Warriors from the Persian Empire found Lothan unconscious and washed up by the shore of a lake.
Placing him on a horse, they rode back to the castle.
A week passed till Lothan was healed up better than before.
He sat on his head thinking.
"The Red Hood possesses magic. That explains their reputation of being infamous assassins."
"There must be something that must be done to counter them."
After taking his bath, Lothan went to meet their chief priest in the temple.
"My Prince, is there an issue? You should have summoned me to your chambers."
The priest, Mosai bowed before Lothan who walked in.
"It's alright sir. I have come here, so let me get straight to the point."
"I'm listening my prince."
"The Red Hood, they possess magic, which makes them undefeatable. Is there a solution, a way to counter and defeat them?"
"Yes there might be. But I do not have the solution you desire. There is a sorcerer in … I have worked with her some years ago, she may be able to help you. She will come to you, not you to her… But my Prince, the power you seek is not of man, but from unnatural realms unknown to mere humans, if you want to do this, you also have to accept the consequences that will follow."
"Understood Mosai. Nothing comes free in this world… Consequences you say, well it's a small price to pay for the freedom of my kingdom and people."
Lothan left with the details he needed from Priest Mosai to journey to …
He had his armour remade, stronger and better, keeping the dark brown colour, his favourite colour.
Taking his twin blades, sheathing them on his back, carrying food and resources in a bag, then wearing a hoody cloak.
He mounted a black horse after leaving a note for his sister back in her room which says—
"I go to seek for answers to win this war and ensure the safety of you and our people. I know I have your blessings Jas… I shall return stronger and better and take down The Red Hood. Yours truly— your brother, Lothan, The Prince of Persia."
***
Lothan journeyed for days, days turned to weeks, and weeks to months.
Four months flew by and Lothan finally arrived in …
He began his search for the sorcerer. And just like Mosai said, she came to him.
Lothan was walking through the woods heading for a village when suddenly unknown men wore a sack over his head and knocked him out.
Waking up lying inside a hut, Lothan got on his feet with haste.
"Hey! Where am I?!"
Whipping his head left and right trying to see if anyone was inside.
"Hello!"
He called out as he was walking towards a large pot that just stood at the far end of the room.
"The hell is that?"
BURST!!
Green smoke rose out of the pot as Lothan fell down on the ground with fear and shock.
"What in the name of!"
He gave out as the head of a lady formed within the green smoke, faceless and having grey flowing hair.
"Who are you?"
Lothan asked as he finally got on his feet, confused and in a state of shock.
"What is it that you truly desire?"
From a mouth that couldn't be seen, she spoke and Lothan was lost, not aware of himself anymore and enchanted by her.
"I-I-I-I seek power. Power to be able to protect my kingdom, my people, and my loved ones."
Lothan came back to himself as he staggered back.
"What did you do to me?!"
Yelling, but no response from the faceless lady.
"Follow the map, it shall guide you to Egypt."
"What map?"
DING!
"Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Lothan screamed in pain as he fell on his knees holding his head and groaning.
"I-I-I-I can see it."
He said muffly after the entire map played across his eyes in an instant.
"With the emerald, remember that in everything seen, there is more than meets the eye."
The hut and everything disappeared and Lothan found himself in the woods, a green emerald was within his left hands grip.
"Huh?"
He stared at it before placing it into his back.
"Alright, let's do this."
He mounted his horse, wore his hood and headed for Egypt. He could see the directions display before him and so he rode.
8 Months Later
Lothan arrived in Egypt.
He followed the map he saw and when he arrived in a vast desert the map ended on hitting the 'X' mark and faded from his memory.
"Huh? There's nothing here."
He came down from his horse turning around in panic and distress.
"No, no, no don't do this, don't fucking do this to me!!!! It's been a year since I left home, don't tell me it's all for waste."
"Arrrrgggggggghhhhhhhh!!!!"
Giving out with rage, Lothan threw away his swords, helmet, and bag.
TING!
After moments of moping, he turned around and set his eyes on the green emerald which fell out of his bag.
"There is more than meets the eye."
Lothan walked up to it and picked the emerald.
Staring at it, Lothan placed the flat end of the emerald over his right eye looking through it.
"What the!"
He exclaimed as he saw a door through the emerald. But taking it down it was just the desert before him.
"Okay this is crazy."
Lothan placing the emerald on his eye walked up to the door and pushed it open. He freaked out, but composed himself.
The door had a stairs leading down, so he walked down.
Arriving at another door, there were writings on it, but in a language Lothan wasn't familiar with.
"Oh well it is worth trying."
Placing the emerald on his eye, he looked at the writings and the were translated for him to read.
"The more of me, the less you see."
"You have got to be kidding me!"
Lothan exclaimed as he laughed hard, so hard till he began coughing.
"So this is just hidden behind mysterious symbols."
He cleared his throat and said.
"Darkness."
CRANK!
The door opened and he walked into a large room painted in darkness, nothing visible except the altar erected in the middle of the room having candles lit around it.
Lothan walked up to the altar and a slim stone rose up and on it was another inscription.
Reading it with the emerald—
"A nightmare for some, for others, a saviour I come. My hands, cold and bleak. It's the warm hearts they seek."
"Uhmm, I should know this, think Lothan, think!"
He was pacing around the altar scratching his head and then it finally clicked.
"Death!"
Crying out with a loud voice as the stone returned back into the ground.
CRANK!
From the altar which opened up, a stone hedge rose up and on it was an hourglass and it's contents was blue in colour and glowing.
"Is there a blue type of sand?"
Lothan asked as he stared at it.
Reaching to the hourglass which had a chain fixed on its tip, he grabbed it and wore it on his neck.
"Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!"
Lothan screamed in pain as he fell down to the ground.
But immediately he crashed on the ground, he found himself in a black void.
["Lothan, son of Askhan. You have acquired The Sands of Time. When the count begins, the power you seek shall be yours until the sands run out… On no account, should the glass be broken, heed my warning."]
***
Waking up lying in the desert, Lothan's horse licking his face till he woke up.
"I'm up! I'm up!"
He rose up on his feet quickly, looking down to see the hourglass dangling on his neck.
"Let's go girl, one day huh? More than enough to take down the Red Hood."
Lothan mounting his horse, "Giddy up!" riding back to Persia with bravery and faith.