The morning sun once again filtered through the windows, bathing the room in a soft golden glow. Kael yawned and stretched, feeling the weight of yesterday's events still lingering in his muscles. His thoughts buzzed with excitement and a bit of nervous energy. Today, they would meet their new teacher.
Jin, as usual, was already awake, staring out the window. "You think this new teacher is going to be as insane as Zaal?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder at Kael. "Because if he is, I might just run for the hills."
Kael chuckled. "I doubt anyone could be as crazy as him," he replied, throwing on his clothes.
Tarek and Daren met them outside. The air was thick with anticipation, everyone waiting for the new teacher".
"I think he is gonna be a cool teacher" Tarek said, bouncing on her heels. "The kind of guy who could take down a whole army with a smile on his face."
Daren rolled his eyes. "Or maybe he's just another teacher who enjoys torturing students for fun."
Before they could continue speculating,
The air around them began to stir as a sudden gust of wind swept through the temple's entrance. A figure emerged from the shadows, his cloak billowing dramatically in the wind, even though there was no storm. Sparks of lightning crackled around his feet, and with a theatrical flourish, he extended his hand.
RUDRA "Yo fellas !"
He paused for effect, expecting admiration from the group. Instead, Kael,daren, Jin, and Tarek simply blinked in confusion
He was tall, with black hair that spiked in all directions, giving him a slightly disheveled appearance. A blade mark in forehead and he wore a long coat with intricate patterns etched across it, resembling the stars in the night sky. His eyes were piercing blue. He had an air of nonchalance, as if everything around him was a bit of a joke, but his presence was commanding, like the calm before a storm.
"Well, well, well," the man said, his voice smooth and dripping with amusement. "Looks like I've got quite the group of rookies this time around."
Jin squinted. "Is he… is he serious?"
The man stopped in front of them, hands casually tucked into his coat pockets. "Name's Rudra. You can call me whatever you want, just don't call me early in the morning." He winked.
Kael could barely stifle a laugh, while Tarek blinked in confusion.
"You're our new teacher?" Daren asked skeptically. "You don't look like…"
Rudra interrupted, raising a finger to his lips. "Shhh… looks can be deceiving, my young student." He tapped the side of his head. "It's what's in here that counts." Then, in a quick flash, he appeared right behind Daren without anyone noticing. "And what's here." He poked Daren's chest lightly, causing the boy to stumble in surprise.
Tarek gasped. "Whoa! How did you do that?!"
Rudra chuckled, stepping back into his original position as if he hadn't moved. "You'll figure it out. Maybe." He crossed his arms. "Now, enough chit-chat. Let's get down to business."
He reached into his coat and pulled out four small orbs, glowing faintly with a soft blue light. Each orb was smooth and transparent, with swirling patterns inside that looked like miniature galaxies.
"These," Rudra said, tossing an orb to each of them, "are your Translatum Orbs. They'll help you understand alien languages, and more importantly, help you communicate with beings that speak languages you've never even heard of."
Kael turned the orb over in his hand, mesmerized by the swirling lights inside it. "How does it work?"
"Simple," Rudra replied, leaning lazily against a nearby wall. "Once you sync with it, it'll automatically translate everything you hear into a language you understand. Same goes for anything you say. No more awkward sign language or guessing what weird alien screeches mean. Pretty neat, huh?"
"That's incredible," Tarek breathed, holding her orb up to the sunlight. "And it can also help you contacting each other if you are far away but only withing this galaxy you have to register in the forge of that galaxy?"
"What's this FORGE , I saw its logo on my way to the ground in the academy too" Daren asked curiously.
"You don't have to worry about them for now just think of them as people who think they are god but are shit" Rudra said with a hint of anger and sadness in his voice.
"Yeah so Just keep that on you at all times," Rudra said, waggling a finger. "Unless, of course, you want to spend a week trying to figure out why some alien warrior is challenging you to a duel."
