《THE JOLLY SAINT AND ACADEMIC NONSENSE (A Christmas Special)》 The Jolly Saint Arrives !!! Part 1 "Wait!!" The rustling shrubs parted to reveal a speeding figure. "I said Wait!" The young girl running fervently seemed deaf to these bellowed cries. She danced through the foliage and zipped past the unveiling scenery of buildings and people alike. Her inhuman agility allowed her to scale up the rooftops of these small buildings. As she does this, a persistent figure seems close in tow. A boy, a bit younger but close enough in age that one could hardly notice, was desperately chasing her. "Damnit, Aisha!! Slow down!!" They jumped from rooftop to rooftop. Their noise was easily mistaken for the occasional monkeys with a similar habit. "If you can shout then you can run Oraki!! Try to keep up!!" The girl happily replied to her dear friend. "I swear. She''s worse than Tili..." Oraki¡¯s sister was an equally free-spirited being. Which meant he was well accustomed to such frivolous whims. It didn¡¯t make it less tiresome. " I heard that. Want us to put you in a headlock later?" " I apologize for my actions. Anyway, where are we rushing off to?" "The port. I heard an envoy from the Northern Continent will be there." " Oh. Yeah. They''re some Holy Ambassadors. On a pilgrimage or something. Ranga and my father should be there." " Wait. You knew!? Why didn¡¯t you tell me!?" "Didn¡¯t seem important." "This alone has earned you consecutive joint locks." "Seriously!!?" As they jumped and landed atop the final roof, their destination came into view. Down the sloping brow it spread out before them. River Tana¡¯s easternmost port . It was filled to the brim with people and goods alike. The shimmering waters were littered with all manner of seaworthy vessels. From simple fishing boats to heavy Cargo Ships. Their craftsmanship was always a feast for the eyes. Especially for young Aisha. " Nothing beats the view of the seaside with a gentle breeze. Can you smell the freedom Oraki?" " I can smell the fish..." The winded Oraki gave his snide remark. " Honestly, it''s like you want me to do this." "Wha-?" The young boy''s reward was an instant submission hold. The speed she got behind him was almost mythical. The young boy had no hope of evasion. Thankfully, his gasping for air was only momentary as Aisha''s eye soon caught sight of a certain prince. " Look, there''s Prince Ranga!" "Hmm?" In the distance, Royal Carriages dragged by ferocious War Rhinos had stopped next to one of the many ships approaching the port. This ship wasn''t particularly massive but made up for it with its lavish decorations. An enormous crowd surrounded the royal caravan. They sang the honoured names of Vutenia''s royal heirs. Prince Ranga and his older brother, Prince Vuma astutely waved back at the cheering public. "Hail the sons of Vurai!! Hail the sons of Zai!!!" Such were the accolades they gave the young princes. All while being kept a distance away by the surrounding guard. However, there was someone else that the public could not help but cheer on. Their very own honored son. "Great Mekari!! You owe me a drink!!" " You owe me two cows!!!" "I doubt that!!" Mekari¡¯s sharp response was greeted with the hearty laughter of the adoring public. He may have been Vutenia¡¯s greatest warrior but he was not above the public¡¯s antics.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°The public¡¯s excitement aside. Rest assured that everything is ready to receive our guests, Prince Vuma.¡± Mekari gave his report to the favored prince of Vutenia. The elder prince gave his reply. ¡°Thank you. General Mekari. I feel safe knowing you¡¯re with us.¡± ¡°Why am I here? You could do this on your own.¡± The younger prince expressed his discomfort. Vuma astutely replied¡­ ¡°Father said we both take his place in welcoming these ambassadors. It¡¯s your first delegate and a big one at that. Try to behave.¡± ¡°Hmph. Why didn¡¯t they just go straight to the capital?¡± ¡°It seems they¡¯re interested in visiting the Ministry of Knowledge and seeing the Academy.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Hard to say.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t their god some weirdo that likes saying he¡¯s the ¡®one true god¡¯ or something?¡± The one to answer that was Mekari. ¡°It¡¯s surprisingly common for lands with one deity ruling over all domains. Since only one deity controls everything, their followers don¡¯t need to worship other gods. This makes that monotheistic god the only true god in their territories. Any others would seem weaker or unnecessary.¡± ¡°Is that why their followers always like saying ours are fake?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say always. Those are the more radical groups and they¡¯re usually the smaller ones. They aren¡¯t all the same, my young prince.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Ranga didn¡¯t seem too convinced. The stories he had heard from visiting the town markets seemed to paint a lot of things in a bad light. After all, some of the major wars in the Northern Lands were because of people arguing over this very subject. ¡°What about you, Lord Vurai? How do you feel about all that?¡± Vuma initiated his very own queries on the matter. Vurai, Chief God of Sky and Wind, naturally gave his response. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be said. The notion itself isn¡¯t inaccurate as far as their territories go. And in essence, one could argue they are indeed True Gods.¡± ¡°But they¡¯re spreading it beyond their borders.¡± ¡°Faith is something that can be freely spread to and from all lands. The Mandates allow for that.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Hearing that, Ranga could not help but agree. ¡°In any case, even in Vutenia, there are some that believe having three Chief Gods is unnecessary and that only I should rule over all. There¡¯s always someone like that in every place.¡± ¡°Okay!! I get it. See them first. Not Judge them first.¡± Ranga seemed to realize Vuma¡¯s intention in making the query. Vuma affirmed the lesson learned. ¡°Good. Seems you¡¯re sharper than you look.