Arunesh's fingers brushed the cold stone gate as he stood before the entrance of his family's ancestral estate. The wind whispered through the ruins, carrying with it the scent of aged wood and damp earth. He stood still for a moment, letting the silence of the estate envelop him. The weight of his father's death was heavy, but it wasn't just grief that pulled at his chest—it was a sense of duty. A sense of something greater that had been left for him to uncover.
His father, Mahesh Tiwari, had always spoken of the importance of their bloodline. But it wasn't until now, standing in the very heart of their family's long-forgotten home, that Arunesh began to understand the true weight of those words. The legacy of the Tiwari Clan wasn't just one of honor—it was one of power. And that power was locked away, hidden beneath the ruins of this place.
As the sun dipped lower, casting the world in hues of gold and crimson, Arunesh pushed open the heavy stone gate, the rusted hinges groaning in protest. He stepped inside the crumbled courtyard, his gaze scanning the overgrown vines that clung to the once-sturdy walls. The estate was in ruin, but Arunesh could still see traces of its former grandeur. The artistry in the stone carvings, the intricate designs that once marked the Tiwari Clan's superiority, now faded and chipped by time.
With each step, he ventured deeper, drawn to the central hall, where the clan's most sacred relics had once been kept. His hand instinctively moved to his chest, where his father's jade pendant hung on a delicate chain. The pendant was his father's most prized possession, a symbol of his position within the clan, and now, a symbol of Arunesh's inheritance.
The halls echoed eerily as he walked through them, the air thick with dust and the scent of decay. Yet, despite the ruin, Arunesh felt a strange connection to this place. It was as if the very walls of the estate held the whispers of those who had come before him—his ancestors, his bloodline. His heritage.
He moved toward the inner chambers of the hall, where his father's private study had once stood. Now, only the remnants of old scrolls and worn furniture remained. At the far end of the room, a pedestal stood beneath the dusty light filtering through the cracked ceiling. A single scroll, sealed in a protective case, rested on the pedestal, undisturbed by time.
Arunesh approached slowly, feeling a surge of energy in the air as he drew closer. The Chronicles of Time—his father's most precious possession, a document that spoke of their lineage's true power, was right before him. But the scroll wasn't just a relic; it was a key. A key to unlocking the potential that lay dormant in his blood.
The instant his fingers brushed against the protective case, a surge of cold energy swept through him, and for a brief moment, the world around him seemed to freeze. The distant sounds of the wind, the rustling of the leaves, even his own breath, all became muffled. It felt as though time itself had stopped, and in that stillness, Arunesh heard a voice.
"The time has come, Arunesh Tiwari."
The voice echoed in his mind, calm yet commanding, familiar yet strange. It was a voice he recognized—it was his father's.
He froze, heart racing. Had his father somehow left a part of himself behind, in the estate, in this scroll?
Before he could react, a figure appeared in the doorway, breaking the frozen silence. An old man, his features grizzled with age and experience, stood there. He wore robes that marked him as a cultivator, though his aura was not that of a mere warrior. This man carried the weight of knowledge, and the wisdom of many years lived in his eyes.
"You've found the Scroll of Time," the elder said, his voice rough yet steady. His gaze moved from the scroll to Arunesh, as though recognizing something deeper. "It's not by chance that you've come here, boy."
Arunesh stepped back, instinctively placing a hand on his pendant, his thoughts racing. "Who are you?" he asked, wariness creeping into his voice. "How do you know about the scroll?"
The elder's gaze softened. "My name is Vishnu Pandey, and I once served as a Guardian of the Tiwari Clan. I was entrusted with the protection of the scroll, as well as the secrets it holds." He stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back. "But now, I believe it is time you learn the truth, Arunesh."
Arunesh stared at him, a mixture of suspicion and curiosity in his gaze. "The truth about what?"
Vishnu nodded toward the scroll. "The truth about your bloodline, the power that resides within you, and the Chronicles of Time that your father died to protect."
The air seemed to thicken as the elder spoke, and Arunesh felt a sudden weight press upon him. He wasn't sure what it was—fear, excitement, or perhaps something deeper—but he knew that his life was about to change forever.
"Your father, Mahesh Tiwari, was one of the last to unlock the power of the Eternal Essence, the first step on the path to mastering time itself." Vishnu's voice lowered, as though the knowledge he spoke of was heavy and dangerous. "But he was not the only one seeking this power. The Kaalshakti Clan, enemies of the Tiwari Clan, sought to control it. And that quest led to your father's death."
Arunesh's heart clenched at the mention of his father's name. "The Kaalshakti Clan?" His voice faltered. "What does all this have to do with me? Why was he protecting this?"
"The Chronicles of Time are not just a record," Vishnu continued. "They are a guide—an ancient map that charts the stages of cultivation, a path that leads to the mastery of time itself. Your father believed that one day, his son would take up the mantle and restore the Tiwari Clan's legacy. But only if you can awaken the Eternal Essence."
Arunesh frowned, the words slowly sinking in. He had always known that his bloodline was special—his father's teachings had made that clear. But the truth was more than he had imagined. Cultivation of time? Immortality?
"You must begin by cultivating your Spirit Seed," Vishnu said, bringing Arunesh's focus back. "It is the foundation of your cultivation, the starting point for all future growth. From there, you will ascend through the stages of Spirit Initiate, Spirit Master, and beyond."
Arunesh's mind raced. Spirit Seed, Spirit Initiate, Spirit Master… these were words he had heard in passing but never truly understood. Yet, they now seemed like the only way forward.
"I'll do it," Arunesh said, his voice firm with resolve. "I'll restore the Tiwari Clan. I'll awaken the Eternal Essence."
Vishnu's expression softened, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "You're your father's son, Arunesh. But remember, power is not given freely. It is earned, with every step. The path ahead will be treacherous, and the Kaalshakti Clan will stop at nothing to destroy you."
Arunesh's gaze hardened, his hand tightening around his pendant. "I'll be ready. They will not take what is mine."
The elder nodded, his eyes filled with a quiet understanding. "Very well. The first lesson begins now. But know this—the journey to mastering time will not be easy. It will test every part of you. And when you face the trials ahead, you must be prepared to face the consequences of your own power."
With that, Arunesh stepped forward, ready to embrace his destiny, no matter where it led.