The prefect meeting had concluded for a long time, but Riddle and Jonah stayed behind in the Mirror Chamber, staring at the Dark Mirror, waiting for a sign it was rippling. "How long do you think it'll take them to come back?" Jonah asked, hands scrunching in the clothes folded in his lap.

"Who knows?" Riddle sighed. "Hopefully they don't get too much trouble."

"What are you two gentlemen talking about?"

Riddle stood up, standing between Jonah and the approaching Octavinelle Prefect. "What do you want, Azul?"

"What's wrong? Can't I just greet a fellow prefect?" Azul shook his head in a disappointed manner. But then, his gaze turned to Jonah. "Oh, Mister Argentum, you wouldn't mind if I borrow Mister Rosehearts for a while?"

Jonah shot up from his seat and reached for his cutlass on his belt, even though Riddle was still in front of him. "What do you want from him?"

"There's no problem." Azul tapped his cane and Riddle noticed the way his gem glowed. "Didn't you think that you want to go to the nurse about your condition?"

He heard Jonah gasped behind him. "I..."

"Run along, then." The Octavinelle Prefect smirked. "And don't even think of following us."

Jonah let out a grunt and his hand slipped away from the hilt of his sword. "Fine."

Without even looking up, Jonah picked up Cater and Jack's clothes and walked away from the Mirror Chamber, closing the door behind him. Riddle's grip on his magical pen became tighter. "What did you do?"

"Nothing," Azul chuckled, stepping aside and slung his arm over Riddle's shoulder. "I just gave him an order and he follows what I command. He partially doesn't have his free-will, after all." He started to walk, bringing Riddle with him toward the door. "Now, Mister Rosehearts. It has been a long time since we talked with each other. Our last meeting was rather..." He snapped his fingers, trying to find a good word to describe it. In the end, he settled with. "Unpleasant."

Riddle rolled his eyes and pulled himself away from Azul's one-sided hug. "I'm not interested in your petty talk." He started to walk ahead and opened the door. "If you excuse me..."

"Oh, I think you might want to listen to me," Azul said when Riddle was already one step out of the chamber. But then, Azul said, "Or else something might happen to your vice prefect."

Riddle stopped. His eyes widened as he turned around. "What did you do to Trey?!"

Azul chuckled, once again slinging his arm around Riddle's shoulder and pulling him closer. "Why don't you come and see?"

Riddle wanted to blast him away. He really did. But, Azul somehow got Trey, and possibly the trio as well. The Heartslabyul Prefect sighed and nodded.

Azul just smirked, knowing that he had his pieces come together.

-----

"[Expelliarmus]!" Deuce shot a spell, aiming it toward Cater's pen but the senior had shouted, "[Protego]!"

A shield materialized in front of him. However, he didn't notice Floyd came swimming toward him from behind, his magical pen sparking with electricity. With a laugh, he shot his sparks toward Cater, but the senior managed to swim away. In turn, Cater twirled his hand creating a tornado that hit Floyd, throwing him further from him.

"Deuce! Why are you here?!" Cater turned to the mackerel.

"I'm sorry!" Deuce said, tone guilty. "I didn't know that he would take me here and forced me to drink that potion."

"Azul had a batch of salacia potion too?" Jack asked.

"He just-" Deuce screamed grabbing his head. From afar, Floyd pointed his magical pen at him.

"Oi, Mackarel..." he said, in a low tone. "Didn't I tell you to get serious?" He waved his wand and suddenly Deuce swam forward, a fist raised toward Cater. Cater held his pen, but Jack suddenly interfered, grabbing Deuce's fist but be careful not to hurt him with his spikes.

"Deuce! You have to fight back!" Jack shouted.

"I can't!" the mackerel shouted back. "You have to run while you can. I don't want to hurt you!" Deuce flicked his tail, slapping Jack in the face, forcing him to let go of his fist. He tried to punch him again but Jack swam away. Deuce pointed his magical pen at him, shooting out, "[Rictusempra]!" But Jack summoned a pillar of rock to protect himself. The pillar wobbled as if it was laughing from the tickling before it broke into pieces.

