Chapter Text
The breakfast rush was slowly ebbing by the time Yuu and crew arrived. She took the opportunity to seize a chocolate scone and an iced latte. Grim started.
“Yo,” the cat tactlessly greeted. “You’re the guy who got hurt in the kitchen yesterday? Tell us about it.”
Jamil was an interesting man, to be sure. He had a specific aura about him that Yuu couldn’t quite pinpoint. His long, black hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail that hung mid-back, braided at the top in twists. Several coin-like accessories jangled in his locks. Beneath the blazer was a scarlet hoodie. The way he had the ensemble fashioned, it looked vaguely like a varsity hoodie.
Beside him, was a man Yuu vaguely recalled from the opening ceremony. He had darker skin, albeit a bit lighter than Jamil’s. His hair was a noticeable ivory, tied with an ornate white-and-gold ribbon with some icy blue feathers frilling from the bottom. His uniform was far more unkempt, with the undershirt untucked at the bottom and the vest unbuttoned. Atop on the uniform was a cozy looking cardigan that stopped at his knees. His eyes were a cheery cherry color.
“Huh?” Jamil returned. “What do you guys want out of the blue?”
The other boy’s, Kalim, eyes lit up in recognition. He threw a finger at Grim. “This is the raccoon that set my butt on fire during the entrance ceremony!”
“Grim, quit being so rude,” Yuu sighed. “And stop torching people, too.”
“We’re sorry for bothering you while you’re eating,” Riddle spoke with a polite bow.
Kalim laughed jovially. “The Dorm Head of Heartslabyul and the violent raccoon from the ceremony! This is a funny combo!”
“I ain’t a raccoon!” Grim hissed. “I’m the Great Grim! And this is my underling.” He gestured to Yuu.
“I’m not his underling,” she sighed. “I’m Yuu.”
He beamed. “I’m Kalim, the Dorm Head for Scarabia! This is my Vice Dorm Head, Jamil! Nice to meet you!”
Jamil’s eyes narrowed in skepticism. “Why do you want to know about my injury?”
“We’re thinking someone’s been sabotaging front line-up players for the upcoming tournament,” Yuu explained.
He hummed. “I don’t see the issue with telling you, then. Last night, at Kalim-san’s request, I was making agemanju with lamb.”
The Dorm Head cut in excitedly, practically bouncing on his heels. “Jamil-kun’s agemanju is the best! You guys should try it some time!”
Jamil sighed tiredly. “Kalim-san, don’t get us side-tracked.”
“Ah, my bad my bad.”
He continued. “While I was dicing the ingredients, for some reason my hand slipped and I cut myself.”
Kalim’s head shook in confusion, a vacant look of befuddlement clouding his gaze. “Jamil-kun is always so good with a knife, even the cook was blown away. Were you tired from Spelldrive practice?”
“Not so much that my hand would slip like that. However, while I was cooking, for a moment I felt my consciousness slip away.”
“So disassociated?” Yuu offered.
He nodded. “My guess is that it was someone’s Unique Magic.”
Riddle’s and Cater’s eyes flared in surprise.
Kalim grinned ear to ear with excitement. “Yeah, your Magic is-“ Jamil’s palm went over the boy’s mouth, causing him to squirm and sputter against it. He eventually spat it off. “Why’d you cover my mouth?”
“We’re not talking about me right now.” His eyes were sharp. “Anyway, I think they used Magic to control the movements of others.”
“So that’s why everyone keeps blaming themselves,” Cater concluded.
“Since it’s only for a moment,” Riddle agreed. “When I fell, I didn’t feel as if someone controlled me.”
“Is your hand ok?” Yuu asked.
Jamil was caught off guard by the question but smiled easily. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, Yuu-kun.”
“Magic to control people,” Grim mused. “If I could do something like that, I’d have a bunch of minions!”
“Thank goodness you don’t,” Riddle sighed.
Magic like that has to have some sort of range…
“Hey, Jamil-senpai?” Yuu piped up. “What time did this happen?”
“Around ten o’clock or so!” Kalim answered.
“That was after…” she paused.
Savanaclaw.
“I’ll be right back.” She took off.
“H-hey! Yun-Yun! Where are you going?”
“Do you think he has an idea of who it could be?” Riddle suggested.
She booked it to the nurse’s office as quickly as she could. Her steps beating against the floors like the patters of a rainstorm. She caught her breath before blurting, “Nurse Veprl! Do you have a record of everyone’s Signature Spells?”
The nurse leaned back, sighing. “You know how many times Jack-kun got stuck as a dog?”
