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Chapter 3: The Merchant of the Sea

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"I'm not sure if this was the right choice...." I murmured. I kept watching Charlotte sleep through the night, after days of studying. She's got so much on her plate: growing her power, studying for her classes and more. I'm surprised she doesn't crack under the pressure...

But I'm worried: now with this 'task' the three spirits have given her, it'll be even more challenging to hone her skills. But she's our last hope of reviving her power...and I fear these next few enemies will be tougher than the last....

"Be strong, Charlotte. Don't give up..."

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"Why do I hear the ocean...."

My eyes opened and in front of me was a scene of complete madness: a storm at sea, causing chaos for all those on board the ship.

"A storm is coming! Hang on tight!" A sailor shouts to the crew.

Unknown to them, Peince Eric was nearly drowning at sea, but Ariel had rescued him in time, bringing him to shore.

Morning had arrived as she claimed, "Look! He's still breathing!"

"Eric!" Grimsby called out to his majesty as the mermaid dove back into the water.

"A girl...she helped me..." Eric awoke and recalled what could faintly remember. "And she had a wonderful voice." He was helped back to the palace, and Ariel watched him leave.

"My heart's racing and I'm not sure how....but I believe my dream will come to life and I'll be a part of this world!" She smiled, watching him leave as the waves crashed upon the rocks.

Unknown to her, two eels we're watching from the shadows.

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"What was with the dream about the little mermaid all of a sudden?" I muttered as I fixed my headband. Over in the corner, with his back turned to me, Grim kept muttering to himself.

"So if the trend for the question is....Option 2 means a trick...."

I approached him cautiously to look over his shoulder and see he was looking through the flashcards I had written for him. "Mornin', Grim. Did you study all night?"

He jumped as he turned to face me. "Fgnna! Don't scare me like that! You'll make me forget everything I memorized." He frowned. "Today's the last day of final exams! Since the two of us count as one student, you better not drag me down!"

"Wasn't planning on it!" I called over my shoulder walking away.

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Charlie finished double checking her answers, until professor Crewel spoke.

"Pencils down, pups. Time is up so pass in your answer sheets like good pups." The students complied. "This concludes the final exams."

And cue the three idiots that share one brain cell cheering like maniacs.

"But it's still too early to celebrate. Any bad students who get Low marks on their test, should be prepared to sacrifice their vacation to make up for lessons. Dismissed!"

The students soon gathered in clusters to chat amongst themselves while exiting the classroom.

"We're done! We're actually done!" Ace smiles like he won the lottery.

"I did all I could. Now all that's left to do is wait for the results." Deuce nods.

Grim, however, was different. "That rest was a piece of cake for me!"

"Oh? You seem pretty confident for a creature who always looks like the world's about to end after writing exams." Ace taunted.

"But this time will be different! Be prepared to call me 'The Great Genius Grim'! Then you'll be asking me for my help in zero seconds flat!"

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm pretty confident this time around as well. I feel bad but I'm going to win this thing!" Deuce steps in.

"And this is coming from a guy Who keeps getting low marks and crying like a baby!" Ace nudged Charlie. "The exams were a breeze for me too. I ain't losing any time as well!"

"You guys really put that effort into studying, huh?" Charlie asked them.

"Well, y'know, it's easy!" Ace snorts.

"With that said, since the tests are over, I best get a move onto track and field!" Deuce bids goodbye.

"I feel like going all out in basketball today for the time in a while! Let's bounce!" Ace points to the doors.

"We should get out, too! I feel like passing out after that all nighter..." Grim flopped into Charlie's arms for dramatic effect.

She giggled a little bit and after she big goodbye to the other two, they parted ways.

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Azul sat with either of his subordinates on his left and right. One student was called in, and asked one question:

"Why did you ignore my summons yesterday? It seems that you don't understand the position you're in currently." Azul stares at the student like gum on the bottom of his shoe.

"M-my stomach was hurting..." the student looked away. Azul shifted slightly.

"Really? Lying won't help you at all."

"It's the truth! It must've been something I ate..." Azul never wavered.

"Jade. Please give him the push he needs to speak a bit more honestly."

"As you wish." He smiles and walks to the student. The student backs up, fright written in his eyes. "No need to be scared. I have no intention of hurting someone. Just look." The student stared at Jade, a bit hostile. When the former's eyes suddenly lit up like topaz gems. "Shock the Heart".

The Student's eyes lit up in the same colored glow before reverting back to their normal iris. They put a hand to their head. "What... what did you do?!"

"We'll ask once more." Jade ignored his question. " why did you refuse to answer Azul's summon yesterday?"

