Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Chapter Text
The only thing that rung in everyone’s ears was a large crash.
Well, crashes.
Crashes, and what faintly resembled the sound of fire and flames gorging themselves on any souls it dared lay its flames on, a window shattering and coating everyone in sharp rain.
A scream. Or was it screams? Plural? There was so much going on. A cataclysmic explosion of unmatched proportions.
Grim.
The last thing everybody saw of the mischievous little gray monster was him going feral.
Him casting that blue fire that reminded everyone of orientation.
…the black ink.
There was a roar of sorts and above everyone’s heads wasn’t a phantom—or rather it was. But that wasn’t all it was. HE was.
A chimera breed of a monstrous cat, mixed with what seemed to be parts of a snake, and a dragon. Were those parts of a lion? Octopus and-
Nobody could see a thing. It was too hot, these flames were all overwhelming. The glass continued to shower everybody—and if those wouldn’t swallow them whole, the school itself would, collapsing in on itself like sandpaper.
Not to mention the screams. The chaos. The running and trampling. Trampling over people judging by the vague bones cracking. You’d have to really be paying attention to even hear their cries if not for everyone else’s.
“Kalim! Kalim where are you?!”
That familiar voice broke the white haired boy out of his trance, his hands and knees still on the rough, failing floor.
“Jamil! I’ll find you!!!”
Both their selective attention, their instant drift towards each other through the sounds of screams—panicked and pained alike—and building falling must’ve come from years of Jamil looking after Kalim, years of reading his mind and rearranging his own thoughts to match the heir’s.
̶Y̶e̶a̶r̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶c̶o̶d̶e̶p̶e̶n̶d̶e̶n̶c̶y̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶l̶i̶e̶s̶
It wasn’t until Kalim actually managed to unglue himself from the floor when he felt it, the sharp pain, a strangled gasp slipping out of his mouth.
His hand moved to his stomach and he expected…well, he didn’t know what he expected to feel with his hand.
The spot on his stomach felt warm and wet—definitely blood but…something was sticking out. Kalim couldn’t fully make out what it was.
Maybe it was a piece of glass? All that glass did come raining down from the windows after all..maybe just a small piece of debris? What if it was a piece of bone?? And he would end up drowning in his own blood-
“KALIM!!!”
𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗼.
For once, Kalim was grateful he wasn’t that good at tying belts. The purple sash had loosened itself naturally from his waist, allowing him to fold the robe over the slowly darkening spot quickly.
H̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶s̶u̶r̶e̶ ̶w̶h̶y̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶e̶x̶a̶c̶t̶l̶y̶.̶ ̶M̶a̶y̶b̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶a̶d̶r̶e̶n̶a̶l̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶g̶o̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶h̶e̶a̶d̶.̶ ̶M̶a̶y̶b̶e̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶t̶r̶y̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶m̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶s̶e̶l̶f̶ ̶p̶a̶n̶i̶c̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶l̶o̶o̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶p̶o̶k̶e̶d̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶s̶k̶i̶n̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶ ̶l̶o̶n̶g̶.̶
All he could focus on was the familiar tall, graceful stature of his n̶o̶t̶-̶f̶r̶i̶e̶n̶d̶ servant. Jamil waved towards Kalim, his calculating gray eyes wide with urgency.
𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝.
So, Kalim put his brain’s thinking patterns on the backburner and ran to the noirette, doing his best to just focus on getting to his required destination instead of the burning feeling of the wound being tugged and split more and more with every step. He just hoped Jamil wasn’t paying attention to his facial expressions right now, because he couldn’t help but let a grimace etch its way onto his face, a pained whine leaving his lips that was muffled over all the chaos.
Kalim practically ran into Jamil’s arms, and a̶s̶ ̶t̶r̶a̶i̶n̶e̶d̶ Jamil caught him with perfect precision, holding him close before letting go and letting the blood red eyes look into his.
Jamil didn’t ask him if he was alright, maybe he was asking it through his eyes? They could hold so much expression when they weren’t trying to create a math equation from every illogical situation that came.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗯𝗼𝘆. 𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱. 𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻—𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝘁, 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁.
Another boom was heard from ahead. The heir and his s̶l̶a̶v̶e̶ servant turned towards it, almost perfectly in sync.
The beast, once a friend, before them was unrecognizable. Its large ominous head forever in a scowl as its blue flamey creations danced around him, creating what looked like a lion mane of blue fire. He towered over everyone as if they were insects beneath its feet and claws, after he was once the small beast looking up at everyone in slight annoyance.
Now they looked up at him, but not in the way he wished. They didn’t look up at him as if he was the most powerful mage, there was no admiration, jealousy in their eyes.
They looked up in terror, like a devil had somehow flown down from heaven instead of crawling from underneath their feet and groveling before them.
He released a ginormous, monstrous roar that must’ve come from deep within his now inky heart and soul, the sheer force of it causing even more glass to fall. Had Jamil’s feet not been planted so firmly on the ground as he held Kalim’s shoulders, Kalim was certain he would’ve flown away just from the sheer force of the roar.
Even more terror erupted from the student body as they ran, shoved, pushed, trampled, fell. Screamed, cried, tried to get their phones or search for their friends.
Kalim and Jamil were already running, hand in hand. Neither of them dared to look back, for the thought of that same monster they had been faced with was the cute yet annoying little cat like creature who always adorned Yuu’s side—
Yuu.
Oh Yuu…the mirror was shattered to bits, Kalim caught a glimpse of it. It must’ve had something to do with Grim overblotting. After all, overblotting only came about if you both overused your magic AND negative emotions plagued your psyche.
Yuu leaving Grim behind should’ve had negative consequences, but to think it would come to this…
Kalim tried not to tear up just thinking about it, how cruel it was. How cruel it must’ve been for Yuu to not be able to go home now after waiting a̶n̶d̶ ̶b̶e̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶k̶i̶c̶k̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶r̶o̶u̶n̶d̶ ̶ for so long. How cruel it was for Grim to lose his one companion and lose all bodily autonomy as a result.
The burning pain in his side was starting to get to the heir, the stickiness of his own blood made him cringe but that wasn’t even the worst part. He couldn’t keep running, it took everything in kalim not to scream at how much it felt like the item was digging more and more into his stomach.
The good news is, the training from having to keep himself quiet during all those kidnappings allowed him to bite his tongue enough that only a barely perceptible whimper slipped out.
The bad news was, Jamil basically had a sixth sense when it came to basically all of Kalim’s actions and feelings, so Kalim already knew to expect Jamil stopping in his tracks, turning around and immediately putting his hands on his charge’s soldiers, a look of concern crossing his stoic, gray eyes.
“What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”
Kalim’s grip on his belly loosened slightly as he stared into those grey eyes. A̶ ̶p̶a̶r̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶f̶e̶a̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶s̶n̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶w̶h̶i̶s̶p̶e̶r̶e̶r̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶o̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶a̶g̶a̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶t̶o̶p̶ ̶s̶t̶a̶l̶l̶i̶n̶g̶.̶
“I’m fine.” Kalim swallowed and waved off his vice’s concern, the lie feeling almost second nature the moment it left his tongue.
“J-just a cramp.” A shaky and hopefully convincing smile. “We’ve been running a while just—let me catch my breath.”
Kalim thanked the stars Jamil seemed to understand—judging by how he was panting as well. The heir’s lie was half-true, the two had run for who knows how long, and were now in front of the door leading out from the Hall of Mirrors. If you could even call it a hall anymore with how it’s been wrecked.
“Are you alright now? Can we keep going?” Kalim could pick up the urgency and restlessness in Jamil’s controlled tone, and knew he couldn’t keep either of them waiting if they either A) wanted to escape Grim’s flames or B) not drown amidst the sea of people pouring through the large door, almost separating the two.
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐭 𝐮𝐩. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬.
“Sorry, l-let’s go.”
Jamil doesn’t even ask for confirmation before he practically drags himself and Kalim by the hand out from the destroyed ruins of what was once the Hall of Mirrors. He almost recoils when he sees the cracks and holes forming inside the halls—the school was collapsing in on itself, and he picked up his speed. He couldn’t afford to slow down or look back, not when their lives depended on it.
T̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶K̶a̶l̶i̶m̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶s̶u̶r̶e̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶m̶a̶t̶t̶e̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶w̶a̶y̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶b̶l̶o̶o̶d̶ ̶l̶o̶s̶s̶ ̶g̶o̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶.̶
Kalim just lets Jamil lead them out alongside the crowd that ran for their lives as well, keeping his head down so Jamil doesn’t see the grimace and clenched teeth adorning his face.
— — —
“Get in! Get in here now!” The normally sleazy and too calm of a voice, belonging to the headmage, now boomed through Kalim’s and Jamil’s ears, coming from the corner where his office was. Kalim lets Jamil dash while still gripping his hand, which almost sends Kalim flying because of his distorted balance. Still, it’s much better than taking a break when it felt like the walls would collapse.
And Kalim knew if he took a break now, he’d collapse alongside it all. Adrenaline was the only real thing keeping him afloat. That and the threat of dying—whether quickly by falling rubble, or slowly and painfully by that pesky, d̶e̶a̶d̶l̶y̶, hidden object still lodged in his gut.
He didn’t have to think about it too long though, since he and Jamil were in the headmaster’s office in records time thanks to Jamil pulling most of the weight, a̶s̶ ̶a̶l̶w̶a̶y̶s̶.̶
The door was quickly slammed behind them with a spell, judging by the colored hue gleaming over it. Would a spell really keep them safe, Kalim doubted it.
“This entire office has been sealed shut with a spell, it should last for about…half an hour!” Crowley announced as he fixed up his disheveled appearance.
“And how, pray tell, did you get that number exactly?”
Huh? Azul was here too?
And it wasn’t just him. A growl could be heard from across the room, belonging to a much deeper voice that was also easily recognizable.
“A spell to seal shut the room while the hallways are cracking around us. We’d be lucky if it lasted half that time before this room collapsed with it.”
So Leona was here, so was Azul…wait.
Are ALL the housewardens in this office?
“How can we possibly think to stay sealed off in here when our dorm members are being injured or worse, KILLED?!”
Riddle’s demanding tone screeched throughout the room, and it was immediately followed by Vil, the usually collected and composed model’s voice shaking ever so slightly.
“I was separated from Rook, Headmaster. What if he was injured and I wouldn’t know because I’m too busy cowering back here? Surely you can show at least a touch of care for your vice housewardens as well…”
Jamil felt those sharp, violet eyes fall onto him.
“Especially since one managed to get here on time.”
Before Jamil could get any words out, mainly to try and divert any attention away from himself, Crowley had already beat him to it.
“Alright, let us all calm down. Panicking does nothing in this situation.”
Ironic, considering that this same man c̶h̶i̶l̶d̶ would collapse in on himself were any of the parents to the students here became alert at what was happening. He’s only remaining calm now because he’s not concerned with saving his own skin at the moment. At least not now.
“O-ortho…ortho he’s out there I have to…I have to get to him….”
Kalim swore underneath the stuttering, he heard the words “I can’t lose him again” leaving Idia’s mouth.
The fact that the flame haired housewarden was somehow even convinced to attend in real life instead of behind his ipad screen was impressive, one had to admit, but then again, this was the ceremony where the prefect of Ramshackle’s labor finally bore fruit and they were able to return home. At least, that’s how things were supposed to go.
Kalim can only think sadly that this would just convince poor Idia to shut himself down more, that it wasn’t just social anxiety and getting into his own head. At least at the moment, he cared enough to show his face. But that was in the past.
And in this less than ideal present, Kalim was standing in the isolated room of his headmaster’s somehow unscathed office with his fellow housewardens and vice just as antsy as he is. At least that meant he wasn’t alone.
But then the bad news was, somebody would try to poke and prod at him—at the object lodged injury he was trying so hard to conceal from their eyes. All the focus would go on golden boy Kalim once again, and a situation where so many innocent students are probably receiving worse injuries than he would be made about him.
If he needed to stay quiet for them and their mission—for Jamil to have less of a workload—he would stay as quiet as possible, straightening himself out while planning a good time to diagnose the source of pain in private.
“I think all the other housewardens are here…” Kalim whispered to Jamil, but he was only met with a sharp “shhh” sound from him as well as a finger to his lips—most likely to intercept what the headmaster was saying over all the commotion.
Probably nothing of upmost importance, but surely he had some priorities that didn’t just concern himself when some of his students were burnt to ash.
H̶e̶ ̶t̶r̶i̶e̶d̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶ ̶h̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶a̶b̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶h̶o̶w̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶b̶a̶b̶l̶y̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶r̶e̶s̶p̶o̶n̶s̶e̶ ̶h̶e̶’̶d̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶W̶E̶R̶E̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶c̶l̶e̶a̶n̶
a̶b̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶n̶d̶.̶
“Well…” The headmaster cleared his throat, straightened out his rather unkempt jacket, and fixed up a perfectly doll-like smile. “The good news is, all seven of you, plus Mr. Viper, are all in one place and relatively in one piece.”
‘Relatively is an overstatement…’ Kalim thought with an awkward smile as he shifted on his feet, trying to ignore how Jamil raised his eyebrow at the movement.
“And the bad news is…”
“That the other 99% of your student body is outside this door on the verge of slaughter. That checks out, very “bad” news indeed.” Malleus finished Crowley’s sentence in the nick of time, the bluntness radiating from his already deep voice causing some to flinch.
Well, it’s not like they weren’t already flinching from him before, considering what happened when Lilia planned on dropping out of the school. But it seems that’s not relevant now.
The headmaster cleared his throat again, more shaky this time.
“R-right—“
“Then what are we waiting for exactly? Shouldn’t we, as responsible housewardens, go ensure our dormmates’ safety??” Azul still had an air of eloquence in his demeanor in spite of the urgency that escaped that question.
“Now everybody calm down, you are all getting riled up AGAIN.” If not for the authoritative emphasis on the word again, the eight boys in the room wouldn’t have bothered giving him his full attention.
But then again, it was hard for a certain white haired housewarden regardless, adjusting his cloak once again to make sure the growing blood stain didn’t become visible.
Crowley sighed before he pulled his crow mask further down his face, a droplet of sweat barely glistening in the low lighting of the room.
“As you’re all aware by this point, Grim has…overblotted.”
Kalim could make out the comforting yet stiff feeling of Jamil’s hand squeezing his shoulder. He couldn’t see the noirette’s expression, so he couldn’t tell whether it was to comfort him or himself—if it was meant to be comforting at all or just a reflex of sorts.
But it did reassure Kalim that Jamil wasn’t so bitter that he didn’t even want to touch him. The ruby-eyed boy focused on Crowley’s words once again, loosening the grip he had on his robes but not removing it entirely.
“We…have not prepared for such an event to occur, especially not on such a joyous occasion as the prefect’s departure.
“I suspect it has to do with the overblot stones that he has been consuming.”
Kalim felt the air around him stiffen. Right…the stones. The stones all of them—aside from him—left behind when they came to from their own blot craze. He got a good look at Grim for a split second when running and…yeah, it checks out. The chimera had parts of snakes, parts of an octopus, of a lion…you get the picture.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out the guilt that was weighing on all seven of the boys—and that’s not to mention how numb skulled Kalim was in general.
Perhaps the guilt was affecting him as well—bless his big heart—or maybe he was sharing Jamil’s guilt, considering it was his fault h̶i̶s̶ ̶v̶e̶r̶y̶ ̶e̶x̶i̶s̶t̶e̶n̶c̶e̶ that drove Jamil to madness anyway, and now Jamil was once again carrying a burden bigger than his own body, out of his control. And Kalim hated it.
“For now, we will wait until most of the noise outside has cleared out before we all leave the room TOGETHER…”
The headmaster’s voice became a blur as Kalim’s breathing suddenly became heavier than usual. It was almost like his mental state was affecting his physical state, as the pain in his heart caused the pain from the punctured area in his stomach to increase tenfold. He fingers once again surrounded the area of his stomach that was punctured by the object, a cold sweat forming on his brow as a droplet of blood dripped and landed on the floor beneath him.
Shit. He hoped Jamil didn’t see that—
“I smell blood.” Leona’s brooding voice immediately caused Crowley’s brain dump and everyone else’s processing of said brain dump to stop in its tracks.
“What did you say Kingscholar?” Crowley’s attention was focused on the lion beastman, not demanding an answer right away but more or less trying to process what he just heard.
“You heard me.” Leona sniffed the air again, his dark brown hair falling over one of his shoulders. “It smells like blood in here.”
Kalim’s heart stopped when he felt Leona’s dark green eyes gaze into his ruby ones. His head didn’t turn, so there was a chance maybe everybody else would just interpret it as their eyes just locking for a split second.
“I-I don’t smell anything!” Kalim tried to hopefully divert their attention away by doing what he does best—playing the part of the idiot.
“You might not…but considering Leona is a beastman and can smell things none of us would be able to pick up on, I don’t see why he’d be lying.” Vil was the last person Kalim expected to come to Leona’s aid, but considering there was a look in those violet eyes that told the lion beastman “this is a one time thing, don’t get a big head”, this would be harder to come by again.
But still, that little defense escaping the model caused Kalim’s wounded stomach to sink more. He hugged his robe even tighter around himself, almost like a pathetic attempt at trying to hide from everyone’s suspicions.
𝐓𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞.
‘They’re going to find out…they’re going to start worrying about me instead of themselves and others….’ Kalim smacked himself mentally for even thinking that. They wouldn’t care, especially not Jamil. No…they’ll just be burdened by him. But that doesn’t make it any better with people’s lives on the line.
‘Please…don’t let them see….don’t let them see…’ He knows the bloodstain is growing in size, he doesn’t know how long the robes will be able to conceal it, how long he’ll be able to stand here, how long the pain will last, when can he get out of here—
“Ah! You must be referring to this, Kingscholar!” The headmaster rolled up his sleeve to show a large scratch slicing down his forearm. It looked like it only recently stopped bleeding. “I got it from slipping and landing on a piece of debris, arm first! Haha, how clumsy your headmaster is!”
While everyone else winces—whether from disgust or feeling that SHOWING the thing is unnecessary—Kalim breathed a sigh of relief. Not relief that Crowley got that nasty scratch, of course not, but relief that he was the center of attention now instead.
Leona’s scoff shattered Kalim’s small moment of relief. “That’s not what I was referring to.”
Again, Kalim’s breath hitched, and what’s worse is that Jamil caught it this time.
“Kalim?“
“I’m fine…j-just hot in here. That fire might be reaching us.” Kalim chuckled nervously. “M-maybe we should get out of here! We need to snap Grim out of it before he causes more damage!”
“Hmm…indeed we can’t waste any more time….” Crowley managing to say something semi intelligent brought back Kalim’s hope once again—and he didn’t even care that it was just the bare minimum.
“If you’re really concerned Kingscholar, I could do a status spell check on everybody here.”
Kalim’s hope shatters again from the Diasomnia housewarden’s suggestion.
This on and off was giving the poor heir a headache, and that, paired with his still bleeding stomach wound, wasn’t a good combination. He’s surprised he hasn’t keeled over yet, or at the very least needed a wall to hold himself upright.
“Well…a status spell to ensure nothing’s wrong WOULDN’T hurt….” Crowley stated contemplatively.
No, no, no—
“With all due respect, can it not wait?! Who knows how much damage has been done to the campus already because we’ve been sitting here twiddling our thumbs?”
Oh Riddle, thank the seven for your stubborn sense of responsibility!
“Besides Leona, the blood you may be smelling may be coming from miles away from other injured students…”
Kalim saw a glimmer of vulnerability in the red head’s eyes as he spoke, almost like he recounted what he saw. Considering what Kalim himself saw in just a few split seconds while running, it made sense.
T̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶ ̶a̶l̶s̶o̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶d̶o̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶a̶c̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶u̶n̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶K̶a̶l̶i̶m̶,̶ ̶R̶i̶d̶d̶l̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶e̶e̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶s̶o̶ ̶m̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶b̶l̶o̶o̶d̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶c̶o̶r̶p̶s̶e̶s̶.̶
“For once, I can agree with your sentiment there Riddle,” Azul replied as he fixed up his glasses, seemingly feeling around the lenses for any cracks. “We ought to reach as many injured folk as possible and ensure their safety.” His tone tried to come off as lighthearted as to ease some of their panic—at least that’s what Kalim thinks.
The word injured rang in Kalim’s ears and he once again found himself holding his stomach, trying to disguise it as just clutching onto his robes to keep them upright.
“Alright, are we all in agreement-?”
“Yes, just let us out!” Crowley was a bit taken aback by Idia’s rather intense response. Looks like he really wanted to make sure his brother was alright.
With a quick tap on the door with his mage pen, the door to the headmaster’s office opens again. The headmaster stepped to the door first and after a hand signal for the other housewardens and Jamil to follow, they all walked in a clump. All except one.
Kalim stayed back as Jamil went with the group of other housewardens. It looks like the noirette had trusted Kalim enough to follow after him instead of holding onto his hand like he was a child who needed to be led. It was progress at least!
Kalim took one second to observe Jamil, to observe how much better he fits in with the other housewardens than he, before he walks in the opposite direction of them. He walks down the hall to where the bathroom in the headmaster’s office was, trying to increase his speed once he notices a small thin trail of blood being formed in the path he was walking.
He needed to treat this injury somehow, and fast.
— — —
Kalim wasn’t somebody who liked being alone.
He felt more comfortable being wrapped up in other people’s laughter, in the conversations at parties, he belonged in the hugs he would always give to people.
T̶h̶e̶ ̶k̶i̶d̶n̶a̶p̶p̶i̶n̶g̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶s̶s̶a̶s̶s̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶a̶t̶t̶e̶m̶p̶t̶s̶ ̶m̶a̶d̶e̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶f̶e̶a̶r̶ ̶b̶e̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶l̶o̶n̶e̶.̶
Now though, Kalim was more than grateful to be by himself as his feet carried him towards the bathroom, huffing deeply as the pain radiating from his stomach was less avoidable now.
He never liked being vulnerable in front of others, even more so in front of so many people. Jamil’s overblot only reaffirmed this fear, that his selfish, spoiled self didn’t deserve to whine and complain about his pain any more than he already does, for it just created more of a mess for people to clean up.
More than that, he didn’t want the eyes of Jamil, of Crowley and all the other housewardens to focus on him as he dropped his robe down to the floor. Their eyes needed to be focused on Grim, on a plan of some sorts to hopefully tame the monster and prevent any more casualties. Perhaps to get help too, and keep Yuu safe.
