Carmen POV
I could feel the chain pulling me forward as the professors moved briskly through the hotel's secondary corridors. Their pace was almost too much for my weakened legs to keep up with, but I didn't dare say anything for fear of being beaten again. As they approached a lift, Coach jerked forward with her wrist, causing me to lose my balance as the chain on my wrists pulled me forward. I managed to catch myself before hitting the floor and as the sliding door opened, the professors entered without so much as a glance at me despite my fall. As I entered, Professor Maelstrom addressed me.
"Did you hurt yourself in your fall, Black Sheep ?"
"No, Professor."
"I wouldn't have had to pull your chain if you hadn't been so slow Lambkins."
"I'm sorry Coach. I'll do my best not to let it happen again."
"That would be more like her leash considering what we do with it." Maelstrom chuckles softly with a smirk as Coach smiles.
Once out of the lift, a corridor lies before us and Vlad holds the back door open for us while handing Coach some car keys. We get out and arrive in front of some sort of car adapted for driving on ice.
Coach opens the boot and I see that it's been adapted so that a human can fit inside. She pushes me in and I fall hard. She removes the bracelet and attaches it to a metal bar before closing the boot. The diameter of the bracelet automatically decreases to match that of the bar. Probably one of Doctor Bellum's new inventions. Looking around the small space, I see that the back is nothing more than a metal grille, leaving me in full view of the professors sitting in the front seats. Cowering in a corner, I try to make myself forgotten, although they don't seem to be paying much attention.
Coach starts the car, and I feel myself being tossed back and forth as we drive north. After ½ hour, we leave the concrete road and arrive on an old country road covered in ice. Coach seems to want to take us as far as she can but quickly gives up as the road is too bad. She gets out and Professor Maelstrom comes to open the door for me while retrieving the bracelet he's putting on his wrist.
"We need to head north from here, we should reach Svalbard in about 15 minutes."
Coach nods as the Professor tucks his phone with all the information into his pocket and pulls out a compass. He locates north and gives a little flick with his wrist to get me moving. The professors talk to each other as they walk along and I follow them at a respectable distance, without straying too far. When I see them stop, I move closer and see some kind of engraving in the ground.
"It's the same symbol as on the relic, isn't it ?" Coach asks and the Professor nods silently.
"According to Black Sheep, it should represent a compass, so its arrow should point north ?"
I see the professors turn towards me, and I bend down to examine the engraving. I notice a small crack along the circle, as if it could turn on itself. I put my hands on it and feel the Professor move closer to me to give the chain a little slack. I try to turn it, but I clearly don't have enough strength.
"It seems that the vegvisir needs to be turned in the right direction, but I can't manage it. The mechanism seems to be frozen in the ice, Professor."
"Leave it to Mama Bear."
Coach pushes me back and I scramble to my feet as she turns the plate. Once the vegvisir is the right way round, a trap door opens revealing a stone staircase. The professors came down and I followed them. As we moved forward in silence, the Professor turned to me.
"Didn't you say that the second relic was to be found in a fortress ?"
"The fortresses were made of wood and straw. These elements will have been destroyed and damaged over time, leaving only a stone floor. The one beneath our feet, Professor."
"Do you think there's any way we could fish something to eat, Maelstrom ? Because Mama Bear wouldn't say no to a salmon right now."
"I doubt it's that time of year Coach." The Professor replies without showing any more enthusiasm than that in the conversation.
"Actually, the fishing season started in mid-June and will continue until September, Professor."
I feel a slight electric shock run through my body as Coach laughs at the look on the Professor's face.
"Did you get permission to speak ?" He says to me curtly.
"I apologise, Professor. I didn't mean any harm."
"Be careful, Lambkins, you're beginning to sound like Dr Bellum showing your knowledge."
While the Coach is still laughing at the Professor's expression, we arrive at some sort of large cavern with a Viking longship at its centre. The professors move forward and climb aboard where we see weapons and armour.
"So little nerd, some information would be useful now." Coach says with a mischievous tone as his colleague frowns.
"It appears to be a Viking funeral, probably faked to hide the relic from foreign eyes."
"Then all we have to do is search." The professor removes the golden bracelet from his wrist and ties it around a metal bar. "You will wait here quietly for us, Black Sheep. Get down on your knees and don't disturb us."
"Yes Professor."
As I kneel and bow my head, I hear the professors searching. Coach seems to be talking to the Professor about a suit of armour that once belonged to the founders and now would belong to her.
