Chapter 21: A Start of a New Journey

Sindria
~Night~

The citizens of Sindria are gathered at the plaza and then the soldiers bangs the gongs as the citizens look up to see Sinbad.

"My beloved citizens of Sindria!" Sinbad calls out. "Thanks to you all, we were able to achieve a stunning victory in the recent war. Tonight, we shall celebrate that triumph. Bask in the glow of victory, to your heart's content!"

The citizens cheer out after Sinbad gave the speech.

"I have one more joyous report to make to you. Guests of our country have conquered yet another new dungeon." He says as the eight generals move away to show Aladdin, Alibaba, Vulpi, Morgiana, and Hakuryuu. Then Sharrkan, Yamraiha, and Masrur gets behind their students. "Allow me to introduce them to you." Sinbad continues and Sharrkan slaps Alibaba's back, causing him to step up. "Alibaba Saluja. Ren Hakuryuu. Morgiana. Vulpi. And Aladdin." When Sinbad calls their names, they step up as Ryuko sits on Vulpi's shoulder. "One adventure has come to an end. But we are always in the midst of a journey. This moment right now is the beginning of a new journey. Now then, raise your glasses. To the adventure that is about to begin anew!"

With that the celebration begins and the group watches the play which happened in the dungeon.

"Take that, you cursed dungeon creatures! I'll turn your into the rust of my Sword of Amon!"

"Prepare for defeat!"

Alibaba and Sharrkan holds their laughter from the lines the actors said.

"Feel the force of my magic firsthand! My name is Aladdin!"

Both Alibaba and Sharrkan laughs at the actor as Aladdin as the small Magi shocked from the actor.

"Wh-Why the heck is Aladdin so ripped?" Alibaba questions as he laughs.

"The one playing Alibaba-san is a dead ringer for you." Morgiana points out.

"Doesn't look a thing like me!" Alibaba retorts. "Doesn't this make you mad at all?"

"I feel embarrassed. If only my skill were as polish as that…"

"Oh, yeah?" Alibaba says. "Well, but… A heck of a lot happened, but it's good that we were able to come back in one piece, huh?" Aladdin, Vulpi, and Morgiana look at him. "I know I caused you guys a lot of trouble… But seriously, thanks, Aladdin. You too, Morgiana, Vulpi!"

"Alibaba-kun…" Aladdin says.

"What's the big idea, getting so sentimental?" Sharrkan questions and he forces Alibaba to drink from the bottle. "Drink up!"

Then Aladdin gets up and copies the movements of the actor Aladdin as Alibaba and Sharrkan laugh out loud.

"Not a good impression." Sharrkan laughs.

"Cut it out, Aladdin!" Alibaba pleads as he continues to laugh and he spills the drink on the table. Then Vulpi stands up from the table as she holds Ryuko in her arms.

"Well then, I better go back." Vulpi says catching Alibaba's and Morgiana's attention.

"Already?" Morgiana asks.

"You could at least stay here for a little while." Alibaba tells her.

"Thanks, but I wanted to be alone for a while." Vulpi says as both Alibaba and Morgiana catch what she meant.

"All right." Alibaba says.

"Have a good night, Vulpi-san." Morgiana says.

"You guys too." Vulpi replies before she leaves the festivities.

"Did something happened while you guys in the dungeon?" Sharrkan asks.

"Yes…" Alibaba replies.

"In fact, one of Vulpi-san's spirit, Corrine, died protecting her." Morgiana adds.

"And Vulpi summoned a spirit that's similar to Corrine."

~Flashback~
In Zagan's Dungeon

After the group put the treasure into large back, Vulpi stands in front of Verius.

"Um, Verius." Vulpi calls. "Are you really not Corrine?"

"That is correct. At that moment when Corrine protected you, she met her fate." Verius explains.

"Then why are you here?" Alibaba asks.

"It was Corrine's strong love for you, Vulpi, is the source of my birth. I am her reincarnation."

"Reincarnation?" Morgiana repeats.

"As all of you know, I am the Spirit of Heart, Verius."

~Present~

Vulpi is in her room of the palace as she sits on her bed looking at Corrine's bell.

"Corrine…" Vulpi mutters and Ryuko gets in front of her. "What's wrong, Ryuko?"

Ryuko stares at Vulpi for the moment before it turns around and takes the bell collar as it tries to put the collar around its neck. However, once the collar is on Ryuko's neck, it falls off on its own from Ryuko's neck.

