CHAPTER 37
When Masrur and Ja'far started fighting, it was clear that Ja'far intended to end the battle quickly because he had automatically tried attacking with his household vessel. Masrur was a Fanalis after all, so his power would out trump Ja'far and with Zepar in control of his body he wouldn't be able to help hurting Ja'far or killing him.
Zepar seemed to have taken full advantage of the Fanalis body, using Masrur's speed to avoid Ja'far's wires and blades. He came up behind Ja'far after avoiding his attack, spinning in the air and without touching Ja'far. Yet Ja'far had felt as if he was being cut along his arm and there was blood dripping down now from visible wounds.
"It's not over yet!" Zepar called as Masrur's body slid back, he pushed off going forward and zipping towards Ja'far. Ja'far managed to move his body out of the way, but he was still cut across his face.
From where they were standing, Sinbad and Drakon were attempting to figure out what kind of attack that was.
"When Masrur accelerated, the air around him compressed and that created a kind of slashing effect." Sakura explained, keeping her eyes fixed on the match. She didn't wince when she dug her fingers into her arms.
They were not the only observers, Serendine was also fixated on the match. The more she watched the more in awe she became. To see a power to control a body as strong as Masrur's.
'If I could get my hands on the power of that djinn…perhaps I could…' Serendine did not say anything, but deep in her heart the goal had already been set. Carved so deep that it would leave a permanent scar.
Ja'far hadn't been physically touched by Masrur and yet he was dripping blood wherever he moved.
"Ha ha! Awesome! You're just barely standing, yet I don't even have a scratch on me!" Zepar taunted Ja'far. He then moved his left leg back and crouched down on it while extending his right and drawing back his fist. "But I'm already bored of this. I'll put an end to you with one final blow.'
Sakura clenched her teeth, shaking now. "Sinbad, we can't this let this go on."
"I agree." Drakon said, "Ja'far will die if they continue to fight."
Ja'far scoffed at the possessed Masrur, one was barely able to make out his facial expression through all the blood that was painted across it. "You sure are conceited. Your real body can't be harmed and you borrowed another person's body in order to fight? Is that you how intend to win? Even though you're a djinn, you true nature isn't actually that great is it?"
"This is very bad!" exclaimed Sitri, "What the child said was true but Zepar's not the most level headed-though I didn't think he'd take it this far."
Sakura didn't need to be told that to know it, she could see the way 'Masrur' was now glaring at Ja'far, a kind of sinister aura surrounding him as he prepared to attack again.
"Fine I'll rip you apart. You and that impertinent mouth of yours!"
"JA'FAR" Sakura screamed when Masrur moved, pushing off with a powerful launch that had him in front of the ex-assassin in an instant but as he was about to deal the final blow, his movements were constrained by Ja'far's wires that were now binding the Fanalis body.
Ja'far smirked from under his bangs, "I finally caught you. No matter how strong you are, you can't break a household vessel can you? It was difficult because of your speed but in the end that's a borrowed body. No matter how fast you move, if I know what direction you're coming from all I have to do is set a trap. To a djinn like you, humans are inferior beings. The moment you let yourself get worked up, was the moment that you sealed your defeat." Ja'far took a short breath before he screamed. "GET OUT OF MASRUR. BARARAQ SEI"
Everyone watched as Ja'far used his household vessel to draw on Baal's power of lightning, sending-one could only guess how many-volts through the possessed Masrur. When he collapsed, Ja'far and everyone else had assumed that the match was finished.
Ja'far went over to check on Masrur's body, he saw his eyes open slightly and smiled. "Masrur, you're awake!"
But the voice that Ja'far heard, told him that this wasn't Masrur. "Heh, you sure surprised me, you almost knocked me out cold." Ja'far looked down at Masrur's form, horrified.
Zepar smiled up at Ja'far, with his eyes showing he still has possession of Masrur's body. "Don't make that face. Once the match is decided I'll leave this body."
"Wasn't it just decided!?"
Before replying, 'Masrur' grasped one of Ja'far's blades and pointed it in the direction of his heart, smiling all the while. "This is a fight to the death so you can't win until someone is dead. Go on. Kill him. If you kill him, you win. If one of you dies, you pass. That's the trial I've set for you. You want to devote your household vessel to serving your master right? If you want do that…Kill him!"
