As soon as Virendra slammed the chariot window shut, he sank back into the soft velvet seat. His expression was grim, his mind racing through a dozen desperate strategies. After a heavy moment of silence, an idea formed in his head—but he hesitated, wondering if it would actually work.
It was a suicidal plan, but in the end, it was the only way to save the Princess.
He looked up at Kritika, his voice solemn. "Princess, there is only one way left to save your life."
Kritika looked back at him, her eyes wide with apprehension. "What is it, Virendra ?"
"To save you, we have to deceive those Vyadhs," Virendra explained, his voice low. "We have to create an illusion. We need bait... and that bait will be Abhay."
Kritika immediately rejected the idea, shaking her head. "But how? You know he could die!"
"We have no other choice," Virendra replied coldly.
"Are you looking at him the same way the rest of society does?" Kritika demanded, her voice trembling with anger. "Do you think he is just Tuchch (worthless) simply because his cultivation is at the absolute bottom?!"
Virendra shook his head, denying her accusation. "That is not what I mean, Princess. I am not suggesting he be the decoy because I think he is worthless. I am suggesting it because he is the only one suited for this task."
"How?" Kritika asked, confused.
"If he manages to succeed in this," Virendra said, his eyes narrowing, "society will never dare to look at him as a burden ever again."
Kritika opened her mouth to argue—"But..."—but the words died in her throat. She couldn't force her voice out. Slowly, reluctantly, Virendra managed to convince her.
Virendra leaned forward and knocked hard on the front hatch. "Charioteer! Send Abhay inside to me."
The charioteer nodded and told the boy sitting beside him to go inside.
Immediately, Abhay entered the cramped cabin. He bowed respectfully before the commander, standing tall. "What are your orders, Commander ?"
Abhay was roughly the same height as the Princess, with a slightly dark, rugged complexion. He wore the traditional garments of a servant: a simple cloth Kunchak wrapped around his upper body, an Antariya draped like a dhoti around his waist, and rough jute sandals on his feet. He looked entirely ordinary, yet his eyes held no fear.
Virendra looked the boy up and down. "Abhay, today we are going to entrust you with a massive responsibility. Are you ready to do it?"
Without a second of hesitation, Abhay replied firmly, "Whatever task you assign me, Commander, I will do it."
Virendra quickly explained the entire plan to save the Princess. He laid out the grim reality of what Abhay was about to face. "No matter what happens, you must try to stay alive. Do you understand, Abhay?"
"Yes," Abhay said fearlessly. "I am ready to do this, Commander."
Kritika looked at him, her heart aching with sorrow. "Listen to me, Abhay. You must stay alive. That is an order. Do you understand me...?"
Abhay bowed his head with deep respect. "I am but an ordinary human, and your loyal servant. I will definitely return."
After explaining the plan to his loyal soldiers outside, Virendra reached under his seat and pulled out three heavy black cloaks from a hidden compartment. He handed two to Kritika and Abhay, keeping the third for himself.
After saying a final farewell to his remaining comrades, Virendra grabbed Kritika. As the chariot approached a sharp bend, they threw their black cloaks over themselves and leaped into the pitch-black darkness of the dense forest.
Abhay was left completely alone in the speeding chariot, sitting on the soft velvet seat. He raised his hand, carefully inspecting the ring Virendra had given him just moments before. Virendra had infused it with his own 'Origin Energy.'
Before jumping, Virendra had told him: "If you are captured anywhere, or if you get lost, I will track you down using this ring. Remember one thing: whatever happens, you must not lose this ring."
I will definitely keep it safe, Commander ji, Abhay thought to himself, clutching the ring tightly.
Meanwhile, deep in the thick jungle, Virendra and Kritika were sprinting away from the road at top speed.
As they ran, a dark, cunning thought flashed through Virendra's mind.
I deliberately planted a trace of my Origin Energy directly onto Abhay's body, Virendra whispered in his mind. Even if he loses the ring I gave him... I will still be able to locate him.