Chapter 4: Spirits in Heart

"I am Marbas, spirit of fury and lie. I am a master of lighting. Who will be king?"

"My name is Valac, spirit of desire and wellcare. I am the wind in every storm. Who will be king?"

In the course of her life, she has forgotten many sentences. Some introductions, some goodbyes. With the passing years, they faded in her head. Forgetting unneccesary words, which held nothing inside. Moments were more important - the people involved, the scenery, the time. Words were mostly used to cover silence - the one thing she enjoyed the most. Layla wasn't a person who had to talk very much. She was used to silence, enjoying her like other people loved to spend time with their friends.

There were only a couple of sentences in her head that remained. And will probably remain forever.

"It is your fault!"

"Run, don't pay attention to me. You have to survive! Run!"

"It's a pleasure-"

"You've mastered Magoi manipulation? That's amazing."

"No matter what happens, I am by your side."

"Wouldn't you consider to come with me?"

"Will you stay by my side forever?"

"My name is Layla. I am the queen of Sindria."

Moments that stamped her life: The tragedy behind her childhood, the meeting with the man she has grown to love, his proposal and the first time she had to introduce herself as the second reigner of Sindria. These moments needed words - although the actions that were done spoke more than anything else: the pain that damaged her body and soul until all eternity, the moment in which she ran faster than ever before, the first time she felt his hand around her own, the first kiss, the first night, the moment when she felt the golden ring on her finger.

But those moments weren't all. There was more.

Much, much more.

The first time she looked into the spirit's faces, she felt a deep shiver run down her spine. Her breath became hitched, her right hand clutched around the spear, the other trembling. Sweat bent down her face and her knees began to buckle. She just wanted to tear her eyes away, to look into another direction. But she didn't. Once her sight was set on the blue djinn, she couldn't unlock it. It was there. In that moment, nothing else mattered.

They were more than she could ever have imagined. The reality was so different from her fantasy.

She heard stories from Sinbad. She was interested in those djinns, the dungeon capturing and the concept of chosen kings. She looked at his metal vessels, touched the eightpointed stars lightly with her finger tips. It was fascinating, it made her curious.

And on that fateful evening, the fury became to much too bear and the desire for the new and unknown became bigger than her fear. And she set out from the Yambala village to enter that mysterious dungeon. From the first second she put foot into the mysterious bulding, she felt the magoi. Like a river that flood through the walls.

This was the one thing she needed. Power. Independece. The chance to escape. And while she was clearing the dungeon, she never felt this alive. It was true. In a dungeon, everyone was equal. So she didn't need to feel fear from that man. She was free.

And that was the elixir she needed.


"I am Marbas, spirit of fury and lie. I am a master of lighting. Who will be king?"

Maybe it was cheesy, but Marbas was beautiful. She remembered him as clear as yesterday. The last time she has seen him was ten years ago. But the picture of his face didn't leave her mind. He had a serious face, light blue irises and hair pulled into a ponytail. As soon as he left his home, the jewel box standing on an altar, he made himself small. His enormous size stopped intimadting her, making himself as tall as she was. His tail turned into legs and he stood in front of the jewel box.

"Well." His tone didn't betray even one of his emotions. "How may I help you?"

She gulped. "Well...you are the djinn of this dungeon, aren't you?"

"Precisely." His gaze made her heart sing in agony and fear. His gaze became skeptical, when he raised his hand, silently commanding her. "Come forward, young woman."

Her hand held her spear and she silently obliged. With every step she took, her heart being close to bursting, she felt the fear. She felt the power. She felt the chances.

She needed to conquer this djin. At every cost.

She was only two steps away from him, standing still. Refusing to continue, the djinn kept looking at her. He clicked his tongue and bridged the remaining gap. He took her chin, lifting it to meet her eyes. Green looked into light blue. Her skin tingled, the places he touched were filled with an unknown feeling. He looked at the right and left side of her face, skeptical. He let go of her chin, stepping back and crossing his arms in front of his chest. "You want to be my king?"

