Magi: Hiraeth

48: King Vessels pt.2

"Your real beating starts now."

With that, they engaged in battle once more.

After regaining some of her magoi through the consumption of the flames from the blue inferno she caged themselves in, she manifested a ring of fire around her.

The ring of flame around her is composed of the same flame from the sphere cage. Contact with it will consume the magoi of the opponent further powering the flames.

"Hn. Aren't you going to use that same future reading technique on me to quickly finish this battle?"

"Why do you ask? Do you want to lose that badly? It will greatly insult me if you just surrender and lose your will to fight on your own volition."

"It's not that. I'm worried about you. You were using Aini the last time too.. Do you feel anything? Pain? Does it hurt somewhere?"

He asked her from a distance although it was clear that he was beginning to worry. In fact, he donned the expression as soon as Yukiko brought out Aini. If he sees her in such a state again, he doesn't know what he'll do. He wasn't sure if he can keep himself together.

"I feel better than ever. Aini is responding very well." After saying that, the eight pointed star glowed in response.

"I can't feel Xerxes anywhere. Not in the slightest."

She armed herself before giving him a small smile.

"Rest your little mind, King Sinbad. I will be alright. If I feel anything from the blight, I'll put this fight to halt immediately. Will that put you back in your game?" She asks of him. Despite really wanting to bash him in to release all those years of tension, pain, and scars, she was still thankful for his help from years ago and even now.

Now afloat above the waves of the tropical sea which she recognizes as one of her home, all things seem to look brighter now. Like nothing can ever go wrong from here on out.

And if it does, she can always return here. She knows that in her heart.

However, she is a ruler of her own kingdom now. Soon, she's going to be the wife of the first prince of Kou, Ren Kouen.

But there was still an issue she has to confront with her supposed to be husband.

"Yes, it will put me at ease. My thanks for considering my opinion." Sinbad managed to reply after a brief silence. Has Yukiko always been this kind? Was her smile looked this sincere since before? Her eyes clear and true?

When Yukiko launched in for an attack, he used all his strength to stop her. The next thing the lady realized was a pair of muscular arms wrapped around her waist, a hand on the back of her head which was slowly, gently, pressing it down to his shoulder, longing for her warmth.

"This may be the last time I'll be able to be this close to you, Yuki.." his voice sounded soft in her ears. He tightened his hold around her just a little bit more before inhaling her scent unknowingly. The nostalgic scent of that tree where they first met. The coldness of her skin like that of the frozen rain he watched in wonder of. Her small body, compared to his, that has experienced pain throughout half of her life. Just like him.

They were so alike yet so different. Why can't they just be?

"What could I do to turn back that time before I hurt you. Before those blasphemous thoughts of using you cross my mind? Why did I have to do that.." he trailed off.

"Now, I have to lose you.."

The moment Sinbad went to hug Yukiko, Aoren saw through it and disengage his clairvoyance magic.