So this arc has gone on longer than I wanted, but that's my own fault for A. not making time to write and B. being super effing slow when I did write. P.S. I'm trying to cut down on my swearing...With a little success. Oh, and things get super real this chapter, so…
Graphic violence, blood and a surprisingly little amount of language considering who I am. YOU ARE WARNED~~~!
Starry Skies
By Gold Sparrow
SEVENTH ARC: Dungeon Blues
CHAPTER 27: Chaos and Other Simple Things
The stars shone like a lover's eyes, all caught up in candle light and the glistening of water. As if taken from the depths of the seas, the black blanket of a sky clings to the lights all around it. The moon, spherical and gray, sits with eerie quiet above the earth, that shines a bright, bright blue, sheltered with clouds and splattered with land.
A lone figure watches it as they descend down into the blue orb of a planet, sitting with their knees tucked against their chest. The person, a girl, watches with vague interest as she's lowered down, a pile of treasure behind her.
"Stick me with clean up duty, hm?" Her words aren't coated with anger or annoyance, sounding rather empty instead. She falls back, her long hair spilling around her like ink. "Left me with a huge back of treasure to lug back? I'm just a young girl…"
Quiet reigns then, a silence one can only liken to the sounds of dreams, where you remember nothing. Beside the girl, two gleaming staffs made of gold and jems glow as if to call to her, beckon her to wield them like a mighty sorceror would.
"So you're really dead, Ithnan?" These words aren't like the last, filled with the echo of emotions long forgotten. The child lays the back of her hand on her forehead. "I'm...Disappointed in you. To think you were once the magnificent Badroulbadour's idol. How pitiful."
More silence, but the girl hears a response in the deep vastness of the universe she looks upon.
"Yes, you're right," She agrees, her voice soft and melancholy. "You were never Badroulbadour's idol. You belonged to Kouhime. And you came the closest to being loved by her, even though she didn't know how to love until years after you died. Ithnan, you should've waited until she could've loved you. Then she and you could've been friends. And Aladdin wouldn't have killed you."
For some reason, she hears the sounds of waves upon a shore. It looks almost like a star is winking at her.
"Perhaps that's a regret you never knew about...And maybe that's a regret Kouhime didn't remember until…"
The Earth moves slowly, so slowly she wishes she could reach out and turn it by herself, just to skip through the days of angst she knows are coming.
"Don't you get that in the end sometimes you have to think about yourself? Do you ever do that, Bad?"
"...No." She finally answers the question, sighing. "I don't. But you know, Aladdin, I've been thinking..."
Bad opens her eyes, and smiles a little.
"If it's okay, maybe I will think about myself for a little while...But I can't promise I won't break your heart when it's over."
Muu Alexius had never been of the cocky sort. He had always been proud, yes, but never cocky. It just wasn't in his nature to pretend that he was better than another person because he was a patrician that held more power than a plebeian.
After all, he was a Fanalis.
The number one most sought after slave in the entire world. The most rare slave in the entire world.
It wasn't as if there weren't Fanalis, oh no, it was that they'd all left the culture of humans behind, abandoning their skin until they were made of fur and claws and lived in a place made of light and peace.
He saw it himself.
But that's not what he's meaning to discuss, though it would always be on his mind that he didn't quite fit in here, in the world of talon-less hands and flat faces. What he is trying to say is that he isn't cocky.
But there are exceptions.
"Magnostadt," The very name on his lips was sour as a lemon. He wished nothing more than to take it, squeeze it so hard it bursts, and then drink the liquid produced. "They've been causing the problems?"
"They have," Scherezade sits with her hands in her lap, eyes closed. "And the Chancellor has been spreading magic items across Akitia borders to increase political tension between the upper and lower class. The southwest coast has a large working class population, after all. Pirates are frequent in the waters...Bandits travel along the trade routes and apprehend wealthy travelers. Merchants, lesser nobles...Even magicians traveling to Magnostadt itself."
"...Do they plan to take over Akitia?"
"That seems to be the plan, considering Akitia's military presence along the border."
Muu frowns deeply.
"We cannot allow that," He solemnly informs her. "Akitia may be a part of the Seven Seas Alliance, but any more power Magnostadt gains will do nothing but jeopardize Reim's standing. Not to mention the consequences that Magnostadt will bring about by invading Akitia. The High King will take any chance to gobble up Magnostadt's power into his own."
He can feel the blazing of his feral side come to life, like it finally got the first drop of water in years.
"Lady Scherezade, please let me lead the troops on an assault on Magnostadt. It's the only option to pressure Magnostadt into becoming a province of Reim."
"You're right," Scherezade pauses. "Though it is too soon for action yet. I will take measures but...Let's wait a while and see how the conditions are before making our move."
The wild side is thrilled by her choice of words, of the soon to come action that will free the beast. But the rational side, the Alexius blood, keeps him calm.
This is your war, but not your fight.
"Sir Lo'lo!" Turning, the Fanalis's sharp eyes catch hold of the entrance of the messenger. "A letter has come for you!"
"Huh? Someone had the balls to write to me?" The messenger freezes upon his words and the full force of the man's attention. It was no question as to why. Lo'lo was tall, had the width of a bear, and had no use for armor considering his already inhuman physique. It was funny how the messenger had yet to piss himself.
"U-uh yes, yessir," The page squeals, shakily approaching. "Here you are."
Lo'lo keeps his eyes on the man, even when he extends one giant arm out to pick the crisp white letter from his hands. A sharp smell enters his nose, and Lo'lo cracks a wide grin suiting only to the devil.
I was only kidding about him pissing himself.
The messenger turns crimson and scuttles like a bug out of the training area. Chuckling to himself, the Fanalis slips a finger under the lip of the seal and rips it open without any second thoughts.
Then he picks out the letter, eyes lazily drifting over the contents before his entire body stills. Blinking, Lo'lo stares down at the name of the person who sent it.
"Huh...You finally wrote."
I hope this letter has gotten to you quickly.
Sincerely,
Catrina
Chaos is a funny thing. It can be quiet, subtle. Inside of a backpack papers are strewn messily around, placed in the wrong binders and essays that are due shoved to the very bottom. but the person who carries it looks neat. You would never know about the disorder.
Or it can be unspoken, a silent war between foes. Never directly talked about, but filled with word-jabs and backhanded compliments. Sides that are drawn but never mentioned, people who pledge their allegiance to who they think will be the winner.
It's a funny, funny thing. It's a wonderfully funny thing.
And it's a disgustingly funny thing, sometimes.
Catrina stood in front of the hole in which she appeared from, staring at the scene in front of her.
Torran people screaming and scattering like ants, children trying to struggle against the tornado that whips wind across her face like a slap. People being sucked up into the air, trees being uprooted.
Catrina stands in front of this chaos, not yet involved.
What's she thinking of? It feels like she's occupied with something else. That her body is so transfixed by something that she can't even move. Where was her confidence from when she first started this fiasco?
