Chapter 17:
Your Place
Hizashi No Kage
Hizashi No Kage
Chapter - 17
Before fainting, the last thing Akash saw was Manjula running toward Zavier.
When Akash opened his eyes, he was in the medical room.
Tara ma'am explained the entire situation to him.
He had been eliminated from the competition. Zavier was still fighting because his condition wasn’t as bad as Akash’s, and he was also much stronger than him.
Sitting on the bed in the medical room, Akash began thinking about the whole incident—Zavier’s strength, those final moments of the fight, and Manjula running toward Zavier-- What hurt Akash the most was this only, more than the defeat itself.
He sat alone for a long time, tears falling, because he was forced to accept the fact that no matter what he did, he could never defeat Zavier.
On the other side, the tournament had reached its final stage. The final was between Manjula and Zavier. After an intense fight, Manjula defeated Zavier. After the match, both hugged each other and congratulated one another.
“If you hadn’t gone into overflow earlier, you would definitely have beaten me today,” Manjula said to console Zavier, knowing how much he hated losing.
Zavier just gave a half-hearted laugh. He knew that even otherwise, he could never defeat Manjula. He had never been able to.
The first-year class competition ended. Some students left for the hostel to pack, while others stayed to watch the second-year class matches. Before the day ended, Max sir gathered all the students in the classroom once again.
“During this one-month holiday, all of you have two tasks. First—strengthen your bond with your familiar and level up your familiar as well.
Second—reach level 80 or above. Students who do not reach level 80 will not be allowed back into the academy.”
At this, a few children’s breaths caught in their throats. But then Max dropped another bombshell.
He named 10 students and expelled them from the academy right then and there. Those children’s dream of becoming a knight ended then and there. Some even started crying.
Max sir deliberately added one more thing: “And yes, Akash, listen carefully. Your name could have been among these children too. If you don’t improve yourself quickly, I will definitely expel you next semester.”
Hatred was clearly visible in sir’s words. After Akash’s performance today, no one had any hesitation in accepting that Akash was among the top 10 strongest students in the class. But Max sir only wanted to humiliate Akash and show his authority.
Tomorrow everyone was going back to their homes. Today was the last night of the first session.
While almost everyone else had gone out to celebrate with friends, Akash was alone in his room. He had to leave two days later because the mage students’ holidays started only after two days.
Bob hadn’t come to watch Akash’s match because he was busy training, but Akash planned to go watch Bob’s match the day after tomorrow.
To escape his loneliness for now, he picked up his flute and went outside. First he went to the familiar building and took “Neelu” from there. Akash had named his slime Neelu because it was blue in color.
Then he went and sat on the same kadamb tree and started playing the flute. Neelu was sitting in his lap. With eyes closed, Akash was thinking about all the negative things from the day when suddenly he caught a familiar fragrance. He became happy. Immediately he jumped down from the tree.
Manjula had just entered the field when Akash came running to her. She couldn’t understand how Akash knew she was coming from so far away.
“Zara was making a lot of noise. Maybe he was missing you. Here, take care of him,” Manjula said and tossed Zara toward him.
Hira was also with Manjula. He too went to Akash and started jumping around to play with him.
Now Akash was surrounded by Neelu, Hira, and Zara. He hugged and caressed each of them one by one, especially Zara.
“Zara, you didn’t trouble your mommy too much, right?” Akash asked.
Manjula gave him a sharp look. Akash got scared.
Then he started asking Zara all sorts of questions—“Were you missing papa? … How did you grow so big in just one day? … Are you comfortable staying in the girls’ hostel? …” and so on.
Then suddenly he asked Manjula, “Hey, Mommy —”
Manjula gave him another sharp glare.
“I mean… Manjula, does Zara even understand what I’m saying, or am I just talking for no reason?”
“He understands everything. Dragons are extremely intelligent. And don’t forget who his mother is. I spent the whole night yesterday teaching him human language,” Manjula said, praising herself.
