Disclaimer: I do not own Magi


Chapter 7


Althea walked awkwardly as they had arrived at the Extreme North of the Imuchakk's home. It wasn't bad as the homes and area was beautiful. The problem how cold it was.

She clung to the clothes she had on tighter with some of the warmer clothes the Imuchakks were kind enough to give her as her breath came out white. She ate her fill and the warm liquor helped warm her body, as most of her wounds were popped back in place. The Rukh flew around her, comforting her as she smiled gently at them before taking a seat by Sinbad, eating some more.

"Ah, father, this is Sinbad and Althea. They're strong!" said Pipirika

"Strong are you? Then you are most welcome here." Said the chief.

There was a horn as Pipirika said excitedly, "Oh, it's time!" Sinbad and Althea watched as Big bro gotten up and held the Rampaging Unicorn's horn as he was being given the clothes of the Imuchakks and was given an adult name.

"Warriro, your name…is Hinahoho. The meaning of your new sacred name is 'Clean like the ocean'. Please become an honest warrior true to this name." Everyone cheered as Pipirika started to tear up.

Althea smiled a bit as the five of them all sat in a circle. "By the way, since you're back I've been wanting to tell you." Said Hinahoho's and Pipirika's father, "While you were gone, a mysterious thing appeared."

"Mysterious thing?"

Althea glanced around as the Rukh around here were buzzing around and she narrowed her eyes. 'A dungeon?'

"Yes. Near this village, stood a building never seen before. None of the warriors sent to investigate have returned yet, so all I can say is it's myserious." Said the Chief.

Sinbad and Althea glanced at each other as Althea shook her head.

"Then how about sending more men to investigate? They might find something…" said Hinahoho.

"It is folly." Said Althea, "If you keep sending more men in, they will only end up dead."

The giants looked at her and Sinbad as the latter spoke, "It's a Dungeon. In our country, a great number of men died challenging that building. It's a very dangerous place."

"I see. So that's called a dungeon." Said the Chief as he took a sip of his drink, "I've heard rumors about it as well. A lad conquered the dungeon along with a mysterious companion who brandished curved blades. I thought it's just a fairytaile but…what's that lad's name again? I think….it's Si…Sin….." said the Chief as Althea gripped Sinbad's hand in worry. He gripped it to reassure her but the chief fell asleep due to the alcohol and Althea choked.

Althea sighed in some relief as Sinbad grinned at her. She pouted and hit his head, "Don't take it so easily!" she hissed at him.

The night of festivity deepened as the group had went inside the chief's home and Hinahoho's and Pipirika's home.

"Gahaha! I see so it was you. The lad that conquered the dungeon, I knew you really were something." Said the Chief as Althea played with the two kids. He turned to Althea, "And you are the mysterious companion. You don't appear much." He said.

Althea laughed shakily, "I often get that." She said. Both hands were placed on Sinbad's and Althea's head as Althea gaped, "You have guts in spite of being so small. I like you even more now!"

Hinahoho tried to stop his father, "Father…please be careful not to squish Sinbad and Althea."

"When father is fond of someone, he won't let them go." Said Pipirika at Althea, who seemed to be dying. "Pardon me, it's to show respect to strong warriors in Imuchakk." Said the Chief, removing his hands.

Althea rubbed her head as Sinbad smiled, "It's alright. Much appreciated though. I'm happy that this village is a very merry place."

"Then," pointed the chief to the eight pointed star, "Is this the emblem of a dungeon conqueror?"

Sinbad held up his sword, "Yep, that's right. The djinn of the dungeon rest inside." He said.

The giants looked at it in awe as Althea simply stared.

"I believe it's true, father." Said Hinahoho as his sister spoke next, "We saw the enormous thunderbolt when Sinbad used that sword."

" That must be the djinn inside of it." Said Hinahono.

"Sin? You used Baal?" asked Althea, tilting her head.

Sinbad nodded as Hinahoho looked at Althea, "Do you have a djinn, Althea?"

Althea held up her hands in a panic and shook them, "No, no. There's one djinn per dungeon. Sinbad was obviously the most fit to be a metal vessel user so that's what Baal, the djinn, chose him."

"Oh."

"Though," said Sinbad as he looped an arm around Althea's shoulder, "Next time, we enter a dungeon, we would be even and both have a djinn."

Althea sighed and smiled tiredly, "You're still on about that?" she sighed, "Besides, as much as I like to have my own, I can't now because of my wounds and I would like not getting killed in another dungeon. Not to mention, this one is more difficult since we are in the lands of the Imuchakk."

Sinbad crossed his arms at her, "Well if you say so."

Althea smiled slightly at him, "Maybe another time." She said.

Sinbad grinned before his face turned serious, "Speaking of dungeons, I would like to ask Hinahoho's father and aslo the patriarch, to forbid people to go near the dungeon. Challenging it means putting someone's life on the line. It's a most dangerous place."

Althea nodded, "Dungeons are meant to test everything you have on your life. Once you enter in, you can never get out until you've conquered it and everything in there, regardless how harmless it looks, is designed to kill you."

Sinbad nodded, "Without knowing this, more than ten thousand men in our country died in the dungeon. We do not want to witness this tragedy again."

The chief thought about it, "I see. I promise you."

Althea nodded, "Good. Cause I do not want to go and fight another giant dragon." She paled at the memory.

"Bro! By the Way, what about your proposal!?" asked Pipirika. Silence fell onto them quickly as Hinahoho seemed uneasy.

"What are you doing? You're finally an adult, hurry up and do it!" yelled Pipirika.

"I'll have grandchildren too…I'm so touched." Said the chief.

Althea just watched as Sinbad spoke, "That reminds me, I recall Hinahoho's beloved one is the most beautiful in the village."

"Yes! A peerless beauty." Agreed the Chief.

"I look forward to seeing her. What type of lady is she?" wondered Althea.

"Hey are you listening? Bro? Bro!" yelled Pipirika.

"In the past, it was impossible. But now, Hinahoho is a fine warrior." Said the chief, "If you propose as the son of the patriarch, surely she can accept it."

Althea noticed Hinahoho's face paling, as his father got up. "I'll go write a latter. It'll be a grand ceremony-"

"STOP IT! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! DON'T DECIDE EVERYTHING FO RME. I HAVEN'T ACCEPT IT YET! REGARDING THIS MATTER AND MYSELF." Yelled Hinahoho.

"Bro? What do you mean by this matter?" asked Pipirika.

"That's…." said Hinahoho as he looked at Sinbad and Althea, "Sorry…I can't-"

The next thing they knew, Hinahoho ran out of the house with Pipirika following.

Althea sighed as their father spoke, "Was it something that happened on the Rampaging Unicorn's island?"

There was silence as Althea and Sinbad made do with their arrangements. Althea knew what Hinahoho's feelings were coming from and debated telling Sinbad about it but not long after, Hinahoho and Pipirika came back. Everything went back to normal as they went to bed with Althea next to Piprika and Sinbad on the others side.

Despite the night seemed peaceful, her stomach churned and could feel a pair of eyes watching them. The Rukh fluttering around her in worry.