Pack your things, Tanya commanded, addressing Maiya, who stood in her bedroom. We travel for Sonam, the capital city of the Kinjal Empire.
What? Maiya asked, incredulous. Now!?
Yes, now. I have already seen to our supplies. Co now, quickly pack your things and let us be off.
Maiyas breath caught. She rapidly sorted through the various excuses she could give the woman. But nothing she ca up with had any weight.
II cant, she laly said in the end.
Young woman, this is not a request. You are coming with .
I have to tell Vir sothing. I cant leave before I do! she blurted. It was a terrible excuse, and Tanya knew it.
I will be happy to pass on your ssage. You can even seal the envelope if you like. I shall not peek, the woman in black leather said with a knowing grin.
Maiya panicked. This was all sorts of wrong. She was supposed to escape with Vir tonight! She couldnt go. Not now.
Then again, what options did she have? Even if she sohow escaped on her own, what about Vir? What would happen to him? Would Riyan punish him in her stead? She could easily see the man resorting to such asures.
No, she said at last. This can wait until tomorrow.
Tanya shook her head. You have done well, Maiya, she said, her hands on her hips. Your control over prana has progressed far beyond any student I have ever seen.
Uh, thanks? Maiya said. She still hadnt gotten used to the womans sudden change in attitude. Ever since shed shown signs of rapid progress, Tanya had treated her with respect, as if her prior mistreatnt had never even happened.
Yet as strong as you are, you are still barely at the level of a Lesser jai Sorcar. As you stand, you can charge a single B grade orb in one minute, and only in a controlled setting. With your affinities, you can go further. Much further.
What exactly are you trying to say?
In Sonam, you will et my instructor. With his knowledge, youll be able to charge even A Grade spells. Imagine it. You could beco a jai of Ash like .
Maiya paused. That did sound tempting. Why the rush, though? Cant we leave tomorrow?
Not everyone in this world has unlimited free ti like yourself. The more important a person, the more obligations they have. My instructor is very important. His ti is precious. When he says go, we go. Understand?
Maiya fell into thought. Maybe she could pretend to go along, then steal an Ashva and run for it when Tanya wasnt looking? That was dood to fail. Vir had taken Bumpy to visit the cave for final preparations under the guise of training. He wasnt due back for hours.
None of the other Ashva listened to Maiyaonly Bumpy.
What if I went with her? Whispered a small voice at the back of her head.
She hadnt even considered it until Tanya ntioned the possibility of learning A rank spells. As a jai of Ash, Maiya would command respect the world over. Shed have no issues gaining employnt anywhere. She could live with Vir no matter where they fled toand they would live like kings.
H-how long would we be gone? she asked. If this instructor of Tanyas was as busy as she claid, Maiya doubted the trip would be a long one.
My instructor will help you break through the barrier youve faced with your prana channeling. After that, it is upon you to progress. We will be in Sonam for a few days at most.
This can work, she thought. If she went with Tanya, she could learn what she needed to, then return and escape with Vir right after. This sudden developnt disturbed her, but she could spin this to their advantage. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise.
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Then let just pack my things, Maiya said, leaving Tanyas room.
Be ready in fifteen minutes. We must ride at once.
After packing her gear, she grabbed so charcoal and parchnt and scribbled a quick note to Vir. Simple and to the point. This way, even if Maiya ended up stuck in Sonam, Vir would have a trail to follow.
Satisfied, she stuck the parchnt under their mattress, along with a little sothing shed been making for her friend.
Be a good boy, alright Neel? she said, hugging the bandy.
Arooo!
After taking one last glance around the room, she headed out, locking the bedroom door behind her.
Riyan watched Tanya ride off into the desert with Maiya, then made his way to the bedroom Vir and Maiya shared, bypassing the lock. Neel looked up at him curiously, his tongue wagging.
The man petted the animal, then with slow, sure steps, walked to Maiyas bed and felt under the mattress. His fingers found a piece of parchnt and a beaded bracelet.
