#OMNISCIENT_POV
Laila stunned by Sadiq's statement begins to laugh! She couldn't believe this stranger before her was the late Sultan's real son.. But as she looked at his face, she saw the resemblance.. But how was this possible? All this years, she thought he had died, it was the reason why she had went through all this trouble to conquer Marida! But not, it would seem like the joke was on her.. Nit only was she fooled about his death but now Marida is in a state of ruin and the prince is here to end her.
But despite all that, there is an advantage for her she thought… She may have lost her kingdom and her army but she will break herself from this binding curse on her neck and get the freedom she deserves.
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Laila  So you're here to kill me? Do you know what I'm capable of? My power has no limit.. I can…
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Sadiq  Shut up witch and face your doom!
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Sadiq lurches forward, throwing a spear at Laila, she quickly dodges before the spear could pierce her skull.
Sadiq throws another spear at her, which again she dodges with ease, After that, she hurls herself at Sadiq stretching her hands forward and she brings out long claws from her hand..Sadiq counters her attack with his shield , Laila laughs cynically as she throws multiple attacks at Sadiq who's having a hard time blocking her powerful blows.
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Laila (laughs) What's the matter you royal dog? Suffocating under pressure? (Laughs)
Surrender while you still can.. Dog.
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Sadiq  Never..
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While Laila was busy focusing her attention on Sadiq, his men sneak up behind her and throw a huge thick net over her. Sadiq moves out of the way as the net falls on Laila, after that, the men use their strength and pull Laila backwards making her fall. The moment her back hits the ground.. Sadiq and his men descend on her.. They stab, cut and slash her with their weapons severely.. Sadiq uses his shield smacking her hard on the face, after that, he grabs his spear and brings it down with all his might on Laila's chest..
Laila shouts out in pain… Realizing that she could be killed if she's not careful, she blares out in anger and elevates herself up, She scattered the men surrounding, throwing them into different direction… As she stands high in mid air, she laughs and angrily threaten the men before her.
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Laila  You fools…. Who do you think you are? I am a goddess… I can't be stopped! My power has no limit… You all dare to defy me? You will all die painful deaths except for you, Sadiq! I have plans for you..
BEHOLD MY TRUE FORM! GAZE UPON YOUR DOOM BECAUSE I'LL BE THE LAST THING YOU'LL ALL EVER SEE (laughs)
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Sadiq and his men watch as Laila strips herself n*ked… Soon, they watch and gasp in fright as they see her body transformed into an ugly devastating state.. Her joints extends and her bones makes snapping sounds as she increases her size and length, her seductive figures was now replaced deformed ones, soon her fair smooth skin was covered in thick coat of fur… Sadiq and his men gasp as they see her true form.. Laila in this demonic form looked exactly like her minion except hers has a more feminine look.. Unlike her minions who were mindless creatures.. She still had her senses and intellect.. Seeing how the men were filled with fear.. She rushed towards them with murderous intent.. Some confronted her but they were smashed like tomatoes.. Sadiq seeing that their chances of beating her was 0%, he urged his men to flee.
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Sadiq  RUN!!!!
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Sadiq and his men run for their lives, Laila laughs out loud and begins to chase them, The men run as fast as they could but their speed was no match for the creature chasing them. One by one, Laila trampled and smashed them to death, others seeing that running wasn't working out for them stood their ground and fought Laila, but their effort was all in vain, They were all brutally murdered by Laila.
Sadiq and handful of his men decided to confront Laila head on, they split ways and attacked her from different direction, their focused their attack on her eyes and mouth since her skin was now impenetrable. The men attacked using spears and arrows and crossbows, some missed, while the others hit their mark… Sadiq's spear found it's way into Laila's eyes, She felt the stinging pain of the steel in her eyes and she was mad with rage.. With quick and swift speed, She got hold of the men and tore them apart, Sadiq being the sole survivor, continued fighting.. Laila soon grabbed hold him in her hands and threw him far away like a stone inside the palace hall, Sadiq rolled in mid air and landed hard on wooden barrels of wine that they had brought.. Luckily for him, he didn't sustain any damage but his entire body was in pain and he had dislocated his left shoulder.. Sadiq groaned and staggered up trying to stand, Laila seeing that he was trying to stand, laughed at his effort.
