Consequences, 20000 Years After | Nawvara

983 ANB

Three years and three months after Rov's birth.

 They were practising. Better to say, fighting. Pema and Ilm. Rov was in care of Kuro. During these two years, Ilm mastered all the punches, kicks and defence techniques, and learned walking-styles, breathing and body positions. He had learned slow and deliberate motions flowed seamlessly, and the dodging and redirecting attacks with circular footwork. Today Ilm had to show his potential. He had to fight with Pema, and Pema would not play a defence game today, she might move aggressively.

 "Today you need to demonstrate what you have Learned. Be careful. All the best," Pema said.

 They both bowed to each other. With it, Ilm started to move forward. He threw a series of punches targeting her face, chest, and lower body. Pema was saving herself by dodging or continuously changing palm postures to deflect his attacks. Then Ilm started a combination of punches and kicks. Pema was taking deep breaths, and with every breath, she was reading Ilm. Then, Pema started attacking. She was throwing her fists towards his face or chest, but each time he either dodged it or blocked it.

 Then, she stretched her palm and targeted it to his face. He made a cross with his palm and blocked it. And in that moment, she moved her leg. She tried to kick at his knee, but he jumped high eventually creating an open for her. She took this advantage punching him on his face. Ilm was surprised. He was going to fall. But before he fell, he back-flipped pushing his palm to the ground and landed on his feet.

 "Dada is losing," three years old Rov giggled.

 "Come on, boy. Stand up," Pema shouted. "You can do better than it. Where is your strength?"

 He exhaled. Ilm found himself struggling. Ilm tried to adapt to his mother's move. He closed his eyes, calmed himself, and his mind, and created a strong posture. After some moment, he opened his eyes. Those eyes were full of determination without self-assurance, calmness without worries. He ran towards her at full speed. He attacked her from all directions. But whenever he approached and blew, she nullified his strikes, reflecting or dodging. He was targeting her qi points but remained unable to strike.

 They both flipped and tumbled several times while omitting from getting hit. They were running like a leopard. Whenever their strikes collided with each other, a reverse force pushed them aside. Dusts surrounded them, and so, both of them were coughing.

 "Yeah, what a fight!" Rov filled with excitement, hopping while sitting. "Who do you think will win, Kuro?"

 "Young master is young and quite energetic, but lady Pema possesses experience. So, I think she will win." Kuro answered.

 Now their feet hit each other backing them away. They didn't wait or rest but ran and fought. Then Ilm launched his last move. At that time, he was nothing; his body had nothing, but a powerful fist, a punch where he gave his everything. He had nothing to fear, nothing to worry about. It's just a practice match, if I lose, nothing will happen. He abandoned his fear of losing. His punch was surely going to hit her. She just tilted her head to dodge his attack and successfully dodged it, but—

 But a gust of wind like a sharp knife cut her right cheek opening a flow of blood. For a moment she misthought that she had failed to dodge, but she remembered she didn't feel his punch, but a blow of wind.

 "Ouch."

 "I did not want to do that. I thought I missed the attack."

 "Maa!" Rov came towards her running. "Are you okay? Dada hit you. Dada is BAD!"

 Rov raised his hand and was going to hit Ilm. But before he could touch him, Pema took him up and handed him to Kuro. Kuro grabbed him. Then Pema kissed him on the forehead and said, "It's just a gust of wind. Dada didn't do this intentionally."

 "Intentionally?" Ilm asked. "This means you got my hit?"

 "Ilm, I did dodge your attack but the wind," Pema said.

 "Wind?"

 "Now I see, you have achieved something." Pema's face was lighted with a sudden discovery. "You are now completely fearless. Tell me, what did you feel during the fight?"

 "Nothing," Ilm answered. "I just understand I couldn't beat you, so I just cleared my mind and forgot about winning or losing."

 "I am right. You've become an Inyaḍis."

 "An Inyaḍis? I don't understand."

 "Kuro, can you take Rov with you and go home first?"

 "Why? Are you going to scold Dada?" Rov asked smiling.

 "Yeah! I will scold him and beat his butt," Pema laughed. She kissed Rov on his forehead and brushed his hair. "Go to home. We are coming very soon."

 Kuro took Rov with him and headed back home. As soon as they became out of sight, Pema focused on Ilm.

 "Ilm, turn off your extra memory. I want you to remember these things with your own."

 Ilm did what he was asked to do. He pressed a tiny switch beside a female jack on his back neck.

