50. The Lost Body

The palace stood like a serene garden, its trees sprawling and intertwining with one another. The air was thick with the scent of ancient wood, and the atmosphere seemed to hum with an energy of its own.

In the center of this tranquil scene sat an old man, his form cloaked in the timeless robes of a sage. Sage Sandh, the man who had been meditating in silence for countless hours, opened his eyes slowly as the soldier entered.

"Your highness," the soldier spoke, his voice laced with both reverence and apprehension.

"We have brought your culprit."

Sage Sandh's eyes flickered with a dark glint as he rose to his feet. A cold smile spread across his face as he addressed the figure before him.

"So you came here by yourself," he said, his voice carrying an unsettling calm.

"You've made my journey worthy." He let out a low laugh before suddenly appearing before Sambh, his form moving faster than the eye could follow.

"I will finally fulfill my long-cherished wish."

Sambh stood tall, his resolve unwavering. "I came here with my wish too," he replied, his voice steady.

"I hope you can fulfill my last wish."

Sage Sandh's laughter grew louder, almost manic. "So, you really want to know who killed you? And how you came to be here?" He paused, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement.

"Sure. I'll surely fulfill your last wish... but only your dead body will hear it."

In a swift, brutal motion, Sage Sandh drew a sword and plunged it deep into his own belly. As he did, he shouted to the heavens, "My dear disciple, today I have finally revenged you!" His laughter echoed throughout the palace, a sound of madness, of unrelenting vengeance fulfilled.

The ground beneath Sambh seemed to tremble with the intensity of Sage Sandh's words as he danced in circles, his joy consuming him. "My long vengeance is over!" he yelled, his voice carrying the weight of centuries.

"Your teacher has avenged you!"

But just as the sage reveled in his victory, a portal suddenly tore open behind him. Out stepped Trikanth and Ruchi, the air around them crackling with energy. Ruchi's eyes fell upon Sambh's lifeless body, and her face twisted with fury.

"How dare you harm an innocent?" she shouted, her voice sharp as a blade. With a flick of her wrist, she released a powerful winding magic from her wand, sending tendrils of magic toward Sage Sandh.

But Sage Sandh, ever the master of his domain, calmed the atmosphere with a wave of his hand. "How dare you act arrogant in my land?" he hissed, his tone venomous.

In an instant, roots shot up from the ground, wrapping around Ruchi and pulling her toward the trees. She struggled against them, but the magic held her fast, her words trapped in her throat.

Trikanth stepped forward, his expression one of disappointment. "I didn't expect the Sage to hold such a grudge against an innocent monk," he said, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Sage Sandh's eyes narrowed, and his gaze turned to Trikanth. "Don't teach me the path of innocence," he sneered.

"You were here to kill him as well. I've merely given him freedom, salvation."

He looked back at Sambh's body, only to find it gone. His eyes widened in shock, and he roared in anger. "Who could have done such a wild thing here?" he thundered.

Turning to Ruchi, who was still struggling in the roots, he freed her with a swift motion. "Don't play with fire," he warned, his voice cold.

"Do you know where he is? Do you know who took him?"

Ruchi, now free, stood tall and composed. "There's only one person who could steal his body right under the eyes of three wizards," she said, her voice calm but firm.

"It must be Bdoll."

Trikanth's brow furrowed. "Bdoll," he muttered, his voice a whisper of recognition.

"I've heard that name before in the Divine City. They say he is the only thief who has never been caught. His abilities far exceed those of anyone else. He could steal the sunlight from the sun itself and even hope from the most dedicated."

Ruchi, cutting through the conversation, added, "I saw the tunnel beneath his body. The tunnel disappeared, taking his body with it."

Sage Sandh's expression twisted into a mix of frustration and urgency. "Where did the portal close?" he demanded, his voice rising.

Ruchi hesitated before answering. "Shall I tell you to kill him again?" she retorted with a sharp edge in her tone.

Sage Sandh's eyes burned with intensity. "No one has ever survived the blow of my sword," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "And him being alive... is impossible."

Ruchi met his gaze with unwavering conviction. "If it were that easy to kill him, then the Divine Land would not have sent its finest soldier, along with his best warcraft and soldiers, to destroy him."

Sage Sandh turned his gaze toward Trikanth, who was now examining the ground intently, his eyes scanning the area. After a moment, Trikanth nodded to himself, opening a portal with a flick of his wrist.

"Sambh's trail ends here," he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else. "But he's not far."

Without another word, they all passed through the portal, and it led them directly into a secret passage hidden deep within the palace. The atmosphere grew tense as they made their way down the dark corridor.

At the end of the passage, they found themselves face-to-face with the unexpected. There, examining Sambh's body, were Bdoll and Yon—both deeply focused on their task.

Sage Sandh's heart pounded in his chest. "Bdoll!" he spat, his rage rising. "I should have known."

Bdoll's eyes flicked up from his examination, and a sly grin spread across his face. "You found me, old man," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "But now that you're here, I suppose there's no escaping the truth."

Sage Sandh clenched his fists, his rage barely contained. "You've taken what's mine, thief," he growled.

"And I will take it back."

But as he lunged forward, the unexpected happened. The walls of the secret passage began to tremble, and a deep, ominous sound echoed from the depths of the palace. Something was stirring, something far more dangerous than any of them had anticipated.

Bdoll's grin faded, replaced by a look of concern. "We've triggered something," he muttered.

"Something big."

Trikanth's eyes narrowed. "We need to move, now," he ordered. "Before it's too late."

The ground beneath them shifted, and the air grew thick with danger. The room began to collapse, and as they rushed toward the exit, the truth of what they had unleashed began to sink in.

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