Chapter 30: Hypnotized

IT'S RAM'S MOST EMBARRASSING SITUATION HE HAD EVER FACED IN HIS LIFE.

The rumbling deep voice belonged to the 3rd Elder from the Faction of Hope he had met at the Justice Hall.

Ram didn't know how he looked like.

But him appearing out of thin air and his deep rumbling voice conveying his disagreement startled Ram so much that he squeaked.

It sounded like a silly child's startled squeak when someone touched her shoulder when she was watching a fantasy movie with so much interest that she had forgotten about everything around her.

Not only did Sandhya and Chandra weren't able to hold themselves up by watching Ram's reaction, even other Elders, Along with Aunt El were also doing their best not to laugh at Ram's embarrassing reaction and failing miserably at that.

They seemed like they had known about the arrival of the Unknown Elder.

Unknown Elder looked like he was careless even about himself. His hair was all over the place, the stubble in his cheek looked like he hadn't shaved in a month.

His clothes seemed like they had been worn for an entire month and what surprised Ram was that even with it stained with dust and god knows what else, The Unknown Elder was not emitting any stinking smell that he had expected from that clothes.

Unknown Elder chuckled out loud. "I didn't know that the most dangerous user that the Esteemed Elder from Faction of Realists proclaimed to be this brave. I am very grateful to even see you in real life. I am very honored, your majesty," he said, bowing at his waist and straightened himself.

He had the world's best poker face as he stared at Ram. It enraged Ram so much so that he wanted to punch the Elder, but controlled himself.

The Elder sighed. "I know that you don't like me. But what can I say? Esteemed Elder of Air requested my presence and here I am, Elder of Water in attendance," he said.

Ram was shocked to realize that this careless elder was the Elder of Water. In what way his powers were connected to his nature?

Ram bowed exaggeratedly towards the Elder of Water and when he straightened himself, the Elder of Water was grinning at him.

Ram at least wanted to shout at the Elder of Water, but he was already chided by Elder of Air for not knowing how to behave in front of the Elders of the Institute.

Elder of Air was Sandhya's mother. She had a bad opinion of him to begin with. If he were to ruin it further, even if somehow Sandhya were to love him in the future, he was afraid Elder of Air was going to be against it.

"May I ask as to what The Esteemed Elder of Water was doing here?" he asked.

Elder of Water stared at Ram as if he asked him the most interesting question.

He in fact stared deep into Ram's eyes, for too long. So much so that Ram was getting uncomfortable.

Soon Ram heard the soothing sounds of water waves and he relaxed.

Ram felt like Elder of Water was someone he had known all of his life, his best friend, even more so than Aunt El and Ram relaxed around him.

"So, tell me Ram, How have you been?" Elder of Water asked.

Ram sighed. "You wouldn't believe the crazy events that happened to me during these past few days," he said.

Elder of Water became alert, as if he had been waiting for Ram for his story. "Oh! It's exciting, isn't it. Continue," he said.

Ram frowned. He felt something was off about Elder of Water, or the way Ram was feeling about him.

Ram shook his head and he thought—

Ram heard the sound of the soothing sounds of water waves and he relaxed.

"Oh, it's been fantastic. Not only did I get to have a device implanted in me that could blow me up at any time, they are planning to torture me, test me in ways of their own, in ways that I don't know whether I would be sane and alive by the end of it. They were thinking like he were a superhero who were receiving all the training he could get before his biggest battle with a baddie, but I felt like I were a nice and plump chicken or goat, that they had been feeding with everything they could get their hands on to fatten it up, before eventually cooking it for dinner. Other than that, I am really stressed out right now. Wish I had a book with me right now. I want to immerse myself in it to forget everything that was happening with me all along," he said.

Elder of Water frowned. It seemed like this was not what he was expecting. But he smiled back. "Oh. Do tell me which book you wanted to read and I will get it for you. I really pity you. God knows you have suffered enough. I don't think we should burden you anymore. We should at least reward you with a book. Tell me, which book you want?" he asked.

Ram thought for a moment. "How about Rick Riordan's or Brandon Sanderson' s books? They are amazing," Ram said.

"Oh, two very extreme variants. But I think reading both of them would burden your brain more. After all, Brandon Sanderson's books were basically three books put together into a humongous one filled with complex world building. If you were to read his book right now, I am afraid, you are not going to function properly in the days to come," he said.

