Empire of India: Rise of the Ruthless Prince

"It's so hot," Raghu exclaimed as he walked back to the barracks.

It was blazing hot and his sweaty training clothes clung to his body.

'Smells horrible. I need a bath,' he thought.

Raghu had been promptly demoted from his position after the whole ordeal and was suspended. He just returned to training a day before.

Akash, the man Raghu had lost against, became the temporary commander in his place.

He received a lot of scolding from Commander Dhruv for his actions against the lower castes. Raghu vividly recalls his scoldings.

"You bastard, keep your prejudices to yourself." He yelled. "The army is no place to spread your lousy discriminatory agenda."

"You soiled the name of the Royal Army and our corps."

Raghu hung his head in shame.

"This isn't the first time; you did this before in the meeting."

Dhruv's face was red with anger. He had warned Raghu many times. He wished for his change since the man was actually talented and could be an asset to the army in the future.

"You are suspended from now on; don't show me your face." He yelled.

"Bu—"

"Get out."

Others looked at him awkwardly after that incident. He was knocked out by a normal soldier. He even lost to the brigade commander.

Raghu was isolated and others didn't even initiate a conversation with him, even the upper castes like him. They avoided him probably because of orders from above.

He sighed.

'Barracks! No use; I will go somewhere else!'

He took a detour and went into the forest to cool himself off. He got some relief sitting in the shade of the tall trees.

Raghu thought a lot after being suspended. His mind was on that incident constantly. He had been humiliated in front of others.

The fact he lost to normal soldiers stung him a lot. It wounded his pride and ego.

Although everyone was indifferent to him. There was no bullying or talking behind his back like he expected.

Raghu sat down on a rock in the forest.

He remembered eavesdropping on a couple of lower-caste soldiers' conversations a while back, returning to camp after suspension.

"That guy, we should all beat him up," one soldier said, clenching his fist.

"He deserves it; he cheated against Brigade Commander Akash," said another.

"Hmm... Haven't you heard yet?" a third soldier asked.

"Heard what? "

"Anyone that bullies or talks behind the back of former Commander Raghu shall be punished."

"What? Who gave that order?"

"Brigade commander Akash. He is so compassionate, even forgiving his actions against him.

'He said that? After all I did?' Raghu thought as he eavesdropped.

He sighed quietly, looking up at the thick canopy of the trees. The man he humiliated didn't even retaliate after his actions. He just forgave him and moved on.

'I am truly scum.'

Raghu was also curious about the two normal soldiers. He hasn't seen them since that incident.

'Such strong people. Why were they present there?'

He didn't understand anything. He couldn't even understand why Akash forgave him for his actions.

Raghu thought every day about what to do about this situation but he was at a roadblock.

'Ah, I don't care…' He cursed inwardly and pulled his hair.

"I will go back to the barrack."

He got up to leave, grabbing his wooden training sword. His sweat from training evaporated and it wasn't as uncomfortable as before.

"Are you leaving, brat?" A voice asked.

"Leave him alone, Narayana. He has a lot on his plate."

"It's his fault anyway."

Raghu turned back to see the two, one a burly tall man and a short man. The burly one was responsible for knocking him out with a punch. He was crazy strong.

The other one, he didn't even have to guess since the Narayana was always together with him. He also must be as strong as hell.

"Um… what?" He asked, scratching the back of his neck.

He was obviously scared from the previous encounter with them. He didn't want another beating.

Varun stepped forward and patted his shoulder. "You have become meek." He laughed.

"You are going through a lot right?"

"Kind of"

"Do you want help?" Varun asked.

"Varun, are you for real? You want to help him after all that?" Narayana asked.

"Why not? He can change, you know."

Narayana scoffed and stayed silent.

Varun wrapped one arm around him and asked. "Tell me what's on your mind. Big Brother will help you."

"Um…."

Raghu explained everything on his mind. He didn't understand what to do and how to proceed with the current situation. It was his first time.

"So you want to amend things?"

"If it's possible."

