"The only one who should decide which path to follow is yourself."

~Zen Wistaria, Akagami no Shirayukihime

Chapter Four

Metamorphose

The house began to take on a sickly stench, but Runi said nothing of it.

During the second day of their stay, Sinbad's mother, Esra, began to speak more softly, her skin taking on a deathly pallor. On the third day, she lay in bed, inhaling and exhaling slowly and quietly so no one would catch the wheezy death rattle her voice had caught on. That afternoon, she called Sinbad over, and the two talked, alone, quietly into the night.

When the fourth day dawned, Esra was dead.

The other villagers mourned softly, exchanging laments of grief and praying for her spirit in the afterlife. Only Sinbad remained silent and motionless, keeping vigil by her body.

Runi watched with a detached sort of interest how the light illuminated her hair and cast shadows across Esra's face. There were subtle wrinkles outlining her mouth, crinkling where her eyelashes met, fanning out from her lips. Esra looked older than ever, as if her weariness had finally caught up with her, but strangely at peace as she lay at rest beside her son.

The snow mage couldn't tear her eyes away. After what seemed like an eternity, gentle fingertips ghosted across her back, attempting to comfort her, but Runi barely felt it. A strange sort of numbness encased her body, sending gooseflesh up and down her skin. It was only after she'd shaken herself from the trance that Runi realized it was Yunan.

"Leave me alone." Her voice, dark and low, cut the silence like a knife.

Yunan's eyes were downcast. He sighed, clapped her on the shoulder gently and departed with a swirl of green robes.

For some strange reason, Runi felt even lonelier after he left.

Sometime later she fell asleep. Runi woke twice more during the night. The first, Sinbad still sat at Esra's side, ever vigilant. The second time, she heard him stand abruptly, and Runi was suddenly wide awake. Sinbad's footsteps, near silent, stopped at the door.

"We'll meet again, Runi. Don't worry! I can feel it." He said this with a quiet sort of optimism. Runi pondered this for a while, but her weary mindcould not make sense of it, and she fell asleep again.

When she awoke, it was late afternoon. The noonsun's light shone through, illuminating Esra's body, which was wrapped carefully in a blanket and placed off to the side. The floor was swept clean, and Sinbad and Yunan were nowhere to be found.

Runi blinked blearily, dragging herself to her feet and raking her fingers through her knotted hair. When had it last come in contact with a comb? She would have to fix that soon.

Trudging outside into the burning southern Partevian sun, Runi wrapped her cloak around herself tightly to shade her from the burning sun. She was unaffected by cold, but the flip side of that was that warmth was all the more painful. Maybe she'd convince Yunan to take them someplace delightfully chilly, after they left this village.

She found Yunan on the outskirts of the village, green robes billowing about. He stared off into the distance with the quiet wisdom of one who has seen all; an expression that always seemed to reinforce the curious mystery that was Yunan.

They stood together for a while, master and apprentice, before Runi broke the silence.

"He's gone." The girl looked at Yunan expectantly for confirmation. "Am I right?"

"Yes." The tired weariness in his eyes took her aback as he looked at her gently, the way a father teaching his child a lesson might. "Sinbad has his own destiny, and it is a great one. He has simply left to pursue it."

"So he didn't just run off and throw himself off a cliff."

"No." Yunan never had understood her dry sarcasm. "Runi, your destiny calls for you. You are at a crossroads, and it is time for us to part."

"Stop speaking in riddles! What on earth are you talking about?"

"Your destinies are intertwined, Runi."

Somewhere in his cryptic, maddeningly repetitive speech, there was a spark of understanding on Runi's part. "So we're going after him? Is that what you're saying?"

"Not 'we'. You. Your destiny calls for you, and you only. It is time for you to choose a path to travel on your own."

"So you're leaving me here, and telling me to 'follow my destiny'." Runi's voice was slightly hysterical. "Is that it? Am I missing anything?"

"I detest this situation as much as you do." Yunan sighed. "Believe me. But I cannot stay with you forever. It is time for us to part."

