Outside the Camp.
Ashwini had just witnessed something she would never have dreamed possible, even after being reincarnated into a world where mana and monsters were everyday realities.
For a few brief moments, she simply stood there, staring.
Then she noticed the mana.
The air itself had changed.
The suffocating tension that had gripped the battlefield moments ago was gone, replaced by an overwhelming yet strangely calm presence. Even the Royal Guards, who moments earlier had been fighting desperately for their lives, had relaxed ever so slightly, as though they were no longer standing in the middle of a battlefield.
By the time Ashwini finally gathered her thoughts, the human-shaped silhouette had already drawn much closer, descending from the sky just like the superheroes from the movies of her previous life.
Awe.
Hope.
And just a hint of fear.
Those three emotions battled within her as she watched the approaching figure. If someone possessed that much power...
What if it was ever turned against me?
Before she could dwell on the thought, another familiar mana signature raced toward the battlefield at incredible speed.
She instinctively turned toward it.
It was the second signature she had sensed earlier, the one that had remained on the ground.
Yet none of the soldiers seemed the least bit concerned.
Not a single Royal Guard shifted position.
Not Rajkumar Garuda.
Not Naga.
Not Mina.
They all continued watching the descending man with complete confidence, as though the approaching presence behind them wasn't an enemy at all.
Realizing this, Ashwini forced herself to relax. She turned her attention back to the man as he completed his descent toward the battlefield.
----
[Ashwini's POV]
Am I seeing this right?
That was the only thought running through my mind.
The clouds above us were gone. It was as though someone had taken a giant circular blade and carved a perfect hole through the sky.
And those things...
They were retreating, like actually retreating.
Not some fake retreat to lure us in. BS.
They were running.
Not all of them had died, but that man had wiped out a sizeable portion of them in a single attack. I doubted even the geezers back at Takshashila could pull off something remotely close to that.
Lost in those thoughts, I barely noticed him descending toward the battlefield.
The moment his feet touched the ground, everyone saluted.
The salute itself raised all sorts of questions—questions that would've seemed incredibly strange back in my old world—but I shoved them aside for the moment.
The Royal Guard named Naga, who from what I'd gathered commanded the Royal Guards, stepped forward alongside the woman called Mina and began briefing him as he walked toward the Rajkumar.
Garuda was still standing, though only because two guards were supporting him. One of them was Ranapala. I still hadn't learned the other's name.
But...
That man.
How do I even put this?
He looked like a work of art.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, with the build of someone who had spent a lifetime working. Muscular, certainly, but not the exaggerated, overbuilt physique that looked sculpted purely for appearance. Every movement felt natural, refined, and efficient.
His skin was a rich brown, and just as the rumors had claimed, he kept his hair short. It was a little surprising, actually. Even his younger brother wore his hair down to his shoulders.
I only caught a brief glimpse of his eyes, but it was enough.
His irises were so dark they seemed almost black, like looking into a bottomless void. For the briefest instant, I had the absurd feeling that if I stared too long, I'd lose myself in them.
Then there was his face.
No. Calling it handsome didn't feel like enough.
It was as if someone had taken every proportion artists spent centuries trying to perfect and simply... made them real. Every feature seemed exactly where it belonged, balanced so perfectly that it almost looked unreal.
...
Motherfucker.
This guy is ridiculously hot.
{A/N: I cannot tell how much it hurt to write that line.}
-----
[Third Person POV]
Yuvraj Hamsa listened in silence as Naga and Mina briefed him on everything that had transpired during his absence.
The casualty report came first.
Roughly one hundred and fifty of the four hundred soldiers who had fought outside the camp had been wounded to varying degrees. Miraculously, there had been no fatalities. Inside the camp, the remaining soldiers and non-combatants were safe for the moment, though the defensive barrier Mina had organized would not withstand another prolonged assault.
Next came the enemy.
Naga repeated everything the veteran Royal Guard had revealed about the Jivatshava, while Mina supplemented the report with everything Ashwini had told them since her arrival.
Finally, Hamsa questioned them about Ashwini herself.
He listened without interrupting until they had exhausted everything they knew.
"I see."
