "He doesn't have exceptional talent, and he's only a second year. We're the ones always covering for his mistakes. I'm the ones always covering for his mistakes."

"There is no rule against second years being prefects in Night Raven College," Crowley said calmly.

"Yes. Both Rosehearts and Ashengrotto are prefect too, but-"

"I'm sorry, Mister Viper." Crowley sighed, lowering his hands. "I can't do anything. Mister Asim's smile might win him over, but we can't deny the power of his family and their wealth, maybe even more than Valley of Thorn and Afterglow Savana. As a main donator to the school, I cannot deny their request. You are sharp, so I am sure you already know what is going on, don't you?"

Viper curled his fingers.

"Crystal."

Once again the wind blew. The headmaster turned into sands along with his office, leaving Viper and Jonah in the cave. Behind Jonah, there were stairs up a rock platform. Viper was standing under the hole where the moonlight shone down. Around his wrists were golden shackles, chained to a small golden lamp on top of the table that separated them. Kalim's voice echoed through the wall with "let's keep having each other's backs, okay, Jamil!", "Jamil's the only one who will never betray me." and "we're best friends, aren't we, Jamil?"

Jonah just kept staring at the broken servant until he turned his head toward him, looking with tired eyes. "Captain."

"Senior Viper." Jonah nodded in acknowledgment. He looked at the chain that led up to the shackles. "Does it hurt?"

"What do you think?" Viper looked down, flicking his wrist causing his chain to rattle. "Tied down, like a genie in a lamp. Always bowing down to their master."

Jonah bit his lip. "I once heard that serving a master is a servant's greatest honor."

"Whoever said that is a liar," Viper spatted.

"For some maybe. But, you don't believe that, do you?" He reached for the lamp, holding it in his hands like it was the most fragile thing in the world. "For once you want to be in control."

Viper gritted his teeth. "I never wanted to be a genie. I never wish to be born underneath someone's foot." He clenched his trembling fist. "I just...give me one chance to shine." He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to stop himself from shedding any tears. "That's all I wish for."

Jonah sighed, knowing that he couldn't win this. "I can't grant that wish." He saw how Viper's shoulders sagged in defeat. "I don't have the right to do it. It's true. As a servant, everything is up to the master. But, I have a feeling, maybe he can grant it."

Viper raised his head but didn't turn around. "No way," he whispered, voice harsh but there was a lingering tone of hope at the end. "There's no way he will do that."

"Why can't you trust him, when he trusts you so much?" Jonah asked. "Maybe you just need to see him as an equal instead of an obstacle. Then maybe, you can walk beside him, maybe even further."

When Viper turned around, Jonah felt himself disappearing, transforming into someone Jamil knew. As Jonah/Kalim smiled gently and apologetically, they rubbed the lamp.

The room dimmed down. The sound of locks unlocking and metal clattering on the floor.