"Okay." Runi took several deep breaths, visibly trying to calm herself. "Okay. Suppose we do split up. Where am I to go from here?"

"Wherever your heart tells you to go. Your feelings and instincts know best, especially in a situation like this. If you know not where to go, it is always fine to follow someone else's path."

Runi was practically seething now. "I think with my mind, not my heart. My mind does not believe in destiny. I write my own destiny. I make decisions for myself."

"So be it." Yunan's weariness descended upon him again, and he seemed to be decades older. "I wish you luck, my spirited young pupil, but now I must go."

The magician clapped a hand onto her shoulder, and drew her into a hug. They embraced for a moment, master and pupil, before Yunan suddenly vanished into a flurry of Rukh.

"A magician always has his tricks." Runi murmured, allowing a stray Rukh to land on her finger. Her smile was bittersweet. "Isn't that what you told me?"

Runi then made a split second decision that would shape her life, as only young people can. She would find Sinbad, if only to escape the melancholy mood of this town. Then she would write her own destiny. She wasn't sure how, but she would.

Don't wander too far, you grief-stricken loon. I'm coming for you. Just you wait.

Sinbad stood at a crossroads.

Behind him stood Dragul and his army, powerless to stop him, silently daring him to proceed.

Before him, at the entrance to the Dungeon, stood Yunan in all his glory. "Follow your destiny, child." The magi's words echoed through Sinbad's mind, filling him with adrenaline.

"I know." Sinbad leaned forwards, powerful legs poised to run. A grin spread across his face, intense and mischievous and powerful. "I know!"

Sinbad ran, tossing his fears and doubts to the wind.

As he vanished beyond the dungeon doors, all was utterly silent. Dragul gave a roaring battle cry, and like a wave of destruction his army surged forth.

The calm before the storm.

Omake (or, what could have been):

(chapter one)

It was frigid tonight. The paths were frozen. It was a good thing she couldn't freeze to death, though. That would prove rather problematic, seeing as she had no place to go at the moment.

Piano music began to play in the background. A snowflake materialized in Runi's hand, and she let it drift away in the breeze. The young girl began to sing. "The snow glows white on the mountain tonight, not a footprint to be seen…"

(many snowflakes and an ice castle later)

"LET IT GO!"

(also chapter one)

"I see." The smile in his eyes faded, but Yunan's voice remained soft and gentle. "The winters can be brutal. I commend you for surviving."

Runi's gaze hardened and she slowly lowered the broth from her lips. The question hadn't been asked directly, but it was still implied. How have you survived the cold?

"Well…" Runi shrugged, and broke into song. "The cold never bothered me anyway."

(chapter two)

"Where are we going?" Runi asked.

Sinbad spread his arms, posing grandly. A magic carpet appeared out of nowhere, and Sinbad began to sing. "I can show you the world…"

(chapter four)

"Why did she die?" Runi whimpered.

"Well…" Yunan hesitated, before patting his young disciple on the head. "People are born. They live. And then they die. That's how the world works."

"But whyy?" Runi whined.

"It is for the Greater Good." Yunan replied.

Runi stared at him blankly. "What."

From beyond the fourth wall, Dumbledore and Grindelwald facepalmed.

A/N: Yeah. I just went there. I regret nothing.

Yo, Madin456! Thanks for beta reading this chap! :D

Hey, remember when I said I was gonna update every Sunday? Life happened. It's not exactly kind, you know. I'll try to keep up with my promise, but… um… no promises. O_o

There will be a sequel to this! It takes place during the Magi series, and you can find more info on it on my profile page along with links to fanart. Check it out! It's coming up soon~!

Edit 4/23/16: No, this isn't the last chapter! Sorry for that misconception. Trust me, this is only the beginning! Expect Chapter 5 this Sunday. I was just mentioning that the sequel will be posted sometime in the near future, while Wanderer is still in progress. It won't give any spoilers for Wanderer, so don't worry!