Chapter 8 The Laughter of Zafir

While enjoying the beauty of the oasis, Elara suddenly sensed several troops approaching from the direction of the ocean.

"Violet, there are troops approaching. They're coming from the sea," Elara said, her voice tense.

Zafir immediately recognized the situation. "Those must be soldiers from my homeland," he muttered anxiously.

Violet looked at Zafir with concern. "What should we do?"

Zafir glanced at Violet and Zorak. "I must go alone to meet them. This could put all of you in danger."

"But Zafir" Violet tried to stop him, but Zafir had already turned around and swiftly swam toward the approaching troops.

When Zafir reached the soldiers, the commander saluted him and spoke with a serious tone.

"Zafir, we've come with bad news."

"What happened?" Zafir asked, tension in his voice.

"Our kingdom is in chaos. A group of terrorists has overthrown the royal family, and they are now being held captive. We've been sent to secure you, the son of Lord Aril, as you are one of their targets," the commander explained.

Zafir's emotions surged. Anger and despair filled his heart at the devastating news.

"I must save my family," he said firmly.

The commander nodded. "We will help you, Zafir. We must act quickly."

Without hesitation, Zafir decided to depart immediately to rescue his family. He didn't inform Violet and the others, not wanting to endanger them. Together with his soldiers, he quickly devised a plan and made preparations.

As they began their mission, Zafir glanced back at the oasis one last time.

"I'm sorry, Violet," he whispered softly. "But I must do this alone."

With unwavering determination, Zafir and his troops dove into the depths of the ocean, heading toward a kingdom now ruled by terrorists. He knew the risks were high, but for the sake of his family and his people, he was ready to face whatever dangers lay ahead.

Zafir, now revealed to be a nobleman, led his troops through the deep sea. Upon arriving at his home, Zafir entered a room with a pounding heart. In front of him, his father, Lord Kael, was tightly bound, with Commander Zira standing arrogantly before him. Zafir held his breath at the sight of his weakened yet dignified father.

"Father..." Zafir whispered, his voice trembling with deep worry.

"Zafir, my son... Why are you here? Leave quickly!" Lord Kael shouted.

Zafir stepped forward with firm strides, eyes burning with resolve.

"No, Father. I'm here to rescue you. I won't leave!"

"Foolish boy, get out of here now!" Lord Kael yelled even louder.

Zira interrupted with a cold, mocking tone.

"Zafir," she said. "So you've finally arrived. Unfortunately, it's already too late for them."

Zafir looked at his father and family with anxiety. He had never imagined they would fall into the hands of such ruthless rebels.

"For our honor," Zafir muttered, "you will pay for this."

Commander Zira smirked.

"You're naive, Zafir. Our power is unmatched. Surrender yourself, or your family will suffer even more."

With his laser sword drawn, Zafir and his troops launched a daring assault. A fierce battle erupted within the noble's quarters, the flashing lights of laser swords illuminating the room.

Despite their brave efforts, Zira's forces were too powerful. Rakan and Vinarta, with their tactical prowess, took down several of Zafir's soldiers. Zafir engaged in a desperate duel with Commander Zira to protect his family.

"With our strength, Zafir, your family will belong to us," Zira taunted.

But Zafir refused to give up. Driven by sheer will, he continued to fight until he was eventually overwhelmed.

Exhausted, gasping for breath, and covered in wounds, Zafir made one last attempt to strike at Zira. But Vinarta easily blocked his attack and knocked the sword from his hand.

Zafir collapsed to his knees, body trembling. Vinarta kicked him hard, sending him sprawling backward.

"That's enough, Vinarta," Zira ordered firmly. Vinarta nodded and seized Zafir, chaining him in heavy iron restraints.

Zafir struggled, but his body was too weak. He was forced to stand and dragged to the side, placed near his captive family.

Inside, Zafir was consumed with guilt.

"Forgive me, Violet," he thought, eyes clouded with sorrow and regret. "It seems I won't be able to see you again."

Zira approached, eyes sharp.

"Now you'll witness your family in chains, Zafir. This is the end of your rebellion."

Zafir remained silent, enduring the pain and despair. In the stillness, all he could do was hope that Violet and the others at the oasis remained safe.

