Doomed from the Beginning

16. The Diamond Kingdom

No matter what, this was way too sudden. Not only did it cause an instant uproar in the crowd, it shocked Sansara, Mohi and every other mage present there.

How could it happen in front of their eyes with all of them present yet unable to prevent it?!

They couldn’t waste a minute longer. They were about to leave for the queen when the townsfolk suddenly grabbed an arm of Mohi and began to plead, “Please don’t leave us alone. Who knows if Banshee comes again! We don’t want to die.”

“Yes yes, please don’t leave us to die!”

“Please don’t abandon us.”

 They were right though. Somebody had to go after Banshee too and now that she was probably somewhere close, it would be easier to track her down.

After a minute of discussion of reaching nowhere, Vinasaka announced, “Let it be Sansara and I, who go to the queen and the rest of you can go after Banshee.”

“DID YOU EVEN LISTEN TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING FOR A MINUTE?” Mohi cried but Vinasaka seemed to be cleaning his ears for he didn’t register any of it.

“Whatever! Sansara is ...coming with me?” Vinasaka had said it from his own accord, so as if he realised something important and changed his tone from a flat order to that of a question as he turned to look at Sansara with a question mark.

“Heh..he, sure..no problem,” Sansara laughed awkwardly at first but watching Vinasaka smile, after he agreed, he actually realised that the other had thought of his consent first. Therefore his awkward smile turned into something of a genuine sort.

However, Mohi wasn’t ready to back out so easily. He retorted, “I am ordered to be with him, protect him all the time.”

...

“Do you underestimate him that much?” Looked like Vinasaka changed his strategy and as a result Mohi couldn’t quite find himself in a position to be able to answer it since both answers would be against his favour anyway.

Sansara said reassuringly, “Don’t worry Mohi. You take care of yourself and the others. We will be fine.”

“I just don’t want you to get hurt. Who cares about him!” Mohi almost pouted and the rest of the g**g cringed at it so hard that they started walking away on their own.

With that they started on their separate journeys. After leaving the poor little victim under the care of the villagers, Mohi, Suiyo and the junior angels took the help of the townsfolk who said that she had seen where the boy had been running from, so they headed that way whereas Sansara and Vinasaka decided not to teleport since they might come across important clues along the way. Besides they didn’t know the way too well.

As they entered the capital, nothing much had changed. It sounded like the same atmosphere but it looked like the sun was about to set. All the way Sansara had been nagging Vinasaka to continue his story whereas Vinisaka only kept saying, “Some other time.” Sansara did say that he would want to call him ‘Imay’ but he didn’t, not yet. 

It’s too awkward!

Vinasaka never pressed him as well, for he knew it was better to wait for the right time for the other one to be comfortable enough to say it.

They were getting more and more hungry and as they proceeded to an eatery, the smell began to enhance itself to another level. Unable to bear it, they entered the place and it was just as they had expected. It was heaven for food lovers. It was no doubt that the Diamond kingdom was indeed the richest of all kingdoms and it generously showed it off through the surroundings, the buildings which lacked nowhere when it came to architecture, design, royalty and even the townsfolk who showed it through their dressing, customs, mannerisms and so much more. No wonder the eatery looked grand as well.Although the workers in the eatery were smiling at them way more than it was necessary and were also too curious about everything related to them, it looked like they had a hearty meal and when they were about to resume their journey, they found it was already dark outside.

Once they were outside, Sansara asked, “Why did you ask me not to have the soup?”

“...Because I wanted to have it all,” After answering without a second thought, Vinasaka walked on ahead with hands behind his back as if he was truly proud of his reply just now after making a silly face which only made Sansara laugh. It was dark and the roads were quite deserted. However, they could now see the palace from a distance. It was like any other palace located on top of a hill. They began climbing up the hill but soon things began to feel quite strange. Lyca had been quiet all this while but because demons have a very strong sense of smell, he suddenly changed his form from the sword back to being the white wolf.

Sansara still wasn’t used to his abrupt transformation and was taken aback once again before he could realise the reason behind Vinasaka’s and Lyca’s alert.

“What’s wrong?” he tugged at Vinasaka’s robe since he looked too serious to listen otherwise.

“Do you have a way to communicate with the others?” Without replying, Vinasaka asked him back.

“You mean Mohi and others? Yes, why? Do you think they are in danger?” Sansara’s eyes visibly widened at the last part of his question.

“Not really but I HAVE A BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS!” As soon as he said it it’s like almost all together, huge blocks of stone were rolled down the hill towards them. Viansaka made Sansara sit on top of Lyca instantly and climbed behind himself as well. It was no big deal; just some boulders …..but why?

Of course not a single dust particle was left after Vinasaka had completely eradicated those rocks, but now as Sansara looked back, Vinasaka’s expression became even stiffer than before.

Lyca was fast as they climbed the hill up. Sansara asked without looking back, “What was that all of a sudden?”

But to his surprise, instead of an answer, Sansara was received by a heavy breath released right near his ears and Vinaska’s head on his shoulder that made all the hair on Sansara straight up. He wasn’t expecting that.

... He...was in no position to gulp or to blink or even breathe. The sensation was too sudden for him to process. All the time that Vinasaka lay there absolutely silent, all that Sansara could think of was how it was strange to have not felt strange being with Vinasaka at all. It wasn’t long since they came to know each other then how could he let his guard down so easily around him? How was he able to trust him so easily?

He wondered whether they had ever met each other before he lost his memories, he wondered whether he knew Mir as well. That would be crazy!

Didn’t his father ask him to stay away from him? Then how come he has allowed him to be with himself all this while. Where he should have doubted Vinasaka’s story to begin with, not only did he listen to all of it, believe it ; now here they are, their bodies almost touching, his head leaned and supported by Sansara’s shoulder making all the thoughts inside Sansara’s head tangle into a fine mess.

“Promise me one thing,” Vinasaka’s heavy whispers sounded as if it echoed in his ears, “That you will stay by my side.”

“Is the situation that bad?” Sansara was brought back to his senses by those words and he asked, “Umm...Sure, but is it really dangerous out there?”

Vinasaka chuckled slightly and just nodded in affirmation.

“Are you tired Vin... umm Imay?”

Vinasaka laughed behind him, “You don’t have to force it. It wouldn’t be meaningful otherwise. I am really okay with you calling me Vinasaka. That's what everyone calls me. ”

Soon they reached the palace gates, but strangely there were no guards to stop them.

The royal palace of the Diamond Kingdom unguarded? Then was everything the villagers said really true? But that would mean....

Vinasaka grew more and more anxious with each step he took towards the entrance. the place was filled with dark aura and it wasn't difficult for even Sansara to pick up the kind of atmosphere they were heading towards.

They went inside to find only a very old woman near the door. It looked like she was heading inside but discovering the two newcomers, she froze and screamed, “STOPPP! NOBODY IS ALLOWED INSIDE!”

They walked closer to the woman, who even if dared to scream looked like she was too fragile to put up a fight and only stepped back each time they walked towards her, “GO BACK I TELL YOU!”

“Please calm down ma’am, we are not here to harm or hurt. We just want to talk to the queen.” Sansara urged very politely. It was clear that the situation there was not very normal yet they have to be very careful lest they should want to fall in the trap as well.

“Her highness isn’t seeing anyone now. You better go back!” Her voice sounded quite shaken as if she was scared, trying to hide something.

Watching how difficult she was being, Vinasaka bent low to her level of eyesight before sighing, “Then why don’t you first go and tell her that her little brother is here to see her.” He didn't say anything else because he was scared that revealing too much will be indeed turn the tables against them.

…

“BROTHER?”