/The Story of Arash and Azar/

Arash woke to the sound of the guards' heavy footsteps. The chill of early morning pierced through to his bones like a blade. He opened his eyes and for a moment tried to remember where he was. The outer courtyard of the fire temple, cold stones beneath his body, and... where was Azar?

He reached out to touch his sister, but her place was empty. Only the coldness of stones met his fingertips. His heart began to pound rapidly. This terrible, empty silence was worse than any nightmare he had ever experienced.

"Azar?" His voice came out hoarse and weak from his throat.

A guard standing nearby cast him a brief, emotionless glance. "Too late, Ashborn boy. They took the girl three hours ago."

Arash felt the world spinning around him and the ground giving way beneath his feet. "Where... where did they take her?"

"To the holding houses. They need to prepare her for Friday's market." The guard delivered these words like a death sentence.

Friday. Five more days. Arash tried to focus his thoughts, but his mind was like a stormy sea. Waves of anger, despair, and fear drowned him one after another. He didn't know what to do. The only thing he knew was that he had to do something, but what?

The guard continued: "You'll be sent to the southern mines in two days. Better prepare to gather your belongings."
His belongings. Arash remembered he had a few personal items in Lord Keyhan's mansion. Perhaps... perhaps he could speak with him. Perhaps there was a way.

/The Path to the Mansion/

Arash set out for Lord Keyhan's mansion with weak and desperate steps. The city streets were still empty, and only the sound of his footsteps on the cobblestones echoed in the deathly silence of morning. His mind was empty, as if all his thoughts had been taken away with Azar.

Lord Keyhan's mansion appeared as magnificent and grand as always, but now for Arash it was merely a reminder of his failure and rejection.
Nevertheless, it didn't matter to him. The guards recognized him and wordlessly allowed him entry - probably news of his and Azar's rejection had reached their ears.

The servants also looked at him with eyes as if they no longer recognized the boy who had been there for twelve years. Arash gave them a cold, emotionless look. This icy gaze made them quickly return to their usual tasks.
"Oh my God, why did this boy look like that? Doesn't he know what's happened to him?" The elderly servant Khadijeh said this in a hushed voice.

"What happened, Auntie? What disaster befell Arash?" asked Nora, the young servant girl, with curiosity.

Khadijeh explained to her what had happened at the fire ceremony for Arash and his sister Azar. How neither of them was chosen like us and now Arash as Ashborn and Azar as Not Chosen they were condemned to live on the margins.

"Oh, what a pity about Arash. How was he not chosen? I always thought he'd at least become a Kindled, but Auntie, now I understand what you mean. How is Arash so calm?"

It was only Arash's appearance that seemed this way. His mind was no less than a storm, but he had learned how to hide the depth of his pain.

Arash entered the small room where he had lived. His belongings weren't much: a few sets of clothes, an old book left as a memento from his father, and his gray Essance stone that he has in his pocket.

* Essance Stone : (who ever Chosen by the First flame will gain a Essance stone of fire but only Ashborns have an Ash essance stone) *

While gathering his things, he heard footsteps.

A thin voice came from behind the door: "Master, may I enter?" It was Nora, the mansion's servant.

"Come in."

"Lord Keyhan has summoned you." Arash glanced at Nora and stood up.

Arash moved toward the door and passed by Nora. Nora had always wanted to get close to Arash, but he had always been a cold and impenetrable person.

/Negotiation with Lord Keyhan/

Lord Keyhan sat in his large office, behind a unique wooden desk made from rare woods. His gaze was cold and calculating.

"I heard they're sending you to the mines in two days."

Arash remained silent. He didn't know what to say, but he maintained his calm expression. This outward calm was merely a cover for his inner storm.

Lord Keyhan paced the room and then said with a mocking tone: "Arash, you no longer have any value in this society. Since you're now an Ashborn, there's nothing special you can do."

Arash knew what Lord Keyhan was going to say and was waiting for exactly this. He knew this power game well.

"Lord Arwin no longer accepts you, but I can keep you and prevent you from going to the mines."

Arash gave Lord Keyhan a sharp look and asked in a controlled voice: "What do you want from me, Lord Keyhan?"

Lord Keyhan paused, a sly smile forming on his lips: "You're very intelligent. Your mind is much more open than your peers. I can give you a name and reputation, provided you work for me."

Arash responded with a nod of agreement: "Thank you very much, my lord. This shows your greatness."

With this action, Arash wanted Lord Keyhan to feel a sense of grandeur within himself. But inside him, the fire of anger burned.

"But..." he looked at Lord Keyhan and continued: "What about my sister? If she's not there, I can't do anything, because then..."

Lord Keyhan raised his hand and cut off Arash's words.

With a stern expression, he said: "Arash, do you want me to help you or do you want to go work in those mines? If you really want to, then go. No one's stopping you."

Arash changed his expression and looked directly at Lord Keyhan with a cold, stern face: "Lord, no. I want to stay, but I think it's better for you to keep me."

