The next day, the sky was still dark but Chief Dinesh, the elders, and some villagers were already gathered in the clearing's square.
Dinesh looked at everyone and said, "Last night, "after speaking with the elders, we decided to dig further into the cave. Our ancestors left us a treasure trove of knowledge, and we must uncover all of it."
Elder Ratan, standing beside him, added, "Try to dig narrow tunnels to minimize the risk of another collapse. Safety must come first.""
Dinesh nodded in agreement. "Yes, he's right. We have to find more knowledge, but not at the risk of our lives. And I have one more important announcement." He paused to gather their attention. "The warriors, scouts, and guards will begin training in the weapon arts described on the slabs. The smiths will work on crafting the weapons as detailed in the inscriptions."
"Now that everyone knows what to do, inform the others and start the work after breakfast," Dinesh instructed.
The villagers quickly dispersed to relay the orders, leaving only Chief Dinesh, Elder Ratan, and Elder Narayan in the clearing.
***------ Arjun's POV
Early in the morning, before the first ray of sun reached the earth, nine young villagers had assembled in the cave forming their own groups. Some were nervous, others expectant, and a few still half-asleep—but all were eager. Quiet conversations filled the air as they waited for the last one to arrive.
I sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, my hands resting on my knees, trying to ignore the nervous flutter in my chest. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of earth and damp moss.
Around me, "Do you think this essence thing is real?" whispered Ravi ,tapping his foot anxiously.
Meena shrugged, twisting a strand of hair between her fingers. "If our ancestors thought it was important, it must mean something."
"But what if we can't sense it?" Sita asked softly. "What if it's just a story?"
while Ajay sat with his chest puffed out like he was already a master of this essence thing. "We won't know until we try, Besides, it sounds exciting, doesn't it?"
I glanced at Tej, who was sitting beside me. He caught my eye and gave me a small nod, his usual calm self. "Did the master tell you anything about this?" he whispered.
To which I could only shake my head. "No, he just laughed and said everything has its time."
Tej chuckled softly. "Sounds like him."
Before I could reply, Ankur stumbled in, yawning and rubbing his eyes. Ajay immediately shot him a glare. "Ankur, you're the chief's son, but you're still late."
Ankur rolled his eyes. "So what? You could've come and woken me up."
I sighed, stepping in before it could turn into an argument. "Alright, alright. We're getting late. Let's just go."
Tej nodded. "Remember, we have to get there before the sun rises. Come on, quick."
Ajay huffed, crossing his arms. "Humph, I'll see you afterwards."
Ankur muttered, "Whatever," but followed us anyway.
We made our way to the village square, the excitement and curiosity growing with each step. Elder Ratan, Chief Dinesh, and Elder Narayan were already there, holding those copper slabs and deep in discussion.
Noticing the children approaching, Elder Ratan said, "The next part is mainly for the children. Let them come."
Dinesh scanned the group."Everyone is here. Good. Now, go over there and form two lines, sitting five meters apart. Then, sit in the lotus position."
We did as instructed, forming two lines and sitting in the lotus position. I tried to ignore the nervous flutter in my stomach as I crossed my legs and rested my hands on my knees.
Chief Dinesh turned to Elder Narayan. "Now, Elder Narayan, please."
"Of course, Chief," Elder Narayan replied, stepping forward with his cane to address us. "Alright, children, listen closely. I'm going to explain the process you need to follow. Don't forget any of it."
"For the first step," he began, "we'll start with a simple meditation exercise. The purpose of this is to calm your mind and make you more aware of the essence within you. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Inhale slowly, hold for a moment, and then exhale. Let go of all distractions. This step is best done during the sun rising in the morning."
I closed my eyes, following his instructions. The cool morning air filled my lungs as I inhaled, and I held it for a moment before exhaling slowly. The tension in my shoulders began to ease.
"Secondly," Elder Narayan continued, "imagine a warm, glowing light within you. This light is your essence. Feel it grow and spread through your body with each breath you take. Focus on this light, and try to sense its presence."
