"Mr Mithun, I have to say that I am impressed." Brinda says as we exited the elevator. "Kufi is never that friendly to anyone besides me."
"Maybe Kufi just thought that I was better looking than her." I pointed at Geeta, who slapped my hand away. "Sorry if I can't relate to people who have this weird fetish over sea monsters."
"Hey!" Brinda seemed offended. "Kufi may be a sea monster, but she is a very gentle creature!"
I have to admit that I somehow admire how relaxed Geeta was when she's talking to Brinda. She even dismissed her argument with a wave of her hand. "Well, I do have another theory. Kufi likes people with the same features as princess Brinda." Geeta said making me give her a pointed look.
"Really?" Brinda stopped walking just so she could turn to face me. She inched Her face closer to my face. The moment that she did, I saw my familiar purple eyes in Brinda eyes. "Wow. We do share the same features." Brinda mumbled as she continued to observe my face. She leaned back and placed both hands on her hips as she smiled mischievously. "Now I know who to call to become my substitute when I want to relax!" She joked and started laughing.
For some reason I feel like she is actually going to make us switch places one day. I better prep myself for that.
"Princess Brinda!"
Brinda hissed when someone called out to her. Footsteps echoed in the vast hallway as three guys made their way towards us. Two of them seemed young while the one who was walking at the front already looked like a middle-aged woman. That, or her hair is naturally white.
"Princess Brinda, you know that you are not allowed to see others when you are training." The middle-aged man scolded him. Princess Brinda's gaze was cast on the floor as he scratched his chin.
"Hema, it's not a big deal. I swear that I am trying my best. I just can't seem to grasp the concept!"
"Then I guess that you need to focus more, princes Brinda." Hema told her and her gaze switched to us. "No need to concern yourself with others. Especially these new reds, who doesn't value their training time. How did they even get here and past the security?"
"Sir." I answered and made a slight bow. "We-"
"Young gentlemen, if you paid any attention to your lessons then you should know that you should fist your right hand and touch it to your left shoulder. Make sure that your right elbow is aligned with your right!" Her voice was deep and commander. And yet insulting.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes as I followed her instruction. "Mam, with all due respect we were allowed to be here."
"By whom?"
"By commander..." I started to say but the name won't leave my tongue. It was like I remembered it, but my mind won't register. I looked at Geeta for help. It was the same as her. She could not say the name.
"Young Gentleman?" Hema waited impatiently with a raised brow.
"I-I'm sorry I could not remember."
"Show me your cuff." She ordered. I offered her my cuff, and she grabbed it and did some tinkering. I saw a few foreign language flashings on the cuff and Hema pressed and swiped at the air. "I see. Commander Mary." She nodded. "I'll have to check on him to see why he allowed access here when he know that this is where Princess Brinda usually trains. Let's see. Mithun Reddy and Geeta kumari." She glanced at both of us. "I see some high ranking freirs." She commented and looked at the two men who came with him. "Escort Princess Brinda' out. It is time for her testing."
Brinda' groaned as the two men escorted her. "Sorry guys. I'll see you next time." She says with a wave. Once she was gone, Hemma returned her attention back to us. "I understand that you two are still new and are not aware of the importance of princess Brinda's training. But I do want to suggest that you maintain a distance from her." She said firmly. "She is young, but she is the demigod from the prophecy. It is important for him to fully awaken all his gift in order to ensure our survival and protection. she may even be the key to ending this war. I am not saying that you should completely avoid her. Just give her enough space for her to be able to fulfill her destiny."
"Y-yes, Mam." Geeta answered for us when I did not reply. I was thinking about Brinda' and how strict has She been living her whole life just because she's the demigod of a stupid prophecy. But I kept my face straight that I gave a short nod of understanding.
"Good. As you were getting trained. I expect a lot from you two in the future." She said before she started to head out as well.
***
"Poor, Brinda'." Rachel said. We were now out of the oceanward and were walking aimlessly along a path. Going back won't even be a problem because we can see the tallest pod from where we are now. We can simply follow it later. "Now I know why she is too friendly to people and beasts. She doesn't have any friends!"
"Shh!" I chastised her. "Your voice is too loud. People might hear you. People or drones. Pick your poison."
"Ah! Screw them. Are you really going to let this go?"
"Are you?" I questioned her. "If Brinda' is the key to stop this war between the Lemurians and the land dwellers then who are we to stop her? I mean, I don't like wars, but I think it is ridiculous to put all that pressure to one teenager."
"I know! "Geeta agreed. "I mean, yeah I want revenge as well." She touched her now flat belly and gritted her teeth. "I want to make them pay then end the war. I hope no one suffers like we did."
"Ditto." I nodded.
Suddenly, people started to run past us and towards the opposite direction. Drones followed them as they ran. "Emergency! Please excuse us." They said as they continued to run. There were a lot of them that I was starting to worry. Was there an accident?
I looked at Rachel to see that we both have the same idea. With a nod, we followed them and ended up at the spot where we first entered. We gasped as we saw the bloodied mess before us. There were at least five laying on the ground. Three of them I assume are the new ones because of the white hospital clothes that they are wearing. They were shaking and hugging their knees. The two were Lemurians and one of them was Jack while the other was unknown to me. Jack has a large gash on his shoulder than ran to his opposite hip. Israr and William were at his side and kept him steady as the medics treated him.
"Clear out!" It was Seela. Her hair was a bloodied mess, but she was fine. Bruised but alive. "Give them some space!"
Israr and Willium had to back away when Jack was hauled onto a hovering stretcher. I made my way towards them. "What happened out there?" I dared to ask, which was not the appropriate time - I know.
Fortunately, William answered me. "It was all a trap." William whispered. "They locked them up and used them as bait for us." He gestured towards the people behind Seela, who looked like us when we first came here, which wasn't that long. "We were betrayed by one of our kin. They sold us out! Now, our number are reduced. And Jack...he's lucky that he's alive." It was already more than I could ask so I did not pry more. I simply watched as the medics did their work to assist and tend their wounds. I saw one of the people on the floor. It was a boy with blonde hair that ends at his chin. The upper portion was tied to keep it away from his face. The way that he was moving was somehow familiar that I could not help but move closer and closer to him. He must have sense me approaching him because he looked up and our eyes met.
No way. I held in my gasped as I stared at the familiar gray orbs and dimpled cheeks as he smirked at me.
It was my old former friend, Ram.