Darkness… then a recurring light.
Erold opened his eyes slowly to find himself in a small mud house. He knew this house… it was Mr. Ra's home. He could barely move, and in a fleeting moment of panic, he whispered: "Was I dreaming?! Was everything I went through just a dream? Was there no Ali, no Jasmin, no others…?"
He clutched his head, his voice trembling: "Impossible! I felt everything… it was real… it wasn't a dream!" He shouted: "Arthur! Come out, Arthur!"
A short, elderly man with a white mustache and a bald head entered. His eyes were a deep, dark black, and he carried a wooden cane. He spoke in a concerned voice: "Why are you shouting, Erold?"
Erold was stunned: "Mr. Ra! How did you get here?! I was in the far North… how long have I been asleep?"
Mr. Ra replied, his cane trembling in his hands: "The far North? Are you ill, Erold?" He approached and placed his hand on Erold's forehead. "You don't seem to have a fever… what is this madness? We were harvesting yesterday… you haven't gone anywhere. In fact, I was the one who collapsed, not you!"
Erold said in confusion: "What on earth is happening?! It's impossible for it to be a dream…" He shouted again: "Arthur! Is anyone there!"
But only silence answered him.
Erold asked, gasping for breath: "What happened to me? Why can't I move?"
Mr. Ra replied: "Your pride got the better of you again. The harvest was too large for us to finish today. I was going to ask for help, but you said: 'I am enough alone.' After you finished, you fell to the ground, insanely exhausted." He pointed to the donkey outside: "So I pulled you with Luna and put you on the bed to rest… don't ever repeat this madness again, Erold."
Erold moved in pain: "Ugh… thank you, Mr. Ra. Can you help me out?"
Ra replied with a smile: "Of course. Luna, come here, girl!"
Luna entered, and Erold leaned on her to get outside. Mr. Ra said: "Let's sit outside… I'll prepare some tea. Do you want some?" Erold: "Of course… your tea is the best."
Erold thought to himself: I'm sure… this isn't a dream. He patted Luna, saying: "Stop here."
He stopped before a chair overlooking the farm. Erold looked in amazement: "I never imagined this before… a farm in the middle of the desert! Apple trees, wheat fields… how is this possible? I never asked Mr. Ra about this before… but I'm sure it's the work of a Great Mage."
He looked at Luna: "I wanted to introduce you to Utma, Luna… but unfortunately, I can't." He heard Mr. Ra's voice: "And who is Utma, Erold?" Erold replied: "A long story, Mr. Ra…"
The old man said: "Thanks to you, we have nothing to do today… so, tell us. Even Luna deserves to rest and listen."
Erold began: "It's a crazy story… I have no proof, but it is real. I am certain of it." Mr. Ra: "I know you don't lie, Erold. Go on."
Erold narrated everything. Mr. Ra was astonished: "Did you really leave me and head to Babylon? But why?" Erold continued until he reached the death of Ali. Mr. Ra was moved, saying in a sad voice: "Cursed nobles…"
He regained his composure and added: "I won't deny that some of them are the best of people… but many don't deserve to live. They act as if they are the righteous ones on earth, while they are nothing but scum with no achievements other than mentioning what their ancestors did in the past."
Erold looked at him in surprise: "I think you have a story of your own to tell me, Mr. Ra." Ra replied: "Finish your story first, then I'll tell you mine. We haven't spoken much before; you were always a bit secretive."
Erold smiled faintly: "You're right." He then continued, revealing his true identity: "I am Arthur… I took the name Erold after the death of Erold Lionheart."
Mr. Ra's eyes widened: "So your name was Arthur?" Erold: "I didn't have a name at first." Ra said quietly: "So you are the one who killed Horus that day?" Erold lowered his head: "Yes and no at the same time."
Erold continued until he reached his meeting with Astra. He described the place: "A beautiful place, like a nebula filled with stars… and there I met a Lady." He described her features. "That was… Astra."
The color drained from Mr. Ra's face. His expression shifted to pure shock: "How do you know that name, Erold?!" Erold: "She introduced herself to me."
Mr. Ra turned pale. Erold asked: "What's wrong, Mr. Ra?" Ra replied in a hesitant voice: "I thought you were raving in a dream… but since you described the Lady of the Stars exactly as mentioned in the Royal Books… then you are truly telling the truth! How is this possible?!" He then said seriously: "Continue… I won't interrupt you again."