¡± ¡°Yeah. Yeah¡­¡± Still, he could not help but wonder what kind of person would be coming out of that extravagant vessel. Suddenly, as if to satisfy his curiosity, an abrupt burst of translucent light rose from the anchored ship. The royal guard and Vutenia¡¯s princes seemed to be the only ones alarmed by this sudden occurrence. A clear testament of its spiritual nature rather than physical. Divine at that. As sudden as it came, the large column soon faded and the door to the main chambers of the floating vessel opened. They came out in waves. Three Soldiers in fully clad armor. Three Servants carting away some unique utensils. Three holy men glowing in radiant aura. As the ship workers astutely prepared an alighting platform. The one that all eyes were on was the eldest among the holy men. His eyes as sharp as razors. A flowing white beard with which to accentuate his stoic facial features. Even the common citizens could feel that he was a man of great spirit and even great wisdom. As they descended and approached the noble escort that awaited them, tension could be felt with each step they took. The incense smell and unique design of their robes made them feel even more alien than they needed to be. Noble families from the Northern Continent had made their way to Vutenia before but it was the first time any of them had seen Divine Vessels of this stature. As they stood before them, they saw the flag carrying the noble crest of Vutenian Royalty and declared themselves accordingly. ¡°We greet the honored nobles of Vutenia. We are but holy servants of the Most-High on a pilgrimage across the Eastern Seas.¡± The eldest of them was the one to extend the greeting. His voice was coarse but with stoic clarity. Noble Vuma proceeded to greet them and take reign of the shifting air. ¡°I bid you welcome, Holy delegates. I am Prince Vuma, firstborn of High King Zai and his representative escort for your travels here.¡± ¡°Prince Ranga. Lastborn of High King Zai. Acting as escort.¡± Ranga¡¯s quick introduction exuded a false confidence when compared to Vuma¡¯s fluid and elaborate one. It didn¡¯t help that the young prince knew it. The tall, bearded old man extended his hand to greet the royal heirs. His intense aura was as focused as a sharp blade but had no ill intent. Vutenia¡¯s greatest blade was right beside the princes and would have unsheathed itself had it been otherwise. ¡°A pleasure to meet you, honored princes. I am San Nik-oh I can¡¯t hold it¡­¡± ¡°¡­?¡± A thunderous noise dispelled the tense air and seemed to replace it with a warmer breeze. The expression of the one who caused it had shifted from that of a stoic elder to that of a gentle and ecstatic old man. It was as if he had reached a profound truth of creation itself. For a moment it seemed as if time stood still as the noise rang out. Even Great Mekari was at a loss for words. ¡°Bishop Nikolas!!!¡± ¡°Such behavior is unbecoming of you!!¡± The two holy men next to him were understandably furious if not completely embarrassed. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help it. I went a little overboard during the feast last night and doing Communion on top of a shaky boat was never good for my bowel movements.¡± The gentle elder lightly replied in a state of euphoria. ¡°This is why we told you to exercise moderation when stockpiling foods back at Lamu port.¡± ¡°I was doing really well though. It¡¯s just everyone was staring at us so seriously and I was really surprised by the huge horned beasts at the back so I couldn¡¯t help it.¡± His mischievous tone while saying this was unbefitting of him. In response to this¡­ ¡°That¡¯s no excuse for farting so loudly!!!¡± Their chastising of the elder priest tore away any semblance of dignity he had left. ¡°In any case, a thousand apologies for my mishap there. Once again, I am San Nikolas. Bishop of Myra. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.¡± The way he shamelessly went back to the elegant priest-like demeanor from before was a kind of power in its own right. ¡°Y-Yes. A pleasure...¡± Prince Vuma met his handshake accordingly while unsure of how to proceed for the first time in a while. Ranga was just flabbergasted as he silently shook the old man¡¯s hand. ¡°What a weirdo¡­¡± This was the conclusion that the young prince came to. Part 2 ¡°Whoa!! Oraki!! Did you see how crazy his aura was!?¡± ¡°Did you see how crazy his fart was?¡± An elbow to the shoulder naturally followed Oraki¡¯s remark. ¡°They¡¯re leaving? We have to catch up to them!!¡± Aisha said while already grabbing hold of Oraki as she ran towards the leftwards edge. Her plan was intercepting the caravan as it moved up the main roadway. However... ¡°How? We¡¯d have to jump down and we¡¯re too high up.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re strong. We¡¯ll be fine. Besides, your dad will catch us.¡± As she said this, she tightly grabbed onto Oraki¡¯s hand to prevent his escape. ¡°No. It¡¯s too risky. If he doesn¡¯t, I¡¯ll have broken legs for a week. And that¡¯s only if my mom doesn¡¯t kill me¡­¡± Oraki protested while trying to pull back. ¡°Ugh¡­you¡¯re such a baby!!! Big baby-boy!!! You sure you¡¯re a first-born?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± As the first and only son of the House of Wamedza. A place where the unreasonable requests are as boundless as the women making them are ruthless¡­ Doubting his qualifications for that role was a good way of pissing Oraki off. ¡°Sh-shut up!! You want to jump? Fine!!¡± Oraki said this and proceeded to dart forward while grabbing onto Aisha¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s jump !!!¡± ¡°Yay!!¡± Naturally, Aisha was well aware of this fact and all too happy for it. With a running start of less than 10 meters, they launched themselves over twice that height. Their target was an unsuspecting Great General. Halfway through, Oraki realized the error of his ways as his anger gave way to a stupid expression. Halfway through, Aisha was having the time of her life. ¡°Damnit!!! I fell for it again!!!¡± ¡°Ahahaha!!!¡± A Fateful Encounter Part 1 Oho! Ho ho!!¡± The elder priest laughed ecstatically. ¡°Even his laugh is weird.¡± The youngest prince thought reservedly. After being asked about his journey, San Nikolas could not help but oblige. He recounted heroic tales of freeing young women from being sold off for the tenth time in a row according to him. He recounted exorcising great demons from the nomad tribes in the Northern Deserts. He recalled slapping an exalted chief for the grave crime of slapping his wife and also not salting his chicken. While riding on the carriage, he managed to mention all of this in just a few short minutes after Vuma had asked the question. It seems his pilgrimage was quite the storied adventure. Vuma expressed genuine amazement at these exploits. This was only natural for one so well trained in entertaining guests. Great Mekari was equally intrigued as he rode alongside the carriage on his steed. Except in his case, it was admiration for a fellow practitioner of heroic escapades. No doubt, he had equally as varied a list to share. ¡°Why so quiet, young man? I hope my talk of demons didn¡¯t scare you.¡± San Nikolas said this while ruffling Ranga¡¯s hair. ¡°You¡¯re a big man. Pretty soon, you¡¯ll be fighting some!! Ohohoho!¡± ¡°I¡¯m 11.¡± Ranga astutely replied. ¡°Our Lord was just 12 years old when he schooled a bunch of ¡®honored¡¯ priests on sacred scripture. Be more confident!!¡± ¡°¡­¡± That was obviously different and Ranga held back on saying it. ¡°Well. In any case. You must be tired after all of those mishaps.¡± Vuma¡¯s change in subject was well appreciated. ¡°Nonsense. If anything, I¡¯m ready for more fun.