ツイステ豆知識の幽霊YuuRei

・Character Information Sheets -> Riddle Rosehearts -> Trey Clover -> Cater Diamond -> Ace Trappola -> Deuce Spade (pt1) Deuce Spade (pt2) -> Leona Kingscholar -> Ruggie Bucchi -> Jack Howl -> Azul Ashengrotto -> Jade and Floyd Leech -> Kalim Al-Asim -> Jamil Viper -> Vil Schoenheit (pt1) Vil Schoenheit (pt2) -> Rook Hunt -> Epel Felmier -> Idia Shroud -> Ortho Shroud -> Malleus Draconia (pt1) Malleus Draconia (pt2) -> Lilia Vanrouge (pt1) Lilia Vanrouge (pt2) -> Silver (pt1) Silver (pt2) -> Sebek Zigvolt (pt1) Sebek Zigvolt (pt2) -> Grim -> Dire Crowley

・EN-Server Changes (twstnote link) -> Unique Magics -> Why the audio and the subtitles are different -> Profile Changes -> Pronoun Changes/Mistakes -> Eggs -> "Master" -> Insults -> Flirting -> Lesson Voices Changed ・Birthdays Gifts given and received by NRC students.

・Twst the First Novel Translations Not a complete novel translation: pick-ups of interesting points that vary from the game.

・Twst the Second Novel Translations pt1 ・Twst the Second Novel Translations pt2 Not a complete novel translation: pick-ups of interesting points that vary from the game.

・Twisted Wonderland Story Summaries (twstnote link)

・Honorifics Honorifics used by the various Twisted Wonderland students.

・Questions and Answers (twstnote link) About the characters, theories, language and more.

・Cast and Creator Interviews (twstnote link) Translations interviews with the Twst cast and creators

・Notes from Yana (twstnote link) Where did Yana say that Lilia dyes his hair? That Leona's pupils change shape? etc.

・Yana's contributions to Twisted Wonderland (twstnote link) Does Yana influence the manga? Does she make the events? etc.

・Voice Actors (twstnote link) An ongoing series that tracks projects featuring twisted wonderland seiyuu and where they overlap. (Includes interview translations.)

・Videos (YouTube link) Character relationship summaries, interview translations, EN-server changes, character details and more.

It is Azul’s plan that takes down Jamil in Book 4: using his position as Housewarden to override Jamil’s plot (“I’ve given my fellow housewarden Kalim an alternate proposal”), he improves upon the training camp that Jamil-via-Kalim had instituted, encourages a disheartened Kalim, and creates a study/practical magic/cooking curriculum that has the students of Scarabia dorm enjoying the activities that had been meant to overwhelm them into ousting Kalim from his position. 

Azul even plans in advance for Jamil’s attempt to forcibly take back control (“I always prepare for all eventualities before I act”), negotiating a contract with Floyd that granted him Floyd’s unique magic and thus the ability to divert Jamil’s attack. 

Riddle is surprised to find Azul representing the boardgame club during NRC’s culture fair rather than running Mostro Lounge, and Azul reveals he has planned for the day in advance, hiring sports club members to run the lounge and sell drinks at the event’s main stages (Trey: “Wow, you’ve thought of everything. I should be taking notes”).

Azul possibly planned out how to become Housewarden of Octavinelle.

Idia says that he has heard Azul “laid the groundwork to get the job in advance," which Azul himself confirms in Book 7.5, and Azul says that “it took (him) a while to get (there) without making too many waves,” but we have possibly yet to hear what exactly it is that he did.

Azul’s wish for the Wish Upon a Star event is for Mostro Lounge to flourish, but he explains that he has actually already made “thorough preparations to ensure this wish comes true” (Idia: “I’ve never seen anyone prepare for a wish”), planning a collaboration that he hopes will result in a second “or even a third” branch.

Azul also plans in advance for how to seduce Eliza during the Phantom Bride event: “I analyzed the first team’s data and came up with the perfect approach by the ghost’s standards.”