"You know, everything's possible." Varun said, "This Narayana was also once a cocky brat like you."

"Hey!" Narayana retorted.

"Come on, shut up." Varun smirked. "He even picked a fight with certain 'Someone."

"Some noble?"

Varun smiled. "Not a noble, even higher."

"He tried to fight against the current emperor." Varun laughed.

"WHAT…" Raghu's jaw dropped. He looked at Narayana, who stood there silently. "For real?"

"How is he even alive?"

"He was beaten black and blue by the emperor. It was so funny."

"Anyway, now he is a changed man." Varun stated. "So anyone can change."

"But… will he accept my apology?"

"That's up to him. You just have to go and apologize."

"That said, you seemed to have a prejudice against lower castes." Narayana asked. "You think they are weak or something?"

Raghu stayed silent.

"You brat, talent and strength aren't determined by blood." Narayana explained.

"We were also once like you." Varun added. "We also saw lower castes as weak."

"Then what happened?" Raghu asked.

"We just learned the truth about life."

"Truth?"

"There are talents in every caste, no matter how lower or higher. There are also bad and weak people in every caste." Varun stated, "This was life."

"But—"

Narayana cut him off. "Have you heard about the emperor's butler?"

"Yes." Raghu said meekly. "He is a lower caste."

"But I have heard that he is just there because of the Emperor's whims."

"Bullshit." Narayana spat. "As if those rumors are full of crap."

"How do you know that?"

"We were former royal guards after all." Varum said with a smile.

"Really?" Raghu exclaimed. with widened eyes.

Varun had a smile. "Viswa, or the Emperor's butler, is talented and strong. He is not only the butler of the Emperor but also his personal bodyguard."

"We lost to him, even with both of us attacking." Narayana sighed. "I heard he trains with the Emperor and can go toe-to-toe with the Emperor."

"Mind you, he has trained way less than the Emperor." Varun added.

Raghu didn't know how to process all this information. He was just surprised by all this. He knew about the lower-caste butler but for him to be praised by the man who took him down in 2 punches was crazy.

'...'

He stayed silent and thought.

"Raghu, always remember. Treat others with respect." Varun pulled his ear. "We all bleed the same and are equal before God. There is no higher or lower."

"Akash will surely accept your apology if you are genuine." Narayana said. "Commander Dhruv gave you a chance to change yourself."

"Don't waste it."

'Well, I guess I will try; I have nothing to lose.' He thought. 'I am sure he won't accept my apology.'

He stepped forward. "Fine."

Raghu headed to the tent of the Akash to apologize. He could feel the stares of the others as he walked into the barracks. He went to Akash's tent. There were murmurs, but he didn't care and entered the tent.

He saluted Akash.

"Commander Akash."

Akash glanced up and put his papers down with a stern look.

"What is it?" He addressed him informally.

Raghu froze. He came to apologize but he couldn't find the words nor the resolve to apologize.

"Um…"

He stuttered for a bit.

"I have–hav co-come to apo—"

"Apo?" Akash asked. "Say it clearly."

Raghu took a deep breath.

"Commander Akash, I am truly sorry for the incident back then." He said in a high-pitched voice.

The tent went silent.

"I don't know what punishment you want me to do for my actions."

"But I am truly sorry for my comments about your comrades and my dishonorable actions during the duel." He bowed his head deeply while apologizing.

He closed his eyes and waited for Akash to scoff or lash out. at him for an apology after such a long time. He was even ready to take beatings once he stepped into the tent.

The next thing just took him by storm.

A warm hand ruffled his hair. "Stand straight."

It was Commander Akash.

"It seems like you thought a lot about it." He said. "It's a good thing you could finally take the courage to apologize."

"But I wasn't the one to be hurt by your comments. I don't mind being ridiculed."

"It was my dead comrades."

"Um... I do—"

"Don't. You can later go to Godavari and apologize to them personally." He cut him off. " I accept your apology."

"It takes strength to admit your wrongs."

Raghu didn't say anything. He just stared at the warm smile on the face of Commander Akash.

'I was wrong after all.'