Hello everyone out there!

Once again, Magi belongs to Ohtaka Shinobu, my OC to me, there might be spoilers plus references to objects, songs, games and so on. I use most characters names from my country's official translation so they might differ from those you're used to.

Have a fun time reading!

Day 8 Dealing with Balbadd

"Well, even after my intense care he won't wake up," Lenka sighed and poked Judar's cheek. The palace doctor nodded and scratched his long nose.

"If you would allow to have him drink a potion consisting of lamb kidney and-"

"Kidneys aren't a medical ingredient!" Lenka yelled. "Herbs are! Healing spells are even better! Don't you dare to feed the oracle kidneys!"

"And the leeches!"

"I thought medieval doctors used leeches when their patient had a fever, even though the better thing would have been to give them more water and cool towels on the forehead? When I come back and you did some of your crap to him I feed you to the djinn soldiers!"

The man looked displeased but Lenka ignored his glare and left the room.

"Well, hello there Miss. Are you a guest?"

A man who undoubtedly looked like belonging to Al-Thamen grinned at her. Lenka wasn't sure if his mismatching eyes were looking at her or not. That guy was really creepy, as in really really creepy.

"I successfully convinced the physician not to feed him kidney," she informed him with a shrug.

"By the way, you should better go to the pig king and see what you can do to throw Balbadd in more chaos, shouldn't you?"

The man opened his mouth, closed it then turned to walk back to the main palace. Lenka grinned then shouted at his back:

"And tell that git Ithnaan 'Lovely greetings' from me!"

The man flinched and disappeared.

Why didn't you kill him?

Not in the right mood. He might be useful.

Useful? Are you planning on using Al-Thamen?!

No, they are a pack of lunatics, all of them. They aren't even useful as fertilizer, aren't they?

They are good for relieving aggression, Orobas mused. You can punch them to death and then they come again.

They are re-spawning punching bags. Too bad that they don't drop gold or magic tools.

What?

If I ever get my phone to work again I introduce you to the world of MMORPG for sure. Trust me, you will never be the same.

… why can't I keep my trap shut?

There must be a reason why Ugo teleported me to your dungeon, isn't it? Maybe to cure your big mouth and overcautious, possessive, whiny personality.

I'm not whiny! You are a meanie!

Chuckling Lenka entered the princess' chamber where Kougyoku was sitting at the table drinking a cup of tea. Her eyes started to sparkle the instant the traveler came in sight and she smiled wide.

"Lenka! You're back!"

"Again," she confirmed and sat down to pour herself a cup of tea. "Sorry that it took me so long to come back yesterday."

The princess waved the excuse aside.

"Well, you came back early enough for beauty treatment and a bath, so it's no big deal."

Lenka smiled behind her tea cup. Kougyoku strongly resembled Micaela. Both were maniacs when dressing her up and both girl's styles were extremely extreme: the princess had layered her in twelve – twelve! – kimonos while Mica used her as a model for her cosplay costumes. She couldn't tell how many hours she had spent in her friends studio to be dressed up as Sailor Moon or in a frilly gothic lolita dress while watching the newest episode of Naruto or Fairy Tail.

"By the way," Lenka placed her cup on the table and pulled her pad and a ballpoint pen out of her bag, "I want to write you letters so that we won't loose contact. Can you please note down your name so that I won't make spelling mistakes?"

Kougyoku beamed.

"I'd love to write you! I rarely receive letters from other girls in my age group, so yes!"

Lenka grinned brightly and opened the pad. The princess blinked.

"Parchment?"

"Paper. It's the next generation of parchment based on, er, I don't know exactly on what but not on animal skin."

"Why are there so many lines?" the princess asked and carefully touched the sheet with a finger, then grabbed the pen and inspected it.

"Is that a quill then?"

"A ballpoint pen. Press this end-"

"Oh, I see! Did you get this in a dungeon? It's fascinating."

And here the moment of decisions was. Lenka frowned at the princess's bright smile then sighed.

"Actually it's not from this world nor from a dungeon."

Kougyoku's eyes widened.

"Not from this world?"

Lenka swallowed.

"I'm a dimension traveller. I was brought here by the Rukh to protect the Magi and banish the abnormalities from this world."

Kougyoku's jaw fell open and her gaze switched between Lenka, the pen and the door. Then she caught herself and inhaled and exhaled for a few seconds.

"Okay. When I think about it it's not that big a shock. Your actions were quite strange from the beginning with, but when you were brought here by the Rukh most things make sense now."

Now it was Lenka's jaw that fell open.

"Huh? Why that?"