Azul has also been shown to plan for the New Year’s events in advance, doing “copious amounts of research” and drawing up “a plan of action” to ensure that he is able to buy everything he wanted in advance.

 Jade says that if Azul missed even one of the items on his list he would “become so vexed he’d cause a major scene,” but Azul responds, I would never. If such a thing happened, I’d simply come up with an alternative plan.”

While Vil's "least favorite food" is listed as "mayonnaise" in his profile, Vil explains that he doesn't actually mind the flavor or texture and, as a child, he would "have it in my salads on practically a daily basis."

Vil's opinion on mayonnaise changed after his skin started reacting poorly. Vil's explains: "I learned that mayonnaise simply doesn't agree with my skin. A rookie mistake for me to make as a professional model."

Vil says that if mayonnaise is served to him during a meal he will eat it rather than let it go to waste, but he never enjoys it "due to the trauma from those awful pimples. Such a shame."

This is referenced in a voice line where Vil says it has been a long time since he last used store-bought mayonnaise on a salad (removed from EN).

Jade says that Azul is considered fit to be housewarden of Octavinelle for being “a quick thinker and a farsighted planner,” and Azul planning things far in advance is a common theme throughout the game.

During Beanfest Azul equips himself early on with the most powerful items of the event, which he reveals to Riddle is a result of his having started planning a year in advance: after getting easily captured by the opposing team in his first year, the very next day he starts gathering information to prepare for the following year’s event. 

The second stage of Azul’s plan for Beanfest seems to be blackmailing more athletic students, such as Jack and Ruggie, into working with him.

When Jack goes against all advice and goads Floyd into a fight Azul observes, “I’m on the verge of losing Jack…what will happen to all my plans then?”

It is Azul who outlines a strategy to his teammates during the event, and the third stage of his plan was possibly eliminating Jade.

Rook shares information with Azul about nearly being eliminated by Jade himself, which inspires Azul’s next step, which is then revealed to be exactly what Jade had anticipated he would do: “Sparing Rook…that was intentional, wasn’t it?”

Azul’s team ultimately does win the game, but the final catalyst was possibly less so Azul’s planning and more Jack’s athleticism (Jade: “I failed to properly account for Jack’s abilities and paid the price”).

Idia goads Azul into playing a dice-based boardgame against his better judgement (“…you don’t think you can win if you can’t plan ahead”), and after Azul loses he forms a plan to ensure that it will not happen again: teaching himself how to manipulate dice in such a way that he can roll the numbers he wants.

Azul explains, “That loss was due to my own negligence. Without proper preparation, I left myself wholly vulnerable to the whims of fate.” Idia says, “that’s how board games work,” and Azul responds, “It’s only how they work if you don’t plan ahead.”

The Japanese-language "hamburg" has been localized in three different ways on EN: hamburger steak during Trey's birthday boy vignette, hamburger in the main story, and salisbury steak during the Nightmare Before Christmas event.

As the Queen of Hearts’ rule “No salisbury steak on Tuesdays” has been consistently localized as “hamburger” on EN, it seems as though Trey’s comment during NBC could have also been changed to “hamburger,” but it was not.

Instead, localizers added the line “And aren’t you being a little liberal with what constitutes ‘a hamburger’…?” to Trey’s dialogue to explain why Riddle disapproved of something that isn’t against the rules on EN, as the two foods (hamburgers and salisbury steaks) are actually the same food in the original game.

More here:

When Riddle argues that Azul is “hardly a heavy hitter himself with his magic out of the equation,” Floyd responds,

“Who said anything about Azul bein’ weak without his magic? He’s real strong. He’s slow on land and in water, and he’s got lousy athletic reflexes, but that doesn’t mean he’s weak. Azul’s bigger than me in the water, and he’s got eight huge, heavy limbs. His submission holds are bad news, and he’s got crazy grip strength. If he so much as snags you, he can snare you with your arms pinned.”

Vil says that it is “hard to imagine (Azul) having that much in the way of musculature” based upon his “lean figure,” but Floyd responds, “Octopi are, like, all muscle. Seems to me like that wouldn’t go poof just ’cause he took a potion to turn himself human.”

