Chapter 205.

PART 1.

After they arrive in the Academy, they find out about the two invasions, and about the new headmaster.

“Professor Dhiraj—I mean headmaster.” Greeted Praduman.

“You can call me professor.” Said Dhiraj. “I still get called to teach alchemy you know.”

Then, they explain what happened after the tournament, and how they journeyed half a world to get back home, only to find out about the chaos. After that, they presented the trophy Hatori handed them before they parted ways.

With all the deserving pomp, their trophy is put in the achievement’s hall. As all eight got their pictures placed along with the trophy, the three students wrote their families.

Until they get a response, the Academy has agreed to host them.

PART 2.

Though the majority of the noble families rebelled, some did not. Fernandes family is one such family. Along with some branches of the Sharma, Singh clan, and Raos, Fernandes refused to join this alliance.

Partly, because George knows what would follow if they win. Tons of backstabbing and another round of civil war. Partly, he also knows what would follow if they lose: complete destruction, loss of status, or even exile.

And partly, because George does not want to do anything with them. the noble families that are part of the rebellion remind him of his father’s brutalist attitude, something which he inflicted on his own children as well, and nearly destroyed their relationship with them. he does not want to do anything with such a poisonous bunch.

Though the rebel faction does not like this snub, they cannot do anything about it. Raos and Fernandes have strong territories, with adequate resources to defend them. Sharmas are already fighting among themselves, so they cannot interfere in that conflict. And messing with the Singh clan which is spread all over the country is like messing with an ant colony, something which no one wants to do.

They are already having so much trouble with the City of Throne and a rogue king, they do not want to deal with a highly militarized clan that could make their lives difficult in ways they could never think of.

While contemplating this, he reads the letter of Josh. George gets some idea of what his youngest son has dealt with so far, though a mere letter is not enough to sate his curiosity. He must sit with him, and learn what happened with him. if he needs help after such traumatic events, then listening to Josh is the least he could do for him.

He also learns about their plan to go to the City of Throne with the boy trained by Zeko, and Amarnath’s boy. which means it is time that he enters this conflict fully.

He gets up from his comfortable chair and speaks with his son in the garden. “Father.” Greets George Junior.

“Son.” The senior acknowledges the greeting. “Prepare our forces.”

George Junior has a wide smile on his face after hearing those words. “At once. I assume we are going to the City of Throne?”

“You assume correctly.” The Junior notes that his father has a similar smile.

PART 3.

The rebellious faction has announced the capture of Hatori, printing his face on the newspaper, and showing his face on the posters everywhere, touting him as a symbol of the previous regime.

They claim that during his childhood, they tried to recruit him, but he rebuffed them and crippled or killed their children. How he is an outsider whom they offered kindness, and yet got rejected, and how he was nothing but a bullied and an abnormal child in his world.

Zeko puts the paper down in disgust. Hatori has told him all the events that happened to him in the Academy. Zeko knows that their version is false, but whether the public will believe it or not is difficult to say. He wanted to abandon his mission and help out his students. but tracking Porus is important as well. Porus, Hatori, Porus, Hatori, Porus… Hatori…

“GRA!” the silence of the night is punctured by a cry of frustrated rage from Zeko.

PART 4.

It is the third day for Hatori. he was brought here in this room, and put here in this cell. He has not seen or made any contact with the outside world, though some people come to take pictures, get terrified, and then leave. Remembering his days in Yograj’s prison when he was nine, Hatori made a counter which would let him the days if he is ever trapped in a cell in his life. which is why he has been able to keep track of the days.

‘I think the next update will be to keep track of the time. why bother looking at clocks, when you know the correct time always?’ he thinks to himself.

The cell door opens, and some guards show up. really, calling them guards is an insult to real prison guards. These are nothing but young men who found no employment in the previous regime and are now enjoying their lives since they consider themselves to be part of the faction that is actually keeping society under its boots.

“Look at you now. so helpless. You’re not a rampaging scary boy anymore.” said one of them.

“So, you graduated in recent times. what a shame I shared the school with a failure like you,” said Hatori.

“Mind your language.” Then the beating began.

This is nothing new for Hatori. they have tried to scare him and break his spirit by hunger and beating, but none of that succeeded. They wanted him scared to show the masses how they broke him. but his continued resistance is putting a wrench in that plan.

Once they are done beating him, Hatori is bloody on the ground, laughing at their puzzled expressions. “You will never scare me. The only reason why you even dare to come here is because I’m tied like this.” He makes a motion, and the chains on his arms jingle.

“Shut up!” the guard who spoke and taunted him at the start punches Hatori. For Hatori, it is nothing but another bruise, but for the guard, this proves to be a curse.

When he split the skin on Hatori’s cheek, some blood got on his fist as well. despite his magic being sealed, Hatori managed to use this drop of blood and make a withering rune. The guard screamed, as the hand with which he punched Hatori shriveled in front of his eyes, and then turned into dust. they all quickly leave the cell, closing the doors behind him.

