How to Save the World Book 1: The Crown Prince Becomes Disciple of a Fallen God

The grove buzzed with the lingering energy of the transformation, the air thick with a charged hum. Manu and the two Svetavastras stood at the edge of the clearing, the aftermath of the split still settling around them like a dissipating storm. The leaves rustled in the faint breeze, carrying the scent of earth and moss.

As the initial rush of power from the split ebbed away, Svetavastra felt a sudden wave of dizziness. Her vision swam, the world tilting precariously. She stumbled, clutching her stomach as nausea rolled through her like a turbulent sea.

Manu was at her side in an instant, his eyes wide with concern. He gently steadied her, his touch firm and reassuring. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice soft but steady, like an anchor in the storm.

Svetavastra took a deep breath, willing herself to stand upright. "I'm fine, Manu. It's just... the split. It's more disorienting than I expected." Her voice wavered, betraying her effort to maintain control.

Manu frowned, studying her pale face. "You look unwell. You should rest for a moment."

Svetavastra shook her head, "No, we don't have time for that."

"We have time," Manu insisted, his tone brooking no argument. He guided her to a nearby rock, his hands never leaving her shoulders, grounding her. "Rest for a bit."

The cosmic Svetavastra watched the interaction with a curious tilt of her head, her eyes gleaming with a strange detachment. "What a beautiful couple," she remarked, her voice echoing with an almost playful tone.

Manu turned to her, surprise flashing in his eyes. Svetavastra sighed, rubbing her temples. "I got cocky," she muttered. "Serves me right."

Manu looked quizzically from one form to the other, his brow furrowed in confusion. Svetavastra sensed his bewilderment and took a moment to collect her thoughts.

"The cosmic form is in a physical body," she explained, her voice tinged with resignation. "She's now prone to chakra imbalances. Human emotions can become erratic, and she has her own consciousness sprung forth from those emotions."

"Oh," Manu said, the realisation dawning on him. "So, she's a reflection of your human emotions?"

"Yes," Svetavastra replied, scratching her head sheepishly. "And it means you need to keep an eye on her. Her reactions might be amplified, and we can't afford any outrageous behaviour."

The cosmic Svetavastra smiled serenely, seemingly unfazed by the discussion. "Don't worry, Manu," she said with a lilt to her voice. "I'll be on my best behaviour."

Manu frowned, his brows knitting together in concern. “I don’t understand what makes you think this would be a good idea,” he said, his voice low and tense. “I’m only human. How can I manage things if she loses control?!”

Svetavastra glanced at her cosmic form, who returned her gaze with a serene smile. If the cosmic form becomes unhinged due to overwhelming emotions like anger, fear, or hatred, the cosmic powers could wreak havoc. She clenched her fists, feeling the weight of her decision pressing down on her.

"I didn't expect the split to happen this way," she admitted.

The cosmic Svetavastra sensing the distress in the actual Svetavastra responded,

“Nothing is going the way I planned. I always feel like I'm five steps behind, and every time I think I have a handle on things, it all falls apart and I have to scrap everything at the last moment to save the day. It's getting to me, Manu,” the cosmic Svetavastra approached Manu, her words spilled out, raw and unfiltered, her hitherto sweet composure unravelling.

Manu's expression softened as he watched her struggle. He reached out, lifting her chin so their eyes met.

"Hey," he said gently, "you're doing the best you can. This situation is unprecedented. It's okay to feel overwhelmed."

"But it's not okay," the cosmic Svetavastra insisted, her voice breaking. “The safety of the world is at stake. I have to be strong. I have to be perfect. And I'm not. I'm just...not."

Manu pulled her into a comforting embrace, his presence a steadying force. The cosmic Svetavastra leaned into him, finding a moment of solace in his arms.

“You don't have to be perfect, Svetavastra. You just have to be you. And that's more than enough. We'll get through this together, one step at a time.”

Cosmic Svetavastra took a deep, shuddering breath, letting his words sink in. She looked up, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face and the stability of the earth beneath her feet. “Hmm,” she murmured, feeling a flicker of hope.

Svetavastra looked at the interesting scene unfolding in front of her with amusement. The cosmic Svetavastra had Manu wrapped around her little finger. And Manu was successful in calming her.

“In any case,” Manu said, pulling back slightly to look at her, “if you are separated from your emotions, won’t your spiritual powers be renewed at a much faster rate?”

“That’s true,” said Svetavastra with a calm smile. “And it looks like you can handle my emotions just fine.”

The cosmic Svetavastra’s composure returned and her sweet smile was back on her face. She turned to Svetavastra and gave her a tight embrace.

“I will be fine,” she said in Svetavastra’s ears.

Svetavastra hugged her for a moment and gently pried her from herself, feeling strangely empty at the loss of her emotions.

“I wish you luck,” she said looking at the cosmic form with a sincere smile.