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“They’re still there,” Aida seethed. She’d snuck a peek outside, but recoiled from the window just as soon as she’d cracked the curtains open. “It’s been hours and they’re still there! It’s the middle of the sun’s night, for Yuma’s sake. Don’t people have anything better to do?”
Vir slowly opened his eyes to Cirayus’ dimly lit room. Several hours had passed since the chaotic events of the tournament, and while Vir had wanted to have Ashani create a Gate to escape the city straightaway, Cirayus had convinced him to linger for awhile longer.
There were simply too many Rajas in town not to maximize this opportunity for the future.
“You’re not just a Warrior anymore, lad. You’re a ruler. A head of state. They’ll be wanting certain reassurances and I highly advise that you give it to them. Individually.”
Cirayus had, of course, been right. As much as Vir loathed currying favor with the various lords, he had little choice in the matter. He wouldn’t ever leave if leaving meant failing to sow seeds that would bear fruit for the rebellion.
As such, he’d sat cross-legged in Cirayus’ abode and entered his mindscape, training with Shardul and Ekanai to unlock the Shield Chakra.
Despite Ekanai’s combat knowledge and Shardul’s more general wisdom, he’d yet to make meaningful progress. Though, after having obtained two, Vir now understood the process.
Chakra required a mental image that represented the core of one’s self, and one’s beliefs. Chakras were not simply a means to power—if anything, that was just a fortunate by-product.
At their core, Chakras had everything to do with understanding the various aspects of one’s self. For the Foundation Chakra, it was to visualize and understand the embodiment of permanence and solidity that resonated most with him—the literal Foundation upon which all other states of enlightenment were achieved.
In his case, it had been the Godshollow, which manifested as his Mindscape.
For the Life Chakra, Vir had to accept that death was simply part of the circle of life… And that the deaths caused by his actions, either directly or indirectly, could not be allowed to cripple him.
Like the mighty trees of the Godshollow that had lived through the ages, witnessing birth, death, and untold destruction, Vir would bear the weight of those actions, standing tall despite the mounting weight.
What then was the Shield Chakra to him? Defense, yes. Protection of himself and his loved ones… Or so he’d thought. While he felt like he was edging closer to the correct meaning, he’d yet to obtain it.
Unfortunately, time was not on his side. Now that the world knew the Akh Nara had returned, Vir had a sneaking feeling he’d be relying on the Shield Chakra a great deal in the upcoming days. Opening might very well be a matter of life and death.
Vir glanced at Ashani, who was currently pestering Cirayus to show her each of his cooking utensils, and to demonstrate how each worked. Cirayus, for his part, was more than happy to, bending over backward at her every request.
He’d cooked up a half-dozen dishes, which Ashani sampled at a furious pace. Vir wondered how her body even digested the food, given her inner workings. More Imperium magic, he supposed. Could she truly taste the food?
One look at Ashani’s reactions of pleasure upon each bite put that suspicion to rest.
“This is amazing, Cirayus! I’d no idea the culinary arts in this realm were so advanced!”
“Well, I wouldn’t know about that,” Cirayus said, half laughing as he scratched his neck in embarrassment.
Though a warm scene, the distance between the two was as vast as the chasm that separated the realms. Vir couldn’t help but wonder how long it’d be before his godfather saw Ashani for the person she was—as a soul in desperate need for friendship and belonging. Not a being to be worshiped.
“Ah, good, you’ve finished your meditation!” Cirayus said, bringing Vir a bowl of delicious lentil soup.
“That one is especially good,” Ashani said from her seat at the table, in between mouthfuls of the same soup.
“Thanks,” Vir said, taking the bowl. She was right. It was incredible. Savory, slightly tangy, and incredibly comforting.
“Lad, I feel it’s time we talk through our next steps.”
Vir nodded. This was a conversation he’d been wanting to have as well. He’d just needed some meditation to clear his mind and organize his thoughts, first.
“What are your thoughts?” Vir asked. He noticed how Aida leaned in to listen, and Ashani, noticing her, followed suit despite her supernatural hearing.
“The way I see it, you can go about this one of two ways,” Cirayus said, holding up two fingers with all four arms. “One, liberate and seek forgiveness. Or two, ask for permission from the other clans beforehand.”
“Forgiveness… Permission.” Vir spoke the words like curses. “What permission did the Chitrans have to wipe out my clan? To murder my parents? Why do I need permission to slice off Matiman’s head and display it to the world on a pike? Why should that act require even an ounce of forgiveness? The way I see it, all the clans are complicit.”
“Lad, I understand how you feel, and I agree wholeheartedly. Even so, there are certain rules and customs that must be followed.”
“I get it, Cirayus,” Vir replied, waving away the giant’s concern. “While I’ve never truly played this game, I at least have some understanding of how these things work. I understand the clans will have to be persuaded to join my cause, and I understand that this will be an uphill battle, filled with blood, sweat, and tears. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“Aye, lad. You certainly don’t.”
“As for what route we choose… The answer seems obvious, does it not?”
