reluctantly;

With confident steps and his hands behind his head while the elbows were stretched out to the side, he observed his surroundings once again. He really wished he could do some more with the time he had already spent here, But after all everything seemed much more complex than he had assumed. But he did gain some allies and he was really glad about that. He was really wondering how his friends were doing in his own world.

He trailed off into daydreaming, not paying attention to what happened before him until he felt a grab and some weight on his clothes dragging him down a bit. “… Huh?” He looked down and lowered his arms. Through the other’s clothes he didn’t recognize the person in front of him, but he was concerned about his well-being nonetheless. He seemed to tremble. Scratching the back of his head, he gave off a loose response to the apology of the boy. “Hey, it’s not that bad… are you alright?”

He stepped closer again and tried to look at the boy’s face underneath his hat and before he let the other speak up or talk out, he already began to follow up with another question, accompanied by a surprised face. “Wait-” He knew that face. Another one from his world, here? He pointed his finger towards the boy as he continued. “Aren’t you that magician from Magnostadt…? Your name was… Titus, right?”

They didn’t meet for long, but Aladdin said that it was a good friend of his, so he had to be trustworthy. And he had some strong connection with the other Magi too. But what concerned him even more was the fact that Scheherazade said that he wouldn’t have long to live and he didn’t look well at all right now. Could that be the cause of his trembling…?

He stepped back a bit and lowered his hand again. Alibaba was unsure whether he could be of much help then, but he couldn’t simply let him alone here like that. “Is there… anything I can do for you? You… don’t look well at all.”

What's more, he and Aladdin's antics had made Lady Scheherazade smile-- an expression Titus had rarely seen from the composed empress. Then soon after, the two had fought due to the blonde's concern over his friend; the magician remembered it all quite clearly. It had been somewhat of a bizarre event to witness knowing their conversation was supposed to have been of utmost seriousness.

Still, that type of camaraderie... It was touching. The clone recalled how his jealousy had pinched at his heart knowing he could never have the time to deepen a friendship to that level-- but such thoughts should be left in the past.

Extraordinary effort given to feign his well being, Titus forced a small smile. Truthfully, it was not all a facade; he did value finding another from his world here, afterall. It was simply that the magician had little idea how to handle the pity being thrown in his direction. What used to be his pride as a powerful magic user was now just a void of arrogance with practically no meaning, especially in Hive City.

"Yes, I'm Titus. You're... Alibaba, aren't you?" His smile turns apologetic before he continued. "Sorry about that, I guess I wasn't paying much attention when I crashed into you." Considering his previous words were not particularly convincing, the effeminate boy added more of reassurance. "I'm fine, really."

"But hey.." Hoping to dismiss the topic of his heath as nothing, he deterred the conversation. "If you're here, does that mean Aladdin's with you?" 

"All eight types, naturally. Although, you'll have to take my word for it-- in my current state, I'm only able to cast one." A sense of shame is evident in his features before he speaks once more.

"Are you really a magician?"

Titus’ yelling both surprised and caught the Magi’s attention, and at first, she only sighed. Though she assumed that whoever he would be done arguing with whoever he had yelled at sooner or later, she would have left him alone if not for the sensation that overwhelmed her soon after. This feeling.. though she couldn’t see rukh anymore, she knew this feeling without having to see it. However, this one in particular.. felt strange.

Hurrying to Titus’ location, the Magi spotted the one who seemed to have been the cause of Titus’ yelling, and although this would be the first time she’d met this person, she knew. Maybe not for sure, but.. this feeling couldn’t be mistaken, along with the fact that he seemed to recognize her as she came into his view as well.

“Titus — !”

Her voice held a hint of alarm, her grip on the wooden staff tight. Reaching out for Titus’ shoulder, she pulled him behind her. Although this person didn’t seem to be very aggressive at the moment, she couldn’t tell for sure. She had heard stories about him, after all.. just one look at him told her to be cautious. True, he could be anyone. They were in a place where many of different worlds were placed together, after all. But of all the clues that had been put together in just these few moments, there was no mistaking it.

Though, she hadn’t forgotten herself. And no matter how worried she was for her own country and the peoples’ well-being, she knew she had to worry about herself here, too. She wouldn’t proceed recklessly. She couldn’t allow herself to do that. 

