"Be safe there Ion-chan. There's no telling what a dungeon could do!" Kougyoku told the young girl.

"Thanks Kougyoku." She thanked the girl.

"It's going to get a bit lonely without everyone here…" Kougyoku sniffed.

"I'm going to get back soon. It's not like I'll die in there." Ion chided.

"I guess so…"

"Come on Ion-san! It's about time!" Aladdin called from the ship.

"I'm coming!" Ion called back and she soon turned to Kougyoku. "See you later!"

With that, she head into the ship and left Sindria.

"Hey hey, Ion. Wanna ride on the dolphin?" Pisti asked as she called three dolphins towards them. Ion looked rather nervous.

"Are you sure…?"

"No worries Ion! As long as I had my flute, they're okay!" Pisti comforted. Ion looked back at one of the dolphin. Slightly relaxing her hands. "If you say so…"

With that she rode on one of the dolphins with Aladdin and Alibaba riding the other two.

With a blow of the flute, the dolphins started to swim towards the waves.

"WAAAHHHH!" Ion screamed in panic as the dolphin swam fast. She regained her balance on the dolphin and enjoyed surfing around the southern seas.

"Ion-san! Let's race!" Aladdin called as he and the dolphin carrying him went on further. Ion just laughed lightly.

She patted the dolphin as it swam across the seas to catch up with Aladdin and Alibaba.

They returned to the ship a little later. Their hair and head completely soaked from sea water.

The soldiers with them handed towels to dry themselves up.

"That was fun!" Aladdin commented as he dried his hair. Alibaba agreed with him while Ion only nodded in the name of the gesture as she is drying up her hair with the towel.

The southern seas are full of life. Many sea creatures and those that she could never find around the usual sea route to anywhere. 'They would really like this place…'

"I'm sorry to interrupt, lunch is ready." Hakuryuu called, causing all of them to turn to the young prince carrying a plate full of food. And damn, they're mouth watering.

"Whoa! They taste good!" Alibaba and Aladdin praised him.

"To make one of our guest cook; more less; a prince!" A soldier said flabbergasted. Hakuryuu reassured them that it's fine.

Ion took a bite of the food he made before she immediately praised. "They taste good! Who taught you how to cook this good?"

"Ah yes… my sister taught me that I should provide for my own necessities as much as possible."

"Wow… your sister is strict towards her little brother." Pisti added in.

"Yes. She's like a mother to me."

"I see. And it's thanks to her that you've become such a reliable boy. You'll be a perfect husband in the future!"

"That's right. Hakuryuu is so reliable even though he's young." Alibaba praised. Though it's muffled as he was eating as he talked and Aladdin did the same.

"Uh… you should learn a little from him, okay?" Pisti sweat dropped at their behavior while Hakuryuu simply thanked them for liking it.

Ion simply smiled as she ate.

"Hello Alibaba. We've been waiting for you." A man greeted the group as they landed on the island.

"Brother Sahbmad! Brother Ahbmad!" Alibaba called in surprise. Ion wondered as they didn't look alike before an idea clicked.

'They must be half siblings.'

She didn't pry as Alibaba talked with his brother's but then noticed the familiar letters in red amongst their clothing.

"…Torran?" Ion wondered out loud.

Sahbmad noticed and explained to her. "Ah, yes. This is an island of the Torran tribe."

"Torran tribe?"

The rest of the walk was spent with Alibaba's brothers explaining that the island had been an area unclaimed and a place where the Torran tribe had lived.

Ion simply looked at the sights around her. She was familiar with Torran since she had been reading about them from libraries she had come across to.

The sight of the citizen's and the children's smile had been peaceful.

She was approached by a child who offered her a flower wreath. She decided to take the chance to use her own knowledge of the Torran tongue.

"Is this for me?" The child is surprised as she spoke in Torran.

"Onee-chan, you speak Torran?"

"Not really. I just learned a bit in my spare time. I hope I didn't mispronounce anything."

"No, you're actually speaking well!"

"You think so? I think I still had more to learn of the Torran language."

"Ah! That's not for free! You had to pay!" Sahbmad called out to her and she turned to see that Hakuryuu and Aladdin also had the same predicament.

True to his words, she saw the child looking somehow expectant at her.

