There were people who found solace in the nighttime; the blend of mystical colors creating a soundless, polyphonic symphony that lulled one into a state of bliss.

Savitri was one of those people.

The flood of inky darkness, sprinkled with specs of glimmering orbs lightyears away, representing the honorably departed and the messages of the gods brought a sense of peace within her during the long nights she'd spend alone in her lavish yet isolating chamber. She'd dread the time when the moon would lose its luster, when the concaves within its shapely figure would fade into the pale blue sky that made a welcoming path for the sun. The stars, messages from her ancestors long gone, would disappear under the glowering rays. She despised the slick, oily beams of bright yellow light that illuminated the once lush gardens of the palace, giving a sense of animation and brightness to the otherwise calm scene. The sun was happy without reason, cheery without trying, and it stirred all kinds of unwanted feelings within Savitri.

Suman, she decided, was like the s un.

He was a bright person – very cheery and animated about anything and everything that he talked about. If people had auras, she was sure he'd be glowing with the force of a million suns, burning everything in his path just to create brighter plants to observe. Every step he took gave way to a row of grass or ants crawling over the mud, as though his footsteps revealed soil fertile enough to house new life. He didn't have a horse, oddly enough, so they were forced to walk side by side on the narrow path, constantly bumping and pushing one another. Suman didn't seem to mind though. He just kept on talking.

"The roses are starting to bloom now," he said, gesturing to the bush beside Savitri's hip. "As are the chrysanthemums. They've been all over the place as of recently."

"They're beautiful," Savitri noted politely. She pressed her stomach to contain its growling. "Very colorful."

Suman grinned. "Yes, they are very colorful," he agreed. "Sage Durvasa has some of them. He used them to make a garland, although I'm not sure what for."

Savitri shrugged. "They could have been the closest of flowers," she suggested.

Suman nodded. "Yes, probably."

He led her off the path and into a cramped trail full of small pointed rocks and hissing trees. It wasn't long, to Savitri's relief, and opened up to a wide open space with a clear dirt floor. Bright, pigmented flowers surrounded the ashram. There was a large tree opposing them with a stone ledge surrounding it. A house was adjacent to the tree – a small hut but bigger than the one Savitri lived in with her family.

It's quite lovely, she thought, briefly saddened, but brought out of her thoughts when Suman began leading her by the wrist to the large tree. As they neared, Savitri saw the short, meditating figure of Sage Durvasa sitting in front of the tree. His lips moved with the words of the prayers laid out in front of him and his wrinkled eyes were shut in concentration. Suman placed the basket of fruits beside the sage and sat in front of him with crossed legs.

"He's almost completed his fast," he whispered to Savitri. "I don't think he'll mind if you pay your respects now."

Savitri nodded. Wary of Durvasa's temper, she tentatively approached the sage and touched the space in front of him with a bow. She retreated quietly and sat beside Suman, who was smiling at her.

"You're brave," he noted. "I like that."

She didn't respond, merely shrugging her shoulders. Of course, deep down, she did fear Durvasa, but she'd heard what had happened to those who did not pay their respects to the sage before being seated, so she figured she'd rather take her chances. She had enough of curses anyway.

The sage continued to chant. His voice grew louder with every word and he seemed to be oblivious to everything around him (with his eyes closed, he probably was). The wind soon picked up and blew many leaves off the large tree. Durvasa stayed focused on his meditation, though, and when Savitri glanced at Suman, she noticed that he too had closed his eyes and focused on the sage's chanting, his voice deep and brisk that belied his boyish appearance. Even sitting, he was taller than her, and when he wasn't talking one would think he'd be more like Prince Arjuna than a copy of Sage Narada's personality.

I cannot waste time like this, Savitri refrained from wiggling her folded leg in impatience. I have no time to pander to the whims of a boy in a man's body, nor do I need to incite Sage Durvasa's wrath. I've had enough of delaying and I need to continue before Satyavan is brought to Svarga. But no, I must remain patient; I must remain composed. That is the yuvrani way.

Savitri folded her hands and closed her eyes, trying to console the rapid pace of her heart. She ignored the wind that caused her hair to prick her skin and focused on the image of Satyavan in her mind. She could see him so vividly, holding his hand out to her, beckoning her to join him. She reached towards him, so close to grasping his hand –

–then everything stopped.

Savitri knew better than to open her eyes. Satyavan was gone, leaving a pool of blackness floating in her mind, so she focused on the calmness that the color brought. Black like the color of Dharmaraj's robes, she thought briefly. Black like the abyss Satyavan was carried into. Black like his hair, bouncing when he'd laugh or swaying when he'd tilt his head and smile at something she'd done. Savitri's chest ached increasingly as memories of Satyavan invaded the temporary tranquility permeating her mind.

