Chapter 15: Alibaba and Hakuryuu
The next day
At the courtyard
"Sharrar Baraq!" Yamraiha shout making the water to shoot towards Aladdin, but Aladdin creates a fire barrier to protect himself from the attack.
"How was that protecting magic, Yam-oneesan? I put together two commands: gather the flame and create a wall." Aladdin asks.
"Pretty good. But if you add just one more command, you could turn into offensive magic." Yamraiha says as water gathers around Aladdin which he slowly sinks into it. Then Yamraiha snaps her fingers causing the water to fall allow with Aladdin. "What about that?"
"Amazing, Yam-san! I want to try that with fire!"
"Aren't you going to get burnt?" Vulpi questions as she watches them.
When the lesson is over, Aladdin and Vulpi goes to a fountain with Alibaba to clean themselves. While both Aladdin and Alibaba clean themselves and Vulpi rubs her egg, they hear Alibaba sighing.
"Cheer up, Alibaba-kun. I was bullied around by Yam-san the whole time." Aladdin tells him.
"She sure did make a number out of you." Vulpi says.
"You had it tough too." Alibaba says.
"But it's great! I'm learning so much!"
Vulpi then spots Morgiana coming towards them.
"It's Morgiana." Vulpi says as Aladdin looks up.
"And she's back from the smith!" He adds.
The three sees Morgiana carrying a small chest as she coming towards them. Once Morgiana got there, she opens the chest as they see shackles with bird-like emblem and a red gem.
"Wow!" Aladdin and Alibaba shout.
"Pretty!" Vulpi shouts.
"This is your household vessel?!" Alibaba asks.
"Correct." Morgiana answers and she picks them up. "I had them create anklets form me. The pattern is a fire bird. It's the symbol of the sun according to the beliefs of the Dark Continent."
"They're pretty! Try them on!" Aladdin asks.
Once she puts them on the chains hangs down below her feet.
"The chains look so pretty!" Aladdin says.
"They look more like decorations dancers wear!" Alibaba says.
"Mor-san, show us what you can do!"
When she does a demonstration, the chains wrap around the boys' heads and Vulpi begins to laugh.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Morgiana apologizes and takes off her household vessel and takes off the chains from their heads.
"Are you sure it wouldn't be better without the chains? What if you wore them somewhere other than your ankles?" Alibaba asks as Morgiana looks at the anklets.
"No matter where I where them, these are nothing but decorations. I don't know how to use them in battle."
"How would you like to use them?" Vulpi asks.
"Me?"
"Yam-san said that the first step to creating new magic is figuring out what you want that magic to do. I think creating a household vessel is the same." Aladdin adds.
"What I want to do…" Morgiana trails off and thinks for the moment. "I want the strength to help the three of you."
"You're already more than strong enough, Morgiana!" Alibaba says.
"He's right!" Aladdin agrees.
"You know what was really helpful? That time when you threw me. Without you, there's no way I could've fought against enemies in the air."
"You saved me too. You jump really fast and took me away from danger!"
"And the time when we went to help Alibaba-san." Vulpi says.
"You're amazing, Mor-san. When you're around, it's like we have wings!"
"I'm your… wings?" Morgiana says and she imagines herself carrying Aladdin and Alibaba with muscle-like wings. "I understand."
"Wait, what did you just imagine?" Alibaba questions.
"Excuse me for interrupting." The four turn their heads and see Hakuryuu and Kougyoku standing at side. "I have been searching for the four of you at King Sinbad's request." Hakuryuu says.
"I'm just accompanying him." Kougyoku says.
"What does Sinbad-san want?" Alibaba asks.
"He ordered me to accompany the four of you, do what you do, and learn from you all. I hope we can work together."
Both Aladdin and Vulpi see the similarities of a certain princess from the plains.
"You're the Magi and the Vulpe clansman, right?" Hakuryuu asks. "Thank you for helping my sister, Hakuei, on the Kouga plains. I am very grateful to you two!"
"Is she doing well?" Aladdin asks.
"Yes. She is currently on campaign in the western part of the Tenzan Plateau. She has gathered the people of Kouga and is continuing negotiations with other tribes."
"What a scary look." Kougyoku says causing them to look at Alibaba.
"Alibaba-san, are you okay?" Vulpi asks.
"A-ah, um-!" Alibaba stutters.
"I am aware that a lot occurred back in Balbadd, but should we not declare a truce for the moment being?" Kougyoku asks.
