Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One

Chapter 15: Hunt went Wrong

**Old fort gate**

The next morning, as planned, Aditya, Afzal, and Amira gathered at the grand entrance of the palace. Two magnificent elephants stood beside them, their massive frames adorned with intricate patterns and colorful fabrics, a testament to the grandeur of the royal entourage. One elephant was for them, and the other for the guards.

Aditya stood tall and resolute, his gaze fixed on the horizon as he anticipated the day's adventure. Beside him, Afzal wore a confident smile, his excitement palpable as he eagerly anticipated the thrill of the hunt. Amira, with her vibrant presence and spirited demeanour, radiated an air of anticipation as she prepared to join her companions in the forest.

Mounted on elephant, Amira and Afzal engaged in light-hearted banter, their laughter mingling with the gentle rustle of the leaves overhead. "Lets make a bet. I'll bag more deer than you two, today," Amira teased, her eyes alight with mischief.

Afzal chuckled in response, his competitive spirit rising to the surface. "Don't confuse puny rabbits with the actual deers. Anyways, don't be surprised when I emerge victorious," he retorted playfully, a twinkle of determination in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Aditya remained deep in thought, his brow furrowed with contemplation. Despite his prowess with a bow, he found himself hesitating to join in the hunt. Memories from his past life haunted him, casting a shadow over the exhilaration of the moment. He recalled the tales of his childhood hero Salmon Khan, whose legal troubles over hunting deer had left a lasting impression on his conscience.

"Aditya, why do you hesitate?" Amira's voice broke through his reverie, her concern evident as she regarded him with furrowed brows.

Aditya shook his head, a somber expression crossing his features. "I'm afraid I cannot join you in the hunt, Amira. My conscience weighs heavily upon me, I should rather target something dangerous."," he confessed, his voice tinged with regret.

Afzal mocked," is that an excuse big brother?"

"It's alright, Aditya. We understand," Amira said gently, a playful giggle escaping her lips as she glanced at the majestic elephant beside them. "Perhaps you're just not as fond of elephant rides as we are," she teased, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Despite his initial reluctance, Aditya found himself joining his companions for the hunt, riding atop the elephant with Amira and Afzal by his side. As they ventured deeper into the forest under the guidance of the mahout, the thrill of the hunt coursed through their veins.

As the day wore on, Aditya paced restlessly, unable to shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at his insides. A sound caught his attention, a low growl echoing through the air. Aditya's senses snapped to attention, his instincts sharpening as he scanned the surrounding area for signs of danger. And then, he saw it – a shadowy figure lurking amidst the trees, its eyes gleaming with predatory intent. In the blink of an eye, the creature emerged from the shadows, its form illuminated by dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy above. It was a leopard, its sleek muscles rippling beneath its spotted fur as it bared its teeth in a menacing snarl.

Out of nowhere, the peaceful vibe of the forest got totally wrecked when this leopard just pounced out of the shadows, heading straight for Amira who wasn't even paying attention. Aditya, quick as lightning, jumped right in, wrestling with the wild beast as it clawed and bit at him.

In a desperate struggle, Aditya managed to drive his dagger deep into the leopard's skull, but not without sustaining injuries himself. As he fell from the elephant, his friends and the guards rushed to his side, calling out his name in concern.

Amidst the chaos, Aditya lay unconscious on the ground, his body intertwined with the lifeless form of the leopard. Despite the danger and the pain, he had acted instinctively to protect his friends, and now he paid the price as darkness enveloped him.

**after an hour later**

As Aditya slowly regained consciousness, he found out his right hand bandaged and little sprain in his ankle. His gaze fell upon Amira, tears streaming down her cheeks as she hovered over him with palpable concern. In that moment, a rush of memories flooded his mind, memories of another girl with tears in her eyes – Riya. The resemblance was uncanny, and Aditya couldn't help but find Amira's distress endearing.

"I'm alright," he assured her softly, his voice barely above a whisper. Yet, his words seemed to lift a weight off the shoulders of those gathered around him, their expressions easing from worry to relief.

But Amira's relief quickly turned to frustration as she scolded Aditya for risking his life to save hers, chastising him for jeopardizing his safety for that of a mere servant, despite being the prince of the empire.

