A/N: Here with another update. Hurrah~

Though, updates will be a bit irregular from now on. I only managed to update (and its early) because I managed to have wi-fi for a bit.

Hey, at least its early, right? No? Dammit.

Breathing softly with relaxed features brought by slumber, I continued to sleep. It had been a few hours since I was finally able to be used to Sinbad sleeping. And, my God, was it heaven.

It took a lot of effort to sleep (flashback to me smacking the living hell out of the sleeping-unexpectedly not waking up-boy beside me with my pillow) and when I was finally able to, I managed to sleep undisturbed.

"Je'hel..."

...I said undisturbed.

"Je'hel..."

Sigh

Well, it was fun while it lasted. I thought as my face scrunched up before I turned to my side and covered my ears with my pillow. "Go away..." I murmured sleepily.

I was near falling asleep again when this time I was shooked awake. Rather violently, might I add. I sat up with my heart beating out of my chest at the sudden rude awakening and I was face to face with a beaming Sinbad.

"Morning~"

It was still dark out.

He may or may not be able to see my facial expression right now but I still tried and scowled at him. I ignored him and prepared to fall back into my soft inviting pillow when a hand grabbed my arm and practically forced me to stand.

I held back the urge to yell 'Let go, girly-haired bastard!' as Sinbad shushed me and dragged me off outside their house. As what I mentioned earlier, it was still dark and the night street is cold and eerily silent. Good thing I grabbed my blanket with me.

Sinbad silently closed the door behind us before releasing me to stretch. Covering myself with my blanket, I pointed out that he was still shirtless. He only blinked at me before smiling brightly. I realized he was holding his shirt and probably already had the idea to put it on before I pointed it out.

I blushed in embarrassment and looked away as he did.

Looking at the dark sky, I could hear the faint sound of waves crashing on land. It may be because it was so silent that I was able to hear it. Man, I already miss practicing magic. And it hasn't even a day since the last time I did.

I rubbed the sand out of my eyes, yawning. "Sin, what are you planning on doing?" I asked, shivering as cold wind passed us and clutching the blanket tighter around me.

"Hey, you called me by my nickname again." He said, ignoring my question in lieu of pointing out what I said. I looked at him unimpressed and turned around to go back inside. He desperately tried to stop me by grabbing ahold of the clothe surrounding me. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding! I just want to talk, okay?"

"Talk?" I asked with a raised brow. "Can't we do it later when I actually feel like waking up?"

Sinbad smiled sheepishly. "I thought this was a good time to do it. I usually wake up around this time." He scratched the back of his head. "No one will disturb us."

Looking at his kicked-puppy expression, I couldn't help but sigh and nod in understandment. "Fine. Let's talk." I muttered in defeat. Geez. Talk about his powerful persuasion skills.

Sinbad brightened and he held my hand, tugging me in the direction of the port. "C'mon. I know the perfect place."

Seeing the Ruhk around him flutter happily like his current emotions made me realize, I can't really refuse him if he's like this.

I smiled ruefully, watching his back as he led the way.

Sinbad brought me to a nearby beach. He said that it was perfect for watching the sunrise. I sat on a log while he just leaned on it and, together, we watched as the sky slowly turned purple, the shade getting lighter and lighter.

We didn't say anything for a while, just silently listening at the waves and chirps of the early birds around us, both human and animal.

"You know, I've thought about what you said to me." He started. I blinked and looked towards him inquiringly. This must've been about what I asked him yesterday at the ship. "What will I do once I achieved my dreams? There were alot of things that came to mind." He breathed in and clasped his hands infront of him. "First off, I want to secure the future of everyone in Tison. So that they wouldn't suffer anymore. Then I want to prevent wars as much as possible."

I resisted the urge to comment.

We all know that he doesn't want to invoke wars on anyone but he will do underhanded things that can cause wars. Granted, he calculated and planned things so that the other party wouldn't be able to retaliate, cornered per se, but that doesn't really conceal his actions' hidden meaning.

If you think about it, he could be considered as the evilest person there is.

Sinbad looked down at his hands and I saw him clench them into fists. "I've seen what war can do to people. Believe it or not, everyone in Tison hated me and my family. We were called expatriates despite my father being a retired veteran."

And I know the things that he went through were painful, such memories from when he was a child and when his country was attacked by Barbarosa's soldiers. He lost his idol, his father from those soldiers and many of his countrymen.

Maybe those experiences can be used as excuses for his actions.

I watched as his face morphed into a pained expression.

