The guest said coldly:
"Really? Then why didn't you save your parents when Queen Mariam burned your house and decapitated them, holding their heads in her hands, smiling at you? Why couldn't you do anything, even though she was in your world and not hers?"
Ameer stood motionless, but the guest noticed his clenched fist, a sign of deep, buried anger. He moved closer, continuing with a cold, sharp tone:
"I know you summoned her through a sorcerer, and she saw you, recognized you. And I know about your harsh childhood, your depression, your loneliness, your suicide attempts, and all the sorrow that tears your soul apart… it was because of Mariam. She's the one who tried to kill your closest friends, she's the one who killed your parents and destroyed your life. And you stood there helpless. Do you really think you can face her alone?"
For the first time in his life, Ameer exploded in anger and tried to strike the guest. But the latter didn't move, only offering a mocking smile. Suddenly, Ameer was thrown back with force, crashing into the wall before being lifted into the air, powerless and suspended.
The guest approached, laughing with contempt:
"You fool, do you think you can touch me? Know your place, Ameer. You should be grateful I'm even talking to you. How dare you try to attack me?"
Ameer whispered in despair, his eyes empty of life:
"Please… leave."
The guest sighed in annoyance:
"You're so stubborn… You need to be realistic. Pride and emotions won't help you. I know you'll search in magic and the spiritual realms for a way to kill Queen Mariam, but wake up, Ameer. We're not talking about a magical servant, or a normal jinn, or even a king… but the most powerful entity, the absolute ruler. Be rational."
The guest continued in a steady tone:
"You're just a human. Even if you have the will, it won't change the truth. Mariam isn't just a queen, she's a supernatural entity. You can't kill her with your primitive methods. But I can help you… if you have the courage to accept that."
Suddenly, Ameer fell to his feet, breaking free from the guest's magic, but he landed gracefully and steadily. The guest's eyes widened in shock, and he muttered in disbelief:
"Impossible… Did you really break my spell?"
Ameer stood with quiet confidence, as if something in his soul had changed. He smiled calmly and whispered mysteriously:
"Why? Why do you want to help me? What do you want from me?"
The guest smiled slowly, as if he expected the question, then replied:
"I don't want anything from you. You're the one who needs help. I saw in you a reflection of my past, and because I've lived through the same experience, I believe you understand my intent. I swore I wouldn't leave you."
Ameer stared at him silently, then said coldly:
"Do you have the power to kill her? And why should I trust you? How do I know you're not like her?"
The guest laughed lightly, saying:
"You'll never know. But you also don't have many options. Either you trust me… or you stay alone in a battle you can't win. Choose, Ameer."
Ameer knew the guest was right, but he didn't want to become a puppet in the hands of another entity. He sighed and asked:
"And what's the price? Nothing comes without a cost."
The guest narrowed his eyes and said slowly:
"The price? Don't worry, I'll tell you later. But first, you need to decide… will you face Mariam alone, or will you accept my help?"
Ameer stared into the guest's eyes, as if trying to read his soul, then exhaled deeply and said:
"...What do I have to do?"
For the first time, the guest smiled without mockery, as if he saw the beginning he had long awaited:
"Well done. The first step is to perform the Oath Ritual and agree."
Ameer furrowed his brows in doubt, studying the guest for a few moments, then asked slowly:
"Oath and ritual? And what will that mean for me afterward?"
A faint smile appeared on the guest's lips, this time without sarcasm:
"This ritual will bind our fates together. We'll be spiritually connected, meaning I'll be obligated to help you... and you'll be obligated to my terms."
Ameer narrowed his eyes cautiously:
"And what are your terms?"
The guest sighed as if seeing unnecessary defiance:
"Simple. You vow not to betray me or break the oath by any means. In return, I'll grant you the power and knowledge needed to destroy Mariam."
Ameer turned his face slightly, lost in thought... Could he trust him? No, he didn't trust him, but he realized that this might be his only chance. And if he had to sacrifice a part of himself to achieve his goal, so be it.
He turned back to the guest and asked coldly:
"And what happens if I break the oath?"
The guest laughed, not loudly, but with a heavy darkness:
"You won't be able to... the oath won't allow you. And if you try, you'll pay the price with your soul."
Silence hung for a moment before Ameer said without hesitation:
"When will we perform the ritual?"
The guest slightly lifted his head toward the sky through the window, where the moon was not yet full, then answered in a calm yet firm tone:
"When the moon is full... in seven days."
Ameer stared at him with sharp eyes, his voice low but carrying a hidden challenge:
"And what if you're the one who breaks the oath?"
The guest didn't seem affected by the question, instead smiling as though he had expected it, then said confidently:
"The sacred oath will burn me instantly, and I'll die in that very moment. Don't worry... my life will be in your hands, just as yours will be in mine. Neither of us will dare betray the other."
Ameer narrowed his eyes, studying the guest for a long moment, then said in a calm voice, but filled with deep suspicion:
"So... we'll be bound to each other? If I die, you die with me? And if you die, I die with you?"
The guest nodded slowly, his tone calm yet shrouded in mystery:
"Exactly. It's a fair agreement, isn't it? No betrayal, no tricks… either we achieve our goal together, or we fall together."
Silence followed, then Ameer turned his face away, gritting his teeth, his thoughts clashing within him... He understood the danger of this oath, but he also had no other choice. If he wanted revenge, he had to walk this path to the end.
He finally sighed and spoke in a quiet voice:
"Fine... I'll accept this oath."
The guest smiled a faint smile, and in his eyes was a mysterious gleam, perhaps acknowledgment... or something deeper:
"Well done, Ameer. Get ready... what's coming won't be easy."
Ameer remained silent for a few moments, then lifted his eyes to the guest and said coldly:
"And what next? How will this sacred oath be carried out?"
