‘Even better,’ Nala said. ‘He’ll think we aren’t cut out for this and reduce our forest assignments.’

It was a known fact that the Saptarishis took inspiration for their devious plans by aping Meru’s first years.

II

Somehow, the Shishyas ambled on to their second semester at Meru. If they thought the classes would be lighter, they were sorely mistaken.

‘Deeper, you fleas!’ Acharya Irum’s voice thundered. ‘I said turn! Did I say scrape?’

‘I think my spade is laughing at me,’ Akopa said softly, his voice so serious that one might have actually thrown his spade a second glance.

‘I know I am,’ Varcin said. ‘Are you massaging the land or turning it?’

Nala chuckled. ‘Why does an Acharya need to learn to farm?’

‘I think they are running out of subjects to teach,’ Varcin winked.

‘They’re already teaching us Smithy this year. Then there is Alchemy, Sanskrit-II, Chakrascience, History-II and Herblore. With Farming, that makes it a sinister seven subject list. As you grow older, things are supposed to get easier, aren’t they?’

‘The more we persevere now, the more we’ll prosper later,’ Varcin enunciated unctuously.

‘You sound like Acharya Irum,’ Nala said.

‘That’s good then,’ Varcin beamed. ‘Voice of Irum, Knowledge of Parshuram, and Skill of Failknot…I will be the greatest Acharya the realm has ever seen.’

‘Knowledge of Parshuram?’ Upavi asked. ‘I do not know of any Saptarishi by that name.’

‘He isn’t one,’ Akopa said.

‘Then why seek the wisdom of one who isn’t even a Saptarishi?’

‘Have you been living under a rock, Upavi?’ Akopa snorted. ‘Acharya Parshuram, the Axe-Warrior, is the greatest teacher blessed on Vrat. He has taught the White Eagle and the Gospel. He has taught Failknot, who could have used one arrow to slay all seven of you while taking a piss. He has taught Nardevaks and Men, good men every one. The Vedans speak of him in the same breath as the Ayodhyan King Ram and Kirtavirya the Thousand-Armed. He is the only living Chiranjeevi. Even Scarface knows of him.’

‘Don’t call him that,’ Varcin chided.

‘Actually, I don’t know much about him,’ shrugged Nala.

‘How have you not heard of him? He is said to be the reason your ancestors were driven to the forests!’

‘Because he had river nymphs to seduce back there,’ Varcin came to Nala’s defence. The boys laughed. However, Acharya Irum suddenly apparated behind Varcin and slapped him smartly across the head.

Once the Acharya turned away again, Upavi asked, ‘Didn’t Parshuram slay Kirtavirya?’

‘We don’t speak of it in Meru,’ whispered Varcin, one eye tracking Acharya Irum’s movements. Varcin was as learned as Akopa, but not half as haughty.

‘Why?’