Nayok looked at the blue man in front of him who, he was reasonably sure, was not a man. Although what little interaction they had was pleasant enough, he decided that it was best to be polite in front of the purported deity. He folded his hands and tried to touch his forehead to the ground in obeisance, then realized that he was floating in the air. He compromised by bowing, “Respectful greetings to you. Lord Rudra. Thank you for your concern.”
“You’re a respectful lad, aren’t you? Recognized me immediately. So much better than most children these days. These oafs lying around couldn’t recognize a deity if they bumped into one. Literally, I suppose.”
“I’m sorry Lord Rudra, but I don’t either…I’m sorry. I only know your name because you just told me.”
“You haven’t heard of me?? I mean, I know I don’t interact much with you mortals, but nothing? Shiva, Maheshwar, Shankar any of this ringing a bell?”
“I know of Shiva the destroyer, the Mahadevta. People use his name when they are swearing sometimes. But you don’t look like you’re going to destroy everything…not that I want you to!”
“Well, that’s something at least. I was also known as Nataraj, the lord of the dance, you know. Destruction is not all that I do. Then again, the last time I danced…things didn’t look good for your world. I suppose there is a reason why the destroyer moniker has stuck.”
“So, you are really Lord Shiva the Destroyer of worlds,” this time there was a definite tremble in the twelve-year old’s voice. A giant Snake god he could deal with, in fact that almost fit in given the general weirdness of what he had experienced throughout the day. But this person in front of him said he was Shiva – a being who, according to myth, could and in time would end this world. This was the sort of thing which happened only in the fables his parents told him when he was much younger, and then only to the legendary heroes of the ruling Kshatriya or Brahman clans. It did not happen to an ordinary Shudra child like him from a non-descript background. He racked his brains for something to say which would not result in him being incinerated on the spot or something.
“Um..Lord…did you do to something to these people?” He indicated Sisupal and Malini, who were lying right where they had stood before, “Also, are you here to...to destroy the world?”
“I killed these two vile creatures, and your world is certainly the better for it. And no, I am not here to destroy your world. Why would you say that?” Rudra asked and proceeded to take a deep pull on the joint.
Suddenly the voice of Seshnag sounded again from everywhere around Nayok and, strangely enough it felt like, even within him. He also sounded quite peeved, “Maybe it’s because you told him you are Shiva, the destroyer? Did it ever occur to you that there might be a reason I kept addressing you as Rudra, rather than the foretold destroyer of this world? And stop smoking that filthy thing in front of a child.”
Shiva grinned, “Hey Sesha, you made it. I was beginning to wonder with the silence. I must ask though; why is the kid floating?”
“Because I remade him, body and soul, as I entered. How long do you think a regular meat vessel would withstand my energies?”
“Fair enough, but what exactly do you mean when you say ‘remade’?”
“I would like to know as well, Lord Seshnag sir,” Nayok asked with no little trepidation. “Also, where are you?”
“I opened six of the seven gates of inside you, so that you can fully access my power. I am now here with you, within you, embedded in every particle of your body, your mind and your soul. The reason you are floating is because you are using my power unconsciously. Manipulation of space and time influences your gravitational attraction to everything around you. And Rudra, throw the smoking thing away, before I make you.” Seshnag explained.
“You are within me? I’m…what??” Nayok spluttered. “How is that possible? You are a giant snake god! I’m a small boy! And what is gravitational attraction? How do I turn it off...?”
Rudra threw his joint away with a regretful sigh, then interjected when it looked like Nayok might carry on for a while, “This won’t do at all. Only one single human in the uncounted millennia his lot have been using Urja has opened all seven gates, this kid can’t be one step away at his age. He will not survive the kind of attention something like this would garner. Not at the beginning.”
“Given how calm you still are, I assume you have some solution in mind?” Seshnag rumbled.
“Sure, but you are not going to like it. I will seal the all the gates you have opened except for the first one – the mind gate. That should be enough to put him on a path where he can, in time, open all the rest again. Hopefully, that is, and I am assuming that you will guide him as well, both to open all seven gates and fulfill our plan. Now this is the part you won’t like. He won’t be able to withstand your full power, not with only one open gate. So, you will have to hibernate as well, at least until he opens two more gates and reaches an Arambh level. At that stage, he can start manifesting you as a Pranastra and you can start guiding him on his path. Even so, it will be quite a while before he is able to employ your full power and you will have to balance your presence within him according to his growth. And in order to ensure all of this happens perfectly, your consciousness in this world will have to go through a growth cycle as well, alongside the kid. You can start shouting at me now.”
