"So that makes it twelve!" A voice came out from the other 'end' of the table, surprising both Saed and Akram, making them turn around.
There, sat a man with an impressive aura that of a leader. His gentle blonde hair swaying with the wind, lifting from his shoulders.
His dark eyes, surprisingly without any animosity, seemed to gaze at the two young men.
Here is the second person I recognized…
"Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the official meeting for 'Conquer the Island'!" The man exclaimed with a genuine, happy smile.
The current leader of the House of Hilal,
"I'd like to present myself to those of you who weren't aware of my identity yet."
Saed's smile sharpened.
"My name is Saddam Hilal, nice to meet you."
Saddam Hilal, a tactician like the continent has never seen… Well, that's what he would lie you to think. In fact, his whole plan's basis is fear.
The strongest feeling one can experience is fear, and a long-standing lie only enhances this emotion further. Why are people afraid of sharks? There are way more dangerous animals on this planet. But over time, stories got told and rumors have been spread through the lands, making people afraid of sharks.
Most people have never seen a shark and their only knowledge are due to those rumors, that's why they tremble in fear while facing it.
The same can be said for the man named Saddam, a living legend. Not that his exploits are falsified, but they are taken out of context. After hearing his stories, people get afraid to confront him, fearing the worst.
This is why one shouldn't trust the mouths of people, as anything can come out of them, whether it be the truth or absolute nonsense.
You can only trust what you see with your own two eyes.
"You surely all understand the reason for your summoning, every game needs rule, doesn't it?" Saddam stood up partly, slamming his hand on the table as he said this. He was a madman of some sort, obsessed with games and rules.
Everyone around the table gazed at Saddam,, as if nodding without having to move an inch. Different people each had different expressions on their face.
Some like Saed and Akram showed eagerness. A young teenager was a bit more timid towards his actions, being influenced by the crowd of stories about the danger he represented.
Poor child… Having to come to such an environment…
Saed fixed his eyes on the mysterious kid. He analyzed his brown hair, his afraid and shy, blue eyes.
He somehow felt a sense of familiarity with this kid, even though he hadn't met him before. Perhaps he had a brother the same age as his?
No time thinking too deep.
"It would be a shame to continue wasting your time, let's get this over with." Saed was taken out from his reverie.
"The game is really simple, it's in the name : Capture the Island. It's just as it sounds, you'll have to take over an island while facing off against each other."
It's just as expected.
"Everything is permitted, hurting people, gambling money, treason and…" The sound of breathing stopped and the wind seemed to come to an end before his final word.
"Murder is authorized." He said with a psychopathic smile, way too happy, way too scary.
Every one's gazes intertwined, as if searching for something, waiting for the 'just joking' part of the sentence.
But these words never came…
No one dared say nothing, mostly out of fear.
Murder, huh… He really isn't joking.
I knew this guy was crazy, but I hadn't expected it to be so blunt.
I'm not particularly afraid of murder, when one decides to murder someone for the first time, it's as if a fog has been lifted.
A dimension of possibilities, a whole new world, now available to the one who commits such an act.
Only the ones who have killed, can consider murder as an option in a conflict.
Murder becomes a habit.
That's how I'd like to interpret it.
A thick silence followed Saddam's declaration, but he didn't seem to mind. If anything, he seemed amused by it like he had just told a harmless joke at a funeral and was waiting to see who dared laugh first.
Still standing, he brushed off imaginary dust from his shoulder, his blonde hair swaying as he walked casually along the curve of the table. His presence didn't weigh down the room; it danced. Like wind slipping through open windows, brushing past candles, lifting parchment edges.
"Come now," he said cheerfully, gesturing with both hands. "Don't look so grim! This is a game, remember? A bit of fun. Discovery. Challenge. Danger, sure, but that's half the thrill!"
A few nervous chuckles escaped from the crowd. Some were forced. Others were genuine, surprising even the ones who made them.
Saddam clapped once, like a teacher trying to recapture attention from a drifting classroom.
"Let me be clear. You are allowed to lie. You are allowed to steal. You are allowed to cheat."
That made everyone pause. Some blinked. A few straightened in their chairs.
"But," he held up a finger, wagging it playfully like a parent catching a misbehaving child, "only if you're not caught. If I see you, if anyone sees you, well..." he shrugged with a dazzling grin, "then it's not cheating anymore, is it? It's just failure."
He laughed. A light, friendly sound. And that somehow made it all the more terrifying.
"This game isn't about being fair. It's about being smart. Cunning. Brave. And perhaps, if you're lucky, a little bit wicked."
The mood in the room shifted again. Hesitation melted into curiosity. Fear mixed with ambition. Everyone was trying to imagine what kind of player they'd be.
Saddam returned to his seat and leaned back with a sigh, as though all the seriousness had exhausted him. He crossed his legs and stretched his arms behind his head.
"I'm done speaking for now. You have the rules. Go break them."
And just like that, the meeting was over.
Some people stayed seated, quietly digesting what had been said. Others stood up quickly, eager to be the first to leave and start preparing. The air buzzed with unspoken plans.
Saed remained still for a few seconds longer, gaze lingering on Saddam.
He finally stood and turned toward the exit, Akram close behind.
"You think he's bluffing?" Akram asked, voice lower now, cautious.
"No," Saed said. "I think he's telling the truth in the most dishonest way possible."
Akram looked puzzled.
"What does that mean?"
"It means he'll smile while watching us burn."
They stepped out of the meeting hall, greeted by the crisp wind and the subtle hush of the palace walls.
The corridor was empty. Saed's steps echoed quietly. He didn't rush. He didn't speak for a while, and Akram understood enough not to break the silence.
Eventually, Saed exhaled and stopped. The sunset washed the world in gold and fire.
He stared ahead, calm and composed, then finally spoke aloud, half to Akram, half to himself.
"Capture the Island. That's the name of the game. Four members per team. Anything is authorized : blackmail, theft, bribery, sabotage. Even murder. And cheating?"
He smiled faintly.
"Cheating is allowed too... as long as you don't get caught."
He turned to walk away, his long white hair catching the dying light.
"Four days. That's how long we have. Janash 11th, it begins."
And behind him, the shadows started to stretch.