Master Oteg could not help but look around the Temple atrium again. It was a well-built structure, just like the rest of this city. Every inch of the pillars was covered in carvings of deities, their messengers and mounts, and demons. There were several large bells that people rang at the end of their prayer. All of these were hundreds of years old, just like the structure.

An hour prior, the people had filled the compound and watched as hundreds of large lamps were lit and placed on a lamp tower. A young singer, probably Nariel's age, sang a lovely song as the devotees prayed in absolute silence. Once she finished her song, the final lamp was lit, and all seven of the temple doors were thrown open to show the two-metre-tall idol within, decorated beautifully with rich cloth and colours.

The main temple's doorway was wide enough for him to see from his vantage point.

Oteg hadn't needed Sumathi to tell him that this was Rudra, their ancestor and hero deity. According to her, it was a good likeness as it had been carved by his son. And despite the statue having eight arms rather than four, Oteg could believe it; when he saw the idol up close, he saw several imperfections such as moles, age lines, and scars, quite unlike the perfection most cultures bestowed upon their gods.

Whether Rudra had been an actual god, however, Oteg sincerely doubted. While it wasn't uncommon for creatures like the Bendu to appear in the physical plain and be worshipped as gods, beings like them did not age and die. They did not have twelve children. In fact, Oteg believed that it was something more to be a hero than a deity. Mortal beings were imperfect and weak after all. Riddled with doubt and pain. A mortal who could persevere through unimaginable odds and save their people was worthy of adoration. Perhaps that's why hero-deities were so common.

Priests chanted hymns as they went about performing rituals whose true meanings were probably lost to time. They decorated idols with flowers, leaves, seashells, jewelry and ivory, they lit incense sticks, and offered fruits to the deities in the shrine.

It was so rare these days to see life in a society like this, these days.

He saw Tarsten enter the complex and clasped his palms and bowed at the statue in the same fashion as the Raudra did. Then he looked around, and his eyes fell on Oteg. He left his footwear at the door—again in respect to Raudra custom—and walked up to the small Jedi Master, B8 at his tail.

"I see you've started to go native, Corporal!"

The man laughed. "I try to follow house rules whenever they're not bad."

"I take it your research trip has borne some fruit?"

"A little," Tarsten sat down beside him. "Like you said earlier, we've only known 'em a few hours, and this isn't an unsophisticated culture. And I've only had like forty minutes!"

The old Jedi Master chuckled. "Whatever little you have learned, I am eager to hear!"

"Well to start with; their gods. They have either seventeen million gods, or seventeen varieties. Bait discovered the possible mistranslation right before we entered the temple."

"I think it's the latter, sir," the droid said. "But remember that there are cultures out there who have gods assigned to every rock, mountain, tree and bend in a river. But even for them, seventeen million seems a lot."

"Indeed. As you can guess, Rudra is one of their chief deities. His edicts govern their everyday life. The first one: 'All of my children are born free, and no king, god, or demon may take that away.'"

"Very noble," Oteg nodded.

"Yes. The Raudra are big on that edict. Any time we bring up slavery on other worlds, it enrages them. But at the end of the day, those slaves aren't Raudra, so those slavers are 'merely'… evil rather than sacrilegious."

"'Our way is not their way'."

"Indeed. That's their third edict, by the way. 'The goat is not the tiger. It is foolish for one to expect the other to live as they do'. Apparently there was another race on this world called the 'Iakshas'. They were similar to the Raudra in many ways, but different. The Raudra fought them many times in their ancient history, and hated them; but they freed the Raudra as their namesake fought the great serpent. They also provided a distraction as his children armed themselves. Many died. In fact, they died out not long after, having lost many of their women to the serpent. I believe this was why they helped Rudra in the first place. It was when they fought alongside them that Rudra and his people realized that their blood ran the same colours, their love for their families was no less. That was why Rudra made sure to include tolerance as part of his creed."

"So that was the third edict?"

"Yes. The second edict is 'the society is a giant—organism for want of a better word—and the Raudra are only as strong as our society. If any aspect of their society is weak, the organism cannot survive strife.' And by that he meant that warriors, priests, producers, servants, philosophers, rulers, artisans, merchants, laborers and builders. Each group is important. None more so than any other."

"It seems like the Raudra have come close to a utopia!"

