[19:20] 1 April, in Shiva, with Gherico
"Okay, let's start" Both activated their chain together.
*Khatam*
"Remember to keep your eyes closed, guys" Orite said while creating a seal big enough to contain most of the building; everyone inside this building would have been blinded temporarily, including us.
While keeping our eyes closed, holding on to Abello, we would have jumped from one seal to another, thanks to Abello's chain. His seals are like shields, so it's easy to use them as walls to jump on.
Also, even if he keeps his eyes closed, he can precisely use his seals if he remembers his surroundings.
So, keeping in mind we were about 30 meters in the air, Abello calculated that we needed to move straight, and by approximately 50-60 jumps, we would have reached the ground.
We could hear many soldiers screaming and yelling orders; the training ground was in chaos.
Everything went as planned, but Orite was more drained than expected since he had to keep a very big seal active for a few minutes. As we were able to see again, we realized we were in the center of a training full of soldiers. The only advantage we had was that everyone had kept their eyes closed to avoid being blinded.
However, we didn't have much time before someone realized that the seals weren't working anymore, so we quickly analyzed the surroundings.
"Wait, maybe I remember this place; hold on to me. Orite, can you reactivate it for a few more seconds?" Abello whispered to us.
Orite, exhaling, got back to work. After another few seconds, the seal was gone again, and this time, we moved in one direction and we were close to an exit of the training place, which was empty.
"Okay, this time we'll be lucky, I feel it" I looked at him askance while running behind him. "So, we'll just forget how many times you missed today?" We went through hallways, rooms, and stairs; every time, Abello seemed more convinced. "Eheheh, don't worry about that"
"Here it is! I remember this is the place. The Colonel's room" Orite was still far behind us on the stairs, but this time, Abello might not be wrong.
The room had a different design; the door had some golden details; and from the windows, a very elegant and expensive style was peeking.
Also, it seemed that someone was still inside that room.
"Psssst, Abello, do you know this place?" I whispered to him while looking back in the hallways for Orite.
"Yes, I do. Follow me; we are safe here" Abello, with no hesitation, opened the door. "Hey, Colonel! Long time no see, right?"
Inside that room, sitting at the desk, there was a strong-built man, with many medals and achievements displayed.
"So, it was you who blinded my entire platoon. Why didn't you knock? You don't need to act like a criminal" The man stood up and came in front of me while Orite was behind me.
"They are your friends?" He looked at Abello and then at us.
"Hi, sir!" I said, and Orite greeted right behind me.
"Oh…oh, relax. You are not my soldiers" The man went back to his desk and put away some documents and papers.
"I need to know more about the situation. Tiffany sent me some worrying letters. Please, I trust my friends; they won't tell anybody?
"Mhh, it's not that simple. First, close the door, and have a seat"
He put on a pair of glasses before reading some data.
"In the last five years of peace, Shiva was able to shift its economic policy and increase its GDP. It also obtained a spectacular +107% increase in the cultivation sector, production, and exportations" After putting away that journal, he spoke again.
"Do you think the balance between the realms is stable?"
"Well, we have been living in peace for more than 55 years" Orite responded.
"Yes, that's true, but Shiva has gained too much power and influence over the last years" The colonel said, showing some charts.
"But isn't that a good thing? Now fewer people are poor, and it's a more civilized city than ever" I interjected, trying to make my point.
"Oh sure, it's the best thing for Shiva. Tell me, what do you think about Accaron's cultivation in the last few years?"
He said, handing me some other papers. "I don't know anything about that, sir" I replied. As I looked at the chart, I saw what he was trying to say. The general cultivation exportations in Accaron decreased by 59%, leading to overproduction, saturation, and a loss of value.
"There will always be poor and rich people; the market is a game in which everyone tries to win by being rich. But if you win too much, everyone else loses. What I am saying is that we are living in a dangerous time for Shiva. Either we will be able to stabilize and create strong and dependent allies, or we will face a realignment of our position"
I wasn't able to rebut; he was right. Abello was worried; I could tell by how he was sitting, crossing his legs and shaking them.
"Is Shiva able to resist? I mean, it has improved its defensive capabilities" Abello asked. "You are right, although it always depends on who is attacking. Don't worry; I believe Theora will support us, after all the taxes we are paying them…"
We mustn't have looked good, since he tried to give us some hope.
"I didn't mean to scare you; don't worry, Shiva has the military support of many cities: Theora, Parvati, Boros. No one would attack such powerful cities easily, so I feel we are relatively safe now" He said, standing up. We thought our life lesson was concluded.
"Come, I want to show you something, Abello"
The Colonel opened the window for us, and we followed him to a balcony overlooking the training ground. It was evening, but some soldiers were still training there.
"I still can't find a replacement for you, Abello. Almost all your records are unbeaten. I just wanted to show you that Shiva has some determined soldiers left" He said, looking at the small group training with weapons.
"Pause. Abello, you were in the military??" I can't believe I didn't know this.
"Uh, remember when I told you I was sent by my parents to that old camp for a few years? Well…it was the military"
"And you could have had a great career too! Your team was the best without a doubt. Not by chance they called you the Ganas" the Colonel said, speaking more as a father now, even though he seemed to be in his late 30s.
"Yeah…please don't use that name; I don't have good memories about that period" The Colonel's gaze fell to the ground.
"I understand, considering who you were paired with within the team. I'll let you go now; the guards are still looking for intruders, these dumb beginners"
The Colonel left, and we did so after a few minutes. We were back at the entrance, and the guard was looking mad at us, probably because we bypassed him easily.
During the following days, they moved with caution, keeping in touch with Septum and Cicaro. The ring took some time to explore it, but at the end it paid off