"Yeah. Fighting won't get us anywhere!" Aladdin says as he lending his hand.
"I agree. Let's be bygones be bygones and work together."
When the two grasp their hands, both of them immediately squeeze each other hands.
"O-ow, that hurts!" Aladdin shouts.
"You're the one who's hurting me!" Kougyoku shouts back.
"You're stabbing me!"
"Let go of me!"
"Okay, okay, both of you! I know the both of you resented what happened back then, but let's get along." Vulpi tells the two.
"Sorry about that, Hakuryuu. They have some history from Balbadd." Alibaba says.
"Is that not true for you as well?" Hakuryuu asks. "Alibaba Saluja-dono, you too surely harbor hatred inside your heart. Hatred for me as the prince of the country that has occupied Balbadd."
"N-no, I'm already–" Alibaba then feels a sharp pain on his arm, cutting off what he about to say.
"You don't need to force yourself. It is truth that the Kou Empire tried to occupy Balbadd, and that they are still trying to do so now."
"I…"
"Hate him!" A voice says and Alibaba looks away.
"Geez you two are stubborn." Vulpi says to Aladdin and Kougyoku who are blowing their hands to cool down and Aladdin notices Alibaba's acting.
"Alibaba-kun?" Aladdin says.
"The governor-general who has been dispatched to lead the second expedition into Balbadd is the First Imperial Prince, Kouen Ren, also known as Entei. He will use Balbadd's insurrection as a stepping stone for conquest."
"Hate him. Kill him. Hate him. Kill him!"
Then Alibaba's sleeve begins to have black stain as Alibaba holds his arm.
"Alibaba-san?" Morgiana calls.
"That's right, more hatred! Kill him!"
"During Balbadd's insurrection, you lost a dear friend, did you not? You don't need to hide such emotions." Hakuryuu stops himself and notices Alibaba is acting. "Alibaba-dono?"
Suddenly, Alibaba cries out in pain and collapses as he clutches his arm as they see black spot growing out to his neck.
~Later~
In the Infirmary
Alibaba is lying on one of the beds in the room as Aladdin, Vulpi, Morgiana, Kougyoku, and Hakuryuu look at him. Then they hear a door open behind them as Sinbad walks in.
"What happened?" Sinbad asks.
When Sinbad gets closer the four make room for him and Alibaba sits up.
"Sinbad-san. It's okay. My arm just hurts a little–" Alibaba then feels a sharp pain on his arm as his body pulses.
"We pushed you that much yet you still won't budge?" A voice questions and black smoke comes out of Alibaba's arm before forming into a man that Vulpi saw at Balbadd. "What a spineless man."
"You're-!" Alibaba shouts.
"You really are from back then!" Vulpi shouts.
"But thanks to you, I was able to get past the barrier and enter Sindria."
Sinbad quickly draws his sword out and immediately slices him, causing blood to spills on his body. Aladdin quickly protects himself, Vulpi and Morgiana with his borg. Then the man's body comes back together like it was nothing.
"Only the Magi noticed what was happening?" The man questions as black smoke comes off the blood on Sinbad's body.
"What is this blood?" Sinbad questions.
"It's too late. I have done as our father ordered and cursed you to death. Consider it an invitation from us, first-class singularity, King Sinbad, and King Candidate from Solomon's arrogance, King Alibaba. Become black kings and surrender to our father. The curse has attached itself to your magoi flow and will slowly turn all of your rukh black. After that, you will be reborn as a complete different person. In other words, you will have fallen into depravity."
"Fall into depravity?" Aladdin repeats.
"You cannot escape it. If you fight it, Solomon's rukh and the black rukh will destroy each other inside your body and your body will die." Alibaba and Sinbad gasp from that and the man grins evilly. "I'll be waiting for you into the darkness of depravity."
The man disappears into black smoke leaving everyone in the room looking at the space where the man was. Later, the group, Hakuryuu, Sinbad, and the Eight Generals are gathered in the courtroom as Yamraiha wraps the bandages around Sinbad's body that has the black spots.
"What should we do? Even Sinbad-san was infected!" Alibaba thought.
Once she finishes, Sinbad notices Alibaba looking down.
"There's no need to worry. Curses do not exist." He assures Alibaba. "This is a type of magic. Right?"
"Yes. The black mark is moving because of magic." Yamraiha says.
"If it's magic, then that means there's a way to get rid of it, right?" Aladdin asks.
