Prologue
The Pathevian Empire was always warm and bright in the summer months, almost as if the sun itself favored the glorious empire. The streets, heavy with the traffic of locals, were lined with vendors, shouting out their prices and deals across the market. Children ran through the streets and alleys freely, not a care in the world as they explored their flourishing home. Judal knew he did not belong here; a foreigner from a distant village that no one has really heard of. With his black hair, he matched the general population, however his crimson eyes and pale skin were drastically different from the rest of the citizens. Judal could not remember his home, as he was taken from there by his Father and Al-Tharmen when he was an infant. He was told that his people disapproved of him, and gave him up to the organization for adoption. He did not mind, he enjoyed traveling to new empires and cities. However, this was the first time that he was alone.
Judal was five years old when he came to the Pathevian Empire. Ever since he could remember, he was able to see the little bird-like creatures that fluttered about different people. Father told him once that they were called Rukh, and to never listen to the golden ones; they were wrong. Instead, Judal had his few black Rukh that flitted about his body, singing soft, low songs in his ears. The golden Rukh sometimes tried to sing for him, their songs high and bright, but he learned to ignore them. They were wrong after all. The crimson eyed child felt awkward in his large city of the empire, the golden Rukh sitting and flying literally every place he went. It almost made him dizzy, listening to them along with his own.
He was five years old when he met that violet haired, golden eyed boy.
Judal wandered the streets, walking through the crowds of people in silence as he attempted to understand what it was Father had said to him.
"You must find your candidate. You may come home when you do." He had said. But the child was unsure as to what was meant by 'candidate'. He knew very few things about himself and what he was meant for, not understanding fully what his purpose was. Al-Tharmen had taught him that he was a Magi, chosen by the Rukh to select kings. But how was he meant to do that? The quiet boy sighed to himself, turning to walk down an empty alley. His black leg dress and choli made him look paler in the sun, however in the shade of the buildings he perhaps looked normal. As he walked, feeling the soft sand under his bare feet, he felt something tug at his braid. Judal froze, unsure of what to do as he turned to face a grown man, who was still gripping the boy's hair. The child grabbed his hair and pulled it away from the man's dirty hands, backing away from him.
"Hey there, kid. You lost? You're kinda cute, you know." The man chuckled, stepping closer to Judal. The adult's cheeks were red, and his words slurred while he spoke, clearly intoxicated.
"Leave me alone." Judal's voice was firm, though his heart raced. The man laughed, stepping again toward the boy until his back hit a wall. The man leaned down so their eyes were level, reaching a calloused hand out to tightly hold Judal's arm.
"That's not how you talk to adults, kid." Judal turned his head away as the man spoke, eyes watering a bit at the stench of liquor on his breath. The man grinned and leaned forward, trailing his tongue from Judal's shoulder to his jaw, leaving behind a trail of saliva. Judal grimaced, struggling against the drunkard's grip in order to escape. He could see a mass of black and gold Rukh, swirling in what seemed like to battle behind the man. The boy whimpered at feeling the man's chapped lips against his neck, kissing and biting along his pale skin. Judal could feel bruises and teeth marks beginning to litter his skin, fear pulsing through his small body.
"Let me go!" he shouted desperately, trying to yank his arm out of his attacker's grip. The man laughed at the attempt, mashing his lips mercilessly with Judal's to silence him. The man's hair fell around them slightly, shrouding them in filthy, tangled strands of red. Tears prickled in Judal's eyes, his body beginning to shake with a fear that he had never before felt. His heart pounded in his small chest, all of his senses telling him to get away and run. He winced in pain at feeling the man's teeth bite down on his lower lip, popping the delicate skin and drawing a thin stream of blood that steadily flowed down his chin.
"I am so hard," the man grunted, reaching his free hand down and palming at the growing bulge in his pants. Judal's crimson eyes widened, hot tears flowing freely down his cheeks. The redhead grinned, sliding a rough hand down Judal's side and beginning to push down his leg dress. The man's grip on Judal's arm tightened bruisingly as he reached his hand down the boy's pale thigh.
Someone, please, help me… Judal begged silently, squeezing his eyes shut and preparing himself for whatever the man was planning to do.
"Hey, get away from him!" a strong voice cut through the whimpers of pain and fear, making the crimson eyed boy open his eyes in time to see a flash of violet hair tackling the man away from him. With shaking hands, Judal fixed his leg dress and sank to the ground, hugging his knees to his chest and staring after the violet haired boy that had come to his rescue. The boy didn't know whether to be afraid as he watched his savior pummel the man into unconsciousness, or to be grateful.
Breathing heavily, the violet haired boy turned to Judal, his golden eyes soft as he gazed upon the terrified boy. He walked over, kneeling slowly before the crimson eyed boy and smiling gently.
"Are you alright?" his voice was calm, like the ocean on a warm summer day, his eyes glittering like golden sand. Judal cowered away slightly, hugging his knees tighter as if to protect himself from more harm. He did however nod, earning a wider smile from the other. With a slow and tender motion, the violet haired boy raised a hand and wiped the blood from Judal's chin, also gently rubbing away his tears.
"What is your name?" he asked softly, golden eyes still warm and kind.
"J-Judal," the other replied, his voice weak and still scared.
"My name is Sinbad. It's nice to meet you!" Judal looked down slightly at the boy, Sinbad's, enthusiasm at meeting him. They sat quietly for a moment, giving Judal a second to relax.
