Kid, you are not good at this, Adi said.
Shut up. I know I'm bad with people, Hamsa replied internally. But if this girl is even remotely capable of meeting my expectations, then I need her at any cost.
Any cost?
If she wished for it, I would even have her adopted into the royal family… or fuck that, I'd marry her myself.
Adi had nothing else to say, though the thought This kid is crazy did cross his mind.
While these talks went on inside Hamsa's head, outside in the real world the girl was being consoled by her father. After a few moments, she finally spoke.
"Yuvraj, I am the one who came up with that in the workshop. Though I was inspired by other things," Padmavathi said.
"What inspired you to make something like this?" Hamsa asked without a second's delay.
"Well, Yuvraj," she answered as she began digging through the pile of documents she had brought with her. "I got the idea for using steam from this."
She laid a parchment on the table.
"And for the use of pressure and other things, I got the ideas from these."
She placed a few birch tablets and palm-leaf booklets beside it.
Hamsa first took the parchment in his hand.
What he saw made him excited, concerned, and surprised all at once.
Because what he saw was something he had once seen on the internet in his old world.
The Aeolipile.
It was a simple contraption made by a Greco-Roman known as Heron—better known as Hero of Alexandria.
Its working principle was simple as well.
A semi-spherical container was filled with water and connected through pipes to a hollow sphere with two angled outlets.
When the water was boiled and turned into steam, the steam traveled through the pipes into the sphere and then escaped through the outlets.
The escaping steam caused the sphere to spin.
After observing that, he moved on to the birch tablets and palm leaves.
Here he saw descriptions of water-powered hydraulic systems used in mines and workshops. There were also notes on mechanical toys and other devices.
Hamsa took a few moments to go through all of them. While reading, without looking up, he occasionally patted Chotu, who had remained near his feet the entire time.
After a while, he finally looked up.
"Why are you still standing? Take a seat," Hamsa said, noticing the daughter and father still standing.
"Yuvraj…" Jinadatta began.
"I said sit," Hamsa replied as he turned back to what he was reading.
Both of them quickly sat down and waited.
Soon refreshments were brought in, and about half an hour passed in silence.
Finally, Hamsa placed everything down.
"Well," he said, "what will it take for you to hand your daughter over?"
Jinadatta looked slightly shocked.
Kid… phrasing! Adi screamed inside Hamsa's head.
Hamsa paused for a moment before understanding what Adi meant.
"Wait, let me rephrase that," Hamsa said quickly, though he still maintained his composure. "What I mean is—are you willing to allow your daughter to work for me? Because if she choses, she might have to move very soon."
"Well, Yuvraj," Jinadatta replied, "if you value my daughter and believe that she may be able to serve you, I have no problems with it. However, I will leave the decision to my daughter."
Both of them turned to Padmavathi.
"Yuvraj, I would be honored, but I have a few questions," Padmavathi said.
"Very well. Jinadatta, if you can excuse us," Hamsa said, turning to him.
Jinadatta bowed slightly and left the room.
Once the door closed, Hamsa spoke.
"Tell me. What do you need? I am willing to give you anything you wish for."
"Yuvraj, if I may ask… why do you want to hire me in the first place? Surely there must be far better candidates than me."
"Well," Hamsa replied, "like I said earlier, your talent might be something that is undervalued."
He leaned forward slightly.
"And yes, you may be right. There might be people better suited than you to serve me."
He turned towards the documents and tapped them lightly.
"Sometimes you find a rough stone that others overlook." he turned his head towards Padmavathi. "But if you know what you're looking at, you realize it's a diamond. And once you do, you don't leave it in the dirt—you cut it, polish it, and reveal the brilliance hidden inside."
Hamsa paused.
"That is why I want you to work and study under me. So that you can be polished and shaped into the finest diamond in my collection." He added.
Padmavathi listened carefully.
"Yuvraj, one more thing. What will I be expected to do?"
Hamsa leaned back and he patted Chotu before you spoke.
"For starters, you will study under me," Hamsa said. "You will come to Takshashila once I move there. The education there will be far greater, and you will have many more opportunities to learn."
He paused slightly.
"At least… that is what I hope."
Padmavathi looked slightly confused and waited as if expecting him to say something else. Her face was tense, almost as if she was afraid of what he might say next.
