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| Chapter 35 | Book 4 • Chapter 36 | Chapter 37 |
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FLASHBACK START
| Hey, Jamil! Let's play! I'm gonna beat you! |
| This again, Kalim? You know I'm just going to keep winning. Can we play something else instead? |
Jamil's Mother |
Jamil! Don't you take that tone with Master Kalim! |
| Ow! |
Jamil's Father |
Master Kalim, thank you for playing with our foolish son. |
Jamil's Mother |
You're kind enough to share your company. Truly, you've been brought up well. |
 |
My very first memory as a child was seeing my family bow before Kalim and his parents. I couldn't stand the sight of it. |
Jamil's Father |
Listen, Jamil. You must always win twice and lose thrice when competing with Kalim. You must never outdo him at anything. |
Jamil's Mother |
I know you're a smart boy. Surely you understand the position we're in? |
| ...Fine. |
|
Kalim's parents were far more important than mine. Therefore... Kalim was more important than me. Which meant... Whether in studies, or exercise, or games... I could never do better than Kalim. I had to keep myself beneath him. I had to pretend I was incapable. |
| Jamil, look! I won first prize at the festival dancing contest! |
| Aha ha! I did it! I won, three to two! |
| I scored a 75 on the magic history test you helped me study for, Jamil! What? You got a 70? Hey, it's okay. Cheer up! |
|
You're not beating me. I'm just letting you win. Look at you, smiling obliviously. Get a clue, you dunderhead! |
| Me? Housewarden of Scarabia? I don't know what that entails, but sure! You can count on me. Right, Jamil? |
| Headmage, why are you making Kalim housewarden? He's a poor magician, and more to the point, he's just a sophomore. We've got my hands full cleaning up after him as it is. |
| A sophomore housewarden is hardly unheard-of at Night Raven College. |
| But... |
| Viper. Providing education comes with costs. And our young friend's family has been quite generous in their support. It places me in a position where I must make certain...compromises. You're a clever student. Surely you understand what that means. |
|
All the grown-ups tell me the same thing. "Surely you're smart enough to understand." But who's trying to understand ME? |
| We'll keep helping each other out, Jamil! |
|
Stop. |
| I know you'd never betray me, Jamil. |
|
Just stop! Kalim, your mere existence means that I... I... I have to live my whole life deferring everything to you! I... I want... I want to be number one, too. |
FLASHBACK END
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Jamil... Jamil! |
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| Chapter 35 | Book 4 • Chapter 36 | Chapter 37 |
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