As for King Hibru, early that morning, he prepared his meal and entered Imnal’s room, only to find him still asleep, murmuring in his dreams. He wasn’t speaking coherent words—only the name of Princess Mulaifa and expressions of love. Hibru approached the bed, scolding him:
“What are you doing? You haven’t woken up yet! Know this: in just a few moments we must leave for battle. Get ready; meet me in the hall for breakfast.”
After saying this, Hibru left. Imnal quickly got up, joined him in the hall for breakfast, and then they exited the house together to head to the battlefield. Upon leaving, Hibru mounted his horse, intending for them to ride together. But when Imnal saw his own horse running alone, he galloped to catch it, finding a letter hidden beneath the horse’s saddle. Carefully, he drew it out and hid it inside his clothing so Hibru wouldn’t notice. Then both mounted their horses and rode toward the battlefield.
The battlefield was packed with people; it was so crowded that one could barely see anything. When Hibru and Imnal arrived, everyone had already settled, including the king. Slowly, they walked to where the king stood. King Maharaz, sitting with Princess Mulaifa beside him, looked at Hibru with a wicked smile, while Mulaifa’s face was filled with worry, as if she were about to burst into tears. Hibru and Imnal bowed deeply upon reaching the king’s throne. Maharaz returned the greeting with a smile, then turned to two strong guards, instructing them to carry out a task.
The guards seized Imnal, tied him to a sharp ice spike on the ground, stripped his clothing, and suspended him in a deep pit. Maharaz then addressed the entire gathering:
“People of Darul Mahabur, as you know, for over thirty years, we have faithfully served the great Darbuza in this land. Never has anyone broken the law—until now. Imnal, the son of Hibru, has committed a grave offense. Know this: Darbuza has decreed that he shall be flogged until his skin tears, with salt poured over him, until he passes out. He shall endure this punishment for three days without food or drink.”
Upon hearing this, Princess Mulaifa burst into tears, pleading with Maharaz for Imnal’s pardon. Maharaz snapped at her:
“Do you want me to also commit an offense against the great Darbuza? I am obedient to Darbuza. If you prevent Imnal from receiving this punishment, you deny me my duty.”
The two guards began their work: one flogged Imnal while the other applied salt to his wounds. Instead of cries of pain reaching the crowd, Imnal would look at Mulaifa and smile. Mulaifa, despite her fear, did not cry at that moment, proving to all onlookers the depth of their love.
After Imnal had been beaten bloody, the severity of the punishment would have moved anyone to pity him. Seeing Imnal’s suffering, Mulaifa could not contain herself. She rushed to the palace, understanding the importance of being near him to ease his pain. Meanwhile, Imnal endured three grueling hours before losing consciousness. Maharaz watched with a smile, showing no sympathy, while Hibru’s heart boiled with anger and frustration. He could not understand the king’s coldness toward his son, despite all the hardships he had endured to help the king.
At that moment, a cold wind swept through, awakening Imnal from his deep unconsciousness. He struggled to open his eyes, faintly seeing, when suddenly a mystical presence called to him. He began shouting, "Water! Water!" Hibru, hearing this, leapt up in panic to find Imnal, only to see Luzaira, the spirit of Imnal’s deceased mother, appearing before him. Hibru fell back in fear, pointing at her with trembling fingers.
Luzaira smiled gently:
“Calm yourself, Hibru. I am not your wife but a spirit from the realm of the unseen. I am here to stop you from interfering in what Imnal must endure, for if you help him now, it could ruin his future.”
Hibru, astonished, asked how he could trust her and why she would help him. Luzaira explained:
“Whatever hardships Imnal endures, he will survive. Your son will grow up to be renowned. You must trust me—if you continue blindly serving King Maharaz, you risk death. I can help you and Imnal gain freedom from Maharaz and the spirit Darbuza. With my help, I can assist your father, and together we will capture Darbuza alive.”
