"Kalim was in a pretty good mood today" Grim noted as everyone was standing inside the vacant room.

"Agreed" Azul agreed. "That was the 'regular' Kalim I know"

"When he's in a bad mood..." Yuuna started off. "He narrows his eyes and gets this scary tone when he talks"

"Are you certain that's what's happening here?" asked Jade.

"Whaddaya mean?" questioned Floyd.

"You're prone to mood swings yourself, Floyd" Jade said. "Kalim doesn't give me that same impression. I suspect a different root cause at play"

"Jamil said it was brought on 'cause of their lousy dorm standings in Spelldrive and the exams" Grim notified.

"Really?" Floyd tilted his head. "Since when Sea Otter care about that?"

"Sea what now?" Grim questioned.

"He means Kalim" Jade said. "Floyd likes to give people nickanmes based on sea creatures. In your case, Grim, you have a cute, round little silhouette. Which is why he calls you Sealie. It's a term of endearment"

"I ain't round!" Grim hissed. "I'm full-bodied, thankyouverymuch!"

"Fufufu, how cute" Y/n chuckled.

"Sea Otter's always bangin' on a drum with a grin on his face. Reminds me of those fuzzy sea scamps" Floyd said, nuzzling into Yuuna who was standing near him with Y/n on the other side.

"He does have a generally sunny disposition" Azul admitted. "I can't imagine his demeanor would shift so drastically over something as minor as unimpressive grades"

"Indeed...I agree that the root cause is likely to be something else entirely" Y/n said, not wanting to admit that it was Jamil's scheme since it wasn't really time for them to know just yet. "If we want to get to the bottom of this, we'll need to get to know Kalim better" she suggested.

"I agree with my angelfish" Azul smiled. He turned to Jade, "Jade, would you mind having a little 'talk' with him?"

"Consider it done. Jamil would be harder target, but..." Jade began to think. "Kalim might be willing to 'talk' openly with me"

"Then I think I'll play with Sea Snake in the meantime" Floyd grinned.

"Excellent idea. I'll join you for that" Azul said.

"I'll accommy Jade into 'talking' with Kalim-senpai. After all, it could have Kalim open up more" Y/n suggested.

"That's a wonderful idea. Our success will be doubled if you were around" Jade noted.

"Heh heh heh...." Azul, Jade, Y/n, and Floyd chuckled.

"Their smiles ain't reached their eyes once this whole time...and Y/n doesn't even smile often!" Grim shuddered.

"At least Y/n has more help" Yuuna sweatdropped.

- With Azul, Floyd, Yuuna, and Grim-

"Ugh" Jamil slammed his fist on the bedframe. "Yet again, Kalim ignored my input and made an arbitrary decision. Does he have any idea how much extra work that means for me? Rrrgh. Well, he's asleep now. Surely the rest of tonight should go soomthly"

"A-And...Y/n not only run out of my hands, she brought some backup with Yuuna....Bastards!" Jamil cursed. "Why does that girl have to be in the way..."

Avaritia chuckled darkly.

"huh?" he questioned before he heard knocks on his door. "A visitor? At this hour?

"Good evening, Jamil" Azul greeted with a grin.

"How's it hangin'?" Floyd waved.

"Mind if we drop in?" Grim asked.

"Sorry to disturb you this late" Yuuna apologized as she walked into the room with the others.

"Gh!" Jamil flinched. "What do you want?"

"When Kalim gave us a tour of the treasury, we spotted a board game I've never seen before" Azul said. "I asked Kalim to explain the rules, but it's still not quite making sense to me" he pouted.

"It's this wood board with little divots, and you put gems in 'em or something?" Floyd asked. "How's that work?"

"Ah, I recognize the board. That's a popular game in the Land of Scalding Sands" Jamil informed them

"As a member of the Board Game club, I'm always looking to try new games" Azul said. "Would you care to play a round with me?"

"Aha ha, me too!" Floyd announced. "I wanna see what you've got, Sea Snake"

"The great Grim never misses on a competition!" Grim added.

Yuuna chuckled as she turned to Jamil. "I hope you don't mind?"

"Kalim's gone to bed. I don't see why not" Jamil shrugged his shoulders. "My dorm room doesn't have enough space for all of you, though. Let's play in the lounge" he suggested.

"We're sorry about this, Kalim" Jade apologized.

