The next morning, Siddik rode toward Spiral Island alone, his black horse kicking up dust across the narrow stone road. Tayeb and Musa had already gone to gather the allies he named. Siddik preferred silence for this visit – silence, and the weight of an old legacy on his back.
The gates of the Spiral Kingdom rose tall above him. Two royal guards stepped forward, crossing their spears.
Guard 1: "Where do you want to go?"
Guard 2: "Who are you?"
Siddik: "I want to meet Fahad bin Galib."
Guard 2: "Take his name with respect. He is our king."
Siddik: "I don't count kings like him."
The guards stiffened.
Guard 1: "Who are you?"
Siddik: "Who am I?"
Siddik slowly removed his mask. Guard 1 stared blankly – no reaction. Guard 2, however, gasped. His legs folded before he even realized it, kneeling at Siddik's feet. The sun reflected in his eyes – and for a moment, the guard saw the king people feared in their nightmares.
Guard 2: "King! Forgive us. We didn't recognize you."
Siddik: "Then fix your mistake. Open the damn gate."
Guard 2: "Hey! Open the gate. Our king is here!"
The gate swung open immediately. Siddik mounted his horse again, riding through. Inside the palace walls, people froze mid-conversation, stunned to see the lost prince – the nightmare of a generation – return without warning.
From the high floors of the palace, Noah spotted him and was shocked to see him in real life. She ran fast to Fahad. She burst into Fahad's room, out of breath.
Noah: "King… he is here."
Fahad: "Father? Where was–"
Noah: "It's Siddik."
Fahad's blood ran cold. For the first time, his hands were trembling to hear the name. He was trying his best to hide his hands.
Fahad: "I thought this man was dead… If he's alive, then the war isn't over. It only fell silent."
Noah: "He's alone. Just a sword with him."
Fahad: "Take him to the royal court. I am coming."
Noah ran back. Downstairs, he found Siddik sitting casually in the royal garden, enjoying the morning breeze as if he owned the place.
Siddik: "Hello there, Elisa! How are you doing?"
Noah: "How do you know my name?"
Siddik: "Noah is your pseudonym, right?"
Noah: "Who told you that?'
Siddik: "Names are masks. I learned who hides behind yours long before coming here. Now, please send my cousin. I am dying to see his face."
Noah: "He is calling you to the royal court."
Siddik: "I am not his servant. Tell him to come here if he wants to meet me. And yes, the meeting is more important for him than me."
Noah swallowed her frustration and went back.
Noah: "He called you to the royal garden."
Fahad: "How dare he?"
Noah: "He said the meeting is way more important to you than him."
Fahad clenched his jaw.
Fahad: "Let's see."
He marched toward the garden. Siddik sat on a bench, flipping a small pocket knife between his fingers. Without turning, he smiled.
Siddik: "I know you waited for this meeting for a long time. Come, have a seat."
Fahad sat. Noah lingered, still thinking about how Siddik knew her real name.
Siddik: "I want to talk privately with my cousin. Please bring two coffees and some snacks."
Noah looked at Fahad. He gave her a small wink. She left.
Fahad: "All these years… I thought of killing. I planned, I hoped. I searched for you. And now you walk in here. Do you have any idea what I can do to you right now?"
Siddik: "I also waited fifteen damn years to see your face. In these five years, I controlled myself from killing you. Can you imagine why I am here?"
Fahad: "Siddik, you are a lost man now. Your life is priceless. Whatever you think or do, nothing will make any change."
Siddik: "Fahad, why are you here? What do you and your father want? The throne? The control over the twelve kingdoms?"
Fahad: "Your people and family are in my jail now. You still think you can overpower me?"
Siddik: "You did everything right… except one thing. You locked them. And you have to give a good price for that."
Fahad: "Today, you will know how much power I have collected to break you and your people."
Siddik: "Long ago, I took an oath. Till I fulfill it, I won't stop."
Fahad: "Spiral Crown is our legacy. I won't let it down, Siddik. If I have to kill all the people here, I won't step behind."
Siddik: "Do you even know what Spiral Crown is?"
Fahad: "It's the people who work for neglected people like us. They give us lives, powers, weapons, and everything to stand against people like you."
Siddik: "Fahad, you were brainwashed. I will tell you the truth. But do you have the guts to believe me?"
Fahad: "Tell me."
Suddenly, a guard entered with two cups of coffee.
Guard (to Siddik): "King, your coffee."
Guard (to Fahad): "Sir, this is yours."
Fahad: "Hey, did you mention him as King and me as Sir?"
Guard: "Yes. Because in front of him, you're nothing to me."
Fahad stood abruptly, furious. The guard realizes what he said and freezes – terrified of Fahad's reaction.
Siddik: "Fahad, calm down. Let him go."
The guard left.
Fahad: "You've been a tyrant. Whatever you do now, people will hate you."
Siddik: "And their hate made me unstoppable."
Fahad: "Good. Then dying here won't surprise you."
Siddik raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
Siddik: "If I die, you'll never find what's lost."
Fahad: "What thing?"
Siddik: "You're worried about your father. Don't be. He is still useful to me."
Siddik sipped his coffee — slowly — as if he chose each word carefully. Fahad's hands trembled out of anger.
Fahad: "I'm ready to give you the island."
Siddik: "You think you can manipulate me as you did to all? You started the war, and I will finish it."
They went to the prison. The prison blocks were silent – until they saw Siddik. A roar of hope echoed. Siddik went to Hasan's cell. The guard opened it instantly. They embraced him one by one.
Siddik: "I made you wait too long."
Hasan: "No – we're glad you're safe. I failed you–"
Siddik: "You did your best. I was here… but couldn't interfere."
Hasan: "You were here?"
Siddik: "Yes. I had no choice that day. I waited for the right turn, brother."
Their father stepped forward with tears.
Father: "Siddik, I never understood your struggle. I always doubted your actions, never trusted your ideas, and not even you. Can you forgive me?"
Siddik: "Father, don't be sorry. You did what you had to. Now it's my turn. What I'm going to do now, I hope you'll forgive me."
Father: "What?"
Siddik: "I will bring war to this land — to our blood — until the truth rises."
Father: "But he is your brother. He is royal blood, Siddik."
Siddik: "Can you understand now why your brother hid his agenda? I knew when he arrived, he came with a plan. That's why I left without a trace."
His mother held his face.
Mother: "How are you, Siddik?"
Siddik hugged her tightly.
Siddik: "Maa… I missed you the most."
Mother: "Don't forgive them, son. Give them more than the pain they gave you. Show them how you were raised."
Siddik: "I promise you, Maa. They will remember me till their last breath. Just pray for me."
He stepped back and found Darwin.
Darwin: "I let you down. I'm sorry, King."
Siddik: "What you did for me till now, I can't even give back ten percent of it."
Darwin: "When is it happening?"
Siddik: "On its way. Be ready."
Siddik walked ahead toward the royal court. Fahad followed — without a word. Siddik went toward the throne and the crown. He softly touched the crown first, then the throne—a hush spread through the hall. Even the torches seemed to flicker more weakly.
Siddik: "This crown and the throne have been searching for their true heir for so many years. But the wait is coming to an end."
Siddik stepped to leave the palace, but Fahad stopped him.
Fahad: "Who is its real heir? And tell me why you returned after so many years, Siddik?"
Siddik: "I want to reveal a truth to you, Fahad. When the wrong blood wears the crown… the island bleeds."
Fahad's breath shook. Siddik left the island.