Chapter 143.

PART 1.

Porus is leaving the city with Zeko. He would like to oversee the investigation of all those deaths, but he still has his tour to complete, and Munshi has been called here. there is nothing else for him to do here.

“Where to now?” asked Zeko, once they were on the road.

“To the City of Salt. I wish to see how things are going there,” said Porus. ‘Especially, ever since that idiot was taken out by the general.’

PART 2.

Munshi arrives in this town, just as Porus left. He missed the king by a few hours. However, this is an emergency, there is no time for him to rest. He immediately demanded to see the memories gathered by the necromancers, and they obliged his request.

“What do you think, master?” asked the woman who collected this memory. She called Munshi “master” in deference to his skill.

He looked at the empty screen where he just saw the stored memories. “I believe he is planning to create a chimera.”

The woman paled. “It cannot be. He will never manage to control it!”

“It still wouldn’t stop him,” said Munshi in a grave tone.

He witnessed the madness of Manoj with his own eyes, and of course, he nearly died because of his scheme. Unlike the people who were not there to see what he did, he completely understands what he is capable of doing. If he can resurrect a battle mage from the past, then he is also capable of creating a chimera, whether he can control it or not is irrelevant to him.

“The important thing for us to consider is, where will he attack?” he said to the woman before he left to get some sleep.

It is unlikely he will get any sleep after what he has learned today, but he must rest. He cannot face the coming challenges while being tired.

PART 3.

Raven carries a letter for General Sundar. He does not know of its contents, but he carries it as if his life depended upon it. which it might very well be. If he ever lost the letter or opened it, his lower-class status will ensure that he will be executed, the miner status be damned.

So far, he has done all the tasks assigned by Sundar on time. therefore, he did not appreciate some older boys who were also working in the military as interns and apprentices barring his way, causing him to get delayed. Raven tried to sidestep them, but they moved and blocked his path again.

“I see you’re getting up in the eyes of the general. You low-class dog!” said the boy to Raven’s right. “We don’t like that. you don’t deserve that kind of attention from him.”

Raven wanted to retaliate, but he kept himself in check. “What’s that you’re carrying?” asked the boy blocking his path. “Give it here!” he tries to snatch the letter from Raven’s hand.

As the hand gets closer, he thinks what could he do about this. He remembers how the general told him that sometimes, violence is the only option. And this looks to be that kind of situation. So, he snatched his hand away, and in the same motion, kicked the boy in the balls, while pocketing the letter. He shouldn’t have been carrying it in the open anyway.

as his enemy falls down to the ground, rocking back and forth with a loud scream, the two remaining older boys attack Raven. They come from both of his sides, making escape impossible. But Raven has trained with Hatori for years. this is nothing to him. he blasted one of them with magic, sending him flying, where he collided with the wall with a loud crunch, and kicked the knee of the other boy, making it snap.

“Have fun with that,” he said as his parting shot, before running to Sundar’s office and delivering the letter.

The general opens the note. “Things would be much better if there was a way to send this kind of info without using papers, and with added tight security.” Grumbled the general.

“I don’t think that is possible sir, the tight security I mean.” Said Raven, not a sign on his body language of the struggle that he faced just a few moments ago.

PART 4.

Shakuntala sighs, sinking into her comfortable chair. But once she sensed that someone was in the room with her, she became alert and looked around for the threat. She found Manoj sitting on the visitor’s chair, looking at her in amusement. The man is clearly delighted to once more have broken through her security, despite the latest improvements.

“Why are you here?” she asked, not in the mood to exchange pleasantries with him.

“High Manoj, how’re you doing? I’m doing just fine.” He said sarcastically. He is unfazed by her glair. “To answer your question, I’m ready with my plan. This time, the target will be the City of Throne itself, since Porus has left it for his little tour.”

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

The tour is not a secret anymore among the noble families. They would have liked it if the king warned them in advance, or indeed, never left the City of Throne, since it makes it hard to conspire against each other and him when the man is there to observe. But there is nothing they can do about it, aside from hosting him generously whenever he comes into their strongholds.

