First of a huge thanks to Silver Ecstasy for beta'ing for me, even if you're busy and aren't at your best. You're a great help as always.

Also a big thanks to jellyfish'confetti (sorry if the updates are slower than I'd like them to me and making you wait :) and Akumaraye (yeah, I tend to view Hakuryuu like that. Shy, obsessive and a little awkward around people. At least its how he turns out for me more often than not) for their comments, along with the rest of you reading thus far. There's not much longer to go on this story anyway. And no, it doesn't end with Judal blowing Sindria up, that would be bad.

Enjoy~

Chapter 20

Once he finally dreamed again, Judal's unconscious mind quick to tell him that was a place he had seen. In his waking moments the Magi had long since forgotten it however; that chamber which had changed him, and caused him to lose so much of himself. It was far below the palace in Kou, that large and circular room of dark and cold stone. Yet now it seemed so clear. Seeing those walls, lit by so many candles, was all it took to make his blood run cold and for a chill to run down his spine. Not from the dissolution of heat, nor the long shadows painted across the ground, but from something else. A strange and unshakeable sense of foreboding and dread, which clung to the very core of him as Judal continued to sleep.

It was now that every fibre of his being reminded him of that last him he had escorted there, to that place. Even if he wanted to, he never had a chance to escape. Not with those towering men standing in front and behind him; swept in their dark robes and veils obscuring their faces. All he remembered of those magician-priests was their soulless eyes and their hushed whispers, and they had never given him a choice. But then, Judal no longer cared about that.

He could recall how agonising it had been. Every time he was led there, to the centre of the chamber and their voices grew louder. The cold cruelty of their chants, the curses of that thousand men and women as they knelt around him. Judal had been kneeling himself; yet in pain. Up until that very last time he had been doubled over, clutching at temples as their rukh poured into him and shared so much. The fleeting memories of his masters; pictures of that yesterday-world of Alma-Toran where they were from. Their very cities and world they had destroyed; left in ruins for them to achieve their goal.

And now they were here, in his world. Now they had come for him.

Gradually those endless shadows grew. Rather they were painted black in those final moments, as so many of his rukh darkened into a black swarm flitting about him. They felt heavy, stripped of their voices as they drew into him. As they filled him with the agonising sensation of a dark, frozen blade piercing his body and mind. He didn't need to understand, they said, just to obey. Obey the things he had wanted to forget, and Ithnan reminded him of back in Qishan. That Aladdin was never his brother, but a Magi from their world. What was true was he was merely a tool of theirs.

A tool they had sought out from the moment he was born, so it didn't even matter if Judal wished to help them or not. He was just glad he would awake and forget this again. The only way they'd stop this was if he accepted the power his masters offered. Crouched their on the ground, with them chanting and that colt pain welling up inside him, it hadn't taken him that long to give in.

Once he obeyed those thousand voices, that chanting of a dead language echoing around the darkening chamber, the pain had stopped. In exchange for cursing his fate he'd gain their power; more power than he'd ever imagine. Magic he'd never dreamed of. At that moment it seemed worth it, to no longer care for his false brother , why Al-Thamen were doing this; it all faded until nothing was left.

In those last moments, he had closed he eyes. A doorway appeared before him as he did; behind it a room with golden floors and walls. From the cluster of books piled from ground the ceiling, he took it as something of a library, and so much brighter than that dark, chilling chamber he wanted to escape on. A man stood in its archway, a towering and handsome djinn that had beckoned him. He had urged Judal to stay asleep, and to do with that person before it was too late.

As Judal tried, the rukh in the air gathered in a black swarm to block his path. The moment's hesitation was enough time for that door to slum shut; its room and guardian also forgotten. He had re-opened his eyes...

"...Bad dream?" Ithnan's voice behind Judal had enquired, right as the Magi raised his head.

