In Prugga City…
Two months later, in a remote village, Zafar hid in the bushes, watching the people closely. Suddenly, he noticed a tall figure behind him. He turned quickly, raising a gun with trembling hands.
"It's well loaded and I'm not scared to use it. Who… who are you?"
"I'm Alex," the figure replied calmly. "Let's cut to the chase, yeah? I'm in a bit of a hurry. Tell me everything."
Zafar slowly lowered his gun. "Let's not talk here. Come."
They moved through a narrow bush path, and after some minutes, they arrived at what looked like a dead end. Zafar lifted a stone, and the ground beneath them opened. They stepped into a hidden stairway, and the earth sealed itself behind them.
Inside was a small room. Zafar gestured for Alex to sit before clearing his throat and sitting opposite him.
"Alex?" His voice broke as tears filled his eyes. "I thought I'd never see you. At some point, I thought my old man was just trying to teach me a lesson by isolating me from everyone. Me and my dad built this place… it's cool, right?"
He wiped his tears quickly.
"Sorry about that."
Then he told him everything—about Mauja's encounter with Charles.
"Mauja awakened after she died and has been plotting evil. Are you even aware of your sister, Aruna? Mauja kept her captive. Mauja can be anywhere at any time. I'm sorry to say this, but you're just a pawn to her. She's been planning her 'ultimate revenge.'"
Alex's expression hardened. "Why did your dad die?"
"The white poison," Zafar replied. "It's a poison made by one of the elders' children. Once a person tells a secret they're not supposed to say… they die instantly."
He sniffed, continuing.
"My dad served Mauja in the palace before he served Safeera. When the throne was taken from her, he left. He started working for Safeera. And when you went to Akira's house, someone met my dad and warned him never to show his face to you again… or else."
He exhaled shakily.
"It's a miracle you even made it to Akira and read that diary. It belonged to the old Mauja. But ever since she awakened… she isn't the same anymore. She sent people to destroy it before anyone could get to it. To her, that diary was her shame… the bitter shame of her past and weakness."
Suddenly, blood trickled from his nose.
"Now, Alex… that I've told you everything I know… do me a favor. Bury me under that—"
"Apple tree?" Alex interrupted.
Zafar looked at him, confused.
"Your dad told me," Alex said quietly. "The first time he had you, he planted an apple tree."
Zafar smiled faintly.
"You should go, Alex. Go and claim your throne. Don't let Mauja… don't let her sit…" He coughed violently, blood spilling from his lips. "On that throne. It's only you that can stop—"
He collapsed.
Zafar was dead.
Alex buried him beneath the apple tree before heading back to Sumdem. The journey took two weeks by plane. When he arrived, heavy rain poured from the sky. Without wasting any time, he drove straight to the hospital.
He rushed into Damien's ward… but the bed was empty.
His heart pounding, he approached the doctor.
"Where is Damien?"
"Oh… yes," the doctor said. "You're the one who came with him last time. I'm sorry to say this, but Damien passed away the moment you left the hospital. Weeks later, a woman came claiming to be his mother and took him away. I'm really sorry for your loss."
Alex stood there, frozen. The doctor's voice faded into the distance. All he could hear was the rain, the wind whistling, the flicker of lightning. The world around him slowed.
"Are you okay, sir?"
"Yes!" Alex snapped back to reality.
His legs moved on their own, carrying him outside. The rain soaked him as he collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down his face.
"He died? Damien is dead? He… he…"
A loud scream tore from his throat.
"How? Why? He said he would find me! I finally found the answers… the whole truth. Are you really dead? This isn't some joke, right? I'm sorry… I'm sorry I wasn't there. It must have been painful, right?!"
He screamed again.
"Why?! Why?!"
He looked up at the stormy sky.
"Why did you take him? He wanted to be a goddamn professor! Why?!"
He began punching the ground.
"Why?! Why does everyone close to me die? Am I a curse? The palace? The throne? To hell with it! To hell with the throne! True descendant—my foot!"
An umbrella suddenly covered his head.
"You must be going through some insane shit to sit under the rain and talk to yourself," a voice said.
Alex glared up at him.
"You mentioned something about true descendants or something?"
"Get lost," Alex snapped, throwing the umbrella aside. "The last thing I want is your pity."
He stood, soaked, about to leave.
"Don't get the wrong idea," the man said coldly. "No one gives a damn about you. I just find it amusing to see a young man crying in the rain. Where I come from, we hardly see—"
Alex grabbed him by the collar.
"You find this amusing? Do you even know who I am?"
The man smiled.
"A pathetic weakling who thinks all his problems will go away by crying in the rain. Now let go of me."
He kicked Alex hard, sending him crashing through a wall.
"Oh… you survived that?" the man said, amused. "You're kinda tough."
Alex, covered in blood, grabbed his leg.
"Teach me," he begged, kneeling. "Teach me how to fight. Please."
"Seems like I humbled this fool," the man muttered, a strange memory flashing through his mind.
"I've lost everything," Alex continued. "I'm too weak to claim what's mine. I don't want to lose anything valuable again. Please… lend me your strength."
"Are you rich?" the man asked.
"Name your price."
He smiled.
"To train you, we'll need somewhere isolated. What's your name?"
"It's Alex. About the isolated place… it's—"
The man laughed.
"Let me guess. When you're there, you feel happy, right? You don't want to go back because of guilt? That person must've been really close to you. If you knew what I went through, you'd hide your face in shame."
He turned away.
"You're not worthy of my teaching. I have no interest in those who can't let go of the past."
Alex stopped him.
"If you're that interested in my teachings," the man said, without turning, "then do what you're told… and hide that face of yours. For some reason… I don't like it."
(Really wanna know who that man is 😏
He is the almighty "Hiruko")
—
Back at the palace…
Ali smiled as he embraced them.
"Welcome home, my brave daughters. It's really nice to have you back. You must be tired. Go and rest—we'll continue later."
"Dad," Zanu said, "if it's okay with you—and Manu agrees—it's best we talk now."
Ali's smile faltered.
"He's not coming back, is he? Mauja's son…"
Zanu explained everything. Silence filled the throne room.
"Well," Ali forced a smile, "it's good to hear Damien is alive… and quite surprising about his friendship with Alex, considering their parents are enemies."
He clenched his fists.
"I'm going to be a grandfather… and Manu will become an aunt."
He laughed weakly.
"You should rest. And Manu… I apologize for everything."
"It's okay," Manu replied coldly. "Maria carries more fault than you."
After they left, Manu scoffed.
"You apologize? Poor Zanu… such a beautiful family. Too bad it won't last long."
She made a call.
"Yes, I'm in the palace… okay."
Zanu stepped out from where she had been hiding.
"As expected," she said coldly. "I knew you weren't working alone."
She made a call.
"They'll go for Zebrew first. Tighten security around the dungeon."
She smiled.
"Poor Manu… you don't realize what mess you're stepping into."
—
Later that night…
Manu slipped through the palace, avoiding guards, and made her way to the dungeon. Using a key sent earlier, she entered and found Zebrew.
After ensuring no one was around… she killed her.
Returning to her room, she made a call.
"The job is done. Everything went as predicted. I'll move on to the next phase."
She smiled wickedly.