“Wow, and still today you came first?.....Manjula the Great!” Akash was genuinely impressed.
Manjula smiled lightly, but then immediately said, “Anyway, keep Zara with you tonight. After that, you won’t be able to meet him for a month.”
“But will Zara be able to stay without me?” Akash expressed concern for Zara.
Manjula replied plainly, “He will manage. His uncle is waiting for him in the palace. I’ll handle the rest.”
Akash didn’t say anything further. Manjula started to leave. Seeing her go, Zara became upset and kept looking alternately at Akash and then at Manjula. As soon as Akash saw Zara, he understood what he wanted to say.
“Wait a little, Manjula. Zara needs both his parents with him,” Akash requested.
Manjula turned to refuse, but at that moment Zara flew to her, held her hand, and started pulling her toward Akash. For Zara’s sake, Manjula had to stay. Both Akash’s and Zara’s faces lit up.
For almost one or two hours after that, Manjula played with Zara in the field. Akash had Hira and Neelu with him too. Hira had already been introduced to Zara earlier. Now he got introduced to Neelu as well. Hira, Neelu, and Zara quickly became so close that Hira let Neelu sit on his back, then Zara sat on Neelu, and then Hira started running around the field. The three of them spent time running and jumping—sometimes with each other, sometimes with Manjula and Akash. Taking this opportunity, Akash also talked a little with Manjula.
After Manjula left, Akash secretly took Neelu and Zara to his room. He had decided to spend the entire night talking to Zara. Who knew when he would get such a chance again. Most of the children weren’t even in the hostel anyway.
The whole night he kept explaining to Zara that due to certain reasons he couldn’t stay with him, but Zara shouldn’t cry in his absence.
Zara listened to everything attentively like an obedient child. Akash kept explaining similar things—“Don’t trouble mommy, obey her, protect her, help her as much as you can…” and so on.
Akash was realizing how big a loss it was that he couldn’t raise Zara together with Manjula, but he couldn’t do anything about it.
Around 5:00 in the morning, Akash sent Zara back to Manjula. Zara already knew the way.
Akash woke up around 12:00. After washing his face and hands, when he stepped outside, he saw Zavier leaving for home. Zavier saw him too. Both paused for a moment upon seeing each other. Zavier immediately started walking ahead. After thinking for a second, Akash spoke up,
“Zavier, wait.”
Zavier stopped. He didn’t like Akash calling him without any respect.
Taking a deep breath, Akash said, “I accept my defeat to you. You are better than me in every way…”
Zavier swelled up a little.
“Can I become your friend?” Setting aside all his self-respect and jealousy, Akash extended the hand of friendship.
But Zavier only said, “Don’t forget your place,” and walked away.
Akash had never felt so insulted in his life as he did today.
Both Zavier and Manjula were traveling to Kamilya in the same royal horse-carriage. To show off, Zavier narrated the incident with Akash to Manjula. At the end he said,
“That woodcutter has come to the royal academy and now, who knows what he thinks of himself. But I will keep reminding him of his place at every step.”
Manjula said just one sentence: “I didn’t know my fiancé’s thinking was so small.”
Zavier flared up. An argument broke out between them. In the middle of the argument, when Manjula said, “Don’t you ever feel pity for him? He’s working so hard. He never got the facilities we did—
Zavier cut her off midway and said something stinging,
“Ohho! Manjula, you’re feeling so much pity for him?! What’s the matter…?”
After that, neither spoke to the other the entire way.
The next day, the mage students’ tournament also took place. Akash was a spectator.
Bob performed so brilliantly that he reached the finals. In the final match, Ramya defeated him with her wind magic. It was a level 88 vs level 80 match. Ramya’s victory was certain, but Bob had impressed everyone.
Akash even started feeling a bit jealous of him.
And then the next day, both Akash and Bob prepared to leave for Kamilya. But when they stepped out of the academy, there was no horse-carriage waiting for them.