I was starting to get bored when I saw the professors' feet coming towards me. They removed my handcuffs and Coach grabbed my arm before dragging me in front of the bow of the ship.
"The relic is behind the eye patch at the very top. Go and get it." The Professor orders me as Coach pushes me towards it.
Knowing that any refusal will only earn me their wrath and punishment, I climb into the hollow of the bow. At first I can't pull myself up, my arms are too weak, but little by little I can feel my arm muscles getting stronger. In a few seconds I reached the top, and just as I was starting to remove the relic, I heard a dull creak.
As if my life depended on it, I grabbed hold of the relic. Before I fully realise it, I fall with the broken bow and am thrown from it, hitting the ice wall behind. Tears of pain stream down my cheeks, and through them I see Professor Maelstrom snatch the relic from my hands without another glance at me.
"Finally... It was a good job protecting the relic Black Sheep. We couldn't afford to have it damaged."
Coach walks over and pulls me to my feet, quickly checking that I'm not hurt. She spots the blood dripping from my head and sees a piece of wood stuck in it. I now understand better where the blood on my temple and cheek is coming from. With a sigh, she puts the handcuffs back on me and the bracelet on her wrist.
"We'll take care of it when we get back to the hotel. Let's go."
3rd Person POV
Brunt and Maelstrom were making progress, discussing the events to come, when Coach felt a tug on the chain. Turning around, she sees Carmen fall to her knees and vomit bile. Maesltrom turns around when he hears her and his face shows absolute disgust when he sees the greenish-yellow liquid she is vomiting up, her empty stomach unable to return anything else. They wait a few moments for the vomiting to subside, but become concerned when Carmen starts coughing up blood before losing consciousness.
"What happened ?" Coach asks as she walks over to Carmen to carry her and take a closer look.
"She probably took a heavy blow in her fall. The impact of the wood on her forehead probably didn't help. The Cleaners will have a look at her when we get to the hotel."
Maelstrom set off again and Coach quickly caught up with him while carrying Carmen in her arms. After a twenty-minute walk, they arrive at the car and Coach lays her down in the converted boot before the two professors get into the car, Maelstrom still admiring the relic.
On the way back, they receive a call from the rest of the Faculty, which Maelstrom answers by putting it on the car's screen.
"The relic has been secured without a problem. We're heading back to the hotel so that it can be studied."
Bellum notices Carmen in the background, still unconscious, vomiting.
"And what happened to her ?" She asks, pointing at her.
"While retrieving the relic, Lambkins took a nasty blow to the head. The Cleaners will take care of her."
"Shadowsan..."
The two professors in the car turn round, surprised to hear Carmen's voice. She seems to be delirious, half-awake, as she repeats the ninja's name over and over. Maelstrom pulls out his remote control and sends out a shock sufficient to render Carmen completely unconscious. The three women look at him and he just shrugs.
Carmen POV
The first thing I felt when I woke up was a headache. Then came a jolt as I felt myself being pushed backwards, hitting a wall and banging two chains together. I slowly opened my eyes and saw the cream-coloured wall of the Faculty jet. Hearing a door open, I turn around and immediately feel nauseous. Seeing a basin beside me, I vomit into it.
Footsteps approach me, but I keep my head towards the basin as a precaution.
"I warned Maelstrom and Brunt to avoid any more head banging but of course they must have been stubborn."
Several dark spots blur my vision, but I immediately recognise the Doctor as she removes a bandage to check my wound.
"You've got a pretty severe head injury. I'll make sure you're back on your feet... or at least, sort of." She finishes, mumbling to herself."
I see her raise her hand and show me something.
"How many fingers do you see ?"
Trying to concentrate, the black spots fade a little but no more.
"I couldn't tell if it is two or three, Doctor."
"So your vision has been affected... but at least you seem to remember where you are and what your situation is. Do you still remember the details and rules of your life here ?"
"Yes, Doctor."
"Tell me your rules."
"- Obey all orders from the Faculty without question
- Do not attempt to escape as they are doomed to failure
- Always kneel in the presence of a Faculty member, unless otherwise ordered
- Never speak without permission
- Always bow my head and never meet the eyes of the Faculty, unless otherwise ordered
- Be grateful for everything you give me because I only have it thanks to your generosity
- Apologise when I disobey you and show you disrespect
- Always address you by your titles
- Not to defend myself or retaliate against your actions towards me
- Always tell you the truth and admit my faults
- I own nothing, everything is yours, including my life".
