At the Lounge, Briar and the others continue to play the game with Jamil, Floyd, and Azul. The game is proven to be quite fun that they've been playing for a while.

Floyd happily cheers, "WOO! I win! That's three for me!"

"You're tough competition when you're focused, Floyd," Jamil replies.

Grim however is frustrated, "Mrgyah! I lost again! You're relentless, Azul."

"That brings me up to five to zero. I'd be an affront to the Board Game Club with anything less, of course," Azul says.

Then turns to Jamil, "Meanwhile, Jamil's at...two to three, I see."

Hm? Oh, yes. It's been a while since I last played. I suppose I've gotten rusty. Back in the old days, Kalim would spend hours a day making me play with him, insisting on going until he won a game. Despite his middling skill. Imagine that," Jamil explains.

"Ah, I see," Azul replies.

Then mutters to himself, "Mm, yes, that would explain it."

"Explain what? You sure love your cryptic little asides," Jamil questions.

"Forget I said anything," Azul replies.

He then asks, "So, you and Kalim essentially grew up together, correct?"

We've been together for as long as I can remember, yes," Jamil answers.

Then says, "Speaking of which, you three Octavinelle boys have been friends since childhood, I hear?"

"Thaaat's what they say!" Floyd answers.

"What's that s'posed to mean? You're talkin' like you're not even one of 'em," Grim questions.

"Yeah. From what I see, it's almost like you three knew each other for a long time. Well, since a lot of the time I see you three together," Tanzanite says.

But Floyd explains, "We've been classmates ever since we started elementary school... But personally, I barely knew Azul existed until just before we started middle school. So I wouldn't exactly call us childhood friends."

"You barely knew your own classmate existed until you graduated? " Briar questions.

"You've got a serious case of tunnel vision..." Jasper mutters to himself.

Then Azul says, "I was a rather quiet boy myself. I hardly ever stood out in class."

"You stood out in other ways, though. Not many guys could claim to be as cute and round as–" Grim complements.

But Azul quickly covers Grim's mouth, "Grim, I believe we've been over this multiple times. You are NOT to dredge up the forbidden lore!"

"Yet here you are now, presiding over them as housewarden. You have a curious relationship," Jamil replies.

"Y'think? I just do what Azul says 'cause it's more fun that way," Floyd happily says.

"I strongly doubt Jade or Floyd have any binding allegiance to me. This is all an elaborate game of pretend to them," Azul replies.

"Your relationship is getting more confusing by the minute," Jamil says.

"If I made a poor choice as leader–or even simply a boring one... They would turn on me instantly and seize the housewarden seat for themselves. Not that I'd lose if they challenged me, of course," Azul says.

"We ain't got any plans to challenge him, either... for now, anyway. Aha ha!" Floyd says with laughter.

"So essentially, the three of you are all equals in each other's eyes," Jamil says.

Yeah. We stick with him now 'cause it's fun. If it stops bein' fun, we drop him like a bad habit. Easy. It ain't like the vice housewarden is the housewarden's servant or nothin'. It's a pretty normal relationship, if you ask me," Floyd says.

"Normal, you say. I suppose that concept is lost on me. I've always been loyal to the Asim house. And that will likely never change," Jamil says.

Azul remains silent after hearing it. Briar notices that Azul has been staring at Jamil for a while.

Bria says, "Sounds like you guys have quite a unique relationship if you ask me."

"Well yours is even more unique. You make the housewarden of your dorm but you have so many different fishes. Quite a unique school you got," Floyd says.

"Hey! Don't call us fish!" Jasper angrily says.

Trinket feels the same. She hates when Floyd calls her a Plankton.

Just then, Kalim walks into the lounge and towards the others, "Oh, hey, guys. Are you still gaming?"

"GAH!" Jamil yelps in surprise and turns to see Kalim.

"What's this?" Kalim asks, and looks at the game, "Ooh, Mancala! That takes me back. I used to play it for hours on end with Jamil.

"I thought you went to bed, Kalim. Why would you..." Jamil asks, shocked.

He calms himself and says, "I've told you not to wander around by yourself. What if someone abducted you?"

"You're such a worrywart, Jamil. Chill. Jade's been with me the whole time," Kalim says.

"Wait, JADE?" Jamil questions.

Soon, Jade walks over from behind and says, "Yes, hello. I've been keeping Kalim company.

"Y-you..." Jamil becomes stunned.

"Kalim is so generous. He's been teaching me aaall sorts of things..." Jade says with a smile.

Then Jamil calmly demands, "Answer me. What did you do to Kalim?"

"What did I...do?" Jade questions, "I was just having a pleasant conversation with him. Isn't that right, Kalim?"

"Yep. I was just showing him around the storeroom," Kalim says.

"Gh...!" Jamil replies, displeased.

"Oh yeah, Jamil! You know that silver and blue carpet we brought with us when we came here? Do you know where it is? I couldn't find it for the life of me," Kalim asks.

Suddenly, Jamil sternly says, "We're leaving, Kalim."

"Huh? Why?" Kalim asks, confused

"Back to your room, now!" Jamil sternly demands, grab Kalim by his arm, and drags him away

Kalim cries out, "Whoa! Okay, okay! You don't have to pull my arm out of its socket!

Sorry, Jade. I'll get you the carpet some other time!"

Soon, Jamil has taken Kalim out of the Lounge, leaving everyone behind.

"Certainly. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other very soon... Heh heh heh," Jade replies with a chuckle.

Suddenly, Briar hears the sound of dripping and looks around the lounge to find the source. At a small glimpse as Kalim and Jamil are leaving, she suddenly sees Jamil with a bit of dark energy appearing around his body. Briar eyes wide in shock to see this. Unknown to Briar, the drips that's fallen to the ground also merge to become a bigger droplet.