Chapter Text
“So… Am I really an adult now?” Hina whispered to himself, looking at the ocean illuminated by the moon’s reflection. Light footsteps caused him to jolt slightly, whipping his head towards the source.
“Pretty, isn’t it?” Sinbad smiled softly. She walked over and sat down next to Hina, dangling her feet over the ledge.
“...Yeah,” Hina said quietly, suddenly feeling vulnerable and uncomfortable. He avoided eye-contact with the warm golden eyes. Sinbad’s face fell slightly, and soon they fell into an uncomfortable and awkward quiet. The younger cleared her throat to get the older’s attention.
“I apologise… That narwhal of yours wasn’t mine to defeat. But… I saw just how hard you were fighting to protect your little sister. That was damn impressive!” Sinbad smiled.
“Y… You think so…?” Hina asked weakly.
“Of course I do! It’s just, it’s what I understand, that you don’t feel like you’ve really achieved anything, do you?” Sinbad asked, looking towards the sky, her expression blank. Hina flicked his head towards her; had he been that easy to read? “You underestimate yourself. You don’t have any confidence, either. That’s why you couldn’t defeat that narwhal. You hesitated.”
“I- Really?” Hina whispered, fidgeting with his fingers self-consciously. He avoided eye contact as best he could, glancing to his left, away from Sinbad.
“Let me tell you this; it’s okay to hesitate. There will be other chances. But it is not okay to underestimate yourself!” Sinbad said, her eyes glowing with determination. Hina looked at Sinbad in surprise, but she took no notice. “Underestimating yourself will make you limit your abilities!”
“S-Sorry…” Hina apologised quietly. Sinbad huffed in annoyance.
“Don’t apologise, Hina! Stop,” Sinbad poked Hina’s chest forcefully, “underestimating,” another jab from Sinbad’s finger, “yourself!” Sinbad poked him once more, then quickly flicked Hina on the nose, causing him to flinch back in surprise.
“You want to get stronger, right?” Sinbad asked, pulling her arms back into her lap. Hina nodded mutely, slowly following Sinbad’s lead. “Just… do what you feel is right, okay? Trust yourself to make the right decision.”
And with that, Sinbad got up and left Hina to think about what he had been told. She felt confident what she said would help him, even if just a little. She didn’t know why she’d been compelled to talk with Hina about it- must’ve been a mother’s intuition.
She didn’t notice one of her little boys sneaking past her towards Hina.
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“Hey, mister!” Damien smiled, surprising Hina, who’d been unaware of the child’s presence. “Mommy’s really nice, isn’t she?”
“Uh, y-yes, she is,” Hina stuttered, still slightly confused from what he’d heard from the aforementioned woman.
“You should listen to what she says. I saw you fight that monster, you nearly had it! But like mommy said, you hesitated. I think you can conquer anything if you just think a little more of yourself, okay?” Damien smiled mysteriously. “Come on! Let’s go back, okay?”
Hina hesitated for a moment before nodding determinedly. “Yeah, let’s go.”
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“Wow! So this is Imchukk, huh? Everyone here looks so happy!” Sinbad smiled, looking wildly around at the structures and people there; her children doing the same. The landscape was mainly snow, a lovely, untouched and pure white, and the houses were well built and looked cozy. Though the people… let’s just say they were huge. Not that she was complaining - the women there were as beautiful as they were huge.
Sinbad sneezed; her body definitely wasn’t suited for this weather, and definitely not her children’s. “Carlos, Charlie, Allie, Damien, Frey! Come back here!” She called, not wanting them to get lost or freeze. The five children ran towards her, all from different directions. She scowled.
“Why are you all in different directions!? What would you do if you got lost, huh!? You-,” Sinbad began scolding and ranting about safety and how they should go off in different directions like that to avoid getting lost or seperated. Hina and Pipirika just watched in amusement as the children nodded along, as to please their angry mother.
