Kazaf: The upside down

The air in the Elara Sect was heavy with tension. After Kazaf's return from Azure Valley and the growing pressure of Idris's proposal, things hadn't settled. But there was another matter looming in the background, one far more personal—one that had been waiting for years to be resolved.

Alaca stood at the entrance of the sect, staring out toward the distant mountains. The Down world had changed since she last walked its lands freely. But some things never changed—like the weight of her past.

"Are you ready for this?" Azra's voice was soft, but there was an edge of concern.

Alaca turned toward her childhood friend, offering a small smile. "I don't think I can ever be ready, Azra. But I have to face him."

Azra sighed. "He's your father, Alaca. You're still his daughter, no matter what happened."

Alaca wasn't so sure.

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The Journey to Suleiman

Accompanied by a few trusted sect members, Alaca and Azra set out toward the hidden valley where her father, Suleiman, had made his home. Unlike most cultivators of great power, he had chosen isolation over authority, retreating from the world after she had disappeared all those years ago.

The path was treacherous, winding through jagged cliffs and dense forests, but Alaca pressed forward without hesitation. Every step brought her closer to the man she had once feared and loved in equal measure.

Finally, after hours of travel, they reached a clearing where a lone wooden house stood against the vast mountainside. A quiet serenity surrounded it, but Alaca knew better than to be deceived by appearances.

Azra stepped forward. "He knows we're here."

Alaca took a deep breath. Of course, he does.

The door creaked open, and a tall figure stepped out. Time had touched Suleiman's features, but his presence remained as formidable as ever. His piercing eyes locked onto Alaca, and for a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, in a voice deep and measured, he finally said, "So… you've returned."

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Father and Daughter

Alaca clenched her fists. "Not by choice."

Suleiman studied her carefully. "You never did like being controlled."

She let out a bitter laugh. "And yet, that's all you ever tried to do."

Azra shifted uncomfortably, glancing between them, but she knew better than to interfere. This was their battle to fight.

Suleiman stepped forward, his gaze never leaving hers. "I searched for you."

Alaca's breath hitched, but she masked it quickly. "Not hard enough."

His jaw tightened. "You ran away from everything. You chose exile over your family. Do you have any idea what that did to us?"

"Us?" Alaca scoffed. "You mean the family that would have forced me into a loveless marriage? The family that saw me as a bargaining tool rather than a daughter?"

Suleiman exhaled sharply. "You were meant for greater things than a life among mortals."

"I chose my life," she shot back. "And I would choose it again."

Silence stretched between them, thick with unsaid words.

Then, Suleiman's gaze softened just a fraction. "You have your mother's fire."

Alaca faltered for just a moment before regaining her composure. "And your stubbornness."

A shadow of a smile crossed his lips. "That, too."

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The Truth Comes to Light

Azra finally stepped forward. "Suleiman, she didn't come back to argue. There's more at stake here."

Suleiman's expression darkened. "I know." His gaze returned to Alaca. "You wouldn't have returned unless you had no other choice."

Alaca nodded. "Jalwa took him."

Suleiman's body tensed. "Kazaf's father."

She nodded. "We came back because Jalwa has him. And we need help to get him back."

Suleiman was silent for a long moment before finally saying, "Then you've come to the right place."

Alaca exhaled, feeling the weight of years begin to shift. Maybe, just maybe, this wasn't the end of their story—it was only the beginning.

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