Locked away with Tendaji and Mama.
Why is she thinking of them now of all times? She takes a step forward, a struggle that makes her shoulders drop low with defeat.
What's the point?
The point of continuing on when this is all I'm going to do? Fight...Fight...Fight…
Then her chest starts to heave a little faster.
Fight...Fight, fight, fight.
Something like excitement builds in her.
Why?
Because she's a Fanalis.
And she's built for chaos.
Fight, fight, fight!
A fire is rekindled.
Just in time for Morgiana to come crashing to the ground at her feet.
Him.
There are three of them.
Five if you count Hitomi and Asad, but they lazily lounge on the tree line behind the three rampaging men, watching with disinterest.
Asad's eye catches hers.
She tries to communicate the full entirety of what she's going to do to his companions. He nods, motioning for her to go ahead. She flashes her teeth in what was suppose to be a smile, but feels more like a wolf trying to control it's hunger. She picks up Morgiana, surprised the girl is so light, and carries her to a safe zone, laying her down on the ground.
"W-wait, I can still-" Morgiana coughs, blood trickling down her forehead. It makes Catrina's heart seize.
"Mor," She says softly, laying her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Leave everything to me now, okay?"
"But I-I'm strong…" Morgiana says it almost brokenly, her teeth grating. She huffs, trying to push herself up. Aladdin shoots by them, caught in a burst of wind, but Catrina doesn't move to grab him.
That's biased, but she doesn't really care that much.
(The darker part of her mind whispers that anyone that takes Bad from her doesn't deserve her help.)
But it makes Morgiana tremble, so she lays the girl back down and smiles as reassuringly as she can. Hakuryuu is sprawled a little ways away, his polearm still grasped in his hand. Alibaba is right beside him, a splash of golden hair on the muddy ground. She wonders how she didn't notice them before.
"Mor, trust me. I'm stronger than you think…"
She trails off, but her words hang like a spider dangling from it's thread.
"I'm strong."
Morgiana lays back, almost defeated, and closes her eyes. Catrina stands, turns, and glares holes into a man's chest.
Him.
There are three of them.
One is tall, muscular and wrapped in a black Djinn Equip. Another looks like a musketeer, with a stupid feathery hat and fencing-style sword. The last is an old man with a disgusting sneer.
But she doesn't focus too much on them.
She's decided who to kill already.
Him.
They drop to the ground in front of her, smiling like, and she almost laughs, pedophiles.
"Hey you," She calls, pointing to the one in the middle. "You're first."
Zurmudd stares at her, his fat lips shaped into a pout.
"Hm~~~? Me?"
"Yeah, I decided." He kind of smirks, making a baby face at her.
"Oh, and what do I get, little girl?"
"Death," Is her simple reply before she shoves her fist into the ground and a sharp bone rams itself inside of the man's shoulder.
"Hm."
"Princess?"
"Oh? No, it's nothing Seishun. I'm just thinking to myself."
"About what, if I can ask?"
"...Old friends."
Catrina has a secret.
She doesn't think of it often, because if she does all she remembers is something carnal within her that she doesn't believes exists in others.
But sometimes, when she gets very, very angry, something else takes over. Something dark and creepy, something that rings with fury and force. And, terrifyingly, something that screams for more.
All that she really remembers clearly is Morgiana at her feet. And then the anger took over. Afterwards, she remembers things, but differently. So much differently. It's not something she can describe. It's like, the sun is shining in your eyes, and then it's not. Then you're in the shade, but you don't remember how you got into the shade.
She guesses why that's why she didn't hesitate to impale Zurmudd's shoulder. She should've possibly felt guilt, but she couldn't stop thinking about the smudge of dirt on Morgiana's cheek. It was so obscure.
Zurmudd let out a bellow of anger. It sounded like a bear, she notices. Before he has a chance to do anything more, she twists her fist more into the dirt and two more bone-spears makes holes in both his thighs. One of his partners makes a move, but her eyes catch his and he stops. As if he sees something in her that she doesn't.
His face twists.
But not as badly as Zurmudd's, who gets over his shock and spits at her.
"You weak bitch!" He screams. "Can't even get close!"
Her lips hurt.
It's then she realizes she's been smiling the whole time.
More.
She hates not to oblige. But before she has time to do anything, Zurmudd uses the hands that sprout out of his back to break the bones in half, freeing himself from her grip. He rips the bones out of his skin, hissing loudly.
"I. Don't. Discriminate." His eye twitches. She notices it. It's hard not to when you have a Fanalis' eyes, everything detailed so perfectly that she can even tell that right next to his nose he has an old pimple scar.
The black hands sprout outwards, large and thick like a fat spider's.
Those hands reach out toward her, but it's too late for him, because she already feels a hand grabbing her fist stuck in the ground. She lifts, and a whole mass of skeletons come clawing from the dirt, their eyes glowing orange. Just like hers.
"The hell?" She hears the musketeer mutter. She's still smiling, she realizes.
More and more skeletons come crawling out, some using her legs to pull themselves out, but that's fine. She doesn't really feel it. The skeletons mush together, bending and shifting so they form a humanoid much taller than Eren and more brawny than him too.
Catrina feels something tighten inside of her, but she ignores it and flexes her left hand, coated with an orange glow. Skin starts to form on the creature, dark flesh that forms muscles and tendons.
The fists come crashing down, but she flexes her arm again and the creature grabs one fist, pulling it toward him and twisting. Zurmudd howls, another arm aiming for the skeletal-monster, but Catrina catches it and the monster grabs that one too. The strain becomes a pinching along her stomach, but she ignores it. Then, she shoots forward and kicks the first arm, feeling the elbow severe from the forearm. She does the same to the other arm, which comes off easy.
The pinching becomes a cramping that hurts badly.
She stares at her arm, which feels strangely numb.
Too much.
You're using too much Amala magic. These spells aren't supposed to be used by someone who's barely been trained like you.
Summoning skeletons isn't quite easy a skill as it seems. As a ten year old Catrina had only just grasped the concept. The other things she's been doing...The formations of new creatures, bone spears...They're out of her league.
She feels like she's going to throw up.
More.
Zurmudd seems to compose himself. It reminds her of how Hitomi had done the same thing inside of Seere's Dungeon.
"Why are you so mad?" He asks, one hand grasping at the hole in his thigh. "I can't figure it out." Then maybe he realizes it. "Oh! That girl! You have similar features. You must be sisters, right?"
"Yes." Catrina says. She's not smiling anymore. The fury raises up again, the shade gets darker. "She's my sister."
"You're so much stronger than that girl. You must've been your parents' favorite." The fury makes her bones shake. The cramping becomes a pinching, and then a dull strain.
"She's my sister…" Anger, anger, anger, just like the night she killed Faraji and Dalila and Jabari. Anger. "...And you hurt her. You."
Anger like when she killed Jabari.
