“Ada, come stand with me,” Sensei calls her, and she runs over to him.
We spar. I am acutely aware of Ada watching us with a single minded focus of unravelling us. We end it at an even score, then Ry and Lex take over. They too, end it at an even score.
Then come Vee and Pa.
Needless to say, it isn’t even. But, it is a good fight. A 7-10 in Pa’s favour. Which in my mind is a glowing recommendation for Vee.
Once we are done, Sensei claps once. His call to attention.
“Cael and Ada,” he announces.
We all wince. But Ada’s face lights up.
She runs over to Pa and they bow to each other. Then she raises her hand at Sensei. “Can we play music, Sensei?” she asks, politely and respectfully.
Boundaries? Huh.
Lexie, standing next to me, looks at me. I tell her, “she is a student right now. A warrior.” Lex nods and then turns her attention to the center where sparring takes place.
Sensei looks at Pa in question who shrugs. Sensei gives a tight nod to Ada, who skips over to the speakers and switches to another playlist.
Linkin Park’s In the End starts playing.
Both Pa and Ada stand facing each other. Sensei announces once again, “No marmam.” They give him a nod. Bow again. And take a deep breath in. As soon as the lyrics start with It starts with one thing, Sensei gives the signal, and they go at it.
And fuck. Even their sparring is synchronised. Like choreography. They keep at it. They go full force. Half squats maintained while kicking, punching, dodging. Pa is not holding back for his daughter. Both of them have a steely determination in their eyes. But it isn’t one for competing, it is one of learning. From each other and from their mistakes.
They keep at it, attacking, dodging, kicking, punching. Both of them take the hits. The song changes to Linkin Park’s Numb. And their fight changes. Ada kicks at Pa, he dodges by jumping over five feet and Ada follows him. They both come down in a flurry of chops and kicks.
Pa manages to catch Ada off guard and hits her dead center with both his hands, and all breath whooshes out of her. Lexie’s hand clutches mine. Ada falls back, the rest of us stand up to go to her aid. Because taking a punch from Cael is not a small thing. But Pa doesn’t release his posture. I look at Sensei. He is looking on with his calm expression, taking everything in. Cataloguing. Noting.
Multiple gasps bring my attention back to the center. Ada is back on her feet. Sweat dripping from every pore of her body. The playlist changes and Evanescence’s Bring Me to Life starts playing.
And boy oh boy. Ada unleashes herself. So does Pa. Fuck, it is definitely like watching old warrior movies. These two are a sight to behold.
The sparring time is set to fifteen minutes. They are going on the last leg. With every chorus that plays, both of them get back with renewed energy. By the end of the song, she circles her right leg back, pushes down on it, and then jumps with a battle cry, kicking Pa simultaneously while jumping up. Each of her kicks lands Pa, starting from his shin, to his chest. He staggers, and falls on his back by the time Ada gets back on the ground.
Sensei rings a bell, the last five minute counter. He has extended time for them. I don’t even pay attention to the song change. My eyes are riveted on them. I have never felt this way before. This insane amount of passion, pride, respect, awe. Never. Watching her, my heart is splintering to pieces and coming back whole, all at once, renewed. I am scared of her getting hurt. I want to applaud her fight. I want to do things that I have never thought of doing.
They both go at it in another flurry of slashes and screams. Each of them dodging and punching and kicking. Not pulling their punches. They maintain their balance, even though the mat is wet with their sweat.
By the time their sparring comes to an end, everyone in the room is standing on the balls of their feet, except Sensei. As he clicks on the timer that announces the stop, he stands and takes in both of their looks. Pa and Ada come to stand straight. Breathing heavily, they bow to each other, then in tandem turn to Sensei and bow to him. Sensei returns their bow. As soon as that is done, Pa and Sensei rush to her to check for her injuries. And she does the same for Pa.
Their expressions changed at the drop of a hat. The rest of us share a look, and start approaching them.
“I am fine, you guys. Dad, damn good move! So badass!” I hear Ada squealing and hugging Pa. He returns the hug and again checks her for injuries, bruises, ribs, everything.
