A loud constant whirring noise welcomed Arjun into the waking world.
For a fraction of a blink, he wondered if he’d once again been dragged into that vivid dreamscape, one belonging to the entity called Self.
Then, a familiar face poked into his field of view.
“Wake up, you sleepy-head,” Eve announced in a much too happy, and loud, voice. “We’re almost there.”
Arjun groaned, sitting up. Taking Kumil’s advice, he’d managed to activate the lever that converted the chair into a comfortable reclining couch. After that, he’d decided to get some much-needed rest. Within a bell of setting off, the inside of the Juggernaut had been thoroughly explored and all the theoretical knowledge imparted by Kumil that could be safely absorbed without his skull cracking open, had been absorbed. After the initial burst of excitement often felt while visiting new places, the tunnel that they’d been rushing through at speed twice that of the fastest powercars had become monotonous enough to put him to sleep.
“What time is it?” he asked Aisha after she handed him a bottle of water. She looked at Kumil, who promptly fished out his trusted watch.
“Just past eighth bell.”
Arjun let out a whistle. “Three hundred miles in six bells. This could change the face of Sindria forever.” Seeing the sweet-and-sour expression on Kumil’s face, he quickly added, “if we, meaning you, can mass-produce the Juggernaut without somehow stripping the planet.”
“And how exactly do you propose we accomplish that?” Eve asked. With her feet folded under her, both she and Aisha, seated in the chair beside her, looked the picture of relaxation.
“No clue.” Arjun stood, stretching some sensation back into his legs. His head just about touched the ceiling. Being tall had more drawbacks than one would imagine, though ironically, fewer here in Balgistin. “But,” he announced in a firm voice, “Where there is a will, there is a way.”
“By the Claws of Classiklam!!” Kumil thumped his left palm with his meaty right fist, “You have the heart of a stonehorn.” He flashed a grin. “We need materials that can be recycled. Given time, we’re bound to find it.”
“Or maybe come up with new recycling techniques,” Arjun suggested.
“Even better,” Kumil said, as the Juggernaut started decelerating. “Oh, almost forgot. How are your earth-senses?”
“Why?” Eve asked, tone instantly suspicious.
“Earth Clerics not used to Little Bramka, often find it… disturbing, if their senses are too sensitive. Power Clerics, Healers and Sigilmasters, not as much. Even some aditarus find it disconcerting, though no pure-blooded aditaru has crossed the threshold of Balgistin in well over two millennia. Not since the days of the Redeemer. Some, with mixed heritage, have,” he said, giving Aisha a reassuring smile.
The half-aditaru sat up straighter in her chair, appearing anything but reassured by the half-stonehorn’s words. She kept shooting furtive glances at the soldiers at the back, who steadfastly ignored her, without missing a single movement.
“Little Bramka?” Arjun asked. Hopefully, Kumil and James’ presence would continue to safeguard Aisha’s freedom.
“Wait,” demanded Eve, “Redeemer? Chiranjeev?”
“Yup.” The smile dropped from Kumil’s face. “The only one of his kin who showed a modicum of remorse at all the death and destruction they’d caused. Even paved the way for the Treaty that’d be signed millennia later.”
“Treaty of Garbal,” Arjun gave an agreeing nod, trying to hide the feeling of awkwardness the topic of the war always gave rise to between Kumil and the three of them. “I read your leaders once gifted him a treasure beyond measure.”
“For showing Melwig the error of his ways. Which the Redeemer promptly donated to the library at the University,” scoffed Kumil.
“And what was this ‘treasure beyond measure’?” Eve asked with a forced smile, trying to break the ice.
“A huge cache of Soul Crystals attuned to humans.”
“That’s a treasure beyond measure, alright,” said Arjun, finally understanding why the usually pragmatic Engineer seemed so upset.
The thoughtless act by Chiranjeev was equivalent to a statue or scroll created by the hand of Aimin Himself being used as a prominent, though ultimately decorative, piece of artwork. And used not by humans, but by stonehorns. A notion that seemed even more ludicrous than a Manifolder with the gift of peering into the distant future making such an obvious error in judgment. “Doesn’t make any sense,” muttered Arjun.
“Yeah, and do you know what the Principal at the time used it for? The last living First Disciple, moron that he was like all his brethren, used it to trap a Soul Echo.”
“Whose Echo?”
“His own.”
Arjun had done his research even before breaking his fast. The guards outside his room had proved to be less than helpful, but they were talkative. When they thought they were alone.
“Soul Echo meaning entities like the Twin Sages?”
Kumil shook his head. “Far fainter echo. They aren’t meant to exist outside the temples for long. Still, a priceless artifact.” His face turned red. “And now, it’s no better than a glorified librarian!!”
“Ah!” Arjun jumped in delight. Maybe it wasn’t just decorative, after all. “The Chief Librarian I’ve heard so much about!”
Kumil eyed him with amusement. “Just an Echo, retaining a small percent of the original Cleric’s memories and knowledge.”
