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Those mesmerizing pair of eyes
In my mind the thoughts of you
Cannot be erased
When I hold your hand and feel your warmth
It's really too much for me to handle
Your innocence I would like to treasure
When I see you suffering I will feel sad
Oh...
"What song is that?"
She looked in her left and saw her four-year old daughter. She smiled at the innocence of her daughter, just like the song she sang.
"Fei."
"Fei?"
"It's the song. The title of the song, Fei." She went back to her cooking, stirring the soup in the pot. She felt small hands holding her own big hands, compare to her.
"What does that mean?"
She turned to her and smiled but she didn't stop from stirring.
"Hmm?"
"Fei, what does that word mean?"
She laughed.
"Well, aren't you a curious kid?" She mused, talking to herself before she winks at her daughter.
"I'll tell you later when I'm done cooking, okay?"
Her daughter beamed at her and then she nodded to her mother, who sighs at the innocence. Her daughter immediately went back where she came, her black hair bobbling and her blue eyes twinkling in delight at the new discovery.
Fei.
I wonder what that is.
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Chapter 1: Encounters
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Blue eyes opened in the dark void. For some reason, those blue eyes were wet, tears trickling down to her cheeks; she was crying at something. But unfortunately, staying at the dark void doesn't make her feel any emotions at all. Preventing her to feel sadness at all. Not at all. The feeling of no emotions makes her feel like a doll, like she was a living entity without any reason, only to live for herself. Again, walls blocked her emotions, the feeling of loneliness. The coldness in every angles of her body was slowly spreading in her core, her heart.
Snap out of it!
She closed her eyes, tears trickling in her cheeks. No.
Please, wake up! Don't give in to the darkness! I still need your help!
She opened her eyes then closed it again. Help?
Yes, you're the only one who can do this!
She opened her eyes again and uncurled herself and for the first time she realized, she was floating. She felt wave of emotion when she heard that voice. That voice, maybe that voice was her hope of getting out of the dark void. Her mouth settled into straight line and frowned, she was confused.
Why me?
Because it's your destiny.
A burst of light appeared in front of her, a few meters away. She covered her eyes at the brightness when it dimmed; she lowered her arms to see a white orb with butterfly-like birds circled around it. The orb neared her and floated in front of her. Trusting her senses, she lifted her hands under the orb but she didn't touch it; she was hesitant what will happen if she touched it. Without thinking, she touched the white orb and then there was a blinding glow though it was instantly, and a glowing white hand was replaced the white orb in her hand. Her own hand and the glowing hand were holding each other as if they were having a hand shake.
Good morning.
She looked up from the glowing hand to the… glowing face. She blinked at what she saw, but judging from her figure, she can be identify as woman.
Good morning…?
She repeated what she said to her as she looked around the dark void. How did she know that it's morning in this darkness?
That made you think, right?
She was startled when she heard her talking again. She looked at her and nodded. The woman smiled genuinely.
Good. You should stay like that, Kali. Be honest.
She smiled at the compliment but the name didn't process in her head; she was confused.
Kali? She responded.
Yes, that will be your new name that you will use in the future.
New name? So I have an old name?
Yes, but you will no longer use your old name because…
Because…?
The woman sighs.
You'll know when the time has come. And don't wait for it to arrive. Always expect the unexpected.
Expect the unexpected… that seems to be a good advice.
Best of the Best, of course.
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Err… Actually I'm here to give something… um…
Kali laughed nervously, feeling uncomfortable around the white glowing woman that she had just had a conversation earlier. Right now, the air around them is suddenly awkward.
What is it? Kali tried to relieve the situation. The woman groaned.
Can. YOU. DO. ME. A. FAVOR?
Kali blinked when the woman said those words, stopping every syllable.
What. IS. IT?
Kali imitate her trying to restore the mood, which was successful when the woman smiled.
And also her kindness is now tingling.
This is what I like about you. You know what to do.
Kali smiled. And then she froze. Happiness. She thinks she just obtained an emotion. Kindness. Was this classified as an emotion? Maybe.
You're too kind, Kali. Too kind. You shouldn't trust people easily especially to the likes of me. A people like you can be easily manipulated so be careful. And also…
The woman came close to her as she places her forehead to Kali's.