Kalim’s own eyes were focused on the object that was finally in full view thanks to the mirror.
A glass shard poking out from the left of his stomach, deeply buried in the fabric of his black buttoned shirt, the area now sticky with warm blood.
With shaky hands and a swallow of saliva, Kalim unbuttoned his shirt and let it drop to the floor next his robes to see just how deep the large shard went.
The white haired heir almost gagged at just how tightly lodged the glass was in his bare skin now that it wasn’t blocked by his shirt.
The shard itself was much bigger than he anticipated—the size of his palm, to be exact. While it was small enough to be concealed with just the overcoat of his robe, it wasn’t a shallow wound by any means. The glass was deeply wedged into Kalim’s stomach, probably much more than it was originally because of all that running—which ALSO seemed to cause the wound itself to look teared more at each edge of the glass.
Kalim took a deep and shaky breath, his hand carefully closing in around the glass, careful not to cut his palm for he had enough wounds for tonight.
This was…bad.
As much as Kalim loved to lie to himself and make rainbows out of dark clouds, he knew this wasn’t a mere scratch. Once the glass was removed, he needed to stitch this wound up. Or cauterize it or—
That’s when it hit him, and his heart dropped almost deeper than when he first saw the large glass and the full extent of the blood.
His mage pen.
𝐇𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐧.
‘I must’ve dropped it. I must’ve dropped it when I was running with Jamil.’
The white haired boy thought as he remained frozen in front of the mirror. A deer in head lights, his hand getting wet from the blood leaving the glass filled wound.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜.
Kalim shook his head, he’d figure it out once his abdomen was free of glass. He needed to focus now if he didn’t want to make more of a mess than he already was. Cleaning blood is hard, especially when there was so much.
H̶e̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶.̶
His fingers once again wrapped around the thick shard, wincing at the pressure and burning sensation of the delicate edges of skin from the still bleeding wound.
Knowing any more hesitation would cost precious time, Kalim yanked the glass out.
“𝑨𝑮𝑯!!-” Kalim quickly covered his mouth with a nearby towel, biting on it hard until he tasted every wrinkle of cotton and the subtle lingering soapiness of detergent. He groaned deeply into the towel, quickly taking it out of his mouth after getting himself together and turned on the sink to soak it in cold water, trying to be quick to stop that puddle of blood on the floor beneath his feet from getting any bigger.
With a silent whisper of remorse at the fact that he was dirtying his headmaster’s own towel just to save face, he pressed the wet cloth against the wounded sight on his abdomen, wincing at both the pressure and the cold water touching the fresh, hot wound. Cold sweat beaded his forehead as he gripped the sink with one hand, using his other to absorb as much blood into the once white towel as he stared down at the blood covered shard now in the sink, almost like he was cursing it for causing him so much trouble.
He grabbed the source of all his pain and dunked it into the garbage can, cursing once again as he couldn’t even get angry properly without feeling the tear. He clenched his teeth and crushed the towel even further onto the wound, almost desperately, both to stop the bleeding and to get the burning pain to stop.
That was way too close, way too fast. What if his scream of pain was loud enough that Jamil came running in, or worse, the headmaster himself?? He wasn’t sure which fate was worse, being reaffirmed by Jamil once again that he was a mess, a burden once more, or being yelled at by the headmaster for staining his superior’s perfectly clean bathroom with his bodily fluids instead of being a semi competent housewarden.
Unironically, the second option sounded worse. At least Jamil knew all the sides to him, no matter how much he tried to hide them—so if he were found out by Jamil and given some sort of lecture or belittled for being useless, he’d at least see it coming.
Headmaster Crowley though? Yeah, that man didn’t give a shit about Kalim or any of the other housewardens. He didn’t see Kalim as anything more than a trust fund kid who despite falling short of being an actual housewarden, was rich—and he liked the gold on Kalim’s name even if everything else wasn’t there.
So to have a rich brat like him bleeding all over his headmaster’s own bathroom floor after being so graciously u̶n̶f̶a̶i̶r̶l̶y̶ let in to their prestigious academy months late, what would he think of Kalim afterward?
Kalim had way too many enemies already, if not, people who were waiting for the go ahead to be his enemy. And he didn’t need any more, not now.
Not when he needed to focus on putting pressure on this wound, on getting the bleeding to finally stop and clean himself and this bathroom up of his own remains as quickly as possible to make sure nobody worries about him.
𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞.
Kalim shakily turned the sink back on, still taking deep, controlled breaths as he watched the water mix in with the blood, becoming a clear pink as it washed away into the drain stopper.
He carefully knelt down to open the cabinet underneath the sink, slow enough that he didn’t accidentally pull the wound anymore than it already was or slip on his own blood. The heir inhaled deeply through his nose, prayed to the sorcerer of the scalding sands that there was a med kit, something of the sort. Just anything. Any types of bandages, antiseptics, and especially a thread and needle to sew the wound shut.
After tightening his grip on the bloodied towel crushed to his stomach once again, he opened the drawer to find..to find some things.
There was toilet paper, a plunger, types of hand soap and sanitizer, cleaning wipes. There wasn’t a medical kit in sight.
Kalim just hoped it was the blood loss getting to him and he just wasn’t seeing it properly, but no matter how much he dug around inside that cabinet, how much he took out, there was no antiseptic, or gauze or needle and thread. Nothing to actually treat this wound, which continued to make the towel tightly sealed over it wetter with blood.
No. No. 𝗡𝗼.
𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵…𝘕𝘖𝘛 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘵.
Kalim cussed under his breath when he almost slipped on the now drying puddle of blood on the floor. He hissed as his wound was ONCE AGAIN tugged from the movement, and he pressed the towel harder to salvage it. At least now though the glass shard was gone and he wouldn’t need to worry about it causing potential internal damage by digging into his flesh with every wrong move.
‘It’s okay…I can salvage this..’ Kalim thought as he leveled out his breathing, just as Jamil w̶a̶s̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶c̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶l̶e̶a̶r̶n̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶ taught him.
It’s not like there was nothing in this bathroom. Even if there wasn’t a medicine kit, he could use his imagination with all the other items inside the cabinet that could be put to good use.
𝐆𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐝, 𝐡𝐮𝐡.
He reached back into the cabinet to pull out a new white towel, and after once again apologizing for staining his i̶n̶c̶o̶m̶p̶e̶t̶e̶n̶t̶,̶ ̶u̶n̶p̶r̶e̶p̶a̶r̶e̶d̶ headmaster’s belongings with his own blood, he once again turned on the sink—wincing at how his bloody fingers were now starting to stain the faucet controls—and tossed it onto the ground, spreading it around with his foot on the bloody puddle to absorb as much as possible.
He pulled an untouched roll of paper towels and slowly pulled away the towel he had pressed against his stomach, scared that any amount of quick movement would cause even more damage then there already was.
A relieved sigh left Kalim’s lips once he noticed the bleeding had FINALLY stopped. Maybe he didn’t need a sewing kit or cauterization after all! As long as he wasn’t bleeding anymore, he should be fine…right?
Right.
Best not to overthink when everyone was probably wondering where he was.
Kalim doesn’t even attempt to glance down at the puncture for too long, he knew it wasn’t pretty—it was way worse than just a regular stab wound with a knife. And if the metallic stench of his own blood wasn’t enough to make him hurl, then going over every detail of the hole in his belly—every bit of damaged tissue and skin which was already starting to bruise around the edges of it—would.
To prevent a rash to form on top of this already pretty bad injury, the heir once again turns on the sink but not before soaking his own hand under the water and wipes down the faucet controls, cleaning it of his traces. He needed to clean up after himself after all. The heir wouldn’t want the headmaster to come into his own bathroom to find it looking like a murder scene, hence he’d clean up the puddle more once he had the time and try not to dirty the sink any more.
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲.
Kalim then grabs some toilet paper from the nearby roll to his right to wet under the sink before cleaning the bloody area off. He hissed as even the area surrounding the wound was sensitive, but he kept cleaning anyway, not too soft to actually collect the blood but not too rough since he just got the bleeding to stop.
Kalim knew he had to suck it up if he wanted to get the task at hand done without any more dilly dallying, it’s not like sucking it up was all that new of a concept for him.
H̶e̶ ̶h̶a̶d̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶f̶a̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶n̶k̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶.̶
This pain…was nothing compared to overblotting, which is what all besides he had the misfortune of going through as they waited for the inconvenient, utterly useless comrade to just hurry up already and stop wasting time.
𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐤. 𝐢𝐭. 𝐮𝐩.
Kalim tried to calm the shakiness of his hand as it cleaned the last of the blood off from his skin, immediately throwing the dirtied toilet paper into the trash bin to not look at in any further. He once again leaned over the sink to catch his breath, running a hand through his hair as he thought of how to bandage the injury.
It was like a lightbulb went off in Kalim’s head as his fingers went over the soft fabric of his headpiece. Yeah. This will do.
‘What a shame though…’ Kalim thought as he undid the bow-like knot on the headdress, tugging it until it unwinded and became a long cloth and the feathers detached, which Kalim placed on the rim of the sink. Here he was, undoing all of Jamil’s hard work, undoing the i̶n̶v̶o̶l̶u̶n̶t̶a̶r̶y̶ hard work Jamil put into tying this headdress as perfectly as possible for this perfect day turned disaster.
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐰…𝐈 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥.
He swallowed back the guilt and more saliva as he tied his treasured headdress around his waist. He felt so filthy, disgusting as he mimicked the motion Jamil uses to tie the ends of the headdress into a nice, neat little knot. It was ironic really. His attempt at copying Jamil would end up being covered up anyway, hidden away so nobody could see the imperfections and the unavoidable stains that would adorn this once headdress now filthy bandage.
Kalim unconsciously traced his pointer finger over the fabric, wishing the headdress covered more of his stomach up, but it would have to do since it did a decent enough job at concealing the wound itself—even if he did struggle slightly with tying the end of it.
‘𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵…𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.’
Having a thinner waist would’ve made this easier…best not to dwell on it now though. This egregious job is finally done.
Turning the sink on once again, the heir rinsed off his hands and poured the warm water onto his face, washing off the cold sweat. As he faces himself in the mirror, he ironically looked the most like himself—no unnecessary jewelry, no blinding bright smile plastered on his face, his beautiful ruby eyes now sunken and exhausted, and sun-kissed skin just a tad bit paler. This was Kalim Al-Asim at his most true, at his most bare and vulnerable, without the blinding positivity that distracted everybody from these cracks.
And he hated it.
He held onto his stomach to keep the headdress bandage in place as he knelt down, not being able to bare his reflection judging him for a second more as he began to actually clean the mess of blood on the floor, the red smear slowly disappearing as the white towel was wiped over it. He wet it again under the sink and repeated the motion, and as Kalim cleaned, he couldn’t help but feel how ironic it was that he, the heir to the Asim fortune, was doing these Cinderella type motions.
‘At least it’s good practice for cleaning the floor…that way I can take some work load off of Jamil if I wanna become more independent.’ Even if the situation was still less than stellar, Kalim was grateful he could focus on the one positive that came will the ninety nine other negatives that came with cleaning his own blood off of the floor, still trying to keep that bandage in place over the wound in hopes it wouldn’t start bleeding again and make his a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶h̶o̶u̶s̶e̶w̶a̶r̶d̶e̶n̶’̶s̶ ̶ life harder than it already was at the moment.
𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐦 𝐈 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐌𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.
Kalim threw the bloody towel into the cabinet in hopes nobody would find it again as he tried to become semi presentable once again. Forcing a smile as he stared in the mirror, though it came out more like a grimace. Trying to get his eyes to have that spark in them again, even when that attempt caused his eyes to widen in fear instead.
He couldn’t stand looking at his shirtless body anymore, so after rinsing his face in the sink again, he grabbed his black shirt and buttoned it up quickly and threw on the ceremonial robes.
He looked a mess, politely speaking. But there was nothing more he could do. He gave his hair a quick ruffle to even out the bird’s nest and tried not to acknowledge the fact that his eye makeup looked smudged. They’ll understand, hopefully.
The young heir would have to accept that he was a bumbling fool compared to the ones still waiting for him, blissfully unaware that he was trying his darnedest to hold himself up together and not purposefully trying to waste their time while Grim continued to wreak havoc unwillingly.
As Kalim walked out of the bathroom, double checking to make sure his remnants were at the very least not visible if not fully gone, he placed one hand against the wall to guide himself out while the other lay carefully over his stomach, feeling the headdress underneath the robe and shirt.
Had the others been in his shoes, especially Riddle, Vil, and definitely Jamil, they would’ve been much more efficient Kalim thought. They would come out like nothing was wrong at all, meanwhile Kalim would hope his golden tongue that tells too many lies than he would like did the trick.
The heir was too spoiled to know how to bandage his own wounds, he was too irresponsible to fully clean every trace of blood, and he was too lazy to put any effort into trying to come out presentable, far too tired from all the work he had to do in there. At least, too much work for him. This would’ve been nothing for say, Leona.
He was too weak to even prevent this wound from happening in the first place. If he had just paid more attention to the glass windows…
Kalim tried to pick up his pace as he walked back down the hall that led to the bathroom, clutching his robes and trying to curtain them over his shirt in the event that any blood managed to leak through his button down.
For once, Kalim was grateful that his headmaster was oblivious and indifferent to what his students went through despite presenting himself as the opposite. As long as he didn’t care, then neither would they.
— — —
“Where the HELL were you?!”
…Eh?
Kalim’s ruby eyes were wide as they were stared intensely into by a familiar angry pair of gray. Jamil’s grip on his shoulders were tight, and he would’ve winced if not for the already searing pain that was still present in his stomach even after the wound had been mostly treated. Looks like he got used to the pain after all.
“I was about to storm back into that office MYSELF had azul not held me back!”
The octomerman in question approached Jamil and separated him from the shorter Scarabia leader. The second time Azul had to keep Jamil from sticking Kalim’s head on a spike.
“Now Jamil, be careful with him. It wouldn’t be good if we were to get ourselves hurt over something so trivial, and considering the state of….everything, we can’t afford that.”
Kalim smiled and thanked Azul in his head. Jamil on the other hand was clearly unimpressed, and very much not a fan of the way Azul spoke to him like he was some misbehaving child.
“Sorry but I agree with Jamil here. Where WERE you? Why didn’t you join us? And without saying anything?? Do you have any idea the fright you gave Jamil?” Kalim squeaked when Riddle all of a sudden began confronting him, and while he would be impressed at how somebody so short managed to intimidate him, it didn’t do any favors when he was trying not to be seen.
Guess he failed at that too.
“Wait…where’s that…thingy you usually always wear on your head?” Kalim’s eyes widened as he intercepted Idia’s mumbled question. Shit, right. His headscarf is acting as a bandage right now, for the wound he’s trying to HIDE from them.
Quick! Think of an excuse!
“Haha! Yeah uhh…I left because my headscarf was dirty so I washed it. It’s in the sink right now so it can dry.”
Perfect. Now they won’t—
“Why couldn’t you dry it with a heat spell?”
Why does Jamil have to pick up on EVERYTHING??
“I…um….” Kalim didn’t think there was a reason to lie about the missing mage pen, so he confessed that it was lost and possibly destroyed alongside the ashes of what was once the mirror chamber.
“You LOST your mage pen? Are you KIDDING ME???” Kalim did not at all expect Jamil’s eyes to widen like they did, or his voice to raise like it did. It caused all the hairs on his head to stand.
‘Okay…better not to tell the truth next time.’
“I-I didn’t mean to! I swear! When we were running I…I just dropped it!!!” Kalim desperately tried to defend himself, but Jamil had turned away, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance, seemingly trying to calm himself down with the deep breaths that left his mouth.
This was absolutely humiliating, to have lost something so precious as a housewarden and CONFESSING to it like you were caught with your hand in the cookie jar. And now they were all just staring at him, looking down at him instead of looking with equal level.
Vil’s little remark of “of course YOU would lose something like that” just caused Kalim’s face to redden, and he tried to blink back any tears of embarrassment.
“I’m really sorry Jamil…I didn’t mean to I swear!”
Kalim was hopeless in trying to tell Jamil he really didn’t mean to mess up so hard. He knows he screws up a lot, he knows he’s a burden, but he really didn’t know he would lose his mage pen. If he did know, he would’ve kept a tighter grip or stored it away in his pocket or something!
But he wasn’t a time traveler, unfortunately. And he couldn’t travel back in time, whether as recent as an hour before losing his mage pen, or as far back as their earliest days as children, where he could’ve maybe freed Jamil and his family from the Asim clutches.
And he especially couldn’t go back in time to when Grim first overblotted—where he could’ve dodged when pieces of glass were falling and stop that damn glass shard from lodging itself into his stomach and causing so many more headaches for himself and his team.
“You need to get it together Kalim…Grim is literally destroying our school and you’re just…tripping on your own feet once again,” is all Jamil says as he finally turns to face his useless master, his eyes bitter as they met Kalim’s guilty gaze.
“Jamil.” A hand the servant rather not be in contact with etched its way onto his shoulder. “That’s quite enough. Accidents happen. Especially when you’re running for your life.”
Azul really could be nice when he wasn’t so focused on profits and scamming some innocent bystander.
Then, Kalim’s eyes locked onto the merman’s sharp turquoise blue gaze, and he swears there was something akin to concern in them. And it wasn’t the pitiful mocking gaze. It looked…genuine?
“You don’t look very well, Kalim..”
Kalim’s breath hitched once again, and this time, he swears he catches Jamil start to analyze his appearance too. Did he look that bad…?
“Your robe looks rather…disheveled. And do pardon my rudeness but….you look like a mess.”
Vil’s critical yet not ill-natured comment confirmed all of Kalim’s worst fears. So he DID look that bad! Great…what should he do now….??
“Is everything alright Asim?”
Agh! He almost forgot Malleus was here too with how quiet he was! And he chooses NOW to speak, to question him too??
Crap, Kalim hated how cornered he felt, like he was being confronted for suspicion of doing something wrong.
Technically he did do something wrong. What he did wrong was be foolish and not pay attention to all the glass falling from the windows to avoid this wound he was trying so desperately to hide—both the signs of it and the pain he was still feeling from it—and he didn’t pay attention to how loose his grip must’ve been on his mage pen if it caused it to just slip out of his hands.
Kalim was overwhelmed by all their questions and mental jabs, he swallowed more saliva and pulled the robes further over himself. He felt like an animal that was being cornered in the wild. And he wasn’t sure what he would do if they’d start attacking him.
“Oi, herbivores.”
A voice who Kalim hasn’t heard in a while finally took the attention off of him.
“Quit cornering him, would ya? He’s here now and that’s all that matters.”
Leona’s stern yet still apathetic voice managed to receive hesitant yet understanding nods from everybody else. Kalim swear he could cry from how thankful he was for the usual nonchalant lion beastman coming to his rescue.
He would hug him if not for the risk of his wound being aggravated once more—and he didn’t want that to happen after it was just bandaged, so he settled for mouthing a “thank you” to Leona. Leona’s ear twitched as he made eye contact with Kalim once again, a gleam in his green eyes telling the heir that just because he covered him now doesn’t mean he’s not stupid.
Why else did he try to bring attention to the stench of blood in the headmaster’s office…
All of them hear a call from Crowley from across the cracked hallway and took that as a cue to follow him, this time Jamil had his eyes locked on Kalim, almost like he was making sure the white haired heir stayed with them this time.
As Kalim walked, he once again tried to keep up with their pace, but he found himself clutching the wound once again. He would need to figure out how to manage his speed later.
For now, he needed to walk with his fellow housewardens to find their headmage to discuss how to stop Grim and his rampage.
For now, he needed to ignore Jamil’s cold and judgmental gaze on him—for he’d figure out how to keep that gaze as far away from himself as possible soon enough by acting as normal as possible.
𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐲. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥. 𝐍𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐦.
Chapter 2
Notes:
This goes without saying but content warning for blood and graphic depictions of injury!!!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“Mrowwww!!!”
The group stops in their tracks. Kalim thanks whoever—whatever made that sound, for it allowed him to have a breather. Allowed him to fix the bandage sash through his robes with anybody noticing. He placed a hand over the covered wound to detect any bleeding.
At least now he didn’t need to keep hugging the robes so tightly over himself to block any objects sticking out.
The bad news about that though, was he couldn’t block out Jamil’s disapproving gaze as much as he wanted to.
Another “mrowwww!!!” was heard from the same direction, from that same far corner in the crumpled hallway.
“Y-you all heard that right…?” Idia’s question most likely tried to sound rhetorical, but it came out as a mumble again.
“I certainly did.” Malleus confirmed, his piercing green eyes meeting Idia’s.
“Let’s look for who it is then!!” Kalim blurted out without meaning to. Him and his big mouth…
While Kalim DID want to find out who it was, he also didn’t want to add more walking to the trail, for the wound resting beneath his shirt, only just freshly clean and bandaged, made it very clear it didn’t want anymore movement.
Kalim mentally shook his head, scratching out such a selfish idea. Somebody may possibly need help and he was concerned over whether or not his already bandaged wound may become aggravated?? As if all that running before meant nothing.
The heir pushed down such self-centered worries at once, not backing off from the initially impulsive suggestion.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬? 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫.
Before Kalim could sabotage himself anymore, a pair—or what sounded like pairs of small footprints came from the direction of those whiny shrieks.
Those footsteps…it dawned on all of them now.
Lucius. There he was, by their feet.
The usually stoic cat belonging to Professor Trein now uncharacteristically vocal, the chubby black furball’s normally grumpy expression put aside as he kept meowing his concerns, his golden eyes now showing a sense of worry.
What was even stranger was the fact that Lucius was rubbing against some of their legs. Lucius never acted so affectionate…scratch that. He seemed to show relative disapproval to most of them aside from a select few students—and Kalim certainly wasn’t one of them. Which is why he almost jumped when the black cat mreowed again for attention, his cold stone golden eyes now looking almost..needy?
Kalim ignored the pang that shot through the wound in his stomach as he knelt down to give Lucius a scratch beneath his chin—relieved that the cat didn’t hiss or bat his hand away like so many other times.
Everyone else’s eyes ranged from shocked to—in mostly Idia’ case—soft. Riddle immediately gave the blue flamed housewarden a look, signaling him to contain himself and his cat craze, lest poor Lucius get any more on edge than he already was.
“Lucius…? What’re you doing here bud..?” Kalim asks softly, trying to control his breathing lest it sound too heavy from the wound pain.