"It's now the time to pass down our family heritage to you. But remember, do not tell any of this to anyone not even your father."

 "What? What heritage? Why can't I tell this to Baba?" Ilm bewildered. "He is maintaining House Bhārata's own precious industry. He is a part of Bhārata."

 "Then let me ask you some questions." Pema straightened her face. "Why Shakhai's surname is Amir instead of Bhārata? And why you are Bhārata but not Amir?" Pema clenched. "Because you have my blood, not he."

 "Now, you are prioritising blood?" Ilm asked. He knew his mother was different from other women in many senses. So, for him, this change in Pema was new and the complete opposite of her image in his mind.

 "I asked this same question to my father, to your Grandpa." Pema blinked. "The heritage, the knowledge, this skill, this power is forbidden."

 "Forbidden?" Ilm confused. "Then why do we keep this knowledge? Isn't it unethical?"

 "Being forbidden doesn't mean being unethical. And besides, knowledge is neither good nor bad; it's upon people how they use it. You are telling me because you don't know this knowledge. This power… people were afraid of this power. For the government, it was a threat. A knowledge which can influence the people and make them free-thinkers. Usually many don't want this to happen. That's why it is forbidden. Shakhai is too noble not to reveal this secret. We, Bhāratas, need to be careful for everything." Pema said calmly and then she begged, "No matter what the government wants, you must keep this as a secret, please."

 Ilm was watching his mother's eyes, nearly tearful. It was more hurtful for her to keep a secret from her lover, the man she adored since her childhood. Children have an inborn talent to lie to their parents or keep something hidden. But surprisingly, they are more open to their friend. Shakhai was Pema's one and only dear friend but one of his parents to Ilm. "Okay, Ma." He smiled.

 Pema smiled faintly. "And besides," she wiped her tears. "Paradise Industry is just a mask for our family. Our real identity is not that business but the message we have been carrying for about thousand years."

 Ilm always wanted to know the secret behind his family's success from his grandfather, but Bhagavat is Bhagavat, unclean voice and sudden interruptions became common things. So, Ilm finally lost his interest in House Bhārata's secrets and heritage. But today he was going to know everything like it was destined to know but at a proper time.

 "Our ancestor, Urjan Bhārata… about a thousand years ago, he made up a vision," Pema said. "He promised himself to protect an ancient knowledge for eternity. That's why we as his decedents carry this sacred knowledge from generation to generation."

 "Ancient knowledge?"

 "Yes, it is ancient. It lets us use our own inner power. The power which helps us to summon celestial weapons, destructive, and yet pure and holy. The power which connects us with the universe, lets us understand this endless reality and gives us the ability to control this." With that, Pema kicked to the ground mightily. Rocks came out from the ground and started to rotate around her like the planets around the sun. Instantly winds surrounded them from nowhere. Their clothes were dancing synchronously with the waves of wind. Pema held her right hand over her left hand. A fireball was created in the space between her two palms.

 It took no time for Ilm to understand that these all weren't created from nowhere. Pema was controlling them, she created these. Ilm was nothing but impressed. The stormy winds made him out of balance. He eventually fell to the ground, but he was still looking at his mother, and how powerful she was.

 "What is this?" He asked being overwhelmed. Flames from the fireball spread through the air making the place warm and shiny.

 "This is the thing, the power, our heritage. The knowledge of Nawvara." Pema curved her lips.

 "Nawvara?"

 Then she stopped all the things, and the place became calm again. "Nawvara is a collection of knowledge. A long time ago, the Earth wasn't like today. The seven regions used to have different and rich cultures based on their own philosophical and spiritual beliefs. Suantan, Agnayat, Slahaistan, Nyaushi, Enitchland, Azertina, and Bevenida. All of them used to have their own identity. Not like… oh, there is an empty land called Agnayat… NO! Not like that." Pema explained. "And there were great people who could use their inner power. They are called Riḍdhis, users of Nawvara. But before being a Riḍdhis, one needs to be at least an Inyaḍis, unlocking the root cakra of all seven cakra. And you are already an Inyaḍis, Ilm. With the help of Nawvara, one can summon celestial weapons and can perform some other things like element control and healing."

 "So, that means I can be a Riḍdhis?" Ilm was excited. He was glad that after all these painful trainings became fruitful.

 "From tomorrow, you will be trained to be Riḍdhis." Pema ended her words.