The Sawafin's seal

Chapter 5: The Battle of Shadows

Just when Lian thought her fate was sealed forever, Maher lunged like a lightning bolt, his dagger flashing in the darkness, and struck the beast’s neck with a series of consecutive stabs. It resembled a wild boar only much larger, its tusks long, sharp, and terrifying. Its glowing red eyes radiated hatred and evil, as if a malevolent spirit had taken hold of its body and was controlling it.

At that very moment, the predatory bird swooped down, slashing the beast with its sharp claws. Lian stood frozen in terror, watching the vicious struggle unfold before her. But it wasn’t just one monster this time. They were surrounded by four horrifying creatures: the wild boar, a massive two-headed cobra, a towering crocodile with thick, impenetrable scales, and a colossal black jaguar. All of them shared one common trait those same terrifying, crimson eyes.

Maher glanced at Lian, who stood paralyzed by fear, as the cobra dangled from a tree branch, its face just inches from hers. He rushed to her aid, but his path was blocked by the jaguar, growling and ready to pounce. Maher raised his sturdy dagger, bracing himself for the attack. Meanwhile, the bird swooped to protect Lian, seizing the cobra in its talons and flying off into the air. Lian collapsed to the ground, sobbing and trembling.

Maher shouted as he saw the crocodile moving toward her: “Lian?! Climb the tree!”

In the next moment, the jaguar pounced, sinking its claws into Maher. He fought back with unmatched bravery, dodging and striking with his dagger. The bird returned, flapping its wings to defend Lian, who had managed to climb up to a tree branch and was now watching Maher’s struggle with bated breath.

Maher, agile and swift, slashed at the jaguar with strong blows, then rolled away to regain balance before launching himself again with even more force. Lian watched, torn between fear and admiration. The bird perched above her, watching as well silent and calm.

Maher was suddenly hurled into a massive tree, the force rattling his bones. He looked up to see both the jaguar and the crocodile advancing slowly toward him. He lifted his gaze to Lian and called out sarcastically: “Does your bird only move to save you?”

Lian glanced at the bird perched just above her, its gaze cold and indifferent toward Maher. She shrugged. “Looks like it.”

Maher grunted, blocking another swipe from the jaguar, then shouted mockingly: “Could you at least ask it to help me?”

Her eyes widened in astonishment as she watched Maher fend off attacks from both beasts with such agility. “How am I supposed to do that? He won’t understand me!”

Maher jumped onto the crocodile’s back, stabbing it furiously. “Damn it! Just try! It can’t hurt!”

But the crocodile’s armor like scales were too thick. His dagger broke, and he was thrown off by its tail. Worse still, the beast stood up on its hind legs, towering six meters tall, heading straight for the tree where Lian was perched.

She screamed, desperate: “Bird! Please help Maher!”

Before she could even finish, the bird swooped down in a whirl of feathers, attacking the crocodile with beak and talon. Meanwhile, the jaguar resumed its assault on Maher who now stood unarmed. Then, just in time, a glowing panel appeared before him:

“You have obtained Fireball. Use it to defeat the monster. Click ‘OK’ to acquire it.”

Maher shouted joyfully: “Perfect timing!”

A large, blazing red fireball materialized before him, following the movement of his hand without touch. He raised it high and hurled it at the jaguar, which was instantly engulfed and reduced to black ash.

Breathing heavily, Maher climbed the tree and sat beside Lian. She was watching the bird battle the massive crocodile.

“Why don’t you help him?” she asked. “Look at that monster my bird won’t be able to defeat it alone!”

Maher leaned back indifferently. “Not my problem.”

Lian glared. “But he helped you! Why won’t you help him?!”

Maher raised a finger and shook it. “He helped you. Not me.”

Her eyes widened. “You said you’d become his friend!”

He shot back: “That was before I realized he only obeys you!”

She yelled in frustration: “You’re selfish! Look at that crocodile! He’s going to hurt him!”

Maher nodded. “You’re right.”

Lian climbed down the tree, fuming. “Then I’ll help him myself. You just stand there!”

Maher rolled his eyes, but the moment her feet touched the ground, the crocodile lunged. Maher shouted, launching another fireball: “Move your bird!”

The fireball struck the crocodile’s side as the bird swooped in to carry Lian back to safety. But the beast wasn’t finished yet. Maher summoned another flaming orb and hurled it, finally reducing the monster’s body to smoldering ash.

Looking up, he saw Lian perched safely again, the bird standing beside her on the branch. He smiled, relieved. Maybe now, they could finally work together with this mythical creature.

With Saber

Saber began to feel the pangs of hunger again. They barely fed him enough to keep him alive, and he needed his strength to survive his battle against the Sawafin. He sighed, recalling memories with his colleagues. He had always been the most skilled and intelligent among them. But he didn’t earn the award just for his skill and intelligenceit was also because of his wisdom. He was known for his sound thinking, making the right decisions, and his love for doing good and spreading it.

One of his younger colleagues, named Taymour, had been a fierce competitor, constantly trying to prove to everyone that he was more intelligent and deserving. In contrast, Saber always approached matters with calmness and composure, never feeling the need to prove anything to anyone.

He sighed again, remembering the last confrontation between them after Saber received the Knight of Scholars award.

Taymour had shouted at him in anger:

“I’m the only one who knows your truth, Saber, and I will reveal it to everyone soon.”

Saber responded calmly, “Taymour, you know I don't care about these awards. What matters to me is the essence of the studies we conduct. It doesn’t matter who made the discovery first sreaching it is, in itself, a victory for us as a team.”

“Oh, stop it! Don’t pretend. I know you. You conducted those studies in secret and didn’t inform anyone so you could keep them for yourself. But I assure you, your joy won’t last long. Those studies will turn against you. Remember my words well, Saber.”

That was the last thing Taymour said before he resigned and disappeared. No one heard from him again.

Taymour had always been narcissistic and temperamental by nature. He cared only about himself, never admitted his mistakes, and believed he was above error. He had a constant obsession that everyone around him hated him because he was better than them. This made him hostile toward others, and in return, everyone avoided him and ceased all communication.

Saber hadn’t taken Taymour’s threat seriously, but recently he had been receiving anonymous messages saying: “The time has come. The spell will turn against the magician. The truth will be revealed.”

He was pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of a metal rod striking the bars of the cave. He quickly raised his head to see a small bottle of water rolling toward him. He searched for the usual food tray, but it wasn’t there.

He called out as he approached the bars before the jailer could walk away.

“What about the food? Where is my portion of food?!”

The jailer turned slowly under the dim torchlight and replied coldly,

“There’s no food for you today.”

Saber frowned as he studied the jailer’s figure. The voice was not unfamiliar. It resembled someone he knew… but it couldn’t be…