"Special Skill: Necromancy:"
Like that night, when she had said words she never thought she'd say again.
"What's that, little girl? Ready to see the power of a dark King?"
"Persephone's Wrath."
And then, just like first time she casted the spell, several bones come shooting out of the ground from all directions and impale Zurmudd's arms and legs. Then, with a slice of her arm, Zurmudd's leg separates from his body.
Another slice of her arm.
The strain becomes a pinch.
Another slice of her arm.
The pinch becomes a cramp.
Another slice of her arm.
The cramp becomes a cutting.
A final slice of her arm.
And then there is silence. Pure, pure silence.
And the sun is once again shining in her eyes.
There was a flash of bright light, and he opens his eyes to find himself lying in a giant hole. The surroundings were quiet, and he smiles a little as he climbs up the vines creeping into the hole.
When he comes up, he freezes.
It was not the people lying unconscious that froze him. It was not the defeated bodies of Morgiana, Hakuryuu or Aladdin. But rather, it was the blood.
Eren closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and then sighs.
"Catrina, it's alright."
"...It's not."
"Come here." She does, her limbs shaky. Her clothes stained red. Her eyes empty. He opens his arms, and she falls into them.
"I did it again. I'm a monster."
"We're all monsters, Cat. We're all the same." Eren looks beyond her, at the body ripped to shreds, at the shell-shocked Al Thamen goons staring at what was their comrade, at Asad and Hitomi watching with disgusted interest.
Then he looks down at Catrina, holding onto him and whispering something.
"...Sorry…" She mutters. She doesn't look very sorry, but that's because she's not herself when she gets angry. When she gets angry, she doesn't care who she destroys in the process. "...I really am…"
"Cat. He didn't deserve to live anyway."
"...If I tell myself that, then I'll keep telling myself that until the day someone kills me because I don't deserve to live."
"Alright then. He got what was coming to him. It would've happened one way or another. At least you did it for…"
"Morgiana." Catrina whispers, and the name makes something glow under her skin, the beginning of her piecing back together what had fallen apart in what she calls 'fury'.
"Morgiana." He repeats, then lets her go. "I'll take care of the rest. For you and for Morgiana."
Asad stares at the mess of blood.
She's not neat.
It's not like Asad is unfamiliar with the scene of a dead man being sliced up, in fact he has witnessed it far too many times to count, but the fact that Catrina did it...Was unnerving. She wasn't the kind of person to get that animalistic, to get so angry she'd literally rip someone to shreds. It just wasn't in her nature.
Or so he thought.
Staring at the remains of what was Zurmudd, the sexist bulk of an ex-Partivian soldier, Asad can't help but wonder if Catrina had did it before. She didn't flinch. Not when she was forcing his body apart, not when he was screeching like a dying rabbit, not when the blood splattered over her nice dress. She didn't even blink.
Asad wonders if he too looks that bored when he kills. But then something came over her face. It was like seeing a key fit into a lock, and suddenly her eyes widened. She had the strangest epiphany, of suddenly knowing exactly what she had done, exactly how she had done it, and exactly how little she had cared. Asad had had that epiphany before. Back when he just started his lone assassin days.
He was such a little kid. It was before he met Kaidu- he remembers because as much as the elderly Xia annoyed him, it was his guidance that saved Asad from himself- and he'd go out, slice a throat, and sob and sob until he didn't know when he had started or where he was. Then, once he met Kaidu, and got Hachi and Hikaru, it was so much easier. Everything was so, so much easier. If it seems as though he's lying, he's not. It's never easy to kill another human being, but he learned to accept that if he was going to do it over and over again until the day Al Thamen runs out of uses for him, then he might as well live the way he wants to in between those bloody nights.
Teasing Kougyoku, joking with Judal, training with Kaidu, fighting with Daoqing...And now, taking Momoka shopping in the market and trying to escape Ting Mei's punishments. Wonderful things that distract him from the fact that he's a soldier in a war he never wanted to fight.
Poor Catrina.
Yes, poor, poor Catrina.
Not used to death, and yet, just like him, fighting in a war centuries old. He wonders, however, if she knows it.
And, more importantly, if she chose it.
"Holy crap," Hitomi can't help but comment. If he had known that the Fanalis chick could do something like that in the Dungeon, he would've given up sooner. The girl ripped Zurmudd up like paper! Then, all of a sudden, he starts laughing. "Holy crap! Ol' Zur got the boot! Ithnan'll piss himself!"
"Hitomi." Shade says by his side, onyx eyes burrowing into him like knives. The kid can have a damn sharp gaze sometimes, like a knife. Hitomi ignores him. He wonders if that's a smart idea, but unfortunately, does not care.
"Look at her! A fifteen year old against the old-ass 'Partevian soldier'," He makes air quotes on 'Partevian soldier', rolling his eyes. "And she wins. Zurmudd was nothing! Holy crap!"
"Hitomi!" It's the old guy who says it this time, Apollonius or whatever. "You may be new, but that talk is unacceptable!"
His voice is a shrill. Hitomi almost winces at the crackly sound. Then, an idea pops into his head and he grins internally.
"Damn, but whoever kills her will get Ithnan's attention for sure," Hitomi rubs his chin in thought. "Not to mention it'll be easy to kill the magi-brat and his King if she's gone. Easy pickings."
Apollonius and the Byoln, the guy wearing the fancy cape, both freeze at once.
"True…" Byoln states, discretely sliding his hand toward his sword.
Idiots.
"Idiots," Asad mumbles, not trying to hide the glare he aims at the two others in their group. Then, sighing, the younger man stands up and declares, "We'll be leaving once Ithnan and Dunya arrive."
"What? We can't let the Magi and his King live-" Apollonius starts again in that old, wheezy voice, but Asad stops him instantly.
"I don't care, Apolloshins. We'll handle them later. I sure as hell don't wanna get torn up." The Fanalis chick, Catrina or something, is still staring at Zurmudd. What's left, anyway. Apollonius bristles at Asad's mispronunciation.
"We should wait for Ithnan."
"We are. Then we're leaving." Asad's eyes turn harder than thought possible, blacker than his kimono. "Or do you forget that I'm your superior? And that I do, no matter who's jurisdiction I'm place in, hold the same position as Ithnan? I do all the paperwork you fuckers can't do yourself. I work closely with Lady Gyokuen. Mind your place."
Apollonius's jaw drops. Byoln looks vaguely impressed. Hitomi is sorta upset that a runt younger than him has a higher position.
Oh well.
And then, in the midst of things, a green haired man appears.
Eren, right?
Eren tries not to look at the body.
(At the blood and the bones and the ripped flesh.)
He doesn't want to. The one who did this isn't Catrina. His Catrina, he means.
(She's not just the one who caused the blood and bones and ripped flesh. She's Catrina.)
But he does.
He looks. He looks just so he can feed his morbid curiosity, he looks just so he can satisfy the part of him that wants to know the full extent of what she did. He doesn't really know why. Sometimes people just don't know why.
