The Sawafin's seal

Chapter 4: The guardian angel

"Uncle… forgive me… I’ve failed..."

Maher murmured, his voice trembling, breaths racing, while the savage bear held him in its claws. Its fangs dripped, and its eyes burned with terrifying rage.

At the very moment death was about to seize him, a faint voice crept into his ear, like a breeze from a distant place...

The voice grew louder, clearer, warmer, and more decisive. It was his uncle Saber’s voice.

“Recite the incantation, Maher… It’s engraved in your memory… Don’t give up. I’m with you!”

Then Maher remembered… the book… the incantations.

He closed his eyes with an iron will, summoning the image of the book’s pages etched in his mind. He flipped through them in his thoughts with desperate speed until he found the needed incantation.

The moment he found it, he began chanting it loudly, clearly, and with astonishing confidence, as if all the strength in the world had gathered in his voice.

The words struck the bear like arrows, piercing its body, embedding deep within. The beast screamed in pain, unlike any animal’s cry. It staggered under the weight of the spell, black demonic energy leaking from its form as thick smoke.

One final, furious, terrifying, vengeful roar escaped from the entity that had inhabited the bear, Savn of Oblivion, before it vanished into thin air, gone as if it had never existed.

Maher ceased his chanting, his eyes fixed on the bear’s body, which had returned to its natural state after the curse of savan was lifted.

But the danger was not over.

Maher gripped his dagger and prepared for a second attack. But suddenly, the bear shifted its target...

It turned toward Layan.

It charged at her instinctively. She stood frozen, stunned, helpless.

Maher sprinted with all his might, leapt upon the beast, and stabbed it without mercy, once, twice, again and again… until it collapsed in a pool of blood.

Breathing heavily, his hand dripping with the bear’s blood, Maher looked over at Layan...

She was staring at him with wide, terrified eyes. Then she suddenly collapsed, unconscious.

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With Saber:

In a narrow, pitch-black cell, Saber finally exhaled in relief… Maher had succeeded, and surely, he would continue until he reached him. The hope that once dimmed now pulsed anew. Maher’s selection for this mission hadn’t been mere chance; it was fate, a perfect match, for no one else was fit for this critical confrontation.

A full day had passed in captivity, a day heavy as a lifetime, lived within the realm of Savn of Oblivion. That dark world had resisted the entity’s control over Saber, forcing it to imprison him instead.

There, in the suffocating stillness, muffled screams began to reach Saber’s ears, groans of pain and hunger. It was clear: he wasn’t alone In this hell.

The cave was not empty but inhabited by both prisoners and guards, all human. But the difference between them was immense. The prisoners were born with something rare: “the Guardian Trait”, those who would sacrifice themselves for others without expecting anything in return. They possessed innate courage and a strength unknown to the average human. They were the ones Savn of Oblivion failed to conquer. He couldn’t break them, so he condemned them to eternal imprisonment in this isolated realm.

The guards’ story was far more tragic. They had once been weak humans, and Savn had slithered into them through their pain, seeping into their inner void, draining their joys and memories, stripping them of all meaning. He took over their bodies and used them as tools. It took him only seven days to burn their souls completely. On the seventh day, nothing remained of the human but a hollow shell inhabited by Savn’s shadows, forever closing the door to redemption. They turned to ash the moment Savn no longer needed them, then he’d move on, hunting for the next soul to devour.

Saber looked down at his food, dry crumbs of bread, a rock-hard piece of cheese, and a small bottle of water barely enough to quench thirst. He sighed in resignation, then reached for his food, determined to stay strong while waiting for Maher. He knew these creatures didn’t spare lives out of mercy. They drained their captives to the last breath.

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With Maher:

She opened her eyes slowly… the world around her still, as if holding its breath for her return. She didn’t know how long she’d been lost in darkness, but the warmth of the jacket wrapped around her was the first thing she felt. She looked up to find the fire still burning, its flames dancing gently over the wood, whispering secrets of the forest. Maher sat across from her, a small pile of wild pears by his side.

He smiled as their eyes met and asked gently:

Hungry?

She nodded. He handed her a pear, which she took hesitantly, beginning to eat slowly, as if trying to reclaim a sense of calm. He studied her for a moment, then asked:

Are you okay?

She nodded again.

He sighed and continued:

So… you’ve been here for two days? This is your third?

She nodded in confirmation, but doubt lingered in his gaze:

But… how can you be sure? There’s no sun here, no moon. Time in this forest seems lost. Even I no longer know how many hours have passed.

She pulled an old wristwatch from her clothes and raised It slightly.

Its hands stopped at six in the evening. Since then, I’ve been measuring time by feeling alone… two days, maybe a little more.

Maher nodded thoughtfully and muttered:

I think time In this place is frozen… like prisoners, unable to move forward.

She looked at him and said softly:

But it still moves somewhere else.

His tone changed, more serious now:

Your brother… my uncle… and maybe others we don’t know about, they’re all prisoners in this dark world.

He looked at her steadily and said slowly:

But… the fact that you reached this forest without being a captive or under his control… it’s strange.

Her face tensed In confusion, but he continued, as if memories were pouring into his mind:

Savn of Oblivion controls bodies and feeds on souls. Those whose spirits are broken become his. But you… you’re strong. He couldn’t break you. Surely, you possess the Guardian Trait.

She whispered:

The Guardians? Who are they?

He explained:

The Guardians are those who sacrifice themselves without expecting reward… strong by nature, immune to the creatures of darkness.

She scoffed:

Strong and immune? I fainted the moment that bear attacked me. If you hadn’t been there, I’d have been its dinner.

