Princess of Balbadd (Magi x Reader)

Parthevia in Peril

This seems to placate the group, but all the faces in the room still look concerned.

Sinbad lays out new assignments for everyone, then goes to prepare for Parthevia posthaste. Quick on his heels, you grab his wrist to drag him out to the courtyard for a moment alone, hoping to convince him to let you come with him too. You didn't have a household to worry about consuming you but you weren't completely helpless, you've trained too.

Facing away from him, still holding onto his wrist, you organize your thoughts to best present your case. You take a deep breath.

He beats you to the punch, however, saying, "You know, I'm extremely grateful that you aren't insisting to come with me on this adventure."

You feel an arrow of shame hit you.

He continues, " I'm not joking when I say how dangerous it is. Especially for someone who hasn't been in a real battle before."

Another arrow hits you.

"If something were to happen to you, I don't know what I would tell your father."

And another. You're sure he can feel your grip squeeze his wrist with every point he makes as your body continuously stiffens under the onslaught. Yet he goes on as suave as ever.

"It's best to keep Balbadd out of this and you've obviously thought about how your involvement would turn this into an international incident."

Stabbed again.

"Even if stowing away to come with us is a temptation, I know you're too smart to try something like that," he finishes with one final blow.

Your tomb is sealed. How could you ask to go after a speech like that?

"I'm...worried about Seren..." you muster.

"Don't be. She's too stubborn to die," he slightly chuckles.

"But haven't you seen her death before?"

You look back at him. His face is stiff like your point triggered something. "No..." he tells himself, "She said Barbarossa has a dark metal vessel. As long as she doesn't take one into herself...she should be fine..." He looks back up at you, your face puzzled by the into herself like one simply eats a weapon. "Could you warn her? Not to accept any of those vessels?"

You drop his wrist to hold your arms as you look to the side, focusing on the shadows on the blades of grass. "Don't know. I haven't spoken with her since she found out about our engagement. Asking to get you was the first I've heard from her." You take a deep breath and let out a sigh, your fears coming out with it. "She's the only friend I've ever really had, and I probably messed that up being with you."

Sinbad brings his hands to your shoulders to comfort you. "She loves Parthevia more than me; we would have gone our separate ways by now even without the engagement."

Shyly, your eyes drift up to look at him. "And what about you? You hold no regrets for going separate ways?"

"Changing the world, ridding it of war, has always been my top priority. That's why I'm here: to create a kingdom of equality."

"So...if the islands for Sindria weren't attached to the deal, you wouldn't be with me either?"

You look away bitterly, but he cups your face to urge you to look back at him so he can look deep into your eyes.

"What?! Where is this coming from? If I wanted you just for the land, I wouldn't have gone to the Dark Continent searching for a place when Master offered marriage." He props your chin up. "If the islands weren't attached to the deal, we'd find somewhere else to build Sindria: you and I," he assures you.

"But why me? If you could find somewhere else for Sindria, then you don't need me, do you?"

He lets out an exasperated breath. "Try to understand. There was something I was supposed to do. But you did it for me. Not only that, but the way you handled it had a different outcome. You don't realize how many lives you saved that would have been sacrificed for my ambition. You've changed the waves of fate and set all of us on a new course." He strokes your cheek. "Going in my place, walking that dark road for me, binds us together. A deep, shared experience that no one else can understand. You're my precious comrade now." With a smile, he taps you on the nose. "And I am very greedy: I won't lose a single one of my friends."

He pulls you in for a hug. You hug back as if this may be the last time. You nuzzle into his thick purple hair. You inhale deeply, imprinting his smell into your memory. Your body shivers, wishing to ensure his safety, wanting to be of help.

"Promise you'll come back alive," you whisper.

Stroking your back, he replies, "Don't worry. The odds are considerably more in our favor for this upcoming battle than they would have been."

You wish you had time to prepare something special to give him, to remember you while off facing the foe. To give him a token just like in stories you've read. You let go and start to fiddle around. While doing so, you come across one of your rings, the one with your favorite gemstone on it. You rub over it and ponder.

"Sin? I want to give you something."

He tilts his head, intrigued. "Oh? What's that."

You take your ring and hold it out to him. The setting sun accents the color of it that you enjoy so much. You explain, "Since I can't go with you, please take this. That way...I can be with you in spirit."

Admirably, he takes it but keeps his hand in your palm. "Thank you. I'll be sure to return this to you safely."

"You idiot!" you shout, pulling your hand away. You fist both hands by your side with your eyes clenched shut. Did he not pick up on the nuance of how you presented it?

"Huh?" His head shifts to the side, his stray hair curving like a question mark.

"I'm giving this to you as a present! So I can be with you whenever we're apart--even after you help Seren. The day you give that back will be the day you want nothing more to do with me!"

"Oh." Your meaning dawns on him. Reverently, he holds it over his heart as he pledges, "In that case, I'll be sure to keep it on me at all times."