Disclaimer: I do not own Magi!
Chapter 37
The Reim Empire army separated themselves, allowing both Althea and Scheherazade through towards Aladdin and the others.
"Are you sure you should be forcing your body, Althea?" asked Scheherazade.
Althea scoffed, "Don't patronize me, Scheherazade" she said, "We both know neither of us have long to live. Unlike you though, you've met me and my other life times at least 4 times now, and I know that every single we stand around is vital"
Scheherazade smiled to herself as they got closer. "You are aware of my condition?"
Althea kept a passive face, "I knew long before you started, Scheherazade. However, that is not the point" she said.
Althea saw Aladdin and Alibaba and she smiled. "Everyone, retreat" said Scheherazade as everyone turned to look at them. The Fanalis corp widened their eyes as Muu immediately bowed down to Scheherazad, "What?!"
"Wha…why are you here?" said Titus and the others said, "Lady Scheherazade…!"
The Fanalis bowed respectively bowed to Scheherazade as Aladdin and Alibaba widened their eyes, "Althea Onee-san?!"
Althea grinned and held up her hand in a greeting, "Yo, Alibaba. Aladdin…you two have came a long way when I last saw you two" she said warmly.
"What's the meaning of this…how can Lady Scheherazade and the Queen of Sindria suddenly show up here?" said the Fanalis as Titus widened his eyes, "I thought you were still in Reim!"
Aladdin seemed confused as Althea simply held her Djiin weapon, "Titus, is that person Miss Scheherazade?" he asked confused.
"Yes." Said Titus as Aladdin was silent and titled his head. "But…are you really Miss Scheherazade?" he asked.
Titus widened his eyes, "What are you talking about Aladdin?"
Aladdin looked between Scheherazade and Althea as the Queen of Sindria looked at the blue haired magi, 'Everything will be explained later'
Scheherazade was silent before she spoke, "And who are you? Are you Magnostadt's Magi, Aladdin?"
Aladdin shook his head, "No but I want you to leave this country alone. Several triggers are hidden in this country. The hate the magicians hold, the magoi accumulation furnace, the connections to a certain organization and if it is true that the Chancellor is hiding something, in this country, then… 'Terrifying things' will be called into this world. So please…"
Scheherazade was surprised at what she was hearing from Aladdin and she looked at Althea. The Queen of Sindria simply smiled without feeling as the High Priestess simply nodded. "Retreat the soldiers for now, Muu" said Scheherazade.
Muu widened his eyes, "Why?!"
"Aladdin is…probably gazing the same scene as Yunan. In any case, there is a great number of injured soldiers. We cannot just end things like this but..have the entire army retreat in the open sea for now. In the mean time…"
"Aladdin. Alibaba. Titus…how about the five of us have a little chat?" she said, smiling warmly at them.
Aladdin and Alibaba nodded as Titus was surprised. The five of them quickly had a boat ready and they set off into the ocean between Magnostadt and the Reim Army; therefore they were in a neutral zone.
"Althea Onee-san…" said Aladdin as they saw her form. Althea smiled at him and tilted her head, "Yes?"
"Why….do you look so young?" asked Aladdin as Althea smirked. Right now, she was using her Djiin Weapon move "Shadow Clone". The same move she performed to speak with Hakuryuu. However, in order to reserve her magoi and not to strain herself, she was currently half listening to the world back at Sindria and was in the form of her 16 year old self.
"Ah…I'm using my Djinn weapon move 'Shadow Clone'. In order to reserve Magoi and extend our little chat, I'm currently awake in Sindria and I used this form; when I was 16 years old" said Althea, smiling.
The two stared at her as Althea sat between Aladdin and Alibaba. Titus and Scheherazade sitting opposite from them. "Anyhow, I thought you were going to take us to Reim's fleet like hostages" said Alibaba.
Scheherazade shook her head, "This is neutral territory. Apart from the five of us in this small ship, no one is present in this territory halfway from Magnostadt's shore and Reim's fleet."
Aladdin smiled, "In that case, we can calmly talk till sunbreak!"
Althea grinned as Aladdin looked at Alibaba, "Anyway, I was surprised to think you would appear out of the blue!" said Aladdin.
"I'm even more surprised! To think that you would fight. Then Mu turned into a silver flash! And it was so super frightening that he alone was able to penetrate into your lines to that extent!"
Althea laughed, "That would be Barbatos; a strength Djinn" said Althea as the others looked at her. "Fanalis have little magoi to begin with so Muu was pretty desperate to use a Djinn Equip" she said.