Lucius mewed again and purred against Kalim’s fingers, his ears subtly twitching as he detected the faint scent of blood. Though it was subtle enough that it was seen as nothing more than a twitch.
“Lucius…where’s Trein?” Jamil asked gently as he stroked the cat’s back carefully. A pitiful meow was the response he received and hiding his face against Kalim’s hand—it was obvious something happened. Kalim’s brows furrowed.
“Now that I think about it…” Riddle started contemplatively, “I haven’t seen any staff members aside from the headmaster.”
Kalim immediately knew where this was going..he wasn’t sure his already weakened and damaged body could handle any more stress.
“I wouldn’t immediately jump to negative conclusions just yet,” Azul suggested as he wiped his glasses. “I was separated from the twins when I began running, so I assume it would be the same for the staff. We’ll find them soon, eventually.“
Kalim can detect just the slightest hint of doubt in Azul’s attempted hopeful voice.
Once Idia felt like the coast was clear from Riddle being judgmental, he went and scooped Lucius up into his arms. Instead of the cat batting away at Idia and running away, he purred and settled into the blue flamed housewarden’s embrace, becoming liquid as he nuzzled under Idia’s chin.
Idia let out an imperceptible squeal at the lack of rejection and held Lucius close. It was quite obvious he would be making the most out of this new, vulnerable Lucius until Trein was found.
“What should we do then? Shall we look for Professor Trein and the rest of the staff?” Vil commented as he stroked Lucius’ head gently, also marveling at how docile the usual feisty feline was.
Jamil finally stood up from his spot on the ground, brushing off any dust from his pants and stretching out the soreness from his knees and legs.
“I say we just go back to the headmaster for now and figure out what to do from there. We’ve kept him waiting for long enough…”
Kalim could clearly see the way Jamil’s gaze fell onto him after making that statement. He looked down in shame—looking down at his shirt and robes to make sure no blood leaked through.
“You won’t disappear vanish into thin air like last time, will you Asim?”
Kalim could tell that Malleus’ question was meant as nothing more than a light hearted tease, but it still made him wince, the fact that his disappearance was so noticeable that it needed to be brought up again.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on him…like always.” Kalim’s heart clenched at the bitterness that oozed its way out of Jamil’s voice as he answered Malleus. He hated how badly he disappointed Jamil to the point he felt as if though Kalim needed to be on a leash or something. The young heir avoided everybody else’s gazes—it didn’t matter they were even judgmental or merely questioning.
Jamil really knew how to make him feel like an ashamed child without any effort at all.
But he couldn’t be ashamed for too long. He forced an awkward chuckle from out of his lips.
“Yeah that won’t happen again guys! Sorry!”
He heard what sounded like a scoff from one of them—most likely Leona, before they turned their attention away and started to get ready to continue walking once more.
The white haired boy finally got up from the floor, pulling his legs off from the now dirtied tiles.
It took a lot of effort for the Scarabia housewarden to get off the floor in a quick enough way that didn’t frustrate everyone about how he was AGAIN, wasting precious time, but also slow enough where the fresh wound being concealed by his clothes didn’t tug too much and start bleeding again.
Still, no matter how he got up, that pesky injury that lay bandaged and protected didn’t seem to be satisfied no matter what type of movement Kalim made and so, the heir felt a sharp pain from the delicate area of his stomach. Thankfully it wasn’t too overwhelming though, and Kalim could ignore it no problem.
J̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶h̶e̶’̶s̶ ̶i̶g̶n̶o̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶r̶y̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶e̶l̶s̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶a̶s̶t̶.̶
“Okay, now we can go!” Kalim found it a bit hard to keep up his chipper attitude due to the pain and exhaustion, but he continued anyways. He needed to at least make up for just disappearing on them and if raising their spirits w̶h̶i̶l̶e̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶o̶w̶n̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶f̶a̶l̶l̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶p̶a̶r̶t̶ is what he needed to do, so be it.
“Don’t worry Malleus, that was just a one time thing. I won’t disappear again, I promise!”
Malleus simply hummed in response, and Kalim was just grateful at least his false promise was acknowledged—even if he felt guilty for lying to everyone.
But as he walked with them—albeit Jamil keeping a 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 closer eye on him—he swallows down that guilt.
Kalim never liked lying, he felt as if it was toying with people’s feelings and trust. But in this case, it was a necessary act of evil he needed to commit if he wanted to be selfless for once. If he wanted to be independent…if he didn’t want to take any spotlight from Grim’s overblot to focus on his needs—especially in the face of students who most certainly have way worse injuries than a measly little puncture wound to the stomach.
B̶e̶s̶i̶d̶e̶s̶,̶ ̶J̶a̶m̶i̶l̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶ ̶l̶i̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶m̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶t̶i̶m̶e̶s̶ ̶b̶e̶f̶o̶r̶e̶—̶h̶e̶’̶s̶ ̶l̶i̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶u̶p̶ ̶u̶n̶t̶i̶l̶ ̶w̶i̶n̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶b̶r̶e̶a̶k̶.̶ ̶S̶o̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶h̶u̶r̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶j̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶r̶e̶p̶e̶a̶t̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶,̶ ̶e̶s̶p̶e̶c̶i̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶i̶t̶’s̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶ ̶g̶o̶o̶d̶ ̶c̶a̶u̶s̶e̶…̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶?̶
— — —
It felt like the hallway went on forever. Kalim swore they couldn’t have been walking for more than a few minutes, but his pain-addled brain made it seem like hours, days even.
Every footstep, every pause for direction, every conversation blurred together in his brain. He tried to come across as stoic as possible but he couldn’t help. He let his hand slide across his stomach once again, and his breath hitched when he could feel the very subtle beginning of blood leaking through his shirt once again. On the bright side, they were wearing all black so it wasn’t as see through…but even so….
This was bound to happen, he really, REALLY wished he could’ve cauterized the wound or stitched it or something but no. Kalim couldn’t let himself get tired now, none of them are—and they only just gotten Kalim back after he couldn’t manage his time wisely, trying to keep his body together.
Every movement just hurt so much, and he gripped his headpiece that lay wrapped around his waist, trying to tighten it to keep the blood at bay—trying to get the burning to stop. A grimace spread across Kalim’s face and his breathing hitched again. He was grateful that he was at least in the very back of the little clump the housewardens and Jamil formed while they walked, because then nobody would have to see—nobody would have to worry.
O̶r̶ ̶r̶a̶t̶h̶e̶r̶,̶ ̶b̶e̶ i̶n̶c̶o̶n̶v̶e̶n̶i̶e̶n̶c̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶p̶a̶i̶n̶ ̶a̶g̶a̶i̶n̶.̶
“So much damage was already done…” Kalim turned to find Jamil muttering that, looking around the halls. And wouldn’t you know.
There were cracks all around the walls and the floors, some holes carved into the bricks and the paint pealed—on the floor. It was hard to tell where it started and where it ended—Grim could’ve gone anywhere, causing all of this.
Kalim’s brows furrowed as he looked at what was caused already, and a part of him hoped it wasn’t worse than what was in front of them. He didn’t respond verbally to Jamil, only nodded half heartedly. Thankfully Jamil seemed to be more understanding i̶n̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶t̶e̶r̶m̶s̶ by Kalim’s
non-response, probably thinking the heir was upset by the damage or something and didn’t try to get a response out of him.
Unfortunately, Jamil wasn’t as good as reading Kalim as he gave himself credit for, since he didn’t catch on to Kalim’s very thinly veiled heavy breathing and the beads of sweat building in his forehead.
Kalim didn’t want to seem like he didn’t care of wasn’t paying attention—he was! But it was just so incredibly hard with a wound like this…Kalim hated it. He hated how he kept thinking of himself, how his brain only seemed to focus on the damage done to himself and not the damage done to the beloved school his parents paid for him to go to.
N̶o̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶s̶e̶r̶v̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶g̶o̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶w̶a̶y̶…̶
“Now then…” Riddle began, distracting Kalim from any more of his d̶e̶s̶e̶r̶v̶e̶d̶ self-deprecating thought. “The headmaster said we should meet him by the hall of mirrors…so that way.”
The group turned right in a non-uniform, uniform fashion. They were closer to their destination at least…the heir never realized how long the hallways of Night Raven could be, how much work they put into using as much space as possible for so many boys.
While it was beautiful, it wouldn’t be of any use now unfortunately—with the damage that’s already been done. And it would’ve been much better if the headmaster’s office wasn’t so far away from the hall of mirrors.
Both for Kalim, and his body…but also everybody else’s precious time of course.
𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮.
— — —
“…where is he..?”
Kalim wondered the same as Idia—who was still cradling Lucius close to his chest.
Crowley told them to meet at the hall of mirrors but…he wasn’t there. All that lay ahead for the group were the mirrors that once led to the dorms they held authority over standing shattered, cracked, destroyed. Tiny glass shards scattered on the ground besides the large frames. The symbols of their dorms were all but hidden under dust of the rubble that fell from the ceiling above, and the purple architecture was barely holding itself together.
It was like a silent communication between all eight—well, nine of them. Just like Yuu won’t be able to go back to their home thanks to the main mirror shattering, they won’t be able to go back to their dorms, something of a home for all of them.
Quite the cruel irony indeed.
Riddle and Azul went to examine the mirrors that led to their dorms, mourning the little control they had in their lives in the form of their housewarden titles. Leona and Malleus leaned against the wall to finally get a real breather after all that’s happened, their rivalry now on pause. Idia held Lucius tighter, hiding his face in the fluffy black fur. Lucius purred softly as Vil scritched behind his ears.
And speaking of glass…
Kalim went to the entrance of Scarabia’s mirror and sat down on the steps, which managed to stay relatively unscathed despite what surrounded them. With everybody else preoccupied with the damage of the very symbols of their power, nobody would suspect that the Scarabia housewarden was doing anything other than taking a short break or breather from either all the walking or the harsh truth of it all.
Or both.
Kalim hunched over and curled up a bit as he sat on the stairs, a subconscious and pathetic belief that if he made himself smaller, nobody would see how he was far more tired that he should be.
Nobody would see how his gaze was focused on the ground, trying to focus on the remnants of broken tile and purple paint instead of how lethargic he felt, how the dizziness he initially felt was now slowly settling into something akin to nausea, and the heir could only pray he could keep it in long enough to not ruin the floors any more than they were already.
𝐇𝐞’𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭. 𝐇𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬.
Of course, the most notable symptom that Kalim was desperately trying to ignore was the stabbing, hot pain emanating from his stomach injury. More than just at his wits end, Kalim was confused. He had already bandaged it up, hid it and tucked it away from any prying eyes so then…
Was he bleeding internally then? Or perhaps it was an infection already setting in.
The latter couldn’t be possible though, the former though…Kalim bowed his head down more and watched as the droplets of sweat on his head dripped, dripped down like a disturbing alternative to rain, the beginning of a storm.
He didn’t use any disinfectant because there wasn’t any but he cleaned it with water…then blood must’ve leaked back into the wound.
The young heir had only experienced internal bleeding one other time when he was twelve years old, and a slice of cake he bit into on his birthday was loaded with poison…he almost didn’t make it then.
And just that very thought makes Kalim’s heart sink.
W̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶o̶e̶s̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶m̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶n̶o̶w̶…̶?̶
“Kalim?”
Kalim looks up slowly, releasing the vice grip he had on his stomach and evening out his panicked breaths. Jamil was looking down at him, eyebrows raised in confusion and tone tangent with concern.
He knelt down in front of his master o̶b̶s̶t̶a̶c̶l̶e̶.̶
“Is everything alright?”
Huh…?
“You’ve been quiet…strangely enough.”
Heh…even when trying to show concern, Jamil couldn’t help but sneak in a jab. Good for him, at least that meant he was more comfortable expressing how he truly felt.
A̶s̶ ̶i̶n̶,̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶s̶e̶a̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶h̶a̶t̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶i̶t̶i̶f̶u̶l̶ ̶“̶h̶o̶u̶s̶e̶w̶a̶r̶d̶e̶n̶”̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶n̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶.̶
Kalim straightens out his back and sits up straight, no longer hunching over like a child who was being scolded—although he’s started to feel like that more frequently in Jamil’s presence.
When Kalim’s ruby eyes locked with Jamil’s, the servant’s gray eyes widened, just a smidge and he moved closer to the heir, almost like he was looking deeper beyond those familiar red eyes. Kalim instinctively backed away somewhat in response, feeling like an animal being cornered and uncomfortably picked apart in the head of its predator.
But Jamil’s fingers moving to brush some of Kalim’s hair aside were anything but judgmental or condescending. It was..tender almost.
“You’re sweating…”
Even his voice…it wasn’t critical, or in that exasperated tone that defined how Jamil spoke.
And it made Kalim’s heart ache knowing that the gesture was shallow no matter how could it felt. He knew it was obligatory at the end of the day, and he wouldn’t—couldn’t allow his selfish, joy-sucking heart to be swooped in by the care, because he knew he didn’t deserve it.
He didn’t need it. Not now, not here.
N̶o̶t̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶r̶.̶
“I’m okay Jamil…” a deep breath that rang out in Jamil’s ears. “I just…”
He dug around in his brain for a good, solid excuse.
‘Come on you smooth, empty brain….think…!’
Suddenly? Lucius’ ear flicked and he sniffed around the area after his head pops out from Idia’s chest. The cat jumps out of Idia’s arms—much to Idia’s shock and disappointment, huffing sadly and trying not to let his discontent show by crossing his arms dramatically.
The two Scarabia members look up to see the feline walk towards them, giving Kalim a moment to breathe after the little interrogation.
Jamil makes some clicking noises with his tongue and uses the back of his hand to strokes Lucius’ head and face.
“We’ll find Professor Trein, don’t worry.”
Kalim couldn’t help but crack a smile at the scene. No matter how aggressive Jamil may be with him, or how much he put on the “uncaring front” towards most people, he never stopped being gentle with animals no matter the circumstance.
It made the heir feel guilty slightly, how a servant like Jamil was able to connect with furry creatures who couldn’t speak their minds like he wasn’t able to. Furry creatures who saw his worth unlike humans who saw him as nothing more than a crutch for Kalim.
Kalim hunched back over and hugged his robes closer to himself, going back to controlling his breathing.
Jamil looked up from the cat he was trying to reassure.
“Kalim?”
And this time, Kalim doesn’t respond—the headdress under his shirt and robes slowly accumulating more blood and sweat, and possibly tears if the heir couldn’t keep it all in.
𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭, 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐦…𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐲.
Notes:
WOOOHOOOO CHAPTER TWO IS FINALLY FINISHED. Sorry I took so long with this—I was going to finish this a few days ago but I squeezed it in today ✌️✌️ I guess you could say I got the fanfic author curse because today was AWFUL for my family BUT ITS OKAY NEW CHAPTERRR AND MORE KALIM ANGSTTTT >:)))
Chapter Text
“Kalim!”
Jamil’s voice finally registered in Kalim’s ears, though that could’ve also been due to the fact that the servant had to physically shake Kalim by the shoulders just to get him back onto the planet.
𝐒𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟.
Kalim practically snapped up at the sound of his vice’s voice—and he wasn’t alone. He was accompanied by the j̶u̶d̶g̶m̶e̶n̶t̶a̶l̶ eyes of the other housewardens.
Kalim’s grip on his robes loosened, though he wanted nothing more but to wrap himself in as many cover ups he can find in hopes none of them would have to stare and pick at him and his faults a̶n̶d̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶m̶e̶d̶i̶o̶c̶r̶e̶ ̶l̶e̶a̶d̶e̶r̶s̶h̶i̶p̶.
“Hello?!”
Another shake from Jamil, startling the heir. He smiled awkwardly in hopes Jamil would just sigh exasperatedly and tell him to stop letting his mind wander.
But considering the situation they were in, that wouldn’t be happening anytime soon.
“What is with you??” Jamil asked in an incredulous tone. “I called your name like three times! And even now you’re dozing off!”
“Wha-“
Kalim’s eyes widened as he realized how glazed over his eyes must’ve looked due to exhaustion, and he immediately blinked to try and make up for it.
Jamil pinched the bridge of his nose again, clearly at his wits end at his housewarden’s behavior, how he wasn’t being told a thing. He chuckled bitterly and shook his head.
“It’s like you’re not even here…it’s like I’m talking to a brick wall.”
Kalim’s jaw clenched. “I’m sorry! That’s not what I-“
He immediately stood up to protest against his own arrogance—but he regretted the action just as quickly, if not quicker.
He was immediately hit with a wave of sharp, burning pain from the wounded part of his stomach, and he knew at this point the penetration had started bleeding again judging by the all too familiar metallic warmth he felt in his black shirt.
He gasped and almost slipped, immediately grabbing onto a wall for support. The pain was really bad, really burning and stinging now, and Kalim did his best to suppress a scream.
The tone of annoyance in Jamil’s voice switched as fast as a light bulb, and he found himself immediately by his master’s side—all ire from his body and voice for the boy he despised gone the moment that same boy showed even a dropling of pain.
In this case though, that dropling was more of a sink leaking—like the blood that continued to leak from Kalim’s abdomen.
“Kalim?? What’s wrong now?”
The gentle hands on Kalim’s shoulders almost made the heir flinch—it was the first time Jamil actually approached him and touched him with care ever since his declaration of utter hatred for Kalim during winter break.
The first time Jamil approached him with kindness in the same way he did when they were kids and blissfully unaware of the roles they’d be forced to in their teens—and it was because Kalim was in pain.
And a part of Kalim wanted to selfishly act out more for even more of that attention, but he knew if he dragged Jamil into his issues, he would drag all the other housewardens into them as well. He’d drag them into paying attention to him like a toddler throwing a tantrum inside of a supermarket, while Grim was burning their beloved school to ash.
P̶e̶r̶h̶a̶p̶s̶ ̶K̶a̶l̶i̶m̶’̶s̶ ̶p̶r̶i̶d̶e̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶t̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶b̶l̶o̶w̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶w̶e̶l̶l̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶m̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶f̶a̶c̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶s̶o̶n̶ ̶J̶a̶m̶i̶l̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶n̶ ̶g̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶g̶r̶a̶c̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶b̶e̶c̶a̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶p̶r̶a̶c̶t̶i̶c̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶b̶l̶e̶e̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶f̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶m̶…̶
He didn’t want to focus on such selfish thoughts though. He was doing this—hiding this suffering—for their sakes, not his own. He was no prideful individual. H̶e̶ ̶h̶o̶p̶e̶s̶.̶
So he shakes his head, not too urgently though, and gently pushes Jamil away from him.
“I’m okay Jamil…just stood up too quickly.”
He once again locked eyes with the man w̶h̶o̶ ̶d̶e̶s̶p̶i̶s̶e̶s̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶, his reassuring yet tired eyes meeting with Jamil’s—the red eyes matched with the blood that kept building around his headscarf-bandage.
𝐈𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡.
Jamil’s face hardened as he stepped away to give Kalim space. Unfortunately, their little confrontation has drawn the eyes of the other housewardens.
“Kalim, what has been going on with you???” Riddle asked incredulously, only a sliver of anger and impatience present in his voice—but it was overshadowed by just utter confusion at how Kalim has been acting.
“First disappearing on us now-?”
“I won’t disappear again, I promise!” Kalim’s grip immediately left the wall and he did his best not to clutch his stomach or even his robes again.
Kalim was normally good with crowds, because he always presented himself as happy, a little choppy but overall well put together—a ray of sunshine.
Now it was the opposite, because his friends o̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶s̶i̶d̶e̶ were seeing him as less than that. And the Asim heir couldn’t be showing vulnerability.
𝐇𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐯𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.
“How can we be sure…?” Idia’s quiet voice made its way into Kalim’s ears and he looked up, even more ashamed. Now even Idia of all people was calling him out…perhaps it was mostly because he was still bitter that Lucius left him instead of any genuine care for Kalim. That’s what the heir thought. It didn’t do anything to lighten the guilt in his heart.
In fact, it just doubled down and Kalim found it difficult to not stumble. He wasn’t worrying them…he was simply annoying them. Inconveniencing them. And Kalim couldn’t help but feel silly over thinking o̶r̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶b̶e̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶n̶ ̶h̶o̶p̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶ that it was something more.
𝐈𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐭…𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭.
That voice continued to ring in his ears, and he found himself clinging to the wall even tighter, because at least it wouldn’t push him away.
A small, pathetic “I’m sorry” was all the white haired boy could get out as his head hung low, both to avoid the others’ piercing gazes and to calm down the dizzy and nausea spells that began to wash over him due to the loss of blood.
“Well?”
Kalim heard someone—most likely Vil—ask a bit impatiently, not hearing the heir’s pitiful apology. Oh seven he hated this…he hated how much he was being pinned down by all of their gazes..it was one thing to have Jamil see his pathetic, time-wasting side but everybody else..?
Kalim knew that their perceptions of him were relatively the same: he was an airheaded, spoiled heir who was inconsiderate to everyone else’s schedule, especially Jamil’s.
An airhead who was being inconsiderate and selfish…when other people’s lives were on the line. Kalim didn’t want to be inconsiderate of the ones who were suffering more.
So after licking his lips, straightening up slowly to not pull the makeshift bandage beneath his robes, he stood up straight and put on his best reassuring yet still serious poker face.
“I promise, I won’t put you guys off track again…”
A sad smile etched his way onto his face—a part of him still wanting forgiveness for how troublesome he’s been so far, how selfish he was in a setting like this.
H̶o̶w̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶l̶e̶g̶s̶ ̶f̶e̶l̶t̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶y̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶g̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶m̶o̶m̶e̶n̶t̶…̶
“I’m sorry…” An awkward laugh to hopefully seize the tension and not have them worry too much i̶f̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶.
Of course, nobody laughed with him. All he could feel was Jamil’s piercing, scathing gaze, and he immediately wanted to lock himself away.
Fortunately, he was saved by a pensive hum from Azul, who fixed his glasses before speaking again.
“Well…to me at least, your apology sounded sincere enough, and it’s best not to hold such silly grudges when we’re counted on…
“I personally forgive you, just…do try not to repeat such a mistake again. Remember the situation we’re in.”
Azul’s calculating voice had a hint of softness as he spoke—almost as if underneath the cunning demeanor lay some empathy for his comrade, just as there once was during winter break.
Whether or not the octomerman truly meant his statement or was once again being manipulative to the airheaded heir using a sweet voice…Kalim appreciated it nonetheless. He mouthed a “thank you” to Azul.