(But sometimes they do. Sometimes they know that if you can see everything for yourself, then no matter what anyone else says you'll know the truth.)
(You can see how badly she ripped a man apart, and then choose for yourself if she enjoyed it or not.)
He doesn't know why. But once he's satisfied, the very moment his brain really processes it, he looks away and then up at the four men watching him wearily. Then he studies them, at the sword held in one's hand and at the other sitting in a wheelchair.
Hitomi and Asad step back, as if excusing themselves, and slide into the shade in the cover of a large tree.
A little pool of red is trickling toward him.
(Did she enjoy it?)
He tries to figure out which one will attack first.
(...Will she do it again?)
Late.
Yamu could tell they were late, and the knowledge thudded against her chest harshly. She's not sure how she knew, just that she remembers the exact way the sun had shone of the giant mirror she had created the first time. She remembered it, and the fact that the direction of the sunlight was already in position scared her.
Late.
Yes, they were late.
"Hey, calm down. I'm sure everything's fine." She blinks. Sharrkan stands right beside her, his green eyes sparkling as he watches her nervously twiddle her thumbs. "We'll be there soon. If anything has happened, we'll be able to stop it."
She tries to calm down. He's right. The first time they arrived in time to save their students and Hakuryuu, no problem. But something still twitches in the bottom of her stomach.
"It doesn't feel right," She blurts. Sharrkan stares. Heat creeps up her neck. "I mean, I have a feeling, Sharr. Something's gone wrong. I just don't know what."
He keeps staring. And then, slowly, a smile creeps up his face.
"You called me Sharr."
…
Oh my God I did.
She hadn't called him 'Sharr' since- since the Other. Since the Other when they broke up. Her heart pounds and aches at the same time. She doesn't like thinking about the Other. She doesn't like thinking about how she died. Or how he died, though Bad thankfully never told her what had happened to Sindria after her barrier disappeared.
(Although, in the same way that Yamu know knew something was wrong, she had a feeling that when she died it was the start of a ticking time bomb on how long Sindria had left.)
She scowls to hide her embarrassment.
"Really, I'm talking about our disciples' lives and that's what you focus on? They could be in danger!" His smile disappears in an instant, turning serious.
"Everything will be fine. I have a feeling as well."
Well, are you reliving your life? No. I know what'll happen.
She turns to the island coming closer and closer.
I know what happened. And if something bad really does happen now that changes things…
She sighs, gripping her staff.
Just be safe...Everyone.
Djinn Equipping is like running the mile. That's what they don't say. It's like running the mile, because one is working to coat their body in magoi and grant themselves abilities, much like how runners need to keep up their paces and control their breathing.
Once one masters this, it's actually quite simple to peel on and off.
It's just, you know, hard sometimes to do that when a crazy old man is trying to impale him with light and a fencer is trying to poke holes in him with his stupid needle-like sword.
"Hold still!" The old man yells. Eren responds,
"Give me a minute to Djinn Equip!" And then in unison by his two attackers,
"NO!"
Eren found it unfair. They obviously didn't double team Catrina, or else she wouldn't have had the time to cast the spell that slayed their comrade. Then the Chandlen winces. Bad choice of words. Speaking of the Fanalis, she had retreated to their fallen comrades, dragging the boys toward a safer pace before delicately picking up Morgiana and taking her there too. It was quite obvious whom she favored.
She turns then, to watch, her orange eyes wide and worried.
Ah, distracted.
The swordsman jabs Eren's side, blood spraying out from the cut. The Chandlen hisses and stumbles back, holding the wound.
"Eren!"
For a second, Eren thinks it was Catrina who made that cry.
But it wasn't Catrina.
It was Bad.
...Ah, distracted.
She bites her lip.
"Hey...Come on, we're almost there." Sharrkan's voice cuts into her thoughts, gentle and worried. "You look sick."
"I'm just-" Yamu takes in a large breath. "I have a 'bad' feeling."
On one hand, Eren was happy to see her.
Considering that Seere's Dungeon was where Al Thamen chose to attack, it was no surprise that she had to trudge through the forest on the way here. He had planned- and hoped- that he'd come out first, make the trip up there, and then carry her through the tangled web of forest. She'd probably would've looked very entitled as he did it.
Still, even with a little sweat on her neck, she looked very pretty. He's not sure why he chose that to focus on.
Her hair had a loose leaf in it, but she looked pretty. Standing there with wide eyes and a scared face. Really, she's a cute kid, his little sister. He never saw her looked scared. But she did look at way. Afraid.
Of what?
He doesn't really know.
(People don't always know, remember?)
But maybe it was the sword lashing out toward him, inching closer and closer. Maybe it was the way he felt so calm. Maybe it was because of the gash in his side.
He does have something he wants to say.
Hey Bad, will you-?
But the sword comes quickly, and all there is is a spray of blood before he falls to the ground, darkness consuming his vision.
"I have a bad feeling."
Kouhime saw many comrades fall.
There was Seishuu Ri, Kouen's snake-headed subordinate. She saw him get tackled to the ground by a dark Djinn and not get back up. There was Mira Dianus Artemina, the blonde Queen of Artemyra and wielder of a Djinn, who fought bravely until an unfortunate slice of a blade hit it's mark and she slapped against the ground.
(When she died, her household members were left powerless in the middle of the battlefield.
They were slaughtered.)
She saw many more as well, people whom had families and names and goals, some who bravely volunteered for the war effort and others who were drafted by their countries in hopes of somehow overpowering Al Thamen. Some whom were just foot soldiers, others who were vassals of Kings.
But not Eren.
Eren wouldn't die that way. She was sure he wouldn't.
That's why she felt so much shock when the sword ripped across his chest, a deep slice that made his green eyes widen. That's why she felt so confused when he hit the ground. Because- because the people who matter, the ones you love, they don't die that way. They don't.
They especially don't if they're good, if they're kind and gentle and hold you when you have a nightmare. They just don't if they're important and special and mean something. They don't if their arms hold you up, if they smell like pine, if they've known you since you were six years old and raised you.
(Kouen died though, Bad. Koumei and Kouha and everyone else died.)
But they didn't die like this.
He's laying there now. Laying there in silence, his left cheek to the ground. His hair falling into his eyes. He hates it when it does that, that's why he always trims it neatly. Blood spurts against his cheeks from two wounds, making it slick and red.
Bad walks forward, watching him.
"E-Eren…?" She asks it so softly. When she had gotten out of Zagan, she had thought that the battle would be waiting for her. But it wasn't. It was here, near Seere, where the Torran villagers had promised to converged to prepare for their departure. "Hey...Eren?"
Sheba feels heavy in her palm, and Raiden flickers with energy.
Bad drops to her knees in front of the green haired man, both Divine Staves falling out of her grasp.
"Eri...Hey? You're stronger than this. Why...Aren't you saying anything?"
His eyes were firmly closed, his lips parted.
