Episode 15
Crow Angels and A vampire
"Tum dono yahan kya kar rahe ho?" ek dabang awaaz piche se goonjhi.
Sikandar foran peeche hattna chaha, lekin achanak barf ka aik tentacle uske bazuon aur taangon ko jhapat leta hai. Usne hairan ho kar awaaz ki malikah ki taraf dekha.
Peeche aik saanwli jild wali, siyah baalon ki malikah khari thi. Usne formal outfit pehna hua tha, chashma uski shaakhsiat ko aur bhi tez banata tha. Haath mein ek kitaab, aur nazar itni tez ke jaise talwar ho. Khoobsurat thi, lekin abhi uska chehra warning sign de raha tha.
Sikandar ne foran adab se kaha:
"Aap librarian hongi, maazrat chahta hoon agar koi shor macha. Yeh bas main aur mere dost idhar… kabhi milte hain to halki phulki sparring kar lete hain."
Aurton ki nazar tez hoti hai, lekin is aurat ki nazar to aesi thi jaise uske jhoot ko andar tak dekh rahi ho.
Usne apna sar ghumaya aur Noah se pucha:
"Kya yeh sach hai?"
Noah pasine mein bheeg gaya, magar muskurahat banate hue bola:
"Ji… ji Miss Lia, dobara nahi hoga."
Dono ke liye semester naya tha, shuru mein badnaam hona bekaar tha.
Miss Lia ne donon ko ghur kar dekha, phir gehri saans le kar boli:
"Theek hai. Lekin yeh pehli aur aakhri warning hai."
"Shukriya miss, dobara nahi hoga," Sikandar aur Noah dono ek saath bole.
Jaise hi barf ka tentacle usay chhodta hai, Sikandar ke haath pair sun ho gaye the thandak ki wajah se. Dono ek dusre ko dekhtay hain – Noah ki nazar mazaaq urane wali thi, jabke Sikandar ki ghussa se jal rahi thi. Phir dono ne mooh pher liya aur bahar ki taraf chal diye.
Lekin jaise hi Sikandar darwaze ke qareeb pohanchta hai, peechay se ek thandi si awaaz uske kaan mein gunjti hai:
"Tum… yahin rukho."
Uske badan mein aik sard lahar daud gayi. Dheere se palat kar Miss Lia ke paas gaya.
"Kya aapko mujhse kuch kaam tha, miss?" usne narmi se kaha. Lekin andar hi andar uski aankhon ke samne Miss Lia ke stats chamak gaye:
<Lia Macless>
Race: Human
Power: Rank 5 Awakened (Early) - Ice Elementalist
Mental: ???
Strength: ???
Agility: ???
Endurance: ???
Intelligence: ???
Sikandar ne socha:
"Yeh librarian… Rank 5 Awakened hai! Pehli dafa aise taqatwar insan ko dekha hai."
Miss Lia ne kuch lamhon tak usay bas dekha. Uska chehra be-ta’asur tha, magar wo pal Sikandar ke liye sadiyon jaisa lag raha tha.
Phir usne poocha:
"Tumhara naam kya hai?"
"Sikandar Silverstar," usne sachai se jawab diya.
Ek pal ke liye Miss Lia ki aankhein thodi khul gayi, jaise hairan hui ho, phir foran apna chehra phir se sambhal liya.
"Aik non-Awakened hote hue tum rank 3 Awakened ka muqabla kaise kar lete ho?" uska lehja saaf tha, lekin Sikandar mehsoos kar raha tha ke jab tak wo tasalli na karegi, usay yahan se jane nahi degi.
Sikandar jawab soch hi raha tha ke achanak ek awaaz aayi:
"Aray Miss Lia, yahan aap? Kya surprise hai."
Patle qad ka ek aadmi chhote chhote qadam chal kar unki taraf aya. Ye tha Mr. Joseph!
Sikandar ke zehan mein sawaal ghoom gaya:
"Yeh idhar? Ye to lecture ke baad hamesha staff room mein rehte hain."
Miss Lia ne kaha:
"Yeh student library mein hungama kar raha tha, main ise discipline karne wali thi."
Mr. Joseph ne Sikandar ki taraf dekha. Uski aankhon mein aik bechain iltija thi.
Joseph muskara kar bola:
"Aray, maazrat chahta hoon. Yeh mera student hai. Thoda shararti zaroor hai lekin bura ladka nahi. Main apne student ka khud khayal rakhunga."