H̶e̶ ̶f̶e̶l̶t̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶p̶a̶t̶h̶e̶t̶i̶c̶ ̶d̶o̶g̶,̶ ̶m̶e̶r̶e̶l̶y̶ ̶b̶e̶g̶g̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶s̶c̶r̶a̶p̶s̶…̶e̶v̶e̶n̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶y̶’̶r̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶a̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶p̶o̶i̶s̶o̶n̶.̶ ̶
Azul cleared his throat and his ubiquitous, business-man smile made its way onto his face, perhaps to cut some of the tension in the hall.
“I’d hope you’re all in agreement with me.”
Kalim could hear Riddle hesitantly humming and could spot Vil nodding, but still heard agitated mumbling coming from Idia’s direction, and a rather impatient sigh from Malleus.
Leona stayed uncharacteristically quiet, but Kalim wasn’t paying much attention.
He had his line of focus on Jamil—who made it very clear he still wasn’t happy, practically glaring at his housewarden b̶u̶r̶d̶e̶n̶, and Kalim just looked back at the ground in shame.
He knew the servant was really not going to hold back in letting him know how 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 he was…not that he really held back that much after winter break, but looks like the brunette wanted to really hone in that fact now that their lives were at stake.
The heir really felt a headache coming on, and his robes felt unbearably uncomfortable from the sweat that was starting to stick to his skin. He felt hot and cold at the same time, and his stomach was practically burning with agony, the cloth rubbing over over the still fresh wound not doing him any favors.
Again, Kalim closed his eyes and just took a deep breath, trying to focus on a random spot on the ground, though he mostly just ended up zoning out. Not uncommon for Kalim anyways, his mind was always elsewhere.
He did his best to keep up his poker face, his lips tightly shut to hide his teeth gritting ever so slightly.
He was so far into his own head that he didn’t even notice Lucius anxiously pawing at his feet, almost like he knew, but could only express it through fretful meows.
— — —
“Ah my dears! I’m so moved you had listened to my instructions and came here!!!”
None of them knew what was more offensive—that sickly smile on the headmaster’s face after he made them WAIT on him despite the hall of mirrors being his idea, or the fact that he referred to them all as his “dears”.
“Now where were YOU exactly?” Vil’s stern tone cut through the air, causing the headmaster himself to flinch the slightest bit—as if Vil was in charge of him, and not the other way around.
It was almost impressive how the blond actor could make even those older than him feel like children under his gaze, but Kalim felt too sick and exhausted to find himself dazzled by the pomefiore housewarden like usual.
He just stayed silent kneeling on the ground, scratching Lucius’ chin and ears to get him to calm down a bit.
Those efforts were seemingly in vein though, considering the cat kept sniffing and nudging Kalim’s stomach persistently with his head, but the heir was thankful nobody caught onto that. Or if they did, they would just assume it was a behavior as a result of being separated from Trein, and nothing more.
H̶e̶ ̶s̶t̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶h̶a̶d̶ ̶y̶e̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶L̶e̶o̶n̶a̶’̶s̶ ̶g̶a̶z̶e̶.̶
“Such a cold reaction!” Kalim heard Crowley’s voice boom. “Is that really any way to talk to your headmaster?”
“You asked us to meet you here.”
Malleus started, his gaze piercing down at their irresponsible headmaster. “You made us wait for YOU in a potentially life threatening situation. That’s not something a responsible headmaster such as yourself would do.”
Clearly the argument got under the old man’s skin, judging by the sharp inhale that left his lips, followed by a forced chuckle.
“Indeed, indeed. I truly am sorry for making you all worry..”
Worrying wasn’t exactly the right word, but Kalim knew he was the last person to think that.
That is, if you excluded Lucius from the equation, who was now meowing and clawing at the robe flabs that were covering up Kalim’s buttoned up shirt.
Kalim wrapped his arms around the cat to hide him from view and shushed him, trying to make it seem like he was just calming down the anxious feline. Making it seem like the cat was trying to soothe himself with the motions, and not the fact that they were done deliberately to expose where Kalim’s headdress truly was all along.
“I was initially going to meet with you all here as planned but…”
Crowley started, then closed his mouth again to clear his throat. Now that Kalim thought about it…was there another figure behind him? Or maybe it’s just the blood loss getting to his head…
Crowley continued.
“But…I ran into someone.”
Okay…so the blood loss isn’t that severe y̶e̶t̶.
Because behind Crowley was indeed a figure of a bit of a shorter stature…they walked from behind the headmaster to reveal themselves fully.
Everyone’s breath caught when they saw who it was.
The prefect of Ramshackle.
Notes:
WOOHOO!! I TOLD YALL NOT TO STOP READING!!! Ask and I shall deliver because chapter 3 is here!!!! This was definitely way too delayed again I’m sorry but art school is tough asf 😞😞 hopefully this chapter makes up for lost time! And be prepared for chapter 4…hehehehe 😈😈😈
Chapter 4
Notes:
Yuu angst in my KALIM ANGST ⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️ 😱😱😱😱😱😱🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
It was them.
“It’s you.”
It’s Yuu.
Jamil’s mouth found itself moving on its own…that was stupid to say out loud, he thought.
Everyone could clearly see who it was, it’s not like Jamil needed to point out the obvious.
H̶o̶w̶e̶v̶e̶r̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶y̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶ ̶l̶o̶o̶k̶ ̶a̶ ̶b̶i̶t̶…̶b̶l̶u̶r̶r̶y̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶K̶a̶l̶i̶m̶’̶s̶ ̶v̶i̶s̶i̶o̶n̶.
Yuu took one step forward, and then another, and the other housewardens would’ve backed up if they weren’t frozen in shock at the reunion.
Lucius, on the other hand, was still at it with Kalim’s clothes, continuously pawing at the black buttoned shirt and robe flabs.
Kalim oh so gently nudged the cat away, keeping him at a distance but not moving him entirely. He took full advantage of the new distraction of Yuu’s presence…at least now he had something else for his mind to focus on other than the pain.
Ugh…Kalim winces internally at how that sounded. Gosh, was it just in his nature to be as selfish as possible?? Being more glad that Yuu’s there to feel better about yourself instead of being relieved that they at least aren’t hurt...
𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬. 𝐍𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐦 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭.
𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐲.
Oh seven…Kalim begged that nagging voice in his ear to keep it down, just for a second. It certainly wasn’t helping how lightheaded he felt, after all. He needed to get up…he needed to join in on the conversation…he needed to join the other as they unfroze and approached Yuu…he needed to prove he truly did care about the poor traumatized prefect. He needed to not be so self-centered.
He exhaled heavily and did his best not to clutch his belly, his hands shaking ever so slightly as more of that burning sensation continued to radiate. He heard a protesting meow from Lucius as he got up from the floor, heart heavy and legs sore, but he couldn’t do anything to pacify the feline now unfortunately.
‘Sorry Lucius…no hard feelings.’
— — —
As Kalim walked, quicker than normal purely thanks to adrenaline a̶n̶d̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶a̶b̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶a̶i̶n̶, he was immediately greeted with an argument.
Well, if you could even call it that. It seems like a majority of the yelling was coming from Yuu with Crowley trying to calm them down.
“N-now prefect don’t be like that..”
“Don’t be like that?? Don’t be like that?! You have some fucking nerve dragging me here with the likes of all of you!!”
Whoa.
Kalim has…never seen Yuu that angry before. And not just angry but..actually expressing it and lashing out. Which is one thing but….they’re getting mad at the headmaster of all people.
“Now child of man…is that any way to talk to the headmaster?” Malleus gently laid a hand on the aggravated Yuu’s shoulder, his voice a gentle breeze to hopefully cool their nerves.
Unfortunately, it must’ve felt like ice to Yuu’s fired up heart, and they immediately pushed Malleus off.
“Don’t 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 call me that.”
Time practically went still, and not only was Malleus rightfully taken aback, so was everyone else. Kalim glanced to the other housewardens, who all look as if they just witnessed a murder. And it might as well have been considering the ghost of..hurt on Malleus’ face. And Kalim wasn’t sure whether or not to be more relieved or worried that the fae didn’t even get angry and cause even more damage to the already damaged hallway.
Things would’ve ended up much worse if seven forbid Sebek was here too.
Yuu’s eyes immediately locked onto everyone else, and if Kalim hadn’t known any better, he swore one of their hands was clenched into a fist, either to punch the hall or punch one of them. There was pure venom in their gaze, not just anger, 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐝.
“Quit acting shocked…you all CAUSED THIS!!!!”
…what?
“What are you talking about.???” Idia took the words right out of Kalim’s head.
“Don’t fucking play dumb!!” Idia squeaked at Yuu’s domineering tone and almost flinched when they got too close, which just served to make the prefect 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫.
“Grim he…” a shakiness in Yuu’s voice had Kalim believing they’d start crying, but that small vulnerability washed away when they once again made scathing eye contact with everyone else.
“He overblotted because of YOU ALL! He-! If it wasn’t for your stones, he wouldn’t have overblotted! He wouldn’t be destroying the school and wouldn’t have destroyed the hall of mirrors, MY ONE CHANCE TO GET HOME! AND YOU PRICKS TOOK IT AWAY FROM ME!!”
Yuu’s voice practically reached ear bleeding levels of screeching at the end of that tirade, and Kalim winced from the volume as it aggravated his current headache and dizziness. But he didn’t have a right to complain, h̶e̶ ̶n̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶.
Leona’s ears were pinned all the way back and he growled, though he didn’t yell back, as his gaze once again fell onto Kalim without him knowing.
Riddle instead took up that role, that ubiquitous temper of his at full force once again as he grit his teeth, his face turned as red as his hair and he forcefully grabbed Yuu by the shoulders.
“Excuse me?!! Where do YOU think you are getting off, pinning the blame on us?? Do you THINK WE COULD PREDICT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN??!!!!”
Yuu immediately looked ready to retort, but Azul was quick to pull Riddle off.
“Riddle, calm yourself. What good is it yelling at a student who’s clearly not in the right state of mind? You’re better than this.”
Kalim watched as Jamil somewhat stood in front of him, almost like shielding him. Almost like he was expecting Yuu to become violent.
“You’re not any better!”
Azul’s head slowly turned to face Yuu after hearing such an ire-filled remark.
“Pardon me?”
“Don’t act like you’re all high and mighty by trying to play the pacifist!” Azul almost recoiled at how close Yuu got to them, feeling the smoke coming out of their bitter breath.
Even before all their respective overblots..Yuu never got this confrontational, especially not with housewardens of all people.
“Every one of you is the reason that I can’t get home after waiting GOD knows how long! Which includes you too, Azul! So you can quit acting like you’ve grown, like you’re some bigger person now!!“
Azul ignored the way Yuu had practically cornered him, and he especially ignored the claustrophobia that almost exactly resembles how he felt when the bullies were on top of his head.
No, he’d keep it together.
With one deep exhale, the blue haired man fixed his glasses and kept himself and the distraught prefect at equal level, rather than towering back. He was the one who towered first after all.
“Now prefect..you need to calm down. I am not about to get personal with you in a situation such as this, none of us are. So please just-“
“Or what? You’re gonna make me sign one of those contracts again??”
“Argh!!” Azul immediately stepped back like he was physically struck, and now he was showing the very same venomous look Yuu was giving him, but said nothing more. He turned the glare at the ground, almost like he tried to calm down and not say anything he may regret.
He certainly had more self control than Riddle in that regard.
“You see what I mean?? They can’t be reasoned with!” Riddle claimed. He had quite noticeably calmed down after the first altercation, but that irritation was definitely still there. Kalim could almost feel the steam coming out of his ears.
Vil spun Yuu around, almost like he was ready to take up Riddle on those words. He looked down at Yuu as if they were nothing more than a misbehaving child, and Kalim found himself feeling like the guilty party from just how strong Vil’s gaze was.
Well, it’s not like he was completely guiltless anyways. He laid a hand over the left area of his stomach, just taking a deep breath and making sure the headscarf bandage stayed in place by running his hand over it subtly to not attract attention.
No, no worrying about yourself. Focus on what’s in front of you. On what’s important.
𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐝, 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.
This voice was making Kalim’s head ring…again. But he would bear it, just as he beared this injury for so long up to now without saying a word about it, and just as Yuu beared having to keep their emotions at bay until it finally all boiled over.
They’ve probably going through much worse right now anyway…judging by the look on their face while Vil spoke down to them.
Kalim’s attention span had been going in and out much more often thanks to the hemorrhage, but he was still somewhat paying attention to what Vil was telling Yuu…and the actor sure wasn’t sugarcoating anything.
“With all due respect, because I do respect you believe it or not, this type of childish selfishness is honestly pathetic coming from you. Do you truly think we’re not frustrated or stressed as well? We’ve arguably more on our plates as housewardens, so do me a favor at least and stop with this temper tantrum.”
A bitter chuckle left Yuu’s mouth, somehow scarier than the manic laughs let out by the six housewardens and one vice before their respective overblots.
“Ironic coming from the person who threw a temper tantrum over people liking Neige more.”
Oh yeah…nothing was getting through to Yuu at this point.
Idia hissed a little, and Malleus just stared dumbfounded while Leona tried and failed to mask a smirk.
Kalim swore he saw Vil’s eye twitch, his composed demeanor all but crumbling from thinning patience.
“Why you little—“
“Yuu!”
Kalim finally stepped out from Jamil’s shield, unable to listen to this any longer.
“Kalim what the hell are you doing?? Don’t involve yourself in this!” Jamil immediately protested, but Kalim gave him a determined look.
“I’m automatically involved by being a housewarden.”
The contempt in Yuu’s eyes didn’t go away, but they did seem curious enough to at least be ready to hear Kalim out.
Leona immediately put a hand on Kalim’s shoulder to get him to stay put. Wait, huh…?
“It’s best you don’t push yourself.”
Kalim ignored that tiny worried bit that suggested that what Leona said had some double meaning, and he gently took Leona’s hand off. Leona didn’t go after him.
“Yuu…”
“What.”
Kalim flinched at the iciness and immediateness of Yuu’s response, almost like they were preparing to shut him down before he even opened his mouth.
“Y-Yuu cmon…” A weak smile and reach for the hand, a fawn, trying to appease a predator.
“You’re probably so angry and I can’t say it’s not justified but even so…” Kalim tried not to look hurt at the flash of disgust that made its way onto the prefect’s face the moment he put a hand on their shoulder.
“Even so…I know you don’t really mean all those mean things about everyone so…”
“So what.” ..huh?
“Huh?”
Yuu sneered and practically shoved Kalim away from them, and he bit back a whimper at the way the motion jostled his wound.
“So what? Let me guess, you suggest we just hold hands and sing kumbaya, right? It’s all just water under the bridge, right??”
That high pitched mocking voice Yuu did at the kumbaya part didn’t break his heart, but he sure felt it get squeezed a little.
As blunt as Yuu might have been with him before…they were never ever this nasty, not to him at least.
Jamil immediately went to step in, but Azul had to hold him back…as well. Poor octavinelle housewarden was really working overtime of keeping the second years in the group from placing the magicless student’s head on a spike.
Kalim shook his head, feeling frozen under Yuu’s scathing gaze.
“T-that’s not what I—“
“So what ARE you saying exactly? Or are you just speaking before thinking again?? Are you REALLY still that airheaded, Kalim? That you think everything can be fixed with a stupid smile?!”
“Yuu, enough.” Jamil called out, his voice low in warning. “You do not have to take your anger out on him.” A̶s̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶J̶a̶m̶i̶l̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶s̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶s̶ ̶Y̶u̶u̶ ̶h̶a̶d̶ ̶j̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶s̶a̶i̶d̶.̶
“Shut up.” Yuu immediately demanded.
“No, YOU listen to me!” Before anyone could stop him, Jamil immediately towered over Yuu.
“What gives you the right to speak to us that way?!”
“Jamil—“ Kalim reached out in worry. Jamil wasn’t even yelling…that meant he was 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 angry.
“Well? Answer me!!”
“Or what. What if I don’t? Will you hypnotize me to give you one?”
This time, Yuu didn’t sound angry anymore…their voice was trembling and their bottom lip quivered.
Jamil couldn’t even come up with a retort. Hell, nobody was expecting this outcome.
Shit, were they about to..cry?
A sniffle and a wipe to their eyes confirmed it…and before anyone could react, they began sobbing. Loudly.
Everyone collectively gasped. Shit first they were screaming at them at the top of their lungs, now they’re just…sobbing their heart out.
“W-whoa. 𝗪𝗵𝗼𝗮. Yuu!”
Jamil stayed frozen like a statue, awkward over what he unintentionally caused and just looked to everyone else for guidance, but they were just as taken aback as he.
Kalim wasn’t though.
“Oh Yuu…no, don’t cry…” In spite of the harsh and cruel words they had just spit at him, Kalim’s heart couldn’t handle seeing the normally composed and coolheaded Ramshackle prefect just bawling their eyes out like that.
In spite of his wound hurting at the motion, Kalim couldn’t help but reach out to try and pull Yuu into a hug, just as he did for his younger siblings many times before whenever they cried.
Yuu rejected the touch though and pulled away, though not nearly as aggressively as before.
Kalim wasn’t surprised at the rejection, though it still hurt. It hurt his heart, and his stomach…though it seemed any movement was at this point.
After calming down a little, Yuu took a big inhale and the hatred from their eyes was gone, now replaced with pure despair and anguish.
The frustration, the exhaustion of having to put up with overblots, with having their life on the line over and over again, all without reward, all without a guarantee home…and that guarantee home was snuffed out, boiled over in the ugly sense of the word.
“Y-you don’t *hic* get to tell me I’m being selfish!! I have *heave* done nothing but clean after your messes, deal with you all dragging me into your problems without even so much as a thank you!!!”
It seems now everyone was truly listening to what Yuu was saying now that they weren’t going after them all—though Leona stayed focus on Kalim, and Kalim tried to stay focused on Yuu’s speech as well, but couldn’t help but keep his head down and eyes closed, trying to overcome waves of dizziness and pain.
Lucius stayed close to Crowley, who had been suspiciously silent ever since Yuu’s outburst.
“You’ve taken your anger out on me, you’ve all used ME as a punching bag before…so why is it so bad if I return the energy??? Huh????”
Yuu sounded like they would start bawling uncontrollably again, but they kept their composure long enough to continue spilling out their feelings, just as they all did to them once before.
“This..this is the thanks I get?? I have one of the few people who actually care about me…o-overblot! Overblot because of YOUR stones! Because of YOUR incompetence!!”
Yuu pointed at the headmaster, addressing him, though he just sighed through his nose and closed his eyes.
“And now…now I can’t even get home! My ONE way home was taken away after all my hard work…. you all took that away! I hate all of you!!!!”
Yuu’s legs gave out on them as they fell to their knees, going back to sobbing inconsolably as they wrapped their arms around their body, a sad attempt at giving themselves a hug. Almost like they didn’t expect anybody here to comfort them.
Seeing such a raw display of emotion horrified Kalim for even thinking about his own injury. Yuu had gone through so much, and they were going through so much now…he couldn’t even imagine.
This settled it.
He wasn’t going to tell anybody about this wound, he would bear it himself. Yuu needed the attention, they needed the comfort, they needed the spotlight. It was the least any of them could give.
Kalim refused to be a thief and take it when Yuu was basically begging for an ounce of understanding. He just exhaled while keeping a hand over the damaged area of his belly which was warm with newly formed blood, a promise that he will bear the pain, a small sacrifice necessary to pay Yuu back for all their trouble.
The others all had conflicting looks on their faces, ranging from discomfort to pity. Idia just looked down at the ground awkwardly, while Riddle looked ashamed for his earlier display of rage.
“Goodness me…”
Right…Crowley was here too. He certainly stayed quiet a̶n̶d̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶l̶e̶s̶s̶ through this all.
He stepped forward to the prefect on the ground, who still continued crying and hiccuping quietly. He pulled them up ever so gently. Besides that though, he didn’t offer anything in the sense of comfort. Not even a stroke of the hair, or some fake cooing.
Instead, he cupped Yuu’s cheek and had them look into his glowing eyes. He wiped a falling tear away from their eye, a move so calculating you could swear somebody’s hair stood on end.
“Dear prefect….” Crowley began, his voice now bordering on…too sweet for its own good.
“I truly do apologize for all the torment I and the others have caused you. That truly wasn’t my intention, you poor child..”
Now he cradled the prefect’s face in both of his clawed hands, a gesture that would’ve been seen as sweet if not for the discomfort it emanated. It felt…extremely manipulative.
“Your anger is very very justified, that I won’t deny but…do you really want to sit here and wail like a child, while your dear friend is hurting your other dear friends?”
Yuu’s breath shook, and Kalim’s grip on his stomach tightened again, not from pain but from anticipation.
“I understand you care about Grim very much…so just one last time, try to put your feelings aside.” He let go of Yuu’s face.
“I know you want to save him more than anything else…you don’t have to think of it as working with us, just think of it as necessary for your precious partner.”
Crowley smiled ever so softly.
It was cruel, so unnecessarily cruel in Kalim’s mind, the way the headmaster toyed with Yuu’s feelings like that but…he knew it was necessary, just as keeping his mouth shut over his still-bleeding abdomen was necessary.
Yuu had finally calmed down enough, the last of their tears have fallen and leaving nothing more than a red face, puffy eyes and tear streaks.
“Once this is all over, and I can get home…”
Yuu looked up, a tired flair now in its wake.
“I don’t even want to think about the lot of you or your stupid faces again.” The words came out like a snarl, and this time, none of them tried to fight them on it.
Every single one of them was tired, but still needed the energy for the fight ahead.
Kalim could only hope and pray he could last long enough until then.
Crowley nodded in understanding, just happy he now had Yuu’s assistance, as begrudging as it was. He cleared his throat to get everyone else’s attention on him again, and like a reflex, everybody stiffened up, but in a different way this time.
“Now my dear boys…let us go on then.”
Notes:
WOOHOO CHAPTER FOUR IS FINALLY OUT!!! Man I had a field day with this one…literally wrote most of it like a few minutes ago lmao uhh BUT HOPE YOU ENJOYED!! And be prepared for more kalim suffering 😈😈😈
Chapter Text
Kalim was sure not even a long walk to the desert would be nearly as agonizing as the current walk they were all taken.
Grim hadn’t even been seen in this hallway, and yet, his presence had been so great there were visible cracks, holes and chars on the walls. The ground had pieces of rubble scattered, some big and some small, and you’d have to watch your step to not slip.