"Hmm…" She hummed and rummaged her bag. Taking out what seems to be like a small bag. She searched through and pulled out an apple.

"What's this?"

"It's an apple. Do you have them around here?"

"No."

"Then you can take it. It's not really enough as a payment but it's the best that I could give for now."

Their eyes widened. "Thank you!" They then ran ahead to their parents after giving the flower wreath to her.

Ahbmad approached her only to find that it had been resolved. "What did you do?" He asked.

"I just simply gave something that the Torran's didn't have around here. It's not much though." She shrugged.

"I see…"

"Sometimes, you had to manage with what you can do right now, can't you?"

"I suppose… you had a point miss."

They soon went on towards the tribe chief's hut.

A day after…

Since the chief asked them to rest before they get to enter Zagan, they obliged.

Now they are up at the small boat they prepared towards Zagan.

Ion simply marveled at the beauty of the reefs.

They must have had a good sense of location to actually be able to see the reefs almost every day.

Since they're both girls, Ion and Morgiana shared the same boat.

"Aren't the waters here pretty Morgiana?" She inquired.

"Ah yes…"

"I never really get to see a reef once. The other parts of the seas didn't have clear water like this island."

"You've been to the other parts of the world, Ion?"

"Hm…" She hummed in thought before she answered. "It's more like I was always with Fai whenever I travel."

"With Fai-san, Really?"

"I was the youngest among the group so I didn't have the freedom to travel on my own. The others are worrywarts since I'm the youngest." Ion nervously laughed at the last sentence. She looked at Morgiana and gave her a smile.

"I admire you Morgiana."

This caused the said girl to blush.

"You're about my age yet you're much stronger and you got the freedom to travel."

"Freedom…?"

"Yes."

"No… I think you're admirable yourself too Ion."

"Me?"

"Yes. You were all on your own. You lost your family and also your memories of your homeland, but you had friends to support you. Besides that, you managed to relearn something that your people can do, and I find that amazing. You're also a strong person too."

"…I see. Thank you Morgiana."

"We've arrived!" The young man guiding them announced. They left the boat and stayed a distance away from the dungeon.

In a distance, Ion heard of Hakuryuu telling the girl with them in the lines of "Please don't follow us." She's not sure what they were talking about but she would likely find out once they got into the dungeon.

"Ion, not wanting to pry but why are there two swords with you?" Alibaba asked as he looked at her putting up what seems like a belt so she could hold her sword at her waist.

"Just a safety measure Alibaba-san. Are we set?"

"We're all set."

And so they were all pulled into Zagan.

"Are you sure with trusting Ion all by herself? Not that I doubt her powers, but-"

"I know Sharrkan, she's just fifteen and I get your point." Fai stopped him from talking. He added. "Morgiana would have been okay because she's a Fanalis but Ion as a spell fencer had the side effect of her magoi being drained if she didn't change her spells frequently."

"Yeah, I really don't understand why you would have her accompany them instead of going with them." Pisti added her opinion.

Fai just chuckled. "I trust Ion's abilities. She's a tough girl."

"That still didn't convince me much brother."

"Spartos, I was the one to train her with the sword before she started to actually do spell fencing. And I've been watching her growing as a warrior from start. So this time, I'm not going to see what she does. I'm going to hear how she fares after she got out of the dungeon."

Fai immediately added. "You can't be together with them all the time. As a teacher, give them a chance to use what they learn on their own. There are times where you trust that you had taught them so much for them to stand up on their own, no?"

"You do have a point…"

"Besides…" Fai trailed before he stated. "Ion's tougher than she looks."

Ion woke up with a groan to find that she's all on her own.

"Did the djinn separate me from the others on purpose…? Oh bother." Ion sighed. She looked around and saw that her bag is with her, all her items intact.

"I guess I should start moving…" She muttered as she took her bag and moved along.

As she walked around the dungeon, she saw the creatures of Zagan. Oddly, many of them are docile.

But you can never know when you're in a dungeon.

Every dungeon is different according to the djinn so there's no telling what would happen next at all.

It had been from the warnings of Kougyoku and her experience of dungeon diving with her friends that she had been wary.

Despite the fact that they are rather docile, she can't let her guard down at all.

And so she marched on with a hand holding onto a hilt of her two swords.

