Royal Residence: Garuda's Chambers
My name is Garudadeva Varman.I am eight years old.I am the second prince of the Valangar Kingdom.
I have a father who feels distant, and a mother who is caring—but strict.I also have an elder brother.
Sometimes, though, it feels less like I have a brother and more like I have an adult who looks after me.
He is treated differently than I am.Like an adult.
Even though we are only a year apart, people treat him as if he has already grown up—and most of the time, he behaves like it too.
For example, I still sometimes sleep on Mother's lap when she offers, or when I feel low. No one finds that strange.But I have never seen my brother do that. Not once. I've never even heard of him doing it.
They say he has only cried twice in his life. Once when he was born, and once when he was five—when that incident happened. And upon asking mother, she even confirmed this.Though it was only recently that I learned, that it was an assassination attempt.
I over hear the staff gossip about him often. Whenever they do, they all say the same thing—that he behaves more like an adult than a child his age.
At the temple, I am constantly compared to him. And more often than not, people look disappointed when I fail to be like him.I am not allowed to go anywhere without guards or prior notice, yet he can roam the entire district freely.
And to make it worse—
His mana awakened when he was five.Mine still hasn't shown any signs of awakening.
The worst part is that I've even heard people say—without hesitation—that he will be the next king. As if I was never even a possibility.
Sometimes, I think I should hate him.
But I can't.
He has always been kind to me. Always considerate.He constantly tells me not to compare myself to him, calling himself a "colossal weirdo" or saying he's just built wrong.Yet he's also quick to anger whenever I try anything even slightly dangerous.
I don't hate him.
I just want to be like him.
I want people to talk about me the way they talk about him.I want them to see me as someone who can stand beside my brother—someone equal—not just a shadow walking behind him.
But… he's better than me in almost every way.
To be honest, the only things I'm better at are philosophy and religious studies.
And those are things my big brother has absolutely no interest in at all.
As these thoughts lingered, a servant entered the chamber, accompanied by one of the guards stationed at the doorway.
Both bowed before speaking.
"Rajkumar Garuda," the servant said, "your elder brother, Rajkumar Hamsa, wishes to see you tomorrow morning at the temple—shortly after sunrise. He specifically instructed that no one else be informed, and that you come as soon as you wake."
Garuda paused, taken aback.
After a moment's thought, he nodded.
"Very well," he said. "Inform my brother that I will be there."
The servant bowed once more and withdrew, the guard following him out of the chamber.
Garuda sat back down, frowning slightly.
What does Elder Brother want with me… and that too so early in the morning?
And without telling anyone?
He knows Father and Mother will be informed of our movements regardless.For him to say that… it must mean that it's important no one else knows beforehand.
Garuda folded his hands in his lap.
…I guess I'll just have to ask him tomorrow morning.
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Rajkumar Hamsa's Chambers
Rajkumar Hamsa was writing on a birch plank when the servant he had sent to Garuda returned with his younger brother's reply. After the servant withdrew, Hamsa leaned back in his seat and exhaled slowly.
"Gopal," he called.
A man entered and stood silently, awaiting orders.
"Send a message to Acharya Ram," Hamsa said."The candle will be lit tomorrow."
The man bowed and withdrew.
Two years have passed.
…Man, that really didn't feel like two years though.
Ever since my grandfather came to visit back then, we've been exchanging letters regularly. Even my grandmother—whom I still haven't met—joined in at one point.
As to what I asked him two years ago, I asked for manpower.
At the time, I had no real reach. I was forced to rely on palace gossip, half-truths, and outright coercion just to learn what was happening around me. And even then, I couldn't actually do anything about it.
That changed last year.
Since then, people loyal to my grandfather—and by extension, to me—have quietly joined the palace staff.
I know this is risky. The Ranga Kingdom is still a foreign power, and I'm effectively allowing their influence into the Royal District.
But I'm about fifty percent sure my mother knows.
And strangely enough… I trust my grandfather. His words had an effect one me.
Still, I made sure every single one of them was thoroughly terrified first—by exposing them to my mana directly. Anyone who stayed after that is either loyal or suicidal. Either way, manageable.
Now, onto what I've been doing.
After long discussions and extensive study with Acharya Ram, my understanding of mana has deepened considerably. Enough that we began experimenting.
To put it simply—
Because I can see mana, and because of how dense and strange my own mana behaves, I wondered if I could influence the mana of others.
Turns out, I can.
Not only that—I've been doing it subconsciously for years. With my parents. With Grandma Durga.
Once we realized this, we started testing it deliberately.
What we found was that.
I can influence and alter a person's mana channels.
I can expand them. Collapse them. Strengthen them.
And with considerable effort, I can even increase a person's maximum mana capacity—by mixing my mana with theirs and letting it settle as if it were their own.
Because of the way my mana works, it replenishes itself from ambient natural mana. Which means that, temporarily, it acts like an external supply.
It isn't permanent.
It's more like connecting a water tank to a moving water truck. Once the truck leaves, the extra water eventually runs out.
Still… the implications are enormous.
Which brings me to Garuda.