This was their beloved school, the college some of them believed was a means of escaping their less than stellar lives, and after so much hard work…
Not that Kalim ever thought of Night Raven in that way though he did love the school. Night Raven it wasn’t an escape, no! His life was just fine, his life was great, he was born lucky. O̶r̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶i̶t̶?̶
The current situation was beyond the realm of just unlucky though, as every step felt not only agonizing on Kalim’s psyche, but his physical body as well. He bit back any groans or winces he held in his throat, as it felt every single step taken was tearing through his already tender wound. At least if he were running, the pain didn’t hit until after…but because he was forced to adjust his pace to slow and steady to match everyone else, he felt it, every second of it, a burning sensation from his stomach.
His body temperature was starting to get to the realm of fluctuating too much for comfort, because first it felt like he was burning up, but now he felt unbearably cold, and the sweat on his forehead felt like ice on his fragile body.
The pain from his wound was getting to the point of spreading throughout his entire body, and now his legs felt so unbelievably sluggish and sore, he begged the Merciful Sands that he wouldn’t collapse before they got to the end goal.
The heir swallowed some spit and took a shaky exhale as he hunched over slightly while walking, the tension between everyone else not doing anything to help.
And…the tension was great. Sure it was quiet before, but now it felt like a quiet where everybody’s lips were forcibly stitched shut rather than silence out of fright from what Grim had done. And this was no doubt a result of Yuu joining the group u̶n̶w̶i̶l̶l̶i̶n̶g̶l̶y̶ and lashing out.
Not that it was any of their fault of course! It was understandable that they lashed out after everything they went through…but ouch, it sure hurt when they had said all those mean things. A part of Kalim thought h̶o̶p̶e̶d̶ he would’ve at least been spared considering he never overblotted but…
𝐎𝐡 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐲. 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐎𝐔.
Right. Right..the voice was right. Kalim needed to stop putting himself on a pedestal, he needed to stop being 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡.
Kalim weakly glanced up at Yuu, who was walking to the left of him. Oh the poor thing…they looked awful. Hair messy, still sniffling and wiping the remaining tears from their eyes. That was when they glanced up at Kalim.
It was only a split second, but Kalim swore he saw something like guilt in their eyes…maybe even concern? Considering their brows furrowed and their eyes squinted when analyzing Kalim.
Realizing he was giving himself away, he immediately turned to look at the ground, in hopes maybe Yuu would feel they were just seeing things. That they didn’t see the clammy texture of his skin due to sweat, or the huffing leaving his lips as if out of breath even when walking at a slow pace. Or the way he was cradling both arms to his chest in a fist so he didn’t end up holding his stomach even though he desperately wanted to apply pressure to make the pain go away.
‘At least they feel bad…that means they care,’
No, NO. Kalim wanted to scream at himself for thinking like that. Who does he think he is?? Wanting Yuu, poor innocent Yuu to feel bad on top of all the stress they were already feeling? For what, to make himself feel better?? No…he wasn’t going to expect any of that. B̶e̶c̶a̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶d̶e̶s̶e̶r̶v̶e̶ ̶i̶t̶.̶
The heir had been so far into his own head he didn’t even realize he was about to run into Riddle, who still had lingering irritation running through his veins though no hostility. He just…seemed tired now, and perhaps a little repentant?
Kalim barley managed to avoid bumping into the redhead by walking the opposite side, and he was grateful he did, even if it did pull at his wound, which he placed a hand over to apply some pressure.
Riddle did turn his head towards Kalim, but all he did was raise an eyebrow and roll his eyes in annoyance, almost like he believed the heir was being clumsy a̶n̶d̶ ̶s̶t̶u̶p̶i̶d̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶l̶e̶s̶s̶.
Thankfully it wasn’t enough to set the short man off, who no doubt would’ve started throwing insults Kalim’s way at the beginning of the year. Perhaps he just resorted to shouting those insults in his head.
Not…really the best thing for Kalim to think about on top of everything else but, he’d take that over being outwardly reminded of how utterly incapable and pathetic he was. A poor excuse of a housewarden who can’t seem to focus no matter how hard he tried and can’t pull himself together because of a stupid little injury.
A totally not life-threatening little injury, that Kalim continued to clutch, almost protectively.
Once his brain woke up again, he immediately snatched his hand away, almost as if he’d been burnt. He went back to just clutching his arms to his chest. I̶t̶ ̶f̶e̶l̶t̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶b̶u̶r̶n̶e̶d̶.̶.̶
He needed to control himself, he needed to stop letting his pain slip out. The housewardens, Yuu, Jamil…they’d all get suspicious. They’d have to stop for him. They’d be inconvenienced, and get angry. Because first the overblot itself, then Yuu snapping, and now he of all people was slowing everyone down.
A sudden rush of adrenaline overcame the white haired boy’s body, and he found himself speeding up beyond himself. His feet picked up quite a bit of pace, though not too much speed that would cause the others to chase after him. He couldn’t possibly become difficult in the opposite direction. H̶e̶ ̶i̶g̶n̶o̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶f̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶g̶l̶a̶n̶c̶e̶s̶ ̶m̶a̶d̶e̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶V̶i̶l̶,̶ ̶J̶a̶m̶i̶l̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶A̶z̶u̶l̶.̶
At this point, his brain didn’t care. HE didn’t care. He didn’t care if the pain would come back tenfold once he slowed down. He didn’t care about this stupid fucking injury period. He didn’t care about how exhausted he physically felt, because mentally, he needed to move.
He needed to move forward, he needed to prove he wasn’t going to slow them down. He wasn’t going to put himself first. He was going to prove to them, prove to Jamil, prove to Yuu that he wasn’t an airheaded spoiled brat. He wasn’t an arrogant rich boy. He had grown past only thinking of himself, if he had to ban himself from ever thinking of himself again, so be it.
If he needed to put his body to the brink as his stomach continued leaking like a faucet, so be it.
He wasn’t going to be useless. He wasn’t going to be selfish. He would keep going and not complain about some boo-boo like he was a toddler. He needed to grow up. He needed to—
His spiraling was interrupted by somebody pulling him back, not tight or rough enough to throw him off balance, but not exactly jealous either.
“Oi. Slow down, will you?“
Ah…Leona. Kalim looked up at the tall beastman behind him, a look of annoyance, though there was just a small hint of softness if you looked just a bit deeper. Not that Kalim was though, considering he knew Leona thought of him as a nuisance. Leona’s grip on him didn’t leave, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.
“Sorry…I guess I got ahead of myself. I wasn’t running or anything right..?”
Kalim asked sheepishly, doing his best to keep a genuine smile, radiant enough to annoy Leona, as most of his smiles did, but at least it would mean the Savanaclaw housewarden wouldn’t pry any further.
Leona just sighed. He made sure to keep his voice down when responding, for he knew the scene would probably look suspicious to anyone else, especially Jamil, who made it abundantly clear he didn’t trust him with his precious little housewarden. Not that he really cared what that snake thought anyway, since it’s not like he cared enough to check on the boy he claimed to be so dedicated to protecting.
“Don’t get such a big head, you’re not exactly a track star for all of us to chase.”
Kalim just sighed. He was unsurprised by the bluntness that came with Leona’s words, but what did confuse him was…why did Leona even care about him slowing down, especially if he wasn’t going so fast where others had to keep up?
Thankfully, Leona was able to read the look of confusion on Kalim’s face well enough, allowing him a moment to breathe without actually needing to ask for clarification verbally.
“Dumbass, do you really not know what I’m talking about?” Kalim flinched a bit, almost as if Leona’s tone stung him. The beastman sighed.
“You look sick. If you try to rush, you’ll keel over.”
Leona’s hand finally removed itself from Kalim’s arm, and Kalim found himself exhaling anxiously.
“I don’t feel bad at all…I’m fine Leona.” He kept the words “don’t worry” on the tip of his tongue, because he knew Leona wouldn’t actually go through the trouble of worrying about him.
𝐇𝐞’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤, 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐥.
Leona clicked his tongue irritably. “Yeah, keep telling yourself that.”
Once Leona left him alone, Kalim closed his eyes in shame, realizing he had just burdened Leona, burdened somebody who otherwise didn’t give a shit about him. He felt disgusted in himself.
He looked up to Azul giving him a look of sympathy, p̶r̶o̶b̶a̶b̶l̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶m̶o̶c̶k̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶,̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶c̶t̶o̶p̶u̶s̶.̶
Vil thankfully stopped paying him any mind, and Jamil gave Kalim an unreadable glance once again before continuing the walk, focusing on nothing in particular.
Kalim felt even more disgusted when that selfish part of him yearned for Jamil to at least be concerned enough to ask about his condition in the same way Leona was.
But he laughed internally, self deprecatingly, knowing it was too good to be true.
𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐲. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐲, 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡.
K̶a̶l̶i̶m̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶d̶i̶f̶f̶e̶r̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶J̶a̶m̶i̶l̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶r̶e̶g̶a̶r̶d̶.̶
Lucius walked up to Kalim once again and worriedly rubbed against the boy while they walked.
— — —
Everyone stood in front of the familiar door that led to the hall of mirrors. Well..at least there was once a door. But it had been torn apart, pieces of rubble scattered on the ground like dusted bones.
Lucius sniffed around and in the pile of door pieces…found a piece of cloth that looked like they belonged on the gloves Trein wore. As Lucius picked the piece up with his mouth and sat with his ears turned down, everybody tried not to think of the worst possible care scenario.
Once the headmage made a glance at the scene, he simply strutted inside without any more time to waste, casting a spell to seal…something, and seemed expectant of everyone else to do the same.
So with that, Malleus stepped inside first. Then Vil, then Riddle. Then Idia after picking Lucius up once again. Azul gave a concerned glance towards Kalim before stepping inside as well, something Jamil probably took as disingenuous judging by how he scowled at the octomerman before following the group.
Leona’s ear flicked, and Kalim heard the word “hypocrite” leave the lion’s mouth before he guided Kalim inside.
Again, Leona’s grip on his shoulder wasn’t tight enough to bruise, thankfully, but he worried somebody would spot what the beastman was doing and grow suspicious.
Before the heir could really worry about that though, he felt a sense of appreciation and maybe even comfort. A part of him believing the guidance to be an attempt to help keep him upright.
Ah…now that he thought about it, he definitely felt as if he had been swaying or at least, having trouble standing now that the pain and blood loss continued to set into stone.
At least now his balance felt more stable and he didn’t feel out of control when walking inside. Awful he had to inconvenience Leona again, someone who probably couldn’t make it anymore clear he didn’t want anything to do with him or his shenanigans…
However, he still thanked Leona, as quietly but genuinely as he could, though the lion didn’t respond, focusing on the ever growing bloodstain he knew was hiding below Kalim’s robes, curtaining the shirt that was no doubt becoming a sickening maroon.
He let go of Kalim, and Kalim was appreciative nobody spotted Leona’s quiet assistance, and appreciative he had at least more stability than before thanks to Leona’s strength.
𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐡𝐮𝐡? 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥.
Oh..what kind of person was he, relying on others to help him when they could help themselves, or better yet…help those in more need..? Kalim straightened up and ignored the panging, he couldn’t burden Leona any more than he already did. He shouldn’t need to have his hand held by at best, somebody with a coworker type relationship with him.
H̶e̶ ̶i̶g̶n̶o̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶s̶o̶u̶n̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶J̶a̶m̶i̶l̶’̶s̶ ̶o̶v̶e̶r̶b̶l̶o̶t̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶m̶ ̶w̶h̶i̶s̶p̶e̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶b̶u̶r̶d̶e̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶v̶e̶r̶y̶ ̶e̶x̶i̶s̶t̶e̶n̶c̶e̶.̶
Now the hallucinating was setting in…the blood loss was really starting to take a toll. Kalim just hoped this didn’t mean it was at a fatal level just yet…he needed to hold out long enough to at least be of use here.
H̶e̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶d̶i̶e̶…̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶d̶i̶e̶…̶.̶
A sealing spell was used by the headmage once again to cover the door-shaped hole in the wall, though it probably wouldn’t do much to keep Grim out.
The coffins that had once been floating in the air had been thrown around in every which way, some split apart into nothing but purple fragments. Large chunks of the sculptures that surrounded the walls had become nothing but ash, and the windows above had all but sprinkled down to glass shards, some marked with blood stains.
Kalim gripped his stomach anxiously, trying not to think about the agonizing self-inflicted operation he had endured in the bathroom, trying not to think about the heaviness, the sharp texture of that glass shard that penetrated his skin.
Crowley examined the magic mirror, the face and green light nowhere to be seen anymore, now replaced by a black screen and a large shatter.
“This mirror was priceless…a symbol of our school, of our power..”the headmaster’s voice sounded..uncharacteristically sorrowful. “Destroyed by that…monster.”
Yuu quickly protested, their voice shaking. “Don’t call him that. You didn’t call these guys that when they overblotted.”
Kalim knew that while the prefect wasn’t referring to him, the guilt that held over his head felt all the same…oh who was he kidding, acting like he was on the same level as the overblotters, acting like he could understand what they felt?
He couldn’t even understand what Jamil was feeling before winter break…
Crowley simply turned to Yuu, and while he wasn’t angry, per se, he became stern. “Perhaps because “these guys” didn’t destroy priceless architecture, they didn’t destroy the school to this 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭.” The headmaster made sure to emphasize the word extent to get it through Yuu’s head, but judging by how they still eyed the other housewardens, it wasn’t enough.
“…and none of them had caused casualties to students….especially not to this extent.”
Crowley cast another spell, this time an unsealing spell, though it didn’t unseal the door. It unsealed something…somethings much more horrific, and Kalim was taken back to the quick spell he had used when stepping inside. He used it for a reason.
Everyone else choked, having varying reactions of disgust or shock.
Bodies…so many bodies.
Kalim felt stupid for not expecting it, or lied to himself thinking everyone had somehow made it out when he saw clearly how many people had been trampled.
Those same victims laid sprawled out on the ground, covered in blood, faces frozen in horror from being kicked, stepped on. Paris of glasses broken, robes ripped up, shoes thrown, some teeth scattered…was that an eye??
And they weren’t the only ones…some lay completely unrecognizable, charred to a crisp, and some were pierced by glass shards…something that caused Kalim to grip his own stomach.
Leona quickly covered his nose and stepped away, the smell probably being a hundred times more putrid for him than everybody else.
And combined with the fact he could definitely smell the blood on Kalim still…the heir felt gross, physically and mentally. Perhaps he could’ve made it easier on Leona’s nostrils if he had just cleaned himself up more efficiently in the bathroom…no wonder the beastman hated his guts.
He could take the time to use his headdress as a bandage but not to think about the others…s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶a̶ ̶s̶e̶l̶f̶i̶s̶h̶ ̶l̶i̶t̶t̶l̶e̶ ̶l̶e̶e̶c̶h̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶.̶
Leona, other than that, seemed to have a rather strong stomach and was holding up relatively okay?
Riddle? Not so much.
He placed a hand over his mouth and gagged a few times as he immediately walked away to a random corner, trying to keep his nausea at bay lest he made the scene even more revolting. Azul immediately followed after him after being in a trance himself from the horrific sight, placing a hand on the shorter housewarden’s back and gently consoling him in the likely chance the poor redhead got sick.
It was most likely done as a distraction for himself to not focus any more on the horrific scene in front of him, but he was still helping someone else, and for once not expecting something in return.
A̶n̶d̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶ ̶K̶a̶l̶i̶m̶ ̶d̶o̶?̶ ̶O̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶n̶ ̶h̶e̶l̶p̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶s̶e̶l̶f̶?̶ ̶
And the scene in front of Kalim made him feel horrified, and he immediately looked away from the bodies to not be haunted but…he didn’t feel sick to his stomach like Riddle. Was it because he was desensitized from kidnappings when there were dead children or bodies locked in the basement with him?
Oh…he was a revolting person, wasn’t he? Only feeling nauseous because of his own stupid injury, because of his own blood loss, because of his own pain instead of for the people in front of him who had lives ahead of them and were most definitely more deserving of said lives than he.
Tears pricked the corners of Kalim’s eyes, and he found himself receiving a side hug from Jamil, whose own heartbeat was quickened and his breathing was shaky.
Jamil was no doubt horrified by this as well, for he was still human even though he was probably more desensitized than Kalim considering he had to kill people to protect him…but here he was, comforting the spoiled little prince, even when the hand stroking Kalim’s hair was shaking ever so slightly.
𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟…𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞.
Kalim backed away from the hug and immediately wiped his eyes.
“I’m okay now Jamil…” He looked up at the servant, knowing full well he was probably the least convincing he’s ever been, but thankfully Jamil seemed paralyzed enough where he didn’t catch that and just nodded.
No..not thankfully. Why did he even say thankfully? Thankfully what? Jamil was scared?? Scared for his own convenience…the insults in his head were getting worse, and he wasn’t sure if those would bring him down, or the wound in his gut, not getting the memo to stop making the boy so self-centered.
Vil had also turned away, a hand over his mouth similarly to Riddle’s. Idia was already away from the scene, in a different corner from Azul and Riddle, his face buried in Lucius’ hair as he tried to control his breathing in hopes he wouldn’t get a panic attack.
But one body in front of him reminded him too much of what happened to Ortho that day…and it didn’t help Ortho wasn’t here. He held Lucius tighter, who meowed but didn’t try to escape, knowing Idia needed it.
Malleus was the only one whose eyes didn’t fall on the heaps of bodies. They fell onto the prefect, whose legs gave out, their knees making a huge thud as they hit the ground.
They looked ready to scream, but it was almost as if they were too horrified for that, the only thing leaving their mouth being tightly sealed whimpers and shaky breaths as more tears rolled down their face.
Crowley stood towering above them, almost like a twisted version of an angel, where instead of chanting “be not afraid”, he made sure all the students here were very, 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 much afraid, especially the magicless human, who unlike these victims, would probably end up in even worse condition because of their lack of magic.
Because of their defending of Grim, their defending of the same monster who created this carnage.
As the headmaster witnessed all the varying degrees of terror that was in the room, this once treasured room, he cleared his throat.
“Hopefully, you all understand the stakes now, how this is not like any other overblot. 𝗬𝗢𝗨 especially.”
The prefect looked up, terror still in their eyes.
They didn’t respond, no one could.
Notes:
And with that chapter 5 is finally done, and the revelation for Kalim and his deteriorating condition is coming closer and closer!!! I wanted to make this chapter a bit longer but then I figured…I wanted it to end on another cliffhanger hehe 😈 since I’m back home and on break for a while, expect to eat GOOD
Chapter 6
Notes:
Hey yall! This is a bit more of a shorter chapter than the rest, I apologize 😞😞 I just really lost direction and motivation on where to go at this point in the AU, and I REALLY didn’t want to hold it off so I just posted this 🫠🫠 not sure how I feel about this specific chapter, but hopefully it’s to your guys’ liking! And if anything, I can always edit—but keep reading!!
Chapter Text
“Prefect…” Malleus carefully helped the poor magicless being up, the latter simply going along with it and melting against him like putty.
Everyone else was still rightfully horrified by the sight the headmage had forced upon them, though the man himself remained stone-faced amidst his students’ gasps, gags and heavy breathing—all to suppress screams.
Perhaps he was trying to save face, or he had expected this to happen. Not even a relenting moan at how his own career would be affected.
After a sigh, and what sounded like a silent apology to the victims, he moved towards the used-to-be door.
Leona immediately turned to him, his eyes holding both incredulousness and ire.
“Where the hell are you going? Are you seriously leaving us with a bunch of dead bodies??”
The lion man’s voice was still muffled due to his nose being covered with his hand, his tail still swishing.
Crowley turned to him, his face never faltering. “Must I seriously give you all verbal instructions to follow me? Now?”
“!! You-“
“Come along.” The headmage announced, coldly.
“…come along?” Riddle weakly repeated, looking up at the headmage in revulsion and terror.
“Y-you just showed us all these mangled corpses and expect us to come along? Just like that?? Without ANY sort of reaction???”
Kalim was sure Riddle’s angry red face would come along any second, but instead, unshed tears glistened from the little light that shone from the moon in the distance, a calming sky to an otherwise upsetting atmosphere.
“What was even the point of showing us all this…to scare us? Why scare us when we ALREADY know the danger grim holds?? Why show us this?!” Riddle’s question was met with no response from the now uncharacteristically cold headmaster.
Was Dire Crowley a careless man? Absolutely. But he was never cold-hearted, never this calculating. Underneath his antics, you could tell there was at least some care for their students…but now there was none.
Riddle just exhaled incredulously while Azul held onto both his shoulders.
“Believe me my dears…this does not make me happy one bit—“
“Then why aren’t you showing any emotion?”
Malleus’ demanding tone of voice cut through the eerie silence, a controlled energy had ripped through him even when his voice shook ever so slightly.
“Actually, better question. Are you just going to leave these poor students here? What if they become unidentifiable in the likelihood Grim comes back?”
Crowley took another deep breath, as if he was tired of n̶o̶t̶ answering these understandable questions.
“I wanted our dear prefect to understand, and you all to understand, the true depth of power and danger that Grim holds.”
“But we already knew that-“ Vil interrupted.
“𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐨𝐰??”
Kalim flinched at the harsh response. It was as if somebody had replaced the once goofy headmage with this…rather scary imposter.
“Or did you believe this was just another one of those easy overblot battles that all of y—“ he glances at Kalim and Yuu “ALMOST all of you had and could be defeated with a punch and some well-meaning advice?”
Yuu scoffed, their resentment now back in full swing. “Those battles were NOT easy! I almost died during literally all of them! How dare you say—“
“Well people have actually died here, my 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁.”
Nobody could ignore the snarl that left the masked man’s mouth as he referred to Yuu as his “dear prefect”, pointing down once again at the bodies that were now entering the stage of rotting.
Yuu immediately looked away.
“As strong as you all are, none of you had actually caused any casualties, yourselves included. The only one who I could say almost crossed that line is you, Draconia.”
The horned boy looks down, his hand almost subconsciously going to his broken horn.
“Grim, on the other hand, did. He caused many, and many more will undoubtedly come.”
Kalim’s hand went to his covered wound once more, wheezing as he felt the spot had become even warmer with even more blood than before.
Jamil didn’t ask or notice, he was paying attention to what Crowley had said, a rather tense look on his face.
Kalim exhaled..what was he thinking, expecting Jamil to just drop everything, every important thing the headmaster was saying just to pay attention to him?
He wouldn’t expect it..how on earth could he at the gravity of this all? At all these dead bodies?? At all these lives that were cut short and deserved to finish their school years at this prestigious academy while Kalim didn’t ?
