Ali groaned as he slowly opened his eyes, every muscle in his body protesting the movement. His arms ached, his legs felt heavy, and even turning his head sent a dull throb through his neck. He had pushed himself hard in training yesterday, determined to motivate his friends, and himself, he needed tp train to level up. But now, the exhaustion hit him all at once, more intense than he had anticipated. A soft knock sounded at his door before it creaked open. His mother peeked in, her warm smile fading slightly as she took in his pained expression. "Rough night?" she asked, stepping inside. "More like a rough training session," Ali muttered, rubbing his stiff shoulder. "I didn’t think it’d hit me this hard." His mom chuckled, shaking her head. "You always go all out, don’t you? Well, I made your favorite breakfast zattar Manaeesh , you'll have it with mint tea, you like mint tea in the morning right? . That should help you recover." Ali perked up slightly at the mention of food,

The training grounds were quiet in the dim light of dawn, the air still cool from the night. Ali arrived early, as he often did these days, determined to make the most of his time. Balancing his new identity as a knight with his career was no easy task, but he had a plan, train in the mornings with his friends Karim and Fadi, study at night, and somehow find a way to make it all work. When he stepped onto the field, he expected to be alone, but to his surprise, Hazim was already there, running through drills with slow, deliberate precision. The older knight paused when he noticed Ali, wiping sweat from his brow. "You're early," Hazim remarked, his voice calm but curious. Ali shrugged, adjusting his training gloves. "Can’t afford to waste time. I’ve got courses to study for, job hunting won’t wait." Hazim nodded. "I see. Well, good luck with that." A moment of silence passed between them before Ali spoke again, his tone thoughtful. "Hazim… do you think if we had more members

The grand hall of the Association of Knights was filled with the leaders of various knight groups, their armor gleaming under the flickering torchlight. At the center of the room stood Mr. Ameen, the Head of the Association, his stern gaze sweeping over the assembled warriors. Beside him, Ali Hazim and Hadi stood with quiet pride, having just returned from successful negotiations with the King and Queen of the Underworld. Mr. Ameen raised a hand, and the murmurs in the hall ceased. "Attention Knights," he began, his voice firm. "The peace talks with the Underworld are progressing, thanks in no small part to the Knights of Askalan." He nodded toward Hazim and Hadi, who exchanged a brief glance. "But let us not forget,our true enemy still lurks in the shadows. The Siege Ghouls are waiting. Watching. And when they strike, we must be ready." A ripple of unease passed through the crowd. "Which is why," Mr. Ameen continued, "we must strengthen our forces. Effective immediately, each

The night was quiet as Hadi drove home, the city lights flickering past his car windows. He loosened his tie, exhaustion settling in after another long day at the firm. Just as he turned onto the deserted stretch leading to his neighborhood, a deafening explosion shattered the silence. His car lurched violently, flames erupting from the engine. Instinct took over. Hadi kicked the door open and threw himself onto the pavement, rolling to smother the sparks licking at his sleeves. Before he could catch his breath, a dark figure lunged at him from the shadows. Hadi barely dodged the first swing. His attacker was human-no telltale signs of a shapeshifter-just a man with a grudge and a knife. Hadi blocked the next strike, twisting the assailant's wrist until the blade clattered to the ground. A sharp pain shot through his shoulder as the man landed a solid hit, but Hadi retaliated with a well-aimed kick, sending the attacker stumbling back. Seizing the moment, Hadi bolted into the alley

After the announcement of the Knights' Association, things grew quiet again. Ali and the others were unhappy that their efforts for peace had gone to waste, but there was nothing they could do. Soon after, the Association ordered the knight groups to film their battles and upload the footage to social media. At first, the knights rejected the proposal, insisting they were not influencers. However, the Association argued that in this day and age, it was necessary to maintain their public image. A strong social media presence, they claimed, would provide a platform to share their perspective and protect them against future defamation. The Knights of Nablus were the first to respond. With their vast numbers and dedicated supporters, their videos went viral almost overnight, turning them into global heroes. Seeing their success, the other groups soon followed their lead. The fish market was in chaos. Stalls were overturned, people screamed, and the stench of blood mixed with the s