The Kingdom of Magia

Chapter 9

Inside the shop were crystal windchimes made of never melting ice. “Ryou?! It’s Yugi!” Yugi calls. 

They all heard the soft sounds of feet walking. Each step like waves on a beach. “Yugi? Oh hello my friend it's good to see you.” Came a soft voice that sounds like water droplets from the doorway.

Yugi smiles. “Yes old friend. I’ve come for help.” Yugi said. 

The boy, who looked very much like a girl, nods as he walked out. He was wearing a pale blue kimono and his feet were bare and webbed.

Yugi looks at his friends. “Guys this is Ryou. He’s a siren with ice water.” Yugi said. 

Yami tensed at the word siren. Ryou noticed and smiled warmly. “Don't worry. I'm not like other sirens… that's why I live here instead of with the pond. I hated their savage ways... But anyways what brings you to my little shop my friend?”

Yugi places a hand on Yami’s shoulder. “It’s okay. He saved me from the other sirens. We’ve been friends since.” Yugi said. 

Ryou smiled and nods as Atemu stared at Ryou. “He looks like a cuter, shorter version of Kura….” 

Ryou blinked in confusion. “Who's that?

Yugi sighs and shakes his head. “Don’t worry about it. Ryou I need you to join me in a quest.” 

Ryou's eyes widened. “A quest? Of what kind of magnitude?” Ryou asked even though everyone could already tell he was excited.

Yugi shifts. “We’re on a quest for the Seven Items.” Yugi said softly. 

Ryou blinked and raised a brow. “You mean like my pearl? But why would you need them?” As Ryou spoke his pearl necklace glows lightly

Yugi nods his head. “It’s…hard to explain...” Yugi sighs and points to Yami, Atemu, and Dylan. “They’re the...humans.” Yugi whispers as he closed the shop door. 

Ryou's eyes widened in awe. “Really? Real actually humans here?! Oh this is so exciting….”

Yugi places his hand on Ryou’s mouth. “Quiet my friend. We can’t let many hear. Some do not like humans.” Yugi said softly. 

Ami nods and Atemu holds Ami's hand.

Yugi pulls his hand back and smiles at Ryou. “We need your help my friend on this quest. Will you help?” 

Ryou nods and smiles. “Of course I will help. Let me just get my satchel.” Ryou went up to the house part of his shop to get his own satchel. 

Yugi nods and looks at the others. “Ryou’s pearl came from the place where the Pearl of Kindness is located. It’s like a magnet.” Yugi explains. 

“And that is...where?” “The Sea of Hope. However in order to get there we must go through the River of Tears and the Waterfall of Sadness….I can show you the way but be warned... There will be a lot of sirens…and they are pretty human hungry….”

Yugi nods his head. “And the River of Tears is full of sadness and despair. It makes you feel terrible.” Yugi explains. 

Ami looked down. “Some say just being by the water makes you want to throw yourself into it and drown……” Atemu gently rests a hand on Ami's shoulder. “We can get through anything together. So let's go gang.” 

Yugi nods his head. “We will sleep here tonight then leave at midnight. It’s not the safest but it will have less guards.” 

Ryou nods and smiled. “There is more than plenty of room. I need to get back to my shop. Why not take our new friends into the market after you are settled? You can collect any supplies you may need.

Yugi leads everyone up to the house part and gets them settled in. 

Atemu and Dylan settled in easily Yami however refuse to sit still as he seemed to pace back and forth well his mind seemed elsewhere.

Yugi looks back at Yami as he got some food ready for them. “Yami? Are you okay?” Yugi asks. 

Yami paused and nods slightly. “I'm fine Kitten.. I just don't like crowded spaces…”

Yugi blinks and Atemu is quick to answer. “Yami has never been one for houses. Even back whenever we lived in the human world we would find him sleeping on his roof rather than his bed.”

Yugi looks shocked at Yami and Atemu. “Oh...I’m sorry. I wish I would have known. I thought humans liked houses.” Yugi said. 

Yami simply smiled and shrugs. “It's not a big deal. I just like seeing the stars… and the sky especially at night…” Yami falls silent as he goes to the roof of the building

Atemu and Dylan share a look before turning to Yugi. “Yami's not like other humans….He's...different. He's always been….”

Yugi frowns as he becomes more confused. Ami raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean different? I mean I have noticed he smells different and acts different but I never actually understood why I'm curious.”

Yugi grabs Ryou’s cloak before putting it on. “I hope he gets better. I’m going to go buy some supplies. I’ll be back in an hour.” Yugi puts the cloak over his head. 

“I'll go with you. I need some air anyways.” Yami's voice startled Yugi who turned to see the older boy wearing a dark cloak of his own. 

Yugi nods his head and they head out.