Absolute shock had never been such a familiar concept for her. Sure, she gets surprised on some occasion and gets startled so bad enough that makes her scream the slightest bit. However, she received a rather bewildering news.

After being showed around by Horohoro and receiving a ton of gifts (which he carried for her, to her embarrassment) from the villagers, she had come back to spend some time with Pipirika. Once annoyed by such a height difference, Amira couldn't help but hold a soft spot for her.

Pipirika was just a precious child so when the Imuchakk greeted her with such a distraught expression, the smile on her face vanished in an instant. "Amira!" The green-eyed teen held the agitated girl's hands, her emerald orbs boring through the Imuchakk's wide panicked eyes. "Calm down, Pipirika," Amira vaguely noticed Horohoro hovering behind her, a bewildered expression painting his face. "What has gotten you so worked up?"

"It's my brother! He went into that thing you called a dungeon!" Almost instantly, the dusk-haired woman felt her blood run cold at Pipirika's words. Hadn't they told Hinahoho and everyone else for that matter, to not enter the dungeon?! Amira even warned him not even two hours ago to not do anything foolish! She squeezed Pipirika's larger hands and even though hers were smaller in comparison to the young Imuchakk, that simple action served to calm her erratic heartbeat down.

"It will be fine," Amira reassured with a firm tone. "I'll bring him back." Planting a soft kiss on her forehead, Amira stood to her full height, patting Pipirika's hair who continued to sob in silence. The staff user stood with stiffness, eyes narrowed with unwavering resolve. "Horohoro, please stay here with Pipirika." But her new friend disagreed with her words. "I'm afraid not. If you're going after Hina, I'll come with you."

The staff user, not quite able to understand why Horohoro was giving her such a stubborn look, shook her head. "No," she uttered the word she had said several times to Sinbad. "I'll do this on my own." Without giving him a chance to answer, she left for her room, picking up her special-made staff, one that was retractable. She didn't know how but one of her connections back in Parthevia managed to get ahold of some weird weapon that resembled her wooden staff.

Sinbad was unaware of this not because she wanted to hide it but because it had never been brought up nor had she had to use it before. Amira exchanged her scarf, the one her precious friend gave her earlier, with a dirtied white cloak. She made sure the sash around her waist was secured before marching out of her room. The woman caught herself before she could bump into Horohoro's chest, however.

"You're not going there alone." For some reason, Amira suddenly gained an incredible amount of confidence, more than she already displayed. "I will not be alone," she smiled with confidence. "The rukhs are with me... and I have no doubt that Sin will come after us."

Not wasting anymore time, Amira set out towards the dungeon. I can feel them.

'this way.'

'your friend is there.'

'follow us.'

She barely heard the whispered words of Horohoro. "Be careful."

oooOooo

Hinahoho was a fool.

He should have listened.

A foolish decision to try and get the power of a king... was he an idiot? Yes, he is but he simply needed— wanted— to prove himself that he was, indeed, a true warrior. The moment from before; that fleeting emotion of wonder suddenly disappeared when the beauty of this dungeon didn't even hold a candle to how dangerous it could be underneath its' glamour. The butterflies that he thought of as friendly began to surround him. Hundreds, probably thousands, covered him until he had difficulty breathing.

Hinahoho is a fool; he knows that now.

I don't want to die..! "Somebody— help!" He had cried out in desperation. Hinahoho had so much to do! This place wasn't even in the list of places he thought that he might perish. Pipirika was waiting for him back home—! His father! She was waiting for him! I don't want to die in this place! I can't— I can't die in this place! "Hinahoho! Take my hand!" The Imuchakk heard a distorted voice beneath the piles upon piles of butterflies. Adrenaline helped him push through the insects, his hand passing through the surface.

A hand, much smaller than his but was equally callused, gripped his and in an instant, he was free. A burst of something warm had the insects running— rather, flying— away from him and... "A-Amira?" A pair of emerald-green eyes regarded him with disappointment. One such gaze was enough to make him feel like a child all over again. "Hinahoho, didn't I tell you?" He waited for the scolding, a stern lecture coming from her but it never came. Instead, Amira simply sighed in relief.

"It is great that you are well despite the situation earlier; lucky that you have not encountered a much more dangerous dungeon creature." Hinahoho noticed the metallic weapon in her hand, one that retracted to a more convenient size. The Imuchakk squirmed a little in discomfort because of the awkward air between them. Her disappointment, even though it held little space in his heart, still made him feel ashamed. It was just enough to make him trace back his steps and gather his thoughts.

Due to his emotions overwhelming him, he had challenged the dungeon with clouded judgement. He willingly threw himself into harm's way! "I'm sorry... I wasn't thinking straight at all." His grip around his harpoon tightened in shame. Entering the dungeon was supposed to be about proving himself! "Like I said, it is fine," Amira placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder (the only reason she could reach that part of him was because he was on his behind).

"I'm glad that you're still alive and that I was not late."