But as she walked, she had a feeling that something, or rather, someone, is following her.

So as she walked a few more steps, she stopped and called.

"Whoever you are, whatever you are, come out."

And from one of the walls of the dungeon, she saw a girl coming out of the creaks of the wall.

Her eyes widened; it was the girl that was with Hakuryuu earlier.

"Why are you here?" She asked, switching to Torran.

She was surprised to hear her talking in Torran. But nevertheless, answered.

"I… I want to avenge the monster that took my parents…"

"You know the dangers, yet you still entered even though one of us warned you?"

She only gave Ion a look of determination.

Ion knows that she isn't planning to turn back at all. She exhaled a sigh at her response.

"Follow me." She beckoned.

The girl gave her a surprised look. She thought that Ion would have refused.

"I was once told that eyes are the windows of the soul, I know that whatever I say might not change your mind. Your eye says it all."

Ion paused before she continued. "I can also see that you don't have any experience with using weapons so I suggest you stay behind me instead of doing anything too drastic or endangering."

"Y- Yes!"

"Alright, I'm Ion. You are?"

"My name is Tiare."

Ion and Tiare had walked on for some time.

Tiare would often attack some of the creatures as they seem dangerous and about to eat her but Ion managed to stop her from doing anything too drastic.

None of the creatures they met are thinking of attacking them at all.

"Harharl Rasas!"

She heard a magic chant from nearby.

"Tiare, stay behind me."

"Yes…"

Both of them walked together and avoided the array of attacks of the creatures attacking Aladdin until they all ran out.

"That was close." She muttered. Once the others are relaxed, she took Tiare's hand and went over to them.

"Hey!"

Aladdin was the first to notice her. "Ion-san! You're okay!"

"And I see that you guys are too." She said. She turned her gaze to Hakuryuu who was surprised at seeing the young girl with her.

"I know what you're about to say Hakuryuu-san. I only caught a snip of what you said before we got dragged into the dungeon, but… I think you're better than this Hakuryuu."

His eyes widened. She cut him off before he could say anything.

"I know you wanted her to be safe of the dangers, but the fact that she followed us even after you warned her just shows how determined she is."

"Ion has a point." Morgiana spoke up.

"Then she will be coming with us, right?" Aladdin wondered and looked at Hakuryuu.

Seeing his hesitation, Ion told him "I told her to stay behind us all the time so she won't be getting in our way if that's what you're worried of."

Hakuryuu bit his lip before he resigned. "Alright Ion-dono…"

"Well, let's move on!" Aladdin cheered. But that was stopped with another voice telling them

"I'm afraid I cannot let you do that."

They turned to see a large blue skinned man with a mask comforting the creatures earlier.

"Are you alright, Francois? Are you hurt Marianne? There, there…"

The size had been an indicator to who it was. "That's… Zagan"

"Eh?"

At that moment, Zagan turned towards them and snap his fingers.

"Welcome to my stylish dungeon! I am Zagan, The 61st Djinn!"

Zagan noticed Aladdin and respectfully called him a Magi. Then, he noticed Ion and used his magic on her. Her legs trapped in vines and pulled her down to the ground.

"WAAH!"

The last thing she heard before she found herself in another section of the dungeon all by herself; were her friends calling out to her.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You'd think that all these years of me leaving Sasan, I'll just relax and travel?"

"Well-"

"Truth to be told, we're not just traveling, we also spend our time with improving our own skills. Whether in djinn equip, magic, or weapons."

"You've been mentioning your friends for a while. But what kind of people are they?"

"That'll be something you'll find out when you finally meet them Pisti."

"You called in a bad time Zaire." Ion sighed as she felt a sound vibrating through the dimensional bell she kept at the pocket of her bag.

"How was I supposed to know that you're inside a dungeon?"

She heard Zaire talking through the bell.

She didn't tell the true reason of why the bell is there with the crystal to Yamuraiha, the bell near to the crystal was infused with the sound rukh and it had been a voice transmitter in case anyone contacted the users of the bell so they could hear the other loud and clear.

The downside is that you can't see their appearance but it doesn't matter. There are times where they'd rather stay anonymous towards those who heard.

"Sorry for not telling you then."

"Whatever, we're going to reach Sindria in a week or so."

