Meet the Pathika - Warriors of Light

Pathika are often known as ‘warriors of light.’ They fight not for personal gain, but to protect Elsaru (‘Mother Earth’ in Pathika language) and the Lands of Vaniya from the dark shadow of Malazhiim.

Tarun dreams of becoming a Pathika, like his father Bhimaz, but his mother has forbidden him to take the Oath of Chetana (the Pathika initiation). He is conflicted, torn between the love he has for Mama, and Aaliya his baby sister, and the pull of the way of the Pathika.

Sketch of a Pathika at the great battle of Ghunali in the Tan Kun mountains

Here is a short passage from the early chapters when Tarun meets a Pathika at his old friend, Ranaji's teashop. 

The old shopkeeper nodded his head of greying curls at an empty plate on a table in the corner of the teashop. ‘One of your papa’s friends. I’m sure anything he has to tell you will put a smile on your face.’

Tarun’s eyes widened. ‘Who is it?’

‘A Pathika. Just down from the mountains.’

Despite Mama’s warning to steer clear, Tarun always loved the rare occurrence when a Pathika would arrive in town. They would come to relax at Ranaji’s, where they could sit under the dim lights in peace, sip chai and eat the generous teashop owner’s famous sweet charra buns. Tarun would ask them to recount their adventures and tales from afar. Without fail, the Pathika’s stories would weave magical carpets upon which Tarun was transported to faraway places and mystical lands, where dreams became reality and reality was rarely routine. Their eyes would sparkle as they recalled distant sunsets over glowing desert sands and strange creatures beyond the edges of Tarun’s imagination. His favourites were the tales of battles with demons to free villages from the forces of evil. Striving to do so was a commitment every Pathika made when they took the Oath of Chetahnu, in which they swore to rid the world of darkness.

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