The Bitter Return

Arash walked cautiously toward the back door of the mansion. Cold sweat had settled on his forehead—not from heat, but from the weight of responsibility that had been placed on his shoulders. The heavy bag of coins in his hand was like evidence of what he had done—something no one should ever know about.

When his hand reached the wooden door, he knocked twice softly, then once loudly. It was a secret code between him and Nora, a code that spoke of the complex relationship that had formed between them.

The sound of hurried footsteps came from behind the door. Nora opened it, and her pale face showed deep terror.

"Arash... thank God you came! I... I don't know what to do." Her voice trembled, but Arash saw something more than ordinary fear in that trembling.

Arash cast a sharp look at her. Nora, the Lord keyhan's servant, now stood before him with eyes full of conflicting emotions.

"Take the bag," Arash said in a cold but controlled tone. "Take it to my room however you can. If Master Keyhan calls for me, tell him I'm in the courtyard and can't sleep. But Nora..." his voice dropped and became threatening, "just take the bag to my room and don't open it."

Nora took the bag with trembling hands. Its weight surprised her. "Arash, what... what is this?"

"Don't ask questions. Just do what I told you."

When Nora went inside, Arash sat in a corner of the central courtyard. The magnificent courtyard of Master Keyhan's mansion was bathed in moonlight. The large pool in the center and four eternal flames in the corners created an image of power and wealth—the same power and wealth that Arash knew he would never have access to.

The sky was full of stars, but Arash only stared at the darkness between them. The silence of the night drew him into the depths of his dark thoughts. That same tormenting question occupied his mind again: "Why me? Why should this fate befall me?"

He took out his Essence stone from his pocket. In the moonlight, the stone had a strange and mysterious glow. For the first time, he decided to use the inherent power of his Essence stone. Invisible ash came out of the stone and hung in the air like a thin cloud. Arash moved it gently with concentration. His power was still weak, but the feeling of control gave him strange peace.

Tap tap tap...

The sound of Khadijeh's small, distinct footsteps brought him out of his concentration. Arash immediately put the stone in his pocket and scattered the ash particles on the ground.

"Arash, Master Keyhan has called for you. Go to him quickly!" Khadijeh said with a self-satisfied and sharp tone that showed a particular pleasure.

Arash got up, but Khadijeh's words stopped him: "These spoiled children always create problems. They should have sent you to those mines where you belonged."

"Did you say something, Khadijeh?"

"No, nothing. Go, the master is waiting."

Arash continued on his way indifferently. These words had no effect on him, they just got on his nerves a little, which was also because of his youthful pride.

Knock knock knock...

"Come in." Master Keyhan's voice from behind the door radiated power and authority.

Arash opened the door. The first thing that caught his eye was Nora's claiming but frightened look. She was standing next to Master Keyhan, and the bag that Arash had entrusted to her was now on the table.

At that moment, Arash realized that Nora had sold him out. That look in her eyes—a mixture of guilt, fear, and perhaps a little satisfaction—made everything clear.

"Ah, Nora..." Arash murmured under his breath, but a bitter sneer appeared on his lips. "So that's how it is."

"Master Keyhan, you called for me?" His voice was calm but full of control.

Master Keyhan turned the bag upside down and thirty-five gold coins—only a small part of Arash's real treasure—spilled onto the expensive carpet. "What are these, Arash?"

Arash glanced at Nora. She had lowered her head but was still standing firm. "I gambled and won."

"Gambling?" Master Keyhan raised an eyebrow. "Then why did you secretly give them to Nora? Why didn't you want me to know?"

Before Arash could answer, Nora stepped forward. Her voice was trembling but determined: "Master, you should know the truth. Arash came secretly through the back door, gave me the bag and told me to take it to his room. He didn't want you to see him. I think... I think he's doing something he forced me to do this."

Arash looked carefully at Nora. At that moment, everything became clear to him. She had not only sold him out, but was also trying to exonerate herself.

"Dear Nora..." Arash began with a tone that had dangerous calmness, "I think you worked too much today and you're tired. Your mind isn't working properly."

Nora raised her eyes and saw Arash's sharp gaze. In that look, a dark and threatening promise was waving.

"I just wanted to be alone for a while and asked you to take the bag to my room. Now my question is: by what right did you open my bag? By what right did you look inside my personal belongings?"

Arash took a step toward Nora. "And now, how dare you lie to Master Keyhan? Have you forgotten what position you're in? Have you forgotten that you're nothing more than a slave?"

Nora stepped back. Her face turned pale and her hands trembled. "Arash, I... I just..."

"You just what?" Arash moved closer. "What are you looking for, lowly servant?"

Master Keyhan, who was carefully watching the scene, intervened: "Enough! Arash, step back. Nora, why did you open his bag?"

