At that time, Basil and Hamza had finished their meal in the palace, so they went out to wander through the kingdom, which was bustling with movement and activity. Signs of preparation for the grand celebration could be seen everywhere.
Festive decorations and colorful ornaments filled every corner of the streets, and people were busy hanging banners and exchanging conversations, while the sounds of drums and singing rose from the corner where the sons of the Mazi tribe had gathered, dancing to their familiar rhythms, their faces filled with joy.
As Basil and Hamza walked through the streets, their attention was drawn to an angry man standing in front of a shop that sold lamps containing glowing larvae. He was complaining loudly about the high prices, his face flushed with frustration.
They approached him, and Basil spoke, saying,
"What's going on? Why are you so angry?"
The man replied angrily,
"The prices! This man has doubled the prices of the lamps that contain the glowing larvae."
Basil asked with interest,
"And what makes them so important?"
The man answered, his voice filled with resentment,
"On the night of the Firstborn's wedding, people release the larvae from the lamps and set them free into the sky while making wishes. Those larvae light up the sky, and they are part of our sacred traditions—a symbol of the light that drives away darkness and spreads hope in people's hearts. How can I buy them now when I can't afford these rising prices?"
Hamza smiled, trying to calm the man, and said,
"I understand. It is a very special night for everyone. But there is no need to let this ruin your joy. Let us try to find a solution."
Then Hamza turned to the seller and asked,
"Can you lower the price a little? This man wishes to participate, and no one should be deprived of taking part in such a celebration."
The seller smiled nervously as he tried to justify himself.
"The prices of the larvae have risen this year due to their scarcity. However, I can offer a small discount, especially for this occasion."
After the man managed to buy the lamps, he thanked Basil and Hamza for their help and said with relief,
"You have saved me. I couldn't bear to see my children deprived of this beautiful tradition."
Basil and Hamza continued walking through the crowded streets of the kingdom, passing through the bustling crowds preparing for the celebration. The decorations and colors seemed to sparkle in the morning sun, while echoes of laughter and music flowed through the alleys, blending with the rising pulse of life.
Amid this joyful noise, a man moved among the people, offering small tools to help them hang decorations and fix the lights with ease.
It was Novich, the mysterious inventor, who seemed busy helping everyone.
When Basil and Hamza approached him, he greeted them with a smile and said,
"Welcome, our honored guests! What do you think of the atmosphere here? Isn't it wonderful?"
Hamza smiled casually and replied,
"Yes, the atmosphere here is truly magical."
But soon his expression changed. His smile faded into a serious look as he asked in a low voice,
"But… there is something that has been on my mind since we arrived. Why are there no ordinary humans like you in this kingdom? I mean, I don't see anyone here who looks like you."
Novich looked at them for a moment before replying,
"Follow me… I will show you both something that may answer your questions."
He walked ahead of them through narrow passages, and they followed him until they reached a narrow water canal. There, he took two small cubes out of his bag.
He pressed one of them, and it transformed into a small boat. Then he pressed the other, and it turned into oars.
Basil and Hamza exchanged looks of amazement before boarding the boat.
Novich looked at them with a smile and said,
"This is one of my uncle's inventions—Nikola Mask."
As they sailed through the canal, silence filled the air for a moment before Novich spoke.
"The truth is… my uncle Nikola and I are not from this kingdom."
He continued,
"Thirty-five years ago, we lived in a distant kingdom far to the west called Nergal. Our lives there were full of hope."
Novich continued, a glimmer of memory appearing in his eyes.
"My uncle devoted his entire life to developing technology. He was deeply fascinated by science and believed that technology could be a great tool for the welfare of humanity. All that ever concerned him was how science could improve people's lives."
Novich continued in a tone mixed with admiration and sorrow.
"His dream was to create a world where peaceful energy would be given to all people freely. A world filled with peace and prosperity. But sometimes… dreams do not align with reality."
He lowered his head slightly as he went on.
"The Kingdom of Nergal was not the right place for that dream. The authorities wanted to use his knowledge to create deadly weapons, which completely contradicted his beliefs."
Novich continued speaking.
"He knew such weapons would bring nothing but death and destruction, and that they would be used to strengthen power and expand control at the expense of the innocent. So he insisted that his knowledge should serve only good. When the authorities realized he would not cooperate with their plans, they began threatening him."
Novich continued firmly.
"He had only two choices: either submit and sell his principles to serve the war machine, or leave everything behind and escape with what remained of his principles. In the end, he chose the harder path… to leave."
Novich pointed toward a massive structure visible in the distance.
"Over there, inside the fortified garage, there is the vehicle 'Nitsla' that my uncle used to escape. It is one of his greatest inventions."
When they arrived at the garage, they found it surrounded by guards who refused to let them enter. Novich tried to convince them, but it was useless. Then he took out a small pouch filled with precious silver coins and offered it to the guards as a bribe.
After a moment of hesitation, the guards agreed and signaled for them to enter.
Inside the garage, the place was filled with strange tools and machines. In the center stood a large vehicle covered with a thick cloth. Novich slowly removed the cover, revealing a massive machine that resembled a metallic disc equipped with rotating arms and wide glass windows.
Basil and Hamza stood before it in amazement, studying its unusual design.
Novich said proudly as he ran his hand over its metallic surface,
"This is the vehicle we used to escape."
They entered the craft, where they saw a control panel filled with buttons and complex instruments they had never seen before.
While Novich was explaining the details of the vehicle, the sound of a horn suddenly echoed from the direction of the wall.
Novich stopped speaking. Concern filled his eyes as he said in a tense voice before rushing outside,
"That's the alarm… there are Invaders!"
When Novich stepped out of the garage, he used his telescope to observe the scene. From afar, he saw the guards fighting strange creatures trying to climb the walls.
His face darkened as he said,
"They have returned… for revenge."