"I don't know about that, Master Jedi," Tarsten disagreed. "That second edict… well, those classes I mentioned? They're not hereditary by law, but they are by tradition. Especially in their cities. A child born to a priest will almost always be a priest themselves. They can technically become an artisan if they wish, but finding a teacher is difficult. Most parents only pass on secrets to their families. And even though they are all supposed to be equal, in reality…"

"Some degree of inequality has crept into place, I assume?"

"Right. The servants probably have it the worst. They cannot say no to any order. At least, those related to their duties. If a child asks one to clean up their room, they can't say no. Even if they have other things to do. And often, people refuse to perform different duties—even if it's critical—unless there is absolutely no other choice. On the plus side, no one will ever hurt anyone who isn't a warrior or noble in battle. If two clans are fighting—and it isn't unheard of—the warriors will ignore any servants who happen to be on the battlefield. In the same way, the other classes are off-limits too. And more about the inequality; the nobility and priests look down on the other classes. And the philosophers too, to a lesser degree. Which is interesting, because to be fully considered a noble or a philosopher, they have to live among each of the other classes for a year each. Live as them. They're taught how by their elders, of course. You'd think that would breed some sympathy, but apparently not. It's just so that they can optimize them. There's some darkness under there. It's a society whose rulers might one day become openly oppressive."

"That's a terrible shame."

"There's something else I thought you should know. Most of the Raudra can feel the 'Gift' to a small extent. I doubt they could ever be Jedi. But it's there. And Rudra…" Tarsten hesitated, looked around covertly before Oteg chuckled.

"They cannot understand you, Soldier."

"Like I said, they can use the Force. I've seen people do weird things before. Anyway. Rudra struck down his enemy, the great serpent, with a tower of lightning."

"The same as the Devarath priest."

"I believe the priest's name was Aparajitha. Anyway. I heard the details of Rudra's fight in greater detail. His wife fell dead before his eyes, protecting him from a blow. And he howled in pain and rage. He fired Lightning from his outstretched fingertips as the thunderclouds gathered above him. He then fired off a lightning bolt from the sky, what was what penetrated the serpent's hide, killing him at once. There is no doubt in my mind. He embraced the Dark Side. Even for a moment. He never again showed that kind of inclination in his life, promoting peace and cooperation. But his claim to fame came from using the Dark Side."

Oteg thought that over before nodding carefully. "And they worship him for it."

"Like I said, he only used it that once."

"Perhaps, but the Raudra were lucky. Too often, that single contact is the undoing of a Jedi. It is for this reason why we discourage attachments."

"Still… he wasn't one of them. I suppose that is heroic in its own way."

Oteg had to agree.

"There was a fourth edict, by the way. 'Never forget your soul. Even if grief or anger or pain make it feel slippery in your hands, always hold to yourself. Never forget your pride and honor as my children. Never let the storm within take you'. Almost a warning against the Dark Side's allure, I think."

"So… freedom, unity—and dignity, tolerance, and self-control," Oteg summarized. He thought for several moments. "They are a good people," he realized. "But on the edge. It would take a small push to get them to Fall."

"Not happened once in over a thousand years. Not once. And there has been cause in all those times. Rudra and Aparajitha weren't the only ones to summon Lightning. But it was always for the same reason. Protecting everyone else. Those stone tablets you see at the feet of their lord? All names. All theirs. They are considered aspects of their Father for their sacrifice. Aparajitha's name will be added there at the next full moon. He will be the eleventh to receive that honor. It seems that they who are chosen by Rudra to defend his children… well, their third eye turns white."

"So in summary, there is little for us to fear?"

"Yes, sir. It seems Sumathi has decided that we're to be afforded the same rank as high nobility. Even us grunts. And like you said, no one has challenged her action."

"I take it she's a noble?"

"Yes, Master Jedi. But Clan nobles and priests do not have the same holier-than-thou attitude as the city nobles, which is why they are more loved than the high ones."

"Interesting, this all is."

"One last thing. I've heard who your Council is going to be. The Head Priestess of the temple, Meghna. Indran, the highest-ranking noble in the city, the son of the former king—apparently the title isn't hereditary, but they didn't have time to do it right. And five top advisors, all philosophers. Sumathi will be there, and Sukanya will be watching over Vajra. She is to serve as his guardian, in case…"

"In case we try to take him by force."

"Exactly. And… because of an interesting turn of events, every Raudra in the city will fight to the death to defend him, if they think it comes to that."

"Why? What turn of events?"

"His third eye has turned white."

Sumathi jogged in their direction, a small smile on her face. She said something, and B8 translated. "It is almost time. We need to summon anyone who is attending."

"Tarsten?"

Tarsten began talking into his comm.