Hamsa frowned slightly, and was confused.
Kid, remember the era you are in… your current physical age… and how you have been behaving so far... and who you are in this world. Adi said inside his head.
Hamsa took a moment before finally realizing what Adi meant.
"Oh."
"If you are wondering whether I will make you do anything else," Hamsa said calmly, "you do not need to worry. What I said earlier is all I ask of you, and you will not be ordered to do anything beyond that."
After a few moments of silence, Padmavathi spoke again.
"Yuvraj, if I may… can I ask for something personal?"
Hamsa leaned back slightly as Chotu climbed onto his lap.
"Go on," he said. "What do you need?"
___________________________________
An Hour Later
Hamsa was still seated where he had been the entire time.
Chotu, however, had moved. The creature now lay sprawled across Hamsa's lap. Over the years it had grown considerably, and it no longer fit comfortably. Nearly a third of its body hung off the side of the chair while its head rested lazily against Hamsa's legs.
Across the table, Padmavathi remained seated where she had been earlier.
Her father had returned some time ago and now sat opposite her.
For the moment, the atmosphere in the room was calm. Hamsa and Jinadatta were engaged in light, idle conversation as they waited.
A short while later, the door opened.
Naga entered first, followed by a young man dressed in military garb. The newcomer looked to be around the same age as Padmavathi—perhaps a year or two older.
"Yuvraj, this is him," Naga said.
Without another word, he stepped aside and resumed his position near the doorway.
Hamsa studied the young soldier for a moment.
"So you're the man, hmm?" he said casually. "What's your name—and your credentials?"
The young man glanced around briefly before answering.
"Yuvraj, my name is Ranapala, son of Devadatta. I serve in the capital's main army as a cavalry officer."
Hamsa nodded slightly before turning his gaze toward Padmavathi.
"So, Padmavathi… is this the man you said was your lover?"
"Yes, Yuvraj," she replied.
Though she tried to remain composed, the faint redness spreading across her cheeks betrayed her embarrassment.
"Well, young man," Hamsa said as he leaned back in his seat, "you're quite fortunate. Your wife's intellect is something I value very highly. One of the requests she made of me was to help the two of you get married."
He glanced between them.
"From what I understand, both of your fathers are opposed to the idea."
Padmavathi's personal request to the Yuvraj had indeed been exactly that—to help her marry the man she loved.
Their families, however, were unlikely to approve.
Padmavathi's father worried whether a soldier could truly provide a stable life for his daughter. After all, soldiers often marched to war and sometimes never returned.
Ranapala's father had his own objections. Their family belonged to the lower ranks of the nobility, and he disliked the idea of his son marrying the daughter of a merchant family.
To him, it was beneath their standing.
"Very well," Hamsa said at last.
"Naga."
The guard stepped forward immediately and stood at attention.
"Yes, Yuvraj."
"Take this young man and enlist him into the Royal Guard."
The room froze.
"In fact," Hamsa continued casually, "place him under Gopala. That old brute should be able to knock him into shape."
Then he turned back to the stunned pair.
"Well, Ranapala and Padmavathi—congratulations on your marriage, and Ranapala's induction into the Royal Guard."
Everyone except Naga looked completely shocked.
That was hardly surprising. Naga, after all, already knew what kind of man his Yuvraj was.
Padmavathi and Ranapala, however, had both risen to their feet without realizing it.
The reason was obvious.
Becoming a member of the Royal Guard was an extremely difficult process.
First, a candidate had to serve as an officer or higher in the standing army. From there, observers—usually retired members of the Royal Guard—would monitor promising soldiers and recommend potential recruits.
Those selected were then subjected to intense training before being sent to a state-run military academy created specifically for Royal Guard candidates.
The youngest person ever chosen had been twenty-nine years old.
What Hamsa had just done…
…was completely unprecedented.
"Yuvraj," Ranapala said quickly, bowing his head, "I am honored, but I am not worthy of such a position. My mana has only recently matured, and I still lack a proper mana well. I also lack the necessary experience. And Padmavathi is not yet my wife—"
"Hold your horses," Hamsa interrupted.
"I know you're not ready. That's precisely why this will be good for you."
He rose from his seat.