That was all he said.
"Mina, bring lady Ashwini here."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Naga, order a general withdrawal. Oh, and tell the men they can rest for a while."
"At once."
Both immediately departed to carry out his orders.
Only then did Hamsa turn his attention to his younger brother.
Garuda was still standing, though only because Ranapala was supporting him. Blood stained his clothes, and the broken bracelet still lay where it had fallen.
Hamsa's eyes gradually began to glow with a soft white light as they swept over Garuda's injuries.
"Shame," Hamsa said at last. "I thought you were dead."
Garuda let out a weak chuckle despite the pain.
"You sound disappointed."
"What reason have you given me to be happy?"
Garuda sighed dramatically.
"Come on. At least lie to me. Tell me you were worried or something."
"I was."
Garuda blinked.
"...That easy?"
"No."
Hamsa stepped forward and wrapped a hand around the blade lodged in Garuda's side.
"I'm worried because now I have to waste time fixing you."
His grip tightened around the hilt.
"So stop talking..."
With one swift pull, he drew the blade free.
"...and let me fix you."
With one swift motion, he pulled the blade free.
"NO, DON'T!"
The shout rang across the clearing as the Yuvraj pulled it.
Everyone turned.
Ashwini hurried toward them, having just broken away from Mina. She had fully expected the Royal Guards to stop her before she got anywhere near the Yuvraj.
Instead...
They merely looked at her in confusion.
Garuda doubled over, groaning in pain, yet the wound was already beginning to close. White mana flowed from Hamsa's hand while Garuda's own mana responded instinctively, the two working together to repair the damage almost as quickly as it had been inflicted.
Hamsa looked toward the woman who had shouted.
He studied her for only a moment before concluding she had to be Ashwini.
"You don't need to worry," Hamsa said in a calm, even voice. "I'm not foolish enough to remove a mana-infused blade without first dealing with the mana."
Ashwini froze for a moment.
Given what she knew, interrupting him had been the right decision. She couldn't have known what the Yuvraj was capable of.
That realization, however, did little to stop the embarrassment creeping onto her face. A faint blush spread across her cheeks as she silently cursed herself.
Sensing her discomfort, Hamsa chose not to dwell on it.
He turned to Ranapala.
"Take him back to camp."
"Yes, Your Highness."
As Ranapala and another soldier moved to support Garuda, Hamsa looked at his younger brother.
"You did well," he said. "Just don't make a habit of taking risks like that."
Garuda gave an exaggerated sigh.
"I'll do my best."
With that, he allowed himself to be led back toward the camp.
Only after they had left did Hamsa turn his attention to Ashwini.
"I believe you already know who I am. From what I've been told, you are Ashwini of Takshashila and were sent here as an observer."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I also understand that you chose to intervene despite having no obligation to do so."
Ashwini gave a small nod.
"I merely did what I believed was necessary."
"You have my gratitude."
There was no grand gesture or elaborate speech. He simply inclined his head ever so slightly before continuing.
"I give you my word as Hamsa Deva Varman that your assistance will be properly rewarded. Until we reach Takshashila, I invite you to travel with our company as an honored guest."
Ashwini considered the offer for a few moments before bowing respectfully.
"I only did what I believed needed to be done, Your Highness. Even so... I gratefully accept your generosity."
"Very well," Hamsa replied. "If you'll excuse me, I have some rather unwelcome guests to attend to."
He beckoned one of the Royal Guards and quietly gave him a few instructions before turning back to Ashwini.
"Follow him. He will take you to my assistant, who will see to any accommodations or assistance you require. If you need anything, simply ask."
Believing the matter settled, Hamsa turned to leave. He intended to return to the camp and retrieve his own armor and equipment. The gear he currently wore was nothing more than standard issue for the Royal Guards.
"Your Highness."
Ashwini's voice stopped him.
"If I may be so bold..." she began. "Would you permit me to accompany you while you deal with... your current task?"
For the first time since his arrival, Hamsa paused.
It wasn't the request itself that caught his attention.
It was the simple fact that she had made it at all.
Under the present circumstances, no one—not his subordinates, not his retainers, not even those closest to him—would have considered asking such a thing.
