Vikram, caught in a crossfire of emotions, had a solemn face. He didn't know how to respond to the women before him. He looked at them with a complicated expression. Suddenly, his sad face changed, like a lion sensing the scent of danger.
"Get inside, don't come out unless I say," his face was extremely serious. "Close the door."
Mrinalini panicked. She had gone through life-and-death situations with him before, when he was still calm. But now he exuded a sense of danger. She had known him for three years, and this was the first time she sensed a feeling of danger in his eyes. Without further questions, she pulled Charulatha inside and closed the doors.
She then looked at Charu's panicked face and signaled her to be silent. Then, like an older sister, she took her hand and held it still. The opinion of Mrinalini in Charulatha's heart was changing rapidly. From a witch who had captured the heart of her man to a favorite elder sister. Charulatha found solace in her presence now, but she was confused about what was happening.
"What happened?" Charu asked in a very low voice.
"I am not sure," she said, "but I have never seen him so serious."
Meanwhile, outside the door, Vikram closed his eyes and shouted, "Get out!"
There was no trace of emotion in his face, just a blank stare at the corridor.
"Oh! You can sense me, that's very good," a burly old man emerged from the shadows and said. He was in a majestic white uniform with gold accents, symbolizing imperial grandeur. His turban and adorned sword reflected his authority and strength.
Vikram was silent. But his earlier expression of solemnity had faded, and a sense of calmness returned.
"I am the Station Chief from the Vira Dharma Sect (Heroic Righteousness Sect). Come with me."
The Vira Dharma Sect (Heroic Righteousness Sect) is a group that monitors martial arts and spiritual energy practitioners in India. It is the most powerful organization, alongside the Indian Armed Forces, with stations and guardians throughout the country to monitor practitioners and take action when it is necessary. They are all expert warriors and experts who have unfathomable cultivation levels to restrict the violence done by royal families and practitioners. They are not a government organization, but they hold a very high influence in the government.
(A slightly shortened version of the historical context, focusing on the Sect's role.) During the early years of the 1900s in India, during the movement for democracy, the Heroic Righteousness Sect helped overcome resistance from royal families, establishing itself as a powerful force. The sect is a nightmare for all practitioners and royals. Their station holds a lot of prestige and is considered a significant institution holding the democracy in the country and a powerhouse that holds unfathomable power. The Station Chief is like a local God.
"Don't you hear what I said?" He asked again.
"Why?" Vikram asked with a calm face.
He was 60 years old and had been a station chief for over 10 years. For over a decade, he couldn't recall anyone from outside daring to ask him a question. Every instruction was carried forward as it was said, no one ever dared to ask why. He was furious and said, "If I want you to come, you should."
"Oh, what if I don't want to?" Vikram asked back with a smile. "Are you going to kill me?" He smiled.
"Young man, don't go too far. I can arrest you and take you to the station," the Station Chief roared.
Mrinalini and Charulatha were hearing these words through the door, and their faces went flustered. They were afraid of anything happening to Vikram.
"Are you sure? Are you really going to arrest me?" Vikram asked.
"Do you think I don't dare, you bloody beggar?" the Station Chief responded with a smug smile.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Vikram asked with a smile.
"Bloody beggar, what do you mean?" the Station Chief sneered.
"Are you sure that you have the authority to destroy Heroic Declaration 5? How do you think you are?" Vikram roared, "Lex imperii semper observabimus!"
The Station Chief, who was about to raise his hand and hit, was struck as if hit by lightning.
Lex imperii semper observabimus, We will always observe the law of the empire. The Heroic Righteous Sect, established in 1917, has had a declaration of establishment and it did promise 21 things to the state and people. These 21 are called 21 Heroic declarations. But they are a well kept secret, all declarations of establishment were withdrawn from public and it is considered a secret today except for the practitioners of the sect. Knowledge of the secret is shared through strict hierarchy and when called upon everyone has to act accordingly.
The old Station Chief was sweating profusely, but that was just the beginning.
"Why are you all so relaxed, and still hiding? Is this what you call Iron law?"
Old Chief was in a dilemma. Who is this young man who can not just detect his existence but of 24 comrades around him and know the top secret declarations. Who is he?
"Are you not going to capture him?" Vikram looked at the assistant leader and asked. He frowned; he didn't know what exactly is the declaration 5, his level is not qualified to know. However, the signs from the Chief say it's true. How should he act, he was confused.
He looked at Vikram with a solemn face, but he was taught by the organization about how to resolve the conflict. Clear thinking and mission objectives. As a veteran of the organization, he knew people always arrest practitioners and people, so it's not a problem. He being a strong practitioner is the problem. He immediately looked at other 23 comrades and commanded: " Kill him for me," the assistant head roared.
"So you want to break the law," Vikram smiled and said in a deep tone while navigating an unusual energy between his fingers and said, "I protect the empire, I am the protector."
The enemies who wanted to take action froze. What did he say, these words. They are familiar with these words, before they could sense what is happening around them, they saw a hand punching deep into heart of one and then that leg is moving to the head of the other. This action continued as if he is killing chicken, only one kick the opponents fell down.
Swish.. the chief took his sword out and slashed but a hand blocked the slash and next hand station chief realised that his sword was taken away. He then saw sharp swinging around him 48 thud sounds. 24 bodies and 24 heads fell, perfect chopping. Sword rested on his neck and there was a smile.
"Sir, mercy," he knelt down. Vikram still had a ferocious smile.
"Mercy? Do you remember mercy when you came to door step and intended to take me away to your facility and enslave me?" Swish head chopped off.
"Why are you yet not coming out?" Vikram said in a loud voice.