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Through the streets of the Parthevia Empire a slave girl was walking. Her ankles and wrists bound in chains as she carried a large basket of fruit directly over her head. Her wrists and ankles bruised permanently beneath her chains. She was rather odd looking for a slave. She seemed to eat very well and was a healthy size and weight. Though dressed in rags she seemed to have an odd presence about her. Though she kept her eyes down and didn't speak to a single soul as she moved through the market place. Her pink hair was dirty and so was her rather tanned skin and the rags she wore as clothing. But it was like a gentle breeze moved with her as she practically danced through the streets, dodging oncoming traffic with a great deal of grace despite the imprisonment she'd known for most of her life.
Most travelers through the streets of Parthevia paid no heed to the pink-haired slave girl, as the presence of such slaves was nothing more than a normal occurrence in this area. There was however, one particular lad who seemed just as filthy as the slave, though there were no chains upon his person. Ashen hair billowed its way betwixt pedestrians recently passed by the tanned girl, until this male figure, also sporting quite an intense tan himself, slipped ahead and landed himself in an alleyway to await the girl's passage. At the time she would step into view from here, she would likely hear a very well-known whistle. It was low, but elongated and delivered in a sing-song manner as if it were some strange bird's mating call.
A whistle passed through this girl's ears and made a momentary smirk cross her lips. Her head still down she ducked into the alleyway to be reunited with an old friend of hers. Her movements making it appear that this was always the direction she'd intended to go. The basket of fruit balanced atop her head, she'd speak to him in a manner befitting to friends. And since they were simply two undesirables talking, no one would even think twice about whether or not they should be looking into what the pair of them were doing. "Baki~ it's been a couple of days, you had me worried something bad had befallen you." she said. Her voice seeming to convey a deep bit of care about the apparent street urchin. But this boy had been her friend pretty much since the inception of her imprisonment. He was one of the few people she felt close to in this world and as such his care was something she took very seriously, despite her own current condition as a slave in a foreign land.
As the girl approached through the alley, the white-haired boy smiled and moved deeper into the shade, eventually reaching for a large sack he had placed against the wall. "Sorry, Yas. I had to disappear for a couple of days to make sure nothing happened, but everything's fine. I've got some new stock for you to have at. Fruit and bread ripped straight from His Majesty's dinner table. Eat your fill and tell me what's new."
As this was a kind of normal meeting for this pair of individuals she also slipped into the shadow of the wall blending in between these buildings for the duration of the minor food and rest break being afforded to her by this moment. "Well, I am happy you're alright. But you know Baki... you don't have to feed me. I am capable enough to get fed on a regular basis." the girl mentioned. Slaves who weren't worth much often were only fed scraps. But she was a tough girl with strengths beyond the norm so she was always fed more than her fellows. Even so, she began to rifle through the bag choosing to snack on an apple, a treat she was often denied herself as she was constantly feeding her own food to the slaves less useful than herself to keep them from starving. After a few bites she spoke also grabbing in her other hand a loaf of bread which she broke in half to give to the boy with her, as she never properly enjoyed eating alone.
"As for new things, you know that guy who got captured a couple of weeks ago? He's really weird, it's like he really doesn't belong among the slaves... I am not sure why he stays. And he's damned hungry for such a scrawny being." she finished only to chuckle as she finished off an apple all the way down to the core only to begin stuffing her face with the broken loaf of bread right after. "Anyways, this is straight from his Majesty's plate... my my... how busy you must have been these last few days Baki."
"Of course you're capable. But, because you're capable with a kind heart, you make sure those who aren't capable can still eat... and you get their food before you get food for yourself. We're to much alike, Yasmin." As the boy spoke, his own stomach growled audibly. The truth of the matter was, he had gone out of his way to find the girl called Yasmin, and bring her this spread of food before having so much as a bite of it for himself. As such, when she broke bread with him, he offered a warm smile and partook with the lass. "People like us... I think sometimes we need to be reminded that if we let ourselves get weak, the people we look after will suffer for it." Without another moment's hesitation, the boy began eating nonstop, until nothing remained of his half of the bread. In the meantime, he listened to Yasmin's story about the new slave owned by her master. "I remember you mentioning him when he showed up. Has he actually been useful? From what you said before, I figured he'd have been gotten rid of by now."
