Chapter One — The Lamp and the Other World
Mohammed was walking inside the pyramids in Egypt, breathing with difficulty through the narrow passageways while dust seeped from the ancient cracks. Suddenly he stumbled and fell onto a hard floor; the ground opened beneath his feet and a bottomless darkness swallowed him whole.
When he regained consciousness, he found himself in a strange corridor covered with old carvings. There lay a rusty lamp, thick with dust. He picked it up out of curiosity and, when he rubbed it, some strange force pulled him into the lamp itself. A blaze of light consumed him and he sank into darkness.
When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in Egypt. He was in a vast chamber draped in red fabrics, the walls bearing royal emblems he did not know. Strange memories began to pour into his mind — images of palaces, armies, blood, a crown gleaming under the light. Then a calm voice spoke inside his head:
"Accept the situation. You are in another world. Live as you must, do as you wish — but know this: if you die here, you will not live again."
He opened his eyes in shock and realized the terrible truth: he was no longer Mohammed.
He was now Nicholas Caridon — the crown prince of the Kingdom of Caridon, son of King Richard III, nicknamed the Blood-King, and brother to Prince Alexander.
Memories flooded him, and he knew this world well… he had read about it before, in a novel he loved: The Blood Prince, a story set in this very kingdom where a tyrant's death topples the realm. Now he had become part of that story.
He remembered how Richard III burned villages struck by disease and executed dissenters. Though cruel, the king had once been Mohammed's favorite character in the book — his power and stature had fascinated him.
But there was no room for admiration now.
He was inside the body of the tyrant's sonالفصل الأول – المصباح والعالم الآخر, at the heart of the tale.
Mohammed (now Nicholas) realized that running would do him no good; everyone would hunt him. Confrontation was his only option.
When he looked at his reflection in the mirror, he saw a powerful frame and defined muscles. He felt as if he could take on twenty soldiers by himself.
He regretted not having studied the world's history thoroughly when he had read the novel; now he would have to make up for it.
He left the room and met his servant Elyan, who had known him since childhood.
The servant smiled and said, "My lord, thank God you have recovered. You have been ill for days."
Nicholas answered with measured coolness, maintaining the prince's façade:
"I am well now. Bring me every historical book you can find about the kingdom… and about the world."
Elyan bowed and hurried away.
Nicholas sat at the great desk in his study, the books spread before him, and began to read:
Year 0 — Before the Fall:
The world was unified under the Great Empire of Arkonia, ruled by Aurelius I, the "Unifier." He gathered the realms by force and diplomacy and imposed peace through power. The empire stretched across five continents; sciences and the arts flourished.
Year 500 — Before the Fall:
Emperor Octavius the Sacred died while attempting to reform corruption and restore imperial authority. His death, without a clear and strong heir, ignited a war among the nobles. The Seven Heirs Wars erupted and the empire collapsed — an event later called "the Great Fall." From its ashes new kingdoms rose — among them, Caridon.
Nicholas lifted his eyes from the page and thought to himself, "I am one year before the events of the novel… The hero, Louis, son of King Alfred IV — the greatest of Valoria's kings. If he learns that I ordered the killing of his son… he will seek revenge. I cannot kill him now. I must prepare."
He recalled that the first cause of his downfall in the book had been his failure to control the army after a defeat by the Kingdom of Alberon; the nobles lost faith in him, officer loyalties fractured, and the crown lost real authority when he took the throne.
There was a knock at the door.
"My lord, may I come in?"
Elyan entered carrying a message.
"The king summons you to the council, my lord."
Nicholas raised his head calmly.
"Do you know the reason for the meeting?"
Elyan answered hesitantly, "Kingdom of Alberon… they demand the Valley of Novira from the northern nobles after those nobles failed to repay their debts."
Nicholas fell silent for a moment, then murmured to himself, "Either I stop a war… or I win it. There is no third option. Otherwise, I am as good as dead."