I know you shouldn't trust me but I have a request…
Kali closed her eyes, listening to the woman's voice.
Can you… accompany this 'fourth magi'? He's a very important person to me.
Without thinking, she nodded. She felt the woman smiled.
Thank you, Kali. You do have a good heart.
The woman leaned back to kiss her forehead and smiled. Kali felt warm when the woman kissed her forehead, the rukh around the glowing woman enveloped Kali with a warm welcome, greeting her.
May Solomon's blessings be with you.
After that, Kali felt herself falling into the endless void below her.
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...Nee-san, wake up!
Who is it?
Nee-san, please wake up!
Who's talking to me? She thought as slowly open her eyes as the boy above her sighs in relief. She sat up struggling then look at the boy who backed away to give her some space and then slowly observes him, he got a long blue hair and dark blue eyes and he's wearing a short blue jacket and puffed yellow pants. The blue haired boy smiled when he saw that she was alive and well.
"What happened?"
"Nee-san, you really give us a scare, you just fell out of nowhere …" he said, scratching the back of his head.
What? She thought as take a look around her, notice that indeed she's in the unfamiliar room, a very spacious room, too spacious and a very messy room, there are books sprawled here and there but she stopped observing the room when she notice the weird sentence that the boy said earlier.
"'Us'? Who's the other one?" she asked, turning her attention to the blue haired boy as he smiled and turned behind him. She followed his attention behind him and she was surprised.
She saw a giant not to mention a blue giant.
Her jaw dropped in disbelief. She slowly closed her eyes and opens it again. Amazing, she thought. This is the first time I saw a… giant. Especially he's... very blue.
"Nee-san?" Blue haired boy called out to her. He was getting worried at her form when he shows Ugo to her. She got wide eyes and gaping mouth which was a bit amusing to him but also at the same time worried.
"Nee-san?" He called out again. But no response.
"Nee-san!"
"How did you make friends with him?"
"Huh?" He was startled at the question.
"How?"
He scratched his head in thought. How did I make friends with Ugo-kun?
"I… didn't make friends with him. I was with him from the moment I was born… And he's my only friend in this dungeon besides books…" he looked down, gripping his pants when he said the last part.
"Oh." Was all she can say. The mood between them was awkward, one who was about to cry and one who is confused.
"Nee-san?"
She was startled when he spoke as she responded.
"Yes?"
"Can you be… my friend?"
Kali blinked at the question. Can he be my friend? Of course he can. Everyone deserves a friend. Her hand went up to her chest as she massages it, feeling a twinge in her heart. Why does my heart hurt?
"Of course you can. I can be your friend." She smiled to him. The boy looked at her in shocked as tears gathered in his eyes before he hugged her.
"Yay! Yay! Finally I made a new friend! Ugo-kun look! I made a friend! YAY!"
The boy rubbed his face in Kali's chest. She hugged in return, strangely feeling relieved. She looked at the giant who had a genuine smile in his face. She returned his smile. She felt the boy was getting heavy when he completely leaned at her. She looked at his face and noticed that he was asleep.
"Oh my, he's asleep."
"Looks like he's actually very tired but he kept denying it."
Kali's heart nearly went to her throat when she heard the giant's booming voice, echoing the room.
"Yeah, you're right." She breathlessly laughs trying to calm herself.
"I'm sorry for not introducing ourselves earlier, my name Ugo, guardian of this place… And his guardian…"
The giant, Ugo, looked at the sleeping boy between them. He turned to her.
"And this is Aladdin, my… nephew…" he slowly said.
Kali stared at Ugo and then Aladdin and to Ugo again. She gaped at the giant.
"You're the uncle of this kid?"
"We're not actually related. His father was my dearest friend…"
Kali encourage the giant to go on.
"But he's gone…"
"Oh." This was twice a day when she said this word. It seems like the father of this kid was nowhere. The giant said that he's gone not dead so there is still possibility to see him again… is it? She wanted to ask the giant regarding about his father but it seems like the giant's sight nowhere, dazed. She restrained herself from asking.
"By the way, my name is…" Kali was the first one to break the silence but she stopped, her mind suddenly gone blank, also her eyes. Now that he said it, what was her name? How did I get here? Where am I? The giant looked worried.
