Reim is considered one of the most peaceful countries (if you overlook the wars they've caused in the past). Entertainment of all kinds keeping people happy, a fair amount of riches for the nobles and the like, the military keeping the streets and businesses in check; all was thanks to the Sacerdos Maxima, Scheherazade.

So it was definitely weird when, all of a sudden, a group of foreigners had started causing a ruckus in a city near Napolia. Since it was such a large one, the troubles they are causing didn't take long to reach the ears of the officials and the soldiers immediately took action.

They all went to apprehend the eastern folks but one wrong step took the life of a soldier. It was a strange magic that the black-haired woman had used; a shadow in the shape of a dragon seeming appeared out of the sleeves of her robes and easily sliced through the soldier.

There were screams from the passerbys and many ran away, including some of the soldiers. As they left, there was only one thing they heard,

"Where the hell is Midel Reinhardt!?"

And they could only grow confused.

It was such a peaceful day, was what I thought because something good just happened and I am very happy about it. The members of the company all thought it was obvious, too, via the pleased look I have on my face. To say that I was infecting some was more than accurate, I must say.

The reason why is because in just three weeks, Sinbad had finally managed to earn his one hundred gold coins for the firm in the Merchant's Guild. Not only that, King Rashid was there to witness it, too. I'm very proud.

He was surprised at the fact that the teen actually managed to do it; with the talk that the three of us last had, he thought he didn't stand the chance, at all. Well, I thought the same thing, too, at first until I remembered that he actually thought of a way to earn those gold coins.

But the King was even more surprised at the fact that Sinbad seemed more knowledgable in the trade when he questioned him. He found out it was because he was under my parents' tutelage for that few weeks and he looked pretty impressed.

My parents were definitely proud of him in place of his mother Esla but I was even prouder because he brought said King of Balbadd at our company. And his interest was caught by my parents, too. Talk about a future trade partner.

"King Rashid~" I ran towards him and bowed before grinning up at him. "How are you?"

He smiled softly. "I'm doing well. I'm glad that you are, as well."

I scratched the back of my head in embarrassment. "Thank you."

"It's an honour to meet you, sire. Welcome." Dad then stepped out into the open with Mom and greeted the King with a smile, knowing that Sinbad and I know the man. Have I mentioned that the two of them were pretty surprised that me and him knew a King? They said that's not even a once in a lifetime thing. The two of us were lucky.

King Rashid nodded his head in acknowledgement. "Ah, yes. You must be the girl's parents. It's a pleasure."

"We're also the godparents of Sinbad." Dad gestured to the teenage boy beside me. "We've been taking care of him since he set foot in Napolia."

"As I've heard."

I was just watching on the sidelines when a thought suddenly crossed my mind. I leaned over to Sinbad and whispered confusedly, "Why is King Rashid here again?" Yeah, why is he here? I'm glad that he's come to visit and that would probably give more exposure to our company but...

"I told him about Ahsteria." He whispered back, a smirk lacing his lips. "He's been interested when I told him I learned alot here." His tone sounded giddy and he looked like he's vibrating in his place.

Yup. There's the needed exposure.

"Heh... It's nice seeing the King again." I said with a small smile, watching as the adults conversed with each other. Though they haven't met for long, they look like friends already. And that's good. "He's on my good books ever since he treated us out to dinner. Though, you ate most of the food." I pointed out. Flashback to that time when I woke up and all the food that's left for me is fish. Of all the food that the King bought, the ones left for me was fish. I eat fish pretty much everyday already.

"I couldn't help it. It was delicious!" He exclaimed before his bubbly self withered slightly. He said in a nostalgic tone, "Buttered fish was a luxury back in Tison."

I raised a brow at him before I peeked at him from below. "Really? Why?"

He scratched his chin with a shaky smile. "Well, Tison isn't really the wealthiest place there is."

I blinked. Oh, that's right. Tison was a place affected by war before. I should have known that there was a reason why their food was bland and why everyone was so used to it. To think that something like buttered fish is something that is considered a luxury there. And here I am, taking those food for granted.

"You should be glad you get to eat those now then." Sinbad raised his head at that and I continued, "If you think about it, you've been living a luxurious life than before but never should you forget how blessed you are right now." I pointed at his chest while looking him straight in the eyes. "I haven't experienced your life in Tison but I no doubt would in the near future and I would be forever grateful that I was born in a wealthy family. That's why-"

I jumped and flicked his forehead. He yelped at the force I used and I could see a red mark at where I attacked him. I'm pretty strong for a magician. Though, I could blame a certain few for that. "-you should never take things for granted. Do you understand?" Because starting now, I'm not going to take things for granted anymore. Sheesh. Stop being so spoiled, Je'hel!

