With enmity resolved and terror finally behind them, peace had returned, yet Sonni’s mind was far from at ease. The words Yoname had spoken to him at Hombori Hills still echoed in his thoughts, haunting him like a lingering shadow. His nightmares, the weight of failures, and the sting of losses—everything she had said—were not just taunts; they carried a deeper meaning, one Sonni could not ignore.


    Restless, he walked through a secluded section of the palace in Gao, a place forbidden to most except the noblest retainers of the royal family. The brightly lit corridors stretched before him, their silence pressing down on him like an unspoken truth. His footsteps echoed softly as he approached the room, his mind heavy with the burden he could not share with just anyone. He needed to confide in someone who understood—someone broken like him.


    That person lay beyond the door ahead, guarded by special physicians. Even Sonni himself was not permitted to enter freely. He had to knock, had to wait, had to be granted permission. Standing before the door, he hesitated for a moment before raising his hand and knocking gently. His voice was quiet but firm as he spoke:


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    “Mama, talk to me.”


    Beyond the door, silence stretched unbearably. The air in the corridor seemed to thicken with anticipation. Then, after a long pause, the faintest sound of movement came from within.


    Outside, Sonni remained still, his heart bracing for whatever answer lay beyond that door. This was not the end of his journey—only the beginning of something new. Peace had come, but the past was never truly gone. And as the night settled over Gao, the future remained unwritten, waiting for the next chapter to unfold.


    But some questions never stay buried for long…


    End of Volume Two.