Chapter 58 - Graduation

"You seem rather joyous today, Lucia." I said to young girl walking a bit ahead of me.

"D-Do I?" She was trying to suppress those feelings but she wasn't good at it at all.

She seemed to be a bit proud of something as the excitement spread across her face.

"You see, today is the day. I am finnally graduating!"

"For that, don't you have to clear test first?"

"I know. You don't have to tell me that. God, you're such a bummer," She pouted.

Indeed, today is the day, Lucia will graduate from her schooling. Her guru visit Raj Mahal every day and bestow his knowledge upon her. After 6 whole years of educating under her guru, there isn't much left for Lucia to be taught.

Today, she'll have her final exam and if she successfully cleared it, then it'll prove that all those years weren't in vain after all.

She may be happy about this since graduating too is a huge achievement in itself. Graduating means that one successfully attained knowledge and is adequate enough to use it perfectly which, non-graduates can't do since it's the reason they didn't succeeded to match those requirements.

"Hey..." Lucia called me out somewhat anxious.

"What is it, Lucia?"

"...You think I'll be fine?"

Now, she was worried whether she'll successfully clear exam or fail miserably.

"As long as you have been through all of the material and listened to you guru's lectures attentively, there shouldn't be any problem I guess."

"T-That I did,"

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥? 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭...

We finnally reached our destination as Lucia opened the door.

Once we entred the room, our whole view was covered with books. Left, right, up and down, whole room was filled with books. Though there were tables and seats too for obvious reason.

We were in library of Raj Mahal. One can say it's treasure of knowledge.

There awaits a man in his mid 50s. He had long gray and black beard. Then he covered his upper body with an angvastra with janeu thread across his left shoulder, red dhoti below, and khadau as footwear. A typical guru indeed.

Lucia proceeded to greet her guru,

"Pranipat, Guru dev."

With a slight bow. Hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upwards, thumbs close to her chest. Lucia greeted her guru with absolute respect.

Then she bowed, reached for her guru's feet and touched them as her guru raised his hand above Lucia's head,

"God bless you my child,"

He looked at me. I gave light nod for greeting which he returned back with a smile.

It's not like it's our first timing meeting each other. Since I accompany Lucia for most the time, I accompany her during her classes too.

I also remember seeing her guru at banquet.

"Now then, are you prepared for your final exam." Old man asked.

"I am, Guru ji," Lucia replied in confidence but she was somewhat nervous. Her guru sense it too as he followed up with a joke,

"Just so you know, you couldn't cheat since I am here. All your plans together with Allan wouldn't lead you to better results."

"W-We wouldn't do such thing! Please proceed."

To which her guru chuckled.

Old man took his seat and Lucia sat infront of him. Lucia asked me to have a seat too which I refused since it's not a proper etiquette.

She then asked me to have a book of my choice from library so I won't be bored which I too refused.

If anything else, there wasn't much for me to learn from any of the books. Plus, not any of them caught my attention so it would be boring reading one anyway.

"Now shall we begin?"

Old man asked to which Lucia nodded in approval.

It was an oral examination so it will be a challenge to Lucia's thought process and thinking capabilities.

"Then answer my question, what is the caste system?"

An easy one. But I'm sure difficulty will increase as they move on.

"The caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultural notions of purity and pollution... Basically, it's a social hierarchy system which was created by Gods. A person's position in hierarchy is decided at birth by their past karmas, i.e., the deeds of their previous life."

She dictated it as if she knew it by heart.

"Well then, how many castes are there in caste system?"

"Four,"

"Name them."

"Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Sūdras. There is one more caste Dalits or untouchables, and they are socially outcaste."

"Explain roles of each caste."

"– Brahmins hold highest power as well as position in the caste system. They are priests and are spritual and intellectual leaders of the society.

– Kshatriyas, the second highest in the caste system, below Brahmins. They are warriors, it's their duty to protect and battle as well as govern the land. Males are expected to be a symbol of masculinity while females are taught to be gentle and well behaved,"

"Very good, very good," Old man praised Lucia to which she smiled a bit then continued.

"– Below Kshatriyas, there are Vaishyas. They are also considered as commoners or common people.Their role lay in productive labour, in agricultural and pastoral tasks, and in trading. Their way of life demanded study, sacrifice, and the giving of alms,"

"Yes,"

"– And the lowest of them all, Sūdras. They are normally artisans and laborer, they're meant to serve all the castes above them."

"Wonderful. Now tell me, what caste you belong to?"

"I am Kshatriya."

"What caste I belong to?"

"You're a respected Brahmin, Guru ji."

"Very well... What are Panchtatva?"

"As it sound, panchtatva are 5 elements. They're the base of creation and universe itself."

"Name them all,"

"Prithvi tatva, Land. Jal tatva, Water. Agni tatva, Fire. Vayu tatva, Air. And Akash tatva, Sky or space." Lucia answered.

Impressed, her guru raised his eyebrows.

"What is Prãna?"

"Prãna is the life force. Not only is it present within us but it is the essence of all the energy in universe."

"Good, very good."

