Chapter 2: Understanding the World Around Us - (aftermath) (1/4)

Ramana landed on the ground, the impact jarring through him. Behind him, the scooter slammed down with a deafening blast, sending a shockwave of displaced air and debris rippling through the royal garden.

 King Edwric, Selene, Eva, and all the gathered ministers and generals staggered back, expressions of utter shock and bewilderment frozen on their faces. Ramana, disoriented 

but miraculously unharmed, pushed himself up, shaking his head, and looked around at the pristine, now slightly scorched, garden, the grand palace, and the multitude of stunned faces staring back at him.

 A moment later, a loud spluttering broke the stunned silence. Subramanyam, soaked and sputtering, emerged from the pond, his hair plastered to his face, looking utterly bewildered.

 Ramana’s gaze snapped to his cousin, relief flooding him despite the chaos. "Are you okay, bava?"

Subramanyam coughed up some water. "Fine, ra!"

 Ramana spun around, a fresh wave of horror washing over him as he saw the smoldering wreckage behind him. "My darling, my scooter! Twenty-five thousand on fire!"

 "Aaa... bava," Subramanyam wheezed, shaking water from his ears. "Where are we?"

 Ramana’s eyes scanned their surroundings again. Royal guards, clad in gleaming armor, had surrounded them. King Edwric, Selene, Eva, and the entire royal retinue stood on a stage-like entrance a few meters away, their gazes fixed on the newcomers.

Ramana nudged Subramanyam. "Bava, did we get lifted from our village and landed on a movie set or what?"

Subramanyam shook his head, still dazed. "I don't know, ra!"

 Ramana shrugged, then called out to the staring crowd, a disarming smile on his face. "Sorry, everyone! Sorry for destroying your expensive, realistic set. It was an accident because of that goddamn tornado. But thanks to Lord Govinda, we're alive! So, can I speak with your movie director?"

 King Edwric, Selene, Eva, and all the ministers and generals exchanged bewildered glances.

Selene leaned towards her father, her voice barely a whisper, eyes wide. "So... he's the divine protector?"

 The King, his gaze still fixed on Ramana, nodded slowly. "Yes. He is."

 Selene's eyes widened further. "No way!"

 Subramanyam tugged Ramana's arm. "Bava, look around! We're not on a movie set. There's not even a single camera around us."

Ramana's smile faltered. He looked around once more: only the towering palace, the beautiful garden, the smoking remains of his scooter, the ring of soldiers, and the stunned royal party. His face morphed from confusion to dawning panic. "Where the hell are we!?" He turned back to King Edwric, his voice louder than intended. "Old man, what is this place? Where are we?"

 King Edwric straightened, his voice resonating with authority. "I am King Edwric, and you are in the Kingdom of Calveria, in my royal garden. Welcome, Divine Protector. As prophecy told, you have arrived to destroy our greatest enemy, the Great Evil Supreme Demon Lord."

 Ramana blinked, then threw his hands up in exasperation. "What the hell?! Me? Destroy who?  whose enemy? Why should I destroy your enemy? And killing and destroying? You think I can do that? Look, old man, I don't care if you're a king or not, but stop talking about this 'divine warrior' and 'destroying demons' nonsense!"

The royal guards, their faces hardening, began to shout, some taking a threatening step forward.

 "Calm down, bro! You'll get us killed!" Subramanyam hissed, grabbing Ramana’s arm.

Ramana shot him an apologetic glance. "Sorry! But what nonsense is this, bro? Do I look like I can kill someone?!"

 Selene's face, initially surprised, hardened into a mask of disdain. Her eyes narrowed as she looked from Ramana to her father. "Do you really think this is the one? Just look at him!" She turned her piercing gaze back to Ramana. "What is your age?!"

Subramanyam, ever the innocent, piped up. "We both are nineteen! He's three months younger than me. Born three months after I was!"

"Bava!" Ramana hissed, mortified. "What the hell are you doing giving out our personal information?!"

 Subramanyam shrugged. "She asked!"