Yet here stood a young woman, calmly asking to accompany him after everything she had just witnessed.
After a brief moment of thought, Hamsa answered.
"I must admit," he said evenly, "that is not a request I expected to hear."
His expression remained unchanged.
"Even so..."
He gave a slight shake of his head.
"I must decline."
--------
Camp.
This camp was far larger and far better organized than the previous one. Instead of little more than a ring of tents surrounded by a defensive ditch, this was a proper fortified encampment, with walls of timber reinforced by stone and packed earth that had clearly been shaped and raised using mana.
The camp itself formed a rough square, with gatehouses guarding its eastern and western entrances. Wooden watchtowers stood at regular intervals along the walls, allowing sentries to observe the surrounding countryside from every direction.
Within the walls, the camp was divided into roughly four sections.
One section was reserved for the livestock, housing the horses, elephants, pack animals, and the enormous quantities of fodder needed to sustain them as they marched north from the capital.
Another was designated for the non-combatants. It housed the Yuvraj's personal staff, the support personnel assigned to the Royal Guards, and the families of a number of Royal Guards, as this was expected to be a long-term deployment in the northern territories now under his governance. Also living in this section were several orphaned children and teenagers, selected for their talents from orphanages already under the patronage of Yuvraj Hamsa.
A third section served as the logistical heart of the camp. Here stood the supply stores, workshops, and other utility structures, along with the treasury and countless chests containing census records, tax documents, maps, and other administrative records gathered during the march. Apart from the safety of the two royals themselves, these records were considered the camp's most valuable assets, and as such they were guarded day and night.
The final section was reserved for the leadership of the force. Here stood the royal tents, the command tents, and the headquarters from which every aspect of the camp's military and administrative operations was directed.
Ashwini was led toward the central section of the camp, where the royal tents stood. As a guest of the Yuvraj, she had been granted quarters close to the expedition's leadership.
There she was introduced to a man dressed more for administration than battle.
"My name is Gopal," he said with a polite bow. "I serve as His Highness, Yuvraj Hamsa's personal assistant. Should you require anything during your stay, simply ask."
Ashwini returned the greeting. She was just about to ask where she could leave her belongings and finally get some much-needed rest when a commotion erupted near one of the larger tents.
Both of them instinctively turned toward the sound.
That would be the medical tents.
Rajkumar Garuda had only recently been brought there, and priests and healers were still hard at work treating the wounded from the battle.
Ashwini instinctively wanted to run over and see what had happened. However, after noticing that neither the Royal Guards nor Gopal appeared the least bit alarmed, she restrained herself. If they weren't concerned, then whatever was happening probably wasn't an emergency.
So she simply followed Gopal at his unhurried pace.
As they rounded the corner, they came upon a small crowd of children gathered in a loose circle. A few adults stood nearby watching with amused expressions, making no attempt to disperse them.
Ashwini frowned.
What the heck is happening here?
Stepping closer, she finally caught sight of what they had surrounded.
...
Her mind went blank.
-----
[Ashwini's POV]
That's a fucking tiger.
That's a white fucking tiger.
Like, National Geographic, rare-species, probably-on-the-endangered-list kind of tiger.
Except instead of being behind reinforced glass or a documentary camera crew, it was sitting right there in the middle of a military camp, covered in blood and bits of flesh like it had just walked out of a horror movie.
And surrounding it... Were children.
Kids.
Some of them were cautiously patting its side like it was a stray cat. Others were trying to get its attention, waving their hands and giggling. A few of the older ones were arguing about something—probably whose turn it was or something equally insane.
Nobody looked scared like not even a little.
Am I the only one here with basic survival instincts?
Before I could even begin to process how this was apparently normal, I felt another large mana signature approaching.
A second later, an elephant walked into view between the tents.
Of course it did. I mean we are in a primarily military camp after all.
But why is it along and no riders around?
Sir Gopal stepped forward as soon as the elephant approached, calmly guiding the children away with the help of a few daisies who had been standing nearby like this was just another Tuesday.
Once the area was cleared, the elephant dipped its trunk into a nearby water trough and—
WHOOOSH.
