Reflections of Vishnu

Section 3: The Waters Rise

That night, the rain came back in earnest, heaving down from a seemingly opened heaven, as if in reaction to the prayers of the priests. The river snaking its way through Sapta Pura began to rise, edging gradually out toward the outer walls of the city. What had started out as an unusual but rather manageable weather pattern was now rapidly turning into something far more dangerous. The river became like a beast ready to consume all in its path.

Standing at the balcony of his private chamber, Viraj watched the waters surge even higher. The distant din of the storm quickly drowned out the shouting of soldiers as they ordered preparations of defenses against the flood. The flickering lights of the city seemed to him to dance in time with the storm, giving the kingdom a kind of ghostly glow. But his chest growing tighter actually, he kept composed. It was his duty to be strong-to instill confidence in his people in a world that was crumbling around them.

Behind him, Saanvi slipped silently into the room. She had returned hours earlier from the temple, exhausted by all the rituals and prayers, but the fire in her eyes still burned.

"Ishvara believes gods have answered our prayers," Saanvi said softly, halting beside him. "But still he cautioned that the true test is yet to appear."

Viraj nodded, eyes closed, churning river in front of him. "The storm's just a sideshow, Saanvi. The real danger is beneath the surface, the Mahapandit said. Whatever demon lurking down there, it is just biding its time to strike.

Saanvi laid a hand on his arm, anchoring him. "We will brave it, Viraj. Together."

He leaned into her, steel in her voice belying the growing peril. A few silent moments passed as they found strength in each other. It was a bond that would never break-a bond that had been tempered for so many years as they ruled Sapta Pura together, through every storm that came their way, real and figurative.

---
Subsection: The Flood Begins

Just before dawn, the river finally broke through the city's defenses. In a deafening crash, it overflowed its banks and roared into the low districts of Sapta Pura. Soldiers dashed to shut off the torrent and send it elsewhere, but the water was traveling with terrifying speed. In an instant, whole streets were underwater, and the lower marketplace went under waves of mud.

Viraj was prompt to act, mobilizing all the relief and contingency plans he had put in place to ensure that citizens in low-lying areas were moved to higher grounds. But even then, the flood was too strong.

The couple could sit at the palace and get reports of the damage from various messengers where houses have been destroyed and cattle taken by the waters. It was all so dreadful, yet somehow, Viraj couldn't help but feel this was not it-this wasn't the storm he had envisioned.

"We must prepare for the worst," Viraj said grimly as he stood beside Aarav in the throne room.

Aarav, never one to move, simply nodded. "The soldiers do what they can, but I fear we cannot hold back the river much longer."

Viraj's eyes clouded over. "It's not just the water, Aarav. There's something in it. Something ancient. We need to uncover whatever lies beneath before it consumes us all."

---
Subsection: The Encounter

Later that afternoon, the floodwaters seemed to stabilize, even though they still submerged much of the lower city. There was a moment of surreal stillness, as if the storm itself was spent. But Viraj knew better. He had felt a shift in the air-a strange energy seeming to ripple through the water itself.

As night fell, the three of them came together on the southern watchtower of the palace; thus, they were able to see the river below, glinting like a snake as it wriggled over the earth. It was there, in the half-light of the moon, that they saw it-a shadow moving beneath the surface.
"There," Saanvi whispered, pointing. "Do you see it?"

The shadow moved with deliberateness in its grace, far too big to be any ordinary creature. Viraj's heart thudded at the sight. This was no ordinary flood. It was the sign Ishvara had spoken of—the manifestation of the Matsya Avatar's ancient enemy.

Suddenly, the water was violently churning, and a monster arose from its depth. It seemed as though the river itself had taken shape in the form of a towering mud, water, and darkness creature. Its eyes were shining in an uneasily sickly green, and its body pulsed with malevolent energy.

Instinctively, Viraj reached for the hilt of his sword. "This is it," he muttered to himself rather than to any other person.

Aarav gripped his own weapon tightly. "What is to be done, my king?"

Viraj's eyes narrowed as he watched the monster slog closer to the city's walls. "We fight. But not in a blinded manner. This creature is tied to the flood; it acquires strength from the water. And that is where we have to cut the connection."

Saanvi, always the strategist, said, "If we could lure it onto dry land, then we might get a chance."

Viraj nodded. "Prepare the men. We'll need every available soldier to push this thing back ."

---

Subsection: Divine Strategy

The creature advanced slowly, and as it did so, a plan materialized between Viraj and Saanvi. It was quite obvious that brute force would not tumble the demon and thereby make this battle one of intelligence rather than quite of strength. So, they decided that it had to be weakened by drawing it away from the river in order to cut off its source of power.

He took the lead, his sword lustrous with moonlight as he and his army clashed with the creature at the edges of the city. Aarav marshaled the troops, instructing them to flank the beast while Viraj and Saanvi worked in concert to gain the upper hand over it.

But he was strong, and the force of his blows sent tremors through the ground beneath their feet. He lashed about with whips of water, bursting through stone walls to send soldiers tumbling. Still, with each of its blows, Viraj and Saanvi returned a calculated and strategic strike of their own, easing the beast ever further and closer to the dry hills beyond the city.

In the thick of combat, Viraj could sense there was something greater at play, an unseen hand guiding his motions with finesse, like in the tales of Lord Vishnu descending to protect poor mortals in their time of need. He fought with a ferocity he hadn't known he had within him, each strike landing with a godly pure force.