Playlist:

Date of Loss (Bravely Second End Layer OST) (This will play out up till the point of alternate Judal's flashback in regards of his first favor to Fai)

Chatting Over Second (Bravely Second End Layer OST)

Who Are You Laughing At? (Bravely Second End Layer OST)

Under a Hollow Moon (Bravely Default Flying OST) (And you'll find some form of romance between any character in any form when this is in.)

Call to Adventure (Bravely Second End Layer OST)

Signs of Enemy Invasion (Bravely Default Flying Fairy OST)

He of the Name (Bravely Default Flying Fairy OST)

Sunlight Filtering through Tree's (Bravely Default Flying Fairy OST)

Xion (Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days OST)

Infiltrating Enemy Territory (Bravely Default Flying Fairy OST)

Prayer (Bravely Default Flying Fairy OST)

Though the game just came out in Japan, I personally prefer Bravely Second's OST's… Don't get me wrong, I still like Revo's composition for Bravely Default but I think Supercell's Ryo is doing well with his composition for Bravely Second too, I find them to flow well more at the least. And I'm so excited Bravely Second is coming to America next year! I can enjoy the whole game without doing trial and errors! (I still don't understand Kanji even though I understood most of the Japanese being said orz) Well enough of that rambling.

This is probably the most songs in a playlist I can think of for this chapter. A bit fast paced of an arc (Probably the fastest among all the planned arc's) but after this chapter, I'll focus on the separation of the six and what they are actually doing since except Ion who'll be seeing Aladdin's progress around; everyone else went their own ways so it was rather intended.

Onto the story!


Hakuyuu and Hakuren are the brother's that he had looked up to.

And that doesn't change. Even after their deaths.

He was unable to accept that their 'beloved' mother had been the one to kill them, but when he finally asked, he had grown resentment to the organization, and his so called "Mother".

But there was also a slight feeling of regret.

Regret that he was unable to save his brothers, nor was he able to do anything to save the country his father and brothers had loved and envisioned.

He was unable to do anything, he had no connections. Even he had grown to be unable to trust the member's of his uncle's family. Thinking that they would be following along with whatever his uncle and Al Thamen wanted.

But he started and continued to train. Train. And train. To grow stronger so he could defeat the witch, protect his sister. And bring back Kou to how it was before his brother's died.

When he heard his sister had acquired a DJinn with Judal's help, he started to make plans so he could leave and find the other Magi's outside of Kou.

Even if Judal had offered, he has no plans in receiving Judal's help as he was with that organization.

Years passed, and his act had paid off.

He found a great ally in king Sinbad, and managed to find someone he could relate to. Alibaba Saluja, who is just like him; and also another magi, Aladdin;

But the bonus to that had been Fai Leoxses, and his friend, Ion. They seem to be aware of his circumstances, whether from their travels, he never knew.

He knew that they are aware of it when Fai noticed the snake bite at his arm.

"Hakuryuu, I would be careful not to let my hatred take over if I were you."

Though they stayed out of view, he saw what he meant when Ithnan came out with his magic after hiding himself in his rukh. And Ithnan's words to him had been clue to what Fai truly meant.

Ithnan had seen through the memories inside him.

'Could he have thought that the organization would use it against me…?' Was what he thought.

So he later approached them and questioned.

"Do you know of Al Thamen? What do you know of the organization?"

"Let's say… we had a run in with them over the nine years."

It was rather vague, but they did answer that they knew of how they work. He had hesitated to tell them but he had decided to reveal this fact, knowing that they are aware of what the organization had done.

"Ren Gyokuen is the leader of Al Thamen."

They had taken it all too well, to his disbelief. Ion's reply was what had made him think it may be right for him to tell them.

"I felt a vague, but strong black rukh over at the castle when we visited Kou… so it was her rukh."

After that, Fai had been spending some time with him, more than anything else.

"You think that you can do this all alone?"

It seemed annoying but Fai has a point. So far, Fai had been patient with him, giving hints here and there, and helped him.

It was odd but he felt that Fai had known what kind of mind he had. And how he would react and what he will do.

"I'm not a mind reader Hakuryuu. You're just easy to read." Had been his reply whenever he thought as such; (He always saw a small yet seemingly sad smile at Fai's lips as he answered.)

He couldn't help but think. "Who is Fai Leoxses?"

A person who seemed to have known him? Or was he someone that he had known before?

He couldn't tell. He also found it strange that he had been treated like who he was, and also as a young man.

There was a rather familiar feeling of his treatment.

"Like a brother." His mind had wanted to tell him. And he just went along with that. Because the more he thought of that treatment, the more it felt right for him to think of Fai as such.

Fai had approved of his thoughts that someone like Gyokuen is someone beyond saved by morals. So when he heard from Fai of Aum Madaura's plan, he was furious.

"She never loved the children she kidnapped. She only manipulated them for her means."

He felt that killing the witch of a "Mother" like Aum Madaura was right for the citizen's and people, better than being executed in front of these children by the knights. He was doing the people a favor. He also thought that this is what his brother's would have wanted if they had seen this. But he was cut off and had been surprised with what Fai had said next.

"Hakuryuu, if you kill her right in front of these kids there and then, you're not any different than the witch that killed your father and brothers."


"F- Fai-dono…?" Hakuryuu stared at Fai wide-eyed as Fai said those words.

