The pain was like metal rods being stabbed into his brain, the trigger was recalling that day. He looked at Daisy and then to her friends, their expressions said the same thing.
Who was Hurk?
Ajay turned around and left immediately, to have some time to himself. Being here for another second was continuing the agony and pain he was feeling, of something that just up and disappeared. Like a gap began to take root in him. He picked up his bag and made for the gate that was opened for him by the hunter watchmen.
"Ajay. I-." Daisy reached out and clasped his arm.
"You're responsible for yourself from now on. Jayama may have let you stay from the time being but from today onwards, you can forget about asking for my help. If you leave the premise of the village, I will have the constables deport you back to the states. And if I hear that you hinder or endanger my men in any way…." Ajay shook her off as he glared at Daisy like he never had, in a way he only showed to foes.
"I'll kill you."
Daisy dropped to her knees in disbelieve. "No-…. Ajay….."
"You were right on one thing, Daisy Lee. The Ajay you knew before you left him, died. I am Badala of Kyrat, and you are all foreign aliens in my country soil. Misbehave and the consequences will be dire." He said to all of them in an aggressive tone. Ajay turned about and left not even sparing a glance back.
Daisy had the appearance like one of her main strings had been cut, rendering her completely unable to support herself upright. Riley had seen what their insistence of staying in Kyrat had done to strain the relationship between Daisy and her ex into an irreconcilable path.
No words could come out from his mouth to say how sorry he was, how sorry they all were. Patter of teardrops fell from her eyes and dampened the floor. Liza watched the entire episode and felt a strange feeling of nostalgia. It was exactly the same as when Jason had left them for the island of Rook, for a tribe that felt more connected than their seven years of close relation.
So, she took pity on Daisy's predicament and bent down beside her to lend a shoulder.
Ajay cared not for them anymore, if they got in his way he would kill them. And like a shackle of chains within him had broken.
Ajay had severed his Karma with Daisy.
He did not expect the next sensation to arise from it. A sudden jolt in power that channelled through his spiritual veins from a completely unknown wellspring of Prana. His spiritual awareness boosted to the point he could see a flow of Karma withering in the air and signatures of some living beings near him. But it soon became obvious, as he recalled his inner demon's words of caution.
"Karma can be used as a weapon, eh?"
In the forest, he took the long route by walking back to his city and people. His eyes felt a sting of saltiness as tears dropped from them, and a welling pain brew in his chest that only grew in strength.
"What a disgusting feeling…."
Far up in the mountains, housed in a certain valleys temple sacred grounds. A powerful entity who had been the orchestrator of much that was happening to Kyrat flashed open her eyes. She could sense the link of Karma that polluted his potential eradicated and on his own will. His path was becoming clearer and clearer, soon he would have all the provisions to fulfil the requirements. Then, the real war could begin against the Betrayer.
"What did I tell you?"
Returning from an intense training regime, the three men formed an unlikely trust in one another's combat abilities. Han Feng felt out of place here, before anything he was a Commander in the Armoured Regiment, vehicle fighting was his thing than what the other two were capable of.
One was a former Deva that specialized in field combat, the other was an understudy of Ajay, equally skilled and strong. But his interaction with them was nothing like he had expected. For one, Vasu was friendly enough to share techniques and to build on his close quarter combat abilities as it would be key to survival against the new breed of foe. Although Jeevan stayed indifferent as much as possible, he did provide him with directions in their street clearing exercise in the Urban Ops Centre as well as methods of gunfighting. He just didn't expect him to remain so quiet, he expected jeering and belittling as he deserved from a person he'd put at odds with his own family. Especially at the state of Han Feng's own family.
Sun Kwan had adjusted well to his position as an instructor in the PDF training school, a little too well that the militia command gave him the appointment as the Head instructor. Since his extremely valuable combat knowledge could be applied into the training regime for tactics and formations.
They had arrived at the Lakshman Arsenal on Ajay's orders, what was it about he didn't specify. But they wouldn't question him as it wasn't important to, so heading from Lanka to the City of Lakshman was a break from training. They hadn't heard from him since he'd left to meet with Darshan, only Vasu had a rough idea of what they were doing for the last nine days away.