"I don't need you, Arash. There's nothing more to discuss. You may go."

"Lord Keyhan, whatever you say. Because you're not the only one who knows me." Arash said this and walked toward the door with complete composure.

Lord Keyhan he felt danger from Arash's composure and words. What if he went to his rivals? This thought made him feel more need for Arash.

"Wait..." Arash stopped but didn't turn around. "I can buy your sister at the slave market. This way you won't need to be separated, but only on the condition that you work exclusively for me."

Arash slowly turned around and without speaking, bowed his head in agreement and left.

/Formation of the Plan/

A day passed. The morning air had a twilight quality. Arash woke up a bit early - actually, he had woken from worry, because his time was passing. Arash wasn't happy that he had managed to get the lord to buy Azar. Because Arash didn't want his sister to come to this mansion as a slave at all, and he himself was forced to work forever with the lord. He had to find an alternative way in this time he had bought.

The sun was rising. The sound of knocking on the wooden door of Arash's room could be heard.

"Master, wake up. Breakfast is ready." It was Nora's thin voice.

Arash called her inside.

"Yes, Master. What can I do for you?" Arash gestured for her to come closer.
"Nora, is the lord home?"

Nora replied: "No. He went to the city center by carriage."

Arash said to Nora in a very calm but commanding tone: "Very well, Nora. I want to leave the mansion. If anyone asks you, say I went to see my sister. Do you understand?"

Nora gave Arash a distrustful look. "Lord Keyhan told me yesterday that you shouldn't leave the mansion." Then she continued with a tone that contained sarcasm: "Why should I listen to an Ashborn like you?"

Arash smiled coldly. He knew that Nora was trying to trap him and later report to Lord Keyhan. But Arash was more cunning than that.

Arash came closer and said in a low, provocative voice: "Nora, do you really think Lord Keyhan cares about you?" He fixed his sharp gaze on Nora's eyes. "To him, you're just a servant. Nothing more."

Nora became somewhat anxious but tried to maintain her position: "Lord Keyhan respects me."

"Respect?" Arash laughed. "Nora, I can leave here whenever I want, and what do you think will happen to you? The one who didn't report my escape?"

Fear appeared in Nora's eyes. Arash continued: "But if you cooperate with me, I can find a way so you never have to be anyone's servant again."

Arash gently took Nora's hand: "I know you're a smart girl. I've always noticed your difference from other girls." Nora blushed. "I don't want you to get hurt, but if you don't help me now, we'll both lose."

Nora was helpless. Arash was right - if he escaped and Nora hadn't reported it, Lord Keyhan would certainly Punish her.
"But if you go and I don't say anything, Lord Keyhan will punish me."

Arash said confidently: "No, because you'll say I told you I was going to see my sister. This is completely natural. No one will suspect, of course if anyone asks you. If they don't ask, then no one will even know I was gone for a while."

Nora was still hesitant, but fear of the consequences and Arash's provocative words were gradually convincing her.

"Just a few hours, Nora. Just that. And in return, I'll find a way so you never have to work under anyone."

Finally, Nora surrendered. "Okay... but if there's any problem..."

"There won't be any problem." Arash said decisively.

Nora secretly led him outside, but this time she wasn't lost in romantic dreams. She felt caught in a complex game whose rules she didn't know. Arash also thought of his sister with a cold but worried expression, knowing he had just taken the first step.

Arash felt a bit of satisfaction in his heart. He could now better see the ways he might save his sister. Now he had to wait and find the right opportunity to take the next step.

/In Search of a Solution/

Once again, as in the past, he headed to "Vishi"; a dark and hidden area in the heart of the city, where gamblers, outlaws, and those who appeared to have honor and power but secretly felt the thirst for freedom from social constraints gathered. Arash knew if there was an opening to save Azar, he must find it in these very hidden and corrupted layers of Vishi.

Night had arrived, heavy and silent, with a dark, starless sky. Arash pondered in his mind: Where was Azar now? Was she aware of what lay ahead? Did she know that he had descended into darkness to save her?

The air of Vishi was stuffy and bitter; the smell of unripe wine, men's sweat, burnt wood smoke, and incense spread to hide the true face of this place, all mixed together. The flickering light of torches hanging on stone walls cast vague and complex shadows on the ground and faces. Sounds slipped through the space; dice rolling on bone boards, sharp whispers, false laughter, and sometimes a heavy silence that suddenly froze everything.

Men, in simple long clothes, some with daggers under their belts, were engaged in gambling and dealing in small circles. No one fully trusted another.

Gazes were heavy and calculating; every movement held an opportunity or danger within it.

Arash stood alone in a corner, behind a half-collapsed column; his gaze slipping from one game to another. Large bets were forming in this place. Gold, Flame stones, horses, slaves, wheat... even names and reputations, including essance stones.

Only four more days remained. He had to hurry.