Blasted the tiger with a full stream of water.
The tiger shot to its feet instantly.
A deep, rumbling growl rolled out of its chest as it glared at the elephant like it had just committed a personal betrayal.
Okay. This is it.
This is where things go wrong I guess.
I instinctively tensed, ready to jump in if things escalated—
"You don't need to do anything."
The voice came from behind me, calm and completely unconcerned.
"Those two are friends."
...Friends?
I turned.
Standing there was a girl—no, a woman—about my age.
And...
Okay wow.
This was getting unfair.
She was beautiful.
Not in the absurd, almost mathematically perfect way the Yuvraj was, but in a softer, more natural way that somehow made it worse.
I mean, I wasn't exactly lacking either. I had the looks, sure—but years of training, sparring, and just generally living like a combat addict had left me more on the muscular side.
She, on the other hand, looked... effortless.
Like she didn't have to try.
Like she just was.
At least she's a girl...
At least I was not been looked over cause of a guy.
-----
[Third Person POV]
The young woman whom Ashwini had only moments ago found herself envying stepped forward and came to stand beside her. After watching the spectacle between Chotu and Gajandra for a few moments, she turned toward Ashwini with a warm smile.
"My name is Sarasvathi," she said with a slight bow. "I serve as His Highness's personal musician and entertainer. I also assist Sir Gopal with many of his duties."
Ashwini returned the greeting, introducing herself in turn.
Before she could ask about the tiger, Sarasvathi answered the question she had already guessed was coming.
"The tiger is named Chotu, and the elephant is Gajandra. Both belong to His Highness."
Understanding finally dawned on Ashwini.
That explained why no one had panicked. The children, the guards, even Gopal had treated the entire scene as though it were perfectly ordinary.
"You look exhausted," Sarasvathi observed kindly. "I believe Sir Gopal will be occupied here for a while. Allow me to show you to your quarters."
Ashwini nodded, and the two made their way back toward the royal tents. As they walked, Ashwini briefly sensed mana being used somewhere deeper within the camp. Seeing no one else react, she dismissed it and continued after Saraswathi.
A few minutes later, Sarasvathi drew aside the entrance flap of one of the larger tents.
"This will be your quarters while you remain with us."
Ashwini stepped inside.
The space was far larger than the room she currently called home and furnished to a standard few nobles outside the wealthiest households could hope to afford. Though temporary, every piece of furniture had been carefully chosen for both comfort and practicality.
Setting her belongings aside, Ashwini let out a tired sigh.
"Would you mind helping me with my armor?" she asked. "I can remove it myself, but it'd take a while."
"Of course."
With Sarasvathi's help, the buckles and straps were loosened one by one until the armor could finally be lifted away.
A few minutes later, Ashwini had changed into simpler clothing. She wore a lower garment wrapped in the style of a dhoti, though cut and pleated in a manner reminiscent of a lehenga, allowing for freedom of movement without sacrificing elegance. Her upper garment consisted of a sleeveless blouse, over which she draped a light length of cloth that rested comfortably across her shoulders and torso.
Saraswathi was already dressed in a saree not unlike the ones Ashwini remembered seeing among high society during some of her previous jobs. It was elegant without being extravagant, draping comfortably while sacrificing none of its beauty. The jewelry she wore was tasteful rather than excessive—a pair of earrings, several bangles, a delicate necklace, a small nose ring, and a handful of rings adorning her fingers.
By the time Ashwini had finished changing, the two had settled onto cushions with a plate of fruit between them. What had begun as little more than polite small talk gradually became as relaxed as two friends chatting over drinks.
In reality, however, neither of them was speaking merely for the sake of conversation.
Each question carried a purpose, each answer was carefully measured, and every casual remark was another opportunity to learn something about the other.
So far... Ashwini was losing, not by much but still loosing.
"So," Saraswathi began with a smile, "the men weren't exaggerating. You really are as strong as they said if you can stand toe-to-toe with the Gurus of Takshashila."
Ashwini laughed, taking a bite from an apple.
"Standing toe-to-toe with them doesn't mean I beat them every time."