Sakura was certain she wouldn't want a djinn like that in her possession. Her djinn worry became very clear to her now. Zepar was a dangerous djinn with a dangerous power. With the power to possess the bodies of other's, it was a temptation in itself and could be used for quite a convenience. She wasn't even sure she wanted Sinbad to have this power now.
Ja'far clutched the blade in his hand tightly, standing up. "The fight is decided after one of us dies right? In that case, it doesn't matter which one of us dies does it?"
Turning around, Ja'far smiled back up to Sinbad. "Sinbad, I'll leave the rest to you."
Sakura's eyes widened, her mouth fell open as she shook in horror as Ja'far plunged the tip of his blade directly into his heart and it was very much real. Blood stained his clothing, the cloth soaking it before it could reach the ground.
"JA'FAR" Sakura and Sinbad screamed as the boy fell onto the ground, unmoving.
Sakura was the first to leap across onto the platform, tears ready to pour should her last shred of hope be destroyed upon inspection. Her hands shook as she checked Ja'far's neck for a pulse, pressing her fingers harder than she should but still felt nothing.
Sinbad followed after Sakura, approaching the two carefully as she cradled Ja'far to her chest, holding him by his shoulder as she started sobbing.
"He-he-he-doesn't have a-he-he isn't-HE'S GONE." Sakura clutched Ja'far's still warm body to hers.
A fit of laughter broke them out of their grief, causing them to pause before being filled with anger as they looked over at Zepar-who was still in Masrur's body.
"Nice. Good Job Ja'far," he cackled, "That's the resolve it takes to be able to throw your life away for the sake of your king. You pass."
Zepar then left Masrur's body, returning to his own, opening his eyes to look over the group from high above. Masrur's body slumped to the ground, unconscious.
"It was a good match huh?" Zepar grinned.
Sinbad's voice seemed void when he asked, "A good match?"
"Yeah!" Zepar replied, unaware of the vice behind Sinbad's question. "It was a good fight that brought out the strength of desperation. The first par were able to surpass their limits of their own strength and the next showed their willingness to offer up their lives for their master. I couldn't have asked for better results. You've got some excellent subordinates!"
Sakura wiped her face, sniffing as she looked up to Sinbad who was standing over her and Ja'far. She gasped, scared when she saw the expression on his face, his eyes glistening with rage.
"Now that all that's over what shall we do next?" Zepar asked pleased, "The next test will be…
"Quit fucking around!" Sinbad drew his sword-in his djinn equip instantly. He turned his back to Sakura, pointing his weapon at the djinn.
Zepar seemed surprised by this outburst. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Zepar, we are not your playthings." Sinbad sneered. "They took their fights seriously; listening to your unreasonable requests and because it was a trial I just stood back. If this, if this is the outcome, I won't let you get away with this."
Sinbad's rage was as overwhelming as his charismatic radiance that drew you towards him; powerful enough to repel.
"Can you throw your life away for your king? How much pain are you will to go through for the sake of your king? If those are the things that make someone a loyal subject, I don't want anything to do with them." Sinbad held his sword a little high, "I'll take it upon myself! Whether it means putting my life at risk or suffering…I'll make you regret playing around with the lives of my friends!!"
There was an intense aura Sakura felt from Sinbad, the way he spoke of taking on a difficult role for the sake of his friends. It was all too familiar, reminding her of Naruto.
"It's pointless. Inside a dungeon, the djinn is-
"Invincible right?" Sinbad finished for him. "But what if you're up against the power of another djinn? If you have to face Baal's power, are you sure that you'll come out unscathed?"
Zepar's face fell, it was as if Sinbad had just hit the mark on his challenge of Zepar's theory that the djinn was indestructible within their own dungeons.
Sakura stiffened when she felt the slightest bit of shuffling from the boy in her arms and looked down. "Geez, I said I'd leave things to you, what are you doing? If you do this then my death would be for nothing wouldn't it? How troublesome Sin."
Sinbad's was awestruck when he saw the supposedly dead Ja'far remove himself from Sakura's frozen form and stand up, spitting out blood.
