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| Chapter 33 | Book 3 • Chapter 34 | Chapter 35 |
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FLASHBACK START
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The only place I ever belonged was inside an octopus pot. |
Merchild A |
Hey, Frazzled Azul, ink-spewer! |
Merchild B |
Aw, you gonna cry? Why don't you use one of your eight legs to wipe those tears away? |
| C-cut it out... Why are you being so mean to me? |
Merchild A |
Run for it, quick! He's gonna ink us! |
Merchild B |
Aha ha ha! He couldn't keep up with us if he tried. |
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Unlike other merfolk, I have lots of feet with suction cups. I'm an introvert, and I never assert myself. I'm hopeless in both studies and athletics. I'm always alone. A silly little octo-twerp. |
Merchild A |
The water gets all cloudy when he's around. He spews ink every time he cries! |
Merchild B |
He's always the first to get caught when we play tag. Playing with him is just boring. |
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Ah, is that a fact? In that case, leave me alone. Keep running around in your little circles. Enjoy your utterly unproductive games! I have no tailfin to let me swim quickly. What I DO have are ten limbs I can freely control. |
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I'll just transcribe five times as many grimoires as people with merely two arms. I can generate my own ink for inscribing magic circles. Just you wait. One of these days... I'll show every last one of you airheaded merfolk! |
| Heya, Octy. Whatcha doin' all crammed in that teeny little octopus pot? |
| Shut up. Just leave me alone |
| Wow. There are spells and magic circles drawn all over every shell here. A spell to change species, a spell to steal someone's voice... Have you been doing grimoire research with all eight of your tentacles this whole time? |
| Don't touch any of it! You're asking for an inking! I'm gonna study harder, and become as powerful as the Sea Witch herself! So go away and stop bothering me! |
| Octy here's pretty funny, Jade. |
| I agree, Floyd. He's quite fascinating. |
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Then, after spending years studying everything I could get my hands on... |
| I hear one merman in the class next door suddenly got a girlfriend! |
| Yes, and I hear that in return, his fine tenor voice now sounds more like a honking seal. |
| Is that right? |
| I've also heard that someone got the silky-smooth, gorgeous locks they've always wanted. |
| But the tradeoff was that they lost the big tailfin they used to dart through the water. |
| Uh-huh. I see. |
| Fascinating work, Azul. Assuming that WAS your doing, I mean. |
| And why would you say that? |
| These foolish minnows couldn't hope to use such powerful magic. |
| But you've been brushin' up since you were knee-high to a guppy, Octy! |
| ...Heh. Heh heh... Heh heh heh! HA HA HA! Yes, I see. I wasn't expecting the jig to be up quite so soon. |
| So, is this what we think it is? |
| Yes, that's right. I've finally perfected it. See this magic-infused contract scroll? I can take any power from someone, so long as they sign it. I call it, "It's a Deal"! This is a spell I'll use to show them all who's boss! Your fortes will all belong to me! Aha ha ha... AAAH HA HA HA! |
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I never forgot for a second. The sight of those who mocked me. Those who bullied me. I've observed them for many moons. Now I have their weaknesses, their insecurities... I have it all! Once I know what foils him, I can take the tailfin of a fast swimmer. |
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Once I know what troubles him, I can even take the voice of an adept singer. As long as I have this contract scroll, I am invincible! I'm not the same silly, lonely little octopus I used to be. With this power, I will rule over all. I'll make everyone who ever mocked me quaver and beg for mercy. |
FLASHBACK END
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| Chapter 33 | Book 3 • Chapter 34 | Chapter 35 |
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