"What have you been doing for the last two weeks?!" A voice of accusation rung across the Arsenal and make every of the workers stop to turn their heads in the general direction before the supervisory workers settled them back to work.
Vasu and the boys came into full view of the dispute going on between Ajay and Elina with Jamuna, Samar's apprentice.
"Are you saying that if you were here instead to run this facility, you could have churned out fifty thousand rifles in a span of two weeks?!" Elina defended her case and caught Ajay where his tongue was. He clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.
"Both of you, in the office now! You're making a scene!"
"Jamuna, no. I want to hear it from him first."
"Elina!-." The newly-appointed chief armourer tried to stop her.
"Well? I'm waiting."
"Don't cross a line you can't walk back from." Ajay warned her of her place.
"You made me do that! These people are your employees not your slaves!"
Ajay walked over to a crate and pulled out a rifle.
"You see this, Elina? How much pain staking effort one of the workers put into building a complete piece with his hands all day. And how it used to both take and save lives in equal measure? Now….(crack)" He snapped the rifle with his knee and arms, which shocked both of them with the sudden action.
"The place I'm sending the Jatayu, you think they'll survive with a piece of junk like this? Which its only function left would be for them to shoot themselves!" He threw what was left at their feet.
"My lord…." Elina said with anger withheld.
"My men's lives are in your hands, Elina. Every weapon they're short of one more will die. Don't you feel proud? Knowing the kind of power you hold over peoples' lives now? Isn't that what you've always wanted."
"I wanted none of that!"
"Both of you ENOUGH!" The Chief Armourer shouted to end their petty argument.
"To the office, now!" She said as she dragged Elina and expected Ajay to follow.
""….."" Both of them quietly followed, wasting their breath further would do them no good. If anything, they only made a scene that created rumors on why the Lord urgently needed these strange modifications to the weapons done. These engravings.
Ajay was made aware of the three of them as Vasu approached him.
"Wait at Chang-san's workshop and I'll meet you there in a bit."
"Shall I accompany you at least, Elina can have a tempe-."
"Wait-….. at-…. Chang-san's."
"… Yes." Seeing that Ajay was in a foul mood, Vasu pressed no further and obediently took the rest to follow him to the designated venue.
"What was that all about?" Han Feng couldn't help but ask.
"I would like to ask the same thing." Said Jeevan in agreeal.
"He's redistributing arms with anti-Demon talismans which Darshan supplied in blueprint. From what happened, it appears things are not going to plan."
"I know Elina isn't the sort to slack off, the rifles come out in good order and number because of her stringency." Jeevan declared based on his many comings and goings from the Lakshman Arsenal.
"We all know. But it seems that Ajay is not too assured based on the calculations he's made. Worse of all, its making his functions detrimental."
"This coming from someone who used to act before thinking."
"I'm not one judge him for what he's doing, but at least I can see its causing him to lose focus on the smaller details."
"Are these Rakshasa really this terrifying?" Han Feng asked.
"You remember why the rebellion started, didn't you? But did you ask how he ended up in that position where the Rebel sympathy suddenly had the balls to rise up?" Jeevan posed him the question.
"…"
Han Feng found it strange that none of the high-level Rebel leaders never questioned this detail either, it couldn't possibly have been that he tripped and fell on his own. It was definitely done by someone or some lot. And apparently, it was these Rakshasa he'd heard about but never seen. Both of the men with him had a first-hand taste of their abilities and it showed during their training. They were more cautious of their surroundings than normal people were about situational awareness.
"And now, we're fighting the Americans as well. Two fronts, will they ever believe this if we told them?"
"It's better if they didn't, a man's fear can drive them to do crazy things without regard to his surroundings." Vasu was not far from Ajay's own assumptions about their interpretation of the Rakshasa as a serious threat to humanity and the measures they would take to ensure their survival.
As the door was left open for them, Chang-san greeted them as he'd expected their arrival. The three made themselves at home by waiting at the couch as he went to the pantry to brew tea like they were his clients, they technically were. Scattered about the floor were design sketches and half-finished design pieces. Han Feng wandered a little deeper and found sitting on a mantle was Ajay's armoured suit, half-damaged.
Fabric torn, ceramic plates fractured at places, metal grazed. The user really put it through its paces.