"Can you walk?" Sinbad's voice remained gentle, and he sounded concerned. The five year old slowly uncurled himself, trying to push himself to stand, but was betrayed by his shaking legs. He fell back to the ground, eyes frustrated and upset. He was about to try again but froze when he heard something; Sinbad laughed lightly. Sinbad was laughing at him? Why?
"Shut up," Judal muttered, glaring up at the older boy. How old was he? Maybe fourteen?
"Sorry, sorry." Sinbad replied casually, a smile on his face. The elder boy reached over, tucking one arm under Judal's legs and the other behind his back before standing and picking him up. Judal squeaked in surprised, gripping Sinbad's simple robe in his small hands. The crimson eyed boy did not complain as his new acquaintance carried him out of the alleyway, stepping around the comatose drunkard.
"You're so light! And little. Don't you eat?" Sinbad asked, clearly having no trouble at all carrying the smaller child. Judal tugging his messy braid over his shoulder, choosing not to reply as he undid the braid and redid it much more neatly. Sinbad laughed again softly, carrying the younger boy through a street that was less busy and bringing him to a large fountain in the center of a town square. Setting the boy down on the rim of the fountain, Sinbad pulled a peach from his robe and offered it to him. Judal looked at the pink-orange fruit hesitantly, his eyes shining at the offer of his most favorite fruit. He took it gently, looking up at Sinbad before taking a bite of the peach.
"Thank you," he said quietly as Sinbad sat beside him.
"You're welcome!" the violet haired boy replied, eyes gleaming happily. Judal wondered why this boy seemed so happy. And why he had saved him. The five year old thought it all confusing, but continued to each his peach.
"Do you live here?" Judal's voice interrupted their calm silence.
"I sure do!" Sinbad grinned, turning to face the younger. His eyes darkened at the sight of bruises and teeth marks scattered over Judal's pale neck, and the bruises that stained his arm. He reached out with gentle fingers and lightly traced them over the marks on Judal's neck.
"I'm fine." Judal said softly, turning the pit of the peach over in his hands.
"I won't ever let that happen again." Sinbad's voice was quiet, promising.
"What?" was all the other could ask. He had been in the Pathevian Empire for three days, and had never spoken to anybody. Now, this boy was talking to him like they were friends.
"I'll protect you. Come stay with me, if you have nowhere to go." Sinbad said, golden eyes lighting up at the thought. The golden Rukh around this boy were numerous, singing gleefully as they fluttered around him. Even Sinbad himself seemed to glow with a warm golden light. Judal looked down, watching his own black Rukh as they sat on his legs, not moving and not singing.
"Okay." He answered, after watching the way the Rukh all interacted. His seemed to not be bothered by Sinbad's, which was unusual because of the difference in their songs. Sinbad smiled excitedly, beginning to tell his new companion about anything and everything he could think of about the empire.
xXxXxXxXxXx
"Sinbad, wake up!" Judal said, poking his best friend lightly in the cheek. Sinbad groaned and rolled over, his back facing Judal.
"Judal, it's so early…" Sinbad mumbled, tugging his white sheets over his head. Judal pouted, shaking the older boy's shoulder relentlessly in an attempt to wake him up. With a groan of irritation, Sinbad rolled back over and peeked his head out from above the covers. Gold met crimson as they stared at each other.
"Come outside with me." The black haired boy said, and Sinbad knew it wasn't a question but a demand. With a sigh, the violet haired boy sat up and stretched his arms high above his head. Judal excitedly ran to the door of the small home they had shared for a year now. Sinbad laughed quietly at the child's excitement, swinging his long legs over the edge of the bed and standing. They walked outside together, heading toward a small patch of flowers they Judal had insisted on planting a few months prior.
"Why are we outside?" Sinbad asked, watching as Judal sat in front of his small flowers, smiling sunnily.
"Watch!" he answered. With one finger, Judal lightly touched the petals of a yellow flower. Sinbad raised his eyebrows as he saw a light frost dusting the petals where Judal's finger had touched. Judal had discovered his ice magic, accidentally of course. According to Father, he was not meant to learn about magic until he reached the age of ten, however, he was only six. Sinbad was about to speak when a low voice reached their ears on a breeze.
"Judal," a male's voice uttered. Sinbad watched as his best friend obediently stood up, glancing around for the source of his name.
"Father?" he asked. Sinbad stepped forward, draping an arm protectively around Judal's shoulders. Sinbad had never heard of Judal speak of his family, his home, or anything about his past. Did he really have a father?
A swarm of black Rukh swirled before them, making Sinbad pull Judal away. Judal knew that Sinbad could not usually see the Rukh, but sometimes he could and he would mention them. The crimson eyed boy leaned against Sinbad, watching the Rukh slowly reveal the form of a man in a black cloak.
"Judal, it is time to return home." The man said firmly, staring at the boy's from beneath a hood.
"You can't just take him away!" Sinbad shot back, holding tightly onto the younger boy.
"It's okay Sinbad, I won't be gone forever!" the child replied, smiling up at his friend. Sinbad began to argue, but felt a wave of tiredness crash into his mind. The world slowly began to spin, and his grip on Judal lessened. The black haired boy walked over to the cloaked man, turning to face Sinbad with a sad smile.
"Judal, where are you going?" Sinbad's words slurred as the tiredness intensified.
"I'll see you again, future King of the Seven Seas." Judal smiled more and waved to his friend.
"King? What do you mean?" Sinbad felt himself begin to fall.
"I hope to be your Magi one day!" the black Rukh began to encompass the forms of Judal and the man behind him.
"Don't go, Judal." Sinbad's vision went black as he fell to the ground, only hearing Judal's last words before slipping into unconsciousness.
"Goodbye, Sin."