"Everyone had lost hope, clinging only to the idea that once Parthevia loses the war, their sufferings wouldn't end."

"We must win the war." An image of a group of people struggling to survive but still gives their all for the military crossed my mind. It was one of his painful memories.

"They were all desperate to help the military as much as possible. I don't want them to ever experience war again. I don't want them lose someone important to them just because of it. It just brings back bad memories."

Sinbad paused before a smile broke out on his face. It was unexpected as I blinked in surprise at the sudden change. He turned to me and grinned.

"And then lastly, if ever an opportunity shows itself infront of me, I would like to take care of people. I want to become somebody else's hope. I'll try my best to help everyone and make sure they would live a peaceful life away from wars."

I could see the Ruhk gathering in masses around him. Even as the sun slowly covered the lands with its light, Sinbad made me feel like he shone much more than that.

People always said that even an evil mastermind would be pure as a child. It was just that something happened to them at that point that changed them. Sinbad was the perfect example to that. I could see what other people had seen in him. Why they wanted him to lead them. He's just that kind of person through and through. His intentions are pure and innocent and it just started morphing as he grew older, as he experienced more.

I started doubting about my judgement on him. The more I think about him, the more I hear about his dream, it felt like I was the bad guy for putting him under the wrong category.

I wonder, did he ever plan to be a king? Or was that something he decided when Yunan told him about the dungeons?

"...do you want to become king?" I hesitantly asked.

"King?" Sinbad tilted his head at me and thought about it. "Huh. I would be able to take care of people even if I have a different status. But if ever that it happens, sure." He shrugged nonchalantly. "I'll become king. I'll overcome hardships for my people to secure them a bright future-"

It annoyed me how he treated being a king as something as easy as breathing. I don't think he knows about the heavy responsibilities of one. I cut him off. "Even if you suffer because of it?"

"Of course." He didn't hesitate to answer.

I hadn't expected his immediate answer, he sounds so sure. I gave him an incredulous look. "You would do anything?"

"Yes. Anything." He nodded at me seriously.

I pursed my lips. Anything, huh. This same defiance of him would turn him into someone that he doesn't want to be.

It was awhile before I spoke again. It was one final question, mostly a clarity for the previous one. "Even underhanded things that you know people would hate you for?"

Sinbad's gaze never wavered. "...absolutely. If it's for my country's sake. I will do it." He looked me in the eye and smiled confidently at me.

As the sun illuminated his face, I couldn't help but smile at the fire burning in his eyes, the very same ones that I saw in Kouen's eyes.

He will make a good king.

All my doubts about him being one disappeared with his reassurance.

He has the potential of being a villain, that much I know, but right now, I really think he's going to be a great king. Even the greatest of them all.

But one of these days, I'm so going to drill into his head that he's still a normal person. There were no exception to that despite of status, breed, race, or even social standing. Those kinds of people are normal who just happen to have special skills. Everyone has their own specialty and even if they're kings or the like, that doesn't make them any different than the rest.

I just hope he'll realize this in the future.

I hummed and patted his head, somehow real happy about all that he had said to me. "Good answer."

I failed to notice his reddening cheeks as I looked away but I did saw the pink Ruhk fluttering by happily. I brushed it off as nothing and we watched the sun fully rise from the edge of the sea.

Sinbad and I had been close. After what happened during the morning, I never minded his presence anymore. Granted, I still don't like him calling me by my name and the fact that he may do the things people may not like but it doesn't bother me as much. I still liked yelling at him though.

He just wanted to protect his citizens and even if it meant sacrificing his firstborn to the devil to do it, I oddly feel like he will.

Right now, I'm staying inside Esla's house while her and my parents go around the village to distribute the food we brought with Sinbad staying at the port to look for work.

I was continuing the medical books I haven't had the time to finish in Reim. It was quite hot now that the sun is at its highest so I'm just laying on the cold floor to cool myself while I write.

"Childbirth, eh? I haven't had the pleasure to experience it but by the graphic images you have drawn, it seems real painful."

I paused in my writing as I wondered if I really heard a familiar voice before I whipped my head to the side to be greeted by a cat-like woman sipping tea. "Sheba!" A smile instantly broke into my face and she patted my head.

"Hey, did you miss me?"

"Yup!" Well, mostly the lessons. "What are you doing here?"

"Ufufufu~ You see, I feel like teaching you one of my main magic spells." She reached for the book I was writing and flipped through it. "Ohh~ I didn't know these types of sicknesses exist."

