Hello everyone out there!
I'll keep it short this time: Magi belongs to Ohtaka Shinobu, my OC to me, there might be spoilers for those who haven't read Magi that far and references to our world set italic.
Have a fun time reading!
Chapter 4 Dealing with Sinbad and the fog troupe
At nightfall Lenka flew over Balbadd. Sinbad and Masrur guarded the house of a noble while Ja'far, Morgianna and Aladdin were at another residence. She had an argument with Orobas. The djinn had been pretty possessive before but that had been nothing compared to now. Right now he was like 'helicopter-mom on the NSA-level', always present and incredibly tiring.
I don't want you being near that guy, the djinn huffed. He's suspicious.
He is, but I know what will happen until almost three years from now on, so please let me do what I have to do.
Then tell me what you're going to do.
I will go with them to Sindria after the issue with the fog troupe is settled. And then we have almost seven months or so until the Zagan arc.
I don't like Zagan.
I won't go into the dungeon, I promise, Lenka said and mentally petted her djinn.
You will be my first djinn forever, won't you? Even if I conquer another dungeon, as long as I can fight with your equip I will do.
Lenka! I love you!
I know. Oh, it starts to get foggy, doesn't it? Let's head to Aladdin.
Lenka saw the scarlet mist covering the streets, then Ugo's giant blue body appearing.
"They've started."
Alibaba pulled off his makeshift hood, Ugo disappeared again. Then the boy passed Aladdin and started to shout.
"Come forth, Amon!"
The fire djinn's yellow and red flames shot out of his blade filling the air with fire. People screamed and ran around to escape.
Amon's flames are tough, but truth is always tougher.
Then show him what you're made of, Lenka thought, kneeled down, grabbed her scarf and wrapped it around her neck while falling down.
"Show me your weapon, Orobas!"
Alibaba looked up to see who had screamed this words. His eyes widened and he jumped back when the giant blade hit the ground. Lenka grinned.
"Hello, Alibaba. Please die. Now!"
She whirled the giant saber upwards and he barely managed to block the attack.
He won't get my flames, Orobas snarled. Lenka started another complex attack pattern to keep the man from advancing. Her right arm holding the hilt was covered with dark blue scales and her nails had transformed into claws. She felt almost invincible even though this was only weapon equip.
Our djinn equip will be amazing, her friend confirmed. The saber clashed against the smaller blade. The two dungeon capturer stood face to face. Alibaba's knife was trembling.
"Go now before you disappoint your friend even more, Alibaba," she hissed then jumped back to take a deep breath.
"Spirit of faithfulness and truth, show me your power and burn the darkness with you scorching flames!"
White and blue fire shot out of the blade and started to extinguish Amon's. The sky started to glow in Orobas' colors.
"Retreat! Retreat!"
"Hey! You can't run! I haven't kicked your bum yet!" Lenka yelled at the disappearing bandits and fired a few shots after them.
They are surprisingly fast. Lenka! The house! Don't burn the house! Argh!
"Bloody hell. Sorry!"
Lenka kept the next day strolling around Balbadd until evening, knowing that it would take until nighttime until the next event. She visited various bazaars without customers and streets filled with dirt, people with broken eyes and children clothed in rags. Her anger grew stronger every minute she spent walking, so the girl decided to go back to the inn before setting something ablaze in her fury.
As Lenka stepped into the entrance hall she immediately spotted Morgianna's red hair. The fanalis stood next to a pillar, but when she saw Lenka she walked up to the foreigner who smiled and gave her a short hug.
"Hey Mor. Were you waiting for me? Did something happen?"
"It's about Aladdin," the girl said, "He hasn't eaten since yesterday."
Lenka frowned.
"Nothing?"
Mor nodded and the blonde loosely covered her mouth with her hand, forefinger under her nose. Then she sighed and combed her bangs back.
"It is about your friend, isn't it?"
Another nod. Lenka shoved her weight from one foot to the other while thinking, then waved her hand for the girl to follow her back to the room. Then she whispered to make sure no one listened.
"Say, do you remember where Alibaba went yesterday?"
Mor shook her head and answered:
"I remember his smell, though."
The dungeon capturer blinked, then smiled. Time to make another move.
"Say, Mor, is a fanalis nose really that good? If you assume, that a fanalis could find any man in Balbadd, could this certain fanalis walking next to me find a certain man who is a dungeon capturer and persuade him to meet and talk to his blue-haired friend again? Persuading could mean kidnapping as well, you know. The fanalis has to take certain measures to get unseen into a certain troupes hideout and out of it."