Sinbad rubbed his forehead with a frown. "I already know that."

"Really?" I looked at him disbelievingly because of all else, I know that he doesn't realized that until he's stuck living in the deadly cliffs of Artemyra... naked. I know that his life there was harsh but I'm shuddering at the thought of him being... naked already.

Realizing I saw through him, he ducked his head down with an embarrassed blush. "...no..."

"Hmph. That's what I thought."

We both looked back at the adults at the sound of their concluding conversation.

"We must be going. I hope you don't mind me borrowing Sinbad for a few weeks?" King Rashid inquired, glancing at the teen beside me. Said person looked just as intrigued as I am.

I wonder if this is when the King of Balbadd would train Sinbad in preparation for being a merchant. Sinbad has learned alot under my parents but perhaps there are things they haven't taught to him yet. Like: How not to scam your way into your customers' pockets.

"Oh, no. We do not mind." Mom waved her hand with a bell-like laugh. "Sinbad gets quite a handful at times and seeing that he will be a future rival company, we already want him out." True, true. I also want my room to be for myself again.

"I see. How thoughtful."

At the sight of Mom's dark smile, Sinbad shivered.

I, on the other hand, was used to it so I just pointed out to him, "I think they're kicking you out."

He sweatdropped. "I can see that."

I turned to him again. I inhaled deeply and sighed. "Well, I won't be seeing you for awhile and I'm honestly glad. I'd like to have my room back, please." I said with a mischievous smirk.

He glanced towards the King before turning his attention back to me. He pouted and said, his voice a mere mutter, "...I'd miss you."

I gave him a sad smile. "I'd miss me, too."

"Je'hel!"

I laughed at that. "Don't be such a pansy." I then smiled sincerely. "There's a reason why we met and that's fate. Fate binds people together so that even if they are separated, they will inevitably meet again in the future. So don't go saying that you'll miss me like you won't be seeing me ever again."

"That's basically what it feels like." He pouted.

"Yeah, yeah. You're basically just moving halfway across the town. That's not far." Then I muttered, "I sometimes wonder who's older with the two of us. Are you sure you're fourteen?" I jokingly asked.

He opened his mouth to answer but King Rashid's familiar monotone voice interrupted him.

"Sinbad."

Both of us looked towards them and Sinbad hurriedly answered the waiting King. "Ah. Yes!"

Just as he was about to walk away, he took ahold of one of my hands and squeezed it tightly. I winced as it hurt a bit but he let go right away so I hadn't mind that much. Though, that was certainly odd.

I walked towards my parents and waved with them goodbye at Sin and the King.

"I hope Sinbad does not cause trouble for the King or I'll refuse giving him his inheritance." Mom muttered to Dad as we watched the silhouettes of King Rashid, Sinbad, and two guards enter a carriage infront of our shop.

I blinked at what I heard and turned to them. "What? What inheritance?"

"Oh silly me." Mom giggled as Dad chuckled beside her. "You weren't supposed to hear that."

Hear what!? That I get to share my inheritance!? Oh, sharing my sacred bedroom is one thing. My inheritance/future riches is another!

"What the heck, Mom! I thought I get to have everything!" I whined.

"Language, runt."

And Dad just brushed off the issue with that. Unfortunately for them, I never got over it and quarreled with them about it for the next few weeks with no pleasant results.

Dammit.

And then, Sinbad made another appearance.

GOOD NEEEWWSSSSS!"

The door suddenly slammed open and in came Sinbad in all his glory. I jumped slightly at the loud sound. It had been really quiet before he bust in. Geez. Talk about a greeting.

"It's rude to shout at any time of the day Sinbad." Mom pointed out before Dad pointedly looked at me. She sighed, knowing what he meant. I just looked at them innocently, knowing exactly what they were hinting at. "...At least, without a greeting first." She added, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation.

"Yes, Sinbad?" Dad placed down what documents he was reading and gave his full attention to Sinbad.

"I got a theatre performance!" He excitedly told us all, almost jumping all over the place.

I blinked. "Really?" Oh, dear Solomon, what? Was his adventures here that far along already? Wow.

"Oh my! This is wonderful! Where is it going to be held? When would it be?" Mom ratted out as she stood up from where she sat, went over to him, and started questioning the teen at rapid speed.