"I suppose I can't argue with you there." the girl said smiling brightly and giggling just a tad at the sounds of the boy's stomach before he began eating. For someone always stealing food to feed her, he was quite prone to not feeding himself either. But she supposed they got along so well, because of the similarities they shared if nothing else they were two kind individuals inhabiting the lower rungs of society. But at least here, the difference they made was felt among those who understood what the kindness they gave actually cost them. As the conversation progressed between them she tossed the boy a piece of fruit and began eating another herself pausing only to answer his question.
"I don't know if he's useful. I haven't actually seen him do anything. Surprisingly enough, my master refuses to get rid of him. He's apparently under the impression that this new guy is his ticket up in the world in some way. I don't know, I think that man has lost his mind to be honest." she said of her master and this apparent new comer only to take a few more bites to eat. "As for the new guy... he's always looking around... like he's seeing something the rest of us can't. Like he's waiting for something... and I'm not entirely sure what it is. Whatever the case, I am as nice to him as I am everyone else, I've seen way too many people lose all of the spark in their eyes." she finished up looking around. She knew that she couldn't spare too many moments stuffing her face with this friend of hers. After all, she was expected to return soon and she wouldn't want anyone hunting her, and in particular she didn't want anyone else hurt because she hadn't returned. Such was a threat she believed in earnest from her master and was the most solid reason she remained under his control. "Thank you, as always Baki. You're good to look out for me. Don't let it get you into any trouble." she said with a smile as she stood. "You don't mind if I take a bit of this..." the girl said tucking away a few small pieces of fruit into her cleavage for her later consumption. After this was done she'd pick up her basket and head further down the alleyway and to her master's estate with a parting wave to her companion of choice.
"Sounds like the infamous Shaqeeq is turning into a regular old nutter. I have half a mind to use that to my advantage to get you free finally," the boy commented nonchalantly. He left his food bag open long enough for Yasmin to claim whatever she desired from its confines, and surely enough, she did have more before preparing for her inevitable departure. "Of course I don't mind. I'd be offended if you didn't," he said. With Yasmin making her way back to her home of slavery, the boy named Bakura was left to return to the streets after waving his farewell.
Meanwhile, with the rest of the caravan Yasmin was to be returning to, there was a peculiar male with spiky, multi-colored hair that seemed to have lightning bolt-shaped streaks accenting each spike while also forming bangs. Unlike the other slaves in the carriage he inhabited, he was dressed in much cleaner white cloth, as if he'd been picked up only recently. As he stared off into the open sky, the strange male felt a tingle within his nose. Said tingle quickly resulted in a light sneeze, prompting him to rub his nose post-haste. For whatever reason, he then smiled despite being brought onto a cart of slaves to presumably become one himself.
A small giggle escaped the girl's mouth as she disappeared back into the crowd of people. Apparently in spite of her life of servitude she found these moments of happiness to be just enough to keep her spirits high. She knew her friend of choice, was always talking about freeing her from slavery, but she was firmly against this because of the effect it would have on others. That being said, she wasn't born a slave and this wasn't the only kind of life she'd ever known. In fact, she'd once been a very particular kind of free person, and she thought about this only briefly as she approached the caravan now holding numerous slaves which she'd soon be locked back up in.
The large basket of fruit on her head would soon be sat at the feet of her master. And by her own approximation she'd still be able to return much faster than the norm. With that in mind she kept her head low and waited to be addressed by the infamous slaver Shaqeeq who had purchased her from a man in a far away land many years ago.
At the head of the caravan, there was a tall male with purple hair and amber eyes. He sat in the back of a carriage alone, bar the driver, and when Yasmin returned, he glanced over the girl briefly before fixing his gaze upon the basket she brought. "An excellent retrieval as usual, my Yasmin. You sit in here for the rest of our trip," the man said as he fiddled with a strange object shaped like an inverted pyramid made of gold, which hung from a necklace. "But first... bring me the boy. He's in the first cage. I'll be taking both of you with me on a little adventure."
