Fourth Dungeon
Focalor
The group had finally reached the fourth dungeon. They are now face to face with the Djinn of Rule and Submission. Sinbad was about 20 now and he stared at them grimly. He asked, "Should I be enslaved to destiny or should I decide against it?" Arba held her staff tightly. She also wondered about destiny everyday that it made her crazy thinking about such trivial things. What happened to them in Alma Torran? She can still vividly remember each event. Death of people everywhere, war, the truth about their Father and Al-Thamen. But she will never forget the feeling of emptiness and hatred in her heart. She blamed Solomon because she didn't know who to blame else and now that it had come to this, she could only lead them.
'I wonder what would Azami answer?' She thought to herself. She may had been antagonistic with her but Azami was still her precious friend and comrade. Even if they were on different sides. This time, it was Aladdin and Setta who stepped up. Sinbad watched their every move.
"What is destiny really? Is it predetermined or do we create it?" Aladdin asked.
"Whether the two, I believe that destiny is something we create. Destiny maybe predetermined but it changes because of the way we think. Fatalist may contradict me but my will is stronger than them! I do think that we must not be enslaved by it but it doesn't mean that we should go against what is destined." Setta started. Aladdin glanced at the people behind him who gave him an encouraging smile. Except for Judar who huffed at him.
"It's just that we'll make much better choices than what is destined. Like this. You said that Alibaba's rukh and the others was not alternated because we're destined to fight. No. Why we're here is not because we want to fight you but because we want to make you realize everything."
"You are not god and don't proclaim that you are because if that is, why didn't you FORCED our rukh to change? I'm sure that god must have the power to do so. Do you know why? It's not destined but because this—" Setta added. Aladdin grinned at his friend before telling Sinbad their conclusion.
"This is what we chose, Uncle Sinbad. Only we can create our destiny, our freedom with our own will." He stared at them blankly before letting out a huge gust of wind. It blew through them but when it died down, there was some kind of mirror made. There were two of them actually. One was filled with images of happy family while the other was filled with poverty and war.
"Choose." Alibaba and Hakuryuu looked at each other.
"The destructed one." They both said. Sinbad asked them why and all they said was because the other one did not need them while the other does. Judar sighed and even let out his own opinion.
"I thought you would have known this, Idiot King. We chose that because as much as I hate saying this cheesy line I have to. King vessels are meant to lead those who had lost their way but why would you continue to do so in a life where it's ALWAYS about sunshine? I want war while the others don't. King vessels are meant to stop that. That's what makes this world interesting. I will choose my own destiny because it is boring to always follow one. It doesn't mean going against it but creating another good option." He concluded. Setta and Aladdin laughed at him while the fallen Magi flushed. He glared at them.
"Shut up you two."
"S-Sorry! I-It was just really not in your character. Hahaha!" Setta wiped a tear in his eyes before asking Sinbad.
"That's our answer, Sinbad."
"Sigh. My dungeons are almost conquered. You're so mean to my game but you won. This dungeon is already done. Let them come to me, Arba."
"S-Sinbad-sama. I-If that's what you wish." She bowed her head. Sinbad's illusion as Focalor slowly disappeared but not before saying, "She's somewhere here and I believe that she can do it." Before Setta could even ask what he meant, they were transported back. Arba noticed the shift around and saw another dungeon conquered.
'She really is persistent. Well then, we will not back down without a fight. Sinbad-sama may be giving you an easy way but we will not. We will change the world.' She thought. Setta asked Arba what was the next dungeon they would have to go.
"Hmm? I don't know but there was someone tampering with the game. This will be the lasts and I believe that intruder is already there. Let's go. The 7th dungeon, Vepar. Spirit of Life and Death."
Seventh Dungeon
Vepar
Azami's POV
A huge gust of wind made the cloak I had been wearing cover my face. I coughed out loud and let the piece of cloth protect me. I took out Furcas' weapon before using Zalam triple times and I could feel exhaustion in restricting my magoi. Vepar appeared before me and asked me a question.
"What is the essence of life and death? Answer me, Azami. I am Vepar, the Spirit of Life and Death. Let me hear your answer."
I was about to answer him when spikes everywhere appeared. It almost pierced me but I dodged it in time. I was about to ask Vepar but she attacked me.
"Furcas Rasas!" It melted the spears but I was attacked by a serpent that sent me skidding down the floor. The friction was enough to mar my skin. It bled a little but I stood up and used my blade to attack Vepar but 'Sinbad' returned it to me. It slashed my cheek. Wincing, I took out the knife and jumped to attack him.
"Ha! Furcas Saiqa!"
"Tch." She glared at me. I raised an eyebrow at her and asked what was her problem but she just huffed at me.
"What the hell?" Vepar made the Sinbad beside her disappear and went to me. She tipped my jaw upwards before giving me a glare.
"What is so special about you that you wish to participate in this game? I've heard about you from the other resistant members back then." She asked me. I answered her that there was nothing special about me.
"All I want is to help my friends and make him realize things. My future doesn't matter but I want to answer your question. Life and death are both essential factors for us to exist. We don't exactly know why we live or why we die but what's important is to know that they co-exist to create a meaningful existence. The joy, love, victory, sadness, despair, hatred, loneliness. They are all part of life. But death is the baseline of everything. An intelligent once said that when we die, questions like 'What is this all about?' or 'What will happen after this?' pops in everyone's mind. But what's important is the experience. I don't think that eternal life is great because we experience much stronger emotions that we carry it until the ends of time. If eternal life did exist, then people would have mostly forgotten their past. Birth, childhood, adulthood and death wouldn't exist. That would just be illusion to that immortal person. I believe in what she said. I do think we should let everything play out and just do our best to live and survive. Don't you think so, Vepar? Sinbad?"
