Dried Lilies, Withered Hearts And A Lonely Path

•Interlude• Arnav

The Surs were the direct descendants of the gods. They used to live on the planet of Illavarti. Their ruler was called Amresh. They used to worship various elements like fire, water, earth, air, and all;  believing they should always be thankful for the things helping them survive and making their life easy. They were also adherent believers of Dharma and the trinity gods — Bhrama, Vishnu, and Mahadev and their better-halves.

But as time passed, seeds of evil took place in the heart of god's first creations. They got jealous. Envy took root in their heart and they felt the need to put the other element down to show their significance. They weren't happy with the things provided to them. They wanted more and so, the fight began. Each element clashed and fought until they destroyed the whole Illavarti.

The clash of fire, water, air, and earth destroyed the atmosphere. Forests died, soil disappeared, water smoked and fire solidified. There was just lava all around and none of the survivors could live in those conditions. The arrogance that made them fight, a war to prove their worth and superiority ended reminding them they were useless without each other.

None of the elements could survive on their own. Fire can't burn without oxygen, the atmosphere can't sustain without gravity, water needs gravity to flow and earth needed water and air for the formation of soil, and to nurture her children. They all were co-dependent on each other.

The survivors were very remorseful. In their lust of power, in their pride to show the other down, they had destroyed their beloved abode. They were ashamed and decided to do penance for their actions. They worked to heal their planet which seemed quite impossible but they tried. For they had nothing else to do.

But Four survivors decided to do penance. After years, of penance, the Trinity graced them with their presence. Three of the four were very remorseful of their actions.

So they just begged for the revival of their world but the fourth penancer, the victor asked to be given his own kingdom and an obedient line of his own. People like him. He didn't have even the slightest bit of remorse.

The gods knew poison resided in his heart yet they couldn't deny granting him his wish. They were bound with their own morals.

From that day, the three penancers had their beloved world turned back as it was. The fire, water, earth, and air kingdoms were back with their boundaries, exotic creatures, and beauty.

But the four clans had lost the trust of gods so there was another kingdom established the Jeeva kingdom. The members of the Jeeva clan were created with the soil of earth mixed with water to give them form, fire to solidify them, and the air of air to breathe life in them.

The gods created them with affection— Bhrama provided them with his knowledge and creativity, Vishnu gave them his sense of duty for protection and preservation of the whole universe and Mahadev provided them with the strength to destroy everything in the time of need. Even themselves.

The power to yield pralay.

And the surviving kings set some rules for their kingdoms, rules that made them marry their elder children to the prince or princess of one of the other five kingdoms while the youngest daughter/son ruled the kingdom. They made this rule because they were sure no matter what they won't ever become kin-slayers.

For they respected dharma.

On the other hand, the fourth penancer was given his kingdom. He named it Patal. It was full of all the riches of the world, diamond, gems, gold, and jewels. It has gold and silver trees, natural fire but not much variety of eatable food. His people were powerful, full of strength, boldness, pride, and lust for power.