Step-Sisters

Hizashi No Kage
 
Chapter - 27
 
Finally, the day to leave for the academy arrived.
 
Manjula and Ramya were both standing outside the palace. Two horse carriages were also standing there. Manjula and Zavier were supposed to go in one, while Akash, Ramya, and Bob were to travel in the other.
 
“Think again, come with us,” Manjula said.
 
Ramya’s reply was ready. “No, Didi, I don’t have any interest in coming betweent two lovers,” she said.
 
Manjula lightly touched her cheek and smiled.
 
Just then Zavier arrived, followed by his maid carrying his luggage.
 
“Is Ramya really not coming with us?” he asked as soon as he arrived.
 
“No,” Manjula replied.
 
“Alright.” Saying this, he got into the carriage. Manjula also sat down after him. Both of them left.
 
A short while later, Akash also arrived. He was carrying a large bag on his back and holding a big round container in his hand.
 
The moment Ramya saw him, she said, “Hey! What all have you brought, Akash?”
 
“I’ll tell you everything once Bob also comes,” he replied.
 
But Bob didn’t come. Instead, a servant from the Task family arrived with a message. It said that Bob had to go to his aunt’s house for some reason and would leave for the academy directly from there. He apologized for the inconvenience.
 
Now Akash and Ramya had to go without him. The same thought crossed both their minds — such a long journey, and just the two of us?!
 
To suppress this thought, Akash immediately got into the carriage and sat down. When Ramya started climbing in, Akash extended his hand from inside to help her. Ramya took his hand for support.
 
The moment Ramya’s hand touched his, a current of electricity ran through Akash’s body. He didn’t know what all he started thinking. His face turned red, especially his pearl-like nose.
 
He kept repeating in his mind, “No, I only love Manjula. I cannot cheat on her.”
 
Ramya was also smiling softly.
 
The carriage started moving. Settling comfortably, Ramya said, “Akash, take Neelu out of the bag quickly.”
 
Akash then took Neelu out and handed her to Ramya. Ramya kept caressing him throughout the journey.
 
Ramya’s eyes also fell on a shiny object kept inside Akash’s bag. When she asked, Akash took it out and showed her. It was a new axe — a battle axe that was sharp on one side and shaped like a hammer on the other. There was also a pointed blade on the top part.
 
(Indian Tabar Axe for context)
 
Akash proudly told her that his parents had gifted him this axe today. They had spent all their savings to buy it.
 
“Wow! It’s really very good,” Ramya said. Then she asked further, “And what’s in this tiffin?”
 
Akash opened the tiffin and showed her. It was full of besan laddoos.
 
“For the journey,” Akash said.
 
“You’ll let me eat some too, right?” Ramya asked playfully.
 
“Yes, yes, we’ll all eat. Nia ma’am will also eat. Bob has really missed a big opportunity,” Akash replied.
 
After that, they continued chatting about random things.
 
In between, Akash remembered something and asked, “Hey! Weren’t you supposed to catch a familiar? What happened with that?”
 
“I had made a slime my familiar, but it was so weak that it died the very next day. I tried two-three times, but the same thing happened with every slime. Akash, is your slime something different?” Ramya asked in the end.
 
“Yes, actually this is a legendary slime and it also has the Devouring skill. I’m really very lucky,” Akash said proudly.
 
“Woooow,” was all Ramya could say.
 
Akash continued, “And do you know what level it has reached? Guess… guess…”
 
“Hmmmm…. Is it 50?” Ramya asked.
 
“87,” Akash revealed. Ramya was shocked. “No way! That’s impossible. What exactly have you been feeding it?” she asked in amazement.
 
Akash gave a straight answer, “That treacherous commander from your outer palace — Ajeez. I fed him to it… ha ha ha.”
 
Ramya took quite some time to digest this information. She still couldn’t believe that Neelu was so powerful. After thinking for a while, she said, “Okay Akash, would you give Neelu to me?”
 
Akash was stunned. He immediately said, “Absolutely not.”
 
“Please!” Ramya started pleading.
 
“No, I can’t give Neelu away. Even if he wasn’t a legendary slime, I still couldn’t. Neelu is like my child,” Akash said clearly.
 
“I knew you would say that. Fine, then you’ll have to accept my second proposal. Raise Neelu with me,” Ramya said seriously.
 
Akash didn’t understand. He asked, “Raise him with you? What do you mean?”
 
Even as he asked this question, a bell rang in his mind. Mummy-Papa!… Does Ramya really want to become Neelu’s mother?
 
And just then Ramya spoke, “Just like you are raising Zara with Didi, raise Neelu with me. Simple.”
 
“No, no, I can’t do that. And I’m not involved with Manjula in any way either. She is raising Zara by herself. She doesn’t even let me go near Zara,” Akash clarified.
 