I didn't know if Vepar was satisfied with my answer because she didn't look happy or what. I could only hope that my answer was enough so that I could finally help Aladdin and the others. The djinn sighed before smiling at me.
"You're right. What's important is that we love our lives to the fullest without any regrets. You passed this dungeon and—" Suddenly, a bright light appeared behind me and 6 figures approached us. I was thankful that my cloak covered my face. I smiled at them.
"So this is Vepar's dungeon. It's colorful and there are a lot of murals." I heard Alibaba say. That was actually true. Vepar's dungeon was really beautiful. Vepar glared at the the 6 figures.
"Way to be rude. Geez. As I was saying, this dungeon is cleared. Thanks for your honest answer." Vepar disappeared and I could feel them looking at me. I sighed loudly.
"What have you come here for, Arba?" I asked the girl without turning back since I know that they will come to know me.
"Now that one is rude. You're the one who decided to play with our game. But I do want to know how you escape from the darkness when we sealed you there tightly. But to answer your question, it's to show them who's been clearing the dungeons. Three of them at that so easily." She just shrugged her shoulders but the look on her eyes made me feel queasy inside. I do think I upset them somehow but there was a time limit so I have to help them. Plus I do not think that I could just stand there waiting.
"You know that I tend to flashy things, Arba."
"Who are you?" Hakuryuu asked. Setta creased his brow in confusion and familiarization. Arba sighed.
"You already know." She stepped forward and held out her staff. A huge gust of wind was made that my hood went down. I did not mind it though since there was no use.
Vepar's Dungeon
Setta's POV
Her hair blew with the wind. It was a familiar shade of pink. Her red eyes pierced through my own and I could feel tears in my eyes. She was here. I knew it. She was alive!
"It's been so long. Setta. Everyone." She smiled at us. Alibaba and Hakuryuu were stunned while Judar and Aladdin gave her a scoff and smile. The vessels within my clothes shined and each of them appeared in front of me towards her. She caught them and Furcas appeared.
"This is a little reunion huh?" He asked. Alibaba had a flash and remembered him.
"Y-You're Azami's Djinn! Furcas!"
"Hahaha! You've gotten smarter huh? It's nice to see you too, Alibaba. You three as well. Hey, Arba! I'm sorry but we'll take this children with me for now."
"What do you mean?" Darkness flowed out of Azami-nee and Furcas before engulfing us. Arba levitated and we felt our body being transported somewhere.
"Alwaqt: Alnnaql Alfadayiy."
"Hey! Azami! What's this shadow?" Judar asked. She told us that she was transporting us somewhere, that she wanted to show us to somebody who needed our help.
"Before you could face Sinbad, I want to show you to some people and I'm sure that you will be overjoyed. This will be my second to last miracle after all." She said the last part with a smile. My eyes widened in confusion so I went to her and asked.
"What do you mean, Azami-nee?" She just gave me a hug to which I returned.
"Oh yeah. I'm not sure if we'll be seeing him as well so you better be ready." I nodded. When we arrived at our destination, the place was of peculiarity. It was full of books, maps and even some clothes. I raised my eyebrow at this but Azami-nee just laughed. Her staff appeared in her hand and when she casted a spell, the rukh resonated around us. Human figures appeared and in front of me were familiar people. There was Solomon, Sheba, Wahid, King Rashid, Anise, Gyokuen, two people with black hair, two men which looked a lot like Hakuryuu. Each of them went to us and had a talk. I could see smiles on their faces especially Aladdin and Sheba. Azami giggled beside me while Wahid laughed.
"Azami. I'm sorry that we weren't able to save you in time and I wasn't able to stop my wife."
"It's fine. We chose to help you after all. I'm not particularly upset with that. What I'm upset is that he isn't here!"
"What do you mean, Azami? He's over there. Too shy might I say." He stepped to the side where I could see Ithnan. He was scratching the back of his neck like he would always do when he was embarrassed. I ran to him the fastest I could.
"Big brother!"
"Setta."
Azami's POV
I called out for Ugo who talked with Aladdin. I could see a moment with them and I am happy for them. I did not even notice that I was crying until I felt Wahid's hand on my head.
"Wahid?"
"You don't have to keep it all inside, kid."
"I know but not now. I'll wait until that time. I'll let them have their moments with their loved ones." After everything was settled with them, I used my staff to return them to the flow.
"Azami-nee?" Aladdin asked me in confusion. I took out the crystal I found in the flow and showed them the time and image of Al-Thamen.
"I'm sorry but we have to get moving. You five will have to convince Sinbad and help the Al-Thamen."
"I see." Hakuryuu smiled at his family before saying his farewell. Setta turned to his brother and hugged him one last time. Aladdin grinned at his mother and father while Judar just scoffed at his dad. Alibaba told his parents that he will do his best to make everything right and introduce to them his wife. Wahid, on the other hand, asked me one last request.
"Save my wife."
"I will. I'll see you soon, Wahid. I'll make sure to finish this and give them a bright future. A sacrifice for the last miracle. I will protect their future."
=END=