"Why not tell that to Fai?"

"It'll spoil the fun. You know how he's like."

Ion giggled. "I suppose. I'll note that."

"Yeah, you better Ion!"

With a single jingle she made to the bell, Zaire's voice had gone unheard. Putting the bell back to the pocket and advanced.

She was grateful for one that the creatures around didn't attack her but she was wary to why Zagan sent her to this area.

"Why send me to an area where there are no challenges…?" She wondered out loud.

"You should be grateful young lady." Zagan appeared in front of her out of nowhere.

"Do you like to make things unexpected?" She asked.

"Of course, this is my fashionable dungeon after all~."

Ion gave the Djinn an incredulous look before she asked the point. "Why bring me to an area with no challenge?"

The Djinn's demeanor changed as he answered. "I don't want to deal with magicians; your rukh's aren't matching."

"So I have heard from a certain Djinn I met a long time ago." She shrugged.

"Oh? May I inquire who?"

"I think not. You probably won't like what I tell you anyways."

"Not only you're a magician, you're a cryptic one to the boot." His expression showed dissatisfaction at the lack of answer.

"There are things better left unsaid, no? At least that could keep the thrill of a surprise." Ion smiled at the Djinn.

"What a cheeky magician."

"You're not any better, masked weirdo."

"Hey! I'll have you know that my fashion sense is top to the boot!"

Ion giggled at his response. "Well, I suppose I should get going to see how they do."

"Are you sure with that? They might not make through you know?"

"Nah, I see how they did and I believe that they could make it. Someone told me, that all it takes for a success is faith." Ion walked past the Djinn, turning to wave at him. "See you at the treasury then."

With that, she walked on to where Aladdin and the others were. But the presence of the black rukh around the corner had caused her to move on further, hoping that they're at least alright.

"That organization was seen near Zagan?"

"Not exactly seen, but Sin could feel their presence."

"I hope nothing bad happened."

"But what if they're actually after Aladdin? Or even Alibaba?"

"Oh no…"

"I don't think I'd like what they wanted to do."

"Say Jafar, do you mind if I come along?"

"We don't actually, but why?"

"Just to be safe."

"…How did they even manage to get here?" Ion's breath hitched as she saw the black rukh surrounding the three people in front of her who were attacking Aladdin, Alibaba, and Hakuryuu.

Al thamen.

The black rukh fluttering near them had brought unpleasant memories to some of those she had met in the past nine years.

She didn't want to think of what they did to those people.

But the one thing she hated them for, is the fact that they had broken them.

In the worst way possible.

And that was one thing she can never forgive about Al thamen.

She can list a fair share of their deeds to those she had met.

It's enough to fuel the anguish she gets when she saw the black rukh.

"Asfal!" She chanted the wind magic and attacked the three. Causing them to promptly jump away from the impact as the ground where they formerly stood had scars from the wind magic.

"Ion!" Alibaba called in recognition.

"Oh? We have another pest." The masked man among the three spoke, he then looked at the sword which had been applied with the wind spell she casted.

"So you survived after all." He clicked his tongue.

"What?"

"I thought it's obvious, young spell fencer?"

Ion flinched at the mention of "Spell fencer". Did they know something of her kin?

"Ion-san?" Aladdin inquired at her state.

"…I suppose we all had a reason to settle our scores with you after all…" She murmured.

"How do you know of Al thamen Fai?"

"Let's say… we had a bad run in with their attempts in making several people we met to fall in depravity."

"That doesn't sound convincing."

"It's up to you to be convinced with our motives or to not believe us. But one thing that we wanted to let you know is, we certainly don't plan in making anyone from the seven seas alliance, or any army with metal vessel's our enemy."

"Do you mean it?"

"I wouldn't be telling you how we knew of Al thamen if I didn't. Besides, I could have killed you guys while you let your guard down if we were part of Al thamen days ago."

The three generals are silent at the last sentence. It was the truth. They could have attacked them on the spot while playing as a wolf in a sheep's clothing.

"I believe Ion would be a help to fighting the ones inside the dungeon."

"Why do you think so?"

"Do you know why Ion brought two swords with her instead of one?"

"In case her sword gets broken?"

"Nice guess Yamuraiha, but it's not."

