SALIM
In the seven days of becoming strong, Salim was determined, and he headed on his way to enter the Dark Trinity, also known as the Dark World. He reached there and entered a village called Mahakaalpur. According to many ancient texts, this is the place where the god showed his fiercest form.
As he entered, he saw bells ringing in the temple even at night. The city was constructing a huge statue, and there was a board that said:
"Nobody comes outside their home from 6 PM until 6 AM for a week."
Salim saw a massive tornado near the town, but it was not moving. As he tried going near it, a few people captured him and pulled him inside a house.
"Ah! What was that?! Who are all of you?!" Salim shouted.
"We are normal people who live here, and you were about to ruin everyone's life by going near the tornado at night."
"Why? Is there a problem?"
"Yes, there is. God has kept a tornado outside as a warning. If anyone goes out from 6 PM to 6 AM, they will bring the tornado into the town, wiping out everyone."
"I don't believe this stuff."
"Nobody did, but the tornado came inside, destroying everything in its way. That happened eleven years ago. From that day until today, no one goes outside anymore."
The old man looked at Salim carefully.
"Well, by the way, who are you, young man?"
"I am Salim, and I came here to learn from Guru Acharya Ji," he replied. "The archery master."
The old man's expression changed.
"You think he will teach anyone? Besides, he is not here anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"He died eleven years ago in the storm."
"You are joking, right? He was the greatest archer in history. People worshipped him. I don't believe he is dead."
"He is dead," the old man said quietly. "But the academy is still being run by his students. You may want to check that out tomorrow."
Salim lowered his head.
"I will, sir. Thank you. For tonight, can I stay here?"
"Of course. Consider this your home. In Mahakaalpur we have a saying: 'Atithi Devo Bhava'—a guest is like a god."
Salim thanked him, left his belongings in the corner, and lay down on the bed. Before sleeping, however, he felt that something was terribly wrong about this place. The fear in the villagers' eyes seemed too real to be superstition. He decided he had to uncover the truth.
Salim looked at the clock. It was 11:00 PM.
He made up his mind to wake up at 5:50 AM and see whether the tornado was truly there.
When he woke up, the sky was still dark. He quietly climbed onto the roof and looked toward the outskirts of the village.
The tornado was still there.
A strange light flashed within its center, as if someone were sitting inside it.
Salim climbed higher and moved closer for a better view.
Suddenly, the figure turned around.
Salim froze.
The being had red, bleeding eyes.
A cold chill ran through his body.
The tornado began spinning faster, its winds screaming through the air. Dust and leaves flew around Salim as if the storm itself had noticed him.
Then, exactly at 6:00 AM, the tornado vanished.
The morning became completely silent.
Something fluttered down from the place where the tornado had stood.
A note.
Salim jumped from the roof, rushed toward it, and picked it up with trembling hands.
He unfolded it and read:
"IF I SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW, YOU ARE DEAD."
"DON'T TRY TO PEEK."
"GET OUT OF THIS TOWN IF YOU WANT TO LIVE."