Hibru, amazed, realized that the Darbuza they served was a spirit, not a human. Luzaira continued:
“You cannot escape Maharaz’s control unless a certain hidden talisman is recovered—one strand of Imnal’s chest hair buried in an ancient well beneath a river in the city of Sin. Only my father and I can retrieve it. You and Imnal must join forces to secure the legendary weapons Saiful Lujara, Mashin Galilul Haras, and Lamzara’s helmet. Neither Maharaz nor Darbuza can wield these weapons, but you can.”
Hibru understood the gravity of the mission. He promised Luzaira that they would cooperate, planning carefully to retrieve the weapons. Luzaira disappeared after giving Imnal the guidance he needed.
Three days later, Maharaz’s palace was filled with soldiers from neighboring regions, summoned for the campaign to retrieve Saiful Lujara. Hibru managed to navigate through the crowd to reach Imnal, finding him unharmed, alert, and fed. Hibru untied him and carried him down from the platform, receiving cheers and admiration from the assembled crowd.
Even though Imnal had been punished, the people recognized him as a brave warrior. The king and Mulaifa appeared in grand attire, adorned with red plumes and carrying swords. Hibru noticed the respect and fear with which the people regarded them, knowing Maharaz was a formidable sorcerer.
Hibru handed Imnal some medicinal powder to heal minor injuries, but Imnal smiled and said:
“Father, I feel no pain. I am not hungry, nor am I weary.”
Hibru, astonished, asked how he had managed through three nights without sustenance. Imnal explained that a spirit had assisted him—the same spirit who had appeared to Hibru, guiding him and protecting him during the ordeal.
Hibru, relieved, advised Imnal not to speak of the spirit until he had fully recovered. Meanwhile, Maharaz stopped before the crowd to address everyone, calling the citizens of Darul Mahabur and neighboring lands to battle, emphasizing the mission to intercept the enemy and retrieve the legendary weapons, ensuring the safety of their people before the enemy could claim them.
ƘARSHEN ZALUNCI
As for King Hibru, early that morning, he prepared his meal and entered Imnal’s room, only to find him still asleep, murmuring in his dreams. He wasn’t speaking coherent words—only the name of Princess Mulaifa and expressions of love. Hibru approached the bed, scolding him:
“What are you doing? You haven’t woken up yet! Know this: in just a few moments we must leave for battle. Get ready; meet me in the hall for breakfast.”
After saying this, Hibru left. Imnal quickly got up, joined him in the hall for breakfast, and then they exited the house together to head to the battlefield. Upon leaving, Hibru mounted his horse, intending for them to ride together. But when Imnal saw his own horse running alone, he galloped to catch it, finding a letter hidden beneath the horse’s saddle. Carefully, he drew it out and hid it inside his clothing so Hibru wouldn’t notice. Then both mounted their horses and rode toward the battlefield.
The battlefield was packed with people; it was so crowded that one could barely see anything. When Hibru and Imnal arrived, everyone had already settled, including the king. Slowly, they walked to where the king stood. King Maharaz, sitting with Princess Mulaifa beside him, looked at Hibru with a wicked smile, while Mulaifa’s face was filled with worry, as if she were about to burst into tears. Hibru and Imnal bowed deeply upon reaching the king’s throne. Maharaz returned the greeting with a smile, then turned to two strong guards, instructing them to carry out a task.
The guards seized Imnal, tied him to a sharp ice spike on the ground, stripped his clothing, and suspended him in a deep pit. Maharaz then addressed the entire gathering:
“People of Darul Mahabur, as you know, for over thirty years, we have faithfully served the great Darbuza in this land. Never has anyone broken the law—until now. Imnal, the son of Hibru, has committed a grave offense. Know this: Darbuza has decreed that he shall be flogged until his skin tears, with salt poured over him, until he passes out. He shall endure this punishment for three days without food or drink.”