When a gentle hand rested above her head, the dark chasm vanished and Savitri slowly opened her eyes. Looking up, she bowed again and met the calm eyes of Sage Durvasa, who smiled down at her kindly.

"Thank you for your patience and respect, my child." His voice was thick and raspy, just like Dyumatsena's voice. For a moment, Savitri wondered how her in-laws were doing, but the Sage's presence warded their images away.

"Thank you for welcoming me into your home, sir," she said, and she tried not to look down at him, though it was difficult to do so because of how short he was. Sage Durvasa stepped away from her, allowing both of them to rise up to their feet.

"It is nothing that you should worry about, my child," the sage responded warmly. He glanced at Suman with a placid smile. "Did you find any fruits, son?"

Son? Savitri thought.

Suman nodded. "Yes, sir." He picked up the fruit basket. "All fresh and sweet. Would you like me to slice them for you?"

Sage Durvasa shook his hand. "No, we will eat them as they are," he said. His twinkling eyes fell on Savitri again. "Please make an extra space for breakfast, Suman. Will you join us, child?"

"Of course, sir," she said, and followed Sage Durvasa and Suman into the house, looking around while Suman set up the breakfast table.

The ashram looked quite cozy – much larger than Savitri's old home – yet it still had a very familiar and welcoming atmosphere. The walls were made entirely of mud and the roof was tied up with straw and grass. There was a large open room at the entrance and a hallway right in front of the door, leading to other rooms. Left of the door was a small kitchen mostly surrounded by clay pots of varying sizes. Right of the door was a small eating and living space with woven carpets and religious materials.

Suman bounced to where Savitri stood, a wide grin on his lips as he helped both her and Sage Durvasa to the small table.

"My room is down the hall," he said eagerly. "It's small, but I just made a new carpet and I think that it looks pretty good!"

"That sounds...wonderful," Savitri murmured, feeling the material under her bottom.

Sage Durvasa laughed as Suman left to the other side of the room to get the fruit. "Forgive him," he said. "Suman enjoys the simplest things in life to a great extent. It's what makes him an excellent disciple. The cruel materials that the world has grown to rely on do not bother him."

"Well, I suppose that is not a bad thing," Savitri said, accepting the cup that Suman handed her with another polite smile. "It is a bit difficult to weave a rug."

"It was not too hard!" Suman said, offering the fruit to Durvasa, then to her.

"He almost burned himself...twice," Sage Durvasa said quietly.

Suman gave a little pout. "I was alright," he muttered.

Savitri giggled at his expression behind the apple, then cleared her throat when he caught her eye and smirked, pretending to choke. No, that's not funny. By the Heavens, how can his face change from so innocent to so deceptively charming in mere moments. This man is dangerous.

"This fruit is delicious!" She changed the topic. "I have never had a mango so sweet."

"I told you they were the sweetest!" Suman boasted.

"Ego," Sage Durvasa warned him. "And yes, thank you, Savitri." His smile wrinkled his cheeks briefly, but then he frowned. "Narada Muni paid me a visit recently and relayed a message about your Satyavan. My deepest condolences."

How quickly does Sage Narada move? Her eyes prickled. "It's okay. I presume that Sage Narada already told you about my plans to retrieve Satyavan, then?"

"Yes, he did," Sage Durvasa said, frowning darkly. His eyes burned. "I will not prevent you from completing your quest, Savitri, because that is not my place to say. However, I cannot stop myself from warning you of the risks you pose to yourself. Dharmaraja may be known for his benevolence, but even he has a limit. It is dangerous to play with life and death, much less interfere with the work of the Gods."

"I know." Savitri said. "I am aware of the risks, sir, however that does not scare me."

Sage Durvasa nodded. "I expected you to say that." He sighed.

"Quest?" Suman perked up from his breakfast. "What quest?"

"My husband has been unfairly taken by Dharmaraja," Savitri explained. "I am going on a quest to retrieve his soul and reunite with him."

"What?!" Suman couldn't hide his surprise. "And risk your life?"

Irritation bubbled again in Savitri's belly at the many times that she had heard somebody say that to her. She tried not to show it, but bitterness stuck on her tongue, compelling her to stay quiet.

Suman got the hint. "I apologize," he murmured. "I did not mean to be rude."

He grimaced, his bright eyes significantly dulling, and Savitri couldn't help but feel sorry for how she had reacted (and also a little fearful of Sage Durvasa's wrath).

"No, I apologize," she said, looking at her lap. Her chest tightened with the inexplicable urge to sink her body into the dirt and appear only when she was alone again. "I am struggling to contain my emotions at the moment. Forgive me for displaying my temper."

You have not been raised to react so uncouthly, she reprimanded herself.

Suman nodded, and Durvasa sighed again.

"Grief has many stages," he said. "And different people react and cope with it in different ways." He studied at Savitri for a moment, then glanced at Suman, who was now awkwardly picking his food. He smiled.

