"Ok now carefully coat your arm in cursed energy. Think of it like you are putting a glove made of water on."
"How do you make a glove of water?"
"I guess that is true. That is how I do it normally. Then if you don't like that think of a latex glove and remember to be a bit careful as if you wiggle your fingers too much it might break"
"Oh ok. That makes sense."
As the bright sun gazed upon the porch of Mariamma's house as she was teaching Lakshmi the basics on how to use cursed energy. It was quite difficult for Lakshmi to get it right due to both age and inexperience. It was a few days into the summer vacation, so they had enough time to spend. Rudra on the other hand was simply munching on a sweet Mango under the shade of the Mango tree watching them as they trained.
"How come Rudra is not doing this?" Lakshmi asked. In her humble opinion it simply was not fair that he got to goof off while she was working so hard. Exams where finally over, she wanted a damn break.
"Well he already knows how to use cursed energy like this. Though I did tell him to do something else." Mariamma said thoughtfully.
"Hey Rudra. Get over here and do your work" yelled out Laksmi gleefully as misery sure loved company.
"Damn annoying girl again. I seriously feel sorry for Avinash. What kind of Pishaachu did this guy fall for." (Pishaachu is a common term for ghost or demon.) he said groaning as he threw the mango seed to the side.
"Hey keep Avinash's name out of your damn mouth." She replied haughtily.
"Ya , ya whatever. Unlike your task simple domain is just too damn hard. I understand the mechanics, but creating such a dome is not easy." Rudra replied sighing
"Well ya it makes sense to be honest. You both are still quite young and thus the control over cursed energy is always going to be difficult." Mariamma said. "However, you did get how to use cursed energy quite easily just by reading. So I feel that you should be able to crack this soon too."
"See I can create the circle of cursed energy around me. That much is fine. But the dome is hard. You explained it as imagining as either thinking of cursed energy projecting from your body to an imaginary dome around you or either imagine cursed energy shooting up from one side of the circle to the other. Both don't really help." He retorted
"Well I don't know what to tell you Rudra. That is how I learned to do it. In the end cursed energy is still primarily about imagination and trial and error. So you got to keep doing it." She replied sighing.
She noticed Laksmi drenched in sweat from both the excretion of the exercises and the hot sun. She clapped her hands to command their attention. She then looked at Lakshmi.
"Well Lakshmi, there is some pomegranate in the fridge that I got from that Tamilian vendor. Take a bath and then eat that." She then turned towards Rudra and sternly said. "However, you on the other hand will be practicing simple domain until you get it right. No excuses" An excited squeal and the rush of feet followed the groan that Rudra gave as he got to work
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"So how was the training?" Rudra asked Lakshmi as they walked back to their houses.
The fading sunlight flittered through the leaves of the nearby trees to create an orange hue on their faces. Short trees riddled with vines and nearby shrubs listened in on the conversation from the sides of the road as the birds chirped incessantly on the branches.
"Well, it was good, I guess. It was only like day 3 and the other two days were just theory, so I guess this is simply better."
"I guess that is true."
Lakshmi took a little time to think before asking
"Hey, how is it that you have these spider powers though? Is this your cursed technique that Mariamma amachee explained?"
Rudra scratched his head for an explanation before just giving up and telling how he knew it best.
"Well no. Cursed technique is something that happens after your put cursed energy in it."
"Uhm ya I understood that much. That example of cursed energy being electricity and the cursed technique being the fridge was simple enough. But isn't that your ability. Like when you use cursed energy you get the abilities of a spider."
"Not really. My spider abilities are completely natural. As in it does not use cursed energy at all."
"Wait how is that possible? I thought you need cursed energy to use those abilities. Like only when I bring out cursed energy can I actually do anything"
"That is the difference. I don't need it. It is completely biological rather than energy based."
"Bio whaa…t?" Laksmi asked confused. She puffs her cheeks out while pouting and says "Look I know that you can use complex words. But there is no reason to try showing off using that"
"Not like that. What I mean is that well…" he sighs and finally decides it might be actually explain why he is how he is. "I am not entirely human. I am a mix of spider and human."
