Manithan Vaanam

மனிதன் வானம்

The First of Farewells

Session 6
Vanathi's Lightseekers
Dear readers, as this chapter comes to a close, I can already sense the feelings of dread and loss fill the pages as we say goodbye to these beloved characters. This will not be the last goodbye our questers face, so we must expect the melancholy. I have observed that Manithan always mourn farewells and loss, for goodbyes always signify an end. However, I do not necessarily believe you should lament . . . for if there were no end . . . then how would you know to cherish?
Mun Mugham
In-Game Time 18th Night—19th Day of the 4th Dharan Cycle
Played On 8th of November, 2024

After witnessing the dreadful effects of the foresight of jaded eyes and protecting Bhombi from two vicious lions, the party spend the rest of day in solitude within their bedrooms. When the sun starts to set, the group moves towards the dining room, grabbing leftover rice and idlis for dinner. As they are eating, Maarya enters the room and informs the group that Gambidevi has awoken from her coma. They finish their dinner in silence, with Kittu exchanging a series of cryptic looks with both Aadhi and Shwari. Afterwards, the group heads to the bedroom of Maarya and Gambidevi.

Maarya lets the party into the bedroom and then quickly leaves, giving Gambidevi and the group privacy. The party settles in and starts asking her questions about the divine reading pertaining to Ashitham. She describes her visions haltingly; flashes of Sabari Koyil and its underbelly, where the Dharma Villu lies, appear. Gambidevi explains how this particular reading was extraordinary, for these were images given from Pillaiyar Himself, and she theorizes that they were meant for this group specifically. Nila expresses confusion over her paati's obsession, and Gambidevi explains that after Ashitham met Nila's grandfather, Ashitham somehow dampened the spirit and raised Nila's father. After discussion of the reading, Gambidevi asks about the party's next steps, which are not decided yet. She asks that whatever the decision is, they must let her know the next morning. Maarya reenters the bedroom and interrupts the conversation by expressing Gambidevi's need for rest. The group wishes the couple goodnight and exits the bedroom.

On the terrace of the farmstead, the party has a quick chat about their next steps and ultimately agree to make a decision tomorrow morning at daybreak. Most of the group return to their assigned bedrooms with the exception of Aadhi, who, after an hour or so, clumsily makes her way to Shwari's bedroom; the two twins sleep side by side for this night. Once everyone falls asleep, ominous dreams transpire.

The sun rises and everyone starts to wake. Bhavannan and Kittu emerge from their bedrooms first and Kittu asks Bhavannan his aspirations. Bhavannan explains that his sole purpose is to serve and help the Soodam Kingdom, which is why he is on the hunt for Anjan, a flying monkey that hopefully can help him. Kittu admires the quality of compassion in Bhavannan and wishes him success on his quest. Bhavannan, in grateful spirits, wishes Kittu the same success in finding his nephew Vaari. Whilst Bhavannan and Kittu have this conversation, Aadhi and Shwari wake up to a room filled with fallen leaves. In abundant confusion, Shwari asks Aadhi what could have possibly happened. Aadhi explains that she had a dream about the recurring blue lady, but this time, she showed Aadhi a memory of a loved one murdered violently. She adds that, somehow, she herself is the blue lady and vice versa, and that the blue lady's ultimate goal might be to seek vengeance from the Kadavuls, but Aadhi is not entirely sure. After Aadhi finishes her dream, Shwari explains hers, which was an old memory of when Aadhi and Shwari were in the womb. She describes their mother in serious pain, which led their father, Venkataram, to enlist the help of a hermit, whose walking cane had bells on the end. However, right before he started to help, he looked right at Shwari's ephemeral form and demanded that she leave, sending her flying out of the dream. Aadhi and Shwari discuss both dreams in detail but get interrupted by Maarya, who views the state of the room in disdain and then asks if the leaves had anything to do with Aadhi's clumsiness the previous night. The two twins quickly apologize and promise to clean the room. Afterwards, they go out to the terrace to join Bhavannan and Kittu, The four unite but quickly realize that Nila is missing, immediately heading for her bedroom.

Shwari knocks on Nila's bedroom door; the handle rattles, but does not open. Shwari opens the door slowly and reveals an elegant deer standing in the middle of the room. The deer appears normal but for its forehead, where a crescent moon and two stars seemed drawn on. Kittu quickly realizes that Nila had wild-shaped into a deer in her sleep and congratulated her on the achievement. However, Nila seems stuck as a deer, so the rest try to brainstorm ways to change her back to normal. Shwari asks Nila "yes" or "no" questions, where one grunt is equal to "yes" and two grunts are equal to "no". During this, Kittu starts writing the entire 126-lettered alphabet into the floor so that Nila could use the floor as her communication device. However, before Kittu could finish, Nila shifts back to her normal self and explains how that had never happened before and that she has no idea how it happened in the first place. After the confusion of the morning's events, the party finally decides on what to do, which is to leave for Kaverinaadu with the Murugeshwara twins and see if Alagan is fit to raise the infants. However, Kittu interjects with plans of his own.

Kittu sorrowfully explains that he must leave the party, for the Kadavul he worships, Namagal, requires his presence elsewhere. He then reveals his true quest, which is to find the harmony of the universe and dispel the discordant notes that he has been hearing since the appearance of the red comet. He grants well wishes for each person and promises that they will meet again. After this revelation, Maarya and Gambidevi walk onto the terrace, with Gambidevi utilizing a walking cane. They ask for the group's decision and then give them food and supplies for their long journeys ahead. Afterwards, the couple lead the group to the yaan stables for one last goodbye.

As they are preparing their yaans for the ride, Nila embraces Maarya and Gambidevi and promises them that she will be back to visit them. Kittu offers Aadhi his yaan, since he prefers to walk. At first, Aadhi seems reluctant, but Kittu assures her. Then, he names the yaan "Kittu" so that he is always with the party wherever they are. Aadhi climbs upon the newly named yaan. The group mounts their yaans, and Kittu walks besides them, leaving Maarya and Gambidevi waving goodbye in the distance. Right before their paths diverge, Kittu starts humming the tune of "Yaans Here, Yaans There, Yaans Everywhere"; everyone joins in the chorus as the group bids their first of farewells.