"What I mean is...." suddenly the students voice has changed, sounding more aggressive in truth. I've had it up to here with being used by that cheating bastard, Azul! And his underhand schemes! Of course I feigned pain!" Then I went back to a normal tone. "H-huh?! What the hell?! Why is my mouth just spitting out nonsense?!"

"So... that is how you truly feel?"

"How could you? I'm so shocked!" Azul dramatized. "Everything I did: made your dreams a reality, like the benevolent sea witch would have, you call me a 'cheating bastard'?"

"N-no! What I just said wasn't the truth at all!" The damage was already done. The Student couldn't save themself now.

"Too late to save yourself the last minute!" Azul scowled. "Floyd, your turn."

"He's done talking? I can squeeze him now~?" The other Leech brother sang.

"Sure. As much as you like."

"Whatever you say~" Floyd grins like a shark, standing over the frightened student.

"No! Wait, please! I swear I'll be better! Aaaaaaaaah!"

The sound of a body falling was heard against the carpet, and Floyd dragged away the student, not losing his shark like grin.

Azul sighed. "Goodness. One after another, these people are all trying to skip out on payment. It's common sense isn't it: Exchange for what you want." He massaged his temple in stress.

"Just as you say." Jade nods.

"I would only wish for more 'decent' people to join us this year...."

"The final results are something to look forward to...."

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Ace ran down the hall, fuming at a certain Raccoon creature.

"Hold it right there, You! I'm not letting you slide today of all days!" Ace shouted.

"Ha ha, Sucker! You should've written your name on it!" The creature teased over his shoulder.

"You little-!"

"Oh Jesus. What now?" Charlie sighed, after getting a quick drink of water.

"They never give it a rest, don't they?" Deuce sighed. Ace suddenly looked at Charlie.

"Hey, Charlie! If you're really a prefect, do something about your residents!" Ace scolded.

"And pray tell, why are you dragging ME into this, airhead?" Charlie dawdled.

"This jerk went and stole the bread I set aside as a snack for later!"

"A bit harsh to say I 'stole' it! I just happen to find it after it fell off your desk." Grim corrected.

"You don't say things 'fell off' someone's desk if they purposely set it on their's!" Ace gritted. "And running off like a thief! I'm just show you who's boss!" Ace threw down his pen.

"You try and pull anything and you're going to get a fire lit under your ass!" Grim was ready to charge. But the two stopped suddenly.

"On Second thought, let's not deal with this using magic. It'd be a huge pain in my side to have to clean windows again."

"Smart save for the first time in a while." Grim agreed. "Be pretty immature I need to be the only one using magic so you get off the hook for free this one time."

This suddenly set off an alarm in Charlotte's head. Normally, the two would be fighting, and then she and Deuce would have to end up pulling the two apart before someone got hurt. But they suddenly thought for a minute and stopped their petty disagreement?

What was going on?!

"Okay...this is weird..." she tended a bit.

"It's weird to see the two of you stop on your own." Deuce added, equally perplexed. "Not to mention, The headmaster jumps in at the drop of a hat after you burn the classroom black to end it."

"Eh, it's nothin! It probably be dumb of me to throw hands over bread with a mangy raccoon." Ace smiles like a dork.

"What did you-?! You really don't know when to shut up, do you?!" Grim seethed.

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"Time for class to begin. Sit like good puppies. First, to return your tests." Crewel nods.

"It's time..." Deuce shook nervously.

"Test return! Let's go, Sensei!" Grim cheered.

"Calm yourself, Grim. Stay, stay!!" After a moment passed when Grim calmed down. "You shall receive your tests in student number order."

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"Woohoo! 92!"

"88?! Can't believe there's a day I actually score over 80!"

"Hey, Charlie! I got 85!"

Charlie looked at her own paper and saw a 105 and smiled softly.

"Great job, guys!" She praised.

"With this, I won't have to repeat another year!" Deuce sighed.

"It seems as if everyone have studied plentifully for these tests. Compare to your quizzes....actually, strange for the average to increase this much."

"What do you mean by that, professor?"

"The average test score for potions is over 90 in all grades. I've heard from Trein that results in history were also really good as well.

Ace and Deuce suddenly tensed. "That's not good..." the former whispered.

"The 50 students with the highest test scores, will be posted in the hallway after classes. For now, class will begin."

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By the time class was over the next day, we were greeted by was a crowd clamoring students.

"Is my name in the top 50?!" Grim stood on my head and I tried to balance him.

"I've got to be in the top spot if I got an average above 90, right?!" Ace pushed his way to the front.

"Let's see, 10....20...not there!" Grim poofed off my head to the other side of the crowd. "....48...49...50...no! My name's not there at all!" He frowned.

