On the same night...

The 1st years have gathered in Savanaclaw once more, inside of the Lounge to discuss what happened during their first attempt to steal the photo. Everyone was in seats, as Y/n was sitting on Leona's lap, which he insisted on her doing. Yuuna was seated in between Ruggie and Jack, with Grim seated on her lap.

"What?" Ruggie blinked in surprise. "You guys actually went to the Coral Sea?" he asked.

"Hah! How stupid can you get?" Leona laughed, pulling Y/n closer to his chest.

"Mrah?! But you're the guy who said to 'get the ball rolling' right now!" Grim exclaimed.

"No one said about diving headfirst into the sea, Grim" Y/n sighed.

"Hmph. You're time's limited." Leona scowled. "What I was suggestin' was that you use your head and find a worthwhile use of your time." he corrected Grim. "Challenging merfolk head-on in the water is a losing proposition no matter how you slice it unless you're a Levia-fae or some other race that can breathe on land and underwater. It's like walking into a carnivore's mouth"

"Wait" Jack spoke up, tilting his head in curiosity. "Did you guys know the twins were actually mermen this whole time?"

"Maybe" Leona shrugged his shoulders.

"mhm," Y/n nodded.

"I saw Floyd in his natural form at a joint swimming class last summer, and boy, let me tell you..." Ruggie recalled the terrifying memory. "If that guy came after me in the water, I'd be done for. End of story" he shivered at the mere thought of it.

"I can imagine...Y/n was pretty scary when we first saw her Levia form" Yuuna commented. Levia is what you call a Levia-fae who is underwater.

"It woulda been nice to know beforehand!" Jack snarled.

"Well, you never asked" Y/n commented, taking a sip of her tea that she made with magic lol. Fresh herbal tea. You guys know that the queen of hearts rules about tea.

Leona nodded. "Last I checked, you were the guys who ran off half-cocked without bothering to gather any intel. I would've been happy to share it all in detail if you'd asked"

"Yeah!" Ruggie nodded in agreement. "You gotta cover your bases before you start pickin' fights, y'know? Shyeheehee! Back at Savanna, you gotta tread carefully if you don't wanna end up as someone's dinner" he added.

"Grr...You're the same couple of scheming jerks as always!" Grim shouted.

"Does this mean Azul was planning on interfering from the start when he made the offer?" Jack asked. Y/n nodded, "Of course. After all, he wants me to be with him, and him alone..." she muttered. "After all, it wouldn't be fun if you complete your contract as easily," she said, Jack and Grim groaned in annoyance.

"The Leech brothers are Azul's top men. They're known for collecting all collateral and compensation from his contractors" Ruggie added. "And rumor has it, they run interference to make sure the contract terms can't be met"

"What a bunch of low-down, dirty cheaters!" Grim hissed. "Urgh...if Yuuna loses, am I gonna be stuck workin' day and night for Azul forever?" he asked.

"Oh no...What if they really take Amaryllis Dorm...and Y/n...away from us?" Yuuna stuttered. Man, she felt really guilty for accepting the Azul's offer, but she really did feel like she would be able to complete it.

"I'm sure we'll manage something. Pretty sure, at least..." Y/n sweatdropped.

Y/n looked at Leona who suddenly grew quiet, tightening his hold on Y/n, after all, he didn't want Azul to have her all to himself. "...."

"Leona?" Ruggie called out.

"Azul's signature spell is a golden contract scroll called, . It enables the caster to take one power from a target if that target signs the scroll" Leona said, starting to explain Azul's unique magic. "In addition, in the event of a contract breach, the breached is compelled to obey Azuk's every command to a T."

Ruggie nodded. "They say spells with tricky activation requirements are especially potent, but man...isn't that messed up?"

Leona then continued to explain, "When the power gets taken, it's sealed inside the contract and made available for Azuk to use as it suits him"

"Wait, so all those times Azul busted out different sorta high-difficulty spells like it was nothing..." Jack widened his eyes in realization.

"Indeed. Those were magic powers he swiped from contractors as collateral" Y/n said, finishing Jack's sentence.

"That's nuts! That means he's cheating at everything!" Jack growled.

