Chapter twelve- Mage's Association

"Myron, have you heard from Muu at all?" Scheherazade asked her adoptive daughter, her voice frail and weaker than before Muu had left.

"I have. He told me another master threw a party for the beginning of the Holy Grail War, although he only sent Rider," The young red haired woman reported, standing beside her mother's bed.

"Well that was nice of them... What about Titus? Has he arrived at the Mage's Association yet?"

"He called not too long ago. It seems his research is going well, he's certain he'll find a cure to your disease." Myron paused, then huffed, "He was almost too happy to leave Rome..."

"It's alright, Myron," Scheherazade assured. "He's young and curious. A place as magnificent as the Mage's Association's college is surely going to excite him."

"Yeah, but he should be here with you-"

"If Muu is unable to win the Grail, Titus is going to be the last mage in the family. He needs to learn how to be a proper mage if he is to uphold the Alexius family name," Scheherazade cut her off, her tone stronger for a moment.

Myron sighed, "I know, I know..."

~

"You wanna what?!" Alibaba exclaimed, eyes widened at his younger blue haired friend.

"I want to go to the Mage's Association to learn magic," Aladdin repeated seriously.

"Alone?!"

"Yes."

"You can't go alone! I-I should come with you! Right, Saber?!" Alibaba sat back on his knees on his bed, looking to his servant who stood just a few feet away.

"You can't, Alibaba-kun. You're in the Holy Grail War," Aladdin shook his head.

"He's right, kid. You can't leave Japan right now," Saber agreed.

"How are you even getting into the school?!" Alibaba turned back to Aladdin.

"My mom and dad are powerful mages, remember?" Aladdin reminded. "They signed me up after talking with some people."

Alibaba sighed in defeat, "But... I can't win the Grail alone..." He sank back onto his legs.

"You'll be fine, I know it! You're an amazing magi, Alibaba-kun!" Aladdin assured. "And I'm going to go and become just as great as you are so we can fight together after the war!"

"I'm not amazing... Without Saber I can't do anything..."

"You are strong, Alibaba-kun," Aladdin insisted. "It takes a lot of power to summon a servant, and you got the strongest one!"

"Don't get all depressed now, kid. We're going to win this Grail together," Saber crossed his arms and smiled, an act that was unusual for the servant.

Alibaba gave a small smile, his mood lifting slightly. "Come to think of it, Saber, what's your wish for the Grail?"

Saber shrugged, "I dunno yet. I'm only fighting cause your spirit inspired me to, kid."

"My spirit?"

"It's clear you've got a strong need for the Grail, although I don't know what your wish is. Even though Lancer's master ditched you, you're will to fight grew even stronger. And you're smart, despite how stupid you look."

"I look stupid...?" Alibaba frowned.

"Don't dwell on it, I was giving you a compliment."

"Right... Thanks..."

~

Aladdin shifted his bag farther onto his shoulder, his anxiety catching up to him. It was a few days after his last conversation with Alibaba, and he had just arrived in England. His parents hadn't come along, remaining in Fuyuki in case Alibaba needed help or shelter during the Holy Grail War. He wasn't alone, though. He was to stay with his uncle, Uraltugo -or Ugo for short-, who lived in England not too far away from the college. Aladdin had stopped by quickly to drop of his things before he left to his first day at the college.

He breathed in deeply, silently wondering what Alibaba was doing as he braced himself to enter the large main entrance of the building. Just as he went to take his first step, someone bumped into him roughly and snapped, "Hey! Watch where you're going!"

Aladdin gasped and jumped back, "Sorry!"

A tan skinned teen with white hair rolled his golden eyes and continued walking. A blond haired teen standing beside him turned back to Aladdin, "Sorry about him. Are you alright?"

"Yeah..." Aladdin looked over the teen. He couldn't decide on what gender the blue eyed person was. Inching forward, Aladdin inspected them closer, but still couldn't tell. Slightly frustrated, he lunged forward, grabbing at the teen's chest.

"What are you...? Hey!" They gasped and stepped backward.

"Titus? What's wrong-?" The white haired male paused, breaking into a fit of laughter at the site of his friend getting groped.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Titus violently pushed Aladdin off of him.

"Sorry... I just wasn't sure if you were a boy or a girl," Aladdin backed off, still confused. He scratched the back of his head, "You're voice is high pitched, and you have a big butt, but... Are you by chance a guy?"

"Did you just say he has a big butt?!" Titus' friend exclaimed, holding his stomach as another wave of laughter flooded over him.

"W-Who... Who do you think you are, brat?!" Titus' friendly demeanor vanished, replaced by him grabbing Aladdin by his shirt collar.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Aladdin tried in vain to apologize. "I just-"

"A big butt!!" The dark skinned teen continued to laugh.

"Shut up, Sphintus!" Titus snapped at him over his shoulder.

"I-I can't!"

"M-Mr.Titus...can you please put me down?" Aladdin asked cautiously.

"Fine," Titus tossed Aladdin to the ground roughly.

Gathering himself and standing, Aladdin held out his hand to Titus, "I think we got off on the wrong foot... Can we be friends instead?"

Titus crossed his arms, "Why would I be friends with you?"

"He's funny at least," Sphintus said, recovering from his fit and wiping his watering eyes. "Hey, kid, are you attending school here? You're so young..."

"Yes, I'm just starting today," Aladdin nodded to him. "Although I don't really know my way around..."

"What's your name?" Titus asked, still on the defencive.

"Aladdin Jehoahaz Abraham," Aladdin answered.

"That's a mouthful," Sphintus commented. "I'm Sphintus Carmen."

"Titus Alexius." Titus took Aladdin's still-outstretched hand and shook it.

Alexius? Aladdin thought, remembering the pink haired man he'd seen at Kouen's party who was said to be Rider's master. Was Titus actually related to him?

"I suppose we can show you around," Titus sighed, turning his head to the side, "But don't expect any help from us."

Aladdin brightened, "Really? You will?"

Titus began walking away again, Sphintus talking to Aladdin over his shoulder, "If you fall behind we're not going to wait for you, so hurry up."

"Ok!" Aladdin agreed, running up behind them. "Thank you, Titus-kun, Sphintus-kun!"

~

"Welcome back, Aladdin. How was school?" Ugo greeted his nephew with a smile as he entered the cozy-looking living room.

"The building is a lot bigger than I thought it would be," Aladdin said with a tired sigh, sitting down on a dark colored couch.

"Did you make any friends?" Ugo had red eyes and light blue hair tied back into a ponytail. He sat on a recliner to the right of the couch, a TV to the right of him against the wall.

"Yep! Two of them," Aladdin began telling his uncle about Titus and Sphintus, who both turned out to be a lot nicer than when he first spoke to them. "Titus-kun is really excited by everything, even cats!"

Ugo chuckled, "And what about Alibaba? Was he alright with you leaving Japan?"

Aladdin looked at his lap, "Not really... But I think he'll be okay. He'll win the Grail for sure!"

"I'm sure he will," Ugo nodded, smiling. "He's up against a lot of strong people, but he'll make it. He's strong."

Aladdin looked up and nodded with a bright smile, "Yeah!"

~