Chapter 56.

PART 1.

In the night, Zeko hands Hatori a mirror, through which he gets to talk with his parents. They are both surprised at how much he has changed, from his voice to his hardened face. Though he did not tell them anything about the two students he killed this year.

After showing them some new tricks he has picked up, he ends the call.

“Feel better?” asked Zeko, entering the room.

“Yeah, a little.” Said Hatori.

Zeko left Hatori alone because he didn’t want to loom over the boy while he talked with his mother and father. Having no parents himself, Zeko doesn’t get the attachment, but he understands it is important all the same.

PART 2.

After today’s sparring in the morning, Zeko is teaching Hatori a new spell. but before he starts to do that, he has some other things to tell his apprentice.

“You shouldn’t rely on yantras to fix you all the time.” Said Zeko to Hatori, sitting in the training room instead of the garden. Since the spell is going to be destructive, he thinks it is best he teaches it here.

“But what should I do?” asked Hatori.

“Go to the pool.” Said Zeko. “It is located behind the big door near the bathroom.” Said Zeko. “You will have to defeat its guardian to use it though.”

Hatori makes a note to check that out later. “Now, show me how your fire training is coming along.” he orders Hatori.

Focusing on the nearby burning candle, Hatori makes the flame rise and fall with his breathing. “Good. You’re learning this quickly. all those meditation sessions are paying off.” Zeko drives the point mercilessly.

“Soon, we will move on to producing the element in question. but for now, focus on this new spell I’m about to teach you,” instructed Zeko, getting up from his position.

Going to the center of the room, he conjures a boulder. “This is a basic blasting spell, called… Blast. Truly, the art of describing the use just by the name alone should be learned from the original creator of this spell.”

“You perform it like this.” Zeko extends his hand in front of him, palm facing outward. His hand shook slightly, as a sphere comes out of his palm.

It goes to the boulder like a bullet, and after the collision, explodes with a ferocious explosion, breaking the boulder into pieces, while shaking the room in the process. After he is done demonstrating the spell, Zeko takes his seat once more.

“The spell works by containing the energy within a spherical shape. When it collides with anything, the energy is released, resulting in a huge blast. This is like a water

balloon. Throw it with sufficient force, and it explodes, splashing the water everywhere.” Explains Zeko. “Now, practice this spell.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

He then takes out his notebook and lets Hatori try the Blast spell on his own. If he fails to perform it now, he will then provide further instructions.

PART 3.

Elsewhere, Dhanraj is receiving the news about his father from the healer of his family. “So, in recent times, he has shown improvement. He might wake up soon.” Said the woman.

“Very well. Keep it secret.” He orders and dismisses her.

This is going to be one big headache now. He has gotten used to the power, and he thinks he can take the family in the right direction. Mainly, don’t fight the king and his rule, and just keep increasing their influence. Eventually, someone from the Joshis will be selected as a king, or someone close to the king.

But his father won’t listen. Yograj would demand his power back as soon as he wakes up, and try to start from where he left off last time. and Dhanraj can see it ending in disaster, exactly like the last time.

As for the boy touted to be at the center of all this? Dhanraj has stopped paying him any attention. Even though he heard about the very public killing of Swaraj. But he is not bothered by that either. The Academy is a brutal place. And if a ten-year-old can kill you, then you don’t deserve any consideration.

That’s why he has ignored that branch entirely, even though they’ve been hounding him to take revenge upon the boy.

PART 4.

In the current news of the country, visuals of police beating up youth under their remand are going viral among the public. Taking advantage of this, many noble families are condemning Porus, as if he locked those kids up, and beat them up.

This is just a chess game of public relations. His usual brute force methods won’t work here. So, he gives this task to his prime minister, Amarnath Varma, to handle. He knows how to do public relations well, while he and General Sundar watch from the sidelines.

PART 5.

Hatori is waiting for his friends to arrive. His birthday has gone by recently, so this will be a late birthday party for him. Back in the Academy, his friends celebrated their birthdays. Though it was pretty low-key, what with the time taken by their training and exams.

But before he can look forward to meeting everyone, he has to survive this spar against Zeko. He doesn’t feel he is improving anymore, and Zeko isn’t forthcoming exactly during this period. Once more, he is on the floor, exhausted, unable to even touch Zeko. He has ended up many times in this position since he began his vacation.

As Zeko leaves, Hatori tries to drag himself to his feet. But two shadows attacked him at that moment. They have gotten really difficult since he returned from Academy, not only are they stronger, but they also attack him in pairs of at least two.

Unable to defend himself or damage them in his exhausted state, Hatori passes out when they choke him with his shirt.

(End.)