Sorry for the late update guy and for making this chapter so, so, so long. Next week I will try my best to update new chapters. again sorry for the delay.
Chapter 5
Sweat drops on the forehead of a young blonde haired lady in the hot afternoon weather at the desert. She's wearing a red rope around her neck, white long coat with a knot at the bottom, dark green top, white harem pants and an Arabian black shoes. Her short sword was tucked by a red scarf on her waist.
The golden haired lady is driving a cart and together with her are few passengers that she gave a ride, for the promise of sweet silver coins for payment in exchange for her service.
"Onee-chan why do you have lots of apples, watermelons, and silks in your cart?" a little girl asked her, the young lady turned her head to face the little girl then smiled.
"Because I will sell them in the city of Qishan were we are heading, the money that i will get from those things will be used for my preparation of going into a dungeon! An adventure of a lifetime!" The lady said excitedly.
"What's a dungeon onee-chan?"
"It's a place where tons of hidden treasures can be found something like golds, diamonds, rubys, magical tools and many more. But a dungeon is a dangerous place according to rumors and scrolls hundreds, wait! no! tens of thousands soldiers will come in and in the best case scenario only one will come out as the winner and claim the victory." The golden paired eyes of the lady shines brightly as she explains it to the little girl.
"onee-chan why do you so look so happy if you're gonna risk your life in danger?" The little girl asked in a concerned tone and curiosity painted on her face.
"Little girl our world is full of danger, it is better to take a dumb risk in the dungeon than die in the arms of a cruel person. Besides, as i have said earlier it is full of treasures, once you have those treasures in your hands you dont have to worry about tommorow, the day after tommorow and even in the future. Using those treasures you can get the things you want and everything you want that you could ever ask for. And dungeons are places where your skills and intelligence will be tested, it is a place where actual breathtaking adveture happens and only those brave persons who will bet everything they have has the right to enter that place"
"That sounds great onee chan !"
"I know right, because you entertain me little girl you can have one apple if you want"The little girl jumped out of happiness then run through the basket of apples and get one, the young blonde lady chuckled.
"Mina what will you tell her?" The little girl's mother said.
"Oh right! Thanks onee-chan for the wonderful story and to this apple"
"My pleasure Mina, so now let's all head to Qishan!" The young lady gave the little girl a bright smile.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Balbadd's Palace: The morning they discovered Alibaba's disappearance.
Judar woke up at the sudden loud annoying noise coming from kougyoku's room so he decided to angrily go there and confront kougyoku. When he's inside the room, the fuming face of kougyoku welcomed him.
"Old hag! what the heck! it's still morning" A pillow was thrown to Judar's face that make him more angry.
"You! stop calling me that name!" Then kougyoku started to cry out loud.
'After waking me up early in the morning and throwing a pillow onto my face she will cry, what's wrong with her?I should be the victim here!'
"Please stop crying princess, she'll be back and im sure she has good reasons for leaving" Koubun gently pat the princess back. Judar turned his head to the bed and realized Alibaba is gone, then he notice something under the pillow.
" She leaves us nothing not even a letter or a simple thanks, what's wrong with her!?"kougyoku said who keeps crying.
"Old hag speaking of the letter, you should try to look under the pillow on the bed"Judar pointed his hand to the location of the letter, kougyoku stand up from the couch and immediately get the the letter.
"Im sorry for leaving without telling my reasons, Im really sorry it'll have to end like this but I'll be back. I just need to be alone for now, I know this is too much but can you look after my parents and made sure they're safe and lastly thanks for everything kougyoku."
"That's it! thats everything, she didn't even tell where the hell she will go. What's wrong with her!"
"Let's just understand and respects Alibaba's decision, princess" Koubun said calmly
"I will give her a one hell whack when she come back!"
"Fine, so stop crying and fix yourself we still have things to do" Koubun said while comforting her princess.
While kougyoku is busy being so dramatic, Judar headed towards his own room and lay on his bed while wondering in his thoughts.
' What the heck! This is ridiculous! and she's so insane. Leaving this place without paying her debts in me. She beat me two times, throws my staff, and lastly I contributed in saving her. She should have atleast say thanks or apologize to me before she left, I think I should look for her and make her pay' Judar unconsciously smile by the thought of searching for the blonde. 'Yeah that's right I should look for her...but where will I start?...' abruptly he remember something and without any hesitation he approached the door.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It takes 3 days for Alibaba to reach Qishan since the day she left Balbadd , the sun was nearly going to set when she almost sell everything she had in the cart. The passengers that she gave a ride pays her enough money to look for a pleasant place. She rented a small house that has a small bed near the window, a small table, 2 chairs, chest beside her bed, small bathroom and a small kitchen. She run like a child in her bed and drifts off to a well deserve sleep she had longed for.