Was that a test? Would he call this dungeon cleared when she gave him the right answer? What if she gave the wrong answer? Would she die? Be locked in this dungeon forever until someone else clears it? Should she answer his question? Give him another question as her response? Was there any hint he hid behind his words? What was the purpose? Why did he do it? She reached the throne room, didn't she? According to Sinbad, she should have cleared this dungeon, becoming the master of the djinn. Why did he ask her this question? Why didn't he leave her alone?

"Why are you the spirit of fury and lie if you make such a face?"

She couldn't answer his question.

"That isn't the answer I was excepting." His gaze turned from skeptical to dangerous. "Answer my question, young woman. Do you want to be my king?"

"If I answer that question, I won't know the outcome. Promise me something." Her grip around her spear lossened, her shoulders falling down. "If I answer your question, tell me the answer to mine."

"Why should I?" He rose his eyebrows. "You entered this realm by your own will. But you're not my master yet, so I'm not obliged to listen to your commands."

"You said yet. So that means I will become your master."

"That depends on your answer"

"So, if I will become your master, will you answer my quesiton?"

A strange kind of amuesment crossed his face. "I wouldn't have any other choice, won't I?" He shrugged, the amusement becoming clearer on his face. He coughed. "Now, I am asking one last time." His eyes were as sharp and strong as lightning. "You want to be my king?"

She blinked, her eyelashes fluttering. Layla closed her eyes, sinking her head. "Yes.", she whispered. "I want to be your king."

"And why is that?"

Her hand clutched tighter around her spear. "I want my chance to be free. I want power to release myself from my chains."

"And why do you think that you need my power to fulfill your wish?"

"I want to walk straight, into a future where I won't be a burden anymore. I just want to protect those people that are dear to me."

"You mean you want to protect yourself from your own shame and guilt."

The brown-haired girl didn't give an answer to the djinn's words.

"I see the fire in your eyes, feel the ice in your heart. You won't be free from the things that were done to you, harming you in more than one way. Your fury is quiet, based on lies that you believe in. These lies are responsible for this darkness embracing you, nearly drowning you. But the more you believe in lies, the greater your fury will be." His eyelashes were long, nearly touching his cheeks. "That's why I choose you as my king."

Layla raised her head jerkily, as fast as she could. A bright light nestled into the blade of her spear, an eight-pointed star appeared on the silver metal. "My fury is yours, your fury is mine. You are my king. Use my power to your heart's content."

Darkness greeted her, as soon as she closed her eyes. It felt like thunders prickled in her fingertips. Smelling the scent of burned ash and skin, she rested her head against the never-ending void, letting herself fall.

When she woke up, she was greeted by the sight of a sleeping Sinbad, leaning against the tents walls. Snorting softly, his chest rose and fell gently. From the peaks she could get, Layla was capable to assume that it was night.

Maybe everything was a dream; going to the dungeon, facing all dangers, actually seeing thunder and lighting with her own two eyes and finally meeting the djinn. Marbas - spirit of fury and lie. She sighed, putting a hand on her heart. Maybe everything was just a dream...

when suddenly a sharp bolt of pain went through her chest.

Only now she registered that there were bandages tied around her chest; around her arms, legs and her head. Moving her hand to touch her head, she looked left and right. And there it was. The spear that she called her own.

With caution, she looked at the purple haired teenager, slowly raising herself from her lying position. Walking quietly to the other side, she touched her weapon. The weapon that her father gave her.

As soon as she touched it, the tingling returned to her fingertips. She touched the spear, pulling itself to her. Her gaze was locked on the eight-pointed star.

"My power is yours to use, my king."


"My name is Valac, spirit of desire and wellcare. I am the wind in every storm. Who will be king?"

The tingling in her hand remained. Everytime she felt the metal of her blade under her fingertips, she felt the power. The power that Marbas gave her. It was addicting. She couldn't stop. She wanted to feel this thrill. Entering a dungeon and clearing it.

Sinbad was standing next to her. The last time she went off without any warning or message, he was worried sick. At least, that's what he told her. And that was even before their relationship started.

She told him the truth - she wanted to give the dungeon clearing a second try. She wanted to feel the thrill that pumped through her veins, feeling the unexplainable power. She needed it to see, to feel it. He warned her. "The possibility to die in there isn't small, I hope you know that."

"I have Marbas, I mastered him. You won't have to worry."

"Don't even think about it. I will come with you. I don't want to feel the same fear that drove through me the last time you entered one."