As we reach them, I know I am not the only one with stars in my eyes. Before I could say or get Ada’s attention to me, Lexie speaks up.
“That was seriously...just so fucking badass,” Lexie says reverently, to which Ada and Pa laugh. Sensei smiles, and smooths Ada’s hair back over her head.
“Right?! Dad is awesome. Wait till you guys get to spar with Baba,” Ada says with a beaming smile.
“You have sparred with Sensei?” Vee asks.
“Of course I have. What makes you think I wouldn’t have?” her bewildered eyes look at us as if it is the most preposterous question.
“That is the most preposterous thing I have ever heard Vee,” Sensei speaks.
“Yeah, sorry. But .. Forget I said anything, You guys are so fucking awesome!” he screams. “Did you guys see, she was back on her feet in five seconds flat when she was knocked out? Wow.” He turns to look at them again, only this time, Sensei and Pa start laughing.
“Son, when she spars with you the next time, you will know what it takes to stand once she has rendered you down. You have no idea,” Pa says.
“Wha-”
“Trust me,” Sensei speaks up. “For Cael to stand in under four seconds when Ada put him down, is more a reason for celebration for him. You will know tomorrow when you spar with her.”
She blushes. Everyone laughs at that until Pa grumbles, “okay, if she is sparring with them tomorrow, I want the dress code changed. No shorts and spaghetti tops. Sweatpants and t-shirt only. That is final.”
With that he turns on his heel and leaves the training room.
Ada rolls her eyes and starts laughing.
Then she sputters to a stop and face palms.
“What?” Lexies asks.
“Kali… Just dying of all the testosterone overload. I cannot. I just cannot. If I have to hear one more comment about them muscles and them legs, I swear I am going to pass out.”
“Hey!” all of us shout.
“Not just you! She has been going gaga over Dad as well!”
She throws her hands in the air and stomps downstairs, while Sensei lets out a booming laugh.
Chapter 40
Ada
“First, here is the bermuda triangle,” Vince says pointing to a point just off the southern tip of Miami. “Though, there aren't any mountains here. But maybe we could explore the hills in Miami?”
I look at the point, and even though it seems like a good candidate, I don't feel that this is the place for us.
“What next?” Dad asks.
“These islands, in Hawaii,” he says pointing to a point on the map, “and then here in Spain, where mountains and ocean meet,” he says pointing to Majorca in Spain.
“This seems like a good bet. There is heavy forestation here,” Enzo trails off, looking intently at the map. “What else?”
“Borneo in Malaysia,” Vince continues pointing to another point on the map. “And here, the port town of Makarska that sits against the rocky mountains of Mount Biokovo, in Croatia,” he lifts his fingers and lets us take in the markers on the map that Baba and he had placed.
“Others are there too but these are the best known places for the mountains and ocean, where Draidon and Vala-di-Somi would get ample access to earth and water elements,” he tells us.
I understand the thinking they had behind it.
“I think there needs to be more there,” I say.
“What makes you say that?” Ash asks me.
“For one, this place would have all el
ements present there. All the Elemental Gods trained there and mastered their magic. While these other places have water, earth and air in abundance, they don’t have fire. No.. I think we need to look for something that could have volcanic peaks. Yeah sure, fire could be harnessed with metal, but I don't think those times we had metal just lying around. Do you?” I ask them all.
They are still thinking. Good. I continue on.
“It also needs to be a place that hasn't been affected by the continental drift. Maybe slightly. Maybe. But not the whole lot. Like we aren't looking at mountains that were desert once, or water that were mountains once. I mean it has to be someplace that still has all the original places intact. And then…..,” I take a deep breath and look at Baba, “and then there is the thing of it being a direct path between Arhanyth and Gyaraath. My gut says that Gyaraath is the name of this place, or realm, or planet Earth - whatever you want to call it. So it needs to be something that has remained intact because that portal wouldn't have stayed intact with the land shifting. Right?”