Miss Lia ne thodi narazgi se pucha:
"Yeh aapka student hai?"
"Bilkul. Ab aap ijazat dein to main ise le jaata hoon," Mr. Joseph bola aur foran Sikandar ka kaan pakar kar kheenchta hua le gaya.
Miss Lia kuch pal unko dekhti rahi, uska chehra bar bar badalta, phir wo mud gayi aur wahan se chali gayi.
Raste mein chal kar Mr. Joseph ne ek sawal poocha:
"Sikandar, sach batao… tum 'Gifted' ho na?"
Sikandar uljhan mein:
"Gifted?"
Mr. Joseph samjhate hue bola:
"Awakened log elements control karte hain, magicians ki tarah. Magar Gifted woh hote hain jo elements control nahi karte… balki unke paas khud ka jism ek superhuman ki tarah hota hai. Yeh log insaniyat ke asli monsters kehlate hain."
Sikandar ke dimagh mein turant flashback aya:
"Army ke waqt aik group tha 'Crow Angels'… unke paanch members ko 'Five Messengers' kaha jata tha. Sab non-Awakened the lekin teen high-rank supernatural ko akelay hara dete the. Har ek ke jism par aik siyah kauwe ka tattoo hota… jismein ankhon aur pankhon ki barhmar hoti."
Mr. Joseph ne dekha Sikandar khamosh hai aur bola:
"Tumhari khamoshi hi jawab hai…"
Phir usne apna haath utha kar Sikandar ke seene par rakha. Siyah roshni uske haath se nikli. Sikandar ko laga jese uske seene mein aag lag gayi ho, aur kuch cheez uske andar ghus gayi.
Achanak Mr. Joseph zameen mein samah kar gayab ho gaya.
Sikandar ne apna seena dekha – wahan aik siyah kauwe ka tattoo tha jismein laal chamakti aankhein bani hui thi. Usne ghis kar mitana chaha, magar bekaar.
"Yeh kya hai… mere jism par yeh tattoo kaisay aa gaya?"
---
Agle Din
"Sikandar! Abhi tak so rahe ho?!" ek larki ki cheekh uske kamre ke bahar se sunayi di.
"HELLOOOO! Sun rahe ho tum??"
Kal ka din bohot bhaari tha. Thakaan ki wajah se Sikandar araam karna chahta tha lekin wo larki rukne ka naam hi nahi le rahi thi.
Ghussa aaya, aur usne blanket se mooh dhak kar cheekha:
"ROSIE! Chup hojao aur mujhe sone do!"
Rosie ko bura lag gaya. Usne guse se jawab diya:
"Kya?! Main tumhari girlfriend hoon! Tumhe jagane aayi hoon aur tum mujh par chillate ho? Bahar nikal abhi ke abhi!"
"Nahi! Jaao yahan se!" Sikandar ne jawab diya.
Rosie ne darwaza pitna shuru kar diya:
"Darwaza kholo warna main tod doongi!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Aur phir ek zor ki awaz: BAM!
Darwaza tod kar Rosie andar ghus aayi.
Sikandar hairan ho kar cheekha:
"Pagal aurat! Doosron ki privacy ka koi lihaz nahi tumhe?!"
Lekin Rosie ruk gayi. Uski aankhein gol ho gayin, chehra lal. Samne Sikandar shirtless bistar par pada tha – uska mazboot aur sculpted badan dekh kar Rosie ki saans atak gayi.
Phir wo ulti taraf munh karke cheekhi:
"Shirtless kyun ho tum? Badtameez!"
Sikandar be-yaaqeen ho kar bola:
"Mere khud ke room mein shirtless hoon to Besharm main hua?!"
"Besharam tum ho jo itni subah subah…" Rosie bol rahi thi jabke Sikandar ne gussa mein takiye us par phainkne shuru kar diye.
"You! Main yahan ache iradon ke sath aayi hoon hmph!" Rosie ne muh phula kar kaha aur apne bazu apni chest ke just neeche fold kar liye.
Sikandar thoda stun hua aur anjaane mai zor se gulp kiya. Rosie ke is pose ne uski chest ko aur bhi zyada highlight kar diya tha.
Rosie ne turant uski nazar ko pakad liya aur cheekh kar boli:
"BESHARM!"
Ye kehkar Rosie gusse mai paon patakti hui kamre se bahar nikal gayi.