Alibaba stared at Althea surprised until she noticed that there was something off about Aladdin. "Eh? Aladdin…could it be that…you grew taller, right?!"
Aladdin beamed as he got up, showing how tall he was. "A lot of things change in one year, you know!"
Alibaba got up and comparing his height from before and than, "The last time I saw you, you were short like this…how do I say it you seem a lot sharper and calm now…"
"And you Alibaba…." Said Aladdin as Althea laughed at the dramatic poses that Alibaba was showing.
"you didn't change at all!" said Aladdin bluntly.
"Eeehh?! That's not true! I changed, you know! Right, Althea Onee-san?!" said Alibaba as Althea was too busy cracking up.
Alibaba began to argue with Aladdin and both Althea and Scheherazade looked at each other. They both burst out laughing and they had smiles on their faces. Both Aladdin and Alibaba talked with each other as the sun was setting and the lamps were lit.
Althea had temporarily blanked out to inform the situation to Sinbad and feed her children, before she appeared back. Everyone looked at her confused and Althea smiled. "Well within that one year, you two left…something happened in Sindria…" said Althea as Scheherazade was laughing.
Alibaba, Aladdin, and Titus listened to what happened in Sindria and they bulged their eyes. "EHHHH?!"
"Althea Onee-san…you're married to Sinbad, now?! And you have two kids?!" yelled Alibaba surprised.
Althea laughed, "Don't worry. I'll always see you two as part of my children" she reassured them.
"That's not the problem?! Since when were you…" blushed Alibaba.
Scheherazade giggled and Althea smiled, "I gave birth to twins; one boy and one girl. Sinbad and I decided to name them after Sinbad's deceased parents; Badr and Esra. "
Aladdin beamed and hugged Althea's waist, "Badr and Esra?"
Althea smiled, "Yes. Though they're nearly a year old, they're growing very quickly. I suppose it's because of who I am, that they're this way. They may not look like it but Badr and Ersra can be mistaken for three years old now"
"That's fast!" said Titus and Alibaba.
Althea laughed, "Anway…judging what you're telling us Alibaba, you didn't meet Scheherazade when you were in Reim?"
Alibaba shook his head, "Oh that! I decided not to meet her. Because, you know, she would find me out right? She would have immediately noticed that I had a metal vessel, just like Judal did. She would have sensed it and immediately understood who I was right? She is a magi, after all." He said, facing Scheherazade.
Althea and Scheherazade immediately had a passive face, "That's not…" said Althea as Scheherazade spoke.
"No…even if we would have met, I would not have realized it"
"What do you mean, Lady Scheherazade?" asked Alibaba.
Aladdin was silent and he looked at Scheherazade, "I knew it. You…are a little different from a Magi, right?"
Titus jumped to her defense, "What the hell are you talking about? Aladdin, that's rude!"
"That's right" cut in Scheherazade as everyone looked at her confused, "I'm just like Titus. I'm nothing more than one of Scheherazade's clones."
Titus widened his eyes, "What…what do you mean by that, Lady Scheherazade?"
"The Scheherazade we are talking to is in a body of a clone but her conscious is of the "Magi" Scheherazade herself" said Althea bluntly.
Everyone looked at her in shock as Scheherazade nodded, "The real body is resting in Reim, in a place where no one can find it…that body is not even able to take a single step…because it's too old…"
"Old you say…" said Alibaba, warily. "How old are you, really?"
Althea smirked as Scheherazade looked at them bluntly, "I am 268 years old."
"Two-two hundred years old?!" yelled Alibaba and Aladdin.
Althea laughed as Scheherazade giggled, "Did I surprised you? Even if I look like this, I'm really just a granny" said Scheherazade.
Alibaba and Aladdin looked at the blond magi in confusion and then Aladdin had a question, "Althea Onee-san…how do you know Miss Scheherazade?"
Scheherazade smiled as Althea hung her head and sighed. She ran a hand through her hair and sat up straight, crossing her legs over herself and folded her hand on top of it. "As you are aware, when I die, I immediately go for re-birth. My life is not very long so it's not the first time I have met Scheherazade" she smirked.
Titus, Alibaba, and Aladdin widened their eyes at her "Eh?"
Scheherazade giggled and Althea looked up, "If I were to say that I still lived when I first met Scheherazade, I would be at least 350 years old. Heck, I remember when Scheherazade herself was born and I watched her grow up~" she snickered.
Alibaba and Aladdin choked on their spit as Althea and Scheherazade giggled. "So basically, me and Scheherazade grew up together and every time I died…Scheherazade would immediately know where I was and helped me."