He gave something of a muffled groan, a hand raking up through a head of dishevelled ebony hair. Rubbing his eyes Judal just had the sense of dreaming something unpleasant, and was glad to forget it. If that wasn't bad enough, his whole body shivered and ached as if he were recovering from a bad bout of fever. He blamed the amount of magoi his teacher used in possessing his body, and bringing the two of them here. Wherever "here" was. With that thought in mind he glanced about, eager despite his immediate discomfort to get a sense of his surroundings.

He sat up slowly, allowing those vile robes to fall from his body and the sun to burn down upon him. Glancing about he realised he had made something of an uncomfortable bed on gravel and long, dry grass. The two had arrived on an island, even if calling it thus seemed an exaggeration. It was little more than a smooth, sun-scorched section of rock sprinkled with weeds and not far off the northern cost of Sindria. Clear, summery tides batted against the gravely shore, sprinkling him with its refreshing yet salty tides

There it was; the sculpted crescent-moon of that island kingdom which reached far up to the cloudless sky. Crowned with towering pale cliffs and lined with white beaches, visible even from where Judal was. A beautiful place, even if this was the closest he'd ever been to it. And somewhere Sinbad had urged him to see for many years now. He stood, feet sweltering on the heated stone, and stretched with something of an unpleasant crack. "Yeah..." he admitted lazily to that beast. That asp which watched him with sharp, red eyes and rose slightly from the ground. "But at least I'm sleeping again properly."

The snake was busy sunning itself, tongue flicking out lazily as if it was void of any sense of urgency. Almost as if, like with any cold-bloodied creature, this was all it desired. "Indeed. But then you might remember me saying it would be a while before your dreams retuned. Long after food tastes as it should. I remember it myself, adjusting fully to the affects the black rukh had on my body. That was so long ago."

"Yeah..." he guessed given the nature of those magicians it would have been a very long time, not that Judal cared. As it was, his dreams seemed unsettling and easily forgotten, but he'd take that over suffering constant fatigue. But such was the way, accepting the offer for dark magic it seemed. "How long was I sleeping?"

"I wonder how long...a day or so?"

"...What?" he demanded irritably. "You could have woken me up sooner rather than just like about in the sun, you damned snake..."Judal muttered. It gave a cold laugh, a sound a little too loud for its small body and seemed to fit it as badly as an over-sized glove. But it was no animal of course, it was an article constructed from magic. Something capable of possessing a Magi's body, using their magic to teleport them thousands of miles. And currently glancing over Judal as if implying he needed the time to recover from it. "...Whatever. But next time just wake me up sooner, got it?"

"Oh? So there will be a next time allowing me to possess your body?"

"...No chance," he snapped back.

"So untrusting. But then, do you think I couldn't if I wished? Once someone allows their body to be possessed, it's an open invitation. I could do as I wished, and when you least suspect it. At any time I could be back there, seeing the world through your eyes. Helping myself to that power you treasure so much..." Judal looked horrified, and heard an equally loud laugh. "Oh – that look. Will you believe everything I teach you?"

He cursed himself, beginning to think he couldn't believe a word that magician said. But then, he had barely begun to understand what their magic was capable of. The Magi knew he was stronger, but he didn't have the lifetimes of knowledge and practise Ithnan could – and would – boast about. "Well, try to and you'll regret it."

Another laugh; as if that serpentine creation was mocking him. "Perhaps, perhaps not. but you have come a long way. Months ago, you couldn't control that power. Now, look what I did with it..."

But now he could control that power. Not wishing to reply or embarrass himself further, Judal stepped out onto the warm ocean's surface. He eyed over the larger islands dotting the horizon to the east; those jagged, verdant masses of land covered in towering trees and colourful, tropical plants. The largest of those islands housed a dungeon the Magi himself had risen long ago, in the only other time he had been this far south. The place where that woman Durya was heading, even if Judal knew she wouldn't be chosen. Instead there was that unnamed person his rukh told him of; someone that Judal would like apparently. He liked the idea; it was so are that he met a king he liked. Men like Jamil of Qishan were just too weak, yet he dared not deny his masters by not naming them.