"Eren?" She keeps saying his name, and she's not sure why it's not having an effect. She touches his shoulder, noting that it's still warm, and tries again. "Brother? You promised we'd- we'd do things together. You said you wouldn't leave me."
Her eyes sting. They sting very, very badly.
She takes his hand. It's so large that her hand disappears in his palm.
"You promised, Eren." Is that her voice? So high and trembling? "You promised."
Her fingers twitch.
Wait...No they didn't.
She looks down, at her hand in Eren's, at his fingers moving to clasp down on hers. At his eyes slowly opening. Their gazes lock.
"We...Don't break our promises…"
The relief comes down on her like the force of a car, igniting every cell in her body with energy. She takes a giant breath, gasping, and clutches his hand harder. Her lips for a smile, and she laughs nervously.
"Thank God," She whispers, holding his hand to her chest. "Thank God."
"Hey, brat, are you done yet?" She pauses, looking behind her. A man stands with his sword still out, still red with Eren's blood. She stares at it.
Catrina comes out of nowhere, her red hair swishing with the force of her speed.
"Catrina, take Eren."
"I want to help," Catrina argues, but Bad's eyes stray to the deep wounds on her brother's chest.
"You need to stop his bleeding. I'll handle them."
Then her smile turns bitter and harsh.
"I'll take care of them."
The moment Yamuraiha's feet touched the ground, she was off. She was off like a gunshot, not even waiting for Masrur and Sharrkan to follow. She jumped up on her staff and zoomed overhead toward Zagan. In a blur of red below her, she realized Masrur had caught up. Sharrkan lagged behind, but in the one moment she let herself check on him she could see he was pushing himself to run as fast as them as well.
Masrur pulled ahead, and then made a sharp turn. That threw her for a loop, but she followed, knowing that his Fanalis nose would show the right way. He went farther and farther ahead, faster than what she had expected from him.
Then they arrived in front of a giant hole. They arrived in an area where people were passed out in the open, with a few conscious men pulling them back into an area crowded with shivering survivors.
They arrived in front of a mutilated body.
They arrived in front of Catrina trying to stop the blood flowing from Eren.
They arrived in front of Badroulbadour fighting two fully Djinn Equipped men on her own.
Masrur should've focused on the kid first. He should've.
She was fighting two dark Djinn users at once, but really, he was more concerned on the fact that one of his disciples was passed out and the other was hyperventilating over a body. And thus, on natural instinct, he chose Morgiana and Catrina. He felt bad, of course he did, but Yamu was already by the girl's side and Sharrkan was deflecting the blows of the swordsmen fighting her.
"Catrina," She looks up at him, the whites of her eyes bright red. She was holding down on one wound, but there was another that was bleeding just as profusely. She coughs, and a little blood trickles down her chin.
"He's alive, Masrur," She sounds like she's lying. He could hear every syllable of the words, each tone of her voice crackling with fear. "He's alive, I can feel his heart."
Masrur is beside her in an instant, noting that there is blood on her dress that doesn't smell like hers or Eren's, and then covers the other gash with his hands. Catrina hiccups, more tears slipping down her cheeks thickly.
"He can't die, Masrur. He can't." There is such heartbreak in her voice that for a moment he completely understands. For a while Masrur had suspected that Eren and Catrina were romantically involved, but now he realizes that he was so stupid to think that. "He's- he's always been there for us a-and Bad'll kill herself if he dies."
Family.
They were family.
"He'll be fine," Masrur promises, and for just a second, he can see that Catrina desperately believes him with her whole heart. For that desperation, and for Catrina, he presses harder on the wound and glares at Eren.
Don't make her cry.
Eren groans as if he heard loud and clear.
Snapping is surprisingly easy, if the conditions are right.
And for Bad, they were exceedingly perfect.
Eren was fatally injured, Catrina was exhausted and crying, Aladdin and Alibaba laid unconscious with Hakuryuu and Morgiana, injuries covering their bodies.
The conditions were met completely.
And unfortunately for Byoln and Apollonius, they were going to be the objects of her immense anger. Her anger, which grew more and more until it exceeded the boundaries that she thought she had set for herself.
The first thing she did was grab Raiden off the ground. The second, she aimed at the two Al Thamen agents. The third, she said a sarcastic prayer for their souls in her head and the fourth, she blasted off a lightning spell.
"Ramz!"
Like a whip, Raiden sent the lightning snap at the two men, cutting through the air. Byoln jumped back and Apollonius rose into the air, just barely dodging her attack. Deciding that waiting for them to retaliate would be stupid, she throws several more lightning spells at them, electricity creating tension in the air.
"You bastards," She hits them with a water spell, anger fueling adrenaline. "You bastards hurt Eren, and you hurt Catrina," Byoln is hit, and goes skidding off to the side. "And you hurt my friends!"
Letting out a roar of frustration, she sends out another water spell, the spray spilling all over her opponents.
"You brat," Apollonius growls, but Bad growls as well, yelling once more,
"Ramz!"
The lightning crackles in the air, using the water as a transport to get to it's mark faster. Byoln hisses, trying to dodge. Apollonius realizes her plan and launches to the side, howling as the air shocks him.
She missed, but at least they know that if they careless she will make them into light bulbs.
A little winded, she prepares to fire once more.
Then they both decide to dark Djinn Equip.
Dammit.
Now she's the one launching out of the way, dodging fast as shadowy swordsmen and light rays aim for her neck. A swordsmen tries to cut her but misses. She tries to step away but his other arm lashes out and slams her to the ground.
"Bad!"
Huh?
A flash of white and brown and the swordman choking her was cut up into ribbons. Blinking, Bad sits up.
"Mama? Sharrkan?" Yamuraiha smiles at her, picking her up.
"You did good, Bad. But you should rest now." Bad's eyes do feel heavy. And, looking down, she had sustained more injuries than she thought. None were as bad as Eren's, but they were still pretty bad. She wonders how she didn't notice, but a part of her doesn't care.
"Mama...Is it okay if I leave it to you now?" Yamu nods.
"Yes. Don't worry Bad. Everything will be fine." Bad nods, her head falling against Yamu's shoulder, and then falls unconscious.
Well, Asad thinks, it could've been worse.
He's actually quite surprised Eren was injured so badly, he is a Dungeon Capturer. But considering Masrur and Catrina are caring for him, Asad guesses he'll be fine. And for Bad to hold her own for a while against two opponents in Djinn Equip, well, it was quite impressive to the Shadow.
Speaking of the Princess, Bad lays right beside Aladdin, curled up. He slips into his invisible form, glad that Hitomi is super enraptured with the battle, and makes his way over to her. He watches the two Fanalis wearily, but they're preoccupied with Eren and don't notice him. Slipping his hands under Bad's neck and knees, he wraps the light around her until she's invisible too and then slides into the forest unnoticed, her two Divine Staves resting on her chest.
