Deva, Temple of Treachery

Chapter 1

(This story takes place in the Primalcraft universe so if you like it, maybe you will like that series as well)

The old streets of Varanasi were bubbling with sound as people crossed them. The sacred river of Ganges, were flowing calmly, filled with boats. By the ghats, the stone stairs leading down to the river, people were bathing, washing away their sins as according to their beliefs was possible with the river's help. The golden temples shone under the scorching sun, illuminating the western banks.

Across the river, a young Indian woman in a blue British dress and white hat ran between the people, getting glares from the more traditional people for running around like a child. A few older ladies in traditional Indian sari muttered that the girl needed a husband. It might be 1930, but a young woman still needed a husband to be decent.

The girl though didn't care as she ran, cursing her high heels as she ran toward the Central Hindu College. Running into campus, panting and gritting her teeth she ran into the classroom, eyes turning towards her, all of them frowning at her tardiness. A few muttered that it was expected. If it was because of her being a native among the foreign British or because of her gender, the woman didn't know. She just ignored them, turning toward the only familiar face in the room.

"Late again, miss Mahadevi?" the older man said, his wrinkles deepen in a frown on his pale skin, the stoic face, stern in a disapproving manner.

Smiling, the woman raised a lunchbox. "My Maa wouldn't let me leave until I brought you lunch, Amos."

"Call me Mr. Graycrest or Sir, Amara," Amos said, but his stern expression softened at the mention of Amara's mother making him lunch. "Are you bribing me, miss Mahadevi?"

"Is it working?"

"...What is in the lunchbox?"

"Kashmiri Pulao," Amara cocked an eyebrow. "Your favorite."

With a grimace, Amos nodded for her to take a seat, but not before he relieved the lunch from her hands with an eager gesture. Being an old friend of her father, Amara's mother knew how to handle Amos.

Sitting down by the desk, several eyes glaring at her, she pulled out her books after removing her hat. Her tanned skin glistened with sweat, making her look far from the rich lady she was. She pulled out a handkerchief, wiping it off as she glanced at the board.

"Now, where were we?" Amos muttered, looking up at the board. "Oh yes, the Vedic period ensured the rise of the second urbanization after the creation of the Indus Valley Civilization. During this time, we see the creation of writings of the Vedas, developed in the Kuru Kingdom, and depicting the basis of Brahmanical ideology. The civilizations during these times were formed through the unions of different Indo-Aryan tribes and the Vedas became the base for the archaeologic knowledge of the era and the race that we use today. "

"With archaeological studies, we have found out that the Vedic period developed several traits we associate with a developed world, such as iron tools, hierarchy of social classes, and the transition from a nomadic lifestyle to a settled agriculture while they kept other more barbaric practices such as battering with cattle and food, instead of using currency," turning toward the class, Amos touched his neatly trimmed gray beard. "Now, can any of you explain why the Vedas is considered problematic to use as a source of information outside it being a religious text?"

The class fell into silence, the only thing sounding was the eager waving of the only woman in the classroom.

"Yes, miss Mahadevi?"

"It wasn't an originally written text, before the Vedic period the Vedas transmitted orally which means that the information given could have been changed over the years the story was told," Amara said, ignoring once again the glares she received from her classmates, who just seemed to dislike her presence.