Kazaf: The upside down

The days after Idris' arrival were filled with tension. Kazaf could sense that something was shifting. Asma seemed more distant, yet there was a subtle softness in her every glance, every smile, that Kazaf couldn't quite place. She still treated him as a friend, but it was clear she was no longer the same Asma who had first arrived at the sect.

As for Idris, he never seemed to take a hint. Each day, he found new ways to try and prove himself to Asma—whether through displays of skill, gifts, or polite, yet pointed, remarks. His charm was evident, but Kazaf could see through the act.

Idris wasn't here for camaraderie; he was here for Asma, and everyone could see it.

---

An Unexpected Offer

The following week, as Kazaf was finishing his training with Elder Basir, he received a summons.

As he entered the grand hall, Jamal Kassim was waiting for him, his face serious.

"Kazaf," Kassim said, his voice steady, "we have a situation."

Kazaf nodded, sensing the gravity in the air. "What happened?"

Kassim gestured for him to sit. "It's about the Azure Moon Sect. Idris has come to us with an offer—a proposal for an alliance. His father wishes to join forces with the Elara Sect to strengthen our position."

Kazaf frowned. "Why now? Why this sudden interest?"

Kassim's eyes narrowed. "His father, Lord Rashid Al-Fayad, is no fool. He sees the growing power of Jalwa's forces. An alliance could give us an advantage."

Kazaf was silent for a moment. Something didn't sit right with him.

"So what's the catch?"

Kassim leaned forward, his voice lowering. "Idris made it clear. He wants the alliance, but he also… wants Asma."

Kazaf's chest tightened. "He wants her?"

"Yes," Kassim said. "But I believe Asma's heart is already set elsewhere."

Kazaf swallowed hard. He hadn't realized how much those words affected him.

---

A Confession in the Garden

Later that evening, as the stars twinkled in the sky, Kazaf found himself walking the grounds of the sect, his thoughts heavy.

He couldn't stop thinking about Asma.

Just then, he spotted her in the distance, standing alone in the garden. He had been hoping for a chance to talk to her, and now it seemed the moment had come.

"Asma," he called, his voice gentle.

She turned, her eyes lighting up when she saw him. "Kazaf," she greeted, her voice soft.

Kazaf approached, stopping just a few feet away from her. "We need to talk."

Her smile faltered, and she nodded. "I know. I've been avoiding this, but I think it's time."

He tilted his head, puzzled. "Avoiding what?"

Asma's gaze dropped to the ground for a moment before she took a deep breath. "Idris… he doesn't understand. He doesn't get that I'm not interested."

Kazaf felt a pang of jealousy rise within him, though he quickly suppressed it. "But you haven't told him that, have you?"

She hesitated, and Kazaf knew the answer.

"I didn't know how to," Asma admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "I don't want to hurt him, but he keeps… pushing."

Kazaf took a step closer, his voice low. "What if it's not just about him? What if there's more you're not saying?"

Asma's eyes lifted to meet his, and for a moment, everything around them seemed to disappear. The moonlight cast a soft glow on her face, her expression unreadable.

"I don't know what to say," she whispered. "I'm confused, Kazaf. I feel things I shouldn't. Things I've never felt before."

Kazaf's heart raced. "What are you saying?"

She stepped back slightly, as if unsure of how to proceed. "I'm saying… I think I have feelings for you."

The world seemed to stop. Kazaf blinked, unsure if he had heard her right.

"Feelings for me?" he repeated, his voice cracking slightly.

Asma nodded, her eyes never leaving his. "Yes. But I don't know what it means. I don't know if I should even be feeling this way."

Kazaf's chest tightened, and he felt a rush of emotions—confusion, longing, relief. He stepped closer, reaching for her hand.

"You're not alone in this," Kazaf said, his voice hushed. "I feel it too, Asma. I've felt it for a while now."

For a brief moment, neither of them said anything. They simply stood there, their hands touching, the weight of their unspoken bond hanging between them.

But just as they were about to close the distance, a voice interrupted them.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Kazaf turned sharply, his heart sinking as he saw Idris standing at the edge of the garden, his expression a mixture of curiosity and annoyance.

---

The Growing Rift

The tension in the air was palpable. Asma quickly pulled her hand away from Kazaf, her face flushing.

"I… I was just talking to Kazaf," she said, her voice strained. "We were discussing… matters of the sect."

Idris stepped forward, a faint smile on his lips. "Matters of the sect? Or something else?" His eyes flickered to Kazaf, then back to Asma.

Kazaf's jaw tightened. He didn't trust this guy.

"Idris, it's late," Asma said softly. "We should all get some rest."

But Idris wasn't having it. "I think we should talk about the proposal my father made," he said, his gaze firmly fixed on Kazaf. "The alliance, and perhaps other matters, as well."

Kazaf met his gaze with cool indifference. "We'll talk tomorrow, Idris. Not now."

Idris's smile faltered for just a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Of course," he said, before turning to leave. "Tomorrow, then."

As he disappeared into the night, Kazaf couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated.