Kaduri’s eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat.

The tiny hair on his arms stood on end, trembling like the rest of him. Before him, his father’s Hoteps were completely consumed by web-like cracks, the lenses trembling violently, as though about to shatter.

Kaduri’s lips quivered as his hand involuntarily rose to cover his mouth. His voice escaped in a barely audible whisper.

"F-Father... your Hoteps..."

His father sighed, the wind tugging at his beard as dark clouds churned overhead. His eyes drifted skyward, a faint, bittersweet smile flickering across his face.

"I won’t be with you much longer, Kaduri," his Father's voice calm yet heavy. He knelt down, placing firm hands on Kaduri’s trembling shoulders, holding him in place "The king will send them for me soon. There’s no time to explain everything."

"Wh-what are you talking about? Why would the king—?" Kaduri stammered, his thoughts a whirlwind. "Why not just fire you? Why—?"

"Listen to me!" His father’s tone cut through Kaduri’s questions like a blade. Kaduri froze, his wide eyes fixed on his father.

Reaching into his pocket, his father pulled out a small, folded piece of paper. He leaned closer, his cracked lenses trembling with each passing second. Opening Kaduri’s hand, he placed the paper in his palm and closed his son’s fingers around it.

"When your vision disgusts you—when the world feels like it’s trembling, shattering into piece—go to this place," his father said, his voice trembling slightly. "Knock on the door. Tell him your name. He’ll give you all you need."

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Kaduri stared down at the paper, his mind too overwhelmed to focus on the details. "Wh-what do you mean? What place? What’s going to happen?"

The distant roar of engines echoed through the night, growing louder with each passing moment.

His father sighed again, rising to his feet.

"You’ll understand when the time comes," he said quietly. "Just remember this, Kaduri: hope is the ultimate weapon."

Kaduri blinked, his confusion deepening. "What? I don’t—"

The first gunshot rang out like thunder.

Time seemed to slow. Kaduri’s father spun toward the staircase, pistol drawn. The sharp crack of another shot echoed through the rooftop as a soldier collapsed, his body hitting the ground with a dull thud.

"Target is hostile! Rooftop! Requesting backup!"

Kaduri’s breath quickened as his father crouched behind a low wall, blood already dripping from his shoulder. The rain began to fall in earnest now, pelting the rooftop with relentless force.

His father looked back at him, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Kaduri, never lose confidence in yourself. Courage is what rises when all hope is lost. It’s what makes you strong, even when the world stands against you."

Another gunshot tore through the night, followed by the rapid percussion of return fire. Kaduri’s father groaned, clutching his bloodied shoulder as he struggled to his feet.

"It’s courage, Kaduri. That’s what this world needs... and that’s what you’ll give it."

Kaduri stood frozen, his fists clenched, rain dripping from his soaked clothes and face, his tears hiding behind the drops, He wanted to scream, to cry out, to run to his father—but his feet wouldn’t move.

"Without ego, there’s no courage," his father said between heavy breaths one last time. "And without courage... there’s no freedom!"

His Father gets up one last time,

The final gunshot echoed across the rooftop, followed by silence.

Kaduri didn’t move. His father’s body lay slumped on the ground, the rain pooling beneath him. The soldiers left the rooftop, their footsteps fading into the distance.

Kaduri’s fists clenched tighter, his head bowed, his hair covering his face. The rain struck the rooftop like stones, the world blurring around him.

"I’ll kill them," Kaduri whispered, his voice trembling with rage.

"Every, one of them."