Ploughing Seeds of Conspiracy

Yusuf and Bastin stepped into the dimly lit room. Saliz lay sprawled across a leaf-woven mat, his hairy legs stretched wide, his gaze distant—dreaming with open eyes. The trance broke when Yusuf spoke.

"Uncle, where will we sleep?"

Saliz blinked himself back to reality, sat up, and stretched. "You and the boy will sleep on my mattress," he replied.

Yusuf hesitated. "Then where will you sleep, Uncle?"

Saliz simply lifted a finger and pointed outside. A Piesto tree stood tall under the night sky, and from one of its sturdy branches hung a cloth-woven sleeping bag, swaying gently in the breeze.

"Oh!" The children exclaimed in unison, their eyes gleaming with wonder. A few moments of silence passed. Then, as if a switch had flipped, Saliz drifted back into his dreams.

Yusuf nudged him again. "Uncle, what will Bastin and I wear? We can't keep walking around in leaves forever."

Saliz exhaled deeply, rubbing his temples. "Tomorrow, we'll go to the market and buy you some clothes," he said. But in his mind, the thought remained unfinished—I'm not wasting money on that filthy boy.

Both children cheered in excitement, but Saliz was already slipping back into his thoughts. His mind spun a dark fantasy: I won't need to buy him anything. Tonight, I'll get rid of that brooch, and once they're asleep, I'll kill him. No one will suspect a thing. My powers will do the work, and I'll simply tell them he died of an illness... or an old injury. His lips curled into a wicked grin.

Then, Bastin stepped forward. "Thank you," he said softly. "Thank you for keeping me here, for everything you've done and will do." A warm smile crossed his face. "Uncle."

For a moment, Saliz felt something stir within him. The boy's gratitude—so pure, so sincere—was enough to melt any normal heart. But Saliz wasn't normal. The feeling unsettled him, but he quickly shoved it aside. Instead, he forced a smile and muttered, "It's my duty."

"Uncle," Yusuf interrupted. "I'm starving. What's for dinner?"

Saliz snapped his fingers. "Ah! I forgot children eat thrice a day. My forester routine includes only one meal." He scratched his head. "I haven't prepared anything yet, but let's go. I'll find something growing outside."

Bastin nodded cheerfully, and the two boys followed him into the night.

As they walked toward the garden, the sky loomed darker than before. Shadows stretched across the land. Yusuf glanced at the towering trees. "Uncle, are you sure there aren't any spirits resting here?"

Bastin chuckled. "That's just a story. Spirits aren't real."

Saliz suddenly cursed under his breath. "Ah, damn it! There's no fruit on the trees!"

"Then what will we eat?" Yusuf asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

Saliz sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Seems like I'll have to use the brooch again."

He stepped forward, placing a hand on the trunk of an old Perize tree. A smirk tugged at his lips. "This one's perfect," he murmured.

Yusuf and Bastin watched in anticipation as Saliz spread his hands over the bark. "Phytus Synthesis," he whispered.

A burst of light erupted from his palms, flooding the area as if the sun had risen in the dead of night. Yusuf gasped in awe, his face glowing under the strange radiance. Bastin, however, narrowed his eyes. His mind wasn't lost in wonder—he was watching carefully, analyzing every movement, trying to understand the mechanics of Saliz's spell.

Before their eyes, the tree transformed. From its lifeless branches, light pink flowers bloomed. Seconds later, the petals withered, crumbling into dust, and from their place, round, plump fruits emerged, glistening under the fading magic.

Saliz pulled his hands away, his dull green brooch flickering weakly. He clicked his tongue. "Damn thing used up too much energy."

"That was amazing!" Yusuf beamed.

Bastin, however, stood silent. His brows furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line. Why couldn't I figure out how it worked?

But before he could dwell on it, Yusuf's voice snapped him back. "They're so high up! How will we get them?"

Saliz smirked. "Step back, or you'll get your head cracked open."

Yusuf obeyed immediately, but Bastin lingered, his curiosity overriding his caution. He had a feeling that even Saliz's strength wouldn't be enough to shake the tree.

Saliz took a few steps back, steadied himself—then charged. His foot slammed into the trunk with a force that made Yusuf flinch. The tree barely moved.

"As I thought," Bastin muttered.

But then, without so much as a rustle, the fruits started dropping—one by one, all at once.

"Wow! My uncle is strong!" Yusuf's eyes sparkled as he ran forward, gathering the fallen fruit.

Saliz laughed, watching Yusuf's excitement. "Take as many as you want."

Bastin stood there, with his eyes widened.

"He is stronger than I thought!"

"Come on, Bastin!" Yusuf called. "Help me!"

Bastin hesitated, still lost in thought, but then shook himself awake. "Oh, right!" He crouched down and started picking.

Saliz leaned back against the tree, patting its rough bark. "Thanks, old friend," he murmured. A single heart-shaped leaf drifted down, landing softly in his palm.

Back inside, they sat in the living room, munching on the seedless fruit. Saliz watched them closely, his mind drifting back to his plan. His fingers curled slightly, his lips twitching into a faint grin.

"As soon as you're done eating," he said smoothly, "get ready for bed."

The boys barely noticed the way his voice darkened, or the way his eyes gleamed with something sinister.

His inner self was laughing.

Tonight, everything would fall into place.