Ashborn Primordial-Chapter Ashborn 408: A Monkey’s Gambit

Vir expected little trouble from the Warrior Chakra, and he was right, mostly. After all, conflict had been an integral part of Vir’s life, even as an outcast growing up in the village of Brij. Violence was as regular as sleep, or breathing. While Vir rarely ever sought it out, violence had an uncanny way of finding him.

And so, he craved the Warrior Chakra. The very threat of such a weapon forced his enemies to fight differently. To second-guess his next actions. Though Vir was loath to ever cripple a demon with such a terrible force, he could not deny its utility. And right now, Vir needed all the help he could get.

For Vir, the Warrior Chakra’s meaning was clear. Or at least, he thought it was. Combat was not an end, but rather a means. The means by which he protected all he loved. Both kin and country.

With this image and intent, his initial progress had been rapid. Yet, just when he thought felt he could open the Chakra all the way, the path resisted, remaining doggedly closed, like a rusted door that refused to swing.

“I admit, I am at a loss for how to proceed,” Vir said, walking alongside Narak and Shardul in the meadow of his mindscape. He’d even summoned Ekanai, but the demon disappeared into his own shadow not one second after appearing.

That was fine by Vir. Ekanai was the type to speak if he had something to say. Vir bet the demon was listening to their conversation, an arm or a leg sticking out somewhere to allow time to slowly pass.

“For me, the Warrior Chakra was the easiest,” Shardul said. “Revenge against the Iksana was all that drove me in life. The gods seemed to be content with that reason.”

“That won’t work for me,” Vir said. “Revenge is not what I want.”

“Come now,” Shardul said with a wry smile. “You can’t mean to say you hold no grudge against the Chitran for what they did to you?”

“I do. You know I do. I just can’t let that drive my actions.”

“Perhaps therein lies the issue?” Narak said.

Vir craned his neck to look up at the giant. Vir had learned long ago not to walk directly beside those much taller than him… It was a good way to wrench his neck. Even so, Narak was taller than most Bairans. Vir bet his predecessor’s stature had undoubtedly helped his cause while he was still alive. “What do you mean?” Vir asked.

“There seems to be a conflict brewing within you. The Akh Nara within you wishes to unite the realm. The orphan wishes to exact justice upon those who wronged you. How can one have a solid understanding of their Warrior Chakra when these values war with one another within you?”

Vir fell silent. Narak had a point. Just…

“If that’s true, how do I reconcile this? I cannot forget what the Chits did to my people. To my mother and father. I refuse to.”

“They must be eliminated,” Ekanai’s raspy voice echoed from somewhere nearby. “Only then will you find peace.”

“That’s certainly one way of going about,” Shardul quipped, stroking his chin. It baffled Vir how the sleek gray demon managed to look imposing even while doing such a benign action. His jet-black, seric heavy armor didn’t hurt. Vir would be lying if he said he wasn’t a little envious. He still wore the segmented seric armor Tia had gifted him in the Human Realm. Not that armor did much for him these days… His prana was superior to any physical metal he could put on.

“As I said, I’m not going to kill the whole clan. Certainly not so I can get over whatever dilemma I’m facing.”

“Pity,” Ekanai said mockingly. “Then perhaps you will find your meaning once you drive the oppressors from Samar Patag.”

“Seems like it,” Vir said, resigning himself to the fact that he wouldn’t have the Warrior Chakra in time for the assault. The rebellion was still some weeks away, but even so, Vir felt like he was drowning.

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The sheer magnitude of preparations that needed to happen, even with such a solid team supporting him, was overwhelming. There was so much left to be done, from organization to various logistical concerns to overseeing the evacuation of the Gargan Laborers.

Nor did the preparations end with the battle. Cirayus, Malik, Greesha, and Tara all urged him to draft plans for the new government. To come up with laws and appoint officials, all before the rebellion had even begun!

It was absurd, and if Vir was honest, more than a little hubristic. To plan for his success, when the seer who was never wrong said he would fail. Vir understood their reasoning, of course. That Samar Patag would be chaotic after the battle. That its citizenry would be in a state of panic. The Gargans would be teetering on the edge of hope, while the Chitran would be cowering in their cellars or attempting to flee the city.

Handled poorly, Vir could very easily lose control at a time when he would need it most. For the taking of Samar Patag was only the first step. He would have to keep it after, when the joint forces of the Aindri and the Chitran besieged the city.

