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Chapter 9: The Gates Within
The temple bell rang at dawn.
Eshan sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, sweat dripping down his forehead. The mantra from yesterday still echoed in his mind — "ॐ नमः शिवाय" — but his focus kept slipping.
The Guru appeared behind him. "Your breathing is wrong."
Eshan groaned. "It's been hours! My legs are numb, my back's killing me—"
"Do you think your enemies will wait while you complain?" The Guru's voice was sharp, unyielding. "Discipline first. Power later."
Eshan bit his tongue.
"Today," the Guru said, stepping into the sunlight, "we open the gates."
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I. The Seven Gates
"Gates?" Eshan asked.
The Guru crouched, drawing seven circles in the dirt with a stick. "Chakras. The seven gates of the soul. Each is a wellspring of Shakti. Together, they form the bridge between man and divinity."
He pointed to the first circle.
"Muladhara. The root. Your survival. The first spark of power."
The second.
"Svadhisthana. Desire. Flow. It governs your instincts."
The third.
"Manipura. The fire within. It forges willpower into action."
The fourth.
"Anahata. The heart. Where strength and compassion meet."
The fifth.
"Vishuddha. The voice of truth. Where mantras reach their purest form."
The sixth.
"Ajna. The third eye. Sight beyond sight."
And finally, the seventh.
"Sahasrara. The crown. Connection to the divine. Few ever touch it and remain human."
Eshan stared at the circles. "And I'm supposed to… open these?"
The Guru's eyes narrowed. "No. You are supposed to align them. If even one is blocked, your Shakti will devour you instead of serving you."
"Devour me?!"
The Guru smirked. "If you fear power, leave now."
Eshan swallowed hard. "I'll… pass."
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II. Awakening the Root
The Guru pressed two fingers to Eshan's lower back. "Feel here. The Muladhara. This is your foundation. If it falters, nothing else can awaken."
Eshan shivered at the sudden rush of warmth where the Guru touched.
"Focus," the Guru said. "Visualize a flame. Small. Unstable. That is your Shakti."
Eshan closed his eyes. He saw it — faint, flickering, but alive.
"Good," the Guru whispered. "Now feed it."
"How?"
"Breathe. Draw energy from the earth itself. Imagine roots anchoring you."
Minutes passed. Sweat pooled at Eshan's temples. The flame grew — slightly brighter, steadier.
Then—
BZZZT.
A surge shot up his spine. His eyes flew open.
"What— what was that?!"
The Guru nodded. "Your Muladhara is awake."
Eshan panted, heart racing. "That felt… incredible."
The Guru's expression darkened. "Enjoy it. It will not last. The next gates will break you if you are not ready."
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III. The Birth of an Astra
Later that day, the Guru led him to the edge of the temple, where an old weapon rack stood.
"Now we shape your Astra," the Guru said.
Eshan's eyes lit up. "A weapon?"
"Not just any weapon," the Guru corrected. "Your Astra is a manifestation of your soul. It takes form from your Shakti. No two are the same."
He gestured at the empty space before Eshan. "Call it."
Eshan blinked. "How?"
"Reach inward. Draw your Shakti outward. Let it shape itself."
Eshan closed his eyes. He felt the flame in his spine, reaching, stretching. He imagined a sword — no, a staff — no, something between the two.
His hand tingled.
BZZZT.
Light gathered at his fingertips.
And then—
FWOOOSH.
A crude, jagged weapon materialized. A staff with a faint blade at one end.
Eshan stared at it, stunned. "I… did that?"
The Guru nodded. "Barely. It's unstable. A reflection of your unfocused self."
Eshan gripped it tighter. "Then I'll stabilize it."
"Perhaps," the Guru said. "But remember: as you grow, so will it. An Astra evolves with its wielder. Someday, this crude form will become something terrifying."
Eshan couldn't help but grin.
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IV. The Guru's Warning
As night fell, the Guru watched Eshan practice the mantra and his unstable Astra.
"Boy," the Guru said suddenly, "do you know why Omkar watches you so closely?"
Eshan froze. "Because… I'm blessed?"
The Guru shook his head. "No. Because your Shakti isn't one blessing. It is many. And yet… one."
Eshan frowned. "That makes no sense."
"Neither does infinity," the Guru said softly. "And yet Omkar bears its mark."
Eshan's grip on the Astra tightened. "You're saying… I'm like him?"
The Guru's gaze grew heavy. "No. You are worse."
Eshan's stomach dropped. "…Worse?"
The Guru turned away. "Go to sleep, boy. Tomorrow, we open the next gate. And then… we see if you can survive it."
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V. Elsewhere… The Lord
Far away, in a shadowed palace lit only by dying flames, a voice spoke.
"So… the boy begins his awakening."
It was deep, layered, ancient.
Arkan knelt before the throne. "Yes, my Lord. The old man trains him."
"Good."
Arkan blinked. "Good?"
The voice chuckled, cold and hollow. "Let him grow. Let him believe he can resist me. The greater the light… the sweeter the shadow that consumes it."
The flames on the walls flickered violently.
"Find Omkar," the Lord said. "And remind him… this cycle cannot be broken."