As dawn broke over Trinetra, the first rays of sunlight bathed the massive Shiva statue in a golden hue. The village stirred slowly, a sacred stillness in the air.
Kartik stood before a curtain of thick vines at the base of the statue. Behind it lay the Cave of Illusions — the next step in his strange and terrifying journey.
Veer adjusted the strap of his satchel, his expression serious. "This isn't just a training spot. The cave knows your mind better than you do. It will show you everything you fear — and everything you've buried."
Before Kartik could ask more, Agastyan appeared, his steps silent and powerful. Though around fifty, he looked far younger — a muscular man with a presence so intense it made the air feel heavier.
"The cave will not harm you," Agastyan said, "unless you resist what it shows. Step in with acceptance. The truth is never gentle, but it is always needed."
Kartik nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. He pulled the vines aside — and stepped into the darkness.
The air inside the cave was heavy, the walls pulsating faintly like they were alive. Kartik blinked — and suddenly, the world changed.
He stood outside a familiar temple. The screams. The panic. The stampede. It was the day his parents died. The crowd crushed around him. He turned and saw himself — a child, alone, crying.
"You let them die," a voice echoed. "And you're still running from it."
The young Kartik looked up at him with red, glowing eyes. "You're not worthy. You never were."
Tears welled up in Kartik's eyes. But instead of looking away, he stepped toward the child. The pain in his chest grew — but so did a strange warmth near the eye symbol, as if something deep inside acknowledged his pain.
"No more running," he whispered.
The vision shattered like glass.
Darkness wrapped around him once more. Now, he stood in a desolate forest, the ground cracked beneath his feet. A massive serpent slithered from the trees — silver-scaled and with eyes that seemed to see into his soul.
"What are you?" it hissed.
"I don't know," Kartik replied. "I'm not a warrior. I didn't ask for any of this."
"Lies." The serpent circled him. "The mark is not given by chance. Shiva sees beyond what you admit to yourself."
Suddenly, shapes emerged from the mist — his grandfather, Veer, Agastyan, even Ren. They stared silently.
From the center stepped a shadowy version of himself — hollow-eyed, grinning, limbs stretching like smoke.
"You are nothing," the creature snarled. "You hesitate. You doubt. You will break."
Kartik gritted his teeth. He could feel his pulse in his chest, where the eye symbol rested — still closed, but now faintly warm.
"I may not be ready," he said, stepping forward. "But I'm still standing."
The shadow roared and lunged — but Kartik didn't flinch. The moment he faced it, it disintegrated into dust.
The illusions faded. Kartik collapsed onto his knees, panting. Slowly, the cave began to brighten with soft, violet light. He looked down at his chest. The eye symbol was still closed — but its edges glowed faintly, as if stirred from slumber.
He had not awakened anything.
He stepped out into the daylight where Veer waited.
Veer looked at him carefully. "You're back."
Kartik gave a shaky nod. "It showed me things I didn't want to see. But… I didn't run."
Veer smiled slightly. "Then the cave has done its job."
Agastyan stood nearby, arms crossed, his aura radiating wisdom and intensity.
"The eye is still closed," Kartik said, expecting disappointment.
Agastyan shook his head. "It should be. That mark carries a fraction of Shiva's energy. Even the smallest glimpse can destroy an unprepared soul. Before you seek power, you must build something that can hold it."
Agastyan walked closer and placed a hand on Kartik's shoulder. His voice was steady and commanding:
"From now on, your body will become your temple. You must strengthen your flesh, your mind, and your spirit. All three must rise together. Only then can you carry the weight of Shiva's flame."
Kartik nodded. "What do I need to do?"
Veer grinned, clapping him on the back. "Everything."
From the next day, Kartik's routine changed completely.
Each dawn began with meditation and breath control under the sacred fig tree, followed by yoga to awaken the inner energy. Then came running laps around the hilly terrain of Trinetra, lifting stones, doing bodyweight exercises, hauling logs, and cleaning every corner of the village by hand.
But the hardest part?
Everywhere he went… a live snake coiled around his shoulder.
At first, Kartik froze every time it moved. The serpent was calm, but its presence felt like fire on his skin. Veer called it his personal trainer.
"You feared snakes the most," Veer said. "Now it becomes your companion. If you can carry your fear with grace, it will turn into strength."
And so, Kartik did. Each day, the snake clung to him as he trained, ran, meditated, and worked. The villagers watched with quiet respect. He was not yet a warrior. But he had taken the first true step.