As I stood there reflecting, I noticed that the book I was holding began to glow again, and its pages started flipping automatically, as if the tree was responding to my presence. The pages stopped at a section titled: "The Blade Bearers' Law."
"This great tree was once the heart of the Blade Bearers' tribe. In ancient times, when the warriors were at the height of their power, they made this tree their base—not only because of its strategic location at the crossroads of the spiritual and human worlds, but because it contained a mysterious energy that couldn't be found anywhere else. The tree's roots pierced the veil between the worlds, allowing the warriors to move freely between them, communicate with spirits, and protect humanity from the spiritual attacks of the jinn and demons."
I realized that this tree was not just a base, but a spiritual center that nourished the warriors with the strength they needed to bear their heavy burdens. But now, despite its towering presence, it seemed to have lost something, as if time had taken its toll on it and the Blade Bearers themselves.
As I continued reading, I learned that the power of the Blade Bearers had weakened over time. "As humans began to distance themselves from the spiritual world and immersed themselves in the material world, the Blade Bearers lost much of their strength. The power of the blade depended heavily on the purity of the spirit and the connection between the warriors and the spiritual world. But as faith declined and humans became disconnected from this balance, the roots of the tree weakened, and the Blade Bearers' tribe grew less influential."
There was a section in the book explaining how the jinn and demons took advantage of this gradual weakness, slowly returning to the human world. Although the Blade Bearers still existed, they were fewer in number and less powerful than in ancient times.
Despite all this, there was hope. The book spoke of a "Chosen One" who would one day appear and be the one who could restore balance to the spiritual and physical worlds and awaken the tree's power once again. The text said: "When the Chosen One returns, the tree will respond to their soul, and new roots will grow, reconnecting the worlds. The Blade Bearers will rise again, with a power greater than their original strength, to protect humanity once more from the looming threat of the jinn."
I stood before the tree, feeling that everything I had read was somehow connected to me. I wasn't sure if I was the Chosen One spoken of in the book, but I felt like I was part of this story, and that my journey was not by chance. I was now faced with two choices: either continue searching for the truth and try to restore the Blade Bearers' power, or leave this burden behind and live an ordinary life.
But deep down, I knew the choice had already been made. I had begun my journey.
I went to an old wooden chair, brushed off the dust left by time, and walked towards the tree.
As I stood before the tree, feeling the weight of the legacy that was beginning to reveal itself to me piece by piece, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned slowly, and Sheikh Abdullah appeared from among the shadows. I wasn't surprised, as I had expected this meeting to happen eventually. I looked at him calmly and said: "I knew you would appear."
Sheikh Abdullah smiled that wise and reassuring smile, and said softly: "I knew you would find your way here. I felt that the moment we all waited for was close."
I took steady steps toward him, my eyes observing his features, which appeared more worn than I remembered. I said: "Tell me, from the very beginning, you knew everything, didn't you? You knew the book would find me, and that I would stand here one day."
Sheikh Abdullah nodded and said: "Yes, my son. A long time ago, when you lived with your grandfather, I saw something in you that was different. I saw that light connecting your soul to a greater world. But I didn't have the right to force this path on you. You had to find it yourself."
I lowered my gaze for a moment, then said firmly: "The dagger you gave me... it wasn't just an ordinary dagger, was it? You knew it had a bigger role to play."
The Sheikh smiled faintly: "Of course. That dagger is the key to the path. It is one of the blades of the Blade Bearers, but it was waiting for you to prove yourself before revealing its true power. I saw you holding it, I saw you training with it, and I know you have started to feel the power hidden within it."
I looked directly at him, my eyes calm, and said: "I'm ready to know everything now. My grandfather, the house, the book... all the secrets you both kept from me. It's time I knew the full truth."
Sheikh Abdullah smiled and said: "That's what I was waiting for. Come with me."
Sheikh Abdullah murmured words I couldn't understand, and in a moment, white light surrounded me and him. I closed my eyes and opened them again to find myself back inside my grandfather's house.
We returned to the house I had lived in with my grandfather. Everything was as I had left it. We entered the living room, and Sheikh Abdullah walked toward the old cupboard that I always felt hid something. He pulled an old key from his pocket and silently unlocked it. Behind the ancient shelves, there was an old metal box.
He took the box, placed it before me, and said: "Open it. Everything you're looking for is here."
I slowly opened the box. Inside was a letter written in my grandfather's handwriting, an old map pointing to the location of the tree and the library, and documents with symbols and stories about the Blade Bearers.
I read the letter aloud in a low voice: "My dear son, if you are reading this letter, it means the time has come. I spent my life protecting this secret. I knew you were the one to carry this burden after me. The Blade Bearers are not just a legend; they are the guardians of the balance between the worlds. I was not one of them, but I was a guardian of their legacy. My friend Abdullah was with me in this mission. The house I left for you is not ordinary; it is part of this legacy, a place that reshapes itself whenever danger approaches. Now the world needs you more than ever."
I slowly closed the letter and looked at Sheikh Abdullah. I said quietly: "I always felt there was more than meets the eye, that this house was hiding something. I could see how it would get dirty every week despite your cleaning. I could feel the strange energy in it."
Sheikh Abdullah smiled and said: "You were always more aware than I thought. Yes, the house was protecting you and warning us. Every time it returned dirty, it was a sign that danger was near or the balance was shifting. But now, all of that is behind us. Now you must see what's beyond that."
Revealing the Secret Room
Sheikh Abdullah led me to the west wall of the house. He gently pressed one of the bricks, and a secret passage opened, leading to a dark room filled with ancient symbols. In the center of the room was a small platform with a faintly glowing dagger.
Sheikh Abdullah said: "This is the primary blade. You were carrying its lesser version. This blade is what the world needs now. But before you touch it, you must choose. This path has no return, and your life will never be the same."
I looked at the blade, then at Sheikh Abdullah. My eyes held no fear, but certainty. I said calmly: "I've always known my life wasn't ordinary. I will continue down this path."
Sheikh Abdullah smiled proudly and said: "Then, let's begin. The world is waiting for the Chosen One."