I looked down at the Pavilion, hoping to see Amarisa again, but I was already too high off the ground and everyone looked like ants.
The light-filled morning and gentle breeze made it easy for us to speed eastward. We glided in a small formation through the atmosphere. The horses' white wings flapped rhythmically beside each other.
I inhaled the incredibly fresh air of the big blue sky. We continued to ride like that for an hour straight. My face had grown numb by the constant wind blows but none of the avatars wanted to slow down.
Until we were more or less at the eastern part of the earth that we began to look for the hunted bird.
"There is not a shadow of any bird in sight," Morokot said, brushing her flowing lock away from her face. Her red outfit reflected the sunlight like burning flame. "Are you sure we are on the right path?"
Then we heard whizzing sounds swept past us. The flock of bronze birds darted through our formation, causing us to scatter away.
Issarak was in his golden armor with spear and shield glittering in the sun. Their rides hissed with hot steam.
"Issarak, you're not allowed to use divine weapons in the Game!" Atith yelled.
Ravi was also on a Hamsa. But she seemed to have no wish to participate in a quarrel and just steered her mount away.
"Ravi! Where are you going?" Issarak shouted after her. "We need to beat them before they get to the bird!"
"Go away, Issarak," Tepi said to him. "We don't have any spare time for your nonsense."
"Oh, but I do," Issarak said with a leer. "If you leave that silly ungodly girl to her doom, I will forgive you for your delusion. She is not the Destined One, and I am more fitted to lead than anyone!"
"What did you just call her again?" Tusita growled. She was about to summon her astra when a ball of red fire already flew straight at Issarak. He yelped as he raised his shield to protect himself from the blaze.
"Well, it is no longer an accident, Issarak," Morokot said while flickering flames still danced over her palm. "Leave us or risk your butt on fire, you disgraceful swine!"
Issarak hissed and pulled out his spear, but before he could lash at us. Morokot blew air from her mouth. All their flying birds suddenly caught fire. Smoke shot out from their beaks and behinds. The war god's son and his friends wailed in surprise.
"Issarak! We must land!" the giant avatar Vijay cried as he tried to put out the fire on his bird.
"One day, I will make you pay!" Issarak growled. They jerked the pedal and flew away then disappeared into a pack of clouds.
~*~
After they left, we continued our search for the mythical bird. I almost thought the creature was imaginary. Everyone was shading their eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of the phoenix. Once in a while, one of us would mistake a heron or a swan for it.
"Everyone, I don't think we can find the Mayura this way," I said to them. "How about we split? We each can go in different directions and scour through the sky better, don't you think?"
"Yes, I agree with Nikita," Atith said. Tepi thought it over and then nodded.
"That is the only solution," she said. "We shall spread out. If any of you find the bird, give a whistle as a signal to the others, and we will come flying back."
With that said, we went our separate ways.
The sky was bluer and the sun was brighter. Pisey galloped through the air with ease. I made her go through a big soggy cloud just for the thrill of it, but I ended up getting my hair wet and statics crackled on my clothes.
"You see any bird, Pisey?" I said to my flying horse. Pisey gave a soft whine, which I took as a 'no'.
We flew along the river. Then I saw a small island raised up slightly above the water. It had a single big tree growing in the middle.
"Alright, girl," I said to my Ashva. "You've been flying for too long. We should take a short break down there."
Pisey descended onto the island and we both rested under the tree. I let my horse drink the water and munch on the flowers growing on the bank. The sun began to rise passed noon.
A moment later, I heard Issarak and his flock of avatars speeding across the sky. They did not see me. It looked like they were chasing something.
I realized it was a giant bird that resembled a peacock, except for its beautiful colored feathers. They were sparkling in different hues. The bird was the most beautiful creature I'd ever seen. I knew then, it was the Mayura.
The mythical phoenix had impossibly long tails. Each strand flicked brightly in the winds. There was an aura of rainbow colors surrounded the squeaking creature. The bird frantically flew in an attempt to escape the avatars.
