Just like how he promised, Trey stayed in Jonah's room. There wasn't anything they could do besides waiting for the team to come back. Trey leaned against the wall beside the window, looking to the side at the other boy who was sitting on the window sill, looking worriedly at the direction to the Hall of Mirror.

"They'll be fine," Trey said, making Jonah glanced at him with a slight surprise. "We're basically repeating Riddle's plan back during the magishift, right?"

He hummed, the back of his head pressing the stone behind him. "I'm basically betting this on RNG," he muttered. "He won't be happy. I know Cater is good back then, but he's going in so close right now."

"Cater is a great actor. He wouldn't let his disguise slip. Even I sometimes have trouble figuring out his mask." Jonah turned toward, eyebrow raised as if he was waiting for a continuation. But Trey sighed, pushing his glasses up his nose. Maybe one day he could finally crack that mask. "Though, you didn't exactly explain to Riddle that Cater's in disguise."

"It's better if Senior Riddle didn't know," Jonah answered. "If he didn't look panic or disappointed, Azul might be suspicious."

"So, you're lying to make this plan work?"

"I didn't lie technically." Jonah bit his lip and turned his head toward the Hall of Mirrors again. "Just hiding some things."

Trey frowned at this. "You know you'll only keep hiding even bigger if you keep this up."

Jonah glanced at him as his bangs created a shadow around his eye, giving it some sort of dangerous glint. "Is there anything else to hide though?" he asked in a low voice.

Trey didn't back down. His glasses flash dangerously as well. "Maybe start by telling us what are you planning to give up."

Trey noticed Jonah's hand curled up, gripping his pants as his brow slightly furrowed as if he was getting defensive. However, before they could continue even further, there was a knock at the door. Both boys looked at the door but Trey was the one making move to open it. He smiled as a greeting to the rest of the team.

"Yo~ We're back." Cater waved his hand. Hearing the voice, Jonah jumped from the window and walked toward them, smiling at them.

"Did you get it?" he asked.

"Yep." Cater winked. "All we need to do is to make the terms of the agreement and we'll be off."

Riddle frowned as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "There's one thing though."

"Eh? Really?" Cater looked down at his prefect confusedly. "Did I miss a step?"

Riddle shook his head. "Not you." Riddle turned his head toward Jonah. "I'm talking about the collateral."

Glancing toward Jonah, Trey noticed the way the boy's fingers were rubbing each other anxiously as Riddle continued. "You don't have anything left. I doubt you have anything valuable in your possession."

Jonah sighed as he tucked some hair behind his ear. "I'll... Think about it." He glanced toward Cater again. "Did he mention when should we meet?"

"Tomorrow night," Cater said. "He also said that he'll deliver the 'official invitation' tomorrow."

"So, the counter curse won't work around that time." Jonah tapped his chin. "But maybe it would be better since we're trying to hide it."

"But Azul did mention when he cursed you that you're not allowed to step in Octavinelle unless he says so," Jack said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "If both of you need to make a contract, surely he can lift the curse just a bit."

"That's true too. I guess we have to wait until tomorrow." Jonah hummed as he nodded. "It's pretty late, I kinda want to sleep early."

Riddle stared at Jonah for a bit, frowning as if he was trying to figure out something. In turn, Jonah stared back at him, though Trey noticed the way he kept rubbing his fingers. In the end, Riddle sighed. "Alright."

Jonah sighed through his nose. "But," Riddle quickly added. "You better not try to go on your own."

Jonah smiled at him. "Alright." With that, he closed the door.

Jack and Cater walked ahead, knowing that this was passed the wolf-boy's bedtime. Riddle walked at the back, next to Trey. The Heartslabyul Prefect's steps weren't as confident as when he went out to Octavinelle. His steps right now were slower, unsure even as if he had so many things in his mind.

"Riddle?" Trey pulled Riddle's sleeve, causing them to stop their track. "Is there something wrong?"

Riddle sighed through his nose. "I just... I had a strange feeling."

"Like what?"

"To be honest, don't know." He pinched the bridge of his nose as he scrunched his eyes tiredly. "It's like he's planning to do something stupid again."

Trey hummed. Looking back at the closed door. "Well, figure it out," he looked down at Riddle again and ran his hand on the redhead's head. "We won't let him do anything stupid."

Because while Trey is forever grateful for Jonah who helps them with Riddle, he really didn't want to think of the possibility of he doesn't trust them...

-----

"You've come here because you've fallen in love with a human, haven't you, sweet princess?"

Jonah found himself under the sea, inside a creepy cavern filled with creatures that were wailing toward the little mermaid who just entered there and found the benevolent sea witch herself.

"The only way you can be together with him if you become a human yourself."

"Can you do that?"

"Sweet child, that's what I do!"

She pulled the little mermaid closer as she opened the giant clam cauldron, already smoking.

"I'll make you a potion that can turn you into a human for three whole days. And the prince absolutely has to fall in love with you. But of course, this doesn't come in free."

