Chapter 40: Section-41

Millions of droplets fell from the boundless sky as the winds howled in a low pitch.

Aladdin closed his eyes, feeling the perfect cold raindrops touch his skin briefly before forming tiny rivulets of their own along the paved North-Main Street of Giza town.

He could smell the sharp fresh tang of rain, entering his nostrils with every breath. His soaking wet black hair glistened as he moved through the rain.

"Life is beautiful." He murmured feeling like he had gained some sort of enlightenment from being in the downpour.

"How is life beautiful? I promise that you'll change your view on life once we reach the Marshlands. Why did you jinx our day, young man?" Constantine grumbled while glaring at Aladdin.

"Do you really believe that my words caused the heavy rain?" Aladdin was perplexed by the Blacksmith's displeasure.

"What else could it be? Why would such heavy rain start falling just when we begin preparing to head out of town?" Constantine countered.

"Ehh! You're joking. Right?" Aladdin asked doubtfully. He prudently walked faster to create some distance between himself and the Blacksmith.

"Young man! I'm quite serious. If the Matriarch were here, she would concur with my hypothesis too." Constantine intoned solemnly.

"Where is she by the way?" Aladdin chose to change the topic. He was unsettled by Blacksmith's behavior.

The other five all turned their heads towards the Blacksmith in curiosity.

Except for Aladdin, everyone else had taken shelter beneath an invisible umbrella formed by a rank-2 wind spell which kept the rain away from their green military pants and trench coats. The only wet parts of their apparel were the matching black combat boots that adorned their feet.

"Don't look to me for answers. I also have no idea. All she said was that there was an emergency to take care of, full-stop. That's all." Constantine replied, raising his hands in exasperation.

"Will we make it back by tonight? It's already midday!" Miss Fox interjected apprehensively. She was seated upon her wind-fox which looked a lot sturdier than the first time Aladdin had encountered her.

He couldn't help but take a few more steps away from the group as he became aware of how much the lady-beast duo unnerved him.

The wind-fox seemed tame; its two tails swaying with the winds as it languidly marched with beastly splendor; easily keeping pace with the others. Nevertheless, Aladdin was wary of the terrifying beast that kept stealing the occasional glance at him.

"Don't know. But my divinations have all pointed out good news; we won't run into any perverted danger as we move through the jungles." Aladdin replied, his tone self-assured.

"You still think that divination is all-knowing! Think about how easily I managed to find you back in Melekar. What if there is another possibility?"

"For instance, a very powerful being that can't be deduced by your divinations?" Miss Fox intoned as she peered down at Aladdin who was now walking a full half dozen paces away from her.

Ali-Baba who was taking the rear of the group couldn't help but turn and glare fiercely at the lady-beast duo. He released an aura which made the others flinch away from him in shock.

The wind fox beneath Miss Fox started growling deeply as it turned its blue eyes to glare ferociously at Ali-Baba.

"Ali-Baba, enough. We are almost there." Constantine interjected, his steady voice breaking the tension.

"The others are waiting at the gate. We have no time for pointless bickering. Pick up the pace" He added.

"The Matriarch isn't here yet!" Chiara replied, her tone indicating her worry.

"She will find us at the gate. There is nothing she can't handle within the walls of Giza. You should know that already." The blacksmith responded while increasing his stride.

Medieval buildings flashed by, as the party cut through the heavy rain, moving towards the northern gate of Giza.

"Everyone else has already arrived but the Matriarch isn't here yet!" Aladdin muttered.

He fell back behind the rest of the party after seeing the circle of nine mystics standing just before the Northern gate. They gazed silently at the party, their eyes filled with menace.

A field of energy just a few inches above their clothes kept the raindrops away. They were still completely dry despite having been under the rain for a while.

"Who are they?" Elena asked, her voice quiet but filled with charm as she looked towards Aladdin.

"Some of the famed mystic kings of Section-41," Aladdin responded while stealing a glance at the nonchalant Ali-Baba.

"But I am not acquainted with them," He added after seeing pure curiosity in Elena's amber eyes.

"Oh!" Elena gave the impression that she was disappointed.

"But I know a bit about their powers and deeds in the outside world," Aladdin added, his brown eyes twinkling as he grinned from ear to ear.

"Tell me, tell me." Elena's hopped like a little girl; her curiosity once again piqued by Aladdin's words.

"Being a mystic king is awesome. You can maintain a small mana-field around your body to keep out the raindrops like they're doing. I hear the mystics at that level can stop arrows with just their mana-field." Aladdin whispered; his voice projecting his excitement.

"Boring… I already know this but that reminds… Constantine! Why don't you do the same." Elena voiced as she observed the Blacksmith languidly standing beneath the umbrella wind spell conjured by Miss Fox.

There was no demeanor of a mystic-king in his actions.

"Showoffs. Don't you think so Chiara?" Constantine scoffed; his tone brusque.

Chiara nodded without saying anything.

"I will leave with Chiara to register our permits with the gatekeeper. The rest of you can stay here and wait like the others. Do not try to antagonize them." Constantine instructed before heading towards the house beside the huge iron gate.

"You said you know the other mystic kings and queens?" Elena said while moving closer to Aladdin who was still behind the others.

Aladdin was rather surprised when the kings and queens of Section-41 gave deep bows of respect to Chiara and Constantine.

"The redhead on the left is the renowned mystic queen referred to as 'Kiss of Death' in the outside world. You can now guess how she kills her victims." Aladdin whispered as he leaned closer to Elena.

"She is the famed Kiss of Death? She doesn't look the part!" Elena replied, sounding doubtful, as she took a step away from Aladdin.

"Apart from her chest size, the rest of her features are unremarkable to the point of being ignored in a crowd. Is your information reliable?" She added, her brows creased.

"What do you know? Didn't they teach you at school to never judge an assassin by their appearance? The most dangerous assassins are those plain-looking girls like her." Aladdin whispered back condescendingly.

"Who is the guy with the dreadlocks?" Elena chose to ignore Aladdin's tone.

"Don't say anything about him. He is a seer as well and can easily deduce that we are talking about him. Just look down." Aladdin's whispered urgently.

"Why? Isn't he an ally?" Elena was confused but chose to follow Aladdin's advice.