Sikandar ne bechari si shakal banate hue apna sar hilaaya,
"Yeh shuru usne kiya tha... lekin villain main ban gaya."
Achanak Rosie's ki awaaz phir se darwaze ke bahar se sunayi di:
"Apni shakal uthake class mai aa jao! Aaj field test hai, warna peeche reh gaye toh zero mil jaega!"
Rosie ki achanak awaaz se Sikandar uchhal pada, seedha bathroom ki taraf bhaga, jaldi se kapde pehne aur phir daudta hua class ki taraf nikal gaya.
Jab wo class pohcha toh sab students apni-apni shiny gear mai khade the, aur wo bas apni training outfit aur battle gloves mai tha.
Sikandar ne sharmindagi se socha,
"Yaar... bilkul phattu lag raha hoon. Jaldi se kuch equipment khareedna hoga."
Lekin aaj Mr. Joseph class mai nahi the. Unki jagah ek naya lecturer samne khada tha.
Sikandar ne seat lete hue suna, jab wo lecturer introduce hua:
"Mera naam Dave hai. Aaj ka test simple hai. Tum sab skeleton cemetery jaoge aur jitne zyada skeletons ko maaroge utna high score milega. Wahan Rank Two Skeleton Knights bhi hain, unhein girane par zyada points milenge."
Students apas mai baatein karne lage:
"Skeletons toh sabse low level supernatural hote hain, easy hi hoga na?"
"Easy toh hain, lekin Skeleton Knight ki defense bohot high hoti hai."
"Kya top scorer ko koi reward bhi milega?"
Dave muskuraya aur aankh dikhate hue bola,
"Top scorer naturally reward jeetega. Ab jaldi se train station mai 10 minute ke andar pohch jao. Jo late hoga uska score zero!"
Ye kehkar Dave achanak blur ban kar class se gayab ho gaya.
Ye dekh kar students bijli ki tarah bhaag nikle ke kahin late ho kar zero na mile.
Sikandar ke honton par ek confident si muskaan thi,
"Time to grind some Exp!"
---
Dhoop chamak rahi thi, suraj ki roshni ne sheher ko roshan kar rakha tha. Train ke andar ka manzar dekhne layak tha – buland imaratein, bade stadiums, ghar aur buildingein, sab kuch pur-sukoon aur khoobsurat lag raha tha.
Supernaturals ke saath jang ne insaaniyat ki technology ko tez raftar se aage barha diya tha. Zinda rehne ki koshish mai insaan ne naye naye high-tech hathiyar banaye jo supernatural ka muqabla kar saken, lekin abhi yeh silsila shuru hi hua tha. Sirf hathiyar hi nahi, aur bhi cheezain taraqqi kar chuki thein – aaj kal badi companies ke paas apna AI hota hai jo unke kaam mai madad karta hai.
Ochyra University ki train, Ratmawati City ke tamam hisso se judi hui thi. Kabhi train sheher ke upar se guzarti to kabhi zameen ke andar chali jati. Ratmawati City itni wasi’ thi ke usey ghairne ke liye ek hazaar meter unchi deewar khinchi gayi thi. Is deewar ke bahar chhoti chhoti city thi, aur jitni door sheher hoti utna hi uska level neeche hota.
Level 1 sheher sabse qareeb hote aur unhe Ratmawati City se sabse zyada supply milti. Jabke Level 4 shehron ko mushkil se guzaara hota.
Sikandar jis “Tamed Skeleton Cemetery” ki taraf ja raha tha, wo Strada City mai tha – jo ke ek Level 2 City hai aur Ratmawati City ke north mai waqeh hai.
Train ke andar Sikandar Rosie aur Adhara ke sath baitha tha. Dono ke darmiyan aik ajib si hostility thi. Kabhi wo ek dosray ko ghurte, kabhi tanz kaste.
Rosie ne muskurate hue lunchbox nikaala:
“Sikandar, tumne khana khaya? Main tumhare liye kuch banakar laayi hoon”
Lunchbox khola to chamakti hui roshni mai chawal, chicken katsu, salad aur tofu sauce ke sath sajay hue nazar aaye.
Sikandar ne wo dekhte hi zor se nigal liya. Uske moo mai paani bhar aaya.