"Mine either..." Deuce worried.

"Okay, hang on! On The top score list, they've written everyone's total scores right next to their name." Ace scanned the list and his eyes went huge. "Top 30 people got perfect scores of 500!"

I scanned the list and kept seeing the number 500 being repeated.

"Is it even possible for there to be a perfect score?" I shook my head.

"Not to mention, if I'm not in the top 50, I'm 'breaking contract'!" Grim freaked.

Hold up...what did he just say?

Suddenly, all went dead quiet in our group.

Ace was the first to talk. "Uh, 'Contract'? Grim, did you..."

"Ace...you as well?" Deuce stared at him.

Then out of nowhere, Blue and purple colored anemones popped on top of their heads.

"Fgnna?! What the hell is this?! There's an anemone coming outta my head!"

"You made a contract with him, Grim?! You coward!" Deuce scolded.

"Dude, you've got one on your head like him!" Ace denounced.

"I'll just pull this thing right off..." Grim grabbed the anemone by both hands and tried to yank it off like a farmer would a carrot, but he cringed in pain. "Owowowow! I can't get it off!"

I knew something was off the moment we stepped out of the classroom.

"Cosa hai fatto gli idioti?!" I grit my teeth at them.

"Came over to see what all the ruckus was about. But it's just you guys. What's goin on?" I turned to the left and saw Jack approaching us.

"Jack! Did you make a contract?!...wait, you've got no anemone!" Deuce froze.

"You may seem like a tough delinquent, but you take your studying seriously?!" Ace asked him like he was an alien.

"What are you getting at? On second thought, what's on your head?" Howl trained his eyes on the weird object above their three heads.

"The thing is..." but Grim didn't get a chance to explain, as his face contorted in pain. "What now?! Agh! My heads being pulled by this stupid thing!"

"Agh! It's gonna pull my head off!" Ace winced, being dragged upwards.

"Damn! Is this what he meant by 'absolute obedience'?!" Deuce tried to fight it. But he and the others were no match for the anemones as they were dragged forcefully by their will down the hall, screaming in agony.

"The hell was that? They looked like they were getting dragged along by those things on their heads." Jack stared at the place they just went to. "They're such idiots...."

"Believe you me: I'm just as confused as the next person. But no matter: we're goin' after them!" I declared.

"Eh? Why me? I've no part in this..." he declined.

"What? Are you chicken?" I teased. After being his "friend" for a couple of weeks, I knew how to push his buttons. And every time I do, he looks like he wants to punch me but he hold himself back. Besides I may need a partner in crime, to help me with my "injuries" from Magift.

"Who're you calling chicken, Rabbit?" He got up in my face, but I sent him a knowing smile. He backed away and refused to look at me. "Tch.... I'll admit one thing, though: you've gotten pretty used to how things work around these halls. It can't be helped." He slumped his shoulders. "I'll tag along for a while." but then he corrected, "I'm still confused about what just happened. It's not for them at all, ya hear? Don't get the wrong idea." I nodded nonetheless and we trailed after the three.

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We made it to the Hall of Mirrors, amongst a ton of other students. All from different dorms, but all had the same thing in common: anemones.

"The hall of mirrors that connects to all the dorms...." Jack murmured.

"I totally thought I'd make it into the top 50 this time!"

"Dammit he tricked us! That cheating octopus bastard!"

"My perfect school life is ruined!!"

The students clamored complaints one after another about their rankings.

"The hell?! So there were a bunch of other students than those three idiots!" Jack scanned the crowd. "There's some 2nd and 3rd years as well, all heading for the Octavinelle Mirror!"

"So they're all complaining about their test ranking. But who do they mean by this 'cheating octopus bastard'?.." I mumbled.

"Let's go!" Jack grabbed my arm and pulled me, gently, forward.

After jumping through the mirror, we were met with the sight of the third of the seven houses. The lavender banner waved. The purple crest showcasing dark purple tentacles and a silver shell in the center and what looks like a gray waterlily on top. And in bold silver cursive writing was the word: Octavinelle.

"Dio mio...... a dorm that's completely underwater!" I smiled. This was clearly different from Savanaclaw by a mile!

"You're kidding me! Night Raven College is awesome!" I heard Jack say beside me, a grin of pure excitement on his face. He clearly saw me looking at him, and changed his tone and posture. He couldn't look me in the eye after that. I giggled silently at his enthusiasm.

"We're taking a step into another dorm's territory. Don't get distracted and keep your guard up." He coughed, blushing lightly with embarrassment.

I mentally shake my head with a smile. He's such a tsundere.