Dust danced in the golden morning rays streaming through the high windows, but the peace that filled the palace faded by evening. Everyone noticed MOHITO's absence, and the atmosphere grew tense—like the stillness before a storm.
SOLIMON stood near the large window in the reception hall, his fingers pressing against the cold glass frame.
His eyes were fixed on the main gate, as if he could summon MOHITO back by sheer will.
"Where could he have gone?" MESNAS whispered as he approached SOLIMON, his voice low and unusually anxious.
SOLIMON didn't turn, but the muscles in his jaw tightened.
"I truly don't know. I saw him early this morning, and he seemed normal… more than normal."
"What do you mean by 'more than normal'?"
"He was calm… strangely calm."
Finally, SOLIMON turned to MESNAS, his eyes reflecting the concern he had tried to hide.
"As if he had made a life-changing decision."
From the corner of the hall, LOUVNA watched them from afar.
Her hands were crossed over her chest, and her eyes never left the main door.
Each passing minute tightened the knot in her chest.
Suddenly, SOLIMON's phone rang.
One glance at the screen drained the color from his face.
"It's MOHITO… a text message."
Everyone gathered around him, anxiety and curiosity thick in the air. The message was short and cryptic:
"Do not follow me."
ZARYOUH slammed his fist against the wall.
"What does 'do not follow me' mean?! Does he think we'll let him face danger alone?!"
AYOUB, panicked:
"He KNOWS we'll go after him… that's why he said it!"
LOUVNA spoke for the first time, her voice trembling but firm:
"What's going on? Where is MOHITO? Why is everyone so tense?"
SOLIMON closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them with new resolve.
"I should have noticed…"
MESNAS ran a hand through his hair, stressed:
"If he went to face that… thing… alone…"
LOUVNA stepped toward the group, her eyes shining with suppressed tears.
"Tell me what's happening! I can't handle this secrecy anymore!"
At that moment, the main door burst open, and ADEL rushed in, face pale, laptop in hand—OBASO beside him.
OBASO, his voice shaky:
"MOHITO's phone signal disappeared an hour ago… but I tracked the last location it showed."
SOLIMON stepped forward.
"Where?"
ADEL, confused:
"The abandoned factory."
In that moment, SOLIMON realized his friend was about to fight a battle alone… a battle he feared dragging them into.
The massive palace doors opened slowly again, revealing SHOUTNA standing on the threshold, his official coat still covered in road dust.
He had just returned from intelligence headquarters, where he'd spent hours coordinating security plans for the peace conference.
As soon as he entered, all conversations went silent.
Every eye turned to him, as if the group had found an anchor in their storm of worry.
LOUVNA took a step forward, hope flickering in her voice:
"SHOUTNA!"
SOLIMON quickly raised the phone:
"We received a message from MOHITO… he said—"
SHOUTNA lifted his hand calmly, scanning the frightened faces. His eyes assessed the situation in seconds.
"He texted me to," SHOUTNA said, his tone calm but firm.
ZARYOUH blurted out:
"Then you KNOW! We have to go now!"
SHOUTNA shook his head slowly.
"No."
A shocking silence fell.
MESNAS, disbelieving:
"What do you mean?!"
SHOUTNA stepped into the center of the hall.
"MOHITO knows what he's doing. If he asked us not to follow, there's a reason."
AYOUB shouted:
"But he could be in danger!"
SHOUTNA's eyes sharpened:
"And sometimes… the recklessness of friends is more dangerous than enemies."
He turned toward LOUVNA, their eyes meeting—hers filled with tears.
SHOUTNA, gently:
"I know you're worried. But trust him. He is stronger than you think."
His words carried the wisdom of a leader who knew some battles must be fought alone.
And in his eyes, there was something else… something that understood MOHITO's inner war.
Silence weighed heavily on the hall as the group slowly absorbed his words.
SOLIMON, hesitating:
"Fine…"
MESNAS nodded, though concern lingered in his eyes.
"You're right. MOHITO knows how to take care of himself."