Rosie ne Adhara ki taraf dekha aur thoda sa fakhar se muskurayi. Lekin Adhara bhi peeche rehne wali nahi thi. Usne Sikandar ka bazoo pakad kar kaha:
“Sikandar, mujhe bhook lagi hai, lunchbox ka thoda sa khana milega?”
Sikandar hairan reh gaya. Adhara ka jism itna khatarnaak tha ke uska charm resist karna mushkil ho gaya. Usne ek gehri saans li aur lunchbox Adhara ke hawale kar diya.
Rosie ne ghusse se Adhara ko dekha. Adhara ne masoomi wali muskaan dikhayi, lekin jaise hi Sikandar ne dekhna band kiya usne Rosie ki taraf ek shatir grin phenk di. Dono ke darmiyan bijli si chamak uthi.
Thodi dair mai train Strada City pohanch gayi. Sheher aam shehron ki tarah nahi lag raha tha. Yahan buildings aur markets ke bajaye barracks aur bunkers zyada the. Sheher mai uniform pehne faujiyon ka raaj tha.
Sikandar ne dekha ke yeh sheher Golden Hawk Troops ke zair-e-nigrani hai. Usse yaad aaya ke General George Carrol kitna sakht aur be-rehem leader hai. Usse log “Blue Fire of Doom” kehte the.
Students train se niche utar kar line mai lag gaye.
Sikandar ne aas paas dekha aur kaha:
“Wow, itni fauj idhar hai… mujhe laga tha sheher jaisa hoga, lekin yeh to military camp lag raha hai.”
Adhara ne jawab diya:
“Yeh sheher training ke liye supernaturals ko tame karta hai. Is liye yahan military ka dikhawa normal hai.”
Sikandar ne curiosity se poocha:
“Kya yahan sirf skeletons hote hain ya aur bhi creatures?”
Adhara ne samjhaya:
“Nahi, yahan bohot se supernaturals hain. Har bunker ka rang uske andar band creature ka rank batata hai. Jaise wo blue bunker mai Rank 4 supernatural hai, aur wo red bunker mai Rank 5 supernatural.”
Sikandar ki nazar red bunker par tik gayi.
Laura ne turant mana kiya:
“Tum wahan nahi ja sakte, bina ijazat ke ghusna mana hai. Pakre gaye to saza milegi.”
Sikandar muskuraya aur halka sa kandhe ucha kar bola:
“Aray, wo sab to cage mai hain. Chalo dekhte hain.”
Ye keh kar wo aram se red bunker ki taraf chal diya. Rosie aur Adhara ghabra gayi aur usse rokne ki koshish ki:
“Sikandar! Wapas aao!”
Magar wo bas muskaan ke sath beparwa chal diya.
Bunker ke bahar Rank 4 Awakened soldiers guard duty par the. Sikandar ne unhe trick se confuse karne ka plan banaya.
Wo unke samne ja kar khada ho gaya, seena taan kar, sar buland kar ke.
Aik fauji ne poocha:
“Tumhara yahan kya kaam hai?”
Sikandar ne bharpur confidence mai jawab diya:
“Mujhe General George Carrol ne bheja hai yeh creature dekhne.”
Soldier ka rang uda, pasine ki boonden uske chehre par chamakne lagi.
“Kya tumhare paas permission hai?”
Sikandar gussa dikhate hue garaja:
“Kya tum General George ke messenger par shaq kar rahe ho?!”
Us soldier ka rang safed pad gaya. Tabhi usne Sikandar ki chest par kale crow ka tattoo jhalakti hui dekha. Turant seedha ho gaya:
“Maaf kijiye sir, aap andar ja sakte hain.”
Sikandar hairan hua:
“Kya usne mera tattoo dekha?”
Khair, usne andar qadam rakha. Rosie aur Adhara bhi uske sath aa gayi, hairani ki baat ye thi ke soldiers ne unhe bhi nahi roka.
Bunker ka darwaza bohot bhaari tha, jaadu se mazboot banaya gaya. Sikandar ne puri taaqat laga kar usay khola.
Andar andhera tha. Sirf ek kamzor si roshni chal rahi thi.
Samne ek shadowy humanoid creature meditative position mai baitha tha. Uske kapde formal the, baalon ka rang chandi jaisa, badan patla magar mazboot.
Sikandar ne turant uski stats scan ki aur uske hosh udd gaye…
<Max Damian>
Race: Vampire - Pawn
Power: Rank 5 (Early) - Blood Fighter
Mental: ???