"Perhaps Suman can accompany you, then?" He suggested, immediately drawing the attention of both young people. "The forest is quite dangerous and it would put many hearts at ease if you had a companion to help you on your quest."

"I appreciate the offer, sir, but I am capable of taking care of myself, " Savitri replied with a controlled tongue, eyeing Durvasa's knit, bushy brows warily. I cannot have him impeding my progress.

"I never said that you weren't capable, Savitri," he said, using the same tone that he had used with Suman. "I only said that the forest is a dangerous place. Two people fight better than one."

"I would be more than happy to accompany you, if you allow me to," Suman added softly, almost with inward contemplation, like the idea of going to the Underworld didn't frighten him, and it was chilling to Savitri how thoughtful his expression became. "I am an excellent fighter and I promise not to get in your way."

"He can be brash at times," Sage Durvasa added. "Reckless and full of spirit, why, you'd assume he's Indra reincarnated. But he is a good man, and honest to his word, like a true kshatriya."

Savitri caught Suman's eye, noticing something flicker within them.

"I promise to be just as good as any kshatriya you may have been acquainted with in the Madra Kingdom," Suman said. "I will help you. That is my promise as a...as a disciple. It is my..."

"Your gurudakshina, your teacher's fee," Sage Durvasa intervened. "This shall make me certain of my decision, Suman."

Decision? Savitri was unable to comprehend the hidden meaning behind the conversation. What must Sage Durvasa decide? Suman will surely return to his village and become a charioteer or perhaps a soldier.

She pondered the thought for a moment. Sage Durvasa's offer was more like a command, and she felt queasy to refuse. And while Suman was well built, his behavior made Savitri wonder if he would even be able to hurt a deer.

Nevertheless, she exhaled deeply and nodded in agreement, hoping that she wouldn't regret her decision, because she knew if she refused there was a potential to face Sage Durvasa's wrath. "Alright, thank you," she said, then yawned. "Excuse me, I did not mean to." She blushed.

Sage Durvasa merely smiled. "Rest under the tree outside," he told her. "Suman will wake you when he is prepared, and after I have spoken to him."

"It is early." Savitri tried to argue. "Should it not be best for us to keep moving?"

"It is actually quite late in the afternoon now," Suman noted, peering out of the square hole in the wall that served as a window. "More demons should be waking by now. It would be safer to wait."

You mean safe enough for you to grab another bite, Savitri thought, watching him as he reached for another fruit. She scowled.

"I suppose that's fair," she agreed. She stood awkwardly at the door for a moment. "I will...see you in a bit?"

Sage Durvasa nodded. "Yes, rest first Savitri."

"See you in a bit, Savitri!" Suman called after her, waving with a pile of fruits tucked into his arm.

Savitri shook her head, turning her head to hide her disgruntled expression. Stepping into the brisk outside, she trudged over to the tree that Durvasa had been praying under and laid down. Closing her eyes, she felt fatigue overtake her too quickly...

...only to be woken by the snap of a thin twig.

Bolting upright, sweat beaded her forehead and coated her skin like a thin veil. Her heart pounded in an abnormal rhythm.

Around her it was dark again. The forest was quiet save for a few trees that brushed against each other and the demons that were romping about. They were too far from the ashram, though, and Savitri knew that Sage Durvasa must have put a protective spell around the land.

At least, she hoped that he did.

Her eyes stuck to each other uncomfortably and when she managed to peel them open, everything around her was blurry. Wiping her eyes cleared her vision a little bit, but what made her aware of her surroundings was the cooler than normal breeze that seemed to touch her skin.

She turned around and her jaw nearly dropped.

Satyavan floated above her in a blue aura. He looked to be a ghost, for his skin was too translucent to be human. He gazed down at her with an unpinned emotion – love or pain – she wasn't sure. For the most part, he looked the same; short curly hair and a fit build, but he looked sadder than she had ever seen him before. Chains were clamped onto his wrists, upper arms, thighs, and heels. He opened his mouth to speak, but intangible sounds escaped. He spoke the words of the rushing river, incomprehensible and brisk.

"Satyavan..." Savitri couldn't understand him, but that didn't stop her from reaching towards her beloved husband. Guilt racked her body like a seizure and the tears that had been pushing to escape from her tore down her cheeks in turbulent rivers.

Her hand, surprisingly, managed to grip his arm, but he was very slippery, and when Satyavan tried to reach for her, the chains on his arm glowed and gnashed their teeth angrily, yanking him away from her.

"No!" Savitri screamed. "No, don't take him away from me!" She clawed at the wind to reach his hand. Satyavan kept trying to speak. The two lovers could only watch as they were pulled away from each other by the strong coils of the win, thrashing and pulling in despair -

-and then, Savitri really woke up.