 "How can you tell someone who we don't even—" Ramana started, but Selene cut him off, her voice laced with disbelief. "This nineteen-year-old boy... my legendary hero?" She paused, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes. "I mean, our legendary protector? No, he is not. It can't be true!"

"Yes, it is," King Edwric stated calmly, his gaze fixed on Ramana's neck. "Look at his golden chain."

Selene's eyes, wide with a reluctant dawning, immediately fixed on the Lord Venkateswara's golden chain. The King continued, "That is the golden chain from the frescos, and the unknown symbol on his forehead!"

 Selene looked at Eva, a shared revelation passing between them. They both looked back at the chain, then at Ramana’s forehead. It was clear: that was the chain. That was the symbol. 

But Selene's heart and mind were not ready to accept that this bewildered, nineteen-year-old boy was the legendary hero she had idealized since childhood.

 "Hey! You both talking about me?" Ramana demanded, his patience wearing thin.

 Selene turned her face away sharply, refusing to acknowledge him.

 "I don't care who you think I am," Ramana continued, gesturing wildly between himself and Subramanyam. "But we both have to get back! We'll miss our train! It's already late!"

 "Relax, bava," Subramanyam mumbled, a nervous smile on his face.

Ramana ignored him, turning back to the King. "Send us back!" He waited, his gaze fixed on the King's face. "Do you even know how to send us back?"

The King's eyes subtly looked away, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features.

 Ramana scoffed. "I really don't care about your goddamn enemy and your 'Kingdom of Calveria.' But you are sending both of us where we came from, or else—"

 The soldiers screamed again, a collective roar, and started rushing towards him, spears lowered.

"So, you want a fight?" Ramana snarled, a sudden glint in his eye. Then, a low, ominous word in his native tongue. "Tadhāstu!" (So be it!)

 He ripped the bag from his shoulder and threw it at Subramanyam. "Bava Subramanyam, take care of the bag! That's our life – our phones and laptops, everything inside!"

 "Then why the hell are you giving this to me?! I'm soaking wet!" Subramanyam shouted, scrambling to catch it.

 Ramana ignored him; his focus narrowed, his eyes locked on the charging soldiers.

 The first, a blur of polished steel, lunged at him, spear aimed for his chest.

Ramana moved with surprising agility, swaying away from the thrust at the last second. His hands shot out, snatching the spear shaft from the soldier's grip.

With a powerful kick, he sent the disarmed man stumbling backward. Before the next soldier could react, Ramana whirled, bringing the stolen spear down in a swift arc onto the head of an approaching opponent.

 The soldier crumpled. He spun again, kicking another warrior hard in the chest, sending him flying. With a final, furious swing, he cracked the spearhead against a fourth soldier's helmet, the wood splintering with a loud CRACK.

The spear broke in his hands. Ramana tossed the useless shaft aside, his fists clenching.

 He bared his teeth, a raw snarl escaping him. "Raṇḍirā koḍakallārā!" (Come, you sons of—) he growled in Telugu, his voice low and dangerous. The remaining soldiers, their faces grim, charged. Ramana met them, a whirlwind of motion.

 He punched one soldier squarely in the face, then drove an elbow into another's gut. A swift kick sent a third reeling. He spun, connecting with a powerful punch that landed with a metallic clang. Ramana instantly recoiled, clutching his hand, pain contorting his features.

"My hand!" he yelped, glaring at the armored figure. " A knight?! Which museum did you steal this armor from?!"

The knight, dazed but recovering, seized the moment, lashing out with a heavy gauntleted fist.

 It slammed into Ramana's face, sending him rolling across the grass. But Ramana was back on his feet in a flash, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. "You messed with the wrong guy, tin head!" he spat, and charged.

Before he could reach the knight, heavy chains whistled through the air, expertly thrown by other soldiers. They lashed around his limbs, pulling him taut and pinning him in place.

 "Great King!" Subramanyam pleaded, dropping the bag and scrambling forward, soaked. "Please don't do anything to my cousin! He's short-tempered, but he's not a bad guy!"