"But his books were easy reads. His magic system might be complex, but you could sink right into them, in the huge world and crazy magic system in just few pages. I could already imagine myself being relaxed already. And don't get me started on the whole last act of the book, they were so fast paced that I could knock it down in a single sitting," he said.

Elder of Water frowned. "Did you think you have enough spare time to go through huge books? No. I know how busy you going to be for few days to come," he said.

"Then what about Rick Riordan? Even though his books were filled with various mythologies, they are fairy quick and humorous reads. Amazing adventurous books. Can you get me any of his new releases?" Ram asked.

Elder of Water shook his head. "Sorry. The mythologies are practically going to antagonize real gods that exist in our world," he said.

Ram groaned. "But they are very fun to read, in fact whenever I got a chance to read them, I often laugh out loud. I think after what had happened in past few days, I feel like they are what I required in my life right now," he said.

Elder of Water sighed. "Sorry, I can't go against the wishes of gods. What do you think about James Patterson?" he asked.

Ram frowned. "He is someone I recommend to a beginner level reader. I had been reading since I was a kid. So I think I won't like them," he said.

Elder of Water shook his head. "You see this is where you were wrong about. You won't be having much free time. His books were filled with shortest chapters I know and you could practically flew through them in a sitting, before you go to bed," he said.

Ram didn't agree with him. "His books are a hit or miss with me. I don't think I would like to spend my time on his books right now," he said.

Elder of Water sighed. "Then I will recommend an app. Webnovel. It has amazing stories like Martial Peak, Martial World and many amazing stories, that were beautifully written and also edited, that has short chapters as well. Most importantly, the hero would get amazing powers using which he would defeat his enemies. I think that is what you need right now. Why don't you give it a try? I will even share the password for The Institute's Wi-Fi," he said.

Ram thought for a moment. He was very tempted to agree and asked him for details.

As he was about to login, Ram realized that something was seriously wrong with the way they conversed till now.

And that soothing water waves sound.

They are not natural.

Ram realized what was happening and he glared at the Elder of Water.

"How dare you hypnotize me?" Ram asked.

Elder of Water scoffed. "You don't have to worry about me boy. I just wanted to test you by myself," he said. His voice was completely different from just few minutes ago. It had been filled with warmth and Ram felt as if he were talking to a friend.

But now when he heard Elder of Water speak, it lacked any traces of warmth. It was instead filled scorn.

"But you could have asked me to do anything and I wouldn't have thought much about it. It could be embarrassing or …" Ram trailed off, staring at the Elder of Water in horror as he realized that if he had ordered him to attack Sandhya or Chandra, he would've done so.

Elder of Water might use this chance to prove that he was dangerous and …

Wait! Elder of Water was careless about him. He didn't want anything to do with him. He wanted to lock him up in their version of cells just to teach him a lesson for his possible crime of being a spy, which he was not.

The more Ram thought about it, the more he felt like he wanted him locked up because he had disturbed his peace. Elder of Water was lazy.

He was so lazy that he preferred shorter books and short chapters, the ones that were easier to read than any other thought provoking or amazing adventures or imaginative books that requires some thinking.

Ram glared at the Elder of Water. "Isn't it a violation of Rules of the Institute? Shouldn't you be punished?" he asked.

Elder of Water chuckled. "No. It was something that Elder of Air had asked me before she invited me to your meeting," he said.

Ram turned to look at Elder of Air as she had a worried look on her face.

"What do you think?" she asked , turning towards Elder of Water.

"I believe that it would be difficult for anyone who would hypnotize him to do anything that he didn't want to or make him reveal any of his secrets. His mind was strong to an extent, but not entirely impossible to take control of. If the other person were a strong hypnotist, then the chances are that he could be dangerous to not only himself, but also to all of us. I think it would be better if we discuss somewhere private. I have something that I discovered while I hypnotized him and it would be helpful to all of us," Elder of Water said, then they moved to a corner and erupted a barrier around them that completely obscured the sound as well as sight from others.

Though if Ram observed closely, he was able to see the residual sparks of using the device from time to time.

Ram stared at them or the place where they obscured themselves in horror.

That meant anyone with the devices which they had used could use it to monitor him undetected.

That meant that his enemies were around him all this time and he hadn't even known.