Chapter Eleven

Incredible India

Lofty titles make people forget their duties

Theoreous Sunborne

Earth/Bliss (Mount Bloom) EarthYear 989

Theoreous had been very intrigued by the Symphony of Souls throughout his life on Earth. He had deeply studied every facet of this divine system that kept these worlds running and knew all aspects of the journeys of humans and Souls.

Theoreous had attentively listened to everything Antione said and now tens of questions were flooding his mind. However, one nagging question was popping up again and again. Antionne answered his query before he even asked. "Yes, all the Pietious have direct descendants on Earth. Scions who inherit our positions one after another. These positions have been carried down in our families since the beginning of time, I guess. You want to know why we didn't choose our Scions for this task?"

Theoreous quietly nodded. He was mighty impressed by Antionne's mind-reading prowess.

"I have already told you we made a mistake. We underestimated the threat, never imagined that the Soulments were planning an all-out rebellion, and this blunder will cost our descendants the Seats of the Holy Five in the Chambers of Bliss. The current Pietious lineages will come to an end and a new legacy will begin."

"I still don't get it. You are passing the Holy Powers of the Five to us. Why can't you do that to your Scions?"

"Our Scions can do certain things with the help of their Unseens but Pente Potens is something on a different level altogether. Powers that have no boundaries and must only be used under desperate circumstances. And we cannot pass these powers directly to someone present on Earth. We can only attach them to any of our Scions present in Bliss and then send them to Earth for rebirth."

"So why didn't you do that? Even if you thought the situation was not that serious you could have still prepared for the worst and sent down your Scions. Isn't it better to be safe than sorry?" Gilbert, who must have read hundreds of books on Souls and Soulments, was still not getting Antionne's point.

Theoreous, however, had guessed the answer. "They had to execute their Scions to send them back to Earth because killing is the only way to send a Soul backward."

"And that would also mean that their Scions' Souls would splinter and a part of it would be born in Inferna." Now everything became clear to Gilbert

Antionne sighed. "That is right and no one was ready to send their children to Inferna. However, when everyone finally understood the scale of the problem it was too late. The opportune moment to sacrifice them was at sunset on the Darkest Night because we could attach our Armies of Unseen to them only during that hour."

"The time when both the portals, from Inferna to Earth and from Earth to Bliss, are open." Gilbert's mind was now racing like a horse. "And this night only comes once in a decade."

"Yes, we missed the last window, and without the Armies of Unseen to amplify the powers, the Pente Potens will not be able to achieve their goal. Now, if we sacrifice anyone in Bliss on the forthcoming Darkest Night, they will be ten years old at the time of Reckoning. I guess, even with all the superpowers in the world, those little kids won't stand a chance against an army of demons."

"So you, kind of, got stuck," Vasilias observed.

"Yes. We didn't know what to do. Then one of the Pietious dug into the Holy Scriptures and came up with a solution. Any incumbent Pietious can pass his powers to someone else and recuse himself through an elaborate ceremony in Bliss."

Theoreous was rubbing his temple with his eyes closed. "Mount Bloom is on Earth but technically it is a part of Bliss," He mumbled. "This is the only place where Malaks can meet humans. So here you can perform that ceremony and pass on your powers not to any other Malak but rather to any human you want."

"Not any human. Only those present in the Valley of Reckoning. And then that person can go back to Earth as a Pente Poten and do the miracles."

Vasilias gave a half-smile. "So we are just lucky to be at the right place at the right time."

Antionne stood up from his throne and walked towards them. "No, that is not the case. There are thousands of humans in the Valley right now, but as I told you, you were all chosen due to very specific qualities. Not everyone meets those criteria."

Antionne paused for a second. Theoreous could see that he was scanning their minds.

"I will be honest with you all. The future of these worlds hangs by a thread. If these dark Soulments take over Earth there will be no ascensions to Bliss or the Hereafter. The Symphony of Souls will meet a sudden tragic end."

