Two Weeks Later.
Royal District; Training Grounds.
It was a few hours past sunrise. The thin veil of morning mist had long lifted, leaving the sky clear and the air cool. A steady breeze moved through the open training grounds, carrying the sounds of drills and shouted commands.
The Royal District was already awake.
Servants crossed courtyards, messengers moved between offices, and temple bells rang faintly from afar. But here in the training grounds, the focus was elsewhere.
The Royal Guards were training under their Yuvraj.
The men stood in formation along one side of the field, spears lowered and braced. Across from them stood a thick earthen wall that Hamsa himself had raised from the ground earlier that morning—dense, compacted, and wide enough to absorb repeated strikes.
"Ready," a training officer called from the side.
The line of guards lowered their stance, spearheads aimed forward.
"Fire."
For the briefest instant the spearheads flared with light.
Then narrow beams shot forward, streaking across the ground before striking the earthen wall.
Thuds echoed across the field as small explosions rippled along its surface, sending bursts of dust outward.
The blasts were controlled— and far from lethal—but strong enough to disorient anyone nearby. And if struck directly, the impact would hurt. A lot. Like taking an explosive shot while wearing armor: the body protected, but not spared the force.
The drill continued.
But a little distance away, near the barracks buildings, sat a walkable pond built from smooth-cut stone. The water reflected the bright sky above, disturbed only by occasional ripples.
Though at that moment, the largest ripples came from the center.
Hamsa stood waist-deep in the pond.
Garuda was in his grip.
"Brother—I am sorry! It was just meant to be a joke. In the festive spir—"
Before he could finish, Hamsa shoved his head under the water.
A moment passed.
Then he pulled him up.
Garuda gasped for air.
Hamsa let him breathe just long enough—
—and pushed him under again.
Nearby stood Gopal.
He had come to report something, but after witnessing the scene he had decided that perhaps the report could wait.
Approaching the Yuvraj at the moment did not seem wise.
A voice came from behind him.
"Is the Yuvraj here?"
Gopala turned.
Lata stood there—the personal attendant to the Mahadevi. She stepped forward, then stopped when she saw what was happening in the pond.
Her brows lifted.
"What exactly is going on here?" she asked, directing the question at Gopala.
Gopala scratched the side of his head.
"Well… as you can see, the Yuvraj is currently occupied with Rajkumar Garuda."
He gestured subtly toward the water.
"I did not witness the beginning myself, but the guards informed me that Rajkumar Garuda pushed Yuvraj Hamsa into the pond while applying color."
He paused as Hamsa dunked Garuda again.
"And, well… the Yuvraj did not appreciate that."
Lata watched the scene in silence.
Garuda surfaced again, sputtering and coughing as he wiped water from his eyes.
"Brother—! I said I was sorry! It was just a little color! Everyone was doing it!"
Hamsa stared at him without a word.
Garuda's expression shifted quickly.
"…and I might have pushed a little harder than intended."
Hamsa pushed him back under the water.
A moment passed.
Then he pulled him up again.
Garuda inhaled sharply.
"Brother! This is attempted murder! If Mother hears of this—!"
Back under the water he went.
Lata blinked slowly at the sight.
Gopala sighed and lowered his voice.
"To be honest," he said, "the Yuvraj appears angry enough that even if Yamaraj himself arrived…"
Garuda surfaced again just long enough to shout, "I regret everything!"
Hamsa dunked him again.
"…I believe even the Lord of Death would step aside and allow the Yuvraj to finish first."
After a few minutes of this, Hamsa finally stepped out of the pond, dragging Garuda along with him.
Garuda stumbled as his feet touched the stone edge, water streaming from his clothes.
"Make sure he is dried off and bathed properly," Hamsa said to the nearby servants as he took a towel from one of them. "And see that he does not fall ill. If he does, inform me."
The servants bowed quickly and moved to support Garuda.
At this point Garuda was barely able to walk. He looked as though he had reconsidered several life choices and was now questioning his very existence.
As the servants led him away, Hamsa calmly dried himself off.
While doing so, he noticed the two figures still standing nearby.
