Robis stood still atop the building, the cold breeze stirring his crimson robe. His red eyes stayed fixed on the direction where Axen had vanished. The silence of the moment was broken by the soft thud of Lyn, Alvar, and Devor landing behind him.

Without turning around, Robis took a slow, deliberate breath. "Where were you?"

Lyn hesitated, stepping forward, his voice strained with frustration. "He deceived us—again."

Robis finally turned, his eyes blazing with barely contained fury. He pointed toward the distant skyline where Axen had disappeared. "He went that way, struck by Red Fire. He can't be far... maybe dead already." His voice, though calm, carried an undeniable threat. "Bring me his Circe stone... and the Guardian stone."

Lyn gave a sharp nod, determination replacing his hesitation. "There will be no Axen anymore."

With that, Lyn leaped into the night, followed closely by Alvar and Devor, vanishing into the darkness.

Omar stood frozen, staring into the dark alley between the buildings. Something gnawed at him, urging him forward. He hesitated for a moment before stepping toward it.

Zain grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "What are you doing?"

Omar shook him off gently but firmly. "I think someone needs us," he replied, his voice carrying a sense of urgency.

They ventured into the alley, and there, slumped against the wall, was Axen—his body battered, his breathing ragged. Omar quickly knelt beside him. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern etched into his voice.

Axen coughed weakly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Omar..." he said, barely audible.

Omar blinked in surprise. "You know me?" He shook his head, dismissing the thought for now. "Let’s talk about that later. We need to get you to a hospital."

Axen shook his head weakly, raising a trembling hand. Omar grasped it, feeling the weight of something far more significant than he understood. "No doctor or medicine can fix this... curse. Only I can heal myself, but I’ve... run out of power."

Axen’s voice faltered as he coughed again, his breath shallow. Omar’s confusion deepened. "But—"

"There’s no time," Axen interrupted, his words laced with urgency. "I’m lucky you’re here." With great effort, he pulled a glowing stone from his robe and placed it in Omar’s hand. "It’s the Guardian stone. Protect it... at any cost."

Omar stared at the stone, glowing softly in the darkness. His heart raced. "But who are they? If you couldn’t protect it, how can I?"

Axen’s eyes softened, his voice fading. "You can... You will." He gestured toward the black diamond ring on his hand. "Take this... You'll be my successor. This, and Ammarah... they will guide you." His breath hitched, a violent cough escaping him. "They’re coming. They’re dangerous. Take it... and run. Trust no one."

Zain’s voice broke through the tension. "Omar, we need to go. Do what he says."

With trembling hands, Omar slipping the ring from Axen’s finger. Before he could, Axen looked him directly in the eyes, the weight of a legacy hanging in the air. "Promise me... you’ll protect these stones."

Omar nodded, brows furrowed with the gravity of the moment. "I promise."

A pained smile flickered across Axen’s face. "I loved you... Mom and Dad."

As Axen’s words trailed off, Omar removed the ring, which instantly transformed into the black diamond Circe stone. The world seemed to slow as he looked at Axen, now in his true form. Omar’s breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening in shock. The Guardian stone and the black diamond slipped from his hands.

"Brother..." Omar whispered, realization crashing down on him.

Hassan’s body slumped, lifeless, as Omar stared in disbelief.

Zain stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched Omar kneel beside his brother. Tears welled in Omar's eyes, his voice trembling with disbelief. "Brother..." he whispered, placing two fingers on Hassan’s neck, desperate to feel a pulse. Nothing. His hand trembled. "Hassan, please, open your eyes. Look at me." His voice cracked, the words barely escaping him. "We loved you too. Please..." But there was no response.

The realization hit Omar like a wave, crashing over him with unbearable force. "Brother!" he cried out, the agony in his voice ripping through the quiet alley. He collapsed forward, burying his face in Hassan’s shoulder, his body shaking with sobs. "Say something... Please..." His words broke into fragments, drowned in the overwhelming grief that consumed him.

Zain, fighting his own shock, knelt beside him, trying to lift Omar to his feet. "Omar, we have to go." But Omar pushed him away, shouting through his tears, "Stay away!" His grief had turned to rage, and his voice echoed in the narrow space around them.

Zain, heartbroken, knelt in front of him, gently cupping Omar’s tear-streaked face. "Omar, listen to me. Please." His voice was steady but filled with urgency. "Remember what your brother said? They’re coming. We’ll come back for him, I promise. But right now, we need to go."

