Dawn crept slowly across the glass of the high-level meeting room, tracing a pale line of light over the massive metal table.
The air inside the hall was heavy
Not from lack of oxygen, but from anticipation.
The members of THE SHADOWS stood around the table, their faces exhausted, their features marked by the remnants of a night that had never truly ended.
Especially SOLIMON, standing near the main screen, arms crossed, the shadows beneath his eyes revealing he hadn't slept even for a moment.
Despite the exhaustion, they all knew there was no escape from battle.
It was their curse.
They were ready to face the final confrontation.
Yet every set of eyes— no matter how focused their owner seemed— kept drifting toward the closed door of the room.
Whispers moved between them.
TAHARA leaned closer to AYOUB.
"Will she come?"
AYOUB replied while glancing at SHOUTNA:
"We heard she already renounced it…"
ZAKI, seated behind them, answered quietly:
"No one can blame her… what she saw… humans aren't meant to see."
ZARIOUH lifted his eyes toward their whispers, his fists clenched tightly, as if fighting himself more than any enemy.
MONA, the princess's guard, stood alone to the side— her head lowered, her face caught between worry and waiting.
SHOUTNA stood in the corner of the hall, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed,
His eyes closed— as if listening to their breathing more than to their words.
He wasn't asleep.
He was waiting.
Waiting for the true outcome of last night's conversation.
He knew that light had no value unless someone first faced their darkness.
ADEL approached him quietly.
"If we want to reach the conference on time, we need to leave within minutes. If the princess doesn't arrive—"
Before he could finish—
The sound of the door echoed.
Everything froze.
All heads turned at once toward the entrance.
The door opened slowly…
And she entered.
LOUVNA stepped inside with steady strides— neither hurried nor hesitant.
A practical white dress, glowing under the lights with a subtle royal touch.
Her hair was pulled tightly back.
Her face was free of tears.
And her eyes…
They were no longer the same as they had been yesterday.
There was resolve in them. Sharpness.
Something new and calm— like the morning itself.
SHOUTNA opened his eyes.
Slowly.
And looked at her with a brief, precise gaze, as if assessing a weapon that had just been perfectly sharpened.
No smile.
No nod.
No words.
Just a look that said:
You stood up.
LOUVNA stepped forward and stopped before the main table, then spoke in a calm voice— one that carried through the entire hall:
"I'm ready."
"Let's begin."
SHOUTNA moved his hand.
The screens ignited, and the room came back to life.
He spoke in his calm voice, slicing through the air like a blade:
"The mission begins now."
Then, without looking at her, he added:
"Princess… take your place."
LOUVNA approached the table and placed her hand on the very spot where MOHITO always stood…
As if she were continuing his line— not replacing him.
She lifted her head toward THE SHADOWS.
"We won't fail him."
No one spoke…
But something heavy— something like an oath— passed through the room.
SHOUTNA nodded to signal the start.
The map screen dominated the front wall, red and blue lines glowing sharply across the capital and its sensitive zones.
THE SHADOWS stood around the table, each mentally preparing for what could be the most dangerous mission of their lives.
"The previous mission through the cliff route… was a trap… to identify the traitor within SPIYA."
Tension spread across their faces, while LOUVNA remained standing behind them— silent, her features sharp as a blade.
MIZYANI clenched his fist.
"So… we know now?"
SHOUTNA nodded once.
"The Prime Minister. The only one who knew about the mountain corridor plan.
And the only one who leaked the coordinates."
SOLIMON looked toward SHOUTNA.
"So he'll try again…"
SHOUTNA replied calmly.
"Yes. Before the conference begins, he'll attempt to eliminate the princess… behind the lights."
Then SHOUTNA clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze hard with military authority.
"That's why… We'll divide the operations."
"Team One — Direct Protection."
He gestured toward:
SOLIMON, ZARIOUH
"You are the princess's personal guards. You stay with her step by step."
Both nodded firmly.
"Team Two — Royal Chamber Point."