These people were dead, the heir should at least be grateful he was still kicking with the injury he had. For as much pain as he was in, at least he could still feel. Unlike them. It let him know he was alive.
B̶u̶t̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶h̶a̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶e̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶l̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶t̶i̶m̶e̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶p̶l̶a̶c̶e̶,̶ ̶f̶e̶e̶l̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶e̶l̶t̶.̶ ̶N̶o̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶m̶a̶t̶t̶e̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶w̶h̶e̶n̶ ̶p̶e̶o̶p̶l̶e̶ ̶w̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶a̶d̶.̶
“You all ought to stop comparing yourselves…because this carnage is not even close.
“I’m not sure about you lot, but I would much rather save those who can be saved rather than dwell on those that haven’t been saved. And as unfortunate as it is, if we don’t unsoften our hearts over this beast, we will undoubtedly be next.”
‘Be next…’ Kalim’s hand on his stomach tightened, feeling more and more blood leaking through the wound.
He wheezed shakily…he had to hold on. He had to be strong..the headmage was right. There were people who needed to be saved, who were in far more dire condition than he was. If he were to collapse, then he should at least do it after saving those other than himself.
L̶e̶o̶n̶a̶’̶s̶ ̶e̶y̶e̶s̶ ̶l̶i̶n̶g̶e̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶.̶
“You’re all smart young men…I hope you understand.” Crowley took one final glance at the students that were no longer.
“Say your prayers, and come along. Please.”
Though that please was more of a ‘I’m not asking.’
With hesitation, heavy hearts, and tensity, they began gathering along, trying not to look at the remains of their fallen classmates.
No doubt nobody would be able to get this carnage out of their heads, especially the prefect, knowing that it was their beloved little monster friend who had caused this all.
“Kalim, go! Come on!” Jamil’s impatient demand had the heir immediately join his servant. Thankfully Jamil hadn’t been too harsh over the boy’s hesitance, acknowledging that seeing corpses of this number would weigh on his mind, no matter how much carnage he’s seen in the past.
That was just the unfortunate empathy that came with being Kalim al-Asim, and unfortunately, that empathy applied to everyone but himself.
“What do we do, Jamil..?” Kalim found himself asking with a shaky voice, and almost wanted to slap himself for still needing guidance from the person who wanted nothing to do with him. He did NOT mean to come across as that vulnerable.
Jamil thankfully didn’t resist the question, and just answered with a heavy sigh, “I don’t know. We…we just have to keep moving forward, I suppose.”
Kalim nodded gloomily.
‘Right…keep moving forward..’
K̶e̶e̶p̶ ̶m̶o̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶w̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶a̶i̶n̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶t̶i̶n̶u̶e̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶w̶e̶a̶r̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶d̶o̶w̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶b̶r̶e̶a̶k̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶d̶o̶w̶n̶,̶ ̶b̶i̶t̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶u̶n̶b̶e̶a̶r̶a̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶b̶i̶t̶.̶
Chapter 7
Notes:
6…7 😂 SIX SEVEN 😂😂😂
Okay jokes aside, here’s chapter 7!!! To make up for the rather short length of chapter 6, this one is REALLY angst central, especially for Kalim and Jamil’s relationship >:))Not sure if I should put a warning for this but uhh yeah content for hallucinating and some rather gory descriptions of injury!
Update: I didn’t realize the formatting of important words didn’t translate to the final draft so I went back and edited it all 🥱 was annoying but I got it done for consistency sake 🫠
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Everyone was face to face not with a wall anymore, but another large hole made in the cusps of the school. A large, unpolished hole with charred marks and spots of dried blood, as if Grim t̶h̶e̶ ̶m̶o̶n̶s̶t̶e̶r̶ had slashed it apart with just claws alone.
“Good seven…” Vil whispered in astonishment.
Crowley narrowed his glowing eyes and walked up to the giant gap, grazing his fingers against the dusty edges.
“It’s close. Come on now.”
“He.” Yuu whispered to themselves, correcting the dehumanizing referral to their friend, but didn’t have it in them to fully call him out. They just went with everyone else.
“Great…more walking…” Leona mumbled to himself, though it seemed less in annoyance for himself and…more on behalf of someone else, judging by how antsy it sounded, his ears flicking as they turned to Kalim again.
He was that someone.
“I do apologize for making you all walk to a multitude of spots rather than stopping at just one.”
Crowley stated as they all began walking down yet another new path, though this one would need to be improvised—they had officially left the destroyed building at last, the spoiled fruit of what was once their education.
“But it’s—“
“Because we don’t have the time to really rest. We need to keep moving..to put a stop to this…”
Everyone turned to Kalim, for he was the one to finish the headmaster’s sentence.
Nobody truly caught the desperation in Kalim’s voice, as if he were trying to convince himself to keep walking.
Because he was.
Crowley turned to face the Scarabia housewarden.
“Correct, Mr. Asim. Thank you all, for understanding and not putting up a fuss. You especially.”
Kalim let out a weary sigh. While he wasn’t one to complain, he knew his status as a rich heir would have many inclined to believe he would be making a fuss at any situation that was slightly uncomfortable.
Though he felt a bit embarrassed that he was singled out by the same man who folded instantaneously to let him inside the school BECAUSE of his riches, the heir could still see the headmaster’s praise as good motivation to stay silent about his ever worsening condition.
‘If I continue to stay silent…they won’t just see me as a pampered brat who’s putting his own needs before everyone else. Jamil won’t have to be burdened by me, nobody will.’
Kalim’s pensive thoughts were interrupted by a bloodcurdling scream, one that shook everyone to their core and made everyone stop in their tracks.
“Under that tree!” Riddle pointed and there it was…there he was.
A poor student screaming at the top of his lungs, completely pinned down by a large tree that, judging by its claw marks, had been knocked over by Grim as he continued his destructive path.
“Help!!”
Without much hesitation, the group moved to the trapped student, everyone tightening up to offer their assistance. While Riddle and Jamil immediately moved to get the tree off of the young man, with much strain and little success, Kalim also tried his luck at trying to move the stubborn plant.
“We’ll get you out, don’t worry!” Kalim tried to sound reassuring, and he ignored the sting that came with his wound being tugged, and he just hoped the poor student didn’t catch the tint of dark red hidden behind his robes.
“Oi. Quit that.” The familiar, gruff voice of Leona shoved Kalim away—albeit gently. “That also includes you herbivores, get up.”
Riddle immediately looked up. “Get up?? How can we get up when—?”
“Riddle, wait.” Jamil interrupted as he noticed the lion beastman pull out his mage pen.
“Good idea, Kingscholar.”
Leona didn’t pay attention to the headmaster’s praise, not even he was that prideful he would focus on shallow compliments over somebody in need. He touched the bark gently and knelt down, his mage stone still tightly gripped in his free hand.
“I am the one who hungers, I am the one who thirsts. I am the one to rob you of your future–kneel before me! The King’s Roar.”
And with a heavy crackling sound, the wood began to dissolve into splinters, and those splinters left nothing more than a huge pile of sand behind.
The wounded student coughed underneath the pile of sand, and Riddle, Jamil and Yuu immediately moved to help him to his knees; the magicless human putting their disdain for everyone else here on hold like they were asked. Everyone else moved with varying degrees of resolve, though they gave the boy the space he needed.
The student hacked some more while Jamil moved him to lay down, and Kalim felt a nagging sense of guilt for not helping that student as well, for he was in a much worse condition.
What did he do other than try to lift a tree, only for that to be resolved by Leona in the end?
𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟…
Kalim suppressed a groan, knowing the poor boy who was just trapped underneath a large tree needed more attention than he did.
A stomach wound was incomparable to having probably a majority of your bones crushed.
The headmaster kneeled in front of the rescued student, a hum leaving his lips as he contemplated the sight, analyzing the boy like he was a piece of science.
“Young lad? Can you hear me?” Crowley placed a hand on the shoulder of his unbroken arm—or at least, from what Kalim can guess, judging by how he gripped that limp arm tightly.
The lad in question looked up, one eye closed from the blood that was dripping from his head.
Kalim clutched his chest in worry for the poor boy. Forget his own wound, this guy not only was stuck under this tree for who knows how long, he may have had a concussion or another major head injury.
“Y-yes headmage…” The boy choked out, and winced immediately after. Riddle gripped his arm supportively.
“Don’t strain yourself.”
The student nodded and looked up at the leading students, at the housewardens t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶c̶a̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶.̶
“Thank you…” was what he got out though, seemingly not holding a grudge against them for Grim’s Overblot.
Unlike another certain someone, who just continued to support the student.
“Don’t mention it..of course we’d help.” Yuu responded, their voice now the recognizable soft tone everyone recognized them by.
But it would never be aimed to them again.
Crowley sighed sympathetically, and pushed the boy to lay down gently.
“You poor sweet boy…how did this happen?”
“G-grim…” The boy wheezed out with a whimper. “I-I tried to run but…I just felt something so heavy fall on me and….I got separated f-from my friends and—“
Before he could ramble, the headmaster interrupted him. “Do you remember which house you belong to?”
“…pomefiore.” The boy uttered weakly, his gaze slowly falling onto the housewarden of Pomefiore in question, whose eyes widened in recognition of his own student, whose beauty was now but mangled.
Without a word, Vil immediately made his way to his junior’s side, kneeling and pulling out a cloth to wipe the blood from the student’s wounds.
“H-housewarden…” the student wheezed.
“Hush now…” Vil interrupted, quickly but not unkindly. “Just rest…everything is alright.”
The student leaned into Vil’s touch, a shaky wheeze leaving his mouth.
“Theres…more people that need help. H-he went that way. Grim I mean.”
The student gestured with his head, and Crowley nodded.
“Schoenheit. Could you stay with this young man? And…”
Crowley looked around for who can accompany the Pomefiore housewarden. A part of Kalim hoped he was chosen, he wanted to help this poor student, and if he was faced with their injuries…he’d stop focusing so much on himself.
𝐔𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧…𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧…?
‘No…that’s not what I meant…’
B̶u̶t̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶m̶o̶r̶e̶.̶
“Shroud.” The headmage voiced, causing the flame haired housewarden to jump a bit. “You stay and help Mr. Schoenheit with any injured students we bring back.”
Idia nodded, finally putting Lucius down on his own accord instead of having the cat jump out of his lap.
“Okay sure but…why me?”
Crowley gestured to Lucius, who once again wanted to go to Kalim, but the headmage gently moved the fluffy cat back with his cane.
“To keep an eye on Lucius. Could you do that?”
Of course, Idia instantly nodded and picked Lucius back up, earning an annoyed huff from Vil as he continued to whisper reassurances and care for the boy going under the tree.
Idia looked up at Kalim, wondering why Lucius had become so affectionate with him lately when the cat normally didn’t like the loud heir.
But Idia didn’t think too much about it, it’s not like he cared for him at all, that’s what the heir thought anyways.
The rest of the group went in the direction the wounded boy said, and he indeed wasn’t confused from brain damage. There were people who were burned and writing on the ground, some unscathed boys trying to pull others out from under trees, or boulders. Some had crawled out from a river, ugly slash-like marks adorning their bodies.
As they began to pick out those boys one by one, doing rather egregious tacks to help those stuck under large objects like the boy from earlier, Kalim felt much more pain than he had earlier.
He wanted to scream at his own body to make the pain stop, to stop trying to distract him when there were people in front of them who were in much, much more treacherous conditions.
He tried to push on…tried to help those who could still walk back to Vil and Idia. Pat the back of those who had been in the water for who knows how long. Even held the hands of those getting their burns numbed by water magic as they screamed, comforting them when he couldn’t comfort himself.
He was getting so tired…they had helped a lot of people….perhaps a little rest wouldn’t hurt, right…?
But as Kalim leaned against the side of a cliff, taking deep breaths to settle himself, a demanding voice reached his ears.
“What are you doing, Asim?” Kalim immediately looked, and dread pooled his gut. Headmage…oh no, he was caught.
“I-I can explain.” Kalim forced his muscles to move from the spot from the stony wall, trying to gather up a good excuse. “I-I was just…”
“Taking a 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸?” Kalim immediately felt as if his body had shrunk underneath Crowley’s gaze. “What could you possibly be tired of Asim?”
“I…” The heir gulped as the headmage crossed his arms, looking down at his student in pure disdain.
“What’s going on?” Kalim’s lung seized when he heard the familiar voice of Jamil, who walked towards them both after hearing the commotion.
‘No…no….of all the people to catch him like this.’
“Oh just…your housewarden decided to slack off of helping those in need.”
Kalim’s eyes widened at the way the headmage twisted his motivations, such a disgusting alteration of the truth.
“N-no! That’s not it!”
But judging from the way Jamil had began staring daggers, he was already on the side of his headmage. Kalim’s heart sank.
“Is that so?” Jamil’s voice became dangerously low as he approached Kalim.
“Jamil please let me explain…” Kalim begged. “I was just…I was just catching my breath!”
The heir tried not to incriminate the headmage too much, but he certainly wasn’t happy at the way he had incriminated him, at the awful way he had just been painted.
Jamil just scoffed. “Right. Figures. You’re leaving everyone else to do the dirty work, as 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀.”
The pure bitterness that leaked out from Jamil’s voice made Kalim’s heart hammer in his chest. While the noirette made it clear his dislike for Kalim, it seemed now he had a good excuse to fully air it out without consequences. To go full throttle besides just a sarcastic remark here and there.
And what’s worse is that Kalim knew he deserved this treatment…he knew after all the pain he had caused Jamil, him overblotting didn’t cover even the surface of his anger towards the heir.
But seven…that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt any less, and Kalim hated that it hurt. Hated how even now, he was thinking of his own feelings.
“If you’re so 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 tired, then rest. It’s fine. Of course you’re “helping others” shtick is fake, you’re just a selfish, pampered brat at the end of the day!” Jamil growled.
“It’s not fake!” Kalim yelled, which seemed to alert the others in the group, causing them to pause in what they were doing.
Oh no…no. He did it, didn’t he?
He caused attention to fall to himself. Oh sevens….oh and the faces, the vulnerability of those who were more wounded than him, the confusion and questioning coming from Riddle, Azul, and Yuu’s faces. The huff of annoyance that came from Malleus, the lack of reaction that came from Leona.
“I-I’m sorry. Just give me a second, I’ll be right back.” Without looking back, Kalim pushed through Crowley and Jamil to a random tree, unable to stop the tears that began slipping from his eyes.
Jamil called out to him. “Yeah! Go fucking ahead! Run away, cry like a coward! Since you don’t know how to put others before yourself!”
‘Oh Jamil…I’m trying….I’m trying so hard. And I’m sorry it wasn’t good enough for you. I’m sorry for messing up.’
— — —
Kalim did everything he could to cancel out the argument that inevitably erupted as a result of his own, stupid outburst, hiding away behind a charred tree. He didn’t need to hear anymore from Jamil on just how much of a useless inconvenience he was, someone who couldn’t even put himself first for two seconds. He just HAD to take a break didn’t he? A break from what? Saving those less fortunate, from retrieving those in worse condition than he was?
He wasn’t sure why, but it seemed the pain from this stupid injury had spiked, as it seemed to be aligned with how he felt mentally. The more stressed out he felt, the more the pain blossomed.
Kalim curled in on himself, and his knees gave out as he fell to them, hugging himself as he leaned against the bark. If only he had suppressed that stress and adapted the “fake it till you make it” strategy better. It worked so many times before…was a piece of glass all that it took to destroy his psyche?
He groaned as he shakily unbuttoned his shirt, shivering as he felt the cold air hit his bare, clammy skin. Though the rest of his torso felt cold, there was an overwhelming warmth radiating from the injured area, but because it felt so warm, it was as if the puncture had been draining the warmth from Kalim’s body.
Draining the life from Kalim’s body.
With a shaky gasp, he moved a flab to the side and whimpered at the uncomfortable stickiness that the blood created. If he couldn’t even move his buttoned shirt that well, then…
His headdress, his once purple headdress was now pretty much soaked in crimson, to the point where you could no longer identify the wounded area from just one tiny spot of blood. Not enough where it made his entire abdomen feel sticky or make his entire shirt become stained, but enough to alert all the alarm bells in the heir’s head.
Kalim choked as he gazed down at the grizzly sight, his heart filling with dread, and couldn’t help having a few tears slip down his face as his mouth quivered, his breathing becoming shakier as he tried to keep himself from sobbing.
After an agonizing minute of waiting, Kalim’s shaky fingers tugged at the fabric of his headdress, a sickening “squeee” heard as it was dragged down with the blood and other gory details that had leaked out while Kalim pretended to be none the wiser.
Kalim sniffled and tried to keep the shaky breaths and whimpers from derailing into full blown bawling, but it was so, so difficult. And he hated how difficult it was now…why was it so difficult for him to not cry over his pain whereas everyone else, Jamil…could handle it just fine?
A shaky hand went over his mouth to suppress any other sounds, while his other had fully moved the headdress down.
The wound looked much worse than it did before. The wound itself had become much more torn, the skin around it much more irritated, and it looked redder, for more blood had leaked around and into the puncture.
Kalim’s fingers shakily, clumsily moved to prod the area, the squelchy noise made sent a tingle of pain once again back into his body, and a wave of nausea washed back over him. He bit his lips as more pathetic sobs wracked his body.
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬?
“Oh seven…please leave me alone…please..” Kalim begged through shaky breaths. He couldn’t deal with that voice anymore, that damned scornful voice.
𝐈’𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡.
“Go away! Please! Nothing I do is ever good enough for you!” Kalim wailed out as he clutched his aggravated wound like a lifeline. “I get it, so please just—“
“𝐎𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭.”
And that was when Kalim came face to face with the owner of the voice: himself.
Himself, in his dorm uniform, in all those shiny bangles and whatnot, and his eyes red under the control of snake whisperer. He had a domineering smile on his face, mocking the true Kalim.
Was he true…? Kalim couldn’t even tell anymore. Had the blood loss become so severe he now was hallucinating..?
And was it so severe that the hallucination of himself, standing over him as if he were a piece of dog shit underneath his shoe, felt so real…?
“Y-you’re not real…” Kalim murmured to himself like a mantra, like a prayer. “M-my mind’s just playing tricks on me…”
His hypnotized counterpart let out a bellowing laugh, a twisted version of the louder than life guffaws the heir himself would let out. The grating sound made Kalim want to cover his ears, and he covered his head, as the amalgamation of his thoughts approached him with a sadistic grin.
“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞! 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝’𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞!” The hallucination kneeled down, a bored and contemplative look now adorning his face, his red eyes soulless like a doll’s. “𝐎𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟..𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬?”
“W-what…?” Kalim sniffled. “That doesn’t make any sense!”
“𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐲!” The hypnotized Kalim agreed, his voice ringing like a painful bell that echoed in the heir’s skull. “𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞.
“𝐈 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧!! 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧…𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬?”
The mind-controlled air crawled closer to his real life counterpart, causing the real heir to back more against the tree, a desperate attempt at escape even though he was cornered, though everything from this point on became desperate.
“Stay away from me!” He shrieked, but his hallucination self just laughed at him.
“𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲? 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐘𝐎𝐔? 𝐎𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐦𝐞 𝐮𝐩! 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲…𝐈’𝐦 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥.”
The hallucination reached out with his fingers and grazed the fresh wound on Kalim’s belly.
“𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐢𝐭? 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐥-𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐦…𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤, 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬.”
The hypnotized Kalim clicked his tongue mockingly, while Kalim remained paralyzed and frozen in fear as this monster—he—fondled with his torn flesh and gaping injury like a child sticking their finger in sand.
“𝐒𝐡𝐡𝐡…𝐬𝐡𝐡𝐡𝐡…” was all his hallucination could get out as he grinned again, happy to torment the shaking, whimpering heir, whose tears continued to drip, drip, and drip.
The hallucination took back his pointer fingers, the red from the Scarabia housewarden’s blood matching his soulless, snake-whisperer eyes.
“𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲𝐫-𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚. 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮…”
The hallucination licked Kalim’s blood off his fingers.
“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞…𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐭’𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐎𝐔. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡, 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩, 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞.
“𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥.”
Kalim wheezed, and he hugged himself with surprising strength he didn’t think he had left in the condition he was in. He shook his head repeatedly in denial as he sniveled, but his hypnotized self only nodded his head.
“𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤, 𝐡𝐞𝐡𝐞!”
That giggle, that awfully sweet-sounding giggle disturbed Kalim to his core. So this was his true face, his true feelings…? He wanted out of this awful hallucination, but even if this mirror version of himself left physically…he’ll always exist in the realm of his own thoughts.
Kalim glared at his fictional counterpart, who just smiled, copying the very same motions he himself always did.
“..I hate you.”
The hallucination giggled. “𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐄, 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞…
…𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟.”
Kalim wasn’t sure when the hallucination disappeared or how, because when he looked up again…his snake-whisperer controlled self was gone, and all that remained was a shaking, pale heir, who clumsily wiped away his tears and placed pressure on his bleeding abdomen, not hearing soft padded footsteps that approached him.
All the while, Kalim continued to hug his bleeding stomach, as if protecting himself…even when he felt he didn’t deserve the protection.
Notes:
I managed to post and finish this with a bad cold and slight fever but fuck it we ball 💪 all day is Kalim thinking time, so enjoy this chapter and stay tuned!!
Chapter 8
Notes:
This was definitely my favorite chapter to write so far, I hope you all enjoy!! o(｀ω´ )o
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“What on Sage’s Island could have possibly happened?”
Malleus interrogated as he dusted off his ceremonial robes, which were now collecting dirt and other such textures as a result of their environment. He remained pragmatic, though there was no mistaking the pique in his body language or voice.
Jamil huffed and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and pointer finger.
“Nothing, Malleus. Let’s just get back to what we came here to do. Check if there’s anyone else who needs assistance and bring them to Vil and Idia.”
“What about Kalim?” Yuu asked, causing Jamil to look up.
Good grief…the prefect hadn’t opened their mouth in who knows how long other than to keep hammering in their disdain towards him and everyone else here, and now when they FINALLY decide to speak, it’s to ask about Kalim? As if they hadn’t shouted at him for being a dunce.
“Who 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬.” Jamil barked back, and he ignored the subtle feeling of discomfort that weighed on his heart for how harsh he ended up sounding.
“Who cares?? He’s just throwing himself a pity party, don’t entertain it. He’ll be back, probably going to apologize once again like it solves all his problems.”
Riddle shook his head in disapproval, his blue eyes staring daggers at Jamil. He may not hold Kalim in the highest regard either, but hearing this type of slander leave Jamil’s mouth was completely inappropriate.
