Chapter 33: The Dragon Realm

The Chariot landed in the front courtyard and the passengers alighted. Uzman stretched as he surveyed Battal’s home.

“Welcome to my humble abode and make yourselves at home,” Battal said, smiling warmly. You could tell he was content and proud of his home from the way his eyes lighted up as he surveyed his kingdom.

“If this is a humble abode I can’t wait to see an ostentatious one,” Jingo snorted.

Battal walked to the foyer and a bell peeled out. After a few seconds, a young woman emerged from the main house. She had blue eyes and luxurious black hair that fell in waves to her waist. Her pale complexion highlighted her flawless skin making her look ethereal.

“Uncle! You arrived earlier than we were expecting, did you help the governor with the beast wave?” the goddess asked while floating gracefully toward them.

“Ah, where are my manners, I am Zuhura Amir; and this annoying man is my uncle. Welcome to our home-”

“But first, show them to the washing area. They have been through a lot and desperately need to clean up. Also, tell Mina to rustle them up some appropriate clothes if they do not have some,” Battal interjected.

Uzman and Jingo were led from the foyer to an exterior bath house that was sited to the left of the main house, past a grand pavilion. Inside there was a water pool with a ceramic floor. There were faucets spaced along the side of the pool indicating that it was a communal bath. There were crafted stone seats inside the pool and formations to adjust the temperature of the water. After explaining how the bath worked, Zuhura left them at the pool and indicated that they should ring one of the bells when they were done.

“There is something that I have been wanting to ask you,” Uzman asked as he luxuriated in the warm water reclining on a stone seat. “Were you in Kolcita when the Centurion murdered my family and torched our homes?” This issue had been nagging at Uzman as he had interacted with Jingo. He needed to understand the motivations and reasoning of those who carried out those atrocities to gain closure.

“Whether I was there or not will not change what happened. I have been part of such cleansings and have a good idea of what happened. As I had informed you; my sins and crimes are my own. I neither seek nor ask absolution from you or anybody.” Jingo answered while keeping his eyes closed.

“I ask because I need to understand. In my sleep I see our Speaker crucified upside down on the gate of the village, the rivers of blood flowing through the forest; and the missing children,” Uzman countered.

“You do not know anything about me or the soldiers in the Inquisitor’s legion. Sometimes you have to make a choice between two evils, and things just go downhill from there. To get answers about the abducted children, you would need to speak with the ArchDuke of Silicia or Prince Zaibatsu. The soldiers are just small cogs and most of them did not have a choice.

“Without trying to justify my actions or part in the atrocities; my family and those of other soldiers are held hostage to enforce obeisance. Talk to me about morality when you have had your sister raped before your eyes and then discarded like common trash, your young brother turned into a eunuch to satisfy the whims of those stronger than you. Yes, talk to me about morality then. When you try to kill yourself and then realize it will just be a further waste. Let us have that discussion then.”

Uzman was startled by the vehemence and pain in Jingo’s voice. The warrior had opened his eyes holding Uzman’s in unflinching defiance; eyes that shone with unshed tears and the weight of dark experiences. He almost felt sorry for Jingo. But like most people, Uzman could only relate experiences and make choices based on what he valued.

Silence reigned in the bathhouse as Uzman tried to come to terms with Jingo’s revelations. Jingo had donned his silence mask after the outburst, and once more, sat with his eyes closed.

After taking the much-needed bath, Uzman and Jingo dressed in the fine robes they were given and joined Battal in the main house.

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Inside, they were ushered into a dining area where a sumptuous meal had been laid out. Uzman, Jingo, Battal, Zuhura, Mina, and another young man, who was introduced as Jamal, sat around a rectangular table.

Saying the food was delectable or exquisite would not do the food justice. Uzman was amazed by the flavoring and taste. On inquiring, Uzman was informed that the food had been prepared using expensive spiritual herbs to aid in cultivation.

“Do all people eat like this?” Jingo asked, he too could feel the energy trickling into his meridians.

“Ha! Mina here is the greatest cook in the Dragon realm, and I dare say, beyond,” Battal said pointing to the brown-haired woman who was blushing at the compliments.

