The Secrets of the Elements

Chapter 30: The Past Battle

"Then what did the kings and queens do?" quizzed Rishi.

"They battled him, against his enormous army of pure evil," revealed Indra.

"And lost?" asked Rutuja.

"Not really," said Indra. "Yes, they lost their lives but only after successfully destroying almost all his

army. They just couldn't destroy him."

"Destroy?" said Rishi. "You mean to kill?"

"No, I mean to destroy," said Indra.

Rutuja and Rishi exchanged a confused glance.

Daksh, on the other hand, was now almost lying on the grass, closing his eyes, taking deep breaths,

somehow not bothered about the story his father was telling.

"Azazel is dead, technically, so you can't destroy him," revealed Indra and looked at Dai Ma.

"What do you mean?" asked Rutuja and straightened her back.

"He did die in the battle against the kings and queens, but they did not kill him," said Dai Ma. "Nobody

knows how he died, but, he resurrected, nobody knows how."

"I don't get it," said Rishi. "We all are protecting a self-sufficient book. I mean it has the powers of all

kings and queens."

"Exactly, son," said Indra.

Daksh opened his eyes to look at his father and then shifted his gaze to Rishi who was somewhat

smiling. He rolled his eyes and sat up straight, stretching his arms and turning his neck from the right to

the left.

Rutuja looked at him and gave him a 'were you actually sleeping?' look.

"The powers in the book can be earned," said Indra. "Either if the book chooses you, or, forcefully,

that's what we expect Azazel to do."

"Forcefully," Daksh finally spoke. "How? Dad."

Rutuja could not understand the need for Daksh stressing on the last word.

"Azazel holds some exceptional powers which we aren't aware of, yet," replied Indra. "If he gets his

hands on the book, he can bewitch it, control Grantha, and snatch those powers, or worse, make her

his slave."

~~~~~~~

"On the count of three," said Maya as she moved her hands in a circular motion, as though making a

ball. "One, two, three!"

Advika stomped her foot on the ground closing her eyes; Maya threw the invisible ball of energy

towards the cupboard.

BANG!

There was a loud crack and lightning. The hut was filled with a deafening sound, a blinding light, and

dust.

Advika coughed and sat on her knees keeping her hand on her chest.

"Advika! Are you fine?" said Maya. The dust blocking her vision. She waved it off and took a few steps

towards the cupboard which was now split in half.

"Zarna!" she screamed and picked her up in her arms. "Advika, where are you?"

She put her down on the floor and removed a small water bottle from her bag. She sprinkled some

water on Zarna's face. "Zarna, please open your eyes," said Maya patting her cheeks.

Zarna's face looked lifeless, her hair and clothes all covered with mud.

Maya removed yet another small glass veil from her bag and filled her hand with the transparent liquid.

"Let the past be the present. Let time heal all wounds. Let all the harm be undone. With the power of

the water, so mote it be!"

Zarna opened her eyes as a few drops of the liquid fell on her face. She took a few deep breaths,

looking around, her eyes searching for her friends. She could see two outlines hovering over her face.

"Maya, we need to get out of here asap," said Advika and helped Zarna get on her feet.

~~~~~

"So now?" asked Rutuja.

"Our next step will be building an army," said Dai Ma.

"Wait! What?" said Daksh. "Who will join us? Nobody dares to stand against him."

"That's why we are here," said Indra. "Near our people, near the people who were and will remain on

our side."

"I do not see anybody here," said Daksh.

"Is... is there anybody else living with us here?" asked Rishi. Rutuja looked around and then glanced at

Indra.

Indra looked at Dai Ma and nodded his head.

Dai Ma closed her eyes and clapped thrice.

"Ouch!" said Rishi and got up dusting his jeans. Rutuja followed.

"What!?" Daksh mouthed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ant-like small creatures materialized in front of them. "Antillas," murmured Rutuja.

Rishi saw thatched roofs appearing mid-air, followed by walls and doors. A group of children was

playing hide and seek in the yard. Men and women busy doing their daily chores.

Daksh's eyes fell on an elderly person resting outside his house, lighting a cigar and staring into the

sky. "Can't be," he said.

It seemed like they were always there, just hidden.

~~~~~~

"Thank you, girls," said Ray closing his eyes. "One more mishap was exactly what we wanted."

Tej sat beside Zarna, staring at her blankly.

Maya's house was a one-storied building covering large space. There was a small garden in front of

the house with various flowers and fruit plants. The small swimming pool beside it had increased the

beauty of the house.

Maya had a balcony attached to her bedroom where Advika was now sitting facing her friends. There

was an unusually large mirror in her bedroom, covered with a white cloth. Her wardrobe placed to the

left of her bed where Zarna was fast asleep.

Advika walked in, her eyes glued to the ground. She sat on an easy chair kept near the bed.

"Why?" said Ray turning to face the girls.

"Ray, we were just trying to speed things up, plus-"

"Do you mean speed injuries?" Ray interrupted Maya mid-sentence.

"Ray, we didn't know it would be that bad. We suspected black magic, that's all," said Advika and

glanced at Tej.

"She'll be fine," said Maya and sat near Zarna.

"What did you tell her parents?" asked Tej, finally speaking.

Maya looked at Advika and pursed her lips. "I talked to them as Zarna and said I was with Jiya,

completing some case study," said Advika.

"Jiya? Her best friend?" quizzed Tej. Advika nodded her head. "I told Jiya that I, I mean Zarna is out

with us, partying, her parents won't allow an all."

"You tricked her too?" asked Tej. Advika sighed and nodded her head. "I had no other option." "And

they believed you!?" wondered Ray.

"Of course Ray, that's her speciality, she can sound like any one of us, with the help of some kind of

software she built," added Maya.

Zarna woke up with a start and looked around. Everything was blur initially, she could see outlines of

figures. She could hear them take her name.

Maya rushed to the bathroom and brought back a large wooden round bowl filled with water. Advika

kept a small board on the bed next to Zarna. Maya placed the bowl on it.

"Zarna put your head in it," she said. Zarna blinked several times; her head spinning.

"I don't think she can hear us properly," said Advika and looked at Maya. "Do it."

Maya gathered Zarna's hair and tied it into a bun.

"Why would you immerse her head in-"

Tej opened his mouth to say something but then stopped as Zarna lifted her head from the bowl,

panting.

Advika handed her a towel and rushed to fetch some water.

"Zarna," said Maya. "Are you fine?"

Zarna nodded her head and let out a sigh. She looked around slowly taking in the interiors, colours,

and surrounding. It didn't seem familiar. Her eyes fell on something that was covered with a white cloth.

"Here," said Advika as she handed her a glass of water. Zarna gulped it down in a breath and stretched

her neck and hands. All eyes were glued to her, eagerly waiting for her to speak.

~~~~~~~

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