The Last Rudra

Long ago, during the era of darkness, When Yama, the first king, unified the Glassia, he had built nine statues, one in each direction, and the ninth one was placed in Avida. The giant statues were the monuments of his herculean deed. His declaration of the boundaries of Glassia to the stone giants and Vriksha.

But there was one more purpose of these giant stone warriors, known to only the royal family and a few important officials.

The nine statues were part of a defence system devised by Arch-Druid Dwipayana. If someone destroyed any one of the statues or used any evil magic in the vicinity of the statues, they would break down and thus alert all the strongholds of the sacrifiers, the red-cloak druids. 

***

As soon as Nirvano stepped out in the open space, he saw the southern sky had turned scarlet red. The colour drained from his majestic face, for the dark colour was the blood that had already been spilled on the earth. 

His king had been invaded. 

"His majesty, we're under attack, please seal the city. I'm going to gather my men. ``The Arch-sacrifier flew off in the air, without waiting for his reply.

Nirvano composed himself, and turned to the officials, most of whom had puzzled expressions, and were frantically talking to each other... 

"Please calm down. Glassia needs your corporation, for we are entering into war again." said Nirvano in a grave tone.

" Please run back to  your tasks. The codes of war will now rule Glassia until we vanquish the enemy. "

"Excuse me, his highness. May I ask who the enemies are?" A blue cloaked man asked. 

"We still don't know. All I can tell you is that the living sea has betrayed the alliance.Now, please  hurry off and assist the Arch-sacrifier. Not you Arch-druid Suchito, I need you here.  " Nirvano glanced at his guest who was staring at the sky, with a grim expression. 

The officials hurriedly left for their assigned tasks. It was not their first time to go for an all-out war. Glassia had been fighting against the Okalanin stone giants and Vrikshas for ages. 

However, it was the first time in the history of Glassia that someone had invaded their land from the south.

It had made  Nirvano apprehensive. Except for the children of the living sea,or so-called sea monsters, there was nothing in the south.  However, the living sea was bound with an ancient alliance. 

When only three of them left, Nirvano turned to Udolf,

"What do you think of this invasion from the south, the son of Hyde the great?" He asked, recalling the warning of the strange man just a while ago. 

"It must be related to Izidor, your highness." Udolf said, " He sure has the ability to breach the ancient alliances.If you don't mind ,can I go  with your men to have a look at the southern border? " 

Nirvano gave a scrutinizing look to Udolf . He didn't know why he felt an abhorrence towards the man. Maybe it was because of the dark cloak he never liked the dark colour. 

"What do you think Sichito of our guest request?"Suchito was a man in his sixties, with a long beard, and sharp blue eyes.  His golden cloak and a royal sigil on his chest was proof of his standing in the court; he was prime minister and adviser of Nirvano. 

The old man was watching Udolf with keen interest. He had heard of Kemet from his father who was a royal healer. A healer had to visit the Astral plane to trade with the demoness of death. 

It was in the Astral plane he had met a wizard from Kemet, and if he recalled correctly his name was also Udolf. 

His father had described the battle that had shaken the entire Astral plane, causing many untimely healers death. The sudden deaths of so many healers had caused a wave of shock in Glassia that year. 

As for the cause,  no healer, who had escaped the calamity, ever voiced out.

The reason  Suchito's father had shared the forbidden secret with him was a long story. 

( For curious minds: the little incident had caused the death of Suchito's mother. Young Suchito blamed it on his father, and never forgave the old healer until he divulged the secret on his death bed. ) 

Though Suchito had set fire to the old man's pyre and thus had forgiven him, he had never believed the story. 

However, today when he heard the stranger, the shock he had received was hard to conceal.

"I think there is no harm in allowing our guest to accompany our man, of course he shouldn't be included in the war meetings. " Suchito said, he could see the king's eyes widened.

He knew his advice didn't go well with military protocol and he was sure the arch-sacrifier Nahusha would oppose his decision. 

He would never allow a stranger in his red cloak warriors. 

But Suchito knew something they didn't. 

The stranger was not an ordinary man. The wizard had forced the demonesses of death to realise a soul without trading anything. 

Suchito doubted that  such a being would come here crossing the endless ocean to warn them against a false or a minor danger. 

This Izidor who could possess a man in the Astral plane must have been like Udolf, and could threaten the empire. 

So if Udolf was willing to assist them, they should gladly welcome him. 

Nirvano gave a curious  glance to his advisor whom he had trusted all these years, and said, 

"Ok then. You can ride with them." 

Leaving Udolf waiting outside, Nirvano left with Suchito to discuss things that he had to do. 

The city was in chaos, druids were flying in the sky frantically. War horns were blaring loudly. 

It didn't take long when Arch-Sacrifier Nahush returned, clad in his shiny armour, his hammer was with him. 

Two other warriors all clad in armour were accompanying him. They throw a dagger glance towards the wizard who was lost in thoughts. 

Nahush beckoned his man to wait for him outside as he rushed in. 

It took almost five breaths when Nahush came out. He seemed in a bad mood. 

"I can't teach the old man the art of war. So you're coming with us. But if I find anything funny, your head will be off before you get a chance to explain yourself. Am I clear, stanger?." Nahusa said, his eyes glaring at Udolf like a lion. 

He didn't know why Suchito liked to poke his nose into everything. 

"I've got you, Arch Sacrifier. Can we leave now? As you can see the sky has turned blood red. Whoever is this enemy, he sure likes shedding innocent blood too much."

"He will pay for each drop. Let's go." Nahusa said, tightening his hand on his hammer. 

They flew off towards the southern part of the city.

The headquarter of the sacrifier was a red building with four frightening looking gargoyles sitting on the four gates. The fort-like building was built in the outer layer of Avida. 

The five colossal vimana were standing amidst the orderly lined armoured warriors according to their ranks. 

They must have been seven to eight thousand in number. 

Nahusa looked at his men and nodded with satisfaction. 

A priest rushed towards him with a large plate in his hand, five women in colourful sarees were trailing behind him, they were singing a soulful song, a prayer to the goddess of war.

The plate in the priest plate was filled with all sorts of things used in worshipping Kritya, the goddess of war. 

The priest performed the Arti of Nahusa. Then he took some red paste from his plate and put a mark on Nahusa's large forehead. Nahusa took out his dagger and made a light scab on his right thumb.

He dribbled a drop of his fresh blood into the earthen lamp. The priest bowed and backed away. The five women came forward still singing the song, they put on the garlands they were carrying around Nahusa's neck, one by one. 

And then they left the way they had come. 

  Nahusa cleared his throat, and his voice  thundered,

"Brothers, I have nothing to say except some cowards have dared to sneak into our land. Let's teach them a lesson so even their future generations don't even dare to look towards Glassia.Are you ready? " 

"Yes"The air trembled with the loud cries. 

"Good! Let's go. Hail the king. " 

The loud voices thundered again. 

Nahusa flew towards one of the vimanas with a triangular flag. 

The warriors rushed into the giant vessels. 

As for Udolf, he was with Nahusa, for the arch-sacrifier didn't want to leave his sight. 

As soon as the warriors were aboard. 

The vimanas took off into the air one by one. The five stories conical air vessels roared as they picked up speed, leaving bustling Avida behind. 

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