“Are you.. the Kou Empire’s Magi?” The priestess spoke calmly, her voice giving away nothing.”I don’t believe we have met yet. I am Scheherazade, of Reim.” Though he’d probably have figured it out by now, formal introductions were never a bad idea.. probably. “It’s a pleasure to finally be able to speak face to face with you —”

“Hm? What the hell is an ‘Alexius’? With a name like that, I wouldn’t nearly be as proud as you are.”

Chuckling and pointing in a demeaning mannerism towards the opposing teenage wizard, Judar couldn’t contain his laughter. To say he wasn’t intimidated would be a gross understatement, especially when factoring in the abilities he’s witnessed firsthand, noting their limitations for future reference. Not holding his tongue any longer, the sorcerer of creation retorted cunningly. 

“Oh yeah? Magnostadt? Oh! You mean that place full of low-class, wanna-be Magis… right? My my, I sure am intimidated now!

…pfft, heheh~! I swear - I don’t think I’ve met a bigger loser than you in my whole life! What a big, stupid moron!!”

Disregarding his childish antics, the Magi still saw the identifiable mark of purpose, which seemed to engulf the boy whole. Rukh swelled around Titus, responding positively and erratically, though Judar wasn’t sure why. From his reports, he had heard murmurings about the two other Magi whom he hadn’t had the pleasure (?) of meeting beforehand, and whereas the maniacal wretch would have simply labeled him as Yunan, he did not feel the release to do so. No… he fit the criteria stated of the woman. The Reim Empire’s Magi: Scheherazade.

…and suddenly, all of his suspicions were put to rest as a woman called out from afar.

“Titus — !”

Suddenly, the Rukh surrounding the androgynous male shifted once more. However this time, it lingered… hovering over a woman who truly looked fit to be his fabled kin. Audaciously long and full blonde hair, laurels encompassing her head in regal manner, and a wardrobe reminiscent of the Fanalis he had the misfortune of greeting prior. Before opening his mouth to speak, his magical counterpart intervened:

“Are you.. the Kou Empire’s Magi?”

“Am I… the Kou Empire’s Magi? Is that a question one can simply ask? Besides, what in the world would give you that idea? It’s not even like you can see me, considering how heavy your eyelids are drooping right now.”

It wasn’t often that an opportunity such as this presented itself. The last time the Black Sun felt such an overwhelming force was upon the realization of Aladdin, whose promise hadn’t yet caught caught up to his skill level. Slowly lifting the tension, the youth smirked before triumphantly exclaiming.

“Hah, I’m just jerking around! Yes, I am Judar - high priest and Magi to the Kou Empire. You must be that fabled old witch from Reim - Scheherazade, huh? You don’t look nearly as old as they say you are. Guess the myths were dead wrong. At least it’s comforting to know I’ll age gracefully.”

Within moments, a lightbulb went off in the Magi’s mind. Was the boy tagging alongside her a puppet of sorts? A vessel for her own purposes? A pawn—much like himself? Furthermore, taking into consideration the political parties each represented, what would happen to Reim if their forces were all currently hauled within the Hive? After all, she isn’t the first from her land to touch the city’s streets. So many questions… so little time.

“So tell me, fellow Magi! What are you doing partnering up with this lame and why the hell does he look so much like you? Is he your kid? I didn’t even know that was possible, y’know. Being a Magi and all.

…more importantly, what do you make out of our current circumstances, eh? Are you trying to further push Reim’s agenda into this blissfully unaware city?”

He paused, discrediting the serious nature of their conversation. Outside of their affiliations, political nonsense didn’t seem to thrill him in the slightest. Only the conflict that brewed internally between all parties involved - the threat of sending souls into depravity caused his vile tendencies to rise to the forefront defiantly, putting his soul at ease. Wait a second. Maybe he could end up manipulating this situation to his own selfish benefit! For now though, he wouldn’t break out of his rouse and implement anything sinister. After all, Judar was thoroughly intrigued in the regal sorcerer and her male partner.

“Not like I really care at the end of the day… I’m not under the influence of the big bad overlords out here. But it iiiiis my job—after all—to report whatever findings I have to those in charge, whenever they decide to show up. There’s so damn many of you all that it’s bound to happen sooner than later!