***

Mysha

Earth-Year 1998

Mysha, Brendon, and Ryan were standing on the deck of the ship with the vast shoreline of India getting closer and closer. They were a few minutes away from entering the land of mystery. "Welcome to India. The Fourth World!" Brendon announced.

Mysha read a headline from a newspaper she had picked before boarding the ship. "Star batter Brendon Larson leaves England tour midway due to mental health issues. For God's sake, couldn't you find a better reason to drop out? Although I agree you are a psycho, why publicly announce that?"

"Strewth, that's totally on ya. After that embarassin' incident with ya beloved son, people thought I've lost my bearings. I just used it as an excuse. Ya know leavin' a tour midway could prove to be such a big dent in my blossomin' career."

"Mister I-keep-forgetting-why-I-was-born don't you think your career was done and dusted the moment we met? You haven't forgotten our goal, have you?"

"Nah, but I still wanna play as long as possible. Anyways, how did ya convince ya mom?"

Mysha gave a mischievous smile. "Well, being the king's mother has a few perks. My mom was in the seventh sky when I showed her the Royal Letter, signed by the King himself, stating that I had been chosen as an envoy for a special mission to Australia. Also, all my previous trips, which my mom had become paranoid about, were written off as secret missions which I was forbidden to talk about."

"Crikey, ya fooled ya mom of this birth using ya son of the last birth."

"For God's sake, can't you stop making this even more complicated? And my mom was nothing compared to Max's parents."

Brendon nodded. He and Mysha had a hard time getting Max on board. Max's condition had become worse. He had lost weight, the rash covering his whole body had become worse and his organs were always on fire. His parents took him to multiple hospitals, against his wish, but doctors found nothing. His mother was sure that this was some demonic magic, she wasn't wrong, but she found no solutions for this problem.

That is where Mysha cooked up a story that this was some rare viral disease that could be cured in Australia. She showed them the Royal Letter about her special mission to Australia and offered to take Max with her for treatment. Max's dad wanted to come along, but Brendon, Max's new superstar friend convinced them that the necessary permission will take a long time and they didn't have that. He emphasized that he and Mysha had all the necessary means to take good care of their son. Mysha's genuine concern for Max and Brendon's star power somehow managed to get their nod.

The ship docked at the port but no one was allowed to disembark. An hour later, a dozen men dressed in knee-length shirts, tight pants, and some orange cloth tied on their heads as some weird kind of headgear, came into their cabin.

A man in his late twenties stepped forward and joined his palms in front of his chest, probably some traditional way to greet the guests. "Namaste Miss Mysha, welcome to the Land of Dreams," He spoke in a heavy accent. "The ship's captain informs me that we have some esteemed guests on board. Envoys of King Alexander the Third."

Mysha brought out her cute dimpled smile which she reserved for special occasions. "Well, I didn't know His Highness has made some special arrangements."

"India is the land of hospitality, although people on your side of the world think otherwise."

"You don't kind of give too many people a chance to experience your hospitality."

"We have our reasons but it doesn't take too long for people's perception to change. Anyways I am Arun Suryavanshi, the caretaker of this port and the nephew of Mahesh Suryavanshi, the Humblest Warden of India."

"Zounds, what's that?"

"The King, in your language."

"Mate, so why not just call him that?"

"Because lofty titles make people forget their duties."

"But don't these adjectives create a lotta confusion?"

"It reminds us that we are not lords, only humble servants."

Brendon was about to say something else but Mysha cut him off. "Nice to meet you, Arun."

"My pleasure Miss Mysha." Arun paused and scanned the cabin. "You have brought a few things that aren't allowed in India. Hope you have a good explanation for them or else you might be deported."

"Deported? Jeez isn't that an extreme?"

"That is the best-case scenario I am talking about."

"What's worse then?"

"Getting beheaded for having an ill will for this land," Arun said without batting an eyelid.

Mysha, is he talking about the soulments with us?

Mystic, he couldn't have seen them with naked eyes.

