Antieum had many names and one of them is City of Twin Rivers; Arum and Tamal. The two rivers ran parallel, demarcating Antieum's border like a natural moat. But the two have exactly opposing temperament. In which the Arum River was known for its gentle and steady flow, while Tamal River was tempestuous and ever changing.
In later years, people will draw the same comparison between the two princes.
'They were like the rivers of their hometown.'
Nazir gazed at the shrunken Tamal River in dry season. A battle would happen here, a one-sided slaughter. It was a brilliant move if you only see it from a military point of view. Nazir had fought at the side of Girivar's army in one of his lives. The king had secretly built a dam upstream of Tamal and drown thousands of his own uncle's army.
And Nazir remembered too when they were sent to patrol along the riverbanks and behead every survivor they could find. The late Prince Nilofar, Girivar and Darsana's uncle, was one such survivor. He should've beheaded Prince Nilofar right away back then, but he hesitated.
In the end King Girivar made Nilofar into a blood eagle.
'Where Arum nurtures the people, Tamal destroys.'
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Falguni's comment snapped Nazir out of his nostalgia.
"Well, if we could just ignore the person taking a dump there, that is," continued the fake beggar, wincing in disgust. They were wading through some bamboo grooves and treading carefully over the rocks.
"Appropriate for such a shitty river. The Arum is much better," said Nazir. His mind wasn't thinking about the rivers.
Falguni shook his head, tongue clicking annoyingly. "Tsk, tsk. You have no eyes for beauty. The Tamal is clearly leagues better than even ten Arum combined!"
Nazir grunted, then drawled. "And why is that?"
"Obviously, because the Arum River is artificial. It's man-made."
"Nonsense." Nazir scoffed.
"It's true! Hey, don't ignore me. Don't you want to ask me how I know of such knowledge? Hey, ask me—"
Nazir ignored the other boy again. He had lived through 48 lives. Altogether it was almost a thousand years, give or take some years where he lost his mind completely. But even with his memories muddled in a jumbled heap, never once has he heard of such thing.
Anyway, what does it matter? It was just some trivial natural history.
Or so he thought, before said natural history manifested in front of him in all its glory.
It was a pristine freshwater lagoon. A basin formed naturally from the stones of the river banks. A small creek trickled from a rocky cliff side, feeding the lagoon with crystal clear water.
"Surprised?"
"Wh—How..." Nazir was stunned. "I've never seen this place before..."
"That's because you haven't met me before, of course," said Falguni smugly. "Kidding. This place only appears in the dry season. Come rain, and this whole place would be flooded. Maybe that's why you've never seen it."
Impossible, he thought. He has lived for a thousand—Nazir was sure. The massacre that took place on Tamal's riverbank happened in the dry season. He patrolled along this exact riverbank numerous time. Was it because this time he arrived here much earlier? That must be the reason.
"See that cliff side? That weird line there? In rainy season, the Tamal River reaches that high. And, and—"
Falguni the Chatterbox droned on and on, showing off his esoteric knowledge about the ebb and flow of Tamal River. Nazir paid him no mind and went down to wash off the blood from his face and body.
His aching and sore body.
Carefully he clean himself without dirtying the clear pool. The reflection on the water surface caught him a little off guard. His new face was marred with ugly cuts and swelling bruises. But beneath all that damage was a strapping young man gazing back at him. His hair was dark with soft curls, his brows heavy but neat. The feature of his face was chiseled, although his nose looked a little crooked—no, it was clearly broken.
Great, he had ruined his new face on the first day.
"Feeling better now, Mr. Scribe?" Falguni quipped beside him.
The other boy had cleaned himself too. Well, as best as they could with only water. Falguni was an ordinary looking young man beneath all those wounds and dirt. Nazir couldn't recall if they have ever met in any of his previous life. The world in [Chronicle of Mora] was large and he wouldn't be able to remember all the faces he'd met anyway.
"Falguni."
"Yes?"
"Why do you bring me to this place?"
"Well, why not?"
"It's isolated." Nazir shot him a look. "Have I hit your head too hard? It's not wise to go to a quiet place with the person who had just tried to kill you not long before."
Falguni rolled his eyes and straightened his posture. His expression and demeanor changed completely. The groveling voice of 'Falguni the Beggar' turned into a smooth cool tone.
"So are we finally going to talk about this? I thought we've reached a consensus that we are not interested in killing each other."
"You're a smart kid, Falguni. Crazy, but not stupid. I can see that. You play a dangerous game but you know your limit. Those thugs you provoked, they're not the kind that will kill a person just because of some slight insult. But I've crossed that line. I might cross it again."
"You sound like my nanny," grumbled Falguni. "Fine. Like you said. I am crazy, but I'm not stupid. I know you won't kill me here."
"Falguni—"
"Because if you do then my death will serve no purpose. Because..." Falguni leaned forward. "That... would simply be murder, wouldn't it, Mr. Scribe?"
Nazir was silent. Falguni smiled at that.
"Looks like I hit close enough to the truth." The boy leaned back away from Nazir. "I take that this is your limit. As you wish, I will respect that. But this is not enough payment for the damage you've caused me. I'm going to ask you one question and I wish you will answer it in full honesty. Then all debt between us will be cleared."
