Author's Notes:

Attached to Chp 101


-Year 2055-

"I hate these school trips!" Tabatha complained.

"Ha! Tell me about it!" Her friend was only supportive of her opinion but it did not discourage her eagerness to visit the restricted sights. She tapped away at the holopad whilst the journey was still some time.

Tabatha preferred to spend that time on her latest story. She was still an amateur at writing but it was something she enjoyed. Her favourite writer, S. Roka had inspired her dream to become a writer herself, she instantly fell in love with one of the romance novels she wrote that was a best seller for decades. A part of her always felt that the story was based on an actual account, but there were parts that were too surreal to be real as well. Then again, it was fiction so of course there were parts that weren't real or were overglorified in some way.

Instead, she was dragged into this compulsory trip to an old civil war site.

"Remembering our fathers' and mothers' sacrifices." Were the words used by their aged history teacher Mr De Costa. Word went around that he had once been part of the fabled Mercenary Corp. Lupus Caelum. But those stories of past were buried away by him and the authorities. He was now a grandfather to a large Italian migrant family settled here two generations in Kyrat. But he was the pioneer of that generation.

The bus ride through the populated urban metropolitian areas was a pleasant one at least, thanks to the sweet smell of cakes from a confectionary store nearby and the general ambience of a city. The school bus made its way through a military checkpoint, heading upwards to the cliffs. And where was their destination for this education field trip of theirs?

"Look!" One of her more popular classmates pointed out towards the old abandoned fortress upon the cliff. The remains of the longest and most brutal fighting in the history of the Himalayas.

The Old Royal Fortress. Once the central keep of military might, now a shadow of its former self. Dipilidated and left to crumble to age.

The bus stopped right outside a half-rented gate.

Their History Teacher was the first to come out hobbling on his walking stick, followed by a liason Officer for the school field trip. To ensure they didn't leave the premise with anything dangerous. She couldn't remember that guy's name, only that he was a retired Major and a veteran of the Elipse Wars. A compliation of all the civil wars, wars and confrontations the Himavana Federation had against itself, terrorist organisations, the United States and People's Republic of China from 1988 to 2015. Sometimes the old folks dubbed it the Long Wars for its duration. This year was the approaching end of the Kyrati Queen's hold over the office as head of state before its rotation with another states' Monarch or President. The news said that because Yinke had the largest number of seats presently in Parliament, their President would be the next leader to their Federation of states. Other than that, was the news of the UNs' dissolution due to permanent security members abuse of powers coming to light. How would this fractured world piece itself together again?

"Alright, you lot. Come out quickly and form up. We don't have all day here, Con Fretta."

The students got off the bus lazily but briskly.

"A don't believe it…. The Fortress of the Royal Armys' last stand!"

"Yippee…" Tabatha said void of excitement and appeared more out of sarcasm instead.

"Gather around, I don't want to raise my voice at you brats. Now, as we're gone through before with Mr Layak please do not touch anything from the floor or around you. There may be unexploded munitions lying around so I advise caution. Now I shall pass the flag on to Mr Layak. Layak, if you please?"

"Thank you, sir. Now, as you know this fortress has nearly two hundred years of history. Used to initially fend off the British Empire-….." The guide continued on and on about the long stretched history of this rotting history while moving slowly through the large bastion gate being plied open by something powerful.

One of the boys stood at the rented opening and placed his hands against the rented metal. "Huurrrrgh!" He acted out the pose of opening the gate with his barehands.

"Alright, superman! Your up front, don't step on any claymores on the way." Mr De Costa warned him. He just laughed and followed his friends to scout ahead but not out of Mr Layak's sight.

"Boys…" Tabatha shook her head and walked through the arch of rented metal.

"Huh?" As she was crossing into the compound her eyes seemed to pick up bends in the metal area that looked like handprints. The picture of someone plying the gate open was revisualised in her head thanks to the earlier demonstration by her classmates.

-I must be daydreaming.- That gate was at least a few tons and inches thick of steel.

"Glad you could come, Tabatha." Mr De Costa held out a hand for her as there were ditches of water puddles between them.

"Weren't you the one that prevented me from skipping?"

"If you really wanted to skip, then no one could have stopped you from running."

Tabatha sighed.

"How's that story coming along?"

"…."

"Are you going to let me review it again?"

"With the amount of criticism, you gave the last time. I just might lose interest all together."

"Tabatha, part of writing is to find your weaknesses and improve upon it. That's what makes excellent writers." Her teacher encouraged.

"Whatever…" She walked along to catch up with the group.

"Didn't you once say, you wanted to be like S. Roka?"

Tabatha stopped where she was.