Elder Narayan paused, letting the instructions sink in. "After these two steps, it will take some time. According to the slabs, it may take anywhere from two weeks to two months for people who don't meditate and aren't close to nature. But for those who do, it can take from a week to a month. Since our village is closer to nature and you all practice meditation, I expect you all to sense it within a month. Understood?"
"YES!" we all shouted in unison, the excitement bubbling up inside me.
"Finally," he said, "try to feel your essence. The next steps will be disclosed after you've sensed it. Without that, there's no meaning to them."
Elder Ratan stepped forward, his voice warm but firm. "Now, my children, commence your training. The first one to sense their essence will receive a gift. Are you ready?"
"Yes, Elder, we are ready!" we shouted eagerly, the promise of a reward sparking a competitive fire in all of us.
The elders sighed, their expressions a mix of amusement and understanding, while Chief Dinesh chuckled softly.
"Now, everyone, start meditating," Chief Dinesh ordered after composing himself.
I closed my eyes again, focusing on my breathing. Inhale. Hold. Exhale. imaging the warm, glowing light flowing through my body, asI tried to feel it, to sense its presence within me.
The clearing was quiet now, the only sounds were the soft rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. The first light of dawn filtered through the trees, casting a golden glow over the village.
—-....
In another part, the elders and Chief Dinesh gathered once again, their discussion turning to the significance of the children's training.
"We have to monitor their progress closely," Elder Narayan remarked. "If even one of them succeeds in sensing their essence, our village will have a better chance of surviving."
Chief Dinesh nodded in agreement. "Indeed. But we must also prepare for the possibility that they may not succeed."
Elder Ratan interjected, "Regardless of the outcome, we owe it to our ancestors to honor their wisdom and preserve their teachings for future generations."
Suddenly, Chief Dinesh posed a question that caught both elders off guard. "Father and Uncle, can't older men like me try to sense the essence?"
Both elders, surprised by the sudden question, Then, to Dinesh's astonishment, exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter. "Why not, Dinesh? You can try if you want to. Right, brother?" Elder Ratan replied with a chuckle.
Elder Narayan nodded in agreement. "Yes, why not? The slabs mention that the best time to sense essence is in adolescence and as one grows older, the time it takes to sense essence may increase, but it doesn't mean one cannot sense it at all."
Dinesh grinned, his earlier seriousness giving way to a rare moment of lightheartedness in front of his elders. "Hehe, okay, I will try."
----...
In the clearing, the children sat with their legs crossed and eyes closed, a mixture of excitement and nervousness. They could hear the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds, but they tried to focus solely on their breathing.
Inhale, hold, exhale.
They repeated the process, visualizing the glowing light Elder Narayan had described—a warm, radiant energy flowing through their bodies. Minutes turned into hours as the sun climbed higher, its warmth spreading across the clearing.
Despite their efforts, the children struggled to grasp the feeling of essence. Some shifted uncomfortably, others furrowed their brows in concentration, but none made any progress.
As the morning stretched on, the rhythmic beat of tools, the chatter of villagers, and the sounds of the village coming to life became more apparent. The children, sensing the change, began to lose focus.
Finally, unable to continue meditating, Ravi sighed audibly, his patience wearing thin. "I can't do this," he muttered, opening his eyes. "I tried so hard, but I couldn't feel anything. Did any of you feel it?"
The others too opened their eyes. The period Elder Narayan had told them was most suitable had passed. They rose and made their way back to the cave for their meal, their stomachs rumbling with hunger.
Tej, shook his head. "It's harder than it sounds. But maybe we just need more practice."
Arjun said. "We'll get there. It just takes time. Remember what Elder Narayan said—it can take weeks."
Ajay, his enthusiasm undiminished, added, "Let's make a pact. We'll help each other, and whoever senses their essence first helps the rest. Deal?"
The children exchanged glances, their spirits lifting at the idea. "Deal," they echoed in unison.
The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, drawing the villagers toward the communal area where they gathered for meals.
