Chapter 212.

PART 1.

Hatori wakes up from sleep. he does not realize how tired he is. The constant traveling, then his horrific experience in the prison, it all took a toll on him. it is a good thing they brought him out of there when they did, or else he would have collapsed without even realizing what was wrong with him.

“Hey guys.” He smiled, seeing everyone gathered near his bed.

“The sleeping beauty finally wakes up,” said Shin. “How do you feel?”

“I’m supposed to ask that,” said James.

“A little bit tired.” He answered with a yawn. “Hello, master Zeko.” Hatori greets Zeko when he sees him sitting near the bed.

“Looks like you’ve had one hell of an adventure kid.” Said Zeko.

“Yeah, though it did not end well. until now,” he smirked. “Nothing like a prison to remind you of the importance of a soft bed.”

“There! There!” said Josh.

“I suppose so.” Said Zeko. “I would like to spar with you once you recover.”

“Sure. Why not?” asked Hatori.

“Not for several days.” Said James strictly. “You are not allowed to strain yourself physically or mentally for at least this week. Then you can slowly ramp up to your previous intensity. I will monitor you carefully of course.”

“You’ve become bossier.” Said Hatori, sulking at the orders given to him by James.

“I have to be. People are not interested in fixing themselves perfectly before they break themselves again.” Grumbled James.

“Looks like your time was quite traumatic in the Academy,” said Shin.

“You have no idea.” Said James, reminded of silly injuries and backfired spells.

The door opens, and Kalicharan walks in. “Hey kid, here are some fruits for you.” said the old man, slowly walking to his bed, and depositing the fruits there. “I hear you are supposed to bring those when someone is recovering.”

“I’m glad you are just as awkward as me,” said Hatori with a smirk.

“Honestly, why do such rituals exist? Isn’t that enough to show we care through our aloof actions?” grumbled Kalicharan.

Kalicharan feels an itch on his neck, and he turns around. Only to get face-to-face with a glaring Zeko. “I’m not leaving.” He said with a frosty tone.

“Enough.” Said James with authority. “Hatori needs rest. All of you, out now.” he turns to Hatori. “And you, eat something and go back to sleep.”

“But I—” Hatori tries to argue.

“But nothing!” Thundered James, while everyone left quietly.

They do not wish to provoke James’s wrath.

PART 2.

After a few weeks past since the nobles led by Jeevan Reddy fled to Pashtun lands, the general receives a letter. The letter was delivered by Bajrang, who received it moments ago. Given it has the seal of the council of Pashtun, he decides to take this letter straight to Sundar.

The general receives the letter. The letter is written by the Pashtun council, and it has the signatures of all the elders at the bottom. In this letter, the elders describe their situation.

The nobles came to their land, and once they got over their shock of losing so suddenly, they started to boss the tribes around, trying to forcefully recruit them for their war. The tribes tried to deal with them diplomatically, but each day, they got worse and worse.

When they refused to bow to them and did not follow through with their wishes, they attacked them. the tribes fled to the mountains, while the nobles scattered, unable to deal with their defenses or enter the fortified City of Pashtun, the only city in this area.

Now, they are reaching out to Sundar to get some help to remove these pests from their lands, as they call these foreigners. “What is it, sir? Is it classified?” asked Bajrang.

“Not at all.” Said Sundar, putting the letter on the table. “My predictions are coming true, that is all. Summon our military commanders, and fetch Raven as well.”

“Yes sir.” Said Bajrang, leaving to fulfill the orders of the general.

After everyone arrives, the general presents the letter of the Pashtun council. “What do you think?” he asked, after they read the letter. “I believe they have a point to ask us in solving this problem.”

“But how will we do that?” asked Rani, one of the military commanders. “We can’t just send a force there.”

“We need a better solution. I doubt we can do that by sitting here.” said another military commander.

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Raven listens to their arguments going back and forth, not commenting on anything. He does not have enough seniority to say anything here. besides, the general is handling everything nicely, he does not need him to cause problems for him by opening his mouth and causing trouble with other leaders.

“Very well,” said Sundar, after all the discussions were done. “I will leave for the Pashtun territory. I will take some veterans, as well as my young apprentice and the Singh twins with me.”

“General,” asked Rani, “Who will lead the military in your absence?”

“Zeko will.” Replied Sundar.

Rani leaned back in her chair. The important question has been answered for her, and she has no problem with Zeko’s leadership.

Once the general is ready to leave, Avinash comes to send him off. “Remember kid, listen to your father. He knows more about running a country than you.” said the general.

“I will.” Said Avinash. He has the heavy responsibility of keeping everything together on a day-by-day basis. but he has Zeko and his father to rely upon.

Still, it is not an easy task, especially at his age. “I will be very displeased if you manage to lose any territory we have gained.”

“I won’t lose anything.” Said Avinash, trying to assure the general.

“Good.” with that final word, Sundar walks into the airship and leaves the castle.

Avinash sighed. He has a lot of work ahead of him. “Let’s find Zeko first.”

PART 3.

Zeko is outside of Hatori’s room. he has now recovered enough to get back to his training, regain his strength, and follow the routine that Zeko has instilled into him since the very beginning. Currently, he is resting after lunch, speaking with Kalicharan. Which is why he is standing outside of his room, instead of going inside.

‘How? Doesn’t he know what he did?’ he shook his head at this irrational thought. Of course, Hatori does not know. He never told him, and, likely, Kalicharan has not told him either.

Still, it bothers him that Kalicharan is close to Hatori. they are currently discussing the effectiveness of an undead army, something which Munshi never did with Hatori. according to Hatori, he knows the theory, but he never performed it on a large scale.

Though he wanted to kill Kalicharan, he could not do so. The general has forbidden him from doing so after he swore loyalty to the throne. Some footsteps sound behind him, and Zeko turns around to see Avinash coming his way.

“Sir, the general has left.” Said Avinash. “He has assigned you to be the substitute in his place.”

“Very well,” said Zeko, deciding to leave the matter of Kalicharan for the moment. “Any pending issues I need to look over?”

“I do think we need to secure some areas. I prefer if you would take a look at those.” Said Avinash, as they walked to the office where his father was also waiting.

PART 4.

Jeevan Reddy gets the news that the general is coming to the City of Pashtun. He looks around at the camp. just a few months ago, they were close to ruling the entire country. But now, they are camped here like refugees.

“That damn Surendra.” Muttered the Sharma, one of his daily curses against Surendra for driving him out of the country.

“Forget what happened.” Said Jeevan. “We have a golden chance to deprive them of Sundar.”

“How?” they all lean forward, interested in regaining their lost fortune.

“We simply need to surround that area. The wards have to be lowered sooner or later. once that happens, we will attack, and kill the general.” Said Jeevan.

“But what about his guards?” asked the Sharma. “Besides, that general will not be easy to take down either.”

“Don’t worry.” Said Jeevan. “I will go there myself. I will also take our strongest mages to overwhelm them.”

PART 5.

The group does another meeting. “The general has left for the Pashtun land.” Said the Incubi. “I believe they are going to team up with the tribes to drive out the nobles who fled there.”

“Justice. How did you get this info?” asked the Succubi.

“Never used our names. Have you forgotten?” he rebukes the Succubi. “Anyway, news travels fast when things like these are taking place, as there is no way to hide such proceedings.”

“So, what do we do? Sit back and observe how things go in the Pashtun?” asked the human man.

“Exactly.” Said Justice the Incubi. “I get the feeling that this will give us another chance to cause chaos, and maybe draw out Porus and kill him.”