At the sidelines, Aladdin, Alibaba, and Morgiana stare at the scene in wonder. While Ion and Amber who knew directly and secondhand from Fai stayed silent;

"Look, I understand how you feel when you told me that your own family member had been the one that killed most of your family. But I'll tell you what I think." Fai stared firmly at Hakuryuu's eyes as he continued.

"Your brothers indeed knew that there is something wrong with your mother, but they couldn't do anything just yet because she'll surely be on their tracks should they tell their plans to their seemingly trusted people who may just backstab them without realizing it. They have a reason to tell you to carry on their will to stop your mother. But think, Hakuryuu, if they were still alive, and saw that you tried to kill a despicable woman who in some twisted way, is the mother figure to the children she abducted right in front of these children who thought of her as a mother despite her obvious sin and they have yet to know that her actions are actually wrong to normal eyes, what would they say?"

Hakuryuu gaped, his mouth opened a wide O when Fai finished. Realization hit him like a brick as he figured out the silent question at Fai's words.

"Would your brothers approve of you to becoming the same monster that had killed them for the sake of carrying their wills?"

From Fai's revelation and question, Aladdin, Alibaba, and Morgiana stared back in shock. 'Hakuryuu-kun's/Hakuryuu's/Hakuryuu-san's mother… killed his brothers and father?'

Ion simply looked at their expressions, expecting this reaction from them. After all, knowing that the relative you loved so dearly was the one to massacre your family is painful, and despairing. Even she could tell as much.

She had known a bit from Hakuryuu and is quiet worried in seeing the taint of black rukh, she just hoped it didn't turn for the worse.

Amber who had been applying her sound magic to slowly erase the brainwashing magic she had done to the abducted children remembered what Fai told her and Ion back at the boat before the attack.

"Aum Madaura acted almost too alike to Arba who is now Ren Gyokuen. Wife of the current Kou emperor; She is sickeningly, his mother; Aum Madaura's magic on him would relieve some of his childhood memories before turning it to a full blown hatred on the figure even after having to be freed from her influence. From there on, he'll go downhill to the point of isolating his most trusted friends and even Morgiana, whom he had a genuine liking for and his sister whom he wanted to protect. Falling into depravity isn't always bad, but his focus on his hatred towards Arba is a fatal flaw that they may just calculate and use it for their means."

Amber was somehow able to understand that it was partly because of him that made him think that way. Falling into depravity isn't just about cursing fate; it's also how despair of how your life had taken a nosedive completely overpowers your sense of the much better parts of life, to the point of cursing it in despair.

In other words, depression, despair, and hatred;

She had seen it first hand when her own father fell to depression after losing her mother.

She was seven when she had her first taste of despair and how cruel the world actually is through her mother's death who just wanted to protect her as she run around the cliffs. (She still remembered screaming at her mother who fell down. Down. And down. Never to come back up)

She was hurt when her father told her that she should have died instead out of his depression which scarred her completely as a child.

She almost thought of suicide if not for her mother's friend and comfort from her grandmother after her father died.

"Stay strong Amber. We're here for you. Don't mind what people tell you." Her grandmother and surrogate aunt told her every time.

While comforted, she could never forget her father's words.

It was only after befriending some of the children in Qishan, whom were now joining her as a crew for her street performances had she gotten out of the fear.

So she could understand what Fai was planning to do. He wanted Hakuryuu to move on.

For, falling into depravity is not always about cursing fate. Falling into depravity, for her, and the rest (Including him, hearing that she was one of the reasons why he was able to move on from his resentment of Al Thamen for deceiving him for his whole life.) is when one is unable to move on and start anew after a certain event of their lives which caused them to fall into despair and hated fate. Still chasing the shadows of the past that had disappeared; which was how she sees it to be the case of the much more sympathetic members of Al Thamen.

Ion's now deceased sister figure before the demise of her hometown, Dunya in particular.

Dunya was able to move on from depravity after finding a family that accepted and cared for her through Ion's family which was taken away again through the demise.

She couldn't exactly blame Dunya for thinking everyone died because from what Aladdin had told throughout the trip to Aktia, Dunya's trauma of losing Isaac had run deep which was why she fell to depravity a second time when she thought her new family died.

Fai did not stop as Hakuryuu flinched at the question. "I know you want vengeance for having to kill the people whom you looked up to for you whole life from hearing your side of things. I know you have the need to get stronger to protect your sister, but getting stronger and stronger... and then what? What do you want to do after you've got your revenge?"

"I..."

"The point is, you need to remember that there are still some people who cared for you. And wouldn't have wanted to see you hurt just for the sake of revenge either."

"Fai-dono..."

"Well? What do you have to say?"

It seemed like an eternity when Hakuryuu finally spoke.

"…I'm sorry Fai-dono. It was a spur of the moment when I saw her expression when the children are looking at her and wished they'll all be alright… Just like that witch. Hakuyuu and Hakuren wouldn't want me to kill innocents uninvolved with our personal agenda without a reason, do they…? No, I'm sure they wouldn't have forgiven me if they were to see me committing such act."

Fai's lips formed into a small smile as a result.

"I'm glad you realized it Hakuryuu." His hands went towards Hakuryuu's hair and patted it.