"But I've never seen this type of magic before. What kind of commands is it working under? With complicated magic, only the caster knows how to remove it."
"No…"
Morgiana looks at Alibaba worriedly since he got the same marks as Sinbad.
"There is one way." Sinbad says.
"What is it?" Alibaba asks.
"Even farther south than here lies an island of the Toran people. On that island is a dungeon. It's the 61st dungeon, Zagan, which, if conquered, can heal any wound or illness. The djinn there could be our saving grace. Would you like to bet on that, Alibaba-kun?"
"…Yes."
"I would like to go with you, but I cannot. Can you go by yourselves?"
The four look at each other surprised at Sinbad's suggestion.
"Why not?" Morgiana asks.
"If me or anything in my household tries to pass through a dungeon gate, we'll simply slip through, but won't enter. This happened when I made a contract with my seventh djinn. My seventh djinn said to me, that's enough for you."
"A metal vessel user can most likely only gain a certain amount of power." Ja'far concludes.
"I understand. We'll go ourselves! And we'll definitely break this curse." Alibaba says.
"Please allow me to join you." Hakuryuu asks causing them to look at him.
"I did ask you to learn from those four, but I didn't count on conquering a dungeon. It will me a dangerous journey." Sinbad warns.
"I am aware and ready. I have long wanted to conquer a dungeon and have been searching for a Magi to do just that."
"I heard that the Magi Judar was in the Kou Empire and that he was more than happy to guide Kou's leader to a dungeon."
"No, I absolutely do not want to use his power."
"I see. Very well, you may join them."
"Thank you very much!"
Just then, Vulpi fells the egg moving and she looks down.
"What's wrong, Vulpi-nee?" Aladdin asks.
"No. It just that this one was moving just now." Vulpi says and the egg moves again surprising everyone in the room before a crack is made.
"Don't tell me…" Morgiana trails off.
"It's hatching!" Alibaba exclaims and the crack gets bigger before it hatched into a small winged-dragon whose body is covered by soft, pale blue feathers. Its body ends with two long feathers instead of a tail.
"It hatched!" Aladdin exclaims as the small dragon looks around before staring at Vulpi.
"Hello. I'm Vulpi. I'll be your partner from now on." Vulpi tells the little dragon before happily nods. "As for your name, it will be Ryuko."
"Ryuko?" Aladdin repeats.
"Ryu no ko (dragon child) that's why Ryuko." Vulpi explains.
"He-h. I never thought of that." Alibaba says.
"But I'm surprised that it would hatched at this timing." Sinbad says. "Vulpi you better take care of your partner."
"Yes!" Vulpi replies and Ryuko chirps.
~Later~
On the ship
Alibaba is leaning on the edge of the ship as he looking out into the distance remembering what happened to Sinbad.
"If you think so hard and frown so much, you won't be able to gather your strength when you need it." Pisti says.
"But it's my fault…" Alibaba trails off.
"Don't worry about Sin. Yam's stagnation magic can prevent the curse from spreading for around ten days."
"Yeah…" Alibaba says as he looks at the mark on his arm.
~Flashback~
"Be careful. I don't think this will be a problem with the amount of magoi you have, but if you use your metal vessel strongly, you could break the seal." Yamraiha tells him.
"My amount of magoi? What about Sinbad-san?" Alibaba asks causing her to frown.
"He can't use his magoi at all for a little while."
~End flashback~
Alibaba continues to look at the mark when a large sea horse creature attacks the ship and Aladdin and Morgiana get ready to attack the creature as Vulpi gets ready to summon a spirit.
"Leave him to me!" Pisti shouts as she is on a giant bird flying straight towards the creature as Pisti uses her flute making the creature to be docile. When the bird lands on the ship, Pisti pets the creature. "Good boy. You're such a good boy! Go back to the ocean now."
The ship leaves the creature as it watches leaving.
"You're amazing, Pisti-sama!" A soldier shouts and Pisti jumps off the bird before she run towards the four.
"I can use my rukh to match the wavelength of my voice and my flute to speak to animals." Pisti explains.
"Thanks! Um… Pisti?" Aladdin says confusingly.
"Aw, can't you call me Miss, like you call Yam-san?" Pisti asks cutely.
"Onee-san?"
"Yeah! I'm older than Alibaba!"
"What?!" Aladdin and Alibaba shout.
"You're so rude." Pisti says as she pokes Alibaba. "No matter what I look like, I'm still older than you. And I am much more experience than you guys in many different areas."
