***
{Outside The Projection}
After the projection paused, the silence stretched. Stretched too long.
Until it wasn't silence anymore.
Until it became a weight.
A pressure pressing down on the crowd.
And then—
"What the Hell?!"
A disbelieving voice cut through.
Then another.
"She's dead? Madam Layla—just like that?"
"No, no—this doesn't make sense! Why are they targeting her?"
"I—I don't understand... How could she die so easily?"
"They... they really got involved in a conspiracy."
Someone's breath hitched. Sharp. Quick.
"One that required their deaths."
"Wait..."
A pause.
A shift.
"Wait, wait, wait—this explains everything."
Realization. Blooming like poison.
"We all know Madam Layla remembers it differently."
"We all know the Sultan had to run this shit on repeat—God knows how many times—just to wipe out every last bastard coming after them."
"And we all know these bandits? Yeah, they're just one of many tools."
"But the real question is—"
An exhale.