Morgianna's eyes glinted and she nodded fast. Lenka chuckled.
"Assume further, the aforesaid fanalis had managed to persuade the certain man to visit his friend and they had managed to, uhm, escape unseen a certain dungeon capturer girl would leave a window to a certain room open for the fanalis and the man to enter unseen. Just assumed."
The redhead smiled as well now.
"Then a certain fanalis will leave now to persuade a certain man."
"And certain dungeon capturer girl wishes a certain fanalis much luck because she will talk to a certain blue-haired boy now and accidentally leave a window wide open."
Both snickered, then Morgianna turned and walked back to the exit. Lenka grinned brightly.
That was really good. She's a nice girl.
She is and will be Alibaba's household member.
A pity.
"Mhm," she agreed and opened the door to their room. Aladdin sat on his bed, his flute gripped tightly. When Lenka entered he looked up and gave her a small smile.
"Hey Lenka."
She swallowed, threw her bag into a corner, pulled her boots off and sat down on the bed as well. The boy blinked as she pulled him on her lap, hugged him tightly and started to stroke his back. After a while the dungeon capturer started to talk.
"My brother Henry is about your age, Aladdin, and he makes exactly the same face when he is depressed and doesn't want to show it."
The boy sighed and snuggled up tighter to her.
"Must be nice to have such a good big sister."
Lenka hummed an agree.
"I miss him and my sister Valerié so much. She's a little older than Mor. But now I'm here."
"They must miss you as much as you do," Aladdin said and touched his flute. Lenka leaned her head against his.
"I'll be your sister, too."
He looked up, his blue eyes big and hopeful.
"You will?"
"Hm-hm. Even though my actions might seem strange sometimes, they will provide greater good. They are the will of the Rukh. But wanting to be your sister is my own will. I'll watch you, try to keep you safe, listen to your worries and hopes, cheer for you and grumble; that's what big sisters do."
Aladdin sniffed and buried his face in her chest. Lenka felt him tremble and began to hum a tune that calmed down her younger siblings every time she started it. The small Magi settled as well and after a few minutes he whispered:
"Promise me?"
Her heart felt like it would break at his words so she nuzzled her head against his.
"Promise. But you have to promise me that you'll never damn a decision I make, okay?"
"Okay, Lenka."
"Good. As your big sister I know that you are depressed because of Alibaba, aren't you?"
Aladdin flinched but Lenka continued to talk.
"I believe he has his reasons for saying he can't keep the promise the two of you made. Both you and Mor told me that Alibaba is a nice guy, that's why I think he did this to keep you safe."
The boy raised his head and stared at her.
"Really?"
Lenka shrugged and answered "That's what I think. His Rukh seem good as well."
"I forgot you could see them as well. Did they really look good? Really?"
"Really. So what would you do if-"
Suddenly someone knocked at the door causing them to flinch. Aladdin crawled off her lap and Lenka opened. Ja'far had raised his hand to knock again. His face brightened when he saw the dungeon capturer.
"Oh, you're back already. Could you please come with me? King Sinbad wants to talk with you."
Lenka nodded.
"Just a second please," she turned and walked to the window, opened it, then back to the Magi.
"Aladdin, I'll be out for some adults talk, but Mor will be back soon. Please eat something and sleep for a bit, too."
She gave him a peck on the cheek.
"See you."
The boy touched his cheek and smiled at her.
"Bye, big sis!"
"He looked really pale to me." the vizier said while they walked through a corridor. Lenka chuckled.
"You are the right one saying that, aren't you? Rest assure," she raised her hands to apologize under the nasty glare he shot at her, "I calmed him down with something that works on most males."
Ja'far seemed slightly interested.
"What something?"
"Boobs."
Lenka burst out into laughter when she saw his blushing face. A man that had crossed their way gave her the strange look she was so familiar with and hurried away. She wiped a tear away and grinned at the ex-assassin a few centimeters shorter than her and asked with innocent eyes:
"Don't you agree?"
He looked away.
"I have to reconsider something."
"I don't think it will work on Sinbad, though. He seems like someone who has not only seen enough of them but felt as well, doesn't he?"
Ja'far's blush deepened.
"Would you please stop talking like that, Miss Lenka? It is not appropriate for a woman of your age."
Lenka snickered.
"Thank you very much, but I'm already an adult, I am going to be nineteen in a few months. Where I come from women are equal to men, so they can talk like them, think for themselves, have their own opinion, education, jobs like men and rule a country as well. We are strong. Plus I was raised as a boy the first eight years of my life, but that is another story. Fact is that you would better see me as an equal and not underestimate me. Anything else would be a grave mistake, won't it?"
