Captured by the Tyrant of the Desert - Chapter 1

Latifa stepped slowly to the center of the massive stadium, and every pair of eyes in the audience fixated on her.

“Look over there! Someone’s in the arena!”

Even in the Empire, she had never felt the weight of so many gazes. Her fingertips trembled as she walked, and despite the suffocating desert heat, her hands and feet felt icy. The sheer intensity of the crowd’s attention sent a dizzying wave through her, making her feel like she could collapse with the slightest push.

But she couldn’t let them see her fear. The only face she could show them was one of unshakable pride and strength.

“You’re fine. You can do this.”

One step at a time, Latifa moved forward, her own whispered words keeping her grounded.

A low growl rumbled ahead of her, and she saw the beast—a massive golden lion, unchained and roaring, having escaped from its cage.

“Hey! Run! It’ll eat you!”

People’s horrified cries rang out as they watched her approach the lion.

But she moved forward, undeterred, as if she couldn’t hear them. With every step, the lion’s yellow eyes burned brighter, and its growls grew sharper. Blood glistened on its claws as it scraped the ground in a show of strength.

Yet it wasn’t the lion she feared. What truly terrified her was the gaze of the desert people watching her.

She dreaded the thought that the concern in their eyes would turn to disdain, that they would see her not as a brave princess but as a helpless imperial captive. That would be the worst fate.

“If that happens, Hades’ plan will be ruined because of me…”

What if the plan failed? Would he discard her, call her useless? Perhaps the desert people would turn on her in fury, her life ending in their judgment.

Just as despair started to pull her under, a booming voice cut through her thoughts.

“Latifa!”

The familiar voice shook the arena, and Latifa’s blue eyes turned toward the source. There, standing at the edge of the arena, was Hades, running toward her.

“…Hades.”

It was strange. Just saying his name sparked something in her chest, like a flame igniting from within.

Since the moment they’d met, every time she uttered his name, she felt an overwhelming sensation, as if she were wrapped in the scent of sand and heat. A blazing fire would rise within her, an inferno that could consume everything.

She bit down on her lip, steadying herself.

Yes, Hades—called Ignite, the “Fire of Fires,” the Grand General of Grand Bazaar, and feared by all as the Mad Dog of the Desert.
With him behind her, what did she have to fear?

With Hades as her shield, none in Grand Bazaar could harm her.

No one at all.

Casting aside all hesitation, Latifa extended her hand, palm outstretched toward Hades, who was rushing toward her. Her
gesture was clear: stay back.

Understanding her silent command, he stopped in his tracks.

“What are you…!”

Instead of answering, Latifa gave him a slight smile, the corners of her lips lifting just enough. He would understand her intentions. Though their time together had been short, it hadn’t been meaningless.

For a brief moment, his black eyes flickered in surprise at her smile. Then his strong brows arched, and a faint, mischievous grin curved his lips.

His gaze, bold and unwavering, seemed to say: “Alright. Show me what you can do.”

Assured by the confidence in his eyes, Latifa let out a quiet, hot breath. Her scattered doubts melted away, leaving only his face in her mind.

“Hades might be able to dress me like a goddess, but proving it… that’s up to me.”

The success of his carefully laid plans depended solely on her now.

As the crowd noticed her outstretched white hand, they grew even more excited, pressing closer to the front of the stadium.

“She’s got fair skin! She’s an imperial!”

“Is she the captive that General Hades brought back from the Empire?!”

Now standing on the platform at the center of the arena, Latifa fixed her gaze on the ferocious lion in front of her and spoke, her voice clear and steady.

“Oh, mighty king of beasts who has wandered into the desert!”
The golden-maned lion, its yellow eyes gleaming, growled as it stepped closer, claws extended, body crouched low in preparation to strike.

Ignoring the threat, Latifa raised the small dagger in her hand and commanded:

“As the noble protector of the desert’s night, I order you to bow before me.”

The lion opened its jaws wide, roaring ferociously as it lifted its massive frame, ready to pounce.

“Aaah!”

Screams echoed from the crowd as people shut their eyes, bracing for the worst.

But when they opened them again, the terrifying scene they had anticipated was nowhere to be found.

Grrrr. Purr.

Instead, the notorious golden lion was purring like a tame house cat, its head bowed reverently beneath Latifa’s outstretched hand.

In that moment, as the setting sun of Grand Bazaar bathed the lion’s golden mane in its glow, Latifa’s hood slipped down from her face.

In the final light dividing day from night, her radiant silver hair caught the sun’s last rays, and the stadium erupted in a thunderous cheer.

“The Goddess of the Moon, Kalenda! She has tamed the golden lion!”

“No one could tame the golden lion, yet here it is, kneeling before a mere woman! This is a miracle!”

“And to think General Hades brought her here… Look at that moonlit skin and silver hair!”

I did it…!

For the first time, no one saw her as a mere imperial captive or war prize.