Hinahoho didn't know what he did to deserve such kindness from a wonderful person like Amira. All he'd done so far was get himself into danger and have Amira and Sinbad save him! "Let's wait for—"

"Hinahoho! AMIRA!" The Imuchakk steadied both teens when Amira lost balance as soon as Sinbad tackled her in a hug. The sailor pulled back but held the woman's shoulders. "You're not hurt, are you?" His golden-amber eyes shone in worry and instead of getting annoyed, Amira found amusement. It felt good... for some reason, to be worried over like this. The last time had been with her Auntie Esra, after all. A grin appeared on her lips, startling Sinbad. "This is nothing!"

Amira couldn't help it, she couldn't reign in the joy and she didn't even know why! She was just upset with Sin earlier but seeing him rush to her side made her feel happy. The woman straightened herself up, giving Hinahoho a smile. Her positive countenance even startled the Imuchakk who could only give her a dumbfounded expression. "I told Pipirika that I'll bring you back so let us go and finish this dungeon." A sudden gust of wind blew past her and made a mess of her hair.

"... pft..."

A sharp gaze was sent to Sin who quickly tried to hide his amusement. Her earlier positive expression died down and returned to its usual deadpanned one. If one would look closely, they would see the tiniest of pouts on her lips as she started walking away from them. Hinahoho and Sinbad glanced at each other before scrambling after her. "W-Wait for us!" The Imuchakk cried out in slight exasperation.

"I'm sorry! I wasn't laughing, I swear!"

oooOooo

Rama groaned as he found himself in one of the many hostels in Balbadd... fine, he might not have been the richest right now and he was practically broke at the moment... and he couldn't seem to find a job that would suit his expertise. The former assassin bit into the apple he stole just before he bought the cheapest room in the cheapest hostel in Balbadd. I didn't think the brat would leave the village on her own. She loved that place.

The blind man played with the tip of his blade, bored out of his mind. With no clue on that brat's whereabouts, he didn't exactly have a specific destination in mind so he found himself wandering this place. Rama sensed some sort of disturbance behind him and before a pair of tiny little hands could snatch what little money he had left, he caught the tiny dirty little thief by the wrist and pulled him in the air.

The street rat dangled in his hold like a wind chime, struggling helplessly in the air. "Lemme go!"

Rama snorted in response, somewhat amused how fierce the little cretin appeared to be. "Listen here, you annoying little shit, I barely have money on me already. Steal some from a poor ol' bastard instead." He dropped the admittedly light for a brat his size. The former assassin could tell that the street rat was malnourished, way more than usual, and wondered if that stupid dusk-haired brat was the same.

The man grumbled and walked away, ignoring the tiny little pitter patter of feet following behind him. Maybe he tried to be as cold as he wanted but he cursed the rukhs when he stopped and turned, a light rumble coming from his chest due to annoyance. "What the fuck are you following me for?" His milky eyes probably unnerved the little rat because Rama heard the sound of ragged clothes brushing upon itself as he assumed that the brat fidgeted in nervousness.

"... NOW!" Poor Rama winced at the volume of that motherfu— brat's voice. He felt the weight on his waist lightening and it took him a few seconds to register what just happened.

He

Was

Bested

By

Some

Fucking

Brats!

Two pairs of footsteps running away reached his ears and Rama felt merciful, albeit just a tiny fraction, and decided to give those two street rats a sense of victory over him. He planned on ruining it in the end anyway so it was no big deal. After a few moments and clicking his tongue, he rushed after those baby thieves within a matter of seconds. "N-No way!" The second voice, which he named the owner as rat two, exclaimed in bewilderment.

Rat one squeaked in fear, as simple as that. The former assassin reached out and grabbed both rats by the collar, thankful that their shirts didn't rip when he snatched them into the air. They struggled, of course, but Rama felt a bit vindictive today as he kept them there. "Give me my pouch, you annoying rats." Rat two huffed and kept on kicking and punching the air, well, Rama assumed that rat two was beating up air. He was pretty sure that it was supposed to be him getting beat up.

"As if we would!" Rat two sneered at him, making Rama twitch in frustration. Not even that orange brat made him feel like actually killing someone for the heck of it. "Now let us go, you stupid foreigner!" Without second thoughts, Rama threw rat two in the ground, effectively knocking him out. The blind man turned his head towards rat one who had been silent the whole time. The fear rolling off like waves from the brat amused the blind assassin to no end.

They're surprisingly entertaining. He mused to himself. "Your name."

"... eh?"

"Your names, you fucking brat."

"A-A-Alibaba and K-Kassim, sir!"

... at least that wasn't as loud as earlier.

"Alibaba and Kassim, ey? Where's your parents?" Rama only asked because he was spiteful that way. Interestingly enough, Alibaba flinched in his hold, fiddling with his fingers. A drop of sweat slid down his forehead down to his chin, the rukhs (he sensed) fluttered quite loudly around the kid. "It's none of your business!" Raising an eyebrow, he turned towards Kassim, the rukhs violently fluttering around him.