Yasmin kept her eyes low, but even as she did so, she managed to catch a glimpse of a strange artifact in the man's possession. She wouldn't draw attention to this she would simply nod her head and continue on doing as her master wanted of her. As this man complimented her apparent retrival of goods and even commented that she would be allowed to sit in the carriage the girl was quite confused. After all, she'd done nothing out of the norm and as such shouldn't be at all entitled to any kind of special treatment. Such things made the girl slightly uneasy as he went on to demand that she retrieve 'the boy' from the back. Which she could only assume was a reference to the newest capture of their party. "As you wish." these were all the words spoken by the girl she never had much to say to her master, and they were partnered with a bow which left her head even lower. In fact she'd learned it was better simply to acknowledge that he'd made a request of her and complete it as soon as she was able. With that in mind she walked back to the first cage and stood in front of it, pausing for it to be opened by one of the mercenaries accompanying the party. Once it was, she pointed to the young man with his spiky hair and his still clean clothes.
"The Master wishes that you ride in front with him." she said calmly hoping this wouldn't turn into any sort of ordeal as she offered this young man alone the ability to walk out of the cage she usually inhabited with the rest of the slaves. Most of the others wouldn't stir, they all seemed a bit lethargic but that could only be expected given the recent heat they'd traveled through. She also couldn't really bring herself to admit that she was also part of this apparent riding in the front, but she'd learned long ago, that questioning her master's wishes only got other people hurt... with this in mind she'd simply do as she was told, until such a time as she didn't have to anymore.
Shortly after Yasmin left the master's carriage, she had the eye of another individual from within the first cage. He seemed quite spaced out as it were, but after being called on by the pink-haired lass, his attention was grabbed. Without much hesitation, he walked toward the cage door and hopped outside, pausing thereafter to speak with Yasmin directly. "A new sun is rising soon. I hope you're ready," he said. With that, he continued on his way toward the master's carriage.
"No idea what you mean. Are you alright? Did you eat enough?" she asked only about this young man's well-being. But whether or not she received an answer she would tilt her head downward as the young man moved past her and towards the front carriage. Given that this had transpired she also moved right along having the gate closed she also headed back to the front as she had been instructed to come back and sit in the front as well. She paused in the front of her Master's carriage ever respectful of his boundaries, and waited for permission to join him, as he could have well changed his mind about her being seated in the front since she went to the back and retrieved the young man he'd asked for.
"Be ready," was the cryptic male's only response as he approached the carriage to enter without so much as a word to this Shaqeeq individual. "Welcome aboard... my Magi," Shaqeeq said just before turning his head toward Yasmin with an expression resembling disgust. "You. I said get in the fucking carriage! Do I need to tell you twice!?" Shaqeeq's attitude toward his slaves, particularly this lass, prompted something of a stale expression from the man he had so recently called "Magi." However, the man still had nothing to say, it seemed.
'Magi?' the girl mentally questioned. The male before her was rather odd, but for her master to have captured a Magi when those were said to be magical beings was completely contradictory to everything the young girl had ever heard about them. Before through stories and lessons given by her private tutors and after in stories given by slaves to keep their spirits up. Regardless this man's attitude towards this young girl was something she was beyond used to, she simply bowed apologetically and joined the pair of men in the front carriage. Her posture while sitting was surprisingly lady-like despite her dress and general dirty appearance. And though she kept her head down she stole glances at this young man while they moved forward. 'I wonder what it is I need to be ready for?' she thought as their adventure unfolded before them.
At the snap of the slave owner's fingers, the entire caravan began to move toward a previously arranged destination. They were en route to the edge of the city, toward a massive pillar that seemed to stand out from the architecture of the surrounding area. This pillar was a dungeon that had taken the lives of many prior to this day. "Magi. You are going to help me capture the dungeon. With that treasure, I will own much more than these measly slaves; I will be on a path to own everything! Yasmin... you will be my shield. With the speed of your errands, I expect you to be quick about getting between me and any danger inside the dungeon. Hell... If you succeed and manage to live, I might even allow you to become my personal toy when I rule a country. Doesn't that sound like a wonderful promotion?"
Yasmin had gotten very good at pretending to be on board with this man's desires. Mostly because it had been the saving grace for the rest of the slaves in the caravan. Even so, she was rather surprised by the idea that the young man with them was going to lead her master into a dungeon and help him capture it. Her eyes widened at the news and she didn't much like the idea of being a human shield to the dangers of a dungeon nor was she really interested in the idea of being this man's 'toy' as he put it. But to the man all the changes in the young girl's face would seem like the excitement of a upwardly mobile slave, not a girl disgusted by the ambitions of an evil man. "As you wish." was all this young girl had to say. In most conversations it was all she had to say. Hidden behind these words though in the calmness of her blue eyes was something very different. She could only imagine what a man like this would be like ruling a country, given how he treated the people who were his property. And she was almost silently pleading with the young man across from her not to do as this man asked, not for her own sake, but for the sake of everyone else.