“Still… the original Cleric was a First Disciple. The tales he could tell!!!”
“Tales of the past. And past should stay in the past, unless you’re cursed like Julibar. Anyway,” Eve turned to Kumil after a series of rapid hand gestures by Aisha. Surprisingly, his diminutive friend understood sign language far better than Arjun did. And unsurprisingly, Aisha seemed to be aware of that little fact. “You mentioned someplace called ‘Little Bramka’.”
“Yes. The residential Cavern where the Juggernaut will drop us off. We’ll have to travel the last couple of miles on foot. The journey, even the entrance, can be unsettling.”
“Unsettling? Basil?” asked Arjun.
“We’ve encountered that before. Remember. When we first met you.” Eve scrambled to her feet and started casting her gaze about, looking for something. Aisha caught her eyes and pointed with her chin, indicating a duffel bag lodged behind Kumil’s seat. Eve snatched it up, giving her a grateful look.
“Not Basil,” Kumil said, “though it is heavily utilized in maintaining the…barrier.”
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
With the aid of a few logical leaps, Arjun arrived at a reasonable conjecture. “Refined Basil, then. Mixed with something else. What we saw before were veins of unrefined ore.”
Horror crossed Kumil’s face. “I’m no good at keeping secrets.” He hung his head in mock-despair.
Eve barked a short laugh, ignoring the increasing heat from the scathing glares of the soldiers. Their squadleader, a barrel-chested woman with long ginger whiskers, shot quarrels with her eyes. Seems Eve wasn’t being properly respectful to their beloved Master Engineer. Kumil was more popular, and more at ease, among them than when he was with ordinary citizens of Balgistin. Some of the gears they were sporting – the utility belts each wore for instance – were designed by the Engineer, who, Arjun had come to learn, possessed an Aimin-given talent for crafting small hand-held metallic devices. Or Jukatis-given.
“Teasing out secrets is always more fun than keeping them,” Eve said. “By barrier, I assume you mean something that messes with our senses. Why bother?”
“Funny you should ask.” Kumil gave a weak smile. “For security purposes.”
She let out a snort. “Yet, here we are.”
“Never thought we’d have to guard against stonehorns. The barrier is meant for Clerics and Enfolders.”
“Exactly what sort of barrier…” Arjun began, but in the next instant, the question became moot as he was hit by a wave of dizziness due to his essence senses being dampened.
He staggered, falling back down into his seat. And this was while he was inside a metal chamber at the back of a moving vehicle. Arjun was suddenly glad he didn’t cross the barrier on foot. Without prior warning, it probably would’ve knocked him right out. Previously, he could sense the tunnel, and even a dozen or so feet into the surrounding rock. Now, he was seemingly floating in void. Even the vibrations of the Juggernaut underfoot somehow felt muted.
Both Kumil and Eve managed to maintain their footing, though the latter looked a bit green in the face. For some inexplicable reason, Aisha had fared the worst, though she was trying her level best to conceal the fact. Once again, Arjun considered asking why, but thought better of it. She’s feeling vulnerable enough as it is.
By now, he’d formed a working hypothesis. That Aisha was secretly an Earth Cleric, or at least possessed some small skill in that regard. That of course led to the question of how she was hiding her Chakras. Arjun had a few theories, some of them even plausible. The biggest clue was provided by their connection.
It was weaker. Which was odd, but also suggestive.
His own unique ability to read emotions was unaffected. But, he’d long since accepted the fact that it was something which defied all known logic. As a result, he wasn’t particularly surprised.
Possibility of further investigation was cut abruptly short when the Juggernaut came to a stop and the back gates slid open, revealing James who looked, and even felt, unperturbed by the barrier. Maybe it wasn’t his first time visiting this little corner of Kailash. Arjun made a mental note to ask all about his previous experiences. Who knows, he may even answer.
After disembarking, they found themselves standing on a stone-paved square beside a small lake, perhaps a couple of miles in diameter. They were even deemed important enough to warrant the presence of a welcoming party, this one consisting of a solitary nobleman along with his retinue of half a dozen, and of course, the ubiquitous glaring soldiers in full battle-ready gear. What set this particular group apart was the nobleman had an amiable smile on his face. Arjun sighed in relief.
Only then did he realize the reception might have something to do with the prestigious company they’d arrived with. Both princess Rukalia and general Mikalim had accompanied them, ‘to ease further tensions’, they’d claimed.
“Welcome to Drau-Bramka.” The nobleman turned his gaze toward the three of them standing to the side. “Or Little Bramka, to use the Common term. Vrakildram is my name.” His easy smile included Aisha as well, causing Arjun to question his motive instantly. “Dark tidings on a darker day have brought you to my Cavern.” Ah so, he’s the Cavern Lord. Explains the retinue, if not the sunny disposition. “I hope, with your help, we can get to the bottom of this heinous crime as swiftly as possible.”