 "Stop!" the King commanded, his voice echoing through the shocked silence. The soldiers immediately released Ramana. "He is not our enemy. He is our protector!" The King looked directly at Ramana, his voice softening. "Divine warrior, I never wanted to fight with you. We never intended to. You misunderstood us. We are not demanding you; we are pleading for your help! To save my people and my kingdom. Please, try to understand."

 Ramana and Subramanyam exchanged a long look, a silent conversation passing between them. Ramana finally sighed.

 "Okay, fine. So, you're saying I have to fight with your enemy to save your people? But... do you really think I can fight with him?"

 "Of course, you can!" the King exclaimed, a hopeful smile touching his lips. "We just saw what you are capable of!"

 "You really don't understand," Ramana argued, frustration in his tone. "I don't know how to use swords or anything like you guys. And the idea of killing anyone? Never!"

 "Bava, you did everything to those soldiers a few minutes ago except killing!" Subramanyam pointed out, his eyes wide.

 Ramana shot him a withering glare. "Mister Pulla Rao, please don’t poke stick around here and get us stuck here forever!"

 Subramanyam just smiled, unfazed.

 King Edwric looked at Selene and Eva, a new idea forming. "If we train him, he might tap into his true potential." He turned to his ministers and generals. "Where is the Red Knight?"

 "He's on an eastern campaign, Your Majesty."

 The King nodded, then looked back at Selene and Eva. "Selene, you are the greatest warrior, second only to the Red Knight. Train him."

Selene's eyes widened in shock. "Me? Train him?"

 "To both of them!" the King corrected, gesturing to Subramanyam as well. He then turned his full gaze to Selene, his voice firm. "Selene, you were so desperate a few minutes ago to meet the divine warrior, our savior! Why are you backing down? He is your responsibility. Make him a worthy warrior who can protect our people!"

 Selene turned her face away again, her jaw tight, a conflicted silence her only reply.

 The King then addressed both Ramana and Subramanyam. "This is my daughter, Selene, and this is her loyal friend, Eva, who is a healer, magic expert, and crafter. They will train you both."

 Ramana and Subramanyam exchanged another look, a mischievous spark in Ramana's eyes. Ramana finally nodded. "Okay then. I agree, but with conditions! Nothing is free in this Kali Yuga!"

 "What are your conditions?" the King asked, a wary but hopeful expression on his face.

"The first thing," Ramana began, counting on his fingers, "we will be VIPs, or at least stay as royal guests, in your palace. And we both only eat vegetarian food. And right after defeating your enemy, that Supreme Demon Lord or something, we need a one-way ticket back home!"

"Any other conditions?" the King asked, a hint of relief in his voice at the seemingly reasonable demands.

 "Yes," Ramana replied, his eyes twinkling. "Your daughter, of course!"

 A collective gasp swept through the court. Selene's eyes blazed with wide, furious anger, and even Subramanyam looked shocked!

 "I have to agree, you have guts, bava," Subramanyam whispered, a wide grin spreading across his face.

 Ramana smiled, then waved his hand dismissively. "Joke!  It's a joke!  Just joking, okay? We need your wealth instead of my help. Your wealth, my help! Do you agree to the deal?"

 The King, after a moment of stunned silence, let out a booming laugh, the tension breaking. "Alright, as you wished!"

 Ramana nodded, a satisfied smirk on his face. The King then turned to the servants. "Show them the finest royal rooms of our palace!"

 The servants bowed deeply and began to lead Ramana and Subramanyam away. But before leaving, Ramana paused, turning to face Selene and Eva. He met Selene's furious gaze with a smirk. "What did you say about 'nineteen-year-old' earlier? We nineteen-year-olds can achieve more than you guys if we wanted to!"

 With that parting shot, he and Subramanyam swaggered into the palace, their figures disappearing from view. Selene stared after the vanishing Ramana, her face still contorted with anger, while Eva looked between the departing duo and her fuming princess, a thoughtful expression on her face.