Chapter 204.
PART 1.
Once they are dropped on the border, and their documents are processed, they go through the wilderness, trying to find their way back to their home cities. The military outpost that processed their documents refused to help them. However, when asked for a reason, they were rather cagy and revealed nothing.
Avinash was miffed after their response. He expected better treatment in his home country, but clearly, something had happened. This area is not densely populated, but this absence of people, and tense military means something is happening here.
They arrived in a small town, and when they were eating lunch, the place got attacked. “You did not pay the existence tax. Prepare to be destroyed!”
“The hell?” asked Avinash, after they fought out of that place. “Since when is there a tax for existing?”
“There they are, grab them!” some men come after them, as a bunch of kids leaving their initial forces crippled or dead is not something that they can tolerate.
“Dammit. We can’t keep fighting them,” said Daphne.
“Pss, come here.” said a young boy in a valley.
Avinash turns to Hatori. he shakes his head in the negative. He does not sense any trap there. besides, they don’t have many options. So, they follow this young boy, and the forces chasing them run past them without looking at the valley to their left.
The boy brings them to a camp outside of the city, where they meet the elders of this tribal group. “Are you kids okay? you’re not harmed, are you?”
“Not yet.” Said Avinash. “But what is going on here?”
“The king has been missing.” Said another elder. “The City of Throne is facing a siege for over a year. how do you not know this?”
“We were outside of the country.” Said Hatori. “We went there for the dueling tournament.”
“Ah, the young team. It was quite a performance you gave us.” said the elder.
“Feels like a lifetime ago.” Said Praduman.
“Yeah, and some of us never got a chance to fight,” complained Josh. “At least not as much as we would like to.”
“The king was also there.” said the first elder. “Things went horrible when he left. The noble families seized that chance, and attacked the unprepared city.”
“When he returned,” continues the second elder, “He wiped out the attacking force but then got weak as a result. No one knows where he is ever since.”
“But Sundar should have taken control of the city by now,” said Avinash.
“He probably lacks resources.” Said Hatori. “The reinforcement couldn’t get to him, as the siege is cutting them off from the outside world.”
“Correct boy.” said the second elder.
“You should be careful; these nobles are very cruel. They drove us off from our land, and we have been hiding ever since.” Revealed the second elder.
As they walk out of the camp, they are lost. they are not certain what to do. “I think we should either go to the City of Throne, or to the Academy.”
“Why?” asked Josh.
“Because from the Academy, you can contact your parents, and go to your homes if possible. From City of Throne, we can actually contribute something.” Said Hatori. “Besides, Raven is likely there.”
“Yeah,” said Shin and Josh together.
“I think going there is a dangerous option.” Said Praduman. “I’m not willing to do that.”
“That is fine.” Said Avinash. “You are free to go to the Academy. but I am going to the city.”
“Me as well,” said Hatori.
“Yeah, we’re also coming,” said Josh and Shin.
“Me too,” said Tom.
“Then that leaves us three,” said Ravina. “Guess we will see you if you survive.”
“Yeah, if we survive.” Said Avinash.
Though they wanted to leave, Avinash and others helped arrange transport to the Academy. once their three friends are on the ship, they think of how to go to the City of Throne. Ravina, Daphne, and Praduman are not going to have any trouble. They will be safe in the Academy. not only that but arranging an airship to the Academy was quite easy.
“I am not happy to leave them like this.” Said Daphne, once they were on their way. “It is no place for people of our age.”
“The decision is their own, remember?” said Ravina.
“Besides, they are all quite cunning. I’m sure they will be fine.” Said Praduman. though on the privacy of his mind, he agrees with Daphne’s assessment.
Because going to the city is going to be a challenge in itself. Entering it would be another challenge.
PART 2.
Though they wanted to go to the City of Throne, they did not fancy their chance against an army by their fivesome. Hatori suggests that they should go to Zeko for help, and the other four agreed.
In the middle of their way, they got attacked a bunch more times, which usually resulted in them running from the town. But one attack actually proved quite profitable for them.
After dispatching the force sent after them from the previous town, they take over the car which remained intact after the fight, and inside they find a map of the Subcontinent. This made their journey much smoother. Unfortunately, when they arrive at Zeko’s house, he is not there.
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“Young master.” Greeted the main yantra. “Master Zeko has not been here for months.”