"Well your cognitive functions seem to be working thankfully because I'm going to need them."
The Doctor places a small bottle of water and an apple in front of me, inviting me to eat as I take my anti-vomiting medication. Once I've finished, she leads me to a research table on which the relic rests with a translation beside it. I take the paper and read it aloud.
"In the depths of the sacred land,
A silent guardian waits, hidden.
Within a revered creature,
The sacred secret is kept."
"It means nothing..." Bellum grew impatient as I repeated the riddle in a low voice.
"The riddle is written in Sanskrit, the ancient Indian language. So the relic must be on sacred ground in India but I don't understand what the rest of it means, Doctor."
"I'll tell the pilot to get underway. I've put a book on Indian mythology for you and when I get back you can have access to a computer for further research. However you'll be on a private session where I can monitor everything, so don't try anything. Agreed ?"
"Yes, Doctor."
A few hours later
3rd Person POV
Carmen restrained herself from jumping for joy as she finally found the solution. She approached Dr. Bellum, who was working on her computer. Seeing that she hadn't been noticed, she knelt down and called out to her.
"Doctor ?"
Carmen called Bellum several times before the scientist noticed her.
"What is it, Black Sheep ?
"I think I've solved the riddle, Doctor."
Bellum stood up and motioned for Carmen to follow her to the work table. The scientist reads the written information before asking for confirmation.
"The relic is supposed to be in the mouth of a crocodile statue in the temple of Dwarkadhish."
"Yes, Doctor."
"Explain to me how you came to this result."
"The crocodile is considered sacred in some parts of India, particularly in the state of Gujarat. The crocodile is revered because of its presence in the Dwarkadhish temple, dedicated to the god Krishna. According to legend, a crocodile attracted Krishna's attention and was blessed by him. Because of this belief, crocodiles are protected and fed in the Dwarkadhish temple, and pilgrims often come to see them and offer them food.
The Dwarkadhish temple played an important role during the Middle Ages as a place of worship and pilgrimage dedicated to Krishna, a central figure in Hinduism. At the time, the temple was considered an important spiritual and cultural centre.
In addition to its religious aspect, the Dwarkadhish temple also has a significant influence on the society and economy of the surrounding region. Pilgrims visiting the temple contributed to local economic activity by spending money on offerings, services and products offered by local merchants and traders."
"Good work. We'll be on our way when we arrive, you'd better get some rest."
Before she could really realise it, Bellum had stuck a needle in her neck to put her to sleep.
Bonus history and mythology point :
The legend of the Dwarkadhish Temple, as well as the deity worshipped there and the crocodiles, goes as follows:
The Dwarkadhish Temple, also known as the Dwarka Temple or Dwarkesh Temple, is a renowned Hindu sanctuary located in the city of Dwarka, in the state of Gujarat, India. It is dedicated to the Hindu deity Krishna, who is worshipped in the form of Dwarkadhish, meaning "Lord of Dwarka."
The legend of the Dwarkadhish Temple is closely intertwined with the life of Lord Krishna. According to Hindu texts and mythological accounts, Dwarka was the capital of Krishna's legendary kingdom. The city was magnificent and prosperous, but it was submerged by the waters of the ocean after Krishna's death.
The Dwarkadhish Temple is considered one of the four most sacred destinations in Hinduism, known as the "Char Dham." It is revered by numerous devotees and attracts pilgrims from all over the world.
The deity worshipped in the Dwarkadhish Temple is Lord Krishna. Krishna is a central figure in Hindu mythology and is regarded as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, one of the principal Hindu deities. He is known for his spiritual teachings, role as a guide and protector, and heroic exploits in narratives such as the Mahabharata.
The temple itself is a magnificent example of Hindu architecture. It was constructed primarily using white marble and consists of five storeys supported by 72 pillars. The golden dome of the temple is a distinct and visible feature from afar.
An intriguing feature associated with the Dwarkadhish Temple is the presence of sacred crocodiles in the surrounding waters. According to legend, these crocodiles are considered the guardians of the temple and are worshipped as incarnations of Vishnu. Devotees feed these crocodiles by offering them food as they believe it will bring blessings and protection.
The relationship between the crocodiles and the Dwarkadhish Temple is unique and represents a blend of mythological elements and religious beliefs. This adds to the fascination and spirituality surrounding this holy site.
The Dwarkadhish Temple symbolizes devotion and faith for millions of people. It embodies the richness of Hindu mythology and remains a significant spiritual and tourist destination in India.