Chapter 2: Understanding the World Around Us (2/4) (The Heart vs Mind)

Chapter 2: Understanding the World Around Us (2/4)(The Heart vs Mind)
Scene shifts

Selene, her heart pounding, rushed toward the Fresco Hall. Eva followed closely behind, her own steps hurried.

Selene threw open the hall's heavy doors and burst inside, Eva right after her.

Selene’s breath hitched in her throat—a ragged sound—as her gaze swept across the ancient frescoes depicting the legendary protector.

As she passed each vibrant painting of him, tears welled in her eyes, silently tracing paths down her cheeks.

Her gaze landed on one particular fresco: the legendary hero, graceful and formidable, stood upon a pile of crushed demons, their forms contorted beneath his feet.

Divine light emanated from the golden gada (mace) he held effortlessly.

Selene looked at his face in the painting, and in that moment, the frozen warrior seemed to look back at her, his beautiful eyes holding a gentle smile.
Her knees buckled. 

She collapsed onto the cold floor, resting her forehead against the painting—right at the warrior's feet.

Uncontrollable sobs wracked her body. Through her tears, Ramana's dismissive words echoed in her mind:

"Old man! I don't care if you're a king or not. I don't care about you or your Kingdom of Calveria. Send us back, or else!"


"What did you say about 'nineteen-year-old' earlier? We nineteen-year-olds can achieve more than you guys if we wanted to!"

Selene slowly looked up at the painted warrior's face again, her voice thick with anguish.

"Why, Eva? Why does it have to be this way? He can't be my legendary hero. Not in any way!"

"He is our protector, Selene," Eva replied softly, stepping closer."The timing and day of his arrival, how he arrived—everything happened exactly as foretold. And the proof is that golden pendant."

"Did you really sense anything from him, Eva, when he arrived?" Selene asked, desperation in her voice.

Eva shook her head slowly.

Selene continued, her voice rising,"That's the real proof! The legendary hero I know—the one I gave my...—is the one who will come to protect us. But this boy... he outright insulted us! He doesn't even care about what we're asking! My hero wouldn't want anything but to save the innocent.

This boy asked for me, and later, for wealth! He is what? Completely opposite of what we've heard about the legendary protector! Our world and kingdom waited more than nine hundred years only for this?! I gave my childhood.

I left it behind to become strong like him—and I am what I am now because of my hero! But now you're all saying that boy is my hero? No.

I can't believe this. My very existence doesn't agree with this!"

"Look, Selene," Eva said gently but firmly,"there is only one legendary protector who will appear to protect us—and he did. He—and his attitude and looks—might seem different because maybe your ancestors exaggerated the legend of the protector."

"Stop saying that!" Selene almost shouted, pushing herself up, her voice raw."My ancestors portrayed him accurately!" She pointed a trembling finger at the frescoes."This is how my real hero should look and behave! But that boy...!"

"He might not look like the one in the frescoes, and might have a little attitude," Eva conceded, her gaze unwavering,"but remember what he did? The royal palace soldiers are among the finest in this entire kingdom. And that boy outright defeated ten of them—except for that knight—without having any powers or training.

I'm sorry to say this, Selene, but there is only one legendary hero—your hero—and that is him.Whether you accept it or not, this is the reality, and you have to accept it."

Selene stared at the warrior in the painting, her hands outstretched, pressing against the cold stone as if trying to embrace him.

"You can't be him... Where are you, my warrior?" she whispered, her voice breaking.

Scene shifts to: Ramana and Subramanyam

The bewildered boys followed the servants, who gestured for them to step into a glowing circle on the ornate marble floor.

Ramana and Subramanyam, still reeling from the palace's immense grandeur, did as they were told. Instantly, the world blurred, and they found themselves teleported to another side of the vast palace, the air shimmering with magic.

The servants led them through more opulent corridors until they reached a grand room, furnished with two large, inviting beds.

Subramanyam gasped, his eyes wide."Look at this room, ra bava! It's huge! We could play cricket and kabaddi in here at the same time!"