"Like I said, these kids are still unaware that what they were doing had been wrong. They have still yet to know of the extent of the world. If you do kill them there, they'll end up experiencing the same sight that you saw ten years ago. And I'm sure your brothers wouldn't like that to happen at all since they would be reminded of you."

"Fai-dono… I..."

"Do know, Hakuryuu, that you're not alone in this. You have Aladdin, Alibaba, and Morgiana with you. Your sister too; they are genuine with caring about you and are ready to help you when you needed it. My friends and I too, will be there to help you out."

"Fai-san's right!" Aladdin agreed as he, along with Alibaba and Morgiana approached him.

"You're not alone Hakuryuu-kun! We already said that we'll help you when you need it, don't we?"

"Aladdin's right Hakuryuu-san; I don't know how hard it was on you to know that your own family killed your relatives, but I know how it feels to lose the person you cared for."

"Yeah Hakuryuu; I may not be that good of a listener, but I'm willing to help you out. Give us a chance to get to know you better, please?"

Hakuryuu stared at them with wide eyes. He then took note at how honest they were as he saw the firm determination in their eyes.

He then looked back at Fai.

"I told you, they're willing to help you." Fai flashed a small smile at him in reassurance.

Hakuryuu turned to Aladdin, Alibaba, and Morgiana and bowed.

"Thank you very much. Aladdin-dono, Alibaba-dono, and Morgiana-dono; I apologize for my act…"

"No it's okay! I would've been equally mad if I were in your shoes too!" Alibaba attempted to reassure him.

Ion and Amber smiled at the scene, seeing that things didn't go worse. The two decided to look at the situation in hand once more.

The children are more or less freed. Most of the recently captured children and those who aren't very loyal to Aum Madaura, at the very least;

They were surprised with what's next.

One of the most resentful among the victims had brought a knife and stabbed her. (Stabbed at the back and close to the heart, how unfitting for a deceitful witch)

They could see the hate ensnared at their eyes. A hate oh so deep.

A knight had to hold them back when they see that they kept stabbing her on the chest. Olba, seeing this, had dashed to attack the perpetrator, but Ion had arrived before he did and blocked him with her sword.

"Out of the way, they killed mother!"

"Wouldn't it be empty revenge, if your mother died the moment you had killed them?"

"Wh- what!? You-"

"Besides, you are on this blame too. You and your mother are the ones who stole their family from them, and in revenge, they will do the same to you. It's a vicious cycle."

"Mother has nothing to do with this! She just wanted more children because she is lonely! Even if it's wrong-"

"So you realized that Aum Madaura is not as holy as she seemed?"

"Even so, she's still our mother! We'll obey her till the end-"

"Because it's so easy to obey; no difficulties, no hardships; who bears the courage to disobey to start with?"

"What are you trying to imply?" Olba sneered at her wordings.

"What I'm saying is; you're nothing more but a puppet to your mother if you simply obey whatever your mother wants. Even if you knew that what she did had been wrong." Ion concluded.

"…Dammit;" Olba cursed. All of the older children loyal to Aum Madaura had glared at the spell fencer for saying such thing, but they couldn't help but agree and see the truth to those words.

It's true. They are simply puppets playing along the string's their "mother" had put on them.

"…I guess I crossed the line. Sorry." Ion sighed. But before Olba could say anything, she held her hand to him and continued.

"I know, sorry is never enough; but someone had to say it. Besides, at least you can still talk to your mother. She didn't have long, but it's better than having someone else behead her so you can't even say your goodbyes to her."

Olba's eyes widened at the rather blunt apology and looked over at Aum Madaura. She struggled with breathing, but still alive.

"Go; we'll deal with this later."

Olba gritted his teeth and went over to Aum Madaura's side.

Amber looked away when the charade was done, then walked and tapped on Alibaba's shoulder, beckoning him over to the knights who were about to take the remaining children away.

Alibaba seemed to understand what she was trying to do; it had been his intention to save them as well so he followed her along to them. The others looking at them in curiosity (Sans Fai as he knew what would happen next through the memories).

"Do you mind if we take these pirates with us?"

The knights had been surprised.

"It's true that you helped with capturing the pirates… but aren't you going beyond your authority with how criminals are to be judged in Aktia?"

"Authority?" Amber smirked. "That won't be necessary."

"Wh- what!?"

"I'm acquainted with the high generals and the king of Sindria, and my companion here is a member of SIndria. They attacked the trade route of Sindria and Aktia so it's also a part of Sindria's responsibilities."

"Responsibilities…?"

Alibaba took this moment to speak up. "Regarding all future damage caused by pirates on the maritime commercial routes between our countries, if Aktia prefers to cope with them alone and give us reparations, we will convey this principle to his majesty, the king of Sindria"

"That's…!"

Alibaba spoke more to convince the knights to let them go.

When the knight's finally left, the remaining children who were loyal to Aum Madaura gathered around the now lifeless body of their "Mother".

Olba only staring at the body, eyes shadowed, unable to look in fear;

"Such a foolish child …still believing me even after you knew that I had been in the wrong…"

Alibaba took the chance to approach him. "You're the leader, right?"

Before he could touch him, Olba slapped his hand away, "Don't touch me!"

"We're not going anywhere! We're Aum Madaura's children! Even if she had been in the wrong! If it wasn't for her…!" Olba had started to cry as he continued. "If it wasn't for her… there's no reason for us to live!"