¡± Hearing that, the other priests couldn¡¯t help but furrow their brows in exhaustion. Ignoring them, San Nikolas continued. ¡°I hear there¡¯s plenty of quests to subjugate demonic beasts. Maybe the good General would like to guide me on one.¡± He looked towards Mekari riding alongside them with an eager gaze. ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Indeed. The Great Mekari¡¯s exploits are hailed even at Lamu port. I would love to see you wield the legendary blade you¡¯re known for.¡± Mekari glanced at the hilt of said blade. The shining ruby gem at the hilt¡¯s end glittered in the sunlight. With a smile, he answered the honored Bishop. ¡°If time allo-,¡± He suddenly trailed off for he sensed something rapidly approaching. Looking up, he saw the cause of his roused instincts. His face shifted from a serious glare to one that greatly resembled the stupid face of the figure descending towards him. ¡°Oraki ?!!¡± He didn¡¯t know if he was shocked or just embarrassed as he wondered how his son had even found himself falling from over a dozen meters above him. ¡°Father!!! Help me!!!¡± Oraki cried out with tears in his eyes. ¡°Ahahahaha!!!¡± Meanwhile, Aisha seemed unbothered. Mekari quickly drew out his blade as mysterious white flames ignited around it. With a focused gaze and an unmatched grace, he launched the flames at the falling children. They were engulfed in their fiery embrace and erased from view. Suddenly, equally vibrant flames emerged on the ground right next to Mekari.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The two children rose from the flames and rapidly ascended to over 3m into the air before finally descending. Aisha landed squarely in Mekari¡¯s arms. Oraki greeted the warm stone ground. ¡°Ow!! I think I scraped my knees.¡± ¡°You should be glad that¡¯s the only thing you did!!!¡± His father¡¯s words cut too deep. ¡°What were you thinking!? Do you have any idea how dangerous that was!?¡± ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Oraki replied. ¡°We just wanted to meet the jolly ambassador¡­¡± Aisha added. ¡°HOLY Ambassador. That¡¯s still no excuse!! You could¡¯ve broken your legs!! If your mother found out, she¡¯d have all our heads.¡± ¡°Now. Now. No harm done. It can¡¯t be helped that they were excited to meet me. Do forgive them.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a joke, Honored Bishop!!¡± Mekari¡¯s upset face shocked the jolly Bishop. ¡°That woman¡¯s not above disciplining Royalty and Holy Men when it comes to her children!!!¡± Mekari¡¯s declaration led to the holy men looking at the honored princes for confirmation. All they could see were the resigned faces of despair on Ranga and even Vuma. Just what manner of creature did Great Mekari call a wife!?

Part 2

In the great city of Momba, a magnificent palace stands proud. It was 20 meters tall and just as wide. Over 100 meters long with an even grander field surrounding it. This was the Royal Palace of Vutenia¡¯s capital. A stoic figure held their hand in front of a large pool of water near this palace. Thick clouds formed in the heavens above as he did so. Divine aura flowed through his entire being. He wore an impressive headdress. It had the the crests of the Nine Houses embedded into it. Each having a gray waxed feather fixed into them. Three larger, white waxed feathers were embedded into a slot for the Royal Family¡¯s crest. Each white feather symbolized the blessing of the Chief Gods of Vutenia. The one who wore this headdress was burdened with the title of sovereign ruler. He was High King Zai. His solemn aura and piercing gaze gave no room for doubt as he tightly clenched his fist. Suddenly, a flash of thunderous lightning descended upon the pool of water. Its intense, explosive heat left behind a thick cloud of mist that engulfed the entire Royal Palace. The Royal Guard observing this sudden shift in weather could not help but gasp in awe. Zai opened his hand and the thick cloud of mist began spiraling into it as if carried by a great howling wind. The large mist coalesced into a rotating mass that glowed with a brilliant blue-white color. It made a strange hissing sound in the king¡¯s hand. High King Zai poured even more of his aura into it. This made it spin more rapidly with electric sparks that occasionally shot out. The king then raised his hand and projected the spiraling sphere of light into the heavens. In a brilliant flash, it discharged its immense power with a thunderous burst. It resonated with the rumbling of a thousand thunderbolts. This completely unraveled the heavy clouds above them leaving a clear blue sky. The nearby soldiers bearing witness to this occurrence were left in awe of this immense display of power. They couldn¡¯t help but clap in acknowledgment. The thought that this was merely a warm-up was even more terrifying. ¡°Hmm. Yes. Very impressive stretch, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°¡­? ¡± A short, blonde-haired man was squatting a few dozen feet away. He had a uniquely light complexion that was more common in the Northern Continent than in Vutenia. None of the guards nor High King Zai himself had noticed the intruder until he revealed himself. Immediately, a flash of lightning tore up the location where the stranger stood. The less astute would have thought the stranger was turned to ash along with the foliage but High King Zai knew better. His eyes could not be deceived as they were already looking at a completely different location. ¡°Please do not be alarmed. I am no enemy assassin but a peaceful messenger.¡± ¡°Messenger?¡± ¡°Indeed. I am Stefan. A vessel of Swift Hermas, messenger god of merchants and sailors.¡± ¡°And what message do you bring, Stefan? Be quick with it.¡± High King Zai flashed lightning sparks from his hand to signal his impatience. ¡°In a few days, your people will have welcomed a certain jolly guest to these waters. This guest is of interest to us and we would like to retrieve him without any trouble.¡± ¡°Retrieve or Capture?¡± ¡°¡­Is that going to be a problem? I trust the good king would not wish to wage war against an entire pantheon.¡± ¡°Depends on your reasons.¡± ¡°He is an enemy of Mighty Deus. Chief God of our pantheon. His blasphemous pilgrimage is a ploy to gather support for overthrowing our great God.¡± ¡°And you believe that¡¯s his purpose for coming here? Support? I have no interest in the wars of the Northern Continent.¡± ¡°I fear your interest in the matter is irrelevant.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Priests of the so-called ¡®Most High¡¯ tend to have a way with words.¡± ¡°It takes more than mere words to sway me.¡± ¡°Regardless, as a sign of good-will between our respective pantheons I have been sent to inform you of our intent and request you not interfere.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯m obligated to protect him as a guest. Even if I were to choose to leave him on his own. The person assigned to him would give me more problems than any of you ever could.