"Jack!" Cater shouted.

"Watch out, Snapper~!" Floyd suddenly appeared behind Cater and looped his arm around Cater's neck, choking him in his hold. "Or else, you'll get in trouble."

"D-Don't-" Cater elbowed him on the stomach. The eel's eyes widened and his grip loosened. Cater used this chance to slipped away and once again shot his wind magic at him.

"We are nowhere closer to the museum at this rate!" Cater turned toward the still fighting Deuce and Jack. "Deuce, where is Jade?!"

"I don't know!" Deuce shouted back. "Floyd and I were alone all this time."

"Then, he's still in the school ground," Cater muttered, avoiding an electric shot from Floyd. "Hey! Don't interrupt me!"

"Aw~ But you're so boring~" Floyd laughed as he kept attacking Cater. "Azul told him to stay back since he had guessed that you might do something during the prefect meeting when he's not around."

"But if Jade is in the Mostro Lounge..." Cater eyes widened. "Trey is in trouble!"

Jack swam closer to Cater, both of them floating back to back as Deuce and Floyd circled them. "We should retreat for now. This is going nowhere."

Cater nodded. He lifted his magical pen and screamed. "[Split Card]!" A magic circle appeared around him and Jack. One copy of red snapper merman appeared from each circle. "Fellows! Keep them away from us!"

"Yes, Sir!"

"Oi, oi, oi~" Floyd giggled. "You can't get away that easy~" He saw forward but a Cater blocked him. The clone turned toward the real one and Jack. "Go! Get away from here!" Both mermen nodded and swam away, heading toward the same spot at the beginning, even with an eel and a mackerel swimming very close to them.

-----

Arriving at the Mostro Lounge Office, Riddle was greeted with a sight of Trey, Ace, and Grim sleeping on the couch, with Jade standing behind Trey's couch. "Trey! Ace!" He ran toward his vice prefect, shaking his shoulder. "Hey! Wake up!" The glasses-wearing boy didn't look like he was in pain. If this was a different situation, Riddle would've guessed that they were just sleeping. He glared at Jade, but the back of his mind kept asking why he was here and not in the ocean. "What did you do to them?"

"Oh, there is nothing wrong with them," Jade smiled. "They were just a bit shocked." Jade reached for Trey's hair, caressing him gently but managed to make Riddle's blood boiled. "Found them trying to steal the golden contracts. How unsightly, to be honest."

"The contract sends out electric shocks if someone other than me touches it." The Heartslabyul Prefect froze when he felt Azul's gloved hand on his shoulder. "How unfortunate, isn't it?"

"H-How?"

"Didn't anyone tell you? The contract can never be broken. Even your stupid captain knows that."

Riddle noticed the way Azul's grip got tighter at the mention of the captain. He frowned, slowly turning his head toward Azul. "What happens that day?" he asked carefully. "The day when everything went downhill."

The smile on Azul's lips slipped away. "Didn't anyone tell you already?"

"I want to hear it from your or Jonah's mouth." Riddle slapped Azul's hand away and slowly stood up, standing face to face with his fellow prefect. "What happened that you must curse him?"

Azul rolled his eyes. "Pretty simple, really." He started to walk away toward his desk. "I told him not to come here that day, and he did." He put his hand on his desk, but Riddle noticed the way they are trembling whether because of sadness or anger. "To make it worse, that boy was stupid enough to go back against our agreement."

"Just that?"

"Oh, please, dear Crimson Ruler. I don't want to hear that from you." Azul glanced backward toward Riddle. "Have you forgotten about your reign before?"

Riddle curled up his fingers into a fist. "I know what I did was tyrannical, but I want to be better."

"Because of the captain told you too?"

"No. This is my choice to change. Just like it was your choice to curse him." He stepped forward, one hand on his chest. "He trusts you, you know? He knows that you wouldn't go back against your own words, which was why he was willing to sign another contract with you."