"You don't know the next thing to writing. You're just an old teacher that teaches us mistakes of our forefathers!"

"I've known Madam Roka for a very long time, nearly forty years. We still chat once in a while to check on how each other are doing. So in a way, I knew the elements that inspired her stories, Tabatha. Exposure, this is what you need for your story to be felt by your readers and tug at their emotions as if they were there. I'm not in the privy of saying what she'd gone through but I can say that those books don't even capture half of the fighting, the adventure and flames that brewed between her and her husband….. and the tragedy of it all. Writing comes from the heart. I hope that this trip would encourage you to venture out on your own to give you fresh new ideas."

Listening to his logical explanation, Tabatha had a tinge of pride that said he was wrong even though all he said was the truth. It hurt her pride to know she was not even in the same league as regular writers. So she walked off to the front of the group.

Her history teacher shook his head and chuckled.

"Kids these days, right?" He said as if the fortress had spirits dwelling within the walls. He pretended he heard the laughter returning back from his comment.


"What's that old bag on about?" She had a tantrum the entire way that her friend noticed and giggled at her dispute with Mr De Costa.

"'nother comedy skit?"

"Shut up, QingYue."

"Oh, don't be like that. Say, wanna come to my place after this?"

"I dunno…. I don't like the smell of your dad's breath." Her friend couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm sure he'd be very upset to hear that. He's been trying to replicate the tribe-secret Bai Jiu to impress the Matriarch."

"It's not my fault he sucks." Tabatha replied.

"I'll second that." Her friend's twin brother raised his hand.

"Alright, get going." Her friend slapped his shoulder.

"Aren't you going to be a good big brother to act as our meat shield against "hidden unexploded munitions"?"

"Am I your brother again?" He retorted but went forward after she threatened another slap.

"So what did, Mr De Costa say this time?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing would get you upset."

"(Sigh) It's nothing, he just said to widen my perspective or something." Her friend folded her arms.

"What?"

"Ok, everyone! You're free to explore, just be back here by 1300 and that's 1pm for those you can't understand. If you are in need of assistance or help, don't hesitate to hail me on your smartwatch. Right, have fun and be careful." Mr Layak let them run off.

"Say, where's Mr De Costa?" Tabatha noticed the absence of their history teacher.

"Maybe he stayed at the entrance, who knows."

"I heard there are ghosts of dissatisfied soldiers who died here in that final battle." Her group naturally formed to accompany her wherever they pleased in the grounds of the old Royal Fortress.

"Chill off, Vid."

"Right, where to boss?" The boys were eager to let her and QingYue lead the way as they followed.

Tabatha looked around the rubble and scorch marks from some huge rounds penetrating the concrete.

"How bout we head off to the Command Theatre of operations?" One of the military geeks in her class suggested.

"What's that?" QingYue asked with interest already showing on her face.

"That's usually the place where the Generals gather to discuss strategy and moves. Should be pretty identifiable from inside maps and a huge table with figurines representing army units are." QingYue was eager to see such a place but didn't want to sweat looking for it, so she devised a plan to have the rest help out.

"Ok! First mission, first one to find this Theatre of operations room gets a kiss from Tabs!"

"OI!"

"Sold!"

"Eat my dirt, I'm getting those lips, losers!"

The boys with them and those that heard her declaration went in a wild frenzy searching for the Threatre of War.

"What have you done!"

"Meh!" The playful QingYue just shrugged her shoulders.

Tabatha didn't want to fulfil that promise, she wanted to have a normal relation and share her affections with that person. Knowing the boys, they'd take it a step too far and get a French kiss out of her or worse. Was she that desirable? She didn't want to stay around to find out, though QingYue's twin was quite aggressive in his stance to find the Theatre of operations room.

-Maybe him.-

If she had the choice, she wouldn't let any of them.

"Huh?" As usual her perception was better than her average fourteen-year-old. What she saw was Mr De Costa walking purposefully through the ruins with a bottle of whisky dangling from his free hand while the other hand rested upon the waling stick to bring him there.

Where was this there? She wondered. What business did Mr De Costa have in the ruins of the old and terrible conflict that raged on here?

She followed closely behind so as not to be caught suspiciously tracing him. It would serve as a preoccupant and provide her a place to stay hidden from the rest.

She followed Mr De Costa through the maze of corridors, amazed that he knew his way around the complex.

-He's definitely been here before.-

Tabatha was wholeheartedly convinced of this. As she walked through the same corridors, she bore witness to some things that didn't seem appropriate or were just down right eerie.

Like claw marks in the concrete that were at least two inches deep and craters where bodies slammed into metal struts or the concrete walls and floor. Like monsters were fighting within these very corridors.