He simply couldn’t understand why Ramya liked Neelu so much.....
 
But Ramya’s face became sad. She didn’t say anything further and didn’t push him.
 
Seeing her sad, Akash felt disturbed. He thought to himself, “This is really bad. Just say yes. Ramya is so nice. She always comes forward to talk to you, helps you, and has even saved your life many times.”
 
After thinking for a while, he said, “Ramya, I’m really not able to understand anything right now. Let’s leave the topic of becoming parents together. But whenever you want, you can meet Neelu. You can even keep him with you. Is that okay?”
 
“Are you really saying that? I might keep Neelu with me for many days at a time. Think carefully,” Ramya made her intention clear.
 
“Yes, yes, it’s fine. Neelu anyway likes you more than me, and I also know you’ll take good care of him. Just give him back to me whenever there’s any academy work,” Akash said.
 
“Deal!” Ramya beamed and hugged Neelu tightly.
 
The conversation continued. This time Akash asked, “Okay, now tell me what happened with that statue matter? Who were those demons? Why did they want to bring that statue to life? I’ve been thinking about this since then.”
 
Ramya remained quiet for a while. Then she said, “I wasn’t supposed to tell you this, but since you played the main role in this matter, you have every right to know. But promise me you won’t tell anyone. My sister and I obtained this information secretly. Otherwise, even Father wasn’t telling us.”
 
“Alright, another promise,” Akash said.
 
Then Ramya began explaining. “Actually, that statue belonged to the Demon Queen Lyssandra Velaris Lux. After the war, when the demons lost, the Demon King and Demon Queen were sealed in different places. Currently--
 
“Wait, wait, wait! The Demon King and Demon Queen didn’t die?” Akash interrupted her.
 
Ramya started again from the beginning. “No. The general public was told that the Demon King and Demon Queen had died, but in reality, they weren’t killed — they were sealed.”
 
Akash’s shock knew no bounds.
 
“The Demon King Rex Valthor Lux was sealed by the Great Hero Zen Flameheart. No one knows where he is sealed today.
And Lyssandra was sealed by the Great Earth Hero, Torax Jal-Bhoomi.
Our family had kept that statue beneath our palace. But somehow the demons found out about it. My father says that the demon named Gilstone — the one who could use earth magic — wanted to break the seal on Lyssandra by multiplying his power several times through a Blood Ritual.
Oh! Let me also tell you about the Blood Ritual. When we mix our blood with our mana or someone else’s, our magic power increases tremendously. I mean, really tremendously. But it can also cost your life or completely destroy your ability to use magic. That’s why hardly anyone uses it normally.
Do you understand now how close we all are to another war with the demons?”
 
Akash kept thinking for a long time about how little he knew about this world. He didn’t even have a proper idea of his own history.
 
After remaining silent for quite some time, Akash asked, “But now the demons have got hold of Lyssandra’s statue. Won’t they go to some other country and break her seal there?”
 
“Yes, that’s exactly what we fear. That’s why the Kingdom of Kamilya, along with several neighboring countries, is searching for those demons. My uncle Roman, who is a proper knight, is handling this mission. But the danger is very great,” Ramya told him.
 
Akash didn’t say anything.
 
After almost 5 hours of travel, Nia stopped the carriage near a tree in the forest. Akash and Ramya got down and stretched their bodies a little. They also ate and drank something.
 
Then Akash gave some laddoos to Nia, took two for himself, and handed the rest of the entire container to Ramya.
 
“I won’t be able to eat so many,” Ramya said with a laugh.
 
“Feed them to Manjula when you reach the academy. Mummy specially sent this box for you two sisters,” Akash said.
 
“When did Aunt Angela meet Didi?” Ramya asked immediately.
 
Then Akash told Ramya the entire incident of that day. In the end, he said, “My mother is worried. Everyone eats her food and then starts crying.”
 
Akash had said this as a joke, but Ramya became sad and said, “Didi must have remembered her mother…”
 
“What do you mean?? Is… Queen Jennifer not Manjula’s mother?” Akash asked instantly.
 
Nia looked at Ramya, and Ramya looked at Nia.
 
Then Ramya said seriously, “Promise me you won’t tell this to anyone either.”
 
“Yes, I promise again,” Akash said immediately.
 
“Actually, Didi’s mother was an adventurer. When Didi was 8 years old, her mother died during a dungeon raid,” Ramya revealed softly.
 
“What was her name?” Akash asked.
 
“Meera. Oh! Meera Mummy was so wonderful. Whenever she returned from any adventure, she would always bring something for us and……” Ramya’s voice choked.
 
Akash’s heart broke. He couldn’t even imagine Manjula’s pain.
 
The rest of the journey passed peacefully. Akash and Ramya talked very little.
 
And finally, the Academy arrived....