Issarak was thrusting his spear from behind. The fleeing Mayura tilted away with a piercing cry, sending echoes of panic through the sky. From where I stood, I heard the son of Murugan shouting to the others.
"Hurry! Bring the golden net, you dummies!" he yelled. "Get the bird into the net!"
I gritted my teeth and turned to my Ashva.
"Come on, Pisey," I said and mounted onto her back. "We have some idiot to stop."
Pisey launched into the sky again.
"How about we break their chase from the Mayura?" I said.
The Ashva gave her mane a shake. I took it as a 'yes'. I flicked on the reins to make her fly faster. The celestial horse rose her front legs before darting forward like a lightning bolt.
The avatars found us coming from behind.
"Stay away from my game!" Issarak yelled at me. "The Mayura is mine!"
"You're being merciless, and I won't let you succeed!" I cried. "It's against the rules!"
I sounded like Samudra, but soon I found myself flying side by side with Issarak.
"Who are you to tell me?" he hissed. "Go away before I run you through with my spear!"
The winds hit us furiously. Their Hamsas seemed to have trouble going faster than usual. I guessed it was because of what Morokot did. I turned to Pisey.
"Block them!"
My trusted Ashva huffed and darted to the front of their formation. The Mayura kept flying and making squealing cries. I patted Pisey on the shoulder. She raised her back hooves and struck one of their mounts in the head, bending it sideways. The bronze bird then plummeted from the sky with its screaming rider. They plunged into the river below with a big splash. The rest of them came to a hover in midair. The Mayura took the opportunity to disappear into the clouds.
"How dare you let my Mayura escape!" Issarak growled in rage.
"You're not worthy of her tail, and I would do that again if I must!" I said, causing his nostril to flare in anger.
"Then you can take the bird's place!" he said and motioned to his friends. "Get her!"
Two of them glided towards me. I held on to Pisey as she flew skyward. We speed as fast as we could, but Issarak was gaining on us from behind.
He swung his glittering spear and lashed out, sending a bright mass of energy at me. I dodged the deadly blast. The force cracked open the clouds with a thunderous sound.
I tugged on the reins, telling my horse to make an arch. Issarak followed suit. I glanced back at the war god's son, and he bared his teeth like a mad dog. There was only him chasing me now.
As the last resort, I took one of my leather boots off and threw it at him. My shoe hit Issarak in the face. He screamed in pain and covered his left eye as my boot left a footprint there. The avatar roared.
He kept shooting energy blast from his spear. Each blow came like a flying arrow at us. Pisey did her best to dodge the attacks, tilting herself left and right. A brilliant force whizzed past my ear with its a heat wave.
I saw a cloud the size of a mountain and made Pisey fly towards it. The cold misty vapor blocked his sight. I thought we had lost him at last.
When we came out to the other side, I suddenly felt a flaring pain on my back. My body was jarred with shock and agony. I screamed as if I was being split into pieces.
Pisey let out a startled whine. The pain went from my skull down to my toes
until I went numb and listless. My body flopped and slid off Pisey's back.
As I fell into the void, darkness crowded my mind until it became nothing.
CHAPTER 38
When I came to, I felt myself being lifted into the air. A groan escaped my lips as the pain seized me again in a vice-like grip. Despite, the daunting agony, my hazy eyes found many bright faces. They were all maidens, but they weren't normal humans. Their skins shimmered with light.
"Bring her to my chamber," said a female voice. Her voice alone felt like a cool balm on my skin.
"Yes, my lady," said the other voices, which were also pure melodies.
I had no strength in my body. All my limbs felt like wood, but I was still aware of my surrounding. They placed me on a soft bed. Then I heard the sound of heavy doors closing soon after. Now, it was only silence.
"You have come unexpectedly to me, poor earthly one," the same female voice said. "I cannot stand seeing you in this terrible state and must relieve you from this suffering."