Mysha, so what else you have brought? Drugs? He is talking about them, you idiot.

Shut up, Mystic

"I think you are thinking along the right line Miss Mysha, but this is not the place to talk about it. Let us go to my office."

"Well, can you read minds?" It was a genuine question, but it sounded like a jibe.

Arun replied with a straight face. "I wish I could do that, but I pride myself on decoding people's expressions and body language. Now, please follow me to my office. All your possessions remain on board till we sort things out. Miss Mysha, you understand what I mean?"

Mysha nodded. She and her friends were escorted off the ship. India, as expected, turned out to be pretty underwhelming. There were a few old-fashioned buildings scattered around the port. Mysha and her friends were ushered into a small room in one such building.

Arun ordered one of his subordinates to close the door behind them. "I don't want to be disturbed. Make arrangements for the accommodation of our guests. I will also be having lunch with them."

"So ya're gonna feed us before beheadin' us. Jeez, I'm impressed by ya hospitality."

Arun ignored Brendon and had a deep long look at Mysha.

Wow, Mysha! you have another fan. Guys just can't stop ogling at you.

Mystic, is he trying to read my mind?

No, Mysha. He is checking out your curves.

Mystic, not everyone is a pervert.

Arun quickly took his gaze off her. "I am not checking you out, miss. Do you understand that bringing unregistered Soulments to India is a crime? The amount of paranormal activity onboard that ship suggests that you have Armies of Unseen there and some of you might belong to the Pieteous families, which again is a blatant violation of the trade agreement."

Blatant Violation. Mysha, I don't like the sound of that.

Mystic, let me concentrate.

Mysha you are screwed.

Mystic, shut up.

"If I had gone by the books, your ship would have been destroyed, your Unseens annihilated and you and your friends would have never seen the light of day again. However, I am a little curious. Alexander is a nice man, completely different from his mother, that treacherous old hag. I want to know after so many years of strictly honoring the terms, why did he suddenly decide to follow the footsteps of that bloodthirsty witch?"

Brendon and Ryan somehow managed to suppress their laughter when they heard Arun's description of Elizabeth, but Mysha's face was flushed. "I don't think you are old enough to have met Queen Elizabeth," She said in a stiff voice.

"Certainly not. My grandfather was the first envoy of India to the Mainland. He told me many stories about that wicked old bat, not very pleasant ones, mind you."

Mysha was about to explode but even illness couldn't suppress Max's curiosity and he intervened. "Don't tell me that an Indian envoy visited the Mainland some years ago. I have never read about that."

"It was very hush-hush. Top secret. We can recount all those stories later, right now, you need to tell me why Alexander not only send prohibited people and things, he even dared to endorse them by writing to us that they are his special guests. Why is the Mainland violating the treaty? Are you planning an attack on India?"

"Mate, ya gotta rein in ya horses. We're not plannin' to do anythin' like that."

Mysha stepped forward. "Well, we need an audience with your king. There are some important matters we want to discuss with him."

"Not king, the Humblest Warden. There is no chance for a meeting. No foreigner is ever allowed beyond the port area."

"I am sure you can make an exception, just like you did by not blowing our ship."

"You need to give me a very solid reason to even think about your request."

"Well, you won't understand."

"Try me, Miss Mysha and I might surprise you. One thing I can see is that your curious friend needs some specific medical help that you didn't find on the Mainland. But that reason alone won't get you too far."

Mysha, this guy knows much more than he is showing.

Yes Mystic, he is hiding his cards.

Mysha, he is waiting for you to make a move.

Can he be trusted, Mystic? Shall I tell him?

"Have you ever heard of the Pente Potens?"

Mysha dropped a little bomb and waited for the reaction. She looked at Arun for any signs. Surprise, confusion, anxiety, anything? Nothing. Just a wooden face.

Mysha, this guy can make a fortune in poker.

Hell Mystic! It feels like I am talking to a rock. How do I get any leverage?