"A week from now-"

Before he could continue, he was cut off by Mom's gleeful yell.

"Secretary May, Mona, and Mary! Come here this instant!"

Said three came through the door and bowed at us in just under a few seconds. I'm not even surprised as they tend to do that all the time. "Yes, Lady Midel?", they all simultaneously greeted.

They were triplets who once stole from Mom and Dad a few years back. I witnessed it as they were brought infront of my parents badly beaten by Parthevian officials. Small acts of crimes like theft can really get you hurt in Parthevia as crimes were pretty much a taboo there.

And as both my parents weren't really one to make such a big deal of losing a few hundred gold coins (they were actually happy to lose money), they ordered for the triplets' crime to be nullified and took them from the hands of the government. Now, they're working at the company and are now working for money instead of stealing it.

I have a jello for a heart so I approved of what they did and never questioned them about it.

"Sinbad has a theatre performance! We must begin preparations! Ohh, I can not wait for the start of the celebratory party!" Mom danced all over the place and dragged Dad to accompany her. He just let her do as she pleased with a small smile of his own.

I laughed lightly at that. This was an occurence that happens once in a blue moon. This must've been a really special occasion.

The staff eavesdropping all around the room hurriedly came over and congratulated Sinbad with bright smiles and grins. They had gotten close to Sinbad during the small time he stayed here and that was amazing on its own. The Ahsteria staff are only nice to keep face and they were never friendly with freeloaders; which Sinbad used to be.

"Isn't it wonderful, Sinbad? You get to perform infront of many people now. You're gonna be famous!" I told him as he struggled to keep up with the people around him talking at the same time. It was a wonder how he even heard me through the noise.

"Y-Yeah! Though, there's no need for the celebratory party." He said as everyone was shooed away by the three secretaries. He smiled as he locked eyes with me. "Just everyone's presence there is enough."

I know what he was trying to say so I tried to keep my eyes locked with his. I don't really have any plans to attend his performance but I will go at the party. I forced a smile and hoped he wouldn't notice. "Uh-huh."

He didn't seem to as Dad came over hand-in-hand with Mom and said, "Nonsense. This is an event that must be celebrated. Your stories on the side of the streets have already garnered enough attention for your debut in the world of theatre. I'm sure your mother would've loved a party, as well."

The teen looks down embarrassedly. "T-Then... if you will..."

I cheered at that. "Yay! Partehhh~!"

Everyone laughed and just cheered with me.

For the first time ever, Muu and I did something that I was itching to try ever since I started my magic training with Sheba, a spar. I was a bit nervous when he brought it up as I haven't even done it with Sheba yet so I don't know how to actually fight yet. But when we actually started, my body moved on its own and soon, I can keep up with him.

I can't believe it. My first spar.

Muu jumped away from me as I slashed at him with my Golden Staff and I chased after him, using magic to keep myself afloat and faster. As soon as he landed, he aimed a kick back towards me and yelped as his skin was seared by my Borg's electricity as it instantly activated.

Seeing as I'm a Yellow Type Magician (as well as a Purple Type), it became one of the main reasons why my Borg had been sturdy. The Borg needs constant electricity to keep it up and strong.

With a grunt, Muu beared the pain and used his strength to send me flying straight into the concrete floor. I landed heavily and I stared at the sky with wide eyes as I heard the floor crumble beneath me. Had I not kept my Borg activated the whole time, I definitely would've walked away with many broken bones.

Wow. I felt the oncoming urge to fangirl despite the slight pain I was feeling. Fanalis are amazing! Dammit! Masrur-sama, your race is amazing!

"You can actually keep up now." Muu said in amazement, lowering his raised leg back down.

"So? I still have a long ways to go." I answered breathily, still in euphoria. Though it didn't last long as I sighed when the I realized I was still right no matter what. "Mou, this sucks. Life sucks."

He laughed as he walked over to where I lay. "How are you going to improve if you're like that? At least don't be lazy." He said with a grin.

"I'm not lazy. Unlike you, I can actually get tired after ten minutes." I rebutted, my cheeks puffed out.

"Still. What will happen to you in the battlefield if you could only last ten minutes?" He pointed out.

I pouted. "True..." A Ruhk suddenly flew by my vision and I stared at it for a bit before looking back at the sky. It's a clear sky today. Wow. "Muu, lay by me?"

He paused in stretching his arms and looked at me in confusion. "Huh?"

"The sky's so pretty today." I said, not looking at him.

