Fear of unknown

The old wooden table stood in the very center of the room. Messy papers lay scattered across its surface, and four people stood surrounding it.
The first, an intimidating middle-to-old man, wore a lapis blue ghutrah and thobe. His gaze was like an eagle's, flashing with golden irises. His jet-black hair stood upward, giving him the aura of a gladiator. His accessory, a shawl, surrounded his neck and covered his mouth, making him look like a mysterious figure.
The second, a beautiful, mysterious woman, wore an orange sunset Abaya. A pearl-colored Niqab covered her face, but did not cover her hair. Her silver hair flowed down to her waist. Her pair of eyes was like a wolf's gaze, flashing with deep lavender irises.
The third, an elegant girl, wore a green Abaya. Her jet-black hair flowed down to her shoulders, framing her face. Her eyes were rounded like an owl's, gleaming with deep lavender irises.
The fourth, a boy, wore a green Ghutrah and thobe. His pair of eyes was like a fox's gaze, flashing with golden irises. His silver hair flowed sharply to his chin, framing his face.
The first was Farahzam Mudal, the Emir who led the Qushasain Emirate—a noble rank just one level below the Malik. The second was his wife, Emirah Haira Mudal. The third was the Emir's daughter, Anmah Mudal. The fourth was the son and heir of Emir Mudal, Harishi Mudal.
The Mudal family is renowned for having some of the smartest Alterions (magic engineers); they have created a lot of magic formulations. Their formulations are used everywhere. Even Malik Jahlan—the ruler of the Fahmul Kingdom—acknowledged it.
Now, they were experimenting with the new theories they had found. Emirah Haria's gaze fell upon one of the papers. She could see some symbols of the formulation: the letter b, an equals sign, the letter n, a solitary dot, the letter f, a fraction bar, and the letter r.
She knew that formulation. "Basic complement equals the total alternations applied, multiplied by fluctuation, then divided by the resistance of fluctuation?" Emirah Haria asked. "Is that a supermagic formulation?"
"That's correct," Emir Farahzam's hand reached toward the paper. "Supermagic is like a superposition, but in magic."
His hand held a gangsing—a wooden gangsing. His hand wrapped a wool rope around the gangsing. After that, he threw the gangsing upward. The gangsing spun above them, and then three phenomenas appeared: fire, lightning, and wind.
"Where was the lightning from?" Harishi asked.
The lightning was gone.
"What was your question?" Emirah Haria asked.
"Never mind," Harishi declined.
Anmah's eyebrows furrowed; if anyone looked at her expression, they would instantly know her mind was full of curiosity.
"Why is the lightning gone?" Anmah asked, gazing at Emir Farahzam curiously.
"Because the lightning is false magic, but the effect is real," Emir Farahzam explained.
"What if that lightning struck something? Would the effect become permanent, even though the lightning is gone?" Harishi asked.
"That's correct," Emir Farahzam replied.
"But the fire and the wind weren't gone?" Anmah asked.
"Because those were real things," Emir Farahzam explained.
"How did three real things appear simultaneously?" Harishi asked.
Emir Farahzam's hand reached for one of the papers on the table. Their gaze fell upon Emir Farahzam's hand, where they could see several symbols: the capital letter s, an equals sign, the letter n, a solitary dot, the capital letter c, a fraction bar, and the letter r.
"Real simultaneity equals the total alternations applied, multiplied by the total same components, then divided by the resistance of the process," they read intently.
"Was that the real complement formulation?"  Emirah Haira asked.
"Yeah, exactly," Emir Farahzam replied.
"Honored father," Anmah called.
"What is it, my beloved and honored daughter?" Emir Farahzam replied softly.
"Please analyze my formulation," Anmah requested.
"Where?" Emir Farahzam asked softly.
Her hand reached toward him; in her hand lay a piece of paper. It was a formulation paper, and that formulation was really amazing. His mouth opened wide; anyone looking at his expression would instantly know his mind was full of shock and amazement.
He realized how amazing that formulation. The letter d with the small letter i belaw it was an Information detail.
"What happened, my honored father?" Harishi asked curiously.
"Look at this formulation," Emir Farahzam said, extending his hand toward him.
He looked at the formulation. Just like Emir Farahzam, his pupils dilated wildly; anyone looking at him would instantly know his mind was filled with absolute amazement. He thought the formulation could become a great innovation for Alternation, but then he realized something: the formulation was not finished yet.
"Did you write this formulation, honored little sister?" Harishi asked, his hand pointing toward the paper in Emir Farahzam's hand.
"Yes, my honored big brother," Anmah replied.
"Can you explain the mechanism of this formulation?" Harishi requested.
"Of course," Anmah replied.
From Anmah's explanation, the formulation allowed someone to disguise themselves without changing their physical appearance. However, because the formulation was unfinished, if someone were forced to use it, they would have to sacrifice souls to succeed.
In the middle of their discussion, a loud clattering sound of falling metal echoed through the room. Their hearts hammered violently in their chests.
Emirah Haira's eyes gazed sharply into Harishi's eyes. Harishi nodded in response.
He slowly walked toward the source of the sound. There, he spotted someone. A maid sat in a strange, crumpled posture, and beside her lay a bucket. A metal bucket. A rope handle with a red metal part. Anyone who saw her would instantly know her mind was consumed by absolute fear.
"What happened, Suudzina?" Harishi asked.
"Pardon me, my lord! Nothing happened!" the maid screamed.
She tried desperately to stand up, forcing her body against her trembling legs.
"Are you okay?" He offered his hand to her.
"I-I-I-I'm... I-I'm o-o-okay," she stammered.
The maid rejected his hand. If I accept it, it’s the same as giving my life to an evil noble, she thought. After finally managing to stand, she snatched the bucket and hurried away.
A day passed. Emir Farahzam sat on a chair beside a small wooden table. He felt that this room was the quietest place for him. He could hear the rustling of administrative documents brushing against each other, but his focus vanished the moment he heard a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"Pardon me, my lord," a voice replied.
"Ah, Suudzina. Don't be afraid. Come in," he invited.
The door opened, and the maid entered the room. She wore a pale green Khadama and a black apron, with a green hijab covering her hair. Her eyes were bloodshot and red.
"I would like to ask for permission to leave. I must go to the Dursada Capital," the maid requested.
"When are you leaving?" he asked.
"Now," the maid replied.
"Do you need an escort to deliver you there?" he offered.
"I do not wish to bother your lordship," the maid declined. I refuse to be indebted to these evil nobles, she thought.
"Very well, wait a moment," he said. "I will call the others so we can gather."
Once everyone working at the mansion had assembled, Harishi, who was among them, asked to Emir Farahzam, "What is the matter, my honored father?"
"Suudzina is leaving for the Dursada Capital right now," Emir Farahzam explained.
"Suudzina, please be careful," Harishi said with a warm smile.
"Yes, my young lord," the maid replied.
Then, they handed her travel supplies. The maid accepted all of them—except for the ones offered by the Emir's family.