Chapter - 17
Before fainting, the last thing Akash saw was Manjula running toward Zavier.
When Akash opened his eyes, he was in the medical room.
Tara ma'am explained the entire situation to him.
He had been eliminated from the competition. Zavier was still fighting because his condition wasn’t as bad as Akash’s, and he was also much stronger than him.
Sitting on the bed in the medical room, Akash began thinking about the whole incident—Zavier’s strength, those final moments of the fight, and Manjula running toward Zavier-- What hurt Akash the most was this only, more than the defeat itself.
He sat alone for a long time, tears falling, because he was forced to accept the fact that no matter what he did, he could never defeat Zavier.
On the other side, the tournament had reached its final stage. The final was between Manjula and Zavier. After an intense fight, Manjula defeated Zavier. After the match, both hugged each other and congratulated one another.
“If you hadn’t gone into overflow earlier, you would definitely have beaten me today,” Manjula said to console Zavier, knowing how much he hated losing.
Zavier just gave a half-hearted laugh. He knew that even otherwise, he could never defeat Manjula. He had never been able to.
The first-year class competition ended. Some students left for the hostel to pack, while others stayed to watch the second-year class matches. Before the day ended, Max sir gathered all the students in the classroom once again.
“During this one-month holiday, all of you have two tasks. First—strengthen your bond with your familiar and level up your familiar as well.
Second—reach level 80 or above. Students who do not reach level 80 will not be allowed back into the academy.”
At this, a few children’s breaths caught in their throats. But then Max dropped another bombshell.
He named 10 students and expelled them from the academy right then and there. Those children’s dream of becoming a knight ended then and there. Some even started crying.
Max sir deliberately added one more thing: “And yes, Akash, listen carefully. Your name could have been among these children too. If you don’t improve yourself quickly, I will definitely expel you next semester.”
Hatred was clearly visible in sir’s words. After Akash’s performance today, no one had any hesitation in accepting that Akash was among the top 10 strongest students in the class. But Max sir only wanted to humiliate Akash and show his authority.
Tomorrow everyone was going back to their homes. Today was the last night of the first session.
While almost everyone else had gone out to celebrate with friends, Akash was alone in his room. He had to leave two days later because the mage students’ holidays started only after two days.
Bob hadn’t come to watch Akash’s match because he was busy training, but Akash planned to go watch Bob’s match the day after tomorrow.
To escape his loneliness for now, he picked up his flute and went outside. First he went to the familiar building and took “Neelu” from there. Akash had named his slime Neelu because it was blue in color.
Then he went and sat on the same kadamb tree and started playing the flute. Neelu was sitting in his lap. With eyes closed, Akash was thinking about all the negative things from the day when suddenly he caught a familiar fragrance. He became happy. Immediately he jumped down from the tree.
Manjula had just entered the field when Akash came running to her. She couldn’t understand how Akash knew she was coming from so far away.
“Zara was making a lot of noise. Maybe he was missing you. Here, take care of him,” Manjula said and tossed Zara toward him.
Hira was also with Manjula. He too went to Akash and started jumping around to play with him.
Now Akash was surrounded by Neelu, Hira, and Zara. He hugged and caressed each of them one by one, especially Zara.
“Zara, you didn’t trouble your mommy too much, right?” Akash asked.
Manjula gave him a sharp look. Akash got scared.
Then he started asking Zara all sorts of questions—“Were you missing papa? … How did you grow so big in just one day? … Are you comfortable staying in the girls’ hostel? …” and so on.
Then suddenly he asked Manjula, “Hey, Mommy —”
Manjula gave him another sharp glare.
“I mean… Manjula, does Zara even understand what I’m saying, or am I just talking for no reason?”
“He understands everything. Dragons are extremely intelligent. And don’t forget who his mother is. I spent the whole night yesterday teaching him human language,” Manjula said, praising herself.