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Laila  (laughs) Ha, ha, ha, ha, you silly fool… You're not match for a goddess.. Surrender now, and I'll let you leave once I'm done with you.
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Sadiq  Surrender? Never! I will never surrender to you.. My people are free from you and you have nobody to do your bidding… One way or another.. I'm going to defeat you.. Even if it costs me my life.
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Laila  What a sentimental fool.. Nice speech.. I hope those are your last words.. Now.. You die, dog.
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After that, Laila runs towards Sadiq with frightening speed, Sadiq stands up finally with a spear in his right hand.. He stands boldly waiting for Laila to come at him.. As Laila approaches him, she jumps high in the air and hurls herself at Sadiq.. Sadiq using this opportunity moves out of harms wall and Laila crashes heavily into the wall, The impact of her crash bursts the wall open, Laila slides out and realizes she's high above the palace walls. Sadiq seeing that Laila is about to climb back in.. He rushes towards her and jumps up bringing down the spear into her other eye.. Laila shouts and loses her grip, she falls all the way down and crashes hard into the ground.. Sadiq stares down at Laila all the way up from the palace, to see if she was still alive, after that, He sits down and rest , In that moment, Salim barges into the room and runs towards Sadiq.
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Salim  My prince.. You're hurt..
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Sadiq  Yes.. But everything is over now.. Laila is dead.
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Salim  No she's not.. Look my prince.. She's immortal, even she's beheaded, she'll still live… The only way we can kill her is by destroying the necklace on her.
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Sadiq  Don't be absurd.. Immortal or not nobody can survive a very long fall.. Check and see.. She's there on the ground.
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Salim rushes to see what Sadiq was talking about but he was surprised to see she wasn't there.
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Salim  My prince… She's not there!
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Sadiq  What? Impossible..
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Salim  Come and see..
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Sadiq rushes towards Salim's place and sees what he said was true.. Then suddenly.. Both men hear a thundering roar as Laila makes her way into the place.. In that moment, they listen as she makes a frightening statement.
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Laila  SADIQ!!! THERE IS NO ESCAPE FOR YOU! I'M COMING FOR YOU… NO MATTER WHERE YOU RUN OR HIDE.. I'LL FIND EVEN IF IT WILL LAST A MILLENNIUM.. I HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD! YOU'RE MINE, PRINCE OF MARIDA.
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Both Sadiq and Salim knew that was no empty talk that didn't stop them from planning their next move.. Both men leave the hall and go to another which has a lot of space, they lock the door and talk on how to confront the angry Laila.
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Sadiq  What are we going to do now? Laila is coming..
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Salim  I know my prince.. But confronting her is suicide.. My opinion is we escape now. There's still a chance that…
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Sadiq  No!! I won't run.. Everything ends here tonight… She must be stopped..
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Sadiq looks around the room, he walks around thinking of what to do. In that moment, he slips and almost loses his balance.. After that, an idea pops into his head..
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Sadiq  Salim.. Come hurry, let go get some jars of oil.. There are still some left.
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Salim  Oil?? What for..
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Sadiq  Just follow me and do as I say..
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Both men went to get the jars of oil, as they come back to the room, Sadiq starts pouring them down on the floor, Salim who's confused does as Sadiq ordered him to.. Soon the whole floor was smeared with slick oil.. Suddenly after they were done.. Laila bangs hard at their door, she keeps ramming and ramming the door, until she breaks it. Unaware the oil poured on the floor, Laila dashes in haste and as a result, she slips and falls down hard.. She tried to get up but she can't.. The floor was too slippery… Then in that moment, Both Sadiq and Salim slide carefully towards her with arrows and spears in hand.. They both attack her aimlessly hitting her face..Laila desperately tries to stand on her feet but the oil won't let her, then Suddenly, Salim pierces her ears with multiple arrows.. Laila growls in pain and aimlessly throws out her arms.. Unfortunately, Sadiq who was closer to her was hit by her hands, He falls and slides down onto the floor, Laila seeing this opportunity, gathers her efforts and jumps her in air stretching and aiming her claws at Sadiq, Salim who sees this quickly slides towards Sadiq and pushes him out of harms way… Sadiq was saved but Salim however was unfortunate.. Laila's claws pierced his chest, but that wasn't enough for Laila, she grabs Salim and bites him severely, her long canines dug deep into his vital organs… Salim shouts in pain trying to get himself free from Laila, in that painful moment, Salim sees the necklace and he quickly removes it and throws it towards Sadiq without Laila knowing.
