"Answer me!" The man asked again.
'Sister? O you twisted fate. Why do I face so much misfortune ?'
"O Niam, you are but an insignificant being to Us. It is you that has you face these fateful events."
"The witnesses lied, okay? We didn't drink tea. We drank alcohol, we had fun together. I tried to get information about the Empire out of her, while it was unknown to me who she was. And the next morning, she left, leaving a note saying she was going to Central Superio." I confessed, hoping for the best.
It was undeniable that people might get hurt after hearing the truth, but this situation might have just been a test.
"Alcohol?! How dare-"
"It is the truth, your Highness. It was nothing more than a fateful encounter that led us to get drunk, have fun and temporarily forget about the existence threatening war we, as a species, are about to wage against each other."
'Oof! I hope he understands me. His English skills must be as good as Pantera's, right?'
The absence of words but not the absence of sound followed my words. The "Prince's" men grew uneasy, most likely because of the tone of my words. I could hear bow strings being pulled to their limit, more swords get unsheathed and Mana whirr around the air.
"What did you do in that private room exactly...?" The "Prince" spoke again.
I had to decide. 'I lie and hide what happened in that room, or I tell the truth. I would've lied in a situation such as this before the impact, but now, I faced death or an even worse fate. Tsuki will find it out too. I feel like Haru... disgusting.'
"We fucked!" I announced.
Immediately, Tsuki's practiced killer-face distorted into a stupefied expression. I could even tell the faces of the "Prince's" men changed, all caught off-guard too.
"Huh?!"
["You motherfucker!"] One of the me yelled and shot towards me.
It was quite easy to overwhelm the enraged, masked attacker. I parried his sword and held him in a choke. It didn't take long for a Shoto of mine to rest on his neck.
"Don't move!" I ordered.
"Niam... I'm shocked to hear that you two have such a relationship. How long has it been since you started seeing each other?"
He didn't care for his subordinate, but he did for his sister.
'Why doesn't he understand that I met Pantera in Anatolia for the first time?'
"Do you not understand?! We have no relationship besides what we established in Anatolia."
["My Lord, forget about me! Just kill him!"]
"Shut your mouth!" I smacked the soldier's head, knocking him out in the process.
"Sidika's reports mentioned that you plan on going to old Japan. Seeing as you're here, you plan on crossing the border. You even have horses, and I doubt you have a licenses for them. Niam of the Noor, I want to speak to you, alone."
'Things might be going well... I must stay cautious.'
"Then step into the light, Prince."
The "Prince" stepped forward.
His walnut-brown hair went below his shoulders. On his head, he wore a scarf-like cloth that went around his forehead. He had brown eyes with long lashes and thick eyebrows. He also wore something called "kohl" as an eyeliner. He dressed in white and brown, and carried a scimitar.
"My name is Asem Zaman. I am the first Prince of the Arabic Empire." He introduced himself and stretched out his hand.
I shook his hand and introduced myself.
"I'm Niam Henka, son of Nahdi Noor. I need your men to retreat. I can't help but feel threatened."
With a swing of his hand, all of his men, except for one, retreated. The last one wanted to bring his unconcious comrade back with him. I looked at Asem. His face didn't show hostility, rather a requesting gaze that asked for his subordinate.
I stepped aside. The unconscious man was taken away immediately.
"What is it that you want to talk about?" I asked.
"Please tell me what you two spoke about. I want to know why my sister did what she did. She stayed strong all her life, I admired that, but it doesn't make sense that she would kill our father after all this time."
Asem ignored Tsuki, she was insignificant to him and the current topic. Tsuki still had the same confused expression on her face. I was unsure what it really was, I hadn't seen all her expressions yet.
„She barely spoke about herself, more about… another Noor if you understand. She spoke about you, her siblings, and same experiences we shared. I discovered her identity, after she told me, we were similar. I was wrapped around her finger after that."
„Another Noor… Perhaps your-„
„Yes." I interrupted.
„A year and a half before the impact, they coincidentally met and fought. Pantera won and left HIM scarred. Literally."
„I see… Why are you calling her Pantera?"
„That's what she calls herself. Kind of fitting, don't you think? Dressed in black, sharp claws and wanders alone. What even happened that made her commit patricide?"
„That's what I wanted to talk to you about. You, as a Noor, may know about your family's history. They once served our family. But things have changed and I'm not even asking you to serve us once again, but you're the only sane Noor left to ask for assistance."
„What do you want me to do? I don't have the time nor the interest."
„Just help me out." He pleaded. „Pan- Tana must trust you, and so do I. Even though I was one of the many abuser she had growing up, I still looked up to her. No matter how much hardship she faced, she never gave up and always endured. I admired that. I only want advice from a Noor. Someone whose family once helped the royal family, still has the blood to do so again."
„Look at you! A proud prince asking a criminal for help. I slept with your sister, damnit!"
Asem was ashamed. I was right. The so called royal pride was nowhere to be seen. Only the shell of a prince remained in front of me.
‚I need to at least hear him out. I can't be risking our safety. I'll give him whatever advice he needs.'
„I didn't say I wouldn't hear you out. So talk."
Asem's eyes grew from hope.
„After the impact, my father began to change. We, the princes and princesses, were never able to oppose the Emperor. That didn't change. My father order us to wage war and conquer the other Lands until Superio was under our rule. My father was a proud ruler, yes, but he had always prioritized his people. Sending soldier for conquest was out of character, and that's what I believe was Tana's realization too. She must've killed our father to stop him."
„After that, she escaped." I continued.
„Yes. Velsahar, our late father's right-hand-man, is in charge of the Empire temporarily until one of the princes ascend the throne to become the new emperor."
„Let me guess. Things didn't change after your father died, so you started suspecting Velsahar with the possibility that Salan abilities were involved. Pretty small-minded of you to realize it this late."
„I worried you would get it this fast." He paused. „What should I do now?"
"Look, Asem. If the other princes realized the same thing, I think that a fight for the throne will soon ensue. Velsahar will try to bring you under his control. Most likely the same way he did to your father. You must stop him, if you want to rule the Empire the way you see fit."
"Niam, you have the Salan ability of control, don't you? Can't you use it to control Velsahar?"
"What makes you think I won't control you too? I could even become the new Emperor with my ability and your assistance."
"But a Noor does not desire to rule." He responded.