I didnt even realise I was pacing it until I stopped to take a deep breath. As I look at them, everyone huddled together around the table, I find them looking at me with some sort of emotion.
‘Respect. It is called respect you see in their eyes. And why not. You have just resolved a millenia old mystery. You should be proud, girl!’
Kali squeals. I smile at her and hope that it conveys how much I love her friendship and support.
“So… what do you all think?”
“I think it makes perfect sense. You are right. We need to look for that place that seemed to have remained intact across the millenniums. Plus something that has all the elements in it,” Lexie says with a warm smile and her eyes go back to the map.
Vince is concentrating hard and is turning the map this way and that way. Then he picks up another map and lays it on top of the first map. Then he does that with the other one too. I am confused but I am sure he has a plan.
“One more thing,” I say before we get deeper into this discussion.
“Yes?” Enzo asks.
“If no one knows where this place is, if no one really knows the significance, then how did they get Vyhdir there? Should we talk to the captives? They have to know something, right?”
A beat of silence.
“Yes,” Baba says, running his hand through his beard. “Let’s go and talk to them. Time to get some answers.”
He looks up, his eyes swelling with violet silver. I gasp and turn to Dad. “You guys never told me what you can do. I need to know that. Pronto!”
“We will. Before or after the talk with them? You choose,” Dad says, but he is looking at Baba.
“Now,” Baba and I say together.
Dad nods and then steps away from us.
He closes his eyes, puts his palms out, and a fiery golden orange light fills his palms. “I am The Protector. Meaning, I am blessed by Shivati and Aarya to destroy anything that I suspect as a threat to my ward. The Kazi. I am also blessed by Krimavi and Kshitara and can sense emotions, and see the incidents that happened, by touching or by being in close proximity to objects where a high dosage of emotions were unleashed. Let’s say, a child is attached to her teddy bear. If she goes missing, and we find her bear lying on the ground, I can touch it and see what happened while she was holding onto the bear. Past, present and sometimes, future, if one is thinking of the future while holding the object. The more emotional leak round objects, in a room, the more clear the past and present become.
“Only you guys are immune to me. And thank God for that. Also those things or people cloaked by much higher power levels than mine. I am one of the best warriors in the world. Plus, if someone even looks at you wrong, I will not hesitate to gut them. I wouldn’t even have to raise a finger. My magic will do it. My baby girl, you are the single most important soul to me. And my magic recognised this even before you were The Kazi. Now, whatever overprotectiveness your old man feels, has amplified a million folds,” he renders the last words to the guys sitting around me.
But I cannot think of anything else. My Dad is a badass. I had always known it. But now. Oh dear Lord.
‘Yup. I have decided. Cael is the hottest, baddest, sexiest man alive!’ Kali squeals.
“Ewwwwww,” the word is out before I can stop.
“What?!” Dad exclaims.
“Sorry sorry. Kali just fangirled over you and called you the hottest, baddest, sexiest man alive.” I roll my eyes. Because I cannot have Kali fangirling over my Dad. That is just wrong on so many levels. But… “You are. You definitely are. But I cannot have my alter ego gushing over you like you are a piece of candy. No. Just no,” I shake my head, horrified.
Kali laughs, along with everyone in the room.
“But Dad! Oh my God. You are a badass warrior. Oh my God oh my God oh my God….” I jump up and run to him. I hug him and start jumping up and down around him. He barks a laugh and wraps me in his arms.
My Dad.
Something warm, hot, molten, flows within me. A sensation. A feeling. That tells me that I am as bound to him, to protect him and love him, as he is to me. My arms tighten around him.
“Do you want to know if your Baba is as badass?” Baba’s amused voice asks me.
I let go of Dad, and make a trident on his forehead with my three fingers. He smiles and does the same. That done, I turn around to Baba, who looks like a cheshire cat.
“Oh Oogway. Something tells me that you are not only a badass, but because you are Paramaiah blessed, you are something that nobody has seen till now. So tell me. Shower your divine lights on me. Enlighten me. And then we will go kick some ass of those captives.”
