-------------🙏"Namaste"🙏-------------
In the stillness of the early morning, Shiven's dream continued to linger in his mind, a haunting vision that left his heart pounding and his breath shallow. The images of his house engulfed in flames, his father lying wounded, and his missing loved ones weighed heavily on his thoughts. Seeking solace, he ventured outside to the soothing embrace of nature, hoping to find clarity near the tranquil stream. Through meditation and physical exertion, he sought to calm his racing mind and control his anger. As he returned home, his throat parched, he drank deeply from the water bottle, his mind still grappling with the unsettling dream. Determined to overcome his inner turmoil, he grasped the axe and made his way to the woods. With practised ease, he continued to chop the woods, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead, the only sound being the steady rhythm of the axe as he was chopping woods with the flow.
Meanwhile Nikhil's footsteps echoed through the waking town as he made his way to the market, carrying a load of wood on his shoulder. The warm sun began to rise, casting a comforting glow over the streets. Greeting familiar faces, he sold his wood, feeling a hint of disappointment at the meagre coins he received. Undeterred, he delivered clothes to the store, only to find there were no new designs available. Despite the slight letdown, he maintained a positive outlook, knowing there would be another opportunity.
Then as usual, Shiven and Nikhil met at the meeting stone and made their way to the academy. When they arrived, they found their classmates engaged in target practice on the training ground. Nikhil greeted everyone cheerfully, "Namanarsh guys!" The rest of the classmates replied in unison, "Namanarsh."
Curious about the activity, Nikhil asked, "What are you doing here on the ground?"
Karan, demonstrating his archery skills, replied, "We're doing target practice." He effortlessly hit the stone at the centre of the target, Nikhil watched in amazement, impressed by his classmates' precision.
Anya, with admiration in his voice, asked Shiven about his aim. Shiven confidently replied, "I don't miss any still objects and I'm quite good at hitting moving targets too."
Impressed, Karan exclaimed, "Wow!"
"Really? Then why don't you show us? Here, take this boomerang and shoot the right target," Anya handed Shiven a boomerang.
Shiven took the boomerang and aimed at the target. The rest of the class made their focus patiently. He threw the boomerang. As the boomerang reached the target, it suddenly changed its direction, spinning rapidly towards a nearby tree. Shiven marched back to the line of students, lost in his thoughts of how he had missed the target. However Anya found him disturbed. "Hey, don't worry about it, Shiven. It happens to the best of us," she said with a cheerful smile. But Shiven didn't respond, Anya became frustrated and grew slightly irritated that Shiven wasn't even listening. He thought to himself "How can I miss? I have done this so many times, so how did I miss that shot?"
Nikhil, completely unfazed by Shiven's failure, volunteered to give it a try himself. Karan nodded and pointed to the upper target about 15 feet high, and Nikhil specifically asked for a boomerang. Confident in his boomerang skills, Nikhil stepped forward to receive the second boomerang from Karan. With a deep breath, he focused his aim on the upper target, mustered all his strength, and threw the boomerang. The class watched in awe as the boomerang struck the target dead centre. Applause erupted, as Nikhil's remarkable skill left everyone amazed.
Karan approached Nikhil, expressing his desire to learn how to use a boomerang like him. Nikhil gladly agreed to teach him and began explaining the throwing technique.
Meanwhile, Shiven was lost in his thoughts, replaying his missed shot repeatedly. He was so engrossed in his own thoughts that he didn't even notice Nikhil's successful shot. But as the noise of cheering reached a crescendo, Shiven's attention was piqued, he turned to see what was happening and witnessed the class celebrating Nikhil's accurate hit. Shiven felt genuine happiness for his friend. Then he walked over to the left edge of the ground, where he could see all the weapons being thrown towards the target. Shiven took a stone from the ground.
Anya, feeling confident, stepped forward to try and closed her eyes briefly, preparing herself. Taking a deep breath, she launched the boomerang towards the target. The spinning boomerang flew through the air, drawing everyone's attention.
Shiven, observing intently, his eyes locked on the spinning projectile as it whizzed through the air. With precise timing, he aimed the stone at the boomerang and With a flick of his wrist, striking the boomerang right at the centre and causing it to veer off course towards a nearby tree.
The class was left in awe and astonishment, their jaws dropping at Shiven's remarkable accuracy. Shiven grinned with the hint of Surety and satisfaction, the class was shocked by Shiven's precision but as they saw Anya walking over to Shiven moving her feet forcefully, they couldn't dare to say anything but felt sorry for him.
"That was incredible," She said with a smile on her face, clapping Shiven on the back. "I knew you had it in you."
As the class heard it they all surrounded the Shiven, he was calm as always
As the class surrounded Shiven, Karan exclaimed, "That was awesome, Shiven! How did you do that?"
Nikhil eagerly chimed in, "Yeah, you have to teach me that move!"
