Premonition
Good news, good news: the betrayer of the country and the enemy of our society, Rohini, has finally died. Read today’s newspaper and learn the details. Good news, good news!!!
“What, Rohini died? When? How did I miss such auspicious news?”
“Oh man, you just arrived in the capital, so how would you know about something that happened two days ago?”
“Two days ago?”
“Yes, two days ago, the six major organizations finally surrounded her on the southern hill. They discovered her secret hideout filled with plans for a massive uprising. It’s difficult to believe that someone so powerful and intelligent like her could be taken down, but it’s her ambition that ultimately led to her downfall. I heard that it was a bloody battle.”
“Really, was she that strong?”
“She must be because our forces failed to capture her. They couldn’t even reach closer.”
“Then how did such a formidable warrior die?”
“She jumped from the cliff.”
“WHAT!!!!”
“Yes, brother. The whole capital knows that she was the strongest of them. Rohini was one of the most promising students adopted by a highly distinguished family. She found success at such a young age, but look, how pathetic her ending was.”
“Tsk, really, she died all alone, falling straight to the raging, icy river from the mountain. Not even a trace of her corpse was found.”
“Oh my god! It’s quite sad. She was too young.”
“Sad? Are you feeling sad for a woman who killed our King after she accused him of rape and torture? She even wiped out his entire lineage. Only one distant family member survived because he was not present at the time of the incident. If Magistrate Mr. Nitish and his wife hadn’t adopted her, then she would have long been sold to a sex trafficking gang. Mr. Nitish and his wife gave a roof to that street urchin, took care of her, gave her a name, and educated her, yet that’s how she repaid them. She went against every single organization that decided to take a stand for our leader. She even attacked her adopted family and mentors who taught her; gosh, how ungrateful! She is the example of biting the hand that feeds you.”
“I think sir Viren let her live for too long. If I were in his position, I would have burnt her alive the moment she accused our king. I must say thanks to Mr. Nitish’s son Sir Viren’s strict decision that we were able to get rid of her.”
“Isn’t Rohini his stepsister? It must have been a very shameful experience for Sir Viren, and maybe that’s why he took the lead in this operation. But our King had already ascended to the throne, so I wonder why it took them six long months to attack her.”
“Ayo, they got delayed due to the field marshal’s interference. He strongly suggested that an investigation be required to solve this matter. He investigated the crime scene, but everything pointed at Rohini. He diligently searched for eyewitnesses, which took all this time. Finally, all the major factions, including Sir Viren, suggested an operation to eliminate her. Due to the rising pressure, the king suggested that there is nothing left to investigate since Rohini already killed everyone and made Sir Viren the commander who will lead this operation under the field marshal’s orders. That’s when they gathered forces from every command and finally found her on the southern hill. Sir Viren and other officers were ready to attack, but the field marshal told her to surrender.”
“Let me guess, she refused, right?”
“Of course she did. But then, during the fight, she realized that she couldn’t win against a fully armed force and finally jumped from the hill.”
“Serves her well. She forgot that Karma spares no one. But wait, you mean to say that the ruthless field marshal who never let his opponent see the next day and mercilessly beheaded his enemies told her to surrender? What a miracle?”
“Everyone was shocked too. He not only investigated the case but also tried to catch her alive. He gave her numerous chances to apologize for her sin. But I don’t think he did it out of kindness. Rohini was an exceptional cadet and a wonderful strategist. She even invented her own fighting technique, so maybe he wanted to learn or teach the new cadets about it.”
“Yes, I agree, and there is also the matter about why she killed the king and his entire family.”
“I heard that Rohini took the field marshal as his mentor and was very respectful towards him, but he hated her for some reason.”
“I think it was all a facade. Huh, he must have sensed her dark and crooked character. What else do you expect from a prodigy who won four major battles and acquired the position of field marshal in his mid-twenties? He is only twenty-five years old, while his whole family is in the defense sector, including his elder brother, who already holds the position of Chief of Defense. He too tried to convince Rohini to surrender but failed.”
“But still, Rohini was young too, and she was also the first woman who managed to join the military academy and was an exceptional strategist. Her parents died when she was only three, and she was a charming girl who always smiled no matter what. Her knowledge about weapons, sword techniques, and warfare was outstanding. She had a bright future ahead of her, so why would she do something and throw her career under the bus when she has such immense potential? It doesn’t make sense. I think the field marshal was right; they should have investigated the matter some more, and also it’s quite immoral to attack a woman and a few civilians who don’t even have military training with a fully equipped army.”
“No need. She killed our king, and she never denied that. In fact, everyone saw her holding the dagger soaked in blood while the whole building was filled with corpses and she herself was standing in front of the king’s body. She never apologized, nor did she want to be arrested. She was very proud of her strength, so she thought that she could win the battle against all the commands, even the field marshal.”