Judar. Of the Kou Empire. Titus had once mistaken Aladdin to be a puppet like himself under the command of one of the magi, but had ultimately discovered that it was actually he who (ironically) controlled his own fate. Even with the boy's powers sealed, Titus had only managed to draw with the child in battle, though it was only a match to prove their competence with magic before the esteemed ruler of the magician country. Although the end of the dual had proved rather frustrating to the blonde who could not afford to lose, his contempt had now transformed into respect for the magi.

Compared to his dearest friend and honest ruler, the magi that stood before him now was loathsome. Complete and utter disrespect for someone as noble as Scheherazade caused his opinion of the teen to fall below redeeming depths. The urge to call out his behavior tempted him severely, but even Titus understood that this was a situation between two magi that he ought not to interfere. Glares were the only gaze cast, arms crossed defensively as he continued to stand obediently behind the priest.

Is he your kid? The question alone made him glance to the expression of his Lady, recalling how she had once named him her makeshift son. Sadness surfaced, his attempt at hiding it made through the turn of his neck to the side. Vivid emerald eyes closed briefly, the memory of having nearly cursed his own fate causing him to shudder. Being so close to black rukh, even now, it was nauseating. It reminded him of how ungrateful he was. It forced him to ponder the contradicting beliefs he held regarding whether he had the right to live.

This distress was disgusting. However short his life had to be, wasn't it only right that he make the best of what he had? To be glad he lived at all, even as a puppet?  Her rukh, which had given him life, he had nearly tainted with his own selfishness; the very thought weakened his motivation to act at all.

But luck was on her side and it appeared that he wasn’t very angry anymore; instead she got a question which surprised her. “Rukh…?” She frowned and tilted her head to the side, quite curious about what this ‘rukh’ was.

“I’m not exactly a magician, more of a Cleric.” It was probably best to answer his question before trying to figure out what he had meant earlier. That was if he was willing to be open enough to explain it to her. Ah, what a young, curious mind she still had. Though it couldn’t be helped because it was another way to distract her from what happened and becoming distressed.

“Titus,” she repeated to herself. What an interesting name that was. Nodding her head and smiling gently, the princess quickly responded. “I’m Lissa! It’s really nice to meet you, and I really am sorry about hitting you…” The guilt began to sit in again and it quickly appeared on her face.

"Lissa... that's a cute name." His words were nothing but his genuine opinion voiced, a gratefulness to have company erasing a once awkward mood.  "Ah, don't worry about it! I'm fine." Though a nasty bump would surely arise from such an impact, the magician played it off as nothing. "You were scared, right? I was the same way..." Voice trailed off idly until he realized another subject was in order, wanting to distract the girl from their rough beginnings. 

There had been a lot of scary experiences she had to deal with throughout her life, especially during the war, but this was at the top of the list of what frightened her. Putting on a brave face during the time somebody was explaining where she was and what she was here for, Lissa felt terrified on the inside.

First her brother had gone missing, along with her best friend and many other people that she knew. Having to look after Ylisse by herself wasn’t an easy job when she was worried about the people she loved. And now here she was, kidnapped and taken to some strange world for an experiment.

If only Chrom was here, or anybody that she knew, maybe then she wouldn’t be so scared. 

Even if she wasn’t calm on the inside, Lissa did her best to act brave so that nobody would think she was weak. All sorts of people were here so surely if one saw a weak looking girl, they wouldn’t hesitate to prey on her. It was because of that she knew she had to be as strong as she could be.

That didn’t stop her from being paranoid though.

Hearing footsteps behind her, Lissa held her breath and shut her eyes. She had a few choices now, one was to stay calm, the second one was to flee and the third was to defend herself. When she heard a voice, she went with her instincts to defend herself. She grabbed her staff tightly as she span around and —

BAM

"Hey, cut it out!" shouted the magician with a hint of annoyance. If only he had his barrier, such a lousy ache could have been prevented. His inability in defending himself did not reflect his true skills at all! "Do you get a kick out of--"

The panic in her eyes caused him to think twice. She was not unlike him when he first arrived, frightened and confused with only a frail body and a speck of magic to get by. Concern was given once he understood the situation better, almost instantly eliminating his initial anger.