“Oh?” Cirayus asked with a raised brow. “I'm listening.”
“We aren’t even close to ready to attack Samar Patag. By my reckoning, we still have some time. Quite a bit of it, if we push deeper into the Ash. Do you agree?”
“Aye, I believe so,” Cirayus replied, stroking his beard. “Even without the time benefits the deep Ash bestows upon us, you are nigh untouchable within the Ash. To attack you, the Chits would have to blindly send forces through the Boundary, unable to choose their destination. From there, they would have to scour the realm for you, in hopes that they locate you before some ancient City-Ender beast gets to them first.”
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“Wouldn’t that be just wonderful?” Vir said with a smirk. “If only the Chitran would be so nice as to sacrifice their army for us.”
“Aye. ‘Tis out of the question.”
“Which means we’re safe as long as we stay in the Ash.”
“Indeed, though Matiman has certain levers he can pull to force you out, should he choose to do so.”
Vir frowned. “Like what?”
“Like torturing and killing Gargans until you face him in battle.”
Vir’s blood ran cold. “Do you think he’d do that?”
“Do you truly think the demon who slaughtered your entire clan wouldn’t?”
“Noted,” Vir said, setting his soup aside. He’d just lost his appetite.
Pulling on the Foundation Chakra to stabilize his emotions, Vir took a long, slow breath, and pressed on.
“The Chitran would never respond to diplomacy, nor do I have any desire to engage with them. The other clans, though… I feel I at least ought to try with the Panav, Iksana, and Aindri. If, by the time we’re ready, I’ve failed to sway them to our side, then we strike, and ask for forgiveness, after.”
Cirayus nodded. “A sound plan. As I said before, with some effort, you ought to be able to sway the Panav. They are a reasonable, level-headed clan, and many still harbor ill-will toward the Chitran for what they did to your mother. Now, the Aindri… If I am honest, they feel like a lost cause, but if you can get the Panav and Iksana on your side, they might be cowed into switching. In war, they are some of the most ferocious, but when it comes to politics? Spineless cowards, the lot of them. Always have been.”
“Which leaves the Iksana as the lynchpin,” Vir said.
“Aye. The Iksana… I wish I could tell you one way or another. What goes through their heads, no one knows. What I can tell you is that obtaining Clarity will be a windfall.”
“Seeing the immediate future would be a powerful addition to my abilities,” Vir admitted.
“Aye, but as powerful as it is, its reputation is even greater. I’ve seen demons soil their pants and turn tail the moment they learn their foe possesses Clarity. I’ve seen nations make sweeping decisions based solely on whether the Iksana will intervene with that ability. In the eyes of the other clans, Clarity will elevate you further than Balancer of Scales or even Yuma’s Embrace.
Vir jumped suddenly to his feet, katar and chakram in hand.
“No need to get so excited, lad,” Cirayus said with a wry smile. “I daresay that’s a ways off.”
“Actually, I think the opportunity might be closer than you think.”
For out of the shadows and cackling madly, a Ghael emerged. Not just Ghael.
Raja Sagun’Ra had arrived.
----------------------------------------
“What is the meaning of this?” Cirayus demanded, spinning around. “Raja or not, you’ve no right to set foot in my abode without permission.”
“Fear not, Ravager,” Sagun’Ra said. “No harm today. But to him?”
Vir frowned. He’d heard stories of the Iksana clanlord. That he was especially odd, even for the Iksana.
Both Aida and Ashani had jumped to their feet upon the Raja’s arrival. Aida wouldn’t dare assault a Clanlord, but Ashani?
Vir caught her gaze and motioned with his eyes to tell her to stand down. This was not a foe they could simply fight, and doing so would have disastrous consequences, even if they happened to win.
“What is your business with me? Do you wish to discuss—!?”
Without warning, the Iksana Raja moved with reflexes Vir wouldn’t have thought possible.
Having dealt with Ekanai and Nor, Vir had already expected such an outcome, and had activated Haste at full power. Prana Current ran wildly on the fumes within Vir’s body, desperately soaking up every morsel of Ash prana from the ground and the air.
Vir saw the Iksana’s katar and dodged, striking with his own. Whether or not this was a declaration of war, Vir couldn’t afford to play on the defensive. He knew this Ghael’s power. He saw it, glowing a bright purple on the Raja’s back. Against this foe, he could take no chances.
Ash prana coated Vir’s katar, yet even as he threw the attack, Vir knew something was wrong. Sagun’Ra’s body moved oddly. Not quickly, just… his trajectory felt off, somehow.
His feeling was proven correct as his blade passed harmlessly by, failing to even nick the Raja’s flowing robe.
Shaking it off, Vir struck again. Sagun’Ra didn’t move especially fast—certainly nowhere near as quickly as Cirayus had.
And yet, Vir couldn’t touch him.
Every strike that ought to have landed missed, or glanced harmlessly off the metal armor the Raja wore beneath his robe.