But it would soon be brought back to fully repaired status by it original designer, Chang-san. Chiffon may have designed and built the two previous iterations but Mumu had given complete authoirity in the mark three design and build. Even so, it seemed that the armour was beginning to lag behind its wearer in terms of performance, evident by the damage wrought not by sustaining hits from gunfire but manhandling.
"Thanks for the wait." Ajay arrived in the workshop to have their business done.
"Chang-san, the projects if you will." The arsenal's trusty designer of uniforms, armour and combat webbing went to the back of his storage to retrieve the items he'd been requested to construct.
"Are you alright?" Vasu asked Ajay.
"I'm fine. But Elina didn't seem to understand we're on war footing now."
"Can you really blame her? When she like the rest thinks the Civil War has ended and we're fighting some kind of secret war behind everybodies backs."
"…."
"So what the the result?"
"We have four thousand rifles at hand by Wednesday, even less hand-to-hand combat weapons."
"That won't equip all of the brigade." Jeevan was most familiar with the numbers.
"We'll have to distribute them three per seven-man section. That's the best we can do for now."
"That'll leave a-."
"I know it will! Don't keep reminding me, don't forget who drew up the works for Unit 58!" Ajay's mood seemed to stay in this continuous stream of angst and annoyance. Ajay cupped his hand over his head to cradle it.
"I'm sorry, Jeevan. I know you meant well. These threats are just being a greater pain in the ass than… well yunno."
"It's alright, I know you have a lot on your mind right now. Teacher."
"Thanks for understanding, buddy." The mood improved as Jeevan accepted the apology he gave.
"Might I ask what we are here to do?" Han Feng asked thereby asking their collective query.
Ajay gave a wide smile as Chang-san pushed the cases in via hand lifter.
"We're here to kit you out."
There were three cases, for each of them respectively.
"No way!" Jeevan suddenly got excited even before the cases were opened.
"Yep. My lieutenants' need gear and they're gonna get it." He opened up the one placed in front of Han Feng.
Revealing the contents shoved between foam into what was put together as a suit.
"You've managed to mass-produce it?" Vasu was no stranger to Ajay's armour as he'd struck it a few times.
"Limited production run. Sourcing for advanced materials isn't as easy as it looks, sir." Chang-san answered that.
Jeevan didn't hesistate to take out the pieces to wear it on.
"Um-… why me?" Han Feng was still in the mode where he didn't understand. But Ajay was nice enough to explain to all of them.
"When you were dying, I gave you a choice. Between a cursed life or an instant but free death. You chose the former, but that doesn't mean you get to live the same way as everyone else."
Ajay picked up his hand were a certain mark was found.
"This mark represents the seal upon the demon that lives within me, for some reason the Ghost Bear Guardian chose you."
"Me?"
"You probably have some sort of quality it deemed worthy of holding it. What this means, Han Feng. All of you…." He got their attention.
"Is that when we've defeat Golden Path and the Rakshasa. And if at any point that I show signs of deteriorating and resurrecting Yalung. You and the other seven will be the key in imprisoning the demon god again." He tapped his temple with his index finger.
A grave expression grew on all of their faces with the exception of Chang-san who didn't know what in the world was going on. He only cared about his creations much like Chiffon.
"But….. Hopefully, it won't come to that. We have a chance to stop them from destroying our home, but it'll take every fiber, every ounce of blood we have to beat them back. Be they human or Rakshasa. You have no idea how much I need you in this."
"You'll have it." Vasu took initiative.
"Thank you." Ajay patted his shoulder.
"… Ok. Now, can someone tell me how to put this on?" Jeevan struggled. The group laughed as he managed to get stuck between the sleeves like a child, Vasu went over to help him.
While Ajay helped Han Feng with the fitting on Chang-san's behalf. With his help, Han Feng was already half-covered by the armour on his upper torso. Because the armour shared its roots with Chang-san's Mk. 3 armour, Ajay could fit it as if it were his own armour Han Feng was donning.
Han Feng was quiet throughout, obediently raising a hand if he was told and inform them if there was something that required adjusting.
"Jeevan knows." Ajay said to him as his face showed doubt in himself.
"Saraswati has most likely told him."
"Did she tell you?"