"--Are you a magician?" The thought they might be similar in some aspects enlightened him, even putting a smile on his face. "That staff of yours is what you use to channel rukh, right?" Nearly forgetting that she may not be from his world, he quickly added, "--I mean, it's what you use to cast."

Noticing that the steps following her had halted, the Magi stopped as well, turning to see what had stopped him. His words send a sharp pang of realization in the priestess — she’d done it again, hadn’t she? Disregarded Titus’ feelings, with her own mind clouded by her own thoughts. A rising, unfamiliar guilt made its way to her chest, opening her eyes and reaching out to the other magician.

“Titus.”

Just as she had been filled with worry and confusion upon being thrown into such a place, Titus must’ve had his own worries as well, and she apologizes for not realizing this sooner. When they can sit down and relax (well, as much as they can relax in this place, anyway) in Mu’s apartment, they will talk; she’ll listen to him, and help him as much as she can, just as he’d help her.

A hand reaching out to him once more, grasping the hand that clenched his uniform, gently taking it into hers. Though.. she felt that just this was not enough to ease his worries, not enough to convince him that he was definitely needed by her side, no matter how powerful he was. She gave his hand a little tug, pulling him down so that he was eye-level with her, and..

..slowly, she wrapped her arms around him. As it was a gesture that she hadn’t done herself in a long time, it probably felt somewhat awkward, though she tried her best. The Magi embraced him tightly, closely, warmly. While it had originally been her intention to help to comfort him, surprisingly, it had come to comfort herself, as well; and she found herself remaining like this for longer than she’d intended.

“My protection,” while she wouldn’t say it was unimportant, as she knew herself very well that her life was extremely important and not to be thrown in the way of danger easily, “is not something that you, Titus, need to worry about.” She had Mu, which made it unnecessary for Titus to have to protect her, that much was true. She wasn’t sure of how much of Titus’ powers had been taken away by their captors, but..

Finally pulling away, petite hands remain on the other clone’s shoulders, and giving them a light squeeze, she showed him a small smile.

“You need only to stay by my side, as long as we are here.”

The embrace was foreign. He was but a puppet who would not live any longer than she, made to take orders akin to that of a spy's, yet the pure compassion that radiated off her being touched his very heart. It was almost embarrassing; frozen in place, Titus had realized that he hadn't the slightest idea how to react, unsure if he was even capable of returning the warming action.

Recovering from a mix of shock and awe, he listened carefully to her next few words, each syllable engraving into his mind. His Lady was undoubtedly one of great experience and wisdom-- but also, of consideration. A reason to lie could not be found as he pondered the extent of her intentions, his soul completely swayed by the love she had shown. 

"I'm... so grateful, Lady Scheherazade." The part of him that adored her for bringing him to existence shined brightly, the spite for his fate faltering in the depths of his conscience. "Until the end, I... I will do all that I can to help you."

There were things he could still do to assist her, that much he was assured of. In retrospect, perhaps he was foolish in trying to compare himself to someone beyond his capabilities and destiny-- to someone who was meant to exist. Of course it was most ideal for him to be able to live his last moments with the child he had related with so strongly, but the circumstances no longer provided many, if any, choices in the matter. Thinking only of himself was selfish; it might have even been a blessing in disguise that he was sent to Hive city since he was now removed from needing to decide his future action in the halted war. From this perspective, being able to spend his last days by his mother's side could be fully appreciated.

 At long last, a smile would subtly curve his lips upward as the magi lightly placed her hands on his shoulders. "I'll do my best not to hesitate anymore."

Finding something enjoyable to partake in outside of the usual choices - causing combat, chaos and disarray - was growing increasingly difficult for the wizard to find comfort in doing. Most of the citizens of Hive City didn’t exactly seem to be social enough to initiate conversation nor would he honestly find solace in dispelling his true nature to others. Considering the weakness he felt in losing his skill set by some odd twist of fate, Judar was left with a sense of hollowness.