“Yes, it proves that arrogance will only lead to destruction no matter how talented you are or how powerful your background is. As a woman, her personality is immoral, so it’s her deeds that brought her to the ruins. She killed our supreme leader and his family and later paid for her sin with her life. What goes around will come around.”
“Hmm, that’s how divine justice prevailed. Even if she were capable enough to fight a fully armed army for a whole day, she couldn’t be invincible. It’s finally her turn to rest in peace, the ‘Queen of Strategy,’ Rohini.
***
I closed the diary and heaved a sigh. I just came to the National Military Academy yesterday as the first woman and youngest cadet and had a horrible episode of sleep paralysis. The dream was not horrible but weird, where people were celebrating my death. It was so vivid and clear that it felt like I was stabbed straight in the heart. The cold breeze calmed my racing heart as I sat under the shade of a thick banyan tree. I folded my knees closer to my chest and stared at the vast building where ‘National Military Academy’ was written in bold letters.
The dream was vivid, but I don’t know the context. The reason for suddenly having such a dream is still unknown to me. Was it a premonition that something horrible will happen to me in the near future? Was it God’s way to alert me? I have thousands of questions swirling in my mind, but not a single answer. I never took any rash decisions based on my emotions, so what could have happened for me to do something so terrible as to murder the king? Maybe it doesn’t mean anything since it’s just a dream, but what if it really carries the warning of the dangerous future that is about to unfold?
I opened the diary and went through the context of the dream. Thank god I have written everything before I forget about it. After reading it a few times, I noted a few points. First, I killed the king and eradicated his entire family except a distant family member. Second, my adoptive family turned against me, including other comrades who joined the siege with my brother, which leads to my death. Third, I jumped from the cliff since I couldn’t win. But what I don’t understand is the field marshal. As far as I know, the field marshal’s position has been vacant for a very long time since this position can only be given to someone who has achieved victory in a war where defeat is inevitable. Though our country has fought four major wars in seventy-five years, only one person has been appointed to the rank of Field Marshal. But after that no one has ascended to this post.
I closed my diary and looked at the building. I need to find the field marshal so that I can stay away from him. I don’t know if this dream is an indication about the horrible future or not, but there is no harm in taking some precautions. I am not surprised by my adoptive family turning against me because they were never on my side to begin with. I was just a way for them to elevate their social status, so their decision doesn’t surprise me. It’s already a blessing for me that I managed to come out from that abusive house, so now my first step will be to secure my future.
I stood up to leave for the academy but got startled the moment I turned around. Standing in front of me was a boy of the same age as me. The boy’s features were delicate with a youthful handsomeness surrounding him. He looked very timid and innocent, while his unblemished whitish skin clearly reveals that he isn’t here for military training. It would be a surprise if he could even wield a gun. It’s already surprising for me that someone came to talk to me, though he looks extremely awkward. I eased my expression not to make him more awkward than he already is and asked, “Hello, um, do you want to say something to me?”
The boy seemed a bit disappointed after hearing my question. “I… I am Mo… Mohan.”
A slight frown appeared on my forehead as I thought. Mohan? Where did I hear his name?
I asked while maintaining my smile, “Hello, Mohan. I am Rohini. It’s nice to meet you.”
Now he looks even more disappointed. I am sure that we saw each other somewhere before, and he must have expected me to remember him. I was about to ask whether we knew each other or not when he slowly spoke up. “D…Do you remember the Na…National Alliance Cabinet meeting two months ago where all the co…commands were invited?”
I nodded in agreement. “Yes, I was a team member of the Northern Command delegation.”
His face brightened up as soon as he heard my question, and then he looked at my ankle. “Your ankle doesn’t hurt anymore, right?”
It took me some time to process, but then my eyes widened. Though I was the first female who joined the military academy, the fact is I was never welcome despite my potential. That’s why I was only able to join the military academy as a strategist and not a trainee soldier. Just like this, I wasn’t welcomed at the National Alliance Cabinet meeting despite being a part of the Northern Command’s delegation.
The looks and whispers I received there are still fresh in my mind. Even though I acted casually, I had to acknowledge that their actions greatly harmed me. And then the unexpected accident happened, and I fell down from the stairs after we left the meeting room. Everyone mocked and laughed at me by saying, ‘How can a woman be a part of the alliance meeting when she can’t even control her footsteps?’ But I knew that it wasn’t an accident because someone pushed me from behind.
When everyone on my team—including my brother and adoptive father—was silent, what else could I have done? I knew that if I said anything, I would be mocked even more, so I left without responding to them. I was able to hide the pain at that moment, but my ankle was badly injured. I was facing difficulty while walking, so I limited my presence. My adoptive father and brother were also not interested in knowing about the condition, nor did they want to take me anywhere, so I stayed in the room assigned for me. It was at night when someone left something in front of my door after knocking on it twice. It was a pouch full of medicines.
I stared at the timid, innocent face of the boy and smiled. “So it was you.”
