Chapter Text
01
On the first day of June, the daybreak in oasis by the canal was early. The creatures in Asim Mansion awoke from their slumber, their rustling sounds weaving the final notes of sweet dreams last night. The morning birds brought a color of gold to the wave-white sky, and the color lights Kalim Al-Asim’s forehead through the gap of the curtains. He rubbed his eyes sleepily, letting himself be temporarily immersed in the faint birdsong and whispers outside his room. Those hands, unwillingly letting him return to the mundane world, were still lingering on a distant figure, as he was waiting to hear that person’s voice. Kalim, Kalim, wake up. The person said. It’s your big day today.
“Master Kalim,” a different voice suddenly rang, “Master, I’m sorry to interrupt your sleep, but today is your big important day, and we servants are prepared.”
All of a sudden, he woke up from that dream of his youthful days. Those warm hands released him, vanishing like the phantom in his dream. A short-haired male servant, wearing a turban, stood respectfully in front of his bed, carrying a basin filled with rose petals. Several maids followed slowly, carrying finely woven garments and glittering jewelries. He sighed inwardly in disappointment, concealing the lingering attachment to the past that welled up from the wellspring of his dream with the composed demeanor befitting "Master Kalim," and smiled at the servants, saying, "You've gotten up early; you must be tired."
The servant replied, “We are not tired, it is you, sir, who are tired. Today you are meeting with the representatives of the Magic Mining Corporation of the Kingdom of Heroes. You have a big business deal to discuss. You will be entertained from morning till night. You will have to work hard. All the servants of the Asim family rely on your kindness. We will make sure that nothing goes wrong today.”
Kalim nodded, wiping the water from his face with a cotton towel. This guy was new, speaking with a strange tone; apparently, his mother had recruited him from the old part of this country. He'd told his mother not to choose this kind of personal servant, always feeling uneasy; but his mother replied, "How can that be? If someone gets too close to you and doesn't know their position, we can't afford to lose you. You're the head of the family now, not a teenager anymore. You have to be careful in everything." She knew Kalim disliked this topic and didn't say anything more, but Kalim still felt a lump in his throat, unable to breathe. He was indeed no longer a child, but did growing up mean abandoning his childhood? Besides, if he was to lose those memories, wouldn't the first seventeen years of his life vanish without a trace? Because of this, he and his parents were no longer as close as before, especially after he became the head of the family. Although his father was angry, he ultimately doted on his eldest son. After fussing and glaring at him, he had no choice but to give up and, to avoid further trouble, took Kalim’s mother and two other wives and went on a trip around the world.
Time flies– this was his fifth year as head of the family, and Kalim Al-Asim will be twenty-five years old. Nine years had passed since the accident in his second year of high school.
He finished washing up and put on the clothes carefully chosen for him by his current butler, Miss Viper.
Najma Viper, after her brother left the Asim family and her parents retired honorably, shouldered the responsibilities of the Viper family for generations. Although Kalim didn't want to trouble her, she always seemed to bear some kind of responsibility, doing her best for Kalim in everything, almost as strict as her brother; their aesthetic tastes were also remarkably similar. Unlike Kalim's own preferred choice, Najma chose a dark robe woven with gold thread, the subtle patterns reflecting a variety of colors in the sunlight, as dazzling as kingfisher feathers; the collar, cuffs, and hem were decorated with red and white gemstones, and a similarly dark headscarf was adorned with bright red feathers, gold tassels hanging beside his face, subtly reflecting a shimmering light. His hair was combed with rose oil, exuding a luxurious and passionate aura. In this way, visiting guests would surely feel the boundless enthusiasm of Scalding Sands as their host.
He exchanged a few pleasantries with the servants, then began grooming, falling silent. Anyone who knew him from his youth would be astonished, for when that servant cared for him, he always had an endless supply of topics; words fluttered from his lips like doves under a rainbow, their wings glistening with fragrant morning dew. That servant would always cup Kalim’s face, his hands would never tremble as he applied the final stroke of eyeliner, saying– "Okay." "No." "Only one for today." "We already had a banquet last week, when will you finally let me rest?"
In the dining room, he met Najma. The girl had grown considerably taller, her hair braided and neatly pinned up. Her slender figure belied the fact that she commanded a large household of servants capable of filling a palace, but the commanding presence in her eyes left no room for doubt. In fact, even if the position hadn't originally been hers, it should have been her brother's, and the servants should have had no complaints; but the incident nine years ago had shaken Najma's family's reputation within the Asim house, almost destroying everything they had built up over the years. The Viper parents had intended to have Najma abandon her studies and immediately take her brother's place, or even accept punishment by themselves to secure a future for her. However, after much deliberation, the then-Master Asim allowed Najma to complete her education as a mage, just as her brother had received. At the same time, old Mr. Viper stepped down from his position. At that time, the servants in the mansion whispered among themselves, "Things have changed." No one expected that Kalim would immediately promote Najma upon taking over the family. Some said it was a bond of childhood, others said it was to keep their family firmly under control, after all, that treacherous and ungrateful wretch wasn't dead yet!
