Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic (c) Shinobu Ohtaka

Look Only At Me
Chapter III

Previously:

"Ouch, it hurts when you keep calling me with that 'Prince'. Just drop it, at the moment, my prince status is useless as of now." Sharrkan told her.

"With that attitude, it should have been dropped a long time ago." Sphintus said.

"Oh?" Sharrkan raised a brow. "I don't think it really matters, as long as you have the skills to be one, attitude is just secondary."

"Attitude is just secondary?" Sphintus glared at Sharrkan. "Skills may be useful, yes, but with attitude, it hones skills. A better attitude leads to better skills." Sphintus shot back.

"Heh. You really wanna go at it, Magician?" Sharrkan said, an ominous aura being built.

"I believe that's a challenge." Sphintus said, his own ominous aura being built.

Aelia looked nervously between the two. She forced a cough to stop them temporarilly from arguing.

"Uhm...class is about to start, if you two would like to continue your argument, I suggest continue it after school." Aelia said, walking between the two and out the door.

The two looked behind Aelia's back as she walked on. They then turned to look at each other. Seeming to be in an unsaid mutual agreement, they headed off in their own directions.

The second half of the school day was split into specialized classes, splitting up those with magical talents to those with the abilities of a warrior. Of course, the specialized categories were split far more, those were the largest. Aelia was pushed into the works of politics. Her specialized category that she loathed. But of course, it was Sinbad who pulled the strings and put her in them.

Aelia would sleep through the classes until the end of the day, where she would be woken up by a friend or the teacher.

Aelia was walking in the hallways.

"Aelia! Aelia!"

Aelia turned around to see Aladdin running...err, flying towards her.

"Yes, Aladdin? Does the student council need my help?"

Aladdin shook his head. "No. Uncle Sinbad is looking for you! You should go to the castle!"

"King Sinbad is looking for me...? Again...?"

Aladdin nodded.

Aelia sighed. "I'd best make my way towards the castle then...I'll see you tomorrow Aladdin. Oh, and please tell Eugene that too."

"Of course, Aelia. See you tomorrow!" Aladdin waved at the girl as she made her way out of the school grounds.

"Hello Masrur. Hello Ja'far." Aelia said to the two.

"Good evening Miss Aelia." Ja'far said politely. "Sinbad is waiting...along with two other guests."

Masrur gave a nod.

Aelia was curious now. Two other guests? "Right." She quickly made her way into the room where Sinbad would usually consult her with political decisions.

Aelia knocked on the door before opening it. Inside stood two tanned men and Sinbad sitting in between them with his welcoming smile.

"Ah! Aelia! You came! That's great!"

Aelia recognized one to be Prince Sharrkan of Heliohapt and the other to be Sphintus Carmen, a magician from Heliohapt. She assumed it had to do with political issues between Heliohapt and Sindria.

"Please, take a seat in front of me." Sinbad offered, which Aelia took. "Aelia, I've uhh, called you here to speak with you about something."

Aelia nodded. The only reason he would call her into this room is to speak to her about anything. But...why did he sound so nervous...? The nervousness in his voice made Aelia herself nervous. She looked at the men from Heliohapt. Did they demand something that made the decision harder than it should be? She didn't know.

"Uhm, well...as you can see, Aelia..."

"Cut to the chase." Sharrkan said.

Sinbad shook her head. "She needs to understand her situation." Sinbad said, his voice sharp. "Aelia, according to the rules of Heliohapt, you have been chosen under the guide of an overseer as the possible bride of these two men."

Aelia looked at Sinbad, slowly taking in the information.

"According to our treaty, they are allowed to do this to our citizens. But of course, only if their overseer were to see a person with his or her power. An overseer in their country uses an item of magic that seems to choose a person at random."

Aelia quickly nodded at that information.

"And it chose you this year...and the two men who will be fighting for your heart are..." Sinbad moved his hands to both men. "Prince Sharrkan of Heliohapt and Sphintus Carmen of the noble magician family of Heliohapt. Some people of Heliohapt call this a game of brides, but that would be a derogatory term to use. This is actually a ritual that happens every five years. And it is used specifically for the prince for him to understand life better, whether he gets the girl or not. Please understand that...you cannot opt out of this situation..." Sinbad told her.

Aelia let out a slow sigh, closing her eyes before re-opening them. She looked at the two men from behind her glasses, who were nowhere near nervous, then she looked at Sinbad.

"I have studied Heliohapt's culture as apart of me taking on the political classes. I know very well their rituals that they do...but to think that I was chosen as the next person in their cultural ritual..."

Everything went silent after that. Aelia put her hands on the table, flat.

"I have no choice but to be forced into this...I know. But...if – no, when I do get married...what will happen to my brother? He is my only known family King Sinbad. You know full well I will never leave him behind." Aelia said, her whole demeanor changing.

Sinbad smiled. "Eugene will go with you and the man you choose. He won't be left behind here in Sindria without you."

