• “Ashes of Yusuf”

The underwater battle ended when the man transformed into a tiny fish and quickly vanished among the coral reefs, as if the sea itself conspired to hide him.

Yousef emerged, exhausted, gasping for air, his body trembling from sheer fatigue. He collapsed onto the sandy shore, the salt stinging his wounds.

The girl approached in silence, her teenage son beside her. Her face was tense, and her eyes burned with restrained fury.

Yousef, breathing heavily, said bitterly:

— "I'm… completely worn out. What do you want? Have you come to kill me?"

The girl, folding her arms across her chest, replied with a tone as cold as steel:

— "I wish I could… What you and your 'friend' did on social media is unforgivable. You deserve to be punished."

Yousef frowned and sat up with effort:

— "Friend? I don't think so. Didn't you see it? He tried to kill me. And who's going to punish me—you, little thief?"

Suddenly, without warning, Yousef's body twisted and shifted, and within moments, a majestic lion stood in his place, its roar shaking the air.

At that same moment, the boy also transformed into a lion, smaller in size but standing his ground, unafraid.

Yousef slowly nodded, as if acknowledging his strength, then backed away proudly, striding across the damp sand, shedding his rage with every step.

But the girl's voice pierced the air like an arrow:

— "Yousef! Stop! Don't you want to know who cursed you?!"

He froze in place for a moment, then smoothly returned to his human form. He walked back toward her, his steps hesitant yet firm.

The lion stood before him; Yousef gently placed a hand on its head.

Yousef, with sharp sarcasm:

— "Don't be afraid, little one…"

He turned to the girl:

— "Who cursed me? Do you know where to find him?"

She nodded, her eyes now honest for the first time, then suddenly transformed into a white dove and took flight.

Yousef and the boy followed her, deep into a dense forest, where leaves shimmered under soft light and the breeze whispered through the branches.

As soon as the dove touched the ground, she shifted back into her human form, and confidently approached an old man sitting near a fire, his eyes hollow, his voice worn.

Yousef froze, then gasped in shock:

— "You?! You visited me in the hospital… What's your name?"

The man replied in a low voice:

— "My name is Idris… Why did you fight with Daniel?"

— "You know him?! He's insane… That doesn't matter now…"

(in a trembling, sorrowful tone)

— "Why is all of this happening to me? Ever since I entered the hospital… I can't remember who I am."

Idris cut in sternly:

— "We made a mistake, Yousef."

— "You say 'we'? Who are you including in that?"

— "That doesn't matter now. Find the Seer. Time is running out. If you don't, we'll remain as monsters forever… and forget we were ever human."

Yousef's jaw clenched, and he ground his teeth, trying to suppress the storm within. He pointed his finger toward the girl:

— "When she called me, she said we were going to see a sorcerer!"

(shouting furiously)

— "She didn't tell me we were going to someone begging for help!!!"

The boy stepped in front of him, but Yousef shoved him harshly in the chest, sending him to the ground.

In that instant, Idris grabbed Yousef by the neck, slamming him against a tree trunk and holding him there.

Idris spoke with chilling calm:

— "If you attack one of us again… I'll kill you."

Yousef struggled to break free, but Idris's grip was unyielding.

Yousef, panting, yelled:

— "Kill me then! Do it! You can't! You need me… You know who I really am!"

"Why else would you search for me, and why do these kids follow you?"

Then, in a voice so deep and terrifying, it seemed a beast roared from within him:

— "Let me go… or I'll kill you."

Idris released him abruptly and stepped back, stunned.

The roar… wasn't Yousef's. It wasn't even like any beast Idris had ever known.

In a heartbeat, Yousef transformed into a massive American eagle, and soared into the sky, disappearing into the forest's shadows like a phantom.

Idris stood still, his eyes following the fading silhouette, his face pale with realization.

He knew… that every human holds a hidden power within, shaped by their spirit and surroundings.

And he knew that Yousef…

was never truly well.

That long before the battles, before the curses and the monsters…

it was his miserable childhood

that first created

the beast behind the man.