The redhead leaned back and smirked.

"Your strange accent. The people from Reim haven't got one like you do. And most words you use and the manner of speaking. Your knowledge about injuries. The way you travel back and forth between the two Magi to make sure they are okay. Your djinn who is more a friend or brother to you and the way you talk with him and Vinea. And when you were in the bath yesterday I checked your bag and found the most fascinating clothes I've seen until now, completely different from Kou's or Balbadd's. Plus the shoes-"

"Okay, I get it!" Lenka said and raised her hands to stop the monologue then smiled.

"Can you still trust me?"

Kougyoku puffed her cheeks.

"Of course I do! When you only protect the Magi you can't fight a war with one without endangering another, that's why you're no danger to me as well!"

Lenka hugged her tightly.

"Thank you. You are the first one to understand this completely."

Kougyoku patted her back until she sat down again and grabbed the pad, then doodled a bit with the pen.

"That's easy. And no spilling."

"Well, they can spill, but not very often. Take care of your sleeves."

The princess nodded then started to draw signs that strongly resembled Chinese kanji then held up the pad.

"That's my name. Ren, my surname, Kou and Gyoku and – your face tells me you are surprised. Don't you write like that?"

Lenka shook her head as Kougyoku handed her pen and paper and started to write her own name.

"Marlene-Karen Sensenmacher. Lenka."

The redheads eyes sparkled.

"Fascinating! I would have written your name like this."

She drew a few more kanji under her friends name.

"Oh dear. Looks like I have to learn your writing. And probably your language as well. I think the Rukh casted a spell on me so that I could communicate with you."

Kougyoku's face fell.

"Oh dear."

"Well, we can still talk through pictures."

Lenka turned over then started to draw stick figures.

"Sorry but my drawings are really bad. I get you another pen."

Giggling they filled the page with their doodles, then Lenka carefully separated the sheet and handed it to her friend.

"Here you go."

Kougyoku beamed like the sun and hugged the blonde then jumped to one of her three clothes chests.

"I'll keep it forever!"

Lenka laughed at her joy then tilted her head.

"Do you hear that noise too or is it just me?"

The princess closed the chest then ambled to the window.

"There is a huge crowd outside the palace walls... and a crate in the first plaza."

Lenka jumped up.

"Oh god, I almost forgot it was today. Listen, the blonde guy that was the friend of my Magi Aladdin is the third prince and wanted to do something against the suffering. Apparently he entered the palace to make his brother rethink. Your marriage will probably not take place."

Kougyoku jumped then made a shocked face.

"But the treaty-"

"You know you'll be better without it, dear."

The door banged open and Ka Koubun rushed in.

"Princess, there is-"

"A revolt I suppose," Kougyoku said and her attendant nodded. She glanced at Lenka.

"Will you come with me as guard?"

"I have called your soldiers already, Princess."

"Of course. Now switch into princess mode and have them quiver under your words."

They chuckled and left the room with Ka Koubun on their heels.

The throne hall was vast and marvelous – if you ignored the bloody stain and the hole the dead soldier had left in the marble floor and carpet where the djinn soldiers had flattened him. Kougyoku entered the room in full princess mode, her expression cool and dignified, an imperial highness to the bone. Lenka at her left side wore the same expression, but had actually a hard time to not burst out in laughter.

Look cool and royal, Lenka.

I do my very best but this is so hilarious!

You are a hopeless person.

"What exactly is this commotion about?" Kougyoku said and the noise suddenly died as if she had switched a radio off. Everyone was staring at her with fear and shock, except Alibaba who looked rather determined.

"We came here upon hearing the commotion," the princess continued, "I am the eight imperial princess of the Kou empire, Ren Kougyoku, King Ahbmad's betrothed wife."

Not for much longer, Orobas smiled.

Kougyoku calmly let her gaze wander over the crowd.

"My apologies, but I haven't seen his face even once. Exactly which of you is the king of this country?"

"That would be me!" Ahbmad shrieked from his place on the floor. The princess paled visibly then her face darkened and she looked down.

"... I see."

"Well, you see," the man with the mismatching eyes that Lenka had scared off this morning said, "Princess... we don't know who the king of this country is."

Everyone except Lenka stared at him in surprise as he continued:

"Only just now the third prince and deputy king caused a coup d'etat and King Ahbmad is to step down. The next king of this country is yet to be decided..."

Ahbmad started to shriek at the man while Lenka watched her friend thinking then glared at the Al-Thamen mage.

"Whoever it is, I don't really care," Kougyoku said, "The order I wad given from my country was to 'marry the 'King of Balbadd' in order to conclude the treaty'. It doesn't matter who the king is and so please choose your new king quickly."