Azul tells Riddle directly that his arms are “quite powerful, unlike yours” in Book 6, but when given the opportunity to display this strength with the thunder spear he still struggles to wield it, even with help.

We do have examples Azul being physically strong, however: he surprises an ill-mannered reporter (“…Wh-whoa, you’re stronger than I thought!”) during Tapis Rouge, seems to help carry Ortho without complaint, and is able to physically pry the extremely strong Stitch off of the prefect.

Azul does ask for help with evacuating Vargas from the mines during Vargas Camp, but it seems less so due to needing help with his weight and more so due to the awkwardness of the confined space: “These tunnels are so narrow, I was afraid I might bump the coach’s head or feet against the rocks.”

According to Sebek, Azul held onto him with a surprisingly strong grip while dream-hopping in Book 7 (“I half feared you’d pull my arm out of its socket!”), and Azul seems to go to Silver and Sebek’s aid with both magical and physical attacks in Leona’s dream.

Prior to his third birthday interview Azul says he has “researched all the questions and have perfect answers ready for whatever (his) interviewer asks.”

When Jack comments on Azul’s less than impeccable history with flight magic Azul responds, “I take some issue with that phrasing. I’ve been putting forth a good-faith effort every day in class.” The third birthday interview ends with flying on a broom, which Azul also invests effort in readying himself for, checking wind speed and directly and performing a simulation in advance.

On EN server Jamil says that Azul does not put any effort into flying, but this was a mistranslation: his original line is closer to, "You really are clueless when it comes to flying."

When Jamil comments on Azul potentially wasting both time and effort on things he cannot predict the outcome of Azul responds, “True enough, but that’s no reason not to give it a shot. I need to do whatever I can to raise my valuation as much as possible before I make my way out into the world. So I can’t afford to be afraid of a little work.”

After being tasked by Jack to deliver a basket and compliment to Sally during NBC Sebek declares that the delivery alone is enough and that Jack can talk to Sally himself but Azul refuses, saying, “People could lose confidence in me if I abandon my work unfinished.”

When Ace suggests taking a break from boiling drinking water during the Stitch event Azul responds, “Do I look like the procrastinating type?,” and when Riddle and Azul make plans to go to a beach again in the future Floyd says he can “totally see Azul getting up early” to practice surfing in advance.

Azul is possessed by a ghost during Spectral Soiree who asks, “We’re all gonna be ghosts in the end, so why bother with needless exertion?,” surprising Ruggie, who says, “That’s the last thing I’d expect Azul to say. He’s all about the ol’ razzle-dazzle, and he’d take any opportunity to get ahead!”

An annoyed Riddle declares, “Azul may be a rotten schemer who constantly tries to prey on the people around him, but he always puts forth an unstinting effort. That’s the one thing I respect about him!”

Azul does not seem to like others implying that he is “on the same level as people who simply declare something impossible and give up from the start.”

Jade says that Azul’s hardworking temperament is “easily misunderstood,” and we possibly see this misunderstanding during Beanfest when Vil wonders why Azul doesn’t just “try putting in the work every day” to improve his PE grade.

Deuce makes the same assumption: after Azul reveals that he started putting in the effort of preparing for Beanfest a year in advance Deuce asks, “Why would you spend a whole YEAR preparing to earn extra credit, when you could just try harder in PE. and get the same result?” (Azul: “What would someone naturally athletic like you know of my suffering?! NOTHING!”)

Chapter 12 (pt2)

Original Novel: "Leona towers over Ruggie, but Ruggie glowers at him all the same. Ruggie lifts his head, exposing a prominent bruise upon his throat. I haven't forgiven you, you know.'"

EN Novel: "Ruggie glared at Leona. 'Don't think you've earned my forgiveness,' he said."

Original Novel: "'A stone?' Yuuya looks around. 'No, I haven't seen one.' Perhaps it is something that the headmage dropped somewhere. Yuuya asks if they ought look for it, but the headmage waves him off with, 'In that case it's no matter,' and walks away."

