The soldiers, still unnerved by the recent events, recalled the tense confrontation in the tent with Uluç's words echoing in their minds. One of them spoke up, his voice low and wary, as if afraid that repeating the words might somehow bring Uluç's wrath upon them again.
"He looked at her with those cold, piercing eyes," the soldier began, glancing around to make sure they were alone. "And then, in that deep, commanding voice of his, he said, 'You shall treat everyone here with respect, young lady.' You could feel the air in the tent grow heavier, like the very walls were holding their breath."
Another soldier chimed in, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, and then he said, 'Before you go around questioning everyone here, you should be the one questioned first.' It was like he was cutting her down to size with every word. There was no mistaking it—he wasn't just talking to her; he was putting her in her place."
The first soldier continued, his tone almost reverent as he remembered the scene. "And then he said, 'I am not a man of silly words and politics.' You could tell he wasn't playing around. He was there to lead, not to deal with her games. That's when I knew… Uluç wasn't just a leader, he was the one in charge, no matter who thought they had the power."
The group fell silent for a moment, each man lost in his own thoughts, still hearing the echo of Uluç's words in their minds. It was clear that the confrontation in the tent had left a lasting impression, not just on Aslı, but on everyone who had been there to witness it.