After some distance, she saw him walk into a room was lights own. How strange when the power to these areas had been cut nearly four decades ago. Perhaps it was a backup generator, her family had one in the back to power the house in case of blackout. Not that it ever was a problem when the State had a nuclear power plant feeding their households with plentiful power supply. Still, why did Dad even bother to fix one?

She crept as silently as possible to the doorway and listened first before daring a peek.

"Is this all that's left? (Sigh)."

"What can we say, Samson? We're getting old."

"And mellow might I add." Someone joked and was followed with an entire audience of laughter which surprised the hell out of Tabatha who was only expecting Mr De Costa and someone else.

"Alright settle down! Settle down!" Another old voice called out.

"Where's Madam Roka?" One asked. To which Tabatha became shocked her inspiration was mentioned as a part of this group.

"I'm sorry to relay that Saraswati won't be coming. She wants to spend the day with her grandkids." Said Mr De Costa. There was much talking but overall, they accepted the fact.

Tabatha took this chance to peek into the room which seemed to resemble the description that military geek classmate mentioned of the premise of the Theatre of operations room. She found it. But she also found a room full of well-dressed old people ranging from sixty to as old as ninety.

"You sure those brats won't find this place?"

"They haven't got the slightest clue, I bet not even a single one of them even remotely knows what a TO is."

"Couldn't you have taken leave from work today instead?"

"(Sigh) Don't even ask what my Head of Departments is thinking in that young upstart head of his." Mr De Costa cursed his school superior.

Then a quietness stalked the room and Mr De Costa spoke again.

"Glad to have all of you here with us."

"""Glad to be here, alive.""" The crowd replied to Mr De Costa.

"We stand where our friend and family would only be among us in spirit. We survived a hell with no seeming end to it. But we prevailed, not alone but by the side of our demon."

Tabatha listened on as he seemed to mention something that even history books seem to miss out.

"To friendships everlasting, to bonds unbreakable, and to hearts unwaivering. I salute you for being here in their stead and here for those long gone."

"Here! Here!"

The crowd cheered and drank down the shot of whisky from his large bottle.

"You didn't bring enough!"

"No one drinks like they're still in a young party mood, Anish." Mr De Costa said to some elderly guy with the finest suit among the rest.

"If fact, where's all that alcohol you keep in that cellar the last time we visited."

Laughs were heard and the old man too laughed.

"I drunk it all! Haha! I drunk-….(sob)….. I drunk-… it all-…." The old man began to cry.

The room became silent. Then Mr De Costa asked.

"Did you drink their share as well?"

"… Every drop."

"…. Good. Anish….. Good."

Mr De Costa reached into the back of his jacket and pulled out an engraved kukri. All the other oldies did the same, pulling out matching ceremonial knives with ancient engravings of vedic scripts worked into the iron. They held out their knives in front of them.

It was clear to see that Mr De Costa had a serious connection with this group. A cult? A Fraternity? Or just a gathering of old warriors. Tabatha was the only one to bear witness to this secret gathering exclusive to only them.

"Ajay, if you're hearing this. We've lived long and prosperous lives. We've had the privilege of seeing our children and grandchildren grow up into wonderful human beings. All is good in Kyrat with you watching over us. Our children might seem vain and wasteful, but-….. there are some good kids out there that I'll know you'll appreciate. Your legend of Badala, the wrathful asura is waning away little by little."

Tabatha's eyes widen, the history books. What Mr De Costa taught to them, all of it didn't match what he was saying. Why? If what he said was true, then why? Why was history so shrouded? She couldn't understand.

"But I think it's alright. The time of peace you worked so hard to accomplish with your blood spilt on this soil has not been in vain. Your spirit will always be remembered even when we're long gone. Kyrat will prevail."

"You will always be, Kyrats greatest hero."

Mr De Costa raised his kukri.

"When our time comes, promise to let us enter Shangri-La. So we may fight alongside you against the enemy."

"Present!" One man shouted and the whole group raised their engraved kukris in the air.

"Courage."

"""Honour!"""

"Loyalty."

"""Eternal!"""


Tabatha made her way out of the premise as quickly as possible whilst they were still occupied with talking to one another to check up. When she returned to the meeting point, the boys wore saddened expressions.

"Tabs, give us a consolation prize instead!" QingYue's brother shamelessly pursed out his lips.

(Smack)

"OOOuuuuu!" He wailed in pain as his tactless sister flung her back hand towards it and collided with his mouth.

"Loser's weepers. So Tabs, did you find anything interesting while we were gone?"

"Uh-…um." She hesitantly agreed and got QingYue wondering what it was.