EN Novel: ""A black stone?' Yuya asked, looking around. 'No, I don't see anything.' Yuya asked if they should look for it, but Crowley shrugged casually. 'If you haven't spotted it, that's fine,' he replied as he walked off."

Original Novel: "Leona walks at a slower pace, bringing up the rear. Yuuya does not intend to speak with him; he simply worries that Leona may collapse at any moment."

EN Novel: "As they walked back to the coliseum, Yuya peered at Leona trailing behind them, worried that he might actually collapse."

Original Novel: "Ruggie follows with a self-deprecating, 'I've gotten soft,' acting as the more adult of the two."

EN Novel: "'I should've known better, too,' Ruggie said quietly, and then he laughed at the sulking Leona."

Original Novel: "Leona may understand, but he will not force it."

EN Novel: "Leona understood."

Original Novel: "They are both still frightening, but if he does not speak now, he will never be able to face Jack again."

EN Novel: "Even though they scared him, he knew he had to speak."

Original Novel: "Jack covers Yuuya's mouth. He is strong and his voice is rough but, strangely, Yuuya is not afraid."

EN Novel: "...Jack said, and slapped a hand over Yuya's mouth. Jack was upset, but Yuya was strangely unafraid."

Subject confusion on EN:

Original Novel: "Yuuya must look quite pitiful; Riddle glances at him with slight surprise. Then, he seizes the Headmage with a cold stare."

EN Novel: "Riddle looked disappointed and surprised, too. With exasperation, he said..."

Original Novel: "Realizing that this is not just someone else's problem, Leona and the others also give the Headmage stern looks."

Impressed by Malleus’ singing ability leading up to the Glorious Masquerade performance, Azul declares that he will simply have to push himself even harder.

His efforts seem to pay off in the end, with students from other schools complimenting him and leading to potential networking (“All that intensive vocal training has paid dividends. Good thing I brought plenty of business cards”), and Rook also praising him for his “positively magnificent” singing:

“I noticed you had perfect pitch at our very first practice, and your voice only grew more refined and enchanting with every passing day. I’ve no doubt you’ve been practicing diligently, even in your free time…Your drive to reach greater heights is truly beauté! That’s what makes you Roi de l’Effort.”

Azul goes to the school store during new year’s to buy all the “hottest, deeply-discounted items” in bulk, with Jade explaining, “Azul did copious amounts of research before the sale and drew up a plan of action. We knew exactly where to go when the store opened.”

Azul says he “analyzed past data on customer traffic, products, and store activity during the New Year’s period,” and then used those findings to predict where the sale items would be located: “And as a result, I was able to efficiently traverse the crowded floor and purchase all of the goods I wanted.”

Malleus seems to have been using magic from an extremely young age: Malleus says he once froze the entire castle (and all the people in it) back when he had “finally started walking on two legs.”

It is confirmed by Malleus’ grandmother Maleficia that “a dragon’s horns are organs that store and amplify magic. They also function like antennas that gather magical energy from nature. As long as those horns are there, Malleus will keep replenishing his magical reserves and never run dry.”

Idia’s father reiterates, “a dragon’s horns can let them control the weather and elements. It’s not necessarily the same for all dragons, but it holds true for everyone in the Draconia family, we’re told.”

Sebek observes, “That explains why the weather grows rough when Malleus experiences inner turmoil.”

Malleus has hinted that he does not have to worry about his magic reserves ever running dry until Idia traps him in a gacha game in Book 7, when he experiences harm from physical attacks and his magic reserves dwindling for the first time in his life.

Also during Book 7 we learn that the extent of Malleus’ abilities were influenced by a blessing and/or curse, the senate of Briarland/Briar valley having used magic on an infant Malleus after taking him away from Lilia:

Senator A: We shall each bestow a blessing upon you. Mine shall be the power to triumph over all. Like lightning that blasts through everything in its path. None shall ever be able to touch or harm you. Senator B: Like the icy winds that howl through Mount Dread. Mine shall be a voice which commands darkness. Your fearsome voice shall make all who hear it tremble and submit to you. Senator C: Mine shall be time that never expires. In this ever-shifting world, your light shall be a beacon of hope to us all.

