𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐃𝐚𝐰𝐧

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As the night fell, it found Hanadi strolling in the gardens of the palace. They were an enchanting sight to behold. As she made her way through the winding pathways, the sound of her footsteps echoed softly, punctuated only by the gentle rustling of leaves and the chirping of crickets. The air was cool and crisp, and the scent of blooming flowers hung delicately in the air.

The gardens were bathed in a soft glow, courtesy of strategically placed lamps that cast long, dancing shadows across the path. As she walked, the light played across the ornate statues and fountains that dotted the landscape, highlighting their intricate details and adding to the grandeur of the scene.

In the distance, she could hear the faint trickle of a nearby fountain, its splashing waters providing a soothing background noise to her thoughts. As she rounded a corner, she suddenly found herself face to face with Adil, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of him. His eyes met Hanadi's, and in that moment, the world around them seemed to fade away. They walked towards each other, drawn together by an invisible force.

Adil noticed her approaching and smiled warmly. "Hanadi, I've been wanting to talk to you about the marriage." As they stood by the fountain, the sound of its trickling waters creating a peaceful ambiance.

Hanadi's heart sank, knowing what was coming. "I don't want this marriage, Adil," she said, her voice soft but resolute.

"I understand that," Adil replied. "But have you considered how the marriage could work? We could find a way to make it work for you, to give you the life you want."

Hanadi looked at Adil, her heart aching with conflicted emotions. She knew he meant well, but she couldn't imagine how the marriage could work in a way that would make her happy. She had dreams and ambitions that didn't fit into the traditional mold her parents had set for her. It wasn't just that, Azim was also in her life and she wanted him to stay there.

"I appreciate your concern, Adil," Hanadi said, her voice trembling. "But I don't think it's that simple. This is my life we're talking about."

Adil nodded, his expression understanding. "I know it's not easy, Hanadi. I think it's not only the marriage that is troubling you. I guess your friend is also the reason behind this."

As Adil spoke, Hanadi's heart skipped a beat. She had tried to keep her feelings for Azim hidden, but it seemed that Adil had somehow sensed them. She looked at him, her eyes filled with apprehension. She didn't know if her feelings for Azim were real after all, she was the only man she had ever known and the only one who was close enough. He was always there which made it almost inevitable for her not to fall in love with him.

Adil's expression suddenly turned serious as he looked at Hanadi. "Hanadi, I spoke with your father earlier. I need to tell you something."

Hanadi nodded and listened to him carefully.

"We need to go to the kingdom of Oterean. They are skilled in the art of nature, able to communicate with the creatures of the forest. We will need their help if we want to fight whatever dark force is threatening our kingdom."

Hanadi looked at Adil, her eyes widening in surprise. She had heard of the kingdom of Oterean, but she had never thought they would need to seek their help.

Adil looked at her gravely. "We need to be prepared for anything, and that means building an army of skilled fighters. We will need to seek the help of all ten kingdoms."

Hanadi nodded, understanding the seriousness of the situation. She knew that they couldn't afford to take any chances, and that they needed to do everything in their power to protect their kingdom.

"I'll come with you, Adil," she said, her voice resolute. "We'll do whatever it takes to protect our people."

Adil smiled at her "We need to save you as well. We don't know what is threatening your life."

Suddenly as they were speaking, Hanadi found herself drifting off into a trance-like state, her eyes glazing over as she entered a world of visions and portents. In her mind's eye, she saw a place of ancient rituals and forgotten sacrifices, a place where the veil between the living and the dead was thin and easily breached.

The air was thick with the scent of incense and the sound of chanting, and Hanadi felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that she was witnessing something both awe-inspiring and terrible. The creatures gathered in this place were dressed in strange garb, their faces painted with intricate designs that seemed to shift and writhe like living things.

As Hanadi's gaze swept over the crowd, she felt her breath catch in her throat as she caught sight of a figure that seemed to be made entirely of black smoke. This entity was different from anything she had ever seen before, its form constantly shifting and twisting in a way that was both mesmerizing and terrifying. It wad exactly what she had seen in the earthquake at the masked ball.

Hanadi tried to pull away from the vision, to shake herself free of its hold, but it was as if she was trapped in a nightmare from which she could not escape. The black smoke entity seemed to be calling out to her, beckoning her to come closer and to witness the secrets that laid hidden within the shadows.

Adil's heart was pounding with fear as he watched Hanadi in a trance-like state. She seemed to be lost in her own world, unresponsive to the world around her. He knew that he needed to bring her back to reality, but he didn't know how.

"Hanadi, please wake up," he said, his voice filled with desperation as he shook her, but Hanadi didn't respond. She remained lost in her vision, her eyes unfocused and her breathing shallow. Adil felt a sense of helplessness wash over him. He had never felt so powerless before.

As the vision began to fade, Hanadi was left with a feeling of unease and foreboding. She knew that she had seen something that she was not meant to see, something that would haunt her dreams for nights to come.

As Hanadi opened her eyes, Adil breathed a sigh of relief. Hanadi nodded, her eyes still filled with confusion.

Adil placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. You're safe now."

With those words, Hanadi felt a sense of calm wash over her. She couldn't possibly understand how this entity was related to her, why it was calling to her and most importantly why her body was responding to its calling as if by nature. A few minutes later, Adil escorted Hanadi to her bedroom and stood outside the door, his heart racing with anticipation. He knew that he needed to respect her privacy.

Hanadi nodded, a look of gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you, Adil."

As Adil walked away, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in himself. He knew that he was expected to be chivalrous and respectful towards Hanadi, and he was glad that he had been able to uphold those values. With those thoughts in mind, Adil walked back to the guest room that Hanadi's maid had showed him earlier on, his heart filled with a sense of purpose and determination. He knew that their journey ahead would be difficult, but he was ready to fight for her heart. Even if that meant that he had to fight another man to win her love.