Hanibal stamped his foot on the ground, making the earth shake. The ground where they stood began to heat, smoke emanating from it. The sound coming from it was deafening.

When it ended, Han'ibal held a thin chain of white beads in his hand. He squeezed it into dust and scatter the dust as he destroyed it.

"Hmm. Your Djinn is the strongest I ever met," said Heeda. She was more thrilled than surprised.

"I will do everything I can to prevent you from going to the battlefield," Han'ibal declared.

"His name is Ni-Magme, if I can remember correctly." Hidaya talked on as if she didn't hear what Han'ibal just said.

Han'ibal frowned. "You talk as if you forget how often my Ni-Magme defeated you in war."

"Old news," Heeda said, returning her sword to its sheath. "Forget about that, there is something I want to tell you."

Han'ibal stared at her suspiciously. He reluctantly sighed and sheathed his sword. But his salsa continued to point their swords forward.

"I am going tell you a secret that can destroy the world as we know it. Hear me out and make your decision."

She summoned an invisible curtain to keep them out of earshot.

As she talked and revealed everything, Hanibal sweated and before long, he had sat down to catch his breath.

"Is that the truth?" He asked as she was done talking and was turning around to leave.

"Did I ever lie to you?" Heeda said.

"No..." He stared at her face, trying to see something. Something that could tell him she was lying. But there was no such thing. "Who knows about this apart from you?" He finally asked.

"Lord Amraikugyu, Miki Abbas, and Triple Factor."

"Hmmm. You still talk as if you know who the Triple Factor is." Han'ibal sneered.

"I know who the Triple Factor is." Heeda nodded.

Han'ibal looked a bit startled. It wasn't just about Hidaya knowing Triple Factor, it was more about the way she said it nonchalantly.

"Amraikugyu hid this secret in one of his essence boards, long before Ururu clipped his wings. I can't say how it happened, but Bihanzin came about this information and even found the essence board. He made Armad translate it for him. Now, apart from the three persons I mentioned, Bihanzin, his children, and my brother also know about it."

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"If Bihanzin found out about it from Lord Amraikugyu, how then did you and Miki Abbas get to know about it?" Han'ibal asked.

"We both read the Book-sword."

"Hmm. But why are you telling me all this? Don't you know I can use it against you? Or, have you changed your mind and accepted my love?"

"There's no djinn more dangerous and with stronger years of pol than yours. He is the strongest even among Ifrit kings. You and I learned the preparation of white bead talismans from Amraikugyu. Though you weren't so bright at the time, you had determination which allowed you to learn everything. Your attitude can be handy in many situations. I may even need you to protect the djinn realm when I am no longer around." She ignored his last sentence.

"Now, this is disrespectful, you spoilt brat." Han'ibal cursed. "Telling a man that is older than you that 'they aren't so bright' is quite rude."

"I am not being disrespectful, I only stated the facts. I am the second brightest person in the world, 2nd only to the crown prince of the first world. Comparing you to myself made me say it. Though you are only that when compared to me or the crown prince, compared to others I am sure you are one of the brightest."

He opened his mouth to counter but changed his mind and said something else, "What did you mean by 'when you aren't around?' You aren't trying to get yourself killed, are you?" Han'ibal asked. He looked more excited than concerned.

"You needn't worry about me. I have all intentions of having dinner at home, with my brother. I want to see the look of surprise on his face when he meets Father for the first time." She wanted to see his dimpled smile as well. But the most important thing was to retrieve his soul from Black Stone before Kuyurussa'ayi found out about his true identity.

Han'ibal's face twitched at the mention of her brother, Armad. The boy had been making quite a bit of trouble for the last few years.

"You are yet to tell me what happened to him when he was three. His sickness must have started from there," Han'ibal said.

"And I won't tell."

"Ok. Fair enough. But I still think you are the one meant to face Ururu.

I know how much you love your little brother, but please, don't go and kill yourself because of him. Think of the many people who have their hopes in you, and don't be selfish for once."

She kept quiet for a while, studying the King's face. It reminded her of the olden days when the man in front of her wasn't King.

"Even I don't have the might to fight Ururu," Hidaya said. "My best shot is Armad. There is nothing I can't do for him. Even if it is putting my life on the line." She turned to go but Hanibal stopped her again.

"Are 'they' aware of your knowledge about this?"

"Who knows? They're a curious bunch, aren't they?"

"Just be careful and don't..."

She smiled and disappeared before he could finish.

Han'ibal turned to his Salsa.

"To the battlefield," he said. "The game has just changed."

***

At the entrance gate of Khan, Hidaya stood there in silence. She studied Armad's Daikirin statue for a long moment.

After a while, she placed her hand on the statue. Years of pol started flowing from her to the Daikirin. The statue glowed.

The passersby could see the glowing statue but they couldn't 'see' Heeda. Their eyes could see her but their minds couldn't interpret her existence.

A man came close to her but he instinctively turned away and changed direction. To them, she was not an existence they could interact with.

Meanwhile, King Miki Abbas sat in his palace with a mildly worried expression on his face. His four children, who were also his commanders, bowed before him.

The eldest said, "It is Black Flame, I confirmed that myself."

The king rose from his throne and said, "Back to your business, then, and let her be."

"Huh?" The children gasped. They couldn't understand why the King would say that. Black Flame was the enemy. If they let her be, she might steal something or cause some irreparable damages.