"We're you trying to cheer me up?" Vulpi asks and Ryuko nods its head, "Ryuko…" She calls and smiles at the small dragon. Vulpi then picks up the bell collar and ties it around Ryuko's neck before she picks her dragon up towards her face. "Thanks, Ryuko."

(Insert Ashita Kuru Hi)

Haru ni saku hana

Natsu hirogaru sora yo

Kokoro no naka ni

Kizamarete kirameku

Asa ni furu ame

Mado wo tozasu hi ni mo

Mune ni afureru hikari wa

Kumo no ue

Yorokobi kanashimi

Subete daite aruiteiru

Watashi no te to

Kimi no te wo

Tsuyoku tsunagu mono

Aki wa mizube ni

Fuyu kozue ni hisomu

Sekai no oku no

Kagirinai yasashisa

Yoru ga kuru tabi

Inori wo sasageyou

Ashita kuru hi wo

Shizuka ni mukaeyou

Watashi wo michibiku

Tooi tooi yobigoe yo

Hohoemu youni

Utau youni

Hibiku kaze no oto

Yorokobi kanashimi

Subete daite aruiteiru

Watashi no te to

Kimi no te wo

Tsuyoku tsunagu mono

"Ryuko, my mother made this song for when I was little."

~Flashback~

After Vulpi's mother sang the song, Vulpi looks up to her.

"That's a pretty song, okaa-sama." Vulpi says.

"Thank you, Vulpi. I poured my heart making this song for you, Vulpi."

"Really!"

"That's right. But let's keep a secret from your father." Vulpi's mother says as he puts her finger above her lips. "After all, he gets very jealous easily."

~Present~
Where Aladdin is

Aladdin is sitting on the stone railing as he eats the food he brought for Dunya when he visited her, but she still asleep in the room.

"Aladdin." Aladdin turns around and sees Alibaba walking towards the Magi after he climbed the stairs.

"Alibaba-kun!" Aladdin calls.

"So you were here."

"I went to see how Dunya-oneesan was doing, but she still hasn't woken up…" Aladdin says.

"I see." Alibaba says as he put his hands together on the railing. "I haven't been able to go see her yet myself. For some reason, it reminds me of Cassim, and it's kind of painful… But… After seeing her memories, I just can't forgive Al-Thamen. I felt that way all over again."

"Right…" Aladdin agrees as both of them look at the scenery. "Alibaba-kun… I really like this world we're living in. The world that Ugo-kun sent me into… and where I met you." He then remembers the memory of when Alma Toran was destroyed. "That's why… I not going to let this world come to an end."

"Yeah." Alibaba says and turns to see Aladdin clutching his flute. Just then colorful fires shoot up, catching their attention. While, Vulpi, Morgiana, Hakuryuu, and the Sindria citizens look at them.

"But… To make sure I succeed, what is it that I'm supposed to do?" Aladdin thought. "From this moment on… Which direction is it that I'm supposed to go?"

~A few days later~
In Yamraiha study room

"You fixed it!" Aladdin exclaims after Yamraiha gave his fixed turban.

"Isn't that great, Aladdin." Vulpi says.

"Yep! You're awesome, Yam-san!"

"You take good care of that now." Yamraiha tells him. "Magic tools are valuable - they can be used by magicians too."

"Come to think of it, you don't have a Household Vessel, do you, Yam-san?" Aladdin asks.

"Now that you mentioned it…" Vulpi trails off realizing that.

"No. Magicians and Djinn's Household Vessels just aren't compatible, so I can't use one." Yamraiha replies. "But I can create all kinds of magic with my own two hands. You two better devote yourselves to mastering that too!"

"I wonder about that…" Vulpi says, unsure. "I can only use a little of magic that you taught me since I only can do summoning. But I think Aladdin can do it."

"Okay. I want to learn more and more about magic." Aladdin says and remembers something. "Hey, wasn't the place where you studied magic…"

"Magnostadt Academy…" Yamraiha answers. "I was a student there until ten years ago."

"Magnostadt…"

~Later~
In the room

Aladdin decides to visit Dunya since she woke up and this time Vulpi and Ryuko join him to visit her and Aladdin plays with Dunya.

"Ithnan-sama!" Aladdin exclaims with Ryuko spread its wings on Aladdin's head as Vulpi and Dunya laugh at his action. "'What a fool you are, Dunya!'"

"Stop it, Aladdin! Not while I'm eating…" Dunya says and she spills some soup on her chest. "Oh! The soup…"

Aladdin eyes seems to gleam at the chance as Vulpi takes out a cloth.