The guest smiled faintly as he watched Ameer with interest, then said:
"On the night of the full moon, we'll perform the ritual. We must wound our hands and shake hands with our blood, mixing it within our bodies while reciting a specific incantation simultaneously. At that moment, the oath will enter our souls. The bond will become eternal, and neither of us will be able to break it."
Ameer frowned slightly as he thought about his words, then said slowly:
"Blood? Souls? Does that mean the oath will affect our entire being?"
The guest nodded, his hands behind his back:
"Exactly. It's not just a verbal agreement, but a spiritual bond. After the ritual, you'll feel the power flow into you... but you'll also feel its weight. You'll realize you're no longer the same."
Ameer took a deep breath and clenched his fist, then raised his eyes to the guest and asked in a low voice, but with a hidden determination:
"Will my life change immediately after the oath? Will I become stronger?"
The guest laughed lightly, but his gaze was sharp:
"Not that easily. The oath grants you the potential... but it doesn't give you the strength directly. You'll have to learn, adapt, and figure out how to use what's given to you. Your journey will be long, Ameer... but it will be interesting."
Ameer turned his face slightly toward the window where the moon was still far from full, then smiled ironically and said without looking at the guest:
"Interesting? We'll see."
The guest took a step closer to Ameer and spoke in a more serious tone:
"Since you've accepted the oath, you must prepare. It's not just a verbal agreement, as I said, there are other conditions you must abide by."
Ameer looked at him with suspicion and asked:
"Other conditions? Like what?"
The guest smiled a mysterious smile and said calmly:
"First, you cannot share any details about the oath with anyone, no matter the circumstances. This is not just an agreement between us, but a cosmic law. If you attempt to reveal it, you'll feel your tongue burning before you can utter a single word."
Ameer felt a cold shiver run through his body, but he didn't show any fear. Instead, he said coldly:
"Alright, what next?"
The guest nodded, then placed his hands behind his back, continuing in a calm tone that carried a warning:
"Secondly, from the moment the oath is completed, there will be times when you'll feel as if your body is no longer entirely your own... This is normal. The oath will be tied to your soul, and you may experience visions or emotions that aren't necessarily yours."
Ameer didn't like those words, but he replied firmly:
"Does that mean I'll lose control over myself?"
The guest slowly shook his head and said:
"Not exactly, but you'll need a strong will. Any weakness on your part might make you prey to something deeper within the oath."
Ameer sighed in frustration, but he had no intention of backing down. He had come this far, and he wouldn't stop now. He lifted his eyes steadily to the guest and said:
"And what's next?"
The guest smiled faintly, but in his eyes, there was a glint of something frightening as he said:
"Finally... once the agreement is complete, we move to the next stage. I'll tell you about it later."
Ameer felt his heart beat faster, but he didn't show any hesitation. He stared at the guest for a long moment before saying firmly:
"Seven days, then... and I'll be there."
The guest nodded, his eyes gleaming with mystery:
"Seven days... and after that, your life will never be the same."
Ameer remained silent for a moment, carefully considering the guest's words. He knew this deal wouldn't come without a price, but he was ready. Finally, he said in a quiet, sharp voice:
"If this is the price, I'll pay it... as long as I achieve my goal."
The guest laughed lightly, then said, looking at him with interest:
"That's what I wanted to hear from you, Ameer. But remember... there's a difference between seeking revenge and becoming someone entirely different along the way."
Ameer narrowed his eyes and said sarcastically:
"Are you trying to warn me now? After all this?"
The guest shrugged dismissively and said:
"I'm just telling you the truth. I've seen others before you, each of them seeking power... and they didn't return the same. Some became monsters, others lost themselves completely."
Ameer smiled coldly and said with confidence:
"I won't lose myself, no matter what happens."
The guest didn't respond immediately, but simply watched him for a moment before speaking in a low voice with a hidden meaning:
"We'll see."
A moment of silence passed between them before the guest turned toward the door and added:
"Until then, prepare yourself. During these seven days, I'll visit you occasionally to make sure you're ready."
Ameer stood alone in the room, staring at his hands for a moment, then at the window where the moon grew fuller day by day. He exhaled slowly and whispered to himself in a soft voice:
"Seven days... and after that, no turning back."
The guest interrupted Ameer's thoughts with a calm voice, one filled with some kind of contentment:
"I'm glad you trusted me, Ameer."
Ameer lifted his gaze to him coldly and then said firmly without hesitation:
"You're mistaken... I didn't trust you."
The guest furrowed his brow slightly, then asked with a tone full of curiosity:
"Then... who did you trust?"
Ameer tilted his head slightly, smiling faintly, and whispered:
"Who knows?"
The guest studied his features for a moment, then laughed lightly and shook his head, saying with sarcasm:
"You're crazy."
Ameer replied without hesitation, in a confident and mysterious tone:
"The truly sane ones are the real madmen in this world."
The guest sighed in mockery as he looked at Ameer, as if realizing that the man before him was not like anyone else. He didn't speak, but turned to leave. However, he suddenly stopped when he heard Ameer's voice saying:
"Wait..."
The guest turned to him, raising an eyebrow:
"What now?"
Ameer looked directly at him and asked:
"What's your name?"
The guest smiled, and his smile held more than it seemed, then said in a calm, confident voice:
"My name... is Khayal."
He added once again, as if imprinting the meaning in Ameer's mind:
"My name is Khayal."
Ameer looked at him for a moment, watching his steps until he disappeared completely. Then he turned his gaze back to the window, whispering to himself in a soft voice:
"I hope you don't disappoint me. I trusted Khayal... for you, only for you."
.
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From the author:
"If you were in Ameer's place, would you dare to make this bloody pact with Khayal? Or would the fear of an unknown price outweigh your desire for revenge?"
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