Kritartha: “Today, it's either me or this demon!”
The Rakshasa charged toward Kritartha with a terrifying roar.
Kritartha quickly threw the stone in his hand, aiming straight for the demon's eye.
The stone struck its target.
The Rakshasa roared out in pain and squeezed his eyes shut. Seizing the opportunity, Kritartha rushed toward him, gripping his axe with both hands. He leaped forward and swung the axe at the demon's neck.
The Rakshasa roared in agony.
Enraged, he grabbed Kritartha with one massive hand and hurled him away.
Kritartha flew through the air before crashing against a nearby tree. He fell to the ground with a painful groan, struggling to recover from the impact.
Before he could get back on his feet, the Rakshasa charged toward him again, his anger greater than before.
Kritartha watched the enormous creature approach. Fear overwhelmed him. He covered his face with his hands, instinctively bracing himself for the attack.
Silence.
Nothing happened.
Kritartha remained still for a moment before slowly lowering his hands.
His eyes widened.
Brinda stood right in front of him!
She had grabbed the Rakshasa's face with one hand and lifted his enormous body off the ground as though he weighed nothing. Her fingers tightened around his face, making it difficult for him to breathe.
The Rakshasa growled in pain, desperately trying to free himself from her grip.
Brinda stared at him coldly.
Then, with her other hand, she delivered a powerful punch that sent the monstrous Rakshasa flying through the air.
The demon crashed to the ground.
But he wasn't ready to surrender.
With another furious roar, he charged toward Brinda.
This time, she met him head-on.
The two locked hands, pushing against each other with tremendous strength. Their feet dug into the earth as they wrestled, neither willing to give the other an advantage.
Rakshasa: “You're one of us! Why are you helping a mere human?”
Brinda: “It's none of your business.”
Brinda suddenly rose slightly into the air, forcing the Rakshasa backward with her strength. Before he could regain his balance, she delivered a powerful punch to his face.
The impact brought him down to his knees.
Brinda moved swiftly behind him. Before the Rakshasa could react, she seized his head, twisted his neck, and killed him.
The forest fell silent.
Brinda released the lifeless Rakshasa and turned around.
Her dark eyes met Kritartha's.
For a moment, she simply stood there, looking at him without saying a word.
Then she turned away and began walking.
Kritartha: “Wait, Brinda!”
Brinda stopped but didn't turn around.
Brinda: “I won't save you again if you encounter another Rakshasa. I've already killed one of my own kind for you. I don't want to do that again.”
Kritartha slowly got to his feet, wincing from the pain in his body.
Kritartha: “You've been with me all this time, haven't you? I know you've been watching me while I've been searching for you. Why didn't you answer me?”
Brinda's expression hardened.
She suddenly turned around and swung her hand toward him, attempting to strike him.
Brinda: “I told you to go away!”
Kritartha quickly dodged her hand.
Instead of stepping back, he looked straight into her eyes.
Kritartha: “You have feelings for me, don't you? I know you can have feelings even if you don't have a heart.”
Brinda: “No, I don't! I don't love you, and I can't love you. You're nothing but a tiny human.”
Kritartha: “Then why did you save me? Why did you kill one of your own kind to save this tiny human?”
Brinda clenched her fists.
Brinda: “I don't want you to get hurt because of me! If you want to die, go and die at your own home. Why did you come here looking for me?”
Kritartha: “I've already told you why I'm here searching for you. Of course, I want to see you!”
Brinda: “Then this is the last time you'll see me. Don't ever come back again.”
Kritartha: “What do you want me to do? Anything! I'll do anything for you, just to win your and be with you.”
Brinda: “Don't you understand? We can't be together. I'm a demon, a Rakshasi. And you're a human, an ordinary human. It's never going to be possible for us to be together.”
Kritartha took a step toward her.
Kritartha: “Every rose has its thorns. You showed me your thorns, and I'm showing you my hands, willing to bleed for you.”
Brinda stared at him, unable to understand why he refused to give up.
Brinda: “Why don't you understand?”
Kritartha: “Is it because of your parents? Will your family refuse to let you be with a human? I'll talk to them. I'll convince them.”
Brinda looked at him as though he had completely lost his mind.
Brinda: “Are you mad? If they find out about you, they'll kill both of us! Go… just go away!”
Kritartha: “I told you I'd do anything for you. I'll try everything I can to win you. I'm not going anywhere.”
Without waiting for her response, Kritartha walked back to the spot where he had been trying to make a fire earlier.
He gathered the wooden sticks and carefully worked to ignite them. After a while, a small flame appeared, gradually growing into a warm fire that illuminated the surrounding darkness.
Kritartha sat beside it.
Brinda watched him from a short distance away.
She couldn't understand his stubbornness. He had nearly been killed by another Rakshasa, yet he still refused to leave her.
She wanted him to go home. She wanted him to forget her and live a peaceful human life.
But despite all her warnings, he remained there.
Brinda finally sat down a little farther away from him. Keeping an eye on the surroundings, she stayed alert, making sure no other creature approached Kritartha.
Time passed.
Eventually, exhaustion overcame her, and she fell asleep.
Kritartha noticed that she had drifted off.
He quietly turned toward her and watched her sleeping form.
Even in her terrifying demon form, with her blood-red skin, curved horns, dark golden markings, and beautiful black eyes, he couldn't take his eyes off her.
To him, she was still the same Brinda he had first met.
The same woman who had saved his life.
The same woman who had made his heart beat in a way it never had before.
He continued looking at her, admiring her beauty even as she slept beside the fire.
For the first time that night, a small smile appeared on his face.
---
The next morning arrived.
The sun rose above the mountains, spreading its golden light across the forest. Fresh birdsong echoed through the trees, while the gentle morning breeze carried the fragrance of flowers.
