Saharabi: Awaken the Veil

Revelations

SEKAI'S P.O.V

The sun was setting when the training session ended, leaving everyone exhausted and ready to wind down. But first, we needed answers. The tied up and stuffed with flora Jafar needs to be interrogated.

He'd been settled on the floor throughout my demonstration. I'm sure he had seen enough to know what side to be on. The girl; Zabya had switched sides early without the hassle but I could see her curiosity. Her hesitation from not knowing what was going on.

"Why were you hiding?" Adil asked Jafar, his voice stern as he interrogated him.

Zabya had made the effort to pop break up the vines covering his mouth so he could answer but he turned away scornfully.

"Did you start the fire at Goshen?" Adil asked once more, his voice low and menacing.

Jafar turned away, a defiant sneer on his face. "You think I'd confess to you?"

Adil's eyes narrowed. "You can tell me yourself, or I can get it my way. I'll find out what you're hiding either way." His unwavering gaze spoke volumes about his determination to protect those he loved.

Jafar clenched his jaw, sweat beading on his forehead, the tension thickening in the air.

Nia stepped between them, her hand gently but firmly pushing Adil aside. "Adil, stop," she said softly, her voice a calming force amidst the chaos. Her eyes locked onto Jafar's, searching for the humanity beneath his defiance.

"Jafar, I understand. You don't like us, but this problem is bigger than us. Killing each other won't fix anything." Her tone was gentle, vying for understanding from him, "I saw your face that night at Goshen, during the tour. I don't believe you hate Jawhara because deep down you know it's not lax at all. It's balanced, and that's something you want. To not be looked down on when you want to show anything other than brute strength. I'm asking you now to do that by telling us what happened."

The way Jafar looked at Nia, it was like he was standing in a light that shone on him for the first time. He was finally being seen and he felt good. He let her words sink in before letting a deep breath out.

"Yes, I started the fire," Jafar admitted, his voice trembling. "But it wasn't really me. It was like... like something took over. A compulsion, a force I couldn't fight. That's why I ran, because..." He hesitated, his eyes flickering with shame. "I started the fire in your room," he confessed to Nia, his voice barely a whisper.

"You what?!" Adil roared at him, his eyes blazed with fury, his muscles tensing as he roared, "You tried to kill Nia!" His voice shook with both rage and fear, a protective instinct driving him forward. For a split second, his hesitation flickered, revealing his concern for Nia's proximity to Jafar, but the anger took over completely the moment he looked at her.

"Neptunum aquas," Nia's voice rang out as her hands fluidly sliced through the air, a commanding tone that surprised even her. The power within her words resonated through the clearing, a glimpse of the strength she was only beginning to understand.

A rush of water exploded from the bark of the nearby tree she pointed to, the sudden surge hissing as it soaked Adil, the cool droplets misting the air as the force pushed him back before he could reach Jafar.

"Adil, you either cool off or leave."

Her eyes locked on Jafar's. "We need answers, Jafar," she said, her tone firm yet compassionate.

I knew Nia had made progress but I didn't know the extent of her power. The tree she drew water from for the Waters of Poseidon spell was almost entirely shrivelled. She shouldn't have been able to do so not now when the source of Nuraqiya was missing. What was going on? Looking at Zara, who was also a spectator, her face showed relief. She must have had the same thought about the extent of Nia's power, but Zara doesn't know what I know.