Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 215: Ambush at palace

After the duel with Mathew, Aditya and his group proceeded to his office for further discussions regarding the production of plate armor. Aditya finished his lunch there, using the time to review the designs and make some critical decisions.

He directed that the plate armor design be customized based on ranks. Higher-ranking soldiers would receive full-body plate armor, while foot soldiers would be equipped with a combination of chain mail for the limbs and plate armor for the chest and shoulders.

This would alone replace the leather armor of imperial foot soldiers and improve the standards tenfold. Needless to say, when lower ranks get a customized mix of chain mail and plate armor, they would definitely feel the difference and strive harder to promote.

And most importantly, he could skip the prying eyes who may question the sudden availability of abundant steel. Since Aditya wanted to bide his time until he upgraded his army technology, this was the best thing he could do.

After finalizing the armor designs, Aditya assured Mathew that he would convince his grandfather, Chandrashekar, about the deal and share profits on the ratio as discussed before.

After reaching the palace, it was already evening, and he decided to meet with Acharya Raghunath, with whom he had a prior meeting.

He turned to Bheem, who had been accompanying him as his royal guard. "I am going to the guest hall. Tell Hari Singh to bring Acharya and his disciples. I will be waiting."

Bheem replied with a bow, "As you say, Your Highness," and took his leave.

Aditya passed through labyrinthine corridors and reached straight to the guest chamber, which now served as a session meeting room where he last time had given the notes about the periodic table and basic chemistry fundamentals.

As he approached the chamber, he recalled that he still needed to establish a printing press. There was a pressing need to print copies of books, and he made a mental note to address this before leaving for his southern expedition.

After entering the guest hall, he was dumbfounded. Acharya and his disciples were already present. They stood up in respect to greet him.

Like any other hall, it had a grand table surrounded by chairs, all of which were occupied except for one, which was reserved for him.

He nodded in acknowledgment and addressed Acharya Raghunath, "That’s a pleasant surprise, Acharya. I didn’t expect you to already be present here."

Raghunath smiled sitting across him on table. "The pleasure is ours. We were very disappointed when our session was postponed in the morning. Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait long, as the prince has shifted the meeting to the evening rather than next week."

Aditya smiled bitterly as he remembered he had ordered Hari Singh to schedule it beforehand and then forgotten it himself. To be honest, he was embarrassed given the fact that he had given them the science fundamentals and, most importantly, the periodic table and left them to figure it out themselves. With his hectic schedule, he could give them only one session a week.

It was all for setting the stage for a future where they were capable enough of taking classes for his academy and could become part of the research for his military needs, but that was still too distant for now.

Taking his seat, he inquired, "So how was the sutras (theoretical knowledge) that I shared? Can you share your insights with me?" There was skepticism in his voice, as despite his translation in Devanagari, he had to keep many things in naming sense as it is, though changing alphabets only.

Though he had sent, from time to time, customized self-made theories to help them with understanding, but he was very dubious if they were able to understand a thing

Contrary to his expectations, Raghunath replied with excitement. At this point, he was the representative on behalf of all his disciples. "I must admit, Prince, the knowledge you have provided is immense. We never realized that the basic things we encounter in our daily lives can have such a profound impact. Since you have given us so many fundamentals, it’s only right that you hear directly from everyone present here."

Following this, all the disciples eagerly shared their experiences and what they had learned.

"It was enlightening to discover that while we knew about atoms (anu) and electrons (parmanu), we never realized there were further categories like protons and neutrons."

"Alchemy has remained a mystery, but the insights you have provided are surprisingly clarifying, allowing us to dive deeper into the subject."

"Indeed, we understood how fossils help increase soil fertility, but learning about the presence of nitrogen and its role in making soil fertile was eye-opening."

"It’s fascinating how different elements combine to form another element, regardless of their source. Who would have thought that water (H₂O) is formed from two gases (O₂ and H)?"

"The three laws of nature (Newton’s laws) that you mentioned are simple yet profound in their insights."

"I never knew we could have so many elements present on Earth. I hardly read the first two pages and am looking forward to completing the next."

"Yes, yes! Even though we’ve just started, we are eager for more."

Aditya felt satisfied as he listened to each person express their positivity about the information. "I am glad that you are able to understand what I have provided. Rest assured you can expect more from me now. Be prepared; these concepts are just beneath the surface. The sutras I have; hold the potential to lead to the sky and beyond."

He had feared that they might feel overwhelmed by the vast knowledge and might even give up, even though he had shared only the basics. After all, it was knowledge from 500 years in the future. However, something unexpected happened that soured his mood.

Raghunath asked cautiously, "Prince, we won’t ask for your sources of information or knowledge, as we have agreed prior before. However, there is one particular sutra regarding the sun that challenges our beliefs, and we would like to clarify it."

Aditya frowned, sensing from Raghunath’s tone that he would need to handle the situation with particular care. One misstep could change their attitude toward the theoretical knowledge he was providing. He inquired politely, "Please ask openly, Acharya. I won’t mind."

