Princess Fighter: Search for the Throne

XVIII

Mriga had been looking down all this time in shame.

But now he raised his eyes and said in a sad tone, "It's not about money. They need me to be present and as an employee, I have to report to work when asked."

"Are they going to war? If one person did not appear, would the entire place collapse? You attach great importance to the commitment given to them. What about the promise made to me? Isn't that on your priority? Should the list at all?" his eyes lit up with intensity.

Feeling overwhelmed by guilt, he could only stand there in misery. His nails pierced his palms sharply to control the urge to cry.

"The invitation I just received was very important in my family, but I had no doubts before placing it second in our date. Maybe I should learn from you and reassess my priorities as well," saying so, Yash left in a huff.

Mriga did not mind the words she said because she knew that she had spoken it out of anger. But it still hurts.

With a heavy heart, he turned towards his class. He immersed himself into physical studies and training with renewed determination.

If he has let someone down for a decent reason, he might as well give his best there to make it worth the pain.

But the pleasure he received from her had been lost, enough to be noticed by his instructor.

"Is Mrignayani tired? Have you been pushing her hard lately?" Prithvi asked Ramanujam.

It was late at night and Mriga had returned to the dorm after spending scheduled time with Prithvi. Ramanujam who had just returned after training Vandit and Abhirath, looked at his mentor in surprise.

"I think you did it and that's why he's been looking somber and very focused for the last two days. Do you want me to find out?" she asked.

"no need. If this is a personal matter, let him handle it himself," replied Prithvi wisely.

"How ready do they all seem?" he asked Ramanujam.

His junior pondered the question for a moment and then replied, "They have all been informed of the importance and consequences of the mission. As a result, they prepare in their own unique way for it. When will their mentors come here to brief them?"

Prithvi looked at the letter he received from Shaurya that morning and said, "I have told them that it is better if the trainees can survey the place before they start their task that night. So, each mentor will come and escort the student's duties tomorrow night to help them prepare and prepare for the next day."

...****************...

Next night

"Hey, what happened between you and Yash? He's been avoiding me for the last two days at the foodhall. I tried to talk to him but he cut me off on weak grounds. Don't tell me you two have another misunderstanding," Ishani comes and sits on Mriga's bed.

Mriga stopped in the middle of preparing a bag last night for her assignment. When Ishani arrives, she casually keeps it. He did not tell her about leaving that night and intended to sneak out secretly to avoid another barrage of questions.

"Yes, I have been asked to report for work tomorrow and consequently I have to cancel the plan with Yash. He was angry with me for it" he told his friend in a soft voice.

"Whataa? Hey, can you lift your head? If this person asks you to quit your job for taking a day off, you can always find another job. But how long will you keep testing Yash's patience? That's not fair to him. You hardly ever spend time with him during this semester. This time, I can understand her frustration," Ishani defended herself.

"I know but I don't have a choice right now. This job is very important to me. I promised I would make up for it but I had to go for this exhibition" she said, almost crying.

Ishani looked at her friend's face intently and saw unhappiness etched clearly there.

"Oh, poor girl! You suffer too. Never mind. You come back from your chaotic work and we will find a way to improve the Southern Prince's mood. But does this mean you'll spend the whole birthday running errands for others?" she asked.

Mriga nodded and said, "That's not important. It's only a day."

Ishani looks into Mriga's downcast eyes and decides to help her friend in any way she can.

"Umm, I just remembered I forgot something in the dining room. I'll come back" he said and ran away.

Mriga was a little relieved because Ishani was so understanding just now, unlike someone who even refused to acknowledge her presence during the last two days when they passed each other during school hours. Carrying his bag out, he continued his packing.

"Why are you looking for me at this hour? I hope it's urgent" Yash came out of the boys' dorm.

"The boy in your dorm is very slow. Do you know how long I've been waiting since I sent you a message to come see me" Ishani grumbled.

Yash has a hopeful look in his eyes and Ishani knows that he thinks that maybe Mriga has sent him.

He hated breaking his bubble but wished he would come once he told him the reason he had come there.

“Of course, this is very urgent, otherwise why would I have to bother standing in front of the boys dormitory for so long at this late hour, with everyone passing by giving me a strange look. Things to do for friends!!!" he sighed dramatically.

...----------------...