Scheherazade smiled, "When I was born into this world, you were like my mother" she admitted.
Althea scoffed, "I could've been your actual mother! I just don't know because my past self-memories overlap with each other or they disappeared since they are not relevant to this current life"
Alibaba, Aladdin, and Titus gaped at Althea. So there was a chance that Althea could have been Scheherazade's mother. Scheherazade smiled at Althea and tilted her head, "You were a great influence on my life"
"Again. I can't remember doing that" said Althea, pouting and throwing her hands in the air.
Scheherazade giggled before she turned serious. "Now it is my turn to ask you something… please tell me, what is Matal Mogamett hiding? What does he intend to do with Magnostadt?"
Aladdin stared at her as Scheherazade spoke, "Tell us, Aladdin. What are you afraid of?"
Silence fell over them and Aladdin looked at Althea. The Queen of Sindria merely nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder for reassurance. "What scares me…is that maybe that Chancellor might realize Al-Thamen's wish." Said Aladdin.
Alibaba jumped, "Al Thamen?"
"Right now, Magnostadt is not related to Al Thamen. But considering the great quantity of magoi in this country and the extend of hate the magicians have, if the chancellor is hiding a great quantity of black rukh somewhere…maybe that scene of tragedy that Al-Thamen wishes for will appear once again."
Althea winced as she remember that scene and everything made sense to her. "Scene of tragedy…?"
Scheherazade looked at Aladdin, "How do you know about that Scene of Tragedy? Where did you learn of it?"
Aladdin looked at Scheherazade as both Aladdin and Althea spoke, "Alma Torran".
They stared at them as Aladdin spoke, "It's a story from another world whose history doesn't have any connection to ours."
"Another world? What the hell is that?" asked Alibaba.
Althea looked at Alibaba and smiled wistfully, "Alma Torran is the world I came from, Alibaba." As everyone was surprised, "That's why my life is exceptionally short in this world"
Everyone looked at both Aladdin and Althea, as Aladdin spoke. "A lot of people were living in that world, just like ours, but…everything there was put to an end because of a single war. Furthermore, those who caused that war, call themselves Al-Thamen."
Aladdin continued on, "That war ended before everything in Alma Torran perished, thanks to the power of a great magician called King Solomon. And then, most of the few survivors were guided to a new world that King Solomon created himself and that's the world where we are, right now…"
Aladdin looked at Althea as she took over, "It was also because of King Solomon, I exist." She said, as Alibaba, Titus, and Scheherazade looked at her in surprise.
"The reason…you exist?" asked Scheherazade, "This is the first time you've told me of this"
Althea smiled dryly, "Because there was never a need to tell it. My existence was very little known and not many of the magi before you knew about my said existence. Only a few, like Aladdin and Yunan, are aware of my true role in this world" she explained.
"Then…why are you here…?" asked Titus.
Althea smiled, "Before the few remaining survivors arrived to this world, I was given the task to watch this world. To make sure it was habitable for the survivors. I was far older than King Solomon and he trusted me as family. I was sent here and guided the survivors how to live in this world. Comparing Alma Torran to this world, it was very different. Most were confused but I guided them using the Rukh for help.
At the time, King Solomon and many others were aware that those of Al Thamen were not gone. Therefore, it order to create a balance between the Black Rukh and the White Rukh, I was given the role to watch over this world. Most of the time, I gave hope and 'goodness' to this world" she said.
Alibaba and the others smiled but Althea's eyes turned cold, "However, I knew that darkness never really disappears. Despite to prevent any tragedies, I had to give a place for the black rukh and the negativities to go to… so I realized I also had to create calamity and chaos."
Everyone widened their eyes and Aladdin was silent. "You…"
Althea sighed to herself, "I didn't want to but it had to be done. Fighting a common enemy and getting rid of it, helped bring balance to this world. I won't go too much into it but before even before the world was created, there were certain people who did not approve of the migration."
The others stared at her as Aladdin took over, "Al Thamen wants to erase this new world that King Solomon created and they are thinking about turning into a world of Chaos. And the power they need to realize such a thing is…the Dark Spot"
Alibaba who was listening, was growing colder and colder. "Aladdin…Althea…"
"A hole in this world created by a great quantity of magoi and black rukh. From that hole, the incarnation of evil that will eat the white rukh of this world will appear…"
Althea looked at them, "And when that happens, the balance will break and I will no longer be able to not to only live but I will also cease to exist in this world" said Althea, "Even if the Dark Spot doesn't destroy the world, my body will die in a short time from the strain. The Rukh within me will be expelled so they can balance the balance between white Rukh and black Rukh."