Strength: ???
Agility: ???
Endurance: ???
Intelligence: ???
Yeh makhlooq ek Vampire hai!
Sikandar heran reh gaya, lekin is liye nahi ke yeh vampire hai, balki is liye ke yeh sirf ek Pawn hone ke bawajood Rank 5 ka power rakhta hai!
Vampires ki taaqat chhe categories mai taqseem hoti hai:
Pawn → Knight/Bishop → Rook → King/Queen.
Pawn sabse neeche hota hai, ek expendable vampire jo hierarchy ka sabse kamzor darja rakhta hai. Knight close combat ka master hota hai jabke Bishop magic aur ranged attacks mai expert. Rook King/Queen ka right hand hota hai, aur King/Queen vampires ke hukmaran—jin ki tadaad dono haathon ki ungliyon par gin sakti hai.
"Yeh kya keh rahe ho?! Ek Pawn vampire Rank 5 ka power rakhta hai?! Toh King ya Queen kis qadar shadid honge?"
Sikandar ke dimaag mai jhatke lagne lage, yeh sachai bardasht se bahar thi.
Usne apne haath itni zor se bandh liye ke crack ki awaz aayi, aur uski mutthi se khoon tapakne laga.
Adhara aur Rosie bhi dar ke maare kaanp uthi jab unhone bunker ke andar baithe vampire ko dekha. Dono ne Sikandar ki taraf dekha jahan woh khooni aura phaila raha tha.
Andar baithe vampire ne apna sar uthaya, usne turant Sikandar ke bloodlust ko mehsoos kiya. Dheere dheere uska chehra unki taraf ghooma, aur uski laal chamakti ankhon ne Sikandar aur dono larkiyon ko jakad liya.
Usne ek shaitani muskaan di aur uske jism se red aura nikalne laga jo hawa ko hi bhar de raha tha.
Sikandar ki saans tez ho gayi, uske seene mai bojh bhar gaya—pressure itna ziada tha ke uske ghutne jhukne lag gaye. Adhara aur Rosie zameen par gir gayin, dam ghutne laga jaise jaan nikal rahi ho.
"Librarian bhi Rank 5 thi aur woh bohot taaqatwar thi, lekin yeh makhlooq us se bhi kai guna ziada khatarnaak hai. Aur socho… yeh sirf Pawn hai…!"
Sikandar ke moo se cheekh nikal gayi, uski aankhon mai khoon bhari chamak thi.
Usne vampire ki taraf dekha jo abhi bhi muskara raha tha.
Aur phir — phatak!
Vampire aik second mai apni jagah se ghaib hua aur agle hi lamhe Sikandar ke samne barah-e-raast barrier ke qareeb khada tha. Uski raftaar itni ziada thi ke Sikandar ne kuch dekha hi nahi. Ek pal woh door tha, doosre pal samne.
Yeh faasla bohot bara tha — bilkul aise jaise ek bacha kisi jawan admi se lad raha ho.
Vampire qade mein Sikandar se derh guna lamba tha, uski ankhon se neeche ghoorta raha aur phir baritone awaaz mai bola:
"Mujhe tum se kutton ki boo aa rahi hai… kya tum insaan bhi ho?"
Sikandar jawab dene hi wala tha ke vampire ka aura phat gaya—
CRACK! Zameen uske pairon ke neeche tootne lagi, hawa ka bojh itna ziada tha ke bunker hilne laga.
Sikandar ne apni sari himmat jamaa karke khud ko aur dono larkiyon ko kheench kar bahar nikal liya. Usne vampire ko peeth zaroor dikhayi, lekin kam az kam woh kamzori ka izhar nahi karna chahta tha.
Darwaza band karte waqt bhi vampire ki laal aankhen us par tiki rahi.
Usne dheemi muskaan ke sath kaha:
"Interesting…"
Aur phir wapas baitth gaya, aankhen band kar ke.
---
Bahar nikalte hi, Sikandar ki aankhon mai ek nayi chamak thi:
"Mujhe har haal mai ziada taaqatwar banna hoga!"
---
Aaj ke liye itnah hi. Baki next update main.
Agele kuch updates main kafi fight hone wali hain. Maza ahye gah...
Like target is baar 20..
Nahi to next update 29 August ko...
Aur apne comments zaror denah. Aur koi suggestion ho to woh be...
Thanks and Good Night
