The golden rays of the morning sun stretch across the horizon as Arjun and his team set off toward Gandhara. The Magadh Kingdom, now behind them, remains a land of both triumph and scars. King Virya's parting words echo in Arjun's mind—a warning and a mission.
"The clue you seek lies in Gandhara. But beware, for the past is not always kind to those who seek to uncover it."
Arjun glances at his companions, each one moving with a renewed sense of purpose. After their grueling training and trials, they are stronger than before, yet the road ahead is uncertain.
The journey takes them across vast plains where the tall grass sways like a golden sea, bending to the rhythm of the wind. The land gradually shifts into rugged terrain, and the distant mountains of Gandhara loom against the sky. The air grows crisper, carrying with it the scent of earth and stone.
Karna, stretching his arms behind his head, smirks. "I still can't believe we survived that last test. I thought I was going to disappear forever when I lost control of my shadow training."
Lavanya chuckles, adjusting the straps of her gear. "I thought so too. If you had vanished, at least we would have had one less troublemaker to deal with."
Karna feigns a wounded look. "You wound me, Luna."
Aditi sighs, shaking her head. "We barely made it through that trial, and now we're walking straight into another mystery. The Cult could already be ahead of us."
The group falls into a contemplative silence. The shadow of the Cult lingers over their journey, an unseen force moving through history's cracks.
Sarika, ever the optimist, tries to lighten the mood. "What do you think this clue will be? A lost scripture? An artifact? Maybe an ancient riddle?"
Lavanya hums in thought. "If it's a scripture, I might be able to decipher it. But if it's protected by ancient magic, we'll need someone skilled enough to break through the enchantments."
She glances at Sarika, who grins. "I'm always up for a challenge."
Brihaspati, walking a few steps ahead, listens to the conversation with quiet amusement before turning to address them. "Do not expect this to be simple. Gandhara is a land of wisdom and secrets, but some knowledge is hidden for a reason. The clue we seek may not wish to be found."
Arjun frowns. "You make it sound as if the clue itself is alive."
Brihaspati does not respond immediately. He gazes at the mountains in the distance, the lines on his face deepening. "Knowledge can be a living thing, Arjun. Sometimes, it chooses its seeker."
The cryptic response only deepens the mystery, but before Arjun can ask more, he notices someone unusually silent—Esha.
She walks slightly behind the group, her arms crossed, her face unreadable. Usually, she had some witty remark or sharp comment, but today, she seems lost in thought.
Arjun slows his pace until he's walking beside her. "You've been quiet."
Esha blinks, as if snapping out of a trance. "Have I?"
"Yeah. Usually, you'd have made fun of Karna at least three times by now."
A small smirk tugs at the corner of her lips, but it fades quickly. "Just thinking."
Arjun waits for her to continue, but she doesn't. Instead, her golden-red eyes flick toward the mountains, something unreadable in them.
"About what?" he presses.
Esha hesitates, then finally speaks. "This journey. This clue. I have a feeling… it's not just about the Ring of Light."
Arjun studies her. There is an unease in her voice, something deeper than simple concern. But before he can question her further, Brihaspati raises a hand.
"We should stop here for a while."
They have reached a riverbank where the water runs clear and cold, reflecting the bright sky. The group sets down their packs, grateful for the chance to rest.
As they drink from the river and eat what little food they packed, the conversation shifts back to Gandhara.
Aditi furrows her brows. "Gandhara was once known as a kingdom of scholars and warriors. But its history is fragmented. Some say knowledge there was deliberately erased."
Sarika nods. "I read that after the old king fell, the region became more secretive. But no one knows why."
Lavanya, sharpening her dagger, adds, "If the Cult is interested in this clue, then it's something powerful. Maybe even something they fear."
Karna raises an eyebrow. "The Cult? Fear something?"
Brihaspati sips from his flask before speaking. "Even the most powerful organizations fear what they do not understand. And if this clue is truly tied to the Ring of Light, then it is connected to an ancient power beyond even them."
Arjun tightens his grip on the Gandiva slung across his back. "Then we can't let them get to it first."
Esha, still gazing at the mountains, finally murmurs, "They might already be there."
A cold wind sweeps through the valley, rustling the trees and sending a shiver down their spines. The journey to Gandhara has only begun, but already, the shadows of the past whisper in the wind.
