Chapter 31 – The Dance of the Particles
The sun was slowly melting into the horizon.
The sky's orange and crimson hues danced across the trembling reflections on the sea's surface. As the ship sailed westward through the cool waters of the Aegean, a gentle breeze embraced the deck.
The cries of gulls had quieted, replaced by the soft rhythm of waves.
Kasım stood alone at the rear deck of the ship.
One hand resting on the railing, the other spinning the ring on his finger.
Süleyman's ring shimmered as if trapping the sunlight within.
He kept replaying the events in Rhodes.
The battle had begun, swords were drawn, and shadows had clashed.
And he…
Once again, had done nothing.
Once again, he had stayed back.
While trying to cope with the gnawing sense of helplessness, a voice suddenly echoed behind him.
Firm, familiar, commanding yet warm:
"Our Sultan has ordered me to teach you the nature energy.
If you're ready, we can begin now."
Kasım turned sharply.
Balibey stood upright before him.
His clothes fluttered slightly in the wind, his gaze stern and assessing.
Kasım's eyes lit up.
Excitement overcame his shame.
"I'd like that very much, Balibey… I'm tired of hiding, of falling behind.
I want to help, to fight, to defend myself."
Balibey nodded slightly.
"You're not inadequate as you are. But...
If one day we're not at your side… as the Sultan said, you must be able to protect yourself.
If you're ready, let's go to the cabin. A place away from eyes and ears."
Kasım nodded without a word and followed Balibey.
—
The small, dimly lit cabin was silent.
The wooden floorboards were old, and the flickering light of the lamp danced on the walls.
Balibey sat on the ground.
He straightened his back in a lotus position and turned to Kasım.
"Take off your vest. Bare your back and sit facing me," he said calmly.
Kasım obeyed.
He removed his vest and knelt, his back to Balibey.
Balibey raised his hands and gently placed them on either side of Kasım's back.
He didn't press, only made contact.
A warmth, like a deep breath, spread through Kasım's body.
"Close your eyes and focus," said Balibey.
"Now, I will channel nature energy into you.
Try to feel it.
You'll see them—tiny, floating particles of light around you.
Try to catch them. Move them."
His voice was soft, yet each word felt like a command.
"It will be difficult," he continued.
"But I believe you can do it.
Be careful...
There will also be dark particles nearby.
Avoid them. They are dark energy."
Kasım closed his eyes.
And at that moment, energy from Balibey's hands began to stream through his back into his body.
The warmth carried the serenity of a mother's womb.
Kasım was startled at first, then surrendered to the calm.
Soon, he began to see them.
Particles.
Floating, translucent orbs tinged with blue...
Surrounding them were fainter, more sinister dark motes.
Kasım thought, "Nature energy... and dark energy..."
He focused.
He reached toward one of the blue motes.
Tried to move it.
But the mote slipped away.
He tried again.
This time with more care—but still failed.
It was like trying to separate a yolk from an eggshell.
He failed with every attempt.
And then, a voice snapped him out of it:
"Kasım."
It was Balibey.
"That's enough for today," he said.
"It's been nearly four hours."
Kasım looked around in surprise.
Time had stopped for him.
But his body revealed the truth—
He was drenched in sweat.
His legs were numb.
He struggled to rise from the lotus position.
"This... four hours?" he mumbled.
Balibey smiled gently.
"Yes. Time flows differently when you connect with energy.
But for your first day, you did well."
To reassure him, he placed a hand on Kasım's shoulder.
"This won't be easy.
But you will succeed.
I believe in you."
Kasım lowered his head.
He was exhausted but, for the first time, filled with hope.
"Thank you, Balibey," he whispered.
Balibey patted his shoulder.
"Now go. Wash and rest.
Join us for supper."
Kasım nodded and left the cabin, holding onto that first, unnamed glimmer inside.
—
Murat was alone in his cabin.
The waves gently tapped against the hull, distant gulls occasionally calling as sea breeze slipped through.
Scrolls of maps and calligraphy-covered notes lay scattered on his desk in the dim light.
His eyes were on the pages—but his mind was far away.
"By tomorrow afternoon, we'll reach Venice's harbor…"
"First, find the inn my mother mentioned."
Volans Cervi.
The old, carefully folded paper his mother gave him still rested in the inner pocket of his belt.
As a child, he had heard many of her stories about Venice, but he never thought they'd matter this much.
Now, those memories had become a map.
"Once I arrive, I'll go straight there.
If the person my mother trusted is there… they'll help us.
Then, we find Gritti—and interrogate him."
As his thoughts deepened, a knock came at the door.
Murat turned his gaze toward it.
"Enter," he said simply.
The door creaked open.
Balibey entered with his usual dignified presence.
Adjusting his turban slightly, he bowed respectfully and spoke:
"Sultan… I wanted to report on Kasım's training."
Murat raised an eyebrow.
"How did it go?" he asked, unable to hide his interest.
Balibey smiled lightly.
"He shows promise.
He was able to sense the energy on the first day.
Even I didn't grasp it that quickly."
Murat nodded slowly.
"Good. I don't know what kind of battles await us, Balibey.
We'll need every ounce of support and every grip of strength we can get."
There was a short silence.
The ship rocked gently; a seagull's cry filtered in.
Murat turned to look out the window, then back at Balibey.
"What's for dinner tonight?" he asked with a half-serious tone.
Balibey allowed himself a small smile.
"Roasted turkey stew, my Sultan. It'll be ready shortly."
"Good... I'll get some air. Let me know when it's ready," Murat said.
Balibey nodded and left quietly.
Murat stood.
He threw his cloak over his shoulders, tucked the parchment back into his inner pocket, and stepped out of his cabin with slow, deliberate strides.
The ship was sailing steadily through the twilight veil of evening toward Venice—
But for Murat, this city was no ordinary port.
It was a sharp turn in the road of fate.