THUNDERFIST : Iron Rebellion

CHAPTER 32

Cassian

The chirping birds made our way early in the morning, i woke up before dawn as my senses were energized and recharged. Noticed today how dawn can be more beautiful. In the city lights, all this beauty was covered by toxins, pollutants, and humans. How could I have expected to see something like this?

Glad that Alarous brought us to a nearby town, in his friend’s house. We were late at night when arrived so he served us dinner and we all went to sleep. But today, i saw him working in the field, maybe he is trying to grow some crops in this barren land, so i approached him curiously.

“This place is barren, you are just wasting your time.” I commented and received a smile from him.

“Of course, it is barren now, but it wasn’t barren before the war.” he said while sowing a few seeds and watered them.

I was confused by his statements so I asked him further, “I didn't get you.. What does it have to do with the war?” I was persistent to know more about this war, since I know all that my mother led after my father died, and I was sent to a different time zone.

“Oh.. it’s a long story, young boy…” he said.

“I have time…” I replied.

He looked at me with a blank expression and gave a slight nod. He came out from the field and washed his hands, then patted to his side before sitting on a log. I took the next log and sat while facing him.

“The war between wolves and Olympians affected people like us. They fought for years until that day, when it was revealed that the king of wolves is now a father. We saw hope but that vanished soon. The king died the same day and the queen gave birth to a still born. She made it up to the war disguised as the king but nothing worked. After all, the gods were supremacy. Nothing can stop them.” he said with a heaviness in voice.

“What was the outcome of that war? Where did the queen go? Did she die too?” I asked with curiosity, killing me from inside.

He shook his head and said, “the god of thunder, Zeus held her captive for deceiving him. Though we don’t know what he did to her later, we never heard of her again. And Zeus cursed the land in rage, everything that produces something became barren, whether it was a land or a woman. He cursed us for a drought too, slowly, the water will vanish from our lands too.” 

Suddenly, I heard a sound of a drop and I turned my head back to see Alarous brought to his knees. He was panting and I rushed to help him.

“Alarous? Are you okay? What happened?” I tried to ask about his problem but he was lost in some thoughts.

“Queen Alaine is held captive by Zeus? That can’t be possible… Why did she let him do that? What was the reason?” seemed like he was affected by the information he heard from his friend.

“Alarous, you have to be strong.. We all are trying to be strong in this cursed place. There must be a reason for the queen to accept her imprisonment.” Uchias, Alarous’s friend, tried to console him.

Alarous was in rage and got up, “I can't let her live in prison. I will bring her back. I gave my words to my king that I will protect the queen till the end and now look where she is. Zeus!!! I swear I will amputate his hands from his body.” he curled up his fist so hard that the knuckles turned white.

“There is no point.. You know you can’t go to Olympus without a reason and this stubbornness is not valid. think about it with a cool mind, there must be an alternative to help the queen. I know that hopes are raised again since you are back to us, Alarous!” Uchias said with a cheerful smile on his face.

Though it didn’t change the situation much, Alarous was calmed now. Katia was too outside when she heard our voices. I explained to her about the fit Alarous had.

Uchias served us bread in breakfast. We didn’t ask for more since they all are struggling with the crops and food. Still, I loved the fact that they were ready to help us in this difficult situation. Isn’t all humans supposed to do? Lifting each other in mundane times, yet the modern ones are selfish and self centred.

Alarous didn’t touch his food and went outside. I noticed and followed him too.

“Hey!! You didn’t eat. Why?” I asked him.

“I have lost my appetite, I am feeling helpless here.” he said with a seriousness in his voice.

“Does it have to do with my mother?” I came forward with the point.

He nodded and looked me in the eyes, “she is a great woman and does not deserve to live in hell that Zeus has created for her. She gave up her motherhood to protect you, she gave her life to her dead husband, and imprisonment? Do you really think she deserves this?” He was enraged but trying to control his temper.

“Of course, not. But we were not at that time and we don't know what exactly happened on the battlefield. If mother has chosen the imprisonment given by Zeus, there must be a reason, right? We need to find out the reason. And just like what Uchias said, there is no point fighting Zeus this time. We need to be at his level to challenge him.” I cleared some of my words to him.

“Yes, and to fight him, we need an army. We need people. These normal populations cannot risk at all but they are willing to die for our king and queen. Those who sacrificed their lives for a better future, their time is now. I know it is difficult and tough but not impossible.” he said with much confidence surfacing in his voice and built.

I was puzzled by his tactics so I thought of clearing it, “and how are you going to do that?” 

He looked amused while observing me from head to toe, “i was just an ordinary server in the kingdom but my skill brought me to this level, yet i am not enough to challenge Zeus for a battle, but now we have a royal blood between us, so he will challenge him on our behalves.” he crossed his arms and looked intimidating.

I was still perplexed but then it struck me that he pointed at me the entire conversation, “i am the royal blood, how will I challenge him? He will kill me right away…” I screamed.

“Of course, and that’s why, you need to get trained and master your element… that is the way we will raise this rebellion.” he sighed after this.

“And don’t forget me, I am also here, I would love to get on the train. After all, you don’t get a chance everyday to fight a greek god.” Katia came from behind and joined us.

“Why not? The more, the merrier. And Cassian, be ready because your training will start from now. I will train you personally. I will help enhance your swordery and weapon training while Uchias will train you in hand to hand combat.” Aalrous declared with his clear commands.

“Uchias? The farmer? He will train me with hand to hand combat?” I chuckled and made fun of him.

Alarous narrowed his gaze on me and said, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover.. Uchias is not just my friend but my guru as well.. I hope you will like him a lot in advance.” he smirked before leaving the place quietly.

I furrowed my brows at Katia and she looked back at me with the same expressions. She is as clueless as me.