The path toward Gandhara leads them through a small village nestled between rugged hills, its stone houses weathered by time. Smoke drifts from chimneys, and the scent of freshly baked flatbread mixes with the earthy aroma of the land. Children play near a well, their laughter the only lively sound in the otherwise tense atmosphere.
Arjun notices it first—the villagers' wary glances, the way their conversations hush as the group approaches. A farmer, bent over a cart of vegetables, stiffens when he sees Karna's bow. A woman at a stall grips her child's hand tightly, pulling him away.
Sarika exchanges a glance with Aditi. "They're afraid."
Brihaspati steps forward, his presence usually enough to put common folk at ease. "We mean no harm," he says, addressing a nearby merchant arranging bags of grain. "We are travelers seeking knowledge about a temple in this region."
The merchant, an older man with a grizzled beard, looks up sharply. "The temple?" His fingers tighten around the bag in his hands.
A few other villagers nearby glance in their direction but quickly look away, pretending not to hear.
Karna crosses his arms. "Great. Another place no one wants to talk about."
The merchant exhales through his nose and sets the bag down. "If you know what's good for you, you'll leave it alone."
Arjun steps forward. "Why?"
The merchant hesitates, glancing around as if afraid someone might be listening. Then, lowering his voice, he mutters, "That temple is cursed. Anyone who goes near it disappears."
Lavanya tilts her head. "Disappears?"
The merchant nods grimly. "No one who enters ever comes back. Travelers, treasure hunters, even the occasional fool from our own village. Gone. And sometimes, at night… you can hear the whispers."
Sarika shivers. "Whispers?"
The merchant tightens his jaw. "Like voices carried by the wind. But they come from nowhere."
Esha, who has been standing silently in the back, suddenly speaks. "Or from something unseen."
The merchant stiffens, as if realizing he has said too much. He waves them off. "Look, I've warned you. Stay away if you value your lives." With that, he grabs his bags and heads into his shop, shutting the door behind him.
Lavanya exhales through her nose. "Well, that was informative."
Karna smirks. "You mean in the 'vague and ominous' way?"
Lavanya rolls her eyes. "The best kind."
While the rest of the group discusses their next move, Lavanya slips away, her footsteps light as a shadow. She moves through the village unnoticed, blending effortlessly into the crowd before slipping into the dense woods beyond the last house.
The forest is thick with the scent of damp earth and pine. Lavanya moves swiftly, weaving through the trees until she spots a crumbling shrine at the edge of a dried-up riverbed. The stones are cracked, moss creeping up their surface, but what catches her attention are the markings.
Strange symbols, etched into the stone, still faintly glowing with a sickly green hue.
Lavanya crouches beside them, tracing her fingers over the grooves. The markings are unlike any language she has seen before, but their presence alone tells her one thing—this place is not abandoned. Someone, or something, has been here recently.
She pulls a small knife from her belt and scratches the edge of a symbol. The stone chips away too easily, almost as if the markings have been burned into the surface. Her stomach twists.
This reeks of the Cult.
Slipping back into the trees, she makes her way swiftly to the others, who are still gathered near the village's outskirts.
"We have a problem," she announces. "I found a ruined shrine outside the village. Someone's been there recently. And there are symbols—dark magic."
Arjun and Karna exchange glances, their instincts immediately sharpening. They have felt this before—the oppressive, suffocating weight of something unnatural.
Arjun grips the Gandiva on his back. "The Cult."
Karna clenches his fists. "Of course it's them."
Sarika furrows her brows. "If the Cult is involved, then this 'curse' might not be supernatural at all. It could be their doing."
Aditi frowns. "But why? What would they gain from making people disappear?"
Lavanya shakes her head. "That's what we need to find out."
A debate begins. Should they head straight to the temple and uncover the truth themselves, or take more time to gather information?
Brihaspati folds his arms, deep in thought. "Rushing in without knowledge is reckless. If the Cult is involved, this may not be a simple ruin but a trap."
Sarika nods. "Maybe we should ask around more—find someone who knows something but isn't too scared to speak."
Arjun taps his fingers against his arm, considering their options. "If we delay, we risk the Cult getting ahead of us."