Vir’s coronation, envoys to the other clans, the list never ended.

It was all so much that Vir felt like curling up somewhere and forgetting about the world. He wanted Maiya to hold him. To tell him everything would be alright.

He supposed she might’ve felt the same. Her own rebellions were about to begin. All three of them. Vir couldn’t imagine the stress she must be under. Their conversations had been few these days. If only—

Vir’s mindscape shuddered. A voice sounded, distant and muffled, as though speaking through an ocean of deep water.

The first time this happened, Vir had brought out his weapons and armed his Chakras. Now, just he shrugged and bid his predecessors goodbye.

“It seems my godfather wishes to speak to me,” Vir said, giving them a sad smile. He really wished he got to spend more time with them. Faded memories of their past selves though they may be, Vir still enjoyed their company. Little wonder why—they were the only beings in all the realms who were truly Vir’s equal. The only ones who truly understood what it was like to be the Akh Nara.

The three demons winked out of existence, and were shortly followed by the trees and the meadow.

Vir opened his eyes to find Cirayus shaking his shoulders and Shan circling excitedly around them both. “What is it?” Vir asked.

“There’s a situation,” Cirayus said. “Quite urgent, I’m afraid.”

Cirayus had filled Vir in by the time they arrived at Vir’s primary base, recently dubbed Stronghold Vijaya, after the old Imperium word for Victory. Apparently, the army had wanted to name it after Vir, or Ashani, but the goddess had convinced them otherwise. The name had been suggested by Ashani herself.

“Cirayus had informed me of the situation,” Vir said as soon as he entered the primary meeting room of their command center. “The Chits have captured Janani and are threatening to kill her unless I show up, alone. Is this correct?”

Tara, Ashani, Aida, Ekat’Ma, and Balagra were already present and waiting. Notably absent was Raoul.

“The missive we found at the orphanage said they will continue killing Gargans, should you ignore their threat.”

Aida shook her head. “To think they would stoop this low.”

“Rather, I am surprised it took them this long,” Cirayus said. “They are desperate.”

“And are they not right to be?” Balagra asked. “They’ve lost the support of all but one clan. They face airships, Ash Gates, and demons stronger than any the realm has seen. Make no mistake, this is an ambush.”

“It is most definitely an ambush,” Vir said tiredly. “And yet, it is one I cannot possibly ignore.”

“What will you do?” Tara asked, frowning. “It irks me, but I do believe you should go alone.”

Shan growled, and Vir idly pet his back. “I suppose I could take Shan…”

“Best not risk it, lad,” Cirayus said.

Vir raised an eyebrow. “I thought you’d say I should go with at least a half-dozen Warriors.”

“Believe me, I would like nothing more, but you wish to rescue Janani alive, yes? In that case, I advise you to be a bit more prudent,” the Ravager said, eyeing the corner of the room, where Ekat’Ma seemed stood hunched over.

“Right,” Vir said. “Of course. Ekat’Ma, I would like to ask a favor of you and your spies… I realize the Iksana intend to be a neutral party in this rebellion, however—”

“You need not mince words with us,” Ekat’Ma said, cutting him off. Were it anyone else, Vir might’ve been offended. He’d come to learn that this was just the Iksana way, however. “Speak your heart.”

“Very well. Then, I would like you to recall your dozen Iksana spies. I want everyone with me at that meeting. Stay in the shadows until called for. You may not be Warriors, per se, but you’ve been trained in the Ash. On your own, I doubt you’d lose to anything Matiman can throw at us, but we’ll be together. Your goal will be the safe extraction of Janani while I deal with whatever Matiman has in store for us. Would… you be willing to do that for me?”

“It is done,” Ekat’Ma said, bowing her head.

“Thank you,” Vir replied, nodding his head. While Ekat’Ma had pledged her allegiance to his cause, her involvement would undoubtedly cause the Chitran to assume the Iksana had fallen in with Vir. As an individual, Vir would never have wished to sow such confusion.

As the Akh Nara and Prince of his people, however… He could not pass up an opportunity that benefited him so much. Ekat’Ma was undoubtedly aware of the implications her actions would bring. If she was fine with it, Vir would say no more on the matter.

“It’s settled, then,“ Vir said, meeting the eyes of all who were present. “We leave at once.”

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