"By the way, I came to tell you that I know you're miserable but so is she, especially since tomorrow's DIA's birthday. So, I thought I'd ask if you want to pray for him a few hours early, maybe offer him your heart as his birthday gift under the moonlight tonight," Ishani finished the last part by winking.

"You... you mean... oh shit, how do I forget that tomorrow is his birthday? Where is he now? Can you take me to him?" yash said urgently.

Ishani put a restraining hand on her shoulder and replied, "Quiet. Let's think about this rationally before we both spend the night in the dean's office for deviating from the appointed hour."

But Yash's head thought about what he could give her at the moment, what he had to say, whether he was just hoping or ...

"Yoohoo. Concentrate," he scolded.

Yash stretched out his palm to stop him from speaking any further.

"You find out the logistics. I trust you completely. I'll meet you in half an hour with Mriga near the rose bush next to your dorm," he said and rushed in without waiting for his answer.

"Why did he need half an hour? Is she getting ready for her wedding?" Ishani rolled her eyes and muttered to herself.

...****************...

Same time, Gurukul gate

Mriga's face smiled slightly as she looked at the familiar-looking thug standing at Gurukul's gate.

"I see that you've gotten better with your time management" he said as a greeting.

He bowed slightly and looked at her expectantly, waiting for instructions.

Shaurya scanned his face before asking, "Are you unwell?"

He shook his head with a negative attitude.

"Then let's go" he said briefly.

"Uh, aren't we waiting for the others?" he asked confusedly.

"Are you not aware that everyone has been given their own duties and mentors. Do you have any more questions or can we go?" he asked impatiently.

Mriga almost bit her tongue and started walking forward.

"That's the wrong direction. Have you forgotten the rules? One step behind me unless I tell you otherwise," he reprimanded her in a low tone, paying attention to the guards at the Gurukul gate.

"Oh my God, I'll screw it up before it even starts. Asking questions, not paying attention..can I start worse?" thought desperate.

Lifting the bag on his shoulder, he went and stood in front of him and bowed deeply.

"sorry. This would never happen again," he could feel tears welling up in his eyes.

'What's wrong with him? Crying at something that is not important? He was definitely not himself, he thought.

Turning his gaze away from his glittering eyes, he said harshly, saying,

"Don't waste any more time."

He was glad he didn't say anything more and started walking in an unfamiliar direction. He assumed that they were going to market but he was wrong. They walked for a long time in silence before reaching what looked like the outskirts of the capital.

...****************...

Ishani was standing with her head bowed when Yash got there. Looking here and there, he finally looked at Ishani's gloomy face.

Without saying anything, he stuffed the clumsy packed box into his pocket and spun around to return to his dorm. Ishani also doesn't know what to say to her.

She returns inside only to be told by another girl that she has seen Mriga leave with a small bag some time ago.

...****************...

Chandragarh Suburbs

Shaurya left and stood outside the broken hut that was shrouded in darkness. There seems to be no one around either. The surrounding spruce trees cast a long shadow on the spot, making it look gloomy.

"Leave your bag here. This will be our base for tonight and tomorrow" he stood at the bottom of the stairs leading to the entrance and spoke to her in a soft tone.

"We can't afford to light a candle here. Because of its open location, even a small light will be visible from a distance. Did you get the clothes I gave you last time?" he stood beside her and whispered in her ear.

"Yes, I have. They're in my bag, "he's matching his tone.

He took her hand and placed it on her shoulder.

"Inside will be pitch black. Be careful and do not lose your footing. Let's try and not make any unnecessary noise" he warned her before climbing the stairs leading to the entrance.

Mriga's heart was pounding. He seemed to have forgotten the tribulations of the past few days, the newly accepted scolding. This feeling of joy was indescribable. All he knew was that he was very happy at the moment.

After opening the creaking door, Shaurya asked her to close her eyes and feel the place.

Holding one of his hands, he told him to count the steps from the middle of the room to the edges on all sides, including the door to the restroom located next to the inn.

The place smelled musty and damp. But Mriga doesn't care. He was busy studying the number of steps.

"I'm going out now. I want you to change your clothes and get out. Understood?" he murmured next to his ear.

He turned his face towards her and replied gently yes and felt the air change in the next moment. He had moved away from that place before he took a breath.

"One day I will be as fast as he is, one day" she told herself and began removing clothes from the bag.

Shaurya took a breath while standing on the edge of the stairs.

