Special Thanks to dear Ekaterina016 for their immense help in Beta-reading this chapter and helping with the brainstorming of the plot.

This story would not be possible without you.

I do not own Magi or Type-Moon content.

Balbadd:

Within the great city of Balbadd, a violent commotion was occurring in the slums. The loud sounds of shabby buildings crumbling robbed the night of its tranquility, as a giant blue-skinned body, with a flute for a head, chased after a floating dark-haired young man relentlessly.

So rabid it was, it cared not for the people nearby, nor did it flinch as icicles stabbed into its body. It kept going after its target, crushing the fortress of the Fog Troupe. Eventually, it succeeded in trapping the magic user between its hands, its muscles tensing as it tried to crush him along with the barrier he protected himself with.

The young man's red eyes widened in terror as his barrier cracked like cheap glass against the giant's strength. The place turned deathly silent as the body of Judal fell from between the Djinn's hands, bloodied and broken, yet still alive.

Aladdin couldn't understand why his dearest friend would completely ignore him and go on a violent rampage so suddenly. Ugo was simply intent on the complete elimination of Judal, with little regard for all else.

"What's wrong with Ugo?" Alibaba coughed, trying to clear the dust settling on him from the destruction around them. He was bewildered as to the reason why the normally calm Djinn would turn into an uncontrollable monster. "He seems to be moving completely on his own." He felt his mouth dry at the sight of the craters which were once the troop's base.

"I don't know; he never did anything like this! It's the first time something like this has happened!"

Aladdin's eyes continued to gaze at Ugo's unmoving body, trying his best to understand why his friend was acting this way. Morgiana and Alibaba silently comforted the blue-haired boy, no one moving in fear of worsening the situation even further. Everyone held their breath as Ugo's foot tried to stomp the unconscious Judal into paste, only for a figure to swoop in and snatch him just in the nick of time.

"What monster do we have here?"

A voice, as melodious and beautiful as it was laced with thorns of disdain and contempt, drew the attention of everyone present. High above on a flying carpet, stood a regal figure in elegant foreign garb. The decorations and beauty of the outfit denoted a position of nobility or royalty, her auburn hair, tied with golden decorations, swayed with the wind as her eyes looked down on Ugo.

"It appears our Judal has suffered quite a lot."

Aladdin could spot a strange man appearing behind the woman, Judal with him. The little boy was somewhat happy Ugo had not succeeded in killing him.

"Ka Koubun, take good care of Judal. It would be troublesome if he died."

"As you command, my princess. I will not let our Magi die." The man wearing a tall hat in wealthy clothes put down his fan and bowed his head in response to the lady's order.

Aladdin grew concerned as he watched the woman's gaze turn predatory. Alibaba and Morgiana remembered some of what Sindbad told them before, and Aladdin also noted their appearance was somewhat similar to Big Sis Hakuei's. The trio came to the same conclusion.

'They must be with the Kou Empire.'

Ugo's arms were covered in flames, seeking to finish what he started. The lady of Kou simply removed her hair pin, the octagram on it glowing with power.

"Spirit of sorrow and solitude, I command thee and thine. With my magoi as your source, use your great power to bring my will to life. Come forth, Vinea!"

Water covered her hair pin, and it took on the shape of a sword before bursting like a bubble, revealing the intricate weapon. She jumped towards the incoming Ugo, her weapon poised to pierce his chest.

Ugo's body was bisected as the princess's attack pierced right through him. His body exploded into motes of magoi as it retreated into the flute once more, the octagram on it disappearing shortly after.

"Ugo!"

Aladdin felt his heart stop as he witnessed his first friend getting beaten by the princess of Kou; he needed to do something quick or else the others would also suffer.

His small conjured fireball was enough to attract their attention. With their attention focused on him, Aladdin took a deep breath, ready to make their case.

However, he was too optimistic.

"You're the monster's master, are you not?" Signaling to the three behind her, the princess smiled as she ordered them to deal with the rest of the bystanders.

"Oh, my, quite the turbulent predicament we have here."

But before they could advance, everyone was surprised by the sudden rush of flower petals covering their surroundings. Akin to a dream, the flower petals faded bit by bit to reveal a handsome, almost ethereal white-haired man in white robes wielding a black staff.

Sindbad withheld from ordering Jafar and Masrur to interfere and silently watched the magician. He could feel a certain air about him – a subtle feeling of tension in his gut telling him the man in front of him was nothing like what he seemed.

The man stepped next to Aladdin, a friendly, carefree smile on his face as he tapped his staff, the princess' men tensing as if they just woke up from a dream. The wizard's purple eyes had a glint of mischief in them as he looked at the princess. "How about we call it a night and end this meaningless commotion peacefully, Princess?"

The princess growled at the culprit standing in her men's way. Her menacing eyes focused on him with a great deal of hostility. "You dare to stand in my way?"