"Technically, no. As far as signature spells go, his a crazy high-level. Guy's gotta have some chops to pull something like that off" Ruggie pointed out.

"I've never put my power up for collateral, so I've got no idea how it works, myself" Leona stated.

"Wait, then what DID you put up as collateral?" asked Jack

"Grrr...What's it matter?" Leona growled. "It's all in the past anyway. ANYWAY. Contracts with him will last as long as that special scroll is around. This is why Azul makes very carefully worded offers"

"And then gets suckers to sign on with terms they can't possibly meet" Ruggie added.

"The only way to win against Azul is to not make a contract at all. Heh," Leona laughed.

"Mroooow....What are we supposed to do?!" asked Grim

"P-please, share some insights with us!" Yuuna pleaded.

"Don't turn to other people right off the bat, dimwit" Leona flicked Yuuna's head, which made her pout as Y/n chuckled a bit. "Come on. I know you're not that dense" he said.

"How do you win against someone stronger than you?" Leona asked. "You guys your noggin. But, hm...If I were in your shoes...Id' start by brainstorming a way to shred the contract document itself," he smirked.

"But it's invulnerable!" Grim pointed out.

Leona let out a muffled sigh behind Y/n, nuzzling into her soft silky hair. "You guys are seriously peabrained"

"You're like a scammer's dream come true" Ruggie groaned at their stupidity.

"Mrah?!" Grim yelped, having an offended look on his face.

Y/n let out a sigh as she crossed her arms. "Let's start with the basics here. Why would you take Azul's word when he said his contract was 'completely unbreakable'?" she asked.

"What? I mean, none of our attacks did a thing to it..." Jack trailed off, looking confused.

"Have you considered the possibility that was an on-the-spot demonstration put on as a bluff?" Ruggie asked, grinning a bit.

Jack and Yuuna had shocked expressions on their face in realization.

"All types of mortal magic have some kind of Loophole" Y/n started off. "Remember Strawberry- I mean, Riddle's signature spell and how it seals magic? It may seem unbeatable at first, but it still has a weakness. Even the best of mortal magicians can't sling spells willy-nilly"

Leona nodded as he continued, "So the idea that Azul's golden contract from is indefinitely unbreakable...is preposterous. Flat-out"

"So there's a way to beat it after all" Yuuna mumbled.

"Challenging the Leech brothers underwater is a losin' proposition, no matter how you slice it" Jack added. "We'd better off trying to find a chip in the contract scroll's proverbial armor on land instead. I see what you're gettin' at. I dunno, though. That sounds an awful lot like playing dirty"

Ruggie reached over and patted Jack on his shoulder. "Come on, Jack...your principles are great and all, but you guys already took a fair shot against Azul and his boys on land. Remind me again how that went?"

"Rgh..." Jack looked down.

"Let's be clear here: these guys are scoundrels that swindle doe-eyed herbivores and take them for everything they're got" Leona scoffed. "Why should you play fair when they don't? So what if it's underhanded? So what if it's taking the fight off the playing field? As long as the contract is annulled, you win. End of story" he huffed.

Ruggie let out a laugh, "Oooh, that's out Leona! The duke of dirty plays; the tyrant of technical fouls!"

Yuuna chuckled awkwardly, "You haven't learned anything from last time, have you?" she sweatdropped.

Y/n chuckled as well.

"Hey, it's like I said before. I do whatever it takes to win" Leona pouted. "And stop laughing, Lioness" he growled in a low tone, making Y/n chuckle a bit more before stopping.

"Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, huh?" Jack grinned, "Fine. Let's spend the next two days staking Azul out and looking for our chance to shred that contract scroll!"

"We're all in this together!" Yuuna cheered, becoming her happy-go-lucky self again.

"Well, good luck with that, froshes" replied Leona.

"Whaaa?! After all that talk, you're not gonna help us?" Grim asked.

"Why should I? I practically wrote the answer for you in crayon already. You guys can figure the rest out yourselves. Later" Leona swept Y/n bridal style (I'm pretty sure it's practice-) and taking her with him to get ready for bed.

"On that note, I'm out too. Good luck, guys!" Ruggie said, turning towards Leona who was ahead with Y/n, walking back into the main dormitory, leaving Yuuna, Jack, and Grim alone.