“Fine. But you lead the operation.” Said Shakuntala, still keen on making sure that she is covered if this backfired on them.

“Of course, I have no problem with that,” he said, and after one last smirk, left her study.

Shakuntala leaves and five minutes later, she needs to improve her security once again.

PART 5.

Today, dueling broke out in the medical wards. Slaughter was so furious that he got involved, and threw the foolish students out, inflicting some injuries on them as punishment. He told them not to come to the infirmary for the rest of the year, even if they were dying. James witnessed all of this, and he had a question.

“Sir, I know that we don’t have anything like an oath to stop us from violence. But shouldn’t a healer be gentler?” he asked.

“Normally, I’ll agree with you,” said Slaughter, answering the question calmly. The boy asked a valid question, after all. “But remember, just because you’re a healer, does not mean that you can be pushed around by others. In defense of yourself, your loved ones, and your patience, you must perform great and violent acts too. These must be so memorable that no one will ever dare to cross you again, by mere mention of your name they should run. Do you understand, boy?”

“I understand.” Said James, though he was lost when thinking about what kind of great and violent acts could he perform to scare people. Maybe he should ask Hatori about this? He has a great imagination when it comes to violence.

“You better. remember, I’m not named Slaughter because of my good manners or my impeccable medical knowledge.”

James snorted. Slaughter does not have good manners. Only a select few can tolerate him at the best of times.

PART 6.

Hatori gets down from the bus. Apparently, even the mage dimension has those. Munshi is gone off, being called for something. He left in a hurry after dropping Hatori to a town and buying him a ticket for an airship. he then told him to investigate this entire case on his own, since he won’t be able to help him out this time.

Traveling on his own is always a novel experience for Hatori, so many people, and so many sights to see and observe. It is even more delightful ever since Hatori regained his sight. However, this is still not enough to make him a permanent traveler. He still wishes to have a place to settle down, where he can pursue his interests with minimum interaction with the world outside.

He arrives at an office, which seems to be an official building for a company, judging by the boards outside, describing their various services. “Excuse me,” he said to the receptionist, attracting her attention. “Can I meet mister—” he takes a look at the letter for the name, “Herik?”

“May I know who this is?” she asked in return.

“I’m Hatori Eagle. I was sent here by Master Munshi.” Explained Hatori.

After a minute of waiting, Hatori was quickly ushered inside the room, where a short man greeted him and shook his hand. “I’m Herik, and this is my son, Henish,” Hatori noted how the son is taller than the father, but still not very tall. He already towers over both of them.

Once seated, Hatori brings out the letter. “Did you send this letter?”

“Indeed, we did.” Said Herik.

“Master Munshi cannot come, he has been recalled on an urgent mission. However, he sent me to deal with whatever problem you are having.” Said Hatori, priming his magic for defense in the case they took this news as an insult.

They exchanged a look before Herik spoke. “Will you be able to solve our problem?”

“Well, I’m still an apprentice, but I have faced several souls and spirits in direct combat, and have directly helped master Munshi in solving many cases.” Said Hatori.

“Well, at least we can share the problem with him,” said Henish.

“Yes, of course.” Agreed Herik. One does not disrespect the apprentice of a powerful and respected mage like Munshi. Besides, the boy must have some talent, otherwise the necromancer would have never sent him here alone.

“As I mentioned in the letter, we recently purchased a house, which we wish to turn into a hotel. However, strange events are happening there, our workers got injured, we heard singing, sounds of someone walking, doors closing on their own, and other things like that,” said Herik. “This halted our plan of turning that house into a hotel, and we wish to know why these things are happening.”

“Hmm. it can be for many reasons. perhaps a spirit, perhaps a soul. But whatever the case, I cannot say anything more before visiting the house myself.” Said Hatori.

“Very well. I will take you there.” Herik called his receptionist and canceled all the appointments of the day. He then left with Hatori and his son.