LOUVNA exhaled deeply, wiping her tears.
"I'll wait… but I promise you, if he doesn't return… I'll go search for him myself."
SHOUTNA gave her a faint smile.
"That's all I ask."
Then his expression sharpened, shifting into complete seriousness.
"Now… let's focus on the bigger threat. During my meeting with intelligence, we uncovered disturbing movements in SPIYA."
ZARYOUH, shocked:
"What's happening there?"
SHOUTNA wiped a tired hand across his forehead.
"Unknown forces moving near the border. A sudden withdrawal of the royal guard from strategic positions. And the worst part…There are reports of a military coup being planned from inside the SPIYA army itself."
MONA, horrified:
"A coup? But… the conference is only days away!"
GHAZLANE pulled out her tablet.
"That explains the cyberattacks on our systems this morning."
MAYNO, standing beside SHOUTNA, added:
"If there's a coup, the PRINCESS is no longer just a target for the organization… she's a threat to the new regime."
SHOUTNA stared out the window.
"The game is bigger than we thought. We aren't just fighting the organization… we're facing a country on the brink of civil war."
Tension filled the room as all eyes turned to LOUVNA.
At that moment, they realized MOHITO's personal battle might be just one part of a much larger storm—one that could topple an entire kingdom.
"We need to identify the mastermind behind this and remove him from SPIYA as fast as possible," SHOUTNA continued coldly.
"You mean…" LOUVNA, nervous.
"Yes. We will assassinate him. You must start acting as a PRINCESS now, not a civilian girl," SHOUTNA said with a grave expression.
LOUVNA trembled, gripping a chair for balance.
"Assassination? But that's…"
SHOUTNA, mercilessly:
"These are the rules of the game. Either we strike first, or we get struck."
"You've seen how the world works. Innocents die while villains sit on thrones."
LOUVNA closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them with new determination.
"What do I need to do?"
SHOUTNA smiled a cold smile.
"You'll call the royal palace in SPIYA. Arrange a meeting to prepare your conference speech. You will be the bait."
MONA stormed forward, furious.
"Are you kidding me?!"
MIZIANI, shocked:
"This is too dangerous!"
"MIZIANI is right—this plan is reckless," SOLIMON said, eyes tense.
"I won't allow this!" MONA moved forward, standing defiantly before SHOUTNA, who stared back with cold calculation.
SOLIMON stood, tense—his mind flashing back to MOHITO whispering his vow to protect LOUVNA at any cost.
LOUVNA took a deep breath, her voice trembling but resolute:
"Fine… I'll do what must be done."
MONA turned to her, eyes full of fear and protectiveness.
"But you don't HAVE to. You didn't cause this chaos. Please… if something happens to you…"
LOUVNA held MONA's hand, her grip warm and steady.
"Don't worry… I'm sure nothing will happen to me."
Then she whispered to herself, words only she could hear:
"He won't allow it."
She lifted her gaze to SHOUTNA, her tone becoming royal:
"What's the plan?"
SHOUTNA smiled—a rare smile, filled with admiration.
"Good… that's how a true princess speaks."
"The plan is as follows…"
*******************************
In the pitch-black darkness of the abandoned factory, MOHITO sat on the same chair the DEMON MONKEY had used.
Across his arms lay MORASAMI—the black blade and glowing red veins casting a demonic aura around them.
His head hung low, his eyes fixed on the dirty floor as if reading the secrets of his past etched into the dust.
Then… very slowly… he raised his head.
The red veins in MORASAMI pulsed violently, and MOHITO's eyes filled with a dark crimson glow—like embers burning in endless night.
This wasn't anger… it was a decision.
He rose to his feet, every movement filled with irreversible resolve.
MORASAMI in his hand was no longer just a weapon—
It had become part of his will.
The shadow he cast on the wall no longer resembled a man—
But the silhouette of a massive wolf is preparing to strike.
His journey to find the DEMON WOLF had ended…
When he realized he hadn't been chasing it outside—
He had carried it within him all along.
Now… it was time to return.