The sun slowly moved across the sky.
Its warm light fell on the broken village, but it could not bring life back to Suryanagari.
Tez stood beside the old banyan tree, holding the leather pouch close to his chest. The wind carried the smell of burnt wood and ash through the empty streets. Every step reminded him of someone he had loved.
The old sage stood a few steps away, watching him quietly.
After a long silence, he spoke.
"We should not leave them like this."
Tez looked at him.
"Leave whom?"
"The people of Suryanagari."
Tez lowered his eyes.
"They deserved better."
The sage nodded.
"Every person deserves a peaceful farewell."
Without another word, the two began walking through the village.
---
The work was painful.
They gathered pieces of broken wood that the fire had not completely burned. Together they built small funeral pyres for the villagers.
Tez recognized many familiar faces.
The old potter who had made clay lamps every festival.
The shepherd who had taught him how to care for injured animals.
The woman who always gave Mira sweet jaggery whenever she visited the market.
Even in death, they looked peaceful.
Tears rolled down Tez's face again.
"I spoke with them only yesterday."
The sage gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Yesterday is a gift we never know we are receiving."
Tez remained silent.
---
As they walked towards the remains of the temple, Tez suddenly stopped.
Near the broken stone steps lay Acharya Somdev's body.
His old wooden staff rested beside him.
One hand still touched the temple floor, as if he had protected it until his last breath.
Tez fell to his knees.
"Acharya..."
His voice broke.
"You always said knowledge was stronger than any weapon."
The sage knelt beside him.
"And today your teacher proved it."
Tez looked at him with tear-filled eyes.
"He had no sword."
"He did not need one."
The sage folded Somdev's hands respectfully.
"A teacher's greatest weapon is the lives he changes."
Together they carried the old teacher to a quiet place beneath the banyan tree.
There, they offered him a final farewell.
Tez closed his eyes.
"I promise I will never forget your lessons."
A cool breeze passed through the branches, making the remaining leaves rustle softly.
It almost felt as if the old teacher had heard him.
---
By evening, small flames burned across the village.
Not flames of destruction.
Flames of farewell.
The sage chanted ancient prayers in a calm voice.
Tez did not know every word, but he understood their meaning.
Respect.
Gratitude.
Peace.
When the prayers ended, Tez asked quietly,
"Will anyone remember them?"
The sage looked at the burning pyres.
"As long as one good person remembers another, that person is never truly gone."
Tez watched the flames rise into the evening sky.
"I will remember every one of them."
---
As darkness slowly covered the land, they sat beside the river where Tez had once floated little lamps with Mira.
The water still flowed peacefully, as if nothing had happened.
Tez picked up a small stone and threw it into the river.
"Why?"
The sage looked at him.
"Why did this happen?"
"We harmed no one."
"My father helped everyone."
"My mother was kind."
"Mira had never even spoken harshly to anyone."
His voice became louder.
"Then why?"
The old sage remained quiet for several moments.
Finally, he answered.
"There are some people whose hearts become slaves to power."
"They stop seeing people."
"They see only what they want."
Tez clenched his fists.
"I hate them."
The sage did not argue.
"Hate is a natural visitor after loss."
Tez looked at him.
"Then why shouldn't I keep it?"
"Because visitors should not become the owners of your heart."
The words stayed in Tez's mind.
"I want justice."
"So do I."
"I want those men punished."
"So do I."
Tez looked surprised.
"You do?"
The sage nodded.
"But justice and revenge are not the same."
"What is the difference?"
"Revenge burns everything around it."
"Justice protects what is still worth saving."
Tez looked down at his burned hands.
His father had once told him that strength was measured by what remained after everything else was taken away.
Now he finally understood.
His family was gone.
His home was gone.
His village was gone.
Only his choices remained.
---
The stars slowly appeared above the forest.
For the first time since they had met, Tez asked,
"Who are you?"
The old man smiled gently.
"My name is Rishi Anand."
"Are you really just a wandering monk?"
Rishi Anand looked towards the night sky.
"I have spent many years travelling across Bharat."
"I have visited forests, mountains, kingdoms and ancient gurukuls."
"I search for knowledge."
"And sometimes..."
"...knowledge sends me where I am needed."
Tez hesitated.
"You knew the attackers."
"I knew of them."
"They belong to an old shadow that should have disappeared long ago."
"Who are they?"
Rishi Anand slowly shook his head.
"Not today."
"You have already lost too much."
"Some truths must wait until the heart becomes strong enough to carry them."
Tez wanted to ask more questions.
But something in the sage's calm voice told him to wait.
---
The night became colder.
Before sleeping, Tez walked one last time through Suryanagari.
He stopped beside the young tree his father had planted.
Though its leaves were burned, it still stood firmly in the ground.
Tez gently touched its trunk.
"I understand now, Father."
"You planted this tree for people you would never meet."
"I couldn't save you."
"I couldn't save Mother."
"I couldn't save Mira."
His voice shook.
"But I will protect what you trusted me with."
He placed one hand over the leather pouch.
"I don't know where this journey will take me."
"I don't know why those men came."
"But I give you my word..."
"I will find the truth."
"I will become strong enough that no child has to watch their home burn again."
A gentle wind moved through the tree's blackened branches.
Tez closed his eyes.
For the first time since the attack, his tears stopped flowing.
The pain remained.
It always would.
But beneath that pain...
A small flame had been lit.
Not the flame of anger.
The flame of purpose.
As dawn began to brighten the eastern sky, Rishi Anand waited at the edge of the forest path.
"It is time."
Tez looked back one final time at Suryanagari.
Then, without another word, he turned toward the forest.
The road ahead was unknown.
But it was now the only road left.