"Mmmm…" QingYue was not convinced but let it go.

"Alright, boys and girls. I hope this trip was well worth your time. Some might've found it a waste…"

Mr De Costa looked in her direction. "While some of you had the privilege of finding some unique insight."

Tabatha's heart sunk, she was guessing if Mr De Costa knew she had been spying on them or was it just her guilty conscience playing with her.

Either way, it didn't prevent their trip back to school before their dismissal.

"Tabs, wanna grab a bite before we go home?"

"Uh- sure."

"…. You've been pretty off lately since we visited the fortress ruins."

"Like I said, I'm fine. Just-…. Pictured what it would be like fighting in that fortress back then."

"Wow, the irony. First an advocate now a sympathist."

"Tabatha. May I have a word with you?" Mr De Costa called out.

"Mr De Costa! Well, I'll wait for you at the station. How about that?"

"Thanks, QingYue." Tabatha waved as she dismissed herself from the school.

"Mr De Costa, I-.."

"You think an old man like me wouldn't hear those elephant footsteps behind me?"

"E-Elephant?!" It was a bit exaggerative on Tabatha's end.

"…. So did your trip widen your prespectives a little?" He said with a wide smile.

Tabatha lowered her head thinking about the things that were conversed.

"Ajay…. Ajay Ghale was the Demon?" There was no answer from Mr De Costa, just a wry smile.

"So why?"

"Why what? I'm sure your English Teacher did not neglect her duties."

"You know what I mean, why was this not in the history books?"

"Child, have I not taught you this in the very first lesson? "History, its written by the victor."."

"But weren't you?"

"We were, he was. And this is the history we chose."

"….. Why?"

"There are too many scars of war from the Long Wars. It was a unanimous decision by the people and the monarch of the time. Even so, he will not be forgotten. Even when we, the last who hold his memory vanish from the earth, he will always be watching over our descendants for eternity. And protecting them, protecting you from the greatest evil that has ever lived in these valleys."

Tabatha was curious as to why it sounded more and more like a cult.

"The Asura of Kyrat will always be so long as the monsters that tried to devour Kyrat persist."

The history books and the accounting from Mr De Costa was a league apart. Which was true and which was false? Did it really matter? Tabatha came to a revelation on her point of view regarding story writing and Mr De Costa could see it mature in her eyes.

"I wish you well on your next story." He said before hobbling off with a pipe in his mouth.

Tabatha was left alone with this new open mind towards stories.

Tabatha rejoined her friends excitedly as they enjoyed a meal together to booster her calories for a late-night burning of oil. She didn't slow even a second after getting off the bus as she rushed through the street to her family home in the residential apartments.

(Bam) "I'm home!" She pushed the door quickly to get on with what she had intended to do since heading home.

"Welcome-.. op!- My dear, where are you off to in such a hurry?" Her mother chuckled away.

"I'll have dinner late, thanks mom!" She said without stopping and entered her room. The lamp to her desk was turned on and the stack of fresh A4 paper was placed on her writing table. She often enjoyed the scribbling over type on the computer any day.

Her previous story in the works was shelved in her file organiser as she placed the first page of her newest works in progress on the table.

Tabatha was ever grateful to Mr De Costa for that truly intriguing insight, perhaps she was the first outsider to witness that gathering in over four decades those veterans lived on.

Ajay Ghale, the son of the Golden Path. Was the nemesis of Golden Path itself! History seemed to have forgotten the anti-thesis of Golden Path, Badala the demon of lanka. Or what history books wrote as the forgotten duke. Many historians debated if his existence was real or was it just one of those instances of Schrodinger's Cat. Existing only because they believed he was, perhaps it was just a mere propaganda figure to roost resistance against Golden Path. Mr De Costa and those aged veterans proved that he was every bit real.

He had been forgotten, and it was all by his own doing. The saying of "Don't have wicked intentions, less the demon of Lanka devour you." Was built to keep the governing power of Kyrat in check so they would not fall into depravity and cause their nation to fall into rot.

Whether it was really the case or not. Mr De Costa had inspired her in looking at things from a different perspective, make the audience think it was just something normal then surprise them with a completely unsuspecting plot. Just as surprised as she was to hear those outlandish things they said.

Tabatha tapped her fountain pen on the desk as she thought up the most important step in her new story. What would she name it? A light bulb appeared over her as she stumbled upon something to use and double checked the dictionary app to see if there was a word that could summarize it.

Carefully, she sketched the outline of that title into the first page.

The title she choose, represented the beginnings of her newest wordings for her fresh start.

She chose to call this story…

-Farcry-

"… from the home that I know." Tabatha was convinced that her story would bring a smile to her teacher's face for once.