I could never be that brave, Lenka thought. Marrying someone I don't know... me running away from such an engagement was one of the reasons I got teleported here I reckon.

You grew up in a different environment yet I couldn't marry a complete stranger as well. The other was to cure your personality?

You're a djinn. And no, my personality is just fine or should that be payback for my comment a while ago?

I know! I mean, no, no payback, I like the way you are, I really do! You're great! Please don't be mad!

She inwardly shook her head at her djinn's babble and sent her friend a few encouraging Rukh so she could overcome the nerve-wrecking next minutes where the men debated who would be king until everyone stared at Alibaba. Kougyoku tilted her head.

"You will be the new king of Balbadd?" she asked. Alibaba took his time with his answer.

"I will not become the king of this country."

Now it was the dungeon capturer who everyone stared at in more or less surprise. Lenka tried not you yawn. Then she noticed something and closed her eyes. The flow of the Rukh was somehow erratic, they flew to two points in the city of Balbadd. One was right behind her, in the tower she left minutes ago. And the other was in the outskirts of the city.

Oh dear, the Magi.

They will wake up soon I reckon. And then they will wreck havoc.

In situations like these I miss my brother.

You have a brother?

A twin brother, Orias. He is a djinn as well. The relationship between our parents was a bit complicated, they were the chiefs of two different tribes who fell in love with each other.

And Solomon made both of you djinn?

He did, because I led the warrant part of our clan and Orias was the scientist. He worked a lot with Ugo.

Is that so? Maybe we can get a Magi to tell us where his dungeon is or to raise it for us.

That would be more than great.

"I want you to destroy it."

Hey, Lenka, we have missed the next shocker the lad throws in.

Let them be. We have more important things to do.

She opened her eyes again and stared at the Al-Thamen guy. And stared and stared.

Go away you...

I don't think this will work...

The man flinched, glanced at her then back at the speaker. Lenka sighed then concentrated on Alibaba. Her death glare had been deadlier.

I tooold you...

Please don't sing, Orobas.

"I want to devote my existence to Balbadd...! To make Balbadd an outstanding republic citizen state! That is what I've come here to do!" he yelled.

Applause boy, the djinn snickered.

"My my... so that is your answer? Alibaba..." a voice sounded over the commotion and Sinbad appeared, together with ambassadors from his alliance. Kougyoku instantly blushed when seeing the king.

"I understand that I am interrupting a matter of great importance to the country, please excuse me," he said while walking over the literally red carpet up to them.

"I have arrived late. No, you didn't need our help in the first place, Alibaba."

Oh, magnificent conclusion! Orobas howled. He really seemed to loathe the man. The crowd started to murmur as they saw the ambassadors so Sinbad introduced the two men and the woman from his allied countries.

At least he was clever enough to call for them after you had told him he would need them.

Yes, he is clever, that for sure, or he wouldn't have become High King.

Lenka calmly watched the plot unfold further while keeping an eye on the Rukh as well. Their chirping grew gradually louder and then calmed, as if they were waves rushing ashore.

"I think leaving this case to his majesty to settle would be for the best," Kougyoku said and gave Lenka a glance who nodded and smiled at her. The princess turned back to Sinbad and pointed on him.

"But we will have conditions for our withdrawal. For the case of Balbadd being truly included into the Alliance of the Seven Seas you, King of Sindria, must personally come to the emperor. And show us proof."

Sinbad nodded.

"I will definitely pay a visit."

"That will it be!" Kougyoku said loudly then rushed to the exit. Lenka grinned at Sinbad, bowed then followed the princess out of the hall.

"You did it, Kougyoku! That was really amazing. You'll certainly become a great queen someday."

She grinned at the blonde.

"As long as I wont be that pig's queen everything is fine."

Lenka touched her arm.

"According to my knowledge of the future he will come to Kou and then you will have a reason to visit Sindria. I think I can manage to be there too, so we will eat exotic fruits and sweets with pure conscience."

Kougyoku chuckled as they stepped up the staircase to the tower.

"As far as I have witnessed until now your predictions are really accurate."

"I think so too. Oh, and when Sinbad travels to Kou and I already know enough of your signs and language I'll give him a letter for you, so you have a reason to speak with him."

Kougyoku blushed and Ka Koubun yelped.

"What insolence, to think of such things! You should be punished!"

Lenka stared at the man.

"I came to simple conclusions, didn't I? Sinbad is a bachelor. Kougyoku will not get married to that pig king. She seems to like Sinbad. An alliance between Sindria and Kou would be fortunate for you, won't it?"