¡± ¡°Then am I to understand this a declaration of war?¡± ¡°You¡¯re being too hasty, Vessel of Hermas. I cannot completely pull back the security I¡¯ve already given but I can leave but one squad with them. No other reinforcements will be given.¡± ¡°I see¡­A lack of interference in our matters while providing the bare minimum protection on your end.¡± ¡°Exactly. Bare minimum.¡± The king gave a slight smile as he said this. The nearby guards did their best to hide their own. For them, the thought of Great Mekari and Prince Vuma as a bare minimum was beyond ridiculous. ¡°However, if what you wish to do is not simply capture him but assassinate him then any consequences on your part are your own. As a merchant god¡¯s vessel, would you and your pantheon be willing to form an agreement on such terms? The alternative would be a lot more troublesome; don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°¡­I shall commune with the rest of the pantheon. Our response should come promptly. Thank you for your accommodation, honored king of Vutenia.¡± As he said this, his conspicuous form flashed with a divine aura before disappearing with no trace to be seen. High King Zai used Vurai¡¯s clairvoyance to view the messenger¡¯s location from up above. He could see his blurry streak as it zipped through Momba city and was already on its way to the ocean waters. It was an inhuman speed that impressed even a seasoned warrior like himself. ¡°If this is what a mere messenger can do then what would the rest of them be like?¡± And yet he had left Mekari to deal with the brunt of it. He couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty about it but the alternative would be worse. The fact of the matter was that he¡¯d have no choice but to rely on his friend¡¯s strength once again. It was the one thing about Mekari that he had faith in. High King Zai may have been Vutenia¡¯s most powerful but Great Mekari was Vutenia¡¯s strongest. A concept that made them the Twin Pillars of Peace for their people. ¡°Knowing that idiot. He¡¯ll be fine.¡± These words astutely described his feelings on the matter. This encounter was a few days before the Jolly Saint had set foot on Geddi Port. High King Ranga would soon come to regret his decision. His faith in his friend would cause quite a bit of trouble. Their Hidden Truths Part 1 The streets of Vutenia bustled with lively cheer as the entourage of the Jolly Saint made their way toward Geddi city¡¯s famous National Academy. Better known simply as the Academy. The Academy stood as a marvel of architecture, its towering walls seemed to reach toward the heavens. It was said to be the heart of learning in Vutenia. The scholars of Vutenia were considered some of the brightest minds in the known world and the Academy was the largest academic centre in all of Vutenia. Every form of knowledge was housed in its great libraries. From simple shamans to soldiers, they all received crucial training and learning in this facility. Today, those hallowed halls awaited the words of San Nikolas, who had been invited to share the philosophies and beliefs of his people. The grand lecture was scheduled for later in the afternoon, but first, there was time for a small respite¡ªlunch. The first priority after passing through the grand 8-metre gates was making their way to the facility''s most celebrated restaurant renowned for its culinary delights. The air inside was warm and inviting, filled with the aroma of spiced stews and freshly baked bread. The group settled into a large table near a window, the patrons'' chatter created a lively backdrop. The menu was a treasure trove of local delicacies. After some deliberation, they ordered Sima, a delicious dough-like meal made from ground maize flour, and a large assortment of fish and beef stew pots accompanied with all sorts of vegetables for their choosing. As the food began to arrive, the conversation turned to the purpose of their visit. ¡°The Academy is unlike anything we have back home,¡± remarked Rupert, one of Nikolas''s subordinates. His gaze drifted to the grand 8-metre-tall gates still visible in the far distance through their window. ¡°The scale of its size is astounding. Truly a massive centre of learning.¡± San Nikolas smiled warmly. ¡°A gathering of intellect and inquiry is a gift. I hope our words today spark new thoughts among them, and perhaps a better understanding of what we hold dear.¡± ¡°And if they don¡¯t?¡± Ranga asked, raising an eyebrow as he took a bite out of his Sima. ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll just up and join your faithful?¡± "Ranga. Be more polite." Prince Zuma tried to curb his brother¡¯s blatant portrayal of doubts. It was a rude gesture even if the question may have been merely earnest curiosity. Vutenia already had a rich spiritual culture and a strong relationship with their gods. Ranga and Zuma were testament to that since being of royal blood meant they were bound to Vurai, Chief God of the stormy skies. It seemed pointless to try and convince them to embrace new ones. There were already too many as far as Ranga was concerned. Nikolas chuckled softly. ¡°It is not my role to decide what people think. I simply speak the truth as I understand it and leave the rest in the hands of the Most High. Conviction comes not from persuasion but from revelation.¡± ¡°How many have you converted so far?¡± Aisha asked curiously, her tone light but her eyes betraying a deeper interest. Nikolas¡¯ expression grew thoughtful. ¡°I¡¯ve never truly counted. The number seemed unimportant to me.¡± Oraki, seated at the edge of the table, remained silent, his focus fixed on his knees. Scratches marred the skin, cleaned and treated but still tender and slow to heal. His fidgeting drew the attention of another one of Nikolas¡¯ aides. ¡°Allow me to help,¡± the aide offered, reaching into a pouch for a small jar of ointment. Oraki hesitated but nodded, and the aide applied the salve with practised care. Placing a hand lightly over the wounds, they murmured a prayer. A soft, golden light emanated from their hand, and within moments, the pain subsided. The scratches faded into painless scabs, the healing process accelerated far beyond its natural course. Great Mekari along with the other veterans among his squad of soldiers exchanged impressed glances. ¡°Your healing is remarkable,¡± one of them said. ¡°Even in a foreign land, your potency is undiminished.¡± Mekari added. ¡°Healing is one of the greatest gifts of our God,¡± Nikolas replied, his tone reverent. ¡°It is said He can heal not only the body but the soul itself.¡± Aisha leaned forward, her interest piqued. ¡°Even the most damaged of souls? Is such a thing possible?