I felt a pair of nimble hands running over my shoulders and down to my chest. Then there was a touch of brilliant lips pressing against mine. The pain slowly ebbed away like retreating sea waves.
I remembered nothing else.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself naked, except for a golden shawl wrapped around me.
My body had regained some strength, and there was no pain.
"Where am I?" I murmured to myself. I looked around the chamber. Everywhere was beautiful and strange. Every wall and every pillar all sparkled in a glittering haze.
A moment later, I heard the doors opened. A handful of maidens floated effortlessly towards me. I recoiled in my bed. They bowed and brought me my clothes.
"Who are you, people?" I asked. "Where is this place?"
"Your arrival is destined by our Lord King," one of the maidens said in a chiming tone. "Amaravati is where you are now. You were brought here to heaven."
"Am I dead?" I said.
The maidens let out a soft giggle, but they didn't say anything further. They asked me to get dressed and ready. Strangely, this place seemed to have a calming effect on my nerves. I was too curious to be frightened.
After I was adorned in proper clothing, they escorted me out of the chamber. We went into a courtyard with red and gold umbrellas shielding me from the brilliancy of this strange new world.
The outside view took my breath away. The whole place was as wide as the sky itself, stretching far beyond my sight. I shaded my eyes and looked at the waterfalls coming from those crystal mountains. Golden temples with their manicured gardens stood in the most stunning form. Their doors and windows were encased with rubies and diamonds.
We passed through a tall golden gate, which opened by itself.
I walked in silent awe along the cloud-covered crystal causeway. The cold air brushed against my skin like soft feathers. Pleasant breezes carried the perfume of rose-colored flowers to my nose. I knew this was truly heaven, but this still surpassed my imagination.
They led me to the largest complex hovering in the air. It was built over the summit of the five-peak golden mountain.
"What is that?"
"The Heavenly Sky Palace of King Indra," they told me.
"He expects your audience today and you must see him without delay."
When we entered through the grand doors, I found the floor was made of jade and pearl. The pillars were crystal and diamonds. Each tall window was gold-gilded with floral patterns.
At last, they brought me to the great throne hall. Other celestial maidens floated forward and assisted me from there.
When I lifted my eyes to the ceiling, I was faced with a number of tall colossal beings sitting on the thrones. They were gods without a doubt. More of them began to appear out of the golden air. Each one was majestic and beautiful in his or her flowing silk and golden headdresses.
My mouth fell open.
"Oh...Meru...gods," I breathed.
Suddenly, a loud thunder cracked and wisps of energy twirled around the hall. Seven beautiful maidens came into forms and filled those empty thrones. They sat elegantly side by side, dressing in jewel embroidered clothes woven in all forms of golden hue.
Tusita had told me about her divine sisters as the Devis of Heaven. It must be them. Another loud thunder shook the entire palace, and I fought the urge to run for cover. Afterward, the celestial maidens left me on my own. But out of the golden mist, a tall man came into form. He sat at the highest of all the thrones.
There he was, Indra, the Lord of thunder and storm and the king of gods and man. He was staring down at me with his brilliant eyes. His skin was a reddish color. To his right was a golden altar which hosted his mighty Viraj, the Masterbolt. The lightning hissed with vibrating energy. To his left was his indestructible bow made of the rainbow itself.
My knees buckled to the floor. Under normal circumstance, I would have been wildly terrified, but now I was just mesmerized.
"Am I dead?" I asked the same unanswered question. My mind was still swimming in haziness. Some of the goddesses giggled.
"For all your hardship and doubts, you are not dead," the King of Gods said in his powerful voice. "You have come hither to Amaravati, my heavenly realm, by my bidding."
"Why am I here if I'm not dead?" I said in a more panicky voice.
"Many days passed since the immortals have been on the quarrel over you and your unfolded journey," Indra said. "Now that you are here, I can see that the Fate is still weaving your destiny into shape."