Ja'far nodded.
"I understand. Here we are."
They had arrived at Sinbad's chambers. Ja'far knocked, then opened the door to let the dungeon capturer enter first.
The high king of the seven seas sat on the couch behind a large marble desk, Masrur stood behind him. A map of the city and a fruit bowl were placed decoratively on the table top, as well as two cups and a carafe filled with red wine. Ja'far closed the door and rushed to his king's other side. Sinbad smiled at Lenka and patted on the place next to him.
"Hello Lenka. Did you have a nice day? Have a seat."
Lenka snuffled and sat down, not as far away that it was rude, but as far away as appropriate for a girl. The king gave her a charming grin.
"Wine?" he asked. Lenka shook her head.
"Please cut the small-talk. I have a feeling that something will happen tonight that will change our way of operating."
Sinbad tilted his head.
"Maybe you haven't eaten enough. Here, take some grapes."
Lenka gave him an annoyed glance.
"My djinn shows me parts of the future, but the Rukh forbade me to give detailed information to the people born in this world; that is why I can't say anything clearer. I know what you want to ask."
Sinbad took his cup and leaned back.
"So what do I want to ask?" he answered; his eyes didn't smile when he took a sip of the wine. Lenka smiled as well and crossed her legs.
"First question: who are you?
Second question: what are your orders?
Third question: are you a threat to my country?
Fourth question: if not, would you join me fighting the abnormalities of this world?
These are some of them, aren't they?"
Sinbad smirked.
"You're right."
Lenka leaned back and looked at Masrur and Ja'far, then back to the king.
"It would be better if everyone had a comfortable seat, because this is going to take a bit longer."
The two generals took place. Sinbad raised a brow. Lenka exhaled.
"First question: Who is Lenka? Well, that's the point. King Sinbad, there are other worlds with intelligent life than yours."
Sinbad nodded.
"I thought that it had to be like that. What is it like? Your world?"
Lenka sighed.
"It is completely different from yours. We have no Rukh, no magic whatsoever. That is the first thing you need to know about my world. Second, our technologies are by far more advanced than yours."
Lenka took her smartphone out of her pocket and showed to the king who leaned closer.
"This is a device made from various metals and artificial materials. It was invented to make people able to talk to each other wherever they are. It is really complicated for me to explain but I think I can compare it to some kind of clairvoyance magic."
"Impressive," the king murmured.
"Sadly I have no connection here, so it's practically useless. I keep it because it was very expensive and I hope that I will return to my world someday."
Sinbad looked up, his eyes glittering.
"What made this possible?" he asked hungrily. Lenka shrugged.
"About three hundred years or so ago someone invented a machine using steam to produce rotary motion to power manufacturing machines and after that the industrialization began. It was a period when many great inventions were made, too many of them for me to explain at all. This continues until now, we have the year 2015 right now. We say it's 2015 because some very religious guys said their savior was born then and that's why we count like that.
This is the third thing you need to know: we have different religions, many of them. My world is a world of differences and difficulties, war and peace, discrimination and integration. We have so many cultures and languages that it is hardly possible to recall all of them. Everyone is different, everyone clothes different, but still there are people who can't accept that everyone is an unique valuable being.
Fourth, we know how our universe, our solar system, our planet, the human race on this planet evolved. We know how hot the innermost core of our planet is, how electricity is produced and how to use it for our machines, how to invent weapons that can destroy the planet in a second but we don't know when it's time to stop. Stop a war, stop wasting resources, or just stop by to talk to someone. We are a species full of flaws, full of anger, hate, violence and greed. Still, some are more moderate than others."
Lenka inhaled and took a sip of the wine.
"That's it. You need to know that basically everything is different in my world. Do you need a break?"
Sinbad shook his head.
"Not at least, but that might explain why the way you talk is so funny. That was your world. Who are you?"
Lenka ignored his comment about her manners of speech being amusing and looked outside; the sun was setting. There was enough time left. She sighed.
"My name... Marlene-Karen Sensenmacher. Eighteen years old. First daughter to a rich esteemed household. My mother was nobility, but nobility doesn't count anything in my world anymore. She died when I was seven. I have a younger sister and a younger half-brother. My father remarried when I was eight. I had a twin; he died at birth. That's why I was raised as the male heir the first eight years of my life. I was trained in various arts and sports, am fluid in five languages, know how to lead a business and studied to become a doctor before I got transferred here. I left school with the best grades since sixty years, was national best student. Kind of a genius, am I not?"
