Malik kept staring at her.
His face didn't change.
But in his head, he was doing the math.
She was around, what, five, six, seven years old back then?… Now, about eleven years later, she should be at least sixteen years old. An Al-Faris at sixteen... What was he at sixteen? The rank after hers, Al-Saif? No. That was earlier. Wasn't that the age he got done ending a war and was performing his pilgrimage to the edge, Arba'in?
Indeed. He was almost a Jinn by then.
There was nothing to compare.
He was beyond her on every level.
Still, her progress actually wasn't so bad.
She couldn't risk it like he did; she didn't skip entire sub-ranks like he did.
Malik agreed with Cyrus's choice of words; she was a genius; her pride originated from truth.
It was only that she was up against a monster of reason; if not, then there was no doubt that they would be surprised and incredibly impressed.
He, however, was not.
Sure, he acknowledged her fast rank-up speed, but it stopped there.
It was impossible for him to even feel any semblance of surprise, not after what he went through, not after what the world had put him through.
Malik, after a long moment of silence, finally nodded.
Huda noticed something off.
He was giving her the look.
While he didn't seem to notice it, a glimpse of an unimpressed expression made it on his face... whatever that meant. Women were sensitive to that kind of thing. Especially ones who were starved for recognition like she was.
"…Wait, what's that look?"
Long enough, her smug grin started to twitch.
"…Why are you looking at me like that?"
She mumbled, cheeks starting to warm once more.
Malik tilted his head again, then finally, calmly said:
"Wha—? That's what you're focusing on?! I told you I'm a genius!"
"I'm serious! I've grown a lot!"
"You—I—Gaaah! You jerk!"
She crossed her arms and glared at him, maybe an attempt at intimidation. But he was still watching with an aloof expression, wondering what she was trying to achieve with that cute little stance of hers that, in all fairness, he could barely see.
A light began to shine.
It landed on her face, removing all filth, the Depravity.
When it took pause, her face came through, bright in the grey.
He could see her. Actually see her. The determination. The confidence.
She had grown, not just in height, but in everything.
And as Malik kept staring…
Something tugged in his chest.
It was his own damn heart.
Something that he hadn't felt in so long.
Huda noticed again. The way he wasn't blinking.
She coughed, eyes darting away, shy.
"O-Okay, now what?! Why—Why're you looking at me like that? Did I do something weird? Is my hair messed up? Is my—what is it? D-Did I stun you with my b-beauty or something?"
Malik didn't say anything, though only for a moment, as he eventually nodded.
Even Cyrus in the background stopped his mid-air spin and floated sideways.
His jaw dropped, and his niece's did too.
Malik nodded, as if saying the most normal thing in the world.
"You're the most beautiful little sister in the world."
Her mouth opened, then closed, then opened again.
She was like a "Riverbastard" out of the water.
"I—wha—you—you—you IDIOT!!"
She smacked his arm with both fists, red-faced and full of panic.
"You can't just say stuff like that outta nowhere!! Besides, I only said that as a joke!"
"Because I—I—I wasn't ready!! You—stupid—you really died, didn't you?! Your brain's broken!!"
Malik tilted his head for the third time, seemingly confused.
"You don't like compliments?"
"I do! I mean—shut up!"
She turned full beet red, hiding her face behind her sleeves and stomping around in little circles while muttering curses under her breath.
So small it barely registered.
Color had yet to return.
These things didn't last.
They wouldn't, not in this world.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, his heart began to move.
{Outside The Projection}
To no one's surprise, the crowd didn't say much.
Though this time, it was different. The reason was different.
Their silence wasn't because they didn't want to say anything—on the contrary, nearly everyone wanted to say something. React. Some even opened their mouths...
Then remembered what happened last time and shut themselves up.
Yeah. Again, no one was willing to test fate.
For now, the lesson remained in mind.
So, instead, they watched Huda.
Again, she knew this scene was coming.
Knew it since the projection started showing his memories.
But... but... 'Damn it!'
Her face matched the one in the projection.
Expression spasming. Arms rigid. Neck stiff as a corpse in rigor.
Huda kept her eyes forward, refusing to glance at the crowd even once.
Everyone felt the embarrassment steaming off her.
Still, even if not for the projection, none of them dared laugh.
Her anger, though cute, wasn't something they wanted to face.
This scene wasn't actually that funny to them.
Fun. Expected. Except for that one second nightmare, everything else went as they thought it would, maybe even better, much better.
Perhaps that's what made it terrifying.
This projection, which had shown a soul being torn apart, Depravity taking over, love twisting into knives, and Malik's smile in all its forms, this projection, it... It was showing them something fun again, something human.
When was the last time that happened? And what did it mean for the tragedy that was sure to come?
They saw him smile for God's sake. Malik fucking smiled.
Everyone saw it. That tiny, weird little upturn of his mouth that barely passed for anything. Tiny, yes, nearly unnoticeable, yes, but it was there. As clear as dawn on the dunes.
That smile was a bad sign. Never did it lead to anything good.
The whole world remembered them. The four smiles.
One was a happy smile before a trembling Night.
Another was a sad smile before a dying father.
The third was a foolishly bright, foolishly kind smile before a drunk.
The fourth, and once thought to be the last, was a broken smile in an empty wedding hall.
This was the fifth... and it hit them the hardest.
Despite all that happened, it was still there.
Barely, yes, broken, yes, but it was there.
That was a lot more than what anyone would expect... and what's more, he called Huda stunning.
It wasn't to say that Layla or Safira was any less beautiful, but...
He couldn't see them as he did Huda. Her naivete, a warm light, allowed him to see her.
A scene so incredibly beautiful.
Yeah. No one laughed.
They stared. Quiet. Respectful...
In the front row. Among Layla's camp. Near a few merchants.
Black hair. Purple eyes. Arms crossed so tight they might as well have been woven shut.
She puffed out her cheeks, practically vibrating with jealousy.
'He never said that about me…'
With that, another seemed to have boarded the carriage of envy.