"And as for the marriage," he added casually, "from this moment onward, the two of you are husband and wife. Once we finish here, we'll visit a temple and make it official."
Padmavathi and Ranapala stared at him in stunned disbelief.
"As for your other concerns," Hamsa continued, stepping forward, "experience can be gained. And the training you will receive will make you wish Yamaraj himself would come and take you."
He stopped directly in front of Ranapala.
"And your mana problem…"
Chotu slid off Hamsa's lap and sat quietly on the floor.
Hamsa raised his hand and placed it on Ranapala's shoulder.
Of the five people in the room, only Hamsa and Naga understood what was about to happen.
Padmavathi, Jinadatta, and Ranapala all looked confused.
Before anyone could speak—
Mana surged.
Hamsa's power flowed into Ranapala.
For a brief moment, Hamsa blinked, and his eyes changed once again.
The air in the room seemed to tremble.
After several seconds, Hamsa removed his hand.
Ranapala immediately staggered, his legs weakening beneath him. Padmavathi rushed forward and caught him before he could fall.
"Yuvraj—what did you do?" Padmavathi and Ranapala asked in unison.
Jinadatta stared in shock. Though he could not see mana the way Hamsa could, he could certainly feel the overwhelming surge that had filled the room.
Hamsa simply shrugged.
"Well," he said calmly, "I fixed your mana problem."
His expression hardened slightly.
"No one outside this room is to know what happened here."
As he spoke, his own mana flared outward briefly, filling the room with silent pressure.
The message was unmistakable.
After a few minutes, everyone slowly regained their composure.
Hamsa returned to his seat along with Chotu, while Jinadatta settled into the chair to his left.
Across from them, Padmavathi and Ranapala sat side by side, their hands still quietly clasped together.
"Very well," Hamsa said at last, rising from his chair. "If that is everything, I will take my leave."
Padmavathi and Ranapala immediately stood as well.
"Padmavathi," he continued, slipping a ring off his finger and holding it out to her, "keep this."
She accepted it carefully.
"Once the two of you have finished your celebrations—and dealt with your families—you will come to see me in the Royal..."
Hamsa paused for a moment, reconsidering.
"No… actually, it would be better if you both move to the Royal District and once you do, return that ring."
He looked directly at Padmavathi.
"From that point onward, your education will be under my direct supervision."
Then his gaze shifted to Ranapala.
"As for you—Naga will see to whatever you require."
He paused.
"And work hard. Once the monsoon ends, I will be leaving the capital. If by then you are not capable enough to accompany me, you will remain behind."
"Well if that's all. I shall take my leave." Hasma said as he got up, Chotu along with him.
_________________________________
After the formalities were exchanged, Hamsa stepped back onto the busy streets of the city and began heading toward the Royal District. This time, however, they moved at a slower pace. Merchants called out their wares, carts rolled across the stone roads, and the constant hum of daily life filled the air around them.
"Send a message to Bhima," Hamsa said calmly. "Tell him to keep that girl and those close to her safe at all costs."
"As you command, Yuvraj," Naga replied with a slight bow.
With that settled, Hamsa continued moving, his eyes casually scanning the streets as people went about their business. Yet his attention soon turned inward.
Hey, Adi.
Hmm?
Do I really look like that kind of guy? I mean… sure, she was hot, but still…
What kind of guy?
You know… the kind who would order a girl to sleep with him. That's what you were trying to warn me about earlier, right?
Adi seemed to sigh.
Kid… just look at yourself. You're physically at that age. Combine that with the era you're living in, the power you hold, and the way you carry yourself. Honestly? Even I would assume you'd expect that kind of service.
Hamsa frowned slightly as he walked.
Hey, I have a moral compass and sanity, you know. Sure, I might be a degenerate on the inside, but I also have restraint. And a sense of morality. Even if the people in this world wouldn't see anything wrong with it and would just assume I'm some lust-driven Yuvraj.
He paused for a moment.
Hell, if I didn't have self-restraint, for starters I'd probably make my morning alarm—
Oi!!! Stop right there! Adi cut him off instantly. I do not want to hear what your degenerate brain is about to suggest. I've already seen enough horrors from your memories. The things stored in that mind of yours are bad enough. I absolutely refuse to hear what your conscious mind might come up with.
Hamsa felt dejected, though he still kept on moving.