"No. But if she didn't, that boy wouldn't be tolerating you right now. Perhaps he'd be more angry with me for keeping you alive."
"…"
"You should talk to him while you have the chance."
"About what?"
"Anything, how about you find out about Kanaan's habits from him."
"Wha- no! Why would I?"
"Because when the fighting starts, you'll need to trust your backs to one another when Vasu or I am not there. If you don't initiate a connection, you can only blame yourself for putting each other in danger. Do you hate, Jeevan?"
"N-no! I don't."
"Then get to it, then." Ajay said with a wry smile and pushed him forward.
Vasu seemed to understand Han Feng's arrival was to interact with Jeevan so he smartly stepped back and went over to Ajay.
"Reckless as usual."
"What can I say? From this point onwards, there are no straight routes. Only gambles."
"…. How sure are you we can win?"
"I'm not sure." Ajay said it plainly to him.
"The things I've learnt from Darshan, only serve to widen the gap between us and them. How do you fight demi-gods from legends. Who've fought and lived through more wars than our recorded history. Have knowledge that defies our logic, they know everything about us and worse of all we've not even seen them in person. We know nothing of them."
"….."
"So can you now understand why I can't even tell our odds?"
"….. Perhaps I should've rephrased my query. Will Kyrat be able to survive?"
"…. I don't know…. But before I separated from Darshan, he showed a hopeful expression that I hadn't seen before."
With a soul stone that size, there were many possibilities that weren't previously afforded to him. And maybe, just maybe. This invasion might just be repelled with Kyrat able to see another day.
-We must win this, we have to.-
The hangar was literally filled with Officers and NCOs from the three respective armies, around fifty with most of them being senior field and staff officers. The smallest group among them were the Russians due to the special nature of their soldiers being dispatched, followed by the India Army that send a battalion of Airforce commandos to accompany their mountain infantry division. The home team with the Jatayu Brigade and a division of Infantry represented Kyrat.
"Room attention!" Called out the Brigade Sergeant Major in the Jatayu. The Kyratis stood to attention as a roll of the highest authority figures entered the hangar podium. The two armies did the same out of respect.
"At ease, gentlemen. Have a seat." Ajay said while the four staff officers in the Russian and India Army waved to their groups to do the same.
"I'm glad to have all of you here and on such short notice. So I'll start of with the introductions. I am Badala, Duke of Lakshman. My official military post is 1st Kshatriyan Lord which is equivalent to a flag officer in the Royal Army of Kyrat in a theatre of war. The gentlemen to my left is Brigadier Sharma and his staff, the gentlemen to my right is Colonel Kuznetsov and his staff."
He paused to give them time to absorb.
"We've been called upon for a rather "under the radar" operation which I would refrain from putting under the same breath as Black Ops. I'm sure that all of you have read some briefing as to what is going on but I will update you on our most present intelligence."
They hid it from him in the darkness of the hangar with only the projector light, but he could see them as bright as day. Here was this fella not even in his thirties who happens to have a position of nobility and is trying to play warfare like the rest of them. But this was only exclusively shared between the younger of the foreign officers. Their NCOs and senior officers however, could see just from his eyes alone that he was no joke. Eyes that stored cruelty and death that they'd seen many times in the field. So they remained quiet.
Then came on the slides that showed satellite imagery of movement into the Kyrat border via Pakistan. Scouts and recon groups to be exact as the held the main troops in reserve.
"At 1300 Hrs, local sources reported advance teams trekking through the forests over the Western Mountains heading in a continuous but and linear path." For those who knew what that meant, it was a very serious affair. Because it meant they were heading to a specific place, like a site where the crashed bomber lay.
"They've stopped for now to await the arrival of their expeditionary forces which are about a hundred and ninety klicks from our first border lines-."
"I have a question." A sudden voice came from the audience. Some junior officer in among the Russians called out.
"I'll answer all questions in a later-."
"Why haven't we dep-." He cut Ajay which he deeply regretted doing much later.
"Later means you shut your fucking hole until I'm finished with the briefing, you little Russian fuck!" Ajay's voice chased him into silence. And made the Indians and Russians assess him in a new light they hadn't before.
"Don't interrupt me again." Ajay sent a glare that made the officer and those around him shiver. The Jatayu officers snickered at the people that looked down on Ajay out of ignorance.
