Rudra and his tribe walked elegantly up the stairs that led to the temple of Vishnu. It had been 1 day since the battle against the Asurans and ever since Rudra defeated them, he felt an uneasiness inside of him. He had decided to speak to the pandit of the Vishnu temple, hoping he would clear his remaining doubts and uneasiness.

Rudra's wife, Mohini placed a relaxing hand on his shoulder, calming him down. She sensed his uneasiness and sought to comfort him.

They reached the top of the stairs as he tucked his angavastram across his shoulders. He signaled for the soldiers accompanying him to stay behind as he and Mohini walked in the temple, where the pandit of the temple sat in padmasan. His side facing the statue of Lord Vishnu with his hands in a blessing form and a warm smile on his face. To his left, stood Lakshmi, the goddess of books and knowledge and Vishnu's wife. 

'I was expecting you' Smiled the Pandit. Rudra's hand formed a Namaste as Mohini did the same, smiling warmly. 

The pandit beckoned for them to sit in front of them and they did as they were told.

'You don't need to ask the question. It's been running through your mind ever since you entered the temple'

Rudra nodded. It had taken some time, but he had now gotten familiar with the thought-reading that happened whenever he was in the presence of a pandit.

'Was defeating the Asurans the right move?' Rudra voiced his thoughts as Mohini stared in slight shock at her husband. Was this the cause of his uneasiness?

'Lord Rudra asks an exceptive question, lady Mohini. It is true the Asurans were not fighting to destroy His army but fighting to escape' 

'To answer your question' The pandit turned to Rudra. 'Not exactly. But before I explain, you must know one thing. There is nothing as the right move. Everything is just for the well being of a certain country or place'

Rudra nodded.

'I must tell you. You were tricked into coming here. And you know by who' Said the Pandit. But a different thought was roaming his mind. He knew he couldn't share the truth with Rudra. Certain things had to take place. And that also mean telling lies.

'Surya' said Rudra angrily.

Surya was the leaders of the devas. The demi-gods. Actually Indra, the king of the gods was the leader but without his presence, Vivasvan took the lead.

'Yes. He sought to destroy the Asurans as they did not believe in the other gods including the three prime gods. They believed in Paramatma, the true god. Though I do not say this is right or wrong. Surya declared war on the Asurans before Lord Indra could do anything. When he lost the first war, he used you to win the second'

'What have I done?' Whispered Rudra in fear. The pandit stared at him in sadness. As much as he wanted to tell him the truth, he could not.

'Are there remaining Asurans left?' Asked Mohini, wanting to save them.

'I do not know. There should be survivors. But I see what you are doing, Lady Mohini. We cannot tell the people the truth. But as a result of not knowing the truth they will throw the Asurans back where they came from. Some may even hunt them down. It is too dangerous'

'If I impose a rule, they might not harm them. They will not disobey my rule' Said Rudra.

'With all due respect, my lord. You do not know them' Countered the Pandit. Rudra wanted to concur, but he knew what the pandit had said was right. But he digressed.

'So you expect me to leave those Asurans there knowing I made a horrible mistake by destroying their home?! I am going to save them. Regardless whether those idiots send them back. As long as I am around not a single scratch will appear on them' 

The pandit smiled weakly. 'I was just testing you. Dharma is not allowing you to follow another path'

Rudra's rage reduced replaced by confusion.

'There is another myth. That the Asurans will be saved by a man who comes from Kalinga. The man will be known as the Asuraksha. The protector of demons'

Rudra and Mohini had never known of this myth. It was completely new to them.

'Thank you, panditji. I am going to save the Asurans. Come, Mohini. A new law is to be imposed'

But what Rudra wanted to do first, was to destroy Vivasvan. The man whom he thought was his friend.

Rudra took aim at the deer grazing grass. He had never been good with the bow, but he was going to try his luck. Rudra tested the twang. Perfect. He bent slightly diagonally and placed the bow in the direction he was bent. The reason as to why he had bent was because he was aiming for the deer's heart and it was a short deer. He squinted as he pulled out an arrow and took aim. His elbow in the correct position and his grip on the string just the right amount of pull. What he dint know was that, in the grass, a few feet from Rudra stood a tiger, hunting for the deer. But upon seeing Rudra, he decided a human would be tastier and more sufficient.

Rudra fired the arrow finally at the deer who was shot straight through it's heart. Rudra walked forward to collect it's carcass. And the tiger chose that time to pounce, but a little too hurriedly and Rudra noticed it.

He glanced back just as the tiger pounced and took his knife from his scabbard. The tiger landed on him just as he struck up right into it's stomach. But the weight of the tiger pushed him to the ground.

The tiger, ignoring the throbbing pain in it's stomach gazed at Rudra hungrily.

When it was just about to strike, an arrow went through it's head. Then it's heart. It fell to it's left as Rudra got up to face his savior.

His savior was a boy around Rudra's age. He had dark hair that was shaved on the sides and brown eyes. He wore an orange angavastram over his shoulder and a yellow dhoti. He seemed to glow at the sun as he stared at Rudra with a concerned expression on his face.

'Thank you' said Rudra.

'What is your name?' Asked the boy.

'Rudra' Answered Rudra. He was a bit reluctant about sharing info with this boy, but he owed his life to him.

'I'm Surya' As he helped Rudra up, embarking their friendship but also their enmity.