The street stayed frozen after the blow.
The boy's whimper echoed in the void.
"Enough," the woman said softly, her words uneven.
The boy's whimper faded gradually.
Navir watched her nod again, smaller this time.
"They meant to instill fear." Navir murmured to himself.
Torin muttered under his breath, "Did you see that? She didn't even argue."
"Don't," Ardavan warned quietly. "Not here."
A youth near the wall whispered, "He just asked a question."
"Hush," another replied, eyes down. "Do you want more?"
Navir exhaled slowly. "She's broken," he murmured.
Sorvan's voice came low at his side, facing his brother. "That's the lesson…. For all of us."
He returned his gaze.
Across the street, an elder hissed to another, "They're watching."
"Let them," came the reply. "They'll always watch."
Silence stretched taut.
"It will pass," someone said, though without conviction.
Navir's jaw tightened. "The system," he said quietly. "It cracks when people hesitate."
Sorvan glanced at him. "Careful."
Navir didn't answer. His jaw set, breath measured, eyes fixed on the elders.
Navir met their gaze without bowing.
Nothing moved.
But nothing fit the same way again.
____________________________
The Luho delegates were prepared to leave Argathe for their country.
A crowd of Argathes in the region gathered to see them off.
They exchanged inaudible pleasantries with the Argathe Elders and Civil diplomats.
The crowd thinned as the Argathe Elders left.
Civil diplomats dressed in tailored suits escorted The Luhos to their ride.
The Eldest Luho caught sight of Navir, he raised his hand slightly, signalling the others to wait, as he approached Navir.
The younger Luhos joined him.
They wore a delicate, ethereal outfit dominated by a flowing, off-the-shoulder garment in pale silver or white fabric that drapes softly over their upper body.
His voice low enough to pass as casual.
"Remember this," he said. "Nations don't fall when elders are challenged. They fall when children stop believing elders are infallible."
Silence stretched taut.
"Thank you sir." Navir bowed in deep respect.
Torin scoffed softly. "So that's it," he muttered. "They beat us because they're afraid we're smarter."
"Careful," Ardavan warned. "Walls listen."
"Hey," a Luho girl said approaching Navir, "I'm Timna," she said, stretching out her hand for a handshake.
"Navir," he replied, grasping her ash skinned palm.
"I'd like to get to know you, Navir." She smiled smoothly.
"You've got a number?" She said, handing him her smartphone.
Navir smirked, he took her phone, put in his number and handed it back to her.
She waved at him, a smile etched on her face as she headed back to the limousine.
"Did you see that?" Torin murmured, nudging Ardavan.
"Oh… Brother." Ardavan drawled, rolling his eyes.
"Ha ha!" Torin let off an exclaimed laugh.
"Our Navir's becoming a man." He said, smacking Ardavan on the shoulder.
"Ow! Stop that!" Ardavan exclaimed.
Torin put his arms around his shoulder "You know what?"
"Oh God!" Ardavan rolled his eyes.
Torin's murmurs became inaudible as he and Ardavan turned around and walked off in the sunset.
Navir watched the convoy drive off.
Timna waved at him, smiling.
Navir smiled back, waving.
The cars hum seemed to fade.
"Navir," Jahmir lingered behind Navir, then slipped something into his palm, a folded page, thin and brittle.
"Read it when you're alone," he whispered.
Navir nodded, jaw tight.
He moved into the shade of a narrow passage. Navir unfolded the paper.
Names. Ages. Dates.
Beside each entry, the same phrase repeated in neat script: Corrected. Reassigned.
No returns listed. No transfers. No conclusions.
Navir's breath slowed as the truth settled.
This wasn't discipline.
It was removal.
And suddenly, every silence made sense.