Hakuryuu looked like he was about to snap back but Fai held his shoulder. Shaking his head;

"Let Alibaba continue. We don't want to make this worse for them."

Hakuryuu reluctantly agreed to Fai and watched as Olba mentioned that it's all over for them.

"Yes… the past may never change… But the other pirates are going to depend on you."

Olba stared in wonder, the other pirates soon gathered to Olba.

"You're they're big brother, right? If you say that it's all over, then they will think the same as you do, they will begin to wonder why they are even here, and begin to hate this world… And I want to change that!"

Alibaba started to tear up as he concluded. "And I need your power! So I beg you… please lend me your strength!"

Alibaba soon fell on his knees, crying out.

Hakuryuu soon looked that the children started to view him differently. Admiration, he could see it through their eyes.

'…So that's why King Sinbad had asked me to learn from Alibaba-dono.' He thought. He had charisma and compassion, something that he didn't have.

"Alibaba still needs a lot to learn." Fai commented. Piquing his interest;

"What do you mean Fai-dono?"

"Alibaba, by personality, he had a kind heart, and he had a good charisma, not as good as Sinbad, but enough to gain some people that will be loyal to him. But his ideals are something else; it can be something considered very naïve to others who had seen enough of this dark world."

"People often lose sight at their goals whenever something traumatic enough had befallen, changing their mindset. Only a selective few would still have the same mindset they first have and moved forward. A king that lost what they truly wished to be would end up being something they didn't want to be. I've met this king once, he wished to save people, but when he made a mistake which cost the lives of his precious ones, he had changed and ended up being someone he never wished to be in the first place."

It was partially true, as the king he meant had been Sinbad from one memory of his experience, but it was vague enough at the least.

"So Hakuryuu, never lose yourself to the darkness of this world. You would only lose so much. It may be very hard on you but do remember, why do you insist on keeping that secret from your sister?"

His eyes widened, and he slowly answered. "I… I wanted to protect my sister… I won't let that witch or her lackeys hurt her!"

"Then that should be your answer." Fai flashed a small smile before he went on.

"Never stoop low to those who had fallen down and never come back, but that doesn't mean that you had to slay the seemingly evil ones. It's a grey and gray world Hakuryuu. Those who had to stoop low had reason's, sympathetic story or not. You should take a look of those tales and use it to prevent tragedy. So that's why, never let yourself fall low. No matter who they are, no one is truly evil to start with. But that doesn't mean that people are truly good either. That's why people mingle, create bonds, and grow, for, through loss, comes a lesson to learn. And through creating bonds, you'll find those who would be there for you till the end."

"…Is this coming from experience, Fai-dono?"

"Somewhat." He laughed lightly. "Those are mostly things I learned through Asmoday's dungeon. He's testing my views, which I passed. If he's to test you though, I'm pretty sure you would have failed."

"Wh- what…?"

He chuckled, "I don't mind telling you a bit about it. If you want;"

"Are you sure? Yes please!"

By then, Hakuryuu felt that telling Fai Leoxses and his friends about the witch had been the best choice he had done.


"I don't like the idea of becoming Sindria's dog. But if I would follow anyone… it would be you." Olba announced as the ship is about to leave, staring at Alibaba.

"And… you over there;" Olba shifted his head to Ion and Ion looked at him in wonder.

"…You were right. Mother simply saw us as puppets. But if I followed this guy, will I still be a puppet?"

"…No. It's something you decided from your heart and will, isn't it? Then that wouldn't be called the act of a puppet."

"…I see."

"Have the courage to think and act on your own. And also have the courage to disobey." Ion suddenly said. And continued;

"It's a mantra that my father, my kin, and the affiliated dimensional magician's had believed wholeheartedly. May it do you well in your endeavors, Olba;"

"…The courage to think and act, huh?" Olba murmured. "I'll think about it."

Olba soon boarded the ship back to Sindria. Looking back at the port as the ship sailed away;

"What that girl, Ion said… do you think we should believe it?" Bhrol wondered.

"…I think we'll believe it for now. It may be rude of her to say those to mother, but she has a point. We'll have to grow up and leave mother one day, even if that didn't happen." Olba informed the other children.

"Olba…"

"Besides… what she said to me… I think I won't regret following the man that saved us." Olba added.

'Alibaba, you have our loyalty.'


"One room for three and another room for four please;" Alibaba told the innkeeper as they paid.

Walking over to their respective rooms;

The others rested in their room, thinking that all was well with this turning point.

However, the same can't be said for Hakuryuu;

Hakuryuu looked back at the three friends (Albeit, hesitantly), and they looked back at him, the moment they settled in their rooms.

"Sorry Hakuryuu, but you're on your own for this. You managed to tell me and Ion well at first, I'm sure you can do the same."

'Fai-dono, I'm not even sure with how they will take it…' He sighed mentally. He inhaled and soon exhaled before he started.

"Alright… You do remember Fai-dono telling of my brothers and father earlier?"

"Yes Hakuryuu-kun, is there more to that?"

"My mother… No, that witch… she's the leader of Al Thamen."

He could see their eyes widen. He expected it, since no one but him knew the truth of Ren Gyokuen.

There was a moment of silence. He exhaled a sigh. "I knew it would come to this… if you do not wish to, I will not force you."