Nora, now completely defeated, sat on the ground. "I... I thought it might be something important. When I saw the coins, I was afraid that..."

"Afraid of what?" Arash said mockingly. "That you could get some of them by supposedly exposing me? What were you thinking anyway?"

"No! I never had such an intention!"

Master Keyhan raised his hand. "Enough. Arash, where were you and how did you get this money?"

Arash took a deep breath. He couldn't tell the truth—that he had gone to Vishi and gambled with his Essence Stone. "I had gone to Hirbad. He talked about my abilities and the choice of fire. I played a backgammon game with him for stakes and won."

"Hirbad?" Master Keyhan thought. "That greedy old man who lives on the outskirts of town?"

"Yes. He's a fire instructor. I went to him to learn about my Essence Stone."

Master Keyhan nodded. "Very well. But don't gamble anymore. And you, Nora..." he cast a cold look at her, "you will be punished for what you did."

"Master, I just..."

"Silence! Come to me tomorrow morning."

Four Hours Earlier

Four hours earlier, in Hirbad's hut...

Arash had taken heavy steps toward Pirbod's hut. The large bag containing seven hundred gold coins—the result of his heavy gambling in Vishi—weighed on his shoulder.

Knock knock knock knock...

After multiple knocks, Hirbad opened the door sleepily and angrily. "Who are you? Knocking on my door at this hour of night! Get lost!"

When he put his glasses on his eyes and recognized Arash with his light brown hair and honey-colored eyes, his facial expression changed.

"Arash? You? At this hour of night?"

"It's me, Master. I have business."

Hirbad opened the door wider. "Come in, my son. What's wrong?"

Arash entered the old hut that was full of ancient books, mysterious documents, and half-made power stones. The smell of perfume and incense was winding in the air.

He placed the large bag on the wooden table. The sound of coins hitting each other broke the silence of the night.

"Master, these forty-eight coins are according to the promise I made." Arash separated some coins.

Hirbad squinted his eyes. "My boy, you... did you really go? Did you go to Vishi?"

"Yes."

"And you came back... successful?"

"As you can see."

Hirbad nodded. Joy mixed with worry on his face. "My boy, do you know what you did? Vishi is a place where..."

"I know, Master. But I had no choice."

Hirbad looked at the large bag. "You paid back your debt to me, all these coins... what should I do with them?"

Arash cast a serious and determined look at him. "Master, I have an important request. I want you to keep these coins. On Friday, send yourself or someone to buy my sister instead of me."

Hirbad raised an eyebrow. "Your sister?"

"Yes. She will be sold at the slave auction at Friday. It starts at one hundred and seventy-five coins."

He raised his eyebrow and said, "My boy, what benefit do I get from this?"

Arash picked up fifty-two more coins and placed them on the table. "These are also for you. And in In the slave market, whatever you pay for my sister, keep the rest for yourself too."

Hirbad squinted his eyes. "Why do you think I will do this?"

"Because you know I have no other way. And because you have a desire for profit."

A long pause settled between them. Pirbod stroked his white beard.

"How much do you think your sister will be sold for?"

"I don't know, whatever you buy her for and whatever remains, you take it."

Hirbad nodded. "Very well. But Arash, you must know that this work has consequences. If someone finds out how you got this money..."

"No one will find out. Because the only person who knows I went to Vishi is you."

Hirbad cast a deep look at Arash. In that look, a mixture of admiration and worry was waving.

"Go now. Tomorrow I have important work waiting for me."

Arash went toward the door, but before leaving, he turned back. "Master, one more thing. If something happens, if I get caught or..."

"You won't get caught, my boy. Not as long as your heart burns with fire."

Arash smiled bitterly. "Fire heh... certainly Master, certainly."

"Fire always burns in our hearts, Arash. The only thing we must do is not let it be extinguished."

Return to the Present

Now sitting in his room, Arash thought about the complexities of the night that had passed. Nora had sold him out, but he himself was also a pawn in this game, not the main player.

The window that opened to the courtyard sent moonlight into the room. Arash knew that the next day would be decisive. Pirbod had promised, but would he really keep his word?

Was it hope that burned within him, or despair that had transformed itself into resolve? When he looked at the gray ash pouring from his Essence stone, he saw the remains of something that had once burned brilliantly. Was his inner flame also destined to have the same fate—to become ash in his hands?

The old man made it seem very simple: just don't let it die.

Maybe the flame wasn't meant to burn forever. Maybe it was meant to burn everything—including himself—until nothing remained but the truth of what truly was.

Friday, his sister would be free. At least, she would be transferred from one form of slavery to another. But was this really freedom?

Arash smiled bitterly. He didn't know what would happen that day, whether everything would go well or not.

"How is Azar? This silence is tearing me apart, it's killing me. I no longer know what path to take."