Sinbad and Reana found themselves alone on the bustling streets of Narpolia, a hint of uncertainty in the air. As they strolled silently back into the heart of the city, Reana noticed that Sinbad appeared to be lost in thought.
"We still have much to learn, right?" she said quietly, breaking the silence.
He snapped out of his reverie and nodded, offering her a warm smile. "You're right. There's still so much for us to discover."
At that very moment, their stomachs growled in unison, eliciting a shared chuckle.
"Anyway, supper first," Sinbad declared, his tone lighthearted as he casually grabbed her arm and guided her towards the nearest inn.
As they approached the inn, counting the few coins they had left, a commotion from a small crowd near a shop grabbed their attention.
"Hey! You've got some nerve to touch my merchandise here! That's stealing, you know!" the merchant yelled.
"Stealing? Me?" retorted a hooded man in the midst of the crowd. His long blonde hair and a goatee protruding from his hood gave him a mysterious appearance. "I saw a rarity and casually picked it up for a better look. That's all. You're mistaken. What is it? If money can soothe you, allow me. How much?"
The merchant seethed with anger. "Bastard! Let's see how you can keep mocking me after I break your nose!" he screamed, advancing toward the hooded man.
But Sinbad was quicker, intervening by grabbing the merchant's arm. "Stop it," he said with an air of calm authority.
"What the... a child?" the merchant said in disbelief, breaking free from Sinbad's grasp. "Mind your own business..." he sneered, only to hesitate as he observed the boy lifting one arm, suddenly unsure. "Eek! What... Whaddaya want?"
Sinbad simply placed three copper coins into the merchant's hand. "Take this as a token of apology, even though it's not much. Merchandise is the lifeline of merchants. I apologize on behalf of this man for treating your merchandise carelessly. With all my heart."
The merchant, still slightly in shock, closed his hand around the coins and huffed, "As long as you understand, that's good. What a troublesome old man."
With that, the merchant walked away, muttering under his breath about the incident and the troublesome hooded man.
Sinbad turned to the hooded stranger, asking, "Are you alright? You should be careful..."
"If money can settle it, I already said I'll pay... You get excited too easily," the man replied in a stern voice.
Reana reached them just as Sinbad gave a nervous smile, scratching his chin. "Well... We're headed this way. Bye." he said evasively.
As they turned to leave, their stomachs rumbled once again, this time loud enough for all three of them to hear.
"Sinbad... Those were our only coins, weren't they?" Reana sighed.
Sinbad didn't respond verbally but instead placed a hand on his belly awkwardly, a hint of embarrassment in his expression.
"Fufu..." the hooded man chuckled. "That's right. I must thank you."
----
The man, who introduced himself as Harun, led Sinbad and Reana to a bustling inn he frequented. The place was filled with joyful customers, and the aroma of delicious food wafted through the air. Before they knew it, they were seated around a cozy table, plates filled with delectable dishes and cups brimming with fragrant beverages.
Harun, a merchant from Balbadd, was curious about Sinbad's venture. He inquired about how Sinbad had negotiated the right to trade with Imuchakk. In response, Sinbad made an intriguing proposition – he offered his knowledge in exchange for assistance from a 'friend'. Harun was initially skeptical but decided to hear Sinbad out.
Sinbad began to narrate his extraordinary adventures, enthralling the merchant with tales of his encounters and experiences. To illustrate the incredible power at his disposal, Sinbad summoned used one of his djinns, Valefor, to freeze Harun's drink solid. The merchant was utterly impressed by the stories and the display of power.
Intrigued by Sinbad's goals, Harun probed deeper, questioning what Sinbad truly sought to achieve with such remarkable abilities. Sinbad candidly explained his dream of reforming the world, making it a better place, and his aspiration to build a country.
As Sinbad painted a vivid picture of his vision, Harun's demeanor shifted. He gritted his teeth as he began to speak of a burden heavier than Sinbad could fathom.