We see the effects of these abilities in flashbacks of a child-Malleus involuntary hurting a chambermaid who had been trying to comb his hair and unintentionally making Lilia’s ears bleed with his laughter.

Azul says, “There’s no harm in putting forth effort. It leaves an admirable impression,” while Jade says that “Azul will do anything to achieve his goals. In other words, he’s as hardworking as it gets.”

Rook’s nickname for Azul is “King of Effort,” Vil says that he respects Azul’s spirit of self-improvement, and we repeatedly see Azul putting extreme effort into what he does throughout the game.

In Book 3 Crowley reveals that the study guides Azul provided to the students who contracted with him did not involve any illegitimate activity: “Nobody snuck looks at test questions or answers beforehand. It was crafted exhaustively by hand, after researching the past century’s worth of Night Raven College exam questions and their patterns,” which impresses even Jack.

Azul says he is “not particularly fond of games that hinge primarily on luck,” but Idia still manages to goad him into playing a dice-based boardgame as a club activity, saying, “Can’t brain your way into making dice do your bidding, right?”

But that is exactly what Azul then sets out to do, practicing his dice-rolling to try and become capable of rolling his desired number: “And I’d say the effort has been well worth it.” (Idia: “Good on you for being such a hard worker, though.”)

Azul seems to become frustrated with Silver’s vague praise for his cooking during Master Chef, explaining all the effort he went to enhance the dish.

Silver responds, “Well, it sounds like you went above and beyond. I hate to admit…most of that was lost on me,” And Azul is not pleased: “If none of that came across when you were eating, then all of that extra effort, from the labor to ingredients, was for nothing!”

When Azul considers going somewhere he has never been before for summer break, he decides to prepare by finding a traveler’s journal and using the opportunity to learn more about land culture, turning the vacation into an educational opportunity rather than using it for leisure.

Azul weaponizes the act of applying extra effort at the beginning of Vargas Camp 2, intentionally refusing help with setting up a tent. When Idia teases him for his apparent passion for camping Azul responds, “You’ll see why I’m doing this soon enough,” and he is shortly after selected by Vargas as an MVP.

Vargas explains, “As for Ashengrotto—you were clearly out of your element and didn’t show much skill. But you engaged your muscles and worked up a magnificent sweaty sheen! More so than anyone else. This is in recognition of your efforts.”

Hello hello, thank you for this question! 🦇

Short answer: It is maybe both!

Long answer: In Book 6 Malleus performs a feat of magic that, on the surface, does not look dissimilar to turning back time, returning an aged-up Vil to his 18-year-old body.

When Vil asks if Malleus cannot do the same for Lilia, however, Lilia says no: Malleus cannot turn back time. Lilia explains to Vil,

You lost your magic due to external factors, but that isn't what's happened to me. I've simply gotten old.

This seems like it is meant to be a definitive answer: Lilia has lost his magic because he has "simply gotten old," that is all.

But Lilia is not always 100% truthful (more here ▶︎ and here ▶︎), this may have been one of his less truthful moments, and we see for ourselves that a very important external factor might have actually been involved: Malleus.

Right after saying that is not losing his magic due to any external factors he then says, "I may have overdone it a bit in my younger days. My age is catching up to me sooner than I expected."

He adds, "Everyone does a bit of mischief in their youth," and towards the end of his dream we see that he might have meant using the expression "bit of mischief" to gloss over what he actually did, which was offer his magic and his "remaining lifespan" to an unborn Malleus ("You can have as much of it as you want!").

And Malleus did seem to take part of Lilia's life, with Malleus himself observing, "I never knew that you used your own life to nourish my hatching."

Lilia says that his family "tends to live for about a millennium," but he loses his magic at the age of 700.

