Beyond {UNDER EDIT}

S1-3- Messenger of The Destroyer

Something seemed unsettling.

The way these people bowed down to that man, who's past they weren't even aware of seemed quite queer to Rohak. And in his mind he knew that Ojas, Panav and Abhay felt the same.

"Now I, King Hriju, son of Rohan, shall officially commence this lecture!"

The musicians blew the trumpets as the King sat down. The crowd cheered wildly.

Devarishi took a deep breath. This one inhalation sucked in all the noises and cheers as the crowd once again fell silent. Then he looked at the sky and exhaled from his mouth, as if he was trying to recollect a long forgotten incident from the depths of his mind. Then he spoke in a deep, heavy voice.

"When I stood firmly on the highest peak in the Himalayas......."

"No. Not again." Ojas groaned and fell back.

The Saint had been repeating the same story since six months now. But every day, the citizens heard it all with the same enthusiasm with which they had heard it for the first time.

He continued,

"I remember, I had nothing but a few torn clothes and a dagger stained by the blood of the evil to protect myself from the swift cold gales. I yelled at the sky at the sky as it thundered. I asked the Lord-'Have you sent me to this cursed land only to slay demons?'''

He paused. Then slowly pulled out a dagger from his side and showed it to the crowd. The sheath seemed to be old yet it was beautifully carved. With one swift stroke, Devarishi pulled out the white blade, which shone beautifully under the sunlight. The reflected ray hit several people's eyes and they all instinctively shielded them as he moved the blade showing it to everyone. There were murmurs but they all died down as the saint sheathed his blade.

"And from the thundering sky, Lord Shiva came down himself." He continued, louder than before, "Our eyes stayed in contact for a minute. Then He walked towards me. I walked towards Him. And in a few steps we stood only half a foot away from each other..."

''I bet they're gonna kiss any moment now." Whispered Abhay and all four of them chuckled.

"Then the Lord gently put his left hand on my shoulder, like a friend would do and said- 'Oh my Devarishi! You seem to be weary! Look how your dagger has been stained by the blood of countless demons! Go south my child! Go south! Go south and you shall come across a river, a broad one and across that lies a town, a quite peaceful town of humans, humans who worship me, from now on your main objective is to show them the path of salvation and free them, free them from this cursed land! "

Instantaneously everyone stood up and cheered-"ALL HAIL DEVARISHI!"

The saint smiled and raised his right hand, stretched his fingers. The noise drowned down at his command.

"Now, I shall select the lucky citizens."

Lucky citizens.

These were those people who were taken, by Devarishi, to attain salvation. He would take them with him and guide them to the heavenly abode. Then after one month, he would return, alone. None knew the path he took or the direction in which they went, they only knew that the saint would take them to Lord Shiva and help them attain salvation.

Rohak, Panav and Ojas looked at each other. The orphanage authorities had said that years back, even their parents had abandoned them to attain this salvation. Tears formed at the edge of Panav's eyes. But nothing of this sort had been told to Abhay. The origin of his parents had remained a mystery for the authorities as well.

The saint started pointing out the 'lucky' people. Immediately, the four ducked and hid themselves. Going on a 'one-month-never-to-return-trek' with the saint was the last thing they wanted. Plus they all remained skeptical about the whole 'one month trek to heaven' concept. So they just hid there and waited. Meanwhile the selected people were dancing merrily on their seats and the ones who weren't were staring them with covetous eyes.

The soldiers, their chest adorned with a bright armor with a sun inscribed, came forward and took the 'lucky' people to the Devarishi's tent, which was located beside the King's palace. Only selected people were allowed to enter there.

As the trumpets blew, the King came forward again. The saint, meanwhile, settled down and drowned in meditation.

"After a wonderful session of knowledge by saint Devarishi, I, King Hriju of Surya town, shall give you some news."

The crowd fell silent

"As seen in last one week, a lot of citizens have been opposing the great saint recently, who is guiding us to Lord Shiva himself! Tell me, people, is he doing any wrong?"

The crowd unanimously replied-"NO!"

"Then why, why do some of you oppose? I feel that this behavior must not be tolerated and also, the current pattern of punishment for traitors is not enough. There must be a new pattern, a new pattern of punishment for those who oppose the great Saint!"

There were murmurs. Abhay, Panav, Rohak and Ojas looked at each other.

"All night long, till the moon slipped and the sun rose, I thought and thought till finally a new method came into my mind. I guess this shall ensure no more traitors. So from now on, "He paused and took a breath. "Anyone who shall commit treachery against the Saint, SHALL BE BANISHED FROM THE TOWN, BE TIED BEHIND THE BOATS AND DRAGGED IN THE ICE COLD CURRENTS OF MAKARA RIVER AND BE THROWN IN THE FOREST OF PRAVEG CLAN!"

The crowd cheered. This indeed was the best punishment.

The four boys shivered. They were well aware of the Praveg clan's ruthless and reckless killing ways. They feared them. Even Abhay's plan to escape the town was to go from around the forest so as to avoid them. But this was worse.

The session was dismissed. The four walked back toward their orphanage in their line. Not a single word was spoken. Soon they were in the corridors, the dying sunlight colored them and the walls in golden from the windows as they walked towards their room.

Panav, who was walking in the front, suddenly stopped. "The door's open." He whispered.

"What!" replied Rohak, as he cautiously proceeded, with Abhay right beside him.

Ojas followed and soon they all stood in front of the open door. Their mouth dropped open. Everything lay scattered. Their mattresses were upturned. Their clothes were thrown aside.

A huge brawny figure stood amid this mess. He held Saathi in his hands. He turned, saw the four and threw their raft aside. He walked towards them and pulled them in and pushed them as they fell on the hard ground. He shut the door and looked at them. His body was covered in a bright armor with a Sun's logo inscribed. His face was covered with a helmet.

A King's soldier.

There was a fluid sound of metal as he unsheathed his sword. The rays highlighted his sword and he swung it down, aiming straight for Abhay's head.