"But if that happens, you'll actually die!" said Titus.
Althea nodded as Alibaba was shocked, "I know but it has to be done. Depending how much damage the Dark Spot has created, my life is sacrificed so I can seal the hole it created and hold it. It will than take a larger quantity for it to re-open."
"But…" said Scheherazade as everyone looked at her.
"But what?" asked Althea.
"You're holding out something…" said Scheherazade.
Althea was silent as she sighed, "When that does happen, it will take the power of King Solomon and those who placed my existence here, in order for my existence to be possible in this world. However, that is unlikely and I will never be able to return here"
Scheherazade and the others stared at Aladdin and Althea. "I don't get what you're saying…" said Alibaba to Aladdin and Althea.
"Y-yeah, I know but Alma Torran's history was shown to me through Solomon's wisdom from that day in Balbadd" said Aladdin.
Althea could see the major shock hitting Alibaba as Scheherazade spoke up, "Is this the first time you talked about this?"
Aladdin nodded, "Y-Yeah. I never told anyone but Althea Onee-san already knew…though I always thought I had to do something since Althea Onee-san already had a job to do in this world. I always saw it in my dreams but that was the story of a totally separate world that was shown only to me."
"I didn't want to worry the others more than than they already were!" said Aladdin.
"That's…and? If what you said is true…what do you us to…" said Scheherazade as she stopped, noticing Alibaba walking over. "Hey…Aladdin…Althea…you keep saying things that don't many sense…" he said.
Althea was silent as Aladdin spoke, "Eh? Y-yes, sorry…I said some weird things all of a sudden…" said Aladdin before Alibaba gripped Aladdin's shoulders.
"That's not it!" yelled Alibaba, "You should have told me about those things a long time ago. You've been thinking about that since forever. You were th one who said that I don't have to worry about these things alone but let's think of a solution together…right?! That time in Balbadd…!"
Althea stopped Titus as she stood up as Aladdin stuttered, "Y-Yes, you're right, but…Um I was born…as a magi for this reason…and…" suddenly Aladdin received a hit to the head. Althea widened his eyes as Alibaba yelled, "It doesn't matter, you idiot! It doesn't matter if it's so complicated or if it's so dangerous or if it's something that has to do with just you! You don't have to worry about it alone!"
"I will worry and think of a solution together with you! Just like you did for me countless time before…alright, Aladdin?!" yelled Alibaba.
Aladdin just stared at his friend and began to tear up. "Y-yeah, thank you, Alibaba!"
Scheherazade and Althea smiled at each other as Alibaba spun around to yell at Althea, "And you, Althea Onee-san!"
Althea simply stood there as Alibaba grabbed her shoulder and gripped them, tears sprouting from his eyes. "D-does Sinbad, know?!"
Althea stood there and spoke quietly, "Not entirely-" as Alibaba hugged her waist. Althea was surprised as Alibaba's knees buckled and he cried into her stomach, holding her arms.
"You….I don't want…I don't want you to disappear, Althea…." Said Alibaba as Althea stared at Alibaba in surprise. "Since I lost my mother…when I was young…I missed her so much. Then in Balbadd, I met you and you smiled at me. Although, I realized you do that a lot but every time you smiled…I felt warm…" said Alibaba as Althea's form started to loosen and she went back to her current age.
Titus stared in amazement as he saw Althea smiling sadly, patting Alibaba's hair. "You became a second mother in my eyes and I don't want to lose another mother…" he cried.
Althea knelt down and placed her hands on Alibaba's shoulders. The blond was wiping his face as Althea used the sleeve of her clothes to dry away Alibaba's tears and cupped his face. Alibaba saw Althea giving him a warm smile, "Alibaba. As you see me as a mother to you, I also see you as one of my children. That goes for the same for Aladdin…Morgiana…Hakuryuu…and several others. However, you have to know, there are somethings in this world that you can fight against but sometimes, there are things that you have to let it go. You can't revive someone from the dead Alibaba so when I pass from this world, you need to remember one thing and promise me you will follow this. You too Aladdin and Titus."
"Even me?" said Titus as Althea grinned.
"What is it, Althea Onee-san?" asked Aladdin as Althea smiled at them while Scheherazade had a smile of her own appearing on her face.
"Promise me, you will continue to live your life to the fullest and always look forward" she said.
