In the quiet stillness of the library—deep within the fortified grounds of their sanctuary—Aleksander sat cross-legged on the cool stone floor, scrolls spread out around him in a half-moon. The aged parchment crackled softly with each turn, delicate yet dense with ancient knowledge. He was deep into one section on Astras, their inked Sanskrit verses meticulously preserved.
His eyes moved steadily across the script, absorbing the mantras meant to awaken these divine, weaponized forces. Each Astra had its incantation, its intention, and devastating purpose. Yan Sen had begun teaching him their use—how a mantra, when wielded with control and spiritual force, could transmute a simple weapon, often an arrow, into something godlike. There were the elemental Astras—Agneyastra for fire, Varunastra for water, and Vayavastra for wind—and then the deadlier, rarer kinds. Some could reduce entire kingdoms to ash, their destructive power rivaling modern nuclear warfare. They weren't just tools of battle; they were cosmic judgments wrapped in fire and spirit.
Beside Aleksander, one scroll unfurled to a section titled "Brahmastra, Pashupatastra, Narayanastra"—the so-called apocalypse-grade weapons. His brow furrowed, tracing the mantra required to invoke one. Even in silence, the air around him pulsed, as if the words had weight.
On a broad wooden table nearby, Luda was engrossed as well, seated with her legs tucked beneath her. She leaned over an arrangement of scrolls written in a mix of Japanese kanji and older, more arcane scripts. She was taking careful notes on advanced Onmyōdō, the esoteric spiritual magic rooted in yin-yang balance and elemental harmony.
She paused at a long, ink-brushed line: "Amaterasu—the black sun flame that cannot be extinguished," followed by "Tsukuyomi—illusions shaped by the moon's gaze," and "Susanoo—a divine sea manifested from will and wrath." These weren't mere spells; they were spiritual manifestations, godforms evoked from sheer mastery of will and energy. Even the name Asura carried weight—boundless rage, destructive force, body and soul turned into fury incarnate.
She dipped her pen again and wrote exactly what Yan Sen had emphasized earlier: "Control is more powerful than capacity."
Despite the holy and destructive nature of the magic they studied, the room itself held a strange calm. The light filtered through the tall arched windows in warm shafts, catching the faint dust in the air. Occasional candle flames flickered gently across the array of scrolls, tomes, and ritual tools laid out between them.
As Luda turned to another scroll, this one focused on human anatomy and energetic flow, she jotted down complex healing incantations. She was being shaped not merely into a battle sorceress, but into someone who could restore life even as others destroyed it. Detailed symbols of internal energy chakras, meridian lines, and forbidden witchcraft rites lined her open parchment.
Yan Sen yawned and entered the room, seeing both his students studying with such diligence.
He decided to tell them something."Both of you, I will show you something."
Aleksander and Luda were surprised, but slowly left there scrolls behind and followed Yan Sen."What your about to see, is one of important elixirs in this world?"
They were led to door, that is sealed of via powerful spells. Yan Sen did a couple of seal and chants and the door opened. Inside was a chamber . It was open and airy. Alcoves bearing the symbol of Infinity alternated with stainedglass windows. The colored light that filtered in mixed with the illumiation provided by the room's central focus—a pool,Like a gently roiling cauldron, the font bubbled and occasionally shot up a spray of pale blue mist; it was a pool of magical energy so powerful.
The water in the pool was shifting blue-white hues, a glassy transparency, and sparkling flashes reminiscent of cut diamonds.
The vast chamber was silent except for the faint echo of dripping water.
Aleksander and Luda stood at the edge, their eyes widening as the Pool of Immortality revealed itself before them — a crystalline expanse that shimmered like liquid diamond under the dim torchlight.
Yan Sen stepped forward, his voice low but purposeful.
"This is the Pool of Immortality. I created it many years ago. As its name suggests, it grants eternal life — you will never age, and no mortal or supernatural force will be able to kill you."
Both students glanced at each other, the gravity of his words settling heavily between them. Yan Sen's eyes narrowed slightly; he could see the shock in their faces.
"I had intended to gift this to you both," he continued, "but know this — immortality comes at a price. Your chances of having children will be greatly reduced. Not impossible… but far less likely."
The two exchanged another long look. Immortality — it was a gift beyond imagination, and one they knew could allow them to protect and help others for centuries. Slowly, they nodded.
"We understand," Aleksander said firmly. "We will follow you until the end of time, Master."
Yan Sen studied them, his expression unreadable."Are you certain?"
Aleksander answered without hesitation. "We are sure, Master."
Luda stepped forward, her gaze steady. "Even if the chances are small… there is still a chance. We have no issue with that."
Yan Sen regarded them in silence for a few moments, then gave a slow, approving nod.
Yan Sen's gaze lingered on them for a moment longer. Then, without a word, he reached into the folds of his robe and withdrew two slender crystal vials, their surfaces catching the flickering torchlight.
He turned toward the Pool of Immortality. The liquid shimmered with an otherworldly brilliance, shifting between silver-blue and diamond-white as if stars were suspended within it. Yan Sen knelt at the edge, moving with deliberate care.
Dipping each vial into the water, he watched as the mystical liquid swirled inside, refracting tiny bursts of light across the dark chamber. The sound was barely a whisper — a gentle, ringing ripple that didn't quite behave like normal water.
When both vials were filled, he rose and faced his students.
"These are yours," he said, his voice steady but carrying a weight they couldn't ignore. "A single drop will bind you to eternity."
Aleksander accepted his vial with a firm grip, the flicker of the pool reflected in his determined eyes. Luda took hers more gently, turning it in her hand as though holding a rare jewel.