"If he trusts me that much, why is he against me?" Azul spun around again and took a quick stride to Riddle, glaring at the smaller prefect. "If he trusts me, why did he choose to save his stupid friends than agreeing with me? Tell me, Riddle Rosehearts..." He reached for Riddle's jaws, gripping it tightly as if it was a threat. "Why does he choose you instead of me?"

Riddle couldn't answer that, because honestly, he didn't know the answer. He knew the captain was a dumbass who thought so little of his own life and wanted to save as many people as he could. He didn't understand the mindset of the kind-hearted captain who saved him during overblot and sticking with him until now. He honestly couldn't understand his own brain. Why was he willing to do something as stupid as challenging the prefect of another dorm, just to help a captain who got himself into this mess.

But he knew this was the right thing.

Jonah helped him back then and now it was his turn to help him.

They had come this far. He couldn't just pull back because of a petty quarrel.

Azul huffed. "I do not doubt that once he realizes the abnormality, he will run straight here to save you. In the meantime, while we wait." His lips curled into a dangerous smile that even Riddle felt afraid for a second. "I have an offer for you."

-----

Jonah knocked at the infirmary door before opening it. "Mister Spencer?"

The old grandpa, who was sitting behind his desk while examining some documents, looked up. "Jonah Argentum," the nurse greeted, closing his book as Jonah sat across the table. "What brings you here this time?"

"Just a question," he said. "So, I tried to drink a potion earlier, but I threw up." The boy gripped his stomach, still feeling guilty about the waste potion and his inability to help. "My stomach just couldn't handle it. Yet, the others are just fine."

"I see..." Spencer nodded. "I always wonder about that." He stood up and walked toward the cupboard of medicine next to him. "What potion did you try to drink?"

"Salacia potion."

Spencer paused from opening the door. "How did you brew that?" he asked, eyes squinting at the boy. "That was an advanced-level potion."

Jonah raised both of his hands. "I didn't. My friends made it for us."

Spencer stared at him for a few seconds before humming. "Alright. Let's try something." He grabbed a bottle shaped like a pyramid with a blue liquid in it. He opened the lid and gave it to Jonah. "Drink this."

"What is this?"

"A fire-protection potion. Try to drink that and tell me what it tastes like."

Jonah stared at the blue liquid. It did look way better than the potion earlier. He nodded and gulped the potion in one go. Once again, his stomach scrunched and he immediately covered his mouth to stop himself from puking. Spencer pointed at one of the waste buckets underneath the bed and made it flew to Jonah's lap. The boy didn't waste any more time with the gift and ducked, vomiting the potion and whatever that was left in his stomach. "Ugh..." He grunted. "It tastes horrible. It's like drinking overcooked cabbage."

"Is that so?" Spencer walked toward him as Jonah hurled some more, giving him some gentle pats on the back. "Strange. It was supposed to taste icy. Like eating some bland ice cream."

Jonah lifted his head, staring at the nurse with a raised eyebrow. "That doesn't taste good either."

"Yes. But how you describe the taste is different from what it is supposed to taste like." Spencer offered him a tissue box and Jonah pilled a piece to wipe his mouth. "You are a chef. You should know this strangeness." He sat back in his seat. "Mister Argentum, I think you have potion intolerance.

Jonah blinked, clearly still confused. "What? So, I'm sick?"

"No, no, no. It's similar to lactose intolerance, except with potion," Shalom explained. "Your body is unable to properly break down the various substances in the potions, so the digestive tract attempts to rid itself of the food as soon as possible. This leads to common intolerance symptoms, such as stomach pain." The nurse's gaze moved toward the metal right arm. "This is why I'm curious because there's such thing as a skele-gro potion, but because of your intolerance, we ended up cutting your disintegrate arm."

Jonah reached for his prosthetic arm, finger tracing the metal. "So... If I can't drink potions. Now what?"

"Well, there's always an alternative like eating magical plants with nearly the same effect as the potion," the nurse said. "But, what most work is to take care of yourself more. Don't get into too many life-threatening troubles."