Karna tilts his head. "They might already be ahead."
Before anyone can argue further, Esha suddenly straightens. Her red-gold eyes darken, her posture stiffening.
"We don't have time to decide," she says quietly.
Lavanya narrows her eyes. "Why not?"
Esha turns, scanning the village, then lifts her chin slightly. "Because we're already being watched."
A heavy silence falls over the group.
Arjun grips his bow. Karna shifts his stance, muscles tensed. Aditi reaches for her swords.
Sarika glances around, her pulse quickening. "Where?"
Esha doesn't answer immediately. Her gaze flickers across the treetops, the alleyways, the rooftops. The feeling of unseen eyes crawls over them like a phantom touch.
Then, almost too softly, she whispers, "Everywhere."
The road leading to the temple is eerily quiet. The deeper they travel into the wilderness, the more unnatural the silence becomes. No birds chirp, no rustling leaves, no distant howl of an animal. Even the wind feels hesitant, whispering through the trees instead of howling.
Arjun grips Gandiva tightly, his senses sharp. He exchanges a glance with Karna, who nods slightly—he feels it too. Something is wrong here.
Then, at last, they see it.
The temple stands like a forgotten relic of the past, half-swallowed by the jungle. Vines creep up its towering stone walls, their thick roots winding over ancient carvings. The entrance, once grand, is now crumbling, the massive stone doors cracked and barely ajar. Time has not been kind to this place, yet there is something unnatural about its decay, as if something more than mere centuries has been eating away at it.
"This place feels… dead," Aditi murmurs, gripping the hilts of her swords.
Lavanya runs her fingers along one of the broken pillars. "No, not dead," she corrects. "Empty."
Sarika closes her eyes and concentrates. A faint golden glow surrounds her fingertips as she senses the temple's aura. Almost immediately, a frown forms on her face.
"There was divine energy here once," she says, opening her eyes, "but it's weak—suppressed."
Karna raises an eyebrow. "Suppressed? By what?"
Sarika shakes her head. "I don't know."
Brihaspati steps forward, his sharp gaze sweeping across the entrance. "We must proceed carefully," he warns. "If divine energy once filled this place but is now suppressed, it means another force has taken hold."
Arjun and Karna take the lead, cautiously stepping into the temple. The air inside is thick, carrying the scent of damp stone and something else—something old and unwelcoming. Their footsteps echo faintly, but the sound feels wrong, as if the temple itself is swallowing it.
The interior is vast, with towering columns covered in faded carvings. Arjun steps closer to one of the walls, brushing off the dust to reveal an inscription in an ancient script. Karna does the same on another pillar, his eyes narrowing as he traces the symbols.
"This script…" Arjun mutters. "It's similar to the markings Lavanya found at the shrine."
Brihaspati walks up to them, his expression grave. "It's a warning."
Lavanya and Aditi exchange glances before quickly scanning the surroundings for traps. Lavanya crouches near the entrance, running her hands along the ground, while Aditi checks the walls for any hidden mechanisms. So far, nothing seems triggered.
Esha, meanwhile, remains near the entrance, her body unnaturally still. Her golden-red eyes flicker as she scans the darkness, watching, waiting.
Something is watching them. She can feel it.
Karna, still studying the script, reads aloud, "Here lies the power that was sealed to protect the world." He glances at Arjun. "What do you think it means?"
Arjun frowns. "King Virya said we were looking for a clue, but this sounds like something more than that."
Brihaspati's eyes darken. "Indeed. This is not just a clue—it may be something far more dangerous."
Sarika shivers. "If this place was meant to protect the world, then whatever was sealed here… was never meant to be released."
Silence falls over them as the weight of her words sinks in.
Then, Esha stiffens.
"Something's here," she says quietly.
Before anyone can react, a deep, guttural whisper echoes through the chamber.
The air grows colder.
The temple doors slam shut.
The oppressive silence of the temple deepens as they move further inside. Their footsteps echo against the stone walls, the sound swallowed by the vast darkness surrounding them. Dust lingers in the air, disturbed only by their movements. The flickering torchlight casts long, eerie shadows that seem to shift when no one is looking.
Then, they hear it.
Whispers.
Soft at first, like distant voices carried on the wind. Then they grow louder, more distinct, as if speaking right beside them—yet the words remain incomprehensible.