"But I don't have any-"

"I'm not asking much, just a token really, a trifle. What I want from you is, your voice."

"But without my voice, how could I-"

"You'll have your looks, your pretty face, and don't underestimate the importance of body language, dear!"

The sea witch pulled the little mermaid closer to her as she rolled out a golden contract and a white feather, suspiciously similar to what Ashengrotto had. Jonah couldn't make out it fully, but he caught some sentences like [I hereby grant unto Ursula the Witch of the Sea...], [one voice], and [for all eternity].

"Now, sign your name onto this contract! I will save your poor, unfortunate soul!"

Knowing it was now or never, the little mermaid took the feather and signed her name at the bottom of the contract. The contract suddenly rolled up into the grinning sea witch's hand.

"Now, sing! Sing your heart out!"

As the little mermaid began to sing, two long ghostly hands reached down her throat and taken her voice in form of a bright golden ball of light. The mermaid grabbed her throat in shock, watching the ball of her voice got sucked into the sea witch shell necklace.

Suddenly, the little mermaid found herself trapped inside a bubble. Magic flashed everywhere as her fins split into two, forming two long sturdy legs. The golden bubble burst and then Jonah suddenly realized that they were underwater. Humans can't breathe underwater and she couldn't swim, and worst of all, they knew the sea witch wasn't going to help her.

But to his great relief, a red crab and a yellow fish with blue stripes swam up to her and pulled her to the surface. As the mermaid broke the surface, Jonah felt as if he just emerged from the water himself.

"The little mermaid signed that..." he muttered. The golden orb closed up in his lap and Jonah put it back on his nightstand. The sunlight swept in his curtainless window, giving more light into the room. Jonah sighed and brought his knees closer to his chest. He pressed his forehead onto them, feeling tired despite still early in the morning.

"I guess there isn't any other way," he muttered.

Suddenly, someone knocked on his door. "Jonah..." A voice called from behind it. Jonah's eyes widened.

"Grim?!" He quickly jumped off his bed and ran toward him.

"Don't open it!" Grim shouted just when Jonah reached for the handle of the door. "You'll die!"

"I'll be fine."

"Don't-"

Opening the door with the brightest smile, he blinked in confusion. "Eh?"

In front of his door, there was a floating envelope with the Octavinelle seal on it. "A floating letter?" he muttered.

"What are you talking about?"

"Grim?" The hallway was empty. Looking at the left and right, there wasn't any sign of the demon raccoon. "Where are you?"

"I'm right in front of you!"

"Where-"

Jonah reached out, with a bit too much force.

"Ow!"

Jonah's eyes widened. Grim is invisible? "Oh. Sorry."

"How did you not see me?" Unknown to him, Grim was rubbing his nose from where Jonah had smacked him. "I'm right here!"

It took Jonah's brain to process this revelation a bit longer. His eyes widened in the realization. "Sorry. Side effect."

He heard Grim gasped. "Of the curse?! You're blind now?!"

"No. No." Jonah reached out again when he couldn't feel Grim anymore. It was then when Grim noticed that Jonah's left eye was green instead of black and slightly glossed over. The cat voluntarily pressed his head onto Jonah's palm. Jonah sighed happily.

"I asked for help so I don't have to drown when I'm near you." Jonah rubbed the top of Grim's head and heard the cat purred. "But, I can't see you now."

Grim's ears fell. "Will you... Will you be okay?"

"I'll be fine." Jonah smiled reassuringly. "What are you doing here?"

"This letter is for you from Azul." The letter floated closer when Grim offered it. "He said to bring it with you."

Jonah took the letter and opened it. Grim climbed onto his shoulder and Jonah admit he missed the additional weight there.

Dear Mr. Argentum,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been invited to a special meeting at Octavinelle Dorm's Mostro Lounge. Please bring this letter with you as a good-luck charm.

The meeting begins on 13th December 2020 an hour after sunset. We'll be waiting for you.

Yours sincerely,

Azul Ashengrotto

Octavinelle Prefect

"Is it true?"

Jonah looked up from the letter and turned his head slightly toward the source of Grim's voice. "What is?"

"That you're making a deal for us?" Grim asked again. "Riddle was grumbling about it."

Jonah sighed. He reached up to pat Grim on the head. "It might be the only way to save you."

Grim rubbed his cheek onto Jonah, purring apologetically. "We didn't mean to get ourselves tricked. We thought we could help you."

"It's alright," Jonah said. "You guys share the same brain cells as me. We have the same stupidity."

"I'm not stupid! I'm a genius!"

"Then I'm a genius too." Jonah laughed. Oh, how he missed this. He smiled softly to Grim even though he couldn't see him. "I'll save you. I promise."

"I know you will," Grim purred "I trust you, captain."

Jonah looked down at the letter, glaring at it as if he was trying to burn it with his glare alone.

He won't lose to that sea witch.

He will not be another poor unfortunate soul.

Even if he has to risk everything he has.