Kali...
Her eyes widen when she heard the familiar voice.
Your name is Kali.
"Kali…" She muttered a familiar feeling rush to her to the familiar name; the giant frowned when he didn't hear the word.
"What was that?" Ugo said, shifting closer to Kali to hear her clearly for the second time. She turned to him and smiled.
"Kali. My name is Kali." She said, as the giant nodded in confirmation. The giant slightly bowed his head.
"Welcome to our 'home'" Ugo said to her, smiling welcoming her to their 'home'. She grinned at him as she returned his bow.
"Thank you, Ugo-san…" Suddenly a random thought came to her.
"By the way, Ugo-san, are you that giant called…" she looked up in thought. "Djinn?"
The giant look at her in surprise. "Djinn? Where did you hear that?"
"From what I can remember, djinn can be obtained in the place called Dungeon. And when you cleared that Dungeon you will be called Dungeon Conqueror and became rich."
Ugo put his hand under his chin, nodding. "I see…"
"And I also heard that if a 'magi' accompanies the Dungeon Conqueror, there will be a possibility that the Conqueror will become a king."
"I see… Thank you for telling me what's happening outside, if it wasn't you I will never know that the others is still doing their job."
"Job?"
The giant suddenly stiffen and broke into sweats. He was twitching. Kali sweat dropped at the sight.
"No… it's err… the job…?" Ugo nervously laughs. Kali saw this unease of him and raised her hands.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." She waved her hands in front of her. Ugo sighs. She continues talking.
"But…" she leaned closer. "Are you really djinn? If you are then this is a dungeon and the boy is the conqueror but if you are not, what are you?"
The blue giant put his hand to his left chest and inclined his hand. "I am, indeed, a djinn but this is not a dungeon, this place is called 'Sacred Palace' and also Aladdin is not the conqueror of this place, he is something else."
Kali smiled at the new discovery as she leaned back and took a deep breathe.
"Thank you." She said to the giant. "Thank you for telling me." She grinned at him, surprising the giant. He was expecting something else from the girl, like forcing him to talk who Aladdin is, but there was nothing. He smiled in relief, looks like the girl is something else.
This made him think. Something else…? Now that he thought about, the girl just fell out of nowhere from above. He looked up at the ceiling, looking something. After squinting his eyes, he saw a figure, a very familiar figure floating far above them but it disappeared instantly. His eyes widen as he turned to the girl. Don't tell me this girl is…
"Kali?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you… remember your past?"
That sentence made her think. Her past? She put her hands under her chin, trying to recall while closer her eyes. Nothing. She concentrated hard, but still nothing. I wonder why? She thought. Why can't I remember my past? She looked at the giant and shook her head.
"I knew it…" Ugo muttered. Looks like this girl is one of them and spawns here. He glanced at Aladdin as he finally realized. Now I see…
"Kali,"
"Yes?"
"Get some sleep. You must have got tired at the events today and you might remember something from your past."
She nodded.
"That seems to be a good idea."
He smiled. "Sleep is always a good idea."
She laughs. "Okay, good night."
"Good night."
At that moment, Ugo suddenly turned red when he remembered that Kali was a girl and he just started a conversation with a girl. He started to get dizzy and fainted.
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Please.
Someone begged.
Save us.
She opened her eyes when she heard it.
Save us.
This begging continued to ring around her head and also the images, gripping her head at the pain.
Images started to swirl around her mind.
'What are these images? Are these memories? Are they mine?' she thought in pain, griping her head as the memories continued seemingly coming faster than before until it suddenly stop, to her relief, but it stopped at the certain image, a woman, smiling, then her mouth move speaking before everything went black.
You don't have to worry...
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A clanging sound startled her awake, she shifted her position and turned around while covering her ears. She immediately fell asleep after a few moments but she startled awake when she heard another clanging sound again. Annoyed, she sat up as she search for the sound and found out that Aladdin was cooking something. She blinked away the blurredness in her eyes before she stretch and standing up, walking over to Aladdin. She stared at fire below the pot and frowned. Where did he get that fire? And… she looked around. Where did he get the food?
"Ne, Kali-nee-san," Aladdin said across her, startling her. "You have a weird rukh," he said as she blinked at the unfamiliar word.
