I have been waiting here for you for almost a month and a week

Monks/priests come in different variations, colored uniforms and even different genders due to different religions in various countries on Earth.

Here are a special kind of warrior monks in Kasi called 'Aghoras'. Draped in ashen-black colored robes with faded bloody designs on them and a necklace of small skulls hanging around their necks. They are very good at fist fights.

They are the warrior monks of God of death, Lord Shiva. They live as beggars in graveyards of Kasi, but they have their own secret abode. It's not so much of a secret but outsiders are restricted from entry. They live in the caves of a dwarf mountain[1] named 'Badhra', literally overshadowed by a large mountain called 'Rudhra'. Therefore, the whole mountain is always gloomy and dark.

They don't recruit normal people as their disciples but adopt orphans who are cared by none in their childhood and groom them as next-generation Aghoras. They don't even preach to spread the name of their god so not many know what their objectives even. But I know one of their objectives, that is to protect 'THE ARTIFACT'.

In my previous life when all of us rankers (strongest of humanity) are preparing for the final battle many oracles, Unique profession[2] gathered many predictions, suggestions and finally decided on this artifact. But Aghoras, who received 'special class[3]: Aghora' are adamant on keeping it and fought to the death with the rankers. Now I wouldn't want to fight all the Aghoras in this mountain, would I?

That's why I am hanging like a gecko with the help of my two short swords on the steep cliff of 'Badhra' mountain on the opposite direction of its entrance.

After a sleep of four hours in my room yesterday, I got ready for my trekking on 'Badhra' mountain. I took a cab to the neighborhood at a distance of three kilometers from the mountain, walked from there and started climbing.

It took me five hours to reach the top of the dwarf mountain, rested there for 40 minutes and started moving forward.

I am walking on a small trail beside a mountain wall, then suddenly felt a strong killing intent from the wall.

I immediately turned around unsheathing my twin swords positioned them in a cross shape in front of my face. Then a fist came to punch out of the wall forcing me four feet away.

I took a few more steps back balancing myself and watched towards the mountain wall. To be more specific, I am watching towards what I thought as a five feet tall stone affixed into the mountain wall. The upper part of the stone moved and a human figure covering in mud came out of the mountain wall.

He is a six and a half feet tall man, with ashen-black robes covering his body. His face is smeared with ash and mud so I can't tell his age, maybe in his late thirties from his gruff voice. He is looking indifferent and walking towards me.

I have many questions to ask like 'what is he?', 'for how long is he staying there like that?', 'Why is he staying there until now?' and all. But for a change, he spoke first which increased my questions exponentially.

"You are late, " he said.

"Wh...What?" Even me, being myself stuttered a little toward that creepy statement.

"I have been waiting here for you, for almost a month and a week" he confirmed again which, swirled my thoughts like a storm with many questions yet again like 'Am I, not the only one to come back?' and 'How much does he know?', but he didn't give me much time to sort out my thoughts.

"Now, show me how you are worthier than me?" he said with a very low but deep, audible voice and sprinted towards me.

His fists are covered with some thick and durable animal furs. He lunged to me with a straight punch towards my chest which I deflected with my right sword and swung my left to his throat.

He kicked the ground harder and stepped back glaring at me while reaching his hand to the red line on his neck caused by my blades that sunk just a few microns into his skin.

Many think, twin sword style is all about swinging two swords hard but faster than a single two-handed sword.

But twin swords, especially short sword like mine leans more towards the fighting style of daggers than a sword, which is swung with everything you have put in it. Also, my style has more swiftness, versatility and reach than daggers.

I have to be swift like a Kangaroo and explosive like a Cheetah. That's how I trained my body in the past month too. The main concept with twin short swords is the balance, control over swift movements and Art of deflection like Taichi.

We exchanged a few more bouts with each other, he is more skilled than I thought for a normal human before the E-day, but that's it. He is covered in small cuts and bruises, his robes are more rugged than beggars.

In the duration of our fight, I collected my thoughts. Maybe because of my younger body and overabundant hormones, I lost my calm there for a moment.

Me coming back is a miracle in itself, but that's happening twice has a more price to pay than sending just one. Then, why didn't I already kill him and get it over with you ask?

"Don't you think it's already apparent, Jora? " came a calm voice, little distance away from us rising along with a muddy figure with ashy smoke swirling around him, out of a loose sandy patch on the ground.

That's right there is another one observing us all this time. 'erring once is already humiliating enough but allowing it to happen again is a no go'. Maybe I am thinking it is not E-day yet, thus me underestimating them too much and not noticing them. After the first slap given to my face by Jora, I can't let them keep slapping my face again.

The fighting Aghora, Jora just kept glaring at me but I just gave my signature smile as pleasantly as possible and looked towards the newcomer. Don't know why but just after seeing my 'pleasant' smile both of them flinched visibly and Jora stopped glaring at me.

"Don't you get it Jora? If not for his mercy you would have died as many times as many cuts on your body, " said the calm man with a stern voice and continued towards me, "O worthy one, I am called Barka, The head monk is awaiting your arrival".

If I connect dots from what he said and from my timeline where Aghoras fought till death protecting 'THE ARTIFACT' saying 'none of you are worthy ones', I think I am on to something.

"Alright, lead the way, " I said to Barka.

"Please follow me, " he replied and walked towards the entrance of the caves.

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[1]: Dwarf mountain here just means a shorter mountain than normal ones.

[2]: Even though Unique means "Only one in the universe like that" there are many types of oracles who can predict future in many countries. Just in India, there are many types like someone who predicts, ' from stars', ' by doing strange rituals on your personal belongings', 'by dreaming future itself', 'diving by praying to their gods' etc.

[2]: Special classes are those you can't get them, however many requirements you fulfilled. They can only be acquired by following a special pattern or practice and by being recommended by someone already in that profession {league of assassins.....:)}. They are as strong as rare classes.