Disclaimer: I do not own Magi

Chapter 3

Althea watched Sinbad look around in excitement as Althea checked their supplies. Her ears perked up as she saw a few of the Rukh, "Sin… do you hear it?" she asked.

Sinbad listened closer and nodded, "What's that? There' a noise up ahead." He said before looking at Althea, "Let's go see." Althea ran behind Sinbad and followed him throw the hallway as they came to the opening. They paused as shock hit their faces before grins appeared.

"Dragons?!" gaped Althea, "There's dragons here?"

They were in a cavern that was high above them were dragons were flying everywhere with hot lava pouring down like waterfalls.

"A-Amazing…." Said Sinbad before he grabbed Althea's hand. "It's amazing, Althea!"

Althea grinned and had a small blush, before she nodded. "Yeah!"

"A land that we've never seen before. Strange new creatures…and the air is damp and sultry…I've never seen this before!" said Sinbad as the two carefully walked around. "So this is a dungeon!"

Althea smiled at him before she turned serious, "Careful Sin. We are still in a dungeon so let's not have our guards down-" said Althea before a scream cut her off.

"GYAAAAAAH!"

Sinbad and Althea snapped their heads to the voice as they ran over. The two saw dragons easily taking over the soldiers of Partevia and quickly there was only Commander Dragul. "Althea!" yelled Sinbad as he took off.

"Right!" yelled Althea as the two took off. Althea drew her swords as she jumped, flying in the air as she distracted the dragons, cutting their wings off. She came close to being mauled as she thrust her sword in the jaw as it went limp. Althea shuddered before she pulled away and Sin called out to her, Dragul following.

Althea stabbed a dragon and use it's body before throwing it at the other dragons, taking off. The three found a crevice as they slid down the walls. "Phew….we should be safe in this hole." Said Sin, "You okay?" he asked Althea.

Althea nodded and cleaned her sword, before sheathing it. Sin looked at Dragul, "However why was your until ahead of me in the dungeon? We've entered the dungeon first…these things sure are weird." Said Sinbad

Althea took a sip of water and handed the pouch to Sin who shook his head. Dragul wiped his mouth before glaring at Sinbad and Althea, "You're the kid from earlier! Why did you save me?" he demanded.

Althea just stared at him as Sin was confused, "Huh?"

"I'm a military officer and you're the famed expatriate of this country. There's no reason for you..to go and save me!" yelled Dragul, pointing at Sinbad and Althea. The girl glowered at him as Sin grabbed her wrist, to stop her.

"I don't care about reasons. There's no helping it, now that we've saved you." Said Sinbad after sighing, "Just saying, but with that deathly pale face and all the trembling it seems like you're the one who's a kid."

Althea glanced at Dragul as he clenched his teeth and fist, "I'm a kid, you say…? How rude! Very well!" he yelled, pointing at Sinbad, "You may be just a commonor, but I'll enlighten you! Remember this well! My name that holds an honorable lineage. The youngest son of the Dragul family, a clan of Partevian generals. Son of the General Draguliel Hendrius Nodomis Pertegomidus. Commander of the western military unit, I am Dragul nol Henrius, govius mendias Partenuvonomias Dumid os Kartanon."

Althea sweat dropped, 'Too long. I lost it after Draguliel Hendrius No- wait what?' Althea sighed, 'I should be thankful my parents and grandparents did give me a birth name that insanely long'

Sinbad scratched the back of his head, "Uh, too long. I'll just shorten it to Drakon."

"…What?" asked Dragul as Althea smirked.

"From no own, you'll be Drakon."

Dragul's face twitched as both Sinbad and Drakon begun to bicker with each other. Althea just watched them, not believing they were acting like this in a Dungeon. She was about to stop them but then heard a loud roar and the place around them started to shake.
The two boys noticed this as Sinbad grabbed Althea's arm, pulling her closer into the hole. Right above them, was a giant dragon as Sinbad spoke, "Somehow…"

"This isn't the time to be playing around." Said Drakon. The Giant Dragon roared as Althea covered her ears, slightly more susceptible to noise. The three of them peered over the hole and Althea couldn't help smile. She saw several of the dragons chitter, chatter, and chirp at the giant dragon as the giant dragon seemed to be enjoying it.

"It's huge." Said Drakon.

"Yeah, he's like the King of Dragons." Said Sinbad.

Althea saw a smaller dragon crawling forward to the larger dragon as it's wings hadn't developed yet. The girl paled and gripped Sinbad's arm. "Al…." Sinbad widened his eyes as Althea closed her eyes just as the giant dragon squished the smaller dragon. Sinbad covered Althea's ears and eyes as Sinbad spoke, "That thing .It just killed and ate someone it doesn't like."

"Yeah, it seems like a cruel monster." Agreed Drakon.