Shiven started to respond, "Uhmmm, I have done pra--" but was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a teacher behind him. The teacher was wrapped in expensive clothes and exuded an air of nobility.
His face was red with anger. "Who threw this boomerang that hit my head?" the teacher demanded.
Shiven turned and faced the teacher, he quickly realised that the boomerang he had hit with the stone had likely flown off. As the teacher found out that it was Shiven, a boy with a devilish Aura, he spit out his anger and turned it into frustration. He glared at Shiven with a fierce expression and barked, "You! Your class just lost 50 points because of your reckless behaviour!" With that, he turned around and stormed off towards the school building.
The group of friends stood there in silence as the teacher stormed off, leaving them to deal with the aftermath. Anya's anger boiled over, directed towards Shiven. Nikhil tried to calm the situation, but Anya remained sceptical. Karan chimed in and questioned Shiven's choice to throw the stone in the first place. Shiven hung his head in apology. "I'm sorry, but don't worry, I will score higher points than anyone ever could," he said, trying to reassure his friends.
Anya remained unconvinced. "But you don't know anything, then how?" she snapped.
Shiven looked up at her, "I don't know, but I promise I'll earn it, and I never break my promises," he said, showing little concern either way.
Anya rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, "Bone head.."
The group fell silent once again, with Shiven's promise lingering in the air.
Then, Anshuman arrived at the ground with a box of throwing weapons, announcing a target practice session. Karan saw it as an opportunity to impress Anya. Nikhil expressed his excitement at the chance to use the weapons freely. Anshuman noticed the boomerangs and questioned who brought them.
Nidhi softly spoke up, "this... abhay brought these tools."
"Eh! That guy brought these tools..." exclaimed Shiven.
"I have a name," said abhay, firmly.
Shiven asked Anshuman about the boomerang's behaviour. Anshuman, surprised. "You haven't seen a boomerang in action before," he said.
The rest of the group looked at each other sceptically. "Nah!"
Abhay and Nikhil, two of the other members, spoke up. "Actually, I have seen a boomerang before, but don't know how to return it back fully," Abhay said. "I used to play with them all the time back home." Firmly.
Anshuman said. "Well, a boomerang works a little differently in these parts," he said. "If it's thrown correctly, it can even return to the thrower."
"Huh!" the group exclaimed.
Anshuman went on to explain. "When a boomerang is thrown with high spin, it flies curved rather than in a straight line," he said. "As its wings rotate and the boomerang moves through the air, the airflow over the wings creates lift on both wings. That's what causes it to come back to the thrower."
Shiven's eyes widened. "Awesome!"
And the rest of the group agreed that they should give it a try.
As Anshuman asked who wanted to go first, Karan and Nikhil eagerly volunteered. Anshuman chose Nikhil to go first and showed him the correct grip and throwing motion for the boomerang. He emphasised the importance of adding the right amount of spin for it to return. Nikhil nodded, taking in all the instructions. Anshuman stepped back, giving Nikhil some room. "Remember, the more spins you add, the more it will turn," he reminded him. "But if you don't add any spins, it will go straight like any other tool.
Nikhil nodded and threw the boomerang with force, but it turned early, coming back in a wide U shape instead of returning all the way to him, Nikhil looked at Anshuman, wondering why it hadn't worked as expected.
Anshuman commended Nikhil for his initial attempt but emphasised the need for more spins to make the boomerang return. He demonstrated the technique. Anya interrupted, mentioning Nikhil's successful hit on the target in his first throw, but Nikhil insisted it was different. The teacher demanded Nikhil to replicate his previous throw, and Nikhil obliged, throwing the boomerang straight without any rotation. The boomerang hit the target accurately, impressing both the class and the teacher. Teacher thought in disbelief, " It's very rare to throw a boomerang that straight, with this If you can master rotations of a boomerang, then it's even possible to make it return at zero degree straight back to you." Anshuman praised Nikhil's rare technique and highlighted the difficulty of throwing a boomerang without rotation. Nikhil felt a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction after weeks of practice.
"By mastering the rotations of the boomerang you can make it hundreds of times more effective," the teacher explained to Nikhil, who eagerly absorbed the information. Then it was Karan's turn. He confidently picked up some shuriken, threw them one by one with precision, and hit the target dead centre with all four, leaving everyone impressed.
After Karan's impressive display with the shuriken, Anshuman praised his aim and encouraged him to explore the technique of bending the shuriken mid-throw. He explained that adjusting the angle and amount of bend would influence the shuriken's flight path, enhancing its accuracy. Anshuman demonstrated the technique and emphasised the need for practice to find the right balance. He believed that mastering this skill would make Karan an even more formidable knight.
Karan nodded in agreement as Anya took her turn. She threw a set of shuriken, and although not all of them hit the target, one or two found their mark. The teacher commended her, acknowledging her correct technique and emphasising the need for patience and practice to improve her accuracy. Anya felt a surge of pride and determination, vowing to practise diligently to enhance her aim.
