Rajeshwar stepped forward boldly. "Guru Rameshwar, if I may, who is she? Why did you call her here?"
The sage's eyes softened upon the princess. "She is Princess Vaishnavi, the last daughter of the fallen Seriya Kingdom. Her people were annihilated by the Evil Forces, and she alone escaped with the burden of her bloodline."
Jogeshwar's eyes widened. "Seriya Kingdom… that was wiped out five years ago in a single night!"
The princess closed her eyes briefly, the memory cutting through her like a blade. Her voice quivered, but she forced herself to speak. "My father, King Vedant, was betrayed. The Evil Forces unleashed a forbidden artifact, one we could not withstand. Before the end, my father gave me a scroll sealed with his life. He told me that only Guru Rameshwar could decipher it."
She held forth a small scroll, wrapped in crimson silk. The moment it appeared, the hall shuddered. Even the inscriptions on the walls glowed faintly, resonating with the object.
Guru Rameshwar extended his hand, and the scroll floated gently into his palm. He unwrapped it, and strange golden runes spilled into the air, swirling around like fireflies trapped in a storm. The sage's expression grew grim.
"This is no mere scroll. It is a God-Grade Puzzle Seal."
Rajeshwar's heart skipped a beat. He recognized the intricate designs, the twisting paths of symbols—just like the puzzles he and Jogeshwar had studied since childhood, but far more advanced. His pulse quickened with excitement and dread alike.
"What does it conceal?" Jogeshwar asked.
Guru Rameshwar closed his eyes, breathing deeply as the symbols encircled him. Finally, he spoke.
"It holds the coordinates of the Lost Elemental Artifact of Space. If the Evil Forces obtain this, not even the Malya Kingdom will survive. They will bend distance and time itself to their will."
The princess's voice trembled. "Then… there truly is no hope?"
The sage opened his eyes, and their depth burned with unshakable resolve. "There is one hope. And it lies with you three."
---
The Prophecy
The hall grew colder. Rajeshwar and Jogeshwar exchanged startled looks.
"Us?" Rajeshwar asked. "We are only puzzle adepts. How can we fight against such power?"
Guru Rameshwar's voice deepened, echoing like a verdict of destiny. "You are not mere adepts. Rajeshwar, Jogeshwar—you were born with the Heavenly Puzzle Souls. I have seen it since you were children, though you did not know. And Princess Vaishnavi carries the bloodline of Seriya, whose lineage resonates with the elemental flow. Together, the three of you form the key."
The princess stared in shock. "The… key?"
"The key to unlocking the God-Grade Seal," Rameshwar said. "Only those chosen by fate can attempt it. Alone, you would fail. Together, you may yet succeed. But beware—if you falter, the seal will consume your souls, and the Evil Forces will seize what lies within."
Rajeshwar clenched his fists. His mind raced with both fear and determination. At last, he spoke. "If the fate of our world rests upon us, then I will not turn away."
Jogeshwar grinned fiercely. "Nor will I. We've solved every puzzle together, brother. This one will be no different."
The princess hesitated, her eyes glimmering with both sorrow and courage. Finally, she nodded. "For my father's kingdom… and for the future, I will walk this path."
Guru Rameshwar raised his hand, and the scroll's symbols surged outward, weaving into the air like golden threads. The hall trembled, as if reality itself was twisting.
"Then so be it," the sage declared. "From this day forth, your fates are bound. The puzzle of the Elemental Artifact of Space has chosen its challengers."
The golden runes fused together, forming a blazing doorway in the air—a gate of riddles and shifting patterns.
"Step through," Rameshwar commanded. "Your journey begins now."