The massive gates swung open with a rumbling groan, welcoming Malik’s closest family to the Sultan’s Hall and flooding the opulent chamber with light from the corridor beyond.

Amal stepped forward hesitantly, her movements a bit too careful for a daughter reuniting with her father.

Perched on her shoulder was a crimson owl in all his fluffy glory, Sinbad.

His pink eyes were bright, and his feathers were ruffled from what looked like a long journey.

’Hm.’

Malik’s daughter was beautiful; there was no denying that.

She had purple hair that fell in soft waves past her shoulders, golden eyes that shimmered like his own, and caramel skin that glowed warmly in the lantern light.

But she seemed sickly and a little frail, her cheekbones and her wrists too thin.

That sight almost broke Malik’s heart.

Yes, he had only known her as his daughter for a short while, and he barely had any memories of her beyond the fragments the system had shown him. But that was enough for his chest to squeeze like never before.

’...what happened to her?’

He knew better than to directly ask that, of course.

It would show that he did not know his own daughter’s struggles, a bad look even if he wasn’t around to know of such things.

There were things a Sultan just had to know.

So instead, he simply gestured for them to come closer with a wave of his hand.

"Let me see you."

Amal smiled softly, a fragile thing that looked like it might shatter at any moment, and did as he asked, her feet carrying her across the floor with even slower steps.

Meanwhile, Sinbad looked at Malik with incredible sadness in his eyes.

He held an expression that reminded Malik of their earlier encounter in the desert when he had seemingly doubted him.

’Sinbad might think that I hate him after I left the army back then. I can’t really explain why without lying too much, so I’d better leave it be.’

Malik was playing it safe as always.

Again, one mistake and everything he tried so hard to keep could come crashing down around him. He was already risking too much; he didn’t want to pile on any more.

"Father..."

Amal’s tears welled up in her eyes.

"I’m so, so happy that you’re back. T-Thank you... thank you for saving my life."

Malik stared at her for a moment, taking in her fragile frame and her tearful eyes.

’Hm... she really took after her mother.’

Honestly, he did not exactly know what to say here; "I’m your father" felt somewhat out of place. Too casual for a moment this heavy and too simple for a reunion this long in coming.

So again, he responded with the only way he knew how, the same words he had offered her mother just minutes ago:

"It’s my duty; I will always be there for you."

And, like her mother before her, Amal’s smile turned bitter at his words.

Yet unlike Layla, this flicker that crossed her face was quickly shaken off.

Amal simply refused to let the moment sour.

She waited too long for this!

Meanwhile, Sinbad, conscious of her mood, quickly helped to move things along:

"Thank you for coming back, Elder Brother. I know just what you’ve gone through to get here. And I know what it means that you have actually returned despite what the world and your own people had put you through."

Malik nodded at the bird, acknowledging his words without confirming or denying them.

’It seems he knows a lot about me and what I’ve done. I should be more careful when interacting with him.’

Noting down that thought, he proceeded to respond:

"Never did I have the intention of abandoning you. If I did, I am sure I would have done so a long time ago, no?"

Sinbad hooted out an agreeing chuckle.

"Indeed. You are our hero, after all."

"Humph! Stop talking amongst yourselves; I am here too, you know!"

Amal cheekily complained, stomping her foot against the floor with a pout that made her look younger than she was.

Sinbad hooted once more, probably his laughter.

Even Malik felt his lips twitch upward into a small smile.

The moment he did, however, both of their eyes widened in surprise.

It was the same reaction Dunya had shown earlier, as if seeing the Sultan smile was like watching the Suns rise from the West.

’Yes, I already know the past me didn’t do that.’

Malik did not care to mimic his predecessor’s stoicism.

He would follow in the Sultan’s footsteps, but the steps would be his own.

...if that made any sense.

"I would never forget you, my daughter. It is good to see you again."

Amal’s smile brightened, and her feet shuffled against the floor.

Her body had leaned forward slightly as if she wanted to get closer to her father but was barely stopping herself.

She was fearful of getting close.

And no, not because she thought he would hurt her or anything close to that, but because she was afraid that if she got too close, somehow, her father would just fade away.

Something that seemed common amongst the people he reunited with.

"Y-You better not! I would haunt you otherwise!"

"Stop being so cheeky."

Sinbad chided, giving her a few disciplining but soft taps on the shoulder with his wings.

After a moment of contentedly watching their cute interactions, Malik decided that he had to move this visit along.

He knew that he did not have much time left before his ring ran out of Rukh and his transformation failed. So he needed to get the information he wanted and get them out before things turned awkward.

"Sinbad, tell me of the others."

And, just like that, their reunion turned transactional, without even a whiff of subtlety.

Malik really wasn’t great at reunions, it seemed.