"We weren't expecting you to already be in bed for the night" Y/n said, having a apologic expression. "This can wait until tomorrow, honest. We know it's selfish of us to ask to see the treasury again..."

"No worries!" Kalim assured, having his usual grin when walking with the other two. "It's totally fine! What did you guys want to see?"

"I was curious about the tapetries and carpets further in the back" Jade informed. "You don't see many textile handicrafts under the sea, you know. I always been fascinated by Scalding Sands culture. After all, what could be further from the bottom of the ocean than a world of arid sands?"

"Fufufu" Y/n giggled.

"Ooh! Speaking of carpets, I've got on with colors that would be perfect fit for your dorm along with yours, Y/n-chan" Kalim said, snapping his fingers. "It would be a shame to let it keep gathering dust in the storeroom. Why don't you two take it back with you guys?"

"Are you sure?" Jade asked.

"You wouldn't mind?" asked Y/n.

"Absolutely! And here we are" Kalim said. They just arrived at the Storeroom as he opens the doors.

"Ahhh..It's even more amazing when I study it up close" Jade said, admiring the sight. "Kalim, what's this lovely peacock green fabric?"

"Hmmm, I believe this is silk, based on the texture of the fabric" Y/n said, observing the goods.

"Mhm!" Kalim nodded. "Long, long ago, back when they first reformed the law stating that royalty could only marry royalty...There was a princess who wedded a common man raised in the slums. She often wore that color. It's a popular color among men and women alike in the Scalding Sands"

"Incredible" Y/n mumbled.

"Indeed it is" Jade agreed with her. "If the mer-princess fascinated with the human realm were to see these treasures, she'd have been desperate to have them all. It can't be easy keeping track of so many luxuries"

"I leave all the organizational stuff to Jamil," Kalim said. "He airs them out on occasion"

"Jamil is quite the competent right-hand, isn't he?" Y/n chuckled.

"Azul was saying the same thing I believe" Jade added.

"Heh heh! Isn't he, though?" Kalim asked. "The guy's pure amazing. It was Jamil who taught me magic and tutored me. He was a way better tutor than any of the ones my family fired. Oh, and he's a great dancer, too! Not that he does much of that around others..."

"If he's that competent, why doesn't he speak up to you about what you've been doing?" asked Jade.

"Huh?"

"Keeping students from going home on a long holiday and forcing them into harsh training every day..." Y/n trailed off. "I strain to imagine you doing such a thing. So why do so?"

"Oh...Well..." Kalim looked a bit confused. "It's because we really needed extra training, I guess...?"

"You 'guess'? It was your decision, wasn't it?" questioned Jade.

"Yes. It definitely was, but..." Kalim murmured. "I've been...spacing out a lot lately"

"Spacing out?" Y/n perked an eyebrow.

"Why is that?" Jade added.

"Jamil says it's probably fatigue from me becoming housewarden as a sophomore" Kalim explained.

"Come again?" Jade asked.

"I've always had this habit of nodding off when I start working my brain too hard" Kalim confessed. "My tutors and Jamil were always on my case about it"

"What are you finding difficult at present?" Y/n continued as questions.

"Our loss in the interdorms, our bad grades in the exams...My responsibility measures..." Kalim looked down a bit. "When I dwell on those, I end up just spacing out. Ha Ha, I'm a pretty lousy housewarden, huh?"

"Wasn't it your decision to keep the students over the holidays for special training?" asked Jade.

"I, um...I think it was" Kalim replied.

"Another noncommittal answer" Y/n muttered, letting out a sigh.

"Hmm..." Jade hummed. 'So be it. It's gotta a fifty-fifty chance at best of paying off, but I think I'll gamble on my trump card' he thought

Jade quickly thought of his plan. "Ah...Ow!" Jade yelped in pain, causing Kalim and Y/n to turn to him in worry.

"Something the matter, senpai?" Y/n asked the eel who was covering his eye.

"Hm? What's wrong?" Kalim asked, also considered for Jade.

"Sorry, I think I got a speck of something in my eye," Jade tells them, wincing a bit. "Could you take a look at it for me?" he asked Kalim.

"Are you alright?" Kalim stepped closer. "Here, let me see. Which eye?"

"My left eye" Jade tells him. "That's in, look in my left eye..." he said as Kalim did as compiled.

"....Huh?"

"I'm going to ask you some questions, and you will answer them honestly" Jade commanded. "Do you know..."