One

The Room rattled in such a way it was never meant to.

While the walls, floor, and even pillars seemed completely indifferent, all else reacted like they were suppose to: submitting to the sudden eruption of energy. Collections of dust, papers and tattered books were scooped into the air and thrown haphazardly across the Room, alongside gold treasures and wooden crates (the latter two held no value). All contents within the area were being push away towards the wall, making way for the intruder to settle at the center.

Aladdin's initial thought was that a black sun had descended upon him.

The intruder was a man. Although he could just be at the early stages of his adulthood, he did seem only a couple years older than Aladdin himself. There was an air of pure darkness that cloaked this man. From his choice of black attires (which dressed the man in a way that exposed carefully trimmed muscles) to the menacing glare which were as dark as the long mane he crowned. Quite frankly, the imposing eyes were the most foreboding- no, disturbing for him.

Now those eyes were looking down on him. Perhaps not even. They were probably just looking at his general direction, trying to locate the speck of dirt among other specks of dirt. Perhaps… because that was the impression Aladdin was getting from just staring too long.

But this was hope in the shape of a man who resembled a black sun.

Aladdin could not, for the life of him, turn away.

"No parents."

It had been so long since he had last seen someone from the outside world.

"You have no family."

So long had he last gazed at the light that did not radiate from passing white rukhs.

"You are an existence different from other normal people,"

So long had he last been spoken to.

"Tch," clicks the tongue of the man, "just a brat." He says it like a curse, like being there was the most tedious thing to ever happen to him.

But Aladdin ignores it, he feels the opposite of insulted (though not so much flattered either). Hot tears began to creep at the edges of his vision, however not so sure why he was responding this way. He doesn't speak yet, allowing the man to continue, for he does not seem the sort of person who would take interruption lightly.

"Well? Power, riches… which do you want? You've got one wish, so make it quick."

Aladdin's answer was already at the tip of his lips.

He wanted to put an end his fear.

While most men either feared for their lives or – if nobler– the lives of their loved ones, Aladdin had a fear that goes beyond his own life…

He feared loneliness.

"You are special."