"Still," Saraswathi replied, "I might not know much about these matters. But most people couldn't even say that much."
Ashwini smiled before taking another bite.
"What about you? We've been talking about me this whole time."
"Me?" Saraswathi repeated.
She was quiet for a moment.
"I was an orphan living on the streets before Lady Ratnavathi took me into her courtesan house. I grew up there and eventually began working there myself... until the Yuvraj hired me."
She finished in a single breath.
Ashwini noticed the conversation ended there.
She doesn't want to talk about it I guess.
Rather than press the matter, she gently changed the subject.
"So... what exactly do you do for the Yuvraj?"
Saraswathi laughed softly.
"That's actually a difficult question."
She thought for a moment before answering.
"I suppose I do whatever His Highness needs at the time. Sometimes I perform music or dance for official gatherings or when he is working. Sometimes I help him dress or prepare for ceremonies. Other times I'm helping Sir Gopal organize documents, checking calculations, writing letters while His Highness dictates them, or simply running errands."
She shrugged.
"There isn't really a single job description."
Ashwini nodded.
Then, before she had time to think better of it, she asked,
"So... you don't sleep with him?"
The words left her mouth.
A heartbeat later...
Why the hell did I ask it like that?
Saraswathi blinked.
Then she smiled, finding the question surprisingly similar to the kind of bluntness the Yuvraj himself occasionally displayed.
"No," she answered honestly. "From everything I've seen, His Highness simply has no interest in those kinds of desires."
Ashwini frowned thoughtfully.
"I mean... putting his actual age aside..." she muttered. "His appearance and the way he carries himself make that almost irrelevant."
She looked back at Saraswathi.
"Still... isn't it a little strange?"
"It was."
Saraswathi nodded.
"At first, I was convinced I'd eventually be called to his bed. He's more than ten years younger than I am, but with his status and everything... I thought that was simply what would happen."
She smiled faintly.
"But he never asked."
Her expression grew a little more nostalgic.
"I'll admit... it hurt at first."
Ashwini looked up.
"I kept wondering whether I wasn't attractive enough... or whether he found my personality lacking... or perhaps I simply wasn't intelligent enough for someone like him."
She laughed softly at the memory.
"After a few months, as my responsibilities increased and I got to know the people around him better, I finally worked up the courage to ask him directly."
"You actually asked him!?"
"I did."
"And what did he say?"
Saraswathi couldn't help but smile.
"He looked genuinely confused."
She laughed.
"Then he apologized and told me he'd never even considered me in that way. To him... I was more like a younger sister. Or perhaps a close friend."
Ashwini blinked.
"I'll admit, hearing that left me completely speechless," Saraswathi continued. "Given our actual ages, being thought of as a younger sister felt rather strange."
She smiled to herself.
"But over time... I've come to live with it."
"That is weird." Ashwini said but internally.
So my theary of him being a reincarnator got even more points behind it.
Then they continued talking tillthe evening when news came by that the Yuvraj was back.
Sarasvathi was summoned but nothing was said to or about Ashwini.
--------
Two Days Later
It had been two days since they had overcome the Jivatshava attack. Preparations to break camp were well underway, as Yuvraj Hamsa had successfully accomplished the objective that had brought them to the region in the first place.
Within the central section of the camp, several tents had been rearranged to accommodate Rajkumar Garuda while he recovered from his injuries.
At present, the two royal brothers occupied the same tent, accompanied only by a handful of Royal Guards, Saraswathi, and a few attendants.
"So," Hamsa asked without turning around, "how do you feel?"
He stood over a stove, calmly preparing something while Saraswathi handed him ingredients and utensils whenever he asked.
"Much better," Garuda replied from his bedroll. "The numbness is gone, and I can use mana properly again."
To demonstrate, he casually summoned a small current of wind, letting it swirl through the tent.
Without so much as glancing back, Hamsa set the cloth in his hand aside and snapped his fingers.
The current of wind instantly dispersed, leaving only the natural breeze drifting through the tent.
"I'm cooking," he said flatly.
Garuda stared at him.
"...Why?"
Hamsa paused just long enough to glance over his shoulder.
"Did you forget?"
"Forget what?"