Weeks prior, a shadowed version of his former self truly challenged his method of thinking. Though the reward was gratifying—regaining one of his abilities in return for his suffering—the Black Sun resorted to drowning out his vices by engaging in any activities available. Whether it be by having mini-battles or even causing the death of a child, all in good effort to cure his boredom and push out the disturbed thoughts that threatened to plague his mind.

…and so he stood, walking throughout the city with a cocky stride. Hands pressed behind his neck, whistling carelessly as the wind breezed by, reveling in the sun’s glory. Making his way back to his apartment complex, the magician felt a sensation throbbing in his chest. Serpent eyes opened hastily, looking around the area urgently. What was this unshakable feeling? Cardinal hues finally fixated on an unsuspecting blond woman, completely drenched in the aura of white Rukh (although, of course, limited due their circumstances). Remarking to himself underneath his breath, Judar pondered:

“The Rukh surrounding that broad… they’re all moving weird!! What the hell is she!?”

The last time he witnessed the normal flow of Rukh responding so erratically to another was his introduction to Aladdin, a fellow Magi. Could that mean that she is also a Magi herself? Considering the choice of outfit, the off-putting female could have very well fit into the era he was from. Was this the fabled Scheherazade, Magi to the Reim Empire?

In typical fashion, the high priest hollered out towards the direction of the elegant woman.

It was only when silence lingered in the marketplace that his curiosity had gathered, wondering why it was no one had responded to the other's exclamations. Neck casually angling to get a glimpse of the situation, he instead found himself staring back into intimidating, crimson hues. 

Awkward eye contact suddenly made everything clear, stunning the magician into silent rage. With pride injured and mind plagued with unpleasant memories, anger rose immediately. Frustrated at his own feminine appearance, Titus cared more about correcting the cheeky boy than approaching with caution. Even though the misunderstanding had not been directed towards him with mockery, it would not come without consequence. 

"How dare you--!!" he exclaimed, his blonde braid whipping the air ferociously as he turned to face the other completely. Hands balled into fists at his sides, his attempt to exercise self-restraint to no avail. "I'm Titus Alexius." he proclaimed confidently, purposely emphasizing his last name since it was well-renowned throughout each empire. Eyes narrowed with disdain, he added, "A High-Class magician of Magnostadt!"

Provokingly pointing his fencing foil in the oracle's face, he continued childishly. 

"If I had the full extent of my abilities, I'd make you pay for insulting me, you ignorant commoner!" 

Satisfied with his outburst, the magician could finally examine the uneducated other without the blindness of fury. Abruptly, the furrow of his eyebrows eased as the atmosphere turned tense. Something... wasn't right. While Titus was only a clone of Scheherazade and could not see the Rukh without it being gathered and used, he was especially sensitive to it. The proximity of the two strengthened this, sending an unnatural chill down his spine.

The priestess falls silent, her thoughts a jumbled mess. There was no way out of here, was there..? She couldn’t leave of her own will. The skies seemed endless, the city’s streets neverending. Ah, this could probably be bad for her heart. She had begun to hold her breath as she processed this new information, worries and concerns only adding and building onto the stress she already felt. Not to say she wasn’t grateful for the information, and despite the fact that she wasn’t hopeful for any good news, she was worried.

She only manages to take a deep breath once more when Titus slides his hands out of hers, snapping her back to reality — yes, this was reality. A cruel one, one that she couldn’t escape from. There were many times where the situation felt surreal, where it felt that she couldn’t possibly get out of it, but always managed to. But this one.. was on a whole other level.

“We need to return as soon as we can, my lady!”

Scheherazade responds at last, though her voice is quiet; tired.

“I know.”

Her eyes open slightly, lips turning to a frown. She wanted to go back too — she needed to. But.. how? There had to be a way, but.. she couldn’t figure it out. Even when she thought she’d figured out a good way to try, upon further thinking, she’d realized it would be useless. There was too little information about this place as well, which only made this task so much more difficult.

There were no words to describe how much she wanted to return. How badly she wanted to find a way. She didn’t expect a path to just open up to her — she knows that she has to think for herself, carve out the path on her own, sometimes even with the help of others. It was exhausting, draining, that this sort of situation would be thrown at her now, of all times.

There was the problem with their real body to think about, too. But she pushes this to the back of her mind for now, focusing her thoughts on ways of escape, which would only lead to more frustration.