To say Centola was unprepared for what she saw coming out of Seere was an understatement.
She was thrown for a pretty big loop.
Mainly because A. Zurmudd most definitely wasn't suppose to be ripped up that way and B. Eren wasn't supposed to get hurt.
Instead of bothering with Yamu and Sharrkan's fights, she rushes over to the wounded Chandlen and surveys the damage, falling to her knees beside Catrina.
"T-the bleeding's stopped," Catrina says, wiping her eyes. "B-but we can't clean the wound."
"Yes we can," Centola's eyes catch Eren's necklace.
"Huh?" She reaches for the pouch, pulling it off the string looped around Eren's neck. She opens it up and thrusts her hand inside, rummaging through coins. Her hand dives deeper, going up to her elbow.
How does Eren work this thing?!
Then it comes to her.
Zeina's medicine.
And her fingers touch something cool. She pulls out the vial, summoning clean rags as she works. Her thumb pops open the cork of the half-full elixir.
She applies the bluish-green liquid to the rag and then presses it to the wound. Eren groans, a rumbling sound shaking his chest. She goes down from the top left to the bottom right, hoping it won't scar, and applies more elixir to the rag as she works. Eventually she goes to the next wound, a stab mark on his lower right abdomen, and applies the potion.
"Wh-what's that?" Centola asks.
"It's a medicine my Aunt made. I gave it to Aladdin when he passed out in Balbadd, remember? It helps the immune system and strengthens the body. But, when applied to physical wounds, it helps close them at a faster rate and disinfect them."
"Seriously?" Catrina's eyes are wide. "I didn't know…" Centola rubs her back.
"I have bandages, let's wrap his wounds."
When Bad woke up, she woke up in Asad's arms.
"H-huh?"
"Oh? You're finally awake, sleeping beauty?" The pinkette shoots away, staring at him. He chuckles.
They were sitting in the shade of a large tree, and above them a nest hung filled with baby birds. It was quiet, which meant they were away from the battle, and the breeze smelled fresh and warm.
"...Why did you bring me here?"
"Hm?"
"Well, I'm assuming you took me while everyone else was distracted, right? Why?" Asad smirks.
"Well, I'd like to chat. And give you a chance to get rid of that beautiful staff before Sharrkan or Masrur sees it." Protectively Bad grasps for Raiden, which was in between Asad and her. As she awoken more, she realized Asad must've been holding her while she slept, waiting peacefully under the tree.
It was unnerving.
Eyeing Asad, Bad lets out a breath and holds Raiden toward her.
"Return, Angel and Devil,
We are one,
Now come to me."
The star tattoo on her chest gleams, and Raiden turns into light, slipping into it. As the glow fade, Asad watches intently.
"That's amazing," He comments. "I can see why Gyokuen loves you so much. You're the summary of all her accomplishments."
"What do you mean?" Her groggy mind doesn't understand.
"All the others were failures, Bad. You were the first to survive." Bad blinks, and then laughs hollowly.
"Oh. That. Yes, well, that's true. She couldn't find the right 'ingredients' when she tried to make a person like me before so…"
Asad shakes his head.
"Sorry I brought this up. That's not what I want to talk about."
"What do you want to talk about?"
"...Judal."
Of course.
"I see. He's fine, Asad. He really is."
"How do you know?" His glare is harsh.
"Because he's with Yunan, Asad. Yunan the 'Wandering Magi'. There is literally no one else in this world whom Judal would be safer with, except maybe Sinbad." Asad is silent. "...But you're not worried about his health."
Asad says nothing, then,
"I want to see him." Bad stares.
"You will," She promises cryptically. "But don't make any mistakes, Asad. I might not be able to save you otherwise."
Scaring him is unnecessary, but fear is the best motivator and how else can she control him? Looking into Asad's eyes, she wonders if he's realized yet that he's not free yet.
Poor, poor Shadow. From being chained by Al Thamen to being chained by me.
Although...
I'm sorry. I'm really sorry I can't let you be free like I let Catrina, Centola and Eren be.
She almost says it out loud.
But she doesn't. Instead she says,
"Get out of here. And don't let Sharrkan or Masrur see your face. They won't keep it a secret like my group will about you being here. I can't have my favorite assassin being kicked out of Sindria so soon, can I~?"
It was over sooner than she expected. Yamu knew it would be, but maybe that was arrogant. Instead of letting Apollonius break her precious magoi storage items, she quickly destroyed the wheels of his wheelchair with water balls- which made him lose balance- and then placed a well-timed kick to his head, which sent him flying to the ground. When he got back up, she hit him with a tidal wave which sent him flying off the side of a cliff.
It was quite fulfilling, actually. He kept leering at her.
Sharrkan had whistled when he was done with Byoln, calling her a badass. She flipped her hair.
"I did train under a magi, you know."
"Okay now you're just being conceited."
"Oh shut up."
Then she turned her attention to Eren, and was thankful to see that he was bandaged up.
"Cent?" The Temptress glanced at her.
"Ah, Yamu! I came in the middle of your fight."
"Oh, I see. Is Eren…?"
"He'll be fine," Centola frowns. "It'll scar, unfortunately, but he'll probably think it's manly or something."
Yamu laughs. A rustling catches her attention, where Bad comes out of the bushes.
"Where were you?" She asks, now realizing the girl had been gone. The Princess shrugs.
"I had to pee."
"Oh God," Sharrkan cringes, going over to Alibaba. Bad, the brat, smirks and yells after him,
"It's nature!" Then, she spots Eren and instantly goes to him. Catrina laid his head on her lap, and Bad flops on the ground beside him and curls into his side.
"He's okay?" She asks, the worry in her voice making her sound young. Catrina nods, looking tired and happy.
"He'll be fine."
"Thank God," Bad mutters, holding onto the Chandlen's sash. "I was..." Then she shakes her head profusely and refuses to finish her statement.
Yamu thinks that the sight is absolutely precious before turning to Aladdin and gathering her young disciple in her arms to bandage his wounds. Masrur cradles Morgiana gently, looking down at her with heavy eyes.
"Well," Catrina sighs, patting Eren's head. "At least it's over...Right?"
Those around her nod, looking at the damage they created on the battlefield. The Fanalis-Amala closes her eyes.
"Good."
Eren woke up to Catrina's face and Bad's warmth by his side. He blinks a little, tries to move and then regrets everything.
"Oh sweet God," He moans, the pain soaring across his chest. He doesn't even know where it hurt. He just knows that it does. "Oh sweet Jesus. The hell happened?"
"You were an idiot," Bad growls, but her hands are what help him sit up slightly. "Don't move."
"Byoln landed a lucky strike or two," Catrina mends Bad's statement. "Remember?" He does remember, but it's kinda hazy. Like how you don't really remember what you thought about before going to sleep.
"Yeah, I guess. Dang, this hurts."
"Don't whine," Bad grumbles, fiddling with the bandages. "And don't move! You'll reopen the wounds!"