"There's a good girl." Soon enough, the caravan stopped just outside the dungeon. Shaqeeq removed himself from the carriage, making his way down by stepping on the backs of two servants. "You two will come as well. You will carry the food," he said. Expecting his chosen crew to follow suit, Shaqeeq made his way toward the semi-circular gateway radiating a bright, golden light, which would allow entry to the dungeon. With the assumption that Yasmin would be present when he stopped outside, he began speaking. "Well, meat shield... you'll be going in first. Any traps in the entrance are your problem. Magi, you'll enter when I do."
Yasmine kept a calm face, even so, she didn't like watching this man step on two people to get out of his carriage. She personally hopped over the two with her movements seeming completely incidental to her movements. She was rather light-footed in the first place, but she wouldn't want to harm another as they were all in the same boat. Outside of the dungeon it was determined by her master that she would enter first, and so she did without hesitation. "As you wish." Disgusted by the fact that this man had her go and get so much food, just to stuff his own face while he completed his apparent task, with no thought at all for the starving caravan in his possession. 'Selfish.' she thought as she walked into what was a long empty hall with huge drafts coming up from below.
On the far wall was a very complicated looking language with pictures aligned to the tiles on the floor. This girl could read this writing despite her slave status and moved forward her chained ankles making contact with only feathered or tornado'd tiles. All others would break apart beneath the person walking making them fall into a large spike pit. As she continued to step forward she'd look back speaking more than three words to her master for the first time in ages. "If the master doesn't wish to fall, he should follow in my steps precisely... the tiles marked earth, fire, and metal will cause the floor to fall in those areas, killing the person who lands there." she mentioned most respectfully only to wonder how many bodies were beneath the floor of this area alone. As she got to the middle the placement of safe tiles became a tiny bit more precarious and required her to keep a large amount of tension on the chains which bound her ankles lest the weight of them cause a shift in her balance and thus cause her to step where she needn't.
Following Yasmin, Shaqeeq and the Magi entered the dungeon, being followed thereafter by the slaves carrying the food. Little did any know, there was another individual who had been stowed away on the caravan prior to their arrival at the dungeon. This was none other than the street urchin from Yasmin's return trip. He was presently sneaking around behind the food carriers, keeping out of sight and earshot while following the group through the dungeon.
Shaqeeq had no reason to distrust Yasmin's claim, so he did indeed follow in her footsteps. The Magi was no different, but he didn't seem to care one way or another. "What's the hold-up?" the master asked of Yasmin as he caught up to her location. "Get moving; my treasure is waiting for us!"
Yasmin had paused just a bit because moving in chains at this junction was rather precarious. But she'd been wearing them about half her life at this point, so she trusted herself to move with them probably more than she trusted herself to move without them. "Well, if you are using me as a shield I shouldn't be too far ahead." this was rather simple logic coming from the pink haired girl. She thought it most likely that this man would need saving in this hallway, and she'd rather not have to run too far back to retrieve him. With that in mind she began to spin lightly taking the diagonal route then the straight then a few more. This is how the new floor pattern worked a bit like a diamond. Her steps in this were precise and sure and though the movements of her legs were extremely limited she didn't seem to have a problem keeping her chains from brushing against the floor tiles. With this the pink haired girl soon found herself standing at the opposite end facing a door with five dragon heads surrounding it and more of this ancient writing.
To the best of the girl's knowledge it mentioned that each dragon represented a different tile like the ones on the floor. And only the safe ones could be used to open the door. It also mentioned that both would need to be touched simultaneously or else those who used them risked losing a limb in the mouth of the the dragons. As evidence of this there was a recently decayed body against the door with one arm missing seeming to have bled out or starved to death while unable to move forward. "This one is tricky." she mentioned waiting for her master and whoever else survived this moment to catch up.
