Return of the Asuras (the Sequel)

Chapter 2

After I left the ashram, I was at once joined by the avatars. They came to me. There was also one new face to our company. Ravi who stood next to Atith gave me an awkward nod.

"Nikita, where have you been?" Tusita asked.

"The Queen summoned us and told us to follow you here."

"I know where to find Amarisa," I told them. "She is now in the Naga Kingdom."

The avatars looked at each other.

"Are you sure?" Tepi said.

Then I began to tell them the same story I told my mother.

"This is a personal quest," I said. "My princess is abducted or rather that she had allowed herself to be taken away. I must bring her back, lest I would live a short life yet long of sorrows."

"Then we will accompany you," Tepi said solemnly. With no further question, the avatars argued over who would come with me for they were already of the same mind.

"No, you have to stay and safeguard the city," I told them. "This is the matter between me and the Naga King. I believe he purposely left behind his trace here so I will go to him."

"This sure sounds like a trap," Morokot spoke. "What have you done to the poor princess?"

I felt my face blush in shame. Vorac came to put her hand on my shoulder gently.

"We will follow you to the end of the earth, Nikita," she said. "That's what we were born to do. You're our savior and our friend. We won't abandon you to perform the task alone."

"You might need this for your journey." Ravi stepped forward. In her hands was a familiar golden box. As she opened it, I realized it contained the blue and red scale of the Rainbow Fish. "The winds whispered to me that it would be of some help."

"But this is also your prize from the game," I said. Ravi shook her head.

"You won all of it," she said, "along with my loyalty and respect."

I looked at her. For the first time, the wind god's daughter smiled. I nodded and thanked her then took the box.

"Avatars of Meru gods," I said, turning to everyone. "I thank you for defending and honoring me all this time. But I still have one thing to take with me. Will you bring me to the armory?"

The avatars looked distressed and surprised by my request. They all knew what I was intending to do. And after a moment, Tepi came towards me.

"Nikita, are you sure about this?" she said. I gave her a determined nod. Tepi let out a low sigh and then nodded back before leading my way.

Inside the lit cavern of the armory, the coppery smell of weapons greeted us. We reached the special chamber, which hosted the mighty blade, Chandrahas. My feet trembled as I stared unblinkingly at the greatest astra that ever made —the weapon that had conquered even the gods.

The curved blade was suspended in mid-air like a bright crescent moon. It glowed in a golden radiance.

"Very well then," I said. "It's time."

I took a deep breath and went towards the celestial sword. It seemed to vibrate with a chilling power. To bring Amarisa back to where she belonged, I had to break my promise. Indeed, my destiny had finally lured me to my doom.

Standing before it, I reached my shaking hand out and curved my fingers slowly over the hilt. The hair on my arms stood on ends. Everyone else stepped away and held their breath. Then I closed my eyes and shut all my thoughts, holding nothing back as a good warrior would do.

Suddenly, I felt a bursting shock and the ripping of nerves within my body. There were blasting lights sweeping like sandstorm around the chamber. They spread like arms, waging around me. I heard my screams echoing off the stone walls. Jolts of startling energy surged through my veins, filling every hollow of my bones. My heart pounded until it came to a halt. The air stilled and everything became bright like the time I came into this realm.

My body was lifted off the ground. Behind my closed eyes, I thought I saw a face, blue and radiant with unimaginable glory. It was a man. His voice reverberated inside my head.

'At last, you're traipsing over the path of your destiny. Don't get caught up with the attachments of the scheme. Protect the three worlds and bring evildoers to destruction. You were born to destroy the destroyers.'

When I opened my eyes again, all the avatars were kneeling before me. Their heads bowed down.

I gasped in the air. Then my feet gave way from under me. Tusita and Atith came to catch me before I hit the ground. I looked around myself in confusion then brought my hands to my numb face. The crescent blade had disappeared.

"Where is the sword?" I panted.

"You are now the Wielder of Chandrahas,"

Vorac said. "It shall come to you once you call upon it."

"Good Lord! Nikita, you should have seen yourself when you lifted the astra!" Atith said with wide eyes. "I have never seen anything like this all my life. Your body flashed like lightning and various gods issued from you. Vishnu sprang from your forehead then Shiva and Brahma. It was so marvelous and so frightening."

I didn't feel any different, but I knew what I did would turn the Wheel of Destiny.

"I must leave now," I said and staggered back onto my feet.

"Let us go with you, Nikita," Tepi said again.

"The war is brewing beyond the borders," I said. "You all are needed here more than you are with me."

"But you can't go there alone," said Atith insistently. "At least, let me come along."

"Yes, Nikita, you won't leave unless I go with you too," Tusita said and then glanced at Vorac. "This time is my turn."

