To the Varah City

Ash basically didn't have any resistance as he walked into the Count's estate like he owned the place.

He reached the central hall of the estate and snapped his fingers. A few sparks of blue flew out of his fingers and entered the heads of the two beasts.

"Search for them and bring them here."

The two beasts nodded just like humans would and disappeared. Within three minutes, they were back with four people. 

If not for the fact, the killing intent from the two beasts could be felt even by me who was watching this from far away, one could have easily mistaken the arrival of those people as a voluntary one.

Ash frowned and he asked.

"Where is the fifth one?"

The beasts shook their made. My guess was that they didn't find that person.

He looked at the four of them and said.

"Where is the fifth one? The one that tagged you along on your very 'special' expedition."

The four of them stood there stiff. They were so afraid that they are not even shivering. Their bodies just instinctively placed them there like statues rooted to the ground. Because that was the best course of action.

I could see that they are trying to move their lips. 

Maybe they want to speak up. But their bodies didn't allow them to.

Ash seemed to have noticed this. He looked at them and asked.

"Does the fifth one belong to your estate?" One of them who might have had the strongest mental strength of them all, shook his head, albeit barely.

Ash didn't say anything, he just looked at them, before snapping his fingers once again.

The wolf moved this time. Ash then walked towards the central seat that was the platform. The central was just like a court. Except, it wasn't that big. There are barely five seats on either side of the central space, while the head seat and the platform are only foot higher than the rest.

The position barely showed any elevation of that position.

But it showed one important quality of the Count. His desire. 

He was just a noble in name. So, he didn't need any court, because he doesn't have any judicial authority. But he still made one. It showed his desire to become a true noble.

At that moment, I was attracted by the vision from the bird that was peeping at the bedroom of the count.

The wolf arrived there. It looked at the Count in disdain. I swear I am not exaggerating or adding a flare. The wolf literally looked at the old man in disdain. To the point it even spat on his face, before holding him by his neck.

It dragged that man out. Even when his limbs were being knocked on those stairs, he didn't show any change in his behavior. He didn't resist. He didn't fight back. He didn't do anything but take all the punishment he was being given.

The wolf dragged him over and threw him like a ragdoll over with the rest.

He knelt on the ground as he looked at Ash with tears in his eyes.

Ash didn't speak, instead he just projected an image.

The count looked at the image and bit his lips.

"The sooner you tell me who this is and where I can find him, the faster this will end."

That is all he said and I saw relief in Count's eyes. That made me confirm something. This Count's death is definitely a part of a chain of tasks that Ash is doing. He was not an unrelated entity.

As far how I concluded that… it might appear farfetched, but this is the deal. Only people who knew Ash and witnessed his deeds would know how it will end with Ash. Only that kind of knowledge can evoke such terror in an overbearing tyrant.

That means, the count had the knowledge of whatever Ash did in the Kurma Duchy.

And the news wasn't published. It was sealed in the Bureau and the court. The only way for him to know that was that mysterious person with whom Ardra talked.

Whatever that happened, there was definitely a group involved and this count was part of it along with the face that Ash was showing.

Count spoke.

"I don't know his identity. But from what I know, he should be dead. He was attacked that day because of some desperate struggle of a kid. He was hit by a very potent fire spell that scorched his body inside out.

That effect didn't go.

He is infected by the elemental mana poisoning because of that spell and even on our back, he was almost dead. All the healers declared he would die.

That was all I know. Someone from…"

The old man suddenly stopped speaking. His eyes widened and he started bleeding. Ash frowned and pulled his hand in the air. Count's body flew over in an instant.

Ash caught him by the neck and closed his eyes, black colored mana entered the old man's body. 

Count's eyes that looked lost for a moment, gained a little bit of clarity for a minute moment.

"Varah…Ci…"

And he dropped dead.

Ash just dropped him to the ground and leaned back into the chair. He had a deep frown on his face. It lasted for good three minutes before he stood up.

His foot glowed with black mana as he kicked the body of the old man. It flew in a small arc before landing in the middle of the four people that were waiting for their deaths.

They were knocked down like bowling pins.

Ash walked away. I almost sighed in relief. I thought there was no gory scene awaiting me here. However, it did.

The old man's body that laid dead until them, suddenly opened its eyes and moved. Black patterns appeared all over its body as it woke up clumsily. The body turned into an undead. Blood red light appeared in the eyes of the body as it lunged on the four people.

It started biting and tearing them through.