Shaqeeq fell silent when Yasmin replied. He remained this way as the group continued to cross this puzzle of tiles, but drew closer to Yasmin as she inspected the next challenge. With all his might, he drew back his left arm, then swept it outward with the intention of slamming the backside of his hand against the pink-haired girl's face. "I expect you to be fast! If you're ahead, I want you back to me in a split second if you're needed! If I catch you thinking you know what's best again, I'll cut out your tongue! Now, stay down." With that said and done, Shaqeeq looked toward the two food carriers, beckoning them forward to imply that they were the ones he expected to take this next trial. Both parties approached the dragon heads, one reaching for the feather, and the other for the tornado. However, these servants were abruptly and simultaneously dismembered by what seemed to be the air itself from within the dragons' mouths. "What the hell is going on here!? Aren't those the right symbols?"
Yasmin soon found herself facing a hand coming back against her face. Now... she could have dodged this hand but she'd learned before that when she did this, her master generally took out his frustration on someone else. So his hand made contact with her face without much ceremony. Soon after her lip was bleeding and her head was bent down. "As you wish." and just those three words. She wanted to say more, but she wouldn't at this moment because it wasn't for her to say anything.
Beyond that the other two servants soon were forced to reach for the dragon mouths and their subsequent deaths seemed to only serve to make her master more upset. She spoke now because she wasn't sure if anyone else could. And she did so while biting back an intense bit of anger that he'd come here without the knowledge necessary to complete the dungeon. "Those are the right symbols, but... they weren't the right people. This puzzle is tricky because it requires two people to touch the mouths at the same time... but it isn't any two people... it is two specific ones. The wording roughly is the vessel and the one who is loved by the rukh." she said spitting blood from her lips and keeping her eyes low but having a moment to glance at the Magi. And to her knowledge only one of those things were present and with this in mind this door would never open. This somehow made the girl very happy. A small smile on her face knowing simply that if the man with them attempted to open this door, he'd find himself dismembered as well. Though that wouldn't solve the slaving issue, it would at least keep him from becoming king. It also explained why this dungeon had gone unclaimed.
The Rukh? Very well. Magi, that means you... but what does it mean vessel?" Shaqeeq asked. At long last, the alleged Magi stepped forward and spoke. "The Vessel is chosen by the Magi... someone the Magi has made a special kind of connection with," he said. And, as he spoke these words, he held out a hand to none other than Yasmin. "We can open the door. Then, Shaqeeq, you may enter."
Yasmin's eyes widened as the Magi spoke of what the 'Vessel' was. "What? Why me?" she asked completely astounded by the fact that she apparently had any kind of bond with this Magi. Obviously she was nice to him, fed him when he was hungry but this was normal behavior from the girl. She knew nothing about this young man besides their small moments of speaking. Even so, she knew of Shaqeeq's behavior and knew that it wasn't likely that they'd be allowed to properly clear up the meaning behind everything here, when this man was getting treasure apparently very soon. So she reached out for the tornado dragon assuming this young man would go for the feather, even without knowing him she knew this to be the case. Still she didn't want to let this man capture this dungeon. She looked to the young man with her, gentle blue eyes pleading that this not be allowed to happen.
"Because the sun is rising," the Magi replied. When the time came, he reached out for the feather mark while looking toward Yasmin. He could see the pleading look in her eyes, but irrespective of this, he activated his trigger. Assuming both were done at once, the gates would then open to allow entry to this dungeon's treasure vault, which Shaqeeq sprinted into. Meanwhile, the Magi spoke to Yasmin. "It's our turn now. Let's go."
Yasmin also pulled hers at the same time. The sun was rising. "What does that even mean?" she asked. It was something completely foreign to her as an idea. Soon though Shaqeeq went running into the vault and she stood outside of it. But the Magi with her said it was their turn so she sighed, seeming just a bit defeated as she also approached the room. It was covered wall to wall in massive troves of treasure, more than enough to buy an entire country with. Precious gems, jewelry even clean clothing were amassed within this place. As well as an oddly placed dias with a podium surrounded by a column of blowing wind with an odd eight sided symbol in the middle of it. Among the treasure were some random older metal pieces as well, this was odd to the young woman but she expected they had a reason to be there just like everything else. 'We shouldn't have done this... letting that man in here was a mistake.' and she knew given the type of person he was, he shouldn't be allowed access to all that was in here.