Jin grinned. "You've got to tell us that story."
Rylen laughed. "Maybe later. First, let's get to the real fun part. The Naadi Pathway system."
The group fell silent, their attention fixed on Rudra as he straightened up and began to explain.
"As you know, the Naadi Pathways are the key to mastering your elemental powers," Rudra began, his tone shifting to something more serious, though the playful glint never left his eyes. "Each of you has already unlocked your first Naadi, which enhances your physical abilities—strength, speed, endurance, and all that good stuff. But that's just the beginning."
He tapped the side of his head thoughtfully. "There are seven pathways in total each having 3 orbits and each one tied to a different element. Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Lightning, and the mysterious Seventh Pathway, which unlocks Cosmic Energy."
"Cosmic Energy?" Jin asked, leaning forward. "What does that do?"
Rudra shrugged nonchalantly. "It's what happens when you've unlocked all the other pathways and mastered two orbits of each of them Let's just say, you get really, really powerful. Not that I've unlocked it yet." He grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "I'm currently on the second mastery of my Fifth Pathway—Air. So, don't expect me to go throwing stars around or anything."
"Wait," Daren interjected, his eyes narrowing. "You mean even you haven't unlocked the Seventh Pathway?"
Rudra chuckled. "Not yet, kiddo. And trust me, it's a long journey to get there , I can tell you this much that when you unlock seventh pathway a new technique is created it can be anything most of the times it is directly linked to your ancestors but it can be anything ."
"Some of you might already know what thier technique is gonna be based on their family history." Rudra said while looking at Jin from the corner of his eyes.
Kael felt a chill of excitement run down his spine. The idea of mastering Cosmic Energy seemed almost unfathomable, but knowing that even their teacher hadn't reached that level yet made it feel… thrilling.
Rudra paced back and forth, spinning a Translatum Orb in his hand as he spoke. "You're going to be training under me for one month here on this planet. And let me tell you, it's going to be tough. This place has its own unique environment, and it's going to test your limits in ways you can't even imagine. But by the end of it, you'll be stronger, faster, and will have opened up your second orbit of first Naadi"
Tarek raised her hand hesitantly. "What kind of training are we going to be doing?"
Rudra stopped and grinned. "Oh, the fun kind. We'll be working on honing your physical abilities, pushing your bodies to their physical limits, and maybe—just maybe—getting you ready to unlock your Second Pathway "
The group exchanged glances, excitement bubbling in their chests. The prospect of unlocking their next Naadi was exhilarating.
"But," Rudra continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "I want you to remember one thing. The power you're working toward isn't just for show. Each of these pathways is a responsibility. The more powerful you become, the more control you'll need to have, not just over your elements, but over yourselves and let me tell you if you ever fall into the dark path I will kill you myself"
Kael nodded, the weight of his words sinking in. It wasn't just about unlocking power—it was about mastering it.
"And once we finish here," Rudra added, his usual grin returning, "we'll be heading off to a different planet. Each new location will push you harder, expose you to different challenges, and bring you closer to mastering your Naadi."
Tarek, as usual, couldn't contain his enthusiasm. "Different planets? Do we get to fight aliens?"
Rudra laughed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Let's just say, you're going to see things that'll blow your mind. But whether or not you'll be fighting them is up to how well you handle the training."
The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow across the field. Rylen clapped his hands together, signaling the end of the day's lesson.
"Alright, that's enough for today. You've got one month with me, and trust me, you're going to need every minute of it. Get some rest, because tomorrow, the real fun begins."
Kael felt a rush of excitement as they made their way back to the dorms. This was only the beginning of their journey, and with a teacher like Rylen guiding them, he knew they were in for the adventure of a lifetime.
As the stars began to twinkle in the sky above, Kael's thoughts turned to the future. They were on the path to something incredible, and though the challenges ahead would be daunting, he felt ready to face them head-on. The Naadi Pathways awaited, and he couldn't wait to see just how far they could take him.