I whispered to myself as I walked behind her down a cobblestone street, with carriages passing by now and then between the buildings with white walls and brown wooden doors: What does her father want from me? And where is she taking me?
A few moments later, she turned and entered one of the alleys. She stopped at the entrance, turned to me, and said calmly: "Don't worry."
I clenched my fist slightly, then whispered to myself, There's no need to worry.
Zoe and Miro were walking beside me.
I followed her into the alley, and we kept walking until we stopped in front of an ordinary, simple house. Its old wooden door showed the passage of time.
She opened the door, then said,
"Come in… this is my house."
We went inside. The house was tidy and almost empty, filled with complete silence; not a sound could be heard. Its clean scent was like a cool breeze that brought a sense of comfort.
Pointing to the seating area, she said,
"Please, have a seat."
We took our seats while she headed toward a room in one corner of the house. She knocked gently on the door, then opened it and said:
"Dad… I've brought him."
We waited a few minutes, then she returned to us and said, "My father is inside."
We stood in front of the room; she opened the door for us and went in first. Sunlight streamed in through the window, bathing the room in a soft glow. On a nearby wooden table lay some fruit and several bottles of medicine.
My gaze fell on a white bed, on which an elderly man was lying on his back. His hair was completely gray, his face was lined with wrinkles, and his pale eyes were staring into space. A wooden chair stood beside him.
He whispered softly, "So you've come, then."
I replied nervously, "Yes."
Without turning to look at me, he said, "Sit down."
I approached him and sat down beside him. Then he said in a calm voice, "I wanted to thank you for what you did today… really, thank you."
I raised my hand in a light wave and said, "It was nothing much—don't worry about it."
He gave a faint smile, then said, "To me… you did something great. You saved my princess. You see, this is my situation… I can't see, and I can't protect her or even provide for her. All I've caused her is trouble. She's been forced to work at such a young age to pay for my treatment and food."
A tear rolled down his cheek as he continued in a trembling voice: "I've become a burden to her."
I bit my lip, and my eyes stung. I couldn't comfort him, nor could I comfort her, and I couldn't find any words. I simply stared at the floor in silence.
Then I heard her sobs behind me as she said, "No… Father, you're not a burden to me at all. You're all I have in this life, so don't worry about me."
He smiled a calm smile, his head still turned toward the ceiling, then said, "Come closer to me, young man."
I approached him, and he stretched out his hand with great difficulty until his fingers touched my face. He ran them gently over my features, feeling every part of my face, while his head remained turned toward the ceiling.
He sighed quietly, then said, "Tell me… what's your name?"
I answered without hesitation, despite the tension gripping me: "My name is Siraj."
He slowly withdrew his hand, and a quiet smile remained on his face.
"Siraj… then."
Then he added: "You're not from this city."
I replied calmly, "Yes… I'm not from this city."
I whispered to myself: Should I tell him what I'm looking for?
I hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I'm looking for the Tree of Heaven."
Silence filled the room for a few moments.
I whispered to myself: What now? Did I say something wrong? Speak up… what's with this deafening silence?
He said in a low voice: "Have you heard of the legend of the Five Witches?"
I replied: "Yes, I've heard of it."
There was a brief silence, then he said: "I used to hear this story from a man who taught me everything in life."
"I'll tell it to you from a different perspective."
"Five hundred years ago, when the most powerful people of that time united to bring down the Five Witches, they managed to seal only two of them. That was in a town called Sky Tree, where legend has it that the city vanished immediately after the battle."
"Among the forces that sealed the two witches was a great man known as the First Saint of the Sword. This man vanished along with his title… the title of the greatest swordsman in history.".
"Many have tried to claim that same title and power, but no one has succeeded. Legend has it that in the desert of Malien, a tower appeared that they named the Tower of the First Saint of the Sword. Some men lost their minds, and some claimed to have seen the First Saint of the Sword there, and there are many other rumors… but I can't guarantee you anything, my son. I've only told you this fairy tale in case it might be of use to you."
I whispered to myself: The city of Malien… the First Saint of the Sword?
I have no other choice. I'll go meet Saint Sword the First, and I'll ask him about the town of the Tree of Heaven.
I took his frail hand and said gratefully, "Really… thank you. You've helped me a lot."
Then I whispered to myself, "Wait for me, Saint Sword the First."