Ramana turned to the bowing servants."You all may leave now," he instructed, his voice surprisingly firm.
The servants bowed even lower, then quietly exited, closing the massive doors behind them.

Subramanyam immediately collapsed onto one of the plush beds, sinking into its softness."Bava, I never expected you to be a great legendary protector."

Ramana sighed, running a hand through his hair."Subramanyam, you too? Stop talking nonsense like them!"His gaze then fell on the bag, still clutched in Subramanyam's hands, now visibly damp.

"What's this? Why is the bag wet?"

"Because you're the one who threw it at me before your cool action fight, remember?" Subramanyam retorted, holding it out.

"Remove the phones and laptops right now!" Ramana ordered, his voice laced with urgency.

They quickly unzipped the bag, pulling out their devices. To their immense relief, both phones and laptops were undamaged. They both exhaled—a heavy, synchronized breath.

Subramanyam leaned back into the bed's embrace, a blissful look on his face."Don't worry, bava. You have to agree—our life is settled! Look around you, my gods! I literally feel like a king!"

Ramana shot up, his expression serious."Are you out of your mind, Subramanyam? We can't even live here for two hours."

"Why?" Subramanyam frowned.

"Look at your phone," Ramana urged.
Subramanyam pulled out his phone, stared at the screen, and then replied,"Okay... what's with this?"

"Think, Subramanyam!" Ramana exclaimed, gesturing around the luxurious room."No internet connection, no TV, and no air conditioning! We lived a life of pleasure in our village; everything was free! But in this world? Nothing.

You might find fantasy here, but it's like we've lost everything."
Subramanyam's expression fell."Yes, you're right, bava. Can't live without any of them."

Ramana's gaze drifted to the Lord Venkateswara pendant around his neck."There's some connection to that sage. He might be the real reason we're here."

"Who was that sage?" Subramanyam asked, sitting up.

"Yes, that same old man you said you didn’t see me talking to. He gave me this." Ramana touched the pendant."And they all mentioned it too, as a 'golden chain,' but they don't know it's Lord Venkateswara's face."

Subramanyam's eyes widened."Let me see!" He took the pendant carefully, examining the intricate carving."Bava, you are really lucky, bava! Look at this—the face, the Shanku and Chakram—they're made of pure Shaligram stone! And the entire chain and the gold layer on the sides and top look like pure gold!"

Ramana took it back, a flicker of thought in his eyes."Okay, leave it, Subramanyam."

"So, what do we do now, Ramana?" Subramanyam asked, a new seriousness in his voice."Are you ready to fight, then? With the Supreme Demon Lord for them?"

"What the hell are you talking about, Subramanyam?" Ramana exclaimed."We have to fight him? And kill him? He's their enemy, not ours. He personally has nothing to do with us. We have nothing to do with him."

"So what should we do then?" Subramanyam pressed.
"We have two options," Ramana explained, holding up two fingers."One: try to understand this world and get out of here as soon as possible. But I don't know how, Subramanyam. Did you see the king's face when I asked if he even knew how to send us back? He had no answer."

"I've seen many shows like these," Subramanyam mused."I've seen heroes only coming, but never going back."

"Then we will find a way," Ramana stated, determination hardening his jaw."Even if it means defeating the Supreme Demon Lord."

"What's the other option?" Subramanyam asked, leaning forward intently.

Ramana's gaze was direct."If we can't find a way back home by helping them... then we will join that Supreme Demon Lord!"

Subramanyam gasped, shocked."What are you saying, bava?!"

"What do you think we have to do, ha?" Ramana shot back, exasperated."We can't stay in this world forever, Subramanyam! If they can't send us back, the Supreme Demon Lord might! This is all about survival, and we have to survive and get back.

But for now, we choose option one: we must understand this world—and how it works!"

The camera zooms out from Ramana, rising into the sky. In the backdrop, the sky darkens into twilight.

The city of Calveria shines like a sea of stars, glowing with lantern-like lights and candles from every house, revealing the vast, majestic sprawl of the kingdom.