Anything else you want to know about me?"
Ja'far cleared his throat.
"Are you married?"
Lenka flinched, then shook her head.
"No. My father told me he wanted to marry me off the day before I got here, though. People marry around the age of thirty and most times the person they love."
"A lover then?"
"Nope. I had a boyfriend but we broke up on the day b.t."
"B.t?"
"Before transfer. It's shorter calling it like that, isn't it?"
He nodded, satisfied with her answer, then changed a quick glance with his king. The dimension traveler took another mouthful of wine when the vizier asked:
"Would you consider marriage in this world?"
Lenka chocked on her wine and started coughing.
"God, no! I'd never marry, not in this world nor in mine."
"Why not?" Sinbad asked. The girl frowned.
"I believe this is a topic not concerning you, unless you want to marry me, isn't it? But I'd prefer to stay unbound."
The silence following this statement was rather awkward. Lenka sighed and asked:
"Can I go on with the next point?"
Sinbad nodded and winked with his hand.
"My orders come from the Rukh, or so I'd say."
King Solomon.
I can't tell him.
"They'd fulfill a wish I subconsciously have if I change destiny 'to the light's favour' and protect 'the ones choosing kings'. That's my order."
The High King of the seven seas emptied his cup before he talked.
"'The ones choosing kings' are clearly the Magi."
"I think so as well," she agreed. "That's why I told you yesterday that I will cooperate with you as long as Aladdin isn't in grave danger, didn't I? But I might have to not only protect Aladdin. There are other Magi as well, aren't they?"
Sinbad's expression darkened and Ja'far grabbed his wires through his sleeves.
"Let's hope that you don't meet any of them in near future," the king said. "I'd rather see you as Sindria's ally than Reim's."
"That's the third question. No, I'm no threat to your country. My top priority are the Magi and their protection. I will stay a neutral instance and conquer dungeons if a war ensues. But I will fight if there is a certain organization involved. It's the will of the Rukh. They want the abnormalities to be banished and that's the answer to your fourth question, I assume."
Sinbad's golden eyes widened and he smirked, turning into his usual laid-back self.
"A enemy to Al-Thamen is a friend to me. I'm glad to hear that."
She placed her cup on the table and stood up.
"I have to look after Aladdin. He hasn't eaten since yesterday and I don't want him to get sick."
The men rose as well and Ja'far hurried to make the way free. The king took a step towards her and placed his hand on her arm.
"Thanks for your honest answers, Miss Lenka. I appreciate that."
Lenka shrugged.
"A long as you remember that everything I do is the will of the Rukh we won't have any problems concerning loyalty and such. Blame every decision on them if you're not satisfied."
Sinbad chuckled, his eyes glimmering with something that made her spine tingle. His grip on her arm tightened, the other hand brushed a strand of golden hair out of her face before pausing under her chin.
"Then I'll blame this decision on them too," he smiled, leaned forward and gave her a deep kiss.
Lenka had kissed before. She liked the act of kissing someone, too, so she responded to him. Sinbad was good, but her skin crawled as if something really vicious waited for her to lower her guard. The metal vessel started to pulse in the same pace as her heart.
A few seconds later Sinbad withdrew, an unspoken question in his eyes. Lenka released her arm, took a step back and shook her head.
"Thank you, but this has no future. You're not my type."
He tilted his head and smirked.
"You liked it, though."
She shrugged.
"There is no law forbidding a girl to enjoy a little snogging. But you need to know, King Sinbad," she glared at him, "I am not a plaything. And you are really not my type."
The king started to laugh, apparently not noticing that his men had taken a few steps back.
"Fine, I understand," he took a step forward, "But won't you keep me company until-"
"She won't," a voice growled.
Lenka flinched and stared at her djinn. Orobas had materialized, his lower body connected with the vessel, even so still two times bigger than her. His horns nearly hit the roof. The spirit protectively wrapped his left arm from behind around his queen's waist, the other around her front, hand on her shoulder.
"I'll never accept someone like you to keep her company," he hissed and bared his fangs. He really had fangs, Lenka thought. They matched his warrior-appearance. Despite that girly stole.
Sinbad had taken back his steps and stared at the djinn, Ja'far had put out his wire-weapon, Masrur stood on the other side, ready to attack.
"You have enough magoi to give your djinn physical appearance? Are you a Magi as well?" the king asked. Lenka shook her head while the djinn answered:
"She is not. And you won't touch her with these dirty kinds of thoughts again or I'll summon myself and rip you apart, faster than your household members and your own djinn."