The discussion came to an end. And what did they do? As soon as night approached, they sneaked of the village to arrive at the high building that appeared in the middle of nowhere. They were able to get through it together. She used the power of her djinn, just like she announced.

This thrill made her feel alive. More alive than nearly everything else on this world.

The shining eyes of the woman looked down on them. She nearly expected to see a serious and reserved expression, having learned from Marbas. But the opposite was the case - a glittering in her eyes and a smile on her lips made her look likable. Her hair fell down in soft waves, a small breeze letting it play around her high cheek bones. "My, what an interesting couple." She bent down to them. "Two dungeon capturers? Two chosen kings? And with those djinns." A warm smile played on her full lips. "My, I'm impressed." The smile turned to a pout, a finger on her djinn. "But now I have to choose." The green iris bore themselves into their minds. "Tell me - which one of you wants to be chosen?"

She eyed them coyly. "Since you two already know of this whole process, I won't explain it. You both are aware what happens after one of my kind decides to serve a human being." From the single finger, she cupped her chin with her hand. "But my, that is a pretty difficult choice. You both are so fit to be king." Titling her head to the side, she snapped with her finger. "Oh, I know."

From the corner of their eyes, Sinbad and Layla looked at each other.

"You two have to discuss it between yourself. You decide who will become king." Her eyes were glittering. "Start with your discussion, I'll wait until you are finished."

"Seriously?" It baffled her. "We have to decide who conquers this dungeon?"

"Sure thing." The djinn shrugged innocently. "I mean, look at you both. You two already have djinns and despite many others, I trust the judgement the others have made. If djinns like them chose you two, then it will have to mean something. You two are very fitting to be king and do you know how difficult it is to choose something so exquisite?" She clapped her hands, until folding her in front of her legs. "You have the complete free reign. You choose whom I shall choose. Oh, how funny."

A light giggle escaped her mouth.

Sinbad sighed deeply. "Layla." His gaze was serious. "What shall we do?"

"I don't know." Helplessly, she gave a shrug. "I mean, we both are here. And we saved each other. So nobody did more than the other." She sighed. "How shall we decide it?"

"Maybe tossing a coin?"

He gulped and gave a cry out of pain. "Are you kidding me? You know how grave this situation is and you want to toss a coin?" She pulled at his ear. "I know that you have some strange ideas, but this is really the top of everything. The next time I see a couple discussing about getting children, I will propose them throwing a coin. That will definietly help."

She pulled harder at his ear, his cries of pain became louder. "Okay, okay, I get it! Let me go, let me go!"

With a sigh, she released his ear. "Seriously, we need a strategy to decide. I don't want to know how much time is passing while we stand here, discussing about this topic."

"Then propose something." He rubbed his now red ear. "You will have to know how to settle this."

"We should have talked about before we set off."

"You were the one who wanted to get straight away. You barely told me that you wanted to go a dungeon and whoops, we're here. And as soon as we entered it, we had to face tornados."

"Marbas was a great help after all. Trust me on this." She crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Trust me the next time."

"Alright, alright." He straightened his back. "Back to the question: what shall we do?" He looked at her skeptical, already stepping back. "Maybe a fight?"

He escaped her catching arms. "Of course. Do you want us to get hurt after we managed to get through this thing? Great idea." She lowered her gaze. "You know something? I step back. The djinn is yours to take."

"What?" He rose his eyes to meet her green, golden sparkling in surprise. "Are you really sure? You can take it as well."

"Sorry to interrupt." Valac made herself present. "But you both have to agree on your decision. You just can't say that the other will have it. That's against the rules."

"Which rules?"

"The rules I just invented."

A deep groan left the woman's mouth. "My decision is set, Sinbad. Become king and master of this djinn."

"Layla..." His eyes were filled with concern. "Are you really sure? I mean, I'm happy and honored that you give me this chance but...don't you want to think about this one more time?"

Her serious expression faded. Instead of the frown and pressed lips, there was a relaxed expression on her features. A smile was present on her lips - and it took his breath away. "Sinbad." She walked forward, taking his hand and pressing it against her chest. "You will change the world. But in order to change it, you need power. Much power, since changing the world isn't such an easy task." The irony was strong within this one. "We both have our dreams. But shall I tell you something?"