Did he infuse Malleus with 300 years of his life in order to save him? 📝

Does that count as an external factor? Could Malleus actually have returned 300 years to Lilia's life much as he returned Vil's youth, but doing so would have required that Lilia told him what it is that had happened? Did Lilia decide he would rather die than reveal the sacrifice he made for Malleus? We do not know!

Lilia tells Sebek,

My magic has been weakening for years. It's been happening since before you boys were born. The time has come. That's all there is to it.

He also mentions thinking that he would be able to make it through four years of school, that it all happened faster than he anticipated, that the decision has been made for him and, even if he did change his mind about dropping out of NRC, "time marches ever on toward our inevitable destiny."

In summary this is maybe the information that we have!

1- Lilia volunteered to sacrifice his own life to birth Malleus (My remaining lifespan...You can have as much of it as you want!) 2- The unborn Malleus possibly took him up on that offer (You used your own life to nourish my hatching) 3- Unborn-Malleus possibly took 300 years off of Lilia's life (I'm told that my own family tends to live for about a millennium...)

4- Lilia claims that he did not lose his magic to external factors, but this was maybe not the truth (more here: Lilia's Secrets (pt1) ▶︎ and Lilia's Secrets (pt2) ▶︎)

5- Fae seem to naturally lose their magic when they are close to death, but maybe not all at once (My magic has been weakening for years. It's been happening since before you boys were born)

During Halloween Azul attempts to teach Silver how to be respected as a leader. The lesson is not entirely successful, but Azul says it does not matter: “Silver is now indebted to me, which means I accomplished my true goal.”

At the start of the NBC event the group watches several of the students fall through the door to Halloweentown, and Vil asks if they should ignore them. Azul responds, “No, I say we go to their aid and place them in our debt.”

Jack Skellington offers to help them find a way home after Halloween has ended, and Azul agrees: “We receive his help going back, and he receives our labor in return. A perfectly reasonable contract, in my opinion.”

During the NBC event Azul hurries to move a basket to aid Sebek, who is not pleased by the favor, saying, “Now I’m indebted to him. I’ll never live this down…!” (Azul: “Indebted? Please. All I’d expect in return is something of equivalent value.”)

In exchange, Azul asks to be allowed to “the honor” of delivering the basket to Sally, and Sebek agrees (“I’m loath to remain in your debt”), on the condition that he goes along as well: “Someone should keep an eye out and ensure you’re not plotting anything.”

After RSA students sacrifice themselves to save the NRC students from firelotuses during Glorious Masquerade, Azul agrees to go to their aid, saying, “We could have a whole BEVY of mages in our debt!”

Idia says, “Here we go with Azul’s bizarre idea that it’s okay to take an L if you get some kinda dub out of it,” and Azul responds, “Bizarre? I resent that. I only do this sort of thing when I expect an ample return. It’s called an investment.”

Azul offers Jade and Floyd’s talents to the Lantern of Wishes group, saying, “I can place all four of you in my debt for virtually no overhead. How could I NOT offer my assistance?”

Deuce and Epel are both surprised to learn that Azul intends to purchase gifts for the students of Octavinelle in Fleur City, (“You’re going to actually give them away… for FREE?!”) to which Azul responds, “I’m capable of caring for my fellow Octavinelles. This is a fine chance to convey my gratitude to them. Though I never said I wouldn’t expect anything in return…”

Azul is not pleased by the amount of darkness that they are forced to battle in Book 7 on their way to Malleus, saying, “There’s no sense whatsoever in battling in a dream. We don’t get paid. The teachers don’t give us extra credit…there’s nothing in it for us at all!”

Lilia’s dream of Book 7 starts with Lilia having been tasked by Meleanor to deliver a letter to an eastern stronghold established by foreign invaders to Briarland. Baul explains that the letter is an ultimatum, warning the invaders to “cease their ill-mannered conduct in (their) lands.” 

The fae troops discover an excavator during their journey that Baul describes as an “iron golem,” and Lilia sends a messenger back to Meleanor so that she might been notified of the machine as soon as possible.

