The Prince and the Tantric Hold Hands- Part 2 [Surya]

Surya's fingers fanned out as Vidyut slid his long bony fingers between Surya's and trapped them in his clutch. Surya felt tingles where their hands were joined. The sensation crept up his two hands and rippled along the nerves to his arms as if bolts of lightning were coursing through them. But there was no pain, only something cool and soothing. He had felt this before the few times he attempted weaving but barely and never to this extent. Vidyut lightly grazed Surya's palms with his finger tips and his lips moved wordlessly.

When he let go, there were diaphanous films of thin air weaves rising from Surya's fingers, swaying as he moved them.

"You need to welcome the tantra as it weaves through you, and you need to say the right words, not your Vedic mantras," Vidyut reminded him, moving two steps closer.

Surya uttered a few silent chants from his memory, the tantric mantras, different from the usual Vedic ones, and slowly the air film around his right hand began to congeal, taking the shape of a fine mace. And then it melted away. Surya sighed at the loss of the cool currents flowing through him. He looked at Vidyut, who was retrieving his black tantric robe from the floor behind him. Too soon, Surya thought to himself and then immensely reddened with embarrassment. 

"Maybe you can teach me more when you visit next time," Surya quickly said something to divert his mind and end the silence. "I hear you are riding out tomorrow at dawn." 

Vidyut nodded, putting on the robe and tying the strap. "I am afraid we have overstayed our welcome, my prince. If we stay here any longer, we will start dressing in colors and pearls."

"Colors!" Surya gasped with a mock, "how that must terrify you."

Vidyut laughed, at last, a genuine, hearty laugh, without any of the scorn or snark. Surya felt his chest tighten, somehow. 

"Black suits me," Vidyut said, voice still happy with the remnants of his laughter.

Indeed, Surya confirmed in his mind but did not have the boldness to say that to the tantric. He did brave something else, however. "You must be longing to return home."

Vidyut gave a half smile. "I have not felt a longing in a very long time," he declared, "but this city is too warm, too bright for us northerners. I do miss the wintry, grey mornings when the sun is up in the sky, and you would not even know." 

With the practice session over, Surya and Vidyut walked towards the exit of the terrace, where the Tantric apprentices waited for them. The four young crows rose to their feet, seeing the two seniors approach them. Surya thought they were the most obedient batch of youths he had ever encountered in any gurukul. Vidyut must train them well, he surmised. 

"Regards, your royal highness." The four said in unison as they bowed to the prince.

"You seem ready for your journey tomorrow."

"Yes, your royal highness." One of them responded, sounding dutiful and older than his age. It was Rig, one of the two siblings. The rest bobbed their heads in sync.

"What about you, little guy?" Surya crouched down in front of little Tilak, who was always so quiet, like a rabbit. "If you want to stay here in the palace, you can whisper it to me, and I will order your teacher to let you stay."

The boy of ten looked over Surya's shoulder at Vidyut and then simply shook his head. The child was wearing his new robe gifted by the king the day before. It was a little loose on the sides.

Surya could not help but pick up the quiet, lovable boy.

"Even if I give you sweets that you liked so much?" 

During their journey back from the south, Surya had found no matter how many laddus you gave Tilak, it was never enough. The child once again looked over Surya's shoulder before shaking his head, and his chubby cheeks trembled slightly at the movement. Surya gave Vidyut a sidewards glance. 

"In that case, I will have my servants pack some for your journey." And then he yielded to his need to squeeze the child's face before he settled him down.

Surya turned to Alok next. The brave boy had lost a limb in defending the royal family from the bandits. Surya wished he could grow a limb for him as repayment. But even the greatest incantations and tantric chants could not return what the boy had lost.

"Your royal highness." Alok bowed his head in respect.

"I would not disgrace myself by attempting to thank you with words, Alok." Surya smiled to express frank appreciation. "I do not know of any words that can express the debt and gratitude we owe you. But you will receive something today, a reward from me that you must accept. I will not hear you refuse it."

"I could never dare, my prince, if you command so," Alok bowed his head once more as he held the covered stump of his right limb in his left hand. "If I may be so bold, I was sure I would not live. And I would not have if it were not for your kind assistance." Tears threatened to flow down Alok's cheeks. 

Surya moved forward and pulled the boy in an affectionate embrace. The boy was only sixteen but seemed to have grown of late since he lost his limb, quieter but enduring.

"It is your mentor you owe your life to. He sat awake by your side day and night," Surya stole a glance at Vidyut, who stared into the distance indifferently. "But I accept your thanks and appreciation."

Next, Surya proceeded to hug the two siblings, who mostly remained silent. The two brothers looked alike, but their countenance varied dramatically. While Rig seemed wise and prudent, more mature to his age, his brother Raag appeared somewhat muddled and unsure.

At last, Surya turned to the tantric, the tall youth who was hovering over him the entire time.

"Hope you have a safe and pleasant journey home, my friend," Surya said. The finality of the moment sickened him, but Surya had been expecting this moment for some time now. "I apologize if I ever used words that undermined your skills. I am not the best of jesters. Me and my uncle owe our lives to you and your students, Tantric Vidyut." The Tantric was looking at Surya, but his face was empty of any expression. "How long until your next venture to the south?"

Vidyut looked away into the distance, furrowing his brows at last. "That is for the guild to decide. They are distrustful of the Southern roads, more so after this incident. They want to zealously safeguard the trainees against any threat. It may be years."

Surya nodded, doing his best to keep the disappointment away from his face. "A pity. Perhaps I could visit the freezing country of yours if I decide I need a lesson or two in tantra." 

Surya, then, walked up to Vidyut and placed a light arm around his shoulder, pulling him in for a hug. It was awkward, to say the least, but warm, and it lingered for a few moments. Vidyut was too tall for this, and so, Surya had to stand on his toes, but instead of a nervous uneasiness, all Surya felt was joy and relief.

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