At the same time, Vir found himself taking cut after cut after cut. Despite his armor, Sagun’Ra seemed to aim precisely for the gaps, inflicting strike after strike at the joints.
“A little unfair, using Clarity, don’t you think?”
The Iksana’s eyes widened, and he laughed. “The path to victory,” he said, as if that somehow explained everything.
Realizing close quarters combat—an area Vir excelled—was now too dangerous, Vir backed off and hurled his Chakram, augmenting it with a Katar Launch Barrage, slinging blades of pure Ash prana at the Raja one after another. Yet even these, he nimbly dodged, and all they accomplished was to cause an untold amount of destruction to Cirayus’ abode.
Sagun’Ra sunk into the shadows, negating the safety net Vir had just gained by pulling away. The Chakram lost its target.
Knowing what was coming, Vir jumped high into the air, but Sagun’Ra launched out of his shadow before it could close, wrapping his hand around Vir’s ankle.
Taking full use of the opportunity, Vir surged as much prana as he could into the Iksana’s hand, only to find the Ghael had already let go.
Even so, Ra hadn’t emerged unscathed. The prana surged out of Vir’s leg, turning into prana darts that the Raja couldn’t avoid.
They fell back to the ground, with Ra sinking into his shadow while Vir sunk into his.
The only way to defeat an Iksana, it seemed, was in the Realm of Shadows.
Cirayus’ word of warning echoed in his head. He’d once said that he wouldn’t dare fight an enemy in that realm of shadows and darkness.
And now, Vir knew why.
Like the Yaksha Guardian Vir had fought so long ago, Ra could move freely, even as time stopped on the outside.
Ra pursued Vir from shadow to shadow, yet instead of exiting and fighting in the Demon Realm, they fought within the shadows themselves.
The experience was unlike anything Vir could describe. Neither of them moved. Not in the normal sense. Yet their positions changed. It was similar to dancers before a fire at night. One could not see the progression of their movements—only glimpses every second or so. Each time, Ra changed positions, and Vir was left guessing what the Iksana’s next attack would be based on the stance of his legs and the positions of his arms.
This was, as Vir quickly learned, absolutely lethal.
Never having fought in this way, Vir was inflicted with slices to his legs and punctures under his armpits and other gaps in his armor. Before long, he was forced to exit.
Despite the entire bout having taken no time at all, and despite having never actually moved his body whilst in the Shadow Realm, Vir crumpled to the ground, panting. His heart beat madly, and he gasped for air.
Sagun’Ra’s katar touched his exposed neck, held by the gangly gray Ghael, who stood above him.
“Sagun’Ra!” Cirayus bellowed. “Cease this madness! Do you wish for war!?”
The Raja, whom Vir was surprised to find was also dripping in sweat, grinned. “Cautious. Is good. But you do not see Clarity. The Akh Nara. In name only. To the Iksana. Only a demon. Not the savior. Not yet.”
The Raja stared into Vir’s eyes, and after several seconds, slowly retracted his katar and sheathed it.
Backpedaling several paces, the Iksana Raja sank into the wall of the abode. He uttered only two short sentences before the shadows consumed him.
“Friend and foe. Jalak Kallol. The Gates are open.”
Slowly regaining his breath, Vir looked at Cirayus, who was already beside him, pressing Maiya’s healing orb against his skin.
The cuts were thankfully shallow, and while it pained him greatly, between Cirayus’ administration and the pranites, they were of no concern.
“You fought in the Shadow Realm. Didn’t you?” Cirayus muttered.
Vir nodded. “Not doing that again. I suppose this means we’re at war with the Iksana…”
Cirayus frowned. “What gave you that impression?”
Vir stared at his godfather, unsure if he was joking. “The surprise attack? How close he came to killing me?”
Cirayus snorted. “Lad, if Sagun’Ra wanted you dead, you’d have died only moments into that duel. He didn’t use a single Chakra.”
“That’s… true,” Vir admitted. “Then, why?”
“My guess? He wanted to test you.”
“And? Did I pass?” Vir asked, already knowing the answer.
“I daresay you did!” Cirayus said, clapping his back, and surprising everyone in the room.
“Uh, how?” It wasn’t Vir who asked, but Aida. “He said ‘Friend and Foe’. What’s that supposed to mean?”
Cirayus shrugged. “Don’t try too hard to make sense of that one’s words. It’ll drive you crazy. Still, Jalak Kallol is the name of the Iksana underground capital. No one is allowed there unless invited. As Ra said, the Gates are open. That was an invitation if I ever heard one. One that I suggest you do not ignore.”
“Huh…” Vir muttered. “Well, maybe we stand a chance of winning them over, after all. Let’s just hope the rest of the meetings are less violent.”
With impeccable timing, the door to Cirayus’ home swung open.
All eyes turned to watch Raja Thaman enter and bolt the door behind him.
“Quite the crowd outside. I suggest—” Thaman’s eyes took in the upturned table, the destroyed furniture, and the ravaged walls, and he froze mid-stride.
“What in the name of all the gods transpired here?”