Akira had slept peacefully after a very long time. She had no dreams. The chirping of birds and the fragrance of dew woke her up.
The Palace had a lot of quirks. The rooms, well sealed, could still mirror a garden and the starlit skies. It felt like she was in a glass house. The sun was warm but never hot; the nights were cool with a pleasant breeze, but never cold.
Food at her table remained stocked, though no one came in or went out. She hopped out of her bed, feeling herself completely energized. She had forgotten what it felt like to move around without aches.
Lady Tara knocked at her door. She wore a shell dress and had taken the liberty to stitch one for Akira as well. Akira fell so in love with it that it made Lady Tara blush.
"Lady Tara, this looks gorgeous! I wish I had a drop of your talent! I feel like a goddess when I wear your clothes!" Akira exclaimed with absolute happiness.
"The Lord awaits your presence, my Lady. You should soon leave back to your sphere. It is dangerous to be here longer." Lady Tara looked a bit upset.
Having known her for barely a few minutes, Lady Tara could not help but feel surprised at her own sense of attachment towards this very loud creature.
Orcs, as with the other creatures of the Patala, were strong. They had much lesser mana than Svarka creatures or Gaya (Earth as we now know it), but they had
physical strength and skill that set them apart.
They seldom interfered with other beings, unlike the Nagas, who were busybodies and hugely kept to themselves. Different from humans, they were very low on intelligence, especially strategizing and manipulative intelligence, which wasn't bad since they were exactly what they portrayed themselves to be.
Lady Tara, though she had moved to the Gate from her own living realm, still retained her trademark characteristics from her days in Patala, the effect of Apam magic.
She led Lady Akira to the hall and was about to leave when Hotrā, in his quiet voice, said, "Lady Tara, please stay. We have a request of you as well."
Surprised, she stayed back. This was the first time since coming here that she had been asked a request.
Once seated, Hotrā led the discussion this time around. Napat was his usual cheerful self, with Mitra and Sorn, as usual, standing near the door at the far end, watchful but still as statues.
"Akira," Hotrā said, "you have an important role to play in the upcoming battle."
Akira sat, waiting for Hotrā to continue.
"You will need to head the mage school."
Huh? She? Head a mage school? The magic she knew was a soothsayer's magic. How could she head a school?
Hotrā continued. "Do not worry. You will receive all the support you need. You will establish a merit-based Mage school that will connect all beings of all three words, establishing a connection within the next three hundred years. Humans have long forgotten about the spells gifted to them by the otherworldly beings.Through this school, revive that knowledge."
A seer had the lowest mana among mages. How could she possibly ever harness the magic to create such an environment?
"Don't worry about the mana. The school will be ready by the time you reach Gaya. The of time passage for the students will be the same. The training schedule will be the same. They will learn to bond and trust each other.
You will be responsible for strategizing and administration alone."
Akira looked completely lost.