I smiled and almost tackled her at what I heard her say. "Really!? You'll teach me!? Yay~"

She closed the book and turned to me, amusement and mirth dancing behind her dark eyes. "Yes, Borg Al-Samm*. I'm quite proud of it and I would like to teach you."

"The one that can be offensive and defensive at the same time!?"

"Uh-huh."

Oh my God. That's one of the magic I really wanted to learn. I can't find out how using Solomon's Wisdom (it was hard browsing through all of it) but now, the inventor of said spell is offering to teach me said magic!

It was an understatement to say that I was excited. "I can't wait to start~"

Sheba grinned at me. It oddly looked cheshirish for some reason. "Do you want us to start now?"

I blinked and looked at her evil expression with a shudder. But she can't be thinking of grinding me into dust, right? "Now? But where will we..?" This place was an island. A small island at that with barely any forests or thicket of trees. Where will we practice?

Sheba's staff appeared and she waved it. It opened up a portal right in the middle of Esla's house. I stood up and shielded my eyes from the bright light and for a brief moment, I saw nothing but sea for miles.

"There?" I asked incredulously before I felt a force push me. "Ah!? Wait, Sheba! I have to ready myself for levitation magic!"

She snickered. "Just ready yourself when we're there and try not to fall in the sea."

Easier said than done, dammit!

A bright light flashed and we were gone, leaving the room to be engulfed by silence.

Standing infront of my blank-faced Mom, unable to stand and using a random stick I found to keep myself from falling over, I faintly wondered if I look as horrible as I thought.

I was wet all over and my clothes were in tatters, I have bruises all over, and I look like I'm going to faint any second now. Which would probably happen soon as I could feel my body get heavier and my vision turning black in the corners.

Curse Sheba and her maniacal ways of teaching me. I couldn't even count how many times I fell in the ocean because she kept smacking me around with the spell she was supposed to teach me.

She only told me to envision my borg to be moving on my will or at least move according to the wave of my staff. But all I could manage was have a small bump appear on my borg for a short moment before disappearing.

Trying my best not to have my throat hurt, I spoke hoarsely. "Um.. I'm back..?"

Seemingly snapping out of her thoughts, she started panicking. "Je'hel! What the hell happened to you, you problem child!?" She ushered me in and sat me down next to a bewildered Sinbad. She immediately started on treating my bruises.

"Um.. I fell in the sea... several times..?" I offered with a wince. She stared at me before pressing her hand on my battered arm. "Ow!"

"Yes, because you'll get this bruised just by falling in the sea." She said sarcastically.

"There were corals."

Sinbad looked over my shoulder and whistled. "How did you even get those? It looked like it hurt."

I fell silent. Geez. If I had known I would get a smacking while practicing, I wouldn't have agreed to go midday. I would've just said to do it during the night when no one is awake.

Mom starting wrapping my arm in bandages. "Are you not going to tell me the truth?" She asked after a moment of silence.

I refused to answer and instead tried distracting myself at her fluidly moving hands. What's the point of telling if I already knew she was gonna forbid me from continuing? I wouldn't have listened anyway.

Mom sighed, realizing that I have no intention of opening my mouth. She turned to the boy beside me and asked a favor. "Sin, be a dear and get me water from the well?"

Sinbad looked confused at the request but understood nonetheless and left the two of us alone, albeit a little hesitantly.

Silence filled the tense atmosphere and Mom continued bandaging me, this time on my legs. "I read the book you were writing." I flinched. That was my medical book that I left. "You have quite the knowledge on medicine. Even in illnesses I have never even heard of."

Now that I think of it, I've left books that I wrote multiple times whenever I'm away and letting the ink dry. She (and probably Dad and a few servants tasked with cleaning my room) may have already seen those and haven't said a thing.

It bothers me at the thought that they have but more so at the fact that they would probably persuade me to become a doctor rather than as a magician. I may have been learning how to heal using magic but that doesn't mean I'll take it on as a profession. It was mostly a side skill and I intend it to be just as that.

"I don't want to be a doctor." I told her with steel in my voice.

"I never said you will." She said as soon as those words left my mouth. "I was merely praising you. Where did you learn of those?"

I stayed silent.

"You're not gonna tell me, as well?" She raised a brow before cleaning up. As soon as she was done, she carried me to sit in her lap and gave me an embrace, patting my head affectionately.

"You're a special girl, Je'hel. Me and your father have known that right from the start. Not just us but everyone that have known you. We've watched you grow up unbelievably fast that we could not catch up to you." She grabbed my hand and clasped in between hers. "You were talking as you are now at the mere age of a year and half, reading books and moving on to complicated ones once bored, walking with the grace that an adult would've had. You were unbelievable, my little girl. You were amazing." She hugged me tightly and I could hear the sadness from her voice.