"No way…"

"Yes Sharrkan. It's as you think."

"Harharl!" She pulled the second sword off its sheath, now holding the swords in each hand and spun around.

A strong flare formed as she spun and damaged her opponents.

Aladdin stared at the red rukh fluttering and spinning violently around the two swords and following her command. 'What's wrong with Ion-san? It's different from what Ion-san usually showed…'

Hakuryuu, however, looked at the scene before him in surprise. "The twin sword style…"

"The twin sword style is a style that a clan from the Kou Empire is capable of using. But ever since the Kou Empire grows strong with the former emperor Hakutoku's reign, the clan had hidden themselves away from Kou Empire's influence."

"Are you sure Hakuryuu? It's a sword style form Kou?"

"Yes, I'm positive I once read information about it from the archives of the Kou Empire. I never thought that Ion-dono's kin had learned this style!"

"Several of the clan members had found refuge in Ion's homeland a few years before it was destroyed. Some of them shared that knowledge in the form of books which are all completely intact and unscathed from the attack along with the archives of the spell fencers. They also cooperated with developing magic spells that only spell fencers can use with the twin sword style which is kept in a book.

Like spell fencing, keeping the magic in the sword will cause the magoi to be drained to keep the magic in shape. But because the spells exclusive for the twin sword style were stronger in terms of power, it used up more magoi than what they usually used when they simply spell fenced with one sword or if they use the twin sword style to spell fence normally either."

Ion kept attacking the woman who changed to a dark Djinn. Still using the fire magic she enchanted on the swords.

She was feeling her magoi being drained slowly as the time goes and kept attacking and defending herself from the Djinn until she found the opening to knock it down.

"Now, Aladdin!" She called out, Aladdin chanted. "Harharl Rasas!"

"Altam Alasfah!"

They called on to their attacks and hit the Dark Djinn.

The Djinn fell to the ground but soon stood up once more. Changing herself back, but this time, her clothing is changed to a black armory.

"Djinn equip…?" Ion's eyes widened at the sight.

"Extreme magic…" She readily chanted and Ion knows what it meant.

"Rea Bard!"

For a moment, smoke covered the field in front of the lady after the many black swords come down towards them. Breathless as she had lost an amount of magoi.

"The extreme magic is so powerful…" She exclaimed as she tried to catch her breath from using up her magoi. She then turned towards her ally and rambled on how much she wanted the Djinn.

The masked man, Ithnan looked towards the smoke clearing and inquired. "Dunya, where did you aim your attack?"

"Huh?"

Before Dunya could react, Alibaba had attacked and beheaded Ithnan.

"Ithnan! How!?" She turned to see Aladdin casting a mirror image, the rukh gathering at his staff.

"You shouldn't be too cocky miss." Ion called from her position. Causing Dunya to turn and see that the girl surrounded with a light membrane.

"Wha- how-"

She then saw the two swords she previously held stabbed onto the ground surrounding her. "Borg!?"

"Bingo." Ion smirked and took her two swords off from the ground, disabling the barrier. "I activated it just moments before you casted your extreme magic."

She placed a sword back to its sheath and called. "It's your turn Hakuryuu!"

At the call, Hakuryuu lunged forward from his location and attacked with his spear. "It's the end for you!"

Before the attack would hit, however, the tall man knocked down by Alibaba and Hakuryuu stood in front of him and protected Dunya.

"Isaac!"

Isaac stood in front of her; Dunya felt a surge of hope coming by and commanded. "That's right Isaac! Defeat them!"

"Yes… your majesty."

Isaac charged to Alibaba. Ion's sharp eye caught the fact that he was much slower than the previous time. 'It can't be…!'

Alibaba aimed the hit at his head which confirmed Ion's suspicion. There was not a brain inside him.

"Come on Isaac. Hurry up and defeat them." Dunya commanded once more. To Alibaba and Hakuryuu's surprise, Isaac stood once more though completely broken.

"That Isaac… He's a doll." Ion said.

"A doll?" Alibaba and Hakuryuu inquired.

"Yes. It's as Ion-san said. That swordsman is made of sand. He's only moving because of her ability." Aladdin confirmed.

"That's right. He's my knight after all! We promised to realize our dream! From now on, we will rebuild my country…" At that, Isaac turned into dusts of sand next to Dunya, completely vulnerable. -And never to be animated again.-

"Huh? Ah? Isaac?"