"His room seems too stuffy. It should have been aerated earlier," he told himself while a small section inside him challenged the claim.

In a short moment, he came out and stood in front of her. Under the pale moonlight, he could barely see her face, but was it just his imagination or did he appear to be smiling much brighter now than it was a few hours ago?

...****************...

"I'm ready!" yells.

Shaurya approached and observed him from head to toe.

"Stand silent while I turn you into Brighu of Mrignayani. That's your name for the next thirty hours. You have to remember how to walk and talk like a man, like I taught you, a few weeks ago. Regardless of who comes in front of you, your facade should not slip," Shaurya instructed as he tied a turban around Mriga's tied hair, expertly.

At this moment, he realized that he missed this very much. The thrill of getting ready before an unknown adventure gives him a tremendous adrenaline boost.

Trying to survey his work under the moonlight, Shaurya said, "This will be done for now. We will walk from here to where the exhibition will be held tomorrow. We will inspect all exits and entry points and conduct a thorough survey of the place. We have received a tip that a spy from a neighboring country will meet his colleagues at the fair. Our mission is to identify him and follow him undetected to where he lives. The end goal is to capture him and hand him over to the interrogation team."

On nodding his understanding, he continued, "As usual, you will stick by my side like glue. Your job is to observe, study and if you find something out of place, tell me about it immediately."

Mriga is eager to ask questions at this point but is afraid of a backlash. He cleared his throat noisily to try to restrain himself.

"Leave it. If not, you will experience indigestion" he said sourly.

Now, he knew almost all of his strangeness and nuance.

Smiling with relief, he said,

"What if you're not around and he sneaks away. Should I wait for you, look for you or follow him?"

"That's never gonna happen. But if that happens, wait for me. I'll come looking for you" he replied very seriously.

"OK, understand," with that he slightly bent forward and stretched out his arm, indicating that he should walk forward.

He could feel a grin forming on his lips looking at his charade. But he held it in with a frown and started walking with long strides as usual.

From the sound of his footsteps behind him, he could tell his struggle in trying to follow him. He shortened his steps and adjusted his steps, almost unconsciously.

It took him about forty-five minutes to reach the place where he showed various clues that would help them identify the path.

"You better watch for these signs. On the way back, you will take the lead and finding that place will be your responsibility. So, stop yawning and open your eyes wide," her voice contained condemnation.

'How did he know? Does he have eyes in the back of his head? I'm sure, yawning it doesn't make a sound, ' he thought with a grumbling fear.

The road was only illuminated by the dim moonlight of that night. What Mriga did not realize was that Shaurya was walking diagonally in front of her, and if she turned her head just a little, she could see it very well from the corner of her eye.

Seeing the shock on his face made it almost impossible for him to withstand his grin.

He even cleared his throat and said harshly, "Stop trying to think of useless things. Focus on the task that is coming."

His hand flew into his mouth, 'Now he even knows what I think!!! Is this place haunted or did he acquire some mystical skills? '

By the time they reached the ground, he was tired and hungry. But he did not dare to make a sound. Pointing to the various exits, they slowly observed them one by one, in order to familiarize themselves with where all the paths were leading.

It had been almost two hours since they had done this and the sky had started to clear.

"Let's go back before dawn breaks. I don't want to meet anyone on our way" he said.

Nodding his head, he gathered his wits and prayed that he could remember the way back to the hut.

...****************...

Gurukul, early morning

One of the hostel attendants came to Vindhya who was practicing yoga on the roof of the building.

"Your brother has arrived and is looking for you" the officer said with a smile.

Vindhya is not only popular among students but also among Gurukul staff. He thanked the woman and took her things before heading down in a hurry.

"Happy birthday, little sister. Or maybe I should stop saying dear now that you are sixteen today" Vidyut said as soon as he reached the door of the girls' dormitory.

"Thank you, brother. Please keep calling me your sister, otherwise I will start to feel old all of a sudden" he replied with a grin.

"It's your birthday present" she gave him a small package wrapped cheerfully.

Vindhya picked it up and started to open the wrapper there.

"You haven't changed a bit. Still as excited about your birthday as you were when you were a kid" she says, a sense of liking is evident in her voice.

Right at that moment, Gauri went down and flushed to find the man of her dreams standing in front of her. Condemning herself for not wearing her uniform yet, she greeted him politely before hugging her friend and wishing him a happy birthday.