Lucia smirked as she add up,

"Though all the living beings have it in them, there isn't much we know about Prãna. All the source of information are the ancient scriptures and modern research. Access to Prãna is not something a person can have and there are only few who could efficiently perform the practice. It is in legends, that Lord Ajay used Prãna to preserve the land of Celis from evil at the end of Kali Yug and established Krita Yug as he reset the Yug cycle to beginning."

"What is Yug cycle?"

"There are 4 yugs.

– Krita Yug, which last for 1,700,000 years, is also called age of Gods when mortality was ruled by Gods.

As we know, good and evil are two sides of the same coin. During Krita Yug, Good and Evil resides in different world.

– Treta Yug, which last for 1,290,000 years, is the age where Good and Evil resides on the same land.

– Preceded by Treta, there is Dvapara Yug also the current Yug we're living in. It last for 860,000 years. Today, both Good and Evil lives together in a same family,"

"Yes yes,"

"– And, in the end, there is Kali Yug. Considered last and the worst Yug of all four Yugs also called age of Darkness. It'll last for 430,000 years where Good and Evil live within a person, in their heart.

All these 4 Yugs together are called Mahayug. At the end of Kali Yug, the wickedness will be at it's peek.

According to scriptures, to end the Evil, God shall bestow on the land of Celis. Just like how Lord Ajay freed mortality from wicked Yugs ago, it'll happen again. That's when all 4 Yugs will finnally end. After a Mahayug end, there'll be a new beginning as God will help mortality to recover and Celis will heal itself. With that, Krita Yug will begin as the Yugs will repeat.

This also a Yug cycle where everything begins anew and came to an end, then repeat.

This cycle will go on until Lord Nexus, God of Destruction, himself decide to destroy Celis and free it from all it's suffering... *Haauhh*"

"Impressive my child. It seems your basics are well and good."

Lucia exhaled loudly as her guru applaud.

"Now, shall we make it to the main course,"

"Uh, Before that, may I drink water?"

"Sure,"

Lucia grabbed her water bottle placed near on table. She then drank water from it... or rather sucked the whole life out of it. There wasn't a single drop left.

"Alright, I'm ready to go now." Lucia stated as both student and guru initiated in there battle of question-answers.

--------------------------

Old man asked Lucia all sort of questions, 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘵! , which Lucia replied with heavy blows of answers.

Everything was going back and forth, as I witnessed this amazing war of words between a naive girl and a proud old man. They kept going for about 3 hours when the examination finally came to an end.

"And with that, your exam is over."

"*Huff* Tough day at work," Lucia sighed as she wiped sweat on forehead with her hand. She wasn't sweating at all obviously.

𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘥-𝘖-𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳?! 𝘐𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮!

"Honestly, I am genuinely impressed. I never had a student as great as you Lucia." Old man praised Lucia.

"I-It's just that you are my Guru that I was able to perform that well," Lucia said.

𝘊'𝘮𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵.

It was a genuine compliment considering the efforts Lucia put in all these years. Not that I have any idea about how well she was taught by her guru, but exam was by no means easy.

𝘠𝘦𝘴, 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘵. 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴.

If anything, she does got a good brain on those shoulders.

"So... I passed?" Lucia asked, anxiously. To which old man smiled.

"It's my honor to congratulate you on your graduation."

"Yeaaa!" Lucia jumped of her seat.

"Shhhh!" I gestured her to lower her voice of excitement by putting finger on my mouth.

"It's fine. It's fine. There is no one here anyway." And that was her reply.

"Still, you must be more considerate of regulations," Following rules even when there is non is a good way to build discipline.

Lucia's guru watched over her and chuckled on her childish behaviour.

"Now now, I'll go and inform his majesty about your graduation," Old man stood up as Lucia followed the suit.

Her hands joined together, Lucia thanked her Guru.

"Pranipat, Guru dev."

Old man nodded and then made exit.

Apparently, I was still incapable to understand why Lucia was over the moon.

𝘐𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦..?

"Now. I, Lucia Renhard, is a graduate. I Am True Noble Lady Now... Feminine, Elegant, Beautiful and Graceful by all means. I am a self-dependent, independent, educated women. I Finally Matured. Hohohoho, I am a Real Lady indeed,"

𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.

I took aback due to sudden display of a weird, unusual behaviour. Lucia noticed this to as she stopped laughing.

"Hohoho—!? *Cough* *Cough* Well then, we shall get going too shall we, Allan?" Clearly embarrassed of display, she tried to compose herself and changed topic.

Lucia swiftly left, as I quickly followed her up. Seemingly, Lucia decide to visit Reena to spend rest of her day.

Reena wasn't in Raj Mahal anymore. She moved back to her parents' mansion, enjoying her life with Duck and Duchess.

"By the way, how about we visit temple tomorrow?" Lucia asked me.

"Sure, as you wish. But, any specific reason?"

"Every last Saturday of month, they organize a charity feast. There'll be a dharmic play too! Since Reena was bedridden for so long, I decided to pay visit with Reena. That way, she could have some fun too."

"How sweat of you,"

"Hehe," She grinned ear to ear as we made our way to carriage.

Charity and a play, huh? Sure, why not.

. . . . .