Erold finished his story. Mr. Ra took a deep breath: "So… Arthur is the soul living in your body. You fought an elite Jinn, met the Lady of the Stars, and then fought the King of Thieves. You obtained the Eye of Mystery, the key to the Jinn world. Then you met companions, each with a different desire, united on one path. And in the end, you head to meet Gilgamesh, described since youth as the strongest human—a man capable of defeating an entire army alone. There, you discover you carry the Power of Balance… and that Arthur can stop time. As for that Jinn… he died, and something of him entered your body."
He clutched his head in pain: "My God… you described a story as madness, but it transcends madness itself. My head hurts… let's finish inside, Erold."
They went into the house. Mr. Ra said: "We will finish talking in my room." He stood before a locked chest. Erold asked: "What is this?" Ra: "Sit down first."
Ra pulled out a sword encrusted with gold. Erold was amazed: "This is extremely expensive… where did you get this?" Ra smiled: "It is mine." Erold gasped: "Yours?! Who exactly are you?"
Ra pulled out a golden crown encrusted with emeralds: "In the past, they used to call me the Peacemaker… King Ra. I was the King of Egypt." Erold was shocked: "Impossible… you?!"
Ra nodded calmly: "Yes… I am the father of Amon, and the grandfather of Horus. By the way, I don't hold a single ounce of hatred for you, Erold. You did what was right regarding Horus. Even if it wasn't you, but Arthur, it wasn't a wrong action."
Erold asked nervously: "Wait… how did you get here? Why did you leave the throne?"
Ra sighed: "I'll simplify it… In my forties, the nobles of the kingdom treated the commoners like trash. Slaves born to obey them—less than slaves, like insects with no value. It enraged me. One day, I saw a noble family fighting with a merchant… they torched his house while his family was inside! His wife had just given birth to a baby… they killed them in cold blood. That was when I launched a campaign to purge the nobles. I turned the kingdom into a hanging square for every piece of scum. In a moment of silence with my son Amon atop the palace, I told him to announce my assassination to stop the chaos and take over. Meanwhile, I left the kingdom."
Erold: "Did Amon agree to this easily?" Ra smiled: "Yes, Amon is smart. He knew that if I didn't leave, I would die there because of the nobles, and even if soldiers guarded me, their lives would be wasted. I didn't lust for power; all I wanted was for the kingdom to be well. I was at peace because the kingdom was in his hands. Even after you told me what happened with Erold Lionheart, I was certain the kingdom lived through a wonderful period of stability… but now, I don't know what has become of it. This is my story, Erold… I even found a Great Mage on my way here and asked her to make this place suitable for farming."
Erold lowered his head: "My God…" Suddenly, he looked up to realize the place had become eerily quiet. Time had stopped completely. There was no Mr. Ra, no Luna.
And suddenly, Karl appeared before him: "Welcome… Master Erold." Erold gasped: "Impossible… you're dead!" Karl replied calmly: "Yes… I am dead. I am now inside your world, Master Erold."
Erold trembled: "World?" Karl nodded: "Yes, this is your world. This is the embodiment of the Peace within you. Your mind carved it into your soul. This is your personal period of peace, and it is here with Mr. Ra."
Erold asked in disbelief: "Is it true? It wasn't a dream?" Karl: "It was real. But why do you think I am helping you now?" Erold shouted angrily: "To make me kill you, you idiot!" Erold followed up quickly: "Wait, you are dead… how are you here?"
Karl said: "This is thanks to your power, Master Erold. You collect the souls of Jinn or contractors who die near you, and you can pull them into your world here."
Erold was stunned: "And what about Mr. Ra?" Karl replied in a quiet voice: "He died of grief after you left… after he grew used to your presence. After his death, his soul searched for you. When he found you, he dwelled within your world. But now, only a memory of him remains in this world; he has gone to the World of the Dead."
Erold looked at the ground, his voice hushed: "I'm sorry… Mr. Ra. The world was harsh on you… I think you will find your own peace now. I didn't know my absence would cause this. I didn't think about your feelings. If I could go back, I would fix every mistake… to tell you that I am grateful for everything you did for me."
Then Karl said seriously: "Master Erold… I am here to tell you the truth." Erold: "What do you mean?" Karl replied sharply: "About your past…"