After arriving at the abandoned eastern stronghold Lilia’s troops realize that the invaders must have been intentionally waiting to act until Lilia was absent from Castle Wildrose, receiving a report that Meleanor is being besieged in their absence.

Lilia insists on being teleported despite his injuries but it is too dangerous, with Baul saying, “Let us have faith in the royal guardsmen you’ve trained, as well as Lady Meleanor.”

The fae troops return to Meleanor surrounded by giant excavators, catapults, enemy mages and troops from other lands.

Baul suspects they must all be coveting Briarland’s resources and Lilia wonders if they are hired  mercenaries, but Henrick claims that they are neighboring countries who “all live in fear that their villages could be razed by dragonfire at any moment.”

Lilia devises a plan to evacuate Meleanor and her egg from the besieged castle (“Though I imagine Lady Meleanor will have no end of complaints about how dark and damp it is…”).

He worries that getting her to agree to a retreat in the first place “will be a battle in and of itself,” and he is proven correct: the royal guards are greeted upon their arrival by Meleanor sending lightning bolts at them all.

Meleanor sends the troops away and Baul observes, “Black clouds and briars are enveloping the Verdurous Moor,” which Silver says is the same thing they saw when Malleus overblotted.

Sebek asks if Meleanor is overblotting as well, but this might not have been ever confirmed.

The storm that Meleanor seemed to summon during her battle dissipates with her death, with the senate praising her as the pride of all nocturnal fae.

When Vil guesses that Idia’s family is “just as wealthy as Kalim’s,” to everyone’s surprise, Azul’s responds, “Oh, if only l’d known sooner…I would have tried harder to get him in my debt!”

During Book 6 Azul bemoans the lack of valuable items in the cages of Tartarus (“Antique dishware or coins would do as well. Oh, and jewelry…”).

Riddle points out that, even if there were valuable items to be had Azul would not be able to claim any, but Azul responds, “If I used this entire mess as leverage…I’m confident I could wrangle the acting director into some kind of negotiation.”

Azul is not pleased when Riddle decides that he and Azul will stand against Idia to buy time for the other students: “Did you seriously volunteer us for the most dangerous assignment without even discussing compensation?”

Riddle refuses Azul’s offer of help in Book 5 on the basis of not wanting to incur “any special debts” to him, and after fighting his way through Leona’s dream of Book 7 Azul tells him, “I expect you to properly reciprocate.”

When Kalim brings his tsum and Jamil to the kitchen during Tsumsted and reveals he wants Jamil to cook, Azul offers use of ingredients that he has bought in exchange for Jamil cooking for him, Floyd and the tsum, as well.

After Kalim spills water on his group’s firewood during Vargas Camp Azul volunteers to help him replace it, to the surprise of his fellow club members (“Azul, helping another club for free? At first I thought I was so tired I was seeing things…”)

Afterwards Azul encourages Kalim to tell his parents about the “delightful time (they) shared gathering wood…My timely arrival in your moment of need, the breadth of my knowledge…And, of course, my willingness to haul heavy firewood at my own peril. You WILL convey all that to your family, won’t you?,” reflecting, “It’s the perfect plan. This should get my foot in the door to make future business connections with the Asims…”

Kalim’s response, however, is that he will be telling his parents about everyone, including Lilia, Cater and Jade.

In Book 7.5 we learn that Jack's UM Unleash Beast (hidden meaning: The howl that breaks the moonlit night) is a “reversion” spell rather than a “shapeshifting” spell.

When Ace tries to practice his magic-swapping UM on Jack he fails to transform into anything, with Jack saying that Ace “just got all hairy like a yeti.”

Later Jack explains that he can only use Unleash Beast because of his wolf ancestry.

Riddle asks, “Does that mean it’s a reversion spell rather than a shapeshifting spell?,” which Jack confirms: “So when Ace used it, he didn’t turn into a wolf. He just got all hairy.”

Jack acquired his unique magic the earliest out of the first-year group, but he says there wasn’t any particular impetus:

“My maternal grandfather used a reversion signature spell just like me. I really looked up to him. I kept trying to imitate it, and eventually it just clicked.”