"Sit down, Arjun," Guru Drona said, gesturing to a chair opposite his desk. Arjun complied, feeling a mix of curiosity and nervousness. The room was filled with the scent of ancient parchment and magical artifacts, lending an air of mystery and authority.
Guru Drona looked at Arjun with a mixture of pride and curiosity. "First of all, congratulations on your performance today," he began. "Not only did you top the written test, but you also showed remarkable prowess during the mystery test."
"Thank you, Guru Drona," Arjun replied, feeling a sense of relief.
Guru Drona leaned forward, his eyes piercing. "Now, tell me, Arjun, how is it that though you are a MAHARAJA level 5, you are still a rookie, yet you managed to inflict such damage on that boy with a mere wind spell? You're still a beginner, yet you wielded that spell with incredible power."
Arjun hesitated, trying to put his thoughts into words. "I'm not entirely sure, Guru Drona. All I thought about was defending myself and disarming the opponent. I cast the spell normally, but it seemed to come out much stronger than I intended."
Guru Drona nodded slowly, considering Arjun's words. "Very well then. You may go now."
Arjun stood up, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. Just as he was about to leave, Guru Drona added, "Since you were first in the written test, you shall be provided a scholarship. This will cover your supplies and stay here. Ensure you buy everything before returning. You can collect the money at the front desk of the management office."
"Thank you, Guru Drona," Arjun said, bowing respectfully before leaving the office.
As he headed to the management office, Arjun thought about the peculiar nature of his magic. The scholarship money was given to him in the form of a magical device. The currency here was ancient yet modern, with a hierarchy of metal, bronze, silver, and gold points. It used to be coins, but now it was all digital, managed through enchanted devices and called points.
Arjun met up with his friends outside. Krishna, Bheem, Nakul, Sahdev, and Yudhisthir were waiting for him, their faces lit up with excitement.
"How did it go?" Krishna asked.
"Pretty well. Guru Drona congratulated me and granted me a scholarship for my supplies and stay," Arjun replied, showing them the magical device.
"That's great news!" Nakul exclaimed. "Let's go and have lunch, then we can buy our supplies."
They hopped onto the vimman, a magical vehicle that transported them swiftly to the cafeteria. The food was similar to basic Indian dishes, filled with spices and a magic of taste that left them all satisfied. After a hearty meal, they burped in unison, feeling content and energized.
"Time to hit the JADUKAAN!" Bheem announced, leading the way to the store of magical supplies affiliated with their GURUKUL.
The JADUKAAN was a sprawling store filled with wondrous items. Shelves lined with shimmering potions, enchanted scrolls, and mystical artifacts stretched as far as the eye could see. The group split up, each friend exploring different sections of the store.
Arjun picked up a few essentials: a satchel that could hold an unlimited amount of items, enchanted quills that never ran out of ink, and a spellbook that automatically updated with new spells as he learned them. He also found a cloak that provided basic protection against magical attacks and a pair of boots that enhanced his speed. And bought several essentials that cost him around 15 bronze coins.
Krishna showed Arjun a magical compass that always pointed to the nearest source of mana, while Bheem picked up a strength-enhancing potion. Nakul and Sahdev found a set of communication crystals that allowed them to talk to each other from great distances, which everyone bought for their amusement.
After gathering their supplies, they headed to the wand section. The walls were adorned with an array of wands, each unique in design and magical properties. Arjun felt a thrill of excitement as he examined the various wands, each one resonating with different magical energies.
Krishna selected a sleek wand made of ebony wood with a core of phoenix feather. Bheem chose a sturdy oak wand with a dragon heartstring core, perfect for his powerful magic. Arjun eventually found a wand that felt right—a beautiful willow wand with a core of unicorn hair.
As they paid for their wands, Krishna turned to Arjun and said, "Did you know that some beginner level mages need a wand for performing incantations? As they advance, mages can perform spells without wands, using only incantations. Finally, the top-tier mages, like Guru Drona, can perform magical wonders without even spells, simply by imagining the effects."
Arjun listened in awe, realizing the vast potential of his magical journey. "I had no idea. There's so much to learn."