Jonah sighed, feeling frustrated than ever. After saying a quick thank you, he walked back to the Mirror Chamber. He felt eyes watching him within every step he took, all judging and taunting him. His heart beat faster because of the anxiety and the feeling of being useless. Even when he finally reached the Mirror Chamber, the feeling didn't leave him alone. Even just waiting for Cater and Jack to return was a hard task to do.

Once again, some conditions that he couldn't control stopped him. If he couldn't drink the potion, how was he supposed to beat the Leech Twins in a swimming contest? There was no way his flimsy legs would win against mermaids with tails. If this kept on going, how would he ever win?

Finally, the Dark Mirror rippled and it spitted out two boys that Jonah knew. He ran toward them. "You're back- YOU'RE NAKED!"

"Ah-ha-ha... Yeah..." Cater lifted his head, smiling sheepishly. "This is a thing."

"You guys are lucky I have these with me." Jonah threw the clothes at them and politely turned around to give him some privacy as they changed. "So, how did it go?"

Jack sighed as he wore this underwear. "We didn't get it. Floyd and Deuce stopped us."

Jonah blinked confusedly. "Deuce?"

"Floyd used him against us!" Cater whined, butting his shirt from the top to bottom. "We can't attack him freely or else Deuce might get hurt."

"But..." Jonah clenched and unclenched the info. "What about Jade?"

"He wasn't with Floyd," Jack answered, finally finished wearing his full uniform. He shook his head, trying to get the extra seawater off his hair. "Which means he didn't dive at all."

"But why?"

"So, he could guard Mostro Lounge," Jack sighed. "Azul knew that if he goes to the prefect meeting, Mostro Lounge would be without supervision and we might use the opportunity."

"And we had an idea to steal the contract and maybe find a way to destroy it," Cater added. "Riddle sent Trey, ADeuce, and Grim to find out. But Deuce was in the sea..."

Jonah turned around in shock. Of course, with his conditions, he couldn't be mad at them that they would make a plan behind his back. But still... "Why would you- Those contracts are unbreakable."

"There has to be a weakness in Azul's unique magic," Jack said, crossing his arms in front of his chest in annoyance. "If we can find it, we can use that slim chance to turn the table around."

"So, if Trey tries to steal them... But Jade is in Mostro Lounge as well..." Jonah's eyes widened, finally connecting the pieces. "It's a trap. Ashengrotto knows this will happen. He's one step ahead of us once again."

Wait...

Ashengrotto somehow knew about the plan...

He was with Riddle the last time he saw them-

Jonah gasped. "Oh no. Riddle."

"Riddle? What happened to Riddle?"

Cater didn't get an answer. Jonah immediately ran out of the Mirror Chamber, leaving the two of them calling his name. He can't stop. Not when Riddle is currently with Ashengrotto, who knows what will happen. Anger is bubbling in his chest and his speed becomes faster. He swears if Azul even dares to touch Riddle...

He's going to kill that takoyaki.

-----

"I'm not making this worse, Azul," Riddle stated as he slapped Azul's hand away and stepped back, but he couldn't get far with Jade standing behind him. "You can forget about this."

"On the contrary, Riddle." Azul walked back to his desk and sat on his chair, leg crossed and fingers folded on top of his knees. "You might want to sit down. You may actually help the captain."

Riddle's breath hitched. Azul's smirk widened. "Got your attention, I see?" He gestured to the empty seat in front of his desk. Riddle took a deep breath, feeling Jade's hand pressed against his back, urging him to step forward. The prefect sighed, finally walked toward the desk, and sit in front of the boss.

Azul cleared his throat. "As much as I want to offer you the chance to rip both of the captain's contracts, it would feel too easy for all of us." He snapped his fingers and a contract appeared in front of Riddle. The prefect's blue eyes widened when he recognized the captain's name signed at the bottom of the paper. "And the captain wouldn't like it if he can't save those meddling crew of his. But you might be able to lessen the burden."

