25 Magic is the Answer (1/2)

The initial chaos had already died down, the soldiers were busy setting up camp around the city. But before long for soldiers started to gather seeing the procession.

The procession led them to the front of the Chararch. Kinoya kneeled down without much resistance. He put the talwar down beside him. With Riyasu whispered one of the guards tried to move it but all was in vain.

The failed attempts made Riyasu to stomped his foot before reading out the edict and announced the punishments. Some were happy and some were sad but none came forward to protect him.

*Whoop* *whoop*

First one fell, then the second, and it continued without rest until the 17th. The one whipping noticed it first. He hesitated for a moment but continued. By 22nd everybody could see the black smoke oozing off the wounds. They didn't understand what was happening. But that was not the case for the general guards who went with him at that night. Being one, the whipper was more hesitant.

”Don't worry, nothing like that will happen. You can continue.” Kinoya spoke in a calm voice, without raising his head. The whipper looked at the captain with questioning eyes. Even after getting the confirmation he was a little hesitant but compiled under the under urges of Riyasu. Soon the only thing left at the place was,kneeled Kinoya with the bloody back.

The city centre became normal again. Nobody cared for Kinoya. All except four. The four he beat up before. They flocked together like a bunch of hyenas.

”Look who we got here?”

”Isn't the mister righteous.”

”See Akori, it's the one who stole your first wife from you.”

Akori was angered to the extreme. Before joining the military he was satisfied with himself, there was very few in his village who could stand up to him, whether child or adult. But he shared the caves with monsters. One beat him for the cave leadership, one for the best cavalry, and this one almost beat him for a girl. Akori couldn't hold it any longer. He kicked at the head of Kinoya.

Nobody had expected that not even the three other. But what was more surprising that Kinoya grabbed the kick with his bare hand. They instinctively stepped back. His blue flame eye awakened their fear in the heart. Akori, who was unable to control his weight, fell on his butt.

Not many could stay sane after taking so many whiplashes. They had observed the whole ordeal from the crowd, at it surprised them that a 12 years old could take the 50 whiplashes and stayed conscious.

”What do you want?” His voice was hoarse, the eye was blue but there was no change in his demeanour.

”Re-Release my leg.” Akori stammered his words out, ”You are not a captain anymore.”

Kinoya was dumbfounded from the answer, ”That is your reason? I may not be a captain, but that doesn't mean I will not protect myself.” Even before his words ended he punched at Akori.

”Unhand him,” the lieutenant shouted but by one look from Kinoya, the tone changed, ”...Captain.”

”Don't want to.” Kinoya showered more punches on him without hesitation. Akori was facing the blunt edge of Kinoya's pent up anger and there was nothing he could do about it. Neither the lieutenant nor the other two could come forward to help him. Even looking at the pleading eyes of Akori all they could do was avert their gaze.

'You had brought this on yourself. Who told you to kick him? Even if it is wounded a tiger will still be a tiger.'

Without the help of other, all Akori could do was accept his fate. His face turned into an unrecognizable mess with bruises and cuts all over it. Kinoya didn't care, but he was reaching his limit too. He panted on his four as took deep breaths and stood up. His steps weren't steady but as soon as he grabbed the talwar he vanished into thin air with a puff of black smoke.

**********

”Do you know captain how hard it was to find you here?”

”Chanakya?” Kinoya was surprised seeing Chanakya all the way to the top of the Chararch. There were no stairs to climb after all.

”There is no need to be surprised. You have done it, I could do it too.”

”But you didn't obey my order.”

”But you are not the captain anymore.” There was a moment of silence before Kinoya asked again.