His voice grew shaky. "I had... no choice but to run. Even if my mind can comprehend, my feet won't step forward. I... I just..."
Sinbad candidly explained his dream of reforming the world, making it a better place, and his aspiration to build a country. However, this is when Harun's demeanor took a strange turn. He began to mutter, gritting his teeth, and his voice grew shaky.
Sinbad and Reana exchanged puzzled glances, taken aback by Harun's unusual reaction. They began to question his identity when two guards entered the inn, calling for the merchant.
"Oh! Here you are! We were most troubled by your leaving without notice," one of the guards declared as Harun rose from his seat. "... King Rashid."
Sinbad and Reana stood in shock, their faces reflecting disbelief.
"King Rashid?" Reana uttered, her eyes wide with surprise. "The king of Balbadd?"
"Harun, sir, are you really...?" Sinbad hesitated, struggling to comprehend the unexpected revelation.
After a brief pause, Harun confirmed, "Sinbad, our conversation was most intriguing. But your thinking is still immature. If you want to do business in this Reim Empire, you must establish a 'firm' acknowledged by the 'Reim merchant guild.' The capital required for a 'firm' is about 100 gold coins – not an amount a commoner can easily earn. If you are indeed serious about your aspirations and wish to lay the foundation for your country, then demonstrate that you can earn this sum. I'm leaving for Remano for diplomatic negotiations. During my absence, prove your commitment and resourcefulness. Depending on your results, not only will I write a recommendation letter to the merchant guild, I may extend further assistance to you, Sinbad."
With that, Harun took his leave, accompanied by the two soldiers. Sinbad and Reana exchanged surprised and thoughtful glances as they headed toward the inn's exit.
However, before they could leave, the receptionist of the inn called them over.
"Oh, honorable guests, please come here," he beckoned politely.
Intrigued by this unexpected turn of events, they approached the reception.
"Your companion has already paid for all your living expenses during your stay," the receptionist informed them with a polite smile.
"What?" Sinbad exclaimed, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
The receptionist rang a small bell, and a young woman emerged, offering a slight bow in greeting.
"Please show our guests their room," the receptionist instructed her.
She nodded and extended a welcoming smile to Sinbad and Reana. With a courteous hand gesture, she indicated they should follow her. "Please, follow me."
As they followed the inn's staff member upstairs, Reana couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Did she hear the receptionist correctly? It sounded like he said "their room" and not "their rooms." Usually, this detail wouldn't have bothered her much, but with Ja'far's teasing fresh in her mind, she couldn't help but feel a bit self-conscious.
Upon reaching their designated room, her suspicions were confirmed. The woman led them to a cozy single room furnished with a double bed. Reana glanced at Sinbad, wondering if he would comment on it, but he appeared unfazed. He behaved just as casually as always.
After ensuring that they had everything they needed, the inn staff left them alone in their room. Reana timidly took a seat on the edge of the bed, while Sinbad flopped down on his back on the other side, sighing as he stared at the ceiling.
"A hundred gold coins, huh?" Sinbad mused aloud.
"At least we don't have to worry about lodging and food," Reana remarked, trying to maintain a sense of normalcy.
"Yeah..." Sinbad replied, but the way he trailed off suggested that his mind was preoccupied.
Reana frowned when she noticed something pressing into her back. She turned slightly and saw that Sinbad hadn't set down his sword, it was still strapped to his belt. Her gaze lingered on it for a moment, thinking about the Djinn residing within the weapon. The image of Harun, entranced by Sinbad's tales of adventure, flashed in her mind.
She gasped and spun around to face Sinbad, excitement in her voice. "There's a way, Sin!"
"A way?" he inquired, sitting up.
"To collect the money! Don't you remember how King Rashid reacted when you told him about your adventures? Think about it!"
Sinbad looked up at the ceiling, scratching his chin as he considered her words. After a moment, his eyes lit up, and he smiled broadly. "Of course! I can earn the coins by performing! You're a genius, Reana! Thank you!"