After a second of contemplating, the redhead walked closer before he sat down beside me on his own man-made crater. He leaned back, his hands supporting him, and he tilted his head up to the sky.

I glanced at him. "I said lay with me. That means lie down."

"No. This is fine."

"Boo~"

"Shut up."

Then, we were silent, just watching as the white clouds go by with petals swaying in the wind that blows. It was a peaceful afternoon, that's for sure.

"Je'hel, why do you always come here?" Muu suddenly asked out in the blue.

"Hm? Because you're training me. And it's fun here." I answered nonchalantly.

"Okay. Why do you train then?"

I didn't even need to think about it. "To save the world."

He looked at me in slight surprise. "Save the world? Isn't that a pretty far-fetched dream?" He asked.

I looked at him with a frown. "Yeah... but I still want to do it." I looked back at the sky. "No one would do it unless someone else starts on a ridiculous idea, right?"

He went silent at that and from my peripheral vision, I could conclude that he was thinking so I continued.

"It's fine." I said. "I'm not like others that yearn for a world without evil. I just plan on saving this world from destruction because its already wonderful as it is."

"I don't think slavery is wonderful."

My eyes snapped open and I propped myself on my elbows in surprise at Muu's feral tone.

I stared at him. "...are we going to fight about this?" I slowly asked as my eyes met with blazing eyes; hatred absolutely evident in them.

"How can you say such a flawed world to be wonderful?" Muu ignored what I asked and continued. "Crimes are rampant in places that are abandoned by governments. Men, women, children are susceptible to incurable diseases. The government are corrupt to their very cores and are making their citizens take the blow of their selfishness. How is that wonderful?"

I looked at him deep in thought. I thought what happened to him and his sister before had made him realize that not everyone is perfect. And that he should learn from what happened. But... I guess one just doesn't forget, huh?

"Muu. The world is wonderful. I'm not saying all bad things are, but they are necessary for the world to move. Everyone needs to learn their lesson, not to be spoiled by a world with no evil. Are you sure that such a world would continue to exist forever? What if evil comes back once again? What will people do? They'll be all like," I sprawled myself on Muu's lap and started whining, "Argghh! What do we dooo? They won't have any idea what to do. Then what's next? Humanity's extinction? The world ends?"

I sat up and looked at Muu's blazing eyes, watching as they slowly turned into mere smolders.

"People make mistakes. And it is through that that the world becomes a better place. Because people learn from their previous mistakes and becomes better than they were before. That's what it means to have a wonderful world."

He looked away from me, puffing his cheeks out. "...I hate when you talk like that. I can't counter you, at all."

I just grinned at him, happy I've won an argument. "Because you know I'm right."

Muu rolled his eyes. "Now, actually heal my wounds." He pointed at the burn in his shin as he showed it to me.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "I'm not your doctor."

"You did this to me." He pointed out and I sighed.

"Touché."

"What? There's someone looking for me?"

Midel asked curiously as three of her scouts from the nearby city bowed as they reported to her.

"Yes. We we're doing our rounds when people of a foreign country and high status were demanding to know where you are." Said a man, the lower half of his face hidden by a black cloth. No one has seen what was underneath but if they looked closer, they would see that there were scars that weren't covered by the cloth.

"They were making quite a ruckus in the city square. The soldiers have been involved." Another man said, his face in full view unlike the others and is proudly parading a scar from the right side of his face down his right eye to his chin.

"Hm." Midel thought to herself, wondering who could it be. She turned to her husband. "Any ideas, dear?"

Arphas shooked his head, black bangs swishing back and forth. "Not a clue." He turned to the three men. "You said high status. Do you recognize any of their symbols?"

The three men shared a look before the man in the middle spoke, his voice gruff and face covered by a cloth.

"...It's odd, but... We believe they're from Gou."

"Gou?" Midel's eyes widened at that and she stood up in shock. She struggled to keep from panicking and focused on combing her ashen blonde hair. Though, she was still muttering to herself consistently and everyone could only hear a certain word being repeated over and over again.

"No."

A/N: Well, there's the first hints of an upcoming storm. I wasn't sure if this is a good way to start it off but bear with me please. And this particular 'storm' is going to last for quite a few chapters so hold on to your seats.

I would like to hear everyone's thoughts about this but bear in mind that, Je'hel is going to need to go through this. For the past, what? 7 years? She has lived a life of nothing but happy stuffs and sparkles. That's not a world that's going to last for the rest of her life.

Not everything, nor everyone, is going to ever stay the same.

And I feel like the time for her to learn that is now.