"Ja'far?!"
"That's-That's-impossible, he's heart stopped!" Sakura exclaimed, still too shocked to be relieved just yet.
"I only appeared to be dead." Ja'far explained, "I opened a small hole in my chest that drastically weakened my heartbeat for a short time. Puling my body in a death-like state. It only lasts a few minutes. It's a technique I developed during my time as an assassin."
Sakura remembered a time as a genin when she had seen a similar technique. It was on her first B-rank mission that turned A-rank when she was a genin. The Hidden Mist ninja Zabuza, they were fighting against him when he was struck with needles that pierced into his neck, stopping his heartbeat but it was only temporary to make it appear as if he was dead. She wanted to berate herself for nothing thinking that it was possible Ja'far could do something similar but then again, she hadn't thought he would strike his heart. Speaking of which…
"Come here!" Sakura frowned, pulling Ja'far to her so that she could put her hand on his chest and heal the wound he had made while muttering to herself.
"Thank you Sakura." Ja'far smiled but that quickly vanished. "Now then." He looked up to the djinn who was also starring at him with shocked a shocked expression. "We would pass if one of us was dead correct? I was dead for a moment, so your condition was met. Masrur and I both passed your test. You can't go back on your word Zepar."
Smiling, Sinbad reverted from his djinn equip; looking back at Zepar, calmly speaking. "That's how it is right Zepar?"
The djinn did not seem to appreciate the snide smugness that Sinbad had. As if a signal had gone off, everyone started awakening from their unconscious state, Hinahoho, Mystras and Masrur all standing up looking dreary and wondering what kind of fight had taken place for the treasury to be in such a devastated state.
Masrur walked up behind Ja'far and Sinbad. Ja'far immediately went to inspect him just as Sakura finished healing him. "Are you alright? Does anything feel strange? Do you feel dizzy?"
Masrur looked up with a bit of a lost look on his face, "I'm fine really. You look much more injured than me Ja'far."
Ja'far smiled, relieved. "You don't remember anything that happened huh?"
Sakura put her hand over her heart, feeling its rapid beating as she watched the three; extreme relief was all she could feel.
Zepar watched from above, the entire group seemed relaxed now, but he was not, he was livid.
"What the hell is this?" Zepar asked darkly. "What do you think you're doing? You really think you can win like this?" the djinn trembled. "This isn't a joke. I won't accept it…" he looked at the group, glaring down. "I won't acknowledge you as king. You'll spend the rest of your lives here in this dungeon."
Sinbad said that he didn't mind battling against Zepar to get out of this dungeon instead, Ja'far was also more than willing to put up his household vessel and fight; Mystras and Hinahoho didn't have any quarrels about it either. Everyone was willing to stand beside Sinbad and fight this djinn. Sakura on the other hand, didn't think that this was a good decision. Despite her rage for the djinn; her instincts were telling her this was the worst decision.
"My king, even with a metal vessel, he is still human. Djinns have been granted eternal life! He is making a mistake!" Stolas told her
Sakura gasped; if that was true then she needed to stop them before they were all killed by this djinn. Serendine, who had been silently watching the scene unfold before her had now also stepped onto the platform.
"Wait Sinbad!" Serendine called, catching their attention. "It won't do us any good to carry on this dispute. Please put down your sword." The princess then turned up to the djinn, holding her hand across her chest. "Zepar, I apologize for our rudeness, could you please carry on with the trials?"
Sinbad was quick to protest but Serendine reminded him that Zepar had the power to control people and if he used that power to take control of Masrur again, or even Sinbad or Sakura, then no one would be able to survive this. They wouldn't conquer the dungeon and they wouldn't help Heliohapt either; which was the initial reason they came here.
"For the sake of the friends who risked their lives for you, bear with it." Serendine told Sinbad.
Sakura understood completely where Serendine was coming from on this matter, but if these trials were something like the previous two, she was worried. Zepar wanted to test the strength of Sinbad's subordinates, but Zepar didn't seem too happy now at the prospect of becoming one of Sinbad's metal vessels.
"Zepar, I beg of you. Please continue with the trials."