“Yes or no?”
“Yes. But it’s classified.”
“Headmaster Crowley asked.”
He shrugged, finding it too much effort to verify. He grabbed a file from his cabinet. “Which dorm?”
“Savanaclaw.”
He hummed before handing her some stapled papers.
She skimmed it rapidly, eyes scrambling before stopping at a name.
Ruggie-kun.
“T-thank you, Nurse Veprl.”
“Don’t sweat it,” he yawned. “Now get out of my office, kid.”
And that she did. She darted out of the door, dialing a number. “Cater-kun? It’s Yuu.”
“You sound out of breath, Yun-Yun!” His voice came through. “Did you find out who it is?”
“Savanclaw. Rug-“
Yuu’s hand grasped the air.
Where did my-
“Shishishi,” a voice snickered. In his hand, he twirled the phone, the call now ended. “That’s not fair.”
“Give me back my phone,” she demanded lowly.
“No can do, sorry.” The phone was stuffed into his pocket. “Hey, do you think you can come with me? Leona-san would love to see you.”
She glared. “Is this a kidnapping?”
“Nah. That stuff’s kinda messy. But if you want your phone back, come with me to see Leona-san.”
“That’s weird,” Kalim commented. “Did his phone die?”
“Yuu-kun doesn’t strike me as the type to be so careless,” Riddle contemplated.
“He always has a charger with him, too,” Grim agreed. “But I heard him say something about Savanaclaw’s Rug?”
“That’s not much to go off of,” the red-haired Dorm Leader sighed.
“But we figured out the dorm!” Grim realized.
“ Yuu-kun figured out the dorm,” Jamil corrected with an annoyed glint.
“I have a feeling something happened.” Cater’s voice was low. Serious.
“Whoever Ru-san is,” Kalim chimed, “they must know lots about Spelldrive. Maybe check the club! Someone may know something!”
“Now that we have a dorm and a name, it’s possible,” Riddle mused under his breath.
“But what about Yun-Yun?” the ginger reminded.
“The culprit is only after Spelldrive players, right?” Jamil pointed out. “So I doubt he’s in any serious trouble. He’s bound to turn up.”
“Jamil-kun and I will keep an eye out for him!” Kalim assured with a bright smile.
The Savanaclaw lounge was like an oasis. A tower of waterfalls trickled down to the main lobby below, seemingly glowing with a bright blue shimmer. Aside from herself and Ruggie, it was only Leona there, strangely. Despite the refreshing atmosphere, Yuu couldn’t allow herself to relax.
“You’ve got some nerve stealing my phone just to bring me here,” she seethed. “This is no better than a kidnapping.”
“You value your phone over your own life?” Leona scoffed.
“I gave you an option, Yuu-kun,” Ruggie sighed. “You came here on your own two feet.”
“Tsk.” Leona’s green gaze glinted at the hyena-eared boy. “I told you never to leave evidence.”
“I didn’t! She went and found the record of my Signature Spell! Doesn’t take a genius to put two and two together after that!”
The prince blinked. “Interesting. You’re quite the clever omnivore.”
“Cool thanks so why am I here?”
“I ended the phone call before he could spill too much,” Ruggie informed the Dorm Leader. “All they know is the dorm.”
“That’s still more than I would have liked.” He groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Whatever. It’s difficult to separate a zebra from the herd.”
Ruggie’s shoulders eased the tension they were holding.
So he was working for him again. He’s loyal, at least.
“That being said, you are a loose end.”
“So you’re trying to keep me quiet?” Yuu scoffed with a cocked brow. “I didn’t think you were the type.”
“I’m not,” Leona huffed. “But I don’t need you squawking like a bird either. I paid a high price to that nasty octo-punk. I’m not about to have you ruin it.”
Octo-punk?
“Can’t I just promise not to tell and go home?”
“Yeah, I don’t buy it,” Ruggie chuckled teasingly.
“Worth a shot.” She shrugged.
So what are they going to do with me?
“So what do we do, Leona-san?”
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “This is all a big pain. You’ll be staying with us, omnivore.”
“So. A kidnapping,” she deadpanned.
“That crap’s too dirty. And illegal,” Leona sighed.
But foul play is fair game?
“But let’s just say, that Savanaclaw is known for its animal instincts.”
The smirk he flashed at her, sharp and grim, made her tense.
“But now that you’re here, if you try to leave, I can’t protect a girl like you from getting hurt.”
“You play dirty,” Yuu hissed.
He scoffed, a forced smile tugging at his lip. “I’ll do what I must for my pride.”
Why did he want to be king so badly?