Sarika grips her staff tighter. "Does anyone else hear that?"
Karna nods, his sharp eyes scanning the dim corridor. "Yeah. And something's off about them."
The temperature suddenly plummets. A chill creeps through the air, unnatural and biting. Frost forms along the walls, and their breath becomes visible in the dim torchlight.
Lavanya's instincts scream at her. She presses a hand to the wall and feels something shift beneath her fingertips. "This place isn't abandoned," she mutters. "Something's watching us."
Karna closes his eyes for a moment, sinking into his shadow training. He reaches out—not physically, but with his senses—merging with the surrounding darkness.
Then, he feels it.
Something else is here. Something neither alive nor dead.
He barely has time to react before the shadows around them move.
The darkness twists unnaturally, stretching from the walls and rising from the floor. They take shape—humanoid figures with hollow eyes and flickering, smoke-like bodies. Their movements are jerky, unnatural, like puppets guided by unseen hands.
Then they attack.
The first shadow lunges at Arjun, its clawed fingers reaching for him. He barely dodges in time, drawing Gandiva and nocking an arrow in one swift motion. He fires, but the arrow passes through the figure, barely slowing it down.
Karna leaps backward as another creature swipes at him, its hand phasing through the ground before solidifying mid-attack. He draws Vijaya, unleashing a flurry of arrows, but the creatures barely flinch.
"They're not physical!" Aditi shouts, slashing at one with both swords. The blade cuts through, but there's no resistance—no impact. The creature simply reforms.
Lavanya vanishes into the shadows, reappearing behind one of the figures. She thrusts her dagger into its back, but the moment her weapon touches the creature, an unnatural force repels her. She stumbles back, barely catching her footing.
"These things don't fight like normal enemies," Brihaspati warns, his voice calm yet firm. "They are something else."
Sarika summons light magic, trying to push them back. A golden barrier erupts around her, and the nearest shadows recoil—but only for a moment before pressing forward again.
Esha grits her teeth. The demonic energy within her stirs, reacting to the presence of these creatures. Her vision flickers between reality and something else, something deeper in the temple's magic.
The whispers in the air grow deafening.
She clenches her fists, feeling her power boiling beneath her skin.
Then, she loses control.
A burst of raw energy explodes from her, a pulse of crimson light rippling through the temple. The shadows screech—an unearthly, high-pitched wail—as they are dispersed like smoke in the wind. The frost along the walls melts instantly. The air becomes still.
Silence.
Esha gasps for breath, her body trembling. The others slowly lower their weapons, scanning the area. The shadows are gone.
For a moment, there's relief.
Then, they turn to Brihaspati.
His face is grim.
"Those weren't just shadows," he says quietly. "They were guardians."
The weight of his words settles over them.
Arjun exhales sharply. "Guardians? You mean… this was a test?"
Brihaspati nods. "And we may have just failed it."
The heavy silence that follows Brihaspati's words is broken by a low rumbling beneath their feet. Dust rains down from the ceiling, and cracks spread across the temple floor. The air thickens with an unseen force, sending a shiver through the group.
Then, with a deep, echoing groan, a section of the stone floor shifts.
Aditi steps back, gripping her swords. "What now?"
The ground trembles as an ancient mechanism unlocks, revealing a hidden staircase descending into darkness. A rush of stale, cold air escapes from below, carrying the scent of dust and something older—something untouched for centuries.
Arjun meets Brihaspati's gaze. "Another test?"
Brihaspati strokes his beard. "Or a reward."
Without hesitation, Arjun leads the way down. Karna follows close behind, his senses alert for any unseen dangers. The others descend cautiously, weapons at the ready.
The chamber below is vast and eerily well-preserved, its walls lined with intricate carvings. Golden inscriptions shimmer faintly, reacting to their presence. At the center, illuminated by a dim, ethereal glow, stands a massive mural.
The group approaches, eyes widening as they take in the ancient depiction.
A warrior stands at the heart of the painting, their form outlined in radiant light. In their hand is a ring—its glow unmistakable. The Ring of Light. The warrior is poised in battle against a monstrous force—a swirling darkness with clawed hands reaching toward them.
But another figure stands in the background.