"Why do you think that we won't help you?" Alibaba had been the first to speak up. Hakuryuu was about to say something but Alibaba had cut him off.

"Sure it seemed sudden, but that doesn't mean that we're not ready to help! We're friends now!"

"I would like to agree with Alibaba-san. We have helped each other once, didn't we? So this time, we would like to help you, Hakuryuu-san."

"Yep, it's as Mor-san said! We would like to lend you a hand! The fact that your mother is the leader doesn't change Hakuryuu-kun! You're not alone! And you're not her either!"

"Aladdin-dono… everyone…"

"So we are going to help you out whether you like it or not."

"…Idiot." Hakuryuu murmured.

"Huh?"

"Idiots; wouldn't you need to see where your strength lies first?"

"SAY THAT AGAIN! I'M GOING TO MAIM YOU!"

"I would like to see you try Alibaba-dono."

"Hakuryuu-kun! Alibaba-kun!"

Fai, who had been outside the door, standing with his back faced, smiled at the banter. It may not seem like it, but he could tell that Hakuryuu had relaxed at this from what he heard through the room as it went on.

"My first favor Aniki, is to honor and fulfill Hakuyuu and Hakuren's request. Long, long, ago."


Once upon a time, he had questioned two brothers who loved their family so much.

"Do you want your sibling to be stained with blood? Do you wish your sibling to become a monster?"

They did not reply after a while, but the seemingly oldest one had answered.

"We only wished for him to carry our will to protect our families from that monster… but we do not wish for him to have fallen as far as that same monster either."

The second had answered in addition. "We are still scared, but we're prepared with death. He may not fully accept it at first. We know him as he is still so pure, a child yet to know the darkness of this world. So this is what we ask."

"What?" He had to wonder.

"We wish that you will be there to guide our little sibling through the dark times. Be the one to support him no matter how hard the times."

"… That, I can do."

They never spoke to each other again. In a silent agreement for this vow;


Now eating dinner at a local bar, Aladdin had asked.

"Say, where are you planning to go Fai-san? I knew Ion-san would be coming along with me to Magnostadt to see Denzel-san. And Amber-san is leaving to Reim for a performance. What about you?"

"Now that you said it, Fai-san never mentioned where he planned to go…"

"I hardly have any destination; I'll be tagging along with Amber. It's been so long since I met granny after all." He shrugged.

"Granny…?"

"My grandma Aladdin; she always insist having my friends calling her granny just because it has a more home-coming feeling. She's quiet lonely lately that she appreciates any kind of company." Amber replied.

"Ah…"

"I guess we're all going separate ways." Ion said as she drank from her cup.

"But we'll surely meet again. I believe that. After all, we're all connected by destiny!" Aladdin said in an optimistic enthusiasm.

"So let's make a promise…" Alibaba motioned his hand for a fist bump. The others sans Hakuryuu seemed to know what he meant. Fai motioned Hakuryuu to his right hand and that's when Hakuryuu understood what he meant.

And they bump their fist over at each other's. "We'll meet again in one piece!"

They had spent some time laughing and having fun over at the dinner and a performance.

At the sidelines, Fai, Amber, and Ion simply smiled as the other four had some fun.


"Man~ Am I full~"

"Me too~ let's go to sleep~"

They had been walking around the town for a while before returning to the inn.

Alibaba looked over at a location and his eyes widened at said location. "Say Aladdin, how about we go for a detour before heading back?"

"Ah well, okay…"

"I don't mind to-"

"No Morgiana, you should go back and rest first."

"Huh, but-"

"No, it's dangerous for a girl to stay out late at night, alright? So see you!" Alibaba had grabbed Aladdin and ran off to a direction. Whispering something over to Aladdin which somehow got him giddy and follow along;

Morgiana was understandably, angry and annoyed.

"…What was that about?" Hakuryuu looked incredulously at what just happened.

The Fanalis had decided to follow them, the others following her too. When they finally arrived, they could only look incredulously.

It's a brothel.

Morgiana sighed in exasperatedly. Hakuryuu stared blankly. "…Alibaba-dono and Aladdin-dono went to places like this?"

Fai only sighed. "Leave them be. I'm pretty sure they'll return once they're done."

"Yeah, we'll be heading back to the inn earlier so if you guys want to go somewhere else, stick together, kay?" Amber told Hakuryuu as she followed Fai and Ion who started to walk away.

Once they were out of sight, the realization hit Hakuryuu like bricks. He had been all alone, with Morgiana.

'What should I do, what should I do!?' He thought frantically.

"Hakuryuu-san…?" Morgiana looked at him in wonder.

He turned and stuttered. "Y- Yes…?"

"Let's walk around."

Hakuryuu was nervous at the request but obliged. The two spent the walk around the night streets of Aktia in silence. When they walked their way to the now empty port, Morgiana had asked.

"Amber-san told me that someone among us liked me… So I wanted to ask-"

"Yes."

It took him a few seconds to realize that he had said it out of impulse; thinking if she meant that he had liked her, he felt like beating himself up for taking conclusions but when he looked at her, he can now see Morgiana practically blushing out of embarrassment. This meant that he had been right;

"B- But I used to be a sla-"

"That's not the point Morgiana-dono." He spoke again, now, he was more firm.

