The underground facility was alive with the sounds of laughter, conversation, and the clinking of plates. The entire family sat together at the long dining table, enjoying their final meal before the day that would change the world.
But Mirshad…
He stood at the entrance, watching them from a distance. He wasn't hungry. Not for food. Not for rest. Something else occupied his mind.
"I'm not feeling hungry," he finally said.
Rayyan looked up from his plate, chewing thoughtfully. "Come on, brother. Just eat something. Tomorrow is a big day."
Sophia turned to him, concern in her eyes. "You should eat, Mirshad. You barely had anything the whole day."
He gave her a small smile. "Not now. I just don't feel like it."
She was about to insist, but Baba raised a hand, stopping her. "Let him be, Sophia. He knows himself better than anyone. If his mind is occupied, let him clear it his way."
Mirshad's eyes met Baba's. In that one glance, he knew Baba understood him in a way no one else did. He gave a nod of gratitude before turning away.
As he walked toward his room, the voices of his family faded behind him. He entered the room, closing the door behind him, and immediately turned on Sirius. The AI responded instantly.
"Brother, everything is prepared. The stage, security, and all safety measures are in place. Tomorrow, history will be written."
Mirshad exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Sirius… I don't know why, but I feel something strange. A tension I've never felt before. War, I understand. Enemies, I can predict. But this… standing before the world, not as a shadow, but in the light… I don't know how I feel about it."
Sirius' voice remained steady. "Brother, you have faced greater challenges. You were never alone in those, and you won't be alone in this. The world is waiting—not in fear, but in hope. And after tomorrow, they will stand with you, not against you."
Mirshad took a deep breath. "I hope so."
A brief silence followed. Then, Sirius spoke again. "You have a message from the Tribunal."
Mirshad's expression hardened. "Play it."
The room remained silent for a few seconds before the voice finally came through.
"Mirshad, we have no intention of interfering in your plans tomorrow. As we promised, your day will belong to you. Make the people believe in you. Give them hope. But remember… after that, your countdown begins. Enjoy your moment, for the real battle is yet to come."
The message ended.
Mirshad let out a slow exhale. He had expected threats, perhaps even warnings, but instead, they had acknowledged his moment.
"For now, that's enough," he muttered to himself.
He turned back to Sirius. "Show me everything again. Security measures, the stage, the safety protocols."
Sirius instantly projected a holographic display of the entire event setup. The vast stage stood in the middle of an endless desert, reinforced with hidden defenses, multiple layers of security placed by both his team and world governments. The aerial surveillance, the evacuation points—everything was calculated.
After carefully reviewing every detail, Mirshad finally felt a sense of peace.
"Good work, Sirius. That will be all for tonight."
"Rest well, brother. Tomorrow, the world belongs to you."
Mirshad shut off the display and turned toward his room.
As he stepped inside, he saw Sophia sitting on the couch, holding a plate of fresh fruit.
She looked up and smirked. "You said you weren't hungry, right?"
Mirshad chuckled, shaking his head. "I told you, I don't feel like eating."
She lifted a grape between her fingers and popped it into her mouth. "Good. It's not for you. It's for me."
He laughed softly and walked over to sit beside her. "If it's not for me, then feed me."
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Now you want me to feed you?"
"Only if it's from your hands."
She rolled her eyes but smiled as she picked up a slice of mango and gently placed it against his lips. He took a bite, his eyes never leaving hers.
As she continued to feed him, he occasionally took playful bites at her fingers, making her gasp in surprise.
"Mirshad!" she scolded. "Are you a warrior or a child?"
He smirked. "A warrior. But only for the world. With you, I can be anything."
A warmth spread through her chest.
After finishing the fruit, they sat quietly for a while, the weight of the moment sinking in. Then, softly, Mirshad spoke.
"Sophia… do you think I'm doing the right thing?"
She turned to him, surprised. "Why are you asking me that?"
"I don't doubt my mission. I don't doubt my purpose. But… what if the world doesn't accept this change? What if they turn against me? I know I can erase any threat, but what if they refuse to believe in me? What if I fail?"
She took his hand, holding it tightly. "Mirshad, listen to me. You are not just changing the world—you are creating a new one. And yes, people will resist. Some will question you. Some may even hate you. But in the end, they will see what you are doing for them. They will understand. And those who refuse?"
She leaned in closer, her voice a whisper.
"They were never meant to be part of the new world anyway."
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting her words sink in. Then, when he opened them, he looked at her with something deeper than love—something unbreakable.
"Thank you, Sophia."
She smiled. "You don't need to thank me. I'm your wife in every way except by law. And after tomorrow, I will be yours completely. Forever."
Mirshad didn't speak. He simply pulled her into his arms, holding her close.
They curled up together, finding comfort in each other's warmth.
Tomorrow would be the most important day of their lives.
And for the first time in a long time…
Mirshad allowed himself to rest.
Because tomorrow…
The world would change forever.