¡± She inquired with a measured gaze that perfectly hid her roused eagerness. Nikolas¡¯ gaze turned thoughtful. ¡°If they truly wish for it, then He shall deliver them from their torment. But it is no easy feat. The path to healing often requires facing the deepest truths of oneself.¡± ¡°Why do you ask?¡± he inquired gently, his eyes searching hers. ¡°Do you know of a soul in need of such deliverance?¡± Aisha¡¯s expression closed off almost imperceptibly. ¡°I was just curious,¡± she replied, leaning back in her chair. The others accepted her response without question. Unfettered curiosity was akin to breathing when it came to her. However, Nikolas remained unconvinced. There was something in her eyes¡ªa flicker of desperation that seemed at odds with her casual words. The Spirit of the Most High stirred within him, hinting at a deeper story. He resolved to learn more in time, once trust and understanding had grown. For now, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, and the group enjoyed their meal, their laughter and camaraderie mingling with the hum of the restaurant. Beyond the window, the Academy stood waiting, a reminder of the tasks that lay ahead. The afternoon would bring new challenges and opportunities, but for now, they savored the moment, gathering strength for what was to come. Part 2 In the windy deserts beyond the northern border of Vutenia. A hidden tent stands as the temporary abode for a certain divine vessel. In the dark shade of this tent, he crouches in front of a bronze statue of the divinity he pledges alleigance to. Their people would call them Herms. He chants the words of prayer: ¡°Great Hermas. He who walks endless roads. He who reveals endless paths. Your vessel awaits guidance to the summit. To Olympiakos.¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. In an instant, his mind shifted from the comforting shadow of the dark room to the brilliant light of golden clouds surrounding a dazzling sun. Beneath them stood a towering palace of silver and gold. Looking around he saw towering spires of gold-laced marble and brilliant emerald fields at their base. In the background were mountainous peaks bathed in clouds. There was no doubt about where he stood. ¡°Welcome to Olympiakos, my faithful servant. Welcome to the Divine Mount.¡± These words abruptly echoed through his mind mere moments before the platform he was standing on suddenly raised itself to the top of the gleaming palace. What lay atop this palace was a Sun-bathed gathering place of the great pantheon of Olympiakos. Divine spirits that were once worshiped across the entirety of the Northern Continent. They now stood above him in all their splendour. Great Hermas. Messenger of the Gods who boasts immeasurable speed and guile greeted his servant once again. ¡°Welcome. My little Stefan. You now stand before the Pantheon to give report of your mission. My fellow divinities await news of your exploits.¡± ¡° Enough pleasantries Hermas. You¡¯ve delayed us long enough.¡± The thunderous voice belonged to Lord Deus. Chief God of the divine pantheon. ¡°Stefan. What did the dealings with the Vutenian High King yield.¡± Stefan took careful measure of each word before he spoke. ¡° He refuses to aid us in our cause but promises to not interfere any further in our efforts to capture San Nikolas.¡± ¡°And the troops tasked to protect him.?¡± ¡°He refuses to have them withdraw but will not provide any support to them should we attack them.¡± ¡°So you¡¯ve yielded nothing!? Do you even know who they have on his guard duty!?¡± Stefan paused a bit before continuing meekly. ¡° Great Mekari, your grace.¡± ¡°What!? Vutenia¡¯s strongest!? Does he think we¡¯re fools!?¡± Arayes, the god of war, could not help but lament such revelations. Mighty Deus reigned in his passionate son¡¯s ire. ¡°Now is not the time for lamentations. It was almost a given that we would be met with some resistance. This is also an opportunity to weaken a potential nuisance should our domain expand into the Southern Continent¡¯s lands. ¡± ¡°Of course, all of that relies on us dealing with our current threats first.¡± Hermas added onto Deus¡¯ observation. ¡°We¡¯ve already sent some of our fiercest beasts and creatures to aid you in your endeavor to capture San Nikolas. It is imperative you weaken any attempts of spreading the Most High¡¯s influence.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call that invader by such a blasphemous name, Hermas!!!¡± For a brief instant, sparks of golden lightning emanated from the Chief God sitting on his throne. ¡°Apologies. Lord Deus¡­¡± Stefan was lost for words. He had known of Lord Deus¡¯ famous wrath but he had never seen him so distressed. Lord Deus continued from where Hermas left off. ¡°Remember this, Stefan. You already failed to subdue him in the desert lands of Soma and now you lack the resources to attempt so again. This next mission will be your last chance. San Nikolas and those like him worship a being that threatens the sovereignty of our Pantheon. Primordial Chaos is already shifting its response to favor that being¡¯s authority above our own.¡± ¡°Should He gain more followers. We would be in a blatant disadvantage in terms of divine authority. This means you divine vessels will be unable to maintain higher control over the rest of the lands that still worship us.¡± ¡°It is imperative that you capture San Nikolas. Just as your comrades have been sent after other messengers of that being. This is a war. A spiritual war that will shape the framework of your future.¡± Hearing the dire stakes, Stefan could not help but ask. ¡°Pardon my inquiry, but why not kill him instead of simply capturing him.¡± Athena, goddess of wisdom was the one to reply. ¡°Killing him will merely inspire martyrdom. We must kill his legacy and show the populace the true weakness of those who follow this being that dares say he is the One True God.¡± ¡°So capture him and bring him to Olympiakos. We shall have Fair Aphrodites bring out his true nature.¡± Arayes was the one to reveal this final gambit. Stefan knew well the true horror of one caught in Aphrodites¡¯ embrace. Those who gazed upon her beauty whether living or dead were hers to entrance in obsessive madness or undying devotion. None could truly escape her charm. Even the gods themselves had to be careful not to be seduced. Stefan had been avoiding meeting her gaze as much as possible. No more than a glance had been exchanged, yet he could still feel the intensity of Aphrodite''s fierce stare bearing down on him. She knew how much he was avoiding looking at her. She found it delightful. Such was the being who would bring out the carnal natures of San Nikolas and disillusion the populace. Stefan could not help but wonder if they had become too desperate. ¡°In addition to those beasts. We¡¯ve sent some mystic tools to help make it easier to finish this task as quickly and secretively as possible. I trust you¡¯ll use them well.¡± ¡°Yes. Mighty Deus.¡± ¡°Very well. This summit is over. You may leave.