When Mukul awoke on the mysterious island, the twenty Masters stood before him like guardians of destiny. Their eyes reflected centuries of wisdom, each bearing scars and triumphs from worlds beyond his imagination. They had chosen him—the boy with the mark of seven stars. His training would begin in secret, far from the reach of his grieving family.
To prepare him, the Masters revealed their character sheet:
The First Ten Masters:
Master of Breath – Monk from the Himalayas, unique skill: control of inner energy through breath, extending life and power.
Master of Pulse – Healer from Varanasi, unique skill: sense and alter the flow of blood and qi.
Master of Silence – Assassin from Kyoto, unique skill: vanish in stillness, erase presence.
Master of Movement – Warrior from Brazil, unique skill: fluid body technique blending dance, combat, and agility.
Master of Mind – Philosopher from Greece, unique skill: mental fortitude, resistance to illusions and control.
Master of Sound – Musician from Persia, unique skill: manipulate emotions and environment through frequency.
Master of Endurance – Gladiator from Rome, unique skill: withstand pain, fatigue, and injury beyond human limits.
Master of Taste – Alchemist from China, unique skill: detect poison, create elixirs and medicines.
Master of Mirrors – Trickster from Egypt, unique skill: create illusions of light and reflection.
Master of Chaos – Wanderer from Mongolia, unique skill: unpredictable combat, using randomness as a weapon.
The Remaining Ten Masters: 11. Master of Language – Scholar from Mesopotamia, unique skill: fluency in every tongue, deciphering codes. 12. Master of Memory – Sage from India, unique skill: perfect recall of everything seen, heard, or learned. 13. Master of Biology – Scientist from Germany, unique skill: understanding anatomy and enhancing natural strength. 14. Master of Fabric – Artisan from Italy, unique skill: weaving armor, tools, and traps from threads. 15. Master of Machines – Engineer from Japan, unique skill: craft and control mechanical devices. 16. Master of Defense – Knight from England, unique skill: invincible shields, tactical formations. 17. Master of Disguise – Spy from Russia, unique skill: alter appearance and voice flawlessly. 18. Master of Magic – Mystic from Tibet, unique skill: harness unseen energies. 19. Master of Networks – Strategist from America, unique skill: build alliances, information webs, and secret guilds. 20. Master of Flame – Warrior from the Middle East, unique skill: control of fire through spirit energy.
Mukul stared at them, his small frame trembling. "Why me?" he whispered.
The Masters answered as one: "Because destiny demands more than strength. It demands balance. You are the vessel."
Training Timeline (First Stage) Year 1–3 (Age 5–8): Foundation
Breath, Pulse, Endurance: strengthen body and health.
Language and Memory: sharpen mind, master tongues, retain every lesson.
Movement and Silence: train stealth and speed, turn fear into reflex.
Year 4–7 (Age 9–12): Expansion
Sound and Chaos: learn manipulation of emotions and unpredictability.
Biology and Fabric: craft tools, understand human and beast anatomy.
Defense and Disguise: become shield and shadow both.
Begin flame training, learning to summon sparks from inner energy.
Year 8–14 (Age 13–19): Mastery Phase
Magic and Networks: step into invisible forces, weave allies unseen.
Machines: forge weapons, traps, and devices from nature and metal.
Mirrors: master illusions, confuse friend and foe.
Full integration: body, mind, and spirit forged into one.
Year 15–21 (Age 20–26): Perfection
Training converges—Masters test him with real trials.
From student to challenger, Mukul must surpass them.
Only then will he earn the title of Protector of Worlds.
That night, as the flame-lit hall darkened, the Masters pressed their palms to Mukul's forehead. A surge of warmth rushed into his body, filling him with both terror and awe.
"You will cry, bleed, and break," said the Master of Flame. "But you will rise stronger. Your destiny begins here."
Mukul's small hands curled into fists. Though his heart ached for his family, he whispered, "Then teach me. Make me strong enough to find them again."
The Masters nodded. The island shuddered with a new wind. The boy of prophecy had begun his training.