“The guardian of the desert night and the king of beasts have come down to greet you, people of Grand Bazaar! Who among you, of the Sultan’s bloodline, will accept their bow?”

Latifa turned confidently toward the handsome dark-haired man staring intently at her from the stands, giving him a signal.
Your turn now, Hades. Let’s finish this performance for your lord.

In this, they were perfect co-conspirators, deceiving the whole of Grand Bazaar.

“My Prau. My goddess calls to us.”

Hades let out a laugh, enjoying the irony that the refugee girl, once barely worth a second glance, had become a true goddess in their eyes. He pulled the Sultan’s first prince, Ruhan, close.

“From her silver hair to her white toes, all of her belongs to me.”

And yet his gaze never wavered, still burning with the same intensity he’d had when they first met, focused solely on her.

The spacious salon, once no doubt the grand setting for the Empire’s nobility, had crumbled into a ruin, now serving as a hidden refuge for imperial refugees.

“Shhh.”

Latifa pressed herself tightly against the corner of the salon’s crumbling wall.

Ah…

Even the slightest movement sent sharp pain through her ankle, and she had to stifle a gasp, pressing her hand against her mouth. She’d injured it on a recent outing for food, slipping and stepping on something sharp. Her ankle was swollen, the pain worsening each day.

“Mommy…”

The little girl beside Latifa whimpered, scared. Gently, Latifa placed a comforting hand over her mouth, softly shushing her, reassuring her with a gentle touch that said, It’s okay. It’ll be alright. Her soft, calming gestures soothed the girl, and she stopped sniffling, clinging tightly to Latifa’s side.

The fall of Tania was brought about by the desert people, known for their dark hair and dusky skin.

“All those taxes, and for what? That useless Empire fell so easily…”

One woman spat in anger, and others nodded in bitter agreement.
But in truth, the desert people hadn’t singlehandedly taken down the once-glorious empire. The root of its downfall lay in the Emperor’s greed, the nobility’s decadence, and the countless civil wars. To create an external threat and unify the Empire, the Emperor had launched an ill-fated campaign into the desert, only to be defeated. The rotting Empire had fallen swiftly to the retaliation of the desert’s people.

“They’re here too! Round them up!”

“Don’t kill them; gather them all in one place! A single runaway will cost us a slave!”

*

Woof! Woof!

Outside, the sounds of barking hunting dogs and dust-covered refugees scattering filled the air. Bandits were herding the imperial refugees like livestock, surrounding them.
The horses are exhausted. They’ll withdraw soon…!

With the Empire in ruins, all they could do was hide quietly from the outlaws.

“Mommy!”

A small cry broke out. Latifa pulled Erin, the girl she’d met among the refugees, close to her, whispering reassurance.

“Shh, it’s alright. They don’t have the time to search thoroughly here. The way their horses are breathing tells me they’re tired. This raid will be over soon.”

“But… how do you know that, Sister Latifa?”

“Because grown-ups know things,” Latifa replied, smiling as she gave the girl’s cheek a playful pinch.

But her own hands trembled slightly. Latifa was just as scared, but she couldn’t show it. All she could do was gently hold the girl’s thin shoulders, hiding her own fear.

Suddenly, through a broken section of the wall, a long-nosed hunting dog poked its head inside.

“A-ah! Sister Latifa! This is it, we’re done for!”

Erin grabbed her skirt tightly, her eyes shut in terror, and Latifa felt her heart drop.

The dog, having discovered their hiding place, turned its head, ready to signal its master.

What do I do…?

“Sister!”

Latifa’s breath came quick as her mind raced.
Wait… maybe… just maybe…!

*

Whistle!

A plan forming, she whistled to distract the dog and gently nudged Erin behind her.

“Are you insane?” whispered Brenda, the middle-aged woman who had become the informal leader of their refugee group. She’d always been especially hard on the weaker members, those she considered dead weight.

To Brenda, Latifa was exactly that—a useless mouth to feed. Brenda often scolded her for not bringing back enough food or firewood and had even halved her portions, saying she hadn’t earned a full meal.

But Latifa could do nothing. She was simply grateful to have a place among the refugees.

“Brenda, let me try to get it to go away…”

Her plan was risky, and she had no guarantee it would work, but she had to do something. Cold sweat trickled down her forehead, and her vision blurred slightly as she reached into her pocket, pulling out a withered piece of bread. She held it toward the dog, whispering softly.

“Good boy… we’re not bad people. We won’t hurt you. Could you look the other way, just this once?”

“You’re insane! That dog’s not going to listen to you!” Brenda muttered, shaking her head and weeping. “We’re as good as dead now,” she moaned, leaving Latifa to face the dog alone.

Please, if the spirits are listening, let them help me…!

She didn’t know if the Empire’s god was real, but she sent up a desperate prayer, watching the dog’s reaction carefully.

Each second felt like an eternity. Just as her vision started to blur, a faint silver mist began to rise from the dog, like the presence of an ethereal being.