Mysha, I told you to concentrate on your pathetic mind-reading skills. They would have been handy here.

Mystic, right now, it is the other way around. He seems to be reading me inside out.

"How many of you are part of it?" Arun broke the deadlock.

Mysha's jaw dropped on hearing that question. "Well, I can't give you the details." She replied, trying to get her composure back.

"Miss Mysha, let me remind you something, you have come to us and it is not the other way around. Trusting me is your only option if you want to take our cooperation any further. I need to see some proof of your claim."

"Our soulments are not with us. We kind of need them for powers." Mysha bluffed.

"Don't question my intelligence, Miss Mysha. I belong to a Pieteous family and know how these things work. Scions are powerless without Unseens but Potens' powers are always there and they need Unseens' energies just to amplify them. I am not asking you to bring a storm, I just want you to stir the water in that glass without any help."

The water in the glass turned into ice.

"So the silent one is the master of elements. Since you are the one doing all the talking, I assume you are the Bond. The curious one is here for treatment and does the bigmouth has any powers or is he here just to talk nonsense?"

Brendon stomped his foot. Max disappeared from his chair and reappeared near Arun. When Brendon let go of time, a cup of tea, that was earlier safely placed on Arun's desk, fell on his lap spoiling his shirt and trousers.

"That was unwarranted," Arun exclaimed, jumping up from his seat. "My wife gifted me this kurta. She is going to be miffed and I might end up spending a couple of nights on the grassy lawns of the Holy-Five Center of Healing."

"Mate, that's the only way you'd notice a time freeze."

Arun shook his head. "So the sick guy is the Mover and you are the Timer."

Ryan chuckled. "Holy Angels! Nice to know someone other than me uses those terms."

Mysha, he knows more about the Pente Potens than some of your friends

Yes Mystic, he looks like a learned man.

Mysha, he is very sharp and looking for an opening.

Yes Mystic, I need to tread carefully.

"Well, will we now get a meeting with your king? I mean the Humblest Warden."

Arun replied with another deadpan expression. He clapped his hands and a couple of guards entered the room.

"Take our guests to the Samudra Mahal and make them comfortable. Ensure they don't venture out of the premises."

"Are we under arrest?" Mysha asked fidgeting with her hair locks.

"Certainly not. For us, Atithi Devo Bhava, Guests are Gods. We don't arrest gods."

"Mate, a few moments ago ya were threatenin' to chop off our heads."

"That was when your position wasn't clear to me. You are free to go back to the ship if you feel threatened but I would request you allow us to extend our hospitality. Trust me, we are very good hosts."

Wow, Mysha! This guy is unbelievable. From a presumptuous officer to a courteous host, how seamlessly he switches between the roles.

Mystic, his lack of expression is a little creepy but overall he seems like a nice guy.

Mysha, we can't trust him.

Mystic, what other options do we have?

"Well, how much do we have to wait?"

"I will have to report this development to the capital and seek further instructions. I am afraid I won't be able to have lunch with you today but I will see you as soon as possible."

One of the guards entered the room. "Arun, their carriages are here."

"Good Heavens, Carriages? You don't have cars?"

"India is an incredible land with a lot of surprises. My friend here will take you to your accommodation. Have a nice time."

The guard escorted them to a luxurious carriage pulled by four horses. The carriage passed through wide dirt roads that were dotted with old-fashioned stone houses. The streets were deserted and there wasn't much activity in the city.

Mysha, I was hoping for a nice little vacation but India is turning out to be a massive disappointment.

Mystic, we are not on vacation. We are here for a reason.

That doesn't mean we can't enjoy ourselves. But old houses, no vehicles, no electricity, this place is the exact opposite of fun.

Yes Mystic, this place is stuck in some bygone era.

However, when their carriage entered the large gate of Samudra Mahal, the Sea Palace, everyone made a quick recalculation. It was a massive mansion built on a fabulous beach. Rows of coconut trees dotted the beach line. There were no electricity or modern amenities but this mansion was the height of luxury. Perfectly manicured gardens, huge rooms with balconies facing the sea, intricately designed furniture, walls adorned with fabulous paintings, and tens of servants always on their toes to serve them.