Aelia let out a relived sigh.

"So? Who will you choose?" Sharrkan asked.

Aelia looked at Sharrkan. "If you think I will simply choose you as my husband because of your status, you are truly, and deadly, mistaken. In this specific ritual, status has no meaning. At the moment...we barely know each other. But...to know both of you...one of you will get hurt no matter what. I've read stories...and it will very well happen...so before anything happens, I wish to say I am sorry." Aelia did a bow.

Sharrkan looked surprised. Sphintus just stared calmly at her.

"You understand your position...not many who are chosen do." Sphintus said, looking up at the ceiling. "...I admire that." Sphintus looked directly at Aelia.

"It is only wise to have an open mind...especially when forced into politics." Aelia looked at Sinbad, who gave a light laugh.

"Well then. It seems everything worked out pretty well. I'd thought you'd be more mad, but I guess not. Since we're done here, you guys can go on with your life and ritual." Sinbad dismissed them.

Aelia was the first to stand up and leave the room. Although she did not like what Heliohapt did, she could do nothing to change that culture. And if she did try to opt out, it would only mean death to her. She was not going to die and leave her brother because of some cultural ritual.

"Good-bye Ja'far, Masrur." She said, leaving the castle.

When she was out of sight, Ja'far let out a sigh. "It's only a matter of time now before we lose our greatest asset to our ally." Ja'far stated.

Sharrkan walked out with Sphintus.

"She plays hard to get. I'm not sure if I like that." Sharrkan said, smiling, which contradicted his statement.

"Or maybe because you are too laid back." Sphintus said.

Ja'far glared at the two. "Aelia is a respectable woman. She knows her boundaries of when and where. She has always made the decisions that even Sinbad could not. And those very same decisions have benefited us. As you get to know her, you will understand her ways. I bid you both farewell and good luck." Ja'far said, bowing slightly.

Aelia rushed to her home. When she opened the door, she saw Eugene working on his homework.

"Ah! Nee-san! You're home!" Eugene smiled.

Aelia sighed in relief before she smiled as she closed the door. She walked over to Eugene. "Are you doing fine with your work?"

"Yes."

"Are you having any trouble?"

"No."

"What would you like to eat tonight?"

"I want some scallions tonight!"

Aelia let out a giggle. "Okay." She walked into her home's kitchen, preparing some scallions. "Eugene."

"Yes?"

"...Would you like an older brother?"

Eugene seemed to contemplate the idea. "I don't know." He answered. "What would he be like?" Eugene asked.

"Hm...I don't know. What would you like him to be like?" Aelia said.

"Hm...I'd want him to be fun. And be with us all the time! And...be my older brother?"

Aelia laughed. "Of course. Of course."

Aelia stroked her brother's hair as he slept through the cold and airy night. It was windier than usual. Someone practicing their magic? Or was it a sign of fate? Aelia wouldn't know.

"Hm...I wonder...how would Sphintus and Sharrkan treat you, Eugene...?" Aelia said aloud, talking to herself. "To be forced to love a man and hurt the other...it seems to be such a burden...but it is a burden that cannot be passed except by death. It is such a shame...but I have no will of leaving my brother alone just because of this. I will choose the one who will most benefit my brother best." Aelia whispered.

It was another school day.

"Aelia-sama!"

"Ah, Aelia-sama!"

Voices of girls screamed for Aelia. Aelia never understood why she was so popular amongst the girls. Yamuraiha had once told her that it was because they admired her for her strong inputs as a woman.

Aelia had just dropped Eugene in his class. She was walking in the hallways until she was met by Sharrkan and Alibaba.

"Oh, Aelia. Good morning." Alibaba greeted.

"Good morning, Ohime-sama." Sharrkan winked at her.

"Good morning, Alibaba, Sharrkan." Aelia bowed slightly to the two, unfazed by Sharrkan's tactics.

"Did you just drop Eugene off?" Alibaba asked.

Aelia nodded. "Yes. And I was just about to be on my way to meet with Morgiana."

"Morgiana? Ah, you mean that Fanalis." Sharrkan said.

"Yes. I was supposed to help Morgiana with something she didn't say. I'd best be on my way now."

"Oh, okay. See you later then." Alibaba said as Aelia walked away.

"Really. Why does she seem so cold-hearted?" Sharrkan asked Alibaba.

"Cold-hearted? Maybe she seems like that at first. Aelia is really a kind-hearted person...or so Aladdin would say. If I had to say how Aelia was like, I'd say she's over-protective of her brother. But I can't really blame her...And she's admired by many girls." Alibaba sighed. "I wish I was that popular." Alibaba recomposed himself. "But, Aelia takes on the tasks, given by King Sinbad himself. As a fellow prince from an allied country, I see that he trusts Aelia, even if she is at such a young age." Alibaba said seriously.

"Hmm..."

End of Chapter

AN - I really love this development. Well, here it is, the next chapter. :)