Najma greeted him with a good morning, and he smiled in return. Sunlight streamed into the hall, as if no shadows had ever been cast between them. Next to each plate was a silver spoon; Najma used them to scoop up food, tasting it little by little, while Kalim waited anxiously. Thankfully, none of the dishes were poisoned. After Najma finished testing, Kalim suggested, "How about we make less food next time? That way Najma won't have to test so much– my heart is pounding!"
Najma shook her head: "No, Master Kalim, think about it, if we only make a few dishes, wouldn't the assassin find it easier to figure out what to poison?"
It made perfect sense, but Kalim still wanted to try again: "If-" Najma's lips tightened into a thin line. Oh, she knew what he wanted to say. Kalim sighed and didn't continue. At that moment, Najma spoke up: "That's what he taught me, so there are no 'ifs.' You know better than I do what he'll say."
The dining room fell silent. No one dared to speak; this was the first time Kalim had eaten in such an unsettling silence. Normally, he didn't need to get up early; his remaining siblings would eat with him, or he would simply eat in his room, in which case he would have a servant bring Kaha inside. Even if those cautious servants remained silent, Kaha's cheerful barking would fill the room. It would sing a Silk City nursery rhyme– a song Kalim had patiently taught it, a countdown tune used for hide-and-seek, which Kalim had loved to sing as a child, or listen to the numbers in the rhyme, giggling in the bushes of Asim Park, waiting for his best friend to find him. Sometimes he would tore pitas into pieces and feed it to Kaha during meals, and Kaha would squeal, "Thank you, Kalim! I don't like it!" After the meal, it was already bright; sunlight danced merrily on the white steps of the Asim mansion. Najma stood in the shadow of the eaves, while Kalim walked towards the door.
“I’m counting on you for dinner, Najma,” Kalim said.
Najma replied, “Thank you.” Kalim realized he’d sighed many times since waking up, which wasn’t like him. Ultimately, he thought, it was all because of that dream he had yesterday! Dreams were truly unpredictable devils, sometimes sweetening people with honey, sometimes inflicting the cruelest torment. Of course, many times, that torment was sweet…
Even though it was early morning, the area outside the venue was bustling with people and media, but Asim's well-trained security personnel cleared a clear path for Kalim. Today was the day Minister Asim, representing Scalding Sands, met with representatives of the Magic Mining Corporation of the Kingdom of Heroes. This company has a long history in the Kingdom of Heroes, they deciphered an underground mithril mine. This mine wasn't being discovered for the first time; it had been mined as early as the late Age of Gods, but was later destroyed by volcanic lava due to natural disasters, and subsequently buried deep underground by several geological changes. This mithril mine was once guarded by powerful mages of the Age of Gods, sealed with complex protective and enchanting spells. Although many years had passed and the spells' effectiveness had diminished, this precious mine remained hidden from the light of day. However, just three months ago, the MMCKH announced the successful excavation of this mine and the deciphering of long-lost ancient spells, instantly drawing worldwide attention. At this moment, Scalding Sands, representing the Asim family, seized the opportunity and reached a cooperation agreement with the company. Kalim's purpose in this meeting was to discuss a collaborative project involving the import and research of resources related to the mineral.
Kalim took his seat first, while the representatives from the Magic Mining Corporation arrived about half an hour later. The representative was a capable woman, seemingly about the same age as his mother; she held a meticulous and rational demeanor. Dealing with such people always required more effort, and even though he had matured considerably since turning seventeen, there were still times when he was at a disadvantage against experienced individuals.
Ah, if only he were here now, Kalim thought. Although he had decided then and there not to trouble him with everything, having such a smart friend by his side would prevent things from becoming so awkward.
He tried his best to maintain his position, unaware that he was being pushed to the edge by the opposing representative. Just then, tea break time arrived. He wiped the sweat from his brow. The sun was already high in the sky, and even with the air conditioning on in the venue, Kalim still felt thirsty. He had finished his water and was about to tell the waiter to "bring me some water" when a figure suddenly appeared beside him– a sip of iced tea, exuding a floral aroma, fell into his cup.
"Please enjoy," said the person pouring the tea.
Kalim immediately froze, unable to believe his ears. The representative seemed to notice his commotion and approached with a smug smile: "Minister Asim, I forgot to introduce you. This is our company's risk consultant, and the key contributor to this excavation; without his analysis, we wouldn't have been able to successfully excavate that mithril."
"Come, Jamil, greet Minister Asim. Minister, this is Jamil Viper." If Kalim had never believed in God before, at this moment, he did. Perhaps there truly were omnipresent ears and all-seeing eyes in the world, clearly discerning all the cowardice and hope within him.
Jamil Viper extended his hand to him: “Minister, greetings.”