The Magi would not elaborate on his earlier words, in spite of Yasmin questioning them. Instead, he merely entered the final room of the dungeon, only to witness Shaqeeq fiddling with numerous bits of gold and valuable trinkets. "Yes... finally! I'm going to be king of a new country!" the man exclaimed. It was at this point that the supposed Magi spoke to the purple-haired man again. "I will have my items returned to me now," he said, prompting Shaqeeq to turn about and glare in his direction. "I have no more use for you, Magi. Consider yourself lucky to be allowed continued life, and get the hell out of my dungeon!"
When these words were spoken to him, the Magi casually walked toward a pile of treasure, picking up a simple golden stave. Yellow butterfly-like entities began to materialize in the surrounding area, converging on said stave as the Magi turned toward Shaqeeq once more. "No, Shaqeeq. It is I who have no more use for you. My things. return them to me," he demanded. "Heh! I'll have none of this. Yasmin... kill the Magi." With that said, Shaqeeq tossed one of his two swords in the pink-haired slave's direction, fully intending to keep his own hands clean when having the life of this traitorous Magi taken from him.
At this point Yasmin was looking at the young man with her completely confused as to what he meant. Then after a moment of thought she remembered the golden pyramid with which she'd seen her master Shaqeeq. She figured this must be at least one of the items spoken of. Even so it seemed her Master wasn't too keen to return them, but much like her earlier thoughts about this young man not belonging among slaves. His blatant disregard for the apparent kindness he was being shown by Shaqeeq was obvious in his tone as he gathered one item and took it instead requesting his item again.
Yasmin knew nothing good would come of telling Shaqeeq no. In fact, it was more than obvious by the way the man behaved on a normal basis that he wasn't often told that word and when he gave Yasmin an order she looked at the kindly Magi and then back at her master and shook her head from left to right. She was always inclined to do what this man wanted, but she wouldn't kill an innocent person just because they dared stand up to him. When she caught the sword she planted it into the ground before her. "No." this was the only word spoken by the girl. She didn't care if she was punished for this inaction. She'd been ordered to be a meat shield she didn't come here to kill anyone.
The rejection of Shaqeeq's order to kill the Magi left a bitter expression on the former's face, and a smile to the latter. "I knew it would be you," the Magi said. Without further ado, he waved his tool in a very nonchalant manner, sending white butterflies toward the chains which bound Yasmin. This caused the chains to shatter instantly, but when they did, Shaqeeq darted toward the sword he had offered Yasmin to reclaim it. With both in hand, he physically threatened both her and the Magi, but the latter did not seem at all bothered by this. No; instead his attention was focused on the dais within this room. "Yasmin... You are the vessel. You should claim your treasure."
"What? I'm the vessel!?" Yasmin seemed to be in shock. So much so, that she didn't seem to register the threat which was Shaqeeq as he threatened both her person and that of the Magi she'd become acquainted with over the last couple of weeks. "Claim my treasure?" the girl looked to the dais completely dumbfounded. "But why?" she asked this was truly a confusing moment for her. She'd never dreamed of capturing a dungeon herself. Though she'd been taught about them when she was younger. This whole thing was rather surreal. Even so she couldn't help but feel drawn to the dais, she had since she'd walked into the room and as such she walked towards it. The winds around it felt comforting to her and though her chains had disappeared the manacles themselves remained, she supposed this was good, it would feel odd not to have anything on her wrists and ankles after so long.
As such she reached for a pipe like instrument known as a pungi. It was often used by snake charmers and was floating in a small piece of wind in the center of the dais. She reached out and touched it. The instrument came into her hand and it was cool, and that was nice, since it was a wind instrument, Yasmin brought it to her lips and played in that moment and gentle and enchanting tune that she remembered from her childhood lessons. After a few seconds, an ethereal wind escaped from the pipe, materializing into the form of a large blue woman. Half naked with gold jewelry all over her body, connecting her piercings to chains including two nipple piercings only made more obvious by the partial nudity of this being. Her pointed ears twitched as she looked down at the girl who was obviously the vessel and to the Magi overflowing with Magoi. Her presence was so imposing that Yasmin couldn't speak for a moment, she instead looked to the Magi and spoke to him directly first. "If she is the vessel why did you bring this man here, Ali?" she questioned. Being the first person to mention this man by name.