Lakshmi looked at him quizzically before asking in confusion.
"But you look human. I don't see 8 legs either."
"Ya that is because of …." Rudra racked his head to think of and explanation that did not have to make him explain in detail about radiation or genetics but at the end he simply gave up and tried a far simpler method.
"You know what. Just trust me when I say this. I kind of always was like this. Had these powers from young age I guess."
"Oh, ok I guess. Wait, does that mean you eat other human beings?" she asked leering away and looking if there was anyone she could call for help.
"No why would you think that?" asked Rudra slightly offended
"I don't know. I read in that big green book…. Uhm what was it called?"
"An encyclopaedia"
"Ya that. I read some spiders eat other spiders."
"No don't worry about that. Only my abilities are spider like. I am mainly human."
"Oh ok. I guess then it is fine."
She thought for a few seconds before asking again.
"Hey so are you going to be a sorcerer when you grow up?"
"I mean not really. I was planning some kind of desk job or something. Maybe win a few athletics competitions and do something there. I have some decent options."
"True I guess but I always thought you would be something more you know."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean. You have got great powers. If I had them, I would be like Shaktiman or Mayavi." (Indian comic superheroes. Mainly for small kids so don't need to bother much in reading it cause it is not themed for the current age)
"I mean that is nice. But I don't really have that level of powers. Also, I am not sure if that is the direction I want to go"
Lakshmi felt a bit down and dragged her feet as she asked
"Why is that? I thought it was a good thing to be a hero."
Rudra sighed. He knew he was being a hypocrite. He had the powers of his favourite superhero and yet when it was his turn to take the mantle, he found himself hesitating.
"I don't know. I just want to take life slow. No worries and no tension."
"Hmm I guess so. But won't it be fun? I mean you could try becoming like Superman too you know. You could have a cape and suit like him you know"
Rudra was very glad that in this universe that Stan Lee did not create spiderman. As such his abilities where completely of the grid.
"Well having a suit and cape is fun. But not useful. Think about it someone could use it to easily blind my eyes by holding it over my head"
"Hmm I guess that is true. So, then what would you like?" she asked striking a thoughtful pose.
"Why, are you going to make it?" he laughed. Upon hearing no response he looked at her looking back at him seriously.
"Wait you are actually going to make it?" he asks in disbelief.
"Well, you see I was always good at tailoring. I already make a few pieces with some help from our local tailor." She says rubbing the back of her head slightly embarrassed.
"Oh nice. So you want to become a designer or so when you grow up?"
Her face lit up immediately. She ran a bit ahead of Rudra and pointed her right hand with the index finger pointing towards the sky.
"Of course. I will be the greatest painter in the world. The whole of India shall know my name while their streets are filled with clothes that I made"
She pointed at Rudra and then back at herself.
"You and I will be the greatest heroes of India. I will design the suits and we will beat the bad guys together"
"Oh, ok I guess when you say it like that I guess I don't have a choice do I?" he laughed as his response was met with a satisfied and haughty nod.
"But I wonder" he said as he grew a sly smile. "What will poor Avinash do?"
Her cheeks immediately became rosy red as she heard his name.
"I mean.. he can be there too ya." She stammered out
"Oh what do you mean? He can't see cursed spirits so he can't fight them. And he is not as strong without cursed energy."
"But… but he can build stuff. He can build weapons and tools and fight by our side." She pointed out. She bounced around in excitement as she proclaimed
"I can see it. We will be the greatest superheroes the world has ever seen. The greatest threesome heroes"
'Well, I would recommend her to change the phrase, but oh well whatever.'
"I guess so. Then he can join our super hero group too."
"Yup, so tell me what would you like your suit to be? Wait before you tell me I want some water. I feel very thirsty." She said as they reached her house
Rudra felt his spider sense slightly ring before he looked at the trees and bushes. However, all he saw were a few squirrels scuttling away.
'What is that? I guess it must just be me'
A call from Lakshmi jarred him out of his thoughts as he walked over to her house