"It's your birthday."
Garuda blinked.
"...Wait."
A moment passed.
"...It is my birthday."
Hamsa returned to his cooking.
"How does someone forget the day they were born?"
Garuda snorted.
"Coming from you, that's not a very convincing criticism."
Hamsa ignored the remark entirely.
Instead, he motioned for one of the guards to set up a low table while Saraswathi placed a freshly prepared dish upon it.
Hamsa set down a stack of Malabar-style parottas beside a bowl of paneer gravy before looking at his younger brother.
"You want it or not?"
The recipe wasn't identical to the one Hamsa remembered from his previous life. This world lacked several of the ingredients he had once taken for granted.
Still it was close enough.
Garuda immediately apologized before turning his full attention to the meal, which also happened to be his birthday present.
Once breakfast was over, the two brothers made their way to the command tent.
Waiting inside were Mina, Naga, Gopal, and Ranapala, each already at their customary positions around the central table. As the two royals entered, Mina and Naga rose from their seats and bowed.
Hamsa acknowledged them with a slight raise of his hand.
"Be seated. And that includes you two as well."
The two resumed their places and the other two sat down as well and once everyone had settled, the morning briefing began.
Mina spoke first, reporting on the messages that had arrived over days and nights since by carrier birds from across the border of the Great Mana Dead Zone (GMZ).
"All units stationed along the border and within the zone have reported zero casualties. As most of them are no longer sensing enough mana beasts to justify maintaining their current positions, they have begun withdrawing to their designated home bases and storage sites."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"Additionally, a messenger from our associate in the east arrived late last night. While they were not as fortunate as we were, having suffered casualties all along their section of the border, the reports indicate that the situation remains well within the Empire's ability to contain."
With nothing further to add, Mina resumed her seat.
Naga rose to give his report.
"From everything we know so far, the operation has resulted in no civilian or military casualties on our side. And fortunately, none of the evacuation plans had to be enacted."
"Public order has, however, been affected. The closure of the major roads and the travel restrictions imposed during the operation have led to several localized riots and disturbances. All incidents have been contained, and the situation remains under control."
"The units currently deployed for internal security will remain in place until order has been fully restored. Once the situation has stabilized, they will return to their regular postings."
"Good," Hamsa said with a nod. "Maintain your watch until the situation has completely returned to normal."
He turned his attention to Naga.
"Select a small, hand-picked unit and leave them behind as a permanent scouting detachment. Their sole duty will be to observe the Great Mana Dead Zone and report any unusual activity."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"The last thing we need is for those creatures to break loose again."
His expression remained calm, though his tone hardened.
"Ensure the order forbidding discussion of what transpired that day—and of the creatures themselves—is enforced without exception. If anyone deliberately violates it after being warned, execute them if necessary."
The tent fell silent.
"I have no intention of allowing fear, rumors, or the delusions of fools to create problems where none currently exist. I will speak with the temples and the other families who possess knowledge of the Jivatshava and seek their assistance. Until then, our scouts will not be left without support for long."
Hamsa paused for a moment, mentally reviewing everything that had been discussed.
Finding nothing further to add, he continued.
"That is all."
"If anything out of the ordinary occurs, report it directly to me, no matter how insignificant or irrelevant it may seem."
With that, the meeting was adjourned.
The officers bowed before taking their leave.
Only Garuda and Gopal remained behind.
The three immediately turned their attention to another matter—the local nobility and influential families. Before Hamsa formally assumed governance of the northern territories, they needed to determine who could be trusted, who merely required careful handling, and who might become obstacles to his administration.
They had been discussing the matter for only a few minutes when the entrance flap parted.
Saraswathi stepped inside.
"What is it?" Hamsa asked without looking up from the map spread across the table.
"Your Highness," Saraswathi said with a respectful bow, "Lady Ashwini requests an audience with you."
For a brief moment, Hamsa simply blinked.
...Right.
I completely forgot about her.
"Tell her," he said, returning his attention to the map, "that once we break camp tomorrow, she may speak with me as much as she wishes."
"Understood, Your Highness."
Saraswathi bowed once more before quietly withdrawing from the tent.