Back at the oasis, Violet was growing increasingly worried about Zafir's sudden departure. She paced anxiously, occasionally glancing at the darkening sky.

"Where did you go, Zafir?" she murmured, heart heavy.

Zorak, resting nearby, lifted his head and tried to reassure her.

"Don't worry too much, Violet. Zafir is clever and strong. He knows what he's doing."

Elara's voice came through the communication system.

"Zorak's right, Violet. My analysis shows that Zafir has a high chance of survival. He wouldn't act recklessly without a solid reason."

Still, uneasiness weighed on Violet.

"I know you're trying to calm me, but I can't shake the feeling that something's wrong."

Zorak stepped closer, placing a large wing gently on Violet's shoulder in a gesture of comfort.

"We'll stay alert. If anything bad happens, we'll be ready."

Violet nodded slowly, feeling a bit more at ease in her friends' presence.

"Thank you, Zorak, Elara. We must prepare for anything. We don't know what's coming."

Elara added,

"We'll keep monitoring the situation. If we detect any signs of danger, we'll respond immediately."

Even though worry lingered in her heart, Violet now felt a little more prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead. With Zorak and Elara by her side, she knew they could face anything.

Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Thalassia a realm of merfolk known for its advanced technology and civilization chaos had erupted. Proteus, the younger brother of King Triton, had led a coup, overthrowing his brother and seizing the throne. Under Proteus' rule, Thalassia became a place of misery and oppression.

Zafir and other nobles were enslaved, forced to serve Proteus and his loyalists. The people of Thalassia were made to labor in harsh conditions, mining resources and building massive motherships and high-tech weapons. Amid the destruction, Zafir's heart ached to see his once-beautiful homeland turned into a land of tyranny.

Once full of hope and vigor, Zafir now faced grim days. But the fire of rebellion still burned within him. He knew that one day, an opportunity would come to liberate his people from Proteus' grasp.

Sitting in the dark corner of a prison cell, Zafir plotted a strategy to fight back and rescue his family. He also constantly thought of Violet and his friends in the oasis.

"I must stay strong," he told himself. "For my family and Thalassia, I cannot give up."

After three months under Proteus' tyrannical rule, the usurper grew suspicious of Zafir's frequent trips to the surface an unusual behavior in this stormy, ocean-covered planet. His suspicions deepened, and he ordered the guards to bring Zafir before him.

Proteus, seated on his throne, glared at Zafir.

"I've been wondering… why did you keep going to the surface? What are you hiding? Speak now!"

Zafir, terrified for Violet and the oasis, remained silent. He knew that any word from him could endanger those he cared about. Proteus scowled and approached him.

"Silent, huh?" Proteus sneered. "You should know I can easily read your memories."

He reached out and placed a hand on Zafir's head. Realizing what was about to happen, Zafir panicked.

"No! Don't!" he shouted, trying to escape.

But the guards restrained him tightly. Zafir struggled in vain as Proteus closed his eyes, diving into his memories. Images of the oasis, his moments with Violet, and everything about the surface world flooded Proteus' mind.

A wicked smile appeared on Proteus' face as he pulled his hand back.

"So, that's it. You've been hiding something valuable above. That place and your little friends… fascinating."

Zafir, now on his knees and gasping for air, felt crushed.

"What are you going to do to them?" he asked, voice trembling.

Proteus chuckled.

"That's no longer your concern. Thanks for the information, Zafir. Now I'll send my troops to capture your precious friends. I'm sure there's more I can take from them."

Filled with rage and fear, Zafir could only hope that Violet and the others would be ready. In his heart, he vowed to protect them, no matter how dire his situation seemed.

Meanwhile, back at the oasis, Violet now counting the days until her due date felt a growing sense of dread. Something was coming. A looming threat. Unaware of what had happened to Zafir, she began preparing, instructing Elara and Zorak to increase their vigilance.

"Elara, Zorak, we need to be ready. I feel something is coming," Violet said firmly. "We can't let our guard down."

Zorak nodded.

"We'll stay alert, Violet. Whatever comes, we'll face it together and make sure your childbirth goes safely."