Disclaimer: I do not own Magi, only my OC(s)
The palace had quickly become a boring place. Almost no noise or action had taken place since the battle between Kouha and I. Everybody seemed to fade from view, the only persons I saw daily were Leo and Reden, and only when I went to go see Vist as the palace keepers thought it inappropriate that a Hellhound would be able to run around freely- though well-behaved.
Kouen hasn't met with me to my dislike due to his constant replanning for something more important. Many of the princes seemed to avoid me like the plague even though that I was reassured by Kougyoku they were just busy with other things.
I itched for some entertainment, as I was getting real tired of waiting for Kouen to come to me. In my boredom I was willing to even use Elve to create illusions for myself. I would've too if it didn't feel like I was fooling no one to stay at this horrid place. I quickly stood up and dressed in the clothing that Kougyoku had given me, almost too excitedly. The dress looked too fancy for my taste but I decided to wear it anyway since they had taken my normal clothing somewhere I cannot find and am too shy to ask.
The white silk went well with my hair as the blue waist band went with my eyes. The blue ribbons from Judal matched as well as I did the same hair style he did last week, pulling the side of my hair up and tying them there as my bangs framed my face. The necklace my mother had given me looked out of place but I refused to remove it, as it also held Elve. My other dijinns stayed as well, attempting to pull the outfit together.
"As fine as ever, my King." Kadar spoke, with a slight childish chuckle.
"I must say, Kougyoku has some good taste." Elve commented.
I shrugged them off before putting my white cloak on as well. My golden Hellhound emblem holding it together around my neck. I looked around my classy room finding a feather pen, to my request, and paper writing to Reden that I would be gone with Leo for a while.
I stretched once outside my door as I haven't moved much since coming to the palace, to my disappointment. I walked almost half of the full overly golden and traditional house to the stables, which also happens to be where Vist is since the kennels are too small a place for such a large dog. I whistled before stopping. Hearing my Hellhound's horrid howl I came running as to not torture him while he waited.
Crouching I stuck my hand through the railings to let him sniff me and to pet him, feeling his course fur run through my fingers once more. I placed my hand on the latch holding him inside and thinking of what the keepers would say about me till realizing I didn't care what others thought. Opened Vist's little jail cell, he jumped on top of me planting two humongous paws on my shoulders, pinning me. Laughing as I felt his rough excited licks across my face till I pushed him away looking up from the ground for Leia. At the very end is where I has spotted my beautiful white horse that had faded black socks, mane and tail. She stomped her feet in excitement earning a smile while I whipped away Vist's slobber. I put the rope next to her stable around her neck loosely, leading her out of the stables with Vist trotting happily behind me. I kicked up onto Leia's back without a saddle and just feeling her soft hide. I looked down at Vist who was panting with excitement, "Go fetch Leo." With a nod of understanding, Vist raced off, nose in the air.
Leia and I only got half way to the exit till Leo and Vist had joined us once more. I smiled, seeing Leo clutch onto Vist's neck fur as he did as a toddler, though his feet were almost dragging on the ground, that didn't use to happen? He has truly grown so much… I sniffle away memories of him playing with my hair, focusing on the road before me. Trotting, I see to my dismay Kougyoku jogging without much grace of a princess towards my horse almost falling over her long dress length, "Ira!" She yells and waves me down before I stopped, looking down from my horse towards her.
"Yes, princess?" Curious as to why she had come.
Playing with her sleeves and not looking me in the eye she stumbles out, "Where are you going?"
At such a simple question I chuckle, "The market, princess."
"You can call me Kougyoku." She blurts out.
I tilt my head a little, a force of habit now as I used to tease Vist as he copied me, "Your highness, a simple stranger cannot call royalty by their first name."
Playing with her sleeve once more she looks up with a scrunched up face, "May I come with you?" Changing the topic.
I nod, not sure at what else could be said.
Reaching down I grip her hand, trying to be careful of her soft fingers while Vist nudges her feet from below as she hesitated at his touch, raising his head till she had swung a foot around the Leia's midsection.
Kougyoku smiled at Vist with a slight chuckle, "Thank you," before her hands slipped around my waist tight.
"Princess, have you ever ridden a horse?" Her grip loosed a bit before tightening harder.
"Not much, I am more scared of trusting an animal." She mumbles.
Laughing as we had finally reached the gate, a guard blocking us as he checked the strange group. "I only trust animals, and of course Leo. They are always predictable if you learn to read them unlike humans who will lie for their own well-being." The words came out more distasteful than I realized.
