Chapter 390 - 358: My Past Action... Today’s Landmine...

(A/N):

Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.

Guys I hope you put more comments and power stones... Which will encourage me...

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The guardian did not attack any of them. Instead, it simply continued travelling from one part of the forest to another, allowing its presence to become known.

It eventually reached a large clearing where several different animals had gathered around a small water source.

The guardian stepped into the clearing and released a deep roar that echoed across the surrounding trees.

The animals immediately became alert, but instead of fleeing, they slowly watched the creature as it walked toward the water.

The guardian lowered its head and drank for a few moments before lifting its face toward the surrounding forest.

Its golden eyes slowly moved across the trees, almost as though it was inspecting the territory after being away from it for far too long.

It could sense everything.

The number of animals.

The condition of the trees.

The flow of the water.

The movement of predators.

The places where the forest had suffered because of the imbalance.

The guardian had returned, and with its return came the responsibility that had once been taken away from it.

It began moving again, travelling through different parts of the forest and making its presence known to every creature that lived there.

Whenever it encountered a group of animals, it would stop for a moment before continuing.

When it found a tiger hunting a boar, it did not interfere.

When it came across elephants moving through the trees, it watched them from a distance.

When it passed through areas where the vegetation had been damaged, it lingered for a while before moving on.

Slowly, the creatures began realizing that the enormous beast was not another predator coming to claim territory.

It was their protector.

The guardian climbed onto a rocky hill overlooking a large portion of the forest and stood there with its wings spread wide.

The wind moved through its mane as it looked across the trees, and then it released another powerful roar.

This time, the roar carried something different.

It was not a cry of pain.

It was not a warning.

It was a declaration.

The forest had its guardian again.

The sound travelled across the trees, reaching the deepest parts of the territory.

Tigers raised their heads, elephants paused beside the river, deer looked toward the distant hill, and countless smaller creatures emerged from their hiding places to listen.

The guardian remained there for several moments before slowly lowering its wings.

The forest had suffered because its protector had been imprisoned.

Now that it had returned, it would ensure that no single species grew powerful enough to destroy the balance again.

Predators would hunt, prey would survive, plants would grow, rivers would continue flowing and every creature would once again have its place within the cycle of the forest.

And somewhere on its front paw, the small sacred thread tied by Devara remained firmly in place.

The guardian lowered its eyes toward it for a moment before looking back across the forest.

It had been given freedom.

It had been given a purpose.

And now, after centuries of suffering, it was finally ready to protect the forest once again.

Meanwhile, high above Bhulok, within the magnificent halls of Indralok, Indra had been watching everything that had unfolded in the mortal realm through the divine vision available to him.

He had followed the events from the moment Devara entered the forest, watched as the balance of the ecosystem was restored, and finally witnessed the cursed guardian beast being freed from the punishment that had been placed upon it centuries ago.

When the guardian finally stepped into the forest and began restoring the balance of nature, Indra slowly leaned back upon his throne and released a long breath that he had apparently been holding for quite some time.

"Thank the heavens," he muttered.

The Devas nearby turned toward him with confused expressions.

Indra rubbed his forehead and looked toward the image of Bhulok that still floated before him.

"At least this time he didn’t come looking for me."

One of the Devas exchanged a confused glance with another before asking,

"Why would King Devara come looking for you, Maharaja?"

Indra stared at him for a few seconds.

"Because apparently my past decisions have become a collection of traps waiting for me."

The Deva looked even more confused.

Indra sighed and leaned back against his throne.

"You weren’t there when Sage Durvasa cursed me."

His expression immediately became complicated.

"Actually, you probably were there. Everyone was there. That’s the problem."

Indra closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"That incident was centuries ago, yet somehow I still find myself wondering when Devara is going to discover another one of my past mistakes and arrive here asking questions."

He glanced toward the divine vision again.

When he saw the freed guardian beast standing proudly within the forest, Indra’s expression became slightly uncomfortable.