¡± Stefan was relieved at Mighty Deus giving those words. ¡°Alright Stefan. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Good luck on your endeavors, Stefan. I hope to hear good news.¡± He could feel his heart skip a beat. Not even an instant had passed and already she was standing by his side. Her voice was so soothing and so permeating that he lost his wits for a moment and nearly looked at her. ¡°Y-Yes.¡± He mustered those words as he struggled to hide his terror. ¡°Don¡¯t scare my vessel, Aphrodites. Let¡¯s get your mind back home Stefan.¡± Hermas placed his hand on Stefan saving him from the clutches of Love¡¯s cold touch. In an instant, the view in front of him shifted back to the dark embrace of his shelter outside Vutenia¡¯s Northern Border. He went to sit down and gather his mind on what had transpired. ¡°Just how long will this struggle go on. We¡¯ve been at a stalemate for decades now and it just keeps getting harder¡­¡± He felt like his purpose as a vessel of Hermas had been reduced to being little more than a petty soldier. Years of fighting and still more to come. He could not help but feel exhaustion. ¡°Don¡¯t let the pressure bother you too much. The gods won¡¯t admit it but they¡¯re scared.¡± ¡°Lord Hermas?¡± Stefan could feel his presence and soothing voice. ¡°You know it as well as I do, Stefan. All of this is just part of the cycle. The cycle of fate that the Pantheon of Olympiakos is bound to.¡± ¡° The succession of divinity¡­¡± ¡°Exactly. Just as the Great Primordials, the first of the divine, lost to their scions known as the Titans, and the Titans lost to us Divine Spirits, we too now face a being that would overtake us. That is the Pantheon¡¯s fear.¡± ¡°What about you, Lord Hermas? Do you think history will repeat itself¡­?¡± Hermas let out a light laugh at the question before answering. ¡°After all, it would be rather poetic for a Primordial like The Most High to reclaim lands that once belonged to his kind. Fate loves that sort of thing.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Regardless, we must do our best to protect our supremacy. Even if we resort to nefarious deeds. Ruthlessness is our only recourse. I hope you understand that.¡± ¡°I do.¡± Still, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if his success would mean as much as they thought it would. He was but a single drop in a stream. Whether he won or not felt irrelevant in the long run. However, he cast aside such thoughts for his duty still remained. He hoped it would be enough. ¡°I assume I¡¯ll meet the envoy tomorrow.¡± ¡°Indeed. They¡¯re a very eager bunch. I¡¯ll give you instruction on how to use the tools for your infiltration once they arrive. Rest up for now. You have a busy few days ahead of you.¡± ¡°Indeed, I do¡­¡± The Great Deception Part 1 Heavy panting and sweaty brows. Eyes dilated and light trembling. Common signs of an initial panic. It was only natural with the absurdly shocking sight before them. ¡°Calm down, Oraki.¡± Aisha seemed incredibly stoic for someone who¡¯d never faced such a threat before. ¡°Calm¡­down? Are you seeing this?¡± Oraki carefully whispered these words in fear of being heard by the inhuman threats beyond the walls of their hollow, damp, hiding spot. The sounds of their heavy feet and dragging forms were a constant reminder of the danger beyond. ¡°I can¡¯t blame you but we need to keep our cool and come up with a plan. If we don¡¯t, we¡¯ll end up like the others.¡± ¡°Yeah. You¡¯re right.¡± His mind and body finally refocused at the truth of those words. As they looked on through the two peepholes that served as their only point of surveillance, they reaffirmed one truth. What lay beyond these walls was a fate they had to avoid at all costs. Thousands of cold, seemingly lifeless statues spread out before them. These were their friends, fellow students and teachers. All of them were beholden to a curse unlike any they had ever seen. ¡°How in blazes did this even happen?¡± It was a question neither one of them could answer. Part 2 ¡°Oh? This is amazing!!! Look at this. They¡¯ve rolled it on a wooden stick !!!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Look, Rupert!!! They have paper for wiping themselves. Such an advanced culture!!¡± ¡°Is this what¡¯s made you so excited? Please just hurry and relieve yourself.¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m excited!! Hygiene is crucial!! This is way better than that horrendous communal sponge stick that your people use. All you do is pass diseases to each other in your communal toilets.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t pass diseases!! It¡¯s perfectly cleaned before being given to the next person.¡± ¡°If you say so. It¡¯s not as comfy as this paper though.¡± ¡°Just go and finish!!¡± Rupert was flabbergasted by how ridiculous his friend could be at times. Once again he had gone overboard with his dietary impulses and consumed as much culinary cuisines as the chef¡¯s hospitality would allow. The youngsters tried to keep up with his ferocious appetite but even they had to concede to the elder¡¯s bottomless gullet. It was merely half an hour later when his bowel movements started acting up again. They had to hurry and check into his room so he could relieve himself before the opening ceremony. ¡°Honestly, I wish he¡¯d learn his lesson by now.¡± Rupert took out some sheets of paper from his bags and placed them on the bed. ¡°I¡¯ve left out your speech on the bed. Make sure to go through it at least once before Lord Mekari comes to escort us.¡± ¡°Okay. Oh? They even have coconut scented soaps. It¡¯s a futuristic fantasy!!¡± ¡°Take this more seriously, will you?¡± Part 3 ¡°Come on, you two. We¡¯re going to be late to the assembly.¡± Prince Ranga roused his two friends to be more mobile as they made their way to the ceremony venue. They could already hear the music and cheer beginning in the distance. ¡°We¡¯re already late thanks to someone overdoing it with the sweets.¡± ¡°How dare you bring up a lady¡¯s shame, Oraki?¡± ¡°Find me one and maybe I¡¯ll tell-!?¡± He barely finished it before getting put in a chokehold. ¡°You better respect your seniors you spoiled baby boy.¡± Aisha said with a mischievous smile. ¡°You¡¯re only a few months older than me.¡± Oraki thought as he tried tapping out to signal his surrender. ¡°Hey. You two lovebirds. Move it.¡± Ranga¡¯s declaration received an immediate reaction from the both of them. ¡°We are not lovebirds.¡± ¡°We are not lovebirds.¡± ¡°Whatever. Just hurry up. I want to get a good seat with the rest of the class for the opening dances. Did you know they were only told about this yesterday morning? I want to know what kind of makeshift dance the troop came up with.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s a good thing you¡¯ll be coming upstairs with me.¡± The one to suddenly state this was Prince Vuma. ¡°Hmm? Wait, why? It¡¯s just a bunch of boring old men up there. I want to watch it with everyone else.