A dream of Saranga

That night... Soma's dreams were quite vivid. The Saranga of the past... was this just a dream? If so, why was it so much more... real...?

Though much of the land in Saranga was fierce and arid, the oasis of Ratna projected an aura of more temperate climes to the city and some of the surrounding desert. The blessing of Landorus, so the legend goes. And nowhere was the air better than around the royal palace of Deva Sachin.

In fact, he was there this moment, upon a balcony of his palace, enjoying a noon meal. https://i.imgur.com/75zglTo.jpg From his vantage point, he was watching several children play around the heart of the oasis itself. He was to meet a foreign dignitary soon, and this seemed a good a place as any to speak with her. ...And there she was. A dark skinned woman with beautiful blonde hair. https://i.imgur.com/4giOyla.jpg  She was dressed in fine blue silks, and accompanied by Sachin's personal bodyguards. With a wave of his fingers, he dismissed them, leaving himself alone with her. She bowed in greeting. "Deva Sachin, it is an honor to finally speak with you." He smiled, and gestured for her to sit.

"Just Sachin is fine, ambassador Elyn. I know the people of Davadezi do not believe in Soranism... so asking you to call me 'deva' must feel something of an insult." She quirked an eyebrow. "It is your title, is it not? Even if my people don't exactly believe you to be a god, we should at least show the proper respect." "Perhaps." he admits, thinking it over. "...but you are here as my guest, so why not? Let us dispense with the formalities. Welcome to SAranga." "Thank you." was her reply in turn as she sat. There was a pot of tea and a cup set out for her already, so she began to help herself. Sachin watched her, then spoke. "I understand you are here today over human rights concerns?"

Elyn took her tea and sipped it. "Yes, that's right. Davadezi has become aware of a... program of Saranga's, one that if our information is correct, has been ongoing for years. Something about... taking little girls off the streets and making them into soldiers?" Sachin frowned a bit. "Ah, you speak of the Rakshasi Project. ...I am surprised you have heard of them." Elyn continued, "Davadezi has no jurisdiction over Saranga, of course, but our people rely on us to assuage their fears and condemn wrongdoing. You must understand, as the ambassador to Saranga... there has been some concern over these Rakshasa of yours."

Sachin gestured over the balcony towards the children playing. "There they are right now, in fact. Some of them, at least." Elyn scooted her chair closer to the balcony to look. "That girl is named Niraja Zahara, and that one is Somalakshmi Pari..." "What exactly is the purpose of this project, Sachin?" she interrupted him. He frowned again and stared out at them for a moment.

"Saranga... has always been a difficult place. Despite our best efforts, poverty still exists in many areas of our nation. Many families are not well off. More often than not, the poor are resigned to beg, steal, or perish. And their children are in even worse positions, unable to fend for themselves." He pauses. "And... the state religion of Soranism also... complicates matters. Our people believe in karma. To put it simply... our belief is that good actions cause one to be blessed in future lives, and evil actions are cause for cursed futures. Unfortunately... this lends itself to a tendency for the poor to believe they deserve their fates for some past crime, and for the elite to believe they are doing everything right with a sense of self superiority."

Elyn let those words hang in the air for a moment. "It almost sounds like a cultural system that promotes caste divisions and oppression. But the way you speak of it... do you not believe in your own philosophies?"

Sachin was quiet. "Truth be told... I do not know if karma exists, or if I am a god, or anything like that. But if it does exist... then perhaps good acts need to start somewhere. If people believe me to be a god... then perhaps I should be a man worthy of that belief. I wanted to dedicate my life to helping out the less fortunate. The Rakshasi Project is... a trial run. We have taken these girls off the streets, begun training them in useful skills, and hope to see them contribute back to Saranga in turn. And hopefully we have spared them the cruelty of others... These girls, who many would see as wretched beings incarnated from naraka, are now rakshasi, asura. An existence just below that of deva. I have left them in the hands of our capable Doctor Suresh, who seems to have been taking the utmost care with these girls."

"They are not being abused, ambassador." he says, firmly. "They are being saved from the cruelties of the world. ...At least, that's what I hope we can provide for them."

"...So you're saying these girls are more or less adopted by your government?" She was quiet a moment. "I guess that's not as bad as it first seemed... What about that girl?" she indicates the one Sachin called Pari. "What is she being taught?" "As I recall, she's being trained in the art of social entertainment..." he paused. "As well as manipulation and spying." "Spying?" came Elyn's reply. He continued. "...The world is still not an ideal place, ambassador. We must always be vigilant of threats to our safety. Besides... aren't spies how the council learned of our Rakshasi int he first place?" Elyn was silent for a long while, confirming his suspicions. She sighed. "...Spying, huh. Not exactly the best profession for a little girl. ...And what of a world where those skills aren't needed? What will she do then?" The deva was silent. Elyn continued. "Why not teach her something wholesome on the side? Like dancing?" "Dancing?" came his reply. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt... we can see if she is interested. Saranga has a rich tradition of dances..." Elyn smiled. "Good. I know if I had a daughter, it would be painful seeing her grow up as a manipulator... Do you have children?" she asked him.

He glanced at her. On the record, no, he didn't have kids, and she knew this, but she was asking as a personal question. ...Hm. "One." he admitted. "Sumeru is the light of my lover's life. But the palace and the life of a deva's wife was anathema to her, and we were both worried about the burden we'd be placing on our daughter." "...Don't you want an heir eventually?" "...Perhaps one day, I'll tell her. But... you asked me before if I believed I was a god, and I said I wanted to be worthy of that belief. But perhaps all the rulers of Saranga haven't lived up to those expectations. And perhaps I realize that a system of government can change. Much as it did for your nation, once upon a time." He looked out off the balcony. "Perhaps one day, men won't want or need gods to rule over them anymore. Or perhaps Deva Sumeru will be beloved. We have yet to see, I suppose..."

The girls under the balcony continued to play without a care in the world...