The guard looked at Kougyoku before speaking, "Princess, you must have a guard before exiting."
Without hesitating Kougyoku pulled a pin from her hair and showed the guard, "Do you forget I am a vessel? I am my own guard." She said with the authority of a real princess.
Stumbling for words, as this was probably a new encounter for the young guard, "A-alright..." He waved towards the onlookers from the above posts, the guards nodding from above as the gates opened with much effort.
I twitched a little at the unexpectness of Kougyoku's authority, choosing to not question it I kick Leia a little till she moved to a speed that was to get Kougyoku used to it.
Vist and Leo chose to race off, basically leaving us in their dust, a few "Be careful!"s were yelled.
Many glances were spared towards the two strange girls on a horse traveling alone, which was rare nowadays based on multiple events that haunted the streets to the despair of many women. Husbands and sons warning their wives, mothers and daughters to never travel alone. This was a reason why I came. Why I had to come. I wanted to protect those that were innocent… and haunt those that chose to damage the last few innocence's the world had left.
I gripped Leia's mane in almost blind anger as men snickered and whispered with sly smiles near a bar, looking towards the princess and I. Touching Elve's necklace, feeling the engraved pentagram in the reddening stone from the sun of the afternoon, I sent a vision towards those men. A vision of any women they ever loved being abused the way they thought they could've treated the young girls on the street, only for a few seconds till they were out of sight. Breathing in and out slow, Kougyoku's hand touched my shoulder why another stayed tight around my stomach.
"I saw them too…" Her voice seemed to fade.
I shook my head, touching my various vessels in self-defense, remembering many of the women in my village. No woman should be treated like that.
"We will protect you." All vessels speaking at once. Forcing a small smile.
Looking forward I spot Vist and Leo, Leo walking slowly next to Vist while holding onto his neck tufts, taking in everything at the market, nose in air as he passes by multiple venders yelling at him to buy their items.
Trotting, I closed the distance between us before swinging a leg off and leading Leia while Kougyoku rode on her stomach though still afraid to get off.
Whistling, Leo turned around before smiling and pointing at the different foods and colors. I nodded before turning towards the princess, "Would you like to get off?" Trying not to giggle at her scrunched face and desperate need to hold on tighter. She shook her head to my dismay.
"Are you scared?"
She nodded, keeping her eyes closed.
"Do you need help off?" Questioning her, not sure what else to do.
She shook her head again.
With a sigh, I gently lead her behind me, following Leo. Leo continued pointing at food vendors, wanting almost everything thing edible in sight… Of course, I had to buy them for him as he gave puppy dog eyes when I tried to say no. Somehow he wouldn't stop eating, wanting continuously more food. Till Leo stopped and pointed at a ring of people yelling with passion. I knew it was a fighting ring, happening often around the markets, no matter where one goes.
I shake my head before continuing down the road, following the line of markets. Kougyoku finally getting more comfortable on Leia, sat up shakily.
A man dressed in white fabrics and a brown hat, a messenger's uniform, raced a horse towards us. Stopping, I got onto Leia with leg as I swung a leg around in front of Kougyoku. Leo followed suit, getting onto Vist with ease.
"Your majesty! Lord Kouen demands your presence at once." The words came together and huffed out, trying to regain breath.
Out of breathe from the distance from the slums of the market to the palace. I jumped off Leia, without much grace, as a keeper took Leia but was afraid of Vist. Unsure of what to do with Vist, I decided he can just follow wherever Lord Kouen wished to see Kougyoku for.
I followed Kougyoku as she swiftly found her way through the twists and turns of the palace grounds till reaching a door and knocking it, without a response she entered. Unsure of what to do, I sent Vist and Leo towards their room while I followed Kougyoku.
The room smelled of must and dust. Shelves of books were found, many in another language I didn't quite understand but recognized, from where, I couldn't place it. Softly placing my footsteps to be careful of making noises I tried to remember where Kougyoku went, following where I thought she went.
I stopped awkwardly as I saw Kouen at a desk head over a map with the same foreign language written at the top with strange land formations I haven't seen before.
Kouen looked up from his map in curiosity, "Do you need something, Ira?"
"Um.." seemed to be the only thing coming out of my mouth with almost no thought as to why I followed Kougyoku.
Shrugging, Kouen continued looking at his map while still addressing Kougyoku, "Sinbad is coming to speak about Balbadd's current condition under our new rule."
I stood dumbly, blanking out at the word Sinbad. My childhood stories coming back to me and the adventures of Sinbad and his eight generals.