"Now now, Sir Badala. There's no need to blow this out of proportion." Colonel Kuznetsov came to blanket his man who'd done wrong with a friendly smile.
"I hope your men are as serious as you are on this, Colonel. But I'll give you the benefit of doubt for the fact that Moscow didn't send you and your men here to clown around."
"Perhaps I should take over for a while, will that be alright, sir." The Indian Brigadier came forwards offering his voice. Ajay rescede by taking a seat allowing the Brigadier to continue on with the briefing on the numbers, location, direction and deployment.
"Back to you, sir." Brigadier Sharma politely passed the baton back to Ajay. Who got back on the podium and stared at the junior officer in the dark for a second before continuing his part.
"We have a lead that may bring us closer to the location of the device. Kudos to the IAFs ace pilot I might add." Giving credit to Pravi gave the fellow Indians a sense of pride for acknowledging his contribution.
The slide zoomed in on a blank area with only mountaneous terrain, making it impossible to access by ground vehicles. But all in all, it showed nothing of value in that location.
"Point 2153 on the local regional map. A 20 square-mile grid with a very unusual affect in this area. About a month ago, our combined arms Airforce squadron comprising of IAF pilots sortied to enact air superiority over our neighbour who were at risk of an invasion from the PLA. One pilot by the name of Lieutenant Kumar flew over this area whilst separated from his squadron during a patrol where his aircraft electronics failed. Thankfully, he had an advance warning from his co-pilot and entered manual control before passing through ground zero."
The audience quietly discussed.
"Since then, we've dispatched a few geologists who've determined it is an effect of a powerful magnetic field generated by negatively charged iron embedded within the mountains along with hundreds of years of thunderstorm buildup in that area. So in other words, gentlemen." They all could guess by now.
"This is the likely spot of where our prize crashed landed twenty odd years ago." The groups could no longer hide their surprise, even the staff officers he'd been chatting with earlier were hearing this for the first time.
"Now, onto the plan. As much as we would very much like to retrieve it and leave, I hate to inform you that its impossible. At least not until the forces in that area are taken care of or distracted. Right, questions?"
A hand raised from the the audience, this time a senior officer who remembered his manners.
"Yes? And please tell us your name." The man next to him stood up and listened to him whisper.
"Major Tarkov, Spetznaz GRU. Our sources have informed us that there are no immediate forces in that area belonging to the US." He translated for this superior.
"You're right on that one, Major Tarkov. But I wasn't referring to the US expeditionary force."
Now everyone was puzzled.
"You see, Kyrat has been at war with itself for as long as that device had been left in that area. You could say that the Civil war was a means for the CIA to cover the tracks in case the former Soviet Union wondered what were intelligence operatives doing out in this remote area. But like the Americans who manipulated our Nationalist rebels a lifetime ago. There is a force that has been pulling the strings to our fellow terrorist group in the region called Golden Path."
"Threats?" The officer translated for again for Tarkov.
"Let's just say they're an organisation who believe they're a group of… "mystical" persuasion."
"Excuse me?" Brigadier Sharma stood up from his seat as he'd never heard of any of this.
"Yeah sure, you're excused. The fact is that none of you have heard of them and so therefore shouldn't be a threat. I wish I could say that but being so near to their turf will grab their attention. Which is what I had intended to do with the US force. I wanted to orchestra their unfortunate meet with those charming lads."
"Who are these people?"
"To be entirely honest, they are the original owners of this entire region for over five thousand years."
"So they are an indigenous tribe?"
"I wouldn't call them a tribe so much as they used to have a city in the mountains once. Well, whatever the case you and your men will not directly engage this group. If you see them, don't stay in the area to find out how they'll respond. Aggression is undermining the genuine reaction they will take upon seeing you so don't… engage." He spelt it out to them slowly.
"Right, that's it. Report to your designated Hangars for aerial insertion tomorrow at 0500 hrs. I'd advise that you rest up now while you have the chance. For all we know this operation may exceed the original parameters. Goodluck and godspeed." He dismissed them.
The officers and NCOs didn't stay for long and that included the staff officer in the Indian and Russian Army. They would have to coordinate their strategy away from this group for the sake of isolating possible insider espionage, who knew if there was an American informant amongst them.
