The sweet, syrupy residue of the iced tea felt like a lie on Zaid’s tongue. He watched Salim shuffle away, his shoulders permanently curved as if against a constant, invisible wind. The victory of the live stream, the thrill of the 200 dinars now sitting in his digital wallet,.it all felt hollow. He had chased off the wolves with a flash of light, but the sheep was still trembling.
He was halfway back to his dorm, the mental list of Eid gifts (a sleek new phone for his mom, a soft, embroidered abaya for his grandmother) failing to lift his spirits, when his phone buzzed. It wasn't the sharp, social media alert he was used to. This was the distinct, soft chime of the System.
[New Quest: The Mentor
Objective: ]
[Guide a fellow student to find their inner strength. Help them achieve a pub