"...Very well."
"Alright. What's your real name?"
"It's Ast—"
Fuck.
Falguni caught on that quickly. "The truth, Mr. Scribe. I deserve at least that."
Nazir couldn't refute Falguni. He had indeed ruined Falguni's excursion at the market and almost killed the boy. Just one truth. What's he got to lose anyway? If this little kernel of truth would later cause a ripple effect into the future, Nazir could easily restart everything.
The taller boy sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"In this life my name is Nazir."
For once, it was Falguni who fell silent. Nazir observed the other boy who seemed to be digesting that short unremarkable sentence. He could almost hear the gears moving in that little head of Falguni. Against his better judgment, Nazir waited with bated breath, wondering what kind of deduction Falguni would arrive to.
After a long while, Falguni finally speak again.
"In this life, but not in others... You're one of those people who remember their past life."
This little fellow was too smart for his own good, thought Nazir. "You know many people like me?"
"Most of them are quacks, though."
"What makes you think I'm not?"
"Because of this." Falguni pointed at his own neck. At the ugly, purplish finger marks around his throat. Nazir's handiwork.
"You almost ripped out a man's throat, then you beat and strangled me as you cried. Your pain was real. Did you die a horrible death? The monsters? They killed your family in front of you or something?"
Of course Falguni would've noticed his crazy ramblings.
"We agreed only for one question," answered Nazir simply.
"Tsk. Dammit." Falguni smacked a stone. "I shouldn't have said that... Well, now it all makes sense. But what I don't understand is... How did you get reincarnated into an adult's body—are you a wandering spirit possessing this Nazir's body? Was the real Nazir dead?"
"Careful, Falguni. Know your own limit," warned Nazir.
"I can't help it," Falguni shrugged. "You fascinate me."
"That's why you saved me from the guards? Because I'm an interesting toy for you?"
"Among other things, yes," admitted Falguni shamelessly before standing up. "You asked me why I brought you to an isolated place like this. To tell you the truth, it's not that isolated. The people of the slum know about this place. They just avoid it out of fear."
Nazir watched as Falguni walked over to a large boulder by the cliff side. He didn't notice the stone before when they climbed down to the lagoon. There were lines of almost faded inscription there. Nazir frowned.
"You see, this place is a tomb. Those people believe that this place is cursed."
"A tomb... Right. A suitable place to bury another body. So you're planning to ambush me here? You have your father's men following you in the shadow while you play in the market?"
"I don't know if you're underestimating or overestimating me, but no, Nazir. I'm all alone. I was going to kill you myself if you prove to be just a common madman on the loose. For public safety reason. I'm sure you'd understand."
"And you choose to believe that I'm a reincarnated soul rather than a simpler explanation that I might just be a common madman?"
"I'm the one who decide whether I believe it or not. And I choose to believe you. It's not everyday that I met someone I can easily talk to like you. I'm sure it's the same for you. Isn't it liberating? That you're able to tell me everything and I will believe your words."
Nazir didn't want to admit that. That Falguni was indeed a great conversationalist. That Nazir did feel like a weight had been lifted from his shoulder. And how tempting it was to unload all his burden, all the story of his lives to someone who will accept it as truth.
"My offer of friendship still stands, Nazir."
But Nazir knew that Falguni wasn't a simple person. He'd seen a glimpse of how deceptive the boy could be. For all he knows, Falguni was most likely not the boy's real name. That appearance too. It could've been a glamour. Although deep down Nazir knew that, in other aspects, they've both been so brutally honest with each other—as honest as their characters would allow—in the short span of time they're together.
"I refuse," he said coldly.
"Give it some time and think about it. I might be more useful for you than you think."
"It's better if we never see each other again after this."
"Then what are you going to do next? Are you really just going to be a normal scribe?"
Nazir gazed towards the slow moving Tamal. He felt really tired of everything. One more kernel of truth. This would be his parting gift for the mysterious boy.
"I'm going to the west. Find some monastery and... become a monk."
"You? A monk?" Falguni snorted. "Ha, really... What do you wish to gain from it?"
"Moksha."[1]
"....oh."
He wished to be liberated from this circle of samsara.[2] He wished for a final end of everything.
"Moksha, huh... I see." Falguni's voice was quiet. "Very well. For the honesty you've shown me, I shall try my best to help you fulfill your wish. Farewell, Nazir."
It was their goodbye.
Nazir didn't look back to see Falguni off. Neither did Falguni hesitate to stay a moment longer—
--
[Ding!
Chapter: 49/???
Story Progression: 34%
Congratulations! You've gained 2% story progression. You've acquired [2] Clue Tickets. Do you wish to unlock a hidden secret?
[1] Antieum Chapter
[2] Érdé Chapter
[3] Atauro Chapter
[4] Boven-Tarim Chapter
Number of try: 2]
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[1]Moksha: enlightment/liberation/release, it refers to freedom from suffering and samsara (cycle of death and rebirth) by knowledge of the true self. By letting the lack of permanent essence, letting go of cravings, passions and the mundane mind.
[2]Samsara: a concept of rebirth and the cyclicality of all life, matter, and existence. It also refers to the cycle of aimless drifting, wandering, or mundane existence.