“Hehe,” Pipirika giggled, “welcome to Immcukk, the land of ice and snow!” Sinbad smiled as she continued to look around, when her eyes landed on a humongous person.
“So, you’ve finally come home. My child,” was all he said, obviously directed towards Pipirika or Hina, because Sinbad knew it definitely wasn’t directed at her, because she’d never been to this place before.
“Father!” Pipirika smiled, jogging forward to deal the man a hug - even if she was only tall enough to reach his hip. Hina stepped forward, leaving a confused Sinbad (who was somehow holding the five of her children in her two slim arms) behind him.
“Father, we have completed our journey,” Hina said. Sinbad felt curious, so she set her children down with a small hand sign that told them to stay behind her and stepped forward to get a better look at the man.
“And who is this with you?” He asked. Sinbad smiled and put her hand on her chest, swelling with pride.
“You can call me Sin, I’m venturing to many different areas of the world in order to-,” Sinbad stopped herself as a red weapon was lowered to her throat. She knew a threat when she saw one - she lived in Partevia for heaven’s sake!
“You have ventured into Imchukk, outsiders are not welcome here,” he growled deeply, ignoring the protest from Pipirika and turning to Hina. “Dearest son, you have finally become one of us, a warrior. You now have a responsibility to protect both our people and land from enemies. I recommend you do not forget that.”
“...Yes, sir,” Hina said tonelessly.
“Tonight is Maharagan! Prepare for the feast!” The man announced. There was a positive uproar from the crowd that’d gathered behind him, each woman and man smiling widely and raising their hands into the air.
Sinbad smiled with new resolve - to make a country in which his citizens would love everyday, in peace.
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“It would appear things have become more… complicated… now that Sinbad has entered Immchukk.” Dragul stated.
“The chief of Sham Lash is already headed there.” A woman in purple-pink robes, a matching headdress and a grey facemask replied. Dragul groaned, secretly worried about Sinbad.
“Ugh, what a complete waste of time,” he growled.
“They’re undetectable in the darkness, but what’s more important…”
__________
Sinbad had no idea what made the chief let her and her children in, but she wasn’t one to complain when given a privilege that didn’t get her killed. “So, I hope you don’t mind me asking, chief, but what’s Maharagan?”
Pipirika cut it with her answer exitedly. “It’s a traditional festival of Immchukk!” She smiled. Hina continued her statement.
“It celebrates those who have achieved the rite of passage. It’s also when one’s worrior name is given. It’s a ritual of gratitude to appreciate the blessing of the harvest.”
“And because you took down that narwhal, starting tomorrow, you’re officially a worrior!” Pipirika positively glowed with pride for her brother. Hina looked at Sinbad nervously, obviously feeling guilty. Sinbad shook her head subtlety; he had gotten this far, she wasn’t going to be the reason he was dragged back down now.
“Speaking of which,” the chief cut in, “you should be made aware of the unnatural happenings that occurred when you were gone.”
“Unnatural? In what way?” Hina asked. Sinbad felt a shiver go down her spine - there was no way there was a dungeon here, right? What about Carlos and Charlie? How would they react? Would they be scared after what happened in the dungeon Baal? Or would they accepted it like they did with other things?
“While you were on your journey, a mysterious structure became known at the northern waterfall.” The chief said. Sinbad shivered violently at the next words, “I’ve selected a group of warriors to-,”
“No.” Sinbad interrupted as Carlos shook behind her back - he was still scared. Charlie stood in front of him protectively, even though she was just as terrified. “I advise you and all your warriors stay far away from it.”
The chief looked at Sinbad, “Why?”
“It’s known as a dungeon,” Sinbad stated. Carlos began tearing up and Charlie tried her best to comfort him while in an equal state. “Back in my homeland, known as Partevia, hundreds among hundreds lost their lives, trying to capture it.”
“Hang on, I’ve heard of that, apparently all troups were annailated, all save for a young woman whom entered the dungeon with two children who’d followed her, and they succeeded in capturing it?” Hina said.
