***
{Outside The Projection}
“Hm… Sinbad was killed by that guy, you reckon?”
“Could be. Kinda makes sense, yeah.”
“It’d explain everything.”
“Yeah, I can’t imagine the Sultan betraying them.”
“But how? Couldn’t he just kill himself and find a way to save the kid?”
“I dunno… maybe he just couldn’t do it.”
“Uhhh, were you sleeping before now?”
“Looks like it. I can’t believe he’d say that after watching the same thing we did.”
“I know, right?! High chance the Sultan just couldn’t deal with the fucker.”
The hall was filled with noise, different groups talking at the same time.
One further back was deep in speculation about what they’d see next, while another, consisting of the older Magi, was picking apart the little inconsistencies in the projection.
“Why were those seven days skipped over, but everything else gets shown in crazy detail?”
“Eh, probably ’cause those memories didn’t rank highly in his mind, so they’re not ‘remembered.'”
“That seems very possible.”
“But if that’s true, then why didn’t we get any of his memories with his guardian? He seems pretty fond of him.”
That stopped every one of them for a second.
The whole idea they had been piecing together suddenly fell apart.
But then, some unknown bearded Magi saved the day:
“It might be ’cause it was from his early years and he barely remembers any of it.”
“Aha! That sounds about right!”
“Or! Listen to this… The Holy Relic making this movie just doesn’t like bad pacing.”
“Heh, maybe~. But seriously, am I the only one who feels like the Holy Relic is alive and is responding to us?”
That caught the attention of the front row—the ‘main characters’—all of them thinking the same thing.
“I kinda think it does, like it pauses after intense moments, giving us time to react… or not react.”
“Yeah, like right now, for example. It’s paused like it’s waiting for us to pay attention again.”
As soon as those words were out, the projection resumed, as if it had actually been listening to them.
“Huh… guess we should never underestimate a Ten Commandment.”
***
{Inside The Projection}
“What the hell is that? A spider web on juice?”
Malik was squinting at it, mumbling.
“Big brother, you think it’s a Holy Relic?”
“I do… it barely looks functional, though.”
His face quickly turned serious.
Sinbad, on the other hand, was already excited.
“Do you think he could help us?”
Malik snorted.
“Doubt it.”
But just as the Seeker was about to stick the landing all majestic-like—WHOOSH!
Seemingly out of nowhere, a comparatively tiny “Skybastard”—probably a baby chick—came screeching in, all talons and rage.
Its claws tore right through the glowing relic and, worse, the Seeker’s chest.
“AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
The scream that followed was something Sinbad would hear in his nightmares.
And what was coming next would too, but fortunately for Sinbad’s fragile innocence, the Seeker’s luck managed to pull through.
At the last second, his body fell into an Aether pocket, yanking him away from the “Skybastard’s” claws.
He dropped like a sack of rocks, slamming into the ground with a thud so loud it kicked up a massive dust cloud.
“B-Big brother… We…”
Sinbad pushed himself up and scrambled forward.
“We have to help him!”
Malik grabbed the kid by the scruff of his shirt and yanked him back.
“Shut up. Stay still. Watch.”
“But—”
“No buts. Trust me on this, alright? Just… wait.”
And so they waited.
They stayed hidden in their little nook, watching as the Seeker groaned, cursed, and pulled himself together. Literally.
The guy had some kind of magical healing kit—a mix of bandages and glowing powder he sprinkled into the gaping wounds.
By the time the Shams light started dipping low, the Seeker was on his feet, shaky but alive.
Only then did Malik let Sinbad move.
“Alright, kid. Let’s say hi. Carefully.”
***
{Outside The Projection}
“Is it really smart to wait for him to get his strength back before making a move?”
“Can’t say. Depends on what he’s after.”
“Right. Doesn’t look like he’s planning to kill him or anything, so I’d say it’s a smart move.”
“Exactly. And in that kind of situation, do you poke at a cornered animal, or wait until it calms down a bit? Waiting seems smarter, no?”
Mostly everyone kept quiet, feeling the intensity of the scene.
But, of course, a few people just had to break the tension, tossing out comments like lifelines to ease their nerves.
***
{Inside The Projection}
The two crept closer, sliding down the hill toward the battered Seeker.
Sinbad waved casually like they were old friends.
“Hey there!”
The Seeker jumped, his hand darting to his belt where he had a Shamshir, a curved double-edged saber.
“What—”
His wide eyes settled on them, and confusion quickly replaced alarm.
“What in the hell are kids doing here?!”
Sinbad opened his mouth, probably to spill their entire life story, but Malik clapped a hand over his shoulder, cutting him off.
“We’re just… y’know, dreamers. Came down here trying to make it to the big leagues.”
The Seeker raised an eyebrow, eyes scanning Malik’s thin body.
“Kids like you? In Al-Fawra?”
Malik shrugged, playing it cool.
“We thought we’d try our luck. Turns out luck sucks.”
The Seeker snorted, relaxing a bit.
“Yeah, tell me about it. This place doesn’t care who you are or what you want. It’ll eat you alive if you’re not careful.”
“I’m getting that impression.”
Malik glanced at the guy’s still-bloodied chest.
“You good, though? That bird messed you up pretty bad.”
“I’ll live… Name’s Rafiq, by the way.”
“Malik. And this friendly little critter is Sinbad.”
“Nice to meet you!”