Chapter 92.

PART 1.

Munshi has sent Zeko a letter. He was the mage who advised him in Hatori’s early training, and he was also present during Hatori’s beastly invasion. The letter talks about it in detail. Munshi was impressed with what Hatori managed to do despite lacking the resources.

He would have written him sooner, but the time of a necromancer is always in short supply, so he didn’t have a chance to write earlier.

Though Zeko is happy that he got a first-hand account of his student's exploits, he scoffed in his head. ‘Typical Munshi. You didn’t have much time in the Academy days either.’

Controlling his bitterness, Zeko puts the letter in a secret compartment of his desk, where he has saved all correspondence with his friends. A letter signed by Kalicharan peaks out in the pile, but Zeko shuts it quickly rather than look at that letter.

PART 2.

Corvus is reading a report by Professor Prakriti, the professor of zoology at the Academy. Corvus gave her the task of monitoring the modified animals in the forest where Hatori tampered with them, and to give him a report about them to know whether he might need to take some action to safeguard the school from those beasts.

According to her report, these beasts do not present a threat to the school altogether, but in her recommendation, students should not be allowed to explore that forest by themselves.

This miffs Corvus. In his opinion, if the students think that they can take the dangers of the world, then it is not his problem if they die. More people are to be used as fertilizer in his opinion. Besides, the Academy is already famous for its danger. People might think that Hatori caused a massive amount of damage by his invasion, but the reality is that that damage wasn’t even a fraction of what academic politics does every year.

Most people are insulated from it, so they never realize it. But Corvus brightens after thinking of a loophole. He can forbid the students from going into the forest, but he doesn’t have to put any buriers there. If they still managed to wander into this dangerous zone and got killed for it, then it is not his problem.

He signed on to the proposal happily afterward. He feels like his master is laughing at his deathly existence, seeing him do the paperwork like this. But the old man is lucky. He would have made him do all the paperwork if he was alive.

Suddenly, the laughter halts with choked horror.

PART 3.

Hatori is trying to animate a rock. He has been at this task for hours already, ever since Zeko finished telling him what exactly animation is. One thing it certainly is not, and that is creating wonderful stories through drawn characters.

He is also thinking, why does almost every new magic trick he learns start with rocks? Newly awakened magic? levitate rock. Transmutation? Work with rocks and other materials. Learning Earth Element? Learn to bring out rocks from the ground. Trying to learn conjuration? Conjure rocks. Learning animation? Animate a rock.

As the rock fails to move, Hatori remembers Zeko’s words. “Animation allows us to impart movement to non-living objects, through enchantments and without using runes. This can be quite useful in battle.”

Hatori has used those enchantments with his runic system to understand how exactly they work. You do need to understand how runes allow yantras to move; otherwise, you could end up getting lost in the confusing mess of symbols. Luckily for him, Hatori already knew about these runes.

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Though it is taking time, the animation is coming to him slowly. Sensing the rock's left and right repeatedly, Hatori thinks to himself. ‘First this rock. Then, the whole building. Imagine the destruction I could cause with this.’

He imagined himself on a tall building or a statue, which was moving around and causing havoc. The magic doesn’t seem to affect it, for he has already carved runes on it to defend it from attacking spells.

He couldn’t help but let out an evil chuckle.

PART 4.

Ramesh likes to loom over anyone who is working for him, to make them feel his presence known, and to make sure that they understand who is the boss. Currently, he is looming over Santosh, who is working despite that, on a list.

“What are you working on?” he asked.

“I’m thinking about the weaknesses of Hatori.” Said Santosh. “From emotional attachments to weaknesses in his fighting skills, it is all here.”

“Have you thought of a plan after making this list?” asked Ramesh.

“Yes. I think we won’t be using the emotional attachment part. People behave irrationally and unpredictably if you threaten someone else. Instead, threaten them personally.” Said Santosh.

“But he is not a weakling.” Reminds Ramesh.

“I know.” Said Santosh. “But for all his training under Zeko, and his fighting experiences, there are bound to be some weakness we can take advantage of.”

Clapping him on his shoulder, Ramesh says some words of encouragement. “Continue on this. I’m sure you will come up with a great plan.”

So far, he is pleased with Santosh’s initiative. Whether he succeeds or not will depend on his skill and his good fortune.

PART 5.

Zeko is reading the news, while Hatori is reading a book that Raven brought him by copying it from the library of the Academy. It is a book about finding nutritious food in the forest. Not only does it talk about animals that are safe to eat, but it talks about plants, fruits, and vegetables which can be found in the wilderness. It also talks about cooking these things, if the reader is lucky enough to have a fire.

Clucking his tongue, Zeko throws the newspaper down on the floor in disgust. “I couldn’t believe it. To burn someone’s home like that, and they get away? More like you let them!”

Hatori has never seen Zeko rant like that. So he directs the reading spell to the newspaper to read the news for himself. He is surprised when he hears the text.

“Yesterday, a second-year Academy student comes home, and finds his entire home burned to the ground by a high family.” Read the news. “The boy named Suraj, a blind mage, couldn’t believe what had happened to him. his mother couldn’t do anything but sob, too traumatized for words, while his father lies in hospital, who received burns while saving the younger children from the fire.”

“The only crime of this family was to walk on the newly made road. The perpetrators of this violent attack believe that a noble high-cast person deserves to walk first on a newly built road.”

“Suraj…” said Hatori, unable to say anything else.

“You know the boy?” asked Zeko, having heard Hatori.

“Yeah. He is set to enter his third year this year. He can’t see, just like me.” said Hatori.

Zeko watches his student. It seems he does not know how to react to this terrible news. The reality is, no one at any age knows how to react to news like this.

A home is a private sanctuary, a safe place from the chaos and brutality of the world outside. The only place where you can lie down in peace and have a rest. Getting this sanctuary violated in this brutal fashion can shake anyone, and no child ever forgets an event like this one.

(End.)