I awoke and saw the sage and commander before me. I turned to my side to see the giant mending its wound.
I sighed in relief, thinking I had killed the giant—though in my zeal I was sure I struck the kill.
“You leaped away from the giant just before you could open his belly to let fall all his organs,” said Yurvaonri. “I was afraid that perhaps in your rage and excitement you would surely kill him! But if that is what you desired I would not stop you, and incurred the sin as your teacher.”
I strained to move, but said, “No, the results of my actions are mine to bear. I won’t allow anyone else to bear them, not even you, teacher.”
She shook her head. “That choice is not yours to make, for you still do not comprehend the full meaning behind it. Perhaps when you are older and control is yet given to you, then you can do as you say. But so long as your act under my discretion, then your actions are bound to me, and its results I shall bear.”
I was saddened over her words. I felt now I should of all times have agency over myself. But she was right. I had much to learn and as long as I stayed as a disciple under her direct tutelage. For now, things would have to stay as she said.
I looked to Salam, and asked, “Are you okay, commander?”
“I should be asking you that question, O prince!” he said, laughing. “Never in my life have I seen a child fight with as much vigor as you, that too, with his life at stake. I daresay when you have grown to command the whole of your father’s forces, then you shall indeed become a formidable force to our enemies! But the few years we must wait for that seem far from the hundreds of thousands we live.”
“Hundreds of thousands!” I said in shock. I closed my mouth after they looked to me with confusion.
“Did you not know how long it is we live?” the sage asked, curious. “I would have thought the ministers, especially Druzhat, to have taught this to you.”
“I wasn’t paying much attention in their classes,” I said embarrassed. “I remember them talking about the long years that certain empires lasted, but I didn’t imagine any one person to live as long as that!”
“Quite the odd child,” said Yurvaonri, laughing.
“Indeed!” said the commander.
My view shifted to the giant. “Has he calmed since our fight?”
“Yes,” said Yurvaonri, “the bolstering of your might and your use of lightning had caused him to go mad in his wrath. The Grahuvizatan have a vendetta against Dusdrahah for his role in their being thrust from the Heavens. But that is a tale for another day.”
I left the grasp of my teacher. Creating a rod of earth, I moved slowly to the giant, limping through the wrecked soil.
“No, come back, Yurva,” said the commander. “You are in no position to move now! Let me carry you if you must!”
I shook my head. “Let me confront the giant without assistance.”
My walk persisted with steps that slowed in the wake of the dawning sun. Either the battle had lasted long, or I had gone unconscious for a while. Whatever the case, I could feel my cheek swollen. The pain that emanated from not only that but from the healed wounds on my arms and legs caused me, at many points, to stop and deeply inhale the air.
My nerves seemed almost damaged beyond repair. Were I to have suffered such afflictions in my previous life, then I’m sure I would’ve been left for death. Yet now, even as I walked with excruciating pain, I could feel my body normalize to the hurt, healing both what was left of my wounds and relaxing the flame of the associated senses.
I looked across the landscape to see the damage caused by our battle. Ejections, craters, cracks, and ash all about. Given the nature of that era, such damage wouldn’t persist long, but it made me feel guilty over the destruction I had caused for the sake of displaying my prowess.
The battle was forfeit the moment I was to fall to my death in the magma. Had Yurvaonri not caught me before the end of my plummet, then the giant would’ve obtained his desire at my expense.
It irked me that the amount of power I unleashed in this battle still led to my loss. But it was strange. Why did I feel so confident that I should’ve won?
I hadn’t the experience nor power of my own to battle against such forces that quite literally towered above me. I had this feeling that perhaps there was more to this battle, where other powers unseen by me aided in my trial. Perhaps the god Dusdrahah, or the celestial beings that I’ve met to this point, or the Earth herself.
Whatever the case, it was more than just my teacher, who was yearning for my success and growth. That much was evident. The agency I currently held would, in time, increase to where I alone would perform all actions and bear all consequences.
My fear returned. Not for death. No, for what I may do with the power I should obtain in the future.
As these thoughts, one after another, revolved in my feeble mind, I reached the giant. I still stood some distance from the base of its form. Given its size, where I stood should’ve been enough for me to converse.
“Giant of fire,” I called, “have your wounds been mended and your mind been calmed?”