He only nodded.

"To make my dream come true, I already have everything I need. I have Marbas, who is granting me so much power - enough power to free myself from my own chains and hardships."

His face became darker.

"I don't want much. I just want to live freely without any burden on my back. I want to know that I will stop being a burden. And..." She suddenly blushed, holding a hand in front of her mouth. "My dreams are so little in comparison to yours."

"You know, if you eat a piece of the chesse, you have to eat the rest as well."

"What is that supposed to mean?!" She spat at the djinn. A smile was present on her lips. "You started to give us your heart. Bring it to an end." The djinn looked at her sweetly. "What is your dream?"

She hissed, crossing her arms in front of her chest. She wasn't sure why, but she could hear Marbas giggling in her ear. "Okay, okay. To be honest..." The words were like chewy meat. "My only wish is to settle down, marry a good man and get a couple of children. I don't want more."

Silence erupted after her words. When she looked into her lover's face, the blush on her face only became deeper. His expression was baffled and surprised. She looked away, instead keeping her gaze on the djinn. "So, we have this settled. Could you just accept Sinbad as your master?"

Valac was smiling down on her. Her expression was so filled with warmth and love, that she couldn't help but feel it - seeing the look a mother would give her child.

Her chest tightenes at the thought.

"Sorry, my sweet king, I can't do it."

A pause. Two pauses. ... One thousand pauses.

"What?!" Her eyes widened, her expression darkened, her voice furious. "Are you kidding me? I just packed out, told him things I've wanted to keep for myself, just to convince him to take you as his djinn, embarassing myself more than just a little and now you're telling me you won't do it? Are you kidding me? You can't mean this serious!"

"Of course I do." The grin was as bright as light. "I choose you as my king."

One thousand and one pauses. One thousand and two pauses...two thousand pauses.

"What?!"

"You seem to forget that I also have a voice in this matter. I decide who wil become my king." She titled her head. "And I decided that it will be you."

"But what is with the rules? You've said it is our decision. Keep your word!"

"I am a woman, sweetheart. We have the tendency to change our minds from one second to the next." She clapped her hands like a game. "My decision won't be changed."

"But why?" She stepped furiously on the ground. "Sinbad is a better candidate than I am. He should be the one!"

Her heart beat became agitated. She felt so ashamed. She has just revealed what her dream was to him and now she did all this for nothing. Why did this djinn want her anyway? She was satisfied with Marbas, the spirit of fury and lie.

She wasn't worthy to be the master of the spirit of desire and wellcare. That was absolutely certain.

"Layla..." Suddenly, warm hands lay on her shoulder. She heard his voice behind her, slowly crawling in her ear. And - gods be damn - his voice always had this soothing effect on her. Her heart beat became calmer. "Calm down."

"But-" She wanted to move, but she was caged in his arms. His grip around her shoulders kept her locked in his embrace. She wanted to say something, but no words escaped her mouth.

"It's alright. If she wants you, then so be it." He pressed his cheek against hers. "I'm not the king she's looking for."

It became too much. Too much to bear, too much to hear, too much to feel. It wasn't right what he's saying. Those were lies. She wasn't suit to be a king. The idea of her ruling about anything? IT was ridiculous. She wasn't suited to be one. But Sinbad was.

"It is wrong of you to choose me, Valac."

"And what makes you think that?"

She breathed deeply in and out. "I am not suited to be your master. I am not worthy to be the master of such a djinn as you are."

"Really?" The beautiful woman began to pout. "Then why can you be the king's candidate for Marbas and not for me?"

