Chapter 138.

PART 1.

Hatori and Munshi are discussing the souls and spirits, as they drive to their yet unknown destination. Hatori does not have any rune project to occupy him, so he is feeling antsy. But this discussion is helping him distract from that itch in his hands.

Currently, the debate is going on about the differences between souls and spirits. “Look, souls are born after someone’s death, and spirits are born from the chaos of the magic. but aside from the birthing process, there is no difference between them. both of them can use magic, and both of them can also think like humans as well. so, I don’t think there is any difference between them.”

“You forgot the different frequencies they have.” Said Munshi. “Also, while the intelligence level of spirits can vary, they are independent for the most part. They are not slaves to their past, unlike souls. Or have you learned nothing from the cases we have solved together so far?” counters Munshi.

“I don’t think it is that simple.” Said Hatori. “Spirits can be like that as well, remember that water spirit which tried to kill me the year before? I do think that spirits can be much stronger than the souls.”

A lightbulb goes on in his head, and Hatori decides to ask the question in his mind. “So, is there a way to make a contract with a soul?”

“…Yes.” Said Munshi, reluctant to talk about this topic.

PART 2.

Today is the first day of the fifth month of the year 4024. It is the birthday of Hatori, but he is not here this year. “Poor guy didn’t even get to celebrate his own birthday.”

“True.” Said Zeko. “But the world doesn’t care about anyone’s birthday.”

Though Shin did not speak out loud, he did think to himself that the world is not that uncaring. People who live in that world are the ones who are like that. He had the same arguments with Professor Sangita, back when he was with her.

Speaking of whom, she will be here to pick him up soon enough as well, so he must be ready. She is putting the effort to come here and take him with her, so Shin cannot cause her any delays due to his own unpreparedness.

PART 3.

The plans for Porus’s tour are now drawn, but the king has made it clear that he won’t take a huge army with him. A small group of mages is fine. Amarnath has no problems with it, especially since Porus is strong enough to deal with any problems. Besides, no one is foolish enough to attack him directly.

“In addition, I will not travel grandly.” Said the king. “I wish to observe people in the natural environment. If they know that I’m coming, they will present me with an idea and a false environment. I’m not here to see that.”

“Sure.” Amarnath has also no problems with this wish. After all, the purpose of the visit is to check whether the throne still has reach in the entire country or not, or the control has started to wither under their noses?

“Maybe it would be better if I travel alone—” tried to say Porus.

“No,” said Amarnath. “Traveling normally? Fine. Traveling without guards? Okay. but going alone as a king? that’s going a step too far.”

“But—” tried to argue Porus.

“No.” denied Amarnath, refusing to listen to any arguments.

“Maybe—” Porus is getting desperate.

“Nothing.” Said Amarnath.

“But I—” How could this happen to him? his own prime minister is bullying him!

“Will listen to your wise and intelligent prime minister, and will call Zeko to accompany you during your travel.” Said Amarnath, with a firm tone.

“…Fine.” Grumbled the king.

In Yunan, Doom Ketu is reading this entire incident in a letter, where Porus is complaining about how his own prime minister is bullying him. “Hahahahaha!” he roared with laughter, slapping his knee with each new line.

PART 4.

James is spending the remaining time he has on his vacation with his father. Though his time is not as free as he would like it to be, since Slaughter has assigned him some books, which are proving to be quite dense. Truly, people who can read tons of academic textbooks without yawning, and do remember the subject matter have to be commended for their patience.

There are only two broad subjects. First, the human anatomy, the use of external alchemy and its effects on the human body, and its usual day-to-day processes. Getting bored of the reading, James decides to take a walk in the city to relax his mind. His father is currently out, meeting with his lawyers.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

He walked into the market, which was just getting ready to go, as evening is the time when most customers come during the summer season due to the heat. James manages to keep himself cool by enchanting his clothes, a trick that he picked up from Hatori. As he was browsing the shops, a group of floating heads attacked him. spells came out of their mouths, and James had to scramble out of the way of their spells to save himself.

He does not have the same experience as Hatori in fighting the spirits, but still, James managed to keep them away from him, conjuring a rock snake that pummeled the spirits by firing rocks from its own mouth, collapsing into dirt once it ran out of the energy. Several people rushed at him to help out, as a teenage boy getting attacked by spirits in the broad daylight is rarely seen or observed.

The police arrive and clear the crowd. “Are you okay, boy?” asked an officer.

Despite his heart beating loudly, James answered calmly. “I’m fine.”

He then describes the entire incident when they asked what happened, and why did those spirits attack him. James wanted none of this, he just wanted to relax. Is it too much to ask for?

PART 5.

Amarnath is seeing Avinash off. He is not worried about his son traveling alone, he is old enough for that, and there are enough protection and enchanted items on him that he can take care of himself if anyone dares to attack him. besides, if he does not let him travel alone now, then when will he get used to it?

He is just worried about one thing. “Isn’t that rather soon for you to go?” asked Amarnath. “I mean, did you get enough rest here?”

“Don’t worry father,” said Avinash. “I got plenty of rest. Besides, I rather not make Kishore wait.”

“Well, hope this year goes well for you son.” Said Amarnath, summoning a bottle of mango juice, and poring it in the two conjured glasses.

“Cheers!” they clinked their glasses, before gulping the juice down, and then Amarnath watches, as his son leaves.

PART 6.

Hatori completes the pentagram on the floor of the moving car and then channels magic. he waits and waits, and waits some more, but nothing appears. “What happened?”

“We’re moving.” Said Munshi from the other side of the car, looking for a hotel to eat. Cooking in the car is a dangerous business, unless you have a properly warded kitchen. Which he does not. mostly because he does not know how to cook.

“Yeah, that makes sense.” Hatori erased the pentagram and then asked Munshi a question. “So, where are we going?”

“We’re going to Keralam.” Said Munshi. “Or should I say, we’re going to a town in the Keralam. It is a big region.”

The next day, as they continue to move, Hatori sees a huge forest on both sides of the road. However, unlike the normal forest, all these trees have an unusual feature. They have visibly large fruits and flowers hanging on their branch, and the trees are larger in size for their species. Hatori does not think that banana trees can grow so large.

“Master, why exactly we are going to this town?” asked Hatori.

“Because the household is suffering through a haunting there,” said Munshi. “This will be a solo case for you, but don’t worry. I’ll give you all the help you want should you need it without judgment.”

“Not sure about that. you do score me at the end of the year, after all.” Said Hatori, making Munshi chuckle. “What is up with these trees and this forest?”

“This is a very fertile land.” He said, looking at the large trees himself. “About a hundred and fifty years ago, a fertility ritual backfired here. the forest took over the area as a result, and the people were driven out of there due to the relentless growth. Now they live at the corners of it and pick fruits. They jealously guard this forest, often killing poachers if they ever get their hands on them.”

“That sounds awesome.” Said Hatori. “If I was in their place, I would have used the corpses as a fertilizer.”

PART 7: THE FIRST KING.

Samraat was the first king of the Subcontinent. He took the power after a thousand years of chaos 3000 years ago. During this time, the Subcontinent was going through upheaval, because there had been no ruler or rulers to keep things under control ever since the mage dimension was created.

After the throne was enchanted, and the capitol was chosen, several candidates were chosen through a system, that had a mark appear on their hand as a sign of their candidacy. There were ten of them. they lead their personal armies against each other, and after this brutal tournament, Samraat was the only survivor.

And this is how the first king of the Subcontinent was crowned.