"Aditya, what were you thinking?" Amira's voice was a mixture of anger and concern. "You could have been seriously hurt, or worse! How could you be so reckless?"

Her words stung, but Aditya remained calm, understanding the depth of her concern. "I couldn't just stand by and watch you get hurt, Amira," he replied gently. "You're important to me, just like anyone else in our company."

Without a word, she threw her arms around Aditya, burying her face in his shoulder as she cried softly. "Shut up, stupid," she murmured between sobs. "Think twice before you speak. Words have weight, you know."

Aditya was taken aback by the sudden outburst. He mistakenly spoke something that he didn't mean to say at first place. It was all for a fleeting moment of Riya's resemblance that he expressed his supressed feelings. But now reacting differently would look bad and can strain their relations. He returned the embrace with cautious gesture, his left arm encircling Amira in a comforting hold while his right hand was already bandaged. He felt her tears dampen his shoulder, her trembling form pressed against his own.

Gently patting Amira's hand, Aditya offered a reassuring smile, silently conveying that he would do it all over again if he had to , regardless of his status as they are freinds. Meanwhile, Afzal maintained a sympathetic look, understanding the complex emotions swirling within their group.

Amira too apologised as she regained her demeanour for the lack of conduct and getting emotional but the duo brushed it off and made fun of her crying on small stuffs.

As they journeyed back to the safety of the fort, Amira found solace in sleep, her head resting on Aditya's shoulder. Beside them, Afzal couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy for some unidentified reasons. Yet, he knew better than to voice his feelings, recognizing that it was a moment beyond his control.

Aditya, on the other hand, felt a mixture of embarrassment and warmth, unsure of how to react to Amira's closeness. His heart raced with conflicting emotions, caught between the dilemma to pull away or to stay there for her.

As they finally reached the safety of the fort, Aditya took leave and went straight to the king's chamber for his report.

**Two days later in Kings chamber**

Aditya entered the king's chamber, his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. He bowed respectfully before Emperor Hemu and handed over the report, his palms slightly sweaty with nervousness.

Emperor Hemu scanned the contents of the report with a thoughtful expression, nodding to himself as he processed the information. "So, this is the final report," he murmured, his gaze shifting to Aditya.

Aditya nodded in affirmation. "Yes, Your Majesty Emperor. I believe they will take action soon, but they're staying silent because of the army. Once we leave this place, there will be chaos."

The emperor rose from his seat, his footsteps echoing in the chamber as he paced back and forth. "Are you sure this could happen in other places as well?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Aditya met the emperor's gaze squarely. "Yes, Your Majesty Emperor. It's bound to happen," he replied with conviction.

The emperor paused, nodding in understanding. "Very well. I will take care of it. You did well in bringing this to my attention. It's the right time to nip the problem in the bud before it blooms," he declared decisively.

As Aditya turned to leave, the emperor called him back with a sudden question. "Do you like Amira?" he asked, catching Aditya off guard.

Aditya took sometime to think and recall the moments he spent with her, the resemblance of Riya still lingered in his mind but he was no fool, not to differentiate between reality and illusion. "It's hard not to like someone as appealing as her, Your Majesty Emperor. But I know where my priorities lie," he replied honestly.

The king nodded approvingly. "Good. And how are you feeling now?" he inquired with genuine concern.

Aditya smiled. "I'm all good, Your Majesty ," he assured him.

"Alright then, take some rest. We will leave for Delhi once the Mughals leave and be prepared for a heroic welcome. You are the empire's face now for mass appeal," the king instructed, his tone firm yet encouraging. "I've received news that the Mughals have started to retreat to the border and it may take much time, which we can take as a sign of their seriousness for the treaty. The rest will be decided in the capital. Also, tell Jeetendar to train you in swordsmanship. I will appoint a substitute guard for him to take in charge here. He will be your personal instructor."

Aditya bowed respectfully. "As you wish, Your Majesty Emperor ," he replied, feeling a sense of pride at the trust and care the emperor had shown towards him.

With that, Aditya left the king's chamber, his mind buzzing with thoughts of the tasks ahead.

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