CHAPTER ASHBORN 447: WARRIORS OF TIME

Saunak’s reveal was only the beginning of Vir’s tribulations. First within Garga, and then, as the ripples of the rumor mill spread, onto the rest of the realm. Previously assured alliances would need mending. His new Iksana and Panav allies would need assuaging, and his enemies would no doubt exploit his association with the known criminal. This was precisely why Vir had wished to wait.

Yet only a fool could expect Saunak to behave rationally, but alas, such was Fate. Between juggling a rebellion, growing his own powers, and helping Maiya, there had been no shortage of crises grabbing his attention, and so Saunak’s needs had slipped through the cracks.

That said, despite all that plagued the Garga, Vir found himself at a loss for what to do.

It wasn’t that there was a shortage of tasks to be done—the opposite, rather. The Panav supplies needed to be stored, inventoried, and distributed efficiently. The walls needed to be repaired, and the soldiers prepped for the battle against the combined Chitran/Aindri army that was due to occur any day now.

Policy decisions needed to be made, law enforcement organized, and a whole slew of other tasks that went on seemingly unending.

Yet, unlike most of his life, Vir was no longer alone. Greesha and Janani were doing a fantastic job of handling the domestic affairs, while Tara coordinated with them both to direct the Panav’s supplies.

Cirayus had the wall repair well in hand, and Balagra, Nayan, and Raoul established troop rotations to exploit the time difference in the Ash—training them near Vijaya Stronghold in the art of city defense.

Ashani was off with Maiya, saving the Human Realm, and so, other than walking the streets and giving assurances, Vir had precious little to do. And as he’d learned, there were only so many times Vir could show his face before people started growing anxious. Living deities did not descend unless something was seriously wrong, it seemed.

The chamber beneath the city was of keen interest to him, yet after some initial investigation, it seemed the entrance had caved in and would require excavation. As tempted as he was to learn more of the messages Janak had hidden through the realms, Vir didn’t dare distract the Asuras from their task, and even with Balancer of Scales, it’d take Vir the better part of a day.

It felt to Vir as though multiple storms were brewing—Saunak, the Chitran and his subsequent coronation, should he prevail… Yet as it often was before a storm, there was little to be done other than batten down the hatches and prepare as best they could.

And so, Vir took the rare personal moment to sequester himself in the pointlessly large room his forces had built for him at Vijaya Stronghold in the Ash.

The cot in the corner was the only piece of furniture that had been brought in. Considering how little time he spent here, there hadn’t been a need for much of anything else.

Sitting cross-legged on the cot, Vir sunk into his mindscape, summoning forth the tall trees of the Godshollow, the verdant meadow, and the stream that bisected it.

Vir wished he spent more time in this place. He wished he had devoted more effort to opening his Chakras and mastering his arts, and yet his time was no longer dedicated to his own growth. The scope had widened, the stakes raised ever higher. Now, Vir was responsible not only for personal development, but the development of those around him. Maiya, Balagra, his Asuras, and past them, the wider realm. He was Raja now, and the Garga was as much a part of him as his own heart.

Still, Vir had been humbled often enough to know that despite his power, he was nowhere even close to the strongest being around. The Yaksha Guardian would still annihilate him. Prana Swarms would still consume him.

And demons who’d opened the Crown chakra could still overwhelm his defenses.

As such, he needed the Warrior Chakra. If only to distract the monsters who’d opened the Crown while he assaulted them with his prana abilities.

Yet, therein lay the difficulty. Vir didn’t actually want the Warrior Chakra. He didn’t want to sunder someone’s soul, permanently crippling them.

Cirayus had said that some demons master the Warrior Chakra in the blink of an eye—at least when compared to the timescales involved with mastering some of the others. Those demons lusted for combat. They lived to fight, and killing was simply a part of life. Ꞧ𝐀NȮᛒЁŝ

Vir had killed more than most, though he was still loath to cripple, and crippling was precisely what the Warrior Chakra did. Having one’s soul torn apart was said to be a fate worse than death. Having had several near misses, Vir didn’t doubt that for a second.

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Growing frustrated, Vir summoned Narak and Shardul. The giant had proven a surprisingly capable mentor, and though only a fragment of the person Narak once was, Vir had enjoyed his company.

Shardul, while more withdrawn, managed to give pointers from time to time. As for Ekanai, well, Vir didn’t summon the ghael unless he had something specific to ask him. Even after reconciling with Ekanai and learning of his true personality, the demon was still an eccentric. He wandered on his own or sank into the shadows when summoned.

Considering how keeping his predecessors summoned consumed a bit of mental effort, Vir just didn’t see the point.

“The Warrior Chakra again, is it?” Narak asked.

Vir stood up and nodded before following the giant through the meadow. “The Warrior Chakra again,” he replied. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to open it. Not unless I suddenly become more violent, or something.”

“Yet the Shield and the Warrior are closely linked. Two faces of the same entity, one might say. As the shield protects, so too does the spear.”

“I understand that, of course. I’ve even employed that tactic myself—eliminate your opponent before they can eliminate you—yet it’s difficult to justify maiming someone when I could simply kill them,” Vir said.