Feeling more relaxed, Raghunath expressed his concerns. "You mentioned that the sun is stationary and that the Earth revolves around it, but in our scriptures, the sun is described as a charioteer who revolves around the Earth, not the other way around. Even if I were to accept that the sun is a hot mass giving light in the sky, I find it hard to believe that the Earth is not the center of the universe and must rotate around the sun, much like the other five planets."

Aditya sighed, feeling a headache forming. ’Did I go too far with these theories?’ he thought.

He had anticipated some questions, but not ones related to the Earth. He hadn’t mentioned the solar system and had only added that the Earth was round, as he needed them to work on stuffs related to navy. He was optimistic thinking since the horoscopes were based on planets, and they are round so they will accept his ideas but he hadn’t expected them to question the center of universe.

Sensing Aditya delay in response, Raghunath clarified. "Please don’t misunderstand us, Prince. We have scriptures about Acharya Aryabhata, who once proposed that the Earth rotates because it is round; however, his theory was never proven.

Later, Brahmagupta asserted that all planets are stationary while the sun revolves around them, which we can observe with the naked eye and so we believe. Is there any other sutra that can prove the first?"

The question was genuine and well-sourced, making it difficult for Aditya to respond, as he had no way to prove it without a telescope. Then an idea popped into his mind: why not create a telescope? Galileo had yet to make that discovery, so what if he could? After all, it could also serve his military purposes.

He cleared his throat. "I understand your doubts, but trust me, my sources are genuine. I won’t insist that you accept this as the word of God; instead, give me some time, and I will provide you the opportunity to witness the truth for yourself."

Acharya Raghunath smiled, having awaited this response from the prince. Had Aditya chosen the "word of God" approach, he would have left the palace with his disciples already. But the chance to witness the evidence excited and pleased him.

"Then we shall wait for that day, Prince," he replied with a smile.

Afterward, Aditya spent hours discussing their doubts and guiding them through the basic principles of modern science before taking his leave for another week. As he passed through the palace garden near his personal quarters, he spotted a princess sitting there, whom he assumed was Meenakshi, and decided to approach her for a casual chat before returning.

The princess sat by the pond, absentmindedly flickering the water with her fingers.

"Greetings, Princess..." Aditya began, but stopped mid-sentence as the princess turned, revealing she wasn’t Meenakshi.

She quickly stood up and greeted him with a polite namaste, "Greetings, Prince Aditya."

She was taller than Amira but shorter than Raamya, her beautiful face glowing in the moonlight. The silver saree she wore, adorned with intricate designs, along with matching jewellery, only enhanced her beauty. Despite this being their first meeting, Aditya immediately recognized her by her ethnicity; she was the Gurkha princess.

She introduced herself, "My name is Nayanthara Shah. It’s an honor to meet you."

Aditya returned the greeting with a namaste of his own. "The honor is mine, Princess. I apologize for disturbing your lone time."

He was about to turn and leave, preferring to avoid another potential marriage prospect, but Nayanthara called out to him, "Please, don’t go, your highness. I’ve been waiting for you."

He paused, puzzled, and turned back to her.

She explained, "I’ve been waiting near your chambers, but you were busy for so long. I came here for some fresh air."

Aditya nodded. "Very well. How may I assist you?"

She hesitated for a moment but, under his unrelenting gaze, finally spoke. "I overheard my brother. He’s planning to send most of his elite bodyguards to the Ladakh expedition, and he intends to return without them. This will leave him vulnerable as he will lack capable soldiers for his journey back. Our region is war toned" Her eyes pleaded with him.

Aditya sighed. "It’s not up to us whom he sends to war. We’re not forcing him." He tried to calm her, "Don’t worry, Princess. He is part of our alliance. We’ll send escorts to ensure he returns safely to his kingdom."

But Nayanthara’s desperation deepened. "You don’t understand, your highness. He’ll be in danger when he returns. He’s planning to take revenge and subdue all his neighbors who have wronged him. Your alliance won’t save him if he strikes first. And with most of his soldiers tied up in Ladakh because of your treaty, he’ll be in hard spot."

Aditya was taken aback. He knew the situation was tricky, but he hadn’t expected her brother to be so hellbent on revenge. Historically, her brother would go on to unify Nepal, but if he instigated war for now, his chances would be slim with his forces lessened. Nor can he give up on the Gorkha forces for Ladakh, even if they are comparatively small.

Aditya made a mental note to address this with Dravya and find a way to help while currying more favor. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Locking eyes with Nayanthara, he tried to reassure her. "Fear not, Princess. Nothing will happen to your brother. I’ll speak with him personally and..." His words faltered, and his eyes widened in horror.

An arrow had struck Nayanthara in the back, and as she collapsed, Aditya caught her in his arms. He looked in the direction of the shot and saw a shadowy figure fleeing into the night. There was no time to pursue.

"Guards! Guards!" he shouted, his voice hoarse with panic as Nayanthara lost consciousness, blood quickly staining her saree. He cursed under his breath as the guards came running. "Damn it! I swear I’ll tear you apart!" he growled, glaring toward the direction the assailant had disappeared.