The night was silent except for the soft rustle of leaves. Feroz sat beside a small campfire Yusuf had made, staring into the flames. His mind was full of questions. Why did the Free Masons want him so badly? Why had his father vanished? And most importantly—how could he control the strange power inside him?
Yusuf sat opposite him, sharpening a small blade. His sharp eyes studied Feroz.
"You're stronger than you think," Yusuf said finally, breaking the silence. "But strength without control is dangerous—for you and for everyone around you."
Mrs. Aliya, who had been quietly brewing tea, glanced at Yusuf. "We didn't come here to talk about strength. We came here because you have something Feroz needs."
Yusuf put the blade aside, reached into his coat, and pulled out a folded piece of old leather. He placed it on the ground. Slowly, he unfolded it, revealing an ancient map, covered in strange symbols and faint golden lines that seemed to glow under the firelight.
"This," Yusuf said, pointing at the center, "is the Path of the Bloodline. Your father left this with me before he disappeared. It shows the way to the Temple of the First Light—the only place where your powers can be fully awakened."
Feroz leaned closer. "Why didn't you give this to me earlier?"
Yusuf's eyes darkened. "Because the moment this map is revealed, the Free Masons will know. They have ways of sensing the Path. And once they find out… they will send their most dangerous hunters."
The words sent a chill down Feroz's spine.
Before he could ask more, a sudden sound came from the darkness—branches snapping, footsteps approaching fast. Yusuf quickly folded the map and shoved it into Feroz's hands.
"Run!" Yusuf ordered. "Take the map and don't look back!"
But Feroz hesitated. He could see figures moving between the trees—dark, shadowy shapes, faster and larger than before. His heart raced. He could feel the power inside him starting to rise again.
Mrs. Aliya grabbed his arm. "Feroz, now!"
The three of them darted into the forest, the map clutched tightly in Feroz's hands. Behind them, the shadows closed in, their whispers echoing through the night.
Somewhere deep inside, Feroz knew—this was only the beginning.