"Yet, we were scared of you. We were scared for you. You have such potential that me and your father tried keeping you safe at the confines of the company, teaching you everything we know about trading. We did not want anyone else to know of your intellect for fear that you may disappear." She went silent and when she talked again, I had the feeling she was gonna cry at any moment. "Then the time came that we realized we could not keep you under our wing for any longer."

"I want to learn magic."

"We knew then that you would not be satisfied even if we gave you everything you wanted. Your stubbornness for wanting to know more about the knowledges of the world was something we could not even comprehend. So we agreed. Even though it had pained the two of us, we wanted you to have help from people who know about magic. So we had you admitted at the school for magicians."

She moved to wipe at her eyes before she turned me around and I came face to face with my Mom, smiling at the bottom of her heart. I felt a pang in my chest at that. They were overprotective because they were scared of losing me. And here I am, keeping secrets from her and making her worried sick.

"Do you remember your promise to me before? That you will save the world so that I wouldn't have to worry about you getting hurt anymore. It was such a childish wish that you believed in while smiling sincerely at me."

I looked at my covered arms and legs. This kinds of things are nothing. If it meant getting hurt like this everyday for everyone's sake, I would not mind and just continue on pulling through.

"This is necessary." I spoke with a small voice. "For everyone."

And it is. Compared to having the world be destroyed and everyone be killed, these mere bruises are nothing.

She hugged me. "I know, my little girl. I know. All that I ask is for you take better care of yourself." She chuckled, lightening the atmosphere. "I wouldn't want you to lose your legs and end up being a runt forever now, would I?"

I smiled and mock-pouted, happy that she was willing to drop the subject. I still have that feeling that we would be having this conversation in the near future. I just hope that I'll be ready to tell her and everyone else then. "I'm not a runt!" I crossed my arms and looked the other way, a familiar long purple hair catching my attention at the doorway.

Sin..?

Mom brought my attention back to her when she patted my head, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "Yes, yes. Whatever you say."

I looked at her and smiled, reaching over to hug her. "Mhhm.."

I fell asleep just like that.

I woke up being taken cared of by Sinbad, our parents nowhere in sight. Mom must've went out again and left me in the purple-haired boy's care. I slowly sat up and stretched.

Said boy was already by my side. "Je'hel! Are you alright now?"

I winced at his loud voice and blearily squinted at him. "Can you please lower your voice? You're making my wounds shake." My throat was still sore but not as much as before. I rubbed at it and looked at him. "Water."

He handed me a cup and watched me as I drank it. Feeling relieved I looked over at him and saw him staring. I then remembered him eavesdropping from the earlier event. That was a bit unexpected of him. I blinked when I remembered a certain scene of him eavesdropping on a certain magi and a certain king vessel.

"Sinbad, how long were listening to us?" Sinbad looked like he was gonna protest when I spoke again, deadpanning at him. "I saw you."

He fell silent for a moment before murmuring. "I never really left. Sorry."

I nodded in understandment before sighing. So almost throughout the whole thing. That was embarrassing.

Sinbad looked down as if contemplating about something before he raised his head to look at me. "I-Is it true? That you know a lot about illnesses? Do you know about Mom's sickness?"

So this is what that was about? His Mom's illness? The manga never mentioned what type of sickness Esla has. There was a lot of possibilities on what it could be. I haven't even looked into her that much yet. "...no. I don't know what it is." I watched as his face fell. "Have you never had a doctor look into it?"

He shook his head, sadly. "We wouldn't have had the money for it."

Miss Esla, huh? She was depicted to have died when Sinbad came back from conquering the Dungeon Baal. She doesn't have much time left. Only two years...

But from what I remember, she had medicine to keep her condition from worsening. Perhaps... perhaps I could do something about it.

"Sinbad," he looked at me and I smiled at him, patting him at the head like what I did that morning. "Leave this matter to me. I'll find a way."

I'll have my parents help Miss Esla for a bit before I look into her condition after a few years. I'll make sure to have the people of Tison take care of Sinbad's Mom when he goes Dungeon Conquering so that she survives long enough for me to come back. Though...

I wonder if Miss Esla would accept help from my parents. I wondered to myself as the Ruhk around Sinbad fluttered about happily. I smiled at him ruefully. Yeah... she would. No doubt for Sinbad's sake.

*Eight-headed Defensive Wall