BAKAR GUGUWA

Description

Zuhairu, a fearless warrior renowned for thwarting bandits in the villages near his city, rides swiftly to a lush garden, a haven of fruits and flowers where Princess Hasima visits daily with her maids. His heart is captivated by her, but as a commoner, he knows her royal status forbids their union. Despite this, he frequents the garden to catch glimpses of her, unable to confess his love due to the vast divide in their stations. One evening, as he waits under a tree, playing his silver flute, Hasima doesn’t appear, leaving him desolate. Suddenly, a soft, enchanting voice speaks, urging him to abandon his unrequited love for the princess. Startled, Zuhairu sees no one, but the voice persists, claiming affection for him. A radiant light reveals Buniyatu, a stunning sorceress adorned in white, holding a magical staff. She declares her love, admitting she inherited powerful sorcery from her father, a master magician of Sinar. Enraged by her witchcraft, Zuhairu rejects her, threatening death unless she renounces her dark arts.

Buniyatu, unfazed, demonstrates her power, conjuring flames that nearly consume him, only to vanish, proving her control. She pleads for his love, promising marriage, but disappears when he refuses. Shaken, Zuhairu returns to his grandfather, Marwan bin Hadis, who gives him a silver ring to protect against sorcery, advising vigilance and prayer. The next evening, Zuhairu returns to the garden and finds forty bandits abducting Hasima and her maids. Enraged, he slays them in a fierce battle, his sword flashing as he fells their leader and others, saving Hasima. She, however, leaves without a word of gratitude, deepening his heartbreak. As he departs, a terrifying black storm, spitting fire, engulfs the bandits’ corpses, a clear act of sorcery. The ring on Zuhairu’s finger stirs, confirming Buniyatu’s involvement. Meeting his friend Muzaffar, a trader bound for Hasima’s city, Bahazum, Zuhairu shares his tale, seeking insight into the princess and the mysterious sorcery surrounding her.

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