Chapter 7: Absence of Remembrance

Prince Mehrajan’s sleep was restless, haunted by the weight of the mission ahead. Tomorrow, he would pack his bags and prepare for an adventure that could cost countless lives. Their goal was clear: find the Sahir before Polaris unleashed another letter, announcing the dreaded war tournaments. But the uncertainty gnawed at him. They had no idea when the next letter would arrive. Instead of the slow, steady trickle of sand in an hourglass, it felt as though a ticking time bomb loomed above them, each second bringing them closer to disaster.

The next day arrived, heavy with anticipation. As Prince Mehrajan entered the meeting hall, he found four members of the Supreme Court already assembled alongside his sister, Amani. Among them, to his surprise, stood Sylvius, the head of the knights—a man who bore the mark of the Sahir’s dark magic. Sylvius was a legend, the oldest member of the council and once a great friend of Mehrajan’s great-grandfather. Though he had died in battle years ago, the Sahir had brought him back, granting him the gift—and curse—of immortality.

“Good morning, Your Highness,” Sylvius greeted Mehrajan. “We have matters and plans to discuss.” They gathered around the table, with the royal children at its head. Seated alongside them were Sylvius, Zahra, Yasmin, and Toba. Yasmin, a witch with the power to cast potent spells, though always with a catch, broke the silence first.

“I was looking through my spell books and found one that caught my attention,” she began. “Given that Sylvius and Toba are extensions of the Sahir, we can use that connection to trace a path to his current location.”

“But what’s the catch?” Princess Amani asked, her voice sharp with caution.

Yasmin hesitated before responding, her expression darkening. “The path won’t be completely clear. It’ll be like a game of hot and cold. As we get closer to the Sahir, Sylvius and Toba’s memories will begin to deteriorate. The closer we get, the more they’ll lose. This is the best my magic can do.”

A heavy silence fell over the room as everyone processed the cost of this plan. Sylvius and Toba exchanged glances, their faces betraying no emotion, though the weight of what lay ahead was clear. Their loyalty to the kingdom outweighed their personal fates, even if it meant losing their memories—and ultimately, their lives.

“And once we do find him and kill him for good,” Prince Mehrajan said, his voice tinged with sorrow, “then Polaris will finally die. But,”

“So will we,” Sylvius interjected. “It’s a risk we’ve accepted, and perhaps our time has come.” He offered a weak smile, the burden of his immortality apparent in his eyes. Before Mehrajan and Amani could voice their concerns or suggest another solution—though none seemed viable—Toba stepped forward, his resolve unshaken.
“Let’s assist Yasmin in setting the spell,” he said firmly. “And let’s aim to return with good news.”