'Extra clothes would have definitely been a sensible idea, but who could have predicted that I would end up rolling down the passageway, injuring myself, and ruining my outfit in the process? The thought of my clothes being bloodied and torn filled me with dread. I just hoped Kamla Bai hadn’t realised I was missing.' With a feeling of urgency, Vishwa quietly opened the back door and crept towards his room, trying to be as stealthy as possible. He twisted the doorknob slowly and was met with a sight that made his heart drop—Nanny Kamla stood there, arms crossed and an expression of fury etched across her face. Vishwa froze, feeling like a deer caught in headlights, particularly as the smell of blood wafted around them.

“What…what were you doing to end up like this?” she yelled, her voice a mix of concern and anger.

“Um, well, you see, Kamla Bai, this isn’t my blood, look,” he stammered, hastily removing his tattered white shirt and shorts, leaving himself completely unclothed.

Nanny, clearly unimpressed, grabbed his soiled clothes with a broomstick and flung them out of the window as though they were nothing but rags. “You look fine, but…”

“Alright then, I’m going to take a bath!” Vishwa exclaimed, eager to escape the looming confrontation and dashed for the bathroom.

“Hold on a moment!” Nanny shouted after him, her voice a mix of authority and annoyance.

“Later…” he responded, firmly closing the bathroom door behind him. Inside his mind, he thought, 'Why was she waiting there? At least I’ve dodged her for now. What sort of story could I concoct? Nanny always says lying is wrong, but I certainly can’t admit I went to the King’s Castle.'

Breaking his thoughts, a loud banging on the door interrupted. “Come out now, or do you want to go through that chest pain again?”

In a panic, he realised he had forgotten about his medicine. He swung the door open and held out his hand. “Give it to me.”

Nanny handed him a glass of water along with two tablets, her voice steady despite her earlier anger. “Why do you always make me worry? How will you manage on your own at Gurukul?”

As he quickly swallowed the tablets, Vishwa replied, “Oh yes, how am I supposed to get my monthly medicine at Gurukul?”

“Don’t fret. Her Majesty the Queen has prepared extra medicines for you that will last for years,” she reassured him.

“My mother, huh!” he replied, a hint of irritation in his voice, as he promptly slammed the bathroom door again.

Kamla Bai pondered to herself, 'What was that reaction about? At least he took his sealing medicines. But where was he for the last half an hour? Maybe he was just playing, but the smell of blood seemed far too genuine.' With a sense of worry creeping over her, she left the mansion and instructed the guard to keep an eye out for anything unusual in the vicinity.

A few hours later, while bustling around in the kitchen, Vishwa announced, “Kamla Bai, you always say I’m slacking off with my studies, don’t you? So from today until my departure, I’m going to study hard.”

Nanny looked at him with little enthusiasm, “Oh, how nice. Now stop with the sweet talk and just tell me what you need.”

“Before coming to find you, I went through our collection of books. You know, the ones like ‘Helping Others is the Way of Life’, ‘Always Respect and Listen to Your Parents’, ‘Interesting Artefact Inventions’, ‘The Merciful Prince’, ‘Don’t Hide Your Feelings’, and ‘Always Tell the Truth’. All of them are the kids' bedtime stories which I always heard from you.”

Nanny raised an eyebrow, “Are you not a kid anymore?”

Vishwa smirked, “Not any longer. I’m considered a youth from this day forward.”

“So, you ventured into the village earlier this morning and picked up this little act, did you?” She paused and then added, “Alright, since it’s your birthday, let’s go to the market together.”

“Really? Can I come with you?” Vishwa exclaimed, an expression of delight on his face. “But what happened to—You’re not allowed, it’s too dangerous, you might get kidnapp…”

“Okay, I’ll just go alone then…” she began to say.

In an instant, Vishwa dashed towards her, wrapping his arms around her from behind. “I was joking! Don’t be mad, Kamla Bai.”

“Then go get dressed. Breakfast is nearly ready,” she instructed firmly but with a hint of warmth.

“Alright,” he said, racing out of the kitchen, a lightness in his step.

Kamla Bai watched him, thinking, 'Well, it seems something good has come over him. I suppose I don’t need to pry any further into his affairs.'

“Don’t I look like a commoner in this black pants and plain white shirt?” Vishwa inquired, glancing at his reflection and then gesturing toward a black hat resting on the nearby table. “Why are you making me wear this?”

“Listen carefully to what I'm about to say,” Nanny Kamla instructed, her hands deftly arranging the folds of her elegant silk saree, ensuring it looked just right. “People will look at you differently because of your silver hair, but it’s important that you don’t pay attention to them, alright?”

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Vishwa’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Why is that?”

“There’s a bit of history associated with it,” she replied, attempting to maintain her composure. “You can always read about it in the books we buy. Now, are you coming or not?” Nanny tried to mask the deeper truth swirling in her mind. ‘I can't tell you that the King got scared by a revelation and killed all the silver-haired children in the whole Kingdom.’

“Yes, yes. Can you walk slowly,” Vishwa said, his curiosity piqued yet still somewhat unsettled. Together, they climbed into the carriage, leaving the familiar confines of the mansion behind.

As the carriage made its way down the winding roads that cut through the majestic mountain, Vishwa gazed out, his eyes wide with awe. “Oh! Kamla Bai, look over there! On this side, that’s a huge city down at the bottom of the mountain!” he exclaimed, his voice bubbling with excitement.

“Yeah!” replied Nanny, a smile breaking across her face. Her heart warmed at his enthusiasm. “Wow! People seem to be flying up in the sky with the help of those big birds. Can’t I have one too?” Vishwa’s imagination took flight alongside the soaring creatures he had just spotted.

Nanny chuckled softly. “You will get your chance once you complete the beginner exam at the Astra Gurukul, which takes about six months.”

