LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 50: The Cosmic Form of Svetavastra
As she emerged from the inner sanctum, Svetavastra's senses heightened, attuned to the energies around her. The gentle hum of the courtyard buzzed in her ears, mingling with the faint scent of incense that still clung to her robes. Her gaze swept across the temple grounds, searching for Manu, when she noticed Aryaman standing in conversation with Acharya Parama. The prince's regal bearing was unmistakable, his presence commanding attention even in the sacred space.
She instinctively drew herself into the shadows, her movements still graceful but deliberate. The last thing she wanted was to draw Aryaman's attention to herself in this form. Unnecessary complications would arise.
She watched him closely, noting the flicker of urgency in his eyes as he spoke to the priest. She put two and two together and figured out that the prince must have come to the village to investigate the border city.
Good that you are investigating this, Aryaman, Svetavastra thought to herself. I can let him know about the corrupt ley lines and take him there for practice against the undead.
As she lingered in the shadows forming her next steps, her eyes drifted to Manu. He stood at the edge of the courtyard, his handsome face full of stoic concern. Svetavastra felt a familiar flutter in her chest, the unspoken tension that seemed to simmer between them of its own accord. She couldn't afford to let these emotions cloud her judgment. Manu was her trusted ally, and they needed to act swiftly and decisively.
Taking a deep breath, Svetavastra gave a final look at Aryaman who was now fully engaged in conversation with the priest. She moved towards Manu, her steps silent and graceful like a cat.
"Manu," she said as she reached near him. "We need to talk."
Manu turned to her, his dark eyes widening briefly, a spark of surprise flitting across their depths before settling into a look of understanding. He didn't question her urgency, didn't ask for explanations. He simply fell into step beside her, their movements synchronized by an unspoken bond.
They slipped into the hidden grove, the entrance veiled by cascading vines and thick foliage. The world outside seemed to fall away, replaced by the serene whisper of the wind through the leaves and the gentle rustle of unseen creatures. The grove was a sanctuary, a cocoon of green where the air felt cooler, and crisper, and every breath seemed to steady her racing thoughts.
Svetavastra paused, taking a moment to center herself. She could feel the cosmic energy still humming within her, a reminder of the immense power now at her disposal. But it was Manu's presence that grounded her, his calm demeanour a counterbalance to the storm of emotions swirling inside her.
He stood a few steps away, watching her with a quiet intensity. There was something reassuring in his gaze, something that spoke of trust and something else…could it be interest in her? The sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled shadows across his face, highlighting the strong lines of his jaw and the soft curve of his lips.
“How do you feel?” Manu said stepping closer to her.
Svetavastra took a deep breath, letting the serenity of the grove and the solidity of Manu's presence wash over her. She felt her resolve harden, her focus sharpen. There was no room for hesitation, no time for doubt. She turned to Manu, ready to share her plan, to entrust him with the weight of their shared mission.
"Good!" Svetavastra exclaimed, a grin lighting up her face. "I feel renewed! The surge of cosmic power is quite intoxicating!"
Manu's lips curled into a slow, warm smile, the kind that seemed crafted just for her. It was a smile that reached his eyes, creating a spark of something unspoken between them.
"Great," he replied softly.
Svetavastra's heart skipped a beat, caught off guard by the intimacy of that smile, a moment shared in a world only they seemed to inhabit.
“I have a plan,” she began, composing herself and steadied her voice, “with these cosmic powers, my capabilities have increase manyfold. I can fly, I can traverse great distances swiftly, I can use cosmic powers against the undead.”
“But?” said Manu sensing a but oncoming.
“While I no longer need spiritual powers to fight the undead,” continued Svetavastra. “They can come in handy - I can split myself into two forms - one with the cosmic powers - she can go with you and find the cosmic weapons. I can stay in behind and guide Prince Aryaman to fight the undead.”
“You are basically creating a puppet of yourself,” said Manu. “The cosmic form is merely a puppet. The true form is you with your spiritual powers.”
“Naturally,” said Svetavastra.
Manu sighed. He didn’t know how he felt about escorting a puppet to retrieve the cosmic weapons.
“You don’t have to worry about the form,” said Svetavastra. “She would have my true form, that would make her identical to me in every aspect.”
“Except that it won’t be you,” said Manu immediately.
“It’s still me,” said Svetavastra. “Besides, that’s the best solution at this point, I still need to teach Prince Aryaman how to use his cosmic powers and his cosmic sword.”
“Hmm,” said Manu somewhat put off by this new plan.
"Are you sure this is wise?" he asked, his concern evident. "Splitting yourself might weaken you."
"It will, if I don't merge the two forms from time to time, especially on the night of the full moon," Svetavastra admitted. "The full moon is when the cosmic energies are at their peak, and I can recharge and stabilise my essence. If I don't do this, I risk weakening both forms."
"It's a risk I have to take," she said softly looking at him.
"Alright," he said nodding, his voice firm. "What do we need to do?"
Svetavastra stepped back, the tension in her muscles releasing as she closed her eyes. The air around them began to change, a subtle hum that grew louder, vibrating with unseen energy. The leaves of the trees rustled from an unseen wind. Manu watched, his breath caught in his throat, as a soft glow began to emanate from Svetavastra. It started at her feet, a faint light that shimmered and danced up her form, wrapping her in an ethereal, heavenly radiance.
Svetavastra took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes, they were no longer just her eyes; they were portals of intense inner light, glowing with the power that now coursed through her veins. "Stand back," she instructed, her voice resonating with authority. Manu obeyed, stepping aside. Svetavastra raised her hands, palms facing each other, and began to chant in an ancient tongue, her voice steady and powerful.
"By the power bestowed upon me, I call forth the division of my essence," she intoned. Her words seemed to hang in the air, vibrating with a timeless resonance. "Let the cosmic energy within me take form."
A brilliant light exploded from her, so intense that Manu had to shield his eyes. He could feel the raw power radiating from Svetavastra, an energy so pure and potent it seemed to shake the ground beneath them. The earth trembled. The light reached a crescendo, a blinding white that swallowed everything in its path.
When it finally subsided, Manu blinked against the afterglow, his vision slowly adjusting. Before him stood two distinct figures, identical yet different. One Svetavastra glowed with a living aura of cosmic energy, the light crackling around her like tiny bolts of lightning. Her presence was almost electric, a constant hum of power. The other Svetavastra exuded a calm and steady presence, her feet firmly planted on the ground, radiating a serene strength.