"OW! Uugh!"

"Hey, hey. Keep it together."

"S-Sorry." Cater gritted his teeth, trying his best to wretched his hand from Trey's hold to touch his side. It was a miracle that all of them managed to get to the infirmary before any of them collapse, especially Cater and Jonah. Grim's bite was unexpectedly deep, but they were lucky that none of the flesh was torn out.

Cater let out a weak chuckle. "Haah, in the end, I didn't do much."

"Don't say that." Trey shook his head, gripping onto Cater's hand tighter. "I'm the one who was pretty useless back there."

"Aw, don't be like that." Cater said, between his hisses. "We did our best."

Trey sighed. "It wasn't enough though." He looked to the bed next to Cater. Jonah was sitting on the bed, knees pulled close to his chest, hugging them closely. Riddle was pacing back and forth in front of his bed, face red like he was a bomb ready to explode. Jack sat on the chair next to Jonah's bed, his hand on the other's boy back as he patted him gently.

Jonah sighed, feeling dizzy from Riddle going back and forth. "Look. If you're going to say something, just spill it out."

Riddle stopped. Turning his head to Jonah, he was glaring so hard. "Oh, believe me. I have many things I want to say." He then sighed tiredly, pinching the bridge of his nose. "But we can't waste any more time." He looked up at Jonah again, still glaring. "I give you ten minutes to explain yourself."

Jonah ran his hand down his face, huffing in annoyance. "Fine." He turned to the nurse. "I'm sorry, Mister Spencer. But can you leave us for the time being?"

Shalom sighed at him. "Young man, never have I ever meet someone who has many close calls like you. What does the headmaster see in you?" He looked at the other children. "Make sure you keep him out from killing himself because I don't want to handle another missing limb." With that, the old man walked outside, leaving the kids in silence for a few seconds.

"Alright. Recap." Jonah, jumped off the bed standing in front of the gang. "Basically, if we don't get that picture of the prince before the sunset next Thursday, I'll be Azul's slave for all eternity."

Riddle held back a scream from behind his throat. "And?" he grumbled. "What is your plan?"

Jonah didn't look at him. "We only have a few days in our hand, so we have to make these days worth it." He lifted his right arm and swiped the dark screen, lightning up as a transparent screen shone out. With a few taps, he opened a web all about the Atlantica Memorial Museum. "Alright, what I have in mind is that there's just no way that we can grab the photo in broad daylight. So, I suggest tomorrow morning we will at least scout the area first. Practice our swimming if we must, find the shortest way to get to the museum and other potential escape routes." He tapped a picture of the museum map, pointing at the several spots. "We can sneak in through the employee door tomorrow night."

"Wait," Jack spoke out. "If we're doing this at night, that means we only have two chances."

Jonah nodded. "That's why we need to at least know the battlefield. If we must, and by some miracle, we can return on day three." He looked between the rest of them. "Any question?"

Cater struggled to sit up from his spot. "Any idea how are we going to breathe underwater?"

Jonah hummed. He glanced at Trey. "Is there any spell or charm we can use?"

Trey tapped his chin, thinking for a while. "We can use the bubble-head charm or eat some gillyweed. Or maybe that one transfiguration spell to change yourself to a shark." In the last part, Trey glanced at Cater and the orange-haired senior laughed. The rest of them didn't quite get it like it was just a joke between the two of them.

Nevertheless, Jonah nodded. "Alright." He looked at Cater. "If you're still hurt, you can sit this one out and maybe try to think of some ideas." Cater nodded and Jonah turned to the rest of the boys. "Meanwhile, all of us will be scouting tomorrow. Understand?" Trey, Jack, and Riddle nodded and Jonah nodded back.

"Good. Let's meet up again in the Mirror Chamber after morning class. Well then, it's already late. You guys should sleep." Without saying anything else, Jonah walked away, not even bothering to close the door behind him. The hallways were empty so he didn't have to worry about bumping into those anemones.

Though, he was slightly surprised when he heard running footsteps behind him and someone grasping his hand. He didn't need to turn around to recognize the voice. "Wait."

Jonah sighed tiredly through his nose. "Yes. Senior Riddle?"

"I just... I just need to know." The interesting part was the hand grasping his own was trembling. "Why... Why did do that?"

It didn't take a genius to figure out what Riddle was talking about. "As you said before," he started. "I have nothing else to give up. It's not like I have any other choice. My freedom for theirs seems to be the perfect offering, right?"

