Ranav sat on the floor of Nanima's study, his young mind reeling with everything he had just learned about the Mayura Kingdom. He'd been holding a leather-bound book detailing the legendary founding of the kingdom for some time, his fingers tracing the elaborate drawings of Rainbow Garden and the figure of Mayura, the Rainbow Peacock, depicted in vivid, colorful flourishes. Ranav knew his homeland was peaceful, but he had never imagined the journey it had taken to become the place he knew today.
When Ranav came upon a sketch of the Rainbow Sword, his heart skipped a beat. Even as a child, he understood the significance of a weapon that only the descendants of the first king could wield, one that represented strength, wisdom, and the spirit of the land itself.
Lost in these thoughts, Ranav jumped as the study door creaked open. Nanima stood there, smiling knowingly.
"Getting a glimpse of our history, are we?" she asked, her eyes sweeping over the book in Ranav's hand.
"Yes, Nanima!" he exclaimed. "But… it's a lot to take in. I think my parents knew nothing of it. Did all of it really happen? Kartikeya, the battles, the Rainbow Sword?"
Nanima nodded as she joined him on the floor. "Yes, all of it happened, and much more than these books could ever tell."
Ranav's eyes widened. "But Nanima, why didn't Mayura just become the ruler himself? He was more powerful than anyone!"
"Good question." Nanima leaned back, as if savoring the memory. "Mayura believed that true change had to come from the people. He saw something special in Kartikeya, a resilience and a vision that inspired others to rise above their fears and hardships. Kartikeya was more than just a fighter; he was a leader willing to build a future where people could thrive, not merely survive. Mayura knew he was not human; humans would not fully understand or follow his rule. Kartikeya, however, could make the kingdom what it is today."
Ranav looked back at the pages, his mind turning over Nanima's words. "And… now he comes back whenever we need him, right?"
She chuckled, tapping his nose. "That's the story, young one. We know he will only show up when the kingdom truly needs him, though only a few have ever seen him in their lifetime."
Ranav leaned in, mesmerized. "Have you ever seen him?"
Nanima's face softened, her eyes taking on a distant gleam. "I have never seen him, Ranav. But I did feel his presence once, during a storm when I was healing a villager who had been struck by lightning. That day, our previous King died, and as I healed the patient, the sky suddenly brightened with multiple colors. Someone flew past our village in an instant. It was as if the world held its breath for a moment."
There was a brief silence as the weight of her words hung in the air. Ranav took a deep breath, clutching the book in his hands. "I hope I get to see him someday."
Nanima smiled, her gaze kind and encouraging. "Perhaps you will. But remember, seeing him is not the only way to honor him. Mayura's wisdom and teachings live on in the people who live in the kingdom."
Nanima stood up and smoothed her shawl over her head. "Now, Ranav, we've spent enough time with history books. Magic isn't all about reading; it's about feeling and sensing. Let's start your first magic lesson."
Excitement sparking within him, Ranav straightened up, his imagination still alive with tales of the past. Observing his enthusiasm, Nanima said, "You will receive your magic lesson differently from others. The day you were born, you already awakened your first element. Since your parents aren't mages, they couldn't understand its significance. Before you, I had never seen an awakened baby; I'd only read about it in books. I knew awakened babies needed to absorb some of their elemental mana to survive. That's why you were getting sick over time."
She paused for a few seconds, then continued, "On your second day, your parents found your condition critical and rushed to me. My checking spell couldn't understand your case either. I only saw your life force fading away, and you were almost dead. In desperation, I tried a healing spell on you. To my surprise, it worked; maybe that activated your magic core, and you began absorbing my light magic stone."
"You were lucky that I tried light magic on you and had a light magic stone on hand for emergencies. If you had awakened any other element, I fear we wouldn't be having this conversation right now."
Ranav said faintly, "Nobody told me that." Nanima interjected, "I thought so. I didn't explain it to your parents because if they knew, they'd feel guilty that their ignorance nearly cost you your life. I also accidentally saved you, without knowing what was happening. Only when you absorbed magic did I understand your case."
"You know, your situation is one in a million, probably rarer than that. But that's good for you; you may have the chance to reach higher in the magical community. That's why I wanted to train you from an early age."
After a pause, she said, "Actually, I planned to give you basic education lessons in the first few days. But since you already possess enough knowledge for magic lessons, I'll teach you the most important lesson now: activating magic!"
"The activation of magic consists of only three very simple steps:
Step-1: Meditation,
Step-2: Control,
Step-3: Activation."
"Meditation requires one to use their fullest attention to concentrate. When you close your eyes, your mind constantly wanders to different scenes. However, if you empty your mind and remain undisturbed, it becomes an empty space! After your magic awakening, a star cluster corresponding to your element should emerge within that empty world."
"In other words, as long as you close your eyes and think about nothing, allowing your mind to enter a dark, cosmos-like space, the star cluster of Light elements will appear within that empty space."
It was almost sunset. Ranav was exhausted but filled with a sense of purpose and belonging. Before they parted for the day, Nanima placed a hand on his shoulder. "Remember, Ranav, our history is more than a story. It's a promise: a promise to protect, to respect, and to carry on the work of those who came before us. The path of a mage is one of honor and dedication."
Ranav nodded, the weight of her words sinking in. He felt ready to uphold that promise, to walk the path of those who had come before him. As he walked home that evening, he looked up at the sky, wondering about his past and what his life would be like in the future.