“One of the children lost her arm protecting her little brother,” Sinbad added quietly before looking up at the chief. “I’m that woman, and Carlos and Charlie are the two who followed.”
“You can’t possibly be serious!” The chief objected, disbelief written all over his features. How could such a small, frail girl survive a dungeon that thousands of others died in? “I refuse to tolerate such lies!”
He grabbed his weapon, and silently, Sinbad did the same. “You don’t want to attack me, chief,” she said as she unsheathed her sword. The blade let off a strong glow, causing both of the giant siblings and the chief to lean back from it.
“Hmm… so that is your emblem as a dungeon capturer?” The chief asked.
“That’s right - it is. It’s where the dungeons’ Djinn lives after capture,” Sinbad said, sighing. She seathed her sword and rested it next to her as Frey climbed onto her lap. She was surprised when a bowl was offered to her. She looked at the chief wordlessly, confused.
“Here in Immchukk, we bestow the greatest honour among the brave. I hope you can forgive my rudeness,” the chief apologised. Sinbad hesitated for a moment before cracking into a polite, small smile. She took the bowl gratefully, unaware of the stare Hina was giving her.
Sinbad had a sip before giving the bowl to her children, which they immediately dug into. “It’s natural to be wary of outsiders, especially when you’re the chief who’s responsible for the entire clan. So, I ask you, please, don’t allow anyone anywhere near that dungeon.”
“Understood,” the chief replied instantly, “I trust your word.”
Pipirika suddenly gasped excitedly. “Brother! Have you gotten around to telling her the good news yet?”
Hina hesitated slightly, “Well- no, not exactly…”
“Now that you’re an adult, you can go to her and-,”
“Stop it. I’m not ready to do that yet.”
“Why not, brother? What’s going on?”
The chief watched silently as the people outside began to yell; Maharagan was about to begin. Sinbad ignored the shouts and concentrated on Hina. He was easy to read, but everyone seemed oblivious to it, and Sinbad felt worried for her newfound friend. The chief, however, was immediately distracted from Hina by the festive shouts.
“That’s right! Tonight is the Maharagan! Let us celebrate the birth of a warrior and the generous harvest of the sea,” he said, standing up. Sinbad stood up as well, closely followed by Pipirika and Hina.
“Wait, chief, I was wondering if Hina, my children, and I could stay and talk for a while before joining the festivities?” Sinbad asked, holding her arm in front of Hina to stop him.
“Oh? Of course, but why?” The chief asked.
“I just have something I wish to discuss with Hina,” Sinbad paused, before adding, “privately.”
Understanding, the chief nodded, beckoning Pipirika to join him. She hesitated slightly, but after the encouraging smile from Sinbad she relaxed and nodded, leaving with the chief towards the festivities.
When the door closed, Sinbad’s aura immediately became serious. Without turning to Hina, she spoke, “I told you before, you earned this, Hina. Tell me what’s on your mind.”
Hina was once again surprised by Sinbad, but quickly recovered, “I’m just… nervous.”
“Don’t lie to me. I’m a mother of five, you can’t fool me that easily.” Sinbad growled, motioning to the children that had stayed behind to act as stress relief to Hina. They were smart and often knew what Sinbad wanted them to do without her saying anything, much to both her approval and relief.
“They’re all yours?”
“Yes. Adopted, but yes. Don’t dodge the question. You’re planning to go to the dungeon, aren’t you?”
Hina’s breath hitched in his throat - she’d read him so accurately. “I-,”
“Fine. I understand you still feel unaccomplished. But I will not allow you to go alone. I am coming with you.”
“But-,”
“No buts! You could die there, Hina! I’m not letting you go alone! You aren’t the only one who wants to capture a dungeon, and I don’t want you to run into the others . I have been in a dungeon before, I am going to assist you weather you like it or not.”
“...”
“Hina,” Sinbad sighed, “I’ll come with you, okay? Just… please don’t go alone.”