"Rukh?" she asked, confused at the word," what's rukh?" she said as the boy scratch behind his hair, didn't know to explain.
"That flying birds around you?" he explained but it sounded like he was himself than explaining to her, as Kali found herself looking around the room looking for 'birds'.
Birds? I didn't see any— her thought was cut off when something black flew. She looked around in surprise, trying to find it and her eyes found black butterfly-like birds and feel something weird from it as another two flew, her eyes widen, there's more? she thought as she look at the source and was surprised that it came from her hand.
Huh? She thought, dumbstruck that weird butterfly-like birds swarm around her but it's not just her hand it swarmed around her.
"Is this rukh…?" she thought loudly, a sound of confirmation came from the boy as she looks at him and she's surprise again because he was also surrounded butterfly – like birds except its white. She frowned.
"Why is yours white?"
"I don't know. But yours is weird. You got… black and white rukh around you." She looked up and, indeed, she was surrounded by dark and white rukh. This made her frowned again.
"Why?"
"I don't know."
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"Where's Ugo-san?" she asked as Aladdin put out the flame under the pot.
"I don't know, maybe he's sleeping," he said, taking a sip from his cooked soup. Kali stared at the pot.
"Where did you get that food?"
"Huh?"
"Where did you get the food?" Aladdin nervously scratches his cheek as he saw Kali also took a sip from the pot. How should explain this? He saw her scoop up the 'food' and put it on her mouth. He sweats profusely when he saw her eat the 'food'.
"Delicious! What is this?"
"A… a book…" he silently replied. Kali scoop up another portion of 'food'.
"What?"
"The pages of the book!" Kali stopped chewing the food, staring at him with wide eyes. She slowly chewed it and swallowed it down.
"SERIOUSLY?!" she exclaimed at him as Aladdin grimaced at the volume of her voice. He grimly nodded.
"Yes…"
"IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?! THAT WAS DELICIOUS!" her jaw practically dropped on the floor at the revelation. That was a book! A paper! She just ate a paper and it was delicious! Wow!
"Sorry, Kali-nee-san. I should tell you earlier." Aladdin looked down, afraid that she will burst her anger to him. And she supposed to be my first friend… How can a friend do this to her…? To his surprise, when he looked up, he saw a beaming face of his only friend. Huh? Kali grabbed him by his shoulder and started shaking him.
"Aladdin, you're an amazing cooker! You made a paper into delicious food! You're amazing!" She beamed and Aladdin was shocked. Amazing? He's amazing? He can't believe what he heard.
"Where's Ugo-san? He should definitely eat this! I'm sure he'll be amazed!"
"Ugo-kun and I doesn't eat." Kali stopped shaking him.
"What?"
"We don't eat." Kali stared at him for a while before she found her voice again.
"Why the heck are you still alive then?" He looked down.
"I don't know." She frowned at him.
"Did you try asking Ugo-san?" He nodded.
"I did. But he never answered me." She sighs.
"Let's eat the food. It will get cold."
After that, silence happened.
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Kali!
She opened her eyes but she doesn't feel like she's awake.
Kali! Come here!
She looked to her right found a woman with raven black hair and green eyes, as a child came to her, a child with same raven hair, bottom of her hair is blue, with bright blue eyes, hugged her mother as they laugh together before the kid turned to her mother with her bright blue eyes shining.
Are you teaching me another magic? The kid asked the mother smiled as she hummed in confirmation.
You're right! And also I have a feeling you'll be using in the near future.
The mother said, a grin on her face as the kid beamed when she said that.
Really!? Then teach me! Teach me!
The kid's begging had caused the mother to laugh as she put her down and straightened her back with eyes closed. Her fore finger and middle finger was glowing green as she began writing unfamiliar character in the air with efficient movements. When she's done, the characters in glowed and gathers in front her; she murmured some words as the light in front of her disappeared leaving a sword hovering in the air.
Wow! Amazing! How did you do that?
The kid said, clapping at her mother's performance as her mother grinned, pleased that she got praised. She started to teach her how to write the characters, gathering the magic from her hand into the air. Her mother has no trouble teaching the raven-haired kid since she is a fast learner despite her young age.
Okay... How about you try it?