He indicated:
• AYOUB
• TAHARA
"You guard the door leading to the princess's room. No one passes."
"Team Three — Front Entrance."
The twins, MESSIN and YASSIN:
"You are the first eyes. If an attack happens, it will begin with you."
"Team Four — King's Escort."
"MAYNO and I will personally escort the king.
The traitor may target him as well, to sabotage the conference entirely."
"Team Five — Rear Conference Entrance."
ZAKI
• MIZYANI
"You seal off any chance of a flanking maneuver."
"Team Six — Surveillance and Intelligence."
ADEL
• GHAZLANE
• OBASO
"You'll operate from the equipped truck outside the venue.
Communications. Surveillance. Analysis.
I want no surprises."
"MONA — Princess's Guard."
He turned to her.
"You remain at your position."
MONA signaled that she was ready.
***********************************
THE SHADOWS exited one by one, their faces marked by exhaustion… yet carrying something stronger:
Resolve.
ODEL was the last to leave.
He approached LOUVNA, hesitated briefly, then spoke in a low, sincere voice:
"I wish you luck… LOUVNA."
She stopped and looked at him.
A calm, strong smile— one he had never seen on her before.
ODEL smiled back.
"I'm sure you'll be an amazing princess."
"Thank you, ODEL," LOUVNA replied calmly.
She walked steadily toward her armored vehicle—
Everyone watched her.
And THE SHADOWS' convoy began moving toward the capital.
***********************************
A few hundred meters away…
A black car was parked near the edge of a cliff, its windows fully tinted, hidden among pine trees.
Inside—
A man wearing a metallic black mask, his cold eyes tracking the convoy through a digital scope.
**************************************
In the capital, VERIDOR—
The headquarters of the International Peace Conference gleamed under the dawn light.
A towering glass façade…
National flags rising at the entrance…
Royal guards lined up in dark blue uniforms.
Everything seemed… perfectly calm.
Exactly as it should be before a storm.
Inside the grand hall—
Wide seats were arranged in strict order, the walls adorned with screens displaying the kingdom's map and the conference emblem.
Guests began to arrive.
Ministers.
Army commanders.
Ambassadors.
Men in tailored suits and carefully measured expressions.
But in the front row…
Sat a man unlike the rest.
The COMMANDER OF THE ORGANIZATION'S FIFTH BATTALION.
Dressed in an elegant black suit, a dark violet tie, holding a gold-edged official folder.
But his eyes…
They were calm.
Steady.
Cold.
No one knew that this man was seated among the most important figures
Was responsible for thousands of executions carried out in the shadows.
Nor that his fingers were now touching something hidden inside the folder:
A small black activation device, with no button except a single red dot.
Behind him, the PRIME MINISTER entered with hesitant steps.
Wearing his official suit, smiling for the cameras…
But when he noticed the commander, his smile faltered for a split second— doubt.
He approached slowly and leaned in, whispering nervously:
"The convoy… has departed."
The commander did not move.
Did not turn.
Did not blink.
His eyes remained fixed on the wide stage ahead, where LOUVNA would soon stand.
Then he spoke in a calm, terrifying tone, as if the words slid along a blade:
"Then… they will arrive soon."
The PRIME MINISTER swallowed.
"Will… you run the operation from here?"
The commander closed the folder gently.
The sound was soft—like a muted gunshot.
He turned slightly, a thin smile— barely visible— forming at the corner of his lips.
"Of course."
"Today…The princess will not leave this building."
The PRIME MINISTER's hand trembled, but the commander continued calmly, as if giving logistical instructions:
"All units are ready.
Team One in the basement…
Team Two disguised among the conference staff…
Snipers on the roof."
"I will end this performance… myself."
The PRIME MINISTER found no words.
The commander leaned back, crossing one leg over the other,
As if waiting for a concert—
Not an assassination.
The stage awaited…
And fate drew closer.
The COMMANDER OF THE FIFTH BATTALION whispered:
"Welcome… Princess of SPIYA."