Wow… this is awesome.
I can practically see the body as if it were sliced open right in front of me.Though it hurts my brain—and my eyes—to process this much information all at once.
The mana channels run through practically every part of the body. Not just the major organs—everywhere. And beneath the diaphragm, there's something else.
An extra organ.
It stretches around the entire circumference of the body, just like the diaphragm itself.
So this is why people in this world are so much larger than humans back on Earth.
I'm not completely sure, but the shortest adults I've seen feel like they're around six feet tall. The tallest—including my father—are close to ten feet. Now that I think about it, almost every animal I've seen is bigger too. Some only by a few percent, others by more than half.
Yeah… I'll need to study the biology of this world properly another time.
For now, let's try something on this guy.
The Rajkumar thought this as he slowly walked around the bound man. He finally stopped, raised his hand, and began gathering mana in his right palm.
From what Grandma Durga taught me, I can't create things out of thin air.Which means I need to use physics and biology to my advantage.
As he focused, the mana in his hand reshaped itself into a thin ring. Sparks flickered along its edge. Some were drawn toward the guards—weak enough that they barely felt it. Around the Rajkumar and the prisoner, the pull was much stronger.
No pain. Just pressure.
So mana is basically energy… or at least a form of it.That means fire or plasma should be easy. And from what I can sense, I should be able to manipulate air as well.
This is fun.
The smile on the Rajkumar's face made even the guards uneasy.
He placed his hand near the man's mouth.
A few moments passed.
The man began to choke.
Excellent.
What the hell did the brat do?Why—why can't I breathe?!
The guards stiffened as the man struggled violently, choking while nothing touched him. Even the Raja, the Mahadevi, and the Mahamantri stared in shock, along with the attendants.
Now… onto my next experiment.
The Rajkumar withdrew his hand. As the man coughed desperately and sucked in air, Hamsa moved his hand to the man's chest and closed his eyes, focusing.
Everyone could only watch.
Then the man screamed.
First in terror.Then in pain.
His body convulsed violently, ropes straining as he thrashed.
So this must be it.That thing I noticed earlier.
This feels like a storage area… or maybe a place where mana is refined. I'm not sure yet.Also—hey, calm down, dude. I'm not killing you. I'm just blocking your mana. You tried to do the same to me when I was sick with those snakes.
Well, annoyance aside, since I'm already here… might as well test a bit more.Hehehe.
The man continued screaming and shaking.
After about ten to fifteen minutes, the Rajkumar finally lifted his hand.
The man collapsed forward, gasping for air, coughing up saliva mixed with blood. Slowly, he looked up.
His gaze locked with the Rajkumar's.
Hamsa's eyes—once black—now glowed faintly with a white hue.
"Want to continue?" the Rajkumar asked calmly."I can do this all day. This is more informative than I expected."
He genuinely meant it.
This kid doesn't see me as a prisoner.No… he doesn't even see me as human.
To him, I'm nothing but a rat to experiment on.
No. I don't want that.
"I'll talk!" the man blurted out. "I'll tell you everything—just stay away from me!"
The Rajkumar smiled.
"Aww, don't be like that. I wanted to learn more," he said lightly."But we do need answers," he added, irritation slipping into his tone.
Then his voice sharpened.
"Answer everything they ask you. Or I'll pay you another visit.""And next time, I won't stop until I'm done."
He tapped the man's shoulder once, then turned and walked away.
"He'll speak now," Hamsa said as he returned to his parents."I hope this was satisfactory, Father."
Everyone at the edge of the training grounds stared at him in silence. It took several seconds for them to recover.
"Well… that is good," the Raja finally said. "But what exactly did you do, Hamsa?"
"I just made it so the mana inside his body couldn't flow properly," Hamsa replied with a smile."Squeezed a few internal systems. Did some other things too."
As he spoke, his body began to sway slightly, his words trailing off near the end.
"Alright," the Raja said quickly, stepping forward. "Back to your room. You need rest—"
Hamsa collapsed.
The Raja caught him just in time.
"…Just what are you?" he muttered under his breath as he stared at his son.
"Your Majesty," Mahadevi Bhadra said calmly as she stepped in and took Hamsa into her arms,"He is exhausted. I will take him back to his chambers and see that he is cared for. Please proceed with your duties."
She turned and carried her son away, leaving the training field behind.