"I'm afraid if you continue with this course of action, you'll damage relations between Kou and other nations. I, along with my associates, have witnessed the attack of your magician."

"Associates?"

"That would be us, Your Highness."

Aladdin turned to the source of the voice behind him, spotting two figures walking towards them. One was a white haired tanned man, garbed in a black outfit the young boy has never seen before. He looked a bit troubled as he spotted the white-haired magician, but hid his concern behind a smile.

Next to the man was a woman of remarkable beauty, her long white hair tied in a ponytail and her red eyes surveilling the people around. Her most curious aspect were the two horns adorning her forehead, something which attracted a lot of attention from the others around him. Her armor looked similar to the ones he saw the Kou soldiers use, although it looked much more elegant and imposing.

"Who are you?"

"Greetings, Your Highness, my name is Shirou, and this is Tomoe. I see you've already met our friend Merlin. As he just said, we three here have witnessed the abuse of power Judal had displayed. Such a display does nothing but harm Kou's image and reputation, labeling them as monsters willing to harm third parties for a simple childish temper tantrum."

"How dare you slander Kou!"

One of the guards lashed out, his impressive frame barreling towards the young man. In the blink of an eye, the biggest member of the three guards fell to the ground as a blade pierced his head.

The princess couldn't believe the ease with which Shirou took down one of her upgraded guards, despite his supposedly-impenetrable skin.

"I'm afraid intimidation tactics are not appropriate to use here, Your Highness."

The octagram on the princess's sword glowed as she channeled more magoi into it, water slowly covering her arm and torso.

"If you don't believe us, then perhaps you would believe the word of the king of Sindria? I believe we can all trust his upstanding self to be honest and transparent about what occurred here." Merlin smirked at the corner where Sindbad, Masrur and Jafar were watching from, his words stopping the princess from escalating this confrontation.

Jafar's eyes narrowed in suspicion as he wondered where these three came from so suddenly, while Masrur was more interested in Shirou's earlier execution. Sindbad's face was solemn as his gaze met Merlin's, the flower wizard's knowing smile made the king uncomfortable for the first time in a long while.

The three of them stepped out of their spot, their presence further deescalating the tensions in the air as Ka Koubun urged the princess to be cautious.

"It would also be quite a shame to have ruined the progress in the negotiations between the Kou Empire and the Kingdom of Uruk your brothers invested so much in simply because of an insignificant encounter, wouldn't you agree?"

The noblewoman's eyes widened just a touch at the mention of 'Uruk', Aladdin felt like the name held significant importance to force the lady to back off, her sword vanishing back into the hairpin. "We're leaving." The princess turned back and stepped on her carpet once more, her expression grave.

Ka Koubun withheld any comments as he bowed to the princess, and ordered the men to pick up the dead guard. His eyes looked murderous as he glared at the group. Soon enough, the woman and her entourage vanished in the skies.

The tension finally disappearing, many among the Fog Troupe breathed a sigh of relief. Kasim kept his sights on the Uruk envoy, the name mostly mentioned in rumors he overheard the merchants discussing.

Aladdin ran towards his flute, his eyes downcast as he noticed the missing octagram which used to decorate it.

He felt a hand gently ruffling his hair, his eyes meeting Merlin's own as the older man chuckled. "You don't need to worry about your friend, little one. He is safe and sound, although it appears your connection to him has been severed."

"Ugo is fine? Really?"

"Indeed, it would take more than destroying a body imbued with Magoi to hurt such a being. Although I do not know the reason for his animosity towards Judal."

Aladdin seemed to calm down thanks to Merlin's assurances, his grip on the flute softening ever so slightly. The Magus of Flowers turned to his two companions, expressions neutral as Shirou tapped his foot on the ground repeatedly.

"Anything to say for yourself?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about, dear Shirou. I merely happened to be nearby when I overheard the fighting, and being the good samaritan I am, I decided to investigate it." Merlin gave Shirou the most innocent expression he could muster, flower petals framing his handsome face.

"...I'm reporting this to the king."

Unfortunately, the attempt failed spectacularly. Shirou impassively ignored Merlin's pleas as he gestured to the silent Tomoe, moving to leave, the oni's miniscule smile denoting her amusement at the incubus's precarious situation.

They found their path blocked by Sinbad, Masrur and Jafar. The king's disposition was most noble and hospitable, his charisma on full display as he smiled resplendly. "I applaud your valiant intervention, friends from Uruk."

The ensuing silence was awkward, to say the least; Sindbad's perfect posture and smile cracked ever so slightly, as if he expected a very different reaction.

Was his greeting not warm enough?

He examined the others around him curiously, only to note Masrur and Jafar were equally surprised by the lack of reaction too. Aladdin observed them with childish innocence, while Alibaba seemed to want to say something, but he seemed unable to put his thoughts into words.