“That sounds wonderful! Next time, I’ll fly back up the mountain to come home,” Vishwa said, his mind racing with visions of soaring through the air.

“Sure, but just don’t be too disappointed if things don’t turn out as you expect,” she cautioned, a gentle tone to her voice.

“Is that how it works?” he murmured, his confidence wavering slightly.

“Yes, and now tell me, what do you want your disguise to be?” she asked, shifting the topic.

“Oh! I’ve thought of a good one! I work at the Prince’s mansion, and my name is Vishwa,” he declared proudly.

Nanny smiled but quickly added, “Name will fine, but let’s change your work title to the King’s Castle instead. And, by His Majesty’s blessing, you’re going to attend the Astra Gurukul.” She emphasised each word, hoping it would instill a sense of importance.

“Alright. I’m Vishwa, I work at the King’s Castle, and by His Majesty’s blessing, I’m attending the Astra Gurukul,” he repeated, trying to mirror her seriousness.

“Good,” Nanny said with a nod of approval, pleased with his effort.

As they approached the lively city market, the carriage pulled into a narrow alleyway. Both of them stepped out, with Nanny turning to the driver. “Wait here; we will be back soon.” With that, she took Vishwa’s hand, leading him across the block toward the bustling bookstore that awaited them on the other side.

“Finally, I found the demon who killed my family. Don't run again you coward!” The shout cut through the air, its intensity grabbing the attention of those walking nearby.

Vishwa turned, taken aback by the abrupt outcry that shattered the usual hum of the street. His eyes went wide as he spotted a man making his way towards him, hobbling on crutches, one leg visibly impaired. In mere moments, the crowd around them shifted focus, their stares sharpening as they turned towards Vishwa and Nanny Kamla, effectively boxing them in on the busy street. Before the situation escalated into something dangerous, Nanny Kamla acted quickly. She pulled out the Royal Crest from her satchel. The Crest was a striking emblem, circular in shape, featuring two spears crossed in an X formation, with a serpent coiled between them. “Get back!” she commanded, her voice ringing with authority.

The sight of the Royal Crest silenced the crowd. Eyes that had previously burned with curiosity or malice shifted to respect and fear. The man on crutches paused in his advance, the intensity of his anger overshadowed by the weight of the emblem's power. Gradually, the crowd began to part, allowing them room to move towards the nearby bookstore. “They definitely looked at me differently, which I hadn't imagined,” Vishwa muttered, the realisation of their notice beginning to sink in.

“This is yours,” Nanny Kamla said, handing the Royal Crest over to Vishwa, her expression serious. “Don't lose it or you will be killed.” She then pushed open the door to the bookstore, the wood creaking as it swung inward, revealing a dimly lit interior filled with shelves upon shelves of books.

“Welcome! That was anticlimactic,” the Bookkeeper greeted them, his enthusiasm palpable. “So, how can I help you today?”

Nanny Kamla gestured, her tone encouraging. “Go on, choose what you want.”

Vishwa stepped forward and addressed the Bookkeeper. “Hello sir, can you suggest some books related to our Mauryan Kingdom? I’m joining Astra Gurukul next month, and I need to get some general knowledge about it.”

“Why not! Meanwhile, feel free to browse through the books on the shelves.” The Bookkeeper replied, assessing both with keen eyes. ‘He has silver hair but is favoured by the King. The lady looks affluent; I should host them well,’ he thought to himself.

In no time, the Bookkeeper returned with five carefully chosen books, laying them out on his billing table as he spoke. “Ma’am, here are some books that I believe will suit the child's interests.”

Vishwa’s gaze flitted across the titles displayed before him—‘Mauryan Culture’, ‘Mauryan Politics’, ‘Mauryan History’, ‘Mauryan Geography’, and ‘The Legends of Mahendra Maurya’. The spark of excitement blossomed in his eyes as he read the titles, prompting the Bookkeeper to further engage him. “This one is a bestseller in our Kingdom,” he said, pointing to ‘The Legends of Mahendra Maurya’.

Eagerly, Vishwa tugged at Nanny Kamla’s saree. “I want the last one and a Mauryan History book.”

She nodded in agreement, and the shopkeeper began to wrap the chosen books. “That will be two gold coins, ma’am.”

Nanny Kamla's expression shifted, a frown creasing her forehead. “Do I look stupid to you?” She placed one gold coin and fifty silver coins on the table defiantly. “Take it, or we will move to another store.”

With visible reluctance, the Bookkeeper accepted her payment, watching them as they left. ‘I thought she was rich, or maybe she just enjoys haggling like a commoner,’ he mused.

Once outside the bookstore, Vishwa’s attention was drawn to a man nearby casting a spell to provide water for the beggars lining the street. “Magic is wonderful, don't you think, Kamla Bai?” he exclaimed, his previous worries melting away.

With a playful glint in her eye, Nanny Kamla conjured a small flame in her fingers. “You mean this...?”

“Wow! Now I understand why there is no matchbox in the kitchen,” Vishwa replied, his enthusiasm returning. However, his expression soon shifted to one of seriousness. “You’ve been taking care of me since I was born, yet you haven’t told me you can use magic.”

Seeing the pout forming on his face, she affectionately rubbed his head, causing his hat to tumble off. As she bent down to retrieve it, she responded, “I’m known as a Red Soul user, and if I told you about my magic, would you be happy all day or just feel depressed because you can’t use magic yourself?”

“I don’t know?” Vishwa admitted, his brow furrowed in contemplation.

Nanny Kamla smiled softly, “See, I didn’t know either. I chose not to tell you.”

They climbed into the carriage and headed back towards the Mansion. As they travelled, their conversation flowed easily, laughter mingling with the sounds of the bustling city around them.