HOW COULD HE ENJOY BEING HYPNOTIZED?
Ram was so angry that he almost punched the Elder of Water in his face.
He controlled himself in the last moment, retreated back and glared at him. "It isn't funny," he said.
Elder of Water chuckled. "Oh it is funny. Definitely worth it. Remember that you are never going to get this chance ever again," he said.
Ram shook his head. "I don't require such an amazing chance. Sorry, can we please focus on my training session?" he asked.
Elder of Water scoffed. "You are no fun at all. Let me show you something amazing," he said, then he ordered his assistant to display a screen in between them.
And it started to play Ram when he was under hypnosis, how he talked to Elder as if here were a servant, about Aunt El and Ram was almost spooked at that. Did he know something about him and Aunt El?
Ram didn't had much chance to ponder on it when Ram realized how he was basically a free servant for Elder of Water for the entire hour, how he cleaned and cooked for him.
That explained the ache in Ram's wrist as well as his lower back.
All of it was finished with him mentioning Justice Hall, which brought Ram out of his hypnosis.
"What had happened at the end? How come I came out of this?" Ram asked.
Elder of Water frowned, as if Ram were disturbing his enjoyment. After a long time, Elder of Water sighed. "You see Justice Hall has implanted such a deep feeling into you that as soon as I mentioned that word, it brought you out of hypnosis," he said.
Ram thought about it. Justice Hall indeed had set deep rooted fear in him. After all, it was the first Time Ram had felt like he were trapped in a cell(literally), being stared at thousands of Elites like he were some animal in cage while they were discussing whether he was a threat or not, whether they should kill him or not.
Also, they had been angry and scared of him for using the powers of the First Elder, to Reverse the Flow of Time.
And right after that, Aunt El's appearance, delaying of the judgment, followed by them implanting a device that could blow him up, as well as the twins and their unknown device.
Ram was really scared as hell.
"I think it was the worst nightmare I have ever faced," he said.
Elder of Water shook his head. "No. It was just the beginning of your worst nightmare. The events that were about to come would be something even I would not be able to face, much less you. I truly pity you," he said.
Ram swallowed. "Please tell me you are going to help me get out of this?" he asked.
Elder of Water thought for a long time before nodding his head. "I will, that's why I showed you this clip. Other than for my enjoyment, have you observed how you came out of hypnosis when I mentioned Justice Hall?" he asked.
Ram nodded his head.
"That's the key. If the hypnotist mentions anything that had deep meaning to you, you will be able to come out of hypnosis," Elder of Water said.
"I have a chance to save myself then right?"
"No. Don't you see? It will happen only if your hypnotist mentions those particular words. For all I know, I think they already know all about you. Specific words with deep meanings. In fact, I think that is how they are getting you into hypnotic state, and also out of it," Elder of Water said.
Ram was scared. Who knew so much about him other than Aunt El? It can't be Aunt El right?
As if Elder of Water could read his mind, he said, "Don't even think about your Aunt. I know more about her than herself and she isn't your enemy."
Ram gasped. "How did you know about me and Aunt El?" he said.
Elder of Water said, "Not only did I know about you being foster child of Aunt El, but also everything about you and her. Like The Elder of Light in Faction of Hope was a proxy. And the real Elder of Light was the Elder who interrupted us. He was not an old man, but your Aunt El. How she was younger sister to Elder of Air. How Elder of Air hated you and your parents."
Ram couldn't process what Elder of Water had revealed. He just stared at Elder of Water.
Elder of Water sighed. "If there was any way, I wouldn't have revealed all of this so soon. But I realize that I am already late," he said.
"What do you mean?"
"All of this was related to me. Did you know how I became interested in hypnosis and how I decided to master it?" Elder of Water asked.
Ram shook his head.
Elder of Light's brow furrowed. "Back when I was still your age, I had been a careless kid, as I appear to others now. But I was especially devoted to my senior. I practically worshiped him. I treated him as my older brother.
"He had used me to commit many crimes. I didn't know at first. Suddenly one day, some gang came and accused me of cheating them. Another day, a wealthy family came and accused me of stealing from them. Soon, many arrived at my door step and my Elders had me bring to Justice Hall. There, they provided the evidence to all of those crimes and I was shocked. I did the things they claimed I did and I had no recollection of them.
"They claimed I am culprit, acting like I I am innocent and didn't know anything, just to go unpunished. Every one of them were convinced that I am the real culprit.
"I thought I lost all the hope. I was sentenced to confinement. I was about to commit suicide when the Old Man, the previous Elder of Time arrived and saved me. He proved that I had been under hypnosis and took me under him.
"I later learned that the senior whom I worshiped was responsible for all of these crimes and he was in the run.
"I thanked the Old Man and asked him what I could do to repay his gratitude. His reply was so profound that I engraved his words in my heart. 'Make yourself so strong that they won't ever take advantage of you or anyone else .'
"I decided to increase my mental strength and also learn all about hypnosis. I became an expert and was overly confident that if even my senior were to appear in front of me and tried to hypnotize me again, I wouldn't be hypnotized.
"Then one day my senior did came. He hypnotized not only me, but also all the other Elders as well. By the time I came out of hypnosis, our factions were on the verge of war.
"I realized that I had failed the Elder of Time and grew careless. It was then that I met Elder of Time's daughter. She gave me a purpose in my life. I started to pursue her, but failed to get her heart.
"She gave birth to Elder of Air and your Aunt El. When their parents passed away and Elder of Time was engaging with his nemesis, I helped Elder of Air take care of Aunt El.
"Aunt El hates me. Elder of Air respects me. At the end of the day, both of them trust me. They know about me and how I pursued their mother and failed to get her heart. Still, they continued to meet with me.
"When you appeared and threw everything in chaos, I know that Elder of Time had died and you have his powers, along with something extra. I didn't know everything at first, but later, Elder of Air and your Aunt El explained me everything. That you have the ability to access other powers as well.
"I think I realize what my purpose is now. And what the Old Man meant by those words. To teach you how to use the Power of Water as well as everything about hypnosis so that you would not let others or yourself be taken advantage of," Elder of Water said.
Ram just stared at him, flabbergasted. Elder of Water's life was even more tragic than his own.
Before he could process what he heard, Ram's thoughts lingered on something. "You are going to teach me everything about hypnosis?" he asked.
Elder of Water nodded.
"Everything? Including how to perform hypnosis?"
Another nod.
"Aren't Aunt El and Elder of Air against it?"
"Aunt El will not allow you to learn hypnosis. She believes that it will corrupt you. As far as Elder of Air was concerned, she believes that you will use hypnosis to make Sandhya fall in love with you. You wouldn't do that would you?" Elder of Water asked.
Ram nodded.
"Good. Then do you want to learn everything about the Power of Water as well as hypnosis?"
"I do."
"It will take long time for you to learn them."
"I don't care how long it will take. I dedicate myself to it."
"But we don't have so much time. In fact, we are already too late."
"What do you mean?"
"I fear that my senior has already manipulated others so that they could bring your trial with both the factions faster. You have much to learn to be able to save yourself," Elder of Water said.
"Isn't there any other way?" Ram asked.
"There is. Though it will require much sacrifice from your end. And it will also bring much trouble to you in the future, but I promise that you would be immediately out of the incoming danger," Elder of Water said. "Are you willing to do it?"
Ram didn't hesitate. The way it looked, the chances of him getting saved were less.
He had to use everything at his disposal. Even if it meant inviting trouble for himself in the future, he had to do so.
"I am willing to do it. What is that way?" Ram asked.
Elder of Water looked gravely at Ram. "To transfer my memories as well as powers to you. You should also become the Elder of Water."