Adithi's voice dropped to a whisper.
"The blood of the Destroyer... it is not just a mark of fate. It is a force of creation and devastation... wrapped in one."
"A drop of that blood can elevate grass to blade, man to monster, stone to shield, dust to fire. It is power made manifest...
Not a gift. Not a curse.
It is... the Ultimate's will."
He locked his eyes to the ground, eyes swirling with fear.
"I think you got what you wanted, didn't you? Your Majesty "
Jwala said nothing. She turned, flames flaring behind her like wings, and vanished into the forest. She returned home in silence.
The boy was asleep, curled like a flame-coiled petal. She lifted him into her arms—now a little heavier, but still the same child who had fallen from the sky into her heart.
She held him close. Smiled.
"You've got ultimate power in you, kid…" she whispered, stroking his hair.
"But I am not a person who leaves you, even heaven fears me in this realm."
"You're my son."
She tightened her grip, her eyes fierce.
"I don't care if you're a Destroyer. Or a god. Or the reincarnation of the end itself.
Even if all the Sura and Asura come for your blood—I'll burn them down myself."
"I will protect you. Raise you. Love you.
Even if it costs me my life."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"I'll raise you into a sweet, strong, good man.
And until my last breath... I will never abandon you."
She pressed her lips to his forehead, and a firefly drifted by, silent witness to a vow forged stronger than any divine law.
Years passed.
The jungle lived and breathed, and so did they.
The boy grew—his eyes deep as starlight, his voice soft, his smile a rare treasure. He learned the language of beasts, the heartbeat of fire, the rhythm of stillness.
He never asked about the things he lacked.
And Jwala never told him... not yet.
Now, fifteen years later, the boy—tall, calm, and unreadable—walked alongside Jwala through the sacred trees of Sarpavana, laughter echoing faintly from his breath.
And on a hot, dry day, as the sun burned over the treetops…
A familiar figure approached.
Robes of dusk.
Eyes full of tiredness. Adithi.
The midday sun blazed down on Sarpavana, the trees casting long shadows over the quiet little house by the river.
Adithi arrived in his usual fashion—uninvited, unbothered, and curious.
"I'm sorry for an uninvited visit, Queen. I'll exchange some useful information for a glass of water. This river water is too powerful; these old bones can't bear such vigorous water.
Jwala, with a glass of water in her hand and a cold gaze, said, 'If the information is not valuable, don't mind becoming food for those flowers in my backyard.' She threw the water in front of him. Drink it, elf, with your wind magic that you're proud of.
He, without second thought, used his wind magic on the floor to recover the water in his palms and drank every last bit of water droplet.
"That is really a life-saving grace, your majesty …"
Suddenly—SLAM!
The door flung open with a thud.
"Mooommm! I'm huuungryyy!"
A familiar, energetic voice rang out—raw, unfiltered youth.
The boy barged in, barefoot and bright-eyed, his hair messy from climbing trees.
"Come here, my cute sweetheart ~" Jwala cooed, opening her arms wide.
He ran into her embrace like he was born there. She kissed the top of his head and gently sat him on her lap in a royal manner.
What do you want to eat, darling? Anything for you, just tell me.
I'll eat anything that you make, Mom.
"I'll make you something sweet then, wait two minutes," she said, ruffling his hair.
He ate with lightning speed, while Adithi sat on his knees on the floor to start a conversation, he knew what would happen if she was disturbed during her sweet time with her precious son.
Then, mid-chew, he looked up.
"Who's this old man?"
Jwala chuckled softly.
"Just some wanderer passing through asking for directions."
The boy tilted his head."Ohhh, okay, mom. I'm gonna play outside then! Take care, old man! Don't be lost on the way, or beasts are gonna call you with another name like food."
He zoomed out the door like a comet with legs.
Adithi kneeled even more, touching his head to the ground.
"Your boy's full of life. It's rare, in this world… to see that kind of joy, Your Highness."
Jwala sipped her drink with a soft smile.
"He is my entire world."
Adithi's in his soft and slow voice,
The thing is, Celestial convergence is going to happen near the Icy barren lands of the south.
Jwala, with fiery eyes, "Oh?"
He gestured vaguely, eyes touching the floor.
"Three weeks from now… head to the South Pole, Your Majesty.
There's something valuable waiting for you. What exactly? You'll know when the time's right."
Jwala narrowed her eyes. "Valuable?" I think our family has had enough sins to bear, while you're talking about the matter of the Glowing realm here. But that is not a bad one anyway.
You can get out of my sight now, elf.
"For your hospitality," he showed his gratitude by kneeling.
"And maybe because… seeing that boy's energy made my old bones feel a bit less cursed."
With that, Adithi turned, stepped beyond the trees, and vanished without a sound—like he was never there.
That evening, as the sun dipped behind the canopy, Jwala sat by the fire. The boy sat next to her, chewing on dried fruit.
"Honey…" she said softly,
"Wanna go on a long trip?"
He lit up immediately.
"Yes, Mom! But only if you're coming too!"
That innocent smile, that little light in his eyes—It said everything.
"Of course," she said, pulling him close, "Always with me, my sweet son.
Jwala, in her mind,
This time my Sins are gonna rack up...