"NOOOO…."

"LET ME GO…."

Screams of agony reverberated throughout the city. Ash slowly came out of the building not minding the screams.

"Ember."

He muttered. The horse turned around….

*BOOM*

Tongues of black flames spread all over the estate setting it on fire. From the walls of the gate to the central hall, everything including the blade of grass was set on fire.

Ash looked at that blazing glory.

There was a slight peace of his face that was different from the usual calm that he showcased. I frowned and wondered what that could be.

At this moment…

*CAW*

I heard a familiar sound of a bird.

Not in reality, but in my mind. It was the mind link from Aelios. It has only been a few minutes since they left. I thought the whole thing with Count Javin would take some time, but it was over before we knew it.

[Sir, Tej. I am coming to you to fetch you. We need to go to the Varah City.]

I was confused.

"What happened? Any problem?"

[Someone intercepted us. They claimed to be from the Varah city's bureau and they said it was the head of the Bureau branch.]

"Were they waiting for you?"

[No Sir. From the looks of it, they were waiting for something else. When they saw they were as surprised we were.]

I turned to Dhana and told her what happened.

At this moment Aelios spoke again

[Sir Dharma said, everything is fine. He is going to board the Zephyrwings of the bureau and go to the Varah City. He asked both of you to come there as well.

I will come back and fetch you both.]

Both Dhana and I waited there in confusion. It didn't take long. Even before the Estate was half way through burning Aelios is already here. It was apparent that he was travelling at his fastest speed.

We both got on him without speaking much.

Aelios moved towards the Varah City.

As we left, I took a picture of the Parva City through the clouds. Through the foggy clouds, the city looked as beautiful as ever. Like a beautiful birth mark on the face of the forest. But in middle of it, the burning estate looked like a gross mole.

That was the only difference.

We travelled without any hiccups. It didn't take long for us to reach the Varah City.

We were greeted by the huge city that was built in earthen tones. It was also surrounded by the forests and looked pretty much like the Parva City. However, much larger. There was a huge statue of a Wild Boar at the center.

And this one is several hundred feet taller. It was like a small mountain from far.

It looked majestic and strong. As if it could uproot any problems that this city could face just with those tusks.

We had to get off after we reached the city gates. It was prohibited to fly in the vicinity of the city actually. But Dhana's identity comes with special privileges and she made us land right in front of the entrance with a bang.

We got off Aelios and I asked.

"Is this necessary? With all the shit we have been through in a single day, you want to show off here?" I asked.

Dhana had a serious expression on her face.

"It is necessary. I have a feeling that we are going to be confined here once again. If we act normal and docile from the start, we won't have any leeway.

I am sure we cannot escape the confinement directly. However, this act of defiance at least shows that we are not pushovers, we will get some more information."

I stopped in my tracks. I went through too much that day, so I wasn't thinking too much. But now that she mentioned it, I started putting the information I gained in the Count's house together.

"I don't think it is a good thing to be confined here. We need to leave this place. From what I understood Ash's next stop could be this place."

She frowned.

"Are you sure?"

I explained what I clearly saw and her frown got deeper.

"This is indeed tricky. But Dharma…"

I pursed my lips. If I acted a bit calculative… my mind was telling me to leave that guy here. After all, unlike both of us, he had a background that could let him off scot-free even if things went south. In fact, we already saw how Ash treated Paras. 

No matter what happens, he wouldn't die.

But what about us?

Even if we don't die, I wasn't really ready for another gory visual.

"Tej, we are in the same boat."

Dhana said almost like a whisper. By now, the guards already came and surrounded us. Their eyes darting at Aelios, and us.

"Indeed we are." I sighed and walked into the city along with Dhana.

The city guards seemed to have recognized us. One of them came forward.

"I am the vice captain of this city guard. The bureau already informed us about your arrival. We are waiting for you. Please allow me to guide you."

He spoke and paused… looking at Aelios.

"He stays."

That is all I said and walked along with Dhana.

Aelios hovered in the air, just a few feet above the ground. He was actually very big for the city's streets. With him walking behind us, there was no space for people to go around us. But we didn't care. Since we are getting in, we need to act a bit hard headed.

Otherwise, they will walk all over us.

Soon we were in the bureau. Dharma was waiting for us. He wasn't nervous, but he was definitely uncomfortable.

We were greeted by the Deputy head of the Bureau along with Dharma.

"Hello, Dhana. Long time no see."