For many months, hed known about Vir and Maiyas secret hiding spot under the bed. He also knew they had created a stash sowhere deep within the cave network to the south.
Though he didnt know their cave caches exact location, it was impossible to miss all the items that had suspiciously disappeared. They had been clever about it, taking only insignificant quantities of supplies and small denominations of coin, spread out over weeks and months. No doubt they thought themselves clever.
The overconfidence of youth, he whispered, turning the piece of parchnt over, reading over Maiyas note to Vir.
Gone to Kinjal capital Sonam. Back in a week. If I dont return, find at the largest tavern in the city at dusk. Also, heres a little sothing I made for you! Couldnt wait to give it to you. As thanks for helping out with everything.
Well, we cant have that now, can we? he said, taking a piece of charcoal from the fireplace embedded into the wall. He sared Maiyas writing before pocketing the parchnt. He left the other item shed stashed untouched.
I am sorry, Maiya. But this old man needs your friend. He may very well be my last ray of hope.
Vir returned to the abode at dusk, exhausted after a long day of inventorying and packing supplies. The provisions were all ready to go. All that remained was to make their escape.
For hours now, hed been unable to calm his heart in anticipation of their grand departure. Where would they end up? What would life be like with just the two of them?
But the mont he ushered Bumpy into the stable, he knew sothing was wrong. Tanyas Ashva was missing. That wasnt of imdiate concern to himshe would sotis leave to train with Maiyabut never at night.
With a sinking feeling, he entered the ho to find it empty. He tore through the halls to his bedroom, but found no trace of Maiya. Neither was she in the training do, nor the grotto, nor the kitchen or any of the living rooms. No matter how much he called her na, there was no response.
Growing desperate, Vir searched under her mattress, finding only a pretty beaded bracelet. Throwing aside the bracelet, he ran out, up to the leafless tree on top of the abode.
Empty.
Vir returned slowly, his steps heavy. In his mind, a hundred possibilities blood. Had Riyan caught onto their plan? Had Maiya gone off sowhere with Tanya? Without even leaving a note? It made no sense; shed never do that!
Upon entering the ho, he found Riyan with his arms crossed, waiting for him.
Wheres Maiya? Vir shouted. Where is she?
She left on a training trip with Tanya earlier today. They will be gone for so weeks.
Where? Vir asked, a knot forming in the pit of his stomach.
You need not concern yourself with her anymore.
What do you an
Co with , Riyan interrupted. His voice showed that he wasnt asking.
Vir bit his tongue, silently following the big man into his bedroom. This was the first ti hed stepped inside, and to his surprise, it was about the sa size as their own. His eyes found only a bed, a nightstand, a bookshelf, and a single piece of decorationa small frad painting atop the nightstand depicting three people. A man, his wife, and their daughter.
Riyans family, Vir guessed.
The bookshelf was filled to the brim. On the Matali Artifact, Gods and Artifacts, Artifact and the Ashen Realm... almost every book had sothing to do with Artifacts, but Vir had never once heard the man ntion them. Was this just a hobby, or was there sothing more?
Sit, the man said before Vir could inspect the bookshelf any closer. They each took seats on chairs at the end of the room beside a large circular window that looked out onto the dunes.
You fought well against Maiya. She has grown strong in the ways of magic, but you? You triumphed over a formidable opponent. jai are difficult to kill, yet you have honed your skills to a level where such feats are now possible.
Riyan leaned forward in his chair. Do you know why I have brought you here? he asked, pressing his fingers together.
You want to call in your favor, dont you?
He nodded slowly, gazing at Vir while he stroked his beard. The warrior you are today is due to , and alone. The ti has co to repay your debt.
Vir didnt like this. Not one bit. Despair intertwined with anger, and his vision swooned.
I want you to kill the Hiranyan Third Princess. I want you to end the blight that is Mina Hiranya.
Next ti: 61 - Regicide
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