The Colorful fish in the pond

It was a success! After how many days of raining , the sun finally arise. At the same moment in the battlefield , the enemy retreat. The soldiers open the alcohol tank and decided to celebrate as they always do. Some soldiers cried that they can finally go home after how many years.

General Ragid is expressionless as ever. No one knows what he is thinking. Going home? He have no home. Yes, he has a big manor and a lot of golds, lots of treasure but he never thought about it. Where is home ? He knew it's not there. Up until now he's still searching for a place to be calling home. Going back means to face the emperor, to be in the big palace where everybody is killing each other silently for the throne. Going back means facing a different danger within the palace where your own friend, family and even lover can kill you for power. The truth is Ragid is more comfortable fighting with the enemies because he will never regret killing them in the boarder but inside the palace you don't know who's your enemy and who's not. The most dangerous creature inside the palace is a woman. They can kill you with their soft and petite body. How many kings and emperors died because of a woman? Things they called love and posessions.

"Done reporting General!" Ragid seems to be overthinking while his officers are reporting. He just nod and give a sign telling " All dismissed". " Baltor. Send the message to the emperor that we are going back. " ordered by the general to his most trusted friend and right hand captain. "Yes, General!" Baltor answered.

Athan feels something is off with the horses this morning. They don' t wanna eat and all of them can't stand. " There he is! I saw him putting something with the horses food ! " Laila is shouting and coming to her direction together with Mrs. Chu and three soldiers. The soldiers arrest Athan as ordered by Mrs. Chu but Hamid came and stop them. " Mama, you knew Athan very well he cannot do that. He loves the horses!" resist by Hamid while protecting Athan. " We do not know him well! He came from we don't even know where and now he wanted to kill all my horses!! This dumb little man! He cannot pay for my loss even if he die!!" angry statement of Mrs. Chu. " Mama please.... " pleaded by Hamid. " Okay! I will not let you go to prison but I don't want to see your face from now on! Get out! You filthy dumb!!" Ordered by Mrs. Chu. The soldiers didn't arrest her and she felt Hamid's palm in her hand. He guide her to walk going out of the gate while Laila smiled quietely. " Stay by the old man's store. I will try to talk to mama, She listens to me. Here is my bag, they're a 2 pairs of my clothes, it's clean. I was supposed to go to my training but I heard what happened and I came at the right time. " Hamid was sad. Athan silently get the bag and go to the direction of the old man store.

Athan sit infont of the small noodle house stand. The old man sat beside her while having an old tobacco cigarette. He inhaled and slowly exhaled. " I saw soldiers with Mrs. Chu early in the morning. News spreads fast than the stallion. How are you kiddo? " he asked. " I was used to it. But I just didn't expect it would be a trusted person" a cold stare from Athan cab be seen but she didn't cry. The old man kept silent as he remembers how this person together with Hamid became his loyal costumers.

The old man has a son and he is always waiting for his return. His son is a soldier and he was so proud of him. But since the war in the border he never came back and he didn't hear any news from him. He didn't leave his noodle stand for his son to return. His black hair turned to grey hair. His skin wrinkled. His eyes have cataracts. He became old and waited and still waiting for his son. His wife died after giving birth to their son. Thus all his life he wanted what is best for his son. But war came and the empire needed a soldier. His son wanted to prove himself and he went,until now he didn't return.

After how many years some gang wanted to make a profit from the market and forcely collecting money in exchange for they say "protection". "Protection" was an excuse to collect money from the owners. One day the old man cannot submit the amount of money they wanted and nearly broke his store. Hamid and Athan came and pay for the old man. The gang recognize Hamid as the son of Mrs. Chu and afraid that of the consequences and retreat knowing how the old lady spoild his son.

Since then Hamid and Athan became his grand children. Seeing them reminds him of his son and the two everyday came to his noodle store to eat and play.

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