"What are the gods arguing about, er...my lord?" I said. "I'm just a normal girl unworthy of such attention."
"You have no knowledge of how important you are, but one day, you will," he said. "I pity you and those you hold dear, young one, for it is my weakness when it comes to great warriors."
"But I'm not a great warrior," I said with a confused look. "You must have seen that I’m far too weak for any greatness."
"Young child, you will have power more subtle and more fluid than any dulled warriors have ever borne," Indra said with a brilliant handsome smile. "Once you’re ready, I must explain to you what your role shall be in greater details. Now, you must rest until your wounds are mended and your health is restored."
"But my lord, I have a quest to succeed today," I said. "I can't stay."
He waved his reddish hand at me.
"Heed what I say, how ever long you remain in my palace, no time shall pass in my realm," the Sky Lord said. "Now go and nurse back your strength. We, the gods, will have other decisions to make."
I wanted to say something else, but I couldn't. It was like my voice had left me. All I could do was bowing in obedience and let the maidens take me away.
~*~
After the brief meeting with the King of Heaven, I was brought back to another crystalline chamber. I didn't know how many days I had stayed there, but during those times, I was groomed and fed with divine food and medicines. It slowly began to relax me. Soon, I had become even stronger than ever, but my mind was still floating in a good-natured haze. It was like I was living in a dream-like state that I had little control over.
Is this how it feels being in heaven? I thought.
Every day, I went out exploring the place. In the sutra that I had learned with the avatars, Amaravati was populated by three hundred and thirty million celestial beings. It was constructed by a god Viswakarma, the divine architect. The great kings and warriors would enter Indra's court after death. They would live without sadness, pain, or fear.
I was invited to attend their celebrations with the gods of all elements, celestial sages, virtuous kings, and brave warriors. They gave me their shares of wisdom and battle strategies, which they thought I could use against the demons.
I soon forgot all about it after a heavy drinking and holy feasts. We listened to the songs of the Gandharvas, who were the celestial singers. All day and all night, sweet music was played with astral melodies.
Ea
ch morning, the celestial maidens would take me to Nandana, the Immortal Garden. There, we played games. They made me chase them around the sweet-scented trees and enchanting flowers. The fragrant groves emitted perfume in the air.
In such an outlandish world, it was hard to worry about mortal things. Yet my fortunate sojourn was not always innocent. I later learned that my visit to Indra's realm was craftily planned.
~*~
On the seventh night, a Devi named Kemira came to my chamber. She dressed purely in a mantle of clouds and entered my bed without a sound. I was sleeping when she ran her soft hand over my cheek. A rush of sensation went through me. My eyes splayed open at the brilliant touch. I turned around to find a face like a beautiful dawn. Her breasts were two milky pearls shining through her thin silk.
"My lady, why are you in my chamber?" I said.
She took my hand.
"I came here for my body is burning for you," she said in a voice that would drive any man mad with passion. "Will you put an end to my misery?"
I thought I was dreaming. In the dream, this was happening, and I knew what the Devi wanted. My heart raced like a sprinting horse. I pushed her hand away.
"No," I said, but my word came out weak. “I can’t.”
"Don't be foolish," she said. "It was I who healed you with my passion. You might have forgotten it, but I still remember it clearly like it was yesterday."
My eyes widened in shock.
"I don't understand what you're talking about!" I cried and turned away from her, covering my ears and closing my eyes. "You are my friend's older sister, and thus like a sister to me!"
I heard Kemira laugh, amused by my bewilderment.
"I won't let my amorous intent be denied by a mortal girl," she said.
"Guilt and disgrace to me if I do!" I said. "Have you no shame that you are here to plague me with your lust?"
"If you compare it to this unbearable longing you have instilled in me, O dear Nikita, my shame is terribly small!" she said and laid her stark naked body over mine. "Come to me, brave girl. I want you to satisfy me."
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