“Dammit!” cursed Hatori. “We could really use his help.”
“Though he is not here, I suggest that you and your friends rest before leaving. I believe you can use some relaxation.” Said the main yantra.
“He’s right,” said Josh. “We’ve been traveling for a year now. We’ll rest here for a day or two, and then leave for the city.”
“Agreed.” said the remaining four.
Still, Hatori has a question that refuses to leave him alone. where could Zeko have gone in such a chaotic time?
PART 3.
An old man walks out of a camp. the horrible screams of men come from behind him, as the camp burns with them inside. They thought they could mess with him, and get away with it, now that the king is missing.
How horribly wrong they were. This man is, of course, Zeko.
He was sent by the general to find the king. so far, apart from finding some rumors, he has not seen or heard from Porus.
The rumors have turned into reality recently, as various sightings of him culminate with the destruction of the armies of the noble families. Still, the king is managing to be one step ahead of Zeko, and he always arrives later, by the time the king has already left.
Personally, Zeko would like to wait for his apprentice and his friends or assist the general in retaking the city. But he is stuck tracking an old man. this fact does not improve his mood any, and he takes out his anger on any mage from the opposite side who is stupid enough to mess with him.
PART 4.
Josh finds a map of the City of Throne on the dinner table, where Zeko marked some portions of the city with a spot of green ink. “What do you think this means?”
“I can only deduce.” Said Hatori, “But I think there might be possible points where someone can sneak inside.”
“Perhaps a small force, maybe someone like us?” suggested Avinash.
“But that is only a deduction.” Said Shin. “It could mean something entirely else. Do you want to take a chance on that?”
“Why not?” said Hatori. he stopped from saying the next phrase. Bad things can happen if something like “What could go wrong?” is uttered in the current chaotic times.
That was two days ago. Now, they have snuck inside of the city. Hatori’s deduction was correct. Though they thought of why exactly didn’t they find these weaknesses and plugged them in, Hatori discarded such thoughts. The carelessness of an enemy is a gain for them.
Hatori is noting the wards. Some of them are quite interesting. He might use them once he gets his own place. “Wait, don’t step there!” his warning comes too late.
One step of the Shin, and the alarms start to blare in the city.
PART 5.
Amarnath moves through the castle, people having to get out of his way quite fast since he is in a hurry. He knocks on the door of Sundar’s office, and the general calls him in.
“General.” He greets him, very impatient.
“Prime minister.” Greeted Sundar in return, and noticed the impatience of Amarnath. “What brings you to me today?”
“Avinash is here, in the city.” He spoke.
“So?” asked Sundar. He then processes what he hears. “What? Alive?”
“Yes,” confirms Amarnath.
“How do you know this?” asked the general.
“This ring is tied with the wards.” Said Amarnath. “Whenever someone of my blood is close to me, it informs me.”
“Hmm. I suppose his friends might be with him?” asked Sundar.
“Can’t say. It only lets me know about his presence.” Said Amarnath.
“In any case, I think we need that kid, or those kids here,” said Sundar. “They might have some valuable information for us.”
“But lowering the wards can be dangerous.” Said Amarnath.
“Don’t worry.” Said Sundar. “I’ll make sure no one from the enemy side gets in.”
Though the prime minister is unsure of how the general is going to pull this off, he decides to put his trust in him. Since he can do nothing but wait, he leaves the general to plan alone and deal with his anxiety in his own office where he will not get in the way of others.
PART 6.
The crowd is in hot pursuit. Judging by the spells and the shouts, Hatori is their preferred target. They see him as a supporter of Porus and a symbol of the previous regime, and they want him alive.
They arrive at the castle, where the general is waiting with his forces. The enemy soldiers who chased them here in the crowd thought they could now enter, but they got fried. The wards are not lowered for them. the civilian crowd backs off, while the soldiers get closer to the group.
A fight breaks out, where these five boys are facing the fully trained soldiers. but they are not backing down. However, they are weakening slowly, while the numbers keep increasing. The general cannot help them, he cannot leave his position.
Hatori creates a blast of fire to gain some space, and launches many lightning bolts from his one hand, killing some soldiers, while he makes a motion to Avinash and others to get close to him.
Once they do this, he blasts them, sending them inside of the castle flying, while he is put in the chains. “Hatori you bastard!” cursed Josh, unable to look away. His friend was chained up like a rabid animal, and carried away.