Sindbad's eyebrow twitched as his attention returned to the three representatives. Merlin's smile never left his face, while Shirou and Tomoe maintained an air of neutrality as they declined to comment.

Was he even losing his touch with the ladies?

"Greetings to you, King of Sindria. What is it you seek?"

Short and to the point, but it was a start. He remained carefree as he casually scratched the back of his head. "I would like to express my appreciation for your timely aid, envoys of Uruk."

He approached the lady in the group. "You look absolutely stunning, my lady. I believe your name was Tomoe?" Sindbad's voice was confident and flirtatious, although it had no effect on the woman as her expression remained stoic.

Merlin chuckled at the attempt, his nonchalant attitude getting on Jafar's nerves.

Shirou sighed, before his gaze hardened at the fact he was now dealing with two womanizers at the same time. "I'm afraid I need to ask you to refrain from such behavior, King Sindbad."

"As you wish; my apologies." Sindbad smoothly backed off from the imperturbable woman, his attention focused once more on the spokesperson of this envoy. "It appears you are already aware of my identity."

"It would be silly not to know about you and your generals; we are also aware of Prince Alibaba, as well as Morgiana and young Aladdin, due to their relationship with the former and his own involvement in the current crisis." Shirou gestured to the individuals in question.

The prince's mouth opened like a fish out of water, while Morgiana and Aladdin didn't know how to feel about the fact these complete strangers knew so much about them.

Jafar held suspicions when it came to the man in front of them – the air about him felt slightly off. His eyes were deceptively void of any hostility, but the glint in them betrayed a training and discipline which could only develop with certain jobs he was familiar with.

"I must admit, I never expected to come into direct contact with Uruk in Balbadd." Sindbad sighed, his eyes meeting Shirou's own once more, the authority of a king returning as his carefree smile disappeared."I do hope my requests for an audience have been well received; Artemina has spoken highly of your king."

Shirou's expression remained peaceful, even as Merlin tried his best to restrain his laughter at the mention of the queen of the nation of Artemyra. The priest also ignored the subtle snort of the formerly indifferent Tomoe, the woman recalling an amusing memory. "I hope Her Majesty has been well. However, I'm afraid only our king may decide what course of action to take when it comes to your requests, Your Highness." The priest's eyes trailed to Jafar and Masrur before returning to Sindbad, his face discarding much of its friendly aura for a sharper and more solemn one. "We, as envoys to this nation, will not engage in any meetings or talks with Sindria or any other country during the duration of our stay without further instructions from our king."

The air suddenly felt tense as Shirou and Sindbad maintained eye contact. Aladdin was surprised to see Merlin being so casual as to hum some sort of tune as he watched the discussion going on. "I believe it is time for us to take our leave – tonight has been quite eventful, and I am certain many would like some peace and quiet." Tapping his staff, the two men stopped staring at each other and turned to the magician.

"Wait!" Just as the three were about to leave, Alibaba called out to them. "What do you intend to do in Balbadd?" Alibaba held his breath under the combined gazes of everyone present, especially those of the envoy team. Be it due to the adrenaline from the previous fighting or just dumb luck, he managed to resist buckling under the stress.

"We are here simply because our king wishes for our presence here, of course," Merlin playfully answered, his lack of seriousness doing little to assuage the prince's worries and Jafar's annoyance with the Flower Magus's lack of decorum. "However, I suppose you can say we discovered something concerning our king wishes for us to confirm, if only out of respect for your late father."

"What is it?"

"Unfortunately, we are not at liberty to discuss it with you, Prince Alibaba. We are here to have an audience with the king tomorrow to ask a few questions, before returning home."

"You're not here to help?"

Shirou's expression turned grave, his eyes sizing Alibaba up coldly for a few moments. "The current situation is much more dangerous than you think, Alibaba. Your lack of attention and insight into the state of this nation is not surprising, but remains disappointing." Shirou sighed, shaking his head, before turning his back to the prince and walking away.

Tomoe stared at Alibaba for a good few seconds, a frown disturbing her serene face. "We are not interested in entering unnecessary conflicts – such a thing would destabilize a nation already in shambles even further, the consequences of which are more devastating on all levels. You should know better than to ask for the aid of outsiders you have no prior connections to, child." Without waiting for a response, she moved to rejoin Shirou, leaving Alibaba at a loss for words.

"Are you simply going to pass by as people continue to suffer?" Aladdin suddenly asked, his eyes meeting Merlin's.

The Magus of Flowers smiled knowingly at the child holding his flute close to his chest, the pain of loss clear on his innocent blue eyes. "Politics is quite a delicate thing, little one." Merlin flicked his fingers, a delicate blue flower appearing in his hand as he handed it to Aladdin. "But mayhaps tomorrow has brighter things in store for us. We can only try our best."

