The Tantric Saves The Prince- Part 3 [Surya]

Vidyut and his apprentice, Rig, held one end of the nooses, the other end tightening around the rakshasa's neck, their feet deep and heavy in the snow to the sustain the pull of the ropes. The rakshasa screamed and thrashed. It violently flailed its arms, holding one rope in each hand, like someone swinging fireballs, in an attempt to shake off the ones holding the other end of the rope. That caused the two tantrics to repeatedly soar through the air and then take a dive to the ground.

"RIG, WRAP THE ROPE AROUND YOUR HAND A FEW TIMES!" Vidyut instructed his trainee.

The trick kept Vidyut from being flung away. Rig held onto the rope fiercely at first. But before he could follow his mentor's commands, he was lifted and swerved too many times in the air, causing him to lose his grip and he went tumbling across the snow. With one of the nooses loosened, the rakshasa now only had to take care of Vidyut to be free again, and so, it seized the other rope with both hands and began to thrash it around viciously on the ground with Vidyut at the other end.

Surya dashed towards the rakshasa and pounced upon the end of the loose rope. He exchanged a knowing look with Vidyut as he pulled the rope as far back as he could, suffocating the rakshasa once again. At the same time, a third air noose flew in and tightened around its neck. It was Guru Briharshi. The rakshasa was now restrained by three nooses, held by the three spiritual fighters. No matter how much it screamed and thrashed, the three men did not let go of the ropes, holding onto them with dear life. Gradually, the raging and the flailing of the creature became feebler as the nooses continued to cut off its air. Eventually, the giant monster slumped to the ground with a loud crash.

"Is it dead?" Surya approached the motionless body of the rakshasa.

"Himasuras do not perish so easily. He may have just collapsed from the suffocation." Vidyut responded, eyes focused on the crumpled body of the rakshasa. It seemed like yesterday that the two had said their farewells to each other, and here they meet again, amid the snowy bloodbath.

"Is that what you call it? Himasura?" Guru Briharshi asked distastefully. Trails of dried red blood streaked his face and grey beard, from wounds to his head, but he had already started to heal.

Vidyut nodded. "They are peaceful beings, most times. Live up in the mountains, rarely come down to the plains." Vidyut spoke of the creature with surprising warmth. "But this one did. We got reports of a stray ferocious Himasura causing trouble in this area, and so, the guild sent us to escort the royal convoy. I am afraid this one found you sooner than we did."

Veer came and stood beside Surya. "How do we know if it is alive?" Veer voiced his suspicion. Vidyut threw Veer a quick dismissive glance. Both youths were similarly tall, except Veer had a long face where Vidyut's was square.

"Rig, see if there is any life left in him," Vidyut instructed his trainee. Rig immediately climbed up on the body lying on the ground, kneeled on its chest, and brought his right ear down to listen to it. Within seconds, he rose up with a start and jumped off the Himasura's chest.

"It is still beating."

"We must bring him with us," Surya murmured. The others turned towards him but remained silent, unsure if to agree or disagree with the prince. "We must not keep him here. He would either freeze to death or live to cause more carnage."

Vidyut studied Surya for a moment and then spoke, "In that case, my prince, gather your men, and the horses. Me and my apprentice will create air ropes to tie him up, and your men can drag him to the city. But that will slow us by one more day, I must warn you."

Surya could already see others questioning his decision to bring the rakshasa, but a voice in his heart said he must. He turned to estimate how many of his men survived the bloodshed. A bright glint from the snow caught his eyes, making his vision go white. And when the brightness slowly began to disperse, he saw the figure that he had started to dread very much, the one in white garbs and silver armor, with a longsword in his hand, the White Spirit.

"No!" Surya whispered in a small, thin voice.

"My deceit?" The White Spirit laughed. "Who massacred thousands at the Nalini riverbank? Who scourged the east city with the great affliction? You have used force and falsehoods to corrupt people and commit great sins. Today, your depravity ends. If you do not leave, I will crush you with my own two hands."

Surya wanted to turn and flee, but he could not move his body, frozen where he stood, like a statue.

The White Spirit began to walk towards Surya in long strides. Surya's heart pounded in his chest, his breathing fast and heavy.

"No." He whispered once more.

Suddenly the spirit faltered in its steps, stooping over, and then, immediately straightened up. This time its face had changed, although still blurry. Its garbs had changed too. Instead of white, it now donned a black robe and walked over to Surya in gentle, hesitant steps. Surya did not feel alarmed anymore. 

Surya watched unmoving as the black-robed figure slowly walked over to him and stood right before him, face still blurry but eyes warm and innocent. It took Surya's face in its hand and closed the distance between them, soft lips upon Surya's. Surya moved his lips hesitantly at first, against the figure's. Surya's heart was pounding again, but this time for a different reason. He leaned into the kiss. But it was fleeting, too short. The figure soon moved away, and his lips felt empty.

Surya slowly opened his eyes and found himself staring at a high, unfamiliar ceiling.

"You are awake," a familiar soothing voice drifted in. Surya looked around from the bed he was laying on, and a tall youth in black robes, with his back turned to Surya. The youth finished stirring something and turned around with a cup held in his long fingers. "Here is a concoction I especially made for you to boost your spirits."

Vidyut walked up to Surya and handed him the cup with an insolent smile on his lips, lips that somewhat seemed familiar.

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