"If I obliged you, and then you helped me win, then what next?" He asked, and without waiting for her reply, he went on: on

"Will that make you change your mind about destroying our world? Or will it make the Origin give up on chomping this little world of ours because I initiated you into the time loop?"

Munniq had no answer for that. She scratched her head thoughtfully, wondering how Abdin came about such secrets. Secrets that weren't known to any other beings in this world except three persons.

"You lived through that time before and witnessed the outcome?" She asked in wonder. This time travel skill is very vast, and the man standing before her was using it to his full advantage, making her covet it all the more. At that moment, Munniq felt as if she was without any secrets before him. She felt as though this wasn't the first time they had discussed this same matter, only that she couldn't remember. Who knew if he had gotten all his answers from her in another time and another life?

All these incidents were probably under the calculative manipulation of these two young men...

She cleared her throat and said, "To be honest, there is no saving this world of yours. But I have my plans that could save you."

Abdin shrugged. "I am all ears."

"What do you know about the Origin?" She asked. She figured that to have his cooperation, she had to tell him what was at stake. Understanding his condition would make him cooperate more easily.

"I know that the Origin is bigger than my world," replied Abdin. "I know that it is ready to chomp down our world and that Barahan and yourself are here to make sure that happens. And I know that you have airships created solely to kill our people, which after doing so would be used by you for flight. Lastly, there is a world called Fabae in charge of helping you on your destructive mission."

Munniq arched her eyebrows and then roared with laughter. "You aren't among the hundred most dangerous persons that we were warned about from this world. But right now, it seems to me that there had been a mistake for not listing you among them."

Abdin shrugged. The nature of his skill made it impossible for anyone to list him among notable cultivators of this world. It was something that had stopped bothering him a long time ago.

"The Origin isn't like other worlds," Munniq went on. "Yours isn't the first world to be absorbed; we have been doing it for millennia. There are worlds a hundred times more powerful than yours, which have long since fallen. Barahan and I haven't commenced yet, but when we do, nothing could survive from it.

"Just as you have witnessed, we have ships to whisk us away from here. I shall go with you if you cooperate, along with any other family or friends that you desire. All I want from you is to invite me as you did Juwaira."

Abdin pretended to think this over - he had already decided on what he would do but also wanted to coerce any useful information out of her. Death would be better than inviting Munniq to the loop. If he ever died and Munniq was in the loop, he didn't want to even think about what would happen then.

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Dragging Munniq inside would be akin to taking sides with the Origin, and he still hadn't gotten any clue as to the relationship between Munniq and Yunus. For all he knew, this might be a cunning scheme by Yunus.

"I am still not satisfied," he said almost under his breath. "If you are keen about entering the time loop, then you have to give up something of equal worth."

Munniq sighed. She had already thought of that possibility and had prepared beforehand.

"I want you to know that I could kill you even as we stand here," she said. They were three paces apart, and with a swing of the sword, he would be a goner. But Munniq was weaponless.

Abdin shrugged. "It would merely take me back in time."

"Have you forgotten about your brother who awaits your death so he can control your soul?" She asked smugly. "The way I see it is that you have no escape route except what I offer you. Cooperating with me would ensure that I give you immunity, considering that I die when you die. Even at the Origin, you shall still be under my protection. My life would remain tied with yours, ensuring that you live forever. But letting your cousin win would deprive you of everything, with a possibility of an everlasting end."

"If I get it right," he said. "You have quite a good relationship with my cousin. Why don't you ask him to invite you in?"

Munniq sighed, and for the first time since she came out, turned from side to side before reducing her voice into a whisper.

"I don't trust him," she replied. "He wouldn't even tell me his real name. I am thinking that you would be more forthcoming."

Her eyes didn't match with the whispers or fear of being eavesdropped upon. Abdin could bet his life that her actions were all for show. A poor joke at that.

"He is Yunus Hamu," said Abdin.

"And you are Abdin Samu," returned Munniq.

It was obvious that both men had divulged each other's secret.

Abdin did so to widen the rift between Munniq and his cousin. He believed she should know his true identity after whatever fake name Yunus told her.

But it unexpectedly backfired as Yunus had already revealed his name to her.

"I have already sent men North to investigate your family. But that is a story for another day. I want you to invite me into the loop, and in return, I will help you defeat Yunus and take you with me to the mighty world outside," Munniq said.

"From whence you set foot into the Origin, you will realize that there is an uncivilized village. You shall realize that you haven't experienced any luxury before in this world. You will have the key to every form of enjoyment. And you shall know peace then, and all your fears and bothers would be things of the past. You have my word for this."

The unsaid truth was that he would also become her slave - a fact she knew Abdin wouldn't agree with. He would also never allow the Origin to destroy his world and all it contained.

"I am not convinced," said Abdin.

Munniq sighed wearily. "Why can't humans see the truth at the right time?" She asked. "Your cousin has planned on killing you. He had wanted me to do it from the start, but I refused. Don't you see that refusing my offer is like being ungrateful?"

Abdin chuckled at that. "I believe you are the one trying to overdo it. You wouldn't kill me or let me be killed because of your selfishness. Not for anything but for the mere reason that you are afraid that if I die and Yunus wins, he will backstab you. As for me, you believe that I would be more malleable. And so you approach me with this harangue, thinking that I would fall for it. Don't you see that I trust him more than you?"

"You don't have a choice," she said through clenched teeth. "I don't intend to let you go back to the battlefield, so Yunus won't even see you kill. In the same way, I won't allow you to wander around the castle to challenge Almajiri. If you insist, then I shall imprison you in my bag of holding until the battle is over." Munniq was beside herself with anger. "I would then bring you out after they are all killed and cremated. Perhaps that would make you understand better my explanation."

Abdin's suspicions were confirmed. Almajiri was nearby, but he wasn't sure whose invitation was between Munniq and Yunus. As Munniq didn't want him to die just yet, his suspicions were turned toward Yunus.

One thing overlooked by Munniq was that since Abdin sought her out himself, he wasn't afraid of her at the moment.

The question was, who would strike first, and who would win?