Tapping his staff gently as he walked after the other two, Aladdin could clearly see the Rukh around the wizard fluttering chaotically. As if his presence was beyond their reach, the bird-like creatures were unable to approach him. "Our king is wise and magnanimous. When a person, slave or not, seeks our lands, and favors us over other nations, they receive his protection and blessings."

Everyone watched as the three of them were suddenly enveloped in flower petals. The rich fragrance was pleasant and calming as the petals disappeared along with the representatives of Uruk. Alibaba's fists clenched tightly as he reflected on the potential strength of the mysterious kingdom, and the kindness of their king.

Aladdin smiled as he held the blue flower in one hand and his flute in the other. The virtue and good will the kingdom of Uruk had for the people relieved him of his worries for their cold words. He noticed Morgiana's silence, wondering if she was doubting their words.

Jafar calmly began analyzing whatever information they garnered from their short interactions with the people of Uruk. The priest named Shirou most likely originated from Heliohapt, given his physical traits, while the woman must be a household member of their king who overused her powers to acquire her horns, her sword and attire were very similar to designs found in Kou.

Merlin, however, was an enigma. His demeanor, clothes, and physical traits were all over the place, so it is difficult to have a good lead on his origins. His magical abilities were very impressive too.

He, like many of the others there, wondered what kind of a person their king was.

Uruk:

Within the great throne room of Uruk, King Gilgamesh frowned as he sensed a certain annoyance. His red eyes momentarily moved from the document in his hand to the roof, his glare causing the guards to tense and for the veiled red-haired woman next to him to hold the documents in her hands tighter.

"My king, is there anything troubling you?"

Gilgamesh chuckled, shaking his head mysteriously before turning his attention to his faithful helper. "Nothing would trouble me, Ningal. I simply took care of an unwelcome pest." His attention returned to the document, signing it and passing it to Ningal.

He expected her to give him the next one, but the Fanalis simply smiled at him and ushered servants in as they brought him his meal. "My king, your meal time has come; you should eat up and rest before continuing."

"Nonsense, I am neither hungry nor tired. Hand me the report, Ningal."

"I'm afraid I can't do that, my king. As incredible as you are, you too require nourishment and rest. I shall deal with the lesser matters among the reports while you rest, and will hand you all the important matters later." The woman easily held her ground despite Gilgamesh's domineering glare, her smile undisturbed.

"It appears your insolence is still as fresh as the day we met."

"I'm afraid I'm no longer the little girl of back then, my king – much as I miss the days we spent traveling the world together with everyone."

Gilgamesh hummed as he relaxed on his throne, casually tasting the food presented to him along with the wheat ale. His eyes seemed to see through the horizons from the entrance of his fortress, a smirk blossoming on his face. "Those were certainly amusing days."

Ningal placed the documents on the nearby table, before she moved next to the king. Her delicate hands softly pressed against his shoulders as her fingers pressed and relieved his muscles of their tension.

"I have not demanded such a treatment from you, Ningal."

"It is my happiness to see my king in good health, regardless of his demands. Time has taught me Your Majesty might just be helpless without me."

"Your comment is certainly blasphemous, mongrel."

Ningal giggled as she tended to her king, his unperturbed expression bringing her peace of mind. Her face brightened as she saw a figure dressed in white clothes enter the throne room.

"Kingu! You've returned!"

Kingu silently acknowledged Ningal with a nod, his eyes clearly set on Gilgamesh as usual. Gilgamesh observed Kingu for a few moments before his attention returned to his meal, a chair appearing from a golden portal in front of the table. "I trust your journey went well."

The green-haired man sat down, but did not partake in the food. His face was contemplative as he observed the King of Uruk. "There were no issues. I dealt with a few disturbances on the way here, but I believe you already know what I'm talking about."

Gilgamesh nodded without a word, sipping at the ale as he organized his thoughts. Ningal smiled awkwardly at the ensuing silence, soon coming up with a topic to get a conversation going between the two. "The envoys must have arrived in Balbadd at this point. Do you guys think they're doing alright?"

"All of them are capable of such a trivial task." Gilgamesh brushed off her concerns, finished with his meal. He leaned against his throne, well-satiated and content.

"The fact Balbadd took to selling its own people was unexpected, even with their current king's incompetence." Kingu frowned in clear disgust, the difference between the current and former rulers of Balbadd painfully clear.

"I'm actually more worried about Merlin doing anything that might jeopardize their task." Ningal sighed, feeling a headache coming at the mention of Uruk's supreme troublemaker and womanizer.

Gilgamesh laughed at his assistant's gloomy look, while Kingu remained expressionless. Ningal shook her head and tried to assure herself Shirou and Tomoe would finish their business there quickly enough to avoid any problems Merlin may create.

Neither she, nor the other two beside her, knew how wrong they were, comfortable in their blissful ignorance.

Thank you for reading. Have a nice day and stay safe.