"Oh no! Onee-san! I'll eat that for you!" Aladdin exclaims as he jumps into Dunya's chest, but Vulpi quickly pushes him away from her as Ryuko flaps its wings to float.

"Don't do anything unnecessary!" Vulpi scolds the boy and looks at Dunya. "Sorry, Dunya. He is reliable, but most of the times he can be perverted. Here. Let me clean that for you."

"Thank you." Dunya says and Vulpi wipes off the soup from her chest as Aladdin stands up, rubbing the back of his head.

"You're mean, Vulpi-nee."

Later, Dunya finally finishes her meal and plays chess with Aladdin.

"I'm so glad we got to be friends, Dunya-oneesan." Aladdin says.

"Well, I'm very grateful to you. Being able to see Isaac, even if it was a hallucination, that made me very happy."

"But why won't you talk to the others?" Vulpi asks.

"Because… The kind of this country is in league with Magnostadt Academy, isn't he?" Dunya says and hugs her legs. "That woman magician must be working for that horrible school…"

"But Yam-san's not that kind of person!" Aladdin denies and looks down, happened to see Dunya's thighs. "Oh no, onee-san. You have a stain here too!"

Before Aladdin gets closer to Dunya, Vulpi pulls his hair to stop him.

Just then, someone knocks the door on the other side of the door and Sinbad enters the room with Yamraiha following behind him.

"Princess Dunya, I like to have a talk with you." Sinbad says.

Aladdin and Vulpi move away from the bed with Ryuko on Vulpi's head as Sinbad sits on the chair that's beside the bed. Sinbad then explains the disconnection between Sindria and Magnostadt.

"Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you? At this time, my country has no ties whatsoever with Magnostadt. Yamraiha herself had already left the academy at the time on the coup d'état ten years ago. So please be assured." He says and grabs her hand. "I will never hand you over to Magnostadt. No matter what."

When Sinbad puts his other hand that happened to have Metal Vessels in his fingers, they reject her, causing the everyone in the room to stand up.

"The metal Vessel rejected the princess?" Sinbad questions and sees purple light coming from her body. "Is this… the light of the Dark Metal Vessel?"

"Is that the fragment from that day?" Aladdin questions and suddenly black crystals protrude out from her chest and black rukh comes out from her body.

"This isn't good!" Yamraiha exclaims and puts her staff above Dunya's body as a magic circle appears below the princess causing the black rukh to stop coming out. Dunya's body then lies down on the bed as she is unconscious.

"What did you do?" Sinbad asks.

"I temporarily stopped the proliferation." She replies. "But since it's eaten away at her to such a degree… I'm afraid I can't do much more for her…"

"No way…" Aladdin says.

"Aladdin…" Sinbad calls. "If anyone could save her, it would be you, wouldn't it? With the power of a magi…"

Aladdin stares at Sinbad for the moment and looks at Dunya.

"All right. I'll give it a try." He replies and an eight-pointed star appear on his forehead. "Solomon's Wisdom!"

From his forehead, he sends rukh to Dunya's, blinding everyone in the room.

"So this is the power of Solomon…" Sinbad thought.

Once the rest of the rukh enters Dunya's forehead, Aladdin collapses and Vulpi catches him before she puts him next to Dunya.

"Aladdin…" Vulpi mutters.

After a while, many rukh come out of both Aladdin's and Dunya's hands as the black crystals disintegrate from Dunya's body and Aladdin wakes up.

"Aladdin-kun!" Yamraiha calls.

"Looks like it worked." Sinbad says as Aladdin sits up.

"Yes." Aladdin replies and looks at Dunya who is panting. "Dunya-oneesan?"

"Dunya-san!" Vulpi calls out.

Quickly, Sinbad calls a doctor to check up on Dunya until the sun starts to set and Aladdin looks down. Vulpi then wraps her arms around him.

"It wasn't your fault, Aladdin." Vulpi tells him and the boy only nods.

~Night~

Alibaba and Morgiana tells the two the sudden news that Hakuryuu is going back to Kou as they gather around on a bed (a huge one).

"It's too sudden, don't you think?" Alibaba asks. "For Hakuryuu to be leaving this country. Sure, a lot happened, but it's still sad to know that we'll be saying goodbye soon."

"Yeah." Aladdin replies and both Morgiana and Vulpi don't say anything. Just then Alibaba remembers Hakuryuu words before he departs.

"For the future, huh?" Alibaba says.

"Alibaba-kun, Mor-san, Vulpi-nee." Aladdin calls. "There's something I want to tell you three."

"Tell us?"

"I think… In the coming days, I'll be going on a journey on my own."