The dimension traveler grinned, turned her head and gave her djinn a kiss on the cheek.
"I think he got it, Orobas. Thank you."
"My queen," the djinn answered and vanished. Lenka raised her hands and shrugged.
"That's it. I'll take my leave now. Keep ready, this night might get interesting."
Thanks for saving me, Orobas. I might have slapped him.
No big deal, Lenka. It was a pleasure to see his face like that.
"But still, that idiotic," Lenka opened the door to their dark room and walked in, "dumb, egomaniac, perverted, smug, smirking stupid king!"
Lenka heard a surprised cough in the dark and whirled around.
"Oh, Mor, you've persuaded him!"
The fanalis nodded.
"Yes."
"Big Sis, why were you cursing?" asked Aladdin, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. Lenka made a face and shrugged.
"That king had the opinion he could have, uh, a more intimate relationship with me and Orobas busted his dream."
Morgianna nodded, Aladdin looked clueless and Alibaba's face reddened. The dimension traveler grabbed her bag and took her sword from a shelf then turned back to the others.
"I'll leave you alone so you can talk more privately. Please call me when you're finished, will you?"
"Thanks," Alibaba muttered. Lenka gave him a caring glance, then looked to the Magi.
"If you decide something I'll follow you, Aladdin. I'm your guardian."
The blue-haired boy beamed at her and waved.
"Thank you, big sis Lenka!"
She grinned and left the room, then walked down the corridor to a window and started to count the fog trooper appearing in the dark.
This is going to be fun.
A few minutes later the building shook; apparently Cassim had made his entrance. The wall in front of the dungeon capturer was literally broken open by a metal hook a second later. Fog troopers jumped through the hole.
"Hello guys! Let's play!" Lenka cheered and drew her sword.
Those people were no match for her, even though some of them seemed to be experienced fighters. Her blade was too fast, her body too nimble; she did not only stab and slash but jump and kick as well. Soon the corridor in front of her was filled with moaning men she had beaten. None of them were seriously injured. Some of them were glaring at her already, ready to attack.
"Upstairs! Upstairs!" a voice called.
"Good idea. Come on, bitches! Get up and run!" she screamed and switched her sword hand. Orobas' saber appeared in the other and Lenka used the flames to seal the hole in the wall behind them.
Then she unleashed her blood-thirst. A cold wave rushed through the fog troopers. One of them even wet himself. Lenka grinned viciously.
"I've beaten you, haven't I? You should run away. Because now," she lifted her djinn weapon and licked over the fiery blade, "I'm going to kill."
They were very fast. The dimension traveler's malicious laugh echoed as she slowly followed them the hallway down to the stairs. More men of the fog troop were running down the steps. Some of them stopped and stared at her, the flaming saber, her blood-dripping katana and her wicked smile.
"Run." she ordered, her voice mixing with that of her djinn.
We are great, Lenka.
I want to do a full-body equip to scare them even more.
Soon. Very soon.
She released her equip after no bandits had stumbled down for a minute, wiped her sword clean with a piece of cloth and climbed up.
"In short, let me be your comrade by joining your 'fog troupe'!" Sinbad said. His vizier yelped then ran to his side to discuss with him. Lenka ambled to the Magi and Morgianna. The boy grinned while the girl looked kind of sorrowful.
"Hey my dears. Looks like he's changing course now, isn't he? Poor Ja'far. He seems to be crying."
Mor nodded and Aladdin smiled.
"Sinbad is so interesting. Although he is a weird person, I know he'll definitely become really famous in the future."
Lenka chuckled.
"Dear, he is famous already. He has conquered seven dungeons, you know? Yet you won't think that of him after meeting him in the nude."
"I wonder, had he already planned this from the start?" the boy mused.
"Maybe, but it could have been pure luck and the fact that I told him to stay on alert."
The dimension traveler looked up to the stars. They were brighter than she had ever seen them back home in London and the constellations were foreign too. She was really in another world, far, far away from her own.
"I hope they have finished soon or I'll start sleeping while standing upright."
I really suffered on writer's block during this chapter and the one I'm writing at the moment because Lenka doesn't want to act like I want her to act *stares at at Lenka who notices stare and protects her cookies* It will be a long, stony path until I get the story to where it should be... but I really, really thank you for reading! And Yukina. T for the review! *waves* I know what you mean *snickers and grins*
Feel free to send me more reviews if you have the time and you feel like it because I'm really happy that I can share my crazy thoughts with you out there and want to know what you think of Second Chance until now!
Yours,
TheMultipleMeExperience