"I like you Morgiana-dono. You are a strong woman. Gentle, and also caring; I don't care if you used to be a slave. I liked you as a person. Nothing more, nothing less; if I were to be the emperor, I would have liked to take you as my empress;"

"…I see." Morgiana said and soon bowed. "I'm sorry but I can't accept it just yet."

"H- Huh?"

"It's the first time… a man had said something like this and I used to live without knowing so many things about life… so I can't accept it just yet."

It took a while for him to gather his thoughts and he soon spoke. "Thank you Morgiana-Dono. I know you may not be familiar with many aspects of life. So that's why, I'm willing to wait. And I'll ask again someday."

"Thank you… Hakuryuu-san;"


"That's why you wanted us to return to the inn in case Aladdin and Alibaba left somewhere?"

"Please Fai; I can see the way Hakuryuu looked at the cutie. Even Aladdin pointed it out too!"

"Problem is, as far as I knew, she liked Alibaba more."

"So? It could turn into something interesting!"

"…Well, I don't think I'm going to root on either of the two. Best man win's I suppose."

"Ion-chan, you're a total bummer."


The next day…


"I'll be heading off with Aladdin so we'll see you later." Ion waved at them, taking her bag as Aladdin prepared the flying turban.

Both of them soon flew up and waved at the group.

"Stay well until we meet again!" Aladdin had shouted.

"Of course!" They called back to Aladdin as his and Ion's silhouette grew farther and farther.

Once they're out of sight, Amber soon told them. "We're going to take a different route to Reim so we're gonna leave earlier."

"I'll see you soon. Thank you for all that you have done." Hakuryuu bowed to the remaining group as he wanted to take a different route to the Tenzan Plateau.

"No need to thank us Hakuryuu! That's what friends are for!" Alibaba told him.

"Take care Hakuryuu. And tell your sister that I said "Hi". She seems really nice."

"Are you perhaps, planning to cheat on Rana-dono?" Hakuryuu asked rather jokingly.

"How rude, you know that Rana's the only one for me." Fai snorted. Knowing full well that he didn't mean it and it had been a joke;

Hakuryuu chuckled in response. "I'll surely send your greetings to my sister."

"Well then, we'll head off!" Amber waved at them, flashing a bright smile before running off. Fai following her in a steady pace;

"It's time for me to go. I'll see you soon." Hakuryuu bowed once more before he left.

Alibaba and Morgiana soon waving and shouting a goodbye to him;

"I'll get going now Morgiana! Before I forget…" Alibaba went over to his bag and gave Morgiana a necklace.

"This is…"

"Just in case the household vessel get's broken! I think it looks good on you too!"

"Thank you Alibaba-san…"

Alibaba soon rode on the ship and waved at Morgiana.

"See you later Morgiana!"

With that, he entered the ship.

Morgiana soon wore the necklace and bowed at the direction Alibaba's ship had gone in gratitude.


"Ahh… I'm hungry…" Aladdin complained as he felt his stomach rumbling.

"We just had our breakfast hours ago Aladdin." Ion gave him a blank look.

"But I can't help it Ion-san… I get a bit hungry easily…"Aladdin laughed nervously.

"You can save your time if you had mastered gravity magic to help you fly. It's fun if you ask me." She informed him, a small smile at her face at the thought of flying.

"You like flying?"

"Yeah, it's fun. I can feel the wind everywhere when I did. Oh, there's a caravan there." Ion pointed over to a resting group.

"Ah! Let's head down!" Aladdin directed the flying turban down. When the turban is placed at his head, both of them walked towards the caravan driver;

"I'm Aladdin, and this is my friend Ion. We're travelers."

"Huh?" He looked at them incredulously before shooing them away. "Leave us be. This caravan had an important guests and cargo along with them. Even if you want to ride along, do you even have the money?"

"We do! We have a lot!" Aladdin searched for his pockets and brought out a pouch of Dynal and gold (Courtesy of Sinbad). Showing it to the driver;

He looked at the money in glee before taking it and went over to the caravan.

"Master, we have two guests wanting to join us on the trip; they have the money with them here. But don't worry; they'll be sitting at the back so they won't bother you."

A hand appeared from inside the caravan and made motions. The driver understood and told the two.

"You are allowed to join, but since we have an important guest inside, do not ever disturb them!"

"Well, that's okay with us." Ion shrugged.

They later entered the caravan and settled in.


The caravan soon drove off and continued with the journey. Aladdin had looked at the window blankly when he was done eating while Ion read a book she had bought at the book store back in Sindria.

"Ion-san, what kind of book is that?"

"It's the story of a musician who met a little girl. They would find a bud that grew on the music that the musician had played. I'll lend it to you if you want."

"Thank you Ion-san!" Aladdin thanked her, and then looked at the veiled curtain covering the important guest, as the driver dubbed them.

"Say, Ion-san? What kind of person do you think is there?" Aladdin asked; pointing at the figures covered in the curtains.

Ion looked up from the book and frowned at him. "…Aladdin, if you're about to do what I thought you would do, I would have to change my mind about lending you the book."

"Eh? But Ion-san!"

"There are limits Aladdin." Ion sighed.

"But-"

The caravan stopped abruptly. Causing Aladdin to jump from the impact;

Aladdin had went outside along with Ion, about to ask what just happened when he saw a group of gruff and mean looking men surrounding them.

