49. The Divine Order

Ruchi's voice remained firm as she faced the messenger, Trikanth, her eyes glowing with unyielding resolve.

"I am the ruler here," she said, her voice carrying the weight of her authority. There was very huge agony and carried out with angry words.

"I will not let you harm him. He has been registered as a member of Golden City, and no harm shall come to him while I rule."

Trikanth, unshaken by her declaration, stood tall and replied with cold detachment, "I came here with orders. Are you going to disobey them?"

Ruchi's expression did not falter. "I'm sorry, Trikanth," she said with finality, "but I will help you on your journey. I will not assist in harming or killing him. Take him to the Divine Land, and let the Justice Hall decide his fate."

The messenger's eyes hardened as he weighed her words. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

"Very well," he said.

"We will fulfill your wish—but be warned, your rebellion will be reported to the Divine Land."

Ruchi gave him a slight nod, signaling that their conversation was over. Trikanth bowed before leaving, and Ruchi stood alone, her thoughts swirling with the consequences of her decision.

Sambh stood at the bow of the ship, his gaze fixed on the endless expanse of ocean before him. The water shimmered under the sun's rays, the waves crashing gently against the ship as it sailed forward. In the distance, fish leaped joyfully from the water, their silvery scales catching the light.

Bdoll perched on his shoulder, his voice cutting through the stillness. "This entire ocean is haunted, you know," he said, his voice light, almost playful.

"Ghosts from the underworld reside deep beneath the waves." He laughed, his small body vibrating with the sound.

"Look at the sun—it teases us from so far away. Once, I traveled there, but the sun was lost among thousands of others. It was quite the sight. The best part was when I swam through space."

Before Sambh could respond, a portal opened beside them, and a familiar figure stepped out. It was Yon, wearing a simple t-shirt, his expression serious as he approached.

"Yon!" Sambh called out with a smile. "You've returned quickly."

Yon gave him a brief nod. "Wei asked me to help you in Golden Golf," he explained.

"It may be dangerous. He's insisted on attacking you from the very beginning."

Sambh chuckled, brushing off his concerns. "Don't worry," he said reassuringly.

"We're going there for peace talks. Everything will end with a conversation, not violence. Besides, he's the only one who can answer my questions."

As they spoke, Sambh's eyes were drawn to something swimming in the water below—a snake, its scales shimmering in the sunlight. He leaned over the edge of the ship and called out, "Trimura?"

The snake surfaced, its three heads rising above the water to meet him. "Master," it hissed, its voice unmistakable.

"Is it really you?"

Sambh grinned, relieved to see the snake again. "Where are you headed in this vast ocean?" he asked.

"We're searching for land," Trimura replied, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "The entire forest has been hunted, and we have nowhere else to go."

Sambh considered this for a moment. "We're heading to Golden Golf," he said thoughtfully. "The land there is fertile. You could settle there and grow."

Trimura seemed to contemplate the offer before slowly swimming toward the ship. As he neared, the captain of the ship, a stern man with a commanding presence, approached quickly.

"Sambh," he said, his tone harsh.

"This snake is extremely poisonous. We must kill it immediately."

But Sambh stood firm. "No," he said, his voice steady.

"I called it here. It stays on this ship."

Yon stepped forward to back him up. "The owner of this ship holds the badge, Captain," he said calmly. "He has the right to make this decision."

The captain hesitated, eyeing Sambh's badge before nodding and stepping away, signaling for his crew to return to their duties.

Yon turned to Sambh, his expression puzzled. "You can talk to snakes?"

Sambh smiled, nodding. "Yes. This snake helped me survive in the broken trees. We've been through a lot together."

He extended his hand down toward the water, and Trimura, trusting his master, climbed onto his arm. "Master," Trimura murmured, his tone weary. "I've traveled for days, searching for refuge. The ocean has taken its toll on me."

Sambh smiled softly. "Your body is vast," he said gently, "and there's no place for you on the floor. But you can rest on my arm if you wish."

Trimura seemed to consider this, then coiled around Sambh's left arm like a rope, his three heads resting gently against him.

"Thank you, Master," Trimura said, settling in.

Sambh nodded, his eyes now fixed on the horizon as the ship continued its journey toward Golden Golf. The ocean stretched on endlessly, and the island they sought was drawing near.

As the ship docked and Sambh stepped off, he felt an uneasy shift in the air. A barrier surrounding the island immediately detected his presence, its energies flaring up as it registered an intruder. Before he could react, soldiers arrived, surrounding him with cold precision.

"Sambh," one of the soldiers said curtly, his hand on his weapon.

"You are under arrest."

Confused and concerned, Sambh made no attempt to resist. Instead, he was quickly escorted back to the palace, his thoughts racing with uncertainty. Why had they reacted so swiftly? What was waiting for him inside?

As he was led through the grand halls, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

Meanwhile, back in the palace, Ruchi stood at the window, her mind troubled by the unfolding events. She had made her decision, but the consequences of her defiance against the Divine Land were now inescapable. Trikanth's warning echoed in her ears.

"Sambh's fate will be decided in the Divine Land," she muttered to herself. "But will it be too late for him?"

The tension in the air thickened.