She turned away slightly, trying to hide her embarrassment. "You could use the Djinn's powers to impress the spectators, and I can use magic. That should make for quite an interesting show."
Glancing back at him, she noticed him staring at his sword, cradled in his hands. "You're right," he said, nodding. "Now, let's get some sleep. We have a lot to do tomorrow. Good night!"
"Good night," Reana replied as she settled into her side of the bed. Sinbad did the same, pulling the blanket over him with his back turned to her. She looked at him for a moment, then followed suit, but an odd feeling of uneasiness lingered. Why did she feel this way? What had changed? Her thoughts swirled in the dim room, and she sighed quietly before closing her eyes, having little hope for a restful night's sleep.
----
The crowd had gathered as the sun dipped below the horizon, eager chatter filling the air. Performing had become a daily routine for Sinbad and Reana, and their act was executed flawlessly with precision and flair.
Sinbad stood before the growing crowd, his voice dripping with drama and intrigue. "This is the story of one boy..." He let his words linger, capturing their rapt attention. "A 'dungeon,' a place shrouded in mystery, where tens of thousands of men have challenged, but none have returned. After battling countless baby dragons, what stood in the boy's path was... the guardian of the gate, a colossal dragon with the breath of lightning!"
The crowd gasped in unison, their eyes fixed on Reana as she manipulated flames to recreate the imposing figure of a giant dragon.
"Amidst the countless fallen warriors, the boy rose to confront it!" Sinbad continued with passion. "Moments before the dragon's breath could consume him, the boy's sword pierced the heart of the beast!" With a flourish, he brandished his sword, its blade crackling with electric energy. "That boy in our story... is none other than... me... Sinbad!" Sinbad swung his sword, sending a brilliant arc of thunder through Reana's fiery depiction, scattering the flames dramatically.
The crowd burst into cheers and applause.
"Amazing! The dungeon conqueror himself!"
"Look at that lightning, a Djinn's power! His adventures are real!"
Amid the cheers, Reana nudged Sinbad, subtly pointing out some familiar faces in the audience. They began to make their way through the crowd, each holding a bag that rapidly filled with coins tossed by their appreciative onlookers.
Finally reaching the edge of the crowd, Sinbad called out, "Harun... Sir! You've returned!"
King Rashid and his guards had rejoined the crowd, seemingly impressed by the spectacle.
"Yes, quite impressive," Rashid commented. "You've gathered an audience here as if it were a grand theatrical performance. This is something only the dungeon conqueror can do. It's quite ingenious."
Sinbad shrugged modestly. "You give us too much credit. Besides, it was Reana's idea."
Reana blushed as the spotlight turned to her. "I think even without me, Sinbad would have come up with this... eventually..."
"Eventually?" Sinbad feigned hurt at her doubt.
"Furthermore, we have you to thank for this, Sir. You told Sinbad that his story was more interesting than court poets'. And it's like a dream which you yearned for. That's how I noticed." explained Reana.
"Stories of adventure can ignite excitement and intrigue, just as I was when I was a child," Sinbad added. "If something can bring people joy, it can be turned into 'merchandise.' Besides, it's a tale that only I can tell. So, please, give us a little more time, Sir. Watch as we reach your requirements. We're only a couple of coins away from 100 gold! We won't give up!"
King Rashid regarded Sinbad with a mixture of surprise and admiration, recognizing the earnestness and determination that radiated from the young performer. He knew they must be exhausted from their days of performances, but their unwavering spirit was undeniable.
He smiled warmly. "In that case, I suppose I'll pay my price for enjoying your performance." King Rashid signaled to one of his guards, who quickly retrieved a large, bulging bag and handed it to Harun. The merchant extended the bag, placing it into Sinbad's arms.
"Accept it, Sinbad," King Rashid said, a glint of pride in his eyes. "As a 'friend,' it's only natural for me to support your dream, right?"