The Eight Tribes: Paths Destined to Cross

YAKSA (WARRIOR)

CHAPTER 12 (YAKSA) First Story

Amidst the onset of war, a pleasant and calm breeze pervaded in the great plains of the highlands. The Nachals and the Deva tribe were battling each other and the united tribes under Kimnara were busy expanding their territories around the great plains. The two tribes who shared their borders in the Great Plains were locked in a bitter feud. Yaksa was the leader of one of the tribe.

Yaksa was the offspring of the tribe living in the Great Plains. He was as swift as the wind and possessed a boundless energy. Every boy in the tribe undergoes a rite of passage when approaching adolescence. They had to catch a wild ox by using only their bare hands. Yaksa got the biggest ox even though he was the youngest in the hunt.

Yaksa had a relatively blissful childhood even though they were under constant attack from the Maras. Nothing could seem to affect his sunny disposition. He eventually took a fiancé, a neighborhood girl named Cita.

He also had a best bud named Gandharva who was from the neighboring tribe. The two have been friends since they were little kids. They both accidentally bumped into each other during the wild ox chase and they have been inseparable since then.

Growing up, Gandharva was viewed as a weird kid. He refused to play with other kids except for Yaksa. Many were not aware that Yaksa had Gandharva for a friend, not even the parents of Yaksa.

When they were young, they weren’t far apart in body structure. The years passed and the disparity grew as Yaksa became a well-developed man compared to Gandharva who remained rail thin. Yaksa encouraged him to eat more but to no avail. Their disparity in physiques did not put a damper to their blossoming friendship.

CHAPTER 13 (YAKSA) Second Story

Yaksa was eager to show the wild ox he caught to Gandharva even before his parents or fiancé could get a glimpse of it. He patiently waited for Gandharva to arrived in their agreed upon secret place. When he arrived, Yaksa was beaming with glee at the prize on his hands. Gandharva knew how it felt as they share some of the same traditions.

Deep inside, Gandharva felt envious of his friend’s achievement. He remained silent and unmoved by Yaksa’s prize catch. Sensing this, Yaksa tried to appease Gandharva by telling him that someday he will catch a bigger ox for himself. Gandharva was oblivious to all of this, he suddenly stood up and shouted:

“Look at you and your silly smile! Are you really glad that you’re about to get married?” You’re such a stupid fool!”

Gandharva was already gone before Yaksa could say a thing. He was flabbergasted as to why his friend got enraged. Alone and confused, Yaksa yelled at the top of his lungs:

“I’m not stupid Ghandarva! You are going crazy!”

Yaksa went home feeling betrayed and angry. He tried to rationalize the events that transpired and realized that maybe he was bragging too much. He decided that he would immediately apologize to Gandharva the next time they meet again.

After the sad incident, a small quarrel erupted between the tribes of Yaksa and that of Gandharva. It was instigated by the encroachment of a herd of cattle from Yaksa’s tribe and into the side of Gandharva. Normally, this incident would have easily been brushed aside. But the constant stress brought about by the Mara’s continued assault sparked an altercation resulting in deaths and injuries. Cita, Yaksa’s fiancé was one of the few who perished in the initial clash. She was accidentally struck in the head and she never gained consciousness from the blow.

Yaksa was utterly devastated upon hearing the tragic news. He was furious and crestfallen, his heart yearning for retribution. Yaksa rushed over to the other camp and sought out the culprit for a duel. The killer relented and they fought for their respective honors. In the end, the young and cunning Yaksa prevailed and his love was finally avenged.

Yaksa was now transformed into a cold-blooded killer. He felt it was his sworn duty to avenge the death of his fiancé. The tribe of Gandharva could not retaliate as the event was a sanctioned duel. Yaksha brought with him the dead body and left it in the fields for the birds to feast on the flesh. It was a gruesome tradition they practiced within their tribe. When all the flesh was consumed, he took the skull and placed it on his rosary.

CHAPTER 14 (YAKSA) Third Story

Yaksa was somewhat apprehensive about the man he killed because it was a tribesmate of Gandharva. He figured that his friend would understand. For some reason, he was getting deeply anxious as it had been a long time since he last saw Gandharva.

One day, the chief of Gandharva’s tribe went to speak with Yaksha. The tribe chief told Yaksa about the daughter of the man he killed. She was challenging Yaksa to a duel as her way of honoring her father’s memory. Yaksa felt uneasy at first but he had no choice but to accept the lethal preposition.

Agreeing to the challenge was a bit hard to swallow for Yaksa. He was hesitant to fight a woman in a duel as it would be a clear mismatch. Yet, it would be a complete disgrace to his tribe to turn down a duel. He would give this woman a change to face him in battle.

The fateful day finally arrived and Yaksa was supremely confident of his chances. He even wore the skull of his victim as some kind of charm. The duel was to be held in a vast field with both tribes encircling the area. Suddenly, he saw a familiar face walking towards him. His opponent would be Gandharva all along. Yaksa was beyond belief as he was responsible for the death of her father. Equally shocking was the revelation that his friend was a woman all this time.

“I, Gandharva, daughter of the slain Kamadew, hereby challenge my father’s killer, Yaksa to a duel to the death. An eye for an eye, blood for blood!” she declared.

At that very instant, Yaksa turned and run away. He could not bear the thought of facing Gandharva in a duel. His cowardly action would forever stain his and the tribe’s honor. It didn’t matter to him anymore. Too much blood was already on his hands. From thence on, Yaksa was never seen again.