Zepar gave her a bored expression, "Don't wanna. I already told you, I won't acknowledge Sinbad as king. These trials were meant to test the strength of the subordinate of the one who would be king. If I refuse to acknowledge him then it's pointless to continue the trials."
Sakura's eyes snapped open, after a moment's contemplation, she decided that she would do what she honestly did not want to. "Then what about another king's candidate?"
Zepar and everyone else turned to the pinkette. "What did you say?"
Sakura put a hand on her chest, gesturing to herself. "What if I you give me a trial instead, to test if I am worthy of becoming your metal vessel holder? You seemed eager before."
"Sakura?" Sinbad looked at her, his eyes brows furrowed but she didn't respond to him, waiting for Zepar to answer.
"That's true." Zepar admitted, nodding his head. "However; you are on par with Sinbad and had expressed you had no interest in obtaining another djinn."
Sakura narrowed her eyes; Zepar wasn't one that could be easily fooled and he had unusual abilities. "That was before I saw what you were capable of. Your power isn't anything like my other djinns."
Zepar seemed to be contemplating, "That's all well and good, but if I gave you a trial-it would have to be against one of your comrades still to test your resolve. However, you are far too strong for the others and I will not have you up against Sinbad because I refuse to acknowledge him. You'd also fail the trial on purpose if I gave it you."
That really left Sakura as she attempted to figure out what to do now; Zepar was capable of seeing through all deception and she had reason to believe he could either read minds or get into them. When things seemed to be finished; Tamira, one of Serendine's attendants spoke.
"What if there was another king metal vessel here?" Tamira asked nervously.
"Well," Zepar put his hand under his chin, "I suppose if that were the case, then it would be possible to continue."
"If so I…." Tamira trailed, looking downward shutting her eyes as she spoke. "Would like to recommend Lady Serendine another king vessel!"
Sakura and Serendine looked to Tamira with surprise.
"I know I'm just an attendant and it's not my place to say something like this but is it really wrong for me to think of my princess when a chance like this appears right in front of us?" she asked, trembling. "Out of all of us here, the one who wants power is definitely the princess! When we were being hunted; all she could do was regret her own lack of strength! Our princess has worried and suffered great distress over her powerlessness. That's why I want her to get her hand on a metal vessel!"
'Powerless huh?' Sakura looked at Serendine. It seems that she had more in common with the princess than she thought; although it troubled Sakura to let anyone else get their hands on a djinn like Zepar. Both Serendine and Sinbad had an agenda; but Serendine's bordered on revenge which was where the problem came in for Sakura. A princess, exiled from her own country, wanting to take it back and with a metal vessel in her hands; with a power like Zepar's-she wasn't too sure about trusting that power to Serendine.
"Well then." Zepar crossed his arms, he addressed the princess. "Do you have the resolve to undergo the djinn's trials?"
Serendine looked up at Zepar, her eyes fierce. "That's not even a question worth asking. I can't just ignore the feelings of people who care so much about me. Zepar, I want power. To take back my home country and change myself who has been powerless to do anything!"
It was just as Sakura worried about. 'I knew it.'
Zepar looked weary, "You humans are intent on doing things your own way. Such interesting creatures." he gave an empty smile to Serendine. "Fine, I'll recognize you as a possible king's candidate however all of that was just big talk. I can't recognize you as king with some half-hearted trial. So my trial…."
Sakura and Serendine watched as Zepar pointed to the two pink haired females. "The two of you will have to fight now of course, but as I said, this girl is far more powerful than any of you even without her metal vessels. Therefore I want you to compete in a different way. This will be my final trial."
Everyone watched patiently as Zepar announced what would be his final trial. Wondering exactly what kind of fight they were going to have. Sakura was definitely strong, stronger than Masrur and she had a sharp mind not to mention she had those unusual skills they haven't seen in this world before. It seemed to put Sakura at an advantage.
"For this trial, I will have you fight with words." Zepar said.
"With words?" Serendine asked.
"That's right, you'll use words as a weapon." Zepar pointed again to the two females. The good thing about this was that it didn't seem like they would be in any danger concerning their lives. "Don't get too relaxed now. You'll be using words to fight each other, which essentially makes this a mental fist fight."
