Chapter 5:

“Ashu Pov”

As I walked alongside the soldier, I couldn't help but notice his gruff exterior and the way he carried himself with confidence. "By the way, which regiment do you serve under?" I asked, trying to make small talk.

"Third, what about you?" he replied, shooting me a curious glance. "Me? Well, I was in second, but now I'm in fourth."

"You look quite young for this kind of job."

"Thanks' for the compliment, I hear a lot because of my physic."

  "How is that you're so buff, I'd love to have a body like yours."

"Ha-ha! My father is the warden of this place, so he kind of a pushed me to join the army at very early age, he's the one who trained me."

"Your father is the warden!? Wow, I'm jeloused!"

 "I get that a lot." As we descended the stairs, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building up inside me.  I finally get a glimpse of him, I now got the chance.

"By the way, I heard the king-slayer is in this prison. Is that true?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

"Yeah, because of him, we have to do overtime. It's seriously tiring. I get that he's dangerous, but higher ups need to think that tired soldiers will do no good against him anyways. What's the point of even doing this?"His words only fuelled my curiosity.

As we reached the bottom of the stairs, I had my plan in place. "I believe it's because higher-ups think someone will attempt to free the king-slayer. What do you think? Is it possible?" I asked, trying to gauge his reaction. " I don't think he's the type of guy, I mean he surrendered himself, for us soldier, he could've run away, whenever he wanted to." he replied, sounding sceptical.

"Do you really see him as the rumours depicted him, a ruthless demon, only wanting blood and war."

"No, he seems a really nice guy."

"Hmm…"

"By the way, I had something I wanted to ask you," I continued, with a hint of a smile on my face. "What?" he asked, turning to face me. "I'm sorry for doing this." Without warning, I grabbed him by the neck and gave him a swift punch to the solar plexus, sending him crashing to the ground. I knew that I had to act quickly before anyone else came along. I dragged the soldier's body to the side and hid it behind a stack of crates. I then made my way downstairs, my heart pounding with anticipation.

As I approached the lowest floor, I could see two guards standing at the entrance to the prison. "Who are you!" they exclaimed as they saw me. 

"Guy’s chill out! I was sent for next shift, they told me it's my time now," I replied, trying to keep my cool. "Oh! Where's the other one?" one of the guards asked, as glanced to look if someone was behind me. "He's on his way," I lied, hoping they would fall for it. 

The guards looked at each other, seemingly satisfied with my answer. "Finally..." one of them said as he stretched his limbs, one stretched his back, while other cracked his head.

As they began to move away from their positions, I knew that this was my chance. I lunged forward and punched both guards in their solar plexuses with enough force to knock them unconscious.

They fell to the ground in front of the stairs, and I quickly dragged their bodies behind the crates with the other soldier.

With the guards out of the way, I pushed open the huge wooden gate and entered the prison.  My eyes trying to adjust to the darkness. The only light came from a small, barred window high above. The air was thick with the stench of damp stone and mold.

And there he was, the infamous king-slayer, all chained up against the wall in tattered clothes with bruises all over his body. He was sitting in a dark, empty cell, with no speck of light. I felt pity seeing him like this.

His head was hung low, and his long hair obscured his face. He looked a lot similar to what I had...

I approached him slowly, trying not to startle him. As I got closer, I could see the chains bound him to the wall. They were thick and heavy, they dug into his flesh. I could see the pain etched on his face. He looked up at me with his tired and defeated eyes.

"Cale Valtia, how have you been?" I spoke his name out loud, to get some sort of reaction.

"Do I look like I've been doing well?" he replied, his voice rough from disuse. "I've been chained up here for what two weeks, it feels like enternity."

I chuckled nervously. "I suppose not. So, I heard you saved this town, is that true?" He raised an eyebrow. "And who are you exactly?" 

"Someone who might help you, that is if let him." I replied with a shrug. 

I leaned against the wall, trying to make myself comfortable. "Haha... buddy I think you're off your knoker. I suggest you leave, you don't look like a soldier to me." He leaned forward, his chains clanking against the stone floor. "

"Nah! I'm good I dont feel like it right now, anyways, just tell me about youself, I really am intrested, you see."

"... You wouldn't like the story of my life..."

"Hit me!" I said, gesturing for him to begin. "Alright, then" he said, settling back against the wall. "It all started when the king declared war on my people... " As Cale began to spin his tale, I couldn't help but be captivated. He was a natural storyteller, painting vivid images with his words. And, as it turned out, he was quite the jokester as well. I found myself laughing more than I expected, despite the dire circumstances. "So, that's how I end up here," he finished, a wry smile on his lips.

