Where is Manar?
Book One: The Twin Star
Chapter 13: The Crossing
—
"Do you know what this area is called?"
"Ancient Babylon, as far as I know."
"Good. And do you know the most famous legend in Babylon — according to ancient religions and myths?"
"I don't really know. Enlighten me."
"Listen carefully. A long time ago, there was a king who ruled the entire world. The most powerful person of his time. His name was Nimrod. And this Nimrod was never defeated in any war. He became corrupt and tyrannical until he angered God. So God sent an army of flies — the weakest of creatures — and this army destroyed Nimrod's great army."
"Yeah, I know that. So what? Did they find Nimrod's tomb?"
"Be patient. You're more annoying than Nimrod's flies."
"Come on, man. Keep going."
"Right... where were we? In... your dirty grandfather Nimrod's time. Back then, people were sons of bitches — just like the Americans."
"Yeah, yeah. They have clubs for deviants."
"No, you dog. They didn't have gatherings for deviants."
"So they're not like the Americans?"
"The similarity is that both love occupying and stealing from others. Until magic spread among them."
"Did they import it from the Americans?"
"Pfft... ha!" The driver let out a laugh and barely contained it.
"Shut up, you dirty hole. Don't mock me until I finish cooking this garbage for you to eat." Dajja shouted, feeling Maytham's mockery in the question and the driver's laugh.
"Tsk... Okay, man. Don't get so worked up. Your gut will explode from the pressure. Hahahahaha."
"Tsk... annoying rat. Listen, you filth, so you understand what we're doing here. Or shut up and don't ask."
"Yes, Daddy."
"Anyway. After your cursed ancestors learned magic and it spread among them, a man named Nimrod mastered all magical sciences and became the strongest in the world. So — you'll ask how they learned magic? Well, according to what reached us, God sent Hārūt and Mārūt* — two angels — to test humanity. And the test was magic. After people learned magic, they craved more. How can humans ever be satisfied?
Then a woman — said to be the most beautiful of her time — seduced the two angels to gain even more power."
"You're saying a beautiful woman seduced angels?"
"Yes. Some chicks have seduced me too."
"A frog who sees himself as an angel. Tsk. Then I'm the Messiah."
"Imported son of a shoe."
"Man, how do you seduce angels? They're not like some frogs I know. You know... angels, worship, no desire. That doesn't work with girls and all that."
"Your grandfather the frog committed the sin of loving K-pop and left a filthy descendant like you. You're so annoying, by Nimrod's aunt. Tsk... First, it's said that the angels saw how humans committed sins and then God forgave them. So they asked God: why put corrupt, sinful humans on earth when we praise and glorify You constantly? Shouldn't we be the ones to inhabit the earth?
So God sent the two angels down — but this time, He gave them human desires. The woman managed to seduce them after they got drunk. They gave her a new kind of powerful ability. When they woke from their drunkenness, they regretted it deeply. All the inhabitants of heaven saw that they were just like humans when placed in the same situation.
As for the woman, it's said that the power she obtained — 'Transcendence' — became her punishment. She couldn't control it, so she transformed into the planet Venus — the one we know in our solar system."
"So what does this have to do with us coming here?" Maytham asked suspiciously.
"Little one. Do you believe in magic and the stories I just told you?"
"I only believe in my weapon and my brother — the dog."
"You got one thing right and failed at the other." Dajja removed his sunglasses and turned to Maytham.
"Huh! Enlighten me then."
"You were right that you and your brother are dogs."
"Yeah, I know. And the other?"
"Listen, you little dog. I'm going to open your eyes to the reality of the world we live in. But first — do you need to use the bathroom? So you don't do it in the car from fear."
"Show me. I'm tired of myths and legends and all this stuff."
"First — have you ever heard of people called 'The Transcended'?"
"Not really."
Dajja looked in the side mirror. Made sure the road was clear. Then turned to Maytham with a smile unlike anything he'd seen before...
"Good. I'll let you see one. And before anything else — don't do it in the seat, because you'll be the one cleaning the mess."
—
CRRRRRRIIIIIP... AAAAAHHHHHH!
Suddenly, the silence inside the car shattered with the sound of tearing fabric and flesh. Dajja's human features began to melt like wax in hell. His muscles bulged beneath the military uniform like rocks pushing from inside. Coarse gray hair sprouted — black as graves. The smell of burning sulfur filled the car. The sound of bones breaking inside him like shifting firewood.
A human jaw transformed into the snout of a predatory wolf. Long black claws emerged like fangs of death. At that moment, Dajja was no longer that annoying fat man. He became a forgotten beast from Babylonian myths — a 'Transcended' entity standing between two worlds, his eyes gleaming with a savage light that Maytham's rain of bullets couldn't extinguish.