“If killing is not an option?” Shardul asked. “If your clan or your Rajni’s life is in danger, and your pranic arts do not work on your foes?”

Vir grumbled. “Awfully fabricated situation, don’t you think? The only foe I can think of where that might be true are Imperium Automatons.”

“Well, then you have your answer. Do you wish to defeat Automatons in the future?” Shardul asked. “Think back to the time you nearly died. Had those two not turned away, all that you cared about would be lost.”

Vir bit his lip. “So, Warrior Chakra not as a means to maim, but as a defense against machines from the Age of Gods? I suppose I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

It was an oddly specific application for what were meant to be spiritual gateways underpinned by principles. Vir wondered if that approach would truly work.

The only way to know was to try, and so, Vir sat down, eager to finally have a lead to follow.

Yet before he could, he heard nebulous voices with no point of origin. The first time this had happened, Vir had been thoroughly confused. Now, though, he recognized the disturbance as his time being up.

“No rest for the wicked,” Vir said, standing up again. “Till next time then.”

“Be well,” Narak replied, while Shardul simply nodded.

Vir allowed the mindscape to dissolve and found himself back on his cot.

“Yes?” he asked the Asura by the door, trying to keep the frown off his face. Just when he had some time to himself, he had to be interrupted like this?

“My Akh Nara,” the Asura said, kneeling. “The Rajni wishes to speak with you. It is a matter of some urgency.”

Vir’s expression brightened. “Maiya? Where is she? Take me to her.”

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Vir found Maiya pacing around alone in her handmaiden armor within the royal chambers at Samar Patag’s castle. It was a cavernous room with three-story-tall ceilings, stained glass overlooking the sadly neglected courtyard, and was filled with all manner of expensive-looking furnishings, from elaborate dressers to silken rugs to a massive four-poster bed that could’ve slept ten people.

“Oh, good, you’re here!” Maiya said the moment Vir entered. “For a place that’s supposed to belong to you, you spend an awfully small amount of time in here, y’know?”

Vir chuckled. “I don’t spend any time in here.”

Maiya stopped her pacing and frowned. “Why’s that?”

“Well, y’know, this room used to belong to my parents. My birth parents. They slept on that very bed, shared precious moments in these chairs. Doesn’t feel right taking it for myself.”

Maiya’s expression fell. “You feel like they’re still here, don’t you?”

“A bit,” Vir shrugged.

“That’s just your insecurities, you know?” she said, gently squeezing his arm.

“I know,” he said. “But there are other reasons, too. The time advantage of the Ash is too potent not to take full advantage of.”

Maiya let go and adopted a sour expression. “I know! If only I could set foot there!”

Vir smiled. “It’s harder for humans, though maybe not impossible. No one’s ever had access to the Ash like I have. Maybe I could have Ashani set up a Gate to the very outskirts. You could start by trying to get close to it from the human side. Once you’re able to do that, you could walk through. From there, it’s just a matter of exposing yourself to denser prana.”

“I suppose you’d know what you’re talking about,” Maiya said. “With all the demons you’ve helped acclimate.”

Vir nodded. “We’ve got it down to a science now. For demons, at least.”

“I’d like that very much,” Maiya said. “If only so I can see the land you spent so much of your life in.”

Vir barked a laugh. “It’s not all that interesting. Impressive, sure. But it’s mostly just a wasteland. Well, except Mahādi.”

Maiya’s eyes lit up at the mention. “You think I could possibly go there someday?”

“Possibly,” Vir said with a shrug. “If you’re diligent enough, and if this whole thing is even possible. Anyway, what did you want to see me for? I assume it wasn’t to chat about the Ash.”

“Right,” Maiya said, stiffening. “I know how busy you are. I know the millions of responsibilities you have, so I hesitate to even ask, but…”

Vir did his best to hide the fact that he’d been meditating precisely because he had nothing else to do. But he couldn’t bring himself to admit that. Let alone to Maiya, of all people.

Instead, he chose to keep quiet, opting for a simple “Yes?”

“But we could really use a show of force over in the Human Realm right now,” Maiya said. “Even if it’s just you. Something to shock Andros into thinking twice about invading Kartara. It’d buy Riyan the time he needs to wait out your conflict with the Chitran. Please?”

Vir narrowed his eyes. “How big of a demonstration are we talking?”

“Well,” Maiya said, averting her eyes. “The bigger the better! Heh.”

Vir thought it over before realizing he was never going to say no to begin with. This was something he was uniquely suited to do. And besides, how could he resist going wild in the Human Realm? How could he resist testing his strength against those who used to trample over him, appearing like gods to his then-weak self?

Most of all, how could he say no to his beautiful red-headed queen-to-be?

“Very well. I can spare two hours, and I’ll bring a hundred—no, one hundred and seven Asura with me,” Vir said, feeling somewhat whimsical on this day. “Will that suffice?”

“Vir!” Maiya’s eyes lit up, and, trembling, she threw her arms around Vir before planting a kiss on his lips. “You’re the best!” she cried, before whispering, “My Akh Nara…”

Vir’s cheeks went promptly red.