"What do you need?" Hamsa asked as he walked toward them.
"Yuvraj," Lata spoke first, "you are late for the meeting. I was sent to ask whether you would prefer to reschedule, or if you intend to arrive shortly."
"Hm." Hamsa glanced down at his soaked clothes. "I will attend. As soon as I have dealt with this."
"As you say, Yuvraj," Lata replied with a bow. "I shall inform them. Though I would urge you to hurry."
With that, she turned and left.
Hamsa then shifted his attention.
"Gopala. Why are you here?"
"Yuvraj, a letter for you from Ranga."
Gopala accepted a palm-leaf letter from a servant and handed it to him.
Hamsa opened it and read quietly.
After a moment he gave a small sigh.
"It seems my grandmother is displeased that I have not written to her in four months. Remind me to reply to this. Though I have not met her, if she is anything like my grandfather—and from what I can tell from the letters we have exchanged over the years—I would rather not anger her."
He handed the letter back.
Gopala accepted it and made a mental note, nodding in acknowledgment.
While speaking, Hamsa quietly gathered mana around himself. A warm current of air circled his body, drying the remaining moisture from his clothes.
"Well," he said, "is that all, or is there something else?"
"The bi-weekly report has been placed in your chamber," Gopala replied. "As for the other matter you asked us to look into… we have not found anything yet."
Hamsa nodded once and spoke.
"Very well. Then we shall make it ourselves."
He adjusted his sleeve.
"Prepare for me to leave the capital next week. I will visit the mines."
"As you command, Yuvraj," Gopala said with a bow before taking his leave.
Hamsa remained for a moment longer, watching the guards complete their training drills.
Then he turned and left the grounds, heading to change into fresh clothes before making his way to the palace council chamber.
_______________________________________
Council Room
Hamsa entered the council chamber a little short on breath. The Raja, the Mahadevi, and the Mahamanthri were already seated and going through a few documents.
"Forgive me for my tardiness," Hamsa said as he stepped forward.
"It is no problem," the Mahadevi replied with a light smile. "I heard you were with Garuda."
Hamsa nodded once.
"Forgive me for that, Mother. I lost a little control."
The Mahadevi chuckled quietly at that, know what had transpired.
Hamsa being a little flustered cleared his throat and shifted the conversation back to the matter at hand. He motioned to a servant standing nearby.
The servant stepped forward and placed several birch tablets on the council table.
"These are the first of the changes I would like the temples to implement," Hamsa said.
The Raja, Mahadevi, and Mahamanthri each picked up a copy. Hamsa had prepared three identical sets.
For a few moments, the room remained quiet while they read through the tablets. When they were finished, all three looked back toward him, waiting for an explanation.
Hamsa began.
"For the first item, I propose the creation of central libraries across the major cities of the kingdom, with public access."
He spoke calmly, hands folded behind his back.
"I understand the temples already do this to some extent. But outside the larger temples and major centers of learning such as Takshasila or Udyana and others, the preservation and transfer of knowledge still depends mostly on individual gurus, acharyas, and traveling sadus."
"The state rarely becomes involved unless such places are under threat."
He continued.
"I would like the state to sponsor these libraries and connect them through a system that allows knowledge to move between them. The public should also have access, though at the beginning it can be limited."
He glanced briefly at the tablets.
"Apart from the obvious benefits, this would make research easier, allow scholars to communicate across regions, and ensure that knowledge does not remain confined to a handful of places."
He then moved on.
"The second item is documentation."
The Mahamanthri leaned forward slightly.
"Students, teachers, and the subjects they research should all be recorded. These records should also be shared with the state."
Hamsa continued explaining.
"This will allow us to understand what kind of workforce we can expect in the future. It would also allow the state to guide certain developments when necessary."
He gave an example.
"If we plan large infrastructure projects in the coming decades, we will require more engineers, architects, surveyors, and craftsmen. With proper records, we could encourage such fields by increasing stipends or providing additional support."
He added another point.
"It would also show us which institutions are attracting students for certain subjects, and why. And we may fix or improve them"
Then he moved to the third proposal.
