Vedik, exhausted from his thoughts and daily struggles, soon closed his tired eyes .
Night gradually fell, and William instructed the carriage driver to stop as they had found a good spot to spend the night.
While the carriage driver remained outside to guard the area, everyone else slept inside the carriage.
It was midnight. Vedik's eyes fluttered open. He looked around and saw everyone asleep inside—the carriage was silent and still.
William and Jasmin were sleeping peacefully with their heads resting against each other, holding hands.
Ray had laid her head on Vedik's shoulder, and little Rose was curled up on their laps.
Seeing this, Vedik felt a deep sense of happiness and fulfillment.
This is all I want from life — he thought gently.
As Vedik was a orphan , all he ever wanted was a family. So seeing them he was filled with happiness.
But after a few seconds, a strange sensation crept through him.
No one was moving—not even an inch. As if time itself had stopped.
Sensing that something was wrong, Vedik slowly stepped out of the carriage.
He noticed the carriage driver leaning against a tree with his sword in hand. His left eye was closed, but the right eye was wide open.
But something was off—he wasn't blinking.
Vedik took a deep breath to calm himself, trying to understand the situation. Then, he heard the soft sound of crackling fire.
Following the sound, he walked toward the nearby campfire. There, he saw a man sitting beside the flames, warming his hands.
Strangely, Vedik didn't feel any bloodlust or killing intent from the stranger. In fact, he felt a strange familiarity—almost like comfort.
But the situation was simply too bizarre to trust anyone blindly.
Still, it was the only lead he had.
So having no choice he slowly and cautiously, approached the man.
The man remained still and silent.
Vedik, his voice slightly unsteady, and shaken asked, "What is happening? Did you do this?"
The man didn't respond at first. After a few seconds, he finally said, in a soft tone "Come. Sit beside me."
Vedik, still wary, hesitated but complied. He sat down cautiously, his eyesight never leaving the man.
Now, sitting close, Vedik could see the man's features more clearly.
He had black eyes, a few strands of white hair, and an unknown symbol on his forehead.
His age appeared to be about fifty, but there was a tranquility about him—an aura of gentleness and calmness. He wore a simple, thin white cloth wrapped loosely around his body.
Vedik stared at him and asked again,
"Did you do this?"
"Yes,"the man replied, nodding slightly.
"But I mean no harm. I just wanted to talk to you—alone. Once we're done, everything will return to normal."
Vedik tilted his head slightly. The man felt strangely familiar, and yet Vedik couldn't recall ever seeing him before in his life.
After a long pause, Vedik asked,
"What is your name, sir?"
The man answered without hesitation.
"My name is Shukra. And although you may not remember me… I know you."
Vedik shook his head.
"You must be mistaking me for someone else. I grew up in an orphanage, and as far as I remember, I've never seen you before. Did you know my dad or mom, by any chance?"
"No," Shukra replied calmly. "I don't ".
Another unwieldy silence fell between them.
Then Shukra asked softly,
"Vedik, what would you do if you knew something important about a person, something that they themselves don't remember?"
Vedik thought for a moment before answering,
"If it's something important, then yes—they should be told."
Shukra leaned back, watching him.
"And what if that memory is so painful," Shukra continued, "that by not telling them, you're actually sparing them from suffering and misery?"
Vedik frowned.
"Then you're not helping them." His voice sharpened.
"Who are you to decide what's too painful for someone else? Don't take that choice away from them. The reaction may vary depending on the person, but still... it's their right to know."
Shukra took a deep breath and looked into the fire.
"Maybe you're right," he murmured in a melancholy tone.
"Even if I already know the outcome, I shouldn't be the one to decide."
The atmosphere felt heavy with unspoken thoughts.
Vedik stood up slowly.
"Anyway… if our talk is over , can you please return everything to normal?"
Shukra didn't respond immediately. Instead, he began mumbling incomprehensible words.
"**!*;??";;??? Tri Dev '";*!!"!!"!'*;'! क्षमस्व मां...**"
Vedik's eyes widened.
He tried to stand back—but a wave of dizziness overcame him and his knees buckled.
"What did you do?" Vedik asked weakly, falling forward.
Shukra caught him in his arms and said quietly ,"This is the only favor I can do for you. Remember—I cannot help you in the human realm as it would violate the treaty."
He reached into his robe and handed a glowing scroll to Vedik.
"This scroll will summon me. Tear it only if you have no other choice. But know this—using it will expose us completely. After that... you will have to leave the human realm."
Then with a soft voice he said.
"Don't trust anyone and don't tell anyone about your physique.
You may have many questions—about yourself, about your abilities—but I don't have the time to answer. Just remember this:
Mana is living energy in itself.
It flows through every being. It exists everywhere—in the sky, the earth, even in insects and plants.
Only a few chosen one can draw mana directly from the environment.
Others use mana which is already inside their body. That internal energy is what people call Qi energy.
But this doesn't make Qi energy inferior to the Mana.
Mana and Qi are not separate in essence but only in their application.
It is common knowledge that human can't use both as their body simply cannot withstand the burden of both Mana veins and Qi points.
But for gods… and their descendants… it is possible.
Although their potential may vary. But they can use both."
So Vedik what I mean to say is that you are a G...God with the highest potential and that's why you have all elemental affinity .
There was a faint shimmer around Shukra now, as the timeline around them neared its restoration.
"My time is up," he said solemnly. "You can speak of this encounter to William—but no one else."
Shukra placed his hand gently on Vedik's head.
His eyes became moist.
"I'm sorry… my di—disciple for everything ".
Vedik tried to ask what he meant, but sleep overtook him.
And his eyes gently closed .
The Morning Came
Vedik woke up in the carriage beside Ray. Everything was normal again. Rose rested soundly on the laps of Vedik and Ray.
As Vedik stretched, he mumbled to himself,
"That dream was... strange and a little weird."
But then, he felt something tucked under his shirt. He reached into his clothes and pulled it out.
It was a shining scroll—the same one given to him by that mysterious man.
Vedik's heart skipped a beat.
His hands trembled slightly as he held up the scroll.
His face turned pale and his heart skipped a beat.
"That… wasn't a dream," Vedik whispered. (';')
"Just who was that person… And how did he know me and about my body so well ?"