She sat up, panting, as sunlight streamed through the gaps that the leaves made above her. Just like in her dream, her body was coated in sweat, but Satyavan was nowhere to be seen. Yet his touch seemed to stay on her, pushing her, guiding her into what she had to do.

You won this time, Dharmaraj, she thought scornfully, standing as the demons screeched their final claim to the land before the sunlight would force the majority of them to disappear. But I'll win the war, and the upcoming battles that come with it.

As she stretched her back and prepared to check on Suman (even though she didn't want to, but she also didn't want to upset Sage Durvasa, and her fear of Durvasa 's wrath made her irritation of Suman's company succumb to its demands) Savitri thought about the chains on Satyavan's body. He had always been a pious man – a brave warrior, generous prince, and humble son – why was Dharmaraja torturing him?

Her shoulder sagged against the coarse fabric she lay on. Brave, generous, humble, handsome – Satyavan was all those and more. He was a man of honor and dignity, holding his head high even when his kingdom was stripped from him. Savitri had never known a better man, certainly much better than the princes her father would invite for the various swayamvaram he held in her name.

She remembered laying next to Satyavan in their cot, never touching, never crossing a boundary that would encase them in a remotely intimate embrace (for fear her in-laws awoke). He was a soft sleeper, his lean body sometimes curling around hers in a protective gesture even if it bordered suffocation at times. Satyavan never boasted a broad figure. He was lithe and of a pale complexion than most. His touches were frigid, but his eyes were warm.

Satyavan...

"Ah, you're awake!" Suman popped out from behind the tree, carrying a fruit basket just as he had done when they first met, but this time, instead of just his bow, he had a quiver full of arrows strapped to his back. His attire was the same, except for a single, gold bangle strapped along his wrist.

Savitri balked and almost jumped out of her skin, but when she caught Suman's eye her world seemed to vanish instantly. His silhouette was outlined in a pale blue glow, reflecting the aura and prowess of the full moon. Calm dark eyes, pools of obsidian, appraised her as his boyish grin melted into something firmer. A sheen of sweat stained his uttariya and part of his tunic, making his body glisten with a godly sparkle.

In layman's terms, he was handsome.

"Savitri?" He questioned again. "Are you okay?"

"I..." Savitri snapped her jaw shut. What am I thinking?No pious woman thinks in such a sinful manner, certainly not a princess! I cannot allow myself to be strayed by fleeting observations. I'm doing this for Satyavan. Suman is helping me for Satyavan, and that is all.

"Savitri?"

"I am," Savitri replied, her throat tight. She fisted her thin skirts, channeling the irritation that swam within her and thrusting it toward Suman. "And I see that you have eaten all of the fruits."

He blushed. "I was very hungry," he said, patting his belly so the sound of his palm slapping his muscles echoed through the silent dwelling. "The sage required that I fast until yesterday, so I hope you can understand why I was so voracious in my eating. I apologize for that."

"It's alright," She shrugged, not really caring, and turned her face so she wouldn't see his expression glow in the fractured rays of moonlight. Satyavan's dream weighed her mind. "Suman?"

"Yes?"

"How...how old are you?"

Suman set the basket down and rubbed his chin. "Since my last birthday, or since I was born?"

"Since you were born." Pleats formed between Savitri's drawn brows. "Must you always respond as an impetuous imp?"

He grinned. "Would it be any fun if I were to respond cordially? To answer your question, I'm twenty-one."

Savitri's jaw loosened. Oh, so he is quite young. Only three years older than myself.

"Are you ready?" Sage Durvasa appeared from seemingly nowhere, his hands folded behind his back as he studied the two, young adventurers. "I had Suman prepare while you slept. I trust that you've collected enough energy for the trip?"

"Um, yes," Savitri lied, hoping that Sage Durvasa couldn't detect lies. "It was very...refreshing."

Sage Durvasa nodded, his eyes twinkling. He raised both his hands and blessed the two of them when they bowed to him and touched his feet.

"May the Gods be on your side, and may you both be successful in your mission," he told them softly. His hands glowed, finalizing the blessing, and Savitri straightened. She gazed at the wide forest before her, steeling her breath.

"Thank you for your generosity, sir," she said, folding her hands. "Now, Suman, we should–!"

"Oh! Look!" Suman, already halfway into the forest, pointed at a large plant. "It's so pretty!" He touched the top, and immediately the plant snapped at him, nearly cutting his finger off. Suman yelped, stumbling away. "But it is very mean!"

Sage Durvasa chuckled at the defeated expression etched on Savitri's face. "You have quite the journey ahead of you," he said, walking back to his ashram.

Quite, Savitri repeated sarcastically, running after Suman before he could further hurt himself. This, she knew, was going to be not even a long quest, but a very arduous journey.