Alibaba sniffled and Althea hugged both Aladdin and Alibaba as they nodded, "Y-yeah…." They said, muffling into her. Titus stared at Althea as she smiled, holding out her arm. "You too, Titus. Ah, Scheherazade, come on!"
Scheherazade giggle before she got up and joined the hug. Titus seemed hesitant but he joined the group hug and he yelped when Althea grinned and squished the four of them into her arms. Scheherazade giggled while Aladdin and Alibaba laughed while Titus blushed. Althea started laughing before Titus found himself doing the same.
The five of them flew back to one of Reim's fleet ships as Scheherazade faced them. "Aladdin. Althea, now I know what I needed to know. You wanted to stop this water in order to prevent the worst possible scenario…give me a little time to talk with the others on this ship, please. It's alright, nothing bad will happen. Wait for a reply by Lord Mogamett's side…"
"Yes… but could you just us just a little more time?" asked Aladdin before he looked at Titus, "Titus, we still have to talk about what you will do from now on."
Althea looked at Scheherazade and narrowed her eyes, 'Talk to him now' she said to her.
Scheherazade nodded and grabbed Titus's hand, "Would you leave Titus and me alone for a while?" asked Scheherazade. Althea watched Scheherazade and Titus walk away as Alibaba spoke up. "Aladdin, who is that guy?"
"He is a friend I made in Magnostadt. I can relate to how he feels as if it were my own…" said Aladdin. Althea simply stood in the shadows, absorbing much of the shadows as possible to fill her magoi and energy. She was going to need all the strength she could as she felt a storm brewing in the air and the rukh fluttered around nervously.
After a few moments, Scheherazade waved them over. "Come, Aladdin, Alibaba. I want you to know. "
Althea guided Alibaba and Aladdin over to Scheherazade as she spoke, "Reim's army will wait until daybreak and then retreat. I will officially notify Magnostadt about this…in other words, the war has already ended…."
"The war…has ended…" said Aladdin.
Althea widened her eyes looked at Scheherazade with a shocked look. Was it that easy? She had lived several lifetimes and fought in war. It was not that easy to call off a war…especially with Magnostadt.
The door to one of the rooms opened as a soldier yelled, "Lady- Lady Scheherazade… A messenger just arrived from the Kou Empire…the Kou Empire has begun to move! The reports say the stationing trips of the Northern Plateau…. A great army composed of more than 200,000 warriors has begun the invasion and is now heading toward Magnostadt!" reported the soldier.
Althea widened her eyes and gripped her sword.
"Kou Emore's army?! At a time like this…" said Aladdin shocked.
Althea gritted her teeth, "Ren Kouen….Kouen is most likely behind this!" said Althea as she looked to where the Northern Plateau was. The Rukh begun to flow through her, telling her everything and she narrowed her eyes. "I should've known. "
"What are you talking about, Althea?" asked Scheherazade as the female Raven head turned around.
"Ren Kouen has sent the army and he sent one of his brothers; Ren Kouha to lead the army." Said Althea and looked at everyone, "I will return back to Sindria and tell Sinbad about this. Not only is Magnostadt and Reim were at war with each other moments before… now the Kou Empire has made their move into this war"
Aladdin and the others widened their eyes, "But-"
Althea looked at Aladdin, "I know things are bad enough as it is as the Guardian of the Rukh but I am also the Queen of Sindria. I will do what needs to be done to protect those who are under Sindria's care. Not to mention, the Kou Empire was already a danger to us…"
Aladdin and the others looked down as Althea placed a hand on Aladdin and Alibaba's shoulders, "I will do my best not to allow any more calamity happen but I must return back. I'm not in my physical form after all."
The others looked at her and nodded as Scheherazade spoke, "Be careful, Althea"
The Queen of Sindria simply smiled at her old friend and dropped "Shadow Clone" move. They watched her body turn black and drop like ink before the shadows flew to a nearby cast of shadow.
Althea gasped and she nearly fell to the floor. Her body tingled and the Rukh were giving as much energy as possible.
"Lady Althea!" said Sharrkan and Yamuraiha before Althea got up. The swordsman and the magician ran over to her side and helped her up. Althea smiled at them before her face turned serious. She pushed the doors open and Sinbad and the others snapped their heads up.
"Althea!" said Sinbad and stood up, Pisti holding Esra and Ja'far holding Badr. The King of Sindria quickly made his way over to Althea as his hands went to her waist and Althea gripped Sinbad's arms.
"Sinbad. We have a problem. The Kou Empire has begun their move to attack Magnostadt!" said Althea, as Sinbad widened his eyes by a fraction.