Before Dajja — or the beast — could finish, Maytham opened fire. Emptied the entire magazine.
"Really, you annoying dog. Can you stop playing so I can finish and you understand the situation?" The beast watched Maytham draw his pistol from his leg holster. He opened his hand and dropped some of the bullets he'd caught — the ones that hadn't hit his face.
"You know — this look suits you better. Hahaha." Maytham regained control of his emotions and burst out laughing.
"Yes, listen, my little pup. In this world, there are many things you can't imagine. Today, your uncle Dajja will enlighten whatever brain you have — if you have one."
GRRRRAAAAA... SHHHHHHH!
"The transformation really is annoying." Dajja returned to normal and put his sunglasses back on.
"I have one question. Did you take off the sunglasses so they wouldn't break from the bullets?"
"Just in case. And my guess was right."
"So what about the glass?" Maytham pointed at the windshield, hit by some bullets that missed Dajja's body.
"I'll deduct it from your salary." Dajja smiled victoriously.
"Tsk. Yeah, continue. What the hell was that, by the god of dogs? I never imagined the dog people really existed. Are your ancestors the ones God transformed? And how, by your ancestors, couldn't the bullets even scratch your dirty face?" Maytham was genuinely excited.
"Listen, child. In this world, there are three types of abilities. First: sorcerers and magicians. Second: us — the Transcended. And third: the Believers."
"The Believers? What are they?"
"Those... I don't like to talk about." His face showed strange signs. "But they're strong. When they strike, no one survives."
"Okay. Continue." Maytham was excited like a child asking for candy.
"Sorcerers are monstrosities with no limits and no conscience. They'll do anything to achieve their goals."
"Are they strong?"
"Some are strong, some are weak. But what I'm sure of is that they're all sons of shoes."
"And you?"
"I'm the second type. We're the 'Transcended,' Maytham. We're not human and not demons. We're the ones who dared to drink the 'Deception' — a dose that breaks the soul's chains to release the beast sleeping in the genes. While sorcerers sell their souls to demons, we steal the power of some sons of bitches in the form of pharmaceutical vials — to transcend the limits of flesh and blood and become souls hunting the heavens."
"Why are you talking like a poet? Did you discover your feminine side?"
"Tsk... Your grandfather was the cause. No solution. A son of a bitch was born, and that's it."
"So if I drink the dose, will I become a dog like you?"
"No one knows. But in my experience, only 5% of those who try succeed. Siraj — show him some tricks."
As Dajja spoke, the driver's fingernails began to grow, and dark hair covered his hands.
"What the hell? Is this some kind of light trick? I thought I was the only dog on this trip. But it seems I'm Snow White among the seven dwarfs."
"Ooh, terrifying. But not realistic at all, right?" Maytham was skeptical.
"Hahahaha. Of course not, you shoe. Nothing in life is free. Isn't that clear?" Dajja returned to his normal state. The driver's hand returned to normal too — faster than Dajja's transformation. As if he'd been doing this for a long time.
Maytham looked at the mirror. He saw the driver's eyes watching him from behind the sunglasses. They weren't a driver's eyes. They were... a hunter's eyes.
'Damn,' he thought. 'This isn't a flock. This is a whole family of dogs.'
—
"So spit it out. What do you want in exchange for this filth? The Dajja I know is too stingy to give free information!"
"Listen, Maytham. The goal of this trip is something many people will fight over. I guarantee you that. But only an ordinary person like you can get it."
"What do you mean — no animals allowed?"
"You got it. Ordinary humans only. If any supernatural being tries to enter, they won't succeed — no matter how powerful."
"So what's this treasure?"
"Honestly? I don't know. But it's called 'the artifact.' And it's extremely powerful. According to the information, whoever gets it can become one of the world's powers."
"So you want me to get the treasure, and in exchange, you give me the dose."
"I like smart people. Even if you get the treasure, you won't be able to use it. And you'll be hunted by many powerful beings. But if you give it to me, you'll get the dose. Both sides benefit. Right?"
"Okay, you dog of dogs. I agree. But I want two doses, not one." Maytham thought for a moment.
"I like greedy people. But aren't you asking too much?" Dajja raised an eyebrow.
"Dajja, I prefer to seize the opportunity. Who guarantees another will come?"
"Tsk... Okay. If you bring the artifact, you get two doses." Dajja agreed.
— End of Chapter 13 —
—
Author's Notes:
* Hārūt and Mārūt:
Two angels mentioned in the Quran (2:102), sent to Babylon as a divine test for humanity. They were permitted to teach magic, but warned people that doing so was a trial — not a blessing.