The next day, Arsh couldn't wake up until noon. The events of the previous day had exhausted him; he didn't know why, but he felt he had pushed his body to its limits.
He woke up hungry and went straight to the kitchen. Juan was there, sitting with his feet up on the table, reading a newspaper. As Arsh walked in, Juan glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and began reading the news aloud.
"An incident occurred at the Royal Hotel in Thage City... bla bla bla... The famous lawyer and Chief Advisor to Senator Hill was present when the incident occurred. He helped the children and assisted in reuniting them with their families... The manager of the Royal Hotel, Mr. Bennes, was arrested for aiding and abetting kidnapping. This incident brought renewed attention to questions surrounding the abolished slavery laws and human trafficking. These acts, although universally condemned as inhumane in Symran, are still practiced in remote areas of the country..."
Arsh approached to Juan and looked at the open page of the newspaper. The photo printed on the page was the one taken at Arsh's request last night. The children were lined up in three rows. Behind them, in contrast to the miserable and frightened children in the photo, stood Matthew Tiffany in his neat suit and confident stance.
"Matthew Tiffany is good at this. He prevented any news about you from being released... And look at the news and the photo. He is such a politician. But I'm sure General Debriz's men are already investigating you. Anyway, they won't be able to find anything, just don't go out alone." Juan said as Arsh skimmed the article.
Matthew Tiffany had indeed helped him far more than he expected. Along with his own men, he had assisted Arsh in slipping out of the hotel and safely returning to the Kurshanese neighborhoods. Then, exactly as Arsh had requested, he spread the news through the papers—not only in the local press, but also in those distributed across all of Symran and its colonies.
Everything seemed to be in order.
...
When he returned home late that night, he found Juan and his team in the kitchen, leaning over the open trapdoor that led to the pantry beneath the floor, whispering among themselves.
"He's just unconscious, right? Are you sure? Hey, Juan, you didn't kill him, did you?" Eliz was asking.
"Hey, hey, there's no need to go down there. Flora, the man is breathing, isn't he?"
As they continued to argue among themselves, Arsh approached and leaned down to see what was there.
There was an unconscious man in the pantry. His glasses were broken and hanging crookedly on his face. Arsh knew exactly who he was. He had memorized the man's face by looking at his photograph. It seemed they had kidnapped Paul Smith.
Arsh had completely forgotten about him until he saw him in the pantry.
Now Arsh was curious about what would happen next. Juan's team had found the information they wanted and captured the man they were looking for. He had a lot of questions, but Juan brushed him off.
"Rest is for the morning. I am so sleepy," Juan told him while yawning.
Since he had caught up on his sleep, it was time to talk. But before Arsh could even begin, Juan was the first to ask a question.
"Now it's my turn to help. Did you find out where the men you were looking for went?"
"Yes. Hals," Arsh replied briefly, without going into detail.
"Hals, huh? Hmm… Tirsit isn't far. It's about an hour's train ride. They might have gone there to avoid drawing attention. That's good. I'll send you to Tirsit in a few days. I've sent a message to our headquarters. They will send men here to take Paul Smith. It is impossible to bring him to justice while General Debriz is here. They would only cover it up somehow... So, when they arrive, I want you to go with them. They will be here in four days at most. You should also get ready to leave."
'So I am going to Tirsit; that is good. I will be able to find Professor Millway easily once I am there. It is truly not far from Hals,' Arsh thought.
"I am ready."
"Please…" Juan finally pulled his legs down from the dining table and stood up, his expression turning solemn.
"You are not ready. Before you go buy some new clothes. You can't go to Tirsit in these native clothes... and say goodbye to your country. You cannot know when you will be able to return."
"I won't return," Arsh said. He hadn't even felt the need to consider such a possibility. When he had left his village, he had set out with the thought of never returning.
"You will decide it later if you come back or not. I am talking as someone experienced. I know you don't have anyone dear to you here anymore... but you will miss speaking your own language, your foods, the smell in the air, small traditions and habits of your people even you didn't realize them before leave. You will miss them all. So take a your time to say goodbye before leaving."
Arsh didn't answer for a while. He hadn't even thought about these kinds of things. If there was no one left he loved, could he still call this place home?
Perhaps home and homeland were different things, yet connected in some way. He didn't know.
"Okay, I will think about it."
While they were talking, the others came into the kitchen and insisted that Arsh prepare breakfast.
"Everyone here cooks food that tastes like garbage. Please do us a favor. Juan and Ray said your soup was delicious," Flora said with a smile.
This left Arsh with no choice but to prepare the meal.
It was a peaceful meal. They talked and laughed about many things, and Arsh joined the conversation from time to time. Everyone was happy, knowing they were one step closer to their goal.
And as for the man in the pantry… Arsh wasn't sure whether they had forgotten to give him food or if they had skipped it on purpose.
….
A man in the glasshouse was carefully trimming the flowers. A pleasant fragrance filled the air; it was a peaceful moment.
But the sound of someone running inside broke that peace.
A young boy hurried into the glasshouse and approached the man. Beneath the rolled-up sleeves of the man's white shirt, a large scar was visible. It looked as though someone had deliberately carved into his skin, but now, its original shape barely recognizable, it resembled a severe burn.
The boy was holding a piece of paper.
"Sir, there is news from Juan. He says he is in Thage and requests support to take Paul Smith. They've found out who is behind it."
"Who?"
"General Debriz... And Juan told you to look at the news from the colonies."
"Hmm... Good job. Tell Bera and Herman to get ready, and bring me the newspapers," the man said, as he placed the scissors on the table.
"And there is something else, but I didn't quite understand it." The boy was looking at the paper in his hands.
"What is it?"
"He said he found a treasure in the desert. He will send that to you as well."
…
After breakfast, Arsh went to Nesame's house. He wanted to be sure the children were safe, thank Nesame for his help, and let him know he was leaving. On his way, he saw a bakery with various cookies in the showcase. He went inside and bought a box of them.
'Ah, these are expensive. It was truly tasty, though,' he thought, remembering the cookie the little girl had given him the night before. He hadn't know they were this expensive.
When he arrived at Nesame's house, there was something different about the place. This time, instead of a woman's crying, he heard the laughter of a child.
He pushed the gate that opened onto the small garden. Nesame saw him from the window and came out immediately.
"Arsh, welcome to my home."
"I see everything is okay, right? I saw the newspaper and the photo of your child, so I wanted to make sure he is alright."
"Thank you, thank you; everything is alright now. We have survived a great disaster... come inside, meet my boy."
Sefir was in his mother's arms, smiling happily. The fear of the previous nights no longer seemed to remain in those innocent eyes.
Sefir's mother also greeted Arsh.
"Sorry, I wasn't in my right mind last night. Nesame told me about you. I am sorry for your loss."
"It's okay. Your child was in danger. It's only natural," Arsh replied. After the greetings, he gave Sefir the box of cookies.
"Why did you bring these? They are expensive," the woman said in an embarrassed voice.
"It's okay. Children like sweet things. He should eat them and be happy."
They sat for a while and drank tea. Sefir's mother asked him to stay for dinner, but he wanted to leave the family to themselves.
Nesame came to see him off.
"Brother Nesame, I guess this is our last meeting. Thank you for everything," Arsh said as they approached the gate.
"You're leaving? Did you find them?"
"Yes, I found them."
"Will you come back?"
"I'm not sure… maybe someday."
"Arsh… may your path be clear. May the sun and the stars be your light and your guide. May Arinne bless you and watch over you. And if you ever wish to return, you will always find a home here. Never feel lost."
Arsh nodded. There was nothing left to do but accept his blessing. He slowly walked out the door and returned to Juan's house.