Moving to pick up the wooden staff, she holds it upright once more, taking a deep breath in an attempt to relax herself, if only for a moment.

“Mu is here, as well.”

The thought that the experienced woman before him also had her powers stripped was discouraging. To see the famed leader of Reim reduced to such a state was an insult to the very country. The magician mused over the idea that he had a duty to attempt protecting his creator while she was handicapped-- only to be shut down by the mention of the army captain.

"Understood." The syllables were uttered so quietly, they were borderline inaudible. He wanted to tell her that he also had an apartment given to him that could be of some use, but his confidence to speak was lost. Instead, the puppet nodded solemnly and followed after his lady as they headed to the apartment of the general.

Mu... his heart was in the right place and his loyalty unmatched. To him, Titus lost on all accounts. The blond's spite against his fate was strong but also invoked horrible guilt. The Alexius name he shared was nothing but a symbol of status; the clone had no true family. Yet Lady Scheherazade had fallen to her knees and apologized to an unworthy clone like him, even going as far as to call him her child. By contrast, Mu had made it clear that Titus was only a monster that should not have been born in this world. Then there was Aladdin and Sphintus, people who had reached out to him even despite their poor first impressions. Simultaneously, Titus was a son, a doll, and a friend. To Marga-- a hero.

He stopped.

"Lady Scheherazade... is this really okay?" One hand gripped at his chest, seizing his uniform as his gaze lowered. "I... I don't want to burden you."

He hadn't yet decided how he wished to spend the last of his days, but if was going to have to waste them in this place, without being able to be at Marga's side, then he no longer served much purpose. "Mu will undoubtedly be able to protect you, so..." He paused, surprised that he even voiced the thought aloud. With a quiet sigh, he began again.

invitus started following you

casualtheft started following you

youkillordie started following you

heroic-shadow started following you

She had remembered when she first stepped out of that white room. If she were to assume that Titus had onlyjustarrived, then he was probably near one now. There was no making sure if it’d be the exact same room herself had been in, but it wouldn’t hurt to check — it was the only clue she had right now, after all.

— It felt like she’d been searching for hours. By now, Titus must’ve already left his initial location, and started wandering around just as she did until Mu found her. Tired as she was, the Magi continued, each step heavy with the weight of her worries. She had thought, at least Titus was still there, and left hope that he could protect Reim if it came to that — but now that he was here, that went out the window, too. Though she wasn’t, and still couldn’t be sure that her feeling was absolutely correct and not something the scientists conjured, and that maybe she was searching for someone who wasn’t even here, she couldn’t be sure.

These thoughts are interrupted as another’s body collides with her own, nearly knocking Scheherazade to the ground before she catches herself. She turns her head up, about to ask the stranger if they were alright; and eyes widen, losing her grip on the wooden staff given to her as it falls with a loud clatter, both petite hands reaching for the other’s.

“Titus..!” She doesn’t ask to confirm his identity. She knows it’s him — there’s no way he was fake.

"L-Lady Scheherazade!" 

His hands are taken by hers and he calms somewhat, as if her mental stability was being shared with him. Blinking at the staff that fell to the ground momentarily, he returned his gaze to her. The magi's voice alone offered a degree of comfort to him, yet her existence in this city was so questionable that he could not convince himself to feel entirely relived. What's more, she herself did not exactly radiate confidence, her tone masking what he observed as shock.

Titus restrained himself from asking the barrage of questions on his mind and instead answered hers after a long pause. "Yes, I'm alright. I'm sorry to have troubled you." After some internal debate on how to begin, he quietly spoke up once more. 

"There have been countless disappearances in our world." He explained, attempting to be of some use by reporting what he knew. "Several search parties have been dispatched, all looking for someone different. Aladdin, you, many of nobility... there are even rumors that the Kou Empire's magi has gone missing. Since no replacement for them has appeared, some say that the world is gradually falling into chaos. Others believe it to be some kind of conspiracy." Allowing the information to be processed, he posed a question.

"Is there... any way for us to return to Reim?"

His hands slide out of hers and drop to his sides, his gaze also falling downward. There's a part of him that knows the answer already; if there had been an escape, the magi would have used it long ago, but he still tried to place hope that it was somehow possible.