The Lost Shadow War

A quiet night envelops the lands of the Banu Sarmaad, but Ziyan bin Hazzah's mind is troubled. In his dream, he finds himself standing on the peak of a towering mountain, surrounded by stormy shadows. A massive entity appears before him, the King of the Jinn, Ragheb al-Jahimi, with a deep, commanding voice:

Ragheb: "Your blood is not ordinary, Ziyan. You will have the choice between light and darkness… But I see the darkness is closer to you."

Ziyan wakes up suddenly, his breath rapid. He looks out of his tent at the stars, realizing the dream is not just a nightmare but a message.

The following morning, during a gathering of the tribe's men in the battlefield square, a panicked knight approaches from the distance.

Knight: "O Sheikh Hazzah! We were attacked by strange creatures at the borders of the Wadi al-Sarab. They are neither human nor beasts as we know them!"

Sheikh Hazzah orders a group to be prepared, led by Ziyan, to investigate.

Upon their arrival at the site, they find signs of terrifying destruction. The slain men bear strange burn marks on their bodies. Suddenly, shadowy creatures resembling phantoms emerge from the rocks, wielding weapons glowing with a purple hue.

A fierce battle begins:

• Ziyan: "Stay united! Protect each other's backs!"

• Ziyan displays his combat skills, dodging shadowy strikes that ordinary humans cannot see clearly.

• One of the knights is injured, and Ziyan turns to find a shadow creature attacking him. He grabs his sword and strikes the creature directly in the heart, causing it to dissipate into thick smoke.

Though they achieve a temporary victory, Ziyan realizes this is only the beginning.

Upon their return, Sheikh Hazzah holds an urgent meeting with the elders of the allied tribes.

Hazzah: "What we witnessed today is no mere attack. It is a message from ancient forces trying to rise again."

One of the elders intervenes.

Elder Rabi: "We've heard of these shadows in the tales of our ancestors, but they are nothing more than myths. Are you trying to convince us that we will face creatures from the jinn?"

Ziyan interrupts them with a firm tone:

Ziyan: "I saw them with my own eyes. Their power is not ordinary, and their weapons are not human. If we don't prepare, our tribes will be nothing but ash."

The elders decide to send scouting teams to gather information, while Sheikh Hazzah assigns his son, Ziyan, the dangerous task of reaching the Cave of Light, which is said to hold a secret that can stop the forces of darkness.

Ziyan begins to prepare his knights when his old friend, Samer bin Thabit, known for his intelligence and quick wit, appears.

Samer (teasingly): "Are you taking me with you, or is this mission reserved for legendary heroes?"

Ziyan (smiling): "I won't refuse your help. We will need every mind and strength we have."

As they prepare, a message arrives from the Banu Suham tribe: the daughter of their Sheikh, Liyan bint Hazim bin Duraid, requests to join the journey.

Upon her arrival, Liyan confidently approaches Ziyan, gazing at him sharply, then says:

Liyan: "If you are a wise leader, you will not refuse help. But if you are stubborn, I will not bother to save anyone."

Ziyan responds with a sarcastic smile:

Ziyan: "I welcome those capable of fighting. But you must prove you are not a burden."

Liyan unsheathes her sword and says coldly:

Liyan: "Test me."

After a brief confrontation between them, Liyan demonstrates extraordinary skill, prompting Ziyan to acknowledge her abilities.

The caravan sets out on its journey toward the Cave of Light, unaware that darkness watches them. In a distant place, Ragheb al-Jahimi sits upon a throne of fire, watching Ziyan's movements through a smoke mirror.

Ragheb: "An exciting game… Let's see where it leads us."