"The next item is standardized examinations."
He spoke more carefully now.
"At present, the way an aspirant enters a field is not standardized. Some places conduct examinations, while others rely on past achievements or recommendations."
"I propose a state-run examination that students can take in order to gain access to multiple centers of learning at once."
He raised a hand slightly.
"I do understand that this may cause problems. A student might perform well in an examination yet fail in the practical application of the subject and vise vera."
"For that reason, cooperation with the learning centers will be necessary. This part of the reform will likely take longer to implement."
Hamsa then gestured toward a much larger stack of documents placed beside the tablets.
"These were only the broad outlines. The detailed plans are all here."
He paused briefly.
"Now aside from that, I would also like the construction of large arenas for games."
After this Hamsa was asked several questions and he answered them one by one is detail, by the time they were finished the sun had just passed it's high point.
"If that concludes the matter, I would like to move on to the next item." Hamsa spoke.
He motioned to a servant.
The servant stepped out, and shortly afterward a Royal Guard entered the chamber.
Within the Royal District, the usual attire of a Royal Guard was simple—uniform garments, a spear, and a round shield. A reserve force near the barracks remained fully equipped with chain and plate armor along with helmets.
The guard stepped forward and handed over his spear to Hamsa and stood behind.
Hamsa closed his hand around the shaft and began channeling mana into it.
The spearhead shimmered faintly.
Then, without warning, he turned and fired directly toward the Raja and Mahadevi.
Several servants gasped. The Mahamanthri half rose from his seat as he shouted, "Yuvraj!!"
The Raja and Mahadevi on the other hand remained perfectly calm.
As a barrier had already formed in front of them, by their son. The shot struck it and dissolved harmlessly into fading sparks.
Hamsa lowered the spear and handed it over to the guard. Then turning forward he spoke.
"As you can see," he said, "this is the basic capability of the Royal Guards I have been training."
"They can do more. But this is the application I find most practical."
He continued.
"Even so, there is a limit to how much the human body can handle. Mana output cannot increase indefinitely."
"So instead of forcing the body further, I propose improving the weapon."
He looked at the Raja.
"I would like permission to develop new weapons designed specifically to channel mana."
He shook his head slightly.
"They must be cheap and effective. Traditional magical staffs used by gurus and magi are far too expensive."
"These weapons would be developed quietly and limited to the Royal Guards only."
He added,
"So as such, this is not meant for the entire army. Besides that, the average soldier cannot sustain the same output, and the cost of maintaining such equipment would be too high."
"That said, I do have plans for the army as well. I am still working on them."
After this, Hamsa was asked to wait outside while the three discussed the matter.
He stepped out of the chamber and waited in the corridor.
A few moments later, Chotu appeared from somewhere down the hall and promptly pounced on him like an ambush predator who had been waiting all morning.
Hamsa barely managed to keep his balance.
Not long after, the door opened again.
"The council will see you now."
Hamsa stepped back inside.
The Mahadevi spoke first.
"Well, Hamsa. You will be granted permission for what you have requested."
She leaned back slightly.
"However, before anything moves forward, you will need to speak with Krishna regarding the army matters first."
Then she gave a small nod.
"After that, you may return to us."
Hamsa gave a short nod and turned to leave.
But as he stepped toward the doors, the Raja rose from his seat.
"Walk with me for a moment."
Hamsa paused, then followed.
They left the council room and made their way through a quiet corridor before stepping out onto a third-floor balcony overlooking the palace grounds. From there the Royal District stretched out below them—training yards, courtyards, and the distant roofs of the upper city beyond the walls.
A cool breeze passed through the stone arches.
Indra rested his hands lightly on the railing as he looked out across the view.
"You are doing a good job, Hamsa."
Hamsa said nothing, waiting.
Indra continued after a moment.
"At your age, I was far more like your brother Garuda. I spent most of my time goofing around. And unlike him, I barely showed any interest in running the kingdom."
There was a faint note of nostalgia in his voice.
"As a matter of fact, when I learned that my father—your grandfather—had fallen after a major battle… I was completely lost."
