Chapter 2: Hope in the Forest ( updated)

In the evening, after three months of walking.

Jamila: "So, dear, tell me again, what were you saying about my child's magic?"

Jassem: ".....I am truly speechless."

Flashback:

The sky was overcast, with faint rays of sunlight piercing through, illuminating parts of the forest. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, creating a serene natural melody. The air was slightly chilly, making everyone pull their cloaks tighter around their bodies to ward off the cold. Birds of various kinds chirped, forming a natural symphony. Occasionally, the sound of leaves crunching under small animals' feet could be heard. Wild rabbits could be seen hopping between bushes, searching for food. Squirrels scurried up trees, while birds remained ever vigilant. In the distance, Jamila and Jassem glimpsed large animals like deer roaming the valleys quietly, stopping occasionally to nibble on some grass.

Um Ayyan, panting: "Let's rest a bit; I can't walk any longer."

Jassim's Father, sweating profusely: "You are right, Um Ayyan."

Jassem: "Alright, I'll go look for some fruit to refresh us."

Jassim's Father, looking at Solomon: "But you know, Jamila, little Solomon is really beautiful."

Jamila, puffing out her chest with some pride: "Of course my son is beautiful; he inherited his looks from me."

Jamila was a lovely young woman in her early twenties with brown hair and green eyes, greener than any grassy meadow. Her personality was sunny and loving to those around her. Baby Solomon was just like her, with brown hair, green eyes, and a sweet face. What made him even more special, which none of them noticed yet, was the fascination in his gaze and the sparkle in his eyes.

Jamila: "I really want to know what kind of magic my child has."

Um Ayyan: "I think it will be nature magic; he is very beloved."

Jassim's Father: "I don't think so; I have a feeling it will be sun magic because he looks like his mother."

Um Ayyan: "You're right, but how does the magic council determine the type of magic in children?"

Jassim's Father: "If magic is something innate, the child displays it from time to time involuntarily. But in some cases, children cannot even show such coincidences."

Jamila: "So how do they know about these rare cases?"

Jassim's Father: "The world tells the child their magic's name, but this happens if the child is greatly beloved by the world and their magic is very strong."

Looking at Solomon playing in her lap, Jamila smiled: "Did you hear that, my child? Don't be afraid when you hear a strange voice telling you about your magic."

Jassim's Father and Um Ayyan also smiled at her words.

Jamila: "But, father, how do you know all this?"

Jassim's Father: "Before I retired, I was a cleaner at the magic council branch in the capital."

Jamila: "Ahhhh," then asked curiously, "What does it look like inside?"

Jassim's Father, with a nostalgic look on his face: "A huge tower touching the clouds, its color white, with strange writings on its exterior walls. Inside, it is much bigger."

Jamila, interrupting: "How can it be bigger inside than outside?"

Jassim's Father: "I don't know, my dear, but these are certainly things of the magicians. Also, there are no stairs inside; there's a large piece of marble. If I owned a quarter of it, I would be the richest in all the surrounding villages. This huge slab is anchored at the bottom by a large blue stone."

Jamila: "How did that huge marble slab not crush the stone?"

Jassim's Father: "It floated."

Jamila: "Why doesn't the council intervene to defend us?"

Jassim's Father: "The magic council's purpose is to monitor and advance humanity; they don't interfere in conflicts."

The sound of a child's laughter

Jamila looks at Solomon and sees him laughing and waving his hands, looking at a small bird. Suddenly, the bird lands on her lap next to Suleiman and rubs its head against his temple, making him laugh more.

Jamila, smiling tenderly: "I think his magic really is nature magic," then she says excitedly, "How adorable!"

Jassem emerges from the trees with some fruits in his hand: "What's adorable?"

Then he looks at his wife's lap: "It really is adorable." He then goes to his father: "Here, father."

Jassem: "Thank you, my son," and starts eating what he has.

Then he goes to Um Ayyan and gives her some before wiping a piece of fruit with his shirt and handing it to Jamila.

Jassim's Father and Ayyan's mother smile.

Jamila, blushing, says shyly, "Thank you, my love."

Jassem, proudly: "You're welcome, my little chick."

Jamila's cheeks turn red like tomatoes as she begins to eat her food.

After a few minutes, before they all get up, they hear a sound from among the trees and see a muscular man with seven other people.

Gang leader, holding a sword: "Look, fools, just as I told you, we will find others with him."

Everyone looks frightened as Jassem quickly moves in front of Jamila.

Gang leader, smiling with the sun glinting off his sword: "Don't do anything stupid that could cost you dearly."

Jamila: "What will you gain from this? This is not our ethics."

Gang leader: "This is wartime, child, where people like me thrive."

Ayyan's mother, her voice trembling with fear: "What will you do to us? We have a baby with us."

Gang leader, mockingly: "I'll make you slaves. You don't know how much the nobles in the capital love owning people like you. As for the girl, she might become a sex slave for one of the nobles."

Ayyan's mother: "Don't you fear God?"

Gang leader, ignoring her: "I don't care what happens to you," then looks at his men, "Tie them up."

Jassem adopts a more defensive stance and says, "You won't take my wife unless I'm dead."

The gang members move forward, their swords pointed at them.

Side character 1: "Surrender; it's pointless to resist. Our leader, Jassar, is a former magician in the Hollow City's army."

They move forward, and Jassem tries to push them away from Jamila. One of them strikes at Jassem with his sword from above.

To be continued in the next chapter...