Omar’s tear-filled eyes blazed with anger and pain. "I’m not leaving him here!" he shouted, his voice raw with emotion. His brother’s death was too fresh, the shock too overwhelming to process.

Zain’s hands shook, but he pulled Omar into a tight hug, feeling the weight of his friend’s grief in the trembling body against his own. "I know, I know..." he whispered, rubbing his back, "but how can you forget the promise you made? Don’t you have to protect the stones?" His words struck something in Omar, and he pulled back, tears still streaming down his face.

Omar wiped his eyes, nodding slowly, though his heart was still shattered. He leaned down and kissed Hassan’s forehead, his lips trembling. "I’ll come back," he whispered. "I swear, I’ll come back for you."

Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed through the alley, and a sharp voice followed, "He must be around. Check every place!"

Panic surged through Zain as he swiftly retrieved the Guardian stone and the black diamond Circe from the ground. He grabbed Omar’s arm and helped him to his feet, pressing the stones into his hand. "Omar, go! Now! I’ll inform you as they leave."

Omar nodded silently, his expression haunted, and with one last look at his brother’s body, he turned and left quickly. Zain glanced around quickly, searching for a place to hide. The footsteps were getting closer.

Without a second thought, Zain darted across the street, his heart racing as he crouched beneath an empty garbage can, just in time. 

Alvar stepped cautiously into the alley, his eyes narrowing as he spotted the body slumped against the wall. "Lyn, over here," he called, his voice echoing faintly in the narrow space. He moved closer, peering down at the lifeless figure. "We’ve got a dead body."

Moments later, Lyn and Devor arrived, their eyes fixed on the scene. Devor crouched beside the body, studying it closely. "Is that him?" Devor asked, glancing up at Lyn.

Lyn's gaze fell on Hassan's face, his eyes bleeding from the violent effects of Red Fire. "Yes," Lyn confirmed, his tone cold and certain. "The bleeding eyes—it's Red Fire’s signature." His sharp eyes scanned the alley, searching for any clue. "Search him," he ordered.

Devor nodded and began a methodical search of the body, his hands moving with precision. After a moment, he stood, his brow furrowed in frustration. "He’s got nothing—no stones," Devor reported, his voice tense.

Lyn’s face hardened, his jaw clenched in irritation. Without a word, he knelt beside the body, rifling through Hassan’s belongings. His hands moved swiftly, but all he found was Hassan’s ID card. Fury flashed in his eyes as he stood, and with a sudden burst of anger, he slammed his fist into the wall. The crack of shattering concrete echoed through the alley. "Someone beat us to it," he growled under his breath.

Alvar, watching nervously, shook his head, his voice laced with fear. "Master will kill us if we return empty-handed."

Lyn rubbed his forehead, trying to regain his composure, his eyes falling on Hassan’s ID card. "I’ll handle this," he said through gritted teeth. "Let’s go." Without another word, he turned on his heel, stalking out of the alley, Devor and Alvar trailing behind.

In the shadows, Zain watched in silence, his heart pounding in his chest. As the footsteps of Lyn and his men faded into the distance, he slowly emerged from his hiding spot, his breath finally releasing in a long, relieved exhale.

Robis paced back and forth on the rooftop, his dark robe billowing in the cold night breeze. His eyes were sharp, glinting with impatience, while Ammarah, hidden in her invisible form as a Jinnaya, silently watched him from the shadows. She remained unseen, her heart pounding as she waited, knowing the danger that lingered.

Suddenly, Lyn, Alvar, and Devor landed on the rooftop, their footsteps heavy with apprehension. Robis stopped pacing and looked at them, his eyes burning with anticipation. "Did you find him?" he asked, his voice carrying a dangerous edge.

The three of them exchanged uneasy glances before Lyn finally nodded. "Yes, Master," he said.

A dark, satisfied smile curled across Robis’s lips. "That’s what I wanted to hear. Now, give me the stones."

Lyn hesitated, his throat tightening. "Master... he was dead. And... he had nothing." His voice faltered under the weight of the confession.

Hidden behind the veil of invisibility, Ammarah’s heart shattered at the news. Her hand instinctively flew to her mouth, tears welling in her eyes as she fought to remain silent.

Robis’s smile vanished in an instant, replaced by a menacing fury. Without warning, he lunged forward and grabbed Lyn by the throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. "What do you mean, nothing?" he snarled, his voice a low growl. "I sent you for the stones!"