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Seshnag’s voice was ominously calm “As I try to stop myself from ripping apart this flimsy little shell of yours, answer two more questions. How long is this likely to take, and was this part of your plan?”
Rudra replied with a rather sheepish smile, “I think 30 to 40 years, going by my current observations of humans. To answer your other question, No. I mean come on, you have known me since the literal dawn of time. I’ve never been any good at this scheming business, Narayana is usually the one who does this stuff. But he has started to get complacent, and it’s putting this beautiful little reality in a lot of danger. You know I would never do something like this otherwise.”
With a sigh expressing the disappointment of a thousand snakes, Seshnag agreed, “All right Rudra, I will go along with this caper of yours. In part because some of this is my fault, but mostly because of little Nayok’s involvement. Now, I think we need to get a move on before someone unwelcome comes to check.”
In all of this, Nayok had been floating in place. A little open mouthed and completely unable to make sense of any part of what was being discussed, though he understood enough to know that he was being involved in something momentous by these two Gods. He would have asked questions, but he did not know enough to even know what to ask. Therefore, he kept silent and explored the changes which had happened to him in addition to the floating. And it was quite an entrancing experience which occupied all his attention for the moment. He was strong enough to crush stones with his bare hands, he could feel individual particles of dust in the air, and he could hear everything in the forest for miles around. All this sensory input should have overwhelmed his brain, but it didn’t. It was all perfectly balanced, it all made sense. It was Seshnag’s mention of his name that brought his attention back to the conversation to see Rudra focused on him.
“Yes, our young Nayok. At this point I can imagine that you are completely confused. I would try to explain but there is a strong possibility that having this knowledge might hinder you from embarking on the destiny we hope you will. And so, before we send you back home, I have some simple requests of you. Will you fulfill them?”
“Lord Shiva, could I know what these requests are?”
“Hah, he learns quick. Good for you kid.” Seshnag’s seemed pleased.
“So it appears. But I need you to promise me that you will do your best to fulfill these.” Suddenly Rudra’s voice was serious, and Nayok felt a heat all over his body as he met Rudra’s three eyes. Wait, Nayok thought, three eyes? The blue skinned God carried on “First, you will find that people will often tell you as you grow up that there are certain things people cannot do or cannot be by virtue of their birth. This might even appear to be true on the surface, but IT IS NOT. There are no pre-ordained roles which people are born to fill. You must fight against this thinking, this choking of the potential of your people at every turn. Do you promise to do so?”
“Yes, my Lord, I will.”
“Second, you must seek to understand the other sentient races which inhabit this Pruthvi. Your people have a nasty habit of dismissing most things which are significantly different from that which they are accustomed to. This most certainly includes the talents and capabilities of every other race in your world. There are a lot of historical reasons for animosity between the races, but there are no reasons for the current disdain humans have for others. You must break this barrier between the species, or no one will survive what is on the way.”
“Sure…certainly Lord, I will”
“Third, you must never stop progressing, never become complacent, never stop growing. All your previous promises will come to naught unless you can employ the power granted to you by Seshnag. I have seen some hints of what is about to happen, and I promise you that even if you are able to employ all his strength, it may not suffice to save the world from what is to come. Therefore, you must grow quickly and unceasingly, for I do not know exactly when this calamity will arrive. You must be prepared; you must be strong. Will you be strong enough to protect the world?”
“I am not sure, Lord Siva” Nayok had screwed up his courage, but these portentous words from the all-powerful god had rattled him quite a bit, “But I want to!”
“I know you do young man,” Rudra smiled, somehow both pleased and resigned, “and I hear you. I will shamelessly take advantage of this promise. Go forth now as the chosen of Shiva and bring change to the world!”
As he said this, the third eye on Rudra’s forehead seemed to flare fully into existence, going from a candle to a searchlight in an instant. Nayok saw a blazing light coming from above the God’s eyebrows, burning steady and unwavering, which pressed down upon him in a tangible sensation. It blinded him, and even as he tried to raise a hand to shield his eyes, he found that his body was no longer under his control. He stopped floating, and Rudra caught him before he could fall to the ground. He laid him on what remained of the altar and said, “This is it Sesha, I leave my champion in your care. Actually you are kind of in his care as well, so listen to him. You are not as familiar with this reality as he is.”
“Yes, Rudra, I appreciate the concern. I can feel the gates have been closed. It is time to put the both of us to sleep.”
“Yes, take care brother.” the God of destruction replied and touched his trident to Nayok’s chest.