Sadiq who was woken by Salim's cries seeing the horror that was going on. His heart feels broken and heavy as he sees Salim in the hands of Laila.. Anger gets hold of him, he picks up his spear and aims it at Laila, in that moment, he sees Laila's necklace close to him and he remembered what Salim told him.. He picks up the necklace and finds a shield ? a meters away from him. Laila who was busy with Salim heard her name being called, She turns around and sees Sadiq kneeling down with the necklace in front of him.. She looks at her and neck and sees the necklace isn't there.
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Sadiq  Looking for something, b*tch?
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Laila  Give me back that necklace before I decided to do to you as I did your friend here.
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Sadiq  Is that right? Go to hell, b*tch.
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Sadiq gathers his might and smacks the ruby on the necklace with his shield.. Laila gasps as she sees the ruby crack a little.
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Laila  NO!!! Please I'll do anything.. Please stop.. You don't know what you're doing.
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Sadiq  To late, your time is up.
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Laila  NOOO!!!!
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Sadiq smacks the ruby again harder than ever cracking it again.. Laila seeing her end was near, rushes at Sadiq with murderous intent, stretching out her claws at him, Sadiq then again give one final attempt and smashes the ruby to pieces with his shield.. Immediately the ruby ? breaks apart, it shines out a white bright light and then an devastating explosion occurs, the impact sends both Sadiq and Laila flying high in the air and both of them crash heavily on the ground..
Sadiq groans in pain, but he manages to sit up and sees what's going on… Laila who was further away from him started to fall apart.. Her body started cracking and disintegrating.. She shouts out loud rolling herself on the ground clutching to her body, then finally her body engulfs in flames ? and then finally her body turns to stone.. Sadiq who sees this, grabs his spear and throws it the the stone body of Laila, the spear then smashes the body of Laila into tiny pieces.. After that, Sadiq stands up and goes Salim, who was bleeding effortlessly.
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Sadiq  Salim..
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Salim  (coughs) My prince.. Is it over?
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Sadiq  It is.. I'm sorry I couldn't be of help..
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Salim  Its all right.. I'm just glad to be of service.. It's been an honor to witness this glorious day when our people will be free. You did a great job and your ancestors will be proud of you.
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Sadiq  And I'm sorry for blaming you for my father's death.. I should have trusted you… You're the most loyal servant I've ever since.
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Salim  (voice fading) Thank.. you.. my.. Prince… Take good.. care.. of.. our.. People…. and I.. wish.. you.. long.. happy.. life.
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Sadiq  Thank you.. may.. The.. gods.. see.. you.. through.. Die well and with honor!
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After that, Salim closes his eyes and dies with a smile on his face.. Sadiq cries silently over his fallen friend and servant.. He wished In his mind that he could do something to save this good man but what's done is done.. In that moment, a white light shines over the place where Laila's body is.. Sadiq quickly focuses his attention on the light.. He watches closely as the light gradually turns into one black matter.. Then the thing began to expand and swallow everything within its vicinity, then in that moment, Sadiq hears a ? thunderbolt cracking high above the sky.. Then suddenly the palace structure itself started to shake tremendously, shortly after that, it began to fall… Sadiq quickly gets up and leaves the palace before he gets crushed.. As he reaches outside the palace.. He sees as desk clouds of the night gather around as lightening strikes over the palace.. Soon the whole city begins to shake as if an earthquake was going to erupt… Sadiq seeing the danger he was in, climbs his horse and rides out of Marida.. Getting out wasn't easy because he had to dodge and find some other way to follow cause the ground was opening huge holes, that every that was on top of the sand was sliding down into the huge dark pit.. Finally in the end, Sadiq escaped out of Marida, as he was in a safe distance.. He looks back and see the destruction happening in Marida, unable to look at it anymore, He ride away saying farewell to his homeland.