Lyn gasped for breath, his head bowed in shame. "Someone... someone got there before us," he choked out. "But... I have his ID. We know who he is now. It will help us find the person."

With a furious snarl, Robis threw Lyn to the ground, the force of it echoing across the rooftop. "You fools!" Robis spat, his anger palpable. "You can't even complete a simple task." His eyes blazed as he towered over them. "Find that person. I want those stones, and I want them now."

The three of them lowered their heads, trembling beneath his rage. "Yes, Master," Lyn whispered, his voice barely audible.

Robis turned away, his robe swirling around him like a storm. Ammarah, her heart aching with grief, silently slipped away, her tears falling unseen into the night.

Zain had already informed Omar, and soon after, the black SUV pulled up at the edge of the alley. Omar stepped out, his face tight with grief, but his eyes burning with a quiet resolve. As he approached Zain, he immediately embraced him.

"Where are the stones?" Zain asked, concern laced in his voice.

"They're safe," Omar responded, pulling back, his tone clipped. Without saying another word, he turned and headed into the alley where Hassan’s body lay, Zain silently following behind.

As they reached Hassan's still form, Zain hesitated. "Should I call the police?" he asked.

Omar’s head shook almost immediately. "No. It’ll only complicate things. And I can't let my parents find out...not like this." He knelt beside his brother, his breath faltering as the weight of everything fell on him. Gently, he pressed his lips to Hassan’s forehead, his tears finally slipping free, but his voice steady as he whispered, "I’ll make them pay. I’ll avenge you, brother."

His jaw clenched as his tears mixed with rage. He lifted his head to Zain, eyes now hardened. "Help me get him in the car."

Zain nodded, and together they lifted Hassan's lifeless body, carefully placing it in the backseat of the SUV. The drive toward the woods was a blur, both men silent, the weight of the moment too heavy for words. They drove deeper into the forest, the canopy of trees growing thicker, swallowing them in darkness. When they finally stopped, Omar sat still for a moment, his hands gripping the steering wheel as if trying to gather the strength to move. 

Zain looked at him, uncertainty in his gaze. "Why here?" he asked softly.

Omar’s voice was low and strained with the effort of holding back his sorrow. "We’ll bury him here. Where no one can find him... where he can rest in peace."

Zain hesitated for a moment, then nodded, understanding. They retrieved the shovels from the back of the car and began digging into the cold, unforgiving earth. Each shovelful was an act of love, of pain, of desperate finality. The sound of the dirt falling seemed to echo in the silent woods, a haunting reminder of what they were leaving behind.

When the grave was deep enough, they gently laid Hassan’s body down, Omar’s tears falling freely as he stood over his brother. His hand shook as he reached out one last time, touching Hassan’s face before they began covering him with the damp earth. The weight of each shovelful felt like a blade to Omar's soul.

Once the grave was filled, Omar drove a large wooden stake into the ground at the head of the grave, marking the final resting place of his brother. His entire body trembled as he stepped back, his chest heaving as if he could barely breathe under the weight of his grief.

Zain stepped forward, wrapping his arms around him, offering silent comfort as Omar, broken and shattered, burned inside with the fire of revenge. His mind, though drowning in sorrow, was already plotting what would come next—his brother's death would not go unanswered.

Omar's voice was barely a whisper, his face wet with tears. "I’ll kill them all. For him. I swear it."

Ammarah drifted through the city like a shadow, her heart heavy with sorrow as she searched endlessly for Hassan. Every corner, every rooftop, every dark alley held the possibility of finding him, but he was nowhere. Her hope, once flickering like a small flame, had begun to wither.

At last, exhaustion took her, and she found herself atop a tall building, perched on the edge. The cold wind tugged at her purple robe, but she didn’t feel it. Hugging her knees tightly to her chest, Ammarah buried her face in her arms, her body trembling with sobs that she could no longer suppress.

Tears flowed freely as her voice broke the stillness of the night. "You fought so hard, Hassan," she whispered, her words barely escaping her quivering lips. "You succeeded in your duty, you protected what mattered... but the cost..." Her voice cracked, "The cost was too high."

She lifted her head slightly, her tear-streaked face reflecting the distant glow of the city lights. Her voice softened to a fragile whisper, "Where are you now?" The emptiness of the night offered no answer, only silence. And in that silence, Ammarah cried for the friend she could never say goodbye to, for the warrior who had paid the ultimate price.