Judal suppressed another yawn. "You know, it's still a shame we couldn't have just teleported here straight away. Get a bunch of magicians to do that at the start back in Kou. I couldn't stand going through Balbadd and all those other places."

"The truth is, we'd more than likely die attempting it before."

"Huh? Why?"

For a moment the snake pondered his question. "Outside of Kou, there are few places possessing many black rukh. Passing through, we were able to bathe them in our magic as we went. But this place – can you feel any?"

Judal glanced about but shook his head. There no familiar dark hint, like smoke, upon the air he had seen in other places. The sky and sky were clear; untainted.

"Exactly. The teleportation magic I know is a sort that relies on black rukh. As I said before, travelling this far would be very draining for me. Enough to kill me, or any of our magicians trying it. But as a Magi, you'd be able to take in the rukh of the rocks and ocean into your body to use as your own. When possessing you, I could use that to replenish myself, and you. Thus even if Gyokuen's reluctant to teach you such a thing, I'd be able to take over your body to do that. Once your body could handle converting so many rukh, of course."

"...That just proves what I said before. You lot are weaker only using one type of rukh," Judal gazed up into that sky of blue; it was where he wanted to be right now; to see that place. The oceanic breeze whipped through his normal, thin clothes and the dulled ache of white rukh settled on his bare skin. He wanted to use his power. "Say, you're not coming, are you? I want to get that moronic king's attention by myself."

"I won't go with you, no; I'd rather not be seen. I'm relying on you to draw a lot of attention."

The darkened Magi grinned. "Sure. I can do that."

The breeze whipped around him as he floated upwards, far above the crashing waves and drew closer. Immediately he noticed the air seemed to shimmer, as if enveloped in a sphere of watery blue and scorching scarlet flames. He hesitated, noticing something of a barrier had been erected around the entirety of the island. He studied it, nothing that it was comprised of the magoi of two people. The first was cerulean, cool like water and ever changing. He remembered that Sinbad had a particularly strong female magician amongst his generals, and guessed it was hers. The second was familiar, those licking flames that responded all too readily to him, welcoming him. Grinning Judal knew he didn't even need to worry about passing their defences. That false brother of his didn't even consider him an enemy. At least not yet.

Passing through the crackling barrier, he was faced with a fluttering of crimson and gold feathers, and the melody of birdsong wafted over the soft air. Many wouldn't notice that many of these colourful creatures weren't animals, but magical constructs. He could recognise the brightness of Sinbad's rukh on their feathers, along with that same aqueous magoi he had felt on the barrier. It seemed this female magician-general paid an important role with many of the kingdom's defences. He dropped from the sky, landing on one of the roofs below. He didn't really wish to be seen by one of those creatures, yet a mere glance was probably enough for Sinbad to know Judal was there. And he'd really not troubled himself about being discreet.

He leap, cat-like across the roofs as he glanced about, already feeling as if this was the most enjoyable time he'd spent wandering about for a while. The pastel-toned houses gently lined the sloping hills, ascending from the shimmering docks already a dot on the landscape. Passing the residences he was met with an impressive and loud market place, littered with bright stalls and bustling with people. Even if Sinbad tended to exaggerate on many things he was right; the country was as beautiful and prosperous as he always boasted. Judal almost wished he had seen it before now, given that its rukh stabbed over his fair skin in a slight yet distinct itch. There really was not a single speck of black rukh here. No suffering, no oppression...it felt almost sickening.

Or so he'd have thought. As he leapt up, unseen of course, onto a domed, aqua-hued and official looking building a stronger wind ruffled through his hair. He caught sight of a distinct, dark ribbon of magic unfurling itself below him. Interesting he stepped over the warm stone, intending to jump down and follow wherever that dark flight took him. He stepped off the building, not really noticing the person training below. A fair haired young man he collided heavily with, earning a grunt as the person crumpled to the ground. He vaguely noticed a jewelled knife spinning from his grasp, stepping aside as the person he'd landed on faced him.