Upon hearing this, Princess Mulaifa burst into tears, pleading with Maharaz for Imnal’s pardon. Maharaz snapped at her:
“Do you want me to also commit an offense against the great Darbuza? I am obedient to Darbuza. If you prevent Imnal from receiving this punishment, you deny me my duty.”
The two guards began their work: one flogged Imnal while the other applied salt to his wounds. Instead of cries of pain reaching the crowd, Imnal would look at Mulaifa and smile. Mulaifa, despite her fear, did not cry at that moment, proving to all onlookers the depth of their love.
After Imnal had been beaten bloody, the severity of the punishment would have moved anyone to pity him. Seeing Imnal’s suffering, Mulaifa could not contain herself. She rushed to the palace, understanding the importance of being near him to ease his pain. Meanwhile, Imnal endured three grueling hours before losing consciousness. Maharaz watched with a smile, showing no sympathy, while Hibru’s heart boiled with anger and frustration. He could not understand the king’s coldness toward his son, despite all the hardships he had endured to help the king.
At that moment, a cold wind swept through, awakening Imnal from his deep unconsciousness. He struggled to open his eyes, faintly seeing, when suddenly a mystical presence called to him. He began shouting, "Water! Water!" Hibru, hearing this, leapt up in panic to find Imnal, only to see Luzaira, the spirit of Imnal’s deceased mother, appearing before him. Hibru fell back in fear, pointing at her with trembling fingers.
Luzaira smiled gently:
“Calm yourself, Hibru. I am not your wife but a spirit from the realm of the unseen. I am here to stop you from interfering in what Imnal must endure, for if you help him now, it could ruin his future.”
Hibru, astonished, asked how he could trust her and why she would help him. Luzaira explained:
“Whatever hardships Imnal endures, he will survive. Your son will grow up to be renowned. You must trust me—if you continue blindly serving King Maharaz, you risk death. I can help you and Imnal gain freedom from Maharaz and the spirit Darbuza. With my help, I can assist your father, and together we will capture Darbuza alive.”
Hibru, amazed, realized that the Darbuza they served was a spirit, not a human. Luzaira continued:
“You cannot escape Maharaz’s control unless a certain hidden talisman is recovered—one strand of Imnal’s chest hair buried in an ancient well beneath a river in the city of Sin. Only my father and I can retrieve it. You and Imnal must join forces to secure the legendary weapons Saiful Lujara, Mashin Galilul Haras, and Lamzara’s helmet. Neither Maharaz nor Darbuza can wield these weapons, but you can.”
Hibru understood the gravity of the mission. He promised Luzaira that they would cooperate, planning carefully to retrieve the weapons. Luzaira disappeared after giving Imnal the guidance he needed.
Three days later, Maharaz’s palace was filled with soldiers from neighboring regions, summoned for the campaign to retrieve Saiful Lujara. Hibru managed to navigate through the crowd to reach Imnal, finding him unharmed, alert, and fed. Hibru untied him and carried him down from the platform, receiving cheers and admiration from the assembled crowd.
Even though Imnal had been punished, the people recognized him as a brave warrior. The king and Mulaifa appeared in grand attire, adorned with red plumes and carrying swords. Hibru noticed the respect and fear with which the people regarded them, knowing Maharaz was a formidable sorcerer.
Hibru handed Imnal some medicinal powder to heal minor injuries, but Imnal smiled and said:
“Father, I feel no pain. I am not hungry, nor am I weary.”
Hibru, astonished, asked how he had managed through three nights without sustenance. Imnal explained that a spirit had assisted him—the same spirit who had appeared to Hibru, guiding him and protecting him during the ordeal.
Hibru, relieved, advised Imnal not to speak of the spirit until he had fully recovered. Meanwhile, Maharaz stopped before the crowd to address everyone, calling the citizens of Darul Mahabur and neighboring lands to battle, emphasizing the mission to intercept the enemy and retrieve the legendary weapons, ensuring the safety of their people before the enemy could claim them.