📍 Scene: Village of Al-Qarah, Morning — A Dusty Courtyard
The crowing of a rooster. Children's laughter. The hiss of hot bread against a clay oven.
ZAYD IBN SULEIMAN, now fully conscious in his 14-year-old body, sat on a wooden stool, watching his surroundings like a quiet hawk.
His family home was small but decent. Mud walls, a slanted roof patched with woven reeds. The scent of old parchment and cumin clung to the air.
ZAYD (thinking):
"This place is poor… but not hopeless. If my grandfather once held wealth, then the bloodline still has pride."
He studied every face. His mother — once beautiful, now tired. His father — a kind but weary man, crippled by past misfortunes. And three younger siblings — skinny, bright-eyed, and always hungry.
FATHER (gently):
"Zayd, help me deliver these firewood bundles to the mosque."
ZAYD:
"Yes, Baba."
Zayd lifted the bundles easily. His muscles were still adolescent, but his soul carried the weight of two lifetimes.
đź“Ť Scene Change: The Mosque Courtyard
The local imam, SHAIKH ABDUL HAKIM, was a wise man with a long white beard and a sharp gaze. Zayd sat beside him after prayers.
SHAIKH ABDUL HAKIM:
"You speak little these days, Zayd. Have you become a philosopher in your dreams?"
ZAYD (smiling faintly):
"Something like that, Shaikh. I've… seen many things."
SHAIKH ABDUL HAKIM:
"You always were quiet, but now I see the eyes of an old man inside a boy. Good. Use that wisdom for khayr, not arrogance."
Zayd nodded deeply. He knew he had to begin again. Learn, grow, plan.
📍 Scene Change: A Shaded Grove Outside the Village — Afternoon
Zayd sat cross-legged with a notebook made of stitched goat skin. He wrote in Arabic, Turkish, and Farsi, switching between scripts with ease.
ZAYD (thinking):
"Languages are keys. I must master them all — Arabic, Persian, Kurdish, Turkish, Greek, Latin… maybe even Chinese someday."
He mapped out a six-year plan, one step at a time:
Year 1 (Age 14–15): Study, memorize Qur'an again, learn calligraphy and law, help his father rebuild their shop.
Year 2: Apprentice under traveling merchants, learn weights, measures, spices, silks, horse breeds.
Year 3: Begin journeys — from Mosul to Basra, Baghdad to Tabriz. Study people. Learn trust. Learn betrayal.
Year 4: Work with caravan masters, learn negotiation, route protection, wilderness survival.
Year 5: Train in combat under tribal warriors. Learn swordsmanship, archery, horse riding.
Year 6 (Age 20): Return to claim his name. Begin the real game.
đź“Ť Scene Change: Village Market, Sunset
Zayd helped his father arrange baskets of dates and salt. He used old business tricks — placing sweeter dates on top, negotiating in respectful silence, never overselling.
CUSTOMER:
"This boy knows his trade. You should let him run the shop!"
FATHER (proudly):
"Maybe one day, Insha'Allah."
ZAYD (quietly to himself):
"One day soon, Baba. And not just this shop. You will ride in silk again."
đź“Ť Scene Change: That Night, The Roof of Their Home
Zayd lay on the roof beneath the stars, arms behind his head.
ZAYD (thinking):
"I was betrayed. But not defeated. Allah gave me a second chance."
A lone eagle cried in the distance, though he hadn't met his companion yet.
ZAYD (softly):
"Send me signs, Ya Rabbi. Show me the path."
The wind answered — cool and certain.
Closing Narration
Thus began the journey of Zayd ibn Suleiman. Not with wealth. Not with swords. But with a mind sharpened by loss… and a heart full of purpose.
The world would not remember him yet. But one day, kings would speak his name with caution… and his enemies, with respect.
End of Chapter 2