Her mother suggested as young Kali nodded then closed her eyes to concentrate the magic from her fingers as it glowed blue, and she slowly write the characters' in the air. When she's done, the characters glowed and gather in front of her, and then exclaiming the spell.
Gladio Salutis! (1)
The light shines bright causing the mother and daughter had to cover their eyes then disappears and looks, instead of a sword, a dagger with a golden handle hovered in front of her, as Kali smiled at her success then looked at her who looked in dagger disbelief and surprise combined etched on her face.
What's wrong, Mama?
Her mother snapped out of her trance when she heard her daughter's voice as she force a smile.
Ah… It's nothing Kali… Ah! I forgot cook for our dinner…
Her mother said, almost dazed as she walk inside their house to cook for the supper leaving a confused young Kali.
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Blue eyes opened after waking up from her dream as she slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes and looked around the room, Aladdin was nowhere in sight. Since the day she arrived here, he kept insisting that he wants to sleep with her and when she agreed, he immediately push his face between her breast – much to her embarrassment – and in instinct, she hit him – much to Ugo's horror – as she quickly apologize to him, sprouting some words like she would do anything for his forgiveness and he seemingly accept it but in exchange he had sleep every time he sleeps, to her disbelief.
She shook her head to push those thoughts as she gets up to find Aladdin. And also it's been months since she arrived at this 'palace' as Ugo called it. The palace is actually very beautiful on its own way, the wall are painted in a very beautiful and mysterious way which Kali liked, and there's a door, a long, big door with a symbol with eight pointed sides and a vine-like carved around it, and there's also this particular altar that Ugo always sitting on though she asked him what's the altar about, and then he answered:
This is the spot where I take my role as a Guardian in Sacred Palace.
She nodded in understanding but it's still confusing to her. Why is he guarding this? Who are you guarding from? And why did he take this role as a Guardian of Sacred Palace?
Kali stopped when she saw Aladdin practicing magic Ugo as his mentor but this time she notice something weird in Aladdin who fires a fireball to Ugo who dodge at the attack. Aladdin collapsed while breathing heavily as Ugo smiled at him almost pitying him, suddenly the ground shook causing Kali to lose her footing when she heard something falling, she look up at the ceiling and her eyes widen when she saw a piece of boulder falling right straight to Aladdin as she runs towards him while screaming.
"Aladdin! Look out!" she exclaimed as she quickly hugged him, protecting him from the incoming dangerous object. She hugged him tightly, expecting pain, but that pain didn't came to her and she looked up and saw Ugo protecting them.
"Ugo-san…" she said, eyes wide looking at him, Aladdin sniffed at her chest which startling her, wondering why he was crying and also noticed that rukh has swarmed around the room.
"I'd rather die than spend the rest of my life in a place…" she heard him murmur while shaking slightly as she hugged him tightly to comfort him but he pulled away from her and turned to Ugo.
"Ugo-kun! Tell me! What am I?" Aladdin exclaimed to him as pregnant silence came both of them, as Kali looked between Aladdin and Ugo wondering what happened while she was asleep.
"Please forgive me." Ugo answered after the long silence," That is not the question I am allowed to answer." he said in a very strong voice as Kali neared Aladdin who looked down.
"But if you insist, by the power of these holy grounds, I can grant any of your wish." Ugo continued as Kali notice a light behind him while Aladdin looked at him owlishly.
"My king, the greatest of all for those who used magic, let me turn your wish into reality. Boundless wealth, unimaginable magic, and even immortality are yours to take if you desire." Kali blinked to Ugo, surprise that was longest sentence she ever heard from him since she came here and it looks like he was taking a role as a Guardian. "Come; tell me what is it you want is." He continued as Aladdin answered.
"My wish is…"
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Whew. My first ever fanfic. I'm proud at this at this. Err I actually don't know what to say but I hope someone will read this(Gosh I'm too awkward -_-) and also for the next chapter… maybe a week or so… err umm that was all and also once again I hope someone will read this.
P.S. Sorry for my grammar and English mistakes. (^_^')
(1) Gladio Salutis - Sword of Salvation
Edited: 1/29/15
Edited: 3/26/15 – Added lots of scenes, removed some and improved some existing scenes. And the song above is Fei by Irfan.
Still Improving Author,
StupidDove