“It is nothing much, having the right ingredients is more than half the task,” Mina brushed away the compliments demurely.

Uzman looked around the table, the good-natured ribbing made him feel nostalgic for his home. On a whim, he opened his energy sense and assessed each of the occupants of the room. Just as he had noticed before, Battal was devoid of any aura; Mina also did not have any noticeable aura. However, he could recognize that Zuhura and Jamal were stronger than Jingo even though they were similar in age to Uzman. He was therefore the weakest person among those present.

“Have you quenched your curiosity?” Battal arched his left eyebrow inquiringly. He had finished his meal, dabbed his lips with a napkin, and pushed the plates to the center of the table.

“What do you mean,” Uzman asked.

“You know what I mean,” Battal stated pointedly. Every eye at the table swiveled and fixated on Uzman.

“Ah, that. I was checking to see if my energy sense was working,” Uzman answered embarrassed.

Battal laughed good-naturedly. “Don’t worry about it, only people who are attuned to energy variances could feel what you were doing. However, your method is very crass and would not provide useful information.”

“What are you guys talking about?” Zuhura asked curiously.

“We are discussing how best to evaluate the cultivation strength of another person,” Uzman answered taking the discussion on a different tangent.

“Isn’t that only possible from the elemental manipulation level where a person can evaluate aura strength by latching using elemental tendrils? It is also considered very rude and an invasion of personal space,” Zuhura asked

“Bah! There is always more than one way to skin the proverbial cat. Any person who has an open energy sense meridian can assess the aura of another person without latching. Also as you gain more control over your element, you can brush over the aura of a person without them knowing about it.

“Our guests have had a rough day and I would assume would want to rest for the night before we decide on the way forward. Show them to their sleeping quarters. We will discuss more tomorrow in morning about the next steps you should take.”

After the meal, Uzman and Jingo were shown to the sleeping guest quarters for the night.

Uzman settled in one of the guest bedrooms and retrieved his book from the pendant. He had been lucky that in the fight with the Imperial soldiers and the beasts, the pendant had remained untouched. Maybe it was a testament to superior craftsmanship or he was simply lucky.

‘Master Khallid I have managed to travel to the Dragon realm and met a very interesting man by the name of Battal. Would you happen to know about him?’

‘That old rascal is still alive? I am surprised that nobody has sent him to the reincarnation wheel. He was once my teacher and then abandoned me to my own devices,’ Khallid grumbled.

‘Do not trust him fully as he always has an agenda. However, if he is willing to teach you; accept quickly as you cannot find a finer teacher in any of the realms.’

‘He seems quite knowledgeable and powerful. You cannot imagine the kind of things he can do,’ Uzman gushed.

‘I can feel that he has already made a positive impression on you. To you, he may seem like a god. To a mortal non-cultivator, an elemental cultivator may also seem to be a god. I do not doubt his strength since he was a Soulcrafter who managed to ascend while I was still in the Mind realm. But remember his objectives span much more than the world of Tanga and his decisions usually reflect a wider scale.’

‘Now that I am in this realm, how am I supposed to undertake the blood awakening ritual?’ Uzman asked. He had been unhappy with Khalid for providing sparse information on a rite that was critical to his development.

‘My blood awakening was performed in Tanga under the assistance of Battal. From what I remember, the traditional approach is for you need to climb dragon peak and prove yourself worthy. You should ask Battal to guide you on this issue. He is more knowledgeable than I ever was.’

‘So you advise me to trust him fully?’

‘Yes, as far as your training is concerned. He will do right by you so long as your objectives converge. Just be careful when negotiating with him as he is very crafty. Also, state your intentions clearly to ensure that he understands your perspective. He is an honorable man, but his honor may not always align with your expectations or view. So just be smart about your interactions. Battal is the one man I would be confident entrusting my legacy and the Clans to.’

‘Thank you for your advice, as always,’ Uzman wrote as he closed the book.

Uzman reflected on the challenges he had faced during the day; the choices that had led to meeting Battal, and bringing him closer to his goals. Through a twist of fate, he had been forced into a situation where he had made decisions leading him in a tunnel with the brightest glimmer of light at the end.