As Dunya cried for her fallen friend, she had seen her rukh turning much darker than before. 'This is…'

"Leave it to me everyone." Aladdin announced. He walked a step and chanted "Solomon's wisdom!"

Aladdin turned into a light and entered her mindscape. Alibaba and Hakuryuu were both surprised to see this, including Ion.

After what seems to be an eternity, Aladdin came back and showed them of what had happened to Dunya.

They were all visibly shaken to what had happened to her. Ion, while she didn't like to see people falling into depravity, the sight of how Isaac was murdered had shaken her completely. Her eyes widening and her body slightly trembling. She couldn't quite forget it as her mind seems to replay the sight over and over to the point that she didn't realize what is going on beyond her mindscape.

It's like that time Fai inquired her about her family.

Aladdin noticed her state and inquired. "Ion…-san?"

She was sure that they panicked for a while when she felt her legs gave out and slumped.

Mentally, she felt a flash of memories coming to her mind.

"Onee-chan!"

"Run and live, _!"

"_!"

"_."

"_-chan."

"…! Dad… Yu…" She murmured as she held her hand at her temples.

"Are you alright?" Aladdin asked as he noticed that she was back.

"Sorry Aladdin… It reminded me of something…"

"What is that then?"

"…I really don't think I can tell since it's a bit hazy. How is she…?"

"She's alright! She just passed out after her rukh turned white."

"I see… That's great…"

"We're almost there." Fai announced as he saw the small island coming to view.

The three generals gave a nod and they moved on towards where Zagan was.

They could only hope that their not too late.

"Where did Alibaba-kun go?" Aladdin wondered as they found themselves in front of the entrance with no one but him; Ion, Morgiana, Hakuryuu -Who is promptly, passed out-, and the missing Torran citizens.

"I'm sure we'll find him-"Ion stopped as her eyes widened and pulled out her two swords.

Stabbing them to the ground and created a barrier. Before Aladdin and the others could react, a barrage of attacks reached the barrier. All which are blocked.

"Damn, someone noticed us coming." Ion heard the attacker saying.

"It doesn't matter; we're going to finish them off in a flash anyways."

"Yes, whoever casted the borg, they'll be losing their magoi if they keep it up anyway."

'Two more… so it's three.' She counted as she saw the attackers coming to view in front of them.

"Ion-san! Is it Al Thamen!?" Aladdin wondered.

"Yes… They are. They're planning to ambush us Aladdin." Ion told him.

"Oh, why I do commend you well for managing to guard our attacks." The old man in a wheel chair commented before his expression turned dark along with his smile. "But can your magoi withstand more of our extreme magic?"

"Eh?" Aladdin looked in wonder at Ion's silent treatment before he remembered. His eyes widened as he called.

"Ion-san! There's no need to withhold the barrier! We can-"

"Morgiana and Hakuryuu-san are both passed out. We still need to find Alibaba-san and I can tell that you're tired Aladdin."

"Ion-san…"

"I can still withstand a few hits. Don't worry." She turned her head and gave a small smile as a form of assurance to the boy.

"Extreme magic…" All the three attackers chanted at the same time and soon unleashed them.

The attacks hit at the same time and the borg breaks. Ion was blown away as an impact. Alibaba arrived at the same moment Ion's back had hit the wall that was formerly where Zagan's dungeon had stood.

"Ion! What's going on!?" Alibaba questioned as she slowly rise from the impact. Holding a hand on the left side of her ribcage.

"Al thamen…" She simply muttered.

"Aren't we lucky? That we had our two targets here with us~." The bulky one among them mused.

"Ah, yes. We don't need to waste more of our time. Shall we go all out once more now that the borg is out of the way?"

"Gladly-"

"Anh Alam!"

Three black gravity induced balls attacked them before they could cast their extreme magic. While the others are surprised, Ion knew who it was. And let out an ecstatic gasp at the surge of hope in her heart.

"Fai!"

"Sorry for the wait Ion!" Fai called out as he arrived with Sharrkan, Yamuraiha and Masrur.

Masrur went towards Morgiana and carried her. Soon glaring at the three surviving Al thamen members, thinking them to be the reason of her state.