Sinbad's arms around her tightened. She wanted to get out, but she couldn't. Layla look deeply into her eyes. "You are the spirit of desire and wellcare. Marbas is the spirit of fury and lie. I have no problems that he is my djinn and I his king vessel, because we share the same feelings and core." Her voice became quieter. "My life is made out of fury. My whole life, there is an eternal wrath inside of me. Darkness is my best friend, I've gotten used to it. I live a lie - everytime I look into the sky, I'm wondering why I don't want run. If I run, I could escape this whole misery - and even if I will never be able to put it aside, until that man dies." Her right hand lay on Sinbads arm, her other clutched her spear tighter. "This consists of the possibillity that some things will change. But they will never - I am stuck in this whole thing and I will never get out. I'm even lying to myself that I've wanted Marbas power to get out of this, but a djinn grants great strength - but not enough to free me." A bitter smile climbed upon her lips. "I feel no desire. The only thing I want is survival. I want to survive my time until I know that death approaches and knocks at his door, so my chains will be bursted and I can finally be free. But until then, I have to stuck with this." She lowered her face, pressing her forehead against the warm skin of her lover. "That's why Sin is a better candidate than me. He will change the world - it will take years to grant this dream, but I know that my life is at its end. My life will begin as soon as I'm free." She ignored the tears in her eyes. "And that will take some time until that happens."

Although she didn't want to, silent tears ran down her face. She could feel the silent treating of the djinn in front of her. A soft breath was taken, until Sinbad released Layla from his grip. She couldn't comprehend it fast enough - only half a second later, she could feel Valac's finger on her chin, slowly raising her face. "My dear king, don't cry. Crying doesn't suit such a wonderful girl as you are."

She made herself smaller, turning her size into one of human's imagination. She wiped her tears away, pressing her forehead against the girl's. "Listen to me, Layla." Her eyes widened, looking into shining green eyes. "Everything you said proves me right - you shall be my king. And before you say anything else, let me explain: desire and wellcare are my attributes, that's true. But shall I tell you something?" Her eyelashes fluttered. "They are attributes that make humans human. Without them, you wouldn't know what it means to support each other. And a human being without any dreams doesn't exist - without desire, there are no dreams, no wishes, no hopes. You told me your dream and I could see that you've wanted the best for your lover. You represent those two things." Her smile was so bright, nearly blinding her. "My queen."

With her fingers, she tipped at the golden necklace around her throath, a bright light emitting from the metal. "I am yours, my queen. My desire is yours, your desire is mine. You are my queen. Use my power to your heart's content."

The beautiful woman disappeared and with her disapperance, a strong wind erupted. Layla turned around, hugging Sinbad as fast as she could. The wind became stronger with every passing seconds, but when she felt his arms around her waist, she wasn't scared. She was at bliss.

She heard the wind quietly speaking with her.

"My power is yours to use, my queen."


Marbas and Valac. Valac and Marbas.

When she thought about them, she could come to one idea. She was happy with them. They became her best friends. Although it was quiet strange to call a djinn a friend. But she couldn't comprehend it otherwise.

They gave her strength. They gave her everything she ever needed. When she felt lonely, she lay her right hand on the golden necklace, feeling a light breeze over her skin and her right hand on her spear, sending a tingling feeling into her fingertips. She couldn't hear their voices. But Layla could feel them.

She couldn't imagine that any other king vessel would have such a deep connection to her djinns like she did. They were her darkness and her light. Everytime she wore the necklace and held her spear, she was at ease. She knew that they would protect her.

They were her spirits. The spirits in her heart.

And that will never change.


The next one is coming. And it didn't take me three months. Whoop, whoop.

But I still don't lose the Feeling that Sinbad is extremely OOC. Am I imagining things or is my Feeling right?

Besides that, I have a question for you: would you be interested in introducing some other OC's? Since Sinbad has seven household members, I've been thinking about giving Layla two. And if I have those two, I would let her meet Ren Kouen, who is accompanied by another OC of mine. Would you be interested in such things? If you could tell me, I would be very grateful.

I just hope that everything is understandable within this plot. It was something that came to me during one morning and I've tried to Show Layla's ambivalence by creating two such different djinns. Was that okay?

And one last question: for the sixth chapter, many People wished for Sinbad's relationship with his son Erol. And I ask you if you were interested in the other side, so Layla's relationship with her son. Would you be interested in this?

So, enough questions, These are the next choices for the seventh chapter:

1. Sinbad's proposal and upcoming years

2. Layla's relationship with her son, Erol

3. Sinbad's and Layla's announcement about their relationship with the Yamabalas present

The decision between romance, Drama?, and Comedy. I'm looking Forward to the result.

The battle between those two is probably coming upcoming week or one after that.

Summer vacation has started - at least in my Country. What are your plans for summer?