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Meanwhile back in Nishkapur, The emigrants from Marida were received warmly by the people of Nishkapur.. Frahan and his family were received by Jasmine and her father.. They gave the couple a place to stay and made sure they were given special attention.
Jasmine who was keeping an eye out for her husband begins to get worried and disturbed.. She would sent out her father's royal guards to stay at the city gates to keep an eye for her husband's return.. A day passed still there was no sign of Sadiq.. Her father seeing that his daughter was worried assured her everything would be fine.
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Sultan Ali  Jasmine.. You have to calm down.. The gods will bring him back safely..
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Jasmine  But father.. Everyone is back.. Why isn't he here? Don't you think it's strange..
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Sultan Ali  Relax.. Nothing will happen to him.. And even if he dies.. There's nothing you can do.
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Jasmine  How can you say that father!? Sadiq made a promise to me.. He must be back.. He must.
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Sultan Ali  Woman! Keep yourself together.. Go and look after your kids.. By Tomorrow.. I'll send some to go and check him out.. Okay?
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Jasmine  Alright father. Good night.
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Jasmine with a heavy heart goes to her room, as she enters, she sees her kids sleeping next to one another, she cuddles up next to her as she lies down next to them.. A bit later into the night.. Jasmine was awoken by a knock on her door.. As she opens the door, she was astonished to see Sadiq all bruised up and wounded.. She hugs him warmly and tightly crying on his chest.
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Jasmine  (cries) Oh my love… You came back? I thought you were dead.
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Sadiq  No.. I'm not.. Can I get in.. I'm feeling all bruised and tired now..in fact I'm feeling a little bit.. Dizzzzyy.
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Sadiq falls down to the ground breathing slowly.. Jasmine terrified by this quickly goes out and calls for help.
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#SADIQ
Finally, Peace, tranquility and equality was now at hand.. Nishkapur received the people of Marida warmly as if they were part of them.. The people of Marida also got used to their new home and were grateful that their lives had changed for the better..
With our knowledge and skills, the people got along and the kingdom soon progressed.. After I had recovered from my injuries.. Sultan Ali had decided to step down from his throne and I was crowned the Sultan of Nishkapur.. Frahan was very happy about this and since he had envisioned this, I decided to reward him.. He had always wanted to be a business man, so I made him enough money to start a business of his own, I wanted to him to join me in the palace but he refused, saying the money I had given him was more than enough.. His wife Salima and Jasmine soon became Friends and life was better for everyone.
Being the Sultan wasn't easy, but I did my best to rule fair and justly.. Sometimes after a long hard day.. I would stand at the balcony and look over at the city of Nishkapur…I would see how people would work, socialize and cooperate with one another unlike Marida where the case was different and speaking of Marida.. After what happened.. Frahan decided that I write it down so it may serve as an history and moral for future generations.. But I refused.. Some histories are better off forgotten.. And besides in later future nobody would believe what happened in Marida, like some scholars say.. "Seeing is believing". Many great kingdom have come and go, Some their histories was wiped out by time itself , Some still remain.. There are many wonders and mysteries in the world, Secrets yet to be found which will unravel the secrets of our universe.. But maybe there is a good reason why this things are hidden so that no man can find them.. Like Marida.. I once went back there to check on it but all I could see was a great dune of sand.. Nothing was left of it.. Not even a brick.. Some might say we never existed but we did.. Some might we were never the greatest kingdom of our time, but we were. Its just that everything in the world has it beginnings and it's endings.. Change is dynamic and one thing I know is.. Change will keep going on till the end of time.