First Book : Ch 61

[[ First Week of the Camp ]]

[[ Morning / 6:00 AM ]]

Zius landed quietly in the yard and walked toward the food area, looking for something to eat.

The sounds he made woke up Amjad and Khalid, who rushed outside.

(Zius): Can you wake the children, please? Or shall I do it my way?

(Amjad): Anything but your methods—I'll go wake them up.

Khalid no longer felt like going back to sleep. He went to a nearby spot to wash his face and start his morning training.

Zius began eating while keeping part of his attention on Khalid. A thought then crossed his mind:

"I wonder if there are any monster or animal species nearby with edible meat... I'll search the map."

Zius used his bracelet and began scanning the official geographical maps of the Union Government, activating features to show danger zones, free-range wildlife zones, and so on.

The children began waking up one after another, going out in order to wash their faces.

Zius finished eating and headed to the water tank, which was made using a rectangular pit lined with a strong waterproof cover inside and around the walls, fixed in place with stones.

Nearby was a metal above-ground tank designated for drinking water.

(Zius, speaking aloud): We need to refill the water supply. Also, we need to build a larger tank—current consumption is more than I expected.

Zius looked over at the children gathering near the cooking area, where Satam and three others were working together to start the fire.

Jalmoud (11 years old) – From Sahba village. A quiet boy, not talkative, but physically very strong. He was carrying firewood to stack it for ignition.

The second was Ammar (15 years old) – From Red Sands village. He appeared older than his age and was known for his sense of responsibility. He directed the children to light the fire, having taken it upon himself to be accountable to Instructor Zius in case things went wrong.

The third was Suhail (15 years old) – From Yellow Stone village. Calm by nature, observant, and a frequent reader. He was organizing the wood and collecting dry herbs to help ignite the fire.

Around them, most of the children gathered, waiting for the fire to warm them.

Zius wanted to tell them that training was the best way to face the morning cold. But when he saw their teamwork and effort, he decided to leave them be for now while he finalized the new plan for building an additional water tank.

He also needed to go to the village and ask Marwan to transport a large water tank using his mecha and empty it into the current underground tank.

He had a few tasks for the day—and the children had a new training session titled "Digging."

Nearby, Zahraa called out to some of the girls:

(Zahraa): Jude, Sama, Hind—come help me wash the dishes and clean up around here.

Jude (14 years old) – From Sadeem village. A girl Zius noticed was highly realistic and viewed the world with critical eyes.

Sama (11 years old) – From Aqrab village. Rational and fond of planning.

Hind (12 years old) – Also from Sadeem village. Her most striking trait was her pride in her origins and her competitive nature.

(Hind): I'm not going to clean these things!

(Zius): Then you're not fit to be a woman! Look at your friends—they can do anything. That's what it means to be strong: to be capable of the impossible.

(Hind, angrily): I didn't say I can't clean them! If I wanted to, no one could beat me at it.

(Zius): Fine. Beat them, and I'll exempt you from today's training.

(Hind): You're not going to take back your words, are you?

(Zius): Since you don't trust my word, I won't answer you. This is my offer—either accept it and risk me keeping my promise or not, or forget it entirely.

Zius walked away after saying this, and Hind pushed herself to work at full capacity to surpass Jude and Sama.

(Jude, whispering to Sama): Our teacher Zius is a dangerous man—we need to be careful.

(Sama): You don't know anything about him... Instructor Zius isn't what we thought. In fact, you may be shocked by what I'll say, but listen—he's the best teacher and the best man you may ever meet.

Jude was stunned and asked:

(Jude): What happened last night? Did monsters really attack you, and did Instructor Zius save you? You know no one believed that story. What did he threaten you with to make you say that?

(Sama), annoyed: Again!? You all keep calling us liars. Forget it—I don't want to talk about this anymore. (angrily) I warn you—don't say anything bad about the instructor!

"So he really is dangerous, just as I thought," Jude thought and decided to remain silent.

---

Near the fire, the child Ghaith was singing a funny poem he wrote himself:

The fire is warm, the cold is mean,

But Zius the teacher, he's so keen!

He yells and roars like a storm at sea,

We wonder if he's even human, you see!

The fire dances, the cold it bites,

Zius shouts at us through endless nights.

"Study hard, or you'll freeze like ice!"

But we just laugh, it's not that nice!

The fire's glow makes shadows creep,

Zius keeps talking, we try to sleep.

Cold or fire, we don't care,

We'd rather run than sit in despair!

Ghaith (9 years old) – From Hawazin village

---

Zius headed to the cliff edge, preparing to depart, when he heard fast, stumbling footsteps behind him.

Raneem approached, and from afar, Tala ran toward them, while Satam walked quickly in the same direction.

(Zius), indifferent, brows furrowed: Do you want something?

Raneem hesitated clearly upon seeing his expression. As he turned his face forward and seemed ready to leave, she called out urgently:

Sir!

Zius didn't turn to her. His towering back appeared to her like an iron mountain. It reminded her of her father's back—the one she relied on so much in her childhood before death took him away.

Remembering those memories brought silent tears down her cheeks, followed by her trembling voice.

She clung to his leg, unable to utter a word of apology.

She only cried. Behind her, Tala also cried just from seeing Raneem like that, her pure heart feeling her friend's pain.

Satam stopped to the side, and Zius remained frozen, his expression hidden from the children behind him.

(Satam), speaking with hesitation, eyes and head lowered: We're sorry, sir. I apologize for all the wrong I've done. I promise to become the person you want me to be.

Amjad and Zahraa were shocked at the scene—confirming the children's story.

Nearby, Khalid's heart filled with a storm of mixed emotions.

He hated Zius and saw him as a bad man no matter how he looked at him. But his good deeds, mixed with his cruelty, made things very confusing.

And behind the back Zius had given everyone, with the floating chains like serpents hiding his face, he fought to conceal a victorious smile.

He barely managed to say a single word in a serious tone, hiding his joy:

(Zius): I forgive you.

Then he gently removed Raneem's hand from his leg and threw himself off the cliff to depart.

Raneem remained sitting, crying—but it was clear she had calmed greatly upon hearing Zius' words.

---

(At the same time)

Across various villages, tents, desert mountains, and sand seas, dozens of men read invitation letters sent from their villages.

All these letters spoke of the Desert Champion Tournament, which was not merely a competition with prizes or a simple title as Zius had thought.

To the village leaders and fighters, it was far more—a prestigious call to arms to determine the strongest among the villages.

Each village had to earn as many high ranks as possible, and the title Desert Champion was the cup symbolizing strength and honor for all—especially during this fast-paced phase of growth and rivalry in the Alvaro Mountains region.