At the worst

General Farouk stared at the couple in front of him. He had always heard that young love could make people do crazy things, and he had seen it manifest in many ways. Although he had never experienced it himself, he could still recognize the faces of two youths in love. The General smiled.

"The prince is currently at Dura," Farouk said. "He seeks Lady Ri, the daughter of the late Sulten. By now, I'm sure he has found her."

"Dura?" Sida asked, her expression shifting. "That means I can't meet him."

"Not yet," the General replied. "But you'll be surprised when you do. He's becoming a fine young man."

Farouk turned his gaze to Jo. "I believe you understand your country's stance in this war and the fact that you've just chosen to betray them."

"I'm not betraying anyone," Jo said firmly. "I'm here as a mere lover boy, remember?"

Farouk chuckled at his response. "What do you plan on doing next?"

"I'll meet the prince at a later date," Sida said. "For now, we're preparing for Jai's apparent arrival."

"Well, he shouldn't arrive for another three or four days," Farouk said thoughtfully. "I'll return to Dura to meet with the prince. If Jai is truly coming here, this place should be the last stop for him."

Farouk paused before continuing, "I'll leave some of my men here in Jubai. They will continue to assist you discreetly but don't do anything careless. At this point, the odds are stacked against us, and we must be patient and cautious moving forward. Once I meet the prince, we'll send word and coordinate with you."

"But there's something else we need to consider," he added.

"I would have loved to have the support of an organization like Sum on our side," Farouk said, "but I doubt they'd show their faces at a time like this."

"That might be for the best," Sida interjected. "From what we've seen, they're watching us. While they may not want to reveal themselves, their observation could play to our advantage in the end."

"You're right," Farouk agreed. "There's also the matter of Eru. They've allied with Burak, and I'm fairly certain they'll align themselves with the prince as well. Although I don't trust them completely—especially after what they pulled off in Omi recently—they must have their own agenda."

"Exactly," Sida said. "Until we understand their true intentions, trusting them is risky. However, allying with them could still be a significant advantage."

"That's true," Farouk conceded, "but even securing their help will be a challenge. With everything going on, it's best to keep a low profile. Any misstep could prove fatal."

Farouk sighed, acknowledging Sida's point. Rushing into action at this moment was out of the question. Not only would it endanger their lives, but it would also jeopardize the results they hoped to achieve. With their cover of chaos gone, more eyes than ever would be upon them.

"Very well," Farouk said at last. "I'll let my men continue working with you. I'll meet the prince and inform him of our plans. Until then, we must remain vigilant."

"Thank you, General," Sida said with a respectful nod.

Farouk straightened. "I suppose it's time for me to return. I don't want anyone noticing my absence."

"Indeed, General," Sida said, bowing slightly. "It's been a pleasure working with you."

Once Sida and Jo had left, Jo broke the silence. "I want you to promise me something," he said.

Sida turned to him, intrigued. "What is it?"

"You'll tell me if you're ever in the slightest trouble," Jo said firmly.

Sida stared at him for a moment, then smiled softly. "I promise. If I'm in any trouble, I'll come running to you myself."

"Good," Jo said, satisfied.

With that, the two disappeared into the shadows once more.

Back in the shack, General Farouk and his two guards prepared to leave.

"Did everything go well, General?" one of the guards asked.

"Yes, better than I imagined," Farouk replied. "I want you to continue working with Lady Sida here in Jubai."

"Yes, General!" both men replied in unison.

"But be cautious," Farouk warned. "Don't do anything reckless."

"Understood, general!" they chorused.

Farouk nodded approvingly. "Good. Now then…" He turned toward the direction of the abandoned high houses in the area. Just like most houses in the area, it was also in a sorry state. He stood in front of the high house, his expression shrill.

"I believe whoever you are, you can show yourself now," the General said calmly.

The two guards exchanged confused looks. Despite their sharp senses, they had failed to detect any presence. Even after the General spoke, the area remained eerily silent—too silent.

Moments later, a young woman stepped out of the high house, flanked by two girls. The guards stiffened, one of them instinctively drawing his sword.

As soon as he did, an overwhelming urge to drop the weapon overcame him. It was as if his body refused to fight. The guard gritted his teeth, struggling against the inexplicable force.

Farouk observed the scene with a faint smile.

"Who are you?" the General asked, his tone steady.

"My name is Vera Eryndril," the woman replied. Her voice was calm and confident. "It's a pleasure to meet you, General Farouk."

The two girls beside her, Thia and Thena, stood silently, their eyes fixed on the man before them.