Murugan left the fishing village before dawn. His heart was heavy, leaving behind the only family he had known, but his spirit burned with purpose. He traveled north, following the stories of great warriors.
His first stop: Singapore.
Here, he worked as a dock worker to earn money for his journey. He watched foreign ships arrive, studied how different warriors moved, and trained his body by lifting heavy cargo. But this was only the beginning.
From Singapore, he traveled to Japan, where he met a samurai master named Takeshi.
Takeshi saw the fire in Murugan's eyes and took him in. Under Takeshi's guidance, Murugan learned the way of the sword, the discipline of the samurai, and the importance of patience in battle.
"A warrior is not just strong," Takeshi told him. "He must be calm, precise, and always in control."
Murugan trained for two years, perfecting his strikes. But he knew he needed more than just the sword.
So, he journeyed to Korea, where he met an elder warrior from the Hwarang, the elite Korean fighters. The elder taught him hand-to-hand combat, powerful kicks, and the philosophy of inner strength.
Next, Murugan traveled to China, where he joined the Shaolin monks. Here, he trained his body, mind, and soul. He learned endurance, meditation, and the importance of balance in battle.
Finally, he arrived in Nepal, where he climbed the mountains to train his stamina and survival skills.
By the time he turned 18, Murugan was no longer just a boy.
He was a warrior.
And now, it was time to return home.
---
Chapter 6: The Return to Tamil Nadu
Murugan arrived in Tamil Nadu disguised as a traveler. The land was not as he remembered. Foreign rulers sat on the throne, Tamil temples were abandoned, and the people lived in fear.
Murugan's blood boiled. His people had been stripped of their identity. Their language, gods, and martial arts were being erased.
He walked through a village and saw soldiers beating an old man for refusing to bow to the new king.
Murugan stepped forward.
"Enough."
The soldiers turned to him and laughed.
"And who are you?" one mocked.
Murugan took a deep breath. In a flash, he moved. His fists struck like thunder, his kicks landed with the force of a storm. Within seconds, the soldiers lay on the ground, groaning in pain.
The villagers stared in shock.
"Who… who are you?" an elder asked.
Murugan looked at the ruined temple behind them, then at the people who had suffered for too long.
He removed the cloth covering his golden amulet—the royal symbol of Kumari Kandam.
"I am Murugan," he declared. "The lost prince of kumari. And I have returned to free my people."
---