Aladdin let out a sound of awe as the city of Balbadd loomed into view. The trade city was more colorful than he had ever seen it, which was during the celebration of its re-establishment. The 19-year-old Magi had just come all the way from Magnostadt on his flying turban. He had been serving there as an adjunct professor at the academy since his mission of preventing this world from being a repeat of Alma Toran had been fulfilled at the defeat of Empress Gyokuen and Al-Sarmen at the Great War six years ago.

He had wanted to continue Matal Mogamett's dream of a better life for magicians but unlike the deceased chancellor, he would teach the magicians not to treat the non-magicians as mere cattle.

But even though tremendously powerful and wise, the older professors deemed Aladdin to be too young to shoulder such a responsibility so they gave him a reprieve- they gave him a post he can leave at any time so he can see the world and do whatever he wants. He was a young man after all, not even in his twenties. It would be a shame if he didn't get to enjoy life if he was forced to mature so fast. The boy had already been through enough hardships in his youth, and they want him to relax as much as he can. Because as much as they'd all help him, taking the mantle of a whole country of magicians will never be an easy job.

So they reassured the boy the freedom to come and go as he pleases and that they'd always be there for him to come back to because Magnostadt is already his home. Needless to say, Aladdin had shed a few tears at the prospect of a home. Which was then immediately converted into great joy when Professor Myers smashed his face into her ample boobs once her emotions got the better of her at the sight of his tears.

Aladdin drooled at the memories of his professor's accidental boob hugs. She had always been his favorite, aside from that one time with Professor Irene when she was drunk at the annual faculty party. Best five suffocating minutes of his life so far.

The Magi opted to fly low when he entered the vicinity of the city so he could look closer at the decorations. The streets were lined with flowers, offering from every citizen for the royal couple, and since they were well loved, the streets were overflowing with petals that only people can pass by the smaller streets while carts were limited to the main street which were also congested with flowers and tables slowly being laden with newly cooked food from every household. The people were all busy with the big wedding, seeing as it would be the only royal wedding Balbadd would ever get to celebrate for the next twenty or so years. Alibaba had made it clear that he would only marry one woman in his lifetime and would not take a concubine so he was closing down the Royal Harem during his reign unlike his predecessors who had multiple wives and several concubines.

Aladdin followed the main street, waving at a few people who recognized the young Magi and catching some treats thrown at him by jolly housewives. His heart heavy with excitement and his arms laden with food, Aladdin flew his turban over the large front gates and kept going higher and higher until he came to level with the balcony he was sure was just at the right side of the throne room. He didn't expect to find Kougyoku walking back into the throne room in a hurry so she had already disappeared before he managed to swallow the cookie on his mouth and call out to her. But it was all well since he did find his best friend unconscious on the ground. Seeing as this was a common occurrence with Kougyoku, Aladdin landed on the balcony and proceeded to tap the passed out king with his foot. "Alibaba-kun! Alibaba-kun! Congratulations!" but when the king continued to be deaf to the world, Aladdin summoned his magic to dump water from the nearby fountain onto the king.

The results were instantaneous. Alibaba abruptly sat up spluttering and choking. "Not again, Kou-chan!" he had pleaded before he heard manly laughter coming from someone who was definitely not his sweet, violent intended. "Wha-Alladin!" a wide grin split his face as he took in the sight of his best friend. Alibaba pulled his friend into a hug that was gladly returned, "Seriously, dude, don't scare me like that! I thought Kougyoku was trying to drown me again! I've had enough with the last 38 times, thank you very much!"

Aladdin laughed heartily at his king. Apparently, drowning more than six times a year was a real and ever present danger to Alibaba. As they say, choose your own poison, Aladdin thought as Alibaba continued to grumble about stresses of the last few days of preparation for his wedding.

"I'm expecting Sinbad and his contingency to arrive late in the afternoon. Mu and Titus and my friends from Reim would be arriving around that time too." Alibaba told him as they entered into the side of the throne room. Aladdin had volunteered to magically wring the water out of Alibaba's wet clothes but the king had refused, saying that Kougyoku had ordered him to change his clothes anyway. Now they were on their way to the king's chambers, walking on their leisure and being stopped by maids to be asked to try out foods and drinks which the two happily obliged, "Her family is swinging by tonight before the banquet starts though Ren Kouha might be arriving a bit later since he's coming from the Tenzan plateau," Alibaba may be dense but he did notice the subtle jolt of his best friend once the name 'Kouha' rolled off his lips.

But Aladdin continued to walk and nod at him with a smile on his face. And actually, the reason he noticed this miniscule gesture was because it was not the first time he observed it. It actually had been happening for quite a while, two years to be exact, and Alibaba had already tested out his theory that Aladdin would always have a reaction when Ren Kouha was brought into the conversation.

The only people he had told about this little quirk of Aladdin's were Morgiana and Kougyoku. Morgiana had immediately sworn excruciating pain upon 'that midget from Kou' for daring to do one of his crazy tricks on their blue Magi while Kougyoku agreed that Kouha must have done something crazy and particularly traumatizing to the Magi and had promised to investigate if she meets Kouha during her quarterly personal reports back in her homeland. It bothered them more when Kouha apparently said that he doesn't know anything about it. The three of them thought the matter was getting more suspicious since Kouha is known for his eccentricity and Aladdin is a very brave soul.

Alibaba excused himself for a few minutes to quickly change his clothes while Aladdin stood outside his room.

As the young Magi leaned against the wall humming to himself, he thought about all the fun things he gets to do with everyone once they all arrive. He had always visited all of them as frequently as he could, but it's hard when all of them had taken different paths in different places. Even he had found what he wished to do with his life and that was to be the next Chancellor of Magnostadt and he knows that's an extremely time consuming venture. He was just glad that all his friends supported his dreams fully and everyone had high hopes that he can someday fulfill it. He was contented because even if they're not together, he could feel all their love pushing him to do his best.

"Aladdin-chan!"

Aladdin straightened up and smiled widely as Kougyoku approached him with a small contingency of Alibaba's officials. "Kougyoku. Congratulations!" he gave her a slight bow. Kougyoku thanked him and if he had seen Alibaba. Before the magi could answer, Alibaba came out of his room looking every bit like the king he is in royal red robes with gold trims and a red had with sapphires at the front.

"How do I look?" he asked the people aside his room as he spread his arms.

Aladdin gave him a thumbs up while Kougyoku smiled in satisfaction, "Much better!" she said and proceeded to lead him by the arm down the corridor, towing Aladdin on the other. "I've been looking for you! We must hurry! The Sindrian Royal vessel had just made port, they must be on their way to the palace now!" she explained.

Alibaba and Aladdin gave each other a look before shrugging. Seeing as the main street was clogged with decorations and tables, even a king's right of way would not be so much prioritized by the people. Sinbad and his group would probably need an hour to get from the port to the palace which on normal days would only take 15 minutes at most. Well, at least Sinbad wouldn't be bored with the traffic. The citizens were already passing around alcohol at this time of the day anyway.