Sakura felt that she had some experience with mental fist fights. There were plenty of people who had been mentally battling her. It had to be after all that she had been through since before she came to this world. When she battled against her best friend. When the person she loved left her heart broken and she chose to save him despite the path of darkness he was walking and battling her own weakness.
'And yet-I'm here now.' Sakura realized. 'So does that even count?'
"Attacking the very values that make up the foundation of their kingly attributes. Besides bringing their differences to the forefront, fighting without using strength in arms may result in a conclusion that leads some of you to part company with your master as you find that your ideals conflict with those of the king vessel you have risked flesh and blood for!"
Zepar held out both of his hands, a bright light erupted from Sakura and Serendine. A rukh fluttering from each girl's chest and into Zepar's hands in small spheres. A large golden scale appeared on the platform where the girls now stood facing one another. Zepar placed each of the rukh on one of the scales "This fight is a showdown between ideologies. In other words, a battle of the heart. Now let's get started."
A battle of the heart. Sinbad wondered about this trial, he felt a little more worried than he was about the other two. Sakura was a strong girl who had shown to be able to endure a lot. She didn't break when she was a slave and Madaura was torturing her. She'd go far for him, despite her own wellbeing. It was a bit disheartening.
"My question for the king vessels." Zepar began, while the two stared at one another. "If you were awarded the metal vessel. How would you use it?"
Sakura responded first, barely giving it a thought. "I would use the power to help Sinbad change the world. To achieve his goal of creating his own country. I've seen this world and its injustices. Sinbad wishes to create a world free of conflict and I will do whatever it takes to help him achieve that goal."
Zepar was smiling, looking back to Serendine. "Well Serendine, that's her side. What do you have to say to that?"
"I can empathize with those ideals." Serendine told Sakura, looking her right in her eyes. "And I have no desire to stand in the way of those ideals but there is no substance to your words. Like a dream where your feet never touch the ground."
Sakura clenched her fists in response.
"What is a perfect world? A world without poverty? War? Or complete equality with no countries, no races and no discrimination? The world you've mentioned can't even be put into words, it's too vague."
"That's how it may seem to you, but there are many who have agreed with Sinbad's ideals." Sakura stated.
"That's what makes it even more disingenuous. Everyone has faced some sort of injustice and wishes that they could change something about the world. That's why everyone agrees with them."
"Of course, it's natural for people to have that sort of reaction" Sakura stated, frowning now. Serendine definitely wasn't holding back. "Sinbad's ideals aren't vague, they are just various which makes it seems so. A perfect world doesn't exist-I know that and you can call it taking advantage of circumstances and benefiting from the fact that everyone wishes for some version of an ideal world. But Sinbad has been working towards his goal of this ideal world and I believe that he will create it. No matter what you are going to say to argue and attempt to sway me. That scale is not going to move, so it won't matter how logical your comeback is because I honestly would have already thought it myself."
Serendine could see the raw honesty on Sakura' face when she said that. She clearly believed in Sinbad's ideals, perhaps stronger than anyone else and that would make this trial harder. Sakura made it clear that her heart was not going to be easy to sway and tip those scales but that didn't mean that she would surrender either.
Zepar seemed intrigued now. "Well Serendine, how would you use this power?"
"I would use it for the sake of my country only." Serendine answered swiftly.
"I figured as much." Sakura said, putting her hands on her hips. "You're a princess after all and it's only natural that you would want to protect the country that you were literally born to lead."
"Thank you for understanding and not questioning my motives." Serendine nodded her head to Sakura as a sign of respect, though the kunoichi knew not to drop her guard. "Tell me Sakura, how is founding a country going to work as a means to change the world? You say that you won't sway, so help me understand this."
Sakura folded her arms, as though the question did not faze her. "You should know this, as a leader of a country, Sinbad would be able to negotiate with other countries and influence their actions."
Ja'far, Sinbad, Hinahoho, Mystras, Drakon, Sahel and Tamar were watching the trial from a distance where they were still within an ear shot. Both seemed to have powerful resolves; it was anyone's guess who was going to win this.
"She sure is loyal to you huh Sinbad." Drakon stated.
