Chicken looked at his big brother for a while, then answered:
“We’re from Al-Sayf.”
Malik tilted his head.
“…Who?”
“…”
The boy repeatedly opened and closed his mouth, not knowing what to say.
***
{Outside The Projection}
He wasn’t the only one.
Those watching were in disbelief as well.
Just what kind of life had he lived that he didn’t know THE family of Sultans?
A family so great that more than eighty percent of Sultans had come from their lineage.
And he, Malik, the one who obliterated their rule, ending their streak, didn’t even know of them?
That was an insult that angered Huda like no other.
‘MALIK!’
***
{Inside The Projection}
“We are very rich!”
Huda answered in her brother’s stead, and though simple, it was enough for Malik to comprehend what happened to them, or at least form a few guesses.
“Then it’s safe to assume that your home is very far from here?”
She nodded repeatedly.
“Yes, yes! It’s very far and very big!”
Malik held back a sigh and brought her head closer to him, pecking it with his dry lips.
“We’re family now, alright? So you need to listen to me at all times.”
“I will!”
She giggled, squirming around in his embrace.
Malik softly picked her up, using most of his strength, then sat her down with her brother.
Stepping back, he looked at them for a moment, and his smile slowly vanished.
He was already imagining the suffering those two would go through in the upcoming days…
If he was a betting man, he’d wager they might not even survive tomorrow.
Chicken, seemingly knowing his big brother’s troubles, embarrassingly reached out his hand and held his.
Malik’s eyes snapped toward him, remembering their moment at the wooden pathway.
“…Guess I can’t call you chicken anymore, huh?”
“Y-Yeah, I’m brave, like you!”
The kid beamed, puffing out his chest like he’d just conquered the world.
“Yes, you are… so how about a reward?”
His smile returned as he pushed them apart and sat in between them.
“What is it~?”
“W-What reward?”
He turned around, yanked the bed sheets from beneath them, making them squeal as they tumbled slightly, and crawled to the far side of the bed.
Settling in with a satisfied groan, he flopped onto the pillow and patted the empty spot beside him.
“Come here.”
The invitation didn’t need repeating.
They practically threw themselves in front of him, giggling as they nestled in beside him without worry of tomorrow.
***
{Outside The Projection}
Many watching didn’t know if they had to look away or not.
It was too private of a moment, and to have it displayed to the entire planet surely must’ve felt embarrassing.
Even if it was back then when she was just a little girl, the event had defined her life.
And sure enough, as they all expected, Huda’s face competed with the ripest of tomatoes in how red one could be.
She hid her face behind her dress’s sleeves but to no avail.
They all could see her.
Those in her camp tried to relieve those feelings, but all their incessant yapping bore no fruit; she just wanted to get it over with.
***
{Inside The Projection}
The day had been a total nightmare for those two, and only now, when their bodies completely relaxed, did they begin to feel it, their exhaustion catching up, making them remember things that they had yet to process.
Their little bodies melted into the bed like it was the first good thing they’d felt in forever.
Outside, the sky was starting to dim, announcing the arrival of the cold.
Technically, it was pretty early to knock out, but who was going to complain?
They sure wouldn’t. Malik wouldn’t either.
Honestly, being in bed, under a roof, away from the chaos… For a beggar, it didn’t get much better than this.
Sure, the room turned into an oven during the day when their Shams decided to bake everything in sight, but it still beat being out there begging on the streets.
And yeah, maybe there was another reason Malik preferred to sleep early, but he wasn’t about to dig up that mess right now; it would’ve only ruined his mood.
“A bedtime story.”
Malik suddenly announced, breaking the comfortable quiet.
Both heads snapped toward him, Chicken’s eyes immediately wide with curiosity, while Huda just snuggled closer, her small body radiating warmth against the cooling air.
“A story about who?”
Malik sat up slightly.
“Sinbad.”
He leaned back against the wall, his arms folded behind his head, looking every bit like a storyteller ready to spin a grand tale.
“Who’s Sinbad?”
Malik raised an eyebrow at the boy’s question, feigning shock.
“Who’s Sinbad? Only the greatest sailor to ever sail the Ten Seas!”
“Ten? All ten seas?”
“That’s right. Not one, not two, not even three like the boring sailors you hear about. Ten. This guy? He was the emperor of the ocean, the Sultan of the waves.”
Huda, initially unimpressed, perked up at the mention of a Sultan, her head tilting with interest.
Chicken, meanwhile, was already leaning forward, practically vibrating with eagerness.
“Once upon a time, in a land far beyond the Shams’ burning gaze, there was a man named Sinbad. He wasn’t born a sailor, no. He was born a merchant, trading silks and spices across the lands. But one day, a storm swept him away, along with his ship and crew, into uncharted waters…”
Chicken gasped, his eyes shimmering with the kind of wonder only children could manage.
“And what happened?!”
“Oh, what didn’t happen?”
Malik grinned.
“Sinbad faced off against giant sea serpents with scales like diamonds and teeth sharper than the mightiest of swords. He outsmarted cunning sirens who lured sailors to their doom. He even befriended a talking whale who helped him escape an underwater kingdom!”
Huda was starting to blink slower and slower, her head nodding slightly as sleep began to claim her.
“But the best part?”
Malik’s voice rose for dramatic effect.
“Sinbad didn’t do it for treasure. No, he did it because he loved adventure. Loved the thrill of danger, the feeling of the wind in his hair and the waves beneath his feet. He was fearless, clever, and unstoppable! He might even be comparable to me!”
Chicken chuckled as his hands balled into fists.
“And then? What happened at the end?”
Malik leaned closer, lowering his voice like he was sharing the world’s best-kept secret.
“At the end… well, there’s no end. Sinbad didn’t stop. He sailed off into the horizon, searching for the eleventh sea. Some say he’s still out there, charting new waters no one’s ever seen.”
Chicken sat back, his mouth hanging open in awe.
Huda, meanwhile, had completely surrendered to sleep, her tiny snores barely audible.
Malik smirked, reaching over to pat her head softly.
“Guess I’ve lost one listener.”
He muttered before turning back to Chicken.
“So, what do you think, huh? Sound fun?”
The boy nodded furiously, his excitement bubbling over, looking very much like a deranged chicken.
“I wanna be like Sinbad!”
Malik chuckled, ruffling the boy’s hair.
“Alright, kid. While you’re under my protection, your name’s Sinbad. Forget whatever your old name was. You’re a brave boy now, aren’t you?”
“Yes!”
Sinbad—his new name like a badge of honor—beamed with pride.
But after a moment, he tilted his head curiously.
“I’ve been meaning to ask, big brother… What does Huda mean? You said something about her… right path or something.”
Malik snorted, covering his mouth to stifle a laugh.
“Don’t tell her this, but I picked it up from some up-and-coming taxi service.”
***
{Outside The Projection}
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
The room fell into an almost comical silence as the revelation sank in.
Malik had named her, the pride of Al-Sayf, after a third-rate taxi service.
For a moment, nobody dared speak.
The awkwardness was thick enough to cut with a butter knife.
Then, all hell broke loose.