As soon as she woke up in the morning, she immediately headed to the market to continue selling her stuffs but a sudden noise reached her ears and because of her nosiness she ran towards it like she was chased after by something. There she sees a tall black haired man whose wearing a long black coat beating a young girl and beside with him is a big muscled man with a mask on his face. The red head girl is full of bruises all over her body. The black haired man knocked her out by a solid punch on the stomach that made the girl spits blood from her mouth "Morgiana you never really learn huh! This is you're 3rd time attempting to escape"then the man looked at the masked guy and said"Goltas kill this trash it's becoming a burden to me" the masked guy startled"B-but J-jamil sama..."a sword was pointed to the masked man's neck"Do you also want to die GOLTAS?"
"No" The sword was removed from his neck and the man headed to the girl and get his own sword.
"ENOUGH!" Alibaba run towards the girl and stands infront of her. The read head girl was shocked by the situation and said"Miss mind your own business"she said weakly. She feels grateful towards the blonde because she tried to save her but she's afraid that jamil will also hurt the blonde lady.
"Listen to her miss if you dont want to be like her"Jamil said smirking.
"I will buy her, name your price"
"Whoa, do you think it's that easy? well I don't need you're money because I have lots of it, and this thing you are protecting is destined to die now. So moved and let Goltas do his job"
"I see, so you don't need money. Instead of money do you want a new slave?"
"What the hell are you talking?"Jamil asked curiously
"Yeah I will become you're newly hired slave, only if you defeat me in a sword fight. And if by chance you lose againts me, you will give her to me alive"
"Are you challenging me?!" Jamil said in an angry tone.
"Why are you afraid of getting pissed on you're pants? or you're scared of me?"
"Shut up! Im not scared of you but if you insist then I shall grant it" Jamil said as he grabbed his sword from his waist and point it to alibaba. 'This peasant don't know what kind of stupid thing she does. It is a great advantage that im a man and to top it off I spent many years in training royal swordplay, so she doesn't even stand a chance'
The crowd around them started to shout with full of excitement. But morgiana get's more scarier and concerned about the blonde.
"You d-dont have to d-do this miss" morgiana tugged her coat and tears fall on her cheeks. Alibaba look down at her and said "Cheer up, I'll make sure this insane man infront of me will get pissed on his pants and cry like a baby" Alibaba gives a reassuring smile to morigiana that made her eyes widened and filled with hope as she said "Please be careful"Alibaba pat her head softly and full of gentle.
"People of Qishan today you will witness a sword fight and I want you all to enjoy it. As you're dignified and mighty governor will make this peasant my slave and kneel down on me" Jamil said.
"Okay, are you done with you're speech little governor? Cause im getting sleepy" Alibaba yawn. This makes some of the crowd laugh a little and some said "He called the governor little?" with an annoyed face.
"Ok then, let's put an end to this damn thing"Jamil said.
Alibaba grabbed her short sword from her waist and as Jamil sees it he laugh "Hey you will use that short sword againts me?are you insulting me?is it declaring you're defeat? but I will give that sword of yours a compliment, it looks elegant"
"Well thanks for you're compliment" Alibaba holds her sword confidently as she points it to Jamil and place her other hand at her back.
Jamil started to move first, he tried to target Alibaba's foot but she just dodged it easily. He tried a few more attacks at his opponent's body but like the firts one she managed to dodged it all. Jamil started to think why the sword can't even touch her, it's like she was just dancing while dodging his attacks.
"Is that all, MIGHTY governor" she said smirking at Jamil and this makes him burst in anger "SHUT UP!" Jamil tried to attacked her again but this time Alibaba didn't dodged it instead she blocked the sword that will try to hit her while placing her hand at the top of her opponent's sword. She then slide her sword againts Jamil's sword and walk towards Jamil, as her sword reach Jamil's under arm she give it a shallow slice causing little bloods to drop. Jamil was surprised by the attack and this makes him tremble "WHY!" Jamil shouted to cover his fear but did not succeed, instead a pathetic look can be seen all over his face.