If I can expand and guide mana channels, then I can also help someone grow—help his mana develop earlier than it would naturally.
We tested this on apes first. From what I can observe, their mana structure is the closest to humans.
And it worked.
The test subject developed a complete mana circuit, and more importantly, could use mana far more efficiently than even naturally gifted apes.
So now, we're going to try it on Garuda.
From what I can see, he's already close. His mana organ exists, but the network around it is underdeveloped. According to Acharya Ram, Garuda would naturally awaken around twelve or thirteen.
I don't want to wait that long.
Because ever since I gained loyal ears inside the palace, I've heard enough to suspect something dangerous.
Resentment.
Not hatred yet—but the seed is there.
And I can't allow that to grow.
So I'll help him awaken early. Help him grow stronger. Help him see me as an ally, not something looming over him.
It's risky.
But based on everything we've tested, the worst-case scenario is simple—his body rejects my mana, and his awakening is delayed by a year or two.
That's the theory, at least.
Tomorrow, we find out if we were right.
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Next Day — Temple Complex
Early morning.
The first rays of the sun spilled over the capital, painting the stone in pale gold as birds began their morning calls. A light mist clung to the Royal District, thinning slowly as warmth spread through the air.
At the rear grounds of the temple complex stood a small group.
Acharya Ram was there, accompanied by a few of his most trusted students. Matha Durga stood slightly apart, an attendant by her side. And near them, Rajkumar Hamsa waited in silence. No one spoke anything.
They were waiting for Rajkumar Garuda.
After some time, a figure emerged from the thinning fog.
Garuda approached at a steady pace. He first bowed respectfully to Acharya Ram, then to Matha Durga, touching their feet in reverence before receiving their blessings. Only after that did he turn—and notice his brother standing a short distance away from the rest.
He walked over, tilting his head up to meet Hamsa's gaze.
"Elder Brother," Garuda asked, confusion clear in his voice,"Why did you call me here at such an hour?"He hesitated, then added,"And why tell me not to inform anyone?"
Hamsa glanced toward Acharya Ram. The old man gave a slow nod.
Hamsa turned back to Garuda.
"I told you not to tell anyone," he said evenly,"because I don't want to explain to Father and Mother what I'm about to do."
Garuda blinked.
"I want to help you develop your mana."
For a moment, Garuda just stared at him.
Then he laughed weakly."Surely even you can't do something like that."
Hamsa's expression didn't change.
The smile faded from Garuda's face.
"…You're serious."
"Yes."
Garuda swallowed."Why?" he asked quietly."And how?"
Hamsa didn't hesitate.
"Whatever you're thinking," he said,"forget it. I'm not doing this out of pity. I'm doing this so you can grow—on your own terms."
He met Garuda's eyes.
"I want you to grow as my brother. Nothing more. Nothing less."
That's only half the truth.
I do want you to grow.But I also need you to trust me.To stand with me.
So I have to make sure you see this as kindness—not control.
Garuda stood there, torn.
His face showed it clearly—wanting this, yet uneasy about it.
…Does he think this is pity or something, even now?
Hamsa stepped closer and placed a hand on Garuda's shoulder.
"Garuda," he said softly,"You can refuse. I won't force you."
He paused.
"But as your brother, I want you to grow. I want you to be able to rely on me.""That's all I wish for—your well-being."
Silence followed.
Then Garuda straightened, resolve settling into his expression.
"…Please," he said."Do what you must."
"Good," Hamsa replied.
He placed one hand on Garuda's head.The other on his chest.
The world went quiet.
For a full minute, nothing happened.
Then light began to spill from both brothers—soft at first, then growing brighter. The mana surged, its intensity rising until it became almost blinding.
And then—
It vanished.
Hamsa withdrew his hands.
The change was immediate.
Garuda stood frozen, mana leaking from his body in uneven waves—raw, uncontrolled. His circuit had awakened fully, but his control hadn't caught up.
Without hesitation, Hamsa let a large portion of his own mana settle into Garuda's system, wrapping around the unstable flow like a brace.
A safeguard.
Acharya Ram stepped forward.
"Congratulations, Rajkumar Garuda," he said warmly."You now possess a fully developed mana circuit. How does it feel?"
Garuda blinked, breathing unevenly.
"It's… strange," he said slowly."My senses feel overwhelmed. No—"He frowned, searching for words."It feels like I gained a new sense entirely."
Acharya Ram chuckled.
"You should thank your brother," he said."If not for his preparations—and the mana he left within you—you would be bedridden for at least a week."
Garuda turned at once.
"Elder Brother—"
Hamsa didn't answer.
He swayed.
Then collapsed.
Garuda caught him just in time, preventing him from hitting the ground. People rushed forward immediately.
Hamsa was conscious—but pale.
Exhausted.
This time, though, it wasn't serious.
Not long after, palace servants arrived, alerted by the disturbance. News traveled fast.
By midday, the Raja and the Mahadevi were informed of what had occurred.
To those outside the inner circle—temple residents, officials, and the public—the announcement was simple.
Rajkumar Garuda had awakened early.
Nothing more was said.