Perhaps it was the confusion when she received no answer or perhaps the storm gods have already let up their fury, the pounding rain slowly let up until other sounds of habitation could be heard. Distantly, the hourly bell rang signifying the time for evening prayers. If the children don't make it down in fifteen minutes, there will be pandemonium in the palace.

Her arms around her brother's neck, Varunapriya watched her brother's hard face imploringly. As a female born into a powerful warrior clan, Varunapriya knew she can never dictate men's actions. Even someone as little as her younger brother who hasn't properly learned to hold a sword yet. Even when she punishes him or lectures him, it all feels like play. She knows that if Vaju decides to ignore what just happened, he had every right to do so. He need not obey her just because she was his elder sister. It was the same even if it is big sister teaching him things. That's because he's a man, and men don't need to take women seriously. It both frustrated Varuna, a smart and intelligent girl, as well as scared her into thinking she was too insignificant for this world.

Like this particular instance. Coming up here to perch on this high eave on the palace walls was dangerous even during normal times, but when she asked her little brother earnestly not to come up here, he didn't simply comply! If she wasn't so terribly rattled, she could've still playfully given him a thrashing, but right now the atmosphere was not as such and she could only helplessly wait for him to answer.

"Varu…" the little boy said softly, wiping the water droplets from his face briskly. "If every time I'm afraid, I take a step back…will you still like me as a brother?"

Gobsmacked, Varunapriya looked at her brother, unknowing of what to say. Slowly, forming a thought, she stuttered, "Cactus, this is different...This eave…this place…It's highly dangerous."

"I know that." The resolute tone in the boy's voice was unmistakable. His back was tall and straight, his chin was straight as he answered proudly, "But I still want to be here. Because I'm an Aditya."

"You…!"

"Varu, women are fearful creatures. You see something you are scared of and you draw a step back. Men are not like that. We see something we are scared of and we stand our ground. Better yet, take a step forward!"

"But why?!" the little girl's voice sound shrill and desperate in the rain.

Why is he being so obstinate!

"He he, stupid Varu," Vajradandaka, pushed his sister's drenched locks back from her forehead with his hand, "If we follow you women's lead, we'll be pushed all the way into the seas, won't we? Civilization is a bit of push and pull from both sides, after all, grandfather said…Nobody is right, nobody is wrong. That's why. Even if I'm wrong, I won't give up this secret place! Especially not because the reason is that I'm afraid to come here now."

With a helpless sigh, the little girl became soft like putty, she put her head on her brother's chest. Softly, she closed her eyes in the pouring rain and storm, as if none of it mattered to her.

Day by day, he's becoming like big brother, she thought to herself. No, not like big brother…like father? Grandfather…? Wrong. All wrong.

Just his own kind of man. I wonder what that is…I wonder when little brother will stand in front of me as a man so that I could see for myself. Hmm…she sighed softly.

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When the little girl opened her eyes, she was already on her brother's back as he was scaling down the eaves and the pillars like an agile monkey to get back to his chambers before prayer call.

*******

In two days, it would be Saturday once more and Vajradandaka would be visiting his grandfather again. After morning practice, sitting under a Peepul tree, listening to his martial guru drone on about the body's vital organs, the little prince started to day dream. He would certainly have to tell his grandfather about the cowherd subduing the serpent king with his flute, that's for sure. Also, the serpent king was saved in the end when his multiple serpent wives begged the cowherd for leniency, how could he miss that part?

Other than that, the little prince began to wonder about the significance of the nine cultures his grandfather spoke to him about last time. If he only meant to share with him about a few cultures he has visited, why so elaborately classify them? Grandfather always told him there must be a purpose for study. If not, what difference is there between a hot-blooded Kshatriya (man of warrior race) and a Brahmin intellectual who lets every random thought drive him into a directionless mess?

So by studying the nine cultures that permeate the earth, does grandfather intend for me to conquer the world? The little prince licked his lips dazedly.

It won't be too bad to conquer the world…only a little troublesome because it would be a lot to manage. Ah…a royal's burden, who can bear it for me. The little prince pitied himself perfunctorily before getting into the exciting part.

The more he thought about it, the more he understood that in the current world, the strongest seat of power was the love-known culture that was situated in the central plateau. Taking this seat by force will make one the strongest existence in this world. One can establish oneself the emperor and unite all kingdoms in the mainland using this seat as base. However, one must know that the central plateau has never enjoyed peace for long, nor had it ever had long established reigns of kings or emperors. That is because there is another culture that coexists with the love-known type culture that flourishes here. This is the fear-unknown type culture that little prince's grandfather enumerated in quite some detail about. These two intermixing cultures alternately produce sovereigns to rule the land who are poles apart from each other. One practices tolerance, virtue and openness, another advocates caution, deterrence and ruthlessness. When one established a reign for enough time to be noted in some history books, the other turns renegade and takes away the throne! There are hundreds of sects, schools and temples in this land which advertise thousands of different ways of lives. However, each either falls in the side of supreme devotion and love for the divine or on the side of revering strength and relying on oneself rather than any higher power.

When two such cultures of opposite polarities share the same space, it is only natural that the reign of any king from any great Kshatriya clan is bound to end prematurely. No matter which side is ruling, the other will surely erupt and take matters into its own hand.

Trying to get on the side of the fear-unknown culture before conquering is not possible either. A culture is not a clan or a sect. It cannot be defined by region nor will it be bound by four walls. It is a set of values, beliefs and practices that interchange hands and evolve according the individuals and their specific needs in day to day life. One may only find culture as a dash of color on a chart representing large masses of people. However, if you go into the chart and stand in front of one of those dots that create the mass, you are unable to tell which culture the dot falls into. It is not so easy. Only time can tell those things. So, to conquer this land before solving the issue of its polarity is not the greatest idea.

The little prince's blood cooled down. I nearly had it, he muttered in angst.

But if the puzzle can be solved so easily, why study the nine cultures indeed.

"Actually, grandfather's puzzle isn't so difficult," the little prince mumbled absently under his breath,

"A fear-unknown culture has three major social institutions as its driving force. Large and close-knit family/clan systems from a combination of love-fear primal emotions. Fear and rage primal emotions are channeled into righteous anger and caution which in turn are channeled into judicial institutions and rigorous social hierarchies. But the last and final one, the fear and confusion combo, this is the most deadly combination in all primal emotions mixing together. It creates the institution of arcane sciences. Some of the world's most disturbing dogmas are produced from here. However, if this mysterious, dark, unknown and bog-like aspect of the culture can be harnessed to transform the entire fear-unknown culture directly to a fear-known culture…the black and white polarities of the land can finally balance themselves. Under a wise sovereign who understands these polarities of the land, the reign won't topple again so easily and may stand the test of time yet.

"Well, of course, to harness the power of fear-confusion aspects of the fear-unknown culture, a catalyst must be used. A third fear-known type influence…A small one, like the barbarian invaders, if they can be subdued…" the little prince went on postulating. "Hmm!" he exclaimed, surprised at himself.

Is this what those people who gave their god a name are trying to do?

The little prince felt like he touched something major…but it was too fleeting. He was unable to form the right picture of this important puzzle while in the midst of his daydreams of conquering the world.

"Vajra…" a mild, dignified voice slowly sounded in his ear. It was like the distant sound of a horn coming from a long past era.