"I'll tend to you in a moment, Eren," Yamu smiles. Eren blinks. When'd she get here? "I just need to finish with Aladdin." Said boy sits up groggily, his eyes blinking slowly and sleepily, as if he had taken a nap.
"So...I take it Sharrkan 'n Yamu came and kicked ass?" Eren scratches his head, wincing at the movement.
"Don't. Move." Bad glares at him harshly. He's used to her glares, and usually they slip off him like water, but she seems genuinely pissed off this time. It makes him obey without delay.
"No moving. Got it this time." Catrina giggles.
"I'm happy you're okay, Eri," She tells him, laying her head on his shoulder. "We were really worried."
"Catrina was. I knew you weren't such a weakling." Bad huffs, looking away. Eren tilts his head.
Why's she so mad?
He reaches over and plops his hand on her head. She glares some more, but doesn't shake him off, and gradually he's able to pull her into a side-hug.
"Don't be bratty," He tells her, grinning at her incoherent mumbling.
"I'm not a brat," Eren rolls his eyes at her whining, and Catrina giggles some more.
None of them notice Yamu smiling softly by Aladdin's side.
"King Sinbad!" It's Ja'far's call, and Sinbad turns toward his advisor with a smile. "I just heard from Yamuraiha. Al Thamen did attack outside of the Dungeons, but they were able to defeat them. Everyone is fine."
"Thank God," Zeina comments at a nearby desk, filling out papers. "I would've strangled Sinbad if Centola got hurt."
"And I would've beat up Ja'far." Khadeja agrees by her side, standing upright. Her face goes stiff. "Especially since you idiots didn't tell us you were sending out a party to investigate."
"You would've went on a rampage if you knew there was a chance Centola could've gotten hurt," Ja'far deadpans. The self-proclaimed servant glares.
"And," Sinbad decides to add, pointing at Zeina, "You kept saying you were too busy with whatever it is you're doing."
"Working," Both women respond at once, mysteriously.
"That's not an ans- you know what? Never mind." Sinbad turns back to Ja'far. "Still, the long-distance clairvoyance item Yamuraiha produced is quite helpful. Did she really create it herself?"
"She says she did. Yamuraiha is a very resourceful magician."
"She's been teaching your magicians a thing or two," Khadeja calls, snickering. Zeina smiles fondly.
"She's a nice person. I enjoy her company."
"She's connected to Yunan," Sinbad points out, frowning. "How'd she even get into my country…?"
"Your 'security checks' are quite easy to bypass," Zeina informs them. When the two stare at her with increasing suspicion, she throws her hands up. "...Or so I've heard. Besides, isn't it good to have her here? She has astounding knowledge and has been helping out with the learning facilities. Not to mention she seems to want to go where Bad goes."
"And Bad is my ward," Sinbad rubs his chin in thought. Zeina throws a quill at him, which he dodges easily.
"Stop scheming. You're super unattractive when you do it."
"I'm always attractive."
"And apparently you're modest, too-"
"My King!" Startled, Sinbad turns to the voice. A servant comes rushing foward, his hands on his knees. "There's an intruder in the courtyard!"
"What?!"
Instantly the four adults are up and running, following the servants rushing ahead to show the way.
"See? See? This is why you need better security!" Zeina pokes Sinbad with her elbow. The Sindrian King shoots her a look.
"Really? Now?"
"Yes, now! You're too lax!"
"I swear to God," Ja'far rubs his temple, teeth clenched. "You two are children."
When they arrive in the courtyard, all four freeze in shock.
"Wait, is that-" Khadeja starts, just as Sinbad growls,
"Judal."
"Hey Sinbad!"
To say the relationship Sinbad had with Judal was a good one would be a complete lie. In fact, saying that it was cold, frigid and ego-bruising was a whole lot more accurate. Partly because Judal used any excuse to get on Sinbad's bad side.
Mainly because Sinbad's still sure that it was Judal who killed his friends in Partevia that day.
So when Judal lands in Sinbad's backyard? The King is less than pleased.
"Huh? Why're you all so threatening?" He's smirking, obviously because he knows why. Before Sinbad can stop him Ja'far launches forward and uses his household vessel on the magi. It hits Judal's borg, but the teen merely lifts up his wand and deflects it. Khadeja grabs Ja'far's wrist before the advisor can make another move.
The white haired man moves to shrug her off, but Sinbad finally intervenes.
"Ja'far, stop. What do you want, Judal?" The magi waves, giving a smile that he seems to struggle with.
"Well, I could've said it sooner if you kept your damn dog on his leash." Ja'far hisses. "Sorry, snake. I forgot."
"Judal."
"Ugh, fine. Hey Sinbad...Do you know that guy? Isn't he weird?" Sinbad makes no move to answer. "Oh come on. Aladdin. The frickin' fourth magi? Can you even believe that! There's only three of us at one time. There's me, that old witch in Reim, Yunan...And now suddenly this guy. If one of us dies, another is born. But I haven't heard anything like that. So...Who is he?"
Sinbad stays quiet.
"I'm not sure myself." He chooses to say. Judal smirks a little.
"He has this freaky power too! When he used it on me..." His expression changes, looking lost. "I saw things. It was terrible." Then he shakes it off. "So what the hell do you want with him?"
"...Come again?"
"You heard me. What do you want with the brat? Don't be coy." Sinbad's expression turns to thunder.
"That's none of your business."
"Damn, you're cold. And here I was going to offer to join you."
"You belong to the Organization. Have you forgotten what you did in Partevia?!" Judal just stares at him.
"Sinbad...What're you talking about?" There is a rustle in the crowd. "Don't you know?"
It's a hook, but curiosity has always been Sinbad's weak point.
"Know what?" Judal cracks a half-smile.
"I quit." The revelation makes Zeina beside him stiffen.
"What...?" She whispers, shocked. Sinbad clenches his jaw, studying the teenager in front of him. He seems like he's being sincere, but with a guy like Judal, who can really know?
"I don't believe you." Judal's face falls.
"Why the hell would I lie? Why...You know Sinbad..." His hair falls in his face. "I'm a victim of Al Thamen!"
What?!
"That kid...He showed me my past. I was born in an eastern village. I had a family," His hands are fisted. "...But the Organization killed my parents. They kidnapped me when I was a baby and used me. Are you saying that's my fault, Sinbad?! That I chose to be kidnapped and raised as a pawn? That's not fair!"
Guilt crashes through Sinbad's chest unwarranted. He tries to contain it, but there is tears in Judal's eyes. He's still standing there, glaring at him, with his teeth grating together.
"I never even knew it..." Judal says finally, his eyes hitting the ground. "You know how much that sucks? So I quit. I..." Then, suddenly, his hands relax and his face turns blank. "...I came here to talk to my brother about leaving Al Thamen for good. But I guess I'll just leave. Sorry for the intrusion, you heartless bastard."