"Who- who are you!?"

"We're thieves! We'll never tell you to do as we say since we never leave them alive…" The leader cackled. He pulled out a steely weapon, a magic tool, Aladdin could recognize and they activated the magic tool which shot out fire at the soldiers.

"…Just when I was on the good part;" Ion sighed as she scanned her surroundings, book closed and in hand.

"Aladdin, are you ready? This might take time since there are a lot of them."

"I'm ready Ion-san!" Aladdin readied his stance as he brought his staff. "Harhar-"

They soon heard the sound of a slash coming from behind them.

"Shut up. Are you all trying to ruin my mood for the journey?" The voice sneered. They looked back to see a boy with pink hair, standing at the rubble of the caravan.

Ion could somehow see a similar resemblance to Kougyoku by his hair despite being a bit lighter than Kougyoku's.

"How about I take you misters out?"

"Y- You brat; I'll take you on!"

He had been much faster than the man and had sliced him into half with his sword. But what made her shiver was the unsettling smile that curved at his lips and laugh that emitted out of his tongue as he saw the blood.

"Kouha-sama, I thought we are to go unnoticed…" A lady, whom Ion assumed to be one of the important guest's had said.

"It's useless Junjun. You know how he is like."

'Kouha… so he's Kougyoku's sibling.' Ion thought as she looked at the pink haired prince having fun with killing the thieves.

She could see that this fight is one-sided but she couldn't think of it as a one-sided fight due to the blood.

This is carnage.


"Didn't we tell you to use the flying carpet to avoid any troubles Kouha-sama?"

"No way, my clothes would get dusty if we did."

Aladdin watched the prince warily while Ion simply ignored whatever happened in favor of the book she still wanted to finish reading.

Ion was snapped out when she heard what sounds like a slap. She looked up from her book and stare at the scene blankly.

"Hey! This one is my favorite set! You got it all wrinkly!"

"Kouha-sama!"

"So unfair, please hit me Kouha-sama."

"Me too;"

"…Are you seriously fifteen?" Ion questioned incredulously.

The aide's flinched, Aladdin looked frantic. "I- Ion-san, that's kind of rude for him!"

Hearing that, Kouha's bangs shadowed his eyes, and shouted.

"I'M EIGHTEEN! WHY DO PEOPLE ALWAYS THINK I'M YOUNGER JUST BECAUSE I'M SHORT!?"

"…You don't look that old. Sorry;"

"Sorry isn't enough. Who are you? And who's the other kid?"

"They're travelers who joined along with us for a while." One of the aides informed the prince.

"H- Hello. I'm Aladdin, a traveler. She's my friend, Ion." Aladdin introduced himself and also Ion in her stead.

"Ion…? That's a weird name for a girl."

"…I like it. End of the story." Ion snapped at him before she decided to return with reading the book.

Aladdin decided to divert Kouha's attention seeing that the atmosphere was rather tense and asked. "Um, about Magnostadt, you're going there too?"

"Ah, yeah I had business to do with the headmaster. But why are you going there? Only magicians are allowed in there now, unless you're an exception like me."

"I don't look like it but I'm a magician! I wanted to study magic so I decided to head over to Magnostadt."

"So you're a student? Good luck with that. But what about that friend of yours;"

"She's just there to visit a friend of hers who's a magician as well!"

"Her? She doesn't look like a magician."

"Ah! Ion-san's a-"

"I just finished reading Aladdin, you can read it now." Ion intercepted before Aladdin could say anything about her.

"Ah! Thank you Ion-san!" Aladdin thanked her and took the book from her.

"I'm still curious, you're a what?" Kouha wondered.

"…Trump cards are not to be revealed unless necessary, aren't they?"

"…Cheeky girl;"

"Whatever you say, I'm going to sleep." Ion yawned as she held a grip to her bag like hugging a doll and closed her eyes.

Ignoring whatever transpired after that.


"Run away from here!"

"B- but-"

"You have to go! Run and live, Tia!"

She woke up with a jolt, panting slightly from the memory. "…not again…" She murmured. A hand placed near her forehead.

"…You've been like this for the last three days." A voice spoke beside her. She shifted her head to see Kouha who was staring at her.

"…I thought you slept?"

"I did. But I've been hearing you waking up and wander off. Is this even frequent?"

"…No, why did you ask?"

"Is it wrong that I'm worried and curious? You're making me lose my sleep."

"Then go back to sleep." Ion simply deadpanned. Getting up from the ground and walked away from the campsite.

"Where are you even going?"

"Just around, don't mind me." She flashed him a small smile in reassurance that she won't do anything else before she left.

She never noticed the lingering gaze following her.

(The next five days, she had been able to sleep with a dreamless sleep.)


"So, we've already reached Magnostadt already?" Kouha wondered as he held a strand of Aladdin's long hair.

Ion was mortified at the many braids Kouha had formed with those hands. She was just glad that she wasn't a victim to being braided.

'Sorry Aladdin.' She mentally apologized at Aladdin's distraught of having his whole hair braided.

They walked out of the caravan and stood in front of the gates.

"See you Aladdin, Ion. I have someone to fetch me so good luck to you." Kouha had bid them farewell before going over his way. And after he fixed Aladdin's braid;

"Well, let's go. It's a simple borg magic, after all." Ion beckoned Aladdin at the line to the entrance.

