Maiya must have been thinking the same thing. “We can never return, can we?” she asked.
“Even if we could,” Vir replied, “would you really want to?”
“Never,” came Maiya’s reply in an instant. “I’ve hated this place since the moment I was born. Good riddance, I say. What about you? All you ever wanted was a life in the village, yeah?”
“I…” Vir said, thinking it over. The answer came to him easily. “I wouldn’t.”
“Figures,” Maiya said. “We’ve seen the wider world. There’s no going back now.”
He had to agree. Returning to village life felt… Well, it felt like a tragic waste. He didn’t know when he started feeling that way, but the thought of coming back filled him with pure revulsion. His fate had changed forever on that day the knights arrived, and were it not for Rudvik’s death, Vir would have been happy for it.
Without the knights, Vir would never have met Riyan. And he definitely would never have learned about Kalari or katars… Or, for that matter, about prana and Talents. So much had changed on account of that one event.
All because of my decision to flee to the Godshollow, he realized. He did have an option back then. He could have gone with the knights. If he had, Rudvik would still be alive.
Guilt threatened to seize his heart, but Vir shook off the feeling. His father would never have wanted him in the hands of those knights. He’d made the right decision to flee.
The real question was—knowing what he knew now… would he make the same decision? That was harder to say. He’d grown so much, but it all came at the cost of Rudvik’s life. How could he possibly weigh those two on a scale? Perhaps his issue lay in trying to compare two incomparables in the first place.
“Just wish things didn’t have to end up this way,” Maiya muttered, echoing his thoughts.
They continued on in the darkness, taking their time. While the alley was empty, there were plenty of sounds—a man yelling at his wife, an elderly person’s snores, Ash’va snorting, and the mouthwatering scent of home-cooked food.
The village was rarely ever truly silent, which helped hide Vir and Maiya’s presence. It wasn’t like they weren’t allowed to explore, but two Sawai teens gallivanting in an alley at night were bound to attract some attention.
“I think… I think I might have lied to you, Vir,” Maiya said at length.
“About what?”
“I don’t think I can stay at Riyan’s anymore. Not when my parents are missing like this. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep until I know where the knights have taken them.”
“I understand. Their well-being is the most important thing in the world. I’ll come with you.” When she stopped, he turned around and met her gaze.
“You mean that?” she asked, searching his expression.
“Of course. Aliscia was like a mother to me, and your dad… I could work for a lifetime, and I still wouldn’t be able to repay my debt to him.”
Maiya hugged him briefly. “Thanks, Vir. You can’t know how much this means to me.”
“C’mon,” Vir said, flushing with embarrassment. “Maybe we’ll find something at your place.”
He led them to another alley—the one where he’d encountered the Child of Ash. He could only shake his head at the memory. Back then, he’d felt as if the cultist was some kind of god of death who’d snatch him away.
Now, he recalled that the man was emaciated, didn’t have a shred of combat training, and that old man Akros could’ve defeated him. Against Vir with his full stamina, Kalari training, and Talents? Vir was confident he could fight ten cultists and come out without a scratch.
Wonder what my Balar Rank is now… he idly thought.
The great temple doors soon appeared before them in the darkness, its doors nailed shut by planks of heavy wood.
The planks were etched with the words: ‘Closed until further notice.’
“Looks like they haven’t found a new priest yet,” Vir commented, placing his hand upon the door. He’d had so many good memories in this place. He only hoped it opened its doors again soon.
“Priests are hard to come by,” said Maiya, eyeing the building with sorrow. “Most villages don’t even have one.”
“Let’s try your home,” Vir said, taking Maiya’s arm. It was best not to linger on their regrets.
Apramor’s house was located only a short distance away. They found it in a similar state, with the main door locked and barred.
Vir yanked at the wood, but it refused to budge. “Back door?”
Maiya nodded and led him around to the other side. Luckily, this door was only locked and not barred.
Vir broke out his lock-picking set, which made short work of it. As Rudvik liked to say, ‘De simplest answer’ll lead ya true.’
Upon finishing, Vir bowed theatrically and swung the door open for Maiya. “After you, my lady,” he said, hoping to ease her nerves.
His friend rolled her eyes, then looked inside. The moment she did, Vir immediately knew something was wrong.
She rushed in, activating her Magic Lamp orb, and he followed. Maiya’s light shone upon a scene of devastation and chaos.
Ceramic shards from cracked pots lay littered across the floor, and there wasn’t even a single piece of furniture left. Cabinets had been ripped open and cast aside, curtains ripped asunder.
Vir gently squeezed Maiya’s shoulder.
“Why?” she whispered. “Why did the knights have to do this? Were they not satisfied with taking my parents!”
Vir squeezed tighter. “I… don’t think the knights did this. Nothing here’s of any use to them.”
“You mean… wait, no. We saw my table at Akros’ house. They’re obviously the ones behind this. I should’ve expected such behavior from backwater ignoramus trash.”
Vir was a bit shocked at her language, though he understood her feelings. “Your family was far richer than everyone else in the village. Even your tables and chairs would be enough to improve the quality of life of the villagers.”
Maiya spun and faced him. “And that makes it right to steal from my house? What’s supposed to happen when my dad returns? You think he’ll just say ‘Oh well, you needed it more than we did. I’ll just return to my position and pretend like none of this ever happened’? This is unforgivable!”
“I’m not agreeing with them. Just saying this is exactly the kind of thing they’d do, is all.”
Unlike her, he found it hard to be angry at Akros and his ilk. That elusive pity from before came rushing in—though in the way one might pity a starving bandy.
“How dare they! They’ll pay. I’ll make them pay!” she shouted. Vir threw his hand over her mouth.
“Quiet! We can’t let anyone find us here!”
Maiya’s eyes opened wide. Then tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to pour out onto her cheeks.
Vir hurriedly dabbed them away before they could smear her disguise.
Grasping her shoulders, Vir met her gaze. “Look, homes can be mended. What they did was wrong, and I’m sure they’ll get their just desserts one day. We should focus on any clues your parents might have left behind. Okay? Maybe they left a hint about where they went.”
She nodded and whispered something Vir couldn’t quite hear.
Upon inspecting the damaged kitchen and dining areas, Vir found that every utility orb had been swiped, as well as anything of value. Less useful implements like wooden spoons and clay pots lay broken or thrown aside. There really was nothing left. If Apramor and Aliscia had left anything for Maiya, he hoped they’d hidden it well.
“Do you have anywhere you stash things you don’t want found?” he asked.