The Final Mantra

A myth from another world

In ancient times when naga and humans still lived alongside each other, there were two mighty empires on opposite ends of the world. One was the Empire of Humans, the other the Empire of Naga. Each only accepted its respective race as citizens. Between the two empires lay various nations and tribes, in many of these humans and naga lived like twins.

One such tribe was led by a human chieftain named Badin. Of all the rulers of that era it is said Badin was the most virtuous and wise, admired by all outside the empires. When a dispute between other tribes happened it was Badin who reconciled them.

Badin had a son named Tawin, who he raised with his naga husband Kasam.

The two empires drank deeply of avarice and hatred. Their emperors each desired to rule their entire race while erasing the other from the world completely, and they raised their armies for that purpose. Badin rallied all those caught between the empires into an alliance to defend both their independence and coexistence, to prevent the genocide of humanity by naga and the genocide of naga by humanity.

Before leaving for war, Badin had Kasam and Tawin seek refuge in a hidden village of naga, the homeland of Kasam. Tawin was the only human in the village, but the people accepted him as one of their own.

While fighting the armies of the human empire, Badin was killed. The people of his tribe were slaughtered regardless of race, their land conquered. But none outside knew the location of Kasam’s village, so even as the human empire ravaged the land, the village remained safe.

Tawin was a righteous person who felt the pain of others as his own. When word of his father and tribe’s demise came to him, Tawin was overcome by despair, the madness born of sorrow. He concluded that if the world contained such suffering the most noble act was to destroy it, thus ending all pain and tragedy. To this end he locked himself into a shrine, praying to the gods dutifully and ceaselessly, leaving them with no choice but to grant him the Final Mantra, that which would sink the world into oblivion.

Before he could speak the mantra, Kasam approached Tawin and pleaded with him. “My child, please, I beg of you to never let such a terrible mantra leave your lips. All your pain shall pass with time.”

“It is not merely sadness that afflicts me. My heart is hollow, all the colors of the world have faded. I feel nothing and wish for nothing. This suffering is not unique, the war has spread it across the world. Even if you were to free me of this affliction, what then of others who suffer in this way? So long as this pain remains, war will never end. Peace can only be found in oblivion.”

“My child, please, this world is not so cruel. You must have faith that others like you will heal, that you can fill your heart. Think of your father, who fought to restore the harmony of the world. If you utter the words of destruction, his legacy will be lost, his sacrifice in vain. His death is a scar on my heart as well, but he is part of this world, and remains with us in that way. Within our village you have a place, let us fill your heart once more with the brightness of this world.”

“As we speak the Empire of Humans continues to crush the land around us. Atrocity after atrocity will be committed until only one race remains, and we are powerless to stop it. My father’s virtue didn’t save him, it didn’t save anyone. There is no future left for this world, the empires have destroyed it. Death is preferable to the world they will make.”

“My child, please, the future is not so bleak. Yes there is suffering, yes the empires continue to desecrate the world, but they too will fall. Until that day comes we are safe within the village, as your father willed. When the war ends it will be all of us, together, who heal this world and restore its balance. We need you for this.”

“Your people have no need of a barbarian child, one who would only stain your honor. I will not destroy the world. However, I despise humans for what they have done to our people. With these words, I bring the war to an end.” Tawin recited a mantra and collapsed into Kasam’s arms. 

“What have you done?”

“The mantra I spoke has brought the death of humanity. Humans did not kill the naga, nor have naga killed humanity, for humanity has fallen by its own despicable hand. Please, my father, do not cry for me. Your sorrow is my one regret.” With those words Tawin died in Kasam’s arms. 

Kasam cried for his son and humanity, not leaving the shrine until a full day passed. As he mourned it is told that he said this: “I have failed you my love. Now not just our child but half the world has been lost. We naga are now as land without sky, shadow without light, a coin with only one side.” It is also said that Kasam’s sorrow became a curse that brought the Empire of Naga to ruin in a single day.

Kasam carried Tawin’s body out of the shrine and explained what had happened to the rest of the village. The gods too mourned for Tawin and humanity. In compensation for Kasam’s loss, for preventing the end of all, Adnir declared Kasam king of what had once belonged to humanity, the possessor of their legacy. The celestial smiths forged all the colors of the world into a crown and sword for Kasam as a symbol of his new authority.

Led by Kasam, the people of the hidden village journeyed into what once was the domain of humanity. Eventually they came upon a great forest growing from the ruins of a human city. Kasam decreed this forest would henceforth be called The Reborn Forest, and made his kingdom there. He established the Festival Of Humanity to celebrate the life and mourn the death of the humans, where this story of the world’s lost balance is retold.

Though they never lived to see it founded, Badin and Tawin are counted amongst the royalty of the kingdom of the Reborn Forest. It is for this reason the people of the kingdom are said to be the successors of humanity.

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Notes from the Author: Thank you for reading this piece of another world’s mythology. It came about as part of a larger story I’ve been working on, a story within a story. But, I saw that it had the potential to also stand on its own as a complete narrative, so here we are.

I’d appreciate hearing your thoughts on the story in the comments. If you enjoyed it, please consider sharing it with your friends.