The princess laughed then ordered her men to carry her luggage to the flying carpet while her advisor seemed to rethink something. Then she looked at her friend.

"Will you stay here and watch Judar?"

"Of course I will."

"If you have troubles, you can ask the 'banker' too. He is a servant to the Kou empire."

Lenka shuddered.

"Mismatching eyes and mustache guy? I don't think so. He is creepy."

Kougyoku chuckled then hugged her friend tightly.

"I will miss you."

"Mhm. I'll make sure to write you."

"That I hope!"

They grinned at each other, then the door opened and Ka Koubun cleared his throat.

"Princess, the men are ready. We can leave now."

Lenka accompanied her friend to the carpet and waved as they flew away. Kougyoku waved for a few seconds then a her attendant asked her something and she concentrated on him. Lenka smiled and said to herself:

"Until we meet again."

Then she turned, picked up her bagpack and walked straight into the Magi's chamber. When she found only the doctor who had wanted to give the Magi kidneys and a unconscious Judar but no Al-Thamen guys she ambled back to the throne room. Unfortunately she got lost twice until a maid told her which corridor to take. Why didn't she have a map of the palace? It would be funny if there was a map function. In her inventory were only those from Qishan to Balbadd.

Are you trying to be a person in one of those MMO whatever games you told me? Orobas asked and she chuckled.

"That would be funny.

Name: Lenka

Level: 12

Strenght: let's say 90, that sounds good.

Magoi: 120

Stamina: 70

Djinn: Orobas (Fire)

Special Move: Purifying extreme magic

Active Effects: Magoi feed from Rukh

That sounds quite cool, doesn't it?"

Err, forget that I had asked. You are weird.

Who chose me as his queen?

Okay, I think weird is the new great, Orobas agreed. Lenka smiled when she found a window and stopped for a few seconds to hear Alibaba talking then squinted her eyes. Was that a white-glowing giant bird flying up over the city? And was the bird really stopped by a cover of black Rukh?

"Oh shit," she murmured when she realized that the crowd wasn't screaming because of joy but instead of anger and blood thirst.

She started to run and skidded inside a room full of wounded people. They were lying everywhere on the floor, bleeding and moaning from the pain. Lenka looked around until she found a familiar purple braid. Sinbad was treating an injured soldier. His hands were covered with blood as he saw up and spotted Lenka who rushed towards him.

Talk to Player Sinbad, press the A button. Inspect his statistics, press B button

What the hell is wrong with you? I shouldn't have asked about that game thing.

"Sinbad! It's Al-Thamen! The 'banker' and the replacement of the guy I killed yesterday have merged and started to raise a cloak of depraved Rukh over the city!"

Sinbad scowled at this information.

"Are you sure?"

"I can see Rukh, gosh darn it! Both Judar and Aladdin are still out cold, so we are quite lucky. Shall I go and blast them from the sky?"

Player Morgiana enters conversation.

"Please wait," Morgiana appeared from behind Sinbad, touched Lenka's hand then pointed with her head towards Alibaba who had started to speak.

Player Alibaba explain his plan. Go hear his plan?

Yes.

No.

Oh Solomon, Lenka, Orobas groaned and hid his face behind his hands.

"I'll head to the location of the enemy's boss. I'll stop Cassim," he announced with a strong resolve. Lenka grinned and stepped forward. Alibaba's eyes widened when he saw her, unsure if she was friend or fiend until the traveler gave him a warm smile.

"Go forward. I'll take care of the rest of them."

He nodded and ran outside.

Player Alibaba has left the room.

I give up on trying to stop you. It's no use.

Sinbad looked at her with a frown. Maybe he had noticed the face she made.

"Will he be okay?"

Lenka shook her head.

"As far as I know he might have to kill the man who was like a brother to him. No one in such a situation would be okay."

Mor tugged at her vest.

"... Have the Kou people set off already?"

"They have. You might see Kougyoku very often when you're in Kou, Sinbad.

Mor, I wish you well, don't use too much strength and look after Alibaba."

The fanalis nodded with serious face.

Lenka smiled then raced to the balcony and looked down. Alibaba stood with Cassim and his followers in a circle of Amon's flames. They were shouting at each other, so Lenka supposed they were alright for now. She inhaled and chanted with lowered voice:

"Spirit of faithfulness and truth, dwell in my body, guide my soul, turn me into one of you to protect the innocent."

Player Lenka enables djinn equip (Orobas). Flying mode enabled. Constant magoi loss -12 added to active effects.

Of course, my queen. I really can't bring you to stop you commentating everything you do?