Alibaba continued on inflicting him many small cuts and after seeing that her opponent is totally weakend by her attacks, she walks to him and point her sword at Jamil's neck"You asked me why before, right? Well the answer is simple it's because your far more worst than a slave MIGHTY GOVERNOR. And you are not even worthy to hold a sword, you were just disgracing yourself" Alibaba gives him a small laugh and punched him on the face, causing him to fall on the ground. Alibaba proceeded to morgiana "Let's go" The blonde lady carry morgiana at her back"Where will we go?" Morgiana asked "At my house, I will cure you're injuries". Morgiana let her head rest on Alibaba's shoulder as she whisper "Thanks"
The sun was set that day when Alibaba got back to her small house holding a bag of foods, some medicines, and the things she needed for her dungeon diving adventure. When she opens the door she sees morgiana trying to stand up"Hey you should go back to bed and have some rest"Alibaba said worriedly
"Im ok now miss"
"You can call me Alibaba if you want, you know. And stop being so stubborn you're wasting my efforts in tending you're injuries"Alibaba said as she place the things she bought on the table. Morgiana didn't try to speak anymore and follows Alibaba.
The blonde haired lady holds a glass of water and medicine as she walk towards the red headed girl "Here drink this medicine, when you're fully well you can do whatever you want"
Morgiana's eyes widened she couldn't believe the words that come out from the blonde's mouth, she expected the blonde will asked for payment but she was wrong and this really made her surprised and happy "R-really" Alibaba return to the table and sit on the chair.
"You're not a slave anymore, so you can do whatever you want and I dont have time taking care of you for a long period of time, I have things to take care of, so drink that medicine and stop staring at me" Alibaba said while sitting on the chair and cleaning her sword.
Morgiana thought ways of how she could thank the blonde for her kindness'What can I give her?I don't even have money to buy her something?Im planning to serve her but as she said earlier she wants me to go. The only thing I know is being a slave, this is bad I need to find an answer' But unfortunately she's not able to find an answer for her problem and come up to a conclusion 'Maybe tommorow I should asked her'
After a couple of minutes a loud knocks hit the door. Alibaba opened it and to her surprise a sword is pointed onto her neck and a pack of soldiers is infront of her.
"W-what d-do you want?" Alibaba stammered.
"Well you just injured the governor of Qishan and were here to arrest you" Alibaba tried to explain that it is a friendly match and they both agreed to it's terms and conditions.
But the soldiers are decisive in arresting her as they proceeded to chained Alibaba's hands and feet. Morgiana stand up and tried to help the blonde but she was to weak now and the soldiers blocked her. As they dragged Alibaba out of the house, pieces of big ice shards attacked the guards, their faces turned into full horror as they see a man appearing out of nowhere smiling develish.
"Leave her or face your doom in hell" The man smirked, his eyes is as red as blood and hunger for blood can be seen in it. The man move a step forward causing the guards to runaway without any hesitation.
"Ju-judar" Alibaba startled 'What the hell is he doing here? How did he know where i am ?' those thoughts run through Alibaba's mind as she keeps staring at Judar with fear painted on her face. Judar raised his staff "H-hey stop!" Alibaba shouted then closed her eyes and curl her body in fear, when she opens her eyes she finds out that Judar broke her chains. The raven haired man bend down and carry her in his arms and proceeded to her house.
"Hey!what the hell are you doing?! put me down!"Alibaba struggled but stopped by receiving a devilish glare from Judar.
"You know, you should have thank me for saving you and give me a warm welcome" Judar then throw the blonde on the floor.
"Ouch! What was that?!"alibaba winced.
"You said put me down, so shut up im tired and I want to sleep" Judar yawned and lay his body on the bed.
"And who the hell cares!get out you can't sleep here" Alibaba holds Judar hands and pulled him away from the bed but the raven haired man is resisting and tough.
"Alibaba why don't you just let you're friend sleep on the bed"Morgiana said with a stoic face.
"She's right, by the way who is she blondie?"
"First off he's not my friend, second this bed is for morgiana to sleep with so get out of the bed you bastard" Alibaba says while continuing to dragged judar down on the bed.
"Alibaba im fine on the floor it's en-" alibaba cuts her off before she finishes her sentence "You're not yet fully well morgiana and please help me with this idiot"
Judar gave Morgiana a mean glare saying 'Don't you fucking dare to try'
Morgiana stiffened as she said"But where are you sleeping Alibaba?"
"I still have the floor and the mat so dont worry about it" Alibaba smiled to morgiana with full of assurance. Then Alibaba returned to her bussiness in pulling down Judar "If im not going to sleep here then where will I sleep blondie?"Judar asked.
"Who the hell knows! Just get out of here and stop bothering me!"
"No I wont! I will only moved away from this bed if you let me stay here besides it's already dark outside and dangerous"
"What the heck?! No one will dare to hurt you rather you're the one who will try to hurt them cause you're the dangerous one" Alibaba said with a smirked on her face as she still tries to pull judar.