A cloaked being with glowing eyes.
Its presence is eerily similar to the shadows they had just fought above.
Sarika traces the markings with her fingertips. "This… this is a warning."
Karna folds his arms. "Or a prophecy."
Arjun steps forward, staring intently at the warrior in the mural. The design of their armor is different from anything he has seen before, yet there is something familiar about it. His gaze shifts to the glowing-eyed figure in the background.
A realization dawns on him.
"The Cult isn't just after the Rings for power," he murmurs. "They fear what the Rings can unlock… or what they're meant to protect."
His words send a chill through the group.
Lavanya narrows her eyes. "You mean the Rings aren't just tools? They serve a greater purpose?"
Brihaspati studies the mural carefully. "It would seem so. If this warrior wielded the Ring of Light to fight against that darkness, then perhaps…" He trails off, his expression darkening.
Esha, who has been silent all this time, speaks up. "Then perhaps the Cult isn't just gathering power for domination." She clenches her fists. "They might be preparing for something."
Aditi grips her sword tighter. "Then we have to find the Ring before they do."
Before they can decipher more of the mural's meaning, an ominous presence fills the chamber.
The torches flicker violently. A suffocating wave of dark energy crashes over them.
Then, from the temple entrance above, a slow, deliberate clap echoes through the air.
A voice follows, smooth and mocking.
"Well, well. You really do have a habit of sticking your noses where they don't belong."
The Cult is here.
The slow clap continues, echoing through the chamber like a taunt. A group of figures emerges from the darkness of the temple entrance, their presence carrying an oppressive aura. Cloaked in deep crimson robes, each of them wears an amulet marked with the Cult's sigil—a twisted, shifting emblem that seems to pulse with unnatural energy.
At the front stands a tall man, his silver hair catching the dim light. Unlike the others, he wears no hood, his piercing gaze scanning the group with amusement. His voice is smooth, yet laced with menace.
"You Knights always make things so troublesome. Finding this place took years of research, yet here you are, stumbling upon it like fate itself favors you." He chuckles, his eyes narrowing. "Tell me, what did you learn from the mural?"
Arjun grips Gandiva, stepping forward. "Enough to know that you're afraid of it."
The man smirks. "Afraid? No. We simply seek to control what must not fall into reckless hands." His gaze flickers toward Esha for a fraction of a second before returning to Arjun. "And you, my dear warriors, are far too reckless."
Without warning, the Cultists raise their hands, and a surge of dark energy floods the chamber. The walls tremble, shadows twist unnaturally, and the very air feels heavier.
"Here we go again," Karna mutters, pulling out his Vijaya bow.
Brihaspati steps forward, his stance unshaken. "Stand your ground. Use what you've learned."
The battle erupts.
Arjun lets loose an arrow crackling with lightning, forcing the Cultists to scatter. Karna disappears into the shadows, striking from unexpected angles. Aditi meets a robed warrior in direct combat, her dual swords clashing against a curved dagger laced with dark magic. Lavanya flicks her fingers, weaving a spell that sends sharp, glowing daggers flying at their enemies. Sarika channels light magic, creating a protective barrier around the group while healing minor injuries in real time.
Esha, however, falters.
The moment the battle begins, a whisper brushes against her mind—something deep within the temple is calling to her. Her body tenses, her demonic energy flaring for a moment before she suppresses it. The sensation is overwhelming, almost pulling her away from reality.
What is this?
She clenches her fists, trying to focus, but the voice grows louder, more insistent. It is not malevolent, yet neither is it comforting.
As the battle rages on, Arjun's voice cuts through the chaos. "Esha! Snap out of it!"
A sharp pain shoots through her mind, and suddenly, her vision flickers.
The chamber changes.
She sees a different temple—one untouched by ruin, bathed in golden light. At the center, a pedestal holds something radiant, pulsating with power. The Ring of Light?
But then—a shadow moves.
The vision shatters, and she gasps, stumbling back into the present. Her heart pounds.
That wasn't just a vision.
Something—someone—is still here.
The Cult leader notices her reaction, his smirk deepening. "Ah… so it's finally speaking to you."
Esha's eyes widen. "You… you knew?"
He laughs. "Of course. But we don't need to force it." He gestures to the battle around them, where his men are faltering.