-----------------------------------
Palace — Third Floor Raja's Private Office
Several hours had passed since the Rajkumar's request had been carried out.
Raja Indra sat in his private office with Mahamantri Vasu at his side. Across from them stood a temple agent, summoned to give his assessment. All three waited for Mahadevi Bhadra to return after personally seeing Rajkumar Hamsa back to his chambers—the boy having fainted immediately after the interrogation.
The Raja broke the silence.
"Priest," he said, his voice measured, "what do you make of what we witnessed?"
"Your Majesty, if I may," the priest replied. He paused, choosing his words carefully, before continuing.
"From what we observed, Rajkumar Hamsa first used his mana to choke the prisoner—most likely by forming an invisible barrier before the man's mouth and nose."
The Raja leaned back slightly, listening.
"The second act," the priest went on, "is… less clear. It appeared that the Rajkumar directly interfered with the mana inside the man's body. Not merely suppressing it—but manipulating it."
Both the Raja and the Mahamantri exchanged a glance.
Just as the Raja was about to speak, the doors opened.
Mahadevi Bhadra entered and took a seat beside the Mahamantri, to the Raja's right.
"It seems the excessive mana usage exhausted him," she said calmly. "He should awaken healthy by tomorrow."
"That is good news," the Raja replied, nodding once.He turned back to the priest. "Continue."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the priest said. "What the Rajkumar accomplished is not unheard of—but only among high-level magins. Even then, such control is rare. Most temple agents could achieve something similar only after years of training. Court magins of the second rank or higher may also manage it."
He hesitated, then added, "But for a child who awakened less than a year ago… this is highly abnormal."
His eyes shifted briefly toward Mahadevi Bhadra.
"I believe Her Majesty can confirm this."
Mahadevi Bhadra did not deny it.
"That will be all," Raja Indra said at last. "You are dismissed. Upon returning to the temple, inform Acharya Ram of everything you have witnessed here."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the priest said, bowing deeply."May Lord Vishnu's grace ever be upon you."
With that, he bowed his head and departed.
Once the doors closed, Mahamantri Vasu spoke.
"The prisoner has confessed," he said. "As you suspected, Mahadevi. The conservative faction orchestrated the attempt. They were aided by several merchant families who favor Rajkumar Garuda—given that he is your biological son, born of the Shetti Dhangupta lineage."
"They believe Garuda will be easier to influence," the Mahamantri continued."And that should he inherit the throne, it would benefit them greatly."
"Greedy bastards," Mahadevi Bhadra said flatly.
Mahadevi Bhadra's expression did not change, but her voice hardened."After all the concessions we granted them, they still think it is not enough."
The Raja exhaled slowly, his fingers tapping once against the arm of his seat.
"So," Mahamantri Vasu asked carefully,"How do we proceed, Your Majesty?"
"Well," the Raja said after a moment,"With the death of Savithri, matters with the Rangas grew… unstable. They agreed to maintain the status quo on the condition that Hamsa be recognized as heir to the throne."
He paused and glanced toward Mahadevi Bhadra, gauging her reaction.
"I have no intention—nor have I ever had one—of placing Garuda upon the throne," she replied calmly."You should know by now that I see Hamsa as my own, no less than Garuda."
She continued, her tone steady.
"As for my house and the guilds, they can be kept in check so long as the Rangas honor their word."
"That is reassuring," the Raja said with a nod."Still, we must remain vigilant."
He leaned back slightly.
"The Rangas have also requested that Hamsa be sent to their palace once he turns sixteen—for no less than four years."
Mahadevi Bhadra's eyes narrowed.
"Then let us take precautions," she said."Cut down the tree. We can deal with the roots later—once our military strength has recovered."
"I agree," Mahamantri Vasu added."They have grown too large. If left alone, they may become uncontrollable."
Raj Valangar remained silent for a time, weighing their words.
Finally, he spoke.
"Very well," he said quietly."Let us do some tree cutting."
The Raja exhaled slowly before continuing.
"For now, we must prepare for what comes next for Hamsa," he said."I will speak with Acharya Ram and begin making arrangements for his education."
He paused, his expression tightening just a little.
"Even if we provide him with the finest teachers, he will require special care," he continued."And Garuda as well. Both of them must be guided carefully."
His voice became flat as he continued.
"I do not wish for them to cross blades in the future… as I once had to."
The regret in his tone lingered in the room.