Arjun made his way to Bhima, who was sitting near the animal pens, watching the animals. "Did you eat, Grandpa?"
Bhima smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "No, my boy. But first, tell me, how did it go this morning?"
Arjun sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "It was hard, Grandpa. None of us could feel anything. It's like… it's like trying to catch smoke with your hands."
Bhima chuckled, "Hahaha, my boy, remember—patience and perseverance are key. Even the mightiest tree started as a small seed. Keep trying, and you'll succeed."
Arjun smiled. "I will, Grandpa. I'll make you proud."
Bhima reached out and gave Arjun a firm pat on the back. "You already do, Arjun. You already do."
"Now, Grandpa, let's go. It's time for breakfast. Everyone's gathered in front of the communal area."
"Okay, let's go. Bring me my stick," Bhima said, pointing to his walking stick leaning against the nearby fence.
Arjun quickly fetched the stick and handed it to Bhima, who used it to stand up slowly. Together, they made their way toward the communal area where the aroma of freshly cooked food mingled with the sounds of villagers chatting and laughing.
As they approached, the children waved and called out greetings to Bhima, who responded with a warm smile and a nod.
...
Soon after, everyone went their own way, doing the work they were assigned. Arjun and the rest of the kids spent their days like this—meditating in the morning and trying to sense the essence, while in the rest of the day, they helped the villagers with various tasks.
Days went by in this way.
One week later...
"Chief, we have found another cave," a young boy came running towards the walls where Dinesh was sitting.
"Really? What's in the cave?"
"It's like the previous one, but it only had two big stones. There are some copper slabs and pictures of animals and people riding them. But the other big slab only has some geometric pictures on it."
"Huh, show me the way."
As Dinesh and other villagers reached the cave through the newly dug tunnel, they found five people already inside, searching the area. The cavern was dimly lit by torches.
Seeing the chief arrive, the people gathered around him. "Chief, we dug all around the cave and only found these seven slabs," one of the diggers reported, holding out the copper pieces.
Dinesh took the slabs and examined them carefully. Three were adorned with intricate pictures of various animals and plants, while the others were covered in geometric figures and diagrams. One slab, in particular, caught his attention—it looked like a map, depicting forests, hills, and other symbols.
"This looks like a map," Dinesh murmured, tracing the lines and symbols with his fingers. "But I don't understand all the markings."
Elder Ratan, who had followed Dinesh into the cave, stepped closer to inspect the slabs. "These symbols might be a path or locations of significance. It may be another clue from our ancestors."
Elder Narayan, examining the slabs alongside them, nodded. "We should compare this with what we already know about the surrounding areas. Maybe it will lead us to more knowledge or resources."
"Agreed," Dinesh said, "We'll need to study these slabs carefully. And we should also prepare a team to explore the areas marked on this map."
"What about these geometrical figures on this one?" Dinesh asked, handing over the slabs to them both.
Elder Narayan studied the slab, his brow furrowed in thought. "These diagrams look like the ones on yantras,"
Elder Ratan nodded. "Now that you mention it, they do resemble yantras. We should call the priest to see if he recognizes these. There's also a large stone with similar diagrams and some words at the bottom. Maybe they will reveal more about this mystery."
Chief Dinesh agreed. "Good idea. Send someone to bring the priest here."
As they waited for the priest, Elder Bhima, who had been carried over by some villagers, was examining the cave walls. "Look at that section," he pointed out. "There are pictures of various plants with words written underneath them."
His words caught the attention of Dinesh and the Elders, drawing them to examine the wall.
"You're right. These may be important plants," Dinesh observed. "Let's record all these and save them for later."
Selecting a young boy, Ratan ordered, "Go and bring some bark for recording."
As the villagers busied themselves with tasks, Dinesh turned to Elder Ratan. "Do you think the animals and plants depicted here have some special significance?"
Elder Ratan looked thoughtful. "Our ancestors might have considered them important for survival. It could be beneficial for us to learn more about these creatures."
"Let's record all these and save them for later."