KARNA: Son of the Charioteer

Chapter 11

Parashurama laughed and left Radheya.

Honestly, Radheya didn't know whether to be happy after gaining that ability. He did want that power before. And now, it all felt meaningless to him. Four years in this place had worn away his desire. He didn't know the use of that power if all he wanted was to stay here.

Learning the devastra abilities made him happy, but it also made him sad to think that the learning process would soon reach its end. Could it be that after all this, he would be forced to leave the ashram?

Next, every day Parashurama would come and teach him a devastra ability.

In a month, Radheya had learned all that his teacher could teach him. So much so that Parashurama didn't hesitate to tell his other students that Radheya had caught up and might even be greater than him.

Radheya immediately prostrated himself before his teacher, not daring to accept those words. He took it as a warning not to be arrogant because it was a grave sin for a student to try to surpass his teacher.

Radheya's sadness deepened after those words. He knew that like a student who had completed his studies, he would soon leave the ashram.

He saw some students who had been learning for almost 20 years here, some had reached 30 years and might serve forever in this place. Similarly, Radheya intended to stay forever in the ashram.

Hoping that Parashurama would be willing to appoint him as a senior to guide new students.

One day in Radheya's fifth year in the ashram, he was invited by Parashurama to hunt in the forest, just the two of them. For Radheya, it was a great honor that made him happy.

Perhaps he would soon ask his teacher to accept him as part of the ashram. Approaching noon, they managed to catch some game.

"I want to rest," Parashurama suddenly said. "Can you find something for me to rest my head on?"

Radheya was surprised by the request, quickly looking around. Wood, stone, and earth—none were soft enough for his teacher to lean on comfortably.

He immediately prostrated himself before his teacher, "Honorable Guru, if my thigh is not too humble to be used as a resting place, let the guru lean on it and let me watch over while you rest."

Parashurama smiled in agreement. Radheya gathered dry leaves, opened his clothes, and covered the leaves as a resting place for his Guru. He leaned against a tree and let his teacher's head rest on his thigh. Parashurama soon fell asleep from exhaustion.

Tears flowed from Radheya's eyes, his heart filled with joy. He felt that the greatest happiness in his life was now, when he could do something for the person he loved most. When his teacher's head rested on his thigh.

At the same time, a scorpion with large pincers crawled towards him. Most likely, Radheya had sat under the tree that served as its hiding place. Radheya's heart pounded in fear but also felt a bit relieved seeing the large pincers, as scorpions with small pincers likely had venomous stings on their tails, whereas those with large pincers indicated less dangerous stings.

He saw the scorpion crawl up his other thigh. Radheya's hand slowly and gently tried to push the scorpion away, preventing it from continuing its journey towards his teacher's head.

But the scorpion seemed reluctant to move, its pincers immediately sinking into Radheya's thigh, and its tail stinging Radheya's hand.

It truly felt extremely painful. Blood flowed from Radheya's thigh where the flesh was opened by the scorpion's pincers, while his hand felt numb and painful around the sting area.

Despite this, Radheya's hand still didn't dare to push the scorpion forcefully, afraid that a strong push would wake up his teacher. The pain from his thigh and hand pierced through his nerves to his heart.

However, Radheya didn't move at all. Shortly after, the scorpion released its pincers and was about to crawl again, so Radheya tried to hold it with his hand as gently as possible.

At that moment, the scorpion once again sunk both its pincers into Radheya's thigh and stung his hand. Now there were 4 holes in Radheya's thigh, with blood flowing onto the ground beneath him, and his hand swelling.

Finally, the scorpion grew bored and crawled away. Radheya remained, trying to endure the pain until late afternoon when Parashurama woke up from his nap.

He was surprised to see Radheya's pale face and the blood on his leg, which had started to dry. Parashurama quickly asked, "What happened to your leg?"

Radheya recounted the story of the scorpion biting him. Parashurama's face suddenly turned angry, "No one from a Brahmin lineage can endure such pain. Only those of the warrior lineage can endure pain. You must be from a warrior lineage. Tell me the truth, are you a Brahmin?"

Radheya's entire body shook with that question. He felt all his blood drain from his body. His dry lips trembled, too afraid to answer the question.

Parashurama's anger grew, "How dare you deceive me to gain my teachings. I tell you, when you truly need all your abilities, you will completely forget them. Now, leave my presence!"

Tears streamed down Radheya's face as he heard the curse from his teacher. He immediately knelt and prostrated himself, slamming his head hard onto the ground. "Forgive me, Guru. I am not a warrior whom you despise. I am a discarded child raised by a suta. I truly do not know my lineage. If I could choose, I would choose to be a Brahmin to be with you for my entire life."

Parashurama fell silent.

"Guru, end my life, but do not cast me out. For I cannot live with your rejection. My heart is shattered, leaving me as lifeless flesh. Take my breath as my apology." Radheya's tears continued to flow heavily.

Parashurama looked at Radheya's swollen hand and the dried blood circle on the ground, his heart softening as he realized Radheya endured pain for him.

"Radheya, what I have said cannot be taken back," Parashurama said sadly. "The curse will continue to follow you. Let me now teach you Brahmastra as the final lesson since you have completed your studies as my disciple."

Radheya cried until he sobbed, "All I want is to be by your side to serve you, Guru."

Parashurama shook his head and then taught Radheya the chant to summon the powerful Brahmastra. After Radheya memorized it, Parashurama firmly said, "You have completed your education with me. Go now and fulfill your life's destiny."