Years passed now Durgavati was 8 years old, she had grown up fast and was held as a genius. She could speak since she was one, solve mathematics higher than her age, she asked questions which normally weren't supposed to come from a child. Today was her 8th birthday and the day for the mana test. This was the day when children would know about their compatibility with mana, and what their element of control was, there are 7 elements in total air-water-earth-thunder-dark-light-fire. The test was to have a veteran priest place his hand on the child's back and circulate his own mana in the child which would awaken the mana space in the body to which the mages can use to store mana. Today was Durgavati's day for the test, she was excited. She wore a Pattu Pavadai, green top and yellow skirt. She woke up pretty early today, had a bath very fast and ran straight to Digvijay. Digvijay was walking towards her room when she came fast in the hallway and jumped straight in his arms, Digvijay caught her and raised her up in the air, she laughed. Digvijay held her in his arms and asked her " What's the hurry girl, going somewhere? Oh it must be because of the mana test right." Durgavati said to him, " No it's because you said you will spend the whole day with me, and not run off for your work." It was true that the king was very busy with his court affairs mainly because of which he had very little time to spare for his kids, especially Durgavati. As Verendra was the heir, Digvijay would spend his time with him teaching him everything necessary. But that indirectly resulted in negligence of Durgavati.
The king replied " Yes, those people at the court always keep me busy and don't let me visit my daughter, what do you think should i just dismiss them" Durgavati thought for a second and said " Then take me with you, there I will beat up all the people at the court who keep you busy then they won't keep you there and you will come to me." Digvijay burst with laughter " HAHAHAHA, HAHAHAHA, you are correct. You should beat them up, I feel like they are so boring and they call me for even the tiniest of reasons. Sometimes I wonder who even appointed them as ministers."
Both kept laughing and made their way to the temple where the mana test was to be conducted. The temple had an open space in front of the statue of the goddess, where every important person of the kingdom was present. The high priest Dharmapala Bharadwaj, general of the royal army Adhiraj Raghuvanshi, his wife Vishnavi, their child Vikramaditya. Chandni and her son Vedhara. The royal family sat together in front of the goddess.
The king and the high priest Dharmapala sat beside each other, Dharmapala whispered to the king " Everything is political isn't it? You could've had this test in the royal palace with all those ministers, and generals and what not. Yet you decided to have it here in the main temple of our war goddess. Why my king, want to look good let the people know how close we are." Digvijay just sat there crossed legged and said nothing, until he looked at Dharmapala and said " This is the difference between us, you only care about the temple while I care about the people" after a few glances at the sky, temple and the people gathered, " well.." Dharmapala declared " Let the test begin, bring the priest and my princess Durgavati please step into the circle"
Durgavati followed and sat in between the circle drawn which had a small wooden stool on it facing his majesty and the goddess. This was it, this was the time everyone was impatient about, about which element would she have, what amount of mana she has and whether she has talent. The priest who was selected for the test was Arjun. Arjun slowly made his way to the princess and sat behind her. He placed his hand on her back and slowly started to circulate his mana in her, some were excited, some were anxious. After a bit of time with no reaction, Digvijay asked " Arjun what happened ? Why is there no reaction?". " Your majesty, please forgive me but, it's quite difficult and strange, I feel like a barrier or some obstruction" Arjun replied. Everyone's faces were a bit confused with the dialogue. People whispered " What the hell is he saying" " He's not playing is he" " oh mind you, Arjun is the brightest of all the priests, he is our rising star" " he even helps to heal people free of cost with divine magic" " but think about what he's saying, anyone with single bit of mana can have other's mana circulate through them" " and not being able to let other's mana circulate is equal to….".
" Having zero mana, null" thought the king, it is true everyone in this world has at least a single bit of mana. It is like the life force of the world, living beings have it all the time even if many can't feel it. " Arjun, try harder and break the barrier and pour more mana," said Dharmapala. Arjun did as instructed, he was a bit anxious and concerned for the princess but was left with no choice. As he poured more mana he started to sweat like a river. As he pushed harder the circle around them started to glow and he was able to break the barrier, Arjun let out a breath he was holding. Now as his mana circulated, Durgavati found it to be uncomfortable, mana could not find any place to fit in or to be stored. Suddenly the mana started reacting differently, it started running everywhere, it flowed from Durgavati's head to toe to back to head, trying to find a way out. The wind started to shift, it blew stronger and stronger, Arjun sensed the danger and tried to remove his arm away from her back but he was late. The mana went straight into his palm at a highly fast and dangerous speed, Arjun tried to control it, his face very troubled. Everyone outside could only watch in shock and confusion at what was happening. Then it happened, Arjun's hand exploded or more like the veins of his forearm including the palm. There was blood all over his arm and Durgavati's back, there was total silence in the temple until Arjun looked at his arm and let out a scream " AAAAAAAHHH" he tried to control it and started to breathe fast and deep. The pain, for someone who only worked to heal and not any fighting, was unbearable. Digvijay ran towards Durgavati, picked her up and searched her for any injuries. Durgavati then said in a high pitched voice " I am ok papa, I am ok. Look at him, his arm went kaboom, not mine." Digvijay asked " are you sure, are you hurt, or scared or anything" Durgavati just shocked her head. The nearby priest started healing Arjun. Durgavati then asked " Papa, I don't like mana, it feels bad and puking". Virendhra, son of Digvijay and Chandni spoke, " Arjun, can you tell us what happened?". Arjun answered " When i tried to flow more mana, something was still blocking mana. As per high priest's instruction I poured in more and at some point that something stopped blocking and my mana went in, it circulated and tried to find a point to be stored. But then something changed, or like it was already going to happen. The mana started to run all through her body as if trying to escape, it was odd and since my hand was still connected mana rushed back to me through it. I tried to calm it and collect it as I thought trying to circulate more would be bad or wrong, then it happened. The speed it came back was so fast that I felt like the mana itself had somehow rejec—". " ENOUGH, everyone is dismissed. The mana test is a failure. My daughter will not be a mage." Digvijay cut Arjun and declared everyone dismissed. " Papa can we go, I want to play with you". " yes let's go". As Digvijay walked through and started moving back to the royal wagon, he saw everyone's eyes; some were concerned, some were anxious, some were confused, but there was one thing Digvijay knew everyone felt. FEAR. someone rejecting mana altogether was unheard of, when remembering what happened at her birth and today people were terrified as to what Durgavati was.
In the evening when the temple was busy, with no one but priests who were busy preparing the Aarti for the goddess, workers who were cleaning the temple and soldiers guarding the temple. Dharmapala went near the circle and whispered, " rejected , huh? This is interesting"