He shook his head:

If I hadn’t been there… your guardian bird would have protected you.

She nodded:

True… it always appears when I’m In danger.

And then, she understood what Maher meant. He saw that realization in her eyes and continued firmly:

We need it… It’s the only one who can lead us to my uncle and your brother Majed. We mustn’t delay. We have to save them before it’s too late.

What do you mean?! What happens if It’s too late?

We can’t bring the dead back to life, Layan…

Her eyes widened, her voice choked with tears:

You mean… he’ll die?

He answered calmly:

If we don’t defeat Savn before then, your brother won’t be the only one…

His words flowed as if reading from an open book in his mind. Saber’s research had been implanted into Maher’s memory like his own. He looked at her with certainty:

But we won’t let that happen. That bird… it’s your gift of life. Your guardian angel. It brought you to this forest not to be a victim, but to be salvation. For you, your brother, and maybe… all of us.

She nodded, the fire of hope flickering back in her chest.

She lowered her gaze, trying to collect her thoughts, then raised her eyes and asked, uncertain:

And how do you know all this? What if it hurts you? What if it’s not what we think?

Maher smiled with unwavering confidence and said:

It won’t.

Then added with a playful wink:

We’ll be friends.

Maher was exhausted, and the moment he made sure Layan was safe, he fell into a deep sleep. He didn’t know what exactly made him sleep so deeply, was it the comfort of her presence, or the constant watch of her Invisible guardian?

He woke up feeling refreshed and full of resolve. His eyes searched for her and found her still sitting by the fire, tending to its flames. She turned toward him and whispered with a smile:

Did you sleep well?

He nodded, then stood lightly and began stretching his stiff limbs with a few warm-up exercises, while Layan watched in amazement.

He asked, slipping on his sweater:

Is he here? Can you feel him?

She answered calmly, confidently:

He never leaves me… I always feel his presence.

He smiled and took her hand, saying:

Good. Let’s find something to eat… We need to begin our mission.

With Sarah:

Sarah’s anger had reached its peak. She yelled at the police officer:

You told me you'd act within twenty-four hours! What have you done so far?! Three men from my family disappeared in a single day—does that seem normal to you?!

Miss… these are the procedures.

To hell with your procedures! It’s been over a day and you’ve done nothing! What are you waiting for?!

The station chief entered, drawn by her shouting. With one glance, he dismissed the officer and said calmly:

Please, come into my office. Let’s talk quietly.

Sarah was about to explode again, but the astonished looks surrounding her made her hold back. She swallowed her words and walked to the office nervously.

There, after sipping a glass of cold water and gathering her thoughts, she listened to Major Mohammed, who said:

Rest assured, we are doing everything we can. Their pictures and data have been distributed to all stations, hospitals, and even posted in public places and parks.

Sarah said, remorsefully:

I apologize for my outburst… My mother hasn’t stopped crying and asking about them since they vanished. She’s very ill, and I fear for her health.

He nodded understandingly:

Reassure her… we won’t stop until we find them.

Sarah left the police station with a heart slightly more at ease. Now, all they could do was wait and pray… hoping they would return soon.

In the Forest;

The glowing crystal orb accompanied them, not for Maher, but for Layan, who could see nothing in the dense darkness of the forest.

Layan asked, glancing toward Maher:

Can’t you locate them using this orb?

He replied sarcastically, glancing sideways:

It’s just a glowing ball, nothing more… Do you still think I’m some kind of spirit?

She shrugged mockingly:

That’s not it… But we’re running out of time. How will you make the bird your ally if it won’t appear?

He stopped to think, then said:

What if I attacked you? Wouldn’t it show up to protect you?

She exclaimed excitedly:

Should we try?!

But when he laughed, she realized he wasn’t serious, and she had believed It like a fool.

Impossible… It’s smarter than that. It knows I wouldn’t hurt you. If it thought otherwise, it would’ve attacked me long ago.

She nodded in understanding.

He smiled lightly:

I have a suggestion. (He continued when he saw she was listening attentively): I’ll walk away and leave you alone in the forest. If danger approaches, the bird will appear to save you.

Her eyes widened In horror:

Leave me alone?! That’s your plan?! I’m to be the bait just to trap It?!

He sighed In frustration:

Then you come up with something… Time is against us, and we can’t move forward without a plan.

After a moment of silence and thought, she realized he was right. She agreed, though hesitantly. The glowing orb vanished, and he encouraged her:

Don’t be afraid… I’m nearby. Just go.

She walked slowly into the darkness, a mix of fear and hope churning inside her. As she stepped cautiously away from Maher, a pop-up alert appeared:

"Warning… Danger approaching."

Maher’s face darkened:

What about a weapon?… Ugh, this screen is no longer useful!

Layan continued walking nervously through the pitch-black forest, feeling her way like someone blind.

Suddenly… the sound of cracking branches behind her made her freeze. Not being able to see increased her fear. She whispered shakily:

Maher?

No reply.

The sounds grew louder… the hiss of a snake, the growl of a large beast… and then, red, gleaming eyes began appearing from among the trees, on the branches, in the grass, from every dark corner.

Layan’s heart pounded in terror. She called again:

Maher?!

But her voice came out as a whisper. She wanted to scream, to cry, but fear choked her.

Then came the howls… a pack of wolves drawing near. She collapsed to the ground; her legs could no longer carry her. The red eyes drew closer, glowing with malice. Her tears flowed freely, and inside, she was certain, the end was near.

She felt hot breath on her face. She turned…

And there it was, those same red, terrifying eyes staring into hers.

She froze, her scream trapped in her throat, as the beast approached… its fangs gleaming… and only inches separated them from her neck…

[to be continued...]