Rama deduced that they weren't siblings by blood at all, the reactions he garnered from the bratty rats were proof enough of that speculation he vaguely made earlier.

It seemed, Rama noted, that his stay here in Balbadd wouldn't be all that boring. "Well, why don't ya tell me all about Balbadd? Not a bad deal, right?" Rama was sure rat one was giving an incredulous look while rat two, well, the brat probably had blanked out by his own weirdness. Rama knew himself better than anyone else, after all. "What the hell's up with you?!" Rat two exclaimed in disbelief. Rama simply shrugged his shoulders.

"You learn to live with the world's eccentricities, brat."

(Meanwhile, somewhere else in Reim, a certain gold-eyed teen glowered at the sight of a woman he hated with every fiber of his being.)

oooOooo

Sinbad stared with a blank expression on his face.

"Don't just strip!" He yelled in indignation when Amira started removing her coat. They had come upon a lake inside the dungeon after walking forward. Once they agreed that there was some sort of underwater path, Amira— for no reason at all— proceeded to take off her coat lined with fur. The sight made Sinbad flustered and caused him to look away, yet, he could see her in the peripherals of his vision. Amira gave him what seemed to be a subtle pout but it was gone before Sinbad could confirm it.

"Well," the sailor resisted the urge to facepalm when she ignored him all the same, her coat safely covering her. "We don't know how long the underwater path is." She commented. "We'll need hold our breath for who knows how long, huh." Sinbad thought out loud with a thoughtful expression marring his face. Both teens yelped in surprise when Hinahoho held them both under his arms as if they weighed nothing. "Fear not!" The Imuchakk cried out with a smile, finally.

"Imuchakk is a race who lives by the water. I'll carry the both of you there while you're still breathing!" The ginger head and purple head teens looked at each other, earlier awkwardness ceased to exist, and smiled at Hinahoho. "Alright, got it!" The sailor said. "We'll be in your care then, Hina." Amira smiled at him, trusting the Imuchakk to carry out his words. Not wasting anymore time, Hinahoho jumped into the lake and swam towards the tunnel, the underwater path they've talked about not even a minute ago.

Not even a few seconds in, something soft and squishy wrapped around Sinbad's ankle and dragged him out of the Imuchakk's hold. Hinahoho and Amira gasped in surprised when they saw what seemed to be a monster-like giant anemone on the floor of the lake. Hinahoho looked at Amira's eyes in an instance. Wait here, his eyes conveyed. I promise I'll save him! Amira was left behind far away from where the battle would take place. Her hand found its way to the metal staff in her back pocket. She pulled it out and it extended to its full length automatically.

She would be ready to take action if Hinahoho needed help but the dusk-haired teen knew that if Hinahoho failed, it was likely that she would too with no doubt. For some reason, Amira started sinking to the floor and she moved to make sure she stayed in place. It was too late now when she realized that despite living with a sailor for years, swimming failed to be a part of her skills. It would be humiliating if she died by drowning, now that she thought about it.

Through the bubbles in the water, a bright light flashed mercilessly that forced her to close her eyes. No sooner than a second, Amira saw Hinahoho swimming back towards her with Sinbad in his arms. The sailor gave her a reassuring grin but before she could give her response, the burning sensation in her chest became too much and she, reluctantly, involuntarily took in a deep breath. Water slowly filled her lungs and Sinbad and Hinahoho panicked when they saw her choking in water.

The Imuchakk forced himself to swim faster and snatched Amira by her coat. Hinahoho grimaced as he saw no light even though he'd been swimming for a few seconds now. Finally, they could see a light out of the tunnel and he jumped out of the lake. He placed Amira down, with Sinbad scrambling to kneel beside her unconscious form. "She needs air," Hinahoho finally uttered. "Give her air!" The movements the sailor made was automatic. He lightly pinched Amira's nose, tilted her head up in the slightest degrees as he placed his mouth on her parted lips.

Just as their lips touched, Amira jolted up awake and coughed up the water in the lungs. A few specks of blood could be seen mixed in the water as Sinbad drew circles on her back. "It's okay," he whispered softly near her ear. "We're out of the water." He held her close to him, her body shivering from what, Sinbad didn't know. A blanket was thrown over their shoulders by the Imuchakk who gave them a soft smile. "I think we should rest for now before we continue."

Sinbad sighed and agreed. "I think you're right. That dungeon creature was a surprise. We didn't expect to see a monster down there." When she coughed, Sinbad ran his fingers through her wet locks.

Again, he was about to lose her again— and he couldn't even do anything about it! He had been powerless underwater and if it weren't for Hinahoho, Amira might've drowned...

Dammit, he cursed himself, pulling Amira closer to him. I wasn't strong enough to protect her... again.

Destiny is shameless when she writes the path her children would take in their journey. She shows no mercy when two certain individualities of the world were born. She gives them a path of pain, sorrow, and envy. Of course, she gives a few happy moments but most of the future entails a story like no other.