Shambhu was lying on the arena ground exhausted. He has pushed himself even after being dead tired to earn this victory. Raktaa spoke in a happy voice with admiration and sarcasm " You have showed you clearly are a warrior's husband. But we need to get up and move."
Shambhu sat up with a smile hearing Raktaa's words and said while adjusting his hairs " Tease me all you want but one day you will see I will become one of the best warriors ever." " If not the best" he added to himself. Raktaa could hear his monologue, too, due to the mind link and one could see her smiling with pride if she had a visible face. Shambhu then looked towards the eastern building where winners were gathered. He got up with groan, and went there too.
Round 10 of the entrance test had ended. There were 10 fights per round for a total of 100 successful candidates. The number tokens given to the candidates were already signed by the referees, serving as identity tokens.
Guruvar Drona again came up to the podium. He congratulated the winners saying, "Today, 100 aspirants were chosen because of their own power, dedication, and valor." He declared. "I, Guruvar Drona, welcome every successful participant to the Protector Academy. You have earned your position with your own hard work and passion. Be proud but don't get overconfident. This was just the start. The path of a protector demands a humble determined mind and a strong resilient body accompanied with passion from your heart. Now you should come with us to the Academy right after this event, as the classes have already started. You can meet your parents or relatives until the event ends; after that, come to the Eastern Building."
He then encouraged the candidates who had failed.
"Those who were unsuccessful and couldn't enter the academy, don't let this defeat become the deciding factor of your journey in life. You were not bad, you were just not good enough. This was the last chance to get an admission this year, but those who failed today should not give up if they want to become a protector. Refine yourself by self-practice or join any smaller school or academy. Become better and take the position you wished for next year with your own hard work," he motivated those who had failed.
After addressing the candidates, he focused his speech towards the public to let them know about the next segment of the event. "Different administrative officers who are responsible for the maintenance and security during AQUAS are present here to answer the queries of the general populace. You can ask questions using the online portal provided by the administration. The questions will be picked according to their importance and frequency."
Apart from Gajpati Bheema, Gajpati Kumar, the Head Protector or Protector Chief of the Western Zone of Prayag, was also present. He was a tall dark young man, with wavy black hair and a short boxed beard. A shallow scar was running alongside his neck, starting below the left ear and disappearing under his uniform. He was wearing the official uniform of the Protectors Force, which was black pants, a red shirt, and a black suit with a golden badge on the chest and shoulders.
When Gajpati Bheema came to the podium alongside Gajpati Kumar, the first question he answered was: "Who was behind this summoning?"
"The summoning was done by followers of the cult PISHACHA SADHAKAS (Worshippers of Pishachas)." Gajpati Bheema started his answer in a serious deep voice. "These people worship Pishachas and call themselves pishachas too. They try to please these evil entities by bringing chaos and destruction through wars, summonings, riots, or any other means. These activities disrupt the balance and increase TAM energy in this world, which in turn helps the Pishachas increase their power. This is what these cultists believe."
Gajpati Kumar clenched his jaw in anger and said with a sarcastic smirk," And after creating such havoc and destruction in the name of these PISHACHAs, they believe that these Pishachas are to be worshipped and demand us to rule the earth according to their ways." He made a quote unquoted gesture: "Because these PISHACHAs are the real rulers of Earth (Dharitri)."
After this answer the next question the audience put up was, if these cultists do these kinds of summonings on a regular basis to increase TAM energy, then why doesn't this kind of devastation occur frequently.
In answer to this question, Gajpati Bheema again answered with clarity," First of all, we should be happy that this kind of accident doesn't happen frequently.
But this summoning was bigger than any previous one done by them. And they failed in pleasing the summoned entity and thus could not control it. This resulted in the death of over 10,000 innocents and the destruction of the Central Area in the Eastern Zone."
The next most relevant question was: how do we know that this was done by them and where are the culprits. And it was answered by Gajpati Kumar.
"The people responsible for the summoning died in the aftermath, and their immediate helpers and connections were caught and are now in custody," he said. " They were captured in my region and were planning to do minor summonings because of the failure of this one. The Protector Force is working hand in hand with other intelligence and scouting forces to capture and neutralize the remnants of the cult."
While this question and answer session was going on, Shambhu went to meet his family, who were also present at the stadium. His mother welcomed him with tears in her eyes, but these were tears of happiness at his success rather than sadness. She hugged him, and then his father hugged him.
"I didn't know you could fight like that, son," Satya said.
" I had chosen the path of the protector, but knowing our lineage made it much more crucial for me to join this academy. I did nothing more, nothing less than my best**,** and I intend to repeat it on every chance I get," Shambhu explained his side for fighting with such vigour and tenacity.
"I know, son. After joining the Academy, you will officially walk the path of a protector. Just promise me one thing: you will never, ever fail to uphold a Protector's Dharma," Satya expressed his desire.
"I promise you, father. I will always use whatever power I have to protect the weak and Dharma," Shambhu promised.
"That's what I expect from you," Satya spoke with a proud smile. "But now your life will change. From dressing to eating, everything might change. You will have to leave the way of a seeker and embrace the protector's path completely. Try to keep whatever you can unchanged."
Shambhu also talked to his brother, who was now as healthy as he had ever been. Ananta asked him to come back whenever he could from the academy, to which Shambhu said he would try.
After meeting them, Shambhu went towards the Eastern Building where he met with people from the management department of the academy. They were there to bring these participants to the academy. There were five levitating buses already present there to properly accommodate and transfer the winners. All the soon-to-be official students took seats in their respective buses according to their token numbers. Shambhu was in the last bus. Soon, they reached the academy grounds. A big white arching gate, which was built between the red boundary walls, was welcoming them. It was composed of two swinging gates on which two ice blue swans and one pink lotus were carved. Each swing had 1 swan and half the lotus, but when the gate was closed, they created a perfect picture in which two swans were looking over a blooming lotus. The arched walls supporting the gate itself were decorated with paintings of different weapons.
The sun was almost sixty degrees above the horizon, as it was almost the end of the 3rd prahar of the day. When they got off the bus, an old man in a white dhoti and a white, waist-long kurta was already waiting for them. The sun was shining against his, slightly waving, grey hair. He did not have a beard but a handlebar grey moustache and a long, big nose. He was 175 cm tall. There was a little scar above his left eyebrow. He was scanning the newcomers with serene brown eyes which exuded wisdom. His stance was calm, so calm that the air seemed still around him. His inspecting gaze would make anybody nervous; then what can be said about these newcomers.