"OW!" What the hell are you –" light gold orbs fixed upon Judal furiously. The young man who had broken the Magi's fall scrambled messily to his feet, already fumbling for his weapon. Rubbing his shoulder, and taking several long moments to calm himself, he fixed the one colliding with him with a heated glare as Judal laughed."...What's so damned funny?! That hurt! Where the heck did you come from!" he demanded.

"Huh? Off that building behind you of course, moron. Your rukh's just so weak I didn't notice you," he laughed. He himself had no injuries, finding his fall had been broken by this person. All the same...he paused. He looked over the fair-haired young man curiously. That dark glimmer surrounded him, and appeared to be what Judal had been looking for.

"You...who are you calling a moron? You're just like Aladdin. Only he could go around dropping down from buildings, insulting people and..." he had stopped. Now with his dagger in hand he was gazing over Judal, that azure streak running through his fringe, as if some manner of realisation was dawning on him. Within moments his expression had lightened. "Right...just like he would do. Hey are you Judal? You are Judal, right? You look a bit like him," he paused. "...You act like him, too."

"...Who the hell are you?" the Magi replied lazily and rubbed at the back of his neck. If anything, he'd prefer not being recognised to that...overly friendly expression he was getting. It was making him feel wary.

"Me? Alibaba Saluja" ...he had heard that name before, hadn't he. He quickly stepped back, whilst the one recently introducing himself stepped closer. "I should have known. It would be just like him to step off a building and not see someone below." If Judal had known he'd been like his, he'd have stepped down anyway. "He talks about you all the time...I can't believe this. How did you even get here so quickly? Your brother and King Sinbad were so worried."

"...Eh? What are you so excited about, you weirdo..." Judal floated up, a little confused and thinking perhaps he'd struck this person stronger than he thought. Wait; he remembered that name; Alibaba Saluja, he was that exiled prince of Balbadd, wasn't he? The person Aladdin had chosen? Judal couldn't help it, he burst out laughing. He looked useless; from not having so much as a metallic vessel, to carrying the smallest weapon that he had ever seen. No match for his generals, certainly. Still, if he was close to Aladdin that would make harming him more fun."

Alibaba noticed his laughing and stopped, as if knowing he was the target of it. Still streaming in that black rukh, he eyed over him. "I'm sorry. But listen; King Sinbad was talking last night about sending people to find you. Then here you are, showing up out of nowhere...you're not hurt are you? You're acting a little strange. They said something about black rukh."

Judal didn't consider himself the strange one. "Huh? Like those ones in you, you mean?" he looked over Alibaba pointedly and continued to rise into the air. "I see it..." he gestured to the exiled prince's chest, to the rukh gathering like a raincloud at the core of him. It felt familiar, and then it hit him. "Why does such a useless person have my djinn's rukh inside them, anyway?" he demanded abruptly.

"I...what?" Alibaba seemed to definitely think that something was wrong.

"Those are Kassim's rukh." Far below, Alibaba's eyes widened at the mention of that name. Perhaps even wanting to know how Judal knew it, not that he cared. "And he's my djinn and you have his rukh in you; you have two sets," he informed him. And was amused to have rendered Alibaba speechless, even fearful looking. "Want to see what I mean?"

He didn't want an answer really; he'd do it anyway. Judal could already see the energy surrounding his raised weapon dark and crackle; Kassim all but ready to burst forth. He raised it about his head, watching that gigantic, demonic entity block out what had been a radiantly bright day. The look on Alibaba's face was priceless at any rate, falling to his knees and a look of horror draining all colour from his face. Once Kassim roared, it was the only thing that could have drowned out Alibaba's scream.