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Hatori continues to laugh, and despite the distance, his words manage to pierce their confidence. “Run, run you cowards. You can only hide behind your noble blood. In reality, you fear strong mages like me. so run, for that is the only thing which is keeping you alive. hahahahahahaha!”

PART 5.

The magic thrums around him, as Avinash paces back and forth in the castle. Tom tried to console him, but he was not happy ever since he read the paper in the morning.

He is also angry at Hatori. they could have got in, he did not need to play this heroic role. He ignores the rational voice at the back of his head telling him that they were badly outnumbered, and none of them will be here if Hatori didn’t blast them inside.

He hates being trapped in this castle. he hates what they are saying about Hatori. Avinash has a lot of opinions on Hatori, but he never douted his loyalty. He does not deserve the words they have printed about him.

But most important of all, he hates being trapped in this castle. “Can’t we do something?” he finally asked, unable to contain himself.

“No.” said Sundar.” The blockade is still going on, and we barely maintain our control in the surrounding area of the castle.” explained the general.

This does not please Avinash, but he sits down and tries to calm himself. Such restlessness will not help him in the coming time.

“General!” said Bajrang. “I have some urgent news.”

“What is it?” asked Sundar.

“The forces of the enemy are facing an attack by the Fernandes. In the chaos, one of them managed to give me this message.” Explained Bajrang, and handed over the letter.

The general reads the letter, and Avinash decides to ask. “Is it classified?”

“No,” said Sundar. “But you finally may get a chance to help out your friend.”

“How so?” asked all the boys, suddenly full of energy.

“We’ll sneak a small force through the gap your father provided us,” Sundar nodded at Josh, “And attack the proceedings during the trial, and retrieve your friend.”

“Okay, it is not a nice thing to do, but I must ask: is it worth it?” asked Ranveer.

“It is. Hatori is a strong mage. and we could use all the power we can get in our current state.” Said Sundar. “Besides, rescuing him will send a message to our enemies that we are not as helpless as they think we are.”

PART 6.

Hatori is brought to the court. Outside of the building, a show takes place where the scene is being telecasted live on the television, and newspaper reporters are furiously taking pictures. They have not healed him before bringing him out here, so the injuries are clear to see on the visible parts of his body.

The guards are quite professional in their handling of him. Hatori thought they might take some last-minute liberties with him, but they did nothing of the sort. He suspects that these are the old guards, who actually are prison guards, and are likely doing this before the rebellion.

Come to think of it, no one has dared to attack him in his cell, ever since he destroyed the hand of that young guard. If Hatori had known earlier that the only thing required to get some peace from these annoyances is a little bit of violence, he would have done something far worse, to make sure they leave him alone.

‘Oh well, lessons for the next time.’ thinks Hatori.

They bring him inside and make him sit on the chair reserved for the accused. Hatori breathed a sigh of relief when the chair failed to pull something magical off when he sat on it. he does not want more chains on him, nor does he want to tell the truth just because of a magical device either.

Despite his father serving in the profession of law, Hatori has no interest or patience for the subject. But even he knows how quickly things are moving. The judge is also likely biased against him, as the noble families will never let a neutral judge preside over this case.

“Here is the list of his crimes.” Hatori tunes in, interested to know what they are accusing him of. “He killed children of several prominent noble families, even though they went to him in peace. He menaced the school with animals when he was punished for this crime. He crippled his professor for life. he also shamed the nation in the dueling tournament last year, by disrespectfully treating a female competitor.”

“What does the accused have to say?” asked the judge.

“Not guilty.” Said Hatori simply.

“Please elaborate.” Asked the judge.

“The noble children never came to me in peace. Their negotiation skills sucked, the only thing they did was threaten me to join their side or suffer the consequences. Maybe teach your children how to negotiate instead of blaming me?” suggested Hatori.

It was not received well. the order had to be restored in the court before he could continue further. “My punishment was unfair, the machination of a useless professor who only managed to get there because his family made some sort of deal with the headmaster. He never taught any subject, nor did any research. He does not deserve to be called a professor, but professor useless is a great title, so…” he trailed off, and once again the order has to be restored in the court.

“I crippled him because I was tired of his scheme.” Continued Hatori, feeling he was on a roll. “And as for the last one, I’m not apologizing.”

“It is clear to this court that the accused is not only unwilling to recognize his crimes, but is also belligerent. Therefore, the court gives him five years in the Black Water Prison.” The judge bangs his gavel.

As soon as he did that, the building is shaken by an explosion, and forces with the insignia of the military which serves the throne appear, and attack everyone to distract them, while some of them try to reach Hatori.

Hatori could not do anything in his current state. His magic is sealed, and already, he is surrounded by the guards. Surprisingly, these are female guards. They carry him outside and respond with ruthless violence whenever they are attacked. Hatori is put on a van, and they then take him to the airship which will transport him to the prison.

Meanwhile, in the court, corpses of both sides litter the building, and the survivors escape to report their failure to the general Sundar.