“Can’t you put your personal feelings aside for just two seconds, Jamil? I’m betting the reason he ran away like that is because you said something to him.”
Jamil looked at the redhead as if he had been burnt.
“Put my feelings aside?” He chuckled bitterly, dangerously. “What the hell do you think I’ve been doing for the past 17 goddamn years of my LIFE?”
He stepped closer to Riddle, almost like challenging him, but the shorter male didn’t flinch. This just made Jamil’s ire increase.
“And if I said something, what of it? He oughta grow a thicker skin and not bust out the waterworks just because he hears something he doesn’t like, otherwise he’ll just bring everyone down. Our school is DESTROYED for seven’s sake and he’s being so…so 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡!”
Leona’s ears flicked as he closed in on Jamil, staring down at him. That look in the beastman’s eyes…Jamil HATED it.
“What? Now you want to share some insight?” Jamil challenged, not at all feeling intimidated by the much stronger housewarden.
Leona wasn’t going to pick a fight with Jamil though, knowing it would be pointless. He didn’t have time for this bullshit…this herbivore was acting like some ill-tempered chihuahua, just barking up a storm. So much for being the composed one of the duo. He simply tilted his head and yawned before giving his response, as requested, or rather threatened by the irritable servant.
“You ever stop to think maybe this is why that guy doesn’t go to you with his issues? Or to anyone for that matter?”
Jamil scoffed incredulously. What the hell..? “Oh, so you know Kalim better than me now? Is that it??”
“Oh would you get a hold of yourself Jamil?”
Azul finally spoke up, fixing his glasses as he talked to Jamil in the same way one would speak to a misbehaving child, not scolding, but stern and unyielding.
“I have no idea as to why you’re antagonizing everyone here for simply worrying over Kalim’s well-being. I understand you have a complicated history with him—“
“Do you??” Jamil interrupted but Azul immediately bounced back.
“Do you let anyone else speak?”
Jamil looked ready to argue once again, but Azul wouldn’t let him.
“I’m not going to sit here and lecture you on what you should or shouldn’t think of Kalim…that would waste precious time, time we should be spending finding as many students as we can and bringing them to safety.”
Crowley watched silently as the situation he caused continued to unfold.
Azul cleared his throat.
“With that being said, aren’t you growing tired of this whole victim complex—“
Jamil wheezed, shaking his head. His lips twitched. He wanted to punch this guy so bad…he wanted to punch EVERYONE here.
“Victim complex? Are you 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 kidding me??”
“Does it look like I’m kidding, Jamil?”
Jamil turned to the headmage, almost as if asking him if he was hearing all of this, but the headmage remained silent, much to the servant’s dismay.
“Unbelievable…” Jamil sneered under his breath. Not even the damn headmage was coming to his aid. Wasn’t he the one who called Kalim out in the first place??
Figures.
Jamil feels stupid for believing that damn bird brain was actually on his side. Nobody was ever on his side.
Victim complex? Put his feelings aside?? Who do these assholes think they were? Even now…he’s being told to put himself last. To put 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗺, that damned brat, above him once again.
Even now…everything is just about Kalim, Kalim, fucking 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐦. These idiots didn’t know anything. If they were in his shoes, they wouldn’t be coddling that pampered little rich boy nearly as much as they currently were.
𝐎𝐡 𝐧𝐨! 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭!! 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬!
Yeah…it was laughable, how it worked. They didn’t even have an obligation to Kalim, yet here they were.
After taking a deep breath to make sure he didn’t say anything he may regret, he looked up at Azul, a look of pure scorn on his face; though Azul didn’t flinch from it.
“Well, since you all 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 Kalim so much, why don’t you go look for him? Huh?” Jamil asked condescendingly.
Azul simply shrugged.
“Alright then. I suppose if that’s how it is…”
Azul began walking, Leona eyeing him with his tail flicking. Jamil looked utterly appalled.
“Wait! You’re just…going? Just like that??”
Azul breathed out a laugh.
“Don’t think I’m doing this out of any goodwill. After all…I’m just a sly, scheming businessman. You said it yourself.”
There was a note of sarcasm in Azul’s tone, but Jamil just rolled his eyes.
“Whatever…just don’t make me sign one of those contracts in exchange.”
Azul didn’t stop walking, focused on memorizing the direction Kalim had run to.
‘Unfortunately for you Jamil…I actually have priorities.’
Leona slipped out of the crowd as well, trying not to be noticed, though of course Malleus had spotted him.
“Where are you off to, Kingscholar?”
The lion beastman turned to him with a huff.
“None of your damn business, lizard.”
Though judging by the way Leona was going in the exact same direction Azul was, albeit at a distance as to not be found out by the octomerman, the “nobody’s business” part fell on rather deaf ears.
— — —
Kalim wasn’t sure how much time had passed ever since his encounter with…himself. It shouldn’t have been more than a few minutes, but it felt much longer judging by how tired his body felt.
Was it because he had been sitting for so long and now had the proper ability to feel how bad off he was? Or was his body truly giving out on him?
His grip on his waist loosened, the tears that had been streaming down his face now slowed to a trickle.
He felt so exhausted…so weak. Everything hurt so much. His heart felt heavy, and his headdress wrapped around his waist still felt uncomfortable and sticky. Although it felt like the bleeding had slowed down, that didn’t reverse the effects of blood loss that was now kicking the heir down.
He kept one arm firmly wrapped around his stomach, not bothering to look down anymore, not bothering to check how much worse the damage had become.
He just laid against the tree, his breathing coming out much slower, much shakier. He felt like dead weight. The large plant was his only company now.
“Kalim? Where are you Kalim?!”
Oh…was he hallucinating again? It sounded like Azul, calling for him….the heir wanted to check for himself, but he wasn’t sure he had the strength left to handle such mental strain. He waited for it to pass.
But it didn’t.
The voice and footsteps grew closer, until Kalim could make out a figure.
“Oh Kalim! There you are!”
Azul ran towards him…but Kalim didn’t have the energy to move from his spot, feeling glued against the bark.
“Kalim! You had us all worried sick! What in the world did Jamil say that made you run off like that?”
Kalim weakly turned to the octomerman, whose exasperated voice sounded far more genuine than he’d expect from the businessman.
“Are you real…?” Just to make sure..
Azul raised an eyebrow.
“Have you hit your head Kalim? Of course I’m real.”
The hand Azul placed on his arm felt real at least.
Then Azul looked at the heir…really looked at him. The mixture of relief and slight annoyance faded into worry almost instantly.
“Kalim? Are you alright?”
Kalim just looked at him blankly.
“Huh? Why…?”
Kalim’s head tilted without meaning to, and Azul quickly cupped his cheek, slapping it lightly to make sure he didn’t pass out.
“You look ill. What’s the matter?”
Kalim just sighed breathlessly. He tried to assure Azul everything was alright, that he didn’t need to waste time on him…but the words caught in his throat. He couldn’t even bring his mouth to move, that’s how tired he was.
Azul eyes widened at how clammy the heir felt, how sweaty he felt. And that’s when he saw it.
His free hand went over his mouth as he noticed the large stain of red over Kalim’s abdominal area, being soaked in with the…with the very same headpiece Kalim had lied about washing before.
That’s when he felt the Scarabia housewarden lean nearly all of his body weight on him.
“Kalim!”
Azul immediately cradled Kalim’s head against his shoulder, his other hand immediately feeling over the bloodied area.
“What in the name of the Sea Witch…how did this happen??”
Azul took his hand off, his palm now completely painted in blood, in Kalim’s blood. His hand began shaking from the shock of it all.
But as soon as he heard Kalim choke, the octomerman immediately tried to steady himself so as to not jostle the ailing man too much.
“G-glass…when Grim first transformed….and the glass….e-exploded….”
Azul could tell Kalim struggled with getting the words out, so he adjusted his hold on the boy, his voice lowering so as to not give the poor man a headache.
“Don’t speak, safe your strength….”
Azul sighed deeply.
“Why did you keep this from us? Do you have any idea how idiotic…how utterly 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 that is??”
Azul’s voice came out in a sharp whisper, trying to make sure Kalim was aware of just how angry he was that he would do something so detrimental to himself.
When he heard Kalim whimper against his shoulder, he almost feared his voice had been too loud for him.
“I-if I told you all…you’d all pay attention to me and not…not the fact that Grim w-was causing chaos. I d-didn’t want to be a burden.”
The octavinelle housewarden could feel just how much the Scarabia housewarden struggled with getting those words out, but the fact that he had put in such an effort to explain himself made the heart of this cold, conniving businessman ache greatly in his chest.
“I didn’t…want to burden Jamil. Not again…”
Azul’s mind went back to the way Jamil sounded as he brushed the boy’s white hair aside, praying he didn’t begin developing a fever.
Jamil’s voice sounded so venomous…so 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥. And while Azul couldn’t, and wouldn’t blame Jamil for how he felt, the fact remained that the very same man that the noirette said such things about was laying in his arms, trembling, wincing under his breath as he bled, and yet, spoke about not wanting to burden him.
Not wanting to burden…any of them.
Azul was not going to pretend he was some saint, for he had his own manipulative streak when it came to how he treated Kalim, and was only motivated to put an end to Jamil’s winter break scheme out of his own self interest.
But getting to know Kalim those past couple days and fighting the overblotted Jamil alongside him…the way Kalim was one of the few people that didn’t see Azul for the underhanded, two-faced man he was….Azul was not going to let this kind-hearted boy die here, not like this. Not after all he had done to help others.
“Let’s go back to the others Kalim.” Azul stated, trying not to sound too shaky as he helped Kalim stand.
“Can you walk?”
Kalim looked up, then immediately tried to push away once he realized where Azul was taking him.
“W-we’re going back to Jamil? We can’t do that, I can’t be a burden to him!”
Azul kept a firm grip on Kalim.
“Don’t be foolish, Kalim. If we don’t go back, you’ll 𝐝𝐢𝐞. Do you understand that??”
A yawn could be heard from behind them, and Azul tightened his hold over Kalim’s back and shoulders, while Kalim remained hunched over, hands clutching his belly.
“There you are, cephalo punk.” Leona’s head popped out from behind the large tree, his ears and tail flicking, though there wasn’t any of that usual annoyance anymore. It was hard to read him.
“Leona!” Azul called out in surprise. He then raised an eyebrow. “Did you follow me?”
Leona scoffed and cracked his neck. Then he smirked. “Nah, purely coincidence. Don’t get a big head, four eyes.”
Just as Azul was going to question the older man’s logic, Kalim cried out and fell to his knees, clutching his wound even tighter. Azul was at his side in an instant.
“Kalim?! Kalim! Easy, you’re alright!”
Leona moved swiftly, and though he looked indifferent, there was no ignoring the way he kneeled down in front of the ailing boy, undoing his own ceremonial robes and draping them over the smaller male.
Kalim hugged it tightly to his body, but that wasn’t enough to stop the blood that dripped down to the ground near his knee. Azul watched this happen, placing a hand on Kalim’s shoulder, the other placed went over Kalim’s hand that was placing pressure against the wound.
“Jokes aside, why did you choose to go after me?”
Leona’s tail switched, just a fraction faster than it would normally.
“Isn’t it obvious?” He pointed to his nose. “I could smell the blood reeking off of this one.”
Leona’s head gestured to Kalim, who looked unbelievably small with the oversized robes Leona had placed over him. He looked up at the beastman, his eyes filled with exhaustion, though there was remorse in his gaze, shame.
“I couldn’t say anything because we kept moving from place to place…and judging by how you found him, I don’t think he wanted me to say anything.”
Kalim hugged the robes to his body tighter, and Leona’s face softened, just a fraction, hardly noticeable. He exhaled through his nose.
“Still…it’s on me for not speaking up. What you did was fucking stupid, no doubt about it, but it was even more stupid of me to stay silent, knowing you were suffering.”
Kalim didn’t say anything, and just bowed his head in resignation.
“Well…you’re here now. That counts for something.” Azul assured.
“We need to get Kalim back now, he needs medical attention. Stat.”
Leona just nodded, and Kalim was grateful his head was facing the ground, that way they couldn’t see the tears that were forming in his eyes. Tears of guilt and humiliation at how he couldn’t keep the promise to himself to not be a burden, to not let this injury ruin the momentum everyone else had to stop Grim’s madness.
But he didn’t have the strength to protest. He felt too weak, too ill, in too much pain to even apologize as he felt Leona lean over and place one arm around his shoulders and the other under his legs in order to pick him up and carry him back to everyone.
But just as Leona was about to stand up…he heard a low growl, and his ear moved in the direction of the dangerous noise.
“What’s wrong?” Azul questioned as he helped situate Kalim in Leona’s arms, but then he felt Leona move Kalim back to him, and before he could protest, Leona was in his hunting form, eyes sharp, hand flat on the ground, and one knee down.
Leona looked ready to fight, and it didn’t take long for Azul to realize why, for he looked up…and up, and up, at the large frame, felt the smoke coming out of its mouth as it approached them.
There it was…there 𝐡𝐞 was. Grim.
Notes:
Woohoo! Got this chapter done way quicker than I anticipated, only two days after chapter 7!! Could we make it a record with chapter 9…let’s see!
Chapter Text
A dangerous snarl echoed out of the beast, smoke carefully steaming from his teeth as he eyed his prey who were once his friends and companions.
The smoke created a thick fog that wrapped around Leona, urging his sensitive nostrils to sneeze, but he covered his mouth and held his position, his own eyes mirroring that of a hunter even when he was so small compared to the monster.
Behind him, Azul held Kalim in a protective grip, careful not to aggravate the wound on his stomach too much as he used one of his hands to hold Kalim’s waist, the other supporting his head.
Kalim himself fought through the fogginess of his brain and tried with all his might to stop shaking because of his ever decreasing body temperature to try and make out the image in front of them all better.
Considering the protective hold Azul had on him and the way Leona was standing his ground against his usual laidback nature, it was safe for Kalim to think that the chimera he was seeing wasn’t a hallucination from the blood loss.
But that meant they were all in real danger…and he could hardly move on his own at this point, so he was sure to drag them both down with him.
And even worse bad news, it seemed like the overblotted Grim had lost his patience after that staring contest he held with Leona, for a ginormous, monstrous roar shook everyone and everything around him, and Leona had to grip the ground in hopes he wasn’t blown away by the sheer power.
Azul was much the same, as his grip on Kalim tightened tenfold, shielding the ailing heir.
And the part of Kalim’s mind that was still coherent hated himself for going along with it, for hanging onto the octomerman like some useless damsel in distress. He wanted to squirm his way out of the hold to shield them as well, to protect them rather than being the one needing protection, as always….but his body was so tired and his thinking felt so dazed. The pain from his stomach didn’t even feel there anymore.
With a large swooping motion, Grim slashed at the tree behind them, calling it to fall to the ground and creating a strong vibration that nearly sent the three flying.
Leona immediately hauled himself up and got his mage pen out, the yellow gem now glowing with anticipation.
“Oi! Cephalo punk!” He called out, to which Azul immediately looked up.
Leona immediately made a gesture with his free hand, though he made it subtle enough where Grim paid attention only on him and not the octavinelle housewarden and the injured Scarabia housewarden.
“Get your ass outta here! And take Kalim with you!”
Azul followed the beastman’s orders without hesitation, ignoring his rather harsh tone as he knew it was out of urgency, then swiftly yet carefully picked Kalim up bridal style and ran into the same direction as the spot the others were waiting in, at least from what he remembers.
Azul had never been fit for running, and Kalim’s weight in his arms certainly wasn’t helping with that, but sevens damn it he’d push on! He wasn’t going to die here or let another student who can’t even walk die because of he hesitated. He picked up speed, even as his lungs burned and his legs felt they’d give out on him.
Seeing the way Azul was struggling because of 𝗵𝗶𝗺, Kalim tugged on the collar of his robes.
“A…Azul….put me down. Y-you can’t run because of me-“
But Azul immediately put a stop to that self sacrifice s̶a̶b̶o̶t̶a̶g̶e̶.
“Don’t be stupid, Kalim! I am not going to let you be potentially eaten or mauled or however else killed by Grim just to take a load off of myself! You can’t even walk in your condition—“
“But—“
Azul just looked at him in disbelief, though he didn’t slow down.
“Do you truly believe your life is that worthless Kalim? So much so that you just liken yourself to just extra weight that’s holding me down?”
Kalim’s eyes widened as he was given that question, but before he could answer—
Another booming roar was heard from a few meters behind them, from where Leona had tried and failed to hold him off.
The lion beastman clenched his teeth as he wiped blood from a small cut on his cheek. “Damnit…!”
Then, the chimera inched his gaze onto the panting Azul and the weakened Kalim, and began charging towards them, with Leona inching not too far behind him to try and distract him once again.
“Shit!” Azul began to run faster, or as fast as his legs could take him. It was rare times like this he wished this were underwater and he was in his octopus form, able to swim and float away with ease without any trouble with nimble bones or muscles.
“Oi! Furball! Over here!” Leona waved his arms to draw attention to himself, but the chimera has now decided its next meal, which was running away from him. With a cuss under his breath, he blasted a spell at Grim, hitting his eye and causing him to roar and attack frantically with his snakeheads and tentacles and whatever else.
Leona just barely missed one tentacle grabbing him, and he looked back to make sure Azul was still running.
He was. Good. But that’s just because he wasn’t an idiot…unlike the boy being carried in the octomerman’s arms.
— — —
“You’re still not able to get any signal?” Vil questions skeptically, holding a cloth to the bloody nose of some freshman.
Idia grunted in annoyance and shook his head, staring down at the large “no WiFi” etched onto the screen.
“And now they’ve disappeared on us, vanished…just great.”
Idia nearly tossed his phone in a heap of frustration, but he couldn’t bear the thought of losing all the progress on those online game accounts without data transfers.
And he couldn’t bear the thought of not being able to potentially connect to Ortho’s system if services were available somehow.
“At least your phone still has a chance of working…”
Idia looked up when he heard the uncharacteristically solemn tone coming from Vil, only to see him pull out a damaged looking phone. Screen cracked to bits, the violet case barely hanging on by a thread. Idia winced.
“Yikes how did that happen..?”
Vil scoffed as he cleaned up the injured freshman’s face. “How do you think? It cracked when I fell trying to run. Not even the screen protector was able to shield it from such damage.”
Idia scratched the back of his head awkwardly. He knew Vil was rich enough to just get a new phone no problem, and it’s not like he needed any data transfer passcodes for games..
But judging by the dull glaze in the blond’s eyes, that wasn’t on his mind right now.
Among the row of injured students that were brought back, neither Rook nor Epel were part of that crowd. Neither was Trein, which admittedly made poor Lucius more anxious over the whereabouts of his owner, but Idia reached out and scritched behind the solemn cat’s ears, his earlier frustration slowly withering away. He was grateful that he was told to be in this group.
Vil cleared his throat as he took care of a random second year, using his mage stone to garner up an ice spell, unbuttoning their shirt, and pressing the cold to their bruised ribs. The second year groaned in pain.
“Arghh…t-that hurts….”
Vil’s other hand went to the poor student’s head.
“I know, I apologize..but try to bear with it, will you? This will numb the pain.”
The second year nodded, for as straightforward as Vil may have sounded, there was undoubtedly a sense of kindness in both his actions and instructions.
Lucius sniffed at the second year curiously before nuzzling his head into their palm to soothe them. Clearly he still had Trein on his mind, but he’d put it aside at the moment to help these students in need. It’s what Trein would want anyways.
But with all these wounded boys laying out in front of them, Lucius couldn’t stop thinking of the overwhelming scent of blood that had radiated off of Kalim, or the sweat or the overall tiredness and pain that the boy was staying 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 about. Lucius’ ears pinned back against his head and his tail swished pensively…he hoped that boy, that same boy he tried to avoid because of his over-the-top energy, would be okay, and gain that same energy back once more.
Vil then suddenly shook his head, pensive.
“This won’t work…one of us will have to go find the rest of the group.”
Idia looked back up. “Huh?”
Vil continued. “We need to call some ambulances, some students are undoubtedly in worse conditions than others, but we can’t do that if my phone is broken and yours has no signal.” The blond took the makeshift ice pack away from the sophomore’s bruised skin after some time.
Idia was admittedly…pretty fucking terrified of the thought of having to face Grim, much less by himself, if seven forbid the model decided he were fit for the mission.
But wait! Vil probably thought of Idia as weak, so he’d just go out and risk himself while Idia can stay here…but the flamed hair housewarden also realized that would make him vulnerable, all out in the open, especially if Grim was drawn to the scent of blood…and look who’s all around them.
Before Idia could drown himself in any more of his anxiety-ridden possibilities whilst leaving Vil in the dark, they both heard someone yell.
“Oi! Herbivores!”
Leona…?
The blond and flame haired housewarden looked up in sync, spotting a disheveled but thankfully uninjured Leona.
The two were quickly brought to their feet, even when their legs were numb after sitting down for so long. Lucius also turned his head quickly, his ears becoming helicopters as he growled.
“Leona?? What on earth—“
Vil was immediately shut up when he caught that familiar silhouette of the large beast.
Was it…was 𝗵𝗲 chasing Leona? Or was Leona purposefully using himself as bait? Most likely the latter.
But never mind that, for Vil immediately got his mage pen out again the second the beastman reached them, and the three third years were face to face with the 20 foot monster, one that didn’t even cover a quarter of their height once upon a time.
Notes:
I’m not sure how to feel about this chapter, I don’t think I’m really a fan of how it turned out considering I rushed with it a bit 😓😓 I hope yall still enjoyed it though! Hopefully chapter 10 will be much better :,)
Chapter 10
Notes:
The moment you’ve all been waiting for…>:)
KALIM IS DISCOVERED!!!!
(Trigger warning for anyone with emetophobia, there’s some gross descriptions of vomit taking place 🥲)
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Grim thundered out a gigantic roar the second he stepped close enough, causing Vil and Leona to cover their ears in hopes their eardrums didn’t burst from the sheer volume. The wounded students behind them also tried covering up their ears with less success, whilst others who were more awake had their mouths agape in fear and tried to crawl away from the very same beast that left them in this condition.
Vil attempted to keep his feet planted so as to not be blown away, and with suppressed vision and a clumsy arm, managed to create a protective forcefield around the group of fallen boys.
Idia kept Lucius tucked away in his arms, covering his head in hopes the cat’s sensitive auditory system wasn’t damaged, not even caring if he himself went deaf in the process.
