An arrow... It arrived silently, slicing through the night's melody and embedding itself in Giovanni's throat like the cold signature of death.
Murat lunged forward the moment he saw his uncle stumble, catching him in his strong arms. But the hot blood spurting from Giovanni's throat splattered across Murat's face, neck, and robe. Time slowed. For a heartbeat, Murat's eyes froze. The man in his arms was his last living link to his mother — his last piece of blood.
Viki's scream shattered the stillness as she rushed toward them:
"Father!"
Her voice rang out like a bell, echoing with grief, desperation, and denial.
Balibey, Cafer, and Kasım had already taken position. Their eyes scanned the direction the arrow had come from, ready to intercept any threat emerging from the shadows. Their mission was clear: protect the Sultan.
Giovanni had collapsed to the ground. His breathing was ragged, gurgling, and strained. The arrow in his throat silenced him, as if aimed not only at his body but at his voice. Murat tried to hold him upright, kneeling beside him, one arm cradling his uncle, the other trying in vain to staunch the bleeding.
"Uncle!"
Murat's voice trembled, low but desperate — more than a plea, it was the cry of a final farewell. Giovanni's eyelids fluttered, barely open, his pupils trembling.
His gaze shifted from Murat to Viki, now kneeling at his side, clutching his hand, her tears falling onto his skin. Giovanni's lips quivered, and with great effort, he whispered:
"My daughter... she is in your care, Murat… Viki is yours to protect now…"
Murat didn't even notice the tears streaking down his cheeks. He pressed a finger to Giovanni's forehead.
"You have my word," he said. "She is now my sister. I will protect her with my life."
Giovanni tried to swallow, but the wound in his throat made it nearly impossible. Blood no longer surged but flowed slowly. His eyes turned once more to Viki.
"My child... leaving you behind…"
His voice had faded to a breath.
"…pains me… but… I have no regrets…"
With a final squeeze of Viki's hand, his grip loosened… then fell away completely.
Giovanni's hand slipped from hers and hit the ground. His eyes were vacant. His breath, gone.
Viki let out a soul-wrenching scream.
"Father!"
Murat's hands were soaked in blood. He was still holding his uncle's lifeless body, but the spirit within was no more.
Another star had fallen from the night sky.
Balibey, Cafer, and Kasım tracked the arrow's path and spotted the silhouettes of approaching guards at the end of the alley. "They're here!" someone shouted. Panic and chaos followed.
Without hesitation, Balibey charged forward and felled the first attacker with a single, clean strike. Cafer loosed an arrow that sliced through the air and struck another enemy in the chest.
Kasım stood to the side, conjuring a fireball between his hands. His eyes followed the enemies' movements, waiting for the perfect moment. As more shouts echoed from behind, Balibey snarled:
"We have to move, now!"
Cafer, notching another arrow, agreed. "If we stay, we're dead."
Balibey nodded but cast a glance back toward Viki. She was still draped over her father's body, sobbing uncontrollably.
The weight of what had happened hit Balibey hard. He felt the lump in his throat.
Murat remained frozen beside her, hollow-eyed, his face a mask of silent torment.
Balibey made a decision. If the Sultan wouldn't move, then he would take responsibility.
"Cafer," he barked, "can you hold them off?"
Cafer narrowed his eyes. "I can."
"Good," Balibey said. "I'll get the Sultan and Viki out. Kasım, stay and help Cafer. We know now — you're ready. We trust you."
Kasım looked down at the fireball in his hands, then nodded with newfound resolve.
Balibey turned to Cafer. "We can't use the harbor. The ports are surely sealed by now. We'll take the west gate. Meet us there."
Cafer gave a faint, dark grin. "Understood."
Balibey ran to Murat's side. "Sultan, we must go. They're coming, and we're outnumbered."
Murat looked up silently, his gaze shifting to Viki. The promise he had just made burned in his memory. She had to live, no matter the cost.
He straightened and rose.
Balibey knelt beside Viki, gently pulling her into his arms. She didn't resist. Her strength was gone. He scooped her up and sprinted ahead, Murat close behind, silent but resolute.
The alleys narrowed. The darkness echoed with battle cries and clashing steel. Behind them, Cafer and Kasım held the line — fire flashed, shadows danced.
Murat closed his eyes for a moment. A single tear slipped down his face.
He had failed to protect one.
Now, he would run to save the rest.