"...That was some storm, sensei, though," Aladdin noted quietly. Perched on her staff and hovering several feet above, Yamaraiha nodded slowly. She had ascended to the summit of one of those watch towers, the Magi assuming it was to fix one of those conch shells that had been damaged during last night's rain. Although admittedly that made little sense; why would the weather interfere with the barrier around Sindria? Equally as perplexed she plucked the conch shell from the tower, gently cradling it as she touched down upon the hillside where Aladdin waited.

"Yes...but even so it shouldn't be enough to do this," she answered calmly, and looked confused. She turned that treasured creation of hers over, looking for any damage. A crack has spread over the magical device's surface, a chasm of near-black ice discolouring the cream-yellow swirls of the object. "I was in my laboratory not long ago, and suddenly felt a strong, cold presence pass by here. Almost as if something dangerous arrived undetected in Sindria."

Aladdin watched as an orb of shimmering blue flooded from her hands, covering the shell as if to fix it. "But if it was someone dangerous, the barrier would have rejected them."

"Hence why I wanted to see for myself. And for you to come with me, in case I missed something," Yamaraiha, of course, wouldn't allow anything to damage the island's defences. She seemed panic, especially if she had roused the Magi himself. He watched the ice steadily evaporate, as if dissolving in a pool of warm water as the shell's surface repaired itself. £I might seem a little alarmist; I'm sorry. Sinbad won't be happy with me disturbing your sleep. Not after what happened with you two."

"Hm?" he gave her a questioning look. "Oji-san told you about that?"

"Ah..." she looked somewhat apologetic. "He was there early this morning, before this ordeal with the defences. I had gone to deliver a sword I have just finished working on. I didn't expect him to be in his office, but there he was...working through the night."

Aladdin glanced away. He wasn't sure really if he should feel apologetic or not. But then, he did know he disliked being lied to. "It's alright, I actually slept well in the end," he paused, thinking for a moment. "If...there's nothing going on here, I can finish up if you like. You can get back to work if you want to, and I'll see him as soon as I'm done."

If anything she seemed grateful; both that this incident with the shell appeared harmless, and to return to what must be a lot of work. "Are you sure? If you need me for anything, please let me know. And thank you."

"Of course I am. I've been empowering these a while now. I'll check the others too and let you know if I see anything," she gave him something of a polite wave, taking to perch on her staff again. Gripping the rim of her pointed hat, she took to gliding quickly back towards the palace grounds towards her laboratory.

Once she left, Aladdin sat down. He curled up in the grass, still cool and slightly damp thanks to the storms of the previous night yet mostly dried under the raging sun. He took the shell into his lap, closing his eyes to focus on it. Blindly his fingers traced over where that thin crack had broken it's surface, all the while feeling it was still cold to the touch. He frowned, feeling as though that wintery chill still clung to it. Licks of flame, his own magic, sprang up in other to pour his magoi into the drained device.

He felt as though something brushed past his wrist. Something fluttering over his skin, as if caught inside the shell and taking the chance to escape. It's wings batted against his skin, feeling something like a cold, darkened butterfly.

Instinctually Aladdin obeyed the chill running through him, and his eyes snapped open. Yet as he glanced about, there was nothing there.

"A-Aladdin-san?" a gentle, quiet voice enquired and he jumped. He whipped round, surprised, and realised someone had drawn up and had cautiously watched him. A slender young man, bearing a discoloured scar on the left side of his face and dressed in elegant, Kou-styled clothing was looking down at him. Once Aladdin had turned to him, he bowed slightly. "Forgive me for startling you."

He gaped, shaking his head soundlessly. Ren Hakuryuu was someone he had never met, and only knew through Alibaba speaking of him. For the most part he seemed more than content to avoid the Magi. His expression, whilst not unfriendly, seemed a little too guarded. And the exiled prince of his empire seemed to look over him with an unreadable expression. "Hakuryuu-san? I thought you'd be training with Alibaba-kun..." He gestured to the training grounds not too far away.