"Wow, that was some backstory," I said, wiping a tear from my eye. "But why did you surrender yourself? Why not run away?" He sighed. "Because, in the end, I realized that, I was tired of running. And besides, where would I have gone? My name is known far and wide, I never be able to live a peaceful life again."  the man in front of me moved his head towards mine and locked his eyes with mine.

"Now, what about you?"

“My name is Ashu L Stark; I came for you.”

“For what!? I don’t think we ever met?”

“I know, but I know you, And I know this too, that you have a dream. Dream to be the humanities strongest Yodha.”

“!!? How…?”

“I told you, I know you but that’s not matter now, I came here for a reason, wanna hear it?”

 Getting suspicious of me. He was tied up with heavy chains and bruises covered his skin, pain was etched on his face, with ever slight body movement.

 But despite his rough appearance, his spirit was unbroken, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination.

"Hey now, is that how you look at  your saviour." I said with a smirk. "Want me to save you or not?" I sat down on the ground in front of his prison, crossing my legs as I regarded him.

"Haha!!! You're a funny man!" he suddenly laughed hysterically. Despite his dire circumstances, he was still able to find humour.

"Say, now that I know how about I save you from this hell hole."

"… You can!?"

"  Yes, I can but I have a condition... You just told me you dont have anywhere to go, isn't that right? So I was thinking how about you join me, you see I'm currently lookin for individuals like you with a goal in mind to travel with me so… if you Swear your allegiance to me from here on out; I’ll free you, give a place to stay, food to eat and help you in archiving your purpose. How about it?"

"Join you in what?"

"Ark of the Covenant! I want that,"

"Ha-ha!! Absurd!! You're a funny man.  So, your dream is to be the supreme king, huh,? Haha!! what a stupid dream!!"

“Ha-ha I know right! Similar to yours, isn't that right.”

"…" I stared straight in his eyes.

"We can laugh at our dreams all day, if you want. but I suggest we should not."

"Do you even understand what that title means, the thing you are aiming for is something that has been dreamt by many..."

"It does, and what of it?" I replied, with seriousness in my eyes.

"…"

"I don't know how you got in, but I suggest you leave before you get caught."

"You dont get the seriousness of your sistuation, sigh...I don't know if you do know this, but you're about to be executed tomorrow by noon."

" !!..." taken aback, by my statement, he looked at me.

"Oh! So didn't knew. How about now? any intention of joining me?"

"I'll be straight with you. You have two option… Either, you die here, like a dog,  or, head over to the tower with me? Which option do you want to choose?"

"… Are you a devil or what!?

I-I… I don't want to die, not now at least. So, I'll accept it!"

"Then swear your allegiance to me and help me archive my dream from here on out... Know this, I swear on my name that I'll help you archive yours."

"From now on, I, Cale Valtia, swear my allegiance to Ashu L. Stark in exchange for releasing me from this prison and assisting me in my dream. I will serve him to last my breath and will make him the king."

"Yes!! Finally!" I said it while jumping for joy at getting my very own second retainer.

"Okay, hurry and get these chains off me!"

"I'm on it!" I opened the prison gate using the keys I acquired from two soldiers before.

"So that's how you got it!" And just like that, all the restraints on Cale's hands and feet are now removed.

I offered my hand in Cale's direction.

"I already told you I'd be with you on your journey from now on… But I know this I have a goal in my mind, and I'll swear on my name I archive it, I no longer care if I have to sold myself to obtain it. So, know this: if you do anything that ends up in the way of my goal, I'll have your head first as an apology, do you accept it?"

"I accept it,"

"Good, now what?"

"We leave this hell hole; my friend is standing outside!" 

" How many people do you with you? anyway, how do you propose we escape this joint?" Cale asked as he stretched out his limbs, with a dramatic flair, releasing the tension from the muscle.

He made exaggerated noises with each stretch, as if trying to impress me with his toned physique.

He was not bulky but not skinny either, his whole body was a masterpiece, as if it was especially designed by the gods.

"Well, I was thinking... have you seen the latest episode of 'Prison Breakout, its one the classics'?" Ashu replied with a mischievous grin, referring to the popular TV show about escaping from prison.

"Ha! Very funny," Cale replied with a roll of his eyes. "But seriously, how are we getting out of here?"

"Hmm… How much do you know about this prison's current state?" I asked tapping his chin thoughtfully, trying to come up with a plan for our escape.