"I remember that creature."

A few Devas looked at him.

Indra slowly pointed toward the vision.

"That entire situation happened because I was an idiot."

There was a brief silence.

One of the Devas wisely decided not to comment.

Indra continued staring at the vision, his expression gradually becoming one of regret.

"I really want to go back and hit my past self."

He paused.

"Hard."

Another silence followed.

"Very hard."

Indra folded his arms and looked toward the ceiling as though asking the heavens for patience.

"Why did I have to make so many decisions when I was younger that would eventually come back to haunt me? Every time Devara encounters something connected to my past, I start wondering whether he is going to arrive at Amaravati, look me directly in the eyes and ask me why I did it."

One of the Devas cautiously asked,

"Would that be so bad?"

Indra slowly turned toward him.

"Have you ever seen Devara ask a question when he already knows the answer is going to make you uncomfortable?"

The Deva hesitated.

"No, Maharaja."

"Exactly."

Indra sighed again and returned his attention to Bhulok.

For someone who ruled Indralok and commanded armies of Devas, he had never expected to become so cautious about one particular mortal king.

Yet Devara was not simply another king.

He had a habit of investigating things, asking questions that others preferred to leave unanswered, and most importantly, he possessed enough divine connections to actually do something about the answers he discovered.

Indra had learned that lesson the hard way.

The memory of Sage Durvasa’s curse was enough to make his expression darken.

He remembered the arrogance of his younger self, the careless decision that had led to the curse, the humiliation that followed and the enormous consequences that had spread far beyond what he had imagined at the time.

Now, whenever Devara encountered something related to one of Indra’s old actions, Indra no longer thought of it as history.

He thought of it as a land mine.

A very old, very dangerous land mine that Devara might accidentally step on and then come straight to Indralok holding the detonator.

Indra looked once more at the guardian beast roaming freely through the forest.

At least this time, Devara had solved the problem without coming after him.

Indra slowly smiled in relief.

"One land mine avoided."

He then sighed.

"Now I just have to hope there aren’t another hundred waiting for him to discover."

Meanwhile, back in Indralok, Indra had barely managed to settle himself after watching the events in Bhulok when a familiar voice suddenly echoed through the grand halls of Amaravati.

"Narayana... Narayana..."

Indra’s expression immediately changed.

He slowly turned toward the entrance of the hall, already knowing who was coming before the footsteps even became audible.

A moment later, Sage Narada appeared, walking into the divine court with his veena resting comfortably against his shoulder and a smile spread across his face.

He looked completely relaxed, almost suspiciously relaxed, as he continued chanting his beloved name.

"Narayana... Narayana..."

Indra stared at him.

Narada stared back.

The sage’s smile widened.

Indra’s eyes narrowed.

Something was wrong, very wrong.

He had known Narada for far too long to mistake that particular expression for an innocent visit.

There was always something behind that smile, and whenever Narada appeared looking this pleased with himself, someone somewhere was usually about to have a very complicated day.

Indra slowly sat upright on his throne.

"Narada."

"Narayana, Narayana!"

Narada replied cheerfully, giving him a respectful smile.

Indra continued staring.

"Why are you smiling like that?"

Narada tilted his head innocently.

"Perhaps I am simply happy."

Indra’s eyes narrowed further.

"You are never simply happy when you walk into my court looking like that."

Narada chuckled softly.

"Narayana, Maharaja, you wound me. Can’t a humble sage visit the king of the Devas without being suspected of something?"

Indra looked at him for several seconds before glancing toward the other Devas standing nearby.

"Did anyone invite him?"

The Devas immediately shook their heads.

Narada laughed.

"Narayana, Narayana. Must there always be an invitation?"

Indra slowly rubbed his forehead.

He had just been thinking about how his past actions had become land mines waiting for Devara to discover them.

Now Narada had arrived.

With that smile.

Indra suddenly felt that the heavens themselves were mocking him.

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(Author note:)

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