Ray: Over the past five years, I've learned about the history of the Maratha Empire's downfall and how the British Raj conquered India with their divide and rule strategy. I started training my body from an early age because some things never change, for better or worse.
[Six Years Later (Present Time)]
Now eleven years old, I was studying at a primary school in Madhya Pradesh, where I had lived since my father passed away early in my childhood. It was 1990, the year I entered high school for the first time. I woke up at 6 AM, got ready, and went to school.
[At School]
As soon as I entered high school, I witnessed a kid being thrown out of the classroom, badly beaten, while another boy smirked from inside.
Atharva: "Look at this goody two-shoes, pretending to be nice in front of Lakshmi. I swear, if I see you talking to her again, I'll tear you apart."
Bullied Kid: "So-sorry..."
Atharva: "I like that fear in your eyes."
Rage and disgust surged through me. I stood in front of the bullied kid and spoke up.
Ray: "If you want to fight, do it with someone your own size."
Atharva: "What the heck did you just say, you jerk?"
He lunged at me with a steel compass, ready to strike.
Ray: "Hey, that's quite sharp. Somebody could get hurt."
I dodged his attack effortlessly.
Atharva: "So now you're scared, huh?"
Ray: "By 'somebody,' I meant you."
With those words, I snatched the compass from him and used its blunt end to strike his weak spot. Atharva was knocked out cold in one move.
I walked over to the bullied kid, patted his head, and said,
Ray: "Never ever let anyone blame you for things you didn't do."
After that, I walked towards my class, and the school day began.
Entering my classroom, I noticed it filled with chattering noises. Some kids played marbles, while others had pen fights. Seeing this, a strange emotion I hadn't felt in a long time resurfaced. It reminded me of my brother, Bhairav, and the carefree times we used to have together.
The evening came, and school ended. Walking home after a tough day, I saw my brother fighting a group of guys who looked like gangsters. They wore dark clothes and had menacing expressions.
The cold wind brushed past me and reached my brother, making his hair flutter. His eyes were filled with curiosity and determination.
Gangster 1: "Hey kid, do you live here?"
Gangster 2: "Why ask him? Just barge in."
As the violent gangster tried to enter our house, my brother knocked him out cold with a single punch. Seeing their friend flung into the air, the rest of the gangsters charged at him all at once, yelling and swearing.
Bhairav stood there, calm and focused, taking all their punches head-on. Then, with lightning speed, he grabbed their limbs and slammed them to the ground. All the gangsters were knocked out cold, lying unconscious on the street.
After fighting them off, my brother walked towards me, a hint of concern in his eyes. He told me to freshen up and eat lunch. I went inside, cleaned up, and sat on the floor to eat. At that moment, I asked my brother why he fought those thugs and why they attacked him.
Hearing my question, seriousness appeared on his face.
Bhairav: "These thugs are constantly causing trouble in our neighborhood. Today, they crossed the line."
Ray: "What did they do?"
Bhairav: "They tried to barge into our house for some unknown reason, so I had to fight them off. But the most suspicious thing about them was their abnormal strength. It was like they were as strong as wild boars. But of course, they're no match for your big brother."
After saying this, Bhairav patted my head and said,
Bhairav: "Remember, Ray, what's most important is your own competence. Without it, hope doesn't exist. This world isn't kind to the poor or weak. If you want to break free from society's chains, let go of your worries and don't care about what others say. The same people who insult you now will praise you when you become competent."
Hearing his meaningful words, I instantly realized what he was trying to say because I had already experienced it in my previous life.
I went to my bedroom and pondered the current situation for a while. I sensed imminent danger in the air. Suddenly, I jumped out of bed, grabbed a marker, and made multiple signs across my body. I closed my eyes and calmly chanted ancient words, trying to recreate the sacred pledges: the pledge of benevolence (on my left palm), the pledge of diligence (on my right palm), and the pledge of limitation (on my chest).
Ray muttered while groaning in pain:
Ray: "These pledges are like double-edged swords. If used correctly, they can save your life. If used incorrectly, they can take your life. These pledges can boost my power immensely in exchange for placing limitations on me."
I calmly looked out the window as the moonlight entered my room. It was a unique and eye-catching experience. I opened my palms and said,
Ray: "The pledge of benevolence grows stronger and its effect becomes more apparent as I do more good. On the other hand, the accumulated power inside the seal would greatly reduce if I do something extremely bad that harms an innocent person. In some cases, it can even cause severe backlash due to the person's behavior. My body can't handle more than one seal at this time, so I can only use the pledge of benevolence for now."
I got up from the ground, leaped towards my bed, closed my eyes, and fell asleep after a tiring day.
[Somewhere in India]
Thousands of people gathered in one place, chanting the name of Bhau Singh. The air was thick with anticipation. Suddenly, a shadowy figure walked out of a dark room and proclaimed,
Bhanu: "After many years, we finally have a clue about the Maratha treasury."
As he said these words, he brought out a picture of Ray and his brother Bhairav.
Bhanu: "I FINALLY FOUND YOU, THE LAST DESCENDANTS OF THE MARATHAS!"