"As would be expected from the King of Dragons. Just like a human King." Said Sinbad, as he joked. Althea opened her eyes and felt a bit sick as Drakon glared at Sinbad, "Watch your tongue, commoner."

"Sin, look." Said Althea, shocking Drakon as he just realized her presence. Sinbad looked and saw a giant door behind the dragon. "There's only one door in this entire room and it's guarded by that giant dragon."

"Looks like we have no choice but to deal with it." Said Sinbad.

Althea nodded, "This is a place where everyone put his life on the line. We're being tested in this dungeon."

Drakon stood up, "Hey commoner. I have a good idea." Said Drakon, "You two, can be my shield." Althea glared at Drakon as Sinbad yelled, "Huh?"

"In short this is the situation. Before my eyes is a doro, guarded by a giant dragon. But it's impossible to defeat such a monster. So the goal isn't to defeat it. In that case, a diversion is needed that is to say, I'm being tested whether I have the resolution to abandon someone as a decoy or not."

Althea narrowed her eyes as a voice entered her head, 'Fool…'Althea sighed in her head, 'Don't remind me. I've died how many times and how many idiots did I have to endure with?'

"-you often have to leave failed soldiers behind." Said Drakon.

"Hey aren't you too self-serving?" asked Sinbad.

Drakon looked at him, "I'm making you my direct subordinate, despite you being an expatriate. Be honored. Don't worry! You will be rewarded for your glorious death. Your family will be happy as well."

Althea stood up as Sin did the same, "Cut that shit out. That's why I hate militaristic block heads."

Althea spoke next, "If you're so willing to let people die, how about you sacrifice yourself?" she asked.
Drakon glared at her, "What?"

"You heard me." Said Althea, "It doesn't matter to us whether or not we are rewarded. Death is death. That's it. As far as I'm concern, the Partevia Empire has sacrificed over 10,000 men for this one dungeon. Each person is worth about a hill of gold in their entire lifetime. You think money is the issue? You have to be a stuck up idiot to believe that."

"What? How dare you! You dare to defy your commanding officer's order? By all rights, a commoner like you should've be executed when he became an expatriate and you for talking back!"

Drakon found himself on his back with a sword pointing on his neck as Sinbad glared at him, "Quit it, with that expatriate rubbish! That's enough! Do you have any idea that how many thousands of people died because of militaristic blockheads like you? I will not accept working for someone like this!"

Althea glanced at Sinbad, "We could kill him here."

Sinbad looked at her and Drakon widened his eyes, "You wouldn't dare-"

Althea glanced at him, tilting her head. "I would. So far, you've been talking shit about us while you're being a stuck up brat. Not a few moments before, you're legs were shaking when you were being attacked by baby dragons and we came to save you. So in fairness, you owe us your life and cooperation. Also not to mention," she said taking a deep breath and Drakon widened his eyes as he felt a chill on his spine. The black rukh surrounded her as she grinned, "This is a dungeon. Thousands of soldiers died in her. No one would find it strange if you died here. After all, you're just another stupid Partevian soldier in the end."

"Al… enough. Let him go." Said Sinbad.

Althea prodded Drakon's neck, almost denying it but she came an annoyed sound before sheathing her sword. Drakon got up and glowered at them. "Hmph, you're a damn expatriate after all. I won't rely on a low commoner like you. I'll do it myself."

Drakon left as Althea looked at Sinbad, sitting on her legs. "Sin?"

Sinbad was silent before he spoke, "It's been a while since I was called an expatriate. How unpleasant." He whispered at the end. Althea stared at him before holding out her hand in comfort. Sinbad stared at the outstretched hand before he took it and squeezed it. Suddenly, Sinbad snapped his head up and stood up, taking Althea onto her feet.

"Sinbad?" she asked.

Sinbad grinned at her, "Come on Althea. We got a dragon to defeat."

Althea just stared at him before she nodded, following Sinbad. They had gotten to a high area as they saw Drakon about to be killed again. The two launched themselves at the dragon as they yelled, drawing their swords. Sinbad attacked the dragon from the top as Althea did the same. Althea slashed her swords against the tough scales of the dragon as Sinbad managed to hit in the eyes. "Althea!" yelled Sinbad as Althea held onto the dragon, as it was thrashing around.

"I'm fine! Save that stupid idiot!" she yelled, "Oh my god-" she screamed as the dragon reared it's head while Althea held on for dear life. She saw it's jaw opening as Althea jumped off, just as the dragon let out a blast of fire and a geyser of water erupted right in front of between it and Sinbad.

Althea was about to collide on the ground but Sinbad caught her easily as he grinned, "Nice distraction."

Althea slapped his head as he laughed a bit before he took her to the hidden stairs. "Who are you anyway?!" yelled Drakon.

Sinbad looked Althea who was on her own feet but shrugged. Sinbad got up and smirked, "Who am I you ask? Are you so scared that you can't think straight?" he sighed, "I am me! Sinbad the sailor!"