No. This is like Magical Girl Mode, just cooler.

Do I really want to know what you just said? I don't.

The instant her body changed and the armor appeared a wave of heat rushed through the air. A few people gasped in amazement when they saw the transformation.

Let's go.

Lenka jumped off and flew towards the black cloud, a white blur of fire in the air that was filled with smoke. She stopped a few yards over the highest tower and stared at the depraved mass of black birds. Even their chirping sounded wrong and filthy.

Player Lenka enters fight against Mass of depraved Rukh. Okay, okay, I stop for now. Can we do a purifying extreme magic?

That is what my extreme magic does. As long as we have enough magoi we can cleanse everything.

Okay then.

Lenka noticed that the few stray black Rukh became white again when they touched her or the fiery stole and smiled, even though they sent her painful memories, sad stories of the citizens under her. Yet she was here, had a djinn, friends, power. She could do anything here. No one was judging her for her actions, she was doing her very best. Slowly she breathed in and gathered the power in her stomach then grabbed the crystal sword's hilt with both hands.

"Oh thou who is the incense," the glowing circle with the eight-pointed star appeared over her and grew bigger with every word.

"Hear my humble request," and the circle enlarged and enlarged. Soon it would cover the whole airspace over Balbadd.

"Spread the white flames that purge the depraved," the circle stopped growing. The air vibrated with power. She grinned even though the struggle to keep the flow of magoi constant for the attack was intense.

"Purify the sinners and lead them back to the light! Cleansing blaze!"

White and blue flames roared upwards, forming winged creatures, dragons, a flood that covered the black cloud and turned the fallen birds white again. They whirled around the castle like a hurricane or like a flock of starlings, from left to right and then back to the left. A few of them came back to Lenka and shared their magoi with her, leaving happy and kind memories in her head.

They should be happy.

"Princess! Look at that! Back there in Balbadd!"

Kougyoku turned back to the direction where they had come from and paled. A pillar of light shot to the sky, blinding white in front of the blue sky. A hot breeze touched her cheeks.

"What is this sensation?" Ka Koubun asked with squinted eyes. Her mouth was dry as she answered:

"Lenka's extreme magic I suppose. Apparently something went wrong."

Her attendant grabbed her hand.

"Princess, we can't go back now! If there's a revolt and the citizens kill the nobles we've not to go back. Rather we should speed up and tell his majesty what happened here."

Kougyoku bit on her lip. She wanted to help her friend, yet she had a mission to do. And Lenka was strong. Plus Sinbad was there... she blushed when remembering the High King. He was handsome and had been very polite, too. And those golden eyes that seemed to touch the depths of her soul...

"Double the speed to Kou," she ordered with a sigh.

Please be safe.

Lenka exhaled and grinned.

That was great! Have you seen how big the casting circle was? Bigger than the city, wasn't it?

Yes, and you have enough magoi left for at least two more extreme attacks before the equip wears off.

That's great! So great!

Can you say something else?

Glorious!

By the way, what happened with Amon's lad?

Lenka looked down then flew lower. The soldiers had Cassim stand in the middle of their spears. His sword of black mist was broken, yet he didn't looked frightened. Just simply... melancholic. Then he took a deep breath and raised his sword. Lenka dashed forward to the ground.

"Stop it you stupid brat!" she yelled the instant Cassim pierced himself with his sword. The bystanders screamed in shock as the blood gushed out, turning the ground and his clothes crimson red. He grinned.

"Watch... people from the slums."

Then Cassim pulled the broken weapon out of his chest. More blood flowed out of him, dripped in the growing puddle at his feet.

"Citizens... nobles... royalty... everyone..."

He stood there, perforated but proud and raised the sword to the sky.

"This is the proof of obtaining hidden power! Assemble! Everything return!"

The shattered pieces of the fog troupes magic weapons flew upwards and gathered around him. Then they pierced his body, covered his skin, merged with him. A chirping column of black Rukh passed Lenka and twirled around Cassim's new body.

Those sick bastards! howled Orobas and Lenka gripped her sword tighter. She wasn't exactly fond of the man but turning into a creature of darkness was nothing someone should experience.

Attack!

Sorry for the cliffhanger but I almost reached my word limit *my chapters have usually 3,000 to 5,000 words* but I don't think you'll have to wait a whole week for the next chapter because I have enough time to write *Lenka applauds* I never thought this would work out this well but surprisingly it does.

Thanks and imaginary hugs to all of you who reviewed, favorited, followed or simply read Second Chance! I love to share this story with you!

Yours,

TheMultipleMeExperience