¡± Prince Vuma gave an exhausted sigh with an understanding smile but¡­ ¡°Ranga. You¡¯re old enough now that you need to start learning to take on the diplomatic duties of our family. You have to be there with me.¡± Whenever his brother took a stern tone like this, he knew there was little room for argument. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ranga. We¡¯ll just come with you.¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯ll give us an excuse for skipping classes today.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t allow that.¡± ¡°!?¡± The sound of this new voice sent a shiver down Aisha and Oraki¡¯s spines. The one to speak was none other than the Headmaster of The National Academy. Headmaster Mwadzo, the High Priest of Mawazo the god of knowledge. The children turned around to see his stoic form, with glasses reflecting the hallway¡¯s lights. Behind him were two of the guardsmen in charge of school security. Fully clad in white and violet fittings. ¡°It seems you two played truants for some fun time at the beach. A very serious offence.¡± His stern, chilling presence was a clear testament to the disappointment he felt at the two young shamans in training. ¡°We were just¡­¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°No need for excuses. Your punishments have already been decided. Take them.¡± ¡°W-wait. We¡¯re innocent!!!¡± ¡°Innocent!!!¡± ¡°Yeah. Yeah. Let¡¯s go.¡± The guards hardly flinched at their fervent protests. And so, they were dragged off to ¡®unknown horrors¡¯ leaving Prince Ranga to his lonesome fate. ¡°Now then. I believe we should all make our way to the ceremony. Mustn¡¯t keep everyone waiting.¡± ¡°Y-yes.¡± ¡°Good luck, you two.¡± Prince Ranga gave his heartfelt goodbye as he watched his friends disappear into the hallways. Part 4 The sound of drums sang a vibrant tune in the air. The angelic voices of the singers and dancers on stage made it even sweeter. It was quite the sight to behold. A once in a lifetime moment. The cheers and jubilation of the audience made for quite a vibrant spectacle. Observing this from the balcony of the second-floor lounge. San Nikolas could not help but marvel at the scale of the spectacle. Scattered below them were thousands of people. From teachers to students of all sorts of spiritual disciplines. Of course, it wasn¡¯t just shamans in training but young soldiers as well. From a glance, he could see everything from small children even younger than Prince Ranga to teenagers on the verge of adulthood. ¡°To think a single institution is home to all of these children. Truly remarkable.¡± Rupert was equally impressed but couldn¡¯t help but notice. ¡°Securing their safety must be a nightmare.¡± General Mekari gave reassurance on the matter. ¡°Thankfully. We have entire divisions tasked with guarding the Academy at all times. See those crests that some of those guards are wearing? They belong to the Guild of the Ram. They¡¯re a venerated group of soldiers tasked with keeping the internal peace of Vutenia¡¯s cities. The Academy employs them as part of the regular guard division whenever a major event occurs.¡± ¡°Oh? They must be well trusted to be regularly relied on.¡± Prince Vuma further confirmed this notion. ¡°Yes. They¡¯re some of Vutenia¡¯s finest. I used to greatly admire them as a young child so rest assured that we¡¯re in good hands. I think their leader will be joining us soon.¡± ¡°Really? I¡¯ve never seen him. Maybe this won¡¯t be so boring.¡± ¡°Oh? Are you a fan of this Guild of the Ram, Prince Ranga?¡± San Nikolas was surprised to learn both brothers were ardent fans. ¡°Yeah. They¡¯re powerful and amazing.¡± ¡°Strange. They seem so famous, yet I¡¯ve heard nothing of their exploits on other shores.¡± ¡°They¡¯re a surprisingly reserved group. They only ever show up at major events and hardly get talked about. But they¡¯re always there in the background. Perhaps you never noticed.¡± ¡°I suppose so.¡± ¡°Hmm? What are those strange owl statues by the doorways? I noticed one when entering this lounge.¡± Next to each entry and exit to the venue hall was a table with a bronze statue of an owl¡¯s head. ¡°They belong to the owl god that they worship.¡± ¡°Owl god?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a local deity from the village that the guild originated from. Apparently, it was a god of wisdom in battle. They usually place it nearby as a protective talisman.¡± ¡°I see. How interesting.¡± ¡°It seems the headmaster¡¯s finally about to give the opening speech.¡± The buzzing crowd soon grew silent as Headmaster Mwadzo took the stage. ¡°As the sun takes its journey to the western hills. I bid thee welcome to this auspicious occasion. I¡¯m truly grateful to all of you¡­¡± He began his speech with an impressive cadence. The Holy Ambassadors could not help but take note. ¡°He has such a powerful voice.¡± ¡°Indeed. Pay attention, he¡¯ll be calling you down there pretty soon.¡± ¡°The reason for this event is the sharing of knowledge. As you know, our people believe the gods of Vutenia shaped all that exists by using the golden waters of primordial chaos. Those who have studied the deeper mysteries would understand that said gods are a unique kind of entity known as Primordial Spirits. The honored guest we have today serves a being of similar acclaim, but they rule over all domains. As he shares his truth with us, I encourage you all to use this as a chance to open your mind to the larger world. To gain greater knowledge and understanding beyond our borders. To see a new perspective on the grand mysteries of this spiritual world and our role in it. After all, for shamans of Vutenia, true mysticism lives in our connection to the divine.¡± The audience couldn¡¯t help but hang on to every word he spoke. Their meanings were not lost on them. ¡°A magnificent introduction. He¡¯s tried to gently ease them into the notion. Get ready we¡¯re up.¡± ¡°And so, listen with your ears, judge with both mind and heart. Do not make yourselves rigid as stone. Remember this Academy exists for the pursuit of all that is true with an open mind. As you do so, I¡¯d like to invite the Honored Bishop of Myra who will be imparting this new knowledge to stand and greet the audience. Please welcome, San Nikolas !!!