He smiled shyly and scratched the back of his head. “Ye… Yes. Actually, I wanted to thank you.”
I signaled him to walk with me and said as we both started heading towards the academy. “Why are you thanking me? I should have been the one to thank you.”
He hurriedly shook his head. “No, no, actually, you led the disaster management team and sa… saved the people of my village; that’s why…”
My steps halted, and my soul trembled in fear. The megaflood that wreaked havoc mostly affected the region where the king used to live before he ascended the throne. His family members and relatives are still living in that area. I looked at him and asked, “Are you a family member of the king?”
My voice was a bit strange, and I knew that too. Mohan also sensed the tension in my tone and tried to justify himself as fast as he could. “No, no, I mean yes, but my father is the maternal cousin brother of the king. We… we live far away from the village and have no direct connection to the throne. We are just doctors and specialized in making medicines. The king doesn’t even know I exist.”
This is the first time I didn’t hear him stammering. I heaved a sigh. So he is not an immediate family member. For a second I got a bit scared because of what I heard in my dream. This boy is too innocent to be killed no matter the reason, so I should make sure that he is safe.
Mohan spoke up while I was busy thinking. “Ro...Rohini, can I be your friend?” After asking this, he hurriedly explained. “I… I am not a stutterer. It only happens when I…I am very excited or scared. I… I am sorry.”
I stared at his innocent face and couldn’t manage to answer right away. I wonder how much his self-esteem has shattered if he stammers while asking me to be his friend. The society was brutal, so a meek boy like him has undoubtedly gone through harsh bullying, just like me. I smiled and patted his shoulder. “Of course. I also don’t have a friend. Let’s pass out from the academy and build our lives.”
He beamed like a child and nodded happily. “Yes, thank you so much.”
He is such a cutie. I was about to laugh when the bells rang, indicating the time to enter the academy.
Excitement coursed through my veins as we walked towards the academy. We have been at the Royal Military Academy for two days, and today is our first introductory class. My heart pounded rapidly when I saw the board with the words “Royal Military Academy” inscribed in golden block letters over the main gate. I believe it’s normal for me to feel this excitement because it took me practically everything to come here.
The three primary pillars of the Royal Military Academy are “Tradition,” “Prestige,” and “Principle.” The first monarch of the continent, who chose to teach the children defense studies and combat tactics, constructed this one and only academy related to warfare. It was expected of him to establish a military academy because he was a warmonger himself. After his passing, the academy underwent modifications that were appropriate for the time and its standing, but each succeeding Supreme Leader continued the history of teaching at this institution by adhering to the first ruler’s one and only good deed.
The right of women to enroll in the academy was this year’s most significant modification. Almost everyone rejected this amendment except the defense minister, who suggested that women would be able to enter the academy only after passing the entrance exam. The exam included everything from basic military tests, survival skills, and weapon handling to strategy building, and that’s how I am here after going through the bone-crushing three weeks of the entrance period.
“Are you worried?” Mohan asked while nudging me.
I shook my head. “No, I was thinking that I didn’t tell you anything about me.”
He jumped in excitement and explained. “Oh, I…I know about you. You were taken in by Magistrate Nitish, who oversees the Eastern Command, when you were only four years old. You became the most successful strategist and learned to use different weapons just by seeing others exercising. You volunteered to lead the rescue operation during the flood when everyone backed away and saved my people. My family and friends are still here just because of your decision.”
I interrupted him before he could utter another thank you. “There is no need to thank me. I simply did my duty.”
He blushed and nodded like an obedient puppy, and I asked, “By the way, what were you doing here?”
Mohan answered. “Oh, actually, I was looking for you when I saw your brother in the corridor who entered the classroom with the team members. You weren’t in that group, and I couldn’t find you despite searching the building. So I decided to check out the garden. I saw you reading something with full focus, so I didn’t disturb you.”
“You did well by not disturbing me. I was really busy.” I answered as we passed the gate and entered the building, and my steps halted. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The time has finally come for me to face this building because I know that either this place will make my life or ruin it beyond repair.
“Rohini, are you scared?”
Mohan’s gentle voice was filled with worry when it reached my ear and I opened my eyes. I wanted to say no, but somehow I failed to produce words. He lightly held my hand and assured me. “I am scared too, but don’t worry; we will overcome this phase together. Just like the other times when we thought we wouldn’t survive, but we still managed to stay alive without anyone’s help.”
I was shocked to see this timid boy’s determination. It’s true that he was scared because his palm was sweating and trembling continuously, but he still decided to encourage me. Yes, he is right; there have been many times in my life when I felt like I couldn’t do it anymore, but in the end, I survived through some indomitable courage. Was it my will that I survived despite my hopes and dreams being deliberately crushed time and time again? Maybe, yes.
I smiled and tightly clutched his hand. “But now there is a difference since we are friends, so let’s survive together.”
He agreed happily. “Yes, let’s do it.”