“Why did you lead him to us?!” The flame haired housewarden called out amidst all the noise.
“Led him to you?? I was trying to lead him away you idiot!” Leona responded, his voice lowering in volume the moment Grim halted his roaring.
That, of course, didn’t pacify the chimera, still looking at the three housewardens and rows of wounded students as food, with hot, acid-like drool dripping out of his mouth.
“Well clearly, you wouldn’t let yourself be chased.” Vil insisted, once again allowing himself to give a rare spot of praise to the lion beastman.
Well, maybe not that rare anymore.
Leona turned to him, only for Grim to blow a large batch of fire in their direction. The three quickly flew out of the way, Grim missing them by a mere hair.
“Shit!” Leona growled after they had harshly landed on the ground. He wiped some dirt away from his lip.
Idia opened one of his squeezed shut eyes, his grip on Lucius as tight as ever, though he quickly loosened his arms to check if the poor cat was okay.
Once he heard a meow, Idia’s heart lightened slightly.
Vil and Leona were as tense as ever though, noticing Grim slowly closing in on the protected batch of students.
“Oh seven…the monster’s back…!” One of the students with a burnt shoulder squeezed out in fear.
Grim growled, lowly, his glowing eyes squinting.
“I used a forcefield to make sure Grim wouldn’t get to them.” Vil explained, to which Leona nodded along. “I’m not sure how strong it’ll be against his flames though..”
A huff of smoke left the chimera’s mouth that blew off of the forcefield, causing the more cautious members being protected to gasp and whimper, though thankfully they were smart enough to not make too much noise.
“Anyways..you didn’t answer my question.” Vil continued, his expression undeterred. “Who exactly were you leading him away from? The entire group? Just one person?”
Leona huffed and closed his eyes…clearly the blond wouldn’t stop pestering him until he gave an answer.
“One person.”
“Who?” Idia asked, having heard the conversation, still keeping Lucius nice and safe in his arms. Leona turned to them.
“Kalim.”
“Kalim?” Vil repeated, raising an eyebrow.
Right…they didn’t know. On account of the idiot keeping that hidden from the rest of them.
“He’s hurt. Bad.“
Vil and Idia’s eyes both widened.
Grim, who for a while hasn’t been paying attention to them for a while, has finally got bored of the students behind the forcefield and began walking into their direction instead.
With a quick glance back, Leona sprung to his feet and got his mage pen out. “He didn’t tell any of us though.”
Vil also stood up while Idia stayed back holding Lucius closely.
“Honestly…” Vil sighed irritably as he fixed his hair. “He must have some sort of martyr complex because why in Twisted Wonderland would he do something as foolish as that? One extra person to care for in that group of students wouldn’t have been a problem for me. Certainly he mustn’t think he’s that much work?”
Before Vil could go on anymore with his little lecture-like tangent while Kalim wasn’t there to hear it, Leona glanced back at him, his stance strong as his mage pen glowed with a spell in mind as Grim closed more and more distance on them.
“I don’t know…why don’t you ask him?”
— — —
Before Azul could react, Kalim had jumped out of his arms and began walking slowly back to where Riddle, Jamil, Malleus, Yuu and the headmaster were. Shaking like a leaf, Kalim used his strength to walk, though he seemed a bit muddy on his feet.
“Kalim, what are you doing?? Don’t try to walk, just let me carry you back.”
Azul gripped Kalim’s arm to stabilize him, but Kalim just shook his head.
“No…I can’t….let them find out….” He walked slowly and painfully, trying not to sway as his vision blurred and his muscles felt like they were being weighed down.
“I can’t let Jamil…be burdened by me….”
Now that Kalim had some strength back, he needed to make the most of it and go back to Jamil and everyone else.
He caused so much trouble for Azul and Leona already…making Azul go back for him, making Leona follow them out too. He no doubt caused Grim to follow them too with his scent of blood.
This was…the least he could do.
“It’s the least I can do…after causing you so much trouble. I can’t….weigh you or anyone else down now….”
Azul just stared down in disbelief. “Kalim…”
With a final burst of energy, Kalim began to speedwalk. He was certain he was going in the right direction, but all directions looked too similar with how many trees were destroyed, how many paths crossed over and met up.
Azul quickly followed behind, seeing as they were getting closer to their goal, being able to make out the outlines of people.
He quickly put a hand on Kalim’s shoulder.
“Kalim please, you’re hurting yourself…” he tried persuading, his eyebrows creasing in genuine worry over how much the heir was panting. “Is this really the hill you’re willing to die on?”
“We’re almost there…” Kalim assured. “We’re close, I can make it..!”
Kalim dashed off back to that cliff, to Jamil, and Yuu and Riddle and Malleus.
He grew more determined, running harder and faster, his body burning up more and more.
“Kalim!” Azul called after him..he apologized to the octomerman mentally in his head. This was necessary..to show he wasn’t weak.
Finally, he could make out Jamil’s face…and he looked to be brooding still and mumbling something to himself, while Malleus stood near a corner and Riddle was discussing something with the headmage, a look of concern painted behind sternness present on his face. Yuu was looking around for more people who may have been in need of assistance, probably avoiding the overblotters most of all.
But no matter.
He was back! He’d apologize for all the trouble he’d caused, and he’d make sure to help them all as much as he could!
After all, they weren’t too far away…and this wound may not be as bad as his mind was making it out as.
He wanted to take that brooding look off of Jamil’s face..he needed to apologize.
H̶e̶ ̶p̶r̶e̶t̶e̶n̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶A̶z̶u̶l̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶t̶i̶n̶u̶o̶u̶s̶l̶y̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶w̶o̶r̶r̶i̶e̶d̶l̶y̶ ̶c̶a̶l̶l̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶e̶l̶l̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶t̶o̶p̶ ̶r̶u̶n̶n̶i̶n̶g̶.̶ ̶A̶f̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶y̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶j̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶b̶e̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶ ̶f̶a̶s̶t̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶.̶
“Jamil!” Kalim cried out. “Jamil I’m back!”
Jamil looked up, noticing Kalim closing the distance on them all. Everyone else was immediately locked onto the sight of the white haired boy now no more than about ten feet away.
“Kalim..? And azul…?” Yuu asked to themselves quietly.
Finally Kalim came to a stop, panting heavily.
“Everyone! I’m sorry for running off on you! I-“
That rush of adrenaline immediately wore off the moment Kalim stopped moving, and it was replaced by a heavy bout of nausea.
He gulped as he stepped back, now feeling the blood from his shirt feeling so much more uncomfortable, now feeling that dizziness come back at full force, now feeling how utterly wrong his body temperature was…
And this time, Kalim wasn’t able to hold back this nausea spell.
He held a hand to his mouth but his efforts were futile, as his legs lost their strength and he fell to his knees, a large, clear hot river of vomit streamed out of his mouth. He gagged and choked, throwing up clear liquid that felt neverending all over his pants, his throat burning from the sheer effort of it all.
Everyone watched in horror, Jamil’s look of annoyance turned to quick terror in an instant.
“What on earth…?” Malleus looked on, a look of disgust, but his concern still visible.
Azul finally caught up, immediately placing a hand on Kalim’s back as he knelt by him.
“This is why I told you not to run Kalim…damnit….”
Azul’s words felt muddled and messy, like water being sloshed around in a bowl. Kalim’s pupils were wide and shell-shocked, and he shook like a leaf as he panted and swallowed over and over, drool leaking out of his mouth and onto the ground with the pile of vomit. His lips began quivering and his eyes began to flood with tears…that hurt. A lot.
“What the fuck…what the 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸?! KALIM!”
Jamil yelled out in shock and in no time at all, dashed to his charge’s side. That anger he felt earlier and the memory of that argument all but washed away after witnessing Kalim getting so violently sick.
He quickly shoved Azul out of the way and began shaking his master.
“Kalim! Oi! 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗺!” Jamil’s grip on him was tight, too tight…Kalim wanted to squirm away. Any touch anyone could offer would just hurt him now.
“Jamil, you do not want to be handling him so roughly.” Azul ordered, taking one of Jamil’s hands away from Kalim’s shoulders.
“Goodness me!” Crowley finally said, and it seemed that had snapped Riddle, Malleus and Yuu out of their own little trances of pure shock.
The headmaster ran to his student’s side as if he weren’t the soul cause for why said student ran away in the first place.
The other three also sprinted, all varying degrees of concern and worry and terror on their expressions.
“Kalim! KALIM! What is the matter?? Kalim! Answer me!” Jamil shouted over and over again.
Then Kalim whimpered, and began clutching his stomach.
He then leaned against Jamil and began sobbing softly yet painfully, his form shaking like a leaf.
Jamil froze and wrapped his arms around Kalim in an instant.
“Whoa, Kalim…hey, hey.” His voice went from demanding to hushed in a snapped second, and Azul’s eyes furrowed further in sympathy.
Crowley knelt opposite of Jamil, witnessing the heartbreaking scene.
“Oh my goodness me…my boy, what’s the matter?”
His gloved hand wiped a tear from Kalim’s cheek, but all that did was make the heir cry even more.
“I’m sorry!!! I’m sorrryyyy!!!!!” He blubbered out, holding onto his shirt like a vice, his knuckles turning white.
“What’s wrong with him…?” Yuu asked, not out of malice, but out of clear worry.
No longer did they see someone who was airheaded as they claimed much earlier, but somebody who was in pain and clearly not well.
It was then Riddle noticed the robe laid over him.
“Wait…is that Leona’s?”
Noticing this, Jamil took those extra layers away from Kalim’s body, causing the latter boy to whine and shiver, his crying still not having ceased.
“Shh, shh…I know.”
Then Malleus’ own eyes dilated, and he knelt down to look at Leona’s robe for himself.
“𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱.”
That one word caused all the alarm bells to blare in Jamil’s head, and he urgently pulled away Kalim’s actual robe.
“Oh my seven!” Crowley cried out in astonishment.
Indeed…there it was. Jamil didn’t need to unbutton Kalim’s dress shirt, for it had already been unbuttoned at the time Kalim had left.
But that wasn’t what shook Jamil to his core.
What shook him to his core was the large wrapping laid over Kalim’s waist, and it wasn’t a wrapping. It was his 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 he lied about needing to “wash”.
And soaking over the purple was a large reddish brown stain. Undeniably 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱.
Notes:
My new favorite chapter so far >:)))
(Another update a really nice commenter reminded me to match my publication dates with the days they’re actually published :,) I can’t believe I didn’t check!! I went back to make sure they all matched and so yall know that this fic IS being updated continuously)
Chapter 11
Notes:
Head’s up!! This one’s a bit of a “filler chapter”; more so touching on how Kalim’s dad shaped his destructive mindset that caused him to hide his injury in the present :,)
So sorry if this chapter doesn’t deliver on yk…what happens next, I PROMISE CHAPTER 12 WILL!! Because I did actually enjoy writing this and wanted to portray Kalim’s father as the cruel man he is implied to be in the game
Cw for vomiting and child abuse
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Kalim loves his father…he always told everyone a̶n̶d̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶s̶e̶l̶f̶ that he is a good man.
And he was a good man!
He’s always smiling in spite of his busy schedule, always trying to find time to spend with his son Kalim and his other children r̶e̶p̶l̶a̶c̶e̶m̶e̶n̶t̶s̶.̶
Sure, he can be strict…he’s no doubt yelled at Kalim on a few occasions, and he’s made sure to hammer in the fact that because he was the heir, he should expect threats on his life before he’s even become a legal adult…
But he was a good man.
And he always made sure to look after Kalim.
…𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘢 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦. 𝘏𝘦’𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦.
The young heir tells himself.
So he’s given his father the benefit of the doubt e̶v̶e̶n̶ ̶w̶h̶e̶n̶ ̶h̶e̶’̶s̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶p̶e̶d̶ ̶u̶n̶d̶e̶s̶e̶r̶v̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶e̶n̶e̶f̶i̶t̶s̶ ̶b̶e̶f̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶c̶a̶p̶i̶t̶a̶l̶i̶z̶e̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶m̶.̶
But even when cracks of the mask of the fun, well-meaning and nurturing father figure who happens to get strict on occasion slip out, Kalim tells himself l̶i̶e̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶s̶e̶l̶f̶, it was a necessary evil. After all…his father probably lived through the very same assassination attempts, poisoning attempts, kidnappings and so forth when he was Kalim’s age.
He was just trying to keep his son safe.
T̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶e̶n̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶w̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶g̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶u̶p̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶p̶o̶s̶i̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶w̶e̶a̶l̶t̶h̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶c̶h̶i̶l̶d̶r̶e̶n̶’̶s̶ ̶s̶a̶k̶e̶.̶
A̶n̶d̶ ̶c̶e̶r̶t̶a̶i̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶e̶n̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶f̶r̶e̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶V̶i̶p̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶e̶n̶s̶l̶a̶v̶e̶d̶ ̶f̶a̶m̶i̶l̶i̶e̶s̶ ̶w̶o̶r̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶i̶n̶f̶l̶u̶e̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶g̶e̶n̶e̶r̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶.
He did love Kalim…a̶s̶ ̶m̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶c̶h̶e̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶t̶h̶l̶e̶t̶e̶ ̶l̶o̶v̶e̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶u̶n̶f̶a̶i̶r̶l̶y̶ ̶e̶a̶r̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶r̶o̶p̶h̶y̶ ̶s̶i̶t̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶i̶r̶ ̶s̶h̶e̶l̶f̶,̶ ̶c̶o̶l̶l̶e̶c̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶d̶u̶s̶t̶.̶ ̶B̶u̶t̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶ ̶m̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶d̶u̶s̶t̶!̶ ̶H̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶u̶l̶d̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶l̶e̶t̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶h̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶w̶o̶r̶k̶ ̶b̶e̶c̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶s̶u̶l̶l̶i̶e̶d̶,̶ ̶a̶f̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶.̶
༄.ೃ࿔࿐໋✧˖°.
Kalim has many memories where the false, fluffy version he had built for his father shattered right before him, forcing him to face reality before he ultimately went back to fooling himself.
One such time that had stuck with Kalim no matter how much he tried to bury it away in the oasis of his mind was during a banquet when he was around 9 years old.
This banquet had gathered all the wealthy parties of the Scalding Sands, and the people, from what Kalim could remember ranged from people he knew as a child to people he hadn’t seen before.
Why he was gathered for this banquet, he wasn’t sure. He wasn’t sure what the purpose of it was f̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶a̶n̶q̶u̶e̶t̶s̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶h̶a̶d̶ ̶a̶t̶t̶e̶n̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶a̶c̶k̶ ̶h̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶j̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶e̶a̶l̶t̶h̶y̶ ̶c̶l̶a̶s̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶f̶l̶a̶u̶n̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶i̶r̶ ̶w̶e̶a̶l̶t̶h̶.̶
Kalim couldn’t remember such minute details because he could only remember this banquet for one reason alone—it was the first time he had been poisoned outside of his palace home.
He felt it after sitting down at the table with the other children of these wealthy, billionaire families.
He had taken no more than a gulp of his cider when he began to feel…sick. Sick to his stomach.
As he tried to keep up with the shallow conversations of the other children s̶p̶o̶i̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶r̶a̶t̶s, he sat there in discomfort, shifting in his seat, though not too much for his stomach was flipping and waving like a sea amidst a storm.
As he heard one girl sneer at how one peasant looked at her that morning, Kalim didn’t even have to worry about pretending like he hadn’t fed a pair of impoverished orphans some bread he bought in secret one time…or other times afterwards.
He was just doing his best not to hurl right then and there, even if these..awful kids deserved it.
But after a few minutes of suffering as his stomach felt like it was being turned inside out, he quickly excused himself without a word, grateful the people his age were too absorbed with themselves to pay attention to where he was headed off to.
As the white haired boy immediately headed out into the hallway to find the restroom, he gagged and placed a hand over his mouth to contain the nausea as he walked quickly, but his eyes widened as his legs weakened and he fell to his knees with a thud, vomit spraying out from the gaps between his fingers.
He removed his hand from his mouth immediately as he heaved, and more puke streamed out from his small, weak body, onto the white leather pants that his father had tailored especially for him for this event.
Kalim whimpered as drool and leftover bile dripped from his lips, tears welling up in his eyes at the mess he made, at the drops of blood that blended into the sick. He sniffled and shook, not even realizing a pair of loud, unshaken footsteps had followed after him.
“What is the meaning of this Kalim?!” Oh…he recognized that seething voice. Undeniably his father.
The man gripped his son’s arm harshly and lifted it into the air as he knelt down.
“What has gotten into you? Hah?? ANSWER ME, BOY!”
But Kalim just began to sob, soft whimpers and wails echoed from his mouth as his body became uncomfortably sweat-stricken, causing his clothes to stick to his skin.
His skin tone, his father noticed, became notably much paler.
“Baba I’m dying….baba, I’m dying…!” Kalim blubbered out as he cried into his father’s chest. The man cradled the little boy’s head gently with a stone-faced expression, nostrils stinging at the overwhelming stench of puke hit the air. Kalim’s stomach kept churning and he clutched it again with a whimper.
“Stop crying now..” Master Asim whispered sharply, pulling out a cloth from his pocket and wiping the remaining vomit from Kalim’s chin and mouth. The young boy panted and sniffled.
“You’ve most likely been poisoned, Kalim.” The man explains unemotionally, his son’s health having been tampered with far too much for a discovery such as this to be one to marvel at.
“The banquet is still going on.” He wipes the remaining puke away from his son’s mouth and wipes the tears from his eyes. “And you most likely haven’t ingested much for it to be too life threatening.”
Kalim’s lip quivered, but he just nodded and listened.
“Now, you go back out there. Make friends with the other children, do what you need to do. This banquet is important for me to build connections, which will be used to protect our family, you understand?”
Kalim nodded, still feeling nauseous but just going along with his father lest he incur any more of the merchant’s wrath. His tears have slowed down to a bearable trickle, and his intense shaking had calmed down to just the occasional tremble.
“If any knowledge goes out that someone has gotten poisoned, all hell will break loose in that ball room.” Master Asim’s voice was cold and unfriendly as he explained all these complicated ideas to the little boy, almost like a drill sergeant preparing his young men to go out to the trenches.
“I will bring tell the servants I’ve brought here to investigate who the possible bastard who did this to you is.” The man did not bother holding his tongue around his nine year old child, so long as what he was saying was being hammered into that thick skull of his.
The man put a hand on the whimpering boy’s shoulder.
“Now while I do this for you, you do something for me, alright? You go out there, and just..don’t say a word of what has happened. I will get you new clothes to change into, you’ll wash up, and go back out there.”
But Kalim just shook his head.
The face of the boy’s father hardened. “What do you mean no, Kalim? Do you not remember what I told you? That you are—“
“That I’m the heir. I know…” Kalim was close to breaking down once again as tears began to roll back down his eyes. He whimpered. “But baba I don’t feel well, please…I know I’m the heir but—“
“If you know, why are you sitting here, 𝗰𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴?” He harshly grabbed his son’s hair to make him look into his eyes.
“I will not have my firstborn 𝘀𝗼𝗻 cry such womanish tears over ingesting a bit of poison! You are BETTER than that, Kalim!”
Kalim let out a pathetic sob, and was close to breaking down again. His stomach hurt so much, and on top of his father being so rough with his hair and screaming in his face, the young boy was getting increasingly overwhelmed.
“PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!” His father bellowed, but Kalim shook his head and began crying again.
With no other option and clenched teeth, the man stood up and his hand gripping his son’s hair let go and instead, connected to the little boy’s face in a powerful slap.
Kalim yelped, his eyes clenched shut as he cradled his cheek, which was now beginning to redden from his father’s palm.
He sniveled and choked, but didn’t dare let his composure falter anymore after that.
Kalim’s eyes slowly opened up, to be met with his father staring down at him and sighing, simply telling him to wait there as he left to get the promised new clothes.
The little boy sat there in that painfully colorful hall, his stomach still unsettled, his clothes still covered in sick and now his cheek swelling up from the force of his father’s slap. His head hung down, tears silently rolling down his face at how he had disappointed his father so.
— — —
Kalim doesn’t remember everything that happened after that, whether just from not remembering or suppressing it, he only vaguely remembers indeed having to change and go back out there to that banquet and pretend his belly didn’t feel like it was being torn apart from the so called small ingestion of poison.
Turns out it was one of the children, a boy of the family Kalim’s father was rivaling with, who had poisoned Kalim’s drink.
Did they settle everything? Kalim wasn’t sure, for after he rested in the infirmary for a few days after his stomach had been pumped, it was later announced that his friend s̶l̶a̶v̶e̶ Jamil would become his poison tester from now on.
Kalim didn’t think it was fair, especially after seeing the look of pure dread in Jamil’s eyes after the fact was announced, but the way his father had shouted at him, slapped him…Kalim cradled his cheek, still feeling the burning sensation from his father’s palm.
…he was such a coward.
And even after the discussion and “apology” his father gave him, followed by a hug and a sweet kiss on the forehead, Kalim could never ever anger his father like that again.
He couldn’t show weakness, couldn’t show vulnerability. Because it wasn’t just his father…what if his mother walked in on him?
It was hard to imagine, for his mother was always the kinder of the two, but what if she had become fed up too? And slaps him for crying?
What if Jamil does the same? Yells at him, tells him he’s weak for not being strong, after Jamil has needed to be strong for the both of them after all this time?
𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞? 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬? 𝐎𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬? 𝐎𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞?
As Kalim now continues to writhe and squirm in Jamil’s grasp, whimpering in pain as Azul quickly tugs down his bloodied headpiece away from his waist, being told to hush and calm down by the very same headmaster who called him out for showing such weakness…feeling Riddle’s hand brushing his hair away and Yuu grabbing ahold of his hand while Malleus knelt closely and tried to keep Kalim still.
It felt too much like the false sense of comfort his father gave him before he lashed out.
Kalim couldn’t make a distinction from what was real or fake, unable to process whether everyone here was angry with him like his father would be, his condition had turned him borderline delirious, and he just continued to cry clumsily, not able to fight anymore.
Not able to take his father’s advice anymore.
𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥…𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞…𝐈’𝐦 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠….𝐈’𝐦 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧…𝐈𝐌 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐈’𝐦 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧.
Notes:
Chapter 12 will touch on actually what happens..this is mainly a flashback but I promise it’s important (to me at least) as to why Kalim has been so adamant on not showing weakness :,) I hope yall enjoyed, and let’s all kill Kalim’s father. Chapter 12 will come, keep your eyes out and keep reading!!!
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