Riddle lifted his head, glaring at Azul. "How?"

"I know he's not fond of unable to see his enemies or be together with his anemones, so I offer to lift his curse. Then he'll be able to see us all without drowning." He chuckled, leaning back against his chair. "Isn't that the best solution for everything? He'll still be able to save them and actually see his enemies."

"Even with the curse being lifted, he's still under your control," Riddle said.

"That was part of the deal, Riddle," Azul sighed. "I can't do anything about it. But the curse?" He snapped his fingers and the contract disappeared. "I can make it disappear with a stroke of your signature."

Riddle bit his lips. He knew Azul had the power to take away Jonah's curse as the original caster, and deep in his heart, he wanted to believe him. "But, of course. This deal doesn't come in free." Riddle focused on Azul again. "What would you offer me, dear Crimson Ruler?"

Riddle frowned at Azul. "How can I be so sure you wouldn't use this and backfire on us?"

The Octavinelle Prefect clicked his tongue. "You think so lowly at me, Riddle."

"Then, write this down." Riddle leaned forward. "You still have power upon Jonah but you will limit it to your mind-reading. You can't control his action or change the environment around the museum to his and his team's disadvantage."

Azul hummed as he nodded. "Such a big offer, but not impossible."

"If you do that..." the red-haired prefect gulped. "... I'll give you my Off With Your Head."

Azul laughed. "Wonderful!" He tapped his cane onto the table and a golden paper similar to earlier appeared in front of Riddle. Azul twirled his cane and changed it into a white feather. "Now, Riddle Rosehearts. If you could just sign here, your captain will be free from his curse and we'll be off in our way."

Riddle stared at the contract for a long time before reaching for the feather. He kept thinking of what would Jonah thought about this. After all, he once said that he wouldn't let Riddle give up unique magic, but this will be worth it, right? As Azul said, he can help Jonah with this, right?

Riddle gripped the feather tighter and slowly lowered to the shining golden paper. He made one stroke-

*BANG!*

It was followed by the sound of cannon-charging and *BOOM!*

Everyone ducked from the attack. The golden contract flew off the table and landed next to Azul's feet as if it was mocking him. The Octavinelle Prefect clicked his tongue and stood up, turning his head to the uninvited guest. "Excuse me. But we're in the middle of a meeting."

Jonah had his hand-cannon charging once again, preparing for an extra attack. "What? Can't handle me being here as well?" He stepped forward and everyone could just feel the radiating anger from the captain. "I thought this whole thing is just between the two of us, Ashengrotto."

"I never say anything about that," Azul said in a cold tone, brushing the dust from his suit. "You chose to put yourself and others in this situation. You should've known that I won't just let this opportunity to expand my business fly away."

"Too bad. Just this once, I won't let you get away with this." Jonah growled. "Now wake all of them up, rip that contract, and I won't blast a hole on your forehead."

Azul grabbed the feather from the ground and flicked it, changing it back into his cane. "They are still my anemones, Mister Argentum. Thus, they are still under my control."

"But Senior Trey and Riddle isn't. If I can save them, you really think I'll let that chance slide?"

Azul sighed. "How predictable. You will regret disturbing my business once again."

Jonah glared at Azul. "No. You will regret trying to hurt my friends."

Azul's grip on his cane became tighter. "And I wasn't one?"

His gem glowed and Azul slammed his cane to the ground. Under his feet, a great space appeared and extended, changing the whole office into the starry night sky. Riddle felt the floor underneath him disappeared. He fell into space, screaming to the void. Jade fell calmly without any sound, and the three sleeping students fell along with them.

"RIDDLE! GUYS!" Jonah stretched out his hand, but a ball of water suddenly shot itself toward him, forcing him to step back.

"All eyes on me, Captain!" Bubbles appeared a few feet ahead of him, and Azul emerged. "Don't let those friends of yours distract you."

Jonah reached for his sword pointing it at the prefect as Azul held onto his cane tighter, gem glowing dangerously despite the blotches of ink on it.