One hundred years had passed since the war that nearly shattered the balance between jinn and mankind. The desert winds had buried countless memories beneath sand and time. In a remote land, deep in a region resembling ancient India, Rayyan lived with his younger brother Nael—isolated from the chaos that once haunted their bloodline.
The chapter opens in silence. Rayyan is seen meditating near a river, the wind brushing through the trees. Nael is training under a tree, struggling to control his inherited powers, often causing shockwaves in the area. A sense of calm surrounds them, but a shadow lingers deep within Rayyan's soul.
That night, Rayyan dreams of fire and screams. He sees his mother—her face twisted in pain, reaching out before a blade pierces her chest. In the dream, young Rayyan weeps beside her, and beside him, Nael sobs as a child. Towering above them stands Iblis—his eyes glowing crimson, his face a mask of grief and wrath. A hundred jinn fall before his unquenchable rage, his scream shaking the dreamscape. As the sky darkens, Rayyan turns to find an angel standing in the smoke, whispering: "Go to Jerusalem. There, you will find the ones you seek—and the beginning of your true trial."
Rayyan awakens in a cold sweat. The wind outside the house howls like a distant cry. He looks over to Nael, still sleeping peacefully. A knock echoes through the night—not from the door, but from the soul. A presence enters their home—a blinding light that dims the moon.
An angel descends. Not walking—floating. Wings tucked. He speaks without voice, his words ringing inside their minds.
"The Almighty commands: Travel to Jerusalem. A new prophet rises. He shall build a kingdom never before imagined. Your family lies there... and your test begins."
Rayyan, still recovering from his dream, asks, "Do you mean our lost brother and sister?"
The angel replies, "And more. But your journey will reveal the answers. Go now."
The light fades. The air returns to stillness.
Rayyan prepares for departure. He gathers only what is necessary. Nael, excited but confused, is told only a portion of the truth—that their destiny lies westward. They set out with an ordinary mount, no dragon, no magic steed, just a beast of burden to carry them through mountains and scorching sands.
Along their journey, they pass through mystical lands and ruined temples, remnants of older prophets and forgotten gods. In one town, they meet a sage who tells them of the coming Prophet Solomon, whose voice commands the winds and whose ring binds spirits. Another village welcomes them with tales of heavenly signs and jinn being drawn toward the holy city.
At night, Rayyan begins seeing visions again. His mother's smile, his father's shadow, his siblings' laughter—fragments of a lost time. He shares none of it with Nael. Instead, he watches over his brother, quietly bracing for what lies ahead.
As they approach the outskirts of Jerusalem, the city of prophets shimmers in the distance, unlike anything they've ever seen—its towers reaching the heavens, its walls glowing with divine energy. Rayyan places a hand on Nael's shoulder.
"We're here. But this is only the beginning."
End of Chapter 26