The Magi's smile widened as Yasmin went on to claim the pungi and summon this dungeon's Djinn. "Good morning, Paimon," he said when the giant blue woman emerged from the wind instrument. It seemed she was curious to know why the Magi, apparently named Ali, had brought this strange man into the dungeon if he knew Yasmin was to be the King Vessel of his choice. Though Ali was prepared to explain himself, Shaqeeq spoke to the Djinn before he got the chance. "I am the vessel! I claim this dungeon, and I'm going to be a king!" Shaqeeq could not accept the idea of a mere slave becoming a king over himself, simply because she had been chosen by a Magi. So, he charged the young woman with both swords drawn, only to have his attempts at cutting her down halted by a barrier of some sort. When he turned around, Shaqeeq could see Ali with his staff elevated, seeming to have concocted this mystical defense. "This man is Shaqeeq Harron, a slave owner. He found and captured me while I was asleep, thinking I would be able to make him a Dungeon Capturer. But... he has been useful for this entire trip. He and that other boy have let me see what kind of person Yasmin is, and that let me make my final decision on her being a candidate."
"Good morning!" the Djinn spoke happily only to have the man known as Shaqeeq Harron move to explain that he claimed to be the vessel and then she got to watch as such a man tried to cut down the young woman who was obviously the Vessel. A bit of confusion crossed the face of the Djinn as she stared at the Magi who explained how this had come to be, and that he'd been captured by this slaver who thought to become a Dungeon Capturer based on the Magi's forced help. Beyond that she got to witness the girl's reaction to being saved and to the information being given. A wince came from the young girl as she assumed herself to be cut down but she was soon found to be behind and barrier and thus beyond this man's reach. "Thank you." she said to the Magi. "You didn't have to save me... also what other boy?" she asked. Not knowing that the Magi would know of her street urchin friend with the kind heart.
Wind would conjure around the slaver to keep him from trying any more craziness within the Dungeon which apparently belonged to the Djinn known as Paimon. "Quiet you." she said turning her attention back to the Magi. "I am also curious about the other boy... are you referencing the other person scuttling about the Dungeon?"
"Of course I didn't have to. But, if I didn't, he would have sacrificed himself," said Ali as he gestured to a dark corner of the room, simultaneously answering Yasmin and Paimon's other query by bringing attention to the 'other boy' in question. The ashen-haired street urchin, Bakura, seemed to have been using this free time to loot the room for a crimson coat and various bits of gold jewelry. When he was pointed out, he seemed a bit bashful about it. "He's been here all along, watching and waiting to help you out if needed. It only goes to show how much influence you have on others."
Yasmin's attention was drawn to the corner of the room where she soon saw her friend the street urchin named Bakura. She seemed immediately surprised to find this young man here, she figured he was out doing urchin things when they weren't together. To think beyond that, that the boy who had been feeding her and helping her along while she served this man would have sacrificed himself to save her from her master made the girl's eyes widen. "Eh? No one should have that sort of influence over anyone else. I definitely wouldn't want what has been my only friend in the world dying..." she said rolling her eyes but feeling rather good at the moment. Having friends was a good feeling and likely the only thing that kept this girl from falling too deeply into the depression which was the lifestyle of being a slave. "Thanks, Baki~" she mentioned to the seemingly bashful young man with the ashen hair.
Paimon watched this interaction and it made the Djinn squeal just a little. "Aww, she's perfect! Ali did such a good job, finding me a new friend." mentioned the blue woman who shrank herself down to a comparable height slinging her arms over the shoulders of the pink haired girl and nestling herself into this young woman's body in a manner most intimate. "I like you, the world could use your kind of compassion. I am Paimon Djinn of Maniacal Love and Chaos. I'm going to help you become King~" she mentioned to the girl whose eyes went even wider. Yasmin despite her kind nature was not really used to such familiar treatment out of nowhere. A blush crossed this girl's face and those blue eyes of hers darted left. "I... ah... um..." she seemed to be at a loss for words. "I'm Yasmin Matar, nice to meet you. I never much considered being King of anything. But if you want to help, I'm happy you'll have me." the girl finally managed still blushing profusely. With this all that was necessary on the part of the bonding between the Djinn and the Vessel was done. "Good, nice to meet you as well. Now all this stuff in here is yours... so take what you will." she said to the girl whose eyes went wide. "Baki!" she exclaimed as she began running about the room happily collecting many items and piling them into large bundles of cloth to be carried out of the dungeon. Meanwhile Paimon watched the young girl rush about only to divert her attention to the man known as Shaqeeq Harron though she spoke to Ali. "I'm going to join my new friend. In a moment... but we can't really let this one leave here now can we?"