Sinbad smiled proudly, he nodded. "She has been from the beginning."
'I just hope Serendine doesn't figure out just how loyal.' Ja'far thought, keeping quiet. 'Or she might figure out a way to use that against Sakura'
"If that's the case isn't being a merchant enough?" Serendine asked back. "Sindria is a prominent trading company. You were even able to eliminate the Mariadel Company and absorb their resources. The company has more assets than it could ever need and it's made alliances with other countries."
"Yes," Sakura agreed. "But it's easier to achieve what Sinbad is striving towards as a country. As a royal, you should realize this. A trading company will not have the same symbolic aspirations as a country would."
"Do you really understand what a country is then?" Serendine's voice grew harder. "You cannot only think of a country as a vessel for diplomacy. There are even more concerns such as the population, production, whether it will be a monarchy or republic. Currently the trading company is made up of friends and allies but if a country was made there would only be citizens."
Sinbad seemed to be taking in more of what Serendine was saying than Sakura. He found that there was some truth to what she was saying. He himself felt as if he was wavering when Serendine spoke and then Sakura would always have some way to counter.
"Do know how difficult it is to keep domestic affairs stable and protect the livelihood of a countries citizens? Diplomacy has to come second. Wouldn't it be a king's role to protect is citizens and not go to change the world?"
"What would you do then?" Sakura asked, "If you somehow managed to take back your country."
"I would use the power to protect my country. I would stabilize our domestic affairs and if I had the extra power, I would try to improve our foreign policy but that's just a natural part of being a leader. Sinbad is strong and without trying he attracts people to him and he has the resourcefulness to be a successful leader, but because of those qualities he is unsuited to be a king."
"What?" Sinbad asked in disbelief. "How can you say I'm not suited to be a king?"
"You just said that Sin has the resourcefulness to be a leader, so why…?" Ja'far asked attempting to understand the logic behind Serendine's words.
"Because, a king doesn't need to be a leader. If a king holds all power and commands all those around him, that doesn't prove that he has exceeded what it means to be king, what would just make him a dictator." Serendine explained, looking up to the group. "A king is surrounded by government officials, people in a variety of official positions. So even though the king has the right to decide how his country is run, his decisions aren't based on the knowledge of a single person alone. It's just like when Sinbad wasn't around and everyone was able to come up together with solutions."
"If that's the case; then what is the true purpose of a king?" Sakura asked.
Serendine was stating the truth in ways that she believed would make Sakura waver her own beliefs towards Sinbad. It was obvious that she believed Sakura's weak point would be creating doubt on the belief and ideal of Sinbad that she held onto so strongly. However, Serendine didn't know Sakura's past had put her through situations like this before.
"A king's true purpose, is to be 'A Royal Symbol'." Serendine stated, looking back to Sakura now, her eyes heavily guarded. "It's the same with the company. Sindria has been able to gain the trust of all its customers because it has the living legend Sinbad leading it. That's how countries work too. A king fulfills his duty as king by reigning from his throne and earning the respect and love of the people. Such a country would be acknowledged by other countries as superior and it would be trusted."
Serendine held a hand over her chest where her heart lied. "A good king isn't usually a good leader. It's enough that a king simply exists. The most important quality of a king-is blood."
Sinbad and his companions all went rigid, as Serendine continued to tell them that it did not matter what kind of person became king. A royal bloodline is necessary for the longevity of a country.
"Blood connects the country with its people and its bond that solidifies a country's strength. The blood that flows through the veins of royal exist for the sake of their country and thousands of its citizens. It's not true only for Parthevia but for Heliohapt as well. Blood has absolute power."
Everyone seemed to be letting Serendine's words sink in deep within them. If it had been them up here, without a doubt the scales would have started to move by now and yet on Sakura's ends they did not flicker.
"You say that blood connects a county and yet that was what had torn your country apart wasn't it?" Sakura countered.
Serendine's eyes widened, "What?"
"You said a king fulfills his duty by earning the respect and love of the people, but how can you do that when you're the daughter of the former king whose lead Parthevia into such a devastated state That it's people has become obsessed with winning a war because that is the only way they can survive?" Sakura took a step forward, holding out arms.