As Anya finished her turn, Shiven stepped forward, eager to try his hand at boomerang throwing. He carefully selected a boomerang from the box and positioned himself, remembering the instructions given by the teacher and observing Nikhil's technique. With a powerful throw, he aimed for the middle target, hitting it accurately. The boomerang then curved in its path and returned slightly to the right of Shiven. He quickly adjusted his position and successfully caught the boomerang. The onlookers were impressed by Shiven's initial rotation and his skillful catch.
"Great job, Shiven," praised the teacher. "You had an almost perfect return in your first try. After a little practice, you will be perfect at it, and then you can try adding other techniques as well."
After Shiven's successful throw, Nidhi stepped forward, clutching a dagger in her hand. She took her time to aim, meticulously calculating each angle before releasing the dagger. Unfortunately, her initial throw missed the target by a small margin. Determined, she persisted and made multiple attempts until she managed to hit the target with one out of five throws.
Anshuman offered reassurance, acknowledging that there were minor flaws in her technique but emphasising that with guidance and practice, she would be able to improve. Although Anshuman's words didn't provide immediate comfort, Anya stepped in to encourage Nidhi. Anya reminded her of her previous accomplishments, that she defeated her and highlighted that she simply needed more practice in target aiming. Nidhi found solace in Anya's words and understood that practice would be the key to enhancing her accuracy.
Confidently, Abhay stepped forward and selected a mini spear as his weapon and prepared himself for the throw. With determination, he launched the spear towards the target, striking it dead centre with a satisfying impact. The class watched in awe as Abhay showcased his exceptional skill, recognizing the difficulty involved in throwing a spear. Anshuman, the teacher, wasted no time in praising Abhay's accuracy and acknowledging his expertise. In response, Anshuman declared that the remainder of the day would be dedicated to target training, encouraging the class to refine their skills and attempt the more challenging distant targets. He reminded them of the importance of practice and then proceeded to attend to his other responsibilities.
After an exhausting but satisfying day of training, the students were pleased with their progress. Karan excelled with the arrow and bow, while Shiven showcased remarkable aim with various objects, including Shuriken and moving targets. Nikhil focused on perfecting his boomerang technique for a zero-degree return. The girls dedicated themselves to improving their aim, and Abhay had already mastered throwing spears and javelins.
As the class ended, hunger set in, and the students bid each other farewell. Nikhil asked Anya about her destination, curious as to why she was going with them. Anya explained that her dad had asked her to stop by the cafe. She invited Nikhil and Shiven to join her for a meal. Nikhil eagerly accepted, expressing his hunger.
"Exactly, where is your Cafe?" Shiven inquired.
"It's situated at the corner of the market," Anya replied with a confused expression.
As Nikhil heard that, he knew they were done with the idea of going to the Cafe and let out a sigh. "Okay, we are not going to the restaurant."
Despite Nikhil's initial disappointment, Shiven decided they should give it a try, considering it was just at the corner of the market. Anya agreed, and the group headed towards the market, led by Nikhil.
In the less crowded market, the group reached Anya's father's cafe where they were warmly greeted. Anya's father inquired about her day at school and continued "Are they your friends?" her father asked.
"How can you forget? He's Nikhil, you remember! and he's his friend Shiven," Anya said in an exasperated tone.
"Namaste," Nikhil greeted with a smile, and Shiven followed suit.
"Oh Man! How can I forget? You have grown Nikhil. Tell me son, what would you like to eat?" Anya's father asked.
Nikhil ordered orange juice while Shiven expressed his preference for 'Butter Scotch'. As they savoured their food, their attention was drawn to a group of warriors parading down the street, armed with an array of weapons.
"They are knights from the private organisation of Prayagraj," Anya's father clarified, correcting Nikhil's assumption of 'Royal Knights'. "So they are the people which haven't been accepted by Royal knights," Nikhil exclaimed. "No! They are various types of people," Anya's father explained patiently. "Some of them have left the Royal knights, and eventually, they could join the elite force. And some of them have started their journey from the elite force. As you have to give a single fight test for the entry as a knight," he added. Anya's father shared that the organisation had been operational for over a century and a half, primarily handling missions outside the country since the Royal knights focused on missions within the kingdom. Nikhil and Shiven listened attentively, intrigued by this new information.
"So, there is only one duel?" Shiven asked, seeking clarification. "Yes, you have to pass only the duel." Anya's father confirmed.
After bidding farewell to Anya's father, Shiven and Nikhil made their way to Shiven's room. Nikhil brought a bundle of wood. As the hours passed, darkness spread all around. Inside, a clay candle emitted a soft, radiant glow, filling the room with a dim but enchanting light. The flickering flame illuminated the surroundings, creating a mesmerising display of scattered particles. In this warm ambiance, Shiven immersed himself in a book, captivated by its contents. Meanwhile, outside in Nikhil's yard, he began his practice session, diligently honing his skills.
----: End of the Chapter:----
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