"Ah I'm...doing something else at the moment. A new teacher I'm learning from," he explained somewhat rigidly. He set his spear against a nearby tree. Yet still wore that darkened blade of his at his hip. Hakuryuu's slim fingers clasped together delicately, as if to hide his nervousness. "I...am helping with Sindria's defences. As you are."

He was nodding to the shell, glossed over in scarlet embers and lying in Aladdin's lap. "So...what is it you need more for? After hating and avoiding me for a year I thought we'd never speak."

"H-hate you?! I don't hate you!" he looked horrified by that, shaking his head in denial. "Really, I don't."

"Alright, perhaps hate is a little strong. But you didn't deny you avoided me."

"Yes, well, I have avoided you," Hakuryuu admitted begrudgingly; that same guarded expression returning following his outburst. "I was wary of you – did Alibaba really say I hate you?"

He noticed vaguely Hakuryuu leaned against that same tree, watching the Magi as he continued his steady work pouring magoi into that conch shell. After a moment Aladdin stood, walking over to curl up beside him so they could converse more easily. "He said you blamed onii-san and me for the bad things happening in Kou, and that bad things would happen here. It's why I'm curious you're talking to me."

"Well – for one thing to apologise for that," Hakuryuu took to explain himself hurriedly. "Really though, that was uncalled for, Alibaba saying that but...very well. I should have known better. I know what its like, to be judged unfairly by the people here. As you know, Kou hasn't really the best relationship with Sindria. When I came here people used to think I was a spy. Even if I came here, injured with nowhere else to go...after my father and brothers were all killed..."

The Magi looked over. "I heard about that, it was terrible. Did you ever find out who was responsible?"

Hakuryuu paused for a moment but shook his head. "No, but I will. Once I train, once I conquer a dungeon and return home again. Once I...see Hakuei again..." he admitted gently. "Hence I was curious what your answer was to what Sinbad-sama asked you."

"Hm? My answer for what?"

In response the mistuned, light blue eyes fixed on him curiously. "He...never asked you anything?"

"I think he was meant to but we had an argument," Aladdin admitted. "Well, what do you need me for?" yet Hakuryuu shook his head, almost as if considering it rude to mention, whatever he wanted. "Really, it's alright. You can ask-"

"Right now, it's not important. Not until he asks. I don't want you getting the wrong idea of why I'm here. Alibaba was wrong to say that; I don't hate you. I wanted to apologise for my rudeness and..." that emotionless expression faltered, softening for a moment. "I would like for us to be friends."

Instead of asking what Hakuryuu was hiding, he nodded. "You do know that friends don't avoid each other, right."

"Yes, I'm aware of that. I-" at the sound of a deep roar, Hakuryuu learned up from his tree in alarm. He had already grasped hold of his weapon again, glancing about himself wildly. "W-what was that?"

"It...sounded like something landing. Something dangerous, I think..."

The shell rolled off of Aladdin's lap, forgotten as he got to his feet. There he almost overbalanced; another deafening cry causing the ground to shudder under his feet in a burst of quaking fury. He felt Hakuryuu grasp his shoulder, helping him to steady himself as the two look about them. Aladdin's thoughts fell to whatever it was; this must be the beast which crossed the barrier. Even if he had no idea how such a thing was possible. Anyone on the island would be hearing such a terrible sound.

"I'll go find out what it is," Hakuryuu was telling him, keeping a light hold of the Magi's shoulder. "You're faster, so I think you should go back to the palace and get help."

Aladdin shook his head. "There might not be enough time. I should go and make sure no one's hurt. Make sure oji-" he corrected himself, "Sinbad-sama's on his way. I'll go ahead."

"Very well. But I will be with you as soon as I can," Hakuryuu nodded reluctantly as he sprinted away, weapons in hand.

There was another of those roars, like the heart-rending cry from some giant, hulking beast in agony. Aladdin shuddered; guessing that whatever the creature was it was somewhere close by. He floated upwards, glancing keenly over each building in turn. All the while he couldn't stop thinking this awful sound was somehow familiar; even if he couldn't quite recall where...