Ajay had already discussed the deployment with Brigadier Sharma and Colonel Kuznetsov.
"Will the senior officers in Jatayu and 38th Grenadiers stay back for a minute or two? I would like to share a few words with you." As he had asked, the Kyrati officers turned around and gathered around Ajay whilst the rest left to get some rest for the long day ahead tomorrow.
Ajay was about to start when he noticed that Brigadier Sharma stayed back alone.
"Can I help you, General?" The old Brigadier gave a friendly smile and nodded.
"You've done our country a service that I can never fully repay you for, by pushing our place on the earth on rival footing to those superpowers. But like many of us in Maharashtra and New Delhi, we cannot believe you're giving such a boon freely." Ajay had to admit, the old man was pretty wise and cunning with words without looking suspicious. But Ajay knew he was digging because he smelt something funny with this case of "original owners" to the Himavana region.
"Then to be entirely honest, the nuke given to you is only the byproduct of what we're trying to achieve."
"Which is?"
"Deterring them."
"As I thought, you clearly see them as a bigger threat than even the worlds most powerful army. Your men don't seem to fear the United states, but when you mentioned these inhabitants of "mystical persuasion"… all I could see was fear in their eyes."
"…." As much as Ajay wanted to, it wasn't worth telling him something he would only be called crazy for saying it. The less they knew.
"I've lived by the borders of the two of our countries for my entire life or at least coming to that. And till this day, I can still remember what my dear mother who was Kyrati by blood told me of her homeland." The rest of his officers listened in, both Ajay's men and his staff whom had noticed he stayed behind.
"I was always excited to hear about the lore that surrounded that place. And she always did have a story to share during nighttime just before bed. Kalinag, Kyra, she had all of them. She even had a story that not many Kyratis themselves knew about. Her fellow countrymen denied it to be even real as there was no signs of it being true. But when you mentioned that you were fighting the original owners of these lands that make up the Himavana states…. I couldn't help but match them to a certain race that she said had once justly rule over these lands before we humans turned on them."
Ajay had never expected that Kyrati lore would ever travel outside of its borders based on its limited history and influence. But apparently it was a cult classic to people like Sharma who lived between the Kyrati-Hindustani borders. Considering his age, he and his mother and possibly relatives had not been affected by the Civil War because they were Indian nationals. And perhaps, they held lore that not even the modern Kyratis had known because of temples in ruin and idols razed by Pagan's regime.
"My lord, are these two organisations one in the same?" The Old Brigadier asked.
"If they were, what would India's policy be towards us and said group?"
"I'm not asking you on behalf of my country, sir. I am asking you man to man, and I am prepared to accept the responsibility of learning the truth."
"And your men?"
"If they won't stay then I won't force them, but I am a man of my word and shall remain so."
"Sir, we're with you the entire way!"
"That's right, sir!"
His staff were hyped up about him abandoning them to save them and protested. Sharma chuckled and said no more, they'd clearlyt chosen the route they would go.
With such a turn of events, Ajay couldn't help but laugh himself. At a time like this, even the smallest of help was what he dearly needed.
"General, I'm not sure about your mother's version of our folk stories…" Sharma laughed at his expression.
"But those fellows in her stories wouldn't happen to also be called Rakshasa would it?"
Loud celebratory music played from the marching bands and colourful floats that passed by the large parade stands filled with a sizable audience, including a certain sovereign of the country.
Even with the seats filled, there were still people gathered around on the sidewalks and on the hill behind to watch the parade from where they were. It had been the first of its kind and a sight that many would never forget as a day when true peace and prosperity had arrived after so long.
While the groups that passed by were not short of colur and vibrancy, Pagan felt a little bored. What he was really waiting for was the Military Parade which had been saved for last, because there would be a parade commandant which would approach to ask him to inspect the colours and ranks before moving on. And having over two thousand men pass while saluting you was a feeling he wouldn't give to feel.
A commotion occurred as the crowd below parted to make way for a person surrounded by a good size of bodyguards to watch out for him and assist his shaky leg climb to where Pagan was seated in a special section given to him on the parade stand.
Said person reached closer and into the section of his seating with Yuma. Both him and Yuma got up to greet that older man.
