>>5992892>>5992899>>5993096>>5993162>>5993208“What would our ancestors think of us if they saw us deny a dying man water?” you counter, your voice steady despite the intense heat bearing down on you. “Our faith and the teachings of the Prophet prohibit needless cruelty.” You hold the water flask firmly in your hand, the lifeblood of the desert.
Zayd’s face hardens, his eyes reflecting the unforgiving desert around you. “The Crusaders would never show you the same mercy if you were the one dying,” he replies, and you know he speaks the truth. You’ve seen the carnage left behind by their swords, the lives they’ve destroyed in their quest for glory. Mercy and respect for the dying aren’t familiar concepts to them.
“If we deny them mercy, we become no different from them,” you whisper softly. The Crusader before you struggles for breath, his lips cracked and bleeding. You kneel beside him, raising the flask to his lips and letting a few drops of water quench his thirst. He manages a sip, but his body is too far gone. Death claims him before he can take another breath.
You whisper a prayer, your voice barely audible in the stillness of the desert. He was an infidel, but still human, and in this final moment, he might have repented for his sins and seen the truth in your faith. Only god can judge what happens after a man crosses the threshold of death.
Zayd watches you, a mixture of confusion and admiration flickering across his face. “I don’t understand you, brother Kamil,” he murmurs, his gaze fixed on the lifeless Crusader. “In some moments, you are the deadliest of us, the silent executioner that all Crusaders fear. Yet, in other moments, you show kindness to those who never deserved it. Who are you really?”
You stand slowly, your eyes meeting his with a look of resolve. “I am a man of faith,” you reply. “A mujahid defending my homeland, but also a believer who follows the teachings of mercy.” You take a breath, the words heavy on your tongue. “In battle, we fight with all our might. But in the moments between, we must remember the principles that guide us.”
Zayd remains silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he considers your words. Then he nods slowly, the lines on his face softening. “May god guide us, Kamil,” he says finally. “And may he grant us the wisdom to navigate this cruel world.”
>>What's next?>You scout the nearby terrain, identifying potential ambush spots for the next battle.>You report to your commander, Yusuf al-Fahd, a formidable swordsman and the son of a respected emir, to share the latest intelligence on the enemy's movements.>You visit Salah ibn Omar, who used to be a merchant but now fights beside you to reclaim the freedom of his homeland from Crusader invaders.>You visit Abdul Rahman al-Hakim, a scholar-turned-warrior, who passionately defends the knowledge and heritage of the Islamic world. 