King Jara laughed. "Do you expect me to believe that you are six hundred years old?"
Akira did not deter. He was keenly observing her.
"My lord, I came to these very grounds five hundred and fifty years ago. It was the year of the pole star, Druv, and the coronation of Prince Druv, your ancestor.
Back then, it was customary to collect the blood of visitors of the king and maintain the record log.
Records will have my details, you may verify. You may also verify the blood in the record with my own."
There was silence.
"I will take you up on that. Guards, take her blood."
Akira braced herself as she felt a pin prick. Someone immediately wrapped her finger with her cloth.
King Jara was indeed just. He could have harmed her, but he didn't.
"What I am going to say next is purely confidential. You may bind me and my companions as you see fit, but please let no one hear about it. The future of Gaya is at stake.
King Jara thought for a second. "I will have my priest with me. Is that okay?"
Akira nodded. "You may have your priest and your most trusted guard with you. We are three, it is fair that you have three people on your side as well."
King Jara smiled. It was funny how his captive thought she was being fair, when she was in no position to even stand.
The door opened and footsteps were heard.
This must be his priest. Iki said, "I sense Jātved, use your words wisely."
"You can sense people?" She asked him, surprised.
"He is a wielder of Level 1 mage fire magic. He has a unique aura."
She froze. "Seriously? We have a super powerful mage tag us all along, and you decided to reveal this to me now?"
Iki said lightly, "It seemed useless information. You weren't going to duel with him, and he has no plans to use it on you."
She was exasperated. "So why are you telling me this now?"
Iki sounded like he was having fun, "I feel this information will get you out of the mess you are in."
She gritted her teeth as she snarled, "Thank you, you kind entity."
She heard him laugh.
Once the priest settled himself, the king said," Please state your reasons now."
Akira took a deep breath.
"Let me start again. Salutations, King Jara, the descendant of the noble king Vali and the wise king Jatayu.
Together they fought, sixteen thousand years ago, when mankind was young, along with King Jambavan, the Manus Prince of the solar dynasty, during his exile, against the fallen Asura king born out of an Orcess and a Manus. Though a king well loved by his own people, he terrorised the existence of the two other existential planes.
Time has come now, wherein, the story will repeat itself, and the races will have to join hands, to fight for righteousness."
King Jara waited. This was getting interesting. If nothing, this woman was well read.
The war of the five clans was an epic that was passed through ballads for centuries. It was sung to the Prince and the Princesses, to remind them of what was true righteousness, how a king or a queen should be. However, there were beings involved, whose existence were a question mark.
"Tell me, Lady Akira, who claims to be six hundred years, in your lifetime, have you come across even one being from the tale? If you can prove their existence, I will set you free this very instant and do as you ask."
Akira smiled. "Lord, I will take that as a promise. I only hope my trust will not be in vain."