Kritartha slowly opened his eyes.
He looked up at the sky, then around at the trees, birds, and flowers surrounding him.
The forest looked more beautiful than any he had ever explored before. The morning sunlight filtering through the branches made everything appear peaceful and alive.
After taking in the scenery, he turned his head.
Brinda was sitting nearby, silently looking around the forest.
Kritartha smiled.
Kritartha: “Good morning, my devil.”
Brinda immediately turned toward him.
Brinda: “I'm not a devil. I'm a demon. A Rakshasi.”
Kritartha: “I know. But you're my everything.”
Brinda let out a quiet sigh.
Brinda: “You should stop saying things like that.”
Kritartha: “Why? I'm not lying. It's the truth.”
Brinda shook her head slightly, wondering how she was ever going to make him understand.
After a brief silence, Kritartha spoke again.
Kritartha: “So, you're saying there's not even a single way for me to win your heart?”
Brinda: “Not a chance. It wouldn't even be possible in your dreams.”
Kritartha's smile faded.
He lowered his head, his face once again filled with disappointment.
Kritartha: “If I were like one of you, would you accept me?”
Brinda: “I don't know. That's not going to happen anyway…”
She paused.
A thought suddenly crossed her mind.
Brinda: “Wait. There's a way.”
Kritartha immediately lifted his head.
Kritartha: “What? I'm just joking! I don't want to turn into a huge Rakshasa.”
Brinda: “No. You can help me with something. Then I can introduce you to my family. After that, you can do whatever you want.”
Kritartha's face brightened instantly.
Kritartha: “That's enough! Tell me what it is. I'll do anything.”
But Brinda's expression quickly changed. She seemed to regret speaking.
Brinda: “No, you can't. It would be dangerous for your life. I'm not going to tell you anything. You should forget what I just said.”
Kritartha: “Please tell me! Even if I have a chance as small as a cumin seed, I want to use it. I'm not going to turn back. I want you. That's it!”
Brinda: “Shut up and go! It's already morning. I can walk you back home so you can get there safely…”
Kritartha interrupted her.
Kritartha: “Brinda, I don't want to ask you again. What is it? What can give me a chance to win you? Please tell me. Please…”
Brinda looked away, struggling with herself.
She knew that if she told him, he would rush into danger without thinking twice.
Yet, if she kept it a secret, he might continue searching for her and eventually encounter something even worse.
Finally, she took a deep breath.
Brinda: “There's a weapon that once belonged to the King of the Devas. Now, it's on Earth. No one knows exactly what the weapon is, but we know that a powerful Rakshasa, created by Brahma himself, guards it. We call him the Brahmarakshasa.”
Kritartha listened without interrupting.
Brinda: “He's one of our kind, but he's different from ordinary Rakshasas. He was created to perform a specific task. Until he completes that task, he cannot die. He doesn't eat, he doesn't sleep, and he never leaves his post. His only duty is to guard that weapon.”
She paused, looking directly at Kritartha.
Brinda: “If someone steals the weapon from him, his mission will fail, and he will fade away. But no Rakshasa or Deva dares to attempt it. For a mere human like you, it's impossible. Forget it. Forget me and live your life.”
Kritartha didn't hesitate for even a moment.
Kritartha: “Okay. I'm going to steal it. For you.”
Brinda stared at him in disbelief.
Brinda: “Don't do something so foolish! I've already told you. I don't want you to risk your life for me. Who are you to do such a thing?”
Kritartha: “I've made my decision. Tell me the location and give me two weeks. I'll bring you that weapon.”
Brinda: “Don't make me repeat myself again and again…”
Kritartha: “Give me the location, Brinda. Two weeks. Just tell me where it is and wait for me. I'll do it.”
Brinda fell silent.
She looked at him for a long moment, realizing that no amount of warning would change his mind.
Brinda: “Wait here. Just wait here. I'll come back.”
Kritartha watched her leave, wondering what she was planning.
He waited patiently.
After some time, he noticed a figure approaching from a distance.
It was Brinda.
But she wasn't alone.
Walking beside her was an enormous tiger.
Kritartha stared at the creature as it came closer. It was far larger than an ordinary tiger, with a powerful body and enormous, sharp tusks protruding from its lower jaw.
Its massive paws pressed against the forest floor as it walked toward him.
Yet Kritartha didn't flinch.
Not even when the tiger came close enough for him to see its fierce eyes clearly.
Something within him had changed. The fear that had once controlled him was no longer as powerful as it had been. His mind was fixed on one thing, and nothing else seemed capable of frightening him.
He even smiled slightly as he looked at the enormous beast.
Kritartha: “What's with this cat?”
Brinda looked at him, momentarily surprised by his casual remark.
Brinda: “It's my pet. Take it with you. It'll lead you to the location, and it'll help you when you're fighting the Brahmarakshasa.”
The enormous tiger turned its head toward Kritartha and let out a deep, threatening growl.
Kritartha slowly raised his hand.
He gently placed it on the tiger's head and began rubbing its fur.
The tiger watched him closely, but Kritartha remained calm.
Kritartha: “Okay. I'll take good care of it. I'll see you in two weeks.”
Brinda looked at him silently.
Despite everything she had told him, he was still determined to carry out the quest.
Brinda: “Take care.”
Kritartha gave her one last look before climbing onto the tiger's back.
The tiger crouched briefly, then sprang forward with incredible speed.
Within seconds, it raced through the forest, carrying Kritartha away until the two disappeared from Brinda's sight.
Brinda remained where she stood, watching the direction in which they had gone.
For a moment, her expression softened.
Then she quietly turned away.
Meanwhile, riding atop the enormous tiger, Kritartha leaned forward as the wind rushed past him.
His eyes were filled with determination.
Kritartha: “Okay! Now it's time for the big hunt!”