"You can't leave without me!" Vorac protested, and she meant for both Tusita and me. The wind god's daughter stepped out of the shadow. I didn't know she was still there.

"We shall have troubles if you all set out to go with her," she said, being a voice of reason for us. "The King and Queens need your protection within the city now more than ever."

My friends stopped arguing. I believed Ravi would be a great asset in the war. She just had an air of control.

"Then you must choose three of us, Nikita," Tepi offered a solution.

We thought it over for a moment.

"Alright," I said at last.

I chose Tusita for her head-strong attitude, Atith for his ceaseless enthusiasm, and Samudra for his knowledge of the water world.

The rest of the avatars would stay behind and guard the city. We began to make our plan. Tepi gave me a map of the empire. The layout was drawn on a goatskin. I could see rivers spreading like tree roots from a single lake. The Great Lake shaped like a giant spider with an enormous behind. Four great rivers flowed from the lake then connected to the ocean. But there was an area where the four rivers met. That must be where the Naga Entrance lied.

After we had discussed which route to take, we went to the stable. Flying out on the Ashvas would risk exposing us in plain sight, so we decided to not bring the winged-horses but Atith's chariot.

The golden chariot was harnessed with his fire horses. They neighed and breathed bright flames.

Then Atith, Tusita, Samudra and I were ready to leave.

Suddenly, we heard someone cleared his throat. We all turned to find our Guru. He appeared out of thin air. Gold dust followed him as he walked towards us.

"Sambo?" I said.

For a moment, he just stared at me. His expression was hard to read, especially since he had a peculiar elephantine face. We expected the Guru to halt our plan and dismiss my journey. But then a smile slowly brightened his eyes.

"I believe the Prophecy has come to pass," he said, looking at me. "I shall await you until the day you return with the princess."

"You knew?" Atith said.

"Of course, I am a knower of things, good lad," he chuckled. "You all have grown brave and steadfast, but as divine children that you are; you still need to be careful of this certain quest."

Then he turned to me.

"You might be put in this unfavorable position by the fate, but I have seen you changed like a caterpillar popping out of its cocoon. Perhaps, now shall be the time to test your wings."

"But all my time in this realm, I feel like I am nothing but a mere chess piece —a string puppet for the gods," I murmured. "How can I do that when I have a preordained destiny that always bonds me?"

The Guru smiled.

"When the knowledge of the Lord descends on you, you will no longer curse your destiny," he replied. "You are now under the impression that you are the body. Once you find your True Self, peace will be obtained and you shall be free."

"How can I find my True Self?"

"First find out who you are."

That was the hardest thing to do. But I went and bowed to the avatar of Genesh, thanking him for his wisdom. He had always been a great teacher and let me learn in my own clumsy ways. The Guru patted my head. He blew his trunk before looking back at us with misty eyes.

"The gods are not so bad," he said as if reading my mind. "We might only see defects of the design since our view is narrow and limited. The same when you look at brocade from behind. Nikita, I could tell from the beginning that you are the One. May the gods of Meru protect you."

"Thank you," I said and bowed to him. The others did the same.

"The war is coming," the Guru sighed. "Early leave, early return. Stay safe, holy pumpkins."

I nodded back. Then we aboard our chariot and left the palace before dawn.

The chariot streamed through the Gate of Victory like lightning. Atith increased the speed until the spinning wheels hovered off the ground. The fire horses let out clouds of flaming breaths, illuminating the path as they galloped through the dark.

When we were quite far from the city, I heard a faint voice calling me. My head turned and found Kesar with her golden wings flapping frantically in the sky. She was flying in desperation to catch up with us.

"My lady!" she cried.

"Kesar, don't follow me!" I called back. "Return to the palace now. I will be back in no time."

"No, please take me with you," she said in a pleading voice. My friends looked at each other. I knew Kesar would not cease following us until I agreed to her plea. With a sigh, I motioned for Atith to slow the horses down. Soon the winged-maiden flew over towards us.

"You shouldn't come with me, Kesar, my quest this time is far too dangerous," I tried to deter her will.

"I know, my lady," she said, "But I am taunted by my worries and bound by my oath to care for you. Please allow me on the journey. I won't cause you any trouble."

I wanted to dissuade her from this silly intention, but the look on her face was impossible to refuse.

"Please," she said again. I let out a sigh.

"Alright, Kesar," I said in resignation, "But you must stay close to us at all times, you promise me?"

"Yes, yes, my lady, I promise you!" the Kennari nodded and flapped her wings more spiritedly. But as we rode along the quiet night, I began to feel a faint inkling of some omen stirring in the air. I just could not tell what it was yet.