“Wow, and still today you came first?.....Manjula the Great!” Akash was genuinely impressed.
Manjula smiled lightly, but then immediately said, “Anyway, keep Zara with you tonight. After that, you won’t be able to meet him for a month.”
“But will Zara be able to stay without me?” Akash expressed concern for Zara.
Manjula replied plainly, “He will manage. His uncle is waiting for him in the palace. I’ll handle the rest.”
Akash didn’t say anything further. Manjula started to leave. Seeing her go, Zara became upset and kept looking alternately at Akash and then at Manjula. As soon as Akash saw Zara, he understood what he wanted to say.
“Wait a little, Manjula. Zara needs both his parents with him,” Akash requested.
Manjula turned to refuse, but at that moment Zara flew to her, held her hand, and started pulling her toward Akash. For Zara’s sake, Manjula had to stay. Both Akash’s and Zara’s faces lit up.
For almost one or two hours after that, Manjula played with Zara in the field. Akash had Hira and Neelu with him too. Hira had already been introduced to Zara earlier. Now he got introduced to Neelu as well. Hira, Neelu, and Zara quickly became so close that Hira let Neelu sit on his back, then Zara sat on Neelu, and then Hira started running around the field. The three of them spent time running and jumping—sometimes with each other, sometimes with Manjula and Akash. Taking this opportunity, Akash also talked a little with Manjula.
After Manjula left, Akash secretly took Neelu and Zara to his room. He had decided to spend the entire night talking to Zara. Who knew when he would get such a chance again. Most of the children weren’t even in the hostel anyway.
The whole night he kept explaining to Zara that due to certain reasons he couldn’t stay with him, but Zara shouldn’t cry in his absence.
Zara listened to everything attentively like an obedient child. Akash kept explaining similar things—“Don’t trouble mommy, obey her, protect her, help her as much as you can…” and so on.
Akash was realizing how big a loss it was that he couldn’t raise Zara together with Manjula, but he couldn’t do anything about it.
Around 5:00 in the morning, Akash sent Zara back to Manjula. Zara already knew the way.
Akash woke up around 12:00. After washing his face and hands, when he stepped outside, he saw Zavier leaving for home. Zavier saw him too. Both paused for a moment upon seeing each other. Zavier immediately started walking ahead. After thinking for a second, Akash spoke up,
“Zavier, wait.”
Zavier stopped. He didn’t like Akash calling him without any respect.
Taking a deep breath, Akash said, “I accept my defeat to you. You are better than me in every way…”
Zavier swelled up a little.
“Can I become your friend?” Setting aside all his self-respect and jealousy, Akash extended the hand of friendship.
But Zavier only said, “Don’t forget your place,” and walked away.
Akash had never felt so insulted in his life as he did today.
Both Zavier and Manjula were traveling to Kamilya in the same royal horse-carriage. To show off, Zavier narrated the incident with Akash to Manjula. At the end he said,
“That woodcutter has come to the royal academy and now, who knows what he thinks of himself. But I will keep reminding him of his place at every step.”
Manjula said just one sentence: “I didn’t know my fiancé’s thinking was so small.”
Zavier flared up. An argument broke out between them. In the middle of the argument, when Manjula said, “Don’t you ever feel pity for him? He’s working so hard. He never got the facilities we did—
Zavier cut her off midway and said something stinging,
“Ohho! Manjula, you’re feeling so much pity for him?! What’s the matter…?”
After that, neither spoke to the other the entire way.
The next day, the mage students’ tournament also took place. Akash was a spectator.
Bob performed so brilliantly that he reached the finals. In the final match, Ramya defeated him with her wind magic. It was a level 88 vs level 80 match. Ramya’s victory was certain, but Bob had impressed everyone.
Akash even started feeling a bit jealous of him.
And then the next day, both Akash and Bob prepared to leave for Kamilya. But when they stepped out of the academy, there was no horse-carriage waiting for them.
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