"Hahaha! A pleasure to have you with us, my old friend."
"The pleasure is all mine, and thank you for granting this old man's selfish request. And congratulations Milady for the expecting son or daughter of Kyrat." Yuma nodded curtly to old King Surendra's blessing.
"Meh! Think nothing of it. Come! Sit!" Pagan pointed to where he was originally seated, the old man didn't hesitate to Pagan's refined gesture which was unexpectedly humble.
"I'll graciously accept your seat, then." The old man was assisted once again by the help of his bodyguard and a cane in his other hand. After much wobbling, he finally sat down nicely. It even made the surrounding audience worry for that very old man if he would suddenly fall over and die.
This old man was indeed getting close to the closing stages of his life, but he was very at peace with himself. For his legacy would continue on through is son, who would proudly bear the name Kumsa with honour. Soon he would pass the crown and throne to him but until then, the old man would proudly bear the title and name of King Surendra Kumsa. Pagan leaned against Yuma's seat comfortably and found another alternative to pass the time till his favorite part of the program.
"I guess you lost our bet, about you not coming to Kyrat in a million years." The old man shared a laugh with him on an old game they shared during Pagan's visit to Kumsa.
'But for you to even come here despite the bet must mean you have some sort of business that is of utmost importance."
"Aye, and I'm glad I came nonetheless. This place has genuinely changed since the last time I came nearly thirty years ago."
"Old friend, in that time alone your own Kingdom grew to what it is today."
"You're too kind, but forgive me in advance for saying this but hadn't this nation been entrapped in civil war for almost two decades? Yet you have managed to push it into taking the initiative of our union of states."
"You're too kind, your highness. But it is the efforts of the people that made this so." Yuma took her turn to speak up for Pagan as well.
"I see, forgive me for being too presumptuous." He honestly admitted, Pagan and Yuma often admired the old King's mannerisms that reflected what true monarchy was.
"You're forgiven, but do tell me. Old friend. What you've come here for, perhaps I can help you to quicken your search."
"Many thanks, Your highness." The old king cupped his hands.
"I'm looking for a rather unmistakeable subject of yours whom my Royal Guard affectionately call- do forgive me…. "the Demon."."
"Ohhh!- Aj-mugh!" Yuma quickly covered Pagan's mouth to muffle the name he was about to mutter accidentally.
"Thanks." He said as she retracted her hand and gave him a smile.
"Do forgive me for that- now, the person they are referring to is none other than my adoptive son, Badala."
"Badala…" The old Kumsan King rubbed the back of his old wrinkled hands as he murmured that name. to remember.
"Gary! Where is my boy? Can you call him to come here, asap?" Pagan called out to his personal assistant on the radio of his.
*Your Highness, I'm terribly sorry. He's currently briefing our "foreign" visitors on their stay here.*
"Oh- right! Do forgive me again, I forgot about his arrangement today. Perhaps I'll arrange a meeting for tonight then, over dinner. How about that?"
"Yes. That does sound lovely, if you'll have me."
"Of course we'll have you! I'll make the arrangements right away!" Pagan busily arranged with gary to have a guest over for the night. Meanwhile, Yuma was left with King Surendra.
"Might you have some business with Duke Badala, My lord?" Yuma asked politely.
"A-Aye! Well…" His old frail hand covered the top of his left that was under his long sleeve by reflex.
"It is in fact a matter of legacy."
"Legacy?"
"Yes, milady. It was an instruction being passed down by my ancestors for an arrival of such a person. Whom accordingly by their words passed on stated "reunite the lowlands"."
"I wouldn't deny that he had a big part to play in it." Yuma said to acknowledge his means of coming to Kyrat.
Upon hearing this, Yuma could help but think of it more like Surendra trying to give Ajay the throne of Kumsa. Which she couldn't really discount, but it also seemed to be something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.
Surendra looked down at his old hands, specifically to his left that held a rather iconic emblem on it. A tattoo if you will, of an animal that represented the Kumsan seat of power. A mighty grey elephant hurling its tusks in the air in triumph as the Kumsan kingdom had been in character enduring long and hard as the sacred creature had been.
"And I'm looking to return it to him."
Author's Notes:
Sooooooo tired, I'll edit tomorrow if i have the time. Peace out!