"So that settles it"Judar said, keeping his best to stay tough on the bed.
"Ok fine! you can stay here and sleep on the floor so get down!"
"On the floor?"
"Why? If you don't want, the door is always open"Judar immediately got down from the bed and said "How can I sleep on the floor?unless you will give me a mat and blanket"
"Ofcourse I will, im not rude like you and morgiana sleep on the bed!" morgiana run into the bed as she hears Alibaba's command. After everything was placed on the floor, she lay her body comfortably on the mat while Judar is standing and waiting.
"Hey where's my mat, pillows and blanket?!"Judar asked
"Unfortunately I only have one mat, one blanket and 2 pillows. And because Im so unlucky today I have to share it to you" Judar's jaw dropped and he couldn't believe what the blonde said 'seriously, I will sleep beside her? Is she dumb or ignorant?Doesn't she know what she is doing?'
"Hey seriously, you're joking right?"
"If you're complaining that's fine you can sleep outside or on the floor, Here's you're pillow dumbass!" Alibaba threw the pillow on Judar's face.
'Well if she wants it then fine!' Judar shouted in his mind as he walk towards alibaba and finally lay himself on the mat beside her.
"You're totally insane beyond the depths of the sea" Judar said while ruffling Alibaba's hair. Alibaba's ear twitched from what she heard and not to mention Judar is messing up with her hair. And without any hesitation she turned her face to Judar and shove his hand.
"Hey stop bothering me im tired!. And what's insane in this, you should be grateful cause I share my mat, pillow, and blanket to you. You're so IDIOT beyond the depths of the sea"
"Don't you really mind?"Judar asked curiously.
"Mind what?...do you mean sleeping with another person?"
"Yeah"
"Well im used to it" Alibaba said in a very proudly manner but this only makes Judar startle " Y- you mean, y-you do this all the t-time?"
"Ofcourse not !are you crazy?! well what I mean is, It is not a big deal for I was a child, sometimes me and the street kids from the slums sleep together during the cold nights in balbadd but oftenly I sleep with mother, Cassim and mariam."
"Ooooh so you lived in the slums before kou subjugated balbadd?" 'If her friend says the truth about her being a princess then why does she lived in slums?I have many things I don't understand about this girl' Judar wants to ask her about it but he knows that it will not be a good idea and he will just gonna ruin the mood if he asks beyond that.
"Yeah and it's great especially when there are million of stars up in the sky sparkling, It is relaxing and fun to watch while chatting with Mariam, Kassim and Mother. I wish I could go back to those times" Alibaba let out a deep sigh.
"Whose this Kassim and Mariam?"
"You're tired right, I think you should go to sleep" Alibaba said turning back her body.
"Yeah Im tired of looking for you"He said as he rub his eyes and yawned.
"you're looking for me?why, are you gonna try to kill me again?How did you find me?Did you try to kill someone again like what happened in the palace kitchen?" Alibaba faced Judar again.
"Im tired, right? I want to sleep, lets talk about it tommorow"Judar cover his head by a pillow to not hear Alibaba.
"Fine!" Alibaba wants to insist it but thinking that Judar had offered to talked about it tommorow makes her surrender and turned her back to the other side.
Later that night when everybody is sleeping, cold winds run through the skin of a raven haired man that caused him to woke up and shiver. Although he is covered by a blanket he still feel the coldness in his body. He tried to ignore it but things didn't go well as he planned, he then rolled himsleft on the mat causing Alibaba to woke up "Could you stop moving, you're disturbing me" But Judar didn't stop moving and these made the blonde even more irritated "What's you're problem? if you don't want to sleep atleast let me" she said irritably as she faced Judar and there she saw a trembling Judar. "I-its c-cold" Alibaba wants to laugh at the scene but she didn't, instead she take off her white coat "H-hey what a-are you doing" Judar said.
"Here wear it" Alibaba said as she gives it to Judar.
"I wont"Judar said declining the blonde's offer.
"You're a stubborn man and you look pathetic right now, so if I were you I would wear this happily and by then you will let me sleep" Judar was cornered by the blonde's words especially hearing that he looks pathetic doesn't suit well in his ears, so he grabbed Alibaba's coat and wear it.
While Alibaba is having a deep sleep, Judar was left in his thoughts as he wonders why does a simple coat makes his body warm, he can also smell the scent of it's owner which is a mixture of flowers and a morning breeze and he can't help himself but smile then absentmindedly push himself closer to the bonde then wrap his arms around her waist.