In just a few seconds, the fire in the Kundam was burning with vibrant yellow flames. Then Guru Angira started pouring Ghee along with other materials of ritual into the Kundam. This action of his changed the fire completely. The flames became bigger and turned bright red from the yellow of before. The students were looking at the flames with awe. Every inch of the yard was feeling the heat of the flames whose height was now exceeding ten feet.
Guru Angira then ordered the students to take their sacred threads and throw them into the fire of the Kundam, with respect, and ask for strength. All the students did as told.
The other three Gurus beside Guru Angira brought new sacred threads of red colour and then they put them near the Kundam to absorb the heat and sacred energy coming from the flames. They chanted some mantras for some time, and then each student was given one red sacred thread.
Guru Angira's face and the visible skin had turned red due to the heat he was facing. He had not left his seat, just beside the Kundam, from the moment this small Yagna (ritual) started. He spoke to the students in a booming voice, "Choosing and changing your class is to give you free will. But this oath here will mean that you're bound to be a protector until you go through an official process and change your class again." He took a pause to let the weight of his words sink into their minds.
'You guys choose and change class?' Raktaa spoke in a confused voice.
'You probably didn't notice till now. But this is not the right moment. Let me complete the oath ceremony. After that, I will tell you about it,' Shambhu replied to her.
Guru Angira spoke again. "Now you will take the oath of being a protector while holding the given thread in your right hand. Repeat after me."
He started speaking in the Language of Gods.
"In the presence of this holy and sacred fire, whose flames carry the colour of blood, I hereby bind my blood and life to the path of a protector." Students were repeating the words with determination and passion.
"With a pure intent and passion, like these red flames, I will dedicate my blood and sweat to protect the weak and Dharma. Even if a single drop of blood is present in my veins, even if only a single breath is remaining in my lungs, and even if only the last heartbeat is remaining to take, I will use every ounce of power I have to protect what should be protected."
As the oath ceremony came to a conclusion, every student was fired up. It was not the reflection of the red flames in their eyes; rather, their passion was burning with the vibrant colour of red, to show their dedication. All of them were still looking at the Kundam with intense gazes.
"Looking at that fire will not increase your knowledge and power. And you guys are looking at it with such intensity as if the fire itself is your enemy," Guruvar Shuka said with a chuckle. Gurus who were part of the ritual were smiling too. The teenagers now looked elsewhere other than the Kundam with slight embarrassment.
"Your determination is very good. But don't you guys want to take your first class?" A voice came from the entrance of the yard. Guru Vidura was standing near the entrance, wearing his signature white dhoti kurta and a calm face.
"We are ready for the class," all the students replied in unison.
"Then come with me."
Vidura led them back through the same hallway they came. The students now noticed, after entering the main building of Gñyánà Kendrà, that it was rather simple-looking in comparison to the Vyavasthaapika (the management building). Here and there, some inscriptions from scriptures were written on the walls, but nothing more than that.
They crossed a hall to reach their classrooms. There were many rooms; some had classes running, while others were empty. They too entered a room which had a hundred seats for students and a small higher stage in front of the seats. The room was painted in light cloudy blue, the same as the building, and had nothing else. They all took their seats, and Guru Vidura sat on the blue chair on the stage.
"So, what are your thoughts after completing the ceremony?" Vidura asked in his usual neutral tone.
Shambhu, who was sitting in the front row, was the first to answer, "I think that a new responsibility has been put on our shoulders, which we should not see as a burden but as the goal of our life."
"Yeah, we took the oath of our blood and everything, so I think we should fulfill our oaths," Daru, who was sitting on the left of Shambhu, spoke while nodding to himself.
Just like them, those who wanted also spoke their thoughts. Some said that they were tense if they would be able to uphold the oath they had taken, while others were excited for the next phase of their life.
After listening to them, Vidura spoke.
"Excitement should never be the driving force, and responsibility should never be taken as a burden. Most importantly, you need to understand your role in society. This class is exactly for that. I will not teach you how to fight; rather, I will teach you who to fight." He was completely serious.
"All of you became protectors, who fight, not normal citizens, from the moment you completed the oath ceremony. And this first class is dedicated to the doubts you might have. So ask what you want today."
Vidura ended his statement with a smile.
The first question was asked by Vajra, who was sitting in the back of the classroom.
"Guru ji, can we fight a fellow protector in the academy?" he asked.
"Yes, if both parties agree and any Guru or somebody from the healing department is present, a duel is allowed," Vidura replied and then asked, "What is your name, boy?"
"Vajra, Guru ji," the answer came.
"Hmm, why did you want to become a protector?" Vidura again asked.
"I thought it was the easiest way to become powerful and fight. So I became a protector," Vajra said with a chuckle.
"Then this class is really important for you," Vidura thought while nodding to himself.
Before anything else was said, a bell rang, indicating it was already 11 o'clock. Hearing the bell, Vidura stood up from his seat and said, "It's now time for lunch. You are free to go now. But remember to come back at 2 o'clock at the RÀKSHÁ KÉNDRÀ." He left the class after saying this. The students also went to their quarters to feed themselves.
At two o'clock, two students were walking at their full pace to reach the red building and students standing in front of it, who were now visible to them, in time.
" Daru, if you had eaten a little faster, we wouldn't have been late." The one wearing the dhoti said.
" What can I do, Brother. The food is so bland. It does not go down the throat easily. " The boy with green hairs complained.
They were the last one to come at Ràkshá Kéndrà. They saw, an old man, almost seven feet tall, wearing a brownish-red dhoti and nothing else, was standing in front of the building looming over the students. He had silky white long hair, a long beard and moustache of the same white colour, and a white skin tone. He was looking at the students with furrowed brows. Unlike Vidura, it was clear that he was gauging their strength.
"I am known as Rudra," the old man spoke in a deep rumbling voice.
"Did your body just vibrate?" Daru asked Shambhu.
"I don't know about that, but I could feel the vibration below my feet, in the ground itself." Shambhu said.
All the students had the same reaction. They were surprised, afraid, and in awe at the same time. Some of them were on their knees, and Daru was one of them.
The old man was just smiling while standing in front of them, at the entrance gate of the building.
'Raktaa, do you know what he just did?'