My head hurts.
Groan.
I'm alone now. The physicians just left after giving a long list of instructions. There are still guards stationed outside my chamber, and a maid waiting in the outer section of my room, but no one is actually with me.
This… kind of brings back memories from Earth.
Back then, I was sick a lot. Constantly, really. To the point where kids at school made fun of me for it. It even became one of the reasons I was rejected from the army later on.
Until my dad hired a live-in maid, I was usually alone whenever the regular staff was off duty. It was lonely. Though the idiots I called friends would come over sometimes.
One particular idiot—Raju. That guy even convinced his wife—well, then his girlfriend—to have "home dates" at my place when they came to visit me. Even though we weren't related, those idiots treated me like a brother. They came to me with the smallest fights and inconveniences, like a pair of oversized kids.
Back then, I thought it was all a nuisance. I wished they'd just grow up and actually take care of me, since that was the excuse they always gave for visiting in the first place.
…Now I miss those idiots.
Thinking about it, it was during one of those long sick periods that I developed my stupid fear of snakes and small creatures.
Once—just before a school trip, I think I was in sixth or seventh standard—I got sick and had to stay back. During that time, a snake somehow got inside the house.
The worst part?
I didn't notice it until it was right next to me. And the live-in maid was off duty, since I'd fallen sick on the very day we were supposed to leave.
I was sick, unprepared, and panicking. I tried to move away slowly, but then a stupid rat—the thing the snake was probably after—ran straight toward me. The snake lunged.
Safe to say, I fainted.
The maid found me the next day, passed out on the floor, foam at my mouth.Except it wasn't foam—just saliva mixed with some candy I'd been chewing.
Safe to say… I'm still terrified of snakes.
Another reason the army rejected me.
Well. I have magic now. So if I ever see one again, I can just blast the ugly thing away.
Still…
In this state, I really wish I had someone taking care of me. Like a mother. Or someone like that.
Seeing my smug friends act like babies whenever they got sick—and visiting them back then—really stuck with me. I wish I still had my mom. I wish my dad came home more. Someone to let me rest my head on their lap, feed me, or just reassure me that I'd be fine soon.
As that thought crossed my mind, an image surfaced.
Bhadra.
Stop it, brain. I'm not—
Tap.Tap.Tap.
Hissss—hissss.
No.
No way.
There's no way something like that could get into the Royal Residence. Not here.
I opened my eyes and slowly pushed myself up, activating the light stones near my bed. Just to be safe, I tried calling out to the maid beyond the veil.
That's when I saw them.
Not one.
Several.
Snakes.
And one or two of them were already moving toward me.
No. No no no. This isn't real. I'm dreaming. This has to be a dream.
One of them came dangerously close.
I jerked my arm back.
Panic hit me all at once.
"Guards!" I screamed. "Guards!"
No response.
Fear completely took over. My thoughts scattered, and before I even realized what I was doing, mana began gathering in my hands.
What am I doing?! I need to call the guards—
Everything went black.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Central Palace
Mahadevi Bhadra stormed into the palace and demanded answers from the highest-ranking Royal Guard present.
"What is happening?" she demanded. "Where are Hamsa and Garuda?"
The guard, though clearly shaken, steadied himself before answering.
"Both Rajkumars are safe, Mahadevi. Rajkumar Garuda is in the throne room under guard. Rajkumar Hamsa has been taken to the medical room on the first floor."
He paused, then continued.
"There appears to have been some form of magic cast within Rajkumar Hamsa's chambers. We are still investigating the source and intent."
After hearing this, the Mahadevi immediately ordered a lockdown of the capital and rushed toward the throne room.
"Garuda," she said, kneeling and pulling the boy into her arms, "You are safe. Your mother is here. Look—there are guards everywhere. They will protect you."
The boy could only cry, clutching her tightly.
Once he had calmed down, she left him in Lata's care—her most trusted aide—and ordered them escorted to the temple district. Then without delay, she turned and rushed toward the medical room on the first floor.
As she moved through the halls, her thoughts raced.
Magic being activated inside the Royal Residence is suspicious.Was it Hamsa losing control during his overload?Or did someone force his hand?
We will know once the barrier readings are reviewed.For now… I must make sure he is alive.
--------------
She reached the medical room.
Inside, palace physicians and temple healers moved frantically, doing everything they could to stabilize the young Rajkumar.
"What is wrong with him?" the Mahadevi demanded.
A man who appeared to be in charge stepped forward.
"Rajkumar Hamsa used magic while already suffering from mana overload," he began. "Under normal circumstances, this would not be fatal. We would restrict mana use and allow the body to recover, supplying external mana only if his reserves fell dangerously low—"
"Explain later," the Mahadevi cut in sharply. "Tell me what is happening now. Can you heal him? He is in pain."
On the bed, Hamsa writhed, his body shaking as soft groans escaped him.
The temple priest swallowed before speaking.
"He is bleeding mana at an alarming rate. If this continues, he will exhaust himself completely."
"Then supply him mana," she said at once.
"That is the problem," the priest replied. "He is rejecting all external mana. Even mana guided through magic crystals is being resisted. In fact, it worsened his condition—his own mana is now actively defending him, but inefficiently. The more it resists, the more he leaks."
"What?" the Mahadevi asked, stunned.
"We believe his subconscious is rejecting any mana it perceives as hostile or to be more precise it doesn't recognizes."
The priest fell silent.
"We need someone he trusts," the priest continued. "Someone he recognizes as non-hostile and trusts on a subconscious level. Only they may be able to supply mana safely."
The Mahadevi's breath caught.
"Call Matha Durga," she said quickly. "He may accept her."
The priest shook his head.
"We do not have the time. And Matha Durga is no longer an active mana user. Given her age, she may not have enough mana to sustain him."
Then he looked directly at her.
"Mahadevi… you are his mother."
The words froze her in place.
He avoids calling me mother.He barely speaks to me without formality.Does he even see me as one?
"Mahadevi," the priest said sharply, his voice cutting through the room. "We are out of time. If you wish to save Rajkumar Hamsa—act now."
She took a deep breath and stepped forward.
Praying—truly praying—that he would accept her.
She gathered mana into the palm of her right hand and steadied a magic crystal in her left. Then she placed her right hand gently against his chest.
The room fell into absolute silence.
For several long moments, only Hamsa's strained breathing and faint cries could be heard.
Then… they stopped.
His body slowly relaxed.
His breathing steadied.
Rajkumar Hamsa lived.