Yamuraiha and Sharrkan went towards Aladdin, Alibaba and Hakuryuu.

"Those bastards didn't hurt you, did they? Alibaba?"

"I- I'm fine master!"

"Are you okay Aladdin?"

"I'm fine Yamu-san! Ion-san casted a borg to protect all of us before they could hurt us more!"

Yamuraiha then looked towards Ion whose face had shown a small crack. Her eyes widening. "You're out of magoi!"

Ion looked at Yamuraiha and dismissed her worry. "It's nothing Miss Yamuraiha…"

It went unheard, however. "How reckless are you!?" The court magician of SIndria shouted and went near her. Chanting "Yoah Reg!"

Light surrounded the younger girl and healed her. Replenishing her supply of magoi just a little.

"You don't need to, really…"

"I need to Ion! You're close to the verge of death for overusing your magoi on the borg to protect Aladdin and the others!"

Yamuraiha turned her attention to the three Al thamen members who were all attacking Fai who managed to block and counter in a slight difficulty. Glaring at them.

Sharrkan went towards Fai and stopped him. "Fai, take the villagers, Aladdin and the others with you. We'll handle things here."

"Alright." Fai simply obliged and grabbed Ion by her hand, supporting her to stand until she is stable enough to stand on the ground and beckoned the Torran villagers to come along.

Fai carried Hakuryuu and Morgiana over at his shoulder and told Aladdin and Alibaba "We should go."

"Huh? But master-"

"Alibaba, have faith in your masters for once. They're the one who taught you, aren't they?"

Alibaba swallowed a lump of his throat and reluctantly complied.

Fai knew that they're strong enough, having to be with Sinbad for years so he was confident that they'll make it out alive.

Al Thamen's ambush was a failure.

The three generals won.

That's enough to give a sense of peace towards the group.

While the others talked with their respective teachers and Hakuryuu talking to Tiare, they both talked. Fai lightly hit the younger's forehead with his knuckle.

"That was reckless of you to extend your borg and overusing your magoi."

"But you believed in me till the end, didn't you?"

"Of course I'll believe in you. You're my friend and also my disciple."

"Disciple seems to be a bit far-fetched to say Fai."

"I was the one to teach you how to use a sword though."

"…Good point. But I still don't like titles."

"Yeah, I know…"

"Too bad you didn't go all out to go Djinn equip though."

"Haha, as much as I'd like to, I'm glad I didn't."

She knew what he meant. Never reveal the trump card unless necessary.

Ion felt that she was reckless enough to show a majority of her trump card when she found out through the masked man that Al Thamen was somehow involved in her homeland's demise. But at the very least, they still had more tricks under their sleeves.

Hours later…

"Say Ion-san. Do you know Dunya-san before?"

"I can't say that I knew her Aladin… I don't remember the memories of my early 6 years."

"Oh… Sorry."

"It's fine… Why do you ask?"

"When I saw her memories through Solomon's wisdom earlier… you were there in her memories after what happened to her friend."

"What…?"

"I saw it myself, and I think…"

Aladdin paused before he told her something that made her breath hitched.

"She knows your birth name."

Ion looked out towards the night sky of the ocean as the ship sails.

Too deep in her thoughts to notice anyone else, which was how she was, surprised that someone poked her on her shoulder.

"What's up?"

She jumped at the reaction before she turned to see who it was. "Oh… Sorry about that Fai."

"Well, you're usually not too jumpy so what happened?"

"About that… Aladdin told me something."

"Aladdin did?"

"That lady from Al thamen… I think she knew me before."

At that, Fai raised a brow. Ion shrugged as she saw his expression of disbelief. "I know. I find it hard to believe myself."

"So, what are you going to do about it?"

"She might know me but… how do you think she would react knowing that I don't even know her now?"

"I suppose… that depends on the person themselves."

"It still didn't help me Fai."

Fai placed a hand onto her head and gently patted her hair. "Do you remember the day you asked us to take you back to what is left of your home?"

Ion nodded.

"While you didn't exactly remember what happened completely, you were shaking when you finally saw it."

There was a moment of pause before Fai continued. "It took you long to recover from feeling the shock of what is left but you were strong enough to move on by then."

"…What are you trying to say?"

