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Blood dripped down the socked clothes of the young man as he neared the throne where the ruler of the great Maurya, the emperor, Bindusara Maurya was seated.

Bindusara Maurya was seated.

As Ashoka walked through the halls, he noticed that the nobles and officials were frozen by the sight of a 15-year-old boy covered in blood. They looked at him with disgust, and Ashoka could feel their judgmental gazes upon him.

He ignored their stares and walked towards the throne, where the emperor was seated. He knelt before him, showing suitable respect and humility, that he should.

"Glory to the great Mauryan, long live the emperor."

Despite the blood that covered him from his fight with the trolls, he spoke with confidence in his voice.

The emperor Bindusara Maurya looked at him with a mixture of shock and anger.

"What is the meaning of this, Ashoka?" he asked, gesturing towards the blood that covered him.