Sinbad's heart clenches. Maybe he really shouldn't have always been so cold to Judal...Especially without knowing the circumstances. He just always assumed Judal chose to be a part of Al Thamen. Actually, now that he thinks about it, Sinbad never even gave a thought about how Judal was only a child when they first met. Ja'far was, too, but...
"Judal-" He starts, but then-
"Wow Judar, that's so cold~!"
Then Sinbad's nightmare comes full circle, and another magi he has terrible relations with comes flying in.
"...Yunan?"
"Hm? Oh hello, Sinbad!"
"...Yunan."
"Hm? Oh hello, Sinbad!" Judal was humiliated. He's not sure why he decided to have a freak out and spill his guts to Sinbad of all people, but he did. He did and now all he wants to do is leave before he starts crying, for godsakes. But then, deciding now was a good time, Yunan comes flying in like everything's all fine and dandy.
Dammit.
Judal wishes they never came here in the first place. But...
Asad.
Judal wasn't lying. He did come here to talk to his brother...Especially now that Judal's gotten his head straight. Things have been harsh between them for a long while, and he can't leave things as they are. They haven't talked about him being an...Assassin, nor about what happened in Balbadd...Not to mention the fact that Judal left Asad all alone in Kou with those evil old geezers.
And Bad too. Judal wants to talk with her too...To thank her, actually. Which is hard to believe coming from him, but being with Yunan this past year has changed a lot of things about him. It's opened his eyes a lot, as well. There was a lot of things he didn't realize. And according to his mentor, the first step to acting on these things is to talk more with the people who've cared for him, which in this case is Asad and Bad. Apparently he also had to-
"Judal wanted to come here to apologize to you for always being such a brat!"
Not humiliated.
Judal isn't humiliated.
Now he's just mortified.
"Yunan!" He yells, but the older magi just chuckles and lands beside him, grasping his shoulder.
"Hi Sinbad! It's been a while. Please forgive Judal's outburst, he can be so moody. Teenagers! I rue the day my daughter becomes one." At least Sinbad's face is priceless.
"You two...Are friends?"
"I'm Judal's teacher!" Yunan proudly boasts. "After Balbadd I was entrusted with Judal and have been teaching him ever since! He's no longer a part of that nasty Organization. So, he decided he wanted to come to Sindria to apologize for all the things he did while with them. It's part of his 'redemption'."
Oh my God.
Mortified doesn't even cut it anymore.
"Shut up, Yunan!"
"Now, now, Judar-"
"Judal,"
"-Just because you got upset and things didn't go the way you wanted them to doesn't mean you can just leave and forget about it. Now, as we practiced." His face is burning. He tries not to look at Ja'far or Sinbad or the hott blonde (Zeina...Right?) or the scary black haired woman glaring at him. He takes a deep breath and mumbles it.
"Say it louder."
Judal growls.
"Fine! I'm sorry I've been so rude to you all these years and that wefoughtalotandthatIwasaclass-Adouche,okay?!" Yunan gives one of those frail smiles he's so damn good at giving.
"You butchered it, but good job!"
This is not worth the praise.
Buuuut Sinbad does look like he got hit by a tsunami, which is a little fulfilling.
"Did...Did you just actually apologize?"
Judal looks away.
"Yeah! Now, accept it!"
Sinbad just looks at him.
"You did a lot more than just be rude, Judal." He knows that. Of course he does. But his face still sours.
"Yeah, I know that. I didn't care before but..." He sighs. Why the hell does he have to act mature? "...But I'm sorry. And I'm sorry for showing up here and insulting you again. Yunan says it's a coping mechanism or something stupid like that."
There is a brief silence. Sinbad raises his hand.
"Everyone, there is no threat here. I'll be talking to Yunan and Judal alone."
His eyes flicker to the King's, which are steady on him.
He hasn't forgiven him but...
It's a start.
Fun Fact #1: Alexio is usually forgotten by Sparrow-Chan, but he is still here! He's currently taking lessons from Sharrkan on swordsmanship in order to protect and repay Zeina. His crush on Bad is still unrequited, but he has yet to give up! And his friendship with Aladdin is improving...? We're rooting for you, little dove!
Fun Fact #2: Kassim was able to break his smoking habit after leaving Balbadd and meeting up with Yunan and Judal. He still sometimes lights one every now and then to blow smoke in Judal's face. He finds it hil-arious.
Fun Fact #3: Whenever Sharrkan hits on Yamuraiha, Yunan sneezes and then darkly considers breaking someone's nose.
So, this chappie is a week late. I mean, I usually am late, but sadly I don't think that this trend will lessen. Why? Quite simple: I got to an academically challenging school. My workload is very heavy and combined with sports and extracurricular activities I don't actually have a lot of free time anymore, especially since I'm now a sophomore. I can't afford to slip behind in any of my classes. Thus, I am apologizing in advance for being late or off my game.
Muu and Lo'lo: They make an appearance! Scherezade and Muu are had a convo about Magnostadt, and Lo'lo gets a letter from Catrina…?
Catrina's 'Fury': I affectionately refer to it as 'Black Catrina'. Catrina, despite her happy attitude, has a sad amount of problems. For one thing, she was born with the regrets of Alice on her shoulders, and then was forced to live in a place where the people outright rejected her. Black Catrina has surfaced before- like when she beat up some bullies back in chapter 5 and when she killed Jabari- but this is the first time I've really had her address it. And no, this will not be the last time she'll snap…*WINK*.
Masrur's Misinterpretation: I probably should have written some more on this, but Masrur did think that Eren and Catrina were a thing. If you look back I did drop some hints, but nothing big. He doesn't think that anymore, of course.
JUDALLLLLLLLL IS BAAACCCKKKK (With Yunan and Kassim!): And our absentee trio is back! What adventures did they have? What bonds were formed? Is Judal less annoying than he always is and is Kassim still awesome? ANSWERS SHALL BE GIVEN...In the next chapter! Teehee!
Judal's Apology: As stated in the chapter, Judal is sorry what he's done. And that's super OOC, but he has been with Yunan for a year and since he was raised with Asad his personality is changed too. Remember when he apologized to Bad? He is different, like how Hakuryuu is different. Next chapter Judal and Sinbad will have a heart to heart (or as much as they can) and more shall be revealed on Yunan's/Judal's/Kassim's journey together. I'm so happy they're back!
Chapter 282: Okay, way to eff up my storyline Ohtaka. You just haaaad to make Arbakuei a thing, right? Well eff you. Eff you so friggin' hard. Now I'm gonna have to tweak Hakuei's storyline. Thanks, canon.
AND THE ZAGAN ARC IS FINISHED! WHOOP! On to the eighth arc! Don't leave me now!
Got any questions or suggestions? Something wrong about the chapter? Grammatical errors, something you didn't like? PM me or leave it in the reviews, I will reply and see what I can do to make the story better/clearer for y'all to understand. ILY MY DARLING READERS!
BYE~~~~~~~