"Not much," Cale shrugged, "Why do you ask?" Cale responded with a quizzical look.

" Unfortunately, it's nearly impossible to escape without making a big racket. It could be a bit of a challenge. The situation outside is quite dire, due to your infamy." I explained trying to understate the danger outside, the seriousness of our predicament weighing heavy on my mind.

Cale frowned, "Now what?"

"Let me think," I said, racking my brain for a solution.

"You better think fast," Cale urged, "I have a feeling we don't have much time." Cale quipped, tapping his foot impatiently.

"Alright, alright, I do have a strategy in mind," I said.

" But I need to know how many prisoners are currently imprisoned in this place," I said, starting to formulate a plan.

"Bad Idea, if you're thinking about freeing them and starting a prison break, I'd advise against it. There are some seriously bad eggs here, and freeing them could lead to a lot of innocent casualties," warned Cale

"Okay, then let me ask you this. Any powers you are in possession off that I should be aware of?" I inquired with a smirk., considering all possible options, just then, the alarm blared.

Wee-Woo!!

Wee-Woo!!

"BASE TOWN TO VAL-SHISRI PRISON, WE HAVE REPORTS OF TWO INTRUDERS IN OUR RANKS! I REPEAT, WE HAVE TWO INTRUDERS IN OUR MIDST. INTRUDERS ARE BELIEVED TO BE TWO YOUNG MALES IN MILITARY UNIFORM! ALL UNITS ARE TO REPORT ON-SITE IMMEDIATELY AND GUARD THE VAHIRI PRISON FROM THIS POINT FORWARD! DON'T LET ANYONE GET AWAY!"

"Well, that's just great!" I groaned.

"What the heck happened? How did the alarm go off?" he asked clearly taken aback by the unexpected situation, looking around frantically.

"Your guess is as good as mine," I shrugged.

'SH*T! Things are not going as I envisioned!' I yelped as the sudden announcement jolted us out of our planning session.

"We have to make a break for it right now!" Cale declared, already sprinting towards the exit.

As we both raced up to the stairs, I thought to myself, 'What now? I can't even imagine what Ray's going through. Fu*k!'

We burst through the main door and I cried out, "RAY! We need to run, now!"

But it was too late. As Cale and I stepped outside, we were met with the sight of thirty armed troops, their rifles aimed directly at us. There was no way out. We were surrounded, with our lives hanging in the balance.

Ray with both his hands in the air and couple of rifles marked on his head, he turned his head to me, his eyes asking what do we do next.

"Get down on your knees, gentlemen, or I'll have to get rough," ordered a man in a black suit, black hat, and dark sunglasses, with his gun pointed menacingly at us. He stood tall, towering over us like a menacing figure from a noir film.

"One wrong step and yours friends brains will be splattered like a watermelon!" he threatened.

Cale, and I reluctantly complied; our hands raised in surrender.

"Well, this just went from bad to worse," Cale muttered to me, as we getting down on our knees.

I shot Cale a look and whispered, "I guess this means our escape plan is on hold for now."

"Guys, not the time." Ray cried as sweat dripping from his fore head.

"I hope they serve good food in prison," Cale quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

I couldn't help but chuckle, grateful for my friend's quick wit in the face of such a dire situation.

"…"

While I was calculating how to safely escape this predicament, with our hands behind our heads and us on our knees, the man in black yelled to us, as he abruptly booted my new friend in the stomach,

" Cale Valtia, You think you could get away from us, huh!" in a loud, angry voice, as he glared down at Cale with his bulging out angry eyes.

Cale clasped his stomach, coughing and struggling to breathe, this scene enraged me but, before I could "Don't you dare!!" As if sensing my intent, the man said to me:

"…"

As the man continued to kick him, Ray and I looked at our new companion, who was in anguish.

"Haha!!

What a wonderful day it is!"

"A member of the most illustrious family, the Valtia family, one of the most powerful clans, is now under my boot, hehe!!"

"Oh!  I forgot You're no Valtia, you're just a disloyal mutt,  who butchered his own clansmen and the owner with his own two hands!!"  As his barrage of kicks continued to rain down on Cale's body, the man spoke to him ecstatically. Many of the soldiers turned away, unable to look at the beating.

My blood was boiling from the sight in front of me, and I wanted to jump up, but was stopped; "Ashu! Don't!"  Cale pleaded with me not to move. "Why!? What gives... Now, you try to be the righteous one."

"Where has the rumoured silver moon gone, you callous one?"