He let out a quiet breath.
"I did not know what to do. I was nervous, confused… and very aware that I was unprepared."
He glanced sideways toward Hamsa.
"Fortunately I had people around me. Krishna. Your grand-uncle Vasu. Acharya Ram and Matha Durga. They guided me. In many ways they filled the place of a father after my own was gone."
Hamsa stood beside him quietly.
He wasn't sure what to say.
This kind of conversation was unfamiliar to him.
In his previous life, his father had never spoken like this. The man had been constantly working, always busy, rarely present. His mother… he barely remembered her face.
In this life things had been different. His parents were present. They spoke with him, asked questions, involved him.
Still, this kind of conversation—one where he was the one being compared to—was new to him.
He had seen something similar before, though.
The parents of his friends had spoken like this sometimes. But those conversations had been about their own children, while Hamsa—Raj back then—stood to the side like an extra son listening in and speaking when spoken to.
Now he was the one standing in that place.
Indra continued speaking.
"When things became difficult… when I began questioning whether I should even sit on the throne… Bhadra and your late mother Savithri stood beside me."
He spoke the name with quiet respect.
"They, along with the others, reminded me that I could do it."
He gestured lightly toward the city.
"And with their help, I have ruled for more than fifteen years now. The kingdom has remained stable. We have avoided famine, and no invasion has reached our borders."
He gave a small shrug.
"Of course, the kingdom still has its problems. Trade could improve and grow for example."
Then he looked at Hamsa again.
"But overall, things have remained peaceful. And I intend to keep them that way."
There was a short silence.
Hamsa finally spoke.
"But Father… why are you telling me this?"
He spoke not because he did not understand what was being said. In fact, he already knew most of it from the time he had spent with Matha Durga.
What he did not understand was why his father was choosing to tell him all of this now.
Indra smiled faintly and placed a hand on Hamsa's shoulder.
"Well… I am the same with words as you seem to be," he said.
"So I will say it simply."
"Take it a little easier, son."
Hamsa frowned slightly.
Indra continued.
"You might believe that what you are doing is your duty. And you would not be wrong."
"But that does not mean you should work yourself ragged over it."
He leaned slightly against the railing.
"I hear you are staying up late most nights working on reforms and legislation. And now you have also taken over the training of the Royal Guard. All that isn't easy."
He shook his head mildly.
"I named you Yuvraj so that your efforts would be recognized… and so that it would be easier for you to work."
"Not so that you would burden yourself even more, thinking we expect more from you."
He squeezed Hamsa's shoulder lightly.
"So take a breath once in a while."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"I will not try to force you to stop working. You would ignore me anyway."
Hamsa almost smiled at that.
"But at least remember this," Indra said.
"You are not alone in this. And if you ever need it… you can lean on us."
He paused for a moment before adding with a light chuckle,
"Though I may not be the best person for such things. Your mother is far better suited for that than I am."
After that, the two parted ways.
Hamsa made his way back toward his chambers, Chotu padding along behind him.
Once inside, he stepped out onto the balcony and dropped onto the long sofa there. Chotu immediately climbed onto his lap as if the seat had always belonged to him.
Hamsa absentmindedly scratched behind the tiger's ears while his mind drifted back to the conversation he had just had with his father.
A few minutes passed like that.
Then Gopal entered the chamber.
"Yuvraj, this was sent to you," he said, stepping forward and presenting something in both hands.
Hamsa glanced down.
It was the ring he had given to that family weeks ago.
Along with it was a letter.
Hamsa took both and broke the seal. As he read through the contents, he slipped the ring back onto his finger.
By the time he reached the end of the letter, a faint smirk had appeared on his face.
He stood up.
"Gopal," Hamsa said, already moving toward the door, "prepare for me to leave immediately. I am headed to the Upper District."
"As you command, Yuvraj," Gopal replied, bowing before quickly stepping out to make the arrangements.
Hamsa glanced once toward the city beyond the palace walls.
Sorry, Father.
If this plays out the way I hope it will…
I might not be able to rest the way you want me to.