Aladdin stares at her for the moment before touching her chest area and he tilts his head. "…Onee-san?"
"You're such a jerk, Aladdin-kun!" Pisti shouts as she covers her chest. Then the soldiers laugh From Aladdin's action and Pisti crouches down next to Morgiana. "Man, why do guys like big girls so much?"
"Do they?" Morgiana asks.
"Yeah! Big bouncy girls!"
"Everyone, food is ready!" Hakuryuu announces as they see a lot of food on three plates as Hakuryuu carries one of the trays before he puts the food on the table with two men behind him carrying the other two trays.
"Wow!" Aladdin shouts.
"You have all been so kind to me. I thought I could at least cook you a meal in thanks."
"Did you make all of this, Mister Hakuryuu?" Aladdin asks.
"My sister taught me that I must be able to perform all of my everyday tasks myself."
"I see! You'll make a great husband one day." Pisti says.
"He's very different from the person I imagined when I heard 'prince of the Kou Empire'." Morgiana says.
"Ye-yeah, he is." Alibaba says.
"This is really good, Hakuryuu-san." Vulpi says and she turns to Ryuko who is eating a dumpling. "Right, Ryuko?"
Ryuko turns towards her and lifts its wings as it chirps in agreement.
When the ship arrives Toran village, the soldiers get the boats ready for the group and supplying for food to go to the dungeon.
"This place is much more lively than I thought it'd be." Alibaba says.
"I've read about the Toran people in my studies before, but this is my first time seeing them in person." Hakuryuu says.
As Aladdin tries to help getting ready, he stumbles around and accidentally pumps into someone.
"I'm sorry!" Aladdin apologizes.
"I told you to take it slowly!" Alibaba tells him.
As Aladdin looks up at the person who is a woman who has light green hair worn in ringlets, blue eyes, and three vertical dots on her forehead. Also, the person behind the woman is a man with black hair and a long ahoge in front of his face.
Soon after Aladdin apologized, the two walks away into the crowd as the five watch them.
"What's the matter?" Pisti asks.
"No, nothing…" Aladdin replies and a girl approaches them.
"E-excuse me." She asks getting their attention. "A-are you going to the dungeon?"
"Yes?" Hakuryuu replies.
"Then I have a request! Please take me with you! I want to save my parents!"
"Did your parents…?" Pisti asks.
"What are you talking about?" Vulpi asks.
"Unlike other dungeons, supposedly Zagan eats people."
"Eats people?" Aladdin repeats.
"Yes. The story is that those who approach Zagan are dragged in and devoured. I've heard that a number of the people on this island have fallen to Zagan."
"No one's tried to approach the dungeon since. Everyone says that the people who were swallowed are dead. That's why I have to be the one to save my parents! Please take me with you!" The girl asks.
"We can't. You'll hold us back. We can't bring you along." Alibaba says.
"But I want to save them!" The girl insists as tears are on her eyes and Alibaba sighs.
"But…"
"I understand. I will save them for you." Hakuryuu says.
"Hey!"
Hakuryuu walk towards the girl and puts his and on her shoulder. "I will definitely find your parents for you. If they're dead, I will defeat everything that lives in that dungeon. All right?"
As the girl stares at Hakuryuu, she closes her eyes to fight back the tears and Alibaba watches him.
"Hakuryuu…"
~Later~
On the river
As they approach the dungeon, Morgiana puts on her household vessel on her wrists and Ryuko lying on Vulpi's head.
"Wow, Mor-san! You decided to wear them as bracelet?" Aladdin asks.
"Yes. I don't know what to do with them yet though." Morgiana says.
"Learning to forgive him is another test." Alibaba thought as he stares at Hakuryuu.
Hakuryuu then notices Alibaba staring at him and Alibaba begins to row the oar.
"I see something! Is that Zagan?" Aladdin asks as he points at Zagan's dungeon in the distance and a light appears at the dungeon.
"What was that light just now?" Morgiana questions.
"That might be the entrance." Alibaba says and then Vulpi's ears twitch.
"Something's coming!" Vulpi shouts and she quickly hugs Ryuko in her arms.
Suddenly, threads come out of the dungeon as they wrap around Aladdin before dragging him into the dungeon.
"Aladdin!" Alibaba and Vulpi shout out as the other threads wrap around the others before dragging them into the dungeon.
"I know this feeling!" Alibaba thought before they go through the dungeon entrance. "I'm back. I will definitely pass this test."