"Huh? You're coming along with me? I thought Denzel-san would see you around?"

"No, it's just that I don't want to draw unwanted attention as it is. Denzel's famous around Magnostadt for a good reason. You do remember of what I told you about him, right?"

"Ah, he's "The summoner", a rare life magician that could summon animals and monsters to his aid, right?" Aladdin had spoken this in a whisper, knowing that no one is supposed to know that they knew of him.

"Yeah;"

They had passed by the inspection with a breeze.


"This is where we'll part; I'll see you around from time to time over the stay so good luck."

"Alright; thank you Ion-san!" Aladdin soon went over to the academy while Ion walked away.

She had never been to Magnostadt and maybe the only one among their friends to have the luxury to see it so she had decided to browse around the country for a good hour.

As she sat at a bench, luckily, with no one around, she saw the familiar saber tooth tiger coming to her view as she ate a light snack.

"Hey Afra, are you here on his stead?" Ion petted the saber tooth tiger and scratched the back of her ears, which caused her to purr out.

"No, I'm here with Afra this time. It's been a while Ion." Now, following behind the tiger steadily is Denzel.

He didn't wear the black magician's robes like the other magician's. He had worn a green robe with a sash around his shoulder and waist. Holding a long metal staff with a purple crystal embedded in a circle to show the signal that he is a life magician. His hair had been a silver to compliment his crimson eyes. And he didn't wear a magician's hat, having a hood extended at his robe.

"You think people will notice you talking to me?"

"Nah, I can easily trick them by saying that you're a friend I met during my travels. I'm surprised grandpa managed to convince the others that I was out traveling after the big fight though."

Ah, that.

Denzel had told them that he had gotten into a fight with Matal Mogamett before he left.

"Isn't it rather tense between you and him though?"

"It is, but I'm going to forgive him. I'm not the fragile minded Denzel that he knew."

"Of course; mind leading the way to your humble abode? Oh great summoner?" A playful grin curved at her lips.

"Gladly, my fellow spell fencer." He smirked back.

They both held a hand. Denzel held his other hand to Afra and casted a teleportation magic on them to his home before leaving the area.


In a field of greens, there was a distant, desolate land with broken buildings.

There are no signs of a burn, but destruction and cracks of the ground.

He paid no heed to the cracks as he walked and walked until he found a large grave mark.

"To those who were lost; we remember that you lived."

"It's been a while. A year, was it?" He spoke to no one as he placed some offerings in front of the grave.

"I wish I could have time to warn you all. Ion, no… Tia is quiet distraught and traumatized with all of you gone, you know?"


As the pages turn, someone had called.

"It's been a while, my friend. Are you reading it out of nostalgia? Or was it to refresh your memory of the event?"


And Denzel finally makes an appearance! Kinda brief but he still appeared nonetheless. I don't plan for a set time on the separation. The next chapter's will have different times with each other but still connected before going back to Ion and Denzel since I want to correlate them as a time gap between the separation, Koutoku's death, and the start of the manga's Magnostadt arc.

Denzel: A sixteen year old magician known as "The summoner". He returned to Magnostadt months before in order to see if anything has happened in Magnostadt and prepare for the upcoming war. As one of the strongest magician's, he has access to many areas which includes those that were restricted by normal means. Denzel is a gentle and caring boy with a love for animals.

Afra: A Maurenian Sabertooth tiger that had been together with Denzel thick and thin. She is quiet protective with Denzel and stick close to him for most of the time.

1: I actually borrowed the things Ion said to Olba from Bravely Default. The quote for the game is "Have the courage to think and act on your own, and also have the courage to disobey." I liked the lesson and meaning behind it. The game teaches that sometimes, following along is never enough, you have to think for yourself, and through that, you will feel much happier and accomplished. Since I was more or less inspired from said game and series, this quote would come up from time to time.

2: There's a total of 3 favors Alternate Judal had asked back in Chapter 6.

3: Here's the confession to Morgiana happening. Yes, it has been toned down a bit given the change that Hakuryuu didn't kill Aum Madaura but I find this more fitting given that there is a lighter tone after the finishing of the Aum Madaura arc.

And just to make it clear, the end of this AliMorHaku love triangle will be ambiguous. I personally prefer AliMor (It was honestly, my top Magi OTP) myself but I've seen that there's some fan-war going on between AliMor and HakuMor fans despite AliMor being canon(-ish because I'm not sure with how Ohtaka will end this). So whether Morgiana would end up with Alibaba or Hakuryuu, it will be very ambiguous until probably, near the finale.

That; or I'll leave it up to the majority of the votes. Just so you know that AliKou won't be available since I had JuKou in mind for Kougyoku.

Edit: With HakuMor completely sinking down with the recent revelations, the winner is AliMor. Sorry HakuMor fans, but don't worry, I had someone in mind for Hakuryuu later.

4: The story of the book Ion read is actually a bit based on the rhythm game Deemo. The recent update had me in tears with the conclusion. Q.Q but nevertheless, it's a good story.

5: Ion's height is 145 cm which makes her shorter than Kouha, but Kouha's height made him look younger which was why Ion had been mistaken and thought that Kouha is actually her age. And given the height, I'd like to think that Kouha had a slight height complex for being shorter than the other boys his age.

Ciao!

- TransparentAnswer