Sinbad frowned. Was Sakura going to tell Serendine about the situation in Parthevia? "Crap, what is she doing?"
"You want to use this power to take back your country and you made declarations about how you would use this power to better your country. Yet, did you even consider whether or not your countries going to want you? We've already been told that Parthevia has started recovering."
Serendine had told Sakura everything about what had happened back in Parthevia when she fled and, although it was a bit underhanded; she was going to use it to her advantage.
"Don't be so naive!" exclaimed Serendine. "That ceasefire is just to cover up what's really happening?"
Ja'far asked what Serendine meant and Sahel explained to the group that the leaders of Parthevia actually understood what was happening concerning Parthevia national power and that they were facing ruin. However it was general Barbarossa and a handful of nobles that wanted the country to continue with their involvement in the war despite its weakening condition. It was only after the king's death that Barbarossa entered the ceasefire.
"You see," Serendine said, almost pleadingly at Sakura. "It was all that man's fault; that's why I must take back my country and let the people see the truth."
"But how are you going to do that?" Sakura asked, keeping her eyes sharp. "If you take back the throne, how can you show the people that you're not going to make the same mistakes as your father? That general is bound to have a lot of supporters by now. So even if you do take him down; those other higher ups that support him-that you yourself said have influence on a king's decision. How do you know they won't turn the countries citizens against you?"
"Like I said before, I have the blood of a royal."
"Where I come from; blood doesn't matter. A new leader is chosen from amongst the people-someone who has distinguished themselves-not by using a name as a crutch. They have the respect and support not only of their people but of leaders in other countries. That is how leadership works where I come from!"
Serendine frowned, speaking louder this time. "But that isn't how it works here! It's not where you come from so you can't understand!"
For the first time since the trial began, the scales shook. Everyone's heads turned upward, wondering whose heart was beginning to bare down the weight of their opponents words. Serendine's statement managed to hit a soft spot in Sakura's heart and now-after vigorously searching and chipping away-Serendine knew exactly where to strike.
Peering back up at the platform, she addressed him. "Sinbad, didn't you decide to take action because you saw the wretched conditions of Parthevia? If so then isn't the place you should save, be Parthevia? Your homeland?"
Sinbad appeared to be rendered speechless. Serendine may have been aiming to effect Sakura, but Sinbad was the one she was addressing so often and it made him realize something. He did not know certain things about Sakura. He did not know where she actually came from; who she really was and she did not ever show any signs of wanting him to know….
"Sakura. You said that you would not be swayed in your resolve for Sinbad's dream."
Sakura nodded, "That's right."
"Then are you really willing to do anything, to allow him to achieve it?"
"Yes." Sakura confirmed.
"Then would you give him to me?"
THAT'S ALL MY LOVELIES! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and remember to stay strong and keep reading!
And Remember:
PRIVATE MESSAGING: Available on Tumblr ONLY! I love when you guys reach out to me but it's hard to respond to everyone especially when I need to hop onto different platforms. If you want to reach out personally with questions or messages please do so via Tumblr. THANKS Loves!
Check out the SCHEDULE POSTS On Tumblr, and if you like my stories, want to give me some extra support to help the creations of new stories and can't wait for the latest chapters consider joining me as a special member of my seedling troupe:
EARLY CHAPTERS FOR MEMBERS NOW: BUYMEACOFFEE
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes chapter (90, 91, 92, 93)
-Kunoichi amongst Pirates chapter (39, 40, 41, 42)
-Crossroads of Fate chapter 31, 32, 33, 34
-Through the Looking Glass chapter 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43
- (Bleach crossover) Kunoichi amongst Reapers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
-Commission: Demon slayer x My hero academia (PART 1 & 2)
- Kunoichi amongst Benders (Avatar x Naruto crossover) (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes WHAT IF SPIN OFF: Dorms and Exams
-(SEQUEL) Through the Spyglass chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6
-SPECIAL HALLOWEEN CHAPTER: Shinigami amongst Shinobi
Want more INFO on my STORIES and ARTWORK lookup Katsura369
Thanks for tuning in but now I've gotta tune out. Till next time!