Mysha and her friends were staying in a palace straight out of those fairy tales. Indians, as Arun had promised, proved to be great hosts. For the next two days, they were treated to sumptuous feasts, some local entertainment, and lots of beach and sun.

The vacation was over a little too soon. Arun joined them at breakfast on the third morning.

"Hello Arun, you returned earlier than we expected." Mysha greeted him with her deep-dimpled smile.

"Hope my people took good care of you guys."

Ryan was back on his eating spree. "Good Heavens, the food is awesome. I am going to take a lot of your spices back to the Mainland." First, at Buckingham Palace and now here, Ryan had stuffed himself enough to last a couple of wars.

"Well, so do you have any update?"

"Went to the capital. I thought this sensitive matter warranted a direct meeting with the Humblest Warden."

"Mate, what do ya use for urgent messages? Game of Thrones or Harry Potter? I mean ravens or owls? I'm sure they'd be quicker than ya goin' there."

Mysha, this fool is going to get himself thrown into the sea.

Mystic, still no reaction.

God Mysha, Arun might give a stone statue a run for its money.

Yes, Mystic. Totally.

"Well, how far is the capital?" Mysha asked.

"You will see when you go there."

"You mean to say your king, I mean the Humblest Warden, has agreed to see us."

"Yes, he thinks the Pente Potens is worth making an exception to the rule of the land. We leave in an hour. Collect your belongings from the ship. By belongings, I mean your earthly possessions."

"Let me tell you we can't leave our Unseens on the ship." Max took a stand for his Soulments. A change of location, some fresh air, and a happy atmosphere had returned some color to his face, but everyone knew that he was running out of time.

Arun looked at Max. Still no expressions but they could sense his empathy for Max's condition. "Okay, I will allow them to deboard the ship and make arrangements for them in a special facility near the port. But you must warn them to behave and strictly follow the rules. Some of my guards are very intolerant towards Soulments. You don't want them getting unnecessarily harmed."

"Well, why can't we take them with us," Mysha objected.

"Soulments are banned inside India."

"Mister I-belong-to-a-Pieteous-family-and-know-how-this-works tell us how do you manage your own Soulments?"

"The native Unseens, Devdoots, know how to navigate across this country. Taking any foreign Soulments with us will be a lot of hassle due to Kawach."

"Zounds, what's Kawach?"

"Our Anti-Soulment-Defense-System."

"Strewth, they don't have vehicles n electricity but they've built a defense system against Soulments," Brendon muttered under his breath.

Arun heard him but, as expected, it didn't move a vein.

"Well Arun, I am sure you can make some kind of special arrangement." Mysha flashed her innocent baby smile, reserved for asking favors or jailbreaks. "My Guardian will be very grumpy staying behind with those lesser beings. He will turn into a human and no one will even know we are taking a Soulment with us."

"You have a level five Marid as your Guardian?" Mysha sensed a hint of excitement in Arun's voice but he quickly switched back to his flat tone. "I heard there were only four of them."

Hell, Mysha. He even knows about Soulment levels and their counts. Things even you and your friends didn't know some weeks ago.

Mystic, can he be the one we are looking for?

The fifth? Mysha, I don't think so. If he is one of you there is no reason for him to hold back.

Mystic, this guy is proving to be an enigma.

"I've got another one from that elite group as my Guardian Angel. So can they come along as humans?"

"They won't be able to get through even in their human avatars." Arun paused for a moment, then added as an afterthought. "However, as a gesture of goodwill, I will allow you to bring along your Guardians. Only one Unseen each."

"That'll do, Arun. Thanks for ya understandin'." Brendon grabbed the deal before others could discuss their options.

"The carriage is waiting for you to take you back to the docks. Collect your things and then I will take you to Delhi, the capital of Incredible India."

***