Two rock puppets moved in the middle of the desert mountains during the scorching afternoon, on a high spot near one of the mountain peaks.
...
"They managed to complete the task in just 20 minutes. I think I've found a way to build the combat arena at a much lower cost."
Zeus looked at the empty space of relatively clean rocks, unlike how it looked 20 minutes ago. Nearby, a small pile of rocks was visible, with two stone robots resting on the ground.
Zeus stopped the motion engravings that kept the puppet together and watched as the pieces of the stone robot separated from each other. It looked as if the rocks were just placed next to each other to form a figure resembling a fat, bald-headed stone man.
Zeus pushed the pieces apart and decided to make the robot form as quickly as possible, so the pieces would rush and align correctly.
"Just one second! This is fast enough. Maybe I can make some stone robots to distribute near the camp and give them pre-set orders to defend the area if something happens."
Zeus smiled happily at his ideas and wondered how the kids would react if they knew these statues could move.
"Wait!! I think I know how I'll punish the kids."
An evil smile appeared on Zeus's face as a new plan formed in his mind.
"It looks like I'll be a good teacher and tell the kids a bedtime story."
....
(About half an hour later)
[[[ = Renim's perspective = ]]]
"My hand is starting to hurt, but I have to bear it."
I kept moving the liquid in the container and was ready to do it for ten days if necessary.
"The important thing is to kill that bastard! I can't forget what he did to me."
(Sattam): Why do you look like you're about to cry?
"What!?" I wiped my eyes and realized that tears had indeed gathered because of that memory.
My tears fell heavily, and I began to repeat:
_ I will never forgive him, never forgive him.
(Tala, sadly): Don't cry! Renim?
(Sama): Come on, pull yourself together and finish the job. This isn't the time to break down. We need to get done with what we came here for quickly.
"They're right. This isn't a war I can lose. If I don't kill him while the chance is there, I'll regret it, and the shame will follow me for the rest of my life."
I bit my hand to feel the pain, and then I managed to stop my tears and catch my breath.
I continued moving the liquid with my right hand, and with my left, I kept wiping my nose.
Then I saw something strange.
There were strange stones that looked like small children's puppets. I asked:
_ What is this?
(Sattam): These stones are strange. Each piece is separated from the other, but who put them together like this to look like a puppet and left them here?
(Sama): They're not just gathered stones. They're carved to look like this. Also, I see something else.
I saw Sama go to grab the puppet, but she only held the stone representing the puppet's stomach.
(Sama): There are lines stacked on top of each other forming a strange symbol. Is there an archaeological site nearby?
"I wonder... Why does Tala look scared?" I thought, then asked her.
_ Tala, what's wrong?
(Tala): It's written here: "Don't move the puppet... or... the ghosts will chase you."
(Sama): That's just nonsense. They're just stones. Look, Sattam destroyed them.
(Tala): Don't do it!!
I wasn't too scared, but I found it strange.
...
"Nothing happened. She's right; this is just superstition and delusion... Ghosts, haha, that's funny."
...
We left the place and headed to the camp.
It took us some time, and when we arrived, I hid the bottle of poison in my hand. Now it was just about following the rest of Sama's plan and delivering punishment to that devil's mouth.
Speaking of which, where is he? He doesn't seem to have returned yet. Maybe I should ask someone.
I went to my brother Amjad and asked him:
_ Where's that donkey?
Amjad looked at me for a long time, and I began to feel a little worried.
"Maybe I shouldn't have cursed one of the teachers so explicitly."
(Amjad): Renim, what's the first rule we should follow when going into the outside world?
"Is he asking me that?" I wondered, then quickly answered.
_ Either you kill or you get killed.
(Amjad): And why did we teach you this motto?
_ So we don't go easy on strangers or enemies and never trust them. Weakness in battle has no place.
(Amjad): And what else?
_ This world is savage, where the strong kill the weak.
(Amjad): No, you're not getting the point. What I mean is, you may kill someone. When you enter a battle, there will be one of two outcomes: either you kill your enemy, or that enemy kills you, especially if you try to kill him first.
"Is he warning me about Zeus? I admit that man is strong, but it's impossible for him to survive the poison I made for him."
(Amjad): Just know that if that man tries to kill you in response to your attempt to kill him, I won't protect you from him... You'll have to bear the consequences of your decisions. This is also a very important lesson, and I'm ready to let you die if it will teach the rest of your siblings this lesson.
"Why is he saying all this!? I'm starting to feel really scared. But, but he made me... that bastard Zeus, in front of everyone! I can't forgive him. I can't let him live, I'll kill him!!"
Tears began to gather, but I didn't let them fall this time.
I left with strong determination and focused on the plan.
But where is he?
Half an hour passed, then an hour.
The food was ready, and he hadn't come.
They had already started distributing the food after waiting for half an hour, and Amjad was the one who made us wait. If it weren't for him, no one would have been willing to wait for that bastard.
He didn't come.
Hours passed, and the sun set.
Mrs. Zahra taught us some math and writing.
Then my brother Amjad taught us basic ways to handle snake and scorpion bites and how to extract poison without advanced tools.
I knew all these basics, and leaving the lesson wasn't an option, though.
I couldn't eat my food either. I found no desire to, but I had to regain my energy.
I finally ate, and more hours passed.
Night came, and everyone went to sleep.
I decided to give up on this day. I don't think he's coming.
I laid my head on my pillow near the tent door... The door!?
"Wait!! Who put my bed and things here! My spot was in the middle of the tent! Who took it... Is this Mrs. Zahra!? Maybe I shouldn't have cursed in haste. Good thing I didn't say that out loud."
I returned to the bed and saw something terrifying!
I opened my eyes wide and didn't dare take my eyes off this strange puppet.
Sattam had destroyed it in front of me, and it wasn't even here just a moment ago.
_ Sama, wake up quickly!
I called her, and she answered lazily.
(Sama): What is it?
_ Come quickly and look.
(Sama): I want to sleep. Why are you awake at this late hour?
This stupid girl didn't get up, so I decided to step on her foot.
I turned my gaze away from the puppet and threw it behind me to hit Sama's foot accurately.
I struck her, and when I looked back at the bed where the puppet had been, I didn't find it.
...
I screamed in terror, and Sama, Miss Zahra, and some of the girls woke up.
(Sama): What!!!? Why are you screaming!?
_ The puppet.
(Sama): What puppet?
_ The stone puppet. It was just here!
(Sama, angrily): Kids, really! Just forget it, you're imagining things. It's just superstition, you shouldn't believe it!
_ No, Sama, I'm telling you I saw it. It was just here, I'm sure of it.
(Zahra): What's going on, Sama?
(Sama): Nothing really, Miss. We saw a stone puppet in the mountain, and we broke it. Then we found writing left on a rock behind its original spot. It said that whoever moves the puppet will be cursed or something like that... Oh, right, it said the ghosts would chase them.
I'm scared, really scared, and not just me. I can see many of the girls are scared too. Why doesn't Sama feel any fear?
There was a puppet here. Did I really imagine it!?
My head has been hurting since yesterday, and I'm truly exhausted. Maybe this is just a hallucination... but why do I remember clearly seeing it?
Did I see it, or didn't I!?