"What I'm saying is, what is done is done. Think of the worrying things later. That time, you also said "I don't care if I don't remember, it'll work out somehow." Right, Ion?"

Slowly, Ion placed both her hands at Fai's which was still above her head. "Thanks."

"You're welcome Ion."

Fai slid his hand off from her hair and turned his back towards her. "I'm sure it's already pretty late so let's head back."

Ion nodded. They both walked a few steps and Ion stopped.

"I almost forgot. Zaire said he and the others would reach Sindria by a week or so."

Fai stopped. "…What?"

"Zaire told me personally."

"Urgh… he and Amber's going to be the death of me…"

"Why so serious? Besides, she's your girlfriend and we're helping you out with the relationship."

"That's not the point!"

"It's not like the world's going to eat you for showing that you're already taken anyways."

Fai exhaled a sigh "Why are you even in this with them?"

Truth to be told, he thought that Ion's the most silent and trustworthy when it comes to relationships.

"Because you need to man up if you are ever going to propose to her one day."

"Ion!"

Scratch that, he took his earlier thoughts of Ion back. He's going to die from embarrassment.

Aladdin simply stayed silent as he listened to the two friends talked from his spot.

Staring at their rukh, they're not black. It's white, but that's not the reason he stared at their rukh. It was the rukh moving around them that he looked at.

Truth to be told, their rukh's are what intrigued him.

Fai's looked like that he had been into depravity and back to white many times.

Ion's rukh… he didn't know how to describe it. It was gentle and at the same time, it had something else hidden.

He felt the need to get to know them more and to get a closer look of their rukh's.

It was a blessing in disguise when they agreed to his suggestion of training together.

He could tell that they are good people from interaction, but there's always things hidden about them.

For an instance, he wondered what Fai's face had truly looked like. He once asked Spartos who at least remembered how he looked like before he wore the mask but Spartos, in respect to his brother, had sworn to secrecy.

He also once tried to ask what his birth name is.

"Sorry Aladdin… I had already forgotten my birth name long ago…"

And then, there's Ion. He once asked if she's fine with remembering nothing about her past.

"It's fine if I remember nothing. Sometimes, a memory needs a help to come out."

After what had happened earlier in Zagan's dungeon, he wonders if she was actually lying with her answer when he asked or if her words are a partial truth to what she really felt.

"Fai-san… Ion-san… who are you?"

Well, that's it for the chapter 3. I've been experiencing Ulnar nerve entrapment at my left hand so I can't do much in the last few weeks, that and I'm currently very hooked with Touken Ranbu (A.K.A. Sword boys hell). Sorry if it seems a bit fast paced. I felt that if I have it go on a slow pace and separate the Zagan chapter to a few parts, it just wouldn't fit. And I wanted to expand Fai and Ion's relationship with each other just a bit. *Sweat drop* I will promise to make the Second Sindria chapter a bit longer.

Twin sword style: A fencing style which required the usage of two swords. The sword style originally came from Kou but after emperor Hakutoku's reign, the clan members had hidden themselves away from the influence of Kou. Some of the members left Kou and found refuge in the spell fencer's homeland.

(The idea of using twin swords had been in my mind for Ion's choice of weapon. Besides, I don't think there's a character in magi that used twin swords so I took the initiative.)

Note:

1: Since the Torran tribe living near Zagan is experiencing tropical climate, I'd like to think that apples might not be common around the Torran tribe living there.

2: Personally, I find that Dunya is fine as she is. But a reason why I had Dunya knew Ion before she lost her homeland was because I wanted to expand Dunya's character and background just a bit more. I mean, there had to at least be someone who found her after she escaped from being murdered by the citizens of the Musta'Shim kingdom and tried to get her away from falling into depravity in between the 10 years. At least, until she fully lost hope and joined Al Thamen's cause. Among all that joined Al Thamen asides Kassim, she's one of the few that I really sympathized with so this was my attempt in expanding a little more of her background.

3: Actually, I've been planning Fai to have been in a relationship to start with. His relationship status is like a plot device for character development which I wouldn't tell what for until later. And to make it clear, it's not a canon character that Fai's dating, but an OC.

I'm not going to ask much but to those who are reading or followed this story, please, review. It really lets me know that you're actually reading the story.