Two weeks passed since Kadir's surprise promotion party to Worthy Rank, and Ayman's life was proceeding normally, between training at the barracks, lessons with Master Robert, and time with his family. It was early morning and they were all having breakfast together. His brother was going to take him to the military academy early; the instructor wanted to talk to him about something important.
"Hey man, do you know why Instructor Guz wants to talk to me? Did you do something stupid during training? "
"Apart from beating up the usual idiots who keep challenging me to a duel, nothing I can remember," Ayman replied calmly.
"Ayman, that's not a nice thing to say," Melissa intervened, "they're an important goal for you to achieve, you shouldn't call them idiots".
"But that's what they are, they should get it into their heads that they'll never beat me".
"Big brother is the strongest, one day I'll be as strong as you!" said Rayan.
"Oh Rayan, what about me? I'm very strong too, you know? In fact, Ayman has never beaten me," said Kadir proudly and jokingly.
"You're almost seven years older than me, of course you are! "
"Now you're calling me old? Is that how you talk to your older brother, you little rascal?" replied Kadir with a strangely serious tone and look.
Ayman looked at him with a puzzled expression. His brother loved to joke around, but he often became incredibly serious all of a sudden...
Kadir burst out laughing.
"You should see your face, Man. Did you really think I'd get angry over something like that? Anyway, enough joking around, it's time to go,"
The two got up and headed for the exit, ready to go.
"Darling, will you be back for lunch today?" asked Melissa.
"I think so. After talking to Ayman's instructor, I'll just have to do a short morning shift guarding the middle walls. Then I'll be back for lunch, and this afternoon I'll go and see how our transfer request to the middle crown is progressing."
After passing the ritual and being promoted, Kadir had immediately requested that he and his entire family be transferred from the outer crown to the middle crown, a much safer area of the city. It was one of the privileges enjoyed by Chosens of rank equal to or higher than Worthy, but the bureaucratic process for it to be accepted was not short.
"All right. See you later, love," she said after kissing him.
"And you, Ayman, see you tonight. Try to be a little more forgiving with your classmates, all right?
'Yes, all right, don't worry..." replied Ayman, unconvinced.
"And you behave yourselves at school, or you'll never be as strong as your big brothers," said Kadir, turning to Sophie and Rayan.
"Yes, we'll be very good, Kad!" they replied in unison.
"Very good, my little brothers. Come here!" Kad gave them a warm hug before leaving the house with Ayman.
The two headed south towards the middle walls, but shortly afterwards Kadir stopped and put his hand to his forehead.
"Damn! I forgot I had to stop at the station in the north to pass on an order from my superior," said Kad. "Can we make it in time? "
"Yes, we can, it's still early."
"Perfect, let's go then."
Kadir and Ayman therefore set off northwards, where the imposing outer walls covered the horizon and protected the city from outside dangers...
Ayman tried not to look too much at those walls, because every time he did, a feeling of anger and suffocation overwhelmed him. He felt like a caged animal, knowing that he couldn't leave that city even if he wanted to, not as long as he remained so weak, at least...
"Hey Kad, don't you want to leave this city and see the world someday? "
"See the world? To be honest, yes, I've often imagined what it would be like to live outside Mericivis and be free to explore the world, but fantasies like that are dangerous. In the end, I don't lack anything here in Mericivis. I have a wonderful wife and brothers whom I love very much. Life here isn't so bad after all. You'll realise that too."
Kadir replied with a sincere smile.
"I hope so..." replied Ayman laconically and unconvinced, staring at the sky above the walls.
It was then that he noticed something strange... Purple dots, similar to stars, suddenly appeared in the sky. They were moving and seemed to be getting bigger and bigger.
"Kad, do you see what I'm seeing?" he asked, pointing to the sky.
Kadir followed his hand and looked at the spot he was pointing to. An expression appeared on his face that Ayman had rarely seen on his brother's face before; it was fear...
Meanwhile, the small purple stars grew larger and seemed to leave a trail behind them; they were approaching the city at great speed...
"Ayman, we must find shelter immediately! Let's go!"
Kadir immediately picked up his brother on his shoulders and began to run at superhuman speed.
Ayman realised a few moments later what was happening: the purple stars were actually balls of fire and were about to hit Mericivis. As Kadir ran as fast as he could, the image that appeared before Ayman's eyes was terrifying, but at the same time spectacular: the numerous fireballs had passed the outer walls, their brightness had coloured the sky purple and they were about to destroy everything in their path...
"BOOM! " A series of loud explosions rang in Ayman's ears and filled his heart with terror...
The two arrived at a square where the market was usually held at that time of day: people were panicking and running for an escape route. Kadir was looking for a place that could serve as a refuge...
... at that moment, an intense, hot purple light blinded the square and a loud boom drowned out every other sound...
...the square had been hit and destroyed along with the people in it...