And there it was. The sole reason for the cordial welcome became transparent, at least to Arjun. He must be under immense pressure from the Council and the king to apprehend the culprits and maybe even recover the stolen goods, the exact nature of which even Kumil wasn’t privy to. The man’s kernel signature, however, continued to give off the impression of polite hospitality to the non-stonehorns and dignified respect toward the Council members.
Arjun eyed James sideways, catching a momentary glimpse of pursed lips. He had his unusual talent, James had decades of experience.
“Time’s a-wasting,” Mikalim said. “We should get going. Not all the traps have been reset.”
Arjun blinked, looking askance at the Battle Cleric, who remained unfazed by this suspiciously sudden revelation.
Traps? Nobody said anything about any traps. Must’ve conveniently slipped their minds.
“How many?” James asked, not missing a beat.
“Three.” It was the princess who answered.
“Lead the way.”
Rukalia’s eyes turned apologetic. “Before that, there is a small matter of the Transparency Procedure.”
“Sigrid’s Balls!!” Eve swore loud enough to be heard on the other side of the lake.
Arjun’s heart dropped. Not again.
“Even we, as Council members, aren’t exempt from it,” Mikalim said, sounding more than a little irritated. His eyes were firmly fixed on a certain short and stocky human girl.
James gave a reluctant nod, his warning eyes locked onto Arjun and Eve. “Price of vigilance.”
“I know the Juggernaut probably has better things to do than haul us all over Kailash,” Arjun said as he trudged along behind the Council members and James, “but, couldn’t we have taken one of those weird powercars you guys use for daily transportation?” Even his internal essence senses were acting up, making self-healing more trouble than it’s worth.
The question amused Rukalia, though other than a small smile, she didn’t display any outward sign. It irked the Cavern Lord and exasperated the general. And it intrigued Kumil, probably why he and Arjun had become fast friends.
“Grulidar,” Kumil said from beside him, not even winded after their long brisk walk. The couple of miles previously mentioned had elongated to become half a dozen, and still counting. “Not permitted, I’m afraid. The hardships endured while traveling to and from the temple are meant to be representative of life itself,” Kumil explained. “There are no shortcuts in either.”
Arjun nodded. Of course, there is a very good reason for this entirely unnecessary walk. It wasn’t unnecessary at all. Maybe Aiminism and stonehornish religion weren’t all that different after all. Both were big on symbolism.
“What are they representative of?” He pointed to one section of the road in front where a good thirty by fifty feet of it was missing. “Pitfalls?”
“Unexpected ones, yes. Why don’t you take a closer look?” Mikalim said with a wry smile.
Despite the cautious reminder behind James’ eyes, Arjun needed not a second invitation and soon approached the gaping wound in the road, with Aisha, Eve and Kumil trailing him. The clean precise cuts indicated machinery was most likely involved, but, due to the Aimin-damned barrier, he couldn’t tell for sure.
About twenty feet below was a set of sharp pointy stone protrusions sticking out like a hungry maw of some beast from the netherworld. One of the teeth was broken off in the middle, crimson stains the only evidence left of the body that must have been pierced by it. A couple of stonehorns, wearing strange metallic but supple full-body protective gear, were busy trying to repair the trap, using a torch that gave off a dense stream of fire, almost as if it was an absurdly powerful hand-held miniature Power Cleric.
“How many thieves were there?” Arjun asked after he’d finished his cursory analysis of the torch using his essence senses.
“Five. Three died while navigating the traps,” Kumil informed them. “One we captured. Or rather, found sprawled unconscious inside one of the display chambers in the Outer Sanctum.” His tone turned despondent. “One escaped. All stonehorns. Still can’t wrap my head around it.”
“So that’s the insulating suit I’ve heard so much about. Always wondered how stonehorns can be peerless metalworkers when they can’t tolerate heat.”
“One of the older designs,” Kumil said, throwing a furtive glance in the general’s direction, who paid them no heed, though his kernel signature suggested the opposite.
Arjun gave a subtle shake of the head, swallowing further questions about the suit. Politics!!! Among humans, it was a nuisance. When another species was thrown into the mix, it was a disaster waiting to happen.
“What did they manage to steal?” Eve asked after they got back to their group, who were passing single-file around the trap.
“Soul Crystals and Dendremite Ore.” Rukalia answered, prompting a sharp look from the general. “They already know enough to be able to work out the rest.”
“True enough,” said Mikalim in an almost resigned tone. “We’re almost to the Outer Sanctum.”
Arjun glanced ahead, noticing another featureless gray granite wall which blocked off his view. He began to wonder if all stonehorns shared Kumil’s proclivity for always misjudging distance and never time. After taking a right turn, however, he stopped dead in his tracks.
From beside him, Eve uttered an exclamation that, given the present company and location, probably wasn’t the most diplomatic of statements, though the sentiment behind it perfectly mirrored his own thoughts.
“By the Grace of Om, how do you peeps even build these things?”