"Cool." Ermaan replied.
Well, that's what happens when you enter in the dreaded Alpha Team's tent and throw a bucket of cold water on their soundly sleeping asses.
Their defence mechanism activated and they started fighting, as if it's the matter of life and death. It takes them some time to calm down and return back to reality. The reality of peace and normal life.
Maybe that's why they say that the war changes people and their personalities gravely. Not to mention they haven't fought one war but many in the past to have ended up becoming suicidal soldiers, who can kill and die even in their sleeps.
None of them have passed twenty-five yet, except Sebastian who would be turning twenty-seven within three months. The oldest of The Alpha Team. Yet they have seen wars like we watch k-dramas.
Countless. Never-ending.
Yes, Ersia is a peaceful and peace loving kingdom. But peace always comes with a great cost. The cost of its soldiers' blood, sweat and tears, who kill and die for the peace and harmony of its nation.
Not to mention, the Alpha team had even fought for other kingdoms under Thomas' orders.
They were thirty. The Alpha team had thirty members, but the numbers changed with the wars.
But despite all the shit that life throws their way, they find the reason to smile, to be happy, to enjoy life. Not to mention rewriting the rules is their favourite, as they break it and others follow in their footsteps.
So, when they see the harmony, peace and bliss in the faces of their people, they know it was worth it. The price is worth it.
"Man, Thanks for the free shower, but I didn't sign up for this. Maybe you delivered the wrong product to the wrong customer." Aedion said, while staring at Ermaan who was staring at the condition of the tent.
That's beyond disgusting.
"Well, I didn't expect everyone to be in your tent. Why did that old man even bother to assign a single tent in your name, when you are happy cuddling each other and sleeping like debris here? " Ermaan wondered.
"Oh puh-lease. This is called brotherhood. Besides, in this way we can protect each others' backs easily." Emanuel said in a raspy voice, as he was forced to wake up.
" And it would be easier to kill y'all in one blow. Indeed, a great idea. Who is the mastermind here?" Ermaan said, making everyone gulp. They know he was serious and pissed.
But what did they do? They were just sleeping, for god sake. Sleeping is not a crime. Right!
"Well, it definitely wasn't Sam's idea." Arnav was quick to defend his brother, whose eyebrows were twitching hard. Well, the fool should have just said it was him, rather than saying it wasn't him, in front of this punk.
"Oh not his! Then whose, Arnav?" Ermaan asked sweetly making Sam to see the devil's horns and tail in Ermaan, who definitely won't harm the maknae, but things won't be easy for Sam.
"I-I don't know." Arnav said, not wanting to sell Sam out. Making Ermaan to nod.
"By the way, what are you here for?" Sebastian was quick to ask. It goes without saying only the heavens can save Sam now. But that's not what Arnav needs to know, right!
"You could have just knocked on the door. What if we would have been doing something ' not worth mentioning'?" Ethan asked Ermaan, making him give a sceptical look.
" You mean 'with each other'?" Ermaan asked, making Sebastian choke on the air and cough loudly and badly.
"Wow. Are you guys for real?" Ermaan asked curiously.
"Shut the fuck up. What the bloody hell are you spewing out?" Ethan was quick to ask, while holding Sebastian and offering him a glass of water to calm him down.
"You know the girls aren't allowed here. This is the rule that nobody has broken yet. At least not in the past hundred years. So, what exactly is your 'worth not mentioning' thing?" Ermaan asked, making Ethan pass a stupefied look.
"Or were you mast****ting?" Ermaan asked, making Alex, Emanuel and Sam pass glances at each other.
But nobody utters a word.
"For god sake Man, we have a kid among us." Conan warned, making Ermaan stare at Arnav.
" He is not a kid. He has fought with us on the battlefield and brought victory home. He is one among us." Ermaan was quick to correct Conan.
"Well, that he did. But for god's sake, we shouldn't ruin his innocence before a specific age." Quasim tried to explain.
"His innocence was ruined the moment he picked the sword in his hand, he was in for the life of trauma, the moment he saw blood in that gruesome battlefield.
He might be young, but he is not a kid. At least not to mean. He has done something that even the adults fail to achieve. The self-control. The self-discipline.
So, don't berate him. As I won't tolerate that." Ermaan was quick to explain.
" We get your point. He is a warrior. A great swordsman. A great soldier. He has never acted as a kid, as he had become a man ages ago. However, I still think if we want him to keep up with the good work, then let's not ruin his smart brain by passing this nuisance of knowledge to him.
How does that sound?" Ethan asked Ermaan, making him ponder.
"Fine with me. But he will know when he would want to know. You guys have to pass this knowledge, without any refusal or debate." Ermaan replied, making everyone nod.
"O Lord Ermaan, why on the earth are you here? You should have ascended to heaven with your deep knowledge of humanity by now. I am disappointed that I still have to see you here with us foolish humans." Atlas said, making Ermaan stare at him, with a not so pleasant gaze.
"Alright! Just tell us, what is it?" Sebastian finally asked.
"Well, we would be leaving the first thing in the morning, tomorrow, to find a cure for this calamity. That's his highness' words." Ermaan said, making everyone stare at him and nod with utmost seriousness.
Yep, their people come above everything. They have to save their citizens.
~~
"What are you staring at?" Nazia, who was busy selling the earthen pots, which she makes on daily basis to earn money asked Suzy.
" I am watching the setting sun." Suzy replied, without turning towards Nazia.
"Why?" Nazia asked in confusion.
"Because it's pretty." Suzy replied while turning her head from the grassland with a setting sun view to Nazia.
"What's so pretty about it? The Sun God rises from the east, marking the beginning of the day and sets in the west, marking the end of the day." Nazia said, making Suzy to stare back at the horizon.
"It's not about what it does. It's about how beautifully it does that. Just look at the sky, the hues of red and orange scattering all over it. It's like The Sun God isn't sad or displeased by the fact it is setting, by the fact that it would be the end of today, by the fact that it's reign for today is over and now the moon goddess will begin it's reign.
It is still busy sharing the warmth, joy and pure bliss to the eyes with the beautiful ending which it is showcasing. As if it rises for the people, it burns for the people and now it's setting for the people. Don't you agree?" Suzy asked, making the hustling-bustling street turn silent and everyone stared at the horizon with a faint smile on their eyes.
It does seem to be the case. Making Nazia unable to resist watching the setting sun.
When Suzy didn't get any response, she turned towards Nazia only to see everyone staring at the setting Sun. She was dumbfounded by the scene. She was talking with Nazia only.
One of the men in the street, kneels on the ground, earning everyone's attention. He folded his hands in Namaste, closed his eyes and uttered ; " Thank you Sun God."
People saw him and followed.
"Thank you Sun God." It echoed in the street, earning the attention of the people from other streets.
"Thank you Sun God for giving us light and warmth. Thank you for rising for us. Thank you for burning for us. Thank you for setting for us. Thank you for being so selfless and helping mankind. Thank you for everything.
Please rest well and be at ease, during the reign of the moon goddess.As we would love to see you tomorrow again. Thank you once again for your hard work." One of the high scholars uttered, making everyone nod in affirmation.
Nazia stared at people, then at Suzy and smiled faintly. This witchling might not know, but she does. They were bewitched. Bewitched by a witch who doesn't even know and was busy admiring the setting sun.
Otherwise the sun rises daily and sets daily. Yet these people never respected that or care about that. But see, now they are realising the efforts of Sun God.
"Alright! Let's go home. We are done for the day. Let's hope for some good news tomorrow." Nazia said while closing her little stall to go home, making everyone pay their utmost reverence to Sun God and begin their work.
Suzy helped her and then they went back home.