The grip on his hand became tighter. "You didn't you tell me?" Riddle's voice sounded desperate for some reason. "If you just come to me I can offer my unique-"

"No!" Jonah suddenly turned around. Riddle's eyes widened as Jonah stared at him straight into his eyes, both of his hands holding his own. "I can't let you do that. No matter what, I can't."

"Why? You helped me in my overblot, so why I can't help you?!"

"It's different!"

"What is? Explain yourself!"

"I don't want you to get hurt!"

Riddle suddenly shut up. The captain's head hung low, forehead touching their grasping hand. His voice was soft, almost unheard, but Riddle noticed the trembling in it.

"You think I'm okay with Ashengrotto toying with you earlier, with him using Ace, Deuce, and Grim against us? Do you think I'm not worried about sending you, Cater and Jack, during that Sunday Supreme? You think I never miss Grim sleeping with me?" He looked up and Riddle could see the tears dripping from his eye. "I can't let you get hurt anymore. You guys are everything to me. I just..." He bit his lips. Jonah really didn't want to cry. He really didn't. But, he just felt so tired all of a sudden. It didn't help that he barely had enough sleep these past few days.

Riddle let go of his hands, but then he reached the back of Jonah's head and pulled him closer, resting his forehead onto Riddle's shoulder. "You are dear to me too," he whispered, running his fingers through that reddish-brown hair. "I am forever grateful you saved me back then. So, please..." His other hand reached behind Jonah, pulling him into a hug. "Let me help you."

The dam just broke. Jonah hugged Riddle closer as he cried, not caring if his sobs echoed through the hallway. Riddle just kept running his hand in a comforting manner. Jonah needed it. He wasn't the only one who was tired. Even after listening to that Riddle wondered what would happen if he had come earlier, signing that contract on behalf Jonah's name. It was a strange thought. He never thought that there would be the day where he would give up his unique magic for someone. Strangely, he didn't feel guilty about that, like if he had the chance to do that for the sake of his dearest friend, he would do that.

How strange. But a welcoming type of strange.

-----

There was a knocking on his door which caused Jonah to snapped his eyes open. Who would come here very early in the morning?

"Are you awake, Mister Argentum?"

Ashnegrotto?! All the remaining sleep had left his body as Jonah quickly jumped out of bed and ran toward the door, tumbling from his blanket.

"Don't bother opening the door unless you want to drown again." Ashengrotto's word stopped Jonah from grabbing the handle. Glancing to the mirror, he could see his eye had changed into green, activating his counter curse. "You better listen carefully, because I won't be repeating." Pressing his back to the door and sitting on the floor, Jonah swiped the screen on his arm, quickly picking the voice recording function. "As you know, your mission technically starts the moment you sign that contract, but we need to settle some rule."

Behind the door, Azul was gripping hard onto the handle as if he was trying to anchor himself. Taking a deep breath, he started to speak again, keeping his voice professional. "Think of this as a real-life Maze and Monster. I'll be the Maze Overseer and you'll be the player. Your objective is pretty clear: get the picture and bring it to me. There's no need for you to roll a dice or pick a card. Any underwater spells, charms, and potions are allowed. All you need to do is to get the picture with your own two hands."

"There is a catch though. As the Maze Overseer, I will know every bit of your plan." Jonah's eyes widened as the Octavinelle Prefect continued. "After all, you surrendered your free-will to me, thus, I have the right to know and control everything you do." Azul chuckled. "But I'll be lenient this early on. You'll get used to it if you lose." Jonah tried his best not to immediately rip the door off and punch that takoyaki on the face. But he needed to hold back. Just for a few more seconds. "Just for clarification, I want you to be the one who brings that photo to me."

Azul's hand slipped from the handle as he took a step back, lips twisted into a smile. "Remember, Jonah Argentum. I'll always have my eyes on you." With that, he turned around, leaving the boy behind the door racking his brain for any alternative plans.

Even after Ashengrotto's footstep had faded, Jonah could still feel his presence, looming over him, watching him in every move. He quickly sent the voice recording and a short message to three numbers, then immediately turned off the screen. He looked around, watching every corner in his room with high-alert. It felt like he was an animal trapped in a cage and Ashengrotto was watching him for his own entertainment.

He needed to win this quickly.

And thus, the game began...