I sit down on the floor cross legged as I say this. Baba laughs. Dad sits next to me, wrapping one arm around my shoulders. But it doesn’t escape my notice that everyone else has taken several steps back. Like they are afraid of Baba’s magic touching them.
“Very well,” Baba clasps his hands behind his back. “What you have to remember is that magical combat, everybody with powers can do. That means, attacking with magic, defending with magic, protecting, banishing, warding, etc. In addition to that, I can heal. I am a warrior, level 25 of course. As you too are now, by the way.” I squeal at that causing Baba to roll his eyes. “I can also destroy a cloak, coax magic out, push magic in. I work with Spirit. Meaning, I can control spirit, and can compel others too. You all are immune to me, though. I cannot sense emotions or the past and present, like most of you can do. But I am nuclear. I have the power to create magic bombs and when thrown at a target, it can annihilate everyone with a few kilometers radius. Only those who are bonded to me, are safe from it. Like you all, and the rest of Adishakti. Something tells me you too are a spirit worker. But more on that later.”
Baba stops abruptly. “But?” I coax.
“What makes you think there is a but?”
“I can feel it.”
He gives me a long look. Perhaps it is the earnestness in my eyes, or the buzz of energy moving within me, he gives me a nod. “I have a block. I am not at my hundred percent. My powers are blocked. I cannot disclose the reasons right now. Maybe some time, in future. But not now. Maybe I’d be able to do more once that block is lifted. I keep getting level ups. Parts of my powers keep getting unblocked over time. But it isn’t at full capacity. I know that.”
I look at the others around me. If their wide eyes are anything to go by, then this was something they didn’t know. Hmm, interesting.
“When have you gotten a level up? Is there any pattern to it?” I ask him.
He gives me a smile, a sly-indulgent smile that tells me he expected this question from me, but hadn’t counted on my asking this so soon. “It is in tandem with your level ups.”
More gasps sound in the room. My mouth is open. Could it be so simple that two of the biggest baddest warriors are leveling up because of something to do with me?
“Why?” The word is a whisper, out my mouth.
/> He squats in front of me, looking in my eyes. “Because you are my granddaughter. One person who I love most in the world. Where Cael is the protector I am your supporter, creating an environment that makes you happy and prosperous in every way. Because you are my family, Gudiya.”
My eyes fill with tears, as I nod. I raise my hand and cup his cheeks. I don’t care why or how, but words are dying to come out. “And I am yours. I will support you in every way Baba. Whatever it takes. Your happiness, and your peace mean the most to me too. And nothing will change that, ever. Because you are my family too.”
He kneels down in front of me, and pulls me to his chest. I don’t know why I am emotional. I have always loved him. He knows that. Everyone knows that. But something is breaking and unleashing within me today. Seems like the universe cannot wait for me to figure it out. It is leaving breadcrumbs and hints at me to figure things out soon. Even though I always knew that I love my Dad and Baba, today it feels more like a vow. Like destiny.
Sniffles can be heard in the room. When Baba and I finally let go of one another, I give him a teary smile. But I have one more question.
“So, do you want to tell us now if you and Dad can communicate telepathically?”
He sputters, Dad barks out a laugh, and the rest are busy shouting various degrees of what the bloody hell.
“I take it as a yes then?” I ask him, raising my eyebrow. When he doesn’t say anything except still looking as white as a teenager caught heading home after curfew, I kiss his cheek and get up. “Let’s go kick some ass fellas. In Kali’s words, them captives are not gonna cuckoo their hearts out if we don’t give them a reason to,” I say, heading towards the door, that I guess leads to the basements.
Chapter 41
Ada
Whoa… this is like a castle beneath a castle, beneath a castle. Some four stories going down to the basement. What the bloody heck. It is not a basement in my opinion. It is a freaking chamber of secrets.
“Psst,” I call out to Lexie who is climbing down ahead of me. When she turns to look at me, I ask, “tell me there is another way out, or up. I am not climbing all these stairs.”
Circle of Time: An urban fantasy (The Kazi Chronicles Book 1) Page 26