5.

"You are being ridiculous. It's just

stupid and doesn't make any sense

whatsoever." She stared hard at him.

She had a way of looking intense even

with a blank expression. That was a

trick Viaan wanted to learn. He was

sure anyone could read his feelings

just by a single look of his face. He

never had to suppress his feelings so he

had no idea what the girl before him

had faced. He trusted her because she

knew how he felt and she never told

him what to do but she gave him time

to grieve. She waited till he wanted to

talk and didn't pressurise him. All his

new acquaintances did that. He wasn't

ready to talk to anyone yet. He knew

what he lost, but he didn't know how to

cope with it. He had lost his father at a

very young age and he had his family

to take care of him then. He couldn't

say the same now. He had to take action

now. He couldn't afford to be weak

and out of wits now. His mother knew

something and she sacrificed her life

for the very same thing. He couldn't let

it go to waste by being unresponsive.

He could cry all he wants when he was

alone in the confines of his room. But

outside, he was a prince who would

bring justice. He wouldn't be coddled

anymore from the harsh truths and evil

lies. "You think I'm not making sense

but I think I'm making complete sense.

You don't know anything about magic.

It's like you had some sort of barrier in

your kingdom. Why wouldn't your magic

act up once it is free? You practised with

Vidyut. I don't think you knew what

was your ability in that practice. Your

magic acts when you don't. People don't

realise that. It's kind of involuntary

reaction. Why don't you focus on this

fact?" Viaan moved towards the side of

the building which had a staircase. It

looked rusty but was neat enough. The

buildings were suffering from wear

and tear and there was much to repair.

It looked like they were ignored which

was something Viaan thought very odd.

The other thing was that the street was

empty even though it was a part of a

busy bustling street. He sat on the railing

of the staircase very carefully. He was

ignoring what she had said. He would

never believe that he had some kind

of different unknown power. He was

baffled when she had said enhancer.

He was okay at best when he tried that

exercise with Vidyut. It was true no one

practised magic in Mihira. There was

no specific rule but people relied on

their hard work there. He never had to

use magic or he was never told about

the magic. He didn't know which was

the case. His parents never talked to

him about magic, how was he to know?

"Maybe it's a misunderstanding. That

can happen too." She turned away

and focused on the empty dumpster.

She was so focused that Viaan started

blaming himself. He worried that he said

something and upset her. Granted he

did say something stupid. He was being

arrogant but he had no other alternative.

"You will believe when you see what I

see. I don't want to argue and let's get out

of here before it becomes more quiet."

She abruptly said. Her every word was

more confusing than the previous one.

He wanted so much to ignore that but

her answer felt ominous to him. She

didn't tell anyone about his plight and

she put the herbs and everything else

in the cabinet. She later signaled him to

follow to the Chief's room. She explained

how they fought off those warriors

and based on Adhyay's expression, he

noted that it was a normal incident to

them. "Thanks for not telling," he told

her when they were dismissed. She

shrugged. "It wouldn't be effective if

you continued to disagree. When you

figure out about it, we can talk. And

trust me, I know many things which no

one knows. I have been on my own for

a long time and I saw many terrible and

horrifying things. Yours was a surprise,

but I shouldn't have not expected that.

Knowing your family, you had to be

special." What did the last sentence

mean? Viaan was puzzled over it for

the most of the afternoon and evening.

He was glad that no one disturbed him

because they thought he needed rest

and alone time. He did need that. He

used that time to think and remember

what he didn't notice the day he saw

his mother for the last time. His eyes

always filled with tears when he thought

that. He sat down and looked outside

the window into the vast endless green

forest bathed in the light if the setting

sun. Soon people would light lanterns

to welcome the moon. He immensely

liked the way people believed in gods

and how they never wavered from

their faith. His people welcomed the

sun God every morning and the people

here did the same for the moon God.

Faith was the most powerful thing he

knew. He believed he had to know the

truth and redeem himself and to unveil

the murderer. He couldn't do that by

sitting around and moping. He needed

all the help he could get. He got up and

searched for Nairiti. She was the best

person who could guide him. Even if

it meant, he had to listen to her theory

about his magic, he wasn't backing

down. He searched for her everywhere

and someone from the cooking room

told him that she was outside. He saw

her waiting in the moonlight and seeing

the lantern floating away from her.

"I honor every tradition. Each has its

meaning. This is for my family." Viaan

was standing there speechless. She knew

it was him and she willingly answered

the question without him questioning

her. "You were so young then?" She

never looked at him. The lights were

mesmerizing and his eyes followed

many lanterns floating away in the

cool breeze. "I was the youngest. I had

an elder sister. She saved me. She put

me in a boat and ran back to my mom

and dad. I knew what was happening

but I couldn't do anything. That day

never leaves me. It was the last day

of the kingdom I knew as Velika. The

morning made it a new kingdom, one

which had no royal family." Viaan feltthe pain she felt on a normal basis. She didn't hide it, it was very much clear in her eyes. But no one understood it. His heart ached for the little girl who lost her family, the girl who lived on her own, the girl who now fought soldiers to avenge her family. She never lost hope. She was helping him and he was grateful for that. He promised himself that he would never abandon her and help her the same way when time came. They stood there watching the lanterns and their beautiful lights for a long time before Vidyut came calling for them for dinner. He was followed by an another guy whose name Viaan didn't remember. Nevertheless, he followed them and vowed to don something about his life and get it under control.

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