‘Not at violence, but defence. Better at achieving peace, better at demanding equality.’

Savitre had seemed lost in thought for a moment, then murmured, ‘The things that have been done in the name of peace…’ He drifted away. Karna never interrupted him when Savitre was alone with his thoughts. Finally, he had said, ‘I know what you want, my friend. But Karna, it is not what you truly need.’

‘You have no idea what I need!’ Karna’s nostrils had flared as he turned away from Savitre.

‘I do… and it’s no different from what we want in our world. Even there, everyone does not have what they need because they are too busy chasing what they want.’

‘Take me with you then, wherever you go to,’ Karna had said in a sudden rush. ‘Take me there.’

‘If experience has taught me anything, it is that my home is no place for a Mortal.’

‘And this world is no place for a dreamer. Not a Resht dreamer in any case.’ Karna had felt hot tears swoop down his cheeks and he’d furiously rubbed them away. He’d felt angry, he had wanted to attack his hooded friend. A boy’s anger. He had wanted to storm out of the forest, but dared not walk out on the one opportunity fate had thrown his way – as a stablehand. ‘Don’t know why I thought you understood,’ he had said miserably.

Savitre had sighed, defeated. ‘That’s not to say you can’t get your heart’s desire here on Aea. If you truly know yourself, then I will help you. So, tell me, what’s your heart’s desire?’

‘To be a warrior.’

‘Spoken like a child.’

‘To be a hero.’

‘Spoken like a boy.’ He turned to leave. ‘You’ll get over it.’

‘No, wait! What do I do?’

‘Be true to yourself. What do you really want? Look within.’

Karna had paused, deep in thought, summoning Dhyāna. It was something Savitre had taught him on his previous visit. Profoundly meditate on the spot to concentrate on a deep, black ocean, and drown all thoughts into it to empty the mind. Become one with the black ocean, Savitre said, and, one could do anything, find anything, be anything. He drew in deep breaths and found the Dhyāna that had eluded him so often of late. ‘I want to be remembered…’ Suddenly, it was as if someone had unchained the fetters binding him, and his wings stretched up proudly on either side. It felt liberating to say the words out loud. For all the dishonour he had suffered in his life, he had wanted the world to know he was a valiant warrior. He wanted none to spurn his name, none to think him a blot, or speak his name with distaste. He had wanted to bring pride and glory to himself, to his family, to his caste, to make them all proud. He had wanted to earn the ancient cred of Abhimaan. And for the Future to know that it was he, Karna, the greatest Paladin to ever walk the earth, who had changed the world.