"Th-that's just heartless!" Grim cried out.

"Wow, Leona. It's not every day I see you offering such useful advice" Ruggie said to Leona who left Y/n in his room alone to give her privacy. Respect women juice right there. I have a feeling Akaza and Leona might get along.

"oh yeah?" Leona perked an eyebrow.

"For all your talk, you've got a soft spot for those underclassmen, don't you~" Ruggie teased, having a sly smile on his face.

"Hah. Don't make me laugh. If I play my cards right, I can use those chumps to learn that cephalo-punk's weakness without lifting so much as a pinky finger. Not that I'm holdin' my breath or anything" Leona said, trying to deny it.

"Ahhh, I getcha. That's real slick, Leona" Ruggie laughed.

Y/n opened the door and peeked outside at Leona and Ruggie. "Come on, kitty. I'm sure you're tired" she yawned. Y/n was wearing one of Leona's shirts, which were obviously too big for her small body, causing the lion the blush.

"W-why are you wearing my shirt?" Leona asked.

Y/n let out a smirk, "Get use to it, I wear Malleus's and Riddle's shirts as well" she yawned. "Come on, kitty. Time for your beauty sleep...and mine" she said, walking back into the room to face plant onto the bed.

Ruggie who was still there, snickering a bit. "Yeah, goodnight Kitty" he teased.

Leona let out a growl for him to stop teasing him before going into the room to sleep next to Y/n.

Ruggie snickered more after the door shut. "Shyheehee! Leona is a huge softie for Lioness"

"What?" questioned Azul widened his eyes. "Yuuna met with Leona...and my Angelfish is with him too?" he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Y/n was supposed to be him HIM.

Jade sat in font of Azul with Floyd next to his twin. "Yes, sir. The contractor appears to have taken up temporary residence at Savanaclaw, including Angelfish" Jade informed him

"Ah, I see. That's...somewhat unexpected...." Azul said, adjusting his glasses.

"What's our play here? Do i give him the squeeze?" Floyd asked in his usual playful tone.

"No" Azul shook his head, having more self-control and patience. "We can let the Leona matter go" he suggested. To be honest, he'd rather have her stay with him or Riddle since they both have better control over their desires. Malleus wouldn't be a good choice either since he is a dragon-fae, so he would be more possessive over Y/n if he finds out that she was collateral along with her dorm she build. 'Tch...This is not how my plan was supposed to go!' he thought in his head, gritting his teeth secretly through his smile.

"Wouldn't it be better to nip this in the bed swiftly? He would be a troublesome man to have as an enemy" Jade asked. He was furious as well. They had Y/n inside of Octavinelle for the duet, but she somehow managed to escape Azul's grasp.

"He's a lazy lion at heart He doesn't believe in sticking his neck out for others or seeking trouble" Azul reminded them, along with trying to tell himself that the lion won't interfere with his plans. "I concur with your view that he would be troublesome to have as an enemy, but rivalry is a two-way street. He wouldn't dream of making an enemy out of me by choice"

"So you would prefer to let sleeping lions lie for the time being. All right. Understood" Jade sighed.

"Aw, maan...I really wanted to wipe that smug grin off his face, too" Floyd pouted

"Just keep up your surveillance for now, and continue to watch on my dear Angelfish" Azul said, smiling.

"Yes sir" "Will do!" the Leech brothers said in unison.

"Oh and..." Azul spoke once again. "Did you get that photo of her Levia form?" he asked.

Jade chuckled, along with his twin. Jade took out his phone and send the picture he managed to get of Y/n swimming away with her face and sent it to Azul. It was a perfect shot he got when helping his brother. "It was quite difficult since she managed to injure Floyd, but we managed"

"Thank you, you may leave now" Azul said, dismissing the brothers.

Once they left, Azul looked at the picture from his phone and had a yandere smile plastered on his face. "Absolutely beautiful....my darling Angelfish~" Azul breathed out, looking enchanted by her underwater beauty. She looked like a siren due to that very beauty. But that is just what a Levia-fae is.

They are part of the siren family when it comes to their merfolk side.