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Location: Old Fort
The king used to live in the old fort. But when the Bloody Sudi gang attacked the capital, this fort was destroyed. So the king left from here. Now this place is a dining hall for soldiers. When soldiers return from war, they get food at this old fort, which is now the dining hall. There are big trees around here, and even a garden. Vines have started growing on the fort walls. Some soldiers sit on the broken stones of the fort and eat, while some sit under the trees. In this world, food is more valuable than gold.
Soldiers stop eating as they hear the news. Silence spreads everywhere. Raghuveer keeps eating without stopping, as if he already knew about this news. Discussion starts among the soldiers. Because the Bloody Sudi gang was not a small group — it was a very famous one. Suddenly, the death of two members from that gang was a shocking event for everyone.
"But how is this possible?" one soldier says to the soldier sitting next to him.
"Right, no one has been able to defeat them until now, so how come?" the soldier beside him replies.
Why was this news so surprising? Because whenever Bloody Sudi attacked the Mukt Kingdom, the kingdom always lost. Each member of that gang is equal to thousands of soldiers. So when two members of that gang died, it was unbelievable news. But the news brought by the messenger is always true. Not just Mukt Kingdom, this news had reached all kingdoms.
"Yes, I agree you don't believe it. But this news is true," the messenger said.
All soldiers had received food. Because the line of soldiers waiting for food was no longer visible. Those who had finished eating had left. Only around 100–120 soldiers were at the old fort.
"I'm afraid they will attack people and kingdoms to take revenge," said a soldier sitting under a tree. He was so scared he couldn't eat.
"Yes, that can happen," said another soldier.
"It can happen… No, it will happen… We won't survive. We won't survive. Won't survive…" said a soldier sitting on a stone, holding his head in fear.
"Don't be scared, nothing like that has happened yet, and it won't happen," said a soldier, comforting the one sitting on the stone.
"And if it does,"
"We must not forget. When they attacked the capital, how many people they killed," Bharat said. He had a piece of food in his hand.
Bharat looks at the plate. Raghuveer had eaten all the food. He looks at Raghuveer. Raghuveer doesn't look back. Because he understood why Bharat was looking at him.
"Yes, they were only eight, yet they injured thousands of soldiers," the messenger said.
Two years ago, the Bloody Sudi gang attacked the capital. Thousands of soldiers were injured, hundreds were killed. They killed whoever came in front of them. Even the queen of Mukt Kingdom, Roshni, was killed. At that time, the main army of the kingdom was fighting a war with the Aryat Kingdom.
"But our main army wasn't there then," said the soldier who was comforting the one sitting on the stone.
"Ravet, you're right, but there were twelve thousand soldiers in the capital. Even with so many soldiers, we couldn't stop them," Bharat said, looking at Ravet.
The comforting soldier's name was Ravet. All soldiers became silent. Because even with so many soldiers, they couldn't kill those eight people.
"Why are you all so quiet? This is good news. Shall I tell you why?" Ravet said. All soldiers looked at Ravet. Even Raghuveer.
"Look, someone killed members of the Bloody Sudi gang, right? So whoever did it must be stronger than them, isn't it?" Soldiers nodded. Raghuveer listened carefully.
"Then what's the fear? That person will kill more of their gang members," Ravet said.
Hearing Ravet's words, confidence started returning among the soldiers. They slowly began to agree with him. Their fear started to fade. The soldier sitting on the stone also felt less afraid. His name was Dnyaneshwar. Dnyaneshwar had lost his brother in today's war. Now he was alone. His parents had died in the Bloody Sudi attack. He was very weak in battle. His brother always saved him in war. He wasn't happy because loneliness was eating him from inside.
How foolish these people are, Raghuveer said to himself.
The messenger was listening to the soldiers' discussion.
"Oh yes, I forgot..! Look, the king has announced food for everyone at this happy moment," the messenger said.
Hearing this, silence spread for a moment, and then a wave of joy spread everywhere. Tired faces began to show happiness. After losing the war and the death of the commander, the joy had disappeared from the soldiers' faces. But this news brought their happiness back.
"Come on, because of those two deaths, we got something good," Ravet said, laughing.
"You're right," said the soldier sitting next to Ravet.
The soldiers whom Raghuveer had injured were sitting inside the fort and quietly listening to all the discussion. The messenger's eyes turned toward those injured soldiers.
"Hey, who did this to you?" the messenger asked.
All the injured soldiers pointed toward Raghuveer. The messenger looked in the direction of their fingers.
"Which soldier did it?" the messenger asked.
"Not him, the one sitting next to him," said one of the injured soldiers.
The messenger looked at Raghuveer.
A Shudra boy injured so many soldiers, the messenger said to himself.
"My opinion is that this person should kill more members of the Bloody Sudi gang. Then the king will invite us for food again," Bharat said.
Everyone started laughing.
"What, Bharat, you too," Ravet said, laughing.
How terrible these people are. They laugh over someone's death, Raghuveer said to himself.
"Alright then, I have to inform the king about some news, so I'm leaving," the messenger said and left.
Bharat looked at Raghuveer.
He doesn't even smile, Bharat said to himself.
Raghuveer now stood up and began to leave.
"Hey, where are you going?" Bharat asked. But Raghuveer didn't say anything and left. Bharat watched him go. The injured soldiers hiding inside the fort also watched him leave.
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