Hamsa's Chambers — Royal Palace
What is this kid doing… Adi thought to himself as he watched through Hamsa's eyes. Ugh.
They had returned to the capital just as the festival began.
The rest of the Royal Family was busy in the Temple District, leaving Hamsa behind in his chambers.
Which, under normal circumstances, might have been fine.
Unfortunately, Hamsa was currently in something close to a childlike state — except this particular child happened to possess enough raw power to erase the Royal District in a single accident.
I really should have taken control while he was still capable of rational thought, Adi grumbled internally.
Hamsa's body was in the middle of rebuilding itself to adapt to Adi's mana. His brain was spending most of its effort managing those changes — adjusting his body and mana circuits to fit their new reality.
Which meant very little was left for things like logic… or restraint... or reason.
He was basically a sick child with overwhelming magical power. And his personality wasn't helping either.
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Outside the room, two servants whispered urgently.
"Did you get what the Rajkumar asked for?" a maid asked.
"I'm sorry," the servant replied helplessly. "But what he wants doesn't exist. What is 'chocolate' anyway?"
"I don't care what it is," the maid hissed. "Just find something! Until Mahadevi Bhadra or Matha Durga returns, we have to keep him calm. I do not want to meet Yamaraj more than once in a day!"
The servant suggested a few thing the Rajkumar liked and asked the maid to enquire if he would settle for those.
She wiped her face, took a deep breath, and stepped back into the chamber.
Hamsa sat on his bed, looking around with wide curiosity.
The moment he saw her, his face lit up.
"Did you get CHOCOLATE!?" he asked excitedly.
The maid's smile trembled slightly.
"Your Highness… we have been unable to find this… chocolate," she said carefully. "May I suggest something else?"
Hamsa's expression fell.
"But I want it," he said quietly.
The mana leaking from his body suddenly thickened, pressing against the room like invisible weight.
The maid instantly felt nauseous and had to fight the urge to run.
Great, Adi muttered. Now if he does something he will blame me later.
Hamsa stared at the floor for a moment, thinking.
Then he looked up again.
"Where's Mom?" he asked, voice small.
The maid exhaled in relief at the change of topic.
"My apologies, Rajkumar. Mahadevi Bhadra is still attending the festival in the capital," she said as calmly as she could manage. "She will return soon. You only need to wait a little longer."
Hamsa blinked slowly.
"…How long is 'a little'?"
The maid hesitated.
She suddenly realized that answering wrong might accidentally trigger a magical disaster.
"Very little," she said quickly. "Extremely little. Almost no time at all."
Hamsa thought about this.
The mana pressure eased slightly but still remained strong.
The maid silently thanked every god she knew.
And inside Hamsa's mind, Adi sighed.
This is going to be a long day. Entertaining but long.
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Capital — Vala
The capital was located at the base of a mountain range.
Originally, it had been a military settlement. Later, after the succession of House Valangar, it was declared the capital and named Vala.
It served two primary purposes: first, as a military city housing the active professional army of the west; and second, to secure the Magi Stone mines in the surrounding region.
Now, as the capital, it still served those roles while also supporting a large civilian population.
The city was built around a central circle enclosed by strong walls, forming the secondary citadel of the capital. This area was where the army and wealthy families lived.
From there, the city had grown organically. Three main roads stretched outward, connected by numerous smaller side roads. This outer section housed the majority of the population.
To the east of the capital lay a large open space paved with stone and lined with structures meant for state and religious ceremonies.
The festival was being held there, as this was where most public events of the capital took place.
At the center stood a raised stone platform where the royal family and temple leaders sat, overseeing the celebrations.
A messenger arrived.
He bowed deeply and waited until permission to speak was given.
"Mahadevi," he said breathlessly, "your presence is required at the residence immediately. It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep Rajkumar Hamsa under control. He is leaking mana to the point that the common staff has been evacuated from the Royal Residence. The barrier unit has erected a temporary shield, but even that is reaching its limits. We need you there at once."
The messenger finished in a single breath, clearly exhausted from rushing from the Royal District.
The Raja turned slightly toward Mahadevi Bhadra.
"You should go," he said calmly. "Our duty here is finished. Last time he lost control, he only blew up his room. With his current strength… he may destroy the palace."
His gaze returned to the dancers and musicians performing below, while the priests continued the ceremony.
"Very well." Mahadevi Bhadra said.
She rose, paid her respects to the priests, and left in her palanquin for the Royal Residence.
______________
Royal Gardens
With the day's festivities over, the nobles and the wealthiest guests were invited into the Royal District for a banquet. After the feast, they gathered in the Royal Gardens, talking in small groups while Magi Stone lights and temporary pillars lit the grounds after sunset.
"Rajkumar Garuda, you have grown quite a lot over the past year," one noble said as he approached.
"Greetings, Lord Lakshim," Garuda replied. "Not that much. Most of it happened in the past few months after my awakening."
The man laughed.
"At this rate, you may become a better candidate for king than your elder brother, Rajkumar Hamsa."
Garuda held his smile.
"Well, only time will tell," he said. "If you'll excuse me, I have something to attend to."
He stepped away from the circle of nobles and merchants gathered around him.
This is tiring.
Mahadevi Bhadra was busy with Rajkumar Hamsa. While the Raja was occupied hosting the Parthian delegates.
And he was left here.
Garuda glanced around the garden. There wasn't a single person his age nearby. The younger guests were in other sections, enjoying the festival while he stood in for Hamsa.
If Brother were here, I could probably leave this crowd.
"How do you manage this?" he muttered under his breath.
He continued walking, greeting house heads and others is importance as they approached.
Every conversation felt the same.
The same smiles. The same words.
This is getting annoying.
Most of them were here to gain favor with his parents through him.
Though that did not bother him much as. What bothered him most was that some of them didn't even bother hiding their dislike for his brother.
As to why....
They didn't want someone with Ranga blood on the throne.
The houses had been rivals during the old empire. Even after it fell and the great families established their own rule, resentment remained. A marriage had once been promised between their house and the Rangas, but it never happened.
After the last war, the hardliners and a few guilds in the kingdom demanded total annexation — even eradication — of the Rangas.
Though that never came to pass.
Now those same people looked at Garuda instead.
The one they thought should inherit.
Garuda stopped beside a stone railing, watching the lights spread across the garden.
They want me not because I am better. They want me because they fear and hate him.
And somehow that thought felt heavier than the cold.
He straightened as another noble approached, already preparing another greeting.
The night continued.
As the same exchanges repeated themselves, Rajkumar Garuda eventually withdrew from the gathering and made his way toward a quieter part of the gardens where no guests lingered.
He walked slowly, letting his gaze drift upward. The night sky stretched clear above him. The moon, though waning, still cast a gentle light, while the stars shimmered quietly overhead.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
The voice came from nearby.
Garuda turned to see a man standing a short distance away, accompanied by an attendant.
"My apologies," Garuda said. "I do not believe we have met."
"No, we have not," the man replied, shifting his gaze from the sky to Garuda. "But I know who you are. You are Rajkumar Garudadeva Verman, are you not?"
"Yes," Garuda answered. "Though I have not yet had the honor of learning your name."
The man inclined his head slightly.
"I am Otanes," he said. "First Prince of the Parthian Empire."