When the wise Mobads concluded their enigmatic riddles before King Manuchehr, Zal of the White Hair paused in deep reflection. Expanding his broad chest and raising his noble head, he opened his lips with luminous clarity. He unravelled the mystery of the twelve tall trees bearing thirty branches, revealing them to be the twelve months of the year, each spanning thirty days. The two chargers—one obsidian dark and the other gleaming white—he declared to be Night and Day, incessantly chasing one another across the firmament while counting down the finite breaths of mortal men. The thirty horsemen whose count ebbed yet remained thirty were the phases of the moon, waxing and waning in its monthly cycle. The twin cypresses hosting the sun-bird symbolized the cosmic houses of the Zodiac, swinging the world between light and shadow, hope and dread. The unassailable citadel atop the mountain peak represented the eternal realm of the afterlife, whereas the thorny waste below was this transient earthly stay, filled with fleeting treasures and bitter griefs. Lastly, the terrifying harvester wielding the razor-sharp scythe was none other than relentless Time—Death itself—reaping both the tender sprout and the ancient trunk without pity or heed to supplication.
King Manuchehr and his court of sages were spellbound by Zal's unmatched wisdom, filling the palace with roars of acclaim. A royal feast as luminous as the full moon was ordained, where goblets brimmed until dawn. When the sun blazed over the mountain peaks, the fearless Zal stood before the throne like a lion, requesting leave to return to his sire, Sam, and his beloved. Desiring to witness the young hero's famed martial prowess, the King requested one final day of sports in the royal arena. Mounted upon his steed at full gallop, Zal drew his heavy bow and split the trunk of an ancient oak with a single arrow, hurled heavy javelins with fluid grace, and sweeping down like a sea-monster, lifted a armored champion clean off his saddle with one hand. The royal field erupted in awe, singing praises to Sam for bestowing such a legend upon the realm. Overjoyed, King Manuchehr bestowed upon Zal lavish robes of honor, golden thrones, gem-encrusted crowns, and boundless treasures, granting him leave with royal blessing.