Chapter Text
There is a curse.
Kalim knew it was there already because his mother told him about it after he was kidnapped at 10 years old.
That kidnapping was the first time he truly understood what it meant to be a Prince that was also first in line for the throne.
Kalim had been cursed by a mage that married into his family and helped with his birth.
That mage was executed the moment they realized what had been done to him, and the family member they'd married was struck from their family tree.
The curse though…
If Kalim hasn't been willingly kissed by his soulmate by the time he turns 18 years old, then he'll fall asleep the second his birthday arrives.
The kicker?
It will happen at the exact time he was born.
5:39 a.m.
They'll have 72 hours before the curse claims his life because that's how long it took for him to cry for the first time.
The curse is so intricate, and yet, nobody has been able to break it.
His birthday is tomorrow, so he has seven hours to set things into their final places.
Kalim has it all planned out.
His death has been prepared for beyond what anyone will be expecting.
He even planned a party, but the invitation are letters of gratitude instead. When they come to Scarabia in confusion, there will be gifts, trinkets that he'd intended to give everyone as graduation presents.
Kalim is prepared to die because he knows that is the only outcome.
Jamil has no clue about any of this.
Not even the curse.
"Kali!" Jamil calls softly through his door, twisting the knob that doesn't open under his touch. "Are you coming for dinner? It's ready!"
"Ah, I'm not hungry, JamJam!" Kalim lets the childhood nickname slip off his tongue as tears well in his eyes. "Thank you though!"
"Kalim," Jamil's voice is warped with worry now, but Kalim still doesn't move from his desk. "Are you okay? You've been acting weird all week, and you haven't called me that since we were three feet tall. What's going on?"
"I'm just tired, Jamil. Don't worry so much," Kalim is as calm as he can be while tears roll down his cheeks.
"Okay, but you can talk to me, Kali… Always," Jamil doesn't believe him, it's obvious, but Kalim knew he wouldn't.
"Thank you, Jamil," replies Kalim simply.
Silence follows, and Kalim turns his attention to his final letter.
It's the last thing he has to write, and he has to finish it before his body starts to shut down.
It's the one that Jamil has to deliver for him.
The only one that he hasn't personally delivered.
The others are charmed to only open after he's fallen to the curse.
This one will be waiting for when Jamil breaks into his room in the morning.
But he has to hurry because he needs to go to the infirmary once Scarabia goes to sleep.
He and his parents planned it this way to ensure he could be transported to spend his final days at home, carefully protected and hidden under the guise of still being at NRC. Only Jamil would know that he was taken home because he is Kalim's retainer, but only after he rushes to Crowley to tell him about his empty bed.
This letter though… His final letter will be delivered on the second day, when Jamil finds it and the name is revealed.
Because this letter is for Kalim's soulmate.
Three days ago, Kalim drank a soulmate finder potion to confirm his suspicions.
After loving him for at least two years, Kalim confirmed that his soulmate is none other than Leona Kingscholar.
In his final letter, Kalim confesses his love and says goodbye. He'll leave a little note that will not make sense until Jamil learns of the curse as well.
But Kalim will leave no guilt in the wake of his death.
What Jamil learns of the curse will come in the final hour, ensuring that all blame will fall on Kalim for sacrificing himself.
As the hours quickly dwindle down, Kalim finishes the letter, sets all of his charms, and stacks everything carefully onto his pillow.
It's in the final hour that Kalim's body starts shutting down as he locks and closes his door before making his way through Scarabia.
Everything is heavy, each step feels weighted in the worst way as he reaches the Infirmary.
One step across the threshold, and Kalim sees Crewel looking at him somberly just as everything goes dark.
The curse has taken hold of Kalim, and now the clock begins.
In 72 hours, Kalim Al-Asim will die.