¡± Nikolas stood up and waved at the cheering crowds. It was a brief yet meaningful moment of triumph. One made even more brief by the next turn of events. In a spur of a moment, a mysterious noise rang out across the area. It paralyzed all in a sharp pain. As they looked upon the source. It was the resonant cries of all the owl statues. However, what lay on those tables were figures far too monstrous to be called that. Menacing stone visages of the severed heads of women with serpents growing out of their skulls like strands of hair. As for the guardsmen next to them. The horrid truth became clear to all and sundry upon looking at them. It brought some of them to tears and others to confused rage but it was a resounding shock to all. Even Great Mekari was taken aback by how terrifying a realization he had come to. The Guild of The Ram. Throughout the entire history of Vutenia¡¯s existence¡­there had never been a single instance where such a group had existed. The most impossible of events had happened. They had been caught in the enemy¡¯s illusions. As green flames revealed the true form of their once-trusted guardsmen. The reality that they were under siege began to creep in. Monsters of horrendous form from one-eyed behemoths to bull-horned giants and crawling nightmares. They stood as overwhelming obstacles to each exit. The first to act was Great Mekari as he moved to get San Nikolas off the lounge¡¯s veranda and further into the room. Headmaster Mwadzo was close behind as he tried to fashion a spell using his Spirit Arts. A whitish-blue aura formed in his fingertips. The regular guardsmen also braced themselves for battle. However, their invaders had already finished making their first move before anyone could mount a defense. The stone heads had been charging up with power this entire time. In a single burst, a green light flashed across the entire venue¡­ Part 5 ¡°I can¡¯t believe this!!! This is so unfair!!!¡± The irritated voice of a young Aisha echoed through the classroom air. They had been sweeping dust off the floors for the past 5 minutes. It was 5 minutes too long. ¡°Right? Cleaning classrooms? Why do I have to do this? I¡¯m an innocent victim?¡± Oraki said this as he picked up a banana peel hidden under the desks. Likely a mid-class snack. ¡°Innocent victim?¡± ¡°Yeah. This is your fault. You¡¯re the one who dragged me off to the port this morning.¡± ¡°Dragged you off!? You wanted to ditch class just like I did.¡± ¡°No. I just went along ''cause I was worried about you.¡± ¡°Worried!?¡± ¡°You wanted to cross most of the city to get to the port for a reason that you didn¡¯t even give me the time to ask about.¡± ¡°Reason? You¡¯re my best friend. You don¡¯t need a reason to go somewhere with me.¡± ¡°Exactly my point. You just ran off and expected me to chase you and I did. Why do I keep doing that? It¡¯s totally not healthy.¡± Aisha couldn¡¯t help but smile a little at Oraki¡¯s lamentation. ¡°Anyways, it¡¯s not my fault. Mr Mwadzo¡¯s just being too much. We barely had any real lessons this morning. Just recitations and meditation.¡± ¡°I think it also has something to do with us disappearing from class yesterday.¡± ¡°That was unavoidable. Also, exorcising a real evil spirit is great practice and wasn¡¯t something we could just postpone.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even remind me of that. Why did it go after me first?¡± Oraki¡¯s face was filled with dread just thinking about it. A rare case of one of their classmates getting possessed by an evil spirit had led to quite a misadventure for him. ¡°Ahahaha!!! You just have a lovable face, I guess.¡± Aisha¡¯s teasing didn¡¯t help matters. ¡°Still. It¡¯s a shame we¡¯ll miss his opening speech but he¡¯s going to be here for a few days so I guess it¡¯s fine.¡± Aisha started grinning suspiciously after hearing Oraki¡¯s words. ¡°Who said we wouldn¡¯t see it? Let¡¯s sneak out.¡± ¡°Are you crazy, the guards are right outside. They even placed some of them outside the windows just in case we¡¯re dumb enough to jump.¡± ¡°Who¡¯d be dumb enough to do that?¡± ¡°Right?¡± They could see one of the guards making patrol right outside. Evading one would be child¡¯s play if they were indoors but they had nothing to hide themselves in an open field. They¡¯d have to outrun them which would be pointless. Not to mention, sneaking out usually means not getting found. ¡°We¡¯ll use the old hidden passages from the war.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t our classroom. We don¡¯t know where the switches are and they probably have a new lock.¡± ¡°You underestimate me, Oraki? Behold, the master key I got from Matuzo in exchange for a lifetime supply of peaches from my father¡¯s farm. ¡°Did you seriously bribe the headmaster¡¯s son to steal a key in exchange for peaches?¡± ¡°I also still have a copy of all the notes that they made on all the secret passages. I¡¯m always one step ahead.¡± ¡°Wait. You knew this would happen? When did you do this?¡± ¡°The moment I realized there might be a slim chance we¡¯d be caught and punished for going to the port, I made preparations.¡± ¡°I see. Not bad.¡± ¡°I¡¯m way more than just an elegant beauty, Oraki. Better not fall for me.¡± She said with a mischievous wink and smile. ¡°Wow. Do you really think you¡¯re elegant? Crazy.¡± An elbow at light speed came crashing into Oraki¡¯s gut. ¡°You know I¡¯m beginning to worry you just enjoy this.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t¡­hit me...¡± An absurd suggestion if ever Aisha had heard one. Without further ado, she found a slot hidden in the blackboard frame and used it to open the hidden door to a narrow passage. The one she had selected lacked any loud mechanisms for passing through. It was a perfect hidden pathway but it was likely filled with all kinds of dust and vermin. ¡°Are we crawling through that?¡± ¡°Relax. It should open up to a bigger space in a few metres. Come on.¡± Seeing the self-proclaimed beauty jump into that dusty passageway without even flinching, Oraki couldn¡¯t help but whisper to himself. ¡°This is what I meant when I said you weren¡¯t elegant?¡± ¡°Hmm? Did you say something?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Naturally, he jumped right in. The hidden passages were a fairly enclosed space but light still came in from strategically placed air inlets. The passages were used as evacuation routes to strategic shelters during the War of The Nine Tribes before Vutenia¡¯s founding. Their existence was like a prelude to how many ancient secrets were housed in the Academy. They crawled, hopped and fought off all sorts of vermin and obstacles and eventually came near their destination. ¡°I can hear people and music. We¡¯re close Oraki.¡± There were any number of options for where they would exit but they needed to peek into the venue first to get their bearings. They were a few metres away from two peepholes, likely belonging to one of the many paintings in the venue when suddenly a scream rang out. It was mind-numbing and was accompanied by a sudden revelation to the two young children. A deception of one of their most trusted protectors was revealed to them. They ran up to the peepholes to get a better understanding of the matter. They noticed a brief green flash hit the wall before they reached there. When they finally arrived and looked through the peepholes, they saw a horrid sight. Their friends, schoolmates and teachers were encased in a stony prison. It wasn¡¯t just them. Even Headmaster Mwadzo wasn¡¯t spared. That was a truly terrifying sight to behold.