"Don't thank me. I didn't even do anything," was Bakura's response to Yasmin's thanks. As the moments passed, he received information that the treasures of the dungeon belonged to Yasmin, and when she called his name, he knew exactly what to do. Dashing about the area, he filled a pair of large sacks with treasures, even taking some onto his body. When the bags were filled, he found a necklace with a ring attached, featuring a design somewhat similar to that which was owned by the Magi, Ali. After putting it around his neck, he inspected the trinket, finding it rather pleasant even compared to his other finds.
Meanwhile, Ali stood just outside the wind barrier Paimon had placed around Shaqeeq. Using his magical abilities, it seemed he had retrieved his own pendant, as well as a purple cape of sorts to complete his ensemble. "There. All back in order," he said before returning his attention to Paimon. "I'm going to close this dungeon soon. Do with him what you will."
"You can say that all you want, it won't stop me from doing it." said the pink haired girl as she paused only to stick her tongue out at the boy for rejecting her gratitude. To be fair, he'd done a lot for her, including making sure she was well fed, even as a slave. As they gathered many belongings up and she noted that he'd found something he seemed to like she looked up giving him a happy grin. "Looks nice on you Baki~" she chimed only to go back to what she was doing. And after a few minutes hard work she'd found several things she liked including new clothing and a golden handled white feathered fan. She liked these and could see herself wearing them, as they'd be the first thing she'd own. With these in a small separate bag held by her teeth she carried another six large bags of treasure all will the Djinn and the Magi spoke of what was going to be done with the slaver known as Shaqeeq Harron.
"Hm... I got it then. Ali as you like~ Yas!~" said Paimon as she finished chiming what it was she was doing. "I'm coming with you." she finished as she used a bit of magic and the power of her control over this Dungeon to trap the man in a wind based cage with a beast as vicious as he himself was. This visceral version of himself would begin stalking this man around as Paimon used the rest of her power to situate herself within the shackle on the girl's left leg. Transforming it into a piece very similar to the other ones she'd chosen for herself. Yasmin looked down at it and grinned. And then back at the man known as Shaqeeq Harron, and though she disliked this man more than any other in her life, she still pleaded mercy on his behalf. "Paimon, I know he isn't a nice guy or anything... but I don't wish to see him suffer." mentioned the girl. This was the depth of her kindness as a being... that even in the face of someone who had only done her wrong, she could only offer kindness in return. "Oh fine... you really are freakishly nice." mentioned the Djinn as she stopped the torture of the man by his visceral form and instead aimed to have that version of himself shred the real one in the most humane way possible per the request of her master.
"I think so too," Bakura said regarding the piece he'd acquired. Yasmin saying such a thing about it was essentially her giving the boy one of her new riches, which gave this particular object a special bit of meaning to the boy who had nothing of his own before. "I think I'll wear it forever." As the goings-on continued, Ali removed the purple cape he wore, revealing it to be a magic carpet in actuality. The Magi stood upon the floating cloth, waiting for the others to finish their doings before escorting them out of the dungeon. "Whenever you're all ready, I'll give you a lift."
Yasmin was once again a bit shocked. She hadn't expected such retribution from her Djinn, but she supposed that spirit was one of chaos and she couldn't well expect her to treat someone who was so evil well. Beyond that it seemed that her friend was very content with his new acquistion. So much so, that he'd claimed he would wear it forever. "That's a long time Baki~" said Yasmin teasing just a bit. After a second, she felt a warm sensation from her leg and from it would sprout a glowing white butterfly which would settle itself into the ring around the boy's neck. This was a piece of Paimon herself which would turn the jewelry piece into a Household Vessel for the boy who was obviously the best friend in the world to her new Master. "What was that?!" Yasmin questioned.
Only a few seconds thereafter, it would seem that the Magi who had led them down was offering them a ride out, with this in mind and with six extra large bundles of treasure gathered on her back and one now held between her teeth Yasmin nodded. She'd then gesture for her friend when he was finished and join Ali atop his floating cloth to get out of this place. "Thank you." the girl mentioned to Ali, though that wasn't meant to just cover the ride but rather everything he'd done for them this afternoon.